Where the hell had it gone? He couldn’t see it anywhere! He looked up at Zackaria as the dagger was raised. Too late!
There came a shuddering boom and the dagger paused. Behind Zackaria, Dodds saw a tremendous flash, and a tremor shook the ground. An instant later, the crippled Spider exploded, digging up the road and catapulting tarmac, stone, rock and soldiers in all directions. It was a far larger explosion than the machine would’ve made on its own.
Bombs. The aircraft had dropped bombs. A shower of dust, dirt, soil and stone hit Dodds, larger chunks sailing through the air, bouncing along the ground and threatening to crush anything in their paths.
Another boom followed and Zackaria ducked down, covering his head as the ground vibrated beneath. The sudden turn of events appeared to be enough for the admiral’s bodyguards. They crowded around him, forming a wall and started to lead him away from the scene, herding him to safety. The flag bearer waved the flag a couple of times towards unseen allies, before focusing back on his guard duties. They completely ignored Dodds, their focus entirely on shepherding Zackaria to safety. But as they parted, Zackaria stared around at Dodds, a promise clearly written on his face – he would meet Dodds again, and he would have his revenge. It then occurred to Dodds why the soldiers had done nothing to prevent his escape – he was Zackaria’s, he was a marked man.
As the black-clad soldiers took cover and returned fire against adversaries that Dodds couldn’t see, he managed to convince his legs that now was the time to work against the cramp and start moving. He finally sighted the winking pistol and scooped it up as he went, looking around for signs of Natalia’s body that he was certain had to be lying somewhere close by. He could see bodies all around, but the blonde woman was nowhere to be seen. Had she been taken? Perhaps. But in the mass slaughter, what use would they have for her? He lingered as long as he dared in his search, his eyes darting all over the scenes around him. There didn’t appear to be one hint of her anywhere. He glanced back the way he had come. The fighting was intensifying, he was in danger of being struck by stray fire. He couldn’t stay here.
I’ll be back, he thought, and with that he hobbled down into a side street, seeking the shelter of the still-standing buildings around him.
He stumbled northward, effectively putting himself right into enemy lines, though he didn’t stop to consider the sanity behind such a move. He just wanted to get away. He ran for a few minutes, past clothes shops and eateries that had once served the workers of the district, all the while looking out for pursuers or hostile forces. He saw no one. He continued running. A few metres more and another look. Still no one. He turned back.
A figure was suddenly in his way, and before he could stop himself, he collided with them. Against the burning in his legs following his sudden halt, he managed to keep himself steady, while the person he had connected with crashed down onto the pavement. He prepared to aim the pistol, then lowered it in surprise.
“Natalia!”
The blonde woman pulled herself to her feet and grabbed onto him tightly. “Dodds! Are you okay?”
“What … How … I thought you …” Dodds looked over the woman. She barely had a scratch on her. How was that possible? Hadn’t she been flung from the Sabretooth? Had she … had she abandoned him? No, she wouldn’t have, would she? “Where the hell did you go?” he said, hearing the anger of his own words.
Natalia stared at him with shock on her face, her eyes begging him for understanding, even before she opened her mouth to explain herself. “I thought you were dead. There was blood all over your face. I tried to wake you, but I couldn’t.”
Dodds couldn’t help but glare. “So you decided to just leave me there.”
“I thought you were dead!” she pleaded with him.
“I thought you were too, but that didn’t stop me from looking around to see if you needed my help! I was still looking when the damn bombs started coming down.”
“Dodds, please. You have to believe me. I did everything that I could. I know it looks bad, and I’m sorry, but if we stay here arguing about it we could get caught in crossfire and then we really will both be dead. We need to keep heading north, and need to get somewhere safe before it gets dark.” She started back down the narrow street, keeping an eye on him, and coaxing him to follow her. “Trust me, Dodds.”
That was quite a thing to ask. Even so, Dodds suppressed further comment and, after a quick check of the pistol, started off after the woman.
XIII
— Forever Outnumbered, Forever Outgunned —
“Approaching the Coyote system, Captain,” Liu said from his console.
Parks acknowledged him and watched ahead as the blue haze of jump space peeled away, stars rushing forward to greet their arrival. They quickly slowed, the blue form of Mythos stopping its rapid growth in front of Griffin. The planet, however, was not the first thing that Parks saw; it came a close second at best. He rose from his chair and walked towards the front of the bridge, for a better view of what they had arrived to.
Mythos was surrounded by starships of almost every conceivable configuration, and all of them were engaged in heavy combat, at all levels of the planet. There were battleships, frigates, carriers; light, medium and heavy-class starfighters; bombers, troop carriers … the list was nearly endless. Imperial capital ships were pitching themselves against Independent World vessels, exchanging both long-and short-range weapons fire, the small forms of starfighters weaving and diving between them. It was a scene such as Parks had never witnessed before. The usually grey and silver bodies of the hulking capital ships were kept in a constant state of flux through a broad spectrum of colours, emanating from explosions, laser and plasma cannon fire, the glow of engines, and all manner of other weaponry.
“Oh my God,” Parks exclaimed. The frigates that had departed Spirit along with Griffin were beginning to move alongside, the bows of the massive ships creeping across the starboard and port sides of the bridge’s view. Parks was glad to see that the fleet was still together. It seemed that although Griffin and her escorts had only entered the system less than a minute earlier, their arrival hadn’t gone unnoticed, a host of Imperial starfighters already sweeping towards them.
“Captain, we have an incoming transmission,” Weathers said, drawing his attention from the battle above the planet. “It’s Captain Meyers, sir.”
“Put him on,” Parks said. A two-dimensional image sprang up at the front of the bridge, the Confederation insignia flickering on to the screen only briefly before it was replaced by the image of Captain Meyers, standing on the bridge of Leviathan. Even before he began speaking, it was very clear that the man was extremely troubled.
“Elliott, am I glad to see you,” he started.
“What’s the situation, Captain?” Parks asked, his eyes straying once more to the engagements outside.
“We have some problems, Commodore, to say the least. United Naval Forces arrived here a few hours ago, to assist with the defence of the planet. We held the upper hand to begin with, but then the Enemy summoned reinforcements. We have since received backup and reinforcements of our own, but the Enemy have only continued to add to their ranks. Right now, we are facing an uphill struggle; there are almost too many of them for us to contend with. But that’s actually the least of our worries – the Enemy forces are somehow masking their vessel signatures, completely blanketing our radar system. We are unable to tell friend from foe, except at visual ranges.”
“Mr Liu?” Parks turned to the helmsman for confirmation.
“He’s right, Captain,” Liu said, tapping away at his console. “Radar systems are detecting no hostile vessel signatures whatsoever. All vessels on short-, medium-, and long-range scanners are declaring themselves to be friendly.”
“I have assigned a team to work on a solution, but progress is slow,” Meyers said.
“What about the UNF? Are they experiencing the same problems?”
“The very same,” Meyers said.
&nb
sp; Parks looked to his communications officer. “Weathers, get a team together to work with those on Leviathan on finding a solution to our radar situation. Liaise with any UNF forces that may be relevant, and keep me updated.”
“Yes, sir,” Weathers answered, leaving her console and heading down the bridge to gather personnel to assist.
Parks turned back to Meyers. “Have you received any word from the White Knights?”
“Unfortunately not, sir. We haven’t been able to establish any contact with the ground since arriving. I’m afraid to say that my knowledge of what is happening planet-side is as good as your own.”
As he spoke, Parks made out what looked like an explosion on one of Mythos’ larger continents. It was followed by another, further up. For a moment, he was dumbstruck. An explosion on a planet, visible from this range? That could only mean one thing – a nuclear strike. Likely, it had been against the planet’s local military installations. It brought him small comfort that they were nowhere near Sherland or the Tanis sea. Not yet, anyway. Meyers, too, appeared to have also seen it, his focus having wandered from the holographic display.
“Aiden,” Parks said, calling the man back. “First things first – we need to at least gain orbital supremacy before we can even think about heading planet-side.” Easily said, he added to himself.
“Sir, enemy fighters are closing in on our position,” Liu interrupted.
“Order William and Ragnar to move ahead of us to intercept, Mr Liu,” Parks responded. “Tell them only to engage craft that can be visually confirmed as Imperial, or any craft actively opening fire on friendly forces.”
That was going to have to be the short-term solution to the problem at hand. It meant that they were at the mercy of the Enemy and would, for the time being, always have to allow them to make the first move. Liu acknowledged the order, the confirmations coming back from the two frigates.
As Parks continued his assessment of the situation with Meyers, he saw the two Confederation battleships power forward ahead of Griffin, TAFs and Rays surging alongside them, the pilots at least in no doubt of who they were engaging. A short time later weapons on both sides opened up, multicoloured bolts and beams igniting ripples of shielding across the bodies of targets they struck. It wasn’t long before the first explosion burst forth, indicating the first casualty, though it was too hard to tell to which side the victory went.
“The Enemy forces are mostly made up of battleships, sir,” Meyers was saying. “Though there are at least two Imperial carriers holding position just outside of the conflict zone.”
“Identification?” Parks asked.
“Kraken and Chimera, sir.”
Damn. Parks knew of them both. In terms of size, weapon and starfighter complement, Kraken was on a par with Griffin, both vessels classified as Cobra B-class carriers. Chimera was something else. It was well over thirteen-hundred-metres in length and, compared to Griffin, was better equipped, better armed, better shielded, and also faster. It was closer to the carrier-battleship hybrids that Griffin and the previous Cobra-class carriers had paved the way toward. In essence, Chimera was a Cobra C vessel, though constructed before the designation had been fully ratified. Put simply, it was what the Confederation’s upcoming Phoenix would be, and would easily have the upper hand in a direct engagement with Griffin.
Parks would do his best to keep his ship away from that beast.
“What else?” he wanted to know. Something close to orbit didn’t look like any common Imperial battleship that he recognised.
“There are a few Imperial dreadnoughts marking key positions around the planet—”
Hell, that’s all they needed. As if things weren’t bad enough already.
“—as well as some of Mythos’ own starfighters and battleships,” Meyers said, confirming Parks’ suspicions that the Enemy had wasted no time in their acquisition and utilisation of the Independent World’s technology. “By all appearances, they haven’t taken long at all to learn the ins and outs of the vessels. Barely a few hours and they are flying them as easily as any Imperial craft.”
Meyers lurched in the holographic display as something rocked his ship. He turned away from Parks and conversed quickly with someone off-screen, before looking back. “My apologies, sir, I am needed. I shall be in touch as soon as I am able.” Meyers rocked again in the image, looking as though someone had just shoved him from behind, before the communication then ended.
Though the conversation had been brief, Parks knew what he had to do. More importantly, he knew he had to do it quickly. William and Ragnar looked as though they had mostly won their battle against the intercepting Enemy forces. No mean feat against such an adversary, Parks reminded himself; although these were just a handful of starfighters, against two warships and their own escorts. Even so, they had already incurred losses of their own. Parks looked to the scene of battle raging high above Mythos.
“I think it’s time for Griffin to make herself known,” Parks said. “The old girl hasn’t seen any action for quite some time. Time to shake off the cobwebs. Mr Liu, take us in.”
“Sir?” Liu looked around a little uncertainly.
Parks could understand his hesitation. From what he’d heard already, the man’s radar was most likely nothing but a forest of green markers. “Take us into fighter deployment range,” Parks said, pointing to the blue planet beyond the sea of starships. “Our boys are down there somewhere and we need to get them back.”
“Yes, sir,” Liu said.
Griffin started forward, Erik the Red and Ironside’s engines engaging to accompany them into the fray. As they dove headlong into the battle, Parks’ orders as to how to handle the radar situation proliferated throughout Griffin’s and Leviathan’s flight decks and ready-rooms, to the frigates, and into the ears of the starfighter pilots already engaging hostile forces. The closer Griffin moved to the battle, the more Parks was able to determine its makeup with his own two eyes.
Mythos’ Orbital Defence Platforms were hanging still and silent, like decorations on a Christmas tree. The looming form of an Imperial dreadnought sat beyond the main bulk of the Enemy forces, almost daring the allies to try and take it on. The vessel was almost as large as Griffin herself, yet much thicker in all proportions, and packed to the gills with all manner of weaponry. It wasn’t so much like it had been built section by section, in a traditional manner, more like the Imperials had taken an enormous lump of metal and hollowed the ship directly out of it. They weren’t fast, but didn’t need to be – they would usually drive themselves into the middle of a battle, barging and blasting aside anything in their way – almost like a tank driving down a packed motorway. Yes, getting past the dreadnought would prove one of the more difficult tasks. As far as Parks could remember, its only vulnerable spot was in the rear, where the weaponry was meagre and the need for engines left it more or less totally exposed.
As the first of Griffin’s TAFs and Rays started to issue from the carrier, Liu began to detail the Imperial starfighters that were present. The man was tediously cycling through every vessel in the conflict zone, attempting to present a somewhat accurate picture of how the battle was stacked. The Imperial starfighters consisted of the usual suspects – Mantises, Jackals, Thunderheads and Sphinxes, as well as a number of Scarab bombers. The Independent starfighters were made up of Nymphs and Fireflies, backed by Leopards and Hyenas.
Parks could see Leviathan there, up ahead. He really needed to get over to Meyers, or at least get a frigate over to assist him. Though the carrier was holding position with a number of UNF vessels, exchanging fire with seen and unseen enemy forces, he knew that Meyers would appreciate fighting alongside one of his own. A frigate would have to skirt around the outside of the conflict zone, in order to provide such assistance. It wouldn’t be quick, but at least it would get there.
“Captain, we have an incoming communication,” a man who had taken Weathers’ place said. He looked a little concerned.
“Meyers?” P
arks asked.
“INF Chimera, sir.”
There was little doubt in Parks’ mind who would be on the other end of that call. “Put them on.”
The holographics sprang up once more, displaying a face that Parks had at one time thought he would never see again. When Parks had last seen Hawke, he had been dressed in the dark blue colours of the Confederation Stellar Navy. Gold buttons and trim were no longer a part of his attire, the man now dressed in the blacks and reds of the Imperium, silver buttons sparkling brightly where they caught the light.
Parks kept his expression straight as he took in the uniform. “Anthony,” he said. “I can’t say it’s exactly a pleasure to see you again.”
“Commodore Parks,” Hawke said, without the slightest hint of emotion crossing his face. “On behalf of the Imperial Senate, I order you to surrender your vessel immediately and prepare to face execution for crimes against the Mitikas Empire.”
“Crimes?” Parks said. “What crimes?” Although he was sure he knew them all full well already.
“The crime of standing against the rule of the Senate,” Hawke answered, in the same expressionless, dead tone. “Those opposed to the rule must be eliminated.”
“You would kill us whether we opposed you or—”
“You have ten minutes,” Hawke interrupted. His ultimatum delivered, Hawke ended the communication before Parks could finish speaking, leaving him looking up at the Confederation insignia that had replaced INF Chimera on the display.
“Well, that went about as well as could’ve been expected,” he said. He admitted to himself that it was clear he wasn’t going to be getting through to Hawke, no matter what he tried.
So, that was that.
“Mr Liu, hold position here,” he said. “Have the gunnery put the plasma accelerators on standby, all cannons to manual. The auto-tracking systems will be useless until we can resolve the problem with vessel signatures. Relay an order to Erik the Red to move in to assist Leviathan.”
The Battle for the Solar System (Complete Trilogy) Page 66
