Eric Olafson Series Boxed Set: Books 1 - 7

by Vanessa Ravencroft

  The female commandant said, “Make no mistake, Human captain. If High Command suspects any problems, they would not hesitate to level the place with bolts from the sky and declare all dead soldiers heroes of Ithe.”

  I looked at the model and said, “I see no fences; how does the surrounding landscape look?”

  “The surrounding area is flat and any grass or place to find cover is bulldozed for 2,000 meters around the compound. There are no fences but automated laser sentry guns fire at anything that crosses the boundaries between the towers.”

  Again, the commandant said, “There is a well-armed convoy of 40 Drak soldiers and trucks expected to arrive just before dawn. We need to be gone by then.”

  I said, “Do you know where that convoy is at the moment?”

  The commander said, “Yes, they are at the Ootoe Springs with four water trucks to do the daily water run. As I said, they are well armed.”

  The Togar looked at me. “What do you have in mind?”

  I said, “Water trucks could be used as Trojan horses.” I had to explain to them what a Trojan horse was, and I told them about the legend of the battle for Troy.

  The Togar warrior said, “Let us hope we never have to fight the Union. You Terrans are sneakier than the Shiss when it comes to war.”

  The Drak commander agreed. “It is a good idea. The water detail doesn’t expect an attack. They never have been attacked before. I think we could overwhelm them at the springs and drive right into the compound. I must return soon, as I am officially in town and I am expected to be back.”

  I said to her, “Can you manage to deactivate the stasis field on the hooded Human?”

  She looked at me. “Yes, I can do that.”

  I smiled at her. “If my friend is awake, everything will turn out fine.”

  She buttoned her coat closed and put a helmet on her head. “I hope you will remember me and us, Union captain. Itheamh needs friends out there, real friends who know what is going on.”

  “I will do what I can, commander. I have a feeling things will change on Itheamh.”

  She walked past me and left.

  One of the Ithe produced a map. It was not a projection but an actual roll of paper he spread out on the floor and said, “The Ootoe Springs are here at the bottom of the Oote Mountain about 300 Urbs to the north. The spring is inside a cave and feeds a small but deep pool. The Drak have a permanent small camp there, guarding it, and a pump station to fill the trucks. The convoy also brings the relief soldiers for the outpost camp.”

  The Togar said, “We ride in one hour, so we will arrive there before the convoy and then we’ll figure out how we take the trucks from the soldiers.”

  One of the Ithe men said, “I’ll send a messenger to the Oote tribe near the spring. They will help, and they have catapults we can use.”

  Ninety said, “Then let us eat. I prefer dying on a full stomach.”

  I said, “Let’s not plan on dying, Togar.”

  He looked at me and said, “I have no desire to do so, Union captain, but 40 Drak soldiers are no easy prey. They have energy weapons and wear armor that can be shielded. We only have a few energy weapons and, if we use them, we become targets for the Sky Punishers. Even if we are successful, some of us will not return.”

  I followed them up a makeshift ramp into another section of the wreck. There were benches and tables and the other side of this former engineering section was made into a community kitchen, with cooking fires burning in steel tubs with steel plates and grills suspended on chains. The smoke was funneled into large pipes above. It smelled of seared meat and smoke.

  A gaggle of children of various ages were playing, while women and men prepared food. Others were already sitting at the tables.

  Naroma approached me. “Only yesterday, I had a home and a husband and now I am here and live in fear that this place will be discovered by the Drak. It is primitive but it is better than being shot or sold to the Smelter Moons of the cursed overlords.”

  The Togar said, “Come sit with us and have a share of food. We do have a little time before we ride, and I am eager to hear about the Union and if all the legends and stories we hear are true.”

  I sat down at the place he pointed out. “And I need to learn more about this place and why a Togar and a Dai are among these Ithe.”

  He placed his large frame across the table from me and sat down. “There are many non-Ithe here. We managed to escape the Smelter Moons and found refuge here. On the Smelter Moons, race and origin mean nothing. You become a number, nothing more than a living robot that when damaged is tossed in the fires or made into food slurry.”

  He looked over the tables and then back at me. “There are no open hostilities between the Togar Empire and the Karthanian conglomerate, but war looms close under the surface for many centuries. There are no treaties, no prisoner exchange programs. There is no trade and very little official contact.

  “The situation on the split planet of Kaliment does not help things either, but even if there would be a golden gate that would take me back to Togar and back to my family and my command, I would still choose to remain here and fight with my friends until I die or until this place is free and no slave dies at the Smelter Moons.”

  Naroma placed a plate with meat pieces and something that looked like green mashed potatoes before me and said, “This is Nuktur stew and Gathr seedling porridge. I hope it will be to your liking.” She then placed a second plate before the Togar and sat down next to me, before her own plate.

  I was hungry and used a spoon-like utensil to scoop a piece of meat and some porridge into my mouth.

  It was horrible and it took all my willpower not to show it. The meat had a very pungent, gamey, fatty taste that coated my teeth, tongue, and throat with a greasy texture. The porridge was somewhat eatable.

  Ninety laughed deeply. “Yes, captain, that is Nuktur meat. Only Ithe and Oghars can really eat it. Even after nine years, I can barely stomach it. Now I am not a very good judge of Human facial expressions but it appears Terrans are not among those who would call it a delicacy.”

  I took a long sip of the sharp and slightly bitter tea someone had placed in a mug next to my plate. “Perhaps not, but I am sure it nourishes and is prepared with care and served with the best intentions.”

  One of the Ithe men said, “Naroma told us you are a Union captain. Is it true that your fleet could really chase the Karthanians off Itheamh, despite all their technology?”

  Before I could answer, the Togar said, “I once was the commander of a Queen’s Flight. That is a group of 15 Togar battleships and support units.”

  He pulled back his black chaps and revealed rows of formidable predator teeth and made a snarling sound. “I always believed there was nothing more formidable and fearsome in the entire Galaxy. Fifteen battleships, 10 frigates, and 20 destroyers, a force strong enough to take on a Dai clan in an even fight, but then I have witnessed a Union battle group break to sub-light speeds.”

  His yellow cat eyes focused on something he saw in his mind and his finger claws came out as he clenched his right hand into a fist.

  A small crowd had gathered around the table and they all looked at him.

  His voice vibrated as he said, “Our sensor department was overwhelmed. I could not believe what we saw.”

  He looked at me. “Tell them what a Union battle group contains, captain, please.”

  I sat down the tea mug. “A standard Union battle group consists of five arsenal ships, five carriers, five dreadnoughts, 20 ultra-battleships, 100 battleships, 200 super cruisers, 80 heavy destroyers, marine troop ships and around 200 other support craft.”

  The Togar glared at the Ithe, who had asked the question. “Tartur, my friend, a Union Fleet has four battle groups. Union battleships are as big as mountains. The biggest Togar battleship would fit in one of their hangars. They have weapons that no shield can stop. Not even if the Togar, the Karthanian, and all Oghar combine their forces could they hope to
stop such terrible might. They do not fear the Kermac, and they have beaten the Y’All. As mighty as Karthania appears to you and me, it is nothing but a spark compared to a sun. We Togar fear little, but those who’ve seen Union fleets go into battle are afraid very much!”

  I felt a little embarrassed at their stares and the Ithe warrior said, “Can you not tell your government to come and free us?”

  Another Ithe said, “At what price? All it would do is replace one master with the other. If the Union is as strong as you say, what chance would we have fighting them if they take over?”

  I said, “This is not what we do. We are a society of many civilizations. The reason we cannot help is because Itheamh does not speak with one voice. Only if all Itheamh would want to become Union members and send a delegation to Pluribus would the Assembly consider membership. All the Union asks of its members is that they follow our basic laws that guarantee the freedoms and rights of individuals. The Union would give you as much or as little help as you want and not interfere with local matters. However, if Itheamh would be a Union member, all that is Union would fight to the last ship and man to defend you.”

  The Togar got up. “It is time, we need to fly! We can dream and talk about these things later.”

  Naroma caught up with me in the former cargo hold where the flying animals were kept and gave me a fur-lined cape and handed me a helmet-like thing that looked like the head of a Gryther, complete with sharp beak and long feathers on the neck. “I think you like to hide your face, and I know you are on a secret mission. This is a very old war lord flight mask; legend has it that it bestows extra warrior powers to whoever wears it.”

  I took both items and thanked her.

  Ten minutes later, the black Gryther spread his wings and galloped behind the lead animal, gathered speed, and took off.

  After over an hour of flight, I saw Ninety stand up in his saddle and wave, then he pointed down and pulled a long lance with a wicked blade from a holder. His animal pulled its wings close to the body and dropped like a stone; the others around me did the same!

  I looked down and saw several large vehicles on a dirt road. The lead vehicle was burning, and I could hear the crackle of energy weapons. The convoy was attacked by a small army of wild mountain men. They had crude war machines with them.

  From what I could gather, the mountain tribe had not waited for us, and attacked the convoy before it reached the mountains. Their initial success was evident but the surprise element was gone and the soldiers fought back using their energy blasters. I cursed to myself and said, “So much for a planned and carefully executed ambush.”

  I pulled at the reins and my Gryther followed suit, following the others in a steep dive.

  The first energy blasts streaked into the sky; one missed me only by a few meters.

  I heard the painful screech of another Gryther behind me and saw it tumble with burning wings past me.

  I freed myself from the stirrups; my Gryther spread his wings, and flew at high speed over the ground, toward the armored vehicles and the soldiers manning it.

  I leaned as far out of the saddle as I dared and swung my ax against a battlesuited soldier, who was aiming at the attacking mountain men, burning several of them.

  The marvelous blade of my ax split his armor suit down to the chest.

  Just as my Gryther was trying to gain altitude again, an energy blast went through its left wing. It screamed and struggled and landed, managing to slow down enough, but cartwheeled as it had only one wing. I was lifted out of the saddle and thrown on the hard ground. It did not come unexpected and I had prepared myself to jump already, so I managed to lessen the impact by rolling over my shoulder, thanking my long martial arts training sessions for being able to do that. I was rattled and had a few scrapes but was otherwise unhurt. Without a second thought, I bolted right toward the armored vehicle that was closest to me. Like a silver flicker fish, I zigzagged left and right and evaded fiery blasts from a Drak soldier operating a mounted gun on the armored vehicle. This time, I did not hold back my rage and fighting instincts. I let it all loose.

  With a leap, I was on top of the vehicle and swung at the weapon and blast shield that the Drak soldier was hiding behind. The ax cut through armor, steel, and weapon as if it was butter. I felt cold satisfaction as I saw the utter terror in the alien’s face before I beheaded him.

  In all this I suddenly heard a familiar voice. “Captain, duck!”

  I did and turned to see Mao, holding a TKU, and he fired. A Drak soldier that had appeared from a hatch in the vehicle already aimed at me, withered to atomic ashes as the TKU blast hit him and melted half the turret.

  A massive figure stalked through the smoke; it was Hans wearing a destroyer suit. He lifted one of the armored vehicles completely off the ground and threw it with an ear-shattering crash onto another.

  Our Nul prince tossed armored soldiers like toys. TheOther, holding three TKUs and a Y’All boarding sword, walked through the Drak forces like a whirlwind of doom. It was over in moments. The Drak had no chance!

  I yelled, “There is an orbital weapon, and it will open fire on this place at any moment!”

  Krabbel decloaked, wearing his version of an Atlas suit directly before me. “No, captain, it won’t. Shea uploaded a nasty little virus into their orbital defense system. They are lucky if their life support systems come on in time.”

  The only way I could relieve my tension was laughing. I hugged Krabbel and said, “It is good to see you. How in the world did you find me?”

  Shea decloaked and hugged me. “That wasn’t easy, captain.”

  Chapter 23: Among Rebels

  The Togar and his men came over and even the big Togar looked concerned at the huge Y’All towering behind me. His arm dangled from his left shoulder with a nasty burn wound, and he said, “We need to leave fast. I am surprised the Sky Punishers have not responded already.”

  I said, “It looks like my crew took care of those, and they won’t bother you for a while.”

  He made big eyes. “You mean the Sky Punishers are gone?”

  I turned to my friends and said, “I am as much in the dark at the moment as you, Ninety. Let me catch up with the developments and then we need to roll and get Har-Hi and Narth.”

  Shea took the lead. “We knew something was wrong when you did not respond to our hails and were overdue. We located the tank all right and saw the aftermath of a big fight not far away, complete with a huge monster hacked to death and a leveled mountain village with dead soldiers. All clear indications to us you’d been there. Finally, we found your PDD and pieces of your suit, but no body.”

  TheOther rumbled with his deep voice, “You had us really worried, captain.”

  Shea said, “We intercepted communications of the local police that they had captured two aliens and from the description, it was clear it was Har-Hi and Narth, but no mention of you.”

  She was near tears as she said that, I could tell by her trembling chin. I, not giving a hoot about regulations, took her in my arms.

  After a moment, she said, “I refused to believe you were dead. Then an Ithe commander called us on Har-Hi’s PDD and told us you were with the rebels and planned an ambush on a water convoy. She wanted to warn you that there was a much bigger force out here than 40 soldiers and a few water trucks. She also told us about the truly ancient network of sentinel satellites. We came here as fast as we could.”

  Mao said, “Not that you really needed our help. I will never forget seeing you riding on that winged beast swinging an ax. You looked like a real warrior goddess.”

  Krabbel chirped, “Maybe Sobody can make another action figure—”

  I glared at him. “We can reminiscence about all that later. Let’s go now and free Narth and Har-Hi; they are held in a military compound about 400 clicks from here.”

  A sudden feeling of warmth flooded my mind and Narth appeared from thin air. “No need, captain, after the commandant deactivated the Stasis field tha
t held us, Har-Hi showed the Ithe authorities how unhealthy it is to make a Dai angry and I also expressed my displeasure in perhaps a more emotionally fueled fashion than usual.”

  “Where is Har-Hi?”

  “Our first officer is currently in sickbay under the care of Cateria. The rock projectiles that we both unfortunately intercepted with our craniums injured us both, but he should make a complete recovery.”

  He was next to receive a hug from me and I asked, “And how about you?”

  “I found the experience of being rendered unconscious by a rock quite fascinating, but an experience I would not want to repeat. I was able to meditate while in cryo stasis and mend my injury. Even without the commandant’s aid I was almost at a point where I would have been able to affect our release. I also took precautions not to be influenced by modulated theta waves again.” He cocked his hooded head. “How curious to think that a primitive acoustic wave form would be so effective against Narth.”

  The Togar was still holding his arm. “It appears you have all you came for. Your friends are safe.”

  I said, “Not quite, Ninety; there is still some unfinished business, and we need to take care of your wounded.”

  To Shea, I said, “How long do you think those Sky things are going to be out of order?”

  She shrugged. “If the locals work fast and replace the computronic hardware, they could be up and running in a month or so.”

  That was good news indeed, and then I asked, “Who holds the Conn at the moment?”

  “Elfi has the Conn.”

  She handed me my wrist comm and I said, “Captain to Elfi.”

  My Saran communications officer responded, “Captain, we were so worried!”

  “It is good to hear your voice, too. I’ll fill you all in later about the details. Right now, I need a med team down here.”

  “I sent a landing tank with a field med mission module; Cateria and her team are on their way to the hangar as we speak.”

  “Thank you, Elfi. I’ll fill you in ASAP.” Then I cut the transmission and said to the Togar, “How long do you think we have until this convoy is going to be missed?”