CHAPTER 18
Amber and her team walked through the halls of the dreadnaught without any resistance. Apart from the sounds of battle outside the ship and the strike team’s footsteps, the corridor was completely quiet.
“I don’t like this. Where are all the security?” Amber asked.
“Based on how many of their forces have been deployed, it would make sense that this place would be lightly defended. I didn’t think it would be this lightly defended. The place is empty,” Mooku said.
“I calculate an eighty-three percent probability that there are still some troops left on this ship. I recommend proceeding with caution,” GB-89 warned.
Suddenly, as the group turned a corner, one of their five commandos was shot in the side of the neck, and a second one was shot in the head. The group went into a panic as they saw a squad of Feldorbots opening fire on them from around the corner. They took cover and assumed a defensive position.
“Son of a bitch! They got the drop on us!” Mooku cursed.
“It seems my calculation was accurate,” GB-89 stated bluntly.
“Cut the chatter, tin man!” Mooku shot back furiously.
Drawing her jian-like Kiru, Amber said, “I’m going to clear a path. Cover me.”
Before anyone could protest, Amber dashed around the corner, blocking laser blasts as she went. She released a shockwave of telekinetic energy that made the robots topple over. With the Feldorbots down, Amber managed to eviscerate two of the machines before their comrades could regain their footing. When the remaining Feldorbots were up again, they overwhelmed Amber with a relentless barrage of plasma. Amber was forced to back away as the androids continued to fire upon her. She growled with frustration as her foes closed off all openings available to her.
Then GB-89 emerged from the corner, brandishing his extendable staff in one hand and a pistol in the other. He deflected some laser shots with his staff before firing his own. When he got close, he clobbered his adversaries into submission. The Pramar’s security robot displayed inhuman dexterity and agility as he dispatched the Feldorbots.
However, before GB-89 could finish off the last Feldorbot, the Feldorbot threw a grenade toward the corner the strike team was hiding behind.
“Look out!” Amber screamed, but it was too late.
The grenade exploded in a burst of fire, smoke, and shrapnel. Mooku and the other soldiers shrieked in pain and surprise as the blast enveloped them. Most of the squad was blown to pieces, while Mooku was thrown across the hall, his back burning and bleeding from burns and shrapnel cuts.
With the Feldorbots dealt with, Amber and GB-89 ran to Mooku’s side. The Lizard commando moaned with discomfort as the muscles on his shredded back twitched and smoldered. Around the corner, the remains of the rest of the squad were scattered across the scorched hall.
Looking at the blast site, GB-89 stated, “There is a thirty-three percent chance Corporal Mooku will recover from his injuries. The rest of the squad have a zero percent chance of survival.”
“Gee Bee, not now! I have to get Mooku treated! Keep watch!” Amber demanded.
“How, Miss Amber? We do not have the proper equipment with us,” GB-89 pointed out.
“I have learned many things under Owen Gonarri’s tutelage. My greatest strength is psychic healing. If I channel psionic energy into Mooku’s wounds, I can heal him in no time. Stand clear and keep watch. If someone appears, shoot them.”
Placing her hands on Mooku’s back, Amber reached into the deepest sections of her mind. Within moments, she found the source of her power. Like a firefighter draining water from a hydrant, Amber summoned her strength from her source. From her mind to her hands, the mental light flowed into Mooku’s gaping wounds. Throughout the process, the cuts, burns, and gashes on Mooku’s back vanished as though they were not there. Amber lifted her hands off Mooku’s back and waited for him to stir. Eventually, Mooku breathed easier as he slowly rose to his feet.
Stretching his newly healed back and sighing with relief, Mooku asked, “How did you do that? My back feels better than it’s been in years.”
“There’s no time to explain. We have to keep moving before more robots come,” Amber urged.
“Did the charges survive the attack? We can’t disable the shield generator without them.”
GB-89 surveyed the scene of the explosion and said, “It does not look like the charges survived. Fortunately, I predicted this would happen, so I took some precautions.”
“What precautions, Gee Bee?” Amber asked.
In response, GB-89 reached down and detached a section of his right calf. The piece he removed was cylindrical, with four ridges encircling it. Then he pressed a hidden button on the left side of his torso and the plates at his sternum opened up. He reached inside the cavity and pulled out an orb the size of a baseball. GB-89 presented the devices to his companions, who seemed confused.
“What are these, Gee Bee?” Amber asked.
“How can your body accommodate those things? I don’t think these are standard-issue features on security robots,” Mooku said.
“I knew there was a probability that we would lose the charges, so I had Devan’s mechanics do some modifications. These are variants of the Claymore X21 charge. Individually, they can take out a squad of Feldorbots, but when combined, they have the power to breach a dreadnaught’s hull. Together, they are thirteen percent more potent than the charges we brought with us. Not only will they disable the shield generator, but they will cause extensive interior damage as well. That will be an additional boon for us. Who knows? We may be able to knock out some additional systems as well,” GB-89 explained.
Amber was relieved they had extra charges, but Mooku demanded, “If you had those on you and they are better than our original charges, why didn’t you tell us sooner?”
“I preferred not to, and you didn’t ask.”
Before Mooku could shout at GB-89 again, Amber intervened. “That’s good. We have backup charges, and Mooku is healed. Let’s get back on mission.”
“Can I ask for a moment of silence for our fallen comrades? I knew them since we enlisted,” Mooku asked.
Amber nodded, and the trio bowed their heads as they silently prayed for the soldiers who died in the ambush. A cold sadness hung over them as they slowly accepted the finality of their loss. After what seemed like an eternity, the three companions solemnly continued onward, determined to finish their mission against the Shogunate.
______
On the other side of the Emden, Bralu and his two commandos reached the first shield generator. The chamber was shaped like an orb, with two pillars protruding from both the ceiling and the floor. Between the pillars was an aqua light that resembled a star. Guarding the generator were half a dozen Feldorbots and just as many technicians armed with pistols.
Brandishing his machete-like Kiru, Bralu charged into the fray without a second thought. His soldiers covered him with laser blasts, taking out four technicians before they could draw their weapons. With a telekinetic shockwave from his palm, Bralu sent two Feldorbots flying across the room. The robots hit the wall so hard that the wall cracked and the Feldorbots were crushed like tin cans. Enhancing his speed with psychic energy, Bralu evaded a barrage of laser blasts from the Feldorbots and blocking the rest with his Kiru. In moments, his Kiru absorbed so much plasma that it glowed as brightly as the shield generator’s core. With his superheated blade, he sliced apart the remaining Feldorbots, setting their remnants ablaze.
Bralu was so lost in the heat of battle that he was still searching for an opponent to fight even after the skirmish was over. He panted heavily as he inadvertently slashed at a nearby wall. Consumed with a thirst for conflict, Bralu kept cutting until a voice called to him.
“Kid, you can stop now. The fight is over. The room is secure,” one of the soldiers stressed.
With great effort, Bralu stopped his blind attack on the wall. The area he’d cut was reduced to a gaping hole of molten metal that o
ozed onto the floor. Bralu panted heavily as he struggled to regain his senses. In moments, the heat his Kiru had accumulated dissipated and the blade returned to normal. Bralu turned to find his strike team in shambles. One soldier was down, and the other leaned against a wall with a smoldering stomach wound.
With haggard breaths, Bralu said, “Sorry about that, guys. This is my first time on the battlefield, and I lost myself to the thrill of fighting. I’ve never had a sensation like that before.”
“It’s all right, kid. It happens to everyone,” the soldier assured.
“How’s your buddy?” Bralu asked as he scanned the room.
The soldier bowed his head. “He was killed in the crossfire. I got hit myself, and I don’t think I will be getting up anytime soon.”
“Sorry for your loss. Are the charges still active?”
“They are.”
“Can you set them? I don’t know anything about setting explosives.”
“What about you? You’re wounded. Let me heal you.”
“No time. Set the charges before more security arrives.”
“I don’t think I can. I’m bleeding out fast. I can tell you how to set them, and it will be up to you.”
The last commando gave Bralu a list of detailed instructions that boggled his mind. By the time the soldier was done explaining, Bralu asked, “Why do you have to make it so complicated?”
“Just do it, kid!” the commando ordered, throwing the bag of explosives to Bralu.
Bralu caught the bag with his telekinesis and extracted the charges from the sack. In a series of movements with his wrist, Bralu was able to attach the bombs to critical parts of the shield generator before pressing a button on each one.
“What do I do next?” Bralu asked.
With the last of his strength, the soldier tossed a device to Bralu and muttered, “Use … detonator … thirty seconds.”
“Thirty seconds to what?”
Instead of an answer, the commando was gone. His eyes became lifeless as his body slumped to the floor. Bralu rushed to his companion’s side and tried to use psychic healing to help him, but the man was as cold as ice, and his blood flooded the floor.
“I’m sorry, guy,” Bralu whispered as he slowly closed the man’s eyes.
Suddenly, Bralu’s clairvoyance felt a jolt of pain and fear. It was unlike anything he’d sensed before, but he knew what it meant. Owen was in trouble!
“Sensei!” Bralu cried as he pressed the detonator and ran, increasing his speed by channeling psychic energy through his muscles.
As Bralu ran to help his mentor, he snatched a grenade from the dead commando on his way out. He drew his Kiru, ready for another round of combat. When he was several yards from the shield generator, the charges exploded in a blast of fire that chased him down the hall. Thanks to his enhanced speed, Bralu was able to outrun the blaze. In his determination, he did not seem to notice the explosion. He was focused on helping his teacher fight an unholy enemy. Nothing else mattered in his mind as he continued to run.
CHAPTER 19
Back on Spica Prime’s surface, Devan and the other defenders of Londinium were unleashing all their remaining firepower on the advancing Feldorbot army. The enemy fighters were bombarding the city around them, setting it ablaze. Some of Devan’s soldiers were able to shoot down some fighters with missile launchers, but their efforts had little effect on the fighters’ efforts. The walls surrounding Londinium were on the verge of crumbling from the robots’ relentless barrage of laser blasts. Smoke and chemical fumes filled the air as the battle progressed.
Due to the countless explosions that rang through the air, Devan’s ears were ringing like church bells. To add to his ears’ discomfort, he was experiencing a sensation that felt as though his ears were underwater. He could not even hear his own voice as he shouted orders.
Devan fired his minigun until the weapon overheated. With his minigun disabled, he picked up a fallen gun and continued fighting. His new weapon looked like a combination between a shotgun and a double-barrel rifle.
Suddenly, the city’s gates blew apart from the combined firepower of several spider tanks. Realizing the city was about to be overrun, many defenders fled for their lives. Devan cursed when he surveyed the situation. Picking up a grenade launcher and brandishing his new rifle, he stormed towards the crumbling gate, shouting, “Hold the line!”
By the time Devan reached the gate, the Feldorbots were about to enter the besieged city. Roaring defiantly, Devan unleashed both of his weapons on the robots. In seconds, Devan managed to wipe out the first two waves of enemies. He fired his guns until they were overheated. Then Devan drew a pair of pistols from his belt and continued to fire, hardened determination burning in his heart.
I will not let this planet fall! I won’t let all my preparations be in vain! Devan thought to himself as he continued to fight his way through enemy ranks.
As Devan continued to fight, his pressurized suit of armor was taking heavy damage from laser blasts. Even with his shredded armor and wounds, Devan would not yield. Soon, his pistols also overheated, and Devan discarded them before pulling out his crude spear from his back. Twirling the polearm with deadly skill, Devan slashed and skewered one Feldorbot after another with his spear’s jagged blade. Still, despite his refusal to surrender and his unmatched tenacity, it was clear that Devan was about to be overwhelmed by the robots’ superior numbers.
Suddenly, another barrage of laser blasts fired upon the marching Feldorbots. Devan turned and saw that hundreds of his fellow defenders rushed to his aid, shouting in defiance against their determined enemy. Smiling, Devan resumed his onslaught on the Shogunate ranks, proud that his actions inspired his comrades with new hope. As he charged, he heard a signal chime in his earpiece that made him smile brighter.
______
Deep inside Devan’s bunker, the civilians of Spica Prime huddled together and listened to the sounds of battle above them. They cringed every time the ground shook. Amongst the crowd were Mikaal and Marthuun Pramar, who embraced one another as they looked up at the ceiling.
“I don’t like this,” Marthuun whispered.
“Neither do I. I hope the battle ends soon. Even though we are outmatched, I hope our forces will win,” Mikaal murmured.
“I’m not talking about that.”
“Then what are you talking about?”
“Both of our boys are up there risking their lives. What if they never return? What if we never see them again?”
“Don’t think like that. Our boys are tough and resourceful. They will survive and pull off a miracle. You’ll see.”
“I hope to God you’re right.”
______
Spatha and his staff watched from the top of his office building as the defenders of Londinium struggled to maintain what was left of their defenses. Despite the chaos happening outside, the office was tranquil. As he watched, Spatha drank from a glass of wine and sighed as he relaxed.
“Never fear, friends. Soon the dissidents will fall, and we will be reaching new heights with the Shogunate as our new partners,” Spatha assured.
Suddenly, one of Spatha’s security guards burst into the room and shouted, “Governor! Two squads of Devan’s men are storming the building! They’re headed this way!”
Spatha almost choked on his next sip of wine when he heard the news. Baffled, he asked, “How is that possible? Devan shouldn’t have soldiers to spare in all this mayhem!”
“He must have figured out our involvement with the Shogunate, sir!”
Cursing loudly, Spatha ordered, “Get all my guards and hunt the bastards down! I will not let them ruin my triumph!”
“Yes, sir!”
The guard left the room, leaving a furious Spatha with his nervous staff.
“What are we going to do, Governor?” asked the secretary of state.
“If they have figured out we are working with the Shogunate, they will not be merciful!” shrieked the attorney general.
> “Give us orders, sir!” pleaded the press secretary.
Spatha hesitated for a moment before reaching for his communicator. He turned the device on and shouted, “Hello! This is Governor Spatha! We’re under attack by dissident forces! We request an extraction!”
A feminine voice answered, “Copy that, Governor Spatha. We are sending a shuttle to you right now. Time of arrival is fifteen minutes.”
Spatha and his cronies sighed with relief. With their rescue on the way, they sat in their seats and waited. They could hear the sound of a violent gunfight as the guards clashed with Devan’s commandos.
CHAPTER 20
Kyle watched from the bridge of the Hulbert as his fleet struggled to regain their positions. They managed to destroy the treacherous ships of the Crabbes and the Bartons, but the ambush left the Spica Defense Fleet with a third of its original strength. They could see burning wreckage and debris floating outside the bridge window. The Shogunate armada did not sustain any more casualties and were pressing the assault. Strangely, the dreadnaught’s weapons were not firing, but the frigates possessed enough firepower to inflict crippling damage to the defense fleet.
It had been nearly an hour since the Benfold Star infiltrated the Shogunate dreadnaught, and the enemy flagship’s shield was still up. Kyle began to wonder if his brother’s team was discovered and killed before they could finish their mission. Burning with both anger and despair, Kyle sank in his seat and bowed his head. His crew looked at him, waiting for orders.
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