by Trey Deibel
“I’m Captain Killemn,” spoke the maelkii man leading the way.
“I'm Captain Stone, but James will do.” I shook his hand.
“Well, James. I hear you asked for our assistance. Couldn’t handle it yourself?” He crossed his arms and gazed down at me with an arrogant grin.
“Only if you think you can handle it,” I mocked.
He looked around at his squad members, catching their reactions. “You hear that, troopers? He thinks we aren’t up to it. Let me tell you this, James: I don’t know who you are, or care for that matter. We're here only because your sorry asses decided it was a better idea to wait with your panties tied around your legs than handle business.”
I'd heard the achilles had a superiority complex, but this seemed a step above overboard. “You know, it’s just dandy to see you guys off your asses for a change. While we legionnaires crawl through the mud and shivf of war, you lethargic stodges hang high in a star cruiser, growing soft.”
“Mind your status, James. Achilles outclass legionnaires every time,” he snarled, just centimeters away from me. He looked down at me, straight into my eyes.
I didn’t blink. “Care to put that theory to the test?”
“Righty now, put your junk away, both of you,” Shadow-Walker said, stepping in. “We have a mission to accomplish. You know… the one that involves the massive war zone of vehicles battling over there.” He pointed in the direction of the battling at the front of the enemy base. “Like… this is literally the worst time to fight.”
After a few seconds, Captain Killemn snickered and backed off. “Well James, what are we here for?”
“You see that tower over there?” I pointed at the shield tower. “It’s the tallest one with the shield flowing from the top.”
“Yes, I’m not blind.” He and his squad turned their attention back to me.
“We have to roll the ball of ideas and find a way to disable it. As you can see, we're a bit short-staffed to complete this task.”
“That’s the understatement of the galaxy,” Shadow-Walker added. “There are probably hundreds of troops patrolling behind that star cruiser.”
“Even with us, this isn't going to be easy, Captain,” one of the achilles spoke.
“Under the circumstances, I say we could benefit from more intelligence. What do you think, Stone?” Captain Killemn asked.
“Of course. I was… about to suggest that,” I lied.
“No, you weren’t,” Shadow-Walker caught my lie.
“Well, then, gather around,” Captain Killemn instructed. He pulled out a tiny drone from one of his pouches. “This should handle our needs just fine.”
We all gathered around, and he tossed the drone to the dirt and rocks. He pulled up the controls on his cyberwatch and enlarged the hologram so we could all see the image, then proceeded to drive the drone toward the base.
“Take it to the right side of their star cruiser. If we can formulate a strategy on this side, we can reach the tower faster,” I commented.
Taking my suggestion, he drove the drone around the star cruiser. After turning around the ship, we saw a few hundred Destroyers and Pursuers.
“We could maneuver through these vehicles, using them as cover. It would be a great starting point,” one of the achilles suggested.
“Not if the enemy is carrying mortar launchers. The plasma explosion could set off a chain reaction from the vehicles,” Uslar retorted.
“I disagree. The Destroyers are stationed too far apart from each other for that to happen,” Valiic countered.
“How about we look a bit farther before we make our decision?” I suggested.
“Agreed.” Killemn nodded.
He powered the drone through the vehicles. Dytircs and lycargans swarmed the area just past the vehicles. Many of them were performing preparation tasks on the star cruiser, while others hopped in a vehicle and drove out toward our frontal assault. Meanwhile, patrol units circled the base. Far off, away from most of the troops, thrown-together barracks occupied a significant area of the base. The buildings weren’t much more than wooden shacks held together with scrap metal and cloth. Barricades were spread around the base for cover, but most were placed in the direction of the frontal assault and stationed by guards with heavy turrets and artillery. The area between the stationed vehicles and shield tower was an unused, open space.
“You see that? We're going to have a hell of a time trying to cross that open field unseen. How are we supposed to get to that tower with that many enemies?” Shadow-Walker questioned.
“Well, we can force the snake to bite. I say we go in loud and strong,” I suggested.
“I see where you're going with this, James. Instead of trying to sneak past the enemies, we could use chaos to hide our presence,” Killemn agreed.
“Then we need a way to hide our numbers… a way to make our unit seem larger than it really is,” Uslar offered some input.
“Nothing says chaos like a good explosion,” Shadow-Walker perked up.
“Too bad our explosives expert isn’t with us.” Valiic was talking about Captain Landis. “You wouldn’t happen to have a substitute, would you?” he asked Killemn.
“I could handle that,” an achilles said, raising his hand.
“Very well. All we need now is a place to explode,” I concluded.
“Those wooden barracks would do,” Killemn suggested.
“On top of that, we should bombard them with all our grenades to further feed the chaos,” Uslar added.
“Great, that would work,” the same achilles said.
“So that part of the plan is settled. What next?” Uslar asked.
I jumped in. “Once the explosion opens the flood gates, the dytircs and lycargans will be in a frenzy. My squad and I… we could set up at the vehicles… all spread out. Valiic and Narrisa could hold up closer to the enemies, while Uslar and I plant ourselves farther back, and like magic, our unit of eleven appears to be a unit of a hundred.”
“Under the tip of the star cruiser, I could hide myself and provide supporting fire with Silent Dagger.”
“Silent Dagger?” one of the achilles asked.
“Yeah. My scout rifle. Plus, I'll be able to see most of the base,” Shadow-Walker added.
“Now we're getting somewhere. While you guys grab their attention, we'll bolt for the tower,” Killemn concluded. “Then… ka-boom.” He mimicked an explosion with his hands.
“And with that, our plan is wrapped up nicely with a bow.” I checked for confirmation from each member.
“Then let’s not stand on ceremony.”
Killemn placed on his veridium-based helmet, as did his achilles. With that, all eleven of us headed down the loose rocks and inside the shield. Once we arrived at the vehicles, my squad took their positions and one of the achilles fired a rocket at the barracks. The rocket signaled our attack. Instantly, I tossed out two frag grenades. Hell’s gate opened wide, and the devil walked through. The barracks exploded, starting a blazing, wild fire. Following that, frag grenades exploded, qwayk riot grenades let loose a barrage of lasers, and dor’o suicide grenades covered the field with sparks that hovered in the air, only to detonate based on proximity. It was hell handed on a plate for our foes to enjoy.
We opened fire, and the achilles dashed toward the shield tower, firing their side arms into the crowd. The weight of the distinctive armor slowed them down; however, its extreme bullet resistant material made up for its weight. The enemy was disoriented, and we picked off one after another. After a few seconds, most of the dytircs and lycargans started firing in our direction, taking cover at the same time. Luckily, our aggressive strategy paid off. The achilles seemed to go unnoticed. For the few dytircs or lycargans that did open fire at the achilles, we took them out, prioritizing the enemies trying to set up heavy weaponry.
Clocking in at a tad under a minute, the achilles arrived at the tower and fought their way inside. Two even used a jet pack mounted to the back of their armo
r to shortcut their way to the second floor. We continued to hold off the enemy until the shield was deactivated.
“Commander Sizar. The shield is down. You're clear to fire in three minutes,” I reported as the shield fell.
“Make sure you're out by that time. Do you copy?” He asked.
“I do, sir.”
Once the shield fell, the remaining enemy troops fled to nearby Haulers. Their Haulers could fit forty troops each and were around fifty meters long and twenty tall. That was just big enough to support slip space technology, making them great transportation vessels; in other words, I saw my opportunity. Without hesitation, I rushed to the nearest one. I was on board in under a minute. Three soldiers had already made it to this particular Hauler, and none of them noticed me. Using my pistol, I shot two in the back of their heads and put the barrel to the third’s head.
“Here's what I want you to do. First things first… toss your compadres here out of this starship. Are we understanding one another?”
He nodded his head before picking up one of the dead troops. Slouching down in shame, the lycargan carried the body to the back. After tossing the first, we repeated the same steps until the second was out. By this time, my squad had caught up to me.
“James, what is going on here?” Valiic asked, confused. “We need to leave.”
“Yes… you do. Go!”
“Not without my brother.”
With my gun still pointed at the remaining lycargan, I responded, “Look. I’m going to complete my mission.”
“Here’s what I think: You’re going to rescue Landis. Feel free to correct that assessment.” Valiic saw right through me.
“I am,” I admitted. “Then I'll hunt and kill Steion like the animal he is.”
“James, has our time together in training taught you nothing about me? I will always be there to back you up, just as you would me.” Without another word, he stepped on board. Narrisa gave me an approving nod as she followed her cohinla.
Next, Shadow-Walker jumped aboard and joked, “Hey, they won’t court martial all of us, right?”
“No, just you.” Uslar tapped Shadow-Walker on the shoulder as Uslar jumped in. As he passed me, he whispered, “For the record, I disagree with this. It’s reckless and against protocol. I’m going for only one reason: To be the one person here in his right mind.”
“Noted,” I responded as he entered. “Achilles, are you clear from the base?” I asked over the intercom.
“Just about. Where are you? We have less than a minute left before the bombs drop,” Killemn said.
“We have another mission to take care of. We have our own way out.” I walked back in the control room, pushing the lycargan to the pilot’s seat.
“Copy that. Good luck,” Killemn said.
With the gun to the lycargan's head, I commanded, “Get us into orbit.”
“Right away.” He started the Hauler, and we took off.
Uslar walked up behind me. “We can’t use this ship to travel through the whole Ju-Sana System, much less reach the Draynought System. It doesn’t have enough fuel to make it that far.”
From across the room, Shadow-Walker joined the conversation, “I know someone who can get us there. Handora, is that close?”
Uslar answered, “It’s in the next solar system over. We can be there in a few hours.”
“You hear that, bowlhead. Take us there,” I commanded the lycargan.
“Your wish is my command.” His sarcastic tone was apparent.
“Who is this person you know?” I asked Shadow-Walker.
“She’s a mercenary. If she's available, she'll likely be at Kemmer’s Bar. I gotta warn you. She’s expensive, but she’s worth ever jemn.”
“How do you know her?”
“Once upon a time, I was a mercenary like her… at least until the war started. Kemmer’s Bar has typically been a prime place for mercenary hire.” He turned to the lycargan. “Do you know where Kemmer’s bar is?”
“No.”
Shadow-Walker turned back to me and spoke. “I'll direct him to the bar. You don’t have to watch him anymore.”
I patted him on the back and headed to the rear of the Hauler.
Chapter 12: Kemmer’s Bar
October 4, 2111
James Stone
We were now a rogue squad, free to be hunted down - or worse. Never did I think our outlook would dip this low. But I would sacrifice everything many times over to save Captain Landis. And I’m glad I’m not riding this train on my own. I have my family here, and we're prepared to search the very ends of this galaxy to one rescuing another family member.
I waited inside the loading bay of the Hauler, seated on top of an empty supply crate. Valiic was next to me, on a crate of his own. He and I were in conversation as we neared Hondora.
Slam.
I heard the cockpit door close, but through the dim light I couldn’t make out who it was at first. The silhouette shaped into Uslar as he approached us.
I gestured for him to join us, welcoming him. He shot me an angry frown, and his vantors fluttered with rage. “What’s got your arm in a twist?” I asked.
“What are we doing, James?” he snapped.
“The answer to that should already be in your head. No point in asking.”
“James, we have gone rogue! Don’t you understand the severity?”
“I do,” I answered with confidence but had little grasp on the possible consequences that would await my return to the ARW. To dig the hole deeper, I didn’t even know if bringing Landis back alive would buy me a pass on this whole matter. Likely it wouldn’t, but that was a pen I would pocket for the time being.
“James, I thought I knew what I was getting into, but… but I’m regretting it. We shouldn’t be doing this!”
Valiic jumped in, “Uslar, you’re here now, and I’d say there's little room to turn back.”
“Yes, there is! We can go back now. No, we should… we should go back now. Maybe then we'd only have minor consequences.”
“No, no!” I shouted. “Landis will not eat a bullet for my mistake!”
“James. You’re not thinking clearly. Guilt has its hold on you.” Uslar looked at Valiic. “Talk some sense into James!”
Valiic took a deep breath. “James is on a warrior’s quest, and sometimes that requires going against what others believe is right.”
“Then what are we doing here if it's his quest?”
“I can’t answer that question for you, Uslar. Me… I’m here to aid my friend in his journey.”
“That’s complete bull! Breaking protocol never pans out! That’s why it’s there in the first place!”
I got up and placed my hand on his slim shoulder. “Landis would have done it for any one of us.”
Uslar looked up to me with remorse. “No… no… I don’t think Landis would.”
“What?”
“She wouldn’t, James. She goes by the book. If you, me, or Valiic were in her position, she wouldn’t come. She’d just mourn.”
I looked into his eyes, and what I saw shocked me. I knew Uslar believed what he was saying was true, but I couldn’t. No, I wouldn’t believe something so absurd. She wouldn’t abandon family, would she?
“Am I interrupting a moment?” Shadow-Walker was at the door. “We’re nearly there.”
He headed back toward the cockpit, and I got up to follow. Inside the cockpit, I gazed at the hologram projection displaying the path ahead of the Hauler. We flew over thousands of industrial monstrosities this planet calls buildings; smoke spewed from wide pipes extending off the roofs, and workers as small as ants labored in the streets. Hondora was once a barren planet until it was terraformed. Now, industries and corporations cover the entirety of the surface, and beneath it all is the Underlevel - layers of levels spanning under the industrial planet. It's a place of residency for those daring enough to live there. Furthermore, the Underlevel is host to all sorts of illegal activities, such as black markets, prostituti
on, gangs, drugs, hit man hire, and worse. The lower you travel beneath the surface of Handora, the higher the crime activity, and the worse the crimes.
The rain pelted the roof of our Hauler and thunder cracked overhead as it lowered itself in one of the many entrances into the Underlevel, each shaped like octagons and lowered further than eyes could see. Once we reached the correct level, Shadow-Walker directed the lycargan through the traffic tunnel to the nearby Kemmer’s Bar. We landed, and Shadow-Walker put the barrel of his scout rifle to the lycargan.
“Should I dispose of him?” The lycargan braced, closing his eyes.
For a second I considered it, then I remembered what Landis was trying to tell me on Juster. “What use would that bring us? He has no jemns, and the Hauler is on its last drop of fuel. He’ll be a rat in a trap down here.”
“It’s your lucky day,” Shadow-Walker said to the lycargan before knocking him out with the butt of his scout rifle.
I was the first one out of the Hauler. Since we were below the surface of Hondora, the rain and lightning could no longer reach us. Unfortunately, there were far more dangerous variables to worry about in the Underlevel.
The docking bay was full of life. Ships were docked all around, shady individuals glanced at us with suspicion before continuing with their business, and an outdoor fighting club was taking place on our left; individuals shouted and cheered the two men in the fighting cage. Kemmer’s Bar lit up the surrounding area, adding some levity to the place.
I walked through the atmospheric doors and was welcomed by the warm air inside Kemmer’s Bar. A hostess greeted us, while others gave us bilious stares. With my crew behind me, I walked to the center bar table and all five of us sat down at empty bar stools.