Embracing Oblivion: Wolfpack Book 3

by Toby Neighbors

  “We’re closing on it?” Dean asked.

  “Yes,” Parker replied. “It’s directly in our path. The gravity drive stops automatically before colliding with anything. And we can’t change course without coming to a complete stop.”

  “You’re saying we may be able to move around it once we’ve completed this run?”

  “That’s what navigation is proposing, but let’s be honest, what are the chances that whatever is locked onto our course won’t attack.”

  “Not good,” Dean replied. “The Kroll we encountered in the Alrakis system went after anything that moved. It picked up our comms beacons, everything.”

  “I’m advising the admiral to take all precautions, including launching surveillance drones. The Operators are prepping several types of unmanned craft, including a communication beacon which we will launch back to Sol as soon as we slow down enough. These drones are still using fusion rockets to reach FTL. It will take it a month to get back home.”

  “At least if we die out here the brass will know what hit us,” Dean said.

  “That’s a cheery thought,” Parker replied. “I’m sending you the tactical link. Make sure you stay tuned to the command channel.”

  “Already done,” Dean said. “Whatever happens, be careful, Captain.”

  “The same to you. If you need the second squad, just say the word. I’m not here to interfere with your command.”

  “Thanks,” Dean said, “we’re all ready to kick some ass down here.”

  “Roger that,” Parker responded. “Here’s a new image.”

  The picture that popped up on Dean’s visor was a radar optic composite image. The ship was in white, with harsh contrasts between the edges and open space. It was completely different from the ship Dean had destroyed in the Alrakis system, yet it had the same cobbled together appearance. It was hard to make out the actual size of the ship, since there was nothing to compare it to nearby, but Dean could tell it was large. Unlike the ship in the Alrakis system, which was built in a long, straight line, the ship approaching them was built in a circular design. It looked much more like a bird’s nest than the other ship Dean had seen.

  “It’s different,” he said.

  “You think it’s a different race?” Parker asked.

  “No,” Dean said. “It has the same look and feel as the vessel in Alrakis.”

  “Captain Blaze,” Admiral Masterson’s voice snapped into Dean’s conversation with Parker. “We have incoming vessels. Looks like the same teardrop shaped tugs you described in Alrakis.”

  Dean knew that Masterson had studied the vid footage from the Alrakis system. The Charlemagne’s exterior cameras had recorded the teardrop-shaped ships, and Dean’s platoon had been instrumental in capturing three of them. Still, it wasn’t his description of the ships that Admiral Masterson or his crew were relying on, he was just being courteous by claiming that Dean had described them.

  “They’ll be coming after the Apache sir,” Dean said.

  “We expected it. Make sure your platoon isn’t near the drone racks. I’m sending out our fighters to fend the bastards off.”

  “Roger that, sir,” Dean said, waving his platoon back toward the entrance to the hangar.

  “What’s going on, Captain?” Chavez asked.

  “We have a Kroll ship approaching,” Dean said. “The admiral is sending out fighter drones.”

  The rest of his platoon didn’t have the vid capacity that Dean and Chavez had, their armor was made to help them carry out their particular function, nothing more. Dean walked over to a nearby control console built into the wall, just inside the hangar. He brought up the exterior camera feed. The Apache had top-of-the-line optical cameras, each one capable of zooming in on objects or projecting a wide angle. Dean had no control over the cameras, but he had his pick of the many vid feeds from around the exterior of the ship. He brought up a wide angle from just over the hangar.

  “This should show us what’s going on,” Dean said. “Ghost, make sure you have a clear line of sight down to the hangar bay.”

  “Roger,” the sniper said.

  “Squad, once the aliens get on board, you watch your shots,” Dean continued. “No auto firing, we could end up doing more damage than the aliens. Anything pointed toward the gravity drive should be fired with extreme caution.”

  “Yes sir,” came the replies from his platoon.

  “I can’t see anything,” Adkins complained.

  “It’s there,” Dean said. “But they don’t have running lights. Their hull is just blending into the darkness.”

  “What about infrared?” Harper asked.

  “I don’t have control of the camera,” Dean said. “It would just be a blob of color anyway. You’ll be able to see them soon enough.”

  The racks of drones in the hangar suddenly started moving. The racks were all on rails that allowed them to roll in and out, depending on the need. Dean saw the heavy-looking attack drones shift from the racks and move toward the open door of the hangar. The space drones were completely different from the atmospheric craft that had become so common on Earth. The space drones had tiny directional thrusters, and a single electrical engine to provide primary thrust. They were armed with a variety of weapons and would be incredibly effective, if they could keep up with whatever enemy they were unleashed upon.

  Dean’s command feed was picking up the constant thread of chatter from the bridge. He was only halfway paying attention to it as the admiral gathered information from his officers.

  “Communications?” Masterson asked.

  “They aren’t responding to hails,” came the reply. “I’m using every channel and frequency available. Even the visuals, but there’s no response.”

  “Tell me those drones are ready?” the admiral demanded.

  “First wave is ready to launch,” said the senior O&A officer.

  “Go now!” Masterson said. “Holding pattern around the Apache. No itchy trigger fingers. I don’t want us making the first move. Change the alert status to red, it’s go time people.”

  Dean felt his adrenaline kick in as the lights inside the ship shifted to red, and the alarm sounded once more.

  “Stand easy, platoon,” Dean said. “This is still the navy’s show.”

  Everyone watched the drones launch. They had to be hurled from the ship, past the artificial gravity field and into open space, where their thrusters could maneuver their bulky frames.

  “I can see them,” Adkins said excitedly.

  The entire squad moved closer to the vid screen except for Dean, who was monitoring several vid feeds on his TCU.

  “Here we go,” Parker said quietly.

  “Show them what you’re made of, Operators,” Dean said, although none of the men and women manning the drones could hear him.

  “Drones in position,” the O&A officer on the bridge announced.

  “I want full scans of that ship,” Admiral Masterson said. “Get every last detail.”

  “Admiral!” Dean recognized the voice of Sloan Fanning, who sounded angry. He realized she must have been in some type of emergency space suit for her voice to be picked up on the command channel.

  “Ms. Fanning, now is not the time,” Masterson snapped. It was the first time Dean had heard the man raise his voice since coming aboard.

  “This is the reason we’re here,” she replied. “To make contact with the Kroll. Why are you keeping everyone at battle stations? Let us do our job.”

  “Whoever is in that ship is ignoring our hails,” Masterson said. “From all indications, they mean to take over our ship. I will not sit idle and let them.”

  “Send us out on the shuttle,” Fanning went on. “That was always the plan.”

  “No, the plan was to send you into the Urgglatta system on a shuttle.”

  “That’s semantics, Admiral, and you know it. We have a job to do, don’t waste the opportunity we have right now to end hostilities.”

  “Ma’am, there is simply no
way that I am sending my Recon platoon into harm’s way and leaving this ship undefended. You don’t have to like my decision, but you do have to live with it.”

  “The pods are extending grappling arms,” said another officer on the bridge and Dean saw the small, teardrop-shaped vessels extending their long tentacles toward the Apache.

  “Engage the grapples only,” Masterson ordered. “I want no other damage done to those ships.”

  “Oh shit,” Adkins said. “It’s getting real out there.”

  “What are they doing?” Owanto asked.

  “They use those tentacles to take control of vessels and tow them back to their mother ship,” Tallgrass said calmly, Dean didn’t think he’d ever heard the Demo sergeant get excited.

  They watched as the attack drones moved toward the grappling arms. Dean could tell the Operators were being given specific orders as every drone acted in unison. They moved at the same time, and each fired a small warhead at the same moment. Dean’s platoon all held their breath as they watched the small missiles impact their targets. The hard vacuum created a unique environment for detonations. There was a bright flash at each detonation site, then the grappling arms crumpled like withered limbs.

  “We have impact!" the O&A officer on the bridge announced needlessly. Dean was certain every person on board the Apache had been watching the drone attack.

  The teardrop-shaped vessels fell back, their effectiveness suddenly cut short by the attack drones. Dean had a feeling there was more to the Kroll than their simple snatch-and-grab tactics, and just like the pods that had attacked the Charlemagne, the teardrop-shaped vessels changed course and started for the Apache again.

  “Admiral, those ships are headed for the hangar,” Dean said over the command channel.

  Masterson didn't respond to Dean, but his next order made it obvious that he didn’t disagree with him.

  “Move all drones to incept,” he said, the urgency in his voice made Dean even more nervous than the sight of the alien ship. “Nothing gets on board that we don’t specifically invite. Do whatever it takes, Anderson.”

  “Aye, sir,” the O&A officer replied.

  Dean watched as the drones started moving around the Apache. Unlike the pods from the alien ship, the attack drones were slow and clumsy. The first of the drones came into view outside the large hangar opening just before the alien pods. Dean’s platoon turned to watch. There were eight of the alien vessels approaching, the drones fired several missiles, but the Kroll had learned from the first attack. The pods darted out of the way of the missiles easily, the ships moved in quick, jerky motions that were much faster and more agile than the drones.

  “Fire everything you've got!” Masterson shouted on the bridge.

  Two more drones appeared and more missiles were launched. The pods continued to evade, but in the chaotic evasion two of them were hit. The impact sites crumpled under the explosive force of the warhead, and atmosphere vented from the openings as the pods spun away from the Apache, tumbling out of control into space.

  “We can’t get there fast enough,” Anderson said, his voice tight with fear.

  “Do whatever it takes,” Masterson said, his voice suddenly grim. “Captain Blaze?”

  “Here sir,” Dean said.

  “Whatever comes through that hangar door gets everything you’ve got,” he said.

  “Yes sir, moving into position now,” Dean said. “Static, Beak, Venom, Engage!”

  There were three Heavy Armor Specialists with Dean. Owanto, Teller, and Adkins formed a straight line, the big rectangular shields pointed toward the hangar opening, their plasma cannons swiveled online. Chavez moved up close to the line, raising his EMR rifle. Tallgrass took a position on his left, Harper on his right, each with their own rifles held over the shield wall.

  “Move forward,” Dean said. “I want plasma fire as soon as those ships are in range.”

  “Sir, do you want us to join you?” Valosky asked.

  “Negative, hold your positions,” Dean replied.

  All three attack drones that had come in range had intercepted an alien pods, each one colliding with one of the teardrop shaped vessels and sending them tumbling away from the Apache, but that left three of the alien pods coming straight for the hangar.

  “Admiral, any danger of us firing through the gravity field?” Dean asked.

  “Not that I’m aware of, Captain. Fire at will.”

  “Chavez, Harper, Tallgrass, open fire, full auto!” Dean ordered.

  He was standing several paces behind his squad, with his own EMR rifle ready to fire. He flipped the switch near his right thumb to full auto, took aim at the lead alien pod, and gently pulled the trigger. The rail gun jumped in his hands, but he was ready for the recoil. In the space of a few seconds Dean had fired twenty-five tungsten projectiles. Firing accurately at full auto was impossible, but he didn’t mind using the spray and pray method at the moment. He had no idea if the bullets would have an effect on the alien ships. He and the rest of his platoon were busy reloading when the bullets found their mark.

  “Direct hit, sir!” Adkins shouted. “Hell yeah!”

  Dean looked up and saw jets of air escaping the pod ships. The venting air made the pods more erratic in their flight path, but they were still approaching.

  “Give ’em hell!” Dean shouted as he pulled the charging handle back to load a projectile from the magazine into the firing chamber.

  The EMR rifles were powerful weapons, but because they didn’t use gunpowder or explosive gas, they made strange popping noises when they fired. The plasma cannons, on the other hand, sent their gas-filled cartridges flying via compressed old fashioned gun powered. The reports of the cannons were so loud that Dean’s TCU muted the exterior microphone pick-ups to save his hearing. The temperature in the hangar rose noticeably as the plasma cannons fired, and Dean watched in awe as the tiny cartridges flew out of the Apache and impacted the alien ships with bright white bursts of super-charged energy.

  The plasma didn’t impact the alien craft the way the missiles or EMR rounds did. There was no kinetic energy transfer, just the sizzling heat of the plasma, which detonated when the small cartridges hit their targets, firing an electrical charge through the tiny gas chamber. The result was an explosion of super-heated plasma that was effected by the cold vacuum beyond the gravity well. The energy pulse still had an effect, but it was greatly reduced.

  One of the pods lost control, drifting down below the Apache, but the other two managed to maintain their course. Dean held his ground as his squad poured fire and steel into the approaching vessels. One pod exploded just before crossing the gravity field. There was no fiery explosion, instead the pod merely blew apart, like a fragile model plane that is dropped onto a tile floor, sending debris in every direction. Dean, Chavez, Harper, and Tallgrass ducked down behind the HA line. The plasma cannons continued firing and the last alien pod smashed into the deck of the hangar.

  “Cease fire,” Dean ordered.

  “Captain Blaze?” Masterson said.

  “We’ve got one pod inside the hangar, Admiral. It’s down on the flight deck, but no movement yet.”

  “Nothing comes out of that ship alive,” he ordered.

  “Admiral, don’t be foolish,” Fanning said. “We cannot execute a captured combatant.”

  The pod suddenly shifted as the hatch popped open. Dean was just about to order his Specialists to fire, when he saw the lifeless body of the feline creature inside flop over.

  “Sir, looks like the pilot’s dead,” Dean said over the command channel.

  “Well, make damn sure it is,” Admiral Masterson said. “And don’t take any chances.”

  “Staff Sergeant, make sure the alien is dead,” Dean ordered

  “Yes sir,” Chavez said.

  The big staff sergeant moved quickly from behind the line of Heavy Armor Specialists. He approached the pod fearlessly, his EMR rifle held ready in case the alien sprang toward him. Dean could see multip
le wounds on the creature. Its upper body, forearms, and head were clearly visible. It had the same tight fitting, black bodysuit as the creatures who had attacked the Charlemagne. The alien creature’s head was covered in a bulbous helmet, but Dean could see dark stains leaking from what looked like bullet holes in the creature’s body.

  Chavez got close enough to prod the alien with his rifle. It didn’t move. He turned back to Dean and nodded.

  “Admiral, the target is neutralized,” Dean said.

  “Excellent,” Masterson said. “I’m sending in maintenance staff to clear the hangar of debris. Have your platoon stand down. Captain Parker and I will join you there, along with Butler and Fanning. We still have to decide what to do about that ship.”

  Dean knew what was coming. He didn’t like it, but he realized it was what he had been assigned to the Apache for. They would have to enter the alien ship and try to somehow make contact with the Kroll inside. But Dean knew that would mean fighting the alien creatures and he wasn’t looking forward to that conflict. Better not to risk lives needlessly, in his opinion. The Kroll would never be peaceful allies. If it were up to him, he would blow their nest ship to bits and move on to the next.

  Chapter 31

  “Let’s make one thing clear,” Admiral Masterson said. “This is my ship and ultimately my mission. I won’t endanger the vessel or the objective needlessly.”

  Butler was staring down at the alien body, which had been quickly moved to a containment pod with a clear cover. They could see the body, but they couldn’t touch it, and any pathogens were contained inside the pod.

  “Excellent work, Dean,” Parker said.

  “The new weapons are effective,” Dean said with a smile.

  The rest of his platoon was restocking their ammunition and getting food. The maintenance crew had done a quick and efficient job of cleaning the hanger. The shuttles and some of the drones were scratched from the explosion, and the deck was gouged where the alien pod had landed, but nothing was seriously damaged. The teardrop-shaped craft had been moved out of the way and secured, and Admiral Masterson was trying to decide what their next move should be.