NORDIC WRATH (War In the Void Book 2)

by Anthony Thackston

  Mona stood silently waiting for Haddron to continue.

  “Your people are here to save you.”

  “What people?”

  “Perhaps sight is better than sound.”

  “What—”

  Haddron was gone in a flash but reappeared in the cell with her. There was no time to sort out what was going on. Before she knew it, Haddron grabbed her wrist and they both teleported to the bridge of his ship.

  Haddron released her arm and pointed toward the window.

  Elit and Jammin rose, ready to stop her from whatever she may do next but Haddron held up his hand, signaling for them to leave her.

  Mona walked to the window and pressed her hands against it. She could feel the bitter, freezing cold of space through the thick glass. She removed her hands immediately but continued staring out at the ship in front of them. “James.”

  “Doubtful,” Elit mutterred.

  Mona spun to the Nordic. “Why do you say that?”

  “As I said before,” Haddron started. “Captain Irons, if alive, is in no condition to be aboard that vessel. Of course, if he is truly dead then those seeking to rescue you are also here to take revenge of their own. I brought you up here to discover the purpose of this visit.” Haddron nodded to Naura.

  “Opening a channel.“ Naura punched in commands on her console.

  * * *

  “Captain, we’re being hailed,” Hannah said.

  Irons darted a glance at Syracuse who returned it with a nod.

  “Put it up,” Irons ordered.

  The display screen opened to Haddron smiling at them. His smile quickly faded into disbelief as he found himself looking into the eye of James Irons. “Captain Irons? How?”

  “James?” Mona ran into view.

  “Mona!” Irons lurched forward as if he could run into the screen.

  “Let this go, Haddron,” Sitasha pleaded. “Your revenge will only lead to a path of death.”

  “Sitasha, once again you add to your betrayal. Betrayal of your own people,” Haddron snarled.

  “I do not betray my own people. Only those who seek the pain of others.”

  “Sitasha, please.” Naura joined Haddron in front of the display. “Come to reason. Join us. You know Haddron’s way is the right one.”

  “It is too late for that,” Haddron said. “Whether you agree with me or not, Sitasha, my way will be adhered too. Without you.”

  “Let her go, Haddron,” Irons demanded.

  “Last we met, Captain, was nearly fourteen hours ago. Perhaps I should lay waste to your ship and speed up your return to near death. Or should I let you live out the remainder of your ability to stand while you watch me dismantle your ship and your crew piece by piece?”

  Irons’s upper lip curled. He was ready to give the command to fire but the sight of Mona calmed him.

  No one had yet to fire, so there was still a chance to make it out of this without incident.

  “How’s that shoulder?” Irons asked.

  The reminder had the desired effect. Hadron’s hand went straight to his wounded arm He forced a smile at Irons in an attempt to let him know the human had not burrowed under his skin.

  “You and me are gonna meet up. And when we do, that’s the first place my fist is going.”

  “Captain, please, do not patronize him,” Sitasha begged.

  The two men stared at each other through the display, neither of them giving way to the other.

  It was a showdown of wills until a glint in Haddron’s eye broke their connection.

  “Evasive maneuvers, now!” Irons ordered as he throttled the ship to max and spun the wheel.

  “All guns, forward full!” Haddron ordered just before the display screen switched back to a view of the Slagschip.

  A wave of bullets blasted toward the Lucky Liberty.

  * * *

  The old Earth Fleet ship rocketed toward the Slagschip and veered to the left, narrowly missing the wide stream of bullets rushing toward it.

  A strange ripple launched out from the nose of the Nordic battle ship but Lucky Liberty skirted just to the side of it, hitting right on the edge of the vibrational wave.

  The contact was enough to shake the old battle cruiser and push it farther out from the stream off bullets. It was a fortunate effect of that particular attack.

  The Earth Fleet ship raced forward, moving alongside the Slagschip. Its automated turrets blasted away at the sides as it moved to the rear of the enemy ship.

  A few of the fired shots made their way between the ribs of the battle shell, striking the integrated ship.

  * * *

  Haddron and Mona stumbled to the side as his ship took the hits from the Lucky Liberty. Mona turned to Haddron and smiled. This was what Earth Fleet was capable of.

  “Set all guns to full auto,” Haddron ordered. “I want them tracking that ship’s every move.”

  * * *

  “Just gotta stay out of their firing line.” Irons steered the ship with ease as if he and the Lucky Liberty were one.

  “Sir, they can teleport that thing any time,” Hannah said.

  “Brooks, find the lens on that thing and take it out. I don’t want them having any other advantages.”

  “Aye, sir.” Lindsay dropped the AR visor down over her eyes.

  * * *

  The Lucky Liberty steered away from the Slagschip and made a wide turn.

  Auto fire from the enemy ship ripped toward them but the Earth cruiser stayed just in front of the line of bullets. Enemy shells sped behind the stern of the Lucky Liberty and into the thinner flame made by the Slipstream Regulator.

  The Lucky Liberty arched upwards, followed by the bullet stream.

  * * *

  “Drop the Bull Head!” Irons ordered.

  Durham did as commanded.

  “Target sighted on top of the Slagschip, sir!” Lindsay started to squeeze the trigger.

  Irons spun the wheel, maneuvering the Lucky Liberty to come down, diagonally, at the Slagschip.

  “Take it out!”

  “Aye, Captain!” Lindsay pulled the trigger.

  * * *

  Bullets from the main cannon stormed from the Lucky Liberty, all flying directly toward the lens on top of the Slagschip.

  The auto turrets of the Nordic vessel aimed up at the incoming battle cruiser, launching return fire.

  A few of the bullets from Haddron’s ship collided with those of the Lucky Liberty, sending the cannon shots away from their intended target.

  * * *

  “You dare to come at me in such a way.” Haddron input commands into his chair.

  * * *

  The fin on top of the Slagschip glowed as the Lucky Liberty streaked for the lens just behind it.

  Suddenly the energy beam shot upward, destroying any of the ordinance that passed through it.

  The Bull Head started to dent and chip at the shear amount of bullets that hit it.

  * * *

  “What is that?” Durham asked.

  “There’s no time to get out of its way!” Hannah yelled.

  Irons slammed his fist on the lens on his console.

  The white glow was too slow for comfort.

  * * *

  The lens on the Earth ship glowed as the vessel got closer to the energy beam. The white light of the teleporter flashed just before the Earth Fleet battle cruiser could collide with the deadly weapon.

  * * *

  “No fair!” Elit yelled. “Where did they get that?”

  “Is it not obvious?” Haddron said. “Find them.”

  “Scanning for entry ions.” Naura’s fingers danced on the controls of her console. The readings showed nothing in the near vicinity. “There is no sign of them, Haddron.”

  “Probably went back to Earth with their tails between their legs.” Jammin kept a look out through the window.

  “You don’t know the Iron Albatross,” Mona said bravely.

  Haddron only glared at her.

&nb
sp; The ship suddenly rocked forward and alarms rang out on the bridge.

  “What?” Haddron gripped his console to stay upright.

  * * *

  The Lucky Liberty blasted upward at the underside of Haddron’s ship, the host vessel of the Slagschip. Some of the bullets struck the battle shell while others struck the weak point of the integrated ship.

  Bullets from the monster ship were shredding the Bull Head at the front of the Lucky Liberty, deteriorating the only real defense the Earth Fleet ship had. Worse, some of the enemy shots were puncturing it and hitting the ship itself.

  The same white glow as before emanated from the Earth cruiser before it disappeared again.

  * * *

  “Let’s see how you like it when someone sneaks up on you,” Irons said.

  “Sir, he can’t get the teleport signature from farther out.” Hannah worked the math on her console. “Our scanners only pick it up within two hundred yards.”

  “So we jump away at three hundred then move in and jump again,“ Syracuse added.

  “Lou, reload!” Lindsay yelled through her radio.

  “Copy that,” Lou replied.

  She could see the ammunition data through her visor. Lou was fast. The numbers were already rising.

  “It’s like the man said.” Irons throttled up. “Fire. Move. Fire. Move.”

  He positioned his ship to come back down at Haddron’s.

  * * *

  Both space vessels fired at each other. The Lucky Liberty took more hits than her crew was comfortable with but they succeeded in dishing out some of their own.

  Small explosions went off on the outside of both ships before the Earth cruiser teleported away once more.

  The guns of the Slagschip twisted and turned, searching for a target. They finally all pointed upward as the flash of white burst just above the lens.

  The Lucky Liberty appeared, guns firing, just above the giant teleport lens on the battle shell.

  The Earth ship took on fire but not before it cracked and punctured the lens. The Lucky Liberty’s own teleporter glowed and flashed, taking the ship away with it.

  * * *

  “How is this possible?” Haddron slammed his fist onto his console. “The Slagschip is the most powerful vessel ever designed. How is an out of date Earth Fleet ship toying with us?”

  “Maybe it would be a good idea to start moving,” Jammin said smugly.

  “They’re smoking. I saw them.” Elit jumped up. “It won’t be much longer till they’re destroyed just like the others.”

  “Ion scans, positive.” Naura turned to Haddron.

  “Where?”

  “Port side.”

  * * *

  The Lucky Liberty appeared, already moving. Its guns blasted away at the Slagschip, chipping away at the integrated behemoth.

  Haddron’s ship fired back but just as before, the Earth ship stayed just ahead of bullets.

  * * *

  “Get ready for another jump, kids.” Irons hit the lens.

  The teleport light filled the display then disappeared to open space passing them by.

  The crew could hear the guns blasting again.

  Irons kept the wheel turned to the left, maintaining a constant wide turn.

  A few rounds from the enemy hit the ship, forcing Irons to course correct.

  “Here comes another one.” Irons hit the lens again.

  * * *

  The Lucky Liberty ported away then returned on the other side of the Slagschip, still flying in a circle around it, still firing at the monster ship.

  Another flash then the Earth vessel appeared underneath again, firing at its weak point. This time there were no solid hits as it passed quickly underneath.

  Another flash. The Lucky Liberty was running circles around the Slagschip. Disappearing then reappearing somewhere else. Always firing and keeping ahead of the overpowered Nordic vessel’s turrets.

  * * *

  “This isn’t working, Haddron,” Jammin said. “We can’t lock onto something that moves this erratically.”

  Haddron’s eyes darted over his console. He glanced up at the window. A crack had already formed. He watched as the Slagschip repaired it, keeping the atmosphere inside.

  He listened to the cacophony of voices all calling out appearances and vanishings of the Earth Ship as it continued its assault.

  Sparks flew out from the bridge as external sections of the ship blew up, affecting instruments on the inside.

  His anger seethed and he looked down and noticed his own clenched fist turning whiter than he already was.

  In the history of its use, the Slagschip had never encountered anything remotely close to overcoming its power. Haddron was quickly realizing the Lucky Liberty was not like most vessels. More-so, Captain James Irons was not like most combatants.

  “I will keep this in mind next time.” Haddron’s voice was low.

  “It teleported away, again,” Naura said, frustrated.

  “You are truly a great adversary, Captain Irons. But I tire of this game. I will make you understand.” He pressed down on his console and the guns of the Slagschip stopped firing.

  “Have you lost your mind?” Jammin turned to Haddron. “You turn off our weapons?”

  Haddron smiled and placed his hand back on the control panel. “Zonne-uitbarsting.”

  * * *

  The Lucky Liberty reappeared and was immediately met by enemy fire ripping through her hull. The Earth ship continued to make its way around the Slagschip but no part of the vessel was left undefended. The whole thing was surrounded, top to bottom, in a hale of bullets firing from its own guns.

  The Earth ship was riddled worse than any Catter tanks had done.

  * * *

  Everyone except Hannah dove out of their seats, covering their heads as explosions and sparks burst out from the control center of the Lucky Liberty. Alarms and fire extinguishing systems all came to life in a flurry of sight and sound.

  Durham tried to find cover behind his seat while Lindsay found hers under her console.

  Irons reached up and pressed the lens one more time.

  * * *

  The USS Lucky Liberty disappeared then reappeared in the same spot. The large teleporter lens on its top deck shattered.

  A few more bullets hit the Earth cruiser before the onslaught from the Slagschip finally stopped and both vessels became still, facing each other.

  Only one of them was left a smoking ruin.

  Twenty-Four

  It’s Personal

  A bloody hand reached up and grabbed the edge of a control console.

  Durham pulled himself to his feet and leaned back on the console. He looked around the bridge with blurry vision. He shut his eyes tight to try and clear the spinning room. When he finally opened them again he caught sight of something dripping passed his eye from his brow.

  Before he even touched his head, he noticed one side of his hand covered in blood. That same hand reached up and touched his forehead. He winced at the bloody cut. He looked down and saw the blood spot on the base of his seat. “That’ll teach me to use seatbelts.”

  “That’ll teach all of us.” Syracuse stood up, gripping his shoulder. “Hannah?”

  “I’m ok.” The Specialist unclasped her own seat belt and moved to Syracuse. She touched his shoulder but he flinched away. “It’s dislocated.”

  “I figured that.” Syracuse wrapped his good arm around the top of his seat and hugged it. “Do what you gotta.”

  Hannah lifted his dislocated arm, much to his distress. Syracuse took three deep breaths and nodded his readiness. Hannah pulled his arm and twisted it, forcing the joint back in place.

  Syracuse growled and finally sighed a breath of relief.

  “Everyone accounted for?” he asked.

  “Brooks?” Durham walked to Lindsay’s console and glanced under it.

  Her hand reached out and Durham took it without question. She pulled herself up and stood, ready for whatev
er was next. Fortunately, they seemed to be getting a break from the Slagschip.

  Irons helped Sitasha to her feet. Her legs wobbled. This wasn’t something she was expecting. Being in any battle ship was risky. The threat of space rock and debris collision made it hazardous enough, regardless of weapons and defense systems. But being in one during a battle? That was a death sentence. And she wasn’t prepared for that.

  Captain Irons cracked his neck. For everything they just went through, he was the only one who was unaffected.

  Lindsay looked Irons over, wondering if it was just a tough act to keep moral up after coming under such heavy fire. “Captain?”

  “Feel better than you all look,” Irons said. “Kinda weird, though. Like my insides are moving around.”

  “The nano-machines,” Sitasha explained. “You probably took on more injuries than you know because they’re—“

  “Patching me up,” Syracuse finished her sentence. “Something we’re all gonna need.”

  “What’s our status?” Irons asked.

  Hannah leaned on her console. She winced at a pain along her collarbone. The straps of her seat belt had dug into her while keeping her safe under the assault. The Specialist worked on her console. Red warning signals flashed. “So many offline,” she muttered.

  “Specialist?” Irons asked.

  “We’re DIV, Captain.” Hannah turned to Irons. “Navigation systems, thrust— We’re even down to half our weapons—”

  “Weapons!” Lindsay panicked and grabbed her radio. “Weapons bay, do you copy. Lou, are you there?”

  There was no answer.

  “I want life support running through the whole boat,” Irons ordered.

  Hannah went to work turning the systems on throughout the whole ship instead of only the bridge and weapons bay.

  “Durham—“

  “I’m on it.” Durham finally shook off his shell shock and rushed to the bridge door.

  * * *

  The air in the through corridor felt thin and Durham had to take several deep breaths just to feel like he got one. He could hear the vents as the life support system pumped oxygen throughout the rest of the Lucky Liberty.