Revolution of the Gods: The Battle for Sol Book Two (15 page)
Read Revolution of the Gods: The Battle for Sol Book Two Online
Authors: W.R. Hobbs
The cockpit was flooded with fire but Cadan remained focused on the restraints. The flames rapidly burned through his flight suit and began searing his arms and legs when he finally unlatched the belts and punched the already dangling canopy out of the way. He tried to jump clear out but landed on his stomach before pouring down onto the ground. With his clothes still on fire, he used his last reserve of strength to roll across the gravel parking lot, away from the mangled Valkyrie. Cadan smothered the flames and come to rest about 20 yards away from the impact site, barely able throw his helmet off.
The gravely injured Torahnossian tried to rest on his back, one of the few places on his body without third degree burns. Eight cracked ribs, two broken legs, one shattered wrist, a fractured pelvis and a seven inch laceration across his forehead all added their own vicious melodies to his symphony of pain. The stinging and throbbing was unimaginable – even for him.
I can’t take this
, he thought, looking down at his wristband which was melted to his broken left arm. He pressed a button on the crown and a tiny object ejected from the bezel that resembled a metallic grain of rice. By now, his condition was deteriorating and he was beginning to gasp for air. Cadan grabbed the tiny capsule and swallowed it…
No more pain
.
It was twelve minutes later when an old black Hummer and Ford Excursion approached the crash site. The two trucks reached the wreckage and four men exited, stepping in the snowy slush covered parking lot. They were dressed in black tactical uniforms with helmets and masks. One of the men spotted Cadan and jogged over to him. After a quick check of his pulse, the man shook his head at the others and alerted them that the pilot had not survived.
One of the other men standing at the Hummer looked back at the Excursion and waved for them to go into action. The leader of the recovery team unsnapped his face guard and plucked a thin cigar into his mouth. The flame from the lighter illuminated his trimmed beard as he puffed on the cigar and spoke, “We still need to retrieve his body.”
T
he Tarsis Array was the point of convergence for the Torahnossian earthbound vessels in the Ventori-Soiala System. The array was a dodecahedron skeletal shaped structure that was without solid surfaces and resembled a gigantic wire frame model. Thin latticed polymer rods stretching for two miles formed the aspect lines that connected the 200 foot round silver colored nodes, creating the array’s 12 sides.
Tarsis was essentially a colossal subspace receiver aimed at specific coordinates located 300,000 miles above Earth. It was designed to receive a columnar wave upon its activation via subspace to Uzal's fleet location and then stabilize the vortex by modulating a conical singularity also known as a cosmic string.
Dwarfing all the other ships in the coalescing Torahnossian fleet was the Ramiel - Commander Uzal’s flagship and the Torahnossians’ sole remaining Shelach Class Battle Cruiser. This class of battle cruiser was over 1,700 feet long and resembled a much larger, more modern version of the Zealieon, which belonged to the retired Hazor Destroyer Class.
Standing nearly seven feet tall in front of the bridge’s main viewer, Admiral Uzal was an imposing figure. Uzal was a long haired Torahnossian, wearing a blue cape over his black leather under armor. He was middle aged for his race at 160, and his hair was just now turning discernibly gray and matched his hazel eyes
.
His other notable feature was a battle scar given to him by Suen-Nergal in a long ago battle that they both hold in their reservoirs of disdain.
The admiral was engaged in a discussion with Captain Resh of the Zarthan. The Zarthan was a Mahir Class Battle Cruiser that stretched a bit over 1,200 feet long and it was the newest, most advanced vessel in the Torahnossian fleet. Although smaller than the Ramiel, the Zarthan’s abilities were even more potent.
“What is the final analysis of the Kadingir Battle?” Uzal asked the captain, relying on the more advanced communications ability of the Zarthan.
“The Kadingir wormhole was successfully collapsed upon the arrival of the Ansharian fleet in the Sol system. As the preliminary report indicated, the Ansharians were able to hold off our main assault group and enter the wormhole with the bulk of their fleet. Conrad has confirmed that two of our fighters were able to enter with them and successfully disabled their axionic probe once they reached the other side. The event destroyed over half of their fleet still in transit through the wormhole but the Kashurra and Nekelmu survived along with several frigates and troop carriers,” Captain Resh informed, using the recently received status update from Greek No.9 as his referent for what happened in the Sol system.
“What is the status of our assault force at the Kadingir space port?
” Uzal asked.
“Our communications officer has not been able to establish contact with any vessel in that area,” the admiral commented with a tone of sincere concern.
“We were able to establish a data only channel a few minutes ago with the remainder of the force. The collapse of the wormhole was much more violent in our system. The Ansharian spaceport and all fortifications were completely destroyed along with fourteen of our ships that were unable to escape the shockwave. Only two Mahir Battle Cruisers and seven frigates, all of which have significant damage, were able to reach safety and have set course back to Torahnoss for repairs,” Resh regretfully updated the admiral. “Despite our losses, I believe the assault can be considered an overwhelming success,” he assessed.
“I am not certain I would use the word ‘overwhelming’ captain. The Kashurra was the primary target and it is currently hovering above Earth as we speak,” the admiral reminded Resh. “Report on our other positions.”
“We now have operational dominance in the Saloumir System and all Ansharian encampments have been neutralized,” the captain updated. “With the destruction of the Kadingir space port, all of the Ansharian primary positions and fortifications in our system have also been captured or destroyed. Their outposts along the L’hitra’ot Belt are still out of range but their fleet strength is extremely weak out there. A task force is currently en route.
“Their only remaining sizable fleet – actually their largest fleet now as a result of the Kadingir Battle – has been tracked leaving the Saloumir System headed toward the Melicron System. That planetary system has no inhabited worlds but it has three planets suitable for encampment. Our remaining ships in the Saloumir System are currently in pursuit but the Ansharians have a substantial lead on our current positions,” Resh said, concluding his update.
“The Ansharians now have only one chance to regroup. And, if we cannot get our ships to the Sol System, one chance may be all they need. With the destruction of the wormhole, our nemesis may be afforded several more millennia to gain control of that entire system before we have the ability to confront their actions. The Tarsis Array must work or we may lose not only Earth but the entire Battle for Sol,” Uzal direly warned. The admiral then shifted his focus, “What is the status of our earthbound fleet?”
“All forty-eight vessels are on standby and battle ready. We will…”
“Captain Resh, we have received another message from the Zealieon,” the voice of a bridge officer alerted from behind the captain.
“Go ahead,” the captain ordered as he turned to hear the update.
“Akilan says they have departed their previous location and are approaching the primary base with Gideon’s GEO. He projects a six to seven day preparation time for vortex activation and directs us to standby for status updates during that time.”
“That is good news indeed,” Uzal remarked. “Let’s pray for their success.”
Please leave a
review on the Amazon Kindle page
.
Also available on Amazon:
Revolution of the Gods: The Battle for Sol Book One
Join us:
Revolution of the Gods: The Battle for Sol Website