Weapons of War (36 page)

"Farewell, Maggie."

The emergency lighting dimmed further as the Magellan began to shut down. Theodore stayed behind Diallo as they moved down the ramp to the floor of the Dread fortress. He could see most of the crew assembled beneath them, many of them armed and all of them organized and alert, taking cover behind whatever they could find, their weapons trained on the apparent exits to the hangar.

He saw Gabriel and his dog crouched next to Lieutenant Bale, unarmed but still watching the ingress points. He was alive and unharmed. He could only hope he would stay that way.

"General," Colonel Graham said when he reached the ground. "I've got everyone organized. How do you want to do this?"

"These couillons must have a bridge or a control room or something somewhere in here. We move together, one unit until we find it. We've got one gun that can hurt them, and it needs to go to the best shot." He turned to Sergeant Diallo. "Is that you, Sergeant?"

"Yes, sir," Diallo replied.
 

"Good woman." Theodore coughed slightly before raising his voice. "All right boys and girls, this is it. I think the fact that we're being ignored in here is a good start. We're still alive, and I plan for us to stay that way. We've got the Dread rifle; now the mission is to find whatever passes for a CIC around here and take control of it. We cut off the head, the rest of the snake will be left flopping around. Any questions?"

Nobody said anything, though they all turned his way, their expressions clearly reflecting the respect they had for him. Even Gabriel. Especially Gabriel. He wanted to go over to his boy, but he wasn't his son right now. He was just another soldier.
 

"In that case, let's-"

One of the doors to their right slid open, cutting him off. Diallo ducked in front of him, protecting him while raising the Dread rifle to fire back at the incoming soldiers. The rest of his crew reacted in kind, those with weapons training them on the door, the remainder taking cover.

Except there were no incoming soldiers. At first, nothing came through the door. It sat open, the corridor behind it vacant.
 

Then a single form appeared from the shadows. It was taller and leaner than an average human, with long fingers and small ridges on the sides of its head. It was wearing a skintight suit of some kind and was holding a rifle by the barrel, hands up and out in a submissive posture. It smiled at them as it entered the hangar, a crooked smile that revealed white human teeth.

It scanned the line, starting with Theodore and sweeping across their defensive positions. It stopped when its eyes fell on Gabriel.

"There you are," it said. "The Heil'shur. Much honor and respect to you. My name is Tea'va dur Orin'ek." It bowed low before them. "I am humbly indebted to you for your intercession, and wish to offer myself to you in service."

Gabriel stared at the Dread standing in front of him along with the rest of the crew. Most of them had never seen the enemy who stole their home world at all. Gabriel had never seen one outside of their impenetrable armor.
 

Seconds passed in tense silence. The alien, Tea'va, waited motionless for Gabriel to respond to his offer. To respond at all. Gabriel was too stunned to speak. The fact that their opponent looked so human was one shock. That Tea'va had offered to help them was another. This whole mission had felt as if it were being guided by an invisible hand. His mother's, maybe? But this?

This was something else entirely.

He dared a quick glance over to his father, who was already looking back at him. The General nodded shortly, giving him permission to interact.

"Heil'shur?" he said.
 

"It means honored adversary," Tea'va replied. "We have met before. In the dark above the planet called Earth."

"We've met before? You mean you're a pilot?"

"Yes. You have escaped from me many times. Your skill is unmatched among both our races."

Gabriel wasn't so sure about that. He had seen the damage to his fighter when he climbed out of it. It was luck, not skill.

"Why are you here? Why offer us your help? What are you hoping to achieve?"

"As I said, I wish to offer my services. I am lor'el on this ship. An outcast. Mistreated and dishonored for my appearance. I have done all that they ask, and yet they say I am too human. If I am too human, if I am a failure for that, then I shall become a human." He laughed in a shrill cackle. "Revenge, Heil'shur. That is what I hope to achieve. Revenge against the bek'hai who have stolen your world, and betrayed me."

"And we're just supposed to believe that?" Gabriel asked. He had no idea what the enemy's tactics looked like. Would they send a single combatant in to distract them?
 

"No. Only a gruk would do so," Tea'va said. "I've brought you something. Two things."

He raised his hands a little higher and then threw his rifle toward Gabriel. Gabriel reached up and caught it, lowering it and checking it. It was active.
 

"I can take you to more," Tea'va said. "I also have this."

He backed away again, beyond the entrance to the hangar. The movement caused the other members of the crew to tense.

"Easy," Gabriel said to those around him. "Take it easy."

Tea'va dragged something into view. A dead Dread. He held it up to them so they could see he had shot it in the head. Then he dropped it unceremoniously to the floor.

"This one and five others were on their way here, to fortify this position and prepare for the ambush. I destroyed them for you, as a sign of my loyalty if you will have it."

Gabriel looked to his father again. This wasn't his decision to make. It was Theodore's.
 

His father tapped his wrist. They didn't have a lot of time.
 

That was all he did. He didn't provide a yes or a no. He was leaving Gabriel to make the decision for them. Trusting his instincts.
 

They didn't have many options. They had managed to get on board the ship, which was a miracle in itself. But they still didn't know where to go, what kind of opposition they would run into, nothing. What were their chances if they went in blind? Minimal, and they all knew it. They had done it because they were desperate, not because it was ideal. If this Dread, this Tea'va, was leading them into a trap, they were goners, but they would have likely been goners anyway. If he really did intend to help them? They might be able to pull off one of the greatest military victories of all time.

"Very well, Tea'va. I accept your offer. If revenge is what you're after, then there will be plenty of opportunities for you to get it."

The Dread smiled again. Gabriel couldn't help but recoil slightly at the sight of it. It was so close to human, and yet alien enough that his mind couldn't quite accept it.
 

"They will be coming when the Ishur exits the void," Tea'va said. "When your weapons will be ineffective against them once more. Your tactics and timing were impressive. Was it your idea?"

"My father's," Gabriel said.
 

"Father?" Tea'va replied. "I have heard of this thing. Bek'hai have no fathers. What you did with your shields, I did not believe it was possible." He made a clicking noise that seemed impressed. "Come. We must reach the armory before Gr'el can adjust to my treachery. He will be reinforcing this position with the few units he has to spare."

Few units to spare? That sounded promising. Gabriel glanced over at Theodore again. The General smiled.
 

"You heard the Dread," his father said. "Form up and move out. O'Dea, run on over to the other side of Maggie and get Hafizi and Beta in line behind us."

"Yes, sir," Daphne said, rushing away from the scene.
 

"According to my watch we've got less than a minute," Theodore said.

"Is this your Si'dahm?" Tea'va asked. "Your second in command?"

"No," Gabriel replied. "General St. Martin is the leader of our forces."

Tea'va faced Theodore, sweeping low again, his head down in a submissive pose. "My apologies, Dahm St. Martin."

"Don't worry about it," Theodore said. "Just get us some guns, and you and me will be best friends forever."

"As you command, Dahm St. Martin. This way."

Tea'va moved back across the threshold, out of the hangar. The entire crew of the Magellan hesitated to follow, Gabriel included. It was one thing to verbally accept this apparently traitorous enemy's help. It was another to follow him into the unknown.

"Don't just stand there lallygagging," Theodore said. "We doubled down; now it's time to show our hand." He began rolling forward ahead of them. Sergeant Diallo was caught off guard, but she hurried to catch up.
 

Gabriel got in motion as well, moving from his cover behind a Dread starfighter. Colonel Graham fell in beside him, along with Bale and Celia.

The Dread stood a dozen meters ahead of them, at the intersection of another corridor. He waited for Theodore and Gabriel to reach him before pointing out the others he had killed, all with a single wound to the head.
 

Gabriel was as impressed with Tea'va as Tea'va had seemed to be with him. The Dread was not only a pilot, but he was also a crack shot. Gabriel wished he could say the same about his ground combat skills.

"We go that way. We will cross three more corridors to reach the hub. There will be a green light in the center. It is a transport beam. Lower your hands to go down. This one will take you to the lowest deck, where the main armory is located. Pass word to the others in your cell. Once we have taken the weapons, I will lead you to the bridge. Expect strong resistance there."

"How many soldiers does this Gr'el fellow have?" Theodore asked.

"Fortunately for you, not anywhere near as many as he had before. He seized control of this ship from its original commander and destroyed every drumhr and lor'hai whose loyalty was questionable. That is why he is holding back. He won't risk what he has remaining when he can hold out for a better overall position."

"I would do the same thing," Theodore said.

"Gr'el didn't question your loyalty?" Gabriel asked.

"Of course, he did. I was this ship's original commander. He betrayed me with the blessing of the Domo'dahm, our leader, because of my humanity. Your attack allowed me to break free. That is why I owe you a debt of gratitude. Your numbers are nearly equal to his. If we can reach the armory, you will almost be on even-"

Tea'va stopped speaking, darting forward and shoving Gabriel back against the wall. Gabriel felt his stomach clench, waiting for the killing blow. A plasma bolt whizzed past him, right where he had been standing a moment before. Another followed, striking the corner of the intersection as Tea'va released him and urged them back.
 

Shouts went up from the rear of the rebel forces, followed by opposing bursts of plasma and heavy ions.
 

The Dread starship was out of the dead zone, and the reinforcements had arrived.

"Damn it," Theodore said, throwing his chair back against the wall and turning his head toward the rear of their column. "We need one of those guns back there. Diallo, make it happen."

Sergeant Diallo was crouched beside Theodore, positioned in front of him to take any wayward shots that managed to come near.
 

"Sir, I should stay with you," she said.

"Are you questioning me during a firefight, Sergeant?" Theodore roared. "I'll court martial you right here."

Diallo headed away at a run, carrying the Dread rifle toward the rear. Gabriel glanced back at her before returning his attention to the incoming forces.
 

The attack had come from both ends at once, the enemy clones moving in from the intersecting corridors. There was little cover. Nowhere to hide. The area was filled with shouts and cries and screams, with red and blue bolts of energy. The clones weren't wearing armor, but the front line was carrying shields made of the same impenetrable black material and using them to absorb the human counterattack.