The Aurora (Aurora Saga, Book 1) (27 page)

Gulino studied the route.

‘Some of the buildings extend into those caves,’ he said. ‘There doesn’t appear to be any automatic internal defences, Kalrea.’

‘No, but the Treitans may work out what we are doing and try to stop the fighters,’ Kalrea said.

‘It doesn’t look very wide in there,’ Londuo commented.

‘In some places the rocky tunnels are barely twice the width of a fighter. You can’t afford to make a mistake,’ Kalrea said.

A point on the route was highlighted.

‘The second fighter will need to hold station here. That’s when it will be at its most vulnerable. You’ll need to be alert because there are buildings nearby.’

‘How are you going to blast through the rock, Kalrea?’ Gulino said. ‘Not even a plasma torpedo could get through that.’

‘I’m working on it at the moment. If I can overheat the fighter’s drive at the last moment and fly the fighter at speed into the rock, the explosion will breach it.’

‘What if it doesn’t?’ Gulino questioned.

‘Then the second fighter would have to do the same,’ Kalrea replied.

There was a moment of silence.

‘This is where the reactor is located,’ Kalrea said, and an image appeared on the monitor.

At the centre of a colossal cavern was the tall slim reactor, stretching from floor to ceiling.

‘What do you think, Gulino?’ James asked.

‘We must have a go; I believe Kalrea’s plan can work,’ Gulino replied.

‘I’m already configuring one of the fighters for my interface,’ Kalrea said.

Gulino rose nervously from his seat.

‘Right, let’s do it,’ he said.

‘Wait, Gulino!’ Londuo said, looking over to him. ‘I’m sorry, Gulino, but you don’t stand a chance of making it out. You’re not good enough—’

As Gulino was about to speak Londuo continued,

‘You know I should be the one to go. I’m one of the best pilots in the fleet. If anyone’s going to make it, it’s me.’

‘I have to go, James,’ Gulino said. ‘I am good enough. I can do this—’

‘Hold on, please; both of you!’ James said, interrupting.

Kalrea?
he thought.

Londuo has the best chance of completing the mission,
Kalrea replied.
She’s an Alpha grade pilot.

James thought to himself for a moment.

James, remember I can read your thoughts,
Kalrea said in James’ head.
This must be a very difficult decision for you.

I don’t want to lose her
, James replied, wrestling with his thoughts.

But Londuo’s right. If you send Gulino, his chances of surviving are almost zero,
Kalrea said.
Londuo has a sixty percent chance of making it.

Only sixty percent! Why can’t you promise me she’ll make it?

I’m sorry. I’m not going to lie to you, James,
Kalrea replied.
Anything could happen. You have to make the right decision. It’s up to you.

Why do I have to make the choice?

Because you’re the captain, James.

James had to make a decision, either to send Gulino, who would most certainly die, or risk losing his lover.

James focused.

‘Londuo will go. Gulino, you’ll stay here.’

‘But…,’ Gulino said.

‘Do I have to repeat myself, Commander?’ James said.

‘No, sir,’ Gulino replied.

‘Okay, Londuo it’s your call, but I don’t want you taking any risks,’ James said.

Kalrea you must breach the rock. Promise me you’ll make sure Londuo has the maximum amount of time to get out of there,
he thought.

I promise, James. She will.

James watched Londuo as she headed for the lift.

‘Londuo!’ Gulino said, spinning his seat around.

She stopped for a moment, her back to him.

‘You won’t do anything foolish, will you?’ Gulino said. ‘There’s someone here who needs you.’

She turned and smiled.

‘You know me.’

Londuo entered the lift.

What did she mean, ‘you know me,’
James thought.
I hope she won’t do anything stupid in there.

James looked at the scanners. Four Treitan cruisers were now very close.

Two of our ships didn’t make it, James,
Kalrea said sadly.
The Horopila and Thardopila.

What? We lost two ships? I don’t know what to say.
James was lost for words.
I... I can’t believe all those people gave their lives so we could get here.
He felt full of guilt, like he was directly responsible for their deaths.
We have to destroy the base, Kalrea. I can’t go back and say we failed. I would not be able to face anyone.

*****

The two fighters powered up their drives. Londuo performed her final flight checks, ready for departure. She was nervous, just like she would be on any mission, but this time she felt different. For the first time, she felt scared.

‘Kalrea’s downloaded full schematics of the caverns and tunnels into your computer, Londuo,’ James said over the fighter intercom. ‘Once you have launched we’re going to move two kilometres to the North, out of range of the base. It’s up to you and Kalrea now. Please be careful, Londuo. I love you!’ he said.

‘Love you too, James,’ she replied.

Okay, here we go. Keep calm, try to relax. You can’t afford to feel afraid. And stop thinking about those dreams, you’re not going to die here on Dagnamk!

The fighters cleared the cargo bay of the
Aurora
. Led by Kalrea they spun quickly around and disappeared into the dark mouth of the cave. Lights within the nose and tail of the fighters were activated automatically, illuminating the tunnel. The walls were smooth but with some large sharp rocks jutting out. They rounded the first corner and continued through an enormous cavern.

‘Londuo, you’ll have to use full power when you enter this cavern on the way out. It’s long enough for a seven second burst,’ Kalrea instructed.

They neared a smaller tunnel.

‘Use maximum side thrust on every bend.’

It’s tighter in here than a kiol up a knip pipe,
Londuo thought.

When they approached another bend, Londuo noticed part of a building cut into the rock. A large walkway was visible to the left. Three Treitans stood motionless while the fighters flew past.
They’re watching me
. Londuo felt a shiver run down her spine.
I don’t like this. It’s too narrow. I can’t manoeuvre.

The ships slowed.

‘All right Londuo; this is where I leave you,’ Kalrea said. ‘Keep alert.’

‘Understood,’ Londuo replied, looking nervously around.

To the right were two large windows looking into a room. A startled Treitan froze for a moment before it slithered from the room.

Kalrea’s fighter disappeared into another tunnel.

Londuo monitored the surrounding area. The scanner was saturated with information.

‘Twenty seconds,’ Kalrea informed.

Come on, Kalrea, hurry up.
Londuo glanced out the side of the cockpit. She gasped when five Treitans rushed into the adjacent room. Two were carrying a large tube. They pointed it at her ship.

No, they’re not going to do what I think they’re going to do
!

Londuo cut all power, causing the fighter to drop, just before a missile crashed through the window and exploded on the far wall of the tunnel. Rocks rained down on the fighter.

Damn, they did! They shouldn’t have done that! Now that really upsets me.

She calmly selected the front laser. The fighter rose up level with the window and fired. Bright flashes of laser fire showered the interior of the room, cutting everything inside to pieces. Londuo stopped, her heart beating fast as the cloudy room cleared slowly. Dust and debris was falling like snow onto the pierced and distorted floor. The devastation was enormous, and the room had been totally destroyed.

Suddenly, she noticed the lacerated remains of a large Treitan tentacle lying across the nose of the fighter. The end of it twitched. Londuo felt light-headed and rocked the fighter violently from side to side to dislodge it. The tentacle slid slowly to the edge, leaving a thick mustard trail, before disappearing down the tunnel, striking the rocks as it fell.

‘Ten seconds. Raising drive temperature,’ Kalrea said. ‘Five seconds.’

Kalrea’s fighter accelerated and crashed into the rock. There was a large explosion, causing the rocks to split and shatter.

Londuo noticed the tunnel walls around her shudder. A whistle of air from the explosion reverberated towards the surface. Her heart quickened. She watched the scanners. When the dust settled there was no sign of the lava.

‘
It hasn’t worked,’ she said in disbelief.

‘
Wait,’ Kalrea replied. ‘Seismic activity is increasing in the area. Londuo, get moving,’ Kalrea said sternly. ‘Get out of there!’

*****

The surface of the planet visibly moved, shaken by a quake. The walls of the base buckled and split. The lava began to run along the caverns and tunnels, melting everything on its way. It rushed relentlessly along corridors and through rooms. Blast doors were pushed aside, like they were made of paper. Within seconds the lava had reached the cavern containing the reactor, pouring onto its floor like treacle. It splashed and pierced some holes into the reactor outer shell and beams of emerald light shone out, like a warning from a lighthouse. The volume of lava increased rapidly and a crack appeared in the outer shell. The reactor’s hum grew in pitch while the crack widened, then suddenly the shell shattered like glass.