Aquaria Burning

by Finn Gray

  Flashes of light as the waves of fighters engaged.

  And then everything swarmed—the fighters, the sounds around her, even her thoughts. Laws processed information and issued commands at a clip she’d have never believed her mind capable of.

  On the vids, the Aquarian fighters took the upper hand. The Memnon’s crafts were faster, more maneuverable, but their flying was sloppy. Every time a Memnon made a mistake, an Aquarian made them pay.

  But the Memnon numbers were greater… much greater. They slipped around or simply charged through the battle and swept in on the Aquarian fleet.

  “Any word on the QE drives?” Laws asked.

  “Nothing, Sir,” science officer Ron Dawson said. “We’re also running scans on the Brick. Every science officer is. She’s putting out rays on strange frequencies. That’s all I can tell you at the moment.”

  The fighters closed in. Cronus opened up with her short-range weapons and the first of the Memnon crafts erupted.

  No one cheered. There was no time.

  For the first time, Cronus took enemy fire. Enemy fighters slipped through her defenses and launched missiles.

  “Brace for impact!” Laws said.

  The missiles struck home with underwhelming results. Cronus’ hull absorbed the damage with ease. “That’s our girl!” Laws said. Unless one of these fighters was carrying a nuke, they were wasting their birds in the main with this reckless charge against the battlecruisers.

  Unless that was not the real target.

  Laws gasped. Of course it wasn’t. The suicide runs hadn’t been for nothing. They were a diversion.

  “Zala! Launch reserve fighters! The Memnon fighters are going for the civilian fleet! Spread the word to the fleet!”

  Laws swore and looked down at her console vid. There, different views of the battle were arrayed before her—all from cameras mounted at different parts of the ship. She could tap any one and enlarge it in the center, but for now she scanned them all. Sure enough, three Memnon fighters had slipped past them and were making a beeline for the civilian fleet, all stranded without functioning QE drives.

  I’m too late. I’ve killed them all.

  Chapter 32

  Among the Aquarian fleet

  “Here they come!” Sabre warned as she watched the Memnon fighters approach the civilian fleet. Hidden between the hulking refinery ship and the bulk of the Cilloba luxury cruise liner, and deploying cloaking devices, they waited to spring the trap.

  “We’ve still got only three bandits on RADS,” Cactus said. “Are we ready?”

  “Hells, yes. Remember, stay with your wingman and don’t screw it up. On my mark. Three… two… one… launch!”

  Sabre hit the throttle, felt her body press back into the seat, savored the welcome rush of adrenaline. Screams and whoops filled her ears as her squadron, which had been champing at the bit after being held back for guard duty, finally joined the battle.

  They soared out beyond the line of civilian ships. On the RADS, the bandits loomed large.

  “Here we go. Cactus and Jumper, take left. Smoke, you and Cheese take right. Recess and I will take the one in the middle. Zipper and Rose, you’ve got mop-up.”

  “Really?” Zipper said. “We’re the rear guard’s rear guard?”

  “I admit it’s a bad decision,” Sabre said. “From what I’ve heard, you make no effort to guard your own rear.”

  Laughter, hoots, and curses. She hoped they’d all live to hear what sort of rejoinder Zipper came up with. He was slow with the comebacks.

  She and Recess locked in on the fighter in the middle. They feinted a direct charge, then looped in opposite directions. The Memnon fighter ignored the maneuver and put on speed, remaining focused on the closest prize—a massive T23 civilian airbus. Packed with innocents. Defenseless.

  “Gods, they’re predictable aren’t they?” Sabre said. “Zipper, look what Mommy got for you.”

  “Thanks, Mom. You’re the best!”

  The Memnon had inadvertently barreled into range of Rose and Zipper’s guns. The Cobra pilots spewed curses as they shredded the enemy craft.

  “I’m blind! I’m blind!” Cheese’s voice rose above the din.

  “Sabre! We’ve got trouble!” Smoke shouted.

  “Roger that. We’re coming.” Gods, don’t let me be too late.

  “He’s got a lock on me!” Cheese shouted.

  “I can’t get a fix. The way this thing moves!” Smoke sounded panicked.

  “What do I do?” Cheese yelled.

  “Evasive maneuvers,” Sabre said firmly but calmly. “Trust your training. Don’t think, just act. I’m there in five seconds.”

  But five seconds, as it turned out, wasn’t nearly enough time. The moment seemed to stretch into eternity, but Sabre knew it all happened in an instant.

  The Memnon launched missiles.

  Smoke let loose with a torrent of gunfire that went wide.

  Cheese let out a high-pitched shriek, the likes of which Sabre had never heard a human utter.

  And then he was gone.

  Sabre couldn’t believe it. He was gone. Never again would she hear his goofy laugh, see that ever-present smile that had garnered him the nickname Cheese. In some small corner of her mind, she heard Cactus report that she and Jumper had dispatched their bandit. She heard Smoke swearing and sobbing. Saw the Memnon fighter make a run for the fleet. And then she was in pursuit.

  “Turn around and fight!” she screamed. “Come on!”

  “Sabre, we’ve got bandits at your two o’clock,” Cactus said. “Engaging now.”

  “Zipper, you and Rose get on that,” Sabre said.

  “Roger,” Rose said.

  Sabre closed in on the Memnon fighter. She took aim.

  “No!”

  The Memnon fighter fired a missile. Not at her, but in the direction of the fleet.

  “Screw a dead goat!” Sabre squeezed off two bursts of fire. Sparks flew and a stream of gas poured from the starboard wing. “Recess, I’ve crippled it but I need you and Smoke to finish it off. I’ve got to stop that missile.” She knew it sounded stupid. Hells, she felt stupid saying it, but she had to try.

  Battlecruiser Cronus

  The Memnon dreadnoughts were coming into range and the Aquarian ships were ready for them. Laws heard the dull whump, felt the familiar tremor in the air as Cronus fired her primary weapon. Across the fleet, the Aquarian ships followed suit.

  Moments later, the Memnons returned fire.

  The Aquarian salvo struck first but there was no time to assess the damage. The Memnon missiles struck.

  Cronus rocked from the impact. Laws was flung to the deck, and came up spitting blood from a split lip.

  Idiot! You look like a fledgie in front of your crew. But it seemed everyone was either on the ground or dazed. She hastily wiped her lip with her sleeve.

  “Everyone alive?” she said with all the gruffness she could manage.

  “And kicking,” Dawson said.

  “Damage report?”

  “Minimal. Our girl is built to take a licking. No pun intended, Sir.”

  “Gods, Dawson. I’ve got bigger things to worry about.”

  “Admiral, the reserve fighters from Dragonfly report they have eliminated the Memnon fighters that made a run at the civilian fleet.”

  “Thank the gods,” Laws said. It was only her relief at his foresight in laying a trap for the Memnons that kept her from getting him on the com and laying into him for keeping it a secret from her. “Any losses?”

  “One pilot and one civilian ship.” Zala’s voice was so choked with emotion that she could barely get out the words.

  “What was the civilian ship?” Laws skin prickled with chill bumps as an icy sense of foreboding swept over her.

  “It was the pontiff’s private transport,” Zala sobbed. “One of the pilots was in pursuit of the missile, trying to bring it down. But the pontiff’s ship, it broke away from the fleet and came out to meet the missile.�
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  Laws heard the words as if spoken from far away. “Who else is dead?”

  “All the high priests.” Zala sniffed, wiped her nose with the back of her hand. “The pilot was so close. If he’d only waited.”

  “He died a warrior’s death. No one could ask for more.” Gods, she was spouting clichés left and right. She returned her attention to the vids. The Memnons had not surrounded the fleet, as she would have expected, but had spread and formed a net to hem the Aquarian fleet in. Their remaining fighters had broken off the engagement and retreated, along with most of the support vessels.

  “Order our fighters to pull back and await my orders,” Laws said. “And get Commander Graves on the horn.” Perhaps Graves had an idea of what the hells the Memnons were up to.

  “Sir, Commander Graves is on the line,” Zala said moments later.

  “Commander Graves, I enjoyed your little surprise.” Laws emphasized the last word.

  Graves ignored the subtle dig. “Admiral,” he said in greeting.

  “Dom, what the hells is their game?”

  “Their run at the fleet failed, so they’re hanging back and trading punches with us,” Graves said.

  “I know that. But why?”

  “Because it’s a winning strategy. They’ve got us outnumbered and outgunned. Little by little, they’re hemming us in, driving us back toward Aquaria. And without functioning QE drives, we can’t escape.”

  “It all comes down to the Brick. Any idea how to take it out?”

  “Blow it to the hells, like you would any other ship. Might be difficult, though. Not only is it heavily guarded, it appears to be well-armored.”

  “Admiral,” Zala interrupted. “We’ve got a message from the Memnons.”

  Chapter 33

  Stone Mountain Base, Soria

  Rory and Marson herded the remaining patients along the corridor in the direction of the hangar. They’d formed the gown-clad patients up into two lines with Rory ahead of them, Marson in the back, and Becca leading the group. They’d concocted a story about escorting the subjects to a different lab in case someone questioned them. It wouldn’t hold water for long, but perhaps it would buy time for the two marines to eliminate anyone who tried to stand in their way. Of course, it was all academic once chaos ensued.

  Marson, Peyton, and Park each carried a med kit, which would be essential for Becca to treat Rory’s injured comrades. Along with a data card filled with as much information as she’d been able to download in the few minutes before they left the lab, Becca carried a single vial of the anti-radiation treatment she and the other Memnons had developed. Duplicating it would be essential should the Aquarians ever regain control of their system.

  They were within sight of the hangar entrance when the claxons began to blare and a voice came over the audio system.

  Security alert red. All stations lock down. Security alert red. All stations lock down.

  “We’ve got to get in there before the doors are sealed!” Park shouted. “Come on!”

  They all took off at a run. Even the patients, in their weakened states, managed to pick up the pace. Only Becca faltered.

  “But Cap hasn’t caught up with us,” she said, looking back down the passageway.

  “He’ll be along,” Rory said. He tried to take her hand but she jerked away.

  “We’re not leaving him behind.”

  There was no time to argue.

  “He gave me strict instructions to get you out of this base and off of this planet regardless of what happens to him.”

  She took a step back. “If you want to take orders from him, fine. I won’t!”

  “He’s gone and he’s not coming back!”

  Becca blanched. “Oh, gods! He’s going on a suicide mission, isn’t he?”

  “It doesn’t matter. You saved him once; now it’s his turn to save you. Are you coming or do I have to carry you?” Over Becca’s shoulder, Rory saw the massive doors begin to close.

  “I’m a civilian. I don’t have to follow your orders.”

  “We’ll talk about it after we’re safely away. Let’s go.” He resisted the urge to lay hands on her and steer her toward the door. He sensed she wouldn’t tolerate that. Fortunately, she didn’t linger, but took off at a run, and the two of them slipped through before it closed.

  The hangar was nearly empty. At the far end, several jumpsuit-clad workers were servicing a transport. They appeared to be unaware of the new arrivals. At the center, two badly damaged fighters waited to be stripped for parts. Nearby stood a cargo ship and a transport stood unattended. The patients were in the process of piling onto the cargo ship.

  “That must be Park and Peyton’s ship,” Becca said.

  “I don’t care whose ship it is as long as it can get us out of here.”

  Something sharp pressed against the back of Rory’s neck, and he froze.

  “Nobody moves or this marine dies,” a cold voice said.

  Becca looked back and her eyes went wide.

  “You, marine, slowly place your weapon on the ground,” the voice said.

  Rory did as he was told.

  “Now kick it away. And in case you’re thinking of fighting, you should know this is not a knife I’m holding. It’s a stiletto. A mere twitch of my finger will send enough voltage into your brain to fry every synapse. You’ll live out the rest of your short life with the intellectual capacity of a potato.”

  “Relax. I’m following orders.” Rory was surprised at how calm he felt as he kicked his sidearm across the floor in the direction of the cargo ship.

  “Face down on the deck. Both of you.” As Rory and Becca complied, the pressure at the back of his neck was relieved. Footsteps padded the deck, and a pair of booted feet appeared in front of them. Rory looked up and saw a thickly built man, his fair skin ghostly white against his shockingly black hair and eyes. He gripped the stiletto in his left hand. Where his right forearm should have been was an odd-looking contraption, like a very old machine gun from a historical vid. A shiny disc-shape magazine fed a short barrel. The man’s legs were augmented by titanium braces. Rory had seen prototypes like this tested at the base. When they worked properly, they provided power and stability. The marines who wore them could leap great distances without damaging their bones when they landed. When the enhancement malfunctioned, however, bad things happened.

  “Collins, you bastard,” Becca cursed. “What the hells do you think you’re doing?”

  “I could ask you the same thing. The base is on high alert and I find you trying to tiptoe out of here. That’s not suspicious at all.”

  “I’m not tiptoeing anywhere. I was trying to get my patients to a transport in case we needed to evacuate in a hurry.”

  Collins laughed. “Patients? You mean the lab rats? The subjects of our experiments?”

  “Just let them go,” Rory said, trying to buy time.

  “Don’t worry. They’re not going anywhere. I knew that if Park or Peyton were to escape, they’d make a dash for their ship. They’re making flight preparations as we speak. They don’t know it’s wired to explode if it passes beyond the perimeter of the base.” Collins looked down at Becca. “That was smart of me, wasn’t it?”

  “The hells take you, Collins,” she growled.

  Collins didn’t reply. Instead, he kicked her in the ribs with the toe of his boot. Becca let out a grunt.

  Rory’s thoughts raced. There had to be something he could do. If Collins was telling the truth, the others were doomed if they tried to fly away. And what about Jemma and his squad members? They were all counting on him.

  “Here’s what’s going to happen,” Collins began. “First, I’m going to kill this marine. Then you are going to explain exactly what’s going on here. And Becca, I promise you will tell me everything I want to know.”

  “Why would I do that?” Becca asked.

  “If you do, I promise you a quick death.”

  Chapter 34

  Battlecruiser Dragonfly


  “A message from the Memnons? Did I hear that right?” Graves couldn’t believe it. After all this time the Memnons were breaking their silence? “Why now?”

  “Only one way to find out,” Laws said. “I’m patching in the other commanders. Is Her Majesty with you?”

  “I am here, Admiral.” Lina Navarre had remained on the bridge, at Graves’ side, throughout the battle. To her credit, she’d stayed silent and out from underfoot. But Graves could tell she was paying attention to everything.

  “Majesty, I’ll need your help with this. Take the lead, keep him talking, give me and Graves a chance to think. Whatever you do, do not commit us to any course of action until we have had a chance to discuss it.”

  “I understand.”

  Graves saw the hard look in her eyes. Perhaps the girl had some sand. Through the com, he listened as all the commanders came online.

  When all were present, Commander Laws began speaking.

  “We have a man named Andreas Talia, who claims to speak for New Memnon.”

  Talia? Where had Graves heard that name before? It was the name of one of the minor noble houses, but there was something more.

  “New Memnon?” Fremantle growled. “Do we really have to listen to this?”

  “You will listen and you will not interrupt or I will mute you. Understood?” Laws snapped. No one replied. “Good enough.” She cleared her throat, then spoke. “Mister Talia, this is Admiral Laws. You are on the line with Her Imperial Majesty, Catalina Navarre.”

  “I am pleased to say that you may address me as governor,” a pompous voice proclaimed. “The council of New Memnon has chosen me to lead the nation formerly known as Echota.”

  “The hells you will,” Ed Begay snapped before Laws muted him.

  “You say you have a message for us?” Lina asked.