Evelyn pulled down toward the Scythe fighters pursuing Andaim and opened fire with her plasma cannons, ripping into the formations as she plummeted down through them. The Scythes scattered in disarray as two of them burst into flames and plunged into the cruiser’s massive hull.
Behind her, she saw the cruiser’s massive port cannons flicker out one by one as their power supply was cut off and explosions rippled below the surface of her hull as plasma gas was ignited by fire.
‘Splash five and six,’ Evelyn called, and then said: ‘Atlantia, direct all fire on the cruiser’s damaged central hull. Fire now!’
***
XLII
Captain Idris Sansin stared at the viewing screen as he saw the two Raythons wheel through the blackness of space amid a cloud of Scythe fighters, a ragged flaming hole ripped into the side of the cruiser dwarfing them.
‘Splash five and six,’ Evelyn called. ‘Atlantia, direct all fire on the cruiser’s damaged hull. Fire now!’
‘Like death does she wander,’ Mikhain murmured with glee. ‘The Rankor’s port guns are disabled!’
‘You heard her!’ Idris roared. ‘Fire everything we’ve got, now, before they re–route the power or flee!’
The giant cruiser’s hull began to twist aside as it attempted to protect its suddenly defenceless port side, its stern quarter dragging through the asteroids and debris and the impacts smashing her hull plating. As the hull moved into shadow Idris saw glowing fires arranged in lines that demarked the edges of her massive hull plating.
‘She’s aflame,’ Mikhain announced with barely concealed delight. ‘Damn me, we’ve set her aflame.’
The Atlantia shuddered as her starboard cannons opened fire together, the plasma rounds shooting out and converging on the small cavity glowing with flame. Idris should have felt elated, but not for the first time, just before the shots impacted, the captain felt a strange melancholy settle across his shoulders borne of an awareness of the terrible damage he was about to inflict on other living beings. The scent of victory was like nectar, but the taste of it was always bitter sweet, tinged with regret.
The plasma rounds smashed as one into the cruiser’s hull and a brilliant explosion ripped across the vessel’s hull. A crescendo of cheers erupted across the bridge as the captain whirled to Mikhain.
‘Where is the shuttle?’
The XO looked down at his control panel and shook his head. ‘I can’t see her, sir.’
‘Ranger Force, respond,’ Lael called. ‘Ranger Force, status?’
A blast of static filled the bridge speakers as the captain looked at the damaged cruiser, her stern quarter dragging through the tumbling mass of asteroids amid brightly flaring explosions as the immense mass of the space rocks smashed into the unprotected hull plating.
‘I’m releasing the cable clamps!’ Mikhain snapped. ‘Take us clear and prepare to destroy her!’
Idris caught a few glances from the bridge crew but he did not belay the order. The XO flipped a switch on his console and a distant ripple of thumps reverberated through the hull as the cables were detached. The Atlantia, free from its massive burden, surged forward and began to accelerate away from the debris field.
‘Captain?’ Lael whispered. ‘The shuttle, and the hostages?’
The captain forced himself not to look at her as he once again gripped the support rail and steeled himself. He could do nothing for Bra’hiv or Ty’ek’s hostages now – the Rankor had to be destroyed along with Ty’ek, or the Veng’en warrior would continue to hound the Atlantia across the cosmos. The general and his marines would have to save themselves or be doomed to die aboard the Veng’en cruiser.
‘Charge main batteries,’ he ordered. ‘Full broadside.’
Mikhain stared at the captain for a long beat before he replied. ‘Aye, captain.’
*
‘Splash seven!’
Evelyn saw the Scythe fighter’s wing spin off as her plasma shot blasted through it, the fighter careering awkwardly as its port engine flamed out. Broadside on to her, she fired again and this time the Scythe exploded into a brilliant orange fireball as she raced past.
‘All Reapers, cables detatching!’
Evelyn frowned as she glanced at the cruiser’s damaged hull. ‘The shuttle is still docked!’
‘All Reapers, return to base.’
Evelyn saw the cables detach as the Atlantia surged away from the asteroid field and the damaged Veng’en cruiser, the frigate’s ion engines flaring a brilliant white as she accelerated. Behind her, the Rankor attempted to fire her engines and pull free of the asteroid field, her stern quarter still dragging through the debris and suffering terrible damage.
‘Andaim, the Marines are still aboard,’ Evelyn said.
The commander’s Raython crossed from left to right in front of her, Andaim turning for Atlantia.
‘The crippling of the cruiser is more important to us now, we have to pull clear,’ he replied.
A wave of Scythe fighters were fleeing from the Atlantia as the tide of the battle turned fully against them.
‘They’ll destroy the shuttle, regardless of what we do,’ she insisted.
‘Ty’ek’s gambling that the hostages’ presence on the bridge is what’s stopping us from crushing him,’ Andaim snapped.
‘And will it?’
Andaim hesitated before he replied. ‘I don’t know now.’
*
‘Damage report!’
Ty’ek’s voice was a shriek of outrage as he stormed across the bridge. The vessel shook and vibrated as countless asteroids smashed into its port hull, each blow sending fresh alarms screeching and shaking the bridge enough to make standing still almost impossible.
‘Port engine nacelles are out of action!’ came the response. ‘All of our port cannons are without power and we have fires on multiple decks, all on the port side.’
Ty’ek snarled as he pointed at the helmsman. ‘Hard to port! Get us clear of the debris field and then bring our starboard guns to bear on them!’
‘They’ll kill us!’ his tactical officer cried. ‘Their Marines have already boarded us! We are defeated, Ty’ek!’
Ty’ek swung one giant hand and struck the officer across the face with enough force to hurl him sideways into a console.
‘There is no such thing as defeat, only a courageous death!’ he bellowed. ‘Hard to port!’
The helmsman obeyed, engaging the bow thrusters.
‘Tactical!’ Ty’ek snapped. ‘Charge the starboard batteries!’
‘We don’t have enough power!’
Ty’erk drew a pistol from his belt and aimed it at the officer. ‘Now!’
The scolded officer snarled, his skin rippling a dull red as he whirled and began manipulating his controls. Ty’ek turned to face the viewing screen and then glanced at Qayin.
‘You people tried to ram my ship,’ he growled. ‘I swear to you that my last act will be to ram yours!’
Qayin, his face bloodied and his right eye swollen, managed a grim smile.
‘Any Veng’en is better dead than alive.’
‘The Atlantia is charging her batteries!’ the tactical officer cried out.
‘How long?’ Ty’ek demanded.
The officer looked at his screens and then his voice fell. ‘We can’t charge our own fast enough. They will fire first.’
Ty’ek looked at his helmsman, who shook his head slowly. ‘We can’t escape sir.’
‘Full power then,’ Ty’ek snarled. ‘Ram them head–on!’
‘Half of our engines are damaged,’ the helmsman replied. ‘We cannot ram them!’
‘Then what can we do?!’
A silence descended over the bridge as the tactical officer gestured to Qayin and the hostages from the Sylph. ‘We can bargain for our survival, or surrender.’
Ty’ek turned and glared at Qayin and then the sound of gunfire erupted from beyond the bridge doors.
‘The humans are coming!’ the tactical officer yel
led, drawing his sidearm.
‘How long until we can fire on the Atlantia?’
‘Ninety seconds, captain,’ came the reply.
Ty’ek reached down and with one muscular arm he yanked Qayin’s restraints free and hauled him to his feet. With his free hand Ty’ek drew a savage looking blade from its sheath on his belt and rested the polished steel against Qayin’s neck.
‘Signal them,’ he snarled.
The communications officer accessed their panel, and within moments the main viewing panel switched from a view of the Atlantia to that of its captain, Idris Sansin. Ty’ek sneered at the image as he spoke.
‘Call off your men or I’ll cut his throat.’
Captain Sansin glanced at Qayin and shrugged. ‘He is a convict and not of interest to me. Cut him if you will, but if you do I assure you I’ll destroy each and every one of you just for the hell of it.’
Ty’ek watched as the cruiser’s orientation slowly changed as she drifted clear of the asteroid field, turning slowly under her own momentum. Sixty seconds.
‘We are all doomed anyway,’ Ty’ek snapped in reply, ‘victims of the horror that you created. I’d sooner die than stand by and let you live, captain.’
‘I don’t think that you’re in a position to decide what happens to you and your crew,’ Idris replied. ‘That said, if you release my man then I shall let you leave.’
Ty’ek snorted a tight laugh and shook his head. ‘As if I would trust a human?’
‘Would you trust a Veng’en?’ Idris challenged. ‘Your own soldier is here under his own free will because you would kill him if he set foot aboard your vessel, and yet here you are holding a knife to my man. Hasn’t it crossed your mind yet that destroying everything is not quite getting the results you were hoping for, Ty’ek?’
Ty’ek pushed the blade closer to Qayin’s neck, keeping the convict up on the tips of his toes.
‘Better dead than alive to suffer at the hands of our enemies,’ Ty’ek said.
‘We’re not enemies!’ Idris snapped. ‘Those wars are long over, the worlds that we fought to defend long gone. This is your last chance, Ty’ek. Release your prisoners or I will be forced to destroy you for once and for all.’
‘With your own men aboard?’ Ty’ek shouted. ‘I doubt that very much captain.’
The bridge doors hissed and then a blast shook them as the Marines blasted their way through and stormed onto the bridge. Djimon and Bra’hiv broke through, weapons aimed at the bridge crew as they took up defensive positions.
Sergeant Djimon looked at Qayin and a cold grin fractured his features.
‘Kill him,’ he uttered to the Veng’en captain. ‘He’s better off dead anyway.’
Ty’ek stared at the sergeant in surprise, Qayin still pinned to his chest by the Veng’en’s powerful arm. In an instant, Ty’ek dropped the wicked blade and instead pulled a grenade from his belt, the device emitting a high–pitched whistle as the Veng’en armed it and held it against Qayin’s chin.
‘I’ve got a better idea,’ he shouted. ‘Let’s all go together!’
‘Ty’ek, no!’ Idris yelled from the viewing screen.
Ty’ek shut off the communication link and raised his clawed thumb to the detonator, and then he froze as a soft whisper of sound was followed by a dull thump. A rasping breath spilled from Ty’ek’s mouth and his eyes widened as his skin paled to an unhealthy grey.
Ty’ek turned and saw his tactical officer close behind him, one fist curled around the elegant blade of a ceremonial dagger now buried deep inside Ty’ek’s shoulder blade. Ty’ek gasped as the officer wrenched the blade sideways and the Veng’en captain emitted a faint cry of agony as he released Qayin and was forced to his knees, his hand still holding the grenade but frozen in place, the clawed thumb hovering just above the detonator.
The tactical officer reached out and plucked the grenade from Ty’ek’s grasp, and then deactivated the weapon as he looked up at General Bra’hiv.
‘You will allow us to leave,’ he growled, ‘or I shall detonate this device myself and end this for once and for all.’
Bra’hiv nodded. ‘I have no desire to destroy you, but I cannot say the same for my captain.’
‘Go, now!’ he growled.
Bra’hiv grabbed Qayin by the arm and dragged him toward the bridge exit as the Marines freed the Sylph’s crew and ushered them off the bridge. ‘Go, now!’
The general made sure that all of his men were off the cruiser’s bridge and then he turned and looked back at Ty’ek. The cruiser’s captain was still on his knees, alive but paralysed by the blade sunk deep into his shoulder.
The tactical officer snarled at the general again. ‘Leave us, now, or you’ll die here.’
Bra’hiv hesitated.
‘Jump to super–luminal while you can, before the Atlantia opens fire,’ he said. ‘The captain won’t be planning on letting you leave.’
Bra’hiv turned and fled from the bridge. He saw Djimon take up position in the rearguard as the Marines fell back toward the shuttle. Bra’hiv joined Qayin, helping the wounded man along and then boosting Qayin up into the ragged entry holes carved by the assault team’s aggressive entry.
‘Go, now!’ he yelled, and then keyed his microphone. ‘Ranger One, prepare to depart!’
***
XLII
‘They’re coming back!’
Evelyn hauled her Raython around as she saw the Scythe fighters fleeing toward the Veng’en cruiser, firing as they flashed past and catching one a glancing blow that sent it spinning wildly out of control as it trailed bright flame.
She weaved past the tumbling contrail and locked on to two more fighters as they rocketed toward the Veng’en cruiser, her finger barely brushing the trigger twice and sending two pulses of energy smashing into the rear–quarters of two more Scythes. Neither impact destroyed the fighters, but both broke off their attack with aggressive defensive manoeuvres as Evelyn plummeted toward the vulnerable shuttle.
‘You take the shuttle,’ Andaim ordered. ‘I’ll patrol.’
A salvo of gunfire raced up toward Evelyn’s Raython and she twisted the craft violently to avoid the lethal blasts as they flashed past her canopy. Evelyn hauled the fighter out of its dive and flashed by over the shuttle, which was docked at an awkward angle close behind the cruiser’s bridge and in plain sight.
‘You’re too close,’ Andaim called.
Cannon fire flashed by in a dizzying array of light as Evelyn fought to keep her Raython as hard to hit as possible.
‘Where the hell are they?’ she called.
A cloud of Scythe fighters swooped in toward the shuttle, Andaim’s Raython wheeling in behind them and opening fire as Eveln pulled up and aimed to come in on their flank, catching them in a lethal crossfire. She squeezed the trigger even as she saw Andaim’s shots destroy one of the Scythes in a flickering cloud of burning gases.
The formation broke up around the blast and Evelyn fired again into the Scythes and saw them scatter before the onslaught.
‘Stay close to them!’ Evelyn shouted as she realised that the cruiser’s smaller guns were not engaging them directly any more. ‘They won’t shoot at us for fear of hitting their own!’
‘How very gentlemanly of them.’
Evelyn locked onto a Scythe but a radio transmission from Atlantia broke her concentration.
‘Atlantia, Reaper One and Two. Clear for effective fire!’
Evelyn heard Lael’s call and she knew that she could not wait any longer.
‘Get clear, Eve!’ Andaim yelled.
Evelyn saw the Scythe fighters suddenly wheel away toward the cruiser’s stern and she realised that they were making a break for it before the cruiser was destroyed.
‘There’s nothing more we can do for them!’ Andaim called.
Evelyn yanked her control column over and her fighter swept away from the cruiser’s hull, followed by a sudden stream of gunfire that rocketed by as she jinked and weaved. An alarm w
arbled in her cockpit as one of her engines began to overheat and she drew back on her throttle for a moment and looked up at the Atlantia.
She saw the ripple of tiny blue lights flicker like lightning across her hull, and then the gigantic plasma shots flashed past her and she craned her neck back to see the shots smash into the Veng’en cruiser and the asteroids surrounding it. A brilliant flare of light as bright as a hundred suns burned into her retina and she squinted and jerked her head away, the fearsome afterglow spoiling her vision.
The shower of plasma vanished as Evelyn’s Raython levelled out and she glimpsed Andaim’s fighter swoop down and move in alongside her.
‘Atlantia, status?’ the commander called.
There was a moment’s pause and then Lael’s reply came back.
‘They’re gone,’ she said.
Evelyn felt a plunging sensation deep in her belly, a realisation that the people she had come to respect and admire had suddenly and completely been ripped from her life. Even Qayin, the unpredictable and seemingly indestructible gangster, could not have survived the sheer force of the Atlantia’s broadside against such a damaged hull.
‘Reaper Flight, acknowledged,’ Andaim replied, ‘returning to base. We did what we could.’
Lael’s reply came back immediately. ‘You did great!’
Evelyn’s eyes widened. ‘What do you mean?’
‘The shuttle’s right behind you,’ Lael replied. ‘It’s the Veng’en cruiser that’s gone.’
Evelyn peered over her right shoulder.
Behind, the vast asteroid field was aglow with the light from the star buried deep within, beaming in immense rays out into the bitter cold of space. A cloud of shattered rock and dust occupied the spot where the Veng’en cruiser had been, but she could see barely any of the debris that should have been there: the vast torn chunks of hull plating, the burning cores of her giant engines and the clouds of venting gases.
Against the vast field, a tiny glowing speck glinted in the sunlight as it tracked toward them.
Atlantia Series 2: Retaliator Page 29
