Scrapyard Ship (27 page)

“The rest of your fleet now considers you a combatant; I suggest you utilize this vessel’s defenses to its full advantage.”

The first officer barked off more orders, scurrying back and forth between consoles. He then stopped and looked at Jason. “Even a Battle Dreadnaught cannot defeat five hundred warships,” he said, fear in his voice.

“Well, it’s probably closer to four hundred and fifty, and if you’re right we’ll find out soon enough,” Jason replied.

The battle raged on in open space. The Dreadnought continued to systematically concentrate a massive amount of combined energy from hundreds of separate plasma cannons toward single targets, just as the Craing fleet had used their combined resources to destroy The Lilly. It was clear that the Battle Dreadnaught was taking a devastating pounding as well. The occasional vibration on the bridge had turned to persistent, almost earthquake level shaking, making it impossible to stand without holding on to something solid, such as a console or bulkhead. The fleet repositioned their newer destroyer-type warships, which not only had the standard complement of plasma cannon weapons, but four turret-mounted rail guns as well. The death toll grew into the multi-thousands on both sides, as the three hundred or so remaining warships barreled down on the less and less effective Battle Dreadnaught. Half of its plasma cannons had become disabled, and large chunks of its outer hull had fractured off into space, a result of the destroyer’s powerful rail guns. Jason realized it wasn’t just Craing being slaughtered here, which was the price of war, but thousands of innocent beings held in their confinement cages.

* * *

Eight of the fifteen drop teams eventually called in, but there was no word from the shuttles, or from the three fighters, including Williams and the Pacesetter. They had returned to The Lilly and had met their fate. Not having The Lilly to handle logistics was initially a problem, but Jason had taken on the bulk of those functions himself, to the best of his ability, and issued orders directly to team leaders as needed. Systematically, they cleared the vessel.

The security hover drones had continued to be a problem, but once the bridge was secured, they had been deactivated. Remaining roving packs of Serapins were still a problem and Jason’s crew stayed on the lookout. It was clear enough: the Craing never expected any of their vessels to be vulnerable to infiltration. That alone had allowed Jason to get as far as he had. But now, without The Lilly, Jason and his team knew they were fighting in vain. Eventually, the Battle Dreadnaught would fall and the surviving Craing fleet would simply continue on toward Earth.

Pacing back and forth on the Craing bridge, Jason continued to see the writing on the wall. He needed to try something else. The Craing first officer was seated at a console several rows back. He was shaking, and tears streamed down his large triangular face. Not everyone was officer material. If you’re weak, pressure will snap you like a dry twig.

“First Officer Calter, I need you to target the destroyers first, before the other warships. They’re causing too much damage. Do you understand?” Jason asked. “Also, fire at three vessels at a time instead of just one.”

First Officer Calter didn’t move and had apparently gone into shock. Billy, frustrated, stood at Jason’s side looking down at the Craing officer.

“Seriously?” said Billy

A moment later Trailer joined them, his heavy hammer poised. Which triggered something because the first officer was back on his feet and barking orders to the Craing bridge crew again.

That worked, to some degree. The destroyers were being eliminated three at a time. But only a third of the command ship’s plasma cannons were still operational, and substantial areas of the Dreadnaught were breaking off from the ship and floating free into space.

Jason first thought it was his imagination, but he quickly realized the fleet’s bombardment had substantially decreased. He no longer had the need to grab hold of anything to keep upright. Then he realized why: Multiple small crafts had been deployed and were heading for the Dreadnaught.

“Boarding teams,” Billy said, over their comms.

Jason simply nodded, but it didn’t make any sense. Why bother? The Dreadnaught was starting to break apart, had mere moments left. Why not just finish her off? And then he had the answer: there was something or someone on board they wanted to save.

Chapter 22

Two of the SEAL teams were brought in to hold the bridge, while Jason, Billy, and the rest of their existing teammates headed off toward something called the Craing Grand Sacellum, some kind of shrine or sanctuary. Battle Dreadnaughts came equipped with ultra-fast hover train systems that connected throughout the ship. Made sense; it would be impossible to walk the distances necessary to get anywhere.

As he stood looking out the train car’s large window, with a blur of colors and shapes streaking by, Jason almost let himself crack open that door where the pain could squeeze through and overpower his consciousness with their devastating loss. The train was slowing and, according to the nervous Craing first officer, they were to get off at the first stop. Surprisingly, there were very few Craing out and about. No doubt, they were hiding within their living compartments and cabins. The train was constructed with smaller inhabitants in mind, yet they’d managed to squeeze into the compartment with less than an inch or two of headroom to spare. The two rhino-warriors were uncomfortably hunched over nearly in half, impatiently awaiting the train’s destination. Soon after leaving the Dreadnaught’s bridge, communications with their fellow team members became impossible.

The Craing Grand Sacellum was not dissimilar to a large church or mosque back on Earth, although the Craing were unique in how they integrated their diet and meal consumption with their religious precepts. Eating was not solely for the sake of nourishment. Apparently, the Craing required fresh meat, preferably from those most recently conquered. Where Earth’s slogan was
from
farm to table
, the Craing version was
from cage to table.

The automatic doors slid open and Jason and his team exited the train car onto an open concourse. Not more than half a mile distance away, hundreds of Craing hybrids had arrived via transport ships and were now breaking into small combat units. Soon, several groups would attempt to retake their bridge; others would be headed to extinguish Jason’s team.

The dreadful alarm sound was louder here. They knew they had found the right place; it was like no other they’d seen on the Dreadnaught. More like a palace than a place of worship—all gold, with tall spires and elaborately carved panels depicting scenes of Craing and the Serapin-Terplins, as well as carvings of Craing with tall, cone-shaped headdresses. Characteristic of an early 20
th
Century factory, dark, sooty smoke billowed from stubby chimneys at each of the distant two back corners of the edifice. The thought that initially crossed Jason’s mind as they made their way through the massive double doors was for such small-statured people they sure liked to build structures on a colossal scale.

The elaborate building held nothing more than a huge feeding area inside. Typical of the other Craing ships, the room stretched several hundred yards in each direction. There were countless stone, donut-like tables. At their centers, dancing amber light emanated from fiery caldrons, and, similar to other Craing vessels, the rear of the Sacellum had direct access to the confinement cages. The screeching sounds from a pair of Serapins patrolling the above catwalks echoed off the gilded paneled walls. Thinking back to the tall spires viewed from the outside, Jason knew there had to be an access point to the Grand Sacellum’s upper floors.

“Here we go, Cap,” Billy said on their comms. “Over here, stairs seem to lead to upper levels.”

The winding staircase was a tight-fit for the rhino-warriors. The second floor was a bust, so they cleared it and continued on up the winding staircase. They hit pay dirt on the third floor. This was the same backdrop Jason had noticed behind the high priest earlier on. The room was not large, almost intimate in size and circular with more carved gold panels. Ten high priests, unarmed, in ridiculous cone-shaped headdresses, were kneeling before a gold Serapin statue. It stood on a marble pedestal; its outstretched muscular arms held a large fiery caldron over its head.

Jason wasted no time and headed directly towards the center of the group and for High Priest Overlord Lom in his green robes. With one quick movement, the priest’s neck was solidly in Jason’s firm grip. Slowly, Jason lifted the small Craing off his feet, forcing him to hang several feet in the air.

“You murdering cowards. I’m going to enjoy squeezing the life out of each and every one of you,” Jason threatened, bringing the Craing’s face close to his own and watching Lom’s terrified expression as Jason tightened his grip.

“Perhaps you will listen to reason, before you snap poor Lom’s fragile neck, Captain Reynolds,” came another voice near by. Startled, Jason almost did exactly that. Instead, he let the high priest fall to the floor in a whimpering heap. At first, he thought he was staring into the face of Ricket, with its similar moving gears, pistons and actuators behind near transparent skin. From behind, the emperor looked nearly identical to the other priests, but under closer inspection there were clear differences. His cream-colored robes were more intricately woven; his headdress was square rather than cylindrical and shorter.

“I am Emperor Quorp. Yes, I have undergone the
transformation of eternity.
This is the same process Emperor Reechet underwent over two hundred years ago. Harming us will do you no good. My lineage is long and succession is a simple matter. Understand, tens of thousands of Craing warships reach to the far corners of the galaxy. We have proven, time and time again, that we are the chosen people. Please understand there is no malice, no hatred. We respect and honor those that serve the Craing Empire,” the emperor said, in a calm, deliberate voice.

Jason caught Traveler’s attention. Just as he’d grabbed Lom moments before, Jason now did the same with the little emperor. All nine of the other priests inhaled in shocked unison. From previous experience, Jason knew the emperor would be nearly indestructible. With a metallic clunk, Jason slammed Quorp’s triangular-shaped head down onto the statue’s solid marble pedestal. Realization set in as two orange orbs looked up at Jason, first confused, then terrified. Jason barely had time to move his hands away before the rhino-warrior’s heavy hammer, with thousands of pounds of pressure behind it, slammed down onto its mechanized skull. It took several blows before the emperor ceased to exist. It may not have accomplished much, but Jason, Traveler and the rest of the team nodded their heads in silent approval.

Billy bent over the crumpled emperor’s body, and said, “Vete a la mierda.”

They made their return to the main open area of the Grand Sacellum. Back in the main feeding area, Jason’s HUD indicated that close to a hundred hybrid combatants were making their way onto the concourse outside the two enormous entrance doors. It was just a subtle nod, but Jason and his team, one by one, acknowledged each other.

Taking in the room again, Jason figured this would be as good a place as any to make their last stand. The men double-checked their weapon’s charge levels. The two rhino-warriors began their characteristic shifting of weight back and forth. Jason got Traveler’s attention and signaled for him to follow. At the front of the Sacellum, Jason looked around. He tried lifting up one of the large solid-rock tables closest to the door on its side. It wouldn’t budge. Traveler understood and hefted a close-by table onto its side with relative ease, which in turn knocked its center caldron to the floor, sending a blaze of sparks and hot coals skittering about. The caldron’s big metal grill continued to roll around, while flakes of charred meat and flesh fell out. With a loud clang the grill finally came to rest near the front doors. Nodding his appreciation, Jason signaled for the other rhino-warrior, Silent Hunter, to help flip more tables, creating a major obstruction into the room. The team repeated the process with tables at the very back of the Sacellum. Here is where they would make their last stand, Jason thought to himself. The big rock donuts would be perfect cover.

There was knocking at the front door.

“What are they going to do, ask to come in before shooting us
?”
Billy asked, looking over to Jason.

With a shrug Jason made his way back up to the Grand Sacellum’s front doors, a difficult passage with the upturned tables and still glowing hot coals strewn about. While the remaining four SEALs took up positions behind back tables, both Traveler and Billy accompanied Jason.

According to his HUD, several hundred hybrids had taken up positions around the concourse outside. But the one standing on the other side of the door was not only being read as human, but also United Planetary Alliance personnel. Jason looked to Traveler and Billy—both gestured for him to open it. Jason cracked open the door and peered outside. Nothing could have prepared him for what he saw, not in a million years.

Chapter 23

The last time Jason saw his brother was close to seven years. That was before Brian had been reported killed in a friendly fire incident in Iraq. He’d attended his brother’s full-honors military funeral; visited Brian’s grave at Arlington National Cemetery on two occasions. Now his brother, if this was his brother, stood before him wearing a standard spacer’s jumpsuit and looking no worse for wear.

“Hi Jason,” Brian said.

Jason didn’t respond at first, only stared into his older brother’s face. He felt the anger rise in him. He’d grieved for his brother. And here he was, standing in this doorway and acting as if none of that had mattered. Jason nudged the door open with his left foot, while simultaneously letting loose his right fist towards his brother’s smiling face. The blow hit Brian below his eye, sending him sprawling to the ground.

“I guess I deserved that,” Brian said, rubbing his cheek. “But you only get one, next time, I’ll kick your ass.”