This is the longest chapter of any story I've ever started and, I hope, the best. Opinions welcome
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Chapter 6: Jailbreak
"We feel free when we escape -- even if it be but from the frying pan to the fire."
Eric Hoffer
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Tyr watched for guards while Rommie tried to override the doors.
"Any luck?"
"None." Rommie stepped back from the console. "You'd think they didn't want us wandering off."
"We have company." Remarked Tyr. When the doors opened the pair were resting on separate bucks as Dylan was thrown on the floor. Rommie rushed to his side while Tyr looked up at the guards.
"I take it he wasn't very helpful?" The lead guard sneered.
"All he gave us was name, rank and number." Tyr leaned back on the bunk.
"I could have told you that. So who's next?"
"The commander would like to disassemble the AI and see what she holds." Two guards entered the cell to grab Rommie while the other three waited outside.
"I wouldn't do that if I was you." Came a disembodied voice from down the corridor. The guards outside turned to face the newcomer raising their weapons as one.
"Why not?" Asked the lead guard.
"She's family." The guards fell to a rapid fire volley before they could fire off a shot. One of the remaining guards ran out only to be cut down like his friends. The other guard turned towards the door, dreading what was out there. He never found out as Tyr sneaked up behind him and snapped his neck. Tyr and Rommie looked up in surprise as Arthur came walking into view.
"Don't you know a jail break when you see one." Joked Arthur. "Grab Captain Hunt and let's move." Rommie lifted Dylan to his feet as Tyr grabbed two weapons handing one to Rommie. Arthur lead them down the corridor out of the jailhouse. As the group exited they ran into a squad of Nietzschean soldiers.
"Halt." Yelled the leader as the others approached with weapons raised. "Surrender now." Arthur smiled at the man.
"Really? I was going to suggest you do the same."
"Why. We have you out numbered and outgunned. You have no backup and the nearest support will be my soldiers." Arthur walked up to the leader until he was only a metre away ignoring the other guards.
"Welcome to my parlour." Before the leader could reply fire erupted from surrounding objects. Chairs, boxes even the walls started shooting at the guards. It was as though the planet herself was striking down the guards. As the last guard fell. The objects that hand be firing changed and in their place stood twelve fully armoured Lancers.
"Said the spider to the fly." Said the nearest Lancer. Saluting Arthur he spoke, "Admiral all targets neutralised. Beta team has disabled the communications while Delta team has sealed off the barracks." Arthur grinned broadly at the soldier while returning the salute,
"Well done Major. Signal all teams, we have package and are making delivery." As the Major relayed the message two men came forward to carry Dylan. As the force moved off, Tyr came forward and talked to Arthur,
"Interesting toys." Arthur still grinning turned to face him,
"Advanced camouflage technology. Only useful for stationary objects and takes five seconds to adapt to the surroundings. Nothing can enter but anything can exit." Tyr nodded in understanding.
"Helpful for ambushes." A smile crept over his lips, "Or assassinations." Arthur laughed softly, a slight twinkle in his eye,
"Never thought of it." As they neared the hanger deck the lead scout signalled for the group to stop. The Major filled them in on the situation.
"We've got about two dozen hostiles preparing to assault the hanger."
"I take it there was a problem with our cargo." Replied Arthur with a slight grin. The Major broadly smiled in return.
"It would appear so." The smile vanished and his face became emotionless. "Delta team are already inside preparing our papers for inspection. Once the guards enter Alpha and Beta teams will assault from the rear as Delta team repel boarders."
"Carry on Major. I'll stay with our cargo." Tyr and Arthur crept back towards Dylan, Rommie was by his side. "How is he?"
"Two broken ribs, a shattered hand and a mild concussion. There may be internal bleeding but it's difficult to tell." Responded Rommie, her eyes never leaving the captain. "He'll needs medical attention immediately."
"Don't worry. My best battlefield surgeon is on the ship and I've arranged help at Lurdes three." Tyr looked sceptically at Arthur,
"How did you manage that on short notice? Lurdes is one of the premier medical centres around."
"Who do think created the centre." Before Tyr or Rommie could respond the Nietzschean forces assaulted the hanger bay. Seconds later the Lancers attacked, with no where to hide the Nietzscheans were eliminated within minutes. Tyr and Rommie lifted Dylan and the group moved towards the hanger.
Once everyone was on board Arthur and Tyr headed to the ships bridge while Rommie stayed with Dylan in the small medical bay. As the ship lifted off the Major came forward and saluted.
"All men present and accounted for. We have four injured, none serious. The doc says Captain Hunt will be fine for now but he'll need surgery within the next twelve hours."
"Thank you Tau." Replied Arthur. "I'm glad you were in the area." A sardonic grin appeared over Taus' face.
"Anything to get back at those Dragan bastards!" He spat at the mention of the enemy pride and, after saluting again walked of the bridge. Tyr looked at Arthur quizzically,
"He lost his family to the Drago-Kazov when he was young. I'm surprised you don't recognise him." Tyr shrugged,
"He is obviously Nietzschean and he does bear a similarity to one of my father's wife's but otherwise I couldn't tell you anything." Arthur started to speak but was cut of by a Lieutenant.
"Sir, we have a tail." Arthur turned to face the forward display as it showed a collection of blips closing fast from behind.
"How many."
"Two dozen fighters and a pair of destroyers. The destroyers are too far away to follow us into slipstream but the fighters will be on us in five minutes." Arthur activated the comms,
"Engine room we're going to need every last ounce of thrust you can give use."
"The engines are already at ten percent over maximum."
"Give me twenty." He closed the link before the engineer could reply. "All hands. Battle-stations. Helm, how long to slipstream?"
"We'll need ten more minutes."
"Fighters will be on us in one." Said the Lieutenant, answering the next question. Tyr stepped forward and whispered in Arthurs' ear,
"I don't suppose your pack is nearby." Arthur shook his head.
"And to make matters worse this is an insertion craft. We don't exactly pack any real firepower only six PDLs." Tyr nodded and walked over towards the Lieutenant.
"In that case I think I'll give this young man a hand." Arthur nodded. He must remember to compliment Dylan on his crew.
"Missiles in the water."
"How many?"
"Six." Replied Tyr, who had taken over informing Arthur so the Lieutenant could concentrate on targeting. "My guess would be a probe volley to see our defences."
"Target but hold fire until the missiles are within one light second." Tyr went to say something but stopped himself. "Helm, evasive pattern delta-four. Anything nearby we could use as cover?"
"Nothing sir." Came the reply from an Ensign manning sensors. "Nearest comet is six minutes away and would take us too close to a gas giant to enter slipstream."
"Missiles have broken through our defence ring and the fighters are almost on top of us." The ship rocked as the first missiles hit. The insertion craft surged forwards through space ducking and diving to avoid the incoming fire from the closing pursuers. One of the bridge stations exploded as a missile hit sending a crewman flying across the deck before making sickening sound as he collided with the tactical station. Tyr reached down to check his pulse and shook his head at Arthur.
"We're far enough away to slip." Yelled the helm officer over the sounds of sirens and explosions.
"Then go, for the love of the empress go." Replied Arthur yelling loud enough for Rommie to hear him as she approached command. The ship surged into the slipstream with the fighters leaving a trail for the destroyers before following.
"Full reverse." Yelled Arthur as the small craft exited slipstream. Not questioning, the helm officer slammed the small craft backwards sending loose items and several unsecured member s of the crew flying forwards as the AG fields were pushed to the maximum. As the slip portal opened again, a lead group of six fighters came storming through chasing the prey.
"Fire." The small ships PDLs opened up on the fighters at point-blank range and destroyed then all. "Full speed for Lurdes." The ship barely passed the wreckage of the fighters as a dozen more exited slipstream and tried frantically to avoid the wreckage. Soon ten of the fighters began to fire again on the target. On the bridge Tyr looked over at Arthur with new found respect. Just then Rommie came running onto the bridge.
"What the hell was that?" Arthur ignored her concentrating fully on yelling orders at his officers as the craft ducked and dodged trying to avoid the enemy fire.
"Merely your 'father' paying back the Dragans for the hospitality." Rommie was surprised at both the referral to Arthur as her father and the respect for him evident in Tyrs' eyes.
"How far to Lurdes?" Asked Arthur.
"We'll be in their defence range in five minutes." Arthur nodded.
"The destroyers have exited slipstream."
"What's the strength of our guests?"
"Thirteen fighters and both destroyers. Correction, one of the destroyers is losing speed. It must have taken damage from the debris." Arthur allowed himself to smile. Turning to Rommie he spoke,
"Tell the doc to get your captain in a drop pod." Noting the look on her face he explained. "We can't stop as Lurdes is a neutral facility which even the Dragans don't bother but it won't allow military vessels to land so you'll be safe on the planet." Rommie nodded and left the bridge.
"Incoming hail from the planet."!
"On-screen." A burly looking of man appeared on screen. "Hello Director Sevesson how are you today?" Sevesson didn't look at all pleased.
"Arthur Pendragon. I should have known. I assume you're dropping of a package." The voice dripped with venom. Arthur nodded,
"Correct as usual Director. We have casualties in need of immediate treatment and they be heading down in a drop pod soon." The Director gave Arthur a dry smile,
"Very well. Once inside our defence grid they'll be safe. Sevesson out."
"Are you sure it's wise to leave Dylan here?" Asked Tyr, "It sounds as though you and the Director aren't on good terms." Arthur waved him off.
"Nonsense. That was merely for show as we were talking on an open frequency. We're old friends. Heck, I introduced him to his wife." Tyr smiled, if he'd fallen for the deception there was no doubt the Drago-Kazov had as well.
"Pod's away." Arthur smiled, a grim determination set on his face.
"Good. Helm being us about and head straight for the destroyer."
"Your purpose?" Tyr asked. Arthur turned to face him, his eyes seemed to glow with an unworldly presence.
"Simple. I intend to send her straight to hell." He turned to face to main-viewer. "Helm, ramming speed!"
"Sir." Yelled the Ensign manning the sensors, "I have a slipstream opening."
"On-screen." All the crew looked as the newcomer exited into normal space. Arthur looked on dumb struck. "Well I'll be dammed."
Rommie watched as her saviours turned back towards the Dragan forces. She turned to face an injured soldier,
"What's he doing?" The soldier looked up at the rapidly accelerating vessel.
"To send those scum to hell."
"How he's out numbered and outgunned." The soldier shrugged,
"Never stopped him before." As both ships began their charge time seemed to slow until only a few hundred yards separated the ships. Suddenly were the two ships once stood, now a giant explosion thundered across the heavens.
"NO!" Yelled Rommie. Dylan stirred at the sound of her voice,
"Rommie? What's wrong?" He asked, through blood soaked eyes he saw her cry.
"Dylan. It's Tyr and Arthur, they're, they're..." She seemed unable to finish,
"They're what?" She looked him straight in his eyes,
"They're dead." Dylan slipped back into the darkness.