Battle in the Stars (Marston Chronicles Book 4)

by D Patrick Wagner

  “If that is all, I need to get back to our preparations.”

  Weiskoff heard the signoff click and angrily stabbed his own icon. Turning back to his monitor he continued to wait. He didn’t need to wait long. A green dot jumped through the gate. The scout ship had, again, returned. A few moments later, Vice-Admiral Weiskoff heard the announcement. He reacted.

  “All ships, all asteroid controllers. Alien enemy will be exiting the Corrinar gate momentarily. Everyone button up. Stay alert. Be prepared for anything. Stick to the plan. As a reminder, all freighter captains, hold fire until my command. Gods willing, we will get through this.”

  Weiskoff rose and headed for his command pod. He would manage the battle from there.

  “Thank you, Captain. I will take it from here. You have a ship to fight.” Weiskoff spoke through his throat mic to a closed acceleration pod.

  “Of course, Admiral,” he heard back through his implanted cranial net.

  “Captain Brewer, please have Mr. Connors send a com buoy to Tolimar. Let them know that the battle has begun.”

  Sato Scout Team

  Sunrise signaled the four-person team of Nightshades that the time had come to pack up camp and began the last leg of their trek. Juro launched his five drones and set them to darting through the forest, scanning the terrain, sending back videos of the intended path.

  Using the returned information, Juro sub-vocalized into his com unit and passed information to the other three, selecting the easiest, most-concealed paths. Like shadows on the forest floor, four Nightshades ghosted towards their destination.

  Before Dorogon’s star dropped below the horizon, the four nightshades reached their target. Standing on the cliff, they looked down at the surprisingly tranquil lake nestled between the canyon walls. Looking upriver, they all saw the pounding waterfall, millions of gallons dropping over the upper edge and forming rainbows as the last rays of the evening sun refracted through the dense mist of the falling water. Looking downriver, they saw what appeared to be a natural dam crossing the chasm, blocking the flow of the rushing river with the lake’s overflow spilling over this barrier, allowing the river to continue its rush to the valley below.

  “Let’s move back to the tree line. Set up camp there.”

  Sa-Janto Sato led his charges into the forest, away from the prying lenses and sensors of the alien drones. In a minimal amount of time, the efficient, quiet Nightshades assembled their camp, set the sentry drones and settled in for another cold night on the snow-covered ground.

  When the soft light of the morning sun sparkled through the snow-covered trees, four stiff Nightshades climbed from their tents and began their morning rituals of meditation and physical preparedness, with Sa-Janto Kimura, being the lone woman, finding a private spot for her morning ritual. Once completed, the three gathered around their leader and waited for their next commands.

  “Juro, what do you think of the lake?”

  “I don’t see any ice flows. Just some on the edge. So, I would guess that there is a swirling current keeping the water in motion.”

  “Can you swim in it?”

  “Hai, Sa-Junto.”

  “Check it first.”

  “Hai, Sa-Junto. In worst case, I just dive to the bottom, let the current push me to the dam and I work my way out from there.”

  “You are confident in this?”

  “Hai.”

  “Well, Juro. We’re hungry. Get us something to eat?”

  “Hai, Sa-Janto,” the Kaihei happily replied.

  “Moreko. You and Mishio search for greens and berries. I will activate the drones and check the surroundings.”

  “Hai, Sa-Janto. The cliff face?”

  “After scouting to see if we have any aliens in our area.”

  “Hai.” Kimura gave Hayashi a nod and the two stealthily made their way deeper into the forest.

  During this time, Juro had already driven a piton into the hard granite cliff, dropped his lines and descended to the small beach at the base of the cliff. Sato peeked over the edge and watched as the Mappai donned his gear, checked his spear gun and waded into the shallows, checking for any current. Sato watched as Juro carefully waded further out. When the lake’s surface reached chest height, Juro sank into the cold water. With the rebreather trapping his breath, Juro disappeared.

  Sato watch for a few moments more then began his task of releasing the scout drones and searching for any threats, alien or otherwise.

  Moreko and Mishio returned. Juro scaled the cliff, fish and a bladder of water cinched to his back. Using a small catalytic heater to prepare the meal and pellets to purify the water, the four nightshades scarfed down the hot, tasty breakfast.

  “See anything, Juro?”

  “Yes, Sa-Junto. Further up, towards the falls. Maybe one half of a kilometer. I saw some large openings close to the cliff base with smaller ones scattered up to about the cliff’s midpoint. And a larger beach.”

  “Good. We will leave our camp here. Carry only climbing gear and weapons.”

  “Maybe swim gear? For a fast escape?”

  “Not this time, Juro. That would mean wearing our water-tight suits. No chameleon. Which do you prefer?”

  “Naturally the Nightfish goes with the swim gear,” Mishio joked.

  “Can we work our way from the larger beach to the one just below us?”

  “Yes, Moreko, if we climb over some boulders.”

  “Then, I prefer chameleon.”

  “Same here.”

  “We go with chameleon and weapons, Juro.”

  “Hai, Sa-Junto.”

  After the team packed up and hid its camp, the four nightshades slinked through the forest for the half a kilometer and stopped.

  “The caves should be just below us, Sa-Janto.”

  “Go check, Juro. Mishio, go with him. If we are above the caves, set four pitons. Moreko, overwatch. I will work the drones.”

  Sato heard three responses and began his task of releasing the drones and searching for any threats. Moreko pulled and assembled her sniper rifle, established a stable position and, through the scope, began quartering the open space above the cliffs.

  Juro crabbed to the cliff, dropped to his belly and peeked over. Rising, he hand-signed that they needed to move another hundred meters. The team regrouped in the forest, moved the required hundred meters and repeated their tasks.

  Once Juro and Mishio anchored the four pitons, everyone attached their lines, dropped over the side and repelled down the face, pushing out, sliding, swinging back and cushioning the impact with bending knees. Three quarters of the way down, Moreko’s descent brought her to a cave opening. She pushed away, let out more line and allowed her return to swing her into the cave. Releasing more line, she landed on her feet. The other three, seeing this, cross-walked over, repelled down and also swung into the cave.

  “Two tunnels, Sa-Janto,” Juro commented. “Looks like one slants up, one down. Walking angles.”

  “Juro, Moreko, you take the down tunnel. Mishio and I will take the up one. Travel for five minutes out, then return. We regroup here in no more than ten minutes.”

  Ten minutes later, everyone returned.

  “It seems that all of the caves have been linked up. The Emperor has done well, looking ahead, planning for contingencies.”

  “I don’t think that this is the work of our Emperor, Sa-Janto.”

  “How so?”

  “The walls. They are perfectly smooth. It is like a great heat was used to dig out these caves and tunnels.”

  “I noticed that, but didn’t think anything of it.”

  “This is not our concern, Juro. We will map this warren, and return with our report, as ordered.”

  “Hai, Sa-Janto.”

  “Juro, you and Mishio. Retrieve our gear. We will move our camp to this cave. Moreko and I will begin the Mapping.”

  Sasania Mountain Cave

  Every morning, First Sergeant Boulos led his squad, the First Recon Patrol, back t
hrough the network of alien tunnels and into the small cavern housing the alien communicator. This day, same as the previous many, everyone studiously avoided the small, alien corpse on the bed, against the wall. They also stayed a good distance from the pedestal holding the small silvery pyramid. The same with the strange work bench area.

  “Get started, people. Corpsman Faheem. You lead calisthenics. Private Ajam, conditioning. A full six K’s. You come in first. Wadji, hand-to-hand. Move it! Move it!”

  The First Sergeant watched with satisfaction as his six charges, led by Faheem, began their stretching and muscle building. Leaving his men to it, he walked over to the strange communicator, took an at-rest pose and waited.

  His squad finished their warm-up and physical training. Private Ajam, the newest member of the team, took his spot at the small opening and waited until the other five had lined up. Dropping to his knees, he quick-crawled through the tunnel and moved out of the way at its exit. The other five followed. Once all had stood and stretched, Ajam set his wrist tracker and set out, down one of the long, alien corridors.

  Now alone, first Sergeant Boulos wandered around in his mind and around the cavern. Stopping at the cadaver, he wondered what kind of creature this had been. Without touching, he once again stared at the strange, oversized skull, the small body, the three-fingered hands and feet. For the umpteenth time, he stared at the medallion resting in the cavity formed by the small rib cage.

  “Sergeant Boulos,” he heard from the strange communicator.

  Racing over, he came to attention.

  “Speaking, Major Marston, Sir!”

  “At ease, Sergeant.”

  The first Sergeant shifted from attention to at ease.

  “Sir!.”

  “Status?”

  “Nothing new from our company, Sir. But we have heard some chatter.”

  “And that would be, Sergeant?”

  “Apparently there are others around Sasania that have hidden out, Sir. A communication network has been established.”

  “What have you found out?”

  “Millions of the bugs have landed, Sir. The whole planet is covered with the aliens.”

  “Any resistance?”

  “Some tried. All have died. I have to admit, Major. Commander Toma was correct. He was right to dig in and hide.”

  “How is moral?”

  “Bad, sir. It’s like everyone is sitting around, waiting to die.”

  “Your squad?’

  “I’m busting their butts, Sir. Sorry, Sir. I’m keeping them active.”

  “Keep busting their butts, Sergeant. Be ready. I should be there in about a month, if all goes smoothly.”

  “Very good, sir. There is one other thing. Apparently, one group has access to telescopes. A huge ship, bigger than anything ever seen, has established orbit around Sasania. It’s the one off-loading the millions of bugs, sir. And tons of equipment. It looks like the bugs are setting up to stay awhile.”

  “Understood, Sergeant. One month. We’ll be there.”

  “How will you get through the enemy lines, Major?”

  “That’s my problem, Sergeant. You just be ready.”

  “Sir, yes, Sir.”

  Chapter 11

  Onboard Griffin

  Five beings stood on the upper hull of Griffin. Mack, Sue and the Elonian Engineer, Master Varrini, critically watched and supervised as Ballisonian robots worked to remove Griffin’s center thruster. After Buster had flown the Human ship into the manufacturing pyramid, Igaklay had set his labor robots to work, adding Ballisonian technology to the already Human/Elonian hybrid ship. Once the robots, under Igaklay’s control, had detached all of the electronics and hydraulics, they attacked the mounting brackets and connectors. After the engine had been completely uncoupled from Griffin, a crane wheeled over, latched on and lifted it from her fuselage.

  Turning to Igaklay’s avatar, Mack stated, “I want to inspect the mounting supports before we put the new thruster in place, Iggy.”

  “Ok, Mack.”

  “And the wiring harness.”

  “Ok, Mz. Sue.

  “Buster. You and Vidhee made sure that this new engine is compatible with Griffin?”

  “As I said, Mack. Both Vidhee and I agree. The schematics look good. The hands on inspection didn’t find any fails. The test firing passed all of our requirements. Quit worrying. Everything is copasetic.”

  “Copasetic?”

  “Yes. I like that word. Copasetic. As in ‘completely satisfactory’.”

  “I know what copasetic means, Tinman. I hate to say it, but I am starting to agree with Cap. You are getting weird.”

  “Just following your lead, Mr. Mack.”

  “Master Varrini, Lassie, Ready?”

  “At your lead, Sir Mack.” Varrini flicked his ears in humor.

  Mack, in a very Krag like manner, shook his head. The two engineers walked the upper hull of Griffin, Sue headed straight to the electrical harness and began testing the circuitry. After a time, the three formed up.

  “Master Varrini, Lassie, judgements?”

  “I believe that Igaklay’s thruster may be mounted.”

  “The harness needs some rework. But I already knew that.”

  “And, I approve of the hydraulics being connected. So it’s a ‘go’?

  Mack saw both heads nod in approval.

  “You’re up, Iggy. Set her on and hook her up.”

  “Yes!” Igaklay clapped his avatar’s three-fingered hands then went still. The robots and crane began their scramble to connect the Ballisonian drive to the Human/Elonian hybrid of a ship.

  The rest of the day passed. The robots, under the control of Igaklay, finished their tasks. Once the Ballisonian thruster was mounted and connected, all three engineers and one Human Synthetic inspected and tested the result.

  “Looks good from my end,” Mack commented as all five returned to their spot on the upper hull.

  “Master Varrini?”

  “Everything passed the visual inspection, Sir Mack.”

  “Tinman?”

  “I’ve run my tests and passed the results to Vidhee. We both agree that this new thruster is connected properly and ready for a dry test.”

  “Lassie? You said you needed some rework.”

  “I need to expand the number of communication connections. But the harness already has the ports. So we’re good there. After you string the wiring, I can expand the control programs to run this new engine and the Mass Negator.”

  “Well, now that you know what you need, I can get that wiring installed.”

  “I can do that, Mack. I’ll have the repair robots do it.”

  “Thanks, Iggy. Let’s go with that. How soon?”

  “As soon as Mz. Sue gives me her requirements.”

  “Ok since everything is copasetic,” Mack looked at Buster, “Let’s take our little road show below. I don’t know about you, but I’m starved.”

  The four followed Mack into Griffin and to the galley. There, they saw Krag, Keiko, Gopai, the two Elonian scientists and Princess Analyn already eating their evening meal. Buster took his regular stance beside Vidhee while the two Humans, one artificial Ballisonian and one Elonian joined the rest of Griffin’s shipmates.

  “How did it go?” Krag asked in between mouthfuls of food.

  “Right as rain, Cap. Iggy needs to string some wire. Lassie needs to do her stuff then we will be ready for our first test.”

  “Timeframe?”

  Sue went through her deep thought ritual, chewing a lip, scrunching her brows and pushing some hair behind her ear.

  “Two days. Between building the connections, writing and modifying a duplicate set of code and doing a logic run through, two days.”

  “Then, let’s say three days. That’s when we do a test run.”

  “Yeah. Three days is good for me, Captain.”

  “What about the Mass Negator? Its permanent housing?”

  “Me, Master Varrini and Iggy will work on
that tomorrow, Cap.

  “Igaklay. Let me ask you something.”

  “Anything, Captain Marston.”

  “This thruster you just installed. Is it enough to power Griffin?”

  “More than enough, Captain Marston.”

  “Good. I’ve been thinking. We are not going to swap out the wing thrusters.”

  “I can just remove them, Captain Marston. You don’t need them. Besides, if I do that, you can get rid of all of your fusion drives and your fuel storage.”

  “That is true, Igaklay. But I have a different thought. I want to keep this drive and the Mass Negator secret. So, when we are in Human or Elonian space, I need to use the wing thrusters for normal flight.”

  “But, aren’t you going to tell everyone about your ship? Aren’t you going to tell everyone about Ballison?”

  “Yes, eventually. But not now. Now, we need to keep all of the modifications to Griffin secret.”

  “Iggy. Cap’s right. Cap. Is that an order?”

  “Krag and Keiko immediately understood the game that Mack was playing.

  “Yes, Mack. Igaklay. Everyone. Keeping Griffin’s upgrades and capabilities is now top secret.”

  Princess Analyn scanned the galley, stopping and pointed her ears at the table of Gopai, Royal Guardsmen and handmaidens.

  “I make this a Royal Decree. No beings are to divulge or discuss anything concerning Griffin or its capabilities. This decree is a decree of treason with the associated punishment.”

  Sir Mahajani, standing beside his Princess, added his glare to the room.

  Onboard Odin

  Vice-Admiral Weiskoff watched alien frigates exit the Corrinar gate, fire missiles and smash into the wall of asteroids. Each destroyed ship created a little more room. And a little more clutter. Weiskoff saw the plan and shook his head at the massive sacrifice of alien lives just to gain more space.

  “Fleet Captains. Achieve sight lines and begin attacking that alien incursion. As we planned. Groups of three focus on each ship. The more ships we destroy, the less they will be able to penetrate the asteroid wall.”

  He heard affirmations from all of his captains and saw many ships maneuvering for better firing solutions. The alien frigates kept coming and dying. The space in front of the gate slowly expanded. As the aliens destroyed more and more asteroids, sight lines became clearer. The Human fleet of weaponized freighters slowly began to destroy the alien ships.