Battle Earth VI (13 page)

"Only way is forward, old chap."

"Yeah, Jones, that's what I'm afraid of. Come on, let's see this through."

The two of them led the platoon on with Jafar on point. He led them back past Rains’ Stallion and through the blast damaged room until they were into the core of the ship. On their route, they past several dead aliens, but there was little sign of any other movement.

"Where is everyone, Jafar?" whispered Taylor.

"There will be roving patrols, but the impact must have killed many. Most of those aboard will be busy fixing the breaches.”

"So they're forming a perimeter all around this blast site. How are we supposed to get in?" asked Jones.

"Through one of Demiran's many access tunnels. There are secret passageways throughout all of his personal ships that only he and his personal guard know how to recognise."

"Sounds like he doesn't have a whole lot of trust for his own people?" replied Jones.

"No, there are many who would not hesitate to kill the Lord if they were ever given the opportunity. Surely this is not an unfamiliar concept to humans?"

Taylor could not help but smile.

"It isn't those under my command I fear. It's those above it."

"Lions led by sheep," Jones added.

Jafar seemed confused by the expression, and it was clear he wasn't sure what either of the animals was.

"You can speak our language, but you don't know what a lion is?"

"Our translation chips allow us to converse, but for some things there are no translations. There are creatures on my homeworld which I could not begin to explain to you in any language you would understand."

"Fair enough," replied Jones.

"Come on, let's focus on the task at hand," said Taylor. How confident are you that our presence has gone unnoticed?"

"Absolute. They would be hunting us right now if they knew we were aboard. The last thing Demiran would ever expect is for the humans to try and board the Gezgen K'til."

"Why?"

"Just look at it, Captain," replied Taylor.

"Yes, it has become the thing of nightmares. To go near it would be to invite death to all around you."

"Good to know, Jafar," said Jones.

Up ahead they could see an open doorway.

"Come."

They paced quickly but cautiously down the corridor to the broad doorway which was three metres wide by two high. One of the two doors look at if it had tried to shut but was jammed against the floor which had buckled up and blocked its path.

"They'll be along to fix this before long."

As soon as they had all got through, Jafar heard movement and signalled for them to shift over into the side of the corridor. Taylor ducked down into the alcove, realising how vulnerable he felt not having his shield. They had rushed so quickly into the mission, and they had to be as light and subtle as possible, that it would not have been practical to take them. But he sure wished for it now. Jafar leaned in close.

“Two sentries.”

Taylor lifted his hand and signalled the news to the others as he drew his Assegai, lifting it for all to see. It was all the message they needed.

"Let's do this quietly."

Jafar's rifle was already slung down. He had known it was the way to do it.

I wonder if my alien friend has always been so adept at fighting in a dirty and clandestine way rather than the stand up fight the Mechs seem to use. He’s so different from the regular alien soldiers that I have to assume he’s been something special from the beginning.

The heavy footsteps grew nearer and stayed at a steady pace. The slow amble of a bored security detail sweeping large areas. It reminded him of some of the mindless duties he had been given as a young officer. He'd give anything to return to those long boring details. His pulse increased as the steps grew louder until finally a gun barrel swept into view. Jafar leapt into action and thrust his Assegai up under the arm of the first, driving it deep into the creature’s torso for an instant kill.

The second creature was quick to respond by pivoting its weapon around to fire on Jafar, but with one quick kick he shoved it out the way. Before he could close the distance, the creature spasmed from an impact from behind. It tried to turn but was hit several more times and toppled down to the deck. Blinker stood over the vanquished body with thick blood pouring from the tip of his Assegai.

"They said never stab a man in the back, but not these things," he said with a smile.

Monty shook his head in despair.

"We're on the most important and suicidal mission of our lives, and you still find time to lark about," he whispered.

Taylor looked down at the body that had been hit by repeated thrusts through its backplate. He looked up to the cocky Private who still had a broad grin on his face.

"Should we hide the bodies?" Jones asked.

"No, there is no time," replied Jafar as he lifted his rifle back into his hands and continued on.

"You seem to know this ship well," Taylor said, joining him at the front.

"No, but all of Demiran's vessels were made in his shipyard and follow the same basic layout."

"Makes sense if he wanted to easily locate and use those secret access tunnels he has."

"Yes."

They continued on until they reached a broad door that was sealed shut.

"This is where they have sealed the ship from the damage. The only way in now is through Demiran's passageways."

Taylor lifted his arm, looking at the time with concern.

"You said we had maybe an hour to get this done. Forty-five minutes have already passed. This is getting a little close for comfort."

"The weapon takes three minutes to power up, and you will know when that starts."

"Three minutes? Let's hope we don't have to hear that sound."

"I have never heard it myself either. I only know of it from legend.”

"All right, then let's get to this secret entrance and be on our way."

Jafar was looking up and around the walls, clearly searching for some unique signature only a select knew to look for. The lighting was barely enough to get by. Clearly the K'til had some basic power back. Helpful for getting their job done, but also disconcerting knowing what they were getting the power back online for.

"You still think Demiran is aboard?" asked Taylor.

"Yes, the K'til is only ever commanded by him. It would be an insult for anyone else to have had the honour of destroying a world with the K'til."

"Great, what I wouldn't give to get my hands on him."

Jafar turned to Taylor.

"I think your chance will come before long."

Jafar turned away and followed the wall, constantly looking up and down. Taylor wasn't sure whether he was following some hidden signs or completely lost, but he dare not ask. Eventually, he stopped, reaching the vent to what appeared to be a duct system. It was a metre square at most.

"Seriously? That's the 'secret access'?" asked Jones with scepticism.

Jafar pulled open the vent but did not climb in. Instead, he put his arm in, reaching up as far as he could. A second later, there was a hiss like gas escaping, and a door swung open a metre further along. Taylor breathed a sigh of relief. It was the first sign that the plan might actually work.

"Not that I doubted you, but holy shit! This is like some hidden King’s corridor in an old castle," Jones grinned.

"Precisely. It is entirely mechanical and powered by compressed gas, allowing the doors to be activated even if the power is down. This will take us about thirty metres and far inside the perimeter they have set."

Taylor stepped cautiously towards the doors, considering the fact they were committing everything they had into one corridor with only one way in and one way out.

This could be our valley of death,
he thought.

"Are you positive nobody will know we are here?" he asked.

"Demiran will not think for a minute this access has been compromised. Last he saw I was loyal to him. He must think me dead, if he has given any thought at all to Tsengal and me."

"You saved his life when we first met, did you not?"

"Yes, but that will mean little to him. As far as Demiran is concerned, every Krycenaean owes their life to him."

"Nice," Taylor replied, gesturing for Jafar to lead the way. Jones stayed at the back to see the door shut after they were all inside. They stepped quietly along the passageway, not knowing what lay either side of them through the thick walls. They reached the far end without incident, but then came the time to enter into an unknown area. Taylor had his rifle at the shoulder, and Jafar reached for the door, counting down with his finger as he had been trained to do.

The door swung open, and Taylor stepped out quickly. He expected to have to fight his way out of the doorway, but there was nothing. Not a single sign of life. He signalled for the others to join him.

"How much further do we need to go?"

"Just another hundred metres should do it."

"Should?"

Jafar nodded.

They continued on down a broad corridor with four metre high ceilings. Tracks lay along the floor that looked as if they were some kind of tramline for moving heavy goods. They covered half the distance they needed when they reached a bend. Time was short, so they blundered on without checking blind corners. As they took the bend, shock nearly stopped Taylor's heart, and they came to a halt. A dozen Mechs were marching towards them. Their weapons were lowered, and it was clear they were as surprised as each other. Neither moved for a few seconds.

Jones was the first to fire, and it was the signal for the others to join him. Outnumbered three to one, the Mechs didn't stand a chance and only managed to fire off a few pulses before they all lay dead from the devastating volley. Taylor looked back, and to his amazement and delight, they had not taken a single casualty.

"That was as much luck as anything."

None of them were in any doubt. They were just glad to be alive.

“This is the entrance to one of the main crossroads of the tunnel system. Your nuclear weapons will yield maximum effect here."

"I can't believe we're gonna get away with planting these. How are they not on to us yet?" asked Jones.

"They will be," replied Jafar. "That gun battle will not have gone unnoticed. We have to hurry."

They got to a jogging pace. The corridor opened out as Jafar said into a huge five way crossroads with a domed roof. It was completely empty, but Taylor noticed the tramlines from every corridor converged at centre.

"Why is there no one here?"

"This is a main storage facility. Everything stored here will have been loaded ready for the weapon."

"What does it fire, this thing?" asked Jones.

"I have no idea. That is a secret Demiran and his ancestors have kept well guarded. That secret maintains the power they have."

"Then it will die with him," replied Taylor.

"We can only hope," Jones added.

The nukes were carried into the crossroads area. Jafar was pacing around the huge room until he found what he was looking for.

"Over here!"

He reached down and pulled up a hinged handle on the floor, yanking it hard. A several metre long and wide hatch opened, and he spun it over on its hinges.

"This is a maintenance access point. They will be safe here."

"Right, get them inside, boys!" yelled Taylor.

Come on, come on,
he thought.
This might actually work.

"Set the timers for five minutes."

"Five? Cutting that a little fine, aren't we?”

"Jafar said the machine needs three minutes to fire up once the power is going. We have no idea when that will happen, so I want as short a fuse as possible, Jones."