Annals of the Keepers: War 267 (Book 1 in the Gashnee Saga) (8 page)

“Gentlemen, we have come a great distance in history for this moment. There is no doubt you and your forces will perform with certainty. In a few short hours, humankind will celebrate its victory back in the Mydian system. Let’s not let them down. You’re dismissed,” Parejas finished.

His officers left the bridge for the final preps before Retribution.

Commander Parejas turned back around to look at the sun in the far distance. “Let the clock strike twelve and we shall have our vengeance.”

Data Cell 11

The lights on
the bridge were dim. The low hum of the great ship’s heartbeat of machinery is the only thing that broke the eerie silence.

This is the moment we have all waited for, Alon thought. Mankind is returning home today to the place of his origin, the planet of his birth.

Alon struggled with his emotions, not wanting them to cloud his perception of the events ahead, which in moments would begin.

He moved from his seated position next to the command consoles. He walked up the short flight of steps towards the forward viewing platform on the
Orion’s Rage.

The jump into the center of the system, which would soon commence, would only take a fraction of a breath.

He watched out the bridge’s window as the fleet moved into position.

His ears were just waiting for the order issued from Commander Shenta Parejas to begin the Retribution mission to retake the Earth.

Alon’s heart palpitated as he sensed the uneasiness of the bridge crew; noting the historical aspects of such a moment would cause most to pause and contemplate the great importance of such an event.

The Keeper’s mind went to his good friend, Kason, wondering what emotions he was feeling as the Reavers lay in their pods, ready to launch.

Commander Shenta Parejas sat in his chair high above the bridge. His cool, calm features betrayed not a hint of eagerness the Keeper observed.

Parejas stared straight ahead at the bright star near the center of the system. He then glanced around at his crew.

They were ready, everyone was ready.

The moment was at hand as Lt. Commander Temin spoke up. “Ordinance Fleet, this is
Orion’s
command. Sector is clear. Status is a go. All systems are functional… Stand by.”

Droe finished her prep commands as the rest of the bridge came to life with overlapping voices.

“Fighters are in formation…”

“Copy. All battle cruisers are in position and proceeding with…”

“Stormtac group five is holding and waiting…”

“Reaver team ready for launch, continue with status updates…”

“Flashpoint, you are clear to enter firing position…”

Droe swiveled in her chair to face Parejas, who sat behind and above her position. “All preliminary tasks have been performed. The fleet is in position, Commander.”

“What’s the status around Earth, of all Kryth positions?” Parejas asked.

“Every scan and sweep are clear, sir. The camouflage sphere continues to block all evidence of our activity around Dalyth Point. The enemy has no idea we’re out here,” Droe finished with a justified smile.

“Very well.” Parejas stood. “Lieutenant Commander, have the fleet stand by for my command,” he ordered.

Droe turned around in her chair and activated an icon on the glass panel to her front. “The fleet is connected to the bridge, sir.”             

Commander Parejas placed his hands behind the small of his back. “To all Ordinance forces, this is the day the human race has waited for. The loss of our system and way of life, two hundred and sixty-seven years ago by the Kryth Mahr Domain has come to an end. All ships, prepare for the re-conquest and invasion of the Sol system, on my command.”

Shenta Parejas paused for the briefest of moments to take in his most important command to date.

“All Ordinance forces commence. . . Retribution!”

The space outside the great ship blurred to an intense white light as the fleet jumped into hyper-space.

The space between the Earth and the moon began to ripple. A massive fissure opened up and outpoured the Ordinance fleet.

Alon watched as the
Orion’s Rage
dropped from hyper-space, passing through the fissure at the other end of the enveloping intense point of light. The light only lasted a mere breath as it receded to a pinpoint back to the stillness of space.

Alon’s face froze as his eyes caught the view of the Earth for the first time.

It was not what the Annals data cells showed from the planet’s past, with its pristine blue oceans and wisps of white clouds.

What awaited his stare was a brownish gray planet.

What looked to be a thick blanket of brown clouds covered two-thirds of the surface
, with only the poles showing from the ground to the atmosphere. Parts of North America and Africa were also visible, but the rest of the continents were shrouded in a hazy choking layer; no doubt the poison the Kryth used to eradicate life from the planet 267 years earlier, Alon noted.

Alon’s attention was diverted by a massive ion wave fired from Commander Takkar’s ship, the Flashpoint, followed by two other waves.

He was blinded for a bit as his eyes strained then recovered.

Alon saw the first wave strike the large Kryth space station, their main objective, four times the size of Dalyth Point.

He marveled at the way the wave impacted the metal surface and cascaded over its length.

Next, he caught the other wave strike a group of vessels anchored near what looked to be a service platform. The last and third wave struck the Legion Flag.

It was almost too much for Alon to take in, as the assault for Earth had begun.

Streaking past the command ship, he saw groups of Stormtac fighters launch from the carrier
Forcel
, beginning their run on the defense batteries around the station.

Small, circular ripples began bubbling up around the station in waves as the fighters’ weapons found their marks.

To Alon’s right, he caught an Ordinance cruiser fire a massive-beamed weapon that sliced through the service platform with grim efficiency.

Heavier mass cannons thundered from the Flashpoint, battering all Kryth ships which docked around.

Space soon filled with explosions and shock waves in all directions.

One such explosion shifted Alon’s mind towards Kason. The Reavers were no doubt already onboard the Legion Flag engaging the enemy at this moment.

Data Cell 12

The piercing whine
of Reaver weapons came to a halt.

The red strobe lights along the walls continued sounding their warnings as Kryth corpses littered the corridor onboard the Legion Flag command ship.

Kason communicated with his team. “I have the reactor room fifty meters ahead.”

“Copy that, Reaver Lead. I have three inbound Kryth approaching,” Keelen signaled as he awaited his helmet’s coordinates on the enemy. “Left corridor adjacent. Range is 30 meters and closing.”

Kason looked over at Jens. “Jens, the door.”

“This lock system is a stubborn bugger,” Jens said.

“How much longer?” Kason queried.

Jens was holding a slicer pack against the data pad near the archway. “I need a minute more, boss.”

“Time’s up. You handle the door and the Kryth.” Kason directed towards Jens. He turned towards Maddox. “Maddox, lead the way to the engine room.”

Maddox lifted his gyro-cannon parallel to the hallway as he moved.

Kason and Keelen followed, pistol weapons drawn.

Jens kept one eye on the red triangles approaching his position next to the door and the other on the splicer.

“Let’s go, I haven’t got all day. I have many doors to splice.” Jens spoke to himself, willing the splice to complete.

The foot-falls of the Kryth were getting closer as they picked up their pace, approaching Jens’ location.

The counter on the lock showed four out of five triggers complete.

“Not enough time. Oh well, have to do it the fun way.”

He left the splicer in the panel opening and spotted three Kryth through the hull wall, just about to his position.

With his helmet’s display, he activated his weapon choice.              “System,
kodachi blades
, release.”

Two kodachi handles popped out from atop his shoulders from within his back armor.

Reaching his hands over, grasping the handles, he pulled the blades forth and to his front.

The three red triangles rounded to his location.

Lunging, Jens found the first Kryth, driving his blade through his chest armor letting the soldier’s momentum carry him past.

The second Kryth raised his weapon only to be met by Jens’ second blade, severing his arm, while the last Kryth reeled back releasing a burst of plasma bolts from his weapon, which struck his own comrade in the torso, sending shards of blood flying through the corridor.

Jens ducked and released the first blade from the falling Kryth soldier, swiping at the leg of the third. He missed.

Jens moved up to block the Kryth weapon now coming down towards his head.

Boom
!

The weapon discharged again just as Jens stopped it, inches from his helmet.

The next blade found its mark. The Kryth doubled over, only to have Jens throw his head back, sending the corpse to the hard deck, as the blade slid back out from where it had entered.

“Interrupt my splice.”

His door splice complete, Jens ran down the hallway towards the main engine room and the rest of his team.

∞∞∞

The Kryth soldiers on the station were falling back as Commander Bossarios’ troops advanced from the hangar bay. Explosions erupted from nearby canisters, sending debris and Kryth body parts flying through the air.

The shower of material blanketed Nevlen’s covered position behind a large disabled Assault Mech.

Nevlen was glad that the four mech units were disabled, or out of commission. Their robot armaments were enough to cause havoc amongst his troops, if they were to engage them. He was glad they stood silent, as it would make his team’s assault much easier.

Another explosion erupted close by.

Nevlen winced at the explosion, knowing full well his troops’ body armor was nothing like that of the Reavers.

A scowl came across his face, eyes narrowing.

The Ordinance troops were well-trained and their armor was sound, but Nevlen considered them hand-me-downs and far inferior to those the vat-babes wore.

No matter. He would prove, once and for all, that his troops were the Reavers’ equal if not their better.

“Bravo Squad, I want you to advance as fast as you can to the center objective. Charlie Squad, follow up with flank defense for Bravo. Delta, you will hold the hangar,” Nevlen said, looking over his troops. “Let’s do this. Move out!”

The squads moved on his command.

The hallways leading from the hangar bay were larger than normal. They led into other hallways and hangars to move cargo and equipment around, Nevlen noted.

Nevlen’s troops ran down towards their objective as the Kryth soldiers fled, falling back to the center interior of the station.

Just as Nevlen’s Alpha squad approached Bravo, enemy fire opened up further down the hallway to their front, which was now narrowing to a smaller corridor. Nevlen’s troops took cover behind archways.

The troops returned fire as plasma bolts impacted walls and floor.

The Kryth seemed to be well covered, as Nevlen surveyed their positions. “Panther,” he yelled, calling up a troop with a shoulder weapon, “scatter charge, go,” Nevlen ordered.

The trooper launched a projectile round, which roared down the center of the hallway towards the Kryth.

The Kryth weapons’ fire zipped past the incoming round streaking towards them. The long arrow-like projectile spun, releasing hundreds of small pellets, flinging them throughout the Kryth positioned in the hallway.

The ripples of multiple explosions engulfed the corridor in an inferno of fire and screams.

Nevlen’s troops continued towards their objective through the smoke unimpeded until...

Nevlen cleared some canisters and a Kryth soldier leaped out from the smoke and tackled him.

The Kryth drew his blade and slashed down at Nevlen’s head.

Nevlen went to block the attack but was too slow. The knife tip cracked the clear visor of his helmet as it embedded about an inch.

The Kryth tugged once, then twice, as he pulled the blade out and drove it down again.

Nevlen blocked the arm this time and deflected the knife away from his chest, but not quite clearing his shoulder. Nevlen’s face contorted in pain as the blade found the top of his shoulder armor, driving it through and into his flesh.

Nevlen propelled the Kryth with his legs, upending him about four feet behind him.

Nevlen rolled to his side into a kneeling position and drew his blaster, and fired off a pinpoint shot to the center of the Kryth’s head, sending bone and tissue smattering about the corridor.

Nevlen’s grin returned with pride.

He holstered his weapon and returned to his troops, which were now just responding to the melee between the two.

∞∞∞

Kason’s team approached a large blast door.

“Engineering door,” Maddox responded.

Kason approached. His helmet scanned the door in front of him. “Much thicker than the others, plus it’s reactive-plated.” Kason turned to look at the wall for a control panel. “And no panel pad for splicing either,” Kason said.

“What about flat bastards?” Keelen suggested.

“It would take all of them to get through,” Kason replied.

Just then, Jens approached from down the corridor.

“Are you guys picking this conversation up on command coms?” Jens asked.

Kason intoned to his helmet’s computer. “Bring up command coms channel.”

The coms crackle came through.

“Commander Bossarios, your squads are to hold the center position. I repeat, your squads are not to advance beyond kilo point. Commander Bossarios, come in.” The coms ended.

“What the hell does he think he’s doing?” Kason blurted out.

“My guess, he thinks his troops can take the whole station. One-up us,” Maddox replied.

“Damn, you mean I could have been lounging pool-side while Nevlen’s troops did all the work?” The sarcasm dripped from Jens’ lips.

Keelen and Maddox let out a chuckle.

Kason was in no mood.

“Forget Nevlen. We have to complete our objective, he looked over his men. “I want all flat bastards out, now,” Kason voiced.

∞∞∞

Nevlen’s three squads approached the far end of the station from where they had started near the hangar bay. They were almost upon the docking point where the Legion Flag was located.

The Troopers came to a large center junction point where three other hallways met.

Just as they entered, Nevlen noticed a suspended walkway above, lining the outside wall of the foyer, right before the doors to their front, behind, and to the sides slammed closed.

The thought of a trap entered Nevlen’s mind before green weapon bolts rained down from the walkway above.

“More plasma weapons soon drowned out the human troop’s screams,
as a dozen Kryth fired down at Nevlen’s men.

“Take cover!” Nevlen yelled.

His troops were already scattering for the entryways into the junction, which provided little cover, only five meters deep from the closed doors from the center.

More screams punctuated the smoke-filled room as more humans fell.

Nevlen’s squads retuned as much fire as they could, for they did not have the high ground.

Nevlen’s position was a lot more covered than across the way. He told his men to give cover fire as he ran to the other side.

Bolts flashed by him just as his boot caught a dead human trooper, he stumbled. Nevlen scampered to the other hallway, rounds piercing the floor around him.

He began to fire up at the Kryth with a much better line of sight.

“Damn,” Nevlen cursed, for he knew his men’s situation was desperate.

∞∞∞

“Damn it.” Kason yelled through clenched teeth.

He had heard the command coms regarding Nevlen’s location just as they were going to breach the engineering blast door.

“Nevlen’s squads are trapped in an ambush 200 meters from the docking port,” Kason said.

“What do we do?” Keelen replied.

Kason stood, contemplating their next move.

Maddox questioned Kason’s silence. “Boss?”

“I want all flat bastards lining the door frame.” Kason looked over his helmet’s schematics of the reactor room. “Fifteen meters beyond this door lay the main control console…”

“Uh, Boss, what about the ambush?” Jens asked.

“Listen!” Kason snapped. “We will blow this door straight into the control console and destroy it. This will bring down the reactors. We will then proceed back to our entry point and assist Nevlen’s men.”

The Reavers attached, without any further delay, the high explosives charges to the doorframe; all eight of them.

The Reavers moved back down the hall before arming the demolitions.

The flat bastards glowed, beeped, then detonated.

The reinforced door hurled inwards, smashing against console and conduits, showering the room in sparks and fire. Another control panel exploded, electrical cabling hissed and crackled, buckled from the impact.

Smoke and cries of fallen Kryth poured through the open doorframe.

The Reavers began running back up the main corridor towards Nevlen’s troops.

Kason turned behind as he ran, raised his arm, and fired three retro-rockets from his forearm launcher back towards the reactor room.

The miniature rocket streaked, entered the opening, and detonated.

The explosion erupted and fire thrashed the reactor room, rushing back out the open frame doorway, whooshing down the corridor in an orange maelstrom.

The Reaver team approached the connecting passageway between the Legion Flag and the station.

Kason called out, “We are approaching the station. I am getting interference from my scan lay-out interface, how copy, over?”

Maddox confirmed. “Copy that, Reaver Lead. Unknown static interference. Unable to confirm inbound targets, over.”

It was not long after Maddox confirmed what Kason knew regarding their sensor system malfunction, when, as they rounded a corner, stood an armed metal obstruction.

The tri-tracked mobile weapons platform took up the whole hallway. The sentry mech unit was compact but reached the height of the twelve-foot ceiling with ease.

Before the team could react to its surprise presence, the mech’s chest launcher fired a missile, streaking towards the inbound, full-stride Reavers.

Kason and Jens turned sideways against the left corridor wall while Keelen did the same on the right.

The big man, Maddox, not as limber as his other teammates, slid down, fell down under the incoming rocket, spare a few inches.

The projectile impacted the junction wall behind them, erupting in a massive explosion.

The concussion threw the Reavers about the corridor like rag-dolls, bouncing them off walls and ceiling alike.