“Oh please, Oksana,” Xylo said and pursed her lips as if she needed to spit. “Your sanctimony is based on ignorance. Morlok’s people are dying. Think about it. The greatest, most technologically advanced society we humans have ever encountered. We cannot allow them to perish.
“A human Vanguard hybrid is the natural humane direction to proceed. Difficult. Arduous. Painful, yes. But necessary. The only way. Surely you can see that?”
Blok shivered. “Alex was right about you all along. You’re a monster.”
“Join me, Oksana. Join the side of the righteous. We have the moral high ground. We are prepared to sacrifice the thousands to save billions.”
Blok felt her stomach backflip. “Can’t you see you’re siding against your own people?”
“You may scorn, Oksana, but walk in my shoes. Make a decision rather than throw scorn like a coward from the side-lines. What would you have really done differently?”
“I’m USF, Madam President. We never leave anyone behind.”
Xylo sighed and dabbed the corners of her eyes with a tissue.
“Goodbye, Oksana.”
Her image dissolved into static.
Blok fought back her tears and turned to Hannibal.
“There it is, Captain. What now?”
CHAPTER 108 - TRANSMISSION
An alarm sounded in the cab of the shuttlecraft.
Dax glanced at his console.
“Colonel, Invincible powered up its main guns. We’ve been targeted.”
“Deploy evasive measures,” Rage said as he stared at the monstrous shadows of the Ursidae, Invincible and Canis Dirus as those ships surrounded Valiant on three sides.
Dax initiated a pre-programmed sequence of plasma flares. He glanced about the side and rear windows as red jets of plasma launched from the shuttle and exploded in formations of starbursts.
“You think that will work?” Dax asked.
“If it confuses their targeting sensors long enough for us to fall under the shadow of Valiant, then--”
An array of plasma torpedoes soared out of Invincible and headed straight for them.
Rage spun the control wheel and rolled the shuttlecraft sharply.
“Contact Valiant for support,” Rage said.
Dax hit comms “Valiant, this is shuttlecraft Medea 5, requesting cover support and docking bay allocation.”
Static filled the airwaves.
Dax met Rage’s wide eyed gaze.
“Valiant, this is shuttlecraft Medea 5, requesting cover support and docking bay allocation. Urgent. Repeat. Urgent.”
Only static responded.
“So now we know which side Grint is on,” Dax said.
“Time to force Grint’s hand,” Rage said. “I heard you speak of evidence?”
“Correct.”
“Good as time as any to get the word out, don’t you think, XO?”
Dax swiped the back of his hand over the shuttlecraft’s transmission control console. He hit the transmit button.
“That’s everything on a full spectrum broadband wavelength,” Dax said and read the transmission monitor. Most of the frequencies were blocked.
“Only the local range is unblocked.”
“That’s all we need,” Rage said and forced the shuttle into a steep, spiraling dive toward Valiant’s nearest docking bay. “Either we convince one of those captains to help us, or we’re plasma toast.”
***
Hannibal burst onto the bridge. Weapon specialist Hanson, Comms officer Ryan and the others flinched.
Hannibal knew they sensed he had made his decision.
“Battle stations,” he shouted and then forced his voice to remain calm. “Bring main gun batteries online, now.”
A soft crimson glow replaced the normal peaceful blue glow of the bridge.
“Shields up, Captain,” said Weapon Specialist Officer Hanson.
“Captain,” said Ryan, “Shuttlecraft Medea 5 is broadcasting on all available channels.”
“Show me,” Hannibal said.
A static ball appeared in the center of the bridge. Video footage of a young boy, with rotting flesh peeling from his entire body, hugging Zen Dax.
“Dada...”
Hannibal balled his hands so tight he felt blood on his palms.
“Make ready to fire at my command,” he said.
The entire crew of the bridge looked up from their consoles.
The weapons specialist cleared her throat.
“Target, Captain?”
CHAPTER 109 - CRASH LANDING
“Evasive counter measures exhausted,” Dax said.
A spread of five plasma torpedoes converged on shuttlecraft Medea 5.
“It’s all over, Dax,” Rage shouted. “I’m sorry.”
Dax stared hard at the torpedoes. Refusing to cower.
“At least my boy got away. There’s hope in that.”
A barrage of blue plasma missiles rocketed out of Valiant’s main guns. Targeting the torpedoes. Five explosions rocked Medea 5.
Dax’s control console burst into flames. A jet of steam erupted from the floor.
Rage turned the control wheel full left, and then full right.
“Medea’s not responding,” Rage said and stared at the landing bay as dozens of landing crew began to flee. “We’re a flying coffin. Assume crash positions.”
Medea 5 belly flopped onto Valiant’s landing bay runway. Its nose chased its tail and spun into a dozen fighter craft. Like dominoes, they toppled into the next in line. A fireball erupted and engulfed a row of a hundred fix wing fighters.
Two G-RUNT units stepped into the path of Medea and held out their arms. Medea slapped the first G-RUNT aside and flipped it over the nose. The second G-RUNT clung onto Medea’s nose and spun around. Its legs gouged deep trenches where its feet scraped along the runway.
Finally, Medea skidded to a stop. Dax kicked out at the windshield as a dozen G-RUNT units tackled the inferno of fighter craft.
“Nice landing, Rage,” Dax said.
“Seen worse,” Rage said. “What now?”
“We need to coordinate with Grint.”
“Before or after our court martial for this damage?” Rage said. He removed his helmet and backed away from the voluminous clouds of acrid smoke billowing out of the mangled skeletons of Valiant’s fixed wing fighters.
The Commander of Air Group, Theodore Grissom, came running over to them. “Are you responsible for this?” he shouted.
Rage nodded. “I’m sorry, Grissom.”
“Sorry? Colonel, sorry don’t cut it,” Grissom said. “You and the XO annihilated Valiant’s close quarters combat capability.” CAG Thanks to you we’re at the mercy of Nightwing’s raiders.”
Rage felt his nostrils flare. He leaned into Grissom. “What the hell was your entire squadron doing sitting all pretty in a row when they should be out of sight, and protected below deck?” he shouted. “Answer me that, CAG.”
“Valiant’s shields dropped because you made a standard boarding request,” Grissom spat back. “You didn’t ask permission for an emergency crash landing.”
Rage caught sight of the gathering deck crew and a contingent of his own marines staring at the two senior officers as they squared off. The mix of amusement, anger and fear on their faces shook Rage to his core.
I’m expecting these men and women to die with me. The least I can do is act like a leader…
“This is not good for ship’s moral at this delicate hour,” Rage whispered to CAG Grissom.
Rage patted Grissom on the shoulder as he walked away. “I’ll make it up to you, Grissom.”
CAG Grissom balled his hands into fists. Flying out of the blinding white flames of the fighter squadron, Grissom’s punch struck Rage across the back of his ear, knocking him to the flight deck.
Rage felt his hands clench tight into fists. He slowly stood, but forced himself to wait out his boiling anger. But he stood his ground.
“A sucker punch, Grissom? Th
ought you were better than that.”
Dax shook his head. “Air group are trained to attack out of the sun,” Dax said and came between the two men. “Thought you’d know that by now, Colonel.”
He shot Rage a look that told him to hold it together.
Dax turned to CAG Grissom. “You got the wrong man, CAG,” Dax said. “The Colonel’s not responsible for the damage. I am.”
CAG Grissom’s eyes narrowed.
“You want to take a free hit?” Dax said. “If it makes you feel better, be my guest. It won’t bring back your squadron, and you’re right, it makes us more vulnerable than we would be.”
Grissom gritted his teeth. The poisonous fumes brought tears to his eyes. Or so he told himself. He sucked in the bitter fumes. He let his haunched shoulders drop.
“Just tell me it was worth it,” Grissom said wearily.
Dax nodded. “The mission was vital. Whether it’s a success or not, depends on our meeting with the old man.”
Grissom sighed heavily. “Then get to it, XO. There’s no time to waste.”
Dax stood aside and ran for the elevator. Rage and Grissom squared up. Grissom looked Rage in the eye.
“Now you’re without my squadron’s cover fire,” Grissom said.“You might want to rethink your strategy for boarding the enemy’s ship.”
Rage swallowed hard. “There is no other way,” Rage said and trotted after Dax.
“It’s a suicide mission, Rage,” Grissom shouted. “The deaths of five thousand marines are on your conscience.”
Rage remained tight lipped.
I’ve far worse on my conscience.
“It’s true what your men all say behind your back, Colonel,” Grissom shouted. “Rage the Destroyer. He kills anything in his way. Even his own friends and family.”
Rage reached the elevator and jumped through the closing doors to join Dax. He felt his heart thundering in his ears. He couldn’t hold it together any longer and turned to go after Grissom.
The elevator doors slammed shut. Rage punched them. Hard. When he realized they wouldn’t open until they reached their destination, he slumped his big shoulders against them.
Dax caught his eye.
“Save it for the big one, Colonel. We’re gonna need all you’ve got. And more.”
***
As Dax and Rage raced through the doors and onto the bridge, Hannibal drew his pistol.
“I ought to shoot you both where you stand,” Hannibal said.
Dax and Rage froze.
Hannibal stared at the pistol before sliding it back into the holster.
“And then pin medals on your bodies,” he said.
Dax relaxed. “What now, Captain?”
Blok and a young tired looking man Hannibal didn’t recognize, joined them on the bridge. Hannibal told Hanson she had the bridge command.
He led Dax, Rage and Blok and Alex to the conference room.
“You found my daughter?” he asked.
“Nia’s taken my son to safety,” Dax said. “And hopefully a cure.”
“I’m glad,” Hannibal said and felt a pang of loneliness in his chest.
“Did she... say anything? Give you a message for me?”
Blok swallowed hard. “No, Captain. But she was busy--”
“She give you a way to contact her?”
Dax shook his head. “She expressly forbade any contact for fear of--”
“Of course,” Hannibal said and sighed.
“How did she seem?” Hannibal asked.
“Like someone to be proud of, Captain,” Dax said.
Hannibal had a hundred other questions, but he knew time was not on their side. He sensed Blok’s impatience.
Blok cleared her throat and indicated the young man next to her.
“Captain, this is my fiancé, Alex. He tried to warn me about Admiral Finnean and... President Arc.”
Hannibal looked the young man up and down. He looked as if he hadn’t had a good night’s sleep in years. For that reason he resisted asking his marine sentries to throw the man in the brig. At least until he heard what he had to say.
On a personal level, Alex didn’t seem like a man Oksana might go for. But then he conceded he had no idea what qualities she looked for in a man. All he knew was his beard itched when he looked at Alex Arc.
Maybe it’s just the prejudice of having a scheming politician for a mother.
He forced himself not to judge a man by the sins of his parents. Nevertheless, he had too many questions and too little time to get answers.
“Back from the dead, young man?” Hannibal said and winced at his own small-talk. But he wanted him at ease and off-guard.
“Barely, Captain.”
“Your mother’s stitched us right up, Alex,” Hannibal said. “Anything to say? Any intelligence that can be useful?”
“My intelligence data is over a year old,” Alex said. “I can try to appeal to the President’s better nature, Captain Grint.”
“Your fiancée tried that.”
“With respect, Captain, if we don’t at least try, what else is there? I am still the Earth’s ambassador to Mars. My political office gives me rights, privileges, responsibilities to sort out this mess. If you give me your support, Captain, I think I can resolve this problem to a satisfactory outcome.”
Hannibal glanced at Blok. She nodded.
“The holograph is yours,” Hannibal said. “Only watch your step, son. She’s a slippery eel.”
“I learned from the best, Captain.”
Oksana set up a direct call on Q-NET.
The ball of static resolved to a hologram of Xylo Arc stood with her back to Alex.
“Changed your mind, Oksana?” she asked and turned slowly. Her eyes popped wide. “Alex? Is it you?”
“Surprised to see me, mother?”
Her eyes filled with tears. She smiled.
“Thank God, Alex.”
“No,” Alex said. “Thank Captain Grint, Colonel Rage, Commander Zen Dax and Oksana.”
Her smile distorted into a sneer.
“I’ll send a shuttlecraft to collect you.”
“No, Mother. Not until you promise to stand down the Mars Defense force.”
Her eyes narrowed.
“A negotiation?”
“A demand. First of many.”
“I’m listening.”
“I’ll come back to you,” Alex said, “if you make a galaxy wide broadcast. Order the immediate arrest of the members of the consortium. And announce your intention to resign as soon as you can hand over power to an interim government.”
“And who shall lead this interim government? You?”
“I shall take on the temporary burden, yes.”
She let a gentle laugh escape her tight lips. “Congratulations, Alex. I’m proud of you.”
Alex’s brow furrowed. “I must admit, that’s not the response I expected, Madam President.”
“I’ve taught you well. Of course I’m delighted you’ve seen fit to turn this situation to your own personal advantage. It seems the student is now the master.”
“This is not about personal ambition, mother. This is about right and wrong.”
“Is that so?”
“It is.”
“Then how long do you intend to rule with this interim government, Alex? Indefinitely.”
“Until we’ve routed out all your co-conspirators. Until stability can be ensured and the authenticity of new elections can be guaranteed.”
“A month? A year? A decade? Oh come on Alex, we both know there is no such thing as safety, certainty, authenticity in the galaxy and never in politics.”
Alex closed his eyes for a moment and sighed. When he opened them the tiredness in his eyes seemed to have evaporated.
To Oksana, Alex seemed possessed by a new energy. A zeal. A righteousness. It unnerved her. But also excited her.
What happened to you on Mars, Alex?
“Your answer, Madam President?” Alex asked.
She swallowed hard and nodded.
“Answer me this, mother. Did you agree I be taken prisoner and kept aboard Nexis?”
She took a sharp breath. “Sometimes even the President is forced to make concessions. Sacrifices.”
Alex narrowed his eyes and nodded. “Send a shuttle for me and my people,” Alex said. He nodded to Oksana and she cut the feed.
Xylo’s hologram dissolved into static.
“So that’s it?” Dax said. “Seems all too easy.”
“Of course it’s too easy,” Alex said. “The moment I arrive, Invincible will open fire on Valiant.”
“If you knew that all along, what was the point in that?” Hannibal asked.
Dax smiled. “It gives us time to launch our own first and decisive strike.”
“On Invincible?” Hannibal said and forced his trembling hands into his pockets.
“No,” Dax said. “The real enemy is the Vanguard flagship.”
“Nightwing?” Hannibal asked. “With its camouflage we can’t even see it. Are you insane, boy?”
Dax looked at Colonel Rage. “Am I?”
“There might be a way, Captain,” Rage said. “But we’ll need the help of the Vanguard woman, Fyre Von Rha.”
CHAPTER 110 - NIGHTWING
Rage and Dax found Fyre on Valiant’s observation deck. She appeared to be meditating.
“I’ve got five thousand marines ready to make a Dark Halo jump to Nightwing,” Colonel Rage said. “Only problem is--”
“Nightwing’s cloud camouflage,” Fyre said.
“Our sensors are blind. Without knowing what’s behind the camouflage we could dive into it and completely miss the hull. Fall through it. Five thousand marines die drifting in space.”
She opened her eyes and looked at them. “So why come to me?”
“I’ve heard rumors you Vanguard can sense things.”
“It’s true,” Dax said. “Since the bite I’ve developed... powers. But I don’t understand them, or fully know how to use them.”
Fyre shook her head. “If you’re asking me to kill fifty thousand Vanguard troops, I can’t. Won’t.”
“We’re asking you to help us stop your race destroying mine.”
“This is not how I saw our future.”
“We’ve come so far...” Dax said.
Valiant (Jurassic War Universe Book 1) Page 44