Intersect

by M C I Hinchliffe

  Zardon ripped away the now shredded cloak that dangled from his powerful frame and unsheathed his own energy sword. Under the cloak, he wore a chain-mail suit that clung to his muscular, green scaly torso while about his waist was a meagre, brown loin cloth. "Enough of these petty tactics. It's time for some real fighting." From behind his head sprouted two great scaly wings that began to smoothly oscillate as they lifted his bulk from the floor. His long ears pulled back behind his head and with a thunderous roar, he charged his awaiting opponent. Ryan met his charge with a precise parry that stopped the Emperor's sword in a spectacular display of lightening. The floor beneath Ryan's feet cracked from the thunder that omitted from the clashing swords and Ryan somersaulted backwards to avoid Zardon's second slash. Again their swords clashed as opposing forces met with deadly accuracy. Ryan fought with every ounce of his pure determination while the Emperor cut and slashed with the drive of lust, greed and hatred.

  The combination of agility, mechanically and magically assisted strength with the forces of love, aspiration and the Bracelets, Ryan was the ultimate opponent. Despite the supreme skill of the Emperor, Ryan matched his every blow with an equally cunning counter strike. Apart from his own resolve to wield the sword, Ryan could feel a separate presence urging his thews on, controlling and amplifying their skill to the paramount of their performance. This presence joined with every slash and parry as if the two were one. Ryan knew who this driving force was that urged him on and strengthened his sword arm; it was the pure spirit of Lord Valour. The sensation of such pure strength flowing into his limbs heightened every cell and ounce of muscle tissue, giving him the sense of absolute power, making him stalwart and invincible. Zardon underestimated a lightning fast slash to his face and Ryan's keen blade seared a gash along his left gaunt cheek. Blue ooze seeped from the stinging gash and Zardon's long blue tongue extended from his mouth to taste the ooze. He roared another battle cry as his primitive lust was enhanced by the smell and taste of his own blood.

  Cut for cut and blow for blow they fought with total equality. Ryan pushed his skill to the limits of his knowledge, experience and strength. Every muscle, nerve and sinew were at the maximum level of tolerance as the very source of his vitality was drained away to maintain this battle of all battles. Zardon never before had to utilise all of his mastery to conquer an opponent, but Ryan's defeat demanded all he could give. Every ounce of strength, skill tactic was devoted to the conflict. Zardon was a Warrian - a creature born and bred for battle and he knew of little else. As the extent of his endurance was exhausted, his berserker lust for war took over and his primitive instincts ruled. He became driven totally by all the adverse forces of his mind and those forces were amplified by the Bracelets tenfold. Behind the drive of the Rings of Venal was a more sinister force than Zardon's; the contemptuous spirit of Lord Hellion. With every slash, Zardon grew stronger and stronger as his mind bordered on insanity. His skill was utter perfection and through the continually increasing drive, he gradually overpowered his opponent’s defences. He swooped upon his victim, parried Ryan's strike and slashed at his stomach. The blade penetrated and sliced through the ceramic alloy suit to the delicate flesh, leaving a deep wound that wept profusely.

  "Kill this pathetic thing. It stands in the way of our destiny."

  Ryan's physical and mental resources were spent and only conviction drove him on. The winged tectonic force that assailed him was too mighty for only will to conquer and under the strain and the agony of his wound, his legs gave way and he collapsed to the floor. The wound to his abdomen ached with every motion hampering his struggle for existence as he parried the stalwart blows from the Emperor. Onslaught relentlessly continued as he desperately fought for his life. Never before had Ryan met such a potent force of devastation, such refined skill and strength. Zardon was truly the perfect warrior with complete and total focus upon the one act; the act of destruction. It smothered Ryan's soul and shattered his skill - Zardon had triumphed.

  ********************

  The two highly manoeuvrable Warrian Bombers swooped down to the surface of the Endeavour and rocketed towards the enormous exhaust ports at the stern. Numerous anti-spacecraft guns fired upon the fleeting targets as their twenty metre long fuselages shot past the end of the Endeavour. In synchronisation, the bombers inverted then plunged into a small service tunnel that was centred between the four dormant exhaust ports. The service tunnel was only thirty metres wide and the Bombers were forced to enter in a single file. Immediately behind them flew three Starfighters in pursuit.

  "Why are they going in here Colonel?" Questioned Battle Axe through the com-link.

  "The axis tunnel leads right to the engine core. All you need is two armour piercing proton torpedoes and it's goodbye Endeavour." Adam replied.

  "And they call themselves Astronautical Engineers. If we live through this Colonel, I will personally nail this tunnel shut."

  Behind the Starfighters swooped a squadron of Warrian Warbirds as they followed in single file the flight path of their prey. The Starfighters endangered the mission of their bombers and they were determined to annihilate anything that was to hamper them.

  "Colonel." Stinger called. "We've got an entire squadron on our tail."

  "It's going to get a bit crowded in here, lads. Battle Axe, you cover the rear. Stinger, you fly in tandem with me and keep me covered."

  The Starfighters quickly moved into position as they traversed the obstacle ridden tunnel. Countless, pedestrian access tubes that laddered the tunnel, flashed past at a lethal rate making the chase more hostile. With the tunnel exploding about them from their pursuer's gunfire, the Starfighters moved in on their prey. Adam's first target dashed to and throw in his sights making it difficult to achieve a kill. He had to pick is target well, for a miss could mean the death of many Intersect staff.

  Streaks of red death leapt from the pursuing Warrian squadron at Battle Axe's fighter. His ship shuddered from the discharge of energy that struck the tail as warning messages filled his helmet about the depleted shields.

  The obstacles disappeared momentarily giving Adam the opportunity to fire. Several blasts of energy, shot from the rear of the bomber, one of which impacted with his shields. The two tandem fighters were forced to break formation while dodging the bomber's tail gunfire. Adam found his mark and released his missiles. Two circular exhausts shot from his fighter to the target and shattered the ship over the tunnel.

  With the meshing of cross hairs and target, Battle Axe released two mines that impacted with the tailing Warbird, disintegrating it. The Warbird's were not deterred as their gunfire was unleashed again with deadly accuracy. He fought with his controls as a second photon blast struck his ship. "Colonel, my shields are down to ten percent. Would you mind hurrying up before I....Ahrrrr." The message went dead as a bright flash behind them signalled the destruction of his ship.

  "The bastards got Battle Axe." Cried Stinger.

  "Move in behind and cover my tail. I'm going after the next Bomber." Ordered Adam. "If they get too close, release your tail mines."

  "Okay Colonel, just make it snappy." He said as he backed his fighter away from Adam's to continue the pursuit. Stinger's eyes darted from the scene before him to the rear view monitor. He activated the tail mine system and paused his trigger finger over the release button. Two projectiles shot from the leading Warbird to Stingers ship and only his lightning fast reflexes kept him alive. One missile struck his ship severely overloading the shield system while the other darted across his fuselage and impacted with an access tube. Stinger's targets synchronised with his cross hairs and he released several mines. The first two impacted with the leading Warbird and destroyed it utterly. The next pair of mines erupted beside the following Warbird and drove it into the path of an access tunnel, causing the two to mesh in a ball of fire. The remaining mines were evaded by the rest of the pursuing squadron and left to float through the tunnel until they reached deactivation mode. The Warrian's retaliated with
a vengeance and quickly found their mark and fired. Four Missiles hunted Stinger down with lethal precision and tore apart his fighter like a frail egg shell.

  The only sound that met Adam's ears from Stingers destruction was the last transmitted signal that was cut short. "Nooooo..!" His emotions and his logic fought for the supremacy of his mind as the loss of his friends cut deep into his soul. He wanted to scream out, but the battle at hand took away that last dignity. The least he could do was prevent their deaths from being in vain. His anger and pain was transferred to his fortitude and he surged on with greater determination. He increased his attack speed and gained rapidly on the lumbering bomber. The Warrian Squadron approached his tail as he slowed for the kill and their gunfire tore away at the tunnel walls increasing the difficulty of finding his target. The Starfighter lurched to one side as a missile impacted with the weakened shields. His helmet and flight control panel flashed with warning lights that his defence systems were totally drained.

  Without checking the rear monitor, he released his full complement of mines in the hope that it would buy him some more time. Eight objects fell from the back of his fighter into the path of the pursuing Warbirds. Three impacted with the lead fighter obliterating its fuselage, then two more erupted beside his wingman and drove him into the tunnel wall. The remaining mines were launched too far ahead and allowed the remaining Warbirds to traverse the mines without risk. His ploy payed off and he was momentarily free to align his sights with the bomber. He released the pair of missiles that rocketed at the tail of his target. The first fused out its defence systems and the following made the kill. In a huge burst of fire, the bomber disintegrated.

  The warning sign "Missile lock" flashed in his face as two projectiles dashed towards his ship. The cramped confines of the tunnel gave him little room to manoeuvre and the Warrians an easy kill. With no option of escape, he opted to bail out. His left hand punched the eject button as his Starfighter was torn apart from the violent eruption of the two missiles.

  ********************

  The Weapons Officer studied the data before him and relayed the information to First Officer James Stanton. "Sir, another asteroid is on collision course. Bearing two two five point three, mass fifteen gigatonnes."

  The words broke into James's concentration and he formulated his counter tactic. "Two rounds from the main battlements at thirty five percent power." Moments later the guns performed his command and their deep echo sounded through the ship to the Bridge. Stanton's concentration returned to the view from the bridge window where three Bombers passed over head and were now doubling back towards the Bridge. He scratched at the itch in his right palm as he deciphered the intension of the bombers. He quickly formulated their intent and shouted to his weapons officer. "Close the bridge shields!"

  Slowly, thick walls closed over the long window as six proton torpedoes launched from the closing bombers. Stanton, along with the rest of the bridge crew were mentally pushing the shields in a futile attempt to speed their travel. The shields meshed with their frame counterparts, omitting a deep thud. A split second later, the bridge shuddered from a deafening eruption on the opposite side of the shields. The inner transparent wall shattered from the impact and showered the bridge with deadly projectiles. Roof panels fell and control terminals exploded to compliment the violent calamity that tore away at the bridge structure. Red flashing lights and alarms sounded as the message ‘Pressurisation leakage’ was broadcast over the monitors.

  "Evacuate the Bridge." Commanded Stanton. "All staff to the Mission Control Centre."

  The Bridge crew quickly made way to the exits, then entered the Mission Control Centre behind the bridge. The Endeavour could still be operated from the Centre as it was designed with a backup Helm in case the bridge was destroyed. While Stanton stood at the door and counted the staff to ensure all members of the bridge crew had evacuated, another mighty explosion struck the bridge complex tossing the fleeing crew to the floor. Following the blast, a booming sound carried through to the crew's ears as the eight exit doors to the Bridge, ripped from their mounts and flew to a large hole that had been torn open in the shields. The trailing crew members were thrown against walls and floors, then sucked out in the harsh cold environment of space. Stanton clung to the Mission Control Centre's door jamb as loose items in the room passed by his eyes at a vast rate. A hand protruded from the door way and grabbed his arm, then hung on tight. Stanton looked up to see Charlie's face peering down at him from behind a shimmering force field.

  "Reach up with your other hand and grab on." Charlie said as he shouted over the racket of depressurisation. Behind him were two other bridge staff holding onto his body.

  The suction pulled upon Stanton's body until he was horizontal and every ounce of his strength was required to hold on to the door jam.

  "Mac." Charlie shouted. "Can you move the force field to cover him?"

  "Negative. It is a basic safety field that is strong enough to only cover the door way. If I deflect it, it may give way and endanger you all." Answered Mac.

  The drag upon Charlie's hand felt as if it were going to pull his arm from its socket and the pain from the force of his body against the wall, inflicted him like a hydraulic press. He could feel himself slowly moving into the doorway, but he refused to let go of his First Officer's arm. "Try again!"

  Again he thrust his left arm towards the force field and once more the drag was too great and his arm fell to his side. A brawny crew member stuck his arm through the field in an attempt to get a second hand on the First Officer, but Stanton's arm angled away from the door and he could not reach it. Slowly his hand slipped down Charlie's arm until only their fingers held, then the pull on Charlie arm ceased.

  A large gold arm shot from behind Charlie and grabbed the falling outstretched arm, then pulled it back through the force field. As he was placed upon the floor, Stanton looked up to see a huge gold robot standing before him.

  "Little John! Charlie exclaimed. "Thank God your here."

  "Not as thankful as I am." Stated Stanton.

  "What made you come to the bridge?" Inquired Charlie.

  "Mac informed me of the pressure leak, so I came up to see if I could be of some help." He replied.

  "Good thinking Mac and thank you Little John. Now everybody back to their stations, there is still a war on." The crew returned to their posts all except for one who continued to leer at the gold giant; the one ranked Security Officer.

  When Charlie returned to his seat, Officer Whitely turned away from the mass of instruments to her superior officer. "General, more bad news. It's Blue squadron, or what's left."

  "Continue." He said cautiously.

  "They were pursuing two bombers down the Axis Tunnel with a full squadron of Warbirds on their tail. In the process of destroying the bombers, they too were destroyed. Colonel Moore was the only one to eject, but the force would have driven him into the tunnel wall and killed him instantly."

  The news fell heavy on Charlie's heart as he knew the pilots of blue squadron well. They were the best of the best and the loss of their lives was a blow to him and all of Intersect. The Words "Blue Squadron" broke Katie's leer and what she heard next, also affected her. She had only known Adam for a few hours but his friendly personality quickly grew on her and the thought of his death was heart breaking.

  "What do our fighters number now?" Charlie inquired.

  "Only twenty three left Sir, the rest are all grounded due to injury or ship damage."

  Charlie's thoughts went back to Ryan as he silently prayed for deliverance.

  ********************

  Zardon struck with every ounce of strength and power he possessed at the cowering form beneath. In the fury and desperation to overcome Ryan, he relinquished all thoughts and feelings to the one goal. His superior might shattered his opponent’s sword like a hammer annihilates a glass figurine. Ryan was empty of all resistance. He gave it his all and failed. Nothing he had could terminate the Emperor's n
ext lethal strike. Zardon reared up to deal the death blow as he grasped the weapon with both hands. The kindred spirit that compelled his thews, vanquished Zardon's control of his mind and enhanced his neurological processes to an unnatural limit. It withdrew all other mental processes and redirected the electro-chemical energy to this final strike. Complete and utter focus was achieved as every neuron in his brain compiled into the act of destruction. His face blurred and moulded into something far more hideous and despicable than before. An image of total perversion and evil that the sight brought sheer terror Ryan's exhausted mind.

  "Kill! Kill! Kill!" Hissed Hellions words in Zardon's head.

  A deafening rupture overshadowed the clamour of the battle. Shards of wall, sealing and floor were cast in all directions as flame and intense heat ripped through the superstructure. A huge structural beam shot through the Emperor's chamber like a bullet and rammed Zardon into the floor.

  ********************

  The crew of Mission Control were tossed around once more as the unhindered bombing runs continued to tear away at the Endeavour's defences. Several terminals exploded in the faces of their operators while wall panels were sheared from their bolts and fell to the floor. Again Charlie returned to his post as did the remainder of the Mission Control crew.

  "Damage report." Charlie ordered.

  "Fifty percent of secondary and tertiary battlements are destroyed. Starboard launch bays all out of commission from bombing raids and the port launch bays are limited to the cargo stations only." Replied the Weapons Officer.