Behind the Lines: Ganog Wars Book 1 Page 14

  "So we might have a few hours. We need to get clear of this garage as soon as possible, then get somewhere safe long enough to come up with a plan." Nolan rose from the pillar, walking over to the cave-in. "Burke, can you and Nuchik see what you can salvage from the bodies? Annie, carry the elite-sized stuff. It could be useful."

  "On it," Burke said. He gave Nolan a quick nod, then trotted toward the closest bodies. "Nuchik, see what you can find on those Saurians."

  Nolan turned to inspect the cave-in. There was no sign of Edwards, but he'd seen where the mech went down. He guessed there were between two and three meters of dense stone between him and his friend.

  "Nolan," Lena called, sprinting up. Aluki waddled up a ways behind, trying to keep pace. "What happened? Where's Edwards?"

  "Trapped under the rubble," Nolan explained. "I picked up his power generator, about three meters in that direction." He waited for Aluki to reach them before continuing. "I need the two of you to find a way through that rubble. We need to reach Edwards, and remove his core."

  "I understand your concern for the technology, but I do not think this is wise," Sissus said. He shook his head, the neck going unnaturally far each time the head turned. "We must flee, and flee quickly. The storm covers our exit, and we must be far from here when Takkar responds. He may send the entire fleet--hundreds of elites, thousands of Saurians. We will never escape them all unless we leave now."

  "The concern isn't for the tech," Nolan snapped. He took a step closer to Sissus, glaring up at the Saurian. "Edwards is a friend of mine. More than that, he's part of my squad. We don't leave people behind, not when we can get them out. You just told me we've got a little time until they alert Takkar."

  "I will not remain for this folly." Sissus gave a long, low hiss. "If you wish to squander your lives, do so. I will return to my people. I have tipped my hand, risked everything to save you fools." He rounded on his heel, and began running up the ramp.

  "You want me to stop him, sir?" Hannan asked. She wore her helmet, but Nolan could still hear the quaver in her voice. Hannan had known Edwards even longer than he had.

  "No, let him go. We know where Sissrot is, and we can meet up after we free Edwards." He turned back to Aluki. "How do we get him out of there?"

  "Mmm, I can do quick, or I can do safe." She waddled up to a mostly intact pillar. "You want quick, right?"

  "We don't have any other choice." Nolan replaced his helmet, tightening the seal. "What do you need?"

  "Lift this beam, then use a plasma weapon to melt the rubble underneath. We can dig a narrow tunnel, and use that to reach the core."

  "Hannan, get suited up. We'll use your mech's plasma blade. T'kon, think you're strong enough to lift this pillar?"

  "It can be done." T'kon walked over to the pillar, kneeling to inspect it. "It's possible the pillar may break when shifted, and I do not believe any tunnel we create will be stable."

  "Mmm, like I said...quick. Not safe. I'm smallest. I will crawl inside to get the core." Aluki waddled over near T'kon, waiting patiently.

  The hydraulics on Hannan's mech whirred to life as she joined T'kon. "Okay, looks like we're ready, sir."

  "Lift," Nolan barked.

  T'kon's muscles bulged, but at first the pillar didn't move. There was a tremendous pop, then it began grinding upward. He lifted it up about six feet, resting the pillar on his bent knee. "Be swift. I felt it crack when I lifted it."

  Hannan knelt, igniting her crackling blue blade. She slowly pressed the weapon forward. Rubble dissolved to charred ash wherever the blade touched. Her mech leaned forward, the arm disappearing down the hole she'd created. It took several more seconds, but her mech's arm disappeared all the way up to the shoulder.

  "That's as far as I can go," she said, slowly withdrawing.

  "Mmm, my turn." Aluki waddled to the hole, squeezing inside. She ignited a plasma torch, disappearing out of sight.

  The next several minutes were agonizing. Nolan resisted the urge to yell out to Aluki, demanding an update. Instead, he forced himself away from the hole and spoke into his comm. "Burke, give me a status report."

  "We're just about ready to go. We've got seven rifles, a pile of melee weapons, and a few suits of working armor. Annie is working on a makeshift tray we can use to carry it all. We'll make our way up to your level ASAP. How's Edwards?"

  "Too soon to tell." Nolan turned back to the hole. He could see movement.

  Aluki's bulk squeezed out of the tunnel, and she reached around to her satchel. She withdrew a shimmering blue cube. "Got it!"

  "Nice work, Aluki. All right guys, let's get the hell out of here before this storm dissipates."

  Chapter 39- Deploy the Fleet

  "Admiral, we're being hailed by Admiral Sheng," Juliard said. The lieutenant commander had dark circles under her eyes, and her normally pristine uniform was rumpled from being slept in.

  "Put her on screen," Fizgig ordered. She swiveled the chair to face the screen. Custom dictated she stand when addressing an equal, but her leg pained her. Protocol be damned.

  Sheng stood before the screen, her midnight uniform immaculately pressed. She had long, dark hair that she left loose. It was a rarity in the fleet, and one more reason Fizgig liked her. Sheng was an individual, and she wore it proudly.

  One of the odd tendencies the humans practiced was beating individuality out of their soldiers. Tigris were the opposite; they promoted the boldest individuals.

  "Admiral," Sheng said, nodding. "The 2nd is fully re-outfitted and ready to fight. Standing by for your orders, sir."

  "We'll be making for Ganog 7. Have your captains prepare their vessel for Helios travel." Fizgig ordered. She tapped a sequence on the arm of the chair, pinging Dryker on his priority channel. His face popped up next to Sheng's, and Sheng blinked awkwardly at him.

  "Mr. President?" she asked.

  "Don't give me that, Sheng. You've carried me home after a bar crawl. It's still just Dryker, to you. Fizgig, are you ready to move out?" His words were light, but there was a deadly intensity to his gaze.

  "We are prepared, Dryker." Fizgig forced herself to stand, wincing slightly as she straightened. "The theta cannons will provide a momentary edge, an edge we will exploit."

  "You know what's on the line, Fizgig." Dryker eyed her searchingly. "You know what the priority is here, right?"

  "Of course, Dryker. I am Tigris, not human. Getting Nolan out is important, but this battle must be won, no matter the cost. We must deliver a victory, to show these Ganog that we have teeth. Only a victory will cause them to hesitate, and we need that pause. It will take months to outfit every fleet."

  "I know you know the stakes, old friend," Dryker said. "But I also know how protective you are of Nolan. You need to let him go, like I did."

  "Should I really be present for this?" Sheng asked.

  "Yes," Fizgig snapped. "I wanted you to understand what is required of us. If we need to ram the enemy vessels in order to destroy them, then we will sacrifice ourselves. Victory is paramount, no matter the cost."

  "If you're asking whether or not I'm ready to die, Dryker can vouch for me. I fought at the Battle of Tigrana, Fizgig. I fought at the Battle of Earth. Every time we go out, we risk not coming back. This isn't any different."

  "Is she all she says she is?" Fizgig asked Dryker.

  "That and more. She's one of our best, Fizgig. Give her a chance."

  "I will give her a chance to prove herself," Fizgig said, returning to her chair. "Dryker, we are moving out. We'll wait in Ganog 7's corona. So far as we know, they cannot detect our presence there."

  "What do you plan to do if Nolan doesn't signal you?" Dryker asked.

  "If he doesn't signal, it means he is dead. If he is dead, then we will avenge him," Fizgig promised. She ended the transmission, waving at Juliard. "Order all vessels to head to the coordinates we provided."

  Chapter 40- The Saurians

  Nolan stumbled through the rust, tossed about by violent win
ds. They cut visibility to nothing, and the squad was forced to navigate using their heads-up displays. The maps didn't include rusty pylons straddling uneven roads. He already missed his mech.

  "Sir, are we really sure about this?" Hannan asked into the comm. It was a private channel. "The Saurians outnumber us, and they know we're hurting. Sissus seems like a major asshole. He's the kind of opportunistic bastard that might just kill us for our gear."

  "He won't make a move as long as we have mechs--not to mention T'kon. The Saurians have been bred to fear elites. For now, I think we're safe. I don't like it either, but we don't have much choice. We need their help." Nolan pressed into the wind, glancing at the map, then opened a squad-wide channel. "It's in that building over there. Annie, Hannan, I want you out here idling. Be ready to punch a hole through that wall if we call for help. Nuchik, once we're inside, see if you can find a vantage point--just in case. Burke, T'kon, Lena, you're with me. Everyone else, stay with the mechs."

  Nolan leaned into the furious wind again, pressing toward a door cut from scrap. He pounded on it three times, bracing himself against the wall. A slot in the top slid open, and a pair of Saurian eyes sized him up. The slot closed, and the door opened inward.

  "Get inside," Sissrot hissed. He beckoned them forward, slamming the door after Burke, T'kon, and Nolan had entered. "Sissus arrived about twenty minutes ago. He claims that you unnecessarily endangered yourselves, and that there is a good likelihood you'll bring the wrath of Takkar down on my clutch."

  "He might be right," Nolan admitted. He removed his helmet, looking the Saurian in the eye. "I know I'm putting you in a tough position, but there's also an opportunity here. We've given the Ganog a black eye."

  "A what?" Sissrot's confusion was clear, even on that emotionless face.

  "We hurt them in a very visible way."

  "Yes, you slew Krekon. If not for that, I'd never have unbarred the door. You have my eternal thanks for that, but I'm still not willing to risk my clutch over you."

  "Sissrot," Sissus bellowed from deeper within the shadowed warehouse. "Have the humans finally arrived? You have granted them admittance?"

  "Yes, I have granted them sanctuary." Sissrot turned to face the other Saurian, striding aggressively toward Sissus. "I lead here, not you. It is my responsibility to keep us safe, and I will make the decisions needed to ensure that. If you wish to challenge, do so. Otherwise, take your bile elsewhere."

  "You lead, but you are not an emperor," Sissus hissed. His eyes narrowed, and he stood tall before Sissrot's approach. "We are not Ganog, lording our authority over others."

  "No, you're right about that," Sissrot admitted. He turned toward the darkened shadows. "Hear me, brothers. Sissus has helped to strike a great blow at our tormentors. Krekon is dead."

  A cacophony of shouts and growls came from the shadows--the Saurian version of cheering maybe? It was damned unsettling.

  "The human, Nolan, slew Krekon in one-on-one combat. During the battle, Sissus betrayed his masters. It is possible they know of his treachery, and that the treachery will lead them here. Even if it does not, the clan leader will come hunting Nolan and the humans." Sissrot paused, seeming to search for words. "The difficult decision before me is, do I send them away? Do we pretend nothing has happened, and hope that Sissus's betrayal goes unnoticed? Or do we aid the humans openly, hoping they can help us to freedom? You can see my dilemma."

  "I say we flee," Sissus roared. He, too, turned to face the shadows. "Takkar's wrath is unbearable. I have seen it crush whole worlds. Freedom is useless if we are dead."

  Sissrot stared pointedly at Nolan, and after a moment he realized his role. He was supposed to present a counterargument. He squared his shoulders, using his best parade voice. "If you flee, Takkar will find you. You all know that. But there's another way. My race travels using the sun, something we call a Helios Gate. Right now, my people's most advanced fleet lurks inside your star. That fleet is led by our fiercest commander, the one who trained me to fight."

  "How great can this commander really be? Your fleet lost the last engagement." Sissus sneered at Nolan. "They fled, leaving you and your friends behind to be hunted. How will they help us?"

  "During that battle, my people accomplished something you believed possible--we disabled one of your dreadnoughts. That was after we'd been ambushed. We escaped that ambush, and I promise you that this time we will be prepared for battle when our fleet meets Takkar's." Nolan walked toward the shadows, toward the many pairs of glittering eyes. "As Sissrot said, you have two choices. You can work with us--and maybe die--or you can try to run and hide. Now, from everything I've heard, this Takkar is a nasty bastard, and he doesn't like letting enemies live. So if you run, he's going to be hunting you. How many will die trying to get away? He burned the entire market just to smoke us out. What will he do to this world when he learns that Krekon is dead?"

  Whispers echoed through the darkness.

  Nolan cleared his throat. "I'll tell you what. Let me present my plan. If you think its workable, then go along with us. If not, you're free to scurry back into the shadows. Hopefully Takkar's boot won't find you."

  The whispers stopped. Sissus and Sissrot were both staring at him. Shit. He needed to come up with a plan, and he needed to do it right now.

  Chapter 41- Convince Them

  Nolan thought frantically, a bead of sweat working its way from his forehead down his cheek. Everyone was staring at him--not just the Saurians, but also his squad. He'd intimated he had a way out of this predicament, but did he really?

  "Sissus, the heavy cruiser you were dropped off in--what happened to it after the battle?" Nolan asked, an idea beginning to germinate.

  "The cruiser set down not far from the drop-off point, ready to return to extract us," Sissus said, clearly suspicious.

  "And since Krekon is dead, the ship is still waiting there?"

  "In all likelihood. The ship belongs to Krekon. The crew wouldn't dare move the ship without his permission." Sissus cocked his head to the side. "What are you considering, human?"

  "The ship is still sitting there, waiting for Krekon. What would happen if you showed up instead, claiming Krekon had sent you? Would they let you inside?" Nolan's idea was fully formed now, and he could tell by the faces around him that they were beginning to grasp it.

  "They'd let me aboard, believing I was there under orders," Sissus confirmed. "You seek to take that ship, don't you?"

  "A cruiser of that size could probably carry several hundred people, if those people were willing to get a little cozy. We could extract every Saurian in your clutch, the Whalorians, and my people."

  "How would we escape the atmosphere?" Sissus asked. He folded his scaly arms. "They'd wake the planetstriders, and we'd be shot down. Even if we made it to orbit, we'd have to deal with the dreadnoughts."

  Nolan hesitated, glancing at Burke and T'kon. He needed to get his people out, and this might be the only way. Not all of them were going to make it.

  "My people will launch an assault as soon as they receive my signal. They can keep Takkar's fleet busy." Nolan paused, watching the Saurians react. There were rumbling whispers, and Sissrot was clearly intrigued. "We can use our surviving mechs to take the ship, break orbit, and make it to the safety of our fleet."

  "You've not mentioned how you intend to deal with the planetstriders," Sissus said. He gave a rumbling growl. "Your plan is flawed. A single shot from a planetstrider, and all of us die."

  "Lena, have we developed a profile on the Ganog cruiser?"

  "Yes, Captain," Lena said. She was subdued, still cradling the core that held all that remained of Edwards. She glanced nervously at the Saurians, her tail growing larger as the fur stood on end.

  "If we flew low through the city, could we break away and find a safe route out of the atmosphere?" Nolan asked.

  "Possibly," Lena said, licking her chops as she thought. "We could make for those mountains to the west, then hug the continent for a few hundre
d miles. We might be able to make orbit safely. But getting away from the city is problematic. The planetstrider closest to us will have plenty of time to fire on us. I don't believe we'd be able to escape without disabling it."

  Nolan considered the problem. He turned to T'kon. "You said you've been inside one of these planetstriders?"

  "Not just any planetstrider," T'kon countered. His fur darkened. "The planetstrider looming over us is Vkat, the oldest and most famous of Takkar's weapons. I made it inside. I saw the control room."

  "Then here's what we're going to do. T'kon will help us lead a strike team into the planetstrider. We will disable it, preventing it from firing on the cruiser. Sissus, you and your people will take that cruiser to orbit, where you'll meet up with my people." Nolan knew the plan was risky, but it was workable.

  "How do you intend to take the cruiser?" Sissus asked. "There will be a pair of elites and a squad of Saurians guarding it. The ship itself has weaponry capable of destroying your war machines."

  "We're going to tempt them out of the ship." Nolan grinned broadly. "You can carry in some of the scrap from my mech, showing them the core. Tell them you need help carrying the salvage. They open the door, and presumably they exit. We have snipers in position, and our mechs waiting close by. They come out, we overwhelm them, we have the ship."

  "There are many points of failure in this plan," Sissrot pointed out, though his reticence seemed to be fading. He clasped his hands behind his back, staring up at the ceiling. "Yet I see no other way. If we stay here, Takkar will find us. None of my people will survive. You have placed us in an untenable position, human. I do not thank you for that."

  "I don't expect you to. The situation isn't ideal, but we have to react to it." Nolan turned to Burke. "Get the squad ready to to move. We've got a lot of work ahead of us."

  Chapter 42- Move Out