Rebellion (Rebel Wars Book 1) Read online

  Within moments space was filled with shards of super-heated and electromagnetically launched metal. It was no different than a firefight on the ground only the movements through space required a bit more planning than a gun-battle within atmosphere. Their ship listed to the side with all of the grace that Steven could muster, turning their smaller batteries to fire volleys at the transport ships. Alice wondered exactly what could be done in this situation. If she opened fire back with her EPC’s she could potentially stop them from killing them, however she would kill every single human hostage aboard the damn ships. This was turning into a situation she couldn’t win.

  “Andreya. We can keep up evasive maneuvers, but we’re going to get killed. Their weapons can penetrate our defenses. We can outrun them, but there are humans…rebels aboard their ships about to be dumped off on the colony. Any ideas?” Alice asked.

  The ship rocked steadily as a few shots scored home-run hits, creating stress on the hull. The small man who was running the monitoring station looked over at Alice. Her look cut his tongue out from his mouth, she knew very well what was going on. Andreya’s stress seemed to fur her brow even further as she searched within her brilliant mind for an answer that eluded her. Alice looked back at the view screen and searched for her own answers.

  “Bring my cannons online.” She said.

  The idea was rudimentary, but it could work. She placed her hands on the controls for the arms that were built into the chair. She flipped the switches that would give her access and placed the viewing goggles over her eyes. The goggles corresponded to the individual cameras on each arm that would give her better placement of shots. She would be unable to view the rest of the battle-field and this was typically reserved for an experienced gunny, but things were what they were.

  “Steven. I need you to focus and bring us closer to the ships, I need full power and I need you to not be afraid of collision. We’re going straight at them, but DO NOT give up the defensive maneuvering. If they keep scoring hits on us, I don’t need to tell you what will happen do I?”

  “No mam. I’ll….” He was going to add do his best but he got distracted by the movements of his hands to obey her command. He was alight with hope for the first time in a while, and though he’d failed them all on the colony he could get some redemption if he didn’t screw it all to hell now.

  Alice’s new perspective was split between hemispheres of the goggles, look one way and see one arm and vice-versa. She focused on the right side first and maneuvered the flexible tentacle carrying the cannon to produce the right angle before she would unleash her own special hell at them. Precision was difficult in space and of utmost importance for what she was about to attempt. If she missed the ships all-together it wasn’t the worst thing that could happen though her supply of projectiles was fairly limited. They’d scrounged every spare piece of metal they could to create the weapons, so they had to be used with extreme efficiency. The larger issue was if the shots connected too well, then she’d have succeeded in killing the people she had wanted to save. That couldn’t happen.

  It occurred to her that if the rebellion was taken seriously, that this wouldn’t be happening right now. She’d be staring down at a warship that would rip her transport to shreds and laugh at her attempts to fight them. Luck wasn’t winning her any money today, but it was going to give her people a fighting chance. She fired the shot from the right cannon at the center ship, switched the left cannon and fired on the left ship. The cacophony of the firing weapon resounded from within the ship and startled the crew members.

  “Alice, I’m rerouting some of the engine’s power to increase the kinetic dampeners. We’re starting to take too many hits.” Lisa said over the radio.

  Alice didn’t respond. The girls knew what they were doing, she was only somewhat aware that Andreya was communicating now with Milly down in the bay. They were up to their own plans and that was good. Alice could only focus on so much at once. She observed the shots as they careened through space and scored solid hits. The center ship listed off the left and the ship on the left side shifted towards the right. With any luck, the damage would slow them down and force them towards each other. The luck was there and both ships sped towards each other, closing the gap. Two more echoes assailed her ears as she shot each cannon once more to finish the maneuver. The shots were good, but not perfect, and the ship on the left took a massive hit to the nose. Horror hit her hard as the nose crumpled and the ship sputtered. The middle ship smashed into the left ship with enough force to finish the job. Like a can crushed underneath the weight of a hammer, the left ship ceased firing and the lights signaling from the hull went out.

  “God no.” Alice said

  “It’ll be alright. The transport section is still good. But they are going to lose life-support systems quickly.” Andreya said in her calm manner. “But we have a plan for that.”

  Alice took no relief in that, not until she knew what it was. The sisters went silent as they started executing whatever secret plan they had. The ship to the right rotated and revealed a large cannon out of the transport bay, the circular tube spewing death’s will at a pace that Alice could barely keep up with.

  “Steven, move us!” She said

  Steven was already moving them, and by the time she’d shouted at him he’d already set the ship to spin in its forward arc to keep out of the way of the cannon. She hadn’t expected this. Her attention stayed with the right cannon as it swayed and moved with the movement of the ship, her fingers on the controls to keep it steady. If the ship had a cannon that massive, it was unlikely it held many of the hostages. It wasn’t a warship, but her belief that it was a transport ship was coming under question. She squeezed out another shot in an effort to detract from its endless variety of deadly fragments speeding towards her. A few of the weapon’s shrapnel ripped into her ship, the kinetic dampeners only lessening the hailstorm effect. Her own shot sailed just underneath the enemy and continued on its perilous journey through space. It wouldn’t stop, but it would explode before it hit anything important or so the theory was.

  Alice could feel the impacts of the enemy’s weapon scratch the hull of her ship, in the goggles she felt almost as if the ship was part of her. Their course lead them underneath the ships and she brought the tentacles downwards as they climbed. She was counting on their being little hostages on the gunship as she was now in a live or die situation. She open fired when they reached the pentacle of their climb and Steven adjusted the ship. The shots scored heavy shots, both cannons firing in sequence with each other. Her ammunition supply was running deathly low, each shot costing a small fortune that the colony had only just been able to afford. The rain tore through the dampeners on the enemy’s hull and the ringing sensation flooded the cabin. It was the communicator again.

  “You’re done for.” She spoke as she answered, watching the ship below them go dark.

  “Aye. You’ve done a good job. You were definitely not what I was expecting. You rebellious humans and your arrogance. You think the universe will just bow to your will. You’re wrong. The calamity will take you all.” The voice said.

  The communicator went silent as internal explosions rocked the hull and the ship lost pressure. Bodies flew out of the holes that were punched in the metal and the ship exhaled one last time. She pulled the goggles from her face while the ship was in its death throws. Andreya was nowhere to be seen, so she stared intently at the view screens. The other two ships had gone completely dark, but she had never damaged the middle ship to much effect. Her confusion was washed away when she noticed what Steven was doing. Her ship was now floating between the two crashed ships.

  “Boss. Are you out of the goggles?” Andreya said.

  “Yes, what’s happening?”

  “We extended the signal and altered its operation. We were able to shut down the middle ship. Both ships lost life support function. We have minutes. Please help.” Andreya said.

  The goggles were back on her face and Alice
went to work. The disabled ships offered no resistance as she brought them close enough to dock with her own vessel. The bay wouldn’t be pressurized so it wouldn’t be a difficult matter to allow the survivors of the wrecks into her ship. Only now, Hero and his team would have to engage the surviving soldiers. Alice only hoped they weren’t as well armed as the ones who had invaded her colony. She took a breath, standing up and ripping the symbiotic goggles from her face. Hero and his team had already left the cabin, it was time she backed them up.

  Chapter 5

  By the time Alice had arrived in the bay, Andreya and Milly had cleared themselves of the expected firefight. Two massive containers filled the bay leaving little room for much else. The survivors from both ships had shored themselves into the containers and allowed them to be transported. They were sealed from the inside and Alice couldn’t help but wonder exactly what her and their plans were. If they came out blazing she’d lose a good number of men to the firefight, but if they held back and leveraged the hostages then she could easily lose as many. There wasn’t a communicator in the containers and they were left without the ability to communicate. The bay pressurized itself and the containers hit the ground with a slight thud, dropping the few feet to the ground. Alice’s apparatus soothed her muscles and skin with stimulation, her psychological connection to the machine around her body intensified as she prepped for a fight.

  Hero was far less of an imposing figure than Cal had been, but his armor looked like it could take a beating and keep moving. In his hands wasn’t the sword and shield of the Paladins instead they held onto a sleek rifle. The gun was heavily modified to suit his firing practice, he had been interested in only the most difficult of training modules. His nervous system was good in a fight and his adrenaline flowed smooth and cold, not like a bolt of frozen lightning through his system. He brought the weapon to bear, his five men flanking him with their own small-arms raised. Alice’s approach was a chilled arctic breeze wafting through the area, everyone’s hair stood on end. She’d come out from the colony a changed woman, a wrathful angel that tore through any that stood in her way. Her emitters were fully charged and ready for the fight on the horizon. She cast her glance to the two men closest to each container.

  “Ready for release.” She said

  The men nodded and held small, triangular devices up against the doors. Lisa had developed these with Milly’s help, they were devices that neutralized technological locks if they were close enough. She had no idea why it was important for them to have that particular tool though she was glad they did. She nodded and the triangles made no sound or blinking of lights, they just did whatever it was that they did. The hissing of the doors put her on edge, and the firing teams readied.

  The first container opened up and Hero shouted warnings to drop to the ground and was rewarded with immediate obedience. This surprised Alice, but she had her own container to deal with. Bursts of slugs and light emitted as if on cue pyrotechnics at an old rock concert. The volley shot straight into the hull of the ship, which paid no mind to the small-arms fire. Alice gave her retort, a deep crimson beam that was much wider than it had been before. Crackles of electrical energy followed it, filling the container with the smell of burning flesh. Three men had opened up at her, and in turn, she had destroyed them. Sizzling flesh and burnt cloth was all that remained of the fools attempting to bring her low. Her heavy steps were reinforced by the servos of her suit. The echoing sound of her passing stifled the sounds of Hero’s men capturing the other container. Without fear, Alice stepped into the container and brought her emitter-laden arm to bear. Within, there was a crowd of huddled men and women, a quick estimate being nearly twenty. She couldn’t smile, she felt a threat and wouldn’t be caught off guard.

  Nothing revealed itself to be a threat, as she stood like a gargoyle over a cathedral. She lowered her arm and gave that soft smile she was known for. There wasn’t any real joy in her eyes or the twist in her lips, but it was enough. As she left the container the civilians followed her, bursting out into the bay for their freedom. Hero’s squad released the men they’d captured after learning they were civilians as well.

  “Alice.” Hero said.

  “No resistance?”

  “Nah. These ones said they revolted after the ship crashed and took control easily enough. Apparently, these ships were all held by traitors and not Corporation men.”

  “Glorified privateers?” She asked.

  “Yes. The Corporation was on the other ship, the gunship you took down.” He smiled.

  Alice nodded, and motioned for her advisors to follow her. She stopped at the elevated entrance to the halls, and turned.

  “Welcome aboard the Stormbreaker. I’m sorry to have interrupted your vacation to the colony. I’ll have you know that it was my colony, and you would have loved it there. But we’ve come across intel that states that it will soon be destroyed by the upcoming Calamity these cowards fear. And maybe it will be. I have no use for it now, as I have discovered a new purpose. My family has been through much, and much of us are now dead. I want to open my doors to you, to welcome you in. But this life will no longer truly be yours. My crew knows this now. There is no peace, and there is no talking the Corporation out of their mission. They fear what is coming, but should fear what is already here. I welcome you here. It will not be easy, but you will find your place amongst us. Speak with Hero here, and he will get you settled in. We are heading now for the Tower. For those of you who do not know, that is the headquarters of the rebellion, and we will be welcomed there as I’ve welcomed you here.”

  The crowd muttered and some clapped. The response was mixed poorly like too much rum and too little coke. The answers they wanted didn’t exist, and they had to accept the reality that the war they’d stayed away from was now recruiting them.

  Chapter 6

  The Stormbreaker gracefully passed through space, despite the damage that it had taken through the battle. The upgraded dampeners had done wonders for the light fire that they’d taken, however the heavier cannon had certainly done a significant amount of damage to the wondrous ship. Certain levels of the ship would randomly spring leaks in the oxygen and pressure was a constant balancing issue. Crew complained of headaches and nauseous and other side effects of unstable pressure. Alice spent most of her time between the engine bays and the cabin, checking the various mechanisms for malfunction and making sure her people were well taken care of. The one thing she’d valued most in her father was the way he had taught her what being a leader meant. Many approached the idea with gusto and ego, and she had learned that was the wrong way to go about it. To get respect, it had to be earned. Waltzing into a place and saying that you were the boss so they had to listen to you almost never worked. To earn respect, you had to view your position as a servant. Though the final decisions in virtually everything that had to be done was hers; she spent most of her time checking on her subordinates. The idea her father instilled in her was that if your people were taken care of by you, then they would take care of you. When it came to decisions, he received little to no objections to his choices. They trusted him, they knew that if things every came down to the wire and it was his life vs. theirs that he would give that away to save them. In the end, it came down to that and ended as they expected. She shook her head free from the thoughts and continued her duties.

  She stopped by the lab where they sisters had set up to visit with Andreya, who was bent over a desk tinkering with what appeared to be an arm without a body. She looked up and offered her an uninterested gaze before turning back to her work. Andreya had always been obsessed with her work and cared little for anyone that wasn’t her sister or Alice. The latter was questionable.

  “I’d ask, but I probably don’t care.” Alice said.

  “It’s an arm.” Andreya said.

  “Yeah. I can tell.”

  “It’s yours. Your reckless behavior gave me an idea.”

  “Reckless? By walking into the container? It wasn’t a
trap.” Alice said. Though she still felt the itch on the back of her neck that lead her to believe she had been in danger. Perhaps she missed something? No, it’d been two days since the battle and she was certain if ugliness had found its way on board, then it would have shown itself by now. She drifted her thoughts back to her dad, she wondered if he had had the same itching before he went down into those tunnels? He wasn’t a soldier like she was, his job had been making sure the colony she grew up on stayed safe. Safety in those days meant checking the deeper parts of the colony, double-checking the pressurized pipes and making sure no Scunts had gotten in. Scunts was the name of the first alien life-form humans had ever encountered.

  Scunts were annoying little creatures that had a very narrow mind. Scientists had tried to communicate with the bastards before realizing they possessed animal intelligence and not true sentience. Once that occurred every other human tried to figure out what to do with them. They had claws but they weren’t particularly dangerous to anyone but children, and they were used to scare some good behavior in the young for sure. Scunts were aggressive though, so many ended up shooting them just to be done with it. They carried no diseases that were harmful to humans, so others tried to eat them. Turns out that their meat tastes something like cigarette butts and molded lemons no matter how much sauce you put on them. The general consensus was to kill or otherwise dispose of the pests, only because they were the size of upright cats and had a particular diet. Scunts consisted entirely of eating dirt and absorbing the minerals which probably accounted for their disgusting taste. On planets filled with mineral rich dirt Scunts were no issue, however on a colony threaded with a limited supply of fertile dirt for farming they could quickly destroy entire crops.