Barely comprehending what was occurring, Anna noticed one of the attacker’s ships coming her way. The approaching starship was much smaller than the dreadnaughts. She recognized it as a recon ship. When it drew close enough for Anna to read the letters on the recon ship’s bow, she breathed a sigh of relief. The cavalry had come.
It was the Defiant.
Chapter 33 – Trecor
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Connor jerked the controls of the Wingbat to the right barely avoiding a 200mm phase round from the pirates’ Leviathan. Janet returned fire with every plasma weapon on their cat. A glance at his heads-up display told Connor what he already suspected; they were out of anti-armor missiles and phase rounds. Plasma weapons were all they had left. A glance at the gauge for their overheated plasma generator gave little doubt they’d soon be without any weapons at all.
Four missiles streaked past the left side of the Wingbat and struck the pirates’ Leviathan. The missiles were followed by two bright red beams of plasma energy. The pirates’ heavy UHAAV staggered and fired in the direction where the plasma beams had come from. Switching the Warcat’s view screen to the rear, Connor saw the Talosian’s Leviathan that was being piloted by Wizard Scouts Trevor and Ostaris firing at two of the pirates’ Long Cats with their forward and side weapons. Two beams of red plasma energy from the heavy cat shot out the rear plasma cannons that he knew were being operated by his friends Artrim and Dylan. The beams struck the pirate Leviathan that had been firing at Janet and him.
“We’ve got your back, Connor,” laughed Artrim over the cat-to-cat intercom. “Go help Wizard Scout Trinity. We’ll take care of this. That pirate cat doesn’t stand a chance against us.”
Six missiles from the pirates’ Leviathan shot out and exploded against the rear force field that was protecting Artrim and Dylan. The energy shield brightened before disappearing altogether. A 200mm phase round from the pirate cat hit the rear gun turret of Artrim and Dylan’s cat.
Boom!
Pieces of cat armor and smoking parts of the rear gun flew into the air.
“Artrim!” Connor shouted. He started to turn the Wingbat in the direction of the damaged cat.
“No!” said Janet. “They’re dead. There’s nothing you can do about it. Trinity’s still alive. We’ve got to help her.”
Connor’s view screen switched to a frontal view. Two hundred meters ahead, a lone wizard scout in a ragged battle suit stood facing a unit of charging pirate cats led by four Leviathans. Energy weapons ricocheted off an invisible barrier to Trinity’s front. How the wizard scout’s defensive shield could withstand such withering fire, Connor didn’t know, but he doubted it could last for long.
Throwing caution to the wind, Connor shoved the Wingbat’s throttle all the way forward. He had to get to Trinity before her shield failed. He just had too.
* * *
“Janet and Connor are on their way here in the Wingbat,” said Jennifer. “I calculate they will be here in eight seconds. The bad news is that you can only keep your defensive shield up for another six seconds before the Power in your reserve is depleted. I thought I should take a nanosecond to let you know that it has been nice knowing you, Wizard Scout.”
Trinity didn’t bother trying to figure out if her battle computer was being sarcastic or not. She’d long ago given up on that. She decided not to worry about her battle computer’s sense of humor or lack thereof. Instead, she gauged her chances of climbing up the side of one of the approaching Leviathans when it got close and using it for cover from the others. Before she could make a decision, her left leg collapsed, taking her down to one knee.
“All of your Power is being diverted to your defensive shield,” said Jennifer. “Nothing is left for your self-heal. Your muscles can no longer support your weight. I recommend...”
When her battle computer stopped in mid-sentence, Trinity said, “Recommend what?” She waited what seemed like a lifetime, but no reply came. Forcing herself to her feet again, she raised her phase rod to a ready position. She wouldn’t go down without a fight.
“Incoming,” said Jennifer. “Fighters inbound at ten o’clock high.”
Pirates? Trinity wondered.
A squadron of diving fighter-shuttles swept low over the pirates’ half-collapsed destroyer. Red balls of energy dropped from the bottoms of the fighters. The bomblets made contact along the entire length of the pirate destroyer’s top side as the fighters pulled up into the air.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Explosions of plasma and phase energy tore the already damaged destroyer apart. Flaming pieces of metal were thrown a hundred meters into the air before falling back to earth. The largest piece of metal fell directly on top of a pirate Macron UHAAV. The medium cat was squashed like a bug under the mass of brerellium steel. Other pieces of metal slammed into massed formations of pirate infantry. Several pirate cats not yet inside the pit mine’s force field began running in all directions seeking cover.
More fighter-shuttles swept over the battlefield. Two fighters fired missiles at one of the pirate Leviathans that had made it through the breach in the mine’s shield. The missiles exploded on the mine’s force field before reaching their target.
“Peeta,” Trinity said using the battle helmet to battle helmet network. “Lower the shield! Lower it now!”
Disabled he might be, but Trinity knew Peeta was a wizard scout. She also knew he wasn’t one to waste time on questions. Sure enough, the force field surrounding the mine shimmered and then disappeared.
The two fighters that had fired at the pirate Leviathan fired another salvo. This time their missiles struck home. The two fighters were joined by a dozen of their comrades. Beams, missiles, and phase bombs tore into several of the now retreating pirate cats. One of the pirates’ Leviathans fell, then another, and another. In less than a minute the tide of battle changed. At the end of sixty seconds, not a single pirate cat was left on its feet. All that remained of the pirates’ assault force were burning piles of metal littering the rocky landscape amid the bodies of hundreds of pirates in shattered power-armor.
“Recommend you lower your defensive shield,” said Jennifer. “I calculate you are going to need all your remaining Power to complete the healing of your legs.”
Dropping her shield, Trinity sensed Power wrap around her legs and other parts of her body as her self-heal began the task of returning her damaged flesh to baseline. The pain in her legs quickly began to dissipate.
One of the fighter-shuttles streaked past Trinity close enough to see the emblem on the fighter’s hull. She didn’t recognize the insignia.
“Is that an Empire ship?” Trinity asked. “I thought you said they couldn’t get—”
“Negative, Wizard Scout. They are not Empire ships. The Intergalactic Empire didn’t save you. Those are Trecorian fighters.”
“Why would they—”
“Why, Wizard Scout? I calculate they have not done it out of the goodness of their hearts. You can bet your last credit the answer to your question lies at the bottom of the Talosians’ pit mine.”
“You mean the titanium?” Trinity said, knowing full well her battle computer did. She looked around the battlefield. The remains of the Leviathan Yardis had destroyed at the cost of his own life was a stark reminder of the blood that had been paid to defend the mine. A glance at the townspeople’s defensive line and the bodies heaped in front of their trenches told her they’d all paid a heavy price. Heat rose in her face and neck. “I’ll be damned if I’m going to let Trecor come in here and steal the Talosians’ mine. If they try, they’re no better than—”
“They are not stealing anything,” said Jennifer before Trinity could finish. “I am currently in contact with Councilwoman Janice Deluth’s battle computer, Danny. He says that Councilwoman Deluth had been trying to convince the Imperial High Council to send a relief force to Talos to secure the mine. When the Crosoian Federation launched their attack, any hope of a relief effort went out the window. A
fter Councilwoman Deluth informed the commandant of the council’s decision, he reached out to Duke Bistoria on Trecor. The Trecorians are not currently at war with the Crosoians, so they have ships to spare. Duke Bistoria sent a fleet to Talos. The duke has already reached out to the mayor. They’ve reached a tentative agreement for Trecor to mine the titanium and split the profits with the Talosians. Trecor will also provide a military presence on the planet to insure the pirates do not come back.”
“So the battle’s over?” Trinity said.
“This one is,” said Jennifer. “The war between the Intergalactic Empire and the Crosoian Federation is just getting started. Oh, and not that you care, but Danny also said that Councilwoman Deluth has convinced the Imperial High Command to retroactively allow Lieutenant Commander Stevens and you to aid the Talosians until the Trecorians have their base established. From what I understand, Duke Bistoria had a lot to do with that decision. Apparently Lieutenant Commander Stevens and you will not be facing a court martial after all.” Jennifer gave a canned laugh. “You should thank your lucky stars that the commandant and the duke have worked together in the past. I have said it before, and I will say it again. You are one lucky wizard scout.”
Trinity took another look at the battlefield.
She didn’t feel lucky. She didn’t feel very lucky at all.
Chapter 34 – Grand Admiral
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The grand admiral of the Crosoian fleet assigned to invade the Intergalactic Empire’s district five stood on the bridge of the dreadnaught Blood Fury. She listened intently as her chief of staff outlined the success of their attack on district five. Everything had gone according to plan. The Empire’s forces had been caught by near complete surprise. When her chief of staff finished her report, the admiral spread her wings and swiveled her ears at the strategic sonar screen located to her front. She noted the positions of her fleets along with those of the Empire. She was pleased, but she’d been in the military far too long to take victory for granted.
“Shall I issue the orders for our strategic reserve to make their hyper-jump to Talos?” asked the chief of staff. “They have a division standing by as per your orders.”
The grand admiral monitored the strategic sonar screen for a full thirty seconds before replying. As much as she wanted to acquire the titanium on Talos, her military experience made the decision for her.
“No,” she told her chief of staff. “Our reserves will remain where they are. The Empire may counterattack at any time.” She lowered her wings slightly. “The Trecorians have two of their dreadnaughts along with support ships orbiting Talos now. Our supreme leader has forbidden initiating any altercation with the Trecorians. Their time will come once we wipe out the Empire. In the meantime, our diplomats are already in trade discussions with Trecor.” The grand admiral hissed a laugh. “If we cannot mine the titanium ourselves, we will buy it. Either way, we will have the titanium we need for our war effort. Defeating the Empire is all that matters for now.”
The chief of staff twitched her ears in acknowledgement and raised her paw across her chest in salute. “It will be done as you say, Admiral.”
“Yes,” the grand admiral hissed. “It will.”
Chapter 35 – Reunion
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Connor watched the Defiant land in the center of what was left of the town. He rubbed a dust-covered boot behind the back of his leg. The recon ship’s ramp lowered. A group of six figures came walking down the ramp. He recognized Sergeant Ron and Stella, but had no idea who the other four were. He didn’t really care. He was only concerned about one person. Then he saw a flash of red hair.
“Anna!” he shouted.
Before his uncle could stop him, Connor took off running for the Defiant. A red-headed figure in an ill-fitting utility suit began running down the ramp nearly knocking Sergeant Ron over in the process.
Connor met her halfway. Both Anna and he stopped when they got two meters apart. He tried to speak, but all that came out was an incoherent jumble of syllables.
Anna smiled. “I know. I feel the same way.”
The distance between them closed. Connor didn’t know which of them moved first. All he knew was that he was holding Anna in his arms, and that he was never going to let go. Their lips met, and the universe was at peace.
Epilogue
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A battered and half-melted battle helmet occupied the center of the table in the Defiant’s dining room. Wizard Scouts Trinity, Trevor, Ostaris, Peeta, and Mikala sat on one side of the table. Their battle helmets rested on the table to their front. Across the table sat the commandant and Sergeant Ron. The mechanic Charlie stood at the head of the table. He held out a brerellium steel chip the size of a man’s fingernail in the palm of his hand.
“The extraction of Wizard Scout Yardis’s battle computer was successful,” hissed Charlie. “I have put Jonathan in stasis until he can be reprogrammed by the Empire’s technicians.”
“Even reprogramming won’t totally remove the memory of Jonathan’s loss,” said the commandant. “The connection between a battle computer and their wizard scout is too strong. The memory of Wizard Scout Yardis will always be with Jonathan, even though he might not remember his wizard scout’s name.”
“Yes, the memory will always be with him,” agreed the commandant’s battle computer, Margery. “Nevertheless, Jonathan can be healed enough to function if we pair him with the right wizard scout.”
The commandant nodded. “Yes, we’ll need the right wizard scout for our Jonathan. I have just the cadet in mind, but he’s not ready for such a responsibility at the present time. Plus, he already has a battle computer of his own.”
Trinity stared at the commandant. “Wizard scouts can only bond with one battle computer. If this cadet of yours already has—”
The commandant smiled. “Trust me. It’ll all work out.”
Trinity sensed a line of Power reach out from the commandant and lift the brerellium steel chip containing Jonathan’s essence into the air. The chip floated into the commandant’s hand. He held it between his thumb and forefinger for all to see.
“Once Jonathan is reprogrammed,” said the commandant, “he’ll only know himself as battle computer serial number one-two-five-nine-two, version six, edition five. When the time’s right, we’ll pair him with the cadet I spoke of. Then we shall see.”
Trinity had a lot of respect for the commandant, but she’d known too many battle computers that had been driven crazy by the loss of their wizard scout. “This cadet of yours must be pretty special,” she said, keeping her doubts to herself.
The commandant smiled. “Yes. He is.”
About the Author
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Rodney Hartman is a retired US Army veteran with over twenty years of experience in military operations ranging from Infantry Private in the paratroops to Chief Warrant Officer flying helicopters during the Persian Gulf War. Mr. Hartman worked for many years as a computer programmer before retiring and pursuing a career as a fulltime writer. Mr. Hartman lives in North Carolina with his wife and family along with their cat, McKenzie.
If you would like to find out more about the author and/or upcoming books, please visit: http://www.rodneyhartman.com/
You may contact the author at: [email protected]
Depending on volume, the author will try to respond to all emails.
Last Stand on Talos Seven Page 23
