“Entering maximum previously detected enemy firing range.” The ship’s AI gave the warning. No one knew the actual effective range of the particle accelerators – all they had was the sketchy data from previous engagements.
West leaned back in her command chair. She always felt claustrophobic with her helmet on. People used to tell her she’d get used to it, but 30 years into her career she still hated it. Of course she hated the idea of choking on vacuum more. She was just about to ask Athena for a status update when Cambrai shook wildly. The lights on the bridge flickered briefly and the ship shuddered again.
“Real-time damage reports, Athena.” West was stepping on Captain Johansen’s toes. Running Cambrai was her flag captain’s job – managing the fleet was hers. But West had always been a bit of a control freak, and she and Johansen had made their peace on the issue. Besides, Cambrai was her only capital ship, an enormous component of Third Fleet’s firepower. It rated some attention from the admiral.
“Landing bay Alpha destroyed, hull integrity lost in sections 14 through 18, primary reactor control circuit offline…backup has engaged and is functioning.” West’s AI was ratting off the damage reports as they were compiled. “Casualty estimates unavailable.”
They may not have an estimate yet, but West knew some of her people were dead…and a lot more were wounded. And she knew it would get worse. The fleet’s high velocity would close the distance to laser range quickly, but until then they had to run this gauntlet.
Cambrai shook again…it was a hit near the flag bridge and one of the structural members crashed to the floor a meter from West’s chair. Her head snapped around, but she quickly saw that none of her people were injured.
“Sixty seconds to laser range.” Athena gave West the notification, but she didn’t need it. The firing solutions were all locked into the ships’ AIs. “Diamondback and Falcon destroyed by enemy fire.”
West’s shoulders slumped. The two attack ships were the first ones she’d lost. She knew the fleet would suffer losses, but that didn’t stop it from hurting. Captain Marne skippered Falcon…Marne had been part of West’s staff until she’d put him up for his own command. Now he was gone. He wasn’t the first friend she’d lost, but it never seemed to get easier.
She stared straight ahead, and her eyes were like death. “Athena…relay to all ships….” Her brow was furrowed and her fists were clenched. “Fire.”
Teller crouched behind a large outcropping, heavy hyper-velocity rounds impacting all around. His lines were broken at four points, maybe more. He was losing track of things in the growing chaos. The enemy was coming at them without a break. The Marines had taken down a lot of the battle robots, including a few of the big ones they’d dubbed Reapers, but the enemy units kept coming despite their losses.
Teller was proud of 1 st Brigade. They’d fought like demons, despite crippling losses and crushing exhaustion. But he knew they were done. The battle robots attacked day and night…no fear, no doubt, no fatigue. His troops were exhausted, and their morale was broken. They were low on ammunition and they’d been in their suits non-stop for almost two weeks. Human endurance had a limit, even for veteran Marines. And they had reached it.
He knew what would happen. His wavering lines would crumple, and the enemy would pour through and wipe out his troops. This was an enemy that didn’t communicate, didn’t pause. They’d slaughtered helpless colonists on the other worlds; they would massacre his people too. James Teller had never considered surrendering in all his years as a Marine, but if it had been an option now he’d have taken it. He was as broken as his troops.
He didn’t hear the sounds at first – the battlefield was too noisy, and his attentiveness was worn down. But when he poked his head above the rock to get a look at the enemy, he saw their position erupt in flames. Then he saw the strike craft angling up after their attack run.
The comlink burst into chaos as Marines up and down the line began cheering. At first Teller was confused, but then it dawned on him. Admiral West. She must have defeated the enemy fleet. Was it possible?
He was still watching when another wave of fighters swooped down and unloaded on the enemy line. His morale soared. Then his comlink buzzed with an incoming transmission.
“Colonel Teller…this is Admiral West. Sorry it took so long, but we’re here to get your people out.”
“I’ve never been so glad to hear someone’s voice, admiral. Thanks for the assist. It came none too soon.” Teller was still in shock. Maybe they would actually get out. “I assume congratulations are in order…you must have had a good fight up there.”
The delay was longer than normal for surface to orbital transmission. Cambrai must have been farther out, beyond Cornwall orbit. “Thank you, colonel. We control local space for the moment.” She sounded exhausted, Teller thought as he listened. “But we can’t hold it. I’ve already sent my worst damaged ships back toward the warp gate, and we’ve picked up enemy ships inbound. I’m sending down the shuttles. Hopefully the airstrikes bought us some time, but whether they did or not, we need to get your people out of there. Now.”
“That works for me, admiral.” Teller took a deep breath and let out a long exhale. “We’re ready to get the hell off this rock.”
“Leave everything behind, James. I just want your people on those ships. We’re barely going to make it out of the system ahead of the enemy as it is. Probably.” She paused then added, “So please…move as quickly as you can. If we don’t start blasting in 20 hours, none of us are getting out of here.”
“You have my word on it, admiral. Teller out.” He switched the comlink to transmit to the acting battalion commanders. “Attention all personnel. We’re getting off this shithole. I need all units to fall back in an orderly fashion.” He turned to walk back to the command post as he spoke. “We’re going to evac the wounded first, but everyone needs to be on a shuttle in 18 hours…because in 20 the fleet will be under full thrust heading for home, and anybody not on a ship is screwed. You’ll be receiving specific embarkation instructions shortly. In the meantime…”
He never heard the cluster bombs coming in. The ground erupted all around him, and his last memory was flying through the air and landing against the rock wall. He felt the pain…all over his body…then nothing as the suit flooded his system with painkillers. For a few seconds he heard the hissing from the breaches in his armor and felt the slickness of blood all over. Then there was just the blackness.
Chapter 15
Cain walked swiftly to the briefing room, his dress uniform for once a model of crisp perfection. His shuttle had just docked a few minutes earlier. He knew he was the last one to arrive, so he’d come right to the conference room, without making any stops. His staff would see to his baggage. He thought what an odd journey his life had been, and he wondered if he’d ever get used to things like having a staff. Certainly life was simpler when he had less rank and fewer perks. He wondered, was I happier then?
He was deep in thought as he strode down the corridor, and he barely noticed at first that he had reached the door. The two Marine guards flanking the entryway snapped to attention when they saw him. They had that awed look in their eyes. Cain knew it was admiration, but he still hated it. He wanted to take them aside and tell them the truth…that he’d gotten these stars and medals sending thousands of wide-eyed young recruits like them to horrible deaths. But he just nodded and shook himself out of his self-indulgent musings.