by G. P. Hudson
When Mosby got to the back of the structure, however, all he encountered was the other half of his team appearing from the other end. The runner was gone. Mosby studied the building. The only logical answer was that the runner went inside. He debated chasing it, worried that he would lose his aerial and orbital support if they entered the building.
A high-pitched whine interrupted his thinking and each member of his team swung around trying to pinpoint its source.
A flash of light followed, and a message appeared on his visor, “Warning, cloaking device has failed.”
“Shit!” Mosby said as his invisible body, which he saw as translucent, became solid and clearly visible. A glance at his team told him that they had the same problem. No sooner had they lost their cloaks than they all started taking fire. Kemmar insurgents started appearing as if out of nowhere, surrounding them.
His team scrambled for cover. Mosby did the same while calling in an air strike through his comm. How did the insurgents sneak up on them like that? The runner must have been bait. The insurgents might have installed ground sensors that could pick up the displacement their armored boots made. However, they did it, Mosby’s team now had their hands full.
Responding to his call for help, two atmospheric fighters appeared. They streaked down from the heavens and strafed the ground with railgun fire, shredding the Kemmar positions. The fighters came around for another pass, this time turning their attention to the building. Multiple insurgents shot at Mosby’s team from windows, balconies and rooftops.
Missiles smashed into the structure, blowing out entire sections of the building. The railguns followed up, ripping through the walls like they were made of paper. Where weapon fire missed, flying debris succeeded.
Both atmospheric fighters came to a stop and hovered before the building. They kept up the barrage, mercilessly pounding the building to dust.
With the fighters doing an outstanding job, Mosby checked on his team. He pulled up their data on his visor and reviewed their vitals and combat suit statistics. They had all taken fire and each suit’s shields had lost integrity, but luckily no one was injured.
A new message flashed across Mosby’s visor, advising him and his team to return to the ship. The building had been targeted for orbital bombardment and his team needed to get out of there before they were glassed along with it.
“Activate personal jump systems,” Mosby ordered. “We’re returning to the nest.”
An oval portal appeared before each trooper and they all stepped through. Sergeant Mosby did the same but was surprised when a sprinting Kemmar appeared at the last second. The Kemmar dropped to all fours, significantly increasing his speed, and dove into the portal behind the sergeant. They both emerged on board the UHSF battleship.
When the Kemmar tried to roll out of the dive, Mosby fired, pumping multiple energy bolts into the creature. The Kemmar intruder slumped onto the floor, its body riddled with smoldering holes. As it gave up its final breath, a clawed hand opened and revealed a cylindrical device.
“Bomb,” Mosby shouted, and everyone dove for cover.
But there was no explosion. Instead, the device hissed and then seemed to stop working.
“It’s a dud,” Corporal Blake said, the relief evident in his voice.
Mosby, however, wasn’t so sure and opened a comm with the bridge. “This is Sergeant Mosby. I’m reporting a possible bioweapon attack. I need this area quarantined and a hazmat team down here ASAP.”
“Sarge?” Blake said. “Do you really think that’s a bioweapon?”
“I don’t know. Just playing it safe. Either way, I want you all to keep your combat suits on until we know what the hell is going on.”
“Yes, Sir.”
Mosby studied the dead Kemmar and the odd device it held. A suicide attack. He hoped he was wrong, but he had a bad feeling about it.
Chapter 10
“My family is not normal,” Anki said to Jamie, as the two walked through a corridor in the mountain complex. “I’m just giving you fair warning.”
“Are you kidding?” Jamie said. “I was raised in a Chaanisar barracks. I’m the last person to know what a normal family looks like.”
Anki intertwined her arm around his. Did she know how much he liked it when she did that?
“I know,” she said. “Still, my family is kind of unique.”
“Oh, come on. Your stepfather is Jon Pike, and you are a Reiver who comes from a remote asteroid colony. What’s so unique about that?”
Anki punched him in the bicep. “Don’t make fun of me,” she said with a smirk.
“Your family is concerned about you, and rightfully so after what Colonel Harris tried to do.”
“If that’s all this was about, then I wouldn’t be nervous.”
“What do you mean?”
“They know I can take care of myself. I’ve grown up around danger. It’s nothing new. What’s new is that I have a boyfriend.”
Did she just call him her boyfriend?
“What are you smiling at?” Anki said.
“Does that make you my girlfriend?” Jamie said.
Anki rolled her eyes. “I thought they augmented that brain of yours?”
“They did. You know that. An implant was inserted directly into my brain.”
“It was a joke, Jamie.”
“Huh?”
Anki rolled her eyes again. “Never mind. This is it.”
They approached a door and Anki tapped at the console next to it. The door slid open and they walked in.
“Mom? Jon?” Anki said.
“In here,” a female voice called out.
The two walked through the spacious quarters into another room where two men and a woman waited.
“Jamie, this is my mother, Breeah,” Anki said.
“I’m happy to meet you,” Jamie said, extending his hand to the dark-haired woman.
Breeah took his hand and appraised him with fearless eyes. “I am happy to meet you too, Jamie. Your long hair and beard make you look like a Reiver. I can see why Anki likes you.”
“Thank you,” Jamie said, not sure if Breeah had complimented him or not.
“You already know Jon,” Anki said.
“Hello Jamie,” Jon said shaking Jamie’s hand. “It’s good to see you again.”
“And you, Sir,” Jamie said.
“And this is my grandfather, Jonas,” Anki said, introducing Jamie to a large, rugged looking man with long gray hair and a fierce demeanor.
“I’m happy to meet you, Sir,” Jamie said.
“We’ll see,” Jonas said in a raspy voice. “Do you drink ale?”
“Yes, I do.”
Jonas nodded. “I need another one anyway.”
“Sit father,” Breeah said. “I’ll bring you and Jamie some ale. Jon?”
“Sure. Thank you,” Jon said.
Jamie sat down on a couch with Anki beside him while Jon sat on a second couch and Jonas took an armchair. Breeah returned with drinks and sat down beside Jon.
“Why don’t we get business out of the way first,” Jon said. “Tell me what happened on the station.”
“Well, Sir,” Jamie said. “The same Chaanisar mercenaries sent to kill you when we met, tried to get to me by targeting Anki.”
“Tallos told me that you became involved with these mercenaries because you were working for him. Is that right?”
“Yes, Sir. General Tallos hired me to infiltrate their organization because he suspected the Diakan traitor, General Dathos was their client. Tallos wants to track down Dathos and thought I might be able to help him if I gained the trust of these mercenaries. I took the job and contacted them. That was when I found out that their leader was my former Chaanisar commander under the Juttari, Colonel Harris.”
“I didn’t know that,” Jon said.
“Yes. The Colonel had hunted me when I escaped the Juttari but could not catch me. Once freed from the Juttari’s control, he and his men became mercenaries. Harris allow
ed me to join but put me on probation. He sent me on a job to kill Colonel Traeger with two other Chaanisar, but Traeger knew we were coming and killed the two I was with.”
“Why didn’t he kill you?”
“The two others foolishly drew their weapons and were cut down. I stayed calm and was spared. Traeger showed me Harris’s ship trying to flee and a missile destroying it. I thought Harris was dead until he showed up on the station.”
“If Harris was after you, why did he target Anki?” Jon said.
“Yes, I’d like to know the answer too,” Jonas said leaning forward.
“Harris was watching me and saw the two of us having dinner together.”
“And why were the two of you having dinner together,” Jonas said.
“Jamie and I have been seeing one another, grandfather,” Anki said taking Jamie’s hand into hers. “We still are.”
“Anki is a grown woman, father,” Breeah said.
“I am not a fool, child,” Jonas chastised.
“And I am not a child,” Breeah said. “Neither is Anki.”
“Are you not a mercenary yourself?” Jonas said to Jamie.
“I am,” Jamie replied.
Jonas pointed a calloused finger at Jamie. “Your line of work creates enemies. So long as you are with my granddaughter, she will be in danger.”
“I can take care of myself, grandfather,” Anki said. “Didn’t you make sure of that?”
“I did, and-”
“And we are Reivers,” Anki continued. “We are no strangers to danger.”
“Why don’t you join the UHSF?” Jon said to Jamie. “We can always use someone with your talents.”
“I stopped fighting for others when I escaped the Juttari,” Jamie said. “But thank you for the offer.”
Jon frowned. “The life of a mercenary is a lonely one. I’m not judging you for it. I’m just sharing my experience.”
“Were you a mercenary?” Jamie said.
“Sort of, but I wasn’t for hire. I was black ops. It’s a similar lifestyle.”
“I see.”
“You said you worked for General Tallos?” Breeah said. “So, he hired you?”
“Yes, that is correct,” Jamie said.
“Why don’t you hire him, Jon?” Breeah said.
“You mean like a military contractor?” Jon said.
“Yes, exactly.”
“You know, that is an excellent idea. What do you think, Jamie? How’d you like to have the UHSF as a client?”
“I… I don’t know,” Jamie said.
“What’s there to know? Would you rather work for gangsters like Durril Tai, or for the UHSF?”
Jamie knew he had not mentioned Durril Tai, so how did Jon know that Tai was his client. For that matter, what else did he know? Looking at Jon, Breeah, and Jonas in turn, Jamie got the distinct impression that he had been skillfully herded into a corner with no other option than to say yes. He glanced at Anki who seemed overjoyed by the offer and knew he could not turn it down. “I would be honored, Admiral.”
Chapter 11
Lord Toth, leader of the Kemmar insurgency, lowered his head in reverence to the fiery beings before him. He had lived a long life and had drenched his fur with the blood of the vanquished more times than he could count. He had commanded Kemmar fleets and waged war on their enemies. His commands often sent thousands to their deaths.
Throughout his long life, he had seldom known fear. But the creatures before him defied comprehension. At first glance, he saw fire. Tornadoes of fire expanding and contracting. That was bizarre enough. But, upon closer inspection he discovered several sets of eyes peering back at him.
The sheer malice in those ancient eyes was like nothing he had ever encountered. They hinted at slaughter and genocide on an unfathomable scale. Even a predator like Toth knew when he had become prey. And so, for the first time in his long life, he tasted fear.
Despite the dread he felt, he needed these immortal beings. Otherwise, the mighty Kemmar Empire might never rise again.
When the Kemmar had allied themselves with the Juttari, it was a practical arrangement. They both fought the humans, so it seemed a logical partnership. Thus, they ignored the Juttari talk about their gods, the Erinyie. What use did the mighty Kemmar Empire have of alien gods?
When the Empire fell, however, Toth’s attitude changed. His original plan was to organize all his former troops into an effective guerrilla force. They would make the occupation costly for the humans, wearing them down over time until they left Kemmar space. But such a strategy might take generations to fulfill, and Toth was getting old.
The humans had also developed some impressive new technologies, giving them even more of an advantage. Toth was no fool. He understood that the Kemmar would eventually fall so far behind that they might as well be throwing stones at the human warships.
They needed help if they were to have any success. That help came in the form of the Juttari gods, the Erinyie. As expected, there were strings attached. The Kemmar would need to worship the Erinyie as their gods before any help was given. Yet, even then, these immortal creatures were bound by strange treaties that spanned the universe.
The Erinyie could not intervene directly in this galaxy, not anymore, but they could share information if their rivals did the same. To his delight, Toth found that this was exactly what had happened, and the Erinyie were willing to share advanced knowledge with him. Knowledge that would hopefully give them an edge against their enemies.
“Our scientists have followed your instructions,” Toth said. “And our operatives succeeded in delivering the weapon onto one of the human ships.”
You must allow for the natural chain of events to transpire, the Erinyie said inside Toth’s mind.
The Erinyie used a form of communication he could just barely tolerate. It felt as though all of them entered his mind at once. Their mental powers were staggering, and each time they spoke Toth felt sure he would lose his sanity. Or worse.
Never in all his years had he experienced a force so all-encompassing, a power so complete. It wasn’t just humbling, it was crushing, and the feared Lord Toth trembled before these omnipotent beings.
“How… how long will it take?” Toth said.
You must abandon your linear form of thinking.
“But I know no other.”
Yours is a feeble species, despite all your displays of ferociousness. You think in rigid terms. You lack adaptability. It is why you have fallen into despair.
The Erinyie’s words lit a spark of anger inside Toth, and he momentarily forgot his fear. “We are not feeble! We have adapted and carry on the fight, despite our defeat.”
Your fight is nothing more than a child’s tantrum. The human victory over your species was total. Where you believe you have adapted, there is only denial.
“I disagree-”
It matters not. Your primitive species has its role to play in the great game.
“What great game?”
There is but one. Have you established your first temple?
“Yes.”
Now you must build more and spread the faith to your population.
“But the humans-”
The humans will soon flee this space. Kem will then be yours to rebuild.
***
Sergeant Mosby vomited inside his helmet, smearing his visor with half-digested food. His HUD had already warned him about his spiking body temperature. It was a simple confirmation of what he already knew. Even with his combat suit’s climate controls, he had been burning up and was drenched in a cold sweat. His vision had blurred, and standing became unbearable.
All around him his team and the rest of the crew were in various stages of collapse. Those who didn’t wear any protective equipment were closest to death. Blood dripped from every orifice including their pores. Those wearing hazmat suits or armor succumbed at a slower pace. In the end, it made no difference. Everyone on this ship would die.
What Mosby could
n’t understand was how this bioweapon managed to penetrate his suit. He was completely encapsulated and had his own air supply. He could go out into open space with a combat suit on and experience no ill effects. Yet somehow that suit could not protect him or his men. Glancing at the science team convulsing on the floor, the hazmat suits couldn’t stop it either.
When the ship’s captain realized what had happened, he sent a message warning all other ships to stay away and placed his own ship on quarantine. No one could leave from that point on, nor was anyone allowed to come on board. At least the captain had balls. He did the right thing and didn’t panic. Every member of the crew had received a death sentence, and it was all Mosby’s fault.
He futilely replayed the moment in his head. He activated his personal jump system and entered the portal. Why hadn’t he heard the Kemmar coming? Why hadn’t he seen him? How could he have been surprised like that? After years of combat experience, how could some insurgent Kemmar sneak up on him and compromise the ship?
He had been too complacent. Somehow, he had become careless and let his guard down enough for the Kemmar to take advantage of it. And with that one error, he turned this UHSF battleship into a plague ship.
Mosby leaned back against the wall, the stench of vomit and death unbearable. He retracted his visor and wiped the puke off his face with an armored glove. He knew that exposing himself like this meant certain death but didn’t care. Everyone on this ship would die. It was only a question of how long it would take. Might as well get it over with.
With great effort, he raised his arm and pointed his sidearm at his forehead. He had lived a worthwhile life. He had fought for human freedom and had known many honorable men and women. They all did their part. Now it would fall to someone else.
He thought of his beautiful ex-wife, who he still loved, and pulled the trigger.
Chapter 12
“How is this even possible?” Jon said. AI had updated him and everyone else present in the mountain complex’s operations room on the rapidly evolving developments in Kemmar space.
