Operation Hellfire (16 page)

While the fighting for the vertical gantries continued, many more of the enemy worked their way up via the winding passage that circled around the shaft like the coils of a snake. Seven of the Byotai militia were the first to make it to the same level as the marines. Private Valentine was next to the bulkhead when they arrived, and one of the other privates yanked her away just as they surged through. A grenade exploded amongst the first three, and while two hit the ground, a third was blasted over the ledge and vanished from view.

"Drop 'em!"

The voice came from further back, though not one of the marines needed encouragement. At this range the marines' arsenal proved deadly, and the first few were killed instantly. But for some reason these partially armoured reptilian warriors would not hold back.

"You heard him!" Lieutenant Heiskell added, "Drive them back to the abyss!"

On they came with their shouting and howling. Some were killed with nothing in their hands, merely using their own bodies to protect those behind. As they fell down, they revealed the heavier armoured forms of Byotai infantry. Any insignia or markings confirming their allegiance to Prince Kratha and his family were long gone, replaced by the crude animalistic markings of the Star Empire. One fell, but the others slowed their pace and opened fire with very familiar weapons.

"Krokspjot carbines!" Private Valentine muttered.

Unlike most of the others, she'd suffered first hand with these terrifying weapons, and ducked back behind the metal bulkhead as the first bolts struck nearby. As usual, they glowed white as they streaked across the open space. They were so hot they pierced and embedded in anything they touched. She watched in horror as three marines fell to the deadly weapons.

"Fall back to the ramp. Keep up your fire."

The winding ramp was wide enough for four marines, and as they withdrew, they left a line of six marines a few metres from the base of the ramp. Each knelt down to present a smaller target and opened fire. Lieutenant Heiskell moved alongside the six and fired his own weapon before moving a little closer to the ledge. A brief glance confirmed his worst fears. He turned and looked to Valentine who was still shaking her head in astonishment at the brutality of the battle.

So many! What is wrong with them?

Alliance Mauler 'ANS Mongoose', Eighth Quadrant Fleet Reserve Base

The four Hawkmoth fighters appeared out of nowhere and strafed the right flank of the Mauler. Technically only light fighters, they still carried a pair of potent 12.7mm pulse cannons that punched into the thinner side armour of the Mauler. By the time they'd moved underneath, they'd riddled the side of the spacecraft with so many holes, two plated sections tore off and vanished into space.

"Hold on, Mongoose. We've got you," said Thunder Three.

Nate yanked the controls to the left and rolled the Mauler to keep the damaged sections away from another pair of fighters.

"Billy, do something!"

Contrary to what Nate might think, his friend was already on it. The many turrets spun left and right, blasting the fighters that came within range. Two were already wrecks, but as Nate moved the Mauler around the station, even more seemed to appear.

"Mongoose, you're cutting this close. I need you aboard Relentless in six minutes, or you'll be left behind," said Commander Higgins.

Nate bit his lower lip as he spotted three more Hawkmoths spin around behind them and then began firing at the rear of the Mauler. Only through the timing and skill of Nate's piloting, and the gunfire unleashed by the rear turrets towards the fighters; they weaved in and out of the protrusions of the station, ever closer to the nearest massive extension that led to one of the landing platforms. He ducked below at the very last minute and moved so closely the low hanging gantries scraped all along the roof of the Mauler. Warnings sounded inside the cockpit, but Nate ignored them and rolled around so that Billy could line up the forward turrets.

"Drop 'em!"

The four forward turrets made short work of the Hawkmoths and destroyed one, the second spinning out of control before striking the girder. The third was unable to change course in time and was cut cleanly in half at it hit the metal framing. Now safe, if only for a few seconds, Nate was able to answer.

"Understood, Relentless. We're moving into position now."

Nate looked to Billy and then nodded to the station.

"Are you ready for this?"

Billy licked his lips and then reached for the control panel.

"Yeah. I'm ready. Missiles are set for timed detonation, guns set to HE."

"Good," said Nate, "Hold on. It's time to line up."

Billy grimaced as Nate boosted the engines and took them on a course away from the station. It was only a short distance, and a quick look at the navigation computer showed their planned course and destination.

"Will it work?"

Nate laughed in response.

"I guess we'll find out."

* * *

Ventilation Deck, Eighth Quadrant Fleet Reserve Base

The gun battle had only been raging a few minutes, and already they were close to being overrun. Privates Valentine and Jackson moved to each side of Lieutenant Heiskell and activated the high-power modes of their weapons. All three barrels fired at exactly the same time, effectively creating one powerful blast that could punch through body armour, and even the plating of a light armoured vehicle.

"Volley fire!" said Valentine, in a calm, stern tone.

The two pulled their triggers and sent shot after shot at the enemy, each impacting like a wave of metal and energy. The effect was so terrible Private Valentine squinted, desperate to not see the damage she was causing. Three times the Byotai had broken past the outer line of marines, and each time stopped by coordinated and careful fire from those further back. For anybody watching from afar, it must have looked an odd sight. A battle of advanced weapons fought at close-range like something from the time of the ancients.

"Keep up your fire, marines. Work those guns!"

Lieutenant Heiskell waited in the middle, the two privates at his flank. Four more marines had crossed the bridge to help shield Kratha and his people from the continuing assault. All around them lay the dead and dying from both sides, while Prince Kratha and his bodyguard sheltered behind the Cortex controller equipment and continued to work away. It was a scene perfect for a great painting or mural, but right then it was little more than a place for warriors to fight and die. Something whooshed by, and a thermal bolt embedded in the Lieutenant's shoulder plating. He grunted as the metal hissed and squirmed, but it seemed to have little effect on the man. He took aim, and this time his carbine emitted a warning sound.

"Damn it!"

Without hesitating, he dropped the weapon, letting it swing against his body and then lowered his hands to each flank. Waiting there was a pair of customised M6 Navy Pattern Autorevolvers, finished in chrome and with pearl coloured hilts. He lifted the weapons and opened up. Even in the middle of the gun battle, they sounded powerful. Gouts of flame erupted from the muzzles as the pre-charged 11.5mm thermal slugs struck the nearest Byotai. Not particularly accurate, the weapon was a hand cannon, and more than capable of blasting through armour and metal with ease.

"Yeah!" Private Jackson yelled as he reloaded his carbine and then joined in. Long shadows appeared and vanished from their weapons sending pulses of light through the facility. At the same time, the Cortex glowed even brighter as the young Prince continued to work the system.

"We've got trouble!" Corporal Dyson shouted.

The young marine spun about while pointing down into the chasm. He tried to speak again, but an arm reached up and yanked him over the ledge. Moments later three Anicinàbe clan warriors leapt over the edge. Unlike the Byotai, they were tall and thin, yet bore the odd improvised armoured and weaponry that the rest of the militia were using.

Lieutenant Heiskell lowered his hands to his side where the autoloaders slid in new revolver clips into his handguns. He then lifted them up and took aim.

"Drive them back!"

This time he was more careful with his shooting and ensured he kept a few spare shots, just in case. As the clan warriors fell, he glanced over to Private Valentine. She was in the process of reloading her overheated L52 carbine.

"Marines, got grenades?"

Privates Valentine and Jackson looked back at the Lieutenant and nodded at the same time as the fifth assault began. They were much closer now, and many of the Alliance marines staggered back with multiple white-hot thermal bolts embedded in their armour. Valentine spoke for them both.

"Yes, Sir, one left."

As she answered, the Lieutenant pulled out a single grenade from the mount on his armour. With a tap, he activated the unit and its standard proximity mode, and tossed it towards the Byotai.

"Use them."

The two Privates threw their grenades at the approaching enemy. Some of the others took the opportunity to dump more of them over the ledge, and the grenades vanished into the blackness far below. The first rolled between the legs of three nearby Byotai and then vanished in a bright yellow fireball that consumed the whole group.

"Kratha. We have to..."

The Byotai spun around and nodded furiously. Before he could speak one of the militia fired at him. The bolt struck the Cortex and sent a series of blue flashes flying in all directions. For a second it looked like the system might fail, but for whatever reason, it carried on as normal, and Kratha lifted his own customised pistol.

"Vantruabur!"

None of the marines had a clue what the alien word meant, but he spat it with such venom and hatred it couldn't have been anything less than an insult. His pistol spat three times, and each round hit with surprising precision. As the enemy warrior fell to the ground, the Prince looked back to the marines. He spoke too quickly for any of them to understand a single word, and even the translator took a moment before it started.

"It is done. The transmission begins, and so does the resistance."

A dull ramble followed by a massive blast of air marked the explosion of the grenades, and then came the howling and shouting. The marines carried on firing and continued to step backwards. Only when Kratha and his bodyguard were back across the bridge and on the ramp did they finally give ground. Lieutenant Heiskell snarled as he stepped over the bodies of his fallen marines. Like all of them, he wanted to take them all back to the ship, but it wasn't to be. Leaving fallen comrades behind was the price that sometimes had to be paid.

"It's not over with yet, not by a long shot."

Several rifles fired far above them. When Lieutenant Heiskell looked up, two Byotai fell from several floors above them. The two semi-armoured warriors rushed past, both shouting as they fell to their doom. A third staggered along a ledge, and then an armoured fist punched hard. The soldier fell screaming, much to the amusement of the marines. Behind them appeared two Vanguards, and somebody else that he was very happy to see. A grin spread across Lieutenant Heiskell's face as he looked at his old friend.

"Sergeant Nál. Stop playing around. We've got work to do!"

The heavily armoured marine lifted her carbine up in a mock salute and then answered via the intercom system.

"We're coming. This pilot of yours had better be reliable."

That was the moment when the fighting stopped, and it looked as though it might all be over. The marines moved cautiously as they pulled back from the position around the Cortex, though not before leaving a number of M21 Scimitar mines on the ground. These small, curved shaped charges were positioned so that they faced in the direction of the enemy. They were fitted with thermal sensors that armed ten seconds after the marines left them. They were old tech, but as reliable as anything else used in the Corps. Lieutenant Heiskell nodded to himself as he watched his marines work their way up the winding passage.

"Take the wounded first and hurry."

A small unit moved at the rear, watching for signs of the enemy. Some helped carry the wounded, others grabbed as many of the dead as they could. It wasn't possible to get them all, but they still managed to bring most of the fallen. The Lieutenant completed a full circuit of the shaft to two levels up before pausing.

"What's that?"

Private Valentine was nearby, and she moved to the side and leant out of one of the many small hexagonal holes in the wall to look into the shaft. They were now on the same level as the pulsating Cortex, a piece of technology that worked even after being shot more than a dozen times.

"Sounds like chanting, Sir. A lot of them."

Lieutenant Heiskell looked out through the gap and down into the pit. The pulsing blue energy lit up his armour. The thermal bolt embedded in his shoulder continued to hiss and spit, but he would show it no attention.

"Yeah, that's a lot."

The sound of chanting echoed up through the chamber, like a choir in a cathedral. He looked back at the marines still moving up and locked his attention on Prince Kratha. He had also stopped. The Byotai noble deactivated his front faceplate and opened his mouth to breathe in the air.

"I have not heard that in a long, long time," he said via his translator.

Lieutenant Heiskell moved up the circling ramp to reach the alien. The sound of the chanting grew louder and more rhythmic. The volume grew to a crescendo, and then the process repeated as before.

"What is it?"

Prince Kratha closed his mouth, swallowed, and then continued upwards. They made it a few more metres before he spoke.

"It is an old Byotai death chant, one that was sung by our people in ancient, more barbaric times. In some of our more remote territories is it sung when bodies are cremated."

Lieutenant Heiskell didn't like where the conversation going.

"Cremated?"

The Byotai looked to him and chuckled in his odd, alien way.

"Yes. But this time I believe it is not our deaths they are singing about. They chant for their own deaths. It is the last we will hear of them before they throw themselves at us in a final suicidal attack."

"You're sure?"

Prince Kratha nodded slowly.

"Yes. They have made peace. Now they will die. And all for their so-called, greater good."

Lieutenant Heiskell shook his head and then pointed further up, to the location identified by Ensign Lewis.

"Move it, people. Get to that platform fast!"

They broke into a run, helping their comrades, especially those injured or carrying the equipment of those that had fallen. It was slow going, but by the time they could see the platform, a message arrived from the Mauler.

"Mongoose, about damned time. We're in trouble down here. Whatever you're gonna do, do it fast!"

"Understood, Sir. ETA sixty seconds. Make sure people are away from the designation area, and activate your magboots. It's going to get rough."

Lieutenant Heiskell looked to his marines. As they emerged to the crescent-shaped platform, he was relieved to see the marines led by his loyal Sergeant, as well as two of the remaining Vanguards. A small party of regular Imperial Byotai soldiers was also there, and most appeared to be wounded.