Warfare: Rise Of Mankind Book 2 (17 page)

              Her computer began a countdown, a rapidly declining number in the triple digits indicating when they’d reach the minimum safe distance. Five hundred kilometers…four-fifty…three hundred…When the explosion happened behind them, none of those fighters wanted to be in that shockwave.

              “Everyone with me?” Meagan tensed up, struggling against the g forces. “Minimum distance approaching.”

              “I’d like to be a little further,” Mick said, “if it’s all the same to you.”

              Meagan smiled despite herself. “Yeah, I’m with you on that…”

              They pressed hard, waiting for the inevitable explosion and what may or may not lead to them being tossed off course and killed.
Small concerns, huh?

***

              “Bombs are away,” Olly announced. “We’re ready.”

              “Redding, are you locked on?”

              “Yes, sir. We are just within extreme range.”

              “When those things blow, jam the throttle and unleash on them.” Gray turned to the com. “Crystal Font, you on board?”

              “We’re on it, Behemoth,” Kale replied. “Enemy locked, we’ll take the one on the left.”

              The explosions started shortly after, shields flashing on the hulls of the enemy vessels. Redding throttled up, compelling the ship forward. Olly doubled the energy to their forward shields, preparing for the shockwave from the different bombs. With that much ordinance, everything within ten thousand kilometers would feel the blast.

              “Fighters have reached minimum range,” Olly stated.

              “Adam, have Revente order them to get behind the larger vessels and hold there.”

              Redding turned to the left slightly, opening up with one side of their pulse cannons. The ship rattled from the motion, and as the weapons discharged, the hull hummed. As soon as they discharged their first volley, Redding juked the controls the other way, tilting so they could fire another volley.

              Before the first of their pulse blasts reached their targets, the second barrage headed out. The Crystal Font followed suit, their purple energy lancing through the darkness of space. The bombs exploded and the satellites detonated as well. Shields dropped. The enemy’s weapons fired but it wouldn’t be enough.

              As pulse damage riddled their hulls, Olly put the damage on screen. They watched as red began to litter every system. They cracked, bulbs of explosions erupting all over them. The shockwave expanded out in a great dome but dissipated long before it reached their vessels. Their target erupted suddenly, listing to the right then exploding in a spectacular display.

              The Crystal Font fared just as well, their weapons piercing straight through the unprotected hulls. A moment passed before it also erupted, shaking a moment before the massive explosion scattered debris in every direction. Gray leaned back in his chair, feeling no small amount of relief as the two went down.

              “Thank God,” he muttered. “Let’s pick up our ships and get back to the surface. We can finally do something at our leisure.”

              “Captain,” Agatha spoke up. “I’ve got Doctor Brand on the line. She said that the patient is in recovery and may wake up shortly.”

              “More good news.” Gray said. “Is he awake?”

              “Patching her through.”

              “Can the man speak?” Gray asked. “Is he good?”

              Laura sounded annoyed, “really, sir? This man barely survived some of the worst trauma I’ve seen in a long time. He’s sleeping.”

              “Can you wake him up? Even for a moment? We need to know who the traitor is, Doctor. It could be important.”

              “I can make it happen but you’d better ensure we don’t get him up long.” Laura paused. “Just ensure you do
not
take long. I don’t want to lose him after everything we’ve done.”

              “As long as we find out what he knows, it’ll be fine. How long before he’s awake?”

              “Give me five minutes,” Laura replied. “I’ll get him up.”

              “If he tells you who it is, let me know. That’ll be plenty.”

              “Affirmative.” Laura cut the channel.

              Adam looked over. “Let’s hope it works out. Whoever’s betraying us can still cause a lot of trouble.”

              “You’re telling me.” Gray shook his head. “I can’t even imagine who has the nerve to do this. Considering everything else we’ve got going on, we have to deal with this too? I’m not much of an advocate for the death penalty but in this case, I’d be the first in line to pull the damn trigger.”

              “Yeah, and believe me, there would be a cue.” Adam sighed.

              “Um…” Olly cleared his throat. “I hate to be the bearer of bad news…”

              “What now?” Adam asked. “What could it
possibly
be?”

              “The enemy fleet has entered the system,” Olly said. “I’ve picked up a massive reading…ships incoming…oh my God! Are you joking?”

              “Early? Really? What is it?” Gray asked. “How many?”

              “Thirty-six, sir! And they’re all incoming.”

              “ETA?” Adam asked.

              “Less than an hour but they’re picking up speed…” Olly turned to look at them. “We’ve got less than sixty minutes to get everyone on board and jump out of here.”

              “Just another couple hundred meters!” An exhausted tech gasped out the words. Clea felt a wave of relief that almost overwhelmed her misery but not quite. A tiny surge of strength pushed her on and as she saw the light from outside above her, she practically cried.
So damn close!

              Her scanner said they had less than fourteen minutes to get off the planet. The ground shook from the building energy, making the entire area feel as though it suffered from natural, seismic activity. Hoffner grabbed her arm and dragged her the last twenty meter and as they emerged into the open air, she took a deep breath and bent at the waist.

              “Shuttle will arrive in less than twenty seconds.” The pilot’s voice filled her helmet. “You’ve got alliance troops converging on your position. Better ensure they know to keep it orderly. We don’t have time to screw around.”

              “Affirmative,” Hoffner called. “Clea, can you take point with the incoming soldiers?”

              Clea nodded, unable to respond verbally. She fought to catch her breath and finally stood up straight, looking at the others. A couple of gestures brought them closer and she let out a final gasp before finding her voice.

              “Everyone, line up over here. When the soldiers arrive, they’ll take up position behind you and you’ll all board side by side, two by two. The ship will be taking off quickly but don’t stop moving until you reach the back of the cargo bay to ensure there’s room for all of us. Any questions?”

              Vora stepped forward. “Will we have time to escape the system?”

              “Yes,” Clea replied. “We’re on point to get out of here with plenty of time to spare. Just keep calm and we’ll all get through this.”

              Alliance soldiers began flooding the area in a near panic. They aimed weapons at the marines who did so in kind but Hoffner quickly deescalated the situation with a quick shout. “Hold there! We’re getting a ship to take
all
of you out of here. Lower your weapons and let’s work together! I need a perimeter to hold back any enemies who might show up. Got it?”

              The soldiers milled about for a moment before one made it clear they lost their CO in a wild exchange of gunfire. Hoffner acknowledged, holding his hands up. “I get it. You five, watch that path there. The rest of you line up for departure. When the tech crew and others board, you’ll break off from guard duty and get aboard. Let’s move!”

              “He has a real command authority,” Vora said. “I’m surprised.”

              Clea scowled at her. “You shouldn’t be. Frankly, these people have risked everything to save you and your people. What more do they have to do to earn your respect?”

              “They can’t.” Vora paced away. “So stop trying to sell them as useful beings.”

              Clea clenched her fist, fighting hard to refrain from punching her sister in the head. The woman had always been infuriating but she took it to new and interesting places now. Perhaps there was no way to bring her to sense. Maybe she had lost any rationality being stuck out there studying weapons so far from home.

              Outside the influence of
rational
people, she became someone else entirely. Clea doubted their family would recognize her anymore.

              The shuttle flew by overhead and circled once before landing nearby. The ramp dropped and a voice exploded over the speakers. “Let’s move people, this place is
not
save. We are about to be overrun in less than a minute.”

             
Wow!
Clea gestured and shouted, “move it! Get aboard now! Go! Go! Go!”

              The people filed on, running two by two. The marines and alliance soldiers began firing, blasting away at the advancing enemy. They broke off, two by two, and rushed back to the shuttle. A turret on the nose helped provide cover, blasting away at the tree line, throwing bodies in every direction.

              Hoffner slapped his men on the back, getting them moving. He was the last one to run up the ramp and as it closed, he leaned against it, catching his breath. The ship suddenly climbed and people cried out in alarm as it ascended, the engines belching as it desperately raced to break atmo.

              Clea looked at her reading. They had less than two minutes before detonation. The energy readings were off the charts. When the reactor went, it would take the majority of the continent with it. Anyone left down there would be vaporized and anything remaining in the databanks would be lost.

              “I hope you’re happy,” Vora said in her ear. “You’ve just lost the alliance a major asset.”

              “You’re an idiot,” Clea grumbled back. “There was nothing to be saved there. We just barely escaped. You’re clearly blind.”

              “We’ll see how the council feels about all this,” Vora replied, “when we return home.”

              “Yes, we most certainly will.” Clea turned away and closed her eyes. Her rage with her sister could not overcome a fear that they wouldn’t make it to a safe distance before the explosion. As the time counted down on her helmet, she began to quietly pray. She hadn’t done so often, but just then…it felt like the right thing to do.

***

              “The patient is awake,” Laura spoke to Gray through the com. “But he won’t be for long. I asked him what he knew…he’s talking crazy.”

              “What do you mean?” Gray asked. “What did he say?”

              “He said ‘An’Tufal is the traitor’. I don’t believe for a second that Clea would betray us.”

              Gray inhaled to reply but he paused as a man’s voice filled the com. “Not Clea…” Pain laced the words as he spoke. “Vora…Vora An’Tufal…she sold us out…sent data…let them know…where…we…were…”

              “How’s he know?” Gray demanded. “Ask him!”

              “Um…how do you know?” Laura sounded uneasy. “What evidence do you have?”

              “Recording…recovered just before the attack…at my listening…outpost…I went to report it…when the attackers arrived…they jammed…my…signal…”

              “Christ…” Gray rubbed his eyes. “That’s why you tried to get into orbit?”

              “Yes…” The man coughed. “But right when I boarded the ship, it was hit by that explosion…and I thought my information might die with me. The recording…is here…”

              “Send it over, Laura.”

              “On it.”

              Gray downloaded the file and watched a video appear on his screen. It showed a woman who looked remarkably like Clea but her expression of bitterness twisted her into something else entirely. He bit his lip as she began to speak, his brow furrowing in thinly veiled rage.

              “I am sending you the coordinates,” she said, “to one of our most advanced research facilities. The alliance has grown weak. I expect you will purge this universe appropriately and bring about an ideology for the strong. Those who cannot support themselves, those cultures incapable of pushing through their limitations, should be destroyed. My work can help you do that.

              “We have two orbiting vessels and a number of ground forces. Be aware of our other defenses as well. They are listed below.”

              Gray clenched his fist as he listened to her give them everything they needed to annihilate the planet. He shook his head and stood, slapping the com. “Let him rest, Laura. he’s done his part. Agatha, patch me through to Hoffner and Clea, ASAP. Priority one.”

              “Working on it, sir. The interference from that energy surge is playing havoc with outbound communications.”

              “Cut through it, this is important.”

              “Establishing a weak connection now…”

              “Thanks, Hoffner? Clea? This is Gray, can you hear me?”

***

              Clea put her hand to the side of her helmet, pressing it into her ear. “Captain? I can hear you, this is Clea…your signal is very weak.”

              “Pay close attention to what I’m about to tell you,” Gray said. “We’ve identified the traitor.”

              “Good,” Hoffner replied. “Where is the bastard?”

              “With you, I assume,” Gray said. “It’s Vora An’Tufal. We have a recording from her that she sent to the enemy. It’s pretty damning. In fact, I’m sending it over.”

              Clea watched the video in silence, her back stiffening. From beginning to end, she didn’t move an inch. Every fiber of her being, every nerve ending and sensation went numb. Her blood ran cold and sweat instantly dried on her back. An energy filled her muscles, replacing exhaustion with honest rage.

              Hoffner grunted. “That bitch! Clea, are you near her?”

              Clea didn’t respond. She turned to her sister, eyes narrow and glistening with unshed tears. The faceplate of her helmet hid the emotions playing out openly on her face, in direct defiance of everything she’d ever learned about maintaining discipline. Third hand betrayal upset her, the very idea anyone would turn on them sickened her. But this…

              A thousand memories flooded Clea’s mind going back to when she was a child. They ran together, threw rocks in the pond near their house, received the same tutoring for a time and played games with friends. Their mother taught them to cook and Vora fussed about getting messy. Her sister’s eyes never lit up so much as when she indulged her passion for science.

             
So why would you have done this?

              Clea couldn’t confront her on the shuttle, not in front of all those people. Not only would they likely beat her to death but they didn’t need to hear whatever she had to say. There was no defense for her actions, no justification which anyone would accept. This situation, as it stood, damned Vora completely.

             
My sister…

             
A tear finally fell, streaking her cheek before absorbing into her collar. The armor felt insanely restrictive, biting into her skin and irritating her. She wanted nothing more than to tear it off and throw it on the ground, to remove the offensive garment but people crowded around her, making too much movement impossible.

              “Clea?” Hoffner had been speaking to her for a good several minutes and finally got through her thoughts. “Hey, talk to me.”

              “I’m here, Captain.” Clea tried to make her voice sound distant but her words trembled and she felt like she was falling into a great pit. “I’m here.”

              “We can’t do anything here…”

              “I know.” Clea replied. “But when we board the Behemoth, I’ll take her aside. You can have some marines follow so we can arrest her properly. However, I
must
talk to her.”

              “Is that a good idea?” Gray’s voice filled her helmet. “Clea, you don’t have to talk to her. Leave it to the MPs. They can put her in lockup and question her later. You shouldn’t—”

              “She’s a blood relative, Captain,” Clea interrupted. “One I grew up with. I
will
understand her motivation before she is sentenced. Whatever happens to her after, that’s her business but at least right now, she’ll explain it to me. After all, I’ll be responsible for explaining it to our parents…to making our family understand. I have to mitigate the damage to our family as well.

              “Vora has much to answer for. Her betrayal is merely the most important.”

              “Okay,” Gray conceded. “Hoffner, ensure you pick a couple of men who are discreet. No vigilante nonsense, got it?”

              “Yes, sir.”

              “She may know more about the enemy,” Gray said, “and if so, then this might not be a complete loss.”

              “I hope you’re right,” Clea said. “Because if you’re not…then she’s thrown away her life for nothing.”

              “I’m sorry, Clea.” Gray sighed. “More than you know.”

              “So am I, Captain.” Clea clenched her fists tightly. “So am I.”

***

              As the shuttle broke atmosphere, a massive explosion rocked the continent where the research facility had been. The flash of light bathed the ship for a brief moment before dying down and falling silent. When they looked again, a massive crater formed over a twenty-thousand kilometer radius. Nothing could’ve survived the blast.

              The facility, and any secrets it may’ve still had, were quite gone.

              They docked with the Behemoth only a few minutes later. As the ramp dropped, medical personnel welcomed the people aboard and escorted them to one of the triage centers. Clea waited patiently for her turn to leave, staying close to Vora. Her sister continued to look sour, not even an ounce of gratitude filling her angular face.

             
Would you have rather died down there?
Clea began to wonder. There was a chance, however slim, that her sister knew she’d done something wrong. Perhaps she hoped to die when the enemy arrived, sacrificing herself for this mad ideal of inferior races and those who didn’t deserve to live.