by R. E. Graham
Rhonda looked at Hern then back to the Chief. “Eighty-nine?”
"Graves," he said as he looked up into her brown eyes. "Eighty-nine graves."
Poli broke down as she was overwhelmed by the thought of this poor man carrying this burden for rotations without anyone else around.
Jax stood up and surveyed the area again. He shook his head and ran his left hand through his blonde hair.
“Chief, did anyone else survive?” Rhonda asked calmly.
Patrix shook his head then pointed back toward the makeshift cemetery. “No one is left. I buried…everyone I could find.”
“It’s okay buddy. We’re here now,” Jax said as he half-smiled to try and assure him.
Joker leaned in to whisper to Nina. "We need to find that transmitter and get in position."
“Chief, we received your message. Do you have the transmitter the Inquisitor gave you?” Nina asked as she stepped forward.
“Where’s the Captain?” the broken man asked as he briefly looked around.
“He…he is with help,” Nina replied. “We need it so we can stop the people who did this.”
Patrix's lip curled while his eyes remained blank. "You…you can't stop them. They were…were on top of us so fast…there was nothin' we could do."
“Look Chief, we’re gonna make ‘em pay for this, but we need that transmitter. Where is it?” Hern asked as he gripped his rifle.
Patrix pointed to a post that had his jacket flung on top of it. Nina walked over to the coat and stuck her hands into the pockets until she found the little black device. She held it up for the others to see and she regrouped with them.
“Alright, Hern and I will set up a perimeter. Everyone else, stay and guard the ship” Rhonda said as she hefted her rifle up on her shoulder.
“Odds are they have surveillance already keyed in on us. They will spot your heat signature before you’re in range to shoot back,” Jax said as he leaned up against what remained of a wooden wall.
Nina studied the small transmitter while the others bickered back and forth.
“What would you have us do then? Just roll over and die?” the gunner asked angrily.
“That’s not what I’m saying,” Jax retorted.
Hern was losing his temper. “Speak clearly then dammit!”
“Look, we should just act as bait and draw them in. Since they are going to spot us anyhow, we might as well let them think they have us then create a diversion when Onyx shows up,” Jax said as he stepped forward.
“Onyx is here?” Patrix asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
"It's a long story, but the Captain was able to convince them to help us," Rhonda said proudly to the Chief.
“Hern and Rhonda why don’t you guys hide your rifles in the debris. That way you can grab them when the shootin’ starts.” The two warriors nodded approvingly to Nina.
“Poli, go tell Riko that we are about to have company. Tell him to stay quiet until the time is right,” Nina said before she turned to Joker and Jax.
“You got it,” the young mechanic said as she left to speak with the mech pilot.
“Jax, can you jam the Republic troops once they are drawn in? If they are disorganized, it may give Onyx an advantage.”
“That’s actually…a really good idea,” the overrider said as he started typing away on his gauntlet.
“Joker, you need to get in the Only Hope when things get bad. Use the ship however you need to.”
“We could fight if I had a gunner,” the pilot said as he crossed his arms.
“Use Poli. She should do good enough,” Nina said as she looked up at the ship. It now was all that remained of her home. No, it now was home.
"What about you?" Rhonda asked the acting captain.
“I’m gonna do all the talkin’. I don’t know what will happen once the shootin’ starts so I will be a distraction for the rest of you.”
Rhonda placed a reassuring hand on Nina’s shoulder and squeezed it. “Mikhail will be proud.”
The comm’s officer just smiled and brushed a strand of hair from her face.
“Patrix, I want you to just go get cover. You’re in no condition to fight.”
The Chief shuffled off into the ashes of Largo but instead of hiding went back to work on the cemetery.
Joker shook his head at the image of the shattered man that used to be the Chief. “Do you think he’ll be alright?”
“Right now, we have to worry about gettin’ back at those who did this. If we make it, then we can pick up the pieces,” Nina said as she looked at the transmitter again. “Alright everyone, get ready.”
Chapter 43
Cycle: 434 Month: 3 Rotation: 11
Corre Republic Space
Prefecture: Siimon
Planet: Destiny
Location: In the system, aboard the Midnight
Mikhail continued to pace outside of the bridge. His mind raced with thoughts, some even dangerous, as he considered how things could play out.
There’s no point in worrying. I need to have a clear head and do my part…
A voice called out on the bridge. “Lord Horsh, we just received an encrypted message from the Only Hope, they have pressed the transmitter.”
The Captain rushed up to the doorway and kept back just out of sight so that he could listen clearly.
A strange feeling overwhelmed Mikhail as he paced back and forth. It felt to him that he was not alone. He spun around looking for someone else but only saw an empty corridor.
“Your family will die if you don’t do something,” a voice said into his ear.
Again, he turned about looking for the speaker but saw nothing. For some reason, he felt as though he recognized the voice, but he wasn't sure. Either way, the statement made him feel even more anxious about the situation.
“Good. Do we have any surveillance or confirmation of the Inquisitor’s troops?” Yondo asked with an arrogant tone.
“Not yet my lord,” the other man replied.
I can’t wait any longer.
Without thinking Mikhail took a deep breath and walked back onto the bridge. Deimos spotted the man coolly approaching and felt a bit of disbelief at his bold move. Lord Horsh also immediately noticed him out of the corner of his eye and chuckled.
“Have you calmed down Mik?” he asked mockingly. “We just got confirmation from your people that they pressed the transmitter. The Inquisitor should be on his way soon.”
“Are we heading planetside now to spring the ambush?” the Captain asked as calmly as he could manage.
“Not yet.”
“With respect lord, if we don’t begin our advance, we won’t arrive in time to overwhelm the Republic soldiers,” Mikhail said as he tucked his arms behind his back.
Yondo waved away the other man’s suggestion. “We have already discussed this. I want all of their forces engaged before we move in.”
The Captain looked away angry at himself for not being able to come up with an alternative answer.
Deimos saw the struggle in Mikhail’s face and decided to speak up. “Lord Horsh, I agree with Captain Tarvus.”
Yondo was relatively surprised to hear his right-hand captain speak up. “Really?” he asked with his eyes wide. “Have you decided to cuddle up with this newbie Deimos?”
“No, my lord,” the large man said with his booming voice.
“Perhaps you and he have planned some kind of coup to replace me? Hmm?”
Deimos was insulted and a bit afraid by the question. “My allegiance has been to you for cycles lord. I serve you.”
“Yes, but here you are questioning me as if I were some pup!” Yondo smashed his fist onto the arm of the chair to demonstrate his enthusiasm.
“I am only concerned with the success of…”
Yondo promptly interrupted Deimos’ reasoning. “We have zero intel on our foe. We have no idea how many ships he commands or how many troops are at his disposal. I will not risk my fleet for some backwater sh
ip and its crew before I know what we are up against!”
Mikhail couldn’t argue with the reasoning even though he wanted to.
“Yet again you display your superior wisdom,” Deimos said as he bowed his head. “Please forgive me for my rudeness.”
Lord Horsh scowled at the Onyx pirate but then turned his attention to the holographic projection of Largo. “We will attack, but only after we know he has arrived.”
The Captain knew this was sound logic and decided it was best not to push it any further.
Hold on Leesa, I’m comin’ for ya.
Chapter 44
Cycle: 434 Month: 3 Rotation: 11
Corre Republic Space
Prefecture: Siimon
Planet: Destiny
Location: Aboard the Silverbolt
Cyrus’ gauntlet sounded an alarm. The Inquisitor quickly brought up his arm and grinned widely. “Captain Mikhail has hit the transmitter. This is it.”
The Tribune shouted an order to his Tactical Action Officer. “Tell all ships to engage. Upon arrival I want Alpha and Beta to deploy. Launch the VTOLs as escorts for each ship. Keep the Dogma back for reinforcement.”
"Reinforcement?" Cyrus asked confused. "We have him. Send everything, and we can end this swiftly."
“With respect Inquisitor, we have more than enough firepower in the Silverbolt alone to crush his lone ship. I want to be cautious in case they have come up with some plan to strike back.”
“Plan? What could they possibly have done in a couple of rotations to prepare for us?”
The Tribune gave a stone-cold look back at the Lawman before he went about his duty. “Helmsman, take us to Largo.”
“Aye, aye sir,” the Warrant Officer called out as he ignited the engines beneath the large frigate that lifted it off the ground.
He angled the ship towards the ruined town and fired the main engines at the rear of the vessel.
After only two minutes of pressing the transmitter, Hern spotted the incoming vessels.
“I see two big ships headed our way. Probably Carinas.”
“Uh oh!” Jax shouted.
Nina twisted her head to look at the overrider and saw the concern on his face. “What is it?”
“Carinas are bad news. They are armed with a lot of anti-ship firepower and can transport a ton of ground forces.”
“Then let’s hope that Onyx brought enough backup,” Rhonda said as she covered the sunlight from her eyes so she could see the approaching crafts.
One of the Carinas split off from the other and angled itself to wrap around Largo. Its large bay door on the starboard side opened, and a pike of WarMechs consisting of three Sierras and one Hunter jumped out of the moving ship. They ignited their jumper packs and safely landed on the dusty soil.
From the port side, two more Hunters hopped out followed by two Enforcers. As the Enforcers landed, their single-use mounted jumper packs dropped off. The second pike of mechs formed up into team formation and headed for the pirates.
“That is a lot of mechs,” Rhonda said with a bit of worry in her voice.
The ground shook very heavily from the eight WarMechs as they got into position.
“Infrared detects seven bogies including the marked target,” the TAO said to the Tribune.
“Any sign of weaponry?” Aries asked as he studied the holographic image of the pirates standing in a loose gathering outside of the parked ship.
“Negative.”
“We finally have them. I’m going down with a shuttle,” Cyrus said as he headed for the door.
“Perhaps we should wait for the mechs to be in position Inquisitor?” the Tribune asked as his head followed the excited lawman.
“They’ll be ready by the time I touch down. Deploy two Avis with fireteams as a backup."
“Yes sir,” Aries said smugly as the Inquisitor left the bridge. “Arrogant fool.”
Cyrus’ steps pounded down the corridor with a thrill in his heart.
After all this time. We finally have them!
He headed down to the brig and nodded to the two guards who stood watch. They stepped aside allowing him entrance.
The door slid open, and Leesa was standing in the middle of the room holding her son in her arms. "He's here isn't he?" she asked with sadness in her voice.
“It’s time,” the Inquisitor responded solemnly.
Mrs. Tarvus kissed the side of her son’s face then looked him in the eye. “Mommy loves you so very much. You know that, don’t you?”
Coral began to tear up but nodded. “Uh huh,” he said with his squeaky voice.
The Inquisitor was too joyous to feel the pain as the mother set her child down. The young Tarvus began to wail and tug at her pants.
“No…no, you have to stay here,” she said with tears streaming down her face. “I love you Coral. You be a good boy. Live a good life. If you follow the Creator, we will be together again on the other side.”
Cyrus placed a hand on her shoulder and helped her to the door.
“Mommy! Mooooommy!” Coral cried out as the door slid shut.
Leesa wiped her eyes as they headed for the hangar and boarded the shuttle. A female pilot sat at the front of the small transport craft with a helmet on.
“We’re ready,” Cyrus called out as he stayed beside his captive. He looked over at Mrs. Tarvus as she tried to regain herself. “I give you my word, he will be cared for.”
“He better,” she started as she turned her head toward him.
“He will. His life will be much better than anything that he would have had on Destiny.”
Leesa looked forward as the shuttle lifted off and was guided by a light trail out of the Silverbolt’s hangar bay.
“Better than being with his family?” she asked coldly.
“Yes,” Cyrus replied confidently.
Four Jasper attack VTOLs guarded the Silverbolt as it traveled around Largo. Two broke off and escorted the shuttle as it exited the port hangar and followed it in.
Two Avis troop carriers landed, and two fireteams of shock troopers moved out and surrounded the pirates. As the small shuttle touched down the crew of the Only Hope all had their hands up as the fireteams moved in.
Inquisitor Cyrus bound Leesa’s wrists with magnetized cuffs before he guided her out of the ship from behind. His heartbeat quickened at the sight of the surrendered pirates. But then confusion formed on his face when he did not spot the Captain.
He waited until he and Mrs. Tarvus were closer as the sound of the VTOLs made it difficult to hear much else. “Where is Mikhail?” he said as he looked at each of the new prisoners.
Rhonda took a step forward, but multiple shock troopers used the laser pointers on their rifles to aim at her chest. Cyrus noticed she held the transmitter then gestured with his left hand for her to come closer.
Carefully, Jax pressed a button on his gauntlet which transmitted a message to the Midnight.
“Lord, we have confirmation that the Lawman has arrived!” the comm’s officer said as he pressed a number of keys on his station. He sent data to the holoscreen. “I count three Carina frigates. Multiple WarMech signatures detected. The Only Hope is requesting us to join them.
“Three Carinas?!” Yondo shouted with a twinge of fear in his voice. “You must have really rattled the tree Mik.”
Mikhail glanced to Deimos, but the Onyx pirate nonchalantly shook his head.
I can’t just sit here and do nothing!
An awkwardly long moment passed while the pirate lord did not say anything else.
Finally, Deimos spoke up. “Lord, your orders?”
“We are going to wait until the fighting starts.”
Mikhail’s eyes widened, and he clenched his fists.
"The Captain is not here," Nina shouted over the noise of the rotating blades of the Jaspers overhead.
“I can see that!” Cyrus shouted. His face began to turn red with anger. “Where is he?”
Nina knew she needed to buy some
time for the Onyx pirates to show up. “Why did you destroy our town?”
The Inquisitor was caught off guard by the question. “Wha…what?”
With her hands still raised, Nina swallowed hard and kept on. “Why did you destroy our town?”
“Wha…where is Mikhail? He was supposed to be the one to signal when he arrived.”
Leesa was glad within herself that her husband was not here but also was conflicted because she wanted her son to be safe.
“These were innocent people.”
“Innocent?!” Cyrus exclaimed. “Do you people even understand what that word means? You all are criminals against the state. That includes anyone who assists you.”
“What about the children?” Nina asked raising her voice.
Rhonda and Hern eyed the troopers but didn't want to chance anything by doing something stupid. Poli, Jax, and Joker all kept their hands up high. All the while the Chief continued digging a new grave. Only two troopers watched him in case he attacked.
“Your town decided the fate of every citizen when you began stealing and killing others,” the Inquisitor said. He yanked Leesa’s shoulder to get her attention.
She cried out in pain.
“You better ask them where your husband is, or our deal is off!”
“Nina, where is Mik?” she asked reluctantly.
The other woman could see the turmoil in her eyes. But she just shook her head. “I don’t know.”
“Why wouldn’t he be here with you?” Cyrus asked now getting annoyed. “There’s no way he would not be here to bargain for his family.”
Enough is enough!
“Lord, we must engage before it is too late.”
“My order stands,” Yondo said as he stared straight ahead.
Mikhail looked to Deimos, but his eyes urged him to stop.
“Please lord.”
“Mik, we will wait here until I say it is time.”
Jax again carefully pressed a key on his gauntlet which triggered the jammer within the Only Hope to activate. One of the troopers noticed the smooth motion and shouted. "Hey, you!"