Forging a Trap

by James David Victor

  If only he could take her to the prairie where he had run as a youngster, if only there was no war and they could run together up the far hill where he sat and read and played as a boy. He wanted to take Reyes there and sit and listen to her talk enthusiastically about things he barely understood, but he knew one thing better than anything else: he was happy when he was with Reyes.

  “Check it out, Jack,” she said, stopping in her tracks.

  Jack looked up and saw, hanging in the middle of the workshop, a Kraken, the quick and powerful Chitin fighter craft.

  Jack half-dropped, half-turned, starting to go for his gun at the sight of his enemy.

  “What?” he said cautiously. He realized there was no immediate danger.

  “It’s dead,” Reyes said. “But I think I can bring it back to life.”

  “Life?” Jack said in disbelief. “But it’s a machine, isn’t it?”

  “Kind of,” Reyes said. “But it’s also alive, kind of.”

  “Both?” Jack said. He stepped forward and looked closely at the Chitin craft. “How can it be both?”

  “Because,” Reyes said, stepping alongside Jack, “it’s Chitin. It’s different from us. It’s like a virus, mechanical and biological, both and neither. I think I can activate this Kraken, but it’ll start killing us. I have come up with a solution, and if I am right, we might be able to get away from here before they kill us all. The Fleet is sending someone to try and trap a live Chitin soldier so I can test my theory.”

  Jack turned to Reyes. He realized he was still holding her hand.

  “It’s me. I’m going to do it.”

  Spotting the sudden look of worry on Reyes’s face made Jack feel even more strongly for her. He stepped in front of her and took both her hands. “I can do it,” he said.

  Reyes nodded. “Please be careful, Jack.”

  Jack stepped closer to Reyes. They moved together and kissed again.

  Jack’s communicator burst to life.

  “Jack, my boy.” It was Captain Pretorius. “I’m heading back to the Scorpio now. Do you want to come up with me or will you join me later?”

  Jack pulled out his pocket-watch from his uniform pocket. It was approaching the start of the Fleet-wide first watch.

  “Thank you, sir,” Jack said. “I’ll return to the Scorpio with you. I’ll join you at the transport shortly. Forge out.”

  “Copy that. Pretorius out.”

  Jack looked at Reyes. She was flushed and misty-eyed. Jack put his arm over her shoulder and walked back to the exit from the massive workshop.

  “I’ll get you that Chitin soldier so you can save us all. Deal?” Jack said.

  “Deal,” Reyes replied.

  Jack walked through the workshop and as the lights blinked off behind him, he could almost sense the Chitin Kraken hanging in the dark. His deadly enemy lurked in the blackness behind him. They were out there, thousands of them, poised to swoop into the inner system at any moment. Jack hoped they would have time for Reyes to put her theory into practice and save humanity from destruction.

  3

  The Marine deck on the Scorpio was quiet and empty. Jack walked along spaces marked out for each squad of each company of the battalion.

  Adder Company was now under the command of the youngest ever company commander in the history of the Fleet Marine Service. Erin Bevan was a capable leader and had saved a number of Marines following the destruction of the Taurus at the battle of Eight-Eight-Thirteen. She was brave, determined, responsible, and had shown authority leading a squad of fresh Marines. She had developed a fear of floating in open space that concerned Jack, but he was prepared to give Bevan a chance to prove herself.

  Jack had wrestled with the decision to promote Bevan. Squad leader Dave Jarrat from Adder Company had been a promotion prospect, but for all his combat and leadership experience, Jack just didn’t think he would be able to lead as a company commander. He was brave and determined, but Jack wasn’t sure he could think tactically.

  Erin Bevan had narrowly won the promotion.

  Boa Company was currently under the command of Commander Stuart Laidlaw. He was an intelligent man, and Scorpio Battalion’s most experienced company commander, even though he had only been in the position for a few short months. He had conducted himself heroically during the Battle of Brecon Moon, where he had defended one of the planetary defense cannons. He’d had an easier job of it than Jack, since Laidlaw had arrived in position with all his supplies and equipment intact, but it had still been a brutal fight. Boa Company had taken casualties and was still at a reduced strength, but Jack had confidence that Laidlaw would have them performing at their best.

  Jack walked over the deck to the area marked out for Cobra Company. Even though Jack was now in command of the entire battalion, he still thought of Cobra as his. He walked into the square marked out for Cobra and remembered the first time he had stood here and waited for his first assignment, a simple recon mission that led to the discovery of a Chitin fuel station. That had been Jack’s first mission, and he had encountered a Chitin Leviathan. If it hadn’t been for Sarah Reyes’s clever thinking, Jack would not have been able to defeat that massive warship, and his first mission as a Marine in Cobra Company would have been his last.

  Cobra Company was a special company for Jack. Its commander would have to be someone Jack knew and trusted, someone Jack respected, and someone who also knew and trusted Jack. There was only one Marine in the entire Fleet Marine Service that Jack would entrust Cobra Company to. Only one man alive fit to command the best company in the Fleet Marines.

  Jack stood on the point marked out for 6th squad where he had stood for that first mission briefing. Soon he would give his first as battalion major. He looked up as his company commanders entered the Marine deck.

  Stuart Laidlaw, Erin Bevan, and Sam Torent stopped when they saw Jack.

  “Battalion major on deck,” Torent said loudly, and the three commanders saluted their new battalion major.

  “As you were, guys,” Jack said as he walked over to the group. “Join me in the office.”

  Across the Marine deck was a small office. The holostage was mounted against one wall and so took up less space. There was seating for Jack and his three company commanders, and extra seating for others who might be required to come before the battalion major.

  “We have an operation that needs to be completed as quickly as possible,” Jack began as he took his seat. “It is vital for the war effort and I have volunteered to take it on.”

  “Then I volunteer to go with you,” Torent said.

  “You don’t know what it is yet,” Jack said, leaning back in his chair.

  “I don’t need to know.” Torent stood up straight. “If my battalion major is going, it’s my duty to go and make sure he comes back alive.”

  Jack nodded. “What if we both get killed?” Jack said with a smile. “Who’s going to run the Scorpio Battalion then?”

  Erin Bevan held up her hand. “I’ll do it.”

  Laidlaw nudged Bevan. “Bit too eager to see the boss get killed, Erin. Put your hand down.”

  Bevan shoved Laidlaw away. “Not the battalion job, Stu, the operation. I’ll take on the operation so Major Forge can stay back here and keep you alive.”

  “I’ll be selecting my team,” Jack said. “I just want to take suggestions and advice on the plan from you guys.”

  “Kill them with pulse rifle fire usually works as a plan,” Torent said, sitting back down.

  “Not this time, Sam,” Jack said. He leaned forward onto his desk. “This time we are going to be taking them alive.” Jack waited for the sudden surprise to dissipate. “Fleet Command and Control wants to review my plan right away. Suggestions?”

  “Shoot down a Hydra and capture the crew,” Torent said.

  Jack nodded. It was just like Torent to go in guns blazing. Jack liked the plan, but the only Hydras were in the sphere of the Chitin armada surrounding the system. They wouldn’t last a minut
e against the massed Chitin armada.

  “We need to find a Hydra first,” Laidlaw said. “I can check the database and see where the last encounter with a Hydra was. We can extrapolate its heading and try and intercept it.”

  Jack nodded. The ideas were coming now.

  “We can try and infiltrate a vessel,” Bevan said. “If we find a Hydra and approach stealthily, run dark and silent, just a small group of Marines in meat suits...” Bevan trailed off. Jack noticed she was becoming nervous thinking about floating free in space, but she had the idea and it was a good plan that had worked before. Jack realized how brave she was to suggest a plan that terrified her. Jack had no doubt that if he ordered her to carry out the plan, she would do it and lead with exceptional courage and focus.

  But Jack knew infiltration was the easy part. Taking a Chitin alive would be hard, and even harder on one of their ships.

  Standing and crossing to the wall-mounted holostage, Jack added his own idea. “What if we could get some Chits to infiltrate a ship of ours?”

  “Yes,” Laidlaw said. “We’d be on home ground and our Marines would act with more confidence.”

  “And we would know where to set up kill zones,” Torent said. Then he remembered the plan. “We need to keep them alive,” he said, rolling his eyes. “Doesn’t seem right.”

  “A kill zone could also be used to trap a Chitin soldier.” Jack tapped the holostage controls and called up a list of Fleet ships. “We need a ship big enough for the Chits to try and infiltrate, but small enough so we can contain them.”

  “A frigate,” Laidlaw said. “Fast, and they have good weapons systems.”

  “Remember,” Jack said, calling up the specifications for a Fleet frigate, “we need to take them alive.”

  An image of a frigate appeared on the holostage. Jack projected it into the center of the battalion office. Laidlaw, Bevan, and Torent all stood and walked around the image. The large cockpit was big enough for a small flight crew, but the ship was able to be piloted by one experienced pilot. Jack was sure he could take the role.

  Along the center line of the frigate was a single corridor. Weapons bays led off to port and starboard and a ladder led up and down to the blast laser turrets situated on the upper and lower hulls amidships.

  Jack ran his finger along the corridor. “Here,” he said. “It’s long and wide. There are cover points at the entrances to the weapons bay. This is the perfect spot to capture a Chit.”

  “But how do we get a Chit in there so we can capture it?” Torent said.

  “A distress call?” Jack said, looking at his company commanders.

  Bevan nodded. “Are they still snatching people from Fleet vessels?”

  Jack shrugged. It was a risk, but then the entire operation was a risk. “It’s safe to bet they haven’t stopped capturing people when they can.”

  “I thought we were supposed to be capturing them,” Torent said.

  “And we will,” Jack said. “So we requisition a frigate from the remaining ships of the Monarch Carrier Group and we go and make like an injured vessel in deep space.”

  “And hope they come and take the bait?” Torent said.

  “Indeed, and we will hook them and land them and drag them back to Fleet Command and Control Headquarters.”

  Feeling Laidlaw’s gaze on him, Jack turned to the Boa Company Commander. “Thoughts, Stuart?”

  “Why, sir? Why are we capturing a chitin soldier?” Laidlaw said.

  Jack walked behind his desk and sat down heavily. “Stuart, guys, it’s a tricky operation and it is a vital operation, but I can’t tell you why. All I can tell you is, it is classified, but I wouldn’t have volunteered if I didn’t think it was important.”

  “I don’t care if it’s classified, top secret, or you are just doing it for kicks,” Torent said, sitting down again. “If you’re going, I’m coming too.”

  Jack nodded. “Okay, let’s plan this thing in detail and get it off to the Fleet. Copy?”

  Bevan, Laidlaw, and Torent all responded in the affirmative. Jack nodded with satisfaction. He had a good team of officers.

  “Sam?” Jack said casually.

  “Boss?” Torent replied.

  “Where is your arm?”

  Torent pointed over his shoulder with his thumb. “Back in my quarters. The thing was irritating me like crazy. You want me to get it?”

  Jack shook his head. “No, it’s fine. Just make sure you have it with you when we head off for our Chitin hunt.”

  The plan was looking strong. All they needed now, what they always needed, was a bit of good fortune.

  4

  Sitting in the cockpit of Frigate M4, Jack could see he had been given a well-maintained craft. Every light on the flight console was green. There were no warning lights, no failing or bypassed systems. Every weapon and drive component was in top condition. It was a rare and welcome sight.

  The Fleet had allocated one of the best frigates from the Monarch Carrier Group to the operation. Jack realized the importance Fleet had placed on the mission, and how important it was that he succeeded.

  The frigate was currently traveling unpowered, running dark and silent. The slingshot maneuver around Brecon Moon had sent M4 hurtling toward the asteroid belt. All traffic had been withdrawn from a huge sector to leave Jack and his team aboard M4 as the only craft in the area.

  Jack was approaching the designated operation point and alerted his team.

  “Helmets on, Marines. Approaching zero point now. I’ll be letting the entire system know where we are in a few minutes. Good luck, everyone. Sam, join me in the cockpit, please.”

  Hearing Sam climbing up the few steps into the cockpit, Jack turned in his pilot’s chair. Torent had his helmet under his left arm and his pulse rifle over his shoulder. Jack indicated the observation seat at the side of the cockpit.

  “You sure you can fly this all by yourself?” Torent asked. He took the pulse rifle off his shoulder and set it against the side of his seat.

  “You sure you can handle Cobra all by yourself?”

  Sam smiled. “Smart ass,” he said.

  “You got anyone on Eros, Sam?” Jack said, turning his seat to face Torent.

  “No,” Torent said. He flexed his prosthetic right arm and tested its movement. “I’m all alone in the universe.”

  “Do you miss it?” Jack asked.

  “Yeah,” Torent said. “This arm is stronger for sure, but it sometimes irritates a bit too much. It’s all right now, though. I gave it a good service before we suited up.”

  “Not your arm, Sam,” Jack said. “Eros, I mean.”

  The stare Torent gave Jack made Jack wonder if he knew Torent at all. They had met as enemies and now Torent was one of Jack’s oldest and most trusted friends.

  “There was never anything for me on Eros.”

  “So you were happy to join the Marines?”

  “I didn’t join voluntarily, Jack,” Torent said. “I was arrested for petty theft and burglary. They were going to throw my kravin butt in jail. It was the service or a cell. Of course I joined, but I wasn’t happy.”

  There was a dark tone to Torent’s voice. Jack felt as if he was seeing a side of Torent for the first time, or at least one he had forgotten about.

  “You know what,” Torent said, leaning in, “I guess I am happy now, but it wasn’t that long ago that I was still looking for the easy route. When we were transporting the prisoners and I was offered a way out, I nearly took it. I could have left everything behind right there. No, I don’t miss Eros, but I might miss the Scorpio, or some other kravin busted old ship.”

  Jack stared at Torent. When they had been on the prison colony, and Torent had sided with the prisoners, Jack had been sure Torent was play acting and trusted that he was only manipulating the prisoners and their ringleader. Now it seemed that Torent might have been thinking about abandoning his Marine family for his old criminal one all along.

  “You shot your old friend dead in t
hat prison,” Jack said. He wondered how easily Torent might commit murder.

  “He wasn’t a friend. Despite what you might have read, there is no honor among thieves. He was a kravin scroat, and it was him or me.”

  “I seem to remember he had gun against my head, not yours.”

  “If he had killed you, I would have been stuck with him. Guess I’d rather be stuck with you.”

  Jack nodded as he took the comment and realized that for all the bitterness in Torent’s voice, the comment was in fact a compliment. Torent was rough, even for a Marine, and kind words didn’t come easy.

  “Heads up, Jack,” Torent said, standing up. He pointed to the flight console. “Zero point.”

  Jack turned back to the console. They were in position.

  “Ready to send a party invitation to the Chits?” Jack said.

  Torent pulled on his helmet. Jack heard Torent's voice over his communicator. “Bring ’em on, boss.”

  As Torent climbed back down the steps to the central corridor, Jack heard him shouting commands to the small team of Marines. Jack activated the drive and initiated a braking maneuver, dropping the ship from its silent cruising speed to a dead stop. Then he sent the distress call on a wide channel.

  “Ship in distress. This is Frigate M4. We are unpowered and adrift. Sending coordinates. Request immediate assistance. Ship in distress. Repeat, ship in distress.”

  Jack powered down the communication beacon and sat back in his chair. He opened the team communication channel as he pulled his meat suit helmet on. “Message away. Hope the Chits still want to capture a few Marines. All we can do now is wait. Be ready. They could be here at any time.”

  Any time proved to be no time at all. Within an hour, the passive sensor nodes detected an incoming Hydra.