by Ellis,Tripp
Any number of things could have caused the malfunction. There could’ve been a bulge in the barrel, or a bore obstruction. The weapon could have been misassembled. Or the soldier could've been using the weapon he confiscated from Presley—and the sewer water may not have fully drained.
Either way, he was never going to see again. The Decluvians didn’t have honorable discharges or VA benefits. He wasn’t going to get a pension. If they couldn’t find a use for him in the Decluvian Army, and there wasn’t much use for a blind infantry soldier in the Decluvian Army, he was going to be shot.
In war, there are no winners or losers, only survivors. Today, Timmy was going to survive. At least, for the moment. He stood with his eyes shut tight. It took him a moment to realize he wasn’t dead. He had frozen at the sound of the bang.
Timmy opened his eyes and looked at the soldier flailing on the ground. He ran to him, grabbed his side arm and some thermal grenades.
The Decluvian spoke in English. His speech was choppy and broken. “Kill me.”
At first, Timmy didn’t want to do him any favors. He wanted to let the bastard writhe in agony. He deserved it. His kind had invaded New Earth and killed countless innocents, but this creature was in an immense amount of pain.
Timmy aimed the pistol at the creature’s head and vaporized his face with one blast. It was the first time Timmy had killed anything besides an insect. He was never going to be the same after that. He wasn’t a little boy anymore. He had seen his home world invaded. His people slaughtered. It wasn’t anything like playing War & Wasteland. You couldn’t re-spawn. You couldn’t go back to your last saved point.
Timothy hobbled back down the alleyway and peered around the corner. Troops were moving back and forth throughout the outpost. He could see the containment area about a hundred yards away. Somehow, he was going to have to rescue Presley. But that seemed impossible. He had a plasma pistol and a couple of thermal grenades. He needed a full arsenal and several platoons of trained soldiers to do the job right. Some close air support wouldn’t hurt either. But that was all just wishful thinking.
If this were War & Wasteland, he’d create a distraction. It worked when assaulting enemy bases in the game. What did he have to lose at this point? In a few hours the city was going to be nuked.
A troop transport landed in the street, not far from the alley. The back ramp lowered, and a platoon of soldiers marched out. They shuffled off to report to the commanding officer.
Timothy crouched down and crawled along a row of supply crates, inching toward the troop transport. When he reached the end of the row, he was about 10 yards from the back ramp. There was no one in the area, except for two pilots in the transport, powering down the ship.
Timothy raced toward the ramp and tossed the grenade in the cargo hold. He kept running as fast as he could and dove behind a pile of rubble. Each step was like a knife stabbing in his calf. But he blocked out the pain. He crouched down and plugged his ears with his fingers. A few moments later, the grenade exploded. The bulkheads bulged, then burst into shards. A brilliant orange ball of flame erupted. Black smoke billowed into the sky. Anything near the craft got eviscerated by shrapnel. It took out at least 20 Decluvian soldiers. Searing hunks of metal rained down.
Like angry ants, a horde of soldiers streamed from the command tent. They were preoccupied with the blaze. And there were stacks of ammo crates nearby that were cause for concern.
Tim scurried along the wall of debris until he was parallel with the containment area. There was a solitary guard posted at the entrance. Tim dashed to the transparent wall of the force field and crept alongside it. The prisoners inside obscured him from the view of the guard.
Tim rounded the corner and double-tapped the guard in the chest, just like his father had taught him. The alien’s chest exploded in a green mist.
The plasma pistol was virtually silent. With all the commotion going on, it didn’t draw any attention from the soldiers engaged in putting out the fire.
Tim mashed a button on the control panel and the entire force shield deactivated. Prisoners flowed out in all directions. It was chaos.
“Presley?” he shouted.
His eyes scanned the crowd frantically. He finally found Presley through the maze of faces. Her eyes connected with his. A wave of joy washed over her face.
They ran toward each other and hugged for a split second. Then he took her hand and pulled her along.
Presley looked back over her shoulder at her new friend, Harper. “Come on!” she shouted.
Harper followed them as they dashed through the flurry of fleeing prisoners. The soldiers had opened fire. Blue plasma streaks slashed the air. Prisoners were dropping like flies, eviscerated by the blistering projectiles.
Don’t look back, just run, Tim thought to himself. His heart was pumping, and his chest was heaving for breath. His leg didn’t hurt anymore—it had moved beyond pain. He was too numb to feel anything.
A few plasma projectiles zipped past Presley’s ear.
Close.
Too close.
She felt the searing heat. Her hand clutched the side of her head. She was almost expecting to feel her face melted off, but she was okay. She glanced back over her shoulder to Harper—she wasn’t so lucky.
A projectile smacked into her back and burst out of her chest. Blood splattered all over Presley. Harper’s body fell to the ground in a wet slap.
Presley’s mortified face twisted up. Her eyes grew wide and she gasped in terror. She started to slow down, stunned.
Tim grabbed her arm and pulled her along. “Keep running!
They rounded the corner and ran into a dilapidated structure. They weaved through the ruins, emerging on the other side. Then they ran south, along Lexington, and descended the stairs to the subway. It wasn’t an ideal scenario, but it was better than being on the surface streets.
They hopped the turnstiles and sprinted down to the platform. Then dropped down to the tracks. They had no flashlights, no night vision, and only one handgun. They had roughly an hour to get 4.5 miles to the extraction point. It was doable, if they didn’t run into any drones, or a squad of Decluvians, or something worse.
34
Revenant
A deep space salvage team had tethered to the Scorpion. They were placing portable quantum field generators around the ship. They were going to jump the whole ship out of the sector, and either repair it, or chop it for parts. They weren’t happy to see the Revenant.
Slade opened a comm channel as the Revenant pulled alongside the Scorpion. She could read the name and call numbers on the hull of the salvage vessel: SS Redwing. “This is the USS Revenant. You are attempting an unlawful salvage of UPDF property. Cease and desist immediately.”
A man’s voice crackled back over the line. “Sorry, lady. This is a derelict vehicle in unregulated space. According to interplanetary law, it’s fair game.”
Slade’s face tensed. She had no patience for this nonsense. “I don’t know if you’re aware of the current situation, but we’re presently at war, and this ship is a valuable asset.”
“There’s always a war somewhere, isn’t there?”
Slade’s blood was starting to boil. She didn’t have much time. The salvagers were almost finished placing the field generators. In a matter of minutes, they would be able to jump the ship away without a trace.
“Launch the alert fighters,” Slade said to Zoey.
“Aye, sir.” Zoey relayed the order. Within moments, pilots were dashing across the flight deck, sprinting to their fighters.
“I’m going to give you one last warning,” Slade said into the handset. “Cease your salvage activity, or be destroyed.”
“You can’t threaten me. I’m a civilian within my legal rights. Interfere with my salvage operation and I will sue your ass into the ground.”
Slade chuckled. “Go ahead. I doubt you’ll be able to find a court system to take the case.”
There was a long pause. “Wh
at’s that supposed to mean?”
“How long have you clowns been scavenging in deep space?”
“Look lady, you’re starting to get on my nerves. This conversation is over.”
The fighter squadron launched from the Revenant and headed toward the salvage ship. Two of the stingrays swooped past the Redwing and flew along the length of the Scorpion. They blasted at the quantum field generators that had been carefully placed by a remote drone. The devices, and the drone, erupted in a brilliant amber glow. There was no way the salvage team was going to be able to steal the Scorpion away now.
The man’s angry voice filled the comm line. “ What in the hell do you think you’re doing? Do you know what those generators cost? You owe me. Big time.”
“Why don’t you go back to New Earth,” Slade said. “File a complaint. See how that works out for you.”
A moment later, the salvage ship jumped away, leaving a small quantum distortion in its wake. He was in for a rude awakening when he reached New Earth.
“Get a team on board,” Slade said to Zoe. “Let’s get what we need, make the repairs, and get out of here.”
“Aye, sir.”
Zoey led the salvage team to the Scorpion. There wasn’t any atmosphere, so they suited up in SK-7 flight suits and took a shuttle over. The suits were state-of-the-art and would give them 48 hours of oxygen. Unlike the bulky old SK-2s that Zoey had become all too familiar with, the SK-7s were light and supple.
The gravity generators were still working on the Scorpion, and the reserve power was still functioning. Zoey landed the shuttle on the flight deck and lowered the back ramp. The salvage team spilled out and began scavenging for parts. Zoey felt a twinge of guilt about stripping the old girl—the Scorpion deserved better. But the old destroyer was going to save their ass one last time. It was going to live on within the Revenant. Hopefully.
It didn’t take the techs long to get the parts they needed. But the dynamic field generator on the Scorpion was in as bad shape as the one on the Revenant. It had maybe one jump left in it.
The team returned to the Revenant, and the techs repaired the targeting system and replaced the dynamic field generator. It would get them to New Earth, but that was it. There was going to be no jumping away in the nick of time to avoid destruction. If they were going to go back and attack the Decluvian fleet, it was going to be a fight to the death.
35
New Earth
Presley stumbled through the darkness, feeling her way along the grimy subway walls. The only light streaming in was from sections of the tunnel that had collapsed under bomb blasts. Occasionally, rays of light would cascade down and illuminate the path. Most of the time, it was like wading through ink. It was easy to stumble over debris, or trip over the tracks.
“You doing okay?” Presley asked.
“Yeah,” Tim said, hobbling along.
“Thanks for getting me out of there. I guess, as far as little brothers go, you don’t totally suck.”
“Eh, I guess as far as big sisters go, you don’t totally suck either.”
Presley chuckled.
“We’ve got to stick together, you know?”
“I know.” Presley forced a grim smile. Her eyes filled. She did her best to hold back the tears. She had to tell him about their mother. The mere thought of it made her sick with grief.
“Sorry about your friend. What was her name?”
“Harper. She was nice.” Presley’s voice was listless. “She had just gotten a full scholarship to Vanden for volleyball.” How many lives was this war going to destroy, she wondered?
“Do you think we’ll ever find out what happened to Dad?”
“I don’t know.”
“I just want to know.”
“Me too,” Presley said in a dreary tone. “There’s something I need to tell you?”
“What?”
“It’s about… mom.” Presley could feel the lump in her throat swell.
Tim’s eyes filled. He knew what was coming. “No. Don’t say it.” He broke down sobbing.
Presley wrapped her arms around him and the two broke down sobbing.
“I’m sorry.”
Tears streamed down their cheeks as they hugged each other and cried—red faces, puffy eyes, and runny noses. Their bodies jerked in sobs. But they were running out of time.
Across town, Levi emerged from the sewer inside the perimeter of the extraction point. He slid the heavy manhole cover aside and climbed to the street. One by one, the rest of the students followed. Ms. Vance brought up the rear.
UPDF troops were swarming about. Several dropships were prepped and ready for flight. Tanks lined the perimeter. Heavy artillery blasted into the city in an attempt to keep the aliens at bay. Gunships flew close air support, protecting the skies. The makeshift base was the one piece of ground the Army had managed to hold onto. But they weren’t going to be able to keep it secure for long.
Several stunned troops gawked at the students. They couldn’t believe the kids had been able to survive. The soldiers were also a little embarrassed that they hadn’t secured the sewers below the perimeter. A platoon of Decluvian soldiers traveling through the sewers could wreak havoc on the small outpost.
A sergeant marched over to greet the students. He shouted over the noise of the dropship thrusters and artillery. “First Sergeant Earl Miller. 2nd Battalion, Bravo Company. Where did you come from?”
“The museum,” Levi said.
The sergeant looked impressed. “No shit?”
Ms. Vance’s face crinkled up.
“Excuse me, ma’am,” the sergeant said.
“Is Staff Sergeant Larsen here?” Levi asked.
The sergeant’s face turned grim. “He didn’t make it. His squad got taken out on the way here.”
Levi deflated, and his face turned gloomy.
“He was a good man. Did you know Sergeant Larsen?”
“He’s the one who told us to come here. He said you could get us out of the city.”
“I can get you out,” The sergeant said, looking over the group of weary faces. “You made it here just in time. We are pulling out early. Command doesn’t think we can hold this position for much longer.”
“We can’t go just yet,” Levi said. “I’m still waiting on two of my group.”
“We’re wheels up in 10 minutes,” Miller said. “I’m sorry, but if your friends aren’t here by then, we’re leaving without them.”
Levi look mortified. “Take the students. But I’m not leaving without my friend.”
“Suit yourself. The last ship leaves in 10 minutes, whether you’re on it or not.” Miller escorted the students, and Ms. Vance, to one of the dropships.
They climbed aboard and packed in tight. Within moments, the engines engaged and the ship lifted off the ground. The air beneath the thrusters warbled with heat distortion. The lumbering craft banked around and rocketed out of the area.
It was an HDHG 977 Combat Aerial Vehicle—otherwise known as the Hedgehog. It was the Army’s preferred method of deploying troops in the field. Heavily armored, it had a capacity of sixteen soldiers, a pilot, and a copilot. Four Hughes & Kessler engines provided nearly 3 million pound force of thrust each. 30mm chain guns were mounted on sub-wing pylons. It didn’t have near the firepower of a gunship, but it could ruin your day if you were on the wrong end of it.
Levi had that sinking feeling watching the Hedgehog leave. There were other ships. There was still time to evacuate. But he hoped he hadn’t made a mistake.
He sat down on an ammo crate and waited. His eyes kept darting back and forth between the manhole, the Hedgehogs, and his watch. He tapped his foot nervously. “Come on, come on, come on.”
Levi fidgeted for what seemed like an eternity. He glanced at his watch again—12 minutes had gone by. Still no sign of Presley. Several soldiers came over to grab the ammo crates he was sitting on. They hauled them away and loaded up one of the Hedgehogs. A moment later, the skids lifted off the gr
ound, and the Hedgehog lumbered into the distance.
The outpost was getting thin. Sergeant Miller jogged over to Levi. “It’s now or never. The last train is leaving the station.”
“Give me five more minutes.”
“Can’t do that, son.”
“Please,” Levi begged.
“My heart goes out to you, kid. But in five minutes, this outpost is gonna be overrun with those alien freaks.”
36
The Decluvians
Emperor Tyvelon watched the destruction of New Earth from the CIC of the Senovata. During the attack on Delta Vega, Commander Walker had destroyed the reactors on Tyvelon’s first ship, the Korvectus, disabling the super-carrier and rendering it uninhabitable. Captain Plevus wasn’t entirely thrilled about losing his command and having the Emperor take over his ship, but what could he do? When the Emperor commandeers your ship, you sit back and let him take it.
Tyvelon looked pleased. The invasion was going even better than expected. Almost too easy. But he was growing antsy, watching the action from the sidelines. “Ready my ship. I’m going down to the planet surface.”
“Do you think that’s such a good idea, sir?” said Hyl’al, his XO.
Tyvelon glared at him. “Victory is at hand. I want to feel my new territory under my boots.”
“Yes, sir,” Hyl’al stammered.
“You have the conn. Do not disappoint me.”
The Emperor was an imposing figure. He was at least a foot taller than other Decluvians, and his red skin made him look like the devil himself. It was a rare skin tone caused by a mutated gene exclusive to the royal family.
Tyvelon stormed out of the CIC and made his way down to the flight deck. His personal flight crew had prepped the royal gunship. Tyvelon’s security detail ran a sweep for explosives, and went over the preflight checks.
