by John Walker
“Um … I’ll try, ma’am.”
“Do more than try!” Avania clenched her fists. These humans are so stubborn!
The ship rumbled and the artificial gravity struggled to keep up with the sudden course change. Avania held tight to the desk, staring at the scans. The Leviathan would just miss the largest cluster of debris. Scans flashed red when she focused on the next floating chunks. Most of it was made of metal, large enough to be visible with only five times magnification.
Unstable mass. Avania frowned at the readings. She had to think back to her school days, time spent in the royal military. Wait. Extreme radiation. A quick adjustment brought back more data showing a volatile substance encased within the metal. That is a bomb. “Madeline, are you still there?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Full stop and reverse,” Avania replied. “We are approaching a bomb. I can’t tell how potent it will be so we should definitely avoid it.”
The device exploded as she spoke, causing the Leviathan to shake again. Delgado started shouting for a damage report. Lights flickered for half a moment. Avania cursed and left the office. She thought to check in with the engineer but he was already doing his job. She needed to get back to the bridge.
Hopping in the elevator, she tapped her foot, willing the thing to go faster. The collectors were definitely worried about the Leviathan or they wouldn’t have thrown out booby traps in their way. If they had more of that type of thing, they could destroy the Earth vessel but it would take time.
They’re trying to delay us, Avania realized. They want us to slow down and not get close enough to attack. They think they can escape. That means those marines need to hurry or they’re likely to become humanity’s first intergalactic travelers. Hurry, elevator! Hurry!
***
“Damage report,” Warren said. “Did our shields deflect any of it?”
“Most, actually,” Nicolas replied. “Minor surface damage to the hull. Our environmental shields are holding. However, I’m picking up more of those devices.” He turned to look back at them. “Without altering our course, we would’ve struck that thing. Just a quick calculation indicates closer proximity likely would’ve caused a breach.”
“Understood.” Warren rubbed his chin. “Continue to climb and get us clear of those … mines, I guess. We should be able to fire now, correct?”
“Weapons are charged and ready. Enemy shuttles are all docked.”
“Fire when ready.”
Nicolas tapped his console and spoke into his microphone. “Engineering, be advised, I am firing all weapons.” A low grind of metal sounded on either side of them from the bowels of the ship. The weapons discharged, hurling rockets toward the collector ship along with dozens of cannon rounds.
Avania stepped onto the bridge just as the first of their attacks struck the shielded surface of the collector’s vessel. The resulting flash of light made Warren look away for a moment, rubbing his eyes. He half expected there to be no reaction but then again, the sheer amount of firepower they threw might’ve been overwhelming.
“Direct hit on all shots,” Nicolas said. “Not sure about damage but look at the surface of the object.”
Warren squinted, leaning forward in his seat while the image magnified. The area they hit seemed to be glowing brighter than the rest of it, as if the shields themselves were injured and throbbing. He tilted his head, puzzling out what might’ve happened. He finally shrugged and turned to Avania.
“Any thoughts about that?”
“The shields are trying to recharge,” Avania said. “Hit them again. Target the same location.”
“You heard her,” Warren added. “Go for it, Nicolas.”
“Firing a second volley.” The grinding happened again and another series of missiles launched from the ship. They sped toward their target, tearing through the open space between them. Seconds before impact, a beam of light lashed out, ripping the ordnance into pieces. Debris struck the hull along with the cannon shot.
“Did you see that?” Victoria pointed at the screen. “Why didn’t they do that the first time?”
“They didn’t think they’d be a threat,” Avania replied. “That’s a good sign. It means your weapons are far more potent than I thought.”
Another section of the collector ship began to glow and a beam blasted through space, striking the Leviathan on the starboard side. Warren gripped his chair, nearly being tossed from his seat. Avania slammed into Madeline’s chair, grabbing hold to keep from hitting the ground. She sat down and strapped herself in.
“That was something,” Warren muttered. “Keep hitting them with the cannons, Nicolas. What about our missiles?”
“They’re still reloading,” Nicolas replied. “Cannons are firing again. I’m adjusting course to get a better angle on that damaged section though it seems to be clearing up.”
“You’ll have to be faster,” Avania warned. “Those shields can regenerate quickly while they have power.”
“Don’t let up.” Warren turned to Victoria. “Get the weapon crews on the com. They have to be hurry on the reloads.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Damage report?” Warren asked.
“I’ll get it,” Avania replied. “That wasn’t the EMP weapon. They did a pure beam attack. Your Deck Seven is severely damaged. Bulkheads have locked down the area to prevent decompression.” She looked up. “What’s in Deck Seven?”
“Living quarters,” Victoria said. “No one should’ve been down there so at least we’re save there. Their beam weapons cut right through the shields. It doesn’t sound like they were slowed down at all.”
The Leviathan fired again, cannon shot hammering the shields for a third time. Missiles went out in a spread formation, which made Warren respect Nicolas all the more. The collector ship destroyed a few but at least three of the missiles collided with the surface. Their shields began to throb in a hexagonal pattern.
“So they’ve got sections,” Warren said. “See that? We can tear through different parts of their defenses.”
“They’ll try to divert power,” Avania added. “But I’m not sure it’ll help if you keep at it. Excellent aim, by the way. I’m impressed. You’re not using your computer to lock on the target?”
“Doesn’t work for cannons,” Nicolas replied. “And the missiles were but I had to program their paths manually to make them spread out to counter their defense. Seemed to work. They weren’t prepared for a wide spread. At the last second, I had them all shift and dart inward.”
“And they can’t maneuver quickly,” Victoria said. “Which gives you that advantage.”
“To be fair, neither can we,” Nicolas replied. “Hang on!”
Warren gritted his teeth as the shields on the collector began to glow again. Another beam shot out at them, white with gold sparks dancing along the surface. It hit them but there was no rumble, no motion. The lights flickered, went out and remained dark. He slapped his knee, turning to Nicolas.
“The EMP! Did it take out everything?”
“Negative, sir.” Nicolas chuckled. “Computers are still online. Don’t know what happened to the lights. I’m switching to emergency now.”
“Wait!” Avania called out. “Hold on. Shut down all non-essential systems! Now!”
“But …” Warren stopped himself, catching her idea. “Do as she says. Right away. Madeline, announce to the crew to use their environmental suits and shut down. I think I know what she’s getting at and this might buy us an opportunity.” He got up and donned his suit. If the ruse worked, they might break through that defense in a few moments.
And if not, there was no way the collectors would leave when they could destroy the human flagship. Warren had to buy any amount of time he could for the marines to finish their part. One way or another, he’d keep his enemies there for as long as it took and by the time they’ll tried to get away, it would be too late.
***
Dex led the way, jogging down the hallway to
ward the next shuttle bay. At thirty yards, he saw the aliens wheeling out unconscious humans, piled up like sacks of grain. He slowed, taking aim then firing a couple of controlled bursts. The weapon fire echoed off the walls, reverberating with the percussive intensity of a marching band.
His first target he caught fully in the chest, dropping him in a second. The second took three rounds to the side. The others scrambled for their weapons, dashing toward the door for cover. Jumie blasted one, leaving three targets. They tore off down the hall just as the other marines caught up.
“After them!” Dex shouted. “Don’t let them get away!”
Blue beams flashed past them, five and six at a time. Dex tossed himself to the floor, returning fire but aiming high to avoid the racks of people. Other aliens joined their companions, at least seven of them coming upon the scene. The marines fired in unison, filling the hall with enough bullets to cut down the contingent of enemies.
Buzzing stopped and Dex called for a cease fire. He didn’t rise, opting to take aim for another moment to ensure the fighting was over. When he felt certain they were okay to rise, he crawled to his feet and motioned for Jumie to accompany him. The two arrived at the humans, pausing when they saw some of the aliens writhing about.
“Live ones,” Jumie said. “Are we taking prisoners?”
“Don’t got room for them,” Dex replied. Those who were alive wouldn’t be for long. They were covered in blood, massive holes in their suits indicating the severity of their wounds. “Won’t matter anyway. These guys are done.” He turned to the hostages. “These people are why we came. I need two escorts to get these people out of here!”
Three marines started rousing the victims, getting them on their feet and ushering them back down the hall. Dex checked the shuttle to see if any had been left behind. When he found it clear, he started on his way back. A buzz made him wince and he heard someone scream. Jumie cried out, “contact!”
Shots were fired as another exchange took place. Dex moved to the door and paused, leaning out to take a look at their opposition. He couldn’t get an accurate count but there were at least another seven aliens, possibly more. Grabbing a grenade from one of his pouches, he pulled the pin and cooked it for a moment.
“Frag out!” Dex shouted, tossing it toward the enemy. It clattered on the floor only twice before exploding. A wet splatter made him wince and he glanced again. Three of the aliens had collapsed, lying still on the floor. Another wallowed against the wall, holding the stump of his left leg, blown off just below the knee.
Those who survived continued to shoot but they were no longer aiming. Blue beams slapped the ceiling and walls, seemingly fired at random. Dex hit the deck, narrowly avoiding a blast that would’ve taken his face off. “Everyone stay down!” He shouted the words, even though the com was half an inch from his mouth.
Jumie joined him, firing a couple shots down the way. Dex tossed another grenade, hoping it might suppress their attackers again. He knew they didn’t have time to brawl with this one group, not if they hoped to save additional people before they were taken to the converters.
The grenade popped followed by a single scream. Blue beams ceased. Dex risked a look. Only two of the aliens appeared to be alive, sitting up against the walls. They were badly injured, holding their weapons in their laps. They looked in his direction, struggling to lift their arms but they couldn’t seem to do it.
Jumie finished them off with a single shot each. Dex looked at him.
“Sir?” Jumie asked. “They were still a threat.”
“Yeah, I know.” Dex slapped his shoulder. He turned to the others. “We’ve got more people here but we have got to pick up the pace!” The collector ship shook, a minor tremor he felt through the floor. “That might’ve been the Leviathan taking some shots at us. It’s definitely time to pick up the pace.”
“They’re putting up quite the fight,” Jumie said, “was that expected?”
Dex nodded. “Yeah, big time. They might not have been prepared for us specifically, but they were definitely prepared for another group of guys to burst out of the shuttle ready to throw down. They weren’t going to let that happen again and as a result, our job became harder.” He considered the enemy weapons for a moment, looking down at one of the pistols.
They could come in handy. Dex didn’t know if it would be a good idea to switch out familiar gear for the alien. When they were in a pinch, with no other option, it made perfect sense but this time, they brought their own toys. No, now is not the time to get creative when things are working.
Another marine was out of action, dropping them down to seven guys. Dex didn’t like the attrition but they were facing a desperate, well-armed opponent. Caution wasn’t an option. They had to press on, to get the work done with what they had. Sooner or later, the aliens had to run out of bodies.
Unfortunately, the same could be said for Dex’s side.
Chapter 12
Commander Avery Harden started with the Agency a few weeks before Captain Miller. He was given command of the Seeker, a research vessel intended to take trips back and forth to the moon. A crew of thirty piloted the vessel but they could accommodate up to a hundred people if necessary.
The cargo hold would allow them to take on the rescued people from the mothership when the marines finished their operation. After Singer’s ship went dark, the Seeker was the only other vessel that would be capable of holding so many, though getting them aboard might’ve been quite the challenge.
Avery felt like they wouldn’t have any trouble getting the hostages on board but they still needed to assist the Probity. Singer hadn’t been able to communicate out, hadn’t said anything since the ship went dark. If they were still alive and unable to communicate, they definitely needed help.
Powering up the engines wouldn’t be a huge deal if they weren’t damaged but considering how much time passed, Avery doubted it would be so easy. If their situations were reversed, he wondered about Singer’s course of action. Would the man have come for him already?
Orders told the Seeker to hold their position, to remain in place and standby. It felt like a waste of time. When the Leviathan took the field, Avery received instructions to rescue the people from the object when the marines were ready for exfiltration. However, that still left the Probity in a tough spot.
I suppose when the object is dealt with, we’ll have all the time in the world to mount a rescue operation. The problem was that the Probity needed assistance right away. Those on board had a limited amount of resources to survive on before they’d be lost. Oxygen had to be the chief concern. Their tanks would only last so long.
The concern was losing four ships, Avery thought. With the object distracted, I should be able to mount a rescue attempt. He reached out to control. “This is the Seeker. We’re ready to get in there and help the Probity. Permission to break standby.”
“Hold one moment, please.”
Avery bit his tongue. He felt like he’d called to pay a bill. They put me on hold? Yes, they were in the middle of multiple operations but granting him permission to take care of their own didn’t seem like a tall order. Maybe something else is going on, some other catastrophe I’m not privy to.
“This is Meyers,” the voice made him jump as it blared over the speaker. “You are authorized to move in on the Probity and see what you can do. Note that you might have to disengage suddenly to get the marines out of there so make it fast, Harden. Know that I haven’t asked Colonel Jacks about this. If you want to do it, better hurry.”
“Thank you, Doctor.” Avery felt a sense of relief wash over him. “We’ll make it happen right now.” He killed the connection and turned to the helm. “Get us over there. We’ve got people to save.”
The view screen showed the Probity. Fortunately, the ship was far enough away from the Earth to not be in jeopardy of burning up in the atmosphere. At least that countdown wasn’t ticking by but it was a small favor. Avery checked the scanner, noting it would take jus
t over three minutes to reach them.
Not too bad, all things considering. When they were close enough, personal coms might work. If so, they could at least reach out to the crew of the Probity, see if any of them made it. A morbid thought hit him, mostly due to the assumption that accompanied it. They can’t all be dead.
As they raced forward, another communication came through. He picked it up. “This is Harden.”
Jacks’s voice blared in the speaker. “What’re you doing up there?”
“Taking advantage of the distraction,” Harden replied. “We’re checking on the Probity while we have the chance. If I can get them out, I will. We can salvage the ship later.”
“Those marines will be counting on a pickup!”
“And they’ll get it,” Harden replied, “but the Probity is counting on some assistance. They don’t deserve to die in there because we refused to act. Now we can discuss this in an official capacity when I return but I’m going to move in and save as many lives as I can. If it helps, Doctor Meyers gave me authorization already.”
“He did, did he?” Jacks sighed. “Harden, I want those people saved too—”
“With all due respect, sir, it doesn’t seem like it. You’re pushing back on my attempt now.”
“There are thirty people on the Probity,” Jacks said. “We’re saving over a hundred on that ship. Your standby order was to recover a larger number of people.”
“And I’ll still take care of it.” Harden tightened his fist and let it out along with a deep breath. “Sir, I’m saving those people and I’ll be there for the marines. What happens after is up to you but for now, I’m in the field and I’m calling this shot. Is there anything else you’d like to add before I go?”
Jacks didn’t respond for several moments and when he finally did, he grunted first. “You’re a stubborn man, Harden but I understand. I hope you’re right that you’ll be able to take care of both. If that ship shoots at you while you’re closing in on the Probity though, you’re going to condemn a lot of people.”
