The stranger finally went on the offense. His attack speed was as fast as his ability to dodge and Irons found himself woefully unprepared for the flurry of punches.
The Iron Albatross blocked the first four with a fair amount of effort. The fifth one slipped through and sent Irons stumbling to his left.
“Sir, I don’t want to fight you,” the big man tried to explain again.
The words fell on deaf ears. “Quit your yappin’.” Irons shook the stars out of his vision and pressed forward. After being toyed with by Haddron and his team, the Iron Albatross needed to blow off some steam. He preferred it to be on his Nordic enemy, but this opponent would do.
A combination of strikes missed and met solid blocks until two fists came down on Irons’s shoulders, shoving him to the ground.
“Sir, please.” The larger opponent hoped a constant show of force might give him the time to calm Irons down.
Irons swept at the man’s leg but he only jumped over the Captain’s kick. That’s when James Irons made his last attack.
He pushed up as hard and fast as he could, driving his fist into the man’s chin and sending the massive attacker reeling backwards. A smaller opponent would have been knocked out by the hit but this was not a smaller opponent and he did not fall.
Irons planted his feet and readied himself for whatever came next.
The whole room was silent, all eyes on the large man as he worked his hand on his jaw, moving it side to side.
“That should have put him on the floor,” Lindsay whispered.
“The guy’s as big as a house.” Durham leaned toward her. “I don’t think anything is gonna put him on the floor. Not even the Captain.”
“Sir?” Syracuse asked.
Irons held his hand out and shook his head.
The large man finally stood straight up and saluted Irons. “Good hit, sir. I surrender.”
Irons relaxed his stance. “Surrender? We were just getting started.”
The big man smiled and held out his hand. “Lieutenant Lou Trevern. It’s an honor to meet you, Captain Irons.”
Irons walked up to Lou and shook his hand. “Mars training, huh?”
“Three years on the red planet, sir.” He frowned. “Too bad I’d already transferred before that last Catter attack.”
Irons put his hand on the Lieutenant’s shoulder. “They coulda used you up there, son.”
“Thank you, sir. I heard you and your crew made the Catters pay for it.”
“We sure hope so.” Syracuse walked up to the two of them.
“Commander Hill.” Lou shook the XO’s hand.
The rest of the team met the large man and introduced themselves. Lou treated them just as the others on the bridge above them did, with awe and some reverence.
“I reckon you’ll be wanting your gun back.” Irons pointed at the bow side gun.
“Sir. I’m just happy to crew with you all.”
Syracuse smiled. “Allen did give you command down here, Captain.”
Irons looked at Lou. “What’s your opinion on Captain Allen, Lieutenant?”
Lou looked around at the others, unsure if he should speak up. “Sir…”
“Permission to speak freely, Lieutenant.” Irons smirked, suspecting Lou shared a similar opinion.
“Between you, me and the walls,” Lou started. ”He’s wiped his nose one too many times.”
Irons laughed out loud. “Take your position, Lieutenant. Everyone take your positions.”
Irons stepped in the middle of the room and pulled down a radio transmitter. “We’re set to go, down here, Allen. Let’s show Haddron what Earth Fleet really does.”
“Copy that, Irons,” Roy replied. “Did you meet Big Lou?”
Irons could hear Roy snicker. He glanced at his team who all just smiled at him. It wasn’t often that anyone got one over on Captain James Irons. And he wasn’t about to let Roy Allen be one who did.
“I did. Turns out we got a lot in common. Might have to recommend a transfer when this is all over. I think he’s gonna make a good addition to my crew.”
“Your crew? Hang on there, Irons. He’s—“
“Over and out.” Irons turned off the radio.
Everyone in the section laughed as they all imagined Roy’s expression. Big Lou laughed loudest of all. The Lieutenant was brimming with excitement to work so closely with the crew of the Lucky Liberty and under the command of a war hero like Captain Irons.
Irons looked down at the control console in front of him. It wasn’t as fancy as Roy’s on the bridge but it had all of the information he needed to run this section of the Drastic Nova. A digital map showed ammunition levels for each gun, a compass and an exterior view of what was outside of the ship from all sides. At the moment, all he could see was the port station, Star Predator, a few buildings and water. He took note of the Star Predator the longest, knowing that was where Mona was and hoping that Wartech’s new security force was up to any other challenges after what they’d all faced on the way to the docks.
“We’ll handle things on our end,” he muttered. “I just hope you’re the Captain you think you are, Allen.”
He pulled a Wormhole Activator from his belt and set it to open a portal to the Admiral’s ship. Just in case.
Eleven
A Show Of Power
Naura paced up and down the bridge, clearly worried. “We shouldn’t have done that. What were we thinking?”
“Relax,” Jammin told her. “There was nothing they could do then and there’s even less they can do now.”
“You’re making me dizzy with all of your pacing.” Elit tried to regain his focus. “Besides, the advantage is ours whether we waited or not.”
“What advantage?” Naura finally stopped. “Do any of you know who that was?”
Jammin scoffed. “A weak old man?”
“That weak old man is James Irons. He was a hero in the Ka’traxis Brood War. You underestimate him at your own peril.”
“Regardless of who he is, I think we proved ourselves against him,” Jammin said proudly.
Haddron only stood and listened as his crew debated over their attack on the convoy. He looked down at the controls on his armrest. Everything he needed to control the Slagschip was there. He pondered whether or not he even needed a crew. It was true that the Slagschip required a larger number of operators to run its most efficient but Haddron was fast enough to run, at least, the most important functions on his own.
The combined power of his own ship integrated with the armaments of the Slagschip was more than enough for any threat. Even without the ship, he’d yet to encounter anyone who could stand against him. He glanced back at his Catter friend, Kar’libon. Maybe we should have been the only two for this journey of vengeance.
Kar’libon nodded his head. It was as if the Ka’traxis Brood warrior knew Haddron’s thought.
“We should not have revealed ourselves so soon.” Naura raised her voice. “If at all.”
“We were just stretching our limbs,” Elit told her.
“We could have done so without alerting James Irons and his crew.”
“James Irons would have discovered us eventually,” Haddron said with little urgency. “I am pleased he is aware of our presence. Even more so that he is aware of our capabilities.”
“He will fight with all he has to see we do not succeed in our plans.” Naura stepped toward Haddron.
“I hope he does.” Elit threw a knife at the ceiling. The blade entered the metal as if the Slagschip allowed it to. Then it slid out and clanged to the floor while the hole in the ceiling sealed up, like it was never there.
“Me, too.” Jammin rushed to the knife and picked it up. “I want to know what Irons is really capable of. A human brings down the Ka’traxis Brood Flagship, he’s worthy of a fair fight.”
Kar’libon’s fur bristled at the words.
Jammin noticed the Catter seething. “Sorry about that. Was it too soon?” he teased.
All eyes turned to the Catter warrior, as if the crew expected him to lash out.
“I guess I would be touchy about that sort of thing, too,” Jammin went on. “One little Earth ship against the mighty Ka’traxis Brood warriors.” Jammin smiled, proud of the rise he was getting out of Kar’libon. “Doesn’t really matter though, does it? After all, your own kind banished you anyway.”
“They are still my people. Still my queen.”
“You have loyalty to them when they have none to you?” Jammin prodded.
“And where is your loyalty, Nordic?” Kar’libon started toward Jammin. “You go against your own council. You fight for leadership with your leader. You speak to me of loyalty?”
“Let’s see what you can do about it.” Jammin marched toward Kar’libon, his temper rising.
“Enough!” Haddron yelled. “If there is to be in-fighting amongst us, it will be one of you with me. Is that clear?”
Jammin’s eyes darted to Haddron. He nodded, slightly, in Haddron’s direction as a signal that he understood. Kar’libon stopped in his tracks but kept his eyes on the defiant Nordic, fur still bristling.
“Back, old friend. You will have your chance at Captain Irons,” Haddron said. “I am glad we have revealed ourselves to these Earth Fleet humans. It is just as important that they know who they are dealing with on the ground as it will be in space should it come to that.”
Elit smiled. Naura sighed, depressed that any violence should happen at all. Jammin only glared at Kar’libon.
“Now.” Haddron sat down in the command chair. “Each of you take your positions. It is time we reassured ourselves of the power of the Slagschip.”
The crew did as they were told, each of them taking one of the empty seats on the bridge.
* * *
Outside of the merged vessels, a field of meteors floated on their course to destinations unknown. Two badly damaged Earth mining ships floated among them while a Ka’traxis Brood fortress slowly spun just beyond the meteor field.
The turrets on the spinal fin of the Slagschip were the first to spin. They blasted out a volley of bullets while the front cannon boomed, firing large shells at the field of space rocks.
Whole chunks of rock were blasted off the nearby meteors. Those chunks were then destroyed by additional bullet fire from the turrets on the side rib sections.
A ripple coursed out from the nose of the vessel. It passed over one of the mining ships, shaking it until the whole thing rattled apart. Each section of the ship was freed from its connected piece. Rivets and bolts, screws and fasteners, whatever section was not standalone parts was wrenched free from the rest. Even more bullets tore through those parts, destroying them beyond recognition or repair.
A faint glow emanated from the fin on top of the single ship armada. It started as a deep orange before turning to a brilliant white. The glow fanned out then collapsed in on itself before it finally shot straight up, completely obliterating a large meteor above it.
The Slagschip rocketed forward, dragging the white beam with it and completely vaporizing whatever it came in contact with.
The merged ship crashed into the second miner ship and spun it off into another meteor. The two collided in a mash of steel and rock, breaking off pieces from each other before the turrets riddled them with holes.
The glow finally faded away and the Slagschip cleared the meteor field, heading straight for the fortress.
Guns that faced the rear melted away and re-emerged to face the front. All barrels faced the bow side and each one fired rapid shots at the fortress.
It was a cacophony of bullets and giant muzzle fire all blasting out from the Slagschip. The fortress was instantly filled with holes as each bullet entered and tore out through the other side.
By the time the guns finally stopped firing and the cold of space had cooled the barrels, the fortress was shredded beyond recognition. The same ripple from before flowed out toward the destroyed fortress and further obliterated it.
The small pieces separated from each other and drifted off in all conceivable directions, some to burn up in the atmospheres of distant planets, others to hurl endlessly through the void of space.
When it was all done, the guns returned to their original positions and the Slagscship fell silent.
* * *
“Just imagine what that would do to something living.” Elit was enthralled at the destructive power of the Slagschip.
“We can’t use this,” Naura muttered.
“But we will use it.” Haddron stood. “We will use it and bring the Earth’s people to their knees.”
“I vote we rule them, afterward. I’ve always wanted my own city.” Jammin smiled.
“Then you would be alone in that venture. I have no interest in rule.” Haddron walked to the front window and marveled at the results of the Slagschip’s onslaught. “We will knock them back to the days of their ancient ancestors then we will return home where we will rid our people of this treaty with Earth.”
“What about our people on Earth?” Naura asked.
“They chose their path, just as Sitasha did.” Haddron walked to Kar’libon and put one hand on the Catter’s shoulder. His other hand he placed just over the lens of his teleport device. “Now, there is one who I wish to bear witness as we rain chaos down on her beloved planet.” He turned to the rest of his crew. “I will return.”
He pressed the lens and he and the Ka’traxis Brood warrior vanished in the flash of light.
Twelve
We Meet Again
Roy’s voice blared over the intercom. “I should probably warn you. The first launch feels a little weird. The Null Inertia Drive’s effect on the body is strange. I hope none of you get sea sick.”
Everyone could hear Roy smile. They could tell he was hopeful that at least one of them would be impacted by the side effects of experiencing the quick maneuvers of the Anti-Gravity system.
“I think he’s got a few tricks up his sleeve,” Lou warned. “Better hold on to something just in case.”
The crew glanced down at the steel bars bracketing the operator area of the guns. They were no replacement for seats and harnesses but they were all that was available. They all looked at Lou, uncertain.
“I know.” He smiled. “It’s ridiculous. But the Null Inertia Drive works. The only reason for straps or bars will be if we’re under attack.”
“Oh, is that all?” Durham asked. “Well, I don’t know about the rest of you but I feel much better about it, now.”
“Shut it, Durham,” Irons said as he reached back up for the radio.
Suddenly, Allen chimed back in through the intercom. His voice sounded anxious. “Irons. You’d better come up here.”
Everyone turned to their Captain. Each of them had the same look of concern.
* * *
Irons rushed onto the bridge of the Drastic Nova and was met by the sight of Haddron on the display screen. His arm was extended just off screen but it was jerked, clearly struggling to control something.
“I broadcast this to all Earth Fleet ships,” the Nordic said. “Today, I exact my revenge. It will be a slow, agonizing revenge. One that will see friends and neighbors war with each other.”
“When did this start?” Durham asked.
“He stood there, just staring before you all came onto the bridge,” Lieutenant Sinclair said. “No demands so far.”
“There will be no negotiation,” Haddron continued. “I lost too much time in my false imprisonment and so your planet shall lose time as I bring your entire society to its knees as debt for my services in your war. But first, I claim Admiral Mona Collins as my prisoner.”
The image pulled out, revealing Haddron holding Mona by the arm. A gun pointed at her from his other hand.
“Mona!” Irons yelled.
“She will stay as my prisoner until her time is served. Only then will justice be done. That is, unless she receives a not guilty verdict at her trial.”
“He’s go
nna have a hearing?” Syracuse asked.
Lindsay shook her head. “This is something else.”
“I invite Captain James Irons to speak as her defense. If he wins, she goes free. If he loses, she earns the maximum sentence equal to my own. However, no matter the outcome of the Admiral’s hearing, Earth will still be plunged into whatever darkness the planet’s own people can conjure.”
“Did you see all of that, Captain?” Benjamin Stevens’s hushed voice came over the Neural Transmitter.
Irons only grumbled.
“You!” Haddron pointed the gun at someone off screen. “Who are you speaking to?” He moved toward the camera, dragging Mona with him before the image blacked out.
“That was her ship.” Irons pulled out the Wormhole Activator. “He’s on her ship!”
“Captain?” Syracuse asked. “Think this through.”
“There’s nothing to think, Hill. He’s got Mona. We can end this right now.”
Lindsay stepped forward. “We’ll go with you.”
The whole crew of the Drastic Nova stepped forward as well.
“The invite was for me.” Irons aimed the Wormhole Activator.
“What makes you say that?” Roy asked.
“I know when I’m being called out.”
“Even so, a trial will need witnesses.”
“It ain’t a trial. It’s a trap.” Irons hit the button and the purple and black portal opened on the bridge.
The Drastic Nova crew leaned back, leary and unfamiliar with being so close to a wormhole from a Catter device. A twinge of fear shot through all of them. They were afraid that a Ka’traxis Brood warrior might step through. Even when nothing did, they all found it hard to relax.
Irons made his way toward the portal but Hannah stepped in his way.
“Sir, please.”
“He ain’t out for blood. If he was, he had his chance earlier. Don’t worry. If I’m not back in five minutes—”
NORDIC WRATH (War In the Void Book 2) Page 8
