By the time he was half way to the floor below, he was joined by a dozen of Delta Squad. They glided head first down their ropes and beat him to the touch. Half of the marines took up positions across the vast kitchens and secured the service-bot elevators. The rest provided covering fire up through the blast hole.
Thor secured a service-bot elevator by instructing a robot-chef to find some other place to hide. He stuck a comms-override unit into a vacant port and signaled Dax to follow.
A second wave of Delta hurtled down the hole even faster than the first wave. As they dropped they fired their weapons up through the hole. Van Cleef was the last to drop.
Before Van Cleef reached half way down, a half dozen Lupos leaned over the edge of the hole and fired down on Delta squad.
Van Cleef activated a pocket-rocket plasma launcher. It sent a cluster of plasma balls sailing into an arc that exploded on contact with the bridge’s bulkhead.
It spread rainbow hues of petal shaped snowflakes. A half dozen Lupos stopped firing to glance up at the fragile patchwork of color.
The petals morphed into blue needles of fire falling like rain on the Lupos and shredding helmet visors. Three Lupos plunged over the edge of the hole and landed on the floor by Dax’s feet. Dead.
Dax carried President Arc to the elevators. He leapt inside and a Thor hammered on the comm-override unit. The doors slid violently shut. Dax’s stomach lurched. The descent felt to Dax like they were dropping into hell.
“Customized to maximum descent rate,” Thor said proudly. “Call it the milkshake special.”
He caught Presidents Arc’s hard stare and glanced away.
“So long as we don’t end up spilling the milkshake all over the walls, Private,” she said.
Thor checked the comm-override and swept a finger over the small screen. Dax felt the descent slow. The doors opened. They were in a corridor that could be the same one they first encountered, he wasn’t sure.
“This is it?” Dax asked.
Thor nodded and pointed out the doors and down the corridor. “Airlock’s at the end,” he said.
President Arc took a deep breath and seemed to regain her composure. She placed a hand on Thor’s armored shoulder.
“As Commander-in-chief,” she said, “I will recommend that promotion you were referring to, Private.”
Thor’s jaw dropped as if he wasn’t sure if she was pulling his chain or not. Dax and Arc jogged by a row of elevator doors. These opened and Delta marines leapt out. They all ran to the airlock at the end of the corridor.
Valkyrie caught up with Dax.
“Heard from Valiant?” she asked.
“No, why?”
She shook her head and sprinted by him.
At the airlock she stopped and hammered on the bulkhead. The light above the airlock remained red.
Dax peered through the glass window in the airlock. Beyond, he saw a pair of shadows waving him back. He hammered on the window.
On the other side of the airlock, the docking tube jolted and disengaged. It retracted like the violent severing of a giant umbilical cord.
“No,” Dax shouted and turned back to President Arc and Valkyrie.
“Valiant abandoned us.”
CHAPTER 43 - SURRENDER
“Captain, we have a second ship decloaking off the bow,” said Sensors officer, Ensign Galbraith.
“Identify,” Hannibal said.
“Captain, it’s... oh my God.”
Hannibal spun around. He stared at the holographic image of a ship that appeared three times larger than Valiant.
It can’t be true.
Hannibal needed to see it with his own eyes, up close and personal. “Raise the window screens,” Hannibal said.
The metallic screens silently rolled up and Hannibal stared out through the panoramic windows into space. The alien ship was a wondrous combination of constantly moving opaque bubbles of soft pinks, oranges, blues and greens. A camouflage seemingly designed to overwhelm a man’s senses and his ship’s sensors. Effectively, making it impossible to distinguish a gun turret from a garbage shoot and an engine exhaust from a docking bay.
But Hannibal knew one thing for certain. He’d seen it before. It was trouble. It was Vanguard.
“Captain, we’re being hailed,” said Galbraith.
Hannibal smoothed his beard, straightened himself, placed his hands behind his back and nodded to Galbraith.
A red static ball appeared before him. It resolved into a holograph of a Vanguard officer.
Hannibal studied the holograph. He could almost be human. Except for the blue skin. In the unlikely event the Vanguard ever smiled, it would reveal his fangs.
This Vanguard wore chest armor emblazoned with the crest of a royal household under a flowing black cape. Hannibal sensed he was appearing before a high ranking official. Perhaps an Admiral of Fleet.
Hannibal nodded courteously to the holograph.
“Captain Hannibal Grint of USF Valiant,” Grint said. “To whom do I have the honor of addressing and how may I be of assistance?”
“You are co-ordinating the rescue effort of Hermes?”
He’d heard rumors of Vanguard arrogance and rudeness.
A rumor no more.
“This is Valiant’s mission, yes,” Hannibal said.
“You will hand over the Vanguard Ambassador and his daughter to us at once.”
Hannibal sighed. “As soon as they are aboard.”
“What is the nature of the delay?”
“Valiant’s boarding party is attempting to correct Hermes orbit,” Hannibal said. “As soon as we accomplish this, then we will be able to hand over your--”
The Vanguard sighed as if forcing himself to be tolerant of a troublesome small child.
“What else?” the Vanguard asked.
“Excuse me?” Hannibal snapped without meaning to sound quite so abrupt.
“What are your other reasons for non-compliance?” the Vanguard asked.
Hannibal felt his hands ball in fists behind his back. He raised an eyebrow as much from exasperation as with defiance. “You prefer we allow Hermes to burn up in Saturn’s atmosphere, Captain?”
The Vanguard shook his head. “President.”
“Excuse me?”
“You address Vanguard President Sol Morlok,” the Vanguard said, “and the fate of Hermes is not our concern.”
Hannibal swallowed hard.
“There may be a problem with a Lupos raiding party,” Hannibal said.
Sol Morlok turned to someone off the field range of the holograph and nodded. He turned back to face Hannibal.
“I have invited the Captain of the Lycaon vessel to join this discussion by holo-conference. Do you accept?”
Hannibal cracked a knuckle. “I do.”
A second holograph ball appeared. It resolved into the image of Captain Dara Dire.
Sol Morlok turned to the Lupos Captain.
“Captain Dire, you have a raiding party on vessel Hermes?”
“What of it,” Dire spat. “It is our right under the--”
“Silence,” Sol Morlok said with such powerful tonal force that the Lupos captain fell silent and swallowed hard.
“Captains Dire and Grint, you will immediately desist all activities aboard Hermes,” Sol Morlok said. “You will allow for the transit of two Vanguard passengers the moment a Vanguard shuttle docks with Hermes.”
Dire glanced away and appeared to be listening to someone off camera.
He returned his attention to Sol Morlok.
“It appears my salvage pack are under attack by Valiant’s boarding party.”
Hannibal swore under his breath.
Sol turned to Hannibal.
“Is this true, Captain Grint?” Sol asked.
“Our mission is one of peace,” Hannibal said. “Valiant officers and crew only fire to defend themselves.”
“Human lies,” Dire snarled and spat.
“Captain Dire,” said Sol Morlok, “an
d Captain Grint, you are both hereby formally summoned to appear before a Vanguard tribunal. A shuttle is on its way to transport you to this vessel.”
Morlok began to turn away, but hesitated and added, it seemed as a casual afterthought: “Your non-compliance will result in the destruction of your vessels.”
“By Juto’s beard,” Dire shouted, “go to hell, Vanguard.”
A blue-white streak of plasma jetted out of the Vanguard ship and tore into the Lycaon.
Dire’s holograph stumbled and turned away.
“Captain,” said Mori, “the Vanguard ship disabled one of Lycaon’s engines.”
“You were saying, captain Dire?” Sol asked.
Dire’s holograph turned back to Sol Morlok. His chin seemed soaked in saliva. Hannibal noted the great strain Dire seemed under to control. Battling to control the hatred in his eyes.
Dire shuddered and nodded. “Send your shuttle.”
“President Morlok,” Hannibal said. “May I send over a shuttle to collect Valiant’s boarding party?”
“You may not, Captain Grint,” Morlok said. “Until the outcome of the tribunal is complete.”
Playing hard ball, tough guy? “Hermes’ orbit is rapidly deteriorating,” Hannibal said. “How long is this tribunal expected to take?” Hannibal asked.
Sol Morlok’s holograph dissolved into a red ball of static. Dire’s did the same.
CHAPTER 44 - DYING AIN’T PERSONAL
“What now, Dax?” Valkyrie said.
“I need you to hold off the Lupos until I can get answers from our guests,” Dax said.
“Commander,” said Blok, “you’re ignoring the obvious.”
“Which is?”
“We need to get off Hermes before it enters Saturn’s atmosphere, or the Lupos raiding pack kills us,” Blok said.
“This is more important,” Dax said and turned to Fyre. “Start talking.”
Dax heard a static burst on his comm unit.
“XO, Grint. Cease all activities aboard Hermes.”
“What about the Lupos raiding pack, Captain?”
“The Lupos Captain’s been instructed to call off his attack dogs.”
“Instructed by whom?” Dax asked and noted a flicker of fear in Fyre’s eyes.
“Proceed to the docking bay,” Grint said, “and prepare to give up our Vanguard guests to representatives of Vanguard President Sol Morlok. Copy.”
“Vanguard are running this show?” Dax asked.
Fyre’s eyes popped wide. She gasped and shot a fierce look at her father. The color drained from his face.
“You have your orders, XO.”
“Copy that, Captain,” Dax said. “We’ve some concern about how we’re getting off Hermes. Requesting shuttle dispatch.”
“Valiant will send a shuttle for you,” Grint said. “Just as soon as I’ve negotiated a deal with our Vanguard hosts.”
“Hosts, Captain? Dax said. “You’re not aboard Valiant?”
“Correct XO. Lieutenant Link is commanding Valiant until I return.”
“Return from where, Captain?”
“Grint out.”
Dax turned to Fyre and her father. “I’ve got orders to hand you over to the Vanguard High Command,” he said.
“Please, Commander,” Ambassador Von Rha said. “We cannot return to Vanguard.”
“Convince me,” Dax said. “And talk fast, Ambassador.”
CHAPTER 45 - STAND OFF
“Can we speak alone, Commander?” Ambassador Von Rha asked.
Dax nodded. He and the Ambassador walked to an observation deck with a view of Valiant, the Lupos ship and the Vanguard’s ship.
Ambassador Von Rha gazed out at the ships.
“It is my understanding my daughter contacted you,” Ambassador Von Rha said.
“I’ve yet to understand how or why,” Dax said.
“My race is gifted with various degrees of psychic abilities,” Von Rha said. “My daughter in particular.”
“But why contact me?”
“We believe your race is in danger.”
“How exactly?”
“I will tell you what I know,” Von Rha said, “but first you must get us to safety.”
“How about I just hand you over to Sol Morlok,” Dax said, “if you don’t tell me what I want to know.”
Von Rha’s smile seemed edged with pity.
“Commander Dax, you don’t have the slightest idea of what it is you need to know.”
“Seeing as you are incapable of grasping the importance of my questions, I’ll spell it out for you in terms so simple even a Vanguard can understand,” Dax said. “If you don’t give me something, then Marine Captain Valkyrie will insist I hand you over to your people.”
Von Rha remained passive. He glanced over to his daughter. They held each other’s gaze a moment and then she nodded.
“What was that all about?” Dax asked.
“I’ve asked my daughter to join us,” Von Rha said. “She will give you what you want, but not what you need.”
Fyre touched her father’s shoulders and he left her alone with Dax.
“So?” Dax asked.
“Your wife and son are alive.”
Dax rolled his neck and felt it crack. He glanced over to Blok and watched her conducting and intense whispering conversation with President Xylo Arc and Valkyrie.
“I need proof,” he said.
“I can show you,” she said.
“More visions?” Dax asked and shook his head. He felt a pain between his eyes and rubbed his forehead. “This conversation is over.”
He turned away, but felt a hand on his arm.
“I can take you to your wife and son,” Fyre said.
He turned back to her. “Where are they?”
“Vanguard.”
“Your father just mentioned you cannot return to your people,” Dax said. “So how exactly are you planning to provide me with proof?”
“Help us escape Morlok,” she said. “Help us covertly return to Vanguard. And I will take you to Vanguard where you will learn everything.”
“Or I can just hand you over to Morlok and hitch a ride to Vanguard?”
She smiled. “Morlok will kill you,” she said. “As surely as he will kill me.”
“What’s his problem with you?” Dax said.
“I betrayed him,” she said.
“How?”
“By speaking with you,” she said.
“You haven’t told me anything of use,” Dax said. “What are you hiding?”
She turned away to look at the ships. Reflected in the glass, Dax saw Blok approach.
“Commander,” Blok said, “a word, if you please.”
Fyre left them and joined her father.
“Commander, I’ve spoken with Valiant’s bridge,” Blok said. “I’ve had confirmation of your orders to assist in the transit of the Vanguard diplomats back to their people’s ship.”
“Efficient of you, Lieutenant,” Dax said.
“Are you intending to disregard Captain Grint’s orders?” Blok asked.
“Are you intending to enforce them?” Dax asked.
Blok smiled and reached for her side weapon.
Dax drew his, but not before Valkyrie appeared at his side and pressed the hot barrel of her weapon against his neck. Delta squad raised their weapons at the Von Rhas.
“Sorry, Commander,” Valkyrie said, “but if we don’t hand over the diplomats, then the Vanguard will attack Valiant.”
“They’ve already denied Firestorm Grint’s request to send a shuttle for us,” Dax said. “Who is to say they won’t attack even if we do hand over the ambassador and his daughter?”
A glimmer of hesitation surfaced in Valkyrie’s eyes before sinking back into her pool of certainty. She turned to Van Cleef.
“Sergeant, take the Vanguard diplomats to the docking bay,” Valkyrie said, “and await a Vanguard transporter.”
“Valkyrie, you’re making a mistake,” Dax said.<
br />
“You’re lucky I don’t shoot you, Dax.”
“Go ahead,” Dax said and felt his knuckles crack. “You’ve already killed us all.”
CHAPTER 46 - ALL FOR NOTHING
“Captain Valkyrie,” Van Cleef whispered, “Commander Dax saved my life out on the hull of Gy-Fly-Mach. And all our lives. Yours included.”
“What’s your point, Sergeant?” she asked.
“Only that we give the commander the benefit of the doubt.”
Her eyes seemed to brim with anger. “You were there with me in Grint’s quarters when he--”
She checked herself and glanced over at Dax. She sighed. “It’s gambling with twenty five thousand lives,” she said.
“No, Captain Valkyrie,” Fyre said. “Refusing to follow Commander Dax when there are those amongst my people who cannot be trusted is an illogical gamble.”
“How do I know you’re not one of them?” Valkyrie asked.
“You don’t” Fyre said. “Either way, it is a gamble for you. To lose Twenty five thousand lives on Valiant or twenty five billion human lives across the galaxy. It is your choice.”
Valkyrie looked at each and every marine. They all nodded at her.
She sighed. “OK, Dax,” she said. “I’m willing to trust you, but just this once.”
President Arc cursed under her breath. “Admiralty will hear of your mutiny, Valkyrie,” she said. She turned to Dax. “If I were you Commander Dax, I would not trust you live to see the outcome of your foolish endeavor.”
“I don’t plan to, Madam President.”
She raised an eyebrow in surprise. Her eyes narrowed and she studied his face. “You chase a rainbow of dreams,” she said.
“All I care about is finding my wife and son,” Dax said, “and making sure they are safe.”
“You’re drowning for rainbows, Commander Dax,” Arc said. “And dragging us all down with you.”
Dax nodded. “Our only chance is the life-pods.”
“Abandon ship?” Blok asked. “To where?”
Dax looked out of the observation window at Saturn’s rings and the orbiting moons.
“Titan,” he said. “From there we can commandeer a shuttle.”
Valiant (Jurassic War Universe Book 1) Page 24
