Star Crusades Nexus: Book 06 - Call to Arms (27 page)

“Good work, people,” she said as one of the craft was hit by the concentrated fire of three turrets.

The remaining craft moved back to the rear of Tamarisk II and opened fire on the already damaged engine section.

“Teresa, you have to keep them from the stern,” said Johnson over the intercom.

Teresa was already on it and had swung the guns back but was unable to depress them further without striking Tamarisk II herself. She didn’t even notice the group of fighters coming in from the left flank. Streams of gunfire peppered the dorsal turrets, and she was forced to pull herself behind the first gun mount as cannon rounds smashed the weapon systems apart.

“Colonel, we have fighters all around. Port and stern guns are down,” said Captain Thompson.

Teresa shook her head angrily as she looked at the ruins of the two turret mounts. The guns appeared to be working fine, but the mounts were smashed and locked so that the guns were pointing exactly where there was no enemy. More shots hit the ship, and reports from the other marines announced the same problem.

So, our guns are all gone. Now they will board us, and this will all have been in vain.

“Colonel, what the hell is going on out there?” demanded Johnson.

Teresa looked at the formation of assault craft behind her and noted the icons on her visor showing the growing number of fighters. She tried to stay calm, but the prospect of being surrounded and boarded by the Biomechs was something she would never allow. She closed her eyes for the briefest of moments and then opened them to the horror of the Bioray. It must have been moving closer during the battle because when she looked back to the bow of ANS Tamarisk II, it filled her entire view. An image appeared on her visor. It was Johnson.

“I’ve got power back online, and half of our engines are operational. Get your people back inside.”

“Johnson, have you looked outside?”

“I know. They won’t risk any more damage against us with the Biomech on board.”

Teresa looked back at the Bioray and noted the large number of ports opening up and the shapes of more assault craft moving into a launch position. To her horror, there was something even more disconcerting to look at, the shapes of gun systems tracking in the direction of ANS Tamarisk II.

“Johnson, I think you might be wrong on that one.”

Two of the assault craft jumped out from the ship and made directly for the flank of her own ship. At this range, she could see the groups of the horrific bipedal warriors holding onto the sides of the craft. She reached to her thigh, pulled out her service pistol, and flipped off the safety.

You’re not taking me alive.

The craft moved ever closer, and even as the engines on Tamarisk II powered up, she knew there was absolutely no chance of escape. With the engines damaged, they might still make it to the Rift just as the rest of the Biomechs arrived, but not while a squadron of fighters plus a Bioray and its complement of assault shuttles were moving in on them.

Teresa hadn’t expected them to shoot first, and the bright white light blinded her so quickly she didn’t even have time to grab for her pistol. Something hit her hard, and she crashed into the back of the container section and was almost knocked out. Her fear of being taken by the machines overruled any mental or physical damage though, and she fought off the blackness.

My gun, I need my gun.

She opened her eyes to see nothing but flames and wrecked metal all around her. The pistol was long gone, and everywhere she looked was the sight of terrifying destruction. She looked out into space, but again there was nothing identifiable, just the wreckage and mutilated ship sections.

How did I survive that?

“Teresa, are you there?” asked a familiar voice.

She tried to speak, but no sound came out. She swallowed, coughed, and then tried again. Her voice croaked, but at least it worked.

“I’m here, what’s our status?”

It was a pointless question, but she was intrigued to know how the two of them were still alive. It was only then she noticed the wreckage was moving out of her view. With great physical effort, Teresa pulled herself to the edge of the shattered container and shook her head in astonishment.

“Tamarisk lives?” she said.

“You bet your ass she lives. Now get inside and fast. We have a date with a Rift!”

Teresa pulled herself from where she’d been sheltering, noting that of the six of them that had moved to the outer side of the ship, only she and two others were still showing on the status list.

“Marines, get inside and fast!”

She paused and looked up to the wreckage. It hadn’t even occurred to her that the chunks of shattered metal had been from another vessel. Light from behind the remains of the Biomech craft turned the sections black, and then Tamarisk II broke out into open space and gave her the perfect view.

“Dreadnought,” she said happily.

It was more to herself than to anybody that might be listening on the audio channel that she’d still left open. The massive warship had positioned itself along their flank, and even now continued to bombard the wreckage of the Bioray while using its turrets to cut down the remaining assault craft and fighters. Her hull was heavily scored and that could only mean the vessel had been waiting within the storm clouds.

Captain Vetlaya, you crazy woman!

Teresa grinned happily and watched as a squadron of Alliance Avenger drones chased after a pair of Biomech fighters. They seemed equally matched in size, speed, and firepower. Both Biomech fighters were blazing wrecks in seconds, and one of the Avenger drones had been eliminated. Teresa took a long, clear breath and turned her attention back to Tamarisk II.

We might just make it out of here, after all.

She inched along the flank of the ship and eventually made it to the access hatch that led inside. The outer airlock was already open, and Captain Thompson was waiting there for her. She felt relieved that he was one of the survivors, but also guilty that she would place his life above the others she barely knew.

“Colonel,” he said smartly.

“Captain Thompson, it would appear the rumors of our demise were somewhat exaggerated.”

“Quite,” he answered quickly.

She moved inside and to her surprise found herself being pulled to the floor. The hatch closed shut behind her, and with just a few more steps, she was through the layered airlock and into the lower compartment. Waiting inside was Major Terson and a handful of marines.

“Colonel, glad to see you’re safe.”

Teresa noticed the marines had opened their visors, and she did the same. The slightly cool air of the ship was a welcome relief to the warmer air she’d been breathing inside her suit. Olik appeared at the end of the compartment, and he was pointing back to where he’d come from.

“Colonel, there’s something not right here.”

“What is it?”

“The cargo hold. We checked to make sure the machine was still operative.”

“And?”

Olik looked a little confused before he answered.

“Well, it’s not there. Just a load of computer equipment and some kind of reactor.”

Teresa nodded and placed her finger to her mouth.

“Let’s keep it that way then, shall we?”

Teresa walked through the ship while the other marines returned to their posts. Olik followed rather than head back to the storage part of the hull, scratching his head as he walked. He didn’t ask again until they were moving through the gunnery control room that also doubled as a war room. He could get no further, but at least he could see the cockpit, and Director Johnson and Captain Tycho.

“Good work, Colonel. That was pretty close.”

Teresa nodded in agreement and moved closer to look through the main screen. The Rift to T’Karan was active and swirled around like a whirlpool in front of them. They were already being buffeted by the odd combination of the outer tendrils of the Promethean storms, and the vast energies being used at the P7 station to keep the Rift open.

“Look!” said Olik.

He pointed at a shape as a Biomech Ravager ship went through the Rift.

“How many more have gone through?”

Johnson shook his head.

“That’s the first. I think they’re trying to persuade us not to go through.”

“Why don’t they collapse it?”

“Because they’re arrogant. And they want it open so they can capture both parts of it.”

Teresa looked at the radar scans of the area around them.

“The entire Biomech fleet is going to be here in less than two minutes. What will they do?”

A video appeared on the mainscreen. It was a direct transmission from the Biomech flagship, the massive vessel dwarfing every ship near the Rift. Teresa instantly knew who it was she was looking at.

"Typhon, what do you want?"

The man looked much less confident than normal. His face twisted as he looked back at her until he finally spoke.

"Enter the Rift, and we will destroy everything that you hold dear. We have access to over..."

Teresa cut the audio feed and shouted back at him.

"Typhon, Pontus, and the rest. You’re just emissaries, nothing more. We're done with you, all of you."

She didn't even bother to listen to his reply and simply cut the feed. Teresa then looked to Johnson who did his best to hide his smile.

"I take it negotiations are over?"

Teresa didn't even need to answer that question. Director Johnson hit the engine override on his console, and the ship shuddered as more fuel was pumped into the remaining engines. The effect was nothing as great as before, but it did push them along almost an additional twenty percent.

“We go through!”

* * *

Admiral Anderson watched the mainscreen with growing impatience. This was his first voyage aboard ANS Terra Nova, and although he remained completely confident in her capabilities and her crew, he was still finding the mission to be one of the most stressful he’d ever undertaken.

I’ve stripped the AJ Naval Station of her ships. If they get wind of this, there’ll be hell to pay.

Again he looked at the screen, but there was still no change.

Nothing.

The officers continued their work scanning the Rift, but in the three hours they had been stationed not a single ship had come through. For the umpteenth time, he looked to his science officer.

“The signal jammers and disruptors are all ready?”

“Yes, Admiral,” answered the officer just as quickly.

He turned his attention back to the mainscreen and ran his eyes along the list of ships he’d brought to bear. As well as his flagship, there were eight brand new Crusader class ships and thirty of the newest Liberty Class. It was a formidable fleet and probably overkill, but he was taking no chances with the Biomechs.

Will they work? he wondered.

The scientists on the Admiral Jarvis Naval Station had promised him the jamming hardware fitted to ANS Beagle would do the job. He’d seen the data and in that they were right, but he’d seen plenty of theories smashed when it came to battle. He tapped the button on his screen and brought up the video report from Admiral Lewis for what must have been the tenth time that day.

"Admiral. We are in position and are assisting the Helions in assembling a blocking force. We have no idea of the enemy's strength, just that they are on a direct collision course with the planet, and their arrival is imminent. I have sent additional scouts to the other races to plead for help."

He skipped ahead to the section that dealt with Eos.

"Initial scans of Eos show the majority of the Biomech ground forces have been eliminated. Small groups of survivors have made contact. I have arranged for New Helion Army units to assist them until we can provide additional forces."

He looked at the ground scans for the last message and noted the irritation in Admiral Lewis' tone when he mentioned the lack of additional forces.