by Jan Domagala
“Kurt, General Sinclair here, what’s your status down there?” he said.
Kurt stopped in his tracks when the call came through.
“General, you’re here?” he said in total surprise.
“Yes Kurt, we’re in orbit around Tartaran. I’ve got Colonel De Boer with me and a full platoon of Recon Delta marines ready to deploy to your position for your extraction. Is Captain Riley and his team with you?”
“That’s good to hear, sir, yes they are.”
“And is Prince Aswan and Miss Garvey also with you?”
“Miss Garvey is here, sir, but the Prince was snatched a short while ago by the Outlaws.”
“Hold on son, help is on its way,” Sinclair said then called Riley. “Captain Riley I’ve just informed Captain Stryder that Colonel De Boer and ‘C’ Platoon are ready to deploy on your word,” he said.
Riley had been listening to Kurt’s one-sided conversation and when he heard the General’s voice, a smile briefly crossed his lips.
“If they’re coming down here, sir, better tell ’em to be prepared for an aerial assault. There’s a flock of huge flying buggers that are really pissed off. They forced us to land and we took refuge in the city, sir,” he said.
“You found it then, good. Now be careful though we have it on good authority that the life forms down there are extremely aggressive to humanoids.”
“We found that out already, sir, but thanks for the heads up anyway. Sir, look out for the Outlaws, they’re not who they appear to be,” Riley said.
“Yes son, we’re working on that. Now hold on, help is on its way, be prepared to move and move fast,” Sinclair said breaking the connection. He turned to Matt, “Sorry Matt, but this time I want you out of the firing line. I want you with me should I have to meet with someone from the Alliance.”
“Aye, sir,” Matt replied, not liking the decision. He much preferred to be in the thick of the action but intellectually he understood it because if Sinclair chose, or was forced to leave the Odyssey to meet with someone from the Alliance, it would be a low key situation but nevertheless he would need someone with him as back up.
Sinclair called Colonel De Boer, “Colonel you have a green light. You have been studying sensor logs to learn the lay of the land I trust?”
“Aye sir, I’ve instructed my men on what we’ve learned of the indigenous life forms and we’re prepared the best we can be considering our time limit. Don’t worry General, we’ll bring ’em out alive,” De Boer replied confidently.
“Make sure you do Colonel, make sure you do. Good luck, keep me appraised,” Sinclair said then cut the link. “Captain Biggs, I want air support for my men for their trip down, during and on their return trip. I do not want to lose one single person down there, is that absolutely crystal clear Captain?”
“Aye sir, my men are the best and they’ll give their best, always, sir. We’ve located the main body of a craft in orbit around the planet and a section of it down on the surface near a construction of unknown origin,” replied Biggs.
“That must be the city,” Sinclair said thoughtfully.
“My men are good to go, sir, at your command,” Biggs said.
“Good man, let’s get to it then. Keep me informed, I’ll be in your ready room. You’re with me Matt,” Sinclair said then turned on his heel and left the bridge with Matt Hawk in tow leaving Admiral Garvey behind looking worried.
39
Riley turned to Kurt and said, “General Sinclair holds you in high regard. When he learned you were involved he was of the opinion our chances of success had greatly increased because of your involvement. I’ve no idea why.”
“I have a certain skill set,” Kurt replied noncommittally.
“Well, I just hope his faith in you is warranted because I’ve a horrible feeling that things are about to turn ugly and we’ll need all the help we can get.”
“I’ll do my part, you have no worries there, trust me,” Kurt said, which brought a worried frown to Riley’s expression.
“You see, now that makes me worried a little. When someone is that confident it’s because they’re either a complete nut job or they really are that good. Which one are you Kurt?”
“You can decide for yourself. I’m sure before this thing is done you’ll have plenty of chances to make up your mind.”
“And that’s something else that worries me,” Riley said. Turning away from Kurt, he went back to the front of the small group to lead them through the city. “Artie can you pick up any other life forms in here other than us?” he said after connecting to their AI.
“There are no life signs in your immediate proximity, sir. The nearest to you is three hundred yards north of your position.”
“And that is what? Is it humanoid or like those creatures we’ve already encountered and how many are there?” Riley hurriedly asked.
“They are not humanoid and it is a group, closely packed together so it is difficult for me to pinpoint an accurate number, sir,” Artie replied.
“Ball park figure Artie,” Vance said, all conversations from Artie went automatically to all members of the team.
“Excuse me?” Artie asked confused by the idiom.
“Your best guess Artie, lowest number to highest,” Riley explained.
“Oh I see, sir. In that case they number between twenty to thirty, possibly a few more,” Artie said before adding, “and they are on the move heading in your direction, sir.”
“That’s just great,” Cooper said.
“We need somewhere we can barricade ourselves inside to defend against whatever they are,” Riley said. Then a thought struck him and he said, “Artie we need to know what we’re up against here. Can you get a visual and transmit it to our NIs? Include Miss Garvey and Captain Stryder in that transmission please.”
“I’ll do my best, sir,” replied the AI.
“Get ready for... Shit! That was fast,” exclaimed Riley as the image hit his NI being totally overwhelmed by the speed of the input. Until it was absorbed then stored and sorted by his NI he remained breathless until his cognitive functions enabled him to recognise it, but it did not give him enough time to warn Natasha or Kurt to what was about to happen.
“Oh my God!” Cooper said.
“That is one mean lookin’ mutha fucker,” Torres spat.
“Ditto!” Vance agreed.
“Is that in here with us?” Natasha asked with trepidation.
“How many of them are there?” Kurt enquired calmly.
“Yes and possibly thirty odd in number,” replied Riley.
The image that all of them had received had been of a creature that resembled a domesticated cat crossed with some sort of arachnid. Like the larger versions of the octo-felines, these smaller versions still had eight legs, four forelegs and four hind legs but these smaller felines had their eyes arrayed in rows down each side of their heads so that their field of vision was possibly as enhanced as their larger cousins. Their jaws opened out sideways with mandibles on each corner and inside a row of razor sharp teeth extended outwards from the mouth to expand its bite radius.
“I really hate this planet,” Cooper admitted after absorbing every detail of this new threat.
Riley said, “Everyone, listen up, when the time comes make sure your weapons have a full load and are set on full power. There’s no telling how strong these creatures will be so I don’t want anyone taking any chances, shoot to kill.”
“Hoorah!” his team replied in one voice.
“Is this what you meant when you told me there would be plenty of chances to make up my mind?” Riley asked facing Kurt.
“This is just the beginning,” Kurt replied.
“That really fills me with confidence,” Riley remarked. “Artie how soon before those creatures reach us?” he asked.
“They are moving quite rapidly now, sir, and will be within visual range in less than five minutes,” Artie replied.
“Find us somewhere for us to fend off those c
reatures Artie and make it fast,” Riley said urgently.
Kurt’s keen senses picked up the approach of these new creatures and he knew exactly where they were. All his senses were now operating on hyperdrive due to the influx of super charged adrenalin into his bloodstream. His fight or flight reflex was now at the forefront and, being the warrior he was, all his instincts told him to fight. The only way to protect these people was for him to fight.
“Sir, all the rooms nearby are similar in structure and layout. None of them holds anything useful to act as a barricade. There is a larger room approximately eighty-five yards ahead and to the right that might give you cover due to the benches and equipment there, but sir, you have to reach it quickly as the creatures are heading that way too. You have to get there first,” Artie said.
Without preamble Riley said, “Right people move, double time it.”
They raced ahead as fast as they could, directed by their ship’s AI so that they knew exactly where to go.
A corner approached in the corridor ahead, doors on either side but they knew that none of them would help.
“We have to hurry, they’re closing in on us,” urged Kurt.
“Yes, we know Kurt,” Riley responded.
“You don’t understand they’re closer than you think. They’ll reach our destination about the same time as us,” Kurt explained.
“How can you possible know that?” Riley wanted to know.
“Trust me, I just know okay,” pleaded Kurt.
“Artie is he correct?” asked Riley.
“I’m afraid he is, sir,” replied the AI.
“Then we’d better pick up the pace as Kurt suggested,” Riley said.
They all turned the corner to see the corridor stretch out before them. The room they needed was there, mid-way to the other end.
A roar of pure primal fury rent the air as the pack of strange cat-like creatures tore around the corner headed straight for them.
“Don’t stop, keep running,” Kurt shouted and everyone picked up their pace urged on by the sight of the creatures bearing down on them.
It would be close. They were closer to the room than the creatures but they covered the ground faster than the humans did. Having eight legs did have an advantage.
The cat creatures were closing the gap at an alarming rate. Kurt thought they might not make it in time. Taking aim on the run, he fired at the lead creature with his Sig P996. The pulsed plasma bolt struck the cat’s head in its gaping maw of a mouth and blew it apart, dropping it in its tracks in a cloud of blood and gore. The dead creature caused the nearest to it to stumble and fall over it blocking the corridor momentarily. By the time the rest of the pack had extricated themselves from the jumble of bodies, Kurt and the rest of the group had time to reach the door, open it and get inside.
“Made it,” Natasha said breathing a sigh of relief as she passed through the door.
Just as Cooper was about to close the door, one of the cat creatures appeared in the doorway. The huge head seemed massive as its jaws opened wide to roar. The interior jaw extended outwards towards Cooper whose reflexes were enhanced by the serum, enabling him to move out of the way in time whereas a normal person would have been killed.
Cooper was lying on his back staring up at the huge beast, its head and shoulders in the doorway, its huge jaws opened wide ready to bite, the strange rows of yellow eyes staring at Cooper who was about to be its prey.
Kurt stepped forward, placed the muzzle of his Sig in the creature’s mouth and fired. The back of the cat’s head exploded out spraying the wall behind with its blood and brain tissue then dropped dead in the doorway.
Before anyone could react to that action, another cat appeared in the doorway just behind the fallen one, which was now blocking said doorway preventing the door from closing.
“Oh crap!” Cooper said as he scrambled to his feet.
“We’re screwed,” Torres said as the large angry feline stepped over its dead pack member to enter the room.
40
Danovic targeted the two attack craft with their pulse cannons and fired. He was satisfied when the full power pulsed plasma bolts struck their targets. The first attack craft was hit on her port side, which blew off a wing sending her into a spiralling tailspin seconds before exploding in a huge fireball. The second attack craft was struck; first, on the pilot’s section killing all the occupants, then the pulsed plasma bolts strafed down the length of the small craft until the engines at the rear exploded blowing up the rest of her.
“Good shooting Mikal, now get me that last one so we can get out of here before they decide to throw anything else at us,” Saladar said.
“Do my best, boss,” Danovic said as he switched targets to the attack craft leaving the planet.
“Make sure you only disable her Mikal, it would be a pity if we killed the person we’re here to rescue. It would be incredibly difficult to explain and we wouldn’t get paid either,” Saladar added.
“I’m on it Jared, calm down,” Danovic said before firing the pulse cannons.
When the pulsed plasma bolts struck the engines of the escaping attack craft, her forward momentum slowed but not completely as inertia kept it moving forwards.
“WHAT THE FUCK JUST happened?” Tarkovic shouted as the craft suddenly slowed.
Aswan was sitting in the passenger area in the mid-section of the craft more frightened than he’d been since the very first attack on the Colonial Queen. He had been bound with magna cuffs and strapped into his seat and when the engines cut out he thought they were all going to die.
“We’re dead in space, sir, our engines have been targeted,” replied the pilot.
“What are you going to do with me?” Aswan asked. He had lost any confidence he may have had that he would get out of this alive. He was certain he would die, either at the hands of these Outlaws or by those who were attacking. He wasn’t sure but whatever the case, it didn’t matter, either way, dead was dead.
“Don’t worry Prince, we’ll look after you well enough. You’re worth quite a lot to us so you’re in good hands,” replied Tarkovic who turned back to the pilot to ask, “Who the hell is attacking us?”
“A starship arrived while we were down on the planet. Not sure who they are yet, there’s no registration numbers or ID on the craft that I can make out, sir, sorry,” replied the pilot.
Suddenly a series of bangs were heard down the length of the small craft. Everyone’s eyes followed each loud bang.
“Grapples!” Tarkovic stated after recognising the sounds. It could only mean one thing.
They were about to be taken aboard the larger starship.
IN THE READY ROOM, Sinclair sat at the table and ushered Matt to sit too. Once they were both comfortable, Sinclair accessed a subspace com. channel between himself and his opposite number in the Elysium Alliance, General Lokar Tillic.
“General Sinclair, to what do I owe the pleasure of a personal call from you, some disaster looming no doubt?” Tillic said once the call was connected.
Sinclair was struck by the man’s directness at first then replied, “I agree, people in our line of work do not tend to socialise with our opposite numbers. But why would you imply that there would have to be some trouble looming before I called to wish you well in your new position?”
“Before you go any further, General, did you think I wouldn’t know where you’re calling from? Why are you out at the Tartaran Battlefield?” Tillic said with his voice taking on a hard edge.
“A situation has developed out here.”
“And that required you taking the Odyssey out there did it? You do know you’re in violation of the treaty?” Tillic was dumbstruck that he was even having this conversation.
“This situation is complicated.”
“Not from where I’m sitting. You’re in violation of an interstellar treaty, the ramifications of which are too severe to even think about,” Tillic snapped interrupting yet again.
“Well, if you cli
mb down from your moral high ground long enough, you might see things a little clearer,” Sinclair said calmly.
“See things clearer? I can see things clear enough General.”
“Why are Black Knights listed as KIA out here posing as Outlaws with high spec tec and munitions? When you have that answer, call me back,” Sinclair said then broke the connection.
“That sounded intense, sir,” observed Matt who had been linked to the call to act as witness.
“It was, give him five minutes, he’ll call back,” Sinclair said.
COLONEL DE BOER AND ‘C’ Platoon were aboard two shuttles; De Boer was in one with half of ‘C’ Platoon whilst Captain Mayfield was in the other with the rest of the marines. In that way should one of the shuttles be damaged or shot down, all would not be lost as half of them would survive and the mission could continue.
“Are you ready?” De Boer said to Mayfield over the battle com.
“Let’s do this, sir,” came the reply.
De Boer gave the command, and the two shuttles dropped like stones from the docking bays. The pilots fired the main engines at maximum burn as they powered towards the planet followed by four Nova fighters as escort.
“ARTIE, WE NEED A WAY out of here, now,” Riley said. He knew the AI was monitoring their coms so there would be no need to contact him; he was also monitoring their life signs, the area they were entering and their surroundings so he could give ‘live’ updates.
The group had pushed towards the back of the room. Kurt was facing the beast as it came, slinking slowly into the room, its head down as it eyed its intended prey.
Vance, Cooper and Torres had fanned out to make it harder for the beast to pick just one target. Riley was in the centre of the group with Natasha close behind. Despite their differences and various relationship issues they naturally came together when times got tough, with Natasha seeking comfort from his protection that he freely and unthinkingly gave.
