by Jay Allan
“Shield down to ninety-two percent,” Lieutenant Marsten reported from his station at one of the weapons consoles.
“Target lock,” called out Colonel Stehr. “All ships fire!”
“Two of the docked Kleese ships are beginning to back away from the station and the third is powering up,” Ensign Bree reported as two of the three ships began to show some space between them and their docking ports.
The Armageddon suddenly shuddered violently, and the lights briefly dimmed. A console shorted out, sending a brilliant cascade of sparks across the Command Center.
“Status!” barked Michael, wondering if the ship had been damaged.
“Antimatter missile hit the screen,” Lieutenant Marsten reported. “Shield strength is at forty-two percent and dropping.”
The Kleese ship that had fired the antimatter missile was now under heavy attack from the Armageddon and her fleet. Explosions began to pelt the ship’s hull as railgun rounds and then dark blue particle beams blasted away at the ship. Moments later, two more antimatter missiles finished the ship off in two glaring explosions.
“Bug two is down, and we just lost one of the assault ships,” Ensign Bree reported as one of the green icons on her sensor screen suddenly flared up and vanished. “I believe it was struck by an antimatter missile.”
Michael let out a deep breath. “Close on bug three; we’ll take them out one by one. The other three Kleese ships will be designated bugs four, five, and six.”
“Sir,” I am receiving a message from Marken,” interrupted Lieutenant Jones from communications. “He reports their scanners are detecting a power buildup in the remaining Kleese ship’s Space Fold drives. He believes the Kleese are preparing to flee.”
“All four remaining Kleese ships are pulling away from us,” Colonel Stehr reported.
“Hit bug three with a full spread of antimatter missiles,” ordered Michael, wanting to inflict as much harm on the Kleese as possible while they had the opportunity. He didn’t want them to even think about returning to the station.
He also knew that there was a faint chance that one of these ships might have been the one that had launched the deadly missile at Earth. He hoped that by hitting the retreating Kleese ship with so many missiles at once it might knock their energy shield down, allowing a few to impact the hull.
“Missiles launching,” Colonel Stehr reported.
From the Armageddon, twelve missiles flashed away from their launch tubes. Massive detonations rattled bug three’s energy screen and then four missiles penetrated, laying waste to the hull as they detonated in bright flashes of light.
On the main viewscreen of the Armageddon, Michael watched as the Kleese ship vanished under the onslaught.
“Bug three is down, and the other three Kleese ships have jumped to Fold Space and are no longer showing on sensors,” Bree reported with obvious relief in her voice.
“Contact Marken and tell him he has a go to take the station,” Michael ordered with relief in his voice.
The Armageddon and four of the assault ships would remain on guard duty outside the station while the remaining three assault ships and two transports would enter the two flight bays they had control over and land Major Nelson’s marines.
-o0o-
Marken looked over at Taalon and Kalarn. Both had very pale looks upon their faces. Never had he imagined the Humans would be able to destroy three of the large Kleese ships so quickly. He had expected a long, drawn out engagement, with the Kleese eventually backing down after one of their ships was damaged or destroyed. They abhorred physical harm, and Marken had been certain they would withdraw rather than risk death. Of course, the Humans had not given them that option. Only now was he beginning to realize just what his race had unleashed upon the Kleese. He also knew that next time the Kleese would be better prepared.
“Commander Kirby has given the go ahead to begin the station assault,” one of the Humans at communications reported.
Marken nodded. “Take us into the flight bays.”
-o0o—
Wade was the first marine out of the assault ship. The others with him quickly gathered around. “We’ll take the Command Center and Lieutenant Williams will be leading a squad to the Flight Command Center,” Wade informed them. “Don’t kill anyone unless they resist.”
A few minutes later, they were making their way quickly through the massive station toward one of the transit tubes, which would take them close to the Command Center. A dozen Kiveans were with Wade’s squad and after a moment, they requested that he stop.
“What’s wrong?” asked Wade, seeing the distressed looks upon their faces.
“It’s the smell,” one of them replied in distress. “It smells like death.”
Wade carefully cracked open his helmet to allow the outside air to enter his suit. He quickly sealed it back shut again, realizing the Kiveans were right. The air in the station smelled like decomposing bodies. They also hadn’t encountered any of the crew.
“Spread out and search some of the adjoining rooms,” Wade ordered grimly. “I want to know where the smell is coming from.” He also activated his suit com so he could speak to Marken back on the assault shuttle. “Marken, the station smells like death. If I didn’t know better, it smells as if there are rotting corpses somewhere close by.”
“I’m getting the same report from the other units,” replied Marken, uneasily. “Something is wrong. No one is reporting seeing any of the station’s crew either.”
Wade was getting a sneaking suspicion, and he hoped that he was wrong. “Lieutenant Jeffries, I want you to take several squads and check a few of the domes where the crew lives, let me know what you find.”
“Yes, Sir,” Jeffries replied. “We’re on our way.”
“Major, you need to come and look at this,” Private Dawson spoke, sounding distressed. “You won’t like it.”
Wade followed Private Dawson over to an open hatch and glanced inside. He froze at the sight in front of him. Half a dozen humanoids were lying on the floor, their bodies already partially decomposed.
“What happened here?” asked Wade, turning toward one of the Kiveans who had followed him into the room.
The Kivean turned around and vomited, retching loudly. After a moment, he turned back and shook his head. “It was the Kleese,” the Kivean responded. “All the humanoid races that crew the station are implanted with a small device under the skin that contains a deadly poison. If an individual displeases or fails to do as a Kleese asks the device is activated, allowing the poison to spread throughout their system. Death is almost immediate. The Kleese prefer that method of control for the station crew rather than the explosive collars worn by their military conscripts.”
“What about your race?” Wade demanded. “Do you have the same poison implants?”
“We did,” the Kivean admitted. “But we discovered how to deactivate them and then we removed the devices as soon as we reached your solar system.”
“Let’s head on to the Command Center,” ordered Wade, backing out of the room and shutting the hatch.
A few minutes later, Lieutenant Jeffries contacted Wade. “We’ve checked the first habitation dome and everyone inside is dead. Evidently the crew has some type of poison device inside of them that has been activated.”
“That’s what it seems like,” replied Wade, fearing that the Kleese may have wiped out the entire crew of the station after learning of the escape of the Humans and the Kiveans. It was hard for Wade to fathom how a race could be so callous and insensitive.
After taking a rapid transit vehicle to the center of the station, they finally reached the Command Center, and for the first time Wade saw a group of living beings. Standing in front of the hatch were ten conscripts in
Type Two battle armor.
“RG rifles!” Wade ordered as the conscripts spotted Wade’s squad.
Almost instantly, the corridor was full of ordnance as both groups opened fire. One of Wade’s marines fell
as several rounds penetrated his chest armor and exited out of the back of the suit in a spray of blood.
“They’re firing armor piercing rounds!” Wade warned taking cover behind a bulkhead as rounds stitched the deck just in front of him leaving smoking holes in the floor of the corridor.
“Private Dawson, hit them with explosive rounds!” Wade knew the more powerful explosives of their RG rifles should quickly eliminate the opposition.
Dawson stepped out into the open and fired two rounds down the corridor. He suddenly yelled in pain and fell, grabbing his leg.
At the same moment, two resounding explosions echoed down the corridor. “Use your Energy Lances,” Wade yelled as he drew his and charged down the corridor with the rest of his marines right behind. The corridor was now full of smoke, making it difficult to see.
Upon reaching the hatch to the Command Center, they found only three of the conscripts still standing and they seemed to be dazed. Wade and his marines made quick work of the three with their Energy Lances.
Turning, Wade saw Private Dawson limping toward them. “Where are you hit?” Wade asked with concern. Dawson had been with him even before being abducted by the Kleese.
“My leg,” Dawson replied with a slight groan. “My suit has it under control.”
Wade nodded. He had lost two of his marines, and Dawson was injured. He wondered what else awaited them in the Command Center. Turning, he looked back down the corridor where the Kiveans were waiting. They had stayed back in the other corridor during the brief battle.
Seeing that everything was clear, they hurried up to where Wade and his remaining marines were standing. Taalon stepped forward and entered a command code on the control panel next to the hatch. Nothing happened.
“The controls have been overridden from the inside,” he informed Wade as he stepped back away from the hatch.
“We thought that might be a possibility,” Wade responded as he gestured for Private Foster to come forward. He knew Nicole was carrying some special explosives.
“Blow the hatch?” she asked as she stepped up and examined it carefully.
“Yes,” Wade replied. Nicole had been trained in demolition and was an expert when it came to small explosives.
“A few well placed charges should suffice,” she said after a moment.
Nicole removed a small satchel attached to her side and took out four small explosive charges. She carefully put them in place and then inserted remotely controlled blasting caps in each one.
Wade watched her carefully and then motioned for the Kiveans to step back. He also noticed that Sergeant Sterns had arrived with her squad of marines.
“Everywhere it’s the same,” she reported nervously. “They’re all dead. The Kleese must have wiped out the entire crew after we escaped.”
“We’re going to have to blast our way into the Command Center,” Wade informed her. “As you can see, the hatch had guards in front of it when we arrived. There may be more conscripts inside, so we need to be prepared for a battle.”
“Just be careful where you fire your weapons,” Taalon cautioned. “Some of the consoles and equipment in there could easily be damaged. We’re going to need the computers.”
“I’m ready,” Private Foster reported as she inserted the last blasting cap.
Wade had his marines move back a few yards and then nodded at Foster. “Set it off.”
With four resounding blasts, the door fell inwards into the Command Center. Instantly, Sergeant Sterns leaped through the door, her Energy Lance drawn.
“Damn, she’s fast,” uttered Private Russell as he quickly followed her.
Wade and the rest of the marines entered through the hatch and found the battle was already over. Four more conscripts in battle suits were lying dead, cut into by Private Russell and Sergeant Stern’s Energy Lances. Sergeant Stern was holding her arm as if in pain. There were a dozen Kleese in the room, and the rest of the marines quickly moved to dispatch them. After what they had seen on the station, asking them to surrender never entered anyone’s mind.
“What’s wrong with your arm, Sergeant?” Wade asked with concern in his voice.
“Just a stinger, Sir,” Jamie replied in a voice filled with pain. “Damn RG round hit the outer armor of my suit. It didn’t penetrate, but it hurts like hell. The damn suit is just ignoring it since it isn’t showing as an actual injury.”
Wade nodded and turned his attention to Taalon. “What’s the situation on the rest of the station?”
“We’re checking now,” Taalon replied. He had already sent a message to Marken informing him that they had taken the Command Center and to send the rest of the Kiveans that had been assigned to this part of the operation. Sergeant Perry and his squad would be escorting them.
“Private Russell, take four marines and set up a guard outside the hatch, let me know immediately if you see or hear anything.”
“Yes, Sir,” Russell replied as he quickly called out four other marine’s names and moved to follow Wade’s orders.
“Lieutenant Williams, have you secured the Flight Command Center?” Wade asked over his com. He hadn’t heard from Beth for a few minutes.
“Yes, Sir,” replied Beth, sounding slightly out of breath. “We had to fight our way in. There were half a dozen conscripts in battle suits waiting for us outside the hatch. I lost two marines, but we have secured the Flight Command Center. There were four Kleese inside, and they’ve been taken care of.”
Wade didn’t need to ask what taken care of meant. “I want you to start sending teams out with Kiveans to the auxiliary Command Centers. If there are any surviving Kleese on the station that’s where they will attempt to go if they want to regain control. Warn your marines to be aware there might be more conscripts waiting for them. We don’t have the marines to search the entire station due to its size, so we have to take over the key control points.”
“Yes, Sir,” Beth replied. “I will have teams on the way shortly.”
“Lieutenant Jeffries?” spoke Wade, assuming that the lieutenant was listening in on the command network.
“Yes, Sir?” Jeffries replied.
“What have you found so far?”
“We’ve checked two habitation domes, and all the humanoids inside are dead; we’re on our way to the next one now.”
“Nix that,” Wade ordered. “I don’t think we’re going to find anyone left alive on this station other than the Kleese and whatever conscripts they’ve kept for their personal protection. I want you to send a squad each to Engineering and the six main fusion reactors, which power the station. I don’t want the surviving Kleese to be able to sabotage anything.”
-o0o-
Two hours later, Wade stood next to Marken on the Command Pedestal in the Command Center. Main Engineering, the Flight Command Center, the two Auxiliary Command Centers, and all six fusion reactors were all safely under control of Wade’s marines. A few more conscripts in battle armor had been encountered and after several short battles, had been eliminated. There was also a small group of Kiveans with each squad in case their technical expertise was needed.
“Any idea how many Kleese may still be on the station?” asked Wade, worriedly. He didn’t like the idea of still having live Kleese roaming the station. The problem was there was a good chance they still had conscripts in battle suits with them as protection.
“Unknown,” Marken replied as he studied the controls on the main console in front of him. “Normally I would say a couple of hundred, but most of them might have been staying on their ships due to the conditions in the station.”
“Why didn’t they clean it up?” asked Wade, feeling confused. He was beginning to realize just how alien the Kleese way of thinking was.
“I suspect they were waiting for the new crew to arrive,” Marken replied. “From what we have found in the station’s computer logs the Kleese enacted this complete kill of the station’s crew immediately after our escape. They also eliminated most of the conscripts that
were present, only keeping a few of the most trusted ones for personal guards. The new crew was to arrive in two more weeks.”
“What about our military in stasis?” Wade asked suddenly, concerned that they might have been eliminated also.
“Still in stasis,” Marken replied. “I suspect that if the Kleese had been able to remove them from the stasis chambers they too would have been eliminated. It probably would have been one of the first things the Kleese would have ordered the new crew to do.”
“Why not just kill them in the chambers?” Wade asked.
“The long term stasis chambers are very expensive,” Marken replied. “The Kleese obviously didn’t want to risk damaging them.”
“How soon can we get underway?” Wade wanted to be gone from this section of space before the Kleese returned with reinforcements. They had been lucky so far, all things considered.
“Shortly,” Marken replied as he pressed several buttons on the large control panel in front of him. He checked several small data screens and then spoke to Taalon. “All the assault ships except the ones returning with the Armageddon have docked. We’re already powering up the station’s Space Fold drive.”
-o0o—
In space, Commander Michael Kirby watched as the massive space station suddenly accelerated away and then jumped into Fold Space. He knew it would take four weeks for the station to make it to the solar system.
“Time to go home,” he said, looking over at Colonel Stehr. There were two assault ships that would be returning with them.
“I just can’t help wondering if we started a war today,” the colonel said in a quiet and worried voice.
Michael looked over at Stehr in surprise and then replied. “Colonel, we have been at war since the Kleese destroyed Earth. I strongly suspect that the battle today is only the first of many remaining in our future.”
Moments later, the Armageddon and its two escorts vanished into Fold Space. The first shots in humanity’s war against the Kleese had been fired, and the first battle had been won.