Ghost Soldiers

by Michael G. Thomas

  "Can they be reused?" he asked.

  A pair of Thegns was busily moving around the dormant machines and rolled one over so that it lay on its back. Both fiddled away with an open panel, and a third pushed in a separate panel to reveal the override functionality. The creature studied the information on the panel for a few seconds before looking back to Spartan and shook his head.

  "The programming has been wiped. They are all blank. With the memory logs wiped, I cannot tell you more. I suggest you speak with Lieutenant Kipling."

  Spartan had expected as much, but the loss of so many, and without much of a fight, was troubling to him.

  "The Grunt default programming is to stand and fight on loss of signal, so why did they just let the enemy come close and disable them?"

  Khan pushed one of the Grunts hard, and it tipped over and crashed onto the deck. Blue energy pulsed from the impact, moving out like ripples on water throughout the rest of the interior of the cruiser, reminding all those now inside that this particular part of the derelict was at least partially functional.

  "Either they were disabled before they could fight, or they refused to fight. Something went wrong here. Kipling has questions to answer when get back."

  He began to wonder if having the man and his platoon guarding their rear was such a good idea. The last time he'd boarded the ship they had been hit hard, but he had no reason to doubt the entity would resurface, and the ability to leave the derelict was an important one.

  Maybe I should...

  Spartan spotted movement off into the distance and instinctively activated his shoulder-mounted weapon. All thoughts of the Lieutenant vanished and were replaced by the potential for battle.

  The cannon raised up out of its hidden mount and powered up. The rest of the abandoned cruiser was as lifeless as the entrance, and there was no lighting to be seen, just the odd movement of energy that travelled the walls, just as much as it moved along the floors and ceiling. This energy came the ship in odd hues of dark blue and grey, showing little detail.

  "I very much doubt they refused to fight. So they were either knocked out with a weapon, or something made them stop. Keep moving, we need this entire section secure."

  A small group of Maverick armoured marines approached from the left where a dark tunnel led off into a smaller part of the ship. Behind the Mavericks was a column of marines. The nearest heavily armoured suit bore the markings of an officer.

  "Major, we've swept the bow. It's clear, and I have a team checking the connection points back inside the derelict."

  Spartan nodded.

  "Lieutenant Anne Lee, glad you got this far. Seal off the access points connecting the bow with the rest of the derelict."

  The motorised arm lifted as she saluted, and then began to move away.

  "Sir. You say secured, as in permanently?"

  Spartan shook his head.

  "No. We are going to use the innards of this cruiser as our home until the rescue party arrives. I need all access points under our control. This is foreign territory, so we need to deny any ground we cannot defend. Make sure it is protected with SAAR robots, charges, and guards, but don't seal it completely. Mine it in case we need to collapse key points."

  He looked to Khan who was busy nodding away at each point.

  "I agree. If they come, we will block the flanks. Then the only other way inside the derelict will be for them to come through our platoon via the centre passageways. And we will be waiting for them."

  "Yes, Sir."

  She moved away, the remainder of her platoon following. Spartan was certain he could see the dejected look on a number of them. They had arrived in this sector as rescuers, and now they were as trapped as those that had previously fallen on this derelict. He called after them."

  "When you've secured the entry points, make sure you post sentries and dig in. I will need a floating squad for patrolling. This isn't over yet. Every minute we can buy will give us a fighting chance to get home."

  They left and Khan moved in front, partially blocking his route.

  "Patrols?"

  Spartan nodded.

  "Yes. We can't just sit and wait. This enemy will find out we're here, and the only way to buy time is to make life difficult for it. Patrols will keep them on the edge, and it will keep our people alert. We also need to find a way to shut down this ship and get it moved onto a new course."

  "True."

  Many more marines fanned out to secure the passageways, cabins, and multiple levels throughout the Trusskan ship. As a section was declared safe, it was marked off the tactical map carried by each of the officers. Normally, the networked mapping would do this automatically, but now they were forced to update the details manually. It was slower, but still quicker than using a separate device. A brief glance showed Spartan that so far they had secured six key areas, each of which was interconnected.

  "Good. Secure all major access points and junctions with SAAR robots. I want two sentries with command override for the machines. No robots to be left unguarded."

  The robots were designed to operate in multiple modes, but the most common was a location defence mode. The unit would scan the preselected area for signs of movement, and then based on its declared rules of engagement, would defend itself. The intelligence required was modest, but it was still an autonomous system, and that meant it needed a human to monitor it. Spartan was taking no chances.

  So, I have sixty-three marines, and fifteen crew and Thegns. We need to be cautious.

  The IAB Marine Company had now split, 1st Platoon moving with Spartan and Khan into the heart of the ship. 3rd Platoon was heading to the bow and top sections of the ship; 2nd Platoon remained near the entry points to guard the landing bay and their way out. That was where most of the Thegns and crew remained, along with Five-Seven and Captain Delatorre. Spartan was taking no chances this time. He would hunt the beast, but not before he had secured his flanks and established a strongpoint to operate from.

  "Keep your eyes open and watch for the enemy. Remember, it has advanced stealth and sensor jamming equipment. It could be anywhere."

  As Spartan moved further inside, he could see the interior had much in common with the part where he'd entered with the Grunts. The ceiling was low, and he, along with Khan and the other Maverick equipped marines, were finding it hard to move about.

  "Watch your head," said Khan.

  Spartan opened his mouth to answer but managed to strike the hardened armour over his head against a broken beam. It hung down low on one side, with cracks and marks were a projectile had punched clean through the metal. He stopped and examined the damage while the other marines moved on. He noticed the wheeled form of a SAAR robot trundling ahead to the left and a column of Thegns marching behind it, all of them carrying a bewildering assortment of firearms. They now pushed out into the wider part of the passageway. Barricades had been assembled at some point in the past, but what had happened was now buried long in the mists of time. The space opened up into a triple corridor until a short distance ahead where two split off in the opposite direction, one stopping at a large door system. It was shut, and marks along the wall indicated it had been sealed with a thermal weapon or tool.

  "I've got readings behind the bulkhead!" said a marine.

  Spartan braced himself, simultaneously giving the order for the marines to cover the bulkhead doorway. It was a hexagonal-shaped access point, and just big enough for a Maverick suit to move through. The marines took cover, those closer to the door dropped to their knees and formed up in a loose line. Every single one of them took aim with their weapons and waited.

  "Open it."

  One leaned against the right-hand side and activated the panel. The door twisted open with a sickening grinding sound and then stuck, followed by the screaming of tortured metal. The frame clunked and something released, allowing the door to fully open.

  "Steady."

  Spartan scanned the area on the other side, but clouds of dust and stale ai
r flooded in, temporarily blinding his visual sensors. That was the moment he spotted the armoured figures. They were bigger than his marines and much broader about the shoulders. One was pointing a weapon directly at them through the doorway. Spartan gazed at it, but there was something off about the shape.

  "Hostiles!" yelled a marine.

  One opened fired and was quickly joined by a dozen others. The powerful XC1 carbines ripped into the armoured figure, sending its broken body crashing to the ground.

  "Follow me!"

  Spartan’s voice was calm, yet carried the authority that would never be questioned. He pushed through the gap, his armour scraping the edges. Spartan didn't stop, and moved past the fallen enemy and into a large area filled with tables. Even as he passed by, he could see the enemy combatant was covered in dust and had been no threat. The armour was devoid of colour, but this was a soldier and not a machine.

  The crew of the ship?

  He looked to the rest of the space as the powerful lamps on his armour cut through the dust and fog. As each second went by, the area cleared more, and he could now see many more of the soldiers. Apart from the one they had blasted, the others were sitting in chairs or lying on the ground. One was even propped up against the wall as it rested there. For a second it looked as though they had died in their sleep, but as he moved closer, it was easier to see the subtleties that showed their deaths had been far from peaceful. There were holes in their armour punched cleanly through, leaving not a mark elsewhere. Khan moved his armoured hand along a section of wall, wiping away dust to reveal large black marks.

  "Spartan, look here, something burned hot against this section."

  He moved to the nearest body and rolled over the shattered armour. Even as he touched it, sections broke and hit the ground, shattering like fragile porcelain.

  "Uh, Spartan, its shape. Look familiar to you?"

  Spartan took a moment, trying to piece together the shapes in his mind. It was humanoid and a similar size to him. There were differences, though, the chest plating implying the torso was much more substantial. Khan bent down and lifted up a piece of long-faded metal. There was a marking on it. Spartan recognised the style of text immediately.

  "Byotai? How is that possible?"

  Another marine moved to a different body and twisted it about. There was nothing but dust and bones inside, but the armour was clearly designed for the large reptilian creatures.

  "Spartan," said Khan, "These aren't space suits. They are heavily armoured, and they were all carrying weapons. They weren't crew, and the layout of this ship matches the little information we got about the Trusska."

  Spartan picked up a weapon from the floor. It was of a type he'd never seen before, and something had crushed the centre section, presumably rendering it useless. The weapon could have been a coilgun, or something far more impressive.

  "A Byotai boarding party."

  He said the words under his breath as he shook his head.

  "They tried to take this ship at least a hundred years ago, and look what happened."

  Lieutenant Armstrong moved alongside Spartan and Khan, while Sergeant Tyler gave out orders to the rest of the platoon. The other two platoons had moved on to their respective targets, creating a wide area inside the ship that could be cleared and protected. More marines swarmed inside, and the Sergeant sent them to check every square metre of the area.

  "Sir," began the Lieutenant, "we've secured this section and all passageways leading to the outer airlocks."

  Lieutenant Kipling and Lieutenant Anne Lee then reported in, confirming the landing bay and bow of the cruiser were also secure. This part of the ship was big, perhaps a similar size to the entire operations level of IAS Euryale. There were no machines here. It was an eating or recreation area with access points at five different positions.

  A canteen? Spartan thought.

  There were more of the armoured soldiers in the middle, but it was the position of the tables and other furniture that interested Spartan the most. Some had been positioned to operate as barricades, and all faced the massive doorways leading out to other parts of the ship. There were other similar doors, much like the one they had arrived through, and every single one of them had been blown open from the other side.

  "Khan, take a fireteam through the doors and clear the way. I'll follow. We need to keep moving and track this beast down."

  Khan nodded and then went through the first, with a group of five IAB marines hot on his tale. Spartan glanced back, checking on his numbers. There were another twelve marines, plus four Thegns, all carrying thermal shotguns. Lieutenant Armstrong and Sergeant Tyler were at his side.

  "Lieutenant, hold back here with a single fireteam and secure this area. It's the central hub for the cruiser. Whoever controls this location controls access to the rest of the ship. Place the SAAR robots to cover our positions.

  "What about you?" Sergeant Tyler asked.

  "We're going on a hunt. We need to end this while we have the element of surprise. You three come with me...and you, Sergeant."

  He pointed his massive armoured hand at the Sergeant. Lieutenant Armstrong looked a little stunned as the group of four left through one of the doorways, until Spartan leaned back to look at him.

  "Seal all the doors behind us shut, apart from this one. If it all goes to hell, we'll regroup here."

  He then moved through into the darker part of the ship, with Sergeant Tyler right behind, and in similar Maverick armour to that of Spartan’s. The other three were equipped with their standard M-3 armour and carrying two XC1 carbines and a single L52 carbine. They proceeded through the corridor and on for nearly eighty metres before finally coming across a massive, hollowed out section of hull that marked the outer parts of the ship. Off into the distance was a breach in the hull, and a causeway led across the gap. It looked more like an underground cave system, but this was a bridge that spanned the entire length and joined the cruiser to the rest of the derelict.

  "This is the place," said Spartan.

  According to their schematics, this section would lead directly to the starboard access chamber, and then on to the derelict. The section of the ship was much like the umbilical cord between a mother and a child. It was the most significant joint between the cruiser and the remainder of the derelict, and was almost certainly the way the creature would travel between these parts of the massive vessel. It was clearly built for the purpose, and the sections of metal had been pulled from the walls of the ship itself. Khan was waiting in the middle with a single IAB marine fireteam.

  "Don't look down. It goes a long way. Something tells me the crew tried to stop that creature from getting aboard. They blew this passage that joined the ships. I guess that's what made this hole."

  Spartan did as he suggested, but Sergeant Tyler could not resist. As they moved over the vast structure, he found himself mesmerised by what lay beneath them.

  "Incredible, this looks like the result of a micro-fusion detonation."

  Khan had by now reached the other side, and Spartan was close behind him. Now safe, he looked at the walls, noting the smooth, glassy finish. Unlike the rest of the cruiser, this was a completely different ship, one built to a civilian specification. The shaft led to a much more substantial passageway, with a higher ceiling and more time given over to the luxuries rarely found on military ships. There were substantially fewer bulkhead doors, and far less signs of damage.

  "Spartan, over here," said Khan.

  Spartan looked over to his comrade, just as his sensors picked up a reading, then another, and then his screen was full of grey shapes. Khan was pointing straight ahead with one arm through the passageway leading into a vast circular hall.

  "We've got heavy electrical signatures ahead," said one of the marines.

  "Move ahead, combat spacing," Spartan ordered.

  They entered; Khan in the middle, flanked by Sergeant Tyler and Spartan. The massive warriors stepped carefully, looking for possible signs of danger.
Around them was the small group of eight IAB marines, each constantly moving and checking for signs of danger. Eleven elite warriors, all anticipating an attack at any moment.

  "Major, Kanjana here."

  Spartan stopped immediately, surprised to hear from her. He kept his voice down, while looking for signs of the enemy, the memories of the failed battle using the Grunts still fresh in his mind.

  "I thought we'd lost you."

  "Not quite, Major. I've joined up with a couple of marines, but we were knocked off course. We're nine hundred metres back, on the port underside."

  Spartan opened his mouth to answer, and then looked to Sergeant Tyler.

  "The schematic, the power systems are towards the rear, are they not?"

  The Sergeant nodded.

  "Yes, Sir. If our information is correct."

  "Kanjana, you're the closest. I need you to work your way back to the flagged objective marked thirty on your mapping package. Do you have it?"

  The audio cut out, and it sounded as though the connection had been lost. Spartan started to speak again when the sound returned.

  "...take a while. That's over a kilometre away."

  "Do it, and keep your head down. We don't know what else is down here."

  "Understood, Kanjana out."

  Khan was busy scanning the area ahead but took a moment to glance back to his friend.

  "Sending her to the power systems, is that wise?"

  Spartan knew he was making a decision that could get her killed. Kanjana was on a different level of ability to the others in the unit, but she was still just one person. Even with a pair of marines, she wouldn't last if attacked. Just as before, Spartan could feel the bitterness swelling up in his body, that awful feeling he always came across when he sent one of his friends or comrades off, possibly to their death.

  "Maybe, who can tell? One thing I do know is that three people won't change much back here, but accessing the power systems could help us. It could help us a lot. Maybe Kanjana can deactivate the sentry guns..."