“Admiral,” said Harbid, looking awkward.
“I gave them my word they would be safe here.”
“Relax, Lieutenant,” said Constantine.
“I have no intention of imprisoning them.”
“Thank you Admiral.”
“Don't mention it Lieutenant, however that does remind me. I'm going to have to order you and Ensign Smith to stay here as well for the time being. Some of Jones' agents might still be looking for you two.”
“Understood Admiral,” said Harbid.
“Speaking of Jones' agents,” Katie interjected.
“Did your man Jack inform you of that prisoner escape we had?”
Constantine nodded.
“Who was this prisoner?” He asked.
“A bounty hunter Jones sent after us,” Harbid explained.
“She caught up with us at a bessra trading post,” said Katie, massaging the spot where Visha had shot her.
“You alright?” Asked Harbid.
“I'm fine,” Katie assured him, just a little stiff.
“Our run in with Visha didn't go too well,” Katie explained in answer to Constantine's questioning look.
“She ended up shooting Ensign Smith and taking us captive,” said Harbid.
“Eventually we managed to turn the tables on her, but we were lucky. Just as we were coming in to land here, she managed to get out of her restraints and jump out the airlock.”
“Impressive,” said Constantine.
“She's a cyborg,” said Katie.
“I see, well that should make catching her all the more difficult,” said Constantine.
“I didn't get the sense that she was particularly loyal to Jones,” said Harbid.
“She's just a mercenary, but she's got information that Jones would pay a lot for.”
Constantine was silent for a moment, then he said.
“I'll tell planetary security to be on the lookout, although I doubt they'll be able to catch her. We're going to need increased security here as well,” he added.
“I doubt she'll come back, but I'd rather be safe than sorry.”
The Admiral seemed to shake himself mentally.
“Right,” he said crisply.
“I should be going, you two stay here and out of sight.”
“Yes Admiral,” Harbid and Katie said in unison.
Constantine turned on the spot and walked towards the exit. When he was out of earshot, Katie turned to Harbid.
“So I guess we're stuck here for the next little while, any ideas?”
Harbid yawned.
“First, I'm going to check in with Darmst. Then, I'm going to find the nearest bunk and get some sleep.”
Chapter 50
Andrew gently folded Private Collins’ arms across her chest. He heard a noise and looked up. Lieutenant Clark was standing next to him, gazing down at the private’s body.
“I’m sorry,” she said softly.
Andrew didn’t reply, he reached down and placed his hand on Collins’ chest plate. His armor linked with hers. He concentrated and input the final failsafe for the armor’s self destruct system.
The scout vehicle was smashed, they would need to make it back to the pod on foot. A difficult enough task without having to carry her body along as well. They couldn’t just leave her here either. Invictus Legion armor couldn’t be allowed to fall into enemy hands.
Andrew stood up and took a few steps back, Lieutenant Clark did the same. Red warning lights flashed across Collins’ armor. With a brilliant white flash, the armor’s reactor overloaded. And then it was over, all that remained of Collins or her armor was a patch of molten metal. Andrew turned away and went to retrieve his rifle.
“Come on,” he said to Clark.
“We need to get out of here before the shengyet come to check on their scouts.”
They made their way back through the forest. The going wasn’t much slower than with the scout vehicle. Andrew would walk ahead, his armor allowing him to push through the dense vegetation, with the Lieutenant moving along the path he created. Every once in a while Andrew would stop to listen for the sound of pursuit, but he heard nothing.
Periodically he would try his armor’s radio, but the transmitter wasn’t nearly as strong as the one on the scout vehicle. That, coupled with the dense vegetation, meant he would have to wait until he was out of the forest to report in. Lieutenant Clark didn’t say anything, she simply walked behind him in silence. Andrew was grateful for it, he just wanted to focus on getting them back to drop pod.
They had been walking for about forty five minutes, when Andrew noticed the tree cover beginning to thin out. He check his HUD, according to its nav data, they were getting near the forest’s edge. He stopped and signaled Lieutenant Clark to likewise.
“Stay here,” he told her.
“I’ll go and check the coast is clear.”
She nodded and crouched down by a large tree.
Andrew crept forward, moving slowly, his senses alert to any sign of the shengyet. As he approached the forest’s edge, he caught sight of smoke rising beyond the trees. He lay down flat and crawled forward. He spotted the drop pod and the hastily erected fortification surrounding it. Thousands of shengyet corpses littered the field around it. Smoke rose from craters left by plasma launchers. In the distance lay the smoldering wreaks of two crashed fighters.
A noise from behind made Andrew spin round. He snapped up his rifle, ready to fire. Lieutenant Clark raised her hands.
“Easy, it’s just me.”
“I thought I told you to wait for me,” said Andrew, lowering the rifle.
Lieutenant Clark ignored him, she was staring at the field.
“I had no idea there were so many shengyet here,” she said incredulously.
“You didn’t?” Asked Andrew surprised.
“Aren’t you one of the intelligence officers assigned to the taskforce?”
Lieutenant Clark shook her head.
“I was on another mission for Imperial Intelligence and needed a clandestine pickup. Since the taskforce was heading through the system anyway, I hitched a ride.”
Andrew gave her a sideways look.
“Another mission, what mission?”
“I’m sorry Corporal, but you’re not cleared for that information.”
Andrew suddenly remembered that he was speaking to a Lieutenant.
“Yes, ma’am, apologies.”
“Never mind that,” said Clark dismissively.
“Just focus on getting us out of here.”
Andrew switched on his radio.
“Sergeant McBride, this Corporal Williams, do you copy?”
There was a crackle of static.
“This is Corporal Williams, Sergeant McBride, do you copy?”
“This is McBride, we lost contact with you for and Private Collins, what happened?”
“I, we ran into some trouble…Collins, she didn’t make.”
The com was silent for a moment, then he heard McBride exhale loudly.
“All right Corporal, what’s your current position?”
“At the edge of the forest,” Andrew replied.
“I have someone with me, the occupant of the life pod we were investigating.”
“I see, well we’ve beaten back the shengyet for now. I’m sure they’ll be back, but it should be safe for you to make a run for the pod. I’ll let the sentries know you’re coming.”
“Yes sir, Williams out.”
Andrew switched off his com. Turning to Lieutenant Clark he said.
“Get ready, we’re going to make a run for the pod.”
Clark nodded, slinging her rifle over her back. Andrew took a final look around the field between them and the pod, the coast was clear.
“Now!”
They sprinted across the field, weaving around or leaping over shengyet corpses. Andrew had to slow himself down considerably for the Lieutenant to keep up. In the distance he spotted an open section of the wall surroundin
g the pod. Two Legionnaires peered around either side, their weapons leveled. They closed on the opening and through it, running up the ramp and into the pod.
Skidding to a halt, Andrew looked around for Lieutenant Bahl. He spotted her off in a corner, talking to Sergeant McBride. He made his way over to them, Lieutenant Clark followed, clutching the stitch in her side. Bahl and McBride looked up as they approached.
“Corporal,” said Bahl.
“The Sergeant has been filling me in on what happened. I take it this,” she turned to Clark.
“Is who you found in that pod.”
“Lieutenant Sarah Clark, Imperial Intelligence service,” said Clark, extending a hand.
“Lieutenant Ajala Bahl, pleased to meet you.”
“Likewise,” replied Clark.
“Although I wish it were under better circumstances.”
Lieutenant Bahl nodded gravely and turned back to Andrew.
“Sergeant McBride tells me Collins didn’t make it?”
“No ma’am. We were attacked by a shengyet scout unit, they must have called in air support and Private Collins,” he trailed off.
“She was hit by a direct impact from an anti-ship missile,” Clark finished for him.
Bahl stepped forward and placed a hand on Andrew’s shoulder.
“I’m sorry Corporal, I wish we had time to mourn her.”
“I understand ma’am,” Andrew assured her, straitening up.
“I’m good to go.”
Lieutenant Clark looked around the interior of the pod.
“If you don’t mind my asking, what’s our position here like?”
Lieutenant Bahl shrugged.
“We’ve managed to hold out reasonably well so far. They shengyet have hit us several times now and we’ve taken only minimal losses, whereas they have lost a lot of troops.”
“I saw the bodies on the way here,” said Clark.
“They must really be determined to take this position.”
“That they are,” agreed Bahl.
She headed for the pod’s main control console, motioning them to follow. Bahl tapped in a command and a list of diagnostics and status readouts appeared on the view screen above.
“So far we’ve managed to repel all of their assaults, but we’re running low on ammunition and power. The batteries for the laser point defense system are almost dry and we’re out of ammunition for the plasma launchers. We’re also starting to run low on rounds for the rifles. In short, I’m not sure how much longer we can hold this position.”
Bahl tapped in another command and the Andrew recognized the terrain data he and Collins had collected.
“We’ve begun analyzing several possible locations for a retreat. The problem is, we have no idea how long it will take for someone to come looking for us. The pod would be easy enough to spot from orbit, but if we go off and hide somewhere, any rescue ships might miss us entirely.”
“The other option,” said Sergeant McBride.
“Is to attack the shengyet base.”
Lieutenant Clark looked at him in surprise.
“You want to attack them?” She asked incredulously.
“We’ve inflicted serious casualties on them,” said Bahl.
“And based on the terrain data, as well as the troop movements we’ve been able to observe, we’ve got a pretty good idea where their camp is.”
“Are you certain?” Asked Clark.
“No,” Bahl admitted.
She glanced back at the readouts on the screen.
“But so long as we stay here, the shengyet know our precise location and can attack us however and whenever they wish. So far the pod’s defenses have made that a worthwhile tradeoff, but soon that won’t be the case anymore.”
“And you think you can take out their camp?” Asked Clark.
“I’ll admit I’d prefer to-.”
Before Lieutenant Bahl could finish her sentence however, an explosion rocked the side of the pod. Andrew’s com crackled.
“We’ve got incoming from all sides,” someone shouted over the sound of weapons fire.
“Sergeant, get everyone to their stations,” Bahl ordered.
“One it,” replied McBride and began barking orders into his com.
“Lieutenant, I suggest you find some cover and stay there,” said Bahl.
Lieutenant Clark hesitated, she looked like she was wrestling with some intense internal struggle. Abruptly she seemed to come to a decision.
“Lieutenant Bahl, does the pods transmitter array still work?”
“Yes, but what good will that do?”
“I’m going to get us some help,” replied Clark.
“Help, from whom?”
“We don’t have time to discuss this,” Clark cut her off.
She pushed past Bahl and began typing commands into the console, a second later it beeped.
“This is Lieutenant Clark calling Imperial Intelligence outpost jay twenty six. I need immediate assistance at my location, codeword obsidian five. Repeat, send immediate reinforcements to my location, codeword obsidian five.”
“You know it’ll take years for the signal to make it out of this system, let alone to an intelligence outpost,” said McBride.
“Not if the outpost is in this system,” replied Clark.
“Since when does Imperial Intelligence have an outpost in this system?” Asked Bahl.
“They don’t, officially,” Clark explained.
“I see, how long until those reinforcements get here?”
“No idea,” Clark admitted.
Another explosion rattled the pod.
“Well it’d better be soon,” said McBride.
“Regardless,” said Bahl.
“Our only option now is to try and hold out until they do. Legionnaires!” she shouted.
“The cavalry’s on its way, we hold this position until they get here, terra victa!”
Andrew ran down one of the pod’s ramps. Up ahead, the rest of the Cohort were spaced evenly around the low wall surrounding the pod. Picking a spot between two Legionnaires, Andrew sprinted into position. Hefting his rifle, he aimed over the wall. In the distance he could see the shengyet moving closer. They were closing on the pod from all sides. Further back, a group of shengyet hefted missile launchers.
As he watched, they fired and five missiles streaked through air. The point defense system must have been completely out of power now, because all five slammed into the pod. Debris rained down on the heads of the defenders. The shengyet let out a piercing battle cry and charged. Another salvo of missiles closed on the pod. These however, were aimed at the wall surrounding it. The missiles struck and five sections of the wall exploded, sending debris flying in all directions. One of them had hit five meters from Andrew’s position. Amongst the shattered pieces of wall, he could see three Legionnaires stirring feebly. Two more lay completely still amongst the rubble.
Andrew sighted down his rifle and fired, the rest of the Cohort following suit. Dozens of Shengyet were cut down, but more kept coming.
“Prepare for close quarters combat!” Sergeant McBride shouted over the com.
“Plug those holes in the perimeter, hold the line!”
Dropping his rifle, Andrew rushed to the nearest gap in the wall. He was joined by three more. Up ahead he could see a hundreds of shengyet surging towards them. A living tide, threatening to wash over them. Activating his armor’s blades he glanced at the soldiers next to him. They too had their blades out and were bracing for combat.
“Ten credits says I get the most kills,” said Andrew.
“You’re on,” replied the man next to him.
“No way, you’re both going down,” called the woman on the far left.
“Come on you lizard bastards!” Another man shouted.
“I’ve got some credits to win!”
A sea of claws and scales smashed into them. Andrew jabbed both blades straight through the nearest shengyet’s chest plate. Others behind it smashed
into its back, driving it further onto the blades. Andrew wrenched his right arm free. Using the impaled shengyet’s corpse as a shield, he hacked, stabbed and slashed around it.
Everything around him was pure chaos. The ground around him was covered in blood and corpses. Six shengyet threw themselves at him all at once, knocking him off his feet. They were on him in an instant, claws and swords slashing at his armor. He managed to wrench his left arm free and began hacking and stabbing at anything in reach.
All of a sudden, a cry went up from the shengyet. The ones holding him glanced skyward, then turned and ran. Andrew got to his feet, his armor was smeared with dirt and blood. He tried to wipe his faceplate clean with his armored hand. It didn’t work too well, but he managed to get enough off to see the twenty or so shapes in the sky moving rapidly towards them. The friend or foe indicator on his armor’s HUD beeped. It identified the contacts as Imperial fighters.
What remained of the shengyet army was now in full retreat, running hard for the cover of the forest. However, it was already too late. As Andrew watched, the fighters launched missiles that streaked over the enemy army. When they were directly above the shengyet, the missiles broke apart into several smaller pieces. They swooped down on the retreating troops, exploding into blinding flashes of plasma.
Andrew’s eyes snapped open. His chest and stomach hurt, it was difficult to breathe. He was in a dimly lit room, lying on a stretcher. The face of a young man loomed over him.
“Relax Sergeant, you need to rest.”
Andrew relaxed when he recognized him, it was John, he was aboard the Twilight. Closing his eyes, he set about reviewing the injury data his nanites were sending him.
Chapter 51
Anna checked the Twilight's sensor data, nothing out of the ordinary. This was the third sensor scan she'd run in the last ten minutes. She was probably being paranoid, even so, old mining capsules didn't booby trap themselves. Someone had taken the time to rig it, probably with a warhead from an old anti-ship missile. That suggested they had something planned in this system. Like all Stalker class ships, the Twilight had some of the most sophisticated sensors the Empire had to offer. However, even they could only scan a small section of the system at a time. A lot of things could be hiding in this asteroid belt and she wasn't going to be caught off guard.
Imperium: Contact Page 39
