The Red Leopards of Zaxon B (Galaxies Collide Book 2) (5 page)

Two more of the small flying armoured craft crashed to the snow, the remaining five circling and firing down as more flares rose into the sky. Riaz scrambled upwards, pushing Debra before him as Tregan pulled Shino, the four running as the remaining marines sprinted south, their boots twitching against their feet as the soles reacted to the colder and icier terrain, maximising grip.

Bullets flew past them, Riaz’s eyes widening as he glimpsed the muzzle flashes ahead, Captain Dugachard standing upright at the next set of rocks near the base of the airfield with six marines, their assault rifles firing back up the slope either side of them. The four sprinted forward as explosions rocked the terrain behind, the remaining drones falling from the sky. The second walker staggered, one of its legs buckling as the last drone smashed against the steel outer armour, detonating on impact. The remaining walker at the top of the slope slowed, its crew awaiting the acid cannons to automatically reload, fearful of advancing without firepower. The Silakians and remaining Morgon grenadiers and infantry rose up, their shrieks of hatred spurring the four breathless figures on further as mortar shells burst behind them, directly on the position they had vacated.

Nearing the Trevakian captain, Shino realised the female officer was splattered in blood, her visor cracked and uniform dirt laden. As they passed, Captain Dugachard shouted for her soldiers to withdraw, shrieks on the airfield indicating the Morgons and their allies were commencing their pursuit. Bullets cracked against the rocks behind them, their heaving bodies surging past the obstructions as they pushed harder, the combat uniforms adjusting to help their tired frames continue.

The track slowly turned to the left, the jagged rocks now beginning to cover their retreat. Running through low and broken bare trees, the snowflakes flurried and blew around them, the wind rising and whistling as they progressed. The narrow rough snow blanketed road began to wind through the barren forest, the rocks rising vertically and high around them. Crystallised leaves and bushes lining their route as the temperature dropped further, their exhaled breath beginning to form in clouds and swirl as the running bodies broke through.

Tregan shouted encouragement, his head spinning round towards the rock opening behind as bullets ricocheted off the frosted surfaces. Captain Dugachard pushed her soldiers forward behind them, grasping one as he fell forward, a bullet cracking into his shoulder armour. Riaz slowed, turning and dropping back to help the Trevakian as the commander struggled to keep him upright, grasping the injured soldier’s uniform as blood wept from the wound, the soldier groaning in pain as his legs sagged.

The Asian stumbled, wincing, the soldier’s weight off-balancing him as they struggled forward, Captain Dugachard glancing round in fear as they fell behind the others. Shrieks of anger filled the woods, the Morgon pursuers gaining on them as the armoured infantry approached the opening in the rocks.

Ahead, Shino fell to her knees, the cracking of splintering wood to their right causing her to jump, her panicked body scrambling from the track to the left. Debra followed as two Trevakian marines ran past, their bodies lowered as explosions whipped through the air above. 

More shrill cracks and splintering sounds followed, the barren and freezing wood shattering as heavy overwhelming force was applied to the exterior of the virtually petrified wood, the oxygen starved trees succumbing to the elements some months previously.

Shino scrambled behind an iced tree, her exhaled breath hanging in a cloud as she raised the assault rifle, her combat suit thickening and hugging her petit frame tighter in attempts to protect the Philippine against the elements as it senses her follicles shiver. Staring out as Debra dropped to her knees next to her, Shino noticed the low freezing mist beginning to curl round the petrified tree trunks, her eyes straining as he attempted to penetrate the shroud.

She gasped, seeing a couple of silhouettes in the thickening mist, her breath held as she hissed, ‘They are behind us!’

Debra winced, urgently beckoning Riaz towards them as he, the three neared, the Asian officer dragging the wounded man and Captain Dugachard towards the two lowered figures. Shino stared out, her body stiffening as Debra readied to fire next to her. Shrieks filled their ears, the Philippine rising slightly as the first figure became clearer through the rising mist, the cloud swirling around the silhouette.

The Trevakian gradually emerged from the cloud of frozen fog, the body encased in armour, the shoulder and main frame moulded around the physical shape for ease of movement. The shoulder plates were complimented with chest and torso moulded bubbled polymer, bright red piping surrounding the contours of the hardened protective screen. The helmet differed from their own, lowered and overlapping the neck and angled outwards at the base, the camouflage transforming as it emerged into the dim light.

The cracking of the trees intensified, causing the defenders to stiffen as two massive armoured hulks broke through the frozen shroud, the tracked tanks crushed anything before them. Long muzzled high calibre guns probed forward as the armoured vehicles smashed everything before them, more trunks and frozen ferns and vegetation crushed under the wide tracks as the lumbering metal and alloy beasts advanced.

The angled hulls pushed the crippled tree trunks down, crushing them under their tracks, splinters sweeping out to either side as they advanced behind the three armoured figures before them. Long gun barrels thrust forward as the tanks smashed through the petrified trees, splintering bark ground further under the wide resin tracks, the hulks shattering any foliage and wood obstructions. Shino’s eyes widened, her breath held as her arm rose to point, her mind seeming to recognise the hard metal outlines behind the shadowed silhouettes, her voice hushed in utter shock, ‘My god…Tigers?’

Debra squinted into the mirk, taking in the spectacles and glancing at the Philippine, ‘What do you mean?’ They ducked instinctively as the lead tank fired through the gap in the rocks ahead, the deep bark of sound resonating across the woods as flames and smoke belched from the barrel muzzle, the shell sweeping forward, the explosion rocking the terrain.

Shino spun round in exasperation, her face curling in confusion, an exhaled breath forced from a trembling chest as more trees cracked and collapsed behind, ‘They are very angular, similar to the tanks we have on earth!’ She glanced at Tregan inquisitively, ‘Are these the Red Leopards?

The Trevakian nodded, indicating to the lead soldier, ‘That will be one of their officers…once the tanks and infantry have moved up, we should have a briefing with him.’

Riaz stared as numerous silhouettes then figures emerged behind the tanks through the mist, their bubbled and red lined armour similar to the lead officer.

Admiral Shadian grimaced as he stared across the three dimensional holographic display, the planet’s surface glinting as small dots flew across it above the console, the fighter battle below intensifying above Trevakian held areas. He leant forward across the wide desk, running a hand nervously through his hair as he pointed to the two flickering enemy warships, his voice low with anticipation, ‘How long before they engage us?’

The station shuddered as the massive upper guns fired out, their laser projectiles sweeping towards the oncoming enemy craft. His first officer looked up, wide eyed, ‘A matter of minutes Sir…they are advancing slowly…I suspect they are attempting to try and understand our capability.’

The Admiral straightened, shaking his head in frustration, ‘We need more support or they will overwhelm us…the only thing on our side is their lack of knowledge of this station…’ He licked his lips nervously, straightening his cap as he glanced across the bridge, the increasingly alarmed operators and crew members staring intently at their screens and electronic boards as their hands nervously ran across the surfaces.

The commander looked round, seeing his communications officer enter the bridge and indicating to him, ‘I want the heavy laser guns in Morasat brought on line immediately…targeting these Morgon vessels…with them and the station we may give them a sense that they might not win…or at least convey doubt!’

He spun round, staring defiantly at his first officer, ‘Full shields…the guns fire continuously…all weapons target the warships.’ His eyes lightened, ‘The heavy bombers we had…how long before they are operational and ready to fly?’

The first officer shook his head despondently, ‘We transferred the pilots into fighters…most of the bombers are on the surface in hangars…we will never get them into the air in time! Not all the guns on the surface are online yet!’

Admiral Shadian winked, ‘Oh we will get them online…and those bombers up!’ He turned to his comms officer, ‘Get the reserve pilots ready…and you get to the surface…I want those bombers in the air with fighter escorts as soon as you can! Act independently…you have command of the bombers…only target one warship, concentrate your fire! Damage it!’

The startled Communications Officer nodded, raising his fist to his chest in response and lunging towards one of the operators, his voice rising, ‘When is the next fighter landing and on which deck?’

The operator ran his hands across the panel, inspecting the computer’s responses, ‘There is one on ‘D’ deck now…being rearmed…I will temporarily delay his departure.’

The admiral shouted across the bridge, ‘Run! I want everything against those monsters…’ He glanced at the viewing window, seeing the distant vessels now larger, his eyes widening, ‘We will take heavy damage, but if we can drive them off…’

The dark blue uniformed Communications Officer darted from the bridge, his rubber boots squealing on the shining floor as he ran.

Admiral Shadian placed his hands on his hips, his teeth gritted, ‘Upper reserve torpedoes…have them armed and ready to fire on my command!’ Staring back to the viewing window, he indicated forward, ‘Zoom please…let’s see what they have!’

The large window screen flickered, the operator behind touching several options on the controls, the station shuddering again as the upper laser turrets fired out. The first officer grimacing as he turned, his voice rising, ‘The nearest warship is powering forward torpedoes Sir…they will fire as soon as they get within range!’ He hesitated, staring at his screen, his eyes narrowing, ‘There is also a power surge from their flight decks…they are launching fighters and bombers!’

The admiral stepped forward towards the screen, a hand rising to his chin impatiently as he awaited the image to clear, ‘Move the lower laser turrets from planetary support to engage their bombers…further power to the laser shield and use the suicide droids at will! Deploy all blast screens!’ The screen shimmered as the heavy protective screens closed around the bridge and external windows, the picture reforming onto several camera images, providing differing views from across the station.

The screen cleared, the two Decimator warships surging into view as Admiral Shadian stared in awe, seeing the large long angular darkened grey ships widen on the screen as zoom was applied, the angular back markings and skull emblazoned on the hulls as lights flickered across the reinforced triangular windows. He grimaced as he recognised the main bridge window, angled with the sloping upper hull, the eight heavy guns below complimented by heavy laser turrets on the sides and upper and lower body. He swallowed as the surge of power could be clearly seen, sparks and static charging across the lower heavy guns as the warships emerged into range, the admiral’s head spinning round, ‘Full power to shields…they are preparing to fire!’

He glanced back, seeing the turrets rotate, lights flashing and emerging from the side flight decks, the tiny bombers and fighters swooping out from their holds and forming into attack waves. The groups of small craft swept upwards, emerging above the warships before circling and proceeding in the direction of the space station, their crews wary to avoid the heavy gun blasts from below.

Admiral Shadian pursed his lips, shaking his head, his eyes widening at the sheer number of small craft now flying towards them. The large forward guns shuddered backwards, long wide sheaths of laser energy shooting towards Alexion One, the commander backing from the screen, his breath drawn, ‘Brace for impact! I need that support from the planet surface now!’

The red laser lights shot towards the stationary space station, the pulsing shrill alarms sounding on the many decks as personnel stared upwards. The main lights flashed red, a female computerised voice breaking through the alarm, ‘Incoming Attack! Brace! Brace! All personnel to battle stations! All personnel to battle stations!’

The station shook, shuddering back and forth as the numerous laser blasts smashed against the shield walls. Admiral Shadian gritted his teeth as the laser droid shield disintegrated under the force of impact, the small robots shattering and debris ricocheting off the weakened force shield, his eyes moving to the approaching small craft, voice rising, ‘All laser turrets target their attacking ships…blow them out of space!’ He turned desperately to his first officer, the crew of the bridge staring at their commander wide eyed from the sheer force of impact. Swallowing hard, he glared at them, ‘Any crew members not on the turrets to the armoury, I want all personnel armed and ready to receive any Morgon boarding parties!’

The station shuddered violently, a second blast of heavy laser cannons hitting the superstructure. Then the upper and lower turrets opened fire once more, blue and red lights pouring from the space station towards the incoming fighters and bombers. The mood lightened slightly, several flashes in the distance indicating enemy aircraft deploying flares and manoeuvring to avoid the high energy fire.

The first officer shouted with excitement, staring at his screen, ‘Our fighters are rising from the planet atmosphere Sir!’ He grinned, running his hands across the surface of his screen, ‘Flashes from the surface Sir…the heavy guns of Morasat are engaging Admiral!’

Admiral Shadian turned in triumph, staring round his bridge crew to give encouragement, ‘We may be outgunned, but let’s give them a party! Fire all torpedoes at lead warship!’ The operators glanced down, their hands running feverishly across panels as engines ignited in the firing tubes across the station, the missiles surging out into space and sweeping forward.

Looking back at the screen, the admiral saw several of the Morgon fighters peel off to intercept the rising Trevakian silver vessels, their flight crews staring at their flashing instrument displays as laser blasts filled space, the torpedoes speeding towards their target as the warship turrets opened fire on the incoming missiles.

The station shook again, the heavy guns firing out as the crew braced for impact, seeing the intense lights shooting towards them from the warships. The rapid screams of automatic flak guns placed around the station burst into life as the enemy bombers and remaining fighter escorts reached the outer range markers.

On Zaxon B, the two massive guns roared, smoke billowing from their barrels as the long laser blasts sped into the heavens. The crews lowered their hands from their protective helmets, closing their mouths, knowing even in the heavy bunkers they could sustain physical damage. Placed to the north of Marasat, the two operational guns were part of four batteries planned as the ultimate defence for the expanding city, the other three as yet incomplete.  Work had ceased on the other deep underground positions…positioned to the south, east and west…as the Morgon ships were first encountered, the enemy keen to remain at the far side of the planet once they realised the sheer power of the battery.

Local troops and inhabitants stared upwards in awe and astonishment, the deafening bark of the enormous guns echoing across the low masonry buildings on the city outskirts and surrounding terrain. Some continued to stare in dumbfounded silence, now seeing the flashes in outer space through gaps in the clouds as the battle began to rage across the heavens. Occasionally able to see the distant lights of Alexion One, their demeanours became more serious as the rumours of heavy Morgon attacks on their main protection and contact with possible reinforcements became more widespread. Soon the word of two warships reached the ears of the residents, their hopes diminishing as realisation of a superior adversary became apparent.

Trevakians and the local populace stepped from their buildings into the dull light to strain their eyes upwards, gossip and rumours spreading across the city as the two guns continued to fire, the power surges causing lights to flicker and dim to provide the ignitors to fuel cells powering the massive artillery weapons.

The flight leader of Zaxon B’s second Viper squadron glanced around his cockpit, the proximity lights flashing as he grinned with adrenalin, his eyes narrowing in hatred as he saw the flashes against the outer hull of the space station above. A seasoned veteran, the thirty two year old had survived being shot down in a fierce air battle over Desexus, a planet on the other side of the galaxy. Transferred through the space station portal, he had slowly and painfully recovered from his severe burns and broken limbs under tender care on the planet’s surface. Participating in, and then upon recovery from his injuries, leading the training of the newly formed squadron of raw recruits sent to the planet for experience and their initial flight hours.

Flight Lieutenant Anjara’s jaw hardened as he thought of the pilots around him, six brave young men and women, some of the finest volunteers of his planet, their youthful faces flushed with excitement as he had initially greeted them four months previously. The experience of their first few joint fighter flying lessons with him sat in the twin seater jet before their initial nervous lone flight, his own emotions raised to almost breaking point as they individually mastered each and every manoeuvre he had trained. The control of their new frontline fighters explained in almost tedious detail in the classroom before they took to the skies and space over the city and planet below. The experienced trainer had stretched each individual’s understanding to the limit, continuously pushing them to learn and understand the strategy of their survival in the seat of one of the most formidable single spacecraft in existence.

His brown eyes blinked with emotion as the thoughts of what the youngsters must be experiencing around him filled his mind, a tear spilling down his scorched and scarred face as the short distance covert fighter circuit radio burbled in his ear, ‘Flight Leader One, I am assuming outer wing…awaiting your mark on target!’

Flight Lieutenant Anjara swallowed hard, the voice in his ear tense but professional. Clearing his throat, he replied, controlling and forcing his tone, ‘Affirmative Number Two…we engage on my mark…’ He thrust his controls forward, the seven silver jets streaking across the sky just below the atmospheric edge as his recruits smiled with excitement, the Morgon forces below unable to engage the high altitude craft. Above them, the remaining squadrons of Trevakian star fighters swooped to engage the oncoming enemy craft, outnumbered…but determined.

Alexion One shook violently again, the massive space station suffering several direct hits from the massive warship guns. Admiral Shadian relinquished his steadying grasp on the console table, staring defiantly at the multiple images on the large screen, static surging across a couple, ‘Damage report?’ He watched as explosions across the bows of the lead warship from the heavy gun battery on the planet below as they were joined with the laser blasts from the station’s heavy upper turrets, scorch marks appearing on the Morgon vessel’s hull as he sighed in frustration, ‘We are taking too long to break through their shields…they are just too strong!’

Fighter bombers swept past the cameras, rockets and proximity bombs impacting against the space station hull, the outer corridors rocking as jets of steam poured into the pressurised areas. Station personnel fled from the leaks, their panic spreading as other crew members emerged in full combat uniform, ordering them to proceed to the armoury. Engineering crews raced forward, their sealant emergency equipment spraying the affected areas and blocking any gaps, supervisors typing emergency codes into their mobile consoles to alert the bridge of potential breaches or structural weaknesses, the main computer AI system confirming or adjusting to suspicions.