“We were due for a remodeling anyway,” she said, maybe a glimmer of anxiety showing itself before the transmission stopped.
Dal’s power plants hummed as power built in the wormhole generators.
It felt like the power was leaking into Bregend’s very bones.
“I want everyone to get some food and drink in them before we jump,” Bregend said, making Mills go off first.
It wasn’t long before he went and got something to eat, then was getting back into his chair, his reports showing where the Kalu had moved to in the system.
It looked like Elisati was drawing off a contingent of a hundred and fifty thousand ships towards Worshun.
That number made Bregend’s stomach drop, his jaw tightened as he got his feelings under control.
The time for second-guessing was over.
“Wormhole’s forming,” Milra announced as wormholes formed in front of the fleet.
“Moving to pass through event horizon, next stop, Quarst,” she said, applying thrust to Dal and lining the ship up with entry into the event horizon for a comfortable ride.
“Passing through event horizon,” Milra reported.
“Shields are ready,” Afnar said.
“Tactical online,” Domal reported.
“Connecting to relays, looking good, Kalu are still in the same positions as reported,” Qurv said.
“Milra, lay in a course to Worshun, all stations stand at readiness but come down from full alert,” Bregend said, looking over the systems display on the main screen.
His forty-three ships surged ahead on just their drives. They could have added bomb-pumped acceleration but they were in no rush, in fact they wanted the Kalu to have more time.
“Time until the Kalu begin landing?”
“Three hours, we’ll be there in twelve, nice nine hours for them to bring all their ships down on Worshun,” Mills said, anticipating his next question.
“Let’s just hope that the rest of the plan goes to plan. Send the signal to the stations, have the fighters come out and play, the jump fighters are given clearance to act as they wish and bring as many of Falhu’s bastards outgoing fleet as possible,” Bregend said.
“Yes sir,” Kyle replied.
Bregend sat back in his chair, getting comfortable as time slowly crept down. The stations which looked to be lifeless wrecks came alight with power plants and life. The jump fighters that were hiding inside them came out to play, creating wormholes that appeared in front of Falhu’s main fleet which was headed for the jump limit that would put him towards Ershue or Jakram.
The jump fighters released their missiles a few light-seconds out, letting them drift, unseen by the Kalu as they returned again and again to their hangars.
Bregend’s fleet continued to press towards Quarst as the Kalu came into contact with the first missiles. Falhu’s fleet used the hulks of those in front of them to soak up the damage. Though their own motion pushed them past those wrecks, turning more of them into floating shields.
Thirty thousand Kalu ships ends were marked by the silent brilliant light of hundreds of thousands of Free Fleet missiles.
Bregend paid it marginal attention, the first couple of waves of Kalu were already on Worshun’s surface, and the planet of many had added a new race to its ranks.
Hopefully not for long. Bregend thought.
***
It was an hour before the fleet made orbit that Bregend wandered back into the bridge.
“Falhu’s fleets have transited, half to Ershue, half to Jakram,” Mills said, as if Bregend hadn’t been glued to his data pad the entire time he was away from his command chair. “All of the Kalu have landed, we’re loaded and ready to go,” Mills said.
“Dasa?” Bregend asked.
An amorphous blob appeared, Dasa, the AI of Dal.
“Commander?” It said, its voice modulated and tinny sounding as it formed random waves on its surface at random.
“Let me know when you’re ready to let loose our payloads,” Bregend said, walking to his chair and sinking into it.
“Yes commander, we should be in optimal range in five minutes. I will upload the course corrections to Wilma,” Dasa said, vanishing.
“Coming up on course corrections, it’s going to be pretty violent,” Wilma warned.
“I have preset targets,” Domal said, looking to Bregend for confirmation.
“Fire as needed, Kyle make sure word is passed to the rest of the fleet,” Bregend said.
Kyle’s hands moved across his boards, rail-cannons opened up, rounds hammering through Worshun’s atmosphere, parting the thick upper atmosphere clouds and leaving pathways to the ground below.
Dal shifted with alarming speed assisted by bombs.
Hangar bays snapped open and the rails which launched fighters now launched asteroids, more were flung from the hangar bays.
“Flipping!” Wilma said, using thrusters to not roll the ship, but swing the end of the ship around, bringing the other hangars and launchers to bear, with the assistance of bomb’s thumping the back end around like a pendulum. Other ships had already released their payloads and were doing the same swing. Rail-cannons were firing as they came to bear, parting the planet’s thick atmosphere for more asteroids that came flying out as carriers finished their rotations and smaller ships released the asteroids they’d kept hidden under their bellies.
Hundreds of asteroids enlarged the holes in the upper atmosphere racing towards’ Worshun’s surface. The asteroids cracked on mountain ranges, the remains of once-great cities, dust from the tens of other asteroids that Lady Fairgate had sent to the planet’s surface to torture the residents living there, now billowed up, as if bringing the asteroids home.
The people of Worshun had taken that terror, and today they owned it, forming it into a weapon against their strongest enemy yet.
Bregend stood, walking to his railing without realizing it, his eyes riveted on the main screen as asteroids silently sank to the planet, hitting with terrible force. The asteroids became magma after their quick descent through heavy atmosphere finally meeting with the planet below.
Cities were levels as asteroids smashed through them, throwing dust and debris up in the air, a new atmosphere, darker than the one Lady Fairgate had subjected the people of Worshun to, covered the planet.
“Rotate the ship to give all of the gunners a chance, pick out Kalu landing areas as we go. I don’t want a single Kalu ship capable of leaving Worshun,” Bregend’s voice a deep growl.
“Yes Commander,” Domal said, his voice a mirror of Bregend’s as rail cannons and the two-laser cannons punched down towards the planet.
Tectonic plates were shifting, sprouting magma. It was as if Worshun itself was fighting the Kalu.
After two-hours any Kalu ship that wanted to leave Worshun wouldn’t be able to get through the atmosphere.
“I have planetary governor Elisati on the line,” Kyle said.
“Put her on,”
“Well it looks like the plan worked,” Elisati said sitting in a place of honor to the left of a captain’s command chair.
“Yes it does, though I think it’s time that your people got out before Worshun shifts too much,” Bregend said seriously.
The captain turned to her second-in-command who started typing information into their chair-mounted screens.
“I think so too, one day, when all of this is over we will come back to Worshun,” Elisati said, her sadness clear, she had grown up on Worshun, seen it as the planet of many, the jewel of the Union, and the headquarters of the PDF as they fought the Kalu. It had been her prison when the Syndicate usurped the PDF and with her plan she had turned it into a grave for one hundred and fifty-seven thousand Kalu ships, seventeen million Kalu warriors.
“Detecting drive signatures from under the planet’s crust,” Qurv said.
More and more drives were detected.
Bregend watched as freighters filled with Worshun’s residents exited the now black skie
s of the planet.
Two-hundred and thirteen ships had been down there. Bregend had called in a contract with the Inkal based traders.
Those freighters carried the one and a half-million volunteers that were needed to act as bait for the Kalu to land. The rest of the residents of Worshun were already on the many stations, moons and outposts that dotted Quarst system.
“Kyle, get the numbers of the Kalu to Salchar, tell him that we will be going to Ershue with all of the support we can take from Quarst. Wilma, plot a course to Ershue, fastest time,” Bregend said turning away from Worshun and taking his seat. The fighter wings in the system could take care of any Kalu that somehow escaped Worshun’s surface.
“Kyle, also contact Kurft and tell him to pick up any Commandos he needs, we’re going to be fighting on Ershue’s surface,” Bregend said his words heavy.
“Sir,” Kyle said, confirming that he’d got the command.
The AI’s and new computers meant that a ship didn’t necessarily need to go past the jump limit to exit a system, it was why jump fighters could operate so well in-system. Wilma had already marked a jump point where gravitational pulls mostly cancelled out, or were easily compensated for.
In three days they would be at Ershue, just hours behind the Kalu.
For now, we react and hope we’re there soon enough. But as with the Syndicate we will husband our strength and we will prepare, then, just when you wonder if you’re losing momentum we will be there behind you.
Bregend’s fleet organized itself back into a proper formation as auxiliary fighters took up position around Worshun, waiting for anything that might claw its way to the surface. Shuttles were already heading from the various stations towards the fleet, filled with Commandos that had said their goodbyes, left the tears and hugs of loved ones, steeled their liquid pumping organs and donned their powered armor.
Worshun might be safe, but the Union was in trouble and the Free Fleet was calling them to their duty.
Those shuttles rattled and shook as people looked to their gear. Cold helmets, scarred armor and clunky HAPA’s filled those cargo holds.
Silence reigned supreme as Worshun seemed to drill home what their fate might be. The occasional missile illuminating that black mass, serving to focus those thoughts rather than distract.
***
Arms came from behind, wrapping around my neck as Yasu rested her head on mine.
“I should get off of the hologram,” I said, my hands traveling up to clasp hers.
“That was my thought,” she said, tiredly.
Even half-asleep and heavily pregnant, she could move around silently.
I glanced to the star-map once more, the Falhu fleet that had come through the Nexus had headed off towards Gahel and Parnmal beyond. At Gahel they could change their path and head towards Volhoulm.
Kafam was still barely holding on, Bregend was heading towards Ershue with his ships filled with Commandos. Ershue had signed on with the Free Fleet and had a hundred and ninety-thousand trained Commandos that had been digging in since they reached the planet. The Merchant fleet was helping to ship many of the young away from the surface.
Jakram had five-hundred-thousand Commandos on their planet, and they had been there since the Union was created. The planet was a fortress, Falhu had sent seventy-five thousand Kalu ships toward the system. The rest were with him heading for Ershue. A squadron was being moved from their patrols to support Jakram, they would act as orbitals when they got to the system in six days. Six days against the Kalu was a lifetime.
Yasu made an annoyed noise, stopping me from sinking any further into my thoughts.
“Alright,” I said, Yasu was a strong woman, and not just physically. She had led her people to victory and had been key in keeping the Commandos motivated on Heija. While Bok Soo and Foshunti watched the overall battle, Yasu was on the front lines, piling rounds and plasma into the Kalu and challenging every Commando within range. She’d earned a place in all of the Heija survivor’s hearts, more than one of who said that they had already walked in Hell with her and they’d do it again with just a word.
I came around the chair, she was already walking back to the bed. I picked her up, getting a surprised motion which settled into a sleepy giggle before she kicked me.
What did you expect getting married to the battle mistress of the Commandos! I thought, smiling at her sleepy but pleased expression, thinking of the nickname many of the Commandos had adopted from her time playing Mecha Assault One. That life seemed so long ago now. Barely felt like it was real half of the time.
I was thankful for the enhanced Avarian strength; a pregnant lady, and my kiddo were not the lightest thing! I lowered her onto the bed and kicked off my boots and battle suit, climbing into the thin sheets.
I took on my honorary position as body pillow and we fell asleep. Images of Yasu dying, Kalu over running Heija’s bastions and tearing me apart with their teeth filled my mind.
I woke in a cold sweat a few hours later. I looked to Yasu, making sure that she was still there.
She was and asleep, though her forehead was twisted with her own nightmares.
I smoothed out her brow with my thumb.
“Good morning to you too,” I said, my kiddo had woken up and was going for a round of football in Yasu’s stomach.
I was rewarded with another kick and a groan from Yasu, one that made me look to her in alarm.
“What’s wrong?” I asked as she took some deep breaths, pushing them out forcefully.
“That was rather painful,” she said moving to get a comfortable position. I looked over her, seeing if there was anything I could do, that sudden pain had alarmed me.
A few minutes later she cried out again and looked to me.
“Oh shit, Krom!” I yelled, jumping off of the bed and helping her to her feet.
Pregnancies ranged from five months to nine months now, which meant Yasu was in the prime range and it looked like the kiddo had decided to make an appearance.
Instead of long and protracted birthing cycles it happened in quick succession. Which added to my haste as I picked her up, Krom opening the door, his weapon ready.
“Med bay!” I barked, Yasu’s arms grabbing around my neck as she tensed again.
Thank god I’m a dude, I kept that little thought to myself as Krom moved out of the way and I ran through the doorway.
“Move it!” Krom yelled, the volume making my ears ring as I picked up my pace. It was near morning so Shreesht, Tully and Moft were there as well. They formed a protective square around us as I charged for the elevator. I had the map to the med-bay memorized at this point. People pressed against the walls as powered armor, a screaming Yasu and I raced through.
We got to the elevator, overriding it as it sunk a number of floors.
Krom’s voice bellowed again and we were off running.
Fatigue didn’t touch me. I was having a kid!
Krom and Tully moved out of the way as we entered the med-bay, the doctor working looking up.
“Baby!” I said, her eyes going wide as she realized who was saying it, and who was grunting in pain, in their arms.
“This way! Cho, I’m going to need Finnegan and Drweshe now!” The doctor said, guiding us into a room with a table and variety of machines. Battle wounds could be fixed with a medical chair, giving birth, we left that to sentient creatures instead of machines.
I laid Yasu on the table which softened and contoured to her body, her hand grabbed mine. I didn’t have time to say anything as her grip made me wince and look at the wall in pain.
“Working on your grip strength much?” I asked, thinking I might need some hell-fire to put my hand back together.
My data pad buzzed and my face changed, going from light and playful to stone.
“Answer it!” Yasu barked, another contraction taking her.
“Her water’s broken! Get that battle suit off of her!” The Doctor said, a group of helpers that had flooded the room splitting
between the various machines, hooking Yasu up, and pulling her clothes off.
I pulled the data pad out, my face twinging with every grunt and grip she crushed my hand with.
I looked over the information, the Kalu had been accelerating harder than we first estimated. Someone must have kept the information from me so that I could get more sleep.
I had four hours until they emerged into the Nexus.
“Shreesht, Moft, go grab our powered armor, and grab the crate,” I said, pulling out information on my data pad. I wanted to be part of the moment my wife and child was having, but so many lives depended on me, not only theirs but that of the rest of the Union.
Yes, I was James Cook, married to Yasu Ono, but I was also Salchar, I had made a promise years ago and I wouldn’t be able to look my kid in the eye if I didn’t keep it. The Free Fleet was made to defend those that couldn’t help themselves, we stood to protect those that might end up like us. I had taken up the mantle of Commander, unsure of my ability to command. That anxiety was gone, and that mantle was part of me now.
I opened a channel to Rick.
“I need you to run the hot seat for me right now,” I said, Yasu yelling out in Japanese.
“What’s going on?” Rick asked, his voice alarmed.
“I’m having a damn kid! In three hours bring the Fleet up to readiness, have you contacted Whorst, Cheerleader and Boot?”
“Yes.”
“Good, should have assumed,” I said, taking the pause to ground myself.
“Okay, as we talked about, keep the Jump fighters ready to go, but hold off if they come in their formation,” I said.
“Then we pull back the ships and start operation wringer,” Rick said. “I’ve got it, see to your wife and kid. I’ll keep things running up here,” Rick said, he might be my second in command, but he was also one of my closest friends, he would rip into me if I needed it. He also had my complete and utter trust.
From Furies Forged (Free Fleet Book 5) Page 23