The Last War

by Clark Graham

  Eisler’s jaw dropped, but he quickly regained his composure. “Yes, Sir, thank you, Sir.”

  “After this last attack, they have moved up the deployment of the Marines and are sending medical equipment. Also, we are getting an actual doctor. He and his staff will come along with the supplies that you ordered.”

  “Yes, Sir.” The good news just kept coming for the young lieutenant.

  “I’ll need you and your men to escort them in, of course.”

  That was when the good news stopped. He had taken out his group on several training classes and it had not gone well at all. He could only take the two of them out because of the lack of fuel and he had to be cautious about conserving what little he had.

  Jonson couldn’t keep his Roc’fi right-side up and kept flying around inverted. When he tried to fix it, the Drottning would spin like a bullet through the sky.

  Smitty could keep his upright, but had several near misses when trying to fly formation. Eisler finally had Smitty give the other two of them plenty of room.

  Eisler took a deep breath and responded, “Yes, Sir, of course, Sir.”

  Chapter 46

  It was the sloppiest formation the transport pilot had ever seen. Three of the Roc’fis escorted his convoy in, not short-range fighters. Roc’fi were designed to attack pirates and ships, not fending off small craft like those reported in the area. Secondly, there was one ship flying at a thirty-degree angle, another was well away from the others. Only one of them seemed to know what he was doing.

  The officer had to admit the escort was better than nothing, but just barely. Luckily, the enemy didn’t attack and he was able to get his ships into the docking bay without any trouble.

  As soon as the ships were secured, the Marines disembarked. Commander Jopsen watched from the observation deck as they marched out in formation, like they were on a parade ground. Soon he was aware of Lieutenant Eisler’s presence. “Sir, good morning, Sir.” He said with a salute.

  Jopsen returned it. “Now, those are real soldiers.”

  “Yes, Sir, and I am glad to have them.”

  “I checked, they are led by a Lieutenant JG Anders. He has more seniority than you, but you are still in charge of the air wing and the mechanics.”

  “Yes, Sir, thank you, Sir. Did my fuel and spare parts arrive?”

  Jopsen gave a slight chuckle. “Yes, you will have plenty of fuel. The spare parts are in the form of fifty worn out Drottnings that a reserve unit didn’t want any more since they’ve upgraded. They also donated five of their worst pilots. All ensigns. The good news is all of them have Drottning experience.”

  That brought a smile to Eisler's face. “Thank you, Sir.”

  “Don’t thank me until you meet them.”

  “Yes, Sir, I think I will go down and do that right now.”

  If Eisler was hoping to make a friend, he was disappointed. Lieutenant Anders was a gruff, no-nonsense type of officer, hated by his men and superiors alike. His commanders were always trying to stick him in some out of the way place to get rid of him. The troops under his thumb all had transfer requests in.

  “Where are my men’s quarters?” he barked.

  Eisler was taken aback by the gruffness in Anders voice. “You will have to talk to Lieutenant Callis about that. It isn’t my department.”

  “Where is he?”

  “I don’t know, Sir.” He saluted then stomped off.

  He watched from a distance to see Callis come up to Anders. He couldn’t make out what Anders was screaming, but he didn’t seem to like Callis’ answer.

  The Marines marched off to go and build their quarters. Eisler smiled, Welcome to Starbase Eos.

  He thought about helping them, but then remembered Anders, Eisler changed his mind. Avoidance would be the best policy.

  As the Marines settled in, Eisler met with the newly arrived pilots. Ensign Pillins was way over the old imperial weight restriction, but in a universe where Emor ruled, weight wasn’t an automatic disqualification.

  “Is it true that you were in the pirate wars, fighting alongside Commodore Merken?” Pillins asked. The others seemed to eagerly await Eisler’s answer.

  “Yes, I was stationed on a mini carrier.”

  “Did you see any action?”

  “Yes, I attacked the enemy fleet and disabled two of their ships, but my wingman was blown to bits. He didn’t obey orders or he would be alive today. I’m going to create a unified squadron that can obey orders. Get settled, the rest of us will help.”

  The deck was soon complete. With all the pilots in one place, the rotgut made its way around. Pillins guzzled his first glass. Everyone stared at him, but he didn’t turn colors or his eyes water. He held out his cup again with a smile. Smitty refilled his cup. He guzzled it again, then smiled and pitched over forward. Two shuttle pilots managed to break his fall. They laid him in the corner where he began snoring softly.

  The party broke up at three in the morning. It took four pilots to drag Pillins back to his newly assembled quarters. Eisler lay down in his bunk. He’d been wiser this time and sipped, but also cut back on the amount of alcohol too. He didn’t want a repeat of the previous time when he woke up, head thundering with red alert warnings blaring.

  “All senior officers to the sick bay,” echoed over the intercom. Eisler tumbled out of bed and made his way upstairs. At the entrance of the sick bay, the others were waiting for him. There, standing at a stiff attention was Anders. Callis was already at ease, so Eilser saluted and relaxed.

  Jopsen pointed towards the door. “The enemy pilot is awake. Doc doesn’t want us to interrogate him yet, but I want us to walk past his bed, to intimidate him. It might make the interrogation easier when it comes down to it.”

  “Yes, Sir,” Callis replied.

  Eisler swore he heart a gasp from Callis as they passed the bed. The pilot glared at each man in turn. He was strapped to the bed and his chest was bandaged up. He wasn’t going anywhere. The man had a red complexion and black eyes. His eyebrows went up instead of down. As they exited the sickbay, Anders turned to Commander Jopsen. “Sir, that’s a Trilian.”

  Chapter 47

  The officers met in the captain’s office. The stood around the desk looking at the star maps on the display.

  “How would a Trilian make it so far away from Trilian space?” Jopsen asked.

  “Sir, we have not monitored Trilian space for decades, since the last war. We frankly don’t know where Trilian space is anymore,” Anders replied.

  “We need to question the prisoner. He has the answers we need. Torture him if we have to.” Callis stood with his arms folded.

  “That won’t work. The Trilians expect to be tortured. They are prepared for it.” Anders seemed to know all the answers. “They prepare their people for it. What the Empire found effective during the last war was to get them drunk and bragging. They love to brag. A lot of information was gleaned this way.”

  “I know just the brew for that,” Eisler commented.

  Jopsen smiled. “When the Doc gives us the go-ahead to question the prisoner, you and Smitty take some of that rotgut down there and chat it up. He won’t know what hit him.”

  Anders followed Eisler after the meeting. “You have rotgut?”

  “I don’t. Smitty makes it.”

  “I want some. Next time you guys are drinking, invite me along.”

  Eisler stopped and faced him. “You’re about as fun as a Sandlese python. Nobody wants to be around you.”

  Anders smiled, “I’m improving. They used to tell me I was as friendly as a Galdarian boar.”

  “I was being nice.”

  “I’m gruff at first, in front of the men, but among officers, I’m still coarse, but I’m a happy drunk and quite entertaining. Think about it.” Anders walked away.

  Eisler shook his head and then headed out in the opposite direction.

  The next day, the Doc had cleared the prisoner to be interrogated. Smitty, Eisler, and a gallon of rot
gut made their way up to the sick bay.

  The Trilian glared as they walked in. It didn’t stop Eisler from flashing a big smile. “I’m here to torture you. Here, drink this.”

  Watching as Eisler poured three glasses, the prisoner furrowed his brow. “Is this some type of poison?”

  “Definitely.” Smitty and Eisler sipped their drinks. “I hear Trilians can’t hold their liquor.”

  “We don’t sip it like little girls.” He grabbed his glass and chugged it down. Turning blue and grabbing his chest, he put the cup down. When he could talk again, he said, “I’ve never had anything like that.”

  “Are you man enough to have some more?”

  The Trilian glared. “Of course.”

  Smitty filled his cup again. The prisoner didn’t chug it this time.

  “So, are you guys going to retreat and leave this space to us?” Eisler asked.

  “No.”

  Eisler could see it wasn’t time to ask questions yet. He waited for the prisoner to finish two more drinks. “What’s your name?” He decided to keep it simple.

  “Voltic, son of Erzen.”

  “Where are you from, Voltic?”

  “Endernica.”

  Smitty took his hand-held data logger and tried to look it up. He shook his head.

  “Where is Endernica?”

  “Third-star fifth planet of home space.”

  Smitty nodded and showed Eisler where it was on the star map.

  “That’s a long way from here. How did you get this far?”

  “We have a treaty with the Galorians. We have free access with the border of the Empire from their space, and we don’t attack them.” He looked sideways at Eisler. Voltic’s eyes were badly bloodshot. “Did you know we’re trying to surround the Empire? We have the pirates attacking them from one side, and we’ll attack them from the other. They won’t know what hit them.”

  The Trilian put his cup back down. Smitty went to refill it, but Eisler stopped him. He was losing Voltic and didn’t want any more alcohol in him. “So, do you have the Empire surrounded?”

  “Nah, can’t do it, it’s too big. We can attack from Trilian and Galorian space, while the pirates disrupt commerce. Did you know there’s a pirate base hidden inside the Empire? Yes, there is.”

  “Really? What other nasty surprises do you have for the Empire? Are you going to attack it from here?”

  “No, we were escorting a convoy of freighters which had weapons for the pirates in Null Space when the sensor array came back on. The freighters fled, but our carrier had engine troubles, so we hid in the nebula. We have it fixed now, but can’t get out, too many enemies around.”

  “I see.” Eisler leaned back. “How are you going to get back out?”

  Voltic was pointing at his cup. Smitty looked to Eisler, he nodded, so Smitty poured another drink.

  “No problem. We are being supplied by stealth ships. The sensors can’t pick them up as easily, but they are little and have very small cargo holds. Even so, soon we’ll have enough assault craft to take over the station. When we do, we’ll find where that sensor array is and destroy it. Then we can leave.”

  “I see.” Eisler was talking to himself because Voltic had drunk the last glass of rotgut and passed out.

  Chapter 48

  “Sir, I have a capital ship hiding in the nebula next to my station. I need warships, not roc’fis.” Jopsen faced the screen with Admiral Merken’s face on it.

  “I’m two weeks away, at best. Commodore Merken only has four frigates, but it’s better than nothing. I’ll send him. Even at that, you’ll have to hold on for three days till he gets there.”

  “Yes, Sir.” Jopsen pushed a button and the screen went dead. He turned to Callis. “We’re doomed.”

  “What can the roc’fis do? They can do a sweep of the nebula, at least damage the ship and take out some of their fighters.”

  “Get Eisler up here. We need a plan.”

  A few minutes later, Eisler stood in front of the commander.

  “I want you to attack the nebula.” Jopsen folded his arms.

  “Sir, I would be flying blind at full speed. If we found the carrier in there it would be because we ran into it. Begging your pardon, Sir, but it’s a suicide mission.”

  “Can you do a sweep around the nebula to keep them from building up their forces?” Callis asked.

  “That, I can do. I can also have a probe set at the far side of the nebula. We can watch what they’re doing that way. I’ll get right on that.” Eilser saluted, then headed down to the dock. “Sergeant Donaldson, how many fighters do I have ready to go?”

  “Seven, Sir, but we’ll have to bring two down from the storage bay. The dock only holds five at a time. We’ll have three more by tomorrow. My men have been working around the clock to get them ready. The storage bay is crammed full of Drottning crates. It’s elbow to elbow in there.”

  “That will have to do. Thank you, Sergeant.”

  When all the pilots were gathered, Eisler addressed them. “I need to shuttle pilots to plant a probe on the far side of the nebula. Five roc’fis will distract the enemy while that’s going on. After the probe is planted, we’ll all make our way back here.”

  The roc’fis left first. Pillins served as wingman for Eisler. It was bad having an odd number, but it couldn’t be helped. Their flight wasn’t unnoticed. Soon a swarm of enemy fighters came out to greet them.

  “This is Fox leader. Fox three, four, and five are to make sure the shuttle makes it there and back again. Fox two and I will go after the fighters.”

  Pillins panicky voice came over the headset. “We will, Sir.”

  “Yes, stay on me. Here we go.” Eisler turned towards the swarm and opened up with everything he had. Red streaks of light flashed past his cockpit, so he knew Pillins was shooting too. “A little too close, Fox two. Don’t shoot me down.”

  He turned and opened up on two fighters just coming through the nebula. One disintegrated, the other limped back inside. Pillins damaged another. By then they were on the far side of the swarm, so he turned around and went at them again. Normally the small craft were hard to hit, but they were packed so close together that any shot from the wing guns was sure to take one or two out of the action.

  “I’m hit!” Pillins screamed.

  “Are you wounded?”

  “No, but my roc’fi is.”

  They had blasted their way through the enemy again and were on the near side of the swarm. Eisler slowed down to assess the damage. Holes riddled the side of the Drottning. Liquid was leaking out of it. “Get back to base.”

  “Yes, Sir.”

  Eisler decided on another pass to give the shuttle more time. He attacked the edges this time, and not the center of the pack. Two fighters tried to block his way, but he pulled the trigger. One of them blew to bits. The other fled.

  Two thuds shook his roc’fi. Alarm bells sounded in the cockpit. That’s all she wrote. He turned the fighter back to the base. Five of the enemy tried to position themselves behind him, but he soon outdistanced them. The doors of the station opened to greet him. He flew slowly inside.

  Donaldson was there to pull him out of the roc’fi. “Are you okay, Sir?”

  “Yes.”

  “The shuttle is back along with three roc’fis. Pillin’s ship didn’t make it. The shuttle picked him up on the way through. The enemy, when they found his abandoned ship, destroyed it. Everyone made it, but I’m down two Drottnings.”

  Chapter 48

  “Put your thumbprint here,” Callis insisted.

  Eisler’s brow furrowed. “What’s this for?”

  “I’m issuing everyone a blaster. If the station’s going to be invaded, then we want you, a least, to fight back. Remember, the Trilians aren’t known for taking prisoners so never stop shooting.”

  Eisler stuck his thumb on the pad. “How am I going to sleep knowing that we’re about to be invaded?”

  “With one eye open.” Callis handed him the
blaster, then walked to the next door.

  A scream echoed down the hall in the pilot’s corridor. Seven men ran towards the sound, blasters in hand. They arrived at Pillin’s room and barged in. He was sitting in the corner, back against the wall. Drops of sweat beaded on his forehead, then dripped into his eyes, where he brushed them away.

  “What’s the matter, Pillins?” Eisler asked. He was the last one to enter, not relishing the thought of a room full of on-edge, half-asleep men with newly issued blasters.

  “Bad dream, Sir.” Pillins was visibly shaking by this point.

  “This is more than a bad dream. What else is going on?”

  “I only volunteered for the reserves. The war was over and I could use some extra cash. I didn’t know I would be deployed and sent here.” He brought his knees up to his chin. “I don’t want to die, Sir.”

  “All the rest of you, get some rest. Smitty, I need your expertise.”

  “I’m on it.”

  The room cleared out except for Pillins and Eisler. Smitty soon returned with some rotgut. “Here, drink this and soon your troubles will be just a memory.”

  “I want to be ready in case we’re invaded.”

  “You’re not any use to me now in the state you’re in.” Eisler replied.

  “Yes, Sir. Thank you, Sir.”

  Three drinks later, Pillins was passed out.

  Smitty held up the bottle. “I need to make more of this stuff. Who knew rotgut could have so many uses.”

  “Yes, make more. I’m thinking, with an attack hanging over our head, he won’t be the last one stressing out. When you sit in your roc’fi flying through space, you think you are invincible, but then you have it shot out from under you, well, that’s got to be tough.”

  Eisler walked out of the room to see Anders and five Marines in the corridor. “We heard there was a disturbance.”

  “Everything’s calm for now.”

  Anders spied Smitty with the rotgut. “Say, isn’t that the magic potion? Can I try some of it?”