“Oo-rah,” growled the assembled Rynn and humans.
“We are going on a journey to show the Polig-Grug, the Zaski, and anyone else we run into that we are not food. Not prey,” she said in a snarl. “And the spirits curse any species who dares to disagree.”
“Oo-rah!” screamed the assembled Rynn and humans.
Eisenstadt stepped forward. “Atten-hut!” he barked, and the two hundred Rynn and humans came to attention. “Ape Company, board ship,” he commanded, and half the assembled formed a line. Faster than Bright Sunlight could imagine, the last of the first group passed through the gate. “Bird Company, board ship,” barked Eisenstadt. The remainder of the assembled immediately lined up and quickly boarded.
Bright Sunlight noted that while both companies boarded, his daughter, now called Kasumi, stood at attention, her eyes covered. Bright Sunlight covered his own eyes. “The truth of what you are is like the sun,” he said quietly. “It can blind and illuminate. I cover my eyes so I am not blinded, but not completely so I can be illuminated.”
Kasumi and her core waited until the last of the assembled had entered the ship, and then they briskly followed. Within minutes, Klaxons began to sound. Rear thrusters glowed with energy, and the ship slowly moved out of its maintenance cradle. It rotated slightly and then started to move. Faster and faster it moved, and then the nacelles came to life and with a soundless roar, the ship vanished.
34
BUGS
They had been traveling for a little over a month. Most of that month had been spent making sure the ship and its crew could do what was necessary. David Eisenstadt had conducted battle exercise after battle exercise. He was still not satisfied, but at least he was sure that all systems were operational and that every member of the crew knew where to be at any given time.
Another thing he was sure about: the Rynn on board were nervous, keyed up, and eager to prove to their human partners that they were ready. The humans, most of whom were veterans, did their best to keep the Rynn focused. Still, the Rynn, like humans, needed to release some steam or explode. So far, the explosions were confined to occasional fights in the company canteen. “Never thought I’d say this,” he said to Kasumi, “but I hope we find some Polig-Grug soon.”
Kasumi chuckled. “I think my father would be surprised that Rynn are getting into fights because they … um …”
“… want to get into a fight?” Mel offered with a twisted smile. “What’s that line?” she asked Eisenstadt. “Cry havoc …”
“… and unleash the dogs of war.” Eisenstadt nodded. “The Rynn are off their leashes, but there’s no prey in sight.” He shrugged. “I’ll schedule another all-hands drill.” He smiled. “With live ammo.”
“Captain,” called Morning Mist. “Sensors are picking up a distress call. It’s in Rynn.” She chirped to her Torque. “It’s from the Moon Shadow,” she reported. “She says she is being fired upon by an unknown … check that … Polig-Grug.”
“Battle stations, battle stations, this is not a drill. Repeat, this is not a drill,” the commander said crisply. Klaxons howled, and the lighting shifted to battle mode. “Helm, plot intercept course, full battle speed.”
“Full battle speed, yes sir,” reported the human helmsman.
“Nieth to Moon Shadow. Nieth to Moon Shadow,” Morning Mist said crisply. “Hold on. Help is coming.”
“Nieth?” replied a voice that thrummed with fear. “What in the spirits … Spirits weep, we are losing power.”
“ETA three minutes,” called out the helmsman.
“Moon Shadow. Put all remaining power into the shields, including life support,” Morning Mist said urgently. “Everything.”
“That will only delay our death a few bits,” came the voice.
“A few bits are all we need,” Morning Mist said. “If the shields drop, retreat into the strongest room and barricade the doors,” she urged. “Do not give up. Help is coming.”
“They’re cutting through the hull!” came the voice.
“Shrike squadron. Status?” barked Eisenstadt.
“Hot and ready to go,” Joseph Franklin reported. “Just give the word.”
“Retreat into the center of the ship,” urged Morning Mist. “Help is on the way.”
“Shrike squadron, launch!” ordered the Commander.
“Shrike 1 launching,” Franklin replied.
“Shrike 2 launching. Shrike 3 launching. Shrike 4 launching,” each fighter reported in turn. Soon twenty ships were flying at top speed.
“Okay, boys and girls, let’s get their attention,” Franklin shouted. “Give me weapon control,” he ordered.
“Moon Shadow, Moon Shadow,” Morning Mist called urgently. “Hold on. Help is on the way.”
“Spirits, spirits, they’re in the ship!” sobbed the voice. “They got Desert Wind. Spirits weep. They’re … they’re eating him.” Screams could be heard over the communications channel.
“Moon Shadow,” yelled Morning Mist.
“Polig-Grug ship turning to meet us, Commander,” another bridge officer reported.
“Shields up,” ordered the commander. “Weapons.”
“Locked and ready, Commander,” came the reply.
“Kasumi?” Eisenstadt asked. “Your orders.”
“Tear them apart, David,” Kasumi said in cold tones.
“Fire at will,” Eisenstadt ordered.
“Attack ships, Joseph,” Red Clouds Paint the Sky reported.
“I see them,” Franklin said in tense tones. “Okay, Frozen River. Time to do some fancy flying.”
“What was that line? Oh yes. Once more into the breach,” Frozen River shouted.
Shrike 1 seemed to rear like a wild stallion and then plunged headfirst into the mass of incoming Polig-Grug fighters. Polig-Grug may have disdained personal shields, but they didn’t seem to have a problem shielding their fighters. Bullets and missiles were deflected or exploded against those shields. In terms of shields and firepower, it seemed that the two forces were even.
“Hey, Frozen River, remember how you took out the Texas squadron?” asked Joseph.
“Spirits weep, you’re not suggesting what I think you’re suggesting,” Frozen River replied. “Besides, we can’t generate a shock wave in a vacuum.”
“True, but what happens when two shields intersect at high speed?” he asked.
“We’ll both be ripped apart,” Frozen River protested.
“Maybe not,” Franklin replied. “Not if we’re spinning.”
“Black Rocks, this is more your specialty,” Frozen River said.
“It’s never been done, but theoretically …” Black Rocks broke off and started chirping quietly to his Torque. “You’ll need to get us spinning about twenty or twenty-five times per second on the longitudinal axis,” he finally reported.
“Can you be more precise?” Frozen River complained. He swung the ship around and started it spinning. “I just hope the inertial compensators hold out.”
“Twenty-two should do it,” Black Rocks replied.
“Battle program set,” Frozen River chirped tersely. “And … now!”
“Commander, an enemy fighter just … exploded,” a technician aboard the Nieth reported. “Damn, there goes another.”
“All Shrike fighters, I am sending a battle program,” Black Rocks voice went out. “Initiate immediately.”
“Damn, there goes another one,” the technician reported. “Holy shit!” he exclaimed as fighters started exploding.
“Moon Shadow, please reply,” Morning Mist continued to shout into the communications system.
“This … this is Moon Shadow,” came the same voice that was speaking earlier. “They’ve left …” The voice broke off and sobbed. “Ten … ten dead,” the voice choked out. “Who are you? What are you?” Moon Shadow asked in a shaky vo
ice.
“We’re Rynn,” Morning Mist replied. “We will sing for your dead, Moon Shadow,” she promised. “And if you see a giant fuzzy creature, don’t panic … they’re friends.” Morning Mist smiled. “Stay with me, Moon Shadow.”
Meanwhile, the two mother ships pounded each other with everything they had. Again, it appeared to be a stalemate. “Marines, I have a job for you,” Eisenstadt said.
“It’s about fucking time,” Sergeant Major Stilson complained. “I was getting bored.” He grinned. “What’s the plan?” he asked. “Oh, please tell me it’s Viking.”
“You read my mind, Sergeant Major,” Eisenstadt replied.
“Yeehaw!” crowed Stilson. “Okay, ladies, it’s Viking.”
35
ALSOO
“Don’t make me have to explain to Crystal how you got lost, Fuzzy Butt,” Lieutenant Cool Evening Breeze said seriously.
“You do the same, Feather Head,” replied Lieutenant Hendriks.
“Cut the chatter,” Sergeant Major Stilson barked. “For those too busy sleeping or whatever, we have been given the green light for Operation Viking.” He raised his hands. “Settle down, ladies,” he said. “The commander is going to get us as close as possible, and then we are all going for a short walk.” He smiled. “Ape Squad One, you got first dibs.”
Hendriks stood. “You heard the sergeant major,” he barked. “Ape Squad, masks down.” He lowered his own face mask. A moment later, he heard Cool Evening Breeze give the same command to Bird Squad One.
“Torque communications online.” He walked over to a wall and hit a lever. The wall slid open to reveal the blackness of space. The only thing keeping the air inside the ship was an invisible force field. Lieutenant Hendriks reached down and pulled out his mace. “ROE is as follows: No prisoners, no quarter, no exceptions.”
“Oo-rah,” responded Ape Squad.
“Leave us a few,” Cool Evening Breeze pleaded.
“Sorry, Breeze, no promises,” Hendriks replied. “Oh, all right, maybe one,” he mock-relented. “On your orders, Sergeant Major.”
“Heads up,” Stilson barked. “Hull shield going down. Now!”
“Move, move, move,” ordered Hendriks. One after another, the members of Ape Squad—which despite the name each had Rynn and humans—leaped into space. Thrusters pushed them quickly toward the Polig-Grug mother ship. Hendriks leaped out after his company.
“Bird Squad, get ready,” Stilson ordered.
“Bird Squad ready,” replied Cool Evening Breeze.
“Launch!” ordered the sergeant major.
“Move, move, move!” ordered Cool Evening Breeze. Another hundred Rynn and humans launched themselves into the blackness. And even though, like Hendriks, Cool Evening Breeze did not leap into space until after the last of her company had already jumped, she somehow ended up being one of the first to make it to the Polig-Grug ship. She entered through a breech in the ship wall.
No sooner had she entered the ship than she was immediately set upon by a Polig-Grug. The guttural grunts of the quasi-insectoid were picked up by her Torque.
“Meat,” came the translation. “Rynn meat.” Two of the tentacle-like members reached for Cool Evening Breeze. “Hungry.”
“You’re gonna have trouble eating anything once I finish with you, bug,” screeched Cool Evening Breeze. As she had expected, the Polig-Grug started to batter at her shield. She had studied every recorded instance of a Polig-Grug attack. David Eisenstadt had been correct in his assessment. Once they decided on their prey, the Polig-Grug would single-mindedly attack.
Relying on her shield, Cool Evening Breeze charged the insect-like being. She swung her mace and, to her pleasure, she made a solid connection to one leading segmented leg. The alien stumbled as the leg gave way, and Cool Evening Breeze brought the mace down on the creature’s head. She hit the creature several more times before she moved on to the next Polig-Grug.
“Fuzzy Butt, where are you?” Cool Evening Breeze said into her Torque.
“Kinda busy right now, Breeze,” Hendriks replied. “These bozos are more like bugs than we thought,” he grunted. “It’s like a fucking hive.”
“And me without a can of bug spray,” returned Cool Evening Breeze. Another Polig-Grug charged her.
“Hey, Breeze, did I ever tell you that fighting makes me horny?” Hendriks said through the Torque.
“Everything makes you horny,” Cool Evening Breeze replied. “You asking for a date?”
“Yeah,” replied Hendriks.
“Whoever squashes the most bugs gets to be on top, deal?” chirped Cool Evening Breeze.
“Deal,” agreed Hendriks. “Later, Feather Head.”
“There better be a later, Fuzzy Butt,” Cool Evening Breeze replied. She turned her attention to the charging Polig-Grug. “This is definitely not your day,” she chittered and charged.
The shuttle carrying Kasumi, Mel, and Morning Mist docked with the Polig-Grug ship. They exited, with Morning Mist between Mel and Kasumi. “Are you sure you’re up for this, Mist?” Mel asked. “Kasumi and I can protect you, but it’s gonna be rough.”
Morning Mist’s crest was completely flat against her skull. “I’m the best computer tech you have,” she said in a faint voice. “You need me.”
“We need you alive, baby,” Mel replied. “You keep us together.”
“I can do this, Mel,” Morning Mist replied. “I need to do this.”
“And Rynn keep saying they’re cowards,” Mel said in approving and amused tones. “No worries, baby, they’ll have to go through us to get to you.”
They made it to the control room with minor impediment. A single Polig-Grug charged but was immediately decapitated by a grim and silent Kasumi. They forced open the control room door and were immediately met by over a dozen Polig-Grug. “Stay behind us, Mist,” Kasumi ordered.
“Meat,” grunted a Polig-Grug.
“Can’t you bugs say anything other than ‘meat’?” complained Cool Evening Breeze. Her mace flashed out to impact against another bug’s leg.
“Possibly not, Lieutenant,” a human soldier commented. “I think we’re dealing with a hive mentality.” He pursed his lips. “There may be a queen somewhere.”
Cool Evening Breeze looked at the human soldier in surprise. “Spirits, I hope you’re wrong,” she said. She chirped to her Torque. “Everyone, keep your eyes open for a queen Polig-Grug, or the equivalent.”
“Your warning would have been more welcome a minute ago, Breeze,” Mel replied over the Torque. “There is a queen, and she’s right in front of us.” She and Kasumi had formed into a defensive shield for Morning Mist. The communication tech was trying to break into the Polig-Grug system, much to the displeasure of the creature in front of them.
It was easily twice the size of a regular Polig-Grug, with a much larger skull and thicker leg segments—legs that kept battering at Kasumi and Mel’s shields. It took all of Mel’s and Kasumi’s skill to keep the giant creature at bay.
“Where’s an oversized human when you need one?” Kasumi grumbled. Her saber slashed and scored on one massive leg segment. Green ichor splashed. The Polig-Grug queen backed away.
“Oh, I don’t know, Sister,” Mel said. “You seem to be doing okay.” She looked over her shoulder. “How’s it coming, Mist?”
“Slowly,” Mist replied. “There is nothing logical about their software.” She chirped to her Torque. “Half of it is just random nonsense,” she grumbled. “In,” she reported triumphantly.
“Vacuum out everything,” Kasumi ordered. “Prioritize finding their home system.”
“Fuck, we just lost Shrike 11,” Black Rocks reported.
“Survivors?” asked Red Clouds Paint the Sky.
“If there are, there’s nothing we can do to help,” Black Rocks replied. “How many of these ships do they have?”
he complained.
“A lot fewer than they had at the beginning,” Frozen River replied. “How are you holding up, Joseph?” He frowned when there was no reply. “Joseph?” he repeated. “Black Rocks, you’re closest. Check on Joseph.”
Black Rocks scrambled from his seat and climbed into the weapons blister. Joseph Franklin was limp in his weapons chair. Blood was streaming from a wound in his neck. “Joseph is hit! Joseph is hit!” Black Rocks said frantically. “Get us out of here, Frozen River,” he said, even as he started administering first aid.
“This is Shrike Leader, we are retreating,” Frozen River broadcast. “Shrike Leader is retreating.”
“Copy, Shrike Leader,” came a voice. “Shrike 2 is now Shrike Leader,” the voice continued. “All Shrikes acknowledge.”
Frozen River piloted the Shrike back to the Nieth. The moment he docked, an emergency medical team converged on the fighter and quickly extracted Franklin. They raced away.
Black Rocks, Red Clouds Paint the Sky, and Frozen River sat down on the floor of the hangar and leaned against the Shrike. “He didn’t look good,” Black Rocks said quietly.
A few minutes later, Light of Three Moons entered the hangar. She walked over to the three members of her core and sat down. She didn’t say anything, just sat there. First Frozen River, then Black Rocks, and finally Red Clouds Paint the Sky pressed against her. Light of Three Moons began to sing.
“Done,” announced Morning Mist.
“Kasumi to all hands, we have what we came for,” she announced via her Torque. “Set scuttling charges and retreat,” she ordered. “Repeat, set scuttling charges and retreat.” She charged the Polig-Grug queen and sliced through one forelimb. The queen retreated to the other end of the room. With Kasumi walking backward, she, Mel, and Morning Mist made their escape.
“Detail,” shouted Cool Evening Breeze. “Dead and wounded evac first,” she ordered. “You have thirty minutes.” Cool Evening Breeze reached into a side pocket and pulled out a star-shaped object. She twisted a dial. “Thirty minutes from … mark.” She pressed a button.
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