by John Walker
“Of course.” Heat sighed. “Commander, you good with our plan?”
Vincent nodded. “Well, I’m behind it but I’m not good with it. Sounds rough. How long do you think it’ll take us to get to where we’re going?”
“Couple hours,” Heat said. “And that’s if we really hoof it. I’d recommend we get going now. We’ve got the gear. You guys just stay light and try to keep up. There won’t be time for stopping if this is really so damn important but I’m going to tell you … chances are good the marines will finish these guys off long before we get to the facility.”
“If they route,” Gorman added, “then they might stumble on us.”
“Then we’ll be careful.” Heat patted his shoulder. “Come on, folks. Time for a stroll.”
***
Desmond looked up as the screen came alive, showing a wild battle transpiring just off to the west. The Tol’An forces were still shooting at the other group, blasting away with suppressive fire. Salina put another view up side by side, this one of the opposite side of the ship where the marines engaged more enemies trying to board the ship.
The turrets caught some careless targets, blasting them when they tried to dart past. Those weapons practically obliterated the bodies, each blast enough to take down a fully functional fighter or shuttle. The ship was temporarily safe, but he had a bad feeling they were on borrowed time.
Vincent and his team left the ship, heading south to avoid the fighting. They’d be gone for a while and Desmond needed to hold down the fort. Even with security personnel and half the ship armed, he didn’t know how possible it would be to keep them out. The shields were already down and he didn’t have a report on how long to restore them.
“What’s going on with our defenses?” Desmond asked. “Any ETA?”
“No, sir,” Salina said. “And I’ve got some bad news. It seems that the beam isn’t just holding us in place.”
Desmond refrained from a groan. He wasn’t in the mood for more bad news. “So what is it doing?”
“It seems to be draining our power as well … Just the reactors at the moment. Hand held devices are fine.” Salina paused. “I am seeing some blips on the scanner … fast moving … I think someone has fielded some fighters, sir.”
Damn it. I still don’t trust this beam to let our ships launch but I don’t think I’m going to have a choice.
“Launch one of ours,” Desmond said. “Let them pick … If it works out, get a squadron up but if it doesn’t … I want rescue standing by.”
“Yes, sir.” Salina spoke quietly into the com.
Power … fighters … this is crazy. “How long before our power is drained completely?”
Salina finished her conversation before responding. “Estimated time … seven hours, thirty minutes.”
“And it’s going to take our ground team at least a couple hours to get to their destination.” Desmond rubbed his eyes. “Okay. Now we know why they’re all over us. Their ships have already been drained beyond the point of achieving orbit. Will conserving power do anything for us to buy some time?”
“Calculating …” Salina tapped away and shook her head. “I don’t have enough data to prove it one way or another but we might as well try it. If we shut down nonessential systems, we might buy some time.”
“Do whatever it takes. Even another hour will go a long way.” Desmond stood up and turned to Zach. “Got a report on those planets?”
“There are several capable of supporting life,” Zach replied. “Looks like there were some modifications but according to the scans we got right when we arrived, there are no sentient life forms.”
“That seems odd.” Desmond narrowed his eyes in thought. “Any signs of civilization? Maybe they died out like the other planet.”
“Our scans weren’t overly detailed,” Zach explained, “but there were structures. They might be like this facility we’re trying to infiltrate. There could be beams like this on the other planets, waiting to grab other ships as they pass by.”
“Chilling thought,” Deacon muttered.
“Okay, it’s good information but not useful right now.” Desmond leaned back in his chair. “Focus on our current problems and we’ll root out the next mystery when we have a chance. Let me know when the fighter’s ready to launch. I think all eyes will be on the success of that deployment.”
***
Fielding fell back away from the edge as a volley of beams flew past him. The near misses made him curse and he crouched to ensure no one could snap off a shot from a particularly high vantage point out there. The other marines around him rallied around him, each waiting on his lead.
He checked the scanner and noted they were still dealing with a large force of enemies. They must’ve emptied their vessels completely to field so many. A quick tally showed the Gnosis crew racked up over thirty total kills. This barely put a dent in the opposition and it certainly didn’t slow them down.
The fanatics wouldn’t care about who they lost. Their mission drove them on rather than survival. Some protocol told them to get off the planet so that’s what they were striving to do. If it cost them every life, well … That just meant some higher-up back at their base wouldn’t kill them for failing. Fear drove them as much as zeal.
The intel Admiral Reach collected during his captivity said as much.
Fighting head on isn’t getting us very far. We need to change it up. They’re overwhelming our position with numbers and even explosives aren’t helping. The turrets are the only thing truly keeping them at bay right now.
“Lieutenant,” Salina’s voice filled his helmet, “I’ve got some bad news for you.”
“Why not?” Fielding sighed. “Go for it.”
“We’ve discovered that the beam holding us in place is also draining our power. It’s likely why the enemy has swarmed us.”
“How bad is it?”
“Bad,” Salina replied. “We’ve cut nonessential systems and I’ve left the turrets on but we’re going to have to figure something out soon. Every blast heavily taxes the generator at this point, especially since they can’t recharge.”
“You drop those turrets,” Fielding warned, “and we’ll have breach. The enemy will get on board the Gnosis. I can’t hold them off with this handful of men. Not without some serious help.” A boom overhead made him wince and he checked his scanner. At least one fighter was out there somewhere, likely coming close. “Are you picking that up, Gnosis?”
“Affirmative,” Salina said. “We’re launching our own fighters in a moment to provide coverage and take that out. Perhaps we’ll be able to drive the enemy back with a squadron.”
“I hope so because right now, we’re going to have to enter the field to be effective … and that will mean putting ourselves in the line of fire.” Fielding looked at the others. “We’ll do what we have to do but take care of that fighter … even if you have to use the turret up here and drain the power faster, you don’t want that thing strafing us.”
“Understood. Good luck.”
Fielding cursed again. “You heard the fighter and you know the score. The ship’s losing power and we can’t stand up here on the hull forever. We have to get down there and start tearing through the enemy, preferably from the flank since they’re so intent on charging.”
“Which side should we go after?” Corporal Vine asked. “The Tol’An or those other guys?”
“Tol’An,” Fielding said. “We’re launching our own fighters and that might be enough to push the others back. We know these zealots won’t be deterred though so we need to chew through them as quickly as possible. Don’t hold back when we get out there, guys. Use every weapon at your disposal and blow them away.”
Sergeant Gillet spoke up, “You’ve got one use of your personal shield and a lot of armor. We’ve got the advantage with this gear so be sure to take advantage of it. Stay mobile and we’ve got this. Remember, if you need to catch your breath, you can always jump back on the ship and take cover for a
moment.”
“Just know,” Fielding added, “that every moment you spend flying around over the trees makes you an interesting target for someone not currently engaged.” He saw the enemy fighter now, flying low and coming in fast. “We’re out of time. Follow my lead, men. I’ll see you down there.”
Fielding engaged his jump pack and burst away from the ship, firing his weapon at the crowds below him. They blurred by as he entered the forest, making mild adjustments to avoid smacking into a tree. As he landed, he dropped into a crouch, his feet sinking a good six inches into the soil.
Spinning in place, he saw dozens of enemies pressing on the Gnosis, firing practically at random toward the different portholes where security personnel took cover and shot back. He took aim and fired, moving as he pulled the trigger. A body jerked in response, dropping to the ground in a pool of blood.
Another one went down from a burst to the back but the sound finally drew the attention of those Fielding attacked. They turned to meet them, rushing to take cover behind larger trees. As the other marines landed around him, they laid into their opponents, tearing through their cover with sustained fire.
The Tol’An forced broke and ran for the Gnosis, taking fire from the security forces as well as the other enemies on the other side. Some went toward the north and a couple plunged deeper into the forest of the south. Marines gave chase, trying to take advantage of the route. Fielding knew it wouldn’t last.
Without the power armor, the Tol’An could slip around the different obstacles and lose themselves in the thicker parts of the foliage.
A beam skimmed his right shoulder, narrowly missing. He used his jump jets, hopping ten feet to the left and lifting his weapon to take a shot at whoever nearly got him. His HUD didn’t pick anyone up immediately but he saw three Tol’An breaching security at one of the open ports on the Gnosis.
Are you kidding me? The struggle only took a moment and Fielding couldn’t even respond before the Tol’An finished off their defenders and tossed them outside. “Gnosis!” He shouted into his com. “Intruder alert! Three Tol’An breached the ship defenses on the starboard side! Get security personnel in position to repel. Repeat: you have boarders!”
“Understood,” Salina replied, still sounding deathly calm. It annoyed Fielding, who was hoping for a little more passion out of the woman. “I’m redirecting armed personnel to assist. Thank you for the warning. Please continue with your operation and report back any further challenges.”
Further challenges?! Fielding grunted, moving off to find the next batch of enemies to engage. He checked his scanner before hopping toward the north where another large group congregated. They were laying down suppressive fire on the other group, which still had yet to be identified. Here we go … Let’s cause some more chaos in this mess.
Fielding took aim and depressed the trigger, ripping into a target who stood out in the open, firing his weapon wildly. One shot caught him in the side but a personal shield flared, saving his life for a brief moment. The second bullet popped him in the head, sliding neatly through his defenses and killing him in an instant.
The others turned but when they saw the power armor, they made a break for it and ran toward a nearby hill. Fielding killed three of them during their retreat but one turned and hurled a grenade in his direction. He popped his jump jets but the explosive went off moments after he left the ground.
The concussion knocked him to the side and he rocketed horizontally for twenty yards before sliding in the ground into a tree. He sat still for a moment, looking over his HUD for a damage report. He came away uninjured but one of his thrusters had been clogged up. He needed to vent it before it would be useful again but he didn’t know if he had time.
Enemy forces converged on his position. They would be on him within two minutes. Fielding crawled to his feet to prepare for the fight, moving behind a tree for some extra cover and aiming in their direction. Come on, boys. I’ve got something for you over here. If you think I’m a higher-value target than the ship, then I’m doing my job. Let’s do this.
Chapter 4
Flying Officer Alicia Quinn didn’t mind risky missions. She thrived on danger, which compelled her to join the military in the first place. Joining the Gnosis gave her the opportunity to test her skills as a pilot while serving a cause greater than an aerial performance show. If they didn’t have so many rules, she would’ve been in heaven.
She never anticipated real combat when she signed up. Someone anticipated action but most of her peers figured they would be running scout missions and checking out alien planets. Pitting herself against unknown enemies never even crossed her mind but when it happened, she didn’t shy away.
Once she proved herself to be capable beyond reckless, her squadron leader Dennis Arden put some trust in her. She was chosen to launch from the Gnosis in the midst of a crisis, one which might mean she didn’t make it far before immediately crashing. After being dragged from orbit to the surface, command believed it would ground anything that tried to leave.
Then the enemy fielded a ship so all theories became null and void
Alicia believed she’d make it outside and have the opportunity to engage in a little dogfighting even before her peers could get out there with her. Flying sounded better than sitting around waiting for enemies to get inside the Gnosis and engage in a firefight. Her marksman skills weren’t bad but she preferred to do her shooting in the air.
“Mustang Five,” Gnosis control said, “you are clear to launch when ready. Godspeed.”
“I’m ready.” Alicia grinned, engaging the throttle and lurching toward the exit. Her engines worked so she figured she’d at least stay airborne for a while. The moment sunlight graced her hull, she pulled up on the stick and climbed away from the trees and coasted some distance over the forest.
Her scanner picked up the enemy ship. It needed to cover another twenty miles before it would be in firing range of the Gnosis, practically a heartbeat considering how fast fighters traveled. Alicia adjusted her course to intercept, leveling out to cover some distance. The air currents felt much like Earth’s so the only challenge would be destroying her opponent.
Thirty seconds after she remained aloft, the other ships committed to joining her. The rest of her squadron would be out of the ship in less than three minutes and their overwhelming numbers would hopefully drive the enemy ground forces off. A few strafing runs tended to put a dampener on morale and even the most zealous attackers might bolt.
Another set of blips appeared on the scanner and Alicia clicked her tongue. “Gnosis Control, our invader has some company but they’re still a ways out. I estimate … five minutes before they’ll be able to cause any real trouble.”
“Roger that, Mustang Five. Your reinforcements should be there shortly.”
“I’ll tell them to hurry if they want in on this action.” Alicia engaged her afterburners and reinforced her front shields. The enemy seemed to be on a collision course and she wondered if he meant to play chicken. It’s been a while since I’ve done something like this. Squadron Leader Arden doesn’t like games. But just this once, I think he might forgive me.
Beams flashed from the enemy’s cannons and Alicia tilted her fighter, allowing the attacks to pass around her. Another volley required her to drop below and the enemy passed by in a blur. Jamming the reverse thrusters and wrenching the flight stick back, Alicia threw herself into a sharp climb.
The force of the maneuver pressed her into the seat, clenching her bones and squeezing her torso. She leveled out with a good firing solution on her target, above and behind their vessel. Her targeting computer began chiming and it found tone, the reticle turning red just a half moment before she pulled the trigger.
Alicia’s ship vibrated as the guns blasted away, followed by her own beam weapons. Shields around the ship’s engines flickered from the tapping of metal but when the energy connected with it, static danced over the hull of the vessel. The enemy pilot dove suddenly, heading str
aight for the ground.
Did I do enough damage to cause a crash? Alicia doubted it. Full strength shields should’ve been enough to protect against a single volley. More likely, the pilot simply needed to escape another blast but she gave chase, quickly catching up. Another spray of her guns caught the shields again, this time making them turn white. I wonder what that means.
Alicia’s scanner wouldn’t return information about the damage to the enemy ship. Rapidly approaching the ground, she didn’t have time to worry about it. The enemy pulled up with less than two hundred feet to go. She climbed as well but couldn’t keep her advantageous position without flying through a couple trees.
Veering off in the opposite direction, her scanner showed the other ship heading north, away from the Gnosis. At least I made him flee … for now. Alicia spun around to pursue but the other ships were much closer. She counted five in total. If their buddy rejoined them, they’d be evenly matched.
“Gnosis control,” Alicia said, “this is Mustang Five. Will I be getting any backup soon?”
Dennis Arden’s voice came over the radio, “I thought you said something about how we needed to hurry if we wanted in on the action.” The other ships joined her, forming up. “That implied you had it all under control.”
“Uh huh,” Alicia muttered. “Sir, something’s odd about the scans. I didn’t see your ships on it until just now.”
Dennis hummed. “Gnosis control, can you please look into potential sensor glitches? We’re going to be a little busy for the next little bit.”
“I think you might have more problems than you think,” Salina replied. “We’ll get Charger out there shortly as well. Looks like more ships incoming.”
“I guess they must’ve held them in reserve,” Alicia said. “Cause they could’ve blown each other up a long time ago at this rate. Something prevented them from killing each other. I think we should probably be worried.”
