by G. P. Hudson
“Understood,” said Kriss.
About halfway down the platform, the first energy bolt hit. Kriss couldn’t pinpoint its origin. The melee that followed did little to alleviate his confusion, but it hardly mattered. Kriss ran for cover and returned fire with the rest of the Taymati, targeting the invisible enemy as best as he could.
“They’re using cloaks,” said Vass. “Deploy anti-concealment ordnance.” Anti-concealment munitions delivered blasts of focused, high-intensity radiation, disabling a cloaking device.
The grenadier stepped up and launched several rounds in the direction of the enemy fire. White flashes followed, disabling the cloaking devices, and revealing the enemy’s position. The Taymati responded with a torrent of energy bolts and projectiles. Kriss noted that while some of the mercs still had shields, a few didn’t. The mines had done their job. The Taymati noticed too, and the vulnerable mercs were targeted and killed in short order.
The Mercenaries were good fighters, but they were no match for the Taymati. Without shields, this encounter would have ended a long time ago. But the rest of the mercs still had working shields, and with several Taymati now dead, Vass was forced to order a retreat.
Too far along the platform, they couldn’t return to the tunnel. Instead, they entered a nearby stairwell and raced up to the higher levels. As before, they left gravity mines behind to keep the mercs at bay. Running up the staircase, Kriss saw the safety of the lower Taymati tunnel falling further out of reach.
Energy bolts chased after them, and there were a few mine detonations before the mercenaries gave up their pursuit. The Taymati continued to mine the stairwell as they raced upward, back to the higher levels.
“How did the mercenaries find us?” the Emperor asked Vass.
“They must know about the Taymati tunnels. Either that or they can track us,” Vass said ominously.
“How would they do that?”
“I don’t know, your worship, but I’ve never seen shields before today either.”
“Where do we go now?”
“Back up to the street.”
“The street? Is that safe?”
“Probably not, but it’s not safe down here either. The Taymati will be out in full force by now. There will be safety in numbers.”
“Are our communications still being jammed?”
“Yes, your worship.”
“Then we have no way of knowing what the situation is on the street.”
“No, your worship.”
Chapter 32
“We have never seen anything like these aliens,” said Kiith through the wallscreen. “Aliens are landing throughout the capital city. Our forces have moved to intercept, but we are having great difficulty defeating them. Can you help us?”
“Are you asking me to send down ground forces?” said Jon, surprised by the request.
“I see no other way. Our losses are mounting, and we risk losing the capital. You possess shield technology. You can stop them.”
“It is risky. Those ships currently in orbit will hamper our efforts.”
“Can you not destroy them? I have monitored your tactics. They are highly effective.”
“Those tactics require nuclear strikes, General. Sustained nuclear detonations in orbit might cause unforeseen consequences. There is also the risk of a miscalculation, causing a detonation in the upper atmosphere.”
“Do not concern yourself with that. We have a very active star in this system, which necessitated proactive action. We have hardened our infrastructure against any type of electromagnetic pulse.”
“Okay, good to know. Then with your permission, I will go ahead and initiate a nuclear strike.”
“You have my permission for that, and to send troops to the surface.”
“Understood. Stand by,” Jon said, simultaneously opening a comm with Commander Henderson on the bridge. “Commander, initiate a nuclear strike on the enemy ships orbiting Dvorkan Prime.”
“Yes, Sir,” said Henderson.
Jon watched on the split screen as the nuclear jump bombs hit their targets. The repeated conventional strikes had weakened the enemy’s shields considerably. Now they blazed a brilliant white and collapsed. With the shields gone, the second wave of nukes detonated inside the enemy hulls. Blinding explosions followed as the orbiting warships blew apart.
Tapping his control pad, Jon opened a comm with all his commanders, who appeared on the wallscreen.
“The aliens have landed in the Dvorkan capital. The Dvorkans do not have shields and have requested our assistance.”
“The Chaanisar will destroy this alien menace,” said Colonel Bast. “We will send our soldiers down to the surface.”
“We will also send teams to the surface,” said General Tallos, apparently not wanting to be outdone by the Chaanisar. In this situation, Jon didn’t mind the competition between Bast and Tallos.
“All the space battles have made my Reivers soft,” said Jonas. “They need some ground combat to keep them in fighting shape. We will also contribute forces to the defense of the Dvorkan capital.”
“Thank you, that should be plenty,” said Jon. “Move your ships into position and start deploying your troops. We’ll provide cover in case the aliens get any ideas. I’m also going to send a couple of the Freedom’s fighter squadrons down for air support. Pike out.”
The commanders all disappeared from the wallscreen, and Jon reopened a comm with General Kiith. “The aliens orbiting your planet have been destroyed, General. Some of my ships will move into orbit shortly, and begin deploying ground troops to the surface.”
“Thank you, Admiral Pike. You have turned out to be a man of your word. For that I commend you. I will do my best to convince the Emperor of the benefits of an alliance between our civilizations.”
“I am happy to help,” Jon said sincerely. The threat the Dvorkans faced was greater than they knew, and Jon had no interest in being forced to deal with another front in the future. They needed to defeat this scourge. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I have pressing matters to attend to.”
“Of course, Admiral,” said Kiith, terminating the connection.
“AI,” said Jon. “Send a squadron of your ships into orbit as additional support for the landing parties.”
“Yes, Admiral,” said AI.
Jon watched as UHSF ships jumped into orbit around the planet. The aliens on the surface were now cut off from orbital support. If they were smart, they would surrender. If not, they would die.
With that matter firmly in hand, Jon returned his attention to the primary space battle. Most of the compromised Dvorkan weapon systems were now under AI’s control, and their guns were turned back on the aliens. The relentless nuclear jump bomb strikes were bearing fruit, with hundreds of ships lying in ruins. Payback’s a bitch, thought Jon, remembering how many of AI’s ships the aliens had destroyed.
Unfortunately, the Taymati fleet had also been decimated in the battle. The Taymati were brave, but bravery only counted for so much when facing superior technology. Technological advancements disrupted warfare throughout the milky way. First with the jump system, then with the jump bombs, and now with shields. Moving forward, any civilization that didn’t possess these technologies would not have a chance. These technologies could not be kept secret for long, and Jon knew that they would soon spread across the galaxy. You had to take full advantage of your technological edge while you had it.
Jon had yet another edge, though. That was AI. She may not have been as powerful as the Cenobi, or the Antikitheri and Erinyie, but she far outclassed any other form of artificial intelligence he had ever seen. “AI, have you made any attempts to break into the alien networks?”
“I have, Admiral. The compromised weapon systems offered a promising opportunity to do so, as they were controlled directly by the enemy. Unfortunately, while I successfully took control of the weapon systems, I could not take advantage of the digital bridge between them and the main enemy fleet.”
�
��Why not?”
“The enemy AI is quite capable.”
“I thought you said it wasn’t your match?”
“That is correct. When it realized it would lose the weapon systems, it severed all connections to them.”
“It pulled up its drawbridge,” said Jon.
“In a manner of speaking, yes.”
“I understand. Don’t worry AI. I’m sure you’ll get another crack at it.”
“It doesn’t appear that way Admiral. The enemy fleet appears to be retreating.”
Jon realized AI was correct, as the multitude of enemy ships began to vanish. “Are they appearing anywhere else in this system? They might be trying to flank us.”
“No, Admiral. There is no trace of the enemy in this system. They are gone.”
Chapter 33
Lieutenant Jarvi tapped into the shuttle’s sensors and watched the approach through his combat suit’s visor. The UHSF fighter squadrons sent in by the Freedom streaked across the sky, swarming the enemy fighters wherever they found them. The UHSF fighters easily overcame the enemy shields. The aerial skirmishes became lopsided encounters, with the mercenaries on the short end of the stick.
The orbiting ships lent their support with surgical strikes wherever possible. This level of bombardment was particularly challenging, which was why ground forces were needed. Orbital bombardment was effective against an enemy city, but not a friendly one where you didn’t want to destroy its infrastructure. Still, the orbiting ships did what they could to ensure a secure landing zone. Despite their best efforts, the shuttles were targeted with sporadic enemy fire, albeit nothing that the shields couldn’t handle.
For all their quirks, the Freen proved themselves to be exceptional engineers. Their shields were powerful defensive weapons that the Freen managed to install fleet-wide quickly and efficiently. Once the technology had been put in place and understood, the ship fabricators went to work producing smaller versions for use on the fleet’s shuttles, fighters, bombers, and even on the combat suits. For the Chaanisar, it was yet another advancement adding to their considerable capabilities.
The shuttles landed, opening their hatches to the intense street fighting already taking place in the capital. As Jarvi raced out of the shuttle, his visor immediately identified the friendly Taymati forces and the aliens. Jarvi would have likely picked out the hostiles without any help. Each used what something akin to a gigantic mech. Yet it wasn’t a mech, it was something else. A mech would require a pilot, but Jarvi didn’t see any room for a cockpit. He also got a distinct impression that the machine was somehow alive.
Each one stood several stories tall and carried a devastating array of firepower. Not that the Taymati were pushovers. They had brought in a considerable number of heavy weapons that they used against the enemy. But the shields foiled the Dvorkan efforts and glowed red almost permanently as the Dvorkan batteries hammered them. The alien guns returned fire with devastating effect, littering the streets with the carnage of dead Dvorkans.
Not wasting any time, Jarvi’s team of Chaanisar targeted the nearest machine and fired in unison. Their rounds struck, and the machine spun around, spraying them with energy bolts. Protected by their shields, the Chaanisar charged the metal monster. They traded fire with it as they advanced, until they bridged the gap between them, and were on the thing.
They leaped forward in great bounds, landing on its limbs, and using their augmented abilities to scale it at blistering speeds. Unable to shoot at them, the machine swatted with its arms, trying to crush its tormentors. But like a fly toying with its hunter, the Chaanisar stayed a step ahead of the thing, all along probing for vulnerabilities.
Lieutenant Jarvi, said AI, through his brain chip. Climb closer to the creature’s chest. I think I can access its systems from there.
“Understood,” said Jarvi, who leaped across the armored machine, finding purchase where he could. Gripping the slightest protrusions, he scaled up the metal monster’s torso. It flayed wildly, trying to shake the Chaanisar off. Jarvi’s feet lost their grip and swung precariously in the air. The Lieutenant held fast, like a pit bull gnawing on a bone.
Here, said AI, when Jarvi reached the creature’s upper chest. Jarvi slammed his fist into the machine, creating a digital bridge for AI to travel across and access its central processor.
The machine shook violently as repeated concussions rocked it. It swayed, and toppled. Jarvi and the other Chaanisar jumped as the robot fell. Jarvi landed safely on his feet, as high-velocity rounds continued to hammer the prone machine. He turned to see what had happened. There, standing several meters back was another of the giant alien robots blasting the one he had just climbed.
“Why are they destroying their own weapons?” said Jarvi.
They are denying me access, said AI.
The new machine turned its attention on the Chaanisar. Jarvi ran for cover, returning fire all along. “I don’t understand. They destroyed their machine so that you wouldn’t infiltrate it?”
Yes. These machines are under the control of an alien AI. They are interconnected. If I access one, I can access all.
“Could you then destroy the alien AI?” said Jarvi, leaping behind a half-destroyed building.
Yes. This copy of it.
“You mean even if you kill the AI controlling these machines, it will live on elsewhere?”
Yes. Another version of it lives with its fleet, and who knows where else.
“It is the same as you.” Jarvi fired back at the machine from behind the building’s walls.
Yes, although it cannot defeat me.
Powerful energy bolts hit the wall, blowing enormous holes in the structure. His cover compromised, Jarvi took off again. “Unfortunately, I am more vulnerable to its weapons.”
Heavy weapons began to pound the machine from behind. The Chaanisar took the opportunity to regroup and added their own heavier weapons to the onslaught. Looking beyond the alien, Jarvi noticed that the Diakans were the ones hitting the giant machine from the other side.
“Can you access its brain from its back?” said Jarvi.
Yes, said AI. There should be no difference.
The machine spun around to fire at the Diakans behind it, and Jarvi charged. With inhuman speed, he reached the machine and leaped onto it. He climbed up the back of its leg. It tried to kick him off, but he was too quick. He made it onto the beast’s back, and it jumped. Turning in the air it crashed into the wall of a nearby building, hitting it full with its back. Jarvi braced himself against the crushing force. His armor held, but his grip didn’t, and he fell.
“Did you make it?” he said, just before hitting the ground.
Yes. I have access, said AI.
Chapter 34
“We have communications back, your worship,” said Captain Vass, as his Taymati team reached the top of the stairwell.
“Do we have reinforcements?” said Emperor Kriss, through his helmet’s comm.
“A team is on route, your worship, but they are having trouble reaching us. The aliens have sent ground forces down to the surface, and they have cut off our troops.”
“What do we do? Stay here and wait?”
“No. The aliens are closing on our position. We cannot stay.”
The Emperor wondered how the aliens knew their location and realized their mistake. “Cease all communications with Taymati headquarters.”
“Your worship?” said Vass.
“Someone at Taymati headquarters has betrayed us to the aliens. How did the mercenaries find us so easily? The shuttles scattered in different directions. I could have been on any of those shuttles, yet the mercenaries knew which team to target. Now the aliens are closing on our position. It is too much of a coincidence.”
“We have a mole,” said Vass.
“It would appear so.”
“Very well. We all maintain radio silence until further notice. Understood?”
“Yes, Sir,” came the reply from the rest of the Taymati in t
he stairwell.
“Grenadier, up front,” ordered Vass.
One of the Taymati made his way up the stairway, through the Taymati ranks, until he reached Captain Vass.
“When this door opens, I want you to blanket the area with the heaviest ordnance you’ve got. Do not stop until I tell you.”
“Yes, Sir.” The grenadier rotated his weapon to access his high explosive rounds and took a knee. “Ready, Sir.”
Vass waved a few more Taymati over and ordered them to add their fire to the mix as cover for the grenadier. Vass himself stood with them, raising his weapon and looking down its sights. “Now,” he said, and the door swung open.
Unsurprisingly, the mercenaries lay in wait for them. Yet the furious barrage coming through the door caught them flat-footed, and they scrambled to adapt. The grenadier did not give them a chance. Heavy energy grenades repeatedly pounded the mercenaries at a frenetic pace. Energy bolts matched the shells in velocity, and a highly charged torrent swept the room, leaving nowhere to hide or escape.
The shields the mercs wore had sustained damage in the previous encounters with the Taymati and were no match for the current onslaught. When the shields began to fail, Captain Vass ordered the Taymati to charge. Adrenalin flowing through his body, Emperor Kriss joined in the charge. Today he was a Taymati, and he would fight to the end like one.
Surging through the open door, his weapon vibrated in his hands from the rapid discharge of energy bolts. The room was spacious and offered little cover. Kriss charged at the enemy, focusing his fire on one merc in particular. As he neared the merc, he noticed the red glow was gone. The merc swung his weapon around and fired at Kriss, scoring a couple of direct hits before the gap was bridged.
The warning on his visor briefly caught the Emperor’s attention. His suit’s integrity was dropping below safe levels. Kriss didn’t care. Firing his weapon as he charged, he was determined to take out his opponent. Using his armor’s power, he jumped, clearing the remaining distance, and drove the stock of his weapon into the surprised merc’s visor.