Mars Colony Chronicles (Books 1 - 5): A Space Opera Box Set Adventure

by Brandon Ellis

  He thought twice about going to the bridge, and high tailed back to his seat, and strapped in.

  They were heading to Tunnel Downs, and he knew Lily had heard. It was her old home town, where her mom and her lived.

  What she still hadn’t realized was that she didn’t have a mom anymore, yet she’d no doubt expect her mother to come through the ramp’s entrance and into her arms after they landed at Tunnel Downs.

  The craft made a sharp turn, dipping a wing, giving Ozzy a clear view of the show in the upper atmosphere. The battle was fierce and Ozzy’s stomach fell, and his heart with it. Young men and women were probably scared shitless, and dying to keep as many Dunrakee away from the evacuation as possible.

  His decision to destroy the Ark when he was on Earth was the worst decision of his life. Instead of keeping the Dunrakee away with such a ferocious, devastating weapon, he gave them an easy path to Mars.

  Which meant Jonas was right: Ozzy single-handedly gave Mars to the Dunrakee. He was the reason for the current invasion. He not only couldn’t trust Jonas, he couldn’t trust himself.

  He held in vomit. He was the worst of the worst. There was no two shits about it.

  The starship shuttered and alarms blared, taking Ozzy out of this thoughts. Ozzy squeezed his fingers around his arm rests, holding on tightly.

  “Marines, get to your designated stations. We need weapon’s at the ready, now,” came Sever over the audio lines.

  Several Marines unbuckled, including the ones on either side of Ozzy, and ran down different corridors.

  A bang and the ship jostled.

  He looked down at his cupped hands. They were shaking. He didn’t know if it was because of rage at the Dunrakee or rage at himself.

  A hand touched his thigh. “Hi, Daddy.”

  It was Lily. She had made her way across the lobby to the seat next to him. Another hand grabbed his and looked at the other seat next to him. It was Jozi.

  “We felt it was best to be next to family at the moment,” said Jozi, squeezing his hand.

  Ozzy interlaced his fingers with both Lily and Jozi, his EVA gloves masking the cold, balmy sweat on his palms.

  Even though he was the reason for the invasion, family was family, and he had to make sure they stayed alive no matter what.

  “Gragas,” yelled Ozzy. “Get over here.”

  Gragas dipped his head and walked over to them, sitting next to Lily. He motioned toward Quad. “Looks like Quad is waking up.”

  The ship shook hard, and whined. It vibrated violently, shuttering and making sudden, quick movements back and forth, heating up, and telling Ozzy the Marines were firing back at whatever was firing at the starship.

  Quad took jerky steps to the seat next to Gragas, and for the first time since this flight, Ozzy noticed Kat in the corner, staring at the rest of the Galactic Knights.

  She bowed her head at Ozzy.

  Ozzy gave a nod back, motioning for her to join them.

  “Will we die, Daddy?”

  This ship dipped sharply and Ozzy bounced up and down. He bit his lower lip. “I don’t know.”

  “When we get to Tunnel Downs, will we get mommy?”

  Ozzy blew out a big breath. “I don’t know.”

  Yet he did know. She was dead and Lily would never see her again. His shoulders slightly rolled forward, and he let out a huff. He was the reason they were leaving Mars, the reason the Dunrakee were still alive, and the reason her mother was dead.

  “We are minutes away from Tunnel Down. All ramps at the ready, and open when I give the order,” came General Sever’s voice over the intercom. “Be ready.”

  Voomph! Voomph! Voomph!

  The starship’s rail guns began firing, and the ship heated up even more, and shook like a baby rattle. Ozzy’s vision blurred and doubled, and he held onto Jozi and Lily.

  “Close your eyes, Lily,” said Ozzy, leaning his helmet against her’s. “Imagine you’re with your mommy and I, dancing in a field of flowers.”

  “Okay, daddy.”

  “Ozzy, listen to me,” said Jozi. “We’ll get out of this. We’ll be safe. Don’t think otherwise, okay?”

  Her voice was flat, but Ozzy could tell her heart was somewhere among those mechanical wires and devices inside her cybernetic body.

  “And Jozi, I need you to listen too. You are family to me, okay? And family to Lily, and to every Galactic Knight in here. You don’t need to look for a home anymore. You have one with us.”

  Jozi put her other hand over Ozzy’s. “Thank you.”

  The landing skids descended from the skid wells, and shook the floor under Ozzy’s feet.

  “We’re attaching to several flyway port cleaning bays. Get ready,” said Sever.

  The ship landed and a drilling sound signaled the flyway port departure tubes were attaching to the ship’s ramps and airlocks.

  The remaining Marines stood, and several congregated next to the ramp.

  The ramp hissed and opened, clanking against the ground. Marines filed down the ramp, and one yelled up. “Cleaning port door opening.”

  A Marine at the top of the ramp, readying for an onslaught of evacuators, spoke into his com mic. “Cleaning port door opening.”

  Ozzy lurched back when screams poured from the flyway port and the sounds of footsteps pounded across the ground. People in the thousands were heading for the ramp.

  His heart beat faster and he unstrapped then unbuckled Lily, grabbing her. “Everyone, unbuckle and let’s go.” He ran toward a corridor, one leading to the bridge. The lobby was going to be dangerous with a stampede of boarding civilians.

  He looked over his shoulder, seeing the rest of the Galactic Knights, including Kat, following him.

  Several wild-eyed women and children rushed up the ramp and into the lobby, their faces screwed up in fear; panic mode setting in.

  Ozzy hurried down the corridor.

  “I think we go left,” said Jozi, pointing ahead at a fork in the corridor.

  “Are you sure?” Ozzy would think to go straight.

  She tapped her head. “I downloaded the starship’s blueprints. We’re on Starship Nautilus. It’s well equipped and one of the fastest ships in the fleet. No wonder the four-star General picked this ship to ride on. Nonetheless, I know where I’m going.”

  Ozzy took a left and rounded a corner with Lily tucked firmly in his arms. “We’ll be safe, Lily. Don’t worry.”

  “Did Mommy come on board?”

  Ozzy shook his head. “I don’t know.”

  Doors lined the hall and all with names of high ranking officers were on placards attached to the doors. This must be the officer’s quarters, which made sense, since they occupied the bridge and needed to be as close to the bridge as possible—where Ozzy was heading right now.

  “Hold up, for a second, Ozzy.”

  Ozzy turned, now walking backward, not wanting to stop. “Yes?”

  It was Kat. She was in her Galactic Knight battlesuit, as always, hurrying to catch up. “There is one thing we need to make sure of.”

  They entered a small observation deck and halted. He glance through the large windows and at the graviton dome that arched Tunnel Downs. It was mostly an underground city, but there was a small town on top, mostly for government officials.

  Clear tubes from the dome were attached to Starship Nautilus, and people were racing through the tubes by the thousands. Marines were waiving their arms, pushing civilians forward.

  “Ozzy,” Kat snapped her fingers in front of Ozzy’s helmet.

  Ozzy looked away from the panic below. “Wh-what?”

  “The Gaia Stones.”

  Ozzy tilted his head. “How do you know about them?” Ozzy glanced at her wrist. The vanishing device was still cuffed around forearm.

  “I know where the other three Gaia Stones are located. And I’ve set up a meeting with the keepers.”

  Ozzy set Lily on the floor. She leaned against him, hugging his leg.

  “Keepers?”
asked Ozzy. “What are you talking about?”

  “Yes, the keepers of the remaining Gaia Stones live on Mars, and they are waiting for us.”

  Ozzy shook his head and squinted his eyes, doing his best to figure out what was going on. “Who the hell are the keepers?”

  “The Ancient Martians. They still exist, and they’ve been under our noses the entire time humans have been on Mars. And they want to meet with you now.”

  31

  Tunnel Downs, Mars

  Ozzy turned and eyed the door to the bridge. He spun around. “Are you mad, Kat? The Ancients have been dead for nearly a hundred thousand years, or more. There can’t be any meeting. They can’t be living among us.”

  Kat took off her helmet and dropped it on the floor. Ozzy stepped back, his eye brows furrowing.

  Kat was indeed an Elix, a half-cat, half-human. Yet, this was an Elix that Ozzy had known well, and almost too well. Her silver fur glimmered from the sun shining through the observation deck windows and her ears were pulled back.

  “Lyra No Tail?” said Gragas, more surprised than Ozzy. Gragas let out a chuckle. “You’ve tricked me. That’s rare. Good on you.” He bowed to her.

  The bridge’s door slid vertically open, whooshing as it did so. There stood General Sever, his arms across at his chest, and his dark brown eyes glaring at Ozzy.

  “We’ve been watching you from the bridge, and you’re becoming a distraction.” His face was like stone and his chin was set high. “What are you doing here? You are designated to the lobby, and I suggest you mosey on back.”

  Ozzy shook his head. “We’re heading into the bridge, General. I know you won’t like it, but I’m the one who alerted you to the coming Dunrakee and to evacuate this planet.” Ozzy thumbed over his shoulder. “I’m not too comfortable in crowds.”

  He took a step forward and Sever put his hand on Ozzy’s chest, stopping him. “I don’t think so. We have incoming bandits heading our way soon. The Dunrakee’s first wave failed, but they have plenty more waves that our remaining fleet will not be able to hold off. It will be best if you didn’t bother us in the bridge while we get every living soul out of Tunnel Downs.”

  A loud beep came from the bridge, and Sever looked over his shoulder.

  “We’re getting a mayday, Sir,” called a crewmember inside the bridge that Ozzy couldn’t see. “You might want to look at this.”

  Sever stared at Ozzy and without looking away, replied, “We don’t have time to help another ship. Plus, our Marines are tied up. Every last one of them.”

  “This is a politician’s craft, Sir. It is our sworn duty.”

  General Sever eye brows rose. “It is.” He studied Ozzy for a moment, lowering one eye brow. “You’re with them, correct?” He gestured toward the Galactic Knights and Ozzy’s daughter.

  “Yes.”

  “They are great soldiers, and you’re an excellent pilot…I hear.”

  Ozzy frowned. What was this guy getting at? Did he want Ozzy and the Galactic Knights to save the politicians?

  Ozzy slowly shook his head, pulling Lily closer to him. “We’re staying on this ship.”

  Politicians have screwed him over his entire life, treating him like he was a lowlife, a Martian sewer rat. And the feelings were mutual.

  The last people he wanted to rescue were a bunch of lowlives themselves.

  “This isn’t a question. This is an order. When you’re on my ship, you’re under my command.” He unbrandished his sidearm, and handed it to Ozzy.

  Ozzy didn’t take it. “What’s this?”

  “Not all politicians are bad. Some are great men and women who have dedicated their lives to serving every single one of us, just like my Marines. But if Jonas Moon is onboard, you know what to do.” He shoved the butt of the gun into Ozzy.

  Ozzy took a step back from the force and grabbed the weapon. “I’m not the murdering type.”

  “Well, for the sake of humanity and to rid us of an evil High Judge, today you are.”

  Jozi stepped forward, her chest out and her head held high. “I will gladly take your mission, Sir.”

  “Excellent,” came Sever.

  “The hell you will,” replied Ozzy. “We need you here with us.”

  “If she goes, I go,” said Quad.

  “And I,” replied Gragas.

  Lyra No Tail raised her helmet and thrust it into the air. “I’m going if they’re going.” She eyed Ozzy. “We’re Galactic Knights after all, darling. We can more than manage.”

  “I stay here,” he patted his daughter’s head. “With Lily.”

  Sever put his hands on his hips. “Ozzy, from what I can tell, you’re a lucky son of a bitch. They’ll need that. Lily can stay on the bridge with us.”

  “No.” Ozzy vehemently shook his head.

  Lily squeezed Ozzy’s leg. “Don’t go, Daddy. Please.”

  Ozzy nodded. “I’m staying, Lily-bug”

  Jozi got down on one knee and looked Lily in the eyes. “You’ll be safe here. We need your dad and his piloting skills, okay sweetie? We’ll be back before you know it. Now, I’ve seen something in you that I know you have kept a secret.” She ruffled Lily’s hair with her hand. “You’re one of the bravest kids on Mars. Now, show us what you got, okay?”

  Lily hid her face in Ozzy’s leg, shaking her head. “No. Please, stay, Daddy.”

  Ozzy clenched his fist. “I’m not leaving this spot.”

  A click pierced the observatory room and Sever held out a a second photon pistol, pointing it at Ozzy’s skull. “Like I said, on my ship, you do as ordered. If you don’t, you then put us all at risk. I suggest you take my offer. If you don’t, then I need to get rid of you.”

  The General’s lips were tight and his eyes narrowed. He wasn’t playing around.

  Ozzy slowly put his hands up, thinking of his daughter. O anyone on Mars, Ozzy deserved to die, but not in front of his daughter.

  “Alright, alright,” said Ozzy. “Put the gun down and I’ll do as ordered.”

  Sever lowered his gun.

  Ozzy crouched next to Lily and swiped her hair out of her eyes. “Lily, listen to me.”

  Lily’s bottom lip quivered and she squeezed her eyes shut, tears dripping from them. She gave Ozzy a big hug. “I don’t want you to go, daddy. I’m scared.”

  “I’m sorry, Lily-bug, but I have no choice. This will help us all.”

  She shook her head and held on to him tighter.

  “Do you want us to be as far from the Dunrakee bad-guys as possible?” asked Ozzy.

  She nodded.

  “What I’m about to do will help with that. I’ll be back in a jiffy, alright?”

  Sever bent down and touched Lily’s back. “You can call me Uncle Sever, alright? We have a lot to do before we can fly far away from the bad-guys, but if we don’t let your dad go, we won’t be able to get away as fast.”

  “We are at half capacity, Sir,” said a crewman from inside the bridge.

  Sever nodded. “Thank you.”

  Lily let go of Ozzy and backed up. “You promise you’ll be back?”

  Ozzy nodded and touched her face. “I promise.”

  “Excellent,” replied Severs, holstering his gun. “We have an S-5 Pyke under the bridge. Follow me.” He motioned for everyone to come into the bridge.

  Ozzy took Lily’s hand and stepped onto the bridge. A pang sounded, and a portion of the bridge’s vid screen widened, and a red dot blinked on and off, moving closer and closer toward an image of Mars.

  “The next wave is thirty minutes away,” said a crewman sitting at a station, moving his hands over a holographic display, positioning icons here and there, sending commands from one interface to another.

  The bridge was loaded with personnel. For a ship this size, Ozzy expected nothing less. A large table with a holographic display was set in the middle, showcasing a vast fleet of Martian Marine ships floating just outside Mars’s exosphere.

  Most of the ships were battered, and some
were shells of themselves, but somehow still operational.

  The Marines were risking their lives to save the majority of lives below. That’s how Marines worked, yet Ozzy had always taken it for granted, thinking they were young meat heads with nothing but muscles and no brains.

  He couldn’t have been farther from the truth. Never again would he take them for granted. Those young men and women above the sky wouldn’t live another day. And he knew, and they most likely knew it as well.

  Ozzy grabbed Lily’s hand and followed Sever, passing several navigation stations where crew members worked diligently, speaking quickly over their com lines, and directing the evacuation.

  The station’s holoscreens displayed a view outside of Starship Nautilus, panning on the thousands of people walking through the tubes. There was no longer pushing and shoving as the Marines were doing their jobs, and working to keep everyone calm and under control.

  “Over here,” motioned Sever. He stood in front of an elevator. He pressed a button and the door opened. “This only goes one deck up, and one deck down. Choose down. We have a bay with on Pyke in it. Take Pyke and fly your ass off this ship. We’ll send you the coordinates for the pickup. Do you understa—”

  A siren went off.

  “We have a fleet we hadn’t detected sir,” yelled a crew member. “They arrived from the North and are heading in our direction.”

  Sever pushed Ozzy into the elevator, quickly doing the same with the rest of the Galactic Knights. They piled in and Sever pressed the elevators control panel, “Lower deck.”

  The elevator closed and descended.

  “Daddy?”

  Ozzy jerked back, realizing he was still holding Lily’s hand. They had forgotten about her.

  His mouth gaped. “What are you still doing here?” Ozzy pressed the control panel audio mic, not waiting for Lily’s response. He’d rather have her by his side, but Sever was right, she had more of a chance to survive in the Nautilus then she did in the Pyke. “General Sever, I still have my daughter. We need—”

  “We’re out of time. We are getting this craft into the air.”

  The elevator door beeped open. “What about the rest of the people evacuating?”