by Brown, Ryk
“That’s good news, Sergeant,” Captain Waddell agreed. He stopped for a moment, pulling out his holo-map device and activating it. “We’re going to reach our staging point shortly. When we do, I want to set up a command post and a permanent landing zone. There’s an athletic field here with several tall buildings nearby to use for snipers and observers. This is where we’ll stage. The field will give us plenty of room for air operations. I want a whole company to secure that position. When the Aurora launches the heavy cargo shuttles, direct them to that field. I want those airships up and running as quickly as possible.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Jolly, Weasel leader.”
Captain Waddell tapped his comm-set. “Weasel leader, go for Jolly.”
“Jolly, Weasel leader. Enemy column of Tak regulars en route to your position. They just left the palace grounds. They’ll be on you in five mikes.”
“Weasel leader, Jolly. Anything you can do about them?” Captain Waddell asked.
“Jolly, Weasel leader. Affirmative. Will engage once they are out of range of palace triple A. ETA to contact: three mikes.”
“Weasel leader, Jolly. Keep me updated.”
“Will do, Jolly. Weasel leader out.”
Captain Waddell looked up as Weasel leader’s fighter streaked overhead, waggling his wings at his fellow Corinari below.
Captain Waddell smiled. He knew his job was far from over, but he and his men hadn’t been fired on for nearly ten minutes. Considering they were marching down the main boulevard of their enemy’s capital city, that was a miracle in itself. Although the plan had gone anything but perfect to this point, one thing was for sure: they had caught the Ta’Akar completely off guard.
* * *
“Jump complete,” Mister Riley reported. “We’re in low orbit over Takara.”
“Contacts?” Nathan asked.
“No warships in orbit, Captain,” Mister Navashee reported. “Just the usual spaceports and transfer stations, along with a few hundred comm-sats. However, fighters have scrambled from at least three nearby airbases on the surface.”
“Are they headed to orbit?” Nathan wondered.
“No, sir, they are all headed for Answari.”
“ETA?”
“The closest one will arrive in approximately thirty minutes, sir.”
“They must have scrambled them the moment the Answari base was attacked,” Nathan surmised.
“From their position relative to their departure point, that’s a good guess, sir.”
“Comms, let Major Prechitt know about those fighters,” Nathan ordered.
“Yes, sir.”
“And tell flight ops they have a green deck. Let’s get those cargo shuttles off the deck.”
Major Prechitt studied the tactical map being transmitted to his plotting table in the Aurora’s flight operations center from her CIC. He had twenty-five fighters running air cover for the ground forces in Answari at the moment. However, there were at least seventy-five enemy fighters en route to Answari from three different directions.
“Captain, CAG,” Major Prechitt called into his comm-set.
“CAG, go for Captain,” Nathan answered.
“Sir, I recommend we scramble the rest of our atmospheric birds to intercept the southeast group of bogeys.”
“What about the fighters we already have down there?” Nathan asked.
“They’ve been on station for nearly fifteen minutes, sir. I’d rather send freshly fueled birds to tackle the bogeys. From our current position, they’ll burn far less fuel dropping down from orbit than the birds on the surface will spend running full throttle at lower altitudes.”
“Understood,” Nathan answered. “Make it happen, Major.”
“Lieutenant,” Major Prechitt called to his operations officer. “Scramble the rest of our atmospheric fighters. I want them to intercept the group coming in from the southeast.”
“Yes, sir,” the lieutenant answered.
In the Aurora’s main hangar bay, Takaran fighters captured from Ancot started rolling out of the bay in pairs onto the flight apron aft of the hangar bay. As they rolled out onto the apron and into open space, they thrusted upward and climbed away from the Aurora, clearing her main propulsion section just as it passed under them. Within five minutes, all twenty-five captured fighters had left the ship, formed up into an attack group, and had begun their descent into the atmosphere of Takara.
The four heavy cargo shuttles came in low across the Answari skyline, dropping down quickly onto the athletic field that Captain Waddell and his men had setup as a secure staging area. No sooner had their rear loading ramps been lowered than Corinari troops had gone charging inside. Moments later, those same troops were hauling out everything from medical supplies and food rations to portable heavy gun emplacements and shoulder-fired rocket launchers. Once emptied of supplies, the airship mechanics that had come down in the heavy shuttles began rolling out the carefully folded up Kalibri airships. Two airships were rolled out of each heavy cargo shuttle. As the airship mechanics began to unfold the small, agile airships to prepare them for use, the troops ran back inside the heavy cargo shuttles and carried out the remaining equipment and supplies.
“Let’s get all this stuff over to the supply area and tracked,” one of the supply sergeants hollered at his men as the next wave of jump shuttles appeared in bright blue flashes above the staging area. “I want to know how much we have of everything.”
“The heavy cargo shuttles have off-loaded and are standing by at the staging point, Captain,” Naralena reported.
“Understood,” Nathan answered.
“The shuttles aren’t returning, sir?” Mister Randeen asked, somewhat surprised by the news.
“They don’t have the fuel to make it back to orbit,” Nathan explained as he turned toward the tactical station directly behind him, “and even if they could, we don’t have a way to refuel them since they’re too big to enter our hangar bay.”
“They’ll be sitting ducks if those fighters break through,” the young tactical officer pointed out.
“Acceptable losses, Mister Randeen,” Nathan answered calmly. “How long until our fighters intercept that first group of bogeys?”
“Two minutes, sir.”
“Comms, ask flight ops how long the first group can maintain cover over Answari before they’re bingo fuel.” Nathan looked back at Mister Randeen. Although a quick learner and a good ship-to-ship combat tactician, he knew little about the logistics of flight operations, and it was evident by the look on his face that he wasn’t sure why his captain was asking such questions. “At some point, we’re going to have to resume our attacks on imperial warships. I don’t want to leave our fighters down there to run out of fuel before we get back.”
“Sir, Captain Waddell reports that the last of his people are on the ground,” Naralena announced. “He’s sending up his wounded using the jump shuttles. He also asks that we send additional medical supplies down to him ASAP.”
“Why?” Nathan asked. “I didn’t think he had that many wounded yet.”
“He’s getting requests for medical aid from Answari residents. It seems the local emergency response system is overwhelmed at the moment. The Captain has walking wounded gathering at his perimeter.”
“There’s something we didn’t think of,” Nathan muttered. “Very well. Tell the quartermaster to ready all the aid we can spare on short notice, but remind Captain Waddell that he is not there to provide aid, even to civilians. That will come later, hopefully.”
* * *
Jessica did her best to keep her eyes forward and her head down as was expected of a female palace servant. She was not crazy about the costume she had been stuck wearing for this mission and found herself envious of Jalea, who due to her age, could not have portrayed a servant and had instead been costumed as a senior physician assigned to the emperor’s private medical staff. Jessica could not wait to lose the pointed heels and skirt and get back into a basic day uniform and com
bat boots. It was surprising how much more vulnerable she felt in her current outfit.
So far, Mister Dumar—who had been going by the name of Schiller since they dropped into the palace grounds under cover of darkness—had managed to get their group of sixteen impostors deep into the palace’s underground command complex. There was but one more checkpoint through which they needed to pass, after which, they would be inside the command center’s secure perimeter and would be free to move in for their final attack.
The fact that they had made it so far with barely a challenge as to their identity and purpose was proof that Mister Dumar’s expertise in Ta’Akar procedures was due to far more imperial service than he had disclosed on his original resume. It was also proof that his assertions about the lackadaisical nature of the palace security forces was also correct. Three decades without a single threat to palace security had made them overconfident and lazy, even in the face of a real attack on the capital city in which the palace resided. Jessica could not help but wonder who and what Mister Dumar really was or if they might all be walking into a trap. Although the logic of such a trap played out correctly in her head, her instincts told her otherwise, and it was those instincts that kept her playing the part of a royal servant. That, and the idea that this crazy plan might actually work.
She stood patiently, staring at the boots of the Karuzari in a palace guard’s uniform standing in front of her and listening intently as Mister Dumar chatted up the officer at the last security checkpoint. The two of them walked down the line of soldiers—which stood two abreast—as they chatted in Takaran. They paused at Jessica and Jalea, who stood side by side halfway down the line of guards. Although she did not meet his eyes, Jessica could feel the Takaran nobleman’s eyes on her cleavage as he pretended to inspect her tray of medical herbs and aromatics. The officer knew that such things were favored by the emperor, especially during times of great stress, of which this was without doubt. He made a comment to her, which she did not understand but was certain was lewd in nature. She smiled slightly and said nothing, maintaining her gaze on the boots of the man standing before her. Jalea did respond to the man, however, and in fairly stern tones that spoke of the confidence expected of a physician chosen to serve the emperor himself.
Again, Jessica hated the subservient role she was forced to play, and it took every ounce of self-control not to break the arm of the officer when his hand reached behind her and squeezed her ass. Instead, she offered no reaction other than a slight smile so as not to raise suspicion.
The officer glanced at the rest of the line, then turned to the door guard and barked a command. As the door opened and the line began to move forward into the final section, Jessica made a mental note to come back later and break the officer’s arm.
* * *
Streams of energy weapons fire spread outward from the gun towers on the palace wall as the Corinari troops attempted to advance on the palace itself. Without any cover, the Corinari were forced into the nearby buildings where they worked their way to the upper floors in order to get better lines of fire. However, the palace guards had little regard for the buildings themselves, and continually blasted away at them, sending debris and sometimes entire walls crumbling to the ground in order to get at the men attempting to hide within. Even those that attempted to fire shoulder-launched rockets from a building several blocks away failed. So thick was the air defense layer that even a rock thrown in anger toward the palace would be obliterated by the rapid-fire, mini, air defense turrets located strategically along the palace walls. Within minutes of the attack, it had become apparent that, although the empire’s original defense planners cared little about protecting the city of Answari itself, they cared deeply about protecting the palace against attack. It was also apparent that the emperor did not trust his own subjects that surrounded him on a daily basis.
Everything they threw at the palace was intercepted. Only direct energy weapons fire made it through, and the walls of the palace had been designed to resist such weapons. The Corinari had lost one hundred men in the first ten minutes of the attack, and the situation did not appear to be improving. Six fighters had been lost attempting to destroy the palace’s anti-aircraft defenses, and the attack had only resulted in the destruction of one of the palace’s may guns. Captain Waddell knew he dared not commit any of his close air support Kalibri airships to the attack lest he lose them all in short order. However, at the current rate of attrition, he knew that it was only a matter of time before his entire invasion force became combat-ineffective. The most frustrating aspect of it all was the knowledge that they were not fighting and dying in order to capture the palace, but rather to convince its defenders that such was their intent, all in the name of diversion.
Major Prechitt studied the holographic map of the airspace surrounding the greater Answari area, specifically the air battle that was just concluding on the outskirts of the city itself. A flight of twenty-five of his fighters configured for atmospheric operations had been sent down to deal with the incoming threat to the ground forces in Answari. It had been more difficult to obtain air-superiority over the capital city, and he was not about to lose it.
Fortunately, his fighters had been successful in their interception efforts, but not without losses. Nearly a third of their numbers—eight fighters—had been lost. However, the enemy had lost more than twice as many and had been forced to retreat for the time being. It was a victory, but a small one at best. In another forty minutes, a second wave of fighters from a more distant airbase would challenge their control of Answari airspace. Twenty minutes after that, a third wave would do the same. They might successfully repel the second attack, and maybe even the third. However, the Ta’Akar had hundreds of fighters spread out over a dozen airbases around the planet, and the Corinari had only thirty-eight atmospheric fighters left at their disposal. He, too, was fighting a war of attrition, and it was one he would undoubtedly lose if asked to continue at length.
“We have successfully repelled the first wave,” the flight operations officer reported triumphantly.
“Yes, we have,” Major Prechitt acknowledged, “but let’s not get too happy, not just yet. This is far from over, Lieutenant.”
“Of course, sir. Your orders?”
“Has the first group finished refueling?”
“Yes, sir. They are launching now.”
“Have them make planetfall and return to Answari. They are to stage on the ground outside of the city, away from all possible threats, to conserve fuel until needed.”
“I apologize, sir, but I do not understand.”
“We must get all of our atmospheric fighters refueled and back down to the surface, ready to fight, as the Aurora must return to action elsewhere in the Takaran system. Therefore, our fighters must conserve fuel by remaining on the ground until needed. We do not know when we will be able to return.”
“Of course, sir. I will instruct them to reserve enough fuel to return to orbit.”
“If possible, yes,” the major added. He knew full well that would not likely be the case.
* * *
“C2, Falcon,” Loki’s voice called over the speakers.
“Falcon, go for C2,” Cameron answered. Despite the fact that she had comm-techs to handle such matters, she preferred to get the information directly.
“C2, Falcon. The first wave of imperial fighters was successfully intercepted. However, we lost eight fighters.”
“Anyone eject?”
“Unknown, sir. They’re probably maintaining comm silence for now. Not a bad idea, considering.”
“And the second wave?”
“Still thirty minutes out. Major Prechitt had all remaining thirty-eight atmospheric fighters refueled and ordered them parked on the surface for now to save fuel. I think he’s worried that the Aurora won’t get back before his birds run dry.”
“What about the jumpers?” Cameron asked. “We expected them back by now.”
“Captain is using them to fu
nnel additional medical supplies down to the staging area. Captain Waddell’s forces are taking heavy casualties now that they’re attacking the palace directly. That place is heavily fortified. Apparently, he’s getting wounded civilians as well as a few imperial troops along with his own wounded. The shuttles are going to take our wounded back to the Aurora before she jumps out to start engaging ships again. I suspect the shuttles will become available after that.”
“What about air support? Are they able to help out with the palace?” Cameron asked.
“They lost four fighters trying and couldn’t even get close. The palace has a lot of triple-A; makes it hard. Besides, the major doesn’t want to waste the fuel as he’s saving it for the intercepts coming up. The Kalibris are up and running, but they’re being used more for rearguard protection as smaller imperial units try to flank our guys. But they’re fusion-electric and can run for months.”
“Falcon, C2 copies. How are your fuel levels?”
“C2, Falcon. We’re good,” Loki answered. “We’ve just topped off, and we don’t burn much jumping around—only when we go down into the atmosphere.”
“Very well, jump back to the Aurora and verify her next engagement zone,” Cameron ordered. “After that, recon the shipyards again. I want to know the status of the Avendahl, as well as those fighters your spotted last time.”
“C2, Falcon copies. Will verify Aurora’s next target, recon shipyards, and return. Falcon out.”
“Well, we’re certainly neck deep now, aren’t we?” Cameron stated. “Are you getting a data stream?”
“Yes, putting it up now,” Ensign Yosef reported. The holographic view floating above the plotting table changed, its information having been updated.
“He wasn’t kidding about the heavy losses,” Cameron admitted. She watched as one of several side videos played in midair next to the main battle map. She saw images of fighters getting blown out of the sky as they attempted to make high-speed attack passes, followed by images of heavy gunners and Corinari attempting to fire shoulder-launched rockets, all being gunned down by heavy energy weapons fire coming from the palace walls. “Jesus, do these men even know this is a diversionary action?” she asked. She knew they did, but she also knew that the Corinari were too proud to hold back. They would take the fight to the palace as if they meant to topple her walls by themselves.
