The Raygin War

by Larry S. Gerovac

  The entity activated the ship’s internal speaker system. “Everyone, strap in, this landing is going to be rough, but not as rough as it would have been if Bodaway tried this.”

  Mahpee couldn’t help but laugh.

  Bodaway gave him a stern look. “Oh great,” said Bodaway, “your grandfather has Nashta’s sense of humor.”

  *****

  Dreng turned to make sure she hadn’t moved too far ahead of Second platoon. They were returning to home base per Mac’s orders. She caught a glimpse of a long smoking tail painted on the blue sky. It looked like a gigantic meteor on a low trajectory. Time to take a break anyway.

  “Take five,” she said as she pointed into the sky behind them.

  The platoon stopped and watched. The object got closer and closer. Looking through her magnified visor, Dreng realized it was a massive Raygin ship.

  “Mac, Dreng. A large Raygin ship appears to be crash landing. If it stays on course, it will hit the ground about eight clicks starboard of Second platoon.”

  “It must be too low, I can’t see it. Investigate and notify.”

  “Roger, Dreng out.”

  Dreng heard Mac divert Dwain to an intercept point. He would be the backup for Second platoon.

  Dwain allowed Dreng to hear him tell Third platoon, “You heard Mac. Let’s move out.”

  After Second platoon had traveled two clicks the big ship went sailing by. They could see a large gash in the ship’s belly as it glided past them. Smoke was pouring out the rear end of the ship. The force of the air pulled along with the giant ship knocked over a couple ground pounders. About three seconds after the ship passed overhead, Second platoon heard a loud crash. The planet shook. The Raygin ship was on the ground.

  Dreng set the pace. She had to remind herself not to outrun the troops as she struggled with her demons. Life was much simpler on Nokomis. I still need to find the appropriate time to tell the troops about my story. I wonder how Mac will accept the full story? I dug myself into a deep pit this time. This whole thing could blow up in my face. First chance I have, I’ll tell him everything. We promised to be honest. I know what he’ll think. Withholding information on purpose is the same as a lie. Oh, Mac. What have I done?

  “Dreng. There are bodies over here. Big roaches. Yuck. Mac was right about the aliens,” said a trooper.

  “They must have tried to jump to safety before the ship hit the ground. Pretty stupid, didn’t they realize they were moving at the same speed of the ship when they jumped. I’ll bet they were moving at about 1000 kilometers per hour,” said Dreng.

  The platoon kept moving forward. After about eight hundred meters, the team found a wide, straight rut with bulldozed trees. The number of bug bodies grew, as the team got closer to the smoldering ship. There must have been thousands of them.

  “Dreng, look,” said trooper, as she pointed to what looked like six human bodies. Two were intact, but the others were in pieces.

  “Mac, Dreng. We have found human bodies mixed in with crash debris.”

  “The new information changes your objective to a search and rescue,” said Mac

  “Dreng, copy.”

  “Dwain, how far out are you?”

  “ETA crash site, thirty minutes.”

  “Good job.”

  “Mac, can you update us on the alien ship’s status?” asked Dreng.

  “Three alien ships arrived near Rayne. The Warhammer and Dagger escorted the Argosy to safety. From what I can tell, six UFC ships, including a battleship, arrived near Rayne. It looks like the UFC destroyed one alien ship, and damaged this one causing it to crash. The battle is still going on. We have lost a total of three cruisers and one smaller ship whose arrival I must have missed. It doesn’t look good for the remaining UFC ships. The fighters are still battling it out.”

  “You mean we had six ships and they had three, and we’re losing?” asked Dwain.

  “No, we started with seven ships. It looks like we lost a total of four ships, but the battle is not over. Now, stay focused.”

  Second platoon arrived at the crash site. Dreng decided to surveil the wreckage before approaching the ship. It was broken into two big pieces. As the big ship slid to a stop, its nose must have caught on the planet’s surface and buried itself. The hind end weight placed more stress on the metal than it could take. The ship snapped in half.

  “Dreng,” said a trooper. “Look at the hind section, near the break. Focus on the opening about thirty meters off the ground.”

  A big group of bugs were firing plasma rifles at a band of humans, attempting to get to the ground. The humans had gotten their hands on some rifles and were firing back. As she watched, she could feel a rage building inside her. It was from years of pent up anger toward the bugs for killing her mother. She wanted to get even. She began to take deep breaths.

  “Mac, Dreng. We see human and Raygin survivors. Both sides have plasma rifles and are firing at each other. We are moving in to support and assist. The ship is broken into two pieces. We are on the aft, port section near the big break. We can see injured humans.”

  “Mac cop – ugh. Shit.”

  “Mac, are you okay?” asked Dreng.

  “Yeah, I’m all right. I fell on some loose grass… be safe honey.”

  Dreng could feel her face turning red inside her helmet. What was Mac thinking calling me honey and broadcasting it to everyone? It was so unlike him. She recalled his fall. Perhaps he jarred some electronics loose in his helmet. The pause. I’ll bet he switched to private but it didn’t work. This could be embarrassing. No time, got to move.

  Dreng switched her com to Second platoon. “I need the grapple hook, and some line. The rest of you spread out and take up defensive positions. After I get to the humans, be ready to lay down some suppression fire on my command. Keep an eye out for other humans or bugs.”

  Dreng tied the grapple onto the rope and threw it about half way up. It caught on some damaged metal hanging out of a five-meter hole in the ship’s side. She moved up the rope without effort. The body armor’s ability to blend into the black background prevented her from drawing fire. The bugs were focused on trying to keep the humans from getting to the ground, not trying to keep someone from climbing up.

  The captive humans found themselves pinned down at a thirty-meter tear in the ship’s side. The ship’s curve made it difficult for Dreng to toss the grapple. To make it worse no metal extended out to offer her a good target. She leaned out again and made a sidearm toss in the blind, hoping to get the three hooks to catch on something. On the third try it caught. Within twenty seconds, she was standing behind the humans. She flipped her suit’s camouflage capability off.

  “Hello. I’m Dreng. Can you tell me who’s in charge?”

  Smitty’s eyes opened wide. It seemed as though Dreng appeared out of thin air. He looked at her armor.

  “I’ve never seen anything like your armor. You must be with the elite forces.

  How did spec ops get here so quick?” asked Smitty.

  “Were not spec ops. We are three platoons of UFC light infantry. Now, can you tell me who is in charge?”

  Smitty looked at Dreng’s rifle and the two tomahawks hanging off her belt. “Not spec ops my ass. Call yourselves whatever you want. I’m glad to see you. My name is Smitty. I’m the Nomad’s chief engineer. We are from either the Nomad or Imperial Station. To answer your question, no one here is in charge.” Smitty looked at the ex-captives. “Hey everyone, listen up. This here is Dreng,” he looked at her, smiled, and said, “she’s spec ops. She’s here to help us. Do whatever she says.”

  About ten people came up to her and shook hands or patted her back.

  “We’re at a stand off. We were trying to get off the ship when the bugs showed up. I’m afraid more of them will be coming. They’re like roaches. If you see one, there’s more somewhere else,” said Smitty.

  “Are you the only survivors?”

  “No, we heard plasma rifle fire inside the ship. As fa
r as we know, there were 812 of us locked in single pen.”

  Dreng surveyed their position. Even with suppression fire, she feared some of them would lose their lives repelling down. She would have to take the fight to the fifteen or so bugs preventing them from getting down.

  “Dreng, Dwain. Third platoon is on site.”

  “Great. Send me three good rope-climbing marksmen. I left grapple lines in place. I’m going to take the fight to the bugs or we’re stuck here. When I ask for it, give me suppression fire.”

  “How you going to get there?”

  “I see a pathway to them if I can use a line to swing to the other side.”

  “Okay, it’s your ass… honey.”

  Several ground pounders activated their mic and giggled. Even Dreng laughed at the thought of Dwain calling her honey. She let it go. When the three marksmen arrived she had them take up positions. She briefed them on how she would bridge the gap between their positions.

  “Cover fire now,” said Dreng as she ran out tossing a perfect grapple that caught on the ships broken structure. She swung across to the far section in one smooth motion. She could see the confusion as the bugs started taking fire from the ground. The Raygin crew lost two more bugs before they found cover from the crossfire. Dreng knew once her presence became known the bugs would concentrate their fire on her. She needed to move into the group’s middle. She put her rifle down, took out her tomahawks, and attacked. Three big black bugs were dead before they knew she was in their midst. She kicked a bug hard in the midsection. The force of the blow knocked it fifteen feet through the air and over the ship’s side.

  Dreng had no option but to allow the troops to see her in action. She wielded the tomahawks like they were extensions of her own arms. Each of her blows went all the way through the beetle exoskeleton. What she didn’t predict was the fighting quarters would be so tight. She moved so quick her help couldn’t fire for fear of hitting her. She couldn’t stop fighting to retreat without getting shot by an enemy plasma rifle. She believed her only chance to survive was an all out assault. Here goes n…. She paused her final attack as she heard a strange sound.

  BuZZZZ Thunk. BuZZZZ Thunk. Dreng couldn’t understand where the odd sound was coming from until she looked at two bugs with parts of their heads missing. She remembered the stories Tinker told about Mac’s sniper days. His favorite rifle was the Buzzard. She understood the name now. She figured out the direction he was shooting from, and began to maneuver the bugs into his line of sight. He had saved her.

  BuZZZZ Thunk. BuZZZZ Thunk. BuZZZZ Thunk.

  Between Mac and herself all the enemy except one were dead. She thought about her mother and how the Raygin had taken her life as she swung the tomahawk at the lone surviving bug. The blow’s impact was so great the Raygin body flew twenty feet in the air. It even cleared the ship’s side before it began to drop.

  “Holy crap,” said Dwain, “did you see that? No wonder she beat me. She’s a fucking robot. Mac is in love with a robot.”

  As Dreng caught her breath, she said, “Dwain, I can hear you, and I am not a robot. I was born on a high gravity planet called Nokomis.”

  “Nokomis? I’ve heard of it. It’s a robot planet.”

  “Dwain, you’re impossible.”

  Dreng gathered up six undamaged rifles and lowed them to the ground. By the time Dreng got back to the humans, Mac was already arguing with Smitty. They had rigged a rope chair to get the wounded down to ground level.

  “Save it,” said Smitty, “I already heard it all. You are not special ops. I can’t get any of you to admit it. You look like special ops, you fight like special ops, you shoot like special ops, but I guess you’re from the fairy clan.”

  Mac laughed at Smitty’s frustration. “One day, over some drinks, I’ll tell you the whole story. For now, let’s get your people down, and to safety before more Raygin show up.”

  The troops began to lower the injured. They ran three more lines down for everyone else to begin repelling.

  “Raygin?” Said Smitty, “I prefer to call them bugs.” He grinned at Dreng and gave her a wink.

  She lifted her visor and nodded her head in the affirmative.

  Mac walked up to her, “I have two comments. First of all let me say nice job. Second, what the hell were you thinking? Are you trying to give me a heart attack? You were fighting like a possessed person.”

  She put her hands on her hips, and said, “I wanted to see if you were as good as Tinker said you were.” She looked him up and down as if he were a cut of meat she was getting ready to devour.

  Mac laughed. “You’re so funny. Still feeling the rush aren’t you? Everyone handles it a little different. I have to admit, it’s the first time anyone came on to me. Take some long deep breaths. Slow your heart down and save your adrenaline for later. You may need it. Dwain, Mac. Bring Third platoon up. I want you to take your team into the ship and search for more human survivors.”

  “On our way.”

  Mac smacked his helmet and shook his head.

  The last of Smitty’s bunch made it down to the ground. Second Platoon picked up the bug weapons and moved everyone to a tree line for cover. Dreng was proud of them. They understood their armor made them invisible to thermal detection, but not the other humans. Mac spent days in the holographic trainer pitting teams against each other. The games of hide and seek paid off thanks to Mac’s experience.

  “Mac, Tinker. I just caught Mr. Phlop sneaking around the com system. He said he didn’t use it, but the power was on. I shut it down.”

  “Tinker, remove his weapons, put binders on his hands, post a guard with him, and do not let him near the skiff. Tell him if he puts the troops in danger again, I’ll impose war article 19, and kill him myself.”

  “Tinker copy.”

  Standing next to Mac, Dreng heard everything. “What’s his problem, Mac?”

  “My guess is he never had a chance to grow up. His parents coddled him his whole life. I’d be willing to bet they bought him this job. People like them are the reason I resurrected the old commodore title. I saw a lot of good soldiers die for no other reason than somebody got promoted beyond their competence level because they had money or were connected.”

  “What is war article 19?”

  A smile lit Mac’s face. “There is no such rule as war article 19. I use it on inexperienced young first lieutenants like Phlop. It forces them to think about the impact of their actions. They don’t mind risking your life, but they never want to risk their own lives.”

  Dwain barking out orders interrupted their conversation. Third platoon began to climb up the ropes. As they got to the top, both Dreng and Mac were there to help.

  When Dwain got to the top he looked at Dreng and said, “Nice job, honey.”

  Mac looked at Dreng with his eyebrows squished together. Dwain didn’t wait for a response. He led his platoon into the ship.

  Mac looked at Dreng. “Damn. I can’t hear Third platoon at all. I heard Dwain in your helmet, but not mine. Something is wrong with my com. Why did he call you honey?”

  “I meant to tell you–”

  Mac put his hand out towards Dreng. “Be still. Listen.”

  The two stood motionless in their camo body armor as two Raygin fighters flew over the wreckage. The surviving Raygin ship must have observed the energy spike from the skiff’s com system. They had sent the fighters to investigate.

  “Tinker, Mac. We have two Raygin fighters flying over the crash site. It won’t be long before they widen their search. Get the anti-particle canon ready. It’s the only weapon we have capable of taking out a fighter. Set it up so it fires it between the split in the big tree by the camp. I’m going to try to lead them right down your throat.”

  “Tinker, copy.”

  “Dwain, copy.” Dreng used battle signals to relay any communications from Dwain. She glanced into the smoke-filled sky and watched the two fighters begin their search pattern.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN: Allies<
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  The Wasp slid to a bumpy halt in a heap of giant apple trees. Everyone unstrapped from their seats and looked out the windows. The trees piled up in a big heap covering the ship. They provided a natural canopy, keeping them hidden from enemy view. The crew looked at each other and no words were spoken. Mahpee’s grandfather had kept them all alive. When they looked for him he was nowhere to be found.

  The last action of the strange being was to take all systems off line. It seemed to have a purpose for every action, so they decided to leave the power off line. The crew had to force open the door. A big dust cloud was still settling.

  “Bodaway, you and Nashta need to check the damage, inside and out. I’ll scout the local area. Nashta, have you thought about what or who the entity is? And stop calling it my grandfather. I know it’s not him.”

  “No, I haven’t figured it out yet, but it knew about you and your grandfather. It needed you to act so it became someone you trusted. It also knew how to counter everything I was doing to take control back. I think it read our minds. While in the computer, it learned how to improve the drive and our weapon systems. It adapts and learns with blistering speed. Your grandfather –” Nashta ducked his head to avoid a slap from Mahpee, “piloted the ship to save us but wouldn’t pilot the attack on the enemy. Why?”

  “You need to figure out what it is and where it came from. In your spare time, you and Bodaway determine how to repair the ship. I’ll take everyone else and scout the local area.”

  “We’re on it,” said Nashta as he scooted out of slapping range.

  The crew grabbed their weapons and headed out. The Wasp landed near a lake surrounded by fields of vegetables, fruits, and various kinds of trees. Everything seemed perfect, except the planet appeared to be void of animal or insect life. This wouldn’t be the first planet Mahpee had visited where a super predator wiped out the other significant life forms. There is one major difference. On the other planets there were always insects, birds, and burrowing animals left. Here on Rayne, there was nothing. It had to be bioengineered.