83
“It’s protection against projectile and energy weapons and the hood will not impair your peripheral vision’s motion detection. Seal the hood and you have a five minute supply of breathable air and it’s fire resistant. Additionally, it’s proven to psychologically intimidate Allsa Komanae,” Gee continued.
“It’s also lovely,” she said as she pulled it on.
“Regal!” Major Ash said as she smiled. The Queen answered her smile with a twinkle in her eyes. “We’re going to join Colonel Bertillon’s group so we’ll be ready when we get there.”
Bal stepped up to Maxim and handed him a small metal box. “Seeds. Make sure those ships never fly again.” Maxim nodded and grinned widely at Bal who gave him the hint of a smile.
Once the team left with Lapsha and Neko in their wake it was just the Queen, Gee and Bal, and the two senior Tik on the bridge with the Tik operating the ship. The displays had returned to showing them the 360 degree view of Altaria.
Small windows appeared on the display for each of the military leaders. Each reported the readiness of their teams. The Queen acknowledged this and nodded to Socrates. The order was given and an enormous Gate snapped into place before the ship.
“Take us forward. Battle speed.” Socrates called out.
There was no impression of motion but the ground below the ship began moving and they floated towards the huge mirror, touched it and began to slip through.
“I estimate we are moving three times faster than the ship was originally moving when it arrived on Altaria.” Gee said watching the screen carefully.
“Two point seven eight times faster to be precise,” Plato corrected.
The displays pointing forward began to show an entirely different world. The sun was in its late afternoon position on Allsa One where it was high noon on Altaria.
“We are picking up chatter from below. They have definitely noticed our arrival. We have incoming.”
“Neutralize it,” Socrates ordered.
There was a slight thump sound and the missile suddenly stopped like it struck a solid wall. The crushed rocket exploded ineffectively as it tumbled back to the ground.
“Target the source of that missile,” the senior Tik said.
“Two Allsa Komanae atop a roof overlooking the main square. Reloading their weapon.”
“Queen Elissa, your orders?”
“Taking them out might put innocent citizens at risk.”
Sinclair piped up. “We could take the target out with a sniper round once we are in range.”
“Do it.” Elissa ordered.
The ship was now a third of the way through the Gate over the capital city and it was attracting plenty of attention. Skimmers were rising from the land below to fly towards the ship. The drivers and the passengers were pointing weapons out the windows of the vehicles.
“Is there a safe way to ground those skimmers? I don’t want them falling onto the people below.” Elissa asked.
“Take out the drivers. The vehicles will automatically return to the ground if they are unmanned.” Gee suggested.
“These are your immediate sniper targets Commander Sinclair.”
“Acknowledged.”
They watched the screen as skimmer after skimmer suddenly stopped their ascent and began gently descending. A few brave or foolhardy passengers pushed their dead drivers from the vehicles and attempted to continue rising. These new drivers quickly joined their compatriots. Soon all of the skimmers were settling to the ground.
A second thump. “Second incoming missile destroyed.”
Almost simultaneously the display showed the two Allsa Komanae on the rooftop flying to pieces as multiple sniper rounds intersected their bodies.
“Targets eliminated,” Sinclair confirmed needlessly.
“Thank you Commander.”
The ship was almost completely through the Gate and it was time for Elissa to speak to the ‘powers-that-be’ on the planet’s surface. “Broadcast on all frequencies, please.”
With a gesture from Socrates Elissa began.
“This is Queen Elissa of Altaria. Under my authority the Blade of Reason has entered the airspace above Allsa One’s capital city. We are not here for conquest. We are here for our Ambassador Jack Danner who was kidnapped by parties under the orders of the Allsa Komanae. You have thirty seconds to respond to this message or we will take steps to locate him ourselves.” She nodded and the signal was cut. They listened for a response but the chatter quickly tapered off into silence.
The Queen watched the clock counting down and at three seconds there was a crackle as a signal from the Administrative Office responded.
“This is First of Allsa One. You will leave our airspace immediately. We will be filing a war crime grievance with-”
The Queen looked at her military support. “Proceed with your objectives.”
They quickly nodded and left to join their men. Soon shuttles were rushing out of the landing bays and racing down to the planet’s surface. First’s transmission appeared to becoming from his office in the Administrative building. The SEAL teams brought their shuttles down close to the entrances and they rushed inside.
Bertillon’s shuttles and those carrying the second half of the SEAL teams rushed off towards the spaceport as MacDenny’s two shuttles shot almost vertically downwards towards the Communications Center at breakneck speed.This content © 2024 NôvelDrama.Org.
“Aren’t they going a little fast?” Queen Elissa asked and listened to their feed. “Is- is that laughter?”
Something was ejected from the gravity field on both open flatbeds. The field kept everyone and everything in place during maneuvers such as their nosedive. Once the objects were outside the fields they became gravity fed missiles dropping right for the rooftop antennae array of the Communications Center. The shuttles rapidly pulled away from these projectiles and swung wide in a loop to bring them in fast to the building’s front entrance just as the satchel bombs took out the antennae. Grinning and laughing like maniacs the team rushed straight into the building amidst the chaos.
The shuttles heading for the spaceport had dropped down behind the ridge and visibility wasn’t so good due to some low level clouds trapped by the ridge. Of course it also shielded the shuttles from being spotted as they rushed towards their target.
Queen Elissa held her breath for her new friends. It had to be frightening to be rushing into battle like that!
Maxim and Leo were grinning happily as they readied their weapons. The cloak and dagger stuff of hunting down the data cache wasn’t really their forte. Kicking some Allsa Komanae butt, now that they could do! Nann hid her smile at their acting like two kids in the candy store and gave them a scowl when they noticed her attention.
“Are you school kids or soldiers! Wipe those smiles off your faces and stay frosty! This is as hostile an environment as we are going to get aside from the home world. Allsa Komanae hate humans. They want us dead and now that we’re here on their turf they want us dead twice over,” she barked and the two men quickly cleared their expressions and nodded.
Nann turned back to the Major who was checking her own weapon with a satisfied smile on her lips. “Not you too!” Nann grumbled.
“I’m excited too!” Ray said.
“Do you even have a weapon?” Nann asked.
“My brain!” Ray exclaimed.
Nann rolled her eyes. “Ugh, he’s worse than he was when he was flesh and bone.”
“No! Really! My brain feels like it’s a zillion times faster and I don’t need to type anymore! I can talk directly to any machine!”
“Are you going to think the enemy to death? What will you do when they shoot at you? You’re not bullet proof are you?” she growled.
“With all these soldiers running around with weapons, they won’t even notice one little Tik! You just keep an eye on your own fleshy butt.”
Nann stopped and slowly turned to face the new Tik. “Did you just call my ass fat?” Nann asked quietly.
“What? No! I didn’t! I swear I said nothing of the sort!” Ray sputtered, waving his tentacles in a placating way.
“That’s what I heard him say.” Cha’Risa said looking at Nann. Ray spun to look at the Major then back to the indignant redhead.
“Pretty cheeky for a voice in a tin can!” Nann growled.
“I’m sorry! I didn’t mean-” Ray stopped when he detected Nann’s belly shaking from her suppressed laughter.
“Oh… really funny. A million laughs. It’s gang up on Ray day again is it?” he growled.
The Major had a tear in her eye as she patted the side of her friend’s new ‘body’. “It’s really nice to have you back again Ray,” she said.
Nann smiled and nodded. It was really nice but they were coming in hot and it was time to put everything else aside. She caught the Major’s eyes and saw the same look in them. She scowled at her Russians and saw Ray was facing the base.
“Colonel! Gun emplacements in the towers near the front gates.” Ray said using his superior vision to spot them. Bertillon spoke to someone on his comm and muzzle flashes could be seen from the shuttle next to theirs. The gate towers blossomed into two large fireballs.
“Looks like they just found out we are coming in. Major Ash, is your team with me or are you going after the ships.”
“The ships, sir.”
“Colonel Bertillon. I can see more long range communication antennae on the far side of the administration buildings. They will need to be taken out.” Ray called out. The Colonel spoke into his comm once more and two of their shuttles accelerated to reach the far side of the building as they reached the front entrance. The shuttles with the SEAL teams began peeling off to head for the ships. They were leaving the closest ship for the Major and her team.
Bertillon’s men picked off the few guards foolish enough to start shooting back.
The moment the shuttles touched down the troops were on the ground and running.
Maxim and Leo took point as they circled the building. Ray shot off to the right so they others let him go. They couldn’t keep up if they wanted to anyway.