by Jan Domagala
Using his NI he opened a comm channel to the troops guarding the shuttle. He said, “This is General Solon; I want you to hold this position against those hostiles. Prevent them gaining control of this shuttle by any and all means necessary,” and without waiting for confirmation, ended the call.
The troop carrier hovered overhead just to the rear of the shuttle. A ladder was lowered from an open exit hatch, which Solon sprinted towards and swiftly climbed onto. He pulled himself up with his powerful arms as the carrier took off again before he was even fully on board.
Once he was through the hatch he said through the comm channel to the pilot, “Get after that Ground Hauler and persuade the driver to stop.”
“Persuade sir?” was the confused reply.
“Yes, I want the driver alive, is that understood?”
“Perfectly, sir. You want him alive, copy that, sir!” The pilot knew that to disobey an order from the General was tantamount to career suicide.
* * * * *
Hawk saw the figure of the General vacate the shuttle and said, “C’mon, guys it’s ours for the taking. We need that shuttle so we can complete our mission.”
The troopers guarding the shuttle continued to fire at the advancing soldiers but their aim was terrible. Whether it was the threat of the facility getting ready to blow a hole in the planet making them nervous, or the fact that the General had just retreated to the troop carrier leaving them behind, the Recon Delta Marines weren’t sure, but they weren’t the type to look a gift horse in the mouth. They advanced quickly, picking their targets carefully. They ran forward in a staggered pattern so that the troopers couldn’t easily draw a bead on them. They though, were experts at firing on the run so it didn’t present a problem to them.
Another trooper went flying backwards in a mist of blood as a plasma bolt from Hacker’s assault rifle caught him square in the chest.
Storm got another and Hawk killed one more leaving three left to defend against the four advancing soldiers who seemed unstoppable.
Panic took hold and they came out from behind the shuttle, their assault rifles on sustained fire hoping for a lucky hit when Cowboy hosed two of them with his own assault rifle and Storm shot the last one. All three were sent flying in a shower of blood and gore as the full power plasma bolts tore up their bodies at close range. They stood no chance of survival.
“Right, get on board! Fire up the engines and let’s get after them!” Hawk commanded.
* * * * *
Stryder was travelling along in the lead Ground Hauler at a dangerous pace over the uneven ground. It took him all his control to keep in his seat while he steered the massive vehicle and yet he couldn’t seem to shake whoever was in the other Ground Hauler. It actually seemed to be catching him, closing the gap between the two vehicles slowly, yet undeniably. It could only be Norsky, the soldier who had received the serum, whose hatred of him had almost sent him over the edge of sanity into the abyss of madness. He would do anything to catch up to him.
The road ahead was rough; it wasn’t really a road at all, not even a track, just part of the landscape that he was travelling over to get away from the base. It was pitted and uneven and directly ahead lay the desert with its loping dunes and rocky outcrops. It would undoubtedly slow him down but it would do the same for Norsky in the trailing Ground Hauler, or at least that’s what he hoped.
Suddenly a massive jolt from the rear of the vehicle caused Stryder to be almost thrown clear from his seat. When he looked in the huge wing mirrors he saw the cause of the jolt. Norsky had somehow closed the gap between them and rammed the front of his Ground Hauler into Stryder’s.
He just had time to brace himself before another huge jolt almost threw him against the front windscreen as Norsky rammed him again.
There was nothing he could do to evade the other vehicle. Somehow Norsky had managed to find a way to increase the speed of his vehicle and use that to his advantage to catch up with him and now he was using the vehicle as a weapon against him.
* * * * *
Norsky had found the Turbo Boost feature on the control panel that was utilised when the vehicle needed that extra bit of power for heavier than usual loads. For example, pulling other vehicles such as other Ground Haulers, if they had broken down or Shuttles that needed moving from one bay to another and their own engines could not be utilised in safety. The feature was not meant for continuous use as Norsky was doing, as it would eventually burn the main engine out through overload, but Norsky was willing to take that risk to catch up with Stryder.
Putting the engine on Auto Pilot, controlled by the onboard computer, a very basic design, he left his seat and headed for the door. He climbed out onto the side panel using hand and footholds in the side of the vehicle he had used to climb aboard, then allowed the door to close just as his vehicle collided once more with the rear of Stryder’s. The force of the collision almost threw him from his perch and if it had not been for his enhanced strength he wouldn’t have been able to hold on. Somehow though, he did and once he had got his breath back under control he started to climb up onto the roof of the vehicle.
Sitting crouched down on top of the driver’s cab, Norsky waited for the right time to make his move.
Stryder watched as Norsky got out of the side of the vehicle just before it rammed the rear of his own, once more almost throwing him clear, and he wondered what the hell he was trying to do.
With one eye on the road ahead and another on the wing mirror he watched as Norsky climbed up the side of the vehicle and reached the top of the cabin.
What was he doing he wondered as he sat atop the cabin, waiting and watching like a cat ready to pounce on an unsuspecting mouse, then it hit him exactly what he intended to do.
The huge vehicle came rushing forward again and on the point of impact Norsky hurled himself into the air.
By the time Stryder realised what was about to happen it was almost too late to take action. As he saw the trailing vehicle come hurtling towards him he tried to avoid it by turning the controls to the left and away from the oncoming collision. The massive vehicle had only just begun to turn when the collision happened and he saw Norsky fly into the air across the space between the two Ground Haulers.
The impact at the rear of Stryder’s vehicle helped turn it even more, forcing the rear end to skid a little and in so doing altered the landing area Norsky was hoping for.
As he landed on the top of the vehicle the sideways movement of the surface beneath him forced him into a slippery slide, which almost threw him off the top onto the ground several feet below.
He tried to grab hold of anything available to prevent himself from falling. He saw the edge getting closer as he slid towards it and his arms flailed about searching for a handhold, any handhold to prevent his inevitable slide off the top.
As his legs slid out over the edge into space he felt his stomach getting closer as well and he knew he would fall to his death.
He fell sideways off the roof and his right arm fell across the wing mirror. Instinctively he held on stopping himself from continuing the full length to the ground beneath him. Ignoring the pain in his shoulder from the jarring halt to his fall he punched his left fist through the door window shattering the Plexiglas so that he could open the door.
The cabin was quite large with a flat bench seat that the driver and at least two others could sit across and when Norsky had got the door open and climbed inside Stryder was at the other end waiting for him. His hands were still on the controls desperately fighting to steer the vehicle out of the skid and away from the following vehicle, which was still on autopilot and continuing to ram it from behind.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Norsky said as Stryder wrestled with the controls. He made a dive to grab him but Stryder’s peripheral vision was such that he caught the movement the second he made it. He blocked his advance, sweeping his arm in an arc knocking Norsky’s arms to the side pinning them to the back of the seat. Taking hold of
the controls with his left hand and holding Norsky’s arms with his right, he spun in the seat and lashed out with his feet. Kicking Norsky in the stomach and releasing his arms, he sent him flying towards the doorway again.
Having his arms freed once more Norsky found he was quickly exiting the cabin. To stop his retreat he grabbed hold of Stryder’s legs before he could pull them back.
Stryder struggled to free his feet and control the vehicle at the same time, something that was becoming increasingly more difficult as the terrain was getting rougher the farther they got from the facility. Dragging one foot free he managed to kick Norsky in the head, only a glancing blow but strong enough to free his other leg a little more. Stamping down again and again with increasing force he felt his foot coming free and his attacker weakening as he pushed him closer to the door of the cab.
* * * * *
General Solon was on board the troop carrier sitting directly behind the pilot and co-pilot. The space was cramped and generally used by the weapons operator. It was fitted with two plasma cannons – one on the roof and the other on the underside of the craft. They could be operated either individually to fire on two different targets or in unison against the same target. The General was now in control.
From the screen mounted on the controls he had seen Norsky get on board the Ground Hauler Stryder was driving and he ordered the pilot to close in on them. Taking the control stick in both hands he took careful aim at the vehicle. He wanted to persuade Stryder to stop without destroying the vehicle and killing him. Norsky had proven to be somewhat of a liability, unable to follow orders and in the future could prove to be a problem. If he survived this encounter he intended to deal with him at a later date. If he failed to survive this skirmish then that would be one thing less for the General to worry about.
The targeting controls of the plasma cannons had locked onto the rear section of the vehicle; all he needed to do now was fire the weapon.
* * * * *
Cowboy was seated at the pilot’s controls of the shuttle. The engines had started to cool down after Solon had left it but not too much that when they were kicked in again they reached optimum efficiency within seconds. Initialising the thrusters, Cowboy steered the shuttle up into a hover then, realigning the thrusters for horizontal flight, he set off after the troop carrier.
“We could have a problem here guys,” Hawk said as they all watched through the front viewport at the troop carrier in the distance.
“I know what you’re going to say, sir, that thing’s armed and we’re not,” Storm said highlighting the problem they were about to face once they caught up with them.
“Any ideas?” Hawk asked as he was rapidly becoming aware that things were beginning to unravel before his very eyes.
“Well, we can’t face off against that thing, that’s for sure, but we could outrun it if need be. We just need to get Captain Stryder over here so we can use that advantage,” Cowboy said, not sure if his suggestion helped.
“Yea! How the hell do we get him over here?” Hawk said almost to himself as he pondered Cowboy’s words.
“I think I might have an idea,” Storm said and they all turned to look at him as a smile slowly crept across his features.
* * * * *
Solon fired the lower plasma cannon once, nothing more than a warning shot really. The bolt struck the ground just to the rear of the vehicle kicking up a cloud of dust and pulverised a rock. The blast rocked the Ground Hauler so that it was almost thrown sideways; the rear section actually lifted off the ground by almost three feet then fell back down to the ground with a bone-jarring whump!
Connecting through his NI Solon said, “That was just a warning shot Stryder, pull over or the next one will send you into orbit.”
Stryder was not intimidated and he let it show. He said, “Go fuck yourself General, you want me alive so I don’t think you’ll risk killing me.”
“Are you absolutely certain of that Captain? What I want is your blood. I don’t need you alive for that, do I? Now stop that vehicle and surrender to the inevitable.” Solon tried to keep his voice calm and not let Stryder see just how angry and frustrated he was getting.
“If that’s the case then General, take your best shot,” Stryder said without hesitation, letting him know he wasn’t bothered by any threats from him.
Solon was seething, he had hoped to intimidate him into at least slowing down but that wasn’t the case. He detected no slowing of the vehicle they were chasing so, taking the controls of the plasma cannons firmly in his hands, he took careful aim once more.
If that’s the way he wanted to play it then that was fine by him. He would drag his stinking dead carcass from the wreckage of the Hauler himself.
* * * * *
“Close that gap!” Hawk ordered as they all watched the troop carrier open fire on the Ground Hauler holding Stryder and Norsky. Turning to Storm he said, “Whatever you have in mind it had better work, we’ve just run out of time.”
Turning away from Hawk, Storm said, “Cowboy, get us as close to that carrier as you can. Alongside it if possible so we can get a clear shot.”
“Copy that, sir,” Cowboy replied increasing power to the shuttle’s thrusters. They all felt themselves pushed back in their seats as the shuttle leapt forward.
Hawk’s brow creased as he wondered what his teammate had in mind.
Leaving his seat Storm grabbed his Remm assault rifle from the rack and headed for the hatch.
“What the hell do you intend to do with that?” asked Hawk.
“I’m going to try and even the odds a little,” Storm replied. Hawk smiled knowing exactly what he had in mind.
“I’ll lend a hand, it might work better if we all join in. Hacker you’re with us.” Hawk got out of his seat reaching for his assault rifle and followed Storm to the hatch.
* * * * *
Inside the cab of the Hauler, Stryder turned to Norsky who had overheard the conversation between him and the General and smiled. “Hang on,” he said with a wink.
The rear of the vehicle was lifted off the ground again and almost overturned as another plasma bolt struck the ground behind them. Inside the cab the two men were thrown from side to side as the concussion wave from the blast struck.
Stryder saw his chance and hit Norsky full in the face with a back fist strike from his right hand. Norsky’s head was rocked back as blood from the impact sprayed out over the windscreen. Grabbing the back of his head with the same hand Stryder rammed Norsky’s face into the dashboard again and again leaving a bloody smear across it. Releasing his hold, he pushed the dazed form of his attacker away from him and lashed out with his right leg in a sidekick that struck Norsky in his side and sent him hurtling towards the door. The force of the kick sent him colliding with the door causing it to fling open and in the next moment he found himself flying through it into the open air.
At the very last second, when he became aware of what was happening, Norsky reached out with a flailing right hand and his fingers closed on the edge of the door gripping tightly to prevent him leaving the vehicle.
His legs swung free of the cab and collided with the front of the vehicle then he swung back, his shoulder almost tearing from the strain.
While Norsky was thus engaged Stryder dived across the bench seat, feet first and slammed both feet into Norsky’s face as he swung back. The blow landed squarely on the Black Knight’s face knocking his head backwards with such force that it would have broken the neck of a normal man. Norsky was forced to release his tentative grip on the door as he was sent spinning through the air to land on the gnarled and pitted ground away from the vehicle.
Just as he landed another blast from the plasma cannon on the troop carrier struck the ground close to him. The blast tore up the ground mere feet from him and showered him with debris from the impact. Heat from the blast seared his flesh, burnt his clothes and engulfed him in agony. All he knew for the next few moments was a world of pain until blackness took him.
* * * * *
“Coming up on it now, Guardian,” Cowboy said as he steered the shuttle closer to the troop carrier, his voice carrying over the NI link they all shared.
“Hold her steady,” Storm replied as he got himself into position in the open hatchway. Either side of him were Hawk and Hacker. They were all strapped onto a harness so the buffeting from the wind outside would not drag them through the hatch into the air and to their certain deaths.
The wind dragged at their clothes as it tried to grab and pull them out of the opening, but the straps held them secure.
They were slightly above the troop carrier matching its speed and then Cowboy lowered the shuttle down until they were alongside it.
“Hacker you aim for the flight deck, try and get the pilot, Captain Hawk and I’ll take care of their cannons,” Storm said as he took careful aim. He then added, “Fire when ready.”
* * * * *
Solon saw a figure come flying out of the cab of the Ground Hauler just as he fired the lower plasma cannon again. The blast caught whoever it was and flung the body high into the air before it came down in a heap on the uneven ground.
“Hope to the Almighty that wasn’t you Stryder,” he said more to himself than anyone else, then fired again. This time the plasma bolt hit the rear section of the Ground Hauler throwing it several feet into the air to land with a bone jarring “whump!”
An explosion wracked the vehicle and flames slowly began to spread out from the already damaged rear section by the previous near misses from the plasma bolts.
“I’ve got you now,” Solon said when he saw the effects of his handiwork.
* * * * *
