Fleet ops box set, p.36
Fleet Ops Box Set, page 36
He followed the yellow symbols until they terminated at a crossbar attached to the airlock. Hammering his fist on it caused the symbols to change color, while the hatch swung open. The others followed him inside. A moment later, the inner hatch closed and another set of symbols appeared above the outer hatch. It promptly opened into space.
Jake dove out to find that they were in the middle of the donut, in open space. Here, they could follow a straight line to Gamble’s location, instead of running through those endless rooms.
He fired his thrusters, shooting forward, and using the last transmission point from Gamble as his beacon. Tucker, Ash, and the rest of Oneiri Team followed close on his heels. He didn’t tell them where he was going, and they didn’t ask. They knew.
Once he’d zeroed in on Gamble, they found the nearest hatch that had the same symbols they’d seen on the airlock before. They repeated the little dance in reverse and Jake practically kicked open the interior hatch to the airlock and dove inside.
He sprinted down a passageway, through an open hatch…and drew up short at the gruesome scene before him. There were blood and body parts everywhere. A pair of mechs nearest the airlock he’d come in were still standing, but he could see that their internal systems were dead. Both had giant acid burns that had torn them open at the chests. The Wayfarers must have figured out where the human occupants were in the mechs, because he saw two more like that. Once they’d found that weakness, they’d exploited it mercilessly.
Jake made a note of that. He’d seen how well the Brood appeared to communicate. If they found a weakness, they’d go after it again next time.
He pushed past the dead mechs, trying not to disturb the bloody remains of marines strewn across the ground everywhere. The one thing he didn’t see was dead Wayfarers. Since they’d seen some dead of their own, and he was sure that Gamble’s team had killed their fair share, the only thing he could assume was that the Brood were gone, and they’d taken their dead with them.
Which meant they were too late.
Jake followed Gamble’s transponder until he stopped above a crumpled, unmoving body.
Chapter 20
Oneiri Team
Aboard Yin space station
“Don’t just stand there,” croaked Gamble over the wide channel.
Jake stared down in shock as the torn and tattered suit began to stir. Gamble pulled himself upright.
“Shit, how are you not dead?” Even as Jake said it, his suit began receiving vitals from Gamble’s suit. “I take it back, you are almost dead.”
He assumed he hadn’t received info on vitals before this because Gamble’s suit was so badly damaged. It didn’t seem able to broadcast more than a few feet. Jake had to lean closer to get the full picture. “Your pressure suit is compromised.”
“You don’t say,” Gamble wheezed. “Maybe it was the claws and sharp teeth of the damn things that attacked me.”
“That was probably it,” Ash said, walking up beside Jake. She glanced over at him. “We need to get him out of here fast.”
“You’re still on the wide channel.” Gamble clutched at his chest.
“I know, Major.”
Through his faceplate, the major winced. “You’re not going anywhere without that damn cube.”
Jake stopped reviewing Gamble’s vitals—they really did paint a dire picture. “You have it?”
Gamble used his acid-burned rifle to point toward another man who was sprawled behind a computer bank about a dozen paces away. “Milner has it. Or…had it, anyway.”
Jake made his way over to the marine. He was face down, and when Jake turned him over, he almost puked.
Milner’s face was gone. The acid had eaten through his pressure helmet and taken a giant divot out of his face. There was almost nothing left of his head but the back of the skull nestled against the pressure suit’s helmet. Otherwise, he was badly melted from his neck into the chest cavity.
Jake glanced along Milner’s body and found his hand clutching a data cube. He’d been holding that instead of his rifle, which Jake spotted several feet away. The man had given his life for this data cube.
Jake gently pulled the cube free with his mech’s giant fingers. He slid it into the compartment behind his finger retraction points. It was as safe a place to put it as anywhere. It might get a bumpy ride in there, but it sure wasn’t going to get lost.
He turned around to tell Gamble that he had the cube when a shadow flitted across the overhead above.
“Incoming!” screamed Tucker a moment before Jake made the connection himself.
There were dozens of Wayfarers leaping down at them.
“There are too many!” Zeph shouted as she and Tucker knelt together, combining their fire.
Ash screamed out a war cry and jumped to meet a pair of Wayfarers that were heading straight for Gamble. She roasted one with her flamethrower, then kicked her target into the other. Both slammed hard against the deck, but two more took their place.
Then something smashed into Jake’s shoulder. He grunted and spun away, thankful it was his already-damaged left arm. He almost retracted his right hand’s fingers to engage his autocannon, but remembered the data cube was in there.
Instead, he did the only thing he could think to: he extended his bayonet and drove it into the Wayfarer’s guts. The creature screamed in his face and looked like it was about to bathe him in acid, but high-velocity rounds from Moe’s heavy machine gun spun it around, and the acid spray missed Jake.
He kicked the creature in the back as hard as he could, then forgot about it as two more Wayfarers dropped down on top of him. He managed to dodge the first and shove his bayonet right into the creature’s chest. It split open, black goo splattering the deck in a steaming gush as he continued to slice.
He whirled to meet the second alien just as it leaped forward, mouth open, aiming to sink its sharp teeth into his chest. Jake raised his acid-burned left arm and slammed it into the creature’s mouth a moment before it reached his chest.
That only stalled it, and he felt sure the thing was about to bathe him in acid. Before it could, the back of its head exploded.
Ash settled down next to him, thrusters sputtering. She didn’t offer him a hand up, instead spinning around and looking for another target. There were plenty to choose from.
“Zeph is right,” Tucker shouted. “There are way too many of those things!”
“Fall back to the emergency airlock,” Jake shouted. “Let’s see if they can follow us out of these cubes and into space.”
“What about Gamble?” Ash asked urgently, even as the rest of the team started to fall back.
Shit. Gamble.
Gamble’s pressure suit was too compromised to take him out into space—at least, not for long. Jake cast his gaze around quickly. “Look for fallen marines wearing intact pressure suits! We might be able to—”
“There’s no time!” Ash said, firing her autocannon directly over Jake’s shoulder. He spun around to find a dozen Wayfarers coming toward them.
Jake shook his head sharply, then scooped Gamble up.
“Don’t worry,” the marine commander said weakly. “I can still hold my breath.”
He coughed violently, and once again Jake’s HUD was filled with the urgent alerts coming from his compromised pressure suit. Jake gritted his teeth. Gamble wouldn’t last even a minute in space.
“Sorry, Major,” he said as he pounded across the room toward the hatch, then started running for the emergency airlock they’d used to enter this section.
Chapter 21
Combat Information Center
UHC Relentless
“He’s gone?” Husher asked.
“Yes, sir,” Lieutenant Commander Long said. He’d been at the Com station trying to raise Major Gamble for a status update when he’d been cut off. “And we’ve lost vitals on his entire strike team.”
“What about the others?” Husher’s voice came out hoarse. He’d lost men before, and he’d lose them again, but Gamble was as tough as nails and as levelheaded as any senior officer he had to rely on out here. It was a huge blow. He felt like someone was stomping on his gut.
“We’ve lost contact with three other strike teams, and also their mech team. All gone, sir.”
“That leaves us with what, exactly?”
“Two strike teams. At least one of them is cut off from their mechs. Oneiri Team is still active, but they’re on the move and indicating they’re under heavy fire.”
That’s something. Jake’s team was still alive. “How close are they to an extraction?”
“Well, uh...” Long seemed at a loss for words.
“They don’t need an extraction, sir,” Winterton said, spinning around from the sensor console. “It seems they’re outside the ship.”
“Outside it?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Providence is hailing us, Captain,” Long said.
“Onscreen.”
“We’re pulling back,” Iver said without preamble. “We’ll rendezvous near the original jump point—”
“Admiral,” Husher said. “We have one strike team inbound.”
“How close are they?”
“They’re outside the ship, but yet to make their way back.”
“Aren’t your marine teams back?”
“Most of them, sir.” He suppressed a wince at the pain of knowing Gamble wasn’t among them.
Tremaine waved to get Husher’s attention and nodded at his schematics board. Husher cursed under his breath as two more Brood ships appeared on the edge of the engagement. It would only be a matter of time before they began unloading Pseudopods into the fight.
Iver must have seen the same thing. “We can’t wait for them. If they make it before we jump, so be it. But we need to move.”
“Sir, none of the other teams came back with anything,” Husher said.
“Your point?”
“Oneiri Team might be our only hope. Several of the marine commanders mentioned Gamble was onto something, and Oneiri was near his force.”
The admiral raised his eyebrows. “So it’s Oneiri who’s on their way back.”
Husher shook his head. He could almost hear the admiral’s thoughts. He felt Husher had a soft spot for Jake Price, so here he was, endangering the entire battle group to save him. It wasn’t true, but it was hard to disagree with the logic.
“Yes,” Husher said. “But I say again, sir, this was all for nothing if we get nothing out of the Yin, and we’re back where we started with the Brood. It’s worth holding out longer, even if the chances are slim.”
“I won’t hold the entire fleet.” Iver glanced away at something. “The Trusty is near you. She can help with cover. But we’re pulling the rest of the destroyer line back to cover our withdrawal.”
The Trusty was a frigate. A fine ship, but not exactly what Husher would call support.
Husher barely had time to acknowledge Iver before he cut off the transmission.
“That’s not exactly how I hoped that would go,” Husher said under his breath. He glanced over to see his XO’s reaction, then remembered Shota wasn’t there.
Husher’s thoughts were interrupted by Long. “I have an audio transmission signal from Oneiri Team.”
Husher leaned forward in his chair. “Put it over the speakers.”
“Relentless, this is Oneiri leader. We have a data cube that was extracted by the marines. We’ll need an evac. We also need medical standing by.”
“You have injured?” Husher asked.
“I have Major Gamble. He was the only one on his strike team alive, but his pressure suit is compromised. He can’t hold on too long.”
Husher stood from his chair. “What will their pathway look like?”
“Not good,” Tremaine said.
“Show me.”
Tremaine tapped rapidly at his console, and the tactical display on the right side of the main viewscreen took the central view. A single green line projected into the set of red and green points that represented the enemy and friendly ships in nearspace. It terminated in red, disappeared, and then regenerated again. It did this over and over as Husher watched.
“There’s no clear path through the battle out there,” Tremaine said. “There are just too many of those Pseudopods. A Hydra barrage could work in theory, but—”
“There would be too much collateral damage. Out of the question. We have fighters out there that wouldn’t stand a chance.”
“We could send out a general order to clear that space,” offered Long.
“And endanger the rest of the fleet?” Husher shook his head. “Can you raise the Providence again?”
“She’s hailing us,” Long said, surprised.
“Admiral, were you notified of what we have?” Husher asked.
“I’m aware of what your man thinks he has.”
“We have to clear a path for them. I recommend a wedge operation that will use—”
“We’re already headed your way,” Iver said. “You take point. We can’t waste time. The longer we’re out here, the more exposed we are. Providence and the rest of the group will rally on you.”
“Understood.” Husher knew that what they were doing was risky. The rest of the battle group had gained significant distance, even in their initial moves to withdraw. It would take time to maneuver them back into position to form an effective wedge. “Where’s Oneiri now?”
Tremaine lit up one of the Yin ship’s egress points.
Husher nodded. “Helm, bring us about and get the Trusty on our six. Notify air wings of our intentions. We’ll need clear firing lanes for our point defense turrets.”
Long spun around and started giving orders over the com as Moens punched commands into his console.
Husher called up a visual of the space in front of Relentless, where explosions dotted the void as Pythons clashed with Pseudopods. “When you have a safe line of attack, you have carte blanche to fire a Hydra barrage.”
“Understood,” Tremaine said, and a moment later the Relentless did just that.
Winterton tensed. “Incoming Brood ships.”
Husher could feel the rumble at his feet as the automated point-defense turrets began firing. We’re in the thick of it now.
“Oneiri is emerging now from the Yin vessel,” Winterton said.
“Inform the air wings that protecting those mechs is their top priority.”
Long acknowledged, and then transmitted the orders.
Winterton glanced at Husher. “Trusty reports heavy damage to her starboard thruster assembly. She’s also lost four of her eight turret batteries.”
“Understood.” Hurry the hell up. “How long till we intercept Oneiri?”
“Two minutes, sir,” Winterton said.
The Relentless bucked hard as one of her railgun assemblies failed. Wayfarers were sure to target that part now. “Get marine teams down there to intercept anything that lands on the hull.”
Before Long could answer, a trio of missile barrages tore through the nearspace just around Relentless.
“Providence is engaging,” Tremaine said.
About damn time.
With the support of the entire battle group finally coming to bear, together they mowed down enemy units at a rapid pace. Relentless and Trusty were still much farther ahead of the other ships’ wedge, but the Providence’s firepower ensured that Pseudopods couldn’t get in behind them and cut off their escape once they had Oneiri aboard.
The rapidly clearing space presented new opportunities. “Get a combat shuttle with medics aboard to pick up Gamble and make sure he stays alive. And send a message to Oneiri primary, letting him know they’re inbound.”
“Oneiri Team is one minute out and closing. Air support reports no near targets.”
Husher sat back and took a deep breath. We might just do this.
“New contact!” Winterton snapped. “Brood Stomach right ahead.”
“Where’d she come from?” Husher demanded.
“She was hiding on the far side of that Yin vessel. She’s already shedding Pseudopods.”
Husher studied the tactical board again. The rest of the battle group was still closing the gap, but that was now a dangerous maneuver. If one Brood could be hiding back there, more could be. They might have avoided an initial trap, only to fall into something much worse.
“Long, put me through to the Providence.”
“It’s done, sir.”
“Admiral, I’d suggest you hold position and let us come to you.”
“Do you have the mech team yet?”
“Oneiri is boarding now,” Husher said, acknowledging a thumbs-up from Tremaine that indicated as much.
“Gamble too,” Tremaine mouthed.
Husher nodded, then paused. “The air group?”
“Already recalled.”
“Good.” Husher returned his focus to Iver. “We’re turning for your position.”
“We’re going to short warp,” Iver said.
Husher raised an eyebrow. “This close to the edge of the system?”
“We don’t have a choice. I’m not losing more ships out here.”
“More?”
“Trusty is struggling,” Iver said. “She’s got hull breaches that are compromising her. She’ll limp home, but she’s not going to be much use in the next engagement.”
Husher resisted the urge to point out that Iver could have given them more than a single frigate as cover. They could have better supported each other. As it was, Husher knew he’d done little to shield the smaller Trusty in the fight, but the destroyer had enough to worry about on her own with the enemy bearing down on her.
“Understood,” Husher said, “but we’ll end up scattered.”
“Not if we all short jump off the same coordinates.”
“That just means we’ll all jump off-course.”
“We’ll do it together.”
A short jump was a big risk—at least, it would be in the Milky Way. Husher had to assume the same was true here. This might be a less dense universe, but short jumping was an imprecise maneuver reserved for the most desperate of situations. Where the ships would emerge from warp was always inexact, which was part of the reason they were typically only attempted well outside of systems.
