“All clear, this section,” Lindsay replied as she dropped to the floor.
Lou glanced on either side of the hallway. “No telling how many more are here, Commander. Maybe we should split up.”
“Negative, Lieutenant. Not part of the plan and not worth the risk. I’m not separating any more of us. “ He leaned down and grabbed hold of a Catter knife. Just like the one Irons had used to fight Queen J’s guards, the knife was like a machete in Syracuse Hill’s hand.
Lindsay reached down for one of her own. “Why aren’t they using these?”
“No advantage. They can barely move in here without them.”
Lou grabbed the last two blades.
Commander Hill stepped over the pile of dead Catters and grabbed a nearby radio on the wall. “Let’s hope she can hear us in there.” He pressed a button for the bridge and brought the radio to his mouth. “Sitasha, I hope you can hear me in there. We cleared out the main hall. I need you to find out where the others are.”
“I read you Commander. I think I am looking at a schematic for your ship. We are were fortunate in that there were not too many trespassers.”
“Where do we need to go?”
“It looks like the weapons bay and the cargo bay.”
“Cargo bay. Figures,” Lindsay said. “A lot more open.”
“Where to first, Commander?” Lou asked.
“We’ll hit weapons. Make sure they don’t damage anything. From there, the armory. I got a feeling there’s a lot more in cargo than these pig stickers can handle.”
The narrow stairwell leading down creaked ever so slightly under the combined weight of the Earth Fleet soldiers. Lindsay and Syracuse kept their blades in front of them as defense for any surprise attacks while Lou stayed in the rear, one blade in front, one blade behind.
At the bottom of he stairs, they kept several feet apart from one another, avoiding friendly fire if they were attacked again. Each time Syracuse stepped forward, Lindsay and Lou would do the same, keeping their linear formation in sync.
The door to the weapons bay was cracked open. The hissing sound of the Catter’s communicating with one another sent chills through the Earth soldiers. They’d become quite adept at dealing with their enemies but facing them one on one was always anxiety inducing.
Syracuse peered through the opening and found only three Ka’traxis Brood warriors inside. They were scouring the room, looking for anything they could ruin. But the weapons bay was a section of solid workings. There were no exposed wires or weak mechanics that could be easily sabotaged. Earth Fleet made their vessels strong on the inside as well as out.
The Commander turned to the others and held up three fingers. Lindsay and Lou nodded and Syracuse pulled the door open.
The three Catters were startled to see their prey armed and rushing toward them.
Lindsay slashed the torso of one before it could pull its own blade. As the Catter clutched its wound, Private Brooks cut a vertical line from her opponent’s waist all the way up its chin, drawing a straight line up its throat. The Catter’s hands went from one less fatal wound up to one that had already ended its life.
Lou blocked a knife strike with both blades and kicked the Catter away. The two then locked into a short knife fight until Lindsay threw hers. The blade spun and cut into the shoulder of Lou’s Catter. The distraction worked long enough to give Lou the upper hand. He plunged both blades into the Catter’s chest.
“Damn furball!” Syracuse growled from underneath the last attacker. The Commander was pinned between the torso of the Catter and its knife. He tried to push out the powerful arms, keeping the blade tip away from him. But he was slowly being overpowered.
Lou rushed to the Catter and jabbed it in the ribs, weakening its strength just enough to give the Commander leverage to push out and duck under the blade.
Free from the threat of impalement. Syracuse spun around and, adding his own force to the Catter’s, shoved the knife into his enemy.
The alien warrior stumbled back, pulling the knife out. It looked at its own blood then at the three humans before falling backwards, crashing to the floor.
“You ok, sir?” Lindsay asked.
“I’m fine.” He looked at Lou. “Good save, Lieutenant.”
Lou nodded. A compliment from any member of the Lucky Liberty would, normally, have him brimming with pride, but this was no time for pride. Only survival.
“Let’s get some guns. I want the next round to go easier.” Syracuse led the way back toward the weapons bay door.
The single light of the weapons bay illuminated a small section of the numerous lockers that were in the room. During the war, the place was awash in soldiers all fighting under the order of the Iron Albatross. Back then the room was full of weapons and gear. Earth Fleet battle cruisers the size of the Lucky Liberty each held a brigade of troops and were armed for even more. Now the USS Lucky Liberty held what little her crew had amassed from Wartech during their last battle with the Ka’traxis Brood.
Lindsay picked up the 10X DMG.
Syracuse shook his head. “I like the umph but let’s keep holes out of our girl.” He grabbed the Wartech lightning gun.
Lou checked the chamber of a machine gun while Lindsay replaced the Wartech weapon with a pair of Ice guns. She put a third in her back waist-band for good measure.
The three of them stood, weapons ready, just outside of the cargo bay. None of them knew how many Catters were inside and it didn’t matter. The Ka’traxis Brood wanted the Slagschip and there was no way any of them were going to let that happen.
The Commander was the first to step inside and fire.
The Catters were completely unprepared for the attack. Bolts of lightning surged from Syracuse’s gun, linking one Catter to another and frying three in one shot. Lindsay dual wielded her Ice guns, making every shot count until both guns ran dry. She tossed one and holstered the other while drawing the third to continue the assault.
Lou Trevern didn’t even bother aiming. He just squeezed the trigger and made sure his rounds didn’t hit his allies. The machine gun had little stopping power and only served to create a wall of wounded Catters that continued lumbering forward. One got right up on Lou, grabbing the machine gun. But the large Earth Fleet soldier was more than a match for the fatally wounded alien. Lou grabbed the barrel of the gun in one hand and the stock in the other then jabbed it upward under the Catter’s chin, breaking its grip on the weapon. Lindsay finished the job with one well placed shot.
“Charged,” her holstered gun announced.
Lindsay drew the weapon and carried on with dual wielding, taking out three more Catters in the process.
“Keep the pressure up!” Syracuse blasted three more.
The cargo bay was large enough to house a few hundred troops. A fact the Catters may well have known considering how many had boarded the ship.
Lou and Syracuse gathered in the middle of the room, back to back. Both of them poured on the firepower, taking out as many as they could. Lou’s gun finally clicked empty. It wasn’t enough to stop the big man. He flipped the gun, stock side out and swung the heavy weapon like a bat, smashing teeth and heads from any Catters who dared get close. Syracuse fired bolt after bolt, chaining the enemy together in groups of three. When one shot was fired, he changed targets and fired another.
“Where’s Brooks?” Syracuse asked.
Lou brought the gun down on a fallen enemy, smashing its skull. “I don’t know, sir.” He swung around, hitting another.
Syracuse glanced around for any sign of Private Brooks. She was nowhere to be seen.
“Brooks, on me!” he shouted before firing on another wave of Catters.
The enemy’s number was thinning. Lou finished off one then had his gun ripped from his hands. One strike was blocked before Lou took a gut shot from a furry foot. The hit dropped him to his knees but when the Catter came in to finish the job, the large man played dirty. He swung his fist right between the alien’s legs.
The Catter bent over, letting out a pained screech. Lou stood, getting his arm around the alien and putting it in a head lock. With one quick jerk, he snapped its neck and let it drop to the floor.
Syracuse fired the Wartech weapon two more times, taking out the final six Catters. The cargo bay lit up in blue as the bolts streaked through their targets.
The Commander and Lieutenant struggled to catch their breath. Both surveyed the carnage on the ship. The floor was full of furry, unmoving Ka’traxis Brood. The smell of electrically fried fur permeated the air.
“Was it like this in the war, sir?” Lou asked.
“Sometimes worse,” Syracuse told him. “Brooks! Start digging, Lieutenant.”
Both men stepped over dead Catters, looking for any hint of the Private. Lou lifted arms and legs while Syracuse continued calling for Lindsay and sliding Catters to the side.
“Commander!” Lou shouted as he rolled a particularly large enemy to its back. The dead Catter held one of her guns in his hand. Its body was full of holes but its other hand rested at the back of Lindsay’s neck.
“Brooks!” Syracuse nearly tripped over the fallen to get to her.
Lou rested his head to her chest. “No heart beat.” He held her wrist. “No pulse.”
Syracuse dropped to his knees and started working compressions on her chest.”Come on, Brooks. You been in worse than this. You ain’t even scratched.” He kept it up while Lou stood to his feet, ready to accept the worst.
“Wake up, dammit! Come on, soldier.”
“Sir, I don’t think—”
“You ain’t paid to think, Lieutenant!” Syracuse snapped. “Come on, Lindsay. If you don’t wake up, I’m gonna make you clean this whole ship of dead Catters by yourself.” He continued the compressions but Private Lindsay Brooks remained breathless and unmoving.
Twenty-Two
A Calm Before The Storm
“I’m sorry, Commander,” Lou said. He sympathized with Syracuse’s pain and anger at the loss of Lindsay Brooks. In his time with the Fleet, he’d only heard the stories of battles and missions these crew members had gone through. He knew they were a tight-knit group and even though he’d briefly joined them, they made him feel like he belonged.
“Ten minutes till brain damage,” Syracuse muttered.
“Sir?”
He pointed at the dead enemies nearest Lindsay. “Clear the area of all but these two Catters. Double time!”
“Sir!” Lou used all of his Mars Base training to move as fast as he could. It was a considerable speed considering his size.
It took Lou Trevern little time to bulldoze the fallen enemy far enough away, giving Syracuse Hill the room he needed. Two Catters were placed to Lindsay’s left.
The Commander aimed the lighting gun at the Catter in the middle. “I ain’t giving up yet.” He pulled the trigger, zapping the middle alien. Two more bolts launched off on either side. One struck the Catter on the right the other struck Lindsay on the left.
The Private’s back arched upward and her eyes opened wide as she suddenly gasped for air. Syracuse dropped the gun to the floor and rushed to her. In her disoriented state she fought with him, shoving and punching as much as she could.
“It’s just me. It’s ok, Brooks. You’re back.” He pulled her into him, wrapping his arms around her. “You’re safe.”
“Comm…XO…I—”
“Thought we lost you for a second.”
She eased away from him and struggled to her feet. Lou raced forward to assist.
Lou smiled. “Glad to have you back, Private Brooks.”
“What happened?”
Syracuse winked at her. “You were taking a nap on the job.”
“Sorry, sir. Won’t happen again.” She started to salute but Syracuse shook his head before she could stand at attention. “The last thing I remember, this big one had its hands around my throat. After that—”
“You stuck your finger in an electrical socket.” Syracuse interrupted.
Lindsay glanced down at the lightning gun and chuckled. “Won’t happen again, sir.”
“Good soldier. Now, back to the bridge. If we had this many on our girl, I don’t even wanna know how many they’re having to deal with on that planet.”
“Should we start making our way to Erra, Sir?” Lindsay asked. “Provide an assist?”
“Let’s keep trying to radio out, first.”
“Aye, Commander.”
* * *
Every branch that brushed against them, every twig that snapped beneath their feet had the whole group on edge. The forest was dark and the way back to the ravine was a fair treck. This time their group was larger than before. And the non-combatants outweighed those that could fight.
Haddron and the Night Hunter weren’t happy about the slower pace they needed to maintain. The battle in the cave had killed many of the slaves and wounded others. Those that could help were slowed down by assisting those who had trouble keeping up. Durham and Hannah helped the weakest of them while Irons and Jammin kept their eyes on the dark for any sign of new attacks.
“If we’re caught in the open like this, none of us are gonna make it,” Durham said. His voice was flat and monotone. Very uncharacteristic of him.
“We don’t have a choice,” Hannah told him.
“Hold,” Irons said.
The whole group stopped, all of them wondering what the halt was for.
Irons analyzed the data in his HUD. Something large lumbered its way on a parallel line through the trees.
“What is it?” Jammin asked.
“Hush.” Haddron ordered.
Irons pointed through the dark.“One of those big things is moving around out there.”
The Night Hunter dug his heel in and started for the beast but Haddron’s arm shot up, blocking the path. The Nordic brought one finger to his mouth, indicating for quiet.
It was best to let the monster pass without conflict. Fighting while escorting the people they were trying to get to safety was not a wise choice. The Night Hunter nodded in agreement and they all stared in the direction of Irons’s finger.
The large creature’s steps were slow and loud. Whole branches creaked behind its frame before snapping off and falling to the ground. If it was hunting something, they hoped it wasn’t them. A few of the slaves began to shake in fear. They were quickly calmed by their more able companions.
“It’s farther out,” Irons whispered. He motioned for Hannah and Durham to move ahead. “I’ll take rear.”
The others trudged past Irons as he kept his sights on the beast, its highlighted outline growing smaller through the trees. Its steps could still be heard in the distance though no longer the thunderous sound as before.
Irons checked back to be certain of no stragglers before closing the gap between him and the rest of the group.
Haddron stood at the edge of the ravine with Jammin crouched beside him. Both Nordics stared down into the dark below.
“I don’t think we’re getting across the same way as before.” Jammin motioned toward the larger group.
“Another way.” The Night Hunter gestured for them to follow along the edge.
Branches jutted out, creating barriers to passage. Roots poked out from the ground, making their way over the edge and hanging down into the ravine. It took Irons and Durham to pull one branch far enough for everyone to pass by it. Two of the slaves tripped, nearly tumbling over the edge. It took Haddron some effort to save them from careening into the darkness below.
“How much farther?” Irons asked.
“This way,” the Night Hunter replied.
It wasn’t a satisfactory reply but anything that kept them ahead of any Catter scouting parties wasn’t worth complaining about.
The Night Hunter’s form blended with the dark. If he wasn’t moving, he was impossible to see. Jammin stopped after nearly colliding with him. The rest of the group slowed to a halt.
The Shadow figure made a gesture no one could see. “Here
.”
Irons leaned over the ravine and looked ahead. A blue square started from the outer edges of the HUD and moved toward the middle, getting smaller as it did. Land features flashed as the battle armor scanned the environment, finally highlighting a set of stairs leading down into the ravine. He looked out across the land gap and noticed another shape on the other side. It was too far to make out even with the scanners but it was clearly no life form.
“Stairs,” Irons grumbled. “Woulda been nice to know about those earlier.”
The Night Hunter led the group down the rocky steps of the ravine stairs. Their movement was far slower. Especially for the wounded. No longer being able to move in pairs and forced into a single file line, Jammin had to carry one of them on his back while Durham acted as a walker for another, stepping down only when prompted. Irons flew out on low thrust to create a makeshift banister rail as the others stepped down.
The Night Hunter said something in his native language.
“What?” Hannah asked before she lost footing stepping down onto a crumbling step.
As she toppled to the side, two bright flashes lit the area and Haddron appeared, grabbing her hand and pulling her back to sure footing.
Hannah stood, grasping his sleeve, shocked at the close call and save by a Nordic enemy.
“We must take care of our steps.” He smiled at her.
Hannah swallowed hard. “We must take care to learn this language.”
He guided her down to catch up with the others.
Irons kept his place till the last finally passed by, aided by Haddron who warned them of the bad step. The two men stared at each other till Irons nodded in gratitude.
“You would have done the same for me,” Haddron said.
“I would now.”
The rest of the trip down was less eventful but no less strained as each member of the group had to feel their way along the steps. Only Haddron and Irons had the advantage of teleporting and in the Captain’s case, flying. Both of them kept their eyes focused for any more mishaps. It was the only sense of security any of the others had.
ROYAL LINE (War In The Void Book 3) Page 15
