Harry Heron: No Quarter

by Patrick G Cox

  Chapter 31 – Consortium Strikes

  “Impressive.” Bob Dalziel surveyed the newly completed system of moats and berms that surrounded the ridge on which the camp and the landing area were situated. “I see what you mean about the overlapping fire zones.”

  “They stop most of the local beasties as well. Those tree things don’t cross them, nor do those caterpillar creatures. The spider critters love ’em. Apparently we’ve created an environment for their favourite food.” The Marine Major laughed.

  Harry joined them, his ever-present folder of plans slung over his shoulder. “Sir, Lieutenant Orloff’s compliments. Captain Rafferty has sent a message. The deep scan carried out by the Danaea confirms there is an installation to our southwest. They are unsure of the extent, as it is heavily screened, but it appears to be in a mine of some kind.”

  “So your feeling was right, Mr Heron.” The Lieutenant Commander paused. “That would explain Lieutenant Sci’Girac’s team having seen vehicles exiting a tunnel. Anything else, Mr Heron?”

  “Aye, sir. The Captain advises that a squadron is underway to retrieve us, expected within a fortnight, but he hopes sooner.” Harry smiled. “And my guardian is promoted to Rear-Admiral in command of the Fourth Fleet.”

  Bob Dalziel laughed. “Excellent. A fighting admiral for our Fleet at last.”

  THE ATTACK CAME AT SUNRISE, PRESAGED BY THE SHRIEK of a pair of aerial strike units that came in low over the landing area. Catching one of the barges in the act of rising from its pad with the reliefs for the working party on Danae, the leader opened fire, breaking away as the barge plunged to the ground, ploughing into two more, one for Daring and the other unmanned.

  The Royals recovered quickly, their plasma projectors swinging rapidly to meet the circling strike craft and delivering a wall of plasma streams.

  “Man the berms!” The order sent Techs and Marines racing to their allotted positions on the substantial dykes the Marines had constructed to Harry’s sketch. “Commander Dalziel!” The Marine Captain spoke into his link. “We have ground forces supported by armour approaching from the southeast. Delta Sector. They’re aiming for the landing area.”

  “Hold them off. Leander and Daring are scrambling their remaining strike craft. They need thirty minutes to get here.”

  The shriek of the enemy aerial craft drowned out the reply, and Bob Dalziel ducked as explosions hurled debris into the air.

  “Bastards have hit Med Dome Delta, sir!”

  “Tell the medics at Unit Charlie to send help.” To Sci’Anatha he said, “You may deploy your people, Lieutenant. Just make sure they stay out of our firing lines. Good luck.”

  The Lacertian made her gesture of salute and strode away, her own people joining her.

  “We need all the luck we can get now,” said Bob Dalziel to himself. He settled down to listen to the reports flowing in, and issued instructions as needed.

  The Marine Captain studied the attackers. “They’ve taken the outlier position.” He gave a harsh laugh. “They’ve discovered the problem with that, though. Bastards are evacuating it again. That Vaubon chappie of yours was a bloody genius, Mr Heron.”

  “They’re trying to use the moats to approach, sir.”

  “They’ll soon discover their mistake.” He handed a set of ranging optics to Harry. “Take a look through these. See that ridge to the right? There’s a command post, or something that looks like one, on the back slope of it. Report to Commander Dalziel and tell him I would like to send a raiding party to take them out.” He grinned as Harry took the optical device. “I suspect they’ve got a listening post over there, so we’ll communicate the old fashioned way — your way.”

  Harry studied the ridge and made out what appeared to be masts just visible above it. “I shall tell him, sir.” He grinned. “Perhaps we should adopt flag signals and port fires by night, sir.” He watched as a figure moved into view, studying the defences. “Barclay? Here? Changed sides, has he? Or was he always on their side?” Harry lowered the optics. “I shall inform the Lieutenant Commander, sir.”

  He nodded distractedly, his attention focused on the latest attempt to smash a way past the tiered defences, each succeeding berm dyke higher than the next and providing arcs of fire that covered all approaches from those in front of it or to those on either side. He raised his ranging optics and studied the attacking troops.

  The Marine Captain snorted a wry laugh. “Don’t those fools realise they’re walking straight into kill zones?”

  IN ORBIT ABOVE THE PLANET, THE STRUGGLE TO STABILISE the damaged Leander went on without pause.

  “All the bodies are recovered, sir. We’ve placed them in the holds on the Orion for shipping back to Earth. With her holds not under atmosphere, it saves power to keep them—”

  “Quite. How about the loss of atmosphere from the Weapons Control?”

  “We’ve found the leak and sealed it, sir.” Mama Behr paused. “We’ve sorted out two of the drive pods and sealed off the leaks in the forward end. Portside hangars are still open to space. It will need a major rebuild to solve that, and the AG forward of Frame 47 is another dockside job.” She stopped as a chirp sounded from the Captain’s link.

  “Captain.”

  “Base Camp reports being under attack by surface forces, sir. The attackers are targeting the barges and landing area, and have hit one of the med units and the commissariat in one sector.”

  “Damn, so Bob Dalziel was right. They are having a go.” He hesitated. “Get Captain Gratz on link for me, and send me the Flight Officer on board.”

  “I’ll get my team ready to power up the weapons and support for launching the strike craft.”

  “Do that, please. Damn, the DGK and her group aren’t due for another twenty-four!”

  WATCHING FROM HIS COMMAND POST AT THE CENTRE of the camp, Bob Dalziel lowered his ranging optics. “They’re pulling back.” He glanced up as the roar of several strike craft filled the air. “Ours. That’ll change the score a little.” He contacted the Marine officer now hastening the departure of the last Consortium troops. “What’s your assessment of their intentions?”

  “They’ve fallen back to positions just outside the range of our heavy weapons.” The Marine officer hesitated. “They may be regrouping or waiting for reinforcement. I don’t think they’ve much in reserve though. This lot seem to be no more than a garrison, not a full brigade even. They started to pull back as soon as we hit whatever was behind that ridge.”

  “I think it was some sort of observation post.” Bob Dalziel stopped as Lieutenant Sci’Anatha arrived. “I think I’m about to find out what it was and what happened to the occupants. I’ll get back to you.”

  “We found a Command Post, sir. They had this.” She presented him with the decoder unit.

  “What?” He looked more closely at the unit. “Well, I’ll be damned.” He whistled softly. “So that’s how they’re doing it. They’re reading every damned signal we make.” Turning, he spotted Harry. “Get a launch, and get this aloft to the Captain. Don’t send any messages, and don’t mention what you are bringing aboard if you’re asked. In fact, disguise it now, and don’t tell anyone what it is. We’ll need to warn the ships and the Fleet.”

  To Lieutenant Sci’Anatha, he said, “What happened to the men manning that post?”

  She told him.

  “No prisoners? Did they resist?” He stopped, correctly reading the alien’s expression. “I see. How many of them?”

  “Six guarding, four in the vehicle, and two observing from the hill. Some left before we struck. They did not see us. Their compatriots have sent a patrol, but I assigned two of my people to follow and learn the strength of the main group.”

  Bob Dalziel nodded, silently thankful the Lacertians were on his side. “Very well.” He stopped himself from asking if two would be enough. These Lacertians seemed more than capable of taking care of themselves. “Better tell me what you’ve learned from t
his excursion then.”

  HARRY HURRIED TOWARD THE LANDING AREA, AND WAS relieved to see the fires already out, but concerned that several of the larger barges were damaged or destroyed. He slowed his pace when Lt-Cdr Vallance stepped out of a dome and asked where he was going.

  “I am ordered to take a report to Captain Rafferty, sir.” His senses prickled for no apparent reason. “The destruction of the Delta sector commissariat has cost us the culture plant for a third of our meat supplies,” he improvised. “If I cannot bring back a fresh culture and replacement culture tanks, we will have to impose rationing.”

  “Ah.” Ari Vallance knew the commissariat had been damaged, so he bought the story. “Better get on then. Can’t let the troops go hungry.” Watching Harry retreat, he cursed his luck. His plan to grab the kid as soon as it was dark enough and then to work his way out of the camp on a pretext was obviously a non-starter now. At least he’d managed to acquire a Consortium comlink from a fallen trooper. Now all he could do was sit it out and wait for them to send in reinforcements.

  HARRY SLEPT THROUGH THE RIDE TO THE DAMAGED LEANDER. He hadn’t realised how tired he was. He disembarked with the decoder under his arm and reported to Lieutenant Mariam Isfahan, the gangway officer. “I am ordered to report to the Captain.”

  Mariam returned his salute. “He’s in the Command Centre, Harry. I’ll let him know you’re on your way.” She noticed the carefully wrapped package, and her curiosity was piqued. “So, what have you got there? How are things going on the surface? Are the Royals holding the attackers off?”

  Harry grinned. “Where shall I begin? Flesh-eating plants, walking trees, and yes, the Royals have held the defences.”

  This elicited a laugh from Mariam.

  “And this,” Harry added, tapping the package, “is for the Captain’s eyes only.”

  When Harry entered the Captain’s office, the Captain wasted no time getting right to business. “Mr Heron, Commander Dalziel tells me you have an important package for me.”

  “Aye, sir. It was recovered from the Consortium Command Unit — a fleet signal decrypter. Lieutenant Commander Dalziel believes they may have full access to all our signal traffic.”

  “That explains a lot.” Rising from his seat, Greg Rafferty took the package, unwrapped it, and turned it this way and that to examine it. “I’ll be double damned. So that’s how they’re always aware of what we’re planning and doing. It’s so damned obvious, our people should have spotted it. Now we’ve got a bigger problem. They’ll know exactly when the DGK and her escort will get here, and what our condition is.”

  “Aye, sir. Commander Dalziel thinks the troops here are waiting for reinforcement. They’re regrouping on our perimeter, and have divided their forces, possibly in preparation for a fresh assault as soon as these reinforcements arrive.”

  The Captain hesitated. “Right. I need to warn the other Captains. Coms are out, so we’ll have to send a message in person.” Activating his link, he ordered, “Lieutenant Isfahan, send the nearest midshipman to me immediately. Have Mr Heron’s launch placed on standby for immediate departure, and place my launch on immediate readiness.”

  Listening, Harry wondered what his Captain planned. He wasn’t left in doubt for long.

  “You have that pad you always carry with you, Mr Heron?”

  “Aye, sir.”

  “I’ll make use of it, if you don’t mind.”

  “My pleasure, sir.” Harry handed over his pad just as Ferghal joined them.

  “Gentlemen, I’m writing a note to Captain Gratz and Captain O’Shea. I want you to take the launches and deliver them for me, in person, please. Mr Heron, explain the problem to Mr O’Connor while I write this.”

  Chapter 32 – Engage the Enemy

  The Consortium Commodore studied the 3D display of the system. “Three frigates and the freighter.” He paused. “The freighter is unmanned, the same one we disabled as bait for the Leander.”

  “They must have done something unusual to get her here.” As a member of the boarding party, the Lieutenant had seen the destruction of the control interfaces.

  Commodore Ellerton shrugged. “Immaterial. She’s no threat, and the cargo she carries will be useful. We have twelve hours to deal with these wrecks, destroy their survivors and withdraw our forces. I want the landing barges away as soon as we close the planet.”

  “Commodore, as you’re aware, our stealth screen is still inoperable. They’ll be able to scan and target us as soon as we drop out.”

  “Yes, but if the damage assessment is accurate, it won’t make any difference.” The Commodore was aware that his flagship, a converted freight and passenger carrier, carried a heavier armament than the majority of the Fleet cruisers. Her conversion made her a formidable opponent for anything smaller or of equal size, but not for a heavy cruiser such as Der Grosse Kurfürst. He touched his link. “Captain Doerries, drop out on the blind side of the planet and take us through the low orbit arc. I want to attack these ships from the planet. Confirm my intention with the escorts. Tell them to mop up once we’ve disabled them.” He paused. “The landing barges are to launch as soon as we have contact with the targets.”

  HARRY EXPLORED THE LEANDER’S MANOEUVRING FUNCTIONS again. There was a worrying lag in relays that controlled the operation of firing the multiple thrust generators that the ship relied on to change direction and orientation. Some had been destroyed, others damaged, but before the ship could be moved anywhere, these command and control circuits had to be fully operational.

  “All hands, all hands, battle stations, battle stations, one heavy cruiser and two frigates closing. Prepare for manoeuvring and engagement.”

  This was followed by the Captain’s calm voice. “Attention all hands. This is the Captain. We are completely outgunned, and you all know that we are in a damaged state. All hands are to rig in EVA suits as quickly as you can and take your posts. Should the opportunity be offered, I will attempt to ram the cruiser, and I will want the ship evacuated as soon as I give the order. Make sure you are fully prepared to leave the ship as rapidly as possible. Our companions on New Eden must be given every chance to survive, and those of you who can abandon the ship when the moment comes may be able to join them. Good luck, and thank you all for what you have done. That is all. Captain out.”

  The signal of the general alarm sounded with shrill urgency, and the men ran to obey the order. The scramble to rig in suits and get to their action stations slowed the ship’s response, but soon enough all stations reported ready. Harry noted that a number of men and officers made no attempt to get their EVA suits rigged, apparently determined to go down with the ship.

  Harry asked one of them, “Sir, why do you not rig for EVA?”

  The Lieutenant lifted his shoulders in a brief shrug of nonchalance. “If I have to go, I’ll go this way, quick, spectacular and taking as many of the bastards with me as I can. Now lad, head for Navigation — they’ll need you there.”

  Harry made his way to Navigation Control where he was welcomed by Lieutenant Orloff and a Master Warrant Officer. “Welcome, Harry, glad to see you are properly rigged,” greeted the Lieutenant even as Harry noted that neither of them was rigged for EVA. “Take the Navigation Station, please, and plot us an intercept. Then get ready to run like hell for the escape hatches. We’ll take it from there.”

  “Aye, aye, ma’am.” Harry seated himself awkwardly in the bulky suit and linked to the AI network. As he did so he remembered that Ferghal was also aboard the ship. He said a silent prayer then prepared to do his part for the ship.

  “WE’VE GOT A PROBLEM.” BOB DALZIEL LOWERED HIS ranging optics. “They’ve got reinforcements alright. Looks like a full detachment landing and disembarking. And we can expect no help from the ships. There’s a Consortium cruiser and her escort in system.”

  “Full landing force by the look of it — must be a heavy cruiser by the numbers. The Marine Major deactivated his optics. “Damn, t
hat means they’ll use strike craft on us once they’ve dealt with our ships.” The Marine officer shrugged. “Well, we’ll give them a taste of hell and make them pay as heavily as we can.”

  Bob nodded slowly, pondering their situation. “Yes. I wonder why they are here. Sci’Anatha says there’s a very intricate set of uplink projectors very well hidden around twenty kilometres from here. She got me an image, and they look like hypercom relays, but why here? Those damned giant caterpillars eat plasmetal, so they’ll be after those relays.”

  “Perhaps we’ll get it sorted out once we’ve beaten this lot.”

  Bob grinned at the Major. “Damn right. Come on, let’s make them regret coming here.” He contacted his strike craft pilots. “We’ve four strike craft against their God knows how many. Let’s get started.”

  THE HUGE CRUISER MADE AN IMPRESSIVE SIGHT WITH her frigates close and a swarm of strike fighters preceding her.

  “Damn. We’re outgunned, out classed and damn near sitting ducks.” Greg Rafferty winced as the first plasma bursts struck the damaged Danea. “He’s going to try to finish us off one at a time. Pilot, can you plot us a micro transit past Danea and Dragon so I can position the old girl to ram him?”

  “Will do my best, sir.”

  “Fine.” He contacted Heather Behr. “Mama, this is going to be tricky. I need those hyperpods online, and I’m going to be demanding some tricky manoeuvres. Can you do it?”

  Listening to this exchange and already engaged in plotting the Navigator’s solutions, Harry had a sudden thought. He linked to his friend swiftly. “Ferghal, are you ready to evacuate?”

  “Aye, Harry, that I am — to be sure we have little hope either way, it seems.”