Hammer's Commandos (Hammer's War Book 4)

by James McEwan

  It was quiet for about thirty seconds, before the lowest ranked Marine spoke up, “Sir. We are Marines. We don’t run. We don’t quit. We don’t retreat. So, fuck the orders, let’s go get some!”

  “Ooh Rah!” They all shouted in unison.

  Grunt couldn’t have been more proud of his Marines, “Alright then, let’s go help the Amerons and show them just what thirty really pissed off Marines can do!

  Chapter 42

  Thad stood on the bridge of the Eden looking at the tactical display in real time 3d. “It looks like Tor tran-kor doesn’t want to tangle with us again on the ground,” St. Claire pointed out as they all could see the massive amount of new Ralnai ships appearing on the screen high above the planet.

  “It looks like he called in two or maybe three battle groups. Kind of warms your heart that he thinks he needs that much fire power to deal with little old us,” Thad remarked.

  “He doesn’t,” Edie said over the speakers.

  “He doesn’t what?” St. Claire asked.

  “Need that much fire power. We faced less than half of that number and nearly didn’t survive. There is no way we can win against this,” Edie answered him.

  “Edie what is the status of the stealth systems?” Thad asked.

  “Still off line and will be for some time. We could only repair one system at a time. If I recall, and I always do perfectly, you wanted the space fold engines up and running first,” she pointed out what he already knew.

  Thad smirked while Edie continued, “Besides, with that many ships, even if our stealth was up and running all they would have to do is look out a window. No. We are not going to slip past them nor can we out gun them. I am open to ideas.”

  “Edie get us in the air. I at least want to be a harder target to hit if they try blasting us from space, “Thad ordered.

  “I’m on it,” Her electronic voice trailed off as the engines rumbled to life and the Eden lifted off the ground.

  “What is this Edie stuff?” St. Claire asked confused.

  “I guess Eve had a break from herself and now that the two AI’s are different they decided to start calling the AI that runs the Eden Edie I guess,” Thad explained.

  “Oh, well it would have been nice if someone bothered to fill us all in,” St. Claire said loudly as to emphasize his point.

  “Apologies, I have been a little busy trying to repair off of my systems, so you will have to excuse me if I didn’t take the run time to bring you all up to date!” Edie snapped back at him.

  “Hey, no need to get snippy about it,” St. Claire fired back the disembodied voice. After he got no response he turned to Thad, “But she told you.”

  “Na, Eve did just before I came to the bridge.”

  “Oh,” St. Claire muttered.

  Thad didn’t respond instead took in all the options and then he looked at Freya, Kára, and St. Claire, “I have an idea, but I need you all to play along.”

  A few minutes later they were headed for upper atmosphere. Thad knew they had to be in space to use the fold engines and he also knew that they needed more time to fix the engines. So, it was time to put on his game face and do some acting. The second they broke through to upper atmosphere they were intercepted by four light cruisers.

  “They are transmitting,” Edie’s voice came over the speakers once more.

  “Put it through,” Thad ordered.

  The speaker crackled “Attention human ship, power down and prepare to be boarded. If you do not comply you will be fired on.”

  Thad spoke, “Attention Ralnai ship, we will surrender, but only to Tor tran-kor himself!”

  “You will surrender to me or you will die!” was the reply

  “Look shipmaster?” Thad waited.

  “Korn ol kan!”

  “Shipmaster cornholio…” Thad was interrupted.

  “KORN OL KAN!” The Ralnai said so loudly that his translator made it sound like a garbled mess.

  “Yeah, whatever. I’m sure by now you know what this ship did to the last Ralnai that fired on her. I assure you that even if we lose, I guarantee you will die first. Now stop wasting my time and get your boss on the com. I will only surrender to him, got it?” Thad stated with real conviction. The vid screen went dark and seconds later the image was restored. It was Tor Tran-kor and he was sporting a new robotic claw arm just like his daddy use to wear.

  “You wish to surrender?” He asked fearing a trap of some sort.

  “Yes, we realized we can’t win this fight and I can’t let my people die because of me. I know I’m the one you want. You can have me and let the others go,” Thad answered.

  “No. You will surrender with no tricks and I will promise you that your women will be treated nicely as slaves. And your men, they will fight for me. However, he dies!” He pointed to St. Claire.

  “What did I do?” St. Claire wined from the background.

  “And if I say no?” Thad asked trying to buy as much time as he could.

  “Then you all will die in the hard vacuum of space!”

  Thad put his hand to his chin and supported it with his other arm as if he was really thinking about it. “So, your terms are I get shipped off to your boss, you keep my women as slaves and my men have to work for you,” he paused for effect and to drag it out even more, “and you want to kill my friend. Is that about right?”

  “Those are the terms, surrender now!” Tor Tran-kor barked at him.

  Thad sighted heavily, “Well shit, you drive one Hell of a hard bargain, but if you promise not to kill anyone, but Dom here. Then I surrender, but I will only do it to you personally.”

  “Wait, wait, wait. What the fuck, you can’t hand me over to that walking belt! Dude, you are such a Blue Falcon.” St. Claire yelled out in protest. Thad had not told him what his plan was so the idea of being handed over to be executed was enough of a shock that his performance was believable.

  “Sorry, buddy, but my life and even yours is not worth everyone’s,” he paused then looked at Freya, “Secure him.”

  Freya and Kára grabbed St. Claire by the arms and had to drag him kicking and screaming from the room. Once they were outside they let go of him and Freya laughed, “I think you missed your calling. You should have been a holo vid star.”

  “What, like Rod?” St. Claire shot back.

  “I think Rod would have been proud of that performance,” Freya said in all seriousness. Kára on the other hand just looked at them like they were both mad.

  Tor Tran-kor, laughed and laughed. Thad didn’t get the joke, “Look as I’m about to be put in chains and shipped off to what will surely be my death do you at least mind letting me in on the joke?”

  It took a few more seconds for Tor Tran-kor to get his breath and stop laughing. “Not only are you going to surrender, but you are handing over your friend to be killed at my hand, but the best part is that you had him removed and put in chains by women. There is no bigger insult to a warrior than to be bested by a female!”

  “Well, good I’m glad that you understand that I am serious about our deal,” Thad said.

  “Be at these cords in five minutes ready to receive our docking ring or the deal is off and you all die!’ The screen went dark then was lit up again with the coordinates.

  Thad looked at them then asked, “Eve how much longer?”

  “Estimated time to finish repairs maybe ten minutes,” she replied.

  “You have five or we all die,” Thad said as he marched off the bridge. Five minutes later Thad stood next to St. Claire in the air lock. St. Claire stood with his arms behind his back to give the appearance that he was bound. “Eve you had better be done because here comes that big nasty lizard is about to call our bluff.”

  “Thirty seconds until the engines are online and a few seconds after that before we can jump,” Edie answered him.

  “Cutting it a little close don’t you think?” St. Claire asked.

  “I’m doing the best I can, Edie out!” The com went quiet. />
  They could see the Ralnai ship as it closed for docking. Across from them standing in the other air lock was Tor Tran-kor. They watched as the ship closed in and the docking tube started to extend. “Edie, any time now!” Thad said.

  “Space fold in ten, nine,” she gave them a count down. That point both men held up their hands with their middle fingers extended.

  “Hey. Fuck you! Asshole!” St. Claire said, while Thad just laughed.

  Tor Tran-kor roared and before he could do anything else the Eden folded space and time and disappeared right before his yellow eyes. He pounded on the airlock door with his robotic claw. He slammed the glass until it cracked. It was then he realized he was standing in an air lock with a cracking window. He stopped beating on the glass and retreated to the safety of the ship and closed the inner door just as the outer one failed and the air lock and everything in it was sucked into space.

  After they completed their first jump they received the burst transmission. Thad played it. It was his mother, “Dominic, I hope that you have completed your mission and I also hope that you have found Thad and the twins, but even if you haven’t, I have to re-task your team. This may be the last order I give you for some time and maybe forever as things have gone bad back home. I am facing a court martial. I need you to redeploy to New Hope, link up with Grunt and his Marines and do what you can to save the Amerons. This may very well be a suicide mission, but those people have no one else to turn to.” At this point she saluted the screen. “It has been an honor and pleasure to serve with you. I hope to see you again someday. Give them Hell and come back alive if you can!” She dropped the salute and the transmission ended.

  “Edie, set course for New Hope,” Thad said.

  “New Hope?” St. Claire asked as he entered the bridge with a bottle of Jack Daniels and two glasses.

  “Yep, we have a new mission. Eve play back the transmission,” Thad said as he accepted one of the glasses.

  St. Claire poured them drinks as he watched the message, “Okay, first we sort out this mess on New Hope then we head back to Earth and kill whichever stupid fucker thought it was a good idea to Court Martial your mom!”

  Thad clinked his glass against St. Claire’s, “Sounds like a plan!”

  To Be Continued.

  Will Thad and team reach New Hope in time to help Commandant Grunt and his Marines save New Hope?

  Will Amanda really face a court martial over her decision to help the Amerons and New Hope?

  Will the new Terran Alliance hold together under the pressures of war and can they stop the New Galactic Empire from turning all life in the universe into undead soldiers?

  You will have to join Thad in the next exciting installment of Hammer’s War!

  The Secrets of Xibalba.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  James McEwan is a graphic artist, photographer, film maker, digital artist, and college graduate who has turned his considerable talents to writing.

  For his first book, Hammer’s War-Forging the Hammer, he used the Starguard universe created by his father, fellow author and game designer John McEwan, which John created in 1974. Using this gaming universe James has updated and expanded the original concept to include numerous new races, adventures, and his hero Thaddeus Hammer. In his second book, Dimension Shift, he has successfully created a new universe of his own.

  James lives with his wife and two children in Washington State