Star Crusades by Michael Thomas (whitelam books txt) 📗

him standing right there withhis own unique combination of weapons.He’d elected for the heaviest frontal armour upgrades to his systemand helmet, as usual, plus tactical arms. Attached to his flankswas a pair of carbines, one for each arm, and fed via loading beltsto a pack on his back.

“Okay, I think we’re ready,” said Valentine.

“Good,”came a familiar voice. The trio watched as Alexis approached. Herright arm was encased in armour, but it was still obvious the limbwas intact. Her right, on the other hand, was exactly the same asthe system used by Hawkins.

“Val, you’re sure you want thecannon, too?”

“You’re kidding?” she answered in surprise as the tech helped lift theheavy module to her shoulder. The armour seemed to creak as itclipped into place. He then connected the coolant pipes and controlfeeds back to the small auxiliary service pack attached to the rearof Valentine’s armour.

Holdon, said Tex, Connectingnow.

Data for the weapon system filteredinto Valentine’s mind, and a wide smile formed on her lips as shenoted the improvements.

“Oh,yes, now that is pretty sweet.”

“X-HEC cannon for the win,” saidHawkins, “I’m more a rate of fire guy,but you sure love big guns.”

She looked to him andwondered if he was being sarcastic, buthe seemed genuinely interested in the weapon.

“Last time we used them on the range on Deimos, we started a cave-in.Trust me, no matter what you find in the simulators, these guns area big upgrade. I mean big.”

“I’m counting on it,” shesaid, “And the new firing modes, hell,it’s like Christmas all over again.”

“Uh…Val. You know you missedChristmas this year, right?”

She feigned annoyance, but before shecould say anything else Lieutenant Fletcher entered, along with theNCOs for the other lances.

“Novas. We’re coming in fasterthan expected, something to do with anatural anomaly in the area. ETA is less than thirtyminutes.”

“Crap,” said Alexis without realising it. A few looked to her, butthe Lieutenant seemed little interested in small talk.

“I want you all loaded back inthe Jackals, and this time we’re going inhot. Sensors are showing something artificial in the nebula, so beready.”

He looked to each of them inside thearmoury.

“The Ski’ligs tried to take ourterritory and our people from us. Never again.”

He pointed at Alexis, and then to several of the others.

“This time you will stop them. Wedo not leave until we’ve explained this to them. It’s time forvengeance, and we, ladies and gentlemen.We are the avenging furies. Now...to your ships!”

Alexis turned to move away, andValentine quickly followed. Just secondsbefore everything had been quite calm. Before she could even reachthe dropship the loudspeakers activated.

“This is the Captain. We areentering enemy territory shortly. Allhands to your stations. This is it. Good luck to you all, and toour resident Novas. Good hunting.”

CHAPTER TEN

Morato Class Frigate‘Nautilus’, The Ski’ligTerritories

5thJuly 2475

The bridge officerslooked ahead to the massive planet with amixture of awe and apprehensive. It was a colossal world, vastlybigger than old Earth and glinting in the light of its distantstar. The planet was surrounded by a thin, barely visible soup ofcolour that spread out into the rest of the star system like an oilslick. The other planets in the system were small colour dots incomparison, though increasing slightly with the passingseconds.

“I’venever seen anything like this,” said First Lieutenant Meredith,“What happened here?”

Captain Regina lookedtowards the Chief.

“I need information.”

On such a small vessel heperformed the functions of both chiefengineer and science officer, with his expertise suitable for both,up to a point. He looked to the data and chose several of the keydata points to concentrate on.

“It’s incredible,”he said in a moment of surprisingexcitement, “Truly incredible. Our long-distance analysis was wayoff. We assumed that at this distance from the star it was likelyto be a frigid world, one that has never received much radiation.How wrong we were. In the past I suspect this planet was baked inincredible heat, a near firestorm.”

“Interesting,” said CaptainRegina, “What else?”

“Well…for a start we’re looking at a higher carbon to oxygenratio. In the past this planet was torched by its proximity to thestar. That combination of significant heat and pressure on a carbonrich world has created something incredible.”

“It’s similar to 55Cancri, is it not?”

The Chief seemed surprised tohear that from the Captain.

“Aye, but Cancri was still inclose proximity to its star. This worldhas been forced out of its orbit, and I doubt by natural means. Andnow more than a third of its structure is diamond.”

Captain Regina shook her head inamazement.

“A diamond world. On Earth thiswould be a prize to fight over, but here we have an unlimited source.”

The ship’s helmsman checked his display and then called out.

“Captain, IS drive shutdown in one minute.”

“Understood.”

She reached for theintercom, looking at the bizarrephenomenon in front of them.

“This is the Captain. The fleet is on final approach. We have no ideawhat awaits us, but whatever is out there, we have a job to do. Wesecure the system and the planet for the arrival of the rest of thefleet. We hold for six hours, no matter what we face.”

She looked back to her XO who gave hera nod.

“This is the daywe take the fight to our sworn enemy. Goodhunting! Regina out.”

She licked her lips before giving thenext orders.

“Prepare weapons and brace yourselves.They may know we’re coming.”

“Yes,Captain,” said Lieutenant Zimmer.

Captain Regina looked to theclock and watched until it reached tenseconds. That was when her XO called them out.

“Ten…nine…”

The Captain moved to her position at the front on the extended platformpushing out into the bulbous viewing point. The planet lookedmassive now, yet still she could see no major threats.

“Four…three…”

She blinked, the engines shutdown, and everything around then came intofocus. The planet looked more jagged and spartan than expected, butshe could also see the shapes of the other eleven Alliance vesselsforming up into a dispersed formation.

“Here we are. Tactical, beginscanning.”

“The assault carriers are already scanning, Sir. Their data is slaveddirectly into our own.”

“Excellent. Now, where isthe Ski’lig ship?”

She looked to the planetand the coloured wisps of colour all around it.Small moons and clouds of orbital debris circled it, but not ships.Then several beeps drew the Captain’s attention to the overlayprojected against the