"Is this it, Lieutenant?"
"Yes, sir, The Orbital Frame Horus. It just came in last night straight from the Nirgal Vallis Shipyard. Incredible, isn't she?"
"Yes, it is..."
"Did you know that she…"
"He" the Lieutenant corrected
"He… is named after Horus, the enemy of Seth? It's kind of ironic… this frame was to be a pair with Seth…"
The tech's head pitched forwards as the knife hand strike connected with the base of his skull. Looking up at the silent orbital frame, the pilot placed his hand on it's cool green and black metatron surface and bid the cockpit open.
He needed to work quickly for the next shift of engineers would be coming shortly through the bay's auxiliary doors. Bringing the silent machine to life, he awaited the cool response from the speakers.
"Good evening commander, ready for combat?"
"Good evening EOS" the lieutenant addressed the machine "yes, I am ready for combat. Could you please activate the security protocols and seal the doors leading into the hangar?" some where in the back of his mind he wondered why he was being so polite to a machine, it was just a tool after all wasn't it?
"Confirmed. Activating security protocols."
"Good, now open the hangar doors."
EOS' voice chided him from the holographic display "Warning, further activation will result in the alert of base security. Do you wish to continue?"
"Yes."
Alarm klaxons sounded all through Phobos Base, waking startled officers from their sleep. Within his office at the north pole of the potato shaped moonlet, Admiral Severinson nearly dropped his characteristic cigar.
"He did what!?"
The yeoman on the screen swallowed hard "That's right sir… Lt. Skor, Xarin that is, disabled the tech assigned to watch the Horus and has sealed the bay. We think he's trying to…." Sevrinson cut the comm..
"Doctor, is there any way to disable the Amun from here?"
On the new vid window, La Bella Signora Carlotta Tolianni shook her raven tresses "no commander. EOS has completely isolated all nonessential areas. We can however enter the control room… I've dispatched a team…"
The burly Admiral rose from his chair "I'll be right there"
Three minutes left. Xarin looked about the green-lit cockpit, it smelled as if they had just removed the plastic from all the control surfaces. Probably because they never intended to use you… He placed his palms upon the control spheres and began to feel the power through the feedback.
"Horus, initiate all combat system"
"Confirmed. Combat status is only seventy-five percent due to the lack of currently installed drivers."
He sighed… missing drivers meant his subweapon options were limited "List current drivers Horus"
"Affirmative. Current drivers are ECMVT.dvr, Bld.dvr, and Map.dvr minimal combat operating conditions. All essential weaponry has been transferred to Ausaas prior to her launch."
Xarin slumped in his control chair "Thank you Horus"
He could have easily stolen one of the other Orbital frames docked at Phobos Base, but Horus had one extra system the other frames didn't: Electromagnetic and Vector Trap Camouflage. Essentially the Frame generated a vector trap that absorbed all incoming light, reflecting it through another open trap. In this mode Amun was as intangible as the air… that also meant that it couldn't strike when cloaked. But she could… that's why they sent her… with him…His entire plan was pure insanity at best, sheer lunacy at worse. All he had to do was find a needle in a veritable haystack. Before several days ago, never in his wildest dreams would he have considered doing something like this, but all that changed with Admiral Sevrinson took out that report. I suppose desperate times call for desperate measures…
Rushing into the launch bay's control room, Sevrinson grimaced and the blue green glow of the Orbital frame's metatron power systems illuminated the small room "Report" he barked.
A yeoman typed in the necessary access codes seal the main doors, the massive locking mechanisms snapping tight with a resounding boom "main doors sealed, ." as soon as the computer accepted the codes and red klaxons began to scream through the launch bay as well as the monotone female voice of the computer.
"Warning, internal stresses upon restraints increasing, suggest release of restraints to prevent structural damage."
Sevrinson gazed out the windows; Horus was visibly straining against the restraints that bound him. Green arcs of energy rushed over the surface of the metallic locks that held the machine as if crucified. Sevrinson could see the orange glow of melting steel seconds before the twin blades that made up the Orbital frame's weaponry snapped free. Horus speared one of the locks and hurled it at the control room. Xarin's voice echoed over the comm lines
"I am Horus, the great Falcon upon the ramparts of the house of him of the hidden name. My flight has reached the horizon. I have passed by the gods of Nut. I have gone further than the gods of old. Even the most ancient bird could not equal my very first flight. I have removed my place beyond the powers of Set, the foe of my father Osiris. No other god could do what I have done. I have brought the ways of eternity to the twilight of the morning. I am unique in my flight. My wrath will be turned against the enemy of my father Osiris and I will put him beneath my feet in my name of 'Red Cloak'."
The cool voice of Horus chimed in after Xarin had completed his speech "Systems check complete. Restraints removed, you are clear to navigate" Horus turned to face the doors "Warning, launch doors not open, warning launch doors not open"
Xarin bid the Orbital frame raised the two blades that formed the ends of its arms. A sudden glare lit the cockpit with white brilliance throwing Xarin's flickering shadow onto the bulkhead behind him. Around and between the blades, tongues of green metatron energy were shooting, whirling, and arcing back and forth. The fantastic energy cascade began sluicing up the blades towards their tips sparking snapping, eager to be set free.
Xarin smiled lightly "Now, behold the power that is mine!"
The energy storm around the booms built to an earth shaking pitch, a noise like a million screaming demons. Xarin released the energies into the two massive doors, momentarily illuminating the hangar with a light greater than the sun's. After a few seconds of exposure to the beam, the doors exploded outwards venting the room to space. Horus turned its green eyes on the control room.
Through Horus' sensors Xarin glanced at the launch control room one last time: Sevrinson was balking at some technicians. "EOS, open a channel."
The computer responded quickly "Acknowledged, channel open."
"Hey Sevrinson, give my regards to Bahram" Xarin smiled as Sevrinson drove his fist through the glass of his console. The green and black machine turned it's back to the control room, bathing it in green energy as it blasted towards the surface of mars.
Sevrinson withdrew his fist from the damaged console "Get me every raptor you can summon and order them to stop Horus." He turned to his second in command "Scramble Reinhardt and Steele, make sure they cover all Orbital Frame exit points." He began a brisk walk out of the hangar control room.
"Sir" his second in command began "do we have any idea of a direction or motive?"
"Yes… he's going after his wife"
"Ah… Ausaas ceased transmitting. Do you think…"
"Yeah, Seth must have caught up with her… lord knows what kind of hell he's unleashed out there…"
The duo rounded a bend as they continued their path towards the Phobos command center, the second in command spoke up "This is the fourth theft we've had. First Idolo, then Jehuty, then Dolores. How are you going to explain this one."
"We're not" Sevrinson smiles "Reinhardt and Steele will solve the problem neatly."
The pair entered the command center. The room was roughly half circular on descending tiers. Holographic displays filled the entire forwards wall. On the master display was the snake like course that Horus was taking through the moonlet. One of the observers stepped forwards
"Sir" he began "Horus has decimated all of the Cyclops and Raptor troops we've been able to summon, it appears we cannot saturate its defenses…." He glanced to his left at a woman staring at the master display "Doctor Tolianni suggests we use the Jehuty-Child machines against it, but I suggest we reserve those to support Steel and Reinhardt"
Sevrinson turned his brown eyes upon Carlotta Tolianni. She was a thin woman, not martial born from her musculature and physique, of an olive complexion. Emerald eyes peered through wire-rimmed glasses, and full pert lips drew breath before she spoke. "That was my suggestion in order to force Horus to expend the power of its Vector Cloak."
"Ah yes… the much vaunted Vector Cloak" Sevrinson smiled "and what's preventing him from using the Zero Shift option?"
"The Driver isn't installed…."
A klaxon sounded from within the control pit, Tolianni raised her eyes to the command screen "Horus has altered course, he's heading for the central spire…"
"What's in the central spire?" Sevrinson's second in command snatched the question from the admiral's lips.
Tolianni's fingers flew over the holographic board "the Urenbeck catapult." The brought up a diagram of the potato shaped moonlet "it's at the lower end just like on Deimos"
Sevrinson seethed "Direct the raptors to cut him off at the pass, who's closest to him right now?"
"Reinhardt, sir"
"Good tell him to take up position at the J-13 intersection. That's about fifteen meters from the catapult… Order Steele to take up a rear guard position within the catapult, we cannot allow him to escape Aumaan"
The orange of the energy lines running through its body illuminated the raptor's olive drab exerior subtly. Horus's own energy lines gave the machine a green undertone, which helped accentuate its deadly beauty. Similar in design to the Raptor Orbital Frame, Horus had two massive striking blades that it used to project its burst attack and for melee combat. The blades were at the end of two flexible arms, capable of extending and retracting at the pilots will. Its overall body structure was reminiscent of the Jehuty, but the overall form was much smoother then it's cousin orbital frame. The smooth body moved forwards, much like it's cousin, into a dash attack bisecting the raptor and moving on, Xarin stared at his HUD
"EOS, time till weapon stores?"
"Five minutes." Came the response from the ever-vigilant computer.
"Confirmed"
Xarin launched Horus forwards down the tunnel.
"Shit" Reinhardt folded his arms against the chill of his cockpit. He and Maythyus were situated at the back of a mixed rank of Boxers and Raptors. Orange energy lines illuminated the brown colored orbital frame separating it from the smaller machines. Reinhardt bade the thick machine snap it's metatron blade claws open and closed
"When the hell is he going to get here…." He closed his eyes. Skor what in the hell are you thinking.
Reinhardt and Xarin had trained together as test pilots for the Bahram military forces on mars. A competent yet brash fighter, Reinhardt was overlooked for the Horus project for his impulsive nature. Reinhardt always remembered Xarin as a sort of cool and in charge type; he fought with a competent air about him as if he were constantly sure of victory no matter what the situation. What could force a man like that to do something this brash…?
A series of explosions caught Reinhardt's attention and he opened his eyes.
"Decided not to keep me waiting eh?"
"Target one has engaged the screening Raptor forces sir"
Sevrinson nodded at the report "Tell Reinhardt to engage at his own discretion, but try to keep the pilot alive…"
Across the room, Tolianni snorted lightly. They'll never stop Horus that way… he's too fast…Her eyes narrowed as the green blip of Horus closed with the dark brown blip of Maythyus. But… it should provide some excellent experimental data…
Horus shoved one of its massive blades through the chest of the Boxer drone. It's AI impaled upon the glowing weapon, the unmanned orbital frame quickly fell off line. The larger machine hurled the inert weapon to the side and turned to face it's next opponent. The two orbital frames stood apart from each other, one solid and imposing, the other small and frail looking
"Reinhardt…"
"Xarin… what the hell are you doing, man?" he shook his head "I've never known you to be an impulsive bastard, but this… what is this?"
"You wouldn't understand…."
"Like hell I wouldn't, tell me what's going on with you."
Xarin remained silent, the feminine voice of EOS filled the comm waves "enemy back up forces approaching, warning, enemy back up forces approaching"
"Xarin look… it's nothing personal…"
Xarin cut his fellow pilot off before he could continue "I need Horus to do this… please… stand aside"
"No."
On that single word, the machines leapt at one another. Horus' right blade arced down towards Maythyus' shoulder, a blow that would have severed the machine's solid looking arm had Reinhardt not been aware. Maythyus caught the blade within the grip of its pincer-like assault claw. Horus thrust the second blade upwards, piercing the claw as it tried to guard, and impaling the machine on its shoulder, Reinhardt grunted.
"Damn…"
"Withdraw Reinhardt, there's no reason you need to fight me.."
"Like hell… you're deserting Bahram, stealing an orbital frame for god know why…"
Xarin's sigh was barely audible "She's calling me…"
"What? Who?"
"Beatrice…"
Reinhardt shook his head "Get that out of your mind… Bea's gone. She's gone man, you have to let her go…"
"NO" the volume of Xarin's cry shocked even Xarin himself "No, she isn't dead… I can feel her…" he smiled "Just as Horus can feel Ausaas, can't you Horus…"
"You're loosin it man… I'm sorry Xarin but I'm bringing you in"
Switching tactics, he released the blade, and Horus raised its blade arm to strike. Maythyus struck the slimmer machine across its chest, tearing the blade from its shoulder. Orange energy arced from the wound like blood on a warrior. Horus pressed its attack, boosting and slashing twice at the bigger machine. Reinhardt guided the frame around the first, but the second strike opened a seam in the midsection of the machine, spewing more metatron.
"Argh…"
"Withdraw, Jason…"
Reinhardt looked up at the mention of his name "…" Horus loomed in his screens, pulsing with power.
"Please? Warrior to warrior, if there's any chance that Bea is still alive then…"
"I understand…"
Horus seemed to glow with a green energy for a moment before whirling in a tight circle, the blades of its arms scything through Maythyus' neck. Its head fell slowly to the deck in the 1/6th gee of the moon base. Without a look behind it, Horus blasted down the tunnel.
Sevrinson cursed as a report was called out from the depths of the command center "We've lost contract with Maythyus. Target one is continuing forwards"
"Contact Steele, tell her that target one is en route." Sevrinson grimaced… he didn't want to use Amentet so soon. Wait… there is another option…