The Ganthoran Gambit (The First Admiral Series)

by Benning, William J.

  “EAGLES!! WHOO!!” a Landing Trooper jubilantly shouted.

  Burning figures fell, screaming, from the roof, as did debris and wreckage from whatever defences the Frontier Fleet troops had established. Three Alliance Eagles had been called in for air support.

  The Eagles had swept in at high speed from low orbit of the planet, and had strafed the roof of the Imperial Palace with their low-yield pulsar-cannon. The Frontier Fleet soldiers never knew what had hit them.

  The Ganthoran civilians, who a few moments before, had been trying to flee from the boulevard stood motionless, and stunned before they too started cheering.

  “Ghost Hammers,” came the command over Geor’s comm-link, “stand by for firing instructions.”

  “Acknowledged,” Geor said.

  Now, we’re going to get some action, Geor thought as some weak and sporadic fire began from the Imperial Palace.

  “Aim for the windows!” a young officer called out to his Troopers, as the civilians scampered for cover once again.

  “Ghost Hammers,” the voice on the comm-link broke Geor’s thought processes, “start suppressing fire on the top floor windows and work down to ground level.”

  “Acknowledged. Right, Ghost Hammers,” he began on his own troop-net, “let’s start closing down those windows on the top floor, four and five, left to right, two and three with me right to left.”

  It was a simple and straightforward order. The Imperial Palace consisted of five floors with around forty large windows to each floor. The Ghost Hammers were to use their medium-yield pulsar-cannon to blast any defensive positions to oblivion by systematically destroying those windows.

  Running his fingers gently over the small, flat, square trigger button built into the face of the pistol grip control, Geor felt the pulsar-cannon triggers spring outwards, ready to fire the weapons.

  “Triggers initiated.” A square, holographic gun-sight was projected a few inches in front of Geor Thardan’s face.

  With the cross-hairs of the holographically-projected gun-sight firmly planted over the first window at the top right of the Palace, Geor gently pressed the two square triggers on the pistol grip with his fore-fingers.

  “Opening fire, now.” Geor Thardan spoke surprisingly calmly as Frontier Fleet laser bolts sparked off the front of his vehicle.

  An instant later, the two medium-yield pulsar-cannon opened up with a tremendous WHOOSH, which made the entire Ghost Hammer lurch, and two medium yield pulsar-bolts sped to their targets and struck clean and true.

  With a huge explosion on the top right corner of the building, debris spumed outwards to fall into the grounds of the Palace. But, when the dust had cleared, Geor saw that he had blown almost the entire top corner of the Palace away, which was greeted by an ironic cheer from the Troopers around him.

  “Take it easy, Sarge,” one of the Operators on the troop-link teased him, “the footsloggers will want to be able to capture something!”

  “All right, very funny, Ghost four,” Geor Thardan responded.

  The fifth Ghost Hammer in Geor’s troop fired next at the Imperial Palace. With a well- aimed shot, the window at the top left of the Imperial Palace was engulfed in dust, debris, and flames. Two heartbeats later, a similar fate befell the window next to that, and in short order, despite the continuing fire from the Frontier Fleet troops, the windows all along the top floor of the Imperial Palace fell beneath the remorseless attention of the Ghost Hammers.

  Time and again, the WHOOSH of the medium-yield pulsar-cannon from a Ghost Hammer preceded the destruction of one of the large window frames on the face of the Imperial Palace.

  The Fire Support Vehicles gradually, relentlessly, and remorselessly whittled down the Frontier Fleet defenders. Having cleared the widows of the top floor of the Imperial Palace, Geor was about to commence firing against the next floor down, when a “cease-fire” order came through the comm-link.

  Then, once again, three dark shapes sped across Geor’s line of vision from beneath the dark brown clouds, and unleashed a fire storm across the grounds in front of the Palace. The Eagles had returned and strafed the grounds in front of the Imperial Palace. A great roaring sheet of flame seemed to sprout up from the ground all along the length of the Palace grounds. Anything that lived or had been placed there had been shaved from the face of the planet by the low-yield pulsar-cannon of the Eagles.

  Once again, the Ganthoran civilians cheered, as the curtain of flame, smoke, and debris rolled and roiled up into the air, clouding the view of the Imperial Palace for a few seconds. And, when the smoke had started to clear, the Frontier Fleet soldiers who had survived the latest onslaught opened fire once more with their laser weapons. Now, however, instead of sporadic and determined fire, there was a feeble, almost half-hearted attempt to resist the inevitable Landing Trooper attack. Laser bolts still sparked and jumped from the roadway to try and find targets amongst the crowd of Ganthorans that was gradually growing bolder.

  With no order to re-commence firing at the windows, Geor knew that something was being planned. The Eagles were most likely searching out the fixed defensive points in the Palace Grounds, and also the security fence that Kallet’s troops had managed to repair.

  “Sergeant Thardan,” the voice called over his comm-link.

  “Responding, sir.”

  “Fire Support, Front Line, Spearhead Mobile,” the voice ordered.

  “Acknowledged, sir.”

  Well, well, Geor thought, it looks like we’re going in as an armoured spearhead.

  Laser bolts continued to spark from the front of his vehicle as he prepared to go through with the next plan of attack. The Spearhead Mobile was a well tried and tested tactical manoeuvre that used the Ghost Hammers as a battering ram. The five Ghost Hammers would form an inverted “V” formation. With their Force Shielding deployed, the Ghost Hammers would creep forwards laying down anti-aircraft and anti-personnel fire, whilst the Boarding Squads followed closely behind. Under the protection of the Ghost Hammers, the Landing Troopers would edge closer to the Palace. When they reached a point where the Ghost Hammers could no longer progress, the Landing Troopers would deploy Battle Shields and attack on foot. It was an often practiced manoeuvre for Geor and his troop, but he had never actually led one in battle. And, not surprisingly, Geor was feeling anxious about it.

  “Ghosts, we’re going in Spearhead Mobile, so form up on me,” Geor instructed.

  “Acknowledge, two,” came the first response.

  “Acknowledge, three...Acknowledge, four...all acknowledged,” the responses followed.

  It took only a few seconds for the Ghost Hammers to tighten up their formation on Geor’s vehicle, even with the limited attentions of the Frontier Fleet laser bolts. And, looking to his left and right, Geor could see the two Operators of Ghosts two and three in his troop. The Operator on Ghost two was a short, wiry Thexxian named Pridus, who was a solid and sensible driver, but with very little personal initiative. The Ghost Three Operator was a tall Cerador named Hathram, who at first appeared too tall to be a Landing Trooper. However, by skill, courage, and sheer determination, Hathram had overcome the obstacles that his five feet eleven inches frame had imposed in his Landing Trooper career. Hathram had only been in the troop for less than a month, but he was quick-witted and possessed the Ceradors’ hunting and killing instincts. Beyond Pridus, Geor could see the pulsar cannon barrels of Ghost four. Ghost four was operated by a small and boisterous Bregan named Derch, who seemed to be the most relaxed and laid back soldier in the entire Universal Alliance. With a quick-wit and a ready hand for humour, Derch was not only the troop joker and morale-booster, he also had an instinctive nose for danger.

  Meanwhile, beyond Hathram; in Ghost Hammer number five, was another Thexxian. Answering to the name Phrainen, the number five Operator was the lynch-pin of the troop. An intensely sober and quiet soldier, Phrainen had no time for the practical jokes and humour of Derch and the others. He was, however, thoroughly professional, an
d as steady as a rock under pressure.

  “Right, Sergeant, let’s move them out, and can your lads keep picking off those Palace windows?” a Junior Troop Officer from one of the Boarding Squads asked.

  “Yes, sir!” Geor said, “Ghosts, forward, and resume firing on Palace windows, targets of opportunity, fire at will.”

  Edging the Ghost Hammer forward, Geor knew that the Boarding Troopers would be stepping cautiously forward, crouching behind the vehicles for cover. As the laser-bolts from the Palace defenders sparked and zipped away from the Force Shielding to the front of the vehicle, he also heard the distinctive buzzing and ripping sound of the Troopers’ pulsar-rifles on rapid-fire. To his right, Ghost three had just fired at one of the second floor windows on the Palace. The WHOOSH of the medium-yield pulsar-cannon was greeted a split second later by the explosion and cascade of debris and flame that indicated a direct hit for Hathram.

  Carefully watching the speed of the vehicle, Geor’s attention was suddenly drawn to movement on a third floor window of the Imperial Palace.

  Settling the cross-hairs of the gun-sight on the window, the mechanism magnified four Frontier Fleet soldiers setting up a weapon. Meanwhile, two other soldiers were firing their twin-barrelled Ganthoran laser weapons at the approaching Ghost Hammers. With a gentle pressure of his left index finger on the trigger mechanism, the medium-yield pulsar-cannon fired with a WHOOSH, and the scene of Frontier Fleet military endeavour vanished in a boiling sheet of flame and dust.

  And, happy with his direct hit on the Frontier Fleet soldiers, Geor Thardan started to focus on the situation ahead. To his left, the Thexxian Junior Troop Officer was calling on his Troopers to keep up the rapid-fire. The ripping sound of several pulsar-rifles, however, did not distract Geor from the battle. The laser bolts were still sparking from the front of the Ghost Hammer vehicle, which was now moving out from the broad approach boulevard and into the area surrounding the Imperial Palace itself. From the end of the boulevard, Geor could see that there were about two metres of pavement, followed by six metres of roadway, with another two metres of pavement before the remains of the Imperial Palace security fence.

  Already, Geor could see a scene of devastation and destruction in the grounds of the Imperial Palace. Beyond the remains of the security fence, the craters left by the Eagle strike were festooned with dead and severely injured soldiers. From some of the craters, flames still licked hungrily at the edges consuming everything dead or alive within its grip.

  The Imperial Palace itself was showing signs of the ongoing battle. The pock-marked walls where the pulsar-bolts had struck were also scorched and pitted, scarring the once-beautiful façade. Geor Thardan had no time to mourn what had once been a beautiful building; he had a job to do. Edging the Ghost Hammer slowly forward over the first pavement, the intensity of the laser bolts was beginning to increase. With the attention of Kallet’s troops now focussed on the five strange vehicles with the two large and dangerous guns, the Ganthoran civilians were growing even bolder and began to approach the Palace from behind the Landing Troopers. To his right, the WHOOSH of a pulsar-cannon announced that Ghost five had just fired at a first floor window. The explosion and dust cloud confirmed yet another hit. The Operators of his troop were showing themselves to be proficient at firing on the move, which pleased Geor immensely. They were keeping a good, tight formation, and were pinning the enemy down with some good shooting.

  Reaching the edge of the first pavement whilst under fire, Geor knew that he was entirely exposed and out in the open. And, as such, he would be the primary target for all of the Frontier Fleet weapons in the Palace. Thankfully, Geor Thardan had the utmost confidence in the vehicle that he operated. Ganthoran laser bolts could rain down on Ghost one all day, and they would never get close to penetrating the Force Shielding of his vehicle. However, in this instance, as he was out in the open, Geor realised that the Boarding Troopers would soon be let loose to attack the inside of the Imperial Palace. And, that meant that they would have to leave the protection of the Ghost Hammers to rush into the building. As a Fire Support Vehicle Troop, it was their job to keep the enemy’s head down as much as possible to allow the Troopers into the building.

  “Ghosts two and three, engage anti-aircraft weapons with windows on first floor, two; left to right, three; right to left pattern,” Geor ordered.

  “Acknowledge two...Acknowledge three,” came the precise responses

  It was a simple tactic of using the four low-yield pulsar-cannon on the circular frame above their heads to strafe the windows of the first floor.

  They wouldn’t have time to systematically eliminate every window with the medium-yield cannon, but with enough low-yield ordnance coming their way, it might just convince the Frontier Fleet soldiers to keep their heads down, and their laser weapons away from the windows.

  “Ghost four and five, second floor, four; left to right, five; right to left,” Geor continued.

  “Acknowledge four...all acknowledged,” the responses came rapidly.

  Geor knew that the Junior Troop Officer could release the Boarding Troopers at any moment to rush the building, and he wanted to give them every possible chance of getting the greatest number there in one piece. The surviving Frontier Fleet soldiers on the third and fourth floors would still be relatively unhindered by the Fire Support Vehicles, but Geor hoped that they would be far enough away from the Boarding Troopers to cause any real damage as they charged into the building.

  As Geor began to cross the roadway, he calculated that there were about thirty metres of ground for the Boarding Troopers to cross before they reached the building itself. Even with a couple of dozen laser weapons, the Frontier Fleet soldiers could still turn those thirty metres into a nightmare for the Boarding Troopers. For Geor Thardan, his Fire Support role also included suppressing the enemy’s fire. And, he would have to start suppressing the ground floor fire fairly soon, or it would be the Boarding Troopers’ who’s lives would be lost. With a deft flick of his left thumb, he engaged the four low-yield pulsar-cannon that were mounted on the frame above his head.

  “Self-defence systems activated,” the computerised voice announced calmly. The holographically projected gun-sight then split horizontally into two images.

  The upper image of the two projected a square box sight for attacking incoming aircraft. The box sight was far more effective for attacking aircraft, as it allowed for a spread of pulsar-bolts, rather than the precision of the cross-hairs for more accurate weapons fire.

  “Ghosts, acquire targets, fire at will,” Geor instructed into the troop-net.

  The order was quickly followed by the loud drone of the anti-aircraft weapons from all five Ghost Hammers opening up against the windows of the Imperial Palace. And within moments, it appeared as if someone was taking the tip of an invisible chainsaw to the Palace façade. The low-yield pulsar-bolts smashed and slammed into target areas, gouging and tearing at the fabric of the building. The ordnance from the anti-aircraft weapons stripped and sheared the fabric away from the windows, and the surrounding structures. In rough and ragged lines, the anti-aircraft pulsar-cannons played across their designated target areas, slowly and deliberately ripping and shredding the façade wherever they struck.

  From left and right, the anti-aircraft ordinance from Ghost Hammers two, three, four, and five slowly and relentlessly moved towards each other on the first and second floors. Geor, tasked with the job of shredding the defences of the ground floor, started on the left and gradually began to work his way to the right side of the building. For Geor and the other Operators, it was a simple matter of setting the square box-sight on the desired target area, depressing their left thumbs, and watching the pulsar-bolts smash against the building, shattering anything that they touched.

  “Good idea, Sergeant!” the young Thexxian officer praised.

  “We aim to please, sir,” Geor said, “but there’s not a lot we can do about the top two floors, sir!”

  “You l
eave that to me, Sergeant!” The young Thexxian smiled. “I’m far too young and handsome to turn up my toes here!”

  Calmly, and professionally, Geor let the anti-aircraft pulsar-cannon grind down the window areas of the ground floor, scattering or killing the Frontier Fleet troops who tried to defend their positions.

  And, as he allowed the anti-aircraft weapons to play along the ground floor windows, Geor realised that he was approaching the front entranceway to the Palace. This, Geor speculated, would be where the Boarding Troopers would want to gain access to the building. This was also where the Frontier Fleet defenders would most likely have their strongest positions. Drawing the cross-hair gun-sight towards the large arched entranceway, Geor prepared to fire one of the medium-yield pulsar-cannon. However, as he drew the cross-hairs into place, Geor could see a team of four Frontier Fleet troops amongst the contingent behind the improvised barricade, handling a large tube-like weapon.

  Before Geor could focus his attention on the weapon, it fired. The long, laser-stream zipped downrange, directly at Geor’s vehicle. A split-instant later, the bright yellow laser stream struck Geor’s vehicle with a resounding THUD, deflecting the stream upwards into the sky.

  Had the Force Shielding of the Ghost Hammer not stayed intact, the laser stream would have passed straight through Geor’s chest, and out between his shoulder blades. The Ghost Hammer lurched to a halt as the stunned as an astonished Geor Thardan registered what had just happened. Already, over the troop-net, the other Operators were trying to reach him; asking if he was all right. The dazed Geor Thardan, however, was still completely safe. Shaking his head to shrug off the feeling of dizziness from the shock, and the ringing in his ears, Geor focussed the cross-hair gun-sight on the barricade at the entranceway where the tube-weapon team seemed to be desperately trying to reload it.