Ep.#15 - "That Which Other Men Cannot Do" (The Frontiers Saga) (22 page)

Finally, his squad leader fell to the ground, as did the rest of his squad and the squad behind him. Biorgi quickly took aim, checking the range on his tactical display.
We’re still too far
. Biorgi looked toward his squad leader. He was lying on his belly, his weapon oddly aimed. He wasn’t moving. Biorgi willed his display to zoom in, and he immediately saw smoke rising from his squad leader’s unmoving body. The man nearest him reached out and shook the squad leader, but got no response. Biorgi could see the panic on the man’s face, unsure of what to do as Jung energy weapons fire, most of it errant shots that had missed the Ghatazhak soldiers, continued to impact into the dirt around them.

Biorgi rose to his feet again. “Squad One! Continue forward!” he ordered, signaling with his left arm toward the battle. Biorgi continued his charge forward, jumping over the body of the dead squad leader and the soldier still shaking him. He maintained his crouched run, his weapon up and held tightly against his shoulder, ready to fire, as he had been trained to do, watching the range readout on his tactical display as it counted down. Red bolts of energy streaked past him, first to his right, then to his left. Others slammed into the dirt in front of him, sending bits of tan soil flying into his face as he charged forward.

Finally, his range display changed from red to orange. A few seconds later, it turned green. Biorgi hit the ground again. He quickly willed his visor to zoom in, and he picked his first target…and fired. His weapon sounded, recoiling sharply against his shoulder. The magnification setting on his visor allowed him to clearly see the blood spraying from the target’s armpit, as his first shot grazed the uncovered area just above the Jung soldier’s chest armor. He willed his visor to zoom in a bit more, and placed his aiming dot onto the enemy soldier’s abdomen, and squeezed his trigger again. The second round easily pierced the Jung soldier’s weaker abdominal cover, sending copious amounts of blood and tissue spraying out to either side from under the enemy soldier’s armor. The man fell to his knees, after which a blast from a Ghatazhak energy weapon robbed him of his head.

Biorgi paused in shock and disbelief. Today was not his first combat action, and it was not the first time that he had fired his weapon. But the liberation of 82 Eridani had been far easier, as he had been in the second wave, not the first. He had not even fired his weapon in anger that day. Today, he had killed a man.

It was time to kill more.

Biorgi mentally adjusted his visor’s magnification, then picked another target and fired. A head shot, passing just under the Jung soldier’s visor and striking him in the right cheek. The man fell backward, exposing his unprotected groin as he writhed in pain. Another shot put an end to his suffering.

Biorgi continued to pick targets, dropping them one by one…sometimes with a single shot, sometimes with two. He missed a few, but not many, and within minutes, it was over. The Ghatazhak forward line had broken through, and was engaged in hand-to-hand combat with the few Jung soldiers who remained.

“
First Platoon! Cease fire!
” Sergeant Lazo called over Biorgi’s helmet comms. “
Move in to secure the perimeter. No one gets out alive.
”

Biorgi rose to his feet. He took a moment to wipe the sweat from his face. He looked around, noticing that the rest of his squad was waiting for him to move forward before they followed.

Today, he felt like a marine.

“Frigate two is destroyed,” Mister Navashee announced from the Aurora’s sensor station.

“Take us about to reengage that battle platform,” Nathan ordered.

“Coming about, aye.”

“How are our shields doing?” Nathan asked his systems officer.

“Starboard forward, and all bow shields are back up to sixty-two percent,” the systems officer replied. “If you can keep their big guns off them for a few minutes, they’ll get back up to full power.”

“On our next run, we’ll jump in at ten clicks, fire two salvos into the unshielded side of her core, where arm four used to be,” Nathan explained. “Then we’ll pitch our nose down relative, say forty-five, and jump in close to pass with our bow shields away from her. We’ll start by showing her our port side, where our shields are currently strongest.” He turned back toward Jessica. “Hit them with quads and broadside cannons as we pass. Your firing window will be short, twenty seconds at the most, so don’t get fancy, just fire away at her and hope for the best.”

“Aye, sir,” Jessica replied.

Nathan turned forward. “We’ll make two passes the same way, but from different angles. That should give our starboard and bow shields a chance to reach full power. Then we can alternate sides with each pass. Left, center, right.”

“Coming to jump point now,” Mister Riley reported.

“Take us in,” Nathan ordered.

“Jumping.”

The blue-white jump flash washed over the bridge, and the image of the wounded Jung battle platform again filled the center main view screen. Even from ten kilometers away, she was visible without magnification, bathed in the light of Eta Cassiopeiae.

“Firing all forward tubes,” Jessica announced.

The bridge flashed a reddish-orange momentarily as the plasma charges left the Aurora.

“Helm, nose down forty-five, roll ninety to starboard,” Nathan ordered.

“Down forty-five and ninety to starboard,” Mister Chiles replied.

The image of the distant Jung battle platform began to rotate as it slid from the center of the main view screen, up and to their left, disappearing off the left side of the view screen.

“Maneuver complete,” the helmsman replied seconds later.

“Jump us in close,” Nathan commanded.

“Jumping.”

Again, the blue-white flash of the jump washed over them.

“Contacts!” Mister Navashee warned.

“Firing quads and broadside cannons!” Jessica reported.

“The other two frigates!” Mister Navashee continued.

“Damn it!” Nathan swore.

“They’re locking missiles on us!”

“Mister Riley, prepare to escape jump…”

“They’re firing missiles! Impact in twenty…”

“Point-defenses!” Nathan ordered.

“All point-defenses are engaging!”

“How many?” Nathan snapped.

“Twenty-four inbound!” Mister Navashee replied. “Make that twenty…eighteen… Ten seconds. They’re reloading their launchers. Incoming rail gun fire from the battle… JUMP FLASH! It’s the Celestia!”

The bridge shook as more rail gun rounds from the battle platform’s massive guns pounded the Aurora’s port shields.

“She’s firing on the frigates!” Mister Navashee reported in glee.

“I can’t get them all!” Jessica warned.

“Snap jump!” Nathan ordered.

The jump flash was building before the order left the captain’s mouth.

“Jump complete,” Mister Riley announced.

“Bring us back around for another pass,” Nathan ordered. “Mister Navashee, what’s the status of those other two frigates?”

“One moment, sir,” the sensor operator replied. “They’re thirty light seconds out, now.”

“Damage reports?”

“Port shields down to sixty percent,” the system officer replied.

“No reports from damage control,” Naralena added.

“Jump flash,” Mister Navashee reported. “It’s the Celestia, again.”

“Incoming transmission from Celestia Actual,” Naralena announced.

“Put her on,” Nathan replied gladly.

“
Aurora Actual, Celestia Actual,
” Cameron’s voice called over the loudspeakers.

Nathan felt a wave of relief wash over him. “Go ahead, Captain,” he replied.

“
Sorry it took us so long,
” Cameron said. “
We had a troop base to squash.
”

“No problem. Your timing couldn’t have been better.”

“
I assume you have a plan to bring down that platform?
”

“Swinging hammer? Say…split twenties, high and low, odds and evens?”

“
Sounds good,
” Cameron replied. “
You want odds or evens to start?
”

“Odds, of course. We’ll drop our targeting markers with each pass. Once we bring down another arm, we’ll have a big enough gap in her shields to take her out once and for all.”

“
Yes, sir.
”

“Just keep your time in the zone short, Captain. Her big guns are a
bitch
.”

“
Understood. Celestia Actual, out.
”

Commander Telles walked along the perimeter of the rubble that was once the Jung troop base on Adlair. Bodies of the dead were everywhere. Most of the troops who had been housed in the base had undoubtedly perished in the orbital bombardment that leveled the facility. Those who he saw before him were the ones who escaped the initial attack, only to find themselves fighting for their lives against a Ghatazhak onslaught that took them with equal surprise.

Commander Telles looked to his master sergeant as the man approached, a captive Jung officer following behind him, escorted by two Ghatazhak soldiers. “Casualties?”

“Two Ghatazhak injured, none killed,” Master Sergeant Jahal reported. “Fourteen marines dead, twenty-two injured. They fought bravely. Without their supportive fire, our own casualties might have been higher.”

“And the enemy body count?”

“Their force strength was estimated at ten thousand. This is the only survivor that we have found. So…”

Commander Telles stepped up to the officer, pausing to study the young man’s rank insignia. “You are a major, are you not?”

“I am,” the Jung officer replied proudly.

Commander Telles looked him over more carefully. “You are of command rank. A leader of warriors. Your base lies in ruins, your men dead, and yet, you have nary a scratch on your person. How is that?”

“He was in a secure bunker under the rubble,” Master Sergeant Jahal sneered. “Hiding like a coward.”

“You have made a grave error,” the Jung major warned the commander. “The battle platform will send gunships, troops… You will be outnumbered, and you will not have the element of surprise on your side.” The major leaned forward, seething with anger. “You will all die.”

“The battle platform?” the commander replied. The cheers of marines, as well as gasps of disbelief of the many locals who had come to see the destruction, caught their attention. Commander Telles and the others turned and looked skyward, like all the rest. Far above them was a massive explosion of a very distant, and very large, object.

“
That
battle platform?” the commander said, a small smile forming on the corner of his mouth. “I think not.” He stared at the major for a moment, then turned back to his master sergeant. “Transfer him back to Porto Santo for interrogation.”

“Who are you people?” the major asked.

“We, are the Alliance,” Commander Telles replied. “And we are the
means
to
your
end.”

CHAPTER SEVEN

“Can’t they just build more of the damned things?” Josh complained. “I thought we were combat pilots. Now we’re flying ordnance retrieval missions?”

“What’s the big deal, Josh?” Loki wondered as he studied his sensor console on the right side of the Super Falcon’s cockpit. “It isn’t that difficult of a mission.”

“Excuse me,” Josh disagreed. “Those things are designed to blow up after they miss, aren’t they?”

“Only if they do not receive an abort signal within twenty-four hours of missing their target.”

“Or, someone tries to tamper with them,” Josh reminded him. “I was at the briefing too, Lok.”

“We won’t be within the blast radius until the system has been disarmed.”

“We’re still trying to dock with a weapon, with an explosive charge inside, at half light…”

“Piece of pie,” Loki insisted.

“…using a retrieval system that has yet to be tested,” Josh finished. “And for the last time, Loki, it’s ‘a piece of cake’ or ‘easy as pie’!”

“Alright, alright. Why are you being so dramatic? Are you afraid you can’t do it? Because, I can…”

“Oh, I can do it,” Josh scoffed. “Don’t you worry about that, my friend.”

“Then what is the problem?”

Josh took a breath and let out a sigh. “I just think it’s a poor use of our talents, that’s all.”

“Falcons are the only ships, besides the Aurora and the Celestia, that can catch up to those things. And you’re the best Falcon pilot we have.”

“Well, since you put it that way…”

Loki shook his head. “Contact. I’ve got the first JKKV dead ahead.”

“What happened to all that ‘needle in a haystack’ crap you were spouting back in the mission briefing?” Josh wondered. “I’ve got the course data entered into the auto-flight system.”

“It seemed like the right Earth expression at the time.”

“Not exactly,” Josh said. “I mean, we did have the course and speed data. Just a matter of cruising at the same speed along the same course, and jumping ahead to its calculated location.”

“I know. I know. I really thought it was the right expr… Wait, did you say you were entering the data in the auto-flight?”

“I said I was entering the data, not engaging the system,” Josh pointed out. “I’m just following procedure.”

“Josh Hayes, following procedure?”

“Would you be happier if I did a few barrel rolls on approach?” Josh suggested.

“No, that’s quite all right,” Loki replied. “We’re close enough to transmit the disarm codes. Sending them now.”

Josh watched his own sensor display as the Super Falcon closed rapidly on the jump KKV that had been coasting through space since it missed its target the day before. After a few minutes, he flipped on the Super Falcon’s landing lights, and looked out the forward window. There, in front of them, was the JKKV still traveling its course at fifty percent the speed of light, just as it had been the moment it left the Aurora’s main launch tubes.

Josh let out a low whistling sound. “Man, when you think of how deadly that thing is, just cruising through space, waiting to strike something.”

“This ship has way more mass than that jump KKV,” Loki pointed out. “We’re just as deadly, if used the same way.”

“So is an asteroid,” Josh replied. “But it’s not designed for that purpose.
That
thing,
is.
And that’s
all
it’s designed to do. Jump in close and ram its target, transferring all its kinetic energy into whatever it collides with.”

“I don’t see how it’s different from any other weapon.”

“There’s something simple, something elegant about it. It’s way more impressive than the old converted Takaran comm-drones.”

“But those were far more destructive.”

“Yeah, I know, but…”

“As usual, you’re not making any sense, Josh. Let’s just retrieve the thing and then go and grab the rest of them so we can go home.”

“Why are you in such a hurry?” Josh wondered as he maneuvered the Super Falcon in closer to the JKKV. “Got a hot date?”

“Maybe.”

Josh glanced at Loki. “Seriously?”

“Why is that such a surprise?”

“No surprise,” Josh said, back peddling. “Who is she?”

“That girl in medical, the one who was originally on Doctor Sorenson’s team.”

“Cassandra?”

“Yeah, that’s her.”

“She’s hot.”

“She’s
nice
, Josh, not hot.”

“Nice and hot,” Josh corrected. “What are you two love birds going to do? I mean, it’s not like there’s a lot to do for entertainment on the Aurora.”

“It’s wacky-cake night in the galley,” Loki told him, raising his eyebrows.

“Ohhhh,” Josh drooled. “Chocolate. The absolute best thing about Earth. I still can’t believe the original settlers of the Pentaurus cluster didn’t think to bring a chocolate plant with them.”

“I don’t think chocolate is a plant,” Loki said. “I think they make it from a lot of different ingredients.”

“Well, whatever those ingredients are, they should have brought the seeds with them. That’s all I’m saying.”

* * *

Eight men in well-fitted Takaran officer uniforms stepped out of the passenger jump shuttle and onto the tarmac at the Porto Santo airbase. The men were well groomed and moved with confidence befitting their upbringing.

“Sons of nobles,” Master Sergeant Jahal muttered as he watched them approach. “I forget. Do I bow before or after they are introduced?”

“We are Ghatazhak,” Commander Telles stated flatly. “We bow for no one.”

“I have no love for Takaran nobility, either,” Major Prechitt agreed. “Unfortunately, we need pilots. Pilots with experience, and they are in short supply these days.”

“You don’t really believe these eight men will make a difference?” the master sergeant challenged. “I don’t care how good they are.”

“Personally, I’d rather have
any
eight Corinari pilots, myself,” Major Prechitt said.

“Agreed,” Commander Telles added.

“Unfortunately, no more are available,” the major continued. “Hence, the sons of expatriated Takaran nobility. We’ll teach them to fly the Super Eagles, and they will help us train pilots from other Alliance worlds…assuming we find any.”

Commander Telles turned to look at the major. “None yet?”

“I’m afraid not,” the major sighed. “On the bright side, though, we have plenty of volunteers for basic flight school.”

Commander Telles did not look amused.

“Thank God for auto-flight,” Master Sergeant Jahal joked.

“Gentlemen,” the first Takaran officer began as he neared. “Allow me to introduce myself. I am Commander Goodreau of the Avendahl. These are Lieutenants Jarso, Sistone, and Dornahki, as well as Ensigns Giortone, Auklud, Riordan, and Masa. We have been sent by Captain Navarro to act as Super Eagle pilots. I trust we were expected?”

“Indeed, you were, Commander,” Major Prechitt replied. “I’m Major Prechitt, air group commander for the Alliance forces in the Sol sector, and CAG for the Aurora.”

“Corinari, yes, I have heard of you, Major. It is an honor.”

“The honor is mine,” the major assured him. “Allow me to introduce Commander Telles, commanding officer of all Ghatazhak forces attached to the Alliance in the Sol sector. And this is his assistant, Master Sergeant Jahal.”

Telles and Jahal offered only a polite nod, their hands still folded behind their backs.

“A pleasure, sirs.” Lieutenant Commander Goodreau looked past them at the Porto Santo base. “An impressive facility. We were able to get a birds-eye view on approach. It appears to cover the entire island.”

“Much of it is housing for civilian support personnel,” Major Prechitt explained.

“There was also a city of several thousand in existence prior to our procurement of the island,” Commander Telles added. “They have been most helpful.”

“Yes, of course. And a beautiful island it is, Commander.”

“We have arranged officer’s quarters for you and your men here on Porto Santo,” Major Prechitt told the leader of the Takaran pilots. “I trust you have all had an opportunity to study the technical data that we forwarded to your captain?”

“Yes, indeed. We have been studying the data for weeks. An interesting design concept, to be sure. Is it true that Deliza Ta’Akar was its designer?”

“In part. It is based on a Terran design that was already in service. Miss Ta’Akar reconceptualized its operational design, with the help of Terran, Corinairan, and Takaran engineers. The concept was hers, however.”

“Impressive, indeed. I would love to meet this remarkable young woman.”

“I’ll see what I can do,” the major promised. “If you’ll all follow me, I will have my staff see you to your accommodations.”

“Thank you, Major,” the lieutenant commander replied. “How soon can we get started flying the Super Eagles? I trust you have a few built by now?”

“We have thirteen of them on the line as we speak, and are producing them at a rate of one ship every other day.”

“Excellent. I cannot wait to get started.”

“You can start using the simulator this afternoon, if you’d like?” the major offered.

“That won’t be necessary, Major. Tomorrow will be soon enough. It has been a long journey, after all. Best we get a good night’s rest, and start fresh in the morning, I suspect.”

“As you wish,” the major agreed, pointing the group of pilots toward the waiting transport vehicle.

The group of Takaran pilots walked to the waiting vehicle. After they were beyond earshot, the master sergeant spoke. “I’m so glad my residence isn’t in officer’s country.”

* * *

“
The Adlairans didn’t seem to care one way or the other,
” Admiral Dumar said over the vid-link to President Scott’s office. “
The Jung showed up about a decade ago and set up an airbase and a troop base. Their only interaction with the locals in all that time has been purchasing of crops and paying for them with basic services such as health care, power generation, sewage treatment… Basic stuff, really.
”

“No propaganda campaigns? No forced rule?” the president wondered.

“
No, Mister President. At least nothing like we’ve seen on other worlds. To be honest, Adlair is a very simple world. They eschew technology for the most part, and have little interest in expanding or progressing beyond that which they need to continue their simple way of life.
”

“So, they don’t have any technology?” the president confirmed.

“
They do, just not much,
” the admiral explained, “
and they don’t have any real industrial capacity to speak of, either.
”

“How do they feel about the Alliance?”

“
They understand why we are clearing out all Jung forces within reach of Sol, but they have no interest in being part of it. They would prefer to remain neutral.
”

“Are they asking us to stay away from their world?”

“
Not exactly, but neither are they inviting us to come back and visit any time.
”

“Do they understand what the Jung might do to them, if they return?” the president asked.

“
They understand what we believe the Jung may do to them, if they should return. However, they do not believe it will happen. As I said, the Jung have never done anything bad to them. They simply do not care, one way or the other.
”

“Not exactly the reception we were expecting.”

“
No, Mister President, it is not,
” Admiral Dumar agreed. “
In the grand scheme of things, however, it does not matter. There is nothing of value to the Alliance on Adlair.
”

“I see,” the president replied. “Recommendations, Admiral?”

“
I recommend we leave a jump-capable recon drone hidden in the system. It will detect the presence of any Jung ships, and it will provide the means for the Adlairans to contact us, should they change their minds in the future.
”

President Scott rubbed his chin, somewhat uneasy with the proposed plan. “What’s the risk of leaving a jump-capable device behind?”

“
Negligible,
” the admiral assured him, confidently. “
All our jump drives are rigged with self-destruct systems. Especially our drones and jump KKVs.
”

“Like the scout ships were?”

“
We have made considerable improvements in the self-destruct and tamper protection systems since the Scout Three incident. I would not be suggesting leaving a recon drone behind if I believed it to be a risk.
”

“Of course, of course,” President Scott replied. “Very well.”

“
If there is nothing else, Mister President?
” the Admiral asked.

“Actually, there is one other thing. I was concerned that the battle platform in the Eta Cassiopeiae system was not destroyed by the initial jump KKV strike, putting our forces at greater risk.”

“
It was a calculated risk on my part,
” the admiral explained. “
The jump KKVs are not as powerful as the original FTL KKVs. Ideally, we should be launching a spread of eight jump KKVs to ensure a first-strike kill against a battle platform. Unfortunately, the rate at which we are able to convert the old EDF missiles into jump-capable KKVs is limited. It was my call to strike with only four JKKVs, a decision I regret. Luckily, neither ship suffered any damage. However, the Celestia’s early departure from her bombardment duties did cost us more lives on the ground than we had hoped, especially considering the distance of the base from the local villages. If the mission had gone as planned, that base would have been completely obliterated, and there would have been little to no resistance on the surface. I take full responsibility for those losses, Mister President.
”

“Thank you for the explanation, Admiral. I wish you and your forces better luck on your next mission.”

“
Thank you, Mister President.
”

The image of Admiral Dumar disappeared from the view screen on the wall, replaced by the logo of the North American Union for a moment, before automatically shutting off. The door on the side of the president’s office opened without warning, and President Scott’s daughter, Miri, entered the room.

“Why didn’t you tell him to use more JKKVs in the future?” she asked as she walked into the office.

“It’s not my place to tell the admiral
how
to accomplish his missions.”

“Since when?” she asked, stopping beside her father’s desk. “You’re the president of the NAU, as well as the Coalition. If it’s not your job, whose is it?”

“My job is to listen to his recommendations, and to accept or reject them, based on the needs of the people of Earth. The same is true of every leader of every member world. Besides, you heard him, Miri. We lack conversion capacity, and thanks to Galiardi’s petition, the admiral’s operational timetable has been shortened. If he uses too many pre-mission, we may run out of them
before
the job is done.”

“I thought they successfully retrieved the ones that missed? If that’s the case, then what’s the problem? Just fire a bunch of them and recover the ones that missed.”

“They’ve had
one
good recovery mission, Miri. Until we can be sure that we’ll
always
be able to recover the JKKVs that miss, I have to agree with the admiral.”