Pursuit: Rise Of Mankind Book 5

by John Walker

  “They’re in our way!” Crandy gestured. “If we have to go around, we might as well surrender. It’ll take an hour!”

  Walsh and Jenks exchanged glances. They shrugged and returned their attention to the action. Their opponents, the three remaining, continued firing, using the automatic setting on their rifles to great effect. Jenks pushed away and went around the building, toward the riot. Clea wanted to call out to him but they seemed to have some kind of plan.

  “Slow down!” Walsh shouted out to their attackers. “We’re interested in talking!”

  “You’re going down!” The reply came out harsh, full of fury. Clea didn’t blame them. Three of their friends were dead.

  “Come on, don’t you see what’s going on?” Walsh poked his gun around the corner and blind fired. “We can’t fight amongst ourselves right now!”

  “Just stick your head out so we can wrap this up!”

  A gun fired several times, fast enough that Clea couldn’t count. She peeked around the corner in time to see the three guys dancing as they were shot, falling to the ground in a heap. Jenks stepped out and waved at them to join him. “Let’s go!”

  Clea stood, grabbed Crandy and forced him to run with her as they passed by the bodies and kept moving. Walsh and Jenks went to arm themselves, the latter pausing for a moment as he observed the bodies. They gathered up the guns and handed Clea a rifle. Walsh gave her a severe look. “You might need this, ma’am.”

  “I hope not.” Clea slung it over her shoulder. “But good thinking.”

  “If we would’ve known it would be a brawl to get out of here, we would’ve grabbed some of that guys guns.”

  They reached a section where they either needed to plunge into the water or take a right and risk the crowds. Clea watched as people struck each other, grabbed things from stands and aimed weapons at aggressors. The man they encountered earlier who had been so twitchy lie on the ground, bloody and broken shot and beaten to death.

  Wow…this is insanity!

  “How’s the water?” Jenks asked.

  “Filled with some kind of horrifying fish,” Crandy said. “You don’t want to go in there.”

  “Looks like we’ve got man eating crap on either direction,” Walsh replied. “Looks like we’re risking the people threat.”

  They led the way, shoving people aside as they moved. A man attacked Jenks and was rewarded with a punch to the throat and a well placed stomp to his ankle. Walsh ducked a wild swing and fired his weapon into the man’s gut. As he fell back, another person shoved him away and jumped Clea.

  She took a blow to the face and stumbled backward but recovered quickly, blocking another attack. As the man brought his fist back, she lashed out with a palm strike to his nose, shattering the cartilage. He cried out, blood splattering over his lip as he stumbled away, collapsing to the ground. Before Clea moved off, she watched two people trample him and he went still.

  The riot only picked up as they drew closer to the landing pad. Rocks flew through the air and they walked over more than a few people. Jenks and Walsh used their weapons conservatively, putting each round to good use. Eventually, the throng of the crowd became too thick to fight and people just mashed together until they reached the various landing platforms.

  Ships had been taking off the whole time and a battle raged above them, far into space. Clea reached up and tapped her com but when someone bumped her, she ended up really whacking her own head. It made her ear ring as the connection was established back to their ship.

  “Rudy, how’re things?” She had to shout to be heard. “We’re almost there!”

  “We’ve kept them back with our weapons so far, ma’am,” Rudy replied. “There are people in the landing pad though so be advised. We’re looking at ten people trying to take the ship.”

  “Thank you!” Clea tapped Jenks. “We’ve got ten people at the ship trying to take it!”

  “Won’t be a problem,” Jenks replied. “When we get there, we’ll deal with it.”

  The crowds thinned somewhat as many of them peeled off for the different vessels. Many might’ve actually belonged on them but Clea doubted it. Chances were good they were off to pillage, using any desperate method to get the hell off that rock before the alliance landed troops to capture them.

  Getting into space won’t help most of them, Clea thought. They’re going to encounter some pretty serious resistance.

  They moved off the promenade and approached the doorway leading to their ship. Jenks and Walsh unshouldered the rifles and checked them out. As they reloaded, they turned back to Clea. “We’re going to clear this place but I’m going to have Rudy help us.”

  “How?”

  Walsh grinned. “Don’t ask. Just stay back.”

  Jenks got on the com. “Rudy, I need you to start shooting. Drive these pricks back toward us.”

  He paused a moment and rolled his eyes. “Of course I want you to hit them! Put them down if you can, man! This is serious!”

  Clea swallowed hard. The thought of someone being hit by ship weaponry made her stomach turn. The damage caused by such a weapon would be catastrophic. Considering the possibility, there’d probably be nothing left. She watched, much as she didn’t want to, out of both morbid curiosity and a desire to help if needed.

  The marines prepared themselves, holding their weapons at the ready. “Go!” Walsh shouted.

  The weapons from their ship began firing. People screamed and returned fire, rushing back toward the exit. As they approached, Jenks stepped forward first, firing controlled bursts into the different men. Walsh followed suit, laying into the opposite side of the room. Clea held her own weapon up, staring down the site just in case.

  Jessy and Crandy watched the back and suddenly started freaking out. Clea spun in time to see a couple men hurrying toward them, raising their weapons. She fired four times, two for each, and put them down before they got their own shots off. Her heart raced. She’d wondered if she’d ever be in another ground situation like the research facility again.

  Much as she’d done on that mission, she still didn’t feel prepared for this one.

  “Clear!” Walsh’s shout made her jump and she looked back. Bodies were piled near the walls and the marines rushed in, double checking to ensure they didn’t have any more company. “We’re good! Get the ramp open so we can get the hell out of here, Rudy!”

  The ramp dropped and Meagan appeared, holding a rifle and aiming back toward the exit. “Come on!” She shouted. “Let’s go!”

  Clea urged Crandy and Jessy to go ahead of her and she hustled backward, watching out for any more enemies.

  And they came.

  Meagan fired first. “Contact!”

  Jenks hurried over and fired as well into a crowd intent on rushing them. The combined fire of three rifles held their attackers at bay but they shot back, bullets careening off the hull of the ship. Clea dropped low and hurried up the ramp and took cover, aiming her weapon just in case they were overrun.

  Walsh boarded next followed by Jenks. As they climbed aboard, a bullet entered the vessel and slammed into the ceiling. “Closing!” Meagan shouted, hitting a button. The ramp lifted as another spray of ordinance scattered across the hull. “Rudy, launch but don’t go into orbit yet!”

  “Why not?” Rudy shouted back.

  “I have to check some damage to ensure we won’t all be sucked out of a hole the size of my pinky!”

  Clea turned and looked, fearing she’d see daylight streaming through. However, the bullet was stopped by a heavy beam going down the middle of the ship. They weren’t in any danger. Thank goodness!

  The ship tilted, shook then launched, departing the doomed pirate camp. Rudy kept them low, flying over the oasis and into the desert. Meagan ran a diagnostic scan before Arak showed up to do the same. They concurred that there was no appreciable damage. They could break orbit.

  Clea set her weapon on one of the beds and sat down, trying to catch her breath. Walsh slapped Jenks on t
he shoulder. “That’s how you get it done!”

  “No doubt,” Jenks said, taking a seat. “I’m thirsty. Is anyone else thirsty?”

  “Who are you people really?” Crandy asked, sitting beside Clea. “Those two don’t act like any pirates I’ve ever seen. That was some coordinated military stuff. Tell me I’m wrong.”

  “They’re ex military,” Clea didn’t have it in her to put much conviction into the lie. “Just like all of us.”

  “You left the military to seek fortune, huh?”

  Clea shrugged. “Considering the pay, wouldn’t you?”

  Crandy accepted it, at least he seemed to as he moved off. Clea didn’t care. He’d help them because he wanted in on the action. He lost everything in that attack. Now, they needed to escape the alliance vessels attacking the area and find what this guy had to show them. If they could get out of the system, they might just still locate the device.

  But considering the fact they just tried twice with no luck, she was beginning to lose hope.

  Chapter 9

  The Behemoth jumped into the fray just as over a dozen large pirate ships flew out to meet them. They were the types of ships they met at the debris field, not huge with probably crews of thirty or less but Gray knew what they carried and he instantly became wary of the battle about to take place.

  “Launch all fighters,” Gray ordered. “I want to get on those things with as much pulse energy as we can muster.”

  “Yes, sir.” Adam went about giving the order. The kielans did the same, launching their own crafts to meet the incoming threat.

  Agatha turned, “the kielans are offering them a chance to surrender.”

  Gray nodded. “They won’t take it but that’s civil of them. Redding, are we in firing range?”

  “Almost, sir. I’m targeting the closest vessel now for a full barrage.”

  “Excellent. Olly, get our shields up and be ready to report when they start to use their special weapon. I want to be ready to move if we have to.”

  “Microjump?” Adam asked.

  “Yes, that’s my thought.” Gray checked something on his data pad. “Olly, organize it with the engineering room. Looks like we get to test our equipment today in ways that I didn’t entirely anticipate.”

  “Sounds good, sir.”

  I hope it’s up to it. This is going to be pretty nasty if it’s not.

  ***

  Squadron Leader Mick Tauren took the lead for Panther wing while Meagan was away. His and three other fighter wings charged out of the ship, fully aware of the dangers they were facing. The enemy they traditionally fought had quite the firepower but these pirates harbored a weapon all of them should be worried about.

  Revente told them, “their beam weapon damaged the Behemoth’s shields. Any longer of a sustained strike would’ve opened them up. We don’t know if they can aim it at something as small as a fighter but assume the worst and stay safe.”

  Going into the battle with that warning made them all leery but some of the younger pilots scoffed. “We’ll know if the pirates are targeting us and just evade. Go under them. Maybe we can identify the weapon and where it’s located to get out of the way.”

  Mick figured the gun was primarily designed for capital ships and it was how they took down their larger prey. A dozen large ships and perhaps twenty shuttle sized vessels charged out to meet them. Their job was to focus on the smaller ones then harass the bigger while their base crafts took them down.

  Another five wings from the two alliance ships met up with them and coordinated the assault. I wish we would’ve had these numbers the last time we fought the real enemy. He figured the battle couldn’t last long with so much firepower. Why the pirates hadn’t surrendered made no sense to him at all. They were clearly outmatched!

  The first of the ships they faced started taking shots at his wing, totally random blasts from an overcharged pulse cannon. Mick called for evasive and they all dodged out of the way, taking their own pot shots in the process. When his weapons scored a direct hit and splashed off the shields, he realized why the pirates had so much confidence.

  They might not have the numbers but their technology defied the state of their ships. In other words, those shields shouldn’t have been able to stop a direct hit but they did. Such modifications might’ve been performed on all of them, granting an advantage against superior, military vessels.

  “We’re going to have to hit these guys with concentrated fire,” Mick said. “Pair up and do what you can. I’m thinking missiles will definitely be our friends.”

  They spread out, going at different ships across the way. One of their opponents dashed toward them with a quick burst then started firing like crazy. Mick saw Panther Six take a hit but it wasn’t fatal. His heart hammered for a moment as he asked for a status. “Shields held, sir. I’m okay.”

  “Let’s watch that stuff, this the kind of random we don’t normally contend with.” Mick and his wing man Flight Lieutenant Shelly Brown, performed a serious of hard maneuvers, quick turns and climbs to come around behind their target. As they did, they both opened up, firing missiles and pulse blasts at the same time.

  Mick’s cockpit instantly warmed until he began to sweat and he pulled up when they pulled within a thirty kilometers of their target. The missiles scored direct hits, the computer showing that their shields dropped down to thirty percent. Their pulse blasts knocked them down even further. “Get that guy! He’s almost there!”

  The pirate spun around and tried to flee toward the planet and as he did, two alliance ships closed behind and hit him hard from the top. Mick caught a glance of the ship being torn in half before exploding. Their allies moved off to another battle and Mick regrouped with Panther for another fight.

  “The capital ship’s up to something!” Panther seven shouted. “Look!”

  One of the larger pirate vessels approached the Behemoth and deliberately turned their nose to her. What the hell are they up to? He didn’t have time to wonder for long. A blast skimmed his nose and he dove, redirecting so he and his wing could take on another of the smaller pirates.

  Mick’s computer went crazy, warning about some kind of debris. “Avoid that!” He shouted, pulling up but he saw one of the alliance vessels pull right through it. Whatever they dropped clung to the hull, going right through the shields. A moment later, they exploded, taking the fighter with them.

  Wow! Mines? Really? “These guys are fighting dirty, everyone. Stay on your toes!”

  The entire wing converged on that pirate, letting him have it in a concentrated fire. He still managed to get a couple shots off before being taken down, clipping Shelly’s side. She lost control for a moment, spinning away before slowing and returning to formation. “Damage report?” Mick asked.

  “Minimal. All systems are still green. Let’s keep it up.”

  These guys have managed to hit two of us and destroy an alliance fighter. They’re doing better than the enemy does sometimes. I can’t even believe it.

  But even as the thought entered his head, he realized he shouldn’t underestimate them. Many of the pirates likely came from the ranks of the military and probably knew the tactics they faced. It was like fighting colleagues in one sense. Each of them had to have come from a friendly culture.

  Mick took a blind shot to the engine. His power fluctuated twice before remaining steady. He checked his damage and saw that something got knocked loose in his generator. Someone would have to manually fix it on the hangar deck. And if I jostle too much, I may loose power entirely.

  “First off, I’m okay for the moment but that hit damaged my power relay. It could come totally loose and I’ll be useless. Second, who hit me? I want to return the favor before I have to go back to the Behemoth.”

  “We’re on him, sir.” Shelly and the others dove, screaming toward the enemy at full speed. More blasts flew past them as they each unleashed a missile, six projectiles hurtling down the pirate. As they connected, Mick checked his scan to see the s
hields were eliminated and massive hull breaches spread throughout the ship.

  A couple pulse blasts from one of his wing knocked them out completely.

  Other dogfights went on all around them. Ships diving and veering to avoid destruction. One of the capital ships fired its beam weapon at the alliance vessel, chewing at its shields like an entire colony of termites. A human ship, he thought maybe from Tiger wing, went down and a couple more alliance fighters were destroyed as well.

  The pirates gave far better than Mick would’ve anticipated. His power pulsed again and he determined to make his way back to the Behemoth. “I’ll be useless to you guys if I don’t get this fixed. Hopefully, they can plug it in and get me back out here in a flash.”

  “I’ll cover you,” Shelly said. “The rest of you form up and concentrate on the next vessel. We’ll be right back.”

  Mick pushed it, heading for the Behemoth as fast as he could manage. The enemy vessel that faced them began to fire their beam weapon. He winced…then his stomach dropped when the Behemoth microjumped away. Oh crap…where’d they go? It took his scanners a moment to see he had another five thousand kilometers to go.

  Better adjust course. I hope they’re ready to take us on. Pretty bold move. Good job, guys. I only wish I’d been on board before you did it.

  ***

  Olly tapped his screen. “The fighters are doing okay but those pirates are pretty dangerous. The tactics are…nothing short of dirty.”

  “I figured as much,” Gray said. “Leonard, do you have a course for a microjump?”

  “Yes, sir. It’s plotted and laid in. We just have to initiate it.”

  “Perfect.”

  One of the larger ships turned to face them, giving them their nose. Adam spoke up, addressing Redding, “give that bastard everything you’ve got.”

  “Yes, sir.” Redding fired, letting all the cannons hit the pirate at once. Their shields were decimated but it didn’t quite destroy them. “We’re on recharge. Ten seconds.”