Buck Roger XXVC #01 Martian Wars #01 Rebellion 2456

by M S Murdock

  The Free Enterprise disengaged its camouflage and moved slowly around Hauberk, accompanied by Buck, Doolittle, Earhart, Wright and Lindbergh. They sailed into the midst of the remaining combatants. “This is Rebel One to Eagle Leader. How’s it going, Captain?”

  Washington chuckled. “A moment ago, I wouldn’t have been overly optimistic. Now I figure the battle is just about over.” Buck could hear him fire a spurt from his lasers.

  “You may be right,” said Buck. “Hang on while I speak to the Scout leader.”

  “Will do,” said Washington casually, the zinging whine of a laser on his shields singing over the communications link.

  Buck flipped his communications channel. “Greetings, Hauberk,” he said. “This is Captain Buck Rogers. We have destroyed your fleet. Your shields do not exist. As you can see, we have the firepower to knock out your artillery if you should resist. I ask for your surrender.”

  OOOOO

  Seaforian heard Buck’s demand with half an ear. He stared at the schematics of his artillery placements, noting with satisfaction that they made a deadly barrier of flak against the NEO vessels. NEO’s assets clicked through his mind. That third-rater gave them a momentary advantage. He considered.

  “I say again, I ask for your surrender, or we will fire on the station.”

  Seaforian smiled, an evil smile that started in his eyes and spread like poison to his lips. “Captain Rogers, this is Seaforian, director of Hauberk station. I am prepared to negotiate terms of surrender.”

  “I am glad you are prepared to be reasonable, sir.”

  “I am always reasonable.” The evil laughter in his eyes danced. “I ask that you spare the station and the ships left to it.”

  “And I ask that you instruct your pilots to cease fire, pending the conclusion of negotiations.”

  “A fair request. I will authorize it.”

  “Good. There is no need for the innocent to die.”

  “That would be a waste,” responded Seaforian. “I assume that you wish to control the station.”

  “You are clever, Director.” There was the merest hint of sarcasm in Buck’s voice.

  “I submit that control of Hauberk requires more men than you have. I suggest my own personnel remain in control for the present.”

  “I can see no other solution,” said Buck. “My only immediate requirement for the administration of Hauberk is that the restrictions regarding trade and military deployment be lifted.”

  “I suppose you want the solar power company opened up, too.”

  “Yes”

  “Really, Captain, you are irresponsible. That much freedom will cause an immediate panic. The results for Earth could be disastrous.”

  “I’ll take the chance,” said Buck, realizing that Seaforian was playing for time.

  Seaforian shook his head sadly. “I am sorry to hear you say that. Still, I suspect it must be expected from a terrorist?

  “From you, I find the title an honorable one.”

  “Please, Captain, let us not quibble over semantics? said Seaforian, putting on a show of efficiency.

  “Then I suggest . . .” Rogers’s voice trailed off. “I see, Director, you have kept a part of your bargain.

  You will be happy to know your fighters have ceased their tire."

  “l am a man of my word,” said Seaforian.

  “So am I,’ ’ said Buck grimly, “and if the restrictions on Earth are not lifted in the next twenty minutes, I will begin to excavate sections of the station, then operate it with what few men I have.”

  “Then, Captain, accept the consequences. I will have no responsibility for the unchecked masses. Anarchy, violence, and panic are solely in your hands.’

  “I will be happy to accept the blame,” said Buck.

  “The words of a child,” returned Seaforian.

  “If you’re looking for seniority, mister, I outrank you by five hundred years.”

  “Mark my words, Captain,” said Seaforian pompously, “you will me your actions.” He banked the smile in his eyes, hiding his time. Seaforian had twenty minutes before Rogers would discover he had been tricked. In even less time, the NEO rabble would be engaged again, this time in a fight they could not win. Kane was on the way.

  OOOOO

  Huer, one electronic ear tuned to Buck Rogers, the other frantically trying to oversee the NEO fighter wing, breach Hauberk’s computer system, and monitor incoming and outgoing messages, had no time to reach farther, no circuit free to probe beyond Hauberk’s immediate perimeter. Having not yet broken RAM’s codes, and absorbed by the present conflict, he had no inkling of the approaching menace of Kane’s ones.

  Chapter 28

  Rebel One, this is Rebel Two. We should make the rendezvous point off Hauberk in three minutes. What is your status?”

  “Knockout,” Said Buck nonchalantly.

  “Say again?”

  “Rebel Two, Hauberk has surrendered. We’re picking up the last of the fighters now.”

  “Seaforian admitted defeat?” asked Wilma.

  “Well, not exactly. He gave up, but he hasn’t said much.”

  “He has a reputation as a devious man. Well deserved.”

  “We couldn’t expect to keep them under wraps forever, and after Hauberk we have no chance for secrecy.”

  “It served its purpose, Captain.”

  “It sure did, Colonel.”

  Wilma could sense the grin in Buck’s voice. She was smiling herself.

  “Rebel Two, you’re in visual range,” said Buck. He could see Wilma now, the three other ships flying behind her in a fan.

  “How long will it take to evacuate the station?” she asked. “Most efficiently? Doc estimates three third-raters could do the job.”

  “Or three trips by Thunderhead.” Wilma was thoughtful. “Where do you plan to put Hauberk’s Staff?”

  “Doc’s been working on it.” Buck tapped his flight helmet. “Doc,” he said. “Wake up.”

  Huer’s image immediately appeared on the lower left-hand corner of Buck’s face screen. “I am always awake,” he replied tartly. “What can I do for you?”

  “We need recommendations on the deployment of prisoners?

  Huer whistled, the sound particularly piercing Within the flight helmet. “I think our best chance is to try to isolate them on a remote area of Earth. It’s the closest, and there are desolate areas that RAM does not bother with.”

  “Rebel Two, I think we’d better inform the good director of our plans.” said Buck. “You’re ranking officer?

  “Yes, but you’re Rebel One and team leader for this operation. You dreamed it up. I think this should be a joint effort. You lead. I’ll back you up.”

  “Roger, Rebel Two.” Buck again out his communications line into Hauberk’s main network. “This is Captain Buck Rogers. I wish to speak with Director Seaforian."

  “Hauptman, here, Captain The director has left orders not to be disturbed.”

  “Disturb him, or we begin lighting tires,” threatened Buck “Understood, Captain I am patching you in now."

  Buck thought he detect a note of righteousness in Hauptman’s voice, and concluded there was no love lost between the communications officer and his Superior.

  OOOOO

  “This is Seaforian.” The director’s response was cold. “Buck Rogers here, Director. I must request that you prepare your staff for immediate evacuation from Hauberk.” “We can be ready in forty-eight hours,” said Seaforian, stalling. He had no doubt Kane would make the NEO terrorists flee. “I am afraid that is not possible, Director l can give you one hour.”

  “You are joking.”

  “I’m afraid not,” said Buck.

  “That is impossible, Captain! You have not won; you have merely survived a day of battle. Do you think RAM will not support me? Are you so foolish you do not fear the armies of RAM? They will crush your few ships to space dust.”

  “We are prepared for that contingency, Director. That is
why we must insist that you and your staff be prepared to depart Hauberk station in one hour?

  “And if we do not?”

  “Then I am very much afraid that RAM will lose a great number of key personnel.”

  “You would murder us in cold blood?” Seaforian blustered with feigned innocence. “I don’t know why that should surprise me, coming from untutored rabble?”

  “We don’t want to kill anybody, Director,” said Buck. “Not even a bunch of bureaucratic slugs. But in a very short time, Hauberk station is going to have a fatal accident. I am afraid anyone still on the station will share its fate.”

  “I see.” Seaforian did indeed see. The fools thought to blow the station up. He had only to play for time, trolling the NEO insurrectionists like Martian trout, so that Kane might destroy them. “The alternatives seem to have dwindled,” he said. “I will instruct my staff to prepare for emergency departure. Do you wish to use the station shuttles, or have you another plan?”

  “By all means use the station shuttles. We will give you landing coordinates when the time for departure arrives,” said Buck, trying to keep the elation from his voice. The sheer physical difficulty of moving so many people had been driving him around in circles. Now it seemed that Seaforian had solved the problem for him. “Commence evacuation, Director.”

  “At once, Captain.”

  OOOOO

  Buck signed off and said to Wilma, “Did you like that, Rebel No?”

  “Not much. He should have fought more.”

  “The good director has something up his sleeve.”

  “RAM.” Wilma’s voice was deadly serious.

  “Probably,” returned Buck.

  “Not probably.” Huer’s voice echoed inside Buck’s flight helmet. “You have visitors. Point two-three hundred.”

  Buck glanced at his scanners. Heading toward Hauberk in a purposeful wedge were eighteen spacecraft. He punched the identify code into his computer and the computer obligingly ran through the myriad classes of spacecraft, settled on the one-man fighter, then added the notation “EXPERIMENTAL. EXACT SPECIFICATIONS NOT ON FILE.”

  “Wonderful,” muttered Buck. “It looks like we’ve got company, Rebel Two.”

  “Did you run them through your system?” asked Wilma.

  “Affirmative.”

  “I think they’re a match for what we’re flying. This may not be so easy.”

  “The wonders of modern technology,” said Buck sarcastically. “I wonder how much overtime they had to pay to get those birds to fly.”

  “Rebel One, this is Eagle Leader. Bandits coming In.”

  “I noticed, Eagle Leader. Battle stations. It looks like this time it’s going to be closer to an even match.” Buck could see Washington’s command closing ranks in tight formation.

  “My flight picked up some fuel from the station’s tankers,” came Washington’s voice.

  “Then you hit them first, Eagle Leader. My men and Rebel Two’s are still refueling. Good luck. We’ll be right behind you.”

  "See you,” said Washington.

  Washington turned his ship belly up, swinging away from the space station and toward the approaching fighters. The rest of his flight followed Buck could see them lined out, silver-blue flashes against the darkness of space. As the two flights of spacecraft neared one another, half of the RAM ships broke off, engaging Washington, while the nest can tinned on toward Hauberk.

  Buck muttered an oath. The RAM leader was not going to give him time. “Colonel, come on!” he called to Wilma.

  “I’ve still got two to refuel. We had to do some expensive evasive flying down there?

  “How long?"

  “Five minutes.”

  “Follow me out when you can.”

  “Affirmative, Rebel One.”

  “All right, Eagles. It looks like we’ve got to do this one more time,” said Buck as his flight fell into formation behind him.

  “Rebel One, this is Eagle Two. We have artillery fire from the station.”

  “I see it, Eagle Two. Close up. We’re going to face first things first.”

  Buck’s five ships set out after Washington’s seven, setting a trajectory to intersect with the RAM vessels in approximately thirty seconds. They flew as a unit now, their combat action welding four outstanding individuals into an outstanding team. Gone was Buck’s nervousness, in spite of the more dangerous ships they faced. He knew, in the end, it was not the spacecraft, but the pilot that was the difference. He had four good ones, fresh from a successful action, and they approached the RAM ships like hounds in full cry.

  “I have been listening in, Captain,” interrupted a strange voice on his communications link. “To set your uncertainty aside, I will tell you the ships you face are also the new Krait class fighters. I also see we have you outnumbered. Why not give up now, peacefully?” There was laughter in the voice.

  “I find the invitation infinitely laughable,” said Buck, irritated by the man’s manner. “Just as laughable as I find your manners. The least you can do is introduce yourself. I am Captain Anthony Rogers.”

  “And I,” responded the voice lightly, “am Cornelius Kane. My friends call me Killer.”

  Chapter 29

  In his short time in the twenty-fifth century, Buck had heard considerable discussion about ComeIius Kane, especially from the pilots who made up NEO’s new wing. Curious, he had asked Wilma about him.

  “They call him Killer Kane,” she had said. “He deserves it.”

  Something in the shortness of her reply warned Buck he had hit a sensitive nerve. Later he questioned Turabian and learned Kane had been a NEO pilot, and that he and Wilma once were close, but came to a parting of the ways when Kane joined RAM. One thing he now knew for sure: Kane was dangerous.

  “Do you fetch any bones, Killer?” asked Buck as he closed on the RAM ships.'

  “Only yours, Captain Rogers.” You’ll have to catch me first,” said Buck, lifting his ship’s nose to a path that would overtly Kane.

  Kane saw the move and dove, making Buck’s run useless. “I am so glad you feel that way.”

  Buck followed Kane down, Doolittle still hugging his left wing, letting the rest of the wing break away for combat. Kane sent his ship out from under Buck in a curve to the left.

  “We seem to have formed a mutual dislike.” Kane pulled his stick back and the ship soared upward, toward the base of Hauberk station, then whirled and charged back toward Buck.

  Buck eyed the approaching vessel. It kept its headlong course, its nose pointed at his prow. Buck pulled his ship up, sending it in a ninety-degree power climb. He knew his evasion was momentary.

  Kane followed, his wingman hanging on grimly. Kane did not slow down. Buck veered away from him, hoping his speed would make him overshoot his trajectory. He was out of luck. Kane was good. He held the fighter to Buck’s tail, though it shuddered in protest at the turn he forced it to make. Buck dove and accelerated, cutting a one-hundred-eighty-degree arc. His ship strained forward, and for a moment he could see his adversary’s tail feathers. Kane broke the circle and shot off across space. His ship flipped over its tail and came screaming back, daring Buck to fight. This time Buck waited until it was almost on him, then shot forward and under his enemy, shoved his port docking thrusters home, and felt the ship spin. A blast from the starboard thruster stopped its revolution, and he drove forward, on his adversary’s slim tail.

  “Having a nice day?” Kane’s voice was light, mocking. In spite of his position, he was totally at ease.

  “So far,” Buck said conversationally, shoving his ship one notch closer to Kane’s. “We’ll have to change that. Didn’t anyone tell you NEO pilots never win.”

  “Nope. All they told me was RAM never flies outside its defense tunnels-unless there’s a bloody great lot of them. You’ve only got eighteen. What happened, you get lost?"

  “I have never been lost. And you?”

  “I can’t say the same. Getting lost is educational.�
��

  Kane’s ship ducked, and Buck’s went with it. Kane’s swerved, and Buck cut a wider arc, barely staying with him. Buck snarled, frustrated at having lost ground.

  “Testy, testy,” chided the mocking voice. “The living legend has a temper.”

  “You might remember that,” returned Buck, the drawl back in his voice.

  He nudged up behind Kane’s starboard tail stabilizer, and the ship’s shield hit a thruster at the top of Kane’s ship’s tail, pushing it down sixty degrees. Buck overshot Kane by meters. They were flying so closely that neither of the wingmen could get a clear shot without risking his partner.

  “Eagle Three, break off,” said Buck to Doolittle. “Leave him to me for now. If you get a clear shot, take it.”

  “I think you should have stayed in the twentieth century, hot shot. Five hundred years of sleep have rusted your reflexes.” Kane’s vessel rose behind Buck’s and its shields nosed the NEO fighter’s tail.

  Buck reached up to his control panel. He gave a lever a quick push down, then back up. Expelled fuel hit the exhaust vent behind the engines, ignited, and spewed out his tail and into Kane’s face. Kane uttered an exclamation and dropped back, blinded. Buck shot off to starboard, whirled on his docking thrusters, and jumped back into position near Kane’s tail. “Check,” he said.

  “At least you show some ingenuity,” said his adversary. He chuckled. “That was clever.”

  “Thank you,” said Buck modestly. He was beginning to realize Kane was playing a game. He had not fired his lasers once. Kane’s ship flipped over backward in a turn that almost grazed Buck’s fuselage. He followed it grimly.