The Zerg and the Sicarian just stared at them.
“We thank you for this honor.”
“I’m sorry we don’t have more time Ganak. That goes for you to Hof. It was a pleasure to know you both.”
“You will have my father to speak for us admiral. And trust me he is a good talker.”
Then they both turned and entered the shuttle. Four marines went with them.
Fifteen minutes later the shuttle was back. On the bridge of the Excelsior Azogas watched as the ship drifted slowly away from the wreckage.
The hologram of Aria appeared.
“I managed to synchronize our engines so that we will give a sign of a hauler but it will only fool them at a distance. The hauler will also start to transmit signals in a few minutes. When it does my guess is that the entire fleet will hurry.”
“What make you think that?”
“The fact that they will hear that the shuttle has vital information about the disposition of their fleets on the Lacarian front and of course the fact that they will soon notice our presence.”
Jennings nodded.
“Make sure that we are ready for full military trust at a moments need.”
Aria nodded.
A moment later the red alert sounded on the ship.
The crew responded without nervousness. They kept doing their job trusting in their commander and in his plan.
Voraz looked at his sensor officer as he gave him the latest reading of the wreckage. And the latest transmissions they picked up.
He already knew that there was some incident at one of the asteroid bases and that those two frigates were hunting the escaped slaves.
And the latest readings indicated that the frigates were destroyed and that the haulers had some valuable information about the Lacarian front. That meant that the escapees were Lacarians and most probably humans and Sicarians.
He looked at his second in command.
“Put the fleet on military trust. We need to surround that hauler and find the others as well.”
The reaction was fast.
Moments later the entire fleet sped up.
Jennings flashed a nervous smile as he saw the dacarian fleet rush forward. With this speed he calculated that it would take the fleet ten minutes to reach them. He looked at Aria.
“In two minutes we go active. Move us out but don’t use our full trust.”
She nodded.
The Excelsior never stopped moving but two minutes later it started moving faster. The enemy ships started gaining on them but that was the plan. Several ships changed direction and headed right for them.
The clock kept ticking.
As it approached zero Azogas stepped forward looking at the shuttle that was now far away invisible with the necked eye. But he kept starring in that direction on the screen.
At one minute the Excelsior went fully active on military trust and activated its hyper engines.
In the distance the dacarian ships realized the trap as they sensed the chain activation of the one hundred megaton nuclear bomb in the haul of the hauler.
And on it Hof and Ganak in their dying moments watched with a predatory smile at the ships surrounding them.
As the bomb activated it started a chain reaction with massed ore that contained plutonium and uranium. Not easy to activate without a catalyst but here they had plenty of that. The mineral the humans first encountered here obsidium was perfect for that. Used mostly in fusion bombs it served its purpose perfectly and in just seconds a new sun was born in the Arcadian system.
Of the 200 hundred ships that the fleet had seventy nine were destroyed utterly another sixty suffered damages that would put them in dockyard for more then a cycle.
The rest suffered various damages with only fourteen ships surviving with minimal damages.
All in all the fleet was utterly devastated.
The humans never witnessed the devastation, moments before the explosion the Excelsior jumped in to hyper space taking them away.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Kelley sat down and looked at the map. He noticed the marks that Alpha left on it. He knew that Rivers and his team indicated the positions they’ve already visited.
He sat down and looked at the rest of the men.
He could see that they were tired. The past few weeks were hard for all of them. He nodded to Atkins as he entered the cave. Gamma and Delta both lost three men. He missed all of them but what really hurt was the loss of Rhodes. He knew that Sheppard was more then good enough to take the lead but it was hard not to see his old friend here.
With Flint, Johnson and Tony Sanders, all receiving medical treatment in Ksamona they were down nine men. One whole team was missing.
As they sat down he showed them the map and the message Rivers left.
“It seems we have a new mission.”
“We had a new mission the moment we saw those camps and we discovered that there were rebels here James.”
“I say it’s about time we started doing what we do best. And I think it will be good to hunt the bastards and help the rebels kill them. It will be a little payback.”
Kelley and Atkins noticed the anger behind Sheppard’s words. It was something they expected. Sheppard and Rhodes were close friends. And that went double with the death of Roberts. Sheppard and Roberts were the same age, from the same town, childhood friends. In just couple of minutes Sheppard lost two of his closest friends.
They could see the pain on his face and the sadness. And Tony was part of Sheppard’s team back on Earth.
Atkins felt the same. He was down four men three dead two from his own unit Rupert and Miller. He knew them for years, went through hell with them and now they were gone. With Johnson gone he was left to four men. Sheppard was the same.
“I believe that until we get Flint and your men back you should join forces and work as a team. Then we can start with our mission.”
Atkins and Sheppard nodded.
“That sounds good, but if our new friends are right then we will get Flint, Johnson and Tony in two or three days. I think we should stay put till then. And then split in four teams just like Alpha will do. I think you should split in two teams as well. That way we will cover more ground. And will join forces for the raids.”
Kelley exchanged views with Ellis. He was in the back eating.
As Atkins spoke he just raised his head and looked at Kelley. The two of them already spoke and agreed that they will split their team and go to the original formations they had back on Earth.
It was something they felt natural in doing.
“We already agreed to that. Flint is part of my crew so Ellis and his team will leave in two days.”
Atkins just nodded.
“I think that it will be best to wait a little longer here in this area. At least until they hit the last line before Ksamona. We all know that the Illians and the others will fight hardest there. If what we know is true they will resist just long enough to slip large forces behind the dacarian lines and start with their guerilla warfare. And then we can join with some of them and help them to hit even harder.”
Atkins and Kelley looked at Sheppard. What he said made sense. It took them several minutes to refine the plan and then they all agreed to his proposal.
“Well now that we have the basics of a plan I think that it’s time for a well deserved rest. We all need it.”
Sheppard and his team took the first watch, Ellis the second, Atkins the third and Kelley the last.
They used the next few days to recuperate the best they could and to plan their future moves. They also scouted the area around their base. They found several villages that were abandoned. They avoided the rebel patrols, not wanting to reveal their position in case of someone being captured and forced to speak.
Flint looked at Ksia as the others headed towards the forward gate. The small Illian child looked at him with tears in her eyes. And as he watched her he felt the same pain. He got really close to her in the pa
st few weeks.
She suddenly tore away from the hands of the Illian female that was guarding her and ran in to his embrace. He kneeled down and hugged her.
“Stay. You stay.”
Her small black eyes looked at him pleading. As he didn’t answer she hugged him harder with her little hands.
He smiled and lifted her.
He beckoned with one hand to the Illian female to come closer.
Then he looked at Ksia. She understood some of the things he was speaking. She even learned several words in english in the past few days.
“I have to go Ksia. Have to stop the monsters. I have to keep you safe my little angel.”
“No you stay.”
Her words came in English this time. And her grip on his neck intensified. As he watched her crying he felt tears filling his eyes as well.
“Ksia I have to go but I will come back. I will come back for you I promise. I promise.”
He handed her back to the female as she came to him.
“Take good care of her Mirna.”
“I will. She’s been through a lot the past few weeks, too much for a child her age.”
Flint just nodded.
He touched Ksia’s cheek gently and then kissed her on the forehead.
“Goodbye.”
He turned hard and walked away. He could hear her crying in the back and he heard Mirna trying to calm her.
“You come back. You promised.”
Those words stopped him.
He turned and saw Ksia watching him. She was still crying but she was already settled.
He knew that that little girl woke up something in him, something he though he lost the day his family died in the bombings back on Earth.
He still felt the cold furry and hate for the dacarians and their cronies but he also for the first time in long time felt something else. He felt hope for something more. All because of this little alien girl that went through hell he couldn’t even imagine. And he was determined to keep her safe and alive to see a better future.
“I will Ksia. I promise you I will.”
Then as he shouted those words and saw her nodding he turned and walked away.
In the distance Arnes watched him go.
He turned and noticed Borzag watching the scene as well. The elder watched the human and then the little girl. Then he looked at Arnes.
Borzag was one of the oldest surviving Illians. He was one of the famous fighters in the past who survived for years working in the mines and camps before he managed to escape. His body was littered with scars. Two of his tentacles, now turned dark gray as most of his skin, were cut in half, a dead done long time ago by a dacarian legionary. He was limping from a terrible wound to his leg and a scar tissue almost made him blind on his left eye.
He always smiled at Borzag’s comments that he was an old ugly troll. But there was intelligence in those old eyes. Arnes always called him smart old troll.
“So much compassion in a man that is utterly ruthless. And he is that isn’t he Arnes, a natural born killer, trained to kill without a second thought and yet he is disarmed by a small little girl.”
Arnes smiled at Borzag’s last comment.
“He reminds you of you, doesn’t he grandfather, of you and my mother.”
Borzag lowered his head at his words. Arnes stayed quiet. He knew Borzag was reliving a memory. A memory of his own mother, of the day when a cold and mindless warrior felt a child melt his own armor and touch his heart. And he knew that what he was witnessing now between Flint and Ksia was the same. He didn’t ask but sensed that Flint lost someone when the dacarians attacked Earth. He could feel his rage and hate. And he was surprised at how well he contained it and focused it.
He knew that Borzag spoke with him several times in the past few days. He knew more about the man than he ever will.
“He lost someone back on Earth didn’t he grandfather?”
Borzag looked at him.
“He lost his whole family to the bastards.”
Arnes nodded.
“Just like I lost mine…I was lost, filled with hate, I only looked for revenge and then your mother came in to my life. Just like Ksia walked in to his. And it changed me. I had most of my scars back then. But Alina looked through the scars, through the wounds, the blood. She looked in to my beating heart. All it took was one of her smiles to make my blood warm again, to make me care.”
Arnes looked at the man who he considered his grandfather. He was not his blood not in any real terms, but he was the father his mother never had, the man who saved her life, who took her in, who cared for her, who gave her to the man she loved, who held her in her last moments when finally after many cycles, death came to her from a dacarian blade. The man who brought him her last gift for her son, her family necklace, a golden peace created long time ago and hidden from the dacarians by every member of the clan, passed from one generation to the next. He hoped that one day he will be able to give it to his son. He touched the necklace that he had on his neck.
Borzag watched him.
The old man placed a hand on his shoulder.
“I miss her to son. She was the bravest woman I ever knew, she was your mother and my daughter, my real daughter and you are my family, blood can be damned. And she was proud of you and of what you’ve become. Always know that.”
“I do hadad, I do.”
They both embraced and then looked at the human warrior and the little girl and wondered if in him she would find what Alina found in Borzag. For now it looked like she did but their path was a different one.
And there was a lot of danger on the road ahead.
In his heart Arnes wished them luck.
Flint joined Johnson and Sanders outside.
“That is one tough little girl Eric.”
Flint exhaled.
“She sure is, and a cute one too. She is just one more reason to win this war Tony.”
Sanders looked at his friend. He knew of his personal loss and in a way he thanked Ksia for what she did. Because that little girl with her pain and loss and with her gentle smile returned the old Eric, the man they all thought was lost.
“They all are my friend, every child we left here. And by good I will sure miss my chocolate. Those little buggers took it all.”
They both looked at Johnson. He beamed a smile at them.
“Well I guess its time we got back to business. I think we rested more then enough.”
They all nodded at Sanders.
They took one last look at the crowd of people passing by going in the fortress. They all knew the plan, and hoped that it will work.
“Let’s go.”
At Flint’s words they all turned and headed in to the jungle. They had a long road ahead and friends who eagerly waited for them.
It took them ten days to reach the base camp.
As they approached they gave the signal they were agreed on. Zi and Fly came out to greet them.
“Well who finally decided to show up?”
“It’s good to see u to sunshine.”
Fly smiled and embraced Flint’s hand. A moment later Rabbit joined them.
“We expected you in a day or two.”
Johnson smiled.
“No escort so we could move faster. And who knows maybe it’s because of the healing treatment. Those nanites of theirs would sure come in handy.”
Fly smiled.
“In your dreams Jay you still look ugly as sin.”
Johnson made a grimace.
He turned and looked at Sanders.
“Look who’s talking Tony. I think he must be dreaming.”
“He sure does.”
“Zi help me out here.”
“You eat what you sew Fly.”
“Chicken!!!”
They all laughed at the exchange.
“They are waiting for u in the camp.”
Flint nodded to Rabbit and then moved up. Johnson and Sanders followed.
Ten minutes later they sa
w the cave.
They already knew that they are observed. They smiled. It was expected. It meant that their friends haven’t lost their edge.
As they entered the cave they were met by Sheppard, Atkins and Kelley.
They shook hands with smiles on their faces.
“It’s good to see you again Eric.”
“Good to be here James.”
Sanders and Sheppard walked away quietly. The others watched them go and didn’t say anything. Just as Sheppard was close to Roberts Sanders was close to Rhodes.
Kelley showed them the seats around the fire.
They all sat down.
Kelley noticed Flint looking around.
“Ellis left eight day ago. We are splitting teams. We have a new mission and smaller teams are better.”
Flint nodded.
“They told us about what Rivers proposed back in Ksamona. I guessed that this was coming. They also told me to inform you that they already started producing ammunition and weapons like ours. That I believe will help mask our presence.”
Kelley nodded. It was a good thing to hear. He and everyone else feared that they might be discovered through their weapons. Now that worry was gone.
He noticed that the others were smiling as well.
“So how long will you need to get ready to move?”
Johnson and Flint exchanged views.
“As far as we are concerned we could move out right now. Their technology in medicine is way ahead of ours. They mentioned that they are running low on nanites but what they had healed us totally. Hell we even lost some of our scars.”
Kelley nodded.
“That is good to hear. Now that we are back like we use to work on Earth you get your old post back. I need my old XO.”
Flint nodded.
Then he turned to where Sheppard and Sanders were talking.
“Who do you think Sheppard will choose now that Roberts is gone?”
Atkins looked at them and smiled.
“Sanders used to be Rhodes XO in the old team. I think that he will just change his commander.”
Flint just nodded.
“He is a good soldier. They will get along well.”
Kelley nodded.
“Do you have any reports about the front, about the Ksamona line?”
The Icarian Legacy Collected Edition: Brave Souls - First Strike (Volume 3) Page 75
