“Tell me about yourself; do you have a name, how did you get here?”
“My name is Kerulithar; I am from a race called the Solarians.” He took a slight breath. “We come from Solaris IV, and are a peaceful race. I am an ambassador for my people, and was on my way to peace talks on a far off world; when my ship was attacked and boarded.” His head bowed sadly as he remembered the incident. “The Krenarans killed those of us who resisted, and took the rest of us prisoner here. I managed to self destruct my ship just before I was captured; lest our technology fall into Krenaran hands.”
“Are you an advanced species then?”
“Yes; our people possess some of the most advanced technology in the known galaxy; however much of it is geared towards peaceful uses, exploration, and the sciences for example,” he said with a hint of pride in his voice. “We avoid conflict wherever we can, however in the very rare occasion when we are roused to war our military is extremely powerful and highly effective. That’s why the Krenarans try to pick off lone ships in our case; like mine.” Kerulithar said betraying just a hint of enmity.
“What do you think of the Krenarans?”
“We have a word for them; it is Kaeladron. It means wolves of the galaxy, they are the galaxies scavengers, and they prey on weaker races in their expansionist regime, putting the captured people to work in giant slave factories hidden deep within Krenaran space; where they build more ships and weapons so they can do the same all over again. They won’t rest until all the galaxy is theirs,” the Solarian said with a palpable disdain in his voice.
“How do we fight them?”
The Solarian laughed, a strange echoic sound. “The human spirit is a remarkable thing; even in this impossible situation, you still try to gain some sort of advantage.” A smile began to form across his previously sad lips.
“We know terra exists; we have been there. More than once in fact; watching from the shadows as it were, your race shows great promise. Tell me, do you think Roswell and Tunguska was a hoax?”
Michael thought back to his history classes as a child; eventually remembering the Roswell and Tunguska incidents, suddenly it dawned on him. “That was you?” Michael asked aloud, drawing looks from some of the myriad of other captured aliens; and an angry look from Vargev.
“Yes; in both situations unfortunate accidents, in the Tunguska incident one of our vessels developed a problem with its gravitic engines while surveying your planet and went into freefall,” Kerulithars blue tinged hairless brow furrowed as he remembered the story. “Fortunately the pilot managed to get the engines working again just before the ship was about to crash. However the sheer force of gravity emitted by the engines so close to a forest; flattened it,” he shifted in his seat as he spoke. “As for Roswell, one of your primitive jet fighters managed to hit one of our craft. The craft was not damaged; but the impact of the explosion forced us to crash,” he paused for a short breath. “Both pilots were injured and could not be saved by your limited medical facilities, we deemed at the time that you were not yet ready to be exposed to us. And we sent another ship on a rescue mission to retrieve the captured vessel and the dead pilots. A week later they were back in Solarian space.”
“How do you know this?” Michael asked; forehead furrowed in thought.
“Both incidents were common knowledge on Solaria. That is what we call our Homeworld; it was debated for weeks. What do you call your homeworld?”
“Earth.”
“Earth; interesting, on the galactic map it is called Terra III.”
The Krenaran guards started to relax, Vargev eyed them intently. The three of them could almost feel the vessel they were aboard start to accelerate rapidly.
“We are entering plasma drive,” the Solarian pointed out.
“You never answered my question, how do we fight the Krenarans?”
“We have been watching your war since it started, but we have a strict non-interference policy,” he said brows once again furrowed in thought. “Estimating your current technology level; and the weapons you have at your disposal, you will be destroyed within one year,” he betrayed a hint of sadness.
“The only advantage you have is your laser weaponry. Your ships are overlarge, slow, and cumbersome. Your main weapons lack power; but if your ships can get close enough your laser weapons may well do some damage, though I fear it may not be enough,” Kerulithar replied grimly.
“Then how can we win?”
“Put simply; you can’t, not without help. Humanity is a small emerging nation on the galactic scene, and you are not yet strong enough to oppose any of the major galactic powers, this is exactly why they chose to attack you.” He said, speaking slowly to allow Michael the chance to take this in. “The Krenarans are becoming more daring in their attacks; they have even begun attacking some of our own ships, testing our resolve, even though Krenaran ships cannot match our own in battle.”
“And you can’t interfere,” Michael said with a sigh. “So the human race is effectively doomed.”
“There is one way you may be able to turn the course of your war,” the Solarian said; his blue eyes looking down upon the dejected Michael. “You can formally ask our people for aid; an alliance would be beneficial to both our peoples.”
“What do we have that could possibly interest you?”
“Several of your planets have in abundance, one of the rarest natural resources in the known galaxy. You just don’t know it yet.”
“Which is what?”
“Water; why do you think that there are so few inhabited planets in the universe; they all lack water, you ferry it between colonies in vast freighters. We have to terraform our planets and install vast climate processors to maintain our water levels; but to have a supply to trade with other races, now that is worth something,” the Solarian said with awe.
The two Krenaran guards appeared to be summoned elsewhere, and left the room. Instantly Vargev sprang into action. He took off his combat boots and pulled at their heels; with a faint click they separated, revealing a small compartment, within each compartment there were some small mechanical parts.
“What are you doing?” Michael said.
“While you have been chatting away like an old woman, I’ve been thinking of a way out.”
“What are those?” Michael asked looking at the parts.
“Parts for a stripped down hand laser; we don’t have much time, the guards will be back soon,” Vargev replied.
He rammed his fingers down his throat; and was promptly sick on the floor of the cell. Michael gave the Russian a look of disgust; feeling queasy himself, he held his nose and turned away.
Vargev fished around within his own puke, and found another small part.
“You’re disgusting,” Michael said with derision.
“It’s going to get us out of here, isn’t it?”
“What is that you just puked up then?”
“Pre-fire chamber, I swallowed it this morning.”
“You knew we were going to be captured!” Michael shouted; desperately trying to quell a rising temper.
“Be quiet; no I didn’t, but I prepared for it anyway, first rule of battle kid, nothing is quite what it seems.”
He connected the pre-fire chamber to the other parts that were hidden within his boots; together they formed the barrel of the weapon.
“Very inventive your friend is,” Kerulithar pointed out to Michael.
Next Vargev fumbled around inside his underwear, and fished out three more small parts, Michael recognised these. It was a small pistol grip; a press button for a trigger, and a small laser ammunition pod.
“I bet that must have been uncomfortable.”
“You learn to live with it,” Vargev replied as he slotted the press button into place on the grip; then attached he grip to the barrel, and with a faint click it too was secured. Finally he plugged in the laser pod and the weapon was ready.
“When you see the guards coming, pretend you’re really ill, so that the guards will come closer; got it.” Vargev said to Michael.
Michael shook his head, “as if they are going to fall for that old chestnut?”
“They might; they don’t know anything about us really either,” Vargev reminded Michael.
“Okay; but it’s only our grave if it fails.”
“Will you stop with the negative; it will work,” Vargev reiterated. “Listen this hand laser is only good for ten close range shots before it runs out; so when I kill the guards. You grab the weapons understood.”
“In case you haven’t noticed, their weapons are grafted onto their arms,” Michael protested.
“Then un-graft them!” Vargev replied growing more heated.
“A simple, but effective plan,” the Solarian replied.
“Be quiet!”
They waited for at least ten minutes; the guards didn’t re-appear. Michael turned and looked at the Solarian’s clothes and wondered why he didn’t notice how strange they were before.
Kerulithar also looked down at what he wore; following Michaels gaze. Finally he said, “it’s a Gudakra, a Solarian ambassadorial robe; my badge of office.” The robe was a golden colour, with deep red bands that ran its length; strange golden symbols adorned each band.
“What do the symbols mean?”
“They are mediations that I have taken part in. All Solarian ambassadors wear these robes.”
Vargev heard movement, and turned just in time to see the Krenaran guards re-enter the room.
Michael pretended to cry out in agony; dropping to the floor screaming and writhing for all he was worth in mock pain. For once Vargev was impressed with his acting.
The guards hurried over. “What is wrong with this Terran!” they said in their deep gruff voice. All the while Michael was screaming and writhing in pseudo agony.
“His appendix is rupturing, he needs help; he can’t survive without it!” Vargev lied as convincingly as he could muster. They shut off the field and bent down to lift Michael up.
“Axus will be angry if his prized possessions are damaged; however you will not die,” one of them said.
“But you will!” Vargev shouted as he instantly brought the small weapon up and opened fire at point blank range, blasting a small, neat hole through the first Krenarans skull; white ichor spewed out from the wound, and the Krenaran fell backwards with a thud. Narrowly missing landing on Michael.
The other Krenaran tried to bring his weapon into play but two shots, one through the chest which staggered the brute; and the second slammed through his eye socket, silencing him forever. The remainder of the captured aliens were screaming and yelling to be set free; both Michael and Vargev could barely think under the din.
Michael quickly grabbed the arm of the closest Krenaran, and tried to blow off the arm of the other. However he couldn’t find the trigger to the strange weapon. His heart was pounding; they would both be discovered soon for sure, Vargev was covering the doorway.
He tried pulling and pushing but couldn’t get the weapon to fire; the shouts and screams from the prisoners were almost deafening. Finally he twisted the long shiny metallic barrel; and with a click, the weapon came away from the arm.
“They’ll be here any minute!” Vargev shouted back desperately to Michael, who had found that the weapon was connected via a thick cable; to a power supply embedded in the Krenarans’ shoulder.
“I’ve got to be real careful with this!” Michael shouted over the din.
“Just do it damn quickly!”
He found that the trigger was a red coloured button, actually within the barrel of the giant weapon. Carefully he aimed the cannon; and blasted the other dead Krenarans’ arm off just above the shoulder. A spray of white ooze splattered over the nearby surfaces; Michael raced over to the amputated arm and disconnected the fist from the weapon.
Using all his strength he gradually tore the power unit out of the dead Krenarans’ shoulder, slinging it over his own; it was still wet and dripping with white ooze. He hefted the heavy barrel of the weapon with both hands; now he was ready.
“You finally ready now? Never ask a fucking Navy boy, to do a soldiers job,” Vargev muttered as he slowly poked his head around the entrance; it was clear.
“Move!” He shouted as the Russian ran down a straight corridor; Michael in hot pursuit.
“What about the Solarian?”
“We’ll come back for him once we’ve secured the ship,”
Vargev replied, eyeing up the next corridor.
Two Krenarans emerged out of a set of automatic metal doors. Surprised at seeing the two humans loose on the ship they hesitated for a split second; Vargev dispatched one with ruthless efficiency. Two laser shots slammed into its head; the Krenaran fell against the corridor wall, pumping white ichor onto the wall and floor.
The second managed to fire a shot off, Vargev could feel the heat from the shot as it fizzed past him and blew a hole through a bulkhead behind him. That was damn close.
Michael fired his new makeshift weapon; the recoil of the thing nearly knocking him backwards, the shot hit home; blasting a deep ragged white hole in the Krenarans’ chest. The force of the impact knocked the Krenaran campletely off its feet; it slammed into the end of the corridor with a dull crack as its head the wall.
“Five shots left!” Vargev shouted as they sprinted past the dead Krenarans.
“We need to get to the bridge; or whatever this ship uses as a command centre.”
“Good plan. Do you see a map anywhere? Neither do I; so let’s move!”
Together they sprinted along the corridor those two Krenarans came from; as he was running, Michael spotted something just out of the corner of his eye.
“Wait!” He shouted to Vargev as he slowed to investigate, “there’s a map right here.” Running up to it, he quickly began studying it just as another Krenaran entered the corridor from a door further ahead.
Vargev quickly dispatched it with a shot from his laser, “four shots.”
Michael looked at the display; it showed several red decks, with a flashing middle deck. And a thick black line that led up to a small blue deck, there were several symbols that Michael didn’t understand.
“This deck is going to be crawling with Krenarans, can we fucking go now!” Vargev shouted across to him.
Michael ran over to where Vargev was stood, “at the end of this corridor there’s an elevator; we need to take it; it runs directly to the bridge I think.” He said as he stopped for a breath.
“You think; that’s the best you can do?”
“Hey, I’ve never been on an alien ship before either, remember!”
Vargev kept quiet; he couldn’t argue the point, neither of them had been on an alien ship before.
They ran past what appeared to be an intersection of two corridors, there were two Krenarans on either side running towards their position.
One of the aliens loosed off a shot as the two humans sprinted past. The shot fizzed past Vargev’s right leg, blowing a fist size hole into the deck plating next to him. Vargev could feel the heat from the shot scorch his fatigues and winced slightly.
They sprinted as fast as they could towards the elevator at the end of the corridor; the four Krenarans in hot pursuit.
Together they both vaulted into the elevator just as the Krenarans let loose with their weapons. One shot scorched the edge of Vargevs’ boot, melting away some of the sole, and another narrowly missing Michaels’ left arm. As he jumped, Vargev twisted his body rapidly in mid air; his back slammed into the elevator wall, the laser instantly trained on the rapidly approaching Krenarans.
Michael quickly got to his knees and opened fire; one of the Krenaran’s heads instantly disappeared into a mist of white froth and brain matter.
The other Krenarans flung the headless warrior aside and hurtled towards the two humans. However they were too far away; the elevator doors slowly closed shut.
A deep, gruff sounding voice said, “Gorush’te,” from inside the elevator.
“Does that mean destination?”
“Probably? What’s the Krenaran word for bridge?”
“I’ve no idea,” Michael replied panicking.
“Shit!” They both said in unison.
Two head size holes suddenly blasted through the elevator doors.
“Holy shit!” Vargev shouted.
Michael hefted his weapon so that it was pointed straight upwards and fired two shots, blasting open a large hole in the roof of the elevator.
“Up there!”
“Now you’re thinking like a commando.”
Michael put his palms together and gave Vargev a boost; the Major hauled himself onto the roof of the elevator and grabbed Michaels arm. The big Russian heaved with all his might. Michael just about managed to scrabble up onto the elevator roof as well; just as the Krenarans succeeded in blowing open the elevator doors entirely.
The aliens quickly checked the interior; there was no sign of the humans. One of them looked up and saw the hole that Michael had made in the roof.
“Kunesh Gorald Desh!” One of the Krenarans shouted as the alien disconnected his weapon from his hand; and reached up, putting both huge hands through the makeshift escape hatch. He heaved his head through, however in the dark gloom of the lift shaft he could see nothing.
The alien dropped back down inside the elevator with a thud.
There was a flight of steel rungs that led up to the top of the elevator shaft. Michael and Vargev were perched on a narrow access hatch barely two rungs up from the elevator roof. The only light in the shaft came from a small white light affixed to the top of the shaft far above which cast their position into a deep shadow.
Vargev pointed to four strange contraptions; two on each side of the elevator roof.
“Do they look like brakes to you?”
Michael risked a quick glance at the damaged roof and nodded an affirmative.
An evil smile crossed Vargev’s lips. “Shall we give them something to remember us by?”
Michael nodded again. Understanding what the major meant. He aimed his weapon; and let loose four shots, one at each brake. The elevator swung wildly; then finally the last shot sent it plummeting at a horrific speed straight to the bottom of the lift shaft; where it smashed into the floor. The force of the impact crushed the elevator and the occupants inside. Finally it exploded in a huge fireball that swept up the entire lift shaft; bathing it in a bright yellow-orange glow and rocked the entire ship.
Michael and Vargev stood as far back on the narrow hatch as they could manage, as the fireball just about bypassed them and continued to rise up the shaft, finally dissipating on the ceiling.
The two men started climbing the rungs up the dark, high lift shaft. Michael hoisted the heavy Krenaran weapon over his shoulder. The weight of the thing made his shoulder ache constantly as he climbed.
The small white light at the top of the lift shaft suddenly changed colour into a red one bathing the shaft in a deep ruddy glow. A barely audible siren began to wail in the distance.
“Looks like they’re on to us,” Vargev said.
“They must have found the dead Krenarans.”
They re-doubled their efforts to get to the top of the shaft; rung by rung they pressed on. By now Michael’s shoulder felt like it was on fire, but he knew he simply couldn’t stop; he just had to keep on going.
Eventually they neared the top of the shaft. The entrance to the command centre was on the far side, how were they going to get from the rungs to the entrance?
Vargev thought for a moment; it was risky, but there was a small overhang just below the entrance. He would have to jump for it; checking that his hand laser was safely stored and wasn’t going to fall out, the big Russian bent his legs; and with a huge effort leapt across the lift shaft. His hands managed to gain a slight purchase on the ledge. For a moment which almost seemed like an eternity he just dangled there; 40 meters above the fiery remains of the destroyed elevator desperately trying for more grip.
Slowly and with a tremendous effort he managed to gingerly haul himself up onto the ledge. “You have to jump as well!” Vargev shouted over the noise of the wailing siren.
“What If I don’t make it?”
“What’s this, a Navy boy who’s afraid of heights?” Vargev tutted, “what would your Captain say.”
“I’m not afraid. I was just pointing out a fact.”
A door quickly slid open on the deck below where Vargev was standing; a Krenaran emerged, spotted Michael and quickly opened fire.
The shot blew off one of the rungs just above Michaels’ head, one of his hands lost its grip, flailing, he dangled there one handed. The rung flew past his head with a whoosh as gravity took it; before it hit the remains of the elevator below with a loud clang.
Michael was temporarily blinded by the shot, his pulse began to race; frantically he reached for the rung his other arm was clung to, barely managing to find it.
“Jump!” Vargev shouted in desperation.
Michael braced himself and leapt across the elevator shaft, just as a second shot blasted a hole into the wall where Michael had previously dangled. He almost didn’t make it across; at the last second Vargev reached out and grabbed his forearm, hauling him up onto the ledge.
The Krenaran below fired again; blasting a large chunk out of the ledge they were standing on; rocking it and nearly throwing both men off.
Quickly they walked to the doors that signified the entrance to the command centre; they didn’t open.
“Must have sealed off the bridge,” Vargev said.
“Move out the way,” Michael sighed as his sight slowly returned.
Levelling the Krenaran weapon he fired three quick blasts straight at the door; the first two buckled it, the third shot blasted a hole big enough to step through.
Vargev retrieved his laser and sprinted headlong towards the opening; he dove through it and executed a neat forward roll upon landing; coming up firing. One of the Krenarans turned in his elaborate white seat to face him and was greeted by two laser shots dead in the chest, the alien collapsed back down onto the seat and then fell limp; face first onto the floor. A split second later Vargev had trained his improvised weapon on a second Krenaran; the alien fell forward with two laser shots in the back, its body smashed into the console he was using sending a shower of sparks and glass across the command centre.
“I’m out!”
Michael burst into the room, and hefting his weapon he quickly blew a hole in the midsection of a third Krenaran preparing to rush Vargev.
The huge form of Axus came barrelling towards them; with a deep roar he shouted, “I will gut you Terran!”
He shoulder barged Michael; smashing him to the floor. Pain lanced across Michael’s back as he slammed hard onto the deck; his weapon clattered along the floor to the side of him.
The massive Krenaran commander smashed a chair out of the way and sprinted full pelt towards Vargev. The Russian desperately tried to dodge the onrushing behemoth; however Axus was simply too fast.
Vargev swung a right hook managing to connect; the Krenaran wasn’t even fazed by the puny blow. The monstrous alien simply unleashed a guttural roar and gripped the Majors throat; with a show of supreme strength he lifted Vargev clean into the air, holding him there, the aliens’ massive vice like grip clamped around the Russians throat.
Vargev coughed and spluttered; twisting this way and that looking like a tiny worm in the grip of a monster; desperately trying to break free from the huge aliens’ deadly grip; however Axus was simply too strong. The alien brought his other fist back; lining up a blow that if it hit, would surely snap Vargev’s neck. The desperate Russian was weakening rapidly as he struggled.
“I was under orders not to harm you, but I’m going to enjoy this!” Axus said mockingly.
On the far side of the command centre, Michael gradually came to. Slowly shaking his head, his vision cleared slightly; enough to see the Major locked in the huge Krenarans’ deadly grip.
Quickly picking up his weapon as he got back to his feet; he opened fire. The shot fizzed across the command centre and blasted off Axus’s arm, the force of the impact spinning the giant Krenaran warrior completely around and forcing him to drop Vargev. The aliens white blood spurted out from the damaged limb; as the Russian flopped onto the floor unconscious.
Axus screamed in pain and raw anger, the Krenaran rose and charged headlong towards Michael; who was still a little unsteady on his feet.
He desperately tried to bring his weapon up again; however it was too late, the one armed monstrosity simply swatted him away; sending Michael careering through the air and smashing into another console. The force of the impact smashed the glass on the screen; however Michael just about managed to keep hold of his weapon.
Weak; and with his back in agony from the impacts of the floor and the glass, he looked up to see the onrushing form of Axus racing towards him like a charging bull.
With all the strength he could muster he levelled the weapon and pressed the trigger; keeping it pressed, two, three, four shots slammed into Axus; on the fourth shot the mighty Krenaran staggered, his white lifeblood spraying out all over the damaged console and spluttered across Michaels’ face.
Finally the giant Krenaran fell backwards onto the floor with a wet thud; and moved no more.