Kang clanked forward with an override unit—each of the top three mission officers had been given one. He tried to slap the unit onto Marten’s suit. Marten jumped backward, slamming into a lift, crumpling the thin metal door.
“What are you gonna do to him?” Vip said, an edge to his voice.
“I’m going to let the HBs deal with him,” Kang said, hopping forward, the override unit almost touching Marten.
Marten got an armored foot on Kang’s chest-plate, and he kicked, hurling Kang’s half-ton battlesuit against the nearest wall. Then Marten righted himself as Lance, Conway and Higgens also rose to their feet.
“Are you siding with Kang?” shouted Marten.
“I don’t want the HBs killing me,” said Lance. “So you gotta forget this Jupiter nonsense.”
Marten glanced at the others. They peered at Kang, who roared curses as he aimed his heavy laser.
Marten ducked, turned and leaped deeper into the huge engine room.
“Traitorous scum!” roared Kang, a red laser beam lashing out after Marten.
Then Vip said, “If you fire again I’ll kill you.” He aimed his laser at Kang.
Marten glided behind another lift, shifted around and then entered it. Over the comlink, he heard Kang and Vip argue.
KANG: You’re helping the traitor!
VIP: That’s what you call him.
KANG: That’s what I’ll tell the HBs.
VIP: So I’d better burn you where you stand, that’s what you’re telling me.
KANG: Why are you aiming a laser at me if you’re not helping him?
VIP: Who’s aiming anything at you?
KANG: Now he’s gone, you idiot.
VIP: Where’s he gonna run to, Kang? Think about it.
KANG: To the enemy, you dolt.
VIP: I don’t think so. Besides, Marten got us here. I sure don’t wanna see him butchered by you because he helped you survive. You want to hunt for him later that’s your problem. Right now, we gotta secure the Bangladesh.
KANG: (grunted angrily)
Marten’s lift opened two levels down and he moved down a different corridor. He’d made his move and lost. Now he had only one option left. Get aboard an escape pod and leave before the HBs arrived.
21.
Admiral Rica Sioux slipped a tight wrap around her bad knee. She’d already had the medic shoot it with anti-pain. The Tracking Officer meanwhile brought body armor and a las-rifle and laid it beside the command chair.
“Admiral!” said the First Gunner. “This is madness. We must all make a run for the escape pods.”
Admiral Sioux ignored him. At her age, she had learned when not to argue. He spoke for the files, nothing more. Around her, the command team watched the VR-screens in dismay. The HB-trained soldiers were uncanny. The larger group smashed straight here. The smaller group had six active members, hitting and running wherever they weren’t expected.
An armrest button flashed.
“Security Chief, here. It’s no good, Admiral. Now they’re slaughtering my Security teams one by one. If only I could have used everybody together. I could have beaten them. It was a mistake to chase the smaller group.”
“I’ll be down to join you for the final assault,” said Admiral Sioux.
“Admiral, I must protest.”
“Noted. Now no more arguments, please. My mind is made up.”
“Aye-aye, Admiral. But you’d better hurry if you want to fight with us.”
Admiral Sioux motioned the Tracking Officer to help her put on the armor. As she did, the Admiral said, “You and the others will head to the escape pods, just like the First Gunner suggests.”
“We want to fight with you,” the Tracking Officer said.
“Senseless. Live to fight another day.”
“Then you’re not blowing the Bangladesh?” whispered the Tracking Officer.
Admiral Sioux knew that several officers watched her closely as they fingered their weapons. She had no doubt they would kill her if they suspected she would use the destruction code. The enemy’s swift success had broken their last scruples—or so Admiral Sioux suspected. The destruction procedure was complicated, so she couldn’t hide it from them.
The last buckles of the body-armor snapped closed. She put on her helmet and slid open the visor. Settling back into the command chair, she put a call through to General Hawthorne on Earth. Those in the command capsule continued to watch.
“General Hawthorne,” she said, “enemy soldiers called shock troops have breached the Bangladesh. We’re fighting desperately. I am about to go down and join the Security Chief. Here are the specs of the enemy battle tactics.” She pressed transmit, sending other files as well. Then she rose from her chair and scanned her command team.
“I am proud to have served with you. I wish you luck getting through to the escape pods.”
“Join us, Admiral,” said the First Gunner.
“I am old.” Admiral Sioux hefted her las-rifle. “But not too old to aim and fire.”
She limped to the sealed door, voice-activated the lock and watched it slide open. Deep from in the Bangladesh came the screech of combat. “Is anyone joining me?”
None of her officers dared look her in the eye.
She nodded and limped into the dark corridor of her beamship.
22.
Earth—New Baghdad
General Hawthorne cleared his throat, nodded to the holo-director that signaled him and peered into the camera. He sat at a desk, with small SU flags on either side of him. Behind him was a space map of the four Inner Planets and with the Social Unity Logo of four hands one atop the other interposed as background. His military hat was cocked at the angle he felt portrayed confidence and a dash of genius. His bony fingers were folded atop the desk.
A recorded voice spoke: “Citizens of the Four Planets, of Mars, Earth, Venus and Mercury, I give you Social Unity’s Supreme Commander, General James Hawthorne.” Martial music played. As the music winded down:
Hawthorne nodded at the camera as he saw the red recording light blink. “Good evening, dear citizens. It is with a heavy heart that I come to you tonight. Let me hastily add that not with a heart bowed with defeat or despair. Rather, I wish to… undo or unsay some of the words spoken to you earlier this year. This has been a year of great tragedy, as I know that you are all aware. The Highborn have brutally invaded the Four Planets and slain many that otherwise would have lived long and useful lives. The words that must be unsaid are those in the past year spoken in haste and fear. Namely, that this is a short war.
“In their love for the people of the Four Planets the former Directors believed the truth should remain hidden. They felt it was better to forge the tools to defeat the enemy and let you go on with your lives in peace. But the Highborn are not easily beaten. They are vicious soldiers, merciless and savage, and let me add, brilliant soldiers who plot well-laid plans. The Directors of many years gone designed the Highborn to be such soldiers. Alas, treachery infected the Highborn and they turned on us all.
“As Supreme Commander I have led the fight against the Highborn. I have witnessed both defeat and victory against our wily foe. I saw what many of you haven’t. That despite our various defeats victory is inevitable. But victory will not come cheaply or quickly. Knowing this, my heart was still troubled because I saw that many of the Directors lacked faith in you, the people of Social Unity. So I came to New Baghdad to speak with Madam Director Blanche-Aster. Ah, her nobility encouraged me to speak plainly with her, even as I saw that the many burdens had worn her down to less than her former greatness. She agreed with me and suggested that in this dark hour that I take the reins of authority and guide the Four Planets.