Planet Genocide I (Galaxies Collide Book 3) (18 page)

Vice Admiral Chergui stared in disbelief at the flashing lights on his console, the various alarms reporting multiple infringements to the earth’s atmosphere and fighting on the planet below. The ship’s sensors were struggling against virtually overwhelming interference, the streaming and broken reports indicating Morgon forces engaging their human counterparts in several global locations.

Shaking imagery from ship long range feeds showed the inferno raging in downtown Tokyo, the battle extending across Bangkok suburbs, the airport complex and the surrounding areas. In South Korea, tanks were now engaging enemy forces in the south, with a widespread air war covering the east and west coasts of America.

The sensors had also picked up the devastating explosion on the San Andreas fault line, any coverage now blocked with the spreading dust cloud that obscured views of the destructive natural disaster unfolding there. In Russia, ironically the only country remaining that the ship could intercept messages from, it was clear that fighting within St Petersburg had erupted and that forces near and within the Arctic Circle were now engaged in some of the bitterest conditions known to human life.

Lights flickered, the ship shuddering as laser fire raked the defensive shield, the Vice Admiral rising to his feet as shouting across the startled bridge crew, ‘We need more counter fire…where are my fighters?’

The intelligence officer rose from his own console slowly and warily, his voice strained, ‘Sir…our fighters are struggling to rise from the surface…the enemy strength is too strong, they are isolating our position…’

Chergui grimaced, several Morgon fighters sweeping past the outside hull, the warning lights beginning to flash once more as the ship shook from incoming fire, ‘Arm the evacuation pods…we have to buy time and let the other ship escape…all non-essential personnel surplus to requirements to jettison to the surface!’

The battleships guns were blasting into space, high numbers of black fighters skimming across the upper atmosphere towards the two remaining Trevakian ships. Orbiting satellites erupted and flashed as one by one they were destroyed, the Morgon pilots targeting anything in near space as the destruction continued.

Chergui stiffened, his training overcoming initial shock and hesitation, ‘Increase speed…isolate their fighters from the warships and take them out…draw them further from their base stations and launch all torpedoes!’ He glanced across the fearful expressions staring at him, ‘Increase power to defensive guns…we can only afford to hit each one once!’

One of the operators shouted desperately, ‘Multiple incoming hostile craft…guns arming Sir!’ The lights dimmed dramatically, the consoles now the only illumination across the bridge, ‘Maximum power diverted to defensive lasers…here they come!’

Black fighters soared upwards towards the large Battleship above, bright laser light sweeping across the length of the hull as the defensive guns opened fire in response. Flashes spread across the armoured plate, the multiple impacts erupting against the defensive shields as laser bursts flew through dark space. The dark vessel shuddered as the multiple detonations engulfed the hull, the bridge crew buffeted in their seats as the ships jolted violently.

Operators were shouting, sparks from electrical faults flashing across the walls as Chergui grasped his console, his shouts going virtually unheeded, ‘Increase defensive fire! Where are the fighters?’

The cries echoed across the command deck, several operators visibly beginning to panic, ‘The Cruiser is badly hit…she is going down on fire!’ Then Vice-Admiral Chergui stiffened, the shout from the other side of the bridge chilling him to the bone, ‘Morgon Warships closing…moving to within range…they are preparing torpedoes Sir!’

The smaller ship drifted, explosions rocking the hull as the crew lost control. Sensing victory, the black fighters swept in for the kill, raking the burning hull with laser fire, further eruptions puncturing weakened seals, the oxygen igniting and spreading fireballs through the internal corridors.

Chergui stared in horror at his screen, the sister ship beginning to peel away at an uncontrolled angle, flames bursting from the hatches and scorched protective shields. He winced as escape pods jettisoned from the lower levels of the ship, the small single or two man vessels streaking across the atmosphere as heat trails formed behind, the angle of entry to earth below extremely steep to deter fighters from pursuit.

Forcing himself upright, his eyes fixed on the main viewing screen, the images flickering. At the far side of the planet, the Morgon warships began to emerge, his breath held as he glimpsed more fighters surging from their decks. Emergency lights flashed across the bridge, the electronic voice bursting through the speakers, ‘Warning…Enemy ships now within range…Torpedo alert…enemy ships preparing to fire!’

The vessel shook again, the severe grinding and screeching of metal an indication the hull was weakening, Chergui glancing round his crew as they frantically ran their hands across the consoles, his breath held as he shouted hoarsely, ‘Set full speed ahead…target the lead Warship as trajectory…Fire all torpedoes!’ The operators glanced up in alarm, the vice Admiral’s face flushed with defeat, ‘Do it quickly…then everyone to the escape pods!’ He spun round, indicating to the bridge security first officer, ‘Set pods to land in the United Kingdom…all personnel to make their own way to Admiral Karladen!’ He straightened, his teeth gritted as he glanced across the faces staring at him, the ship rocking once more as metal screeched loudly, ‘It has been my pleasure to serve with you all…be safe Trevakians…’ The Vice Admiral gasped, his voice breaking as he shouted, ‘Abandon Ship! Your time is now!’

His first officer rose to his feet abruptly, his fist smacking against his chest, ‘It has been our honour Sir…’ The second in command glanced down, ‘Ship’s trajectory set…on your mark, engines will engage in forty earth seconds…torpedoes ready and armed…’

The Vice Admiral leant forward, grimacing as the lead Warship began to climb above the blue earth atmosphere in the distance, ‘Fire all! Crew to pods…I will engage engines…now move!’

The operators scrambled from their positions, all running for the reinforced exit doors as boots squealed on the polished floor, the lights flashing across their silhouettes. Chergui glanced down, the console in front of him announcing all torpedoes had just been fired, his hand slowly moving to the red flashing light, the icon that would engage full engines.

The security first officer stepped forward, his voice grim, ‘Sir...I estimate your own pod to be at least a fifty second run from your current position…there will not be time for you to make it…’

The Morgon fighter pilot’s eyes widened in surprise as multiple torpedoes swept from the battleship, their green glowing engines powering forward across the upper atmosphere. He shook his head, a tongue running across scaled lips as his black vessel swept forward, the lasers flickering as he pressed the fire button on his console, streaks of energy surging towards the large ship ahead, the sixteen other fighters following their leader into the attack.

Brian Jacobs stared through a crack in the curtains nearest the wall, looking out into the sunshine and onto the beach in the distance. The blue-green clear ocean waves sparkled with the late evening sunlight, deserted and abandoned luxury cars filling the road before the hotel and along the coastal strip, their doors still open. Several bodies lay amongst the trees and along the beach, blood trails demonstrating the futile last few yards of life, brutally wounded victims crawling or staggering in an effort to escape before being mercilessly and finally cut down.

Several now stray dogs cautiously nudged their lifeless owners, their small innocent and loving minds unable to comprehend why they had been out all day, why their regular meals had not been prepared and what their masters were doing, their behaviour stranger than normal, a couple nuzzling the still humans in vain attempts to wake them.

Brian’s eyes fixing on one small long haired terrier, obediently sitting by its still and dead human companion, the small dog slowly lowering itself to lay respectfully next to the corpse, its head dropping onto the sand between its paws. The Englishman swallowed, his sight becoming blurred as high emotion and dread filled his eyes, the numerous figures emerging from the trees below and proceeding out across the beach.

His breath caught as the black armoured silhouettes marched confidently along the sand, their thick alloy boots scuffing and marking the surface as they advanced. Slung over their shoulders, the long rifles and sparkling blades that had dealt such devastation and brutal murder, wet blood sparkling on their back plates as they marched. The column emerged in lines of three, following their commanders obediently as the black figures began to stretch along the beach, the waves crashing against the sand to their right. The Englishman gasping as one by one the figures continued to emerge, amounting to over one hundred in a matter of seconds, three hundred in all.

Marching round the distant bend on the beach, he glanced back into the room, his wife sitting on the lush carpet and leaning against the bed, her arms folded in dissatisfaction. Their young children lay cuddled on the bed, their deep breathing betraying a restful sleep, the confused intense excitement peaks of the day proving too much to prevent the onset of exhaustion.

Slowly his head moved back to the window, eyes widening as he saw others moving along the beach. Further black armoured figures had emerged, their weapons held across their chests as they advanced along the sand. Behind them, humans crept forward, their bodies hunched in misery and subservience as the soldiers either side urged them on with their rifles.

Brian shook his head as he recognised some hotel uniforms, a young chef, his whites covered in blood as he stumbled forward…the hotel concierge and receptionist, both bruised and beaten as they glanced round in fear. Then his blood seemed to freeze in his veins, one of the black armoured figures turning and staring upwards, directly at him, the eyes seeming to glow as an armoured fist rose briefly towards him, then out in the direction of the ocean. He sucked air, falling backwards as his heart pounded, his body slumping by the side of the bed as Moira glanced round, her face contorting in anguish as she shuffled towards him.

Her forgiving voice was reassuring as she ruffled his hair, whispering to him softly, ‘It will be ok…they left us alone…we have the children…they showed mercy.’ Tears fell from her eyes across his cheek as his body shook, the sheer relief filling his chest as he hugged her tightly, their love filling his heart once more as he realised the danger had potentially passed.

Gradually they parted, tears in Brian’s eyes as he kissed his wife passionately, their bodies pressing against one another briefly as one of the children stirred, a startled subdued slumbered word, ‘Mummy?’

Then he thoughtfully rose to the window again, stifling a cough as he pushed the curtain back slightly and staring out into the lowering red glow of sunlight once more. The glistening waves still crashed against the beach, the last distant silhouettes trooping miserably into a long angular craft that sat on the water’s edge.

As the rear doors gradually rose, Brian sniffed, half in sorrow, half in relief. Wiping his eyes, he watched as the tracks of the strange vehicle spun briefly, sand cascading from the rear as they gained traction before surging forward into the water, the surf exploding around the alloy hull as it pushed further into the salt water.

The ocean bubbled furiously around the hull as the vessel progressed, finally disappearing beneath the waves as he stared out, the air exhaling from his lungs in ultimate, yet guilt ridden relief. They had survived, but many others had not…death had faced them face to face and yet allowed survival…why?

He looked briefly across the dogs on the beach once more, then back into the room, smiling fondly as he saw his wife cradling their son, tears flowing from her eyes as her body shook in happiness…their future secured. He determined to go downstairs, to close his eyes to the devastation and bloodied corpses…he would find food and drinks…secure the family in the room and venture further, to seek help and a way out of this ghastly place. They would return to Britain and move to Scotland as suggested, away from the problems and anguish of the southern cities and human race.

Feeling reassured and resolute, he glanced back out into the glorious sunset, his face pressing forward in confusion as the dogs suddenly bolted, running from the sand at high speed. The trees shook slightly as numerous birds rose into the air, circling across the bay, then rising into the air over the hotel as they flew towards the mountains.

Brian stared more intently out into the surf as the waves glistened, crashing against the golden beach once more, blood streaks sucked down the sand towards the water’s edge and the lifeless figures shuddered against the waves.

He glanced round as Moira thrust a glass of Champagne into his hand, her eyes glistening in the fading light as he stared into her face, his chest filling with intense emotion as he looked upon the woman he loved so much, her hand slipping round him and rubbing his back fondly.

She reached forward, pulling the door to the balcony across as he smiled, the warm night air sweeping through the opening curtains as they stepped out. Moira’s eyes closed as she glimpsed the shadowed bodies across the beach, her hand rising to her mouth in shock, ‘Will we leave soon please?’

Brian looked down at her smiling, ‘Yes…as soon as we can, my love. We will go back to Britain and move north…Loch Ness and tutors for the children.’ He lifted his arm around her and squeezed, ‘Three or four dogs…maybe a pub, I dunno…we will get away from it all…’

The voice came from inside, the male child’s voice scared as he rubbed his eyes, ‘Mummy…where are you?’

Moira glanced up to him, winking, then pushed herself away, her hips moving seductively as she forced a smile, ‘Duty calls…’

Brian nodded, reaching into his trousers for the cigarettes and raising the packet to his mouth. Manipulating one of the filters between his lips, he placed the packet back into his pocket and flicked the lighter, drawing on the flame and smoke as he leant forward onto the steel bar around the balcony.

He stared outwards, the warm breeze seeming to rise as he raised the burning cigarette to his mouth again, his head lifting as he sipped from the glass. Drawing on the filter, he closed his eyes, the embracing wind engulfing his features before he looked over the sea again, his eyes widening in horror.

The water was retreating rapidly, revealing further bodies in the sand, the blood trails following the sea water as it surged outwards dramatically. Brian squinted, staring out into the darkening ocean as his nerves twitched with adrenalin, the waves sucked from the wide expanse of sand outwards. Distant whirring of blades, then a rushing roar sweeping across him in an overwhelming wall of sound.

Blackness filled the horizon, the red sunset dissipating, then disappearing, as distant dots of helicopters came into view, his eyes widening as the wind intensified, the curtains sucked outwards to either side of him as if a violent storm approached. He realised the signs, the immense wall of darkened water approaching at unbelievable speed as lights flickered across the open sand stretching into the distance.

He spun round, lunging back through the open doors as the curtains ripped from their mountings and swept billowing outwards to a seeming freedom. Moira turned as he jumped on the bed, his arms gathering the family together in a tight embrace as she whimpered, the air surging from the room as the lights flickered.

The immense dense wall of water swept forward, tearing across the sea bed as the salt liquid swirled with dirt and mud. The family huddled together in terror as the building began to shake, light bulbs shattering as the Tsunami powered towards the islands. The surviving humans on Hawaii ran in terror through devastated streets as the ocean swept forward, some simply sipping deeply from bottles of spirits as their houses shuddered and darkened, the lights failing across the island.

The US Marines hanging to the outsides of their charges sighed in personal defeat, the race for life having been lost…immense waves and dense water passed beneath them, the engines of their helicopters screaming as the pilots desperately attempted to beat the advancing tide from hell. The refuelling support planes circled the island, their pilots staring down in despondent disbelief at the impending disaster below, terrified civilians screaming upwards at the aircraft as the deep rumble approached.

As the wall of water surged up and along an exclusive beach, Brian tensed further, tears flowing from his eyes as an almost intoxicating scream of devastation shattering the windows, the ocean smacking high against the hotels walls. The intense shrieks of natural forces were deafening as the high rise building toppled backwards, his last desperately screamed words only just heard and comprehended by his wife and children as the building shattered and was swept into the mountains, ‘I love you all so much!’