by Jan Domagala
Jumping out of a flying vehicle at a few hundred feet would be suicide without the thruster packs, a parachute just wouldn’t be able to slow the descent quickly enough.
The four Outlaws used their thruster packs to descend rapidly yet in a controlled fashion to land behind and close to the Wildfire Team. As soon as they touched down they began firing on the Wildfire Team’s position with their assault rifles.
Once having dropped off the first four members of the new team the attack craft swooped away toward the top of the cliff opposite.
Riley and his team were caught between two firing angles, both front and back. As luck would have it they were able to minimise their target profiles by lying as flat on the floor as they could before the newcomers opened fire. The Pulsar’s AI had seen the four newcomers and had warned Riley of what was about to happen.
Riley contacted Kurt via the battle com, “Kurt, reinforcements have arrived for the Outlaws, we’re pinned down at the moment. It’s gonna take us longer than we thought to reach you. I’m sorry man, just hold on as best you can,” he said and he hated having to say it. Failure was something he had never gotten used to and he was not about to start now.
“This sucks!” he said and turned his head sideways to look at his teammates. He could see in their eyes the same emotions that were running through him. Determination and anger were at the forefront followed closely by frustration and fear, fear of failure, fear of letting down hhis teammates and Kurt, the prince and mostly, Natasha. His feelings for her had not changed since the first time he met her and he doubted they ever would and, to even consider, letting her down was painful.
He had to do something.
“Artie, we need some help here, take out those Outlaws behind us,” he told the AI.
Before the AI could respond to the command the departing attack craft opened fire with its aft pulse cannons. The forward section of the Pulsar glowed as her shields absorbed the energy being thrown at her.
A salvo of Sabre missiles was launched as the attack craft headed off toward the top of the cliff face. Three missiles in all, streaked through the clear air toward the forward section of the Pulsar, closing the gap rapidly.
Within seconds of them being released, the missiles had locked onto their target and were about to strike.
Riley managed to turn his head slightly to be able to watch the action between the two craft. He saw the pulse cannon strikes to the Pulsar’s shields and when he saw the missiles released his heart sank.
“Oh shit!” he said as the three Sabres exploded.
*****
Kurt was the first to reach the top of the wall. The climb had been easier than they had, at first, thought, hand holds had been plentiful and easy to locate. The incline toward the hole wasn’t as severe as it had looked from the ground below and the hole itself had proven to be wider making it easier to access.
The path they took helped them to evade the pack of angry rodent who were stuck on the edge of a ledge overlooking the inland lake. Snarling and snapping their fangs at them the rodents were relegated to the position of powerless bystanders as Kurt and his party climbed past them, out of range.
“I don’t believe this,” Kurt said allowing himself to hope, for the first time since realising they had wandered into the Tartaran Battlefield. “I think we may actually make this,” he added with a smile.
Reaching up above his head Kurt grabbed hold of the edge of the hole and pulled himself up. He threw a leg over the edge and hoisted himself up and through the hole. Above him was a clear, cloudless sky. Around him was the forest with its myriad of colours, breath taking in their intensity.
Suddenly remembering the others he turned over to lie on his stomach and reached through the hole to help them up. First he helped Natasha up, to lie next to him and then she helped to bring up the prince, not that Kurt couldn’t have done it alone, he was strong enough since his enhancements to lift him, probably with one hand.
Just as the three of them were taking a well deserved, relaxing breather, a loud roar filled the air as a huge shadow fell across them.
“What now?” Kurt asked recognising the sound of attack craft engines.
Four figures fell from the craft, dropping like stones then suddenly slowed as their thruster packs slowed their descent.
They came down fast yet in a controlled descent so that they landed lightly less than two metres from the trio’s position.
“You’re quite well equipped for Outlaws, aren’t you?” Kurt said as he noticed the weapons they were carrying seemed relatively new and obviously well looked after.
One of the quartet stepped forward, aimed his assault rifle at the group and said, “Prince Aswan, you’re to come with us.”
“Over my dead body,” Natasha said and she stepped forward a pace, she was alongside Kurt when the Outlaw replied.
“If you insist,” he said and fired his rifle.
Kurt saw the action, heard the words and knew what must come next.
He threw himself in front of Natasha just as the assault rifle was fired. The pulsed plasma bolt struck him in the centre of his chest sending him crashing into Natasha and knocking them both over the edge back into the chamber with nothing between them and the water over thirty yards below.
Natasha screamed as she realised what had happened and what was going to happen next.
The Outlaw grabbed hold of Aswan and fired his thruster pack lifting the two of them back up towards the hovering attack craft.
As Kurt fell, he held onto Natasha and twisted his body in mid air. Blood trailed from his wound tracing his path through the air but even as he fell he could feel the skin and damaged organs start to regenerate. He would live, but what of the life of the young woman with him.
He managed to get his body beneath her so he would hit first. The impact with the water was bone shattering and he felt Natasha go limp as the shock of the fall knocked the wind out of him.
He was separated from her momentarily as the impact loosened his grip on her. As he rose through the water he looked around for any sign of her the second his head broke free of the surface and his keen hearing picked up the sound of something huge knifing through the water, heading toward them.
Riley saw the forward section of the Pulsar engulfed in a huge explosion as the trio of Sabre missiles hit their target.
Before the smoke had cleared the group of Outlaws who had stood in their way to the cave entrance were running toward the attack craft parked not far from where they were. Riley saw the four behind them suddenly spring into the air as their thruster packs lifted them off the ground.
Riley got to his knees and looked around as the rest of the Outlaws entered the parked attack craft. The landing ramp raised into the body of the craft and it lifted off powering off stopping just long enough to pick up the four wearing thruster packs then fired its after burners and disappeared into the clear sky.
“What just happened Cap?” Vance said as they all got to their feet.
Before Riley could voice his opinion a feral roar reverberated around the canyon.
They all turned to the direction of the sound and saw several large felines larger than the one that had chased Kurt.
“Oh shit!” Cooper exclaimed.
“This just gets better and better,” Riley said.
29
General Sinclair was at his desk when he received the data transfer from the Pulsar’s AI.
Sinclair would not leave his office at Col Sec HQ until the situation at Tartaran was dealt with to his satisfaction. There was so much going on, so much at stake that he didn’t dare leave things until he knew, one hundred per cent certain, that everything would be okay.
When the data transfer had been de-scrambled and assimilated by his brain he was stunned by the revelation about the Outlaws.
“Just what the hell is going on out there?” he said to no one in particular, as he tried to make sense of what the message meant.
He had to get to the bo
ttom of this no matter what and what he really needed was someone who was adept at digging out details and investigative work. Using a secure com channel via his NI he called Matt Hawk.
“Matt, I need your particular talents, my office a.s.a.p.,” he said once the call was connected.
“On my way sir,” Matt replied. He was on the firing range getting some practise with the new Sig P999 when Sinclair called him. Replacing the weapon inside the shoulder holster he made his way to the door.
“Seeing as how we’re on a secure channel sir, can you fill me in with some details to save some time?” he asked as he left the armoury. Before Matt could ask anything else his brain was assailed by a data transfer of everything that Sinclair had been able to accumulate on the Tartaran mission.
“Wow!” Matt said once he’d absorbed all the details and his brain had sorted it all out into a coherent message.
“That’s some heavy duty shit,” he said and he ran for Sinclair’s office with a renewed purpose.
As he entered the General’s office he said, “You’re joking, right?”
“I’m afraid not Matt.”
“What do you need from me sir?”
“I’ve hit a brick wall, you know as much as I do by now, that last message from the Wildfire Team’s AI is worrying to say the least. Why has the Alliance sanctioned the use of Black Knights to pose as Outlaws? What the hell is the secret that all those lives were lost over and obviously some people are still adamant to keep hidden from everyone?”
“Sir, what we need is a witness, someone who was actually there at the time of the original conflict,” Matt said.
“Now you must be joking surely. The conflict was around fifty years ago, anyone who was there would be at least seventy now.”
“You know as well as I do sir that, that doesn’t necessarily mean that they are dead or even retired. Many old soldiers carry on in the service earning an illustrious career. Just give me a sec, and I’ll see what I can dig up.”
Matt’s eyes glazed over whilst he accessed the Col Sec mainframe via his NI. He scrolled through personnel files as his brain formulated the lists as he looked for the details he required. All it took was a few seconds and his eyes refocused, he had what he needed.
“Sir, you are not going to believe who I found,” Matt said.
“Are you sure, of course you are,” Sinclair said after Matt had told him the name of the last survivor of the Tartaran conflict still in the service.
“I can’t believe it, Admiral Garvey was there?” he said still trying to wrap his head around this new twist.
“Yes sir and he’s in his office right now if you want to call him,” Matt said.
“We’re going to need to send back up for the Wildfire Team, especially if those Outlaws are Black Knights. I’ve got a feeling that there may be more of them out there than we originally thought. We may have to confront the Alliance’s Ambassador as well about this otherwise there could be another incident over this. We have to let them know that we know what they’re doing out there so they can’t play the innocent party on this and claim we violated the Treaty,” Sinclair said as he mulled over the consequences of the actions he was about to take.
“I’ll call Garvey in a minute but first I need to get things rolling,” Sinclair said then used his NI to access a com channel. “Colonel De Boer, assemble a platoon of Recon Delta marines and get them aboard the Odyssey, if I’m right she should be in space dock near to our orbiting platform. Make preparations for immediate transport to the Tartaran Battlefield. I’ll forward you your final orders once you and the platoon are on board and ready for departure,” he said then closed the connection.
“That’s a bold move sir, are you sure you want to go that route?” Matt asked warily.
“I don’t think we have much choice Matt. Now, let’s see what Admiral Garvey has to say about Tartaran,”
*****
Colonel Anton De Boer was at Fort Bragg in North Carolina, the largest military base on the planet and home to, among others, Recon Delta. When the call reached him from General Sinclair he immediately contacted ‘C’ Platoon who were stationed there. Within minutes they had assembled with full gear at the shuttle landing pads ready to depart for parts unknown.
As they were loading the shuttles, Captain Mayfield was standing next to Colonel De Boer as his men paraded past into the shuttles.
“Any idea where we’re shipping out to sir?” asked one marine as he came level with them.
“You’ll know as soon as we’re on board and we’ve received our orders soldier,” Mayfield replied to which the marine gave a quick salute and joined his fellow marines on board the shuttle.
“I know, “De Boer said as he saw the expression on Mayfield’s face. “I don’t like keeping important details from the men either, but in this case it’s not only necessary but prudent considering where we’re headed. We can’t allow details of our destination to reach other’s ears,” he added. The two men watched the pride of Recon Delta pass by them on their way to their seats on the shuttles. When the last man was on board they joined them informing the pilots that everyone who was going, was on board and they could take off.
The shuttles were soon airborne and heading up towards the Odyssey which was, as Sinclair had instructed waiting in space dock in orbit around Earth. Captain Tyler Biggs had been informed of the new instructions he would soon be receiving from Sinclair by the man himself and was just waiting for the arrival of the Recon Delta marines. He had no idea what had happened or what he was expected to do except that it was urgent. It had to be for General Sinclair to personally contact him via a secure channel and order him onto stand by.
The shuttles journey was short and they had soon docked with the huge starship in orbit. Captain Mayfield supervised his men into their berths for the journey ahead whilst Colonel De Boer went straight to the bridge where he was met by Captain Tyler Biggs.
“Welcome aboard Colonel, I hope your men will be comfortable in their quarters,” Biggs said as De Boer entered the bridge.
“I’m sure they’ll be fine sir. I must apologise for the intrusion but as you know, orders are orders,” replied the Colonel.
“Indeed they are Colonel,” Biggs replied. After a pause he said, “I suppose you’re in the dark as much as I am about this mission.”
“I know where we’re going but as to what our orders will be, I’m afraid I have as much knowledge as you Captain. I’m sure the General will inform us as and when the time is right. All we can do is be ready to move as soon as he gives us the green light.”
“Colonel, we pride ourselves on being ready at all times, and this won’t be an exception.”
De Boer looked at the tall man before him and said, “I’m sure you do sir, and I’ve a feeling that in this case, it’ll prove to be of benefit because when you find out where we’re going you’ll be glad your men are the finest crew in the fleet.”
I don’t like the sound of that. Where the hell are we going?” Biggs asked.
“The Tartaran Battlefield.”
30
General Sinclair and Matt walked the short distance down the corridor to Admiral Garvey’s office. Sinclair wanted to speak to him face to face rather than use a secure com channel, this was too important to leave it to chance.
As they entered the office, unannounced Garvey looked up in surprise.
“Gentlemen, to what do I owe the pleasure of this unwarranted invasion?” Garvey asked as Sinclair and Matt walked up to his huge ornate mahogany desk. Garvey was still in good shape in spite of his advancing years. He was seventy six years old but stayed trim and fit with daily workouts. His white hair was brushed straight back from a high forehead below which clear brown eyes sparked with a fierce intelligence. His thin lips extenuated his stern countenance.
“We need to talk and I couldn’t wait to go through the proper channels,” Sinclair said which got the attention of the man they’d come to see.
“Intriguing,” Garv
ey said then indicated the chair in front of his desk for him to use.
As Sinclair sat down he said, “What I’m about to tell you is beyond top secret and must not leave this room.”
“I’m all ears General, what is this about?”
“I understand that you were at the Tartaran Battlefield,” Sinclair said.
Admiral Garvey sat back in his seat and looked at Sinclair wide eyed, “Wow, that’s something I thought I wouldn’t have to revisit ever again,” he said a little breathlessly.
“What happened there, what didn’t make the official report?” Sinclair asked bluntly.
“Nothing,” Garvey said.
“Now see, you answered far too quickly for my taste there Admiral. It makes me think you are hiding something and if that’s the case then there’s nothing I can do to save your daughter,” Sinclair replied.
“What’s Natasha got to do with this?”
“She’s out there right this minute and she’s in danger. That’s what she’s got to do with this and so far you’re the only one who can help us to help her.”
“How, I don’t know what you mean.”
“There’s a situation developing out in the Tartaran Battlefield and Natasha, Prince Aswan, Kurt Stryder and a rapid response rescue team are in the middle of it.”
“You need to get them out of there and you need to do it now.”
“I don’t think you understand the severity...”
“You don’t understand Sinclair, they are in the worst danger possible and you need to get them out of there now, before it’s too late if it isn’t already.”
“I’ve got another team ready for departure as we speak, I just need to know what we’re really up against.”
“You’ll need more than a team, you’ll need a full blown battalion to handle what’s out there.”
