Free Fleet Box Set 1

by Michael Chatfield

  It’s going to take some time to get my reputation as Salchar, the cold commander, back after this, I thought as Rick flipped from a catwalk over a transport rail and onto the other side, the transport coming in. I dived through it, rolling to the other side as Commandos and ship personnel got out of the way, laughing and grinning the entire time.

  Crazier Than an Avarian?

  Ursht rushed into the city hall’s militarized underground bunker. Tik and Tak, the Kuruvian couple that his battle master and mistress had left behind, had been a major driving force with building the Avarian’s space abilities and expanding the city at an alarming rate.

  “They’re coming back, though their ships are different,” Tik said, not even turning as Ursht burst into the room. Trained Avarians, nicknamed Ninjas, watched Ursht closely through their Mecha’s visors. His shoulder blades itched; he’d seen what his brethren warriors trained in their battle masters’ methods could do.

  “May we talk to them?” Ursht asked, anxious to talk to his battle commanders Yasu and Salchar.

  “It will be some hours before we are capable of real-time conversation. The commander has undoubtedly sent a message. We have already sent him one, updating him on the conditions in Parnmal system,” Tik said.

  “Excuse us, please,” Tak finished.

  Although they were some of the nicest creatures Ursht had met, they were also members of the Free Fleet. Ursht was no longer a part of the warrior clan, nor allowed to join it. He bowed his head, quickly as so to not show his sadness at what he’d lost before he walked out as fast as possible. He had matters to attend to that would assist his battle commanders. With any warrior duties, it was best to carry them out as soon as possible. Ursht did not want his battle master knowing that he impeded vital communications with slow walking.

  He got to his office, using a data pad to make sure the launch pad was cleared. He turned to his reinforced windows and looked over the city that had grown: Lake Cook’s blue waters, clear down to the melted shards of rock that had been hammered by Mechas in target practice; the planetary elevator behind it growing upward, half of it beyond the clouds growing downward; growing towers, a new innovation, dotted the city, providing food for the city dwellers, though Ursht didn’t see any of this. Instead, he felt his blood rage fill him as he remembered glorious battles. A grin crossed his face as he remembered standing over his foes, his brother at his side as his clan celebrated their victories and his strength.

  He had become battle master when his father had died in battle. His brother, being one of the Awaken, was not allowed to take the place of battle master. He had done his duties, though now his age-old hunger for battle flowed through his veins. He craved battle. He knew it was wrong and that a warrior should crave peace, but his thirst had not been slaked in many moons. He hoped that his battle master would release him from his leadership and give him a place among the Ninjas.

  ***

  Tik looked to the Avarian Commandos, nicknamed Ninjas, who nodded as soon as Ursht was gone and the doors to the bunker secured. No one could be that safe with what they were going to tell Commander Salchar.

  “We ready to transmit?” Tik asked.

  “Yes, Projects Commander. We’re online,” Dreckt, one of the previous Mecha Special Forces officers turned trainer with Avarians, said.

  “Fleet Commander Salchar, this is Project Commander Tik. Before Parnmal was cut off from us, we received weapons armaments, including missiles and weapons reloads. We also received newly trained Avarian Commandos, who have taken to calling themselves Ninjas. As they have been trained on Parnmal station, we believe their knowledge will be of use. We await your orders.”

  “Sent.” Dreckt checked the transmission had been sent. Can never be too careful.

  “How long till we get his transmission?” Tik asked Tak.

  “Five more hours. It will take him nine to respond to ours,” Tak replied.

  “I will have the Commandos move out and prepare the materials for pickup,” Dreckt said as Tak nodded. The man’s straightforward and largely silent manner made him something akin to a statue, but at times it was nice to have something reliable like a statue, Tik thought, as she watched him leave the bunker for the skimmer outside, which would take him to the Free Fleet base built into the mountain connected to Lake Cook.

  Tik waited impatiently for the five hours it took for Salchar’s message to reach the communications station. Finally, it came alive as a message came in. Commander Salchar was sitting in his chair, looking deadlier and more assured than he had when Tik had last seen him, yet with no Yasu beside him. His protection detail looked deadly as they hung back along the bulkhead; people in the foreground worked on their consoles, all of them determined and ready for battle.

  “This is Free Fleet Commander Salchar. We will be taking any reserve Commandos on Avar Interi Hermanti to Parnmal with us and will detour to collect them. Making best possible time for the jump limit again and then to Parnmal. Salchar out.”

  “Get me Dreckt.” Tak had a channel open for Tik in seconds. “The Commandos are to be shipped up the main fleet as soon as possible.”

  “Understood.” Tak closed the channel.

  “Contact space control; have all shuttles ready to begin moving Commandos when the fleet is close enough.”

  Tak nodded his head, clearly already doing so as he talked into his Mecha’s pickup.

  Now she just had to wait nine hours until Salchar replied to her message and then two days until the commander made it to AIH.

  Dreckt moved in his Mecha, finding the restriction annoying but also familiar. Tik was making sure everything was kept moving as shuttles picked up and moved off the space port, headed for the fleet Salchar commanded.

  And what a fleet—with ships that actually work and are nearly double the standard Syndicate ships were held to. He was proud to be under the command of someone who actually cared about the state of things for once.

  ***

  There was an air-shattering boom as Commander Salchar’s shuttle made entry into the atmosphere. Out of the city’s representatives who were with him, only Ursht didn’t flinch at the noise. The shuttle continued its descent, flaring its thrusters as it touched down gently. The hatch opened and Krom, Calerd, and Shreesht walked out, scanning for threats. Salchar and the rest of his protection detail followed.

  The two hundred Avarian and Chaleelian Commandos standing on the landing pad came to attention, the sound of their Mechas audible even over another shuttle craft taking off.

  Dreckt felt pride within his chest. He’d trained these people with his war brothers. They were the best warriors he had produced and went so far as to scare him with their strength, wit, and battle ethic. Add in giving them Mechas and weapons, Dreckt nearly cracked a smile at the thought.

  Let’s see how happy you’ll be with what you’ve stirred up, he thought as Salchar walked right up to him.

  “At ease.” He touched his fingers to his helmet.

  The Avarians moved as one.

  Salchar lifted an eyebrow, looking impressed. “Good work, Commander Dreckt. I can’t wait to see them in the battlefield,” he said as Dreckt beamed with pride. “You’ll be seconded to Bok Soo. Get your people aboard,” he said.

  Dreckt sent a command on his data pad as a squad picked up their necessities and walked into the shuttle Salchar had vacated; three more squads followed.

  Dreckt saw Salchar grin.

  “Very well, I want to learn more about these new Armored Marine Commandos after I’ve talked to the civvies.” He gestured to the group waiting with Ursht, Tik, and Tak.

  “Sir.” Dreckt trailed behind Salchar, noticing how the protection detail appraised him and kept an eye on him. Instead of being insulted by the implied distrust, Dreckt was pleased. It’s good to be dealing with professionals, finally.

  Salchar made a beeline to Tik and the city’s officials in the waiting building.

  “Well, Tik, good to see you and Tak have things un
der control with the Free Fleet and the ongoing projects.”

  “Thank you, Commander,” Tik said as both she and her partner beamed.

  “Ursht and city officials, you are not to be left out. What you have done for this city has been no small feat. You are to be applauded,” Salchar continued.

  “It is our duty, Battle Master.” Ursht inclined his head slightly.

  “Thank-yous are still in order.” Salchar inclined his head to them. “Yet, as much as I would like to talk on it, I read the reports transmitted to me and I am sure you have everything under control. Preparations for battle are something I still have to look after,” Salchar said, his tone becoming more serious as Ursht and the other city officials inclined their heads.

  “We understand, Battle Master.” Ursht led them away.

  Salchar waited a few minutes before he turned to Tik and Tak. “Missiles information?”

  Tik gave him a pad and Salchar reviewed it in silence.

  They watched him in rapt interest. His brow was creased in focus as he flicked through the pages of information.

  “Ship them up immediately. We’ll need them,” Salchar said, dismissing the two of them as they began talking into their Mecha’s comms suites.

  Salchar motioned for Dreckt to join him. “Now, I want to know more about these Avarian and Chaleelian Commandos.” He looked over squads loading onto the continuous stream of shuttles.

  “They’re aggressive as all hell. Once the Avarians go into their blood rage, they’re nearly unstoppable unless killed. They’ll be a handful, but they’ll do anything you ask of them. The Chaleelians, while being aggressive as hell, are used to using their natural teeth and claws, though they can act as much better shooters. They are both driven groups and have come together to make balanced squads. They’re the best group of soldiers I have trained in my years. I would welcome every one of them into my clan. Kareesh and the other training off—commanders agree.” Dreckt kicked himself for his slip-up but Salchar overlooked it as Dreckt continued.

  “That said, Avarians do have certain—tendencies. They use mounted weaponry instead of carbines and rifles. They also love grenades and plasmid blades. Thankfully, they know how to use them so you can expect to live through their blood rages. Use them, Commander Salchar, and use them well. Oh, another thing—they all took to calling themselves Salchar’s Ninjas, or Ninjas. They count themselves as your honor guard and will throw themselves at anything in your way. I gave them leaders who are level-headed, as much as possible. Reining them in is hard; I would suggest putting veteran Commandos in charge of them. They’ll respect their service and, with someone to rein them in, they can be used as a scalpel instead of a hammer, which is their natural tendency. The Chaleelians use normal load-out except for their more accurate rifles and plasmid claws most of them use.”

  Salchar looked to Dreckt instead of the units. “Get with Henry and have veterans take over the units. Best to get them acquainted soon.”

  “Sir.” Dreckt turned to leave.

  “What about the other materials I asked for?” Salchar asked.

  “They are ready and waiting at the inner system belt. I moved Free Fleet engineers there to help with the modifications.”

  “Good work, Dreckt.”

  It was a few hours later when Dreckt saw Salchar in the Resilient’s shuttle bay, where the new Commandos were waiting to be sent to the other ships.

  “Atten-CHUN!” someone bellowed. Commandos snapped to attention as Salchar and his entire protection detail walked through the shuttle bay. Dreckt nearly winced as a table exploded in splinters from an Avarian standing up—and through it. More than one storage crate sailed through the air as cards settled to the ground.

  Salchar said something to Shreesht and Krom, who took off their helmets but kept them in their arms, ready to put them back on in an instant, marching toward the arrayed Commandos.

  They wandered around through the Commandos, who didn’t move an inch.

  “Borg’s boy?” Krom asked an Avarian bigger than himself—a few feet wider. He would take up three-quarters of a service hallway.

  “Yes, Commander Krom!” the Commando bellowed, sweat appearing on his face.

  Wish I had someone like him to strike fear into them before we started training. Dreckt thought of the mess the Avarians had been before the ex-Special Forces Sarenmenti showed them they were worth listening to.

  “That would make you Brik, correct?” Krom asked as the Avarian was looking more like he’d taken a shower.

  “Yes, Commander!” he said without flinching.

  “What is your weapon of choice, Brik?”

  “Modulated cannon, capable of shooting flechette and rail gun rounds.” A grin appeared on Brik’s face.

  “That’s one hell of a shotgun.” Krom rocked back on his boots.

  “Yes, sir.”

  Shreesht stood in front of a squad leader. “Inneal,” he said, sizing up the Chaleelian.

  “Yes, Commander Shreesht?”

  “Say Commander Salchar will die without your assistance but has ordered you to take the reactor core of the ship you are on. What do you do?”

  “Protect the commander.”

  Shreesht made a disgusted sound. “You have saved the commander’s life, but the Syndicate has blown the ship—now you and he are dead.” Shreesht moved on.

  “Bilge, you are part of a mixed species squad and the cowardly Kuruvian are to take point with you on communications. What do you do?” Shreesht asked.

  “Tell my leader of their oversight and take the Kuruvian’s position.”

  “Wrong!” Shreesht pushed the Avarian back with his helmet.

  “Best way to take down a Sarenmenti in a Mecha?” Shreesht yelled, pointing to an Avarian as if his finger were a pistol. The Avarian didn’t move an inch—the others barely restrained themselves from flinching.

  “In Commando or pirate Mecha, and which race?” the Avarian replied.

  Shreesht hid his grin as he stood straighter. “Pirate.”

  They only have one armor type, if you don’t remember. Dreckt was not unhappy as Kolum answered.

  “The leg joint, specifically groin, then head. They’re sensitive to even getting hit in the helmet.”

  “In Commando armor, Kuruvian?” Shreesht picked out another victim.

  “Arms then legs, finally hips, aiming for their primary and interlinked secondary convulsive sacks located in their stomach.”

  “Good,” Krom barked, nodding to Shreesht, showing his respect between two warriors. Shreesht worked his way to the side as Krom stood at the front of the formation.

  “You, like I, before training are nothing.”

  “You were an Awakened!” an Avarian growled from the rear.

  “Pull your neck in!” an Avarian growled, his eyes flashing as backs straightened even more.

  “Yes, I was Awakened. Yes, I was powerful, but I was an individual. The Armored Marine Commandos are not individuals—they are a unit. One might be stronger or more technically inclined than another. This serves to improve the unit. As an individual, I could take on many opponents at once. With a veteran Commando unit...” He paused, leaning forward as iron filled his voice. “I could take Avar Interi Hermanti and Chaleel.” Growls came back from the Commandos.

  Dreckt let a grin appear on his face. You’ve got their attention now.

  “You will follow orders. You don’t and you and your brothers will die.” Krom walked in front of them as he continued talking.

  “You will be more trained than the Commandos were when they first took the planet Chaleel, but do not think that training trumps experience at any time. You will learn more than you thought possible in a short time, and they will ask to know what you do. In the Free Fleet, we must help one another and defeat our enemies totally.” Krom stopped his walking as he grinned hungrily, his eyes cold.

  Shreesht had the same hungry grin appear on his own face.

  “Mark my words, though, in this battle,
our battle master will throw us at the enemy, AND WE WILL SHOW THEM WHAT HAPPENS, WHAT COMMANDOS CAN DO!”

  Shreesht added his own hungry growl to the other Avarians; the Chaleelian’s tongues hissed out in response.

  “WE WILL CARVE INTO THEIR PIRATE SOULS, SENDING THEM INTO THE DARK TO AWAIT US AND OUR BATTLE COMMANDERS!”

  Krom relaxed, lowering himself into a fighting stance as he thumped his foot and beat his chest. Shreesht did the same as well as the other Awakened. The other Avarians looked in shock as the Awakened beat their right leg on the ground, while they thumped on their chests with their fists. With them altogether, the force caused the hangar to rumble. Excited and blood lusting growls came from them as they grinned hungrily and joined in.

  Dreckt had studied the Avarian history on the Awakened. They could swear to any leader they desired, but none had made the blood and war oath that tied them to their chosen battle master in hundreds of years. Here, hundreds were making it alongside their already sworn warrior brothers.

  I wonder if he knows what kind of power he wields, Dreckt thought as the oath began.

  Blood and War Oath

  I was with Eddie, talking about the special surprise I was concocting for the Syndicate fleet that wished to come into my territory as I felt the ship begin to vibrate.

  “Eddie?” I asked, a note of confusion in my voice as I checked my pad for alerts.

  “It’s nothing engineering related.” He looked up and listened to it. He knew enough about the Resilient that he didn’t need to look at his pad to know what the noise was.

  “It’s a beat,” he said as I looked up.

  Boom, thump, thump.

  Boom, thump, thump.

  Boom. Thump. Thump.

  BOOM, THUMP, THUMP.

  I walked closer to the noise as I came out of a service corridor and into the main walkway. Avarians were getting into a fighting stance, hitting their chests before stomping the walkway. The noise reverberated through the ship and some primal part of me desired to join in.

  Then they started their oath: