Star Runners: Mission Wraith (#3)

by L. E. Thomas

  But how did they find him? Did they track his transmission?

  Not possible, he thought, shaking his head. The Dauntless was unable to track the encrypted transmission he sent hours before, and they were in orbit. So how did they find him?

  The Karda’s side doors opened, and Austin realized the “how” didn’t matter. Whoever they were, they were coming. He saw movement inside the vessel. A man wearing a strange suit stepped to the edge of the door. He wore a black helmet and clear goggles with an array of equipment strapped to his chest and back. Austin sneered, his hand gripping the pistol. They didn’t plan to land. This man planned to jump.

  But it wasn’t high enough for a parachute, was it?

  The man on the Karda leaped out into the air and stretched his arms, fabric stretching between his arms and legs. He soared down into the canyon like a hawk, swaying back and forth in the wind. Another man fell out of the Karda, followed by another. Six men soared into the canyon. One more jumped out of the Karda, flipping backward before extending his body’s wingsuit. The Karda banked away from the canyon, spinning away from the area and driving hard for altitude. The engines glowed blue, a burst of fire blasting the ship into the upper atmosphere and leaving contour trails across the sky. Two Interceptors followed in pursuit.

  The sky ignited in a blast of red. A bolt shot through the atmosphere, sending the clouds twisting. The ground shook as the laser bolt from orbit hit in the distance, hurling a mountain of dust and fire into the sky like a volcano. Austin sat up in the cockpit, looking for the Karda. The orbital shot from the Dauntless had missed. The Karda didn’t wait for another shot and opened a curve. A second later, the mysterious Karda had disappeared. The Interceptors broke off their pursuit, flying off to the west.

  Turning back to the canyon, he saw the last of the men in the flying suits drifting toward the river and out of sight. Reluctantly, he slid his pistol out of its holster. Thoughts of the forest battle with the Phantom mercenaries flashed in his mind. While he hadn’t been killed that day, he hadn’t exactly shown his prowess in ground battles. He didn’t know it at the time, but Nubern was on his way to bail him out and save him as well as Mom and Kadyn. Looking at the pistol in his hand, he shook his head. His talent was in the cockpit. He stared at the pistol and then out at the suddenly ominous forest with the strange alien plant life. He looked at the cluster of purple and red mushrooms at the edge of the rocks, wondering if they would stop a laser bolt.

  So be it then, he thought, exhaling and opening the canopy. He stood and powered up the laser pistol.

  Whoever had just arrived in this canyon, he thought, I’ll give them the fight of their lives.

  *****

  Austin leaned against the rocks, his pistol facing the vegetation. A soft breeze blew through the canyon, a gust funneling through the tree tops. A leaf spiraled in front of him, spinning to the ground like a top. The brilliant daylight had burned away the clouds. The massive dust cloud in the distance caused by the orbital bombardment from the Dauntless faded away, leaving nothing but the blue sky and a few wisps of cloud. His helmet muffled the wind, so he slipped it off and listened.

  Nothing.

  The air tasted fresh, cool, better than the recycled crap from his suit. He wasn’t worried about any long range scans from orbit picking up the heat from his exposed head and face. Hopefully, the rock outcroppings would cover him. But the truth of the matter was that it didn’t concern him anymore.

  Whether it was the Zahl forces or these strange pirates, he knew the enemy was coming, coming for the Wraith. The seven flying men would be heading up the side of the canyon. Even if the Zahlian forces didn’t know his exact location, they had a pretty good idea thanks to the newcomers who just dropped into the area. One way or the other, he didn’t have long.

  Movement caught his eye, but he didn’t know if it was the wind. He pointed the pistol toward the bustling tree branches, ready to fire with his finger resting on the trigger. He held his breath, listening for any sign of movement.

  “Lone Wolf,” a voice whispered in a harsh tone. It sounded almost like a barking dog.

  Austin hesitated. “Lone Wolf” had been his code name when he met up with the Chow Hall tug. Had these pirates been listening to his conversation? Were they able to monitor the gamma waves?

  He shook his head, remembering his sensors had displayed no other contacts. But still, gamma waves could be monitored at great distances.

  “Lone Wolf!” the voice repeated, louder this time.

  Austin scowled, wondering if he should answer the call. He spun around away from the voices, leaning his back against the rock. He stared at the shrouded Wraith, noticing the faint outline of the spacecraft slightly shimmering like a prism. The voice could be a trap, a deception to get him to call out his position so these pirates could attack. Of course, the Wraith would be visible to everyone in about three hours. Did he have a choice?

  “Move out,” a different voice whispered. The voices sounded strong, authoritative, probably the one in charge.

  Peeking his head just above the rocks, Austin squinted. He blocked the daylight just in time to see a man in the black suit rushing behind a tree stump. The man’s outfit and helmet had no markings or identifications of any kind, just a dark fabric the color of tar. Other than his face, no skin was visible. The man leaned over the rock and Austin caught a glimpse of his chiseled face. He looked like a poster boy for the Marines; sharp blue eyes, a thin nose, and a square jaw. He brought his hand to the side of his mouth.

  “Lone Wolf!” he called, his voice bouncing off the walls of the canyon. “Lone Wolf, we are here for extraction. Respond if you are able.”

  Austin bit his bottom lip and stared at the rocks. Time seemed to freeze as he ran through the possibilities. If he called out, they could simply rush him until his laser pistol gave out and then kill him. They could also capture him, torturing him until he gave up what he knew. Or they could hold him for ransom. Austin didn’t know much, but he was sure pirates would ask for a hefty ransom for a Legion Star Runner caught behind enemy lines.

  A frigid chill shot down his spine. He remembered what Val had said about his identity. A shadow had to complete this mission, a Star Runner with no identity. Austin Stone no longer existed. He wasn’t a Legion Star Runner. He was alone, out here on a forgotten moon in a desolate section of Zahlian space near the Legion border. Only the Legion knew he was out here, and they wouldn’t even claim him.

  The clock was ticking. He was out of time.

  “Lone Wolf! Your message was received!”

  Austin’s eyes widened. Did that mean these were Legion agents? Or had pirates or worse intercepted the transmission? Rising to one knee, keeping the pistol in front of him, he cleared his throat. He had to do something.

  “Lone Wolf here,” he whispered.

  The forest floor rustled. The man who had called out disappeared behind the rock again.

  “Lone Wolf?”

  “Yes! I am here.” Austin nodded, keeping low behind the rock. If they made a move—if they made one shot in his direction—he would empty this pistol’s charge into the first one who showed himself.

  He waited, his palms growing sweaty.

  “Lone Wolf?” the deeper voice called. “This is Captain Towers with the Legion Serpents. We are here to help you evacuate the area. There are seven of us total. We have fuel. We are going to walk toward your position. Do not fire. I repeat: Do. Not. Fire. Clear?”

  “Clear,” Austin said, maintaining his pistol on the boulder hiding the one man he had seen. “Come on over.”

  “Put the gun down first, Lieutenant.”

  Austin closed his eyes and knelt on both knees. Only a Legion officer would know he was a lieutenant. He exhaled.

  Loosening his grip on the pistol, Austin allowed it to fall to the ground. Fatigue fell over him, creeping into his joints and his mind.

  “Weapon’s down!”

  Austin spun around, the voice behind startling
him.

  Another soldier dressed in black stood behind him, a particularly wicked laser rifle with a scope pointed at Austin’s head. The man pressed the butt of the rifle against his body, his finger still resting on the trigger. How did he get there without Austin hearing him?

  Without thinking about it, Austin slowly raised his hands in front of him.

  “All clear!” the soldier said, his eyes searching the area. He stepped toward Austin, swinging the rifle around the strap and positioning it on his back. He offered a gloved hand and raised his eyebrows. “I’m Lieutenant Adams, sir. We’re here to help.”

  Austin grabbed his hand. Adams hoisted him to his feet and slapped him hard on the shoulder.

  “How did you get behind me?” Austin asked, shaking his head.

  “You were looking the other way,” Adams said with a smile. Although the suit covered most of his face, Austin glimpsed the beginning of a jagged scar stretching across his cheek. “We had to make sure you didn’t shoot one of us.”

  “I almost did,” he said with a shrug. “I thought you were pirates.”

  “Was once,” Adams smirked. “Didn’t take.”

  Austin looked at him, saw the sparkle of a joke in his dark eyes. “This a better line of work?”

  Adams shrugged. “Not as exciting, but it pays the bills.” His expression darkened, his gaze falling on Austin’s laser burn. “You catch one?”

  Austin glanced at his shoulder wound. “Yeah. Took a hit on the way out.”

  “I’ll fix you up.” Adams opened his satchel, pulling out a first aid kit. “Have a seat.”

  Three other Serpents marched into the partially covered cave. Another three remained outside with their attention focused on the forest. One man stepped forward, his broad shoulder swelling as he placed his hands on his hips.

  “So you’re what all the fuss is about,” he said, his voice booming. “Captain Towers.”

  “Captain.” Austin bowed his head slightly. “Thank you, but I am not what all the ‘fuss’ is about.”

  Adams dressed Austin’s shoulder wound, spraying a disinfectant and synthetic bandage on the burn. The wound was stinging at first, but the pain quickly faded. Austin stood and strolled over to the hidden Wraith and knocked seemingly on the air. The clang of metal echoed around the rocks.

  “This is why we’re all here,” Austin said, narrowing his gaze. “And it is worth it.”

  Towers snapped his fingers and the two men flanking him bolted into action. “We’ll get you fueled up and ready to fly in an hour.”

  Austin glanced at the time. “I have about two hours of power before they can detect me from orbit. By that time, I wouldn’t have enough power to fly very far anyway. Then we’re all in trouble.”

  Towers shook his head. “If they wanted to destroy you and the ship, they would have done it by now by bombarding this entire planet.” He made a clicking sound with his tongue. “No. They want to take you and the fighter.”

  “I see,” Austin said, staring up at the sky. “Why aren’t they coming now?”

  Towers pointed down toward the river. “We have two umbrellas. One down at the river and Bostock’s setting one up just outside here.”

  “Umbrellas?”

  “Ground jammers. They create a shield with a one-hundred MU diameter. Blocks all known sensors.” Towers smiled. “They want to see what’s going on here; they have to come down here and do it. Deactivate the shroud, Lieutenant, and we’ll get to work.”

  Austin stared at the sky once more and then back at Towers. “You sure about this, sir?”

  Towers sighed, cocking his head to the side. “You have time for another option?” He nodded. “This is the way. Let’s do it.”

  Knowing the Captain was right, Austin hurried up the ladder and fell into the cockpit. He yanked back on the shroud lever and the ship materialized. The sleek black wings looked like a beetle in the canyon.

  One of the Serpents whistled softly.

  “Fine looking ship,” Towers whispered. “Very fine looking.”

  Austin nodded from the cockpit. “I agree, sir.”

  The two men who left a moment before returned with five black boxes. They went through their actions like they had practiced a thousand times before, each movement deliberate and precise. The boxes locked into place behind the Wraith. One soldier hooked a tube to the engine, and the process began.

  “You guys always carry the pieces to a refueling station with you?” Austin asked.

  Towers didn’t smile. “We carry what’s needed, where it’s needed when it’s needed. You required fuel. We brought it.”

  The Captain stepped away, bringing binoculars to his eyes. He surveyed the canyon for a moment. Austin folded his arms over his chest and gazed into the sky once more.

  “Good ground here,” Towers said, smiling back at Austin. “Easily defended. Well done.”

  Austin shrugged. “Didn’t have much of a choice, sir.” He pointed at the rocks stretching over their heads. “I thought those would shield us from prying eyes.”

  “Maybe so.” Towers turned back to the canyon. “When they come—and, believe me, they’re coming—they will have to land down there at the river. They won’t risk damaging this beautiful spacecraft here.” He pointed at the rocks flanking their position. “We’ll set up men on both sides here and give you enough time to refuel and escape.”

  “Great, sir. What’s your escape route?”

  “Not important.”

  Austin frowned. “What, sir?”

  “You are the mission. We are expendable. All Serpents know that.”

  Austin frowned. “There has to be another way.”

  “There’s not. You get out, and we’ll be happy.” He pointed back at the Wraith. “We couldn’t carry much fuel. This is just enough to get back to the Formidable at your rendezvous point. No time to dogfight. If all else fails, send a transmission. They are listening. Get back to your coordinates ASAP.”

  “I understand.” He shook his head. “What about you?”

  “With any luck, we might be able to disappear into the woods somewhere.” He took in his surroundings. “My men and I have been through tight spots before. This is no different.”

  *****

  “Thirty minutes, sir!” Adams yelled from the back of the Wraith.

  Towers nodded. “Good.”

  While Adams and another soldier named Tasell worked on refueling the Wraith, two Serpents, Bostock and Miller, had formed up on higher ground on either side of the rocks leading to their position. Towers said they had repeating laser rifles that could provide cover fire from the higher ground. The remaining two soldiers, Clark and Ethan, had disappeared into the woods farther down the canyon. The forest stretched about a mile until it dispersed at the water’s edge. Somewhere inside the dense vegetation, Clark and Ethan had prepared an ambush. Towers said they all carried personal shrouds that could allow the men to disappear in “spurts,” which he said meant about a minute at a time before they needed to recharge.

  During their chat, Towers had given Austin a laser rifle “in case things got hairy.” Austin knew he didn’t want to know what that meant. Towers had said little else, his eyes constantly flickering from the canyon below to the sky.

  Austin placed his hands on his hips and stretched, butterflies battling inside his stomach. He hoped Towers was wrong about the Zahlian forces. Perhaps they had a different plan? Maybe they had decided to swat him down after all?

  “There!” Tower barked, loud enough to startle Austin. He pressed his eyes against the binoculars. “Looks like a drop ship, blasting through high orbit. Two Interceptors flying escort.”

  Austin placed his hand on his forehead, shielding the daylight as he squinted. He saw movement, something passing through the atmosphere and leaving a white line across the sky. Towers handed him the binoculars, scurrying away as he shouted into his radio.

  “This place is about to get hot!” Towers said, speaking into the compact microphone at
his neck. “Bostock, you and Miller stay covered up top, wait for them to make their move. Clark, Ethan—you’re our skirmish line. Stay ready!”

  Austin watched Towers sprint back to the Wraith, inquiring about the refueling operation.

  Turning back to the sky, Austin used the binoculars. The drop ship descended through the atmosphere like a dull, smoking block. The familiar shape of the Interceptors flashed in the light of the day, flying in an escort formation on either side of the drop ship. For a moment, it looked like the drop ship would descend through the atmosphere and end up on the other side of the planet. But the dropship suddenly changed course, bearing down on their position like a missile.

  Austin lowered the binoculars and gripped the rifle with his other hand. He glanced down at the peaceful canyon, the rush of water trickling in the distance. The breeze passed through the forest. It was a peaceful scene, one that would be ripped apart in a few minutes.

  “Adams says they’ll be finished as quickly as possible,” Towers said, hurrying back toward Austin. “He said they located two tracking devices of some kind on the inside of the ship. They’ve taken them off, so they won’t be able to follow your movements anymore.” Towers grabbed the binoculars from Austin’s hands. “Just one drop ship. They will probably land in the canyon and try to get a visual on us just like the old days. Great thing about those umbrellas, Lieutenant—they level the scale and make men use their eyes.”

  “I see.” Austin swallowed, remembering the last time he was in a firefight in the forest, the gunfire and inferno mixing in his mind. “Where do you want me, sir?”

  Towers started at him. “You’re staying right here with me.” He pointed at a boulder close to the Wraith. “You and I will be right here. Adams and Tasell will move out when they can. I want you ready to fly out of here as soon as the fighter’s ready.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Towers took a step toward him. He squinted, grabbing Austin’s shoulder hard. “Look, Lieutenant, you get out of here as quickly as you can. You hear me? We’ll buy you the time, but you get this thing out of here. Understood?”