Taza turned to the scene of chaos on the loading crane platform and looked through the smoke for the nearest weapon he could lay his hands on. He dove for a shotgun one of Chin’s officers had dropped.
He was about to yank it from the floor when a boot placed itself firmly on top of the weapon.
Taza looked up. Chin!
The Rivarian’s TEK sported multiple burn marks, and one of his arms had been twisted at an odd angle.
The Sergeant’s other boot snapped out and connected with Taza’s helmet, causing him to let go of the shotgun.
He rolled to his feet to find Chin hauling the weapon singlehandedly. He fired a slug and the pellets went wide. Those that found their mark bounced off his TEK.
The force threw Chin off-balance and Taza took the opportunity to charge low. He smashed into the Sergeant, and they crashed to the ground in a tangle, the shotgun sliding under the rail and clattering to the hangar bay floor below.
Chin punched Taza’s helmet, causing his visor to go on the fritz. He rolled away from the SenSec officer and climbed to his feet, tapping the side of his helmet to clear his hindered vision. As Taza’s visor retracted, Chin came in with another punch. Taza sidestepped just in time to avoid a crushed skull, but the second jab caught him in the chest. The blow knocked him back and he stumbled over the smoking remains of a SenSec officer.
He noticed another shotgun laying by the dead officer’s side. Taza rolled back and swept the weapon from the ground as he stood. A starblade jet erupted from Chin’s right cuff before Taza could take aim.
A blast rang out, and the starblade housing shattered, enveloping Chin’s good arm in flames. Molten metal dripped to the platform as the Rivarian looked to Taza’s right in shock. Zora stood atop the crane’s housing with a rifle, a faint stream of vapor drifting from its nozzle.
Taza was as surprised as Chin but wasted no time lifting the shotgun to his shoulder. He pulled the trigger and the weapon recoiled.
Chin’s visor imploded, and his helmet’s contents made a sickening sound as they slushed onto the floor. Chin’s torso folded back onto his legs from the force as he went down with a dull thud.
Taza stood over Chin’s body and spat on his TEK. “How’s that for putting a bullet in the head, fuck face?”
He looked around to make sure no one else was moving then looked to Zora.
She swiped her SIG and the hangar doors began to close again.
I suppose that explains what she’s been up to since disappearing.
“Come on!” she shouted before jumping over the rail.
Down on the hangar floor, a fight raged between the crane platform and the North Star. He clutched the shotgun close to his chest and sprinted for the rail, leaping over in a single bound. The wind rushed past his ears as he fell toward a cluster of SenSec officers below.
34
Death in the Hangar
Grimshaw could hardly believe his luck when the turrets took out the SenSec pursuers, but by the time their transport had landed, that luck had turned bad.
They had expected some light resistance at most, but the hangar had quickly erupted into a battlefield.
He watched the command cabin’s VD as SenSec and Chimera troops closed in on their transport. They had landed close to the North Star, but not close enough to get the patients off safely in the middle of a raging battle. He cycled through the transport’s external cameras, thinking fast. Several crates and pieces of machinery, including a small forklift and a drilling unit, lay between them and the starship. It wasn’t ideal for cover, but it would have to do.
Doctor Roshi and Andrews looked to him for direction.
So much for Andrews being in charge.
“Roshi will have to organize the patients. Send them off in small groups. Have one gunman leave with each group to provide cover fire. Andrews, you’re with me.”
They nodded in unison, and Roshi made his way into the rear cabin to carry out his orders.
The transports armor plating rattled as a few rounds penetrated the shields.
He opened a vox link to the seven other fighters on the vessel. “As soon as the North Star drops her shields, Roshi will start directing patients off the transport. Your job is to provide cover fire.”
“What about us?” Andrews asked.
“I need to deactivate the North Star’s shields and get the ramp down. She won’t respond to me from here. We need to get closer.”
“Is it wise sending just the two of us?” she asked while checking her rifle.
“We have no other choice. There are too many sick people back there. Our gunners need to stick with them. We’ll manage.”
The ceiling rattled again.
Grimshaw opened a link to the cockpit. “How’s she holding up?”
“I’ve redirected all power to the shields, sir. They’ll hold for another few minutes, five tops. Unless the enemy bring in artillery. Then we’re wide open.”
“Does she have any fire power?”
“Just a light crowd control cannon. I can take some of the heat off, but not for long. These vessels were designed for getting patients out of tough spots. Not for fighting.”
“Andrews and I are making a dash for that forklift on our starboard side. Get ready to cover us when I give the order.”
“Yes, sir,” the pilot answered.
Grimshaw opened the side door and pulled back as weapons fire lit up the opening.
He clutched his blaster, the lack of motor control in his right arm made it impossible to operate a rifle. He nodded at Andrews and she nodded in return, signaling that she was ready.
“Open fire, pilot.”
The command cabin vibrated as the crowd control gun fired. The amount of enemy fire hitting the opening suddenly reduced significantly.
“I’ve got your back,” Andrews said.
She moved to the opening and added to the cover fire.
Grimshaw sprinted to the nearest crate. He fired on the pinned-down enemy as Andrews joined him. Her shields deflected a shot to her shoulder.
Grimshaw checked his SIG as Andrews took over, spreading fire on the enemy. He still couldn’t connect to the North Star.
He pointed at the forklift and Andrews nodded.
They reloaded and repeated the process. Grimshaw skidded behind the forklift and lay the fire on the enemy as Andrews joined him.
He tested his connection to the North Star again and is heart sank when the signal still turned up red. He tried again.
The connection turned green and he exhaled with relief.
“Ascari, do you read me?”
“Hello, Captain Grimshaw,” Ascari answered in her nonchalant tone. “Are you in trouble, sir?”
“Yes, SenSec and Chimera have our transport pinned down and we need to transfer a cabin full of patients to the North Star.”
“Lowering shields and lateral loading bay ramp.”
“Can you provide cover fire?”
“Please designate a target.”
“Anything in a SenSec uniform.”
“Scanning for targets,” Ascari announced.
Andrews tapped Grimshaw’s shoulder to get his attention and pointed to the Chimera troops. They had deployed a proton canon. “The transport is toast if they fire that thing.”
“Send the patients over now,” he ordered Roshi on the vox. He turned to Andrews. “The best we can do is cover them from here and hope for the best.”
A blue flash erupted from the Chimera ranks, and a cannon round blasted the transport’s shields, deactivating them.
Grimshaw and Andrews opened up fire as Aegi guards and patients started making their way toward the North Star.
“They aren’t going to make it!” Andrews shouted as Chimera readied the cannon for a second shot.
The cannon exploded in a ball of flame and the Chimera troops dropped. The last few green and black TEKs turned as Lieutenant Dann, O’Donovan, and other familiar figures fell upon their flank.
Grimsha
w was relieved to catch a glimpse of Clio among the fray, Booster riding her shoulder and discharging an electric blast on a nearby SenSec officer.
Lieutenant Dann and the others reached them and took up positions behind the scattered hangar equipment, providing more firepower.
“It’s good to see you, Lieutenant,” Grimshaw said on the vox.
“Just like old times, sir,” Dann replied, opening fire on the relentless stream of Chimera troops coming from the eaves. “There are too many—”
The North Star’s short-range repeaters cut Dann’s sentence short. A stream of green energy bolts mowed down and entire line of advancing SenSec officers, easing the fire on their positions.
“Gunners, get those patients onto the North Star. The rest of you, maintain cover fire.”
The gunners obeyed, guiding the patients onto the ship’s ramp to Grimshaw’s left.
A second stream fired from the North Star, taking down a dozen SenSec heavies by the hangar doors. Clusters of Chimera TEKs scattered for cover while others retreated.
Seeing the patients had been loaded, Grimshaw was about to order the last of them to dash for the ramp, but Dann cut him off.
“Shit, Captain! Mechs at three o’clock!”
Heavy fire cut up the hangar around them, dozens of rounds hammering the North Star’s armor plating.
The nearby Aegi transport exploded in a ball of fire, raining down flaming debris within feet of their position.
“Don’t worry, we got everyone off,” Roshi said from Grimshaw’s left. “I was the last—”
A bullet punched the doctor from his feet, and he fell next to Grimshaw with a gaping wound in his chest.
Two armored mechs emerged from the flaming transport wreck, their heavy guns blazing.
“Andrews!’ Grimshaw called as he emptied the last of his magazine on the machines. “They got Roshi.”
The medic rushed to his side and checked the fallen Shanti. “He’s bleeding bad, but he’s still alive. We need to get him on board right away.”
Grimshaw ducked as bullets and shrapnel smashed their cover to pieces. He checked his SIG. Three of Lieutenant Dann’s people went down.
He clipped a new magazine into his rifle and returned fire. He watched O’Donovan open up with his heavy machine gun. It made little difference.
The mech gunfire was too heavy. They’d be creamed if they tried to make a run for it now.
At least the patients got on safely, he thought. Not that it’ll do them much good if they can’t get the ship off the ground without me.
Another line of bullets swept across the North Star’s armor. Her outer hull held.
“Ascari, take out those mechs.”
Thunder boomed from under the ship. Grimshaw ducked as two close-range turrets sent flaming rounds overhead. The noise lasted no more than a few seconds and a calm suddenly fell around them.
Grimshaw peeked out from behind the forklift. The North Star’s guns had reduced the mechs to piles of smoking scrap metal.
“To the North Star!” he shouted, leaning down to help Andrews carry Roshi. “Gather the injured!”
They finally made their way up the ramp.
“Andrews and I’ve got this, Captain,” Lieutenant Dann said, taking Roshi’s weight. “You get to the bridge. Get us off this shit-hole.”
Grimshaw nodded and caught sight of Evans as Eline helped her into the cargo hold toward a row of crates. Approaching, Grimshaw saw that the Ensign’s eyes were swollen shut. She moved with great difficulty, like she’d been badly hurt. Booster sat on a supply crate, making a fuss over her.
Eline noticed Grimshaw arriving and gave a curt bow, her ears twitching. “Aegis. Good to see you again.”
“Likewise, Aegis Eline, though it’s a pity it isn’t under better circumstances.” He turned to Evans. “Dammit, Evans. What did they do to you?”
“You should see the other guy,” she said weakly.
He couldn’t tell whether she was joking, but knowing Evans, she probably wasn’t. “I’m sorry I have to ask,” he said. “But, are you okay to fly the North Star?”
“I’ve given her painkillers,” Eline butted in. “But she’s in no shape to fly anything. We brought an experienced pilot with us. She’s been studying the North Star’s schematics and flight data for months. I’ll send you her information.”
“I’m fine,” Evans almost growled. “I’ll fly her, sir.” She slid from the supply crate and stood on her own two feet to prove the point.
Evans swayed a little, and Grimshaw thought she was going to collapse, but she managed to keep her balance.
“You need to head straight to sickbay, Evans.” Eline objected.
Evans ignored the more senior Aegis and stormed up the walkway that led to the North Star’s main atrium. Booster jumped down from his crate and ran after her on all fours. Reaching Evans, the monkey leaned into her, lending his support.
“Are you really going to leave our lives in her hands when she can barely walk?” Eline asked enraged.
“That’s the thing about Evans,” Grimshaw said proudly, watching the kid go. “You could break half the bones in her body and she’d still fly better than anyone else I know.”
Eline snorted and hurried after Clio and Booster. Grimshaw looked around. Seeing that Lieutenant Dann had things under control, he followed Eline.
They had survived the fight, but they still had to get off the Sentinel. Two sets of giant armored doors—and who knew what else—still stood in their way.
35
Renegades
Clio took in the North Star’s helm once again. The smell of the air. The strange sensation of the soft glass under her fingertips as she activated the controls. The way the pilot’s chair molded perfectly to her shape. Though she never had a place to call her own, the North Star felt like home. Her eyes gave the bridge another quick sweep, and she glad to see that most of the old crew were there.
“What are we supposed to do about those gates?” Grimshaw asked Zora, referencing the circular airlock doors on the bridge’s primary display. “We probably don’t have long before they cut through the bay doors or regain control of the hangar defenses. Even the North Star can only take so much artillery fire.”
“Pah!” Zora said. “They won’t be getting through those hangar doors anytime soon, and they won’t be getting back into their system for days. We might not be able to hack the Sentinel’s systems, but half the ports on the station are on a network of their own.”
“What about the external doors?” Eline asked.
“I could blow them,” O’Donovan suggested eagerly from the weapons station.
“That would risk decompressing entire sections of the Sentinel,” Zora explained. “You guys have a bad enough rap without killing a several million people. I spent the last few days setting charges on the manual locking system for this very moment.”
She tapped her SIG display and two circular clouds puffed at opposite ends of the circular port-door.
“The gate will respond to your commands now, Clio,” Zora said proudly.
Clio executed the command again and was surprised when the bay door rolled opened.
“Great work, Zora,” Grimshaw said. “Thank you again.”
Zora nodded and walked toward to bridge doors. “I’ll be down in engineering helping Taza figure out how the artifact works.”
Clio gritted her teeth against the pain as she fitted the flight-helmet. Countless rows of multidirectional data streamed before her eyes. Thanks to her neuroptical implants and the strange neural link the helmet created, Clio could interpret most of the ship’s readings: the tiniest adjustments in her flight gear as Clio ran a quick pre-flight safety check, the nuanced changes in the air pressure around her hull, the status of all primary and secondary flight systems.
A smiley appeared in the top left corner of the flight-helmet visor. “Welcome back,” a familiar voice said in her ears.
Clio returned the smile. “Thank you, As
cari. It’s good to be here.”
“I trust you are ready to leave the Sentinel now?” she said in her placid yet jovial tone.
“As soon as the Captain gives the order,” Clio confirmed.
“Of course.”
“Sorry we took so long to return, Ascari. We ran into a number of problems.”
“That’s okay. I used the time wisely.”
“Really? How so?” Clio asked, genuinely curious about what an AI could have been doing all that time.
“I downloaded information from the Sentinel’s public archives. I’ve studied over three million educational volumes, as well as star charts, music, and various works of art.”
“Did you learn anything interesting?”
“A great deal. Would you like me to share something with you?”
“Later, perhaps. I’m trying to prep for launch. We’ll likely be attacked. Run checks on the shielding and armor for me.”
“Of course, Ensign Evans.”
Clio looked over the flight systems one last time while Ascari checked the ship’s defenses.
“Excuse me, Ensign Evans,” someone at the helm said.
Clio adjusted the flight-helmet visor with a thought, and it became transparent.
A Shanti female in Aegi acolyte subarmor stood to her left.
“My name is Marilda.” She offered a curt nod.
Clio gave her a questioning glance. “That’s a very Terran name for a Shanti.”
“My parents were always a bit…eccentric compared to most Shanti,” Marilda said smoothly.
“Can I help you?” Evans demanded, making it clear she was busy.
Marilda squinted, her yellow eyes studying Clio like she was some kind of test subject in a lab. “I’ve been assigned as your co-pilot.”
“The North Star doesn’t need a co-pilot,” Clio objected.
Marilda rolled her eyes like she was speaking to an obstinate child. “I’m following orders. If you have a problem, you’ll need to take it up with the Captain.”
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