The Red Leopards of Zaxon B (Galaxies Collide Book 2) (11 page)

Tregan sat slumped next to the medical bed, staring at Riaz’s prone body on the rubber matting before him. The green scan lights swept across the young Asian’s frame, his eyes clamped shut after the heavy anaesthetic the selected medical suit had secreted into his skin. The Trevakian had been briefed as to the human’s injuries which were far worse than they had originally considered, the medical orderly shaking his head as he explained. The battering he had received in battle included fractured ribs and shoulder, chipped collar bone, mild concussion and exposure and some internal bleeding, the recovery time on the medical bed estimated at nearly four hours of human time.

He turned as Captain Dugachard stepped into the small tent, her slim frame covered in dust with smears across her face as she dusted frozen snow from her shoulders and hair. Exhausted blood shot eyes stared at him, her helmet held in her right hand as she indicated to the bed, ‘How much longer before he is up and about?’

Tregan shrugged, rising to salute informally, ‘Another couple of their hours Sir…the medical machine should repair most of the damage if they have programmed it correctly. He will be a little sore, but they have adapted his new combat suit to alleviate any physical stress…’ His eyes dropped to the resin matted floor, blood specks smeared across its surface, ‘How long can we stay here…can we get the humans back to the safety of Alexion One?’

The captain shook her head, ‘Unlikely…Alexion One is under direct attack…it’s not safe. It seems Morgon Warships are above us and a heavy battle is taking place…one we will probably lose.’ She sighed, shaking her head again in despondency, ‘We may find ourselves taking up permanent status here…and a short one at that! The humans have been unfortunately chosen to be here perhaps…the first casualties in a lost cause!’

Tregan’s eyes widened as he glanced back at Riaz, a deep sigh coming from the medical bed, ‘I had no idea it was that bad.’ He grimaced, ‘So what will really happen to the humans, we need to protect them…get them away.’

Captain Dugachard gritted her teeth in irritation, ‘I feel as much responsibility for them as you do…Sam was a good soldier and he is gone now…the first human casualty on Zaxon B, and probably in this war.’ She stared the Trevakian marine in the eyes, ‘You have lost Mrin, and the humans have lost their friend, perhaps that brings you closer together but it gives you no reason to be over protective. The war goes on…we cannot opt out, or choose for our allies to be spared from duty!’

Her expression lightened seeing the marine tighten his jaw, ‘I have volunteered for us to take supplies further west…there is a military outpost there, a very quiet part of the front. It protects the small villages around and provides a policing presence. Beyond the outpost are mountain ranges, virtually impassable for troops and armour…we will move to that outpost, freeing up some of the Red Leopards and garrison there to move up and reinforce the front…’ She smiled briefly, ‘That is where the humans will be the safest…for the duration anyway. We can retreat into the mountains if the enemy breaks through although survival then will be very grim. I will assume command I believe, a full complement of almost sixty troops and reservists…’ The captain shook her head, ‘It seems to get less each time!’

Tregan forced a weak grin, his blue eyes lightening slightly, ‘Good…when will we set off?’

Captain Dugachard indicated to the prone Riaz behind him, ‘The middle of tomorrow’s day…or earlier, after he has had some rest and food and the supplies have been gathered. We should have a couple of transports and jeeps if they can be spared, then we will set off for Rangara Outpost.’

The space station above Zaxon B shuddered violently, flames surging through deck 74, incinerating any personnel in the outer corridors.

Admiral Shadian screamed across the bridge, the red alarm lights flickering, ‘Damage Report now!’

One of the operators glanced up, his eyes wide with shock, ‘Deck 74 breached…the enemy have concentrated their fire!’ He gulped, sparks flying across the room from shorting and damaged consoles as the lights failed, then slowly flickered to life again, ‘That’s where their shock troops will disembark Admiral! The hull is now compromised on 74!’

Shadian raised his hand to his lips nervously, his mind running through a variety of scenarios. Then he spun round, pointing to the comms desks, his tone rising with adrenalin ‘All available personnel to deck 74…we try and keep them out.’ He drew a deep breath, ‘Engineering to 73 and 75, I want traps on 74…seal all doors other than one entrance and exit from the deck…if we can’t hold them, we contain them!’

An operator rose from his seat cautiously, his eyes darkening with concern, ‘We have wounded on 73 Sir…shall I move them?’

The Admiral nodded, all wounded to the lower transport hangars, if need be we evacuate to the surface…’ He glimpsed the look of horror on the comms officer’s face, ‘I know it will be dangerous, but rather danger than slaughter…what extras do we have?’

A female comms officer shouted over the alarm signals, ‘Two hundred and fifteen trained reservists, seventy two volunteers and forty six marines in full battle dress Sir!’ She glanced down, ‘Several rear echelon and non-essentials are gearing up in the armoury…’ The female looked up again, ‘And two humans…’

The station shook again, the blast smashing against the shields over floor 73, the Morgons attempting to widen their options. The station shuddered, the massive turret guns firing in unison from above and below the massive strucure, thick red energy lights sweeping out from the stricken station as the operators turned to stare at the viewing screen cameras. Blue laser light swept across the screen, the flack guns pelting energy out towards passing Morgon fighters as the battle raged on.

The lead warship shuddered, flamed explosions impacting against the front hull protective screen, as flashes came from its front guns. Admiral Shadian stared wide eyed, ‘Brace!’ More flashes against the warship hull in the distance as he grimaced, the laser lights from the warship guns approaching rapidly. He spun round, ‘Fire more torpedoes…is there any damage to the enemy?’

The first comms officer glanced up, his hands running across the screen in front of him, ‘Sensors report one of their space bays has received heavy damage…our torpedoes were shot from space Sir!’ The room shook, flames surging across the side of the station as the warship heavy lasers hit home, the comms officer looking up in alarm, ‘They are moving their targeting to our turrets Sir! Boarding vessels inbound…’ He glanced at the screen again, ‘They will make contact with the outer hull in twenty minutes!’

Shadian staggered, the station shaking as debris from the breached floor swept out into space, his voice hoarse, ‘Flak guns target incoming craft…deploy all remaining droids!’

The two American soldiers glanced at each other with rising concern as the space station shuddered again, Medics Barone and Brooks having missed the last transport to the surface of Zaxon B whilst assisting with the seriously wounded. Brooks grinned ironically as they continued carrying the stretcher, the wounded Trevakian passenger moaning loudly, ‘Have a rest at the American Embassy in London…a couple of guard duties and sightseeing after your strenuous tours of duty!’

Barone grinned back at his more experienced tanned countryman, ‘They told me the same…guess we are not destined for the rest, but they understated the sightseeing…’ He indicated to the blast covered viewing window as they passed, ‘Never guessed I would see stuff like this during a posting to London! It’s amazing!’ He sniffed, ‘Where are you from?’

Brooks looked him in the eye, smiling as the echo of the upper turret guns firing out swept through the station, ‘Near Chicago….you?’

Barone grinned mischievously, ‘Michigan originally…we moved around a lot…’ His voice tailed off as footsteps approached, seeing the blue uniformed officer nearing them.

The Trevakian station captain moved to pass in the other direction, his face grim as he hesitated, seeing their body armour, ‘Move the casualty to the loading bay below, then head to the armoury…we need every available soldier on decks 73 through to 75! Which unit are you?’

Barone nodded, ‘Yes Sir! We are combat medics, American detachment Sir! Fully weapons trained…’

The officer nodded, indicating to the wounded man as several marines ran past in full body armour, atmospheric helmets obscuring their faces, ‘Thank you for your assistance…unfortunately, I feel more will be required. The enemy will attempt to land shock troops to secure the station…that will not happen!’

Brooks shook his head, grinning defiantly, more soldiers running past, their boots squealing on the shiny station floor, ‘Not with us here Sir!’

Blue laser lights swept towards the incoming dropships, the experienced Morgon pilots weaving their craft in attempt to avoid the dense defensive fire. Black fighters swept past the space station, attempting to draw the fire away from the transports, the beleaguered and outnumbered silver Trevakian fighters chasing or being pursued by the more numerous small enemy ships across the heavens.

The remains of Viper squadron swept towards the enemy craft, Flight Commander Anjara clicking his microphone once more, his voice low and determined, ‘Follow my lead…First fighter with me…target the dropships, the remaining two keep their fighters off us!’ His earpiece clicked three times, the pilots now wide eyed and soaked in sweat as they glanced frantically around, fighters sweeping past in several directions as explosions and laser fire lit up their cockpits.

Anjara pushed his stick forward, his silver star fighter shooting downwards as the three fighters behind followed. Black Morgon fighters tore past above, their pilots concentrating on avoiding the blue laser lights that swept outwards from Alexion One as the silver jets below accelerated, Anjara pulling back to fly directly towards the heavily protected dropships. Sparks surged along his guns, the high energy bolts shooting towards the dark grey vessels as the silver fighter ships pressed the attack home, Anjara shouting firmly into his microphone, ‘One sweep…keep firing and then carry forward. Bank right and left round the station and regroup on the other side…let the flak lasers take out the pursuing fighters!’

Two dropships exploded, the lasers sweeping through the formation as Anjara gritted his teeth, shrapnel impacting against his hull as sparks swept across the thick glass cockpit, the blast screens deploying automatically. The black Morgon escorting fighters banked sharply, their engines glowing brightly as the pilots swept after the silver fighters, the chase rapidly approaching the space station.

The flight leader screamed into his microphone, seeing the warning lights of multiple fighters behind in pursuit, ‘Close on Alexion One…it’s our only hope, there are too many of them!’

Debris from shattered fighters and droids smacked against the remaining shields of the space station, the enemy warship guns now targeting the large upper defensive turrets as their dropships neared the target.

Admiral Shadian stared at the viewing screen, the multiple images flashing as explosions rocked the near space of the station. Turning slowly, he called across the bridge, emotion in his voice, ‘Numerous enemy dropships approaching…deploy all remaining suicide droids now! This is it…our time is now!’

The tense voice shouted back from the comms section, ‘Deploying droids immediately! Sixteen despatched Sir…there are seven more in final production!’

Shadian turned, his face red with stress, ‘That’s not going to be enough…all bridge personnel adopt combat stance…have your weapons handy!’ He strode towards his own console, tossing his cap onto his chair and grasping his helmet, forcing it over his head, ‘Activate all defensive measures on decks 70 to 80…this is it Trevakians! It’s now or never…we defend to the last!’

He grimaced as the station shuddered again, a comms officer shouting frantically, ‘Turret One out of action…direct hit!’ Her hands ran across the console, ‘Diverting all power to other turrets!’

The sixteen automated droids swept from their housings on the upper exterior of the space station, the red pulsing lights on their cylindrical ends seeking out the nearest targets as they sped outwards from the massive orbiting vessel.

The numerous Morgon dropships sped towards their target, buffeted and banking to avoid the laser flak guns and explosions. The lead ship bounced on a flak detonation, the pilot turning to stare at his co-pilot, the eyes in his helmet gleaming red as the craft swept forwards, Alexion One filling their viewing window, the large growling leopard’s emblem scorched and battered.

Behind the cockpit, eight lines of Morgon shock troops sat awaiting their landing, their fearsome assault rifles attached to their rear body armour as they tensed for the final connection to the space station. White skull emblems were emblazoned across their black armour chest plates, their forked tongues sweeping across scaled lips in eager anticipation of the carnage ahead as red eyes glowed through the darkness.

Four combat engineers sat at the end of the furthermost row, their black armoured helmets lined with grey jagged stripes for recognition purposes, body armour with razor sharp edged points. Carrying additional explosives and acid rifles, they were formidable opponents and experts at breaking into defensive positions.

The dull clank above them on the exterior of the hull was dismissed as debris hitting the roof of the drop ship, the vessel bouncing once more as an explosion on the port side caused the pilot to react. Then the four engineers looked up, the muffled beeping gradually shortening until it became a continuous tone. The lead engineer rose upwards, a shriek of alarm filling the transporter cabin as the suicide droid detonated, its blast directed through the drop ship hull. Flames swept through the cabin as the hull buckled under stress, imploding and blowing the shattered and burning bodies out into space, several smashing against other drop ships as they neared the space station.

The droids clamped onto other hulls, their subsequent explosions wiping seven of the dropships from the first wave as torn bodies swept outwards into space, some shredded further by the rapid fire from the station flak guns. The remaining drop ships sped on, their crews nearing the outer hull of Alexion One, the Leopards snarling features somewhat blackened and scorched.

Brooks and Barone staggered as the station shook again, flames surging across the hull as escaping oxygen ignited. Propelling themselves forward, their suits began to pump oxygen into their headsets instinctively as the sensors established the lowering oxygen levels. The combat suits transformed to light and dark grey, matching the station walls and ceiling as numerous sensors received the battle stations alarm from the Alexion One’s bridge. The whir of corridor lasers and machine guns filled the air, small upper wall compartments opening at regular intervals as the weapons deployed, their computerised systems completing readiness checks.

Several marines in full combat gear crouched ahead, their commander indicating to the new arrivals, his voice distorted through his helmet, ‘We move up onto 74 now…the hull is breached and the Morgons are near…complete weapons check and go!’

The sound of assault rifles being readied echoed across the walls, the soldiers checking their ammunition counters and slapping new magazines into the housings. The commander activated a ladder from above as he shouted, ‘All lifts are isolated to these floors…the ladder compartments will be sealed if we have to retreat…’ His gloved hand rose to the side of his helmet as explosions echoed through the opening hatch above, the oxygen sweeping upwards as debris bounced through, being sucked out into space. His blue helmeted head turned to stare at the detachment of twenty six soldiers crouched in the passageway, ‘We stop them on the floor above…’ His voice tailed off as the loud clank swept through the opening, the sound of the first dropship anchoring itself to the space station side. Three more loud clanks followed, several explosions echoing as charges were placed to widen openings in the hull, the commander beckoning his first line, ‘Assume defensive positions, give the others time to reach you…’ He ducked instinctively as the sound of machine gun fire swept through the small opening, the automated corridor guns opening fire on the first movement, ‘First squad move!’

The marines grunted in unison, lunging towards the ladder as sporadic fire broke out, the few defenders lodged in defensive positions in the outer corridor above firing at the openings as automated turrets whirred seeking targets.  As the marines climbed, several dull thuds resounded off the walls, the Morgon specialist explosives burning holes in the stations hull to permit more shock troops through. The machine guns droned continuously, sporadic rifle bursts complimenting the raging fire as flash grenades and smoke exploded across the outer corridor of Level 74. Pulse grenades were thrown by the Morgon shock troops, their detonation disabling the automated guns as armoured troops clambered through the holes in the hull, their armour sparking and some silhouettes falling as the defenders concentrated their fire on the single forward figures.