“Aye, aye, Captain. Gentlemen, this way, please.”
Buster stepped up to Vice-Admiral Weiskoff, invading his space and towering over him. Looking down, Buster waited for Weiskoff to move.
“Be nice to the man, Buster.”
“I am getting really tired of this man’s attitude, Captain.”
Everyone watched as Weiskoff backed away and made room for Buster. Buster led the three Federacy officers from the bridge while Griffin’s crewmates turned back to Krag.
“That didn’t go well.”
“No, Sue. It didn’t.”
“Why didn’t you challenge his authority? Challenge him to singular combat?”
“That’s not how we do things, Gopai. Right now, we do have all the power and control. But, we must not misuse that. Before the Mortek invasion, Vice-Admiral Weiskoff was a very powerful man in the Federacy. He is the son of the man who commanded the entire Federacy military. One day the Vice-Admiral would inherit that position.”
“Ya, Cap. And from what I seen, he would ‘a been as bad as his old man. Maybe worse.”
“Probably, Mack.”
“Do we have any other choices, Krag? Maybe we could talk to Mistress Analyn. Maybe Captain Kakkarna would command the fleet.”
“He has the same problem as Captain Brewer. They know how to command a ship. They don’t know how to command a fleet.”
“Commander Kelly?”
“He and I are the same. We know how to command small groups of fighters. Again, no experience commanding a fleet.”
“You’re right, Krag. The one with the most experience and knowledge is Weiskoff. I really don’t like putting him back into a position of power.”
“I don’t either, Keiko. Like I said, though, we will give him a ship with conditions. If he doesn’t accept those conditions, then we’ll drop him back where he was and go in another direction. Igaklay, what are they doing, now?”
“They all prepared drinks. Now, they are sitting. Well, sometimes they are sitting. Sometimes, someone stands. There seems to be a fairly strong argument taking place.”
“Keep an eye on them. Let me know when things simmer down.”
“Buster, what are you doing?”
“Enjoying the cat fight, Captain.”
“Are you recording?”
“Visual and audio, Captain. You are going to enjoy this.”
“Don’t interfere. Let them fight it out.”
“Had not planned on it, Oh Captain.”
“Sue, any change with the shipyards?”
“None, Captain.”
“You, all. Go to your quarters. Get cleaned up. Relax. I’ll call you when something changes.”
Krag and Keiko watched Mack, Sue and Gopai leave. Then they turned back and made eye contact.
“What do you think, Krag? Will Weiskoff come around?”
“He’s a smart man, Keiko. With issues, but a smart man. It will go a long way to winning this war if he decides to come on board.”
“Do you trust him?”
“Not a bit, when it comes to me or his grabbing more power. When it comes to saving his dear Federacy, yes, I do.”
“You’re the military half of this clown car. So, I guess, you’re the driver for this trip.”
Chapter 20
Aboard Griffin – Cencore
With nothing to do but wait for the Limpet marines to retake the shipyard, Krag and Keiko listened to the ongoing, heated discussion taking place in the galley. They heard Weiskoff holding his ground. Marston and Suzume were civilian criminals with no standing in the Federacy Space Force. They heard the counter arguments on what they had accomplished. Sergeant Nelson’s voice broke into their listening.
“Sergeant Nelson contacting Commander Marston.”
“Marston here. How’s it going, Nellie?”
“Not good, Sir. The bugs have dug themselves in pretty good. We’ve succeeded in establishing a beachhead and have pushed to the tunnel leading to the center axle. But, we’ve hit some heavy resistance.”
“Should you withdraw?”
“What would happen, if we did, Commander?”
“We’d probably destroy the yards, Sergeant.”
“I would rather that was our last option.”
“Would some heavy ordinance help?”
“That would do the trick, Commander.”
“I’ll send some over, immediately.”
“You have heavy ground ordinance?”
“In a manner of speaking. Hold for thirty. Help is coming.”
“Roger that, Commander.”
Krag heard the line click dead.
“Buster, are you bored with the show, yet?” Krag asked through his cranial implant.
“Not really, Captain. Listening to this circular logic constantly repeating is fascinating.”
“Well, I hate to break you away from your entertainment, but I need you to suit up.”
“Full combat?”
“Sergeant Nelson needs some help in breaching a defensive barrier onboard the shipyard.”
“I see. Personal rockets and Gatling?”
“With full armor.”
“I will prepare immediately, Captain.”
“Keiko, you have the bridge.”
“You’re not going all hero on me, are you?”
“Nope. I’m just going to fly the shuttle. Drop off Buster and see what happens.”
“Remember. You are the Commander. Not a hot-shot pilot anymore. Besides, you’re too old.”
“When I get back, we’ll see who’s too old, Half-Pint.”
“Don’t kick any butt, Big Guy.”
“Oy, you two. Get a room.”
“Shut it, Wrenchy. I’m sure that that Mortek cruiser probably has some drains and sewer lines that need cleaning.”
Everyone laughed while Mack hung his head.
Krag headed to the cargo bay. The entire contingent of Elonian Guardsmen and Sasanian Marines stood around, watching Buster don his reidite armor, attach the Gatling cannon to his right arm and the mini-rocket launcher to his left.
“Commander Marston.”
“Yes, Tribune?”
“Are you sending Legate Buster to battle the Mortek on the shipyard?”
“Very astute, Tribune. Yes, I am.”
“It would be an honor for me and my Guardsmen to accompany our Legate on this campaign.”
“Are you sure? This will be close quarters fighting. Once we breach the barrier that Sergeant Nelson requires breaching, it will be hand-to-hand, well, claw-to-paw fighting.”
“That is who we are, Commander. We wish to support Humanity’s fight against these evil invaders. It is our duty to follow our Legate into battle.”
“Get your squad ready, Tribune.”
“You’re not leaving us out of this party, Captain. The Sasanian Marines volunteer for combat, Sir.”
“I need more discipline around here. Get suited up, Sergeant. The shuttle leaves in ten.
Krag took a moment to watch Elonian Guardsmen and Sasanian Marines scramble like ants on a hill. Then he turned, climbed into the shuttle and prepared for lift off.
By the time he had run through the prep list, eleven warriors were armed to the gills and standing ready in the tightly packed shuttle. Looking at the external camera, he saw Buster clinging to the shuttle’s roof.
“Mack, evacuate the bay and open the doors.”
“Preparing for launch, now, Cap.”
A klaxon sounded. Griffin’s pumps withdrew the atmosphere in the bay, storing it in cylinders in preparation for release. Once vacuum was achieved, the clam doors opened.
After Griffin’s cargo bay completely opened itself to space, Krag babied the shuttle out, headed it towards the Cencore shipyard and performed a micro-jump. A moment later, the shuttle floated just off Limpet’s tail.
“Digger, reinforcements have arrived. Crack the hatch.”
Aboard Limpet – Cencore
The troop entrance, large enough for fu
lly loaded marines and weaponry, slid open. Buster released his hold, jetted to the hatchway and dropped in. Krag dropped the shuttle’s rear ramp. twelve warriors launched into space and followed Buster.
Lieutenants Tillerson and Brenner, safe in their airtight cockpit, watched the activity as the Synthetic, Elonians and Humans made their way through the breacher ship and into the Cencore shipyard. The two saw each Elonian disappear as the cat-like alien activated his chameleon suit. The marines did the same. Buster didn’t bother.
“Badness is coming, Tilly.”
“You got that right.”
Buster floated down the hall, leading the now invisible Elonians and Sasanian Marines past the five Federacy Marines holding the beach head and towards the stalled fighting force.
“Make a hole!” Buster bellowed as he approached.
Multiple marines looked back and saw a seven-foot android suited in pearl-white armor. They saw the rocket launcher strapped to one metallic arm and a Gatling gun strapped to the other. A ribbon of ammunition snaked to a thigh-length box strapped to the android’s hip. On its back, an odd jet pack kept it floating just above the deck as it moved forward.
“Jeez, Marston. What’s that?”
“That, Nellie is Buster. Buster, Say ‘hello’.”
“Hello, Sergeant Nelson, Sergeant Stein. Is that the barrier you wish removed?”
“Uh, yes. Commander, what’s going on here?”
“The Elonians upgraded a combat robot, Sergeant. This is Legate Buster. Just follow his lead.”
“Sir, yes, sir.”
“Sergeants, following me is a squad of Guardsmen and Marines in Chameleon. Please hold back while we destroy the barrier and establish a forward post.”
“Um, okay, Legate Buster.”
“Buster, do you need anything?”
“The obstacle seems very fragile, Captain. The Griffin Leopards do not need anything.”
“Griffin Leopards?”
“I just thought of that, Captain. Do you like it?”
“Don’t ask me. Ask them.”
“That is a very appropriate name, Legate Buster,” everyone heard as though coming from the air. “We will be proud to wear that moniker.”
“Yeah, us too, Legate.”
“Great. Another division,” Krag complained.
“I am going to leave you all to do what you do best while I get to play with Vice-Admiral Weiskoff.”
“I am glad that I am here and not there, Commander.”
“Thanks for the support, Nellie.”
Buster didn’t bother to peek around the corner. He simply floated into the kill zone and raised his weaponry. A massive amount of fire exploded from the Mortek barrier. Buster fired his rocket launcher. A foot-long rocket exploded from its tube, raced down the hall and exploded against the barrier. Where it struck, the barrier displayed extensive damage, but held. Buster fired again.
While Buster focused on breaking the barrier, the Mortek warriors kept returning fire. Hundreds of rounds of laser blasts and particle beams poured onto the combat android. Buster’s reidite armor began to give, showing small spidery cracks where weaknesses began to appear.
The armor on his right leg finally gave way. Shattering into large crystal chunks, the greave floated away in pieces, leaving Buster’s leg exposed. Some Mortek warriors focused their onslaught on the exposed leg. The beams sawed away at Buster. The leg first became a mangled mess. Then, after enough connections, supports and wiring were destroyed, from the thigh down, the leg and foot bounced away, leaving Buster crippled.
Buster ignored his personal destruction. Still using the Elonian gravity harness, he continued to float. And he kept firing. Four more rockets launched. Four more times the weakening section of the Mortek barrier became weaker and weaker.
Buster’s fifth launch finally punched a man-sized hole in the Mortek defenses.
“Leopards, forward!”
At first, Limpet’s Marines saw nothing happening. Then the head of a Mortek fell from its thorax. Another’s arm holding a beam rifle floated from its body. It turned into a slaughter. Invisible swords or bayonets sliced and cut. Invisible claws raked Mortek faces, gouged Mortek eyes, sliced open Mortek abdomens. Within minutes, over thirty Mortek soldiers lay dead or dying in their own body fluids.
“The obstruction is down, Sergeant Nelson.”
“By the numbers, forward!”
Pairs of marines took up positions. Other pairs moved forward, establishing defensive positions. More pairs moved farther, still. Leapfrogging, protecting their flanks, the marine force reached the Mortek carnage.
Sergeant Stein looked Buster up and down. He saw the criss-crossed armor, the destroyed leg.
“Legate, are you okay?”
“I have closed the valves running hydraulics to the leg. And, I have opened the breakers for all electrical currents. I am fine, Sergeant. Thank you for asking.”
“But, jeez, Legate. Does it hurt?”
“I have also opened the circuit breakers to all of the sensors in the leg. I feel no pain.”
“Stay here. We will call you when we need you.”
“Leopards, decloak.”
Seven Elonians suddenly appeared. Four of the cat-like aliens still floated above the carnage. All held swords. All still had hand and foot paw claws extended. Lips were pulled back, displaying rows of long, deadly teeth. Tails, ears and eyes flicked, still looking for combat, still looking or listening for more enemy.
“Leopards, stand down!” Tribune Ambakai roared. “Withdraw your lust!”
Tribune Ambakai set the example as he came down from his lustful high.
The pack of cat-people began to relax, pulling in their claws and covering their teeth. The intense focus of their eyes and ears diminished. Finally, seven Elonian Guardsmen returned to normalcy.
“Jeez, Sarge. Do not ever let me piss one of these guys off,” Lance Corporal Lacey commented as she watched the transformation.
“I thought the Mortek were bad asses, Lacey. They don’t hold a candle to these guys.”
While this occurred, four Sasanian Marines, without the fanfare, also materialized. They too, for the first time, saw the Elonian warriors in action.
“You’ve been holding back on us, Amby. You guys have never gone full out during training.”
“We felt that you would be dishonoured if we had, Bully.”
“Well, seeing what I’m seeing, I’m glad you did. Now we know what to shoot for.”
“My Guardsmen will be waiting, Bully.”
“Enough of the chatter. Legate Buster, you and your Leopards remain here. Marines, move out. Ward, Lacey, point.”
The Limpet marines worked their way down the causeway leading to the center spike of the Cencore shipyard. After breaching the primary barrier, all they encountered were light skirmishes. Six more marines died. All the Mortek died.
The human assaulters reached the final barrier, a thick hatch latched and locked.
“Legate Buster?”
“I am here, Sergeant Nelson.”
“We have reached the hatch to the central axle. According to the specs which Preceptor downloaded, it leads directly to the administrative offices.”
“Would you like some support?”
“I think that, once we blow this hatch, your Leopards would be more suited for the initial assault.”
“The Leopards are on the move. Give us two minutes.”
Two minutes later, Buster, with his truncated leg, floated up to the ranks of marines guarding the administrative hatch. Seemingly alone, he waited for a path to open.
“I see that you have placed your charges, Sergeant.”
“And a sensor. We are picking up more than twenty heat signatures on the other side of that hatch. All with energy readings. So, they are all armed.
“What is your plan, Sergeant?”
“We blast the doors. Everyone holds back, including you. Your invisible Leopards ghost in and take up firing positions. After a
ten count, allowing the Mortek to worry and lose focus, your Leopards open fire. Amid the chaos, we rush the hatch, targeting everything in sight.”
“One problem, Sergeant. The Leopards will be within the kill box. Friendly fire could be quite deadly. I recommend that we create the chaos then withdraw, giving the Mortek time to panic.”
“Excellent observation. Upon your command, we rush.”
“I lead, Sergeant.”
“You are wounded.”
“As long as my jump pack is functioning, my capabilities have not been diminished. I will cause more frenzy.”
“Your armor is compromised.”
Not yet, Sergeant. I will keep myself protected. Besides, If I am going to order the Leopards into battle, then I must join them.”
“You win. You lead.”
“Thank you. Leopards, prepare yourselves. You have heard the plan. We enter and wait for a ten count.”
Everyone pulled back, around corners and into crevices. Sergeant Nelson gave Lance Corporal Jackson a nod. The shape charges ignited, exploding the hatch into the administrative offices. With a quick peek, Nellie saw a room prepared for battle. Desks were upturned. Mortek squatted on their four legs, their abdomens almost resting on the deck. Claws held weapons over their defenses, ready to kill any beings who approached.
“They’re dug in pretty good, Ligate.”
“One moment.”
Buster froze then unfroze.
“What was that, Legate?”
“Elonians are telepathic. They installed a telepathy unit into my core when they upgraded my logic systems. I asked them to attack from the center out, clearing an open area at the point of entry.”
“Telepathic.”
“These cats just keep getting badder and badder, Sarge.”
“I’m glad they’re our bad, Lacey. Marines, get frosty. This is our last push.” Even in a whisper, the First Sergeant seemed to shout.
Suddenly pandemonium broke loose. As before, Mortek heads left upper bodies. Arms holding weapons severed and floated from thoraxes. Claw marks and stab holes appeared in abdomens. Gun fire seemed to originate from nowhere. Some Mortek suddenly began crumbling as gravity shells began their horrific deformations.
All the Mortek could do was panic. They had no targets. They fired blindly. Some Mortek accidently killed other Mortek. One Elonian, floating above a Mortek, appeared and fell as a lucky plasma bolt stuck him in his chest, burning out his chameleon suit and killing him instantly.
Victory in the Stars (Marston Chronicles Book 6) Page 21