The ground around them shook, and they looked up at the roof of the cave, expecting its imminent collapse.
"Jesus, how many missiles does he need?" Sommer asked.
The roof of the canyon began to crash down in front of the cave, crushing many of the Vargs that were waiting there. Others tried to flee as hundreds of tonnes of rock crashed down around them. A dust cloud filled the cave, and they lost sight of the ground ahead. They heard the rocks still crashing down like an avalanche. The whole cave was shaking violently, and yet somehow, it remained defiantly intact.
"Well, I'll be damned," said Sommer.
They could hear the roar of engines as a ship descended into the valley, and Taylor stepped up to the edge of the cave. There was a half metre tall opening where the rubble had almost sealed them in. He pushed at a large boulder of rock, but even with the power of his suit, he could not shift it. The others were soon by his side. They needed no prompting. Nobody wanted to be left down there. Three joined him, and they strained themselves, but could not shift it. They would not give up, and Kilic leaned over Newman and gave an almighty push. The huge slab of rock slid forward. It was a relief to them all.
One of the transports from the Kastor was coming in. The engines blew dust and dirt everywhere. It showered them with debris, and then cleared some visibility. The Vargs were scattered in all directions, but some were coming their way. Mac hit one with two shots, and the others joined in behind him. Newman took a few shots at another with his pistol, but two bounced, and the one that did strike home didn't seem to do much. He holstered it and drew his Assegai, as he had now been taught to do.
The ramp of the ship lowered as it hovered a metre from the ground, and Taylor waved on the marines behind him.
"Come, move it. Move it!"
They eagerly poured out of the cave and rushed for the cover of their assault ship. A Varg flew past in front and took the head off from their officer. The others turned to give fire and soon killed it. They looked in despair at the bloody, headless body of their leader.
"Keep moving!"
They rushed aboard, but were still firing as their ramp shut, and their craft began to lift off. The Vargs were already regrouping. Mac had his rifle propped on a large piece of rock and was knocking them down with headshots. Others joined in as more creatures descended on their flanks. Newman drew out his high explosive grenades and launched both of them, one either side of their position. The charges blew, and they heard the cries of Vargs hidden amongst the debris around them. Some scurried away from the explosions, but they wouldn't be deterred for long.
Others led by his example, launching grenades out into the debris. Taylor slammed the last magazine into his rifle, and Newman could see that they were all getting low. Hundreds of the creatures lay dead, as well as plenty of marines. Many more of the enemy lay beneath the rubble.
The next ship was coming down, and Taylor didn't need to say a word, as the survivors of the other platoon from the Kastor rushed out, but rather more cautiously this time. Two creatures leapt towards them, and Olsen cut one down with a well-aimed burst. It was dead before it hit the ground. More were hit from the men running out and firing on the move. They rushed aboard their ship, but as the door began to close and the ship lifted up, a Varg leapt through the doorway. Taylor raised his rifle to get a shot, but it clambered inside as the ramp sealed shut.
"Poor bastards," said Newman.
"If they remembered their training, they'll be just fine."
They looked ahead into the valley. Hundreds of the beasts were swarming towards them, far more than they could handle. Shots rang out, but Taylor soon found his rifle empty, as did many others. He dropped it around so that it slung over his back and drew out his Assegai. He smiled as if he were going to enjoy this. At first Newman didn't really understand why, but then everything Taylor had said resonated with him once more. Taylor didn't want to die. He wanted to live, and that is exactly what he was doing. The horde was a hundred metres out. Mac was still knocking them down with pinpoint accuracy, and others were helping out, but they could do little against so many, and with so little ammunition. Most of them had drawn their blades and activated shields, ready for close quarters work.
Missile trails suddenly showered down from above as explosions ripped their way through the horde. Moments later the sound of Gatling guns cracked above them, and a wall of fire smashed into the enemy. Irene was descending before them, her loading ramp already down.
"Damn it, he's got some sense of timing." Taylor smiled, "Come on!"
They darted out from the cover of the cave entrance and ran as quickly as they could. Those still with ammunition unloaded it on those at their flanks. The ramp was still three metres off the ground when they reached it, and Sommer at their head leapt up. The boosters on her suit provided the extra power she needed to soar into the vessel. The others followed as Taylor stopped to engage a Varg that was approaching. None had any shots left, and the beast knew it, as it made no attempt to shelter. He squared off against the creature as everyone else ran on. Someone had to deal with it, or it would be at their backs in no time.
"Come on!" Taylor yelled.
Everyone was aboard and watching from the ramp as he backed towards them. The beast rushed at him. He sidestepped and thrust up into its jaw. The body flew past, already dead as it tumbled forwards.
"Run!" Sommer shouted.
The ship was already ascending as Vargs leapt onto the hull.
He did exactly that, and sprinted forward, using the body of his vanquished foe as a ramp to leap for the ramp. He just about made it and tumbled on through, but as the ramp began to close, a beast leapt in. One of its claws hooked into Taylor's leg. He let out a cry in pain as his Assegai fell from his hand. The creature tried to pull him back out. He kicked back at its head with his other leg, but it would not let go, using him to anchor itself to the ship as it dangled. Newman was the first to rush to his aid. He picked up the Colonel's advanced Assegai, and with one huge cut, slashed the creature’s leg off at the joint. The beast slid off the ramp and vanished. Sommer hit the close switch, and it sealed up. She breathed a sigh of relief as she prized her helmet open.
Lorenzo was already at Taylor's side, sealing the wound, so she slumped down in relief.
"What a day."
"Good, it's not just me, then?" Newman looked at the bloody blade in his hand, and the claw that the medic had pulled out from Taylor.
"Spend a little more time around the Colonel, and maybe you won't be so surprised anymore," she replied.
"But it was worth it."
"What was? What did you find down there?"
"Maybe just what we were looking for."
She looked to Newman for confirmation, as if concerned that he was telling them whatever he thought they wanted to hear.
"As the Colonel says. There is a tonne of stuff down there, and it's all controlled by some AI tech that the Aranui left behind."
"Well, damn."
"We have to get back down there, but we need the full support of the Corps. The next time we set foot on that planet, it won't be with a few platoons, but a few regiments."
But he winced in pain as Lorenzo got to work.
"You're a lucky son of a bitch, you know that, Colonel?"
"Lucky? I just got skewered."
"And it missed everything vital. I can fix this with what I have to hand, and a little rest on your part."
"Rest, are you kidding?"
The ship lit up as they left the atmosphere and returned to some sort of normality while they headed for the Attila.
"Colonel, Captain Roworth is asking for you," said Munro.
"Let him wait. We're busy here," snapped Lorenzo.
Taylor nodded in agreement.
"Have him meet us at the docking bay."
"Yes, Sir."
Taylor saw that Newman was still staring at the bloody claw of the creature. He held out his hand, as if to ask for his weapon back, but Newman hadn'
t even noticed.
"Corporal?"
He finally snapped out of it and handed the Assegai over.
"Good work today, and that goes for all of you."
"Good? We lost people here today, too many people. We barely made it out alive ourselves."
"But it wasn't for nothing, Corporal."
"If we had just taken enough marines and guns with us. We knew the risks. We knew what was down there."
"Do you know how many other planets we find that are somehow inhospitable to life? Do you know how many marines are lost every week in search of what we are looking for?" Sommer asked.
He shrugged.
"No, you don't," added Taylor, "We lost people today, but we also found what we were looking for, and you have no idea what that means."
"I know precisely what it means. It means there might be something interesting down there. There might be some way of saving Earth with what is down there. But honestly, it could be nothing. It could be of no use to us at all. So what, we found Aranui tech, but we have no idea what that is, though, do we?"
The rest of his platoon were shocked at his revelation.
"That is enough, Corporal!" Sommer snarled at him.
"No it’s not. They have a right to know, the same as we do."
"Know what?" Benik joined in the conversation.
Sommer looked to Taylor to see if he would shut the Corporal down, but from the look on his face, it was unlikely.
"This is crazy. This is top secret information we are talking about here," she insisted.
"And these are marines that are willing to stand beside us. Die beside us. They have given everything, don't you think they deserve the same back?"
"You know that's not the way the world works, Colonel."
"Maybe not, but it's the way I work."
They were all on edge. Waiting for the explanation from Taylor, but he simply gestured towards Newman and said, 'Well, go on."
Newman hesitated and coughed to clear his throat. He was willing to fight his cause, but he hadn't expected so much pressure to be laid on his shoulders.
"Rivers, the President. He doesn't know how to save Earth. He thinks he might be able to find a way with Aranui tech that was hidden hundreds, if not thousands of years ago. Hidden on places like Poka."
"Why the rush?"
"Because we are dying, Benik. Our population is decreasing, and it is tearing itself apart," Taylor answered him.
"And if we don't find some answers soon, all hope is lost," added Sommer.
"Unbelievable. Why are we only finding out about this now?"
"Because people don't want to hear it."
Taylor nodded his agreement with Sergeant Maynard. "If this got out, what is left of our society would tear itself apart, and it would all be over. While we stand together, and work together, there is hope. Not a lot, but some. What we saw down there. That is hope."
They were pulling in to land, and nobody had another word to say. Sommer helped Taylor to his feet. He was still able to walk, but with a bit of a limp. As the ramp went down, they found Roworth standing there.
"Colonel, we need to talk."
"Come out with it. I won't have secrets from these men and women, not anymore."
"It's about Trident."
"What about it?"
"We've received reports that she has been boarded and taken by Krys pirates."
"Pirates? What is going on?"
"They are well organised. A fleet attacked a neutral station, killing and taking whatever they wanted."
"And Babacan?"
"We received a distress beacon too late to act upon, but I have reached out to Lord Sarik, and he believes he knows where he is being held."
He held out his hand, and a projection arose from a small device he was carrying. It showed a ramshackle group of bases in an asteroid field, and dozens of ships close by. A planet lay nearby that looked as inhospitable as Poka.
"That is Mersin. Nobody goes there that isn't one of their kind."
"Send word to CJ, Captain, and send him those coordinates..."
"To what end?"
"We are going there to get our people."
"That is an entire fleet, Colonel, and let me remind you that we have strict orders to pursue Aranui technology on this world. Technology which you just proved exists."
"And it's not going anywhere. We don't leave our own behind, no matter what it costs."
"Sir, we were given these orders. We should stay here until our work is done," insisted Newman.
"Don't be a fool. Colonel Taylor didn't get to where he is today by following the rulebook," replied Sommer.
"We should at least inform the President of what we have found here."
"No, Captain, that will only complicate things. I am in charge of this mission, and the President left it to me to handle how I run it. We are going after the Trident and her crew, and that is final, do you understand me?"
"If those are your orders, Colonel, I will oblige."
It was clear that the Captain was torn on the issue, but he wasn't going to fight it.
"And the fact that we are two ships against that fleet? You have any great ideas about how we are going to pull this off?"
"One or two."
"We can't get anywhere near that place without being seen."
"No, but I know who can."
"I still don't like this, Sir. We were specifically put here to do a mission."
"You speak out of turn, Corporal. Remember your place," growled Sommer.
"No, let him speak."
Taylor appreciated his intuition, knowing the Corporal was willing to tell him what others would not.
"Leaving this place is a mistake. We have uncovered vital Aranui tech. We have a responsibility to everyone in the Alliance to protect it, and recover it."
Taylor nodded.
"You are right, Corporal, and I won't ask any of you to come with me. I will fix this."
* * *
Mersin System, eleven hours later
Taylor was standing on the bridge of a ship in complete blackout, the only light coming from the station on the asteroid before them. It seemed to orbit a strange looking world that emanating a vibrant purple light. It was so dark that he could see only a metre around him. Everybody was silent. Dozens of ships lay on the surface of the asteroids and floating nearby, just a few hundred metres from their position as they waited in complete secrecy. The old Krys camouflaging technology was truly a wonder to behold when it wasn't being used against you. He could see the Trident on the surface of one of the rocks. Sparks flew as work was carried out on the engines. They had to be repairing whatever damage they had done.
"I appreciate you doing this, you know."
A man stepped out from the shadows behind him. It was CJ, in full armour and ready to fight.
"I never said I would play by all your rules, but from one fighter to another, I won't see Babacan left to scum like this."
"They are pirates, like you."
"Yes," he replied without apology.
"And still you feel nothing for hurting them?"
"You think we have some code? I am loyal to my people, and the people who have my back. You had my back, even when you had every reason not to, and so did Babacan."
"Scan for life forms on the Trident."
"Thirty-two souls, and all Krys."
"Are you ready to do this?" Taylor asked.
"You kidding me? I was born for this, and so were you."
"All right, then, let's go steal back what's ours."
"When we go in to plain sight, all hell is going to break loose, you understand that, right?"
Taylor nodded in agreement.
"Then let's do this."
"Good luck," said King, who had assumed command of the bridge.
CJ led them down to the docking bay where a single shuttle was waiting for them. They were a six-man team, him and CJ, Kanor, Mirov, Boron, and Onder, a half Human, half Krys team. They boarded the
shuttle and watched the docking bay doors open.
"The moment we are out there we will be visible, you get that?"
"Yes, CJ, we stick to the plan. In and away in under eight minutes."
"You think that is long enough?"
"It'll have to be. Any longer, and we get blasted by everything they've got."
"Ready?"
"I appreciate this help, I really do. But let's just be clear, if you screw me here, I am coming for you, you get that right?"
"I'd expect nothing less."
Taylor knew he wasn't doing it out of the kindness of his heart or respect for Babacan. He couldn't work out the reasons why, but then as he looked to the display screens, he noticed a second shuttle loading up beside them, and Razor was in charge.
"What are they doing?"
"Just a little job on the side."
Taylor shook his head.
I knew it was too good to be true.
"What? I am going to help you get Babacan and the Trident back, but there ain't no reason we can't benefit a little more while we're here. Come on, we're robbing from pirates. We might as well take a little more. It's not like they're going to be any less offended."
"You could be endangering this entire operation, and for what? A bit of cash?"
"Without me and this fine ship, there would be no mission, and don't you forget it."
Taylor sighed. He didn't like it at all, but he had to go along with it. This was his only hope.
"Okay, are we cool now?"
Taylor groaned in agreement.
"Right, then, let's get this party, and hey, smile, it's gonna be fun."
"Really?"
"You serious? Piracy in the name of the Alliance, this is a dream come true."
"You like being a pirate, don't you?"
"Who wouldn't?" he asked as he powered up the engines.
Taylor didn't understand his motivations at all, and yet after all these years, he was still helping them to do the right thing. Even if that meant breaking a hundred laws along the way.
"This is gonna get interesting," said CJ.
The engines fired up, and they lifted off the deck. They all knew that the moment they went forward that there was no going back.
"Fuck it!" CJ smiled.
He put full power to the engines, and they soared out from the docking bay. The moment they did, a salvo of fire rushed past overhead, as the Phoenix opened fire on the station below with everything it had. The tallest tower on the structure of the colony was blown apart, and explosions ripped through the site. Two of the ships on the ground were smashed out of action.
Beyond Earth- Civil War Page 20
