“Dean, there’s nothing else to fight here,” Parker said as she stepped onto the alien ship and looked around.
“Not yet there isn’t,” Dean said. “But more are coming, I’m sure of it.”
“We’re back, Captain,” Wilson said as he and the other two HA Specialists with utility cannons mounted on their armor made their way through the opening.
“Good, let’s get into a defensive formation people. We don’t know what the Kroll will hit us with next. Static, Starboard, Stinger Strong, Saber, Neutral!”
“We should alternate plasma and utility cannons,” Owanto said.
“Agreed,” Dean said.
The Heavy Armor Specialists shuffled into place, forming a straight line directly in front of the opening that led to the Apache. They faced the EsDef ship, the big shields they wore on their backs formed a barrier that any attacking force would have to breach to get into the opening. Harper and Valosky took positions just behind the HA line on the right side. Dean was several paces back, with Ghost on his right, Chavez on his left. Captain Parker was right behind Dean, with Tallgrass to her right, and Landin to her left.
“Alright, I want MSVs all along the glass wall,” Dean ordered. “Primed and ready to go. If something comes through that wall I want you to blow them up. Demo team, get charges set all along this wall of slime. Use your thermite to bore into it, and set the charges inside.”
“Will it get us off the alien ship?” Parker asked.
“I have no idea,” Dean said. “But it’s worth a try.”
“And if it doesn’t?”
“Then we’ll go to plan B.”
“What’s plan B?”
“I’ll tell you when I figure it out,” Dean said with a smirk.
“Captain,” Owanto said. “I’ve got movement on the other side of the glass wall.”
Dean turned his attention to the far wall. It was made of thick glass, or some similar product, but was difficult to see through. It was as if the glass was old, and dirty. Up close a person could see through it for a short distance, but from where Dean stood it almost looked frosted. Still, he could see a large, dark shape moving just on the other side.
“Oh shit,” Adkins said. “It’s a monkey.”
“A what?” Parker asked.
“One of the large, simian creatures,” Dean explained. “Everyone set your weapons to full auto. If that thing comes in here we hit it with everything we’ve got.”
“Those bastards killed D’Vris,” Adkins said. “I’ll take it on by myself if I have to.”
“No,” Dean said, “we work together. Massed fired at the target’s center. No one breaks the line. We stand together, no matter what comes at us.”
A bright outline formed a square the size of a commercial garage door on the glass. Dean’s heart sank a little. He didn’t know what was happening, but he had a pretty good guess. Whatever was on the other side of the glass wall was coming through, and he could only hope they had enough firepower to stop it before it bowled right through his platoon and onto the ship.
Chapter 35
Dean was right, the square of light on the glass wall magically became a doorway. The glass inside the square vanished and just as quickly a huge ape-like creature jumped through the doorway. It was a huge, hairy brute, easily twelve feet tall, with bulging muscles in its massive shoulders, arms, and legs. The head was small, and covered with what looked like a metal bucket.
The Miniature Surveillance Vehicles were the size of a box of matches, with four wheels and a tiny, wide-angle lens they allowed the Fast Attack Specialists to spy on targets that were otherwise hard to reach. They also carried an explosive charge that was roughly twice the concussive strength of a grenade. As soon as the simian’s bare feet hit the floor, two of the MSVs exploded. The creature bellowed as it fell to its knees, but the entire Recon platoon cut the creature’s wail short with concentrated fire.
The flechettes from the utility cannons did little damage, but the tungsten projectiles from the EMR rifles tore completely through the creature’s chest. It hit the floor with a thump and convulsed. Dean had no time to admire how precisely his plan had worked on the creature because a second one came bounding through the opening. Its first jump landed it squarely on the first creature’s back. Again Dean’s platoon fired with no need to be prompted with an official order.
Hair and blood flew as the concentrated fire blazed into the huge beast. Most of Dean’s platoon were changing magazines in their EMR rifles as fast as they could. The smell of charred flesh from the plasma cannons filled the room. The simian charged forward, but stumbled on its first step and when it rose the first rounds from the EMRs took it back down.
“Incoming!” shouted Owanto.
More of the feline creatures were charging through the opening in the wall. The four-legged aliens were more dexterous than the huge simian beasts. They came into the room at angles that allowed them to spread out, leaving room for more to follow and taking them out of the direct line of fire from Dean’s platoon.
“Cannons stay on that opening,” Dean said. “Rifles take out the flankers. We can’t let them get around us.”
“I’ll take this side,” Parker said, moving to Dean’s right with Eleanor Tallgrass, who joined Harper and Valosky.
“Got it,” Dean said. “Chavez, Landin, Ghost, go left.”
They moved as ordered, their weapons spewing death as the feline aliens scrambled to evade their fire. Dean got an impression that the four-legged creatures feared the guns of his platoon and rightly so. They hesitated to attack directly, dodging and darting around, up the walls in an attempt to avoid the deadly hail of gunfire. But with the EMR rifles, one shot was all it took to knock the creatures out of the fight, and the computer-aided aiming gave the Recon platoon a decided edge.
“Harper, get me eyes on the other side of that wall,” Dean ordered.
The Fast Attack Sergeant sent an AAV flying through the opening without resistance and Dean saw dozens more of the feline creatures. Nothing was holding them back but fear.
“Hit them with all you’ve got,” Dean ordered.
A second later the deck shook from the impact of the low yield thermal warheads dropped by the AAV. The shooters were working furiously, taking down the aliens and reloading in rounds so that there was no gap in the rain of steel. Then, like the calm after a thunderstorm, the shooting ended.
“Report,” Dean said.
No one was hurt, but nearly half of their ammunition was spent. Dean knew he could pull back, set off the charges, and escape, but the hull of the Apache was compromised. He toggled over to the command frequency and called for Admiral Masterson. Technically he was off the ship, which meant using formal radio communication.
“Command, this is Wolfpack, do you read, over?”
“I have you, Captain,” Masterson said. “What’s the sit-rep down there, over?”
“We’ve pushed back the second wave and our demo team is working on the charges. How quickly can you seal up the airlock, over?”
“Engineering says they need an hour, maybe more. We can’t take any chances that we don’t get a good seal. Even a tiny leak could tear the patch away and destroy the entire ship. Is that area secure, over?”
“I believe so, sir, but I don’t like the idea of giving the enemy an hour to put together a new strategy. I request permission to take the fight to them, sir. I’ll leave enough Specialists to hold this position, but keep the Kroll on their toes so that we don’t risk another attack here, over.”
“You mean, you’re going deeper into the ship, over?”
“With your permission sir,” Dean said. “It’s the only strategy that gives you time to get the airlock fixed. As soon as the charges are in place, we’ll move into their ship, hit them hard, then haul ass, over.”
“That’s a valiant plan, Captain. God go with you. Ov- What the hell does she want now? Standby, Captain, over.”
Dean didn’t have to think about who was
causing trouble, and he knew exactly what he would do if it were up to him. Sloan Fanning, beautiful, headstrong, but completely deluded when it came to her understanding of the Kroll.
“Blaze, Ms. Fanning is demanding to go aboard with you. I think it’s a damn fool’s errand but if she’s anxious to die, I won’t stand in her way. Take her and Butler with you, but don’t risk your lives for them, is that clear Captain. You hit the enemy where it hurts and then get back here. We all go home together. Command, over and out.”
Dean wouldn’t have argued, but he understood why Masterson didn’t give him a chance. The last thing he needed was to have civilians questioning his every order inside the huge nest ship.
“Captain, we have enemy incoming,” Harper said urgently. “Looks like the big mechanized fighters.”
“How many?” Dean asked.
“Three. About two hundred yards from the opening. To our right.”
“Roger that. You and Valosky get your MSVs out into that corridor. Captain Parker, you’re holding this position. Kliner, Teller, Tallgrass, you don’t let anyone or anything past this airlock. Is that understood?”
“Yes sir,” they all said in unison, even Captain Parker.
“Tallgrass, if we can’t make it back or if you’re under attack, fall back into the Apache and blow those charges. You don’t wait on us if the ship is at risk.”
“Sir, I… I won’t let you down,” Tallgrass said, her normally unshakable calm suddenly faltering.
“Dean, be careful,” Parker said.
“I will be. Send the children along as soon as we clear out these mechs,” Dean said, referring to the diplomats he knew were coming to join his platoon. Then he turned to the rest of his Specialists. “Alright, we’ve got enemies on both sides of that opening, and mechs to the right. I want Adkins, Teller, and Owanto on the right, focus your plasma cannons on the mechs, I doubt their armor will hold up for long. Harper, Valosky, you’re providing cover fire against the lions, and using your AAVs if you have to. Ghost, Landin, you’re with Wilson, and Carter on the left. Give ’em hell and make sure we aren’t hit from the rear. Chavez, the diplomats are coming, you’re their escort. Once we clear the mechs, you join us.”
“Yes sir,” Chavez said.
“Here we go people,” Dean said. “On the double, move!”
Owanto and Wilson jumped through the opening at the same time, their cannons blazing. The others joined the fight as quickly as possible. Dean heard the mechs coming, and felt a tremor of fear that was just as real as the vibrations coming up through the floor with each step the three huge, T-shaped mechs made.
The feline aliens were scrambling back, reacting to the steady fire coming at them. Dean’s focus was on the walkers, the T-shaped machines were simple in construction, heavy metal bodies with short legs, and large laser cannons for arms. The lead mech fired a stream of red light that impacted Owanto’s shield.
“It’s heating the metal,” the HA Sergeant said. “Temp readings are rising fast. We won’t last long against those lasers, Captain.”
By the time he finished speaking all three mechs were firing their stead state lasers, smoke was rising from the Heavy Armor titanium-hydrogen shields.
“Hit them with AAVs,” Dean said.
Harper and Valosky sent their drones racing over the heads of the Heavy Armor Specialists. If the mechs saw the approaching drones they didn’t change their attack or try to evade. Dean guessed they didn’t expect the small flyers to be a threat. The two AAVs dropped a pair of warheads simultaneously. The bombs exploded in the corridor with such force that Dean was nearly knocked off his feet and fire filled the hallway. He had to wait for the smoke to clear, but the attack was successful. The mechs were still intact, but they had been knocked off their feet and were no longer a threat. Their short legs and lack of arms made them impossible to raise without help.
“Looks like the right corridor is clear,” Dean said. “Excellent work Harper, Valosky. How are things looking Ghost?”
“The enemy fell back as soon as we hit them sir. Haven’t seen hide nor hair since, but they’re still alive.”
“Damn,” Dean said. “We’ll just have to follow them. Chavez, you got the children?”
“Right behind you Captain, ready for a road trip,” the Staff Sergeant said, as he stepped through the corridor.
Dean turned to find Fanning and Butler following Chavez. They both looked shocked by the carnage around them. For a moment, Dean was glad they could see what they were up against and just how deadly the Kroll could be. But he didn’t want to shame them or make them angry, so he softened his voice when he spoke them.
“Fanning, Butler, are you sure you want to go with us?” Dean said.
Butler looked at the floor, ashamed of his fear, but unable to hide it. Fanning on the other hand bridled.
“We will not be disregarded,” she said defiantly. “You must put your weapons down and give peace a chance.”
“No," Dean said. “We’re keeping our weapons ready to fire. If you’re going with us you do as I say, and I mean exactly what I tell you, as soon as I tell you. Is that clear?”
“Yes,” Butler said.
Fanning hesitated, her eyes narrowing but she couldn’t see Dean’s face through the screen of his TCU. Finally she nodded.
“Okay, we’re going in. Don’t do anything stupid. When we make contact we’ll let you speak, but so far they’ve come at us hard. Don’t be surprised if they attack first.”
“You are warriors invading their ship, Captain. What do you expect?”
“I expect that if I capture a ship the crew of that vessel will fight back. That’s what we’re doing, Ms. Fanning. Please keep that in mind. Alright platoon. Let’s go, Endcaps, Talon, Beak. Adkins, join Wilson and Carter. Take center position. Landin, you stay right behind Mr. Butler. Chavez, you’ve got Ms. Fanning. Let’s move out.”
They set off down the left side corridor. The Heavy Armor Specialists in front walked backward, using the vid feed from the cannons to see where they were going. It took skill, and training, to walk backward toward an enemy, even with a shield on one’s back. Navigating using a vid feed wasn’t easy either, and keeping in step with your comrades so that the large rectangular shields stayed in position and didn’t gap or clash took trust and practice. Dean’s platoon had plenty of both, he just hoped it was enough to get them all back to the ship alive.
Chapter 36
They moved down the corridor slowly. There were nooks and what looked like maintenance consoles, with pipes and fixtures at regular intervals. Everything about the ship seemed to be well engineered and Dean couldn’t help but notice that it wasn’t made for large flying creatures. They passed more glass holding cells, some had Urgglatta inside, and one had odd-looking creatures that reminded Dean of kangaroos. The creatures had innocent faces and looks of bewilderment. Long arms hung from their narrow shoulders, and they had thick legs that rose up their sides, bent back down at the knees, and ended in huge feet.
“What the hell are those things?” Adkins asked as they passed the creatures.
“Can it, Corporal. We aren’t on a field trip,” Dean said.
“Fascinating,” Butler said. “We should try to communicate with them.”
“They aren’t the Kroll,” Dean said. “And we don’t have time to stop. Let’s keep moving.”
After nearly ten minutes of steady progress, they came to a narrower passage that turned from the main corridor to the right. Dean called the platoon to a halt. His gut instinct told him the Kroll would be at the center of the ship, although Dean wasn’t actually keen to find them. He wanted to create a distraction that would allow the maintenance crew on the Apache to fix the ship so they could make their escape, but he had his orders and an opportunity to make contact. That was all the EsDef Brass could ask of him, and he decided to do his best to carry out the mission.
“Alright, take the corridor, but stagger your formation,” Dean ordered. “Don’t bunch up and
watch your firing lanes. The last thing we need is someone getting hurt this far from the Apache.”
They turned and made their way down the side corridor. It was clearly used to move things back and forth through the ship. There were stains on the floor, dents on the wall, scuffs and scrapes, even bits of hair and hide that looked bovine to Dean.
“What the hell do you think happens in here?” Adkins asked.
“Looks like a cattle chute,” Ghost said. “I been in plenty of them back home. I’ll bet if you pop your battle helmet it smells like shit and blood.”
“Why?” Wilson asked. “What would they have a cattle chute for?”
“Moving the Urgglatta,” Dean explained.
“Move them where?” Carter asked. “Why do I feel like this is bad?”
“Because it is,” Dean said.
“We don’t know that, Captain,” Fanning said, her voice sounded strange through her own helmet’s comlink. “It could be a way to let them move about the ship.”
“You ever meet an Urgglatta?” Chavez asked the diplomat.
“No,” she admitted.
“They’re quite graceful,” Chavez said. “Slow, methodical, very precise. That was my impression at any rate. Unless they’re scared, then they act like any other cow.”
“The creatures who passed through here were in a hurry, and didn’t care what got in their way,” Ghost said. “My guess is, they were herded through here at chow time.”
“You mean the Kroll eat the Urgglatta?” Butler said.
“That would be my guess,” Ghost said.
“We don’t know that,” Fanning said. “We shouldn’t speculate, it will make our jobs more difficult.”
“A lot more difficult if they eat us,” Adkins said.
“They eat people?” Carter asked, his voice pitched high in horror at the very thought of being eaten.
“No, of course not,” Fanning said, but without conviction.
“Here’s what we do know,” Dean said. “They’re predators, and predators normally hunt for food. They captured us for a reason.”
Embracing Oblivion: Wolfpack Book 3 Page 23