Harris nodded. "Let's just hope those sightings were propaganda. At least that should give us some time to finally arm ourselves."
"Catching that Denzee scout tells me they are for sure coming. Did you tell them about it?"
"No. Didn't see a good reason for it. Wouldn't have changed any of their actions."
Twenty minutes later, the Hailstorm landed on the grass beside the bunker.
— Chapter 13 —
* * *
Sharvie asked. "Any change at Gondol?"
Harris shook his head. "Just checked a half hour ago. Two Earther ships are sitting there with that probe. Until they move we can't go poking around. I know you're frustrated with not knowing what's there. So am I, but we can't risk turning something historic like that over to anyone else. What if it holds the answers to why Humans are out in this sector in the first place?"
"You know it does."
Harris chuckled. "I don't know that. Just hoping it does. Anyway, how's your combat training going?"
"Good. I think. I can read and watch something and it makes complete sense, but until I do it for the hundredth time in the simulator it just doesn't stick."
"There's a hand-to-hand move where you grab your opponent's wrist and twist. Should either take them to the ground, or at a minimum turn them away from you. I still don't have a good grasp on that one. My brain wants to spin their wrist in the opposite direction, which brings them right up in your face. Might as well be dancing with them at that point."
Sharvie frowned. "I have a hard time believing I can take down a hundred kilo man with a simple move like that. I know you get the benefit of using a small move on your part to achieve a huge result on your opponent, but it still doesn't sit right in my head."
Harris patted her on the back. "That's where all the practice comes in. You're most effective with those when you don't think about them."
Gandy walked up. "The boglers seem to be settling in. They found a pond about two kilometers from here and have taken to hanging out there. I was worried they weren't eating this grass because it's different, but I just saw two of them munching away. What were you talking about?"
"My combat training," said Sharvie. "It's frustrating, but fun."
"I know. I thought I knew enough to get by with. And that I was smart enough to figure the rest out on the fly. Wow, was I off. And I now realize that even with all I've learned I don't have a good grasp of it all yet. There's so much. And it all takes practice."
Sharvie nodded. "That's what we were just saying."
A comm came in from Alex: "The Denzee have returned. A force of two hundred Ratoons and nearly five hundred Dulons have landed at Rumanta. And they have a new ship with them. They call it the Vaaka. It's three times the size of a Ratoon and appears to carry a fleet of fighter craft. I have one of our worker bots attempting to access their systems. I believe Miss Withrow might be interested in joining in."
Harris asked, "We aren't gonna get reverse hacked again are we?"
"Precautions have been taken. The worker and comm ship are completely isolated from all other systems. If the comm ship losses control, it should immediately shut down. We would have to retrieve it and reload its systems, but their access would not spread."
"And we're safe with a bot being connected?"
"Two others have been assigned to subdue and terminate the worker should that happen."
Harris opened a comm to Tawn. "Where you at?"
"On the trail. Why?"
"The Denzee are back. Huge force. Already at Rumanta."
Tawn sighed. "On my way. Should be there in five."
Harris opened a comm to the Retreat: "Colonel, I'm sure the DDI is listening, and I wanted to pass on the info that the Denzee are back, with an even bigger force."
"You coming to get us?"
"Will the DDI allow it?"
"Give me a minute to discuss this with my contact."
The colonel opened a separate comm. A side conversation could be heard as the new information was relayed. Several minutes passed before Harris received a reply.
"Mr. Gruberg, we're stuck. My contact says we're being ordered to stay where we are. Any attempt to come get us will be met with force."
Harris rolled his eyes. "That's five ships we don't have crews for, Colonel. We need your teams."
Alex said, "I believe we already have a solution, Harris. The Legion ships can be automated within the hour. The Hailstorm will require a full day. Should I divert the necessary resources to make this happen?"
"Please. And, Colonel, I still want our people flying these ships. Work on a way for us to come get you while we work the rest of this out."
The comm was closed and another opened to Eden: "Bax, tell me you have our supplies?"
"Tomorrow. Just as was agreed upon."
"You haven't heard, then?"
"Heard?"
"A huge Denzee force just showed up at Rumanta."
"What? Are you sure?"
"More than seven hundred ships. Two hundred Ratoons. And a new ship we don't know much about yet. They call it a Vaaka. We need those materials."
"Hold on."
A second image joined into the comm. "Good. Mr. Gruberg, I'm guessing you've heard the news. I'm hoping we can count on your assistance. A large fleet has appeared at Jellon II."
"What? We have a fleet showing at Rumanta. Are you certain?"
"Yes," the emperor replied. "I have data showing more than a hundred of the Ratoons this time."
"You aren't gonna like this, Mervin. An even bigger fleet just popped into Rumanta space. Your scouts haven't reported that?"
"A third of our scouts have not reported in, Mr. Gruberg. Again, can we count on your assistance?"
"Under one condition: you open a comm to Domicile and ask for assistance. We don't stand a chance on our own. And I need my crews from the Rabid system if we're to offer a fight at all. Your insistence this can be handled by your meager fleet has the DDI camping out at their colony, keeping them from joining us."
"Hmm, I will take that under consideration."
"You better do more than that, and fast. You don't have enough ships or manpower to take on even one of those fleets. Make the comm, Mervin. Don't let your stubbornness be the downfall of humanity."
The emperor's comm closed.
Bax shook her head. "Making him mad won't help."
"He needs to be mad. Mad at himself for being such a stooge. And If I were you, I'd make plans for a fast exit from there for when they show up, because they will show up, and probably soon. And get me those supplies. I desperately need them if we're to have even a remote chance of defending ourselves."
Bax frowned at her comm. "I've just received about a half dozen hails."
"Get us those materials."
"I'll do what I can."
The comm to Eden closed as Tawn came off the trail. "Give me the bad news."
Harris took in a long breath. "The Denzee are back. Multiple large fleets. The DDI won't release the colonel or his crews. Alex says he can have the Legion ships automated in a few hours. We have those, the Bangor, and two Banshees."
"What about the Hailstorm?"
Harris shook his head. "Sometime tomorrow."
Gandy said, "We could fly the Hailstorm."
Harris placed his hand on Gandy's shoulder. "Thanks, but not a chance."
"Our supplies from Bax?" Tawn asked.
"Not until tomorrow. And I would call those into question now. The Earthers will be scrambling to protect their own. Gandy, we'll need you and Trish to aid Mr. Morgan in any way you can to keep everything here running."
Tawn tilted her head. "We going out?"
"As soon as the Legion ships are ready. That will give us seven ships in the fight, which is more than we've had before, but these are bigger fleets." Harris sat on the grass, shaking his head. "Every time it seems we're making progress toward our defense, we have a huge setback. The Domers are working against us. The Earthers have thei
r own agenda. And now this force, more than we can handle."
Tawn sat. "We've fought the odds before. We'll do it again here."
Harris chuckled. "If you're thinking I'm all depressed over this, don't be. I just need a reality check every once in a while."
Harris stood. "I suppose we should go inside and start looking over the data we have on those fleets. Maybe something will pop out at us for a good attack."
As they walked, Gandy said, "Really, we could fly that ship if we have to."
"And who's gonna man the guns?" Tawn asked. "Those are all individually operated on that ship."
"Yeah, I guess I wasn't taking that into account. I'll shut up now."
Harris grabbed him by the back of the neck and squeezed. "As I said, we need you here keeping things running. And if it helps, you can take back control of Reggie, or whatever you want to call it. That would be after tomorrow though. We need that Hailstorm conversion done as soon as possible."
Three hours were spent looking over the Denzee data. The two fleets turned into three, as a new one, smaller but still significant, had arrived at Gondol. Twenty-eight Ratoons sat in orbit while a dozen Dulons unloaded their cargo and personnel on the surface.
Harris leaned back on his chair. "If we hit Gondol, the Earthers won't participate. It will be us versus that entire fleet. And I can't say I like our odds."
Tawn pointed at the display before them. "Those ships in orbit are all close together. As are the Dulons on the ground. What if we cause a diversion out here while we sneak the Banshees and Legions in from behind the planet? Just have them clean house on those Dulons and then scat? We could at least take out that ground force, preventing them from getting established there. After that, we join forces with the Earthers and attack whichever fleet they commit to."
Harris nodded. "Has merit. Alex, given the position of the Denzee ships in orbit, do we have an avenue coming in? Can we get our other ships in while drawing off the Ratoons?"
A green illuminated tube displayed on the back side of the Gondol image. "This avenue will bring the Banshee and Legion ships in safely and allow them to reach the atmosphere before staging your diversion. I would suggest coming in exactly above the ground units. Feign an attack if needed to draw the Ratoons your way. That should allow sufficient time for a surface assault with a high probability of success."
Tawn said, "Looks like we have a plan. Those Legions ready yet?"
"Testing is in progress. For ease of identification, I am designating the Legions as L1 through L4 on all diagrams. The Banshees are B1 and B2. I have assigned a worker to pilot B1."
Harris stood. "Sounds good. Keep it simple. Tawn, how about you and I go check our supplies on the Bangor. Gandy, we'll need you and Farker to take us out with the shuttle. I'll send coordinates for our jump. When we get there, just wait for us. This shouldn't take long. Afterward you can bring us back here. From there we'll discuss our next move."
Gandy nodded. "Can Alex keep a comm open to me with a live feed of the action?"
"Alex?"
"Certainly. Just pass the coordinates for the jump to me as well."
Tawn and Harris walked toward the Bangor.
"I think things are going to get hard for us mentally," Tawn said.
"I'm not worried about us," Harris replied. "I'm worried about Trish, Gandy, and Sharvie. And the whole of Domicile when those Earther colonies start falling one by one."
"You think the emperor has made his appeal for help yet?"
Harris shook his head. "Not sure he'll do it at all until forced to. Once the Denzee engage and he sees how bad his losses are, he'll make the comm. It’ll come too late for most, if not all of the Earthers though. That Denzee force is too big."
Legion testing was complete. The four pared down ships lifted into the sky, followed by the Banshees and the Bangor. Gandy zoomed ahead in a shuttle and was soon out into free space. A wormhole was opened to a location outside Midelon space and the ships all slipped through.
Harris said, "Mr. Boleman, just wait here. I expect a flight in, maybe three minutes of fighting, and a flight out. Twenty-five minutes, top. If it takes longer, just be patient. We're probably only fighting for our lives."
"I'll be here, Mr. Gruberg. Watching from afar."
Harris rubbed his forehead as Tawn entered the coordinates for Gondol space. "I hope these bots can handle this."
"Given what we've seen, I would have to think they can."
Gandy came over the comm. "I have a link back to Alex. The Denzee ships are in the same position. You're good to go."
Harris entered the coordinates. The ships moved through to Gondol space. Commands were given to the automated fleet. Harris piloted the Bangor in a wide arc around and behind the Denzee ships. Once in position, the go-ahead was given.
Six ships, all crewed and piloted by AI processing units, closed in on the back side of the planet. Once the atmosphere was reached, Harris moved toward the Ratoons. The occupying ships took the bait.
Tawn said, "I have six coming our way and fast. Eight minutes and they'll be all over us."
"I was hoping to draw them all. How long until the bot ships show?"
"Three minutes. Then another three before they reach the Dulons. If they can hug the terrain, they might cut that detectable time in half. The Ratoons in orbit are about six minutes away. Should be more than enough time for those bots to ravage a dozen Dulons. How close you gonna cut it with us?"
"When they hit three minutes, I'll turn us away at a slower pace. Once they're a minute from us, we open a wormhole and jump."
"Not a lot of margin there. You do realize they'll be shooting at us, right?"
"I'm counting on it."
Tawn looked over the display. "Problem: they're coming faster than we can move. I think you might want to start us moving away. These ships have been upgraded from what we fought before."
"One more minute."
"Harris, I think we should go. There, the first ship just went dark. They're firing!"
Harris chuckled. "Relax, we've been here before. We just— whoa! That came in sooner than expected. I guess it's time to run."
"You have about forty seconds left for us to jump. I would suggest we go ahead and make use of that now."
"We need to give those bots all the time we can."
"Those bots will still have twenty Ratoons coming after them. Oh crap. Those ships are too fast to run from."
"Relax, I'm jumping."
"Good. But I wasn't talking about us. The bots will have to fight. They're ten minutes from being able to jump. Those Ratoons will catch them before they reach free space. Wow, did this just backfire on us."
"Not yet."
A wormhole opened. The Bangor slipped through.
Tawn said, "Wait. What happened? We’re still at Gondol."
Harris nodded. "That's right. And if this works, we can draw another six or so Ratoons off our bots... which are now engaging."
Tawn shook her head. "Jump us out of here, Harris! Detecting a wormhole at fifty seconds out! That first set is following us!"
Tawn opened a comm. "Bot fleet! This is Tawn! Abort! Get your asses out of there. The Denzee ships are faster than we are!"
"Acknowledged."
Harris turned. "What are you doing?"
"Jump us out of here, now!"
A wormhole opened farther out into free space. The Bangor moved through.
Tawn yelled, "That's Gondol still on the nav display! I have a wormhole opening! Six Ratoon coming through at forty-two seconds. Lights on those ships are dimming!"
Harris punched in coordinates for a new wormhole, taking the Bangor to the other side of the Gondol sun. A second wormhole opened only seconds later. The Bangor escaped through to the space where Gandy was waiting.
A comm came in from the shuttle: "I'm passing the feed from the fight. Our bot fleet just absolutely destroyed those Dulons. And they aren't running toward free space. They've moved out away from the fight area, st
ill hugging the surface. Four just disappeared into the bog. And there go the other two."
"What are they doing?" Harris asked.
Gandy shrugged. "Hiding? But I don't see how. Those Ratoon sensors will pick them up when they get close."
Tawn nodded. "When they get close. Slick. How quickly we forgot those disc weapons don't work when in atmosphere."
Several minutes later, Gandy said, "I have four, no, all six just emerged. They're engaging with the Ratoons."
The automated ships dashed in and around the twenty Ratoon attackers, dishing out a relentless and deadly serving of tungsten pellets. In less than a minute, the Ratoons were turning away. Four had their superweapons damaged beyond use. In the minute that followed, another four had the same.
Gandy grinned and pointed excitedly at his display. "They're running! The Ratoons are running!"
Tawn crossed her arms. "And just when you thought they were finished. Why did we not recall the in-atmosphere thing?"
Harris shook his head. "That was a huge miss on our part. Won't happen again."
Gandy said, "Two more of those main weapons are offline!"
The Denzee ships moved up through the atmosphere and out into space. The bot ships didn't follow, instead returning to finish what they had begun. Four minutes later, the surface of Gondol was free of bio signs. The Ratoons continued out to free space, followed by a jump away to Rumanta.
Harris nodded. "Wow. Can't believe how that turned our way. You know what this means?"
"Enlighten me," Tawn replied.
"It means the Denzee will have a tough time colonizing any of our planets. All we have to do is get one of those bot ships to the surface and they won't be able to stop it. This is a huge development."
"Could be. Only problem is once you get down into that atmosphere, there's no leaving. All they have to do is wait for you to come out."
"Still, it's at least something we can work with."
— Chapter 14 —
* * *
With the Ratoons gone from Gondol, the bot ships made their way out to free space, followed by a jump to a waiting shuttle and the Bangor. The victorious group hustled back to Midelon, setting down on the grass outside the Bunker.
ARMS Beckland's Fall: (Book 5) Page 12
