by Lee Watts
Again hearing the rising pitch of the cutting beam, he knew he was out of time. Taking quick aim around a corner of the crate, he launched his last grenade at the control panel at the far end of the room. As soon as he released the trigger, Merrick discarded the launcher and dove for the strap then scrambled toward the support beam to anchor it.
Slamming into the panel, the grenade exploded destroying the controls powering the hangar's magnetic field. Immediately, the invisible, protective barrier collapsed, and a mighty rushing wind sucked items out to space. Weightless Ramillie troops flailed wildly as they were ejected into the void. Piles of tizanite pelted the shuttles and freighter as they too were lifted and expelled. Without time to tie himself to the beam, Merrick had only managed to sling the strap around it and now, fully horizontal, hung on for dear life against the force pulling him toward the great vacuum.
***
Though a few asteroids still blocked a clear shot, Alexander could see the bulky, looming Deinodon stalking closer. Watching the warship use its tractor beams to remove obstructing boulders, and cannons to strike at outmatched defenders, the Remnant commander realized he had failed. He had done everything he could think of, adapted the experiences he had on Acatus, but it wasn't enough. During the first moments of the battle, he'd been proud of his ingenuity, proud of how much he'd accomplished. Now, there was nothing left he could do, nothing to distract him, and he wrestled with his pride. He considered Merrick's words - The battle is against those in rebellion to the Elder… You're putting what you want above what He wants. That was your father's mistake. Agonizing over the removal of his father, Alexander still considered that his fault. Adding to his guilt was the knowledge that every man, woman, and child in the Remnant would soon die, and that was his fault too.
No, not my fault, the enemy's.
Then a still, small voice spoke to his heart.
The enemy is error; the enemy is pride.
The enemy… Alexander realized, is me.
Disrupting his thoughts, Grant called out an update.
"Sire, I'm getting a report from one of our teams, they've been overrun. A Ramillie squad, it's on its way, and there's no one to stop them!"
An insistent pounding then began at the door. The Ramillie had reached the control room, and they wanted in.
***
A level down, frightened civilians made their way into a large maintenance bay. Machine parts lay in various stages of repair on worktables scattered throughout the room, and the smell of grease and hydraulic fluid permeated the air. Sergeant VanAllen stood inside the door, keeping it open so everyone could enter. Jaiden was the last of the group to enter. Tia turned to look at her group then quickly took a step out and checked down both ways of the hall. She returned then closed and locked the door behind her.
Warily she asked Jaiden a question.
"Where's that blond pain in the neck?"
"I thought she was up at the front," Jaiden answered.
Tia shook her head.
"I thought she was at the back."
For a moment, the two looked at each other with growing concern.
"Question is," Tia added, "is she lost, or did she run?"
Jaiden wasn't sure, and upon seeing a Ramillie squad run past the small window of the room, he knew he couldn't go find her. Tia noticed the passing squad and warned everyone.
"This tunnel comes to a dead-end, they'll be back in a minute, and my guess is they'll sweep every room on the way."
"Then we've got to get everyone out of here," Jaiden insisted.
"No good," Tia said. "We're too big, noisy, and slow. They'd catch us."
She looked for a back way out, but there was none.
"Hey wait," Jaiden exclaimed while pointing to a doorway to the room's storage area. "What about that?"
Tia was unconvinced.
"They're bound to check," she grumbled.
"Not if they don't know it's there."
Tia looked at him questioningly, so he continued.
"We'll get everyone in then push some of these big crates up against the wall," Jaiden explained. If we stack two or three, they'll easily cover the door. If we stack other crates all around the room, it won't look suspicious."
With every second counting, and not having a better suggestion, Tia nodded.
"It's the best we got. Let's do it."
Hurriedly, the scared group was herded into the cramped room of the supply area and sealed in. Hannah's lip trembled with fear, and with all she had, the girl tried to stifle her cries. Her tears of fright fell silent and steady. Hearing a pounding from Ramillie trying to open the door, she gripped her mother's leg tightly. With the door's controls unresponsive, the Ramillie blasted it. The battering shots echoed thunderously in the maintenance bay and caused the people in hiding to flinch with each strike. After half a dozen blasts, the door shattered sending chunks of metal flying into the seemingly abandoned room.
Expecting resistance, the red-suited commandoes poured in the room with weapons ready. Silently, they fanned out, expertly taking up positions to secure the area. Fearing even disturbing the air might draw the Ramillie's attention, everyone in the storage area held their breath. Hannah wanted to cry, but her mother placed a shaking hand over her daughter's mouth as she silently prayed, Oh, Elder protect us.
As if trying to project her thoughts into the mind of the enemy squad commander Tia kept thinking, There's no one here, move on. There's no one here, move on.
Tensing every muscle, adrenalin surged through Jaiden. With a racing pulse and thundering heartbeats, he waited to see if the hunters would leave. As was his nervous habit, he grabbed the amber-like pendant with a bauble inside that was still attached on a thin rope about his neck, and anxiously rolled it between his fingers. An overwhelming urge to yell and break the mounting tension pressed insistently at him. He denied the impulse, echoing Tia's metal mantra.
Dubious of a locked room being void of anything important, but pressed to continue the mission, the Ramillie commander kept visually scanning the room for signs of life while signaling his troops to start leaving. Cautiously, and with weapons still held ready, the soldiers slowly began making their way out. By chance, one of the withdrawing men noticed a gap in the wall near the top of a stack of crates. He held up a closed fist, letting his squad know to stop. Well trained, they immediately noticed the signal and halted. He pointed to the gap and looked at the unit's commander who nodded. Silently, the soldier made his way over to the storage doorway, pulled a grenade from the belt at his waist, and prepared to toss the deadly explosive into the small opening.
CHAPTER 41
"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." - II Timothy 1:7
On the top level of the control tower, a squad of Ramillie troops blasted away at the bolted, reinforced door of the operations control room. With a mighty detonation, the door finally buckled and immediately in rushed the maroon-armored commandoes. Anticipating stiff resistance, they were surprised to find no one. Not relaxing their guard for an instant, the assailants continued making their way around the room. Weapons sweeping from side to side, expecting the rebels to spring at them, Ramillie fingers tensed on triggers in preparation for an immediate reaction at first sight of the enemy.
From his concealed position, Alexander nodded to Veltri. As the colonel raised the remote device to the level of his face, he smiled then pressed the switch. The Ramillie, having linked into the control tower's net of security cameras, suddenly jerked, instinctively grabbed for their heads as a deafening screech blared in their helmets. The ear-shattering blast busted eardrums causing the invaders to lose their sense of balance and forced them to think of nothing else but stopping the sound.
In this moment of disarray, the room's five defenders burst from their hiding places and sprayed the room with blue energy, dropping each of the invaders in rapid succession. Within three seconds, it was over. The quintet of rebels looked at each
other in satisfaction.
"Okay," Alexander announced, "let's get back to work."
Veltri walked to the HPT where a Ramillie soldier lay on top of it. He grabbed the red-armored man by the neck and unceremoniously pulled him to the floor. Grant stepped over and on some fallen Ramillie troops as he went back to his communications station. Both sergeants in the room re-manned their positions, but Alexander didn't resume his post.
"There's something important I have to correct before we do anything else," the Prince told Colonel Veltri. "I'll be back shortly. You're in command."
Puzzled, but too respectful to question it, the colonel simply nodded then Alexander left.
Several levels lower, Aulani ripped the tattered sleeve from her shirt and used it to bandage her arm. The deep gash splayed across her arm was from the falling rocks of the cave-in she had caused and barely managed to escape. Completing her make-shift field dressing, she checked her rifle - only three shots left. She'd have to make them count. Taking a deep breath, she cautiously started down the tunnel.
Returning from another exchange of ore for supplies, the Fortune came out of light speed, re-entering the Oosay system. Though still too far out for a clear view with the naked eye, Sosimo could see what looked like the flickers of laserfire and puffs of explosions coming from deep in the asteroid ring.
"What's this?" he questioned. "Mei, magnify the image."
His protégé punched her console's buttons, and the main screen enlarged the view showing the ongoing carnage of the battle. Even with that portion of the asteroid ring in the shadow of the planet, the pirates could tell what was happening.
"They found 'em," Sosimo said.
Byron voiced what many of the crew thought by saying, "Cap'n, these people aren't going to make it. The Ramillie probably haven't detected us yet. Let's get outta here."
Sosimo stared at the screen contemplating his options. He knew Byron was right, and in all likelihood, if the Fortune were to charge in, it wouldn't make much of a difference anyway. The old buccaneer thought of how he had run from the Realm the first time. Running again was the smart move. But he didn't like running, he didn't like the Ramillie, and the more he mulled it over, the more he didn't like it.
"If these people get wiped out, who's going to pay me? Ahead full! All hands to battle stations."
***
Concealed behind a crate, Jaiden watched from across the maintenance bay as a Ramillie soldier prepared to lob a grenade in the small room where the civilians were hiding. Tightening his grip on the pistol Aulani had tossed him, he considered using it. Looking at the weapon he was unfamiliar with, he couldn't find the confidence to employ it. Quietly placing the gun down, he reached into his pocket, pulling out his old sling. Taking a small mechanical device from the adjacent worktable, he put it in the sling and started swinging. As the Ramillie commando raised his arm to toss in the explosive, Jaiden let his projectile fly then quickly ducked.
Jaiden's improvised bullet struck hard on the commando's hand, cracking bones and causing him to release his grip of the armed grenade that went rolling across the room. Immediately, the other Ramillie sprinted toward the exit, but before they could escape, the miniature bomb detonated. Multiplying the deadly shrapnel effect of the grenade, the explosion's shockwave sent the rooms numerous loose mechanical components hurling in a flurry of fatal ricochets.
The blast made the civilians in the storage area scream. For several seconds there was clattering and odd rattles of sound from the room on the other side of the heavy crates. Then, all was quiet. Slowly, the containers began to move. Terrified of who was coming for them, Hannah looked at the doorway but then smiled upon seeing it was Jaiden.
One level up, Aulani was making her way through the asteroid's tunnels. Rounding a corner, she quickly ducked back where she came as four Ramillie exited a room a dozen meters ahead on the right. Fortunately, the invaders were heading the other direction, so hadn't noticed her. It was the room the civilian group had first used for shelter.
As she cautiously crept toward the entryway, she overheard people talking, but without any experience with the Ramillie language, she couldn't understand what was spoken but picked up two distinct voices. As she was listening, a new, and markedly different, voice was heard. Obviously not emitted from within a helmet, the new voice was clear and soft, a woman's voice. Aulani couldn't make out what was being said, but she knew who was saying it, Vivica.
They must've caught the group, Aulani reasoned. Jaiden!
Without taking time to think, Aulani charged into the room and took quick aim. Caught off guard, the two Ramillie didn't even get off a shot before Aulani used her remaining shots to drop both soldiers. Vivica screamed, but fortunately remained still or might have been accidentally hit by the hasty fire. To Aulani's surprise, there was no one else in the room.
"Oh... oh thank goodness," Vivica exclaimed, clutching her heaving breastbone. With an ever-increasing tremble in her voice Vivica stammered, "I... I got separated from the group then ran into them, and I thought they were going to kill me and…"
Overcome by the ordeal, she couldn't continue and buried her crying face in her hands.
"It's okay, Vivica. You're safe now."
Subduing her tears, Vivica lifted her head, took a deep breath.
"Thank goodness for that," the blonde said "and, as long as it's come up, you really should address me Lady Canton."
***
Entering the dimly lit, small chamber near the operations control room, Alexander went about the business of conquering his greatest enemy, himself. Humbling himself, he got on his knees and called upon the Elder.
"Oh Elder, Creator of the universe, have mercy on me. I've been so prideful, so arrogant. You keep calling to me, but I keep turning away. I've put my desires above yours. I've trusted in my own cunning and didn't stop to ask your will. I didn't follow your will during the Assembly vote and didn't humble myself on Acatus to ask what you wanted. My father went from relying on you to relying on himself. I don't want to repeat that mistake anymore. My pride has brought The Remnant to the brink of ruin. Please forgive me, and blot out my foolish pride. Create in me a clean heart oh Elder, and renew a right spirit within me. I have done all I can, and it is not enough. I plead with you… don't let my mistake cause the death of these good people. Please Elder… deliver us in this our darkest hour. We can do nothing… I can do nothing. Your will be done." He ended his prayer quoting the Codex. "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight oh Elder, my strength and my redeemer."
Rising, he felt assured. He didn't understand how, but he trusted and believed. Striding back into the operations control room, he confidently issued an order.
"Lieutenant, open a channel to Admiral Qil'Donan."
Concerned about what the Prince had in mind, Colonel Veltri looked warily to the lieutenant who reflected his expression of trepidation. Waiting for the signal to go through, Alexander was not oblivious to their apprehensions. He smiled confidently.
"Fear not, gentlemen. I have spoken with the Elder. Be strong and of good courage, for He is with us, so why should we fear?"
On the bridge of the Deinodon, a crewman reported the signal.
"Admiral, we're receiving a hail from the enemy commander."
Gloating satisfaction filled Qil'Donan. He leaned back in his command chair and smiled.
"He's giving up. Pity, I was rather looking forward to killing them all myself, but public execution will do as well, better I suppose. Put the braggart on the screen."
Alexander's image filled the viewer. Reveling in the humiliation he would force from his opponent, Qil'Donan sneered.
"Calling to try and end this are you?"
"Indeed, I am," Alexander replied. "So, consider this your only opportunity. Surrender, or be destroyed."
Qil'Donan laughed from the absurdity of the idea. Composing himself, he scoffed at the Prince.
"Are you mad? You're empty.
You've used your last trick. I don't care if the starfighters are destroyed. Your troops outside are out of missiles and pose no real threat to me anymore. We've scanned this asteroid field, and you have no more freighters or shuttles. That pirate corvette is too far out to save you and will be easily dispatched when it gets close. No, there is nothing and no one who can save you. You have no hope, no future, and no chance. I was hoping you weren't going to surrender. Now, feel the power of the Hegemony as I burn down your tower and that blasted banner with you."
With so much against them, Alexander didn't understand why, but he felt no less confident. Not knowing how, he proceeded with his defiant prophecy, secure in its fulfillment.
"Now hear this Qil'Donan, there is someone who can save us, and we have a greater hope than you understand. You've come to us with ships, weapons, and shields, but we face you now in the name of the Elder who you have defied. This day the Elder will deliver you into our hand, so all the galaxy will know there is a God. And let everyone who hears of this know that the battle was the Elder's, and our banner flies because He gave you into our hands!"
For the second time that night, Alexander abruptly closed the transmission, hanging up on Qil'Donan. Infuriated, the admiral roared out.
"Bypass the next inhabited asteroid and head straight for the control tower! I want that man dead and banner down! Now! Now!"
Astounded, the people on the habitation asteroid near the Deinodon watched as the deadly ship's guns turned away from them without firing a shot. Hector and the boy wept silent tears of joy as the enemy craft curiously moved away. Their prayers were answered. Hector couldn't explain to the boy how it had happened, but the prayer warriors had done their part in the battle. As the battleship continued away in haste, the spared people praised the Elder for His miraculous deliverance.
