AMP Colossus (10 page)

I stood, brushed myself off, and walked over to Ashley, who was standing by the Colonel.

Colonel Calder spoke. "I see why you latched onto this one, Mrs. Grange. He’s a keeper!"

I spoke. "Har, har. Let’s all laugh at the clod."

After the girls had finished with their demeaning conversation, I made an effort to question the Grell worker who controlled the air lock.

I spoke. "How secure is that door?"

Montif Aerudell replied, "It can only be opened from this side."

I replied, "Any idea of how many Colossuns are on the other side?"

Montif replied, "There are only a dozen. The rest moved out several hours ago."

I turned to the Colonel. "Can we set up that comm interference device we were using? If it works, this may be over and done with really quick. A dozen Colossuns in a state of confusion... I like the odds!"

The Colonel barked out commands to ready the troops. The comm jammer was brought to the front, and the signal was given to open the air lock. As the door opened, the higher-pressure air rushed out, blowing over the Marine who carried the jammer, taking it inactive. All twelve of the Colossuns rushed through the opening and began to make use of their pulsers. It was chaos as the Marines scattered.

Ashley grabbed the AK from my shoulder and rushed out to meet them.

Ak!

Ak! Ak!

Two Colossuns fell as the AK rounds hit their targets. A third Colossun turned towards Ashley. I reacted on nothing but pure instinct. I took two steps and dove towards the woman who was the love of my life. The Colossun fired.

Time seemed to stand still as I flew through the air. Ashley leaned hard to the left in an attempt to jump away. Just before my right hand reached her shoulder, the gravity pulse from the Colossun's weapon clipped her right foot, spinning her around violently and out of my grasp. She came to a stop when she impacted the side of the air lock door. She slumped to the ground.

I rolled out of my jump and dove towards the AK that Ashley had dropped. Before the Colossun could get off a second shot, the comm jammer was brought back online. My wife had been spared a certain death. The ten remaining Colossuns all turned at the same time and proceeded to walk back through the doorway in search of a comm signal.

Calder's Marines wasted no time in their reactions. The Marines stormed the retreating androids and began the process of removing their breastplates one by one. As the breastplates fell away, a hand was reached in and quickly deactivated the core that drove their systems. The ten Colossuns were soon disabled.

I rushed over to Ashley. She was conscious, but in pain. A medic came to assist. Her right foot had been crushed below the ankle. She had narrowly avoided death. She would survive, but her days of traveling were over until a prosthetic replacement could be surgically attached just below the knee. I stayed by her side as the Colonel's men secured the mine. Embry 12 was ours.

After we checked the area for opposing forces, it was brought to our attention that there were numerous monitoring devices spread around the mine. We had marched all of the Grell out while our sweep for monitors took place. We asked many questions of the Grell, but they were done in private so as to not implicate any of the miners should the Colossuns regain control.

As I sat with Ashley, the Colonel came up and spoke. "Grange, it looks like we have all the sensor connections to the mine disabled. We swept for signals and for hard wires. The Colossuns are effectively in the dark."

I replied, "I was talking with one of the Grell miners. Those buildings over there are grow houses for their food. These mines are set up to be self-sustaining for months on end should there be a cave-in or tunnel collapse. They have their own power and water systems too."

The Colonel spoke. "We are twenty-five kilometers from the port. The surface maps showed a small rise between here and there. If we can get up to the surface, we might be able to get a transport landed just out of sight."

I replied, "They would have to get past those Colossun ships out there first. If I had my ship, I could own this whole system. Unfortunately, it's still about five years away."

The Colonel sat down and continued, "We are short of a lot right now. This mine has the resources we need, but we are short of a way to get those resources to the Grid."

I replied, "The Grell said we need to seal that hole in the tunnel we came through. The atmosphere generators they have can cover the air leaking through that hole, unless one of the three main ones breaks down. We should close up either the hole or that air lock over there."

The Colonel spoke. "We still have a squad down at the other lock. I think it best we shut that hole. I will see if the Grell can manage that, since they did it before."

The Colonel left to check with our new allies. I turned to Ashley, placing my arm around her shoulder.

I spoke. "So, how are you holding up?"

Ashley replied, "These pain meds are great! But they make you loopy. It leaves me a little on edge thinking about it. What if we have to fight? I would be more of a hindrance than a help. I feel a bit useless right now."

I stood and turned to face her. "I think I have something that is right up your alley. I am sending a group of the Grell miners over here. I want you to dig out every bit of info you can about this place, about them, and about the Colossuns. That in itself should keep you busy for days!"

Ashley replied, "I could do that. Send them over whenever you are ready. Maybe they will have something that will help us out of this mess."

We had food, water, and air to sustain us, but we were little more than prisoners on an alien planet, free to play within the box in which we were confined. We were in need of a ship. A ship with ion cannons and a Yacabucci web generator. We were also in need of a comm link to the Grid.

I walked over to the Colonel, who was busy handing out new daily tasks for her men. "Colonel, should we go back to the surface and attempt to contact the Grid? Don't you have comm equipment that will reach out that far?"

The Colonel replied, "We have one comm array that can reach back to the Grid. My concern is that if we assemble it up there, the Colossuns are going to see it. It breaks down for easy transport, but once assembled, it's about fifteen meters in diameter."

I spoke. "What if we poke a hole straight up from this mine and set it up on the surface? It would be behind that rise. Can't we camouflage it somehow?"

The Colonel sighed in response. "That rise is only good for staying out of line of sight of the port. Those ships buzzing around up there won't have any issue with seeing it."

I replied, "What if we keep it in a shallow pit with some netting over it?"

The Colonel shook her head. "Won't work, Grange. We can't have anything in between the comm gear and straight up, as that cuts down the transmit and receive signals substantially. If we were using radio frequencies for comm, it wouldn't be an issue, but we wouldn't be calling home anytime soon either."

I replied, "So, we can't call home and we can't fly home. Guess that narrows things down to what are we going to do here. Got any thoughts on that, Colonel?"

The Colonel thought for a moment and then spoke. "We need weapons that will take down those androids. Sergeant Marshall! Check the ore manifests for anything that can be made into volatile materials. Maybe we can make a few bombs or something."

Marshall replied before turning away, "Yes, Sir, Colonel."

As the sergeant left the area, I asked the Colonel a question. "I noticed sometimes you get called ‘Sir’ and sometimes ‘Ma’am.’ Is there any reason for that?"

The Colonel replied, "We gave up on that generations ago, Grange. It's up to the CO now. I don't particularly care one way or the other. There are a few sticklers about it, though. Doesn't seem like a good way to gain the respect of your troops, to get bent out of shape over something like that. I'm fine with either one because I know my men respect and trust my orders. I have bigger concerns than gender hangups. You just have to watch who you say it to, that's all. My husband is the only one I take issue with on it, and he better not be calling me by either one!"

For the better part of a week, we batted around ideas with the goal of changing our situation. Nothing stuck. An urgent comm message then came in from our squad positioned at the first air lock.

The squad commander spoke. "This is Sergeant Paris at lock one. There are a large number of Colossuns massing just on the other side. This door is big, but it looks like they brought a number of Grell workmen and cutting equipment. I would expect a breach soon, Sir; what are our orders?"

Colonel Calder replied, "If you feel a breach is imminent within minutes, then fall back to this position. And bring the Grell with you. He’s otherwise dead. Keep us informed, Sergeant."

The Colossuns were coming. Our weapons would not stop them. Sergeant Paris passed along a report that most of the two thousand android soldiers that had gathered on the other side of the air lock were tethered together. Our jammer would have little effect at the time it was most needed.

Ashley grabbed my arm and pointed. "You told me before that those trains nearly match the tunnel in size. If the Colossuns breach that air lock, why not make use of that ore train?"

I replied as I looked at the massive engine that normally pulled refined ore to Embry Central, "Are you saying we just run them over in the tunnel?"

Ashley smiled and spoke. "That is exactly what I am saying. Those androids are tough, but not that tough. Take one of those jammers, mount it on the front of the train, and run them over. Have the Colonel’s men follow behind to clean up any that remain functional."

I nodded in reply. "I like that, Ashley. Colonel! I think we might have a solution!"

Two Grell engineers volunteered to operate the train engine. Two full ore cars were connected to add significant weight to our newest weapon. A transport car was added that would carry two companies of the Colonel’s men.

The Colonel got on the comm with Sergeant Paris. "Have Gont set the air lock to open in twenty minutes. As soon as you have that timer running, I want you to clear out. Get back here at your fastest pace. We have a little surprise waiting for them, but we need you here first."

Paris replied, "Roger that, Colonel. We will be on our way within the minute."

Paris and his squad were soon in the tunnel, sprinting in our direction. The Grell who accompanied them, Gont, was surprisingly fast and easily kept pace with the Marines.

Paris turned to comment. "Wow. You guys can fly!"

Gont replied, "At one time this planet was covered by predatory animals. My people had to run to survive. Our history has records of fossilized remains of the predators who stalked us. Our speed was what allowed us to continue our existence."

Paris replied, "Still, for someone who sits at a console all day, your speed is impressive."

Gont smiled and ran faster. He quickly moved away from the squad of Marines. After he slowed his pace, the Marines soon caught up.

Gont spoke. "We practice isometrics while we sit. It is a cultural thing. We are a paranoid species and feel the need to be physically ready should an emergency arise. We have no equipment to make use of, so we work our muscles by using what is available: ourselves."

Paris replied, "We use that for a fair amount of our training too. When you are stuck on a warship for months on end, you have to make do. Anyway, your speed is still impressive."

When the Marines arrived, the air lock at the other end of the tunnel was opened. The Colossun troops stationed at Embry Central were on their way. A video link from the far air lock showed the Colossuns moving through at a slow run. They stood shoulder to shoulder, twenty abreast, as they moved through the doorway.

The Colonel spoke from the engine cab. "Let’s get this train moving!"

The large ore-hauling engine came to life as power was applied to its wheels. In less than a minute, we were barreling along at fifty kilometers per hour. Our speed would double before we reached our target.

I spoke. "Colonel, I’m guessing that your men would be ready to mop up any stragglers should we come to a stop?"

The Colonel replied, "They are ready. What I am more interested in right now is how this engine will hold up to those pulsers when we get to the Colossuns. Can we be derailed?"

One of the Grell engineers responded, "These trains are equipped with anti-derail technology. Sensors will adjust the wheels to stay on the track. Unless there is separation in the track, we will stay on the rails."

I replied, "I guess we’ll know in another thirty seconds or so. Can that front-facing light be turned off?"

The Grell reached out to his console and flipped a switch. In an instant, we were rumbling along at a hundred kilometers per hour in pitch black. I flipped my helmet display to infrared.

As we came around a bend, the horde of approaching Colossuns came into view. The rush of air being pushed in front of the train had given them warning, but they had nowhere to run. The androids who were tethered were followed by a maintenance car that was pulling a cable behind it. The cable ran back to Embry Central and was providing comm instructions to the two-thirds of the Colossuns who were connected. The maintenance car was a circumstance that we had failed to plan for.

I yelled out, "Brace for impact!"

With our jammer running, the third of the Colossuns who were untethered stopped and turned away just as the train engine began to strike them. Parts were flying in every direction as the androids were ripped apart by their collision with the much larger mass. The tethered Colossuns immediately began to line the walls in an attempt to evade the onrushing train. Again, there was no escape.

As each Colossun who was protruding from the wall was struck, its fragmented parts then worked to knock the other Colossuns from the wall. As the engine passed, intense grinding and scraping noises could be heard. A bulk of Colossuns then began to pile up in front of the charging engine. The impact with the maintenance car was the next event to happen.

I was slammed hard into the forward part of the cab as the nearly two thousand Colossuns in front of us were pinned between the sides of our engine and the tunnel walls, or the front of our engine and the maintenance car. The massive ore cars then rammed the back of the engine, pushing the maintenance car backwards as it began to break apart.

I looked up for the Grell engineer to throw the all-stop for the train. What was left of the two that had joined us were the squashed remains against the back wall. Countless Colossun body parts had come through the front windows, killing our new Grell friends.

The train continued to barrel forward, through the tunnel and into Embry Central. I reached out and slammed the all-stop button with my fist. The train of chaos slowed and then stopped before we reached the station. The Colonel lay facedown and unconscious in the corner.

I reached over and shook her shoulder. There was no reaction. I then noticed the pool of blood forming on the floor. As I rolled her over, the nature of her injuries was revealed. A hand from a destroyed Colossun android had come through the window with the other body parts. It had impacted the Colonel’s face shield dead on, shattering its protective materials and entering her skull. The Colonel was dead long before she hit the floor.

I called out on the comm, "Anyone out there?"

There was no response. I stumbled over to the cab door and pushed hard before the twisted metal that made up its frame broke free. Debris from the two thousand Colossuns and the maintenance car was spread across the track in front of us as well as all down along the sides. I climbed down and headed for the transport car.

As I got close, I could see that the windows of the car had all been knocked out. Mangled Colossun parts lined the outer steps and protruded from the window openings.

I looked inside. What I saw was nearly complete devastation. Only a handful of Marines were left alive. They struggled to move under the mass of Colossun parts that had flown through the windows, nearly burying them in debris.

I stepped in to assist a corporal by pulling him free. As the dozen surviving Marines gathered just outside, it occurred to me that there might be other Colossun soldiers heading our way. All that had entered the tunnel had perished.

I waved my arm. "Corporal Getz! The rest of you! Pull it together. We may have Colossuns coming for us."

The corporal replied, "We might have others in there who are injured, Mr. Grange."

I pointed towards the front of the train. "We can’t help them if there are androids still out there. Pick two men to assist you, Getz. The rest of you come with me!"

We moved around the front of the train and followed the tracks for another kilometer into the station. There were four Colossun soldiers standing motionless on the platform. Our jamming equipment was still active.