From the Black (Free Fleet Book 4)

by Michael Chatfield

  I looked at a scan of Heija's orbit, the Free Fleet was taking in a group of fighters fixing them up to come back down. The Kalu sent warriors and fighters down in massive numbers still. There was still so many ships filled with Kalu, wishing nothing more than to destroy us.

  I couldn't think about that those kinds of thoughts would defeat me.

  We got to the destroyer we had been staying in, our HAPA's clomping as we entered the shuttle-bay, something tapped my armor. I looked down to see Yasu.

  “Hey,” I said, my face creasing into a smile.

  “Hey yourself,” she said, giving me a wink, her helmet under her left arm. The shields snapped back into existence as we cleared the front of the shuttle-bay.

  “What the hell happened this time Krom?” She asked, noticing the damage to Krom's HAPA.

  “For once I was the one injured instead of Salchar,” he said.

  “You almost make that sound as if I am trying to get myself hurt,” I said.

  “I haven't been shown that you aren't,” he said, leaving me to try and prove that.

  “Alright boys,” Yasu said, amused. “Krom, leave the HAPA to us, we'll look afte it, get yourself to the

  medical bay.

  “I am..,” He started to say

  “Missing quite a bit of your actual body, you will go to medical bay,” she said, using her 'commander' tone as I called it.

  “Yes Battle Mistress,” Krom said. Shreesht had got to the ranks of HAPA's they were a few paces apart in grid formation on the shuttle-bay floor. Shreesht helped Krom as he got his HAPA into place and got down.

  “I'll take him,” Shreesht said, obviously Krom's wounds were worse than I thought as Krom didn't argue.

  I got down from my HAPA. Yasu pulled off my helmet, kissing me. It was a hungry kind of kiss, as if she was reassuring herself that I was still with her. I kissed her back, the fear of not knowing if this would be the last time I saw her powering me.

  We broke apart after a few moments, emotions passing between us through our eyes as we embraced one another through our armor.

  “I'll hook up the power lines, and ammunition, you check over Kroms?” She said, ending the moment as we moved away from one another.

  “Lovely, give me the most screwed up HAPA to look at,” I said, she passed my helmet back, rolling her eyes.

  “Best hurry up or else we won't be able to get out of this armor,” she said with a coy smile.

  “Kroms HAPA, got it,” I said, shutting up and moving to the machine.

  “So, going to need a new arm, leg's mangled, harness needs to be replaced,” I muttered to myself, putting my helmet on and accessing the HAPA's operational information.

  “Well this is going to be fun,” I looked at where the parts that I needed were located as well as the tools I would need. I was not missing a date with my Blade mistress. For a bit I could forget the war around me, I was just a man fixing a HAPA in order to go play hooky in a corner with his wife.

  “Hey Connolly, if you're done with that powered armor I'm rebuilding a damned HAPA,” I said, I had worked a lot with the man recently, he was a good commander and in the same area of the line as me. Cheerleader thought highly of him, even if Min Hae had red-flagged him and others as being part of the US's plan to start a coupe in the Free Fleet.

  “Are we going to have to nail this one to the armory bulkhead too?” He asked, referring to my first set of powered armor which I had metled, burnt and practically destroyed when taking Parnmal from the Syndicate.

  “Hey that was one time!” I said, the armor was a symbol of how a commando should rely on their armor. To some it was a good luck charm, tapping the foot before they went out to their shuttles.

  “So what do you need?” Charles asked, putting the powered armor he was working on, away.

  I sent him a list. His data pad on his workstation beeped.

  “Is there anything left of the damn thing?” He asked, scanning through it.

  “Some. Shall we get to work? Otherwise Yasu is going to kick my ass,” I said.

  “And the real reason comes out,” he said checking the list still as we moved deeper into the destroyer, towards the warehouse that held the myriad of parts used by the commandos and their weapon systems.

  Chapter Karma is a bitch

  Cheerleader looked at the reports coming in from across Free Fleet space, Rosho, to the Empire, to the corridor and Heija, all of it was now online.

  The Universe had become a smaller place, there was no need to send ships on week to a month long journey to get a message to where it was needed.

  War station and the accompanying fleet commanded by Whorst was still a week away from the Empire, but the Jump fighters were on station, with their charming commander Smith.

  She had ordered him to meet her personally. He was one of the most crucial parts to Min Hae's idea and Salchar's plan.

  Boot was relaxed in his chair, among the lower ranks he was much more stiff and official, but around those his rank he was just another guy, well Kuruvian guy, and they could change sexes, and aliens are confusing.

  Smith knocked at the door.

  “Well let's see the man who this whole plan hinges on,” Boot said, his manipulators showing his relaxed attitude.

  “Doesn't sound daunting at all,” Cheerleader said, sitting up. Boot did the same.

  She hit a button allowing the commander in.

  Not bad on the eyes at all. She though looking at the Commander, his file about him being rather confident and somewhat of a loud mouth seemed to be wrong for the long moment he just seemed to stare at her in confusion.

  “Commanders,” he said, realizing where he was again before giving a two finger tap to his head.

  Cheerleader allowed a playful grin at his confusion.

  Maybe confusion is the wrong word, dumbstruck expression might be better.

  “I thought the Jump fighters were a little bolder,” she said, goading him, it was always fun to mess with pilot jocks.

  “Well you haven't got to know me yet,” he said, giving her a wink and flashing a kind of grin that promised he knew how to have some fun.

  “Ugghh, human mating rituals, will you just 'do it' as your race says. We do have a war to fight here,” Boot said.

  Cheerleader and Smith looked at one another, Cheerleader couldn't help putting her tongue between her back teeth.

  I think Commander Smith might be interesting to meet after hours. She thought, wondering how long it had been since she'd relieved, her, stresses.

  “Ah we're a classy bunch, we just throw pheromones, body language and words at one another. We want to make sure you non-humans can understand what the heck's going on,” Smith said, taking a seat next to Boot.

  Boot let out a wracking laugh.

  “Yes it is quite clear to us when you want to copulate. It's like setting off a damned flare!” Boot said.

  “Well if we are quite done with human mating rituals I would like to turn to looking at how we're going to contain the forces of Rosho,” Cheerleader said.

  “Well I'm done with mating rituals, other people..,” Boot said, his manipulators reflecting his humour.

  Smith laughed, cocking his head and giving Cheerleader a look, she could do nothing but sigh and roll her eyes. There was no hiding her smile now.

  “Rosho Station,” she said, trying to get them on track.

  “I have my Jump fighter dropping mines on the direct routes out from Rosho. They are the bomb-pumped laser mines that Felix and his group cooked up. If the Syndicate start using their brains and going for other jump points we will drop mines among them, hit them with missiles and our cannons, jump away and repeat.

  As the situation changes so will we. If the Syndicate stay around Rosho, then we will not attack. Otherwise we will hit them with everything we have,” Smith said.

  “Simple, but it at least sounds effective,” Boot said, relaxing into his chair, it looked as if he approved of Smith.

  “In a J
ump fighter it is best to keep things simple, the constant jumps, shooting manoeuvring and speeds are quite fun already,” Smith said.

  “How come you did so well when others weren't able to transition from MEF's to the Jump fighter?” Cheerleader asked.

  “I made a promise to Commander Heston,” Smith said, his voice becoming serious for a second.

  Cheerleader hoped that the Commander hadn't been playing favourites, only time would tell. If Smith wasn't right for the job, then she would put someone else in his spot, no matter how she felt for him personally.

  The Free Fleet came before everything else.

  “Very well. Tell us if you need anything and we will get you sorted out,” Cheerleader pressed a button on her command console.

  “Onur, inform Empress and the Fleet that we will be moving to our staging point in four hours,”

  “You bet Commander,” Onur said, sounding almost hungry. There had been a growing feeling of discontent among the personnel as Bok Soo had been fighting on Heija, now with Salchar and a large portion of the Commandos fighting on the planet, most were not happy to be sitting on the sidelines. All of them were trained to fight their ships, their powered armor and make their enemies regret ever meeting them. Sitting back and maintaining their war machines, waiting just two jumps from the Syndicates last stronghold was like holding wolves back from their prey.

  If the Free Fleet hadn't been a disciplined force, then most of the ships under Yasu and Boot would have charged Rosho already.

  “I think it is time that I returned to my ship and make sure that my reserve force is ready,” he said, standing.

  “I will be no doubt talking to you shortly,” Cheerleader said.

  “Can't get rid of you can I?” Boot said, making it clear he talked in jest.

  "Of course not,” she said with a smile.

  “I will see to my Jump fighter and finally meet commander Doshri,” Smith said, standing.

  “Then I guess I should make an appearance on the bridge,”

  “After cruising by the mess hall,” Boot said.

  “A woman's got to eat,” Cheerleader said, her extra sparring rounds meant that extra food was always welcome, and put to good use.

  “I'd take the liquid meal option any day,” Smith quipped.

  “The mush?” Cheerleader asked, looking disgusted.

  “No! Hell no! Beer,” Smith said, his own face scrunched at the thought of the food the Syndicate had fed their slaves, and was still used by the Free Fleet.

  “Make sure that your Jump fighter don't let anything through and I will personally buy you a beer,” Cheerleader said.

  “Yes ma'am! I will hold you to that,” he said, giving a wink and leaving for his Jump fighter.

  “I can smell you from here!” Boot yelled back, already in the corridor.

  Cheerleader couldn't help but smile as she made her way to the bridge.

  The smile faded as she got past the armored doors.

  “Alright, Werv, what the hell came apart while I was gone?” She asked, Werv moving to his own seat as she took hers.

  “Not too much, just got a lot of those Jump fighter people hanging around. The Fleet is ready when you are, it seems that the ship commanders were anticipating your orders,” Werv said.

  “Good, we'll move up our departure time, but let's keep a slow pace, we have two days before the Kalu should make it to Rosho,” Best to have our people busy than biting at the bit waiting to be employed.

  “Commander Smith is leaving in his Jump fighter, the wings are moving towards the jump limit,” Jorvut said from sensors.

  “Very well. Cut orders for the second fleet to hold in Kuruvian Empire space. I only want to use them when we absolutely need them,” Cheerleader said.

  “You got it cheerleader,” Onur said.

  There was nothing Cheerleader could do, but wait with the rest of her fleet. She knew battle would come soon, and when it did everyone would be wishing for a time when their only worry was how long it would take them to get to their destination.

  ***

  “Orshpa has made contact, his fleet will join with ours by the time we reach the next system,” One of the talkers said.

  “Good, I want his Star-Destroyers to release all of their fighters. I want them to pound these creatures that took away our second teaching war,” Edvasho said, his command deck was a mess, his claws had cut through all of the grating. No one tested his patience, there was a reason that he was the war leader. It wasn't just because he had come back from the Kalu-Union wars, it was because he had beat every Kalu that had dared to challenge him.

  Now he was close to rendering judgement on those that had stopped him exacting his revenge on the Union.

  He whipped his Kalu into a frenzy, a frenzy that was now being passed on to Orshpa's fleet. He had allowed Kalu to fight to lead and to be among the first waves. The organization that Ashota, the peaceful had created, was dismissed. Kalu clan rules were law.

  Every ship used nuclear propulsion to send them flying across the systems.

  With Orshpa joining Edvasho's fleet, they were creating the biggest fleet of Kalu under one banner, ever recorded in the stories.

  Edvasho calmed himself enough before the transition into the home system of these Syndicate creatures.

  “Silent running, we will follow the way of old. I want them to die by our claws and teeth. Those that give the dishonour of fighting with their ships will be treated in kind by our own Star Warriors and Destroyers. Fighters will be released as we enter missile range. I want them to destroy every weapon these cowards hide behind. Let it be shown what we do to those that deny us our rightful revenge and fight. This will be our second teaching battle, a battle that will end with the destruction of the Syndicate,” Edvasho spat the last word. Legions of Star Warriors and destroyers entered the wormhole, their Kalu crew roaring with battle lust.

  ***

  When they emerged the Kalu were silent, not one dared to do anything that might hinder this great battle. Their names would live forever, their enemy only known for their destruction. The fleet glided in towards Rosho.

  “What are those ships doing?” Edvasho asked as ships seemed to appear from nowhere, taking out platforms.

  “I believe they are taking out the enemies eyes,” A Seer said.

  Edvasho wanted to roar his agreement, instead he shook his head, his paw embedded in the deck.

  “Record how the honourable Free Fleet led us to our enemies, allowing us to fight a true battle instead of fight one of ships. We will yet close with the enemy,” Edvasho said, sating his blood lust with the knowledge that soon he would be amongst the enemies’ home.

  ***

  Lifendi sat in his chair sipping something that tasted like it was scraped from the underside of an Orvunut.

  He growled, putting it down. Food had become scarce. The Syndicate relied on taking their supplies from planets. Now that they were cut off from those planets there was no supplies coming in and there was no infrastructure set up for the Syndicate to make food.

  Thankfully the issues hadn't affected Lady Fairgate yet. While Lifendi had made sure that the Lady's needs were met, more than one person in the Syndicate was feeling a little bitter to the way she got the finest cuts of Kroval, while they were eating the gruel that they had fed their slaves.

  There had been five group executions of those that had planned to remove the Lady.

  Another thing that the Lady didn't need to know. Lifendi growled again as another sensor platform was knocked out of existence by a damned jump fighter. They would jump in close to the platforms, hit them with their rail guns and flit away to another target. Lifendi had kept forces on the nearest platforms, but it only gave him a one light-minute window to see what was coming at Rosho.

  No one said anything before Lady Fairgate appeared on the main screen, no one wanted to keep the lady waiting in her current manner. She spent her days with Marhtu, watching as his Kaaorvs inflicted terrible pain on th
eir subjects.

  “Lifendi, would you please destroy those ships. They are annoying my concentration as I watch the Kaaorvs. The flashes are most perturbing,”

  “Certainly my lady,” Lifendi said, coming out of his chair and kneeling.

  “Good,” The channel ended, Lifendi kept the anger off of his face, releasing the forces to go chasing after the damned ships would be a waste of time. They could move at such speed and get away so quickly that the only way to get them would be if they were amongst a group of ships.

  “I want four corvettes on every sensor platform,” Lifendi said, a growl rumbling in his throat.

  Why you couldn't just keep your massive throne room screens to a pre-set instead of having to watch the outside is beyond me. He thought, wondering if executing all those that wished to change the structure of the Syndicate was a bad idea.

  Maybe it is time that I started putting my plans into action. Lifendi thought, knowing it wouldn't be hard to remove Lady Fairgate now, he knew most of her secrets. He would need to have the support of the other captains however. At least it would mean that he could free forces for raids to get supplies. Lady Fairgate's fear of the Kalu was paralyzing her. The Kalu were the monsters from Lifendi's stories. He had been scared at first, but now he wasn't going to be swayed by their stories.

  They hadn't seen the Kalu, meaning that the Free Fleet had stopped them, if the Free Fleet, a ragtag group of Slaves, weakened by Foshunti's battle could stop the Kalu, Lifendi wasn't scared.

  “Contacts!” Someone yelled.

  “It's about time we had some action, dispatch Captain Sloax to capture them,” Lifendi said, standing and getting in his chair.

  “I think it's the Kalu,” Someone said, fear in their voice. Lifendi looked up.

  The stories of the monsters were right.

  “Bring the station, the ships, everything online! Now!” He barked. The Kalu were a light minute and a half away, and accelerating with nuclear propulsion.