‘All call–signs, sub–luminal velocity in thirty seconds. Prepare for deceleration.’
The ground crew dashed from sight outside Evelyn’s cockpit, hauling fuel lines and power cables behind them as they hurried into armoured and pressurised bunkers that lined the edges of the flight deck. Her Raython’s nose sank slightly as the magnetic catapult engaged, ready to fling the fighter out into the void of space. Evelyn checked that her engines were running smoothly and checked over her shoulders to ensure all groundcrew were clear of her fighter and the catapults.
‘Reapers One and Two, prepare for launch!’
Evelyn checked her harnesses one last time and then rested her handle on the throttle, ready to open it wide when the catapults fired and the bay doors opened. She realised that she could hear every whisper of the ion engines behind her, the rustle of the fabric of her flight suit against her skin and her heartbeat pulsing inside her chest.
‘Sub–luminal in ten seconds.’
Evelyn mentally counted down as she stared at the still–closed bay doors, a dense barrier that her Raython would be blasted into if the launch sequence was not activated with absolute precision. She eased the throttle up to fifty per cent power, the Raython straining at the magnetic clamps restraining it, running them up so that full power was ready at a moment’s notice.
Lael’s voice reached her as though from a distance in her headphones.
‘…four, three, two, one, sub–luminal!’
The light in the bay blurred and polarised as the Atlantia dropped out of faster–than–light travel, her mass–drive disengaging. Evelyn felt herself pressed against her harnesses with the deceleration and then suddenly her intercom came alive.
‘Reaper One and Two, launch sequence now!’
Evelyn threw her throttles wide open as the catapult engaged and her fighter surged forward under terrific acceleration. The lights of the launch bay flashed past in a blurred stream as the bay doors opened before her, a cloud of vaporised moisture and oxygen billowing around her Raython as it flashed through the narrow gap and out into space.
Evelyn retracted her undercarriage as a flare of starlight seared the cockpit and a deep shadow loomed before her. She jinked left instinctively as a huge asteroid tumbled past, saw Andaim’s Raython jerk right to avoid it as they raced into the depths of a massive asteroid field, the glow from a distant red dwarf star illuminating his fighter.
‘What the hell?’ Evelyn uttered.
‘Levelling the playing field,’ Andaim echoed the captain’s words as they flitted through the endless cloud of asteroids. ‘He’s taken us back to quadrant Delta–Four–Seven. The Veng’en cruiser won’t be able to follow us through this, it’s hull plating isn’t strong enough and the ray shielding only protects against plasma shots.’
Evel shook her head as she heard the rest of the Reapers launching behind them.
‘The Atlantia can’t stay in here for long either, it’ll get pulverised.’
‘I guess he’s got that covered too,’ Andaim replied. ‘Stay sharp. The Veng’en will be here any minute.’
***
XXXVII
‘Jump complete, mass–drive disengaged.’
Captain Idris Sansin stared at the main viewing screen and the vast asteroid field dominating it. The cloud of dense black rocks extended into a distance so vast that it took on the appearance of dust clouds before the immense flare of the young star blazing at its heart. One day, countless billions of years from now, that star might cast its warmth upon planets forged from the disc of rocky debris orbiting it that might harbour intelligent and even space–faring life with their own problems.
More than ever, as he surveyed the asteroid field, Idris felt sure that he was doing the right thing. What future would those planets and life forms have if the Word expanded its insidious reach to every system in the galaxy? Would life even be allowed to evolve?
‘Captain?’
Mikhain’s voice snapped the captain from his reverie and he ordered his thoughts. ‘Orbital velocity of the asteroid belt?’
‘Point oh six four,’ the helmsman replied, ‘clockwise.’
‘Match the orbital velocity and take us in,’ Sansin replied.
‘Aye sir,’ the helmsman replied.
‘This is a hell of a gamble,’ Mikhain whispered from beside his console. ‘There are asteroids in that field with far greater mass than this ship. If we get caught up between two of them…’
‘Then we’ll be well shielded from the Veng’en cruiser,’ Idris replied.
‘We don’t know what they’ll do.’
‘We know that they won’t stop pursuing us,’ Idris insisted. ‘We’ve already spent two years running from the Word. I’m not going to start running from the Veng’en too. Besides, I have some inside knowledge of what they might do.’
Mikhain raised his eyebrows in surprise. ‘You have?’
In reply, Idris turned to the bridge doors. The two Marine guards there opened the doors and onto the bridge walked a further two Marines either side of the Veng’en, Kordaz, who walked with steel manacles on his ankles and wrists.
‘Are you insane?’ Mikhain uttered. ‘You’re bringing that thing onto the bridge?’
The captain did not reply as Kordaz was led up onto the command platform. Idris stood tall before the enormous reptilian soldier, forced himself to hold the Veng’en’s oddly soul– less gaze as he spoke.
‘When I fought the Veng’en during the fleet action at Mal’Oora,’ he said, ‘two of our ships were captured. One was destroyed when it decided to fight to the death rather than be captured, an action that is still revered in Colonial lore to this day. The other was boarded by Veng’en soldiers and overcome.’
Kordaz did not move as the captain went on, loudly enough for the entire bridge to hear.
‘The captured Marines and crew were taken by the Veng’en and strapped naked to a wall in their vessel’s landing bay,’ he said. ‘One by one they were flayed alive using plasma whips until they died of shock brought on by hours of being effectively burned alive, one little bit at a time.’ The captain fell silent for a moment, the Atlantia’s bridge deathly quiet. ‘That is what your people are. That is how we see you. That is what we have come to expect from you.’
Idris held the Veng’en’s gaze for a moment longer and then he held out his hand. One of the Marines handed him an electronic key. The captain knelt down in front of Kordaz and personally unlocked the manacles at his feet, and then he stood and unlocked the manacles on his wrists. The opened steel cuffs fell away to hover in the air between them as Idris handed the Marine back his key and looked up at Kordaz.
‘We will not become what you are,’ he said, and then turned his back on the Veng’en. ‘Where are they?’ he asked Lael.
Lael glanced down at her instruments.
‘I’m detecting a gravitational bow–wave at quadrant two point four, elevation plus three five, range fourteen thousand cubits.’
Idris glanced at the holographic tactical display as Mikhain gestured to a spot high off the starboard bow.
‘They’ll appear about here,’ he said, ‘any time in the next couple of minutes.’
Idris turned back to Kordaz, who was standing silently behind them.
‘You have a choice,’ Idris said. ‘When the Veng’en cruiser returns, if you wish you may to travel across to join them before battle commences.’
Kordaz’s voice was deep as he replied. ‘Why? If I joined them, I would fight you and share everything that I have learned.’
Idris smiled without warmth. ‘Or you would be killed on sight by your own brethren. And even if you were not, you would tell them that we have found a way to prevent infection by the Word. Once we have formulated and distributed a vaccine our people will equally be immune as the Veng’en. The Word will now seek to destroy us completely before that vaccine can be modified and shared with other species. We can either face the Word together or we can face it alone. The choice is your
s.’
Kordaz remained silent for a few seconds.
‘Quarantine and elimination is the only safe way to prevent the spread of the horror that you have created.’
‘If that were true,’ Idris replied, ‘then my wife would be dead and my compliment of fighters not led by the Commander of the Air Group. Elimination is not the only option and whether you decide to stay or go, I would appreciate it if you would impart that to Ty’ek and his crew.’
Idris turned his back again to Kordaz, insulting the warrior once more. Mikhain stood tense, one hand hovering close to his sidearm, but the big Veng’en did not move.
‘Sixty seconds and they’ll be here,’ Lael called.
Idris did not reply. Instead, he kept his gaze on the viewing screen as he awaited the Veng’en’s reply.
‘I will return to my people,’ Kordaz said finally.
Idris sighed quietly enough not to let anybody hear him. ‘As is your wish.’
‘Only if they agree to return their hostages,’ Kordaz added. He reached out and plucked the manacles from where they hovered before him, and then fastened them about his wrists once more.
Idris turned slowly. ‘The Sylph’s crew?’
‘They are victims of this as much as we are, as you say,’ Kordaz replied. ‘They deserve the chance to return here if they are still alive.’
‘Ty’ek won’t have killed them,’ Mikhain said. ‘He’ll still consider them as leverage, for now at least.’
‘And I can be their ticket home,’ Kordaz said.
‘Ty’ek might kill you,’ Idris reminded him.
‘Yes,’ Kordaz replied. ‘He might.’
Idris nodded and then glanced at Mikhain. ‘Prepare to hail the Veng’en as soon as they arrive.’
The XO hurried to his console.
‘Ty’ek may not be reasoned with,’ Kordaz warned the captain. ‘He will seek your destruction regardless of what you say to him.’
‘I know,’ Idris replied, and turned to Bra’hiv. ‘Prepare your men for an assault.’
‘You want to attack them?’ Bra’hiv asked.
‘We’re going to get our people back, either by force or by guile. If Ty’ek won’t release them, all we can do is give them the best chance possible to break free of their captors and make it to a shuttle. You and your men will be on board that shuttle.’
Bra’hiv saluted and marched from the bridge and Idris turned to the main viewing screen as a swarm of asteroids drifted slowly by. A distant series of dull, laborious booms echoed through the ship.
‘Impacts to port,’ the helmsman announced, ‘low angles, no damage reports.’
‘Keep her slow and steady,’ Idris replied. ‘Manoeuvre her to conceal as much of our hull as possible from being targeted.’
‘Aye sir.’
‘We could breach our hull if one of those asteroids hits us hard enough,’ Mikhain pointed out.
‘Maybe,’ Idris replied, ‘but the Atlantia’s hull is older than the Veng’en cruiser’s, built back in the day when brute force was the way to combat micrometeorite damage and radiation. She’ll hold up okay.’
‘For how long?’ Mikhain challenged.
‘Five seconds sir.’ Lael’s voice warned the captain. ‘They’re coming through.’
‘On screen.’
The image of the dense asteroid belt and distant star changed to one of deep space, and Idris searched the starfield for the tell–tale conical warping of starlight as the Veng’en cruiser’s mass–drive warped space–time ahead of it.
Almost immediately he saw a scattering of bright, hot blue stars bend in a kaleidoscope, twisting in upon themselves. The warped patch of spacetime rippled and then went entirely black, then flared with white light as the Rankor leaped into view and the starfield behind it returned to normal.
‘Signalling them,’ Mikhain reported.
‘Hold the fighters back,’ Idris ordered. ‘I don’t want a battle commencing before we’ve had a chance to talk to them.’
‘Aye captain.’
The main screen flickered and then Ty’ek’s face appeared once more.
‘Captain Sansin,’ he snarled. ‘Finally, your time has come.’
‘We have a cure for infection by the Word,’ Idris announced without preamble.
‘We have no need of your cure,’ Ty’ek snapped in response. ‘All we require is the annihilation of your people and your hideous creation.’
‘We have removed the infection from our vessel,’ Idris pressed. ‘The Word is no longer aboard and we have captured a Hunter nanobot. We are studying it right now to find a weakness, and would be happy to share any information we find with you and your…’
‘Your pleas are for nothing, captain,’ Ty’ek growled. ‘You cannot hide your ship and your people under space rocks forever, like the mud dwelling slime that you all are.’
‘I’m telling you that we have no infection aboard this ship,’ Idris repeated.
‘And I’m telling you that I don’t give a damn.’
‘You should.’
The voice was Veng’en and Idris saw Ty’ek’s eyes narrow suspiciously as Kordaz walked into view, his wrists manacled.
‘I propose an exchange of prisoners,’ Idris said.
‘What makes you think that I want Kordaz back at all?’ Ty’ek smirked. ‘It would be an act of greater courage for Kordaz to kill as many of you as possible and die while doing so, if he had any sense of pride or honour.’
‘It would serve no purpose,’ Kordaz said. ‘I have seen them cure the infection and destroy the Word. We can learn from them.’
‘What more could we learn of pain and suffering from humans?’ Ty’ek sneered. ‘Theirs is a world of machines now, machines that seek to destroy us all. There is nothing new to be learned from them but how to destroy them more quickly.’
‘Destruction is not the only way,’ Idris said. ‘Kordaz here has seen that. There are other ways, Ty’ek, to defeat an enemy.’
‘Indeed,’ Ty’ek snarled. ‘Perhaps I should try one of those alternatives myself?’
Ty’ek stood back from the screen and revealed behind him the captured crew of the Sylph. But among them now was a new hostage, a towering man with bitumous black skin, braids of blue and gold hair and bioluminescent tattoos that glowed as though venting the rage seething in his expression.
‘Qayin,’ Idris gasped. ‘We thought you were dead!’
‘Sorry to disappoint,’ Qayin murmured.
‘We found him in an escape capsule jettisoned from the Sylph,’ Ty’ek sneered. ‘You must have abandoned him, captain, which says a great deal about how similar we are.’
‘We share nothing,’ Idris snapped.
Kordaz stepped forward, addressing Ty’ek directly.
‘The soldier you are holding prisoner,’ he said. ‘Without his courage I would not be standing here. Return him, and I shall return to you.’
Ty’ek’s eyes narrowed again and despite his emotionless face Idris could sense the suspicion clouding the Veng’en’s thoughts. ‘You have been turned, Kordaz.’
‘No.’
‘You are lying,’ Ty’ek snapped. ‘Either the infection is still aboard or you have turned traitor. Either way, to let you back aboard would be suicide for one or for both of us. You have chosen them, as they have chosen to abandon their own.’
‘Let the hostages go!’ Idris snapped. ‘Or by Ethera I’ll crush your ship into dust.’
‘No Veng’en shall ever bow to a human,’ Ty’ek seethed, ‘and no Veng’en shall fall but fighting for his life. Attack them where they lay!’
The viewing screen went blank and then showed once more the Veng’en cruiser against the starfield, her giant hull glowing in the light from the star as from her launch bays the tiny specks of dozens of Veng’en Scythe fighters rocketed out into the void.
‘Send the Raythons in,’ Idris snapped. ‘Launch Bra’hiv’s Marines, and tell them that all of the hostages are captive upon the Rankor’s bridge!’
‘Sheilds up!’ Mikhain replied.
‘Fire all cannons!’ Idris bellowed.
***
XXXVIII
‘All fighters engage! Take them down!’
Evelyn heard the command and turned her Raython toward the Veng’en cruiser, Andaim’s Raython tucked in close alongside her.
‘This is it,’ Andaim called. ‘Stay in pairs and stay sharp!’
Evelyn saw flashes of bright blue light and a tremendous salvo of plasma shots race by overhead as the Atlantia opened up against the Rankor. The salvo rocketed away and smashed into the Veng’en cruiser’s huge hull in brilliant flares and explosions that made Evelyn squint. In the same instant the Rankor fired back, brilliant red plasma shots smashing into the asteroids shielding the Atlantia.
‘Here come the fighters!’ Teera yelled.
Evelyn saw a cloud of Veng’en Scythe fighters rocket toward her, their plasma shots zipping past. No thoughts entered her mind as she weaved left and dove between two streams of plasma and fired twice, unthinking reflexes driving her responses with supernatural speed. She registered the two shots impacting two different Scythe craft, blasting their cockpits into flaming wreckage and causing them to spiral out of control in bright blossoming balls of flame and debris.
‘Splash one and two!’ Andaim yelled as he opened fire.
The Scythes flashed past as a second salvo of giant plasma shots blazed overhead from the Veng’en cruiser, heading for the Atlantia. Evelyn hauled her Raython around in a tight turn to see a vast cloud of Raythons and Scythes arcing ion trails through space as they fought to manoeuvre against each other.
Behind them, the Veng’en cruiser’s salvo of plasma charges smashed into tumbling clouds of asteroids in a flickering array of explosions.
Atlantia Series 2: Retaliator Page 26
