When the Stars Fade (The Gray Wars) (88 page)

             
“We are hours away, my Guardian
.
”

             
Speaking in the common tongue was hard for Vanwa; h
e’
d never had a head for languages. Still, it did no good to crew a ship with which you could not communicate. Vanw
a’
s words came out with a lisp as his thin tongue darted between dozens of rows of teeth
.“
Excellent, Warlord. See that the battle group is ready to receive us
.
”

             
Gehnom
was a powerhouse, but had many blind spots. It would take a considerable amount of time to do any real damage, but it was
n’
t a prudent military decision to allow the enemy such luxuries. The armada in Eros would be repurposed as an escort group while the juggernaut warmed up for attack. As it had been a century since its last use, Vanwa could
n’
t say how quickly the system would charge.

             
As the hum of the engines lulled the commander into a restful sleep, he smiled. The name had finally come back to him. He remembered clearly now, the stubborn refusal of the race to kowtow even after years of defeat. The cowards had fled the galaxy shortly before the attack, an act which the Great King felt made them unworthy even as enemies of the Horde.

             
Vanwa closed his eleven eyes, murmuring, and began to drift off with the name on the tip of his tongue.

             
“Nangol
.
”

-                           
XVI                            -

              The tow line snapped taut as it connected with the hook from a landing bomber. Wires stretched and groaned, fighting against the combined mass and velocity of the craft. It was a battle that lasted less than a second. The momentum stopped and flight crew flooded the hangar, pulling up a ladder to aid the pilots exiting the craft. The rear engine spewed black smoke and sparked every few seconds. Across the entire starboard side of the ship were fist-sized holes from a Y-fighter strafing run.

             
With a hiss the door opened up and out. Kaileen ducked under the frame and stepped into the cool, damp air. Her hair was matted down with sweat, and a bruise covered her cheek. The fire in her eyes, on the other hand, burned brighter than ever. She hopped the last few rungs down to the deck, reaching back to catch her bag as her copilot flung it from the cockpit.

             
It had been over a day since the news from Colorum. From the official report, no one had survived the attack. The High Chancellor was missing and presumed dead, along with nearly every member of the Council. Already the press were putting out suggestions as to who they thought would make the better replacement for the highest office in politics. They had yet to release the list of those lost, but there was only one name that mattered. Sh
e’
d talked to Cameron only hours before, telling him she hoped he could stay awake through all the boring speeches. Now sh
e’
d never talk to him again.

             
She could
n’
t let herself cry. Fleet had
n’
t given her much time, anyway. Minutes after the attack was reported, the offensive began. Her bomber made the first strike into the heart of the enemy. Following that close to an orbital bombardment had been heart-pounding, but also therapeutic. Riding down next to Thunder and Lightning, Kaileen had reveled in the danger. A single gust of wind could have thrown her into the maelstrom. Once the rounds hit, her squadron dropped a field-clearing payload on the shocked enemy.

             
Kaileen threw her helmet on the couch in the pilo
t’
s lounge. Primus definitely had fewer perks than the Cove, but the lounge was still pleasant. There were TVs and billiards tables, as well as a small snack bar near the stairs. She rested her head back against a cushion, taking a deep breath of the cold, recycled air. She did
n’
t remember falling asleep. Though she was only out for an hour, it felt like much longer. Someone was shaking her, calling her name. She opened her eyes and saw one of the new pilots, Alice or Olive or something like that. Kaileen glared.

             
“What? What do you want
?”
She rubbed her eyes and yawned.

             
Alice/Olive smiled, her bubbly personality already bothering Kaileen
.“
You have to come quick. The
y’
ve received an SOS
.
”

             
“We get a hundred of those a day, newbie. Go away
.
”

             
The greenhorn pulled on Kailee
n’
s arm
.“
But i
t’
s asking for you
.
”

             
That was odd enough to get her attention. The older pilot led the way to the flight control deck. As she pushed through the door, she caught the back end of the transmission. Captain Donovan sat at the head desk, taking the call.

             
“H
e’
s hurt pretty bad, do
n’
t know how h
e’
s made it this far but we need a medic fast
.
”

             
Donovan was an old vet, with scars that dated back before most of his hangar crew had been born. He spoke like a grandfather, without the slightest iota of urgency
.“
All right, son. Le
t’
s take it slow now. What kind of boat are you running
?
”

             
A pause, then a burst of static
.“
Sh
e’
s a shuttle, some sort of diplomat transport. A lot of fancy lights for no goddamn reason. And ther
e’
s an AI that keeps asking if I want to turn the air conditioning back on
.
”

             
“Have you already rerouted power from the alternate systems
?
”

             
The pilot scoffed
.“
Not my first rodeo, sir.
I’
ve broken more than my fair share of ships. This one just wants to break herself first
.
”

             
Captain Donovan laughed, a warm sound in the tense room. Kaileen shuffled closer, not sure if she was welcome. When the officer saw her he waved a hand, motioning for her to sit down
.“
Hey there, son. We found that lady you were asking about
.
”

             
She leaned toward the microphone
.“
This is Kaileen Nuvarian
.”
Her voice wavered
.“
Who is this
?
”

             
Static hissed. And then
,“
K
?
”

             
No,
she thought. Tears welled in her eyes and her hands shook
.“
Cam
?”
She bit her lip
.“
Are you there
?”
The white noise persisted for almost a minute.

             
Captain Donovan leaned in
.“
It comes and goes
.
”

             
“Cameron
!”
She shouted into the radio
.“
Damn it, Cam. You ca
n’
t do this to me
.
”

             
The speakers crackled and popped but remained empty. People began to shuffle away, not sure how to act. If the pilo
t’
s ship had been that damaged, it might have just imploded inside the void. Sadly, it would
n’
t be the first time.

             
“Please. God, Cameron. I ca
n’
t do this. I ca
n’
t lose you. I know we said this was
n’
t serious. I know what I told you
.”
She wiped at her eyes with the palm of her hand
.“
But I ca
n’
t. Please, Cameron. I need you to come back to me. I need you here. Please
.”
Captain Donovan laid a hand on her shoulder, but she refused to crumble. Kaileen stared at the communication console, willing it to talk. After what seemed like ages, the static built up again.

             
“Wow. I should escape death more often
.
”

             
Now the emotion poured out of her all at once. Kaileen fell forward, propped up by her forearms, and wept. The room let out a collective sigh, scrambling back to work. Captain Donovan grinned from ear to ear. In a time like this, with every day a new defeat, even the smallest win counted. But, the old vet knew, they were far from home safe.

             
Camero
n’
s voice vibrated as he spoke
.“
Kail, God, i
t’
s good to hear your voice
.
”

             
She was crying, damn it all. It did
n’
t matter who saw, not to her, not now
.“
What happened
?
”

             
“We were attacked. I ca
n’
t say much over the line, but I managed to find a shuttle and escape in time
.
”

             
“Just you
?”
Kaileen asked.

             
Static cut the line for a brief moment
.“
I say again, three passengers. I got the Chief of Staff and his assistant with me. Mr. Ahma
d’
s in bad shape. We need a medic, fast
.
”

             
Kaileen wiped her tears away, looking into the nearby tracking computer
.“
Wher
e’
s your beacon
?
”

             
“Probably fried.
Imperion
went out with a pretty big bang. Na
v’
s out, too. Damn thing tore off the hull.
I’
m running without instruments right now
.
”

             
That got the room talking. Flying in space was difficult enough, with objects coming at you from literally every direction. Blue space was triple that threat, and a Flight Control System was the only way to safely navigate. Captain Donovan grabbed the mic
.“
Are you saying yo
u’
ve shut off your FCS
?
”

             
“Did
n’
t give me much of a choice
,”
Cameron said
.“
W
e’
re running on fumes and my cells are glowing a nice red.
I’
ll jettison them before we get to close, just use momentum to carry us the rest of the way in
.
”

             
Donovan frowned
.“
And how will you stop once you get inside my hangar
?
”

             
Cameron scoffed
.“
Details. Just clear a path and have some collision foam spread out for me. Lots
.”
For a moment the line squelched static, but then the pilot returned
.“
No,
I’
m serious. All the foam you have in that bay.
I’
m half on fire out here. And an escort would
n’
t hurt either. I hear ther
e’
s a war on
.
”

             
Donovan snapped his fingers and a pilot appeared, helmet in hand
.“
Get a Dragonfly and head out there. H
e’
s coming in too hot for a landing
.
”

             
“Roger, sir
.”
The pilot took off at a sprint, with Kaileen close behind.