by Gary Weston
They flew side by side with their machines. 'What about that?' yelled Salamandra as they raced at the blue shimmering forcefield surrounding the entire headquarters.
'It stops stuff getting in, not out.'
They zigzagged to dodge the laser fire from the officers chasing them on their stingers. Bridget glanced behind her and counted three in pursuit. As Bridget knew would happen, they became almost lost to view in the curtain of the forcefield. Those chasing knew it was safe to follow through the blue haze but the rope held between the escapees came as a real surprise, taking all three off their stingers which continued ahead without riders, to crash together a mile away. The rope was dropped and Bridget and Salamandra raced off into the distance.
Chapter 42
'Anne is going over the results from her samples,' said Jacobs.
Cormack said, 'Probably a higher level of sulphur than we would usually expect.' She ignored the wink she got from Friar at another table. 'That volcano going off really puts a spanner in the works.'
'Just one of those things. The air will clear eventually. We just have to stay on the Goliath until it does.'
'It could be worse. We could be back on Earth.'
A sad expression crossed Jacobs' face. 'We all lost our relatives to the war. That was the most painful thing to see. We were safe in the Base, working on the mission, as those outside destroyed themselves.'
'Your wife and daughter amongst them.' She pushed her plate aside, reached out and reached out taking Jacobs' hand in hers. 'We all lost loved ones, Jay Jay. Which makes it imperative we succeed.'
'We've come too far not to succeed. This is all rather sombre. I'd rather concentrate on all things positive. The terraformers are working; we're able to survive here for at least a couple of years, so we are back on track.'
'We could increase the time we stay in the pods. That would stretch the supplies further, but more important, help maintain the mental health of everyone. Less time to fret about things.'
Jacobs said, 'Something to consider. I'll leave things as they are for the time being. The main thing is we survive and get down on that planet.'
Cormack considered telling her captain about the holes in his suit, but as Friar had explained what a non-event it had been, she decided to forget about it. Jacobs had enough responsibility. Besides. She had other things on her mind, such as taking her friendship with Jarvis Jacobs to another level.
'Why don't we go to your rooms? There's something I'd like your opinion on.'
'Oh? What?'
Cormack leaned over and whispered, 'Me.'
'Then let's go, Val.'
Chapter 43
Commander General Loretti was furious. She was flanked by her two most trusted officers and the guard was still chained to the bed.
'You miserable cretin.'
'But how was I to know, general? She is your daughter.'
Loretti clenched and unclenched her fists in fury. 'You failed me. What were your orders?'
'Only you or Corporal Naylor allowed to see Salamandra. But...'
'But nothing. Had I time, I would slice parts off you and make you eat them. Something to look forward to. I intend to track Salamandra down.' She turned to her her escorts. 'Now off to the Spider.'
'And him?'
'Leave him here.' They stormed out of the cell and Loretti slammed the door shut, locking it for good measure. 'I'll deal with him when I get back or I might just forget about him.'
Outside, the Spider was waiting to take off, twin plasma drives emitting a deep throbbing sound. Loretti stomped up the ramp and took the spare seat next to her pilot.
Lieutenant Sparrow asked, 'Where to, general?'
'I have no idea. Would Captain Loretti go with Salamandra over to his side?'
Sparrow said, 'I have fought with Bridget on a few missions. I can't believe she would do that.'
'Then she would go to somewhere she'd feel safe, but would Salamandra go with her?'
'They would have a limited range on the stingers. One place comes to mind. The Base.'
Loretti said, 'Of course. It all makes sense. Yes. Gunther. Oh wait until I get my hands around his neck. Get us there, lieutenant.'
The black Spider battle cruiser lifted off, speeding away towards the Base. Sparrow had guessed correctly where Captain Loretti was heading. Bridget and Salamandra had been pushing the stingers hard, sending up clouds of desert sand from the propulsion jets. Stingers had limited range up to a maximum of one hundred and fifty miles. They were intended for close battlefield use; their agility and speed, armed with missiles and lasers, designed for close fighting. With still sixty miles over the arid environment to fly over to the Base, the machines whined to a halt, settling in the soft sand.
'It looks as if we walk from here on,' said Bridget.
They covered the stingers with desert scrub to cover their tracks, took a compass reading and started walking.
'Are you sure you are up to this? You took a hell of a beating from Naylor.'
Salamandra said, 'Ah! The delightful Corporal Naylor. Can you imagine his curriculum vitae? Hobbies, torture. Speciality teeth and fingernails. One has to admire his work ethic, though. One day we will meet again on my terms. Don't worry. I know all about pain and suffering.'
'Wait a moment.' Bridget opened a pocket on her utility belt and pulled out a sachet, passing it to Salamandra. 'This should help with the pain.'
Salamandra swallowed the sticky brown liquid. 'Thanks.'
They marched on, the midday sun beating down on their backs.
'You are a cultured and educated man, I'm thinking,' said Bridget.
'And that surprises you?'
'I suppose I shouldn't believe our own propaganda. How come you are second in command in the Union?'
Salamandra said, 'Fate and circumstance. Would you believe I'm a qualified surgeon?'
'You are? What a waste. I suppose that's the real victim of this war. Talent. We could all be doing much more worthwhile things than trying to kill each other.'
'You sound disillusioned. Does that mean you no longer wish to kill me?'
Bridget laughed. 'Not for the last few hours. I just want this nonsense to end before it's too late. We were working well together before it all kicked off again.'
'You mean the mission. All races have a vested interest in the mission.'
'Yes. Actually, I want to ask you...'
Salamandra said, 'It'll have to wait. Quick. Over here.'
Bridget followed Salamandra's gaze and could see the black ship on the horizon. From the cover of the dune, Bridget said, 'Their heat sensors will pick us up. We need the missiles on the stingers.'
They ran as fast as their legs could carry them, the arid air burning their throats. Three miles later, they were ready to drop, but they pushed themselves with legs of lead. Two hundred yards from the stingers, they had been seen and a hail of laser cannon fire zapped the ground around them. On they ran, both doing a diving roll to the stingers, throwing the scrub aside. Bridget pulled the stinger around. Only the power-pack lights still flashing although the fuel was spent.
'A good job they're lousy shots,' said Salamandra.
'You think? They missed us because I'm named Loretti. My mother wants me to live.'
Salamandra said, 'Compassion?'
'No. She wants to torture me as an example. We have to take her down.'
A laser blast tore up the sand just feet away from them. Bridget was the first to fire her missiles, the heat-seeker tracing a trail of white smoke as it streaked through the air. It was right on target but Sparrow blew it away with her cannon. Salamandra let two missiles go simultaneously, and before they got halfway, the laser caught it. The second missile got through and smashed into the side of the Spider, but the battle cruiser stayed in the air. With smoke pouring from the now unstable ship, Bridget let a missile go and although the Spider's lasers missed it narrowly, it found its mark. The ship spun around and was heading back to headquarters, then it dropp
ed like a stone and crashed into the desert.
Chapter 44
'Well!'
'Well?'
'Well.' Cormack smiled as she dressed in a flowing brightly patterned gown that flattered her feminine charms. 'Such enthusiastic love making for a...'
'An old fart like me?'
'I was going to say for a man who is a little rusty. You've been asleep for the last couple of hours. I went to my room for a change of clothes. Like it?'
'I love it. You are a very lovely woman.'
Cormack smiled and said, 'I'm glad you finally noticed. You realise some people were betting on us getting together?'
Jacobs got out of bed, shyly picking up his underwear to cover up with and then he recalled what they had been doing. 'None of their damn business.'
'Agreed. But it's just harmless ship's banter. At least we can now relax and see where this takes us. I hope that's what you want, too?'
Jacobs held Cormack in his arms and kissed her. 'I've been alone far too long. Time to start living and loving again.'
'That goes for me as well.'
'I'll just take a shower. Please stay?'
Cormack said, 'I'll be right here.'
Jacobs entered the dry shower and the florescent light from the sanitizer cleaned every pore of his body. 'Call me old fashioned but I do miss good old soap and water. But it's the only way to preserve every precious drop of water.'
'Something else we have in common. I suppose it's business as usual now. Figuring out what we do next.'
With his robe on, Jacobs sat on the bed. 'When Anne Lee has crunched the numbers about her samples off the surface, I'll see what she has to say. My biggest concern is the volcano. Hopefully that's it for a couple of hundred years. Unfortunately there is no way to predict such events. The terraformers have to have a fighting chance.'
'My father had a saying. Don't sweat the small stuff. He meant...'
'Don't worry over things we have no control over.'
Cormack nodded and said, 'Something like that. Assuming the volcano remains dormant now, the atmosphere should be clean and oxygen rich in what? One year?'
'About that. Rivers and oceans will be stabilising, and from outside orbit we can fire the fish-cans.'
Cormack laughed. 'That makes me laugh when I hear them called that. Sophisticated missiles we can target rivers and oceans with, then they release thousands of fish larvae to fill them with.'
'And plant life to provide nutrients for them. With no predators, most of the fish should survive and be on their way to providing a sustainable food supply for us by the time we arrive. Other plants, birds and animals will be released and farmed once we get there.'
Cormack said, 'The way the war was decimating what was left of nature, I expect we have saved all sorts of creatures from extinction. Including ourselves.'
'I intend to ensure we remember why we had to come to Spero in the first place. We must never make the same mistakes again.'
'I wish I could believe we could finally mature enough to take care of our new home. History has a way of repeating itself.'
Jacobs scowled. 'That was Earth history. On Spero we write our own.'
'Hey, calm down. We'll get it right this time. I promise.'
Cormack couldn't be certain, but there was an expression on Jacobs face she hadn't seen before. A strange intensity in his eyes. But it was fleeting then it was gone as he smiled again.
Chapter 45
'What the hell are you doing?' Bridget demanded.
Salamandra was about to send more missiles at the smouldering crashed ship. 'Finishing the job.'
Bridget hit him hard in the chest which had him falling on his backside. 'My mother's probably on that ship.'
'Even more reason then.'
'She's your enemy, not mine.'
Salamandra got up and dusted himself down. 'Are you sure about that? She's hardly been a loving mother to you.'
'You know nothing about me or my mother.'
'Hey. Where are you going? The Base is that way.'
Bridget yelled, 'And my mother is this way.'
Salamandra cursed and hurried after Bridget. 'Leave them. They tried to kill us.'
'Our shooters are better than that. If they wanted to kill us, we would be dead. I already told you that.'
It took almost an hour to reach the fallen ship and the desert sun made the journey even more exhausting. The ship was no longer smouldering, the danger of exploding had passed. The airlock ramp was partially opened, just enough for them to wriggle through.
'Mother? Mother. Can you hear me, mother? Salamandra. Will you put that damn laser away.'
Salamandra's eyes were everywhere. 'If they shoot at me, I want to shoot them back.'
'If you don't put that laser away this minute, I swear I'll shove it where the sun don't shine. Better.'
Spider One was significantly larger than the ones Bridget had ever been on. The laser and the crash had severely damaged the structure and the electrical circuits had blown in many places. Bridget and Salamandra jumped back as they heard a shuffling sound heading their way. Salamandra reached for his laser again but the scowl Bridget gave him had him changing his mind. The door into the ship was battered by something heavy, then the actuators crackled and the door opened halfway before an explosion wrecked it completely. A man stood there, swaying slightly. He had a laser in his hand, but it was pointing at the floor. He stared at Bridget, dropped the weapon and fell face first into the hold at Bridget's feet.
'Clarkson,' said Bridget. 'A shooter I flew with a couple of times. Oh, my God.' Clarkson's back had a hole the size of a fist in it; his internal organs fried. 'His turret seat must have exploded. Most of the the controls for the cannon turrets are routed through the seats. Mother?'
Bridget called but got no reply. As they went through the door, they found Captain Sparrow, dead, collapsed over her controls. On the floor next to her, lay General Loretti.
'Trish?'
For a moment it looked as if Loretti was dead, but her eyes flickered open and she stared at Bridget. 'I've...I've had it.' There was a deeply haunting look about her face and she began to slip away.
'Trish. Not now. Not like this.'
'Move out of my way,' said Salamandra.
Loretti's intense hatred for Salamandra and his people made her react even in her weakened state. 'Don't let him near me.'
Salamandra said, 'If you know anything about me, you'll know I'm a surgeon.'
'I would rather die.'
Salamandra shrugged. 'Ok.'
Loretti cried out in pain and her eyes rolled up in her head.
'You damn well help her,' demanded Bridget.
Salamandra hesitated, and locked horns with Bridget. It could have gone either way, but Salamandra decided to give in. He had just bent down and started to examine Loretti, when a laser shot missed his head by a whisker. Bridget had seen Naylor coming at them and she fired her laser at him. In one carefully aimed shot she had burnt a neat hole through his brain. He swayed, dead on his feet, then dropped like a stone.
'Damn you, Bridget, I so wish I'd done that,' snarled Salamandra.
'Never mind Naylor. Can you save my mother?'
There came a rumbling sound and the wrecked ship began to shake.
'It's going to blow,' said Salamandra. He gathered up Loretti in his arms and struggled back through the hold of the ship. Bridget was right behind him he yelled. 'Grab the fuel for the stingers.'
Bridget snatched two containers and followed Salamandra outside. They ran as fast as they could and had made fifty yards when the Spider class battle cruiser blew up and the blast bowled them over.
Chapter 46
'On reflection, it could be worse.'
The reflection was the one Jacobs was staring at in his three dimensional mirror. It wasn't something he did too often, never thinking much of the face looking back at him. But now he had a woman in his life at long last, he decided he should take his appearance more serious
ly. Two people on the ship had set up a lucrative sideline to their ship's duties in hair cutting and nail grooming. He decided he was long overdue a trim and for Belle to do the job. She was a short, dumpling of a woman with a naturally jolly disposition.
Belle looked over Jacobs' head into the mirror. 'What on Earth do you mean? You're a very...distinguished looking man.'
Jacobs sighed as the scissors skilfully snipped away at his white hair. 'That's just you being polite, Belle.'
'Tut tut. You should learn to take compliments. Especially from a woman.' Belle clamped her pudgy hands either side of his head, forcing him to look at his reflection. 'A fine nose. A little on the large side, maybe. Eyebrows a little bushy, but I can sort that out. And a very strong jawline. Women appreciate a man with a firm jawline. I bet Doctor Cormack does.'
Jacobs said, 'I wouldn't know. We don't waste time talking about my jawline.'
Belle did have the dirtiest of chuckles. She could read a laundry list and make it sound erotic.
'Much better things to do than talking, hey? Can't say I blame you. Damn all else worth doing for recreation on this ship.'
'I'm here for a trim, not talk about...'
'Your love life? Honestly. You would be amazed what I hear in here. I sometimes think I'm more a cross between a priest doing confessions or a councillor dishing out advice.'
Jacobs said, 'I assure you, I will not discuss such things with you.'
Belle said, 'The mark of a true gentleman. This part thinning on the top. Leave it long or trim it shorter? Personally, I do hate men trying to comb over bald spots. I always think a man can look quite sexy with a bald spot. I'll just even it up with the sides, right?'
