Gray Panthers: Earths Revenge

by David Guenther

  “Dart Flight, Dart One, Stay away from Venus; you won’t like it if she gets a hold of you. Time to switch, leads are now wing men, Dart One out.”

  Matt maintained position with Tiny with minimal difficulty. Tiny's maneuvers were unimaginative, instead, they were a mixture of speed and brutal harsh turns. After an hour was up, Matt again notified the flight.

  “Dart Flight, Dart One, I want the following flight. Suzy, you get Mary and Matilda. Bronia, take Scotty and Tiny for your flight. Zach, Borys, and Andrzej form up on my Dart. Suzy and Bronia, I want your flights to loiter in this area. I will head out a couple thousand miles and head back and try to gun your flights. Try to evade and re-attack me if you can." Matt's flight flew three thousand miles out then turned around to attack the other flights. Matt was surprised to see the two flights had simply cut to quarter power and seemed to be slowly maneuvering in random directions. When he was two minutes away, the two formations formed as two line abreast formations, one parallel to the other only slightly above. Initially unhappy, a smile formed on Matt's face in realization they had done the same thing he would have done. “Borys and Andrzej I want the pair of you to climb a couple hundred miles and see if you can get directly above them and then drop down on them, Zach you and Tiny have my six as we will head straight at them then bank 90 degrees and see if they follow.”

  Suzy saw the pair of Darts break off and climb and guessed what was happening next. “Bronia, take your flight and go nose to nose with the high flight. We will take the low flight, pass through them and continue straight. We will do the same with low flight and have our flights rejoin. If he wants to separate his forces, we’ll remind him it’s not a good idea.”

  Matt’s smile left his face as he saw the two flights advance towards both his flights.

  “Borys and Andrzej, go full power and climb straight.”

  Matt was going to draw off the high flight and attack from behind and below when they pursued. Smiling as they closed he saw the high flight begin to trail his high flight. The low flight was still a distance back as he maneuvered to get on their six when they looped the same time the low flight caught up with him at his 3 o’clock position. In less than ten seconds, the high flight passed by him as the other flight passed by him from the other side and continued towards the Arizona Space Ship Cornucopia where they formed up as a single line abreast formation. The distaste of failure was replaced with pride in his flight as they were not just following him but learning as well.

  “Darts, shit hot job, we’re near bingo so let's head for the ranch and have a good debrief. We will form on Suzy for trail formation then return to base.”

  As her Dart passed through the force field Suzy headed towards the Arizona Space Ship Beater as she received instructions to hover in front of the bay then turn facing away from the ship, and back in following directions as she went. Backing up a Dart was a new adventure for each pilot, especially through the narrow opening of the hangar bay; finally, all were in and down, each pilot soaked with perspiration. The hangar doors shut as they each got out of the Darts. Crew chiefs had dragged tables to each Dart and waited to debrief the pilots. After a short debrief the pilots prepared to break for lunch when Captain McGuire appeared.

  “You guys were looking hot out there, I was impressed. Be sure to get a good lunch after you’re done assisting in arming your Darts. When we leave on the mission you will be doing all your own maintenance including arming your Darts so be sure to learn all there is to know.”

  The bay started to become less steady as the Arizona Space Ship Beater rose and taxied out of the Arizona Space Ship Cornucopias bay. The cadets quickly found they were “assisting” the crew chiefs by lugging over all the munitions, opening the weapon panels and manually loading the weapons as there were no automated systems for arming the Darts yet. Tired and gritty the cadets were finally able to sit for lunch only to discover there was a problem with the "Chef” and would have to eat field rations. Almost everyone pulled the same meal, 01 Chili with Beans, out of a container housing the MREs, the rule being that you had to take what you grabbed unless you could find someone to trade with you. Matt looked to see what he had grabbed and found he had his favorite 07 Meatballs with Marinara. Seeing the selection from the others, he guessed most folks would have their oxygen masks connected while flying instead of hanging loose.

  Short Blade could not believe it when he heard the plan to launch the Darts from the Arizona Space Ship Beater. He knew that they had never been launched or recovered from the ship in space, the Darts had in fact only been cargo. They had flown the Darts into and out of the ship only when on the ground or when the ship was in the bay of a larger ship. He laughed to himself how the humans thought that the Arizona Space Ship Beater was a raider. It not only never was a “raider” as envisioned but instead a smugglers ship that was confiscated and pressed into service with the military as a high speed cargo ship that doubled for delivering classified dispatches.

  Assignment to the ship was usually only short term, or as punishment as the ship was so austere in living conditions. Short Blade was the exception as he found it an honor to be trusted to work on the ship since those in his race were generally not trusted with such technical responsibility. As the longest serving crewmember of the ship, he saw many come and go. His willingness to do any task also always ingrained him with all the past crews and was the way he learned everything there was about maintaining the ship. The new owners of the ship, humans, confused Short Blade. Most made it obvious they did not want to be there, but then tried their best to learn all they could and treated him as a total equal, respecting his judgment and willingness to not only work with him but provide camaraderie. He decided he was going to tell his new Captain these things before something got damaged or someone was hurt. He also thought he might tell them about some of the secrets the ship held that only he knew of maybe. Walking up to the flight deck Short Blade began to hesitate, they might get unhappy with him for casting any doubts on their plan.

  “Well hello Mr. Short Blade, what brings you to the bridge today? Capt. Johnson asked.

  “Captain, you need to know that the Arizona Space Ship Beater has always been a cargo ship, the bay is in fact a cargo hold. This ship was not built for combat but speed; it was a smuggler. Now it was a high-speed cargo and dispatch ship. It has never launched or recovered ships in space.”

  “Short Blade, we are not only a raider we are a ship of war now. We are the sum of our components. You see yourself as a maintainer on a cargo ship, you are wrong. Short Blade you are a warrior from a race of warriors. Every crewmember of this ship, except the navigator, has seen combat. Our navigator has trained to be a warrior and has volunteered for dangerous duty. Now I ask you, are you a warrior or a mechanic?”

  “I am Short Blade, warrior, survivor of the spirit test, Son of Colonel Blade of the Clan Claw of the Jacka. From the start of known time my people have been the deadliest mercenaries the galaxy has known.”

  “Good, we will soon launch Darts for the first time. I am glad you will be here for the first time as part of our team. We will be the first ship to really take the fight to our enemies. Now I need to be in the flight deck for the launch and I believe you are needed in the bay. Good luck, Short Blade.”

  Before Matt knew it he was already strapped in and starting engines. He made a point to check with Scholl to ensure Dart Nine had fired up alright as he watched the little alien run to exit the bay carrying his “starter club” as he received clearance to launch as the external doors to the bay began to open. Small papers and assorted junk was blown out of the bay as it decompressed, not having the luxury of a force field to keep the atmosphere in. Matt wondered aloud how long it would take to become habitable when they returned. It had not been covered during any of the meetings. Starting to lift off the deck felt different and he wondered if it was the artificial gravity from the Arizona Space Ship Beater or if it was because the Dart was now nose heavy with a full load of ammuni
tion, increasing thrust slightly he was able to compensate and resumed a more level flight.

  The flight formed on Matt as instructions were received from the Arizona Space Ship Bia. The Bia had launched 1000 drones from its orbit of Earth, the target of the drones was the planet Venus. The Darts mission was to destroy all drones and protect Venus. Even as they received their orders, the Arizona Space Ship Cornucopia alerted the flight they had already picked up the incoming drones, multiple vectors and speeds.

  “Dart Flight, Dart One, I am going to let Dart Two decide on our tactics, we are going to be overwhelmed by their numbers. What’s your call, basket ball hero?”

  Tiny, sat in shock, and then anger thinking, “Why is that little pipsqueak messing with me for no reason? If we were still in high school I’d...” The realization struck home. Tapping into his computer the data as he figured it out he then had it send out locations for each Dart.

  “Dart Flight, Dart Two, we are going for a zone defense. Position yourself in the locations I just sent. I will play, safety, err, I mean position myself behind to get any that get by you, any questions?”

  “Good job Tiny, that’s why I have faith in you. Everyone take your positions, be careful of where any missed shots are going.”

  The 40mm cannon installed under the noses of the Darts had performed better than expected. After a target was acquired only a single shot was required. The 40 mm ammunitions construction includes a mini targeting system to maintain contact with the target, then used its own mini thruster to steer towards it target using the initial energy from being fired to provide its propulsion. Once the shell makes contact with its target a small antimatter explosive is detonated destroying or damaging the target.

  Matt saw the icons on his helmet visor as he concentrated on an icon and winked with his right eye. Immediately a brief flash illuminated under the Darts nose as a slight thump was felt as a single 40mm round was fired. Matt instantaneously tried to see how many he could shoot and was rewarded by firing at 30 targets in under a minute. Giving the command, “View trajectory,” made the track of all the shells appear on his visor as he watched them self-correct their courses as they closed in and then destroyed their targets.

  “Arizona Space Ship Beater, Dart One, do you see anything we have missed, it just feels like we came up light.”

  “Dart One, Arizona Space Ship Beater, we monitored 980 drones destroyed or damaged.”

  “Dart Flight, Dart One, did you all copy that? Let's spread out our coverage. I think they are going to try and pull a fast one by doing an end run. Everyone check your computers for your new orders. We are going to go stationary completely around Venus along the equator to avoid any gaps in coverage.”

  Dart One, Dart Nine, I’ve lost thrusters and caught in Venus's gravity well starting to lose altitude.”

  “Dart Nine, Dart One, turn off your main weapons dampener and adjust your attitude nose down 45 degrees aiming your ships nose towards the planet then immediately fire all remaining stores."

  Matt watched from the distance as the nose of Dart Nine seemed to ignite in fire as the 40mm cannon fired its remaining ammunition towards Venus and could be seen moving backwards from the weapons recoil.

  “Arizona Space Ship Cornucopia, Dart One, request immediate shuttle assistance to tow Dart Nine back to the ship,” Matt requested.

  “Arizona Space Ship Cornucopia, Arizona Space Ship Beater, we will provide assistance, Arizona Space Ship Beater out.”

  “Dart One, Dart Nine, I am no longer losing altitude after using the cannons recoil to move away from the planet, all other systems appear OK, just need a tow.”

  "Dart Nine, Sandy One, I'll rendezvous with you at your present station. Sandy One out," Zack Askis commed as headed to the stricken ship.

  "Dart One, Dart Five, last of the drones are coming in as a tight formation."

  "Dart Five, Dart One, good catch you take charge of the flight while I assist Dart Nine."

  "Dart Five copies. Take Dart Flight, destroy drones."

  "Dart One, Sandy One, advise you increase distance as I assist Dart Nine."

  Zachary Askis, seventy eight, was excited as this was his first shuttle mission in space and didn't need these punk kids getting in his way. Since getting fired from his position as gunnery officer on the Bia he was smarting to show he was not a fuck-up. He was hungry for any type of award to make up for his previous career. His years in the Air Force had been uneventful, after his first couple of tours flying transports, he found himself instead filling a desk wherever it was needed, never feeling any real camaraderie he took early retirement and spent his civilian years as an account officer at Major Manures House of Gardening Supplies.

  Closing with the disabled Dart, Zachary was sure not to get too close as he signaled the crew chief in the back of the shuttle he was getting ready to open the hatch so he could step out and maneuver towards the stricken ship.

  Short Blade was never more nervous before in his life. He had lied and said he had experience using a similar rocket pack as the now poorly attached rocket pack on his back. He feared that he would die a foolish death, and then worried he would fail at the job. The hatch opened and he trembled in fright going out into space. Imagining that he failed the pilot of the Dart and the shame of that failure drove him out of the shuttle. Short Blade amazed himself, as he seemed to put his thoughts of failure behind him as he found himself facing the fighter. He gave a short blast of the rocket pack and found himself rapidly closing with the Dart. No adjustments were needed as he closed on the Dart and slightly hit the retro rocket coming to a soft hit on the dart as his magnetic boots locked onto the exterior of the Dart.

  Zachery watched bored as the little alien was standing on the Dart. He started to daydream about the medal he would obviously get for saving the foolish kid, and it did not even bother him that he would have to share the limelight with the alien. His inattention combined with his dreams made him his miss the proximity light on his panel as a couple dozen micro meteors closed and impacted on the shuttle most only scrapped the exterior paint. Those that went through the open hatch continued through the softer interior door and then bounced around inside the flight deck until momentum was lost. Zach was terrified as the first few micro meteors blasted through the door like a blast from a shotgun. Forgetting all training, he immediately tried to close the exterior hatch instead of securing his helmet. By the time he was able to make sense of his situation he saw that the panel was dark and he only had emergency lighting. The illumination panel on the ceiling shed light on red drops that were floating in the flight deck around him as he grasped that he was weightless. Reaching to don his helmet he realized the helmet had a hole through it as did his right arm and leg. Zach immediately threw up in his panic projecting the contents of his stomach throughout the flight deck. Trying to calm himself, he saw that his blood and puke were being sucked out of the flight deck and into space from holes under the panel in front of him. Quickly he tried to block the atmosphere from venting out by covering it with his hand as he began to get light headed, not noticing that the shuttle was now heading for the planet Venus. Reaching behind his seat he finally found the emergency tool kit and the precious repair tape. Taping over the hole his suits arm, then the suits leg, he started to look for the hole on the exterior bulkhead. He repaired the hole the same time he thought of the standby power switch. Flipping the switch immediately filled the flight deck with warnings lights and alarms. Zach looked at the forward display in time to see that it appeared the entire exterior of the shuttle was covered with flames. There was no longer any view of space as the entire screen filled with a view of Venus until the exterior sensors were lost and the display died as the ship entered the atmosphere. Flames began to work their way through the holes in the hull as he realized he was going to crash into the planet as the flight deck began to roast from the heat of the shuttle entering the atmosphere. Flames started to hit against his face as he started to smell his hair and skin start
to burn as he forced his eyes closed against the heat and pain while trying not to breathe in the flames. Zach reached into the survival kit behind him using touch to find the 10mm automatic and put it to his head as he shivered once feeling disgusted with himself as he prayed he would not fail as he pulled the trigger.

  Short Blade missed the loss of his shuttle as he took the club he had tucked into the harness of the rocket pack and swung it at the offending Dart as he had hundreds of time before as part of the preparation to launch. Short Blade began to tell the Dart pilot to increase power to the engine when he felt the tug at his leg and looked down to see a small hole with drips of his blood floating out then freezing solid. Quickly he pulled off a couple pieces of tape he had prepositioned on his sleeve and covered the holes. He looked up deciding it important to let his shuttle pilot know he was having an emergency as he watched the shuttle enter the planet's atmosphere like a comet with a tail of fire. Frozen with fear he heard a voice.

  "Dart Nine to my hero standing on the back of my Dart, if you can hear me hold on, we are heading back to the ranch."

  Short Blade saw they were increasing speed as they headed back to the Beater. He walked over to the top of the ship and straddled the center spine as he held onto a locked hatch handle with his left hand as he put his other hand over the hole in his suit for added safety. He decided when they got back to the Beater he was going to ask for his own suit so he could use all four of his arms and not just two like a human

  "Dart Nine, Dart One, be advised you have a cowboy riding you back to the ranch. I am assuming position as your wingman"

  "Dart One, Dart Nine copies. That cowboys going to get the gentlest ride of his life."

  "Dart One, Dart Five, last of the drones are destroyed, looks like Sandy One has crashed, we checked for survivors or beepers, nothing. Looks like he rode it in."