Star Crusades Nexus: The Third Trilogy

by Michael G. Thomas

  “Watch your flanks!” Jack called out.

  He glanced to his right and then his left as they moved forward. Experience had taught him the value of watching your flanks, especially when fighting in such a confined battle. One of the Khreenk warriors launched a series of cuts at Jenkell’s head, and she parried them quickly before rushing in after them. Callahan tried to move forward to help, but she’d moved too far and pulled away from him.

  “Get back on the line!” Jack shouted, but it was much too late.

  The largest of the Khreenk, their leader and the man they’d captured on Eos, blocked his path and swung for his head. The blow was quick and started low, as the enemy warrior brought the weapon up fast and then whipped it around to try and hit Callahan in the face.

  “Nice!” he muttered, as he clumsily parried the blow.

  He then sidestepped and swung his weapon down from the upper-left to hit the Khreenk in the shoulder. He actually managed to strike his foe; much to both of their surprise, but instead of knocking him down, there was a clunk sound. The Khreenk laughed and beat the weapon aside. Only then did the marine notice the robotic arm that had deflected the blow.

  “Typical,” he grumbled.

  Both sides exchanged more cuts and stabs as they tried to find an opening they could exploit. At the same time, they were forced to watch their opponents who were desperately trying to do the same to them. A few months ago, this could have been fought on the surface of Eos with live firearms and blades. All the bitterness and anger the marines held toward the Khreenk had long vanished. The journey from Eos to their final destination at Helios Prime had seen much change in both the marines and the Khreenk. Even so, this sparring session was more than a way to break out a sweat or to practice moves. This was a test of human versus Khreenk. Jenkell was out on her own now, and the two Khreenk surrounded her, beating her down with a fusillade of cuts to her head and torso. The training armor took the impact, but that still didn’t stop her falling to the ground, and finally dropping her weapon and submitting.

  “One down!” called out a voice in the background.

  Jack and Riku had been working their way slowly around the other flank of the Khreenk when he saw the fall of Jenkell.

  “Help her!” Riku called out.

  The two women were far from being friends, but that didn’t stop Riku wanting to beat the Khreenk. She took a step forward, but Jack grabbed her, yanking her back just as the Khreenk leader swung his blade. It missed by just a few centimeters.

  “No, she’s gone. Now watch my flank.”

  Jack pressed in on the Khreenk warrior and swung hard while Riku moved up right next to him. Each time Jack attacked, she readied herself for the opening. After the third attack, the Khreenk warrior had no chance but to lift his weapon. Riku leapt forward and stabbed the blade into his chest. The impact made him grunt, and then Jack was on top of him and sending him to the floor.

  “Two down!” said the voice.

  Jack pointed to Callahan where he had three of the Khreenk hacking at him.

  “Help Callahan.”

  Riku turned back and ran to the large warrior’s flank in time to parry two quick cuts.

  “Good timing, little lady,” he laughed.

  Jack, meanwhile, ran behind the Khreenk and managed to land a blow on the one directly in front of Callahan. The blow came down hard on his foe’s collar, but instead of waiting, he lifted the weapon again and hurled himself at the others. The attack was wild but did the job of confusing them. One continued to fight Riku, but the other two turned about, only for Callahan to knock one down to his knees.

  “Three down!”

  The Khreenk still held their ground, and the remaining fighter moved in tightly around its leader, both of them waiting for the right moment before hacking and stabbing. Their attacks were shorter than before; each one intended to bait rather than to over extend. Even Jack was impressed, as he moved around them, looking for an opening. The Khreenk leader saw a chance, took one step forward, and stabbed at Riku; an attack she barely avoided.

  “This is the Colonel,” said a gruff voice over the loudspeakers.

  “It’s Gun,” said Riku.

  Jack lifted his hand to silence her and lowered his weapon. The others threw a few more cuts and then also stopped. One of the Khreenk moved off to help his vanquished comrades from the dusty floor. As Gun spoke, the translator circuits worn over the ears of the Khreenk made low volume sounds.

  “We have arrived in orbit over Helios Prime, and things are about to get interesting. Your unit commanders will give you the specifics. The short of it is that we’re being replaced.”

  The sound of footsteps brought their attention to the entrance where the shape of Corporal Frewyn arrived. He nodded as he moved inside while listening to the voice of Colonel Gun. He didn't seem particularly surprised by what he was hearing, unlike the other marines. He was stoutly built, and his right arm was still locked in a synthetic arm sling that allowed only movement at the wrist and shoulder.

  “We took a pounding on Eos, and our number is down to less than half. We are supposed to be joining ground forces on Helios Prime, but instead we’ve been reassigned to help organize the defenses on Micaya."

  "Micaya?" Riku asked.

  Jack nodded as though he had a firm understanding of both the strategy of the Alliance, as well as a deep understanding of the Helion political system.

  "Micaya is a strategically significant world of the Helions. It must be a major potential target for the enemy. Doesn't it have a massive population?"

  Corporal Frewyn shook his head with annoyance.

  "Thank you for that pointless interruption, Private."

  He turned back to Riku and the others.

  "As we already know, the call has been sent out to every planet we know of. That includes all of ours plus probably the Helions, T'Kari, Byotai, and the rest."

  Jack shook his head as he spoke and pulled out his secpad to show them a map of the system.

  "We've already seen the report, Corporal. Look, the transfer reports show we have additional forces converging on this area from the T'Karan Rift. If you ask me, we're mobilizing everything for a massive last stand, right here."

  He thumbed at the center of the image where Helios Prime was displayed.

  Corporal Frewyn wiped his brow and sighed.

  "Jack, can you bring it down a notch? I'm trying to explain something to you, information that has only just come to light and is being sent down through the chain of command."

  He leaned in as though he was about to expose some great secret.

  "Rumor has it that General Daniels is taking over command of the 3rd Marine Corps Regiment on Helios Prime. They are already there along with a lot, and I mean a lot, of other units.”

  The loud speakers blared their song once more.

  "Marines report to your stations and await orders. We will be accessing the local network shortly. ”

  "See, I said we wouldn't be staying in this system," said the Corporal.

  They each removed their helmets, and even after such a short time, the group of eight dripped with sweat. The leader of the Khreenk approached Jack and nodded.

  “That was interesting,” he said through his low-pitched translator.

  Jack did his best to smile.

  “What do you know about this place?”

  The Khreenk looked confused.

  “The gas mines of Micaya?”

  Riku approached. “Yeah, why are we going there?”

  The Khreenk shrugged.

  "It is an industrial world, many mines, advanced transportation, and heavily populated. It is just one of the inhabited worlds around Helios."

  "Yeah, but why are we going there?" repeated Riku, "If the Biomechs take Helios Prime, they won't need to bother with the rest, will they?"

  She didn't sound particularly confident in her own thesis.

  “You don't know because you don’t listen,” said the gruff voice that ha
d been counting those knocked down in the sparring match. Corporal Frewyn hadn't moved from where he'd been standing. He walked up to the small group and stopped at reaching Jack and the Khreenk warrior.

  “Jae Jaan, I've been meaning to speak with you.”

  The Khreenk bowed politely.

  “Of course, Corporal Frewyn. We've run into each other on several occasions since Eos.”

  “Indeed, and at least once before.”

  The marine's tone was far from conciliatory. It was true. They had met before the fighting on Eos and even before the Biomechs had landed. Things had changed since then though, and Frewyn had spent most of his time in the medical facility aboard one of the troop transports ever since that battle.

  “I thought you had a different name on Eos?”

  The Khreenk raised one of his eyebrows in amusement.

  “Jae Jaan is my...uh...professional name, the one I use for my new employment.”

  The Corporal looked back to Riku and shook his head. He was clearly not completely comfortable with the new role being played by the small contingent aboard the ship. Their assistance in the final stages of the fighting on Eos couldn’t be ignored though, no matter how much he wanted it.

  "On the trip back, Jae Jaan and his people have proven very useful. They've given us detailed tactical information on the Helion worlds."

  "And Jae Jaan helped us sort out several security issues,” Jack said.

  Even Private Riku stepped forward and added her support.

  “True, don’t forget the little issue with the Biomech infiltration team."

  Corporal Frewyn had little love for these mercenaries, but he couldn't argue with their assistance a week earlier. He recalled the reports he'd read concerning a six-man infiltration unit of human spies. They managed to knock out the ship's engines and almost jettisoned the crew into space before being tracked and found by Jae Jaan and his people. They had done this while under strict marine supervision and had proved to be trackers of incredible skill and quality. He looked back to Jae Jaan.

  "We have you and Private Morato to thank for that, I believe?" he said.

  Both Jack and the Khreenk commander nodded ever so slightly.

  "Private Morato took a chance on us after Eos. We fought as your enemies, but when it came to the Biomech attack, your own pilot’s craft risked their lives to rescue us. One of your captains lost his life during the rescue, for that both I and my entire clan owe you a blood debt.”

  Corporal Frewyn considered his words carefully.

  "Thank you. We could not let you stay behind to fight those things on your own. Politics are not our business. We are soldiers, not politicians."

  Jae Jaan bowed slightly before the marine.

  "Agreed. Khreenk are a shadow of what remained from the last war. Now we offer up our skills and services to whoever pays us. We will only take on honorable military work, and we honor our contracts until complete. As you know, we take no sides in the politics of race and nation."

  He expanded out his arms as though to encompass the entire group.

  "But since what happened on Eos, we can see what is coming, and it is a return to the dark times, one that none of my people can remember. We can see the damage done in the past though, and we also know the prophecy of fire. This enemy was banished, but it was foretold that they would return, and this time they will smash their foes and turn our worlds to ash. These machines have long memories and long lives. If Helios falls, our own will follow soon after."

  He smiled, a look that never seemed to fit on a Khreenk's face.

  "Your people, humans, are an interesting one. You are many generations behind us in technology, yet your numbers and your resilience are impressive. You have provided the rock on which the defense of Helios Prime will rally around. My commando unit has pledged itself to stopping the machines from ever returning to our worlds."

  Jack hadn't heard this particular part. All of them had read the stories circulated by the T'Kari, and to a lesser extent by the Helions. The Khreenk had been something of a mystery, going right back to the Alliance's first contact with them. He listened with interest as Jae Jaan continued explaining.

  "In the last War, the enemy came to my worlds as well. Back then our territory was wide and our people strong. They came and we fought them. Our people even took on some of their attributes, the enhancements, and the weapons to try and even the balance. It didn't work though, and our civilians paid the price. Our central government collapsed, and after the surprise victory, we were left with only two stars and ruined worlds. Now we live in ships, stations, and domes, fighting for whoever pay the highest. All Khreenk are now warriors."

  He looked to Jack.

  "Your people are the only race we know of that has fought against a Biomech rebellion within your own borders and won. For a chance of victory against the machines, my team will side with your forces."

  The Corporal didn't seem particularly impressed.

  "And the rest of your people. Will they join with us so easily?"

  Jae Jaan laughed.

  "Of course not. But if you pay them enough, they might consider it."

  Frewyn sighed and looked back to Jack.

  "That's the trouble with mercenaries. They are good fighters but only when you have the money to pay them."

  Jack couldn't disagree, and he looked to Riku who also had nothing to add. Both of them shook their heads.

  “I see. Well, you wanted to know what we’re doing heading for Micaya?”

  Riku and Jenkell turned their attention fully to their Corporal, but Jack answered him.

  “All we’ve heard so far is that the local Rifts to the other Helion planets in this system are partially operational. The rumor is that we’re going to Micaya. Nobody knows why though.”

  Corporal Frewyn seemed amused at this.

  “I only know what the others in the unit have been saying. With these local Helion Rifts open, we have access to four of their five worlds, and they are all preparing for war."

  This seemed to interest them, especially Jae Jaan who waited patiently at the rear of the group.

  "The Eos Rift is still out of commission because of the attacks in the Helion Uprising. We can thank the Animosh for that bit of terrorism. Micaya is the furthest world from the approach of Comet C34 and it is connected to the local network."

  “So?” said Private Jenkell.

  Riku threw her a look of scorn and then moved her attention to the Corporal.

  “That still doesn't explain why we're going to Micaya. What are we doing going there, then? I thought we were part of the fleet around Helios Prime? Isn't defending this place the whole reason we're here?”

  Jack seemed to be in agreement with that statement.

  “True. I think it is a bit more..."

  A shape entered the room, and all of them straightened up as the form of a grim looking Sergeant entered. His uniform was smartly pressed, and his faced looked as hard as rock. He moved right up to the group, stopped, and then looked directly at Corporal Frewyn.

  “Okay, Ladies, you’ve had your fun for today. Twelve minutes and we hit the Rift.”

  They waited for what was coming, as there was little chance the Sergeant had just appeared to tell them what they already knew.

  “I've just finished with the transfer papers. The platoon, and this squad in particular, is being reinforced. Units from our battalions are being merged together to get squads back to full-strength. You’ll meet your new friends when we meet the rest of the fleet and get our assignment.”

  “Fleet?” asked Riku.

  Sergeant Stone smiled with the kind of grin that all of them knew was completely artificial. Jack looked the most interested at this news.

  “So it’s true, the others are sending help?”

  Sergeant Stone looked at Jack carefully. He could remember their first meeting, and it had been less than inspiring. There was still a lot to like about the young marine, but he'd also made plenty of mistakes
.

  "They don't give us all the information, and I give you even less than that. I do know only part of the fleet is here. Admiral Anderson, in his wisdom, is keeping back a large force in T'Karan to protect our bases."

  "Makes sense," said Corporal Frewyn.

  He looked to Jack.

  "Helios Prime is important, but T'Karan is our way home. Without it, we'd be trapped out here."

  "That brings me to the real news," said the Sergeant.

  His tone was impatient, and he cleared his throat to remind them he was there. For a moment, the other marines had almost forgotten him. His expression suggested otherwise, and all of them straightened at hearing the tone in his voice.

  "The comet's course has adjusted again, and the official word is that it's preparing to release forces in order to assault the rest of this system simultaneously. Three sections have already detached from the main comet, and each one has been built directly from the comet. One each we suspect for the planets Libuscha and Spascia, and another one that will make it to Micaya, eventually."

  "And the comet?" Corporal Frewyn asked.

  Sergeant Stone smiled that grim expression once more.

  "The comet is the largest of the four elements, and it is heading right for Helios Prime. High Command is classing all these objects as super-carriers, but who knows what kind of assets they will have access to?"

  The Sergeant then turned to Jae Jaan.

  "What do you know about these worlds?"

  Jae Jaan seemed surprised at the question, and his answer started off slowly as he build up speed.

  "Libuscha...it is a small world, fully terraformed after the War. It is where the Helion elite live out their lives. You will not find a richer or more decadent place in the Helion League."

  "And Spascia?"