SIX
Starship Eternia Eternian Star System 3 June 2017
Eternia drifted into its namesake solar system with all systems shut down save life support. Passive sensors probed the planets and empty space for Horde warships. The sensor array had been upgraded and fine-tuned during the repair and rearming on Earth, the result was the capability to scan most any solar system they might encounter in its entirety. The passive sensors, while increased in sensitivity, had only about half the range. Penetration of the system had been carefully prepared and executed.
Scans from half a light-year out marked the locations of Eternia and its twin moons. The orbits and positioning were carefully marked, and a plan was developed to get in behind the larger of the two moons, which just happened to be the furthest from the target planet. After the calculations had been thoroughly checked, rechecked, and checked five times more, complete with many computer simulations, Jo-jo's crew executed a ballistic entry into the Eternian star system.
The nerve-wracking trip took almost ten hours traveling at around a million kilometers per second. Non-essential personnel were restricted to quarters to lessen the chance of a stray sound out energy transmission leaking out and alerting the enemy. This condition was the equivalent to a submarine running ultra-quiet.
All their preparation, and near flawless execution, met with resounding success. Eternia slid to a stop behind the larger of planet Eternia's twin moons on tiny jets of breaking thrusters. Of course, there was the frightening possibility the Horde ships orbiting the planet saw them coming and let them get this close. Three hours after arriving on station, Captain Majourny relaxed the ultra-quiet stance.
Preparations began for the – as Ace called it – 'drop-and-run.' The plan called for having two dropships loaded and ready in the drop bays. Eternia would execute a full speed run at its namesake planet, almost literally skip the atmosphere, release the dropships, and tear out of the area in hyperspace once clear of the planet's gravity well. The timing would be critical with little to no margin for error. Ace, Lieutenant Feril, and Lieutenant Gambini spent long hours plotting the approach and atmospheric entry vectors. Composite ceramic armor had its limits during re-entry. The trick was dancing the fine line without slipping into disaster.
While the drop run was hammered out, the rest of Colonel Markson's command readied their equipment. Flamethrowers, pulse rifles, laser rifles, and the new plasma and pulse cannons were thoroughly checked over, disassembled when necessary, then loaded and racked. Boxes of spare loose ammunition, loaded magazines and clips, energy cells, and replacement parts were stacked up near the loading ramp of the armored carrier parked under the dropship hanging in the front starboard drop bay; the Number Two bay. The dropship over Number One bay was identical to the others, but this one was swarmed over by maintenance personnel busy employing one of the ship design's options. Instead of the standard retracting panels that concealed the large armored carrier, those panels were stored in the retracted position and disconnected from the hydraulic arms. Other hydraulic pistons at the front of the bay cavity were unlocked from their storage spaces, checked over, and readied for attaching to the ramp currently being mounted at the aft end of the ship's bay. This would allow the two-man war machine Gabe Burns sent along to be carried down to the planet. Not only could the ramp be lowered at an angle to front loading, it could also be lowered using a second set of hydraulic pistons at the rear as a level platform one could drive up on. This could be used while both ship and vehicle were in motion; however, tests of this option had thus far ended – badly. It was only to be used as a very last resort.
A fever pitch quietly built up with each passing hour. The entire crew knew the drop was coming soon even if the exact timing had yet to be planned. Beneath that, tension built as well about confronting Horde warships once again. Though the plan called for a speed run at planet Eternia's atmosphere to drop off half of Colonel Markson's command, a warship getting in the way and forcing battle could not be ruled out. Their success in their last encounter was largely due to blind luck and surprise.
Tentative theory about the destruction of the corvette in orbit of that unknown moon where the armor was recovered indicated the combination of plasma and reaction torpedoes striking near simultaneous in nearly the same spot caused a fluctuation in the warship's shield array. The flux allowed twenty-inch titanium shells from the rail guns to punch through the hull and literally ricochet around inside. The Horde vessel died when one of the shells managed to bounce its way in to the aft main engineering compartments. Theory held a shell pierced the ion core's magnetic containment. The rest was history.
Captain Majourny, Colonel Markson, and Hohiro Takamora reviewed the mission brief in her quarters. Hohiro would be in charge of Charlie and Delta platoons while Markson was away with Alpha and Beta. Hohiro thought he was getting the downside of the deal, and voiced it in a good-natured way.
"Let me get this straight," Jo-jo said, putting an intermission in their meeting. "Hohiro, you would rather be dropping onto a Snake Men-controlled planet where every day you are there will likely be a life-or-death struggle to do the recon we need while avoiding King Hiss' snake hordes than with me on a diplomatic mission?" She shook her head ruefully.
"Snakes, robots, and running battles I can deal with. Life or death struggles I can deal with," the oriental captain replied. "Politicians scare me." There was no way to be sure just how truthful or whimsical he was trying to be.
"Well, at least I had a choice of assignment," Jon quipped.
"And it didn't take you more than an instant to stab me in the back, sir," Hohiro said with a grin. "And after all I've done for you..."
"Gentlemen, and I use that term loosely, lets not drift too far from the subject," Jo-jo said, heading things off for the third time in the past hour. "Now. I notice there is no one in any of the platoons even remotely familiar with Horde technology beyond the basics of using the captured weapon systems we currently employ." She locked eyes with both men in turn. "Gentlemen, this is unacceptable. There are several people on board this ship who are familiar with their technology. In fact, the person I have in mind could use a change of scenery."
"Now wait a minute," Markson protested. "There are only so many seats available in the carrier. I won't have the time to baby-sit anyone."
Hohiro raised a hand. "I'll do it. He can go to Phantos."
Jon shot him a withering glare.
"What you need is a liaison between us starship pukes and you rampaging warmongers. Now, the person I have in mind should be arriving right...about – "The door chime sounded as someone outside requested admittance. Jo-jo pressed a button on her desk.
A young man's nervous voice drifted from the hidden speaker. "Ensign Wardman reports as ordered, captain."
Jo-jo touched another control and the door slid open with barely a sound. "Enter."
A very nervous ensign timidly stepped across the threshold. He entered far enough to the sensor to allow the door to close, and remained rooted in place. Wardman's anxiety mounted when he recognized Colonel Markson and Captain Takamora.
Jo-jo waved the young man to the remaining unoccupied seat. "Please, sit down." Wardman did so, but sat at attention. "Oh, do relax, Andre. You aren't in trouble."
Andre relaxed a bit, but kept his guard up. Despite his training sessions with Hohiro's core group, Leroy Harris still found ways to get to him when the shadows Hohiro appointed to look after him were not around. Those occasions were few, but effective. It didn't help that there was still no room available to move Andre out of the enlisted section into officer's country.
Jo-jo could only do so much with showing favoritism toward the talented young man. She left the matter in the hands of Master Sergeant Cox; the senior enlisted man on the ship. He was the equivalent of a Navy boson, and God's right hand on the starship. His word was considered law, and straight from the captain. The big hindrance to the whole deal was Wardman's apparent need to handle this on his own. The problem was Harris out-massed Andre by almost fifty pounds.
Maybe he'll see reason and go along with this, Jo-jo sighed. I have enough to worry about without worrying about him ending up dead. "I have a proposition for you, ensign. Your work as a member of Eternia's crew has been outstanding. You have pointed out a few design errors that actually work in our favor. Plus, your interest in Horde technology will make you a valuable asset in the future whether you like it or not." Jo-jo put on her best motherly smile. "Now. The job I have in mind is a new position we just made up. Despite outward appearances, it will carry a certain amount of importance."
"What she's trying not to say is we need a liaison between my command and Captain Majourny's crew," Colonel Markson replied. "That's where you come in. Normally, a slot like this would be filled by someone with a little more experience, but we take what we can get."
The enormity of what they were asking slowing sank in as Andre kept his face screwed into an emotionless mask. I can get off this ship! Temporarily, at lest. They want ME in the event they run across some piece of technology that might be useful. "I thought Private O'Rourke was familiarizing herself with their technology," Andre replied, keeping the elation out of his voice.
Takamora nodded. "She is, but she can't specialize in it the way you are trying to do. You are the next best thing to the experts back home."
Andre opened his mouth to speak, but Colonel Markson stopped him. "Understand, ensign, this isn't going to be a pleasure cruise. We'll be cut off with no allies and no support until Captain Majourny returns from the diplomatic mission to Phantos."
"I understand, sir," Andre replied soberly.
"Then you accept? You can turn it down, son. We won't think any less of you if you do," Hohiro added.
"I know, sir. I'm still willing to go." Andre turned to Captain Majourny, and said formally, "Captain, I accept the liaison position and am prepared to accompany Colonel Markson on the mission to Eternia."
"Very well." Jo-jo slid a chip across the desk to him. "This contains a list of what gear you will need. Gather it and report to the drop bay."
"Aye, captain!" This time his elation broke through. Andre reined it in, but the slight smile on the captain's face told him she had hoped for just such a reaction.
"Well, that was easy," Hohiro commented, after the young man had departed.
Colonel Markson finished a brief conversation via his personal comm link. "Yes. Too bad getting to Eternia's surface won't be."
"Oh, don't be such a sourpuss, Jon," Jo-jo replied with an impish grin and a mischievous twinkle in her eyes. "At least you get all the easy assignments."
"Just lucky, I guess," the colonel replied sourly.
Andre bubbled over with joy as he headed for his barracks to gather his meager things for the mission. The data chip given to him by the captain remained safely tucked away in a pocket. He would need that when he requisitioned the gear for the mission. No one was about in the darkened barracks, and Andre counted his blessings. Now if he could just pack his things and get out-
"Well, what have we here? I thought I smelled chicken," Melvin Boudreaux sneered. "See Leroy? I told ya he'd come back."
A weasel-faced man with an average build and a scarred face only a mother could love stepped out of the shadows with two other men and one woman. All looked mean, nasty, and ready for a fight. The motley group fanned out and surrounded their prey where they commenced slapping Wardman about pushing him into people around the circle. Andre never had a chance to get his balance before being propelled into the next person. They weren't exactly gentle about it, either.
"You're right, Harris. It does smell rather fowl in here."
Six pairs of eyes jerked suddenly to the source of the unwanted intrusion. Antone Frost and Jack Rockwell stood silhouetted in light from the corridor. Both leaned against the door jams regarding the entire ruckus with almost bored disinterest.
"See?" Jack said to Frost. "I told you there were chickens aboard ship." He turned his penetrating brown eyes upon Harris and company. "Six to be exact."
"Takes a real brave person to pick on someone half their size," Frost commented lightly.
"Some security force," Jake scoffed, adding fuel to the fires smoldering twenty feet away. "This ship gets invaded, we might as well just surrender." Jerking a thumb in Harris' direction, Jake spat, "They sure as hell ain't gonna save us."
The circle broke up, Andre being shoved unceremoniously over a cot, as the group faced their new threat. Jake and Frost remain infuriatingly calm and rather unconcerned as the six fanned out. Each fisted razor-sharp knives as they closed to within ten feet of the duo.
Jake raised an eyebrow. "Pig-stickers?"
"Doncha just hate it when they don't know when to just shut up and leave?" Frost inquired, never moving a muscle.
"You're gonna bleed for that," the girl sneered.
"What'd she say?" Frost replied.
"Plan A's a loser," Jake interpreted.
Leroy stepped menacingly forward, the blade in his left hand flashed low and away. "We may go to the brig, but you guys won't live to tell about this."
"Plan A's definitely a loser," Frost agreed.
Neither man moved a muscle or even tensed. Several of Harris' cronies began to wonder what was going on. No one was this relaxed in the face of six armed people. Unless they knew something no one else did.
"Uh, Leroy, I don't like this," the blonde-hair sensor tech named Jason said nervously.
"Shuddup!" Leroy snapped. "There's just the two of them." In a flash like lightning, faster than his bulk hinted, Leroy snapped the point of his knife up under Frost's chin. Frost continued looking almost bored with the childish display. "Ever wonder what a stuck black man sounds like?"
The unmistakable sounds of blades snapping out caused the blonde and female to whip around toward the inky blackness behind them.
"Oh, dear," Frost exaggerated. "Did we forget to tell them about Plan B?"
"Oops," Jake replied, grinning sheepishly. "I thought there was something we needed to tell them."
Frost shifted his head minutely, and said to the cowering ensign, "Hey, Andre. Be a good sport and shed some light on this here situation, would ya?"
Anxiety and tension thickened to near stifling levels as Andre fumbled about looking for the nearest wall switch. Still shaking from his battering, Andre tripped over several footlockers on his way to the forward entrance and the switch he knew was there.
When the lights finally came on like blazing suns, Leroy's female accomplice and the blonde man gasped in horror. Leroy himself slowly turned his head to see the sight that quickly shook the resolve of his minions.
Adrian Cobretti stood twenty feet away in the form of a syngenor; eyes blazing like orbs of molten silver, brackish carapace gleaming in the white lights, and twin bone claws extended and ready. Flanking the terrifying creature was the remainder of Alpha Platoon. Thirteen men and women wearing battle dress uniforms, armed with wicked, razor-sharp hunting knives stared back; some with knowing grins. They had entered the barracks from the port side where they wouldn't be seen.
"I wonder what a honky sounds like when stuck like a pig," Frost replied casually.
Frost's audacity with a knife at his throat surprised Leroy. "They may get us," he snarled, "but you won't be around to see it."
The syngenor took several steps forward, its footfalls echoed on the metal deck. Everyone felt those vibrations in the soles of the boots. The skirmish line stepped forward with their anchor. Though this creature form looked bulky, ponderous, lacking of speed, no one in the room had that impression. Adrian explored those traits in the first few days after returning to Earth.
Jake eyed the defiant little Marine bully, whose height barely reached Jake's shoulders. "Not likely," he replied, removing the right hand that had been hidden behind his back all this time. In that fist was a powerful and extremely accurate laser pistol. Jake pointed the efficient little weapon right between Leroy's bugging eyes when he turned to face Jake. "Wanna bet whether or not this is set for 'stun?' Wouldn't matter at this range. Even stun would kill."
Frost flicked his eyes and the people on the ends of the skirmish line dropped out to gather up Wardman and his gear. Quick and efficient, the trio packed up and ushered Andre out another exit. With the ensign now safely out of harm's way, Alpha platoon closed in on six who thought they'd make trouble on Captain Majourny's ship with impunity.
"If you do take him down," Jake said very quietly, "you will suffer the unfortunate accident of stepping out the nearest airlock without a pressure suit."
Leroy switched his gaze from Frost to Jake and back. Suddenly, he dropped his knife hand and smiled almost jovially. "Okay, ground-pounders. You win this round. We'll have this out another time."
No one but Leroy and his gang moved. They cautiously put away their knives lest they provoke the fifteen soldiers and one shape-changer. Frost blew out a sigh of relief.
"Thought he might actually do it for a minute, there," Jake commented seriously.
Frost nodded his agreement rubbing his chin.
Colonel Markson listened to the report from Alpha Platoon for almost a full minute, acknowledged, and switched off the comm link. The former Army Ranger stretched out in the chair and laced his fingers behind his head. Jo- jo stared at the man debating the critique she had in mind.
Instead, she said, "Do I really want to know?"
"No, though I will say you shouldn't have too much trouble from that rabble element," Markson said smugly.
"Remind me never play poker with you for keeps, sir," Hohiro replied.
"Well, with you around, Hohiro, maybe things will stay quiet and uneventful," Jo-jo, said. Yeah, right, she added silently. Where the Horde is concerned things are anything but quiet.
Soldiers began gathering in the locker room at the appointed hour thirty minutes from launch. Frost was already there with Privates O'Rourke and Deubert loading weapons and setting them up in the storage racks. Others arrived from Alpha and Beta platoons where they started the arduous task of strapping on battle armor.
Maintenance techs started arriving to begin preflight inspections with the flight crews. Safety pins were removed from ejection seats, weapons in the ordinance racks, and landing gear locks. The entire exterior was examined for defects especially the conformal fuel tanks mounted along the spines of both dropships. The extra tanks would almost double the flying range, and they would need that fuel on this mission. It had to last until Eternia returned from its mission to Phantos.
The whine of auxiliary power units created a steady hum in the background as the armored carrier was driven back out of the aft storage bay and parked under the dropship in the number two spot; the forward starboard bay. As a spotter standing off the dropship's nose guided the mammoth vehicle into position; a bizarre, vastly smaller, and extremely powerful, wheeled weapon skirted the drop bays to the starboard side. Soldiers already dressed for action stopped their conversing to openly gawk at the war machine as Adrian Cobretti drove by to park in front of the dropship hanging over Number One bay. Fittingly, the words 'WAR MACHINE' were hand-scrawled in red paint on both sides of the immaculate battle gray hull.
"If the rumors I heard about that thing are even half accurate, Cobra and Jake are gonna have some fun," Private Samuel Johnson replied, eyes wistful.
"We're not on a vacation," Catherine O'Rourke, veteran of the Force's first real combat against the Horde, retorted. "Stop daydreaming right now, kid. If you get yourself killed because of it, fine. You take others with you; I swear I'll talk the Sorceress into resurrecting you so I can kill you myself. Clear?" Private Johnson recoiled from the vehemence in Catherine's words, and offered a jerky nod.
Colonel Markson arrived with the remaining Guardians and soldiers. Brad led the way to the six imposing suits of power armor standing in the corner near the locker room. Jake and Adrian joined their comrades, and boldly approached the towering weapons of war. Colonel Markson and those already suited up watched a sight they never got tired of seeing. Each battle suit opened up at it wearer's approach. Seams formed where they did not previously exist. Panels on the arms, legs, and chest plates yawned wide as the human operators climbed up and stepped back into the cavity contoured to the individual. Once inside, the panels closed, sealed, and comfortably locked the six humans in a protective Etherium womb.
Green eyes flashed in each helmet when the power-up was completed. Adrian marveled once again at the openness on the interior helmet display. It was as if he wasn't wearing one. Displays scrolled down the sides of his forward vision reflecting suit status, weapon status, and the effective combat efficiency.
Brad's voice floated from his comm system. "Umm, has anyone considered how we're to get into the vehicles like this? I mean, no one seemed to interested in that aspect when we were running these suits through controlled tests back home."
"Da," Sonya agreed. "We're too tall to fit in there with all the other soldiers."
"Be nice is these suits could shrink down to the size of the armor the others are wearing," Jeromy added.
In response, all six battle suits did exactly that. The metamorphosis to a matter of seconds, and six humans dressed in malleable power armor remained where six towering weapons had once been.
"Sweet," Colonel Markson commented, then entered the locker room to suit up.
"You see," Sonya said to no one in particular. "Jeromy can come up with a good idea from time to time; rare event that it is." Her comments were well received by Jeromy, who stuck out his tongue now that his face was no longer obscured by a mask.
"Children," Sorceress sighed wearily. She left the group and climbed up the open ramp to look for a good seat up in the front of the carrier.
"What's with her?" Jake asked innocently.
Sonya made a rude noise in her throat. "Men," she grumbled, and followed the other woman into the carrier.
Jake stood around trying to figure out Sorceress' reaction until Adrian pushed him in the direction of the War Machine.
"C'mon, Jake. It's not men. It's the affliction. Let it go."
"Well, that isn't my fault," the former infantry sergeant protested.
Adrian exchanged knowing looks with Brad and Jeromy then continued to prod Jake toward the War Machine. "Shuddup and get in. She didn't mean what she said."
"Yeah, but-"
"GET IN!" Adrian snapped, climbing up the side and clambering into the driver's seat, the aft position.
As before, Sergeant Apone riled up the troops, pumping them up for the mission now minutes away from starting. Soldiers scrambled out of the locker room and lined up across from the assault carrier in two columns. Apone gave the soldiers a cursory look over then ordered them up the ramp to find their seats. The usual banter and boasting from the last drop was magnified by the inexperience of the replacement troops. They were cocky, smarting off about how they would have handled the previous mission, and general clueless about what they had gotten into. The Guardians tuned it out. They had heard it all before, been a part of it, even.
Each was lost in his or her own thoughts about the mission. Sorceress, especially, dwelled upon what she would find. How much had the people of Eternia changed ground under the heel of King Hiss for over seven years. What had become of her daughter? What happened when Catra's fleet returned here to crush He-Man's uprising? What of the Masters? These were questions needing answers, and Sorceress was afraid of the answers they'd find. She fervently hoped her nervousness didn't show. Even if it did, her companions were professional enough to at least pretend not to notice.
The ramp rose to the whine of hydraulic actuators and the cacophony of atmospheric engines rose in pitch as they spooled up to idle speeds. Ground crews ran last-minute checks before pulling external power umbilical cables, lockout pins, and other safety devises. Adrian's armor found a way to interface with the War Machine's computer. The helmet formed a heads up display before his eyes with a window before the right eye showing him the aft view as he backed the machine up the ramp. Once in place, he locked the brakes and powered down as the ramp rose.
Jo-jo watched the counter spiral downward on a small monitor at her left hand. The lights had been switched to red to preserve night vision. Once they rounded the moon, they would be hit by sunlight, but the dimmed clear steel canopy would counter that. Outwardly, Jo-jo appeared relaxed as she watched Ace and Ensign Comorov go over the approach vectors for the drop run; listened to Lieutenant Denton mutter to himself in between conversing with Lieutenant Satori about the passive sensor ghosts. The pair tried to refine the positions of Horde warships as best they could, but passive sensors just did not have the reach. All they could do was guess until they went active and got positive locks.
At the touch of a button, an image of the drop bay appeared. A status of the two ships ready for drop was displayed below the picture. Both craft were in the green with engines idling. The vehicle bays were closed, and the ground crew was finishing stowing away cables, tool kits, and various other items. Once all loose items were stored and the bay was clear of personnel, the computer signaled all clear for drop.
Jo-jo sighed once more. That quiet action caused all subdued conversation to cease. She looked around the bridge pausing for a few seconds on each expectant face. No one showed anything less than grim determination. Every member of her bridge crew was committed to making this drop succeed.
"Status," Captain Majourny said formally. "All stations."
Ace's console beeped at him. "All station's show ready."
"Very well, Ace. Sound battlestations."
Ace touched a control and his voice echoed throughout the ship.
ALL HANDS MAN YOUR BATTLESTATIONS! BATTLESTATIONS! BATTLESTATIONS! ALL DECKS ACKNOWLEDGE.
Systems all over the ship switched from passive and standby mode to active. Powerful engine roared to life filling the aft compartments with a reassuring rumble. Crewmembers dashed through the corridors to their assigned station. Etherium panels parted as the dorsal and ventral quad laser mounts extended.
"All decks show ready," Ace confirmed. "All systems ready."
"Very well. If we're going to do it, let's do it."
Commander Franik hated this posting. Hated it with a passion the robots under his command could not comprehend. Eternia was pleasing to the eye, but these were not his stars. His home lay many light-years away. No, King Hiss and his snake forces caused his ire. Franik's closet held many skeletons best never seen in the light of day, but none approached the atrocities the Snake Men committed mostly for the shear pleasure. The green- skinned humanoid mused once again why Horde Prime put up with that creature. Some things were just too obscene even for the Horde.
An insistent buzz from the sensor station snapped Franik out of his wanderings. The trooper manipulated the controls trying to refine the sudden readings.
"Well?" Franik demanded with more irritability than he actually felt. Wouldn't do to let the riff-raff see his hidden gentler side. This event at least broke the monotony of picketing this star system.
"Unknown energy source detected behind the larger moon. It just – appeared," the robot reported at last.
Skeptical, Franik replied, "Appeared?"
"Yes, commander. One moment there was nothing and the next there was a power spike."
Another trooper spoke up. "Commander! Unknown spacecraft detected. It just cleared the dark side of the moon."
"Identify it immediately!" Franik snapped.
Several seconds passed before the report came. The unknown starship was of a configuration not in the Horde database of known craft. Franik stared at the tracking plot now glowing on the main video display. His battlecruiser was stationed in orbit over the planet's northern hemisphere. Two accompanying destroyers were off just beyond the outer moon's orbit. None were in a position to intercept, as yet. The computer was still struggling to refine the trajectory data, but the silhouette was coming in clear.
Two cylinders riding low along the ship's long axis, pointed bow with winglets, canopy, and the unmistakable snouts of laser weapons stirred Franik's memory, but he just couldn't place it. Something he should remember. Whatever it was, it was really moving.
"Get me a visual on that ship. NOW!" Commander Franik barked. The longer he watched that intruder the lower his stomach sank.
Though aerodynamics meant nothing in space, Eternia rounded the moon she had been hiding behind for over a day like she had been shot from a cannon. Sub-light drives drove the starship to almost sixty percent of the speed of light. Even so, it still took time to reach the planet. Time enough for the three Horde warships picketing the system to react.
"Destroyers coming around," Lieutenant Denton reported. "Reading energy spikes on both ships."
"Snap-shot 3 and 4," Jo-jo ordered.
In response, torpedo tubes three and four on the starboard side vomited their lethal weapons into the hard vacuum. One reaction warhead followed closely by a plasma weapon raced off to meet the turning warship.
"Confirmed location on Destroyer Two," Harley replied, finger poised over the firing control. "Lock intermittent."
"Snap-shot 1 and 2," Jo-jo ordered.
Tubes One and Two belched their payloads into space. Snap-shots were not the most accurate means of aiming. It was aiming for a projected spot where one believed the enemy would be given the velocity and direction of the target in relation to the ship launching the weapons. Jo-jo was going for disabling the destroyers, though that was okay, too. The object was to distract them long enough to get to Eternia, make their drop, evade that battle cruiser, and jump into hyperspace.
The tactic seemed to be working so far. The enemy didn't appear to have a positive identification on them yet. Once the torpedoes launched, the destroyers went evasive. Evidently, information on Eternia's last skirmish with Horde warships had filtered out this far. Or else they were just trying to save their metal skins. Either way, the sudden attack had the desired effect.
A corridor was left wide open to get to Eternia's atmosphere. Ace arrowed straight for that opening. He and Comorov concentrated only on getting into position to release the dropships. They tuned out the updates going back and forth between Novina Satori at the science equipment and Harvey Denton at the weapons stand behind Captain Majourny's right shoulder.
On screen at Jo-jo's left hand, the dropships were being lowered into their bays. Lifting arms disconnected and retracted into the ceiling. Thick panels slid closed sealing the ships inside. The outer doors would not open until just seconds prior to release to minimize giving that battlecruiser a devastating belly shot.
So far things appeared to be going as planned. All that remained was that battle cruiser.
Commander Franik watched helplessly as the enemy starship launched two torpedo salvos. The first pair launched had the furthest to go to their target. Although that crew had plenty of time to attempt scoring a proximity blast that would detonate the torpedoes prematurely, they had been trying to track down a fault in their shield system and forward weapons array. This proved terminal, as they could not pour out the necessary laser fire to have a decent chance for a proximity hit.
The reaction torpedo slammed into a shield only about half its normal strength. Electromagnetic energies released from the detonation licked out across the invisible shield now illuminated as it was physically struck. Rainbow eddies died in moments as the entire system literally fried leaving the warship open for the second torpedo trailing close behind. This one, armed with a plasma warhead, slammed into unprotected armor plates, actually penetrated over one meter into the hull, and detonated. The destroyer simply ceased to exist inside a boiling globe of raging plasma fire.
Franik's other destroyer faired better, though it had less time to evade and set down defensive fire. A proximity explosion set off the reaction torpedo over three hundred meters from striking. Its energy release did damage the shields, but not enough. A second lucky strike destroyed the plasma torpedo two hundred meters out. Boiling plasma washed across the warship's shields frying their circuits, clasping them, and scorching hull armor. The destroyer survived, but was out of the fight. With no shields and the forward weapons array now damaged severely, it would be nothing more than cannon fodder for the as yet unidentified starship.
That left Franik to stand-alone against the alien speeding toward him.
Short-lived cheers scattered the grim atmosphere surrounding Eternia's bridge when Lieutenant Satori reported the destruction of one Horde destroyer and the near crippling of the other. That left only that battle cruiser to deal with. She hadn't quite gotten around for a head-to-head confrontation, which was just as well. With Eternia closing from off the enemy's starboard bow more weapon could be aimed in their general direct; and were.
Red laser bolts lit the starry void, some exploding close enough to rattle the ship. Other glanced off the powerful shield. Some blows slammed home with enough force to deflect the ship, but it really didn't matter. They weren't going to trade blows with that starship, even though they had a pretty good chance of coming out on top.
Rail guns, quad lasers, and quad mounts hammered back more for effect than to actually cause damage. No torpedoes were wasted on the enemy as Ace altered the approach vectors aiming for the equatorial run.
Ace's comm was open to dropships waiting in the forward drop bays. "Standby. Twenty seconds to drop."
Feril and her RIO – rear instrument operator – coordinated with their counterparts in the other dropship to time their release and flight paths so they didn't collide. This was going to be a day for firsts. First tandem drop and first running drop off of the carrier and War Machine while in motion and undoubtedly being pursued. The last mission saw the first running drop of the carrier, but not while under fire so they could do it right the first time.
Ace's voice echoed in Feril's helmet as she checked her instruments one more time. All checks between ship and carrier were complete. Tension mounted as the release time neared. More laser blasts struck the ship causing the waiting dropships to buck and rattle. Exterior doors dropped open with ten seconds to release. Light flooded the bay and Feril could make out massive cloud cover white and fluffy. Perfect for hiding in while trying to distance herself from that battle cruiser.
"Standby," Ace called out. "Five seconds. Four. Three. Two. One. DROP!"
Shields died for several heart-stopping moments as the dropships fell out of Eternia's belly into the planet's upper atmosphere. The shields were dropped to minimize the danger to the tiny vessels and the plunged like rocks into the clouds. Several shots from the battle cruiser scored direct hits, but did little more than mar the paint.
Bay doors closed, shields snapped back on deflecting more incoming fore, and Ace fought the control stick to point the nose toward open space. Imperceptible at first, the nose started to rise as the drive fought to shove the great ship back out of the atmosphere of her namesake planet. They'd had to slow down considerably to reach a safe velocity for release. Now that they were past that point, Ace slammed the power levels wide open. They were now so close the to enemy warship its command could have spit on them.
All at once, quicker than any Horde commander would have believed possible, Eternia leapt away from the planet. In minutes, the ship roared past the orbits of both moons where Captain Majourny ordered the jump to hyperspace.
Starship Eternia Eternian Star System 3 June 2017
Eternia drifted into its namesake solar system with all systems shut down save life support. Passive sensors probed the planets and empty space for Horde warships. The sensor array had been upgraded and fine-tuned during the repair and rearming on Earth, the result was the capability to scan most any solar system they might encounter in its entirety. The passive sensors, while increased in sensitivity, had only about half the range. Penetration of the system had been carefully prepared and executed.
Scans from half a light-year out marked the locations of Eternia and its twin moons. The orbits and positioning were carefully marked, and a plan was developed to get in behind the larger of the two moons, which just happened to be the furthest from the target planet. After the calculations had been thoroughly checked, rechecked, and checked five times more, complete with many computer simulations, Jo-jo's crew executed a ballistic entry into the Eternian star system.
The nerve-wracking trip took almost ten hours traveling at around a million kilometers per second. Non-essential personnel were restricted to quarters to lessen the chance of a stray sound out energy transmission leaking out and alerting the enemy. This condition was the equivalent to a submarine running ultra-quiet.
All their preparation, and near flawless execution, met with resounding success. Eternia slid to a stop behind the larger of planet Eternia's twin moons on tiny jets of breaking thrusters. Of course, there was the frightening possibility the Horde ships orbiting the planet saw them coming and let them get this close. Three hours after arriving on station, Captain Majourny relaxed the ultra-quiet stance.
Preparations began for the – as Ace called it – 'drop-and-run.' The plan called for having two dropships loaded and ready in the drop bays. Eternia would execute a full speed run at its namesake planet, almost literally skip the atmosphere, release the dropships, and tear out of the area in hyperspace once clear of the planet's gravity well. The timing would be critical with little to no margin for error. Ace, Lieutenant Feril, and Lieutenant Gambini spent long hours plotting the approach and atmospheric entry vectors. Composite ceramic armor had its limits during re-entry. The trick was dancing the fine line without slipping into disaster.
While the drop run was hammered out, the rest of Colonel Markson's command readied their equipment. Flamethrowers, pulse rifles, laser rifles, and the new plasma and pulse cannons were thoroughly checked over, disassembled when necessary, then loaded and racked. Boxes of spare loose ammunition, loaded magazines and clips, energy cells, and replacement parts were stacked up near the loading ramp of the armored carrier parked under the dropship hanging in the front starboard drop bay; the Number Two bay. The dropship over Number One bay was identical to the others, but this one was swarmed over by maintenance personnel busy employing one of the ship design's options. Instead of the standard retracting panels that concealed the large armored carrier, those panels were stored in the retracted position and disconnected from the hydraulic arms. Other hydraulic pistons at the front of the bay cavity were unlocked from their storage spaces, checked over, and readied for attaching to the ramp currently being mounted at the aft end of the ship's bay. This would allow the two-man war machine Gabe Burns sent along to be carried down to the planet. Not only could the ramp be lowered at an angle to front loading, it could also be lowered using a second set of hydraulic pistons at the rear as a level platform one could drive up on. This could be used while both ship and vehicle were in motion; however, tests of this option had thus far ended – badly. It was only to be used as a very last resort.
A fever pitch quietly built up with each passing hour. The entire crew knew the drop was coming soon even if the exact timing had yet to be planned. Beneath that, tension built as well about confronting Horde warships once again. Though the plan called for a speed run at planet Eternia's atmosphere to drop off half of Colonel Markson's command, a warship getting in the way and forcing battle could not be ruled out. Their success in their last encounter was largely due to blind luck and surprise.
Tentative theory about the destruction of the corvette in orbit of that unknown moon where the armor was recovered indicated the combination of plasma and reaction torpedoes striking near simultaneous in nearly the same spot caused a fluctuation in the warship's shield array. The flux allowed twenty-inch titanium shells from the rail guns to punch through the hull and literally ricochet around inside. The Horde vessel died when one of the shells managed to bounce its way in to the aft main engineering compartments. Theory held a shell pierced the ion core's magnetic containment. The rest was history.
Captain Majourny, Colonel Markson, and Hohiro Takamora reviewed the mission brief in her quarters. Hohiro would be in charge of Charlie and Delta platoons while Markson was away with Alpha and Beta. Hohiro thought he was getting the downside of the deal, and voiced it in a good-natured way.
"Let me get this straight," Jo-jo said, putting an intermission in their meeting. "Hohiro, you would rather be dropping onto a Snake Men-controlled planet where every day you are there will likely be a life-or-death struggle to do the recon we need while avoiding King Hiss' snake hordes than with me on a diplomatic mission?" She shook her head ruefully.
"Snakes, robots, and running battles I can deal with. Life or death struggles I can deal with," the oriental captain replied. "Politicians scare me." There was no way to be sure just how truthful or whimsical he was trying to be.
"Well, at least I had a choice of assignment," Jon quipped.
"And it didn't take you more than an instant to stab me in the back, sir," Hohiro said with a grin. "And after all I've done for you..."
"Gentlemen, and I use that term loosely, lets not drift too far from the subject," Jo-jo said, heading things off for the third time in the past hour. "Now. I notice there is no one in any of the platoons even remotely familiar with Horde technology beyond the basics of using the captured weapon systems we currently employ." She locked eyes with both men in turn. "Gentlemen, this is unacceptable. There are several people on board this ship who are familiar with their technology. In fact, the person I have in mind could use a change of scenery."
"Now wait a minute," Markson protested. "There are only so many seats available in the carrier. I won't have the time to baby-sit anyone."
Hohiro raised a hand. "I'll do it. He can go to Phantos."
Jon shot him a withering glare.
"What you need is a liaison between us starship pukes and you rampaging warmongers. Now, the person I have in mind should be arriving right...about – "The door chime sounded as someone outside requested admittance. Jo-jo pressed a button on her desk.
A young man's nervous voice drifted from the hidden speaker. "Ensign Wardman reports as ordered, captain."
Jo-jo touched another control and the door slid open with barely a sound. "Enter."
A very nervous ensign timidly stepped across the threshold. He entered far enough to the sensor to allow the door to close, and remained rooted in place. Wardman's anxiety mounted when he recognized Colonel Markson and Captain Takamora.
Jo-jo waved the young man to the remaining unoccupied seat. "Please, sit down." Wardman did so, but sat at attention. "Oh, do relax, Andre. You aren't in trouble."
Andre relaxed a bit, but kept his guard up. Despite his training sessions with Hohiro's core group, Leroy Harris still found ways to get to him when the shadows Hohiro appointed to look after him were not around. Those occasions were few, but effective. It didn't help that there was still no room available to move Andre out of the enlisted section into officer's country.
Jo-jo could only do so much with showing favoritism toward the talented young man. She left the matter in the hands of Master Sergeant Cox; the senior enlisted man on the ship. He was the equivalent of a Navy boson, and God's right hand on the starship. His word was considered law, and straight from the captain. The big hindrance to the whole deal was Wardman's apparent need to handle this on his own. The problem was Harris out-massed Andre by almost fifty pounds.
Maybe he'll see reason and go along with this, Jo-jo sighed. I have enough to worry about without worrying about him ending up dead. "I have a proposition for you, ensign. Your work as a member of Eternia's crew has been outstanding. You have pointed out a few design errors that actually work in our favor. Plus, your interest in Horde technology will make you a valuable asset in the future whether you like it or not." Jo-jo put on her best motherly smile. "Now. The job I have in mind is a new position we just made up. Despite outward appearances, it will carry a certain amount of importance."
"What she's trying not to say is we need a liaison between my command and Captain Majourny's crew," Colonel Markson replied. "That's where you come in. Normally, a slot like this would be filled by someone with a little more experience, but we take what we can get."
The enormity of what they were asking slowing sank in as Andre kept his face screwed into an emotionless mask. I can get off this ship! Temporarily, at lest. They want ME in the event they run across some piece of technology that might be useful. "I thought Private O'Rourke was familiarizing herself with their technology," Andre replied, keeping the elation out of his voice.
Takamora nodded. "She is, but she can't specialize in it the way you are trying to do. You are the next best thing to the experts back home."
Andre opened his mouth to speak, but Colonel Markson stopped him. "Understand, ensign, this isn't going to be a pleasure cruise. We'll be cut off with no allies and no support until Captain Majourny returns from the diplomatic mission to Phantos."
"I understand, sir," Andre replied soberly.
"Then you accept? You can turn it down, son. We won't think any less of you if you do," Hohiro added.
"I know, sir. I'm still willing to go." Andre turned to Captain Majourny, and said formally, "Captain, I accept the liaison position and am prepared to accompany Colonel Markson on the mission to Eternia."
"Very well." Jo-jo slid a chip across the desk to him. "This contains a list of what gear you will need. Gather it and report to the drop bay."
"Aye, captain!" This time his elation broke through. Andre reined it in, but the slight smile on the captain's face told him she had hoped for just such a reaction.
"Well, that was easy," Hohiro commented, after the young man had departed.
Colonel Markson finished a brief conversation via his personal comm link. "Yes. Too bad getting to Eternia's surface won't be."
"Oh, don't be such a sourpuss, Jon," Jo-jo replied with an impish grin and a mischievous twinkle in her eyes. "At least you get all the easy assignments."
"Just lucky, I guess," the colonel replied sourly.
Andre bubbled over with joy as he headed for his barracks to gather his meager things for the mission. The data chip given to him by the captain remained safely tucked away in a pocket. He would need that when he requisitioned the gear for the mission. No one was about in the darkened barracks, and Andre counted his blessings. Now if he could just pack his things and get out-
"Well, what have we here? I thought I smelled chicken," Melvin Boudreaux sneered. "See Leroy? I told ya he'd come back."
A weasel-faced man with an average build and a scarred face only a mother could love stepped out of the shadows with two other men and one woman. All looked mean, nasty, and ready for a fight. The motley group fanned out and surrounded their prey where they commenced slapping Wardman about pushing him into people around the circle. Andre never had a chance to get his balance before being propelled into the next person. They weren't exactly gentle about it, either.
"You're right, Harris. It does smell rather fowl in here."
Six pairs of eyes jerked suddenly to the source of the unwanted intrusion. Antone Frost and Jack Rockwell stood silhouetted in light from the corridor. Both leaned against the door jams regarding the entire ruckus with almost bored disinterest.
"See?" Jack said to Frost. "I told you there were chickens aboard ship." He turned his penetrating brown eyes upon Harris and company. "Six to be exact."
"Takes a real brave person to pick on someone half their size," Frost commented lightly.
"Some security force," Jake scoffed, adding fuel to the fires smoldering twenty feet away. "This ship gets invaded, we might as well just surrender." Jerking a thumb in Harris' direction, Jake spat, "They sure as hell ain't gonna save us."
The circle broke up, Andre being shoved unceremoniously over a cot, as the group faced their new threat. Jake and Frost remain infuriatingly calm and rather unconcerned as the six fanned out. Each fisted razor-sharp knives as they closed to within ten feet of the duo.
Jake raised an eyebrow. "Pig-stickers?"
"Doncha just hate it when they don't know when to just shut up and leave?" Frost inquired, never moving a muscle.
"You're gonna bleed for that," the girl sneered.
"What'd she say?" Frost replied.
"Plan A's a loser," Jake interpreted.
Leroy stepped menacingly forward, the blade in his left hand flashed low and away. "We may go to the brig, but you guys won't live to tell about this."
"Plan A's definitely a loser," Frost agreed.
Neither man moved a muscle or even tensed. Several of Harris' cronies began to wonder what was going on. No one was this relaxed in the face of six armed people. Unless they knew something no one else did.
"Uh, Leroy, I don't like this," the blonde-hair sensor tech named Jason said nervously.
"Shuddup!" Leroy snapped. "There's just the two of them." In a flash like lightning, faster than his bulk hinted, Leroy snapped the point of his knife up under Frost's chin. Frost continued looking almost bored with the childish display. "Ever wonder what a stuck black man sounds like?"
The unmistakable sounds of blades snapping out caused the blonde and female to whip around toward the inky blackness behind them.
"Oh, dear," Frost exaggerated. "Did we forget to tell them about Plan B?"
"Oops," Jake replied, grinning sheepishly. "I thought there was something we needed to tell them."
Frost shifted his head minutely, and said to the cowering ensign, "Hey, Andre. Be a good sport and shed some light on this here situation, would ya?"
Anxiety and tension thickened to near stifling levels as Andre fumbled about looking for the nearest wall switch. Still shaking from his battering, Andre tripped over several footlockers on his way to the forward entrance and the switch he knew was there.
When the lights finally came on like blazing suns, Leroy's female accomplice and the blonde man gasped in horror. Leroy himself slowly turned his head to see the sight that quickly shook the resolve of his minions.
Adrian Cobretti stood twenty feet away in the form of a syngenor; eyes blazing like orbs of molten silver, brackish carapace gleaming in the white lights, and twin bone claws extended and ready. Flanking the terrifying creature was the remainder of Alpha Platoon. Thirteen men and women wearing battle dress uniforms, armed with wicked, razor-sharp hunting knives stared back; some with knowing grins. They had entered the barracks from the port side where they wouldn't be seen.
"I wonder what a honky sounds like when stuck like a pig," Frost replied casually.
Frost's audacity with a knife at his throat surprised Leroy. "They may get us," he snarled, "but you won't be around to see it."
The syngenor took several steps forward, its footfalls echoed on the metal deck. Everyone felt those vibrations in the soles of the boots. The skirmish line stepped forward with their anchor. Though this creature form looked bulky, ponderous, lacking of speed, no one in the room had that impression. Adrian explored those traits in the first few days after returning to Earth.
Jake eyed the defiant little Marine bully, whose height barely reached Jake's shoulders. "Not likely," he replied, removing the right hand that had been hidden behind his back all this time. In that fist was a powerful and extremely accurate laser pistol. Jake pointed the efficient little weapon right between Leroy's bugging eyes when he turned to face Jake. "Wanna bet whether or not this is set for 'stun?' Wouldn't matter at this range. Even stun would kill."
Frost flicked his eyes and the people on the ends of the skirmish line dropped out to gather up Wardman and his gear. Quick and efficient, the trio packed up and ushered Andre out another exit. With the ensign now safely out of harm's way, Alpha platoon closed in on six who thought they'd make trouble on Captain Majourny's ship with impunity.
"If you do take him down," Jake said very quietly, "you will suffer the unfortunate accident of stepping out the nearest airlock without a pressure suit."
Leroy switched his gaze from Frost to Jake and back. Suddenly, he dropped his knife hand and smiled almost jovially. "Okay, ground-pounders. You win this round. We'll have this out another time."
No one but Leroy and his gang moved. They cautiously put away their knives lest they provoke the fifteen soldiers and one shape-changer. Frost blew out a sigh of relief.
"Thought he might actually do it for a minute, there," Jake commented seriously.
Frost nodded his agreement rubbing his chin.
Colonel Markson listened to the report from Alpha Platoon for almost a full minute, acknowledged, and switched off the comm link. The former Army Ranger stretched out in the chair and laced his fingers behind his head. Jo- jo stared at the man debating the critique she had in mind.
Instead, she said, "Do I really want to know?"
"No, though I will say you shouldn't have too much trouble from that rabble element," Markson said smugly.
"Remind me never play poker with you for keeps, sir," Hohiro replied.
"Well, with you around, Hohiro, maybe things will stay quiet and uneventful," Jo-jo, said. Yeah, right, she added silently. Where the Horde is concerned things are anything but quiet.
Soldiers began gathering in the locker room at the appointed hour thirty minutes from launch. Frost was already there with Privates O'Rourke and Deubert loading weapons and setting them up in the storage racks. Others arrived from Alpha and Beta platoons where they started the arduous task of strapping on battle armor.
Maintenance techs started arriving to begin preflight inspections with the flight crews. Safety pins were removed from ejection seats, weapons in the ordinance racks, and landing gear locks. The entire exterior was examined for defects especially the conformal fuel tanks mounted along the spines of both dropships. The extra tanks would almost double the flying range, and they would need that fuel on this mission. It had to last until Eternia returned from its mission to Phantos.
The whine of auxiliary power units created a steady hum in the background as the armored carrier was driven back out of the aft storage bay and parked under the dropship in the number two spot; the forward starboard bay. As a spotter standing off the dropship's nose guided the mammoth vehicle into position; a bizarre, vastly smaller, and extremely powerful, wheeled weapon skirted the drop bays to the starboard side. Soldiers already dressed for action stopped their conversing to openly gawk at the war machine as Adrian Cobretti drove by to park in front of the dropship hanging over Number One bay. Fittingly, the words 'WAR MACHINE' were hand-scrawled in red paint on both sides of the immaculate battle gray hull.
"If the rumors I heard about that thing are even half accurate, Cobra and Jake are gonna have some fun," Private Samuel Johnson replied, eyes wistful.
"We're not on a vacation," Catherine O'Rourke, veteran of the Force's first real combat against the Horde, retorted. "Stop daydreaming right now, kid. If you get yourself killed because of it, fine. You take others with you; I swear I'll talk the Sorceress into resurrecting you so I can kill you myself. Clear?" Private Johnson recoiled from the vehemence in Catherine's words, and offered a jerky nod.
Colonel Markson arrived with the remaining Guardians and soldiers. Brad led the way to the six imposing suits of power armor standing in the corner near the locker room. Jake and Adrian joined their comrades, and boldly approached the towering weapons of war. Colonel Markson and those already suited up watched a sight they never got tired of seeing. Each battle suit opened up at it wearer's approach. Seams formed where they did not previously exist. Panels on the arms, legs, and chest plates yawned wide as the human operators climbed up and stepped back into the cavity contoured to the individual. Once inside, the panels closed, sealed, and comfortably locked the six humans in a protective Etherium womb.
Green eyes flashed in each helmet when the power-up was completed. Adrian marveled once again at the openness on the interior helmet display. It was as if he wasn't wearing one. Displays scrolled down the sides of his forward vision reflecting suit status, weapon status, and the effective combat efficiency.
Brad's voice floated from his comm system. "Umm, has anyone considered how we're to get into the vehicles like this? I mean, no one seemed to interested in that aspect when we were running these suits through controlled tests back home."
"Da," Sonya agreed. "We're too tall to fit in there with all the other soldiers."
"Be nice is these suits could shrink down to the size of the armor the others are wearing," Jeromy added.
In response, all six battle suits did exactly that. The metamorphosis to a matter of seconds, and six humans dressed in malleable power armor remained where six towering weapons had once been.
"Sweet," Colonel Markson commented, then entered the locker room to suit up.
"You see," Sonya said to no one in particular. "Jeromy can come up with a good idea from time to time; rare event that it is." Her comments were well received by Jeromy, who stuck out his tongue now that his face was no longer obscured by a mask.
"Children," Sorceress sighed wearily. She left the group and climbed up the open ramp to look for a good seat up in the front of the carrier.
"What's with her?" Jake asked innocently.
Sonya made a rude noise in her throat. "Men," she grumbled, and followed the other woman into the carrier.
Jake stood around trying to figure out Sorceress' reaction until Adrian pushed him in the direction of the War Machine.
"C'mon, Jake. It's not men. It's the affliction. Let it go."
"Well, that isn't my fault," the former infantry sergeant protested.
Adrian exchanged knowing looks with Brad and Jeromy then continued to prod Jake toward the War Machine. "Shuddup and get in. She didn't mean what she said."
"Yeah, but-"
"GET IN!" Adrian snapped, climbing up the side and clambering into the driver's seat, the aft position.
As before, Sergeant Apone riled up the troops, pumping them up for the mission now minutes away from starting. Soldiers scrambled out of the locker room and lined up across from the assault carrier in two columns. Apone gave the soldiers a cursory look over then ordered them up the ramp to find their seats. The usual banter and boasting from the last drop was magnified by the inexperience of the replacement troops. They were cocky, smarting off about how they would have handled the previous mission, and general clueless about what they had gotten into. The Guardians tuned it out. They had heard it all before, been a part of it, even.
Each was lost in his or her own thoughts about the mission. Sorceress, especially, dwelled upon what she would find. How much had the people of Eternia changed ground under the heel of King Hiss for over seven years. What had become of her daughter? What happened when Catra's fleet returned here to crush He-Man's uprising? What of the Masters? These were questions needing answers, and Sorceress was afraid of the answers they'd find. She fervently hoped her nervousness didn't show. Even if it did, her companions were professional enough to at least pretend not to notice.
The ramp rose to the whine of hydraulic actuators and the cacophony of atmospheric engines rose in pitch as they spooled up to idle speeds. Ground crews ran last-minute checks before pulling external power umbilical cables, lockout pins, and other safety devises. Adrian's armor found a way to interface with the War Machine's computer. The helmet formed a heads up display before his eyes with a window before the right eye showing him the aft view as he backed the machine up the ramp. Once in place, he locked the brakes and powered down as the ramp rose.
Jo-jo watched the counter spiral downward on a small monitor at her left hand. The lights had been switched to red to preserve night vision. Once they rounded the moon, they would be hit by sunlight, but the dimmed clear steel canopy would counter that. Outwardly, Jo-jo appeared relaxed as she watched Ace and Ensign Comorov go over the approach vectors for the drop run; listened to Lieutenant Denton mutter to himself in between conversing with Lieutenant Satori about the passive sensor ghosts. The pair tried to refine the positions of Horde warships as best they could, but passive sensors just did not have the reach. All they could do was guess until they went active and got positive locks.
At the touch of a button, an image of the drop bay appeared. A status of the two ships ready for drop was displayed below the picture. Both craft were in the green with engines idling. The vehicle bays were closed, and the ground crew was finishing stowing away cables, tool kits, and various other items. Once all loose items were stored and the bay was clear of personnel, the computer signaled all clear for drop.
Jo-jo sighed once more. That quiet action caused all subdued conversation to cease. She looked around the bridge pausing for a few seconds on each expectant face. No one showed anything less than grim determination. Every member of her bridge crew was committed to making this drop succeed.
"Status," Captain Majourny said formally. "All stations."
Ace's console beeped at him. "All station's show ready."
"Very well, Ace. Sound battlestations."
Ace touched a control and his voice echoed throughout the ship.
ALL HANDS MAN YOUR BATTLESTATIONS! BATTLESTATIONS! BATTLESTATIONS! ALL DECKS ACKNOWLEDGE.
Systems all over the ship switched from passive and standby mode to active. Powerful engine roared to life filling the aft compartments with a reassuring rumble. Crewmembers dashed through the corridors to their assigned station. Etherium panels parted as the dorsal and ventral quad laser mounts extended.
"All decks show ready," Ace confirmed. "All systems ready."
"Very well. If we're going to do it, let's do it."
Commander Franik hated this posting. Hated it with a passion the robots under his command could not comprehend. Eternia was pleasing to the eye, but these were not his stars. His home lay many light-years away. No, King Hiss and his snake forces caused his ire. Franik's closet held many skeletons best never seen in the light of day, but none approached the atrocities the Snake Men committed mostly for the shear pleasure. The green- skinned humanoid mused once again why Horde Prime put up with that creature. Some things were just too obscene even for the Horde.
An insistent buzz from the sensor station snapped Franik out of his wanderings. The trooper manipulated the controls trying to refine the sudden readings.
"Well?" Franik demanded with more irritability than he actually felt. Wouldn't do to let the riff-raff see his hidden gentler side. This event at least broke the monotony of picketing this star system.
"Unknown energy source detected behind the larger moon. It just – appeared," the robot reported at last.
Skeptical, Franik replied, "Appeared?"
"Yes, commander. One moment there was nothing and the next there was a power spike."
Another trooper spoke up. "Commander! Unknown spacecraft detected. It just cleared the dark side of the moon."
"Identify it immediately!" Franik snapped.
Several seconds passed before the report came. The unknown starship was of a configuration not in the Horde database of known craft. Franik stared at the tracking plot now glowing on the main video display. His battlecruiser was stationed in orbit over the planet's northern hemisphere. Two accompanying destroyers were off just beyond the outer moon's orbit. None were in a position to intercept, as yet. The computer was still struggling to refine the trajectory data, but the silhouette was coming in clear.
Two cylinders riding low along the ship's long axis, pointed bow with winglets, canopy, and the unmistakable snouts of laser weapons stirred Franik's memory, but he just couldn't place it. Something he should remember. Whatever it was, it was really moving.
"Get me a visual on that ship. NOW!" Commander Franik barked. The longer he watched that intruder the lower his stomach sank.
Though aerodynamics meant nothing in space, Eternia rounded the moon she had been hiding behind for over a day like she had been shot from a cannon. Sub-light drives drove the starship to almost sixty percent of the speed of light. Even so, it still took time to reach the planet. Time enough for the three Horde warships picketing the system to react.
"Destroyers coming around," Lieutenant Denton reported. "Reading energy spikes on both ships."
"Snap-shot 3 and 4," Jo-jo ordered.
In response, torpedo tubes three and four on the starboard side vomited their lethal weapons into the hard vacuum. One reaction warhead followed closely by a plasma weapon raced off to meet the turning warship.
"Confirmed location on Destroyer Two," Harley replied, finger poised over the firing control. "Lock intermittent."
"Snap-shot 1 and 2," Jo-jo ordered.
Tubes One and Two belched their payloads into space. Snap-shots were not the most accurate means of aiming. It was aiming for a projected spot where one believed the enemy would be given the velocity and direction of the target in relation to the ship launching the weapons. Jo-jo was going for disabling the destroyers, though that was okay, too. The object was to distract them long enough to get to Eternia, make their drop, evade that battle cruiser, and jump into hyperspace.
The tactic seemed to be working so far. The enemy didn't appear to have a positive identification on them yet. Once the torpedoes launched, the destroyers went evasive. Evidently, information on Eternia's last skirmish with Horde warships had filtered out this far. Or else they were just trying to save their metal skins. Either way, the sudden attack had the desired effect.
A corridor was left wide open to get to Eternia's atmosphere. Ace arrowed straight for that opening. He and Comorov concentrated only on getting into position to release the dropships. They tuned out the updates going back and forth between Novina Satori at the science equipment and Harvey Denton at the weapons stand behind Captain Majourny's right shoulder.
On screen at Jo-jo's left hand, the dropships were being lowered into their bays. Lifting arms disconnected and retracted into the ceiling. Thick panels slid closed sealing the ships inside. The outer doors would not open until just seconds prior to release to minimize giving that battlecruiser a devastating belly shot.
So far things appeared to be going as planned. All that remained was that battle cruiser.
Commander Franik watched helplessly as the enemy starship launched two torpedo salvos. The first pair launched had the furthest to go to their target. Although that crew had plenty of time to attempt scoring a proximity blast that would detonate the torpedoes prematurely, they had been trying to track down a fault in their shield system and forward weapons array. This proved terminal, as they could not pour out the necessary laser fire to have a decent chance for a proximity hit.
The reaction torpedo slammed into a shield only about half its normal strength. Electromagnetic energies released from the detonation licked out across the invisible shield now illuminated as it was physically struck. Rainbow eddies died in moments as the entire system literally fried leaving the warship open for the second torpedo trailing close behind. This one, armed with a plasma warhead, slammed into unprotected armor plates, actually penetrated over one meter into the hull, and detonated. The destroyer simply ceased to exist inside a boiling globe of raging plasma fire.
Franik's other destroyer faired better, though it had less time to evade and set down defensive fire. A proximity explosion set off the reaction torpedo over three hundred meters from striking. Its energy release did damage the shields, but not enough. A second lucky strike destroyed the plasma torpedo two hundred meters out. Boiling plasma washed across the warship's shields frying their circuits, clasping them, and scorching hull armor. The destroyer survived, but was out of the fight. With no shields and the forward weapons array now damaged severely, it would be nothing more than cannon fodder for the as yet unidentified starship.
That left Franik to stand-alone against the alien speeding toward him.
Short-lived cheers scattered the grim atmosphere surrounding Eternia's bridge when Lieutenant Satori reported the destruction of one Horde destroyer and the near crippling of the other. That left only that battle cruiser to deal with. She hadn't quite gotten around for a head-to-head confrontation, which was just as well. With Eternia closing from off the enemy's starboard bow more weapon could be aimed in their general direct; and were.
Red laser bolts lit the starry void, some exploding close enough to rattle the ship. Other glanced off the powerful shield. Some blows slammed home with enough force to deflect the ship, but it really didn't matter. They weren't going to trade blows with that starship, even though they had a pretty good chance of coming out on top.
Rail guns, quad lasers, and quad mounts hammered back more for effect than to actually cause damage. No torpedoes were wasted on the enemy as Ace altered the approach vectors aiming for the equatorial run.
Ace's comm was open to dropships waiting in the forward drop bays. "Standby. Twenty seconds to drop."
Feril and her RIO – rear instrument operator – coordinated with their counterparts in the other dropship to time their release and flight paths so they didn't collide. This was going to be a day for firsts. First tandem drop and first running drop off of the carrier and War Machine while in motion and undoubtedly being pursued. The last mission saw the first running drop of the carrier, but not while under fire so they could do it right the first time.
Ace's voice echoed in Feril's helmet as she checked her instruments one more time. All checks between ship and carrier were complete. Tension mounted as the release time neared. More laser blasts struck the ship causing the waiting dropships to buck and rattle. Exterior doors dropped open with ten seconds to release. Light flooded the bay and Feril could make out massive cloud cover white and fluffy. Perfect for hiding in while trying to distance herself from that battle cruiser.
"Standby," Ace called out. "Five seconds. Four. Three. Two. One. DROP!"
Shields died for several heart-stopping moments as the dropships fell out of Eternia's belly into the planet's upper atmosphere. The shields were dropped to minimize the danger to the tiny vessels and the plunged like rocks into the clouds. Several shots from the battle cruiser scored direct hits, but did little more than mar the paint.
Bay doors closed, shields snapped back on deflecting more incoming fore, and Ace fought the control stick to point the nose toward open space. Imperceptible at first, the nose started to rise as the drive fought to shove the great ship back out of the atmosphere of her namesake planet. They'd had to slow down considerably to reach a safe velocity for release. Now that they were past that point, Ace slammed the power levels wide open. They were now so close the to enemy warship its command could have spit on them.
All at once, quicker than any Horde commander would have believed possible, Eternia leapt away from the planet. In minutes, the ship roared past the orbits of both moons where Captain Majourny ordered the jump to hyperspace.