by John Walker
“Enemy shields down to forty percent!” Olly shouted. “They’re attempting to turn!”
“Divert power to recharge,” Gray said. “Get us some energy before they can take their shot.”
“Working on it, sir.” Redding worked the controls, contacting engineering for the auxiliary power they needed. As the meter began to rise, she kicked the thrusters on to pull back again, this time toward the planet. They needed twenty seconds for another firing solution but their enemy was fast and they were already showing their side to them.
The jump module was also on cool down. Another minute for another such trick. Redding willed the weapons to come back online and then, her primary cannons lit up green. She fired, a full blast with tremendous results. Shields flickered and a micro explosion on the exterior of the enemy indicated an actual hit.
“Damage!” Olly shouted. “Minor, but we got through. Their shields are at thirty percent ship wide but…wait…”
“What is it?” Gray asked. “What's wrong?”
“Shields are recharging at an insane rate! They're up to fifty…sixty…I don't know what's happening.”
“Fire again!” Gray ordered. “Do it now!”
Redding let loose another two volleys, collecting again with the now mostly recharged shields. Nothing got through but they did see the shields flare up, much like they might when they're being overloaded. “If we can keep that up, we might tear them down,” Gray said. “Do they have a solution?”
“Almost!”
“Full thrust,” Adam said. “Get us back from them!”
“We’re at full thrust,” Redding replied. “We're moving as fast as we can without taking away from the weapon recharge.”
“They're about to fire!” Olly shouted.
Gray spoke over the ship wide intercom. “Brace for impact. I repeat, brace for impact.”
Cannons on the front of the enemy brightened as red glows filled the barrels. They saw them turn, aiming directly for the Behemoth. Olly’s hands moved frantically and Redding prepared for evasive. She checked the cool down on the jump module but it had another full thirty seconds.
Time moves too slowly and too fast in combat…this is probably going to hurt.
The enemy fired and the shields began flaring. Olly started calling out the damage and the countdown began on how long they could fire, whether the Behemoth would get out of the beams path or their shields dropped completely, exposing them to a pulse blast attack. Redding entered the cannons into the targeting computer, prepared to let loose their own fury in retaliation.
“Opening fire,” Redding shouted out, pulling the trigger. As their attack shot forth from their cannons, she held her breath in anticipation of what she hoped might at least slow down the enemy assault. This moment may well determine the course of the rest of the battle. She took a brief moment to pray, then watched the sensors intently.
***
“Enemy contact,” Durant’s voice burst into Jenks’s ear. “One click out. They're on sensors, moving fast. They’ll be at your first mines in less than twenty seconds.”
“Get ready,” Jenks ordered, turning to Walsh. “Hold fire on the turrets for my mark. I’ll detonate the mines just as they pass.”
“Sounds good.” His partner stood beside him, holding two grenades. They were ready to arm, prepped to throw when the enemy drew close enough for them. Several tense minutes passed between when the Orion’s Light soldiers landed and when they finally drew close enough to engage. Adrenaline took over as the action was about to begin.
Jenks laid out mines a good twenty feet apart out in the woods, spreading them so when they detonated they’d cause the most amount of collateral damage. Considering who made them, he wouldn’t be surprised if they took down some trees with the force of the blast. A little extra chaos would help the cause for sure.
Durant counted down in his ear from five. The soldiers moved far more cautiously than they anticipated, tactically rather than rushing in. Where’d these guys train? They can’t be ex-military, can they? Maybe their command structure is. Regardless, they certainly seem to know what they’re doing. Getting past that cannon should’ve been impossible.
“Two…” Durant said. “One. They have passed the mines.”
Jenks hit the detonator, causing a series of massive explosions just beyond the trees. Men screamed, and a tree did, indeed go down. Walsh followed up, hurling his grenades out as far as he could. The two marines aimed their rifles over their cover, waiting to see if any of the soldiers made it out.
“You got five of them,” Durant said. “They must’ve caught wind of the trap moments before it went off to spread out so quickly.”
Great, they’ve got a sixth sense. “Understood,” Jenks grumbled. The news disappointed him. He’d hoped to get a much larger contingent of them. As the grenades went off, he heard indistinct shouts, syllables without meaning. He glanced at Walsh who shrugged. “What the hell are they saying? Is that another language?”
“Battle language,” Jessy said. “I’ve heard people talk about it before but never heard anyone actually use it. That must be what you’re hearing.”
Wow, these freaks developed their own language on top of it all. Fantastic.
“Contact,” Walsh spoke softly. Jenks felt the tension in the rest of the team as they let it sink in what they just heard. “Two to our left flank.”
Jenks scanned the area and paused, nodding once. He saw the men emerging, keeping their center of gravity low. They led with their weapons, pressed against their shoulders while staring down the sites. He shifted his own aim, marking them both. “Hold your fire, everyone. The explosions put them on edge but we need them to get closer if we hope to seal this deal.”
“I’ve got some,” Rudy said. “Um…contact right. Three incoming near the landing pad.”
“We’re on those,” Meagan said. “They seem to be checking out the ship.”
“Hold…” Jenks again kept his voice calm and low. He had some faith in Rudy and Meagan because he knew they were trained. The other three, Arak, Jessy and Crandy, on the other hand, might as well have been total civilians in his eyes. “Durant, do you have the targets?”
“Only dead ahead,” Durant replied. “Six dead ahead of our defenses.”
“Let me know when they’re open and we’ll let go.”
Jenks took a deep breath, perhaps the last one he would be afforded for some time. He scowled at the men who continued to inch their way closer, wary of an ambush but forced to make progress. They didn’t have the ability to take this place slowly. Not with the Behemoth topside causing their ride trouble.
“I have a shot,” Durant said.
“All units!” Jenks shouted, hoping to startle their opponents. “Open fire!”
They didn’t have time to try out the weapons Durant provided and Jenks didn’t know exactly what to expect. It annoyed him, going into battle without at least pealing off a few rounds but he had to trust the guy and hope they worked as well as he said. When he depressed the trigger, the gun exhibited so little recoil, he wondered if he left a safety on.
Bright flashes erupted from the barrel and his first three rounds clipped a tree, chewing bark off as easily as a chainsaw might. The next burst caught one of his targets full in the chest, tossing him back on the ground with a smoldering hole where his heart used to be. The dead soldier’s partner tried to dive for cover but Jenks caught him in the leg just above the knee.
The man got to cover but left his shin and foot behind. Holy crap! This gun is insane!
Jenks grabbed a grenade, cooked it for three seconds and threw it where the man tried to hide. Even with such a grievous injury, he represented a clear threat. Two arms and consciousness could still take some shots at them. The man cried out, this time not using their special language. The world help half way left his mouth before the grenade silenced him.
Seven down so far. Only twenty-nine to go. This is going to take a while.
The turret
s went off, barking as they chewed through any natural cover out there, ripping people to shreds. Jenks aimed but did not fire, letting the defenses do their work. The victims were torn in half, ripped up by the high caliber rounds. Durant had the robots move, spreading out to flank anyone out there.
“Grenade!” Walsh shouted, ducking behind the cover. Jenks joined him but instead of an explosion, they heard a loud crack like someone struck wood with metal.
“Targeted EMP,” Durant said. “The robots are down.”
That was fast!
“Mister Vi’Puren,” Arak’s voice came over the com, “I have an idea for an EMP shield which could prevent such an attack in the future.”
“It would need to be at the core level as my technology is already covered for such an attack.”
“Not the time for a debate!” Jenks popped back up and started firing, catching a man in the head.
“We got ours on the right!” Rudy shouted. “But more are incoming! They’re using the ship’s shield for cover!”
“Just keep up the pressure,” Jenks said between shots. “They can take cover all they want. It just wastes their time, not ours.”
Walsh threw another pair of grenades then followed up with a few well timed bursts. Jenks knew who was shooting by the length of their shots. When he heard more than five rounds go off at once, it had to be Jessy or Crandy. The pilots had better sense. He and Walsh never went above three.
When the enemy finally returned fire, they had to drop down to cover. A concentrated current of suppressive shots made them keep their heads down. If they keep this up, they’ll definitely overrun us. Jenks checked his own scanner and saw the men were definitely advancing. They need to find a way to stop them quick.
“Durant, you got any other tricks up your sleeve? And those of you behind cover at the doors, I need you to reposition and start clipping these guys!”
“I’m about to unleash another bout of turrets. These won’t be as easy to take out for them…certainly not with their EMP.”
“Don’t wait on our account,” Walsh shouted. “Get them going! Now!”
Turrets fired up, making a loud whine as they drove the attackers back into their cover once again. Walsh peeked out the side and took some shots, calling out hits. “Looks like we got another four or five of them.”
Crandy cried out. “I’m hit! I’m hit!”
“I’ve got him,” Jessy said. “Oh my God…this is bad!”
“Do what you can,” Jenks replied. “We can’t break off for him now. Stabilize and hope we get out of this in one piece to save him.”
“I have bad news,” Durant said. “We’ve got another troop transport bearing the sign of Orion’s Light.”
“Reinforcements?” Walsh sighed. “Christ, I can’t believe they thought they needed them.”
“We should be flattered,” Jenks said. “Concentrate your fire and we’ll get out of this, everyone! Keep them back!” Even as he gave the speech, he didn’t entirely believe it. The thought they could stand against a second wave of these guys sounded ludicrous. He prepared himself for the last fight he may ever be in and continued firing.
Chapter 13
“Shields are at thirty percent!” Olly shouted. Sparks burst from panels overhead but none of them had time to take note. “They’re still going strong!”
Gray gritted his teeth, thinking through the next few moments. The attack might well take out their defenses, leaving them open to catastrophic damage. But in mere seconds, their own attack would impact the enemy weapons, possibly giving them a reprieve. If so, they needed to take advantage of the fact and make it count.
“Time to jump module recharge?”
“On hold,” Olly said. “Weapons took priority and our shields tapped the generators.”
“Take that off hold,” Gray ordered. “We need to hop if we’re going to survive this.”
“I have bad news,” Adam said. “Revente just said the last three enemy fighters overloaded their reactors and charged us. His people are in pursuit now.”
“Can we target them?”
“Possibly, but they’re moving pretty fast. It’s likely the pilots already killed themselves they’re pushing so many G forces.” Adam shook his head. “They’re on autopilot.”
Gray tilted his head. “Olly, are they locked on to us?”
“Yes, sir. I’ve picked up the signal.” Olly paused. “Solid hit from our attack…the weapon stopped!” Shields holding at fifteen percent and recharging! Jump module will be back in ten seconds.”
Gray nodded. “Redding, get us moving, close on the enemy.”
Redding engaged the thrusters. “You want to get closer to them, sir?”
“Yeah, as if we’re going to give them a broadside.”
“This sounds risky,” Adam said. “I think I know what you’re planning.”
“A microjump might save our lives. If it comes up in time.” Gray turned to Olly. “How long before those ships to hit us?”
“Twenty seconds.”
“Talk about cutting it close,” Leonard muttered. “Course, sir?”
“Put us three-hundred thousand kilometers out away from the planet,” Gray said. “Make it fast. Have Revente’s people back off.”
Leonard’s hands rushed over the panel. “Course laid in and ready, sir.”
“Initiate on my mark.”
“Pilots have fallen back, Captain,” Adam said. “They’re moving to a safe range.”
Olly spoke up, “enemy is firing again. This time, pulse cannons. Their other weapon must be on cool down, sir. Direct hit!”
The ship shook violently and something else sparked behind them, more overloaded circuits. “That took us down to five percent shields!” Olly pounded his terminal. “I’m trying to recharge faster but we can’t at the expense of the jump module.”
“What’re their shields at?” Adam asked.
“Sixty percent.” Olly sighed. “How are they doing that? How can they get them recharged so quickly?”
“We’ll find out from the salvage.” Gray turned to Redding. “Get ready.”
Gray watched the countdown on the screen. “Fire our weapons just before we jump. It’ll give them something else to think about for a moment.”
“Sir, they’re attempting to move off,” Leonard called out.
“Fire and jump.”
Redding slapped the trigger then hit the jump module. The ship shimmered, rattled and the screen changed, depicting a distant shot of the enemy. Three explosions racked the side, brightening space until Gray had to look away for a moment. “Get us back in there,” Gray ordered. “Open fire as soon as we’re in range.”
“Enemy shields are totally down!” Olly said. “They’re on auxiliary power it looks like. Wow…those reactors really went up.”
“Agatha, give them a chance to surrender.” Gray turned in his seat. “Hurry.”
“You are ordered to surrender now and prepare to be boarded,” Agatha said. “Power down your weapons and heave to. Repeat, you are ordered to surrender…ah!” She cried out just as the enemy vessel exploded on their screen, turning into a molten ball then winking out of existence.
“What the hell just happened?” Adam asked. “Olly?”
“Sir, they seem to have initiated a self destruct sequence.” Olly read several things on his screen and nodded. “Yes, that was all them. The damage was bad but recoverable. Just before the explosion, I read that their weapons were offline and unavailable.”
“I guess they didn’t want to give up,” Adam said. “Zealots, right?”
Gray nodded. “Search and rescue teams out in five. Let’s see if any of them are left. Get our troop transports down to the surface to support our folks. Get Clea on the line again and bring our pilots back in. Time to mop this operation up and call it a day.”
***
Clea worked as fast as she could, trying desperately to ignore the gunfire barking outside. She turned down the conversation of her team mates as
they fought off the invaders. Their chatter distracted her from looking through the countless archives Durant compiled. As she tapped away, she began to worry she wouldn’t find what she was after.
“Clea, this is Agatha on the Behemoth. Can you read me?”
“I do,” Clea said. “But I’m a little busy right now. What’s going on?”
“We’ve finished off the enemy ship and are sending down reinforcements to help you out. What’s the situation?”
“Grave. They sent reinforcements as well.”
“Can you hold?”
“They are so far,” Clea replied. “I’m searching for the data now.”
The door burst open behind her and she threw herself out of her chair just as a shot hit the wall opposite the monitors. She drew her side arm and shoved away with her feet, aiming in the direction of the attack. Two men entered slowly, one going right and the other left. She fired, connecting with a man’s knee then shot twice more into his head.
The other fired wildly but missed, his shots going high and wide. She crawled toward the door for a better angle and leaned up to take a shot. Clean miss, near his back and he fired at the table she hid behind. Dropping to her back, bullets riddled the surface where she’d been moments before.
Rolling to her left, she aimed while lying on her back and shot again. The man screamed and rushed the door. She fired after him but missed. He seemed to be nursing his arm as he ran but she couldn’t be sure. Clea climbed to her feet and sealed the room, locking it down before checking the man she’d shot before.
He was truly dead so she hurried back to the terminal and continued her search, trying to calm down. Her hands trembled as she typed.
“Are you okay?” Agatha’s voice reminded her she’d been in a conversation a moment before. “What happened?”
“I was just attacked,” Clea replied, “but I’m okay. How long before reinforcements arrive?”
“They’re already en route and will land on your position.”
