Storm' Fury: The Shenkar War

by Seth Libby

  At this point he lifted his glass and spoke.

  “To better days and to hopes they come soon for both of our people. May the fire of the warrior burn bright within us, to help in our cause, to win freedom. I salute you and your fellow humans in your willingness to throw yourselves into the fire for the races of the subjugated.”

  “To better days and to freedom,” Liam said as he lifted his glass.

  He sipped cautiously from the glass to discover the liquid held a mild spicy flavor too it. Taking a deeper swallow from the glass created a hot feeling that rushed down his throat and filled his body in pleasant warmth.

  “This is fermented from a rare fruit found upon my homeworld. During the festival of Dalia under the light of the full moon the fruit is harvested and immediately sliced, pressed and sealed in large vats of Kulan milk for three cycles of the moon. Someday, you and I will attend this festival, where we will brew our own batch together,” explained Betz, before he took another deep swallow from his glass.

  “I look forward to the day,” Liam said with a smile.

  As he drank from his cup again he wondered if and when that would ever be. One thing he was sure of was they needed to succeed in the upcoming mission because no matter what he had said earlier, failing would be the number of deaths would be far greater before this war is over.

  January 31st, 2014 10:13am EST

  Cathergon freighter, Farrow

  Evan, once again, checked the straps that held the device in place, verifying nothing had come loose.

  “That is the tenth time you have checked the straps,” came a voice from behind him.

  Turning, he saw David Brine, a Paladin, leaning against the hatchway, smiling. Evan didn’t say anything but only stared at the lieutenant with a flat unamused look upon his face. David grew uncomfortable and quickly stood at attention, snapping a salute.

  “My apologies, Lieutenant Commander, I just meant there is nothing to worry about.”

  Evan, laughed on the inside, realizing now why Liam would always just stare expressionless at anything he and Steve did till they grew uncomfortable. He found it amusing to watch them squirm which Evan thought was rather evil but still funny.

  Only after a few moments more of watching Brine squirm did Evan smile and speak.

  “It is okay Lieutenant Brine, I’m just overcautious, that’s all. We need to assure this device does not suffer and damage otherwise the Shenkar will be able to signal for reinforcements. If this happens we will be hopelessly outnumbered and this mission will fail.”

  Lieutenant Brine studied the device for a few moments before he looked back to Evan.

  “Lieutenant Commander, may I ask you a question…off the record?”

  “Yes, but I can’t guarantee I will answer it.”

  “Is it true one of the shuttles is carrying an antimatter-bomb?”

  Evan took a deep breath as he thought this over and whether to tell the Lieutenant what he knew. Would knowing the truth change anything or how his men and women fought? He doubted it but one could never tell.

  “Yes, it is true, as I said…we cannot allow the Shenkar to signal for reinforcements, even at the cost of all our lives. If the device is damaged or seized we have been ordered to detonate the device and destroy the orbital platform.”

  Lieutenant Brine studied something on the floor for several moments before he looked back up.

  “Is it also true of what Commander Brennan and the Poseidon carries?”

  “And what would that be?” Evan asked.

  “I heard rumors they are carrying a thermobaric bomb, is it true?”

  Evan sighed and wondered how the information had been leaked. A thermobaric bomb was an explosive that uses the oxygen from the surrounding air to create an intense, high temperature explosion. Typically these bombs were commonly known as air fuel bombs. These particular bombs were especially devastating in closed in spaces, such as tunnels and cave systems. Anyone caught near this bomb, when detonated, would be instantly incinerated as the fire expanded outwards, consuming everything in its path. Even if victims were able to avoid the fiery portion of the explosion they would not necessarily escape from danger. The pressure wave that was released from such a bomb could kill as well with even those on the fringe of the explosion suffering from internal injuries such as burst eardrums, severe concussions, ruptured lungs or internal organs and possibly left blind.

  The team had only taken the bomb as a last resort and Evan knew that if detonated, even Liam with his new abilities, would not survive.

  “The rumors are true,” Evan said simply.

  “Jesus,” David whispered, “Why would they take such a weapon with them?”

  “We cannot afford to fail on this mission, those facilities must be destroyed. If we cannot sway the Lykaans to our cause then Commander Brennan will do everything in his power to destroy those facilities…even at the cost of his own life.”

  Brine did not say anything further but only stared at the floor, obviously thinking of what it would be like to die from such a weapon.

  “Was there something else, you needed lieutenant?” Evan asked as he saw Brine shudder to himself.

  The question seemed to jar the lieutenant from his thoughts as he looked up at Evan.

  “Oh yes, sorry, I came back here to inform you we have just entered the Lykaan system. All freighters have formed up and the captain has communicated with the orbital station requesting clearance to dock to offload supplies.”

  “Was there any problem from the station when the Cathergons communicated the entire supply fleet arrived at once?”

  “No, the Shenkar accepted the excuse that the Cathergons gave about it being more profitable to resupply the stations all at once. The Cathergon captain was very subservient, acting the ever-loyal subject. The Shenkar ate it up and even threw a few insults their way about how it was about time they learned their place. We should begin docking sequence in about thirty minutes.”

  “Excellent, pass the word for everyone to ready themselves, we attack as soon all freighters are docked.”

  January 31st, 2014 10:23am EST

  Lykaan system, EDF Poseidon

  “Commander, we are running silently, no indication they have detected us. As for friends, all freighters have begun docking sequence, they should be fully docked within the next ten minutes,” Steve stated from the operations station.

  “Good, we will begin our run as soon as we detect communications have been cut,” Liam said as he studied the holographic display of the system.

  Seeing that everything was going as planned he keyed his personal comm device and spoke.

  “Sergeant Robinson, ready the men, we go in in ten minutes. Also do a check again that all equipment is secured. From what I understand the atmosphere of the planet has very turbulent weather on the surface so we will be in for a bumpy ride.”

  “Yes, commander, we will be ready,” came, the gruff voice of Sergeant Robinson.

  Closing the connection he sat back in his command seat and once again studied the display, nervous tension coursing throughout his body.

  “Are you absolutely sure of the coordinates? We won’t be detected by any Shenkar patrols where we land?” Liam asked of the person standing next to him.

  “Yes, the cavern is plenty large enough to land this warship while at the same time it will secure you from the harsher weather from the surface. We also have the benefit that the area has long been mined out of anything valuable. Lastly, the area is subject to winds from the surface so the temperatures leave the area unsuitable for dwellings to be built,” Shizta said as he eyed the planetary readout he was holding.

  “Okay, once we secure the passage we will head out. Admiral Kelvin and I will lead a team in search of some Lykaans we can negotiate with while Lieutenant Barrows and his team will go in search of the manufacturing facilities. They have the map you provided them at their disposal so they should be able to locate the facilities.”

  “Just mak
e sure we emphasize that the map is not one hundred percent accurate, it is only based on information I have obtained in the past. As far as I know there have not been any major changes at the locations but I cannot say for sure that there hasn’t been either. I do not want any of your men and woman stumbling into a trap, that would be bad for all of us,” Shizta explained.

  “I will relay the message but they know to be careful and take every precaution they can. They are not to destroy any of the facilities until given the order; this is only a scouting mission.”

  Liam pulled up the team list and wondered again if he shouldn’t revise the teams as he looked upon them.

  Team A Team B

  Cdr. Liam Brennan Lt. Steve Barrows

  Lt. Callen Groto Lt Peter Bowmount

  Lt. Sabrina Wellmo Lt. Aldis Glaget

  Cpl. Antonio Caprenni Sgt. James Robinson

  Pvt. Danny Henderson Pvt. Chen Xang

  Adm. Frank Kelvin(Ambassador) Pvt. James Reuban

  Pvt. Erica Dewitt

  Leah had been upset with him that he had not included her on either team but when he had informed her that Alyssa was also remaining behind it seemed to take the sting out a little. He explained that she would remain behind with Tim, Alyssa, Shizta, the remainder of the specialists unit along with two platoons of standard Praetorian Guard to safeguard the Poseidon and the thermobaric bomb. If the ship fell into enemy hands then they would have no way off the planet not to mention all the new technology the Shenkar would acquire.

  Looking again at the holographic display he watched as the last of the Cathergon freighters entered the orbital station. Soon it would begin and then it was no going back, they would have officially brought the war to the Shenkar.

  January 31st, 2014 10:32am EST

  Cathergon freighter, Farrow

  “Lieutenant Commander, the dock official is getting most irritated that we have not begun offloading our cargo. He is outside and wishes to come in, he is threatening to eject us into space through a nearby airlock,” Captain Frozt said over his personal comm.

  “We are ready. How long before the last freighter docks?”

  Captain Frozt took a moment to check a reading on his console before responding.

  “Last freighter just touched down.”

  “Excellent, initial the signal to attack then lower the docking ramp, I will then activate the jamming device.”

  “Sending signal now,” stated Frozt simply.

  Evan heard the ramp begin its descent; he quickly reached over and hit the activation button on the device before removing his plasma sword and moving forward to the freighters exit. He had only just made it to the entrance before a Shenkar boarded, yelling about the incompetence of Cathergons. Evan ignited his plasma sword, the red glow illuminating the shocked face of the Shenkar.

  January 31st, 2014 10:38am EST

  Orbital Station 1, Lykaan space

  “Overlord, the last of the Cathergon freighters has docked,” signaled the operations officer from his station.

  Overlord Nynai looked up from yet another uneventful report he was reading. Once again reminded of this utterly uneventful assignment, he couldn’t help but feel resentment. When word had circulated that the Federation had, for the first time in his lifetime, encountered a race that was most skilled in the art of warfare, Nynai had thought he would have his chance at command. Instead his superior, who hated him, had assigned him to this new orbital station, doomed to oversee the transfer of cargo and supplies by a pathetically compliant species.

  He honestly did not see the need to build these massive orbital stations to guard an out-of-the-way ice ball of a planet. True, he knew the compound that was harvested from this planet was vital to the creation of the clone warriors but it isn’t like the humans knew of its location. The only species that knew of the location, outside of the planets inhabitants, were the Shenkar and the Cathergons. The Shenkar would not betray its whereabouts and the Cathergons were so pathetically subservient there was nothing to fear from them not to mention they knew nothing of why the planet was so important.

  Nynai sighed to himself as he waved his hand that he heard the operations officer, knowing the Shenkar would defeat these humans long before he would be able to get reassigned to partake in the glories of combat. With nothing more from the operations station he returned to his reports. A while later the operations officer spoke once again.

  “Overlord, the first of the Cathergon freighters should have finished unloading and loading of their cargo by now and should be departing but radar is detecting no outbound freighters. I tried to raise the docking chief but I am unable to get him on the line, all communications seem to be down.”

  Nynai sighed as he placed the report next to his command chair and stood up. Walking over to the station he looked down at the readout display.

  “Probably a malfunction, we have been encountering similar issues throughout the station. If they hadn’t pushed the construction of these stations so quickly then maybe these little issues would not occur. Get maintenance station five on the line, they are the closest, and tell them to send someone to repair the line.”

  “That’s just it overlord, I have already tried that…I cannot connect to them as well. I tried calling all maintaenance stations near the docking bays but none are responding. I also have found that all outbound transmissions are not going through. It is almost as if something is jamming the transmission signals.”

  Nynai frowned this as he looked over the communications network himself and soon came to the same conclusion. Picking up two personal communication headsets he handed one to the operations officer and donned the other himself. Understanding what the overlord intended the operations officer donned the headset and tested the link. The sound of Nynai’s voice could be heard clearly over the headset as he spoke.

  “Head down to docking, give him that headset, and find out why those freighters have not departed…we have a schedule to keep,” Nynai commanded although he really didn’t give a damn about any schedules as there was nothing else scheduled for days.

  The operations officer quickly stood and hurried from the command center as Nynai walked back over to his seat and sat down. He almost returned to his boring reports but a nagging feeling had developed inside him that something other than a faulty communications network was the cause at the moment. After several long minutes his impatience got the best of him, he keyed the comm headset and then spoke.

  “Report, how long before you reach the cargo bay?”

  “I am almost there, I……..” the operations officer stopped speaking and Nynai could hear shouts and sounds that were familiar yet he could not here it well enough to make it out.

  The connection was still open but the operations officer did not speak but the sounds grew louder. As the sounds grew louder Nynai was finally able to make out what the sound was but…it was not possible. The sounds grew louder and soon he could hear screams and the familiar thrum of plasma swords clashing together.

  “Report! What is going on down there!” Nynai commanded.

  “Overlord, we are under attack!”

  “Attack?! This cannot be, Cathergons do not have the spines nor the weaponry to launch such an assault.”

  The sounds grew louder and louder as the time passed by until it was almost unbearable. When the operations officer next spoke, Nynai needed to strain to hear his words.

  “It is not the Cathergons…..it’s the...”

  The last of his words were drowned out by the sounds of energy blasts.

  “Repeat that last part, I did not copy that,” Nynai demanded.

  “Humans! I said it is the humans that are assaulting the station, they are everywhere! I…”

  Whatever the operations officer was going to say next, he never got a chance to say as the loud thrum of a plasma sword filled the connection followed by silence. Shock ran through him of Nynai’s last words still rang through his ears. How could the humans be here? It was not possible, it
cannot be possible! Turning he spotted his security chief and waved him over.

  “We have humans attacking the station; they must have arrived in the Cathergon freighters. Assemble your warriors and kill them all!”

  To the security chief’s credit he did not even blink in surprise at hearing the news of the human’s assault. Instead he simply saluted and turned to leave, as he was about to exit Nynai shouted after him.

  “Get three full squads of your best men up here! If the humans get past you, they cannot be allowed to take the command center!”

  January 31st, 2014 11:19am EST

  Orbital Station 1, Lykaan space

  The sounds of fighting had all but died off as Evan looked about the area. Dead Shenkar lay everywhere, taken by surprise by the freighters hidden passengers. He also noted that some of the dead were human; several Praetorian Guard lay about the area as well as one Paladin. The Paladin had the most impact upon him, it was Lieutenant Brine.

  They had been advancing quickly through this area of the station when his team had encountered a group Shenkar that were quicker to act. The Lieutenant had just killed a Shenkar that was pinning down a group of the Guard when another Shenkar shot him in the head from behind. Evan had jumped forward and killed the Shenkar but it was already too late for Brine.

  Evan took a second glance at the head of Shenkar he had decapitated and frowned. Leaning closer he got a better look at object that had drawn his attention.

  “Everything alright, Lieutenant Commander?” came a voice from behind him.

  Looking up Evan saw that two Paladins, names on their chests read Gent and Merth, stood nearby looking down at him.

  “No, this one was wearing a comm headset which means that there is a good chance someone was listening on the other end,” Evan explained as he indicated the head that lay nearby.

  “Which means they know we are here,” Merth said simply.