Chapter 10: Ambush on Ordonicor

Jason's Super Stardestroyer enters the gigantic planet's atmosphere, accompanied by the other Destroyers. The massive Starships stay above the ground surveying the barren, rocky land below, finding no life forms on the surface. The computer finds the coordinates of the base and the ships speed to the location. Upon arrival, there are almost no signs of struggle, save for several craters around the area.

"Try to establish contact with the base. Computer, scan area." Orders Jason.

One of the Coyotebots tries to open a line to the base while the computer runs a scan on the surface. Meanwhile, Crystal looks out upon the desolate wasteland.

"Jason, why do you have a base way out here, and on such a God-forsaken planet?"

Jason turns his attention from the monitors to address her. "It's part of GSF policy. We take barren planets and over time grow plants and introduce life to them, to make the suitable for people to live on. We then build housing and give the people the necessary tools to live. That way, if a planet is over-populated or has a high concentration of poor, those people can start a new life somewhere else with our help. After the planet has established a working economy, we begin our taxation, but only take about 5-7 % in taxes from each household or individual annually (earth time), but times that by 3/4 of this Galaxy and parts of others and it really adds up. Of course, we keep our military there, and retain our control over the planets. Just a little secret as to why we're so powerful."

The Coyotebot speaks up when he finishes his attempt to establish contact, "Sir, their communications must be down, I'm not picking up anything!"

Jason grits his teeth. "Computer, what have you found?"

The computer responds, "No life detected in surrounding area."

Crystal decides to say something and says, "Quiet on all fronts...maybe they took care of whatever was attacking?"

"Wait! There's someone coming out of the base!" shouts a Coyotebot watching the monitor. "It's Tunnel Rhino!"

Jason and Crystal both run up to the monitor and see a giant brown reploid with a green helmet and giant drills on his armored shoulders, his nose, and the largest on his right arm. He waves frantically at the Super Stardestroyer.

Jason turns his head to another Coyotebot sitting at a console and says, "Open a channel to his com-link!"

The robot obeys his master and does so. "Sir, link established. You're ready to roll."

"Thank you." says Jason, who picks up the microphone, "Tunnel Rhino, this is Supreme Commander Jason, do you read me?"

Jason, Crystal and the rest of the crew watch the monitor and listen intently to the speakers.

A voice is heard over the speakers, "This is Tunnel Rhino, head Reformed Maverick of Ordonicor Frontier Desert Base. It's great to hear you Commander Jason!"

"Heh heh, likewise Tunnel!" answers Jason, relieved that everything seems ok.

Crystal grabs the microphone and speaks into it, "We received a distress signal from this base. Also, your communications are down, is there anything the matter?"

Tunnel looks toward the horizon. "We were attacked. The enemy came out of nowhere and relentlessly swarmed us! After they took out our communications equipment they suddenly left. There's been no sign of 'em for a while."

Jason takes back the mic. "Can you tell us what they looked like? We'd like to know what we're up against."

Tunnel looks back up to the Super Stardestroyer and says, "It was tough to see them, they were moving pretty fast! Most of the time, all you could hear was buzzing or the sound of our blasters. They kinda looked li-"

Tunnel's transmission is cut off suddenly.

"Tunnel! Tunnel come in! Damn it, come in! You're breaking up!" shouts Jason into the mic. He feels a hand lightly shake his shoulder and turns to look at who it is. He sees Crystal with a look of complete shock on her face as she looks at the monitor.

"J-Jason...l-look..." Crystal's breaking voice was just above a whisper.

Jason looks at the monitor to see Tunnel Rhino lying on the ground with a huge gash across his chest armor, exposing his vital circuitry. Next to him is a giant green insect, closely resembling a Praying Mantis, that looks up and quickly flies off over the hills. Soon after, the sound of insect wings beating the air is heard. The loud buzzing increases as a wave of green and black moves across the plains towards the base.

"Grrrrrr...All Destroyers, lock onto the enemy and open fire! Blast them all to Hell!" shouts Jason, giving his orders. He then whispers an assurance to his fallen comrade, "Don't worry Tunnel, we'll wipe out their entire race to avenge you...(grins) who knows, you might even still be salvageable and have the last laugh..."

"W-what are those things?!" screams Crystal, bordering on hysterics at the sight of the legions of insects.

Jason stands up and walks to the command post of while the roar of cannons and blaster fire rips through the still air. Jason answers Crystal in a relaxed, commanding voice, "They are the Trilac, a powerful parasitic race of insect that moves from planet to planet, destroying everything that stands in their path. This planet must have been one of their nesting grounds..."

"Why would they do that?" asked Crystal, watching the Battlecruisers' cannons driving back the enemy.

Jason smirks and says, "Well, they used to be a peaceful race known as the Inselica. That is, until I ordered the Sun Crusher to, well, obliterate their Solar System. They were supplying some enemy forces with medical and transport equipment and didn't listen to any of our requests to stop, so we did what was necessary to cut off our enemy's support. Some of them survived and found that it was a Galactic Special Forces ship that destroyed their home, so they've somewhat held a grudge against us." Jason sits back in his chair. "Send some drop ships and shuttles to the surface along with our elevators, I want that base evacuated! Keep firing to give the evacuation teams cover!"

"Sir!" A Coyotebot barked, "The enemy's main force is coming in from the north and northwest, but everytime we shoot at them, more just appear outta nowhere!" He threw down his metal hat in frustration.

"Sir!" Another one called, "I have aerial enemy troops on my scanners at seven o'clock south!"

Crystal looks at her watch, "But I only have eleven thirty Corellian time!"

The Coyotebot continues, "Estimated distance: 900 miles traveling at 1,500 miles per hour. Our cannons can't reach them because their line of sight is obscured by the mountain ranges they're travelling through."

"Have the other destroyers move further out to help create a barrier for us so we can get our troops out. We have 5 and a half square miles of base to clear and we can't hold off those bugs forever. Also, deploy several V-Wing squadrons to intercept the aerial threat." Jason tried to stay calm, but it was hard knowing how strong the Trilac were and how fanatically devoted they were to their love of destruction. Two traits that made them especially dangerous were their ability to swarm in almost insane numbers and each one's willingness to die without hesitation for the good of the colonies. Maybe blowing up their system and driving them to a point of madness was a bad thing?

The evacuation was under way. Unfortunately the base was huge and it naturally would take time to evacuate so many troops. Time went by slowly and warily under the steady thunder of the guns that held the enemy at bay. Then the Coyotebot who had reported the aerial troops spoke aloud.

"Our V-Wings will intercept the enemy in five...four...three...two..." He watched the scanner as a number of the enemies located disappeared off screen. "The V-wings have engaged the targets!" The robot watched intently and after a few moments reported, "Targets eliminated."

Jason sighed in relief. "Oh thank God. Now, order the V-Wings to return here. Also, deploy several Raidens around the base to help hold off the Trilac."

The soldier sent the orders immediately to who was concerned. Shortly afterwards, a new development on the scanner called for attention.

"Sir! More aerial troops are headed toward the V-Wings! I'm picking up over a thousand life signatures!"

Jason rushes over to look at the screen, knowing it was true but still not wanting to believe it. "Turn on the main screen and put it to one of the V-Wing's cameras!"

The main screen came to life. The V-Wings had detected the threat on their radar and had turned to fight them off. The V-wings opened fire and were shooting everything they had at the wave of green and black in the sky.

Coyotebot V-Wing squadron commander: "Base, we're under attack! They sent reinforcements! There's...to many of them...AHHHH!"

On the screen, the airborne Trilac had reached the V-Wings and had begun tearing through the entire squadron. They swarmed the fighters, using their pincers and stingers to tear through the metal armor. The camera's transmission was cut, last displaying the image of one of the enemy raising it's pincer to slash at it.

"We lost them." said the Coyotebot monitoring the scanners.

Jason sat back down and thought of what to do. The only sound in the room was the ever constant rumble of cannons. Jason gave his order. "Scan for any life signatures in the direction where the damned things came from and find their base. Also get some more squadrons to that location to take out the second aerial wave, and keep blanketing the areas around us with cannon fire!"

The Coyotebot at the scanners works diligently at his machine. He too feels the pain of loss, as each Coyotebot feels a brotherly tie toward the other. Jason had told them all once that each of them was important, for each of them, Jason believed, had a soul. Because of that soul, they felt the need to protect each other and were willing to do what was necessary to carry out their missions, knowing it would benefit all of them. Then he found it.

"Sir! I've located a major cluster of life forms in the mountain. The airborne enemy most likely came from there!" Then, a light flashed near the screen, indicating a new development. The robot looked; it was obvious he was not putting trust into his optic sensors at the moment.

"What is it?" asked Crystal, scared it was another wave of attackers.

The Coyotebot turned and said his findings, "The airborne enemies have disappeared off screen and the bio-scanners aren't picking up a thing! Someone shot them down!"

"Who?" asked Jason, trying not to jump out of his chair and shout, "YES! BOYAH!"

"I-I don't know, I'm not picking up anything on the scanners!" answers the Coyotebot.

Then suddenly, on the radio came a transmission.

????: "Rock and Roll!"

Jason stood up, yet again. "Fox? Is that you?!"