by John Walker
“I hope they can go faster than that,” Desmond said. “I doubt the people on the station have so long … unless I’m seriously underestimating the Gaelirans.”
***
You might be underestimating the bodyguards, Cassie thought. Or Christina. If she’s truly as good as Dulain said, she might be able to get Reach out of there.
The signal to the station proved to be particularly challenging to overcome. Every algorithm Cassie tried either made the interference worse or did nothing at all. She analyzed it again, looking for ways to replicate it when she realized it was changing subtly every time she tried to break through.
What’s the source? Cassie followed it to one of the capital ships. There you are. A quick scan indicated it was the smaller Tol’An vessel. The weapons weren’t as potent but it carried heavy defenses and probably fielded the majority of the fighters that were causing trouble at the moment. Taking them down isn’t likely but maybe I can disrupt them at the source.
Cassie painted the target and considered her next move. There were a few options but one of them involved calling in the bombers. Considering the heavy action going on outside, it might be unnecessarily dangerous. The marines would be heading over there regardless but once they got on board, they’d be unable to communicate.
Maybe I can jam them back. The thought held some merit and she brought up an application, blasting the enemy ship with a tremendous amount of static. The whole process took less than a minute but it ultimately failed to provide the desired result. Their signal remained strong.
Are you kidding me? How? A scan of the activity showed their shields deflected it. Oh. So I can’t even get through their defenses. Hm. Maybe if I flood the area around that ship but I’ll need a probe to broadcast the signal. Otherwise, I’ll be sending it straight through all our forces which would cause trouble with our own coms.
“Captain, I need to launch a probe at the enemies,” Cassie announced. “I might be able to disrupt that signal if I can.”
“Go for it,” Desmond replied without looking back at her. “If it makes it through, that’ll be a miracle.”
“It only has to get close.” Cassie prayed she was right as she prepped the device and set the coordinates. “Launching now.” She tapped the touch screen harder than she needed to, eyes glued to her screen. The probe flew of, plunging toward the heavy action between the various pilots.
She hoped it was small enough to not to be noticed. It would take it nearly ten minutes to get through the action then another five to arrive at her target. Once there, she could initiate her application but even that wasn’t a guarantee. It’s better than nothing, I guess. We have to try something … I just hope this isn’t all over before it gets there.
***
Gizan waited for the doors to his ship to open, standing off to the side. If someone waited to fire on them again, he would not be the first one to be shot. When nothing happened, one of his men chuckled. “It appears the Gaelirans are staying true to their neutrality. There’s no one out there.”
“Then let us commence with the mission.” Gizan led the way, stepping out into the maintenance corridor. He had been to the station before, long ago as a younger man. As a bodyguard for a dignitary, he wandered the halls during a week-long negotiation. Though he didn’t remember the event, he recalled the layout quite well. “Follow me.”
Gizan approached the next door and tapped the button, shaking his head when it opened immediately. They lock nothing. These fools do not care about security. He entered the next room, a well-appointed affair with dark paneled walls and carpet on the floors. A Gaeliran held his hands up, calling out to hold fire.
“I wish to speak! What are you doing here? This is a peaceful station! You are infringing upon our neutrality rights!”
Gizan lifted his weapon and shot the man in the face. The body dropped to the floor and he continued moving, stepping over the corpse. The Pahxin and humans would not bother trying to surrender or talk. When they heard the weapons fire, they would be fully defensive. Unlike the fools on the shipyard station, these might be well trained.
I suspect this is where I will lose the majority of my people. Gizan already had to replace three men from the previous action and he intended to send the less skilled ahead as cannon fodder. Considering what they were facing and the stakes of the game, winning would be worth all their lives.
Another two Gaelirans attempted to talk to them and he gunned them down as well. This station will be coated in blood. Come to me, filth. I will cleanse you all.
***
Chapter 6
Christina’s ears twitched as she swore she heard a weapon fire. She drew her pistol and turned to Lothan. “Did you hear that? I think it came from outside our door.”
He nodded his head. “Ambassador and aides … please position yourselves under the table. It is for your safety.”
Reach came close to Christina. “Do we have an extra gun?”
“Sir, while I’m certain you’ve shot someone before, I don’t think risking you in a firefight is an option.”
“I can help.”
“We’ve got six people ready to do this.” Christina looked him in the eyes. “I have to insist that you stay safe.”
“I have no intention of cowering under a table!”
“Then don’t cower,” Christina replied. “Just keep out of the line of fire until we’re done. We have the advantage in that they have to come to us. This doorway won’t allow them to rush through easily. Providing they don’t pop off some grenades, we should be fine and then we’ll get back to the shuttle. For now … I really need you to get to safety.”
Reach scowled at her but complied, joining the other ambassadors. Christina let out a sigh of relief. Thank God. She tried to scan the area, to see if she could figure out what was coming for them but the jamming extended to all functions on her tablet. The bodyguards moved to either side of the door, weapons held high.
Christina stood just to the left and a few feet away, straining to hear more. Footsteps approached, coming rapidly. Another couple shots rang out, beam weapons that hummed and spit. Someone screamed. Something heavy hit the ground. Someone tried to open the door, the sounds of them violently tapping the panel quite clear.
Well, here they come. She cleared her throat. “We’re not letting you in.”
“Filthy human scum,” a man’s gruff voice replied. “We will skin you alive if you do not open this door immediately.”
“Oh, well … since you’re so polite …” Christina rolled her eyes. “On second thought, I’ve changed my mind. You’re going to have to figure out how to get in here without our help.”
They started shouting in Pahxin so rapidly and violently her computer couldn’t keep up with the translation. She turned to Lothan who wore a grim expression. He shook his head at her and motioned to the door. “They have a computer expert who can open the door and while he works, they are looking for a key.”
“Lovely. How long do you think it’ll take?”
“Not very.”
“Do you think we could make it to your shuttles?” Christina asked. “While they’re fiddling with this door.”
“It depends on how many there are,” Lothan replied. “They have access to both sides of this conference room. However, if there are not very many, it may be worth the risk.
Christina thought back to their walk through the station to the conference room. The area had been pretty open with no cover to speak of. If they ran for it and were attacked, there wasn’t anything to hide behind. A better tactic might have been to remain where they were and wait for backup. If only they could communicate
“I’m sure our people will send help,” Christina said. “As soon as they notice what’s going on.”
“I completely agree.” Lothan scowled. “I believe we should wait here … at least until such time that we must move.”
“Alright, I guess we hold them here,” Christina replied. Hurry up, Gnosis. I hope you no
ticed what’s going on over here. We could really use some damn help.
***
Desmond grabbed his seat as the ship shook violently. One of the Tol’An destroyers scored a direct hit to the bow. Salina called out that the shields held but the impact caused minor concussion damage. Engineering would start gathering data on what they needed to repair.
“Zach, what happened to evasive maneuvers?” Vincent asked.
“Sorry, sir.” Zach’s hands moved over the controls in a blur. “Their targeting systems are absurd. We’re engaged with one of the Pahxin military vessels…it’s nothing like the ships we fought back on Earth or even when we encountered them at the other planet. These were built for professional combat.”
“Cassie,” Desmond said. “Can you jam their targeting? Buy us some room?”
“I’ll try … I’m still waiting for the probe to get into position anyway.”
“Return fire with everything we’ve got,” Desmond ordered. “How are the fighters doing?”
“Holding their own,” Vincent replied. “The one man Tol’An ships aren’t as dangerous as the Kalrawv Group proved to be. Plus, the Pahxin have their own people out there partnering with us.”
The ship vibrated almost imperceptibly as the weapons discharged. Every gun and beam weapon went off at the same time, sending out enough firepower to tear through an unshielded ship in seconds. A moment later, the engines kicked in and Zach initiated a quick maneuver to nudge them backward.
The extra range might mean some of their shots miss when they retaliate, Desmond thought. Good call.
“Several direct hits,” Zach said. “They turned just before though and I got them on the Starboard side.”
“Salina?” Vincent asked. “What are you reading?”
“Their shields on that side have dropped to forty percent,” Salina replied. “They’re dealing with some passthrough damage as well.”
“They’re turning again,” Zach announced. “Yep … showing me their Port side now.”
“I see what they’re up to.” Desmond leaned back. “Are we ready to fire again? If so, let’s whittle down their shields on all fronts. Eventually, we’ll have to overload them.”
“They’re retaliating.” Zach worked the controls again and the ship lurched hard to starboard. Desmond was jostled in his seat but they didn’t experience the same pounding as before. Still, something hit them causing a shimmer more than a heavy shake. He glanced at his own computer to see what came up.
“Shields seem to have taken the brunt of that one too,” Desmond announced. “Do you have anything more specific? How dangerous was that hit, Salina?”
“It seems …” Salina paused. “They were attacking the shields specifically. They’re dropping in that section. Some kind of … strange drain. It’s lingering.”
“What do you even mean?” Vincent asked. “What’s lingering?”
“I see it,” Cassie added. “We have to drop the shields in that area I think. Reboot them. Can we turn so they don’t have a good shot on our weakened side?”
Zach fired the weapons again.
“That might not have been a good idea,” Salina said. “The power drain from our beam weapons dropped those shields further. They’re at twenty percent and if they drop to zero, it will likely overload the generators. I might not be able to get them back online without extensive repairs.”
“Turn us,” Desmond said. “Put our good side to them and Salina, get those shields back up. I don’t care what it takes.”
Zach initiated the maneuver. “I hit them,” he added, “solid blow to the other side. Looks like the shields held better there though. They might’ve reinforced them.”
“Very likely,” Cassie said. “I think—”
Before she could finish her sentence the ship shook violently and the lights dimmed. Desmond spun toward Salina. “What the hell was that?”
“Looks like someone hit us with a missile…or even a bomb.” Salina shook her head. “Extensive damage to decks seven and eight … crew quarters and one of the medical bays. Casualty reports are coming in.”
“Was that a smaller ship that deployed the attack?” Desmond asked. “How’d they pull that off?”
“It must’ve been,” Vincent replied. “I’ll work with the fighters to flush that thing out.”
“Good, get it out of here.” Desmond shook his head. “Can we get the shields back online?”
“I’m working on it now, sir.” Salina actually sounded frustrated, which surprised Desmond. He’d never heard her get annoyed before. “I’ll know in a few moments.”
“Do what you can … but hurry. We’re not in a place where we can afford to take this slow.”
***
Dennis’s shields returned to full power and he redirected his ship back to the fight. Dala formed up beside him as they made their approach, her ship less than five hundred meters away—close enough to make out some of the details.
They operated with twin thrusters in the back and deployable wings on the sides. The cockpit was conical with the pilot occupying the top near the back. Dark gray panels covered the hull and the shields made the whole thing look slightly blurry. Weapons bristled on the bottom and sides, beam weapons by the look of them.
“Thanks for staying with me,” Dennis said. “Do you need to return to your wing?”
“I’m with my assignment,” Dala replied. “When we return to the fray, I’ll make my way back to the others. For now, I think we need to get you back to your people, don’t you think?”
Dennis wasn’t going to argue. Mustang squadron was deep in the thick of battle, taking on dozens of Tol’An fighters. Their allies were winning the fight but that didn’t mean the fanatics were slowing down. They continued to throw themselves into the brawl, seemingly oblivious to self-preservation.
Their ships aren’t as good but they’re proving to be more dangerous than the Kalrawv Group at this point.
“Mustang One, come in.” Vincent’s voice filled his cockpit. “Can you read me, over?”
“I read you,” Dennis replied. “What’s going on?”
“I see that you’re not in the middle of the combat zone.”
“Just taking care of some damage. I’m about to be back in it.”
“Fall back,” Vincent replied quickly. “I have an assignment for you so don’t engage.”
“Okay … but I’m with one of the Pahxin fighters. She needs to get back to her wing, sir.”
“If she’s there, you might see if she’ll back you up. We’ve got a ship out here harassing us with missiles. It’s caused some pretty significant damage. You need to find him and take him out.”
“Wow … Okay, I’m on it.” Dennis frowned. “I’ll let Mustang know I’m not coming right back and head there now. Do you have a signature or anything?”
“It was last seen off the port side somewhere. Get over there and begin your investigation but I doubt it will be hard to find. It wants to finish us off, I promise you that.”
“Okay, we’re on it.” Dennis switched over to Dala as he adjusted course for the Gnosis. “Change of plans. We have a ship causing some trouble over here. Want to come back me up while I get rid of him?”
“I can do so,” Dala replied. “We can’t afford you to lose your largest ship.”
Dennis dropped a message to Shane letting him know what was happening and to continue the fight there. He would join them when he finished. If I pull this off and don’t find a way to get shot down myself. God knows if this guy is capable of evading the automated defenses of the Gnosis, I might be in over my head.
Dala allowed him to take the lead, following close behind and to the right. He wondered about his situation, how he ended up with one of their new allies flying with him. Much as he hated to use the word, it felt like fate. They needed to learn to work together and perhaps the negotiating table wasn’t the place to do so.
Out there, fighting the Tol’An, they came together like soldiers and when they fin
ished, providing they won, they’d have a victory to share. As long as the politicians didn’t turn it into a pissing contest, it might do more for Pahxin/human unity than all the conversations and gift giving in the universe.
The Gnosis became larger as they approached. A Tol’An destroyer engaged them, a slightly smaller ship in comparison to the human craft but quite deadly from the scans. Cannon fire from the Gnosis lit space up and they scored a solid hit on their target. Dennis frowned at the action.
Why didn’t the Tol’An even try to evade that? They didn’t so much as move.
“Did you see that?” Dennis asked Dala.
“Yes, this is looking more like a distraction every moment.”
“A distraction?” Dennis hummed. “Not an attack?”
“Oh, they are attacking … but why?” Dala clicked her tongue. “Their objective is not likely the destruction of our vessels but of our alliance. Depending on how they planned to go about that task, it may be quite the surprise. Of course, if I were willing to bet, I would say they have attacked the station as well and are trying to assassinate our ambassadors.”
“That would be screwed up! I can’t believe—” Dennis paused as his scanner picked up motion on extreme range up ahead, something small. “I think I’ve got our target. Did you pick anything up?”
“Negative,” Dala said. “I’ll follow your lead. Take us closer.”
Dennis redirected his course and engaged the afterburners. The extra propulsion crammed him into his seat and he forced himself to relax into it. Inertial dampeners eventually caught up, alleviating the pressure. They only had to fly a few moments before the blip reappeared.
Dala chuckled over the line. “I’ve got it now. They think they’re clever hovering around debris. It masks their signature but not completely. Hit and run … Hide while the larger ship contends with the more immediate threat then dash out to take advantage of any damage done. It will be a fast ship with heavy weapons but limited defenses.”
