“Maybe. If we can figure out their defensive plan, it might affect how we form the attack. Once we’ve made it through their shield and gone on the defensive, we have to figure out how they’ll attack us.”
Chandrajuski’s body froze as he considered. When a Gamordian’s body froze, it really froze. Trexler was left with just himself and a few other senior officers for a while.
M’Coda turned away from the corner. Trexler knew the Schect didn’t have to turn, his multifaceted eyes saw in all directions, but after spending so much time around humans he had grown accustomed to facing the person to whom he spoke. At the moment, he faced Trexler.
“We will give up some of our advantages if we fight in atmosphere. We can fast-ship to the edge of the atmosphere but not into it. From a maneuverability standpoint, we will be on a par with our Rebel adversaries.”
Chandrajuski nodded that great head. “We retain the advantage of our stronger weapons and shields. They have approximately 1,000 squadrons forming their shield. We can match them ship for ship if we don’t use too many ships to create diversions.”
Trexler looked back and forth between the two of them. “I don’t like those odds,” he said. “Out in space our fast ships are ten times more effective than theirs, but most of this battle won’t be fought in space. They won’t be able to just jump away. I want better than even odds, at least two-to-one, maybe even more.”
“I’m running out of ships,” M’Coda said, his upper hands busy as usual.
“Not necessarily. Two things: how long will it take for the Rebel ships orbiting on the far side of the planet to get to the plateau? About an hour? Heck, we might be done by then.”
M’Coda’s preening stopped. “I see where you’re going with this. If we can entice them into attacking us as quickly as they can get there, we stretch out the attack. Some will get there quickly, some will take an hour.” He stopped preening and went back to his place in the corner, but this time he did not stay there long. When he turned back to them, he bustled over to Trexler. “A feint within a feint, just like the shield within the shield.”
Trexler nodded, but he couldn’t keep the grin from his face. “Precisely.”
M’Coda resumed preening as he mumbled. “I might want to create a larger shield, a shield we can shrink if necessary.” He lifted his head to Chandrajuski. “We punch through their shield, possibly without firing a shot. Or, better yet,” he said, reconsidering, “we turn on half of our beacons in plenty of time to let them know we’re coming. It might draw them to us. If it does, we fight in space where we have clear superiority. If they don’t come to us, we continue inbound and set our shield. But half of our ships hold well inside our shield with their beacons off. The visible ships are our diversion, but the diversion is the very battle itself. The ships with beacons off are our true shield. It’s possible that no one will get through even the first shield layer, let alone the second.”
Chandrajuski and M’Coda went to work handing out assignments to battle group commanders. Those commanders would, in turn, form their own plans for their area of responsibility and hand out assignments to individual ships. Chandrajuski didn’t know it until later, but there were no Chessori aboard the closest-in ships. This would prove to be a battle of Rebel against Empire.
Chapter 24
Val, posing as a reporter, spoke into the small recorder held in his hand. Unlike most recorders, this one was also a transmitter linking him to Josh and Otis. His description of the insides of the chamber, supposedly for the news channels, gave them a clear picture of everything happening within the chamber. Struthers held center stage on the dais, flanked on both sides by other senior members of his staff. The back row of seats, the ones reserved for the Queen or her First Knight, remained empty. Val guessed they would remain empty until the senate confirmed Struthers as Emperor.
Twelve Chessori sat as a group among the senators on the right front side of the room, right up against the dais. No gleasons were in evidence. Five Rebel guards stood at rest along each side of the vast room, their weapons resting butt first on the floor. Rebel troops had been thick in the corridors outside the chamber as Val entered.
He recognized several of the senators on the Queen’s list of favorites, including Senator Truax. All of them sat or stood together near the left front of the hall. He wondered if Struthers had put them together for some reason, perhaps to arrest them?
The hours dragged on inside the chamber as various people spoke. By mid-afternoon, Val detected an odor. Several others seemed to have noticed it as well, glancing at people sitting beside themselves and sniffing the air. Val felt fairly certain that gleasons occupied the very chamber he sat within, and his skin crawled as he searched the room surreptitiously, but he found no visual evidence of them. He notified Josh, but there was little more he could do.
* * * * *
Josh received a message relayed from Chandrajuski: “We are in position.”
He queried each of his commands. Otis reported ready, Major Barnes reported his sapper teams ready, and the two demolitions teams reported ready. Borg queried Krys and reported that the gleasons were congregated in two locations: half of them in their original positions beneath Fleet headquarters and the rest of them scattered between there and the chamber.
The mission was on. He gave the command that would literally set thousands of people in motion: “One minute.”
One minute later three teams moved against the gun control centers. These control centers were critical, and Josh was giving them a two minute head start, hoping they would reach their targets before alarms sounded.
Two minutes after those teams moved out, three things happened simultaneously. Otis and a team of Great Cats moved out of the tunnels, fighting their way up to the main corridor on the Palace side of the chamber, their purpose a feint. Two Terran Protectors escorted Nancy Shaw, dressed in the Queen’s finest and a crown. Directly behind this team and slightly behind Nancy, Krys’ escort physically carried Krys. The floater would have drawn too much attention. They hit Rebel guards hard until reaching the upper corridor, then slacked off a little, giving them time to gather their forces. Nancy Shaw came forward, opposition became harder, and the team began a slow retreat back into the lower corridors acting as if the Rebel forces were too great for them.
Krys remained focused on the gleasons, but as of yet she sensed no movement.
The success of Otis’ plan rested on confining his battle to the interior corridors. If large numbers of gleasons made it outdoors, finding them would be impossible. He retreated to the third level below ground and continued pulling back, drawing Rebel soldiers with him and keeping Nancy in plain view.
Otis had a long way to go before reaching his main forces. While he conducted his retreat, that main force of Protectors was busy installing slender, four-foot tall cylinders to walls on each side of a corridor, creating a killing zone approximately 150 feet long. A cylinder was attached to one wall, then another was positioned against the opposite wall until a green light indicated it was lined up correctly with the first cylinder. It was then set firmly in place, the sticky sealant solidifying quickly.
* * * * *
At the same time Otis deployed, Chandrajuski’s ships closed in on the planet, fast shipping with their beacons off until the appropriate time.
Two demolition teams on the far end of the plateau left hiding and raced toward the gleason holding pens. They encountered only light resistance and that was no surprise. It could not have been easy for the Rebels to find soldiers willing to guard the gleasons. Stunners took out the guards silently. The teams placed massive charges and hurried back toward the tunnel system.
Pressure was the first sign of the explosions. Anyone moving within any corridor anywhere on the plateau was knocked flat. Within the tunnels, Josh’s men were already laying down. Outside, dust and debris exploded out of air vents on the west end of the plateau sending heavy grills flying through the air.
Then the sound h
it. For most it was just a heavy ‘whump,’ but for anyone at all close, the sound deafened hearing for a while. For the gleasons in the holding pens, most of them simply ceased to exist. A few lived for a while, their brains separated from their sculls by the pressure of the explosions.
The number of gleasons had been cut in half. Only one hundred or so remained.
* * * * *
Rebel soldiers gaped in amazement as Imperial Marines exploded seemingly from nowhere into a corridor. Lieutenant Walters and his men stunned them, then formed up in two columns of nine with himself at the head, the manner used by Imperial Marines to move their troops around. Forg and one of his brothers fell in behind them.
They quick-marched down two levels and along 50 meters of corridor, bursting through a set of double doors leading to a large administrative area outside the gun control center. A senior officer was immediately called from his office and approached Stevens.
“What’s the meaning of this, soldier?”
“Just reinforcements, sir. Something is up. I don’t know what it is.”
A distant blast sounded, then another. The officer paled. “What was that?”
“I can’t say, sir. I was just told to hurry. I’ll keep my men out of your way.”
The officer eyed the two Chessori and was almost convinced, but he wasn’t completely convinced. “Remain where you are. I’m going to check on those orders.”
“Sorry, sir, but I can’t. My first order of business is to get one squad into the control center. We can sort everything out after that.”
Walters moved toward the control center door with his squad right behind him.
“The door is locked, and I’m not going to let you in without clarification of your orders,” the commander insisted.
“Yes, sir, I understand. We’ll let ourselves in. Go ahead, Lieutenant,” he said to Walters. The commander, nearly apoplectic, ordered his guards to stop the attempt, but they were too slow. A dozen flash-bang grenades rolled across the floor, Stevens yelled, “Light!” and he and his men turned away from the blasts, their hands over their ears and their mouths open.
Intense white light preceded a numbing blast of sound, stunning everyone who was not prepared. Stunners came out and all 19 men stormed across the room sending staff to sleep. Walters lined his men up on the door to the control center while Stevens entered the command override code supplied by Bruston. Heavy blast doors swung aside. A strong scree sounded, but only for the few seconds it took for Walters and his men to secure the room.
Walters came out of the room and his gaze found Stevens. “Too easy,” he said. Stevens nodded, and Walters broached the subject on both of their minds. “Are we going to stay?”
Stevens’ stared hard at him, his lips pursed. “It means no getting out of here if they come in force.”
“I’m willing to try. So are the rest of the guys.”
Stevens made his decision. “You and three others go into the net. I’ll secure this space and see to securing the corridor.”
“Reba only had access to civilian corridors and tunnels,” Walters mused. “I wonder if the Rebels had another way out, an easier way than going back the way we came?”
They stared at each other, then Stevens nodded, his lips set in a thin, firm line. “I’ll check it out.” Walters turned back to the control center, knowing that Stevens would be wiring up the dead-man’s switch.
Unknown to them, the team under the gzeikolt got in and out without any losses. The team under Rebel headquarters made it in and destroyed the control center, but none of them were never heard from again.
* * * * *
Otis continued a rehearsed retreat in the corridor beneath the chamber, drawing the defenders with him. Rebel troops came out of adjacent rooms and stairwells to reinforce those already pushing his team. More Rebel reinforcements appeared in front of him, attempting to block his retreat, and Krys’ team became fully engaged. Reba and Tarn took responsibility for moving Krys, freeing up two additional Protectors. Otis increased the pace of the retreat, and Nancy began struggling beneath two sets of full body armor. It wasn’t long before her two Terran Protectors were forced to pick her up and carry her.
* * * * *
Up on the balcony, Val heard a thud behind himself and turned quickly, catching a glimpse of an indefinite form racing out the door of the balcony compartment. Where had it come from? The thud meant it must have dropped from above. He stood up and jostled his way to the back corner of the compartment, stretching as he walked. He stood in the darkened corner, leaning against the wall as if he had tired of sitting. Using the corners of his eyes, he looked up and searched the darkness, but he saw nothing unusual. Were other gleasons up there watching him at this very moment?
He spoke softly into his comm unit, informing Josh that one gleason had left on the run but that others might still remain within the balcony sections. There was some likelihood the gleasons were hiding directly above the doors, prepared to drop on any unsuspecting attackers.
* * * * *
Very soon, Otis’ team was not just faking a retreat, they were fighting for their lives. Krys called to him that gleasons were on the move.
Otis raced back to her. “Are they coming this way?”
“I cannot tell distances accurately, but I believe they are getting closer. My sense is that they are stretched out in several corridors leading to us.”
Two cats fell, and Nancy was hit by a glancing shot that knocked her over, but her Protectors had her up in an instant. Great Cat reinforcements from his main attack group raced up behind Otis and cleared his retreat route, then moved past Otis and fought their way into the Rebel pursuers, pushing them back. Two more cats fell, but suddenly Rebel soldiers began flying aside, hitting corridor walls in bloody messes. The first gleasons, essentially invisible, bowled their way through the now panicked Rebels. Stunners came out among the Great Cats, wide-angle stunners that had limited range. They took down any Rebel they touched, and several gleasons materialized, their invisibility gone, but they were still deadly. They attacked at a full run.
Blasters came into heavy use, and the pace of the retreat quickened. Otis directed his men to move aside from time to time, making sure that the gleasons clearly saw Nancy Shaw. Since the gleasons were telepathic, he knew that what one gleason knew would soon be known by all of them.
The scouts Josh had placed along various corridors reported suspected gleasons passing, but they couldn’t be certain. Soon, small explosions were heard far down the corridor. Otis growled, but it was a growl of victory. Nancy’s deception appeared to be working. The gleasons were coming to him.
Her job was almost done. He ordered a full squad of Terrans to get her away, but not too far away. She had to remain in distant view of the gleasons. Krys yelled that more gleasons were near. Otis passed the word, and his men were ready when serious numbers of gleasons suddenly appeared. His entire rear guard of Great Cats fell to the onslaught, but they held long enough for more Terrans and Great Cats to race into the breach, the Terrans firing with stunners in one hand and blasters in the other. The Great Cats placed carefully aimed shots while at a full run, taking out several gleasons before flying into the fray with claws extended and mouths gaping.
These Protectors sacrificed themselves, but in doing so they delayed the horde of gleasons long enough for more reinforcements to join Otis. He and what was left of his team reached the long corridor under the staff offices and continued a hasty but controlled retreat deeper into the corridor.
Two wounded gleasons broke through his reinforcements and were on him in a heartbeat. Otis took on one, and two Terrans intercepted the other. Otis fired, then jumped straight up in the air, his great strength raising him to the height of the gleasons chest. They met head on. Vicious claws rent great swaths along Otis’ sides as his four hands sought the gleason’s head. He found it and crushed it between his jaws. Both of them fell to the floor, the gleason dead and Otis wounded. He was up in a heartbeat sp
itting the taste of the gleason from his mouth.
The two Terrans each got off one shot before the gleason was upon them. Moments later, their bodies fell to the floor, dead and flayed. The gleason rose up but fell to shots from someone else, and the retreat continued.
Otis had to time his retreat so that the majority of gleasons reached him just as he entered the killing zone. He increased the pace, guessing that any gleason that was going to come was already headed his way. Krys warned him that the main group of gleasons was nearly upon them. He kept his retreat moving swiftly, but not too swiftly. He reached the killing zone and wished he had a better view of the gleasons. He had to ensure that most of them were here.
Confusion reigned in the corridor behind him. Bodies of every species littered the retreat path. Smoke and the smell of cooked meat filled his nostrils. Snarls and roars of Great Cats mingled with the screeches of gleasons and the sounds of killing. More cats and Terrans reinforced his retreat from the rear.
He suddenly felt a change in the gleasons, as if they’d gained more energy. The main body had arrived, he was certain of it. The drawing was done. Otis turned a corner and entered the killing zone, ordering a general retreat. It was still a fighting retreat - his men could not turn their backs on the gleasons, but the pace picked up and the character of the retreat changed. The main body of gleasons surged forward, and blasters showed in the hands of several.
Nancy’s Protectors carried her halfway through the killing zone, then turned to fire into the gleasons chasing the main retreat group. Nancy hid behind a statue on the side of the corridor but remained in view.
Gleasons massed in the corridor, pushing hard against Otis’ men. Stunners effectively removed their invisibility, and that was a key step. Blasters damaged many, but single shots rarely killed. When a gleason finally fell, it was instantly replaced by another. The few gleasons with blasters held back, pinpointing their own targets and taking down more of Otis’s men.
Voice of the Chosen (Spirit of Empire, Book Three) Page 41