Ep.#4 - Rebellion (The Frontiers Saga - Part 2: Rogue Castes)

by Ryk Brown

  One more green light, and they had a way in. “Here we go,” the squad leader announced. He pressed the hatch button, and the meter-wide round hatch beneath them split down the middle, the halves sliding into the floor below.

  The squad leader watched as each man stepped into the center, and pushed himself down through the boarding tunnel with just enough force for the artificial gravity of the deck below to pull them the rest of the way down.

  As each man landed, he entered into a crouch, weapon held up and ready to fire, then moved off in different directions to clear the way for the next man.

  Finally, the squad leader landed in the middle of his perfectly deployed squad. “Move out,” he ordered.

  The entire process of breaching the hull and putting six men on board had taken less than a minute.

  Two-by-two, the drifting Ghatazhak soldiers passed the shuttle bay threshold, and the bay’s steadily increasing gravity pulled them to the deck. Each man landed in a run, continuing inward across the deck to make room for the men behind them.

  As the last man touched down, the doors began to close. The soldiers moved quickly to the main interior door, which opened as if on cue, revealing a depressurized entry foyer. The men entered, their weapons held up and ready. Once all thirty were inside, the door behind them closed, and the repressurization cycle began.

  The platoon leader watched the environmental display, waiting until the compartment was fifty percent pressurized before he unsealed his helmet and discarded the maneuvering jets on his calves and forearms, finally unslinging his life support pack and dropping it on the deck.

  At seventy-five percent pressure, the Ghatazhak sergeant on the other side of the door overrode the safeties and caused the interior hatch to open early, allowing the thirty men to enter the Mystic Empress.

  Nathan was pushed roughly out of the port elevator by his armed captors, as they entered the Mystic’s command deck. They continued inward toward the main entrance to the bridge, but were taken by surprise by six men in flat black body armor, carrying military assault-style plasma rifles.

  One man fell immediately, taking a burst of plasma to both his head and chest. The man next to him also crumpled to the ground, taking a single shot to his abdomen. The second man returned fire as he fell, as did the third man next to him, while the fourth man grabbed Nathan and shoved him forcefully down the corridor, causing Nathan to stumble and fall to the deck.

  “Get up!” the fourth man ordered, grabbing Nathan by the collar and yanking him to his feet. Another shove sent Nathan stumbling into the arms of two more men running around the corner.

  “Get him to Siggy!” the fourth man ordered. “We’ll deal with these assholes!”

  He couldn’t have been more mistaken.

  The main garden deck burst into chaos as energy weapons fire rang out from all directions. Red-orange bolts of plasma streaked from every corner of the massive open space, striking down many of the unsuspecting guards before they could react. But there were now at least twenty men positioned all around the prisoners, and they were on all three levels.

  Ghatazhak soldiers ran out into the middle of the gardens, dodging and weaving in impossibly random patterns to avoid being easily targeted. Bolts of energy, both large and small, peppered the garden around them, slamming into the deck, the grass, the trees… Everything organic that the bolts of energy touched either melted or burst into flames. Burning branches fell from the trees, landing around the Ghatazhak as they moved quickly and chaotically across the gardens, charging toward the opposite side, despite the barrage of weapons fire raining down upon them.

  Three Ghatazhak fell to enemy fire, but for every man that fell, three more gathered around him, returning the attack as they protected him with their own armor, and dragged their fallen comrades to safety.

  The Ghatazhak moved like a wave across the garden. Passengers and crew alike ran in all directions, fleeing for their lives as death came from all directions. Five, ten, twenty fell, as bolts of energy slammed into their heads, torsos, and appendages.

  The air quickly filled with the smell of burning wood, melted flesh, and burnt hair. Within seconds, the Ghatazhak reached the far side of the garden, and engaged the retreating pirates face to face. Fists struck, and combat knives flashed, as Ghatazhak soldiers brutally cut their opponents down.

  The battle lasted only two minutes.

  Nathan fell to his hands and knees, after being tossed through the hatch onto the Mystic’s bridge. Two booted feet stepped up to him.

  “Well, well, well. Who do we have here?” a familiar voice said.

  Nathan looked up. “Siggy.” He shook his head in disgust, as he looked back down at the deck. “Why am I not surprised?”

  Being the only Ghatazhak without any armor, Jessica was the last person to enter the garden deck. “All passengers and crew, get to your escape pods and await orders to launch!” she barked at the top of her lungs. She walked up to Master Sergeant Anwar, who was standing in the middle of the garden deck, watching his men treat the wounded. “Deno, get the wounded to the starboard docking port, and get them ready to load onto the cargo shuttle.”

  “Right away, sir,” Master Sergeant Anwar replied.

  “How many of our men are down?”

  “Two dead, eight wounded,” the master sergeant replied. “We’ve taken six prisoners, as well.”

  “Inject them with paralytics and get them on the cargo shuttle. I’m sure the general will want to interrogate them later.”

  “Understood.”

  “Nash, Todd,” the master sergeant called over Jessica’s comm-set. “Teams One and Two are in position outside the bridge. It’s locked down.”

  “Breach it and kill everyone with a gun,” Jessica ordered.

  “Sir, they’ve got Captain Scott.”

  “Understood,” Jessica replied. “Hold position. I’m on my way.”

  “Understood.”

  “Seiiki squad!” Jessica barked. “With me! Let’s move!”

  “Seems to me the last time we spoke, you were threatening me. Something about ‘feeling the heat of your guys’ guns’.” Siggy turned to Hamon. “Wasn’t it something like that?”

  “I believe it was, Siggy,” Hamon agreed.

  “So, tell me, Connor. Where are your boys and their guns now, huh?” Siggy drove his boot into Nathan’s gut as hard as he could. “Hiding just outside the door, are they?” He kicked him again. “Where is that old fart Marcus, and that stupid little twit, Dalen?” Another kick, this time to Nathan’s face, sending blood and spit flying from his mouth. “Maybe you even brought that whore, Neli!” Siggy turned to Hamon. “She’s not bad on the eyes, though. Maybe she could provide us with a brief respite, eh?” Siggy laughed, spinning around on one heel and giving Nathan another kick to the torso.

  Jessica ran up behind the Ghatazhak positioned in the corridor outside the Mystic’s bridge. “Sit rep?” she asked as she approached.

  “Seven bodies inside,” Master Sergeant Todd replied. “One front and center at the helm. One to the starboard side, at the sensor station, two standing in the aft starboard corner, and one in the middle walking around erratically. That one is most likely the leader.”

  “The other two?”

  “Both on the floor. One near the helm, and one further back, closer to the door. The leader has been kicking the guy on the deck closer to the entrance for the last minute or so.”

  “What about the two in the corner?” Jessica wondered. “Who are they?”

  “I’m guessing hostages. Probably bridge staff.”

  “You got ears?”

  “We’re working on it,” the master sergeant replied. “Thick bulkheads, and only the single hatch to get in. I got a man working on rewiring the intercom to turn it into a listening device.”
r />   “No auxiliary hatch? No vents?” Jessica asked.

  “Totally sealed. Self-supporting. Power and life support. We can’t even gas them.”

  “What about the hatch?”

  “Easy enough to blow with a shaped charge, but getting in without killing Scott is going to be tricky.” Master Sergeant Todd looked at Jessica. “What about engineering?”

  “They’re ready to take it as soon as I give the order,” Jessica explained. “I figure we’ll take both at the same time, so as not to spook either. Better to let them think they have the upper hand for as long as possible.”

  “Where the hell did you of all people get your hands on so many jump ships?” Siggy demanded. “You know how long it took me to secure the Antilla?” Siggy looked up in frustration. “Do you realize how much it’s going to cost me to pay off her owner for her loss?”

  “You could always kill him,” Nathan sputtered, as he tried to catch his breath.

  “Did you just make a joke, Tuplo?” Siggy laughed. “I didn’t think you had it in you. I can’t remember ever seeing you even crack a smile.”

  “I don’t smile much when assholes are around.”

  Siggy grabbed Nathan by the hair and pulled him up to his knees. “Do you really think it’s wise to be insulting the very man who holds your pitiful life in his hands, Connor?”

  “My name’s not Connor,” Nathan growled.

  “Oh, that’s right. It’s Nathan Scott, isn’t it?” Siggy laughed, standing again. “Or at least that’s the scam you were trying to pull over on the captain over there.” Siggy looked at Captain Rainey. “You still with us, Captain?” He looked back at Nathan. “Yes, he’s still with us. What exactly do you think you’re doing here, Connor? How did you hear about my plans, huh? Who tipped you off?”

  “I didn’t know about your plans, Siggy,” Nathan replied. “And my name’s not Connor. It’s Scott. Captain Nathan Scott.”

  “We’ve got ears,” Corporal Shapira reported over comms. “Piping it through now.”

  “I didn’t know about your plans, Siggy. And my name’s not Connor. It’s Scott. Captain Nathan Scott.”

  “What the hell is he doing?” Master Sergeant Anwar wondered.

  “I have to admit, you do kind of look like him…” Another voice said over the intercom.

  “He’s buying us time,” Jessica realized. “He knows we’re out here. I don’t know how he knows, but he knows, trust me. He probably knows we’re listening to him as well.”

  “…Only younger. Probably because you shaved the beard off.”

  “Charges are set,” Master Sergeant Todd reported. “And our strike teams are ready to take engineering on your order, Lieutenant.”

  “I’m telling you, Siggy, I’m him. I’m Na-Tan.”

  “Tell everyone to be ready. I’ll call the go as soon as Nathan gives us the cue.”

  “The savior of us all?” the man laughed.

  “Yes, sir,” Master Sergeant Todd replied, turning away to pass the word.

  “I totally misjudged you, Tuplo. You not only have a sense of humor, you’re a fucking riot, you are!”

  “How can you be sure?” Master Sergeant Anwar asked Jessica, keeping his voice low.

  “I know Nathan. He always finds a way. We just have to wait for him to do it.”

  “…And I have to admit, it’s a pretty clever little plan. Not as good as mine, of course, but it does have the advantage of simplicity. Who knows? It even might have worked, if I hadn’t come along.”

  Nathan scanned the room as Siggy gloated, noting that there were only two other armed men in the room besides Siggy, and both of them seemed preoccupied with other tasks. He also noticed a red light on the intercom on the bulkhead next to the entry hatch.

  There was still one problem. Although the man and woman standing in the corner were well out of the line of fire, Captain Rainey was on his knees, directly to the left of Siggy. If any of the Ghatazhak shots missed Siggy, they would likely hit the captain. Even if they didn’t miss, the Ghatazhak weapons were powerful, and would likely burn through Siggy’s skinny body in a flash.

  Nathan rolled onto his hands and knees. “You’ve got no way out, Siggy.” He sat back on his knees, looking at him. “My ships have you surrounded, your jump drives are offline, and I’m the only one who can restore them. To make matters worse, my men are outside that hatch, waiting to cut you all down on my say command.”

  “Anyone comes through that hatch, and the first shot goes through your head, Tuplo,” Siggy threatened.

  “There is another way,” Nathan told him. “Surrender now, and I’ll let you and your men go free. I’ll give you an escape pod, and you can program it to take you anywhere you want to go.”

  “No way,” Siggy refused. “I’m in this too deep. Too many people are expecting their cut.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that, Siggy,” Nathan said. “But you should have thought about this possibility. Program the pod to take you to another sector. One that doesn’t have a jump drive yet. You can sell them the one from the pod. That should give you enough seed money to start over somewhere else, right?”

  “What are you, daft?” Siggy laughed mockingly. “I’m not going to another sector. I’m taking the bloody ship back to the Dusahn, and collecting my reward, and I’ll likely get a bonus for turning you over as well.”

  “It’s not going to happen,” Nathan insisted. “This ship isn’t going anywhere unless I say so.”

  “Then you’d better start talking, Tuplo!” Siggy threatened, grabbing Nathan by the neck and moving behind to use him as cover in case someone did burst through the door. “Anyone comes through that hatch, and I’ll burn a hole through his fucking brain!” Siggy yelled to anyone listening in the corridor.

  Nathan reached up and grabbed Siggy’s jacket, pulling him forward and bending at the waist. “NOW!” Nathan shouted, as Siggy came tumbling forward over him.

  There was a sudden explosion, and the hatch flew inward, striking Siggy as he tried to get back up, knocking him to one side. A split second later, two bright flashes of light, and a terrible high-pitched squeal.

  Captain Rainey summoned what little strength he had left to throw himself into the man at the helm, as the man pulled his weapon to shoot Nathan in the back.

  Several energy blasts rang out, ricocheting across the room. Several more came from the direction of the hatch, as men dressed in flat black combat armor came charging in, weapons firing with precision. Screams came from the corner of the room, likely from the hostages.

  Siggy rolled over and raised his weapon to fire at Captain Rainey, who was going for the gun of Siggy’s helmsman, but Nathan managed to stumble into the line of fire, taking the energy blast in the shoulder that spun him around.

  Nathan twisted, letting the momentum from the energy blast in his shoulder carry him full circle, coming to land with his elbow in Siggy’s face. He rolled over Siggy, grabbing his gun from the deck as he came up onto his knees, the gun now trained on Siggy.

  The Ghatazhak now filled the room. Nathan looked at Captain Rainey. “Are you all right, Captain?”

  “No, not at all,” the captain replied weakly, rolling onto his back to rest. “But I’ll survive.”

  Nathan looked back at Siggy. “I should have fucking killed you back on Haven when I had the chance. Then none of this would have happened.”

  Siggy’s eyes widened as Nathan pointed the weapon at his face and pulled the trigger.

  Blood and tissue spewed in all directions from the point blank blast from Nathan’s energy pistol.

  “Are you all right?” Jessica asked Nathan, stepping up beside him.

  “No…” Nathan replied, turning to look at her.

  He flashed that same old smile, the one that Jessica imagined
always got him out of trouble when Nathan was a child.

  “…But I’ll survive,” he added, dropping the weapon to his side.

  CHAPTER TEN

  Nathan sat on the deck of the Mystic’s bridge, enjoying the view out her forward windows and across her bow, while one of the Ghatazhak’s combat medics treated the wound on his left shoulder. He felt a sudden, sharp pain, as the medic pulled away the burnt fabric of his overcoat and shirt, trying to separate the layers of fabric from the charred skin beneath.

  “The anesthetic will take effect shortly,” the medic promised. “But I have to separate this fabric from your wound as soon as possible, to prevent complications later.”

  “Do what you have to do,” Nathan replied, preparing himself for the worst. He turned his gaze back outside, trying to ignore the pain by distracting himself with the Mystic Empress’s beautiful lines. As Connor Tuplo, he had heard many stories about the famed luxury liner. He had even entered a contest once to win free passage for two. Never in his wildest dreams had he imagined that he would even set foot on this ship, let alone be sitting on her bridge after fighting off pirate boarding parties.

  Once again, he was faced with the strange dichotomy that was his life. Both as Nathan Scott, and as Connor Tuplo, he had sought to become an obscure unknown…someone operating day in and day out, without being noticed by the public at large. Yet, as either man, he had failed miserably in that goal. He was beginning to realize that fate had never intended for him to have a life of ease and anonymity, and it seemed determined to hand him the opposite at every turn.