“Shouldn't be anything the Marines can't handle, Captain.”
“Why give the task to the girls?” asked Bobby.
“The translation? Well, they are both smart as a whip and they speak a half dozen languages between them. I figured it was a good way to keep them occupied now that most of the heavy repair work is done.”
“You realize that they have been spending quit a bit of time with the two young Marines?” Beth was not really asking a question, she knew full well that, since the incident, her husband was keeping close tabs on their youngest crew members. She posed the question to inform Bobby of the situation without being too obvious. With Mizuki among the missing, his recent attention to shipboard matters was cursory at best.
“Yup. I didn't want them distracting part of the landing party before the balloon goes up.”
“Smart move, Captain,” Bobby said, comprehension of the situation dawning on him. “If I were a younger man those two would certainly be a distraction.”
“A much younger man,” Beth said archly. She was happy that Bobby was not wallowing in deep depression, but was instead taking an active and productive part in the coming rescue mission. “How do you propose implementing the search for the missing shuttle?”
“We have a good idea where it went down. From sensor and atmospheric readings it looks like they were hit by multiple air-to-air missiles tipped with low yield nukes. They must have damaged the shuttle but it kept on flying for several hundred klicks before going in.”
“And we have a fix on their final position?” asked Billy Ray.
“Yeah, the emergency transponder was stationary for several hours before it went dead.” Bobby's face was grim when he uttered the word 'dead', though he continued his description of what they knew about the crash. “I figure we will go to the impact point and assess the damage. If it looks like there were survivors we will try to figure out which way they headed.”
“You don't think they would have stayed with the craft?”
Bobby shook his head.
“No, they had to know they were under attack. If they lived, and were able to move, they would have gotten away from the crash site, in case the hostiles came looking for survivors.”
“Well, pardner, it sounds like you got things under control. I figure we will give the crew a double watch of down time once the techs have done all the testing they can without powering up the drives. I want the crew well rested before we begin operations.”
Beth nodded. “The crew is anxious for round two, Captain. The sooner we can neutralize the Dark Lord threat the sooner Bobby and the Marines can go after our people.”
“One more thing, Captain.”
“Yes, Bobby?”
“I want to take the butterflies with us. Sometimes the damn things seem almost telepathic, maybe they can help find Mizuki down there.”
“What ever helps, pardner. Let's get back to work.”
The three officers departed, headed back to their duties. All three felt the strain of Mizuki's absence. Both Beth and Billy Ray prayed fervently that Mizuki would be found alive, for Bobby's sake and for their own. She and Bobby were a couple but the four of them had been close friends for years, through the early voyages of the Peggy Sue and the battle to save Earth. Like every human alive, they had lost more loved ones than could be counted. They were not just friends, they were the only family they had left.
Cargo Hold, Peggy Sue
“Alright, listen up people!” the Gunny shouted. “Some of you cream puffs have never been in real combat before, so pay attention.”
The joking and playful banter quickly faded away, leaving the end of the hold where the deuterium plant had sat filled with expectant faces.
“We do not know for sure what we are walking into downstairs, but we are going to start at the crash site where the shuttle went down. Our primary mission is search and rescue. We are looking for survivors, not a firefight with the locals. Understood?”
“Aye, aye, Gunny.” the group of green clad men and one large polar bear replied.
“Commander Danner is in charge of the mission; once we get dirtside he will assess the situation and decide how we proceed from there. From what intel we've been able to gather, there are at least two different groups of alien critters running around down there. The most numerous are the natives of the planet, arthropods that seem to be at a Medieval technology level.”
“What does that mean, Gunny?” asked Vinny. The other Marines snickered.
“Knock it off, you chuckle-heads! Playing smart while staying dumb is a good way to get dead.” She gave them the hard stare. “If you got a question now's the time to ask it.”
“Yes, Gunny.” the squad replied, more or less in unison.
“We are talking bows and arrows, spears, and swords—nothing that can directly threaten a Marine in armor. The other creepy critters are the ones in the antique spacecraft hanging out in orbit. The word is that there are several hundred of these douche-nozzles on the planet trying to pull off some kind of stealth invasion or something.”
“Are these the ones who shot down our shuttle?” asked Kato.
“By process of elimination, yeah. We think that they have the equivalent of late 20th Century weaponry, including tactical nukes.”
That got the Marines' full attention.
“They have limited air support, probably some kind of fighter bombers. No armored vehicles that we've been able to spot from orbit. We can expect projectile weapons, maybe RPGs and light artillery. They've been consorting with the Dark Lords, so its possible they may have been given some energy weapons as well.”
Umky gave a low rumbling growl. “What's the weapons load, Gunny?”
“We are going in heavy: flechette and 15mm railguns, AM grenades, and full armor. We'll be in the armored shuttle so it can supply air defense, and we can use the battle bots if needed. I repeat, our mission is not to engage these alien slime-balls, our mission is to find our people and get them back. Is that understood?”
“Aye, aye, Gunny!”
“Good. Now everyone go to the armory and go over your kit, twice. Then grab some rack time, because the balloon is going up in about 24 hours. After that we're all gonna be busier than a one legged man at a butt kicking contest.”
As the Marines left for the armory, talking in low voices among themselves, the Gunny thought: Damned if this ain't another well organized stampede.
Chapter 23
The Royal Pastures
Striding across the field came the strange bipedal creature, its body coloration shifting as it moved through the knee high ferns. Its pace seemed purposeful but unhurried.
“It's coming right toward us, Your Highness,” simpered one of the servants.
“Quiet! Let her Highness think,” the Majordomo chastised the servant, secretly glad that she had pointed out the obvious danger. Ignoring the household help, Timushi turned to the Castellan.
“I believe that it wants to have words with us, my Lord Castellan.”
“You think that wise, Ma'am?”
“I think we would be hard pressed to out run it if we flee and it decides to give chase. Besides, it did not harm the other herd-keepers. I don't think that bloody murder is what it has in mind.”
“Yes, Your Highness,” the Castellan acquiesced. “Archers, stand at ease! Spear bearers ground your weapons! Do not provoke the, er, stranger.”
“Strange indeed,” the Princess mused. “I've never seen anything that walked upright like that, balanced on only two legs. You'd think it would topple over.”
“It seems to get about just fine, Ma'am, considering it crossed the meadow faster than any warrior could, and then sliced up the mantis without missing a step.”
“In doing so it did us a good turn, my Lord. I wonder what it wants?”
* * * * *
Mizuki forced herself to remain calm and maintain a steady pace on her march across the pasture. She had hung the translator computer around her neck, not
that she expected it to be of immediate help. She was still draped in the camouflaged poncho, with its hood up covering her head. She felt like a cowled monk as she approached the line of spear men, or rather, spear bugs. As she drew closer they all grounded their weapons, much like the herders had.
I hope that is a good sign, she thought. At least they aren't going to skewer me out of hand.
Mizuki halted three meters from the line of soldiers and put her hands on her hips. The spear bearers remained as unmoving as statuary.
These are obviously different from the herders. They have much larger heads and bigger mandibles. They must be warriors. I wonder if all these creatures are specialized for the kind of work they do?
Lacking any flash of inspiration Mizuki simply spread her arms, displaying her empty hands. Behind the line of warriors there was shuffling as the archers and other types of insect parted. Through the open path strode the big individual she had spotted from the trees. Beside it was another, smaller individual who also sported large compound eyes, but was wearing body armor and a sword—a warrior commander perhaps?
At a word from the smaller of the pair, the spear bearers stepped sideways, clearing the way. The leader took another step forward but did not fully leave the cover of its warriors. The leader stood as tall as Mizuki, though it did so on four legs, not two. From a heart shaped head with two antennae, large almond shaped, compound eyes stared levelly at her.
It cocked its head to one side, as if in contemplation, then straightened up. It nodded its head and lowered its antennae in what could only be a gesture of greeting.
Mizuki bowed in response.
Straightening up she thought, Well, here goes nothing.
Slowly she reached up and drew back the hood of the poncho, revealing her head and face.
* * * * *
“Ye gods, its hideous!” said the Castellan in a low voice.
“I must admit, it is not like anything I've ever seen,” said the Princess in a conversational tone. “It looks soft and fleshy, like a grub.”
“Look at that mouth! How does it eat with that mouth?” Even the crusty old Castellan was having trouble maintaining a calm demeanor. The warriors remained stoic as ever but a wave of chatter swept through the servants and other retainers.
“At least it had the good manners to bow, so it must be civilized for all its horrible strangeness.” Timushi paused for a second. “Consider, my Lord, that we must appear as hideous to it as it does to us.”
“You are wise as always, Your Highness. Still I find the thought little recompense for having to gaze upon its terrible visage.”
At that point the daemon pointed to its chest and said, “Mizuki.”
The princess nodded and gesturing to her own chest and said, “Timushi.”
The daemon's face distorted and the ends of its freakishly mobile mouth turned upwards. This gesture, so ghastly and unnatural, almost made the Princess turn and run, but she persevered. Spreading her arms in an all encompassing gesture, she said, “We are Formicidae.”
Touching its chest with both hands, the daemon replied, “Human.”
HQ, Fakkaa Expeditionary Force
“I am sorry, Commander, but the landing of the reinforcements has been delayed by at least a half a day due to damage to the landing craft.” The voice was that of Fleet Admiral Raqqee himself.
“Yes, Admiral, I understand,” replied the Ground Commander, carefully controlling his voice in an attempt to keep his frustration from boiling over. We are approaching the end game and now this happens! Damn it, I need those fresh troops!
The Ground Commander's temperament was well known throughout the fleet and the Admiral was a crafty old dog. He knew that if anyone of lesser rank had delivered news of the delay the Commander would throw a fit. As it was, he was barely keeping his temper in check.
“I apologize for the delay, but several of the landing craft did not pass their pre-flight inspections. I'm sure you will agree that we have already lost enough troops without having more perish while deorbiting.”
The Admiral's words brought back bitter memories of losing half his pathfinder force a year ago, when they first came to this god's be damned planet. As much as it galled him, the Commander had to admit that old Raqqee was right—losing more assets at this point could put the entire mission at risk.
“Yes, Sir. We will make do until you can safely land the reinforcements. Please keep us advised of your progress.”
“I will, Commander. Raqqee out.”
The channel went dead.
After a few moments thought the Commander bellowed, “Lieutenant! Get the aviation commander on the radio. We don't have troops of our own to spare so I am going to call on our native levies to provide a delaying force.”
“Sir?”
“Contact the First Sergeant with the native column. Tell him he is to requisition half a dozen of the insect warriors for an ambush of Princess Timushi's party.”
“We are going to use natives for the ambush, Sir? Will they be able to pull it off?”
“Who cares? I'm hoping that attacking the opposition column will unsettle them enough to slow their progress a bit. Besides, we cannot weaken our force accompanying our Princess's column without endangering the mission. Should the opposition win the race to the capital I sincerely doubt that Reishi's warriors could take the place by storm without all the help we can muster.
“What if Princess Reishi refuses?”
“Tell her to come up with the ambushers or forfeit her throne. We'll see how much the high and mighty insect Princess really wants her dead mother's empire. Have the troop carrier meet the column and pickup the warriors.”
“In front of all the insects, Sir?”
“Hang 'em all. Let them see what type of power we have, maybe it will help motivate them.”
“Yes, Commander.”
Lower Deck, Peggy Sue
Mal and Zeke were headed from the cargo hold, forward to the crew lounge when they encountered Shadi in the passageway. She was standing just outside the shower room, looking nervous and alone.
“Hey you,” said Mal, smiling at the young woman.
“Hey yourself,” she replied.
“Where's Dorri?” asked Zeke, looking past her down the passageway.
“She's in the crew lounge, being entertained by some of the sailors. I wanted to talk with Mal alone.”
“Oh,” Zeke answered, somewhat disappointed.
A glance and raised eyebrows from his brother sent him down the passageway toward the lounge. Glancing over her shoulder at the departing Zeke, Shadi turned back to Mal and looked down shyly. It was unusual to find Shadi at a loss for words, and Mal regarded her expectantly.
“I just wanted to speak with you before the attack,” she began.
“Hey, I don't think anything bad is going to happen. If the Captain didn't think we could take these Dark Lord clowns we would try something sneakier.”
“It's not the attack on the alien ship that I'm worried about. It's what happens after, you know, going down to get the missing people back.”
“There's gonna be nine of us, ten counting Commander Danner, and we'll all be in battle armor. Umky's a walking tank and we'll have cover from the armored shuttle and its battle bots on the ground if needed. We'll be fine. It's the others that I worry about, the ones who went down in the first shuttle.”
“Just promise me you won't do anything... overly heroic.”
“You mean stupid,” he said with a grin.
“I guess so. It's just that Dorri and I have lost so many people—family and friends, and even the other settlers—I don't want to lose you.”
“I promise, I'm coming back.”
“You'd better,” she said, forestalling any reply by quickly kissing him on the lips. She turned with a swirl of dark hair and ran down the passageway, leaving behind the lingering fragrance of jasmine and a dumfounded young Marine.
It was Mal's turn to be at a loss for words, standing mu
te as Shadi disappeared forward. All he could think was: Holly shit! I didn't see that coming.
Princess Timushi's Party
The group of natives continued their trek toward the capital city, marching until twilight forced them to camp for the evening. Along the way the daemon Mizuki and Princess Timushi conversed as best they could. The magic amulet around the daemon's neck started to translate the daemon's language into that spoken by the natives, rapidly improving as they walked along.
“Well Your Highness, you asked the gods for a daemon of your own and it looks like they granted your request,” said the Castellan in a hushed tone.
“So it seems,” Timushi replied. “The only problem is that the gods usually extract a heavy price for the gifts they bestow on mortals.”
“We will see, Ma'am. Just a couple more days and we will settle things with your royal sister and her daemons.” I hope this daemon is up to it.
* * * * *
Mizuki walked along with the leader's party, an easy pace despite the natives using twice as many legs for locomotion. They were unlike anything found on Earth. Obviously arthropods and anatomically similar to insects, they possessed six limbs, two of which acted as arms and the rest legs for walking. Their bodies were also segmented into insect like parts: a head with compound eyes, two antennae, and a mouth; a large abdomen in the rear; and a thorax where the arms and legs attached, connecting the other two parts.
They reminded Mizuki of ants from back home, but the thorax was different from Earthly ants, consisting of two distinct parts. The rear half was parallel to the ground and from it sprouted the four walking legs. The front half bent upward almost 90 degrees, the two arms attached to its sides with a short neck supporting the head on top. There were vent openings along the sides of the chest section and below that the thorax expanded and contracted rhythmically—an indication of some form of lung within the chest cavity.
On Earth, insects breathed through a network of tiny tubes called tracheae. Air entered the tubes through holes along an insect's abdomen allowing oxygen to be absorbed. But these creatures were much too large to breath without some form of forced respiration, even with the higher atmospheric concentration of oxygen. Back home, the only arthropods to develop lungs were arachnids and scorpions, and those were just primitive book lungs.
The Queen's Daemon (T'aafhal Legacy Book 2) Page 18