The Vanguard Emerges
Date: 2018-09-09 04:00:00+00:00
Keywords: Science Fiction
Description: Earth and her colonies are not alone. Politics, discussions and alliances. Mark doesn’t care about any of it. When did it matters when the artillery falls and blood is spilled? All that matters is who stands beside you when blood is spilled and hell lays all around you. Centurion Victor, has a nice ring to it, Major Victor, Corporal Victor, Private Victor, his path has not been a short one. Brothers and sisters have fallen beside him, casualties of war. He thought Tyler and Alexis were just casualties of war, he accepted that. Politics, discussions and alliances, killed them and should have ki

The Vanguard Moves

Michael Chatfield

Dawn Chapman

Maraukian War

Book 2

Prologue

The Core

Unknown

11/3353

Major Operator Four exited from his living quarters, feeling nothing, as he had for his entire life. Yet, although he had completed his devotions—activities made to try to elicit a response—he had been unable to not think on the aspiring human race.

They had created a sub-race, called mergers by many. They were biomechanical creatures, with an organic and inorganic mind shared by the organic’s body. They had moved onto the perceived third phase, changing themselves in order to attain victory.

Operator Four doubted it would be long before they became efficient with their new abilities to attack the Sharventi.

“Your plans have yielded results,” a worker said.

Operator Four stopped. There was rank to keep order, but people cared for it little. Everyone knew everything. Guilt, lies: all of it was forgotten and unfelt.

“Yes, it is promising.”

“Yet now they go to their birth place. It is a pit of vipers. Do you not fear they may break apart and be unable to fight our genetics?” the worker asked, keeping the conversation alive for the prescribed seven taks that was customary.

“Either they will band together and fight as one, or the mergers will make them, or they will fall apart.”

“What about the hidden divisions found in those with the touch?” the worker asked. The touch referred to feelings.

“Then we could have our war and they fall apart. I am not worried as long as it does not affect our plans. It will lead to their destruction. When, I cannot accurately calculate.” Operator Four turned and left, the seven taks up. He would spend his remaining taks until he was alerted to his body’s need of sleep reviewing information from his sensor platforms and the Maraukian uploaders.

Chapter 1

SLS Moby

Moving Toward Earth, Sol System

5/3354

After being in transit for a few weeks, Sarah, Mark’s NIAI, disturbed his train of thought. “I’m picking up some back chatter on the EMF frequencies that you might find interesting.”

Mark had been trying to escape capture and a brig when he put Sarah on his arm. Through a series of events, Mark was able to directly interface with Sarah and merge. Meaning he instantly accessed information Sarah gained from the massive storage banks of an NIAI and the Ninth Legion’s information database. It also had the added effect of speeding up his reaction time to twenty times their normal ability; thoughts became actions faster than a normal human could blink.

Mark had destroyed two suits of Mars armor and had irreparably damaged himself as he defended Camp Epsilon when meeting aliens for the first time. Maraukians were genetically modified herd-centric creatures, eighteen feet tall from tail to snout and weighing over nine hundred pounds, all wanting to wipe humans from the planet and from the universe.

Mark had fought them with the savage training he’d gained from hard lessons that still showed across his body in scars. Mark’s body had been pushed well beyond its limits, gaining him a stay in a nanite tank.

“Go ahead.” His thoughts were recognized as messages.

Sarah relayed the message directly through Mark’s auditory systems, making it seem as if the person talking was inside his head.

“General Ortiz, this is Colonel Tei. The government has authorized all of us to assault the citadel.”

Mark had Sarah patch in his direct subordinates Dodger, Jarek, Ava, Chyna, Evans and Rachel.

“The citadel is the EMF headquarters.”

Sarah translated his thoughts into words and sent it to those connected to the net automatically, in less than a millisecond; to any normal human, it would be a burst of static. The others on the net sent their feelings of acknowledgement. It was unexplainable; he just knew they understood and accepted the information.

“Shit, I didn’t think that they’d approve it so fast, especially with the legion above us.” The man identified as General Ortiz growled.

Mark was on close protection detail with his near quarter centuria of twenty-eight other mergers. They’d arrived in Sol system four months ago, getting not much more than a greeting party of fighters—which any of the five ships in their force could’ve ripped apart with ease—and the president of Earth and Her Colonies saying they were sorry but they’d have to wait as they were still dealing with the crisis on Gilese prime.

Gilese prime was where Earth and Her Colonies found out that they were indeed not alone in the galaxy: there were aliens that were hell-bent on taking their planets over and figures from centuries in the past stepped out from nowhere.

The Ninth Legion, recorded as killed in Scotland or moved to another area of Rome’s reach at the time by historians, suddenly reappeared to bail Gilese out and save them from the Maraukian herds that descended in their assault boats by the millions.

“It seems that their corporate sponsors want protection so they’re clearing house. They’re using loyalty scans as well,” Sarah said to them all.

Mark and Ortiz, a light-hour away from each other, hissed. Chyna gave Mark a questioning look.

Sarah read him perfectly, cutting in the Legate of the Ninth, Damus, the man in charge of Roma’s legions.

“Loyalty scanners scan a person to see if they’re lying or not and then implant a chip if they’re loyal to a person completely,” Mark explained, while Sarah used a step-down program so it was at a speed Damus would understand. “If that ever changes, the chip turns into a nasty nanite swarm, killing the host.”

The mergers’ anger rose at this. Each of them knew the capabilities of nanites intimately and a human’s inability to account for loyalty, meaning that everyone who had a chip was basically already dead.

“General, I believe there’s nothing more we can do,” Colonel Tei said.

“Fuck, it was overboard when they made me make a damn plan to get one of those Phantoms. Fucking bastards.” Ortiz cursed. “Which reminds me, stop calling me General. I got a release after that.”

Mark’s eyes flashed red with anger as memories seeped back of a shell of armor, plasma burns cutting into the armor so dark it was purple, and the headless suit. The first mergers they’d lost—Horlem and Freusht.

Barely controlled fury raged over the mergers’ net. Mark could hear the ringing through the ship’s bulkheads as a few let their rage out.

“How?”

“I added it into the plan; if they used it, they fired me.”

“Gener—”

“Mister,” Ortiz corrected Colonel Tei.

“Mister Ortiz,” the colonel said hurriedly. Obviously, the words sounded unnatural to the speaker. “You mean to say we’re being run by those bureaucratic bastards?”

“Yes.”

“Shit. They kept that from us too. You know what—fuck them. Fuck their tests; fuck their automatic retirement. I fucking quit.” Everyone on the channel saw as the paperwork for release was submitted. “As of now, retired Colonel Tei looking for employment, retired General Ortiz.”

“Damn it, Sho!”

“General, I think the first thing we need to get into order is the government.”

“Sho, we’re the military—we obey orders.” Ortiz said harshly. Steel rang through his voice.

“Yes, to protect the public. Not bureaucrats and their corporate owners.”

“You may have a point there,” the general said, thinking before he reacted, “but there’s no telling what they might do.”

“Yes, but, I know I’d rather be a free man than in a military running loyalty checks and trying to get me to kill the people who saved one of our damned worlds.” Steel filled the colonel’s words.

“Agreed.”

“So as one free man to another, I think we need to tell the EMF what’s really going on. I believe it’s time to initiate plan TEXAS MIKE.”

Goose bumps ran through Mark’s entire body, his eyes alight and hungry.

“It may be time. I’ll call an emergency meeting.”

“Sir.”

***

The channel was cut, leaving the unknown participants on their net. Damus’s NIAI brought him up to speed on what had happened before they’d been added to the net.

“What is the plan, Texas Mike?” Damus asked much slower than a merger would. His “normal” human brain, other than a few minor changes, seemingly took hours to them.

“A plan created by the EMF. I can’t go into any more. The rest is classified. Though it might be an idea to be on alert.”

“Understandable. Do you have any idea what might be happening in the near future?”

Mark hesitated for a few seconds. “General Ortiz was the only respectable officer at that level. The rest were not much more than paid-off bureaucrats.” He said it as if he’d eaten something rotten. “With him leaving, most of the combat capable units will be in disarray. I would estimate that they will either leave as well, or they’ll wait to see which way the storm is blowing. To many, this is the only life they know except poverty. Those in non-combat capable units will stay as they are; they don’t want to lose what they have.”

“What do you mean by combat capable units and not?”

“Well, out of the entire EMF, there are about twenty percent of which are either good, useful, or can even fight in a battle. The rest either don’t have the training, are lazy, or just aren’t able or useful in a battle, about as useless as tits on a Maraukian bull.”

“I’d heard they had a lot of issues but really, only twenty percent effective? How do they keep working?”

“The combat capable units take on the shit details. They get shuttled around Earth and Her Colonies and only the time that they’re awake accounts for time served.” Earth and Her Colonies were still placing people into cryostasis and then sending them off in ships run by a limited smart AI to other star systems. The Ninth had been using jump drives, meaning they could travel the same distances in months instead of centuries.

“What about the families they leave behind?” Damus demanded. Anger filled his voice.

“Well, if they have a family on the first jump, that’ll solve them of it. By the time they come back, they’ll see their grandkids. Most are brought up as orphans though, so they don’t have family.”

Damus grunted, clearly unhappy. “All right, keep monitoring the situation. Also, make sure that your Phantoms don’t pull anything apart we might need if you need to make a hasty exit.”

“Understood, Legate.”

“I’ll inform those who need to know. Damus out.”

Mark felt the connection end. He pulled up his interface; symbols and windows appeared in front of him, configured to his personal style. The interface was projected through his eyes; to anyone else, his hands flew through the air erratically. To him, he was sending messages, checking on projects that had increased drastically as Phantoms had turned their attention to the ships they were staying on. Pulling them apart and upgrading them with the information they could access and testing out ideas they’d come up with. Phantoms were patient but if they could do something, they’d more than happily dive in.

Mark flashed them all messages, telling them not to dive too deep and to make sure all ship-vital systems where ready. Simultaneously, he sent messages to the planet below through a network even the Ninth Legion wouldn’t be able to untangle. Satisfied, he closed his interface.

“Ready?” he commed to Evan, switching through a few moves by himself as he waited.

“Of course,” Evan commed back, grinning as he faced Mark. Even though they were face-to-face, Phantoms rarely ever talked audibly, preferring the faster net being able to instantly transfer information.

Mark bent to get his dual nine-foot swords. The sensors that lined his body and nanite-formed PT gear alerted to a change in air pressure as Evan moved, using the distraction to his advantage. Mark placed his hands on the hilts of his swords and threw himself into the air and over Evan, who’d turned from his forward lunge. Their swords, with blunting fields, flashed as they attacked each other. Mark landed back on his feet, not missing a stroke as he measured up Evan’s offensive and defensive moves. He feinted left, smacking Evan’s swords out of the way as he used the momentum to turn.

Evan’s foot flashed out.

As his nanites formed a sword, Mark adjusted his left blade, catching the foot and preventing it from ripping his side apart. Holding Evan’s two swords as he completed his turn, Mark stomped down on Evan’s foot with a flick while, with a slide, he brought his left sword from the inside of Evan’s blades. He let the other man’s momentum turn him as his guard changed to the outside and his right blade tapped Evan’s head.

They unlocked themselves as their nanites cleared their lungs and plasma of excess carbon in seconds, repairing any bruises from the burst of activity. The two weren’t even breathing hard.

“You’ve got to remember that you won’t always be the strongest person in a fight. Don’t try to force a win. Your determination to open me up when you had two blades against my one led to your downfall. Remember to back off and re-evaluate. The situation is always in flux; never expect it to stay the same.”

“I understand, sir,” Evan said in a thoughtful tone.

Mark could tell he did and then grinned. “Don’t expect to get that dirty trick in again.”

“What dirty trick?” Evan’s eyes twinkled, a ghost of a grin on his face.

“Again?”

“You bet.” They both lowered themselves into fighting positions, studying each other.

After Mark and Evan finished their sparring, the two of them got back into their armor and said their good-byes.

“How is the track looking?” Mark asked.

“Flight plan is clear to the Yard,” Sarah said.

Mark continued through the ship. The armor made it hard for anyone who wasn’t a merger to figure out just who was inside.

He checked his flight plan and made his way to an air lock. His armor was already fully sealed as he hacked the controls, stepping through one doorway and then sealing the hatch and pumping out the air. Moments later, the second hatch opened, revealing the inky darkness that was space.

“Ava, look after things while I’m gone. I shouldn’t be more than five days,” Mark said over the net as he jumped free of the ship. His gravity drive fired up as he shot away from the Moby.

“Mark, where the hell are you going?” Ava demanded, her voice panicked.

“Going to see some of my family. Don’t worry. I’ll get a ride back.” Mark hadn’t told anyone what his plans were. He disappeared into the void, unseen and undetected by the vessels that watched over the legion ships.

Chapter 2

The Yard

Inner Sol System

5/3354

Jerome opened the hatch to his office. His eyes thinned as his hand dropped to the pistol on his leg.

“At least you’ve still got Coheleans.” The voice was so familiar, shivers ran down Jerome’s spine.

“Who are you?” Jerome’s hand was on the butt of his pistol, ready to draw on the man who stood behind his chair, looking at the pictures that covered the wall.

There were pictures of Mark, Tyler, Alexis, and Mark and the Triple-Twos as they celebrated Alexis and Tyler’s wedding. In the background, one could even see Ice Man Nerva cracking a smile.

There were two identical blades on stands: an EMF trooper’s standard E12, showing wear and tear of use, and an armor plate with a piece of metal sticking through it.

The massive frame of a man turned around. Standing there with a cigar hanging out of his mouth was none other than Mark Victor, a man Jerome saw as his own brother. They’d gone through battles and wars across five different systems together.

“Seems you’ve been doing well with the corporation, Jerome.” Mark let out a fragrant puff of smoke as he pulled the cigar from his lips.

“Who are you?” Jerome demanded, recovering from shock. His hope turned into rage. Mark was dead.

“Don’t make me smack you round the head!” Mark pointed his cigar at Jerome. “Though I guess my dead ass showing up is a bit of an eye-opener, yeah?”

Mark didn’t care about how close Jerome was to drawing his side arm when he moved his chair back and slumped down in on it. It groaned with his weight.

“I guess I need to explain a few things to you.” Mark took a puff of the cigar, organizing his thoughts. He let out a smoke-filled sigh and then started at the beginning. From that moment when he had turned away from Alexis and Tyler, leaving them to have a lover’s moment as he saw to the cleanup of the Harmony War that had concluded in the citadel.

Jerome had sat down on one of the couches, his pistol in hand as Mark told him everything, leaving nothing out. He listened to it all, in a state of shock over the twists and turns of Mark’s story.

After it was done, Mark stood, walking around the table as he pulled off his black fatigue shirt. He moved his lower clothing, showing his scar-covered body as well as his tattoos.

Jerome looked over the tattoos. Memories came back as he remembered where Mark had gained a number of them, the tattoos in the same place and identical to how they’d been.

Jerome was overcome with emotions. He broke down and cried as he let go of his pistol, sobbing into his hands.

Mark tapped him on the back before Jerome stood and hugged him.

“Oi, watch the cigar—this is a true Cohelean, you know! Took me some time to find your hidden stash!” Mark said, but his heart wasn’t in the words as he, too, choked up seeing Jerome once again.

It was some time later before they were both able to get hold of their emotions. They might be happy to see each other but now was not the time to waste, the time they had to open up to each other.

“So, these Maraukians—what are we looking at? They as bad as the legion is saying?” Jerome asked.

“As bad if not worse.” Mark shook his head.

“What’s the play?”

“Nivad and Jones need to die,” Mark said.

“Why?”

“They’re the ones who had Alexis and Tyler killed.”

Jerome looked to Mark, questions all over his face.

“Ask Moretti to look into Jones’s file. He’ll find out what I mean,” Mark said.

Jerome nodded, trusting his brother.

“Okay, if we do kill Nivad—” Jerome shook his head. “Which is going to be nearly impossible.”

“Never tell a Victor that something is impossible,” Mark warned him.

“Okay, so that can’t be all to your plan,” Jerome said.

“No, we need to get this damn yard out of here. I have some good friends in the Emarl system. However, we need to get there. For that, we need to build some damn faster-than-light space drives. Me and my Phantoms have been working on the plans with the tech team that are running support for us.” Mark pressed his finger to a nearby tablet. A gray line seemed to form from his finger and dissolve into the tablet; streams of information, including blueprints and technical designs, appeared.

“This should work.” Mark’s finger returned to normal as he passed it to Jerome.

“That is just freaky as shit.”

“Love your words of confidence,” Mark said sardonically. “Now, this meeting never happened. I need a ride out of here back to the Moby. I can confuse the EMF sensors. Been using them so much, it’s simple getting past them.”

“I have a crew that might be willing to take on the job.” Jerome smiled mysteriously.

Jerome organized it so that no one would see Mark and him as they moved through the Yard, passing from the offices to the maintenance bays.

Jerome kept on looking to Mark in his armor. Even as a veteran of the Harmony War, he was impressed by Mark’s armor.

“So when do I get a set?” Jerome asked.

“Becoming a merger isn’t that simple,” Mark said gravely.

“Brothers in life and death, through hell and the Colonies.” Jerome’s words left Mark without excuses and flooding memories.

“We’ll talk about it when you get to the Emarl system,” Mark promised.

Jerome sealed up his space suit as an air lock opened in front of them.

They looked into a single maintenance bay.

The shuttle’s profile was familiar to Mark. It was nearly identical to the combat shuttles that the Earth Military Force used.

As he approached, he saw the three crew members of the vessel.

“Hey Jerome, so what are you bringing this old girl out of storage for?” Captain Yu smacked the combat shuttle, his eyes sliding over to Mark.

“Today we’ve got a pretty special guest,” Jerome said.

Mark didn’t fear vacuum; even if he was completely naked, he could walk around in vacuum for a few minutes before his body started to fail. He reached up and grasped his helmet.

“Whoa! This is a space suit-wearing area!” Young, Yu’s second-in-command, yelled, a severe look on her face.

Bobbie, the last member of the three-person team and the cargo master, looked as if he were about to react too, but his eyes bugged out and his jaw dropped.

“Well, seems that coming back from the dead has this kind of effect on everyone.” Mark looked to the three in front of him. They had gone through thick and thin, from covert operations behind enemy lines, to having them fly overhead in support or extracting them from some of the worst battlefields.

“Mark?” Young said, as if in disbelief of her own words as she looked at him.

“The one and the only. Seems like I’m going to need the finest combat shuttle crew in the EMF to give me another ride.” Mark laughed.

“You owe me forty credits!” Bobbie said, his voice gruff.

They greeted one another, tears in their eyes as well as laughter and staring as they all looked over Mark. He was taller and different than before, a darkness to his eyes.

They had changed as well. Now, instead of going into battlefields, they delivered cargo all over the Sol system.

They bumped forearms—the salute of armored troopers—the combat shuttle crew in a state of shock and happiness.

“All right, you can ask him all about it on the shuttle ride. He needs to get back to the legion ship Moby before anyone notices that he’s gone.” Jerome didn’t want to see Mark disappear once again but now, knowing that he was alive and the orders that he had passed on, Jerome felt as if he had been woken up from the dream he was drifting through.

With Mark came change and the promise of progress.

Mark waved good-bye to him, and the combat shuttle crew boarded and secured Mark. Jerome left the hangar, deep in thought.

As the combat shuttle’s engines fired, the hangar doors opened, and then the combat shuttle pushed out into the inky darkness.

Jerome pulled out a box from his cargo pocket. Mark had given it to him just moments before. Jerome opened the box and found a silver armband inside. Mark had called it a NIAI and the ideas behind it both intrigued and worried him.

Jerome undid his shirt though, trusting his brother. He put the armband up over his upper arm as per the instructions on the lid. A cool sensation seemed to spread out from the armband and run through his body. Then it was as if the world came alive. He ignored the messages and what was going on in his head.

***

“Are you sure about this?” Yu asked.

“I am. Don’t worry. I have things under control.” Mark laughed and he hit the harness around him, standing up in the combat shuttle.

“Cargo bay is free of air,” Bobbie reported.

“Plot is checked. We’ll reach launch point in two minutes.” Young’s voice was calm and precise, as if they weren’t running an EMF blockade.

“Fine, open the hangar doors.” Yu shook his head. A smile appeared on his face as he thought of all the crazy shit that he had got up to with the Victors and the members of the Triple-Twos he’d taken in on covert missions.

“See you soon enough!” Mark ran across the cargo bay and jumped out the back of the combat shuttle.

He shot off on a plot. After just a few seconds, he disappeared from the combat shuttle’s sensors.

“Well, there is no way that the EMF ships will be able to pick him up,” Young said.

“Sealing hatch,” Bobbie said.

“Well, he certainly hasn’t changed much.” Yu laughed as he altered their flight path, taking them away from the blockade.

They were far enough out that few of the EMF personnel would even care to check them out. Once again, they disappeared into the inky darkness.

Chapter 3

SLS Moby

Earth Orbit, Sol System

5/3354

“Welcome back,” Evan said over the net as Mark made it back into the Moby. He was overlooking simulation training going on in the interior of the decks, but being linked to the ship’s sensors and his processing power, he was able to split his attention and do multiple things at once.

“So, we ready to go down to Earth?” Mark walked from the air lock he had come from toward the interior of the Moby.

“One week,” Evan said.

“Of course. Even now, they’re playing power games.” Mark shook his head.

“Looks like you’re not space dust yet,” Ava said over the net, walking out from an adjacent corridor as Mark walked deeper into the ship.

“Sorry to disappoint,” Mark said. Sarah transmitted his amusement.

“What’s the play?” Ava asked.

Mark could sense that all of the merger leadership were listening in.

“Blood begets blood. Nivad Selvra and Jones must die. I’m going to protect those who are left from my time in the EMF and send them to the Emarl system.”

“What about the talks?” Evan asked.

Mark sensed the agreement of the others, their interest piqued.

“Who would you trust—the guy who would turn on his troops or the chaos that follows afterward? The corporations had their time—now let’s let the people of Earth and Her Colonies make a choice for what they want.” Mark had fought as a trooper, originally to suppress the Colonies, later to save them all from the Harmony Forces’ machinations. He could no longer fight for the corporations against the Colonies and knew that they deserved a chance to find their own future instead of remain corporate slaves.

Mark didn’t hide any of his emotions or motivations.

“It is unlikely that Earth and Her Colonies will make an agreement with Roma and the allied systems without looking to benefit from it greatly. While we fight, they will look to take advantage of us at the rear. We will be eaten up from both sides,” Chyna said, adding in his own thoughts.

There were no complaints; they’d fought together and through the net, they knew one another better than few others might. With all that had been said, they agreed with their leaders.

Mark knew this was mainly personally motivated but he wouldn’t rest until those who brought about the death of his brother and sister-in-law were dead as well.

Chapter 4

Tower

Earth, Sol System

5/3354

Moretti looked through the various reams of information. Jerome had sent him a coded message for him to clarify a few things.

Moretti, being part of the Ministry of Intelligence, was easily able to access most information. With his skills, even if something was hidden away, he could get past the firewalls and security in his way.

It had taken him the better part of a few days in order to access the files on General Jones. Most of his file was available for all to see. To most, it would seem complete. To Moretti, who had been at the heart of many Ministry operations and knew the various ways they would hide information, he saw that there were clear signs of attached information.

Moretti used a false identity as a high-ranking person within the Ministry of Intelligence. The page in front of him changed in moments.

Moretti sipped on the coffee next to his terminal. The cold mixture hit his stomach like a weight as he scrolled through the information.

His cup paused in mid-air as he read one of the new files that had appeared. He put down the coffee, his motions robotic as he checked the date of the file, re-reading the header of the file.

He quickly read on, his body cold as his skin was prickled with goose bumps. His state of disbelief turned to one of anger, but he continued to read. A perverse feeling of needing to know but not wishing to continue filled him.

He finished the short document and simply stared at his screen. He thought the information might show just how useless Jones was; he never thought it would be such a smoking gun, one that affected him directly.

How did Jerome know Jones contracted out the assassination of Alexis, Tyler, and Mark? Does he know Nivad Selvra knew of it and okayed it?

Moretti was filled with question after question. However, there was nothing he could do. General Jones had used his connections and was one of the most powerful men in the Earth Military Force. Nivad Selvra was the leader of the Ministry of Intelligence and was the de facto head of Earth and Her Colonies.

Although Moretti wielded a lot of power on Earth and among the corporate heads who called it home, they were both on different planes of existence, and no one cared about the dead heroes of four years ago.

A cold, murderous light filled Moretti’s eyes as he made a silent promise to himself. They might not care, but we went through thick and thin, relying on one another. No matter what the cost, I’ll take down Jones and Selvra myself.

He opened up his planner and sent a message to Ortiz in order to meet. It was regular for them to get together and share war stories. They were the only two who remained within Mega City. The other troopers and personnel they had served beside were now part of the Victor Corporation, moving goods across Earth, Sol, and the Colonies. Or part of the Westerly Three Complex Crew, who protected the greenhouses controlling the slums, or the Yard that serviced the trading vessels and built the largest trading ships within the EHC.

Moretti didn’t know what the future held, but he needed to let someone else know what he knew. If he died, then no one would know the truth of Jones and Selvra’s plans.

Chapter 5

SLS Moby

Earth Orbit, Sol System

6/3354

“Captain Chen to the bridge, we have communications with the surface.”

“Inform the VIPs,” Chen said.

“Already done so, Captain.”

Chen jogged from his cabin to the bridge in the middle of the ship. The senators were alerted and used their NIAIs to holographically appear on the bridge.

“Captain?”

“My communications officer received a communication from the surface a few minutes ago.” He pointed to the officer, who calmly focused on her job, seemingly ignoring the pressure.

“We received a hail from Earth’s government building, asking to talk with our representatives.”

Senator Weng, the leader of the delegation, spoke up. “We will be there in person shortly.”

The senators disappeared. Some ten minutes later, they entered the bridge.

“Open the channel, please,” Weng said, as if everything were within his expectations.

The communications officer did so, showing the president of Earth and Her Colonies backed by a roomful of powerful people, including the COEMF heads of the revenue and intelligence agencies, generals and admirals, as well as representatives for the Colonies. The president spoke first, his brilliant white teeth flashing.

“Ah, Senator Weng and Florence. We will allow you to land your delegation with their bodyguards on Earth for talks to take place. Only if our people are allowed to check your ships to make sure they don’t pose a threat to our security.”

Chen saw Weng and the delegations’ eyes become slightly unfocused as they talked among themselves.

“We find this to be agreeable. We will be able to land within three hours.”

“Magnificent.” The president’s smile flashed again. “We will give you a flight plan and escorts to ensure your safety.”

More like to shoot us if you think we’re doing something wrong, Chen thought.

“Thank you, Mr. President.” Senator Weng bowed his head as was the custom of his world.

Chen didn’t miss the look of power pass over the president’s face as the senator did so. But he grinned as he thought of the Phantom Lords in his storage lockers.

The president replied with a slight bow as the channel ended.

***

“All right, Phantoms, we’re going in as protection detail!” Mark said through the net as he moved away from the fusion power plant of the Moby.

The Phantoms armored up. Their individual Pluto suits adapted to their fighting styles, with increased armor, anti-grav nanites, and hundreds of minute things that helped them in battle.

Their clothes changed into the base nanites they were made from as they stepped into the liquid nanite membrane that filled the suit. The openings closed; nanites reconnected the carbon hendral plating on a molecular level, making them seamless. HUDs came alive as the NIAI suit and wearer re-integrated systems while checking to make sure they were at full readiness; any issues were shored up as nanites raced to fix them. M20s mounted on their forearms cycled together, rotating around their forearm, and then cycled apart. Mono-blades and the gray high-density blocks that adorned their armor where checked by eye and by scans. In five minutes, every suit was ready and they turned their faceless helmets to Mark.

He looked at them. Their armor was as black as space with a tinge of purple, which was easier to see in areas where coil guns, plasma blasts, vibro-blades, debris, and hundreds of things that would have killed an unarmed person had made their mark.

“All right, Phantoms, you know what your jobs are. Look after each other as I know you will, and above all protect the VIPs. Protecting them is of the highest priority.” Mark could feel the agreement coming through the Phantoms’ net. It was calming, yet at the time of a merger’s death, it was terrifying as those who survived would feel their last emotions before their connection ended, leaving an inexplicable hole in the network.

“I know I’ve asked a lot of you and I’ve asked if I can get you some leave passes to enjoy the sights of Earth. You’ve earned it. Now let’s get ground side.”

Mark turned and led his people through to the waiting glider. Charles, the leader of the design team for the Pluto suit, gave Mark a half-earth salute with two fingers. His design team was with him. At first Mark thought he was here because then he could bug his direct boss Damus more for his projects. It seemed more that he was now the permanent head of supply and innovation for mergers, as well as the guy who had to take the tech and see how normal legionnaires could use it. A task Mark happily left to him and his team.

Mark and the Phantoms took their seats. Modified harnesses enclosed them as the VIPs boarded, wearing their own vac suits. Except Damus’s direct representative, Legate Julio Melchor Alves, who wore a mark-one set of Mars armor with filler that showed the nicks and scars similar to those on the Phantoms.

“Doors secure. Opening drop hatch. Disengaging clamps.” The glider fell out of the drop hatch facing toward the red and silver marble of Earth. The green had long ago been removed and placed in towers.

Earth’s gravity pulled them downward as the pilots only used maneuvering thrusters to enter the atmosphere. The glider was buffeted by the atmosphere; the whine of planetary engines kicked in and pushed them through the outer layers of the atmosphere into a smoother ride as they were greeted by two flights of fighters hugging their left and right rear.

“We will reach our destination in two hours,” the pilot said as many of the passengers used external sensors to look at the planet below and around them.

Mark did, too. Air-cars whizzed to and fro between the massive sky towers and other larger vehicles littered the sky. He looked to the bottom of the towers, seeing a sea of garbage to be taken away. It was picked through by the poor so they could live a few more days, instead of working in the massive factories that supplied Earth and Her Colonies with goods.

Mark closed off the sensors and changed his display to his reader.

“About to land,” Sarah told him.

His HUD showed him the immediate area; around him, symbols highlighted auto turrets, EMF marines, and heavy emplacements.

“Touchdown in five.”

Thrusters fired, turning the glider as legs came down seconds before they touched the ground. The glider’s anti-personnel turrets automatically looked over the forces, no doubt making them as uncomfortable as he felt.

“Something’s wrong.” Mark hit his harness release and stood.

“How so?” Jarek also stood.

“Look at the marines’ uniforms and weapons, and the way they hold themselves.”

“I see what you’re saying. These marines might look good but their uniforms and weapons are brand-new or haven’t been used at all in combat. These are show troops, not veterans.”

“Sarah, what unit are these marines from?”

“Earth’s home defense marines, the 29th.”

“Fucking pansies.” Mark snorted and Sarah changed him back to the general channel.

“Mark?” Chyna asked.

“These are the 29th Marines—for all purposes, show troops. They never leave Earth and are used mostly for decoration. Though to use them when greeting us, it raises some questions.”

“Like why the hell they’re letting their security be looked over by troops that’d never fired a shot in anger?” Evan asked.

“Exactly. Sarah, what can you get me?”

“Seems the EMF troopers and personnel who have seen combat got word of the legion showing up. Seeing another opportunity, most of them have been sent onto tours of duty and put back into cryo to make sure there wasn’t a mass exodus from the EMF. The government and its corporate handlers believed it was best to go with a unit that’ll back them up.”

Mark passed on the new information to his people and the VIPs.

“Well, even with this new turn of events, we should go and meet their representatives.” Senator Weng stood from his seat.

“Phantoms, protective detail. Rachel, your contubernium up front. Dodger, rear guard. Jarek, right. I’ll be left. Move.”

The Phantoms fell into their position. Senator Weng moved forward; Senator Florence and Legate Alves fell into position.

“Open rear hatch, cargo master,” Mark said.

The cargo master did as he asked as the formation moved out from the glider and into the courtyard.

The president and his delegation came out from behind heavily armored doors wearing masks, and float cams and reporters flocked around them.

“Ah, Senators, Legate.” The president held out his hand to the others; the Phantoms automatically moved apart to let him shake the others’ hands. The president’s face showed a beatific but wholly fake smile.

Mark’s eye twitched as his sensors picked up something that didn’t belong and the digital tracker he’d put on Ortiz flared up at the same time.

Chapter 6

Mega City

Earth, Sol System

6/3354

Once Ortiz had learned of the truth, he had started plotting. After the Harmony War, he’d been able to hide away a lot of gear. Most of it had gone to the Yard in case they ever needed to defend themselves. The majority of the EMF troopers he had fought with had gone there while he’d clung onto the hope of changing the EMF for the better and if not, hoping that he could do something for the later generations of troopers.

He’d found out the locations that Nivad would be making public appearances.

So as the legion was finally coming to Earth, Ortiz pulled out a high-powered anti-material rifle from one of his caches, grabbed a magazine of ammunition and went to work.

He’d found a perch overlooking the landing pad where the party would be landing and moved to another overlooking it.

He watched as the legion combat shuttle flared its engines and then started to settle down on the landing pad. He watched the Phantom Lords march out of the combat shuttle, the senators between a number of them. He studied the Phantom Lords. This was his first time seeing them in the flesh. They were as powerful and dominating as they’d appeared on the feeds from Gilese.

Ortiz saw as Nivad stepped out. He was at the rear of the greeting party. It was hard to notice him if you weren’t looking for him.

Ortiz checked his windage, shifting his shoulder and getting into a comfortable shooting position.

“Ortiz, what the fuck are you doing?”

A sudden voice made Ortiz freeze. Who the hell was that? It sounded almost like Mark.

“Did all of that chew go to your head, you daft bastard?” the man sounding like Mark growled in his ear.

“Who the fuck are you and how did you get my implant key?” Ortiz hissed.

“Well, you gave it to me awhile ago, you idiot. It’s Mark. Now listen to me, and I can get you to the shipyards. I’ve already talked to Jerome. He’s locked everything down and his people are all ready to duke it out if need be,” Mark said.

“Mark died four years ago,” Ortiz hissed.

“Tyler and Alexis were killed in the blast. The legion tried to get us all and heal us up. Nerva told you about the legion anyway,” Mark said.

Ortiz’s head buzzed. He wanted it to be true, but he knew that he couldn’t trust a voice on the other end of his implant.

“Look, if you go out there, you’ll be dead. At least if you’re with Jerome, there’s a possibility to live on and get out of this shit hole. Also, I need someone to lead the Westerly Three Crew,” Mark said.

“Tell me your plan,” Ortiz said.

“Get you to the shipyards, move people from the Yard down to Earth, rally the Westerly Three Complex Crew, have them ready to move on Mega City with all of the other gangs and the greenhouses backing us.

“General Jones was the one who called in the hit on Tyler, Alexis, and myself. Nivad knew about it and did nothing to stop it. They won’t be able to escape. I’ll deal with them. In the chaos, we take Mega City. This time we’ll take this stupid system away from these corporate fucks,” Mark said, clearly incensed.

Ortiz’s hand tightened on the anti-material rifle, still pointed at Nivad Selvra. It was only through Moretti, his man on the inside of the Ministry of Intelligence, that he was able to find out Nivad’s involvement in Alexis, Tyler, and Mark’s deaths.

Ortiz had come here knowing full well that there wasn’t much chance of him making it out alive.

“Train that sight on the Phantom Lord closest to the legion combat shuttle,” Mark said.

Ortiz moved his sight, looking to the Phantom Lord.

“Look at my hand,” Mark said.

Ortiz focused on the Phantom Lord’s hand. He snorted, seeing the Phantom Lord flip him the bird.

“Now sit on it and put that fucking rifle away and listen to me,” Mark said. “You’re going to disassemble the rifle into its three major components, dropping them down random garbage chutes. You’ll reach landing platform 217 and grab a shuttle to the Iurs station. From there you’ll go to hangar J-12. There you will find a Victor Corporation vessel unloading food goods. Talk to the captain. He will get you passage to the Yard.”

“What are you going to do?” Ortiz asked.

“In one week, they’ll both be dead or I’m not Mark Victor.”

Ortiz looked at Nivad through the sights of his rifle once again. With a half-grunt/half-sigh, he looked away and got to his feet, starting to pull apart the rifle as he recited the information Mark had said, ingraining it into his mind.

“I’m glad you are alive, fucker!” Ortiz said.

Mark just chuckled.

***

Mark watched over the proceedings. No more attempts on anyone’s life were made and Mark stood there with the Phantom Lords, looking imposing. The senators were greeted and introduced to the members of the upper crust who had bought or bullied their way into the event, hoping to get to know the two senators.

***

Four parade troopers forced themselves to stand taller, trying to look bigger and tougher than they were for the blonde aide before them.

It was their job to go to these things and show off the perfect troopers, which had turned them into something of playboys. Many people within the corporations were interested in becoming these useless adornments.

The woman in question was extremely attractive. Her hair was pulled back in a loose ponytail; her business clothes hugged her figure to show her tight stomach, shapely legs, and how stacked she was.

“You try anything with her and you’ll have to deal with us.” The sergeant smirked.

“Are you still in the way?” Rachel took a step up to him, making him a foot shorter than her now.

“Did you hear me?” The man came dangerously close, his finger an inch away from Rachel’s breastplate.

“Yes, you want to look big and tough in front of this lady here in an attempt to get her to sleep with you. Or brag to your men that she’s ‘nearly there.’” Rachel raised her fingers, making quotation marks.

“That might be how you legionnaires do things. We’re more civilized here,” the show trooper growled.

“So I’ve seen.” Rachel’s voice was dry as she leaned back.

“Watch yourself.” A dark look passed over the man’s face as he jabbed his finger into her breastplate, hard. If Rachel’s boots hadn’t clamped onto the ground below her, she would’ve rolled backward. Instead, he was awarded with a broken finger.

“What the...” Shock registered on his face.

“You lot—take him to get his finger and hand fixed. And don’t try to push people down the stairs.”

Blank stares registered.

“Do it now!” Her commanding voice put them into action as they pulled him past the Phantoms, who made a hole for him as they continued to follow the blonde, who looked back every so often.

Mark thought it was his imagination that he saw a glimmer of a smile on her face as she led them up some lifts through a couple of corridors to their final destination. The marines seemed to have gotten word of the incident, watching the Phantoms more closely. Including the security personnel, who stuck out like sore thumbs as part of the sunglasses and furtive glances club.

“This is your room.” The blonde opened a door to a corner of the Earth’s governmental building. There was a main lobby leading to a couple of offices, a group of rooms, and an eating room.

“Full sensor sweep.” Rachel’s contubernium swept out.

Some pulled apart walls; others checked under desks. A bed flew out into the main lobby.

Rachel held a sheet. Jumbles of wires, black pieces, and pieces of every color were thrown into the sheet. Once satisfied, the Phantoms held their positions in their rooms.

“All clear,” she announced.

Both Senator Weng and Florence’s eyes twinkled proudly as they and the others moved into the room.

Rachel walked out the door. Mark pulled her feed up on half of his HUD. She walked to a door, rapped on it, and waited a few seconds. After no response, she dumped the sheet in front of the door. “I brought you back your gadgets; it would be appreciated if you didn’t send us any more.”

Mark grinned as Rachel came back into the room and closed the door.

Chapter 7

Westerly Seven Sector

Earth, Sol System

7/3354

General Ortiz looked at the safe house again from his holo paper, sipping some coffee. It was like every other tower house, with its blank cut metal door with a simple number on it. It was a three-bedroom, meaning unlike the one-bedroom houses, it took up two units and had a front and back door.

A woman and two children had entered the house after what was the end of the school day; a father had later arrived, wearing a business suit, which put him as some kind of manager or low-ranking bureaucrat.

Sighing, he put his credits on the pay tab to automatically take his money. He stood, checking his side arm with a glance of his hand as he approached the apartment and knocked on the door. A few seconds later, the wife opened the door. Just her head showed.

“Ah, General, we’ve been waiting.” She opened the door more to let him in.

“Are you going to stand there and let all of the warm air out?” she asked after a few seconds.

“Thank you,” he mumbled as he entered the room.

She carried a pistol not of any Earth make that he knew. She shut the door, following his eyes to the pistol.

“Ninth normal issue.” She shrugged as it disappeared in her clothes.

“Tina, George—this is General Ortiz,” the woman said to the two children. They’d been hiding in their room but rushed out to say hello, interested to have a guest, let alone a general.

“John? On my way, dear.” A man appeared from what was the kitchen, putting food-filled plates on the table.

“Hello, General.” The man smiled. The general could tell closer up the man was military by his mannerisms.

“What unit?”

“The 12th Fleet, Space Legion.” The man turned to his wife.

“Five-year stint with the space legion. My name’s Biancka.”

The man laughed at the general’s face. “You think that’s a surprise? Imagine being married for eight years and finding out a month ago.”

“I told you I was sorry,” Biancka said, nervously playing with the hem of her clothes.

“I told you, it was just a shock. I will always love you. Plus it means I understand why I’ve seen your parents twice and they live two star systems away.”

She grinned at him, holding him tight before looking at the general. “All right, now get that fake face and hair off and wash up and we’ll have some dinner.”

The younger boy looked at Ortiz as if studying him before going to play with his toys. The parents were already working to put more food on the table as the daughter took her homework off it.

Definitely not how I thought I’d meet someone from the Ninth. Ortiz went off to the bathroom, doing as the woman had told him. He put the face and hair in his pocket just in case. Trust but verify, he reminded himself as he checked his stunner and a pistol.

“Message,” his planner said as he opened it.

“Ortiz.”

“Tei here. The Corporations look to be mving, it seems that they want to use the senators as bargaining chips against the Roma Union.”

“Are they fucking stupid or just brain dead?” Ortiz hissed. The Corporations were used to these kinds of dirty games, but from Ortiz had seen the Legion and the Roma Union wouldn’t play along. He didn’t know the full capabilities of the Roma Union but it didn’t seem to be insignificant.

“What’re your orders sir?” Tei asked.

Ortiz stood there, his customary scowl deepening He felt as if he was standing on the edge of a cliff.

“Send word to Jerome and our people, start pulling the people that are loyal to us and start getting together an evacuation plan. We look after our people first,” Ortiz said.

There was silence on the line as Ortiz’s words sunk in.

“I’ll pass on your orders sir,” Tei said.

The line went dead as Ortiz opened up a private channel and sent a message to Dominguez, altering her and the westerly three complex crew.

“Come with me.” Biancka took him into one of the rooms; it looked to be the boy’s based upon the toys littering the room. She played with something behind a view screen as a section of the floor opened, showing a ladder.

“Go down there. Turn to your right and follow the passage all of the way. You’ll come to a wall. There’ll be buttons on the right. Press the green one.”

“Yes, ma’am.” He grabbed onto the ladder as he descended. The floor went back into place. He followed her directions and put on his disguise again as he walked out into an alley. Turning back, he studied what looked like any other alloy wall in a tower. Shaking his head, he moved out into the dimly lit quarters as he made his way toward the shipping hangars, where a Victor Corporation hauler was unloading its cargo.

Chapter 8

Mega City

Earth, Sol system

“The senators are getting a communication. The talks are back on.”

“How would you know this?”

“Well, we do have really good audio sensors and it’d be a waste not to use them. Plus, I’m in the building’s network.”

Mark acknowledged it was useless fighting with a NIAI, especially the one inside his head. He sighed, and the air came back at him from the close faceplate.

“All right, give me a report.”

“Everyone’s back from last night. Quite a few are sleeping it off. The information agency’s making some stink over it, as well as the marines saying we should all be kept locked down.”

“Great.”

“I’ve got the security system under my control; the admins just think I’m another one of them. They tried to put more bugs in the room last night but Chyna popped his head upstairs to have a talk with them. Literally.”

A feed showed Chyna standing in a room, cocking his head slightly before moving a few feet and jumping into the ceiling. Only his head stuck out of the other side as he crossed his arms underneath his head, turning as he lectured the people above. Finally done and the people retreating out of the room above, he came back to the floor, with parts of the ceiling/floor following him.

“Well, looks like I better do something about the ceiling,” Chyna grumbled. The sensor feed from the suit Mark was watching shuddered with the wearer’s laughter.

“Anything since?”

“Nope, nothing at all.”

“Good.” Mark saved his work as Sarah highlighted Weng, coming from the office, on his HUD.

“Mark, sort out a security detail of four. We have a meeting in a half hour.”

“Darius, Ibanez, Eutropio, and myself. Jarek sorts out QRF.”

Sarah was already running diagnostics on his suit as he and the three others he called walked out in the corridor. He stood at the tip of the triangle, Darius to his right, and Ibanez to his left as Eutropio left the doorway open for the senators to fill the gap. Once Florence and Weng had done so, he took up the rear to make it a diamond formation. Their NIAIs were now so attuned to their thoughts, the NIAI linked their sensors before they asked.

Mark focused on the attractive blonde aide from earlier for a half second; she looked startled but something in her blue-eyes made Mark feel as if it were a show. Maybe she was playing for the sensor units in the corridor for newspapers and reporters. Wouldn’t be the first time, Mark thought grimly as his eyes roved the compressed 360-view projected by his helmet, making up for the lack of head movement from side to side.

They made it to the room where a table was set in the middle of what looked to be a massive auditorium. Reporters and people filled the stands as high-ranking government officials sat at the table. The front row of the auditorium was reserved for attachés from major companies. Their data pads were out and they were listening to their corporate orders, no doubt passing them onto their officials sitting at the table.

A soldier opening the door allowed it to swing back, so suddenly Mark thought its opening mechanism was rigged. It smacked Ibanez roughly in the back with a solid thud. Ibanez kept walking as if nothing had happened. Instead, the door’s wood had an imprint of his back and was cracked in places, revealing the crondium armor underneath.

Mark moved to the side and allowed the senators to come forward. The Phantoms looked like statues on the outside. Inside, it was a hive of activity, sending the feeds back to the Phantoms they’d left behind to go over the people in the room. In five minutes, they knew everyone in the room, their immediate family and their records.

They stood well out of arm’s reach of the senators, making it hard for the float cams to put them all in the same frame. Weng had made it clear that he wanted to put forward the civilian side of the alliance, not just the military; they’d seen what they needed to see on Gilese.

Mark’s gaze rested on one of the officials at the table as they announced themselves. The COEMF stood up with a dazzling smile, looking not much older than a teenager. Mark remembered Horlem and Freusht, crushing his anger as he continued to study the room.

Mark half listened to the talks as he stood there.

The president stood first, a fake smile on his face yet again. “Again, I am sorry, Senators, for the unfounded rumors of both our and your involvement in these so-called ‘loyalty chips.’”

“They might be unfounded on our side, but not so sure about on yours, bub,” Sarah added harshly.

“There are people of all kinds who can’t understand the want for simple and free peace,” Weng replied.

“Score one for Weng,” Sarah ad-libbed as she brought up snapshots of a few people who clearly did not look pleased.

“Are you going to talk the whole time?”

“Hey, it’s not like I’m going to see this very often,” Sarah said. Recently the Phantoms’ NIAIs had taken on avatars. Sarah’s was a petite ginger, usually wearing a stylishly tilted ball cap, jeans, and a plaid shirt. Her avatar showed her as sitting in a reclining computer chair between the two groups, glancing back and forth as she munched on a bag of popcorn.

Mark grumbled, but a grin tugged at his lips. He went back to his scanning as Earth and Her Colonies talked with Roma and her allied worlds. Later, Mark would find Sarah saved the video from every cam and sensor to make a three-dimensional holograph of every meeting and moment.

“Indeed,” the president said with a grave face. “Now, on with the talks!” he said to the cheers of the room as he sat back in his seat.

“What would you like to begin with, Mr. President?”

“Ah, yes, I would like to talk about these Maraukians and what you’ve been doing the last two and a half thousand years.”

“The Maraukians are an alien race who, when the Ninth Legion first met them, were taking people and transplanting them on planets. Simply as tools to create a higher carbon dioxide output on these worlds.”

“But these Maraukians can breathe in almost any condition.”

“Yes. It’s believed they prefer it; others believe they were sent to do this, stating the evident manipulation in their gene pool as fact.”

“You don’t agree?”

“Mr. President, we’re humans, same as you. No one always agrees, a few times perhaps, but never always.” After a few seconds, he continued. “The Ninth took the ship from the Maraukians and used an imprint technology the Maraukians use to create their leadership and more talented individuals.”

“What happened to this imprint technology?” the head of the information agency asked, his eyes alight.

“It was later banned after we found out the effects it had on a human’s physiology, in most cases leading to death. We used it to get to the stars. We fought the Maraukians with their technology, moving across worlds and liberating unknowing humans. They joined the ranks of the legion and obeyed the rules of Rome; in turn, they provided a home legion to defend the planet if the Maraukians came back.”

“Rome? Why not Roma?” the president asked.

“Roma was not yet formed. The legion returned home, gathering up their families and supplies that those who had wished to stay behind had stockpiled for them. They found Roma; it was unoccupied by Maraukian forces, so the legion, their family, and their allies worked hard together to build it. A technological revolution happened—the finding of the jump drive, which gave us a tremendous advantage over the Maraukians traveling at LTL speed.

“The legion created warships. The families also created cargo haulers. We expanded, moving on to free more worlds and gain more support. My world, Leiftus, was the fifth freed world. My planet was in the Stone Ages when the legion found us, pulling us into the space age.”

“What period of time was this on Earth?”

“This was about two thousand years ago. We learned of the multiple wars Earth had gone through, including the two great wars.”

“Why didn’t you help Earth?” the president demanded.

Weng looked up at the president with a sad but kind smile. “A child has to make mistakes to learn. We vowed then not to let Earth know of our situation.”

“Why should you get to make such a call?” The president’s hand hit the table.

Mark didn’t miss how his eyes darted to the corporation liaisons.

“You were so violent. We were fighting for the safety of the human race, to survive; you were fighting for oil, for power. We were still just getting out into the universe. With every planet, the legion helped as they could, having to fight for every inch of that planet. At that time, Maraukians could show up again after a few decades and we’d have to fight for the same planet all over again. Since then, they haven’t been able to surprise attack us. The legion’s goal has been to go to new planets and help them. Every Roma citizen has to serve a minimum of two years in the legion. Other than that, they can elect to increase their service or to revert back to their citizen status.”

“So it’s not just the legion?” the COEMF asked.

The room had grown quiet as Weng had spoken.

“No, we’re not just a military organization.”

“What I don’t get is that the minute these Maraukians attacked Gilese, you appeared, after swearing not to. Surprising, seeing as it was also the first time Earth and Her Colonies have seen a jump drive, which didn’t land on Gilese and you didn’t allow anyone to get close enough to examine,” the president asked in perplexed tones.

“Florence, you’re familiar with military matters.”

Florence bowed his head slightly. “This is the first time we’ve interacted with a Maraukian jump drive. Before Gilese, we’d only seen sensor readouts from an extreme distance. We weren’t even sure they had jump drives until they appeared at your doorstep. In Gilese, we didn’t touch them as we didn’t know if they would explode, killing our people.”

“Your people? What about mine who died on Gilese because you didn’t arm us with the correct weaponry?” the president demanded.

Mark did not like the way this was going, he decided as they continued.

“There wasn’t enough time for us to train and arm your people. We had to send everything we could to Gilese as fast as possible in case the Maraukians got rooted in.”

“Rooted in?” the IA head asked.

“When Maraukians are attacking, you have the biggest opportunity to kill them. Once they’re in, they hardly leave unless you pose a big enough challenge to their domination of the world. They have a herd mentality: they’ll sacrifice themselves to save their herd at large, then those on their assault barges, then transport and finally the entire landing force.”

“You were still too late. Millions of people died before they knew of the impending doom and fled to the bunkers and shelters we had the foresight to create.”

“This is true. We sent a message through your information system to warn you of the incoming attack, but it was—for some reason—ignored and people were told not to listen to the so-called prank.” Florence’s eyes blazed.

“I was not made aware that there was such a warning. We shall look into this.” The president stared at the officials around him with a withering glare.

“That one’s a good actor.” Sarah’s avatar seemingly walked around the man and studied him, still eating her popcorn.

“How do you think he kept the job for twenty-five years?” Mark replied.

“That still doesn’t excuse you from letting millions of Gilese men, women, and children die.”

“If we hadn’t come, there wouldn’t be anyone alive,” Florence said.

Outrage burst from the pews and from the EHC delegation.

“Give us the weapons and the armor and we’ll upgrade them. We’ll take the fight to these Maraukians. We’ll give our people peace.”

“Each planet will receive a military package, along with an agricultural, mechanical, technological, and medical package if they so accept,” Weng said. “This will only be enough armament for a legion’s worth.”

“How many are in a legion?”

“Approximately five thousand personnel.”

“You expect us to fend off the Maraukians with only five thousand personnel per world? If we did that, then there’d be no way we could retaliate and attack them. I’m sorry, Senator, but we need more than that.” The president’s sarcastic tone got claps and cheers from the pews. After a while, they settled down.

“That is what every world has gotten to date; we will give you no less and no more.”

“What if we need more?”

“Then you can buy, trade, or make it. Other planets or corporations may even sponsor you, if you ask.” Weng shrugged.

“Sponsor?”

“They give you factories; you pay off the value of the factories by using your larger workforce to churn out items, items that would be cheaper in the system you make it in and thus cheaper for the planet. Also, they may buy resources for those factories in that system, making it more cost efficient to place a factory there.”

“What about for weapons?”

“Certain planets do sell weapons, though the largest buyer of weapons, armor, and ammunition is the legion. All military things are incredibly expensive.”

“They can’t be that expensive,” the intelligence officer said.

Not the crap you buy, Mark thought.

“Do you know of the assault rifle used by a normal legionnaire, the M19?” Weng asked, seeing more blank stares than understanding ones.

“Holo projector, please, Mark.”

“Senator.” Mark moved. Every eye seemed to focus on him as he stopped and a magnified M19 floated in the air.

“This is the M19.” Most of the people in the room stared at the hologram more in shock than interest but they were looking at it.

“One of these costs a hundred thousand EHC credits.”

“That’s not overly too bad. The rifle for an EMF marine costs forty-five thousand.”

“Ah, it’s a good thing he can look up things without looking like he is,” Sarah said. “Piece of crap gun, though—I saw the specs. How did you survive with that thing?”

“Many didn’t,” Mark said soberly.

Sarah gave him a sad look then went back to her wandering through his HUD.

“The Mars type-two armor,” Weng said. A seven-foot Mars II now floated in the air.

“One of these costs thirty-seven million EHC credits.”

This made the delegation’s eyes bulge as they looked at the suit.

“The Mars III is supposed to cost two, or possibly up to three hundred million.”

“That’s impossible for armor,” the COEMF whispered.

“I have to agree with the COEMF here. That does seem hugely expensive,” the president said.

“Yes, it is, but again, you’re thinking we have a choice. We’re fighting to survive, and we’re not going out to get a new world like it’s a new house. If we don’t fight them and push them back, they’ll overwhelm us and wipe every human in the universe out of existence.” There were no claps, no cheers, nor booing as Weng surveyed the room. Just silence greeted him as he looked over the room. “They don’t care about this meeting. They don’t care about our weaponry, or even if we’re armed. We’re just in their way. Anything that is a threat to their herd is eliminated, and you step out once, you’re up for the slaughterhouse.”

“Do they attack worlds that haven’t attacked them, or joined you?”

“Yes. If they deem the people on the world to be a threat, gain over a certain limit technology, such as repeating projectile weapons or a certain amount of people on one planet, they’ll cull the people there or beat them back into the Stone Age. They retaliate; the Maraukians wipe them out, from the men to the babes.”

“I would like to get more information on these Maraukians. Would it be possible to visit your planets?”

“That’s one thing we want to figure out. See, for you to travel to our worlds, it would take hundreds of years. For a jump drive, it just takes a maximum of a few months. Though there need to be jump station relays so people don’t go crashing into one another.”

“How would we do this?”

“They’re usually just a bunch of AIs with very intelligent sensors for the smaller ones. For the larger traffic areas, there are usually floating stations set up.”

“Will we get one of these with the packages?”

“Yes. They’re dropped off as ships enter the system.”

“When will we get one?”

“Well, they’re dropped off in accordance of which systems are the easiest and fastest to get to. Seeing as Sol system is in the center of the sphere of the other systems, I believe it’s last. The first eight or so systems should already have the jump stations and their packages. It shouldn’t be more than a few months before the rest are given the packages. We were caught off guard and we are rushing productionon these sorts of supplies. I am sure that you can understand that we can’t just give them out freely and require compensation in materials or alliance agreements,” Senator Weng said.

“Understandable. Well, I think we should adjourn for the day as we have much to think over. Thank you, Senators.”

Everyone stood. The senators bowed slightly, the EHC delegation disregarded them, filing out of their door. Eutropio took the tip of the diamond as the senators walked out. Mark fell in behind. Again the blonde appeared, walking them to their room.

“We have to search you,” one of four marines said. A further eight stood behind them, and twenty or so along the walls of the corridor leading to their rooms.

“We are diplomats. Searching us is considered an aggressive act,” Senator Weng said helpfully.

“Not you.” The man gave a dismissive wave. “These things.” He pointed to the Phantoms.

“Mark?”

“Sure, let them search.”

“Continue.”

“I don’t need your permission, old man.” The marine sneered as he waved his men forward. They patted the metal, studying the high-density bricks, their mono-wire, and M20s.

“Hey, what’re you doing?” a man demanded, his fingers inches from Darius’s mono-blade.

“Those are mono-blades, sharpened to a single molecule. It will cut through anything it touches.”

The man flinched away.

“We’ll have to take those,” the man in charge said.

“They’re bolted to the armor. You couldn’t move them if you tried.”

“Reinforce everything on your body.”

The marines tried pulling the swords clear, to no avail.

“It seems they’re secure enough.” The man grumbled as the searchers continued. Some waved sensor wands over the suit. After a few minutes, a searcher cursed in anger.

“What is it, marine?”

“The damn sensor wands don’t penetrate the armor. We have no idea what’s inside.”

“Order your people to open their suits.”

“If they do, will that be all?”

“Yes.”

“Mark.”

“You heard the senator. Out we get.”

The armor split. Bright silver mono-lines appeared where they did. Their helmets pulled back behind their necks as they stood outside of their suits. Their personal nanites changed to their black fatigues, the Phantom Lord standard on their left breast.

The searchers were taken aback. Some watched the excess nanites group together, slowly traveling back inside the nanite mass that created the inner layer of the Pluto armor. Others looked up at Mark and his men, who silently surveyed their surroundings.

“Well, search it.”

The marines hesitantly put their hands in the nanites, quickly checking the inside of the suit before pulling their hands out.

“Nothing in there, sir.”

“Nothing here.”

The Phantoms got back inside, their armor system diagnostics scrolling down part of their screen.

“Well, if that’s all, we’ll be going.” Senator Weng moved, the diamond moving with him and pushing through the marines back to their quarters.

Jarek’s contubernium was waiting just inside the door. They only relaxed once the door was closed and the searchers walked away.

The talks had been ongoing for a month. Damus had been included, probably based upon the fact he knew the most out of anyone about the legion.

Small incidents were the norm, trying to make the delegation look bad. The Phantoms were furious and even the patient senators started to get annoyed. Flavius had lost his hand one day; someone had changed a turret’s settings in order to test the strength of the armor. Flavius had known but had cut off his nerves and removed half of his armor, losing his arm to not give away the fact the Phantoms were in the building’s network or show how well their armor worked. And it also gave the delegation ammunition.

The next day, the marines had tried to deny them access, saying they couldn’t have him bleeding on the carpet. The delegation, including the senators, acted as if they didn’t hear the marines and continued to walk into the main room they used for talks. This day, Flavius stood close to the delegation so the cams couldn’t get the delegation without seeing the man with his missing arm.

The president said that his people could look after the injured man; Flavius happily said he wasn’t in pain. Senator Weng asked the president whether he would give a spaceship to a toddler who couldn’t figure out a space suit. The president automatically said no. “Then why should we give you any military technology when you can’t even control the turrets you already have?”

Some remarks were made, some stares given. Ultimately the government couldn’t reply and instead focused on talking about medical technology, in a ploy to look as though they cared for Flavius, whose arm, M20, and armor where already being remade by the Phantoms.

He still didn’t put it back in its correct place. It was good to have a few surprises.

Chapter 9

Mega City

Earth, Sol System

7/3354

“Ready Senators, Legate Alves?”

“As we’ll ever be. Let’s get this over with,” Senator Weng replied. They moved out normally. The blonde was with them again.

“At least they keep a pattern,” Sarah said as they walked through the corridors. No one accidentally tripped and launched coffee or other staining liquids at the senators, no overactive turrets, no marines or deliveries they needed to get out of the way for, or they nearly hit.

“Light,” Sarah said in an annoyed tone.

The light exploded above them. A cloud of debris came from it as Liam’s NIAI took over, their anti-grav holding the debris in place before letting it fall behind them.

“Never a boring trip to these meetings,” Alves said in an annoyed tone as they quickly reached the doors, walking in and assuming their positions at the table.

There were a few questions for clarification on some minor things. The president was quiet, a look of contemplation on his face, waiting for a while before he spoke.

“Senators, Legate.” He’d taken to not addressing them properly. Although it was a small thing, he was spitting on the honor of the Ninth Legion, the honor of all the centuries and legions. In the military, that honor was what held together units; it was what made the rank structure and chain of command work. Shaming the leader of one of the major sectors of the legion shamed them all and angered them.

“You’ve told us a great deal about the legion, about the Maraukians and the technology you can supply us, and you’ve also said what we’d need to do to join the alliance. Or that we can stay as an entity onto ourselves.” He waited as the senators nodded their heads in agreement.

“But that’s what you’ve told us. There’s not much we can confirm that you are telling the truth about. You could’ve sent the Maraukians to our world and are using this as a ploy to gain power of the EHC. There isn’t one person who can vouch for you. Yes, you have a ship; yes, you have a group that looks like a military but you can’t vouch for yourselves. Do you have someone who could vouch for you? Someone you aren’t using to sabotage the EHC? I’m sorry, but you’ve tried to dictate to us what we have to do. I have some news for you and your alliance—bring everything out, let us look and study everything. Then we will think if we want to help your group of liars.”

He turned now, filled with confident rage, to the reporters. “It has been found that the legion and Maraukians have been working together to try to deceive us.”

Suitably outraged peers gasped at the accusation and stared at the alliance’s delegation. They tried to speak, but their microphones were turned off as the president’s voice boomed through the room.

“They want to take our planets and resources and subject us to create tools for them to fight in this fantastical war. Those ships that you see in Earth and Gilese’s orbit are nothing but advanced props. They don’t have a jump drive, and they’re lying to get us to submit without knowing. They’re trying to make us slaves!”

Calls came out as people threw items at the alliance delegation. Somehow the protection field had been disabled to allow this.

“I say they come back to the table when they are ready to meet our needs, not to fill their demands.”

“SIT DOWN, MR. PRESIDENT.” Mark’s voice rang through the entire room, through every speaker, including those in the Phantoms’ armor.

“You can’t believe the things you’re hearing! No wonder, with the lies that the government spouts at every crossing for the corporations to keep running. You want someone to vouch for them, someone you can’t deny?” Mark grabbed his helmet, unsealing it as he looked at the president. The scar on his face pulled together; the nanites rebuilt it, returning it to its original form.

The delegates from the EHC who had worn grins signifying their victory as someone from the alliance had spoken, let alone a single soldier, turned white.

“Deny me, Captain Mark Victor, the hero of Kamesh, Gilese, Sharveti, Worlesft, and Urmevi. Supposedly killed in a mugging after I was retired! Isn’t that right, chairman of the Earth Military Force?” His brown eyes were like turrets as the COEMF shrunk into his seat.

“I vouch for everything these senators of the free systems and the Legate of the Ninth legion have said. The Maraukians are real. In my first battle with them, I nearly died. They aren’t human and as Senator Weng said, they don’t give a shit about our squabbles. They just want to kill us. You think they treat us like children? Why do you think that when we lie to them and the people about matters to look big?”

“Capt—”

“DO I LOOK LIKE I’M FINISHED SPEAKING, MR. PRESIDENT.” Mark turned his glare back onto the man looking wildly for an escape.

“Well, we can’t be children anymore. Welcome to the big boy’s game. The universe is doing its level best to get rid of us. You think we have time to play these games? You want to push and shove the alliance? Hah. Good luck. This is your choice: join the alliance, become individual systems, become your own entity. Frankly, the alliance cares some as you’re the original ancestors to most of them. We’re not at this meeting to have you tell us what to do, and this is a courtesy to help you beyond the supplies you’ll get.”

“Mark, may I?” Senator Weng commed.

“The floor is yours, Senator.”

“It is a courtesy that we will now withdraw. I wish the EHC good luck in the future, but I will not stand here as a delegation from the alliance to have you spit upon our hard work. The universe is a big place; we’ve learned that sticking together is usually the best option. I hope you can work with us. Good luck with the future. It’s dim for all of us, those in the EHC, the alliance, and the free systems.” The senator surveyed the now quiet room. Florence and Legate Alves rose as well, nodding to the delegation as Mark put his helmet back on.

“Sarah, Chen.”

“This is Chen. What is it?”

“Round up your boarders and get them off your ship. Get a glider and escort of Ares fighters ready. We’re evacuating Earth and I don’t know how long it’ll be before they react.”

“Understood.”

“Phantoms.” He felt the connection change, knowing he was on the general net. “Get ready to move, ladies and gents, and for God’s sakes, put the arm on Flavius. You might need it. We’re evacing Earth and I don’t know how long of a lead we’re going to get. It’s not going to be much.”

Mark started looking through the information coming in, around him Phantoms checked their gear and one another. Through his feeds he could see that the Victor Corporation assets were being mobilized. There were haulers carrying away troopers that had followed Ortiz off to the Yard while the westerly three complex crew were securing their ground and their hold on Earth.

With the information and technology package that eh had given the Yard they hadn’t been idle.

In secret they had been building alcuberrie drives and forges, sending a number of them down to the westerly three complex crew.

The Yard was readying itself for evacuation if needed but there were too many people in the Westerly three complex crew to be evacuated at the same time.

“Looks like the peace is broken once again,” Makr muttered to himself.

Chapter 10

Tower

Earth, Sol System

7/3354

Nivad was working as he heard an explosion in the distance. He frowned slightly as he felt the tremors. Already on his various screens around his office, information reports were coming in.

The doors to his office were opened as his head of security, wearing full powered armor, took the lead.

“Sir, an explosive went off outside the tower. It looks like one of the protestors knew something about bombs and attached it to one of the main supports of the building. We need to move you to a secure location,” the stone-faced man said.

“Very well.” Nivad sighed and allowed himself to be hurried out of the room. He found it interesting. Although the corporate world seemed to be united with the president, leaning on the Legion and Roma to gain more for the corporations, behind closed doors, it was a brutal battle.

People were assassinated all over the place; rivals were at one another’s throats, hidden behind a thin veneer of decency.

The corporations had also looked to Nivad, seeing the power that he wielded. Now, with Roma, they were offered another system that they could manipulate once again, no longer needing Nivad, his rules or the agreements.

There had been a number of plots targeting Nivad already.

He mentally thought over the biggest culprits for this latest attack. However, he had not received any information on them making any plans to attack him.

He thought on it more as he was guided through the tower to a conference room. Behind one of the paintings, there was a secured door. He passed his security detail as he walked inside. Nivad didn’t even stop, moving toward the office in the heavily armored and hidden apartment. He could last years in this armored living space.

The door sealed behind him as Nivad thought over who might be behind this latest plot.

“Hello, Nivad.” A cold voice came from the living room.

Nivad paused and pressed the alert within his implants. However, he found that it couldn’t find a signal.

Nivad had a thoughtful look on his face. Others would be scared and pleading. He had already realized that this was the real attack. The fact that he was cut off from the outside world, he didn’t doubt whoever it was attacking him had taken the precautions to make sure that he died without interference.

Nivad moved toward the living room without pause.

“A merger?” Nivad asked out loud, looking to the special Pluto armor-toting Phantom Lord who sat in the living room, facing him.

“Nivad Selvra, I gave everything to the EMF and you returned it by killing my brother and sister-in-law,” the merger said, his voice cold and uncaring.

Nivad saw that this man had already sentenced him to death. Any pleas or threats were useless. Not having to care about the simple emotions that clouded so many others’ minds made it much easier to be realistic, Nivad found.

“Who are you?” Nivad asked, curious.

The merger stood and grabbed his helmet. A silver line appeared around his neck as he pulled off his helmet.

“Mark Victor.” Nivad nodded to himself. “I should have sent my own people instead of just letting Jones send his.”

Mark’s M20 snapped into place and fired. Nivad, the director of the Ministry of Intelligence and the master of Earth and Her Colonies, turned into a paste as Mark’s M20 barrel unlocked and collapsed.

Mark pulled his helmet back on and turned around. A silver line appeared in a wall; the section fell away. Mark stepped through and pushed the wall back into place. It sealed up again, showing no signs of being entered or exited.

Mark found a man wearing simple maintenance overalls.

“M sent me,” the man said.

“Lead on.” There was one more person Mark wanted to deal with today, personally.

***

General Jones was grunting and groaning as his sex robot rode him. Their bodies ground together in the midst of a stunning garden, with bubbling waterfalls and natural rock formations interspersed with colorful plants.

“Seems pigs never know their environment,” someone behind the sex robot said.

Jones was about to cry out in anger but the sex robot exploded on top of him. Jones screamed as he was cut apart by the metals and plastics of the robot.

He had never been in so much pain as he looked to the man at the edge of his garden. He stood there, a picture of power, his gun barrel locked under his arm and pointed at General Jones.

“You killed the wrong man’s brother and sister,” the man said, his helmet under his other arm.

That face left Jones in shock as a cold current ran through him. Pee ran down his leg. “I can give you anything you want!” Jones yelled.

He didn’t even hear the second round.

“You can’t give me back Tyler or Alexis,” Mark said to the meat paste that had been General Jones.

Mark turned and left General Jones’s home.

Nivad Selvra and General Jones’s deaths might have been the highest profile of that day, but they were by no means the only ones.

Selvra’s top advisors, Wallace and Diana, were both killed; corporate heads, officials, generals—it seemed that the towers ran red with blood.

A number of these deaths were just from circumstance or old grudges being realized, but many of them were carried out by the Westerly Three Complex Crew and M’s operatives.

They hit hard and fast, not leaving any witnesses, and slinking away back to the slums once more. This was no shock to Mark, but it also didn’t numb his pain.

It might never be enough.

Chapter 11

The Yard

Sol System

7/3354

General Ortiz looked over the information coming in from Earth and the various operatives who had gone to work.

He no longer wore the flashy suit with all of his medals. Now he was wearing a standard Earth military uniform, the same one that he had worn in the battle for Earth. His armored plates comforted him like an old friend.

To one side there was Jerome and Dominguez; on the other side, Admiral Hall and Captain Yu. Dominguez was part of the Triple-Twos and had been Mark’s second-in-command when he was fighting on Earth. She and the other Victors had been fighting beside one another over three different systems. Their bonds were no less than those held with Jerome. Jerome had been Tyler’s second-in-command on Earth and had married Esamai, whom he’d fallen for after returning to the Yard when he’d believed his brothers to have died. Both Jerome and Dominguez wore their uniforms and armor plates.

Admiral Hall had led the Earth Military Force carriers across multiple star systems. What he was known for most was his clash against the Harmony Fleet within Sol system.

He was one of the only captains to have fought in ship-to-ship battles and he was the only admiral who had commanded ships to fight other purpose-built warships.

He had retired out with everyone else. The Ministry of Intelligence was more than happy to get rid of him and the others, scared they might become too powerful within the EMF.

Captain Yu was one of the best combat shuttle crew leaders Ortiz had the pleasure of knowing.

The two of them controlled the fleet of ships that were moving throughout Sol and the rest of the Colonies. Jerome and Dominguez looked after the Yard and managed the Westerly Three Complex Crew.

Ortiz ran the crew most of the time from the shadows. It was easier for Moretti to buy him a window that he could disappear from his home, meet up with them and make sure that everything was good.

They’d spread themselves around the globe, concentrating around the greenhouses to provide security.

A full third of the other gangs in the slums were actually offshoots of the Westerly Three Complex Crew, people who had retired out of the EMF or had an agreement with the Westerly Three Crew.

In the slums, they were the power. They’d made sure to separate the gangs out into sub-groups. Most didn’t know where their true allegiances lay; only those at the top knew the truth. It was the only way to make sure that Nivad and the Ministry of Intelligence didn’t find out about their true numbers and strength.

“General?” Dominguez turned to Ortiz.

All of the people in the room glanced or looked over to Ortiz as he sat there, unaffected by their stares.

“Have all of our forces on high alert. Right now, our big focus should be on modifying vessels to have that faster-than-light flight drive. Ramp production right up. I know we’ve been doing it in secret, but now we don’t need to worry about doing it out in the open. Everyone’s going to be reeling from this shit and if someone wants to challenge us, then we’ll blow the fuckers away,” Ortiz said, looking to Yu and Hall.

“We’ll get patrols going and ready the Yard’s defenses,” Hall said. Yu nodded in agreement.

“We need to get those kits to the big ships that are already in transit. The ones that are empty—cut the contracts to ship gear. We’ll bring them back here and start moving people to this Emarl system. Sol is going to turn into a shit fest soon enough. I want us to have all of the gear we need already set up before someone starts gunning for us,” Ortiz said.

“What about the people we have agreements with in other systems?” Jerome asked.

“We’re going to set up a shuttle service. We get those massive ships, and we ship people from whatever system to Emarl. Jerome, with that NIAI, you can access information about Roma and the alliance—see if we can’t get some contracts selling weapons and armor to the people on the planets. These Maraukians are apparently coming from everywhere—they’re going to need to defend themselves,” Ortiz said.

“In goes the weapons, out come the people,” Dominguez said.

“Seems that your retirement hasn’t dulled your mind too badly.” Ortiz grinned before spitting into a bottle, a thick wad of chew in his front lip.

Jerome looked off into space, his eyes glazing over. He broke out into laughter as he moved to a console and pushed a few buttons.

The screen in front of them changed. A face filled it.

“Well, hello, troopers.” Major Nerva looked to them all. Now he was wearing a different uniform and there actually looked to be a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

“Nerva?” Ortiz said before laughing uproariously. “So you did make it out alive. I remember you telling me all about a way to get out of all this! Seems that you were pulled into it again!”

“There was a lot that I wasn’t able to tell you all,” Nerva admitted, looking at them all before clearing his throat. “I know that Mark has probably given you all a bunch of plans for faster-than-light space drives. I was able to get the plans from Charles, the guy in charge of the chop shop he’s running over there. I have a few people I know who work on building different things. I got them to make you up a present. There’s a freighter filled with parts now entering the Sol system; I’ll have it meet up with you and drop off the materials.”

“How did you know?” Dominguez asked. She hadn’t known Nerva all that well in her service.

“I’ve always been watching. I wasn’t able to do anything and could only help those who were badly wounded or had agreed to join the legion or become an auxiliary beforehand,” Nerva said.

The room fell into silence, everyone with their own thoughts.

“Well, you’ve got a lot of work to get through. I won’t keep you. Hopefully we’ll be able to get together soon enough.”

Ortiz saw the signs of sadness in Nerva. He knew how much the old major cared about the people under his command. He could only imagine how seeing them die from afar, not even able to say that he was alive, would pull at his heart.

“We’ll see you soon enough,” Ortiz said, hoping that Nerva would see that he didn’t hold him accountable for what had happened.

Nerva nodded and cut the channel.

“Who the hell else is going to rise from the grave?” Dominguez laughed faintly, but Ortiz didn’t miss the hopeful look in her eyes.

Chapter 12

Mega City

Earth, Sol System

7/3354

“How did this happen?” Senator Florence barked, losing his composure as he read over the events of the last day. His information was much more accurate than what the news networks of Earth and Her Colonies were reporting.

Clearly a group had attacked the powerful pillars of the EHC. The implications were far-reaching and hard to compute.

“We’ve got forces moving into the tower, heavily armed, private security,” Jarek reported to the mergers net.

“Senators, it looks like we’re going to have company,” Mark said out loud.

“What do you mean?” Weng asked.

“This is Earth. People don’t know nor care about Roma’s power. Here you’re two people they can use as bargaining chips to gain more power. Now that the big players are out of the way, other forces are going to look to increase their power base. I’m calling the Moby for extraction,” Mark said.

“They wouldn’t dare,” Weng said.

“They would.” Lines appeared on Florence’s forehead.

“Security contractors have powered armor. There’s three different companies working together. Seems that they’ve bribed the group looking after us. All of the security around our floor is disappearing,” Jarek said.

“What are our options?” Florence asked.

“I think it’s time we left. Earth and Her Colonies are going to change. This might be the opportunity that Roma and the alliance need to lend aid to the colonists and those in the slums—create stronger ties, bringing them closer to the alliance,” Mark said.

“They’re here,” Jarek said over the net, sounding almost bored.

“Senators Weng and Florence, we are here at the behest of the president of Earth and Her Colonies. We’re to take you to a secure location for your safekeeping.” A woman’s voice was projected from the security contractor’s armor, filling the apartments that the Phantoms and senators had been staying in.

“Thank you for your aid. With the current conditions, we will be moving back to our vessels for safety,” Florence said. Weng, next to him, nodded.

“Senator, we can’t really condone that right now. It is in your best interests,” the leader of the security contractors said as the powered armor fanned out around the apartments, blocking off any escape.

“Senators, now would be the time to get into your armor,” Mark said over a private net.

Florence and Weng moved to where their armor was resting and stepped into it.

“Ready?” Mark looked at the eight-person contuberniums that were spread out, covering the different entry points into the apartments.

Green lights flashed in his vision.

“We will be taking our leave. Once things have calmed down, we’ll return to continue talks,” Mark said.

“If you don’t come with us, we will be forced to secure you. With the events going on, we must bring all people in for questioning,” the security contractor continued.

Mark saw that both Florence and Weng were secured in their armor. He checked the status of the combat shuttle and Ares fighters that were screaming through Earth’s atmosphere. It was time to move.

“Chyna, take the door. Only fire if they fire.” Mark’s words were passed on to all of the mergers as they readied themselves.

The door opened, showing a hallway filled with private contractors.

“We don’t want to use force,” the woman said.

Mark easily identified her. Her finger was already inside her trigger guard, ready to raise her rifle and fire at a moment’s notice.

“Bite me.” Mark laughed.

This seemed to finally set everything off.

The security contractors picked up their rifles, and a cold shiver ran through Mark’s body as the world exploded with details around him. Mergers linked to one another, breaking down their arcs and targets. Their M20s unfolded, slamming into position and locking into place.

The contractors fired. Their rounds tore apart the walls and sparked off the Phantom Lords’ armor.

Their armor was rated to stop rail gun rounds traveling multiple times faster than an anti-material rifle’s round could fire.

The Phantom Lords’ arms moved and the M20s barked. It looked as if they were just spraying everything but every single one of their rounds had already been spoken for. The worst thing to do was give a merger time to think. They were completely in tune with their armor and weapons.

The contractors’ armor couldn’t hold up to the rounds that were meant to pierce Maraukian hide.

The forces involved sent the contractors flying backward as tracers and rounds sparked and pinged off the mergers’ armor, leaving just a few scuff marks where they’d struck.

M20 rounds pierced walls. The Phantom Lords had coated the area around them in nanite sensors, allowing them to effectively see through walls.

The sounds of fighting died down as Mark lowered his arms, twin M20s sticking out from under his forearm.

“Move!” Mark yelled. His words galvanized the mergers as they rushed forward. They had just killed the leading group of security contractors. There were still dozens more working their way up to them.

People were ducking and running for cover as the massive Phantom Lords ran through the tower.

“Targets!” Chyna called out. The Phantom Lords nearby turned. Rounds sparked off the walls around them, the walls being holed and people around them being cut down.

They opened fire. The M20s hummed as rounds smashed into the armored contractors, who were like puppets with their strings cut.

Mark stayed near Florence and Weng as fighting erupted all around.

“Ready!” Mark fired at a reinforced window pane that looked down the center of the tower. Below, skyways crisscrossed one another and different spaces also suspended in the middle of the tower.

The window came apart as Phantom Lords jumped through without pause.

Mark hooked cables from his belt to Florence and Weng. He grabbed their waists, not leaving them any time to react as he smashed through the glass, the two of them in tow.

The Phantom Lords activated their anti-gravity drives, slowing their pace and guiding them past the other levels. People going about their day looked at them in shock.

Security contractors opened fire on them in passing.

The Phantom Lords returned fire as their NIAIs computed firing angles and guided them through space with their anti-gravity drives.

Rachel was in the lead as her contubernium smashed through the enclosed roof of a corridor. They landed on the bridge in a crouch; they split into two groups, covering either side as the rest of the Phantom Lords dropped down.

Mark landed, releasing Weng and Florence and detaching his cable from their waists with a mental command.

“Shuttle coming in!” Captain Chen said to the merger net.

Mark rushed forward, dragging the still stunned Florence and Weng with him.

People, seeing the Phantom Lords, disappeared back into their offices.

“We’ve got security contractors coming in on air vehicles,” Sarah reported as the map updated.

They broke through offices and into maintenance areas, entering a hangar where people were working on ships and robots were loading and unloading parts, tools, and materials.

“Get out of here!” Evan yelled. His voice cut through the hangar. Seeing the armed and armored Phantom Lords, the people in the hangar quickly ran away.

Chyna’s contubernium was in the lead as they crossed the large hangar, aiming for the landing pads that lay outside of the tower.

Rounds started impacting around them all, striking a few of the Phantom Lords. They were thrown backward and left with internal injuries from the forces. A loud brrrrvp noise filled the air as six contractor air vehicles with mounted weaponry appeared.

“Flak rounds!” Ava yelled.

The Phantom Lords took a knee, their M20s humming as rounds shot up into the sky before exploding into flying shrapnel.

Three of the contractors’ airships were hit head on, turning into wreckage. Another received flak through its engines, making whining noises as it spun, faster and faster as it shot off into the sky.

The others dove and broke off, trying to get distance from the Phantom Lords.

Their original assessment that the Phantom Lords wouldn’t be able to do anything to them was an oversight.

They didn’t have time to have regrets as a combat shuttle and twelve Ares fighters came out of the sky.

Half of the Ares fighters broke off, hunting down the airships. Their Ares fighters were purpose-built war vehicles; the airships had been modified civilian airships.

The shuttle came in to land. Six Ares fighters came into a hover around the craft. They might be just drones but the pilots using them had flown hundreds of missions; they could use the fighters on par if not better than if they were in the cockpit themselves.

The shuttle came down. The rear ramp opened as half of the Phantom Lords piled in. Mark dragged the two senators with him as the rest of the century covered them. The rest were pulled in by contubernium until they were all onboard.

The movement was smooth and quick.

“Good to go!” Jarek yelled as he boarded last. The ramp started to close as the shuttle’s engines flared and once again started to shoot off into the sky.

Mark looked through the hatch, looking out over Mega City. In the distance, he could see the sword-shaped citadel. His emotions became complex as he cut his connection to the other mergers. It was there at the citadel they had fought to the end with the Harmony Forces. It was the site where thousands of troopers had died, including Tyler and Alexis.

The ramp sealed closed. The Ares fighters that had hunted down the airships joined back up with those in the air as they shot off into the sky and toward the Moby.

“What the hell was that all about?” Florence asked, recovering from all they’d just gone through.

“Might have something to do with the fact I killed Nivad and General Jones, and my people killed off all the little fuckers who have been in our way for years or had betrayed the people of the EMF,” Mark said.

“What?” Weng asked. “Do you know what kind of catastrophe this will be?”

“As I said, Earth and Her Colonies will fall apart—me and mine will help with it. This gives the Legion and Roma the ability to do away with the corporations and let the people gain their freedom,” Mark said.

“You murdered two people in high places of the Earth and Her Colonies government!” Weng said.

Mark laughed coldly as he pulled off his helmet. The look in his eyes made Weng recoil.

“They purposely assassinated my brother and sister-in-law. They nearly killed me. Anyone who touches mine better be ready for a bullet in the head.”

“This was meant to open communication between our two groups and you went on a killing spree.” Weng shook his head.

Mark snorted and pulled out a tin of chew from inside his chest. “On Earth, that’s how we open communication between groups. Don’t worry. You’re going to be getting millions of new auxiliaries in the near future.” Mark packed a lip and sat back in his chair.

Weng didn’t say anything else, clearly sensing that Mark was not a man to piss off.

Florence had a thoughtful look on his face before he used his NIAI to start communicating back to Roma, alerting them to what had happened.

Chapter 13

Sensor Control Station 34R

Roma Union, J 10 Sector

7/3354

Legate Tuvio sipped coffee from his squeeze bottle as he looked over the reports from the night watch.

He watched his crew periodically. Since his coming in to command after reporting the first Maraukian jump into Gilese system, he’d been made legate. With the new rank came changes. The station was no longer as relaxed or laid-back. It was constantly busy; new training had been introduced, meaning they had to be on alert at all times. Especially for the legate’s infamous drills. There was, of course, the few who bickered about the changes but most of them on the station accepted them. They knew they’d been slow to respond to the incident.

In their position, time meant lives. They’d all seen the feeds from Gilese; minutes meant everything.

Tuvio finished the reports that were no longer filled with the fluff that covered the fact that the night watch hadn’t done anything but summary notes hitting the high points of every hour. He checked the main board, which was a star map of the known human and Maraukian space. White dots symbolized Union planets, purple was possible untouched planets holding human life, blue was the EHC, green was stations that hadn’t found anything strange in their sector, orange would symbolize curious activity. Red meant that Maraukian or something bad had happened in the sensor station’s vicinity.

Tuvio thought this as he looked at the board. Red. His eyes and his brain made the connection as he looked at the deceptively softly glowing light.

Adrenaline shot into his system. “Sound stations! Scan sectors! Get me a report from sensor station 549H NOW!” His voice thundered through the room. A klaxon and flashing red lights went off before he was finished speaking.

He thanked the gods he’d drilled his people as they rushed to their stations, nervous and scared but going through the motions as their training took over as they scanned sensor pods.

“Emergence in Andromeda sector!” a sensor watcher said.

“CASTILLO!”

“On it!” The man who’d been the first to find the emergence of Maraukians in the Gilese system had become Tuvio’s friend and partner in the days that they watched the Maraukians move toward Gilese, constantly updating command.

When Tuvio had been promoted, he’d brought Castillo with him. The gangly man leaped over workstations and around sensor hubs, jumping into the one the sensor watcher jumped out of.

“It’s them.” Castillo’s voice was devoid of emotion. The room became silent as people looked to one another.

“Keep working, people. Clear your sectors,” Tuvio barked as his NIAI was already connecting him to high command. He was very happy now that he’d retained the contact info from them from his last encounter. As they came online, he waited until all of them accepted his call.

Legate Alves was the first to speak. “Where?”

“Andromeda system, sir. You will get a call from sensor station 549H in a few minutes. They’ve detected something in the Otarvi system.”

“Has it been confirmed?”

“It has on our side.” A text message came from Castillo.

“549H has also confirmed.”

“You know the drill. Have them feed it through you.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Looks like they’re ready to rumble.”

Tuvio couldn’t help but catch the weariness in the Legate of the Ninth’s voice. The legion had been fighting for two and a half thousand years, but they’d been able to keep their families and homes safe behind their lines. Now the Maraukians had taken that away: war was at the legion’s doorstep and back door simultaneously.

Tuvio pushed those thoughts from his head as he got to work, studying the reports from his sensors. He held his breath while nervously checking the board for another red symbol.

Chapter 14

The Yard

Sol System

8/3354

Earth and Her Colonies seemed to teeter for a few days before it completely imploded. Now, with Nivad gone, there was a massive power vacuum, not to mention the people who were in high positions within the governments and corporations who had been removed.

Mark might have told them about Nivad and Jones, but Moretti, seeing the system for the broken piece of crap it was, decided to tear it all down. Mega City had turned into a war zone, looking more like the slums that were oddly quiet. Gangs and others went to the corporate cities to try to gain some loot and goods to sell in the slums.

Most of them continued to watch on.

The Colonies were in a much better position. Knowing that the EMF was falling apart at the top and there were few people coming for them, they didn’t do anything but it was clear from the messages Jerome was passing back and forth that they were ready to start living their own lives, away from the corporate rule.

The Yard had been sealed up. Three different groups tried to attack them but they hadn’t made it past the first line of combat shuttles that were drifting around the Yard, ready to meet any possible threats. No one else had attempted anything after that.

As chaos reigned in the outside world, the Yard had a freighter visit them. They’d pulled out machine shop machines, nanite vats and parts that were generations ahead of anything that was in Earth and Her Colonies.

They’d been updating as well as modifying their ships. Some smaller inter-system freighters had tested out the drive a few times, tweaking a bit here and there as needed.

Jerome was in the command center as three of the smaller inter-system freighters disappeared in three different directions. Two of them were going to meet up with the massive freighters that they’d sent out toward the different Colonies. What would take the inter-system freighters just a few short days would take the system-to-system massive freighters years.

The third was headed to meet up with an Earth Military Force carrier nearby.

The carrier was filled with people he’d fought beside in the Osdal system.

There were plans for them to reach out to all of the Earth Military Force carriers, offering them payment to turn over their ship, as well as jobs as private contractors.

“Well, now the first step is underway,” Ortiz said.

“We just need to move the entire yard as well.” Jerome looked at massive rings that were growing around the Yard’s mid-line.

Ortiz clapped Jerome on the shoulder. “Don’t worry. We’ll get there,” Ortiz reassured him.

Chapter 15

SLS {ship name}

In Transit

8/3354

Mark had been relieved of watch and had shuttled over to the closest Vulcan-class maintenance ship. The captain at first hadn’t been willing to let Mark use the nanite vat but had since relented as Mark could churn out the parts he needed in a quarter the time it took his people and make his own parts. Plus, Mark had promised a resupply of the materials he was using.

“Ah Leo, good to know you’re alive,” Mark said as the comms officer of the rusty bucket finally put Leo on the line.

“Hey, boss. Got a bit hairy and I couldn’t get away till everything was locked down tight.”

“Understandable.”

“Why’re you still in orbit?”

“Well, we’re getting millions of requests of asylum, so smarter people than me are figuring out what to do.”

“Okay, makes sense. I sense you didn’t ask to talk to me about immigration.”

“Well, I did in a way. Is the VCF Fernix ready?”

“Why?”

“I can get you the supplies needed to make her jump capable, possibly. I don’t know about jump pilots but send out a general ad and I think you might be happily surprised.”

“Really—a jump drive! Think of that. Damn.”

“So get your ass up here. I need to tell you what you need to do and offload the parts you’re going to need.”

“All right. I’ll get the first ship spaceward. This is fucking brilliant!” Leo said.

As the line went dead, Mark had no illusions of the man running around like a child with a brand-new toy, trying to find a ride.

Mark focused on the nanite vat in front of him, letting himself be absorbed in his work.

“Captain Benoit, could you get us close to the United Shipping Company docks?”

“Certainly. Changing course. There appears to be a ship docking with the shipyard currently. Can’t believe I’m seeing them for the first time.” Captain Benoit’s excitement was palpable. He might be a captain but his passion was engineering. He loved working with the massive machines that could jump between systems and fly to planets. He loved the complexities all working together.

So when he was asked to fly to the largest commercial docks in existence, he was thrilled. He took his time coming around the massive five-dock large shipyard. It didn’t have many docks but they produced the only cargo ships over twenty-five kilometers long. The newest ship, the Camel, floated in the largest bay. It was forty-five kilometers long and more than twenty from side to side and top to bottom. It was one of three such ships. In the other docks, there were different ships, from a quarter completed to more than half.

“Mark, is that you circling us?” Leo asked as Sarah connected him.

“You bet. Clear supply bay Four Alpha.”

“Understood.” A few minutes later, Mark watched the lights of the bay flash orange as it opened. “All clear.”

“Captain Benoit, we have been cleared to land in supply bay Four Alpha.”

“Seen. Clearing with the admiral.” He cut off.

As he changed channels, Sarah shifted Mark back to Leo.

“Just clearing it through COC. That would be them.” Mark opened the channel to Admiral Ciriaco.

“The hell do you think you’re doing, commanding my ship and telling them to land on an unknown EHC facility!” the admiral demanded.

“Well, I think more than a few people are going to want to get out of this system so I was going to aid them by giving the biggest commercial shipyard some jump drives. Say it’s a loan—they have to pay back the materials and time in full.”

“I can understand about wanting to get out of here, but just giving them the technology…”

“Admiral, they’re going to get it one way or another. At least this way, the shipping company can jump people out of Sol system to somewhere safe instead of worrying about getting stabbed in the back. Plus the majority of them are going to be retired EMF, the very people we need to fill our ranks fighting the Maraukians.”

“All right. Make sure the shipping company isn’t going to make these people bankrupt.”

“Thank you, sir.”

“No problem. I hope this at least goes to plan.”

The admiral apparently sent the orders to Captain Benoit as the ship descended into the supply bay. Leo was waiting with a group of engineers and laborers as the materials door opened. Laborers with huge exoskeletons and machines supplied the incoming materials part of the ship. Engineers inside the ship took it, forming the millions of items they needed to make their plan work. The parts already finished and those just completed were pushed out of the unloading door on the other side of the ship.

The maintenance ship was made to eat asteroids on one side, process them, and spit out everything a fleet needed. In this case, they were given near pure raw materials to change into what they needed. The bay was a hive of activity as materials turned into hundreds of round pods of various sizes, jump drive nodules, sensor relays, even the command console and the power tubing required. Mark built three massive reactors, piece by piece, each of them being taken by Leo and the engineers, who put together the smaller parts according to the plans Mark sent him into a jump system.

“What’re you doing here?” he asked as two more supply ships docked, feeling the Phantoms onboard them.

“They wouldn’t want us moping around on a ship after them if we could be doing this.” Chyna’s calm voice settled Mark.

“All right. Well, here’s our work order.” He flashed them lists of parts to be made. He could see the managers of the dockyards already had people moving to feed the maintenance ships more materials and receive more of the goodies that spewed out from them.

On the second day, Mark looked at the empty list in bewilderment. He unconnected himself from the nanites as they stopped moving, looking like liquid mercury.

“All right, you good, Leo?”

“Sure thing, boss. We’ll have her ready within a day or two. People who help out—we’re giving them passage. The nanites are already reinforcing her frame. We’re setting up the thrusters you gave us and those we have on hand to the reactors we have installed and those you supplied us. Good thing you had us keep a supply of helium-3. We’re going to need it in the near future.

“You think you could’ve told me about this plan earlier, though?” Leo complained.

“Well, it’s just my original plan, just faster than we thought. Isn’t my fault it got pushed ahead.”

“Wendy freaked when I told her. She’s on her way up, riding the rust bucket, as well as the kids. And we’ve got ourselves a jump pilot!”

“All right, well, it looks like you have a lot to do. Remember to…”

“I already paid them,” Leo said. “Now go and look after yourself.”

“All right. And one piece of advice: the Tricticus system’s nice.”

“Is that so?”

“You should have a full star system jump map on your console. For now, keep it a secret. Don’t want some people knowing about it.”

“Understood. Well, time to get cracking, I guess.”

“See you later, Leo.” Mark cut the channel. “Captain Benoit, we’re done here.”

“All right. Magnificent docks, if I do say so myself. Shame that they’re here.” Captain Benoit and most of the crews of the maintenance ships had been guided around the docks, which were like a miniature city. Housing, entertainment—everything a person could expect of a tower was built into and around the docks.

The three maintenance ships lifted off and turned toward the fleet, which was coming past on its roam around the system. Mark checked his suit as he entered an air lock as they approached the Moby.

“Until we meet again, Mark,” Captain Benoit said as the last door of the air lock opened and Mark was blasted into space. A track plan lit on his HUD as lights flashed from his armor. He knew there would be other lights behind him as the Phantoms followed him, jumping from their own ships.

His anti-grav still worked, using the mass of the ships and anything around Mark to push him toward the Moby and into its open drop bay. After a few minutes and a headcount, the rest of the Phantoms were aboard. The drop hatch sealed and they unsealed their helmets.

“All right, people, go and get some rest.”

“When will our R and R be over?” Rachel asked.

“Not sure, but at least a week.” This got some weak smiles, but at least they were smiles, Mark reflected. The net hummed as Phantoms, just like any other soldiers, repeated the plans they’d promised themselves if they got some off time, the highest being a shower, followed by the dilemma of sleeping or eating.

“Hey, Charles,” Mark said to the eccentric man as he walked out of the bay.

“So how were the modifications? I heard that you’re putting together a jump ship to transport people from Sol system to other systems. Were the new calibrations of the M20 good?”

Charles’s eyes sparkled. Building and tinkering with things was his call. He’d helped Mark build the suit and ever since, he’d been attached to Mark and the Phantom Lords in a way. Even without the ability to merge or having the modifications that mergers had, he could easily outspeak—and sometimes outthink—them. A lot of mergers had wondered why they needed to have an information database with the eccentric engineer around.

“Modifications were good. Going to need more nanite, and materials for repair. Yes, and yes.” He put up a finger to stop the man. “And yes, I will get the raw data to you as fast as possible.”

“Good! Now, I’ve had a few ideas that I’ve been thinking of since Gilese...” He started wandering as he talked, getting five feet before he turned back. “Well, are you coming?”

Mark wanted to say he needed a shower and some food but they both knew his suit eliminated the waste and subsequently made the food he ate. Plus, if Charles had some new toys for Mark…

“I’m coming.” Mark grinned, which Charles returned. They might be two very different people, but they were men and as the saying goes, men don’t grow out of having toys; they just get bigger ones.

Charles guided him to the workshop he’d taken over, where Gomez, Jess, and Maxine waited. Mark walked in the room, being greeted and welcomed by them as they worked on different prototypes around the room. Mark opened his data ports on his Pluto, allowing Charles to drain it of information. He unsealed his armor and stepped out in the black/purple fatigues of a Phantom Lord. The standard of a M20 and a mono-blade crossed behind a grinning skull with red orbs for eyes was visible for all to see.

“Welcome back,” Jess said first. The others nodded in agreement.

“All right, enough of that. Now, what have you been working on?” Mark said, there were still parts moving and he needed to manage.

“Well, there’s a new propulsion system called the Thunderbolt…”

Chapter 16

The Yard

Sol System

8/3354

Jerome watched from the ship’s office as all the blips on his screen started to move out from their home system. It was with a heavy heart that they were moving on, but the best made plans were in motion months before the shit had hit the fan.

The video Mark had sent him through secure comms of Nivad and Jones’s deaths had given him the satisfaction he needed to help put Tyler and Alexis’s murder away. But the pang of guilt for not pulling the trigger himself stung a lot. He sat there now, watching and re-watching them, trying his best to put himself by Mark’s side. In the end, he knew he couldn’t and his finger hovered over the delete button. He had to get rid of the evidence, even if it would serve as a good reminder that not only revenge had been served but by the right man to do it.

His door pinged and his wife, Esamai, stepped inside a moment later. “I thought you might need some company.” She moved behind him, resting her hands on his shoulders. Jerome stiffened, but she didn’t let up. Instead, she gently kneaded his shoulders back to a relaxed state.

“This isn’t easy on any of us, Esamai,” he said.

Esamai leaned over and wrapped him up in a hug, taking in a big breath of his smell. “No, it’s not.”

Just as she was relaxing and getting comfortable, she let out a confused groan, quickly releasing Jerome and looking to her stomach. She leaned against the table, with a look of surprise on her face.

Jerome was up and by her side in a flash. “What is it?”

A pained smile permeated her lips. “I think we are about to become a three.”

Jerome glanced to her larger-than-life belly. But it was too soon. It wasn’t time. “Not yet, no.”

Esamai’s lips narrowed as she fought off another contraction. “Oh, he’s coming. You’d better believe it.”

Jerome hammered his comms. “Medics to my office, immediately.”

Esamai gripped his hand, as her pain worsened. Her eyes widened. “Something’s wrong.”

They both looked down not only to see water hit the floor but a trail of blood within it.

Jerome heard the door ping, but his mind fuzzed as medics rushed around him. Ortiz was giving him a shake before he realized they were down in one of the medical wards.

“Come on, don’t space out on us that much.” Ortiz shook him once more before his reactions hurtled back.

Jerome grabbed hold of his friend. “Where is she?”

“Esa’s being well looked after, but they needed your sorry ass out of the room.”

Jerome glanced through a glass wall, where he could see Esamai and the medics. She looked awful, but she was also smiling. “How can she be smiling at a time like this?”

Ortiz laughed. “That’s women for you. She might be in pain, but she’s doing the one thing you both wanted. Giving birth to your son.”

“There was a problem?”

“Our medics are more than capable. Said she’ll be a few hours yet, maybe even all night.”

He’d wanted an easy birth for Esamai but she declined it, and wanted a natural birth, without the medical intervention a lot of women had. The arguments they’d had over that alone had seemed to be endless, but Esamai won out, as she always did. Eventually her cute pouting and wicked sense of humor always did.

Jerome’s heart now was torn. He wanted to order the medics to take over, push her wishes aside. He couldn’t bear to lose her. But he stopped himself.

Ortiz coughed. “Come on. We’ve a few other issues we need to address.”

Family, or the move. Still teetering on the edge, Jerome’s thoughts raced. Without the move, there would be nowhere for his family to live.

Sucking in a breath, Jerome fought his instincts and followed Ortiz out of the medical bays and back toward his office.

Chapter 15

SLS Moby

Leaving Sol System

8/3354

“We’re leaving the star system, Mark,” Ava commed to Mark as he nanite-welded a carbon hendral plate over a control run. Mark’s hand cycled back to its original form as he stood.

“All right.” He knew it was coming. When he’d been at the citadel, he’d wanted nothing more than to leave, but it was always different when you left the star system you were born in. With the Maraukians’ new tactics and ruthlessness, he didn’t know whether he’d ever see it again.

He made his way to the closest observation deck. Ava glided in after him. They sat, looking at the planets of Sol system. The optical display sensed their eyes, zooming in on what they looked at. The ship wasn’t on full alert, so they could see the planets with the high-resolution weapons sensors, the brown clouds of Venus, the rings of Saturn, the green paradise of Mars.

Mark looked back at the United Shipping Company’s docks. They were a hive of activity. The lights of hundreds of ships docking to let people help with the effort illuminated the dock as it was covered in magnetically locked-down ships.

The legion’s ships were at the halfway mark for the Sol system. Now, instead of circling it again, they turned outward, still staying in perfect formation as they headed for the jump point that would take them three days to get to the Andromeda system, and then onto Yelum system and finally Roma.

After watching Sol system for a bit longer, Ava pulled Mark into the mess to have some food that wasn’t puree with taste elements and texture replication. It was still made from a paste, but you had to cut it to eat it at least.

Charles miraculously didn’t show up for the rest of the day or even the next as Mark slept and sparred with Ava and Chyna. No one felt like playing sims just yet after their hasty escape. Mark didn’t blame them. On the second day, they were nearing the jump limit when Mark was called to the control room of the Moby.

Admiral Ciriaco, Legate Alves, the senators, and the staff of the flagship and Moby were present.

“Mark, what did you do to the United docks?” the admiral asked, everyone looking at him closely.

“Why?”

“Well, it seems that it’s moving.”

Mark grinned as Sarah broke into the Moby’s systems.

“What the!” the sensor officer said as her console noticed someone else was getting a direct feed.

The United docks were indeed moving. He could see the power readings through the sensors from the thrusters they’d mounted to the rear of the docks. They’d pulled what had been the propulsion system from the half-made ship and any they had in stores and welded them onto the frame. The frame had been reinforced by the barrels and barrels of nanites that only needed material and power to reinforce the entire structure.

Ships that had attached themselves to the frame were applying their thrust too, acting as the main propulsion or maneuvering thrusters.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the largest flyable and jump-capable structure in the entire known galaxy.” Mark couldn’t suppress the grin and pride on his face as the shipyards pulled from its orbit of Mars toward the jump point for Gilese.

“That thing can jump?” the admiral said as the multi-billion ton structure continued to move, ships still moving around it to get the structure ready to jump.

“They have the sensors, drives, and a pilot, as well as the massive fusion reactors they’ll need to transfer.”

Jump worked on compressing the space between two large gravitational bodies. This created waves. The more waves, the more power required. At a high number of wavelengths, it also put stresses on whatever was going through the wavelengths as the objects between the two gravitational bodies became closer and closer, pulling more at the ship. A good pilot and navigator team could get around these obstacles if they’d had the sensor data; it might take a little longer but the stresses would be greatly reduced.

The shipyards would only be able to use the Alcubierre drive periodically but it would mean that their travel time would take a few months, not the days or weeks of a legion warship—or the years of a EHC ship.

“The gods.” Senator Weng looked at the shipyards. “Do you know where they’ll end up?” His eyes darted to Mark over the split view screen.

“No idea, though I don’t think it’s going to be in EHC space.” Mark couldn’t deny the twinkle in the man’s eye as he absorbed that news. The only shipyard capable of producing ships of that size would be on the alliance side.

“Might be an idea to give them a helping hand when they start out,” Mark suggested. Didn’t hurt to nudge people in the right direction.

“That sounds like an idea. I believe I should make the alliance aware of our new visitors.”

“What I don’t get is why those ships are still attached. I can see that they’re being used for propulsion but won’t they have to unattach themselves when they enter jump?” Legate Alves asked.

“They’ve attached the jump pods not only to the structure but to the ships themselves,” Captain Chen supplied helpfully, letting the others draw the same conclusion as he.

“They’re going to jump ALL of it.” The admiral looked at the hundreds of ships attached to the dock. “I better inform the jump stations along the docks path then.” He signed off the network.

“Is this what you planned all along? I thought it was only the transport you wanted to add the jump drives to,” Captain Chen asked quietly, still looking at the view screen.

“Oh, I wouldn’t say I told them to do this, but I didn’t tell them what to attach it to. I guess they went with the motto of the docks.”

“What would that be?” Chen turned to Mark.

“Bigger is always better—your old lady’s lying to you.”

Chen’s face cracked into a grin for a second before returning to his neutral mask, his eyes dancing as a few people chuckled around the command center.

“Was that all, Captain?”

“I believe so, Mark. We’ll be jumping in two hours.”

Mark nodded to the captain, who returned it as Mark walked out of the hatch, a small grin on his face. Leo, that smart bastard, had done it!

Chapter 16

SLS Moby

Roma Orbit, Hellenic System

8/3354

Ava, Mark, and the mergers had been working around the clock for four exhausting months when the call came. Ava’s breaths came in gasps as she fought with Mark in the simulator. He’d needed a release constantly and no one could push him like she could.

So far he’d refused to talk about killing Nivad and Jones, but she knew it was only a matter of time before he did. She knew he had his breaking point. She was just making sure she was going to be the one who was there for him when he did. Not going to be long, she thought, watching his reactions carefully. Sarah was also patched into her, giving a detailed report on his mental health.

Sweating and about to drop, Mark hesitated on a maneuver. Ava sideswiped him, bringing him to his knees, her knife at his throat. When he uttered the words, “Do it,” she knew and quickly pulled away. No matter how quick his nanites were, she wasn’t taking any chances on him throwing himself on the knife.

“Don’t be so utterly stupid.” With that, she wrapped her arms around him and pulled him in tight. It had taken all her strength to hold him, to not let his anger do anything else he might regret.

Eventually he’d calmed down, enough to actually look at her, his eyes red, not in so many tears but frustration and inner pain. The need to kill Nivad and Jones had been all he could focus on; now, with them dead, she knew he wasn’t sure of his purpose in the world.

His eyes pleaded with her and she answered the unspoken question in them. “We need you. All of us do! Without you leading, it wouldn’t be the same. I became a merger because of you, to fight and protect those who can’t, but mostly because of you. Do you understand that? I need you.”

The struggle within him was real; she knew that. But she didn’t know his reasons.

Reaching forward, she ran a finger across his cheek and that was it—moment over.

Mark pushed her back. “I can’t.”

Just like that, he was gone.

Ava plonked herself down, her back hitting the wall. “Sarah,” she asked. “What happened to him?”

Sarah replied, almost silently. “I cannot tell you, Ava. I’m sorry. I do believe he will in his own time.”

Ava let out a sigh. She knew she had time here with him, but as soon as the Maraukians hit, time might be the last thing they had.

***

Mark sat, reading and catching up with everything he could.

Klaxons sounded throughout the ship and he jumped up.

“Another Maraukian barge has appeared. It seems to have a faster-than-light drive. It’s aimed at the Legion-protected system Otarvi,” Sarah informed him.

Sometime later, the Moby launched its two shuttle craft and gliders. The troopers and the Pluto-armored mergers buttoned up; all of them grabbed the massive load holders. They were basic frames that fit around the user’s armor, attaching themselves. Charles had come up with it so that they didn’t have to slap everything to their armor but just step into the frame, engage the locks and walk forward with five times their normal ammunition, extra weapons, and any supplies they needed.

Tankers jumped into their Bellonas. The nanite layers enveloped them as their power plants fired up, causing the floors to rumble. The parts for the other Bellonas were packed in crates as all of the prototypes and machines from the hangar and ammunition locker were packed up.

The armored troopers and mergers moved to the hangar. The ground thundered underneath their feet, shaking the base as they ran. Orders were shouted the troopers and mergers quickly fell into their positions as the first gliders landed, taking on board their first load and tank. By the time the first glider was launched by the rail system back into the sky, the second had been loaded and the first shuttle had landed.

Charles loaded with the last contubernium, which was Mark’s. They were on the second shuttle, which was on its third trip. Dodger was aboard the carrier, unloading the supplies and troops, and getting them in place. Chen’s engines where already warmed and ready to push out of orbit of Roma, waiting for the last shuttle.

Charles mothered his prototypes, personally hacking the robots that carried them and operating them all to make sure that nothing was damaged. Finally the loading robots moved back into their charging recesses in the shuttle and the shuttle was moved to the rail system.

“Check harnesses,” Mark said as everyone looked to their left and right, checking their buddies’ harness and giving them the thumbs-up. There was a few who had to correct their harnesses; there was always a few.

“Ready, cargo master,” Mark said as the last name went green.

Then the hammer dropped, as the pilots said. They accelerated so rapidly that for a few seconds the stabilizers didn’t kick in, making the legionnaires inside feel up to nine gravities for a matter of milliseconds before it settled down. By the time the legionnaires recovered, they were already out of the atmosphere and turning toward the carrier, which was a few thousand kilometers away.

It took a special kind of person to be a pilot. They had to endure massive g-forces placed upon their body while watching their instruments for anything that would rip their ship apart if they hit it. Then they had to subject themselves to more gravities to evade the object.

That was only when they were leaving an atmosphere. When they entered one, they had to evade enemy anti-spaceship weapons, change from vacuum to atmosphere, adjust for additional gravity placed upon the ship by the actual planet, and they also had to hit the drop point for the troops in their bay. Then climb back into space again, get another chalk of troops and repeat the process.

Mark was sure pilots were insane adrenaline junkies with a death wish. But damn, they could fly!

The shuttle came along the carrier. The other hangers were closed already as the gravity clamps of the carrier took over pulling the shuttle inside, closing the final hanger. As soon as the shuttle was settled in its cradle, Mark felt the ship’s engines fire up and move away from Roma, toward the jump point that would take them to their destination.

Mark merged, absorbing all of the available information before the shuttle came to a rest and opened all of its hatches. The troops punched their harnesses, stepped back into their frames, and filed out, following their individual bouncing balls.

Mark dropped his harness off in the armory and walked through the ship to the bridge in the middle of the ship. Ava, Jarek, and Chyna joined him as he walked into the bridge. Dodger and the rest of the staff were still sorting out the troops and supplies, as well as getting the gliders ready for the drop that would inevitably come at the end of their trip.

It was easy for them as Guella had made an easy-to-use guide. They would select the terrain conditions and expected combat and voila—it would give them a set loadout. Then they just had to find the equipment and put it on the gliders.

Mark watched all of the troops around him. He could see they were tired by their body language but they were determined. Everyone had been pulling double shifts and running themselves hard building forges, Bellonas, Thunderbolts, and specialized machines. The mergers queued the forges and the troopers put them together.

“Once we’re ready, forced rest, two shifts. I want them rested and fed before anything.”

Jarek, Ava, and Chyna agreed readily as they entered the bridge. Mark saw issues immediately as Sarah pulled up items on his HUD. The bridge had been undergoing an upgrade to work with the new sensors and systems placed within the ship as the call had gone out. As a result, some systems were down, making the operators work on much slower hookups.

“All right, people, let’s get to work. This isn’t going to fix itself.” They walked to the sides of the hatch and got out of their suits. It was easier to work on the systems if they weren’t armored as they wouldn’t necessarily stand up through the consoles. It also allowed them to use their morphed tools quicker than through the suit. Their arms changed into various tools as they moved toward the issues. Mark saw the wide-eyed stares. A few had seen a merger work on systems with their morphed tools, but to those who saw it for the first time, it was strange.

Mark shrugged it off as he grounded himself and finished installing the new CPU and connecting the cooling system and power unit to a sensor array. Sarah noticed an issue in the view screen and sent a stream of nanites along the cables to fix the screen. Mark booted up the screen and ran a systems test. He found some interesting files, which were definitely not part of the system’s usual inventory. He deleted the rather crude videos from the storage center, instead placing an old music video with the words Rick Rolled overtop.

Make the idiot think twice about putting his videos on military stations. Mark sealed the station and moved on to the next, pulling the old hardware and installing the new.

“Spike in power!” Mark grabbed the surging wires using his nanites as a conductor, directing the power to his internal power storage. He bled the power off as he sent nanites down the wire. Finding the blown breaker, he reset it and fixed it. He released the wires and Sarah ran the POST as he had his nanites check every breaker and repair any faults.

“You know you just became a human lightning rod,” Ava said, a grin in her voice.

Mark replayed the feed in the bridge, watching himself as fat blue sparks jumped over his body before setting everyone’s hair on the bridge on edge from the released power. The mergers were the only ones who hadn’t as they’d absorbed any released power.

“Whoops.” Mark grinned to himself as he watched people try to pat down their hair and failing. Taelyon, the helmswoman whose hair was definitely not regulation length, stared daggers at Mark as her hair looked like a strange brown peacock.

Mark hid his grin—barely—as he moved past her, trying to act as if he didn’t see her. He worked on her console, coughing violently under the table while she couldn’t see his face. He quickly finished and moved on to the next issue.

“Well, thanks for putting my bridge back together. It’s good to have the systems all online and not have to use rigged-up secondary systems,” Chen said once they’d finished.

The mergers’ tools returned back to hands, fingers, and arms, still getting strange looks from the bridge crew.

“Glad to help. It’s better knowing everything’s working properly.”

“Agreed. With our new systems, we’ll be in the first reaction force of stealth ships and cruisers.”

Mark couldn’t miss the note of excitement and pride. The carrier was now even faster than the previous Moby. With beefed-up engines, power systems, and stabilizers, she was the fastest carrier in the entire space legion. It was scary to see a ship that massed over three hundred million tons move at the speed of a cruiser that weighed seven hundred thousand tons.

Mark imagined Charles was giddy, running around the ship and checking every system, probably already thinking of what he wanted to add on the next upgrade. The man was constantly building things then rebuilding them as fast as possible, better than before. He always found something he wanted to change.

“We’ll be passing a transport carrying forges. They’re going to give us a few to pass onto the Otarvi system.”

“All right. From my information, the people of Otarvi have been doing little with their forge but make drilling and natural flammable materials collectors and purifiers. They are receiving word that the military has taken control of production until the end of the conflict. Production is being focused on armor weapons and armorite fabbers.

“Their home legion is reacting well. They’ve been given orders to create defenses.”

“We’ll do our best to get you there. It seems that the Maraukians’ jump drive has seriously impacted their in-system engines. It will take them three and a half weeks to reach Indalia, the only inhabited planet. It’ll take us a day to reach the jump point to Eypi; six days in jump; a further thirty-six hours to the jump point to Otarvi. Then it’ll be a nine-day jump and eight hours to planetfall.”

Mark did the math inside his head. “That gives us about a week on the planet before they land.

“First, we need to get the senators off to the other ship. Let’s exit the system first, then transfer them and get on our way. We don’t want to be pulling them into this combat,” Mark said.

“I’ll get it sorted,” Carla, Chen’s second-in-command, said. Her hands moved in front of her as she used her NIAI interface to carry out his orders.

“Now, what’s the situation on the ground?” Mark asked. A link was sent to him from Dodger. He merged as Sarah and he took in the collection of information, including current defenses and the different cities and towns that dotted the planet.

Mark frowned. This was one of the more heavily developed worlds. They hadn’t been attacked by the Maraukians in decades. As such, they’d started to forget the true threat of the Maraukians. Their cities moved past their defensive lines. Thankfully the defenses across the planet were made to last and were repaired when the Maraukians were last pushed off the planet.

***

His eyes started to feel heavy. The adrenaline and combat hormones had been pumped out of his system by his nanites and fatigue washed over him. His armor kept him standing up straight as the others talked about possible deployments.

“What do you think?” someone asked. He thought it was Jarek, having Sarah replay the last few seconds.

“Yeah, I agree with Chyna. We should create defenses along the natural mountainous area. It stretches around the majority of the population. What’s on the mountains or past it, we’ll use to build defenses.”

“What about the original defenses? We could crowd the people behind it and then fall the city like we did on Gilese.”

“Too many people in one area—they’d be in the way. If we fell these towers, they could crack the defenses. That’s a concrete core with armorite and polymers overlaid it. Plus, the Maraukians could use the towers and structures around the defenses as cover. With the mountains, it’s going to take a damn lot of effort to get the defenses erected but it’ll be worth it. We’ll be firing down onto them or at them and we’ll have room to retreat if needed.” Mark’s eyes closed by their own will. It seemed his head bobbed slightly before he shook it. The nanites fought his movement as he tried to wake himself up.

“All right, then which mountain ranges did you think where best, Chyna?” Ava asked.

The man outlined the ridges he wanted to build defenses on on his interface and it showed in front of Jarek, Ava, and Mark on their own hologram projected directly along their optical nerves. At the same time, it appeared in the main holo projector.

There were already defenses in place from the last time that the Maraukians had hit the system, back when it had been an outer system, without the protection of the long-range batteries that could lock onto the Maraukian barges and cut them down before they reached the highly populated core worlds of the Legion-protected worlds.

“The defenses haven’t been updated in ages and they’re in disrepair in different areas, but at least they’ll give us something. The problem is that we simply have no idea where the Maraukians are going to land yet. Hopefully they land on the other sides of these defenses. Most times, the Maraukians come down into open areas, some burrowing and creating a nest, while those that are combat-ready rush out under their herd commanders to find our defenses. Sometimes—and this is a rare occurrence, mind you—they’ll come down inside our defenses. At that time, all of them will fight, clearing out an area, building a nest and their forces rushing out in all directions to tear us apart from within our defenses,” Dodger said.

Mark looked at the information.

“Plan for the worst, hope for the best,” Mark said, using Sarah to question the higher-ups and find out different information.

“Looks like the order has gone out to the people on Indalia. They’re to rebuild their defenses. All of their fabbers and relevant machines have been requisitioned to assist with the building of defenses. Any and all citizens are to pull back behind the main defenses. The legion and auxiliary legion units on the planet have been called to duty. All weapons systems are going to be checked. Many look to be nonfunctioning as Otarvi has been in a passive state for so long that they left their machinery to sit, not paying out the maintenance fees.” Mark looked into the situation. It was clear that these people had come to think that they were invulnerable, to be left alone by the Maraukians for so long.

“We’ll be able to have support from the Bellonas and Moby. I’m not sure about this ridgeline here, though—if we should push it forward or back.”

Chapter 15

SLS Moby

Otarvi System

5/3555

Everyone was tense as the ship returned to normal space in the Otarvi system. They watched as the sensor buoys in the system automatically updated the ship’s systems instead of relying on the ship’s own sensors.

There they were: the ten Maraukian octagonal ships aimed toward Indalia. Estimated times of arrival flashed on the sensor readouts as the ship’s engines were angling the ship toward Indalia, going for a full burn. Every hour counted.

The stabilizers strained with the acceleration. Everyone aboard felt a little heavier as the gravities pushed on them. Equipment was checked, forges and the last supplies packed away on shuttles and gliders. In the hour before they reached the planet, everyone was suited, checked, and grabbed their frames. They loaded much more sedately than they had back on Roma, now more nervous as they thought about what was going to happen.

The suited mergers stepped into their drop pods. Each held a contubernium of eight. They looked like old bombs rounded at the front, filled with stabilizers and a gravity engine; the other end had flaps to stop the pod from spinning around. Without the flaps, the ride was hell on the troops inside. It also allowed the defense turrets on the pod to have a better effect on stopping incoming fire and could be changed out to bombard targets as they dropped.

Mark stepped backward into the pod. The harness of smart nanites formed to him and held him in position. The hatch in front of him cycled closed, locking as the grav lift hoisted them up and fed them into the drop cannon. It was a massive grav/rail gun hybrid. From the outside, it looked like a narrowing tube attached to a sphere. With its sister gun placed beside it on the underside of the Moby, it made for an interesting look. More than one person had commented it looked like tits on a bull, but much more useful.

The pod hummed as the grav engines created opposing fields to accelerate the pod. The rail gun also imparted its power on the pod, flinging it out. Mark would’ve whooped if he could’ve spoken. As fast as the pods could be loaded, they were fired from the turrets toward Indalia. Severe g’s that would’ve killed an unmodified human pressed upon the pod’s occupants, the stabilizers whining for all they were worth.

It felt to Mark as if someone had put a stick in his guts and decided to swirl them around. Then they tapped atmosphere and it felt as though that someone had dropped a Bellona on top of him. The ship had imparted its own velocity on the pods, which was significant as it’d been on full burn across the system. Compared to the stealth ships and cruisers that had come with them, which were swinging out toward the Maraukian transports, they were three times the distance and five times the speed.

This speed had to be stopped or they’d fly past Indalia, so they were going to burn off speed by using the planet’s atmosphere, using angles to make the most use of air friction and gravity. The gravity engines in the pods had been working to their utmost as they got a few hundred kilometers away from the ship.

Of course, although the math worked, it felt like damned hell. Even some modified humans passed out, the nanites straining under the stresses. It was only for a few seconds but the forces needed to put a merger out for that long were damned scary.

Mark didn’t want to whoop anymore as they circled Indalia, burning more speed, and re-entered atmosphere. At a set height, the doors opened in front of Mark. The harness released and a small anti-grav engine kicked his ass out of the falling bomb.

Suddenly he was falling away from the bomb. His Thunderbolt unit was attached; the wings snapped open as Sarah was already burning his speed more. He and his contubernium gathered together. As others were kicked out of their pods, they fell behind them in an arrowhead formation.

“Remind me to add a goddamn warning light. I nearly shit my suit.”

“Reminder filed.”

“Good. Taking over.” He extended his hands before him, looking like Superman. There were two ways to control the Thunderbolt. One was by sending mental commands. This took time to become used to but people could theoretically fly without thinking about it once they got used to it. None of the mergers had had the time to do so yet, so they went with the secondary controls. If they moved both of their fists up, they went up; down, down. They used their right and left separately; rotating them in any fashion sent them in that direction. Speeding up and slowing down were done by mental commands through their NIAIs.

So they Supermanned their way toward the mountain line. Behind them, the gliders and shuttles entered the atmosphere, making for the spaceports.

On the mountain line, progress could already be seen. If only by the taller towers that sat on it or the raised ground around it. Here and there, armorite fabbers were hard at work, joining the peaks together in a solid wall. But these were tiny areas compared to the huge range.

“Sarah, commander.” A carat appeared, highlighting the officer in charge: Legate Yousef of the Indalia home legion.

Mark adjusted his flight with his fists. It took a few more minutes for them to reach the tower, which had been taken over by the home legion, atop the mountain range. Mark entered through a window, adding some new scars to his armor as the nanites ate the shards of poly-glass. His contubernium followed him.

“Get to the mountain ranges. Work on the worst points and give the troopers places to work on,” Mark said on the general channel. The other mergers split up, flying along the range.

A surprised and nervous legionnaire looked at the eight towering Phantoms, his eyes wide saucers.

“Take me to Legate Yousef.”

He opened and closed his mouth.

“Evocati!” Mark said, trying to shock the man into action.

“Yes, uh, follow me, sir.” It worked; the man led them through the building to Yousef, bent over a computer table.

“What is it? I don’t have time to talk about production schedules. We’re making damned armor and weapons!” the man said over the room net as his NIAI listed more people in the area around him.

“We’re your support, sir,” Mark replied.

“Our suppor—” The man never finished what he was going to say as he turned and caught sight of the eight Phantoms with their frames and Thunderbolt flight systems still on.

“Well, I guess you are. I didn’t expect you to be here for another few hours.”

“We came in the drop pods.”

“We thought those were supply pods gone wrong.” He shook his helmet and a smile appeared on his tired tanned features. “Legate Rick Yousef, pleased to meet you.” He offered his hand.

Mark cranked his suit power down as he gripped the man’s hand, lessening the pressure. The other man still winced at the pressure.

“Centurion Mark Victor of the Phantom Lords.” He disengaged his hand quickly.

“Really? Sorry, can’t tell the difference between you guys.”

“Not many can.”

The legate nodded. “All right, well, we should wait for the rest of your people to catch up and then I’ll update you on our status.”

“Sir, I can link them all into the channel with a vid feed. That way we can get working faster.”

“Well, you’re a regular bag of surprises, aren’t you? Do so.”

“One moment.” Mark waited until everyone was connected to the net as he relayed optical sensor data of what he could see.

“Ready, sir.”

“This is the situation so far.” His hands moved over the computer table, highlighting the mountain range, which was broken into sectors and showed a percentage bar beside each for completion.

“We’ve got volunteers with armorite fabbers walking across the ranges. We don’t have large fabbers, just small portable ones. Nearly everything here is transported by pipeline or maglev trains, so we don’t have the lift capacity to drop massive fabbers, and if we did, then resupply would be an issue, not having the materials to melt down and lay down.

“Your gliders can help with this, bringing in bigger fabbers and then helping to supply them with necessary materials. Though we won’t be able to make enough fabbers to complete the work.

“We haven’t been working on stationary weapon systems as they take so long to make with the forges. We’ve taken the old weapons we’ve got and repaired them as best as we can. There are some we can’t as we don’t have the parts, keys, or expertise to do so.

“Most of the population has volunteered for legionnaire duty, but we only have a limited amount of weapons and armor as per the home legion agreements. We have old armor, which we’re repairing and suiting some of our people with, as well as weapons. Most of these are bad, though, and will be processed by the refiners for the forges.

“We have no kind of support firebase. Our old artillery pieces are decrepit and useless. The buildings on the other side of the range have been largely left untouched. The demolition experts we have are destroying them as fast as they’ve been evacuated but there’s tens of thousands of towers. If you could get some demolition people on that, it’d be great.

“That’s about it. Questions? Comments?”

“We brought twenty-five forges with us, large fabbers and stationary weaponry. I suggest you keep working on creating armor and weapons for your people. I suggest we spread out these resources and the glides between all of the sectors to act as support. Use the shuttles to bring in resources as needed.

“We’re going to need landing pads though.”

Yousef nodded his agreement to this as the computer table shifted as men and gliders were spread across the map.

“To make the walls faster, I suggest using the towers themselves. Blow them up, take the scrap and pile it on the range and cover it with armorite—repeat the process. It’s not going to be neat but it’ll give us walls.

“Us mergers are good at fixing things, plus we have a design team. Let them have a look at your armor and weaponry before you chuck it in the refiners. They might be able to do something about getting it back into fighting condition.

“We have three legions of troopers with upgraded Mars armor. They and our Bellona tankers can take care of the demolition of the towers. I would suggest getting your legionnaires down there with mono-blades and grav carts to pull apart the towers and feed it to the forges, armorite fabbers, or stick it on the walls.”

“troopers, Bellona tankers?”

“The troopers are our in-field support units made from EMF personnel.” Mark expected the man to look stunned or surprised. But the man just nodded; accepting the fact raised Mark’s opinion of the man by a notch.

“The Bellona tankers are mergers like me who have heavily modified Hades tanks. Until they can make their actual beasts, but that’s a story for a different time.”

“All right, I agree with your plan.” He went on a side channel for a few seconds. The room around them of staffers who had been staring at the conference at the table now worked the equipment in the room and communicated to their attached units.

The slow room became a buzz of activity as people ran out of the room, donning their helmets; others now barked orders into the air as they communicated through their NIAIs.

“All right, any other input?” Yousef asked as Mark relayed the questions from the other units and were passed onto their sectors’ commanders to come up with a plan of action.

In three hours, the first landing pads had been made. The massive automated fabbers that stretched two hundred meters long and fifty kilometers high with maws opened to the sky were dropped from gliders, happily coating the rubble piles with warm armorite that quickly solidified. The gliders filled the maws of the machines with materials as legions of people piled rubble over the mountains.

The troopers were having a great time blowing up towers. The Bellonas, too, had target practice with their beasts for the first time. Yousef had questioned Mark about the ammunition needed for the Bellona, realizing he’d have to supply them with rounds.

Mark had enlightened the man. With the slow rate of fire the Bellona was firing at, their internal nanite bays could scoop up materials from the ground and create rounds as fast as the tank could fire them. They wouldn’t need a resupply of rounds unless they went into battle, where their rate of fire would quadruple.

The mergers looked after the stationary weapon systems, emplacing them along the growing wall, hooking them up to generators and adding sensor relays where they could. There were some groups of legionnaires also emplacing guns but they needed a forklift to move it all and they could create the specialized tools easily while the normal human teams had a hard time finding them.

The mergers triaged the weapons and armor of the planet, being able to bring up the necessary information to fix nearly all issues and the required tools by morphing their own bodies. Mark was overlooking the accel tubes that made up the artillery of the planet.

They were three generations old. They’d been left to endure the elements in a locked park. Most were rusted and few had working magnetic relays, let alone ones that were aligned. But all told, there were a thousand of the tubes, which would help beef up their defenses.

Mark sighed as he stepped outside of his suit, his thick layer of nanites forming flexible armor. His nanites had three types: medical to keep him alive; suit, to fix the suit and provide him clothing; and the third, unmodified. The latter could be used much like the blank nanites in a nanite vat: they could replicate beyond their set parameters and be programmed to do things the other two couldn’t.

Evan and Rachel, with their contuberniums, jumped out of their suits as well, dropping their unprogrammed nanites on the materials that lay scattered around the artillery pieces. The nanites covered the piles, looking like foaming mercury as they created more of their own.

A trail of them reached the artillery pieces, eating the rust and processing it back into metal and straightening the accel tubes. Mark removed the control runs for the tubes, pulling apart the targeting computer and loading it with the most recent targeting files. He updated the maps as well and connected it to a Wi-Fi hub so that it could be fed raw targeting data from suits in the field.

The loading system was—surprise!—rusted and unlubricated. He picked up some nanites and put them on the surface. They quickly cleared the rust. He applied some lubrication as the nanites cleared the arm it ran along. He moved on to the separate tubes, re-aligning the magnets in each tube and redoing the wiring. He moved on to the next piece, waiting for the nanites to finish with the tubes.

Chapter 16

Eastern Defensive Line 317

Indalia, Otarvi System

6/3555

Legate Yousef made a trip over the mountain walls and various other projects that had been set up. He found Mark in the massive park that held the artillery pieces.

“By the gods, this man’s a miracle worker.” Centurion Augustus, Legate Yousef’s second-in-command, spat black tar onto the ground. They looked at the factory, finished rows of accel tubes gleaming in the sunlight. Materials were being dumped into piles of mercury-looking liquid; lines ran from these pools to the guns. The mercury moved along the rusted tubes, the rust disappearing and any structural problems set right.

“Jeez, they’re as big out of armor as they are in it,” Augustus said as they walked around the park, using his chin to point at an eight-foot man lifting up a row of accel tubes to get at a power run underneath, his arm changing into a tool as he worked.

“It seems our people were right about them being able to morph their bodies into tools,” Yousef commented as the man put down the half ton tubes as if it were a two-by-four.

“Damned strange, sir.”

Yousef’s HUD picked up Mark working on the larger accel tubes. He walked over to the man. He seemed bigger than he had in his suit, all eight and a half feet and eight hundred pounds of muscle visible through his skintight nanite clothing.

“Legate, sorry if I don’t salute. These magnets do not want to go in the right way,” Mark said as Yousef approached from behind the man who had one arm inside an accel tube.

How can he see me? Yousef shook his head.

“Please keep doing what you’re doing. I wanted to talk about the instillation of these upgraded repulsors into the walls.”

“Sir?” Mark said, confused as to why the legate was asking.

“I’m not sure about using chemical weapons that, while have a fantastic rate of fire, I’m told don’t have the stopping power against a Maraukian.”

“Sir, the weapons haven’t been tested in the field yet but I am sure they will perform as expected.”

“I would prefer to put my belief in weapon systems that are proven.”

“You know those laser projectors we emplaced are new prototypes?”

“Yes, but in an effort to clear lines of fire, one of them was used to cut down a mile of forest. I was quite impressed with it. We’ve used the system it’s based off before and there shouldn’t be any issues.”

“Sir…I think we should go and check on the progress of the Bellona in that case. Then you can understand why I want to use repulsors.”

“Very well. I have time,” Legate Yousef said as Mark finished with the tube.

“All right, lead on, Legate.”

“Where’s your suit?”

“That’s not a worry, sir.”

“We’re about to come into contact—you should have your armor ready at every time.”

“I do, sir.” He jumped into the air as his suit wrapped around him; the nanites sealed it together before he touched the ground.

“Very well.” Yousef was stunned as the armored and deadly man settled to the ground.

He led on toward his air-transport. It wasn’t much more than a lightly armored air-car with a turret on the back.

“Are you getting in?” Yousef asked as Augustus got in the turret but Mark waited outside.

“I have my own transport and I’ll offset the weight distribution of the air-car.”

“You can’t weigh that much.”

“I weigh approximately three tons, sir, with all of the super-dense carbon hendral and nanites in my suit and me.”

“Okay. Are you sure you can keep up?”

“Yes, sir.”

Yousef was liking Mark more and more. The man was prepared and everything he said was exactly as he stated. Half of the things he said might sound ridiculous but the man had carbon hendral bones—there’s nothing much more ridiculous than that.

The canopy sealed on the air-transport and Yousef took to the air, guiding them toward the towers beyond the wall. He checked his radar, seeing Mark was right behind him. He flew over the mountains. A tower toppled from an unseen explosion and he went searching for the source, finding a Bellona waiting.

He found a good spot to land, Mark doing the same beside the air-car.

“I’ve informed them that you wish for a demonstration.” Mark said as Augustus and Yousef disembarked their transport.

“Efficient, isn’t he?” Augustus said as they wandered to the tank. The hatches were open. Three heads peeked out of the top of the massive tank. They waved to the approaching party. Mark replied in kind. One of the heads disappeared as Mark led them to the other side of the tank, looking at a tower a few hundred meters away.

“Ready, sir?”

“Go ahead, Mark.”

One of the repulsors that looked like spikes covering the Bellona turned to the tower. Millions of rounds spat from the gun. The noise was horrendous as the cycling system chattered like an irate nail gun, except ten times bigger and infinitely faster.

Yousef and Augustus cradled their ears as the sound pounded through their heads and then the building teetered.

“They might be slower in speed compared to rail guns but they mushroom to kill a Maraukian in a shot, and they can fire eight hundred thousand rounds in a minute. Plus, they’re cheaper in terms of resources and power to make. We can make three of these systems for the rail gun equivalent. Do you want to see the power of a single round?”

Yousef and Augustus watched as the tower hit the ground. The crash sounded like a dull thump against their deafened ears. They felt the thump more through their feet.

“Please,” Augustus said, recovering first.

Mark nodded and caught a piece of armorite. Yousef looked back at the Bellona, where it had come from. There, the tank’s commander put a mono-blade away, a patch of silver where nanites rushed to put the armorite back together in front of them.

Mark held the sheet above his head. The turret swiveled, shooting once. They covered their ears as the shot rang out. The sheet held above Mark’s head now had a hole in it the size of two men’s fists.

“I think I was hasty in my decision. I just don’t like the idea of using a chemical, belt-fed weapon system. I thought the systems we have now are much better.”

“There will always be good weapon systems. Rail guns are great for taking out heavy targets, repulsors are great for taking out a lot of soft targets, lasers—long-range targets. Each have strengths and weaknesses.”

“All right, well, I’m sold. We’ll continue with the production of the repulsors.”

“Yes, sir. If I may be dismissed, I wanted to talk with our attached troopers.”

“Certainly, go ahead.”

Mark nodded and rose into the air, flashing a wave to the tank crew, who waved back before disappearing inside their Bellonas again. The covers buttoned up as the whole tank moved forward, their turret roving.

Augustus trailed behind Yousef as they walked back to their transport.

“Now we just have to wait another two days before we see if our preparations have been worth it,” Yousef said.

“Yes, sir. But with their help, we’ve gotten much further on the defenses than we ever thought. They helped give us the kick in the pants we needed.”

“Agreed. I just hope that it’ll be enough.”

Augustus grunted wordlessly.

Us both. Yousef looked up to the sky and the unseen but present Maraukians barreling toward his planet.

Chapter 17

Eastern Defensive Line 317

Indalia, Otarvi System

6/3555

Mark watched as the carrier fired upon the Maraukian assault barge. Its lasers, now half again their range as previously and two times more powerful, ripped into the pressurized octagonal bricks called assault barges by the legion.

As the laser ripped into the outer assault barges, the transport split apart. The assault barges separated from one another and the command/jump drive, lighting their own independent drives. They fired their small missiles at the oncoming force that surrounded the carrier. Stealth ships and cruisers linked their defensive fire together. Invisible streams of light ripped the small missiles apart. Both the smaller ships of the space legion and the Maraukian transports were still too far away to use their weaponry other than missiles.

The Moby, however, was having a field day as its forward pod cannons were being used for their secondary role as they fired rounds as wide as the drop pods but half the weight and a quarter of the height. The ugly round didn’t have to worry about the inconveniences of air friction as it ripped through an assault barge the long way.

Rail gun batteries, also bigger and heavier than their predecessors, liberally sprayed the barges.

The carrier slowed, keeping the barges in their range but not vice versa. Stealth ships were ejected from the carrier; fourteen wings launched, comprised of two hundred and twenty-four Ares joining the stealth ships and cruisers as they rushed to engage the Maraukians.

A wall of missiles spread from the space legion. The Maraukians’ defensive lasers tried to stop them but didn’t have the time that they’d given the space legion.

Finally the assault barges and the space legion were in weapons range. Lasers, plasma rounds, coil guns—even the damned kitchen sink—flew between the two forces.

The space legion’s ships were faster but their speed left them light on armor and gave them only a few heavy-hitting weapons. The best being the ship killer on top of the stealth ships, which fired their rail guns big enough for a dreadnaught battleship, their powerful rounds following the missile wall.

Mark heard the whoops and cheers as hundreds of barges were wiped from the sky as the wall of fire hit the Maraukians. They were tough bastards; they were slow, but they had a lot of armor and medium-power weapons, with enough power to dispatch stealth ships and Ares cruisers with some concentrated effort.

The lines of ships blurred. Automated weapons systems took over as they passed faster than a human or Maraukian mind could process.

The cheers died as they watched the space legion fighting through the swarm of assault barges, all trying to take a piece out of the tiny force.

The space legion piled in everything they could, depleting their missile stocks and passing out on the other side of the Maraukian wave. It wasn’t anything like a formation as all of those thousands of ships raced toward Indalia on a now set trajectory. With their proximity to one another, the Maraukians could easily hit one, turning both barges into a fireball. This happened as one or another ship was damaged and drifted into the path of another.

The number of ships on either side updated both the red and green counters on those who were watching screens. It was a telling tale.

“Ready the batteries. Bellonas.” Mark strode out of the tower that commanded the sectors the Phantoms had been put in charge of defending.

He checked over the status of his suit Sarah helpfully displayed on his HUD. He waved it away as he looked at the positions along the wall. It was a huge feat and had gone better than he’d expected but there were still places on the wall that even now were being built up.

He looked at a few sections of the wall that had been overlooked by their sector commanders—or so they’d said—leaving them at less than a few feet off the ground. When it was expected that they could maybe create ten feet in a day, this was sorely lacking. He mentally kicked himself for not looking at what certain commanders had walled, suspiciously close to population centers, but not where there was a lack of them.

They’d gone so far as to move their wall back to a secondary mountain ranging the center. The first range looked like a crooked finger coming from the left and pointing to the right, with a five-kilometer gap between its point and the place the Indalias had chosen to put their wall. They failed to put a wall in the valley where the two mountain ranges parted way, leaving a near straight diagonal line from mouth to valley.

That wasn’t the only place where sector commanders had thought they needed higher walls in some areas over others, like a few kilometers to the right flank of the mouth where a four-foot-high wall and growing was only now being started.

The one that infuriated Mark the most was the hole on the left flank running along the shoreline. It was if these people, all with their minimal two years of service, had been sleeping when they’d been lectured on flank security. If the Maraukians got in there, nothing short of a kinetic strike and the forces under Mark’s control rushing in to plug the hole would do it, which was why two-fifths of his force was planted there, berating the sector commander as they piled the wall as high and as strong as possible in the time they had.

People thought if they put a wall in front of themselves then they’d get to the sides. They understood on some level that one break in the wall would make it weak, but certainly if they could stop the enemy from hitting them directly on, it was better. Wrong.

That was why Mark met up with the rest of his force not stationed on the left flank around the tower they’d called home, next to the hole in the right flank’s wall. Instead of being spread out and being able to give sensor readings off their damned impressive sensor suite as Maraukians went around smashing sensor pods as they usually did, and adding their own impressive firepower and communications abilities to the fray, not to mention the support of the Bellonas or the damned scary one-man portable repulsors the trooper legions used, they were waiting for something to go to shit and be called in to plug the hole and hope to hell they held. If they couldn’t, then the population of Indalia was going to be severely reduced.

Mark was furious. His people were going to be up against millions of Maraukians with walls made to a budget, a lack of weapons, ammunition and trained legionnaires, with fire support that hadn’t seen action in nearly a century.

The sky flashed in spots as Maraukian assault barges entered atmosphere. Cracks and rumbling could be heard by the decelerating Maraukian assault barges that shot through the skies like.

Massive rail gun emplacements built into the wall fired rapidly. The Bellona joined in, firing their anti-ship killers.

Mark grinned ferally as the first rounds hit. A Bellona hit one in the solid power core of the barge, causing it to turn into a massive firework. Others split up as their internals were opened to atmosphere, air friction and the planet itself ripping apart the unwelcome visitors.

The wall around Mark rumbled with the recoil from the massive weaponry, the counter for the assault barges rotating downward.

Then reports from the distributed network of sensor relays the Indalia’s home legion had planted across the planet registered landings.

Mark threw his hands in front of him. A map formed of the continent in front of him, highlighting the landing positions of the Maraukians.

“Legate Yousef, I request fire support on these locations.” He forwarded the updating coordinates of landings as well as times of when to fire as the Maraukians unloaded.

“Understood. We have limited ammunition so I’ll see what my officers in charge of the batteries say.”

“Thank you, sir.” Mark tried to not grind his teeth. The damned artillery officers didn’t rank very high in his books, treating every round as if it were a baby. When he’d contacted them earlier, they’d been horrified at the idea of a test firing. They’d waste so many shells!

Mark had pointedly said that it was better to see how good the systems were now and the training needed for their people instead of in the middle of a battle.

They’d responded by telling him he was a ground pounder, what did he know about artillery. Frustrated, Mark gave up without a thanks for fixing their damned guns or supplying them with the ammunition they hoarded like jealous squirrels.

Well, if they were squirrels, they’d be damned dead from starving, so scared to eat a damned thing.

“They believe it is unwise to use what little supply of ammunition they have at this point.”

“Yes, sir,” Mark said with a bad taste in his mouth. Well, the artillery didn’t want to help—big whoop. He had ways around that.

“All right, people, targets coming at you,” he said as Sarah connected him to the net between Bellonas and Phantoms.

Phantoms ran out into open areas along their wall, taking a knee as three tubes opened on their backs.

Mark checked that the targets were split between everyone. The NIAIs calculated the amount needed for each target before going ahead.

“Let’s show the arty boys what a real barrage is like. Fire.” The last word was quiet and deadly as the mono-blades they carried as halos formed around everyone on the channel, including the Bellonas, as anything around them was thrown away by the force of their LBM launchers.

“We’re picking up odd readings in your area,” Yousef said a few minutes later.

Mark picked himself up from the ground as his launcher sealed itself in his back again. “Just doing what fire support can’t.” Mark noticed Sarah was broadcasting it on open frequency. Good, hopefully they’ll learn something.

The Bellonas’ LBMs hit first by virtue of their increased mass and the LBM’s engines. From kilometers away, Mark could see the missile as it reached the top of it’s arc and pointed towards the ground, The engines kicked in again, increasing the spped of the missile rapidly. Cracking and booming noise like rumbling thunder followed in the path of the LBM it’s speedwas too fast to follow.

The assault barge more than five hundred meters long seemed to detonate as the LBM slammed into it with full force, the LBM’s warhead converting into plasma, increasing the wave of destruction.

It was as if the hammer of god had descended upon them, leaving those watching breathless.

The LBMs were too fast and far away for the Maraukians to hit. Then, when they crashed down, they hit like Thor’s own hammer and their essential kinetic nature meant they couldn’t destroy it as it returned back to the planet with a vengeance.

Try to top that one, arty boys, Mark dared them as he pulled off his helmet to retrieve his tin of dip. He was flicking it as Sarah updated his HUD.

“I told you to stop chewing.”

“But—”

“No buts.”

“C’mon, adds to the flavor,” Mark laughed, opening the tin and takinga pinch, placing it inside his lip.

Ava let out a disgusted noise but stopped trying to fight an unwinnable battle.

He grabbed his helmet. Feeling a little better, the asine banter calming his nerves.

“Let’s go show them what the Vanguard legion can do.”

“Vanguard legion?” Mark asked.

“Well, you know how you think of us as the Vanguard?”

“Mhmm...”

“Well, we all agree: we can only rely on one another—as we’ve seen—and we lead the way. Making anyone who stays in our way pay the price.”

That’s my second, he thought proudly. “I’m guessing this isn’t official?”

“Of course not. I asked the others and they agreed we need a name for this ragtag group we’ve thrown together.”

“Very true. All right, let’s go show them what the Vanguard can do. Vanguard Legion is too wordy.”

Mark spat on the ground and pulled on his helmet once again the nanites rushing to integrate him fully with the armor again.

“Sarah, queue LBMs from the forges. Remove the artillery’s needs from it.”

“Already done, Mark.”

“Read my mind.”

“Precisely,” Sarah said matter-of-factly but still with humor in it.

Mark grinned as she brought up a map on his screen again as the surviving Maraukians now stumbled away from their landing craft and onto Indalia soil.

There had been ten barges when they’d entered the system. The space legion’s forces had taken out two barges’ worth. The Vanguard had taken out a further half of a barge’s worth.

That still left seven and a half barges’ worth of Maraukians.

Any chatter on the net went silent as everyone watched the symbols of the Maraukian force as they deployed en masse and turned for the wall.

There were four clear groupings of Maraukians, two on the far left flank, pushing for the center of the wall. The biggest concentration was coming directly at the center of the line and the damned secondary wall with a three-kilometer-wide gap in it. The fourth was on the mid-right flank, charging right at the center as if knowing there was a split between the two mountain ridges there and a hole at the end of it.

“Shit,” Mark and Ava said at the same time as Legate Yousef came on the line.

“I told you!” Mark said in quiet fury as the Maraukians advanced. It’d be five hours before they got to the mouth of the pass. Thankfully, the original mountain range they were supposed to build on was covered by the wall to its left flank and was too steep for the Maraukians to climb.

“Mark, I need you to get into the pass and hold it.”

“Until you make the wall that was supposed to be started weeks ago.”

Mark reined his anger in. It wasn’t this man’s fault. There’d been simply too many balls up in the air; they’d both been juggling to look over what the sector commanders thought was right.

“Sorry, Yousef. Just annoyed is all.”

“Understandable.” Yousef paused, letting out a breath , calming his anger and gathering himself.

“I’m going to need damned support, though,” Mark continued.

“I can’t guarantee anything, especially after you just shamed the artillery like that.”

“If I don’t hae it, then you’re going to lose this section of wall. I’m not going to put my people into a no win situation for nothing.”

“I’ll work on it.”Yousef promised.

“Thank you,” Mark ground out. He flicked up his tactical map and moved symbols on the map, repositioning his forces in the gap.

“Evan, get me all of the LBMs and supplies produced by the forge,” Mark said on a side channel.

“Sir.” Evan took his contubernium, flying off on their Thunderbolts, accelerating fast and low to the forge.

“It’s going to take some time for my people to get into position and create any kind of position we can hold.”

“Understood,” Yousef said warily.

“I’m going to need an unlock on anti-matter weaponry.”

“Mark! You know the planetary committee will never okay the use of anti-matter weaponry.”

“Let me put it another way. Either I get to use it or you can fight from your own damned walls.”

“Mark!” A deadly rumble entered Yousef’s voice.

“Oh, ha, wait—you don’t have a fucking wall!”

“What about LBMs?” Yousef said, anger still in his voice.

“We fired them all because your damned artillery was pussyfooting around. By the time my people get back with replacement LBMs, they’ll be two kilometers inside the pass and will take away any option of pulling back.”

“Shit.”

“Yes, sir. Shit.”

“I’ll see what I can do.”

“Thank you, sir, and could you lean on those artillery folks to fuck the ammo and let her rip? Or I’ll start making LBM launchers slaved to myself and stop any production of their shells as useless as they are waiting to be fired.”

“You can’t do that!”

“Watch me,” Mark growled. “If they aren’t helping me, then they’re a damned waste of resources that I won’t be spending anything on.”

“That’s a chargeable offense, Mark!” Yousef’s voice cut strips off him.

“Legate Yousef, I will keep my people alive as best as I can with the resources I have. Screw the damned charges. I’ll deal with them—if I’m alive after all of this. Get. The. Anti-matter cleared and the artillery doing their job. Sir.” He cut the channel, gnashing his teeth.

“Sarah, make it look like we’re staying still to them.”

“Done.”

He didn’t want to tip his hand that his people were already moving to get into the pass. The Bellonas were in the process of pulling in their stabilizers and picking up the trooper legionnaires not inside one of the transports they’d acquired from the Indalias, mostly air-cars left behind in the towers they were told to demolish. It made for an odd sight as family transports, school buses, and a few sport versions zipped behind the Bellonas that picked up speed in a most unnatural way.

The forty-five-thousand-ton tanks tore up the ground as their power plants pushed them to their top speeds of two hundred kilometers per hour.

At the rear, followed a group of ancient armored badgers. The massive armored transports had had their guns stripped for the wall but they still had their five-foot-thick armor and multiple-storied wheels. The Phantoms flew around the formation with their frames on. They firmly believed in the two thoughts that there was no such thing as too much ammunition, or overkill.

At the rear, a contubernium split into their separate fireteams and picked up two big gray sleds, which were armorite fabbers, and flew them to where the wall should be as fast as their Thunderbolts could travel.

The ground shook with the sounds of tracks, air blades, orders, and the odd humming of the gravity drives of the Phantoms. Thousands of men and women were on the move to do what they did best: show the Maraukians a wall of hurt and hit back.

Mark looked at Ava for a second beside him as he floated into the air. With her following, they leveled out, pushing their Thunderbolts’ grav engines as they raced around the back of the black armorite wall toward the open pass.

Chapter 18

Eastern Defensive Line 317

Indalia, Otarvi System

6/3555

Daniel Reckhi—or Dodger to everyone, including his own subordinates—was not feeling invincible. He might’ve if the wall that was supposed to be behind him covering the left flank was more than just a thought only now being put together by every armorite fabber he could lay his hands on.

Instead, he, like his men, was digging a damned trench before the jungle line.

“Jarek, why can’t we just use cratering charges?” a merger asked over the net to the grumbles of agreement of his fellow diggers.

“What? A little bit of digging’s got you complaining! Your widdle arms going to fall off from doing some hard work?” Jarek said in a tone you’d use to talk to a newborn, or a dog. Or a seven-hundred-pound gorilla that was tired of digging through rock.

Dodger was actually rethinking his idea of not using cratering charges. It was hard going, digging. Though it was more of cutting into the mountain and heaving the resulting blocks out of the hole they made. Cratering charge might have been the right way to go, he admitted to himself but also firmly stopped himself from telling people to use their charges.

Once an officer made a decision, he’d damned well made it, even if he didn’t like carrying it out himself. He turned his attention back to the conversation over the net, wondering how his effective second-in-command would deal with the little upstart. Need more running, then we’ll see them complain about tough work. Dodger grinned at the idea.

“No, but Jarek…” His tone took on a wheedling note.

“This isn’t the normal fucking legion. This is the fucking Vanguard legion. We lead from the front. We do tough shit, so shut it and carry on, merger!” Jarek’s tone hardened like steel and rose to his instructor’s tone, firmly reprimanding the upstart who hadn’t let go of his complaints the first time.

“If you have any further comments, I will happily address them but don’t be surprised if I plant my boot with its gravity field fully turned up in your rear!”

Dodger grinned at this particularly interesting threat. Unlike the original suits that had had one main gravity engine, they had modified their suits to have them throughout their limbs, taking away stability issues when using the Thunderbolt platform and when flying at increased speeds. Now they could make individual gravity fields in their limbs, mainly their fists and feet, either making objects come closer or be repelled. This modification had also replaced the magnetic clamps in their boots, meaning they could walk over anything and still be connected to any kind of surface, be it the side of a mountain or the hull of a spaceship.

In one day of testing the new system, the simulator couldn’t properly understand the physics involved so they’d had to perform a more…practical test. Where Dodger, the man with the feet, cranked up the gravity field in his left boot, cranked up the negative gravity field in his right and caused a soccer ball to explode—an armorite soccer ball.

Dodger had later used the trick to send his recruits sprawling across the base. They quickly learned to control their own gravity field to both stop themselves hitting the ground—which, although severe and left more than one recruit looking as if they deserved a week in medical—was taken in stride as they cut off their nerve endings and let the nanites get to work. Two birds with one stone, Dodger thought happily to himself as his men were quickly digging into the ground.

“How’s it going over there, Legate Nerva?” Dodger asked on a private channel. He zoomed in on the troopers line four kilometers back; they were also digging in but with cratering charges and excavators, which spewed chewed-up stone from the holes. They were physically unable of cutting and then removing the blocks Dodger’s men were easily throwing around as if they weighed a fifth of the three hundred pounds each block roughly was.

“We’ve got our repulsors lined up, ready and linked to their gunners’ HUDs. We’re nearly done here. I’ll inform you when we are. Yourself?”

“Just about there. Some people aren’t too happy to be digging in.”

“You’re actually digging?” the legate said in surprise.

“Of course. Don’t rely on no cratering charges here, no sirree!” Dodger scanned the troopers’ trenches, his NIAI helpfully highlighting the legate with his helmet’s visor lifted and binoculars to his face as he scanned the line.

“Damn. Every time I see you mergers, you’re up to something crazy that I would think impossible before.”

“Thank you, Legate,” Dodger said proudly.

“We’ll get back to letting the machines work for us. Nerva out.” The connection ended.

Dodger expanded his trench toward his neighbors as he reflected on the makeup of the Vanguard legion.

Technically, the three legates and Ortiz, head of the legates, outranked Mark and his mergers but the legates were more on a level playing field with Dodger and Ava. No one could doubt that Mark was in charge of the whole thing, even if four of his people were actually higher ranks than him.

Though, for the troopers, it was relatively easy for them to swell their ranks: just a quick medical injection, some forge-made improved armor and weapons, plus a want to give the Maraukians what for in close. A merger took time to train to get used to merging, their new bodies, and now, it seemed, their chosen craft. Whether it be with the tankers and their Bellona or with the merge legionnaires and their Pluto armor. They were a much rarer breed. With the dropout for the Phantoms being around one in eighty, one century of them was the equivalent of approximately thirteen legions. Though he’d be damned if his men didn’t hit Maraukians as if they were twenty legions! Or his name wasn’t Daniel Torvectus Reckhi!

Chapter 19

Eastern Defensive Line 317

Indalia, Otarvi System

6/3555

“Get me the committee,” Yousef said inside of his helmet. As his NIAI obeyed, a small screen displayed the ten heads of the committee that oversaw Indalia.

“Legatus, to what do we owe the pleasure?” The head of the committee sounded as if he had much more important people to talk to than a mere legate in charge of his planet’s defenses. Yousef had seen the readings on the chairman’s residence, seeing the acceleration rails for a small shuttle thanks to Mark’s liberal coating of the planet in sensors. This same rail system had been put on standby as soon as the Maraukians had landed. At least someone will survive from this planet, just wish it wasn’t that fat blob. Yousef reined in his displeasure at the chairman’s lack of regard for a healthy weight.

His billowing clothes tried to hide the layers of fat underneath that the man had allowed to accumulate instead of taking a BMI reduction to keep him within safe boundaries. No matter what culture or time, there would always be a few who liked and enjoyed foods beyond what Yousef could imagine.

Sure, he’d eat a steak with as much relish as the next man, but he didn’t understand stuffing himself to the extremes the chairman had taken.

He looked around the council room carefully. “Mark has requested an unlock on anti-matter weaponry.”

The committee changed from civil to yelling in seconds. It took all Yousef could muster to not roll his eyes and sigh, remembering that his face was being transmitted via the trusty Mars communications suite inside his helmet.

“This committee will not give any force the clearance to use anti-matter weaponry!” The chairman stared and yelled his other members into silence.

“That does not explain why his forces aren’t moving to engage the enemy. I am told by the central sector wall commander that he hasn’t moved to protect an unforeseen hole in our wall.” The chairman’s fist hit the desk in front of him.

Yousef breathed, controlling the rage inside him. At least we now know who told the central sector commander to build near the city. Going to have to replace him.

“Mark will not move his troops to defend the wall without anti-matter weaponry being available for use. Without it, he will not be able to clear a position and defend the hole in the wall.”

The chairman seemed to fume at this. “We are not at his beck and call! He will do as he is told and ordered by you!”

“Sir, he is the commander on the ground. I can—”

“You have been given your orders, Legate. Unless you don’t think you can carry them out,” the chairman said with a smug smile.

“I don’t think I can.” Yousef was not going to support this move. “I will resign now, if it pleases the committee.”

The gloating smug faces fell as he called their bluff. They knew he was the one keeping the wall together, no matter their meddling.

“As you should. But do you think it shows a fault in your character if you leave your men on the field of battle before you’re about to be swarmed by Maraukians?”

“Sir, I—”

Again the chairman cut him off, a light shining in his eyes as a sneer spread across his face. “Is it because you were unable to complete a wall you were placed in charge of that you wish to flee our men on the eve of battle?”

A wall you all meddled in, putting it in its current sorry state, Yousef thought as the chairman continued, on a roll.

“I will have you brought up on charges of leaving your post and I am submitting charges of failing to carry out orders in completion of the wall.”

On the eve of battle, you want to keep an officer in charge who you just called, not once but twice, a coward and dishonored him. Insurmountable rage filled Yousef. He looked up from the memory, patting at his chin. The committee was filled with sneers and smug smiles.

“You want to charge me with insubordination,” he said almost conversationally, growing fury in his voice.

“You have your—”

“Shut up, you fat, spineless excuse for a man! I was not done speaking!” Yousef’s words stuck the chairman back in his seat.

His eyes swept back and forth. “You wish to charge me for the incomplete wall, which all of you meddled in to the hilt to try to get your own cities covered!” Their faces went pale with the accusation; any sneers and smugness evaporated. Thought so.

“It is because of this committee that there are holes in our defenses. The men and women who are willing to go out and defend these cities—which aren’t even their own—with their lives ask to use a weapon that will allow them to move into the area. You’re probably thinking, what about the fallout? Fallout is minimal—should be gone within a week. Overall, what is a little bit of background radiation in a few areas if we can live on Indalia and we’re still alive? Not fucking bad, I say.

“So this is your choice: allow them what they need and maybe we can pull a wall together, which all of you played a part in its incompletion. Don’t, and well…” He clicked his fingers outside his helmet’s field but still heard it through the metal of the armor.

“Who but the gods know. That is all. Give me your decision and let me keep as many Indalias alive as I can. Legate Yousef out.” He hit the disconnect button on his arm fiercely, his suit ringing with the hit. The committee vanished, leaving him looking at his battle HUD with maps and information streams covering it.

He looked to his side. The ever faithful Augustus waited, his M19 ready.

“Let’s go and get us some Maraukian hides.” Yousef’s voice was deadly. He was in a mood to kill something. As he pulled the charging handle on his M19, he walked out of his command center, knowing Augustus was right behind him.

Five minutes later, the anti-matter weapons were cleared, with nothing attached to it. He forwarded it to Mark and stopped suddenly, nearly causing Augustus to crash into him as the other man scanned.

That sneaky bastard. Yousef’s battle map showed him the Vanguard legion moving into the pass where the wall was. Bellona deployed on the ridge as trooper legions and the Phantom Lords walked into the valley created by the two mountain ranges.

“What is it, sir?” Augustus asked after a minute or two.

“Mark blinded the sensors, making us think he was at his base camp. He’s already at the valley.”

“How’d he spoof the sensors?”

“Well, he did make them and put them down—would make sense he could tell them he was somewhere else.”

“Oh. Hmm, then why did he hide his movement?”

“Certainly gave the committee a good kick in the right direction.”

“Yes, sir,” Augustus said, clearly not understanding what his commanding officer was saying, who was already moving off again toward the wall.

Chapter 20

Eastern Defensive Line 317

Indalia, Otarvi System

6/3555

Mark and the Phantoms finally dropped their frames where the wall was supposed to be. They took to the sky again, now much more maneuverable and faster. They flew nap-of-the-earth, feet above rocks and mountain outcrops. It was a thrilling and scary experience as g-forces pushed them as they banked before quickly accelerating and being thrown back as they surged. Adrenaline pulsed through Mark as a grin filled his face. The gravity engines’ output sent them cruising along at Mach two, up to four. Well above the assumed limits of the Thunderbolt. Damn, that beautiful engineer. I’m going to kiss you, Charles—if I make it out of here, he vowed to the engineer working the forges a few hundred kilometers away.

He studied the area that was to be their defensive position with his optical sensors, which Sarah dutifully magnified. A few kilometers past it, he saw the shaking of jungle tree tops.

“Overlay Maraukians.” Mark’s HUD showed him the storm of Maraukians that rushed under the cover of the jungle like a continuous wave from as far as he could see on his left and right.

“Leri, report.”

“In position. AD loaded.”

“Good. Fire as they enter kill zone.”

“I calculate that at that time, you’ll be airborne still.”

“Correct.”

“Are you nuts?” Leri said sharply.

“No, I’m a Phantom Lord. Mark out.” He thought he heard the sigh from the tanker’s commander even as he closed the link.

“All right, it’s time for the Bellona to make the ground rumble! Check targets. Fire as the Maraukians enter your envelope! Let’s pound them flat!” Savage cheers reached back to Leri as she merged, leaving behind the worrisome exterior of her normal self. Cold precision filled her every movement as she had targeting information directly linked to her eye, the other checking the Maraukian advance.

“FIRE!” Leri yelled, her voice cracked like a whip.

Even in what had been come to be called the “womb” of nanites that created the gunners’ command consoles and kept them alive and protected no matter what happened to the tank, she felt as the main gun barked. She flicked to external sensors, watching as her line of Bellona fired from left to right, the main gun causing each tank to buck backward a fraction.

A fraction for a forty-five-thousand-ton tank was damned impressive. No less than I’d expect. Leri then yelled to them, “Load cluster bombs, slackers! Where are my damned LBMs!” She cut her channel to Evan’s contubernium, who were rushing back with her armaments. Each Bellona had their weapons bay churning out two of them every hour and a half but she was soon going to need that for actual rounds.

“Secondaries, fire as Maraukians come into range.” She was so focused on her job that when she glanced at the mushroom clouds now forming where the front line of the Maraukians had been, extending back into the tree line, they’d come a few kilometers and she was surprised.

Heh. Well, they won’t be bothering us anytime soon. Leri checked her raw feed. As sure as hell, the Phantom Lords flew through the shockwave that killed Maraukians, landing directly where her first anti-matter packed area denial round had landed.

“They might be squishies but they’ve got balls of carbon hendral.” Her second-in-command Ashtar looked at the same feed from his tank.

“Good. The squishes are on the ground. Now get on task, man, before they start to take the kills for us!”

“Yes, ma’am!” Ashtar growled hungrily.

Chapter 20

Eastern Defensive Line 563

Indalia, Otarvi System

6/3555

“All right, girls and boys, this is gonna be a tad rough.” Mark saw the incoming shells, which passed over him and his Phantom Lords as they flew in aerial formation. Six contuberniums of mergers brought a whole lot of pain.

Mark and the others tracked the shells that were descending before them.

“Brace!” The area denial shell hit with an earth-shattering boom as matter and anti-matter reacted violently. Mark’s suit’s audio and visual sensors lessened to the bottom of their range as Mark could swear he could see through his helmet. He slammed his fists by his side as Sarah tracked the shockwave.

Hopefully I know enough of this hands-free thing. Well, at least I’m not plummeting…yet. He pushed up the acceleration as they accelerated to their upper limits. They cut a terrifying sight as they raced toward the blooming explosion. Shockwaves raced outward to greet them. Mark was at the front of the formation. He hit the first shockwave head on, literally. The mergers fought against the power of the anti-matter warhead, descending toward their positions.

Mark’s Pluto surged with power. He felt alive, threading between life and death, riding the waves of destruction that resounded off the valleys and hills, ripping out trees. The heat incinerated them and the ground around, turning it into a glass-like landscape.

Waves of destruction tore through the area.

The Phantom Lords’ suits whined as power was forced into their anti-gravity flight systems, fighting against these incredible forces.

Against the shearing noise that tore at their armor, they couldn’t even hear their anti-gravity flight engines.

Finally their landing zone came into sight. They continued to be buffeted by the wild winds.

Mark gritted his teeth, allowing his speed to slow and losing some control as he crashed into the ground in a controlled manner.

The other mergers spread out, all of them landing in different ways.

Mark checked his position was where he wanted it to be before he threw out a cratering charge.

“Get dug in, boys and girls. Let them come to us and we’ll stack ’em like cordwood.” Mark’s voice was calm and steady in the face of chaos as cratering charges went off, creating foxholes for the Phantom Lords to hide in.

His cratering charge went off. He jumped in and checked everyone’s status. So far, so good—no casualties.

The area in front of the wall had been turned into a dust-filled apocalypse. There seemed to be no way that anything could survive after the passing of the anti-matter area denial round.

Carated Maraukians started to appear, a few at first, but then more and more of them walked through the destruction that had washed away their front lines.

Mark raised his M20s, firing bursts of bolts at the Maraukians. Silver streams of the Phantom Lords’ M20s joined his as the green flash of Maraukian rail guns returned fire. Plasma cannons and missile launchers kicked off, illuminating the dust hurled into the air. The two forces fought at the edge of the area denial’s impact zone.

He let a stream of bolts go as Sarah carated Maraukian forces already advancing, even after the pasting they’d received from the Bellona.

“They’re nothing if but determined,” a Phantom said.

“We’re fully loaded, armored, and hell, I think I just let loose my next meal.”

“That’s disgusting, Ilis!”

“Let me say, thank God this thing has air fresheners.” This drew disgusted noises of most of the Phantoms but not without a few laughs as the culprit fist tapped with his neighbor.

Ava opened a side channel. “I still don’t think I get most other cultures’ humor.”

“I found it pretty funny.” Mark chuckled.

“That’s because you came from the EMF. I’ve heard their radio chatter and watched their sensor feeds. Who would throw a sonic grenade in a washroom! The entire floor of the citadel experienced a backflow. Though it was quite interesting watching the outside of one of the general’s bathrooms. He might’ve been a bought and sold man, but I didn’t know the human race could have that many swear words. It was the most watched video for an hour until he found it.”

Mark could hear her smile through her words as one threatened to form on his face.

If this was a regular unit, he’d probably tell them to quiet down, but a normal unit didn’t try to fight genetic machinations that were over ten feet tall and literally dropped metal out of their rear ends. His men knew what was coming; who was he to tell them to be quiet? They were professionals—they knew what to expect.

“We’ve got targets.” Mark checked his internal magazines were connected via his wrist to his M20s. He sat down in his trench; his optical sensors slaved to one of each of his eyes as they worked independently.

“Maraukian bastards!” Rachel muttered on the net.

“I think I’m going to paint my house blue.”

“Ilis!”

“What! Just take one Maraukian and an M20—instant paint job!”

Laughs came from the line as Mark laughed. Maraukians indeed turned to blue mist as the rounds caused them to explode.

Rounds and plasma were returned back at them with gusto as the rumbling charge of thousands of Maraukians advanced against the Phantom Lords and into the mouth of the valley.

“Looks like this’ll be a good one,” Mark said happily. Ava returned the sentiment as he changed to Ortiz’s channel.

“How are things looking for you?” Mark asked.

“Not too bad. We’re coming up on you guys. However, we’re having to wait till those shockwaves pass. I think that we’ll be able to get most of our people up to this point.” A line appeared behind the Phantom Lords, where Ortiz wanted to deploy his people.

“Looks good to me,” Mark said.

“We should be another thirty minutes. Also, once we’re in position, we can start to get some of those armorite fabbers building a real defensive line and some diggers to work on squaring up some proper trench lines,” Ortiz said.

“I’ll leave it in your hands. Gotta talk to our Bellonas in support and the artillery park.”

“Good luck.” Ortiz cut the connection.

Mark dialed up the artillery park replacement and the leader of the Bellona forces.

“Target data coming at you guys. I want to try to delay these Maraukians as much as possible so that we can set up something like defenses up here. The longer we hold them here, the more we can build that defensive wall that’s supposed to be behind us,” Mark said.

“We’re ready in support. Got two area denial rounds loaded into their tubes,” the Bellona commander reported.

“Good shit. Accel tubes, how is it looking on your side?” Mark threw out more cratering charges to connect his hole to the other Phantom Lords. His right hand fired as he went, Sarah taking control and cutting down Maraukians.

“We cannot in good conscience fire on these targets,” the legate in charge of the acceleration tubes park said.

“Why the hell not?” Mark asked.

“You are too close to the point of impact. It is likely that we will be hitting you instead of the Maraukians.”

“We’re in goddamn Pluto suits. There’s not much that the artillery is going to do unless you start dropping anti-matter shells all over the place,” Mark said, trying to reassure them.

“I will have to talk to the higher-ups.” The legate’s voice lilted, as if Mark was unable to make these kinds of decisions as they cut the channel.

What the hell is the problem with that guy? Mark needed to have the acceleration tubes ready to fire in case things turned dicey. They might have dropped an area denial shell on the Maraukian bastards, but they were already recovering.

He didn’t have time to think about it anymore, hoping that the legate would get his head out of his ass in time when Maraukians rushed out of the aftermath of the anti-matter shell.

Their weapons were slung on their chests as they were no longer upright, but rather prone, utilizing all of their limbs for greater speed.

The cannons on their backs lit up the battlefield. The Maraukians’ fire and the mergers’ intersected one another’s. The Maraukians were killed in the hundreds but as they fell, those behind them would charge forth, avoiding their bodies and continuing the charge.

The ground rumbled with the Maraukians’ head-long stampede.

With the area denial clearing out a lot of the frontline Maraukians, those at the rear had charged forward with all their speed. They were now traveling at their greatest speed, crossing the distance between them and the mergers.

“We need that support!” Mark yelled. He knew that the battlefield changed on a dime, but he hadn’t expected the Maraukians would be so fast about it.

The Bellonas in support rocked as their main guns bellowed and their armor opened up. Acceleration tubes appeared and fired.

The Maraukians were backed by the still rising mushroom cloud of the anti-matter shell. They unleashed missiles, plasma rounds, and rail gun bolts that rushed across the battlefield as artillery rained down on them from above. Shells exploded into bomblets and shrapnel, cutting down groups of Maraukians and opening up the charge.

The Phantoms didn’t need to communicate to one another as they merged. The world seemed to come into focus, their weapon fire became deadlier, and they worked with coordination that made it seem as if they were one being with many parts.

The Maraukians’ advance was suppressed. As their pace was forcefully slowed, the Maraukians started to raise their upper bodies and grab the weapons that were slung on their chests.

Their speed dropped off with them standing up and it made them bigger targets.

The artillery from the Bellonas continued to rain down on them. There was no answer from the artillery park. Mark sent a message to Yousef to ask him to look into the issue.

If he didn’t have their support, then they would use all of the shells that the Bellonas held in reserve in a short period of time.

Once that artillery ran out, they wouldn’t be able to keep the Maraukians at a distance.

They would close and it would have to come down to hand-to-hand fighting. There was no way that they would be able to stop the Maraukians from getting past them at that time.

Mark had two area denial shells ready to use but he didn’t want to. If he did, opening up the gap again, then he’d once again be right in the way of another Maraukian charge.

Sarah uploaded a map to his mind, showing the Maraukians that were flowing toward Mark and his mergers.

“What the hell is happening with that artillery?” Ava asked.

“I don’t know. They denied my request,” Mark said.

“When will Evan get back with those LBMs and ammunition?” Mark thought in the channel, but Sarah relayed the information to him.

“He’ll be another forty minutes. He’s rushing over at best speed. He’s looking to try to get a drop-ship to take him most of the way and speed it up,” Sarah answered.

“Looks like we can only hope that the legate in charge of the acceleration tubes gets his head out of his ass,” Ava said.

***

Ortiz was greeted by a grim sight. The Phantoms were embroiled in hand-to-hand combat with the Maraukians. They were leaking Maraukians all over the place. The acceleration tubes of the Bellonas in support were now targeting the areas between the mergers, trying to stop more of them making it past.

“Pullo! I want your people set up on the front line! Get fire onto those Maraukian fucks! The rest of you get working on the damn defenses! We need those trenches up and working! If the mergers pull back, they’re going to need something to pull back to!” Ortiz yelled. The troopers were already moving to carry out his orders.

There was no room to pause here. They knew that the Maraukians were coming; if they didn’t get ready, then they’d be drowned out in the tide. Although the mergers could fight them hand-to-hand, there was no way that they would be able to do the same unless they, too, became mergers.

Gear was pulled off the different vehicles they’d used.

Pullo was yelling and directing all of his people into position. Heavy rail gun emplacements were set up, with half of the people on the front lines, laying down with their rifles, shooting the Maraukians that had made it past the merger lines.

Snipers were working over the Maraukians that were advancing.

The second half brought up the weapon emplacements. As the weapons were set up, they would man the guns and those who had been shooting moved back to grab more weaponry.

Ortiz’s people got out the diggers that sliced through the ground, creating simplistic trenches that weren’t much more than lines in the dirt.

Armorite fabbers were fed materials and followed behind, reinforcing the slits in the ground, turning them into true trenches.

“As soon as the trenches are complete, start putting in weapon emplacements, Pullo. I want you to move your people back to man the trenches once they’re complete,” Ortiz said a few minutes after the two groups had got into the rhythm of things.

“Understood,” Pullo said.

“Good to have you.” Mark joined a channel with Ortiz.

“We’re working to cover you and kill off any that make it past you. We’re building defenses as fast as possible. They’re not going to be all that good, but they’re better than nothing,” Ortiz said.

“If we can’t get support from the acceleration tube park, then we’re going to have to use one of the area denial rounds, clear out these Maraukians to cover our retreat back to the defenses you’re putting up. We’ve got to be ready for the Maraukians’ charge that is bound to happen right afterward, though,” Mark warned.

“You want me to make more trenches in-depth?” Ortiz asked.

“Wouldn’t hurt. I don’t know if we’re going to be able to hold them here. Right fucking SNAFU,” Mark growled.

“Seems that it’s the same no matter what military we’re serving in,” Ortiz joked.

“Ain’t it just. Be ready for us to retreat at any time. We’re going to need your help suppressing these guys if we do. Don’t want to get shot in the ass as we’re pulling back.”

“We’ll have you covered,” Ortiz promised. He didn’t have the abilities or the hardware of the mergers, but he would put everything on the line to make sure that they could support them and cover their retreat.

Ortiz looked to the status of the building to their rear.

The engineers were hard at work, erecting true defenses that would be able to hold the Maraukians at bay.

It would take some three days for them to complete it all. It wouldn’t be the best defenses but they could look at improving it later on.

“All right, ole buddy, ole pal, don’t think I forgot you. Let her rip.”

“Yes, Mark!” Ortiz said with relish, already yelling orders before the channel was completely changed.

“Fire at will, Leri. We might need extra for withdrawal, so keep some in the bays,” Mark said in a warning tone.

“Understood.” The channel cut and half of the tanks fired.

The line of troopers behind the Phantoms also opened up. The wall of fire they added was scary as they actually pushed back the Maraukians.

“Cut the ROF. We need them to get in the valley a little bit to funnel them,” Mark said to the Phantoms and the troopers.

The repulsors quickly dropped to a quarter of their original number and the Phantoms lessened their fire.

“All right, pile it on again,” Mark said.

It took only a few seconds for the Maraukians to make up the ground as they ran. Most of them fired their weapons one-handed so they could get five limbs to punch them forward at incredible speeds.

Mark no longer had to aim, instead sweeping his arms back and forth, cutting into the advancing line. The silver streams of a fraction of the rounds burning off and becoming light slowed the progress of the Maraukians but couldn’t stop it.

“Swords!” Mark said when the Maraukians were within ten feet. As if by magic, swords and melee weapons appeared in every Phantom’s hand.

Mark merged, calling the demon inside him, losing the outside shell of compassion. He felt as if steel surged through his body; he bathed in the feeling of strength and the clarity of thought.

He was a killer, a killer with a charging enemy that pulled their vibro-blades out, crying their battle cries.

He let loose his own battle cry as he leapt out of the trench. His sword cut down four Maraukians in such tight quarters they could hardly get their blades to bear.

Ava was at his side, her smaller and thinner blades striking Maraukians with such speed and certainty Maraukians didn’t know they were dead until they hit the ground. Mark’s blade was like a hot knife through butter, despite the strengthened bones of the Maraukians.

He hit one Maraukian in the side with the flat of his blade. The offender, who had gotten its blade within his guard, was lifted off his feet and thrown into the swarming Maraukians eager to close with the Phantoms with a sickening crack of breaking bones.

This was where Mark belonged, fighting sword and fist against a worthy enemy. He growled in satisfaction as Sarah pulled up information on the walls in a small screen on his HUD. He studied the numbers as she jacked up the strength of the suit. He put his fist through a Maraukian’s chest and his blade through three others, clearing a semi-circle around him, which filled as quickly as he’d killed the previous combatants.

Blue blood covered his armor as he fought on. Ava had spun her swords up as a Maraukian whipped forward between the others, its blade going for her abdomen. Mark lurched, his own swords flashing as he took the blow in his shoulder. The vibro-blade bit deep. Mark gasped as it cut into his shoulder before Sarah cut off the nerves. On his back, he drove his gravity field-enhanced boots at the Maraukians, his boots aimed upward underneath their armored chests to smash on top of their vital organs and then negative gravity throwing them off. Mark used anti-grav on his back, throwing himself up to his feet again in a double-bladed slash that severed chests and abdomens in a swift flick that came back and decapitated any that had already moved into the others’ place.

Another burning sensation filled his gut as he saw a vibro-blade. He dismembered the Maraukian to plant it there as he turned with now defiant rage and anger as Sarah again shut down his nerves and sent nanites to his wounds.

He looked to his side where he’d been seconds before. Now Ava stood there, her blades sheathed in favor of her mono-wire with its attached dagger. She spun it so fast it looked to be a solid glistening disk around her as she threw it over her head and used her arms and legs to divert the motion without losing it into a different direction.

“You going to pull that out?” Her voice sounded confident but Mark wasn’t buying it for a second the way her sensors where pinging off his armor. He reached down, letting Sarah take over his hand to take it out slowly as he fought on with one sword. Ava stepped up, extending her mono-wire to catch any that Mark missed. She received a cut across her thigh, hissing on the comms as Mark threw the vibro-blade into the Maraukian that dared hurt one of his, throwing him back ten feet and impaling another Maraukian with the same blade.

Mark threw himself into the fight again bodily. His blades exacted their damage as they sliced and cut Maraukians. He checked his readouts, looking at Dodger’s men, who were also in heavy fighting. Due to the smaller area they had to cover and the fact that their part of the wall near them had stationary weapons—which, for some reason, the wall on the secondary mountain line didn’t have—they were able to keep the Maraukians at a safe distance. They took out herd kings and commanders, driving the normals into a charging fury. A few of these charges had made it to Dodger’s forces, which he easily cut down.

Mark couldn’t let any of those charges through, but with less people and in the way of support that wasn’t his own, he’d had to fight hand-to-hand to make sure that the Maraukians couldn’t hunch down, gather up speed, and charge the trooper and Bellona positions behind him.

He settled down into a rhythm, half watching the battle in front of him. He knew he’d feel if he had to change anything about his fighting style; by the external sensors, he could feel around himself. He didn’t have to rely on his eyes to see the weak points in their guards, the vitals of their beating hearts and breathing sacks.

Chapter 21

Eastern Defensive Line 317

Indalia, Otarvi System

6/3555

Yousef yelled in wordless frustration inside his helmet as he fired his rifle.

The rounds seemed to be just absorbed into the Maraukian horde as they continued to charge the walls.

His fire traversed from left to right, guiding the heavier and larger rail rounds from the machine gun he was manning.

There were just too few weapons, he realized; with triple the firepower, they might be able to stop the charging horde of Maraukians, but with the current weapons they had it just wasn’t possible. Especially when the Maraukian herd kings and commanders picked out the individual systems and guided their herds onto target with their own blue-green balls of plasma or a rain of coil gun rounds.

The forges were making stationary weapons as fast as they could but it was only enough to replace what they’d already lost.

“Fuck. All right, run the guns off the AI network. We can shoot with our damned rifles—another soldier is more firepower,” He said over the command net, releasing his heavy rail gun as he unslung his own rifle. Augustus looked over at him, still firing. It was such a target-rich environment that he could hardly miss as he moved the muzzle of his M19 back and forth over the line.

Yousef ground his teeth as he fired into the charging mass, being rewarded by a blue spray as his rounds hit the Maraukians. A burst dropped them to the ground with sudden finality. And stay the fuck down. He growled, imagining the fat chairman was in his sights.

His HUD blinked red. Not a good sign. He pulled up the warning. The Maraukians had made it through the only breach not being held by mergers, the one on the right flank.

“Support, I need fire on this location,” Yousef said to the support legate, punching the coordinates over to the man.

“I am sorry but I cannot fire on these coordinates.”

“WHY THE FUCK NOT!”

“Do not take that tone with me. You too are a legate.” Obviously the man hadn’t read Yousef’s complete title.

“I will not fire on targets that are within the danger zone, so close to our own troops.”

“It won’t matter in a minute when they’re run over!”

“I will NOT fire on our people.”

“Those accel tubes are rated for mark-one Mars armor. I will give the grab cover order before you fire. Now fire upon those targets.”

“I will not!” The man sounded like a petulant child as he shut the channel.

Any attempt Yousef tried to get the man back on the line failed. He looked at the near units to the artilleries. His raging anger turned into a grim smile.

“Mark, I need to borrow contubernium leader Miles and his people.”

“Who? Oh, Evan? Whatever the fuck for? They’re nearly back with our LBMs.”

“Get them to drop them off and go and deal with the artillery. They’re disagreeing with firing on the overrun position at the third breach on your right flank.”

“All right, go for it. Get the fuck away from my tesserarius! Fucking Maraukian sack of blue-colored shit!” Mark’s voice rose even though he was just transmitting his thoughts.

Yousef cut the channel. Those mergers don’t even know the difference of talking verbally and by the net. He shook his head at this thought. No, he was probably just doing that to get my goat. Doubt crept into his thoughts.

“Contubernium leader Miles, this is Legate Yousef.”

“Yes, sir,” the man’s calm, deep voice replied.

“I need you to talk to the legate in charge of the artillery support. As well as get a fire mission on these coordinates.”

“Yes, sir,” Evan said with a hungry growl.

Yousef cut the channel as he had another one incoming. He could see a group breaking away from the Vanguard legion’s formation at the valley.

“Mark?”

“I’m sending Legate Jameston and his people your way. Point them in the right direction.”

The man cut the channel before Yousef could say a thing. Shrugging, he fired out of the port he was next to as he surveyed the forces that had kept their positions.

“If we make it out of this alive, Augustus, there will be a toll to pay by those who left us on the wall.”

“I think the men will agree with that, sir.”

“If a man leaves his post, he will be stricken from the ledger.”

Augustus hissed. “They deserve no better.” Being struck from the ledger meant that one’s name was removed from the records as having served with the legion. To be placed back upon the list, one would have to re-enlist or reveal how they didn’t do a wrong. It was the equivalent of getting a letter with a white feather. It was a mark of cowardice in the face of the enemy and not completing one’s duty to their fellow legionnaires.

As the message went out, the flow of people running away slowed and a few people who had run away returned to their places.

“Legate Trimium.” Yousef called up the commander he’d placed on the far-right flank that extended into the sea.

“Legate Yousef.”

“I see things are quiet on your end.”

“It seems the Maraukians sure do like to attack straight ahead, as normal. We’ve done nothing but sit here. Please, give my men something,” Legate Trimium begged.

“I have just the thing. Detach three legions and they’ll be used to push back the Maraukians in the breach closest to you.”

“Yes, sir. I’ll have them mobile in twenty minutes.”

Yousef cut the channel as he watched the three legions move from their positions. With the lack of fighting happening on that flank and the fact it was held together by a commander worth his weight in osmium rounds assured him as he turned to the hell storm that was the breaches.

“Sir, I believe we should move.”

“Augustus?” Yousef said, acknowledging the man but his thoughts already focused on the information scrolling through his HUD as he coordinated the counterattack for the third breach.

“I believe we should— Plasma cannon!”

“Yes, they do have quite a…oughffff!” Yousef exclaimed as his second-in-command tackled him to the ground as a wave of plasma came through the firing port he’d been half firing out of.

“Thank you, Augustus. Next time, could you resist landing on my plumbs?” Yousef said in a pained voice.

“Sorry, sir—plumbs?” Realization dawned as the other man’s hands unconsciously covered his own privates as Yousef took a few seconds admiring the floor in a curled-up ball before manfully and slowly getting to his feet, still half bent over.

“Fuck, that hurt,” Yousef said with feeling.

“Yes, sir. I understand.” As only another fellow man could. His recovered rifle was low enough to cover his very own weak spot.

***

“Mother fucker!” Evan swore in his helmet as he got the update from Yousef. The legate who was running the acceleration tube park was refusing to fire on the positions that the mergers were packing out as he was afraid that he would kill them.

In his hesitation, he was making it impossible for the mergers to hold on.

Right now, they were stuck between a rock and a hard place as they were fighting hand-to-hand, with no ability to disengage. It was only through the Bellonas and the troopers that were supporting them from behind that they were able to stop the Maraukians. However, it was clear that they wouldn’t be able to keep this up forever.

The Maraukians were still pouring in. The Bellonas were running out of ammunition and the mergers were taking casualties already. With no way to retreat or pull back, many of them were dulling their own nerves and reactions so that they could continue fighting. There was simply no way to move to the rear and rest.

“We’re changing our destination!” Evan said to the rest of his contubernium. All of them were carrying a mass of ammunition that was meant to resupply the mergers on the front lines.

They received the recording of the message he had just got from Yousef, altering their trajectory toward the acceleration tube park.

Evan’s anger reached new heights as he saw that there were only half of the acceleration tubes firing. The others were simply sitting there without a care.

Evan came howling out of the sky. He smashed into the ground and nearly ripped the door off one of the shacks that were dotted around the acceleration tube park. From these shacks, the acceleration tubes were locked onto a target and fired, serving as a bridge to the frontline forces.

The people in them were the techs who were sent out to keep them running and confirm targeting coordinates.

“Where is the legate in charge of all this?” Evan demanded.

“He’s in shack 31D!” one of the techs in the room said, looking at the man covered in ammunition packs who couldn’t even make it into the door.

“Here are my coordinates. Fire on them. This is from the legate in charge of the defenses of Indalia.” Evan sent the information to the tech.

Their eyes went wide as they checked the orders they had been indeed sent down by the legate running the entire defense of the planet. For things to have reached this point…

“Inputting coordinates now!” the tech yelled, quickly loading the information and then sending rounds down range in support of the mergers. The acceleration park came alive as the orders that Evan had given him started to be completed.

Evan was even surprised with the number of requests that had been sent to the acceleration tube park and they hadn’t been completed.

This was due to the legate not believing the people on the front line and instead of making a choice on their behalf.

Evan turned and left the tech. The entire acceleration park was now alive with rounds flying over the defenses at the Maraukian lines.

“Take the ammunition back to the rest of the mergers. I’ll deal with this idiot myself,” Evan said.

The rest of the contubernium acknowledged his orders and took off at a run, heading for the edge of the park.

He saw them taking off as he was still running between artillery pieces to where the legate was supposed to be residing. He busted open the door of the shack. Inside, a plump man at a console yelled into a headset.

“I’m not going to be firing there. It’s too close to the defenses! If they get messed up, it’s going to be my ass on the line!” the man yelled, slamming his finger down on the screen in front of him and closing out the call.

It was clear to Evan that for some reason, this legate was not willing to endanger his position by taking the fire orders that were coming back from the front line.

“Legate! What the hell are you doing? You’re fucking all of the fire orders up! You’ve been relieved of duty. Are you his second-in-command?” Evan turned to the other man in the room.

“That I am.” The other man jumped to his feet, a stern expression on his face.

“Wait, what! Who the hell are you?” The large legate looked to Evan, his shock and confusion turning into anger.

“I am on the orders from the legate of the planet Indalia, Yousef—you know, the guy you hung up on because you didn’t want to okay a fire mission and now my people are being fucking overrun by your incompetence! Centurion, see that you evaluate all the fire missions but we don’t care if the defenses will be lightly damaged. This is the Maraukians we’re talking about. I don’t want to hear of any these tubes being silent unless they’re being fixed. Else Yousef will strike your names from the records,” Evan said.

“Understood! Could you remove this man from my sight? He’s done enough damage.” The newly promoted centurion pointed to the legate.

Evan walked into the room, bending the doorway as the fat man in the chair yelled obscenities at him.

“Do you know who I am! I am a legate in the legion! I have a cousin in the senate! I have served for fifty-three years! This will go on your record!” The fat man continued to yell, spittle flying from his lips as Evan grabbed him by his clothes and dragged him out of the room.

He was greeted by the sound of the entire acceleration tube park being alive with fire, raining down death on the Maraukians.

Warms the heart. I need to get back to the others as soon as I drop this useless fuck off. Evan threw the previous leader over his shoulder and started to run, being none too gentle about it as he continued through the artillery park. The legate’s complaints were thankfully drowned out by the electromagnets of the acceleration tubes and the whomps of their recoil.

Chapter 22

Eastern Defensive Line 563

Indalia, Otarvi System

6/3555

“Got it. They’ll be ready!” Mark confirmed with Evan as he left the acceleration tube park.

Mark and Chyna passed each other. Chyna slapped his sword to his waist, his M20s lowering. The Maraukians’ already thinned-out numbers were like wheat before a scythe under his fire.

There was no room for them to escape as he cut open a path. Mark protected Chyna’s back as they started to move forward.

“Advance!” Mark yelled.

The mergers all reacted as one, moving forward as the rate of fire coming from the troopers’ defenses behind them came alive. Rounds whizzed over their heads as rounds tore at the Maraukian ranks, creating a space between the mergers and the Maraukian forces that weren’t able to rally themselves under such unforgiving weapons fire.

There was no way to push them back but with brute force.

Silver streams met Maraukian bodies, rolling back their lines as they fired missiles that exploded in mid-air, hit by the rain of shrapnel. Their plasma rounds and cannons exploded, turning into flaming bombs that cleared the area around them of anything living.

Mark slapped his sword to his back. His second M20 locked into place as he fired on the Maraukians with both of his guns. He and Chyna worked together with the rest of the mergers perfectly.

Mark let out a pained hiss as he saw Willow, one of the mergers, get hit by a missile that tore off the front of her armor. With it weakened, there was no protection from the shrapnel that the acceleration tubes were raining down from above.

There was no time to react and no forgiveness as she fell under friendly fire.

They had the ability to fight in the acceleration tubes’ bombardment, but only if their armor was in top condition. With the slightest opening, their assistance would be the thing that ripped them apart.

A new howling filled the skies as Mark fired into a Maraukian, a line of bloody blue holes appearing in them before one struck the Maraukians head taking it clean off of the Maraukian’s shoulders, matter spread over ten meters behind the Maraukian. Its body dropped to the ground as Mark looked through the information that had flooded his head.

Sarah was keeping him updated on everything that might have a bearing on the battle at hand.

Mark checked his remaining ammunition, grabbing one of his swords he charged the Maraukians with a yell, firing until he got among them, hie led with his sword, his remaining M-20 folding away as hegrasped his other sword.

He used the swords as if they were hatchets, kicking a Maraukiaj in the leg, staggering them as his sword came over in a savage chop, opening the Maraulkian from stomach across his chest.

They dropped to the ground, their blood draining out as slashed, hacked, kicked and punched his way forwards.

The Phantoms didn’t talk, using only yells and words of warning as they merged, their attacks became faster, pushing the Maraukians back and gaining them some room.

“Metal rain incoming!” Rachel.

The sky was filled with explosions. The shrapnel tore through the weak flesh of the Maraukians, flattening them in droves.

Mark slapped his right sword to his back. As his arm came down, his M20 extended. He lowered it to meet the Maraukians; he pulled the trigger, lighting up the Maraukian’s face as his rounds tore through them. His sword fended off those that were close to him as his M20 blazed with light.

Around him, shrapnel smashed up against his armor. He was constantly on the move so as to not get bogged down in a fight with the Maraukians.

He fired, cut, and moved.

“Don’t get caught up! Form a firing line! Here we turn them back!” Mark yelled. “Ortiz, get your people all on the firing line. We’ll push the Maraukians back some and try to get us some more breathing room!”

“Come on, you mother fuckers! Lead was half price today!” Polwell yelled.

Mark sighed in his helmet, not saying anything to the contubernium leader. His words seemed to have rallied the others.

Their rate of fire only increased.

In front of them was a wasteland. Artillery filled the air with dust and turned the ground into glass craters.

M20s unleashed streams of gray light. Wherever the streams connected with the Maraukians, they were cut down. The Phantom Lords’ fire was concentrated and focused. As they moved one way, they moved the other, holding back the Maraukians.

People dropped down into the trench system that they’d created, slapping their arms against their sides and connecting more ammunition blocks to their M20s before popping up in another location to bring more fire down on their enemy.

Here and there, Phantom Lords took a knee, lightning ballistic missiles shooting out from their backs.

The wind howled and raged as they returned on top of the Maraukians, opening up pockets in their protection.

The Phantom Lords were well supplied with ammunition and although their lines were very thin, with the acceleration tubes firing nonstop, they were actually able to hold the Maraukians back.

Mark watched as another Phantom Lord was killed; another was hit by a missile but they’d been protected from dying.

Unless they were dead, their armor could put them together—for the most part. The injured only needed a few minutes to recover and get back to fighting.

Rail gun and plasma rounds flew overhead or smashed into the ground. Missiles exploded over the Phantom Lords, raining down shrapnel on them.

“Reinforcements incoming!” Sarah said, showing the forces that Legate Yousef had begged, borrowed, and stolen from across the defensive line.

They came in a group, rushing over on drop-ships to make their best speed. They moved to support the troopers’ lines and ease up the pressure on the mergers. Mark checked his information, tracking that Evan’s contubernium with all of the mergers’ ammunition was just a few minutes away.

He focused back on the fighting. Even though the pressure had lessened on him and his people, one mistake would mean falling to the Maraukian weaponry.

***

“Whoa! Look who it is! You find any hookers?” Ilis said as Evan’s contubernium showed up. They’d landed behind the troopers and then run their way up to the front lines.

“I’ll keep these LBMs to myself then!” one of them replied as the other mergers welcomed them to the front lines.

They went up and down the lines, under Ava’s instructions, dropping off ammunition and LBMs, and reloading the other people as they went.

“Feels good—just gotta drop the kids off at the pool!” Jarek squatted down. His back opened and an LBM lit off.

“Ah, I think I pushed too hard!” Jarek joked. The others laughed as the LBM descended from the heavens in a thunderclap, blowing a hole in the Maraukians’ lines.

They were thrown everywhere as the mergers got comfortable in their positions, moving from place to place when the Maraukians started to pick up on their positions and then reloading at different supply caches that were between the trenches.

Things started to calm down and they could reduce the amount of artillery fire they had falling. The troopers continued to build like madmen and madwomen behind the mergers, adding in their supporting fire. The Bellonas were resupplied with ammunition and continued to add their fire, holding their area denial shells ready, but not committing them.

They really were the last resort, if the mergers were being overrun.

“Ortiz, how are we looking back there?” Mark ducked down and ran through the crude trenches, staying low and moving fast as he passed another merger. They tapped forearms as they passed.

“We’re looking good. The defenses are nearly up. I think if we can get you lot back here, we’ll be able to hold out unless we have some mad charge come right at us.”

Ortiz’s tone dropped as he continued. “Through some of the contacts I’ve made, I’m getting some back channel talk. Looks like some of the other defenses that were put up have collapsed as well. There’s a city called Edani—the defensive walls in one area have been overrun. Right now they’re dropping everything they have on the position and evacuating the people back to the next biggest city, Ducharev. We both know how the Maraukians might get beaten down by the artillery fire, but then some of them get through. I also heard that the mergers have been in the ears of most of the people who are running this all. I think that they might link the two together.”

Mark nodded to himself. Ortiz’s thoughts made sense. “See if you can’t get some more information on what is going on there. We’ve pretty much sealed this area off. As long as we’re vigilant and can keep firing on the Maraukians, we should be good,” Mark said.

“We should be done back here in no more than a few hours.”

“Sounds good to me,” Mark said.

Two more people were injured and a trooper died from an unlucky Maraukian plasma blast. Although they might be holding the Maraukians back, they still had to keep their wits about them. It was a hard time as they needed to be moving constantly and stay vigilant. Even though the Maraukians were at bay now, there was no telling whether this would stay the same.

There was a high possibility that they would break through and push their lines once again.

Being alert for that long and continuing to be under fire for such a long time would put most people’s nerves on edge, the stress eating at their minds.

The mergers had all been trained in environments where they had been fighting without stop for days, weeks, and months. The troopers hadn’t been trained as long as the mergers in fighting conditions, though most of their ranks came from the EMF. They had lived, moving from one battle to another. There was a rare opportunity that they would get calm from the chaos of war.

“Mark, we’re all good back here,” Ortiz said.

“All right, mergers, we’re going to move by section back to the secondary defensive points,” Mark said.

They had long discussed the plan. Charges now lined the craters that the mergers had been shooting from. The walls were caving in and more than one section was open to the Maraukians’ line of sight. The mergers weren’t just going to let them enter their trenches easily; they’d been laying charges and all kinds of surprises for the Maraukians.

They’d also cut out ramps to make it easier for them to leave.

With Mark’s orders, people started to retreat back to the positions the troopers had created. They dropped on their stomachs, skimming across the ground and using only their anti-gravity engines to keep them a few inches off the ground to shoot along at incredible speeds.

The Maraukians seemed to sense something was going on as they opened fire on the now visible retreating mergers.

It was easier said than done to kill something that hovered just inches over the ground.

More and more of the mergers dropped to their bellies, shooting toward the defenses. The troopers increased their rate of fire to cover the mergers’ retreat and hold the Maraukians back.

Without the firepower of the mergers, the Maraukians pushed forward.

The first of the mergers entered the defenses and turned their attention to hitting the Maraukians. Their M20s lit up the sky as day turned to night.

Mark was the last merger to leave. He fired off a spread of LBMs. As soon as they were flying, he dropped onto his stomach and shot toward Ortiz’s defenses, his back closing to hide the LBM ports on his back.

The LBMs came down out of the sky and smashed into the Maraukians, disrupting their advance. They made it a few meters but the troopers and their pre-made and planned defenses were highly effective. With just a few mergers, they were able to keep the Maraukians in check.

The mergers started to take over firing positions, the troopers continuing their work.

Mark dropped over a trench wall. Finding he could actually stand up on the other side, he stretched, still not having his head reach over the trench. There were platforms all up and down the line that heavy rail guns were mounted on. These were automatic versions that would fire on anything in their arcs.

The troopers weren’t willing to stay in one position, knowing that staying still was the same as signing your own death sentence.

Many moved up and down the lines, climbing up ladders along the trenches and firing at the Maraukians.

Mark jogged through the defenses. Some sections were underground; others were being built in the ground. Multiple secondary towers were ready to be deployed in case the first towers filled with the automated heavy machine guns were taken out. These towers could pop up out of the ground, supporting the troopers’ and mergers’ forces.

Mark dropped down into an underground series of trenches. These connected to various points of the trenches. Without a map, they would be confusing as hell. This was meant to make it harder for the Maraukians if they overran the lines. The explosives that had been built into the walls were to make them bleed for every inch they took.

Mark passed through a doorway into a command center.

“Looks like you’ve been busy,” Mark said, broadcasting through his suit’s speakers as Ortiz glanced up from the table he was overlooking. There was nothing on the table, but with the powered armor’s visors and their NIAIs linked to their eyes, the table looked to have a fully interactive map on top of it, showing the entire battlefield in real time and life-like reality.

“Nice of you to join us.” Ortiz rose from where he’d been and smacked forearms with Mark in greeting.

The two of them looked over the map together, seeing where their forces were positioned, planning out a few things to give the Maraukians a surprise, and then sorting out a rotation that their people would be able to get some rest.

“We got any hot food around this place?” Mark asked.

“No, but I’m working on it. Nothing like a bit of warm chow to make a trooper feel alive.” Ortiz laughed.

“Ain’t that the truth.”

They got settled in and readied themselves to weather the storm.

The Maraukians continued to push. Here and there, they were able to make some gains, but they still weren’t able to reach the trenches that the mergers had been occupying. It wasn’t a case of if but when the Maraukians would advance that far under the current conditions.

The accelerator tubes were all working overtime and only if it was an emergency would they get more to support them and drive the Maraukians back again. In the meantime, they were slowly advancing. There were casualties here and there, with the occasional person being killed, but there was little that they could do. Aid was offered to those who needed it while those who didn’t survive were taken back behind their lines.

There was no guarantee, even in this defensible position they had built up, that they would survive this fight.

Chapter 23

The Yard

In Transit from Sol

6/3555

Moretti hadn’t been one to argue with Jerome and the others who went off in the freighter, but he looked out now at the slowly moving monstrosity that he was in charge of and he worried.

Moving back to his chair, he pulled up the comms, hoping to speak to a friendly face.

High King Hael Desialias’s strained face popped up on the screen. Letting out a breath, the strain slackened off.

“M, it’s good to see you. How are things?”

Moretti wasn’t so sure how much the king actually knew but he had a feeling some of his news wouldn’t be a shock.

Checking over their comms with his usual precision, Moretti then slowly began to fill in Hael.

Hael’s eyes glistened with moisture as Moretti moved to inform him of the current situation on Indalia.

“Do you think they’ve any hope of getting off the planet alive?”

Moretti tried his best to hide even his own fears here. There were a lot of what-ifs, as per usual. “You know I can’t answer that. I do know that Jerome and the men standing with him will do everything in their power to protect the people there and to bring back those we care about.”

Hael took in his words and thought carefully while he sipped from a cup. “You’re not just talking to me now because of this. What do you need?”

Moretti moved to send over a file. This file consisted of various plans for their future.

Hael glanced over it, and then looked him straight in the eyes. “Mark would probably tell you this himself or Ava, but they have our full backing either way and with that, so do you.”

“You don’t think this will cause repercussions?”

Hael laughed at this. “In your line of work, my boy, I would think you know all about repercussions. Those we shall have to deal with. I’ll see to it that we start gathering resources more, and prepare Tricticus for your arrival.”

Moretti watched as King Desialias cut their transmission, a smile on his face. His daughter Ava was, after all, second to Mark, but not only that and they both knew it. The people of Tricticus not only respected her, and her decisions to become a merger, but would likely follow her no matter the outcome.

Moretti’s plans to align the strongest planets in the system were forming in his mind much better. There would be internal struggles and decisions for each of them to make. The side of the legion wasn’t something most would ever have balked at. But now, their greed and stupidity not only put Indalia at risk, but the mergers. The mergers who had almost single-handedly saved billions.

Using his skillful art of deception, M commed for the next person on his list. This time he was after information, hopefully more information to help bring down those who were now clearly against them.

Chapter 24

Eastern Defensive Line 317

Indalia, Otarvi System

6/3555

“Last mag!” Yousef yelled as he pulled the charging handle on his M19 as it hummed.

“Same here!” Augustus said as another plasma blast hit the armorite wall. It cracked with a resonating boom, which caused both of them to duck.

“We’re going to need to run to the armory.” Yousef sounded out what they both knew.

“Yeah. Damn.” Augustus changed to his centurions’ channels, making sure they set up ammo runners and to extend sideways into the less built and defended parts of the mountain range barricade.

“Let’s go.” Augustus took off in a low run so as to not expose his body to the firing ports of the wall. He pulled up feeds from where Mark had deployed his people. It was hell; somehow the Phantoms raced around without cover, firing and actually pushing back the Maraukians.

Each of them looked like blueberries with blocks covering them, thinning out at an unbelievable rate. The upgraded Hades outdid their predecessor by miles. It looked like a scene from a video game trailer as rounds, explosions, fires streams of white and gray as well as bolts of plasma and haze distorted and covered the battlefield. Yet the mergers danced their bloody dance. They were in one place and then another, always pushing and fighting. They were death incarnate: their blacked Pluto the robes of the reaper, their M20s the scythe.

Augustus and Yousef reached the ammunition dump and began reloading as Augustus kept watching his trained hands, knowing where to place his ammunition through hours of repetition. The scariest thing about the mergers wasn’t just their firepower and speed, but the way in which they all moved like a single being. They knew what the other was going to do before they did it and changed accordingly. They weren’t warriors or soldiers; they were all mergers, interlinked on a level Augustus now knew he would never understand unless he joined them.

General, now Legatus, Ortiz’s people seemed like maniacs as they perched in the mountains along the unfinished sections of defenses, raining down fire onto the Maraukians wearing less armored suits than the planetary legion for mobility. Each and every man and woman in the Earth Military Force and legion mishmashed force that supported the mergers were of the highest quality. They couldn’t fight the Maraukians toe-to-toe, but if ordered to by Mark, Augustus had no doubt that they would—to the last soldier.

Augustus’s HUD changed. Alarms went off as they detected a high concentration of anti-matter. He pulled up video of the area as the half working and not fully installed scanners finally tracked the object that had created the alarm.

“Shit.”

“What?” Yousef asked as Augustus was getting into contact with the centurion nearest the Maraukian herd that was protecting the bomb carrier.

“Shoot that Maraukian! He has an anti-matter charge! You have five minutes and then run!” He changed to the other centurions in the section of wall his HUD was projecting to be destroyed.

“Move outside of the blast radius now!” If they had only had all of the sensors up—if the wall had been finished, then they might have been able to prevent this. But that was in the past. Now he had to deal with the knowledge that he was probably going to lose that section of the wall and the men within it.

The Maraukian was hit, exploding among its peers, adding another crater to the scarred landscape. Yousef let out a heavy breath as another alert appeared on his HUD.

He cursed silently as he read a report on Edani, one of the more remote but still populated cities on Indalia.

***

“Alert on Edani. Once the Legion regulars relieve us, we’re to move to the city Edani. Their defenses were broken through. It seems that Indalia wasn’t the only place that they didn’t put much thought into the defenses and rebuilding them to deal with the Maraukians,” Sarah said.

“What’s the situation there?” Mark asked. What had happened was done now; they could only play the cards that they had left.

It looked as if Ortiz’s information and intuition had been right all along.

“The city lies in a hilly region. It’s the gathering point of several different valleys. There are two other passes through the region to the east, where several Maraukian assault barges landed. The main forces are moving for the point where the city Edani is. The people in the city need time to get the hell out and retreat back to the city Ducharev. At the very least, we need to gain the people enough time so that they can pull back. We’re the only unit that has a chance of getting in there, and there are no Bellona units in the area as it is a pain for them to traverse that kind of mountainous region,” Sarah said.

“Okay, so say that we are able to hold the place—are they expecting anything else from us?” Mark asked.

“If we can hold it and get the people back, they want us to do our best to keep the Maraukians in check. They’re coming in waves so that it won’t be too bad. At least we’ll have a break between them arriving. Though every force is going to have more people than the last,” Sarah said.

“What about those other two passes that are nearby?”

“There are no forces that are overlooking them. The forces moving through them aren’t in a large number and the sensor grid isn’t the best. We’re getting images from the satellites and the ships in orbit.”

Mark let out a heavy breath as he went through the information. It seemed Edani was a cork in the bottle. Once it was gone, then the Maraukians would pour out into the low-lying lands and swarm over the cities based there.

Then there was the fact that between the northern and southern passes on either side of Edani, there were countless smaller passes. There was no way to watch over these all.

When the Maraukians had dropped on the planet, they had destroyed any sensors and satellites in their range and flying around the planet.

There were still some that were operational, and the space legion was doing their best to restore these capabilities to those on the ground.

They had ships spread out and looking to pass information but then they were only able to see the ground for limited periods of time. Ground sensors were the best at discovering the Maraukians’ movements as they would sometimes burrow through the ground.

This is going to be a shit show. Even if we can hold the city so that the people can get out of the city—which shouldn’t be too hard if we have the ammunition for it—they want us to hold it for as long as possible. Doing that, I’d want sensors all over the ground. Mark sighed and brought his issues to the other contubernium leaders’ attentions.

“What are you all thinking?” Mark asked.

“That we need Charles to get working on ground sensor units so that we have some idea when the bastards are coming from the north and south,” Polwell said.

“I agree,” Rachel said.

“This territory is going to be hard to work in. It’s practically a jungle. The Maraukians are going to be moving through it faster than we can and they’ll have cover from our fire—much easier for them to sneak up on us,” Chyna said, voicing his concerns.

“Can we drop some area denial rounds on the two approaches through the mountain range to the north and south?” Ava asked.

“I don’t think that they’d go for it,” Evan said.

“They won’t. The weapons are already incredibly powerful and with the amount of dust that they kick up into the air, the legion only wants to use them when there are confirmed Maraukian targets and the legate in charge of the planet’s defense okays their use,” Sarah reported.

“Okay, so that’s out of the equation,” Jarek said.

“We could put out some scouts in those areas, but then getting them back behind the defenses before the Maraukians move off their position will be a challenge,” Dodger said.

“We need to get more eyes out around us, or else I think we’re going to get encircled.”

His words captured what everyone was thinking. If they were encircled by the enemy, then there wouldn’t be much that they could do.

“Drop-ships are on their way to the wall position,” Sarah advised.

“All right, well, looks like we’re going to have to continue this discussion on the move. The higher-ups want us over there now. Drop-ships are incoming to give us a lift over to Edani,” Mark said. They’d only just got their briefing when they were already being sent out to engage the enemy.

This wouldn’t have happened to any other unit, but the Phantom Lords had been made for just these kinds of situations.

Chapter 25

Edani Northern Wall

Indalia, Otarvi system

7/3555

“The Fourth Legion has just collapsed in the center! Legate Revas has fallen. Tribuni Porz has taken command,” Tribunus Xiao said to Primus Legate Quina.

“Shit.” Quina looked to the information that flashed across her vision. She slid down a hill; rounds whizzed past her and trees let out a constant rain of splinters, falling down onto the legionnaires below.

She commanded three of the legions for the defense of Edani. It would have been more than enough if she’d had the defenses she’d been promised. Instead, she had half-formed foundations and faced a Maraukian horde straight on.

She had two legions deployed to cover the small passes that were on either side of the main valley that threaded through the mountains, connecting Edani to the eastern plains.

Centuries from both legions had been pulled to reinforce the 39th Legion that was in charge of holding the valley.

They’d lost their minimal defenses and now they were rushing backward in a fighting retreat, their legate falling in battle.

Losing the head of their legion was only going to lead to more insatiability among their ranks.

While they were going through a fighting retreat, as soon as they left the valley then they would be in open ground, Edani laid bare in front of the Maraukian horde.

If their formation fell apart, then they would be not only losing that center but it would be possible for the Maraukians to spread outward, hitting the other legionnaires and military formations that were holding the passes to either side of the valley.

Quina had been told there was a unit coming in to try to assist them and let her people pull back to Edani and evacuate the last of the civilians.

The sky around the city of Edani was filled with drop-ships that were moving people back to the city Ducharev.

Ground vehicles were ripping up the highway that ran between the two cities. They knew that waiting would mean getting caught up in the Maraukians. Already some forty percent of the city area had been evacuated.

There were still hundreds of thousands to be moved.

How the hell does Yousef think this one group is going to help us? Hell, they’re only just over two centuries large.

“Get some area denials in the depth of the Maraukians. I want to have the artillery barrages coming down right on the Maraukian lines,” Quina said.

“If we do that, then we’re going to start losing our hold on the passes,” Tribunus Xiao said.

“You don’t think I don’t know that?” Quina hissed.

“Just checking, boss,” Xiao said, not taking offense, trying to dissipate some of her tension.

She took a breath. Xiao’s words reminded her that although she was in the middle of a firefight, she was still the primus legate of these three legions.

Her vision scanned over the battlefield.

On one side, there was some plains that stopped at a massive mountain range. There were valleys, small passageways and trails through these mountains but the largest was a valley running between the two. The valley had been cut out by the water flow from the mountain ranges. The river meandered through the mountain range. On one side of the valley, there was a forested plot of land; the other, the river that had cut out the valley.

Maraukians couldn’t swim, so they were stuck on the land portion.

In one of the long corridors that the valley thinned, there was a line running from the mountains through the valley to the opposite mountain range. This was supposed to be their defensive wall.

Now it was nothing more than a line in the sand, trampled under Maraukian foot as the legionnaires continued to pull back through the forested areas of the valley ahead of the Maraukians. Getting into close combat with the Maraukians was a death sentence for legionnaires.

Xiao passed on her orders as an alert filled her vision. Looks like we’ll get to figure out just how good this group is.

“Incoming!” someone yelled as drop-ships seemed to appear from nowhere.

“What the fuck?” Quina looked at the eight drop-ships that threaded their way through the valley that weaved through the two mountain ranges to the north and south of Edani.

They were just skimming the river that ran through the valley, meters above the trees.

Either they’re some of the most skilled pilots I’ve ever seen, or the god’s cursed craziest!

The lead drop-ship’s engines flared, followed by the redeeming and air shaking brrpt of heavy rail cannons opening fire followed by the rushing air of missiles and rockets released from their mounts, to slam into the ground, illuminating the Maraukian horde from behind, opening up holes in their depth.

Rounds whizzed and cracked past Quina, the Maraukians didn’t even understand the idea of quitting. Quina gritted her teeth, taking a knee and pushing up, ignoring the now familiar noise, that brace with death, knowing that it waited, just millimeters away but knowing that she had a job to do. Her ingrained training turning her from sheep to wolf.

Her eyes picked up on the once scenic area now turned into a shelled-out war zone.

Artillery rained down on the mountains and the Maraukians that were inside of the valley, not pausing for a moment. If they did, then the Maraukians would be able to gather their strength and strike at the weakened legion.

There was no way for more ammunition to get in and the wounded were being rushed back to the rear in vehicles and carried by their friends in powered armor.

Missiles whizzed overhead, ripping out trees and laying waste to the valley.

The rail gun rounds crisscrossed, legionnaires and Maraukians cut down by them as the natural vegetation between the two groups was churned up.

All was taken in seconds as Quina fired back at the Maraukians, one rushed though som underbrush, jumping out of cover, she pulled her trigger, a line of tracers following the Maraukian down to the ground where they didn’t get back up again.

“Covering!” Quina barked to those near her. Others said the same words as those in front pulled back. She switched her point of aim, firing on a group of Maraukians coming down through the shelled out forest, a tree exploding near her barely registering as splinters the size of her arm hit her armor.

Quina fired burst after burst into the Maraukians, tearing them apart in a hail of rounds. She rolled away as a line of tracers filled the ground where she had been.

With no time to be scared or think how close she had been to death, she fired on the targeting carats that appeared in her vision.

Up! He sees me—move! Quina rolled once again in a random direction, finding herself in a crater filled with water. She stood up, firing as she heard a call in her ear.

“Covering!”

Quina turned and ran, retreating away from the Edani eastern wall.

“Moving!” she yelled, her voice hoarse. Her body was bruised and battered, but her veins pumped out pure adrenaline as she forced air through her nose.

Her eyes moved to the drop-ships that had been racing through the valley. Hatches on the bottom of the drop-ships opened as their ramps dropped. Black crates shot out of the drop-ships’ cargo holds, plummeting from the skies.

Powered armor burst out of the hatches. They seemed to slow just a few meters above the ground before they slammed into the dirt, sending up clouds of dust around them as they dropped to their knees as if it had just been a minor fall.

From the dust, they shot out. Some of them moved for the black ammunition crates while the others aimed right for Quina and her people.

“Legate Quina, this is Mark Victor of the merger forces. We’re here to give you an assist. Legate Yousef sent us.”

“Good to see you. Going to need the help. Where are the rest of your forces?” Quina asked.

“This is it,” Mark said. With his words, the mergers who had been flying through the air shot out twin streams of gray rounds from weapons that extended along their forearms.

The rounds tore up the ground and forest, and lay waste to the Maraukians. It was as if they were a physical force, smashing into the enemy. Their bodies were torn apart under the forces of the rounds. They had no time to scream or try to escape as the rounds cut through their lines, laying them flat.

Quina’s eyes went wide as missiles shot into the sky from the mergers who were at the ammunition crates.

The missiles flew high into the sky, disappearing upward.

The drop-ships now burned off their speed. Underneath their wings, their missile pods and heavy rail guns bellowed, also unleashing hell onto the Maraukians’ positions.

The forest was ripped apart, round impacts making lines in the ground and tracing across the Maraukian lines as explosions were added to the artillery firepower.

“Hold!” Quina called. The drop-ships didn’t have much in the way of ammunition but if they were able to slow the Maraukians here, then it would slow their retreat and allow the people in the city Edani more time to retreat.

She looked to the edges of where her forces were retreating. The passes were being held, but there was no support on the way.

The mergers landed among the lines of legionnaires, adding in their own firepower. Lines of gray rounds tore outward as mergers tossed out cratering charges. A rough trench line started to appear.

A truly massive suit of armor turned and glided into the small hill that Quina was leaning against.

“Legate Quina, good to meet you,” Mark said. Even with their entrance, the Maraukians weren’t giving up on the fight: tracers cut through the sky above as weapons fire was exchanged.

The fighting was less chaotic with two lines starting to form as the legionnaires got their feet under themselves and more of the Maraukians started to amass larger numbers.

They still had to pass through the defenses that Legate Quina and her people had been forced to leave behind, limiting their numbers, but they were fast bastards.

“Welcome to the shit show.” Quina jumped up and fired a burst at a nearby Maraukian, dropping them as she took off for another defensive position.

“You been updated on the situation?” Quina asked as she slid into her new cover.

“I’ve been given the quick notes. Seems it’s pretty fucked,” Mark said.

“Can say that again. What’s supposed to be your role?”

“Higher-ups want us to defeat this wave, or at least hurt them really bad so that the people behind us can get out. You and yours are to pull out, get back to Ducharev. Me and mine will hold here, create the space you need from the Maraukians. By the timescale, looks like we’re going to be stuck right in the middle of the next wave of Maraukians coming this way.” Mark jumped up, his anti-gravity systems allowing him to slide to the side as he fired on the move, sending out burst after burst at the Maraukians highlighted in his vision.

***

Mark had kept the rest of the mergers linked into what he was saying with Primus Quina.

Rumblings reached everyone’s ears as lightning ballistic missiles shot out of the sky, smashing into the ground below, right in the midst of the packed Maraukians.

“Evan, why couldn’t you get the ammo this time?” Jarek complained.

“Sorry, Optio—got it last time,” Evan shot back.

“Hell, looks like he’s getting sharper, Mark,” Jarek said.

“Hey, don’t say that out loud. Next thing, Ilis will think that half of the stuff that comes out of his mouth makes sense—then we’ll all be fucked,” Mark said.

“Coming in with the supplies. What’s the plan?” Ava’s group had broken down the ammunition crates and were hauling them up to where the other mergers were supporting the legionnaires.

“I think we’re going to need to walk some fire right across the Maraukians, try to force them back to where the river and valley bends here.” Mark circled a place on the map and sent the information to everyone else.

“We got anti-matter artillery clearance but then, that’s not going to be good to have right next to the squishies. What you thinking?” Dodger asked.

“I’m thinking that it’s time those Ares fighters tried out the new models and see how effective they are. This valley is the perfect place to have them run through and line up Maraukians,” Mark said.

***

“Uplink ready!” Young said as she and Yu rushed toward Edani, their drop-ship depleted of all ammunition.

“I’ll fly from my position,” Bobbie said, on the same net as them.

“Transferring controls,” Yu said.

“I’ve got the ship. Woo-hoo, let’s do some barrel rolls!” Bobbie laughed.

“Please, no.” Young looked to Yu, as if to ask why they had given control over to such a maniac.

Yu simply laughed and leaned back into his seat. His skin went from its tanned appearance to silver as ports along his body and the seat he was in connected up.

He closed his eyes, opening them again and finding that he was in an Ares fighter. He moved his hands over the different controls, testing out all of the different movements of the fighter.

“Moby, this is Captain Yu. Uplink is good and steady. Bird’s looking good,” Yu said as he finished his checks. He looked to his right, seeing Young in the Ares fighter next to him.

“Ares Modified One, this is the Moby. You are cleared for launch.” As the flight officer finished talking, the fighter in its cradle was shifted on heavy machinery, rotating into position.

He faced a tunnel that looked out into nothingness. The hangar was already open to space in full vacuum.

Lights on his HUD and the tunnel turned blue, blinking for a few moments and then suddenly changing to green.

Yu was forced back into his chair as the sudden acceleration hit him. The Ares fighter shot out of the ship. A litany of information started to flood him. Young, Bobbie, and he had all undergone the merger procedure so there was no need for him to try to access the information. His NIAI automatically beamed it into his mind.

“Moby, launch was good. Moving to target,” Yu reported, a massive grin on his face as the gravities subsided. He altered his course slightly, aiming himself toward Indalia.

“Understood, One. Good hunting. Two is hot on your tail.” The flight officer cut the channel.

Yu opened another channel. “Modified One, this is Two. Report your status. Over,” Young said, sounding rather official.

“Two, this is One. Having one hell of a fucking ride.” Yu laughed and pushed the vessel to go faster. Behind them, there were another four modified Ares following them down.

The four other craft sped up to catch up with them. All six of them lined up in formation as they turned toward the planet.

The fighter shook and bucked. Yu smiled. He had gone through the same sensation many times as a combat shuttle pilot in the Earth Military Force. Now, as a member of the legion, he was getting to be in a fighter. He’d dreamed of being in a fighter for most of his adult life. The freedom of flying was unlike anything he’d ever done.

But he’d always had someone to deliver somewhere, needing to worry about the cargo he had. With the fighter, there was just him and his ship, pushing each other to the limits—one entity, together.

With the merging ability, it was a rush unlike any other.

They cut arcs through the sky, passing over the seas, mountainous regions, and other features of Indalia.

All of it passed underneath their powerful engines sending them ahead. They were the gods and goddesses of the sky, rulers of all.

“Target coming up.” Young might now be running her own craft but she was used to updating everyone on what was going on. It was a hard habit to break out of.

“Understood. Weapons going live. merging.” Yu’s voice was cool and professional. He might be excited to be in a fighter finally, but it was not lost on him the reason he was there. His people were in trouble and they needed his help. He would do all in his power to help them.

The Ares fighters got lower to the ground and cut their speed. They crested a mountain range. Edani spread out below them, the valley leading to the city clear.

“Bobbie, can you fly a bit faster?” Yu asked, banking with the formation.

“I don’t have a fecking fighter like you adrenaline junkies!” Bobbie complained.

The drop-ships were just coming out of the valley, pouring on the power as they headed to Edani to assist with the evacuation.

The Ares fighter formation crossed the bowl that Edani was located in, crossing over the drop-ships and into the valley.

“Merging,” Yu, Young, and the other fighter pilots confirmed.

Yu felt as if his body had become alive as information flooded his body.

He didn’t simply become more connected with the other fighters; he seemed as if he became a part of the very fighter he was in. The sensors linked up with him. The different flaps, the engines and all controls were no longer commands; he simply moved with the fighter.

He turned to his side, the fighter banking as he crossed through the valley. If he had been human, it would have been a suicide attempt going through that valley.

All of the Ares pilots banked, dove, and powered through that valley as if they were out for a late-night cruise.

***

“Coming up on targets,” the Ares NIAIs reported to them. They banked to one side then the other, seemingly rolling through the twists and turns of the valley.

Target carats appeared in their vision, showing the position of all the Maraukian forces on the ground.

“Welcome to the party! Ground forces ready to move!” Mark yelled.

“On me!” Ava barked. The symbols that marked friendly forces were now on the move.

Hatches opened, missiles and heavy rail guns being revealed.

The last turn came up. The lead fighter unleashed its weaponry. As it was in the air, all of the Maraukians could see the fighter.

The air filled with different weapons fire crossing back and forth.

The heavy machine guns hummed as continuous rounds shot down in a stream. Missiles left white trails across the sky. They were tiny but as they hit the ground, fireballs rose into the sky. Each and every warhead on the Ares was not fitted with conventional explosive but rather was anti-matter tipped.

As they went off, they were capable of destroying everything within a hundred meters.

The forest that had been ravaged before was now leveled.

For Yu, his world had become simple.

“Incoming fire!”

“Break! Missiles on those Maraukian targets! Got some in the hills—marking.”

“Got it. Good hit. Missiles away. Watch for friendlies in sector 1267.”

“Got Maraukian herd commander rallying forces.”

“Under heavy fire—can’t shake!”

One of the signals disappeared, the Ares fighter holed and falling into the valley.

“Triggering.”

The Ares fighter exploded as one of the other triggered the anti-matter in its hull. A mushroom cloud shot up.

“Watch for shockwave!”

“Riding the waves!”

“Maraukians ten o’clock—tagged!”

Yu rode the shockwaves of the anti-matter explosion as targets continued to appear in his vision. It was a blend of who was talking, who was acting, and who was ordering. They flew inches from the sides of the valley and one another, moving together seamlessly.

Whenever their weapons fired, Maraukians fell. They sowed destruction in their path, leaving the ground forces behind quickly as they continued through the valleys. The farther they went, the less vegetation there was and the more Maraukians filled the ground.

Missiles and rounds cut lines through the Maraukians but walls of weapons fire reached up to the Ares.

They killed thousands but they, too, were suffering heavy damage for it.

Another Ares fighter failed. The pilot took the Ares fighter with its limited control into the densest grouping of Maraukians. The Ares ignited its ammunition, turning into a wave of destruction.

Yu grit his teeth. Instead of pushing him forward, the shockwaves shot him upward and at an oblique angle. He fought to regain control of his Ares fighter.

Another that had been too close was smashed upon the side of the valley, hitting the side of a mountain that bordered on the valley. It, too, exploded. The mountain shook and a section disappeared. A landslide was triggered. Yu fought against that shockwave, feeling more alive than ever as he threaded through the massive turbulence of the shockwaves.

Young and the one other pilot continued through the valleys, unleashing destruction where they went. They didn’t even stop firing. There were so many Maraukian targets on the ground, it was nearly impossible to miss them all.

Yu dipped, trying to get into the valley. The higher he was, the more Maraukians that could see him, and the more of them that could shoot at him.

He dove as rounds and weapons fire started to tear through the air around him. He poured on the power. His Ares fighter flipped, banked and put on a display of aerial skill as he rolled down and came out of his dive into the valley, behind Young and the other Ares pilot.

They took a tight turn together before it snapped back around. The Ares’ engines wailed under the abuse. The pilots pushed the fighters to their limits and then far surpassed them.

As they came out of the sharp bend, they saw where the defenses had meant to have been. The valley narrowed substantially. Just as it opened up, the sides of the valley and the bottom of it had a line running through it that was meant to be the foundations for a truly massive fortification.

Instead, what had been built was now nothing more than debris that littered the valley. Machines, vehicles, ammunition dumps—all of it had been overrun, torn apart, and tossed away, the Maraukians not caring for it in the slightest as they continued on their warpath.

“Line up!” Young said.

The fighters got into a line, the three of them pointing at the Maraukians. As fast as their guns could cycle and their heavy rail guns could fire out bolts, a sheet of fire raked over the Maraukian positions, rolling them up. They were not only stopped—they were being pushed back!

Young’s ship was hit by a missile. She cartwheeled, trying to keep aloft for as long as possible before gunning her engine and crashing ahead of the two others. She smacked into the ground. The charge in her fighter went up, but she was all out of anti-matter missiles.

Yu and the remaining pilot shot through the dust cloud, leaving a vortex in their passing.

“Shit, wonky on the right side,” Yu said, feeling a loss of control on his right as it was becoming harder and harder to gain control on that side.

His mind, linked directly to the ship, was telling him the problem. The repair nanites were trying to fix the most essential systems, but it would take hours to fix all of the damage.

Plasma and rail gun rounds peppered his Ares fighter, sounding like rain on a tin roof as he flew on. Systems continued to fail as the two fighters didn’t have the sort of firepower that they would need to suppress the Maraukians.

Yu felt his fighter’s control weakening. Suddenly his connection disappeared.

He was jolted awake from a combination of adrenaline and a combat chemical mix and took a deep breath. His ports were covered over; the nanites that made up his clothes and his body formed back into place as his flight seat restrained him.

He let out a few ragged breaths as he looked around him. He was back in the drop-ship.

“Holy shit,” Young thought-spoke to Yu, who was next to him.

“Well, that is a whole new way to pilot,” Yu thought-spoke back.

“You two back with me?” Bobbie asked. He was in the cargo hold, flying the drop-ship from there. He might be the cargo master, but he had more time in a combat shuttle with than most other people.

“Good thing we are back. With your driving, I’m surprised we didn’t get called out for drunken piloting!” Yu laughed, his emotions still in a jumble, knowing that if he hadn’t had uplinked to the Ares fighter, then right now he would have been dead.

The mind was an odd machine. He pushed that from his mind, a big smile on his face and a story to tell others. His seat moved forward and he ran his hands over the familiar controls, taking over from Bobbie.

“Trip information to your NIAI— just take us in,” Young said. Although NIAIs had replaced the need for a secondary position in civilian ships and shuttles, there was no replacement for another ass in the seat on a combat mission.

NIAIs were technology and might fail; having two people aboard served to make sure everything went smoothly.

With the mergers, the co-pilots were not only there to assist the captain of the vessel but to also assist those on the ground, make sure that they had what was needed, lend their help to fire control and they could also link into the Ares fighters that were onboard the Moby as the Ares fighters would be closer to the drop-ships than the carrier. They would have a greater command and control of the fighter with the reduced distance between the two.

Yu checked on what was happening with the legionnaires and the mergers. They were pushing forward hard, using the opening that the Ares fighters had given them to gain some more depth and give the people of Edani some more room between them and the apes.

***

Lila held onto her daughter’s arm as they were corralled through the city center, nothing but a backpack on her shoulders and a smaller water carrier on her daughter’s. “You okay, Macie?” She looked down to the bedraggled and frightened youngster.

Macie’s wide eyes stared up at her, and Lila gasped. Blood streaked her child’s face. “Were you hit?” She stopped suddenly in the midst of the crowd and was buffeted to the side of the street by others before she even knew it.

Macie started crying, but all Lila could do was hold her to her chest and try her best not to panic. There was nothing she could visibly see on her daughter’s face or neck that belied she’d been injured.

“Please, ma’am, keep moving.”

Lila looked to the legionnaire who pointed down the street. They’d been walking and running for hours—when was this nightmare going to be over?

That’s when the explosions around them worsened. The sky itself lit up and gray lines spread out. Fire erupted as the building to her left shook. Debris and dust filled the air. Lila choked and then saw the rubble heading down. She wasn’t sure which way would be best to run, but she sure as hell tried. “Hold on, baby,” she whispered, holding her daughter close. “Cover your head. We’ll get through this.”

The large plaster and concrete pieces slammed into the pathway ahead. Lila choked out a scream as several things struck her from behind. She tried not to let the pain wracking her body get to her, but blood oozed from a cut in the side of her head. Lila’s knees gave way and she fell, just managing to keep hold of Macie as she did.

Then, turning to face the sky, she saw her ending. The concrete headed her way was not going to move. With a shove, Lila pushed her daughter away from her, shouting out, “RUN!” as she did so.

Macie ran a few short steps as the concrete slammed behind her.

Lila’s cries were heard no more.

Chapter 26

Edani Northern Wall

Indalia, Otarvi system

7/3555

Mark watched as the Ares fighters dropped from orbit, carving through atmosphere and toward the valley. They made no pause as they came right over the drop-ships.

“We’ve got support coming in! Have your people ready to advance. This is where we make the Maraukians dance to our fucking tune!” Mark turned and rose from where he’d been hiding. Twin gray streams connected him to the Maraukians. Four more went down as Mark jumped for cover, rounds tearing through where he had just been.

“All right, you ugly bastards! We’ve gone through a lot, you’re tired, you’re hurting, and you need a fucking shower! Trust me, I can smell it from here!” Quina said, her legionnaires listening to her. A number of their brothers and sisters weren’t making it back from this fight and others were classed as unknown as they’d been pulled back to the rear lines. They’d done damned well by themselves to do as they had. They all knew it.

If they hadn’t trusted in their leadership that hadn’t in turn relied on them, then they would have been a broken legion over the mountains to the east of Edani.

“But you’re fucking legionnaires! This is what we do—we stand in front of the people we are entrusted with protecting, standing next to our brothers and sisters! Either we keep retreating all the way back to Edani, letting the Maraukians rage among those of the city. Or we push forward! We take these ape fucks and we show them what a fucking shield wall is. We show them what it means to come up against the legion!” Quina’s voice rose, gaining momentum with each word. As she finished, her men and women—her legionnaires—roared.

They might be just humans, they might be scared, hurt and afraid, but they knew something else: they were legionnaires, part of a group of people few could call home, and those who did found a brotherhood and sisterhood.

The sounds of Ares engines filled the air, growing closer and closer with each second.

“Mergers! Up!” Mark yelled, rising from his position of cover to lay fire into the Maraukians in front of him. Instead of dropping down, he moved forward.

The forest was filled with tracers fighting one another, green and silver bisecting one another. Explosives dotted the landscape. Trees that were nothing more than large splinters splattered the landscape; the smoke of battle covered the valley as walls of dirt were thrown into the air.

The mergers advanced; joining into one whole, they fired, covering one another and moving from cover to cover. Their M20s lit up the Maraukians, keeping them at bay.

“Centurions, to your people! Thirty-Ninth, with me!” Quina yelled, more war goddess than human.

Legionnaires rose from their foxholes, craters, and crude trenches, their M19s in their shoulder as they fired on the Maraukians.

The air seemed to shift as explosions wrecked the area. Ares fighters now moved in, low and dangerous.

Tracers colored the valley, as weapons fire was exchanged between the two forces. The people were invisible but the tracer pinpointed their location.

Anti-matter missiles and heavy rail guns fired from above, tearing through the Maraukian lines.

“Use the cover! The Ares soften them up—we take ’em down!” Mark yelled.

The mergers ranged ahead, feeding information to the legionnaires, using them as support as they were able to continue straight into the teeth of the Maraukians.

“Covering!” Mark yelled, laying down fire as mergers rushed past him, using their anti-gravity and their suits to power forward, shooting the entire time.

They broke down into teams, covering one another and advancing. A shockwave, channeled through the valley, washed over them. The legionnaires fought to keep their footing while the mergers fought onward.

Mark winced as he felt the connection go dead to one of his mergers, feeling their last thoughts and emotions before they disappeared.

A missile came out of nowhere, hitting Jarek just as he started to rush forward. Mark’s vision slowed as he saw the missile tear Jarek’s armor apart, getting to him inside.

He flopped to the ground, his last thoughts of shock and bewilderment as his life signs went black, showing that he was no longer with the living.

“Mark!” Sarah yelled, taking over his suit and throwing him sideways into a crater. Rounds cut through where he’d just been. Shock at being yanked out of harm’s way filled his mind

“You okay?” Sarah and Ava asked together.

“Fine. I just need to kill something,” Mark thought back to her. Even his thoughts were hoarse as he bit back on his emotion.

He sunk deeper into the merge, no longer a person, but an entity of three: suit, man, and NIAI.

He came out of the crater, firing and moving, not pausing once as he charged forward. As he reached the Maraukians, he didn’t slow his speed at all. He rushed forward, his guns blasting away. Blue blood splashed on his armor as he used the M20s as bats. He turned in the air, grabbing one M20 and one sword. His every action was cold and calculated. The more his rage built, the calmer he became, his revenge exacting and terrible.

None of the Maraukians were left alive in his path, blue blood and lifeless corpses around him. Feeding off that rage, the other mergers surged forward, rage fueling them and their actions.

The legionnaires seemed to sense the anger and the bloodlust in the air, losing themselves as they raced forward. Legionnaires were always the losers when coming up against the Maraukians, but here—here they were unstoppable, gods in their own right.

The Ares had thinned out the Maraukians. Against the 4,500 remaining legionnaires, they weren’t able to put up nearly any resistance.

Mark jumped up and smashed his fist into a Maraukian’s face. He grabbed their neck, hitting the stunned Maraukian again and again as blue blood covered his armor, riding the Maraukian to the ground until they stopped moving.

Mark flung himself to the side. Rounds ripped through where he had been hitting the now dead Maraukian’s body.

Mark came out of his roll, his M20s extending as a stream of silver rounds tore through several Maraukians.

Mark ran forward through the chaos of the battlefield. He drew his sword. With a yell, he ducked low, bringing his sword up and under a Maraukian’s guard, cutting them in two. He swung his blade over, cutting through another Maraukian’s weapon; reversing the blade, he drove it through the Maraukian’s chin. Mark tore the blade free and jumped to his side, hitting a Maraukian in the side with his shoulder. The Maraukian, who had been shooting at another merger, was confused as his aim went off target and he fell to the ground.

Mark turned his M20, snapping into place as several rounds hit the Maraukian point-blank in the face.

Mark continued the charge forward. This was where the mergers showed that they weren’t humans anymore. Even across the chaotic battlefield, they coordinated with one another perfectly. Their reaction speed and strength allowed them to fight up close with the Maraukians.

Axes, blades, even mono-wires and daggers were used by the mergers. Anything and everything was a weapon, even their own bodies. If they lost a weapon, they’d tear one from a Maraukian or use their body to fight.

“Line!” Mark called out.

They had moved through the forward ranks of the Maraukians. As a rule, the Maraukians closest to the front would be standing up with their weapons in hand. Those that came behind would usually be still down, ready to run and move fast, or standing up without a hand on their weapons.

Clearing out the front line, now the mergers were greeted by the unarmed Maraukians.

The mergers took a knee; their M20s snapped together. The world seemed to turn silver as their M20s fired round after round.

Maraukians were cut down. Without weapons in their hands, they didn’t even have the capability to shoot back.

“Advance!” Mark barked.

Half the mergers moved forward, stopping as one and taking a knee; then the other half moved ahead of them, maintaining a line at all times.

The Maraukians were like wheat before the scythe. With no way to fight back, they were blown back by the thousands of rounds that tore through the Indalia undergrowth and Maraukians.

The legionnaires weren’t out of the fight either. They fired through the gaps between the mergers, laying down supporting fire.

In battle, this kind of work needed skill, absolute trust, and fearless dedication.

The mergers were advancing right into the Maraukians’ teeth while their friendly forces fired just a few feet on either side of them.

The legionnaires’ fire started to slow as they could no longer see targets. The Maraukians that had been bunched up together were cleared up, leaving just the roaming bands of Maraukians that were slowly drifting forward.

These were the dregs at the rear of the Maraukian formations.

“Chyna, have your contubernium hold the rear. Ava, support him!” Mark’s rage and anger had subsided but he still glanced to where Jarek’s armor was. It continued to repair itself even as its user was dead.

“Maps,” Mark said to Sarah. Information flooded his mind as he was updated on everything.

“Quina.” There was a clicking noise as Mark was connected to Quina.

“Mark?”

“This seems to be the best we’re going to get. I’m going to pull my people back to Edani and dig in. Take your forces and start marching through Edani to Ducharev. The different transports can get you guys on your way back, reduce the time to get on board and get the hell out of here,” Mark said.

“Got it.” Quina’s words were harsh as she understood what Mark wasn’t saying. “We’ve got a bunch of ammo—do you want it?”

“If you could drop it at Edani, we’d appreciate it. Make sure you have enough to deal with anything that comes at you on the run.”

“Yeah.” Quina took a moment to collect herself. “I’ll get my people organized.”

Chapter 27

Edani Northern Wall

Indalia, Otarvi System

7/3555

“What kind of information do we have from the other mountain passes and the major openings to the north and south?” Mark asked.

“We’ve got what the space legion tells us and then what our own scouts tell us. Our biggest problem is that we’re covering such a large area that we can’t be watching everything,” Quina said. “This is something that will only get worse as we pull people back. We’re going to need to pull people from the sides back first and then through the center.”

“Shit, you don’t have any remote sensing platforms?” Mark asked.

“We do, but then these hills are pretty damn good at stopping signals. To communicate to most of my people, I have to keep drop-ships running behind the lines to relay my messages and act as transmission towers. Now that the satellites are gone, it’s getting much harder to pass information and know what the fuck is going on.”

“To confirm—you don’t have a way to communicate on the ground?” Mark asked.

“We don’t. See, we’ve never heard of a Maraukian ship making it into the protected systems. Why would we keep maintaining expensive equipment buried in the ground that is hard to get to, rather than a satellite in the sky that can last ten times as long and won’t need much maintenance because it’s in vacuum?”

Mark grunted.

“You need anything else?” Quina asked.

“I think we’re good. We’ll be moving up to the position. We’re going to be calling down orbital drops for ammunition. We don’t know how long we’ll be able to hold the wall for, but as we start moving back, it would be an idea to start pulling your people back,” Mark said.

“I’ll have my people start making more defensive locations to pull back. We won’t be able to make many.” The map moved from the defensive wall that had been compromised and to a place where the valley came together. To one side there was a deep river; the other side was filled with rough ground. “This is the next best place to mount a defense if you need to pull back in a hurry. Most of the trails and the different entrances come back there. We didn’t mount our defense there because after that, there’s nothing until you meet the city.”

“We’ll call that fallback one. When you guys bug out or if we’re getting pushed too hard, then we’ll have to move back to there,” Mark said.

“Okay, you need anything more from me?” Quina looked from Mark to all of those in the landing bay.

“We’re good. We’ll get boarded up and drop in and see what we can do,” Mark said. “Could we get the support of your artillery park?”

“You have it,” Quina said.

“Can we be authorized for anti-matter rounds?”

Quina was a bit shocked by the question. Most people shied away from using anti-matter weapons. They were so damned powerful that they would strike the fear of the gods into a man or woman who saw them.

“Centurion, I feel like I have to warn you in the usage of anti-matter warheads.” Even Quina was hesitant to use the weapons of destruction.

“Legate, the power source for our armor is an anti-matter power source. We are well aware of what happens with anti-matter warheads. Our strength doesn’t come from our stronger weapons, although it is an advantage. It is because we are able to communicate nearly instantaneously with one another. If we can’t access all that we might be able to use, then it’s as if we’re fighting with one hand behind our back,” Mark said.

Quina let out a heavy breath, looking at all of the men and women in front of her. She couldn’t see their features, only their towering armor that was darker than space itself.

“Fine.” She nodded. They had come in her people’s time of need. What they needed, they would get; if it was to kill them in the future, it wouldn’t be her fault.

She also felt that although they were talking about all of this in a relaxed manner, as soon as they were on the front line it would be a different matter.

“Thank you, Legate. Then we have a drop-ship to get,” Mark said.

The different suits turned and boarded the ships. Once again, the engines of the drop-ships came alive as the ramps started to close behind the last of the mergers.

Quina watched as they rose upward and then shot forward, out of the city, traveling the opposite direction of the flying vessels that were hauling people toward the safety that Ducharev promised.

She looked to the picturesque mountains that she had grown up in as a kid. In the distance, she could see the flashes of explosions, the dust rising from impact, and the haze that surrounded the areas where the worst fighting had happened.

She steeled her heart and continued jogging with the rest of her legionnaires.

Chapter 28

SLS Moby

Indalia, Otarvi System

8/3555

“Mother fuckers!” Liang pounded on his desk as he cursed out loud. Realizing what he had done, he winced.

“Care to share the issue?” Captain Chen asked his communications officer.

“Sorry for my outburst, sir!” Liang straightened in his chair. “I was talking to the different supply ships that are in-system. I was given a request from engineering that they need all the resources I can scrounge together to create supplies for our people on the ground.”

“What happened?” Chen had a feeling he knew where this was going.

“None of the ships are willing to give us their ammunition or supplies. As we are officially seconded to the Tenth Legion that is outside the Ninth Legion’s command, they’re looking up the protocol.”

Chen could understand his communication officer’s anger.

Chen knew the mergers on the ground were desperate for ammunition and he had seen the crazy plan Charles had created to keep them supplied. He didn’t care as long as it worked.

“Understood.” Chen didn’t reprimand Liang further. The man wanted to keep the mergers supplied and in the fight; it was a good reason to be angry. “Were we able to get anything from them?”

“No, and I was asking for raw resources. Charles said that we can make it all in-house. Right now he’s burning through the extra materials we have onboard, cannibalizing spare parts and products we don’t use to make ammunition blocks. He’s even thinking of tearing up tables and bulkheads that aren’t wanted to meet material needs.”

Chen didn’t know it had got to this stage; he’d thought they had more than enough materials.

With the expansion and changes to the Moby, he thought there must be plenty of materials on hand. It looked like he was wrong.

His eyes looked over the different screens, trying to think of a solution.

“Wait. Francis—enlarge sensor information,” Chen ordered the sensors officer.

“Sir.”

Chen reviewed the screen. They needed resources. His first thoughts moved to asteroids. Seeing there were none nearby, he needed anything else.

“Get me Charles,” Chen said.

“Chen, I’m busy right now,” Charles said as their NIAIs connected them.

“I don’t have any materials coming from the support ships,” Chen started.

“Those damn resource holding idiots! They’ve got ammunition and factories on the ground for that kind of thing—they’re just sitting there! I even looked into their internal cameras and sensors. Their forges aren’t even ramped up!”

“Charles! We might not have them, though I’m looking at a rather large amount of space debris from the Maraukians’ entry into the planet. What if we cannibalized the stations, satellites, and the leftovers from the Maraukian insertion barge?”

The line was silent for some time.

“Charles, you there?”

“I’m running diagnostics!” Charles shot back.

Chen wisely shut up. He might be the captain of this ship—many called the captain god aboard his own ship—but this god knew when to shut up and let the crazy Uncle Charles do his thing.

“Yes! There is enough! We’ll need drones to make this faster. Acceleration is too hard for humans to stand long.” Charles made some more noises, not shutting his NIAI channel.

“Just got a new plot and objective from Charles,” Francis called out.

On screen, a piece of spinning hull from a Maraukian barge was seen, showing an exterior panel and the interior decks open to space.

“If we can reel this in, I can move the fabbers to the docks. From there, we cut the Maraukian panels, feed them into the fabbers and grab some more materials,” Charles finally came back to Chen.

“Got it.” Chen closed the channel.

“Taelyon, hook us that panel! Francis, I want you to look for other panels like it that we could cannibalize. If those supply ships don’t want to give us supplies, we’ll just have to find our own! Liang, send a message down. Anyone who has people free are to send them to support Charles.” Chen paused for a moment. “Best to send them to Maxine, actually.”

Chen could feel the engines of the Moby start up while Travestki and Taelyon talked to each other.

Francis got his sensor pit organized as they each took sectors. Their NIAIs linked to the sensors, picking up different debris left behind, while they plotted out least-time routes and picked out which panels would be the easiest to grab due to their rotation in the xyz directional plot.

Liang’s voice started to echo through the ship as boots pounded and the internal ship decks were cleared.

The Moby came alive with her captain’s orders as people checked their armored space suits and moved fabbers into place. Plasma torches were checked as repair kits were pulled from storage.

“We’ll be entering the debris trail of the Maraukians in seven minutes,” Taelyon said.

The debris trail showed the Maraukians’ path of entry into Indalia’s atmosphere.

“Ready on clamps!” Travestki said.

Thankfully, the Moby was an old ship and still had dock clamps that ran down her spine, belly, starboard and port sides. Also, she still had internal docks for the different types of ships that called her home.

Most modern ships fired out their different craft through acceleration tubes as they were smaller gaps in one’s armor and they could impart a greater speed onto the craft instead of the smaller mag-lines of a hangar-based carrier.

“We are getting a request from Admiral Hesra,” Liang reported.

“To my NIAI,” Chen said.

“Captain Chen?” Admiral Hesra’s voice was clear in Chen’s mind.

“Admiral Hesra, what can I help you with?”

“I see that the Moby is moving position and heading for the debris field created by the Maraukian insertion barge.”

“Yes, Admiral, that is correct.”

“For what reason are you going into an area filled with debris?” Hesra said, starting to get annoyed.

“Admiral Hesra, my communications officer has made requests to the supply ships of your fleet for resources to manufacture more ammunition for our forces on the ground. Those requests were denied so we are looking to cannibalize the Maraukians’ debris to create those supplies.”

“Captain Chen, I can understand that you are invested in the forces you have placed on the ground, but you are putting your ship and your crew into danger when the forces on the ground can get a resupply if they make a request to the quartermaster on the ground,” Hesra said.

Chen paused, wondering what the admiral was thinking.

The mergers’ ammunition types were not the same as the rest of the legionnaires. They could use the ammunition blocks from the M19A but there weren’t M19As yet out on the battlefield. They burned through ammunition faster than an artillery park. They were also well into the Maraukian lines. With them approaching on all sides, having a ship get in and drop them supplies was a suicide mission.

“Admiral Hesra, the Tenth legionnaires use a different ammunition type from regular legionnaires.”

“Look, Captain, the Moby showed that it was indeed useful in fighting against the Maraukians and I overlooked the kinetic strike you dropped as it was okayed by the legionnaire commander on the ground. There is a chain of command and a supply line created for a reason. It is not your place to override it.” Hesra’s voice climbed as Chen could only grit his teeth. “Move your ship back into formation or I will have you court-martialed.”

Chen took some deep breaths before calming his mind. If he was court-martialed, so what? If it saved some of the people on the ground, that was his job and duty. Fuck it.

If we’re in the debris field then he’s not going to send anyone to try to get me.

“In that case, Admiral, I will see you at the hearing. Right now, I have some people to keep alive.” Chen cut the channel.

“Taelyon, get a move on,” Chen said.

“Sir.” Taelyon increased their speed as they entered the debris field.

“Clamp if you’ve got a target. Don’t get the lines tangled or I swear to God I’ll come down there and boot fuck you myself,” Travestki said to his gunners.

Clamps fired away into the darkness, snatching out small debris from around the ship and reeling it back in.

“We are getting communications from Admiral Hesra for you, sir,” Liang said.

“Deny him,” Captain Chen said.

Liang nodded and blocked the admiral.

The first recovered panel was pulled to the ship. Volunteers who had been waiting for it exited an air lock and removed the panel.

They guided the large section down the ship. As they reached the dock, the large bay doors opened to allow them inside.

They passed off the panel to those inside.

Things were still being set up but crews clamped the panel to the ground, and fighter and ship maintainers set to work with their plasma torches. Cutting the panels up, they dumped them into refining vats. The metal started to dissolve, being broken down and processed.

Charles and the engineering team were split between making the supplies and making the supply delivery drop system.

Additional debris was retrieved and guided down to the bay.

Sensors were looking for new targets and also advising the groups on the hull of any incoming debris.

The gunners were talking to one another and listening to Travestki’s orders as they went for the debris that sensors had okayed.

Taelyon had a concentrated look on her face as they moved through the debris field. “I’m going to need you to clear that spinney block off the port bow.”

“Clear to fire, sir?” Travestki looked at Chen.

“Cleared to fire if needed,” Chen confirmed.

“Missiles are ready. Firing,” Travestki said.

The missiles hit the debris. Without atmosphere, the clump of debris was turned into fine particles shooting toward Indalia’s atmosphere.

On the main screen, a tanned man with striking green eyes and a powerful bearing, wearing a uniform adorned with different medals, sat in the middle of a command center.

“Crew of the Moby, this is Admiral Hesra, in charge of the space legion forces over Indalia. Captain Chen has gone rogue and has ignored orders, making him a traitor. You are ordered to arrest Captain Chen for court-martial and move outside of the debris field.”

Captain Chen didn’t expect that Admiral Hesra would push to override their communication systems and shove a video in their faces.

A few people looked over to Captain Chen, who sat there resolutely. The more time he spent in the debris field, the more resources Charles could get.

The more they had, the more supply drops they could create.

“What are you looking at? Eyes on screens,” Carla growled.

Everyone snapped their eyes back to their screens. Not one of them would go against their captain.

“Sorry, sir,” Liang said. The video connection closed. “My finger slipped.” With that, Liang continued to look at his station.

Chen’s eyes fell on Taelyon, who hadn’t stopped flying, and Travestki, who kept issuing orders to his people.

“I do remember something about us being part of the Auxiliary Tenth fleet. Which doesn’t technically put us under Admiral Hersht’s command,” Carla mused aloud.

Chen laughed. “I don’t think that will help me much, but as long as we get the supplies our people need, I don’t care much.”

Chen’s smile was a little easier. The crew of the Moby had been thrown together in just a few short months, and here they were, going into the middle of a dense debris field, a starship’s worst enemy. An admiral had given an order to arrest him, but all of his command staff ignored the order. Instead, they continued on and made him very proud.

With this kind of willingness to follow him down the path to potential court-martial, Chen promised to do all in his power to see that he was the only person called in for the court-martial.

He looked over what was happening across the ship and on the ground.

The legionnaires at Edani were already on the other side of the city and running for Ducharev. Their sensor data was degrading as the Moby was moving away. They’d get periodic updates from the satellites that were being thrown out and the fleet above.

The satellites were concentrated over the cities with the largest populations. The mergers held an important location; the civilians had been evacuated already and fortifications were being erected at Ducharev.

Dodger and Ava’s forces were moving through the different passes, blowing them up and making it harder for the Maraukians to get through. Mark and Chyna were hauling ass to Edani with any of the earth moving equipment they had.

From the latest information they got, the next full wave of Maraukians would be on Edani’s doorstep in eight or so hours.

Chen recalled information on the support force that had arrived. It would be two, nearly three days until they reached Indalia and then they could drop forces on the ground.

At the soonest, it would be ninety-six hours until the support fleet could fight back.

It would take fourteen hours to get all of the civilians who were hiking to Ducharev inside the city, as well as the legionnaires.

Only then could the Tenth start to pull back to Ducharev. They would need to pull back along the road or move through the forests and cliffs.

Retreating under fire was never good. Even the Tenth wasn’t as fast as the Maraukians when running.

Supplies were a massive issue. If the mergers didn’t have ammunition, then they could only rely on their weapons, armor, and bodies to fight off the Maraukians.

They simply didn’t have the numbers to create a wall that would hold the enemy.

Chen’s fists curled. As soon as the Tenth came under fire, it was unlikely that they would ever leave Edani.

There were too many Maraukians. If they weren’t killed off by the Tenth, then they would charge past them toward Ducharev. Then, if the Tenth retreated, they’d be running right into the Maraukians that had already made it past.

Their only hope was if the legion pushed forward to Edani, or if they had enough fire support raining down on them.

They could run through that fire support and make it back.

Chen could only support them from afar and watch their stand.

***

Ray Sina had been a maintenance engineer for most of his life. His frequent run-ins with the higher-ups meant that he rarely got promoted. At first, he’d been angry. As he’d gotten used to the position, he started to delve into the shadier side of dealings that went on in a warship.

He’d run gambling halls, made different kinds of booze, and could get most people what they wanted and needed.

When everyone was getting ready for the Maraukians with their Alcubierre drive capabilities, he had looked for a new posting. Working on one of the massive carriers was good as it allowed someone to hide, though they were the nerve center of a fleet.

Sina didn’t want to be in a ship that was going up against Maraukians. So he went looking for other ships that were in the space legion. There were always a few that were squirreled away in some unknown quadrant filled with people from Roma, the sons and daughters of powerful people who needed to show they served to bring their family honor, though they didn’t want to be in actual danger.

He had come across how the Moby was being redone and it was on an ambassador mission. He thought that it was because people on the Moby were getting out of the fighting. If he was on an ambassador ship, then there was no way it would be going to war, right?

He’d used his contacts and got his position shifted.

When he got aboard the Moby, he knew there was something wrong. First of all, the ship wasn’t simply being fixed—it was being upgraded with the kind of weapons and machines that made Sina have to take sleep classes on how it all operated.

Then there were the ghostly pale weirdos who walked around in their armor all the time. They were called mergers. Through his information network, Sina found out that they were some kind of cyborg human freaks who could fight the Maraukians hand-to-hand. He saw one of them fighting off Maraukians with nothing but regular legionnaire armor and a sword.

A fucking sword!

He thought he’d get off the ship after Earth, take his time and request to be put on another ship. He didn’t know that the ship would go straight from Sol system to the Otarvi system to fight off the Maraukians.

He’d heard Admiral Hesra’s words. The crew didn’t seem to react that much. Most actually seemed as if they were pissed with the admiral more than Captain Chen, who was leading them into a fucking asteroid field.

Sina had snuck away from the work crews and went to one of his holdouts. He reached under the decking and grabbed the pistol underneath. He put it into his coveralls. Checking no one saw him, he put the decking back in place and headed toward the bridge.

Who would have thought that I would be some hero, taking in a mutineering captain?

Sina laughed to himself, thinking what reward he would take, not wanting to be mentioned in the press. Okay, maybe a little bit? It could be good to look like a hero with some of the working girls he frequented at different supply ports.

Take a posting on a nice simple ship scouting for Maraukians.

Chapter 29

Edani

Indalia, Otarvi System

8/3555

Once Quina and her legionnaires had cleared Edani, Mark sent Ava and Dodger off to go and blow any remaining paths they could find into Edani and hold back the roaming Maraukian groups.

He’d moved with Chyna and the remaining mergers to Edani. The city was deserted, giving it an eerie feel.

They set to work digging into the roads. They tore through pipes and electrical systems, creating corridors into the city.

They piled up the dirt on either side of these trenches. The Maraukians, although they were fast running in a straight line, were top heavy. If they went up too much of an incline, they’d flip over and fall backward.

With sharp angles on each side of these trenches, they created the perfect killing funnels.

Some roads that couldn’t be covered were filled in and then covered in cement, making walls the Maraukians couldn’t scale.

Firing slits were cut into the walls with mono-weaponry so that the mergers would be able to fire from cover.

Crews moved over the ground, planting explosives and creating traps.

Pits were dug everywhere. The Maraukians couldn’t climb, so they would be pushed into these pits, being crushed by those on top until those behind could walk over the Maraukians and advance.

Automated machines hurtled reclaimed materials into refiners and fabbers created the different explosives the mergers had planned out.

Mark was working with the other members of the Tenth, digging a pit out on the hills that led to the city down from the mountain.

Digging being the operative word.

An explosion went off as the cratering charge did its job. Dirt covered Mark but it didn’t matter to him while in his armor.

He quickly threw in another charge, rewarded with another explosion and more flying debris.

“How’s it going out there?” Mark patched through for Ava and Dodger.

“We’ve hit most of the passes we can find. We’ve got roaming Maraukians but that’s about it. If we just keep an overwatch going, we should be fine,” Dodger said.

“Agreed. I’m pulling my people back. Give you a hand,” Ava said.

A series of explosions went off. Mark didn’t move his head as his vision changed to look behind him.

He saw as one of the large skyscrapers’ first floor was blown out, causing it tilt to the side. Almost in slow motion, it cracked more and then fell.

The impact made the ground shake as a few of the other buildings in Edani were damaged.

“First tower down,” Chyna said.

They were dropping towers on either side of the city, hoping to funnel more areas in to the city and make it harder for the Maraukians to advance quickly.

While they were making pits, traps, mines, and killing funnels toward where the Maraukians were coming from, it all helped give the people of Edani longer to escape.

On the side of Edani that faced Ducharev, the plan was to simply drop the buildings and try to make as many obstacles as possible to slow the Maraukians.

They’d be able to get over the rubble, but it would take them more time, more time for Ducharev to get ready for their fight.

Another charge went off as Mark’s pit grew a little bit. Seeing it wouldn’t get any bigger, he used a hand held digging machine that spit the dirt and rocks out through a tube.

“All right, let’s try to make these defenses in-depth as much as possible. Dodger, get as many mines as possible and get them laid out beyond the second defensive line all the way to the city.”

“Understood. I would have suggested it myself. That valley is one of the best ways to bottleneck the Maraukians. With just a few mines, we’ll be able to blow them right to hell.”

“I was thinking—there are a few people with mono-wire like me. We could lay traps out with that, have the Maraukians slice off their feet with it. If we could attach them to something that spins, then, timed right, they’d tear through the Maraukians,” Ava suggested.

“Sprinklers,” Chyna said.

“Huh?” Mark had no idea where Chyna was going with this.

“Sprinklers. I saw that there was a store with all kinds of gardening stuff. There are sprinklers there. We take off the thing that governs the direction so they just spin, attach the mono-wire and just let them rip,” Chyna said.

“Sprinklers of death—twisted but it works,” Dodger said.

“Do it. Priority change on the fabber for the mono-wire,” Mark said.

“The sprinklers will work on the plains for some time until the water hose is cut or the sprinkler is destroyed. Though the low-lying wire would be best in the tree line. If we just put them on stakes or something, take more time and they hit one of the stakes before the wire, they take it out completely,” Dodger said.

“Yeah, the trees would be better. Could also run them through the killing corridors—take the Maraukians’ feet out and at their head height so when they raise themselves up for battle they cut their own heads off. Also, if we’ve got nail guns, if we can up the power of the rails on them, then weld the wire to two nails on two different guns. We fire the guns at the same time and it’ll send out a mono-wire to cut down Maraukians in close. If the nail hits them before the wire it won’t be as useful,” Ava said.

The conversation went on for some time, giving Mark enough time to finish the deep pit. He jumped out with the digger and tossed down a holoprojector.

The pit disappeared and it seemed to blend in with the rest of the hill.

“You have a call coming in from Captain Chen.” Sarah interrupted the chatter.

“One minute. Chen is on the other line.” Mark switched channels.

“Okay, we’ve got some more resources and we should have three supply drops ready for you within four hours. They’re filled with ammunition. Do you have any requests for things you might need?”

“Sending you a list now. Also, will you be able to give us any more kinetic strikes from your position?” Mark asked.

“We can still support with kinetic strikes, but be aware we’re cannibalizing most of our rounds so that we can send you guys supplies. So it’s either more supplies or kinetic strikes.”

Mark winced. He knew what Charles was like. Damned scientist would eat the whole ship if he thought he could get away with it. They had limited support from the artillery park and the other ships in orbit wouldn’t okay a kinetic strike.

“Keep at least ten volleys ready.” Mark knew how much ammunition the Tenth went through. If he had support from the artillery park, then there was little need for the kinetic strike from orbit.

Chapter 30

Edani City Center

Indalia, Otarvi System

8/3555

Quina watched as the towers at the edge of the city were felled. The dust clouds and debris shot high into the sky and blocked most of their view.

Without her HUD and the constant stream of information from the others, she would have felt blind panic at this maneuver. However, now it was all coming into place and was giving them the time they needed to finally get far enough back that the Maraukians weren’t that much of a threat.

Her legionnaires were giving as much hell as they could beside Mark and his team. Now she had to do what she was first tasked with—retreating—and that was the hardest thing for her. She wanted to be in on that fight.

“Keep those lines moving,” she ordered as the movement ahead slowed. Pulling up her second, she asked, “What the hell is the problem?”

“Some severe debris up ahead, Legate. We need to move around it.”

Quina shook her head. “No, we’ve only got so much of a lead. We need to get over it. Help those who struggle but keep those lines moving.”

“Yes, sir.”

She watched as the heads of her command legionnaires stepped up onto the debris and finally started to get the line moving and over the debris. They’d only so much time to meet the ships on the other side that would take most of the refugees to Ducharev. They had to meet it, or they’d still be stuck with Maraukians on their tail.

“Mark.” She messaged him. “We’ve hit a slight snag. Getting through as quick as we can.”

The reply came through with a burst of gunfire and explosions on his end. “Copy that. Quick as possible, Quina.”

Quina began to move through the people around her and helped where she could. As the lines cleared and the area filtered out of people, Quina heard something. Crying. There was a child nearby, she knew it.

Her second commed her. “What is it?”

“I can hear a child. You keep going. I’ll be over as soon as I can.”

“You’re not staying here without support. Where?” Within a moment, the younger man had dropped in beside her.

Quina pointed over to a collapsed building. The two of them headed on over. Once Quina could see the child, she backed her second off. She was the one to approach.

Once the girl saw Quina, she held out a hand immediately and Quina took it. “My mummy’s in there.” The girl pointed to the pile of debris. “Get her out.”

Using her HUD, Quina looked into the debris pile. There was indeed a human form, but it wasn’t alive any longer. Quickly scooping up the young child, she lied. “Your mum made it out on the other side. She asked me to come get you.”

“She did?” The girl’s eyes lit up and it broke Quina’s usually hard heart.

“Yes. Come on, we have a long way to walk yet.”

The young girl allowed herself to be picked up and Quina walked back to her second with tears streaming down her cheeks. She knew he’d overheard her, and quickly he took the child out of her arms.

“Let’s get the two of you to safety.” He ushered them on and away from the pile of rubble and the young girl’s very dead mother.

Chapter 31

SLS Moby

Indalia Orbit, Otarvi System

8/3555

Chen saw Liang answering a communication before he turned to face him.

Liang looked him dead in the eye. “Captain, Charles has confirmed that we have enough to make the first supply drops,” Liang reported, saying the words that Chen had been waiting for two hours.

“Good. Taelyon, move us to the launch point. Travestki, keep us updated if the launch point needs any changes,” Chen said.

“Flipping ship.” Taelyon maneuvered the ship.

Chen had been waiting for Charles to report when they were good for the first drop. He was keeping updated through the link to the mergers, but they had no overhead coverage. Every minute they’d waited felt like hours for Chen.

Travestki had picked a launch point that would keep them away from the main fleet so that Admiral Hesra wouldn’t be able to send ships after them. The debris field was chaotic but it was the Moby’s shield right now.

Mark knew they were coming. Now all that mattered was that they truly had enough for them to make that stand.

“Get us back into that damned fight,” he said.

This might very well be his last battle as the captain of the Moby. Seeing their determined faces, he knew that he would look to defy Admiral Hesra’s orders again in another life.

He surged with the pride that only a captain would have: his men were loyal and true; despite the admiral in their faces, they’d carried out the orders he gave them.

The ship changed direction and was soon headed back to the main battle. Chen watched on his display. The legionnaires were finally in range of the first commandeered ships and transports. As people were loaded up, others continued to run.

They were well past the city now but still miles from Ducharev. The transport was the only way that they would get to the city in time before the Maraukians.

Chen’s face hardened as he looked at Edani. The city was being torn apart. Towers had been collapsed across the city to create ad hoc walls and form killing corridors.

The legionnaires had a chance to make it to safety, but to do so, the mergers would be stuck right in the front of the Maraukian charge. Chen frowned as he heard a squeaking noise behind him. He looked at the air grate that circulated air through the bridge.

He shook his head and looked away. He had more important things to worry about than a squeaky fan.

“Time to launch point, twelve minutes. We won’t be able to give the forces on the ground any readings of the situation around them,” Francis reported.

“We’ll do what we can,” Chen said, sensing Francis’s bitterness at not being able to help more.

“Hello, Captain Chen, people of the bridge.” A man’s voice came from behind Chen as he turned around in his chair.

That air grate had been removed and a man stood there with a pistol in his hands.

“What the hell is this?” Chen stood straight up.

“This is the part where you sit down in your chair calmly, Captain.”

Chen hadn’t seen the man before, but from his overalls he was part of the engineering crew. Liang and Carla, who were closest, grabbed at their pistols, only to hear the engineer pulling back on the hammer of his old-style gun. It might use a chemical-backed round but it was no less effective than a rail round in close quarters.

“I don’t think you really want to do that, do you?” the man asked.

They slowly raised their hands from their pistols, seeing the calm and calculating look in the man’s eyes.

“You all heard the admiral’s orders. Captain Chen is to be apprehended,” the engineer said.

But Chen could see that there was a gloating look in his eyes as he looked at Chen.

Chen held himself calm and collected. “Now, really, is this something you want to do? The only way you’re getting me off this bridge is if you shoot me, so get it over with or put that gun down and sit in a holding cell until this is all over.”

“Admiral Hesra ordered your arrest—that’s exactly what I’m doing.” The engineer’s eyes thinned as his finger tensed on the trigger slightly.

Carla was the one who next spoke out. “Taelyon is busy flying our asses back to the planet’s surface, where there are millions of people waiting on our air support to get them to safety. Do you want innocent lives on your conscience?”

Ray Sina’s eyes drifted to the main screen, where he could see the devastation on the planet’s surface. Blinking dots here and there were taking their final blink and then were gone. Sina shrugged. “Orders are orders. This is the space legion. We’re not legionnaires.”

Carla also edged in closer.

Ray made a tutting noise as he pushed his gun against Chen’s head, forcing him to tilt his head to the side.

“Come now, first mate. How about you all sit back down?” Ray said.

With the calm way that he talked, Chen felt that this man had killed others up close before.

Chen jumped for the man. Pain and noise flared on the left side of his face as he lost the ability to see out of his left eye.

He was screaming as he grabbed the man’s hand and pistol, pointing it at the ground and getting another bullet in the side as he punched the man in the face.

Chen stumbled back a few steps. He made coughing noises as he reached up to feel the left side of his face.

There was a ringing noise and the pain started to hit. His body started to turn hot then cold and clammy. His head started to pound and his body seemed to fight back at him. He knew the signs of shock, but he couldn’t do anything to stop it. He collapsed to the ground, feeling cold as he kept coughing.

People ran around and he could feel the deck moving with the boots. He saw the man being dragged away as Carla’s face appeared.

Chen tried speaking, but he couldn’t. His NIAI could still understand him and information readouts covered in a red haze flashed in front of his eyes.

“Make sure that supply drop gets there on time!” Chen’s thoughts passed to Carla as he heard hurried calls and people moved him, starting to administer first aid.

He kept coughing. His tongue felt distorted; his whole face didn’t feel as if it was his anymore.

He didn’t know what the damage was as he sunk deeper into his shock and people kept calling out to him.

The panic was clear in their faces as Chen started to shake.

Is this how I die? Am I going to die?

Fear, gripping fear shot through Chen. He started to think of the things he wanted to do: to have a family, to just live simply, drink coffee, watch the world go by, maybe have a ranch to work on or an asteroid mining permit.

With the fear of death, even heroes cry.

Chapter 32

Edani City

Indalia, Otarvi System

8/3555

“Liang, what the hell is going on up there?” Liang had just opened a channel to Mark when the line went quiet. He could hear people talking and then two rounds going off.

Most of the others in the legion might not know what a chemical-backed round sounded like, but Mark had lived around those kinds of weapons most of his life.

“Liang!” Mark yelled.

“Captain Chen has been shot twice, once in the face and another time in the stomach,” Sarah reported.

“The fuck is going on?”

“Admiral Hesra told Chen to not go into the debris field to recover materials, to be used for our ammunition and supplies.

“Chen disregarded the order and Admiral Hesra broadcasted that Captain Chen was to be pulled into custody as a mutineer. An engineer called Ray Sina used his knowledge to get access to the bridge through an air vent.

“He held Chen hostage and wanted to turn him in.

“Chen attacked the man, but was shot. He is being rushed to medical right now but it is not looking good. He has bone fragments in his brain and has bad brain bleeds. He’s in shock and it doesn’t look like he’s got much time.”

Sarah had relayed the feed from the bridge of the Moby.

“Mark, Captain Chen has been shot. Carla is in command. We’re en route.” Liang’s words were terse, his training overtaking his emotions.

Sarah was inside the med bay’s sensors, relaying the information to Mark, who had linked it to Ava, Chyna, and Dodger, who’d sent it to the rest of the mergers. All of them watched, updated on the situation.

“Shit,” Mark spat, feeling useless stuck on this planet without anything to do.

“That brain bleed is bad. The fragments of his skull are deep in there.” As a medico, Ava was able to quickly understand what was going on.

“If we can’t fix it, can we rebuild it?” Dodger asked.

“Dodger is right. If we were to make Chen a merger, then we can create a new brain for him to integrate with,” Chyna said.

“Ava?” Mark asked. She was the one with the most medical knowledge. Since she had become a merger, the amount of information within her mind on medical matters far surpassed the others.

“Yes, though, unlike us, he won’t be able to do it himself. I’ll need him in a nanite vat and then I can start working on him. I can heal the damage but to become a full merger in mind and body—that will be up to him,” Ava said.

It was an unspoken rule among mergers: only turn someone into a merger if they want to spend the rest of their life that way. It wasn’t reversible and one lost the ability to have children or be regarded as anything but a war machine for the rest of their lives.

“Liang, we might have a way to save Captain Chen. Tell the people in the medical bay to place him into a nanite vat and stock it with materials. Ava will be using a remote connection,” Mark said.

Liang hesitated for just a moment. “Yes, sir!”

Mark left Ava to coordinate with the medicos aboard the ship.

There was nothing that Mark could do. He thought about if he had left mergers on board to protect Chen, but that was a dumb idea. They were needed on the battlefield and how was he to know that Admiral Hesra would label him a mutineer and someone would hold Chen hostage?

Still, Mark thought there might have been a way to prevent this all.

Instead of focusing on the what-ifs and maybes, Mark continued working on the different traps that were laid down across Edani.

The occasional M20 would fire, as the overwatch stopped any Maraukian from crossing the dead ground that was now littered with explosives, pits, and other various traps.

***

Dodger took over the command of Ava’s forces while she was preoccupied in helping to save Chen’s life. Without Chen, the Moby wouldn’t be coming in right now with the supplies they drastically needed. As the ship hovered in on his HUD, he listened in and waited for its exact drop location. Almost near them, but then seemingly too far away.

“Looks like a bit of a hike, guys. Get ready. As soon as she drops, we haul ass, or those darned Maraukians will try to get our haul.”

Dodger quickly relayed orders through to the others, hanging back for covering fire. If they didn’t get this drop, they were done for. That meant being overrun with Maraukians, and also the retreating shuttle coming in behind the city lines would fall. All those innocent people.

No, there was no failure here.

Captain Chen had risked all to get them these rounds; they would damned well pick them up.

“On my mark.” Dodger waited as the Moby drew in closer.

The herd commander spotted the ship and started to turn their attentions toward it.

“Not on my fucking watch!” Dodger swung his M20 around and, with the help of his men, split them apart.

“Ready!” he called out. As the Moby drew in, Dodger could just make out its hangar doors opening. It was ready to let loose their cargo.

“Defense positions, ready?”

“Ready, sir.” Ava’s team second came over the net for him.

He turned to his own. “Get in there, get loaded and out, ASAP.”

Dodger wasn’t joining them on the run. His job now was to make sure he gave them as much of a fighting chance to get to the crate.

The Moby hovered in as low as it possibly could. Dodger could almost see the crew inside as they shoved their precious parcel out into the air.

“Go. Go. Go!” Dodger yelled.

As both teams launched forward toward the crate, so did the Maraukians. It was going to be close. The Maraukians could run much faster than they could, yet they were farther away.

“If I were a praying man, now would be the time,” Dodger uttered out to the world as his defense fire lay into the Maraukian horde headed their way.

Dodger noticed it was Chyna who made it to the crate first, with three other mergers beside him. They started in with retaliating fire as the men behind opened the crate and started to load up as quickly as possible. When they had finished, their expert synchronization skills had them swap out in sections so that every man was now fully laden down.

Chyna’s calm voice came back across the net. “Crate empty.”

“Fall back positions.”

Dodger swore the Maraukians were making a specific run for the crate, full pelt now. Even the herd commander was headed in. This seemed really off. What the fuck is that thing doing?

But the closer he watched it, the weirder it behaved. Chyna and the mergers were almost back to their positions, handing out ammo packs to the others.

“Make sure this is sparked off to Mark and Charles. I’ve never seen one so indecisive.”

“Agreed. Vid is uploading now to Sarah.”

With the mergers back behind their lines, the Maraukians halted, digging in where they’d managed to run to, and started up their regular fire once more.

Dodger glanced behind him, thoughts of those refugees flitting through his mind. He opened his comms to Legate Quina. Then he saw something from the back flank.

Maraukians were breaching through one of the felled city buildings. They’d overrun the city and them from behind in minutes.

How the fuck did they manage that?

There was no time to question. “Maraukians pushing through! ETA four minutes!”

There was no way they could stop them. Dodger sent the report off to Mark, bypassing Ava, knowing how much she needed her wits about her to save Chen.

Dodger glanced back. He knew her NIAI would be able to move her physical body along with the rest of the mergers as they moved, but he wondered how much so.

With the Maraukians in front of him and that damned herd commander also making a break for it, Dodger was out of options. If he had to haul her ass over his shoulder to get her to safety, he would. The pain of losing Jarek was still fresh in his mind. He wasn’t losing another, not today.

***

“Kela, find me a communications hub. I need to have a sustainable connection with the Moby.” A way point appeared on her display as she shot off into the air, quickly turning supersonic as she blasted for the building.

She extended her fist, crashing through a window and then several walls before reaching the communications hub. She ripped the door off and stepped inside. Nanites shot out from her armor, creating silver lines that connected her to the computer systems.

Passwords and firewalls were little more than paper in front of a merger and NIAI. In just a few moments, Ava had a powerful and secure connection to the Moby.

It didn’t take her long until she was linked in to the medical bay and nanite vat.

“We’ve got bad internal damage to the stomach area. Shit! Looks like the round hit a rib and threw bone into the upper chest!” one of the medicos yelled. They were covered in blood, Chen’s blood. They had IVs hooked up to him and bandages over the wound in his stomach.

“Can’t get an air tube down his neck—going to need to insert it!” someone yelled as they put down the tube they were using. They moved to the crate at their side, quickly opening up Chen’s neck and inserting a breathing tube.

“This brain bleed is getting worse. We’re going to have to open him up and try to deal with that first. If there’s too much swelling, then the original lacerations are only going to get worse.”

“Severe shock—got low blood pressure and his heart is racing!”

There was just too much damage to deal with easily anymore.

“Get him into the vat!”

The team continued to work on Chen, administering different drugs and nanites to try to stabilize him but his condition was rapidly deteriorating.

Chen was in bad shape. He was in and out of consciousness, blood loss, multiple severe wounds and was in a state of shock that was only getting worse.

“Rozdez, Jamia, Yena! I’m going to need your guys’ help!” Ava said.

Green lights appeared as the three people linked directly to Ava.

The medicos on the Moby lifted Chen by his clothes, quickly transferring him from the grav-stretcher he had come in on to the bed.

“Clear!” someone called out.

Once all hands were clear of Chen, around the bed, metal walls shot up and a covering came out of the wall, converting the bed into a nanite vat as nanites came up from the bed and started to work on Chen’s wounds.

Ava didn’t waste time and merged, all of their minds and NIAIs connected as they sat down in their different locations. Faster than human thought, they ran through simulations and ideas. It was as if there were four of the best surgeons in the world connected together, their minds as one, their actions varied but working toward a singular goal.

“Taking command of the nanite vat.” Their electronic and mixed voices came through the speakers of the medical bay. The eerie sound made a few people move back. Others looked at the nanite vat with hope.

Captain Chen had been their captain for a short time period, but he had worked with all of them to turn the Moby from a figurehead ship into a true battleship.

He might not be an orthodox captain but he would be right there with the engineers helping to fix the air systems, or talking to the medical personnel about the supplies they needed. Unlike captains who would live on the bridge, Captain Chen ingrained himself with his people, coming to know not only the Moby, but the crew that ran it.

He was a hard ass at times, but he would be right there with them, embracing the worst and pushing forward. He had their needs in mind and would give praise where it was due. Their skills might not be able to save Chen, but with the mergers, they might be freaks, but they were the Moby’s freaks.

Ava and the others connected to the nanite vat, taking control of the nanites.

They didn’t pause in their actions. Simultaneously they stabilized Chen, started to heal up his superficial wounds, and restored blood flow. Chen’s neck and face were healed partially. While his hair was removed and his skin dissolved, his skull was opened up; nanites flooded into Chen’s brain.

They seeped between the neural transmitters, building from the inside out. They understood Chen’s brain on a chemical level and started building. Chen’s brain started to change form and shape as the bleeding was slowed.

With all four of them working together, the brain developed quickly, no longer just a normal human brain but a merging capable brain. As they went, they couldn’t remove the bone fragments, but rather dissolved them in place and had to rebuild the lacerations and other wounds to his brain slowly.

All of them waited as they checked the different readouts from Chen’s brain.

“It looks like we’ve got good brain activity. Possibility of memory loss and motor control loss. Also could be mood changes. Adding permissions to NIAI to alter fixes to accommodate Chen’s reintegration.” The four of them talked as one, hard to separate out which one was who.

The medicos only watched in shock as Chen’s body was regrown, layer by layer. Healing the bullet wound to his stomach wasn’t too hard; the face was harder as they needed to go through medical records and pictures to create a facial structure, then grow bone, ligaments, muscle, skin, and blood vessels into place.

The complexity was incredible but to the mergers it was rather simple.

On the outside, it took two hours; for the four mergers, it felt closer to two days as they’d accelerated their minds completely and given themselves into the merge.

They never stopped once, working their hardest.

They broke the merge, the one whole becoming four people again as they watched all of Chen’s information, relaying it through the medical bay.

“All readings are looking good across the board. Medical team, be ready with sleeping agent in case Captain Chen has had changes to his personality,” Ava said.

The medical staff rushed to obey.

“All ready here,” one of the medicos said.

“Understood. Unlocking nanite vat,” Ava said.

“Removing sleeping agent from circulatory system,” Rozdez commented.

“Brain function is looking good,” Yena added.

“Body is reacting well. I can’t see any issues with the new brain so far. No signs of rejection.” Jamia’s voice followed afterward.

The nanite vat’s top opened and then folded down to the sides, revealing a bed with Chen lying on it.

His uniform had been eaten away by the nanites and replaced with boxers.

There was no activity as Chen laid there. He looked perfectly fine: his face had recovered and the bullet in his side was gone.

Nothing happened for a moment as the medical staff looked at one another and then at Chen.

Suddenly Chen lurched upward, taking in big, exaggerated gulps of air. His whole body shook as his eyes dilated all the way open. His face paled as he continued sucking air in.

“Captain, it’s okay! You’re okay!” a medico nearby said.

Most called this regene shock, when one went through a near-death experience and thought that they were dying, when they were fixed up and they came back, they were hit with panic, their mind hazy and unclear, usually from their previous blood loss.

Captain Chen had been on the wrong side of alive.

If not for the mergers being able to see everything going on in his system, then he would have died.

He had blood loss, and internal damage from the second round, with heavy internal bleeding.

His airways were all messed up, with blood congealing in his lungs.

He was suffocating on his own blood, and half his face was gone, blasted up into his brain.

A medical patch on Chen’s arm fired a boatload of drugs into his system, fighting the reaction of the shock, bringing his heart rate down, adding in dopamine to calm his mind and increase the warmth of his body.

Chen finally let out a shaky breath as he put his left hand down on the bed.

“Looking good.” The mergers had left nanites within Chen’s body to monitor him and look over his vital signs. He was leveling out and from a biological standpoint, he was looking good. Mentally they didn’t know what he would be like. That part they couldn’t help with.

“Captain Chen, it’s good to have you back,” Ava said.

Chen nodded but he didn’t seem to have any words as the medicos looked him over and started to talk to him.

He was still processing everything that happened.

***

“Medical bay confirms, Captain Chen is stable.” Liang’s relief was clear as the tension on the bridge dulled somewhat.

Carla was so relieved, she was close to tears. Still, she remembered Chen’s last order to her.

She took a breath. She could smell the coppery tang of blood on her coveralls. She hadn’t taken the time to change her uniform as she and a number of the other command crew were also wearing bloodied clothing.

Carla’s eyes met Taelyon’s and Travestki’s.

Travestki gave her a terse nod while Taelyon looked away with a pale face. Taelyon was one of the best pilots there, but seeing people hurt around her, she still wasn’t accustomed to that.

Travestki had been a gunner on a Bellona before it had been destroyed and he was badly injured. He’d seen death and known loss before, but today at least Chen was safe.

Carla looked to the screen, looking at the mergers as they rushed to build defenses. They kept on talking about their retreat with the command crew, but Carla saw through them.

This was meant as a last stand, using their deaths to gain time for the legionnaires and people of Edani to be safely behind Ducharev.

Nerva was coming with his relief fleet, but he was still two days out from reaching the planet.

Even when they knew that their end was coming, they didn’t shy away. They pushed onward, looking to do the best that they could, even saving a life.

“All right everyone, keep to your stations. We’ve got one more supply drop, then we’ll need to get back in the debris field. I want everyone to get fifteen minutes of rest. Go shower, get some food and drink into you, then be back on the bridge.” Carla knew they all needed some time to decompress, but fifteen minutes was all she could give them.

The relief crew was called up, taking over their positions in a steady stream.

“Carla, get some rest. I’ll watch over the Moby.” Travestki had appeared at her side, his hand on her shoulder.

“I’m fine.” Carla sat up straighter.

“No, you’re not. Go get a shower, first mate,” Travestki said, not giving up.

Carla made to yell at him, but caught herself as she looked at him. He held no malice toward her; there was only an understanding light there. She swallowed her words and nodded, letting her head drop.

He patted her back. Sometimes you just needed a friend there to understand you.

“I’ll be back in fifteen,” she said.

“I’ll keep the seat warm,” Travestki promised her.

She nodded and stood. “Officer Travestki has the bridge,” she declared.

“I have the bridge,” Travestki said, confirming the hand over.

With that, she walked out of the bridge and to her quarters. People moved out of her way as she reached her room.

With her rank, she thankfully got her own room, a fold-up bed, a pull-down desk, and a shower that slid out from the wall.

The door shut behind Carla as she numbly turned on the shower. She caught her reflection in the mirror, saw the blood on her coveralls and her face.

She moved to the sink, rubbing off the blood from her face, quickly and angrily as thoughts and doubts started to crawl into her mind.

She had worked with Chen for some five years. It wasn’t a long time or a short time, but it was enough time to make a lasting friendship.

They had gone from ship to ship together. They met on a massive carrier as pilot commanders before turning to commission and trying to become the officers of their own ship. They’d vowed that they would operate their ship the way that they believed, to look out for their crew instead of see them as below them.

They had a hard time going through the leadership school, but they made it. Both of them were qualified but when Chen got a position, Carla took a rank demotion to be his second-in-command. That command had been the Shadow, where they’d stalked Maraukian planets aboard stealth ships with a six-man crew.

Now aboard the Moby, Carla was happy to be second-in-command. She liked being in the midst of things.

They’d both been scared for their command, but they’d come to know the people under their command and they were finally on their way to achieve the goals that they had set for themselves.

Through the years they were close as brother and sister, knowing the other better than they knew themselves.

Carla didn’t even bother trying to take off her coveralls as she stepped into the shower. Her body shook as the first tears fell, her crying drowned out by the sound of the shower as she slumped down the wall.

The relief, the fear, the tension that had clenched around her heart finally started to let go.

She had nearly lost Chen, and right now the mergers were making their own coffins.

When does it end? When does it finally all stop? Or is this my fate? To stand and watch as those I care for are torn away by the fighting?

There was no one to answer her thoughts and questions, only a cold alarm that told her she had just ten minutes before she was needed on the bridge again.

Carla pulled herself together. She got out of her overalls, putting the dirtied ones in the trash chute.

She quickly dried off using a sonic cleaner to dry her hair. She donned a new set of overalls and checked her braid. After a quick check of how she looked, she went for the door.

She let out a deep breath, shaking her hands and gearing up for what was next.

She pressed the button next to her door and walked out in the corridor, headed back to the bridge.

***

“Supply launch five is away,” the sensors officer said as the bridge doors behind Carla closed.

She looked at the screen that was tracking the supply drops. They took a curving path around the planet Indalia before breaking atmosphere and heading for the city of Edani.

“Chief.” Travestki stood from the command seat that had been cleaned of blood.

The air vent had been covered once again and the coppery smell of blood had been removed.

Carla looked from where Chen had been lying to Travestki. “How did the launch go?” She moved next to him.

“Launch was good. It was filled with straight ammunition blocks for the mergers’ M20s. They might burn through a lot of ammunition but at least it is simple. Helm, how is our heading looking?”

“We’re good to go, sir,” the person at the helm said.

“Very well. Take us back toward the debris field,” Travestki said.

“Aye, heading for the debris field.” The officer at the helm took control of the ship and pushed them out of their launch position.

Once there, they would only get one more pass to gather what they needed. Then they would move to another launch point to support the mergers on the ground.

“Anything from the engineers?” Carla asked.

“Seems that they’ve really sped up the refining and break down the process—they’re just eating through materials down there. Gomez found a heat-resistant coating that might be applied to our medium-sized rail gun rounds. With the coating, we might be able to fire the rounds into the planet’s atmosphere without them getting too messed up. They won’t be as powerful as our larger rail guns, but they take a lot less material to make. I gave the order to cannibalize all of our smaller, point defense rounds, anything that we don’t need to survive and half of our large rail gun rounds,” Travestki said.

“Good work,” Carla said.

“Chief Carla has the bridge,” Travestki said.

“I have the bridge.” Carla moved to take the command seat while Travestki moved back to his station.

People started to filter into the bridge a bit afterward. Carla passed orders to bring everyone to readiness once they made it into the debris field. She wanted to secure as much debris as possible.

Chapter 33

Edani City

Indalia, Otarvi System

8/3555

Evan slumped down against a wall. Polwell sat next to him. The two of them didn’t say anything as they looked over the city Edani. It had been turned into a barrier to stop the Maraukians. Smoke appeared here and there from fires that had been started. The mergers didn’t have time to care about the fires so they let them rage as they continued to work.

Evan and Polwell were on overwatch.

Polwell raised his arm. Several rounds shot out from his barrel; a few kilometers away, a group of five Maraukians was torn apart by the rounds.

Evan’s helmet unsealed and he pulled it off his head.

He still looked like the handsome man who had joined the legion to follow his adoptive father’s footsteps, taking the chance to extend his enlistment as he found a place that gave him more purpose than just living on a farm.

Polwell took off his helmet as well, looking like the ugly scrunt who had joined up for his regular enlistment and instead of using his family’s connections, stayed on the front lines. He went into the military as a calling, instead of a place to gather a few merits, look good for the company, and then get back to trying to run the corporate ladder.

They were not what someone would call normal friends, but here they sat in some foreign world, creating a death trap for the Maraukians.

“I think I’ll have a nice, slow stewed steak today,” Evan said.

“Hmm, old-fashioned mac and cheese right from the oven.” Polwell retrieved a pack of cigarettes from the nanite layer around his neck and, putting a cigarette in his mouth, he offered Evan one but he waved it away.

From the sensors that were dotted across the city, they could see everything that tried to make it down the hills.

Evan’s NIAI dialed in the range and accounted for the atmospheric changes.

Evan’s M20 folded out as he turned off his hearing and allowed his NIAI to take over targeting. He watched with one eye as his M20 fired; silver rounds appeared in the sensor’s vision a few moments later.

The rounds struck the ground and the Maraukians, raising dust more than anything. Evan changed to heat, seeing the Maraukians slumping over as the rounds took them out.

Evan got control of his arm again and checked the map of the city, and then the different sensor platforms.

“Feel naked without having overhead imaging of the area,” Polwell said.

“Yeah, fucking space legion called Captain Chen a mutineer ’cause he’s getting us ammo.” Evan spat to the side.

“Fucking politics,” Polwell said.

Evan didn’t say anything. His NIAI spotted more targets through his vision, agreeing to fire his M20, and his arm rose once again of its own volition and fired.

Evan was looking around at the mountains and the forest that surrounded the city. “It’s not a bad-looking place.”

Polwell took a few more slow drags of his cigarette. “Ain’t bad at all.”

Others might think that they were talking about the scenery around them—the hills and mountains; they were. Though they didn’t just see it in passing. Although no one had said anything, everyone knew the truth. For the legionnaires and people of Edani to get to Ducharev, the mergers wouldn’t.

They were admiring their resting place.

Evan’s M20 moved again and fired. Evan checked where the rounds landed, confirming the kill. He looked over the city.

He looked at the parks, the entertainment districts, and working districts, the suburbs and downtown.

This bustling city of gray, that seemed to be piled on top of one another, with colorful signs advertising everything one might need, was now a wasteland.

This was no longer a city for the living, but one made for the dead.

Defensive positions, trenches, traps, walls, dirt, and smoke: that was what the mergers had created—a defensive bastion upon the broken buildings of Edani.

Evan pulled out a nutrient bar. It tasted like slowly stewed steak; it even smelled like it.

Evan knew that this was his NIAI messing with his senses but he didn’t care as he happily ate the nutrient bar.

“Incoming supply drop. This is the last one,” Chyna said over the net. There had been fourteen supply drops.

The Moby had gone to the debris field for the second time, gathered and processed as many materials as possible.

Now the mergers’ time was running out.

Supply points had been put all over Edani and their fabbers were churning out more and more every moment.

Evan started to see more targets in his vision. Forgetting the flavor of the steak, he shoved it in his mouth and pulled his helmet on.

Polwell simply raised his other fist. His two M20s angled up slightly as they sent bursts at the targets that were showing up.

Evan, who was firing occasionally with one of his hands, was now firing faster and faster with his two arms as his NIAI started to pick up larger and denser concentrations of Maraukians appearing around the border of Edani, charging right for them.

“I think that they’re coming,” Polwell said over the net.

“What gave it away? The hundreds of Maraukians that are now coming down the hills?”

“Possibly.” Polwell laughed.

“Looks like the Maraukians are here to ruin the party, boys and girls,” Evan said net-wide.

***

“Get to the line!” Mark yelled.

Mergers spread through the city and moved to the hardened bunkers that they had created. They were nothing more than sheer walls covered in cement and slapped together.

“Sarah, get me that artillery park support. Call out as needed.” Mark’s footsteps slammed into the ground, leaving depressions on the torn-up road as he was weighed down with high-density bars to feed his M20.

He jumped down into a trench line. He didn’t stop running as he dodged under rebar and smashed through a support in his way.

He got to the bunker. The firing slits were barely large enough to fit the M20.

Mark wasn’t relying on the sensors that were dotted across the battlefield and on top of the towers to see.

In his vision, it didn’t look as though there was a wall in front of him.

He zoomed in, looking at the Maraukians that were now boiling down the hill. One could clearly see the dirt trail that was being kicked up by the Maraukian charge.

Mark merged; he’d need every advantage possible. The others were all merging as well.

The Maraukians made it to the tree line and were being cut apart by the mono-wires. They weren’t smart enough to stop their charge. They also weren’t smart enough or didn’t have the room to dodge trees, so even as many of them were dying, they were smashing down the trees that the wire was attached to.

It turned into a bloody blue scene.

Mark raised his M20s; the barrels snapped up and locked into place. He ranged the creatures with a few rounds and then sent burst after burst into the creatures.

The line of rounds arched over, striking the Maraukians and pinging off in different angles, adding more dust to the air and dropping Maraukians.

The mergers’ telltale silver rounds shot out in lines. Before the first line had landed, there were already two or three more bursts on their way.

Dust in front of the bunkers was thrown up as the rhythmic discharges of the M20s and the whizzing of rounds filled the air.

“Rounds are incoming from artillery park. Flight time is three minutes.” Sarah provided the trajectories and land zones.

“Update with regular sensor information,” Mark said. With the ranges they were firing at, it was three to five seconds before their rounds impacted the Maraukian lines.

Some of the Maraukians started to stand up to kill, only to find more of the wires in their way. As they stood up, their pace slowed down and they started to group together more.

The Maraukians were predictable and they weren’t smart but still, they were one hell of an enemy to fire.

The rounds kept coming down on them, now with longer bursts as the mergers found it hard to miss.

“BLEED THEM. BLEED THEM FOR EVERY FOOT.” Mark’s consciousness talked to the others. They were working on the optimum target ranges, coordinating fire. Under their fire, the Maraukians were being cut back again and again.

Chapter 34

SLS Moby

Indalia, Otarvi System

8/3555

Chen was still shaky, but he hid it well in front of the medicos and was demanding to be back on the bridge. Still, they were using their judgement and kept him contained.

Although they kept him in the medical bay, they couldn’t stop him from getting updates on what was happening in his ship and what was happening on the ground.

He had found that now he could merge, it allowed him to have a symbiotic relationship with the ship. The different systems responded to him and it felt like an awkward additional limb.

It would be hard for him to control in a short period of time. Heck, there were some systems he could only order about.

In his mind’s eye, he imagined what a ship filled with a merging capable crew would be like. It made him excited for the future. That excitement was dulled as he was viewing the bridge and Francis turned to Carla.

“Chief, the Tenth is now under contact in Edani. They’ve got frontal contact with the Maraukians. The Maraukians are under fire and have entered the tree line, defensive area one.” Francis’s voice made the bridge turn silent and Chen, in the medical bay of the Moby, ground his teeth together as his jaw tightened.

They had saved his life. Hearing about his injuries, there was no other summary that one could make.

Chen dialed in to the sensors that covered Edani.

Across Edani, short lines of silver shot out toward the Maraukians, arching in the sky before landing among the Maraukians. Blue blood flew everywhere as the frontline Maraukians collapsed under the fire.

The fire was calm and controlled, working to inflict the most damage on the enemy.

The battle for Edani had started.

Chapter 35

Edani

Indalia, Otarvi System

8/3555

Thousands of the Maraukians had been killed, but it mattered little when they were facing a force that was nearing one hundred thousand. The Maraukians on the planet numbered in the tens of millions even after their rough landing.

The artillery park was finally in range of the Maraukians and anytime they didn’t have a fire order from another group, they were launching rounds into the Maraukian herds that poured down from the hills.

The forest was being wiped out, the trees torn down and crushed by the Maraukians’ charge.

Bodies dotted the ground and the Maraukians were covered in dirt and blue blood of their fellows.

They were firing back at the mergers, peppering Edani.

With the long flight time of the rounds, the mergers could jump out of the way and move to another location and fire back.

The rounds took a few seconds to reach Edani, but that was plenty of time for the mergers, who measured their reaction time in hundredths of seconds.

The towers were getting the worst of it. The Maraukians’ fire wasn’t accurate but they caught the ground or the towers more often than not and just kept on firing. Glass was shattered and the towers were set on fire, but the mergers kept firing as the city turned into a hell.

Sections of the mountains turned into dust clouds as the artillery rounds landed. Their rumbling reached the city and caused the buildings and forests to shake.

There was no mercy to be found here.

Mark dropped his right arm, connecting it to an ammunition block and raising his hand again. Just as he was about to fire, he got a warning.

He lurched to the side and started to run. He covered his head as the bunker behind him was hit with one of the Maraukian missiles.

They traveled in a flat, straight line.

Mark was thrown forward. He ignited his anti-gravity flight drive and shot forward as more missiles and weapons fire impacted the buildings around where he had been. The trench shook as debris fell down, hitting Mark.

He passed a few other bunkers before getting his feet under him and skidding to a stop.

The building he had been hiding under was collapsing, raining down bits of the building.

Sarah threw up target information from his new position. He pulled up his arms and started firing.

“The lead elements have left the tree line and are headed for the pits and minefield.” One of the merged NIAIs provided a group update.

The first pits were discovered as Maraukians charged right into them. Those behind them piled in on top of them. As Maraukians charged up behind them, they, too, fell into the pit, crushing those underneath.

Explosions filled the air as mines were discovered, opening up holes in the Maraukian lines.

Hundreds were dying every minute. The mergers could only continue their rate of fire.

“Lightning missiles away.”

Lightning missile packs had been placed across the city. The missiles shot off into the sky, followed by the cracking noise they made as they returned to the planet.

They struck the mountain range where the Maraukians were coming down from the mountain passes.

A large dust cloud appeared as a blast wave shot through the Maraukians and hit Edani. The ground shook and windows shattered under the pressure of the weapons.

Even under the artillery, lightning missile strikes, the mono-wire traps, pits and the mines, the Maraukians’ sheer numbers absorbed the losses and pushed on.

Their front lines were blown up, shot up, and disappeared into pits. There were holes in the herd but if anything, they seemed to become more bloodthirsty.

Mark moved to the side as rounds hit the bunker he was in, making a line through the concrete and sending rounds through the small opening in the bunker.

“Sprinklers.”

Whirling sprinklers and circular saws started spinning at a high speed. The Maraukians continued forward, right into the third stage of defenses, what had been termed “the grinder.”

The mono-wire that was attached to the spinning items was nearly impossible to see.

The Maraukians were shredded by the wire.

Target locations were changed and people were placed on alert as they readied to move back to their secondary positions.

A merger was struck with rounds, but their armor stopped the rounds from killing them. So far, the mergers hadn’t sustained any casualties.

“Here we hold them! Here we teach the Maraukians fear!” Mark felt the power in his body, the strength that came from leading these mergers. They were not people anymore—they were war incarnate now.

“Come on, you fuckin’ bastards!”

“This is what I signed up for!”

“Ah, well seems like a good place to die, but I’ll leave you as my grave markers!”

“We were dead when we became mergers. Let’s see if Valhalla is real!”

Mark’s blood boiled. Here, at the edge of everything, one side of his mouth pulled up into a deadly arc. “Give them everything with both barrels!”

Lightning missiles fired one after another, drowning out the sound of battle as they descended.

“Activating secondary weapons systems!” Dodger said.

They had taken weapons systems left by the legionnaires, hooked them into the sensor net and put them on swivel mounts.

The M19s had been hooked up to boxes of ammunition and fed by a belt. Each had tens of thousands of rounds.

Edani seemed to explode with tracers. As the fighting got closer, the speed that fire was traded between the Maraukians and mergers only increased.

The spinning mono-wires were effective but the Maraukians passed through the gaps around the wires. Bodies were piling up around the spinners while the wires were breaking, making larger gaps and letting more of the apes through to the walls.

“Artillery!” Ava yelled out.

“Prepare to move to secondary positions!” Mark ordered.

Flight time for artillery was still nearly three minutes.

Mark didn’t need the targeting pop-ups anymore as he fired with both barrels, tracking his M20s across the front of the Maraukian herd, killing four or five deep every time he shot. But they kept coming.

“Mother fuckers! Just die!” Mark jumped to the side as rounds came down on his position. He reloaded his rifles and rushed to the side.

“We’ve got breaches. Maraukians are making it into the city!”

“Pull back to the second line! Activate all of the remote weapon systems!”

Weapons and even impromptu explosives and other items that could bring destruction down on the Maraukians all went green along the side of Mark’s screen.

Artillery started landing outside of the city, making Mark stumble as the rain of rounds continued to keep coming down. The once green area was being pounded into oblivion. Even through the destruction and the dust, Maraukians could be seen running—over the broken ground, across the roads—and slamming through the outlying houses and buildings into the suburbs.

Homes collapsed under the fire and the Maraukians smashing into the support beams.

Mark grabbed at the trench wall, keeping himself up, and started running for all he was worth. Destruction rained down behind him.

A blast took out a part of a building that crashed down.

Mark jumped. Using his anti-grav, he shot forward; missing the debris, he deactivated it, pushing off a trench wall and turning in to a long corridor.

Mark used his anti-grav to fly, staying between the mono-wires that were strung down the length of the corridor.

A missile slammed into a building, blowing it out. The Maraukians’ rounds peppered the buildings and towers that were still standing, breaking them.

The mergers were all now moving for their secondary positions. Edani was a large city and to cover it, the mergers were spread out. As they moved toward the city center, they got closer and closer, being able to support one another.

Mark checked on the two people nearest him and then on the whole group.

There was a shocked emotion then pain filled the net.

“Fuck, got hit. No worries. It’s my leg—just caught a mono-wire. I’ve got it. Heading to secondary position,” Rachel said.

Sarah uploaded info to Mark. Rachel had been forced down by the pressure wave of exploding ordnance; when she dipped, her leg went into a mono-wire.

She cut the leg off and started to repair herself; grabbing the leg, she continued onward.

All of them had lost a limb at one point, whether in simulation or in real life. Now it was no different than losing a shoe: you could always get another one.

“Centurion Victor, we are shifting fire away. We have a priority call coming in. You’re on your own until we can get some guns free from this fire mission,” the artillery signifier said over a private net to Mark.

“Got it.” Mark gritted his teeth. “Sarah, get me the Moby.”

He was connected before he could finish talking.

“Centurion Victor, ready to support,” Liang said after getting the call.

“Tell Travestki I have a fire order for him,” Mark said.

“Understood. You’re linked directly to fire control.”

With that, a new ream of information joined the net. The mergers’ minds went to work, with their NIAIs understanding the weapons they were dealing with in moments and organizing fire support missions to rain down on the Maraukians’ heads.

Mark exited the trench and moved through a complicated series of turns. As he passed, thick metal plates dropped into place, sealing the way behind him.

Mark stepped into a bunker. A robot filled with ammunition was there waiting for him.

Mark started replacing the spent ammunition blocks, watching feeds of the Maraukians struggling to gain entry into the city. The sheer or angled walls made it impossible to go any other way than through the trenches that the mergers had created.

Chapter 36

Between Ducharev and Edani

Indalia, Otarvi System

8/3555

Shuttle pilot Captain Julio Ergo glanced from his readings to what he actually could physically see with his own two eyes.

His fingers darted back and forth, making sure all his flight controls were spot-on. Their destination: a now partly destroyed playing field for the local senators’ spaceball teams.

Ergo had flown for the legion before, but that was well in the past. Now he was a shuttle pilot who had been drafted to transport people to Ducharev.

“What the f…”

Ergo turned to his co-pilot, Dansk.

“What is it?” But he didn’t really need to ask. He could see it with his own two eyes. To their left, as they headed into the main town area, they could see the Maraukian horde and where it was trying to breach the city’s felled towers.

“They’re going to get through!” he said. No doubt about it; there was no way that the building would withstand that amount of creatures behind it. There were fifteen thousand of the Maraukians attacking their position.

Ergo watched as Dansk’s hands shook. He sensed he was about to lose her. “They will get through,” he admitted to his friend. “But they’re not going to get our people on the ground.”

Dansk’s eyes met his and though he saw the terrified and frightened young woman that she was, he went above his rank. Reaching out, he took her shaking hand in his. “Deep breath. We’ve got this.”

She swallowed and sucked in a breath. “Yes, Captain.”

“Good. See that mark ahead of us? Those are our people. We’ve four shuttles on the ground right now. We’re the final one. The legionnaire’s command is scheduled the last out. They’ve saved as many people from Edani and the towns all the way to Ducharev as they can. We’re not letting them down now. We’ll pull them out.”

Dansk’s hand pulled away. With renewed determination, she started in with their descent. Several artillery rounds landed among the Maraukians, opening up gaps in the herd.

Captain Ergo located the one thing he treasured most in this world. A picture of his late wife. I was always the reckless one. Watch out for us.

Chapter 37

SLS Moby

Indalia, Otarvi System

8/3555

Carla watched on as the Maraukian forces started to break through the city defenses. There was nothing else she, or the crew on her ship, could do. Captain Chen supposedly was recovering, but she’d heard his shouting from the bridge before she saw him.

Captain Chen stormed through the doorway, his large frame notably different. But to her, at least, there was nothing missing from the side of his face. Carla fought back her emotions as the grizzled older man wobbled in.

“Status report!” he ordered as she jumped up, giving him the room to fall into his chair.

With just two words, the room seemed to come alive under his command. A command presence wasn’t something that one could just create; it was something that was tempered through fighting and standing beside one’s people.

Travestki’s eyes darted to Carla, but she nodded. “Captain has the bridge.”

“All drops away, sir. We’re waiting orders for fire mission if needed,” Travestki reported.

Chen seemed out of focus, and a moment later, two medicos and Charles rushed onto the bridge. The scientist puffed and panted, very out of breath, as they were all obviously slower to follow him than they thought.

“Captain Chen, you’re in no fit state to be taking control of this ship.” The medico looked for support from Carla.

“If Captain Chen believes he’s capable of command, we’ve got his back.” Carla moved to stand beside him.

Chen stretched up and glanced to the screen before him. “Charles, what happened, happened. I know more now than I ever did and those men on the ground need us.”

Charles watched as the view on screen changed. From the mountains around Edani to the city itself, there were Maraukians.

Lightning missiles were falling on the larger groupings of Maraukians while mines, mono-wire, and pits were also taking their own victims.

Closer to the city, weapons were firing right into the teeth of the Maraukians, who were shooting back, raining destruction on the city and trying to gain entry to the city through the different corridors that had been created.

The Maraukians were uncontrollable berserkers at this point. Anywhere there was an opening, they were pushing their way forward.

Artillery was firing on the hills the Maraukians were coming down from and the last four hundred meters to the walls that had been erected around Edani.

Liang, who was focused completely on his station, lurched forward as he talked through his NIAI. He turned to the expectant faces on the bridge while Travestki whipped around to his station.

“The Tenth is requesting fire support. As per Chief Carla’s orders, I have directly linked them to the Moby’s targeting systems. As targeting solutions are readied, okay them and fire as soon as possible! Do not wait on orders from me!” Travestki yelled to his gunners.

Across his board, orange lights went green as rail guns went active.

One after the other, from rear to front, the rail guns fired, arching through the darkness of space before piercing through Indalia’s atmosphere, looking like streaking meteors.

“Time to target, fifteen minutes,” Travestki reported.

The rail gun rounds carved through the planet’s atmosphere.

The rate of fire decreased to just two or three every minute or so as the mergers waited to check the effect of the long-range kinetic strike.

“Heat-resistant coating is looking good. Time to target, four minutes,” Travestki said as the rounds completed entry into the planet’s atmosphere. Their glowing hot bodies cooled off as they came near to the end of their trajectory.

Carla threw up views coming from Edani that showed the mountain range that they were targeting.

“Release!” Travestki said.

The rounds were traveling too fast to be seen properly, only a streak of gray, then a sudden cloud as the rounds dispersed ball bearings over a kilometer-wide area.

The howling rounds impacted the mountain region seconds after one another. The ground was obscured by dust and debris being thrown into the sky. As the ball bearings hit, they caused shoots of dust to fly into the sky. The sheer force of the ball bearings hit at all different times to bring about destruction.

The destruction made everyone stop and look at the screens. The dust was blown away with a strong wind, showing the wreckage that the ground had turned into. Maraukian bodies lay everywhere. Thousands must have died in the strike, but there was still movement. Maraukians that hadn’t been killed in the blast moved forward. They were wounded, some even dying as they ran, but they continued on.

The area that had been cleared at the rear slowly started to show signs of movement.

From the clouds, Maraukians burst out into the sunlight, trailing dust behind them.

They’d killed many, but now with no obstacles in front, the Maraukians were down and employing their full speed.

It would only take them a matter of minutes to reach the walls of Edani.

“Keep firing as needed,” Captain Chen said, his words relieving some of the defeated feelings on the bridge.

They might not have defeated the enemy yet, but through hard work and dedication, they would.

“Captain! I’m starting to pick up movement on the hills around Edani. The routes that are between Edani and Ducharev,” Francis said with a solemn voice.

“Get me Mark, and link in the information.” Chen closed his eyes.

When he opened them again, his eyes were no longer dark and cold, but had an electric light to them, the clear sign of a merger that was connected to their NIAI.

Chapter 38

Edani

Indalia, Otarvi System

8/3555

The kinetic rounds had killed off the Maraukians that were racing down the hills, but it hadn’t done anything for the Maraukians that were hammering on the walls of the city.

“Mark, it’s Chen. You’ve got Maraukians coming in from all areas now. Looks like there’s another herd at least that was moving through the mountains. Most of them are coming right at you. I’m going to bombard the mountains and see if we can’t keep them off you.” Chen directly connected to Mark as his information became Mark’s.

Mark was silent for some time. The little hope that he had to save some of his people was brutally cut off.

“Got it. Do what you can. We’ll bleed them here.”

“Will do. Out.” Chen cut the channel as Mark linked back to the artillery signifier.

“Support the retreating forces. They’ve got Maraukians charging up behind them.” Mark didn’t wait for them to respond as he sent new orders to the lightning missile pods. And shared his information and orders with the rest of the mergers.

“We make our stand here. We’ll hold off the large majority of the Maraukians and use our long-range weaponry to support the legionnaires and civilians who are retreating toward Ducharev.” Mark’s orders were absolute, and no one raised issues. They’d known that this was a possibility when they had come to hold this city.

They also knew that they were giving up a large amount of their support assets.

“To the end.” Ava sounded tired, but her words captured the feelings of the other mergers perfectly. They’d follow their plan till the end, till the civilians and legionnaires were safe.

Chapter 39

Glider E4571

Indalia, Otarvi System

8/3555

Word had reached the evacuees: the Maraukians were moving past Edani and heading for Ducharev. Order was starting to fall apart as it was replaced with panic. No amount of military backing would be able to fully control them as the panic started to grow. It was their fight for survival and most of them out of the city centers wouldn’t live another day.

Yu watched on as Bobbie and Young helped where they could. Pulling people from the road sides, giving aid with the medicos who surrounded them. His smaller gliders could do nothing to evac them. Nothing. That stung. So here they were, supplying morale while they waited for resupply. Their weapons out, nothing else to draw from.

Yu glanced to Bobbie, who was helping a medico with some of their most grievously wounded. Getting them into a ground transport and out of here also was a priority.

Reports that were going off through his HUD were impossible to keep track of. So many needed backup, so many needed support.

Soon as he heard the comm come through—“Supply drop en route.”—he knew they wouldn’t stay here for much longer.

Glancing up from his own task of helping the medico with a soldier, their eyes locked. “Thank you,” she said. “Now scram.”

Eyes flicking around for Young and Bobbie, he heard Bobbie’s call behind him. “Gotta roll,” she said, panting at him.

He nodded, waiting for Young, and the three of them pelted toward their ships. Several wounded men around them waited for the drop. When it hit the dirt, all of them ran to resupply the gliders before even Yu could complain.

Settling back into his pilot seat, Yu brought up comms to the others. “Ready?”

That’s when the emergency notice flickered across his screen. Edani was almost surrounded. That meant their mergers were in dire straits, and the last remaining evacs weren’t going to make it.

“Punch it, guys. Here’s the coordinates for the last evac station. They’re under heavy fire, with one civilian shuttle left to pick up our people.”

Bobbie’s gruffness echoed as Yu took to the air. “Civilian ship? Bastards run out of personnel?”

Young replied for him. “Sure looks that way. Seems Captain Ergo was pulled from retirement a couple of days ago.”

“Faster than you can then.” He tagged the coordinates and they shot off, hoping now they were reloaded they had a chance to help stem the flood.

Chapter 40

SLS Moby

Indalia Orbit, Otarvi System

8/3555

Chen’s eyes never left the plot that showed the mergers and the citadel that they had created.

There was weapons fire all over the city, plowing into the Maraukians.

Mono-wire cut the Maraukians as they rushed through the trenches, looking like a river breaking its banks and forming a new stream.

The surrounding hills around Edani showed the gray apes rushing the city and the kinetic strikes from above.

The area was large and thousands of the Maraukians had died under the Moby’s fire.

It was enough to slow but not stop the Maraukians.

Chen couldn’t move to a better position to see the area better. It would be fifteen minutes until the planet rotated enough before the Moby was able to get a clear line of sight down. Then they would be able to find out what the situation was like in the hills, from how many of the Maraukians were on the way and where they were coming from.

Chen wanted to punch something. His first thoughts were about Hesra, who had denied him to get supplies. When he had gone to solve the issue himself, he was called a mutineer. The space legion hadn’t done anything but that was because they had their own problems supporting the rest of the forces on the ground.

Chen’s attention moved to the stadium where the legionnaires were holding out and the last arrival civilians were waiting to get evacuated.

With a thought, his NIAI showed him the capacity of the freighter shuttles and the number of people on the ground.

There was no way that they would be able to get out of the stadium with everyone.

“If only we were able to go down there and help them. What idiot made carriers that aren’t able to go through a planet’s atmosphere?” Chen’s head snapped up as he looked at the Moby.

The Moby wasn’t a new carrier; she was one of the oldest in the fleet. She had, in fact, been pulled from retirement.

So wouldn’t that mean…?

Chen checked the information. He found out that the Moby was indeed able to enter the atmosphere and leave it.

Chen had a crazy idea and ran it through his NIAI. The idea wasn’t rejected as it started to go through simulations.

Chen’s interest was captured as he input more information. As a merger, it wasn’t hard for him to complete the information input in mere seconds.

After just a few minutes, he sent out a message to Taelyon, Travestki, and Carla.

“Captain?” Carla asked, looking at the plan that he had sent out to them.

“Helm, guns, can we do it?” Chen said, using the nicknames of Taelyon and Travestki’s stations.

“Going to be rough. The Moby hasn’t gone through re-entry in a long time.” Taelyon adjusted her controls and opened up a channel to engineering, posing questions to the team there.

“Well, my people have had a lot of target practice with their mag clamps recently. I say we’re ready,” Travestki said.

Carla looked as if she was about to burst from all of the issues that she was hearing these three talk about so casually.

“Helm, plot us a route. Travestki, get your people ready. Liang, connect me with Mark,” Chen said.

Carla seemed to push away her problems with the plan and just waited to see what would happen.

“Go.” Mark’s voice was electronic sounding, showing that he was merged currently.

Chen merged to keep up with his speed. He simply uploaded the direct file to the shared net.

“Once we became mergers, we already died. What use is there shooting rounds to keep the dead alive when the living need your help?” Mark said.

Chen had heard some of the mergers talk of how they were “dead.” He hadn’t understood it, but now he did. Other than fighting, the mergers weren’t able to do anything else.

They couldn’t have children or lead a normal life. Once they became a merger, they became a weapon, trained in war and reborn to only keep others alive and kill Maraukians.

Chen knew that there was nothing that he could say. He acknowledged Mark’s words and looked to the rest of the crew. “Liang, pass this on to the supply shuttle down there. Let’s hope that they’re as crazy as we are.”

Chapter 41

Supply Shuttle Vasalof

Indalia, Otarvi System

8/3555

Liang’s comm came through as Captain Ergo drew nearer the city and the stadium. He punched the line open and Dansk heard every word.

“Moby to Vasalof.  We are entering the planets atmosphere. We will be coming in hot, Captain. Attempting a flyby and mag-lock hook-up, will send in timing and specifics as we calculate them.”

Ergo knew the maneuver. He’d had it done in space before he retired as his ship’s propulsion failed. But to attempt it inside the atmosphere? Captain Chen, it seemed, was the craziest son of a bitch alive. Then again, Ergo had glanced to the Maraukian horde surrounding the stadium on his way in. Maybe Chen wasn’t the only crazy bastard around. He laughed and Dansk looked his way with a strange smile.

“Is that even possible?” she asked.

Ergo thought for a second about telling her the truth, that it could result in both ships colliding or the top of the shuttle being ripped off. But he didn’t. Instead, he forced a smile, and said across the comms to Liang, “Copy that, Liang. Will co-ordinate the landing and manouvre with you on your re-entry.”

Ergo pushed the privacy button and took it off air around his cabin. Dansk concentrated on her own controls and job while he spoke out of her earshot.

“Captain Chen, you really believe this is possible?” It was his turn to ask the questions.

“Chen here, Ergo. I’ll be honest—the risks are high. We get one shot to get you off the ground and out from that horde. If the mag-locks miss and our timing is out, you’re overrun. If the mag-locks connect and we pull you apart, it’s game over too.”

“We can take the easy option, leave the legionnaires behind, save the citizens?”

Ergo almost felt the anger surging off the Moby’s captain. “I trust my calculations. I trust my people. Now will you trust me?”

Ergo swallowed. Why would a man he didn’t know risk his ship and crew without assessing all the risks?

“Let’s do it. I’ll trust you.”

Chapter 42

SLS Moby

Indalia, Otarvi System

8/3555

As Chen and Liang had been talking over comms to the shuttle pilot and his second, Taelyon had taken control of the Moby. They were now angled down toward the planet for atmospheric entry, but to reach the stadium and the shuttle in time would take great co-ordination and timing. At the moment, they were within safe peramaters, but Chen knew they’d push those boundaries if they had too, to get the job done.

“Seems that the rest of the fleet is blowing up our communications, trying to contact us,” Liang said sarcastically.

“Let them,” Chen replied. He didn’t have time for Hesra or those who were with him. He felt that there was something wrong with how Hesra was handling things—he wasn’t getting materials because the supply ships needed to check on the regulations for giving the Tenth materials? If he didn’t sense something wrong with this, then he would be a blind fool.

Chen pressed a button on his chair, broadcasting to all hands. “This is the captain speaking. Prepare to enter the atmosphere. Everyone brace yourselves and secure all loose items!”

With that, Taelyon adjusted her plot as the Moby started to angle its way down.

Its engines didn’t need to push that much, rather let it fall into the gravity well.

The ship started to shake a bit as it entered the atmosphere.

Belts were clicked together as they shot down toward the planet. The ship rattled at an increased pace, the whole ship shuddering as the atmosphere fought against it.

Metal on metal could be heard bouncing around like a diving board.

The pressure of gravity increased on the crew as they were forced back into their seats through acceleration.

“Coming in a little hot. Adjusting trajectory. Time to target, four minutes.” Taelyon was calm as her hands moved over the control console.

The Moby, a ship that had been left as a memory in the middle of Roma, once again entered a planet’s atmosphere, her hull covered in flames as she tore over the sky of Indalia. Maraukian and legionnaire looked up as they saw that ancient carrier carving its way through the sky.

“Nose thrust!” Taelyon’s voice shook with the ship’s violent movements.

The pressure went from forcing them back into their seats to trying to push them out of it. They were caught up by their seat belts as the thrusters on the nose of the Moby fired.

Thrusters across the ship were working in concert to stop the ship from crashing into the ground below and level off as they shot across the surface of the planet.

The pressure died off as they were now cruising through the planet’s atmosphere.

“One failure in the mag clamps. The others are looking good. Target mag clamp is at one hundred percent,” Travestki yelled. “Charles is on standby.”

“We are stable and flying in atmo,” Taelyon reported as she pored over the information.

“Sensors are all good. Getting solid readings on the planet below. Passing them to forces on the ground,” Francis said.

“Comm relays are working fine,” Liang added.

“Engineering is looking good, too. Some heat damage, but we’re operational.” Carla checked her screens.

“Let’s see if we can’t hook ourselves a big one,” Chen said.

Chapter 43

Edani

Indalia, Otarvi System

8/3555

Rounds hit the bunker that Mark was in.

He had moved to the second layered defenses within the city. The series of killing corridors ran straight into a bunker at the end before they split apart once again, following the grid system of the city, and drawing them into the center of the city.

With each layer of defenses Mark moved through, he would get closer to his other mergers and the Maraukians would be forced into more compressed killing corridors.

The outer corridors were the strongest and they would be the hardest to defeat as one moved farther in. The mergers didn’t have the time to make the defenses all as strong; most of them were strong at key areas, but weak in others. This was just due to the lack of time. Even if the Maraukians roamed around the city wildly, to get to the mergers they would need to get into the trench system once again.

Mark slapped his arm to his leg. The next ammunition block went into the mag well as he raised his fist and fired with his right, dropping his left gun to the ammunition block and reloading it.

With his anti-grav systems, Sarah pulled off more ammunition blocks from the stockpile in the corner and slapped it to Mark’s armor.

The Maraukians were still far down the killing corridor, but it wouldn’t be long until they pushed forward.

The corridor was filled with mono-wire and had weapons at certain distances to shoot down the corridor.

Explosives had been held off. If they were to blow up the Maraukians, then they would probably destabilize their defenses.

Still the lightning missiles were firing off into the sky to get the Maraukians that were coming down the mountains.

Mark ducked down as a blast of plasma hit his bunker and struck his armor. His armor melted slightly, but it was made of carbon hendral and the heat of the plasma was quickly being converted into energy for Mark.

He let out a frustrated noise as he looked at the map display in his eye.

There were mergers on roofs of some still-standing towers; from there, they provided support and rained down hell on the Maraukians.

They were moving to the lower defenses to support the other Maraukians. Now they were locked in the fight; they didn’t need to know much more than point in the right direction and hold down on that trigger, reload, and repeat.

Mark saw the Maraukians that were spilling down the mountain passes behind Edani. A few of them turned toward Edani, forcing the mergers to divert some of their forces to make sure that they didn’t get to the mergers’ rear.

The majority of the Maraukians seemed to have gotten the scent of the legionnaires and the civilians who were escaping. They dropped down to all limbs and took off at a speed that was only comparable to a shuttle.

Once they got up to speed, then it wouldn’t take long for them to catch up with the legionnaires and the civilians.

To Mark, it was a sign that he had failed in his duty.

There was nothing that he could do or any way he could have predicted that this would have happened. It didn’t matter—it was on his watch. The legionnaires had left a bunch of their ammunition and their supplies with the mergers, but all it seemed to do was make it harder for them to defend those with them.

The diverted artillery and lightning missiles were weakening the Maraukians and buying those pulling back the time that they needed.

Mark rolled over and stood. His M20s continued to blast at the Maraukians without pause. As he guided his fire across the ranks of the Maraukians, he was able to slow them down considerably. The Maraukians at the fore died, but those behind surged forward, using them as nothing more than bullet magnets, only to die, and the ones behind them moved forward.

“Just fucking die!” Mark yelled. With no human emotions or fear of death, the Maraukians just advanced—always advanced.

One of the weapons systems was activated. It started to spit out rounds into the Maraukians’ lower bodies, firing back and forth across the Maraukians.

A second weapon system was activated as Mark was able to hold them off for some time.

He ducked, reloading and rushing to another position. As soon as he wasn’t firing, the Maraukians would have the time to advance and the ones behind the leaders could get off a few shots. A few shots from some thirty Maraukians was no small amount.

Mark stood once again and fired at the Maraukians. Around him, the bunker was being hit by coil gun rounds, plasma and even rockets.

Mark stayed steady even as the rounds sparked off his armor.

A plasma round, moving too fast for Mark to react, made it through his window and hit him in the leg, right in the knee joint. Mark gritted his teeth and then turned off the nerves in his leg.

The nanites were already working to reduce the heat that was starting to spread through Mark’s body and boil him alive.

The damage was being repaired but Mark was left hobbling.

Mark never stopped firing, never stopped shooting at them.

He didn’t even feel the pain as he calmly looked for new targets and brought them down in a hail of silver tracers.

One moment, they were charging; the next, they had blue holes in them and dropped.

The beasts that had struck such fear into him collapsed to the ground, nothing more than corpses.

The first weapons emplacement was reached and broken by the Maraukians as they had broken through the mono-wires that were in the corridor.

Mark elbowed a control panel to his side.

Spring-loaded wires jumped up into position, cutting through Maraukians and dropping others that couldn’t stop themselves.

“Mark, it looks like there are more than we thought. It looks like they joined up with other Maraukian assault barges,” Sarah reported.

There was nothing Mark could do with this information. “Looks like we’ll be able to take a few more of them with us. What about the legionnaires and the civilians?”

“They’re holed up in a stadium just three hundred kilometers from us. It won’t be long until the Maraukians reach them. Even with the artillery and lightning missiles…” She didn’t need to say anything else.

Mark felt the recoil from his weapons and coldly watched the Maraukians fall down, by mono-wire, hidden weapons systems, or his M20s.

Chapter 44

In Transit from Edani to Ducharev

Indalia, Otarvi System

8/3555

Leaving the city behind them had been a hard task between the felled buildings on either side and the debris mountains they had to climb. But there was a clear road out to Ducharev now, and clear meant no enemy in sight. Least for now.

What bothered Quina were the people they were encountering. Still so many running along with them. Where had their evac been? Why were there still civilians here? It didn’t matter anymore as her duties changed. She needed to get these stragglers off to Ducharev as fast as possible.

The crying child in Quina’s arms wouldn’t stop no matter what she tried. The legate held on tight and ran alongside her second.

“Shuttle inbound, ETA two minutes!” Xiao shouted to her, but she could already see and hear that.

To their left, the senators’ grounds had opened up. Where there was a vast checking system through and into this stadium, her legionnaires had run through it, breaking it apart and giving them a clear path.

Although the legionnaires could run all the way back to Ducharev, the people they had found were on their last legs and the legionnaires could only carry so many.

She’d given the order for them to stop, collecting the people and create a pick-up point for the evacuating ships.

Comms came in from Centurion Rayin and Valez. They were high up on two of the stadium towers, giving covering fire for most of the sector by the sheer sounds of it.

Quina reached the open field. It was empty bar the last few dozen men and women and what was left of her contubernium.

As soon as they were through, her men lay fire to the open doorway, destroying the stadium’s finery and structure. If the Maraukians wanted in, they’d have to also demolish it.

Everyone else from the city was safe. Now it was time for them to get out or get slaughtered. There were no other options here.

For a brief moment, Quina wondered why the hell she was even in command. Her hand shook just as much as the young girl’s, which she held on tightly to.

But then that thought drifted away. She knew she was there to take the flack when things went wrong. Just like they were going wrong, right now.

A woman approached her, holding out an arm. “Let me take her.” Her face and red hair were covered in dust and her clothes tattered and bloodied.

Quina looked to the young child. “We’ll be with your mother soon,” she said. “Go with this lady. She’ll protect you.”

Yet the young girl clung on tighter and the woman practically had to pry her away.

“Maraukian breach!” she heard Xiao cry out, then the sounds of heavy rounds behind them.

Quina turned, her HUD making out the Maraukians breaking through their defenses and heading their way.

This was going to be the closest call they’d ever had.

“Defense wall!” she shouted, but her men were already taking up stances to protect her and the others citizens who cowered behind her.

Quina’s heart melted all the more, seeing the woman and girl move away back to the center of the civilians.

Fully focused on the task she had now, Quina looked to her second. “How many rounds do you have left?”

Xiao checked. The lines on his face said everything. “Not enough.”

Quina glanced up as a shuttle inbound started its descent, the cries of the young girl still heard over the din.

Xiao nodded at the shuttle with his chin. “It’s not big enough, you know that, right?”

Quina laughed, and met his gaze with her stony one. “Did you really think we’d ever make it off this planet?”

Xiao grinned and pulled his rifle to his shoulder. “No, Legate.”

Following his example, Quina locked her weapon in place. Knowing she was also deadly low on rounds and focusing in on the Maraukian monsters headed their way, Quina opened fire, cutting into their ranks with a vengeance. “As long as they get out, I can live with that.”

***

Dansk reported each maneuver as she was supposed to but it grated on Ergo’s nerves. Called to evac their fair city, he’d come out of retirement to help. Not expecting to be people’s last hope for survival. This manouvre had to be timed perfectly, or they could all die.

Here, now looking down on the playing field beneath them, Ergo’s normally calm exterior was shaken to the core. The Maraukians were like nothing he’d ever imagined in his worst nightmares.

“Captain,” Dansk said. “If this doesn’t work…”

Ergo looked over to Dansk, who now had tears in her eyes. “They did everything for us. It isn’t right.”

Ergo didn’t say anything. This maneuver had to work. He’d put his faith in Captain Chen and the Moby. He focused on his controls, knowing she was right but that he couldn’t do anything else about it. Co-ordinates and timing calculations were coming in every second so that the two ships would have the time to connect. Ergo only hoped it was enough, that they’d be able to pull it off.

Chapter 45

The Shipyard

In Transit

8/3555

Jerome cradled his newborn son with one arm while he tested the warmth of the milk on his hand. Esamai was resting. She needed to sleep just as much as he did. Besides, staring into his son’s eyes, everything was clear. Family mattered more than anything.

Unconsciously, his eyes moved to the screens on the side of the room. He had adjusted them to show updates on what was happening in the Otarvi system, where Mark was.

A frown creased his brow while he read, his son’s gurgling the only piece of comfort he had.

The door pinged and when Jerome checked the ID, he allowed them in. Admiral Hall stepped inside, his face solemn.

Jerome didn’t need to know what the man wanted. He already wanted it too.

“You have a plan?” he asked as the admiral’s eyes drifted to the baby.

“I do.” Admiral Hall’s voice was terse and abrupt.

Esamai sat up, worry creeping in with her tiredness.

“How many people?”

“I put a call out a minute ago for volunteers. There’s a hundred thousand names come through already.”

Pride welled up in Jerome’s chest. This could be the beginning of something even he wasn’t sure of. To save Mark, he’d put it all on the line. Mark had done it time and time again for him in the past. The Victors’ names were legend. He was part of that legend. Yet, he hesitated. “Are they ready for this? They’ve never seen a battle like it before, only ever heard the stories since the Maraukians first hit.”

“They aren’t ready, but they’ve all got upgraded armor and weapons,” Hall said.

From the beginning, they had got information from Mark on weapons dealers, places they could get armor, weapons, and ammo. They also got plans for Alcubierre drives and they spent all the money of the Victor Corporation to arm themselves and buy fabbers. Mark created the M19A and could freely give them the plans for the weapons system.

“What about the drive?” Jerome asked.

“It functions as described. All of the tests show that it works perfectly. Yeltsin is confident,” Hall said.

They’d outfitted the Alcubierre drive to the largest freighter at three kilometers long and two wide; most ships could fit inside the massive behemoth.

Jerome knew Hall would have reviewed everything personally. Hall wouldn’t risk the lives of their men and women if he didn’t think they stood a chance.

“Get the ship ready. Everyone who wants to come, may do so. Everyone is to be reinstated to their previous ranks in the EMF.” Jerome stood, and Hall followed his example. With his son finally finishing his dinner, he put the bottle down and, moving him over his shoulder, patted the boy’s back lightly. “Mark’s stuck out in the middle of a city with Maraukians climbing all over him. The legionnaire’s forces are going to be too late to save him.”

Jerome met with Esamai’s eyes. She had just gained a son but by her eyes, fear was creeping in that she might lose her husband.

The look pulled at his heartstrings, but there were some things that were just a part of Jerome.

“Forces are already loading. We’ll be ready to depart in two hours,” Hall said. His words showed that he had not been idle, gathering supplies, personnel, and readying the freighter.

Hall saluted Jerome, who quickly returned the gesture. He turned back to Esamai.

He patted his son’s back and bounced him slightly as his wife waved for him to come closer.

He moved to her as she wrapped her weak arms around him. He sat on the bed with her, putting his arm around her.

She nestled into his side, biting her lip as tears rolled down.

It was some time before she could pull herself together. “I’ll take him,” she said.

Jerome stood and passed her their son.

Seeing the two of them, Jerome felt his heart tearing. “I love you.” Jerome kissed her and stared into her eyes, seeing the pain there, asking why he needed to go even as she didn’t say anything, knowing that this was a part of him and what he was.

“I love you both.” Jerome looked to their son.

“I love you too.” The words were hard for Esamai to say as she choked on them.

Jerome kissed her forehead. Gathering his strength, he turned and headed for the door. He looked back to the two of them, memorizing their faces.

Then he left. The door swung shut behind him.

He could only grit his teeth as he heard her crying before he left the corridor.

There was a coldness in Jerome’s eyes, a coldness that hadn’t been there for a long time. He took on the pain of leaving his family, the possibility of dying, and he stood straight as he adjusted his uniform.

He wasn’t Jerome Victor, the father and husband; he was Major Jerome Victor and he had a brother to save.

Chapter 46

SLS Troop Transport 481

Otarvi System

8/3555

Nerva sat with Pullo, conferring with Dominguez at the Victor Shipyard via his NIAI. They all watched the Maraukian horde invade and surround Edani.

“The mergers aren’t going to get out of that.” Pullo simply confirmed what he was thinking, what he knew already in his heavy heart. All this war, fighting, it never seemed to end, but he was sure as hell not letting the mergers be taken down like this.

“Anything we can do to assist?” Dominguez asked.

“They’re running out of all munitions, backed into a corner like no other. Our only way in would be if we had—”

His thoughts were interrupted as a flashing red light.

“Comms coming in. Unknown channel. Asking for you by name. Identifying as Admiral Hall.”

Nerva seemed stunned for a second before recovering and snapping out an order as he looked to the main screen.“Put them on.”

The screen changed to show an older looking man sitting in a command seat wearing a simple armored space suit with admiral rank tabs on his shoulder. With a nametape saying Hall on his chest.

“Major, was wondering if you would like a ride to Indalia?” Hall asked.

“A ride? What you talking about?” Nerva asked.

“I’m talking about the behemoth of a freighter that I’m currently in command of. We’ve got room for two of your carriers in here.”

“What are you carrying?” Nerva asked.

This time, it was Hall’s turn to grin. “One carrier. Four hundred thousand pissed-off troopers with M19As, repulsors, and armor. Even got some salvaged combat shuttles in here. No idea where those came from,” Hall said with an “innocent” face.

“You sure about this?” Nerva’s grin faded as he looked into Hall’s eyes.

“This is a crew of only volunteers. Do you think Jerome, Pullo, and Ortiz were just going to sit back and watch this happen?”

“No. No, I don’t.” Nerva felt as if he were coming alive again, and Dominguez’s almost-laugh echoed through his mind. Sneaky damned woman! He had been under the pressure of the senate and everyone looking for him to rebel or do something that they could catch him for and make him look bad for.

Looks like I’ll finally give them a reason to get rid of me.

“Drive is warming up. We should be with you shortly,” Hall said.

Nerva’s thoughts went to Dominguez, who had followed everything that just transpired. “You heard the man. I’m joining the real rebellion.”

“Rebellion? Oh, of course, sir.”

“You don’t think a carrier with over four hundred thousand troopers going in without the senate’s say-so will go down well, do you?” Pullo asked.

“Those old bastards got too complacent, working on their political power instead of working to increase the strength of the legion and push forward. Fuck ’em.”

“Well said. Now we just need to check and make sure that Captain Reiko and Huang’s crews won’t rebel on them if we accept the help of a third party to reach the planet. I’m happy that we were able to use the legion from Gilese. We know that they’re loyal at least and they’ll willingly help out the mergers with all of the rumors and actions that were recorded in that fight.”

Chapter 47

Stadium

Indalia, Otarvi System

8/3555

The ground rumbled as the shuttle landed behind her. Quina carried on fighting, knowing that soon it would be full and it would be taking off once more.

Her comms pinged.

“Legate, we’re under orders from a Captain Chen on the Moby that once the civilians are onboard, you are to load right on after them.”

“He’s kidding, right?” Quina looked to Xiao. “We’ll be too heavy for a shuttle?”

Xiao didn’t answer, his focus on the fight ahead as the Maraukians drew in even closer.

“Ergo, we’ve two situated as overwatch on the far-right tower. If you’ve any chance of getting more onboard your shuttle, you pick them up on the way past. We’re no more getting off this planet now than we were two minutes ago. Do. Not. Put those people at risk, or I swear I will come and hunt your ass down myself from this very spot!”

It was Mark’s voice that came back to her then. “Legate Quina, do as Ergo’s asking. Captain Chen and the Moby will be perfoming a mag lock hook up.”

She wanted to ignore him, to continue her fight and let the Maraukians know who they were really dealing with. To her last dying breath, she would take out as many of them as humanly possible. They wouldn’t get her so easily, but there was a little spark of hope that struck her heart. Mark wasn’t someone she could easily ignore.

“You trust Captain Chen can pull this off?”

Mark’s next words struck that spark in her and it spread throughout. “With my life, Legate.”

Switching to her own network to all her team, she spoke clear. “On my orders, pull back and board that shuttle.”

She noticed a few strange glances her way from the others, but they didn’t speak against her. “Yes, sir!”

Behind her the shuttle was loading fast. They had less than minutes left.

“On my mark. You ready?!”

“Sir, yes, sir.”

The Maraukians broke through the grounds’ blasted doorway.

Time slowed for Quina as she waited for Ergo’s final comm.

***

Charles glanced to his screen. “Holy shit!” he said. “Jess! With me. Now.”

Charles ran; he ran faster than he had ever done so before, stunning Jess as they headed for the hangar bay.

Jess ran with him, easily keeping up. “What the hell is going on?” she asked, trying her best to meet his worried eyes with hers.

“Chen’s heading in to give weight assistance to the last shuttle evacing the city.”

“And how the hell can we help?”

Charles shook his head from side to side. “Crazy bastard wants us to use the mag-locks.”

“The what? That’s meant for space attachment, not planetary use!”

Charles shook his head. “Crazy bastard.” When he met her eyes, she could see the excitement and smile that threatened to split his face. He opened up the hangar door and stepped through. “We’ve one chance, one chance…that’s it.”

No sooner was he inside the hangar bay than he leapt into action, quickly pulling up all the systems to operate the winch.

Jess stood beside him and watched carefully. “What can I do?”

“Lock down this bay. Get a suit on. If this goes wrong, we might need you to manually disconnect.”

Jess stared at him. He was trying something never done before on the say-so of some newly merged captain. But she also knew him well enough. She nodded and rushed for the suits, at least putting on a mask for Charles while he couldn’t.

The comms pinged and Travestki’s voice came over it. There was a slight worried pitch that Charles couldn’t miss. “Ready for maneuver, Charles?”

“In position. On your mark.”

Jess moved over to the large hangar bay doors as they opened. She glanced once to Charles but he just smiled at her and waited for the order.

Charles swallowed as they cleared the senators’ open playing field. The view below them was terrifying. If it wasn’t for gravity and mag-lock boots inside keeping them in place, Charles knew they’d have been sucked out.

The ship banked and the view below them shifted. Charles noted the Maraukian horde below them and the tiny shuttle that was slightly to their left.

“Mark!”

He punched the drop with all his might, almost cracking the screen, he was sure.

“Winch away!” he called out.

Jess’s face couldn’t be seen.

The terrible thunk and engine stutter was evident as the ship lurched. Jess fell to her knees, but she was back up in a second.

***

Quina had heard the command from Ergo, just as her men did. In synchronization bliss, they hurled all they could at the Maraukians flooding their way and ran. She had never run as fast in her life, clutching her weapon to her side. Fallback to the shuttle was in quick stages: her men put up defensive fire as soon as they could; others shoved themselves on top of the shuttle as best they could.

Above, she heard the loud vibrations as another ship came in. Then she heard the thunk as something connected with it.

One of her men fell out and onto the ground beside her, but he was soon up and back onboard.

Xiao’s suppressing fire next to her deafened her eardrums but he wasn’t letting up. Neither was she.

“Thirty seconds!”

The shuttle’s engines fired and it started to lift off. Xiao made a jump for it, reaching out to grab a hold of Quina’s arm. “Get in!” he shouted.

But the Maraukians were too close, she couldn’t stop them. She didn’t have time to think: it was react or die.

It would be seconds before they reached in for weapons, and were retaliating with firepower. Firepower that would rip the ship apart.

“Get these doors closed now!” a voice boomed behind her.

***

The doors started to close, and the arms from behind tried their best to pull her in. It wasn’t working. The outside world exploded in bright enemy fire.

The pulling behind her tugged her up once more, but it wasn’t enough. Then Xiao dropped before her, his feet hitting the deck. His eyes locked with hers. “No!” she said, head shaking at him.

He smiled at her. “They need you.” He reached for her weapon, and she let him have it.

With all his might, Xiao shoved upward and Quina was finally yanked into the ship’s hold. Xiao was now stuck on the ground.

“Hold on! This is getting rough!” Ergo’s voice came through to her as the two connected ships struggled with the weight load.

She looked around. Maraukians were everywhere, almost to Xiao.

“Rayin, cover fire now! Xiao’s down there!” But there was nothing else Rayin or Valez could do. In mere seconds, the Maraukians would be on top of him.

“Cover fire coming in, Primus!” a voice echoed in her ear, and just as the hangar doors closed, she saw them. Three gliders. Was there hope in getting him out of there?

Xiao, loaded with both weapons, knew it was over. He wasn’t going without a fight, however. He’d pummel as many as possible before the horde overwhelmed him. Quina wanted to look away. But she couldn’t. He’d saved her. After all those years of banter—some sheer insubordination—he’d chosen her life over his.

It wasn’t till Xiao went down and the Maraukian horde ripped him to shreds that the doors finally closed off her view and she looked to the man on her right.

“How they hell did they manage lift off?” she asked him.

Panting and sweaty, he didn’t have the answer but he grinned. “I don’t care how they did it. I am just glad they did.”

Chapter 48

Senator Rimateus’ Residence

Roma, Hellenic System

8/3555

Admiral Hesra was not only the commander of the space legion forces over Indalia, he was also the son of a powerful merchant. A merchant who was more than happy to use his connections to please Senator Rimateus.

Senator Rimateus might have lost his bid to get the mergers to be under the control of the senate, but if they thought that he would give up that easily, they were sorely mistaken.

He’d sent Hesra orders to do what he could in limiting the abilities of the mergers, drive them into a corner and make them look bad in the eyes of the legion and give Rimateus a way to force the legion to turn control over to the senate.

He never thought he would become so lucky. If the mergers were to all die, then it would be possible for him to just take the information and build up a new group of mergers from the ground up.

What Admiral Hesra had done wasn’t anything major in the eyes of the legion.

He had requested people check out the rules and regulations for giving supplies to the Moby as it was part of the Tenth Legion. It might be annoying, but it was something that most people would think was just made by someone who pays a little too much attention to detail.

Hesra had moved his fleet so there were no ships with sensors over the mergers’ position.

When Captain Chen had acted out against the admiral, he had called him a mutineer. The charge wasn’t light. Though the admiral had a valid reason to, as Captain Chen had ventured into the debris field around the planet, which could very well endanger his ship and the people on it.

Rimateus didn’t care much for Indalia. It was a part of the Union and had voting rights, but the voters primarily voted for political parties and not Rimateus. For him, it would be good if they had fewer voters and not so much pull in the senate to pick senators.

Supplies were dropping from the Moby, which seemed to have gone rogue.

Senator Rimateus numbly drank from his glass, his eyes fixed on the screens. When another merger died, he silently cheered at his luck.

Then the Moby had charged into the planet’s atmosphere. Rimateus had yelled at the screens, wanting them to crash but instead they were able to hook a shuttle and pull it out of the middle of a war zone. The impossible, became the possible. Rimateus’s anger was a thousand fold.

Chapter 49

In Transit from Edani to Ducharev

Indalia, Otarvi System

8/3555

Rayin and Valez watched the horde break through everything they could. There was no stopping them. Their firepower was so under exaggerated right now; where one was felled, a hundred took its place.

“Think we’re fucked, mate. We don’t have the same armor those mergers have or the skills,” Rayin said through their open channel.

Valez kept his barrage up, before finally glancing Rayin’s way. “Didn’t expect anything else.”

It had shocked him when the Moby careened out of the sky and deployed a mag-lock.

Rayin looked down as Maraukians surrounded the evac shuttle. It was also then he heard the telltale whistle of a glider.

Valez’s voice came across. “Heading to your location, Rayin.”

“Need some assistance down there?” A secure comm came through from lead pilot Yu.

Rayin breathed in and then let out a sigh, patching through to Yu. “Glad to see you. Now help the Moby and that shuttle get the hell out of here!”

The gliders circled the once, dipped its wings and then sped off toward the grounds ahead. Rayin could just make out clearly with his HUD the sheer force of the enemy that they would soon be under. Then he made the fatal mistake of glancing down. He’d known the towers they were on would be overrun. But this...

“What the sheer fuck?”

Valez had reached him and glanced over Rayin’s shoulder. “Seems the Maraukians learned to climb.”

Chapter 50

SLS Moby

Indalia, Otarvi System

8/3555

After finally dropping their extra load off at Ducharev, the atmosphere on the command bridge was heavy. They didn’t have any rounds left and if they kept cannibalizing parts of their ship, they would start to lose necessary systems.

“Sir, I am getting an emergence on the peripheral of the system. I don’t have a clear reading on it but it is massive, whatever it is,” Francis yelled.

“I want an update on it right away. I don’t want to get blindsided with another Maraukian barge.”

Liang turned around to his station as a bewildered look appeared on his face. “Sir, there is a video transmission coming from the unidentified ship!”

Carla let out a sigh. If they were sending a message, then it wouldn’t be a Maraukian ship. Maraukian barges never talked to anyone.

“Put it up!” Chen ordered.

A refined-looking man sat on a cramped bridge.

“Captain Chen, this is Admiral Hall of the Victor Supply Fleet. We heard you are need of supplies. We are moving in-system to provide support. We have five full carrier groups of re-trained troopers aboard, led by Jerome Victor.”

Carla looked at the information on the ship as it started to flow in. It was one of the super transports that the Victor Shipyard had been making. It was outfitted with what looked like an Alcubierre drive, but the readings coming from it were odd.

“Admiral, your support is appreciated. At this time, I see that you are four days out from reaching the orbit of Indalia,” Captain Chen said.

“Yeltsin!”

“Yes, Admiral.” Yeltsin, who was on Admiral Hall’s deck, snapped to attention.

“Let’s do some stupid shit!”

“Yes, sir!” One could hear the smile in Yeltsin’s reply.

“They’re spinning up their Alcubierre drive!” Francis said, not believing what was going on.

“To do that inside a system…” Taelyon sounded shocked. The reckless pilot daredevil seemed to be fearful of such an idea.

“They transitioned!” Francis yelled. “We’ve lost connection!”

“They’ve appeared next to the support fleet!” a sensor operator called out.

Carla and Chen exchanged a look.

They just found out about the technologies of Roma. How is it possible for them to do such a thing?

The two of them both made to open their mouths and ask the other when they stopped and looked at the mergers on the ground.

Who was Mark Victor? He was centurion of the mergers but he was still a major in the Earth Military Force.

Jerome fucking Victor? Wait, his brother, and Admiral Hall? The Admiral Hall, formerly Captain Hall of the Reclaimer? They might not be part of the EMF anymore, but they fought for one another, not some damned country or flag.

Chapter 51

Stadium

Indalia, Otarvi System

8/3555

Rayin and Valez’s rate of fire slowed as they had to pick their shots carefully. “Almost out,” Valez said.

Yu’s voice rang through the net. “Glider heading in. ETA two minutes. Can you hold on?”

Valez’s face lit up, but he, too, glanced down at the climbing horde below. His face contorted for just a moment and he stood, his empty M20 recoiling behind him. “I’ll take them out with my bare fists if I have to,” he said but drew his sword.

Rayin stood too. He’d not much left but he sure as hell would make it last. “Copy that, Yu. We’ll last. Get your asses here ASAP. If you guys can grab us from here, could do with a lift to aid Ducharev.”

“One minute.”

“How we gonna get the fuck off this building? Ain’t no landing spot here now.”

Young’s crazy laugh came across then. “Seems Charles isn’t the only crazy one. Chen gave us the idea. Our death-defying pilot’s gonna slow down his glider, open the doors, and wait for you to hop on in.”

Rayin and Valez traded glances. “I’m game if you are?” Rayin laughed.

The glider’s engines whirred in, and Rayin laid down the last of his fire as the Maraukians were almost to the top of the roof. One of the gliders dove down, and started laying in fire at those lower down. The piles of Maraukians scrambled and Rayin whooped as the glider circled the building, knocking them all down in a scrabbling pile of blood and gore. The building, however, couldn’t take the hits. The weapons fire ricocheted through the Maraukians and into its softened substructure.

One of the gliders dipped in now, slowing the engines down as much as physically possible without stalling. Not meant to hover, it spluttered once and dipped too much. Its doors opened.

Rayin heard Yu’s shout loud and clear, then Bobbie’s crazy laugh. “Just testing ya. You boys ready? Next pass, you better jump.”

Rayin spun around, watching the glider as it circled one last time around the building. Valez was right there with him. Valez was the one who counted.

Three.

Two.

JUMP!

The two-ton pair jumped, their boots slamming the roof of the glider. It dipped again due to its low velocity.

“Trying to compensate!” Bobbie said.

Rayin was the quickest to act and hit his mag clamp. Valez followed, just before he would have rolled off.

Bobbie’s fervor could be heard net-wide as he whooped out. “Buckle down, boys! Gotta get you back in the fight!” He sped up to catch up with the others now whizzing past over the Maraukian herd commanders’ heads.

Chapter 52

VCF Osdal

Indalia Orbit, Otarvi System

8/3555

“Opening bay doors,” Guy said from his position at the comms desk. Since he had left the EMF, he continued to have a bald head but was trying to grow a goatee—try being the operative word in this situation.

“On a scale of one to ten, what would you rate Guy’s mustache?” Celik asked.

“Negative one,” Rasalov said.

“Negative one? Why?” Yeltsin asked. “Why not negative infinity?”

“If it’s negative one, it already broke the scale,” Rasalov said.

“Why do I think that there is a Rasalov story somewhere in this?” Hall muttered aloud as he read the different reports.

“The two carriers are moving to enter the bays,” Rasalov said.

Hall nodded as they continued their debate even as two carriers seemed to disappear into their ship.

“You guys are assholes,” Guy said.

“And you look like you colored your fuzz to make it stand out,” Yeltsin threw back.

Guy looked back to his station.

They’d all been friends for a while so they leaned forward, Hall with them.

“Guy. You didn’t, did you?” Celik seemed ready to burst with excitement.

“He was sweating a lot from his upper lip the other day and said that it burned a bit.” Rasalov quickly turned to his sensor panel.

“What are you doing, Rasalov?” Guy demanded.

“The docking cables are being attached! And, I just ran sensors on your”—Guy was trying to undo his seat to attack Rasalov before he said anything—“brown tone, no grays brand hair-colored mustache!”

Rasalov yelled it out as the others all smiled at Guy’s misfortune.

Hall shook his head at their activities.

“Report.” Hall’s simple words ended Guy’s ribbing and turned them toward their stations.

“The first carrier is secure. Second carrier is moving into position. Clamps are being applied. Looks like the shipyard boys are earning their pay today,” Rasalov said.

Celik nodded along with it all. As a freighter, it didn’t officially have any weapons; however, they had hidden a few secrets behind certain bulkheads if they needed to use them.

“Checking carrier placement. Adjusting position to ease load and strain.” Celik was their weapons officer but he doubled as their loadmaster.

He used the massive machinery inside the freighter to hook onto the carriers and move them through the cavernous hold so that their weight was distributed more evenly.

Mag clamps moved to capture the carrier and hold them in place.

The massive carriers were like shuttles compared to the freighter, easily slipping into their hold. The bay doors sealed behind them as if they had never existed.

“Legate Nerva and his command staff are on their way to the command center,” Guy said.

“Got some Admiral Hesra yelling all over the place, telling us to identify ourselves and then ordering the people aboard the ships to arrest us. Dude’s losing his shit.”

“Patch me into the command center.” Hall disregarded the other admiral as he continued talking. “I want everything secured and ready to go in twenty!”

This was a grand undertaking but he knew his people; they were the best.

“Sir!” Celik said. Even with his five o’clock shadow, there was no lack of professionalism as he worked his station. “Sending you new weight information, Nav!”

“Got it. Adjusting for weight and checking coordinates,” Yeltsin said.

“Yeltsin, let me know the minute you have a navigation solution.” Hall didn’t want to be caught up in this shit show any longer than necessary.

“This Admiral Hesra is just getting louder and louder. It looks like he is sending people to intercept,” Guy said.

“Rasalov?”

“They won’t get in range with us before we jump, if we go according to Yeltsin’s timing.”

“Let them yell. They left Mark and his people out to die.” Admiral Hall had watched countless people die and he had no mercy to those who would do so without regret. It was an admiral’s role to try to limit the casualties on his side, not add to them.

Hall looked down to the screen mounted to his seat, seeing he was connected to the meeting room where the leaders of the Victor Corporation force were talking to one another in low voices and pointing to the map in front of them.

“In fact, Guy, prepare a long-range communication,” Hall said.

“Sir?”

“Send a message to Moretti. Get him to look into Admiral Hesra’s background. Let’s see if there is more to this than meets the eye.”

Hall had been blindsided by so many things working behind the scenes, he wanted to know the whole picture now. Either Hesra was a shit admiral or something else was going on. If there was some other reason for his actions, Hall didn’t want to be blind going in to talk to him.

“Can do, sir.” Guy quickly wrote and sent the message to Moretti, the old intelligence officer for the Ministry of Intelligence and the man in charge of guiding the Victor Shipyard to the Tricticus system.

Hall sat back in his chair and watched the screen as four legion personnel entered the room.

Here he got his first real look at retired Major Nerva, the legendary leader in the Earth Military Force, and he grinned. He liked what he saw.

Chapter 53

In Transit to Indalia

Inner Otarvi System

8/3555

Admiral Hesra watched as the strange freighter that seemed to appear from nowhere moved into his region. Then, as he zoomed in on the far side of the carrier, there it was, as blatant as ever: a logo.

Zooming in once more, Hesra frowned.

I know that logo from somewhere! He queried his NIAI for a full search. His hand slammed down on his desk, announcing the arrival of the query. His plastic drinking bulb dropped on the floor, unnoticed as Hesra grit his teeth.

The Victor Corp. How in the holy hell did Earth and Her Colonies get a freighter that size? And more to the point, where did they get the personnel to man it?

As he got more information, an uneasy feeling started to appear.

Finally, he sat back in his seat.

He had heard of the mergers in the past but he didn’t really pay much attention to them.

When his father had come to him saying that Senator Rimateus was looking for a favor, he hadn’t immediately agreed.

When he looked over the information, he found it was an auxiliary century, not even eighty people, led by an ex-officer from the EMF. The positions were filled with the disgraced exiles from the legion or barbarians from some backwater planet.

The kind of people who didn’t have much backing.

He hadn’t looked into their background.

Now he found out that their leader wasn’t just some simple ex-EMF officer; he was one of the people who were the personal students of Legate Nerva, the Legate Nerva. He had been one of the heroes of the EMF; he had built the Victor Corporation, which was quickly becoming a superpower in the EHC and was pushing to expand.

The mergers had saved other units on Gilese. Their carrier, the Moby, had been given to them by the admiral of the space legion and Damus Versanti himself.

They were still an auxiliary unit and newly formed, but their connections weren’t weak. Moreover, their connections were all military. There were few, if any, people with political ties.

Hesra let out a breath. Without political backing, they would be easier to deal with.

He just needed to make sure any evidence was cleared away.

Hesra started to clear the different logs connecting him and Senator Rimateus. He made personal copies to his NIAI, clearing away any indication that they had been talking to each other.

Even if they brought charges on them, they would need to find evidence first and Hesra hadn’t been idle as an admiral. There were many people who owed him favors over the years.

Chapter 54

Victor Corporation Shipyard

“The Yard”

In Transit to the Tricticus System

Moretti looked over the reports coming from the different parts of the shipyard.

When they had left Earth, they had used the strapped-on ships to build up their inertia. Their first priority was to create Alcubierre drives. With them, they gained greater mobility. They had built up the one on the shipyards and also made one for the Osdal freighter. Originally it was supposed to go and buy the materials they needed from the legion as well as different contractors that had been met throughout the Harmony War.

With their support, then they could meet with the different freighters that were in transit and pass to them what they needed to make Alcubierre drives, have them drop off their loads, and return to the shipyards.

This had failed to happen as the Osdal had gone off in support of Mark to try to pull him out of a dire situation. Moretti understood and agreed; so did the EMF members of the shipyard. Many of them and the others they were able to pull from Earth came with them to assist.

Though, there were a number of civilians within the crews who had banded together and didn’t agree with this measure. They’d been overruled but now they were trying to fight Moretti on everything and this was making his life hell.

He wished he was off with the others supporting Mark, but he knew his place was here aboard the shipyards. He was an intelligence officer, not a trooper.

Managing the shipyards, although it was different from what he was used to, wasn’t impossible for him.

“We’re getting a communication from the Salisa Corporation freighter,” one of the officers in the shipyards’ command room said.

“Good,” Moretti said. Although he might not be able to make the drives in-house, if he was willing to give the other party enough benefits, then they would happily sell them to him. The Salisa Corporation had agreed to a deal with the Victor Shipyard: for several Alcubierre drives, they wanted a freighter. It was a total rip-off, but Moretti didn’t have any room to maneuver. He took the contract and they’d sent their fastest ship to dispatch the drives.

Specifically, they’d sent over the software and hardware used to control the drives. The yards had not been idle. Their own Alcubierre drive was hacked together and although it could hop from one spot to the next, it could only go a certain distance and be used for a certain time. This was the limits of the computational power with Earth and Her Colonies tech.

With the hardware and software of the Alcubierre drives control system, they could greatly increase the distance they were able to travel in one jump. With the multiple drives, they could outfit some of their smaller freighters and send them off to meet with the freighters that were already moving between systems.

With that, they could complete their orders, gather more supplies and truly establish themselves. With their contacts, they could pull in the massive amount of materials, ship them to technology centers and bring back working tech to Tricticus to expand their fleet and strength.

Moretti wasn’t an idiot. As soon as they showed the kind of support that they could call upon, he knew that no government was going to just let them be. The EHC and the legion were unstable with the recent changes. They couldn’t afford to look weak and the Victor Corporation was doing just that.

“Very well. Keep an eye on them. If they do anything, blast them. As soon as the drives are turned over to us, get the engineers to work. We don’t have time to mess around,” Moretti said.

“Understood.” One of the aides turned back to their station to repeat his orders to the right people.

“We have a long-range message from Admiral Hall for you, directly,” another person in the command center said.

“Send it to my station.” Moretti sat up a bit as the message was sent to his station. He used his thumbprint to open the message, a few simple lines of information and a request.

Moretti closed his eyes. Behind his eyelids, the NIAI started to project information over his eyes as he brought it out of sleep mode.

Moretti opened his eyes as he saw the world through his NIAI.

This had been one of the hundred or so NIAIs that had been handed to them through Mark’s back channels. They were incredibly useful and Mark had made sure that there were no bugs in them so that others would be able to find out what they were doing.

For Moretti, it was a godsend as he no longer needed to keep all of his important information just within his mind. He could get the NIAI to remember it for him so that he could concentrate on other things. It was also the reason that Moretti could continue to operate as an information officer for the yard and Victor Corporation as they traveled toward Tricticus.

Moretti had been able to incorporate his information network, with his NIAI giving him massive access to the information of Earth and Her Colonies. No one would be able to find him in their systems. He had found Nivad Selvra’s files. They were filled with information to control the other people of Earth and Her Colonies.

With the chaos that was going on there, Moretti held the information and gathered more, waiting until the major powers started to appear in the EHC so that he might exert some control over them. If they would let themselves be controlled again; that remained to be seen.

Moretti’s largest frustration right now was the Union. The Roma Union was a massive institution and Moretti was only just starting to seed different spies and information brokers through the Union. He was well behind the other powers in the Union but he was taking his time to make sure that he had the best people in the right places.

It would take time to grow, but Moretti was someone who had survived the Harmony War and been right next to the commander of one of the first systems to rebel.

Nivad Selvra even moved to bring Moretti closer and make him his man. This showed how well-suited Moretti was to dealing with others.

Moretti was looking over public records and doing a bit of digging with some keywords.

“Sir, the captain of the Salisa wishes to talk to you personally before continuing the transfer,” one of the aides said.

“Understood.” Moretti passed off the query to one of his trusted people. In his department, none of his aides were normal intelligence officers. All of them were troopers who had served with the Victors or the members of the legendary Triple-Twos. He’d picked out the best candidates and groomed them as soon as they entered the Victor Corporation.

With their loyalty assured, Moretti had nothing to fear.

If it was a request from Admiral Hall, they would put their everything into finding out what was going on.

Moretti composed himself and looked at the screen on his armrest.

The command center of the shipyard wasn’t set up as a normal operational command. In fact, it was buried deep within the shipyard, underneath armored panels with command tables dotted around. It looked more like a mobile command center that a group of troopers would set up on a planet. He didn’t want them to see that the shipyard was more than they expected.

Moretti sent a command, with his NIAI allowing the connection.

It showed him a proud-looking woman in a spotless coverall. She looked like a king upon a throne, the angle of the video input made to emphasize her position over those she was talking to.

“Mister Moretti,” she said in a curt manner, nodding to him.

“Captain Onari,” Moretti said.

A trace of surprise made the woman’s eyebrow lift slightly.

They hadn’t said who would be delivering the goods and with her not saying her name, it showed that she wanted to have the upper hand in this talk from the start.

“We are ready to transmit the goods over to you. We will need your signature,” she said.

“Only when all of the goods are delivered will I sign,” Moretti said.

“Mister Moretti, this is not the way things are done in the Union,” she said, clearly not liking how he was talking over her and not allowing her to gain any power.

Moretti sent a command to his NIAI as a document was sent to Captain Onari.

“This is a contract of trust,” Moretti said. With trading in the middle of space, a contract of trust was a contract that could be signed before transferring goods between people. This made it so that someone couldn’t get the goods and run off without repercussions. It was a contract that wasn’t used that much as most times these trades happened in the middle of space, where people didn’t want others to see what was going on. Or it was in a remote location that didn’t have a dock to facilitate trade between two groups.

The contract was well known in rural areas of the Union but not in the central areas where information was hard to find.

Moretti, with the power of his NIAI, had quickly looked into all possibilities where this trade could go wrong.

Captain Onari waved her hand and dismissed the contract. There was a sour look on her face but also a gleam of amusement. She seemed pleased that she had found a worthy opponent. “Very well. We will begin delivery.”

“We will go according to what was said before: load over the items to a bridge freighter, vet and check before shipping to the yard.” Moretti wanted to make sure there was nothing wrong with the goods before bringing them aboard the yard. It might be a bit over the top but he wasn’t going to put the Yard in harm’s way if he could help it.

“Of course.” Captain Onari nodded.

“Thank you, Captain. I look forward to doing more business with you.” Moretti gave her a smile. It wasn’t kind but rather the look of a wolf that had captured their prey.

Captain Onari flicked her hair away in frustration. Before she could say anything, Moretti closed the channel.

“It’s fun to win.” Moretti laughed to himself. Soon they would have the parts for the Alcubierre drives, as well as the four industrial fabbers.

With those fabbers and the plans that they had been given by Mark, they could start converting their raw materials into useful products that could be used to increase their strength and trade with the Union and their contacts in Earth and Her Colonies for more items.

Chapter 55

Ducharev City

Indalia, Otarvi System

8/3555

Primus Legate Quina had landed with the last shuttle in the heart of Ducharev’s defenses. She had no time to grieve her losses. She needed now more than ever to rally her men and get them out into the best spots in case the Maraukian horde decided to move from Edani toward them.

Walking to where most of them were gathered, she noted the weakness showing on their faces. They’d lost most of their friends and comrades. Those who they’d fought against with all their might across many battles. They were eating at least, and drinking, but they thought they’d lost the battle.

Quina moved to take a bottle of water from a woman on the outskirts of the gathering. The woman smiled at her, noted her uniform and rank, and lowered her head. Reaching down into her tunic, she pulled out a hand-stitched cloth and proceeded to wet it with some water. “Here,” she said.

Quina drank the water. It relaxed her parched throat and gave her at least some renewed energy to get up and address the lady. She took the cloth. “It’s beautiful. I shouldn’t.”

But the young woman stepped forward and wiped the grime from her face. “Without you, we’d have fallen a long time ago. It’s but a small thank-you, but it is a thank-you.”

Quina let her wipe her cheeks. She knew there were tear stains there. The close comfort of the stranger made her all the more determined. “No,” she said in return. “It is I who thank you.” With that, she moved away, and toward the back of a truck, which she knew gaining height on would help.

She’d been in command of near sixty thousand when they’d first landed, taking on a third legion to help out. Now those ninety thousand men were down to less than one legion. She was a good judge of numbers and she didn’t need to know there were so few left, but she did. Approximately twenty thousand by her count, but only eight thousand in fighting form.

Choking back a gasp, she pushed forward. Seeing her head his way, a young man held out a hand. She used him to help her up a step, and then pulled herself up onto the back of the truck. She looked out to the roughly eight thousand fit and strong legionnaires. Even though her heart sank, she sucked in a breath. “Centurions, get your people sorted out and organized. Command staff on me,” Quina said.

The mass of people started to regain order as people moved around with purpose.

“The mergers are surrounded. We should be there!” someone cried out.

Quina, who had been about to turn away, stopped in her steps. People were still moving but they looked to her with anticipation. The mergers laid down their lives for them; how couldn’t they be interested in what she had to say?

Quina agreed. “Those were not our orders. We complied with command and brought these people to safety. Do not think you’ve done wrong. Civilian safety is also as paramount as the mergers’ survival. That is what we do—protect. Now we need a plan, if the Maraukians turn to this city. We need defense lines better than we had at Edani, hear me? We may have run from Edani, but we are not defeated.”

It was only their training and the fact that these were career legionnaires that more didn’t raise arguments.

Dark grumblings were passed between the legionnaires.

She understood it and felt the same but it was bad from a command point of view. Quina had noted the man who called out. She’d have a word with his commander later—if they all survived. She knew chastising him here and now wasn’t the right place, no matter how much hierarchy demanded it.

The fact she agreed with him made it all the harder.

Seeing the last few in command head her way, she was struck by Xiao’s loss. She pulled herself together, a cold expression on her face as she detached herself from her emotions. She needed to meet with the legate in charge of Ducharev’s defense as she was turned back to a legatus in charge of an extended legion.

“Legatus Quina, this is Legate Standring. I’m in need of your help. I’m forwarding you the information on a sector facing Edani. I have sent supplies there for your people to pull from. Let me know if you need anything.”

“Understood, sir,” Quina said. The channel ended and Quina sent the information to the other leaders around her.

“All right, we’ve been given a sector to look after. Supplies have been sent to the location…” Quina quickly fell into the briefing as the others listened to her attentively.

Quina looked at the new faces and thought of the faces that were missing. The loss was too recent for her. A part of her thought she imagined it all and she would see them in a few moments as they showed up late for the meeting. Unfortunately, although there were many wounded, many hadn’t survived Edani.

Chapter 56

SLS Moby

Indalia Orbit, Otarvi System

8/3555

Charles hit the rewind on the video feeds he’d been sent. He watched it again and again and knew the furrows on his brows were getting deeper.

It was Jess who stooped over his shoulder in the end and asked, “What the hell has you so damned worried?”

“Oh, it’s not the images I’m looking at, though their animal behavior and herd mentality is different from species on Earth. It’s the sounds. Take out all the explosions and natural background noise, and there’s something else there.” Charles moved the screen so she could watch it, and she did. He then passed her a set of headphones. “With...” He touched a key and removed the loud sounds. “Without.”

“I’ve seen animal behaviors before and I’ve seen their herd mentality. But, yeah those sounds are odd.”

“There was something similar when they first entered the system. I just can’t break it down enough.” Charles rubbed the back of his neck, feeling there was a big headache coming along for him.

“Why hasn’t anyone else heard it before now?” Jess asked.

One of the others in the room leaned in, handing him two tablets and a glass of water. Charles looked up into brown eyes. “Thanks,” he said.

“No problem. I’ve seen that look a fair few times now. You don’t drink enough to start with.”

Charles knew that. Eating and drinking when he was in one of his creative states was a thing that went right out of the window. Without the others to watch over him and sit him down to a plate of food, he’d keel over.

“Why hasn’t anyone heard it?” He finally answered Jess. “I think they did, but they didn’t think much of it. It’s only now it’s standing out.”

Jess pointed at the screen once more. “I think Liang might be able to help us out some here.” She smiled.

“Excellent idea. If you don’t mind sorting out those files for him, I’ve an idea.” Looking up and around the room, the new plan now formed in his mind. One thing stopped him though: merging. The thought of doing so had crossed his mind before. A genius already, he knew what opening up his mind and body could do.

Yet, he glanced around to the people in his care, those who had followed him halfway across the galaxies, Gomez and Jess, would merging be letting them down?

He pushed the thoughts away as more comms came in for ammunition and supplies. No, he had to concentrate on those; the mergers needed that—not some souped-up, even more crazy old man.

Chapter 57

Edani

Indalia, Otarvi System

8/3555

“I will rip your skulls off and feed them to you!” Ava yelled. Her right arm had blocked the missile but it had destroyed her M20 and her lower arm. Only pieces were left. She slammed into the ground, creating a trench with her right shoulder. Even as she fell, she was firing at the Maraukians coming after her.

Her right side was peppered with holes. The shrapnel from the missile striking her arm had penetrated her armor but thankfully she had no rebounds within her armor. Still, her nanites were in overdrive, repairing her vital systems. She stopped this and focused on repairing her M20. She could survive for a few hours without these vital systems.

Kela dulled her nerves, allowing her to stay combat active as a chemical concoction focused her. Her right side was done for and a number of her anti-grav systems were right fucked.

With a grunt of effort that did more damage than good, Ava pushed herself backward and up out of the pit with the stub of her arm.

Her M20 illuminated the trench she was in with silver as she never stopped firing, forcing herself backward as she fed the Maraukians rounds. Like hungry wolves, they kept coming for her.

With a thought, she checked her sword and worked to return motion to her body. Even if she repaired her armor, what use would it be other than slowing the speed that the Maraukians’ vibro-blades cut through her?

Ava’s mind was still merged, so she was connected totally with the others. She saw as Chyna jumped up from his position, followed by a line of tracers as he blasted through living quarters and offices.

“No, you fucking don’t!” Egli, her subordinate, yelled out. He had been at the fourth rally point. The mergers moved to cover his position and Ava’s.

Three mergers out in the open faced the Maraukians with both of their M20s, not caring to conserve their rounds as the back panels opened and missiles shot out.

The lightning ballistic missiles took off into the sky as Ava saw their thoughts and their actions. She kicked her useless legs, getting back some function. She turned off the nerves in her busted arm as she forced herself backward.

They were trying so hard to save her—she wouldn’t give up! Make them bleed for every inch! Dying? They were already dead. Here they took as many as possible down with them!

Egli came out of the sky. He landed on the Maraukians, moving so fast to not be hit by them. His force left a crater where he landed. A Maraukian died under his feet as he came up with a shield in one hand and a spear in the other.

He engaged the Maraukians face-to-face.

Ava sunk deeper into the merge. Egli’s shield blocked the Maraukians’ advance, directly striking them and forcing them to pause or pushing their weapons away.

His spear jabbed forward through the openings, hitting Maraukian vitals.

He was rapidly covered in blood as he was slowly pushed backward. He didn’t flinch at all as rounds passed him, hitting the Maraukians.

Ava shot around Egli, the two of them working together perfectly to inflict as many wounds on their enemy as possible.

The ones behind didn’t have time to pull out their weapons before they were cut down by the duo.

Chyna flew out of a building as lightning missiles started to descend with their telltale thunder-like noises.

As the missiles came between buildings, they shattered glass and slammed into the ground, sending out a wave of pressure. The hit was right in the midst of the Maraukians. The sides of the killing corridor were cracked and sections fell down.

Chyna landed next to Ava. Grabbing her by the back of her armor, he threw her up onto his back. She continued to fire over his shoulder, adjusting as he started running.

Egli killed his last Maraukian and jumped into the air. His NIAI took over, flying him backward and leaving his two arms free. He fired on the Maraukians even as he retreated, splitting his arcs with Ava to cover the entire frontage of the Maraukians.

They rushed back to the next layer of defenses.

“I’ve got this one here. Get her to a fabber,” Egli said.

“Got it.” Chyna was of a higher rank, but among the mergers, they cared more for action than rank and respected one another deeply.

Chyna didn’t pause and started flying. He hadn’t flown to the defensive position as Ava wouldn’t have been able to help Egli in pushing back the surviving Maraukians.

The lightning strike didn’t kill off the Maraukians right behind them but instead created a gap so that Egli would now have time to react.

Those mergers who had taken a knee now rushed toward their next position as arcs were redefined and the mergers adjusted to the new situation.

Ava checked her situation and let her nanites work as they needed. Now that she was away from the fight, she let her vitals be repaired. The damage had only increased with the fighting.

She sent information to the fabber and checked the stores to see what items were held there so that she might repair herself as quickly as possible.

She needed to get back into battle.

Chyna jumped out of the trenches and rushed to the center of the city, where there looked to be a maze leading to one last tower in the city.

He smashed through the lobby and passed through different security doors to where banks of elevators led upward. Here were the fabbers that had come down with the supply drops, rapidly making supplies for the mergers.

He released Ava, as he was about to say something.

“Go. I have this.” Parts of Ava’s armor fell off as other parts came from shelves and were attached and fused back into the armor.

The whirlwind of changing parts showed that it wouldn’t be long until Ava was repaired.

Chyna shot off without another word, but Ava could feel his relief through the merge.

They’d suffered injuries all over the place but they hadn’t lost anyone yet. Ava knew that it was a matter of time. The Maraukians were getting closer and closer.

The Moby wasn’t able to support them in any way now. Whatever they had in the city was all that they had left.

The artillery that had been supporting the evacuees to Ducharev was once again pounding on the hills and hitting the concentrated forces of Maraukians.

It looked like it was not three Maraukian barges that had been in the mountains, but rather five of them. Turning the original estimate of four hundred and twenty thousand Maraukians to seven hundred thousand.

If they had been normal legionnaires, then the mergers would have died long ago. Ava didn’t care about how many they killed or how they were stopping five barges’ worth of Maraukians.

She cared about getting back into the fight so that she could take some of the pressure off her fellow mergers. All of her broken units were fed into a fabber that was running constantly to churn out new parts and ammunition.

Bots were moving these parts to the mergers’ defensive locations or stockpiling them across the city.

She pulled off the remains of her M20, slapping it into the fabber, and pulled on a new one. Her arm would take time to grow back but with the M20 linked to her, she could use it without needing to hold down the trigger.

She checked the map and information coming through the mergers and their sensors.

The Maraukians were pouring in from everywhere. They were climbing over one another to try to get to the mergers, sometimes killing one another underfoot. The mergers were fighting, but there was no winning, just slowly giving away ground as the sea of Maraukians continued to push into the city.

They were even rushing the towers that they had dropped on either side, some of them finding a way through to reinforce those between Edani and Ducharev.

Ava slapped ammunition blocks into her new M20 and took off at a run, moving to where the line was weakest to lend her help.

Chapter 58

VCF Osdal

Moving Toward Indalia, Otarvi System

8/3555

“All right, what’ve you got?” Nerva dropped into a seat around the projected map of Edani. His tired bones felt compressed by the high-speed lifts that took him from his carrier to the Osdal’s command center.

With him, there were three different officers from the legion. They followed his actions.

Jerome nodded to Pullo, who was behind Nerva, the two of them sharing a familiar smile.

Admiral Hall was on a screen, watching what was going on from the bridge of the freighter.

Jerome didn’t wait for them to be seated. Time was of the essence here. “We’ve got four hundred thousand troopers. They’re using armor that we either bought, stole, or made ourselves. The large majority is based off the crap from the Harmony War. We’ve upgraded where we could and with the information Mark has been sending to us, we’ve got a lot of improvements but we haven’t been able to get this out to most people. The newer armor is using M19As, the old stuff—well, repulsors were going cheap.”

The two officers, one with tanker markings on his shoulder and the other with glider markings, looked between the groups in shock. Jerome shrugged, while Pullo looked proud.

Ortiz snorted but didn’t say anything else. Nerva had a knowing smile. They had smuggled a lot of the weapons to the gangs under their control. The gangs sold them to the Westerly Complex.

The cleanup of the Harmony Forces had gone really easily as most of the gangs and people in the slums had stolen the gear, only to sell it to the Westerly Three Complex Crew.

“At the basic level, we have four troopers in the older armor with the repulsors, then six including the sergeant and master corporal using M19As or some amped up E12s that we’re calling E13s.” Jerome turned to Pullo.

“We’ve got two hundred and thirty combat gliders, loaded with full ammo, four full carrier groups of troopers—closer to four and a half. Ortiz is in overall command. Jerome and myself are his second-in-command, leading two of the carrier groups. We’ve got Eriksson, Mackaro, Hughes, and Jovenko as our generals.”

Ortiz, Jerome, and Pullo all looked to Nerva. Jerome and Ortiz hadn’t seen him since he “died.” Nerva wished that their reunion wasn’t under such conditions. Right now, he didn’t have time to talk about what had happened in the past; they could only move forward.

“What’s the plan, sir?” Ortiz asked, clearly passing command over to Nerva.

Nerva was touched by their trust but he didn’t have time to wallow in it. He stood and looked over the map on the ground. With a mental command, the view changed, showing a deployment zone, lines of attack, and support positions.

“The plan is we go and rescue our people. We move in-system at our greatest speed. First on the ground will be artillery and Bellona tanks. The Tenth needs our support—the more fire support, the less Maraukians they have to face.

“I’ve got an extra-strength Bellona battalion under the command of Thomas McDougall.” Nerva waved to the gruff-looking man with tanker markings on his shoulder. He nodded to the others.

“We will move two tank groups comprised of eight Bellonas to this high ground here and here. Their focus will be to support the mergers, our advance and then our retreat. Another three Bellona groups will move with the advancing forces to give close-in support. I will be with the forward tanks, controlling the support across the battlefield.” McDougall looked to Nerva.

“We will move our ground forces up with our armored forces, clearing as we go. We’ll bomb those mountain passes until nothing can get through them. Then we’ll make a corridor for the mergers to escape the city. We’ll retreat under fire. From there, we will support the defensive line at Ducharev. With Edani overrun, the forces at Ducharev need to look over five times the amount of frontage with just three times the amount of forces at Edani. If we can hold this line for a week, then the people of Indalia will be able to stabilize themselves.” Nerva looked to the people in the room who were making notes with pad and pen or with their NIAIs.

“I saw those feeds—good. The more men we get on the ground, the better. This was an ideal location.” Nerva tapped the second spot Jerome pointed out. “It’s far enough away for the Bellona to make headway into the horde and hopefully start to clear a path for our guys to get the hell out.”

Ortiz pulled up the views from Mark’s helmet, and Jerome winced. He’d not expected to see anything like that in his lifetime ever. But the vids shown to his men in training had been through him first, with Nerva and Pullo beside him to tell him what he was seeing was the truth. Now to witness live fire on these monsters, it had his heart in his throat.

“How are they for ammo?”

“It’s going to be close.”

“How close?” Nerva asked.

Ortiz was the one who answered. “They don’t have enough. By the time our drop-ships are in the area, it will be too late.”

Jerome sat back, closing his eyes for one second. How could they be too late, after all this, after all they’d done?

That’s when a comm call came through from one of the carrier’s main ops. This time the officer’s voice strained. “Sirs, Admiral Hesra’s just locked weapons on our engines. He’s demanding we reply before he opens fire.”

Jerome looked to Ortiz, who shook his head. “Patch him through.”

Admiral Hesra’s blazing red face appeared in front of them all. “Finally. Major Victor, I suggest you comply with my orders before—”

Jerome stared into the man’s face with contempt. “Before what, Admiral? Before you show us how much more of a fuckwit you actually are? You stopped the resupply of the mergers down on Indalia for what reason? For your planet to fall to the Maraukians? What kind of sadistic bastard are you?”

Hesra’s eyes blazed, giving Jerome more release than he’d ever know, but he never batted an eye as he stood and moved closer into the admiral’s view. “Don’t answer that… I already know. A dead one.”

Ortiz coughed and Jerome caught his attention, turning his back on the admiral, while they conferred.

It was Nerva who surprised them all. As Admiral Hesra glanced to him, he calmly replied, “After this, you’ll be lucky to have the support of anyone. You think the legion sanctions this behavior? The emperor?”

“Of course, they do… My fathe—” Hesra tried to get out.

“Your father is nothing! After this, I know even he will disown you. You are nothing but a power hungry scrote who aligned with the wrong fucking people. You just made your bed. Now you can lie in it.”

Hesra’s mouth opened and closed but no noise came out as Nerva cancelled the connection.

They looked at one another with dark expressions. McDougall and the drop-ship commander glanced at each other and then looked away. It had nothing to do with them. Seeing the rage contained within the other people’s eyes, it was not their place to stand up for the admiral who had put his personal position above the people who relied on his support.

Chapter 59

SLS Edilon

Indalia Orbit, Otarvi System

8/3555

There couldn’t be anymore rage inside Admiral Hesra than there was now.

“Sir, the freighter is still not responding to our hails. We have received a message from Legate Nerva’s staff,” Hesra’s comms officer said.

“What did he say?”

“VCF Osdal is rendering aid. At this time, with my power as a senator of Roma, I am giving them the position of auxiliary force. They are under my command and I will accept any issues that are found with their conduct.”

The bridge went quiet. Legate Nerva was a serving senator but he barely used that status for anything, spending most of his time fighting. As legate and a senator, he was able to call on foreign forces to become an auxiliary fighting force.

Well played, Legate, Hesra thought. With this message, there was little that Hesra could do. He might be in command of the space around Indalia, but Nerva was a legionnaire commander. Their ranking was higher than those in the space navy.

“Sir, we’ve got some fluctuations within the Alcubierre rings.”

“What! What do you mean, fluctuations?”

The Osdal disappeared, activating its Alcubierre drive.

Hesra and the others were silent.

Hesra might be an admiral propped up by his political connections but he knew more about space travel than most.

Using an Alcubierre drive this far into a system would make them highly chaotic; one would need and incredible amount of computational and processing power to smooth out the ride and make the transition possible.

This kind of technology couldn’t be found in the Union but this freighter from Sol system was capable of it.

Just who the hell are these people?

Chapter 60

Bellona 3241 Hellcat

VCF Osdal

Otarvi System

8/3555

Thomas McDougall checked the seals on the Bellona once again. He ran through his mental checklist as he reviewed the goings-on in the tank. Its reactors had all been checked and they were humming away as the batteries were all charged. The weapons systems were unloaded so that nothing would go wrong in transit. Chang, Lackey, and Valentine had all personally checked their weapons systems and readied their ammunition. Once they were on the ground, the feeders would activate as one, loading the weapons in just seconds.

Robert was casually checking the thermal foam that coated the tank and the blow away panels. With the foam in place, they wouldn’t be able to leave the tanks until they were on the ground.

“Coming out over Indalia.” Valentine sounded bored as he looked over the information coming from VCF Osdal.

“Our drop-ship is moving into position. Hook-up in ten,” Lackey said.

They all felt the slight shaky and dizziness that came with entering real space again.

While the different leaders had been talking, the crews aboard the freighter and the carriers had not been idle. The carriers were lined up so that they were on the port and starboard side of the freighter’s hold. They’d opened their acceleration rails, and readied their drop-ships. The spare drop-ships that were meant to come after them or were facing into the freighter were flown out and moved into the cavernous hold of the freighter. The combat shuttles were also loaded up, all of them facing the armored doors of the freighter that would be facing Indalia.

The idea was that they would all move out in one shot. Instead of multiple waves, they’d launch in one storm, swarming the planet and getting down before Hesra or his minions could try to hold them up.

The Bellona tanks were also pulled out from their storage and prepared for transit.

“Commander McDougall, this is Captain Isalz. Ready to lock you in. Are you guys ready?” Captain Isalz said through McDougall’s NIAI.

McDougall checked all of the feeds and information one more time. “We’re thermalled up and ready to go,” he confirmed.

“Very well, coming down,” Isalz said.

McDougall used the sensors of the tank, watching on his screen as the drop-ship lowered itself down. It lined up perfectly with the latch points on the Bellona. With the sound of sliding metal, the blow away pins were locked into place as the Bellona and drop-ship attached to each other.

“Looking good on our side. What about you guys?” Isalz asked.

“Robert!” McDougall yelled.

“Looking good on our side, sir!”

“Ten by ten. Looking like a solid connection,” McDougall reported.

“That’s what I like to hear,” Isalz said. “Comm me if you need anything.”

“Will do.” McDougall sat back in his chair. Now they were hooked up to the drop-ship. They could only wait until they were dropped on the ground to do anything.

Isalz kept his engines warm but reduced power, the drop-ship resting on the Bellona.

The Bellona’s systems rumbled slightly. McDougall tapped his armrest, feeling the power of the tank around him, a beast waiting to be unleashed.

Outside the Bellona, troopers, legionnaires, other tanks and supply crates were being loaded.

The troopers moved in their massive and rudimentary armor. But with a force of four hundred thousand, they were nothing to laugh at.

McDougall’s NIAI broadcast information on the mergers as they were being pushed back once again. The fight was quickly deteriorating. Most of their original traps and systems had been already destroyed and Maraukians were pouring in from every direction.

He checked the plot from VCF Osdal to the launch point. It would be nearly two hours until they could launch, then up to an hour before they reached Ducharev and could move into support positions.

“Just a bit longer,” McDougall muttered.

Chapter 61

Edani

Indalia, Otarvi System

8/3555

“Moving!” Dodger yelled out. As he jumped, his anti-grav rushed him backward.

“Covering!” Polwell yelled. His guns flared for just a moment before his words as tracers shot past Dodger.

They were now under solid contact. The Maraukians were pouring in through their defenses and there was little that they could do to stop them.

They were, however, close enough to support one another in pairs now.

There wasn’t much more room until they made it into the maze that they had created in the middle of the city. The maze was made with dead ends, explosives, traps, and everything that the mergers could think of adding. In there, the mergers would be able to cover an entire hallway by themselves, be free to move between the trenches, and fall among the Maraukians and push them back.

There they’d be able to regain some mobility and get down to facing tens of Maraukians at a time instead of hundreds in one go.

Dodger got his feet under him. They were retreating and firing as the Maraukians had advanced faster than they thought, bringing them under fire before they reached the next layer of bunkers.

He experienced pain the same as someone on the net was hit. They felt shock, then pain and fear, then nothingness, and so did Dodger. One of theirs was dropped from a merge, without even a trace left behind.

Dodger gritted his teeth. The emotional backlash of losing someone was incredibly difficult to deal with when directly merged with everyone. Difficult to separate oneself and your feelings. He knew he stood out more than the others for that.

Reese caught a round to the neck joint; it had gone in and killed him. The mergers could only be thankful it was a clean death instead of having a round rebounding inside their suit, killing them from the massive damage internally.

Reese’s body dropped to the ground, lifeless.

Still his M20s kept firing. The leftover orders from the NIAI and user kept the armor fighting. The ghosting armor kept reloading and firing even as the Maraukians attacked. Their rounds struck the armor, making it shake from the impacts but it was unwilling to give up. Reese’s last orders were still being carried out by his armor, covering Andreas, his fire team partner, as he pulled back to the bunker.

Dodger fired his cannons into the Maraukians that were closest. “Covering!” His voice was hoarse even over the net, unable to contain his emotions.

“Moving!” Polwell yelled, rushing backward on his anti-grav, shooting as he flew backward, just to kill a few more Maraukians.

***

“Mark, we’re going to need to pull back to the maze soon,” Chyna yelled. Nearly all of the traps in the outer city defense had been activated: weapons systems, mono-wire—all of it had been used now. Weapons systems all over the city were cutting down Maraukians but the Maraukians, although dumb, were also destructive as they quickly eliminated the hidden traps and blew up the different weapons.

They were at the final bunkers. From here they could see one another’s weapons fire, the silver-like tracer effect of the M20s.

Once they left this system of bunkers, then they would be up close and personal with the Maraukians. The ant-like maze was mapped out in their heads and it would allow them to face fewer Maraukians. They might even push them back, but there were no more set defenses, only ammunition and parts, positions for people to re-arm and fix themselves to get back into the fight.

“Reese’s armor is moving!” Andreas called out.

“What the hell did he program his armor to do?” Mark yelled. He locked onto the armor even as he kept firing out of his own bunker.

Reese’s armor was covered in holes and burns, being the target practice of the Maraukians as it kept reloading and shooting. Now it had finally run out of rounds as it shot into the sky, climbing higher and higher. Its anti-gravity systems were all fucked as it was unable to keep a straight trajectory but kept on going, pushing to its peak and finishing its arc.

Time seemed to slow as the armor came back to the planet. The stifling loss and emotions filled the net as they watched the fall of their brother, their fellow merger, Reese.

Then it started falling. The anti-grav systems piled on the power, forcing it downward as it started to turn red from the heat as vapor trails streamed off it.

There was nothing that they could do but watch as Reese’s armor turned kinetic missile ignited its anti-matter core.

What?

Sensors were overloaded and the mergers had to look away from the light that closed them off from the world, even as they kept firing, kept holding their ground.

The shockwave of the blast slammed into the ground, emitting light and clouds as the blast zone was invisible under the intense light.

The Maraukians cringed away from the blast as the mergers fought. Shockwaves tore through thousands of Maraukians, increasing the strength of one another as they rushed outward. The ground was scoured away and thrown up. Maraukians’ breath was stolen from them as they exploded under the pressures. Wind reaching Mach speeds threw Maraukians on their asses and turned pebbles into shrapnel.

A second sun eclipsed that of the Otarvi system. The clouds illuminated and then were thrown back, disregarded by the force of the explosion. Buildings were stripped apart and tossed away, nothing but a pile of matchsticks against the might of anti-matter.

The shockwave tore through the trenches and the city, hitting all in its path like a punch as the half-flattened sun started to dissipate in the sky.

The mergers paused for only half a second and then continued to fire on the Maraukians, many of which were blind and deaf under the explosion as the noise finally hit them all like a physical slap.

The mergers kept shooting, few of them with clear eyes as they knew that Reese must’ve input those commands into his armor before the battle. He left no corpse behind, not even his armor; those things didn’t matter to him anymore as he chose to have his armor destroy as many Maraukians as possible to hopefully save a few more of his brothers and sisters.

Mark could only fire his weapon, proud to have served alongside such a man.

“Move back to the maze at your own discretion.”

In close quarters, they would be able to display the reaction time of the mergers and their ability to work together flawlessly. Facing two or three Maraukians with a blade was no problem to the mergers. With more Maraukians or if they were surrounded, then they needed to escape.

Chapter 62

VCF Osdal

Indalia Orbit, Otarvi System

8/3555

“The Moby is heading back up to orbit. They’re requesting supplies,” Guy said from his position at communications.

“Understood. Agree to their request. Make some space in our hold. How long until we’re ready to launch?”

“Three minutes, sir!” Yeltsin checked over the different information screens around him.

“Very well. Guy, connect me to all of the comms systems,” Admiral Hall said.

“Yes, sir. You’re connected,” Guy said.

“Launch in three minutes. Bring our people back. Good luck.” Admiral Hall’s words were short and concise but to the troopers and people of the Victor Corporation, it was clear to them the care that Hall had toward his people. Even if they were on the ground, he would do everything in his power to see them safe.

“Hangar doors are opening,” Celik said.

***

“Here we go.” Jerome was jacked into the sensors of the combat shuttle as the shuttle accelerated forward.

There was a sea of combat shuttles and drop-ships as they surged forward out of the VCF Osdal toward Indalia.

Drop-ships carried ammunition crates and massive Bellonas as well as deployable artillery.

The carriers fired out more ships from their rail systems. All of them accelerated out of the freighter’s massive hold like a swarm of bees leaving a hive.

They grouped together into their different flight patterns that were meant to reduce the stresses of atmospheric re-entry.

Jerome looked out over the planets, remembering the other times he had left a ship behind, on board a combat shuttle, mentally gearing himself up to deal with what was coming.

“Once more into the fight,” Ortiz said.

“Yep.” Pullo’s voice was quiet, filled with memories. They had all lost people on these drops. In the back of their minds, they were even wondering whether they would make it through this fight.

The shakiness of entering atmosphere made the combat shuttle creak and groan with the pressure as the pilot calmly and easily adjusted their profile and maintained their flight path.

***

McDougall rubbed his head as they finish atmospheric entry. The shaking reduced as his NIAI updated him on the condition of his Bellona.

“Green across the board—that’s what I like to see.” McDougall checked on his people. All of them were okay, though they were complaining about being thrown around in their tank.

The only one moving about and checking on the tank was Robert, making sure there was no damage to his precious baby.

“Ground in fifteen!” McDougall yelled. He looked over the information. The mergers were being pushed back into their maze and were fighting with their melee weapons due to the close range. There were now so few paths that they were able to partner up to kill more Maraukians and have support that McDougall worried for them.

McDougall tasted sour. For it to get to this stage was horrendous and he wasn’t even on the ground yet. If it was any other group, he didn’t think they would be able to last this long, let alone be able to survive till he got there. With the mergers, he wasn’t sure, but he had some hope for them.

The time went quickly as the combat shuttle brought them down toward Edani on a least-time vector. The Bellonas would be one of the first forces down. He was glad of that.

The artillery-carrying combat shuttles had been launched at the same time and they were just ahead of the Bellonas. Due to their reduced weight, they were much easier to fly.

McDougall watched as the artillery parks deployed struts underneath. The whole metal container dropped, sinking deep on the supports as the combat shuttles moved away and started to drop off personnel.

The park’s metal housing opened up, revealing artillery guns, which pointed to the sky and then orientated in the direction they were meant to be firing.

The weapons techs rushed to the artillery park, checking on the different systems as the combat shuttles dropped them off, powered up their engines and shot out over the land, angling up and away to exit atmosphere once again and meet up with the freighter in space.

“Drop in thirty!” Captain Isalz yelled over the channel linking the Bellona to the combat shuttle.

McDougall checked his belt once again and pulled it tight.

The reactors in the Bellona started to come alive as Valentine started moving the tracks.

McDougall slammed a button to the side of his console. The thermal foam that had turned from gray to black blew away, the Bellona finally revealed underneath the combat shuttle.

There was still ten seconds to go. McDougall could finally see Ducharev with his optical sensors.

“Drop! Drop! Drop!” Captain Isalz said.

The explosive bolts securing them to the combat shuttle were released. The Bellona dropped twenty feet, her massive suspension system taking the impact with ease.

The engines fired up as Valentine started to get the Bellona moving. They landed on a highway that stretched through Ducharev and right to the city of Edani.

Behind them, other Bellonas were being dropped off in open parks and in different pre-set locations. Artillery parks were being deployed with them.

There were medical and service tents along the highway as people were now walking away from Ducharev toward the next city.

Most of these people looked haggard. They were probably from Edani, but with so many people in the city, Ducharev was unable to look after them all.

There was a sea of combat shuttles and drop-ships coming from the heavens, stopping any of the civilian flights from leaving or entering Ducharev airspace.

People stared at the mighty Bellona tanks as they slammed into the ground and surged forward.

“Load!” McDougall yelled.

The weapon loading systems all fired up, ammunition locked into place as they prepared for full battle readiness.

“Fire sensor round!” McDougall hit the firing button. The tank shook slightly as it kept advancing.

The tanks, once clear of the drop zone, started firing into the sky. They were shooting out a full spread of sensors so that they could finally understand what they were fighting beyond Ducharev.

Limited engagements were pitted along the wall that had been put up outside of Ducharev.

The sensor shells spat out sensor gliders and parachutes, covering the sky as they fought to get an idea of what was below them. It would take hours for them to come back to the ground.

The defense wall was still being built but the contractors and engineers were doing their best to build it as fast as possible.

The legionnaires here weren’t enough to defend the wall and were working in reaction forces, suppressing the Maraukians as they appeared, but it meant they weren’t able to rest and re-arm properly.

It was a mess but confidence spread through McDougall. Ducharev wouldn’t fall.

After meeting with the leaders of the troopers, and being in the presence of Nerva for a long time, he had come to understand that these people, true war heroes, wouldn’t lose easily.

After looking up more information on them all, he was left in shock from what they had lived through and needed to do to assure victory.

He noticed as some of the Bellonas moved away from the highway, taking the off-ramps to move to higher ground positions. There they would have better fields of fire to support the entire length of the Ducharev line.

With the sensor readings, some of the drop-ships moved closer, directly landing their forces on the line to create areas of strength that could support one another.

The combat shuttles opened their hatches as the troopers dropped down. They hit the ground in force and started jogging toward the wall that cut off the main road from Ducharev to Edani.

McDougall watched this all going on as his force advanced up the highway, looking unstoppable as they rolled on.

More troopers, legionnaires, ammunition, and supplies were being dropped in a massive force of nearly half a million people. They were all moving, bringing with them a force to reckon with and a hope for their people.

McDougall nodded to himself and made himself comfortable in his seat, checking all the systems of his tank. They were ready.

Chapter 63

Edani

Indalia, Otarvi System

8/3555

Chyna fired with both of his M20s as he retreated into the maze. The walls were sheer, making it impossible for the Maraukians to escape and only three of them could move together.

Chyna was hiding behind a turn in the trench line as he reloaded and kept on firing.

Lightning missiles were raining down from above and artillery strikes landed occasionally on the hills around the city.

The Maraukians were a solid mass moving through the trenches that had been carved into the ground.

The mergers had been pushed to the very rear. Chyna watched as his ammunition supplies were burned through. Even as he pushed back the Maraukians, they were unable to push more into the trenches; they were actually being turned into paste. The maze was running blue with Maraukian blood.

Chyna let out a yell as he reached his last ammunition blocks.

He rushed forward and pulled out his sword. Using the walls, he jumped from side to side to make it harder for the Maraukians to hit him. He slammed into them with his sword cutting two apart. His blade moved, humming with speed as he displayed the viciousness of a veteran swordsman. There was no flowing from one movement to the other; there was parrying, stabbing, slashing, punching, and kicking—anything to kill his opponents.

“I need ammunition!” Chyna yelled out.

There were mergers who were moving through the maze to resupply those who were fighting the Maraukians directly. There were five moving around to resupply the twelve or so who were holding off the Maraukian horde.

Another merger was hit, getting shot in the side at close range. Their body shook, being destroyed by the rounds that pinged around inside.

Chyna’s body was powerful and he had great endurance, but under the press of the Maraukians, he was being pushed backward.

Another ammunition bearer was on their way over. They flew over the trenches. There the Maraukians couldn’t get them before they dropped down into the trenches once again to give the supplies to those who needed them.

“Ammo!” Polwell yelled, throwing out blocks of ammunition to Chyna as his M20s came up. Chyna dropped to the ground, his NIAI using the anti-grav to attach the much-needed ammunition blocks to his body.

Chyna’s M20s swung back into position as he used up the remaining ammunition block.

Under their firepower, the Maraukians were torn apart with weapons fire and forced backward.

Polwell threw out another load of ammunition to Chyna. “Good luck!” With that, he used his anti-grav to jump over the trench line and shot off to get more supplies and help out others.

“I’ve got word from above! VCF Osdal is overhead and moving to drop support units at Ducharev. There is a plan for us to pull back. We just need to hold out.” Mark relayed all of the information he had got to the other mergers.

Chyna felt a glimmer of hope appear as he finished reloading. Maraukians appeared around the trench corner in front of him. Chyna fired and moved forward.

The forces still needed to get down to the planet, get set up and then they could try to force a path to Edani. If the mergers wanted to get out, then they would need to force a way out of the city and pull back toward Ducharev somehow. It would be a large undertaking and some of them might not make it. But it was still hope.

Chyna’s reaction speed increased. He had left the limits of a human behind long ago, able to fight Maraukians with his fists; unknowingly, the mental fatigue of fighting for days had worn on him.

His body was in perfect condition but his mind was jumbled from the loss of others to his constant fighting. He truly didn’t feel human anymore, his every action related to killing more Maraukians.

Chyna advanced to the corner in the maze and jumped across, nice and low, his two guns blazing as he pushed the Maraukians backward.

“We’re weak on the left flank!” Ava called out.

They were being pressured hard on different sides. When they had ammunition, it was possible to push Maraukians back; when they were out, then it was much harder, needing to rely on their melee weapons. They could still kill tens of Maraukians, but with just one of them facing three at a time, the Maraukians were still able to push them back under the press of bodies.

“Ready shields!” Mark yelled.

Chyna gritted his teeth. He agreed with Mark’s words, but once they pulled out their shields, it would be the beginning of their last defense.

“Partner up and move back. Activate traps as you go!”

Chyna grabbed grenades with his left hand, getting to his knee as he continued to fire with his right M20. He threw the grenades down the corridor and sprinted the way he had come. As he went, he activated the mono-wire and directed explosives that lined the maze.

His grenades went off, with dust shooting up from the trench.

It wasn’t much longer when another explosion went off. Chyna ducked. Rounds hit the wall and trench around him. He turned a corner. The rounds died down as he picked up his pace, looking for the nearest rally point, where his partner was waiting.

The Maraukians let out their war cry and rushed after Chyna.

The walls of the trenches were wracked with explosions and cries of pain as they came into contact with all of the traps. A savage smile appeared on Chyna’s face as he reloaded his M20 and checked his swords. With a jump and the use of his anti-gravity, he was up over the trenches. He got low and shot across the trenches as fast as possible. He could see the other mergers moving over the top of the trenches. It was faster than moving through the winding maze.

***

“Good to see you, Uncle.” Ava fired with both of her M20s down a corridor.

Chyna dropped down into the trench behind her. Pulling off ammunition blocks from his waist, he threw them at her. She moved her weapons slightly so that they locked into their mag wells, not needing to pull her finger off the trigger.

Chyna moved up beside her and started firing. “Grab some ammo.”

She dropped her right arm, taking ammunition from Chyna, then moved around him, shooting with her right as she grabbed a few extra blocks.

This allowed them to both keep up the most fire as possible.

They were in a long corridor and the Maraukians were being wholly suppressed in a corner. But with so many of the Maraukian corpses in the trench, they were creating a hill.

They had to let the Maraukians advance more or else they would be able to climb over the trench walls and attack the mergers from every direction.

Ava grabbed two shields that were next to the fallback position. She locked them together before putting her M20s into the firing slot. Nanites seeped out and fused them all together, giving her a gun shield.

She moved back into the trench and smacked the shields into the ground. Bracing herself, she fired both of her guns.

“Covering!”

Chyna moved to the other two shields and did the same. He stood over Ava and smacked the top of his shields to hers, making a wall.

Rounds pinged off the shields that were fused together with nanites.

They could still turn their M20s from side to side. Their two minds linked together allowed them to operate all of the M20s as if they were four people sharing one brain.

Ava would finish firing a burst and Chyna would start, their coverage not slowing as they worked perfectly together. The trench around them filled with scars as rounds and plasma struck the walls and their shields.

Their shields were made from carbon hendral armor, the strongest material in existence. Even if they were hit by these kinds of weapons fire, it would take a lot more to destroy their shields.

A missile was fired by one of the Maraukians. The ejection killed a half-dozen behind the shooter as the pressure wave killed another dozen.

“Brace!” Chyna yelled out as they both altered the angle of their shields to try to deflect as much power as possible.

The missile struck their shield, sending them both flying backward and their shields scorched. Their M20s were broken but they were being quickly repaired by nanites.

Chyna and Ava didn’t need to communicate to each other as they removed their M20s from their shields and drew their weapons to charge forward. It would take time for their weapons to be repaired; if they retreated now, then the Maraukians would get behind their allies guarding other key points.

With wordless yells, they rushed through the fog made by the missile.

Their blades flashed as Maraukians fell. The injured received a savage blow to keep them down while those behind the shooter that hadn’t been turned into a melted carcass weren’t able to recover their senses before they were cut apart by the duo. With two of them, it was vastly different from how Chyna had fought by himself. Under their blows, the Maraukians were pushed back. They pulled their vibro-blades to join battle, getting in a few hits but their blades were fast and accurate, their movements savage as Maraukians fell like wheat before them, not knowing how they died.

***

Mark yelled out as his hands move quickly. He held two identical daggers that cut off limbs before diving into his target’s vital points. Blood covered his armor and his blades.

Beside him, Rachel used her sword and shield, slamming the shield forward and then cutting down the Maraukians swiftly. The two of them protected the other without thinking about it.

Their attacks were savage, each aimed at a weakness or vital point to take out the enemy, or looking to protect their ally.

Mark’s mind was split between seeing the fight and what was happening across the maze.

All of the mergers were locked in close combat now. Even as they were killing dozens of the Maraukians, they couldn’t help but be pushed back. The {3seven-hundred-thousand strong Maraukian force had been squashed down to three hundred thousand, with most of that heading off to attack Ducharev. The remaining one hundred thousand were inside Edani, pushing up against the mergers.

They had been fighting for days and although all of them knew that there was a chance to make it out of this, they would need to deal with these Maraukians.

If they wanted to pull back to Ducharev right now, then they would need to fight through all of the Maraukians. There was no way that was going to happen.

In Edani, they had made a city of death. Here, they knew every inch; here, they were on their own ground and they could hold back the Maraukians—or at least bleed them and give the others some more time.

Mark’s thoughts turned to Ava and the memories that had passed to him when they had merged together as she fought to bring him down from his anger.

The genuine care and love rested there; he knew the pain that she felt with his rejections and how she had steeled her heart. There might be many years between them, but she knew Mark better than anyone. After all, she had been inside his head.

Here as he fought with the Maraukians, he couldn’t help but think what-if. His careless thoughts brought a vibro-blade down on his shoulder.

Mark let out a yell as he turned away from the blade. It cut deeper into his armor, slicing up his shoulder before it came out. But it stopped its original path, aimed at trying to cut his head off.

Mark punched the Maraukian in the face until it was nothing more than a bloody mess. He stabbed another in the side and took out the neck of another. His blade stabbed into his attacker’s head and came out the other side. The Maraukian dropped to the ground as he rushed forward.

Silver nanites filled the area where his armor had been broken and started to repair it, adding another scar to his body and his armor.

Mark no longer had time to think about Ava and the complicated thoughts and feelings that lay between them. He knew that she had become quieter and more reserved due to his memories and the rejection. Mark might be able to lie to himself and to her, but Ava knew his thoughts and knew what he truly felt.

Mark used merging to hide his feelings and continued to slow the Maraukians. As his blades were covered in blood, more Maraukians piled around him and Rachel.

Rachel deployed her M20s, firing into the Maraukians at point-blank, pushing them back and giving Mark the time he needed to regain full mobility in his shoulder.

“Thanks,” Mark said.

“No worries,” Rachel said.

“We pull back together. Once we’re at the center, turtle up and let them come to us!” Mark said to all of the mergers.

He got confirmation back. They were all tired. They were worn out from the constant fighting, the losses and the injuries.

They had needed to be at the top of their game since they started fighting on Indalia.

Even if their bodies wouldn’t run out of energy, the fatigue on their minds was wearing.

It was due to their stubborn nature they would never willingly die, nor would they give up.

A howling noise started to fill the sky.

“Incoming artillery!” Mark said. Where the hell is this coming from?

“Relief force based at Ducharev. Nerva, Jerome, Pullo, Hall—all of them came.” Sarah seemed to find it ridiculous as Mark laughed.

“Looks like it’s time to dance in the rain, ladies and gents! Make sure that armor is sealed up!” Mark yelled out to them as he checked all of their suits’ statuses.

“Sarah, I’ve got coordinates for the artillery. Have them start hitting the ones in the larger trenches and then move them up to the smaller ones closer to the maze.”

“Understood. Creating fire plan and submitting,” Sarah said.

With the support of artillery, the battle might just change.

The mergers were strong by themselves, but they were truly terrifying if they were able to call in long-range support and combine it with their own firepower.

It was like comparing how they had fought with artillery and long-range kinetic strikes as support compared to when they were fighting hand-to-hand.

Thousands were killed with the right support being pinned in place by the mergers. Without support, they could kill tens of them a minute, but it was a drop in the bucket compared to the Maraukians’ numbers.

Chapter 64

Ducharev City

Indalia, Otarvi System

8/3555

Nerva looked over the force that was gathering at the gates: the four hundred thousand troopers, the ten Bellonas that would support them, and combat shuttles that were waiting with their engines warmed up, ready to be used in support if needed.

The drop-ship pilots weren’t used to flying under fire, so Nerva had eliminated them. He had also left his legion forces commanding the wall. They were the best at holding a position, but attacking was something that had been trained out of them by the legion.

He looked to Ortiz, who stood beside him.

“Bellonas, lay down some supporting fire. Artillery park, support the wall primarily. We need something to come back to. Any extra support is to be directed to the mergers in Edani,” Nerva said as he checked his M19.

The supporting Bellonas started to open fire. They were packed with acceleration rails and with their massive main cannon, they were able to drop massive payloads right on the Maraukians.

“Pullo, have your forces lay down suppressing fire. Jerome, get your people ready to remove. Remember—watch for friendlies!” Nerva continued.

Ortiz was checking everything himself. As Nerva gave out his orders, it was Ortiz’s part to resolve them and add in any detail that was needed. They might not have fought together for a few decades, but to Ortiz it hadn’t been that long, and the two of them were like a well-oiled machine, fitting back together perfectly.

Being a commander of a massive fighting force himself, Ortiz was an outstanding secondary.

“Fire!” Pullo yelled. His words transmitted to the carrier group manning the wall. Across the frontage of the wall, thousands of rifles opened up. The Maraukians were cut down, not knowing how they died as they met a wall of rounds as E13s and repulsors fired alongside M19As.

“Advance!” McDougall yelled. The gates that had been sealed were reopened. The Bellonas’ massive bulk surged forward.

Their secondary turrets mounted at the front fired as they passed the wall.

The battlefield was being turned up by the supporting fire as the troopers that had been waiting surged forward. Orders were yelled out over comms as people spread out and covered the tanks. Here and there people were hit. Their armor wasn’t as strong as a legionnaire’s so instead of the rounds bouncing around, they’d directly pass through the armor, which led to less straight-up fatal wounds.

Armed with the best medical equipment from the legion that had happened to fall into the hands of the trooper’s medics, as long as someone wasn’t dead outright by the time a medic got there, it was likely they wouldn’t die.

The Bellona tanks moved forward, creating a long wide line. Their massive area clearing barrels fired occasionally. The shotgun-like blasts cut down anything living in their path.

Nerva checked the rounds that were hitting the mountains. They were systematically taking out the different paths that the Maraukians had taken to gain access to the area between.

Their advance had started.

We’re on our way. Hold out for a bit longer.

With this thought, Nerva moved with his squad of troopers. A few of the legionnaires had raised doubts but seeing these troopers’ hard faces and the clear status Nerva held in their eyes, their arguments had fallen on deaf ears.

Chapter 65

Edani

Indalia, Otarvi System

8/3555

One of the mergers was struck by an errant round, spinning them. Before their fellow could save them or they could escape, a blade cut through the armor of their neck and dropped them to the ground.

Even though it was on the other side of the maze, Mark could see it clearly as if he was there. He let out a hiss. They had fought with everything they had but it simply wasn’t enough.

They were pushed back again and again mercilessly, driven to the end of their fates.

Artillery fell around them, giving them cover and allowing them to distance themselves from the Maraukians and break contact.

The Maraukians were being torn apart but the artillery couldn’t fall constantly, so some were still closing on them.

They finally reached the middle of the maze, where a heavily built building was waiting. This was a ship accelerator that would make it easier for shuttles to be shot up into the sky and break through the atmosphere.

Now it stood as their last defense.

The mergers fired back at the Maraukians as they retreated to the tower.

“Moving!” half of the mergers called out, all of them turning and running as one.

The other half covered them, spitting out rounds as they made the Maraukians bleed.

Explosions went off here and there as explosives and last defenses were activated.

The running mergers dropped to the ground and turned around, firing.

“Covering!” Mark yelled with them.

“Moving!” The second half turned and ran past their allies and into the building.

“Covering!”

“Moving!”

The mergers all finally made it into the building, behind some solid defenses as they tossed ammunition to one another.

They were all across the bottom layer of the tower, shooting back at the Maraukians.

In the distance, artillery fell on the Maraukians, softening up their rear.

Mark sent the final command to the lightning missile batteries. All of the remaining missiles were hurled up into the sky as they arced overhead, their target the area between Ducharev and Edani. With the Maraukians weakened, it would be easier for the trooper and legion forces to reach Edani.

The wounded were looking after their injuries as Ava rushed to check them over.

Nanites from other mergers were donated to improve their rate of recovery. It wouldn’t be long until they were combat capable.

Some were missing limbs; others were covered in silver scars as their armor tried to repair itself.

A massive blast shook Edani once again as one of the mergers, Queen, who hadn’t made it to the tower, blew their anti-matter core. The trenches and defenses were ripped apart in the area, but it killed tens of thousands of Maraukians nearby.

The force from VCF had landed just three hours ago. They were pushing toward Ducharev at their best speed but it would take them at least three more hours until they were able to reach the city.

Mark fired from his firing position and looked at the mergers. They were all finally grouped together. Rounds were coming through the windows, tearing the lobby apart and turning the building into nothing more than wreckage that continued to fall down on them. They were grim and determined as they fought on.

“If we stay down here much longer, the Maraukians will chew through the supports of the tower and it’ll come down on top of us!” Chyna yelled.

“Pull back the wounded to the first floor. Take as much ammunition as possible. Once on the second floor, grab shields!” Mark ordered. “Ava, you and your people pull the wounded out!”

“Sir!” Ava got her people organized as they gathered up the wounded and hauled them up to the first floor.

“By fire team partners, move!”

The contuberniums had been destroyed as the mergers had lost more and more of their people. They were down to just fifteen people now.

Another explosion went off. Most of the armor was too destroyed after the fight to fly anymore so the sets of armor, still linked to the other mergers, exploded when they saw it was advantageous.

The rumbling explosions threw the Maraukians, making it impossible for them to shoot accurately.

“Run, you bastards!” Mark yelled. He threw himself up and ran for the elevator banks in the middle of the tower.

The mergers rushed in. Using their anti-grav, they were hurled upward to the first floor.

They stepped out. Those who had already made it up there passed out shields and spears to everyone.

“Well, at least this thing doesn’t run out of rounds.” Andreas checked the weight of the spear.

“Move to the stairwells. We’ll have company soon enough,” Mark said.

Outside, artillery dropped, while Maraukians kept on firing wildly and advancing. It wasn’t long until they made it into the tower and started for the stairs.

“Shields!” Mark called out. The shields slammed together as M20s were jammed through the firing port in the middle of the shield.

The first M20s started firing, cutting down the leading Maraukians.

Mark fired in bursts, taking down the random forward Maraukians. Tracers tearing through the room catching the Maraukians, tossing them back or dropping them to the ground, sparking off of the walls and floor. It was chaos as the Maraukians pushed forwards and the Mergers rushed back from cover to cover, fighting for every meter that seemed to become smaller and smaller.

They didn’t have much more room to retreat.

Chapter 66

Ducharev

Indalia, Otarvi System

8/3555

Legate Quina watched as everything came together. There were clear defense lines now and for that, she was very happy. Ducharev had a chance if the Maraukians made it through Edani and the mergers.

Seeing the drop-ships and combat shuttles leave their cargo and troopers had filled her heart with hope. Her legionnaires hadn’t all died in vain; the people they protected now mattered.

“They’re looking good,” her new Tribunus Valez said next to her. He also watched their defensive lines with hope.

Yet when she looked at him, she saw his blatant worry. “They look more than good. They’ll do this—the mergers will get out of Edani.”

“Can you see that?” he asked.

She didn’t need to see it; she felt it, though she knew there were going to be many more losses than they could handle. They would deal with it afterward. Xiao’s loss had hurt her more than she’d ever thought possible. She had thought of him as much more than a confidant, a friend. Quina swallowed, pushing those thoughts away yet knowing they would need dealing with. She’d hidden too long from her true feelings. She vowed she never would again.

Displayed on her HUD, she saw the mergers’ colors, having changed them so she could easily pick them out. From their original numbers of nearly a century, they were down to fifteen. They had to get them out. There were no what-ifs here. Without them, she knew their future was dismal, that the legion would itself fall.

“We have Maraukians on the outer limits.” A comm came through for her. Quina turned to look in the direction. Artillery started up their retaliation and Quina waited for confirmation that they were all right. It came through a moment later. This assault was a test.

The fact was, though, something here was different. In all her war efforts, the Maraukians had brought more to Indalia than they had any other system. What made this one special? If she survived and so did most of her forces, Quina vowed she would find out.

Chapter 67

Edani to Ducharev

Indalia, Otarvi System

8/3555

Jerome was moving up with the troopers behind the Bellonas. The tanks’ secondary weapon systems were going full blast as they mowed down the Maraukians. The mountains around them had been sealed up for the time being. What they faced in front was all that was between them and Edani.

On the horizon, Jerome could see the remaining towers of the city.

Explosions broke up the distance between them as artillery rained down from above.

The last of the lightning missiles had landed some time ago. The mergers now didn’t have any protection close in for themselves.

The troopers were hit down but with the cover of the Bellonas, the combat shuttles would brave the wall and shoot over to grab the wounded, hauling them back behind the wall.

In the eyes of the legionnaires, they were insane, willing to charge right at the Maraukians with worse equipment and weapons.

Jerome fired a long burst at a Maraukian; the Maraukian cried out in anger and charged forward. But under the concentrated fire of three troopers, the Maraukian was brought down. Tracers shot across the dust battlefield as troopers ran from tree to tree to the craters that the Bellonas disregarded, rolling forward as if unstoppable.

A Bellona near Jerome fired, the pressure wave from the round shaking him. He steadied himself in the crater he had found before he rushed forward.

He dropped into another crater. His body was tired. For four hours, they had been advancing.

All around him, troopers were bent low, firing their weapons and moving to new cover, advancing under the Maraukians’ fire.

Jerome pulled himself together and ran forward once more, firing as he went. His rounds hammered a Maraukian.

The creature dropped under the multiple rounds as Jerome’s weapon clicked empty. He threw the empty magazine away and pulled out a new one.

A quick touch of his mag pouches showed that he had three magazines left.

Jerome saw a Bellona nearby. Attached to its rear, someone had mag locked ammunition crates for people to pull from.

He was about to get up and run when a set of armor jumped into the crater with him.

“Need some ammo?” Ortiz yelled and threw Jerome a pack of ammunition.

“Shouldn’t you be commanding or something?” Jerome yelled, spitting to the side as he moved the chew around in his mouth and quickly started replacing his missing magazines and grenades.

“Seems we trained this group well enough!” Ortiz yelled back.

It was true: a commander’s job was to direct his subordinates. Since Nerva had broken things on and passed his orders to the rest, they had broken down into their groups and moved forward.

All of them were veterans of multiple battles and they had worked together at the yard for a long time.

Their coordination was easy; with their competency, there was little need for the commanders to do anything.

An explosion went off nearby as a missile that was headed for the troopers was detonated by a Bellona’s close-in defense system.

“These NIAIs are damn good—means you can get away from those aides!” Ortiz laughed.

“You’ve always been escaping from aides. How come you always find me?”

“Well, you always have the best chew!”

Jerome shook his head. Even when Ortiz had been some high-ranking officer well above him, he had escaped his aides to get to the front lines.

“This is becoming a habit!” Jerome checked his ammunition. Once again, he stood and ran forward, this time getting behind a busted-up vehicle that wouldn’t work again.

Ortiz came a few moments later, slamming into the wall of the vehicle. “We’re nearly there. Just an hour outside.”

“Yeah,” Jerome said.

“We’ll get them,” Ortiz yelled in Jerome’s ear, slapping his shoulder.

Jerome nodded. He knew that Ortiz couldn’t make that promise come true.

The two of them left from opposite sides of the truck, firing at Maraukians that appeared on their NIAIs, which was linked with their armor.

They took the Maraukians down and jumped behind a median barrier that had been blown apart.

“Fuck, I hate cardio!” Jerome complained.

“Don’t we all!”

Chapter 68

SLS Moby

Indalia Orbit, Otarvi System

8/3555

The Moby’s fabbers were working overtime. Once they had made it into the freighter, they’d been getting regular shipments of materials and churning out supplies around the clock.

He’d commed for Charles, but hadn’t been able to reach him and that worried Chen. Now he was thinking of making his way down to the lab to see the scientist for himself. He couldn’t leave his bridge, though; he might be called on at any time. Some of Charles’s crazy ideas lately were beyond what Chen had ever thought possible and he worried for the man.

Almost every man going had been drafted to work with their fabbers, their lines filling the bays as materials went in and ammunition came out.

Ships came in, took loads and then were off again, the flow of it so fast that even Chen wondered whether they’d ever get back into space. He wanted to, but he also knew that the Moby’s fabbers were the only ones capable of making certain things. The troopers on the ground were eating through their munitions quicker than the mergers. Keeping up with four hundred thousand men wasn’t going to be possible long-term and he knew it.

Francis turned his way as his thoughts for Charles subsided. “Captain Yu’s been re-tasked by VCF Osdal while we’re reloading, Captain.”

Chen paused as he looked through the net to locate where his men actually were. The joy of all the information at once. Overwhelming at first, but very useful for his station. “Keep them on your radar, Francis.”

Chapter 69

Ducharev

Indalia, Otarvi System

8/3555

There was no other way for the mergers to get out of Edani than for the Bellona and troopers to force a hole. McDougall could see it and so did his other tanker commanders. From their lines, they were blocking the Maraukian paths in toward Edani, and finally they were slowing.

Nerva’s calm voice came through his NIAI. “You’re the only one who can get them out of there. The others will back you up, but blast me a hole through that rear end.”

McDougall’s eyes flickered over all the incoming information and he knew where was best to aim his guns. “There’s a weak spot. If I can get closer, we may have a chance…”

“We’ll support, as needed,” came the reply from the other tanker commanders.

McDougall turned his trajectory slightly and started toward the one weak spot he could see. Toward the city’s ship accelerator. “Major Nerva, we have a line in, clear sights. We’re going to start strike out for evac purposes. All in, sir?”

He was asking, but he knew he didn’t need permission for this. They were there to save the mergers, to get their people out and push back this horde. If he led the way, the troopers behind him would make sure there was an escape tunnel. Everything would be held back; their sheer numbers now would save the day.

“Permission granted. Hit them with all you have.”

The grin spread from McDougall’s eyes to each corner of his mouth. There were no regrets here. He’d seen what Centurion Mark Victor had brought to this fight; he knew they needed him. Of course, in battle, comrades fell, but for good reason. The fact was, right now they had to take this stand. McDougall glanced to his comrades Chang, Robert, and Lackey. “You heard the man. We’re all in. I want every single piece of what we have aimed at that horde. Get me?”

“Aye, aye, Commander,” Chang said. “Pooling all guns now. Ready in three, two, one.”

McDougall watched as Robert’s eyes sparkled, watching his baby let loose with all its guns. Sighting the Maraukians through his zoom, McDougall noted as a few seconds later the enemy started to fall. And not only fall but not be replaced by a thousand more. The enemy ranks were thinning.

“Steady,” he called out. Then, through his comms to all behind him, “Forward.”

Through each channel he waited for the signal, waited for the Maraukians to fill up once more, then he called once again. “Fire!”

The process would be slow, but it was progress. “Forward!”

Each time they rolled, more hope filled them.

“Herd commander spotted!” Chang called out.

McDougall focused in and sure enough, in the mountains, he could just make out the larger bulk of what he knew to be a Maraukian leader. “Sight him if you can, Chang! If we get him, we’ll push them into chaos, at least for a while.”

Robert turned the Bellona slightly and McDougall knew they were all calculating the commander’s path. They flitted in and out, watching and ordering their horde to the best places for attack. But their patterns were predictable.

“Ready!” Chang called out. All the tanks in their line followed his trajectory, slight variations so there would be no overlap. They’d blast that mile with everything they had, and hope to high heaven that they got the bastard.

“Fire!”

McDougall waited as the guns lit up the sky with missiles. The seconds ticked by till they were close to target and then they struck. If they got him, this could be the real break the mergers needed.

Chapter 70

In Transit from Edani to Ducharev

Indalia, Otarvi System

8/3555

Mark listened to the artillery fire behind them now, and heard all the chatter from the Bellonas and the troopers behind them. They were all making their way toward that last defensive position. His first thoughts were how fucking stupid they were, they shouldn’t be attempting this, but then he felt and saw it across the net as Ava took one more hit. Her already weakened body struggled to maintain any retreat. He swallowed and shouted, “Rachel, Dodger, with me. Evan, Ava, get the hell out of here. There will be a path for you, keep moving!”

Mark caught the impressions from Dodger as he moved to flank him. He wanted to reach out to engage the man with something, anything. But he also knew that the pain he felt was just the same that he did. Dodger, however, wasn’t dealing with it well. There were telltale signs of a mind that was breaking apart. Mark knew instantly that this would be his last battle. “Dodger, you with me?” he asked through the net, reacting still as he spun and weaved through the Maraukians before him.

Dodger nodded more out of habit, but replied. “Yes, sir.”

As pure rage filled Mark’s veins with adrenaline, his nanites and body fought even faster. Ava and the others needed them to protect, to win this. To give them time. It always came down to time.

The Maraukians around the three of them fell, armor-covered many times over, and the ground littered with corpse after corpse. Rachel called out as she was sliced through to her thigh bone. They all felt it, but she grimaced only the once and then carried on.

The blips of his mergers retreating grew behind them. They still fought, but they were getting closer.

Chapter 71

Edani

Indalia, Otarvi System

8/3555

Ava’s mind flickered in and out of consciousness. She knew her NIAI and suit were working the best it could to stem her blood loss and save her life. But she felt that life slipping. This fight was the hardest thing she’d ever done. The pain of this loss was worse than dying herself. If only it were that easy to let go, to drift away.

“Don’t you dare,” a voice said inside her mind as she felt their bodies being flung across the rubble beneath them. Every bump and notch. “Sorry,” the voice said. “I can’t help it. The terrain is still being bombarded.”

“Uncle?” But it wasn’t; it was Evan. As she became aware of what was happening around her, the sky and its silvery trails of missile rounds above, Ava fought to think, to focus. She remembered the last wave of the enemy that had taken them. There were no more rounds. They were down to just their shields and blades. They’d nothing left, and almost no fight left either.

More and more Maraukians had funneled through the maze. No matter how many they killed, they just kept on coming, and they finally started to fall. One by one, the mergers were cut down. Their consciousness blinked out as pain and fear gripped them. The unthinkable was happening right now and it terrified her.

Thoughts of her father came to light—her brothers, especially Cronus. She didn’t wear the necklace anymore, but it was a part of her. It was inside her as much as her nanites stored it, tiny metal particles that they survived on. That thought alone had them flow out, and form in her hand. She brought it up to glance at it, the twinkling metal still alive in her hand.

She felt Evan’s emotion course through her and she tried to stem her final thoughts as she almost passed out once more. “I should be with Mark.” But she couldn’t be.

Chapter 72

VCF Osdal

Indalia Orbit, Otarvi System

8/3555

Hall had fought with Nerva about going down on the planet’s surface. Nerva, as much as he had all their respect, Hall cursed now more than ever. He felt useless up here. The blips on his screens were diminishing and he held his head in sheer panic.

The grid fed him all their details, but it came in delayed. With each blip that went out, his heart sank. The equipment and the sheer volume of troopers even back with the legionnaires was only just enough to start making a dent, but they were making a dent.

Hall knew they had to succeed here. They’d lost Tyler and Alexis and their funerals—though he barely remembered the days afterward—had been the most difficult days of his life. Arguing with the higher-ups, the benders, the bar fights he pulled Jerome out from. They all knew Mark had done exactly the same now, but it didn’t make this situation any better.

This had to be enough to bring Mark and the mergers home. It had to be enough to actively start the war against the Maraukians. So that they couldn’t take any more of the people he loved. Hall choked up. But as much as his emotions were leading his thoughts, his leadership was maintaining the information crosses needed to help as best he could. What the men on the ground couldn’t see was where the Maraukian herd commanders were moving. But they were moving.

Hall had two thoughts: it was going to come to a head, or they were finally going to back off. He was torn on which way it was headed. But the movement he was keeping track of. Mark needed to know this, as it happened.

Chapter 73

Edani

Indalia, Otarvi System

8/3555

“To Alpha flight deck!” Mark yelled out as they were pushed from the elevators and into the lounges.

The mergers moved under fire, pausing and shooting to slow down the Maraukians who were racing through the lounges. Their rounds tore through seating, decorations, and security areas.

Alarms went off all around them and fires had been started with the plasma rounds.

It was chaos.

Mark watched as a merger running for cover went down in a howl of pain as their armor was lit up with coil gun and plasma rounds, opening up their armor and cooking them.

Thankfully they died before all the pain could reach their mind.

Vrouck was hit by an explosion, tossing him backward. Even with his armor in tatters, he threw out a mag line, shooting with his good right arm as the mag line pulled him backward, his anti-grav broken.

Ava forced herself off Evan’s shoulder and stood, wobbling slightly, but able to focus on their final fight.

As rounds burst through walls and glass, Chyna jumped for cover. But what could lounge chairs do to stop coil guns?

Rounds landed all around him, striking his armor hard.

He flew back, trying to escape more but the Maraukians seemed to zero in on him as plasma slammed into his body, tossing him into a pillar.

Chyna let out blood-curdling screams as he was burning from the plasma. Shutting off his nerves, he was able to contain the pain, but the end was inevitable.

Sarah gave Mark the ruthless information: Chyna was burning from the inside; it wasn’t long until he would be dead.

“Promise me, you’ll look after her.” Chyna reversed the direction he was going as he charged toward the enemy.

Mark swallowed, forcing his emotions to the side as he answered Chyna. “Always.”

As Ava’s mind filled with Chyna’s pain, she tried to throw herself forward. Mark slammed into her with his shoulder, dragging her backward.

“For Crisidium!” Pride filled Chyna as his body fell apart, the plasma inside his armor frying him.

His armor shot forward, riddled with different kinds of weapons fire. It was as if it were drunk as it slammed into Maraukians.

“Move!” Mark yelled. Ava was hitting Mark’s armored shoulders but he didn’t dare to put her down until they made it through the armored doors that separated lounge A from flight deck A.

Ava was yelling over the net, her words not making sense. The others in the mergers were also suffering from their losses.

Their fifteen had been cut down to thirteen just like that.

Chyna—a man most thought was unstoppable, the man who had a part in training them—was gone. Even as a merger, he wasn’t able to save his own life.

Mark forced a merge with Ava, separating her off from the net. Her emotions had a hold of her. This was one of the things with merging: it became easier to be wrapped up in one’s thoughts; your emotions were compounded within the group. Knowing what a person was thinking the moment of their death—the fear, the surprise and shock or relief even—stung all of them.

The armored doors finally sealed them off from the Maraukians. People started to check their ammunition and then their weapons.

Ava’s fight quickly died, the energy running out of her.

Mark wanted to say something but there was nothing that he could right now. What do you say to someone who has lost their teacher, a mentor they looked up to as if they were a flesh and blood uncle? A person who was with them since they were a child and followed them across the stars to protect them?

Even as Mark wanted to comfort her, his mind didn’t stop getting information on how long it might be until the Maraukians made it through that armored door.

Ava pulled away from Mark. Her emotions were a mess but she didn’t have time for that. She knew that Chyna was gone; there was no getting him back. Right now, they were in a fight for their lives. She couldn’t bear to be distracted or someone else might die.

Mark didn’t waste words and ask whether she was okay; he let her go as she started to check her gear.

With the faster thought speeds, she was able to push the emotions of loss down, instead allowing her anger to come back.

Mark looked at the door. It was coming apart. Holes appeared all across it as the Maraukians drew their blades and started to attack it directly. They slammed their bodies and blades into the wall, some even using their nails to try to break through.

“Shield wall!” Mark’s roar made the mergers move as one. Their shields slammed against one another, creating an armored shell as they covered one another against the Maraukians.

“Huh!” Mark yelled out as they all shield bashed as one.

“Haa!” They called out together as their spears shot out. The Maraukians that had been pushed back received a spear, tearing into them as the mergers stepped forward.

“Huh!” As their feet stepped forward, their shields slammed out as a carbon hendral wall, hitting more Maraukians.

“Haa!” They acted as one, a wall of spears and shields.

Behind the first and second line, the third line used their spears to kill the Maraukians that fell under the merger shields.

Blue-encrusted blood was mixed with fresh.

All of them had been wounded or injured in some manner, but they pushed on.

“Breach right wall!” Kumar yelled out as shields from the third side turned and formed a wall just as a missile slammed into a wall.

The wall blew out as Maraukians, seeing a new passageway, entered the flight deck.

Maraukians started to pour in from the other side. Weapons fire rang off the shields as the half-moon shaped defensive wall started to retreat.

If they got caught between the two groups of Maraukians, they wouldn’t be able to even cry.

“Pull back to the cargo holding areas!” Mark’s orders made the mergers start moving backward in their new shape.

The Maraukians, with the pressure weakening on them, started to attack the shields. Even as they died to the spear thrusts, they continued to strike. Their claws and blades snuck through, catching the mergers’ armor.

A Maraukian with a missile launcher appeared, only to be struck with M20 rounds. A few of the wounded who weren’t able to hold the shields had been loaded with ammunition so that they could provide support.

Rounds pinged and flew off the mergers’ shields.

A merger was caught by a round. His body shook as the round ricocheted inside, making his body shake with his final convulsions.

Another merger stepped forward, their shield moving into place to cover the others.

Even with the shields, there were so many rounds that people were getting hit through the smallest openings.

Vrouck went down, yelling in pain before fixing herself. Polwell, who had severe burns and was missing his left leg, only using a piece of welded on metal grabbed her. The two of them supported each other and held their shields up to protect the others.

If they fell, then the left side would be exposed to fire.

“Do it!” Mark ordered Sarah. Explosives in the building went off, dropping the floor outside of the flight deck. Maraukians disappeared as three floors collapsed beneath them.

Mark looked away, knowing that he’d buried the mergers who had died in this godforsaken city.

The remaining Maraukians were quickly cut down as the mergers grabbed their wounded and ran up. The Maraukians didn’t get through the A flight deck, but they were swarming through the rest of the building.

Weapon fire hit the mergers. Ava and Egli dropped to the ground, shooting back. Egli, who was being hauled back by Evan, fired at the Maraukians. Even without his legs and his body fighting to survive, he cut down three apes.

Rachel grabbed Egli, who had bad internal injuries. Being so close to the Maraukians, the weapons had punched holes through his armor instead of pinging around inside—a huge pain, but a blessing as he still breathed.

Mark hauled Ava over his shoulder as they ran upward.

The tower started to come apart.

An explosion went off as a gas pipe under way too much pressure exploded. Evan took the brunt of the explosion, his head and chest getting peppered with shrapnel.

Dodger grabbed them up as Mark and Rachel covered him. The Maraukians quickly advanced as their fresh forces made it forward. Their rounds pierced through the cargo and sensitive equipment that made up the higher levels of the tower.

They moved higher and higher, the Maraukians numbers becoming less as they reached the top of the tower.

“What do we do?” Fussli asked.

Mark looked around. There were no more options—there was nowhere to go. Mark, Rachel, and Dodger were in the best shape with silver scars over their bodies as their armor tried to repair itself and had small wounds underneath.

Mark looked all over the city. It was a true war zone now. The artillery had destroyed the trenches they had made. Maraukians lay piled high in those trenches and more were running through the city toward the tower or toward Ducharev.

Fires burned across the crater-filled landscape.

“We jump.” Mark checked over everyone. Their flight systems weren’t all the best, but if they doubled up and they jumped, then they could use the flight systems to angle their trajectory out of the city and toward the Bellonas and troopers.

Mark could even see them in the distance. They were still a half hour away, but they could get just five minutes away from them if they angled it right.

“Nerva, this is Mark. We’ve been pushed back to the limit of the tower. When we can’t hold it anymore, we’re going to try our best to make it to you.” Mark sent his plan.

He had a lot he wanted to say, but right now there wasn’t any time for it. He had to make sure his people got out—what remained of his people.

He switched to the merger channel.

“Rachel, Dodger, on me. The rest of you, buddy up with one another based on how far you’ll be able to get away from this tower and toward the rescue party!”

The others tossed out their ammunition, freely giving it to Mark, Dodger, and Rachel, who checked their weapons and moved to the maintenance hatch they had used to get to the roof.

They had just five blocks of ammunition per person.

“Understood. We’ll be ready for you,” Nerva said.

“Yes, sir.” Mark closed the channel. A tide of emotions washed over him. He collected himself as the first Maraukian appeared. Rachel fired, turning them into blue paste. Excited noises came from below as movement could be heard.

“Guess they know we’re here,” Dodger said darkly.

They fired down into the stairwell. An explosion blew out a section of the roof, caving it downward as other sympathetic explosions went off from ruptured gas lines and chemicals.

The roof shifted, its instability evident.

“Move it!” Mark yelled. The mergers saw the three as they continued to fire on the Maraukians. The new openings on the roof allowed others to crawl up as they covered their fellow mergers.

“Go!” Mark yelled, knowing that they were waiting for him.

They helped one another. Broken and wounded, they leaped off that tower, doing all they could to try to get as much distance as possible from the tower.

Several Maraukians appeared out of a new breach in the roof and opened fire on Mark, Rachel, and Dodger. Dodger, who had been reloading, jumped and caught the two of them, but got hit with multiple rounds and a missile. His NIAI directly put him into hibernation, trying to heal him as fast as possible.

Rachel was the second worst, with a plasma round hitting the right side of her body, messing her up badly.

Mark’s body was messed up, but he was in much better condition.

With Rachel turning off her pain receptors but unable to do anything and Dodger unconscious, Mark grabbed them both, hugging them, and ran toward the edge of the building. He caught a round in his back. It went through the compartment that held his lightning ballistic missiles, losing enough speed as it pierced through his body, pinging around a few times, ruining him internally but not killing him.

Plasma rounds threw him down to the ground as rounds pierced through his right leg. He severed his leg without pause. He threw himself forward, confirming the commands to Sarah if he were to die.

Mark fired his mag clamp to the roof and set it up for maximum acceleration. The mag motor burned out as they accelerated across the roof, scraping through the rooftop.

Rachel severed the line as they broke through the dividing wall and shot out over the city.

Mark’s view went dull as he could only sense Sarah and the other mergers’ NIAIs as they took over the flight and repaired their users.

***

Deep within Edani, armored suits that were buried in rubble—or buried underneath Maraukians—still holding their weapons in death, carried out their owners’ last command.

Maraukians that ran all over them didn’t notice anything amiss before these mergers used their very heart to try to help their brothers and sisters.

As one, they ignited their anti-matter cores across Edani.

Massive pressure waves that smashed into one another were angled through the natural valley.

“Use the wind!” Ava said. Instead of hunkering down, the mergers spread out as much as possible. The pressure wave threw them forward as the hundreds of thousands of Maraukians that they had held back in the city of Edani were torn apart.

The pressure wave threw the mergers forward, cutting the distance between them and the Bellonas down all the more as Maraukians on the ground were bowled over by the sheer force of those explosions.

All of the mergers knew that the remaining part of their brothers and sisters that had remained in their armor removed all trace of themselves just to push them that little bit farther.

Ava grunted as they slammed into a grassy area near the main road that led to Ducharev.

She pulled herself and Kumar out of the deep ditch they created with their landing. Around them, other mergers were slamming into the ground, using their armor to take the impact.

Ava got up. On one side, there was what had been Edani, with a large cloud rising up into the sky; on the other, some two kilometers away, she could see signs of fighting as Bellona tanks approached the city, with people firing tracers at the loose rabble of Maraukians.

“Get yourselves together. Those who don’t have legs with those who do! Come on!” Ava’s orders were followed as quickly as possible, people helping one another out as those without legs or just one was loaded onto the backs of those who could run.

Ava saw another bundle coming down as three sets of armor slammed into the ground.

Others moved to help, but by the time they got there, Rachel was already pulling Dodger and Mark out of the ditch they’d made.

“We need to get moving. Remember to keep distance from one another!” Ava said.

Both Dodger and Mark were surviving off backup systems that focused on keeping their brain alive as their nanites raced to fix key systems to bring their bodies back online and back from the brink of death.

Rachel attached her mag line to Mark and then Dodger’s line to her armor. She threw out the remaining ammunition.

“Let’s go! We’re burning daylight!” Ava ordered as their preparations were complete.

“Legate Nerva, this is Signifier Desialias. We’re moving to your position. We have severe wounded,” Ava said as they all started to run at their best speed and spread out to make it harder for the Maraukians to hit them.

“Understood!” Nerva yelled.

The mergers ran as fast as possible, not knowing where the next weapons fire might come from.

They fired their M20s with short, precise bursts, putting down Maraukians in their path or that were aiming at them.

Support fire fell around the mergers as the Bellonas fired their acceleration tubes. Rounds landed around the mergers, protecting them and giving them a screen.

***

Jerome’s heart constricted as he looked at the people coming out of the dust that had been thrown up by the massive explosion.

The Bellona tanks kept moving as they ran back.

Their armor was covered in Maraukian blood and silver scars. Many of them were missing limbs but still those with at least an arm would fire backward so those who had legs didn’t have to turn around and slow down.

They looked as if they had been thrown into the wringer. Jerome might not be able to see their faces but he knew the truth. The mergers had gone to help Edani seventy-four strong. Now eleven of them barely clung onto life. The losses here were beyond anything Jerome could comprehend.

Jerome’s NIAI identified Mark, who was being dragged along the ground next to another merger.

Jerome made to rush over and help.

“Get your head in the game, Jerome.” Ortiz used his command voice, arresting Jerome’s actions.

Jerome wanted to punch Ortiz at that very moment but instead he gritted his teeth together. “Yes, sir.”

“Get those mergers on the first flight out of here!” Other medics and personnel rushed to aid them while Jerome watched. “Prepare to fall back by tank units!” Nerva yelled.

Chapter 74

SLS Moby

Indalia, Otarvi System

8/3555

Charles started off with two of the best friends he’d ever known, their concern for him evident.

“You’re sure about this?” Gomez asked.

“There’s no coming back. You know that more than anyone.” Jess frowned, her eyes brimming with tears.

Charles reached out and touched the side of her face. “You’ve always been like a daughter to me.” It was true and his respect for her grew all the more now as she reined in her emotions.

Charles looked to Gomez. “I’m sure.” He then glanced to the nanite vat, which was prepped and waiting for someone, anyone—including him. “I don’t know why I was putting it off. It was inevitable, really.”

“You’re no fighter. Do you think they’ll let you just sit in a lab after this?”

“Oh, they will. They’ll likely not find out for quite some time if I can avoid it. Besides, who’s going to tell them?”

“Mark will know. There’s no need to tell him once you’ve joined the net.”

Charles had hoped he might be able to shutter off his mind—he’d been thinking about how it could work—but until he was fully merged he’d not know whether that was possible or whether the mergers would all just know he’d done the dirty on them. He hoped he would be able to convince Mark that it wasn’t for the wrong reasons. But as smart as he was, he wasn’t putting all the pieces of the sounds together; he needed to be smarter.

He looked around the science lab. He’d let all the other techs and engineers go for an early night, no projects to work on, least while this happened. “Is everything ready?” He sucked in a breath that he knew belayed his nerves. The pain was supposed to be horrendous, and there were no guarantees he would survive it, let alone come out the other side as a fully functioning human. There were horror stories about the merge, and about the psychological effects it had on even some of the toughest men. He was fifty-two and had a pudgy belly. Wasn’t fit by any means.

When Gomez had checked over the readings, he met Jess’s frown with a smile. “We’re all good here.”

Jess checked his vitals. “Heart rate and breathing elevated, but I think that’s to be expected. If you’re sure, we’ll commence.”

Charles moved to the vat. Jess pulled him back into a hug and Charles allowed her. “See you on the other side,” he said and finally stepped up and then down into the waiting, swirling nanites.

Chapter 75

Ducharev

Indalia, Otarvi system

8/3555

Legate Quina and Valez watched through the eyes of others what was transpiring at the front line.

“How many got out?” Valez asked.

Quina turned to him, shaking her head. “Eleven.”

Valez’s eyes narrowed. He focused and sent through orders for the legionnaires around them. They’d pull back with the tanks and support where needed, but across his own HUD, there were many loss reports also coming in.

“Legate,” he said. “There’s finally some reprieve. We’ll hold this city and keep the Maraukians from getting any farther. The mergers completed their task. They saved more than any of us could have.”

Quina pushed down her emotions, her eyes focused on Valez. “You’ve been under my command for a long time, haven’t you?”

“Yes, Legate, since I joined the legion. Why?”

“You trust me, yes.” It was more of a statement than a question.

“With my life, of course.”

Quina nodded and looked back to the retreat. “Good. Times are changing, Valez. I need to know who I can trust.”

“I don’t understand. What are you thinking?”

Quina pointed out to the retreating tanks and men who had risked everything for their own. Those who had fought and lost their lives so that the mergers would survive, so that Mark would survive. “Why do you think the mergers had to be saved by their own and not the legion? Why were our men not the ones coming to rescue them? Our drop-ships were held back and our forces halted. We were left here to die by the ones we held sacred. They didn’t just abandon Mark and his men—they abandoned us.”

Quina watched as those words sunk in and as her new second, he disappeared for a few minutes. She knew he could access those reports, that truth now with his higher position in her ranks. When his eyes became focused once more, she continued. “In my mind, those men out there risked everything—not only reprimand from the legion—but it all could have been lost. We are alive because of them.”

Valez lowered his face, his cheeks burning with anger.

Quina turned away from watching the retreat to look back into Ducharev and the people who were milling about, people giving her legionnaires food, water, and other goods they needed. “If I were to ask any of the people in this city a question about where their loyalties now rested, on whose shoulders do you think they’d settle on?”

Quina could see Valez’s fists ball, his knuckles turning white. “Exactly where mine does.”

He moved to rip his lapels off, but she stopped him, grabbing his hand within hers tight. “Not yet.”

With a steady arm, she lowered his, stemming his shaking. She turned back to the road to where both troopers and legionnaires fought side by side. “Do you think they will follow me?”

“They were left abandoned, and with no hope. Now they fight alongside a force with over a hundred times their numbers. Wherever you lead them, they’d follow. As will I.”

Quina nodded. “Watch the retreat. When we’re all back inside these walls, I want the centurions to meet with us. Till then, this goes no further.”

“Agreed,” Valez said.

Chapter 76

Ducharev

Indalia, Otarvi System

8/3555

Ava stood with Polwell, Egli, and Rachel as they watched the medevac take Mark and the others away. The fact they couldn’t be healed here was enough to flip her emotions on again. Pumped with adrenaline and enough stims to keep anyone else awake for months, she finally started to feel her sanity ebb. They could have gone with them, but their fight now was to draw back and regroup with all their forces. She knew it and so did they.

Ducharev’s walls were growing with every hour. With the troopers and the new legionnaires, they’d be able to hold the new line. With them holding at Ducharev, Indalia had finally drawn a defensive line around their cities. Artillery loaded with nest busters and area denial rounds could be put to use, hitting the places that Maraukians had made nests, leaving them no way to recover their numbers as they threw themselves against the massive defenses. Ava’s thoughts raced through her, and those connected with her.

Rachel moved in closer, approaching her carefully and placing a hand on her shoulder. When Ava finally straightened herself up, she glanced back to the sky. The others weren’t linked, but she knew they were heading into the best hands, those who could get them healed up.

Rachel always seemed to be one of the strong ones but not right now. Her emotions were as raw as Ava’s. The pain was unbearable on her own. Ava let the older woman’s hand rest on hers and ordered her NIAI to quell the tears; she needed to focus, no matter the pain. Polwell and Egli stood with them, eyes skyward.

Chapter 77

SLS Moby

Indalia, Otarvi System

8/3555

Gomez and Jess watched the nanite vat over the several hours the process took, taking turns to check and double-check both sets of readings.

When Charles’s screams had finally died down and Jess’s tears with it, Gomez had sent her to get coffee for them both and some food. It had been a very long shift.

He checked all the readouts, now going over everything with a fine-toothed comb. He wouldn’t let his friend down. He knew Charles had accepted merging as a risk, but he reached the bottom of his reports, and then turned to Jess’s. There were no life signs from the vat.

Nothing at all.

Gomez slumped down in his chair, and he sobbed. A life-long friendship, gone. The genius he’d known and the support and dreams they’d had, fighting for a better future—gone with his best friend.

Jess entered the room. Gomez turned to her.

“I don’t know what went wrong. He should be okay!” Gomez said, sounding lost as shock covered his face.

Jess dropped her tray and moved to Charles, where no vital signs came from the nanite vat.

***

Inside the swirl of nanite mass, Charles worked feverishly. The experience in here would haunt him for a lifetime but he also knew he had to be faster than any other merger to stop his lock into the net. The nanites responded to the speed of his thoughts much quicker than with anyone else, something else for him to study, and he wondered briefly as to the why. Brain IQ or something else?

No, his job in here was done. There was a privacy bubble enveloping him, not much different than some of the working ones that international spies had used, but it was there and he could build on it. He did, however, already feel the others, and he knew that they felt him too. Even if they didn’t understand what or who he was.

There was an ache inside him, though, that wanted to join Mark and the others properly. But he also knew their situation down on Indalia wasn’t the best; now was not the time to be frightened to death—even though technically he had already died.

Reaching forward, his hand found the internal latch for the vat. Why hadn’t Gomez and Jess opened it for him? He thought briefly that something had gone wrong. Was the Moby even safe? How long had he actually been in here?

He twisted it and pulled. Nothing. What the hell?

Panic set in, but Charles focused instead. He knew he had to get out of here. He tried again and realized his hand hadn’t twisted properly; the vat door now opened. Light filtered inside and so did fresh air.

When he stepped out into the lab, he saw Jess holding onto Gomez, who was crying. The two of them seemed not to have noticed him at all.

“What’s going on, guys?” he asked.

Jess turned around, seemingly in slow motion.

Oh, crap. I’m operating at high speed. Charles focused and slowed down all the processes that were going on around him. When Jess threw her arms around him and cried, he could do nothing but just hold on to her and try not to squeeze too tightly.

Gomez threw his arms around the both of them, despite not quite being able to wrap his arms about both their frames.

“What did you do?” Gomez finally asked.

Charles glanced to the vat. “You thought I was dead? I couldn’t join the net, so I stopped the process. I guess I confused all the sensors out here too?”

Gomez moved away and gave Charles the once-over. “Complete makeover…would the gals love to do that. You look good.”

Charles finally glanced down. There was no pudgy belly anymore and for the first time in his life, he had abs. He also noticed he was pretty darned naked. “Oh, my!” With a thought, his nanites responded and covered his skin, hiding his immodesty.

“So, now what?” Gomez asked.

Charles moved to take a seat, using his newly found speed to his advantage. The data from his transformation gave him much pause for thought, but what he really found interesting was all the vids and links from the mergers over the recent events on Indalia. “The Maraukians…” he said, then faltered. “Everything we thought about them is wrong.”

Jess stared over his shoulder at the multiple screens he’d been watching. “I don’t see anything different,” she said.

“No, it’s not just the vid. It’s the sounds with them.” Charles tapped the side of his head. “Tuning out all the other mergers and not joining the net, I can see it.” Charles tried to stand, but wobbled. “Man, this takes some getting used to. I need to speak to Mark.”

Jess frowned at him. “Mark’s here. They’ve been recuperating and healing almost as long as you’ve been in the tanks.”

“See!” Gomez laughed. “Just join the net!”

“No, I can’t. They already know something is wrong. I need to speak to him the old-fashioned way, to explain.”

“Then I’ll fetch him,” Jess said. “If I can get in and out without causing any bother.”

Gomez smiled at her. “I’m more than sure I can cause a distraction.”

When she’d gone, Gomez called out all the other medics from Mark’s side of the med bay.

Charles pointed at the screen. He didn’t want to do this, but he had to. “We need to figure this out, and he’s gotta understand why I did this.” Tapping screen after screen, he let out a sigh and turned to Gomez.

“I hope so too.” Gomez coughed.

Chapter 78

SLS Moby

Indalia Orbit, Otarvi System

8/3555

Mark woke up. Information flooded in. He searched for those connections for his fellow mergers, but nothing answered. Only ten other people were connected to the net and then one anomaly.

Mark didn’t want to focus on the anomaly as it could just be an echo from one ot eh NIAI’s that hadn’t been destroyed. He didn’t know if he could deal with that right now. That familiar feeling that turned one’s stomach and made them feel insignificant and useless. He’d failed them. They’d placed trust in him; they’d left their humanity behind, and even sacrificed their remains and armor just to help their fellow mergers.

He reviewed the information on the others. They were all healing well and would take some time before they woke up.

Mark didn’t want to move from his bed as medicos checked on him before they left.

Someone cleared their throat and opened the curtain. Mark looked over and saw Jess there.

“Mark, Charles did something,” Jess said.

Mark didn’t want to do anything. Even keeping his eyes open seemed to be a chore as he sunk deeper into his depression. “What?” He looked at her with dead eyes.

“He—” Jess looked away, as if not sure of how to say it.

“He turned himself into a merger. He must be the anomaly on the net,” Sarah said.

“He did what?” Mark yelled, rising from his bed. A vicious look appeared on his face as he merged, sending his mind through the Moby to where Charles was. He remotely accessed Charles, who went as stiff as a board, his victorious face turning pale.

Becoming a merger was something that those sixty-three people had fought for, for months, going through some of the hardest training imaginable. For Charles to take it upon himself and use the information he had gathered on the mergers and turn himself into one was a stab in the back.

If this was to get out that someone was able to do it without the training, then there might be all kinds of people looking to gain power trying to become mergers.

This was Pandora’s box and Charles had opened it out of sheer curiosity.

In that moment, Mark rewrote all of the connection code, locking Charles out of the net and limiting his ability to use his enhancements. Mark had feared that this sort of thing might happen, so he’d worked to make a way to immobilize a merger at long range so that only those who were trusted by all of the mergers could become one.

Mark got to his feet. He was still wearing his armor. Supplied with enough nanites and power, it was better than a medical vat for the mergers.

His M20s had been removed but he was no less deadly.

Jess stepped back as Mark moved for the door, sending the information on Charles becoming a merger to the others.

Jess didn’t need to tell him directions; Sarah was already leading him there.

The mergers down on Indalia started to take in the information that he had given them. Their emotions were varied and unstable. Their losses were too recent and they were still trying to process it all.

Mark opened the door to the lab where Charles sat with a pale face while Gomez looked him over.

“Mark... I—” Charles said.

“When you were merged, all of your thoughts and emotions bled over to him,” Sarah said.

“Why, Charles? Why?” Mark yelled, pulling off his helmet to show his anger.

“I, I wanted to figure something out,” Charles said.

“What would be so important to betray the trust we put in you? I told you our secrets and when we were dying down there, you chose to stab us in the back and become a merger!” Mark’s anger wasn’t fueled by Charles turning into a merger; it was due to the losses, the betrayal from the legion and Admiral Hesra. It was the deep emptiness where the other sixty-three had been. He remembered every single one as their lives ended, as they protected one another and Edani.

Mark let out an angered yell and punched a monitor. The others backed up as Mark destroyed the screen and continued breaking it apart into pieces. Bits of the screen hit Mark in the face, leaving silver lines where his nanites worked to repair him.

Faintly he could hear Sarah calling out to him as she reduced the strength of his limbs.

“Mark! Mark! Get a hold of yourself!”

Mark looked at the broken screen in front of him and started to calm down, one breath at a time.

His emotions were in chaos as he dropped to his knees, shaking the room as he looked at those screens.

Is this all I’m good for? Destruction?

The others in the room all looked panicked but Charles worked up the courage to step forward.

“I wanted to find out the truth of this.” Charles held out a tablet.

Mark glanced over to it. The information flooded into his mind as Sarah pulled out everything inside.

Mark looked up to Charles, his body shaking as he got to his feet.

“That signal? Doesn’t that mean…?” Mark lapsed into silence.

“Someone’s controlling the Maraukians, giving them information to upgrade their ships and telling them which planets to attack. Probably the same person who had the humans kidnapped from Earth and placed on planets all across the stars,” Charles confirmed.

Chapter 79

The Yard

Tricticus, Emarl System

8/3555

With the new processing systems, the Yard, which had been on the move for months, was able to reach its destination.

People across the bridge and the yard let out cheers as the yard finally entered the system.

Moretti received a communication from King Hael, as well as an encoded information packet from inside the Union.

Moretti opened up the message from Hael first.

“Welcome to the Emarl system! I hope that you will all be able to visit Tricticus and Crisidium in the near future and we can celebrate your arrival. As our new neighbors, I hope that Tricticus will become your home as it has become mine.” With that, Hael’s face disappeared.

Moretti had been talking with the king while in transit, having different negotiations about labor, jobs, and possibilities that might arise in the future.

Hael had been excited. The Yard might not be as advanced as some of the yards in the Union, but it was massive and the number of people who had come with the yard could be all potential workers to help rebuild Crisidium. Although Crisidium was a strong city-state on Tricticus, it was only a city-state and one that had just barely got the assistance of the legion and had to pay out of pocket for all of the supplies, both weapons, armor, and otherwise.

Hael didn’t want to be stuck to the Union and the Yard gave him a new opportunity.

Moretti’s AI flashed a bunch of information past his eye.

“Identity confirmed. Moretti, intelligence officer of the Victor Corporation. Access granted to the ark.” An electronic sounding voice could be heard by Moretti. Just as he was about to ask his NIAI what was going on, he was flooded with information.

His eyes turned to the fourth planet in the system.

It really looks like Mark is always thinking of backup plans. With this, we’ll be able to defend the system much easier!

Moretti could see the writing on the wall. Having so many military personnel and weapons, the Victor Corporation was sure to gain more attention from the rest of the Union, as well as Earth and Her Colonies.

“Sir, we’ve got an update from VCF Fernix. The upgrades have been completed and they are ramping up their systems. They will be moving to the Osdal system after trial runs of their Alcubierre drive,” the communications officer said.

“Good.” Moretti nodded. As soon as the Salisa Corporation had left the Yard, they had moved to put the processing centers they’d gained into one of their inter-system freighters that had already gotten its Alcubierre drive.

It had left for VCF Fernix and the three other freighters that were moving through Earth and Her Colonies. If they were able to give these ships Alcubierre drives, they would be able to drop off their supplies, get the already bought other items and bring them to the Yard.

Then it was time to really get to work, linking the Emarl system to Earth—where the Westerly Three Complex was taking over—then Osdal, where the people had taken control back from the corporations and Eliesa and Alan had formed a new company. From there, they would have supplies and people coming to help to rebuild Tricticus and build up the Victor Corporation and all of its subsidiaries in the system.

“Good work. What about the prospector crews?” Moretti asked.

“They’re doing final checks before moving to the asteroid belt where we had readings of large metal deposits,” the communications officer replied.

“Planetary station?” Moretti asked.

“It is prepared with fabbers. It should be ready to move out in a few hours. The ships that will be moving it into position are all ready to go.”

“Seems that everything is ready to go!” Moretti laughed. Already there were some ships moving away from the Yard, starting to drift off in search of new asteroids to mine in the asteroid belts around the fourth planet and the three rings of them in-system. Three inter-system freighters were getting ready to move the large station, which wasn’t much more than a metal plate with a living area and open areas that crates and items could be magnetically locked to.

There were also fabbers and automated systems working to increase the size of the station. This would be Tricticus’s link to the rest of the system. From here, ships could link up with shuttles going to the ground or vice versa. The fabbers, once completed with the station, could make other fabbers or supplies needed by the people on Tricticus in the different systems.

In total, there were thirteen city-states on Tricticus that were still surviving. All of them were in need of supplies.

Moretti made it clear that they would not sell to any one person over the other. He’d also signed agreements with all of the different governments, linking them together through trade.

As more time went on, the communications officers spent most of their time figuring out flight plans as engineering crews went to look over the three ships that were still being built in the yard. There had been a few million people on the ship and people were still picking whether they wanted to take employment with the Yard or go off toward Tricticus.

For the EMF personnel and their families, this was truly a new start: they had jobs, they had a planet they could go to, and no one was going to tell them how to live.

The planet wasn’t hostile, nor was it covered in humanity’s junk.

Moretti had big hopes for the system.

He looked to his files once again, seeing the information file he had received when entering the system and the file that had come from the Union.

He paused and frowned. He’d forgotten the file in all of the excitement. Knowing he wouldn’t get away from it, he opened it up.

The file was a data dump from the contacts that he had made and the ones that Nerva had sent him information on. Moretti was quickly integrating Nerva’s sources into his own information network, which was making it much faster for him to gain information on what was happening in the Union.

He opened the file that combined the information from the different sources that had some information that was related to Admiral Hesra and what had gone on with the fleet not resupplying the mergers.

The more he read, the greater his unease became.

Unknown messages that had been cleared from Hesra’s logs. Information that his father had been seen talking to Senator Rimateus. The talks behind closed doors about senators trying to pull the mergers under their control. Talking about if they were destroyed what the consequences would be. Even a plan if the mergers were to die and they could take control of the technology to make the suits and the people.

The tests and scenarios that they had run.

Moretti had lived inside corporations for most of his life, gathering information and becoming a prominent figure in them.

He might not have all of the information but to him it was clear what had happened.

“Rimateus pulled Hesra’s strings, got him to hinder the mergers, make them look as if they couldn’t do the job by keeping them from their ammunition and supplies. It was all well done—clever, really. It would be hard as hell to pin this on him if it was in a court.” Moretti sent out a message to his sources. If he couldn’t get Hesra or Rimateus for this, he could find a way to catch them. If he was able to show evidence of Hesra putting politics ahead of his people, the same with Rimateus, it couldn’t be used in a court of law as Moretti didn’t want to reveal his people. If it was leaked to the legion, what would the people think?

“What if they were to vote Hesra out as their admiral? Then he would be a useless pawn. With no one willing to follow him, he would only be an admiral in name.”

Moretti sat back with a sigh. The mergers were beset on all sides by wolves, wolves that didn’t play by the rules of fighting. They played with politics and looked for more power to boost their reputation.

It wasn’t a realm they had dealt with ever before; to them, it was the next battle, the next opponent.

“Well, let’s see what I can do.” Moretti started to send messages with his NIAI and started to go through all of the loopholes and smaller problems that might be connecting the mergers to the legion.

He had to look out for every possibility and try to give his people enough options so that they could find a solution that worked for them.

Chapter 80

SLS Moby (docked to VCF Osdal)

Indalia Orbit, Otarvi System

8/3555

The drop-ship landed on the flight deck. All eyes moved to it as it was locked into place by mag clamps. The rear door opened, showing nine figures. Their very movements looked tired as they met with Evan and Mark, who led them into the living areas of the Moby.

They pulled off their helmets as they entered the air lock. They didn’t need air to survive and could work in vacuum without a suit, but old habits died hard.

“Welcome home.” Mark looked to them all. They were tired—mentally, physically, and emotionally.

They didn’t say anything, just nodded, and then followed him as he took them through the ship.

“We’ve got a briefing in five hours. Get some food into you and take a shower.” He stood next to a door as it showed a large open room with their armor crates lined up.

They moved inside and hooked their armor up before stepping out.

Some of them tapped the empty crates or bunks that marked where one of the sixty-three had lived, where they’d joked and played cards or talked about their favorite meals and argued over whose team was better.

Mark turned down his hearing as he heard these strong and powerful men and women numbly going about washing up or getting food. Others broke down now that they were safe from it all. Remembering the sixty-three who didn’t make it.

He went to his own area that was cut off by a door.

Mark sat heavily on his bed, contemplating many things, when there was a knock.

He unlocked it and started to stand when he saw Ava in his doorway.

Mark couldn’t miss the pain in her eyes, that lost look. With just a glance, he could see everything she was feeling.

The tears she had hidden for days flowed down her cheeks. The door closed behind her and she wrapped her arms around him.

Mark unconsciously wrapped his arms around her before tightening them consciously, not wanting to let her go. Ever. Knowing a part of the pain she was going through as the two of them finally let out their agony.

Without knowing it, they merged. The two of them sensed the emotions of the other, supporting each other and knowing the pain they felt.

Even when it seemed as though they would be drowned out in all of that sorrow, their clear love for each other shone bright.

The barriers, the excuses, all of it came apart as they slowly crumbled, sitting on the floor, holding each other.

It all came out, leaving them in heart-breaking pain, but also sheer relief from not having to hide it anymore.

Chapter 81

VCF Osdal

Indalia Orbit, Otarvi System

8/3555

The command crew of the Moby and the Osdal, as well as the different heads from all of the departments, were all in the large bay. It was the only place that had enough room for them all.

Mark still hadn’t seen Ortiz, Jerome, Pullo, and Nerva. They were all on Indalia still.

“Thank you all for coming. This message was sent to us by one of our intelligence officers. Please watch until the end.” Hall stood off to the side as a video started to play with subtitles underneath.

Mark didn’t have to guess who this intelligence officer was. As he watched the information scrolling by, he got more and more agitated. Ava held his hand, the two of them with blank faces as they hid their rising fury.

There were gasps and angry noises coming from the others.

The EMF people didn’t seem to think about it too much, they were used to betrayal, but to the people from the legion, their leaders showing that they didn’t care for them, going so far as to try to make it harder for them to survive by cutting off their supplies?

This went beyond what they believed and thought in their entire military careers.

Even if they wanted to argue against it, there was linked information or missing information that showed to Admiral Hesra’s guilt and Senator Rimateus pulling his strings.

“Today, we offer you two options. As you are part of an auxiliary force, there is a way for you to leave the service of the legion with a clean and honorable discharge. After that, you can do as you wish. You can even join the Victor Corporation if you want to keep fighting for what you believe in and not be stabbed in the back.

“If you don’t want to do that, then you can remain in the legion.” Admiral Hall shrugged.

“If I stay in the legion, I’m going to be buried in a court-martial that was made up so that Hesra could try to kill off the mergers. Sign me up for the corporation,” Chen said.

If not for the mergers, then he would be dead and the evidence was clear. Admiral Hesra played to the tune of the senators, not to help the legionnaires. If Hesra was one of the senators’ pawns as an admiral, then mustn’t there be other high up people in the legion who looked out for their gains, rather than their people?

Different people agreed, or wanted more time with the information. It was granted to them, but they made the restriction to talk to other people in the legion. If they decided they wanted to stay part of the legion, they would be dropped at Edani.

“What about the forces on the ground?” one of the people from the Moby asked.

“The troopers will stay until Indalia is stabilized, which should be when the rest of the reaction force shows up tomorrow,” Admiral Hall said.

The room fell silent. They could all feel this was something that would drastically change things in the future. They looked to one another; they talked in hushed whispers.

The mergers all looked at Mark, but he knew their thoughts and feelings. Mark squeezed Ava’s hand gently.

“Time we worked for ourselves instead of people with their own secret agendas,” Mark said.

They all nodded and looked back to Hall.

“Welcome back, Major Victor,” Admiral Hall said, unable to smile in this situation.

Thank you for reading! If you like the book, please rate and review! It really does help get the word out there and allow other readers to find this book!

From the Authors

You can check out my other books, what I’m working on, and upcoming releases through the following means:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00WCAOQME

Website: http://michaelchatfield.com/

Twitter: @chatfieldsbooks

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Thanks again for reading! 

Dawn Chapman

Dawn Chapman has been creating sci-fi and fantasy stories for thirty years. Until 2005 when her life and attention turned to scripts, and she started work on The Secret King, a 13-episode Sci-Fi TV series, with a great passion for this medium.

In 2015, Dawn returned to her first love of prose where she revelled in the world of The Secret King, Letháo and First Contact, as an epic prose space journey over three generations.

This year her experience of working with others expanded. From Drama, Sci-Fi, Action, to LitRPG/Gamelit. Dawn’s built a portfolio of writing, consulting and publishing.

Website - https://dawnchapmanauthor.com/

You can follow Dawn on any of her public pages.

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https://twitter.com/kanundra

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https://www.amazon.com/Dawn-Chapman/e/B014A0RUBC

Many Thanks

Table of Contents

- Prologue
- Chapter 1
- Chapter 2
- Chapter 3
- Chapter 4
- Chapter 5
- Chapter 6
- Chapter 7
- Chapter 8
- Chapter 9
- Chapter 10
- Chapter 11
- Chapter 12
- Chapter 13
- Chapter 14
- Chapter 15
- Chapter 16
- Chapter 17
- Chapter 18
- Chapter 19
- Chapter 20
- Chapter 21
- Chapter 22
- Chapter 23
- Chapter 24
- Chapter 25
- Chapter 26
- Chapter 27
- Chapter 28
- Chapter 29
- Chapter 30
- Chapter 31
- Chapter 32
- Chapter 33
- Chapter 34
- Chapter 35
- Chapter 36
- Chapter 37
- Chapter 38
- Chapter 39
- Chapter 40
- Chapter 41
- Chapter 42
- Chapter 43
- Chapter 44
- Chapter 45
- Chapter 46
- Chapter 47
- Chapter 48
- Chapter 49
- Chapter 50
- Chapter 51
- Chapter 52
- Chapter 53
- Chapter 54
- Chapter 55
- Chapter 56
- Chapter 57
- Chapter 58
- Chapter 59
- Chapter 60
- Chapter 61
- Chapter 62
- Chapter 63
- Chapter 64
- Chapter 65
- Chapter 66
- Chapter 67
- Chapter 68
- Chapter 69
- Chapter 70
- Chapter 71
- Chapter 72
- Chapter 73
- Chapter 74
- Chapter 75
- Chapter 76
- Chapter 77
- Chapter 78
- Chapter 79
- Chapter 80
- Chapter 81
- From the Authors