Behind the Lines: Ganog Wars Book 1 Read online

  Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Dedication

  Blank Page

  Planetstrider

  Prologue

  Chapter 1- Ganog 7

  Chapter 2- Planetfall

  Chapter 3- Warp Gate

  Chapter 4- Assault

  Chapter 5- Planetstrider

  Chapter 6- Invasion

  Chapter 7- Khar

  Chapter 8- Shot Down

  Chapter 9- Decisions

  Chapter 10- Krekon

  Chapter 11- Aluki

  Chapter 12- Grim Tidings

  Chapter 13- The Rust Settles

  Chapter 14- Recon

  Chapter 15- Market

  Chapter 16- Reunited

  Chapter 17- Mounds

  Chapter 18- Burke

  Chapter 19- Signal

  Chapter 20- Demonstration

  Chapter 21- Go to Ground

  Chapter 22- On the Run

  Chapter 23- Warp

  Chapter 24- Frayed Nerves

  Chapter 25- The Resistance

  Chapter 26- Carnifex

  Chapter 27- Cores

  Chapter 28- A Plan

  Chapter 29- Allies

  Chapter 30- Theta Cannons

  Chapter 31- Are you serious?

  Chapter 32- He Knows

  Chapter 33- Interupted

  Chapter 34- Think like the Captain

  Chapter 35- Duel

  Chapter 36- It's Over

  Chapter 37- Surprise

  Chapter 38- The Fate of Edwards

  Chapter 39- Deploy the Fleet

  Chapter 40- The Saurians

  Chapter 41- Convince Them

  Chapter 42- Move Out

  Chapter 43- In System

  Chapter 44- What Do They Feed That Thing?

  Chapter 45- Engage

  Chapter 46- Get Them

  Chapter 47- Dance

  Chapter 48- Knock Knock

  Chapter 49- Pew Pew

  Chapter 50- Knee

  Chapter 51- It's Moving

  Chapter 52- Down the Hatch

  Chapter 53- Out of Time

  Chapter 54- Make a Hole

  Chapter 55- Complications

  Chapter 56- Hell Yes

  Chapter 57- Brawl

  Chapter 58- Die Well

  Chapter 59- We've Got Warp

  Chapter 60- Holy Crap

  Chapter 61- Opportunity

  Chapter 62- Spite

  Chapter 63- Overwhelmed

  Chapter 64- Endings

  Hold The Line

  BEHIND THE LINES

  Chris Fox

  Copyright © 2017 Chris Fox

  All rights reserved.

  ISBN:

  ISBN-13:

  For Lisa. My muse, my wife, my partner.

  Planetstrider

  Sign up for the Mailing List and receive a complimentary copy of the prequel story Planetstrider.

  Prologue

  Takkar hopped from his command disk, waving it away as he swept into the stasis chamber. He glanced at the trio of Saurian slaveguards, each giving a cringing bow, and clenched his lower nostrils shut to blot out the stench of their fear. They hurried from the chamber, leaving Takkar alone, save for a single grey-robed techsmith and the prisoner. That prisoner hovered near the center of the room, suspended by the translucent red bonds around her wrists and ankles.

  Her pale skin had almost no fur, though a mane of black hair grew from her head. Takkar was moderately surprised by her defiant glare, something he'd not seen from an enemy in a long time. Where was the cowering, the pleading?

  "Techsmith," Takkar bellowed, scowling at the door.

  The green-scaled Saurian scurried forward, clutching her arcanotome to her chest. Purple circuitry covered the dark surface, sending pulses of data up the cord leading to her temple.

  The sight of it sickened Takkar, and he loathed the need for such servants. He turned back to the prisoner, studying the strange, pale-skinned creature. It had two arms and two legs, like a Ganog or Saurian--yet it had no fur or scales, and its hide had proven extremely fragile. Even a casual fall would shatter its bones.

  "This human," he said. "What language does it speak? Can we communicate with it?"

  "The creature is capable of communication, Clan Leader," the techsmith murmured. She shrank into her robes when Takkar shifted a disapproving eye in her direction. "This species has quite cleverly modified one of their own genes using a viral agent. It allows anyone infected to understand the speech of any other infected creature, by attaching a biotranslation unit to the language centers of the brain."

  "Are you suggesting we've been infected by an alien virus?" Takkar's voice was deadly quiet, and his fur darkened to black.

  She cringed, backing away slowly. "The techsmiths have deemed the virus safe, Clan Leader. It is an airborne pathogen, but it only modifies a single specific gene. We have both been exposed, as has every other techsmith who initially examined the subject."

  Takkar flared his lower nostrils, and his fur returned to a rich scarlet. "How long since the initial exposure?"

  "Seventeen hours, Clan Leader. The physiological changes were completed within the first hour. Krekon probed her, and he believes the virus is harmless." The techsmith's retreat was finally halted by the wall of the stasis chamber. She huddled there, waiting for judgement.

  "So she can understand what we're saying," Takkar said. He studied the prisoner, finding comprehension in those defiant eyes. "Yes, she definitely knows what we're saying. She's studying us. That implies a certain amount of intelligence. Did her species design the fleet we destroyed, or did they scavenge it from another species? It seemed more advanced than I'd expect from such a simple creature."

  "We believe her species constructed the vessels." Tangy fear wafted from the techsmith as Takkar folded furry arms large enough to snap her neck. "They seem to have no distinction between castes. Their techsmiths travel with their soldiers, and their leadership caste seems comprised entirely of soldiers who were elevated into the position."

  "You know I can understand you," the human said. Her voice was a higher tenor than Takkar had expected, even given her diminutive size. "If you want to know about our culture, why not just ask? Why attack us without provocation? We'd done nothing to you, yet you brutally assaulted our fleet."

  The techsmith sucked in a breath, her fiery eyes widening, then quickly narrowing again. "You have addressed the clan leader of the Vkash, ka'tok. If you speak again--"

  "Silence." Takkar waved a hand, and the techsmith's jaw clicked shut. He leaned closer to the human. "It's that simple then, with your species? I tell you why we attacked, and you answer my questions?"

  "I have nothing to hide, and I don't understand our technology well enough to tell you anything I shouldn't." Determination thickened in the human's gaze. "You can torture me, or you can tell me what I want to know, and deal with a far more cooperative subject."

  "Very well." Takkar gave her a toothy smile, leaning closer. "If you answer my questions, I will answer yours. Given that your position is rather dubious, why don't you allow me to ask my questions first?"

  The human hesitated. She studied Takkar for long moments, her lips pursed. "All right."

  Takkar repeated his earlier question, this time directing it to the human. "Did your species design the fleet we destroyed?"

  "Yes, my species helped design our weapons and ships."

  "Helped?" Takkar asked, his interest growing. "There was another species aboard your vessel, and your communications archives make mention of a third. What is your relationship to these races? What can you tell me about them?"

  "The
y're our allies, part of the Coalition of United Species," the human explained. "The larger aliens are called the Tigris. They're some of our fiercest warriors, and best scientists. The smaller race are the Primo. Their science is the most advanced, but we've been catching up quickly with their help."

  "The Primo." Takkar tasted the words. "In your language, that means 'the first'--these Primo are the oldest race?"

  "Yes."

  "Yet all of you share equally in this...Coalition?" Takkar asked.

  "Our leader is of my species," the woman explained. "President Dryker will only serve for two more years, though, then it's possible we may elect a Tigris or Primo to replace him." Her posture had relaxed, suggesting her fear had ebbed.

  Interesting. This seemed a trusting species.

  "I'm not sure I understand," Takkar said. "This Dryker will simply relinquish power, and someone else will take his place?" He turned back to the techsmith, who quivered meekly in his shadow. "Have we ever seen anything like this before?"

  "Yes, Clan Leader," the techsmith replied quickly. "The Whalorians exhibited just such a government when we conquered them seventeen centuries ago. It's part of the reason their resistance was so ineffectual. They were paralyzed by weak leadership."

  If that characterization bothered the human, she didn't show it. She merely stared impassively at Takkar.

  Takkar considered his next question carefully. How much would this human reveal? "Why have you entered this sector? It is the property of the Ganog Imperium, and one of our most far-flung provinces. Do you seek to invade?"

  "We're explorers," she explained with an exasperated sigh. "We came here searching for the Gorthians--a race of planet-sized eyes that reproduce through a slug-like parasite. They attacked our sector of the galaxy, wiping out many of our people. After we defeated them, all three races banded together and vowed to hunt them down. We want to make sure the Gorthians never hurt anyone again."

  "Ahh, now that is a sentiment my species can understand." Takkar smiled broadly. "You seek vengeance for their attacks, is that it?"

  "Exactly."

  Takkar gave a rumbling laugh. "You've done as I asked, now I will honor our accord. What do you wish to know, human?"

  "Why did you attack us?" she asked.

  "Because the Ganog are conquerers, and you have yet to be subjugated. My clan will plunder your worlds for labor-slaves and techsmiths. If you have weapons, we will take them. If you have wealth, we will seize it. Have you another question?" Takkar licked his lips, inhaling deeply of the woman's earthy scent. His stomachs rumbled.

  The woman licked her lips as well, evidently gathering her thoughts. "Do you recognize the Gorthians?"

  "Possibly. A monstrous eye is mentioned in our earliest myths. It is one of the Nameless Ones, from our most ancient legends."

  "It isn't a myth, I can promise you that. This thing devoured billions of people before we burned it to a crisp." The woman stood as straight as her bonds would allow. "We don't have to fight. We have a common foe. Help us find the Gorthians, and we'll help you kill them."

  "You misunderstand, human. I said I recognized them, not that I considered them enemies. Our seekers are quite clear on that point: to oppose the Nameless Ones is to die. All we can do is seek to avoid their terrible gaze. Even were that not so, my people are conquerers. We will add your might to our own. If the day comes when we must oppose a Nameless One, your world will already be dust." Takkar clicked his tongue, and the techsmith shot to her feet. He turned to her. "Have Krekon conduct a final interrogation. After he's taken all he can from her mind, have her prepared for tonight's feast."

  The Saurian eyed the prisoner critically. "Forgive me, Clan Leader, but she does not possess very much meat. Shall I have some of the others prepared as well?"

  "Do that." Takkar turned an appraising eye back on the prisoner. "You said that their soldiers have some sort of transponder?" he asked, a plan taking shape.

  "Indeed, Clan Leader. They are utilizing some sort of quantum entanglement to transmit data. The transponders are capable of broadcasting a location, but we've blocked the signal."

  "Have the transponders moved to the local coliseum, then remove the quantum dampeners. Move the planetstriders into position, and assemble the mounds." He met the human's defiant gaze, and he smiled. "This...Coalition will come for their people, and when they do we will be waiting. One of those ships will have star charts--and after we have them we can begin conquest in earnest."

  Chapter 1- Ganog 7

  "Exiting the sun's corona, Captain." Kay's warm holographic voice emanated from the speakers on either side of his sleek leather chair. Nolan nodded absently, rising to his feet. He leaned closer to the viewport above the consoles.

  Pillars of superheated nuclear material towered over their tiny vessel, bathing them in hellish fury. The sleek corvette threaded a path between them, dodging a collapsing solar tendril as the Helios Drive used the sun's own gravitational force to fuel their escape. Beyond the sun lay an unfamiliar solar system, at the far edge of ancient Primo space. It was as far from Earth as any human had ever been.

  "Kay, are you picking up the transponders?" Nolan grabbed his helmet from its place on the copilot's chair, then turned and ducked through the hatch. The Peregrine was an amazing ship, but most of the engineers had been two feet tall. They didn't understand the concept of head room, and the ship was even more claustrophobic than the Johnston had been.

  "Yes, Captain." Kay's voice followed him from the wall speakers as he squeezed down the narrow corridor. "The beacon is broadcasting from the fourth planet in the system. It's currently at 87% strength, but the degradation is within expected tolerances given the transponder's battery life."

  "What about the rest of the fleet?"

  "We were the second ship to exit the corona. Four more ships have already emerged, including the Mendez."

  Nolan caught sight of the capital ship emerging from the star. The A-shaped vessel was Part carrier, part battleship, bristling with particle cannons and banks of gauss turrets. The Mendez represented the pinnacle of the new Coalition, a fusion of technologies from all three races. The ships emerging around it were older, refitted from humanity's fleets.

  He ducked through the hatch, leaving the view behind as he trotted up the corridor. He could hear Annie's booming laugh, joined a moment later by Edwards's. Nolan smiled, ducking through another hatch, this time into the ship's cargo bay. This room was what made the ship special, and the reason why the rest of the ship was so cramped. Every spare centimeter had been allocated here. The high-ceilinged room had been divided into four bays, each holding a ten-meter-tall death machine wired into a complex harness.

  All four mechs were the heavier Linebacker class, their stocky limbs covered in thick plates of tritanium armor. Each held a particle cannon in its left hand, and had a plasma emitter strapped to the right wrist--though neither of those represented the true threat. Twelve missile tubes were also hidden throughout the back, shoulders, and hips--the piranha-class missiles were a gift from the Primo, and packed more punch than anything humanity had previously possessed.

  Spindly mechanical arms extended from the stalls, darting around each mech to refill ammunition or oil hydraulics. A thick hose connected to the chest of each mech, refilling the coolant necessary to prevent the fusion drives from going critical.

  Lack of power wasn't the enemy; heat was.

  Nolan stepped into the bay, making his way toward the mech in the far corner.

  "Morning, Captain. You look like you ain't found that first cup of sludge yet," Annie drawled as Nolan passed. She wore a welder's mask, tilted upward to show her leathery face. A sheen of grimy sweat dulled her skin, but she wore a pleased smile. "Finally got that servo fixed. Been bugging me since that scrap on Arkanon." She spit a black gob into a metal bucket near her feet, then set the mask on the workbench against the mech stall.

  "Nice work, Annie. Get that equipment stowed. We'll be in system in about twel
ve minutes." Nolan continued past her, stopping next to Lieutenant Hannan. He was still getting used to her new look. The buzz cut was gone. Half her hair was shaved down to blond stubble, the other half tapered down to her right shoulder. Nolan hadn't even known she was blond until she'd grown it out.

  Hannan didn't look up from her rifle. She peered down the bore, though it already gleamed. "We get final orders yet, sir?"

  Nolan lowered his tone, leaning against the stack of crates next to Hannan's mech. "Lena already inside?"

  "Yeah, but I still don't agree about bringing her with us." Hannan finally looked at Nolan, her eyes sharp under the running lights. "She's a non-com, sir. Now more than ever. She hasn't seen action in ten years, and even when she was in combat she wasn't ever much use. She's a liability."

  "That's why Edwards is taking care of her," Nolan countered. "She'll never exit the mech unless its safe to do so and her expertise proves necessary."

  Hannan didn't seem convinced.

  He put a hand on her shoulder. "Listen. I'm hearing you. I understand your point, and you aren't wrong. If things go south, she'll be a liability. But this is an alien world, and she knows more than any of us ever will about every alien culture we've ever interacted with. We might need her, and I've decided to accept the risk."

  "You've told me you always want me to be blunt, sir. " Hannan slid the rag she'd been using to clean back into her pocket. "You're bringing her in case you can find a way to hunt down the Gorthians--but that isn't the mission, sir. We're here to get our people back."

  "And we will." Nolan took a deep breath. "That's the primary mission. I realize you think I'm obsessed, but I'm asking you to trust me, Hannan. The Gorthians are still out there, waiting for us to give up the search. If we do that, our descendants will have to pay the price some day. We need to end this once and for all."

  "I've always admired your relentlessness, sir." Hannan took a step up the leg of her mech, setting her rifle in the cockpit, then glanced back at him one more time. "I trust you, sir. And I will always follow orders."