The Stars Came Back

by Rolf Nelson

  Riposte

  CUT TO

  INT - DAY - Tajemnica Bridge

  Quiritis has her normal calm expression as she works the controls, herding the starship through the twisting and narrow (for a seventy meter starship) canyon, and steep walls fly past on the screens in their “glass cockpit” view. She rolls it this way and that, trying to keep one eye on the terrain and one on the path laid out in the tactical display showing the planned path. No one else looks calm, they are all white knuckled and tense, watching things whiz by dangerously close. Suddenly, a red dot appears nearly over them in the tactical display right at the top of a rock spur sticking out into the looping canyon they are following. Quiritis pulls back on the yoke hard.

  CUT TO

  EXT - DAY - Observation post

  On the flat-topped rock spur jutting out into a gooseneck of the canyon’s meandering course, a soldier stands munching a ration biscuit near a small table, chewing slowly, his face sleepy. Behind him is a small camp: tiny tent, camp stove, small folding table and chair, radio set with a 5m ground-mounted antenna nearby, small pile of gear. The view is grand. He’s looking off into the valley on one side, down into the great steep oxbow valley. He starts to reach for the radio mic. He pauses, perks up. He hears something and turns around, eyes bug out for a second then he hits the ground, food bar forgotten. Roaring low up and over him and the rock spur is Tajemnica, so close that it tears up some of the cliff edge rocks. Quiritis is not following the valley loops now, she’s cutting over the neck of the loop as a shortcut. As it passes overhead, the not quite retracted landing strut and the wind of its passing sweeps away the camp, then Tajemnica dives back down into the valley and swerves around the next corner and away. Silence falls. The soldier stands up. Where his tiny but sufficient camp was, he now stands alone, nothing but the clothes on his back. No camp. No radio. Nothing. He looks down one cliff side of the rock spur, then down the other. No longer sleepy, his face is shocked and bleak.

  CUT TO

  INT - DAY - Tajemnica Bridge

  Helton: Close!

  Quiritis: No problem. Kiv position Alpha closing fast. Get folks ready.

  Helton: (Into mic) Everyone hang on. Gun crew get ready to load. Everyone who can, clear the cargo deck. Check middeck windows. Secure everything.

  CUT TO

  INT - DAY - Inside the APC

  The crew sit strapped in, ammo belts wedged into any available space, ready to reload the gun’s magazine when needed.

  CUT TO

  INT - DAY - Cargo bay ramp

  The inner airlock doors are closed behind them, the ramp is up. The side-door with the folding arm opens, the arm and gun fold out into the angled space next to the APC. One of the crewmen with his head out of the top hatch looks at it in surprise as he adjusts his helmet and goggles.

  Ship AI: (OC, through headset) You’ll be mannin’ th’ port side, lad, I’ll be cov’rn th’ starb’rd. Ready t’ show’em the devil they kicked?

  APC commander: (Nodding) Oh, yeah! Bring ‘em on!

  The ramp begins to lower, and the wind blasts in through it.

  CUT TO

  EXT - DAY - Kiv battalion position Alpha

  A large number of wheeled and tracked guns, cannons, tanks, APCs, missile and rocket launchers, trucks and trailers are laagered up in a pair of concentric circles a couple of kilometers from an opening in the cliffs, looking like they are loaded up and ready to move out. They are parked fairly close together. Only a handful of guns are pointed skyward, ready for action.

  Three lean, middle aged men in camo stand together, talking and smoking and waiting.

  A young soldier runs up, breathless.

  Com Dude: Sir! One of the outposts didn’t report as scheduled a few minutes ago, and SGT Mulenax said he’s getting something weird on the-

  Major Schakowski: (Caustically) A few minutes ago? And “weird” stuff? That’s all you want to report?

  Com Dude is at rigid attention, not looking happy.

  Com Dude: Sergeant Mulenax told me to report it, sir!

  Major Schakowski: Well, let’s just run away and hide, then, from a late report and a blip! Dismissed!

  Com Dude turns and runs back the direction he came.

  Capt Waxman: Just nervous, sir. Not sure what’s going on, why we broke tech levels. They’ll settle down as soon as we’re back on the move.

  Major Schakowski: I don’t care WHY they are being stupid, I just don’t want to hear about it or see it! Damn morons!

  CUT TO

  INT - DAY - Cargo bay ramp

  The ramp is low enough for the APC auto cannon to have free side-to-side movement when firing. Through the open ramp the twisting and curving canyon roars by, its rough rock blurred by speed. There is a straight stretch with a notch ahead showing sky. They are fast nearing the end of the canyon. They fly through the canyon mouth out onto an open plain, close to the ground, closer than any sane starship has a right to be. The circles of armored and light vehicles are clear in the near distance and closing fast, their circles looking almost flat from the oblique angle. The moment the canyon wall is past, the cannons start firing at full speed, spent brass cascading out from the ejection ports and blasting back and away in the wind. Faint exhaust trails from missiles being launched at the laagered vehicles streak away from them. Vehicles in the battalion group start erupting in flames and smoke. Nearly every round being fired is hitting something among the closely spaced vehicles.

  CUT TO

  Tajemnica Bridge

  Helton: Perfect! Swing around them if you can, keep us bow on! Make two full circle passes, then on to extraction!

  Bipasha: (Into mic) Camp Meliora! Come in! Kiv are in tech violation, abandon position! Raptus Regalitor is destroyed! Load up and drive west NOW! Come in Camp Meliora!

  Lag looks at the screens and rapidly identifies some of the most critical vehicles to hit, he taps on them on the screen, launching missiles at them to make sure they are hit and the guns on the ramp hit one target after another.

  CUT TO

  EXT - DAY - Kiv battalion position Alpha

  All around the three officers vehicles start blowing up or showing damage, one after another, in rapid succession. Mounted guns, missile launchers, transports, supply vehicles, and tanks take hits, mostly on the side Tajemnica is racing past, but also on the far side or in the middle after tracers streak though the formation. They watch as their command is reduced to ruin in mere seconds. Suddenly Maj Schakowski jerks violently and collapses. The other two hit the ground, then stare in surprise at the mangled body of their fellow officer, his upper chest opened and shoulder blown away from the 25mm shell hitting him. In the background, Tajemnica sweeps around the outskirts of the battalion, battering it relentlessly from all sides, flying so low and sideways it’s kicking up clouds of dust, looking like a hot rod driver drifting on a dirt track as it circles the Kiv doing a giant doughnut around them, spitting out flares here and there as it rolls and rocks it way around the perimeter, leveling small high spots and dipping into swales a bit. The incoming missiles stop hitting the battalion, but shells are still ripping through the formation, reducing its firepower by the second. A few of the Kiv vehicles start to return fire, mostly to the effect of making them a higher priority target for incoming shells. A missile streaks from a launcher close to Tajemnica, passing by, plowing through a flare and exploding on the rock face. Tankers explode, missiles detonate on their launchers, communication vans with lots of antennas take rounds, APC turrets get holed. Nearly every round fired by Tajemnica’s ramp weapons take a vehicle out of action or damage one. But there are numerous vehicles in the two circles and many have heavy armor. Some of them start to get their act together and move to return fire at the large moving target that is Tajemnica.

  CUT TO

  EXT - DAY - A kilometer or so from the Kiv battalion position Alpha

  Against the background of the cliffs, crags and canyon mouth, the circle of military vehicles is aflame
. Most of the vehicles have been hit. Most of the heavily armored tanks have only superficial damage, and are starting to return fire in volume, if inaccurately. Tajemnica finishes her sweeping turn around the circle of burning vehicles, straightens out, and pulls away quickly in reverse, still firing both guns on full auto from the open ramp that is now at the back of the ship. The arcs of the tracer rounds rapidly rise as it pulls away, then stops firing as the range becomes extreme. Finally, she closes up her bow ramp, spins around while still moving at high speed, and heads off low and fast, then angles up and out of sight.

  CUT TO

  INT - DAY - Forward cargo ramp

  The ramp closes, the wind dies. Spent brass covers the downhill edge of the ramp deck, jammed into corners or stuck. Soldiers swarm out from behind as the doors slide open, checking tie-downs on the steep incline and clearing away brass, while others hand more ammo up.

  FADE TO BLACK

  Fast Load

  FADE IN

  EXT - DAY - Tan expanse of open ground with scattered grass and bushes

  A small convoy of wheeled military vehicles roll through across the plain at high speed. They are in a loose cluster, bouncing, swerving, disorderly. They are mostly APCs, a few fast wheeled gun platforms. Soldiers and gear are hanging on the sides as they race along kicking up a lot of dust. There is a sudden explosion not far from one. They charge along, fleeing the shots being fired at extreme range from somewhere behind.

  CUT TO

  INT - DAY - Tajemnica bridge

  Quiritis, Helton, Allonia, Lag, Bipasha at normal positions.

  Their screens show the speeding convoy far ahead but closing fast.

  Lag: If we stop to load, they get shot.

  Bipasha: Can’t they keep driving?

  Helton: They can’t run forever; low on gas, overloaded, and the plain ends soon.

  Allonia: Any way to load them without stopping?

  Helton: Can we lower the ramp and have them drive on, on the move?

  Lag: Not with all their wheels powered.

  Quiritis: Cargo loading arms?

  Ship AI: (Avatar on screen) NOW yer talkin’, lass! Bring me along side, an’ we can give’em the ol’ heave-ho inn’a’th hold!

  Helton: Is that safe? Can you do it?

  Ship AI: (Piratically) Stow that “safe” talk! O’course I kin do it! I be usein’ sensor-driven dynamical real-timey numeric Newtonian approximation and adjustment.

  Helton: (Pause while he figures out what that means) …So, you’re winging it?

  Ship AI: (Piratically, avatar grinning demonically) Like a hummin’bird in a hurricane, Cap’n. That’s wha’ makes it so exil’ratin’!

  CUT TO

  EXT - DAY - Aerial view from behind and to the side of the stern ramp

  As the ramp is lowered, the side arms fold out, now with pincers in place of the pallet loading forks or guns. Directly ahead of the speeding ship is the loose convoy of vehicles, charging recklessly along in a cloud of dust. A shell explodes near one of them. Tajemnica flies in low over the convoy and slows to match their speed directly above them. The ramp lowers as far as it will go, nearly to the ground, right in front of the last in the convoy, with most of the remaining shielded in her shadow. The dust cloud it kicks up is tremendous. The last APC, rolling at high speed with a dozen guys clinging to the back of it, comes up behind the ramp. The arms reach down and at maximum extension can almost reach the sling-loading shackles atop the APC. The ship settles lower, and further back. The APC commander’s head sticks out of the small turret, looks to each side, then yells something into his helmet mic. The APC gradually goes a little faster, closer, closer, then the loading arm pincers grab the center lifting shackles. The whole APC is lifted and tossed forward into the cargo bay, ahead of the steeply angled ramp. The men riding on the top are jostled about, but don’t fall off. The APC bounces and rolls forward on the momentum as the driver gets his foot on the brakes, going from a groundspeed of over a hundred KPH to zero in a moment. A soldier from the base rapidly waves them forward to where another couple of soldiers are standing, signaling them where to drive. Hastily organized but efficient enough to get them forward, around the piles of gear, and out of the way for the next vehicle.

  A shell lands on top of Tajemnica, making noise but doing no damage, as the vehicles underneath crowd a little closer together, trying to hide underneath her protective bulk.

  Tajemnica lifts up and pulls ahead to the next APC in the group, then lowers down in front of it, dust and wind blasting sideways around the lowered ramp. The arms reach back down for it. This APC with a minigun and grenade launcher on its turret has fewer troops clinging to it. It also has a still-smoking hole in a strapped-on crate. The ship and arms are now in sync, and the next APC is grabbed and flung in quickly, rolling a bit further forward than the first one, then waved forward to park and unload the wind-blasted troops off the top-side. Another shell explodes just behind Tajemnica and shrapnel whizzes evilly. Inside, near the ramp, a soldier spins and falls clutching his leg. The ship rises and moves ahead to pick up the next one.

  DISSOLVE TO

  INT - DAY - Middeck passageway, looking through a forward window into the cargo bay

  All windows are closed and the sounds from the now crowded cargo bay deck are muffled, but there is a cacophony of smaller sounds surrounding her from the crowd of soldiers aboard. Allonia is watching the last vehicle pitched aboard, an 8-wheeled highly mobile medium gun platform, stuffed in with little room to spare, and the ramp starts rising behind it. The deck is packed with soldiers, vehicles and gear wedged everywhere. Some are clearly injured and exiting recently loaded vehicles. The scene is crowded and chaotic. Bulkhead screens are all covered with directions and information. Vehicles are being secured with tie-downs to the deck by able-bodied crew. Ammo is handed up from side stacks to vehicle crews. Gear is being redistributed and secured or tied down.

  Ship AI: (OC) Best be gettin’ t’th’ sickbay, lass. A lot o’ gentle hands be needed there. Doin’ summ’in ‘ll keep th’ noggin busy.

  She nods, turns, and heads down the passageway, now nearly bursting with soldiers in tan camo and rifles from the two units they have picked up.

  CUT TO

  Tajemnica’s bridge

  Quiritis: Last one aboard.

  Helton: Button up and head-

  Lag: -Syd.

  Helton: Sydney?

  Lag: They won’t expect us to head there with injured men and vehicles. It’s also Cobb’s ammo dump, and there is an available platoon there. Hit there for supplies, make sure the level breach is reported. Then we can pick up the rest of the offensive team and shuffle a few things to get a good mix of troops and hardware.

  Helton nods in agreement and waves to Quiritis’ raised eyebrow to make it so. She nods understanding.

  Quiritis: Buttoned up. Sydney it is.

  CUT TO

  EXT - DAY - Edge of plains as it transitions to broken badlands

  Tajemnica angles up, glows a bit more, and pulls Gs for altitude, fading into the distance.

  FADE TO BLACK

  Authorization

  FADE IN

  INT - DAY - Large meeting room

  LT Kat and a dozen very serious-looking people are examining a large display showing the AARAS data. On the walls are large screens with images of the destroyed base, the bodies of Cooper and the compliance monitor, Quinn’s injured leg and other injured soldiers, pictures showing hit patterns, including the vast number of blast splashes atop Tajemnica and the text of intercepted messages. To one side there are screens showing the Raptus Regaliter Base Col and Lag. It is a hastily-called but extended meeting judging by the informal dress, scattered personal computers, water carafes and glasses, and various body postures of the participants. Kat is standing, presenting crisply.

  Kat: In summary: orbital drop munitions, terminal guidance munitions, multi-trajectory single-gun time-on-target firing solutions, statistically impossible hit rates, high-level
electronic and human espionage in successful attempts to remotely re-enable electronics to make us look like we were in violation, intercepted communications that show the timing and target selection was because of a civilian ship’s presence. All prohibited actions which nearly destroyed the battalion. If not countered, or if used successfully against the other three nearby units in a follow up strike, it would have totally obliterated four battalions using disallowed tech.

  Gupta (An elderly Sikh): You make it appear obvious. But that data display looks almost too perfect to be real. How could your ship capture it?

  Kat: Tajemnica is a decommissioned pre-blackout warship. Sort of a modified Orion class with only personal weapons aboard. Its history is sketchy, but it appears to have been used at one time as a deep survey vessel, and still has some high grade sensor and display software aboard.

  Abbasi (Middle aged Persian woman) : But it’s civilian? Why was it there?

  Kat: Yes. Civilian owned, crewed, and managed. We contract with it for transport because it is armored, and the captain is willing to take risks others won’t. It hauled food, water, fuel, basic ammo, sundries. The only 23rd troops aboard were truck drivers.

  Base Col: When my XO threatened to take command, or have Lag take over, the ship AI flatly refused. Damnedest thing. Excellent security and compliance protocols.

  Reese (Old white guy) : Hmmm. I wonder. Isn’t a member of the crew related to one of your mercenaries?

  Lag: (From the screen, nodding) Bipasha is the niece of First Sergeant Reel, but she works for Helton, the owner. Never been in uniform. Business manager. Lines up contracts and cargo, helps manage daily ops aboard. I was the only Plataean soldier aboard, with only personal sidearm. Sergeant Reel is still on medical.

  Lerner (Middle aged white woman): The Captain. Passport?

  Kat is a little surprised, not sure of the relevance of the question.