“And that leaves you what? All of 17 people to go capture the ship?” asked Master Chief.
“16 and a cyborg,” said Calvin, “and we’ll also have the element of surprise.” He turned to Night. “Sound like enough to you?”
“What’s our mission, sir? A quick smash and grab to get the engine components, or a full-blown assault to take over the ship?”
“Well, let me put it to you this way,” said Calvin. “If we grab the engine parts, how are we going to get them to our universe? We already burned out one of the control rods, and that was just trying to bring a cyborg across. How well do you suppose it will work for engine parts? There’s only one thing in this system that can get those components to our universe, and it’s the ship which brought them here in the first place. It’s also the best chance we have for getting our remaining cyborg back across. That freighter not only has the technology we need to be effective in our war with the Efreet, it’s also our ride home. We’re going to do a smash and grab all right…but we’re grabbing the freighter.”
“When you put it like that, sir,” said Night, “how can I refuse?”
Cockpit, Shuttle Five, Ashur Orbit, Unknown Date/Time
“Shuttle Five, this is Spark control. The packages heading to the Incinerator will be waiting for you in Starboard Loading Bay Three. Are you familiar with where to go?” translated the vizier.
“Beats the hell out of me,” said Calvin, who was once again flying the shuttle. “Tell him our normal shuttle pilot is sick and ask for directions.”
The vizier spoke on the radio again and then translated, “He said, ‘Ah, that explains why your flying is so bad.’ He also said the loading bay is on the starboard side of the ship, about halfway down. It will be the only compartment open.”
“Do you suppose they have a force field to keep the air in?” asked Night from behind the co-pilot’s seat. “Or do you think we’ll be in vacuum in the loading bay?”
“I don’t know,” said Calvin. “Their tech level is all over the place. They have some stuff that isn’t much better than what we had before the Psiclopes arrived, but then they have other things like the time bomb that are way beyond anything we’ve got.” He thought for a second and then answered the original question, “Have everyone prepared for no atmosphere. Helmets on and buttoned up. We’ll try to use the suits to their fullest. Full invisibility. Maybe we’ll get lucky and make it to the bridge before anyone notices us.”
“That would be nice,” replied Night. “We don’t have enough people for a running gun battle.”
“No, we don’t,” agreed Calvin. “I’m hoping their freighters are like ours back home. Lots of open space for cargo, with a minimal amount of crew to run the ship.”
Calvin paused as he scanned the freighter. “Got it,” he said as he found the opening to the bay. “Some landing aids would have been helpful,” he grumbled as he jockeyed the shuttle around for entry.
“Just take your time, sir,” said Night, getting up to go to the back of the shuttle. “Even if you do it badly, they already know we don’t have a professional pilot at the controls.” He gave the vizier a grin before exiting the cockpit. Calvin was too busy fighting with the unfamiliar controls to notice.
It didn’t help that Calvin was as inexperienced with the landing signals the freighter crewman was giving him as he was with the controls of the shuttle. He had to spin the shuttle slightly, then he over-corrected as he realized the position of the lineman’s tail was just as important as the lighted wands he was holding. The shuttle started to oscillate, and Calvin allowed it to drop the final four feet to the deck of the ship, rather than fight the controls any longer.
Two orange lights illuminated on the control panel as the shuttle slammed to a stop. “We’re down.” He commed.
Cargo Bay, Shuttle Five, Ashur Orbit, Unknown Date/Time
“Yeah, we felt it,” said Night as the ramp started down. “Those of us who survived the ‘landing’ are proceeding on mission.”
Night looked into the shuttle bay and could see two of the freighter’s crewmen waiting beside several large piles of boxes and equipment. He had already noted the crewmen had helmets on, but now he could also see they were walking normally. “No air,” he commed, “but it looks like there’s gravity at least.” The ramp grounded onto the deck. “Let’s go!”
He led the troops down the ramp, and they spread out, looking for adversaries and defensible positions. The Efreet remained in place, waiting for the crew of the shuttle to disembark, unable to see the Terrans in their suits.
Night scanned the loading bay. The Terrans were in luck; although there were cameras mounted in a couple of places, there didn’t appear to be a manned control room overseeing the bay’s operations. Two other Efreet drove forklift-like conveyances toward the piles of equipment.
“Cameras located here and here,” he commed, marking them on the tactical map which showed on all the troopers’ heads-up displays.
“I’ve got one more,” said Sergeant Jones. A number “3” illuminated on the map on the other side of the shuttle where Night couldn’t see it.
Night trusted the former CIA agent to know what he was looking at. “Okay,” Night said. “You’ve got that one, Jones. Corporal Burke’s got the first one and Sergeant Lancaster’s got the second. We’ll wait for the forklifts to stop, and then we’ll go on my command.”
“How are we doing?” asked Calvin. Night’s suit showed his CO was on the shuttle ramp. Good; they wouldn’t have to wait for him. A green light lit up on his display. Sergeant Graham was ready.
“Good, sir,” replied Night as he sent out targeting instructions to his troops. Each soldier received a primary and a secondary target, based on their weapons and positioning. “We’re just about ready to go. Just waiting for the forklifts to stop.”
“Stand by,” he said as the forklifts neared the piles of gear. The waiting Efreet were starting to look a little antsy. The forklifts stopped. “Fire!” he commed.
A massive blast rocked the shuttle bay as the explosives Sergeant Graham had placed on the airlock door detonated. The door came off its hinges and fell toward the deck. The cameras exploded, and the four Efreet died before it hit.
“Get the next set of charges ready!” ordered Night. “Now!”
Chapter 37
Bridge, Efreet Ship Spark, Ashur Orbit, Unknown Date/Time
“What in the five hells was that?” asked the Efreeti CO as the ship shuddered.
“I do not know,” said the intelligence officer, who monitored status both inside and outside the ship. “It appears there was an explosion in Landing Bay Three. It must have been a big one; all the cameras in the bay are out.”
“Call the loading bay supervisor,” said the CO. “Find out what happened.”
“I have been trying to contact the loading bay supervisor,” said the intelligence officer. “He isn’t responding.”
“As badly as the shuttle was flying, I’ll bet it crashed,” commented the shuttle control officer. “Its fuel must have exploded.”
The ship shuddered again.
“Hull breach!” called the engineering officer. “Hull breach in the area of Landing Bay Three.”
“Battle Stations,” ordered the CO. “Get a damage control crew down there now!”
Task Force Calvin, Efreet Ship Spark, Ashur Orbit, Unknown Date/Time
In deciding their final battle plan, Calvin and Night had discussed whether to “go loud” or try to sneak their way into the ship. They had come to the conclusion there would likely be a control room or cameras which would give them away; “going loud” at least gave them the initiative. The plan would only work, though, if they could make it to the bridge before the Efreet realized there were intruders on the ship.
The race was on.
“I’ve got a map,” said Sergeant Tomaselli for the second time that day. Calvin and Night raced to his side to look at the diagram.
“Got it,” said Calvin, transmit
ting the intended route of travel to the group. “Let’s go!”
A voice began talking on the ship’s intercom, and Efreet surged into the passageways as they responded to the emergency.
“Contact,” said Sergeant Lancaster, who had point. “Two tangos down,” he added, indicating he had killed two of the enemy.
“Damn,” said Calvin. Dead Efreet meant bodies that could be discovered. He had hoped to avoid that. “Roger,” he commed. “Pick it up; we’ve got to get to the bridge now!”
Bridge, Efreet Ship Spark, Ashur Orbit, Unknown Date/Time
“Captain, I am getting strange power readings from the interior of the ship,” said the intelligence officer. “I am also showing doors opening where no one can be seen on the cameras.”
“What is happening in the loading bay where the shuttle landed?”
“There is nothing going on there,” said the damage control officer. “My team just arrived, and there is no one there. The airlock doors have been destroyed, but there are no signs of life. Even our loading crew is gone.”
“This is obviously a security test by the Incinerator,” said the captain. “Initiate all security protocols. Alert the troops.”
Task Force Calvin, Efreet Ship Spark, Ashur Orbit, Unknown Date/Time
“Run!” Calvin ordered as the green lights began flashing. By his estimation, they were about halfway to the bridge. They had been balancing the need for speed with the need to stay undetected. If the lights were flashing, only the need for speed remained.
“Guards at the next stairwell,” said Wraith, who was on point.
“Kill them,” Night ordered. “Keep moving!”
Calvin passed the guards moments later. Both had been shot through the head at close range.
The race to the bridge continued.
Bridge, Efreet Ship Spark, Ashur Orbit, Unknown Date/Time
“I’ve got them,” said the intelligence officer. “The intruders appear to be heading for the bridge.”
“Do you mean the security team from the Incinerator?” asked the captain.
“I do not believe the intruders are from the Incinerator,” replied the intelligence officer. “They appear to be killing our guards, not incapacitating them. We are being invaded by an unknown force. The only group which matches the capabilities demonstrated by this group is an Alliance force wearing combat suits. We were warned about them by the Jotunn.”
“But they are in the other universe, not ours,” said the captain. “How did they get here?”
“That is unknown,” said the intelligence officer. “All I can tell you, sir, is they are here, and they are rapidly approaching the bridge.”
“Lock the doors,” ordered the captain, “and get the marines up here now!”
Task Force Calvin, Efreet Ship Spark, Ashur Orbit, Unknown Date/Time
“I am at the bridge door,” reported Wraith.
“Stack up and get ready to enter,” said Night; “we’re right behind you.”
The troops made two lines and prepared to enter the bridge. “Go!” Night ordered when he saw everyone was ready.
Wraith pushed the button to open the door, but it remained closed. She pushed it several more times in rapid succession. It stayed shut.
“Jones, Lancaster, get up here and see if you can rewire the door panel,” said Night. “Graham, start cutting the door in case they can’t. They obviously know we’re here; there’s no need for subtlety.”
The squad made room for the cyborg to get to the door, and her laser snapped on in welding mode. Visors dimmed for the troops facing the door as their suits dealt with its actinic glare.
“Movement from the rear!” called Corporal Pat “Ostrich” Burke. He began firing down the corridor. “Different troops,” he added. “These guys are dressed in green.”
“Holy shit!” added Sergeant Nicholas Tomaselli. “They’re better armed too. They’ve got lasers as good as ours. Look out Ostrich!” He dove to the floor and returned fire. Burke crashed to the deck next to him and became visible, a laser hole through his visor. “Ostrich is down! Medic!”
“They can’t see us,” growled Night, “it was just a lucky shot. Everyone get down and return fire.”
The Terrans dove to the deck, unable to find any cover in the empty passageway.
They were trapped.
Chapter 38
Jotunn Jail, 14 Herculis ‘a,’ Unknown Date/Time
“More of them coming this time,” said Rock from the door of the cell. “Fuck!” he yelled as he dove to the side. Several laser bolts hit the bars near where he had been standing.
Rock stood up and crossed the cell to where the group waited behind their makeshift barricade. “This group is armed,” he added.
“I saw that,” said Chomper. He squatted down behind the only cover they had, the bodies of the fallen giants. “How many are there?”
“Too many,” replied Rock. “K-Mart better get back soon.”
Bridge, Efreet Ship Spark, Ashur Orbit, Unknown Date/Time
“The marines are asking for permission to use the device,” said the intelligence officer.
“Will that affect us in here?” asked the captain, looking at the cut in the door. It was growing at an alarming rate.
“The bridge is shielded; it shouldn’t affect us,” said the intelligence officer.
“Kill the power to the rest of the ship,” said the captain. “Tell the marines to proceed.”
Task Force Calvin, Efreet Ship Spark, Ashur Orbit, Unknown Date/Time
“Shit,” said several voices simultaneously as the lights went out.
“Switch to infrared and keep up the fire support,” said Night. “Graham is over halfway through the door.”
Calvin switched his visor to infrared. The Efreet didn’t show up as brightly as humans did, but they could be seen well enough. He fired a couple of shots then turned to see how far Graham still had to cut.
“What the hell’s that?” asked Sergeant Tomaselli.
Calvin turned back just in time to see the dim outline of a barrel-shaped object come to a stop in the middle of the passageway. It was about three feet in diameter and four feet high, with something small sticking up several feet from its center. A light snapped on at the top that was too bright to look at, causing all of the Terrans’ visors to darken. The device started humming with a low electronic vibration which raised the hair on the back of the Terrans’ necks.
The barrel looked familiar, Calvin thought. It took him a second, but then he remembered. “Down!” he yelled.
The noise from the barrel grew both louder and higher in pitch.
“Should we shoot it?” asked Sergeant Tomaselli.
Before Calvin could answer, the barrel detonated.
Chapter 39
Jotunn Jail, 14 Herculis ‘a,’ Unknown Date/Time
K-Mart paced back and forth, pausing periodically to look out the door to see if any Jotunn were coming. The fight on the other wing must be drawing all the remaining guards; it didn’t appear anyone had noticed the giant he killed was no longer replying on the radio.
The Sila working on the transport device looked up. “You know, it doesn’t help me to think with you walking around like that,” he said. “I’m almost done. Just a couple of seconds more.”
K-Mart stopped pacing and listened to the sounds of gunfire in the distance. The volume had dropped by half; one of the Sila slug-throwers must have been put out of action.
“Your friends need your help,” said Bordraab. “You must come and free me, and you must hurry.”
“I know I need to hurry,” said K-Mart, “but I need to wait for the box to get you out.”
“We must join the fight soon,” replied the dragon. “If we go now, we may yet be able to save them, but the Jotunn are readying for a final assault on their position. You must come get me, and you must do it now!”
“On my way,” replied K-Mart. He turned back to the Sila.
“I am finished,” said the male
working on the transporter box. He held it up for K-Mart to see. “It functions the same way the rod does, but has more power for bigger targets.”
“Will it work for a large number of people simultaneously?” asked K-Mart.
“Sadly, no,” the Sila replied. “I don’t know why, but it won’t. It wouldn’t with the Efreet, anyway. They needed a box that was tweaked a little differently.”
“The Efreet have already been here and taken the boxes for mass transportation between the universes?”
“Yes, several days ago,” replied the Sila. “They took the 10 boxes I had ready and left. I can make another, but it will take me at least 30 minutes. I have most of the parts I need, but will have to make several of the connectors.”
“Yeah, we’ll need one of those,” K-Mart said. “Keep working on it, and I’ll be right back. I’m going to get help.”
He pushed the button on his rod, turned invisible and left at a jog. He didn’t need the invisibility; he didn’t see a Jotunn the entire way to the dragon’s cell.
He arrived at Bordraab’s wing, out of breath, to find a Jotunn face down on the floor 50 feet from the dragon’s cell. The giant was missing half an arm, and a trail of green blood led the rest of the way to the cell.
“Plan B?” K-Mart asked, becoming visible.
“Yes,” replied Bordraab. “Unfortunately, my reflexes were slower than I thought. While I was able to bite his arm, I wasn’t able to grab him before he could pull away. Sadly, he made it further down the corridor than I could reach. If you could get the keys from him, we can go help your friends.”
The Search for Gram Page 25