Stanton had called for a medic but everyone looking down at the body knew that it would be all but useless.
Lt. Cappillo showed up right behind the marines and he was not happy.
“God damn it!” he exclaimed upon seeing the lifeless body. He then activated his command link. “Listen up, no shooting without orders!” he called knowing that this all could have been avoided.
Turning away he wanted to rip the marines a new one but he knew it wouldn’t bring back the boy.
“Sir,” Lance Corporal Sanchez said.
Lt. Cappillo looked back, “What?”
“Look at his neck,” the young marine said pointing towards the bloody body.
Rufo stepped closer and knelt down.
“I’ll be damned,” the Italian engineer said seeing that the boy’s neck had a set of gills just like those that a large fish might have.
“He has been genetically altered,” Lt. Stanton remarked, rolling the boy’s hand over they could see thin membranes between the boy’s fingers that would act like a flipper in water.
“Maybe that’s why they shot all those people in the square?” another marine said.
“I guess we will never know?” Rufo commented standing up and heading down the stairs.
Lt. Stanton hurried after him.
“Sir, maybe there are more of them hiding in the water?”
Cappillo shook his head, “If there were more of them they wouldn’t have let this boy attack us like that and they would have probably cleaned up all these bodies. No, he was the last of his people.”
“What now?” the young marine officer asked.
“Now we need to find their communication’s center and get some answers,” he said heading out into the square.
Several minutes later they returned to the operations center and located the communications station. Once there Cappillo turned off the comm. system that was left on and then sat down at the computer terminal as he tried to download the colony’s files.
“Lt. Cappillo, I’m taking my team down to the hatcheries to check them out,” Gunny reported over the link.
“You got an hour so make it quick,” the engineer said as he worked his own magic on the shot up systems.
Stanton was standing nearby waiting.
“What do you think, sir?” he asked
Cappillo shrugged, “I think the people here wanted to be left alone but the Kardies came down and crushed them. This colony should have about five hundred people and we’ve probably seen only about a hundred dead.”
“So either they are more in hiding or they’ve been taken by the Blues,” Stanton said finishing what the engineer was thinking.
Rufo nodded, “I say they were all taken as no one has made any attempts to bury or move the dead and other than that crazy kid we haven’t seen anyone.”
“Sir, we’ve found something,” Gunny Masters voice could be heard over the link.
“Go ahead Top,” he replied.
On our way down to the hatcheries we passed a side alley and found the bodies of twenty or so people.”
“Go on,” Cappillo prompted.
“Well sir, it looks as if they were all elderly and that they were lined up against the wall and executed.”
Rufo was silent but Lt. Stanton spoke right up.
“Those Blue Bitches!”
The engineer nodded in agreement.
“I guess you don’t need old people as slaves,” he said remembering from a history class about how slavers would attack African villages and round up the men, women and children. The elderly and sick would be put to the axe. Ironically, many of those slavers taking Africans to sell were Arabic middlemen.
“Gunny, continue on mission,” Lt. Cappillo ordered knowing that the ancient marine was not happy.
“Aye sir, Charlie Mike,” Master Guns said sounding old.
“Gather up any weapons that are laying around,” Lt. Stanton instructed his men giving them something to do other than stand about. They didn’t need them but he didn’t like seeing them just laying out there waiting to rust.
After a half hour of working on the center’s computer and more waiting, another report came in from the second squad.
“Most of the hatcheries are damaged or sunk, though a few are still operational. They are self sustaining with hydroponic vegetable gardens,” he explained marveling at the intact hatcheries.
The floating and moored hatcheries had hanging plants whose roots hung down into the water while the fish swam below. It was a symbiotic relationship of purifying the fish’s waste water while giving nutrients to the plants. The computer for the hatchery was even set up to let the larger fish out into the ocean when they got too big. Some of the fish and the produce from the plants were then used to help feed the colony.
“Ok, Gunny get your people back to the shuttle,” Cappillo ordered and then switched channels, “Momma Wolf, have you been monitoring the situation?” he asked in to his mic.
“Roger that, bring your people home,” Commander Richards ordered from the attack cruiser in orbit.
Lt. Stanton cut in at that moment.
“Sir, could we take some of the fresh vegetables and fish for our ships’ mess halls?” he suggested. Having been marooned on a barren world left a mark on man especially when it came to food.
“Good idea, Papa Wolf said to get any supplies available and bring back anything you think we can use,” the first officer said “We are also sending down the Sky Train with the Padre and more men to form burial details.”
“Roger that Wolf. All right Frank, take your men and go help Gunny collect whatever we can use,” Cappillo ordered still messing with the operations center’s systems.
“What about you?”
“Mike is also sending down the Mover with some more men to help, so I’ll wait for them while I tinker with this damn computer.”
The marine nodded and took his men off to get busy. It was a weird feeling walking through a town full of bodies.
When the Mover cargo shuttle and transport shuttle Sky Train arrived they had some of their men go and help the two squads while most of the others went on burial detail. Dr. Duarte came down to help with identifying the remains and to take DNA samples to use for later identification. The people of the colony should have their DNA on file with the Confederation or at least with the Ameri-Corp Company. The remains were then placed in body bags and buried at sea. Chief Warrant Officer Zimmerman had also come down and helped direct the services. Though the Padre wasn’t of their faith, he tried his best to give them proper burials.
A quick check of the colony turned into five hours of work. Eventually the three shuttles returned to the waiting squadron. The returning men of the Task Force were quiet after burying so many decomposing bodies and one bloody kid.
Rufo managed to bring up the settlement’s files and now had a roster of the inhabitants. It seemed that he had been right and that there were over four hundred people missing. Bre-Nan and Chac-Ras said that they were probably taken to a mining world to be used as slaves or to the Great Game where they would be pitted against each other to fight to the death. They all agreed that neither option was a good one.
After recovering their shuttles and their people, the Task Force left the system. Most of their crews were happy for the fresh food but were very quiet that night at dinner as they ate grilled fish and thought about the people of the Beautiful Water.
Multiple bends found their small squadron further along their route of advance. They had done several stop and goes, remaining just long enough in a system to be detected before bending out again. In one system there was a Karduan Vanguard sloop refueling. The sloop moved to escape as soon as the Task Force arrived.
Captain Hope didn’t even try to pursue it or set an intercept course. Instead he leaned back in his chair, smiled and took a sip of coffee. It was of course the Guerre de Course - the Chase of War.
“Set a new bend destination,” Hope ordered rattling out the new c
oordinates.
“Sir?” the first officer said moving up to stand next to the captain’s chair.
Hope ignored him for a minute.
“We are only a bend or two from crossing into what was once unclaimed space that is now Karduan territory?” the Commander said in a lowered voice so that only the two of them could hear.
“I think we’ll visit Blue Rock first,” Captain Hope said looking to his first officer.
Richards nodded, “You want to check out the Templar outpost.”
“They could be of help,” the Hawk suggested.
“We don’t know much about that outpost,” the XO said and added, “Templars aren’t very forthcoming or sociable.”
“Yes, they are a very secretive lot and you have to wonder why they would build a base, even a small one way out here this far away from everything.”
“It might already be destroyed,” Richards tendered.
“Perhaps, but I’d like to take a look,” the old captain replied.
“Aye sir,” the XO replied and left his side to see to the course change and that the rest of the squadron was also informed and prepared.
The next bend took them into one of the last of the human fringe world systems. This one was sponsored by the Galactic Trading Company, the largest rival to the Ameri-Corp Company.
Nazhen was a mining co-op on the fourth planet from its G type yellow star. The planet was a class L world with a barren rocky surface and deserts. It had an earth type gravity with a breathable atmosphere of oxygen and argon. The planet was named after one of the five Chinese gods of Wealth, the Lord of Heaven Cao Bao. The name Nazhen was his job title which meant to collect treasures.
The mining colony had mostly workers gathered by the Galactic Trading Company from the New Hong Kong colony. They were promised jobs and the chance to earn big money. Most found themselves trapped by inclusive work contracts, high prices from the company store and the harsh working conditions of the mines.
When the Karduans came, the miners thought that it had to be better than the GTC and quickly signed a Treaty of Alliance and Neutrality. Now they found out that the Blues wanted the entire world and all of its riches for themselves. The humans would also make perfect slaves as they were virtually slaves already.
“Sir, I’m reading numerous ships in the system,” Ben Lewis reported from the maser station.
There were no ships near the gravity well or on sentry duty at the other well by the the J class gas giant. Their task force had come in by the sun’s gravity well without interference.
“Type and location,” Commander Richards said in calm voice.
“On tactical holo,” Hope added looking from the main view screen to the floating holo of the system. “Closest ships first.”
“Sir, two system cutters are floating dead between us and Nazhen,” Lewis reported.
“No life signs or power readings on the defense cutters,” Daily added.
“What about around Nazhen?” Richard asked pointing to the ships displayed on the holo map.
“Sir, five ships are in orbit around the planet,” the maser section reported, “Two Karduan transports, one standard destroyer and two destroyer escorts.”
“Not a problem for us,” Richards commented, allowing himself a slight smile as he slowly nodded.
“Have the Cody signal them that we are bringing them reinforcements and supplies,” Hope instructed.
At this distance the Star Wolf was undetectable, even if the enemy had a maser system. So all they were seeing was an unarmed human freighter, an old captured Confederation frigate, a Karduan Vanguard sloop and a Karduan destroyer escort.
“Signal the squadron, stay in formation and proceed to the planet,” Richards ordered, wanting to close the distance to the enemy before they realized something was amiss and tried to escape via the other gravity well.
“Commander Cody on command channel,” CPO Parker at the comm. station reported.
Commander Hutton’s image then appeared on the screen.
“Captain, they recognized our Karduan security codes but their ship mistress was a bit indignant at needing any help to subdue such a small human population,” he said from across the viewer.
“Let’s just get close enough for a surprise or two,” Hope replied, he didn’t have to say red alert or battle stations as they were already at battle stations for the bend.
It took an hour for the task force to make it to the planet. Monitoring the enemies’ communications, it seemed that they were involved in a ground operation to mop up any human holdouts and were preparing to transport the captive population to the orbital transport ships.
“Bring us into firing position on the destroyer,” Richards ordered.
“Randori and Cody, target the destroyer escorts,” the Hawk ordered, “have the New Orleans and the Anarchy move to block the transport ships.
“In position,” Alistair Dover reported from the helm station.
“Hail them,” Hope ordered “On main viewer.”
“Channel open, sir,” CPO Parker at comm. said touching a panel and letting the enemy see the bridge of the attack cruiser.
“Karduan force in orbit around Nazhen, this is the Confederation Attack Cruiser ISS Star Wolf. We have you under our guns, surrender or be destroyed. You have thirty seconds to comply,” Hope said pausing to take a sip of his coffee.
The bridge of the Karduan destroyer was different scene than that of the Star Wolf. On the attack cruiser’s bridge, it was just another day at the office as people calmly went about their business. On the destroyer, the Blues were in a state of uproar. The Ship Mistress had leaped from her seat and was screaming commands at her Second. Her bridge personnel were rushing about trying to find the source of this transmission and the location of the enemy ship.
“What ship is this?” the Ship Mistress demanded and then said “I think this is some kind of pathetic human trick!”
“Madam, we are the same ship that destroyed at least three of your squadrons and that your people have dispatched two or more squadrons to try in vain to hunt us down,” Hope said setting his coffee mug down into its heated holder that was housed in the arm of his command chair.
“Fifteen seconds,” Richards announced.
“Go ahead! Even if you get one of my ships, the rest of my force will target and destroy you,” the Karduan Ship Mistress said defiantly.
“Target their engines,” Hope said with a sigh.
“Target locked,” Dover replied from the helm.
“Last chance,” Richards prompted.
“All ships, prepare to return fire,” the Ship Mistress said standing proudly and staring them down across her viewer.
“Mr. Dover, fire when ready” Hope said shaking his head at her arrogance.
A second later the attack cruiser opened fire with her main gun. The spinal cannon’s particle accelerator wave smashed into the armored rear section of the destroyer and tore right through it. The Wolf’s fusion and particle turrets then quickly opened up on the doomed ship. In another moment it was being pulled into the planet’s atmosphere on a fiery decent course to the world’s rocky surface.
For several seconds the destroyer’s communication link remained opened on the condemned ship’s bridge. The scene was one of turmoil as they fought to live yet it was a fight that they could not win. What made matters worse was that the Ship Mistress was still screaming for her crew to return fire instead of telling them to abandon ship. An explosion on the bridge caused the signal to be disrupted as the screen went blank.
The other Karduan Ships made ready to return fire now that they had a sensor lock on the attack cruiser. But before the Wolf had even fired its devastating blow the other ships in her squadron had prepared for the aftermath.
“Engage holo-field and open the MML bay’s door,” Mike ordered as his ship drew parallel with one of the two escort destroyers.
The holo field generator for Cargo Bay-B wasn’t used the last time they engaged the
MML or multiple missile launchers. This time they had moved into position and were waiting. The holo generator projected an image of the exterior hull and allowed them to save on firing time. Once the Star Wolf opened fire, the Randori followed suit. The MML let loose with a volley of thirty-three missiles, one third of its capability.
“Extend all energy weapons turrets and open fire!” Mike ordered as his tactical station reported on the MML missile strikes to the nearby DE.
The Randori’s fusion turrets quickly pounded on the destroyer escort parallel to them while her long rang particle turrets opened fire on the second destroyer escort that was in orbit just ahead of them. It was called raking fire, hitting them from full astern which crippled their engines and damaged their aft turrets. At the same time the Cody opened up on the second DE as well, concentrating on all of her forward weapon’s systems.
The destroyer escorts had just locked on the attack cruiser’s location when they had come under attack from the sloop and the Q-ship. They hadn’t even known that the enemy’s ships were all around them.
The ISS New Orleans and the Anarchy, were both operated by prize crews along with some of the survivors rescued from the Battle at Arcadia. Captain Hope only wanted to use them in battle if he had too. There job was to signal the transports to surrender and block them if they tried to escape.
One of the transport did just that and tried to break orbit to escape. The Anarchy immediately fired on their engines scoring several direct hits. The transport was then pulled back into orbit as it fought the gravitational pull of the planet below. Once the transport’s maneuver drives failed, the ship mistress signaled for her crew to escape to the life pods and shuttles. The ship then started into a slow decaying plummet.
Wolf's Run: The Chase of War (Star Wolf Sqaudron Book 2) Page 20
