The Specter Rising

by James Aspen

  Correct. The transport could only handle a few direct hits from those cannons before the shields would collapse.

  “And then once in the hanger, I’ll have to take out an unknown number of entrenched troops,” Paul grumbled. “Can you show me probable positions they might use to cover internal entrances to the hanger?”

  I can give you a guess.

  “That’s better than nothing, do it.”

  The diagram placed several clusters of dots to show likely troop positions and extended cones to indicate where their fields of fire would be to cover the doors. The curve of the launch sections kept two clusters separated from each other by the bulkhead, but the other five groups had overlapping fields of fire.

  “So I’ve got to take out as many fire teams as I can with no targeting reference except for what I can see with my own eyes?”

  At least until you are within the hanger. After you’ll need to disengage cloak to contact Edolit, anyway.

  “Right, but by then they’ll be diving for cover and calling for backup.”

  And alerting the starfighters.

  “So we’ll be holding position for an unknown amount of time until Edolit shows up, hoping the ground troops don’t have a heavy cannon, and that we get out before starfighters arrive and box us in?”

  That about sums it up.

  “That’s a lot of stuff out of our control to worry about.” Paul’s anxiety was growing more insistent. “Could we cut through the hull and pick up in another location?”

  The hull is a meter thick, designed to resist direct laser fire and missiles. We don’t have the cutting tools required.

  “Crap. So the hanger is the only option.”

  Yes. I suggest a sensor scan to show starfighter positioning and check for messages from Edolit.

  Paul hesitated. He could see Jupiter now, the bright light of the planet taking shape against the backdrop of stars. The glow of the warship’s drive was visible, moving away from the planet. If they were scanning when he de-cloaked, they’d be out of options.

  But they needed to have a better idea of what was happening.

  “Okay, but I’m only going to run the scan for a couple of seconds. Send Edolit an ETA for arrival so she can be en route to the hanger. The less time we have to hold the position the better.”

  Agreed. Data packet prepared. Ready when you are.

  “Okay. Here goes nothing.” Paul flicked off the cloaking device and gripped the controls, prepared to take evasive action if necessary. He counted to three and reactivated it. He kept his grip on the controls as he checked the combat map. The starfighters were still spread out, sweeping the area just inside of Martian orbit at this point.

  The cruiser appears to be burning at max speed towards Earth, based on the limited sensor data.

  The weight of the artificial gravity felt like it had increased as Paul sank into the pilot’s seat. The cruiser was en route to finish the job the bombers had started. And there was nothing he could do. Panic tried to take over his brain, but he forced it down. He would save whoever he could, and right now that meant Edolit’s team. Maybe together they’d come up with a way to cripple the ship.

  He reminded himself there wasn’t any chance the cruiser wouldn’t be noticed by someone on Earth, especially not after a disaster like El Paso. The militaries had to be on high alert for something and have eyes glued to every satellite available. Surely they could get people to shelter and mount some sort of resistance, right? The thought comforted Paul enough to overcome his shock.

  “Okay, calculate the best intercept course to bring us behind the cruiser with as few course corrections as possible. Calculate intercept time for any fighters that may have picked up our sensor scan. Any word from Edolit?”

  She has freed two members of Specter team and is currently raiding the ship’s data files. I flashed her our ETA, and she acknowledged pickup location.

  “Well, we just have to hope for the best. If all else fails, I can do some damage inside that thing before we get taken out.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

  NUMOH LED THE entire bridge security detail towards his quarters. The lurch of the ship’s engines didn’t make him miss a step. His entire career had been spent on large ships, from his time in the Federation fleet to now. It had all brought him to this point, and he wasn’t about to let a small band of Resistance scum wreck his chance to bring his ship home to the core.

  “Have Squads Three and Four reinforce the hanger. Squad Two will approach from C deck. We’ll box them in from the other side.” Numoh was casual in his commands, projecting utmost confidence for his subordinates. Inside, however, he was still raging. He should have seen this move coming. Of course the Hylian would attempt to recover her precious Honor Blade and attempt to discover anything she could from his private terminal. She was a spy, after all.

  Her zeal for the truth would be her undoing. She would be trapped, and he could recover her precious Ambra.

  The power of that tech was far more impressive than their preliminary reports had shown. Syndicate Leadership was obviously desperate to get their hands on it too. With the massive fleet they had built in secret, they already knew they had a chance against the might of the Federation, especially when the Federation’s Sixth Fleet defects at the proper time. But with those Ambras augmenting their troops… they’d be unstoppable. The entirety of known space would be theirs to claim. The long heralded Gryx Empire would begin its dominance, and it would no longer need its shadow organization the Syndicate to cover up its dirty work.

  First, he had to capture Edolit Vyn and force her to do his bidding. As protective as she was of her crew, he knew how to make her spill her secrets. Watching the scrawny Grr’alis being tortured had nearly broken that Scyllarian cretin, but he’d seen the glimmer in Vyn’s eyes when he alluded to what he’d do. He had the utmost confidence that he could break her. He only wondered which member of her crew he would have to send out the airlock first.

  The corridor outside his quarters was silent, save for the clattering of Varanul claws against the deck, loud against the soft steps of the Gryx crewman. In his periphery, Numoh noted the way the Gryx crewmen cowered behind the Varanul, their hands showing the slightest hint of shaking. He scowled, the visible fear a reminder of how much the Gryx had been relying on their vat-grown warriors for too long. After this mission was complete, he would have to double the training regimen for all crewmen to include more live-fire exercises.

  Hanging back, he watched the Varanul calmly begin cutting through his hatchway with plasma cutters, unconcerned that they would be the first cut down. At least he could count on these creatures to do their jobs with unflinching resolve. Perhaps, after the Gryx fleet gets hardened in the coming battles, he would be able to depend on his crewman do perform as well.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  EDOLIT GRABBED HER Honor Blade from the wall and set it on the desk beside her. The sounds of plasma cutters whirred through the hatchway. They didn’t have long before the Varanul would burn through. She just hoped she had time to finish her mission.

  Ja’el and Omaro had barricaded the door as much as they could with the contents of the Captain’s quarters. Anything to slow the Varanul when they broke through. Edolit hoped to be long gone before then, but if not they had to block the doorway with enough bodies to bottleneck the assault.

  While they worked, she set up the quantum terminal to receive the data. Her plan was simple. Since she couldn’t trust the quantum network security to get the data to her people alone, she was going to make sure everyone had it. Whatever the Syndicate was planning would go out to all networks, agencies, militaries, corporations, and social hubs she could access, as well as the Resistance and Federation leadership. The Gryx would scramble to block and delete the files from the network, but it was nearly impossible to stop a leak of that magnitude from spreading once it was out there. Within seconds, hundreds of copies would be downloaded and forwarded throughout the entire Federation n
etwork, virtually guaranteeing that whatever they were planning would be exposed within minutes.

  Then they could make a break for the hanger.

  Ja’el had settled into her position next to the desk, partially covered by a side table she had turned over for a cover. Omaro had set up his own barricade on the other side, which would force the assailants to split their fire and give them all a slightly better chance. Edolit motioned Omaro over with her head and handed him the blade.

  “Start cutting through to the deck beneath us. I’m almost done here,” she said.

  He grinned, his maxillae chittering with excitement. He’d always wanted to use her blade, but she’d never allowed it. He flicked the switch, and it hummed to life, casting its fuchsia glow over his carapace. The smell of melting metal soon filled the room as he eagerly set to work, slicing away at decking behind the desk. Edolit thought she heard him chattering happily to himself.

  Message received from Zyp, ETA 15 minutes to Hanger.

  “Fifteen minutes to pick up,” she said with a smile and a teal pulse of gratitude. I knew you’d come through.

  “We won’t make it five,” Ja’el muttered.

  “Stow it, solider. We’ll make it.”

  Decrypt complete. Beginning file transfer. Two minutes for complete copy download.

  Upload all files to the network immediately, including all data from Earth scout mission. Rapid release as soon as you can. Edolit had already linked the terminal to the Ambra. She pulsed relief as she saw bursts of data streaming onto the screen.

  Confirmed.

  “Two minutes and we’re out of here. How’s that hole coming, Omaro?”

  “I’m through this deck, starting on the one below. I’ll be done in time, Commander.”

  The muffled sound of an explosion outside the door made Edolit grab her blaster and swing it towards the door. The top half of the door was glowing red, super-heated from a concentrated blast.

  “Commander, they finally got thermal charges up here,” Ja’el muttered.

  “I see it. Next one will blow the door. Get ready to fire,” Edolit growled. “Cut faster, Omaro.”

  “We’re dead, Commander,” Ja’el said, the barrel of her blaster shaking.

  “We just have to hold a few more seconds. Get down that hole as soon as it’s cut, Ja’el.”

  Ja’el’s reply was lost in the wail of the thermal explosion tearing through the door. Molten gobs of slagged metal showered the room, but Edolit did her best to ignore them, firing blindly into the smoking corridor beyond.

  Let me know the second you’re done with the transfer, she ordered Nian.

  Confirmed. Approximately 30 seconds.

  She knew from experience that 30 seconds was an eternity in a close quarters firefight. Especially when she was the only one firing.

  “Ja’el, fire now!” she shouted. A blast from her weapon sent a Varanul who had tried to rush the opening howling from the doorway with a searing wound in its arm. She fired randomly while she stole a glance towards the Grr’alis.

  Ja’el was hunkered down behind her barricade with her remaining arm shielding her head, muttering to herself. She had twisted into a small, trembling ball, her species’ dexterity allowing her body to fold in on itself. Edolit wasn’t sure what they did to torture her, but her friend had been broken more completely than she’d thought.

  “Omaro, finish that hole and get Ja’el down it now!” Edolit shouted, taking down a Varanul that had taken up a crouching position across the hall. Return fire was streaming through the hole as the Varanul outside sent unaimed microbursts of fire through the door.

  “Just a ...,” Omaro shouted back. Edolit heard a large boot kicking metal behind her, and the Scyllarian shouted triumphantly. “Got it, Commander!”

  The hum of her Honor Blade stopped, and the welcome tone of Omaro’s blaster joined hers as he rushed to Ja’el.

  “C’mon, time to move,” he said to the Grr’alis, continuing to shoot towards the doorway. He tried to nudge her to motion, but she trashed blindly at him, kicking and screaming in terror.

  A bright, searing pain surged through Edolit as a blaster bolt slammed into her left shoulder. Her vision blurred and the force of the impact wrenched her torso, wrenching her arm behind her. The data cable pulled from the terminal as she shot the Varanul who had appeared in the doorway.

  Data connection lost. Heavy damage sustained. Initiating Healing Protocol. Display Status?

  Negative. Cancel Healing Protocol. Put all energy towards file transfer when reconnected.

  “Cover me, Omaro.” The sounds of his blasters filled the room immediately. She could always count on him to react quickly.

  With one last shot towards the door, she dropped her blaster on the desk and fumbled with the cable. The blood streaming down her arm made it slippery, but she reinserted it with some cursing. The desk took more and more direct hits from blasters, its ferroucarbon frame crumbling. They were close to being overrun.

  “Got it! Get her out of here!” Edolit shouted as she grabbed blasters in both hands and sent bolts streaming towards the door. Her left arm was hindered by the data cables and unable to aim, so she used it for random cover fire. She could barely move it due to the shoulder wound, anyway. She aimed more carefully with her free hand. Her instincts screamed for her to have Nian augment her reaction time and targeting skills, but knew it would slow down the data transfer. The countless hours spent practicing with blasters at the range without augmentation served her well now.

  Omaro’s loud grunts from carrying Ja’el to the opening reassured Edolit as she fired. She would leave no one behind, not this time, even if it cost her life. Her mission was almost complete, the Syndicate’s plans would be leaked, and all that mattered to her now was protecting her people.

  Ja’el’s muffled scream behind her was followed by the clattering of plastoid cases hitting the deck. The sound of Omaro’s blaster joined hers again.

  “You’re bleeding bad,” he grunted.

  “I’m fine. Get out of here, and get her moving towards the hanger,” she growled. She ducked, narrowly avoiding a blast, and downed the Gryx crewman that had sent it her way.

  “But…”

  “That’s an order. I’m right behind you.”

  “Yes, Commander. I’ll have this waiting for you, make sure you’re there to claim it.” Omaro scooped up her blade and disappeared down the hole.

  The seconds ticked by, and blaster fire increased all around her. She took glancing near misses to the arms and chest, but she barely registered the pain. Her focus was unwavering. Her battle prowess had taken over, and she dealt out death accordingly. All that mattered to her was holding her ground.

  Nian’s calm voice broke through her battle rage. Data transfer complete.

  Good job. One more thing to do. Edolit felt a surge of relief, followed by the quick pang of grief. She knew Nian could see her thoughts.

  I concur. It’s been an honor, Commander.

  You too, Nian. Command Override Code 1-327. Set time for 15.

  Self-destruct Command Confirmed. Goodbye Edolit.

  Goodbye, Nian.

  She kept firing, hitting the Ambra’s quick release button with her free hand. The device ejected from its mounting and severed nerve circuits instantly, and the flat device came off in her hand. She gasped at the sudden void she felt as Nian’s consciousness disconnected. A barrage of pain buffeted her a microsecond later, her pain receptors no longer blocked by the Ambra.

  Fifteen small red dots appeared on the screen, pulsed yellow, and began disappearing.

  Edolit tossed the Ambra on the desk, grabbed her blaster, and dove towards the hole in the deck. She hoped the captain’s quarters were full of Varanul before the device exploded, but she’d settle for it covering their escape. Even if it just blocked the way, it would give her and her team a chance.

  She landed on her feet with a harsh jolt of pain as she hit the deck. Stumbling, ran straight for the corridor,
barely registering the storage room she landed in. Omaro was waiting outside the door, holding up Ja’el with one arm and a blaster at the ready with the other. Edolit pulsed the pattern of disappointment when she saw Ja’el’s head slumped down, unconscious.

  “Move!” she shouted while she took up position on Ja’el’s other side and pulled them down the corridor, barely registering the searing pain in her shoulder as she strained to carry her pilot to safety. The metal bolts and fibers of her empty Ambra housing made her forearm burn and throb as it pressed against Ja’el’s back.

  They got a few meters away before the room behind them exploded with a rushing wave of heat and kinetic force. They staggered and struggled to keep upright, but managed to keep moving. Edolit spared a moment to thank Gryx ship designers for placing the bridge and captain’s quarters in the center of the ship. She couldn’t have pulled that stunt on decks closer to the hull without risking depressurization.

  “That’ll buy us a little time, but we need to get off this level, now. You’ve got the comms, Omaro. Alert Zyp and tell me if they send us any word.” Edolit barked the command more harshly than intended, the pain of her wounds now dominating her mind. She felt weighed down. The sudden absence of the stims and pain blockers that had been coursing through her system was a shock. She hadn’t realized how much energy the Ambra was expending in keeping her going. Without them, she was sluggish and weakened, running on willpower alone.

  “Yes Commander. We’ve got to get you patched up as soon as we can,” Omaro said.

  “We don’t have time for that, move.”

  “If we don’t, I’ll have to carry two of you. Plus, you’re leaving a nice gory trail for them to follow,” he said, nodding towards the blood dripping from her multiple wounds.

  “Fine.” She stopped and ripped open the last gelpak she’d tucked into her belt. She ripped it in two and slapped half over her shoulder wound, and the other on a deep gash she’d gotten from the jagged edges of their escape hatch. It didn’t cover both wounds completely, but it would hold, at least for a little while.