by Jan Domagala
Natasha reached her father’s quarters on the Odyssey. She stood outside the door and took a deep breath before entering. She knew what her father’s reaction was going to be, he had never wanted her in the line of fire and her decision to join the Security Division of the Diplomatic Corp was somewhat of a compromise. Now though, knowing what she had been through and the fact he had travelled all this way to be here when she was found told her only one thing, she was in for a load of ‘I told you so’s’
The door opened and there he was standing in the middle of the room, his hands behind his back, as he appeared deep in thought.
“Hello Dad,” she said quietly, her voice little more than a whisper.
He looked up and his craggy face split wide with a huge smile and the relief in his eyes to see her safe, seemed to wash the strain of the past few hours away from him.
He came toward her, threw his arms around her, and held her tight.
“My God, I thought I’d never see you again,” he said and when she looked up into his eyes she saw them glistening with tears of joy and relief.
“I never expected you to come all this way Dad, but I must admit it’s good to see you. I’m sorry for what’s happened and I know you won’t believe me but it wasn’t my fault,” she said allowing the words to tumble out over her lips in a torrent, once started impossible to stop.
“How did you end up in there anyway?” Garvey asked.
“Prince Aswan bribed the captain of the cruise liner to take us there. Apparently, he had a fascination with the place and wanted to see it firsthand. None of us knew what we were walking into to or expected what we experienced there either,” Natasha explained.
“No one would, what you experienced down there was out of someone’s worst nightmare,” Garvey said.
Natasha stepped back from her father to look at him. “You know what it’s like down there?” she said.
“I was on the first expedition down there over fifty years ago, so yes, I know exactly what it’s like down there and it’s not something I care to repeat anytime soon. I still have nightmares about the place,” Garvey said suddenly realising that he had divulged something to his daughter that he had never told anyone.
“Is that why you never wanted me to join the military? Never wanted me in the line of fire as you put it?” she asked.
“The galaxy is a huge, very scary place Tasha, I knew from first hand of its dangers. I just didn’t want you in harm’s way where you’d face what I faced. It’s a Dad thing, you wouldn’t understand,” he said.
“You’re wrong Dad, I do understand, you love me and you just wanted to keep me safe. I’m so sorry for all the arguments we had about this, I understand now.”
“No need,” he said and he she hugged him once more.
“What happens now Dad?” she asked as she buried her head into his shoulder.
“We have to trust that the General and his men will get us all out of here safely as soon as they get what they want from here.”
“What about Prince Aswan, he’s my responsibility I should go after him,” she said.
“He was taken by the Outlaws I believe, if he’s across in the colony I’m sure they’ll find him but you, my girl, are staying here where it’s relatively safe. You’ve done enough for now.”
“Shouldn’t we do something to help them?” she asked guiltily.
“We are doing something, we’re allowing them to get on with what they do best, their job. If we tagged along we’d only get in their way, it’s best we let them get on with it,” he replied.
“You’re right of course. Those guys are the best, if anyone can get this done, it’s them,” she said.
“Let’s hope you’re right and they are as good as you say and the General seems to think,” Garvey said and Natasha looked at him thoughtfully as she said a silent prayer hoping that she was right about them.
*****
Marko was still parading around the Command and Control deck like a caged tiger. When he heard the intruder alarm sound throughout the complex his fury increased.
“What the fuck, how in seven hells did they get anyone on board this colony?” he shouted, his face growing red from the fury building inside him. He was like a volcano about to erupt and the rest of the staff on the Command deck knew it, followed his orders, and kept their heads down just in case that fury was be vented on them.
“Get some men over to where the breach is,” he growled then added, “NOW!” at the top of his voice.
*****
Kurt and the Wildfire Team were heading down a corridor following Artie’s directions when a team of marines appeared from around a bend. They were armed with the Remm Mk III assault rifles the same as Elysium Alliance Special Forces, the Black Knights.
“Fire!” commanded the leader of the group and the rest of them brought up their rifles and started pouring pulsed plasma bolts toward them.
They were trapped in an open corridor with no cover to hide behind and no escape.
*****
On the bridge of the Odyssey ops said, “Sir I’ve just had some new data on the super destroyer that’s approaching.”
“Go ahead ops, what is it,” Biggs said from the Command Chair.
“I’m getting clearing readings on the craft and it’s not what we first thought sir,” replied ops.
Sensing something was wrong Sinclair said, “Put your readings on the forward viewscreen.”
Ops did as commanded and the image of the starship appeared in total clarity and Sinclair took a deep intake of breath as he recognised the configuration.
“Is that what I think it is?” Biggs asked also recognising the craft.
“I’m afraid it is Captain,” replied Sinclair who then added, “It also proves that MaxCorp had been providing tech to the Alliance because that ship is a variation of the Nemesis that attacked Col Sec HQ not so long ago.”
“Does that mean things have just gotten worse or not, do you think?” asked Biggs, concern written all over his face. He knew that if that craft decided to attack they would be in big trouble. The Nemesis had more firepower, triple hull plating and secondary shielding so if this Alliance version was anything like the original the only chance they would have against them would be to run away. The Odyssey could not stand and fight against such a craft alone, it would be over powered in no time and all hands would be lost.
“We’ll know the answer to that one Captain in about ten minutes or so,” Sinclair replied as calm as ever.
“Sir, the super destroyer has just increased her speed. She’ll now be here in less than twelve minutes,” Ops said urgently.
“Captain Riley, there has been a new development. The approaching super destroyer has increased speed and will now be with us in less than twelve minutes. Our timetable has just been updated so you need to move yours accordingly,” Sinclair said, connected through his NI.
Sinclair expected a response but all he received was silence.
“Ops, check the comm. connections are secure and running please,” he said a sudden fear taking over him which he controlled with his usual aplomb.
“Copy that sir,” replied the ops who added after a quick check of his equipment board, “Comm links are secure and running sir.”
“That’s not good,” Sinclair observed. He used his NI once more to call Riley, “Captain Riley, please respond,” he said and waited for a reply.
*****
As the plasma bolts seared the air in the corridor Riley and the Team had thrown themselves flat on the ground to avoid being shot and killed. Kurt had pressed himself flat against the wall after pushing Matt to the ground and watched carefully as his companions brought their own pulse rifles into action. They lay on their stomachs and with their assault rifles stretched out in front of them, they opened fire.
The Outlaws were caught out in the open as they had hoped to catch the intruders. The Wildfire Team made their shots count and each member shot down their counterpart on the opposing team. Within seconds, the action
was over and all the Outlaws lay on the ground, dead.
Riley had heard Sinclair trying to communicate with him and had instead, concentrated on the task at hand. He got to his feet and said, “Sorry for the delay sir, we’ve been a bit busy here.”
“Good to hear your voice Captain but I must impress on you the urgency of your task,” Sinclair replied and Riley could hear the relief in his voice as he spoke.
“Copy that sir, will do our best. Will update you as soon as we’re done here,” Riley said then turned to the others and said, “You heard the man, we’re out of time so let’s go and do this.”
Riley had received the call but so too had the rest of the Wildfire Team Kurt and Matt, so they had all heard the update about the super destroyer.
Kurt pushed off the wall and helped a bemused Matt to his feet as Riley reached them and said, “That was a close call.”
“It seems that serum has had an effect on us after all. We should have been killed then but our reactions were fast enough for us to avoid it,” Riley replied a little surprised to be alive still.
“You’ll get used to it, eventually,” Kurt said.
“Have you gotten used to your new abilities?”
“Hell no and I probably never will,” Kurt said with a smile then added, “Come on, we’ve got work to do.”
43
Colonel De Boer led his men deep into the colony looking for the research data that they had been ordered to destroy.
When the update about the super destroyer reached him, he turned to Captain Mayfield and said, “Our time here has just been cut in half, any suggestions?”
Mayfield thought for a second then said, “Well obviously we don’t have the time to search a colony this large and destroy the data if we could locate it in the time we now have so that only leaves us one option sir. We destroy the whole damn thing.”
“My thoughts exactly.”
“Do we have enough explosives with us to do the job?” asked Mayfield to one of the marines.
“It might be best if we locate the power room and set the generator to overload, that should destroy the whole colony sir,” replied the marine.
Colonel De Boer said, “Good idea, let’s do it.”
*****
Kurt said, “We need to get to the C and C deck and fast.”
“I agree, if I know the Colonel he’ll know we’ve virtually run out of time and he’ll be looking for a way to destroy this whole colony,” said Riley.
“Which means we have to get to the C and C deck to find any data pertaining to this project? We cannot take the chance on any survivors having the knowledge gained from their research down there. We need that data too just to keep the balance,” agreed Riley.
Torres came forward and said, “Artie says it’s just ahead, through that door.”
Riley turned and fired his assault rifle at the door blasting it open. “Let’s go,” he said.
“There’s no messing around with him is there?” Matt said as he reached Kurt.
“He’s a true Man of Action,” replied Kurt smiling.
Ignoring the banter, Riley walked toward the gaping hole where the door used to be.
*****
Inside the C and C deck Marko turned as the door was blasted open. There was a skeleton crew with him manning various stations, ops, weps and three security men to protect the deck should the worst happen, which it seemed to be.
With a swift hand gesture he motioned for the security guards to deploy so they would be ready when anyone came through the hole.
*****
Riley threw a stun grenade through the gaping hole and counted down until it exploded.
The grenade, a flash bang, was filled with phosphorous so that when it went off, a bright light along with the deafening explosion assaulted the senses of whoever was near causing disorientation giving the attacker time to make their move.
The second the grenade went off Riley moved in. He was the first through into the C and C deck followed by Kurt, Matt and the rest of the Wildfire Team.
Riley deployed his team against the security guards. Vance, Cooper and Torres took out a security guard each and Matt made his way over to ops.
Kurt saw the huge bear of a man in the centre of the room and knew he had to be in charge. Already he was shaking off the effects of the stun grenade so Kurt knew he had to act fast.
Riley had moved over to disable the weps station shooting the soldier on the move. The pulsed plasma bolt threw the hapless soldier against the console spreading his blood over it before he slid to the floor, dead.
Matt had done more or less the same with the man at the ops station so the both of them swiftly got to work.
Riley quickly disabled the weapons so that any retaliation from the colony would be stopped and he destroyed the station with a burst from his assault rifle so they couldn’t be reactivated.
Matt was searching through the colony’s computer logs for any data pertaining to any research done on the planet below and once he found what he was looking for he downloaded it to his NI.
“Got it,” he said as he turned to face Riley who had moved over to stand by him. Riley aimed his assault rifle at the station and fired.
“Good, now let’s get the hell off this place,” Riley said as he watched the ops station burn up from the salvo he had fired.
Vance, Cooper and Torres were over by the hole guarding it from anyone else trying to gain entrance and when they saw Riley gesture for them to leave they went through to guard the corridor beyond making it safe for the rest of them to follow.
Kurt had his hands full with Marko. He had approached the big man hoping to catch him unawares before he fully recovered from the effects of the stun grenade. The man’s resilience was phenomenal and by the time Kurt had gotten half way to him he was already looking up at him, his eyes clearing and fury blazing in them.
Suddenly a Magarov T9 pistol appeared in Marko’s hand, he must have had it on him when the stun grenade blew him off his feet. Marko brought up the powerful pistol and steadied his aim on the approaching figure before him.
Kurt saw the weapon being aimed at him and he knew he would not close the gap between them before it fired.
There was nothing he could do but watch as Marko pulled the trigger.
*****
Sinclair felt a tingle as a call was connected through his NI. He recognised where it came from and said, “General Tillic, what can I do for you?”
“I just thought I’d inform you of our approach,” replied the Alliance General calmly.
“You’re on the destroyer bearing down on our position?” Sinclair asked.
“I am and I must inform you that you must leave the area, now. Pull out your men immediately or suffer the consequences. I am here to take control of the Tartaran Battlefield for the Elysium Alliance. A statement has been issued about your involvement in the treaty violation and that we are here to right that wrong.”
Sinclair had linked the call through the comm. system on the bridge of the Odyssey so that all those present were witnesses to it. When Tillic had finished, Sinclair turned away from the eyes of those watching him so they could not see the anger on his face.
“You seem to have covered all your bases Lokar; I’m not at all surprised. What I am surprised at is that you actually think you can get away with this,” he replied once he had gotten his anger under control.
“I already have General, now I suggest that you recall all your personnel and vacate this area. You have until we reach your position to comply with my demands or we will open fire upon you and your ship,” Tillic said putting as much menace as he could in his voice.
Sinclair turned to face the bridge crew. Captain Biggs asked, “What are your orders sir?”
With a huge uncharacteristic sigh Sinclair said, “We do the only thing we can at this moment, we comply.”
Biggs nodded his head in agreement.
“Send out the recall Captain Biggs, let’s bring our boys home,�
� Sinclair said with resentment.
*****
Kurt saw Marko pull the trigger on the Magarov T9 pistol. The pulsed plasma bolt streaked from the muzzle of the pistol heading straight for him.
Kurt’s senses went immediately into hyper drive. The second he saw the pistol brought up and aimed his eyes went straight to the hand. He watched as the trigger finger tightened in readiness for firing. He estimated the trajectory and time it would be fired and timed his move to coincide with Marko’s actions.
When the pistol was fired, Kurt was already moving out of the way, too fast for Marko to see and adjust his aim. He moved to the side allowing the bolt to pass by but even so, it went by so close that Kurt felt the heat from it singe his hair.
Kurt was rolling and coming up onto his feet before Marko had even realised that he had missed.
He was close to the big man now and Marko’s eyes widened in surprise when he saw Kurt’s agility and speed. The man should be dead was what he was thinking just before Kurt hit him square on the jaw with a right cross.
Marko went flying off his feet from the force of the blow. Kurt had put quite a bit of his strength into the punch, he still was not sure just how strong he was so he had kept a bit back. He had not wanted to destroy the man’s face just knock him out.
“We don’t have time for this Kurt, just finish him off and let’s get the hell off this place,” Matt shouted as he watched his friend attack Marko.
Kurt turned from the downed giant and said, “It’s okay now, he won’t bother us again, we can leave.”
Kurt was looking at Matt and something in his eyes told him that what he had just said was far from the truth.
“The hell you can,” snarled Marko who was getting to his knees and he brought up the Magarov and fired.
The pulsed plasma bolt was aimed at Kurt who, from the instant he knew Marko was conscious began to move but even so the bolt caught him high on his left arm and spun him around.
