Recruit

Jack Forge, Fleet Marine, Book 1

Prologue

The Destroyer Gemini slowed as it approached the massive asteroid. Support fighters raced away from the Gemini and took up flanking positions. Alone and this deep in space, there was always a threat of Chitins. The destroyer activated the deflection laser and began nudging the asteroid off its collision course with the populated planet, Eros.

The first flash came from the shadows on the surface of the asteroid as the Chitin craft fired a plasma spear. The second came from the furthest fighter as the plasma spear vaporized it. Two more flashes from the Chitin weapon quickly destroyed two more fighters.

Within a nanosecond of the first flash, the Gemini’s artificial intelligence targeted the point on the asteroid where the Chitin weapon blasts had originated and launched a salvo of combat drones. At the same time, the forward battery of guns each fired a thousand rounds of high density metallic shot in a wide array over the target area.

The Chitin craft lifted off the surface, spreading its tentacles while charging its primary weapon, avoiding the mass of shot from the Gemini that slammed into the surface of the asteroid, vaporizing the ice and tearing through the rock.

The combat drones identified the Chitin craft as it lifted off the asteroid and automatically targeted the central body within the mass of black, writhing tentacles. The drones accelerated toward the Chitin craft, the magnetic field around the antimatter payload timed to deactivate once in effective range. The Chitin craft fired its arcing plasma flares. Dozens of seething orange strands reached across the space around the craft and sliced through the drones, transforming them into small, short-lived stars that lit up the battle space.

Having reached full power, the high energy laser on the Gemini activated. The beam slammed into the Chitin craft, piercing the tentacles that wrapped forward across the central body in a protective shield. The laser moved slowly and cut across the tentacles, slicing through one and sending it spiraling off into space. The orange liquid interior spilled out from the severed tentacle as it tumbled through the void.

A focused plasma arc erupted from the Chitin central body and slammed into the forward section of the Gemini. The composite hull cracked and fractured, biomech flesh and fluid spewing out and boiling away into space. A second plasma spear sliced clean through the five-hundred-meter-long craft, erupting out of the aft engine assembly.

Automated distress calls from the Gemini died before the ship’s complete log could be transmitted, but as the destroyer burned in the empty interplanetary void, the military command on Eros was receiving the most significant points: the Chitins had struck again and destroyed another major military vessel in a battle that had lasted a fraction under seven seconds.

1

Jack Forge sat in the lecture theater watching the hands on his small silver pocket watch tick across its shimmering pearl face. The latest grades would be revealed in a few moments. The room was silent as the students counted down the seconds.

Attendance at his brother’s funeral had been authorized, so he had been free to leave his studies and attend. Jack knew missing time would still count against his grade, but he was on top of his studies and his grades were excellent. He could afford to drop a few points and still maintain his two-plus student rating.

The recruiting sergeant stood at the front of the theater next to Professor Bowen. One of these men wanted the students to maintain their two-plus, the other did not. His classmates watched the seconds tick down on the large display. Jack watched on his small heirloom. It was all he had left of his family.

The second hand reached the top of its final round. Jack heard the ripples of distress and gasps of horror as the students whose grades had dropped realized they were now the property of the military.

Jack looked up to the display. He picked out his name. He saw it there pulsing on the screen in red, a pattern that could only mean one thing. He scanned across to his grade. Two. Only two. The plus was missing for the first time in his three semesters. Three other names pulsed. Jack knew them all. He’d studied with them, socialized with them, laughed with them. He would most likely never see them again.

The sergeant barked out transfer orders to the first name on the list. Jack watched as the second hand ticked along. He was only seventeen seconds into his new life when his name was called out by the recruiting sergeant.

“Jack Forge. Fleet Marine training.”

Jack looked up from his watch. He looked at Professor Bowen. The old man was slumped in a chair, his eyes averted as his class was further reduced in number.

The doors to the lecture theater opened and military police entered. Jack had seen this before. Students had complained and argued, fought and resisted their removal from university to the ranks of the military or some war production facility. The arguments were familiar to Jack. He heard the most common of them now from across the lecture theatre.

The students being drafted into service promised to pull their grades back up. They argued that it was only a small drop. They argued that they were too smart to be sent to the military. The arguments and complaints descended into shouts and screams as the former students were dragged away. Friends shouted their good-byes. Lovers kissed and cried. As a guard came toward Jack, he tucked away his watch and stood. With a nod to his escort, he walked down the steps at the side of the lecture theater toward the open door.

2

The passenger deck on the transport vehicle was dark and dirty, the air filled with the stench of putrid bodily excretions. A Marine sergeant was pushing the recruits toward the seats that ran along either side of the deck, a small tazer in his hand. The cover on Jack’s chair was covered in dark smears. He sat uncomfortably on the sticky surface. The floor in front of his chair was covered with a caked-on splatter of vomit.

A sudden eruption of gas and steam from a vent above the seat opposite Jack brought gasps and shouts of surprise from the packed passenger deck, and somewhere in the stinking dark, Jack heard a burst of uncontrolled sobbing.

Jack looked at the faces of the young men and women sitting in the seats along the deck. Most were nervous but they all looked like the usual military conscripts, a mix of the poor and stupid, unable for one reason or another to dodge the draft. As he looked along the line, he saw one face glaring back, the hard face and cold eyes of an angry and aggressive recruit.

Jack averted his eyes from the hard stare opposite. The wailing and crying from further down the deck had grown to a wild yelling. It was the same excuses he’d heard in the lecture theater time and again: they shouldn’t be here, it was a mistake, they didn’t belong, they wouldn’t be any good as a soldier. The deck lit up in a flash, accompanied by the fizzing of a tazer. The crying stopped, replaced by the creaking and groaning of the old transport.

The gloom became darker as the massive doors to the passenger deck began to close, filling the air with a rushing hiss of pneumatic pressure. A claxon alarm sounded and then a loud, distorted announcement that was almost impossible to understand. The countdown was clearly understood. Soon Jack would be blasted out into space to one of the off-world training bases.

The acceleration hit like a hammer. Jack was pressed into his seat as the craft raced toward space. A wailing alarm pierced the ear and drowned out the noise of the rattling old ship. A red light flashed across the terrified faces. Shouts of panic and fear came from the new recruits. Jack felt it would be just his luck to get killed on his first flight on a military craft. No need to send these kids to the war, he thought. The military could save a load of time and effort and just incinerate them all in the atmosphere of Eros.

A door at the end of the deck slid open with a hiss and the scraping of metal on metal. A Marine entered the passenger deck, opened an instrument panel on the wall above the row of seats, and began tapping keys and flicking switches. The alarm and flashing light stopped. The deck was still filled with ear-shattering noise from the engine and the wailing recruits. Jack looked across to the Marine who was shouting into a communication panel. He could just make out what was said; why was the transport still suffering from the same fault? Jack couldn’t hear the reply, but he guessed it was not acceptable by the way the Marine slammed the control panel shut.

The Marine turned to look along the passenger deck. Jack saw that the Marine was a woman, a tall, broad-shouldered woman. Her hair was blonde and short, her face set with a grim expression. Gravity fell away and the Marine began to float. She grabbed hold of a rail running along the roof.

“Listen up, hayseeds. Training starts now. I am Lieutenant Crippin. You may call me whatever you like behind my back. Cripple. Crapple. Pin head. Bitch. But to my face, you call me sir. Do you get me?”

Crippin shouted in the face of a young woman, no older than eighteen. The woman shuddered. Her lip wobbled. Crippin shouted again into the girl’s face.

“Do you get me?”

The young woman nodded.

“Give the proper response, hayseed,” Crippin yelled. “Sir, yes, sir.”

The girl spoke quietly. Crippin shouted again, “Sir, yes, sir.” Crippin went to the next recruit, a young man so malnourished he retained his boyish features. Crippin yelled into his gaunt face. “Do you get me, hayseed?”

The recruit shouted, “Sir, yes, sir.”

Crippin straightened up and looked along the deck. “Listen up and you might live. Listen well and you’ll live longer than you deserve. Sergeant Hacker is distributing ration bars. This is today’s ration. Eat it now.”

The sergeant walked along the line of recruits, holding a sack in one hand. He reached in and pulled out a small, silver-colored block. The sergeant began throwing the small blocks into the laps of the recruits.

Jack watched the recruits tearing through the silver cover to the dark sticky mess within.

“Some of you have volunteered. Some of you have been drafted. You are all military now. You are all the same to me. You are all hayseeds.”

Sergeant Hacker threw a ration bar to Jack. He reached out for it, but a boot flicked up from the recruit opposite and kicked it up to the roof. The block bounced off the grubby ceiling and flew down, toward the recruit who had kicked it up. Jack reached out, but the block was just beyond reach. He looked across the person opposite, who reached out and grabbed it.

Jack smiled and held a hand out. “Throw it over,” he said.

“I can read people real good. Better than I can words. I recon you’re a kravin’ student. But you dropped a grade and got thrown in here with us. You ain’t so smart as you thought you was.”

Jack held out his hand. “Come on. Give me my rations.”

The recruit sitting to Jack’s left nudged him in the arm. “You won’t get that back from him. He’s a thief. I’m Bill Harts.” Harts held out his hand for Jack.

“Jack Forge,” Jack introduced himself and shook Harts’ hand.

“And he is Sam Torent.” Harts leaned forward toward Torent. “A thief.” Harts turned to Jack and spoke as if to take Jack into his confidence. “I was waiting when the police delivered him. He took military service instead of prison for repetitive thievery.”

Torent smiled and tucked the ration block into his jacket.

“Listen up, hayseeds. It’s my job to turn all of you into something useful, something that can kill Chitin scum. The Chitins want to kill you, and they are good at it. Those of you who listen are more likely to survive. Then you will be able to spend more of your nasty little life killing Chitin scum. Do you get me?”

Sam shouted out with everyone else. “Sir, yes, sir.”

“You, hayseed,” Crippin shouted into Jack’s face. “Why aren’t you eating?”

Jack looked across to Torent, who glared back.

“Sir, I lost my ration bar, sir.”

“Unacceptable, hayseed. That ration bar is military property. It was your responsibility to see it was used in the correct manner. If the military gives you a pulse rifle and you lose that, how are you going to shred Chitin scum, hayseed? Next time the military gives you a piece of equipment, you look after it like it was your own nut sack. You get me, hayseed?”

“Sir, yes, sir,” Jack shouted. And as Crippin walked on shouting about the limited duration of the training and the limited resources available, Jack looked across to Torent as he bit into his ration bar. The dark, sticky bar stuck to Torent’s teeth and he gave Jack a big, sticky smile.

3

The craft landed heavily. The deck was filled with alarms and eruptions of gases from vents high on the walls. One recruit further along the line started screaming as a jet of heated gas erupted from a fracture in the inner hull. Crippin raced toward the stricken, wailing recruit, yelling as she went. “Clear the deck, hayseeds. Form them up on the landing pad, Sergeant Hacker.”

Jack fell in line with the others as they marched off the transport onto the landing pad, where they were beaten into a straight line by Sergeant Hacker. The recruits fell silent as a stretcher was brought out of the passenger craft containing the pitiful, whimpering recruit, his skin burned and scalded so badly he was almost unrecognizable.

Jack’s attention was jerked away from the stretcher by a yelp of pain from one of the recruits. Jack looked back and saw Sergeant Hacker walking through the lines, a small tazer in his hand. He jabbed the glowing end into the gut of the next in line. The recruit doubled over with pain. The next recruit backed away as Hacker came close, the tazer held forward, a huge grin on the big sergeant’s face.

“Sergeant Hacker!” Crippin shouted. Hacker came to attention. “Are you tazering those recruits, Sergeant?”

Hacker held up the tazer for Crippin to see.

Crippin picked her way through the assembly to the two recruits lying and writhing on the ground.

“Did Sergeant Hacker tazer you, hayseed?” Crippin asked one of the recruits gently.

The recruit nodded.

“On your feet, hayseed, or Sergeant Hacker will taze you again.” Crippin took position in front of the recruits.

“Listen up,” Crippin shouted. “The training complex is ten kilometers in that direction. Sergeant Hacker will tazer every recruit not running. Demonstrate please, Sergeant Hacker.”

Hacker jabbed the tazer into the ribs of the recruit standing next to him. The recruit yelped, crumpled, and fell.

“And when you get to the complex,” Crippin went on, “I want to see you standing in two neat ranks, not this scruffy arrangement. If not, Sergeant Hacker will tazer you. Demonstrate please.”

Another recruit collapsed under the tazer’s sting.

Crippin climbed into a small two-seat buggy and started the engine. “Run, hayseeds,” she shouted and then sped off.

Ten kilometers wasn’t a challenge for Jack and he set off at a jog. Others sprinted past, all glancing back over their shoulders, looking out for Sergeant Hacker and his busy little tazer. Gravity on the training moon was high for its size. The moon had formed around a neutron star fragment, creating a gravity field on the small moon just above one-G. The atmosphere was thin but breathable.

After what felt like an eight-kilometer run, Jack saw the training complex at the base of a small hill in the distance. The buildings looked to be around four kilometers away. The extra gravity and the thin air was making the run more difficult than Jack was used to. He glanced back and saw he was leading the field. The recruits were strung out over a distance of about a kilometer. Jack slowed to a jog. The runner coming up next was the recruit who’d taken Jack’s ration bar, Sam Torent. Behind Torent came a small bunch, jogging and puffing, red cheeks and sweating brows.

Torent fixed Jack with a stare as he pushed on. Jack could see the thief was struggling to keep the pace but he was ahead of all the others and closing in on Jack. The look was icy and hard with threat and menace. Jack guessed Torent was angry that a university reject was beating him in the race.

Jack focused on the buildings of the training complex. It was still a long way away, but Jack knew he had the energy left to make it comfortably, even given the slightly heavier gravity. It was too far out to sprint, but Jack knew how hard he could push himself. He ran hard.

Jack felt his lungs burn and his legs wobble as he ran the last few meters up the hill to a parade ground in front of the set of buildings. Lieutenant Crippin was waiting, sitting on her buggy. Jack smiled at Crippin and raised a hand in the air to claim victory in the race. He slowed to a walk as he approached.

“Pleased with yourself?” Crippin asked.

“That was a bit slow for me,” Jack replied, smiling.

“Sir!” Crippin shouted.

Jack came to attention. “Sir, sorry, sir.”

“And will you always run and leave your squad behind, hayseed?”

“Sir?” Jack asked, confused.

“You have left a dozen of your squad-mates back there all getting tazered by Sergeant Hacker just so you could get here sooner. What did you expect to find here?” Crippin climbed off the buggy and approached Jack. “A warm and friendly welcome? A nice soft bunk? A glass of lemonade?” She jabbed Jack in the shoulder. “Run, hayseed. Go help the squad. And if you leave your team behind again, I’ll tazer you myself. Run.”

Jack turned and started jogging down the slope. Away in the distance, he could see the most distant recruits all panting for breath and keeping one step ahead of Hacker and his tazer. Jack paced himself carefully. This was turning into a longer run than he had first thought.

Up the hill came Torent. He’d fallen in with the small group that had been snapping at his heels. Torent grinned at Jack as they passed each other on the slope. Jack heard Lieutenant Crippin shout at Torent as his group came close.

“Fall in, hayseeds. Two neat ranks. Hands by your sides. Eyes front. Do you get me, hayseeds?”

And as Jack dug deep for his extra reserves, he heard the small group of recruits shout their reply.

“Sir, yes, sir.”

4

Jack stood in the second row of recruits. Crippin stood to one side, calling out instructions to the recruits, telling them how to stand at attention in their ranks. Sergeant Hacker went along the lines, his tazer fizzing and ready for action. Jack wanted to sneak a look at his watch to check the time, but recruits that had been spotted making the most minor unauthorized movements had been punished for it. He guessed he had been standing here for over an hour. The sun seemed to hang on the horizon permanently, bathing the small parade ground in a weak twilight.

Standing still for a prolonged period was harder than Jack thought it could ever be. He felt his legs turning slowly to jelly. He had already run ten kilometers and then doubled back to help the struggling recruits. It was all taking its toll and Jack felt sure his legs would give way under him. The last recruit to have collapsed had been treated to multiple stings from Hackers tazer. Jack would avoid the tazer if he could. He tried to focus on a distant point and recall a happier time.

Jack thought of home. It had been a happy childhood and he had enjoyed the long, warm days in the fields of his island home on the planet Eros. But soon, thoughts of home reminded him of loss. He remembered his father leaving to join the military when the Chitins first made their presence in the outer system known. His father had been lost in the first conflict, during the attempted blockade of the Chitin’s gas giant planet, Zelos.

His mother had become a shadow after that. She neglected herself and the boys, and one day, she was just gone. The social workers who had come to take Jack and his brother away couldn’t tell them what had happened to her. Jack had asked if she was looking for his father. The sad smile from the social worker that answered Jack’s question blew away all hope. That was the moment that twelve-year-old Jack grew up.

His childhood had crumbled and ended in a few cruel months. Jack’s brother became angry and then distant as he buried himself in virtual reality. He played the hero of the military and spent days on end fighting the Chitins in the various government provided training simulations barely disguised as games.

Jack buried himself in school. It was an escape. It was a challenge. It was fun. Jack enjoyed numbers and the certainty they seemed to offer. He spent years in quiet calculation. At times, he wondered if he was avoiding calculating all he had lost.

The sun dipped a fraction and the parade ground was plunged quickly and cruelly into a deep cold. The cold air burned Jack’s lungs. His legs felt the cold bite and his sweat-soaked shirt began to stiffen with ice crystals. The door to the bunkhouse slid open and spilled a bright welcoming light out over the parade ground.

“All right, hayseeds. Shower time.”

Lieutenant Crippin walked in through the open door. Sergeant Hacker stood at the open door and waved the recruits in. Jack was one of the last to enter. The door slid shut and closed the recruits into a long, bare corridor. Lieutenant Crippin walked along the line with Sergeant Hacker marching behind.

At the end of the corridor, Jack saw a small doorway. Crippin shouted along the line. “Strip, you hayseeds. We will wash away your civilian life and dress you in your military skin. You will leave the last of your old life behind in this corridor and step bravely toward your new life as a Fleet Marine recruit. You get me, hayseeds?”

The recruits stripped reluctantly. A brief threat from Hacker’s tazer hurried those who showed reluctance. Jack picked his watch out of his pocket. Maybe they would let him keep it if he told Crippin it was all he had left of his family. Somehow, he guessed he was being inducted into a new family and Crippin would take the small silver watch from him.

He watched as the recruits stripped. Some were more willing than others to undress in front of a group of strangers, but none of them were quick enough for Crippin and Hacker. Resistance was clearly unacceptable and Jack saw a recruit tazered, pushed to the ground, and stripped by Sergeant Hacker.

Jack held the watch in his hand. It was hidden in his palm but only just. He pressed it into his armpit. It was better hidden, but it made it very difficult to move freely and he certainly couldn’t get undressed while holding it there. The line ahead of Jack was shrinking by the second. The recruits were becoming more comfortable with stripping as the pile of discarded clothes grew. Jack pushed the watch into his mouth. It fit, barely. It tasted of dirty silver, a tang of salt and acid. It was the best place to hide it. He hoped he would not have to answer Crippin before he had a chance to hide it somewhere else.

At the front of the line, Jack stripped in a moment. He tossed his old shirt, his threadbare trousers, boots, and tattered underwear onto the pile of clothes and walked through the door to the sounds of running water.

Jack was first sprayed head to toe with a foul-smelling soap before he reached the shower. The tepid water dribbled out of the tarnished showerheads in the ceiling of the shower block. Jack forced himself to stand under the water and attempted to wash the soap away.

He moved from the shower to the dryer. A cold blast of air chilled Jack. He rubbed away the water and dried his cold skin. Then he walked, shivering, toward another doorway.

The doorway led to a corridor. On one side was a small hatch and Jack could see the cold, washed recruits picking up small bundles. There was a bright yellow uniform and a pair of black boots. The corridor opened out into a wide area where the recruits were hurriedly pulling on their new clothes.

Crippin and Hacker were milling about the recruits and hurrying them to dress. No one needed extra encouragement to quickly cover their nakedness. Jack pulled on his pants, spat his watch into his hand, and thrust it quickly into his pocket.

“It’s the runner, Sergeant Hacker,” Crippin said, stepping up alongside Jack.

“Sir, yes, sir.”

“Sir, yes, sir,” Crippin repeated with a hint of approval. “You learn fast. Let’s hope you learn as fast as you run. You want a night run now, recruit?”

“Sir?” Jack asked, feeling pretty tired but not wanting to say no while the sergeant and his tazer were so close by.

“Sure you do,” Crippin said and fixed Jack with a smile. Then she shouted, “Listen up, hayseeds. Recruit Forge here wants a night run. Form up. We’re running the hill.”

The cold and dark made the run up the hill hard. The recruits struggled, tripping on loose stones scattered over the dimly lit path. Sergeant Hacker’s tazer fizzed threateningly just behind the pack. Jack ran with the group. He didn’t want to leave anyone behind and be made to run back and help them. He stayed at the back, just ahead of the tazer, and encouraged the recruits who were falling off the pace. Jack felt the hostility from the group. He knew they all blamed him for this hard run. Jack knew it wasn’t his fault. Crippin had done it because she hated him, probably hated all university students. Maybe she was worried that Jack was smarter than she was. Whatever her problem was, Jack knew it wasn’t his fault that they were running the hill. Crippin would probably have made them do it anyway. There was a definite pattern to all this, the distribution of rations, the shower, uniform distribution, and now a run. Crippin probably did the same with all new recruits. Jack couldn’t think why, he didn’t understand the way the military thought. What he did know was that the military was struggling to find recruits.

There had been a steady stream of volunteers to the military after the first Chitin attacks. Now that stream had slowed to a trickle. Jack feared one thing above all else—although they were told about all the great victories against the Chitins, Jack guessed that humanity was losing the fight.

Jack spotted the dim light up ahead and the silhouette of Crippin.

“Come on, hayseeds. Nearly there.” Crippin stood next to a small column. “Tap the top, hayseeds. Then get back to that bunkhouse.”

Jack tapped the stone column. It was smooth to the touch, polished by thousands of hands of recruits who’d run up the hill. He turned to head back down, thinking of nothing but food. His stomach was empty, and it hurt.

“Not you, hayseed,” Crippin said.

Jack felt Crippin’s hand on his shoulder. He watched the other recruits tap the plinth, turn, and struggle back down the hill.

“Last one to the bunkhouse takes first watch,” Crippin shouted. She pulled Jack’s shoulder and turned him to face her. “And that last recruit will be you, hayseed,” Crippin said. “Get me?”

“Sir, yes, sir.”

Jack ran down the hill. He heard the recruits ahead in the darkness. He saw the distant lights from the bunkhouse. He heard the fizzing tazer and the heavy footfalls of Sergeant Hacker just behind him.

Jack was cold, tired, and hungry. Only twenty-four hours ago, he was in his university dorm room feeling sure that he would have the grades to continue his studies. He’d never dropped a grade before. His brother’s death had affected him more than he realized. He cursed his brother for dying. He cursed Professor Bowen for not fixing his grades. He cursed Torent for stealing his ration bar. He cursed Crippin for making everyone hate him. He cursed his bad luck.

He tripped and fell forward into the dark. The ground slammed into him hard. He heard the fizzing of the tazer come close to his ear. He felt the kick from Sergeant Hacker. Jack struggled to his feet and ran on into the dark.

5

When Jack woke, tired, hungry, and cold, Lieutenant Crippin was shouting again.

The recruits were climbing out of beds that Jack was sure were just as uncomfortable as his own. Jack checked that his watch was safe in its new hiding place, tucked inside the thin mattress through a split in the stitching. Then, having satisfied himself that the watch was safe, he slipped out from under his rough blanket and stood on the cold, stone floor. Sergeant Hacker was walking along the line of bunks, throwing a silver-wrapped ration bar onto each bunk. Jack grabbed his immediately. He wasn’t missing out on what might be his only meal of the day.

“Eat, you hayseeds,” Crippin shouted. “We’ve got a long day ahead. We are going to start training for war. It is my duty to train you to kill Chitin scum and not get killed by Chitin scum. Form up on the parade ground. Ninety seconds, hayseeds. You get me?”

Jack shouted his reply through a mouthful of the sticky ration bar. It tasted sweet and meaty, with a bitter chemical aftertaste. Jack felt an immediate burst of energy both physically and mentally. He dressed and was out the door before the last bite was in his stomach.

Once in line, the recruits were marched off the parade ground and up the hill. The march was easier in daylight and with a full stomach and the energy provided by whatever secret ingredient had been included in the dark, heavy ration bar. From the top of the hill, Jack could see the training ground—a series of hills all topped with small metallic fortifications.

Between the hills lay a series of well-trodden paths and obstacles of various kinds. Some obstacles were designed to be climbed, others to be crawled under. Many were lined with coils of barbed wire.

“Today is just to warm you up,” Crippin said. “You will run the course and complete the exercises. If anybody falls too far behind, they will wish they hadn’t.”

Crippin led the recruits off the hill toward the start of the course. She lined up the recruits at the start point. “You can’t get lost,” Crippin said. “You can’t avoid any exercise. You start when I tell you. You stop when I tell you. Move these hayseeds out, Sergeant.”

Hacker started shoving the recruits forward one at a time until the whole squad got the message and started moving down the hill toward the training course.

It was exciting at first. Jack enjoyed the open running between obstacles. The various obstacles were easy at first. Whether he was climbing or crawling, Jack threw himself at the obstacles with enthusiasm. He had never had much time for crawling in the dirt. He had always enjoyed less strenuous activities, but today, he was pumped.

The run between each obstacle was the easiest part for Jack and soon, he was leading the field. The ration filled his stomach but didn’t weigh him down, and the chemicals rushing through his veins kept him focused and enthusiastic.

Jack ran toward a rifle range. A number of rifles lay chained to a table. Beyond the table stood a line of targets, each one further away, at hundred-meter intervals.

Crippin stood to one side of the table, a small case of ammunition at her side. She handed out magazines to each recruit.

“You have five shots, hayseeds. Hit your targets or I’ll have Sergeant Hacker hit you. The military doesn’t have bullets for you to waste on poor shooting. We have got to save all our ammunition for killing the damn Chitin scum. Hit your targets.”

Jack snatched up a rifle. It was lighter than it looked. It was formed from the same composite as the hull of a spacecraft. Jack looked down the sights to the first target. The telescopic effect of the rifle sight made the target appear within arm’s reach. The furthest appeared a mere stone’s throw away.

“Load your weapon, hayseed,” Crippin shouted. “You are not here to enjoy the scenery. This is where we turn hayseeds into Chitin killers. Load your weapon.”

The weapon was simple by design. It was easy to understand and easy to use. The place where the ammunition was to be inserted was clearly marked. Jack rammed the magazine home, chambered a round, and took aim.

The rifle kick was enormous. It powered back into Jack’s shoulder. The force pushed Jack backwards through the dirt. He recovered himself and looked down the sight at his target. He’d hit the bullseye.

“Good first shot, hayseed. But there will be more than one Chitin out there for you to kill.”

Jack fired his next shot at the target two hundred meters away. Another bullseye.

As Jack was sighting the next target, a recruit came running up to the range. Jack heard the panting of someone running hard. Just as he was about to pull the trigger, someone bumped into him. His finger touched the trigger and the rifle fired. It slammed awkwardly into his shoulder. The rifle was not sitting true when it fired and the butt of the rifle sent a sudden jolt of pain shooting through Jack’s shoulder. Jack looked to see who had bumped into him. He looked over to the grinning, grubby face of Torent.

“I’ll show you how to shoot, Forge,” Torent said. He quickly loaded his rifle, sighted his target, and pulled the trigger, all in an instant.

“Bullseye, hayseed.” Crippin was looking down range through her small set of binoculars.

Torent looked at Jack and grinned. He fired his remaining shots in quick succession, then dropped the weapon and was off running.

Jack took aim at the next target. He fired his shot.

“Another bull, hayseed,” Crippin shouted. “You missed one. Don’t miss another. We haven’t got spare ammunition for you to miss, hayseed.”

Jack took careful aim at the next target. Even through the sights, it appeared distant. A strong heat haze made the target wobble. Jack relaxed and fired.

“No bull,” Crippin said, “but at least you hit the target. If that had been a Chitin’s massive head, you would have hit it alright.”

A group of recruits came panting and puffing to the table with the rifles. In a moment, every rifle was taken and shots were being fired every couple of seconds.

Bill Harts came up to the table and grabbed the rifle next to Jack. He loaded, took aim, and fired. “Missed,” he said.

“Just relax,” Jack said. “Take aim. Breathe in. And then fire.”

Bill took aim again. His response told Jack what he needed to know. Bill had missed again.

“Take a bit more time to get your sights in. Relax. Don’t jerk the rifle when you fire.”

“Concentrate on your own targets, hayseed,” Crippin shouted. “If we need rifle training officers here, we will request them from the military command. But they won’t be sending us any. All soldiers who can shoot are out there killing Chitins.”

Jack heard the familiar buzz of Hacker’s tazer close by. He put the noise out of his mind and took aim. Jack completed his rounds and recorded three bulls. If it wasn’t for Torent, he would have had a clean sweep. Jack dropped his rifle and ran off, determined to catch and overtake Sam Torent.

The extra gravity on the small moon started to take its toll. Jack saw Torent up ahead. He looked to be struggling too as he glanced back over his shoulder. Jack saw him put his head down and put in an effort to run harder when he saw Jack was catching him.

Another few minutes and Jack was coming level with Torent. Jack kept his eyes on the path ahead. The next obstacle was only a few strides ahead. He pulled away from Torent easily and approached the obstacle.

Barbed wire was strung across the path, leaving a small gap underneath. The ground was littered with sharp rock fragments the size of Jack’s fist. A sign on either side of the path warned of live gunfire. Jack saw the automatic gun battery on one side of the obstacle. He dropped to the ground and began crawling.

The barbed wire was low but gave Jack enough room. He picked his way around the sharp rocks, taking care not to hurt his arms as he crawled along. It wasn’t as tough as it first looked. And then the gunfire started.

The guns fired a two-second burst. The bullets tore through the air and made a strange fizzing sound as the air around the bullets boiled. The bullets thumped into the dirt mound on the opposite side. Jack stopped crawling and pressed himself to the ground. He felt trapped by the wire above him. Running was one thing, firing a rifle was exciting, but this? Being shot at with rapid fire automatic weapons was terrifying. And then the whole experience started to feel like a horrible dream. He should be back in university. He shouldn’t be here. He wasn’t cut out for this sort of thing. This had been a huge mistake. Just on the point of getting to his feet and declaring the whole thing a huge mistake, another burst of gunfire erupted.

Torent scurried past Jack. The gun spat out one short burst after another while Jack pressed himself closer to the ground, trying desperately to get away from the terrifying sounds of bullets above him. Then he saw Torent look back as he got to the other side of the wire.

Seeing the smirk on Torent’s face as he looked back through the wire spurred Jack into action. He started moving again and picked his way gingerly through the rocks, flinching at every crack from the huge automated weapon. Other recruits were making it to the wire and Jack heard their voices ranging from worry to fear, and then he heard the shouts from Lieutenant Crippin and the zaps from Sergeant Hacker’s tazer. The sounds of worry and fear turned to yelps of pain and cries of distress as the recruits were forced to move forward.

Jack reached the end of the wire with cuts on his hands and a huge gash on his elbow where he’d caught the sharp point of a rock. Torent was running but struggling. Jack knew he could catch him.

Jack judged the distance to Torent and paced himself. And then further up ahead, Jack saw Crippin sitting on her buggy. It looked like a finish line. Jack had been running and crawling and dodging bullets for several hours. He was sure it was time for a break. Crippin was pushing them all to breaking point, but Jack was sure she didn’t want to actually break them. Recruits were not easy to find.

Jack spotted the small pile of silver ration bars and water cooler on a trailer hooked up to Crippin’s buggy. It was either a cruel joke or it was time for a rest. Jack decided to be optimistic. He decided Crippin was going to let them rest. But before he could rest, he had to beat Torent to the finish.

Jack put his head down and gave it everything. No point leaving anything out on the course when he could burn all his reserve and beat Torent. Jack would show that thief. Jack was going to steal first place from him.

Jack’s legs burned. They wobbled. He pressed on. He kept upright by strength of will. He would win. He looked up to check his progress. Torent had slowed to a walk but was still moving forward, and he was still ahead. Jack put his head down and ran. He would pass Torent with a hundred meters to spare.

Jack closed in on Torent and found an extra burst of energy with the joy of beating the thief. He turned and looked back at Torent just in time to see him stick his foot out, tapping Jack’s ankle. It was the slightest of touches, but it was enough to unbalance him.

Jack fell forward, sprawling over the sharp rock fragments. He cut his hands, knees, face. His head spun, and blood burst out of his nose and ran into his mouth. He watched Torent run off toward Lieutenant Crippin. Jack tasted blood as he climbed to his hands and knees. The dark sand on the ground felt cold. He felt a hot flush and dizziness.

The horizon and the darkness of space beyond the surface of the small moon wobbled. Jack looked up and saw Torent reach Crippin and the pile of ration bars. And then behind, he heard the rumble of footsteps as the rest of the recruits came running.

6

Jack sat on his bunk and treated his many cuts. A small package of medical supplies had been thrown on each bunk. Jack picked through the small collection of bandages to find the best fit for the largest of his cuts. He readied the bandage and then splashed on some of the antiseptic wash.

“You were really good out there today.”

Jack looked over to Bill Harts, who was lying on the bunk next to Jack.

Jack nodded. “Thanks,” he replied.

“I can’t believe Cripps made him squad leader.”

Jack peeled the back off a bandage and placed it over one of his cuts. Torent was sitting on the other side of the bunkhouse, showing off his new badge and enjoying the attention from the recruits who were trying to ally themselves to the new squad leader.

Jack looked at Torent. It was not as though Jack had wanted the position of squad leader, but it seemed unfair of Crippin, stupid and shortsighted even, to select Torent. She had based her decision on the results of the day’s exercise. Torent had beaten Jack to the finish, but unfairly. He had scored higher in target practice, but again, only because he had caused Jack to miss.

And Jack had helped Bill Harts on the shooting range. Crippin had said he should help the others in the team; it had been her first lesson to him. Torent had cheated his way to the head of the group. Jack watched him preening and showing off his little badge, enjoying the attention.

Torent caught Jack’s eye. He smirked at Jack, a familiar expression now, and one that sent Jack into thoughts of violence and revenge. He imagined how he would hurt that damn thief. He was undeserving of the position. Jack knew he was a better choice. He was fitter, faster, and he had an education. He was a more suitable choice and he knew it. Crippin must be an idiot if she couldn’t see it too.

“Did he trip you right in front of Cripps?”

Jack grunted and gave the slightest nod.

“She should have had Hacker taze him, not give him that badge.”

“He can keep it,” Jack said. He gathered up the medical supplies and put them back into the small package. He guessed he would need to use this again. He was going to put it out of sight. His footlocker was the obvious place for it, but it was also the most obvious place for thieves to look. He could hide the medical kit with his watch.

Jack glanced around as casually as he could, making sure no one was watching him. He slipped his hand under the threadbare sheet and his fingers searched for the small opening. He pressed his fingers inside and felt for his watch.

Panic suddenly swelled inside him. Jack felt the hot, prickly heat of fear. The watch was gone. He forgot furtive action and looked at the small hole in his mattress. He tore at it with both hands, the bandages peeling away as he searched inside for his watch. His watch. He reached deeper inside feeling for the familiar metal casing. He couldn’t lose his watch.

Jack climbed off his bunk and looked at the small tear. He looked inside.

“What you doing?” Harts asked casually.

Jack felt all over the top of his mattress, pressing his fingers into the thin padding, feeling for his watch.

His watch. He had to find his watch. How could it be gone? Had Crippin come and searched the bunkhouse while they were out training? She hadn’t been present for the whole day. It had been Sergeant Hacker who had kept the recruits on course with only his tazer and the threat of its sting to motivate them all.

His watch. It was gone. Taken. Stolen. Jack looked around the bunkhouse at all the unfamiliar faces, people he had been thrown in with, people he had only just met, people he could not trust. People he did not like.

“Is something missing?” Harts asked. “I saw Torent looking at your mattress. Right there. That corner.”

Jack fixed Harts with a fierce look. “When?” Jack asked.

Harts backed up slightly under Jack’s harsh stare. “When you were in the bathroom, just after we got back.”

Jack looked over at Torent. He was sitting back on his bunk, picking at a small wound on his hand.

“Then I saw him doing something with the corner of his mattress. I thought he was checking to see who had the most comfortable bunk. He checked them all.”

Jack walked across the bunkhouse and straight over to Torent. The thief barely looked up.

“What do you want?” Torent said, his voice as cold as the bunkhouse floor.

Jack grabbed the corner of Torent’s mattress and felt for his watch or a tear in the stitching.

“Hey, get the krav out of here.” Torent stood up and squared off against Jack.

Jack stepped back. There was no watch or any cut in the mattress. He looked back toward Harts, who was watching with a worried expression. Harts made the slightest gesture and indicated that Jack should check the other side.

Torent’s allies were getting off their bunks and moving slowly toward Torent and Jack, drawn by the noise and the distraction.

Jack moved quickly to the other side of the bunk and grabbed the corner, feeling again for a hole.

“Get your kravin’ little claws off my bunk, Forge.” Torent followed Jack and grabbed him by the collar.

Jack felt his watch. He felt the cold silver on his fingertips. He wasn’t going to let Torent take it from him. Jack jerked away from Torent’s grip. He dug his fingers into the mattress and pulled the watch free. He turned and faced up to Torent, the watch held up accusingly.

“You touch anything of mine again…” Jack said.

“I didn’t put that there,” Torent replied, his familiar smirk plastered over his face.

“You’re a thief, a kraving thief.” Jack held up the watch again.

Torent laughed a cold, humorless laugh. “I didn’t take that crappy piece of junk.”

“You stole my rations. You stole my watch. You stole the lead today.”

Torent’s face turned dark and hard. He stepped forward and closed in on Jack. “If I want your damn watch, I will take it. If I want your food, I will take it. If I want your blood, I will take it.” Torent shoved Jack.

“You keep out of my stuff,” Jack said with as much venom as he could muster.

“Get the krav out of my face, Forge.” Torent sat on his bunk.

Jack walked back to his bunk. He knew he needed to find somewhere else for his watch. He would have to keep it on him and just take care not to bash it. He picked up the small medical supply pack and started to work it into a protective case for his watch. He felt the adrenaline in his body, the sweat on his face, and his heavy breathing. His hands were shaking as he tried to secure his watch in a protective packet. He glanced over at Torent. The thief was resting easy on his bunk, his hands behind his head. He seemed totally unaffected by the accusation and the altercation.

Only a thief could be so calm, Jack thought.

Jack tucked the wrapped watch into the pocket of his pants. Then the double-door at the end of the bunkhouse burst open. Sergeant Hacker came walking down the aisle between the bunks. He pushed the few recruits who were standing toward their bunks with one hand while the tazer burned in the other. They got the message. It was time for lights out.

7

“Listen up, hayseeds.” Crippin paced in front of the recruits on the parade ground. “Today, we run the course proper.”

Jack ached from the previous day’s exercise. His cuts stung and his legs were stiff. He’d run the course again and this time, Torent would be left in his dust.

“We played nice yesterday. Today, you are going to work hard. Fall too far behind and you will be tazed. Miss your target on the rifle range and you will be tazed. And if you are standing here in the next five seconds, you will be tazed. Do you get me, hayseeds?”

Jack heard the recruits shouting, “sir, yes, sir,” but he was already running toward the hill.

“What are you waiting for, hayseeds?”

The hill was easy. Jack looked back to measure his lead. He was on the top before his nearest rival was halfway. Torent was jogging along with a group of his new cronies.

Jack looked down to the course. The small hills with the forts on top and the familiar paths that he’d run and crawled over the day before. The sound of panting breath and heavy foot falls behind him told Jack that the rest of the recruits were closing in. Jack ran down hill. He could run as easily downhill as he could on the flat. He knew he wasn’t strong, but he had balance and stamina. He could keep this up all day. He was sure Torent would struggle after a time. The thief might be good at crawling through tight spaces, probably practice from housebreaking, and he might have some practice at running, probably from the police, but Torent was a kravin’ gutter chit. Jack knew Torent could never match him.

The first obstacle was the wall and Jack was able to leap and grab the top. He scrambled and struggled and made the top of the wall. The thief would probably be better at shimmying up walls, all part of the housebreaker’s craft, but Jack was still ahead of him. Jack turned to lower himself down the other side.

Jack ran between the hills, following the path that thousands of recruits had run before him. The next obstacle was a series of raised beams surrounded by thick mud. He ran across the beams, leaping from one to another, and finally jumped to the firm ground on the other side. A quick glance back and he saw Torent still running with his group.

Jack climbed and ran, and crawled and ran, and every now and then glanced back. He was pulling away from Torent. Today, he was going to stay ahead.

The rifle range was next, and Jack prepared his weapon quickly. He took his time to breathe and aim, but he only needed to hit his target, a bull was not essential. Jack fired his rounds quickly and scored all hits and all bulls. He was a competent and confident shot. He didn’t need to think about it. He let himself admire his marksmanship for a few moments before setting off at a jog for the next obstacle.

The next path was clear, and Jack ran on. He knew the military had drafted dozens of students who had dropped a grade in the last few months. He knew they had all been brought to one of these training bases. This one was completely empty. The only people he had seen in the last few days were Crippin, Hacker, and those who had arrived on the transport ship with him. Where was everyone else? There must be other training bases in the system, Jack thought. This was a small moon and he could probably run around it in a day or two. There could be another base here, they just hadn’t seen.

Jack spotted the next obstacle, a series of ropes that he had to hang from and use to work his way over the dark, sticky mud underneath. Some ropes hung vertically and some horizontally. He grabbed hold of the first and started off. The vertical ropes were the hardest to hold and move between. The horizontal ropes were easier. Jack hung from one, looking at the next.

Reaching out for the next rope, Jack heard recruits reaching the obstacle. He turned, hoping it wasn’t Torent. It was two other recruits, part of Torent’s little gang. One was skinny and fast, the other ugly and brutish. The burning in Jack’s arms threatened to overwhelm him. He looked down at the sticky mess below. There was no way he was going to let himself drop into that. He looked to the next rope. He had no time to spare.

The sounds of the rest of the squad running toward the rope obstacle caught Jack’s ear. Torent was surely still in the pack. Jack looked at the next rope and grabbed it. Arms burning and lungs gasping, he cleared the ropes. Looking back, he saw that the skinny recruit and the ugly recruit were catching up. Setting off at a fast pace, Jack ran off along the next empty path.

It was a short run. Jack knew he was starting to slow. He glanced back and saw that the two recruits on his tail had almost caught him, but they were almost exhausted. He could pull away from them over the next few hundred meters, they didn’t look to have the strength to keep up their pace to the end of the day. They would collapse any minute and get tazed by Hacker.

The skinny recruit ran alongside Jack and grabbed him around the shoulders, pulling him to the ground.

“What the krav?” Jack shouted. “Get off me.”

The skinny recruit said nothing, just held Jack tightly. Then the ugly recruit came and dropped a knee on Jack’s back.

“Got you,” the ugly one said and twisted his knee in Jack’s back. “Go and tell Squad Leader we got him.”

“No kravin’ way,” said the skinny one. “I ain’t got another squirt of energy in me.”

Jack realized what was happening. Torent had sent his cronies ahead to stop him. Now Torent could take the lead and cruise to a winning finish again.

Jack heaved suddenly and broke out of the hold. But before he could get to his feet, the recruit with the knee on his back grabbed Jack’s collar.

“You’re not going anywhere.”

Jack struggled to get away, but the two held him down.

Another recruit came running around the corner. She was red-faced and breathing hard, but she had enough energy to smile. She slowed to a jogging pace and went on by.

“Not too fast,” the ugly recruit called out. “Squad Leader wants the win.”

The girl stopped. She put her hands on her knees and breathed heavily, sweat dripping from her face onto the ground next to Jack.

“No,” she said. “He just wants him to come last.” She smiled and then winked at Jack before taking off at a jog toward the next obstacle.

Jack felt fury. He waited until he felt the hold on him relax and fought suddenly to break their grip. It was a waste of effort. He needed to conserve his energy. Once Torent went by, Jack would be able to throw everything into the run and catch up. Jack relaxed and waited.

Soon, Jack heard a group coming near. They were running and someone in the group was counting and keeping pace. They came around the corner, the whole group of Torent’s cronies. And there in the middle was Torent. He looked down at Jack and smiled as he jogged by.

Jack seethed, but he admired the thief’s smarts. He’d got the entire squad to work together, sending some ahead to catch him and using the rest as pace-setters.

“Keep him here,” Torent said as he jogged by.

“How long for?” the skinny recruit asked.

“Until Hacker gets here,” Torent said with a wink.

“But we’ll get tazed,” the recruit complained.

Torent just shrugged and jogged on. “It don’t hurt too bad,” he said.

Jack wriggled again and struggled to get free. “Just let me sit up, for krav sake,” Jack said calmly.

“You run and I’ll hurt you,” the ugly one said.

But Jack didn’t have a chance to reply. Hacker came jogging around the corner. The three recruits sitting in the dirt looked up at the big sergeant. The tazer fizzed and blasted out a wide beam that slammed into the three of them. Jack felt the blast hit every cell in his body at once. He tasted the energy flowing over the saliva in his mouth. His arms and legs jerked about as if they had been set free from Jack’s body and given life of their own. He felt the pain of them slamming into the ground as they flapped around. And then as the energy gathered in the base of Jack’s skull, he felt consciousness slip away.

8

The noise of the bunkhouse filtered into Jack’s consciousness. He woke on his bunk, the taste of the tazer still on his tongue. Then the events of the day came back to him. He’d been cheated and beaten by Torent again. Jack’s hand went to his pocket. He touched his watch. The feel of it against his fingers calmed him. Then the sound of Torent laughing with his inner circle of recruits spoiled Jack’s momentary calm and his heart filled with anger once again.

Jack lifted himself up on his elbow.

“Don’t strain yourself, Jack.” Bill was sitting up on his bunk. “It takes a while to get over your first tazing.”

“Did Hacker get you too?” Jack said.

“I didn’t make it half the way. Missed my first target at the rifle range and got tazed.”

“Sorry, Bill,” Jack said, lying back on his bunk. “Should have waited around for you and helped out.”

“Don’t know how you could help, unless you killed Hacker.”

“Don’t let him hear you say that.” Jack settled into his rough blanket. “Threatening a sergeant is a flogging offence.”

“There are a few people around here I would like to see flogged.”

Jack looked over at Bill, who was staring at Torent. It was a hard thing to wish on someone. Flogging was painful and brutal.

Then the doors at the end of the bunkhouse burst open and Sergeant Hacker walked in. Torent jumped to his feet and shouted at the recruits.

“Sergeant on deck. Stand by your bunks.”

Jack struggled to climb out of his bunk. Hacker walked over and pressed Jack back. There was a gentleness behind the big sergeant’s rough hand. Hacker stepped away and turned to Torent. With a brisk wave, he indicated all recruits to bunk down.

Torent shouted, “Lights out. In your bunks, recruits.”

The bunkhouse was briefly a buzz of activity as the recruits jumped onto their beds. Torent was the last one standing. Sergeant Hacker walked over to Torent and grabbed him roughly by the collar. Jack watched as Hacker pressed his hard face close to Torent’s. Hacker pressed Torent toward his bunk, pushed him back toward it, and held him there. The sergeant let out a low, guttural growl before letting go and walking out of the bunkhouse. And as the doors swung shut, the lights went out. Jack slipped easily back into sleep.

Jack woke to shouts from Crippin. The light from the sun low on the horizon felt like early morning back home but here on this small moon with its strange orbital and rotational cycle the low sun could mean anything. Jack suspected they had only been given a few hours of sleep. His body ached with the trauma of a hundred hours of running and crawling he’d done since his arrival on the training moon. His mood was dark with resentment at the military for taking his education away and dropping him on this desolate rock with this horrible bunch of people.

Crippin shouted out the days orders. The training squad was going on a day long run. Jack felt his mood lighten at the thought. He would enjoy a day’s run, to get away from the confines of the training grounds and bunkhouse, to escape these people surrounding him by running free over the moons rough surface.

Sergeant Hacker tossed a ration bar onto Jack’s bunk with a grin. Crippin stepped over to Jack, hands behind her back.

“Not you recruit Forge,” Crippin said. “We know you can run. Can you clean?”

Hacker threw a small scrubbing brush onto Jack’s bunk.

“The entire bunkhouse is filthy, hayseed. Scrub it clean before we all catch a disease. Anyone gets ill you will answer for the crime of incapacitating an entire training squad. That is treason in a time of war. Do you get me?”

“Sir, yes, Sir.” Jack spat out the reply.

“Squad leader,” Crippin shouted. “Name a recruit to assist Forge,”

Jack looked over to Torent. Who did the thief hate the most? The thought flashed across Jack’s mind that Torent might choose himself and spend the day lazing around while Jack scrubbed the bunkhouse himself.

“Sir, recruit Harts, sir.”

Crippin looked to Harts standing next to his bunk. “Recruit Harts can’t run at all. Maybe it would be better to let you spend the day scrubbing than half the day being tazed for falling behind.”

Hacker threw a second scrubbing brush onto Harts’ bunk.

“Every square centimeter scrubbed and cleaned before we get back. Is that clear, hayseeds?”

Jack and Harts shouted their reply. Crippin turned before they had finished shouting and strode out of the bunkhouse calling out as she went, “Everyone else, form up outside immediately. Last one there gets tazed.”

The cleaning fluids and buckets were brought into the bunkhouse by Hacker moments after the last recruit ran out through the double doors. He turned on his heel and went back out, presumably to administer a mild tazing to whoever had been last in formation. The sharp yelp of pain from outside confirmed that sergeant Hacker had delivered the first tazing of the day.

Picking up his scrubbing brush Harts looked over to Jack. “At least we won’t get tazed today.” He grinned.

“Don’t bet on it,” Jack said looking at the rough, worn down brush. “If this dump isn’t spotless, we’ll get a tazing.” Jack looked around the bunkhouse. It had seemed small but now it looked massive. “Let’s get started at the far end,” Jack said.

Jack and Harts knelt on the floor and scrubbed. Jack’s arms burned as he pressed the brush back and forth. He noticed Harts was barely scrubbing, just moving the brush over the floor.

“You think they could get a drone to do this,” Harts said.

“Sure they could,” Jack agreed, “but this is probably building character, or responsibility, something like that. Or maybe they haven’t got a drone available for cleaning. I wouldn’t be surprised if all functioning drones have been repurposed for combat operations.”

“So we get to be their slaves is it?”

Jack shushed Harts. “That’s seditious talk, recruit. They probably listen to everything. Watch what you say.”

Nodding agreement Harts scrubbed a small circle on the floor.

“Get cracking, Bill,” Jack said. “We get this done before the rest get back and we can have a break.”

Harts scrubbed harder and faster for a few moments. “What do you think of Torent?”

Jack scrubbed the floor harder. “He’s a thief alright. I’ll keep an eye on him from now on.”

“He doesn’t like you,” Harts said.

Looking over at Harts, Jack saw his cleaning teammate snicker.

“You don’t say.” It was pretty clear to all that Jack and Torent were not friendly with each other.

“I know. But he was saying…” Harts trailed off.

“Saying what?” Jack stopped scrubbing. He didn’t really care what anyone said about him.

“Said he was going to make things tough for you,” Harts scrubbed harder. “Said he was going to make sure you don’t beat him.” Harts looked sideways toward Jack. “He said you were a failure, a stupid school kid who thinks he’s better than everyone.”

Jack felt the rage build inside him. “He said that?” Jack asked.

Harts scrubbed. “He was talking to his buddies, the ugly one and the fat one, all those guys.”

Jack scrubbed. If only he had been out on the run he would show Torent. He could out run Torent any day. He could out shoot Torent. He could out think Torent. Jack took a bite from his ration bar and felt the energy boost. He scrubbed the floor hard.

“I don’t think he’s any good,” Harts said. “No one really likes him. He’s not as good as you.”

Jack looked over at Harts. Harts gave an embarrassed smile and then turned back to his work.

“Don’t tell him I said anything,” Harts said meekly. “I’m ashamed to say I’m afraid of him. But you’re not, are you Jack?”

Jack scrubbed the floor. Torent was a rough guy from a different world. Jack had spent his life either running or in math class, both for fun. Torent had spent his life house breaking and picking pockets. Torent was rough and hard. He was afraid of Torent, but not so afraid to be intimidated by him. Jack had been alone in the world for long enough that he had learned to stand up for himself.

“No, I’m not afraid of him.” Jack scrubbed hard. “Let’s get this bunk house cleaned then take a long break.”

9

Jack turned over in his bunk as his sleep was shattered by another wakeup call and a rough introduction to another training day. Crippin shouted for the recruits to form up outside. Hacker tossed out ration bars. Jack tore off the wrapper and bit into the dark, sticky bar.

“Good work cleaning, recruit,” Crippin shouted as Jack ran by.

“Sir, thank you sir,” he replied through a mouthful of the ration bar.

“You want to take the duty again next time?”

“Sir, no thank you, sir.” Jack ran out of the double doors and out onto the ground outside.

Sergeant Hacker was standing on a large square of material that had been laid on the ground, weighted down in the corners by heavy cones. The sergeant grinned at the recruits as they formed up in their neat rows.

Crippin was last out of the bunk house. She walked along the front of the assembled squad.

“A Marine must be able to get close to the enemy and destroy it, grab it by the nose and kick it in the ass. You hayseeds are not Marines yet, not by a long shot, but today we will get you a little bit closer.”

Hacker dropped what looked like a few brown bags on to the floor at his feet. Jack looked closely. Two sets of two bags. They had laces at the open end. They were padded. Jack realized they were not bags, they were gloves. Large, padded gloves.

“What the sergeant put on the floor are two sets of fighting mitts. You will come up in pairs and pull on those mitts. You then have two minutes to bash the blood, sweat and snot out of each other. The winners are those who don’t stop until the two minutes are up.”

Crippin walked along the line of recruits and picked the first two. They were standing next to each other and Jack recognized them as two of Torent’s crew, a skinny guy and an ugly guy.

The two pulled on their mitts and squared off against each other. Crippin shouted for them to begin.

The two danced about the square, moving in circles, occasionally moving in and throwing a wide swing. After about a minute of dancing, Crippin shouted out.

“Stop! Sergeant, if you please.”

Hacker pointed his tazer at the pair. They fell instantly into a quivering heap. Hacker pulled them off the square and began pulling the mitts off their hands.

“Next,” Crippin said. She pointed at a young dark-skinned girl and a fat guy who had spent most of his time on the training moon in tears.

The young girl was fast and she ran in throwing a barrage of punches at the head of the fat recruit. The crying recruit held his hands up to protect his head. The girl delivered a storm of short jabs to the flabby belly.

“Don’t just take it,” Crippin shouted. “Fight, hayseed.”

The crying recruit swung a wild fist and caught the dancing girl on the side of the head. She went sprawling over with the force. The crying recruit walked forward, a bubble of snot ballooned up on his nose as he breathed.

The fast girl was on her feet and flew back in to rain blows on the snot and tear soaked head of her opponent. She took another heavy blow on the right of her head and replied with a half dozen jabs to her opponent’s face. She took a heavy blow on the left from another wild swing. Her reply was a left and a right swing followed by a right jab and a left uppercut.

The fat recruit staggered backwards, his left swinging around in a badly aimed wild swing that caught his opponent on the head just above her right ear. Both hit the floor then began climbing to their feet.

The girl rushed in but was dizzy from the heavy blows. The fat recruit stepped toward her, fists raised on front of his tear stained cheeks.

“Time.” Crippin shouted. “Mitts off, recruits.” Crippin stood in between the two and took each by the wrist. “And the winner is,” Crippin said and then lifted a hand from both recruits.

The squad erupted in cheers as the two recruits shook hands and embraced, blood and snot dripping from their faces.

Crippin sent one pair after another while Jack waited his turn to fight. He had never been in a fist fight before and he knew he was going to be as afraid as the fat crying recruit had been. He hoped he didn’t run from the fight like some did only to be tazed.

The recruits who had already fought cheered the hardest for each new pair. Jack began to look through the recruits to see who he would prefer to fight. His eyes landed on Torent who was staring straight at him. Staring and grinning. There was no doubt in Jack’s mind who Torent wanted to fight. Jack looked forward to the current pair and saw a wild swing connect and knock the recipient unconscious.

“Sergeant Hacker, if you please,” Crippin said and Hacker dragged the unconscious recruit off the square as Crippin raised the hand of the winner.

The next pair were two of the biggest, heaviest brutes in the squad. They squared off against each other and waited for the signal to begin. Crippin shouted for them to start and they stepped up, both opening with a heavy swinging right. Both punches connected and landed heavily on the head. Both recruits took the blow and in almost perfect synchronization brought their left around in a wide arc. The blows landed and the pair continued with a swinging right. The blows landed. The next swing came a little more slowly but Jack could see one was coming in faster than the other. One recruit was creeping ahead in the blow for blow battle. Again a right swing. Again a left. And with every swing the one recruit crept ahead until he was ahead by a swing, delivering his right while the slower opponent was throwing his left.

Crippin shouted time and the two stopped, the slower fell to one knee, the quicker opponent saving him from falling to the floor with a steadying hand.

Crippin waited while the standing recruit helped his opponent off the ground. They stood, bloody, bruised and slightly wobbly, either side of Crippin. She raised both hands to cheers from the training squad.

“Torent. Forge. You’re next.”

Jack walked out in front of the squad. They were cheering and wild with excitement for every new round as they nursed their cuts. The square of cloth was slightly padded and had a strong non-skid surface. It was splattered with blood, snot, sweat, and tears but Jack could hold his footing easily. He bent down to take a pair of the fighting mitts. Torent reached down and took the pair before Jack could take them.

“Mine,” Torent said and nudged Jack with his shoulder.

Jack took the remaining pair. He hated that Torent had snatched the mitts from him. It wasn’t that there was any difference between the pair, it was just that Torent wanted to beat Jack at everything, and Jack hated that Torent was winning.

Pulling on the mitts Jack felt the sweat from the previous recruits. The interior was damp and warm. The mitts felt strange. He slammed them together to get a feel for their weight.

Looking over at Torent, Jack could see the squad leader was ready and eager to have his two minutes with him. Jack guessed a thuggish thief like Torent had probably had a fist fight every week of his nasty little life. Jack was scared of being hit but he was more scared of losing to Torent. He couldn’t let the thief beat him down.

Crippin gave to signal and Torent rushed at Jack. Jack staggered backwards in surprise. He heard the disapproval from the squad as Jack avoided the swings from Torent. Jack staggered back off the square onto the rough ground.

“Stop,” Crippin shouted. “Get back on the square, Forge. Go again. Two minutes.”

Torent was facing the squad his hands raised in the air to cheers of approval. He was claiming victory without even landing a blow. Jack stepped in to the center of the square. He needed to stand his ground.

Torent turned from his fans and rushed Jack again. Jack was ready this time and stuck out his fist, a straight arm pointing at the on rushing Torent. Torent swatted the arm out of the way and landed a blow on Jack’s face.

Jack shuddered under the blow. He twisted away from the next to come flying in. Torent was laughing. Jack caught a glimpse of Torent’s smirking face as he twisted away from another punch.

Jack realized that Torent was enjoying himself. He probably enjoyed beating people. Jack hated that Torent was enjoying this. Jack hated that he was being made to look ridiculous in front of the squad. Jack hated the fact that he had been dragged from his university studies to stand against a thug like Torent on this distant and desolate moon. Jack stood up, determined to land a blow, the heaviest he could muster right on Torent’s ugly, smirking face.

Jack was sent sprawling as a blow landed on the side of his head. He fell to the ground on all fours.

Torent was holding his hands up to the squad again. Jack saw Crippin look over to Hacker, he guessed she was about to order a tazer jolt. Torent turned and faced Jack with a grin.

Jack rushed at Torent. He saw the momentary look of surprise on Torent’s face. The thief had probably thought Jack was truly beaten. Jack took a blow to the head but it was poorly timed by Torent who was now on the back foot. Jack ran at Torent and shoulder charged him in the gut. Torent let out a groan and staggered backwards.

Jack wrapped his arms around Torent’s waist and powered forwards, driving with his legs, the powerful muscles trained by hours of running propelled him forwards. He lifted Torent off the ground and drove him down.

Jack landed on top of Torent. He looked down at the surprised and furious Torent. Jack brought his fist around and punched Torent hard on the side of the head.

Jack felt the punches land and jolt Torent’s head from side to side. He was about to land another when he felt himself being dragged up by the collar. Sergeant Hacker pulled Jack away. Jack looked at the gruff old sergeant who gave Jack the slightest wink of approval.

“Stand and fight,” Crippin shouted. “One minute more. Starting from now.”

The crowd shouted and cheered as Jack and Torent moved in toward each other. Jack saw Torent lead with his strong right swing. He ducked under it and delivered a sharp left to Torent’s ribs. Torent squirmed away and brought his right around again. Jack leaned back and Torent’s fighting mitt sailed across in front of Jack’s face narrowly missing his nose. Jack leaned in and sent a right jab at Torent’s ribs and followed it with a left. Jack couldn’t believe his luck as Torent was out of position and struggling to bring his left fist around and Jack was able to land another hard blow on Torent’s ribs.

Jack saw Torent had recovered his step and was swinging a wild left punch. He stepped inside the arc and landed a right jab on Torent’s face.

The punches to Torent’s ribs had given Jack the advantage in the fight but the blow to Torent’s smirking face was the most satisfying. Jack brought his fist up and landed a blow on Torent’s jaw. It was a weak punch, though, and he positioned his right to land another blow. And as he savored the thought of knocking Torent down he saw the head butt flying in.

Jack brought his mitts up and defended the head butt from Torent. Jack heard a distant call from Crippin for them to use mitts only.

Torent wrapped his left arm around Jacks neck and began punching with his right. Jack delivered a series of right hand jabs at Torent’s gut and a series of left hand jabs to the thief’s lower back. The rain of punches Jack was taking was starting to take its toll. His eye was bruised so badly it had gone numb. Jack hoped Torent would keep hitting him there as it didn’t hurt so much.

Jack landed a blow higher up on Torent’s gut and he felt the grip around his neck slacken off. Jack delivered another and another. He heard the satisfying sound of Torent wincing in pain. It was the only sound he wanted to hear, and he struck again and made Torent let out the stifled cry of pain again. Maybe, Jack thought, he’d broken one of Torent’s ribs. The thought filled Jack will glee and enthusiasm and he hit there again hoping to cripple the nasty thief.

Then Jack was free from the grip. He stood up ready to finish Torent and then the world spun as a blow landed heavily on the side of his head. He staggered backwards, the view a swirling blur of dark ground, cheering squad, sergeant Hacker and a shouting Crippin.

Jack couldn’t hear what Crippin was shouting, he could only hear a ringing in his ears and a voice inside screaming for him to kill Torent, to punch so hard and often that the thief went down and never got up again. Jack staggered toward Torent.

Torent was nursing his ribs with his left and was raising his right for another punch. Jack went in, head down, fists up and rained a left right hook combo on Torent’s gut as his opponent delivered a series of heavy punches to Jack’s head.

Jack staggered backwards. He saw Crippin step in between him and Torent. Jack couldn’t understand why she would do that and stop Jack from killing Torent. Torent came around Crippin and swung a punch at Jack. Jack took the blow as he went in to deliver a salvo of his own.

Somewhere in the distance Jack heard the voice of Crippin as the ringing in his ears subsided.

“Time’s up. Stop fighting.”

Jack saw the murder in Torent’s eyes and he felt the rage boiling up inside himself. They stepped together ready to kill or be killed but neither was going to back down and stop the fight.

The decision, Jack discovered suddenly was not his or Torent’s to make. He heard the crackle of Hacker’s tazer and then the world went black.

Jack woke up on his bunk. Foul smelling sticky salve pasted over his cuts. Torent was propped up on his bunk opposite, his face spotted with salve, he had a heavy bandage around his torso and a brash grin on his face.

The two glowered at each other. Jack had given Torent a beating, but he’d taken one himself too. Jack wasn’t sure either of them had won their fight. He was sure he wasn’t going to beaten by Torent.

10

Standing on the parade ground in the cold morning, Jack felt fresh and ready for another chance to beat Torent. There was a buzz of excitement running silently through the squad as the recruits looked at and tried to guess what was in the large crates that they found waiting for them. Crippin and Hacker seemed nervous. Everyone was quiet until Crippin finally spoke up.

“Listen up, hayseeds.” Crippin was standing in front of the stack of crates all branded with the Fleet Marine seal. “Today, the Fleet is letting you have a go at being proper Marines. Although you don’t look ready for it. Today, you get to meet your last best friend. Today you will learn all the systems of the Fleet Marine Pulse Rifle. You will practice long range sighting and firing as well as close quarters direct fire and Electron Bayonet combat. The Fleet Marine Pulse Rifle will be your primary weapon. This is your responsibility. This is the means by which the Fleet Marines will defeat the Chitin scum.”

Crippin paced in front of the squad. She fixed each recruit with a stare, as if assessing their readiness for the task of carrying the rifle that would be with them every day from this day until their last day as a Marine.

“You will look after this rifle and it will look after you. You will carry this rifle forward to the Chitin scum and the rifle will carry you through. And if anyone is seen mistreating this fine piece of equipment, they will discover that Sergeant Hacker and his tazer is a most gentle treatment. Mistreating this equipment is seen as an act of treason in a time of war. The penalties are severe. Squad Leader, bring your squad forward to receive their rifles.”

Hacker began handing out the rifles to the squad in a solemn procedure. So far, Marine training had been a series of grown up playground exercises, including a glorified playground brawl. This was a much more serious business.

Jack took his rifle in his hands. He looked at the dark machine. The Fleet Marine Pulse Rifle was a sophisticated piece of equipment designed to do one job: kill Chitins. Jack suspected from the look of the weapon that it did its job well. Crippin ordered the recruits to follow her and the squad set off at a run toward the training ground.

The rifle was cold and light. Jack turned it over in his hands as he ran. It was clean and new. Every item of equipment Jack had seen on the entire training moon from Lieutenant Crippin’s buggy to his bunk blanket was tattered and broken. But this rifle, the Fleet Marine Pulse Rifle, was new and in excellent condition.

Jack had heard so often during his semesters at university that the best of everything was reserved for the military. The university was a rundown, once grand building. The entire population of Eros struggled with an austerity that few could endure with good humor. The store shelves were bare of luxuries. Food was scarce, and families planted every patch of ground they could to supplement their rations. The war against the Chitins was consuming the best of everything. And now, here in Jack’s hands, was the evidence. The military had the best of everything and they were starting to give it to him.

Jack ran the now familiar course, but this was the first time he ran it with the pulse rifle in his hands. He ran along the well-trodden paths between the low hills. Crawling under the wire through the sharp rocks with the rifle held in front of him Jack felt the power the weapon gave him. As the automatic fire from the gun batteries to the side of the barbed wire fired their bursts of live ammunition. Jack barely flinched. Clearing the wire Jack climbed to his feet and advanced along the narrow path with the rifle aimed forward.

Arriving at the wall, Jack instinctively slung the Pulse rifle over his shoulder. The strap tightened and held it in place against his back. Leaping up the wall and scrambling to the top Jack saw he was ahead of the rest of the training squad, but he was not running this course today as an individual, he was running as a military fighting unit with his pulse rifle. Jack knew he and his pulse rifle would be more effective if he advanced with his squad, though, so Jack sat atop the wall and called out encouragement to the rest of the squad.

The dark-skinned girl who was almost as fast as Jack came toward the wall. Reaching down to her Jack called for her to jump.

The girl slung her rifle and grabbed Jack’s forearm. She climbed to the top and sat facing Jack.

“You’re pretty quick,” the girl said. “I thought you’d be leaving us all behind.”

“Maybe we need to start thinking as a team,” Jack said. “You’re Osho, right?”

The girl nodded and smiled.

“You helped Torent stop me when we first ran the course,” Jack said accusingly.

Osho grinned. “Yeah,” she said. “Sorry about that. I came in first because of that. I couldn’t have beaten you otherwise.” Osho spoke with a sly twinkle in her eye.

“Here come the others,” Jack said as he noticed the next group of recruits approaching the wall.

“Sling your rifles over your shoulders,” Osho shouted.

“Grab hold,” Jack said, reaching down to the first recruit. It was Torent. Jack looked at him with a grimace. Torent grabbed Jacks arm and climbed the wall. He cleared it in a moment and was over the other side.

“Come on,” Osho shouted as she helped a recruit up and reached down to assist another.

Jack reached and assisted as one recruit after another cleared the wall. With the last of the training squad clear Jack looked to leap down. He caught a glimpse of Crippin and Hacker and the approving look they gave him.

Jack lowered himself toward the ground and dropped. He set off at a fast run. He was behind but he knew he would catch up in moments. Up ahead Jack heard an unfamiliar fizzing crackle. It grew louder as he ran on. Turning a bend in the training ground maze Jack came upon the shooting range. The recruits were opening up with their pulse rifles, shooting at distant targets. Their rifles gave off the crackling sound that Jack knew he would come to know well.

“Fire on your targets,” Crippin shouted. “This is the one-kilometer range. A stone’s throw. The Fleet Marine Pulse Rifle is accurate to a distance of five kilometers in a vacuum. Don’t miss, hayseeds!”

Jack sighted the target through his rifle mounted scope. He breathed easy and fired a single round at the distant target. The bull vanished as the round struck almost instantaneously. Jack looked at the rifle, impressed.

“Don’t stand there staring, hayseed,” Crippin shouted in Jack’s ear. “Run!”

Jack ran and behind him he heard Crippin shouting insults and expletives at the recruits who had missed their target. “We haven’t got bullets to waste, hayseed! We need every round if we are going to kill all the Chitin scum!”

Jack ran on. He reached the front of the pack and jogged alongside them, through the well-worn narrow paths of the training ground to the next training station.

Hacker was waiting at the next station. A series of cylinders made from rough black composite were hanging from a frame. They hung four across and four deep. Hacker stepped up in front of the recruits, a pulse rifle in his hand in place of the tazer. He held the pulse rifle sideways for all to see. He indicated a button and pressed it.

A white beam burst from the muzzle end. A fine brilliant beam of light half a meter in length that looked solid and deadly. It fizzed in the air. Hacker indicated the button again and deactivated the bayonet. He demonstrated the electron bayonet activation once more and motioned for the recruits to charge and attack the hanging composite cylinders.

Jack fired up the bayonet. The power of the bayonet was as impressive as the powerful firing ability, but the bayonet had an extra fearsome quality. The bullet did its damage as much as five kilometers away. The bayonet was very much up close and personal.

Jack charged the first cylinder. He jabbed and slashed. The bayonet pierced the rough composite easily, sliding effortlessly through again and again. The recruits to either side of him were delicately manipulating the deadly device.

Jack watched as the recruit to his left stabbed at the cylinder before him. The recruit overstretched himself and lost his balance. His toe caught a loose rock and in his unbalanced position it was enough to send him sprawling forward. He fumbled his pulse rifle as he fell. Jack saw the weapon turn, butt down, muzzle up.

Jack’s warning shout was still in his throat when the recruit fell headlong into the up-pointing electron bayonet. The sound of the beam slicing through flesh and bone was one Jack immediately tried to bar from his mind. There were no cries from the recruit, the blade sliced clean through his skull, shoulders and torso. The body fell in two. Jack fell to his knees and looked helplessly.

The hard blasts on the whistle from Sergeant Hacker sounded distant. Jack deactivated his bayonet. Training for war was as dangerous as war itself, Jack thought, maybe even more so because the recruits hadn’t had time to get to know their weapons. Jack knew all he needed to know about his pulse rifle. It was deadly and it had no respect for the careless.

11

If Jack had thought Fleet Marine training would stop following the accidental death of a recruit, he was robbed of that thought by the early morning shouting of Crippin. She kicked them from their beds as Hacker flung rations bars on each bunk. They ran them out of the bunkhouse with shouts and a threatening buzz from Hackers tazer.

Their countenance seemed harder today. Jack didn’t know how many recruits they had lost during training, but he knew that at least two had fallen since he had been here. He hoped there wouldn’t be any more. He hoped he wouldn’t be next.

“You hayseeds are going to fight like proper soldiers,” Crippin said. “Today, you are going to meet and kill Chitin scum. And here is your first.” Crippin pointed behind the assembled recruits. They all turned and looked.

The first thing Jack saw was the teeth. The long head of the Chitin was extended forward, the round mouth ringed with pointed teeth lunged forward at the assembled recruits. The gasps and cries of horror and surprise rippled around the recruits. Jack felt himself tingle with panic. The writhing tentacle-like limbs thrashed the floor and propelled the creature forward. Jack tripped and fell backwards. He scurried away, staring up at the teeth dripping saliva and slime. The antenna-like structures all around the smooth head twitched and whipped around, feeling and tasting the air.

“That’s enough, Filth,” Crippin said calmly. She walked through the recruits toward the massive Chitin. She held out her hand toward the creature. The Chitin fell silent.

“Easy, Filth,” Crippin said and touched the smooth head. She turned to the recruits.

Sergeant Hacker was dragging recruits to their feet and shoving them back into line.

“This is Filth. This is the first Chitin scum you have ever seen. If you work hard on your training then the next one you see won’t be the one to kill you. This is a flesh drone built to look and behave like a Chitin, except this one won’t rip your intestines out through your back, not unless I tell it to. Down there…” Crippin pointed to the training ground, its paths and hills, “…is a squad of Chitin scum. You will go down there and kill every last one. Take them down, Sergeant Hacker.”

Sergeant Hacker ran the recruits down into the training course. He kept the squad in a loose formation with Torent running at the front alongside him. Jack jogged along at the back of the formation, looking down at the obstacle course below. He spotted movement in the paths between the many small hills. Dark shapes keeping just out of sight.

Once down on the plain at the edge of the training ground, the view was confined to only a few meters in front as the hills blocked the line of sight. Within the labyrinth of paths were the Chitin flesh drones.

Sergeant Hacker went through the recruits and pushed them into two groups, one for Torent to lead and one for Hacker. The sergeant stepped up to Jack and looked down at him with a twinkle in his eye. Jack felt like the big, silent sergeant was friendly toward him, which seemed strange after the tazing he’d given him. Hacker grabbed Jack and with a smile and pushed him toward Torent.

The sounds of rifle fire soon filled the training ground. Jack spotted his first active Chitin flesh drone and opened fire. The rounds ripped away chunks of flesh but failed to drop it.

Torent was facing another direction when he opened fire. The sound of the rifle next to Jack’s ear was frightening. Turning to see what Torent was firing at, he saw a Chitin flesh drone take a hit and scurry off.

Jack stood next to Torent. “We need to concentrate our fire,” Jack said.

Torent wiped sweat from his forehead. “No,” he said. “We need to draw them out into the open. Take two of the squad and flank left. Draw them to you and we will take them out.”

“We shouldn’t split our force, Torent,” Jack whispered, looking out for the Chitins that lurked just out of sight.

Torent grabbed Jack’s shoulder and shoved him hard. “Don’t refuse my order, Forge,” Torent shouted.

Jack spotted the sudden movement of a shadow falling over the path ahead. He brought his rifle to his shoulder and aimed at the edge of the hill. “Here they come,” he shouted as the first Chitin came on.

Jack fired a burst into the first Chitin. The slime spurted out from the holes the pulse rounds tore through the rubbery flesh. The Chitin fell to one side, the tentacles thrashing on the ground, but it kept coming in a lurching, scuttling pace. A second Chitin appeared and scurried over the wounded one.

“Open fire,” Jack called. He knelt, aimed, and fired another burst into the second Chitin. And then came a third and a fourth.

Torent stood next to Jack and fired. “Take them down. Open fire.”

The rush of Chitins overcame the fire laid down by Jack, Torent, and the recruits. They were quickly overrun, disarmed by the flailing tentacles, and carried away by the Chitin drones.

The recruits were taken away by the Chitin flesh drones and dropped into a pit. A sign was staked out at the edge of the pit that read, ‘Killed by Chitin scum. Welcome to hell.’

“You should have flanked right when I told you to,” Torent said bitterly.

“You shouldn’t have shouted out. You brought them all down on us. Now the other squad is going to win the exercise.”

A hill with the Chitin flag was taken down, signaling that the other squad had, indeed, beaten the Chitins and won the day.

“Should have flanked right,” Torent mumbled.

The squad stood in line. Before them stood Jack and Torent. Lieutenant Crippin paced in front of them.

“Forge,” she said. “Your squad leader tells me you disobeyed an order.”

“Sir, it was a bad order, sir.”

“All orders are bad, hayseed. You follow them all the same. Maybe you think you should be squad leader.”

“Sir,” Jack shouted, “no, sir.”

“And why not?” Crippin paced behind the pair.

“Don’t want to be in the military at all, sir.”

Crippin stopped behind Jack. She leaned close to his ear. “Yet you are countermanding a squad leader’s orders and suggesting your own strategy. Don’t split the force, did you say?”

“Sir, yes, sir. I wanted to win the game.”

“This is not a game, hayseed. You get me?”

“Sir, no, sir. It is a game. We were fighting drones. These are not real Chitins.”

“No, they are not. Do you want me to throw you into action against Chitin scum without practice?”

“Sir, no, sir,” Jack shouted. His brother had been killed by the Chitins and no one had more reason to hate them than Jack. But Jack wanted to study, not fight.

“And why not?” Crippin resumed her pacing.

“I don’t want to fight Chitins at all, sir.”

“Coward, are you?”

“Sir, no, sir. I don’t think we should be fighting them at all, sir. We came to this system. We colonized Eros and Ares, we took all the moons and then we started pumping H2 out of their home planet’s atmosphere. We attacked them. They are only defending themselves, sir.”

“Sergeant Hacker,” Crippin shouted. “Take this traitor to the punishment ground.”

Hacker grabbed Jack by the collar and hauled him off the ground. Jack’s feet barely touched the ground as he was dragged away.

The punishment ground was a small patch of beaten earth at the rear of the squad bunkhouse. A post was planted in the ground and stood four meters tall. Straps hung from the top with loops at the end. Hacker pushed Jack’s face into the post and pulled the loops over Jack’s hands. The straps were pulled tight and lifted Jack up onto his toes.

“Recruit Forge is guilty of insurrection.” Crippin stood in front of the assembled recruits. “We are fighting for our lives. We cannot tolerate traitorous rhetoric from any of you. Forge will receive three lashes. From each recruit. Squad, line up.”

The first lash stung like a hornet and snatched his breath away. The second stung like a swarm. After the third lash, Jack gasped for air before he screamed in pain.

The beating was fierce and Jack slipped out of consciousness. He was jolted back to life by a mild sting from Hacker’s tazer, a low yield shock designed to revive rather than stun. Finally, Torent himself stepped forward and delivered three of the heaviest lashes. Jack yelled in pain. He felt the straps slacken and heard Crippin call out for Torent to assist Jack.

Jack fell to the ground. He heard Crippin call out to Hacker as she walked closer. “Sergeant Hacker. Administer the final lashes.”

Jack fell to the ground and looked up, pleading for mercy, but then he saw Hacker grab Torent and fasten him against the post. A short whip was in Hacker’s hands. He quickly delivered three sharp lashes. Torent yelled out at each one and cried out, asking why.

“You ask why?” Crippin said to Torent as he crumpled to the ground. “Because you refused to listen to good advice when it was given and brought the whole pack of Chitin scum down on your group with your shouting. That’s why. A good squad leader listens to his squad.”

12

Jack woke in his bunk, his cuts from the flogging covered in sticky ointment that stuck to the rough bed sheets. It peeled away with a scratchy, scraping pain as he sat up. It was the start of a day of rest and recuperation for the squad. Hacker had delivered a stack of ration bars. Crippin had delivered the news that they were free for one day.

Torent stood at the side of Jack’s bed and pushed him back down. A group of Torent’s allies stood around.

“You are trouble, Forge,” Torent said.

“Give him another thrashing?” one of Torent’s gang said.

Torent stared at Jack with murder in his eye. “No,” Torent conceded reluctantly. “Give him a chance to recover. I need my squad fit if we are going to beat those Chitin scum tomorrow.”

“But he don’t want to kill no Chits,” the ally said. “He’s a coward.”

“He’s a good shot,” Torent said. “He can help us win.”

“If he decides to fight.”

“He will,” Torent said, pushing his fist against Jack’s shoulder and pressing him down to the rough bunk. “He will or I will snap his kraving fingers off.”

The bunkhouse was rowdy that day. The recruits invented games and blew off steam, filling the bunkhouse with raucous noise. While they played, Jack carefully pulled his recruit uniform on over his lacerated skin and left the house to wander around the complex.

Crossing the parade ground, Jack walked to the hill, climbed to the summit, and looked around the entire camp for the first time. The training ground below was empty and still. The complex of buildings around the bunkhouse included the small buildings that served as Crippin’s residence. The last building in the complex was covered in antenna and was most likely a communication office.

Jack spotted one other building set away from the training ground and the complex. It was not far off. Jack could have made it in a few minutes at full sprint if he had been fit, but in his worn and battered condition, he knew it would be a long yet manageable walk.

The training moon was barren in every direction. In the hour it took Jack to wander over to the building, the terrain didn’t change at all. It was all rocks and dust, the same dark, barren rock. No life except for the recruits, Crippin, Hacker, and whatever other vermin the transport craft had brought to the small moon.

The building was rundown like everything else Jack had seen, apart from the brand-new pulse rifle he’d been fighting with the day before. The walls of the building were the same composite that the military spacecraft were made of but were pitted and cracked. Jack rubbed his hand over it and its surface flaked off and crumbled away to dust.

Walking around the perimeter, Jack came across a window, a transparent section of the same composite material. It was also cracked and flaked away at his the touch. Inside, Jack saw a series of workbenches. There were dust covers thrown over some hidden piles of what looked like machinery.

This had been a maintenance shed, or maybe a mechanic training shop once. Now it was a forgotten casualty of a war that had cost mankind everything except their tenuous existence. Jack moved around the building, looking for a way in.

The door was shut but unlocked. Whoever had mothballed and closed this facility had not expected anyone to come and interfere with it. Jack slid the door open.

The air inside was musty. It was also dark. Shards of light cutting through the dust that swirled about, kicked up by Jack’s boots.

Throwing aside one of the covers, Jack found a black military drone. He recognized the model from his brother’s virtual reality games. It was a weaponized reconnaissance drone used to scout ahead of the main force. Its hull was cracked and covered in dust. Similar drones had been used by university campus security and by local police forces, before they had all been requisitioned to assist in the fight against the Chitins.

Jack walked around the drone to the service hatch. He pressed and clawed at it. He knew this model of drone and it would be a moment of escape from his brutal military training to investigate the machine. The panel popped open.

The biomech circuitry was putrid. It spewed out over the side of the hull and onto the toes of Jack’s boots. It stank of rotten meat and sour milk.

Backing away from the drone and the stink, Jack threw aside more of the dust covers, looking for any abandoned equipment. There were several small surveillance drones, a supply delivery drone, and parts for the weaponized reconnaissance drone. Jack picked through the parts for anything usable. He realized that it was the remains of at least two other reconnaissance drones that had been stripped for parts. He found a section of hull that showed signs of energy weapon damage. The composite hull was blistered around the entry wound and the edge was bubbled to a brittle foam. It looked like the work of a Chitin plasma spear.

Jack found a collection of power cells for the drones. All were spent, but at least one was clean. Jack cracked open the seal and took a sniff. It was healthy, even though it was unpowered. Jack dug around and found some cleaning equipment and set about cleaning the putrid biomech circuitry of the military drone.

Sitting in the dust and debris of the workshop, Jack lost himself in the work. He cleaned and primed the reconnaissance drone. He studied his work in the failing light. It looked good. He’d found the parts he needed. He really wanted to check his work. All he needed was a power supply, and he knew where he could find one.

The door to the workshop slid open The rattling noise and scrapping surprised Jack. He turned and jumped to his feet.

“Lieutenant Crippin, sir,” Jack said. He stood at attention. He was going to get tazed for this, at the very least.

“I guessed it would be you out here. Stand at ease, recruit.” Crippin looked around the workshop. “I had to flog you,” she said, walking around the cleaned and repaired drone. “You were right, of course. We attacked them first, but I can’t have you saying that stuff in front of everyone.” Crippin opened the service hatch on the drone and looked inside. “We used to be so sophisticated. We’ve thrown everything at these Chits. We’ve lost mech and manpower. We are falling back all the time. They are just too difficult to kill, and they find it all too easy to kill us. We lost the Destroyer Libra today.”

Crippin walked toward the door. She hesitated. “My last group of recruits was on that ship. Go to bed, Forge. Busy day tomorrow.”

13

The bunkhouse was bustling when Jack entered. Bill, sitting alone, stood up and walked to Jack’s side.

“You’ve been away all day. Where’d you go?”

“Just out.”

“You missed rations. Hacker brought them in and threw them to our bunks. Torent took yours.”

Jack looked over to Torent. One of his cronies was smearing lotion over his back where he’d taken his lashes. Torent spotted Jack and pushed away from his cronies.

He walked over to Jack, shirtless. There were gang tattoos on his chest and arms, old knife wounds, and one large scar across his stomach. He squared up to Jack.

“You been absent, Forge.”

“I had free time.”

“I want you to let me know if you are going to disappear again. You get me?” Torent turned his head, pointing his ear toward Jack.

“Okay.”

“Answer correctly, Forge.”

“Screw you, Torent. You’re not an officer.”

“I will be, so you’d better get used to treating me like it.” Torent held out his hand and one of his groupies produced a ration block.

“I need my squad at full strength. Eat.” He pressed the silver block into Jack’s hand, then slung an arm over Jack’s shoulder and walked along the bunkhouse. Jack spotted Bill attempting to follow but being held back by Torent’s cronies. “I can read people, Forge. Read you right, didn’t I? Annoying, and smart. And I can read him too.” Torent jabbed a thumb back toward Bill. “Watch out for him. He’s real trouble.” Torent pushed Jack onto his bunk. “Now eat and rest. I want you ready for action tomorrow.”

The siren’s wail surprised Jack and Torent as it pierced the noise of the bunkhouse. Torent looked around, trying to understand what it meant. Then the first explosion shook the bunkhouse.

Jack crouched down as dust fell from the roof. Recruits were screaming, many cowering under their bunks. A second explosion shook the ground.

Torent stood alone in the middle of the bunkhouse. “On your feet,” he shouted. Torent walked along the middle of the bunkhouse shouting. “On your feet. Get your jackets buttoned and your rifles loaded.”

The doors burst open and Sergeant Hacker charged in. He went to the far end of the bunkhouse and began waving both his arms wildly, waving the recruits out the door.

Crippin was crouched on one knee on the parade ground. She was fastening on a jacket with pouches for ammunition clips. Her rifle was propped up against her. She waved the recruits over.

“Take a knee and listen up. This is not a drill. A Chitin craft has been detected approaching the training moon. We’ve already lost contact with Training Base Delta. We are going to defend ourselves. The Destroyer Scorpio is on route with a battalion of Fleet Marines on board. Until then, we’re on our own. Your training has not been completed. You are not ready for this, but right now, we must fight or die. Do you get me?”

Sergeant Hacker dragged a trolley with ammunition packs out into the parade ground.

“Remember when these were just a bunch of hayseeds, Sergeant?”

Hacker began handing out ammunition.

“They grow up so fast.” Crippin primed her rifle and tested the sights.

An explosion in the distance lit up the sky. “We will take a defensive position on the hill. Follow me.”

Crippin set off toward the hill. She moved fast and stayed low. The recruits followed. Jack checked that his rifle was ready for action. He was certain this was some training exercise. Some around him also seemed unconvinced, while others were terrified. Another explosion in the distance set up a ripple of noise that spread through the recruits.

“Quiet,” Crippin called in a harsh whisper. “Squad Leader, keep your squad quiet.”

Crippin moved quickly and Hacker brought up the rear, urging the stragglers on. Jack kept up with Crippin, Torent not far behind. They reached the summit of the hill and had a wide view of the surrounding ground. A fire was burning just over the horizon beyond the training ground of small hills and pathways.

“We could take cover in the training ground,” Torent suggested.

“We’ll be separated by the hills. We won’t be able to fire as a unit. It’ll reduce our fire concentration and we’ll be too easy to break up,” Jack said.

“Forge is right, Squad Leader,” Crippin said. “We will set up a firing line here and hold them off until the Scorpio’s battalion arrives.”

“Where are they?” Torent asked.

Jack looked down his sights and scanned the horizon.

“Delta Training Base is twenty-five kilometers in that direction.” Crippin pointed to the horizon beyond the training ground, toward the fire that lit up the sky. “If they come for us, we will see them from up here.”

The last of the recruits came to the top of the hill. Sergeant Hacker dropped next to Crippin and scanned the skyline through his rifle sights. He nudged Crippin and pointed to the far horizon.

Jack looked and saw a sudden flash. A faint line arched into the sky and came slowly toward the hill. Jack looked through his sights and saw a Chitin flying through the air, a jetpack flaring and creating the faint streak.

“Reconnaissance soldier,” Crippin said. “Forge. Shoot that scum out of my sky.”

Jack aimed at the small flash of the jetpack. He breathed easy and fired a single shot. The arching soldier tumbled in midair, tentacles flailing. The jetpack flared again and brought the Chitin soldier even closer.

“Kill it, now,” Crippin shouted.

Jack got up on one knee and took aim again. Torent copied the stance. The two began firing. Jack saw the Chitin coming closer, and that round after round were slamming home, tearing chunks out of it. A tentacle fell away, ripped off by multiple hits, and then the jetpack exploded.

The explosion lit up the sky and the ground in a brilliant white light. The ground in the distance seemed to seethe and writhe. It looked alive.

Jack spotted the look in Crippin’s eye as she looked at Hacker. Jack knew it was not good. Crippin and Hacker both took all their extra ammunition packs from their pockets and placed them on the ground before them.

“A line,” Crippin shouted and pointed along the summit of the hill. “Pick your targets. Hold your fire.”

The sounds of fear rippled through the squad. Then the first recruit ran.

It was a young woman, short hair and long eyelashes. She ran back in the direction of the bunkhouse. Hacker was on his feet.

“Leave her,” Crippin said. “I am going to need you here, Sergeant, more than I’ll need her.” Crippin crawled to the front of the line. “Listen up, squad. If you run, you will die. If we run, we will get picked off one by one. If we stay together, we have a chance. Pick your targets. Hold your fire. Wait for my command. We are going to kill a whole bunch of Chitin scum. They are coming fast, and they’ll be here soon. But they don’t know what we’ve got waiting for them. We’re going to shred them all. You get me?”

Another recruit began to scurry away. It was Torent’s ugly ally. Torent was on him in a flash. He grabbed him and dragged him down in between him and Jack. The smell of urine was apparent. Jack watched the Chitin advance and made a promise not to piss himself.

“Get ready, Marines,” Crippin shouted. “Here they come. Open fire!”

14

The crackle of rifle fire rippled across the summit of the hill. Jack saw through his sights that the rounds were hitting the Chitins as they rushed forward. They came on in a tightly packed bunch and it was almost impossible to miss, but the damage inflicted was low. Jack picked his target and aimed for the round mouthpiece of the Chitin soldiers. He saw the teeth splinter and get shot out of the mouths of all his targets, but still they came on. Jack targeted the smooth head and fired several rounds into another Chitin soldier. The bullets smashed into the head, throwing up spurts of thin orange liquid.

“Keep firing,” Crippin shouted.

Jack saw the front of the advancing mass of soldiers pause. A strange hum began and then Jack saw the pulsing plasma growing on the tips of the weapons the Chitin soldiers held. The hum grew to a high-pitched whine, then the plasma spears shot forward.

Jack was mesmerized by the lights that flickered toward him. The orange and white threads of plasma arced upward before flicking forward. The plasma spears lashed at the summit of the hill, exploding the rock in front of Jack in a burst of red-hot dust. The recruit next to Jack was lacerated and split in two from his left shoulder to hip. The blood that spilled out boiled. The smell of charred flesh filled Jack’s nostrils.

A recruit along the line shrieked in terror. He dropped his rifle as he stood and turned to run. He was caught by the tip of a plasma spear. The tip lost its focus and frayed into a number of finer, dimmer plasma threads. The frayed ends scraped across the screaming recruit, ripping away clothes and skin. Then the recruit fell forward toward the plasma spear and was sliced in two.

“Keep firing,” Crippin shouted.

Jack fired a number of shots into the head of his target. The Chitin thrashed about and fell and then scurried away under the tentacles of another who came forward to take its place. Jack fired another short burst, smashing into the smooth head and toothed mouth of this new front-line Chitin.

Then the plasma spears leaped forward again.

The light on the opposite horizon grabbed Jack’s attention. He saw fire leaping into the sky.

“Alpha Training Base,” Crippin said. “We’re surrounded.”

“We need to get mobile, sir,” Jack said to Crippin. “If we get surrounded, we are done for.”

“But we’ve got the high ground,” Torent said.

“All that means is we’ll die on a hill,” Jack said.

“Jack’s right,” Crippin agreed. “We need to move. We have to avoid getting surrounded, hill or no hill. But we have no way of knowing where they are.”

“Air reconnaissance,” Jack said. “We can spot them from the air.”

“We don’t have air power, Forge. Scorpio is still too far out.”

“Not the Scorpio, sir.” Jack pointed toward the workshop down the hill. “If I can get that drone airborne…”

“Nice idea, Forge, but there are no power cells,”

Jack held his rifle side on. “Here, I can use the power cell in this rifle.”

Sergeant Hacker looked at Jack and then at Crippin. They both shrugged.

“What harm can it do to try? Go, Forge, and take Torent with you.” Crippin fired off a quick burst. “And if you can drop any ordinance on that Chitin scum, that would be a plus. Go. Now.”

Jack scurried back from the summit as another spread of plasma spears scorched the summit.

Jack ran and dismantled his rifle as he went.

“What are you doing with that rifle, Forge?” Torent called as they ran.

“The Fleet Marine Pulse Rifle is powered by a micro fusion reactor. It should have enough power to get that old reconnaissance drone off the ground.” Jack threw the parts of the rifle away and found the power cell.

Jack and Torent ran into the workshop. Torent moved around the building, rifle raised, as he searched the area.

“Clear,” he shouted.

Jack rushed to the front of the old drone and searched out the access panel for the power cell.

“It doesn’t fit.”

“Wedge it in, Jack. We have got to get them off that hill.”

“I can’t just wedge it in. I need to fix it in somehow.” Jack picked his way through the debris of the workshop. He found an old solder iron. “This could work. But I need some soft metal to fuse the cell to the craft.”

“So find some,” Torent said. He walked quickly to the door and looked through it down his gun sights. “Get it working, Jack.”

“I’ve already been through every piece of junk in this place. There’s nothing I can use.”

Torent walked up to Jack and grabbed him by the shoulder. “You’re supposed to be the smart one, right? Don’t suppose Chitins care whose brains they melt but I’d rather they didn’t melt mine, so use your brains and fix the damn power cell in there and I’ll keep watch.”

“Watch,” Jack said, his voice failing.

“Yes, I’ll keep watch.” Torent scanned the view outside the workshop.

Jack picked out his small package from his pocket and unwrapped his family silver watch. “My watch.”

“Whatever you are going to do, do it fast. Chitins at twelve o’clock.”

Jack snapped the back off. He popped out the mechanism, with its creamy face and fine hands. The solder iron was hot in a second. Jack held the power cell in place and carefully melted the silver case of his family watch.

The sound of Torent’s rifle fire startled Jack. The Chits were close. Jack activated the power supply and the craft lurched upward.

“They’re coming,” Torent said. “Send that thing.”

“I need a way to pilot it,” Jack said. It was a remote reconnaissance drone and needed some human input. A spare user headset was found in one of the broken pieces of equipment. It took a moment to calibrate the headset to the drone.

“This should do it,” Jack said.

“So do it.” Torent laid down a sustained fire.

“It’s dangerous. I haven’t got a neural processor. I need to buffer the information. I might get overloaded.”

“You’ll be dead for sure if you don’t try something.” Torent closed the door and stepped back into the workshop, taking cover behind a workbench.

Jack put the headset on.

Jack was stunned for a moment. The drone had at one point been linked to the training moon’s many surveillance systems, and it had stored huge amounts of reconnaissance data. All the information that had ever been collected on the moon flooded into Jack’s mind.

It was an impossible mix of information. Jack watched recruits arriving on transport vessels, coming in as raw hayseeds and leaving as newly qualified Marines. The training time had been longer in the past. Recruits were coming in smaller numbers and being shipped out after shorter and shorter training programs.

Jack saw his brother. He had trained here too. And there was Crippin, shouting into his face.

Jack was suddenly present in Crippin’s office. A fleet captain was visiting. Crippin was being told that the Chitins were powerful. Humanity was being pushed back. Destroyers were being lost at an unsustainable rate. A carrier had been destroyed. The war was being lost.

Jack saw himself arrive at the moon training base. He looked sad. He looked alone.

Then Jack saw his watch through the bunkhouse surveillance. It was being taken from the hiding place in his bunk and was being placed in Torent’s bunk. The data showed Jack who had really taken it. Bill Harts had hidden his watch in Torent’s bunk. Jack saw the dispute between Torent and himself over the watch and there was Bill Harts, sitting back on his bunk and enjoying the show.

“Jack!” Torent shouted, snapping him back to reality. “Jack. Wake up or I’ll put a round through your messed-up brain.”

“I have control,” Jack said. He wiped away the trickle of blood that dribbled out of his nose.

The drone leapt up and smashed through the roof. The targeting display picked out the advancing Chitins. Jack accessed the fire controls. The drone was minimally armed, but he thought it should be enough to destroy the few Chits outside. The drone’s cannons purred, and the Chitin’s bodies burst as the incendiary rounds burned them from the inside out.

Then Jack was flying, skimming the craft centimeters above the rocky surface. He was at the hill in a moment. Jack saw the line of recruits still firing down the other side. Jack skirted around the hill and came up on a position flanking the line of Chitin soldiers advancing on the hill.

The canons purred again and scorched the front line of the Chitins.

The plasma whips flashed toward the drone. Without a neural processor, Jack could not handle all the information. He was slow. A plasma lance sliced through the port side of the drone. Jack pulled away, firing a hail of bullets from the small store of kinetic rounds. They tore through the Chitins as he retreated.

The signal was received by the communications office and routed through the drone to Jack. It was from the Destroyer Scorpio.

“Attention all personnel. Evac from Beta Training Base parade ground in five minutes.”

“We need to get to the hill,” Jack said to Torent. His speech seemed slow and slurred. “Evac inbound. We need to tell them. We only have a few minutes.”

“We can’t get there in that time.”

Then the drone crashed back in through the hole in the roof.

“Climb on,” Jack said. “And hold tight.”

The drone arrived at the hill. Crippin was walking behind the line of recruits, who were all in the dirt laying down a well-ordered and disciplined fire.

“That’s it. You’ve got them dug in now. They don’t want this hill as badly as they first thought.”

Torent dived into the dirt amongst the recruits and opened fire. Jack gave Crippin the news.

“Evac?” she said. “Thought I would serve out my time on this hill.” She patted Jack on the shoulder. “Good work, Forge. Scout the route back to the parade ground. Make sure there are no Chits waiting for us, then secure the landing area.” As Jack ran off down the hill, he heard Crippin shouting orders. “Sergeant Hacker, take this squad down the hill. Tactical withdrawal.”

The recruits came running toward the parade ground. Jack scouted the area ahead with the drone. The Chitins were closing in on all sides around the training complex. Crippin and Hacker were falling back toward the training complex, firing as they went. The few remaining Chitin soldiers were approaching more cautiously, but they were lashing out with their plasma spears.

Sergeant Hacker yelled in pain as his right leg was ripped off by a spear that coiled around his knee. Crippin grabbed the sergeant and dragged him backward, firing her rifle one-handed at the Chitins as she went. A spear flashed out and took her rifle arm at the elbow.

Jack piloted the drone between Crippin and the Chits. He faced off against the Chits and fired the last few remaining rounds. Kinetic rounds, incendiary rounds, and finally a mid-yield explosive that threw up rock and dust and Chitin flesh.

The rescue craft came down on the parade ground. A gun on the upper hull was firing bursts, hundreds of rounds per second. In the distance, Jack saw the rocky surface of the moon throwing up clouds of dust as the rounds struck. An officer ran out of the rescue craft and called the recruits aboard.

“Lieutenant Crippin,” Jack shouted.

“Get in, Jack,” Torent shouted from the ramp. “Get in,”

Jack piloted the drone to the stricken sergeant and lieutenant. He hovered the drone low to the ground and let Crippin and Hacker climb aboard. Carefully and as quickly as he could, Jack brought the drone and its human cargo to the rescue craft.

“We’ve got incoming,” the rescue craft officer shouted. He grabbed Jack by the collar and dragged him aboard. Jack watched through the drone sensors as a plasma spear struck from orbit. A huge Chitin craft appeared and eclipsed the distant sun. The massive plasma spears scoured the moon surface, throwing dust and rock into the thin atmosphere.

Jack gripped his head. His eyes burned from the inside as the information from the plasma spear strike flooded his brain. And then he lost contact with the drone. The sudden end of the data stream was as disorientating as when he first accessed it. Exhaustion hit and Jack collapsed, unconscious.

The first thing Jack noticed when he came around was the noise, the distant hum of the fusion drive. The second thing was the cold of the deck. He looked about and saw he was in a hangar deck aboard a destroyer. The hangar was neat and clean, except for the ragged recruits covered in dust and blood. An officer walked in front of the assembled recruits.

“At ease, trash bags. Welcome aboard the Scorpio. You have had the shortest and most brutal training any squad in the Fleet Marine Division has ever been through. You have all proven yourselves in the face of the enemy. It’s my duty to award you your Fleet Marine stripe.”

Jack nudged Torent. “You still think they’ll make you an officer?”

Torent held out a hand with a smile and pulled Jack off the deck. “You still think you’re too smart to be a Marine?”

Jack fell silent as the officer came up to him. He struggled to stay on his feet as he saluted. Torent held him steady as the officer pinned a Fleet Marine stripe on his chest. He’d never wanted to be a soldier, but now he knew the only way out was either in a body bag or by beating the Chitins. Next time he met them, he would be ready.

Forged in Space

Jack Forge, Fleet Marine, Book 2

Prologue

The System Fleet Command and Control Center was situated one kilometer beneath the surface of Eros’s north pole. Admiral Henson felt safe from the Chitin threat so far beneath the most heavily defended location of the most heavily defended planet in the system. That sense of safety bred confidence. This was the perfect place to plan system-wide operations against the Chitins.

Henson stood in front of the large holostage at the center of the operations room. With him stood the Chief of Operations Rear Admiral Tel Jackman and Fleet Commander Rear Admiral Victor Orlov.

The display showed the current deployment of fleet vessels throughout the system. The star burned as a pinpoint of light at the center of the display, thousands of times smaller in scale than the planets that were displayed in their current positions around the star.

The three carriers of the fleet were lit in different colors and the flotillas attached to those carriers, from destroyers down to corvette class ships, were all marked in the same color as their command carrier.

“Show me that moon again,” Henson said.

The display reframed and placed the system’s innermost planet, Penthus, at the center of the display, a huge hot gas giant that glowed with its strange brown light. Around it orbited several moons. The small, swiftly-moving inner moon, Proxis, was a barren rock. Then came Polemos, a radioactive world that orbited in an exaggerated ellipse on a plane inclined to the ecliptic by almost thirty degrees. It was a moon with a violent history. Then came the last major moon of the Penthus system, Kratos.

Kratos orbited Penthus at a huge distance compared to the other moons. From its surface, Penthus looked like a second brown star. The moon was perpetually washed with light, either from the system’s central star or from the planet that glowed with its own dull brown light, the product of extreme friction heating the gas in the upper atmosphere. Days on Kratos lasted for months. Nights were brutally cold, but mercifully short. The atmosphere was thin and toxic. It was a nasty, barren world.

“Kratos is quite far out. A garrison will have to be pretty self-sufficient.” Henson leaned against the display and looked at the small holoimage of the moon.

“The Chitin home world, Zelos, is currently at its furthest point from Penthus and will be for decades to come,” Rear Admiral Jackman said. “Our people will be further from the Chitin threat than any other human in the system.”

“But if danger does come, we are going to be too far spread to support them.” Rear Admiral Orlov tapped the holostage and reframed the display to show the whole system. He then highlighted the fleet. “We are already spread too thin to protect ourselves. We just lost another frigate on a supposedly safe supply run.” Orlov looked at Henson and spoke as firmly as he dared. “Admiral, we need to fall back and concentrate our power. We should be planning a crushing attack on these Chits, not sending ships to the outer reaches of our territory.”

“Vic,” Jackman said with a hint of exasperation in his voice. “Hit them where? They evade us when we try and engage, hit us when we try to evade. We need a surveillance facility and this moon is the perfect spot.”

“Surveillance? We need ships to kill the enemy, and I won’t waste another fighter on a pointless expedition to nowhere.”

“Gentlemen.” Admiral Henson called his advisors to order with a low growl. “We need to find them to fight them. We need to level the field. This moon is the opportunity we need. Victor—” Henson turned to his fleet commander. “—we need to support this operation. You will allocate a destroyer to the task.”

“A destroyer?” Orlov exploded. “Admiral, maybe I can find a few cruisers. That should be enough to deploy a few boots to the ground.”

“No, Victor, a destroyer. The ground team will need supplies and support. A few cruisers just won’t cut it.”

“Maybe we should deploy the Specter to the region…”

Jackman was cut off mid-sentence as Orlov exploded again.

“A carrier? Not a chance, Tel. I can’t leave Eros open for you to go exploring…”

“You think I picked this moon randomly? It’s the perfect spot to give us the advantage we’ve been looking for.”

Admiral Henson quieted them both with a slight wave of his hand.

“Send a destroyer.”

Orlov and Jackman looked at each other and nodded.

“I’ll send the Scorpio,” Orlov said.

“Didn’t the Scorpio take a beating at grid three-five-eight just recently?” Jackman tapped the holostage and zoomed in on the Scorpio. The destroyer was in orbit around Eras, Eros’s cold sister world, along with a flotilla of frigates, corvettes, and a swarm of maintenance drones.

“The Scorpio is operational,” Orlov assured Henson.

Henson nodded. He studied the holoimage of the Scorpio. “Who’s captain of the Scorpio?”

“Captain Alistair Pretorius,” Orlov said without having to check. He’d been in communication with the captain over the last few days regarding the status of the repairs.

Admiral Henson nodded. “Impress upon the captain the dangers involved. He is to support Jackman’s operation, but if his ship is at risk due to Chitin activity, he is to run. You hear me, Victor? No heroics. We can’t lose another destroyer.”

“Maybe send a corvette or two to support Pretorius if he needs to withdraw his team from the moon.”

Admiral Henson tipped his head from one side to the other as he weighed the options. “No,” he said finally. “The Scorpio will be enough but be sure to tell Pretorius it’s only a scouting mission, a simple mission. Remind him that the team he sends to the surface will be at risk so it shouldn’t contain any critical personnel.”

Henson stepped away from the holostage. Jackman and Orlov had work to do.

1

Jack Forge lay awake on his bunk. It was cold in the bunkhouse, despite the close quarters the squad were expected to survive in. Jack’s bunk was the third up in a stack of four, with the fourth barely thirty centimeters above his face.

Jack could hear every movement of his squad-mate in the bunk above, a young man who had been drafted into the military. Jack had only known him for a month but was already familiar with the smallest tick and habit of the man. He had quickly earned his nickname of Gas and Jack got to live with it.

Underneath Jack was Bubble. He’d earned his name by the bubble of snot that ballooned out of the man’s nose whenever he cried, and he cried a lot. He cried at the sting of the commander’s tazer. He cried as he gasped for breath during the many physical training exercises on the Marine deck. He cried at the sound of the rapid fire of the Fleet Marine pulse rifle. Mostly, he cried for home.

Across the small gap from Jack was Terry’s bunk. No one had given Terry a nickname for fear of antagonizing the brute. He was older than the rest of the squad by several years. A life in prison had left him skinny and pale, but his natural aggression and hatred of everyone made him dangerous. He had already served a four-day sentence in the Scorpio’s brig for punching a crewman.

Pulling the covers over his head, Jack tried to block out the sobbing from below, the gas from above, and the cold and nasty stare from Terry in the bunk stack opposite. It didn’t do any good.

Jack looked to his locker, a small cabinet at the head of his bunk with a combination padlock for security. This small box was Jack’s only private space. Everywhere else aboard the Scorpio Jack shared with the rest of his squad, or the rest of Cobra Company, or the Scorpio battalion, or the rest of the ship’s company. From meal time to shower time, all space was shared. But here at the end of his bunk was his forty-centimeter cube of privacy.

This was where Jack was allowed to store personal items, but as almost all items were contraband aboard ship, and as most Marines had nowhere to go to acquire any personal items, these personal lockers remained empty. Jack had one item, the mechanical parts of his family watch. Its silver casing had been sacrificed in his first, and only, battle with the Chitins.

The bunkhouse whistle sounded, calling the Marines to attention. Jack pushed thoughts of his only personal possession away; his only link to the past. He jumped off his bunk onto the cold deck and filed out to the small muster point outside the bunk stacks.

Commander Finch stood waiting impatiently for the squad to form up. The dozen Marines who had until just recently been raw recruits were still learning the basics of life in the Marines. Finch’s shouting and his tazer were working hard to educate them. For the most part, they had learned quickly.

Sam Torent stood next to Finch, the squad leader badge shining on his chest. He looked at Jack with a half-smile. Sam had been determined to keep the squad leader rank and now it seemed he had. Finch was there to inform the squad of the other appointments they had been waiting to hear about.

Finch glared at the shuffling mess of 6th squad as his finger toyed with the tazer trigger.

“In line, Sixth Squad,” Finch said quietly, but his annoyance was clear for all to hear.

“Fall in,” Torent shouted. He stepped forward and pushed the squad into a neat line.

“Look what I’ve got to work with,” Finch said to himself. “What a mess.” He shook his head as he looked along the line. “All right. Listen up. Major Cruz has appointed Torent as your squad leader, he is deemed the best choice until one of you can prove Major Cruz wrong.”

Finch paced in front of the squad, hands behind his back and nose in the air. “The Scorpio is short of a few hands in a few areas, so you Marines have the privilege of helping Captain Pretorius by taking on some work across the ship. Bubble, you sniveling rat. Get your limp ass to the laundry and report to Master Harper.”

Bubble looked around nervously.

“Are you waiting for a written invitation, Marine? Get moving now, on the double,” Finch shouted as he stepped closer to Bubble. Then Finch began laughing. “Double bubble.” Finch laughed as Bubble stepped out of line. “On the double, Bubble. Get your sorry ass down to the laundry. You’ve got a good name for a laundry rat, haven’t you, Bubble?”

Bubble walked to the exit and Finch walked alongside him, shouting into the man’s ear. Jack had to turn away in pity as he saw the big man heave with a fresh wave of sobbing. Then came a pitiful wail as Finch jabbed the tazer into Bubble’s fleshy buttocks. “Get down to that laundry and get scrubbing, you hopeless excuse for a Marine.”

Finch turned and faced the remaining eleven members of 6th squad. He was chuckling cruelly to himself but then wiped away the smirk and returned to his usual stony demeanor.

“Major Cruz needs a runner for his office up on the officer’s deck.”

Jack looked up expectantly. He was the fastest in the squad and he knew it. He would like to find and race anyone in the entire Scorpio battalion who could give him a run for his money. Jack would be a good choice, and he had studied. The major could well need someone with some higher level of education. Jack let his hopes rise in him. He sensed that Finch disliked him. A good opportunity to get rid of him. Then Jack realized he was only inviting disappointment by even hoping.

“Lois James,” Finch said. “Report to Major Cruz.”

Lois was a cheerful and attractive young woman. She’d fought alongside her company in the Battle of Training Moon, as their first battle had been dubbed. She’d told Jack afterward that fear had kept her in the line and firing her weapon. She had admitted she had been too afraid to run for fear of being hit in the back. She gave a bright smile to the squad as she walked quickly out of the muster area.

“Transport department is looking for a trainee.”

Jack was looking forward, eyes front, but he noticed Finch look his way. Jack had studied engineering at university before being drafted into the military and had—albeit limited—combat experience. He was the obvious choice. Jack could see Finch looking at him, waiting for a hint of recognition or expectation from him. He had already allowed himself to get his hopes up once.

Trainee in the transport division sounded like work, but it would be more engaging than exercising and bunking cheek by jowl with his Marine squad-mates every minute of every day. Even if it was the lowest position there, replacing mag coils and depolarizing plasma containment cells in engineering would be much more enjoyable. He might even move onto flight operations. Jack knew better than to get his hopes up.

“Bill Harts,” Finch called out. “Report to transport on the double.”

Jack made every effort not to show Finch his disappointment. Certainly Finch knew Jack had experience that would make him more than suitable for a posting to transport. Perhaps Finch knew that there was animosity between Harts and Jack. Maybe Finch was doing everything he could to irritate and upset Jack. The commander was not likable and he clearly didn’t think much of Jack. It was difficult not to take it all personally.

Jack caught Torent’s eye and the slight shrug from the squad leader. It said so much—it said sorry you didn’t get the good posting, sorry Finch is being a dick, and sorry but I can’t help you. There was a time when Sam would have delighted in Jack’s misery, but things had changed after the Battle of Training Moon. Saving a man’s life tended to do that.

“One more and then I’ll let squad leader Torent take you out for exercise.”

Jack looked at Torent, who gave another apologetic shrug.

“Forge!” Finch barked. “Report to maintenance.” Finch sneered at Jack and looked pleased to give out such a menial position, then he turned on his heel and walked out of the squad muster area.

“Maintenance?” Jack said out loud as soon as Finch was away. He looked to Torent to complain.

But Torent was preoccupied. Terry was squaring up to him and getting ready for a fight. Terry spat on the ground and took another step forward.

“Squad leader?” Terry spat again. “How are you going to make me do anything?” Terry bunched his fists and advanced on Torent. The squad leader was moving lightly on the balls of his feet, his fists clenched, ready to settle this disagreement over seniority right there and then.

Jack wasn’t worried about Torent’s ability to stand up and fight, but he was worried about Terry’s obvious psychopathic nature.

Jack felt rage boil inside. Terry was a thug, a mindless idiot who only wanted to create violent disorder. Then there was Finch, some idiot commander who only wanted to increase his authority by making others feel inadequate. Both were bullies. Jack had had enough of bullies. And he was damned if he was going to work in maintenance, sweeping corridors and painting bulkheads for the rest of his life.

The frustration burst and Jack stepped in between Torent and Terry. He faced up to Terry. The ugly psychopath curled his lip and narrowed his eyes.

Jack heard the words come like a flood. “Who’s going to follow you? You couldn’t lead water over a waterfall, you kravin’ piece of…”

The sudden blow from Terry’s clenched fist made Jack’s ears ring, which mingled with the shouts of excitement from the squad. Jack raised his fists to swing at Terry, but another blow landed hard, followed by another.

Jack fell. The ground was cold and hard. Jack felt the boots kicking his guts. He heard Torent shouting to the squad to restrain Terry. The blows stopped raining in.

“I’ll tear your head off, Forge,” Terry was shouting.

Torent’s face came into Jack’s field of vision, which was swirling and spinning. Torent was laughing.

“What the krav got into you, Jacky.” Torent pulled Jack to his feet. “I can handle Terry. You’re supposed to be the smart one.” Torent held Jack’s cheeks and looked into his eyes.

“Kravin’ Finch.”

“Yeah, what a scroat.” Torent moved a finger back and fore across Jack’s view for Jack to follow with his eyes. “You okay? Can you stand?” Torent let go.

Jack felt the room spin, but he kept his feet, just. “Maintenance. What a pan of crap.”

“Yeah, terrible. Just don’t go and punch Finch or you’ll get a lot worse than a beating from Terry. Can you walk?”

Jack nodded and staggered toward the door. “Well done on getting squad leader, Sam.”

“Thanks, Jack. Now get off my deck.”

Jack stumbled out into the corridor, the sound of Sam Torent calling 6th squad to order echoing out of the squad muster area behind him.

2

Picking his way along the maze of corridors toward the maintenance department, Jack noticed how neglected some parts of the Scorpio were. The ship was functioning, but some areas were ignored with its military manpower being stretched. In one corridor, Jack noticed a small leak in one of the bundles of pipes that ran along the top of one wall. The dark, sticky liquid that leaked out in one lazy drop splashed into a large puddle on the floor, and the smell of stagnant water filled the corridor. The pipe had clearly been leaking for a long time.

If the leak had had a significant detrimental effect on the functioning of the Scorpio, no doubt a maintenance technician would have been dispatched to deal with it. In another time, the leak would have been fixed immediately to preserve the fabric of the ship, but not now. The maintenance department clearly had more pressing matters than one minor leak. It looked unsightly and was a symptom of the general degradation of the military due to the war with the Chitins.

Jack turned a corridor and realized he was lost. He looked this way and that in the hope of spotting a familiar sight. There were no signs here at this junction, only series of faded colored lines that had once directed foot traffic through the ship to some location or another.

Jack had only been aboard the Scorpio for a week and he had only been permitted to use certain areas of the ship: the bunk stacks, the mess, and the Marine deck where the entire Scorpio Marine battalion assembled for parade.

Jack paused in this corridor. It was empty. He could hear no voices or footsteps, only the distant hum of the ship’s power cells and the drip of fluid to the puddle below. The Scorpio was a large ship, one of the original twelve fleet destroyers. They were massive ships second only in size to the fleet’s three enormous, city-sized carriers.

Jack realized he couldn’t stay lost for long, even on a ship this size. He picked a color from the lines on the floor and followed. Yellow was good, it reminded him of the fields of home, when he had had a home, before everything changed, before the Chitins.

At the next junction, Jack found himself at a three-way crossroads. The corridor went on, the yellow line moving forward along the corridor. Other lines ran left and right along the corridor that cut across the one he was in. And in one corner of the junction was a stairway that gave access to the deck above and below.

A crewman came walking along the corridor, seemingly in no rush.

“I’m looking for maintenance,” Jack said as the crewman approached.

The crewman rolled his eyes and brushed past Jack.

“Can you point me toward the maintenance department?” Jack asked.

The crewman grabbed the handrail of the stairway and started up the stairs. “We have a maintenance department?”

Jack thought about following the crewman and pestering him for help.

“Thanks for your help.” Jack called after the crewman sarcastically.

“Any time,” came the echoing reply.

Jack stood at the junction and looked at each option. He guessed he could stand there for a bit longer and hope someone willing to help came along. Or Jack could pick a direction and walk. Big as the Scorpio was, it wasn’t endless. Sooner or later, Jack would come across the right department. Down looked interesting.

The corridor below was dark. All lights were out. Further along, a light flickered on and off. “Guess I’ll get to see plenty of faulty wiring working maintenance,” Jack said aloud.

Voices echoed along the corridor. And then Jack heard the sizzling sound of someone cutting the ship’s composite bulkheads. It sounded like a maintenance crew at work, so he walked toward it. In the next corridor, Jack found himself splashing through a large puddle of dirty water. The whole corridor smelled damp and echoed with the sounds of splashing water. The voices grew louder. Jack heard a loud shout of frustration and swearing.

Jack turned the corner and saw a three-man team working on a system behind the composite bulkhead. All three were looking through a hole cut through the corridor paneling.

“We can’t just patch it there. Once the system kicks up, the whole conduit will rupture.” One of the three was speaking, his head fully inside the hole. He wore maintenance coveralls with a Master stripe on the sleeve.

“We haven’t got a replacement on board,” the second, taller man said. The top half of his coveralls was tied by the sleeves around his waist. A grubby vest that had once been white was stretched over his tight gut. He stood behind the master and was looking inside.

The third was a youth, just recruitment age. He had long hair and a fine wisp of hair on his top lip. He held an electron scalpel, activating and deactivating the fine blade and staring at it.

“We can install a pneumatic pump at that conduit…” said the man in the grubby vest.

“The gunners are going to want to aim the damn things as well, Slim,” said the master. “It’s no good. We are going to have to fabricate a new conduit. Strip out that old loader in the secondary aft airlock and…” The master drew his head out of the hole in the wall and saw Jack.

“Not enough work for the Marines to do any, is it, dough head.” The master looked at Jack.

“Maintenance?” Jack said. He spoke so quietly, the words trapped in his throat. He mentally kicked himself for not speaking up more forcefully.

“Yes,” the master said. “I’m Doyle. What do you want, Marine?” Master Doyle spotted the boy playing with the electron scalpel. He carefully took it from the boy and handed it to the tall man.

“Don’t tell me, you are the new maintenance crew? A one-man crew?” Doyle turned to his tall colleague. “I ask for relief for weeks and then they send me a kravin’ headache. You ever held a wrench, dough head?”

3

Master Doyle led the way back to the maintenance department. He sent his tall colleague to the secondary aft airlock at one junction, then walked through the maze of corridors with Jack and the boy who had been hypnotized by the blue electron blade. In one corridor, a wall opened out into a large hangar. It would have been big enough for a game of interdepartmental football if the area wasn’t filled with work benches and the many large pieces of free-standing equipment. At the far end of the hangar, Jack saw one member of the maintenance crew working at a bench.

“Where is everyone?” Jack asked, thinking the rest of the department were out fixing the many minor problems the Scorpio seemed to have, not to mention the general untidiness he’d seen about the ship.

“Slim is in the secondary aft airlock stripping out some materials. The kid never leaves my side.” Doyle jerked his head toward the youth. “Reyes is over there working on our pet Chit.” Doyle pointed at the figure at the workbench in the distance. Doyle noticed the shock on Jack’s face. “Don’t panic, soldier. It’s strapped down. It’s not going anywhere. And neither are you. And now we are four. Four maintenance technicians and about a thousand square meters of destroyer to look after. If you thought this would be easier than life in the battalion, you are even more stupid than you look, dough head.”

“I didn’t ask to come here, sir,” Jack said. “I was sent here.”

“Someone must really hate you,” Doyle laughed. “And don’t call me sir. I’m not an officer. Call me Doyle. Or Oily.”

“Or shithead,” the boy said.

Doyle turned suddenly toward the boy. “What?” he growled.

The boy cowered, lowered his gaze, hunched his shoulders, and backed away. “Slim calls you shithead.”

Doyle reached out, grabbed the cowering youth by his coveralls, and dragged him close. Doyle laid a big hand on the boy’s smooth cheek. “That’s not a nice thing to say.” Then turning to Jack, “Call me Doyle. Now, what can you do, soldier?”

“I fixed a drone once.”

“Saints and mothers bless us all.” Doyle raised his hands and looked up. “Someone useful for once.” He pointed to a bench in the middle of the hangar. “That drone needs a new AI. Strip one out from the junk pile—” Doyle pointed to a distant pile of junk. “—and fix up that drone. Fire control wants to blow it up when they test the port side battery later so they don’t need it to be pretty, they just need it pretty quick.”

Jack looked at the drone and the junk pile, then back to Doyle and the boy who stood fully in Doyle’s shadow.

“Do you need a manual?” Doyle asked Jack.

“No. No, thank you,” Jack stammered.

“Thank you?” Doyle growled. “Thank me when they send you back to the battalion to get shot up.” Doyle pointed again. “Drone! AI! Work! Now!”

Jack opened the drone AI service hatch and hooked up the diagnostic tool. The AI was dead. Jack remembered working on AI systems in university, one module a week for a half session on Thursday mornings. He’d picked up the basics. The interior of this drone was old and untidy. He tested the surrounding components to check it wasn’t a short or that a new AI wouldn’t automatically blow once installed.

The maintenance hangar was quiet. Doyle and the boy had left and only Jack and Reyes remained. Reyes was dressed in a coverall with a large protective head-guard. Jack looked over and saw a long tentacle writhe up off the work bench in front of Reyes.

“Our pet Chit,” Jack said to himself. He’d thought Doyle was messing with him, but it looked as if it were true. Another long tentacle, an unmistakable Chitin tentacle, rose off the bench, coiling back up and dropping.

Jack walked over to the pile of scrap to try and dig out an AI unit. His eyes were drawn every time a Chitin tentacle rose off the bench. He looked across the junk pile and spotted a few junked systems that would have AI installed. He checked a broken power suit. The AI unit was functioning. It was lower grade to the standard drone AI, but if it was going to get shot up anyway, what did it matter?

From the corner of his eye, Jack saw three Chit tentacles suddenly animate and thrash around violently. Reyes was backing away then moved quickly toward the Chit.

Jack remembered the first time he’d seen a real life Chit close up. He remembered how hard they were to stop, even with a pulse rifle. Reyes seemed in control until a tentacle lashed out and struck Reyes’s head-guard. He fell and the three tentacles writhed and thrashed on.

Jack ran over to the fallen Reyes. He avoided the thrashing tentacles and reached out to help Reyes. The technician was already standing up and reaching out to a control panel that was wired to the Chit.

“Kravin’ feedback problems every kravin’ time,” Reyes said and then punched a button on the panel. The Chitin’s writhing tentacles flopped down hard. Reyes pulled the head-guard off.

The first thing Jack noticed were her cheeks, flushed red with frustration and anger and effort. Then he noticed the thick brown hair falling out of the head-guard to tumble over her dirty coveralls. Then he noticed her brown eyes staring at him.

“Who are you?”

“Jack,” Jack whispered.

“What are you doing here, Jack?” Reyes asked, turning to the Chitin.

“I’m the new maintenance guy. Who are you?” Jack heard his question and realized he sounded like a lovestruck kid, not a battle-hardened Marine. He blushed as he realized that was exactly what he was.

Reyes was a few centimeters taller than Jack and few years older. She was clearly clever and bold, and she filled her coveralls in a way that made Jack interested and uncomfortable, nervous and keen.

“I’m Reyes. Sarah Reyes.” She unzipped her coveralls and pulled it off her shoulders. She tied the arms around her waist. Her t-shirt strained over her chest as she heaved a heavy sigh and studied the Chit. “And this is Fido, our new pet.”

“Is it…dead?” Jack leaned in for a closer look

Reyes grabbed a bottle from the bench behind and popped off the cap. “Something in there is.” She tipped her head back and drank greedily, water spilling out of the side of her mouth and trickling over her sweaty skin. “I think what we know as a Chit—” She poked the fleshy tentacle. “—is just an exo-suit of some kind. The actual Chitin is in there somewhere.”

Jack stepped up and looked at the instrument panel wired to the Chit. Cables were strapped on and stuck into the Chit at various points. “You sure it’s dead?” Jack asked.

Reyes nodded and took another drink.

“Where did you get it?” Jack asked, touching one of the tentacles.

“We captured it when we were attacked at grid three-five-eight. A Kraken, a small Chit craft, attached itself to the hull and cut in. We had a dozen of the bastards running around. This one was killed. Doyle had it brought here.”

“The ship was boarded?” Jack asked.

“Yeah. They took five people.”

“Took them? Where?”

“Oh, they didn’t get very far. The captain shot them down when they tried to get away. You see, they wanted to study us. It was a smash and grab raid, right. But they ended up giving one of them to us and now we can study them. You know, they say they must be intelligent because their weapons are so much more powerful than ours, but I’m not so sure. A bird isn’t more intelligent than you because it can fly, right? It’s just an ability.”

Reyes pulled her coveralls back over her shoulders and grabbed her head-guard off the floor. “Unless you want Doyle kicking your ass all up and down the Scorpio, you better get busy with something.”

“I’m fixing that drone,” Jack said enthusiastically, hoping to impress the intriguing Sarah Reyes.

Reyes pulled on the head-guard. “Have fun,” she said and then stepped up to the Chit and the control panel. “Don’t let me keep you.”

But Jack was not going to be able to get away from Sarah Reyes, no matter how far he went. There was something about her he couldn’t get out of his mind. He backed away slowly, watching her, mesmerized by her every move.

Jack eventually made it back to the drone and attempted to bury himself in work. He would show her how good he was by making this drone work even better than it had before, even if it was only for a few moments before it was incinerated or fragmented by the Scorpio’s guns.

Working in maintenance was going to be harder than he had feared, and more exciting than he had thought it could be.

4

The holostage at the center of the command deck showed the Penthus system. The gas giant, scaled down, sat at the center of the display. The planet’s three major moons were displayed at their relative positions around the giant. The Scorpio appeared on the edge of the holostage projection, scaled up to be visible.

Captain Pretorius stood at the edge of the holostage, with Commander Chou to his right. The display screens at the operation stations around the command deck flashed various details of the Scorpio’s status. Some were manned, but many were given over to AI. The command deck had once been a busy hub, the beating heart of the ship, and Pretorius had been at its center. Now, the crew was depleted to a virtual skeleton staff. Pretorius had taken over jobs he had once delegated to his command officers. Now his command staff consisted of Commander Chou and himself. AI was able to monitor data and give alerts. AI could throw out a strategy quickly. Human conversation was slow and clumsy, but Pretorius trusted the ideas that emerged from the mess. Trusting his ship and his crew to a computer was not in his nature.

Pretorius knew of a captain of a corvette who had dismissed his entire command and had taken over direct control of all operations, linking with his AI through a neural processor. It worked for a fighter or a cruiser pilot, but Pretorius didn’t think it suitable for a battleship.

“All stop.” Captain Pretorius looked at the Penthus system as Commander Chou issued the orders to flight control to bring the ship to a full stop. Chou was a capable commander and would soon have his own ship. Pretorius trusted him to take the necessary steps to take care of the ship. The captain didn’t have to order the activation of gun batteries and active scans. Chou ordered it.

It was too much ground for one ship to cover. Only a few years ago, even a brief scouting mission would have been done by a flotilla, consisting of a destroyer plus several frigates and corvettes, and possibly even a carrier if there was a hint of danger. Pretorius was not going to take any risks.

“Launch surveillance drones, Mister Chou. Launch them all. Full spread. I want to see around every corner.”

“Aye, Captain.” Chou issued the orders, tapping his info panel on the holostage and sending messages to AI through his neural processor. The holostage image around the Scorpio lit up as a dozen fine orange lines spread out from the Scorpio, marking the flights of a dozen surveillance drones. They moved swiftly away from the ship, extending the sensor range and giving a line of sight to the far side of the moon Kratos.

Pretorius watched the drones move away. It would be hours before he had even a fragment of information on the Penthus System. Kratos was his target, but Chitins could be hidden anywhere. In addition to Penthus itself, there were two other major moons, and several minor moons that were no bigger than some asteroids. There was also the other gas giant, Zelos. The atmosphere of this planet was home to the Chitins, and there was no reason to believe that a Chitin craft could not easily park within the upper atmosphere of Penthus.

The Chitins themselves could not exist in that atmosphere as they could in the clouds of their home world any more than a human from Eros could exist in the cold, thin atmosphere of its sister world, Eras. But a Chitin craft could quite conceivably hold station in the upper atmosphere. Pretorius eyed the holographic representation of the giant with suspicion. First, he needed to verify that the nearest moon was clear of enemies. Then he would check the next, and then the next. He would keep a watchful eye on the swirling clouds of Penthus. The Chitins always attacked from cover, and the Penthus system had plenty of cover.

The first of the drones achieved a position to give a sensor reading from the far side of Kratos.

“Far side of the target is clear, Captain,” Chou reported.

Pretorius tapped on his console and focused in on the target moon. He positioned the moon at the center of the display and fed all live data to the image.

“Mission directives clear us for approach, Captain.”

Pretorius studied the rotating image of the moon. He’d studied the surface thoroughly during the flight here. He’d studied every mountain range and deep ravine on that surface, anywhere where a Chitin craft could hide. He used the live data streamed through the drones to study more closely the areas he’d identified as being the greatest threat.

“Sir,” Chou urged Pretorius.

“Move the ship into orbit around the moon, Mister Chou.”

“Aye, sir.”

“Leave one drone in orbit at the opposite side to the Scorpio and send the rest in system. I want every centimeter of the other moons scanned.”

“Aye, sir.”

“And keep a sensor watch on the planet. I want to know if anything bigger than a hydrogen atom escapes that atmosphere.”

“Aye, sir.”

Pretorius looked at the moon. The admiralty had identified this location as a prime spot for a surveillance facility that would give them data on movements throughout the solar system. If they could identify the location of a single Chitin craft before it attacked a ship of the fleet then it might be possible to outflank, outmaneuver, and outgun the enemy. Maybe a listening post out here could turn the tide of the war. Maybe it was the latest straw the admiralty was clutching at. And here was Pretorius, the hand reaching out. Hopefully, the Chits wouldn’t leap out of hiding and cut it off.

Pretorius tugged at his cuffs and stepped away from the holostage. “Mister Chou, inform Major Cruz to assemble his team on the Marine deck. Let me know when they are ready. I want to meet the squad we are sending down there.”

5

Jack installed the AI unit pulled from a scrapped water purification system. The drone needed a software update, but it was otherwise ready for action. Connecting the drone to the Scorpio’s AI, Jack patted the composite hull of the doomed little drone. He glanced across the maintenance hangar to Reyes. She was still busy with the Chitin.

Jack saw a Chitin tentacle stiffen and stand out from the others. Then another. Jack walked slowly toward Reyes and her Chitin experiment. Another of the Chitin’s tentacles stiffened and stood out. And then the four tentacles suddenly lost their rigidity and flopped down to the bench. Reyes pulled her head-guard off and sat against the bench. “I’m getting there,” she said. She took her water bottle and drank.

“I’ve seen these in action,” Jack said. sitting next to Reyes. That brought a look of surprise and admiration from Reyes.

“I thought you were pretty green?” she asked, looking back to the Chitin on the bench.

“I am,” he admitted.

“I never thought I’d see one moving around,” Reyes said. “I thought I’d be safe on a destroyer. Hope I never see another moving around again.”

“Except for this one,” Jack said.

Reyes nodded and took another drink. “Except for this one. Only this is just the exoskeleton, a suit, an environment suit,” she said. “I’m trying to get the damn thing open. I think there’s still a Chitin inside.”

Reyes pulled her head-guard back on and looked at the control panel. “Step back a bit,” she said. “They can give you a real heavy blow with those tentacles.”

Jack stepped back and put a work bench between himself and Reyes. He climbed onto the bench and looked over Reyes’s shoulder to see what she was doing. The panel she had connected was delivering electrical signals of varying intensities to various parts of the Chit.

A tentacle coiled up and then uncoiled and stiffened. Reyes re-set and the tentacle flopped back down to the bench.

“It’s a bit of trial and error at the moment, but I think I have control over all movement. I just want to access some sort of opening in the body of the beast.”

Jack looked closely at the Chit for the opening Reyes was looking for. The tentacles sprouted from the dark body. In many places, it was matte black and speckled with purple and green. Some places, the body was smooth. It was shining under the lights of the maintenance hangar and almost looked translucent, as if showing the black heart of the beast. Between the matte, speckled parts and the shining smooth parts, there was a network of fine, convoluted twisting lines. The body seemed to have smooth areas on the top of the head around the snout with its circle of white teeth.

Reyes began directing pulses and varying frequencies to various parts of the Chit. The head moved sideways, the mouth parts pulling back to reveal more of the white teeth.

“That’s better,” Reyes said. “You see that?”

Jack remembered only too well how he’d seen that snarling action close up during the Battle of Training Moon. He had hoped to never see it again, but here was Reyes, excited by it.

The Chitin head flopped as Reyes cancelled the current. “I think it’s about location and frequency. If I can just get the right…”

Jack felt his heart leap as the body of the Chitin cracked along the fine twisted lines in its shell. The crack opened up slightly. There was a sudden hiss, like pressure being released. A deep purple ooze bubbled up and out of the crack, slowly flowing out and over the shell of the Chitin, the bench, and to the floor.

Reyes moved quickly and grabbed an expander tool from the bench. She forced it into the small crack, the ooze covering her hands. Having fitted the tool in place, she jacked it open further. The shell made a cracking noise and Reyes stopped.

Jack looked at the open cavity in the Chitin shell. The purple ooze stopped flowing and settled in the opening. Reyes disconnected the various wires. She pulled her head-guard off and dropped it to the bench. She looked up at Jack, who was standing and staring. She beamed up at him, smiling a bright smile that captured Jack, pulling his attention fully away from the slime-oozing broken Chit.

“I’m in. I’m kravin’ well in.” She shook the ooze off her hands, and it splattered to the floor. She looked up at Jack. “I’ve kravin’ well done it.”

She turned and looked at the fracture. “Now we can start to find out what they are about.”

“Is that its blood?” Jack asked, looking nervously at the fracture.

Reyes looked at her hands. “Maybe this is its body,” she said. “Their natural environment must be at a much higher pressure than ours.” She shook off more ooze. “Maybe whatever was inside has been burst by the low pressure.”

“We know so little about them,” Jack said.

“We know they try to kill us whenever they can.”

“Maybe we could catch a live one and try and talk to it. Find out why they want to kill us.” Jack climbed off the bench, taking care not to slip on the ooze.

“Okay,” Reyes said. “Good luck with that. I just want to know how they work. Not so bothered about what makes them tick upstairs.” Reyes tapped the side of her head.

“I hope you two have got a good reason to be slacking off.” Doyle’s voice made Jack jump.

“I’ve cracked open this Chit,” Reyes reported brightly.

Doyle came over to the bench, closely followed by George. “Good work, Sarah,” Doyle said. “I knew you’d get there.” He looked at the opening in the Chitin shell. George knelt on the floor and ran his fingers through the ooze.

“Don’t put that in your mouth, George,” Doyle said, pulling the boy off the floor. “And what about you, Mister Forge? You been working or just looking at Reyes’s ass?”

Jack felt his face burn red with embarrassment. He stammered and pointed to the drone. “I’ve fixed up the drone with AI from a scrapped water purifier.”

“Let’s look.” Doyle walked over to the drone, George following. Jack glanced at Reyes nervously. Had she been offended by Doyle’s remark? Jack was hoping to get to know her, maybe date her. Doyle could have ruined everything if she now thought Jack had been looking at her in a lascivious way.

Reyes smiled at Jack. If she could see the discomfort he was in, she made light of it. It made Jack feel a hell of a lot better. He relaxed slightly.

“Do you want to talk me through this?” Doyle shouted from the other side of the hangar. “Any time you are ready, Forge.”

Jack jogged over and began explaining his work, where he’d found the AI unit and how he’d installed it.

“Good work, Forge,” Doyle said, nodding and looking at the drone. “Looks like we’ve got a couple of real engineers on the staff at last. Between you, Reyes, and George, here we might get the Scorpio into something like a combat ready state.”

Jack beamed and dusted off the top of the drone.

“I’ll get George to take this over to the launch bay,” Doyle said.

George shook his head and stepped closer to Doyle.

“It’s not far. You know the way.”

George shook his head vigorously and looked nervously at the doorway leading out of the hangar.

“You can help out the team a little bit, George. Just take this over to the…”

George grabbed Doyle’s arm and held on tight. Jack started to feel very uncomfortable with the young man’s behavior, but Doyle took it calmly.

“Okay. You can stay with me,” Doyle said. Immediately, George relaxed.

“I can take it to the launch bay,” Jack said.

Doyle shook his head. “I’ll take it.” He picked up a scrap of computer circuit from a pile of junk on Jack’s bench and handed it George. “Try and fix that for me, George.”

George took the item and began pulling and prodding it, immersed in the work.

“He was a galley hand,” Doyle said, nodding toward George. “That’s where the Chits came in. They cut through the hull and came in through the galley. They captured the entire galley staff. George was in the freezer when they infiltrated the ship and got locked in. Nearly died of hypothermia, but that freezer saved his life. I was there patching up the hull after the damn Chits left and I found him. He won’t leave my side now. I’m trying to get him to spread his wings a bit, but it’s still early days yet. Right, George?”

George handed the broken circuits back to Doyle, who looked at them for a moment before praising George for his work.

Jack had seen what a close encounter with the Chitins could do to someone. It was impossible to predict how someone would be affected. Some held their nerve and fought them. Some broke and ran. Some froze and remained rooted to the spot, stunned by the Chitins, their alien bodies, and their strange movement. No one came away from an encounter with the Chits and was quite the same again.

“Jack Forge. Are you hiding in here?

Jack spun around and looked at who had called out. Sam Torent came marching into the maintenance hangar.

“Sam. What are you doing down here?”

“I’ve come to get you for some real work,” Torent said. “I’ll have to pull you away from your toys. Who do you have to notify of your recall to the battalion?”

Doyle looked Torent in the eye and then showed the stripe on his coveralls’ sleeve.

Torent came to attention. “Sorry, Master,” Torent said, saluting. “Major Cruz has ordered Sixth Squad to assemble on the Marine deck. We’re not Sixth Squad without all veterans of the Battle of Training Moon.”

Jack looked at Doyle. He hoped Doyle would refuse him permission to leave. Jack looked over to Reyes. She was wiping her hands free of slime and looking over. She gave Jack a smile, half-friendly and half-sad to see him go.

“You’re a good engineer, Forge,” Doyle said. “Get back as soon as you can.” Doyle patted Jack on the shoulder. George copied and patted Jack too.

Torent slung an arm over Jack’s shoulder and walked him away. “They keep some funny people down in maintenance. I can see how you fit in. Let’s get a pulse rifle in your hands. You remember how to use a pulse rifle, don’t you?”

“Captain on deck,” Commander Finch shouted out as Pretorius entered. The stamp of boots as the squad came to attention echoed around the Marine deck. Major Cruz walked next to Pretorius.

It was the first time Jack had seen their captain and only the second time he’d seen the major.

Cruz was small but solid, a cannonball of a man. Pretorius was tall and filled with confidence. He was used to giving orders and having those orders be followed. He had the air of a man who knew what he wanted and knew how to get it. He displayed the sort of confidence that inspired others to be confident too. Then Jack noticed him tugging his cuffs. It was a minor motion, barely discernible, but Jack saw it and thought it a nervous twitch.

“At ease, squad,” Pretorius said, his voice strong in the huge Marine deck. The captain stood in front of the squad and looked them over. Then he turned to Cruz and spoke quietly. Jack heard the hushed words. He watched carefully

“I don’t recognize any of your team.”

“This is the new squad. Our long overdue replacements, Captain.”

“This is the squad from the Battle of Training Moon?”

“Yes, sir. Sixth Squad of Cobra Company, Commander Finch’s company.”

Jack detected a hint of displeasure in the way the captain’s eyes narrowed momentarily.

“They are the squad with the most recent combat experience.” Pretorius nodded. “And you will be leading the mission, Commander?”

Jack noticed Finch take a step back, clearly recoiling from the very thought of joining the mission.

“I thought it would be better for me to direct the mission from the Marine ops center with Major Cruz here on board the Scorpio, Captain.”

Pretorius nodded and seemed to consider the suggestion. “Who do you think should lead them on the ground?”

“Their squad leader. Step forward, Torent.” Finch spoke in a voice harsh and dry, a voice on the verge of cracking like a sunbaked mud flat. “He has proven himself in battle, Captain. I have every confidence in the man.”

“Their squad leader? No, Commander. I think you should lead them. The area is clear. Risk is minimal. I don’t think you should pass up the opportunity to get your boots dirty.” Pretorius turned to Major Cruz. “Any objections, Major?”

“No, Captain,” Cruz replied with a strong voice.

Finch hooked a finger under his collar and turned his head back and fore, his chin protruding forward.

Pretorius turned his attention to the squad standing at ease, but Jack thought if they felt anything like he did then they were not at ease at all. Pretorius walked up to Torent, who stepped back into position on the right of the first row. Torent saluted as Pretorius stepped up.

“As you were, Squad Leader,” Pretorius said. “You were at the Battle of Training Moon when the damn Chitins attacked?”

“Yes, sir. Hell of a fight, Captain.”

“So I understand. I read the reports. One of the squad fixed up a drone while under fire. Is that Marine here now?”

Torent held out a hand and indicated Jack, who was standing next to him. The captain took a step over and faced Jack.

“If you hadn’t fixed up that drone, Marine, we might have lost even more people down there. Good work.” Captain Pretorius nodded his approval.

Jack looked up at the tall man. He noticed the deep creases in the captain’s skin. The captain wasn’t that old, but the war was taking its toll.

“Thank you, Captain.”

“How did you come to be in the Marines? I would have thought fleet engineers would have taken your application gladly.”

“I didn’t apply for service, Captain. I was drafted after I failed to make the grade in university.”

Pretorius tugged his cuff. “Nevertheless, it must be very satisfying to look back and know you were so vital to that day’s work.”

“No, sir. It was utterly terrifying, and I still have nightmares about it.”

Finch strode forward, red and angry. “You stow that kravin’ mouth, Marine, or you’ll be on laundry duty for a month.”

“Does that mean I won’t have to fight, Commander?”

Finch had his tazer in his hand and a cruel look in his eye. Pretorius calmed the commander with a light touch. The captain smiled at Jack, but there was a clear look behind the smile that told Jack that further insolence would not be tolerated. Pretorius was a natural leader of men.

“You’ll fight, if you have to, Marine. I’ve read your file. You’ll fight if you have to.”

Pretorius walked along the lines of 6th squad before taking his position in front of them.

“Listen up. Your mission is to reconnoiter the moon. If we can establish a listening post out here, we can gain a significant advantage in this fight. There is hardly any atmosphere on Kratos, so you will be equipped with tactical suits. The VR deck is cleared for you to familiarize yourselves with this equipment. Make sure you bring it back in one piece, preferably with you safe inside it. Good luck, Marines.”

The captain turned and walked off the Marine deck. Major Cruz told Finch to carry on and left behind the captain.

Finch turned toward the squad, his face twisted in anger and annoyance. “Meat suit training on the VR deck right now.” Then Finch walked up to Jack and jabbed the tazer in his ribs.

Jack felt the jolt spread over his bones and fizz in the base of his skull. He fell to his hands and knees. The second jab from the tazer was aimed between his shoulders. He fell flat on his face as the power ripped through his body a second time. He heard Finch talking in a screeching wail.

“You show me up like that in front of the captain again, Marine, and you will be sorry.”

The tazer bit again and Jack felt his tears burn like acid. Then he heard Torent speak.

“I think the scroat learned his lesson, Commander.”

Jack heard the tazer fizzing. “You make sure he has, Squad Leader. You make sure he has.” He could hear the sound of Finch’s footsteps walking away.

“For a clever Marine, you are one stupid kravin’ scroat,” Torent said with a laugh in his voice. “Why don’t you do your talking on the training deck? On your feet, Forge. On the double.”

“I think I need help.”

“Damn right you need help.” Torent pulled Jack off the floor. “You need professional help. I hear the fleet is too undermanned to have a counselor, though. The last one got posted to laundry.”

Jack stood up, his knees regaining their ability to hold him upright. “When the captain said we could gain a significant advantage, what do you think he meant?”

“You know me better than that, Jacky. I don’t waste time thinking. What do you think he meant?”

“That we might stop losing this war?” Jack suggested.

“Maybe. But you’re not going to be around to see us win or lose if you keep annoying Finch. Now get to that VR deck on the double, Marine.”

Jack walked to the exit, his strength returning by the second. “You know how I know we’re going to lose?”

“Enlighten me, genius.”

“Because the people who make the tactical decisions also made your stupid ass squad leader.”

Jack took the heavy punch on the upper arm. Torent hit hard even when he was fooling.

6

The VR pods were stacked as tightly as the bunks in the bunkhouse. Jack slid into his assigned pod and was immediately immersed in the VR training environment. His body was suddenly covered by the light and flexible armor of the Marine Extreme Environment Tactical Suit. The acronym MEET suit was taken to mean ‘meat suit’ by the Marines. The suit was comfortable but unfamiliar. The pulse rifle was familiar. The VR environment represented the weapon perfectly and Jack recognized its size, shape, and weight.

Torent was down on one knee scanning the horizon. He held up his fist, instructing the squad to hold position. He turned to Jack.

“Forge. Here. Now.”

Jack jogged toward Torent and took a knee. He scanned the horizon through his rifle sights. “You got an order for me?”

Torent slung his rifle over his shoulder and activated the holomap. He tapped the controls on the suit’s glove, waved his hand across the ground, and the map appeared, green and flickering.

“Jack, take a position on this hill to our right. Give me eyes on that valley before I lead the squad in. Take a partner, if you need.”

“I’ll take Osho. She’s quiet, light on her feet, and she can keep up.”

Torent called Osho forward. “Keep a watch on the surrounding area. If I start pulling heat, lay down a covering fire. Go.”

Jack took off toward the hill on the right flank of Torent’s advance into the valley. The eight kilometers seemed like no distance at all with the meat suit helping Jack run. He almost wished it wasn’t helping him. It had been a long time since he’d been for a long run. The corridors of the Scorpio were long, but it was not the same as a good run in the wide open. Even though in reality Jack was laying on his back in a VR pod, he let himself enjoy the fantasy of being outside, even if the environment was a version of hell.

The hill was a dusty and rocky outcrop in a wide landscape of black rocks shot through with fine rivers of red lava. Kratos was a protoplanet, or hot moon, pulled and tugged to near breaking point by the gravity of the nearby gas giant. The sky of this simulation was painted black with no stars to distract the Marines in their training. It was the most unreal part of the simulation and the perfect black was more of a distraction than any vista would have been. Jack imagined his own view, a gas giant with rings cutting across the horizon, swirling clouds of red and purple.

Jack and Osho reached the summit of the small hill. Jack lay flat on the ground and looked back to the squad. Osho took a knee and scanned the horizon over the full 180 degrees with her pulse rifle.

“They are moving into the valley now,” Jack said. Using the suit comms, he spoke to Torent. “Sam, I’ve got a visual on you and the squad. The way ahead looks clear.”

“Switch to bioscan,” Torent ordered.

“Why bioscan?” Osho asked Jack as she switched her scanning mode. “Chits don’t show up on bioscan.”

“There might be something else out here,” Jack replied. “Switching to bioscan now. It all looks clear.”

“We know there is something out here,” Torent said. “Why send us in to VR without throwing a load of damn Chits at us?”

“Maybe to get you used to disappointment and boredom?” Osho suggested.

“I’ll take a load of boredom over having to talk to you,” Torent said.

Then Jack spotted a movement, a rock fall on the opposite slope of the shallow valley.

“Movement on your left, Sam,” Jack said. He switched through all the scanning modes and zoomed in on the area where the rocks had slid. “I can’t detect any creature moving on the slope, though.”

“Okay. Hold your position. Keep your focus. I’m continuing my advance.”

Jack saw the opposite ridge of the shallow valley heave and move. It was as if the entire ridge sprang to life as a hoard of Chitin soldiers rose from the dirt, dust and pebbles falling away and tumbling down the slope. Jack’s pulse rifle was alive, spitting fire at the far ridge even before he spoke. “Defend yourself, Sam. Chits. On your left. Thousands of them.”

Jack and Osho fired rapidly into the center of the Chitin hoard as it ran headlong down the slope toward the squad. Torent formed his squad into a tight square and directed the squad’s fire in tight, concentrated bursts. One pulse rifle could rip a Chitin soldier to shreds in seconds. Jack could see the squad didn’t have seconds. The battle was going to be counted in fractions of a second. Torent’s tactic was working as the squad’s combined, concentrated fire tore through the hoard.

“We are no good up here,” Jack said. “The fight is down there.” Jack tried to focus his fire on the most immediate threat to the squad. The Chits came on in a mass, the writhing tentacles of one individual indiscernible from those of another.

“We can’t go down there,” Osho said. “It’s hopeless.”

Jack noticed Osho had stopped firing. “Keep firing. On your feet. We’re moving in.”

Jack pulled Osho to her feet and started down the slope toward the square of Marines. Their fire was just about holding back the flood of Chitins. “Sam,” Jack said into the suit comm as he scurried down through the loose rocks of the slope. “Call in supporting fire.”

“It’s only us here,” Torent said.

Jack thought he detected an element of disillusionment in Torent’s voice. The squad leader was holding off the assault, just, but he was close to giving up.

“We don’t know what the simulation has to offer. Call the fleet and ask for support.”

“They are nearly on us. I don’t think we can hold back anymore. Stupid game.”

Jack noticed he was running alone. He glanced back and saw Osho sitting in the loose rocks, her rifle at her side. She was throwing small rocks in a childish, absentminded manner.

“This is Sixth Squad,” Jack called over his comms. “Request fire support from any available units.”

“This is orbital support,” the voice came crackling over his comms. “Awaiting coordinates for orbital barrage.”

Jack watched as the Chit soldiers crashed into the Marines. The ground in front of Jack came alive and a Chit erupted through the loose, black ground. A tentacle wrapped around his neck and another went ridged and blade-like. The blade was thrust swiftly forward, slicing through suit and flesh and bone. Jack felt a cold shiver down his spine and then the simulation flickered off.

Finch paced in front of the squad, shouting his displeasure.

“You pathetic bunch of ass berries. The Chits in that sim weren’t even armed. How are you going to stand against plasma spear?” Finch stopped in front of Torent. “How are you going to fight them if you stand in a cowering little group and wait to get slaughtered?” Finch took another step. “How are you going to fight them if you can’t work as a team?” He stopped in front of Jack and shouted in Jack’s face. “How is the squad going to win if cowards like you go and hide on the nearest hill?”

Jack couldn’t work out if Finch was shouting at the squad to toughen them up for what would be a difficult mission, or if Finch didn’t understand what Torent had been doing, and what he had been doing keeping watch on that hill. Jack had understood Torent’s plan. The tactics Torent had used against the Chit hoard had been sound. There was no point running at that stage of the battle. The hoard was faster and more maneuverable than 6th squad. If they had run, they would have been slaughtered. Standing together was the best way to face the onslaught. And having Jack on a hill to provide surveillance was also sound.

The more Jack thought it over the more he was starting to think that Finch was not just an arrogant fool but also a poor leader and a poor motivator. Jack knew Finch didn’t want to go down to the moon with the squad; he’d tried to worm his way out of the job. He was only pissed at 6th squad because he feared for his life and 6th squad would have to fight to the death to keep his sorry ass alive.

“And who called in support?” Finch asked.

Jack raised his hand. Was Finch going to single him out for praise now and try and turn the squad against him?

“Is that how you respond to a fight, Forge? Run away and then call for someone else to fight for you?”

Jack guessed wrong. Finch was being an even bigger scroat. If one of his favorites had called the support, it might have been a different story. If it had been that krav ugly Terry then Finch might well have praised him.

“Answer me, Forge. You going to run from a fight?”

“Sir, no, sir,” Forge shouted.

“I don’t believe you Forge. And I can’t believe the captain is going to make me take a failed schoolboy down to that moon for this mission,” Finch growled. “We can make a difference on this mission. We can strike a blow for humanity. Smash a hole in the Chit fleet and send them scurrying back to their gas hole they call a world. But I can’t do it if you are going to run from a fight. You ready to try again?”

Jack shouted with everyone else. They were ready. They were ready for the real thing. These VR exercises were designed for new recruits and Marine training. This squad had been in the thick of the Chit army. They had already fought and died and won. They’d beaten the Chits for real. It seemed somehow pointless to do it in VR.

“You better be ready, because we are going to do this again and again until the captain sends us down to that moon or until I think you look like a real squad of Marines. You get me?”

“We get you, sir,” the squad shouted, but Jack could only think of one thing and she was probably busy in the maintenance hangar. Jack hoped he would see her again before heading off on his mission. He’d seen enough Chits and enough of commander Finch. He hadn’t seen enough of Sarah Reyes.

7

Walking into the maintenance hangar, Jack felt like a stranger and like he was returning home. The only activity was at the far end, where Reyes was working on the immobilized Chitin soldier.

She jumped and yelled as Jack surprised her.

“I thought you’d been sent away with your squad,” she said, hand on her chest as it rose and fell rapidly.

“I didn’t mean to startle you,” Jack said, his feelings for Reyes rising.

“It’s this Chit,” Reyes said, turning back to the creature. “I’ve got a good handle on the controls.” Reyes demonstrated by moving the tentacles one at a time and then in combination. “I think I’ve got it now.” Then one tentacle suddenly coiled into a tight knot and two others thrashed about. “Krav it,” Reyes said. “I’ve nearly got it.” Another tentacle coiled up and then the fissure in the shell cracked open. “Krav it all,” Reyes said and powered down her control console. The tentacles fell limp and lifeless.

“That’s pretty impressive,” Jack said, looking at the Chitin.

“It will be when I can control it properly. It could be a chance to infiltrate the Chit forces. Finally stop them from killing us.”

Jack looked into the cavity that had recently been filled with purple slime.

“I cleaned out all that gunk,” Reyes said. “Not much of a job for someone with my skill set.”

Carefully reaching into his pocket, Jack found the small family watch. The gears of the delicate clockwork and the small hands were in constant danger of being damaged since Jack had destroyed the silver case during the Battle of Training Moon. He lay the small watch down in front of Reyes.

“Maybe this will give you a challenge,” he said.

Snatching up the watch, Reyes’s mouth fell wide open. “That’s amazing. Where did you find this?” She turned it over in her hands.

“It’s all that is left of my family,” Jack said. “It had a silver case once, but I had to melt it down.”

“Did you sell it?” Reyes ran her finger along the edge of the small white face.

“I bought something with it. It bought me airpower and victory at the Battle of Training Moon.”

Reyes handed the watch back to Jack. “Sounds like it’s your lucky charm. Better take it with you when you deploy with your squad.”

Jack closed Reyes’s hand around the watch and pressed it back to her. “Do me a favor. Make a case for it. Doesn’t have to be silver. Hull composite would be fine. Just keep the mechanism safe from damage.”

Looking again at the watch, this time with an eye for the work that would need to be done, Reyes nodded. She looked at Jack. “Why don’t you keep it until you get back? If you come back in one piece, we’ll fix it up with a case.”

“It needs a case more than I need a lucky charm,” Jack said. “And if I don’t make it back, you keep it. It’ll be good to know it’s with someone who can take good care of it.”

Reyes nodded. She threaded the watch over one of the fine antennae on the Chitin’s head. It slid through the mechanism down to the Chit’s smooth and shiny head. She turned and smiled at Jack. “It’ll be safe there, and I won’t lose it.” She placed her hand on Jack’s shoulder. “Good luck, Marine,” she said. “Make sure you take care of yourself. I’ll have the watch ready for you when you get back. Come and look me up. Okay?”

Jack gave Reyes a smart salute and turned on his heel. He marched to the door without a look back. He hoped he’d see Reyes again, but if he looked at her now, he might not be able to tear himself away. His squad was going on a mission and they needed every Marine. He didn’t like it, but they needed him. He was starting to feel like he belonged here on the Scorpio. He was starting to feel like he really was a Marine.

8

The squad stood in formation on the Marine deck, Jack taking his position on the right flank of the first row. They were all suited up in their meat suits, the helmet under the right arm. Their pulse rifles were slung over the left shoulder, various sidearms strapped to their hips and boots.

They stood in the 6th squad formation area marked out on the large Marine deck. The floor was color-coded for Adder, Boa, and Cobra companies, and within those areas were spaces for each of the twelve squads for each company. The areas for cobra squads seven through twelve had not been stood upon for some time. The Scorpio battalion was undermanned, just like every other department.

Commander Finch entered the Marine deck and paced over to 6th squad. He walked along the front rank.

“This mission is reconnaissance only,” Finch began. “So there will be no combat. Just as well.” Finch stopped in front of Jack. “I know some of you are not cut out for combat operations.” Finch walked on, his head held high and proud. “I’ll be leading you in the field. I expect order.” He turned at the end of the row and walked back. “I expect discipline.” He stopped in front of Jack again. “And you are all Marines, so I expect courage. Fail in any of these and I will be providing battlefield justice. Do you get me?”

“We get you, sir.”

“We will be setting down on the surface of Kratos. It is a brutal, desolate world. A detestable world. It is a world that wants to kill you. The pressure is so low that you might as well be in the vacuum of space. Exposure to that low-pressure environment will cause your blood to boil. The temperature is low enough to render you unconsciousness with hypothermia in moments. You will freeze even as your blood boils. If you survive long enough and manage to take a breath of that thin toxic atmosphere, the air will burn your lungs out of your chest at the first choking gasp. But you won’t see any of it because the radiation from Penthus will burn the skin from your body and burn out your delicate little eyes. You will be frozen, boiled, poisoned, and radiated to death all in a short enough time that no one will be able to save you, but a long enough time that you will be able to feel every agonizing effect.”

Finch marched back and forth, his voice echoing around the deck.

“This is why the squad has been issued with Marine Extreme Environment Tactical suits. This is your first mission using a meat suit. You will seal the suit once we board the landing craft and you won’t crack that seal until we are back aboard the Scorpio. Do you get me?”

“We get you, sir.”

“Move out,” Finch shouted.

Torent led the squad at a jogging pace. The squad ran from the Marine deck through the access to the Marine flight deck, an area of the Scorpio where the Marine landing craft was launched. The landing craft filled the small flight deck. The ramp was down and pointed toward the Marine deck access. Torent lead the squad up the ramp and into the hold.

The landing craft hold had an alcove for each member of cobra company. It seemed empty with only 6th squad taking up space. Jack stood in the first available alcove, the straps deployed automatically holding him in place. Torent stood in the next alcove.

“Helmets on,” Finch said, walking along the narrow gangway between the rows of alcoves.

Turning to Torent for a final word before he pulled on the helmet, Jack saw along the gangway to the open cockpit of the landing craft. He saw the pilot in the right seat prepping the craft for departure. And there in the copilot seat was a familiar face.

“Sam, have you seen who it is?” Jack asked.

Torent turned and looked to the cockpit. “Well, I’ll be kraved.”

“Bill Harts. How the krav did he get in the cockpit?”

“Are you having trouble hearing me, Marine? I said helmets on,” Finch shouted into Jack’s face.

Jack took one last look toward the cockpit, watching Bill Harts prepping the craft with the pilot. Jack knew he would have made an excellent pilot. His academics in engineering and his experience with machines would have made him a better choice. Being sent to maintenance had been an insult, but at least he’d met Reyes.

He pulled the helmet over his head. The helmet connected with the suit and Jack heard the seal form.

The visor view through the helmet was overlaid with enhancement data. Jack felt the cold fibers slither through the back of his skull at the top of his neck. Jack cried out as they drilled into his brain stem. Suddenly, Jack could access the suit’s tactical functions with the power of thought.

He turned and looked at Torent. The suit’s helmet was an opaque dark gray with darker lines across it. The visual overlay showed a name tag over Torent’s left shoulder. Squad Leader Torent.

“You look better with that helmet on,” Torent said.

“I would tell you to go krav yourself through an airlock, but I’ve got too much respect for your rank,” Jack replied.

“Say good-bye to the Scorpio, Marines,” Finch said as the landing craft lifted off the flight deck. Through the cockpit view screen up ahead, Jack saw the flight deck doors open to reveal the small pink moon of Kratos set in the vast black of outer space.

9

The last time Jack had set foot on solid, rocky ground was at the Battle of Training Moon. The Scorpio was solid enough, but a moon under his feet would feel good. Through the view screen, Jack watched Kratos grow larger as the landing craft raced toward it. The moon was pink with white wisps of acidic gas clouds drifting over the surface. From a distance it looked serene, welcoming, friendly even. Jack realized that the reality on the ground was going to be quite different; it was the only reason the hard-pressed Scorpio battalion would be authorized to use the meat suits.

The cockpit was more interesting than the moon for Jack. He watched the pilot operating the systems and the copilot Harts assisting. Harts reached out and flicked a switch. The pilot slapped Harts’s hand away from the instrument panel and returned the switch to its original position. The pilot pointed at another switch on the panel. Harts flicked that switch instead.

Jack wished he could hear the conversation between the two. Jack was sure he would hear Harts getting a grilling. He had clearly flicked the wrong switch and was being given a loud remedial lesson in landing craft operation.

The moon was huge now, filling the cockpit’s view screen. Jack guessed the pilot would soon have to slow the landing craft for orbit before plotting a landing trajectory. The pilot was jabbing a finger at the control panel. Harts was working the instruments as the pilot directed.

Watching the pilot’s and Harts’s every move, Jack guessed they were preparing for an orbital entry burn. Harts reached uncertainly for a lever. Jack thought it looked like the life support systems, not maneuvering thrusters. Again, the pilot slapped Harts’s hand away from the console as he reached for a control lever.

Jack watched as the pilot slapped Harts around the head. He jabbed his finger at Harts and was clearly telling Harts exactly what he thought of his piloting skills.

The gravity from the moon began to build on Jack’s body, and he felt himself drawn toward the pink moon growing ever larger in the view screen. A message from the pilot came over his suits’ intercoms.

“Cancelling orbital transition to landing. Proceeding direct to landing trajectory. The weather on our approach vector is chaotic so expect a bumpy ride. Putting you down right on the mark. Hold tight.”

The landing craft slammed into the thin atmosphere. Jack was thrown back against his alcove, the straps straining at the sudden increase in weight. Then the craft was thrown sideways before being thrown back to the other side.

“Activate the grav break.”

The pilot had either left his communicator on or had inadvertently switched it back on due to the sudden turbulence. Jack looked nervously at Harts, who was working slowly and clumsily.

“No, not that. Do you want to kill us all? That panel, there. The third switch left, the one marked Field.”

White thin clouds flashed by the view screen.

“Activate the grav break.”

The pilot was a frenzy of activity operating the landing craft and instructing his inadequate copilot. Landing was the most challenging part of any flight. The hammerings from the turbulence grew in strength and frequency. Jack could barely focus on the pilot and his work.

“De-polarize the hull. Can’t you even do that?”

The jagged bolts of lightning came up from the ground and struck the front of the landing craft. The blue lines of force crackled over the view screen. Jack had never seen lightning travel upward. Every planet in the system had its own strange twist on nature, but the reverse lightning was unexpected.

The surface of the moon began to drift as the landing craft went into a spin. The pilot reached out against the G-force, visibly straining to reach a switch that Jack thought was the emergency landing stabilizer. His finger touched the small switch and he snapped it over. The small panel behind it lit up green.

“Grav break, now. Slam it, for krav sake.”

A second major lightning strike blew out the view screen.

The only sound the pilot made for the next fifteen seconds was heavy breathing as he worked frantically to do his best to slow and stabilize the landing craft. It seemed to be an impossible task as Jack saw the surface race ever closer. The landing craft slammed into the moon belly first.

The straps holding Jack in his alcove stretched under his weight. The suit’s power was diverted to the vertical stabilization support field. Jack’s display dimmed as power was diverted from all other systems. The strap at Jack’s left shoulder reached its breaking point, the frayed, threaded composite snapping.

Jack slammed sideways as the strap failed. The landing craft was down. 6th squad was deployed to Kratos.

10

Jack released himself from the remaining straps and stepped out of the alcove. He looked along the line of Marines opposite. The enhancement data showed him the names and status of his squad-mates. Directly opposite was Osho. Her heart rate was high, but she was alive and ready for action. She nodded at Jack as he placed a hand on her shoulder. Next to her stood Terry. He was also fit. He shoved Jack’s hand away as he held it out in an offer of support.

“I can stand on my own two feet, Forge,” Terry spat.

“Where’s the commander?” Torent unclipped himself and stepped out of his alcove. “Terry, find the commander. Make sure he’s okay. Forge, check the cockpit. Osho, you’re with me. Let’s check these Marines.”

Jack picked his way along the narrow gangway to the cockpit. Harts was unstrapping himself from his copilot seat. “Bill,” Jack called out, “you need to assist the pilot and isolate the craft from flight operations.”

“It’s no good. Krav it. The pilot is no good.” Harts was babbling to himself.

“There’s nothing wrong with the pilot,” Jack said harshly. He’d watched Harts and the pilot at work and from what Jack knew, the pilot was the only man on board who had saved them from a catastrophic crash landing, while Harts had been a hindrance at best and a culpable liability at worse.

Unclipping himself and twisting out of the seat, Harts came tumbling forward toward Jack. He barreled into Jack and then reached up to his helmet, tugging at it.

“What the krav,” Jack said. “Don’t take that off, Bill.” Jack grabbed Harts’s hands and pulled them away from his helmet. “We don’t know if the hull is still sealed. Any breach and the air in here is death. You’ll be dead in a second.”

“Dead. Dead.” Harts pushed Jack away.

Jack shoved Harts toward another Marine. “Make sure he keeps that helmet on,” Jack said. He looked toward the cockpit and stepped forward.

The enhanced data overlay on Jack’s view showed that the pilot was dead, impaled on a thin composite pipe that had burst upward from the conduit channel below the cockpit. The black conduit had stabbed up through the pilot’s seat, through his central body mass and out the neck just to the right of his head. Blood oozed out and evaporated in the thin, low-pressure atmosphere.

“Report, Marine.” Finch stepped up behind Jack.

Reaching out to secure the craft and isolate flight functions, Jack reported the grim news. “The pilot is dead, Commander. Ship secured. There is a hull breach somewhere. A few secondary systems have taken a beating. I don’t think we are in any immediate danger.”

“Can you drop the access ramp from there?”

“Sir, yes, sir.” Jack turned to Finch. The data showed that Finch was unhurt, but his heart rate was high. Jack guessed the commander had not crash-landed recently, if ever, at least not outside of a simulation.

Jack dropped the ramp, letting out the remaining fresh air and letting in the dull brown light of the gas giant high in the sky overhead.

“All right. Listen up, Marines. Form up outside. Double time.” Finch tugged at the thin conduit protruding from the pilot’s neck, then turned to Jack and asked, “Is that a problem?”

Jack studied the conduit and then the instrument panel. It was a secondary plating data transfer conduit. “It is not affecting any flight system. The ship should be able to fly,” Jack said.

Finch nodded. “Get that dead pilot out of the cockpit, Marine. I don’t want to be fussing over that corpse if we need to get out of here quickly.”

The squad was sitting around on the ground outside the landing craft. Finch was on one knee, a holomap spread out in air in front of him and Torent at his side studying the map.

“Is that cockpit clear, Marine?” Finch said as Jack came down the ramp.

“Sir, yes, sir.”

“Okay, listen up, Marines. We are going to scout this moon and get back aboard the Scorpio pronto. Squad leader, set perimeter guards at two hundred meters from this point. Forge, you can assist the copilot and scout the moon with the landing craft.” Finch cancelled the map display and stood up. “Copilot, you have the pilot’s chair. Go. Now.”

Harts wandered toward Jack and the landing craft ramp. Jack stayed standing where he was and prevented Harts from walking inside the craft.

“Commander. If we use the landing craft to scout the moon, we will alert any Chits to our presence. We should scout on foot and stay hidden.”

“It’ll be much quicker, Jacky,” Torent said, stepping up next to Finch.

Finch advanced toward Jack, finger pointed at his chest. “I didn’t ask for your opinion, Marine. Now get that landing craft airborne and scout the area.”

“If we were sent to conduct an aerial scout mission, we would have been equipped with drones.”

“Are you hoping to stay out of trouble? Are you hoping to cower in some corner, or maybe on a nearby hill? That’s your style, isn’t it, Marine? I won’t run this mission and deal with your cowardice. You will get a hold of yourself and function like a Marine. But if you want to find yourself strapped to a flogging post on the Marine deck, you keep on disobeying me. Is that understood?”

“Sir,” Jack went on. “The landing craft is not a suitable vehicle for an aerial reconnaissance. We can’t be sure we’ve properly cleared the area.”

“I will decide when the area is clear, Marine. Now get in that cockpit and survey the area.” Finch rubbed away some of the moon’s pink sandy soil from his suit.

Jack received a message and accessed it on his helmet’s comms. It was Torent.

“Get that crate in the air, you dumb ass. I don’t want to watch you get flogged, again.”

Bill Harts pushed Jack up the ramp. “Get up there, Forge. I’ll show you how to get this thing off the ground.”

Jack couldn’t believe the stupidity all around him. Checking the area using the landing craft was a surefire way of alerting any Chits to their presence. The Chit home world was on the far side of the system currently, but there was no reason to believe they wouldn’t have an observation post on this moon themselves. If it was such a good location for a surveillance base, then surely the Chits would know that too. And they had been in this system far longer than humans, they had a huge advantage. Scouting from the air was dangerous and stupid.

And as for Harts suggesting he would school Jack on flying the landing craft after that horrible display of copiloting, he was stupid and deluded. Jack was caught between idiots all determined to put him in deadly peril.

“Let’s get this thing off the ground,” Jack said and walked toward the cockpit. At least he would get to fly a spacecraft. That was something, even if it might be the death of him.

The landing craft lurched into the air. Harts sat in the pilot’s chair and instructed Jack. It was possible to fly this craft from the copilot’s chair, but Jack had to listen to the ramblings of an incompetent pilot. Jack did his best.

The landing craft was a basic supply vessel design, customized for troop transport. It was small enough to fit inside a destroyer but large enough to cram a company of Fleet Marines inside. It was, however, totally inappropriate for surveillance operation. It was big and slow. The scanning systems were suitable for landing and docking, but nowhere near the level required for identifying hidden Chit soldiers.

It was relatively easy for Jack to fly. If only Harts would help. But Harts was arrogant and overconfident, even given his recent poor performance. How had Harts gotten into the flight deck? He was nowhere near as capable as Jack.

“Not as easy as it looks, is it?” Harts said as the raft was rocked by a sudden atmospheric disturbance. Jack navigated through the turbulence, keeping the craft steady.

It was virtually impossible to tolerate Harts. The man was devious, a cheat, and a liar. Jack suspected he had a cruel or even psychopathic streak. He would set people up for a fall, not for any personal gain but just to watch them tumble. Jack grimaced as he remembered his schemes during training. If Harts didn’t watch his mouth now, it would end badly for him. Jack was not going to tolerate this idiot.

“It would be a lot easier to fly this thing if you helped out,” Jack said.

“I am helping you, old buddy,” Harts said. “I’m instructing you. You might get good.”

Jack felt a rush of irritation at the word buddy. It grew to anger at the suggestion that Harts could instruct him. It peaked at full blown fury as he heard Harts say he might get good. Jack was a better pilot, a better engineer, and a better Marine than Bill Harts. Even though Jack had never wanted to join the Marines, he knew he was better than Harts. A sudden pang of humility slowed Jack. He bit his lip and accepted his situation; stuck on a moon with Bill kravin’ Harts trying to instruct him.

Jack had always stayed away from the kids who wanted to join the military. Jack had only ever wanted to build machines and fix machines. Machines were easy to understand. Someone like Harts was impossible to grasp. The guy just didn’t function and Jack was damned if he knew how to fix him. But in the short time he’d been training with the Fleet Marines, Jack thought he knew how to shut Harts up. One more word, Jack thought, just one more word and…

“Don’t let the nose dip, rookie.”

“Don’t speak to me, Bill.” Jack twisted in his seat, one hand on the controls. “You are the worst kind of nasty scroat. You wouldn’t know if the nose on this craft was dipped, raised, or jammed up your ass. Now shut the krav up and let me fly this circuit.”

“You don’t know this ship, Jack. I’ve been learning it for days…”

“You wouldn’t know the primary coil from the lift plate.” Jack turned his attention back to the view screen.

The moon was a strange world. The pink surface was cute at first glance, but it soon became a violent assault on the eyes. The moon had the appearance of a pink forest. The surface grew upward in twisting, branching towers that ended with fine cobweb-like structures.

The moon interacted with the gas giant Penthus and created a dense golden aurora that shimmered across the brown sky. Jack ignored the strangely beautiful view and focused on keeping the landing craft level and steady. It was too easy to let the view take over Jack’s focus. He would love to push the landing craft to speed and follow the lines of the aurora, joy riding high above the surface of Kratos. But this was not entertainment, this was business. This was Marine business, and Jack had a responsibility to his team.

“The scanners on this boat are set on too wide a beam,” Jack said. “Refocus them for me, Harts.”

“Scanner focus is fine,” Harts said.

“It’s that panel there,” Jack said, pointing to the relevant touch screen. “Access scanner control and reset for a narrow beam. As narrow as it will go.”

“You do it,” Harts said.

“Can you take over the flight controls?” Jack was nervous about letting Harts have control. How had Harts even been selected for flight operations? If anyone should have been sent to the laundry aboard the Scorpio, it was Harts.

“I can fly this ship,” Harts said haughtily. “If you can’t handle the scanning, maybe you shouldn’t be flying.”

Jack didn’t know how long he could hold off hitting Harts. “Take control in three, two…” Jack left the controls. He was going to adjust the scan focus in as short a time as possible. It was true he would have to fly more lines to cover the area, but it did mean he could fly the landing craft. It was exciting and interesting; it was almost worth putting up with Bill Harts.

“Scanners refocused. We’re getting much better data already.” Jack looked out at the strange world below. He would never have been here, flying over this surface, if he had not been drafted. He would never be glad to have been dropped from his university course, but this was something special. And he was working on machines he could only study in simulations back in university on Eros. Jack had never wanted to be a Marine but was starting to feel like he didn’t have any other options.

Harts hit a bad patch of turbulence that thrust the landing craft a hundred meters down to the surface in a second. He struggled with the controls and overcompensated. The craft lurched upward, the nose raised so much the craft was sitting almost vertically.

“Ease off. Level her off,” Jack shouted. He reached out toward the flight controls, fighting the G-force that was holding him back. “Let me take control.”

“Hands off, Jack,” Harts said as he struggled to regain control.

“Let me take control,” Jack said as the nose dipped forward, pointing the craft directly at the moon below. “We’re too steep. The coil will flip out if you throw it back again.”

“I know what I’m doing.”

Jack could see that Harts had lost control. The craft began to tumble and then went into a spin. Jack was pinned to the side of his seat. Jack could not reach the primary flight controls. Harts was pinned in his seat. They were both passengers now.

Jack spotted the ramp controls on his left. If he could deploy the ramp, it might slow their spin enough for him to regain control. Unfortunately, the AI safeguards stopped him. Jack pulled his sidearm off his hip and pointed it at the console. He steadied himself and aimed carefully. If he missed, he would never regain control and the craft and his body would be scattered over half the moon’s surface. If he got his aim just right…

Jack fired and smashed open the AI central unit. He dug inside and removed the main AI override system node. The AI was now a passenger too. Jack resent his request for the ramp to be deployed.

The screaming rush of air told Jack that the ramp was opening. The first tiny crack in the hull as the ramp deployed turned the hold of the landing craft into a huge wind instrument. The screeching high-pitched tone pierced Jack’s ears. If he hadn’t been wearing his helmet, it would have exploded his ear drums. Then, as the ramp opened a fraction more, the wind resistance grew suddenly and jerked the craft out of its spin. Jack was slammed back against the other side of his chair.

A data stream across his helmet told him he was nearing a concussed state. He was rapidly becoming hypoxic due to G-forces acting on his body. He instructed his suit to increase oxygen concentration and suit pressure to force some oxygen into his system. Then he reached out again toward the flight controls. All he needed to do was fire a controlled thrust and he could steady the boat.

Harts was slumped in his chair. The data displayed across Jack’s helmet as he looked at Harts told Jack what he already knew, that copilot William Harts was unconscious.

“At least now you are ballast,” Jack said aloud, wishing Harts could hear. “Best job you’ve done all day.” Jack reached out and hit the thrust.

The G-force subsided. Jack leveled the craft and put it on the correct surveillance altitude. He accessed the ramp controls, hoping they would still function. He didn’t know if they had been damaged by their unorthodox deployment, or if they had been ripped away completely. The ramp controls responded and informed him that the ramp was closing. A glance over his shoulder and Jack saw the ramp shut and close out the dull light from Penthus, returning the hold to dark.

Jack sat back in his seat and looked out at the planet. He was thousands of meters off course. He guessed he would be flying the landing craft a bit longer than he’d first thought, and with Harts unconscious, he would have a nice quiet time of it.

The calm was short-lived. A siren alarm sounded, echoing around the empty hold, as the craft suffered a total loss of power. It returned momentarily and gave the craft a sudden push. The power failed and returned again, pushing the craft across the sky on one lurching movement after another. Jack glanced at the altitude reading. He didn’t need to, he could see the strange forest-like structures of the surface racing up toward him.

Jack set the craft for a crash landing. Hopefully, some of the emergency landing safety measures were still functioning.

The pink branching structures disintegrated as the craft crashed into them. They exploded in a cloud of pink sand and dust as the landing craft crashed to the ground and skidded through the tree-like towers, carving a path across the surface of Kratos.

11

“Get up. Get up.” Jack unclipped the straps holding Harts in his seat, his undeserved pilot’s seat. Harts looked at Jack with a mixture of fear and accusation.

“You crashed the ship?” Harts said as he recoiled from Jack.

“Get up, Bill.” Jack grabbed Harts under the arm and pulled him out of the seat. “I need your help.”

“Why should I help you?” Harts sat back in his seat and tried activating the landing craft elevation systems.

“Don’t play with that,” Jack said, grabbing Harts’s hands and pulling them away from the control panel. “The boat’s been damaged. We need to assess the extent of that damage before we can even try and get airborne.”

“And what would you know about it?” Harts shouted at Jack. “You thought you were so special, like you could fly this thing on your own. Well, look where that got us.” Harts reached out again for the elevation systems control.

“I didn’t crash this boat, I almost saved it from your incompetence.” Jack was furious with Harts, not just for his inability to fly the landing craft, not just for getting the posting to fly the Marine landing crafts ahead of Jack. Jack was still angry with Harts for stealing his watch and putting the finger of blame on Torent. Jack knew punching Harts would have no effect, though, since the suit would deflect any blow.

Jack checked the flight data and error reports in the lander’s console. A gun camera showed the wild flight the landing craft had been on, spinning, lurching and stalling. Jack spotted a dark shape on the horizon of one of the images. A dark tower that stood out from the pink sand towers.

“What’s that?” Jack re-ran the images and zoomed in on the structure. There was a pattern on the surface of that structure, difficult to make out but it reminded Jack of the fine twisting lines that he’d seen on the Chitin that Reyes had been working on in the maintenance hangar. “Is that… Is that a Chitin structure?”

“Chits?” Harts tutted. “Sounds like you are still scared after our little skirmish on the training moon. You heard the commander, there are no Chits here. The area is clear.”

“You think the fleet has never made a mistake before? Get up.” Jack pulled Harts out of his seat and pushed him toward the exit.

Harts moved unwillingly, but Jack encouraged him with a series of shoves. “I know you are a lousy Marine, Harts,” Jack said, giving another shove, “but you are all I have to work with. We need to scout the area and check for enemy, and we need to check the boat for damage.”

“We should just head back to base camp,” Harts said, resisting another shove from Jack. “I know better than to listen to an order from a known mutineer.”

Jack felt his anger at Harts rising again. He was right, Jack had a record for insurrection. But Harts was the worst kind of traitor, undermining trust between people who should be allies, and sowing division between friends. Harts was worse than any dissenting voice, he was a parasite sucking the life out of the Marines with his devious and malicious scheming.

Harts opened a channel. “Commander Finch.” Harts looked at Jack, daring him to interrupt.

Jack knew that any attempt to stop Harts now would lead to the nasty little rodent spinning a tale where Jack was attempting to prevent Harts doing his duty and reporting to Finch.

“Finch here. Go ahead, Harts.”

“Forge crashed the landing craft, sir. He wants to scout on foot.”

Jack felt the fury rise in him. In essence, what Harts had told Finch was true. However, there were huge chunks of missing information, but Jack had no doubt that Finch would accept Harts’s assessment. Any report that further condemned Jack would be a welcome report in Finch’s eyes.

“Scout the area?” Finch shouted. “Negative. Terminate scout action immediately. Your priority is to get that landing craft in the air.”

“Sir,” Jack said, “I want to clear the area before burying my head in the engine assembly.”

“Negative, Forge. The Scorpio has checked the moon from orbit. We are clear. Patch up that landing craft, and continue your scouting mission. That is your priority.”

“But, sir, if the Chits are nearby, they will fire on us the moment we get airborne. And they will know we are here.”

“The area is clear,” Finch said.

“If the area has been cleared then what the krav are we doing on the ground?” Jack exploded with frustration.

“What you are doing is fixing that landing craft, Marine, and if you attempt to fly a craft you are not rated for again, I will have you before a court marshal for insurrection. Do not leave the crash site. Assess any damage and take steps to make repairs. And if you cannot fix the craft, I will have to call the Scorpio for extraction. And you can be sure I will tell them that you have jeopardized the mission and trashed a significant piece of military hardware. Follow my orders, Forge, or believe me, I will see you flogged until the skin hangs from your back. Do you get me?”

“Sir, yes, sir,” Jack shouted.

“Harts, oversee operations there. Forge, fix my landing craft.”

Harts stood in front of Jack and jabbed a finger into Jack’s chest. “You heard the commander…”

Jack grabbed the finger and twisted it. “I heard you too. The flight recorder will tell everyone who was in control and what happened on that flight. Your incompetence put us in danger and I saved us. If I hadn’t been fighting so hard to regain control of the boat, we might have been destroyed.” Jack released Harts’s finger. “You assess the damage. I’m scouting the area. Try and work out what systems are damaged on the boat. I’ll make a start on repair when I get back.”

“The commander ordered you to fix the landing craft.” Harts spoke, but his voice lacked any degree of conviction.

“We need to fix the boat for sure. But if you tell Finch I’ve gone off mission, you will regret it, Harts. If I’m right, you’ll be glad I went and checked it out. I will be responsible for saving your worthless ass twice in one day.” Jack leaned close to Harts. “You already owe me. Start paying it back.”

Jack swung up his pulse rifle and ran off through the pink trunks of the Kratos sand forest.

The sandy surface made for a heavy running track, but activating his power assist helped Jack maintain a steady pace. The sand clung to his boots and gathered in clumps that he had to periodically pull away. The sand trees that grew out of the surface created a labyrinth of strange branching pillars that Jack had to weave between.

Stopping for a moment to check his sightlines, Jack leaned against a sand tree. He pushed a clump of the pink sand out of the trunk. The sand was clinging together the same way as it clung to his boots. It was how these huge towering and branching sand trees were built. An electrostatic charge on the grains was creating and sculpting this pink sand forest.

It was a strange world and Jack began to doubt what he had seen in the landing craft camera. The dark tower could have been anything.

“You know what you saw,” Jack said to himself, scanning between the trunks through his pulse rifle sights. “Don’t go second guessing yourself now. That was a Chitin structure alright.”

Jack checked his suit’s biomonitors. He needed to hydrate. He activated the water tube in his helmet and allowed himself a small sip, just enough to wet his dry mouth. Then he was off again, running through the pink sand trees.

Running was always a pleasure, even in this strange, sticky sand. He felt free when he was running and almost forgot the reasons why. He dropped to a knee and scanned the area again.

Through the trees, he spotted a movement—a black slithering movement. Maybe it was shadows cast through the forest by a cloud overhead. Maybe. Jack trusted his instincts. He knew what he had seen. It was a Chit. He would recognize that motion anywhere, no matter how hidden. Just the merest glimpse of those tentacles, that long head with the antenna flicking about, every part of the creatures was burned onto his mind. He was alert to the merest flicker of Chit activity.

Jack adopted a prone position and took cover behind one of the thick pink trees. He knew the structure of these trees was tenuous, only being held together by some electrostatic charge or a slight surface tension. It was not substantial enough to resist a Chit plasma spear, but it would hide him from sight.

Jack watched carefully and then he saw the dark slithering shape again. It was a Chitin soldier alright. The writhing tentacles moved it across the pink sands. Jack noticed that the grains didn’t stick to the Chit like they did to his boots. If it came to a running battle, the Chits would have another advantage. It came as no surprise that the sand forest was against the Marines as well as the Chits.

Jack noticed that the sand grains in front of him were creeping up over his arms and he propped himself up off the floor. He wasn’t sinking. The grains were climbing. He pulled his arm upward and came free of the sand effortlessly, the grains simply falling away to the ground, leaving tiny sand trees on the surface, like a miniature forest where his arm had been. The distraction nearly cost him.

The Chit soldier moved across Jack’s field of view again as he ducked for cover. It looked like the alien was moving along a predetermined path. Jack watched from his position until he saw the pattern. The Chit was moving slowly back and forth as if on sentry duty.

Jack scanned the area to the Chit’s left and right, searching for other sentries. He couldn’t spot any from this position. He waited until the Chit was out of view and began moving to his right, taking care not to give away his position.

Jack moved quickly and carefully, searching for the next sentry. After moving five hundred meters to his right, he decided the Chit was a lone sentry. There must be very few Chits on the surface for there to only be one sentry. Maybe it was a lone Chit, in which case Jack could kill it and be done. But maybe the others were advancing on the crash site. Maybe there were so few Chits that they couldn’t attack the crash site, a craft that might have contained a whole company of Marines.

Jack needed to move in and find out more.

With the suit’s perimeter sensors set to maximum, Jack lost much of the system’s accuracy. What he lost in precision, however, he gained in distance. The Chit sentries were displayed on Jack’s enhanced data view as small dark blurs. He picked his way between them and closed in on whatever they were guarding. By analyzing the sentry patrol pattern, he deduced they were circling a perimeter five hundred meters around a central point. Jack closed in on that point.

At two hundred meters out, Jack reached the rim of a circular depression in the moon’s surface. He looked down into the depression. There in the center of the sand trees stood the dark monolith with Chitin soldiers scurrying around the wide base.

The monolith was constructed with glowing nodules and channels wound about its surface. The Chit soldiers moving around it touched the nodules with their tentacles, causing color changes to flash about the channels.

Jack searched his suit’s database for a listing on the Chit structure. No listing was found. This was a new piece of equipment previously unknown to the military.

Jack requested a count on the Chit numbers from his suit’s scanners. Counting the Chits moving around the structure in the depression and the sentries moving around the perimeter, the total was only eight. Chits were never found in such low numbers. They would be an easy target for 6th squad.

One of the Chits moving around the device wrapped a tentacle around a nodule. It came away from the monolith. Another Chit joined the first and together, they pulled and stretched the nodule. It morphed into a long tube structure. The first Chit took the tube and laid it over one of the monolith’s glowing channels.

Whatever it was the Chits were doing, Jack knew they needed to be stopped. The monolith was probably military in nature. Jack made an assessment; the device was either a weapon or a communication device.

But why so few Chits, Jack thought. If this was a weapon, then there would be a garrison here to service and protect it. If it was a communication device, they could soon be able to call on support. Jack couldn’t take down all eight Chits alone. He needed support from his squad.

Running back through the forest toward the landing craft crash site, Jack kept his scanners on maximum range on the lookout for more Chits. The way was clear and Jack covered it at a sprint, the meat suit assisting Jack’s muscles.

The landing craft looked just as he had left it. In fact, it looked exactly how he’d left it. “Damn you, Harts,” Jack shouted. “You haven’t even made a start on the boat.”

Jack walked around the landing craft before heading inside. “Where the hell are you hiding, Harts?” Jack walked into the cockpit. Empty. He walked along the hold and checked the alcove. “Harts? Where are you?” The ship was empty. Jack used the lander’s scanners to boost his suit’s scan range and scanned the area for Harts. Nothing.

“Damn it.” Jack slung his pulse rifle over his shoulder. He opened a channel to Commander Finch.

“What do you mean he’s missing?” Finch’s voice crackled over Jack’s helmet speaker.

“He was gone when I got back, sir.” Jack bit his lip as he realized he’d dropped himself in the krav.

“Got back? I ordered you to fix the landing craft, Marine.”

“Sir, yes, sir.”

“But you left. Where, tell me, Marine, did you go?”

“We’re not alone, sir. I found a nest of Chits. Don’t know what they are doing, but I bet it’ll be bad for us.”

The channel crackled for a few moments. Jack waited for Finch to chew him out some more.

“Fix the landing craft, Marine. Do you get me? And send a message to the Scorpio using the lander’s comm. The comm systems on these suits are not cutting through the field on this moon. Give them the coordinates of that nest and request they flame those Chits.”

“Sir, yes, sir.” Jack hoped the Scorpio could target the Chits accurately. He didn’t want the lander to get hit. He didn’t want to become a permanent resident.

“And watch out for my approach,” Finch added. “I’m bringing the squad up to the lander.”

“Understood,” Jack replied. Finch must be getting nervous, Jack thought. The commander didn’t like to be too far from his ride home.

Jack climbed into the landing craft and made his way back to the cockpit. The lander’s power systems were still operational. Jack opened a channel to the Scorpio. He sent an opening shout and waited for the Scorpio to respond. Knowing he would have a few moments, Jack activated the scanners. He could scan the area for Harts. Perhaps he was sightseeing, although there was nothing to see once you had marveled at the strange sand tree structures. The lander’s scanners were more powerful than his meat suit’s scanners, but only when the craft was airborne. Sitting on the ground, it was only a little better. Jack set the scanners on their widest beam. It gave the furthest reach, the two and a half kilometers to Kratos’s horizon. If Harts was within that area, he would appear as a fuzzy dark blob.

The only reading to come back was the activity from the sentry Chitin moving around the small construction site in that small depression. Maybe Harts was in a similar depression and out of sight of the scanners. He guessed if he could launch a drone or a probe vertically, he could get a better view and maybe find Harts.

Jack searched the inventory for anything that could fly above the lander and be used to extend sensor range. There was nothing. Not even a supply of nanodrones. Jack slumped back in his chair and considered his options. He would have to fix the lander if he was going to search for Harts. The devious little scroat didn’t deserve to be found. Jack should leave him behind. But Harts was still a Marine, and Jack knew he couldn’t abandon him.

The opening shout was still blinking on the console. It was still unanswered. If the Scorpio was on the far side of Kratos then the signal would not reach them. But surely the Scorpio would be holding a geostationary orbit above the ground team. Jack checked the comm and resent the opening shout, then started to work on the ship.

The lander diagnostic reports on the console showed Jack that the damage to the craft was serious but not devastating. He could see a few ways he could work around the problem. Some systems would have to be bypassed, some would have to be boosted, one lift compression filter would have to be removed. That was going to create a bumpy ride and the emergency alarms would complain loudly and constantly all the way back to the Scorpio, but at least they could make it back to the Scorpio, maybe.

Jack checked the opening shout again. Still no channel. He climbed out of the pilot’s seat and went to make a start on jury-rigging the boat.

12

Captain Pretorius ran onto the command deck, his open jacket flapping as he moved. “Mister Chou, report.”

“We’ve detected three small Chitin craft speeding in. Kraken class ships, sir. They are on a course for Kratos orbit insertion. They may have already detected us, but none are moving to intercept.”

The holostage showed three distant points and their predicted course. “Action stations, Mister Chou. Deploy combat drones. Move the Scorpio behind the horizon. If we are going to take these Chits down, we are going to have to take them before they know we are here.”

A command deck communication officer called out that he’d received an opening shout from the landing craft on the surface.

Pretorius looked at the holostage and the incoming Chit Krakens. He looked at Commander Chou.

“The Chitins will hear us if we respond, Captain.”

Pretorius looked back to the holostage. “Move the ship, Mister Chou. Put us behind Kratos and out of sight of those Chitins.”

“Aye, Captain. Drones deployed. Armed and holding. Ship moving now.”

“Captain,” the communications officer called out again. “We have a repeat of the opening shout from the landing craft.”

“Send no response. All communication channels on silent now.” Pretorius calmed the young communication officer. “The ground team will have to look after themselves for a short while. There are some good Marines down there. They can hold out for now.”

Pretorius watched the holostage and the small points of the Chitin craft. They had moved in fast, but now were slowing for orbital insertion just as the Scorpio was slipping behind the moon, almost hidden.

An alarm sounded across the command deck. Pretorius buttoned up his jacket.

“Sir, three more craft speeding in toward Kratos from the opposite side to the first three. Kraken class, sir. They are the Chits that like to clamp on to the hull, sir.” Commander Chou rushed to the next side of the holostage to check the status of the combat drones. “Permission to launch another flight of combat drones, Captain.”

“Negative.” Pretorius tugged his cuffs. “Put us in high polar orbit. Present the starboard battery to the first three Krakens. Target the second flight with port battery. Ventral battery, target lead craft. Make ready to give fire.” Pretorius’s voice grew in volume and intensity. Officers were thrown into rapid and intense activity. “Full speed now, Mister Chou. Power to every gun. Activate the combat drones and send them on a flanking maneuver against those Chits.”

Major Cruz entered the command deck with a security detail. He posted them at points across the command deck and then joined Pretorius and Chou at the holostage.

“Good of you to join us, Major.” Pretorius pointed to the holostage. “Chitin craft approaching Kratos. We are moving the Scorpio behind the moon and deploying combat drones.”

“Captain,” Commander Chou’s voice quivered. “The Chits have moved to intercept. The second flight too. They are closing in from both sides.”

Pretorius moved across the holostage and accessed fire control. “Wait for them to come into range, Mister Chou. Inform the gun teams to use their ammunition well. I want red dots on this holostage. Give me Chit kills.”

Slim sat on the work bench behind Sarah Reyes. He sipped hooch from a small silver hip flask. He pulled off the flask with a growling gasp, his lips pulled back over his teeth. He shuddered and then took another nip.

Sarah Reyes leaned against her bench with the Chitin behind her looking up at her colleague. “You got work, Slim?”

Slim nodded and held up the flask. He sipped again, gasped and winced, then offered the flask to Reyes.

Reyes wrinkled her nose and shook her head. “I’ve still got a few bits and pieces to work out about this Chit. I think I could almost pilot the thing.”

Slim put his flask away and jumped off the bench. He stuck his head toward the Chit. “Pilot it? Is it a spaceship?”

“It’s a suit,” Reyes said, turning to the Chit. “But it works like a small one-man, or one-Chit, craft. Not unlike the meat suits our Marines use.”

“So, are you going to go running around the ship, scaring the junior officers with this? That’s some Halloween outfit, Reyes.”

Reyes grabbed a tentacle and flicked it toward Slim. The tall man recoiled as the tentacle came toward him.

“Hey, knock it off, Rey,” Slim said.

“Knock it off and get back to work, Slim.” Master Doyle came marching into the maintenance hangar, George on his heels. “That life support system in green eight corridor isn’t going to fix itself. I’ve got crewmen complaining about bad air.”

Slim turned toward Doyle and nodded. “Just taking a breather. Me and my new friend.”

Reyes draped a Chit tentacle over Slim’s shoulder and he stroked it like a pet.

“Stop fooling around and get that air fixed.” Doyle stepped up to the bench.

“On my way, Master Doyle, sir.” Slim gave a smart salute and walked off, ruffling George’s hair as he left.

“And you need to leave your little friend alone, Rey.” Doyle poked the Chitin. “I have a limited staff, kid, and I can’t spare you any longer.”

“I’ve nearly got it all worked out, sir. Just a few more hours and…”

“You will have to use your off hours. You can keep it on the bench but…”

The alarm echoed across the wide maintenance hangar. The hangar door shut with a screech and a bang. George shuffled up alongside Doyle.

Reyes ran over to the hangar’s communication display. “We have moved to action stations. All non-combat personnel to hold station and wait for orders.”

“Okay.” Doyle looked at the Chit. “Show me what you can do with this thing.”

“You are using up all my ordnance, Mister Chou, but we are not recording any kills.” Pretorius watched the holostage intently.

“These Kraken class craft are too fast, sir. They are evading the guns on the main battery. They are coming into range of our kinetic hail cannons now, Captain. We’ll have them in a moment.”

“Deploy another flight of combat drones and target the second group of Chitins.” Pretorius spoke in a calm tone that hid his inner turmoil.

“Drones away, Captain,” Chou replied, his voice mostly calm but with a slight quiver of tension.

The new group of signals appeared on the holostage, a flight of six combat drones, all streaking away from the Scorpio toward the second group of Chitin craft. The fire from the hail cannons showed up on the holostage as a red mist spreading out from the destroyer. The combat drones’ flight kept them under the hail of kinetic rounds.

A cheer went up from the officers around the command deck as the first Chit kills were recorded. The first flight of Chitin craft collided with the kinetic hail and blinked from the display, each leaving a fading red dot.

“Good work, Mister Chou,” Pretorius shouted enthusiastically. “Make good and sure that second group are lit up red too.”

The signal from the six combat drones came in as they were detonated short of their targets. Their detonation wiped a clearing through the red mist of kinetic hail.

“Misfire, Mister Chou? Did you cut the fuses short on those drones?”

“No, Captain.” Chou moved across the holostage and accessed the report from the drone. “Looks like they were sent a detonation code.”

“Who sent that?” Pretorius accessed communication data, searching for the signal.

“I have it, Captain. Time delay on the signal shows it must have originated from the Chit craft, sir.”

Pretorius watched as the Krakens maneuvered into the gap created in the kinetic hail by the drones’ premature detonation.

“All guns on that group of Chits. You’ve got a few seconds to make an impact on them, Mister Chou.” Pretorius tugged at his cuffs. “Major Cruz, deploy your battalion throughout the ship. Stand by to repel boarders.”

13

The panels were stripped out and Jack had already bypassed the necessary systems to achieve lift off before Finch and 6th squad arrived at the crash site.

“Report, Marine.” Finch strode up the ramp into the hold.

“I’ve almost completed repairs, sir.” Jack stood up and stepped back to check his work. “Still need to replace a few panels and we’ll be ready to take off. It would be good if we had an electron scalpel handy.”

“I asked for a report, not complaints,” Finch said, looking at Jack’s work. “Did you notify the Scorpio of our situation?”

“No response from the Scorpio, sir.” Jack realized this was perhaps the most important piece of information he should have given. He braced himself for a tirade from Finch.

“Any sign of our missing Marine?”

Jack hesitated. Did Finch not realize what he’d been told about the Scorpio being silent? “No word from Harts either, sir.”

Finch looked at the repairs and made clicking noises with this tongue in his check. He called for Torent.

“Set up a perimeter and get someone on the horn to the Scorpio. Keep sending until they respond.”

Torent gave Jack an inquiring look. Jack was reluctant to give Torent all the details in front of Finch. The commander should have brought at least the squad leader up to speed on events, and Jack didn’t want to annoy Finch by telling Torent in front of the commander.

“Forge, I want you to take me to this Chitin nest.” Finch’s voice wobbled noticeably as he spoke. He covered his nervousness by marching off down the ramp, shouting for Jack to hurry and follow.

Walking slowly, but loudly enough for Finch to hear him coming, Jack turned to Torent. “Harts is missing. Scorpio not answering. Probably comm silence because of those Chits out there. The boat is ready to fly but it’ll be a rough trip. Don’t fire her up unless you have to.”

“On me, Forge,” Finch shouted again.

Jack led Commander Finch through the sand trees toward the Chitin site. The footprints that he had left only a short while ago were gone. The sand had flowed back into the markings and was growing up into small versions of the massive towering structures that covered the surface.

“I’m not picking them up on my scanners,” Finch said.

Jack dropped to his knee and pointed with his pulse rifle. “There, sir. A sentry.”

The Chitin was scurrying across the pink sand, its dark tentacles free from sand and dust. It left no markings in the surface.

“How many do you count?” Finch wiped the sand off his leg as it crept up from his knee.

“Eight, sir. Four around the perimeter and four constructing the device in the center of that depression.”

Finch looked down the sights of his pulse rifle. “I can’t see any construction.” He stood up and stepped forward.

Jack quickly came alongside Finch and held him back. “The sentry, sir,” he said, careful not to annoy Finch. “It’ll spot us.” Jack took a knee and pulled Finch down next to him. “The construction is hidden in the depression. They picked the spot well.”

“We need to destroy them.”

“Yes, sir, I agree,” Jack replied. It was the first sensible suggestion he’d heard from Finch.

“I don’t much care if you agree or not, Marine. Fall back to the lander. I’ll get a commendation for this one.”

“Two Krakens left, sir. We can’t stop them.” Commander Chou paused, and then his head tipped forward. “They are on the dorsal hull.” Chou stepped away from the holostage and went to the command deck arms locker. He pulled the doors open. The locker held a sidearm for every command deck officer, but as the command deck was currently undermanned, there were several spare pistols. Lieutenant Chou tucked one in the waistband at the small of his back band and one in front. He took another and carried it to Pretorius at the holostage, handing it over, handle first.

“I’ll command the battalion from here, Captain.” Cruz unclipped the holsters of his own sidearms, one on each hip and one under his left arm.

Pretorius dropped his pistol on the holostage in front of him. “Give me an internal display,” he said. The holostage flickered from the external image to one of the Scorpio, all its corridors mapped out by a web of green holographic light. All the ship’s personnel were represented by small blinking specks. The two points where the Chitins were cutting through the hull appeared as dark spots.

Pretorius recognized the spots where the Chitins were entering. They were the thinnest sections of hull covering nonessential areas. One was the main mess, the other a hangar recently given over to the maintenance department. “Send Marines to those locations, Major. And send a detachment to protect my drive room.”

14

The hull glowed white above Reyes. The composite blistered and fell away in molten droplets.

“They’re cutting through,” Doyle said. “Arm yourselves.”

“With what?” Reyes looked around desperately.

“Anything you can find.” Doyle ran to the pile of scrap. “A knife. A club. Anything.”

Reyes picked up a small electron scalpel from a nearby tool bench. She tuned the sizzling blade to its longest. The electron blade was sharp and should cut through the Chit shell to kill the creature inside. Sweat dripped from her face.

George was cowering against Doyle as the master was digging in the junk. He produced a long blade taken from a long-range reconnaissance drone. It had one rounded end where it met the turbine assembly and tapered out into a long, viciously sharp blade. He gave it an experimental swing. It would do damage from its weight if not its cutting edge.

The glowing section of hull finally gave way and a small hole appeared. Immediately, a tentacle pushed its way through.

“The door,” Reyes said as she heard a banging on the hangar door. “They are coming to help.”

Doyle ran to the door and tried the access panel. “It’s no good,” he said. “It won’t open.”

Reyes looked up to the widening hole above. More tentacles were coming through. The pressure in the hangar was dropping because of the breach above. “The emergency seals are holding it shut,” she said and backed away from the growing breach above.

George wailed pitifully as he watched.

“We should form up,” Reyes said, walking over toward Doyle and George. “We can defend ourselves better if we stay in a group.”

Then the hull on the hangar roof fell inward. A full-sized Chit soldier dropped to the maintenance hangar deck in between George and Doyle, and Reyes.

Doyle yelled a wild battle cry and charged at the Chit, his blade raised high above his head. He brought the blade down hard on the Chitin. Tentacles wrapped around the blade and plucked it from Doyle’s hand.

The pressure drop started to make Reyes feel lightheaded as the hull cracked open even more and another Chit dangled in through the breech, tentacles holding above and hanging down below. Reyes cried out in anger as the Chit picked Doyle up and passed him back to the hanging Chit, who swiftly climbed back up through the breach and took the struggling Doyle with it.

The Chit advanced on George. Reyes watched helplessly as the Chit tentacles reached out for him. George ran at the beast with his own battle cry, deep and furious. Tears streamed from his eyes as he ran straight at the alien. He dodged between the thick tentacles and reached out for the fine antennae around the circular mouth on the long head. He snapped one off and it caused the Chit to squirm and back away, its long head swinging violently.

Reyes saw the edge of the hangar door glowing. She hoped for a moment it was rescue, then she realized the door was being sealed from the outside. The ship systems would show how many crew were in the hangar. They were being abandoned. Reyes stumbled away from the door toward her bench. She felt the Chitin suit behind her and thought, just maybe, she could use it and escape.

George was still screaming and beating down the Chit with his fists, the long head taking blow after blow. Then Reyes saw the second Chit appear in the breach. It dropped down to pluck George off the deck and carried him up, screaming and kicking.

The Chit in the hangar turned toward Reyes. She felt a sudden rush of fear and adrenaline. The air was thin and she was feeling too weak to fight. The electron blade fell from her hand. She turned her back on the advancing Chit and looked at the Chit on her bench. There was space inside. She had thought about trying it out once she’d studied it some more. Study time was over. It either worked now, or she died. She climbed in through the opening in the shell. The Chit lurched toward her in what looked like a drunken state. Losing the antennae to George had badly affected it. Reyes grabbed the console she’d been using to control the Chit and pulled it inside with her.

She curled up her legs and adopted a kneeling position in the body of the Chit, working as quickly as she could.

The shell closed and locked Reyes inside. She could see only the inside of the shell, lit by the console. She tried to stand the Chit up on its tentacles. She felt the suit stand upright. Then she fell sideways. Now she was upside-down. She checked the console, but it wasn’t her driving that was at fault. Again, she was moving and tumbling.

“That damn Chit is giving me a beating,” she said. Her hands danced across the console as she tried to access some exterior view. The inside of the head suddenly presented an image of the outside world. It was the maintenance hangar as seen from an unusual angle, upside-down in a corner, on top of the junk pile. She looked around and saw the Chit, still lurching drunkenly toward her.

Looking up, Reyes could see the breach in the hull. “If I can get this right…” Reyes said to herself as she attempted to leap using all the Chit’s tentacles. She felt the movement as she flung herself toward the breach.

As she came toward the breach, she turned the Chit and reached out with a tentacle to grab hold of the blistered edge. The tentacle missed and Reyes slammed into the roof of the hangar. She realized she was falling. Looking up, she saw the second Chit coming back through the breach, tentacles extended downward. Reyes reached out and grabbed with her own tentacles.

She caught hold and stopped her fall. The Chit started to pull her up. She panicked at first, a wave of fear pulsing in her chest. “If I’m going to get out of here, it might as well be this way,” she said and let herself be pulled up.

She emerged in a closed space, filled with writhing tentacles of many colors. She saw Doyle and George. They were both held inside a translucent pod. Both seemed in shock, their mouths and eyes wide open, but both were still. Reyes moved through the mass of tentacles and saw a large display. It was shimmering like a reflection in an oil-covered pool of water and showed the outside of the Scorpio. Underneath the display was a series of what Reyes thought looked like a set of controls. It was a collection of short writhing tentacles set in a pattern of color and length.

“If this is how you control your ship,” Reyes said, reaching out with her clumsy tentacle, “there should be a door handle here somewhere.” Reyes grabbed and tugged at the tentacles.

The Chit craft jerked and bucked, then fell away from the side of the Scorpio. Reyes felt herself being pulled from the control. She looked around as best she could and then saw in the murky display on the inside of the Chitin head that the other Chit was grabbing her. She reached out and wrapped a tentacle around one of his small antenna and snapped it off. Quickly, she grabbed another.

The tentacles that filled the space inside the craft were all being sucked toward the opening in the Chitin craft. Reyes had managed to detach the craft from the hull of the Scorpio and now the interior was exposed to space. Thick globs of fluid started streaming past her to get blown out in to the void.

The fallen Chit wriggled between the ship’s interior tentacles and toward the set of short tentacle controls. Reyes saw a chance to escape. She moved her way through the craft toward the opening to space, allowing herself to be blown out along with other contents of the craft and leaving the Chit craft behind.

“Now, if only I can get back to the Scorpio, I might actually survive this,” Reyes said. She tapped away at her console and tried to pilot the Chit shell and get herself to safety.

“One of the Chit craft has detached from the hull, Captain. They appear out of control. Venting gas and fluid from a large opening.” Commander Chou wiped sweat from his brow with his sleeve.

“Destroy it, Mister Chou.”

“Dorsal battery has it. They fired on it. It’s destroyed.”

“Second craft detaching now.”

“Fire on it.” Pretorius leaned heavily on the holostage.

“They are accelerating away. Port side battery firing. We’ve lost them, Captain. Sorry.”

“That’s not all we lost. I want a list of missing and dead. I’ll assess the damage to my ship.” Pretorius picked up the sidearm off the holostage and returned it to the arms locker. “And if they ever get this far into my ship, I won’t need a sidearm. I’ll destroy the Scorpio. Those Chit bastards won’t be dragging me off to krav knows where.”

“Captain.” Commander Chou shuddered.

Pretorius walked back across to the holostage and saw what had caused Chou to shudder.

“A Chitin war ship detected. It’s a Leviathan, sir. It’s on an intercept course. Should I call the Scorpio to action stations?”

Pretorius tugged at his cuffs. “No, Mister Chou. We’ve had our fight. Bring us about. Full speed. Calculate a slingshot maneuver around the planet.”

“What heading, Captain?”

Pretorius expanded the holograph image to show the system from their current location around the gas giant’s outer moon to the inner system worlds of Eros and Eras. The positions of the fleet were indicated. The nearest vessel capable of offering support against the Leviathan was the carrier Overlord and its flotilla.

“Set course for the Overlord.”

Pretorius refocused the display on the Penthus system. The Scorpio was diving toward the boiling clouds of the giant planet. The Chitin warship was bearing down on them. The Scorpio fired its massive engine assembly, antimatter was annihilated in the reaction chamber and blasted the Scorpio on its slingshot around the planet and away toward the distant carrier.

Pushing himself away from the holostage, Pretorius turned on his heel and walked toward the command deck exit. He unbuttoned his jacket. “Send a message to the team on the ground. Let them know we haven’t forgotten them.”

15

Jack moved fast and low a few meters ahead of Finch, scouting with a watchful eye out for any Chitin activity. His scanners were set to maximum range and running in tandem with the scanners on board Finch’s suit.

A flash overhead caught Jack’s eye. He dove to the ground and scanned the area for danger. Then another flash and Jack realized it was coming from orbit.

“The Scorpio.” Jack turned back to Commander Finch. “They’re firing.”

“Get moving, Marine,” Finch called out, climbing to his feet. He brushed the sand off his suit in exaggerated sweeps that showed his frustration.

“That’s why I couldn’t raise them on comms. They were hiding from the Chits.”

“You don’t know what’s going on up there. Now get moving. Back to the Lander, on the double.”

Jack saw another large flash from above. If the Scorpio was taking a beating, Jack guessed they would be forgotten and abandoned. He pushed the worry out of his mind. The Chitins were building something and he was going to stop them.

Moving again and watching out for more signs of battle in orbit Jack kept his rifle pointed forward ready to respond to any threat. A flash of light came from behind, sailed over head and crashed into the ground a kilometer ahead, not far from the landing crash site. The pink sands of the moon erupted high into the air.

“Hold, Marine,” Finch’s voice hissed into Jack’s helmet. “Hold position.”

Jack dropped to one knee and scanned the horizon. Something had come down to the surface and was sitting between him and the landing craft, his only sure way off this kravin’ pink hell. His scanners detected movement.

“Movement detected up ahead, sir.” Jack adjusted his pulse rifle sights and studied the horizon.

“Hold.” Finch came alongside Jack.

A large flash from overhead lit up the brown atmosphere of Kratos. A large ball of light hung there like a small sun. Jack looked skywards to the flash. Finch was on his feet, head tipped back to look at the large ball of light.

“It’s the Scorpio main drive, sir. They are leaving.”

“Negative, Marine. They won’t leave us down here.”

“It’s the main drive, sir. If that was a ship getting smashed, then we’d see debris raining down through the atmosphere. The Scorpio is escaping.”

Finch took a few faltering steps toward the fading ball of light. “No!” he called out pitifully. “They can’t leave.”

“We need to take care of those Chits back there, sir.” Jack stepped over to Finch, who was staggering like a drunk. Pulling him back to the ground, Jack repeated, “We still have work to do.”

Finch pushed Jack away. “Don’t tell me, Marine. I give the orders around here. And I order the Scorpio to get back here.” Finch was on his feet again, staggering toward the vanishing ball of light. And as it faded completely from view, Finch yelled, “I order you to come back here.”

“Sir.” Jack placed a hand on Finch’s shoulder. “Up ahead. Movement.”

Finch shrugged Jack off and walked with hesitant steps, calling out to the Scorpio to come and get him.

Jack pulled Finch to the ground and held him down. “It’s alright, sir.”

“It’s not alright, you fool. We’ve been left here to rot in this krav grit and slime.” Finch rubbed the sand away from his suit as it crept up and over him.

“No, sir. They won’t leave us, sir.” Jack tried to calm Finch. The movement he’d detected was closing in slowly. “But Captain Pretorius knows we are Marines and we can accomplish our mission, sir.”

“Yes.” Finch saluted and tried to stand up. “I’m a kravin’ Marine. I’m Commander of Cobra Company. Get back here,” Finch shouted and struggled to get to his feet, but Jack held him down. “Get back here, you cowards.”

“Sir. Movement. Something closing in. Something from orbit. Approaching fast.”

Finch dropped to the ground and clumsily brought his rifle up to his shoulder. “Kravin’ Chitin scum. Chit filth. Kravin’ evil bastards. I’ll blast it. Where’s he at?” Finch climbed up onto one knee and aimed, his rifle jerking this way and that. “Where’s the Chitin scum at?”

Then Jack spotted it, a Chitin, moving in a swaying motion across its path. It seemed to move suddenly in one direction before moving back the other. Jack watched closely, waiting for the Chit to swing into kill range. Finch was reacting strangely to what looked to be the sudden departure of the Scorpio. If Jack was going to take this Chit down quickly, he would need Finch to fire with him, or wait for the Chit to come so close that Jack could take it on his own.

“Krav it all, Marine,” Finch dropped next to Jack, bumping into him and knocking his rifle off target. “There’s a kravin’ Chit coming this way. Are you blind?”

“No, sir, just waiting for a kill shot, sir.”

“Kill shot, he says.” Finch took aim. “I’ll show you a kill shot. Been killing Chits since before you were tying your laces. Take aim and wait for my order to fire. Can you do that, Forge?”

“Yes, sir.” Jack returned his rifle to his shoulder and sighted the Chit. “Waiting for your order, sir.” The Chit was definitely close enough for them to take the shot, and the thing seemed hurt or damaged by the way it was moving. It lurched one way and then the other.

Come on already, Jack thought. “Ready to fire, sir,” he said, hoping it would prompt Finch to let him open up and shred the Chit.

Jack zoomed in with his rifle sights. The creature was covered in grains of the pink sand. It had clearly fallen over and picked up some of the moon’s strange sand. Then Jack remembered the Chits around the construction site. None of them seemed to pick up any grains of sand and their tentacles that moved across the surface remained clean.

“Ready?” Finch asked.

Jack looked at the tentacles more closely and the sand creeping up over them just like it had done with his boots, but not like the other Chits’ tentacles. The Chit lurched again the other way. Jack saw one of the tentacles curl up suddenly into a tight knot and then drop flaccid and lifeless. The Chit lurched as another tentacle that was moving it forward coiled up into a tight knot.

“Take aim, Marine,”

Jack remembered seeing the Chit in the maintenance hangar behaving like that when Reyes had been attempting to work out the way the Chit moved. Jack aimed at the smooth head. And there, glinting on the Chit’s head, was his watch. The watch that had been his only reminder of family. The watch he’d dismantled in the Battle of Training Moon. The watch he’d asked Reyes to look after for him, the watch Reyes had slipped over the antennae of the Chit she was studying.

“Fire,” Finch called.

Jack reached out and pushed the front of Finch’s rifle upward. The pulse rounds ripped through the thin air centimeters above the Chit’s head.

“Cease fire, sir. It’s Reyes.” Jack held the front of Finch’s rifle upward against Finch’s struggling.

“Let go of my weapon, Forge. Kill the damn Chit. Fire!” Finch shouted. He fired his rifle wildly as Jack held it pointing skyward. “This is sedition. This is mutiny. They’ll hang you for this, Forge. I’ll hang you myself.”

“Sir, it’s not a Chit. It’s Reyes.”

“Reyes? What is Reyes? One of your Chit friends.” Finch continued to fight.

“No, sir, it’s Sarah Reyes from maintenance.”

“You’ve lost your mind,” Finch screamed. He let go of his rifle and drew his sidearm, pointing it at Jack’s face.

“Sir, no, sir.” Jack held his hands in front of him for protection, knowing it was useless to try and fend off a pulse pistol shot. Not even the meat suit could protect him at this range. “She’s on our side.”

“So you admit it. You are a spy? A turncoat? You are a Chitin agent come to kill us. You sent the Scorpio away. You are the enemy here, Forge.” Finch primed the pistol.

“No, sir. Please, sir. Put the weapon down.”

Out of the corner of his eye, Jack saw the Chit that was Reyes lurch over behind Finch.

A tentacle reached out and slapped the hand holding the pistol. The weapon fired, the round zipping through the air just over Jack’s left shoulder.

Finch turned to face the Chit that towered over them both. A tentacle wrapped around Finch’s pistol hand. The pistol fired again. Purple slime splattered out of the wound the pistol blasted in the Chit. A second tentacle coiled around Finch’s other arm and lifted him off the ground, the pistol tumbling from Finch’s grasp.

“Put him down, Sarah,” Jack called. “Put the commander down,”

The coiled tentacles that held Finch off the ground uncoiled and released him. The commander fell to the sandy ground. He struggled to his hands and knees. Jack saw Finch pull an electron blade from a scabbard on his ankle.

Reyes reached out with a tentacle and flicked the blade out of Finch’s hand. The blade spun upward, leaving visual trails as it spun. The blade reached its zenith and tumbled downward, rotating still.

Jack saw the danger. Finch saw it too. Jack reached out, yelling. Finch struggled to get away from the falling blade.

The blade landed point down on Finch’s shoulder, passing easily through the suit and cutting into Finch’s shoulder. The commander yelled out as the blade cut his flesh and bone.

The blood boiled out of the wound, exposed to the thin cold atmosphere. The pressure from the suit was released in moments and then the toxins from the atmosphere of Kratos found their way into Finch’s suit and into his warm flesh.

“Sir,” Jack called out. “Commander Finch?”

Jack stood over the still and silent body of Finch. Then he looked up at the smooth head of the Chit standing before him.

16

Sarah Reyes looked at Jack on the shimmering view on the inside on the Chit.

“Jack,” she shouted. She shouted again through her tears. “Jack. It’s me.”

She watched as Jack looked down at the body of Finch and then up again at her. She saw him mouthing the words, Sarah. Is that you, Sarah?

She shouted again so loud it hurt her throat and her ears. “Jack, it’s me. Help me.”

Reyes could see that the hole in the Chit where Finch had fired was closing up, a thick purple liquid filling the hole, but the gash across the right thigh where the round had grazed her was not healing. It was bleeding badly. Some purple slime spread over her thigh. The liquid burned and she screamed, the sound of her voice echoing around inside the Chit.

“Sarah, can you hear me?”

Sarah watched Jack mouth the words. She shouted, “Yes,” and then realized neither could hear the other. She worked carefully to draw her tentacle across the sand. She wrote, Sarah.

Jack looked at the sand and the word written there. The name of the girl from maintenance who had so captivated him. Sarah. The name was like magic and when he said it, he thought only of her. He was lost in dreams of her.

“How did you get down here?” Jack said to the large smooth head. He realized she probably couldn’t hear him.

He looked across to the fallen body of Finch. The blood was evaporating out of the slice in the suit. The pink sands were already crawling up over him and he was almost totally covered. Jack accessed the vital signs readout for Finch. The data displayed over Jack’s view showed that Finch was dead. No life signs. No pulse. No brain activity. He was already listed on Jack’s display as Killed in Action.

A tentacle reached out. Jack recoiled. This massive ugly beast was Sarah? He saw the wound in the Chit body and mixed with the purple gloop that oozed out was the unmistakable trace of blood red.

“You been hit?” Jack mouthed carefully.

The Chit reached out with a tentacle again. Jack reached out too, took hold and pulled the Chit. “This way,” he said.

Jack came to the landing craft crash site cautiously and a few meters ahead of the Chit Reyes. He answered the challenge from the sentry.

“Forge, coming in.” he said.

Terry stepped forward, his rifle leveled at Jack. “Where the Krav have you been all this time?”

“Where’s Torent?” Jack asked. If he was going to bring Sarah up to the lander, he was going to make sure she didn’t suddenly get cut down by fire from a dozen frightened Marines.

Sam Torent came down the ramp from the landing craft and marched over. “Jacky. Bad news. Scorpio bugged out and we’re on our own for now. Where’s the commander?”

“Sam,” Jack said slowly, stepping forward as if approaching a wild animal. “I found someone from the Scorpio. They escaped somehow. Don’t shoot!”

Torent brought his rifle up. Terry copied the squad leader. “Why would I shoot?”

“It’s Sarah Reyes from maintenance. She managed to get down out of orbit.”

“How?”

“She’s been working on a Chitin for some time and she’s found out how to…”

“How to what?”

“She’s inside the Chitin, Sam.”

“Inside?” Torent tipped his head as if trying to understand.

“Just don’t fire, Sam. Promise me you won’t fire.”

“What’s going on, Jack?”

“Promise me.” Jack turned and waved to Reyes.

The Chitin appeared from behind a far-off sand tree. The flailing tentacles collapsed one of the sand trees and it fell over the Chit like an avalanche of pink snow. Terry raised his weapon and called out. “Contact. Contact. Twelve o’clock.”

“No!” Jack ran in front of Terry and pressed his rifle aside. “Sam, order them, Sam. Hold your fire.”

6th squad came running at the sound of the commotion, their weapons ready.

Jack waved his hands wildly at the squad. “Hold your fire. Don’t fire.”

The Marines slowed and approached cautiously, all looking in awe and surprise at the Chit that lumbered and lurched forward.

“Don’t fire,” Jack said again to Torent. “It’s Sarah Reyes. She’s inside. She needs help. Look.” Jack pointed at the wound and the trickle of red through the purple gunk that was becoming caked in the fine pink sand.

“She needs a suit. She can’t survive without a suit. We must have a spare?”

“Maybe. Let’s look. Terry, keep your pulse rifle trained on that thing.”

Terry nudged Jack aside with a shoulder and stepped behind the Chit Reyes.

Jack grabbed a tentacle and pulled Reyes toward the ramp. The Marines lined up to watch the strange procession.

Once inside the hold, Torent set three Marines to seek out a spare suit in the landing craft. Osho found one in a weapons locker.

“It’s unpowered,” Torent said, turning the suit over in his hands.

“No problem,” Jack said. “We can hook it up to the lander’s power and charge it.”

Torent nodded and handed the suit to Jack. “What now?”

“Seal the landing ramp and pressurize the hold. Reyes can get out of the Chit and into the meat suit.”

Torent nodded. Jack closed the ramp and pressurized the hold. Torent ordered the Marines in the hold to train their weapons on the Chit. “One false move,” he said.

The Chit shell opened a crack with a rush of air. Purple ooze dribbled slowly out of the crack and then came Sarah Reyes. She fell to the deck hard, and the vacated Chit shell fell loudly after her.

The gasps and cheers from the Marines drew a weak smile from Reyes. She looked up and around until she saw Jack.

Jack rushed over and scooped Sarah up in his arms. He scraped away the slime. He spotted the wound on her leg. “Aid kit,” he called out. A Marine brought one forward and dropped it in front of Jack before stepping back and bringing his rifle up.

Jack wiped the slime from Reyes’s hair and tucked the hair behind her ears. “You okay?”

Reyes nodded, tears in her eyes. “They took Doyle. And George. Chitin scum. I’m going to kill them. I’m going to kill them all.”

With Reyes’s wound dressed, she climbed unsteadily into her meat suit. Jack left her sitting in an alcove and reopened the landing craft ramp.

Walking off the ramp and down on to the fine sand, he turned to Torent. “We have to attack the Chitins.”

“Jack,” Torent said, “where’s the commander?”

Jack hesitated. He couldn’t lie but he couldn’t tell the truth. “He didn’t make it,” Jack stammered.

“What do you mean by that, Jack?”

“He fell, Sam. He got taken out.”

“Taken out how?”

“He’s back there,” Jack said.

“That is not what I asked you. How did he fall, Jack?”

Jack looked Torent in the eye. “Can we deal with those Chits first, Sam?”

Jack felt Torent’s eye drill into him. “You better get your story straight before we get off this rock.”

“If we get off this rock,” Jack said.

Sam fixed Jack with a stare. “No jokes, please.”

Jack nodded and looked to the floor. The pink grains had crept up over his boot. He was sinking in this moon and sinking in the feelings of guilt. Finch was dead. Whatever he was, he didn’t deserve to die like that.

Jack drew a rough map of the Chitin construction site in the sand. The grains kept moving in to fill the space and they climbed up to form miniature versions of the forest all around. Jack worked and spoke fast.

“Whatever they are doing, Sam, we need to stop them. We have to take them out.”

“I suggest we close in on two fronts and create a crossfire. We get between the sentries and attack, deal with the sentries when they come on. Most important is to take out that Chit construction first. Agree?” Torent looked at Jack.

Jack thought it was the best plan. Yes, they would come under attack from the sentries, but with no way to take them out silently, they would have to launch an attack on the main site first. There would be casualties.

“I agree,” Jack said. And then the sand grains around the site began to lift ever so slightly, just a few millimeters off the ground. Jack felt the hairs stand up all over his body and his data display began to flicker. Jack looked up. A dark spot appeared high in orbit. A massive craft with tentacle-like structures spread out.

“It’s a Chitin Leviathan,” Jack said.

Suddenly, a massive beam of light appeared, leaping up from the surface of Kratos and running up to the base of the Leviathan.

“They’re attacking,” Terry shouted and aimed his rifle.

“Stand down!” Torent ordered. “Keep your head. Try and be a Marine.”

“They are not attacking,” Jack said. “That beam is coming from the Chit site.”

“It’s a fueling station,” Reyes said. “That’s what they are doing here. They are using the moon as a fueling station.”

“What fuel?” Torent asked.

Jack ran his hand through the sand that was floating just above the surface. “It’s some kind of electromagnetic energy. Kratos is so highly charged by the gas planet. They are harvesting off the moon.”

“Why don’t they take it from the gas giant itself?” Torent asked. “There must be more there than on this little moon.”

Jack stood up. “Like oil back on Earth. You couldn’t put oil in a gas tank, it needed to be refined first. Maybe this moon is like a refinery for the gas giant’s huge electromagnetic charge.”

Torent stood up. “Who cares about the science? Let’s destroy the krav out of it.”

“Wait.” Sarah staggered over. “If we kill the Chits, that Leviathan will send more. There could be thousands of the bastards up there. But if that is a fuel line to the Chits…” Reyes hesitated for a moment. “What if we destroy that, we might damage the Leviathan too.”

“The fleet has never destroyed a Chit Leviathan.” Terry stood up and swung his rifle up. “It’s pointless to try. Let’s attack, now. And so what if they send more Chitin scum? I can kill a thousand.”

“But maybe we can take that Leviathan out,” Jack said, calming the excitable Terry. “Do you think you can do it?” he asked Reyes.

“I think I can do it,” Sarah said, nodding, “I’ve been experimenting with their tech for months. It’s not so much tech, it’s more like biology. I’ve been inside their suits, and inside one of their Krakens. I’ve got inside their minds. I know how they work, and I think I know how to break them.”

Jack and Torent looked at each other and smiled.

“She’s good,” Torent said.

“I think so.” Jack turned back to Reyes. She was looking down at the Chit suit on the floor, her thick hair tumbling forward.

“I might have to use the Chit shell as a link to their device, but I think I can do this. If you get me to that device I will reverse the energy polarity and drain the charge from the Leviathan back to Kratos. I kind of did it with this Chit suit when I was working it out. I think I can do it with their ship.”

“That Leviathan is massive, it’s not like this shell.” Torent nudged the Chit with his toe.

“But it is. It is exactly the same.” Reyes nodded at Jack to gain his support. “And I’m the closest thing to an expert we have.”

“I’ve seen her working this thing, Sam. I think we should give it a shot.” Jack smiled and nodded at Reyes, giving his approval for the plan.

Reyes clapped her hands excitedly, “They’ll be out of fuel and dead in the void. The moon’s gravity might even bring them down. Without their power transfer device, they’ll be stranded.”

“Until another Chit comes looking to top off his fuel,” Torent said.

Jack shrugged. “It’s the only chance we have of getting off this moon right now.”

Torent nodded. “It’s worth a shot. But if we’re going to give Reyes a shot, we’re going to have to kill the Chits at the site.” Torent looked at Jack. “Any suggestions?”

Jack folded his arms and set his jaw with a steely edge. “We go in hard and fast. Get Reyes to the device and hold off any counter-attack while she does her stuff.”

“Sounds pretty much a do or die approach, Jacky.”

“We are short on time and short on ideas. This is all we’ve got. If it works, we might have a chance to get off this moon. If not…” Jack paused and looked at his squad-mates. “We’re all dead otherwise in any case.”

The squad seemed lost in thought for a moment until Torent shouted, “Let’s get this done. Jack, assist Reyes. Rest of you, grab your gear. Weapons and ammo only. Got any ordnance, bring it along. Let’s go Sixth Squad. Time to be Marines.”

Torent nodded at Jack and Reyes. “Good luck,” he said.

“To us all,” Jack replied.

“Are you sure you know what you’re doing?” he asked.

“I think it’s a good shot. Worth the risk.”

“Okay,” Jack said. “Let’s get you what you need.”

Reyes grabbed the remote console and activated the Chit shell. It stood up, towering over the Marines. She looked into Jack’s eyes. “I’ve got everything right here.”

Jack felt nervousness come over him. He was worried about the battle to come. He feared for his life and the lives of his squad. But mostly he feared that if he didn’t return from the mission, he wouldn’t get to spend more time with Sarah Reyes.

“Ready when you are, Squad Leader,” Jack called out.

17

Jack ran through the sand forest toward the Chit position. At any moment, they knew the Leviathan hovering in orbit above could dispatch hundreds of Chit soldiers to the surface, or even scour the surface with the massive plasma arcs and turn the pink sand to glass for a hundred square kilometers, incinerating every one of 6th squad in the process. Speed was the key.

The two forward scouts, Osho and Terry, opened fire and Jack knew they had reached the Chit sentries. The game was on and there could be no hiding from the battle now. He moved forward quickly, running toward battle and uncertainty. The only certainty now was that he was a Marine. If it lasted beyond the battle was another question, but for now, he was a Marine.

Moving fast, he came to the point where the forward scouts were engaging the sentries.

“No time. Move forward,” Jack said as Torent came up, his rifle firing on the Chit sentry to his left.

“We’ve given ourselves away. They know we are here. We must press on.” Jack ducked under a disintegrating sand tree as a Chit plasma spear sliced through it, scattering a pink dust cloud everywhere.

“Use the dust as cover,” Torent shouted. He grabbed the nearest Marine and pushed them toward the left sentry.

The tag on Jack’s data display showed the name of the Marine. Jack knew him as Bubble, the crybaby.

Bubble moved, low and fast, toward the Chit. Torent grabbed another Marine. It was Bailey, the smallest of 6th squad who usually wore the biggest grin.

“Bailey, go right and smash that Chit.” Torent stood his ground as a plasma spear crashed into the ground centimeters from his feet. “Osho, stay with Bailey. The rest of you follow me.”

Jack grabbed Reyes as she came running up, panting heavily.

“Catch your breath.” Jack pulled Reyes down as a plasma spear streaked overhead. “We move into the center of the depression and straight for the device. I will cover you. You ready?”

Reyes nodded and staggered to her feet. A plasma spear slashed through another sand tree, blasting sand over her. Reyes flinched and let out a pitiful wail of fear. Jack grabbed her arm and pulled her with him.

“It’ll be okay. Stay with me.”

Jack reached the rim of the depression in a few strides. Away to the left, he saw Osho and Terry advancing on the far sentry. The first sentry lay twitching in the sand. Across the other side of the depression, Bubble was charging forward, an electron bayonet lighting up the end of his pulse rifle. His partner Bayle was crouching and firing on the far-right Chit sentry. Every round from Bayle’s pulse rifle tore chunks out of the far sentry, forcing the Chit backward. It raised its weapon and let out a poorly aimed plasma spear at Bubble. The electron bayonet was thrust into the ring of teeth on the end of the long, skinny black head. Bubble lifted and ripped through the head. The Chit fell, thrashing and throwing up pink sand.

Torent was down on one knee and firing controlled bursts at the Chits gathered around the base of the device. Lee stood next to Torent. The rest of 6th squad had split into two small fire teams and moved out to the flanks, firing on the remaining Chits.

Jack saw the Chits falling back and being cut to pieces by the sudden, unexpected, and ferocious attack. He grabbed Reyes and ran to the device. They fell to the sand at the base of the tower sending a column of energy into space to the Chitin Leviathan.

“Think you can do it?” Jack stood over Reyes and scanned the area for any Chit threat.

Reyes brought the Chit shell over to her and dropped it in front of the device. “I think so.” She cracked open the shell and began pulling out sinews and muscle strands. She lay them onto some of the glowing channels that flicked over the base of the device.

Torent came running over. “That’s all of them. Not very well defended. There must be more.”

Jack saw a Marine standing on the ridge looking upward and felt a sudden sinking feeling. He looked up and saw dozens of points of light high in the thin Kratos atmosphere. Every point of light left a small tail behind it. They grew in size rapidly. Jack knew all too well what they were. Torent realized too and he started barking orders to 6th squad.

“Sixth Squad, on me. Make a defensive perimeter around the device. Give Reyes cover. We’ve got Chitin soldiers incoming. Hundreds of them. Light up your bayonets. Let’s go. Move. Move.”

The squad came into the depression and formed up around Reyes. Torent walked along in front of them all. “Looking good. Everyone a battle-hardened, full-on pro. Pick your targets. Drop as many as you can before they land. Let’s give our plan every chance. Don’t give the Chits any. Here they come.”

Jack knelt next to Reyes and fired up at a Chit soldier five hundred meters above, moving across the sky. Reyes tugged Jack’s arm.

“I need your help.” She held up a thick purple strand that she’d pulled out of the Chit shell. “This needs to be attached to one of these channels on the far side of the device. Get it as far up the pillar as you can, about three meters should do it.”

Jack looked at the pattern of sinews and muscle strands that were connected to the base and the tower, all seemingly absorbed into the purple channels that crisscrossed the device.

“Okay,” Jack said.

Reyes grabbed him just before he moved off. “When that is in, I just need to activate the shell.” She held up the remote control she used on the Chit and showed him a tab on the screen. “We need to hit this tab and then select the inversion field. It’ll draw the power to the shell. The shell will vaporize, but once the inversion is established, the drain will be unstoppable.”

From the corner of his eye, Jack saw the first Chit appear over the rim of the depression. The head was smashed by fire from a dozen eager Marines and their hungry pulse rifles. Then another, and then another.

The squad poured fire out from the defensive perimeter and shredded every Chit that crested the ridge, but they kept on coming. And still more appeared in the sky as a silver rain of distant flying Chitins lit up in the thin atmosphere.

“Jack, when we activate this drain, this depression is going to be a bad place to be.”

“How bad?”

Reyes pushed Jack away. “Get that strand in the channel and let me know when it’s done.”

Jack skirted around the wide base of the device. The tower rose some thirty meters into the moon’s thin atmosphere and from the tip rose a fat glowing stream of energy that tugged at the hairs on Jack’s head.

Jack climbed up onto the base and scrambled up the slight incline to the tower. He spotted a purple channel about three meters up. Tucking the sinew in his belt, he began to climb.

The black composite of the tower was similar material to the Chitin shells. It was smooth and only the slight indentations for the glowing purple channels gave him anything to grab hold of. Slowly, he moved up to his target.

The ring of Marines around the base gave out a constant and devastating hail of fire. Jack realized the Chitins were not firing back. They must have been desperate not to damage the device that was still pouring energy up into orbit and into the belly of the massive Chitin Leviathan.

The Chit tactics seemed to involve deployment of overwhelming numbers. Jack saw that for every Chitin that fell to the Marines’ fire, another two appeared over the rim. Their forward tentacles, so often armed with the plasma spear launchers, were stiffened and sharpened. They were shiny black, the dull light from the gas giant glinting off the sharpened blades, blades that came forward, closer and closer to the defensive perimeter of 6th squad.

Jack pulled himself up one more meter and grabbed the sinew. He held it to the channel and was surprised that the sinew melded in with no effort. He simply held it close and let it meld with the purple light in the channel.

He called to Reyes using his suit’s communicator. “It’s in.”

Jack climbed down and dropped behind the ring of Marines. Towering over the Marine was a Chit soldier, its blades raised. The Marine fired at the ring of teeth and the Chit fell away, only to be replaced by another.

“Jack,” Torent’s voice burst over Jack’s communicator. “You got an update on that science project? We’re close to breaking point here.”

“Ready, just waiting for Reyes.” Jack walked back around the base. A black saber, two meters long, slashed down in front of him. A Marine sliced up with his electron bayonet and cut it off.

Jack saw Reyes hunched over her console. Jack dropped to his knees next to her and draped his arm over her shoulder. “We’re ready,” he said.

Reyes slumped forward, a wound in her shoulder from a Chitin saber blow. Her blood was leaking out through the suit and boiling away in the low-pressure atmosphere.

A Chitin blade slashed by Jack’s head. He ducked away, turned, and fired up at the Chit towering over him. A Marine closed the line in front of Jack and fired at the Chits that pressed in even closer.

Jack grabbed the device from Reyes’s limp hands. He knew what to do. He accessed the tab and scrolled through a list for inversion field. He found it.

“Sam!” Jack shouted. “Activating the inversion field now.” He pressed the tab.

Looking up at the power beam pouring up into the atmosphere, Jack thought he could see an immediate change. The beam seemed to grow fatter for a moment and then the rush of energy seeming to pour up the beam flickered between an upward flow and a downward flow, like a fork of lightning in an intense electrical storm.

“Is it working?” Torent blasted a Chit in the face and then slashed at another with his bayonet.

Jack felt dizziness come over him as he saw the energy flow oscillate from up to down a couple of times every second. It had a strobe-like effect. Dizziness turned to sickness. Then Jack saw the pink sand grains that had been floating just above the surface were suddenly pressed back to the ground.

“I think it is working.” Jack turned and fired at a Chit as a Marine parried its slashing blades with the tip of his pulse rifle.

“What now?” Torent asked. “Any suggestions?”

“We can stay here and wait. If it’s worked, we’ll be annihilated. Or we can try and get back to the landing craft and try and get out of here.” Jack fired another burst at a Chit head that lunged forward with its round ring teeth biting at him.

The tower of the structure began to glow brightly, the purple light glowing and building to a bright electric blue. The sand was compressed under foot as the energy was now directed into the moon’s surface. Jack felt his hairs stand up all over his body. A strange swaying dizziness grew and the fluid in his inner ear was compressed, the hairs in his inner ear standing at attention. His suit’s medical diagnostics reported a sudden onset of vertigo and administered a dose of antihistamines.

“Can you fly that landing craft?” Torent asked.

“No jokes, please.” Jack grabbed Reyes under her arms and pulled her to her feet. Her suit’s auto-mobility servos engaged and made Jack’s job easier. “Get us out of here, Sam.”

“Sixth squad,” Torent yelled as he fired, “form square.”

The squad quickly formed up into neat tight ranks, firing and slashing at the Chits that pressed in on all sides.

“Concentrate fire forward.” Torent sounded cool and levelheaded as he shouted his orders. “As one, Sixth squad. Back to the landing craft. Double time. Move.”

Jack ran along with his squad, his pulse rifle in one hand and Reyes held up with the other. He risked a glance back toward the tower. Chitin soldiers were crawling all over it. They pulled Reyes’s Chit suit away and it was shredded by a dozen blades. Jack saw a Chit scurry up the pillar and pull free the sinew he had planted, but all the time, the channels in the pillar burned with a more brilliant light than before. From electric blue to white and then an incandescent brilliance that started to burn the shells of the surrounding Chits.

Overhead, Jack saw even more light trails of Chits being dispatched to the surface. He urged 6th squad to move faster. Torent echoed his call and the squad advanced at a run, tearing through the Chitin soldiers that rushed in from every side.

The lander was surrounded by Chits when the square came upon it. They were on top and around, blocking the ramp up to the hold.

Then the plasma spears leapt toward the square.

The Marine in front of Jack fell as a plasma spear sliced clean through the shoulder of his armor. The defense systems of the tactical suit combined deflector shields from all surrounding suits and more of the spears ricocheted away. The square fired a withering hail at the Chits on the top of the lander, tearing one and toppling another off.

“Check your fire,” Jack shouted. “Don’t damage the lander. EBs only. Bayonet them away from the ramp.”

“Form diamond,” Torent called as the square pressed forward. Torent took the tip and hacked at the next Chitin. The rest of the squad formed up in a wedge behind Torent.

A plasma spear sliced through the air from Jack’s right. Reflex caused him to jerk away just in time and the plasma scorched the front of his helmet. Reyes fell from his arms to the ground. He bent to pick her up. Behind him in the distance, he could see the lights on the tower glowing brilliant white, becoming too painful to look at. The pulses of energy were traveling down the beam moving with terrific speed. It was as if the energy of a thousand plasma spears was slamming into the moon’s surface.

Jack realized the formation had left him and Reyes behind. They were on the ramp and slicing and stabbing with electron bayonets at Chits inside the hold. A burst of plasma spears erupted from inside the landing craft, blasting outward into 6th squad’s formation. Two Marines were thrown backwards by the volley, their suits torn apart. One lost an arm, his blood boiling away in the thin air in an instant.

A Chitin came scurrying and slithering around the side of the landing craft. Jack fell backwards, pulse rifle raised. He launched a volley of his own into the Chit’s body, causing the tentacles and antennae to thrash about. The Chit fell away.

“Jack,” Torent called from the ramp. “We need you.” Torent came forward and dragged Jack to his feet.

“Sarah,” Jack shouted and reached for her.

“She’s gone, Jack. She’s gone.”

“No,” Jack shouted. He pulled himself away and grabbed Reyes off the ground. Torrent stepped up next to Jack and fired at an advancing Chit soldier, plasma spear sizzling in its hand ready to be launched.

Torent covered Jack’s retreat to the landing craft’s ramp, turning this way and that, firing and slashing with his bayonet. And as Jack dragged Reyes into the hold, the ramp began to close.

A line of Marines rushed forward and fired out of the closing gap. A plasma spear cut through the last narrow gap into the hold. Jack saw a Marine spin around on the spot as the plasma spear smashed into the shoulder. The spear went on and struck the opposite bulkhead, exploding into a million shards of light.

Jack ran to the cockpit and started firing up the landing craft. Official preflight checks would take fifteen minutes for a scheduled takeoff. Jack reckoned he could activate the necessary systems and have the thing off the ground in seconds.

Through the view screen, Jack saw the distant energy beam pouring down to the moon’s surface. The Chitin Leviathan in orbit seemed closer. Then Jack realized it was being drawn to the surface by the energy beam.

Jack heard the lander scream and hiss. His running repairs and jury-rigged systems were working, but it made a frightening noise and shook the Marines in their suits.

Then, as the landing craft built up energy for the leap into orbit, Jack took one more look at the energy pulse on the Chit device. The Leviathan was even closer and looked to be bound to the energy beam. Then the direction of transfer switched in a blinding instant, from flooding down to the surface to being returned to the Leviathan in a huge burst of energy that slammed into the belly of the Chitin craft. Brilliant white light glowed from hairline cracks in the massive ship. Then the light was gone, leaving its afterimage on Jack’s display.

The Leviathan glowed for an instant as the light poured out of a thousand tiny cracks in the hull. Slowly and silently, it fell from space. As it came closer and closer, Jack could see the true scale of the massive craft. It was bigger than any of the fleet’s three carriers, its many tentacles that spread out to the sides were each longer than the Scorpio.

The Leviathan fell directly onto the now dead energy transfer device. Jack pushed the landing craft as hard as he could, the systems screaming their disapproval.

The Leviathan collided with the Chit device and exploded in a flash. Jack pushed the landing craft to orbit. He realized Marines were standing behind him and looking out of the view screen in awe at the terrible destruction. Then awe turned to elation as the enormity of the destruction and the enormity of their victory overcame their fatigue and emotion. The hold was filled with whooping and cheering, Marines in their suits dancing and leaping.

“Hey, Sam,” Jack called out. “Better get those Marines in their alcoves, old buddy. I can’t keep this battered crate in the sky with that lot skipping about.”

Jack heard the cheering die away. Osho came up beside him and spoke quietly.

“Torent took a plasma spear in the chest just before the door closed. Thankfully the airlock sealed in time, so he’s still with us. Just. You want to see him?”

Jack sat back in the pilot’s chair. “I need to fly this thing. I’ve gotta find the Scorpio. Strap those Marines in their alcoves, Osho.”

“They’ll listen to you, Jack,” she said.

“Listen up, Sixth Squad. It’s not a successful mission until we land back on the Scorpio flight deck. Calm down. Act like Marines. Let me get this boat home and we’ll all celebrate. You get me?”

“We get you, Jack,” came the firm reply, followed by a quiet, orderly movement to alcoves.

Jack checked the landing craft’s scanners. “Where the krav is the Scorpio?” he muttered to himself. “Where the krav am I going to take these brave Marines?”

18

Captain Pretorius tugged his cuff. “Mister Chou, put me through to the Overlord.”

Group Captain Wellard of the Overlord appeared on the holostage, sitting in his chair aboard the massive carrier.

“Ahh, Alistair,” Wellard spoke in a deep, calm voice. “What can I do for you, Captain?”

“Request permission to detach from the flotilla, sir.”

“Yes, of course. Is there somewhere you need to be?”

“One of my long-range sensor drones has detected a signal from my missing landing craft. It’s the boat that put down on Kratos, sir.”

Wellard sat back in his seat. “They’ve been lost for a few days. Hope they’ve held up well.”

“I’m making for their position at full speed now.”

“If you find any of your people in there, give them my regards. How that company of Marines brought down that Leviathan is a miracle. I want extensive debrief and commendations for all.”

“Yes, sir,” Pretorius replied, “but it wasn’t a company, sir. Just one squad. Sixth Squad of Cobra Company.”

Wellard leaned forward in his seat. “I haven’t read the reports yet.” Wellard rubbed his chin. “Go get your people, Captain.”

19

Jack sat slumped in the pilot’s chair. The distant star field drifted across the view screen. His throat was dry, his stomach hollow and heavy. He turned and looked along the alcoves and the Marines strapped in them. The status of the squad displayed on his enhanced data overlay. All life signs weak. Torent was clinging on by a fingernail. Sarah’s data wasn’t reading at all. It should have read something, even if she was… Jack couldn’t bear to finish the thought. He looked out into the void, the dark distant void. How long would he drift with his squad before they decayed to nothing in the emptiness of space?

And then over the top of the view screen came the hull of a destroyer. A bright light exploded through the view screen and washed over the hold and its cargo of fatigued and desperate Marines. The hold filled with the sound of a collision alarm. Then came the sound of docking clamps latching on.

Jack saw the black of space turn to the bright lights of the destroyer’s flight deck. As Jack’s eyes drooped, he saw the letters ‘SC’ painted on the wall in bright letters. This was the Scorpio’s flight deck.

Jack was home. There was no denying it any longer, he was truly a Fleet Marine.

Forged to Lead

Jack Forge, Fleet Marine, Book 3

Prologue

Bill Harts was not awake. He was not asleep. He was unconscious, yet he was aware. He was fixed in place, unable to move. He was captive.

The cold hung over his skin and penetrated his bones. He felt every chill moment, but his body did not shiver. The tentacles writhed over his skin. They held him in place and touched him lightly. Cold and sticky, rough and smooth.

Harts saw himself held in the mass of tentacles. He watched as if in a dream, a nightmare. He urged himself to move, to break free from the tentacles that held him, but his muscles would not respond. He tried to cry for help, but his mouth remained closed, his voice lodged in his throat. His face appeared relaxed, no muscles tensed. He screamed in his sleeping mind.

A mass of tentacles covered his unconscious head and felt their way across his sleeping face. He felt their touch and yelled out. No sound came from his relaxed body. A tentacle slipped between his limp lips and into his mouth that tried desperately to yell and holler and scream. He imagined how good it would be to bite down hard and sever that black and purple slime-covered tentacle. He dreamed that he would fight back and hurt the beast that had given him such pain and fear.

A tentacle slipped around his throat. It stretched out, growing thinner and thinner. The tip thinned to a fine thread that flicked across the view of his sleeping, all-seeing eyes.

The thread reached toward Harts’s eye. His eyelids flickered with the nightmare. The tentacle thread slipped under the eyelid and sought out the pupil. The thread slipped into the pupil and reached down to the nerve at the back.

Bill Harts tried to pull away. He tried to lash out with his arms and kick out with his feet, but he was stuck. His arms and leg remained static, limp and unmoving.

More tentacles thinned down to fine threads. They slid in to his ears and up his nostrils. He felt their cold slime feeling their way through his brain, triggering memory and thought.

The noise was deafening as he heard the Chitin voice. The Chitins wanted to know who he was. They wanted to know how they could use him. They wanted to know how to control him.

Bill Harts knew he was betraying mankind as he told the Chitins everything he knew. He could not resist. He was not in control of his body or his mind. The tentacles found what they wanted and what they needed. Bill Harts was conscious of his own mind giving up every scrap of information it had. The Chitins drew it from him as easily as they could draw blood from an artery. They discovered the knowledge that Bill Harts didn’t even know he had. Every sight and sound and smell that he had ever experienced was drawn out by the thin black tentacles that threaded their way through every part of his being.

The Chitins rejected useless information. His childhood was discarded as worthless. Harts felt the loss as all memory of his early days faded away, the color of his existence washed out of the fabric of his being.

The Chitins found the memories of life in the Fleet Marines. Every moment was studied and analyzed in minute detail. Bill became aware of nothing else. His existence was a tableau of frozen images. A ship of the fleet…a pulse rifle…a Fleet Marine parade…a commanding officer…a control panel of a landing craft. The information was drained from Bill Harts as the tentacle turned his mind on like a faucet and drained information as if it was pouring water.

Bill Harts was aware of one last thing, and that was the tear that welled up in the corner of his eye as utter helplessness overwhelmed him.

As the Chitins probed his being, he became more aware of their mind. He saw their home in the massive oceans far below the clouds of their gas giant world. He saw their spawning grounds. He watched them grow, learn, build, attack. Harts became aware of their previous attempts to drain knowledge from captured humans, aware of the traumatic, fatal attempts to probe the hundreds of individuals captured and dragged here. Harts was aware of the million memories of all those people captured by the Chitins, captured from ships both military and civilian, captured from facilities on moons and asteroids through the system. Lives, both young and old, all broken and ended by the Chitin tentacles in their attempt to study humans. He knew their ultimate goal: to control a human and to occupy a human mind.

Every attempt until this moment had led to an improvement in their technique. And now, success.

Bill Harts was free. He was awake. Aware. The tentacles were gone. His body was clothed. His mind was alert. He was alive. He remembered everything. He remembered nothing. Bill Harts was ready to return to the world he’d left. He was ready to return to the fleet.

1

The debrief room was lit by a harsh white light emanating from the translucent ceiling. A brushed metal table and chairs sat in the middle of the room. Jack Forge sat uncomfortably on one of the chairs.

The Fleet Marine 6th Squad was being interviewed following their mission on Kratos, the outer moon of the gas giant planet, Penthus. Jack was waiting for his turn. He’d been waiting for some time. Over an hour, he guessed.

Jack stared at the door until he knew every last scratch and stain. He didn’t know what he could say about the destruction of the Chitin Leviathan. All he knew was that somehow, they had turned an energy transfer device into a weapon capable of destroying a Chitin Leviathan, one of their most destructive craft.

The fleet was buzzing excitedly with rumors that the fleet was testing new weapons that could destroy the Chits once and for all. Jack didn’t know how it had worked. It had been Sarah Reyes’s plan. Maybe she knew, but the last Jack had heard of Reyes was that she was being held in isolation in the Scorpio’s med bay.

The door burst open. Jack stood, his hands at his sides. The woman who entered was dressed in the severe dark uniform of a military intelligence officer. She pulled her chair out, scraping it across the floor, and dropped a computer tablet on the metal table with a thump. She sat down.

“Sit, Marine.” It was an order.

Jack sat down. His heart pounded in his chest. This was an agent. She wasn’t here to interview Jack and write a report on the Battle of Kratos Fuel Station. An agent was always deployed to keep a battalion in line, to sniff out disobedience, dereliction, and possible collusion with the enemy.

“I am Agent Visser. I will be frank with you, Marine. You need to be frank with me. If I am not satisfied with your responses, I will deploy more forceful techniques. We will know the truth.”

There was one truth Jack could not reveal. He suddenly knew why Agent Visser was here.

“When did you last see Commander Finch?” Visser asked with no hint of emotion in her cold voice.

Realizing immediately that any movement or flicker of emotion could give him away, Jack answered calmly. “When we scouted the Chitin construction site on Kratos.”

“Yes,” Visser said. She tapped on the tablet in front of her. “You were flogged during your training. Do you have a problem with authority, Marine?”

Jack could suddenly feel the raised scars on his back touching his shirt. The pain of the flogging never went away, but what hurt most was the realization that his loyalty to the Fleet Marines would always be questioned.

“I follow orders,” he said coolly.

“You like to give them too.” Visser flicked her fingers across the small tablet screen. A hologram of Jack talking to Squad Leader Torent appeared. It was a recent surveillance recording of Jack in a vocal and animated disagreement with Torent. Jack watched the recording and remembered the argument over tactics in a training simulation. He remembered the moment well. Torent pulling rank and Jack arguing loudly. Jack knew his approach would be best. Torent usually listened, but on this occasion, he had dug in his heels and was being obstinate.

Jack looked past the image to Agent Visser. She had her eyes fixed on him.

“That’s just the way we talk to each other sometimes.” Jack shrugged and smiled.

“That is the way you talk to your squad leader, with such familiarity and contempt for his leadership position?”

“We are old friends.”

Visser scrolled across her tablet and presented another hologram. This was from the bunkhouse on training moon, taken just days before the training squad’s battle with the Chits. It was the moment Jack accused Torent of stealing his family’s watch. Jack was challenging Torent. The pair were snarling at each other. The fight quickly erupted.

“You don’t look very friendly,” Visser said, sitting back in her chair. The hologram paused with Jack and Torent fully engaged in their fistfight. The image flickered. Jack could make out the figure of Bill Harts sitting on his bunk. The hologram showed the delight on Harts’s face as Jack and Torent slugged it out.

“That was a long time ago,” Jack said, slumping back angrily into his own chair.

“I’ve compiled a lot of hologramatic surveillance data from onboard the Scorpio. Having studied the data, I’ve been able to quickly establish that you and Commander Finch were not friends.”

It was true. Jack had hated Finch. He was arrogant, stupid, and ultimately a coward.

“No, sir,” Jack said firmly. “We were not friends. He was my commanding officer.”

“Did you like Commander Finch?”

“To be frank?” Jack asked.

Visser fixed Jack with her cold blue eyes. “Be frank.”

“No, sir. I did not like Commander Finch. He was not a good officer.”

“Your commanding officers don’t last very long after meeting you, Marine.”

Jack felt his heart in his throat as he remembered Lieutenant Crippin. If the agent suspected Jack of killing an officer, the penalty would be a slow and painful death. He knew that two commanding officers down seemed suspicious. His story was that Finch had gone missing, which was at least partly true.

“Sir?” Jack said as mildly as he could. “I liked Lieutenant Crippin. She was a good instructor. I was sorry when she was killed. She was a good Marine.”

Visser tapped her tablet and played a hologram of Crippin’s death. Jack looked away as the fine, whip-like plasma threads slashed at Crippin and Sergeant Hacker as they fought a battling retreat. Jack had been there and had seen it from afar; he couldn’t stand to watch it again.

“And now Commander Finch has been lost. You were the last person to be seen with him. Have you got anything to add to your report?”

“No, sir.” Jack felt his chest tighten. If Agent Visser had hologram recordings of his training camp bunkhouse fight with Torent and the deaths of Crippin and Hacker, they must surely have recordings of Commander Finch and his last moments. If he was going to get called out for lying, it would be now. He would be in serious trouble, and certainly face another flogging that would tear up his already badly scarred back, but he would probably not face the noose. Reyes, on the other hand, would stand trial for the murder of an officer. Such trials were short, sentences brutal, and execution of the sentence was usually carried out on the same day. Jack held his breath.

“So we have to accept your account and your account only, as there were no other witnesses. You and Commander Finch performed a reconnaissance of the Chitin position. On your return to the Marine landing craft, Finch lost his composure. I’m quoting from your report now, Marine. Finch lost his composure when it was clear the Scorpio was leaving orbit and that he then ran off through the sand tree structures of Kratos, yelling for the Scorpio to come back. You then encountered maintenance technician Sarah Reyes piloting a Chitin suit. An eventful reconnoiter.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Anything to add to the official report?” Visser sat up slowly. She stood and leaned on the table, leaning in closer to Jack. “Last chance, Marine.”

“If I think of anything important…” Jack began.

“Everything is important in my investigation, Marine.” Visser turned and walked toward the door.

“You didn’t ask me about Bill Harts,” Jack called out, quickly adding, “sir.”

Visser stopped in her tracks. She turned and walked around the table. She grabbed Jack’s collar and pulled him close. “I don’t know what happened on that moon, but if I find out you are hiding something from me, we will meet again. You will be sorry if we do.”

Visser dropped Jack back into his chair and left the room. The door remained open, swinging gently on its hinges. Jack hadn’t received orders to leave the debrief room. He swung back on his chair, hands behind his head, and looked out through the open door. Hopefully, someone would spot him and tell him to leave. Until then, he was under orders to stay where he was.

Agent Visser obviously had no evidence against him, or Reyes. If there was a holoimage showing Reyes attacking Finch and the resulting fatal stab wound, she would be executed for causing the death of an officer, whether she was comatose or not. She would probably be medically revived long enough to hear the sentence and maybe long enough to experience some of the horror of her brutal execution. They would not wait for her to fully recover before ending her life.

Jack needed to speak to Reyes. She had no way of knowing the account that Jack had given. It was true, at least steeped in truth. Finch had lost his cool and been lost under the sands of Kratos. His body might be recovered one day, but it would probably be impossible to tell how he had died, thanks to the corrosive nature of the thin Kratos atmosphere. His body was probably already corroded away to dust. But if Reyes woke and gave a story that deviated from Jack’s in even the slightest, they would both be under investigation.

Fleet Intelligence was as brutal as they were thorough. Jack would have to get to Reyes first. The corridor outside the debrief room was quiet. Jack stood up from his chair and quietly walked to the open door. He risked a peek out into the corridor. It was empty.

“If anyone asks,” he said to himself, “I’ll say I thought the interview was over.”

Jack walked out of the interview room. The Scorpio was a big ship and it would take him a while to get to the med bay. If he was lucky, Reyes would be awake and waiting for him so he could speak to her before Agent Visser did.

Jack moved quickly and quietly.

2

The white walls of the med bay were supposed to suggest cleanliness, but now they just showed the grime that covered every surface of the ship. The clear composite panels that separated various sections of the med bay had the streaked and milky appearance of any unwashed clear composite surface.

The nurses’ station was unoccupied, only plastic cups of stale coffee on the table top gave any signs that it was ever occupied. Jack passed by.

The beds behind the clear composite panels were occupied by the sick and wounded of the ship’s company. A ship the size of the Scorpio had so many personnel that an understaffed med bay always had more bodies than it could deal with.

Walking along the line of compartments, Jack looked for Reyes. She had been in a coma when they had been rescued by the Scorpio. Most of 6th squad had been brought to the med bay for treatment after the Battle of Kratos Fuel Station. Jack had only been treated for dehydration and a touch of hypothermia. Torent had received extensive treatment for a heavy laceration to his left shoulder. Reyes had been rushed away as a medical emergency. She’d been in the med bay for several days.

At the far end of the paneled corridor, Jack saw two Marines from Adder Company standing on either side of the entrance to Reyes’s compartment. They were in utility uniform with a pulse pistol strapped to their right leg. The heavy white baton each held was their main weapon of deterrence. Jack knew that anyone attempting to pass the Marine guard would be beaten back by those batons. The pulse pistols were the final fatal alternative.

The Marines noticed Jack’s approach. One tapped his baton against his boot, while the other held his across his shoulders.

“Sup, Marine?” the guard with the shoulder-slung baton called out to Jack.

“What’s A Company doing down here?” Jack called back and continued to walk forward.

“Following orders,” the boot-tapping Marine answered.

Jack stepped up in front of the guards. They brought their batons forward in a swift and synchronized move. They pointed the polished tips forward toward Jack.

“That’s far enough, Marine.”

Jack held his hands up. “Just wanted to check in on my friend.”

The boot tapper pushed his baton into Jack’s shoulder. “No visitors.”

Jack looked past the Marines to the comatose Reyes. She was hooked up to a diagnostic machine, and her face was covered by a breathing mask. Her chest heaved in time with the beeping machine.

“Let me in for a second, eh, guys?” Jack used his best diplomatic smile.

The Marine guards turned stony cold and took a step forward, their batons pressed into Jack’s chest.

“Walk away, Forge,” the boot-tapper said, “unless you want me to smack you on your turnip with this highly polished chunk of timber.”

Jack hesitated for a second. He’d been called by name. “Do you know me?” Jack asked.

“Jack Forge,” the guard said. “The whole battalion knows about you.” There was a hint of a smile. “You took down a Leviathan.”

“Just being a good Marine,” Jack said modestly. Then he leaned in as if to take the pair into his confidence. “Why not let me in for just a moment?”

The pair pushed Jack away with their batons. “Orders are what they are, Forge. Now sling it or get cracked.” The guard brought his baton down against his palm and gripped it. “Hero or not, if my orders are to break your skull, I will.”

Jack stepped back with a grin. “As you were, guys. No need to check if I’ve got more brains than guts.” Jack pointed toward Reyes. “If she wakes up, will you let me know?”

“Leave now or I’ll tell Major Cruz you are trying to circumvent his orders.”

Jack took another step back. He smiled and nodded. The guards stepped back to the entrance of Reyes’s compartment. The boot-tapper resumed his tapping, and the other swung his baton back over his shoulder. Jack looked past the guards at his comatose friend in her grimy little compartment.

Jack needed to speak to Reyes before anyone else, especially the agent. He couldn’t see her taken from the hospital just to be executed.

3

The bunkhouse was quiet when Jack arrived. Some Marines were asleep in their coffin-sized bunks, while others quietly played cards under a small electric light. Jack slipped by and climbed into his bunk.

Jack had been in the debrief room for hours. Sitting and talking had never been so exhausting. He knew he’d been playing a dangerous game of cat and mouse with Agent Visser. She clearly suspected him of having had something to do with Finch’s disappearance, but she didn’t have any proof. The Marines recorded every moment of their operation on hundreds of sensors, scanners, and cameras, but the destruction of the Chitin Leviathan must have disabled the data collection somehow.

Jack grabbed his small personal tablet. He accessed fleet channels and searched for reports on his mission to Kratos. The fleet transmitted all data on any victory they had over the Chitins. The destruction of the Leviathan would be big news.

Jack found a story on the Battle of Kratos Fuel Station. The image on the headline was a computer graphic of a Leviathan being destroyed. The fleet should have a record of the actual destruction. The news channels would have been plastered wall to wall with movie and holograph data of the battle and in particular, the climactic destruction of the massive enemy craft.

No matter how much Jack searched, he couldn’t find a single recording from the battle. The only reason why the fleet and the Gov news agency wouldn’t be casting the whole battle, Marine fatalities and all, would be because they didn’t have the data.

Jack turned off his tablet and closed his eyes. The image of the Chit Leviathan being destroyed filled his sleepy mind. The energy from the blast must have knocked out the data recording from all the Marines and their landing craft.

All Jack had to do was get to Reyes and make sure she didn’t give herself away. He closed his eyes and let sleep wash over him.

The claxon alarm sounded and woke Jack from his light sleep. Sam Torent shouted into the bunkhouse.

“On your feet, Sixth Squad.” Torent stood in the muster point outside the stack of bunks.

Climbing down from his bunk, Jack was only vaguely aware. His actions were automatic and instinctive. He was a Marine and the call to action overcame all sleep and reluctance. He formed up with the depleted 6th squad in the muster point.

“Suit up, arm up.” Torent walked quickly along the line of Marines. “Muster on the Marine deck. Double-time, Marines. Move it!”

Jack pulled on his meat suit and grabbed his pulse rifle from the rack. He ran to the Marine deck without knowing what he was running to. But this was war and at any time, they could be called to action. He was expected to follow orders and perform his duty at a moment’s notice. He ran to the Marine deck, ready for anything, expecting anything.

6th squad formed up in minutes. A moment later, the company commander entered the Marine deck with a clean uniform and an upright gait.

“Commander on deck,” Torent called the Marines to attention.

“At ease, Marines.” The commander walked down the squad’s line. “I haven’t had chance to meet you yet. You will get to know me in time. I’m Commander Griff, the new Commander of Cobra Company.”

Griff walked back along the short line. “A fighter patrol squadron has disabled a Chitin Kraken. That Kraken has crash-landed on an asteroid. The Scorpio is the closest ship to the asteroid and you are the best squad in my company, so you are going to go down there and secure the Chit craft. Fleet want to get their hands on any Chit tech that survived. There may be some Chits that survived the crash. If they did survive, you will kill them. Questions?”

Torent stepped forward. “Squad leader, sir. How many Chits can we expect?”

“Kraken craft are thought to have a crew of up to ten Chitins. Our data is still a bit patchy since the Leviathan went down over Kratos.” Griff looked along the line of Marines until he spotted Jack. He stepped up to Jack.

“Forge?” Griff asked.

“Sir, yes, sir.”

“Good work taking down that Leviathan, Marine. Glad you are on our side.”

“Sir, thank you, sir.”

“Listen up, Marines,” Griff shouted. “Stay alert, listen to your squad leader, and get the job done. Landing craft standing by.” Griff turned to Jack. “We are still a bit short of copilots. Can you assist?”

“Sir, yes, sir,” Jack shouted, filling with pride and excitement. “Thank you, sir.”

“Move out, Marines. I’ll see you when you get back.” With that, Griff turned on his heel and walked off the deck.

“You heard the commander. To the landing craft. Move out.” Torent waved 6th squad toward the landing craft ramp.

Jack stepped up alongside Torent. “Why didn’t they make you company commander?”

“I’ll get there,” Torent said, pushing Jack forward. “Griff is a good officer. He was a commander in the Libra Battalion before she went down.”

Jack stepped onto the ramp. “I heard he was a hero at the Battle of Hades Lava Lake. At least he goes in with the troops sometimes.”

Torent followed Jack up the ramp. “They say he saved most of Birch Company. They say he’s good.”

Jack pulled on his helmet and opened a channel to Torent. “We’ll see,” he said.

“You sure you can fly this thing?” Torent asked, closing the landing craft ramp.

“You know how to fire that pulse rifle?” Jack walked to the cockpit.

“When I make commander, you will show me the proper amount of respect, Forge.” Torent stepped into his alcove and strapped himself in.

“Yes, boss,” Jack replied and then listened to the pilot for instructions on the final preflight checks.

4

The landing craft touched down on the asteroid and Jack was sorry that the short flight was over so soon. Torent called 6th squad to form up outside the craft. Jack unclipped his restraints and grabbed the pulse rifle from its holder next to his seat. He was down the ramp and formed up with his squad in moments, the disappointment that the flight was over replaced by excitement at the job ahead.

Torent was down on one knee and studying the horizon with his field scanner. Jack knelt next to him. A deep furrow had been gouged out of the asteroid surface where the Chitin Kraken had skidded across it, carving its way through ice and rock before reaching its final resting place.

Terry stood behind Jack and Torent. “Where’s this kravin ship, eh?”

“About two hundred meters that way.” Torent pointed along the deep furrow.

“Why didn’t you put us down next to the kravin thing, Jack?” Terry nudged Jack in the back with his knee.

Jack stood up and faced Terry. “What if there are Chit soldiers alive in that wreck? You want them to blast us out of the void before we land?”

“Think you are so smart, don’t you, Forge?”

“Stop your spat, you two.” Torent stood and pocketed his field scanner. “Jack, take Osho and Gas. Advance toward the Kraken on the right of this furrow. I’ll take Terry and Bubble and advance down the left. Noise and light discipline, Marines. Keep quiet and hidden. Go.”

Jack led the way. His suit’s enhanced data overlay showed him the position of Torent and his team. The position of the Chit craft was highlighted, although it was currently out of sight, its position having been identified by the orbiting Scorpio.

The Chit ship suddenly came into view. Torent called to Jack. “Hold position. Can you see any movement?”

Jack brought his field scanner to his helmet. The distant dark image of the crashed Kraken came clearly into view. The edges of the craft stood out from the dark background. Jack could see a breach in the hull of the craft. He focused his field scanner and zoomed in on the breach. The scanner and his helmet’s image enhancers did little to penetrate the darkness inside.

“I can see a breach in the hull.” Jack looked over to Torent on the other side of the furrow.

“It looks intact from this side,” Torent said. “Move up. Watch that breach.”

Jack advanced cautiously, keeping Osho and Gas behind him. His suit’s scanners watched the breach for any movement. He kept his pulse rifle up and aimed at the breach.

“Hold,” Torent hissed.

Jack went down on one knee and checked the horizon with his rifle sights. The area looked clear.

“Chit movement to my left,” Torent said. “I count two, maybe three, holding up behind that small ridge there.”

Jack looked to his left and past Torent. There was a small ridge on the surface of the asteroid. The ridge’s right side was obscured from Jack’s view by the crashed Kraken. “Can’t see them from here, boss.” The location appeared on the enhanced data overlay on Jack’s helmet. “Okay, boss,” Jack said. “Got their location now.”

“Listen up, squad,” Torent said. “Jack, take your team around the Kraken and take a flanking position on those Chits about fifty meters out from their right. Once you are in position, we will advance hard and fast and take them down. What do you say, Jacky?”

Jack scanned the area. He could move across the uneven surface of the asteroid with ease. His team were skilled veterans and they would keep up. The breach in that Chitin Kraken looked threatening. He would keep a close watch on that breach in case any Chit decided to emerge. They wouldn’t last long if they did. It was a risk to split the squad, but if they could outflank the Chits that Torent had spotted and fix them in a crossfire, they would overcome their enemy rapidly. It was a good plan, not without its dangers, but that was part of life in the Marines.

“It’s a good plan, boss. I’ll be in position in five.” Jack looked over to Torent on the other side of the furrow.

“Copy, that,” Torent said, looking over to Jack. “Stay sharp, Jack. Go.”

Using hand signals, Jack instructed Osho and Gas that he wanted silence as they advanced. He signaled for Gas to stay close behind on his left, Osho on his right. He indicated he would watch the breach in the Chitin craft. He received the thumbs up from Osho and Gas and then he advanced, staying low and moving fast.

“Moving now, boss,” Jack messaged to Torent.

The darkness inside the downed Kraken was impossible to ignore as they advanced, moving around the craft to set up a crossfire on the Chits hiding behind the small ridge. Jack expected a Chit to burst out at any moment, plasma spears flashing toward him. He was ready for anything.

The interior of the Chitin craft was suddenly illuminated in a bright white light as a plasma spear was fired from within. The spear flashed past Jack. A near-miss.

“Gas is down. Oh, krav. They got Gas,” Osho babbled.

Jack’s pulse rifle was spitting return fire into the breach before Osho finished her frenzied report.

“Contact, contact,” Jack called out. “Chits in the Kraken.”

“Contact,” Torent reported. “Chits on the ridge. Open fire, krav it. Open fire.”

“Oh, krav it. Gas is dead.” Osho was lying in the loose icy rock surface and firing wildly. “The Chits got him in the helmet.”

The change from silent advance to noisy, frenetic firefight was sudden, but for Jack, it was all to be expected. His focus switched immediately from stealthy advance to combat without hesitation. He targeted the breach in the Chitin craft and poured fire into the darkness within.

“Here they come,” Torent shouted into the squad channel. “I count eight coming over the ridge. Focus fire on the lead Chit.”

Jack looked across the deep gouge of the Kraken’s crash trail and saw the Chitin soldiers coming into view. He took careful aim and fired into the lead Chit. It fell, tentacles thrashing the ground, throwing up a spray of dust and ice. The following Chits trampled it under their own writhing tentacles and continued their advance on Torent and his small team.

“Light up your EBs,” Torent called. “Stand and fight.”

Jack saw the electron bayonets burst to life, their piercing glow lighting up the dark. He saw the remaining Chits illuminated, the glow of the EBs flickering off their smooth shells.

“Sam. Boss,” Jack called out. “Employ combat retreat. If you fall back, I can hit them with flanking fire.”

“Copy that, Jacky. Falling back. Keep up the fire.”

Jack saw the three pulse rifles delivering a punishing volley as the three Marines moved backwards. Jack and Osho poured their own fire into the flanking Chit. A plasma spear slashed across the ground in front of Jack, melting the icy soil and throwing up a burst of steam. Plasma spears from the group of Chit soldiers advancing on the retreating Torent slashed through the darkness, glinting off the shells of Chits and the meat suits of Torent’s team.

Another Chit fell to Jack and Osho’s fire, and then another went down under sustained fire from Torent and his team. Jack targeted the next closest and rained a vicious, well-aimed stream of fire. The rounds slammed into the Chit, throwing up fragments of shells and guts.

The small group of Chits had been cut down quickly and only three remained, their plasma spears slashing out toward Torent, Terry, and Bubble.

“Keep up the fire. Take them down.” Jack stood up. He kicked Osho to urge her to her feet. She looked up at Jack and shook her head. Jack transferred his pulse rifle to his left hand and tugged Osho to her feet with his right. “On your feet. We’ve got to close in. On your feet, Marine.”

Pulling at Osho and firing simultaneously, Jack moved slowly and he lost accuracy. He shouted and kicked at Osho again. “On your feet, Marine.” Osho finally clambered up. “Fire your weapon, Marine,” Jack shouted and pulled Osho toward the slope down into the gully that separated them from the rest of the squad. A plasma spear leaped out of the downed Kraken and slammed into the ground where Osho had been laying just a moment before. The rock glowed red and the ice turned to steam in a fraction of a second, sending a jet of vapor blasting into space.

“Fire at the Chits.” Jack advanced more quickly and his aim was more accurate now that Osho was on her feet and moving without being pulled.

As Jack reached the slope on the other side of the gully, the Chitin soldiers were hidden from view. He could see the flashes of light from their plasma spears and the flickering of the Fleet Marine pulse rifles laying down a sustained fire. Jack began to scramble up the slope.

Another plasma spear from the Kraken slammed into the slope just above his head. Jack and Osho scrambled up undeterred. Finally reaching the top, Jack saw there were only two Chits still active. They were moving toward the retreating Torent, slowed only by the many pulse rifle rounds that slammed into them.

Jack had the targets at close range. A few seconds more and the fight would be over. He opened fire at the nearest Chit, and after having already taken a beating from Torent’s team, it fell almost instantly. The last went down, tentacles thrashing wildly. A final plasma spear fired, but it was un-aimed and fizzed away safely overhead.

Jack climbed out of the gully, and a plasma spear slammed into the side of the gully moments after Jack had climbed up. He lay on the ground and looked back to the crashed Kraken. Osho lay next to him on her back and checked her weapon.

“Still one more in the Kraken,” Jack reported. “Sam, we need to dig out that Chit.”

“The boss is hit,” Bubble’s voice came over Jack’s helmet speaker. Jack could hear the emotion in the big man’s voice. “He’s alive, but he needs to get back to the Scorpio.”

“We can’t bug out yet, Bubble. We have to secure that Kraken.” Jack pulled up his field scanner and studied the breach in the craft. It was dark and quiet again. Jack couldn’t detect any movement. He was sure if he stood up, he would receive a plasma spear.

“Finish the job, Jack.” Torent’s voice was weak. “Secure the Kraken.”

“Yes, boss,” Jack said, scurrying back from the edge of the gully. “I’ll advance from the right. Terry, you advance from the left. We’ll have to go in there after the kravin thing. Ready?”

But before Terry could respond, Jack noticed the fine lines in the surface of the Kraken light up with a bright white light. It rippled through the network of delicate, twisting lines that covered all Chitin exteriors from the soldiers to the massive Leviathan. Jack knew what it meant. It meant the Chitin had set the Kraken to self-destruct. It meant Jack and 6th squad had only moments to leave the area. It meant they had lost.

“Fall back. Fall back, on the double.” Jack was clambering to his feet. “That Chit craft is going to blow. Move. Move. Move.”

Jack ran. He knew Osho could keep up and she had started running the same time he had. Up ahead, Jack saw the other three remaining members of 6th squad. Sam Torent was being carried by his squad-mates. As Jack got closer, he could see the wound Torent had sustained. His right arm was missing, taken clean off below the shoulder. Jack saw an electron bayonet glowing white from the tip of a pulse rifle on the black surface of the asteroid, and attached to that pulse rifle was Torent’s hand, finger still on the trigger. The rest of the arm was missing, vaporized by a Chit plasma spear.

The shockwave hit as the Kraken exploded, sending Jack and the squad sprawling forward. The ground lurched as the asteroid shook with the force of the explosion. Cracks appeared across the asteroid, which had already been weakened by the Kraken’s crash landing and then the heavy weapons fire. The fractures that raced across the asteroid’s thin crust erupted with steam as the icy interior boiled.

“Move, move, move,” Jack shouted, urging the Marines forward. The landing craft was only a few hundred meters away, but between them lay a minefield of gaseous eruptions.

Jack and Osho caught up with Torent, Terry, and Bubble. Jack grabbed Terry’s arm and pulled him along. Osho went to the other side of the chain and pulled Bubble along, all of them pulling Torent across the erupting asteroid.

The ramp was down. Lights all around the landing craft showed the finish line and safety. It urged them to hurry. The five reached the ramp, gas jets erupting all around. Jack pushed the surviving members of 6th squad up the ramp one by one. With Osho safely on the ramp, he climbed up himself.

“All aboard, pilot. Get us out of here.” Jack watched the asteroid disintegrate into a thousand house-sized boulders. Somewhere amongst that debris were the remains of the Chitin Kraken and its crew. Somewhere out there was Torent’s right arm. And somewhere amongst that rock and ice was the body of the Marine they all knew as Gas, 6th squad’s latest casualty in the war against the Chitins.

5

A gurney drone was waiting on the flight deck for 6th squad to return. Jack and the pilot raced through the post-flight checks and watched through the cockpit window as Torent was taken to the med bay. His arm severed just above the elbow, the meat suit was melted and hung in long globular strands.

The moment the pilot dismissed Jack, he was up and out of his seat. He ran full tilt toward the med bay. With only a few turns left, Jack caught up with Torent and the gurney drone. He came alongside his squad leader, his squad-mate, and his friend.

“Sam?” Torent was still wearing his meat suit, the helmet preventing Jack from checking Torent’s state. “Sam?” Jack called again.

The gurney pushed through the double-doors to the med bay. A nurse came and pulled Jack to the side as a doctor and a drone surgeon began treating Torent.

“Is he going to be okay?” Jack asked, straining to look around the large drone surgeon and doctor as they pulled the meat suit away from Torent’s limp body.

The doors burst open again and Jack turned to see who had entered. He was surprised to see Commander Griff march in and dismiss the nurse.

“Let the med team do their work, Marine.”

“Sir, yes, sir. Like we did ours.” Jack looked Griff in the eye. “Sixth squad was down to half-strength, Commander. Why did you send an under-strength squad against an unknown enemy force?”

Looking into Griff’s cold, grey eyes, Jack suddenly felt a chill. Everyone knew about Commander Griff. He had been one of the best commanders and was surely due for a promotion to major and given charge of a battalion. But Jack had spoken. He would have to hear Griff’s reply.

“You think you are the only Marine to do any fighting, Forge?” Griff’s eyes burrowed in to Jack’s. “We’ve got a carrier group working their way through the asteroid belt, clearing out Chit garrisons one rock at a time. Three battalions fighting tooth and nail. You think you are the only squad in this war? You think you are the only squad taking casualties?”

“Sir, no, sir.”

“I don’t want to see you Marines beaten and busted, but I’m a commander and it’s my duty to send men like you to the fight. I understand you are quite the field operator, Forge. Battle of Training Moon. That stunt with the Leviathan. You are a good Marine, Forge. I wish I had a hundred like you.”

“Sir, I wish I wasn’t so good. Maybe if I failed at being a Marine, the fleet would kick my ass back to the university.”

“But you are good, that’s why you are still alive. I’ve been watching your fight on the meat suit data steam back in the Marine operation center and you are the reason he is alive too.” Griff pointed at Torent. The surgeon was cutting Torent’s arm to create a clean cut of flesh and bone.

Jack watched the surgeon drone attach a clamp around Torent’s upper arm, a ring of black composite that pulled tight and attached itself firmly. The doctor checked around the many working arms of the surgeon drone as a black liquid was sprayed over the still bleeding stump.

“Sixth squad needs a new squad leader, at least until Torent is all fixed up,” Griff said. “You like telling your commanding officers what to do, Forge. Would you like to suggest someone?”

“Everyone likes Osho. Bubble is a bit quiet. Terry is a loudmouth and gets angry, but he does have natural authority.” Jack watched the drone attach an endcap over Torent’s black, sticky stump and attach it to the black composite collar.

“What about you?”

“Squad leader?” Jack let out a humorless laugh. “I never even wanted to be here. I never wanted any of this. All I want is to live in peace.”

“Jack,” Griff said calmly, “every Marine in this fleet wants peace. You think I want to see men chewed up like this?”

“Sir, no, sir.”

“Forge, you are insubordinate at best, mutinous at worst, but you have a good head for strategy. You are thoughtful, and you know the people in your squad, you know what makes them tick. And they like you, even the ones who don’t like you. You got the duty, Jack. You are squad leader now. You copy, Marine?”

The realization of what was happening came over Jack slowly. And then it hit him. Squad leader. It seemed such a responsibility. He snapped to attention. “Sir, yes, sir. I won’t let you down, sir.”

“Don’t worry about me. Worry about your squad. Make sure you don’t let them down.”

As Griff marched away, Jack watched Torent be moved into one of the compartments. The nurse let Jack follow the gurney. Torent was still in a medically-induced sleep. His arm looked neat, the black composite endcap covering the short stump. A burn across his neck and chest where the plasma spear had cooked his flesh was covered with a white ointment that smelled like rancid fat.

“I hope you don’t think you are getting out of sixth squad this easy,” Jack said. He remembered the first time he’d met Torent. He had come to the military instead of serving time in a prison for theft. Torent had given so much to the Marines, he was a good leader and no longer a thief. The kravin Chits had stolen his arm. Jack was sure Torent would want to pay them back for that.

Stepping out of the compartment, Jack noticed the Marine guard outside the closed door of Sarah Reyes’s compartment. He’d only been gone for a few hours, but it seemed like a lifetime since he’d last tried to see her. He took a few faltering steps toward the guards. One of the guards, a fat Marine from Boa Company, took a step forward and with a slight shake of his head, told Jack that Reyes was still in a coma, and he would not be letting Jack see her. She was still under close guard. It seemed Agent Visser was doing everything she could to make sure she was the first person to talk to Reyes when she finally regained consciousness.

The nurse passed Jack in the corridor, she gave him a half-smile. “Your friend will be fine. I’ve seen a lot worse, Marine.” She put a comforting arm on Jack’s arm.

“And what about her down at the end?” Jack asked. “I worked with her in maintenance.”

The nurse looked along the corridor. “I’ve only been in there once. They are keeping her isolated for some reason. But I heard the doctor say she could wake up at any moment, or she might not wake up at all. To be honest, we don’t know what’s wrong with her.”

Jack thanked the nurse and stared at the far door, closed to him and everyone except Fleet Intelligence.

The med bay was becoming too familiar. Two of his closest friends lay here unconscious. Jack feared that more of his friends from 6th squad would be sent here before this war was over. Then Jack checked himself. No, 6th squad were not his friends, not anymore. Now that he was squad leader, they were no longer his friends. They were his responsibility.

6

The Marine deck showed just how undermanned Cobra Company really was. The areas marked out in the floor for each squad were occupied only up to 6th squad. The areas marked out for squads seven through to twelve were empty.

Squads one through five were at full strength, but six was undermanned. Jack stood at the side of his squad. They were a pitiful sight, three Marines and a squad leader. It was the smallest squad in the entire Scorpio Battalion, possibly the smallest squad in the entire Fleet Marine Corps.

They were small in number, but they were highly experienced, battle-hardened, and skilled. They may have only been in a few skirmishes, but they were able and they were tough. Jack was proud to be their squad leader.

The five squad leaders walked over to Jack. They had not had much time to get to know 6th squad and now they were on their second squad leader. The tall leader of 1st squad, Joe Navidi, led the way.

Navidi had transferred to the Fleet Marines from the Eros Police Service. He had at first been refused the transfer because the police service was so understaffed. Navidi had finally won his transfer on his seventh appeal. He had his arms behind his back and walked confidently.

Navidi was flanked by Ben Horan of 2nd squad and Corry Allen of 3rd squad. Horan and Allen had come through training together, and they had been a formidable team. They had been through the same training camp as Jack and the rest of 6th squad. Their time in training had become legend on the training moon, and throughout the fleet. It was rumored they had been tested out for squad leader by the training commander, Lieutenant Crippin, with a bareknuckle fight. The fight had gone on for over an hour, with both Horan and Allen losing liters of blood, sweat, and snot before Crippin called a draw and named them joint squad leaders, the first and only time the fleet had ever allowed it. Jack had heard that the two had met secretly to finish the fight and fought a full night before one finally triumphed. Neither Marine ever said who had won.

Behind Navidi came Taku Folau of 4th squad and the leader of 5th squad, Stuart Laidlaw. Folau was newly appointed, becoming squad leader after the previous leader had been discharged for allowing a barbecue in the 4th squad muster area. The entire squad had been poisoned by undercooked meat. The former squad leader was awaiting sentencing, and everyone expected a flogging and a return to a training camp would be likely. Folau was a veteran of a few skirmishes and had killed a Chitin singlehanded in the corridors of the Scorpio when they had boarded the ship for the first time.

Laidlaw had never seen combat. He was a university graduate with a degree in psychology and had volunteered for service the day after graduating. He was clever, fit, and funny. Jack was worried that a taste of combat would either knock the humor out of him or make him so darkly funny that he’d be reassigned to fleet entertainments. He held his pulse rifle lightly. Jack hoped he would be able to use it when the time came.

Navidi offered his hand. “Well done on your promotion, Jack.” Navidi’s voice was deep and Jack felt it resonate in his chest.

Jack shook hands and went to the next. Horan and Allen both gave Jack a surprisingly light handshake, given their reputation as bareknuckle boxers. Folau’s handshake was firm, his voice and demeanor serious.

Lastly came Laidlaw. “You are kraved now,” he said, smiling broadly. He spoke in such a way that he could read a pulse rifle specification sheet and make it sound funny. He shook Jack’s hand warmly.

Jack felt himself take a fraction of a step back toward his squad, his small three-man squad. He stopped himself and joined in with the squad leaders’ banter. They were a group to themselves. Not able to spend time together regularly but bound by the same responsibility. They chatted lightly about anything except the Fleet Marines.

“We play poker,” Laidlaw said to Jack. “Thursday nights in the main mess hall, under the Scorpio emblem. If you are not on an operation, come and take all Allen’s credits.”

“Just watch out for the king in his lap,” Allen added, shoving Laidlaw hard.

“Knock it off, guys,” Laidlaw said. “You’ll make Jacky here think we’re all as bad at cards as Folau is at having fun.”

“I can have fun,” Folau said humorlessly.

Commander Griff walked onto the Marine deck. Navidi called the company to attention. The six squad leaders snapped to attention in their huddle.

“At ease, Marines. Positions, Squad Leaders.”

Jack stepped back and took his position beside 6th squad. The others marched to their positions beside their squads.

The deck fell silent, with only the sound of Griff’s boots echoing off the deck plates. Jack could sense the unease rippling through the squads. Why were they being held here? What were they waiting for? There was only one reason the entire company was being assembled. Orders. Action. Jack felt himself grow nervous for a moment. He had only just survived one deployment. How soon before he would have to face those Chitins again?

“Attention,” Commander Griff said, clear and cold. Cobra Company came to attention as a single Marine. Then the holoimage of Major Cruz appeared on the holostage embedded. The battalion major was seated behind a desk. He leaned back in his chair and casually returned Griff’s salute. When Cruz spoke, it was so quiet that Jack had to strain to hear.

“Cobra Company. Starting today, you are to begin a series of training simulations of attacks on a fixed Chitin position, including landing, rapid deployment, and assault.”

Major Cruz’s image stared out at Cobra Company with Commander Griff standing alongside him. “Sorry we haven’t got a full company for you, Commander,” Cruz said to Griff. “A bit short on numbers. Still, I’m sure you’ll get the best out of them.”

The holoimage of Cruz was distracted. He turned his gaze back to the assembled company. “You have your orders, Commander. Carry on.”

Cruz’s image flickered away without another word. As soon as his image was gone, Griff turned to face Cobra Company.

“At ease, Marines. Training begins now. Squad Leaders, I want you in the simulations. Don’t let your squads do all the work, but don’t go trying to take all the glory for yourself either. Report to me at the end of each watch with stats on your performance. That’s three times a day, and I want improved stats every time. Do you get me, Squad Leaders?”

Jack called out instinctively and he heard the others shouting out too. “Sir, yes, sir.”

“Marines, there will be a scoreboard. Best squad at the end of day gets an evening in VR on an entertainment program of your choice. Worst squad gets a simulation rerun on the day’s training. Do you get me, Marines?”

Cobra Company shouted out, five squads of a dozen each, and 6th squad with its three Marines and squad leader. The reply was bold and ear-crushing.

“Sir, yes, sir.”

“Good. Get it done. Over to you, Squad Leaders.” Griff turned and walked toward the exit.

“Commander departing,” Navidi called out. “Company, attention.”

Cobra Company stamped in unison as they came to attention. Jack hoped they could work this well together when the plasma spears were fizzing around their ears. Time would tell, and if they were training and preparing for an assault on a fixed Chitin position, that time was coming soon.

7

The environment was unfamiliar to Jack. It was a rocky desert with low jagged hills. The Chit fixed position was situated only five hundred meters away and five meters below the surface. Access to the underground position was through a natural cave mouth. Jack called in all data from the simulated orbital craft and other ground units.

Chit sentries had been positioned between the many hills, while an unknown number of Chit soldiers were in the underground bunker. With only one entry point, there was only one option: a difficult and deadly frontal assault. It would be murder for a company, and Jack had only a three-man squad. Jack guessed he would do well not to bring in the lowest score of the session.

“If we sit here the whole time,” Terry said, “maybe they will die of boredom.”

“Keep your voice down,” Jack hissed. He swiped his hands across the ground and opened a holomap, the locations of the Chit sentries appearing as small pink dots on the flickering green map.

“Call in an orbital strike on that hole,” Terry said, “and let’s get out of here.”

“Orbital support is not responding to fire mission requests. The simulation stated that all orbital guns are defending the carrier group from a sustained Kraken assault. We are to neutralize the surface Chitins and then request evac.”

Osho pointed at two of the sentries. “We can take these two out and then lay some charges at the cave mouth.”

“Sounds good. Who’s laying the demolition?” Bubble’s voice quivered. Every Marine knew it was only a training simulation and no one was going to get hurt, but the simulation was so real that it was making Bubble nervous.

“No one is bombing that cave entrance until we find out what is in that cave.” Jack cancelled the holomap.

Terry grabbed Jack by the shoulder and twisted him around. “Bomb the bastards and let’s get out of here.”

Jack spoke slowly. “I’ll listen to all suggestions, Terry, but countermand me again and I’ll shoot you.”

Terry removed his hand.

“They gave us the demolition charges for a reason, boss,” Osho said. “Maybe we should lay the charges quickly. I bet the other squads are already taking down the sentries and getting the charges in position.”

“Yes,” Jack said. “I hope they are.”

Jack had met too many Chits to underestimate them. They were not as stupid as some Marines thought. Just because they came on in huge numbers, it didn’t mean they were mindless. They were always focused on their task. The Chitins had plans and they worked to achieve them.

Digging out the small antimatter charges from the field supply cache, Jack scanned the horizon for any movement. He checked the yield on the explosives and then handed one to each of his squad.

Terry turned his over in his hands. “We can increase the yield on these. Let me boost them up, boss.”

“No,” Jack said. He clipped one of the demo charges to his meat suit and reopened the holomap. “We are going to get in that Chit facility. They are covering the entrance, but look at this terrain—it’s jagged and broken. There must be more to that cave system. We can find another way in.”

“Why bother?” Terry said. “Seal the kravin Chits inside and the job’s done. All we have to do is kill the Chits, right?”

“No,” Jack said. He put a hand on Terry’s shoulder. “All we have to do is beat the other squads. And that’s even harder.”

“So what’s the plan?” Osho asked.

Jack signaled his squad to come closer.

“Here’s what we do.”

Jack reached his position on the south side of the Chits’ sentry perimeter. Osho had reached the west side and reported in. Bubble was moving slow, but Jack could see he was nearing position. Terry held the first position to the north of the perimeter and directly in front of the Chit cave entrance.

Bubble reached his position and reported ready.

“Sixth Squad, stand by,” Jack said quietly into his communicator. “Lay demo and fall back.”

The squad each laid their charges five hundred meters out from the Chit cave entrance and then fell back a hundred meters. Jack checked the locations of his team on his map and then detonated the explosives.

Jack studied the holomap. The Chit sentries were moving toward their nearest detonation site. Jack saw the greatest number closing in on Bubble’s position. Terry was moving toward Bubble.

“Krav it, Terry. Hold.”

“Bubble won’t be able to hold that many back. He’ll be killed.”

Jack bit his lip. It didn’t matter if Bubble got killed. All that mattered was infiltrating that Chit position and killing whatever lay inside.

“Boss,” Osho messaged Jack. “These Chits are getting close.”

“Data coming in now. Just processing it.”

The detonation had rippled through the loose rock of the simulated environment and was reflecting back off subsurface density changes at different speeds and angles, all revealing the subsurface structure to the sensors in 6th squad’s meat suits. All data was relayed back to Jack and he quickly created a three-dimensional map of the area. The cave structure was revealed and Jack spotted what he was looking for. A small entrance a kilometer away from the main entrance. He relayed the surface coordinates to Osho.

“Osho, move. Terry, Bubble. Attack.”

Jack was up on his feet and running as the sound of distant pulse rifle fire filed the air. The crackle of plasma spears joined the din of battle, a hundred flashing lights flickering across the jagged hills of the simulated environment.

“There are too many of them,” Bubble wailed.

“Advance on the cave mouth,” Jack said. “Light up your EBs and advance. Cut through them and attack that entrance.”

Jack ran. He checked Osho’s location on his helmet data overlay. She was moving fast but had a Chit on her tail.

“Osho, you’ve got a Chit on your six. Draw the thing away from our rendezvous point. I’ll have to do it alone.”

“Copy, boss,” Osho replied. Jack heard a burst of fire from Osho’s position. He saw that she was backing away slowly.

Jack was on his own. He ran even faster than before. The firefight with Bubble and Terry was not going well. Jack had wanted a crossfire from two positions. Terry’s decision to move gave the Chits one target. If only Terry had listened. Jack pushed the thought from his mind. All he had to do was get to that small rear cave entrance.

“They got Terry,” Bubble wailed. “He’s down. They are all over him.”

“Keep fighting, Bubs,” Jack panted. “Give me a minute of hard fighting. You hear me, Bubs?”

Bubble’s reply was replaced by his screams of terror as he was overcome by Chits.

“Osho,” Jack said, “can you get to the main entrance? I need someone to attack it.”

“Moving now, boss,” Osho replied.

Jack saw on his overlay that she was moving at an impressive speed, given she had already run a kilometer and was fighting a Chit pursuer.

Jack’s data overlay showed him the location of the rear cave entrance. It glowed on his helmet’s enhanced view, but on the ground, he could see nothing but jagged rocks. He fired up his electron bayonet and began cutting away at the ground. A small cavity appeared. Jack fell to his knees and began digging his way into the small tunnel. He got his shoulders in and was crawling furiously forward. Ahead, through the twisting, jagged little tunnel, was the central cave where Jack was sure the Chits were holding some vital piece of equipment. If he could get a demo charge in there, it wouldn’t matter if Bubble died, if Terry died, if Osho died, or even if he died. If he could destroy the reason the Chits had created this fixed, defensible position.

Then, Jack felt a firm grip on his ankle. He was suddenly pulled back out of the tunnel. He was held upside-down by a thick Chitin tentacle, his helmet before the black shiny head with the ring of white rasping teeth. The antennae on the head twitched and the teeth clamped down on his helmet.

The simulation ended and Jack was in the small VR pod, his vest soaked in sweat.

“Yeah, nice plan, boss,” Terry said, clambering down from his pod. “Split us up so we are easy pickings.”

Climbing down, Jack had an urge to punch Terry on the nose. He guessed it wouldn’t show good leadership qualities to beat on his subordinates, even if they were disobedient and thickheaded like Terry.

“I told you to hold position.” Jack walked out of the VR pod stack.

“Cobra Company, make your way to the Marine deck,” Commander Griff’s voice came over the muster area communicator.

“Next time I tell you to hold, you hold.” Jack looked up into Terry’s mean eyes.

“If there is a next time,” Terry said. “They’ll probably demote the whole squad to the laundry after that disaster.”

Osho came alongside Jack. “I think I know what you were doing. It was a good plan, I think.”

6th squad walked into the Marine deck. The holoimage on the holostage flickered on and drew a sudden round of applause and laughter from Cobra Company. Jack looked at the image. It was him, suspended upside-down, with a Chitin biting his faceplate.

“Nice plan.” Allen came forward and slapped a firm hand on Jack’s shoulder.

“We should call you digger from now on,” said Laidlaw as he stepped forward.

“That was my idea,” Folau added dourly.

“Break it up, you guys,” Navidi shouted. And then as Commander Griff marched on to the Marine deck, Navidi called for attention.

“How many of you got their ordnance at the Chit cave entrance?” Griff stood in front of the company, at ease with command.

Five hands went up; Navidi, Horan, Folau, and Laidlaw.

Griff turned to the holoimage of Jack. “And who is this, being used as Chit dental floss?”

Jack put up his hand to an outburst of laughter from Cobra Company. But Jack was unabashed. He had devised and had almost executed a plan that would have discovered what the Chits were doing at that position.

“And what did you think you were going to find down that rabbit hole, Mister Forge?”

“Sir, I don’t know, sir, but I thought it best to see what I was attacking so I could be sure to kill it, sir.”

The laughter died away.

“And you nearly got it. If only you’d had a full squad. Maybe if the Marines under your command had actually followed your orders.” Griff fixed Terry with a cold stare. “But you—” Griff waved his arm in a wide arc. “—the rest of Cobra, you went knocking on the front door. You could have put the entire orbital carrier group in jeopardy because you lashed out at the first thing that looked like a target. To a man with a hammer, every problem looks like a nail. When you are on the ground, you need to think. Just because you got a pulse rifle in your hands doesn’t mean you can stop using your brain.” Griff tapped the side of his head. “The top two inches, Marines. That is your most deadly weapon. That is how we are going to beat the Chitins.”

Griff paced along the front ranks of Cobra, glancing to the roof of the Marine deck, hands behind his back. He stopped in front of 6th squad.

“Mister Forge, I have extra work for you today. Take sixth squad through this simulation once again and take these squad leaders with you. Then Cobra Company will repeat the simulation while sixth squad grabs some VR and R. Do you get me, Cobra?”

“Sir, yes, sir,” Jack shouted out along with Cobra Company.

8

Jack felt a renewed confidence in his ability as he climbed out of the VR pod this time. He’d taken the other squad leaders of Cobra Company through the simulation and this time, they had infiltrated the cave system and destroyed a mass of Chitin soldiers with strategically-placed explosives, some well-aimed pulse rifle fire, and a lot of close quarters electron bayonet work.

“When it comes to the real thing, we won’t know what we are going to find in such a place. Better to check it out first,” Jack said to the squad leaders as they came out of their pods.

“I heard you made a habit of annoying your commanding officers,” Navidi said. “But you got Griff on your good side.”

Jack took a sip of water from a cold bottle and then poured a slug over his head. He wiped water, sweat, and the stress of a long day of training away. “I won’t blindly follow an officer if I think there’s a better way. And a good officer won’t ignore a Marine if they have a better plan. Griff seems like a good officer to me, so far.”

“How did a cocky scroat like you make it to the Marines?” Navidi asked.

Jack offered the bottle to the 1st squad leader. “I failed my midterms.”

Navidi took the bottle and laughed. Taking a sip, he looked Jack in the eye. “Good to have you in Cobra Company. Guess you got some VR and R coming to you now?”

“No,” Jack said. “I’ve got someone to go and see.”

The corridors were empty. Only the occasional creaking bulkhead or squeak of strained pipe behind the corridor panels broke the silence. The way to the med bay was becoming familiar to Jack. He wandered around the maze of empty corridors, hardly noticing where he was going until he came upon the wide double-doors of the med bay.

Inside, a nurse stood at the nurse’s station. A person in the black jacket of Fleet Intelligence stood, leaning against the desktop and toward the nervous nurse.

Then Jack recognized Agent Visser, and he felt a sudden pang of guilt. Commander Finch had been a bad officer, Jack had not liked the man, but he did not want to see Finch get killed. Then Jack felt a sudden rush of nerves. It crackled over his skin like a wave of burning hot pinpricks. The agent was still investigating the disappearance of Commander Finch and knew his knowledge of events leading to that officer’s disappearance could land him in trouble and could land his friend on the gallows.

Visser turned around and Jack thought it was almost as if she had detected his hidden nervousness and guilt.

“Jack Forge,” Visser said, squaring up in front of him. “What brings you to the med bay?”

The nurse glanced at Jack. She seemed grateful to have been let off Visser’s hook, but sorry that Jack was now firmly on it. She averted her eyes and buried herself in work.

Visser seemed to study Jack. Fleet Intelligence agents were the most suspicious people in the fleet, if not the entire system. They suspected everyone of something. Jack knew Agent Visser suspected him of holding back information.

Jack stood his ground. He told himself to relax. He tried to convince himself that Visser had no evidence that would condemn him. He drew himself up to his full height and stood confidently. Inside, he felt like he was withering like a lush plant under the fierce heat of a supernova.

“Sir, I’m here to check in on my friend,” Jack said. His voice broke slightly. He knew it was because he’d been shouting orders in the heat of a simulated battle for the last few hours and then had not spoken a word for the last thirty minutes, but to anyone listening, particularly a Fleet Intelligence agent, it sounded like nervousness and guilt.

“Reyes is still in a coma,” Visser said, still studying him.

Jack had been ready for this and made an effort to not give away any hint of emotion at the mention of Reyes’s name. “Not Sarah,” he said coolly, “Sam. Sam Torent. Squad Leader of Sixth squad.”

“I thought you were leader of sixth squad now,” Visser said.

Krav it all, Jack thought, Visser knows everything. “Yes, sir,” Jack said. “I’ve just been promoted today.”

“Carry on, Marine,” Visser said and returned her attention to the nurse, who quivered under the attention.

Jack walked along the corridor. Through the clear composite panels, he could see the Marine guards still standing in front of Reyes’s door. Jack averted his gaze from that distant compartment, fearing Visser would see him looking and read some critical and condemning evidence in it. Instead, he looked for Torent.

Sam Torent was propped up in a bunk cover in white sheets, looking at his new right arm. The prosthetic limb had not yet been covered in synthetic skin and Jack could see the black composite sinews that made it. Torent was turning his arm this way and that, watching it move. He clenched and unclenched his fist, as if hypnotized by it.

“Sam?” Jack opened the compartment door. “Good to see you in one piece.”

Torent looked up at Jack and gave a half-smile before returning his attention to his prosthetic arm.

“They just attached it. It feels strange,” Torent said. He spread his fingers and turned his hand at the wrist. He bent his elbow and then straightened his arm.

“You can feel it?” Jack said, stepping closer. He watched as the composite sinews stretched and twisted across each other.

“Yeah, kind of,” Torent said, studying the arm’s movement. “But it feels artificial. Like the difference between a battle and a simulation. Simulation seems real, but you know it’s not.” Torent put the arm through its full range of movement, watching all the while, then he looked at Jack. “Throw me something.”

Jack looked around the compartment for anything he could throw. In his pocket was his watch. It was still without a case and the clockwork mechanism had stopped. It was wrapped in leather to prevent any damage to the delicate mechanism. Jack held it up for Torent to see.

“No, not that, Jacky. I don’t want to break that.”

Jack put the watch carefully away and then spotted a water bottle on the small table next to Torent. He picked it up. “This okay?” Jack asked and backed away as far from Torent as he could go. He held up the bottle, ready to throw, and waited for the nod from Torent.

Torent nodded and Jack gently pitched it to Torent. The black arm snatched the bottle out of the air, the fist clenching tight and crushing it.

“Krav it all,” Torent said. He shook his hand and tried to release the bottle, but his fist remained clenched tight. Water leaked out and ran down Torent’s arm. He shook his arm to shake the bottle away from his grip, but only succeeded in splashing water everywhere.

Jack almost laughed but then saw the distress on Torent’s face. He let the arm drop next to him on the bed.

“Stupid, kravin arm,” Torent said. “I’ll never get this thing to work.”

Jack stepped up and took hold of one of Torent’s fingers. He peeled it away from the bottle. It came away easily and then the others unfurled, releasing the bottle. It fell from Torent’s hand and clattered to the floor.

“They said I can rejoin the company in a few days, or as soon as I can work the new arm.”

“You’ll get back in no time, but what’s the rush?”

“Oh, I see.” Torent reached over with his left arm and tapped the squad leader’s badge on Jack’s chest. “You’ve finally got my job and you don’t want to give it back, is it?”

Jack looked down at the badge. “Oh, that,” he said. “Just keeping it clean for you is all.”

“I’m sure you are doing more than that. So, are you making life difficult for the new commander yet?”

Jack laughed. “You know me,” he said.

Jack looked through the clear panels of med bay walls to where Sarah Reyes lay. He could just make her out in her bunk.

“I heard the doctors say she could wake up at any time,” Torent said.

Picking the crushed bottle up off the floor, Jack grunted.

“That agent will probably want to speak to her as soon as she does.”

Jack looked at Torent with a suddenness that gave away his unease.

“Visser already spoke to me about it.” Torent held up his black sinewy arm and flexed the artificial muscles. “She asked me what happened to Finch down on that moon. I told her what you told me.” Torent looked at Jack. “I told her you said he was gone. You said, Finch is gone. And I told her we were deep in the krav and it was all a bit crazy down there. I told her exactly what you told me.” Torent fixed Jack with a stare. Jack knew what it meant. Torent didn’t know what happened to Finch, nor did he care, but he did care what happened to his friend. “I told her I wish I knew more. You know I wouldn’t keep a secret from the Fleet Intelligence. You know I’m not as clever as you, Jacky, but I’m not so stupid as to try and fool an agent.”

Jack looked over at Reyes, nodding in agreement.

“I guess Visser has interviewed you?” Torent nudged Jack in the hip with his new arm. He miscalculated and hit Jack hard.

Jack winced at the sudden, unexpected pain.

“Sorry, Jacky,” Torent said. “But that pain will be nothing if she wakes up and her story is different than yours.” Torent laid back on his pillow and closed his eyes. “I don’t know what happened to Finch. Does she? They are going to ask her.”

Jack threw the broken bottle in a small trash basket next to Torent’s bunk. “I hope she’ll be alright, Sam.”

Torent nestled into his pillow. “She’ll be fine. It’s you I’m worried about.”

“Why?” Jack said, looking down at the resting Torent.

“Because you’ve got to try and lead that squad of ill-mannered, ill-disciplined Marines they call sixth squad.” Torent opened an eye and looked up at Jack.

Jack smiled. “I’ll be fine. I hear the worst of them are not in the squad anymore. One is in med bay and the other has been made squad leader.”

“They always make the worst Marine squad leader.” Torent let out a big yawn.

“Don’t hurt yourself with that arm, Sam.” Jack walked toward the door.

“Don’t ruin my squad. I want it back, you hear?”

“See you on the Marine deck.” Jack turned to Torent, but he was already sleeping and snoring like a cow. Jack looked along the med bay. He needed to speak to Reyes. He had to keep her safe from Visser.

9

Jack walked away from the med bay and through the corridors of the Scorpio. A group of crewmen and a young officer were throwing dice in one corridor. Jack stepped around them and ignored their boisterous shouting. Jack knew where he was going. He knew in the back of his mind that there was only one way he could save Reyes, only one person who would help. There was only one person he could trust with this. The one department the rest of the ship overlooked. The one department that knew every panel and bulkhead of the ship. And that department was now run by only one man.

Jack turned the corner and stepped up to the large doors of the maintenance hangar.

The large double-doors were open just a crack, enough for one person to step between. The edges of the doors were a ragged mess where they had been sealed and then cut open following the Chitin attack on the Scorpio during the Battle of Kratos Fuel Station. The jagged edges caught Jack’s sleeve. He felt it tug, holding him back, preventing him from finding help. The jacket ripped, only a small tear, but it was a bad sign and made Jack feel that his efforts might come to nothing, that all was already lost and if he carried on with his plan, he would suffer more than a ripped sleeve.

“Hey, Jack.” The shout echoed across the vast hangar.

There at the back, in a small pool of light at a workbench, Jack saw a tall figure, his maintenance coveralls tied by the sleeves around the waist.

“Hey, Slim. You got everything running smoothly yet?” Jack walked between the workbenches back toward his former maintenance colleague.

“Give me an hour more and the Scorpio will be the pride of the fleet, as long as you soldier boys leave her alone, that is.”

The coffee in the maintenance hangar was dark and thick, tasting of metal and composite and dirt. It was the best coffee aboard the Scorpio bar none, including the captain’s personal dispenser. Jack sat on the edge of a workbench and nursed the dirty mug in his lap. Slim leaned against the opposite bench, a hot mug in one dirty, calloused hand.

“Soldiering getting dull yet? You need to fix some conduit for excitement?” Slim slurped his coffee.

Jack looked up at the top bulkhead. The area where the Chits had cut through was repaired, panels of composite placed over the breach and welded into place.

“That was a scroat of a job,” Slim said, following Jack’s gaze. “I should have been here.” He looked into his mug.

“They would have taken you as well, Slim, and then who would keep the Scorpio flying?” Jack said. “Doyle sent you to do a job. I bet he was glad he had. He wouldn’t have wanted you…”

“And what do you know about what Doyle would have wanted?” Slim spoke with venom and anger that took Jack by surprise. Jack looked Slim in his dark eyes and took a sip of coffee.

“Do you think he’d have wanted you here?” Jack held the tall man’s stare. “Do you think you could have prevented what happened to them?”

Slim sipped his coffee and shifted his weight on the workbench. “At least she got away.” Slim jerked his head toward Reyes’s workbench. “I haven’t been to see her yet. Too kravin busy.”

“They won’t let anyone in.” Jack sipped and watched Slim for a reaction.

“Why not?”

“Fleet Intelligence wants to speak to her first.”

Slim rolled his eyes. “Intelligence,” he said with contempt. “If they put a fraction of the effort in to maintenance as they do in to those agents’ uniforms, we’d have the fleet ready to take down those kravin Chit bastards.” Slim slurped his coffee angrily.

“I need to get to her before they do, Slim.”

Slim looked over his coffee cup at Jack. “Why?” he asked suspiciously, then he shook his head. “Never mind, I don’t want to know.” He put his mug down on the bench and began tapping at a control panel on the edge. A holomap of the Scorpio appeared on the bench.

Jack jumped down and moved next to Slim. “How did you get that?” Jack said in surprise.

“Can’t do much in maintenance without detailed specs of the entire kravin ship. You tell me where they got Sarah and I’ll tell you how to get there undetected.”

“You can do that?” Jack looked into the green network of holographic lines that mapped out the Scorpio deck by deck, section by section. Every hidden panel and system, every coil, every conduit, every accelerator, compactor, fusion jet, and antimatter injector.

“What we got here is a detailed spec on every piece of the Scorpio right down to the buttons on the captain’s jacket. This is maintenance, Jack,” Slim said brightly, his arms out wide as if he’d just performed a magic trick. “Nothing happens on this ship that we can’t know about.”

Jack zoomed in on the med bay and then the compartment Reyes was being held in under guard. “Get me in there if you can, Slim. Get me in and I’ll do the rest.”

10

Bill Harts was awake. He was aware. He knew he was missing some part of himself. He knew he was different.

He recognized this place. The pink sands towering above him in the intricate branching structures could only be one place. He was back on the moon of Kratos.

The data overlay on his meat suit helmet showed him he was dehydrated, hypothermic, and exhausted. Data also showed him he was not alone.

Commander Finch was kneeling next to him. Finch reached out and took Harts’s hand, pulling him up off the floor.

“Sir, I got lost,” Harts said, looking around.

“Me too,” Finch said, but there was a hint of confusion in his voice.

“I’ve been somewhere,” Harts said. He struggled to remember. He knew he was missing a memory.

“No, Marine. We’ve been here all along. When the Leviathan was destroyed, we were concussed. It took us this long to initiate communication with the fleet.”

“Yeah,” Harts agreed uncertainly. “Have we contacted the fleet yet?”

“Have you forgotten protocol, Marine?”

“Sir, I think have, sir.” Harts stood up. His legs felt weak.

“Well, you better remember pretty quick, Marine. We’ll be back in the fleet soon and we’ll have to blend right in. Do you understand, Marine?”

The memories came back slowly. Harts answered, but with only a dim awareness of what he was doing. “Sir, yes, sir,” he said.

“Shout it out, Marine.”

“Sir, yes, sir,” Harts shouted.

“You starting to remember, Marine?”

“Sir, yes, sir,” Harts shouted. He was starting to remember the time before, his time in the fleet. He knew who he was, he knew where he was, but there was a gap, a darkness between then and now. He struggled to remember.

“Stop trying to remember something that hasn’t happened, Marine,” Finch shouted. “You can’t remember it. Just remember who you are and what you have to do. Do you understand?”

Harts slumped back to the floor. He felt cold. He remembered being cold. He felt confused. He remembered being confused. He felt afraid. He remembered being afraid.

“Do you get me, Marine?” Finch stooped over Harts and shouted even louder.

“Sir…” Harts replied uncertainly.

“Do you get me?”

“Sir…”

“Don’t think, Marine. Stop trying to remember. Just act like the Marine you used to be. Do you get me?”

Harts knew he had been someone different. Now he had to remember how to be that person again. He had a job to do. He had to be that person from before.

“Sir, yes, sir,” Harts shouted. Certainty began to return. Moment by moment, his memory of his old life returned and the memory of his captivity and interrogation by the Chitins faded.

Lying on the sandy ground with tears in his eyes, he knew he was close to getting back to the fleet.

11

Jack found his way to the corridor Slim had directed him to and searched for the particular panel. Jack detached it and slipped into the cavity behind. Putting the panel back in place, he closed himself inside.

His flashlight gave him a restricted view. He turned his head this way and that to have a better look at his surroundings. Jack was sitting on a bundle of conduits that ran along the narrow cavity branching off at intervals. Here one turned ninety degrees to the left and disappeared through the bulkhead. There another turned ninety degrees downwards and vanished into the depths of the Scorpio’s hidden spaces. At intervals, a conduit joined the bundle from one direction or another. Each conduit had a purpose, whether it was for ship defense, life support, crew comfort, or communications. The hidden conduits and circuits were as vital to the Scorpio’s functioning as the engine assembly or the gun batteries. It was a hidden world unknown to most of the Scorpio’s crew, and Jack was in it.

Moving forward carefully, Jack looked for the one that Slim had described to him, a conduit as thick as Jack’s forearm and made of the dark composite material that the ship’s hull was made from. Jack spotted the conduit. He followed it another twenty meters where the conduit turned ninety degrees vertically. Jack began to climb.

Slim had given him detailed instructions. The man had a detailed knowledge of this hidden world. Jack wondered if there was a nut or a bolt that Slim didn’t know about.

The only way to access the compartment that Reyes was in without alerting the guards was via a floor panel in a small cabinet at floor level. Jack had been concerned that the glass panel compartments would mean that as soon as he crawled out, he would be spotted by the guards, or a nurse, or worse still, Agent Visser. Slim had told Jack how he could fix that too.

The maintenance department was overworked and Slim was currently the only technician on board. Various crewmen had been transferred to the maintenance department, but they were performing tasks specific to their official stations. None of these emergency assistants understood the ship the way Slim did. He could understand the Scorpio, not just as a collection of systems, guns, targeting, drive, and crew support systems. No, Slim saw the ship as a single living entity built up from its component parts.

“The medical bay negative air pressure system has been faulty for months,” Slim had told Jack.

“Negative air pressure? What that?” Jack asked.

Slim had explained, “If any microbial, bacterial or viral matter escapes the medical bay, it could infect the entire crew. The med bay is kept at a lower pressure than the rest of the ship so air only flows in and never out. A series of chemical and physical filter systems keep the air clean, but nothing can escape, just in case.”

Jack reached a point in his long climb where the conduits pressed together. Slim had told him it would be a tight squeeze.

“When you are in position, I will start work on the faulty air system,” Slim had told Jack. “It will cause the lights in the medical bay and the detector systems to fail.”

Jack squeezed through the tight gap and found himself in a wide opening. A large bore pipe ran across the space. Jack followed the pipe to his left.

“I don’t want to get you into trouble,” Jack had been seriously worried about Slim and his enthusiasm to help. Slim had reassured him.

“There are so many systems that need attention. I can’t help it if I accidentally cause one to overload another. It’ll look like a complete accident. I have a work order somewhere. They’ve been waiting for me to deal with that med bay air pressure problem for weeks.”

Jack reached the bulkhead where the large bore pipe met and intersected with another. This was the point he’d been looking for. Two meters right of that intersection and Jack was finally in place.

“The lights and the alarms will only be off for a few minutes,” Slim had told Jack. “It’s the best I can do.”

“How will I know when you’ve caused the system failure?” Jack had asked.

“You won’t be able to take any communicators if you don’t want Fleet Intelligence to find out. Any device might give you away.”

Jack found the panel and detached the small clips. They were right where Slim had said they would be. Then Jack took out his small pocket watch.

“I’ll create the system failure at the start of third watch,” Slim had said. “But how will you know when it’s third watch?”

“I’ll know. Leave that to me.”

Jack sat in the dark and watched the second hand on his pocket watch tick around the small white face. The world around Jack was reduced to a small pool of light from a small head-mounted flashlight. He concentrated on his watch. The second hand hit the point where Jack knew third watch would begin. He’d synchronized his old family watch with the ship chronometer. He switched off his flashlight and quietly removed the panel.

The panel opened into an almost empty cabinet, only a small composite dish and a few packets of disposable items littered the space. Jack carefully removed them and set them aside.

The cabinet door opened easily with a gentle touch. Outside, he could hear the voices of the Marine guards and a nurse. One guard was shouting for emergency lighting.

“Does nothing work on this old ship?” another voice complained.

Jack crawled out of the cabinet and crossed the compartment floor. He stood up next to the bunk near Sarah Reyes’s head. Jack had thought of how to leave her a message. He could leave his watch for her. When she woke, she would know that he had been there. Maybe she would guess that she should talk cautiously. Jack could break his watch in the hope that that would tell her they were in danger. Jack knew a handwritten note would just land them both in trouble and possibly side by side on the gallows back on Eros.

There was one way Jack could be sure Reyes didn’t ever speak… If Reyes didn’t ever wake up. She was lying there completely at his mercy. Jack cursed himself for allowing the thought to cross his mind. He knew he couldn’t hurt her, or betray her like that. He couldn’t bear the thought of any harm coming to her. She was beautiful and interesting, and she’d saved 6th squad from the Chits at the Battle of Kratos Fuel Station. Maybe they could both disappear. The system was huge, and the war wasn’t everywhere. There were rogue settlements dotted across the galaxy. They could escape the fleet and live together somewhere.

Jack knew all these ideas were hopeless. Maybe he had only come to be with her one last time.

Jack felt Sarah’s thick hair under his sweating hand. He could feel her beauty. He wished he could look at her, but his flashlight would give him away to the guards. The guards would arrest him and then Visser would be all over him like a mass of Chitin tentacles.

He felt the soft skin of her forehead and her smooth cheek. He remembered it now, flushed with the effort of work, smeared with sweat and dirt. She looked good in her overalls, busy at her workbench. Jack wondered if he’d ever see her there again.

“Sarah,” Jack whispered in her ear. “I need you to know.”

“Jack?” Her voice was weak.

Jack’s heart leapt. He felt an urge to yell out in triumphant joy. She was awake. Sarah was awake.

“Yes,” he whispered, his lips so close to her ear.

“Jack,” she said again. “I can’t see.”

“You are safe. The lights are all out.” Jack knew they’d be coming back on at any moment.

“We were on Kratos,” she said.

“Shh,” Jack whispered. He held his lips so close to her ear that they touched it lightly. “They will ask you what happened to Commander Finch. I told them he went missing. As far as we know, the Chits took him. Don’t say you saw him. Okay?”

Silence.

“Okay?”

The dark and the silence. The flashing of a light somewhere at the far end of the medical bay caught Jack’s attention.

“Sarah, can you hear me?”

The voices from the far end of the med bay were loud and anxious.

“I thought you were still guarding her,” said one Marine.

“No one’s been in or out,” the other said.

The flashlight beam flashed into the compartment, the light scattered by the many panels of translucent composite. Jack looked down and saw Reyes, her eyes closed and a smile on her rosebud lips.

Jack slid to his knees, head next to hers. “Don’t tell them we saw Finch.” He crawled back to the floor-level cabinet and climbed back inside. He pulled the door shut just as the lights burst to life, flooding the med bay with its stark light.

“There,” a Marine guard said. “She’s still there.”

Jack climbed carefully and quietly back into the dark world between the bulkheads in the hidden spaces of the Scorpio.

12

Pretorius stood before the holostage on the command deck. The holostage standby image rotated in front of him, an image of the Scorpio. It had been captured when the Scorpio had first left the construction facility in orbit around the home world, Eros. The Scorpio was, at the time, the newest and most powerful destroyer in the fleet. It was fast, able to cross from one side of the system to the other in one Eros day. She was heavily armed with port and starboard batteries of high-density shot cannon, deploying a range of high-density shot warheads from kinetic, incendiary, high ex, and antimatter payloads. The combat drone launch tubes were housed on the lower hull while the upper hull was dominated by the four high-energy laser cannons.

The Scorpio and her eleven sisters, together with the four massive carriers, were thought to be the ultimate defense against the newly discovered Chitin threat. That was until the carrier Crown was destroyed along with its flotilla of frigates and corvettes. Then the Libra was lost. Then the Gemini.

The Scorpio had seen its share of battle. Pretorius balanced the need for aggression with the need for survival. The Scorpio had used its speed as much as it had used its weaponry. Pretorius had mastered the hit and run. He had Chitin kills on his jacket. A dozen Krakens had met their end at the hands of Pretorius. The feather in his cap was the destruction of the Chitin Hydra at the battle of Hades North. He’d fought the battle at high speed, moving in and out of range of the Chitin focused plasma arc and he’d concentrated his fire on the Hydra, ignoring the Kraken infiltrators. He’d been boarded for the first time during that battle and lost many crewmen to the Chits that day, but he’d scored the fleet’s first kill on a Chitin Hydra. His tactics that day had been shared with the destroyer fleet as the primary method of engagement with a Hydra-class vessel.

The Scorpio that rotated on the holostage in front of Pretorius was not the battle-scarred vessel under the captain’s feet right now. The engine reactor was in need of an overhaul. It was operating at only sixty-eight percent efficiency. The Scorpio’s port-side battery was operating at only forty percent. Several cannons were out of action for the want of basic replacement parts. They had subsequently been cannibalized of other parts to service the remaining operational cannons. Pretorius knew he could not take on a Hydra and win now.

His starboard battery was fully functional, but he was short on crew to properly serve both batteries. He could fight with one side or the other. The high-energy laser was underpowered. It was still powerful enough to slice through a Chitin hull, but the range was so reduced that it would be a point-blank battle, one Pretorius knew the Scorpio would not survive.

The combat drone tubes were fully operational, but the supply of drones was limited. The Scorpio had one big fight left in her before she would have to return to port for rearmament and repair. Pretorius knew that fight was coming soon. He stood patiently in front of the holostage and waited for Group Captain Chen Li to appear.

Pretorius hoped the other ships in the assembled group were in better fighting condition than the Scorpio. No single destroyer had seen as much action as the Scorpio, none that were still in operation. The Scorpio was joined by two other destroyers, the Aries and the Pisces. Pretorius knew their captains well and he was happy to be alongside such good captains. The carrier leading the group was the Monarch. Her commanding officer was Group Captain Chen Li. She was cautious in battle as well as in politics. She had risen quickly from captain of a frigate, through Fleet Headquarters, and onto the bridge of the Monarch. At Fleet Headquarters, she had masterminded a successful attack on a series of Chitin asteroid facilities. She had leapfrogged some longer serving captains to the position of group captain, but her political and diplomatic skills, as well as her coldhearted military skills, had kept her in favor with her subordinates as well as her line commanders.

“Incoming message, Captain,” Commander Chou informed Pretorius. “It’s Group Captain Li aboard the Monarch, sir.”

“Put it on the holostage, Mister Chou.” Pretorius straightened.

The holostage flickered into life. Group Captain Li appeared in the center of the stage from the hips up. To either side of Li appeared smaller images—Captain Janie Lauafa of the Aries and Derrie Baskin of the Pisces.

“Captains,” Li said coolly. “Fleet has assembled us for an operation against a Chitin facility on Proxis, the closest moon to the gas giant Penthus. Success in this operation will limit the Chitins’ operational range in the system and relieve pressure on our convoys from the outer asteroid cloud.”

The holostage image flickered and changed to a view of the entire planetary system. Li, Lauafa, and Baskin appeared at the side of the display.

“As you can see,” Li said, “the two gas giants, Penthus and the Chitin home world Zelos, are currently on opposite sides of the star from each other.”

“We know the Chitins have a drydock facility on this moon.” The image zoomed in on Proxis, the inner moon of Penthus. It was a black moon of hard crystalline rock. “They service their deep space craft here, including their Leviathans. This drydock has allowed the Chits to extend their operational range across the entire system. If we can remove the Chitin presence around Penthus, we will push the Chitins back to the far side of the system, restricting their movements and freeing ours.”

The image of the system disappeared to be replaced by the group captain.

“I want full inventory and battle capability reports by end of second watch. Full armament readiness by third watch. We progress to our target at low velocity at the top of first watch. Transmitting battle plan and zero hour to you now.”

Pretorius knew he was here to fight. He didn’t need to be asked nicely. He was motivated as firmly as any person in the fleet, but it was unusual not to hear some introductory pleasantries between senior officers on an operation. Then, it seemed that Li hesitated for a moment.

“I know you are seasoned veterans, so I am honored to be leading this carrier group.” Li paused. “You have your orders.”

The image of Li flickered away, leaving Lauafa and Baskin on Pretorius’s holostage. The three captains smiled and greeted each other warmly. They all knew each other personally and by reputation. Between the three of them, they had more Chitin kills than the rest of the destroyer fleet put together.

“Good to see you both again,” Pretorius said. And as the three caught up on news from home, news of the war, of friends and families, and as they laughed with each other, Pretorius knew he was going into battle again.

13

The latest VR training session had a fresh feel to it. The scenario was not some generic battle situation but had the feel of truth about it. The battlefield was a moon orbiting Penthus. Jack could see the huge gas giant filling the sky. The surface of the moon was a hard, glass-like rock, shot through with cracks and deep channels. The surface was difficult to walk across, even more difficult to crawl over.

Jack pulled off the VR helmet and clambered out of his pod. He was aching and sweaty. The scenario had been run several times this watch already. He’d once again completed an assault on a fixed position. His squad approached using stealth and natural cover concealment on one run-through, and on another, he had employed a rapid frontal assault. This last run, he’d used fire and maneuvers to advance on the position. He was outnumbered and outgunned. He’d completed his objective and destroyed the target, a simulation of a Chit structure, but every time, he’d lost all of 6th squad. He had also been killed after the final destruction of his target.

Whatever the Marines were preparing for was going to be murder, sheer and utter murder. Jack wiped the sweat from his brow, grabbed his sweater, and left the VR suite. He was on a one-watch liberty. He wandered toward the med bay.

The corridors were the busiest Jack had ever seen them. Almost every corridor had a crewman walking one way or another. One corridor was blocked as a group of crewmen maneuvered a massive trolley holding a stack of four combat drones. The ship was clearly preparing for an operation.

He was forced to find a way around the blocked corridor. The sweat had cooled as he walked and he started to feel cold. He pulled the sweater from around his waist and pulled it on. After a few more corridors, and few encounters with crewmen and one flustered junior officer, Jack reached the med bay’s wide double-doors.

Torent was sitting on the edge of his bunk. He had one arm in his jacket and his new prosthetic arm out. He appeared to be having difficulty getting dressed.

Jack walked toward Torent’s compartment. He looked along the bay toward Reyes’s compartment. She was sitting up in bed. Jack’s heart leapt at the sight of her up and out of the coma. Standing next to Reyes, Jack noticed the black jacket of the Fleet Intelligence agent, Visser.

Reyes ignored Jack.

“Help me get this arm in here, Jacky,” Torent said as Jack stepped into his compartment. He couldn’t take his eyes off Reyes.

“Jack,” Torent said more loudly. “Don’t stare, Jack.”

Jack turned toward Torent. His friend was right. If he was going to hide the truth about Commander Finch, it was better if he showed as little interest in Reyes as possible. If he seemed interested in her, it might be because he was interested in what she knew about Finch’s disappearance. He had told Reyes not to say anything about it. As far as the fleet knew, she had not seen him on Kratos at all.

Jack took hold of Torent’s jacket and helped him put his arm in the sleeve.

“How’s the arm?” Jack asked, desperate to look at Reyes.

“Strong. I’ve got it under control, sort of.”

Jack pulled the jacket up onto Torent’s shoulders.

“You free to come back to sixth squad?” Jack asked.

“Worried I’ll take your job?” Torent replied.

“No.” Jack risked a glace toward Reyes. His eyes met those of Agent Visser. He turned his head casually back toward Torent. “There is an operation coming up. If you can stay in med bay, you might be able to sit this one out.”

“Sit it out?” Torent said. “Not a chance. I overheard the doctors talking.” Torent climbed off his bunk. “They had medical supplies sent over from the Monarch.” Torent gave Jack an excited look. “A carrier, Jack. A kravin carrier. Come on.” Torent walked out of his compartment. “Let’s go.”

“Go where?” Jack asked, following Torent.

“The hangar deck. There’s a porthole in the launch doors.”

“And what about it?” Jack asked.

“We can get a look at her.”

Jack looked back toward Reyes one last time. “Her?” Jack asked

“The Monarch. We can get a look. You ever seen a carrier before? No, didn’t think so. Come on.” Torent marched out of the med bay.

Jack hurried to catch up. A carrier would be something to see, but there was only one thing Jack wanted to see. And she was being questioned by Agent Visser.

14

The hangar deck was a hive of activity. Crewmen and tech drones were prepping the Scorpio’s compliment of tactical drop ships. There were thirty-six TAC boats, one for every squad of a full battalion. Jack felt the pre-operation jitters grow in him.

The presence of a carrier and the preparation of the TAC boats meant only one thing: joint operations. The carrier’s primary role was to support the destroyers, provide fighter cover and fire support. The TAC boats were designed for Marine landing and ground operations. This was not going to be some raid on an asteroid. This was going to involve ground assault, space assault, fighter defense and attack. This was joint operations.

Torent seemed untouched by the activity around him and unfazed by the possibility of an imminent attack on a Chitin stronghold. He dashed along the line of TAC boats, moving from one hangar door to another, looking through one porthole after another.

“There she is,” he called excitedly. “What a ship. Look at the size of it.” Torent stopped at a small porthole. He pressed his face against it and looked out, condensation from his eager breath misting up the small window. “Look at her, Jacky. Just look.”

Jack stepped up to the small porthole in front of him and looked out.

The Monarch dominated the view, set against the distant gas giant. The Pisces and the Aries, each a kilometer long, were dwarfed by the massive carrier. A dozen points of light flitted about the Monarch from the engine flare of the patrol fighters.

Jack pulled back, startled, as a corvette came past. The corvettes were lightly armed and extremely fast with the range of a destroyer. The six corvettes in line formation held position between the Scorpio and the Monarch

“Can you make out the names on those destroyers?” Torent asked.

Jack could see the letters painted on the nose section of the destroyers, but they were too far out for him to read. He could make out the batteries of cannons along the side of the destroyers, massive snub-nosed barrels capable of pouring out a deadly hail of shot.

The Monarch’s side was dominated by the massive fighter decks. Between each deck was a battery of cannon and combat drone launch tubes. The upper and lower sides of the Monarch each supported four sets of high-energy laser cannon.

The flotilla of craft was an immense show of fleet power, and Jack knew there was one more weapon in this arsenal. Hidden within the composite hulls of these craft was the fleet’s most deadly and versatile weapon. The Fleet Marines.

“Those Chits are going to get an absolute battering,” Torent said, moving to the next porthole.

“We’ll see,” Jack said. The flotilla was powerful. He hoped the enemy they were going to fight wasn’t even more powerful. A single Leviathan was more than a match for a carrier. The Crown had been lost to a Leviathan in the first months of the war. Since then, the fleet had avoided contact with those Chitin craft.

“Where do you think we’re going?” Torent stepped back. “I heard some crewmen say we are heading to Zelos.”

“The Chit home world?” Jack took one last look at the Monarch. “I hope not. We wouldn’t last two minutes, and we’d need ten times the ships.”

Torent walked over to Jack. “Can we beat them, Jack?”

Jack sensed the anxiety in Torent’s voice. Placing a hand on his friend’s shoulder, Jack looked him in the eye. “I don’t know, Sam. I know they won’t beat us.”

Torent looked out of the porthole again. “The carrier, destroyers, corvettes, Marines… Wherever we are going, it’s going to be a kravin big fight.”

“We’ll do our job, Sam.” Jack pulled Torent away from the porthole. “Let’s get out of here. We’ll get our fight soon enough. No need to think about it now.”

15

The mess hall was full, with every seat taken by members of Scorpio Battalion and the ship’s crewmen and women. Jack and Torent picked their way through the crowd toward the familiar faces of Cobra Company and 6th squad.

The room was filled with the smells of fresh cooked meat and fried roots. The tables were covered in food and jugs of juices.

“No ration blocks today?” Jack said. He spoke to a Marine from one of the other companies. “Fresh food? Where were they hiding that?”

The Marine turned. Smiling. “They sent it over from the Monarch. Giving us a good sendoff. Can’t go into battle on a ration block.”

“Must be close to zero hour,” Torent said, grabbing a meat-filled bread roll from a stack on one table.

The food tasted good. The noise in the mess hall sounded good. Most of the battalion knew what lay in store. Most had seen action. The few new recruits who hadn’t been in combat were nervous and eager for it. There wasn’t a single new recruit who wouldn’t be a seasoned veteran after one second of actual combat against the Chits. Simulations were useful but knowing that the fight was for real sharpened the senses. It made some bold, and others afraid. Some ran into their first action with such enthusiasm that they put themselves needlessly in danger. Those who shrank from the fight and hoped the fighting would die away put their squads in danger. A steady and levelheaded approach was the only way to succeed. Victory lay in a determined, intelligent approach to the chaos of battle.

Jack sat down at a table with 6th squad. Torent was greeted warmly, his prosthetic arm a point of interest. Torent showed it off. “I’m still getting used to it,” he said.

Bubble turned to Jack. “Boss. Tell Terry. He owes me credits.”

Terry poured a cup of juice and laughed. “I’ll give them to you when we get back from the operation.”

“Great.” Bubble slumped back in his chair and rolled his eyes. “What if we don’t get back?”

Terry placed the freshly poured cup in front of Bubble. “If we both get back, I’ll give you double.”

Bubble crossed his arms over his chest and looked darkly at Terry. The two laughed. “You better come back,” Bubble said, “so I can kick your ass for being a kravin scroat.”

Terry stood up and leered darkly at Bubble. 6th squad cheered at the insult. Terry finally let his smile spread over his face and held out his arm to Bubble. Bubble took Terry’s hand and stood up. The two shook hands, smiling.

“Toast,” Torent said. He raised a cup. “To the best squad in Cobra Company.”

“Best in Scorpio Battalion,” Terry said.

“In the fleet,” Osho said.

“I’ll toast that,” Jack said. The squad knocked their cups together and drank as one.

The mess hall speaker suddenly crackled and Commander Griff’s voice spoke out. “Scorpio Battalion. Form up on the Marine deck. Parade in five minutes. That is all.”

Jack was on his feet. “Move, Sixth Squad, you heard the commander. Parade. We don’t want to be the last squad in formation.”

Jack saw the other squad leaders motivate their squads. Across the hall, Jack caught Navidi’s eye and they looked at each other for a moment. They knew they were getting ready for battle. They were getting closer by the moment. They gave each other a brief nod in acknowledgement.

“Move, move, move,” Jack shouted.

“You heard the boss, Sixth Squad,” Torent added. “Move.”

6th squad moved as a group toward the exit. Jack knew his squad. They had trained together, fought together, lived together. Now they were going into battle together. They all knew what was in store for them, noise and fury and fear and courage. Jack couldn’t pick a better squad. Whatever happened, he knew he’d be with people he trusted and respected. They were just like Jack. They were true Marines. The best in the fleet.

16

Major Cruz stood at the front of Scorpio Battalion in conversation with the three company commanders. Jack had never seen Major Cruz on the Marine deck in person before. Jack could feel the tension build inside him. The signs were there that the coming operation was going to be no minor skirmish.

Commander Griff called the battalion to attention. Major Cruz stepped up and spoke.

“For some of you, this will be your first encounter with the Chitins. Others among you have fought them before. By the time this operation is over, we will all be seasoned veterans.

“The carrier group is assembled for an operation to deny the Chitins free movement about the system. We will attack and destroy a drydock on the moon Proxis. The facility is used by Chitin Hydra craft and is also capable of servicing their Leviathan-class craft. When we have destroyed the drydock, the Chitins’ largest craft will only be able to operate from their home world.

“The fleet has assembled three destroyers for this operation. Our objective is a ground-based orbital defense battery. We will destroy this facility ahead of the main assault on the drydock itself.”

As Jack listened, he heard the determination and professionalism in the major’s voice.

“The drydock is defended by two ground-based orbital defense batteries, situated approximately three kilometers to the east and the west of the main facility. Cobra Company will assault the western battery. Boa Company will assault the eastern battery. I will lead Adder Company in the main assault on the drydock itself. The main assault will be assisted by two companies from the Pisces and Aries battalions, but this is a Scorpio Battalion operation.

“Your orders, Scorpio Battalion. First watch, you will study the battle plan. VR maps are available to you now. You will walk through your objectives and study the terrain. Second watch. You will rest. In your bunks. No drinking. No fighting. Third watch. Final battle prep, full battle readiness parade. Zero hour is at the end of third watch.

“We will deal the Chitins a debilitating blow with this assault. We will fight them. We will beat them. They will remember Scorpio Battalion. They will fear Scorpio Battalion. Do you get me?”

Jack shouted out with the entire Scorpio Battalion. He had encountered the Chitins on several occasions. He’d been in close quarters combat. He’d stood against them, full of fear and courage, yet he’d never had any reason to think the Chitins felt anything at all. But the major’s words were inspiring. Jack almost believed it.

“Sir, yes, sir,” they shouted.

Major Cruz handed the battalion over to the company commanders and left the Marine deck.

The commanders stood before their companies and reiterated the major’s orders for the next twenty-four hours and then dismissed them.

Commander Griff walked over to 6th squad as they fell out of parade formation.

“Torent,” he called as he approached. “You are supposed to be in med bay.”

Jack and Torent saluted the commander. Jack noticed Torent had complete control over his prosthetic arm.

“Sir,” Torent said, “I feel great. I don’t want to miss out on the operation, sir.”

“I wish I had a dozen like you, Torent,” Griff said. “What do you think, Forge? Have you got room for another Marine in sixth squad?”

“Sir, Sam’s one of the best Marines I’ve ever fought with.”

“So that’s a yes, is it?”

“Yes, sir.”

Griff clasped his hands behind his back. “Okay. I’ll inform medical that you are fit. Report to your squad leader at the top of first watch.”

Jack and Torent walked off the Marine deck.

“I knew we were getting ready for a big operation,” Torent said. “Let’s get down to the mess hall. I bet there’s some beer going around.”

“Beer? I don’t think so, Sam. Have you fired a pulse rifle with your new arm yet?”

Torent held out his arm, the black composite sinews twisting and stretching over each other. “It’ll be fine.”

“Fine isn’t good enough, Marine. You can have beer when we get back. Right now, you need a session on the firing range.”

“I’ll practice when we start on the VR training later,” Torent said.

“You will start right now, Marine.” Jack laid a hand on Torent’s shoulder. “I’m not taking a rusty Marine on this operation.”

Torent grumbled and gave in. “I guess you really are the boss now.”

“You got it, Sam. Rifle range, now. And I’m not dismissing you until you can out-score me. You get me?”

17

The hours before battle were quiet. Jack checked every part of his equipment. His pulse rifle was dismantled and cleaned. His meat suit checked and readied. He checked on his Marines. Osho was withdrawn. Terry was edgy. Bubble was nervous. Torent was quietly cheerful.

6th squad practiced the landing. The VR maps of the western battery on Proxis were studied, and Jack took 6th squad on a walk covering every centimeter of the planned route for their tactical advance.

The battery was surrounded by a trench. The trench would be filled with Chitin soldiers, but now it appeared empty. Jack jumped down into the trench and walked the perimeter. The battery was a series of four-barrel plasma accelerator cannons. They towered above the Marines, their deadly mouths open to the sky, ready to spit their devastating firepower at any ships in orbit. The site where the demolition charges were to be planted was marked on the simulation.

“Sixth squad will be carrying the explosives, high yield. Should take out these guns and make a crater big enough to land a frigate. Make sure you get clear before setting them off.”

The squad rested in their bunks after the detailed training run. Jack ordered lights out and silence. The squad didn’t complain or resist. They slept. Jack had worked them hard, and they deserved the rest. It would be the last they had until the operation was over.

With the start of third watch, the nerves began to show. Jack kept 6th squad focused on their tasks. They prepped their kits and pulled on their meat suits. They assembled with the rest of the battalion on the Marine deck. There was a buzz of excitement, and a quiet resolve. There was an eager eye on the time and the moments that passed by with a sluggishness bordering on the interminable. Soon the moment would arrive when the chatter throughout the battalion would have to stop. Soon the officers would be marching onto the Marine deck. Soon the battalion would be going into action.

18

The Carrier Group took up position in high orbit above Proxis. The gas giant, Penthus, loomed in the distance, dominating the view.

The Monarch launched its compliment of fighter craft. Dozens of highly maneuverable and deadly craft engaged the patrolling Chitin Krakens that raced to intercept. The Hydras appeared from beyond the moon’s horizon. The flotilla launched a salvo of combat drones, a dozen from each destroyer and another dozen from the Monarch. The drones raced toward the incoming Hydras, spreading out to form a curtain of devastating ordnance.

The fighters destroyed the first wave of Krakens and then moved to fill any gaps left by the combat drones. The drones took fire from the Hydras, the plasma arcs flashing across space, slicing through the drones’ light armor. Each drone lit up the dark void in a brilliant white and orange flash.

The lead Hydra was struck by a group of combat drones. The drones released their antimatter payload within a nanosecond of each other. The Hydra was crushed and tumbled out of the explosion barely in control, lurching this way and that. A squadron of fighters chased it down and finished it with a hail of kinetic rounds.

The second Hydra twisted away from the drones that picked it out as a target, desperately maneuvering to avoid destruction. The drones annihilated themselves and the Hydra. As the battle continued, another pair of drones and another Hydra was destroyed. The flanking Hydra craft maneuvered around the remaining drones and powered toward the nearest destroyer, closely followed by fighters that closed in and poured kinetic rounds into the Chitin machines.

Group Captain Li watched the destruction on the holostage of her command deck. The surprise attack was working so far, but she knew every Chitin craft within range would be forming up for a counterstrike. That strike could come at any moment.

“Send orders to the Scorpio. They can begin their landings. Let’s get this done and get out of here.”

Jack ran with 6th squad to the line of tactical landing ships. He ushered 6th squad into their boat and then followed them inside. The door closed behind him. He was buffeted about by the ungainly takeoff before he fixed himself into his alcove.

The TAC ship flew directly toward the moon’s surface. Cobra’s boats flew toward the western horizon. Only meters from the surface of Proxis, the boats turned toward their objective and raced along the moon’s surface. The craft landed roughly, and the door crashed open. Jack was out of his alcove quickly and running toward the door, calling for 6th squad to follow.

The towering defense battery was just visible on the horizon. Jack had studied the maps of the area and knew the distance exactly. If he had been without his meat suit, it would take him thirty minutes to run that distance. His meat suit would allow him to move much more swiftly. He would be on the target in less than ten, pulse rifle range in five.

TAC ships were delivering the rest of Cobra Company to the landing zone. Griff walked out of a nearby craft, his name displayed over his shoulder on Jack’s enhanced data overlay.

Commander Griff took a few steps toward the distant defense battery, then sent a message over the meat suit’s communicator and called the squad leaders to him.

Jack ran over the moon’s jagged, glassy rock and came alongside Griff.

The distant battery lit up as massive gout of plasma was blasted into space and toward the orbiting carrier group.

“That battery is doing some major damage up there,” Griff said. “We move in. Spread out, move fast. Go.”

Griff moved off at a jog. Jack called 6th Squad to him and took up a position on the right flank of the advance.

The plasma cannon belched out another glowing orb of plasma that stretched into a teardrop shape as it raced toward its orbiting target. The muzzle of the cannon recoiled with the shot, the tip glowing orange. Its glow dimmed as the muzzle cooled. The cannon extended upwards and blasted another orb.

The flash of the Chitin defense cannon lit up his faceplate, temporarily blotting out his view. Stumbling over a jagged rock, Jack lost his running rhythm, but his suit compensated and steadied him.

His meat suit’s helmet display lit up red along the left side, a warning beep sounded, and Jack was suddenly surrounded by a hail of plasma spears. They slashed across the surface of the moon in front of him and behind him. They slammed into the Marines of first squad, who were advancing on the left flank.

Jack hit the ground and turned toward the incoming fire. Plasma spears flashed out of the darkness, their light flickering over the crystalline surface.

“Chitins,” Jack heard the panicked shout over his communicator. “Fall back. Fall back.”

Jack looked up as a Marine stood and began to back away. His pulse rifle at his hip, pulse rounds blasting out wildly at max rate.

“Get down,” Jack called out. A plasma spear slammed into the Marine’s suit, sending the soldier sprawling backwards. The pulse rifle continued firing, the rounds scattering wildly.

The plasma spears fizzed all around Jack, and he turned to face the fire head-on. Lying with his head toward the fire made him a smaller target and it allowed him to try and locate the enemy.

The plasma spear fire was coming from about one hundred meters away. Jack had been on the receiving end of Chitin plasma spears before, but there was something different about it this time. The spears seemed brighter and shorter, and they came at a much faster rate.

Jack crawled toward the spears, calling out to 6th squad to follow. In front of Jack, Marines were taking cover behind any small piece of black rock they could find. The spears slashed overhead and created a dizzying, dazzling light show. The prone Marines of Cobra Company were lit by a rapid, flickering deadly light.

Commander Griff was calling into his communicator to the company. “Awaiting intel update from Scorpio now. Hold position.”

A Marine climbed up to one knee and returned fire. His squad-mate pulled him back down to the ground. Both were hit, their pulse rifles useless in lifeless hands.

The new intel from the Scorpio was delivered to each Marine. A trench system, previously undetected, lay along the axis of Cobra’s advance to the defense cannon. The Chits were operating previously unknown rapid-fire plasma spear weapons all along the edge of the trench system. Cobra had walked right into a kill zone.

“We need to take that trench,” Griff began. A Marine, dazed by the rapid-fire spears, leaped to his feet and charged. Griff called for him to wait just as a number of spears tore through his suit, sending him sprawling, lifeless, to the ground.

“Hold, Cobra.” Griff’s voice was steady and calm. “Fall back. We assault the end of the trench line and work along the trench system. On my command.”

Griff got up on one knee, firing at the Chitin trench. He called as he fired. “Go. Go. Go.”

Jack was on his feet and running, the spears ripping through the dark all around him. He heard Marines getting hit and saw some fall. The number of plasma spears around him dropped, and Jack looked toward the Chitin trench line. They would have to move fast, but Cobra could take the trench. If they rushed the western-most gun at the end of the trench line, then they would take less fire than if they assaulted the trench face on. Once the first gun was taken, Cobra could work along the trench taking one gun at a time, instead of rushing the line and taking fire from however many of the damn things the Chits had.

Torent and Osho came alongside Jack. “Where’s the rest of Sixth?” he asked.

Osho pointed back with her rifle. “Terry took a spear. Bubble was dragging him.”

Jack opened a communicator channel to Bubble. Jack heard Bubble panting and mumbling and crying. “Report, Marine,” Jack said firmly.

“Terry’s hit.” Bubble’s voice was cracking under the pressure. “He’s out. I’ve got him. I’m falling back to the TAC boats.”

Jack scanned back along the kill zone in front of the trench and saw Marines scurrying back, crawling on their bellies to avoid the spears that slashed overhead or running in stooped positions.

“Commander Griff, come in, sir,” Jack called over the company channel. “Commander, come in.”

“I saw him firing,” Osho said. “He was giving fire, dropping to the ground, relocating, and then firing again.”

Jack scanned the kill zone. The Marines each had their identity tag displayed over them. He couldn’t see Griff.

Cobra needed to advance and Jack was in place to take them forward. He put out a company command. “We are going to assault that first rapid-fire plasma spear embankment, that kravin spitz gun. Rapid advance, fire and maneuver. Speed is the key, Marines. Let’s go.”

Jack was up and running toward the western-most point of the trench. The Chit spitz gun started up. Jack dropped to the ground and gave fire. Torent on one side, Osho on the other. Jack watched as remnants of 2nd and 3rd squad raced by. They dropped to the ground and laid down sustained fire. That was Jack’s invitation to get up and run. He was joined by members of 1st and 4th. They advanced another ten meters before dropping and laying down a heavy round of suppressive fire.

A lone 5th squad Marine ran forward with the remnants of 2nd and 3rd. They dropped, gave fire, and let Jack race forward again.

Now the fire from the spitz gun was coming from close range. Spears of deadly light flashed through the darkness, lighting up the shining shards of rock and the Marines with their busy pulse rifles.

Jack lay behind a very low ridge. It was not much of a defensive wall, but it would do for a moment to catch his breath. He fired blind, rifle over his head, pointing over the small rocky ridge toward the Chitin line. The next wave of Marines came up and ran onwards toward the Chits.

Jack was getting ready to get to his feet, listening for the call from the forward fire team. A Marine dropped heavily to the ground next to him. The whimpering and spluttering from the Marine could only mean one thing: Bubble was back in the fight.

“Bubs, where’s Terry?”

The fractured voice was just clear enough for Jack to understand. “He’s wounded. His suit is giving first aid and taking care of him. He needs evac, boss. Commander Griff is wounded too. His communicator is knocked out and he’s supervising an evac point for the wounded.”

Jack looked back. Somewhere in the darkness was the commander and a bunch of wounded Marines. The Chitin fire had taken them by surprise and Jack knew many of Cobra Company were lost. They had already been undermanned, and now Jack wondered if they would have enough to take their objective.

“You okay?” Jack asked Bubble.

Bubble replied with a whimper.

“Good, let’s go.”

Jack climbed to his feet and charged forward, firing as he went. A spear sliced past Jack’s helmet, the flash temporarily blinding his right eye. He blinked and tried to restore vision. And then he saw, illuminated by the flashes, the rapid-fire plasma spear gun.

The spitz gun was mounted on a rotating base. Four spear launchers, much like the Chit soldier’s weapon, were mounted in two rows of two. A Chitin soldier stood behind it, turning it across the field of fire. Spears blasted from each launcher in a near constant stream.

Firing his pulse rifle at the mounted spitz gun, Jack advanced. The Chitin soldier turned the four launchers toward him as he came ever closer. The Marines rushed the gun, all firing. The Chitin fell away from the device. The gun went silent and fell into the darkness. The next gun along the trench was turned toward Cobra Company and spat out a fierce, flashing spread of spears. The spears exploded onto the glassy rock surface, spitting shards of rock from the impact. Jack tumbled forward, rolled over his shoulder, and dropped into the trench.

19

Pretorius watched the battle unfold on the holostage. Cobra was advancing slowly and had infiltrated a network of trenches defended by what the Marines were calling ‘spitz guns.’ They were defending the approach to the ground-based orbital defense battery and had slowed the Marine advance to a crawl. Boa was pinned down by a heavy fire from a similar trench and spitz gun network.

The main assault on the drydock was also advancing slowly. Too slowly, Pretorius thought. Major Cruz was halting the advance and sending scouts ahead to check for the spitz guns that Cobra and Boa had reported. Pretorius was a cautious leader himself, but he knew hesitation was as dangerous as recklessness. Cruz needed to go forward.

“Captain,” Commander Chou said. “Group Captain Li sent a fire order. A corvette scout has detected a swarm of Krakens incoming. They have Hydras with them. We are ordered to coordinate with the Pisces and the Aries and engage the Hydras. The fighters will handle the Krakens.”

Pretorius swapped the holostage view from the ground assault to the ships around Proxis. The distant swarm was closing in fast. A hundred Krakens with four Hydras in support.

“Bring the starboard battery to bear on the lead Hydra. Bring the laser coils to full power. Open fire when they are in range.”

Pretorius watched the mass of Chitin craft closing in. Aries and Pisces closed formation with the Scorpio.

“Open a channel to the Pisces and the Aries, Mister Chou.” Pretorius tugged his cuffs.

The images of Captains Baskin and Lauafa appeared on the fringe of the holostage. Pretorius kept his eyes on the image of the Chitin craft racing toward them.

“Captains, these Hydras are tough bastards, and we don’t have room for a hit and run battle here. We need to take them head-on. Concentrate fire on the lead craft. That’ll leave us one each. Take the nearest to you and kill it.” Pretorius glanced at his fellow captains.

“Agreed,” Lauafa said.

“Good luck,” Baskin added.

The Scorpio’s starboard batteries opened fire first and set a high-density field of kinetic shot on the approach vector for the lead Hydra. The Chitin craft, approaching in swarm formation, maneuvered around the deadly field. Several squadrons of fighters swooped in and ripped into the Chitin swarm, their forward lasers slamming into one Kraken after another, flank cannons flickering against the black backdrop of space.

The first Hydra to avoid the curtain of kinetic shot came into range of the Scorpio’s laser. The entire assembly on the upper and lower hulls burst to life. The laser connected with the first Hydra and the Chitin craft glowed under the assault. The lasers from the Aries and Pisces lit up and slammed into the Hydra, adding their power to the attack. The Hydra activated its focused plasma arc. It flickered across the space, twisting this way and that in a dazzling fiery arc, finally slamming into the upper port side of the Pisces, throwing up a shower of debris and fire.

The Pisces laser lost power, its beam dimming from a bright orange to a dull brown before terminating altogether.

The Hydra’s focused plasma arc activated a second time, briefly flicking toward the Pisces again before the Chitin craft gave in to the punishment from the laser assault. The composite shell cracked and the craft fell apart.

“Good shooting, sir,” Mr. Chou said excitedly.

“Target the closest Hydra. Hit them with everything we’ve got, Mister Chou.”

“Yes, sir,” Chou said excitedly. “Opening fire on them now, sir. Laser at full power. High-density shot cannon ready to fire. Giving them a salvo of high ex, sir.”

Pretorius watched the images from the battle flickering over the holostage. The Pisces was falling back to the cover of the Monarch’s guns. The Aries was slamming all its laser power into its target Hydra. It took a hit from a plasma arc and the upper hull assembly went dark. A moment later, the Hydra attacking it was destroyed in a brilliant flash.

Pretorius was suddenly thrown into the holostage. The lights on the command deck flickered and the holoimage blinked off for a moment before coming back to life.

“We’re hit, Captain.” Chou moved around the holostage and tapped on a damage control console. “We’ve lost one cannon from the starboard battery. The battery is still operational. Laser still active.”

“Keep firing. Everything we’ve got, Mister Chou.”

Pretorius watched with satisfaction as the Hydra that had hit them was destroyed, the Scorpio’s high ex salvo making contact and destroying the Hydra, already weakened by a sustained laser assault.

“Target the final Hydra and fire.” Pretorius watched as the Chitins came even closer. The Krakens were in a dogfight with the fighters from the Monarch, and several Krakens were chasing the limping Pisces. The Aries was firing on the last remaining Hydra, but was about to be attacked by a dozen Krakens.

“The Aries,” Chou said. “We should assist.”

“The Chitins are in too close to the Aries for us to give fire, Mister Chou.”

“Why aren’t they firing at the Aries?” Chou asked.

“They don’t want to destroy her.” Pretorius watched as the Krakens moved in, chased by a squadron of fighters. The Krakens attached themselves to the hull of the Aries.

“Send a message to the Aries, Mister Chou. Let the captain know they are being boarded.”

20

The trench was as deadly as the open ground it protected. Every twist brought the danger of running into a mass of Chitin soldiers. The spitz gun kept spitting out the flashing plasma spears that went slashing overhead. The Marines advanced, heads down.

Jack turned a corner and opened fire. The Chitin soldier waiting there was thrown backwards, staggering and stumbling under the pulse rifle fire. Another Marine stepped up next to Jack and added fire. The Chit fell. Dead.

“Keep moving.” Jack ran along the trench and leapt over the fallen Chit. A plasma spear flashed by his head and slammed into the tip of the trench just a few centimeters from his head. “Keep moving,” he shouted again.

A Marine from 2nd squad caught up with Jack and ran ahead. The 2nd squad Marine shouted into his communicator. “Keep moving. Keep moving.” He ran around the next bend. Jack followed.

A spitz gun positioned in the trench filled the narrow trench with plasma spears. The 2nd squad Marine in front of Jack was thrown backwards, his suit blasted apart as the spears struck home. Jack frantically stumbled back and took cover around the corner.

“Hold,” Jack shouted. He held his hand in the signal for a halt, palm flat, fingers pointing upwards. “Hold,” he repeated.

The fire from the spitz gun stopped. Jack reached out for the fallen Marine to pull him back and out of the way. The spitz gun fired up immediately as Jack’s hand came around the corner.

Navidi came forward along the line of Marines in the trench. “What’s the holdup?” He crouched next to Jack.

“Spitz gun,” Jack said. “They’ve put it in the trench. There’s no way we can take it head-on.”

A Marine sitting behind Navidi held out an antimatter charge. “Set a short fuse and throw this,” he said, eager to move forward.

“No,” Navidi shouted and pushed the Marine and the charge back.

“That’ll take out the spitz gun alright, and annihilate the rest of us too. Put it away until we get to the defense battery.”

Jack glanced up to the rim of the trench, then looked down to Navidi. They nodded at each other.

“It’s the only way,” Jack said. He signaled his squad to him.

“I’ll go left,” Navidi said.

“I’ll go right.”

Jack gave his orders over the squad channel. Navidi did the same. Then Jack looked at Navidi.

“On three?” Navidi said.

And then together, Jack and Navidi counted to three.

Jack clambered out of the trench. Immediately, the spitz fire from along the trench flashed across the surface. The Chit fire team that had positioned the spitz gun in the trench were hastily trying to elevate the launchers to fire at the Marines that came at them from either side. They were too slow.

Jack fired into the trench as he advanced. The Marines on either side poured their fire and fury onto the Chit gun. The soldiers returned fire with their own plasma spear weapons, but were quickly overcome by the determined Marine assault.

Jack dropped back into the trench next to the spitz gun. He prodded it with his rifle.

“Can we turn it against them?” a Marine asked.

“No.” Jack turned away from the abandoned gun and looked toward their main objective—the massive defense battery. It fired another blast into space.

“Why can’t we use it?” A Marine picked up the spitz gun and tugged at what looked like the controls. “Why can’t we fire it?”

“We need a Chit suit, probably. I don’t know. All I know is we have to destroy that defensive gun, and quick.”

The Marines ran along the trench, blindly firing around corners and keeping their heads down. Jack took a knee at one dogleg in the trench and took a sneak peek. It was the end of the trench system. They were so close to the main objective. It was time for them to do what they’d set out to do.

The ground-based defensive cannon was set in a deep trench of its own. No doubt there would be more Chits defending the cannon, and more spitz guns too. There was a hundred meters of open ground to cover to the trench around the massive series of defense cannons.

The battling advance along the trench had been fast, but it had been slow enough for the straggling Marines to catch up. Jack and Navidi caught their breath.

“Speed is the key,” Navidi said.

“We’re quick or we’re dead,” Jack agreed. He peeked over the edge of the trench toward the battery. He half-expected to come under fire right away. There was only the darkness and the gas giant Penthus glowing brown and orange in the black of space.

“Maybe they’ve gone back to Zelos?” Navidi said. He checked that his pulse rifle was loaded and powered.

“Maybe,” Jack agreed.

“Maybe we should just throw these antimatter charges over and into that deep trench around the battery?” Navidi said.

“No,” Jack said disappointedly. “We have to lay them at intervals around the base. We won’t be sure to destroy the guns otherwise.”

“Do you always have to be right?” Navidi asked, taking a quick look over the edge of the trench.

“All right, Marines. This is what we came to do,” Jack called back to the mass of Marines. He could see there were members of every squad of Cobra Company. He was pleased to see Torent alongside Osho and Bubble, waiting for their orders with the rest of Cobra. “Move in hard and fast. Fire at anything with tentacles. When you get in the battery trench, wait for command.” Jack turned to Navidi. “Electron bayonets?” Jack fired up his EB.

“Do you want them to see us coming?” Navidi replied.

Jack realized the burning EBs would light up each Marine in the dark and make them much easier targets, so he powered it down.

“Guess I’m not right all the time,” he said to Navidi, then turned to the Marines of Cobra Company. “Quickly, quietly. See you at the battery. Go.”

Jack climbed over the side of the trench and began running toward the massive battery.

Then the spitz guns opened fire.

A fighter came racing in low. With incredible speed, its forward laser sliced through the glassy rock and the trench, throwing up rock and Chits and the broken fragments of their spitz guns.

“We’re open for business, Cobra.” Jack raced on. He felt alone. He feared he was the last survivor of Cobra. Then Osho caught up, the only Marine who could match Jack for speed. The two jumped into the trench around the massive defense battery together.

The charred remains of Chitin soldiers littered the deep trench. The fighter’s laser had cut and fried them in seconds. Jack skirted around the battery’s wide curved outer wall, looking for any nearby Chitins. The rest of Cobra Company dropped into the trench. Jack marshaled them to order.

Navidi took a team to clear the trench in one direction while Jack led a team in the other.

“Lay an antimatter charge every ten meters. And make sure we don’t fire on each other when we meet up on the other side,” Jack said.

The other battery, far away to the east, fired another massive gout of plasma. It raced away into space toward the distance craft. Jack could see the flashes of light far overhead that marked the battle going on in orbit. Jack knew that Boa hadn’t completed their objective yet.

Jack fought his way around the defensive battery, dropping Chits as he went, then met up with Navidi and the rest of Cobra on the far side. Jack looked up at the massive barrels of the orbital defense battery. It hadn’t fired since they’d taken the trench around it.

“Looks like we’ve chased them all away,” Navidi said.

“Looks that way.” Jack leaned against the curved composite wall of the battery’s base. He noticed a small groove in an arch shape.

“We better clear out and detonate these charges,” Navidi said. “We need to get at least a kilometer away or we’ll be blasted along with it.”

Jack pressed his fingers into the groove he’d found. The composite moved and slid aside to reveal a gently sloping ramp.

The Marines took a step back in surprise. Jack looked inside.

Navidi stepped up next to Jack. “Do you want to throw a few charges down there as well?” He grabbed one out of a pocket on his suit.

Jack glanced over to the far-eastern battery as another blast of plasma was fired toward the carrier group above.

“Why are they still firing?” Jack asked out loud.

“Because Boa company hasn’t finished them off,” Navidi replied. “Now let’s get out of here and blow this thing.”

Jack looked into the dark space inside the opening. Maybe, he thought, the defense battery was connected to the drydock by this underground access.

“If we destroy this western battery,” Jack said, looking up at the massive barrels above him, “but the main assault fails, we’ve lost.”

“Don’t worry about the main assault,” Navidi said. “Let Major Cruz worry about that. Let’s just worry about getting out of here.”

“I’m going to check out this tunnel,” Jack said.

“Easy, Jack,” Navidi said. “That’s off mission. “You might be a squad leader, but they’ll still thrash you for going off mission.”

“Our mission is to defeat the Chits, right?”

“They told me you were a rebellious scroat,” Navidi said.

Jack looked deeper inside and then took a step into the tunnel. “Stay here,” Jack said to Navidi. “If I’m wrong, then this tunnel goes nowhere. If I get caught, trapped or killed, you need to blow this battery. Get me?”

“You can’t go alone,” Navidi said. “But you can’t order anyone to go off mission.”

“I’ll go.” Bubble stepped forward, his voice cracking in fear, tears only a second away.

“You can’t take that coward with you,” a 4th squad Marine said, laughing at the idiocy of Jack taking a Marine who was constantly in a state of distress.

“He’s no coward,” Jack said forcefully, turning on the insolent Marine.

“But he’s crying all the time. He’s afraid all the kravin time,” the Marine retorted.

“I know, he’s wracked by fear,” Jack said, “and still, he goes forward. Still, he stands alongside his squad-mates and he fights. He is afraid and he goes forward anyway. He’s a real Marine. He’s probably the bravest Marine here,” Jack said, squaring off against the 4th squad Marine.

“I’ll go too,” Osho said, placing a hand on Bubble’s shoulder.

“And you’ll only get in trouble if I don’t go along,” Sam Torent said.

Three other Marines stepped forward and volunteered for the new mission, to delve into the dark with Jack and follow the squad leader’s hunch that the tunnel led to the drydock.

The massive bolt of plasma from the eastern defense battery and the flickering light of the spitz guns around the drydock itself told the Marines all they needed to know—the main assault was stalling, and so was the eastern assault. Only Cobra had completed their objective.

“It’s not enough that we succeed,” Jack said, stepping inside the archway. “The whole mission has to succeed, or we all fail. Don’t let them retake this position, Navidi,” Jack said.

He stepped into the dark.

21

The commander of the Corvette looked out of the small forward viewing port on the command deck of his ship. He was stationed on the outer edge of the Penthus System. The Corvette was rigged for silent running and the scanners were listening on full sensitivity for the approach of any Chitin craft rushing to the battle of the Proxis Drydock. The distant flashes of light showed him where the battle was taking place, but from this distance, he couldn’t make out details. He stepped over to his holostage and accessed the latest reports.

The Monarch and her support destroyers were taking ground fire from one of the defensive batteries, but the ships were staying out of range. The assault on the eastern battery was stalled, reportedly pinned down by heavy plasma spear fire. The main assault on the drydock was stalling, and an extra company from the Pisces was being readied to support the main assault.

“They have to take out that eastern defensive battery so the destroyers can give orbital support,” the commander said to himself.

“Commander,” a young officer called out, “I’m receiving a transmission, sir. It’s coming from the outer moon. It’s coming from Kratos, sir.”

“There’s no one on Kratos,” the commander said. “The only action is on Proxis.”

“Signal from Kratos confirmed, sir. It’s a distress call and it’s coming from the moon’s surface.”

“We are supposed to be on communication silence out here. If we respond, we’ll give away our position.” The commander tapped the console on the edge of his holostage. He accessed the transmission.

An image of two Marines came on the holostage. One was kneeling, while the other was laying on the ground.

“This is Commander Finch,” the kneeling Marine was saying. “I’m stranded on Kratos. Request evac ASAP. Anyone receiving this transmission respond immediately. This Marine is injured. We are both in need of medical attention. Please, if you can hear this, send help.”

The message flickered and repeated. The Corvette commander stepped back from the holostage. If he responded, he would give away his position. If he requested advice from the Monarch, he would give away his position. If he launched a rescue boat, he would give away his position.

“How old is that message?” the commander asked.

“It was re-sent a few hours ago, but the first transmission was sent days ago. They could be dead by now, sir,” the young officer replied.

The commander looked through the view port at the distant battle.

“Launch the rescue boat and inform the Monarch we are picking up two stranded Marines.”

The commander watched the rescue boat speed away from the Corvette and down to the surface of the nearby moon. He watched the sensor display nervously. After what seemed like hours of waiting, the young officer reported that the boat had touched down.

“The Marines have been picked up, sir. The rescue boat is taking off. They are on their way back to the ship now, sir.”

Then the commander saw the smallest reflector signal on his extended range scanner system.

“There,” he called. “Focus all scanners on that point.”

The scanners zeroed in and the holostage displayed what had been detected.

“It’s a Kraken, sir. Incoming at high speed. Strike that, sir. Five krakens. Five of the bastards,” the young officer babbled.

“Stow that cursing on my deck,” the commander said. “Power to the weapons. Open the landing bay and let’s get the rescue boat on board.”

The commander watched the holostage as the five Krakens closed the distance quickly. The rescue boat seemed to move sluggishly, even though he’d ordered the boat’s pilot to push it to its limit. The boat reached the landing bay. The doors closed.

“Full power to the drive,” the commander said. The Krakens came closer as the Corvette powered up its drive. The Corvette was faster than any Chitin craft, but its acceleration was limited. The craft was designed for long-distance, system-wide reconnaissance. Speed was important but acceleration was not, not during usual operations.

“The Chits are coming into weapons range,” the weapons officer reported. “Shall I give fire, sir?”

The commander watched the holostage.

“Chits are firing, sir.”

The image of the plasma arc slashing out from the lead Kraken flicked over the holostage. The arc came within a whisker of the Corvette’s engine assembly.

“We’re pulling away,” the drive officer reported. “We’re pulling away, sir.”

The command deck erupted in jubilant shouts as the holostage showed the Corvette increase the distance between it and the pursuing craft.

“Send a message to the Monarch. Inform them we’ve been detected and are returning to home space.” The commander watched the Krakens give up the chase. “Who is this Commander Finch,” he said to himself. “I hope I haven’t made a mistake rescuing him.”

The commander stepped away from the holostage and walked toward the exit. “I’m going to welcome our guests aboard.”

22

Group Captain Li looked at the holostage on the Monarch’s command deck. The battle was failing. The main assault on the drydock was stalled, and the fresh company from the Pisces wasn’t making any impact. In fact, the extra numbers seemed to hamper the assault. The Marines were too densely packed on the battlefield and the rapid-fire spitz guns were keeping everyone pinned.

If the eastern battery would stop firing, Li knew she could move her destroyers in and give close orbital support to the main assault. But the data on the plasma cannon showed it was capable of breaking a destroyer in two with one perfectly aimed shot. Li didn’t know how many shots the Chits would need to deliver a perfectly aimed one, but she couldn’t risk losing a destroyer. It would risk the entire Fleet if just one destroyer was lost.

And it looked as if she was about to lose one destroyer. The Aries was covered in Krakens, with twenty attached to her hull. As many as two hundred Chitin soldiers could be boarding the Aries. Captain Lauafa had informed Li that she had deployed her reserve Marines throughout the ship and sealed off the drive room and command deck. The Aries could remain operational and stay in the battle even with so many Chits on board. Whether the Aries could survive much longer afterwards was another story.

The fire report came in. The Monarch’s attempted bombardment of the drydock with its kinetic shot cannon was ineffective, the ordnance was being prevented from reaching the surface by Chitin craft positioning themselves in front of the Monarch’s fire, sacrificing themselves to protect the drydock.

“At least we know it’s important to them,” she said to herself. “They really want to keep that drydock operational. Krav it,” she exploded. She brought her fists down on the holostage. “I want that eastern defensive battery out of action so I can move my destroyers in. Send another company to support the eastern assault, and message Commander Griff. Tell him I want Cobra Company to move to support the main assault.”

23

The tunnel stretched into the darkness. Jack sent a micro drone ahead to scout the area. The data was relayed back to his meat suit and a path was revealed by the enhanced data overlay on his helmet.

The tunnel stretched forward in a perfectly straight line. The micro drone finally showed him that the tunnel ended at a small arch, much like the one he’d entered through.

Jack and his handful of Marines jogged forward in silence. He brought them to a halt just before the arch. Jack risked a look, then took a step forward. The tunnel led into a vast, dark space. Curved composite walls stretched away on either side to form a wide circle. It was the base of the Chitin drydock. The diameter was close to three hundred meters. Above their heads, the space was filled with a network of composite gantries. Jack could make out the shape of several Chitin craft, a mixture of Kraken and Hydra. They were glowing with the telltale signs of being powered up and readied for action. Scurrying over them and the gantries between, Jack could discern the figures of Chitin soldiers, tiny at this distance but deadly enough should Jack and his Marines be discovered.

“Why aren’t they attacking?” Bubble asked nervously.

“Too busy serving those ships.” Jack stepped back into the tunnel with his Marines. “Probably about to launch their craft to attack the carrier group.”

The small group all looked expectantly at Jack. They wanted their orders and expected Jack to give them. But Jack was making this up as he went along. However, their task was clear: destroy the drydock.

“Okay, Marines, we have a chance to knock out this entire facility with one blow. We lay our antimatter charges quietly around the perimeter and scamper back to Navidi and the others. We can destroy this facility, and maybe save a few Marines engaged in the main assault.”

They each grabbed a charge and got ready to carry out Jack’s plan.

“Jack,” Navidi’s voice came over the helmet communicator. “I’ve got orders from Commander Griff. Cobra is to relocate and support the main assault. I can’t hold this position anymore.”

Jack understood what Navidi was saying. He would have to detonate his explosives and destroy the western defensive battery.

“Copy that,” Jack said. “Get clear and get it done. Blow that damn gun and get out of there. Good luck.”

“We’re already moving. Good luck to you too, Jack.”

Jack looked at his team. Behind every faceplate was a stern countenance. They knew that with the destruction of the defense battery, their escape route would be destroyed too. They were stuck, unless they could battle their way past hundreds of Chitin soldiers and the spacecraft being prepared for battle.

“Marines,” Jack said. “We have to lay these charges. We can accomplish the main goal of this assault and destroy this drydock. If we destroy this dock, we deliver a huge blow to the Chits. It could be the turning point in this war.”

The Marines nodded in agreement. The drydock had to be destroyed. They were there and in a position to end the battle.

“Maybe we can climb out,” Bubble said, his voice calm and steady. “We might make it.”

“I have a hunch,” Jack said. “On the other side of this dock, we’ll find another tunnel just like this one that will lead us to the eastern cannon.”

The Marines nodded and Jack sensed the rising confidence.

“Now, the eastern cannon is still defended. Boa Company must be pinned down by some of those spitz guns. We’ll have to come out fighting on the other side.”

The Marines all nodded again. They each pulled out an antimatter charge and prepared for action.

“Sam.” Jack put his hand on Torent’s shoulder. “Maybe you should have stayed in the med bay.”

“What, and miss all this?”

“Take three Marines along the left. Lay the charges evenly around the left perimeter. I’ll do the same on the right. Osho, Bubs, you’re with me.”

“Yes, boss,” Torent said.

“We’ll meet at the arch on the other side. Quickly and quietly now, Marines. Those Chits up there look busy. Let’s not alert them to our presence.” Jack pulled out an antimatter charge. “Go.” His order was simple and direct. The group of Marines moved out of the tunnel and into the massive drydock, moving low, quiet, and fast.

Osho laid the first charge after a few dozen meters. Bubble laid the next with a nervous glance upwards. Jack moved quickly and laid the next, tucking it up against the curved composite and the smooth, flat ground surface. They went on in the same manner until they reached the far side. Torent and his team came moving out of the darkness toward his position. Jack searched across the wall for the arch. He found the opening to the dark tunnel beyond.

Jack waved the Marines into the tunnel. When the last was running into the darkness, Jack stepped inside. He took one last look up through the crossed gantries and checked out the Chitin soldiers still crawling over the Chitin craft. He could only hope they hadn’t been detected.

Then Jack felt a massive explosion. The destruction of the western battery was complete. Cobra Company had achieved their objective, and now Jack had to make sure the battle was won. He had to destroy the drydock.

As he stepped through the arch, he noticed the Chits in the gantry moving rapidly downwards. They swung down, their tentacles allowing them to move in huge swinging bounds. Time was going to be short. He would detonate those charges at the base of the dock rather than fail. He’d come this far. Now he would do nothing else but win, even if it cost him his life.

Jack headed into the tunnel and ran. He trusted his instinct and ran into the darkness.

The tunnel began to climb upward after a long run. The Marines were feeling the burn. Jack ran on and overtook his group of Marines. He reached the wall at the end of the tunnel and searched for the arch. Jack had a worrying thought that maybe the groove that formed the arch was only on the outside. He felt around, growing more and more frantic. And then his fingers found it. He pressed and pulled and hoped the arch would open.

The rest of the group came running up, breathing heavily, and they stood behind Jack as he tried to get the arch to open.

Osho came alongside Jack. “Bubble fell behind, boss,” she said.

“He never could run,” Jack said as he pressed at the groove. “We can’t wait for him.”

The data from the micro drone showed Jack that Bubble was a few hundred meters away. Even an exhausted Bubble could make that distance in a short time.

Jack felt the groove give way under his fingers. The arch began to open. His heart beat hard in his chest. On the other side of this door was the orbital defense battery crew. The Chits would attack as soon as the arch slid open.

“Ready, Marines,” Jack called as the arch slowly slid open.

A Chitin plasma spear flashed into the dark from outside as the arch slid open. It slammed into the helmet of a Marine standing behind Jack. Jack and the surviving Marines poured fire from their pulse rifles into the Chit and it fell away, tentacles thrashing. The next Chitin came and fell to the pulse rifles before it could launch a plasma spear.

“Move as one. Go. Go. Go.” Jack ran out into the wide, deep trench around the defensive battery. Bubble came panting to the archway, his pulse rife rattling a rapid fire into a Chit coming to the top edge.

“Sweep the trench,” Jack shouted. He ran forward, firing at each new Chit he came upon. He fired up his electron bayonet. The element of surprise was gone. All he could trust in now was speed and commitment. He rushed the next Chitin soldier and sliced through its smooth back shell with his EB, pouring fire at the next.

Osho came alongside Jack and gave fire, putting another Chitin soldier down.

“Boss, boss!” Bubble shouted. “They’re coming along the corridor. They’re coming up behind us!”

Jack checked the data from the micro drone still in the tunnel. Dozens and dozens of Chits were scurrying along the corridor floor and walls, pressing past and over each other in a frantic dash through the corridor.

“Set the charges to destroy this battery,” Jack called. He pulled his last antimatter charge from a pocket.

“I’m all out, boss,” Osho said. She fired at a Chitin soldier who came scurrying around the curved edge of the battery.

The Marines all reported that they were out of antimatter charges. “Did no one think to save some for this gun?” Jack called out, but he knew as long as the drydock was destroyed then the mission would be complete.

The Chits in the corridor were coming ever closer. Jack knew he only had a moment before they came pouring out and into the trench around the eastern battery. Jack looked over the edge to the battlefield beyond. As he suspected, there was a defensive trench system with spitz guns all along it. The spitz guns were firing into the distance. Jack grabbed his field scanner and looked at the guns’ targets. It was Boa Company. They were pinned down, and some Marines were falling back.

“Boss,” Osho called out. “They are nearly here. What’s the plan?”

“We’re going to attack that defensive trench and take the pressure off Boa.” Jack checked that his rifle was ready for the next charge across open ground.

“We’re only six Marines,” Osho said.

“So make every shot count. We can’t stay here. I’m going to blow the drydock. Go, go, go!”

Jack scrambled out of the trench. He lobbed the last antimatter charge through the archway and started running toward the eastern defensive trench. The Chits in the trench were so focused on giving fire to Boa Company that they were not aware of the small squad rushing at them.

Jack accessed the detonator codes. He needed to get his Marines to a safe distance before he could detonate the charges. He set a dead man’s trigger on the detonators just in case he was killed. He wasn’t going to let a little thing like his own death prevent him from setting off the charges and destroying that drydock.

He ran as fast as he could. He loved running. Even now, fatigued and anxious, he still loved running. If he had to die here, at least he would be enjoying his last run. He knew the drydock would be destroyed and the battle won, even if he was killed, so he put his head down and ran.

24

Group Captain Li watched the holostage and the bitter realization that the battle was lost crept over her. The main assault had stalled. The reinforcements had taken massive casualties before the TAC boats had even landed on the moon. The Marines still pressing forward toward the drydock were encountering heavy resistance.

The assault on the eastern battery had failed. Boa company had taken heavy losses and had lost battle effectiveness. The destroyers had wasted munitions on a failed, sustained long-range bombardment of the eastern cannon and the drydock facility.

Li wasn’t going to send in more Marines to die in a hopeless cause. She considered a frontal assault with the Monarch leading the charge. The destroyers and the monarch could move in and lay down a barrage that could swing the battle, but she knew her carrier group would take losses. The fleet could not afford to lose a destroyer, much less a carrier. If she could win a victory with a heroic charge, it would be a hollow victory at best, and could even result in a massive defeat. To turn a battle capable of crippling the Chitins into a crippling defeat for humanity would be the worst act of treachery from any serving captain in the fleet. Li might get demoted, sacked, or even flogged for retreating now, but she could be executed for treachery.

“Sound the recall. All Marines retreat to the closest Destroyer. All ships, prepare for full retreat to home space.” Li leaned heavily on the holostage. She reached up to her shoulder and grabbed hold of her group captain pips. She should pull them off right now, she thought. She should do it. But the group still needed a commander, at last until they got back to home space. Then she would remove them.

How did the battle go so wrong? She thought back over all the planning. All the intelligence she had gathered. The plan had been good. They had been assured victory. The Chits were just too hard to beat. The Marines had gone in with a huge force, but it wasn’t enough.

Maybe the Chits had too many soldiers. And they were reckless. They had sacrificed themselves to stop the fire from the destroyers hitting their intended targets. How could they fight an enemy that was so ready to throw themselves at danger and certain destruction? The Marines were brave and tough, but they didn’t give themselves over to the enemy like the Chits seemed to do. Li looked at the holoimage of the Marine companies on the surface. None seemed to be moving. She’d ordered the retreat. They should have started back by now.

“Why aren’t the Marines falling back?” she asked. “They need to get out of there right now.”

“Group Captain,” a command deck officer called out in a worried voice. “Chitin Leviathan detected, sir. It’s on an intercept course.”

Li looked at the failed battle on the moon. The Leviathan would be on them too soon for her to make an effective evacuation of the moon, not with all that Chit activity.

Li opened a channel to her destroyer captains.

“Captains. The battle is lost,” she said as matter-of-factly as possible. “There is a Leviathan incoming. We must withdraw immediately. It’s my call. We must save the ships.”

Captain Lauafa spoke up. “I’m overrun with Chits, Group Captain. If I can’t recover the rest of my battalion, I’ll lose the Aries. They already occupy most of the ship.”

“The battle is lost, Captain,” Li replied. “The battalions are lost.”

“I might not be able to save the Aries, sir, but I might be able to save the battle.” Lauafa stood up straight, her holoimage flickering. “Request permission to ram the drydock, sir.”

“Request denied, Captain,” Li said harshly. “You will do what you can to save the Aries. We have to preserve the ships. Set your heading for Eros and make for home space with all speed on my command, is that understood?”

“Sir,” Pretorius spoke up. “The drydock. It’s blowing up from the inside.”

25

The explosion ripped through the drydock, sending up a massive blast and throwing gantries and Chitin craft fragments with it. The blast rippled through the glassy surface of Proxis, fracturing it under Jack’s feet. He ran and stumbled forward with his Marines. The blast wave from the massive antimatter explosion threw them forward and into the eastern defensive trench system.

Jack landed heavily. He felt his muscles tear in his shoulder, and his meat suit immediately administered painkillers. Jack instinctively brought up his pulse rifle, but his arm would not cooperate. His meat suit reported a right shoulder dislocation, so Jack grabbed the pulse rifle with his left.

The Chits nearby were pouring fire on B Company from their spitz guns. Jack readied himself to assault the guns. The small group of Marines came up alongside him.

“You okay, boss?” Osho asked.

Jack nodded. He felt nauseous from the pain and the painkillers.

“Look at that thing blow,” said Bubble.

The antimatter explosion in the drydock was blasting energy upward into space, converting kilos of matter into energy. The ground began to shake violently. Jack began to worry.

“We’re too close,” he said. “We’ll be swallowed up by the blast. We have to move. There’s only one way to go. We have to move through this trench and clear it out as we go, and we’ve got to go fast.” Jack aimed his pulse rifle with his left hand, his right useless at his side.

“You can’t fire with your left, boss,” Torent said, stepping in front of Jack. “I’ll take point. Stay behind me.”

Torent charged along the twisting trench, flashes from his pulse rifle flickering along the top edge.

“Move,” Jack shouted and sent his Marines forward. With a last glance back at the explosion, he charged after his eager squad.

As the small, mixed squad rushed forward, they took down one spitz gun after another with speed and fury. The Chits servicing the guns were distracted by the explosion and their rate of fire slackened. Jack ran behind his Marines, adding his own fire to the squad’s, dropping a Chit here and shredding another one there.

Jack looked out at B Company. With the spitz fire lessening, Boa was free to move. Jack saw figures crawling out of their small fragments of cover and getting to their feet.

“We’ve got them now,” Jack said excitedly. “B Company can start hitting them too.”

As the guns fell to Jack’s Marines, he glanced out at Boa. Then the message from the Monarch came over Jack’s communicator. It was a general retreat.

“This is Group Captain Li. Attention all ground Marines. Withdraw. Mission accomplished. Drydock destroyed. Make for nearest destroyer. Leviathan incoming. Withdraw with all haste.”

Jack slowed to a walk. His small team punched the air in celebration.

“We’ve still got to get out of here,” Jack said. “Tactical advance with speed along the trench. Watch for Chits and let’s find a TAC boat before they all take off. Go.”

Jack ran with fresh determination and enthusiasm. They beat back the remaining Chitin soldiers and cleared the trench. Climbing out, Jack looked back the way he had come. The ground was moving. Jack guessed it was the detonation disturbing the ground. He needed to get away before all was consumed in the antimatter reaction. But it was not the ground that was moving, it was a hoard of Chitin soldiers, hundreds and thousands, pouring over the black glassy surface toward Jack’s position. They would be on top of Jack in moments if he didn’t move. Not even an entire battalion could stem that flood of Chitins. Jack turned his back on the monstrous sight and ran. He ran with his demolition team, running to catch up with the retreating B Company. He ran in the hopes of finding a way off this dark and dangerous moon. He ran in pain and in hope. With the massive drydock erupting in a violent explosion behind him, he ran forward to the lights of TAC boat engines powering up.

26

The crisp sheets of the med bay bunk felt strange against Jack’s skin. A medical drone came into his cubicle and grabbed his right hand, pulling hard on his arm. The shoulder crunched back into place and sent hot flashes of pain through Jack’s neck and spine.

He yelled out. The medical drone prodded the reset shoulder, and Jack winced. The drone administered a shot to Jack’s neck and quickly left.

Jack slumped against the pillow behind him as the painkillers and sedatives kicked in. The clear composite walls of the cubicle seemed to warp and twist as Jack felt the drugs take him.

“Hey, Jacky.” Torent came alongside Jack’s bed. “Didn’t get hurt enough to get a new arm, eh, old pal?” Torent flexed his prosthetic arm in front of Jack. “Just a dislocation for you. Call that commitment?”

Jack tried to speak, but his tongue wouldn’t cooperate.

“Take it easy. Sorry to have to be the one to tell you, but Griff just made me squad leader again. Sixth Squad is mine again, old pal.” Torent tapped his badge with a finger of his prosthetic arm.

Jack couldn’t reply, but he was pleased for Torent. He was a good squad leader. He had authority and the respect of the Marines. Jack would make him squad leader if it was his decision.

“Someone wants to say hello,” Torent said. “I’ll see you later.”

Jack watched as Torent left and another person came forward. His vision was badly blurred, and he strained to see who it was. Then he felt a gentle hand on his forehead.

“Take it easy, Jack,” Reyes said. “You need to rest.”

He recognized her touch and her voice. He wanted to reach out and take her hand, but he couldn’t.

“Just rest. I’ll be here when you wake up.”

Jack looked up at her face. He struggled to keep his eyes open and fight off the sedative washing over him. After all he’d been through, all he wanted was a minute with Reyes. Hopefully when he woke, they would be safe, far from battle and the war, and he could spend hours and days with her.

Jack lost the fight to keep his eyes open and drifted off into the comfortable darkness of sleep.

Forged in Darkness

Jack Forge, Fleet Marine, Book 4

Prologue

Standing in the muster area for 6th squad, surrounded by the people he’d come to know better than any alive, Jack knew he was as close to home as he would ever get, and he didn’t want to leave.

Jack had been through the cruelest training of any squad of Marines in the history of the fleet. He had fought for his life in some of the war’s most bitter battles. Through all of it, Jack and 6th squad had lived, eaten, trained, slept, and fought together. Now Jack was being taken away from them. After all they’d been through, saying good-bye was almost too much.

“I’ll miss you guys,” Jack said, looking at the faces all around. All were smiling and happy for Jack, one of their own.

“Don’t worry,” Torent said, punching Jack hard on the upper arm, “you won’t be going far. We’ll still get to keep an eye on you.”

Jack rubbed his arm where Torent had punched him. “You get flogged for striking an officer.”

“You’re not an officer yet, Jacky.” Torent smiled and punched Jack again, good and hard.

Jack raised his fists and fixed Torent with a cold stare. Torent raised his fists and faced off with Jack. He bobbed and swayed, light on his feet, ready to dodge a punch and ready to land one of his own.

Jack let his right fist uncurl into an open palm. Torent dropped his guard and clasped Jack’s hand in his own. “I’m proud of you, Jack. Who’d have thought a soft lad like you would make it?”

6th squad moved in around the pair. Osho placed her hand over Jack and Torent’s. Bubble, Terry, and Jenks did the same. They patted Jack on the back or ruffled his hair and congratulated him before shoving him out of the door.

A new Marine, a replacement to 6th squad, stepped over to the tight group.

“Is that really Jack Forge?” the new Marine asked Torent.

Torent turned on the recruit. “You call me squad leader or boss. You get me, hayseed?” Torent barked, staring down at the young replacement.

“Sorry, squad leader,” the replacement said as he stepped away and sat with his fellow newbie.

“I’m telling you, that was Jack Forge,” he told his friend quietly.

“Jack Forge?” The friend shook his head. “I thought he was a propaganda myth.”

“That was him. Jack Forge, Scorpio Battalion, Cobra Company, Sixth Squad.”

“He doesn’t look as if he could destroy a Chitin Leviathan single handed.” The friend took a bite of a ration bar.

“You ever seen a Chitin Leviathan?” the replacement asked.

“No. Have you ever seen a hero before?”

The replacements sat and watched the rest of 6th squad standing around the muster point. The entire squad was made of seasoned veterans, each and every one of them. Battle-hardened friends and warriors. The replacements didn’t know it, but they had the fortune to end up in a squad of heroes.

Torent came and stood in front of the replacements. “Listen up, hayseeds. Get on your feet. We’re going into the VR deck. We need to get you replacements through some training sims and up to speed before we meet the enemy for real. You ready to shred some Chits?”

1

The officers’ lounge was situated next to the command deck. Soundproof walls and decks, padded with noise-canceling fabric, created a quiet haven in the heart of the Scorpio. Several large, soft chairs and polished timber tables were dotted around the open space. Jack felt the background hum of the Scorpio fall away as he stepped into the comfortable lounge.

Commander Griff welcomed Jack with an outstretched hand. “You sure you’re ready to give up the cushy life of a Marine?”

Jack shook his head and smiled. “No, sir.”

Griff smiled back. “You don’t have to call me sir anymore, Jack. Call me Harry.”

“I haven’t been made up yet,” Jack said

“Too late to get out of it now.” Trace Matavesi stepped over. “Well done, Jack,” she said. “Call me Trace.”

Jack nodded. He felt uncertain. It felt strange using the commanders’ first names. He tried them on for size.

“Thank you, Harry,” Jack said, his voice catching in his throat. “Thank you, Trace,” he said, gaining confidence.

Jack had only ever seen Trace Matavesi on parade with the rest of the battalion. She was tall with broad shoulders, possibly the result of biotech enhancements. Her platinum blonde hair framed a pretty face with cold, gray steel eyes and full lips. Her handshake was firm but warm.

“Captain on deck,” Griff called out. Jack snapped to attention and noticed that Griff and Matavesi did so also.

Captain Pretorius walked into the officers’ lounge and saluted. “As you were,” he said, then walked to the drink cabinet and poured himself a tumbler of water. “We’re waiting for Agent Visser. She’ll be overseeing the official promotion procedure.” Pretorius looked over at Jack.

Jack felt the captain’s stare. Pretorius was tall and slim. His face was a mass of deep wrinkles. A scar over one eye merged with the wrinkles over his forehead and cheeks. Jack avoided the captain’s stare.

“Jack Forge,” Pretorius said. He placed his tumbler down and stepped over to Jack. “Good to finally meet you.” He extended his hand.

“Yes, sir,” Jack said and shook the captain’s hand. “You too, sir. It is an honor, sir.”

Jack noticed Griff and Matavesi smile at Jack’s nervousness.

“Calm down, son,” Pretorius said. “Relax or you’ll strain something.”

The sound of footsteps drew everyone’s attention. Striding into the lounge came Agent Visser. She saluted the captain with a swift, stiff, and yet somehow casual salute. “Sorry to keep you, Captain,” she said. “You can proceed.”

Captain Pretorius stood to one side of the lounge and spoke in a clear, calm voice. “I’d like to keep things pretty informal on this occasion. As you know, the battalion major would be responsible for awarding a field promotion, but unfortunately, Major Cruz was lost in the action on Proxis at the Battle of Drydock. So, it falls to me, with Agent Visser as observer, to perform this very special act. Marine Jack Forge, if you would step forward, please.”

Jack stepped toward the captain.

Pretorius pulled a small box out of his pocket and held it in front of him. “As recognition for your act of bravery and courage under fire, the Fleet Marine Division has seen fit to award you the Platinum Star.”

Pretorius opened the box and showed off the small glittering white star. Pretorius took it out of the box and pinned it to Jack’s lapel. He returned the empty box to his pocket and then took another, similar box out of his other jacket pocket.

“And now, Jack Forge, having shown exceptional leadership and solid tactical awareness in battle, the Fleet Marine division appoints you to the rank of commander, with all the rights and responsibilities of that rank.”

Pretorius opened the second box and showed it to the officers in the room, and then finally to Jack.

“It is with great pleasure that I hereby promote you to commander.”

Pretorius pinned the small golden stripe next to the platinum star on Jack’s tatty lapel. The captain stepped back and saluted. Jack returned the salute and noticed the others saluting him as well. It was a proud moment. Commander Griff, an officer and veteran of dozens of engagements, saluting him, Commander Trace Matavesi, the hero of Boa Company, who fought on bravely after losing over half her company during the Battle of Drydock, saluting him, Agent Visser, Fleet Intelligence, saluting him, and finally, Captain Pretorius, one of the fleet’s most respected captains and veteran of countless engagements, saluting him. Jack was filled with pride. He’d never wanted to be a Marine, but now he knew he couldn’t be anything else.

The captain dropped his salute and offered Jack his hand in a warm handshake while the others applauded and stepped up to welcome their new brother officer.

“Before I let you go,” Pretorius said, “the fleet will send a replacement major as soon as possible. Until then, you commanders will have to muddle through as best you can, but Commander Griff has seniority and until a replacement major is in post, he will be Acting Battalion Commanding Officer.”

The officers all congratulated Griff on his temporary assignment. He shrugged it off with humility and humor.

“Don’t think just because I’m acting CO I want to hear all of your complaining,” Griff said jovially. “My standing orders are to sort out your own problems and don’t make work for me.”

“What is our current operational status, Captain?” Visser asked.

“We are holding position in the Monarch Carrier Group, but I am expecting orders from Fleet Command at the top of the next watch.”

Pretorius tugged his cuffs. “Make sure your companies are at full readiness, Commanders. We don’t know what we’ll be asked to do next, but I think we can expect to be in action soon enough.”

“Maybe the Scorpio will be placed in spacedock for a total refit,” Griff said with a smile.

“And the battalion stood down for a week’s rest and recuperation on Eros,” Matavesi added.

“Or maybe we’ll be expected to do our duty and take the fight to the enemy,” Visser said coldly.

Pretorius tugged his cuffs again. “Oh, Corli,” Pretorius said, admonishing the agent. “Let them have an hour off, for krav’s sake.”

2

Walking along the empty corridors of the Scorpio was a familiar pastime for Jack. Walking along the corridors and receiving salutes from crewmen was entirely new. The feelings of responsibility and authority started to grow. There was one place on the ship where rank stood for very little, where only ability counted—only one place where Jack would be treated the same as ever, whether he was admiral or crewman. Jack turned the corridor and stepped through the large double-doors into the maintenance hangar.

Slim had his head inside a large machine unit, stripped out of its position in the Scorpio’s guts and brought here for work. Sarah Reyes stood behind him, holding a variety of power tools.

“Kravin thing’s completely burnt out,” Slim said, his voice echoing inside the unit. “Hand me a photon shunt.”

Reyes turned to the workbench behind her and picked up an item. She held it up and studied it, turning it this way and that. “This one looks a bit worn,” Reyes said. “Have we got any new shunts in the stock?”

“How long have you worked here?” Slim stuck his hand out. “Let’s hope we can get a few light-months out of this one.”

Reyes turned to hand over the item. She spotted Jack.

His heart fluttered when her dark eyes fell on him. He was almost more nervous now than meeting the captain, and certainly more excited. He was more anxious than facing a Chitin soldier, yet happier than he could ever hope to be. This was the conundrum of Sarah Reyes.

“You want to give me that shunt or what?”

Reyes handed it over without looking and then stepped toward Jack. “How was the ceremony?”

“Quiet,” Jack said, stepping closer.

The pair stood quietly. Glancing at each other nervously. Shuffling toward each other cautiously.

“What the krav is that?” Slim walked over, wiping his hands on a dirty cloth. “Is that some work-shy officer on my deck?” Slim held out his hand.

“You got any coffee?” Jack said, shaking Slim’s hand.

“You know where it is,” Slim said with a smile. “Three mugs, please.”

Jack walked over to the coffee jug on the thermoplate. A collection of grubby mugs was scattered around the jug, each with its own design or slogan.

“The best coffee on the ship,” Jack said, handing Slim a mug of the strong brew. “And the worst people.”

“Must be why we can’t keep you away,” Slim said and took a gulp.

“Happy to have you here, Jack,” Reyes said as Jack handed her a mug of coffee.

Pouring the thick black liquid into a mug, Jack thought of the first time he’d been sent here. He’d resented being given a low-level maintenance post, but it hadn’t taken him long to discover that the maintenance department was as responsible for the effective operation of the Scorpio as the command officers. In fact, those who truly understood maintenance knew they were even more important.

The team was small, but they held detailed knowledge of every ship system. Slim could strip any system, repair, and replace it in his sleep, and maintain the Scorpio at combat readiness. Reyes was a true mechanical genius. She could dissect an unfamiliar system in moments, and she had a knack for making unorthodox repairs. She was also the only human yet to successfully work with Chitin equipment.

Jack raised his mug to the maintenance team, a team who would always have respect for Jack, no matter what his rank. He had been one of them. It was a small team and they didn’t forget one of their own.

Slim and Reyes knocked their mugs into Jack’s as they said their motto together. “They bend it. We mend it.”

“Seriously,” Slim said. “Well done, Jack. I always knew you’d get the worst jobs.”

Reyes just smiled.

Slim put his mug down and turned to Reyes. “So much for R and R, and coffee with the upper kravin echelon, I’ve got to get that system put back together.” He put his hand on Reyes’s shoulder. His tone suddenly turned serious. “You want to show him?” he said heavily, uncertainly.

Jack looked at Slim. “Show me what?” he said with a laugh. He looked at Reyes, who was carefully putting her mug down. “Show me what?” Jack repeated with growing concerned.

Jack followed Reyes to a workbench. Reyes tapped a control panel on the side of the bench and called up a holodisplay blank feed. Reyes tapped a few instructions into the controls and the blankness resolved into an image.

Looking closely, Jack saw it was the med bay. He recognized the lines of compartments and the medidrone moving along the central aisle.

“Why are you showing me this?” Jack asked.

Reyes tapped another key and zoomed in on one compartment. She increased the resolution to show Jack the occupant.

“I was running a standard diagnostic on the internal communications at the top of this watch. It is about three months overdue and we had some bugs in the system. I spotted him when I was checking the feed. Slim saw I was shocked to see him. I told him, Jack. I told him everything.”

Jack looked over at Slim, who was back at work, head and shoulders in the machine unit. Jack knew he could trust Slim. Jack knew that he and Reyes were trusting Slim with their lives.

“How the krav did he get on board?”

“I don’t know. I’ve tried to access his medical info, but he’s not registered. I can’t find out what’s wrong with him. But I did scan back through the logs and found out he was brought in just after the Battle of Drydock. Him and one other Marine.”

Reyes showed Jack the image of the second Marine, and Jack recognized him instantly. It was someone from his old training squad, the first person Jack had spoken to. A Marine who only ever seemed to want to turn one Marine against another. Jack would never forget the face of Bill Harts.

“Do you know him?” Reyes asked.

“We spent a long time together. That’s Bill Harts, a sneaky little scroat.”

“What about him?” Reyes said, pointing back to Commander Finch. “If he tells them what we did…” she trailed off.

Jack hadn’t felt any remorse for what happened to Finch. He was a bad leader and bad Marine, narrow-minded and arrogant. Jack had lived for the last few months believing that he and Reyes had killed him. He was sure if Finch hadn’t been killed, the Battle of Kratos Fuel Station would have ended in disaster for 6th squad, and for the Scorpio too. Jack hadn’t lost any sleep. But now it seemed Finch was alive. It made him feel more than a little uneasy.

“If he had said anything, we would be in an interrogation suite already.” Jack studied the image. Finch was conscious. “Has he spoken to anyone?”

“He had one visit from Agent Visser when he arrived. I was able to listen in. He said he had been cut off from his squad during the battle. It looks like his distress signal was picked up by a corvette on perimeter watch during the Battle of Drydock. He’d been stranded there for weeks.”

Jack looked down at the fleet star on his jacket. Finch couldn’t pull rank on Jack, but if Visser found out about their fight and how it had ended, then Jack’s new medal and promotion wouldn’t save him from the gallows.

Jack took hold of Reyes’s shoulders and looked her in the eye. “Don’t worry,” he said. “I’ll find out what I can.”

“But I thought I’d killed him,” Reyes said.

Jack brought her close to him. “Shhh,” he said softly. “Don’t let anyone hear you say that.”

“His suit was cut. The atmosphere should have killed him instantly. He should be dead.”

Jack looked at the image of Finch and Harts. These were two of the worst elements Jack had ever met. One was arrogant, the other conniving. Both destabilized the Marines around them. Neither should be allowed to bring their forms of destructiveness back to the battalion.

The holoimage flickered on the bench. Reyes moved her hand to the controls. Jack reached out and took her hand to stop her from canceling the feed. He watched. There was something not right. Something bothered him. He watched.

“We can’t be found watching this,” Reyes said.

“Just wait,” Jack said.

The flickering image from the med bay showed there was little happening. The medidrone moved along the aisle. A nurse filled out a document at the nurse’s station. Then Jack spotted it.

“Go back,” Jack said. “Can you go back?”

Reyes tapped the controls and played the image in reverse. Jack saw it again.

“Stop. Play it back again.”

Reyes replayed that portion of the feed again.

“There. See that?” Jack pointed at Finch and Harts. The small gasp from Reyes told Jack that she’d seen it too. She gripped his hand a little tighter.

Both Finch and Harts seemed to move in sync. They turned their heads slowly to the left, lifted them slightly, and slowly opened their mouths wide. A dark shadow, almost like drifting smoke, seemed to move about in the open mouths. Then, after a few seconds in that strange pose, their mouths shut, their heads moved down, and they faced forward. Perfectly in time.

Jack looked Reyes in the eyes, her big, dark eyes. He felt the warmth of her hand on his. He realized they’d been standing there holding hands for some time. He loosened his grip and they let go of each other.

Jack’s small communicator buzzed in his pocket. He took it out and read the message. He was being called to the command deck for a mission briefing.

“I’ve got to go,” Jack said. He wanted to stay with Reyes, but duty called him away. He put a hand on her shoulder. “We’ll be fine.”

“I know I will,” she replied. Then she leaned forward and kissed Jack’s cheek. “Don’t do anything brave…or stupid.”

Jack felt his cheek where she’d kissed him. He wanted to feel it there forever. “Don’t let Slim give you all the easy stuff to do.”

Jack turned to leave the maintenance hangar and walked toward the big double-doors. He heard Reyes speaking up.

“Commander departing,” she said.

Jack turned to see Reyes and Slim standing up straight and facing him, each giving a smart salute. Jack returned the salute and left. He knew he’d be welcome next time he visited.

3

Jack had never set foot on a destroyer’s command deck before. He never realized how many officers were required to operate the ship. He’d always thought the captain pretty much ran the show, but now he could see that over a dozen officers were involved. Each officer had a station with a bank of screens and several small holostages arrayed within reach.

The center of the deck was dominated by the large holostage. The holoimage currently showed a number of ships with the carrier ship Monarch, command ship of the group, in the center. Around the carrier were the group’s frigates and corvettes, a dozen smaller ships in all. Holding formation further away from the carrier were the destroyers, three of them, their names highlighted on the hologram: the Aries, the Pisces, and the Scorpio.

Walking across the command deck to the holostage, Jack felt out of place. He felt like an intruder. He expected at any moment that an officer would bark at him for intruding on the meeting. Captain Pretorius was occupied at the holostage. He was flanked by Agent Visser on one side, who watched Jack approach. On the other side of Pretorius, a young first officer was busy working at the control panel, occasionally glancing up at the holoimage. The name on his jacket said Chou. Commanders Trace Matavesi and Harry Griff welcomed the new commander colleague with nod and a smile.

“Good of you to join us, Commander,” Pretorius said as Jack took a position in front of the holostage. “Get lost on your way to the command deck?”

“Sir, no, sir,” Jack said. “I was in maintenance when I received the orders to attend, sir.”

Pretorius stopped working and looked up at Jack, a twinkle in his eye and a slight smile at the corner of his mouth. “One ‘sir’ will be sufficient, Commander.”

Commander Chou slid a holographic document over the surface of the holostage toward the captain. Pretorius looked down at the document, signed it, and slid it back to his second-in-command. When he looked up, any sign of amusement was gone. His expression was serious and businesslike.

“We have orders direct from Fleet Command and Control Center on Eros. The Scorpio is being tasked with a mission to the outer system. A patrol corvette recently discovered a Chitin facility that Fleet Command believes to be part of the Chitin surveillance network. The Scorpio will approach this Chitin device and attempt to plant a demolition charge designed to send an electromagnetic pulse through the entire network. We will need to plant three of these devices in order to destroy the entire surveillance network.”

Pretorius glanced at the assembled officers. Jack thought the captain’s gaze lingered a fraction longer on him. Maybe the captain was still to be convinced that Jack was a suitable candidate for the role of Marine Company Commander.

“We are to proceed in complete secrecy and we will be operating solo.”

Jack noticed Commander Chou hesitate. The second-in-command was quiet and busy, but the moment he heard that the Scorpio would be alone in the outer system, he paused. It was only a momentary response, but Jack read from it that Commander Chou was nervous about this situation.

“A question, sir,” Jack said.

“Go ahead, Commander.” Pretorius faced Jack.

The officers all looked at Jack. The new guy was going to pop his head above the parapet. They were all interested to discover what they could about Jack from this first foray into the world of command.

“Won’t we be vulnerable if we are discovered that far out, sir?”

“We will be,” Pretorius said matter-of-factly. “We will be extremely vulnerable, unlikely to be able to defend ourselves long enough for any support to arrive. We will, in all likelihood, be destroyed if we are discovered. The Chitins will close in and destroy a lone destroyer, as we would if one of their war ships entered our space.”

Pretorius gave Jack a look that asked if his question had been answered.

Jack suddenly felt foolish. He realized now what an obvious question it was. Of course they would be in danger, operating alone so far from home space. It was clear to all at the briefing. It was unnecessary for it to be spelled out, but Jack had asked the question and the captain had given a candid answer. Jack was also nervous about the upcoming mission now.

“Thank you, sir,” Jack said as he tried to avoid the eyes of the others at the holostage.

“You are welcome, Commander. In future, please wait until the end of the briefing before asking any questions.”

Jack felt a flush of embarrassment. His first command briefing and he was behaving like an excited schoolboy. He nodded and answered as confidently as possible. “Yes, sir.”

“Extremely vulnerable,” Pretorius began again. “We are going out into hostile space. Alone. No hope of support. We will be going dark and will operate under silent running protocols. That means we will be at minimal power. No primary engine operations. There will be no EM communications, and that includes ship-wide communications as well as ship-to-ship and fleet communications. We will employ passive scans only. We will be able to receive communications, but we will be unable to respond or send communications of any kind. We are strictly running on silent from the top of third watch.”

Jack had been in combat situations and had fought Chitin hordes. He had been face to face with the enemy and had faced death multiple times. Fear was nothing new, but fear in the heat of battle was very different than fear of what was to come. Fear in the moment was a difficult emotion to handle, but fear of a threat as yet unseen was worse. It gave a man time to think and time made the threat seem huge, insurmountable, and unconquerable. No weapon could defeat the type of fear Jack was beginning to experience.

“It is your responsibility to ensure your sections are silent by end of second watch.” Pretorius leaned on the holostage and looked at each of the assembled officers. “On the stroke of third watch, the Monarch Carrier Group will initiate a full engine burn. We will set our heading and engage our primary drive.”

Commander Chou tapped the side of the holostage and showed a graphic of the maneuver. The entire carrier group was fired up and moving.

“The carrier group will arc away.” Pretorius pointed at the holoimage showing the entire carrier group performing a sharp turn. “We will cut our engines and be on a silent running course to the outer system.”

Jack watched the graphic—the Monarch and the group veering off, the Scorpio continuing on its course, running silent, engines dead and cold.

“The flight plan is calculated for a short burn to put us on to a series of slingshot maneuvers. We will be travelling at high velocity and hopefully in complete secrecy. We will achieve a distant solar orbit and move in on the first of these Chit listening devices.”

“Sir,” Jack spoke up. He knew he was interrupting again, but this was important. “Can I recommend my people send any last-minute communications before we go dark?”

The captain considered this. Jack thought it was a sensible question.

Pretorius tugged his cuffs. “No, Commander. Don’t instruct your people to send last-minute communications. We will be undertaking a clandestine operation. We must assume the Chits are monitoring us even now. The Monarch Carrier Group is covering our heading with their maneuver. We can’t give away the mission with a sudden spike in communication traffic. If we tell the crew we will be silent, they will all want to say good-bye to some sweetheart, mother or friend. No, Commander. Do not inform your people.”

Jack felt the contradictory opinion hammering at his chest. The crew would be annoyed, angry or upset if they were told they had missed an opportunity to send a last-minute good-bye. The crew would work better if they were informed of the dangerous mission they were about to undertake. Jack could think of a dozen reasons why the captain should let the crew know what was coming.

“Do you have a comment, Mister Forge?” Pretorius asked.

Jack looked at the captain. Commander Chou and Agent Visser were both looking at Jack. Griff and Matavesi averted their gaze but waited with bated breath. Jack was being invited to comment. To contradict.

Jack knew he was right. Jack knew everyone around the table had the same thought, even the captain, but Jack realized that the captain’s responsibility was to the mission. It was cold and heartless. It was war.

“No, sir. No comments.”

Jack knew the captain was right. It was going to create disappointment and anger, but it was wise of Pretorius to keep the communication patterns normal.

“Any other questions?” Pretorius looked around the table. No one reacted. “Very well. Mister Chou has assignments for you to prepare for silent running and orders for the tactical flight to the outer system. Commander Griff, you should prepare your men to combat a Chitin incursion. If we are discovered, they might try and board us. I’d rather not let them have an easy time of it.”

Griff stiffened and then turned to Commander Matavesi. “Trace,” he said calmly, “full VR combat simulations for all squads starting immediately.”

“Yes, sir,” Matavesi replied.

“And with your permission, Captain—” Griff turned to Pretorius. “—I’ll have Commander Forge prepare internal defenses.”

“By all means, Commander.” Pretorius signed a document placed in front of him.

“Get down to the maintenance hangar,” Griff said, turning to Jack. “Identify weak points and organize materials for barricades. Use your judgment, Jack, and make a start on the structures.”

Pretorius looked up from the documents on the holostage, looking at each of the officers. Jack felt like the captain was looking deep inside him, searching for his true self. Jack was held by the steely stare. Pretorius’s personality was magnetic and he held the attention of all, even with a moment’s silence.

“This will be a tough mission,” Pretorius said. “Dangerous, of course. Vital, for sure. If we destroy that Chitin network, we will gain a significant advantage in this war. Our responsibility is to get it done, and get it done right. We have to rely on each other to do what is in the best interests of the mission. I am relying on you all. And welcome to command, Mister Forge.”

4

Jack sat on a bench in the maintenance hangar and flicked through the hologram of the Scorpio, the corridors mapped out in flickering green lines. They were arranged to allow easy and speedy access throughout the ship. But the arrangement that was advantageous to the smooth operation of the ship would also benefit a Chitin boarding party.

Slim walked past, a dirty cloth in one hand and an equally filthy micro pulse coil in the other. He paused and looked at the flickering image and casually rubbed the coil with the cloth.

“You could seal the corridors at the main junctions.” Slim pointed at the four intersections where stairways joined the upper and lower decks, the only places where it was possible to move directly from the top deck to the base deck. “You’d force the Chits into the tighter sections and you can hold them there.”

Jack kneaded his forehead, trying to wipe away the tension headache.

“Don’t build barricades,” Reyes shouted from the other side of the hangar, where she was rebuilding a cannon pivot base. “Barricades will hamper your maneuverability. You’ll be sitting and waiting for them to come and kill you. The battalion will need to be mobile.”

Jack rubbed his tired eyes. He could still see the green lines behind his eyelids. He was sure he would dream of these green holographic lines for nights to come.

He lay back on the bench and groaned. Both Reyes and Slim were right. He needed to hold the Chits in tight spaces where his Marines could be most effective, but he also had to keep the corridors free for the battalion to move about the ship.

Jack wondered what resistance the battalion could mount against a determined Chitin force. The Scorpio battalion was undermanned. Six squads were missing from Cobra Company. Boa Company had taken heavy losses at the Battle of Drydock and was down to eight full-strength squads. Adder was back to full strength thanks to the addition of a large number of replacements, but with so many replacements, all untested in battle, they were the least experienced company.

“They gave you a nice medal. Pity they didn’t give you any ideas.” Slim walked off, still wiping the coil with the dirty cloth.

Jack sat up. If he couldn’t defend the entire ship, then he would have to defend the most vital areas. The command deck would have to be held, but that would be useless if the Scorpio was dead in the void, so the engine rooms would also have to be held.

He jumped to the floor and stepped over to the workbench with the flickering holoimage of the Scorpio. He tapped a few controls and lit up the command deck and the engine rooms. The corridors leading to those sections were defendable with several pinch points, which meant the defenders would be able to hold any attackers with minimal numbers.

Jack estimated the numbers he would deploy at these points. The command deck only had a few entry points, but one was located at the forward end of the Scorpio’s main upper port corridor and was wide open. An entire company would need to be deployed to hold it.

The engine room was already well-defended by the narrow corridors. Three squads from Boa Company, the most experienced, should be enough to hold the engine rooms.

Reyes brought Jack a coffee. “You might want to defend life support too,” she said. She sipped her coffee and looked over her mug at him.

Realizing she was right, Jack tapped the controls and highlighted the life support control room, a large room almost as big as the command deck. It was isolated with only one corridor leading to it.

“That should be easy to hold,” he mused.

Reyes leaned over and tapped a few controls. The life support conduits threading through the ship lit up and showed another dozen possible entry points to the control room.

Putting his mug down on the workbench, Jack sighed.

“It will take an entire company to cover all those entry points.” Jack leaned on the bench. “And I haven’t even looked at the med bay or weapons control.”

“Med bay is easy enough.” Reyes tapped a control and called up a surveillance image of the corridor outside of it. The image showed the main double-doors. “That’s the main entrance,” Reyes said, stepping back. “You can barricade that and hold the corridor with a few Marines.”

Jack nodded. “There is another way in.” He switched the camera to show the interior if the med bay. “There is a conduit entrance at the back.” Jack looked at Reyes. He had once used that entrance himself to meet with Reyes when she was held under guard. “I’ll have to seal that as well.”

Jack picked up his coffee and took a sip. He stepped back and stood next to Reyes. “I might even have a few squads left for a reserve force.”

The image from the med bay panned around and showed two of the patients that Jack knew well. Finch and Bill Harts. Jack froze. He sensed Reyes tense up too.

Finch and Harts were being discharged. They walked past the nurses’ station and headed out through the main door.

Reyes quickly stepped toward the control panel and switched surveillance feeds to show Finch and Harts in the corridor.

The two stood next to each other, unmoving. Jack and Reyes watched, hypnotized by the strange behavior. Then the two began to tip their heads backward in a jerking motion. Their mouths opened as if to catch falling rain. They moved in perfect coordination.

Reyes turned to Jack with an ashen face and open mouth. “What are they doing?” Her voice crackled, upset and angry.

Jack had seen a lot since he’d been drafted into the Fleet Marines, but there was something truly disturbing about the bizarre behavior from Finch and Harts.

“What’s that?” Reyes asked, moving closer to the image.

Jack didn’t see anything unusual, at least nothing more unusual than their behavior.

Reyes pointed. A fine black mist rose from their mouths.

The double-doors opened and a nurse stepped out. Finch and Harts closed their mouths, dropped their heads, and began walking forward.

“What the krav are they doing?” Jack leaned in and looked more closely. Finch and Harts walked perfectly in step, their arms swinging in sync.

“He should be dead,” Reyes shouted at the image. “You should be dead. I killed you.”

Jack tapped the controls and canceled the surveillance image. He put his arm around Reyes. “There’s something not right with those two. I’m going to Visser right now. If this isn’t a case for Fleet Intelligence, I don’t know what is.”

“What are you going to tell her? That we killed Finch? They’ll hang us both.”

Slim wandered over and put a hand on Reyes’s shoulder. “Don’t shout about it, Rey,” he said softly. Slim looked at Jack. “What will you say?”

“I think this weird behavior is enough. And what is that black kravin mess in their mouths? I’m going to Visser now.”

Picking up his coffee, Jack realized he was shaking. The coffee was cold and it spilled over his hands. He noticed that Reyes was quiet. Slim gave Reyes a pat on the shoulder and went back to work.

“Don’t worry, Sarah,” Jack said, taking his arm from around Reyes. “I’m an officer now. I can fix this.”

The captain’s voice burst over the ship-wide address system, echoing in the huge maintenance hangar.

“All hands. The Scorpio will be moving to high velocity. We are heading to the outer system on a mission to smash the Chitins. We will be running silent. From this moment on, there will be no EM communications. No off-ship communications of any kind. No internal EM communications after this address. The engines will be powered down. We are heading into the dark alone, but we will have all the people behind us. They are counting on us and I know I can count on you. Pretorius out.”

5

Agent Visser watched the surveillance footage on her desktop holostage while Jack paced. She had watched and re-watched the feed several times. Jack wondered what she could be looking for, and then she looked up at Jack.

“I don’t know what I’m supposed to be looking at here, Jack.” She sat back in her chair.

“What are they doing?” Jack stepped up to Visser’s deck. “Look at them.”

Visser swiped her hand across the holoimage and ran through the hologram recording at double-speed. Finch and Harts were tipping their heads backward and opening their mouths. “They are just stretching and yawning. It’s nothing.”

His mouth fell open in surprise and incredulity, and he stared at her. It took him a moment to recover his voice. “Stretching?”

“They are both exhausted. They were left on that moon for weeks.”

“But look.” Jack flicked the image back and showed them tipping their heads backward again. “They are doing it together, perfectly in time. Does that not look strange to you?”

“They spent a lot of time together. Relying on each other. Working as a team to keep going. I’m not surprised they are responsive to each other’s emotional and physical states.”

Looking at Visser, Jack tried to determine if she was playing with him. Could she not see the obviously strange behavior? “But what about that mess in their mouths?” Jack flicked the image forward to the point where Finch and Harts were standing in the corridor. He pointed at the mist of fine threads writhing in their open mouths.

“Shadows,” Visser said without hesitation.

Jack was stunned. “Shadows? They’re not shadows. There’s something in there.”

“Just a few shadows, Jack. These hologram recordings are not perfect. I’ve watched hundreds of hours of surveillance footage and sometimes, the data throws up strange images. There’s nothing to worry about here.”

Pushing himself back off Visser’s desk, Jack thought he saw a mischievous twinkle in Visser’s eye.

“Unless you know something else, Jack.” Visser leaned forward. “Unless you know something that would convince me that Finch is somehow not himself. Jack, you got anything to tell me? Anything you’ve been keeping from me?” Visser stood up, her voice rising. “Anything you may have failed to mention earlier that you now wish to divulge? Any evidence about what happened to Finch on that moon?”

Jack staggered back under the sudden onslaught. He knew she still suspected something had happened on that moon during the Battle of Kratos Fuel Station. Visser was clever, suspicious, and devious. Even now she wanted the truth from Jack about what had happened, but Jack knew the truth would condemn him and Reyes.

“I don’t know what you mean,” Jack said meekly. “He went missing.”

“And now he’s back.” Visser lowered her voice and sat back in her chair. “Have you ever tested a meat suit’s survival system? The meat suit can keep a Marine alive for days in open space. Weeks on an asteroid if the surface material can be processed to prolong the effectiveness of the nutrient delivery system. The suit can maintain life for months on a planet with a gaseous atmosphere and some basic fauna. It can manufacture enough calories and liquid water to sustain a Marine physically, even through the longest period of isolation. It’s a brilliant piece of technology. But do you know what it can’t maintain? It can’t maintain your mind.” Visser tapped the side of her head. “Isolation drives even the toughest Marines to despair. We need water, Jack, and we need food, but we also need each other. Even with training, an iron will, and a fully functioning meat suit, an isolated Marine will get a few asteroids floating loose in the brain. Frankly, Jack, I’m surprised Finch and Harts are in as good of shape as they are.”

Jack took a step back toward the door of Visser’s little office. He knew it was a sign of guilt that he wanted to leave, and he saw that register in Visser’s eye. Jack felt as if she was hunting down the truth and Jack’s unease was a sign to her that she was on the trail of her prey.

If there was one thing that Jack had learned during his time in the fleet Marines, it was that attack can often be the best form of defense. He stepped up to Visser’s desk. It was a gamble, but Jack thought it was worth it.

“Where are Finch and Harts now?”

Visser smiled up at Jack. She appeared cool and unnerved by this challenge. Jack guessed Visser was clever and a great student of human behavior. She might well have anticipated this move. He realized now that she could easily dismiss this gambit and refuse to locate and observe them now. Her hand moved toward the holostage control panel. It was only a slight movement, but Jack saw it. Jack had also learned to detect the slightest movement and discern quickly if it was a threat.

Visser shrugged and tapped a few keys. The holoimage showed Finch standing in a corridor. He was facing an internal communication control console.

“Finch is in the aft section, near the main fusion reactor access corridor.”

Jack moved the image of Finch to one side of the holostage. “And Harts,” he asked.

Visser looked at Jack with a hint of annoyance and then tapped the panel to call up a holoimage of Harts.

Harts was standing in front of a control panel in another corridor.

“Near the Marine deck. Probably grabbing some sack time in his bunk.” Visser looked up at Jack as if to accuse him of being overly suspicious.

Jack had spent a long time with Harts during their training. He had been deceived by Harts, it was true, but he had come to know him too. The slump to Harts’ shoulders was not characteristic. Harts was confident and brazen. The Marine on the holoimage was hunched, slumped, a little bit broken.

Then, both Finch and Harts reached out and touched the control panel in front of them. Their hands rose and their fingers pressed against the smooth console cover. They did it slowly and in perfect synchronization. Harts’ head slumped forward as he pressed his fingers to the console. Finch stood upright, rigid. Then, in a perfectly coordinated movement, both tipped their heads back in a jerky motion.

Jack looked on, horrified. He saw Visser slowly lean forward, her eyes wide.

Jack looked at Visser.

The door burst open and a crewman stepped in. “The captain,” he said breathlessly. “All active officers to the command deck immediately.” The man disappeared after communicating the summons.

Jack hesitated for a fraction of a second. He knew that he was being summoned but it took a moment to register.

Visser was up and out of her chair in an instant. She looked at Jack sternly.

“That means you too, Commander,” she said.

Jack looked at the holoimage of Finch and Harts. They had stepped away from the control panels and were walking along the corridors. Jack noticed they were in step and moving at the same pace.

Visser canceled the surveillance feed. The holoimage flickered and disappeared.

“Commander. Move.” Visser stepped around her desk and toward Jack.

Jack moved to the office door and out into the corridor beyond, but still his eyes and his mind were on the holostage and the behavior he’d seen from Finch and Harts.

“There’s something wrong with those two,” Jack insisted, almost mumbling to himself.

Visser gave him a shove. “Not now, Commander. One thing at a time. We need to get to the command deck.”

6

The command deck was alive with activity. The captain was standing at the holostage with Commander Chou. Commanders Griff and Matavesi were already present but looked as if they had just arrived. Both were red-faced and covered in a slight sheen of sweat. It was a long run from the Marine quarters.

The holostage showed the Scorpio on one side. It was small, the size of a candy bar, on the large holostage. No planets were in the image. Jack spotted the pointers at the edge of the display showing the directions and distances to the Monarch Carrier Group, as well as to the human home planet of Eros and the system’s star. As Jack stepped up and took his position at the holostage, he saw the mass of signals on the far side, opposite the small image of the Scorpio. Jack recognized the shapes. He’d seen these before. He had never seen this many. This had to be a composite image, Jack thought. The signals ahead were Chitin craft.

“We are running silent and we are running dark.” The captain’s voice was calm. “Our passive scans revealed a large signal on our flight path. We were able to access a nearby micro buoy sensor swarm and were able to partially resolve the image.”

Captain Pretorius nodded to Commander Chou, who tapped the display and zoomed in on the mass of Chitin craft.

Jack immediately recognized the largest craft. He counted four of the Chitin Leviathans. The fleet had only ever taken down one Leviathan. Fleet Command back on Eros was no doubt using that information to discover some method of destroying Leviathans in open space, but Jack doubted the Scorpio was equipped with such a system. He doubted any one destroyer could take on a Leviathan and survive. Jack was certain that even with a super weapon, the Scorpio would not last long against four of them.

The commanders let out an audible gasp of surprise. Only Jack and Visser remained cool as they assimilated the new information.

The four Leviathans sat at the center of the vessel swarm. Surrounding them were dozens of the smaller Chitin craft, the Hydra-class combat vessels. These were tough ships. Only a few could overwhelm a destroyer’s defenses. It was the Hydra craft that often attached themselves to the hull of a fleet craft, cut their way in, and infiltrated the ships. The Scorpio had been boarded twice already, losing many Marines in combat and several crew members that had been abducted by Chitin boarding parties.

The Hydra-class craft swarmed around the much larger Leviathans. Further out, the image was indistinct. There were small blotches where the passive scan had failed to resolve the image further. Jack guessed these were the Krakens, the small infiltration fighters. These craft were possibly unpiloted craft that swarmed ahead of the Hydras and soaked up the defensive fire from the fleet ships. The blobs on the holoimage seemed to show dozens of squadrons of Kraken fighter craft holding formation around the larger ships. There must have been several hundred.

Jack leaned on the holostage. His head dropped.

“What we have here,” the captain began, “is a Chitin armada. There are more craft here than the fleet can muster, probably twice as many. This is quite a force.” The captain sounded almost impressed.

“We’ve not seen this many Chitin craft in all the engagements combined.” Visser sounded calm.

“We can’t fight them. We wouldn’t last a moment,” Pretorius said. “And they are close. Only an hour away at their top speed.”

Jack felt a shudder run down his spine. He’d fought the Chits on asteroids and moons across the system. He had always fought them face to shiny, tooth-filled face. Now he was trapped in the composite belly of the Scorpio. He wouldn’t have a chance to even fire a shot.

“We need to let the fleet know,” Griff said. “If this armada gets to the inner system…” he trailed off.

“We can’t contact the fleet and maintain silent and dark running. We would light up like a small sun and they would be on us.”

Pretorius tapped the holostage and shrank the image down so the Scorpio was at the center of the image, the size of a peanut. The armada sat at the outer edge of the image. Jack was transfixed by it. The Chitin armada was now represented by a larger, single blob. On this scale, the armada looked to be the size and shape of a large yam. It flickered away and looked innocuous enough, but Jack knew the deadly threat that lay there.

“So we turn and head back in system.” Matavesi looked around the holostage for support.

“Same problem, Commander,” Pretorius said in a soft, calm voice. “Our engines will give away our position the moment we prime the fusion reactor. It’ll take us longer to turn the Scorpio and initiate a main burn than it will for their Krakens to swarm us. We won’t even make it to half-speed before they engage us. And even with the best ship, in the best condition, that engagement would be cruelly brief.”

“So, if we are cursed if we do and cursed if we don’t, we must do the best we can.” Visser’s voice cracked slightly as she ran out of breath. “Alert Fleet Command of this armada and prepare for combat. We’ll make a stand and give the fleet a chance to prepare for this Chitin armada.”

“Brave, Agent Visser,” Captain Pretorius said. “But we do have orders and a mission. For all we know, the Chitins already know where the fleet is and is tracking it using the outer system surveillance network we are going to destroy. If we can knock out that network, we will blind the Chits and I think that will give us the best chance of defeating them. Once we’ve completed our mission, we can alert the fleet and wait bravely for the attack to make our heroic last stand.”

Jack nodded. He didn’t want to shy away from a fight, but he didn’t want to throw himself to certain destruction. The rest of the officers were in agreement.

“There’s just one problem.” The captain placed his hands behind his back. “We are heading directly toward them.”

The commanders all looked at Pretorius. The captain spoke so matter-of-factly, it was as if he had just told them the mess hall had run out of lettuce. The fact that the Scorpio was flying headlong into the greatest concentration of Chitin craft ever observed seemed to Jack to be the most important fact ever in the history of the fleet.

“We can’t run,” Pretorius said, “but we can hide.”

Commander Chou expanded the image of the Chitin armada so it filled the holostage. The image was blurry. The various craft on the image moved as the data collected from the passive scans was fed into the image in real time.

“The fleet doesn’t know for sure what detection system the Chitins are using, but we suspect it has something to do with our energy signature. Our engines and weapons seem to attract attention pretty quickly. This is why we are running on momentum alone.”

The flickering image started to give Jack a headache. He looked more closely at the armada to see if he could find any weakness in their formation.

Pretorius went on, “The Monarch and the Overlord Carrier Groups are scheduled to begin two massive attacks on Chitin positions. That should create a massive signal to cover our advance to the outer system.”

Jack looked up to the captain. While Jack and everyone else showed signs of nervousness, Pretorius stayed calm.

Pretorius tugged his cuffs. “If we stay quiet, we could drift right through them.”

Jack felt his breath catch in his chest. His heart beat hard. He looked at the image of the armada. Hundreds of ships. It was impossible. It was suicide.

“How…” Visser began, then stopped. Jack watched her as she studied the armada again. “How…” she failed to finish her sentence again.

Pretorius tapped the control panel. The armada shrank to the side of the stage until it was on the scale that showed the Scorpio. A line that projected the course of the Scorpio appeared on the holostage, leading from the Scorpio to the heart of the Chitin armada.

“We are on a direct heading,” Pretorius said. He pointed out the course projection line, then he tapped the console and the armada again grew to fill the holostage. The line of the Scorpio’s course ran through it. “We can drift right through them. We have been monitoring them for a short while, and they are not altering course. They are heading toward Zelos, their home world. They are not deviating at all. If we hold our heading, and they hold theirs…”

“What if they alter course?” Visser regained her voice.

Jack hoped they did. Anything to get them out of their way.

“If they change course a little, we might end up colliding with one of them.” Pretorius tapped the console and deactivated the holoimage. “Let’s hope they don’t. To be honest, it’s too late for us to do anything. If I risked activating the maneuvering thrusters, we might remain hidden, but I can’t alter our course enough to get around that armada. Anything more and they will detect us for sure. It’s straight through or nothing.”

Jack tried to imagine what that armada looked like in reality. The fuzzy holoimage was a poor representation. He had seen a Leviathan up close. He knew how massive they were. Four of them in formation would be huge, so huge as to be almost totally implausible. Jack looked up. The captain was looking directly at him.

“How do we prepare, Captain?” Jack asked. He heard the confidence in his voice, confidence his heart didn’t fully share, but the positive attitude seemed to satisfy Pretorius and he nodded at Jack with a slight, almost imperceptible, move of his head.

“Continue to prepare the Scorpio for Chitin incursions. If we evade them, we might still have a fight before we return to home space.”

“Even if we don’t evade them, and they detect us,” Visser said, “the Chitins will most likely attempt to board the Scorpio and capture us alive. Jack, you must hold them off and give the captain as much time as possible. Captain, if we are detected and there is an incursion, I have the authority to order a critical capture avoidance strategy.”

Jack noticed Commander Chou look sideways at Pretorius. Griff and Matavesi looked at each other, each wearing a weak smile. Pretorius looked at Visser.

“Fleet Intelligence agent you may be, Agent Visser, but I have total authority on my ship and I will decide when the fight is over.”

“Do I want to know what a critical capture avoidance strategy is?” Jack asked. All eyes fell on him with a mixture of surprise and sadness. Jack was the youngest person at the briefing. He was experienced, but he was still new to the fleet and many of the customs were lost on him.

“We blow up the Scorpio,” Pretorius said. “But we have a mission to complete, so we don’t want to do that. As of this moment, all ship-wide communication is cancelled. The system has been disabled. All nonessential energy use is prohibited. And finally, the entire ship’s company will adhere to a strict regime of complete silence. I want off-duty personnel in their bunks. On-duty personnel at their stations. All in silence, and all ready for action. Is that clear?”

Pretorius looked at his officers. Everyone nodded and spoke their agreement, then fell into a stunned silence.

“If we are going to close all communications, Captain,” Jack spoke up, “I should set up a system of runners. I know the fastest people in Cobra Company. I’ll put them on runner detail.”

“Good idea, Commander,” Pretorius said. “Better put your fastest with me, son.”

“That’ll be me, captain.” Jack stepped away from the holostage. “I’d better notify the runners.”

Pretorius nodded. A slight smile tugged at the corners of his mouth as he dismissed the officers.

7

Jack stood next to Pretorius on the command deck. He was dressed in his standard shipboard utility uniform, but had given himself authorization to wear running shoes instead of boots. The other runners were posted at critical areas, wearing the same uniform.

Jack had nothing to do but observe the operation of the command deck. Pretorius spent most of his time at the holostage observing the Chitin armada. He crossed to the large raised chair from time to time, but rarely sat.

Commander Chou spoke quietly, when he did speak. He seemed to be constantly busy, passing the captain hard files as well as electronic documents to review, and managing the officers that worked at the dozen or so command stations around the edge of the deck.

Each operational station had its own holostage and control console, with additional two-dimensional displays for simple text.

Jack had posted a Marine guard at the door of the command center and two Marines from Cobra stood outside, fully suited and armed.

As the minutes ticked by, the image of the Chitin armada became clearer as more data was gathered by the passive sensors and fed into the system. There were clearly hundreds of Kraken fighters flying in squadrons of twelve around the armada.

The path that the Scorpio was destined to travel was highlighted on the holoimage. It passed straight through the armada and out the other side, coming worryingly close to one of the Leviathans. At one point, Commander Chou made a comment, too quiet for Jack to hear, and pointed at the Chitin craft that lay so close to the path of the Scorpio.

“Let’s hope they don’t look out the window,” Pretorius said with a smile.

Jack watched the holoimage intently as the Scorpio drew ever nearer to the huge Chitin armada. He found he was holding his breath for extended periods. When Jack had been in close combat with the Chits, he had breathed easily. He had always been afraid, but it didn’t affect his actions. He breathed easily and moved easily. Now he was tense and gasping for air.

Pretorius, on the other hand, was calm. Jack guessed if the captain was anything like any other soldier, he would be worried too, afraid even. So much could go wrong, and every decision was his to make, and possibly get wrong, but Pretorius looked completely at ease, joking with his first officer and giving a friendly word to other command deck officers from time to time. Jack knew Pretorius was not immune to fear, he was simply able to handle the tension.

And then the tension grew.

Jack noticed a change in the holoimage of the armada. The entire armada was turning. It was a slight change of course to the starboard side. Pretorius watched the holoimage intently. The line of the Scorpio’s course still led straight through the center of the Chitin armada, but one Leviathan was drifting ever closer.

“Time to the armada, Mister Chou,” Pretorius asked.

A countdown clock on the holostage showed the minutes until the Scorpio reached the leading edge of the armada. It was only minutes away, the seconds ticking down in a flickering green holoimage.

Then the Scorpio’s line turned red as the Leviathan drifted over it.

“Time to collision?” Pretorius asked.

Chou threw up another countdown, a flickering set of numbers displayed over the Leviathan.

Jack stepped closer to the holostage. He was only here as a runner, not a Marine commander, so he had no business at the holostage, but neither Captain Pretorius nor Commander Chou prevented him from stepping right up to the display.

“How fast is that Leviathan moving?” Jack asked.

Pretorius shot a glance at Jack, then he relaxed and nodded to Chou. The speed appeared on the Leviathan. It was slow but constant. No acceleration, just a change of direction.

Captain Pretorius looked at Jack. “Hopeful, are you?” he asked.

Jack nodded. “Always hopeful, Captain.”

“Mister Chou.” Pretorius walked over to his chair. “How far will that Leviathan have moved by the time we get there?”

Commander Chou tapped at the control panel. The Leviathan’s image appeared in duplicate, with one copy appearing in red and moving quickly across the holoimage. The line of the Scorpio still touched the red image of the Leviathan, showing that the Scorpio would collide with the distal end of the Leviathan in several minutes’ time.

Pretorius came back to the holostage. “Almost. We just need to get them to move a bit more quickly.”

“Or we can move, Captain,” Jack said.

“The slightest power surge and we will be caught,” Pretorius said. “But if we open up a few doors… Mister Chou, what will happen to the Scorpio’s course if we open up the Marine deck hanger doors?”

Commander Chou tapped the controls and the line of the Scorpio moved slightly to the side. The line flickered. The data projections showed the Scorpio missing the Leviathan, and then hitting. And then missing. It flickered back and forth. Red then green. Alive then dead.

“Will it work?” Jack asked excitedly.

“We’ll find out in a few minutes. Jack, get down to the hangar deck and make sure it’s clear. If we blow any people out of those doors, we might hit a Chitin craft and that could give away our presence. I’ll have the lights brought up to full intensity thirty seconds before I open the doors to let you know you need to get out. The lights will go out five seconds before I open the exterior doors. I don’t want to flash a light into any Chitin pilot’s eyes. They might not like it and decide to attack us.”

Jack nodded and set off toward the Marine hangar deck at a jog. Once in the corridor, he hit a full sprint. The Marine deck was over four hundred meters away through twisting corridors and narrow stairways. Jack ran as fast as he had ever run through the ship. He hoped he would make it there in time.

“Out of my way!” Jack ordered as he ran along the corridor. The Marine deck was still a deck down and a hundred meters away. He jumped up onto the handrail of the stairway, a leg slung over each rail, and he slid down to the lower deck. Jumping off the handrail near the bottom, he hit the ground at full speed. “Get out of my way!”

Nearing the Marine quarters meant Jack was seeing more Marines and few general crewmen. Jack recognized faces that he dashed past. A Marine from Adder Company here, a squad-mate from Cobra Company there. They all pressed themselves to the walls as Commander Forge thundered along.

“Clear the hangar!” Jack ran through the large interior doors to the hangar deck. Marines littered the deck, most were performing some duty he had himself ordered. The Marine landing craft and tactical drop ships sat in neat rows in front of the main hangar door that would be open to space in a few moments.

“Clear the hangar deck. Move, Marines. Move.” Jack shouted clear and hard. The men and women inside began to file out of the deck, back toward the Marine quarters. “Make sure everyone is out.” Jack ran along the lines of tactical drop ships, looking underneath and around every one. “This deck will be decompressed any minute now. Anything or anyone not magnetically pinned down will be space debris. Everyone out.”

As Jack ran along the long deck, he heard the Marines take up the call, shouting for all hands to evacuate the deck. The door at the far end was a mirror of the one Jack had entered through. The last Marines were exiting. The last turned and urged Jack to him. It was Sam Torent.

“Come on, sir,” he called.

Jack slowed. “Seal that door, Sam. I’ll go back and check the deck again.”

Torent nodded once. The wide door came sliding across the opening fast. Jack turned and ran back to the forward door, checking around the Marine craft on their holding pads.

A shadow moved across the front of one of the landing craft. “Hey. You there,” Jack called. He half-jogged along the side of the landing craft to the nose section and the shadow he’d seen moving at the front landing gear.

“This deck will be vented to space. Clear this deck.” Jack craned his neck to see who was skulking there.

“Hey, Jack.” Bill Harts was standing directly in front of the forward landing gear, looking toward a small porthole in the hangar deck exterior door.

“Bill,” Jack said calmly. “What are you doing?” Jack moved forward slowly.

“Just hanging out, you know.”

Jack stepped closer. Bill seemed to be in a trance as he stared at the porthole. “You can’t hang out here, Bill. The captain is going to open the exterior doors.”

Harts’ head drooped and he sighed. “Oh, good. I heard you shouting. I thought I might hide and wait for you to go.”

“Bill…” Jack stepped forward another pace. “We need to get off this deck.” Jack reached out. “Come on, Bill.”

“I can’t,” Bill shouted. He turned toward Jack, a pulse pistol in his hand. He pointed it at Jack, his hand quivering. “I can’t do it anymore.”

Jack took a step back, his eyes fixed on the pulse pistol. He held his hands up before him. “Easy, Bill. No one wants to hurt anyone, right?”

“I can’t do it!” Bill shouted. He held the pistol to his head. “I tried, Jack. I’ve tried so kravin hard to beat it.”

Jack took a step forward. Slowly and softly. He moved toward Bill Harts. “Bill. We can help you.”

Harts shook his head, letting his hand drop to his side. “No, you can’t. I’ve lost. I tried to fight them so hard.”

Bill sounded pitiful, and Jack felt sorry for his former squad-mate. Then Harts’ voice turned vicious and his eyes fell on Jack. The pistol came up.

“You think you fought them, Jack. You don’t know what they’re like.” Bill pointed the pistol to the side of his head. “You don’t know what they are like until they’re in your head.” Snot and tears fell from Harts’ face.

Jack stepped forward. “You’re fighting them now, aren’t you, Bill?” Jack came closer.

Harts nodded and sobbed. “I fight them, but they’re winning. The only way I can get them to stop is…” Harts brought the pistol up again. His hand quivered. He let out a loud growl of anger, rising to a crescendo, then he dropped his hand and fell silent again, head dropped forward. “They won’t let me do it. The only way is to go out there.” Harts pointed at the exterior door. “I’ve been sitting here for an hour trying to finally end the fight. I can’t let them win. I’m going to win. And when you said the deck would be vented to space, then I knew. They can’t stop me going out there.”

Jack took another step forward. Harts raised the pistol and pointed it at Jack.

“They won’t stop me from killing you, Jack.” Harts voice was clear and stable. His hand steady. “Oh, no. They will definitely let me kill you.” He looked toward the porthole. “How long do we have to wait?”

“It’s okay, Bill,” Jack said. “We’ve got all the time we need. Come on, let’s get you off this deck and let the medics take a look at you. We can help you fight this thing.” Jack began to realize what was happening to Harts and Finch. The Chitins had taken control of them, but something was stopping them from taking full control of Harts.

“You can fight them in the med bay, Bill.” Jack held out a hand.

The hangar deck was suddenly filled with a bright white light. Jack squinted, but Bill Harts fell to the floor screaming, his hands covering his face. The pistol fell from his grip.

Jack kicked the pistol aside and moved toward the other man. He grabbed Harts’ collar and pulled him up.

“We have to go now, Marine. Clear this deck, now. That is an order.”

“I can’t,” Harts wailed. “I have to end it. You can’t order me anymore.” Bill Harts looked up at Jack and smiled. “How long is left, Jack?”

The lights dimmed again and Jack knew he had only seconds to get off the deck or he would be blown out into the void along with Harts. Bill Harts had been the first person Jack had spoken to after he had been drafted into the fleet Marines. He was not going to be the last.

“Sorry about what happened to you, Bill.” Jack stepped away.

“It’s been good to know you, Jack.” Harts smiled. “Sorry I stole your watch.”

“Come with me,” Jack said as he backed away.

Bill Harts stepped toward the exterior door. “Watch out for Finch. He’s not Finch anymore.” He looked through the porthole. “Better run, Jack. I know how well you can run.”

Jack turned and ran. He bent over and scooped up the fallen pulse pistol. He couldn’t do anything about Bill Harts, but he couldn’t let the pistol fly off toward the Chits. Jack ran toward the distant doorway. It lay twenty meters away. Jack guessed he had a little over ten seconds before the deck would be vented.

A group of Marines stood in the doorway. They shouted and urged Jack to run to them. Jack realized he wasn’t going to make it.

“Close the door.” Jack dropped out of his run. He came alongside a tactical drop ship. “Close it now. That’s an order.”

Then the lights went out.

Five.

Jack stepped to the tac boat door control.

Four.

“Close that inner door, Marines.”

Three.

The tac boat door began to open and Jack heard the interior door come sliding across to seal the Marine hangar deck from the rest of the ship.

Two.

Jack climbed inside the tac boat before the door was fully open.

One.

Jack began pressing the controls to close the door, knowing nothing would happen until the opening sequence finished.

The rush of air screeched in Jack’s ears as the air was sucked out of the hangar.

Jack felt the air inside the tac boat blow him toward the partially open door. He grabbed the webbing used to secure equipment and wrapped his arm around it. The screeching ended, but the wind speed increased. The tac boat door was fully open and Jack was being blown toward the opening. The pulse pistol flew away from him. His hair blew across his face. He reached out and slapped the door controls. The door began to close and the wind dropped.

The air inside the tac boat was thin and Jack felt dizzy. He stumbled toward a locker and tugged it open. A respirator fell out and dropped to the floor. Jack fell onto it, grabbed it with numb hands, and lifted it clumsily to his face.

The cold air of the respirator filled his lungs. Jack coughed and choked on the dry air. He took a second deep breath and felt the feeling return to his hands. He was still dizzy, but he was no longer in fear for his life. He stood up and walked toward the cockpit. Looking out through the transparent composite, he saw that the Marine deck hangar doors were fully open. He saw a dark shape he recognized.

Jack had been close to a Chitin Leviathan before. He had feared for his life then as he did now. The massive craft sat in space next to the open hangar door. The two ships seemed to be flying in close formation. If the calculations were correct, then the Scorpio would sail past and narrowly miss the massive craft. If the calculations were wrong, then any number of bad things could happen and the Chitins would detect the Scorpio. Jack knew they would be attacked and destroyed in moments.

He watched the massive craft with its many trailing tentacles drifting across his view. It was an impressive and terrifying sight. Out there was Jack’s most deadly enemy. Jack held his breath, afraid that his breathing might give them away.

But then he took a calming breath and looked out to the void. Although the Chitin armada was massive, the view around the Leviathan was mostly empty space. And Jack knew that somewhere out there in that vast void was his old squad-mate, someone he had once called his friend. Somewhere out there was Bill Harts.

8

The officers’ lounge was empty save for Jack and Griff. Jack stood to attention in front of Commander Griff, who was sitting in a large chair with a translucent composite tumbler in his hand filled with bright amber liquid.

“Sounds like you did what you could,” Griff said, taking a small sip from his drink. “Surveillance was out on that deck. We didn’t want to inadvertently give away out position with a flicker of light from a surveillance camera.”

Jack was staring at a spot on the far wall. He didn’t see Griff looking up at him. All Jack could see was the image of the Leviathan, burned on his mind, and the last look from Bill Harts, broken and beaten.

“Sit down, Jack,” Griff said.

Jack sat next to Commander Griff. He leaned forward, his arms resting on his knees.

“Drink?” Griff stood and walked to the small drinks cabinet.

“No, thank you, Harry,” Jack said, staring at the floor.

Griff brought a tumbler of the same amber liquid and handed it to Jack. “It wasn’t an offer, Commander.” Griff held the drink under Jack’s nose. “It’s an order. I’m acting Battalion Commander, remember? Drink.”

Jack looked up at Griff as he took the drink. The tumbler was heavy. Jack raised it to his lips and cringed slightly. The liquid smelled like medicine, dry and aromatic.

“Drink,” Griff said again and sat down.

Jack put the tumbler to his mouth and drank. The liquid dried out his mouth and burned his throat and nose. He feared he would choke but he gulped the foul liquor, tipping the tumbler up and draining the contents. He pulled away, gasping and coughing.

“I think he likes it,” Griff said with a laugh.

“I should have saved him.” Jack wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. He felt the liquid burn as it went down as the spiced aroma sent his head into a spin.

“You couldn’t save him, Jack. A Marine will obey your orders because they are a Marine, not because you are scary and bossy. You give orders so your unit acts in a coordinated manner, not because they can’t think for themselves. Chain of command ensures coordinated action. You’ve fought with your squad and you’ve lost people, but you weren’t giving orders. Now you are in command, and you will lose people. It’s part of the responsibility of command.”

Griff stood up and poured another drink.

“Bill Harts had stopped being a Marine and he wasn’t taking orders any more. It’s not your fault. You mustn’t let it get to you.”

“So I shouldn’t feel remorse?” Jack said, putting his tumbler down hard. “Is that it, Harry?” Jack felt angry. “I have to stop caring?”

Griff turned around and faced Jack. “Not at all. I feel for every man I’ve lost. Do you have any idea how many Marines have died under my command?”

Jack looked up.

“Forty-three,” Griff said before Jack could answer. “And now I’m acting battalion commander, I can add Marine Bill Harts to that number. I feel for them all, Jack. If I didn’t care for my Marines, I’d be a poor leader. If I cared so much I couldn’t order them into danger, I’d be a worse leader. The objective is key. On this occasion, your objective was to clear the hangar deck and save the Scorpio from certain destruction. We’ve got over five hundred Marines in the battalion, not to mention the Scorpio’s crewmen and all the fleet officers. They are all safe thanks to your actions. I’d say you did well, Jack. I’d say you did very well.”

Jack was starting to feel better about it all when Visser marched into the officers’ lounge.

“Leave us, Commander,” she barked coldly.

Jack turned on his heel and walked toward the door. He didn’t mind getting out of there and leaving Visser to chew out Griff. He felt a little sorry for Griff, but was happy to be leaving. Maybe he could stop by maintenance, review the defense preparations, drink a coffee, and hang out with Reyes.

“Not you, Forge,” Visser said sharply. “I meant Commander Griff.”

Jack stepped back into the center of the lounge. Griff gave him an apologetic look as he left. Visser followed Griff to the door and shut it behind him.

“What happened down there, Jack?” Visser sat in a chair. She held her hand out and invited Jack to sit in the seat next to her.

“Bill Harts was trying to commit suicide.”

“I’d say he succeeded. Did he tell you why?”

Jack slumped in the armchair. “He said the Chits were inside him.”

Visser nodded. She looked at Jack intently. He could feel her eyes burrowing into him.

“He mentioned Finch. Said Finch isn’t Finch anymore.”

Visser nodded. “Did Bill Harts touch you?”

“No.” Jack’s head lolled forward. The drink was going straight to his head.

He felt a shudder ripple over his body, thinking of Bill Harts. Jack felt cold. The wind that had nearly blown him out of the Marine hangar deck still chilled him to the bone. The thought that he could be floating in the void chilled him. The thought of Bill Harts’ frozen body spiraling through space chilled Jack so much he almost felt his bones crack.

“Where’s Finch?” Jack asked weakly.

“I’ve had him confined.”

“So you believe me, he’s not Finch anymore?”

“I believe he might be a danger to himself. I’ve confined him for his own safety.” Visser stood and placed a hand on Jack’s shoulder. “But if anything occurs to you, Jack, anything that you think might help us understand what’s going on with Finch, anything at all, let me know.”

Jack nodded.

Visser squeezed Jack’s shoulder hard. “Anything at all, such as what might have happened to Finch on Kratos. Anything you might know about how he went missing. Anything could be important. You tell me.”

Jack felt cold and tired. He felt burdened by the secret he’d kept for so long. He wanted to burst out and tell Visser that Finch was killed, stabbed by Reyes’s electron blade. He knew he would have to explain it had been an accident. Finch was behaving like a scared fool. Jack hoped he could convince Visser that he and Reyes were innocent, but now they were guilty of another crime— withholding information from a Fleet Intelligence agent. How Jack wished he could go back and change everything. But it was all Finch’s fault. Why should he and Reyes live in such fear because Finch was a bad commander and a coward? Why should they suffer because now he was…? Jack wondered what exactly Finch was. Instinctively, Jack knew. Finch was a Chitin in a human skin.

“If I remember anything,” Jack said, looking up at Visser, “I’ll let you know.”

9

Jack finished eating and pushed his plate aside. Sam Torent refilled Jack’s cup with water from a jug on the table.

“Feeling better, sir?” Torent sat opposite Jack on the hard benches of the mess hall.

“You don’t have to call me sir when there’s no one around, Sam.”

“You never know who’ll be listening. Better follow protocol, just to be sure. Sir.”

Jack shrugged. Torent was in many ways a law unto himself. Jack could order Torent to stop calling him sir, but it might not make any difference.

“So,” Torent said. “Old Bill Harts threw himself off the ship. Good riddance to bad rubbish, I say.”

“He was a piece of work,” Jack agreed. “Making me hate you.”

Torent smiled. “He didn’t have to try very hard, did he?”

Jack laughed and shook his head. “You’re an easy man to hate, Sam.”

Torent laughed and took a drink, then put the cup down carefully.

Jack noticed the slightly pained expression on Torent’s face. Torent moved his prosthetic arm through its range of movement. He grimaced as he hit a painful spot.

“Arm ok?” Jack asked.

Torent grabbed the wrist of his prosthetic and twisted it. The arm came away in Torent’s hand. He pulled it away, a mass of composite sinews disconnecting, and dropped it on the table. The fingers were twitching and the black composite sinews that connected it to Torent’s body were writhing about. In time, the fingers and sinews stopped.

“I used to steal contact lenses for my mother,” Torent said. He took hold of one of the black composite sinews between finger and thumb and examined it. “We couldn’t afford implants and she kept losing her glasses. Lenses seemed like a good idea.” Torent dropped the sinew he was studying and picked out another from the bunch. “She used to put the lenses in and forget about them. She was very forgetful. After a few days—” Torent selected another sinew and began studying it. “—she used to get really bad headaches and complain that her eyes were hurting. After a while, I realized she was getting tiny pieces of grit behind her lens and it was hurting her eye.”

Torent went through the sinews one at a time, studying each one. “The grit behind her lens was driving her crazy.” Torent studied another sinew and let out a yell of success. He held it toward Jack for him to see the fine end. “Look,” Torent said, “it’s corroded. It drives me crazy. It’s like a rusty nail in my brain.” Torent reached into his pocket and pulled out a small stiff brush. He held the sinew steady by resting the stump of his arm on it and then scrubbed the end of the composite sinew with the small brush. After a few moments, he studied it again. Seemingly satisfied the sinew was clean, he picked his arm up. The sinews writhed slowly as Torent raised it toward his arm. The sinews found their way into their positions. The arm pulled itself onto Torent’s upper arm and locked in place. Torent put it through a few experimental movements.

“Better?” Jack asked.

Torent nodded and picked up his cup with his prosthetic arm. “Yeah, all good, except for the waiting.” He looked at Jack. “Sitting and waiting. That’s all we do.”

“Indeed we do, Sam. Sit and wait.”

“But that is what war is, right, sir?” Torent said lightly. “Ninety-nine percent boredom and one percent complete and utter terror.” Torent raised his cup. “Cheers.”

Jack knocked his glass against Torent’s. Both took a sip.

“Any idea when we’ll get our next dose of terror?”

Jack shook his head and stood up. “I’ll let you know. If we’re going to have a fight, I want sixth squad at my side. You get me?”

Torent looked up at Jack. “You mean if you’re going to die, you want to take me and the rest of the squad with you?”

“Something like that.” Jack stepped away from the table. “Thanks for lunch, Sam.”

“My pleasure, sir. See you when the terror hits.”

Osho came running into the mess hall. Jack looked over to her and called out. She came running over.

“She looks busy,” Torent said.

“I left her as the captain’s runner,” Jack said. “Looks like the terror might be close.”

Osho stood in front of Jack and gave a salute. “The captain requests all battalion commanders to report to the command deck immediately.”

Jack poured water into his cup and handed it to Osho. “Thank you, Marine. Take a moment then join me on the command deck.” He turned to Torent. “Better get the squad together. I want you on standby, Sam.” Jack turned and walked off. “See you soon.”

“Hope not,” Torent replied loudly and then after a longer pause than protocol demanded, he added, “sir.”

Jack liked Torent’s brash arrogance, and he was good in a fight. He suspected they’d get plenty of fighting soon.

10

The command deck was bustling. Commander Chou was dashing from one command station to another. Captain Pretorius was moving around the holostage, tapping at various controls. Commanders Griff and Matavesi were yet to arrive. Jack stepped up to the holostage.

The center of the holostage showed the Scorpio. Jack had been aboard the ship for most of his active service. He had walked every inch of the destroyer and he’d seen it on the holostage many times, but still Jack thought it was an impressive ship. Even though it was only about seventy percent operational, it looked powerful and dangerous. The batteries of plasma cannons looked like they could take on the entire Chitin fleet. Jack knew the captain was a successful and experienced warrior. The crew was efficient, and their reduced numbers meant they needed to be. Jack felt privileged to be part of such a ship.

Ahead of the Scorpio lay a small object. Jack guessed the captain had brought the Scorpio to the Chitin surveillance facility.

“Looks like we are ready to get to work, Mister Forge,” the captain said as he moved around the holostage to his regular position.

Griff and Matavesi came in together and joined Jack and the captain at the holostage.

“So that’s it, is it?” Griff said, leaning toward the holoimage of the Chitin device.

“That’s it,” Pretorius said. “The signals are clear. There is no doubt. We are tracing the energy pulse from the unit and we’ll have the positions of the adjacent facilities soon. Commander Griff, your task is to board the facility and plant the pulse charges. We don’t want to give away our position until we can be sure we can take out the network.”

“Yes, Captain,” Griff said. “Stealth is the key. The boarding party will infiltrate and lay the charges. We have been equipped with a high-yield demolition charge that is focused to initiate a feedback pulse. Once all devices are in place, the detonation will initiate the pulse that will spread at light speed through the network.”

“All we have to do is plant the things,” Matavesi said. “The Chitin surveillance network will do the rest.”

Pretorius nodded. His expression serious and focused. Jack noticed he showed no excitement at the prospect of the destruction, but was totally focused on getting the job done as efficiently and cleanly as possible.

Griff carried on with his plan. “We’ll traverse the space between the Scorpio and the facility using the meat suit’s thruster packs.”

The captain looked at Griff with concern.

“It’s just a jet thruster system,” Griff told the captain. “We won’t create any detectable signal.”

“Good,” Pretorius said. “The Scorpio is slowing down using forward jet thrusters alone. We still can’t use any powered energy system.”

Jack raised his hand and looked at the captain. “Once we lay the charges, how are we going to get moving again?” Jack felt the gaze of the Marine commanders fall on him.

“We can only use the thrusters to get us going again. The next facility in the network could be weeks away at thruster speed but if we are going to succeed, we must remain hidden. The Scorpio’s maneuvering thrusters are our only propulsion option.”

Matavesi cleared her throat. “Who’s going?” she asked.

The captain looked at Matavesi. “The infiltration and demo setting is a Marine operation.” He looked over to Griff. “It’s your show, Commander. Have you decided on your team?”

Jack was studying the small Chitin facility. It looked about the size of a Marine squad transport craft. It was roughly cylindrical in shape with one long arm protruding from the midsection. There were more antennae type structures sticking out at various angles, each a different length but all extremely thin. From what appeared to be the base of the facility, there were eight thick tentacles extended outwards in a twisting and coiling manner. They appeared to move slowly as if drifting on some current.

Jack guessed the best way to gain entry to the interior would be through the hull away from any of the tentacles or antennae. A cutting tool would be probably required.

Jack realized Griff was looking at him. He stood up straight and faced his commanding officer.

“Yes?” Jack said.

Griff looked at Jack with a mixture of admiration and concern. “Jack, I want you to take the duty.”

Jack looked back to the Chitin device and nodded.

“Copy that,” Jack said. He tapped a control panel and zeroed the display in on the Chitin device. It grew to fill the holostage.

“The Scorpio will slow, but I cannot stop her completely.” Pretorius looked at Jack with a firm expression. “You’ll need to get in, lay your charges, and get out in a short window or you won’t be able to get back to the ship.”

“Draw weapons, ammunition, and demolition charges,” Griff said to Jack. “I’ll let you select your team. Do you know who you want to take?”

Jack looked again at the facility. Hopefully, he wouldn’t meet much resistance. They would have the element of surprise, but Jack knew he would need Marines he could trust in a fight. The mission was a stealth operation, so he’d need someone who could move quickly and quietly. He’d need someone with a degree of brute strength to help get through that Chitin hull. And Jack wanted to have someone along who understood the Chitin technology.

“I’ll assemble my team and be ready to go in thirty minutes.” Jack looked closely at the holoimage. There were so many unknowns with this operation. Were there any Chitin soldiers on board? Were there any security systems? Had the Scorpio already been detected? So much could go wrong. There was so much that needed to go right. Jack and his team needed to cross open space, gain entry, plant the charges, and get back before the Scorpio left them behind.

Commander Chou stepped up next to Pretorius and handed him a file. Pretorius took a quick look.

“Looks like we’ve found the next device in the network. The quicker you can get back the less speed I’ll have to take out of the Scorpio. We could be at the next device in a matter of days.”

Jack nodded and stepped away from the holostage. “I’ll assemble my team in the airlock right away, Captain.”

“Remember, it’s a stealth operation. Don’t give away your presence,” Pretorius said. “We won’t have succeeded until we have taken down the network. We should be hidden from the Chitins once the network is down. Then we can fire up the reactor and race for home space. But for now, soft and quiet. Clear?”

Jack nodded. “Clear, Captain.” He looked over to Griff. “I’ll get it done.”

11

Jack stood on the Marine deck in front of his team. They were all fully suited except for the helmet that each member of the team held under their arm. Jack had a large bag with the demolition charges lying at his feet. It weighed close to a hundred kilos and would atomize the facility when it was detonated. The team was armed only with pulse pistols. Jack had decided that the pulse rifle might be too big to be effective if the interior of the Chitin facility was cramped. They would be better served by the small sidearm.

The pulse pistols were all rigged with an electron blade, a short version of the electron bayonet that was an integral part of the pulse rifle. Jack hoped they wouldn’t need the blades for close-quarters fighting. They would probably be used only as a cutting tool, not a weapon.

“I’ve assembled the four of you here for a short operation to lay explosive charges on a Chit facility. We are going to fly across to the facility, find a way in, set the charges, and get back on board the Scorpio. We need to be quick and quiet.”

Jack walked along the front of the small team.

Sam Torent had his game face on. The man had seen plenty of action and he was one of the calmest Marines Jack had ever seen. Torent was fearless and the first name on the list. Jack felt better having his old squad-mate along.

Jenks was a brute. Jack disliked the man. He was uncivilized, ugly, and needlessly violent. Where Sam Torent was cool under fire, Jenks seemed to relish it. He possessed a bloodlust that Jack found unsettling, but the man was strong and a good fighter. Jack hoped they wouldn’t need him.

Osho was one of 6th squads best all-round Marines. She was fit, fast, determined, and clever. She was an invaluable addition to a stealth mission.

Finally, Sarah Reyes. She was not a Marine, but she’d been in the thick of the action more than once. She was the closest thing to a Chitin expert the fleet had. She was an exceptional engineer and seemed to understand any machine and its workings intuitively. It was almost as if the machines talked to her and told her how they worked and how she could fix them. She had been able to understand Chitin technology in a way no one else Jack had ever met could. If Jack would’ve had to choose just one person to accompany him on this mission, it would be Reyes. With her along, their chances of success increased. The only problem was Jack liked her and he didn’t want to put her in danger. But if they didn’t complete this operation, the entire human population of the system would be in danger. Jack had to take Reyes. He trusted the rest of his team to keep her safe.

“Okay, team,” Jack said, turning and walking back across the line. “I will lead us across to the facility, and hopefully Reyes will find a way in and a good spot to plant the charge. You listen to her, get me?”

The team nodded. “Yes, sir.”

Jack stood in front of the team. “We are exiting from the Marine hangar deck’s secondary airlock. The facility will be dead ahead.” The lights on the Marine deck blinked on and off as a signal from the command deck that the Scorpio was in position.

“This is a small operation that will have a massive impact on our chances of victory in this kravin’ war.” Jack looked at each member of his team briefly. “Helmets on. To the airlock.” Jack pulled his helmet over his head. He heard it lock into place. The display lit up, the enhanced data overlay showing him the names and vitality of each of his team in a small data box displayed over their left shoulder. He noticed Reyes’s heart rate climbing. He stepped over to her as Torent, Osho, and Jenks jogged past toward the Marine hangar deck. Jack grabbed the bag filled with the demolitions and slung it over his shoulder.

Jack placed a hand on Reyes’s shoulder and leaned in closely. “You are probably the most important person on the team. We’ll keep you safe. Okay?”

“I don’t mind the Chitin facility,” she said. “It’s the empty space I’m worried about.”

Jack patted her on the shoulder. “We’ll be fine. The meat suit will pilot itself,” he assured her. “Just look at your destination. You ready?”

Reyes shook her head.

“Are you confident I can look after you?” Jack pressed his helmet against Reyes’s.

Reyes nodded. “Let me hold on to you when we go across,” she said.

Jack held out his hand and took hers. “I’ve got you,” he said. “Let’s go.”

Jack ran with Reyes toward the hangar deck. The team was already inside the small secondary airlock. Jack led Reyes inside and closed the door behind him. He tapped a few controls on the sleeve of his meat suit and activated the decompression panel. Jack tapped the decompression key and turned to face the outer airlock door. The enhanced data overlay alerted him with a message that the air pressure was dropping. Suit pressure was good. Meat suit life support systems were operational.

The data over Reyes’s shoulder showed her heart rate was climbing still further. Jack accessed the pharmaceutical systems of her suit and using a command override, initiated the administration of a mild sedative. The medical data on Reyes showed a sudden improvement in her condition. Her heart rate dropped and her breathing became more settled. Jack noticed his own heart rate was climbing. He didn’t need a sedative, he just needed to focus.

The airlock’s outer door began to slide open. The view of the dark void caused Jack to gasp suddenly for air. The heart rates of each of his team jumped momentarily as they found themselves standing on the edge of the deep abyss, and there, away in the distance, a small shimmering object: the Chitin facility.

“Wow,” Reyes said in wonder.

Jack noticed from her medical data that she was calm.

“I’ll take point. Move out on my mark.” Jack stepped toward the edge of the airlock, deep empty space in all directions. He stepped away from the Scorpio and out into the darkness.

12

The only point of reference was the Chitin facility and it grew steadily, like an image projected onto a black screen, an image that grew moment by moment.

Accessing a rear-view projection on his helmet visor, Jack checked the progress of his team. They were arranged in a line behind him at intervals of only a few paces. And further behind them, falling away into the black, was the Scorpio, shrinking to a tiny spot in the vast emptiness.

Jack had no sensation of moving. It felt as if he was hanging in space, stationary. The Chitin facility up ahead seemed to grow while the Scorpio behind seemed to shrink at the same rate. Only when the distance to the target facility was reduced to a few hundred meters did Jack begin to sense actual movement.

The Chitin facility was small compared to the Scorpio. On the holostage, it had looked insignificant, but as Jack came closer, he realized it was a massive, towering structure. It was the height of six-story tower block, and he began to feel small next to it. The tentacle-like structures protruding from the bottom moved gently, like the tentacles of a sea creature drifting in a slow ocean current. Jack feared the facility might come alive and those tentacles would reach out and pluck them out of the black, consuming them like a predatory creature does its prey.

But Jack was not the prey. He was a stealth killer. This Chitin facility wouldn’t even know they had been on board. They would sneak in, deposit their deadly package, and be far away without being detected. If not, then Jack and the entire Scorpio crew would certainly be destroyed. Jack felt his breathing become heavy and loud. He took a hold of his nerves and traversed the final few meters to the Chitin facility.

Bringing himself to a halt with his suit’s small thruster jets, Jack hovered just a meter from the hull of the Chitin facility. It was made from the same black, shiny material as the Chitin space craft. It had a tough and durable quality to it. Jack turned and waved his team in.

Using hand signals alone, Jack sent the team on a scouting mission to locate a likely entry point to the facility. All EM frequencies were isolated and the team had no other communication options while they were in the void of space.

Jack and Reyes waited while Torent, Osho, and Jenks flew off in various directions. Jack gave Reyes a sign that all was okay. As soon as an entry point was found, they would sneak inside. Jack reached out and took Reyes’s hand. He was always hoping for some moment where he could be alone with her. She was amazing, and Jack felt that she liked him too. They hung together in space. It was almost frustrating that even though they were alone, they could not talk. They could not touch. And with the radiation shields activated on the helmet faceplate, they could not even see each other’s faces. Jack felt Reyes squeeze his hand.

Osho was first to return. She floated in front of Jack and pointed along the facility. She’d found a possible entry point. They waited for a few minutes until Torent and Jenks returned. Jack indicated they were all to follow Osho.

Drifting over the surface of the facility was strangely relaxing. Jack floated within reach of the surface. It was tempting to reach out and run his fingers over the surface, but they would not touch the facility until the last moment.

Osho continued to the top of the facility and the flat upper surface. Jack waved Reyes toward it. Reyes inspected it as the rest of the team floated behind. There was a groove about four millimeters wide and the same deep. It was running in an ellipse that was about four meters at its widest and only two at the narrowest. Reyes floated over the surface and followed the ellipse until she turned to Jack and gave a thumbs up. She turned back to the hull and pressed her fingers into the groove.

The ellipse sunk deeper into the hull and then slid aside. Jack shone a lamp into the cavity and saw a large space big enough for two Chitin soldiers, or four of his team.

Jack sent Torent in first and then Osho. He sent Reyes in next. Then turning to Jenks, he instructed the last member of the team to hold and wait on the exterior.

Jack floated into the space and once inside, nodded at Reyes for her to continue. Reyes reached up and again by pressing her fingers into the edge of the opening, caused the elliptical panel to slide back into place.

The moment the panel locked home, the space began to flood with a dense liquid. The fluid pumped in from nozzles on the side and base of the space. In zero-gravity, the liquid floated in long tube-like tongues, splitting and breaking up into spheres that drifted around the cavity, colliding and connecting with each other until every empty space was filled with the dense liquid. It had the consistency of a rich cream, but it was completely transparent.

When the cavity was finally full, a panel at their feet slid away.

A long tunnel appeared at their feet and ran vertically downward. The tunnel was flooded with the same dense fluid. All around the walls of the tunnel were groups of tentacles of various colors and thicknesses. They seemed to be grouped in multicolored groups, each a different length, from a few centimeters to a meter long, and various thickness, from some the thickness of a human arm to others as fine as a hair. They all stood rigid but appeared soft and malleable.

Reyes started downward. Jack motioned Torent and Osho to follow. With his team floating ahead of him in the dense fluid, Jack wondered if he should be leading from the front. But Reyes was keen to study the Chitin facility and had gone ahead. He hoped she could discover something that would help them. Jack swam downward, moving easily through the dense liquid.

Heading through the liquid-filled tunnel, Jack drew his pulse pistol. The weapon was designed to function in various environments from total vacuum to subaqueous. He had no reason to believe it wouldn’t work in this strange environment, but he had a strong urge to test it. Instead, he drew a sample of the fluid into his suit’s environment sampling device for the Scorpio’s laboratory to test when he got back.

Reyes had stopped at a junction halfway along the tunnel. Jack came alongside her and looked. Four new tunnels ran off in different directions, a crossroads in the middle of the facility.

Jack didn’t know where to go first. He turned to Reyes and gave her the option. Reyes picked a direction and headed off along the first tunnel. Jack sent Osho after her and then turning to Torent, instructed him to hold position at the central tunnel junction.

Following Reyes and Osho along the short tunnel, Jack soon came out into a wide space. It was coated with many tight bunches of multicolored tentacles. Reyes was examining the room closely, studying the collections of tentacles. She paused at one bunch for a moment and then went to another on the opposite wall. She moved easily in the fluid and studied one after another.

Jack floated up next to her and she made a sign of someone holding a handgun. She mimed the firing of the weapon. She pointed at the bunches of tentacles protruding from the walls and again mimed the firing of a gun.

Jack wondered for a moment and then guessed that Reyes had found a weapons control room. The facility was armed. Jack was suddenly concerned that they were on a military-grade Chitin craft, despite Reyes’s enthusiasm for the strange facility.

Reyes swam out of the room and crossed the vertical corridor to the room opposite.

Jack followed. The next room was the same dimensions as the weapons control room, and as far as Jack could tell, the walls were covered in identical bunches of colored tentacles. Reyes was darting about, swimming in the dense, clear liquid, and studying one bunch after the next.

Reyes turned to Jack. She put her hands at her throat and wobbled her head side to side. It looked as if she was choking. Jack worried that some of the fluid had gotten into her suit somehow, but he checked her health data and saw that she was fine, if a little excited. Then Jack realized, Reyes was miming again. She did the action again, someone choking. Jack got it. This was the life support control room.

Jack followed Reyes to the third room. Reyes studied the clusters. Jack began to realize that the tentacle clusters were the Chitin’s control interface. Reyes turned to Jack and made a sign that looked like flying. Reyes had deduced that this was the propulsion control room.

Jack was about to ask Reyes to find a spot for the demolition charges, but she was off again, swimming out of the propulsion control room and back to the junction. Jack was slow to follow, slowed by the large bag over his shoulder.

The last room looked almost identical to the others but as Jack watched Reyes, he began to see subtle differences in the bunches of tentacles. He couldn’t tell what any single bunch was supposed to do, but Reyes was moving excitedly between them and studying them closely.

After a few moments, she swam back to Jack. She made a sign with her hand as if she was telling Jack someone was talking. She pointed to the collections of tentacles and made the sign again. Jack was confused for a moment but then he realized what Reyes was saying. They were in a communications room.

Jack held up the strap of the bag containing the demolition device. He shook it gently, miming that they needed to set the charge. Reyes nodded and beckoned for Jack to follow her. She swam to one cluster of fat orange tentacles. She ran her fingers over one or two and then grabbed one firmly. She gave it a tug and the whole cluster came away from the wall. Inside was a branching network of tentacles and fibers. Reyes pointed at the space behind the cluster.

Jack realized it would be a good fit for the demolition. Jack pressed the bag containing the device into cavity. Once it was placed, Reyes returned the cluster. With a few tugs of one tentacle and then another, the panel snapped back into place, causing a small stream of bubbles to float out from the panel.

Reyes gave Jack a thumbs up. The device was set. They could leave. Jack looked again at the area Reyes had removed and could see no signs that the area had been touched. Reyes nodded and gave a thumbs up again. Jack didn’t want his work to be for nothing, but he had to trust Reyes. If she couldn’t find the best position for the demolition charge on this facility, then no one could. Jack signed for them to leave.

Back at the junction, Torent was floating in the tunnel to the exit and Osho was in the opening of the tunnel that led to the propulsion room. Jack looked down along the central tunnel. At the end there was an opening into another room. He tapped Reyes on the shoulder and pointed down, then he made a sign for Osho and Reyes to follow him. He took out his pulse pistol and set off, swimming directly down the central tunnel.

At the bottom, the tunnel opened into a wide area. It was like a large upturned bowl. Around the sides of the bowl were small recesses, each surrounded by a fringe of long, fine tentacles. Reyes went on down into the space. It was the single biggest area the facility had. Jack followed Reyes, but he knew he was much more cautious than the excited Chitin expert.

Reyes swam around the perimeter, looking briefly at the collections of tentacles and the recesses. After a short time, she swam back to Jack.

Jack held out his hands as if to ask what she had learned. Reyes floated close to Jack, suddenly cautious. She held her palms together, held them next to her head, and leaned her head to one side.

Sleeping.

Jack looked down at the recesses and saw the dark figures within. Next to the recesses, in the clusters of tentacles, he saw the outline of a Chitin soldier’s suit—the large, black, smooth shell of the Chitin soldier.

Jack aimed his pulse pistol. Reyes held her hand over the top of the weapon and pushed it down. She shook her head slowly and pointed up.

Jack guessed what she meant, and he agreed. It was time to leave.

Jack sent the team ahead of him and followed to the exit above. He glanced briefly over his shoulder as he entered the exit chamber. Reyes tugged at a tentacle and the panel closed under their feet.

And as the liquid drained away, leaving them in a vacuum, Jack knew they had completed the first step of their mission to destroy the Chitin surveillance network. He hoped the next step would go as smoothly. The top panel of the exit chamber slid aside and Jack sent his team out into the void of space and back to the Scorpio.

13

“I can’t believe they were in there the whole time,” Torent said as he climbed out of his suit.

“They were there, but they weren’t,” Reyes said.

“That’s a bit too cryptic for me,” Torent said. He looked at Jack, “Can you translate?”

“Not really,” Jack said. He took the sample cartridge from his meat suit that contained the dense fluid that filled the Chitin facility. “Care to elaborate?” he said to Reyes.

“I think they were asleep, but a long sleep, more like hibernation. They are probably dormant until they need to perform some task.”

“Like what?” Jack asked. He tossed his meat suit on the equipment drone to be taken away for post-operation testing and refit.

“Well,” Reyes said uncertainly, “if it’s a monitoring facility, I guess they have to relay communications or coordinate surveillance operations. I don’t know for sure, but I am sure that our presence didn’t alert them or they would have woken up.”

“What if they were just waiting for us to leave?” Osho said, pulling a jacket over her cold skin.

“I’ll go and report to Commander Griff and make sure that captain knows to keep a close eye on that facility. Maybe we just got lucky this time.”

“Oh, well,” Torent said. “There goes all our luck. We never get lucky twice. Don’t take me on the next mission, sir.” He walked past Jack and gave him cheeky smile.

“Good work out there, team,” Jack said. “I think you all deserve to accompany me again next time.”

“Remind me not to do so well next time,” Torent said.

“You couldn’t do badly if you tried,” Jack called after him. “Take the next watch off, guys,” Jack said. “You earned the rest.”

Jack, on the other hand, didn’t have time for a rest. He had to brief his commanding officer. He had to brief the captain. He had to deliver the sample to the lab and check if it would interfere with their weapons. He had a report to write. Jack would spend the rest of the watch in meetings and briefings. It would be some time before he got to rest.

Jack was starting to wonder if there were any benefits to rank. So far, it seemed like work, work, and more work. And when the work was done, there was the same threat and danger and risk as every other fleet Marine had to endure. It clearly took a special kind of Marine to make it in command. Jack wondered what people had seen in him that made them think he had the necessary ability for all this responsibility.

Reyes came over and stood next to him. She was wearing a loose Marine utility jacket.

“You want to walk me back to maintenance? Grab a coffee?” She reached out and touched Jack’s hand.

Jack felt a flush of heat as he blushed. He looked at Reyes’s big, dark eyes. “Later,” he said. “I’ve got work to do. You did great over there.” Jack moved away. “I’ve got to tell the captain to keep a close watch on that facility. Don’t want all our stealthy creeping about to come to nothing.”

Reyes walked with Jack to the junction where they would part.

“I’ll see you soon,” she said.

Jack hoped he would. As soon as she was out of sight, he ran toward the command deck.

Captain Pretorius was in his chair on the command deck. The image of the Chitin facility on the holostage was shrinking slowly as the Scorpio moved toward the next target.

Commander Griff stepped away from the holostage and turned to the captain.

“Are we concerned about those unconscious Chits, Captain?”

Reading the report on his armrest holostage, Pretorius rubbed his chin and looked up to Commander Griff. “I am more concerned about conscious ones, Commander. Forge reported that the demolition charge was deployed out of sight.”

Griff walked over to the captain and lowered his voice. “Can we trust his judgment?”

Pretorius thought for a moment. “Forge is fresh, that’s true, but the kid has got what it takes. I’ve no doubt about his abilities, and so far, his tactical judgment has been spot on. He saved your ass, Commander.”

Griff nodded. If Jack Forge hadn’t been on hand at the Battle of Drydock, Griff could have been killed along with so many others. “He has performed well on the battlefield, but this was a very different operation.”

Pretorius fixed Griff with a fierce look. “It was a Marine operation, Commander. You had the authority. If you weren’t satisfied with Forge’s suitability for the job, you shouldn’t have given it to him.”

Griff nodded again. He had picked Jack for the task knowing that the new commander was a strong and competent leader who had gone toe to toe with the Chits on several occasions. Forge was smart and perceptive. He had always displayed excellent judgment. Griff knew there was no one better for the job of sneaking aboard a previously unknown Chitin craft.

“But what about the young woman he took with him?” Griff asked, as much to himself as the captain. “She’s not a Marine.”

“She has had her encounters with the Chits. More than any of these new recruits you’ve received recently.” Pretorius stepped down from his chair. He could sense Griff was concerned about the overall operation.

“What if the next facility is filled with Chitin soldiers?” Griff looked at the holoimage of the receding facility.

“Then your Marines will handle it.” Pretorius stepped over to the holostage and tapped the control panel on the side. The display changed to show the Scorpio. Pretorius shrank the Scorpio down so it was just a point of light. A label hovered over it, showing the ship’s speed and heading. Away on the other side of the holostage was another point of light, identified by its label as the second Chitin surveillance facility target.

Griff joined Pretorius at the holostage. “I’ll send Commander Forge again, Captain. He is the right man for the job.”

Pretorius nodded. “I’ve seen a lot of Marines on my ship in my time, Commander. I’ve seen company commanders and battalion majors come and go. They’ve all had the authority of rank, they have almost always been dedicated, they have occasionally been brave, and they have all been trained to it, but Jack Forge has come up from the ranks and he’s come up quick. He hasn’t been trained, because he didn’t need to be. He has authority in him. He wears it like his own skin. He’s comfortable with it. He has confidence in it. The people around him trust him with it. You can’t train that. You can’t teach that.”

Griff nodded. “He’s a good Marine.”

“And if this operation goes wrong,” Pretorius said, walking back to his chair, “it won’t be because of what one Marine commander did or didn’t do. It’ll be a combination of factors, maybe an error in the initial plan from Fleet Command and Control, maybe because the enemy simply won’t let us destroy their network. All we can do is take it one step at a time and remain confident in our people.”

Griff nodded. “He brought back that sample of fluid. That was good thinking.”

“Yeah,” Pretorius agreed. “The same chemical composition as a liquid layer of their home planet. That one sample has taught us a lot about the enemy.”

“Another reason for us to succeed, Captain. We need to get that information back to Fleet Command.”

“Another good reason to succeed,” Pretorius agreed. “We already have so many.”

14

Jack stood in the small corridor leading to the engine control room. Squad Leader Sam Torent stood at his side. A number of Marines were positioning large composite beams across the corridor, while the maintenance chief fused one end to the bulkhead with a molecular welder.

“That’s it,” Jack said. “The barricade is there to slow them down. The pulse rifles will stop them.”

“And a Marine, with a lot of courage,” Torent added.

“Sir, yes, sir,” the Marine replacements shouted in unison. Jack remembered his first time aboard the Scorpio and how regimented everything had been.

“One sir will be sufficient, Marines,” Jack said.

Sam Torent turned and spoke quietly. “Are you sure we shouldn’t just block up the corridor, sir?”

“We need to be able to move about the ship. I don’t want to cut off one part of the ship from the rest. We might need to send support.”

Torent nodded. Maintenance Chief Slim walked over to Jack. “That’s the last piece here. Where do you want me next?”

Jack walked over to the beams that crossed the corridor. He placed his foot on one of the beams and pressed hard. The composite beam was fixed, rigid. Jack nodded. He stepped through the gaps to the other side of the barricade.

“Sam, have some cover placed here.” Jack pointed at the deck on either side of the corridor. “Something that’ll take a plasma spear at close range.”

Torent nodded. “A composite plate should do it.”

Slim stuck his head through the beams that crossed the corridor and looked at the spot. “I can weld a couple of plates in, no problem, but I am running low on plate. How many Marines are you going to post here, Jack?”

Jack looked through to Torent and then over to the fresh-faced replacements, all eager and nervous. “As many as we can spare,” Jack said. He patted Torent on the shoulder. “Keep them working at it, Sam. I’m going to maintenance to review our progress.”

Numbers were all important and Jack knew he didn’t have them. The barricades were working well and a handful of Marines could hold off an army of Chitin soldiers, but only for so long. If just one of the defensive points failed, the whole ship would be lost.

Any one of the systems could be turned against the Scorpio. The fusion reactor in the engine room could be set to fly the Scorpio apart. Or the Chits could deactivate the engines and bring the Scorpio to a dead stop, making the ship a sitting target for the Chitin fighter craft.

The corridors leading to the gun batteries were important too. If the guns stopped firing during an attack, the Scorpio would be defenseless. The Kraken fighter craft could move in and rain a furious wave of fire on the Scorpio, or more of the Hydras could move in, attach themselves to the hull, and deliver more soldiers to the fight inside the ship, creating a runaway invasion that would be difficult to halt.

Life support systems were particularly vulnerable, so Jack was dedicating a large portion of his available force to protect them. If the Chits interrupted life support, the fight would be over. The Marines could fight on for days sustained by their meat suit support systems, but the Scorpio’s crew didn’t have such equipment available to them. Without a crew or command officers, the Scorpio was dead in the void.

The command deck was the next most vital area. Jack had to protect the captain and his command crew. Without the control center, the engines would have no guidance, the weapons no target. Life support kept everyone alive, but the command deck kept them in the fight.

Jack walked into the maintenance hangar, so preoccupied with his planning that he had just found his way there without thinking about where he was going. He had once found it difficult to find, hidden away in its temporary location in an abandoned hangar. That temporary location now had a look of permanence about it.

The hangar was empty. Slim and Reyes were both out on jobs, building the barricades at various points throughout the ship. Jack poured himself a coffee and accessed a holomap of the ship.

The barricades were looking strong. Jack checked their positions on the holomap. The ship was in good shape. There were still some additional structures to be put in place, though, mostly along the four main corridors that ran the length of the ship. Jack didn’t want to give the Chits an easy route through the Scorpio. He wanted to drive them to the barricades, to the Marine squads and their pulse rifles.

Jack saw a location in a minor corridor that should have been barricaded. Jack wanted to check that the work had started. He pointed at the holomap and accessed the internal surveillance feed for that location. The live image showed a few Marines sitting around on top of a pile of materials that should be used for the barricade. It looked as if the Marines had done their job of moving the materials into position and were now waiting for Slim or Reyes to arrive and fuse them into position.

Jack flicked through the surveillance images of the various barricades. The work was progressing well. Jack was sure the Marines would put up a fierce resistance should the Chitins attempt to board. He hoped it wouldn’t come to that.

Next, he looked at the green flickering lines that mapped out the Scorpio’s many corridors and decks. Once he had been limited to a few locations, but now he had seen almost every inch of the ship. It was big, but having spent so long on board, he had walked every corridor and set foot on every deck.

There was one area he hadn’t seen before. Thankfully, he had never been sent to the brig. But there was one occupant there now that Jack was sure should be there. In fact, Jack felt it would be better if he was just flushed out an airlock or dispatched by a burst of pulse rifle fire. Former Commander Finch was being held in a cell.

Jack found the brig easily. He tapped the location on the holomap and accessed the surveillance feed. Jack saw a row of empty cells and then he saw Finch. Jack felt a sudden shot of panic when he saw his ex-commander. The man should have been dead. There was no doubt that he had been corrupted by the Chitins, if not converted in some way in to one of them. It was dangerous to keep him alive and on the ship.

Finch was sitting on the edge of his bunk in an otherwise empty cell. The walls of the cell were solid composite. The front was a made up of a series of vertical composite bars that ran from the deck plate to the overhead plate. Jack could see he was secured, but he was still dangerous. If it had been up to Jack, the former commander would be dead. After talking to Bill Harts moments before he had thrown himself out into the empty void, being dead was probably preferable to being controlled by the Chitins.

In front of the bars, a Marine in ship-side utility dress stood guard. Jack recognized the Marine guard as one who had been posted to guard Reyes when she had been secured in the med bay. He was armed only with his polished baton.

Jack guessed Agent Visser had made sure the guard wasn’t armed with a pulse rifle or pulse pistol. The mounted electron bayonets would slice through the composite bars easily enough. If Finch were to get hold of the guard’s weapon, he would be free in moments, and if Finch was loose on the Scorpio, there was no telling what chaos he would create.

The guard walked back and forth in front of Finch’s cell. Jack remembered the Marine, he was cocksure and a bit dumb. He wasn’t a bad Marine, just not a great one, and he clearly enjoyed being Finch’s jailer.

Jack began to get nervous as he saw how the guard twirled his baton. If it fell, it could get into Finch’s hands, but Finch wouldn’t be able to affect an escape with a timber baton.

The Marine guard stood in front of Finch’s cell for a moment and turned to face Finch before walking on. Finch sat on his bunk, feet together, hands at his side.

The guard turned and walked back the way he’d come, pacing out his little patrol, possible only to beat the boredom.

Jack’s heart leapt to his mouth as he saw Finch stand. The guard turned at the end of his little patrol and walked back. Finch stepped forward, his mouth opening wide. He stepped up to the bars as the guard came along again.

Jack leaned forwards toward the surveillance image and saw the black cloud swirling inside Finch’s mouth, a cloud made of fine tendrils that began to reach out in twisting threads. And just as the guard stepped alongside the bars, he obscured Finch from the surveillance feed.

The guard stopped and turned to Finch.

Jack pushed himself away from the workbench and ran. He ran toward the brig. Finch had to be stopped. It might already be too late to save the Marine, but Jack might still save the Scorpio.

The brig was controlled by a security system and a detention drone. The Marine was the only human guard. The brig area was behind a transparent composite door that remained firmly shut to anyone without authorization. Jack gave his security clearance and the door opened. Inside, Jack walked past the empty cells until he saw the Marine guard. The guard stepped toward Jack, baton at his side.

“Commander, the detainee wasn’t expecting visitors.” The guard had a vacant look in his eye.

Looking past the Marine, Jack caught glimpse of Finch, his head tipped sideways. Finch’s lips moved and the guard spoke.

“But you can come and see him if you want.”

Jack stopped as the guard took another step forward. The guard had been alone with Finch for too long and Jack was suddenly very concerned that Finch was spreading some kind of Chitin mind control.

Jack backed away from the guard, suddenly feeling very nervous about being trapped with Finch and a guard who seemed to have been infected by whatever had taken Bill Harts’ mind.

“Detainee?” Jack said. “I think I’ve taken the wrong turn.” Jack backed toward the door. It opened and he backed out. The guard watched Jack leave and then walked back to the front of Finch’s cell.

Jack needed to speak to Visser. He needed to speak to her now.

“Do you think I don’t know my job, Commander?” Agent Visser sat back in her chair.

Jack paced. Visser needed to take this seriously. “Agent Visser,” he began calmly, “Finch is dangerous. I am sure he has been corrupted by the Chitins. I think he could even be one of them.”

“How could that be possible, Commander? Finch has been with the fleet Marines since before the first Chitin encounter.”

Jack knew that Finch must be a Chitin. He had died on that moon. How else could he be back here unless it was some Chitin technology at work?

“I don’t know how, Agent Visser, but I know he is. And now I suspect that guard you had posted with him is acting for them too.”

Visser smiled at Jack as if he was delusional. She leaned forward and tapped the control panel on the front of her desk. She accessed the surveillance feed from the brig. Finch was sitting on his bunk. He sat upright on the middle of the bed. His feet together, his hands on his knees. He was looking directly at the surveillance node. The effect was startling for Jack, almost as if Finch was looking him in the eye. A wry smile played on the corners of Finch’s thin mouth.

Visser swiped her hand across the image and looked around for the guard. The brig was empty. Visser moved the image to show the clear door to the brig. No one was there either.

“I’m telling you,” Jack said, stepping forward and putting his hands on Visser’s desk. “Finch is dangerous.”

“Where is he?” Visser asked the surveillance feed. The image of the guard appeared. He was walking along a corridor. Jack recognized it immediately.

“Where is that?” Visser asked.

Jack was already heading to the door. “He’s heading to the armory. I’ll stop him. You alert the captain,” Jack said as he ran out of the door.

The corridors were crowded with Marines, some in utility dress assisting maintenance with the barricade construction, while others were in meat suits with full battle gear.

Without his own meat suit, Jack couldn’t tell who was behind the helmets. He recognized the emblems of the codes for the three companies, then he saw a squad leader badge for his own company, Cobra. It was Joe Navidi of 1st squad.

“Joe,” Jack said as he stepped up. “I need you and two of your Marines. Follow me.”

Navidi’s voice came through the voice speaker on the side of the helmet. “Yes, Commander,” he said simply. Jack ran on and heard Navidi call two Marines to follow.

Jack came to the junction in the corridor that opened onto the short corridor to the armory. Jack dashed across the opening and took cover on one side, then glanced cautiously down the corridor. Jack could hear the weapons lockers being bashed, as if someone was attempting to break into them. Then the crash came that told Jack the lockers had been broken open.

Navidi knelt next to Jack, his pulse rifle pointing down the corridor. One Marine stood on the other side, rifle aimed down the corridor at the entrance to the weapons store. The third Marine stood out from the wall and gave himself an angle to fire down the corridor.

Jack attracted the attention of the Marine on the opposite side. “Your sidearm,” Jack said, holding out his hand.

The Marine unclipped his pulse pistol from his hip and handed it to him. Jack checked the weapon quickly. It was loaded, powered with a pulse round in the chamber.

Jack called down the corridor. “Who’s in there?”

The Marine guard stepped out of the armory into the corridor. A pulse rifle in each hand, both braced against his hips. He opened fire.

The Marine further back with the angle along the corridor took a round in the right shoulder. He fell back. His squad-mate pointed his rifle around the corner and blind-fired. It was a short burst and then the pulse rifle he held took a round to the muzzle that sent the weapon flying out of his grip.

“Go,” Jack shouted at the Marine with the smashed pulse rifle muzzle. The Marine reached down and grabbed his fallen squad-mate and his fallen pulse rifle. The pair retreated along the corridor.

Navidi glanced around the corner as pulse rounds fizzed past and slammed into the back wall.

“He’s not wearing a meat suit, Commander,” Navidi said. “He’s in his utility gear. It’ll only take one good shot.”

The fire stopped. Navidi glanced around the corner again. “He’s not there,” he reported.

“There’s no other way out, is there, Joe?” Jack asked.

“He’s trapped, sir,” Navidi said and took another look.

The shot came instantly and slammed Navidi’s head backward. He fell to the floor. Jack heard his groans. The meat suit helmet had done its job and protected Navidi from the pulse round, so he was only stunned by the blow, not killed.

Jack heard the footsteps coming, almost drowned out by the sustained pulse rifle fire and the noise from the rounds slamming into the composite bulkhead.

Jack inched away from the corner, back along the corridor he was in. He lay on the floor on his front and aimed the pulse pistol at the height of the rogue guard’s chest. Jack would only need one shot.

The guard stepped around the corner and turned his rifles on the two retreating Marines. Jack took the shot. The round slammed into the guard’s back, just between the shoulders. The guard dropped a rifle and turned, slowly. Jack fired another round, slamming into the guard’s side, just under the armpit. Slowly the guard turned and was riddled with a rapid fire from the two retreating Marines and their well-aimed pulse rifles.

Jack saw the expression on the guard’s face just before he fell. He was grinning through his blood-covered teeth. Then he fell forward, landing on top of Navidi and hitting him hard.

“Send for a medidrone.” Jack checked Navidi’s vital signs on his suit’s data readout. Unconscious. Then Jack checked the guard. Dead, thick blood spreading across the smooth composite deck plates.

Jack marched into the command deck.

“Report, Commander,” Visser ordered. Pretorius watched Jack closely.

“The Marine guard broke into the armory. He fired on me and my detail. We fought to contain him. I shot him twice with a pulse pistol before he fell to rifle fire.”

Pretorius nodded solemnly. “Good work, Jack.”

Jack looked at Visser. “Who’s with Finch now?”

Visser looked at Jack with a cold, hard stare, but Jack could see the doubts creeping in to her mind. “He’s alone. The brig is sealed from here on the command deck. No one is allowed to enter until we can get Finch to a secure facility.”

“We need to terminate him, now,” Jack said. He noticed Pretorius look at Visser, curious what her decision would be.

“If you are right, Commander, and Finch is being controlled by the Chitins, then I think we should give ourselves the opportunity to study him, it, them.”

Pretorius looked at Jack.

“He’s dangerous,” Jack said. “He’s a liability. We are on a stealth mission. He could jeopardize everything we are trying to do here.”

Pretorius looked at Visser.

“In this matter, I have total authority. Finch will be kept in isolation. Captain, can you ensure no one goes near Finch?”

“I can,” Pretorius said, “but I’m inclined to agree with Mister Forge. He’s a liability to the mission and the ship.”

“Noted,” Visser said, then left the command deck.

Commander Chou activated a stack of files on the holostage for the captain’s attention. He opened them for Pretorius to sign one by one.

“Better get some rest, Jack,” Pretorius said. “The next target will be in range at the end of third watch.”

“Yes, sir,” Jack said and stepped away. He hesitated. “Captain, you have ultimate authority on your ship, don’t you, sir?”

“Yes, I do. I have to do what I think is in the best interests of my ship, but we are also at war, so I can’t always keep my people safe, can I?” Pretorius moved the files back to his second-in-command. “You must also understand that not all battles are military ones. Some are political, and they can be much more deadly. If you keep going the way you are with your rapid rise through the ranks, you will have to learn that one day, Mister Forge. Also, if you are going to pick a fight with Fleet Intelligence…” Pretorius walked over to his chair. “Don’t try and take cover behind me.”

Felling like he’d just received the politest reprimand, Jack looked up to the captain to apologize.

The captain gave him a slight smile. “Good work, Jack. Glad to have you on board.”

Jack left the command deck and headed to his quarters in the officers’ section. His bunk was as bare as anything the Marines had available, other than having a little more space and a small writing table for his reports. One thing he didn’t have was companions, friends. His days in 6th squad had been plagued by smelly, noisy Marines, but he’d always had company. Now that he was leader of a company, he was more alone than he’d ever been.

15

Jack marched onto the Marine deck. His squad leaders were assembled and ready for him. They stood casually chatting. As soon as Jack entered, Torent called the group to attention.

“Commander on deck.”

“As you were, gentlemen,” Jack said and came over to stand easy in front of his squad leaders. “How are your people holding up?” Jack asked and then listened as they reported their concerns for their squads. Inadequate rest time was the major concern, closely followed by nervousness at the preparations to repel a Chitin boarding party.

Jack knew that the squad leaders were doing their job in listening to the concerns of their squads. They might not be able to do anything about it, but they could pass the information on to their company commander. Jack had the feeling the men in his company were being well looked after by their squad leaders.

“I’ll see what I can do about more downtime, but we need to get these barricades ready. If the Chits do board the Scorpio,” Jack said in a calming tone, “we will be ready. Make sure you get your squads into the VR suite, too. Run some infiltration scenarios and get them ready to repel any incursion by Chitin soldiers.”

The groups talked easily but respectfully in front of their company commander. At times, Jack felt like he was just another squad leader with his peers, but every time one of them called him ‘sir,’ he remembered his position and his responsibility to the men under his command. All he could do for them now was order them to train. Soon, Jack knew, he would be ordering them to fight, and when the fleet Marines fought the Chitins, death was never far away.

Torent raised his hand for one last word as the meeting came to a close. “We’ve got a boxing match set up,” he said. “A soldier’s squabble between a replacement in first squad and one of my boys in sixth. We thought we’d get it settled now before it festers, sir. You’d be welcome to come along.”

“I’ve probably got work to catch up on,” Jack said. “But Joe took a knock on the melon not long ago, so don’t let him anywhere near the ring.”

The squad leaders laughed and slapped Joe Navidi on the back.

“He can’t fight anyway, sir,” Laidlaw said.

Jack looked Navidi in the eye and asked quietly, “You okay now?”

Navidi nodded and smiled. “Doc said I just lost a few brain cells, sir. Nothing important.”

“That’s right,” Laidlaw said. “He can’t remember his name anymore, but he still knows which end of a pulse rifle to point at the bad guys.”

Sitting at his desk, Jack put the final thoughts on his report of the killing of the Marine guard. The shooting was going to be considered by the fleet authorities when they got back to home space and uploaded their logs to the command and control center on Eros.

Jack didn’t know what Visser was putting in her report, not that it mattered because Jack would never be allowed to see it. Jack was pretty sure the captain’s report would not condemn him. He had been acting in the best interests of the ship. Who knows how many of the Scorpio’s crew would have been killed if the Marines hadn’t been suited up for action?

Jack filed the report and pushed his chair away from the small composite desktop. He flicked off the light and staggered over to his bunk.

The padding was cold and hard. His cover was barely adequate. Back in the squad barracks, Jack had at least been kept warm by the body heat of his squad-mates, all crammed into the small bunk stacks. At the time, it had seemed like torture, but now it seemed preferable.

The only consolation of having his own quarters, even though it was cramped and cold and lonely, was that he could at last have his old family watch on display. The small watch in its black composite case that Reyes had made for it was stuck to the wall above Jack’s desk. It was a small fragment of home that made Jack’s quarters feel a little more comfortable.

He wasn’t tired, though, despite the busy, long days he’d been through. The boxing match was probably in full swing with a series of friendly sparring undercards. Jack didn’t think he could take all the noise, but he was missing company. He rolled out of bed and headed for the officers’ lounge.

The lights in the officers’ lounge were low. A small group of command officers sat together in one corner, VR headsets on. Commander Chou sat reading under a corner lamp. Agent Visser was at the drinks cabinet. She poured and drank, then poured again. Jack hesitated.

“Drink one with me, Jack,” she said without turning around. She poured two drinks and held one out toward him.

Jack took the clear composite tumbler of the strong amber spirit. Visser drank hers in one go and poured another.

“Drink,” she said. “To the fleet.” She drank again.

Jack took a sniff and then a sip. Visser turned on him with a cruel look in her eye. She was swaying slightly.

“Don’t ever doubt my commitment to the fleet, Jack. I care about winning. I don’t care about you, or this ship.” She waved her hand about. “This is nothing. I need to win for our species. Not the captain or his crew, or the Marines, or you.” She jabbed Jack in the shoulder. Then she came close. “I know you did something. I know you know something. If we survive this, I’ll make sure I get you.”

Jack stood, stunned.

Visser poured another drink.

“Agent Visser,” the captain’s voice boomed. He stood in the doorway to the officers’ lounge, a stack of files under his arm. “You are tired. Perhaps you should retire for the evening.”

Visser downed one more and then walked off, bumping deliberately into Jack.

“Yes, Captain,” she said in a calm, clear voice as she walked out of the lounge.

Jack looked over to the captain, but he had already turned to leave. Jack looked over at Commander Chou, who was looking at Jack over the top of his book. Chou licked a finger and turned the page, then looked down to read.

Jack swirled the drink. What could Visser know? There was nothing to know. Except Jack knew that if the truth about what happened to Finch ever came out, he and Reyes would be dead for sure.

Jack downed the drink and put the tumbler down on the cabinet.

As he walked out of the lounge, he considered the possibility that he should have gone to the boxing match. It might have been more peaceful that his encounter with Visser.

16

Osho brought the orders from Pretorius. The second Chitin surveillance facility was coming into range. Jack sent Osho to muster the team. He checked the time on his old watch stuck to the wall of his small room. The hands on the clock showed the time, but Jack was completely adjusted to ship’s time. With no day or night, the watch system was the only relevant timeframe. It was coming up to second watch. By the end of third watch, a demolition device would be planted aboard the Chitin facility and Jack and his team would be back aboard the Scorpio. At least Jack hoped so.

The team was standing on the Marine deck, fully kitted out in their meat suits and armed with pulse pistols. Jack walked in fully suited up from his pre-operation briefing with the captain and Commander Griff. It was not all good news.

Having instructed his team to stand easy, Jack began his briefing. “The good news is that the facility looks to be exactly the same configuration as the first. We do not expect to encounter resistance.”

“And the bad news, sir?” Torent asked, his hand raised.

“Results from the laboratory are that we won’t be able to fire our weapons while on board. The fluid environment is highly volatile and would combust the moment the first round is fired. Also, the passive scans from the last facility and this one show that the whole facility will fail if one round were to strike the outer hull.”

Jenks raised his hand and asked permission to speak. Jack nodded.

“We’ll be alright in our meat suits, sir. Why does it matter if the thing breaks up around us?”

Jack could see that the others understood the reason why not. Torent was itching to tell Jenks exactly why not. Jack offered Torent the opportunity to explain.

“Because we want to take down the entire network. The charges we are planting will initiate a feedback pulse that will destroy the entire network.”

Jack nodded. At least some of his team were reviewing the mission briefings.

“What if we do encounter any Chits on board?” Torent asked.

“The pistol-mounted electron blades will work on the facility. That will be our primary weapon.”

Traversing empty space to the Chitin facility was as spectacular the second time as it had been the first. Hanging in the black of space was peaceful and daunting. Jack kept himself focused. He sent Torent on point and brought up the rear himself, carrying the bag containing the demolition device. As the Chitin facility came ever closer, Jack sent his team directly to the top end of the cylinder-like structure and the entrance they expected to find there.

Reyes opened the top panel and revealed the entrance cavity. Jack sent Jenks and Torent in first and then went in with Reyes. He gave the hand signals for Osho to hold on the outside.

The fluid flooded the cavity and soon Jack was floating down the central vertical tunnel. He headed down to the central junction.

A movement at the very bottom of the tunnel made Jack’s heart rate increase. He felt his hairs stand up as his skin tingled with fear and anticipation. A black figure, trailing tentacles, moved across the opening to the chamber at the bottom of the facility, the chamber where the unconscious Chitins slept.

Jack moved to the junction and held position in one of the branching tunnels, the one leading to the communications room. Jack knew immediately he needed to prevent any Chits from entering that room and sending any signal that would alert the Chits to the Scorpio’s presence.

Jack sent Reyes and Torent into the communication room where they would set the demolition. He instructed Jenks to take cover in the tunnel opposite himself.

The moments it took Reyes to plant the demolition stretched on. Jack watched the entrance to the wide cavity below, looking for any further signs of movement.

Then, a black shadow moved across the opening again, moving in the opposite direction this time. Jack signaled to Jenks that there was an enemy nearby. Jack lit up his pistol’s electron blade. Jenks did the same. Jack could see that Jenks heart rate was elevated but holding steady.

Torent and Reyes appeared out of the communication room. Torent gave a thumbs up. The device was planted. Jack signaled for Torent to hold.

This was tricky. If Jack took his team to the exit, they could be spotted leaving. That would give the Chit an opportunity to swim to the communications room and send out a signal. Jack remembered there were eight unconscious Chits on the first facility. Everything about this facility looked identical. There was no reason to believe there were any more than eight Chits in the sleeping chamber below. Jack had seen two moving. It could have been the same one twice, or it could have been two different Chits. For all Jack knew, there could be eight down there, all getting suited up and ready to fight.

There was only one decision that could be made. Jack pointed at Reyes and instructed her to hold. Torent and Jenks knew what was coming next. Torent fired up his electron blade.

Jack indicated that the three Marines would swim downward toward the cavity. They would enter the chamber and kill any Chit, conscious or otherwise.

Jack set off. He led the way, swimming head-first down the fluid-filled tunnel. Torent on his right, Jenks on his left. They moved slowly and steadily. This was going to end one of two ways: either with a dead Chitin crew or a dead Marine team and a failed mission for the Scorpio. Jack knew if the Chitins alerted their command, the Scorpio and everyone on board would be killed, or worse.

With only a meter left to go, a dark shadow moved across the opening. Not knowing for certain whether it was the same creature again or if there were now three active Chits below, Jack propelled himself faster and entered the chamber.

Having emerged into the wide space, Jack could see there was only one Chitin moving about. Jack followed it. It seemed unaware of Jack’s presence. Then the Chit turned and faced Jack.

The Chit reacted instantly and aggressively. The first tentacle to lash out caught Jack on the side of his helmet. It sent up a series of warning signals on his enhanced data overlay. The second tentacle struck him in the chest and another grabbed his wrist with the pulse pistol and its glowing electron blade.

Torent rushed in and slashed at the tentacle holding Jack’s wrist, slicing through cleanly. The severed end on Jack’s wrist coiled up tighter as another tentacle lashed out and wrapped itself around his helmet.

Through the coils of the tentacle around his helmet, Jack saw Jenks attack the Chitin. He slashed left and then right in wide arcs that caused a dark fluid to spill out into the clear fluid. The Chitin’s tentacles lashed about wildly but seemed to be slowing and Jenks slashed again and again.

The severed tentacle on Jack’s wrist gripped even tighter. Jack transferred the pulse pistol to his other hand and began cutting the severed tentacle away in chunks.

Torent launched himself at the struggling Chit and attacked. In a few cuts, Torent had removed several more tentacles. They drifted in the fluid and flicked this way and that, dark fluid spilling out of the severed ends.

Jack pulled the last of the tentacle off his wrist. The floating severed tentacles stopped writhing as the body of the Chit was cut to pieces by Torent and Jenks. And through the fluid, becoming murky with the dark fluid that spilled out of the Chitin’s body, Jack saw movement in one of the recesses. Another Chitin was waking up.

Jack rushed at the semi-conscious Chit and sliced away at the head. The tentacles thrashed about in a sluggish and uncoordinated manner, one managing to connect strongly with Jack’s shin. The blow was felt through his meat suit. It would have been enough to smash his shin bone if he had been unsuited.

Torent and Jenks rushed at the other Chitins, who were also waking. Whether this was a programmed waking of some kind or if the group was alerted to the presence of intruders, Jack didn’t know. All he knew was that all the Chitins here needed to die.

Jack attacked the next waking Chit. He was working up a sweat slashing away, his movement restricted by the dense fluid. Torent was dispatching his second waking Chit. Jenks was moving across the cavity to his next target.

The tentacle that lashed out at Jenks caught him square on the faceplate. Jack had seen a meat suit helmet take a round from a pulse rifle, the suits were tough pieces of kit, but Jack could see that Jenks was unconscious as he drifted backward. The blow had knocked him out cold. A second tentacle lashed out and gripped his ankle as his body drifted. The tentacle pulled back and drew Jenks into a mass of tentacles. They wrapped around Jenks’s limbs and his helmet and crushed. Jack saw Jenks’s arms and legs bend and break as the tentacles gripped him ever tighter.

Torent was rushing in to assist his teammate. Jack went in too. They slashed away at the tentacles, cutting them away to let them writhe about in the fluid.

There was one more, Jack realized. He looked for the last creature, but the fluid was too murky with the blood of the dead Chits. He saw movement, a swirling of the dark fluid, heading toward the entrance at the top of the cavity.

Jack went after the last Chit. Then he saw the trailing tentacles of a Chit disappearing through the opening above.

Jack raced after it. He had to prevent it accessing the communications room. And, suddenly Jack remembered, Reyes was holding position. Jack activated the propulsion jets in his boots and powered forwards. The Chitin was just ahead.

The fluid in the central tunnel was still clear. Jack raced after the last Chit. He saw Reyes float out into the tunnel ahead of the Chit. She was unarmed but blocking the way.

The Chit slammed into her and bundled her out of the way. The Chit turned sharply to its right and went along the tunnel to the communications room.

Jack caught up to the Chit. It was floating in front of the bundles of colorful tentacles. Its own black tentacles were moving over and between the control panels. Jack slammed into it and stuck his electron blade deep in to the back of its head. The creature reached out with a tentacle and grabbed Jack’s leg, trying to pull him away.

Jack stuck the blade in again and twisted it this way and that. His hand sunk into the rubbery flesh of the Chitin as he plunged and sliced. Pulling and slicing upwards, Jack brought the blade up toward the top of the Chitin. It finally erupted, severing the Chit in two.

The Chitin’s tentacles fell away from the short and colorful control tentacles. Dark fluid spilled out of the Chitin, filling the communication room and reducing visibility. Jack moved toward the central tunnel and Reyes.

The data overlay showed Reyes was terrified and in shock. Jack tapped her on the shoulder and gave a thumbs up. They were out of immediate danger. Torent came up toward them, pulling the limp body of Jenks with him. The data overlay showed Torent was fatigued. His suit had administered a stimulant shot and painkiller. Jenks’s data overlay reported no brain activity. Jenks was dead.

Jack sent Reyes ahead to the airlock. He told Torent to follow and take the body of Jenks with him. Jack followed. The demolition charge had been planted. That much had been a success. But Jack had lost a man and the Chits might have gotten a message away. All Jack could do now was return to the Scorpio as quickly as possible.

17

“It will happen again, Jack,” Commander Griff said. “If you are going to command field operations, then Marines will be lost under your command. You can’t stop it. You can’t prevent it. You can reduce the risks by planning and commanding well.”

Jack sat in the chair next to Griff in the officers’ lounge.

“And you do command well,” Griff went on. “The captain is impressed with you. We all are. You are a natural, a real asset, Jack. Any Marines under our command will be lucky to have you, but they won’t be able to count on you if you beat yourself up so much about losing those under your command.”

“But you said I should care, Harry,” Jack said, shifting in the seat. He glanced over at the drinks cabinet.

“Yes, care, but don’t let it control you. You owe it to those under your command to keep a level head. You have accepted the privileges of rank, you also have to accept the responsibility.”

“Privileges?” Jack said. “A tiny bunk room, a small desk, and more paperwork than I ever had in university?”

“Yes. All that good stuff,” Griff said. He leaned over to Jack. “All you can do for your team is to reduce the risk by planning, giving clear instructions, and not second-guessing yourself. But you can only reduce the risk, Jack. The risk is always there, and it’s always high. We are at war.”

Jack knew Griff was making sense. Jack had fought under poor leaders. They made bad decisions, or no decisions. They changed their minds mid-fight, lost composure in the face of deadly threat, and got themselves and those around them killed. Jack was determined to be a good commander.

“What did Visser ask you?” Griff stood up and poured a drink.

“Usual debrief stuff,” Jack said. “She asked me if any Chitins made contact with me. I told her one nearly broke my ankle.”

Griff laughed and knocked back a small drink. “What did she say to that?”

“Let’s say she wasn’t amused.” Jack stood up. “Thanks for the talk, Harry.”

“Any time, Jack.”

Jack left the officers’ lounge, heading for his small, cell-like quarters. He had hated being drafted into the fleet Marines, and he’d never had so much cause to hate it before, but now he was determined to make a positive impact. He knew how to fight and lead. He knew how to kill Chits. He only wished he knew how to keep his people alive.

The best way to do that was training. Jack went around the company’s squad rooms, searching out his squad leaders. He had only known them a short time, but he had fought with them. He trusted them. He needed to give them some instructions now.

The squad leaders met Jack on the Marine deck.

“How are your VR training sessions going?” It was the only question he had for his squad leaders, so they’d better have the right answers.

Torent spoke up. “We’ve been too busy fitting the barricades to fit in any extra training, sir.”

“Third squad is tired, sir,” Allen said. “We have been on full duties for a three-watch rotation now. We need a full rotation of downtime, sir.”

Jack nodded.

“And first squad is filled with veterans, sir,” Navidi said. “My guys don’t need to take on extra training. We were lucky we didn’t get rammed with replacements like most of A company.”

“You were lucky you didn’t get posted to A company after you took a pulse round on your helmet, Joe. I hear they all got some brain injury in Adder,” Torent laughed.

“Silence on deck,” Jack barked. The laughter stopped instantly. “Listen up, Marines.” Jack paced along the line of his squad leaders. “I have instructed you to go through extra VR training. Do it. You have been instructed to assist with the construction of the internal defenses. Do it. You have not been brought out here to take a three-watch holiday in the VR pool halls. You are Marines. You can take a three-watch rotation of duty. You are Marines. You can do your job and train for the next one. You are Marines and you will have hard work every day. You are Marines, krav it, and if you want your people to be Marines too, you will put them through the VR training for ship-wide infiltration by Chitin scum. As of this moment, you are on training. Get your squads into those simulations. Dismissed.”

Jack watched as the squad leader group snapped to attention before saluting. The squad leaders filed out. Torent lingered. He held up his hand.

“Not now, Sam,” Jack said. “Take sixth squad through the simulation. Make sure they are ready.”

Torent looked at Jack and raised his hand again. Jack felt the anger rise in him. He’d given his orders and he expected them to be followed without discussion. Then he remembered how annoying he found it when leaders didn’t listen to their people. He relented.

“What is it?”

Torent put his hand down. He checked that the other squad leaders were off the deck before he stepped forward. “It wasn’t your fault, Jack.”

Jack felt the emotion lodge in his throat. He nodded. He was going to tell Torent to carry on but couldn’t get the words past the emotion stuck in his throat.

Torent smiled and left. “I’ll make sure Cobra Company is fit to fight, sir,” he said as he left. “I hear their commander is a real ball-breaker.”

Jack knew he should come down hard on a squad leader who was so insolent, but Torent hadn’t let anyone hear his mockery. Jack felt a smile at the corner of his mouth. He knew he could rely on Torent to cheer him up.

Then a runner came onto the Marine deck.

“Commander Forge, sir,” the runner said. “The captain needs you on the command deck, now.”

Jack ran. His cheerful mood didn’t last long. The serious business of the war was never very far away.

18

Pretorius was standing at the holostage with Commanders Chou, Griff, and Matavesi. The image on the holostage showed a number of vessels moving slowly around a central point. The image was indistinct, but Jack could make out enough detail to identify the Chitin Hydras.

“I came as quickly as I could,” Jack said, still breathing heavily from his run.

Pretorius began immediately. “What we can see here is a number of Chitin craft, Hydra class, in formation around our next target, the Chitin surveillance facility. We don’t know if they are waiting for us or if it is simply a routine gathering. Either way, we are in trouble. We do not have any data on any other locations for the Chitin surveillance facilities. We must plant the demolition device on this one.”

Jack studied the image. He was no Fleet officer, but he had spent enough time on the Scorpio to see that it would be impossible for the captain to approach the facility as closely as he had done before. From the holoimage on the display, Jack could see that the Scorpio was holding position.

“I don’t think the Chitins have detected us. If they had, they would surely have attacked by now. The Chits are nothing if not aggressive. So, options. We can creep forward and hope to slip by them. We’ve done it before, but that was a much more dispersed group of ships. These appear to be quite tightly packed. Or we send in a small craft that can slip between the Hydras.”

Pretorius looked around the table for opinions. Griff spoke first.

“We can’t risk the Scorpio, Captain. Send in a tactical drop ship. The tac boats are small and have good thruster power. The boat can slip past. The Marines can evac and infiltrate. Once the payload is delivered, the Marines can kick up the engines and power back to the Scorpio. We’ll all be detected when the demolition is activated anyway. No sense creeping about then.”

Pretorius nodded and looked at Matavesi.

“I’ll lead the team,” Matavesi said. “Jack has taken the last two. He’s earned his right to stay behind on this one.” Matavesi looked at Jack. “I’ll take three of my best Marines, and I’ll have to take the Chitin expert to get me inside.”

“Whether these Chits are here by chance or not makes no difference.” Jack spoke with confidence. “The number of them, so close to that facility, will make it impossible for any ship to slip by, even a tac boat. But one Marine might make it.”

Jack felt all eyes fall on him.

“Jack’s right,” Griff said. “I’ll go.”

“No, Harry,” Matavesi said. “You can’t go. You’ve got more experience of running a Marine battalion than the rest of us put together. The battalion needs you here. Not even the captain could take over for you. No offense, Captain.”

Pretorius nodded. “It’s true,” he said. “I’m a fleet officer, not a Marine. Harry, you’d better stay.”

“It will have to be me,” Jack said.

“No,” Matavesi said. “You’ve done enough already. I’ll take the duty, Jack. Besides, you’ve been preparing the ship’s defense. The Scorpio will need you here.”

With the unwelcome but familiar feeling of fear welling up inside him, Jack shook his head. “I’m the only one who has been on board one of those facilities. No one can find their way around better than me. Sorry, Trace,” Jack said, looking at Matavesi.

Jack saw the slight nods from Matavesi and Griff. He looked at the captain, but Pretorius was occupied by a number of holofiles that appeared before him.

“What’s your plan, Commander?” the captain asked, flicking the holofiles away one by one.

“I’ll go. Just me. I’ll set the device on the outside of the communication room.”

“And what if you fail?” Griff asked.

Jack noticed the stern expression on Pretorius’s face as Griff asked the question. It needed an answer.

“I’ll set up a dead man’s trigger on my power cell. If I get killed, it’ll detonate. You’ll see then that I’ve failed. It’ll be up to you what happens next.”

Floating in space was often such a lonely place to be, isolated from everyone and everything, and on this occasion, without even a communicator link, but Jack knew he was not alone. The journey to the Chitin facility would take over an hour. Even though he was traveling at Mach eight, nothing appeared to move. When Jack looked behind, he had seen the Scorpio recede quickly, and now it was completely out to sight. Up ahead, there were maybe a dozen Hydras and the Chitin facility, but they were still too far away to be visible. Jack appeared to be floating, static. He felt as if he was pinned to a vast backdrop. He thought of his watch pinned to the wall in his small room. A single body surrounded by a flat, dark, empty background.

Eventually, the sight of the first Chitin Hydras made Jack wish he was still alone. Feeling alone in empty space was less intimidating than being here with these Chitin craft so nearby. Jack had his pulse rifle slung over his shoulder, but if he was in a fight with a Hydra craft, he might as well be throwing stones as firing with his pulse rifle. The pulse rounds might make a mess of a Chitin soldier’s armor, but it would make little impact on a Hydra’s hull.

The facility came into view. He was on a perfect course to the top end of the facility. All he had to do then was orientate himself using the elliptical entrance, find the side where the communication room was, and plant the demolition on the outside. Reyes had given him instructions. It should be an easy job.

The facility he was heading for looked identical to the previous two. He slowed his approach with a blast from his thruster jets. His jet propellant reserves were sufficient to slow him down and get him back to the Scorpio, but there was no room for error.

Jack found himself floating above the elliptical entrance at the top of the facility. He identified the correct side using the elliptical groove and the long single arm that protruded from the facility, then he made his way along the side of the Chitin facility.

Jack knew the target room was around one hundred and fifty meters along the cylinder. Mr. Chou had told Jack that as long as it was placed within fifty meters, the device would have the required effect and set up the electromagnetic feedback pulse that would neutralize the entire network.

He wanted to be as accurate as possible, and quickly found his spot. He took the bag holding the demolition device off his back and positioned it on the external shell of the facility.

Jack spent no time admiring his handiwork. The job was done and if the device was detonated now, the network would be disabled. Jack had completed his task and the Scorpio had almost completed its mission. Jack checked for the correct heading on his sleeve-mounted direction finder and the moment he was orientated toward the Scorpio, he fired his thrusters.

The Chitin facility fell away suddenly, and Jack felt inertia squeeze his body. He adjusted the suit’s internal inertia dampening system and took some of the discomfort out of the sudden movement. Somewhere in the black distance was the Scorpio. He was hurtling through space at close to Mach eight, firing blind at a target he hoped would be there when he arrived.

A Hydra craft circling the Chitin facility turned nearby, the dark shape glinting briefly in the black void. It sent a shiver down Jack’s spine and he began looking about intently, trying to pick out any of the Hydra craft he knew to be in the area. They were hidden from sight somewhere in the black of space. Their presence made all the more troubling by their near invisibility.

The Scorpio appeared in front of Jack. At first, it was mere point, and then within a few minutes, Jack could make out the shape. In only a few minutes more, he could tell the captain to detonate the device and their mission truly would be completed. Then home.

Jack reflected on this for a moment. Where exactly was home these days? It was getting to a point where he’d spent more time on the Scorpio than he ever had in his university dorm. He had spent many years in his home town, out in the countryside, but that hardly felt like home anymore. The Scorpio grew larger and larger, and Jack realized that as much as it was cold and lonely and dirty and broken, this was his home. It made him feel happy and sad, that this was currently the only home he had.

Then the cannon fired.

The silent explosion of fire and fury shocked Jack. A flash of light lit up the side of the Scorpio as the high-density round was fired. Jack could see the glowing muzzle of the cannon shrink back into its housing. Then it appeared to extend outwards with another flash and recoil.

The glowing muzzle appeared to be pointing right at him. He was literally staring down the barrel of a gun big enough to fire him clear across the system.

The shell that flew past Jack missed by a hundred meters or more. The second, glowing as it came, was not any closer. Jack guessed the Scorpio was not firing at him. Then his helmet communicator crackled to life. The sudden explosion of sound startled Jack as much as anything had all day.

“Mister Forge, we have been discovered. Use any reserves you have available. Hydras incoming.”

With the captain’s voice still echoing in his helmet, Jack spent the last few grams of propellant, saving only enough to slow to a sub-terminal speed. Jack hoped the Marine hangar door was open, and it had better be open wide, because in all the excitement, Jack wasn’t sure how accurate his aim had been.

Then the Chitin facility detonated. The flash, brilliant white, lit up space like a small white star. Jack turned instinctively to the light and saw the silhouettes of several dozen Hydra craft racing toward him.

The hangar door was open ahead of him and the lights of the deck welcomed him home. Jack could make out several individuals standing on the deck. As he came closer, he could see the figures of Marines in their meat suits. Then Jack saw a large cargo net slung across the deck, suspended from the deck to the ceiling. It looked as if the Marines were expecting him to be coming in fast.

He was coming in fast. Too fast. He expended his propellant to slow him still further, but he hit the net hard. It was made of thick and heavy composite threads. They wrapped around him as he flew into it and carried it with him clear across the hangar deck to where he collided with the far wall.

Jack fell to the deck, Marines in their meat suits rushing to him. He noticed the hangar doors were closing rapidly and he saw the broadside from the Scorpio light up space as it fired on the incoming Hydras.

As the hangar door closed, Jack saw a Hydra vaporize as a round from the Scorpio’s broadside hit. Then the door closed. Jack felt the rumble of the port-side battery as it poured fire on the incoming Hydras.

“What the hell happened?” Jack said, untangling himself from the net.

“Beats me, sir.” It was Torent. “Commander Griff told us to come and let you in, and stop you from splattering yourself all over the hangar deck.”

Jack raced to the exit and headed toward the command deck. He ran up a set of stairs, powering the servos in his suit to allow him to climb them in one bound. He came crashing into the command deck, barely aware of the aches and pains all over his body.

“Helmet,” Griff said sharply, looking at Jack. “Off. Now.”

Jack was barely aware he was still in his suit. He pulled the helmet off and tucked it under his arm.

“What happened?”

“It was Finch,” Matavesi said. “He fired the cannon. I think he wanted to alert the Chits to our presence.”

“What?” Jack yelled. “I knew we should have executed that kravin scroat.”

“Control yourself, Mister Forge.” Pretorius moved around Jack, tapping controls and studying the situation. “Remember where you are.”

“How did he escape?” Jack realized it was irrelevant at this time. “Where is he?”

“He was last seen leaving the servicing area for the cannon he fired,” Pretorius said. “We saw him heading to the engine room.”

Jack stepped away from the holostage. “I’m going to find him and stop him.”

Griff was looking at a portion of the holostage showing a grid map of the Scorpio. He was deploying the battalion. “Go,” he said without looking up.

Jack ran. It was a long way to the engine room. He pulled his helmet back on.

The ship’s broadcast system crackled to life. Jack heard the captain’s voice from the speakers embedded in the composite walls and over his helmet communicator. “All hands. Stand by to repel boarders. Chitin Hydras have attached themselves to the hull. They are cutting through.”

Jack’s communicator crackled and he heard Matavesi’s voice. “Jack,” she said, “the engines are down. It must be Finch. Hurry.”

Jack opened a channel to Reyes. If anyone could get the engines going, it was her. Whatever damage Finch had done, Reyes could fix it.

“Sarah, meet me in the engine room. I think we’ll need you to get this ship moving again.” Jack swerved around a group of Marines from Boa Company setting up their defense of the port-side upper main corridor.

“Jack Forge,” the voice hissed in Jack’s ear. The communicator identity was Sarah Reyes but that wasn’t her voice. Jack recognized it, but he didn’t believe it. “I’ve got Reyes here. Hurry on down here, Jack, and we’ll have a little reunion.”

Jack heard Sarah’s frightened screams and Finch’s laughter. Jack ran faster, the suit assisting his run. He felt the hot sweat of anger and exertion flash all over his skin. The system’s cooling system brought his suit’s temperature back down, but the heat of anger remained.

19

Jack heard the first bursts of pulse rifle fire from a side corridor. The Chitins had broken through. The Marines at the barricade in front of Jack turned as he came running toward them.

“Lower that weapon, Marine,” Jack said as he ran toward the group of Marines from A Company. Jack could see that their name tags had no combat star. These Marines were raw replacements, not a veteran among them.

Jack noticed all their medical readings showed signs of anxiety. Jack slowed. He patted a Marine on the shoulder.

“You ready?” he asked

The group nodded. A burst of fire came from behind Jack. The Chits were closing in. The heart rates of the replacements jumped up another notch.

Jack took one of the Marine’s pulse rifle and checked the weapon. “Pulse coil charged. Magazine locked. Fully loaded. Primed. EB charged and ready to light up.” Jack handed the rifle back. “Good work, Marine. You are ready.”

Jack stepped past them and through the barricade. “Stay alert.”

The group saluted Jack as he left. Jack hoped they’d survive and get their red combat star.

Jack came to the main junction on the corridor, stairs up and down, corridors running off left and right. A group of veterans from Cobra were holding position.

A sustained burst of pulse rifle fire came from the direction of the novice group Jack had just passed. The Chits were moving along the main corridors, and they were meeting resistance.

“What are you doing here?” Jack asked the veteran team as he ran toward the stairway down.

“We are a mobile response team, ready to move, sir.”

Jack pointed back the way he’d come. “Support that fire team at the barricade.”

The group ran toward the rifle fire. Jack heard a familiar sound of Chitin plasma spears fizzing through the air.

The lower port-side main corridor was quieter, only the echoing of the gun fire from above. Jack ran toward the engine room access corridor. He ran around the corner.

The rifle fire ripped the air around Jack. He dived to the floor and brought his rifle up to his shoulder.

“Cease fire,” Jack heard the shout from behind the barricade up ahead. “Cease fire. It’s Commander Forge.”

Jack stood up and strode forward toward a group of agitated Marines. A mixed squad of replacements and veterans from Adder Company. The replacements were nervous. The squad leader held his hand up in apology.

“Sorry, sir. We heard rifle fire. The replacements…” the squad leader trailed off.

“Stay alert, Squad Leader,” Jack said as he walked up to the barricade. “Has any one come this way, either into or out of the engine room?”

The squad leader shook his head. “No, sir.”

Climbing through the beams, Jack saw the Marines who had fired at him. Jack fixed them with a stare. “You missed,” he said. “Don’t miss again.”

Jack broke into a run and headed toward the engine room.

Jack ran the last section to the engine room. The vast space was filled with control panels, conduits, and subsystem workspaces. The central area was dominated by the massive fusion drive assembly.

Jack scanned the room for the heat signatures of Reyes and Finch. There were a hundred hiding places in the room and Finch could be anywhere. Even though the reactor had only been active for a few moments before Finch had sabotaged it, the residual heat from the drive and the various subsystems were perfect thermal camouflage. The heat from the dead engines would fade, and eventually Jack would be able to detect his prey, but Jack wasn’t sure they would have enough time. They were dead in the void and there would be more Chitins moving in on the Scorpio. They couldn’t hold out forever.

“You know you are trapped in here, Finch?” Jack shouted out. The room was large but silent. His voice would carry.

A whispering voice came over Jack’s helmet radio. It was Reyes communicator identity again, but it was still Finch’s voice. “I’ve got time,” he said. “I can stay hidden long enough.”

Jack brought his rifle up and began to creep forward. His helmet’s enhanced data overlay searched for any hint of Finch.

“You waiting for your Chitin friends to come and rescue you?” Jack stepped forward. “How do you know they won’t just destroy the Scorpio?”

“No, Jack,” Finch said. “You are too valuable. A whole ship full of potential Chitin agents. I don’t think they’ll destroy the ship. You are quite safe, for now.”

Jack moved cautiously. He moved slowly. He didn’t have time for this.

“I might kill you, Jack,” Finch said. “We don’t need you. We’ll have enough Marine grunts to keep us busy. The conversion process can be quite distressing. It would be good to see how you cope with it, but I much prefer to simply kill you.”

A pistol shot rang out around the room and a round ricocheted off a conduit near Jack’s head. Finch was serious about wanting Jack dead, but he was foolish in giving his position away. Jack’s meat suit identified the location the shot had come from. Jack looked and used every scanning frequency and bio-detection filter to search the area. A shape, a hazy spread of bio data, was detected on an upper gantry.

Jack identified a route that would take him to the gantry without exposing him to another shot. He moved quickly to the bottom of a long ladder up to the gantry where Finch was holding out. The noise of pulse rifle fire leapt up suddenly. Jack knew that the defenders at the barricade had made contact with the Chitins. The rifle fire was prolonged and sustained.

Jack grabbed hold of the ladder and began to climb. It was several stories up and Jack was vulnerable. If Finch realized where he was, he could take a few free shots before Jack could return fire, but there were several routes up to the gantry. Jack took the risk, climbing quickly and silently.

At the top of the gantry, Jack could see the entire drive assembly and fusion reactor. It ran the whole length of the engine room. The gantry was part of a mass of elevated walkways and had several work stations positioned along it. Any one of them could offer cover. Jack advanced cautiously.

“Sounds like your time is nearly up,” Finch said as the rifle fire continued. “I don’t think those Marines can hold them off for long. I managed to get around them too easily. I’m sure the Chitins will too.”

A pistol shot slammed into his right shoulder. The force knocked him sideways and a second round slammed into his helmet. Jack’s head was knocked back by the shot. He went down onto his knees. The shots had come from a dark recess in a subsystem block. Now Jack had Finch cornered.

Jack ran, moving from the cover of a console to the cover of a subsystem control unit. He moved in. Jack could see there was no way for Finch to escape.

“Come out, Finch,” Jack said. “I’ll make it quick.”

The figure stepped out from the shadows and Jack raised his rifle, his finger on the trigger, but then he stopped. It was Reyes. Her mouth was covered by a layer of heavy tape, her hands bound before her and fastened to a cord that ran back into the shadows. There were tears rolling down her cheeks but fierce defiance in her eyes.

“Don’t feel like firing anymore, Jack?” Finch said, his voice coming from the recess. “Maybe you should, Jack. Reyes is probably the most interesting person on board, from our point of view. She can use Chitin tech. That is fascinating. We could convert her easily, and she could help us understand how your tech works. She managed to stop this entire engine by removing one part. She’s a genius, and a traitor for disabling the engines. Shoot her, Jack.” Finch shoved Reyes further out from the recess.

“You okay, Sarah?” Jack asked, taking a cautious step forward.

Reyes nodded.

Then Jack saw the pistol in the shadow, pointing at Reyes’s head. “Or maybe she’s not as valuable as we think. But—” Finch jabbed the pistol against her head, his voice growing vicious. “—maybe I should pay her back for killing me?”

“It was an accident,” Jack said, stepping forward. The pistol was in view. Jack could take the shot and disarm Finch.

The rifle fire from the corridor outside died down.

“Time’s up, Jack,” Finch said. “Sounds like your defensive line has crumbled. They’ll be here to take you soon, but I can’t bear the thought of hearing you in my head when they turn you, so…” Finch pushed Reyes over the handrail and stepped out of the recess, pistol aimed.

It happened in a moment. Jack watched Reyes fall in silence, then he raised his rifle to shoot Finch dead, but before Jack could pull the trigger, Finch fell, quivering and shaking.

“Lower your weapon, Marine,” Visser shouted from the darkness. Her black Fleet Intelligence uniform returned her to the visible spectrum, and Jack saw the tazer in her hand. “You heard me, Marine. Lower your weapon.”

Jack looked over the edge of the gantry to where Reyes had fallen. She had landed on the top of the main drive assembly. It was a long but survivable fall. She looked to be in some discomfort.

“Jack,” Visser said. “Get Reyes, and get this ship moving.”

Jack walked forward toward Visser and the quivering Finch. He aimed his rifle. “That has got to die.”

Visser stepped over Finch and stood between them. “We need him, Jack. We know that the Chits have infiltrated the fleet, but we’ve never captured an agent before. If you kill him, we’ll be back to square one.” Visser stepped forward and shouted, “Do you hear me, Marine? This was my mission. I’ve almost completed my mission, Jack. You’ve almost completed yours. Just get Reyes and get this ship moving or we’ll all be lost.

Jack looked down to Reyes on the top of the reactor. Down on the base deck, silhouetted by the light streaming in from the corridor outside, he saw a Chitin soldier enter the engine room.

Jack moved. He jumped over the handrail and down to Reyes. His pulse rifle fired a hail of shots as he fell, every one slamming into the top of the Chit’s smooth head. The creature crumpled under the sudden and unexpected attack. Jack kneeled next to Reyes. He slung his pulse rifle, unclipped his sidearm, and activated the electron blade. He cut the bonds around her wrists and handed her the pistol.

Another Chit was entering and Jack let him have a sustained burst, the rounds ripping through the shell-like carapace on the vile creature’s head. It fell away, tentacles flailing.

“Can you restart the ship?” Jack asked.

Reyes nodded. Her face was covered in tears, her mouth strapped tightly. She was trying to pick away the tape covering her mouth and wrapped around her head. She gave up in frustration and pointed toward the rear end of the ship and the end of the drive assembly.

Jack hauled her to her feet and fired at the doorway as another Chit came in. It didn’t last long and was soon lying on the deck next to the other dead Chits.

The captain’s voice came over the ship-wide address. “Incoming Chitin Leviathan. All hands, keep fighting, and good luck.”

“Get that engine started, Jack,” Visser shouted from the gantry above.

Jack took Reyes in his arms and jumped down to the base deck. He landed hard but saved Reyes from the impact. She ran to the area she needed to get to, while Jack walked slowly backward, keeping his eyes and the muzzle of his rifle trained on the entrance to the engine room. Another Chit stuck its shiny head in and was struck by a burst of rounds from Jack’s rifle.

Jack turned and watched Reyes kneel in front of a small panel. She struggled to open it and then cut it with the electron blade on the pulse pistol.

Jack caught sight of another Chit entering. He fired. The Chit moved forward and into cover. Another Chit came in after. Again, Jack fired a number of rounds into the target, but that one also took the punishment and moved out of sight. Then another came, and another. Jack let loose and poured as much fire into the doorway as he could, and yet another came through.

“How’s that engine coming along, Sarah?” he asked. He turned and saw Reyes sitting on the floor looking up at him. She nodded.

“Engines to full.” The captain’s voice came over the ship-wide address. “Stand by for full engine burn.”

Then Commander Griff came on, “Intruders on all decks. Scorpio Battalion, defend all vital systems.”

Jack opened a communicator channel to the command deck. “This is Forge,” he said. “Send support to the engine room.” Jack fired as a Chit showed its snarling circle of white teeth. “I can’t hold them off alone.”

Reyes nudged Jack and indicated he follow her. Jack fell back, firing as he went. He could see more Chits entering the engine room. He followed Reyes and they backed into a deep but narrow recess, the composite walls rough on either side.

It was a defendable position, but they were trapped. Jack fired as a Chit came around the corner. Reyes loosed off a number of rounds from her pulse pistol.

Jack looked at Reyes. All he’d wanted was to spend time with her. “I’ve always wanted to be with you, Sarah,” Jack said. A Chitin appeared and fell to their fire. “Ever since I met you, I’ve wanted to be with you.”

Another Chit stepped around the corner and fell to their fire.

Jack looked at Reyes, her mouth taped up, dirt and tears on her cheeks. Jack thought he could kiss her, if only her mouth wasn’t covered.

A Chit appeared around the corner of the narrow recess. Jack fired and the Chit fell back, then another burst of fire leapt up from alongside the Chit and sent it sprawling sideways.

“Friendlies,” a voice said. A hand waved around the corner. “That you in there, sir?” Torent’s head popped around the corner. “Engine room secure,” he shouted. “Sixth Squad, go and support the Marines around the command deck.”

Jack leaned heavily against the wall. “Sam, good to see you. Let’s go secure the command deck.”

“It’s alright, Jack,” Torent said. “They’ve got them beat. I can leave you two alone there if you like?”

Jack looked at Reyes. Reyes mumbled something from behind the mass of tape.

“There’s still work to do, Sam.” Jack walked out of the recess. “Let’s sweep the area.”

“Yes, sir.”

Reyes managed to pull some of the tape away so she could speak. “Get me to maintenance, Jack. There’ll be a load of patch-up work to do. The sooner I get started the better.”

Jack nodded. He sent Torent ahead and then walked behind with Reyes. Jack looked up to the gantry above. Visser was still standing there. Jack shouted up, “Do you need any assistance with your prisoner, Agent Visser?”

Visser shook her head. Even from this distance, Jack could see her stern expression. Then she raised her hand and saluted Jack. “I’ve got this covered, Commander. Go and secure the ship.”

Jack returned the salute. Walking out of the engine room, stepping over the fallen Chitin soldiers, Jack wondered how close they had come to disaster. Too close. The Chitins had nearly silenced them all.

20

Jack hadn’t seen Eros for over a year. He stood on the Marine hangar deck and looked down at the bright blue planet below. He reached out and took Reyes’s hand.

“Beautiful,” he said. “After all the darkness, after all the pain, what I wouldn’t give for a day of planet leave.”

Reyes moved a little closer. Jack felt the warmth of her body.

The sound of footsteps caught Jack’s attention. He turned and watched the group marching onto the hangar deck.

Agent Visser was walking next to Finch, who was shackled to two Marines wearing meat suits.

“We have to stay up here but he gets to go down to the surface,” Reyes said.

“I wouldn’t want to be in his shoes,” Jack said, turning back to the view below. He heard Finch shouting as he was marched toward a waiting tac boat.

“We will meet again, Forge.”

Jack ignored the comment. Reyes turned to look. She whispered to Jack, “You should have killed him when you had the chance.”

“Someone told me once, don’t pick a fight with Fleet Intelligence.” Jack turned in time to see Finch get marched up the ramp of the tac boat. “But maybe it is better that we learn as much from him as we can. The information we gain could take years off the war.”

“As long as they don’t find out about us.” Reyes pressed herself closer to Jack.

“Us?” Jack said. “There’s an ‘us’?”

“You know what I mean,” Reyes said.

“We’ll be okay,” Jack replied, and he really wished he believed it.

Jack knew the war would be long and he might not survive much longer, but he was determined to survive anything that Finch could throw at him. It was a belief forged in the darkness of space.

Forged in Battle

Jack Forge, Fleet Marine, Book 5

1

Jack sat in the cockpit of the landing craft and looked at the distant asteroid. It was massive, larger than some of the moons around the system’s gas giants.

“Let the tac boats go in first,” Jack directed the pilot. “Watch out for ground fire.”

The asteroid belt was filled with these huge chunks of rock and metal. They had been a perfect resource in the early days of the system, but now they were so vulnerable to Chitin attack that few were still in operation. This one had reached the end of its working life a few days before when the Chits discovered the community and attacked.

The asteroid belt was littered with active mining colonies. There were also rogue settlements in the mined-out husks of the bigger asteroids. Rogue settlements were being given as much attention as legitimate ones. All humans were to be withdrawn from the outer system.

The engine from the lead tac boat flared as it powered toward the asteroid. The remaining ships lit up in unison and followed the leader, while Jack and his landing craft brought up the rear. The landing craft was going to transport the miners from the asteroid to the relative safety of the destroyer, the Scorpio. Before that could happen, Cobra Company had to destroy the Chitin attackers dug in on the surface of the massive asteroid.

The surface was dark, the crust baked in cosmic rays over billions of years. The habitation complex and the surface gear for the mine would usually be a glittering array of lights, but the community was dark. Their last transmission informed the evacuation flotilla that the Chitins had surrounded the mine. The miners had cut all nonessential power and were now dug in for a siege.

Jack knew there would be lights before long. Fleet Marine pulse rifles and tac boat hail cannons would soon be alive, peppering the Chitin positions. Chitin plasma spears and spitz cannons would light up the dark asteroid when they very quickly poured return fire into Cobra Company. Jack did not care whether it was the Chitins or Cobra Company who fired the first shot. He was determined that it would be Cobra who fired the last. He was here to rescue the miners. If he could destroy the besieging Chitin soldiers, even better.

A flash of light on the surface caught Jack’s eye. A lone flare soared away from the community structures, arching over the dark ground around the mine.

“Hold fire,” Jack messaged the tac boats. “It’s a flare from the miners. They want to show us the enemy positions,” Jack said. “We’ll see them soon enough.”

They most certainly did. A scattering of flashes from the surface gave away the Chits’ positions as dozens of spitz cannons burst into life. The bright energy pulses raced away from the surface toward the incoming Marine company craft.

The pulses slashed around the cockpit, each one narrowly missing as they were cast aside by the forward deflection field.

“Scorpio’s returning fire, Commander,” the pilot said.

Jack saw the high-density shot flash past the landing craft and the tac boats, the rounds superheated by their launch from the Scorpio’s port-side cannons. The rounds slammed into the asteroid, creating small balls of light that grew suddenly out of the dark surface. The lights died away, and the spitz cannons on the ground went dark.

“They killed them all,” the pilot said, nervous and excited.

“Don’t be too sure,” Jack said calmly. “Some of them were stupid enough to give away their positions once. Now they know the Scorpio will engage them and they won’t do it again, at least not until we are on top of them.”

Jack checked the surface data on the cockpit holostage. The locations of Chit spitz cannons were mapped now. A network of prepared positions ringed the mine buildings and ensured that the trapped miners stayed trapped. All Cobra had to do was punch a hole through that ring and keep a corridor open for the miners to escape to his landing craft. He hoped he could get all his Marines off the asteroid too, but the priority was the civilian miners. As a commander, his duty was to accomplish the mission. Every mission had its objectives, and every mission had its cost. Jack knew the costs all too well.

Unclipping his harness and standing up, Jack gave the pilot an encouraging pat on the shoulder.

“Keep her steady and put her down safely, pilot,” he said, then stepped onto the passenger deck. His old squad was sitting near the starboard-side exit. 6th squad was low on numbers but high on experience. Sam Torent was squad leader and 6th squad trusted him. Osho, Jenks, and Bubble had been with Jack from the first days of training. Bailey was one of two recent replacements and the only replacement to survive their first action with 6th squad. The boy was brave but nervous.

“Ready your gear,” Jack said. “We will be touching down in moments. Move fast. Keep low.” Jack turned to Bailey. “And don’t get lost.”

“This rock is too small to get lost on, kid,” Torent said. “Stick with me and you’ll be okay.”

Bailey looked at Jack. Commander Forge was fast becoming a legend in the Fleet Marines, his name known to all recruits. He was the Marine who had singlehandedly killed a Chitin Leviathan, the Marine who’d saved a destroyer. Jack was the Marine’s secret weapon against the Chitins. Bailey didn’t believe half the stories that had circulated about his training squad, but he knew Commander Forge was real and he was grateful to be in his company.

“You listen to your squad leader,” Jack said, “and fire at the Chits.”

The pilot shouted back from the cockpit. “Thirty seconds. Good luck, Commander.”

Jack checked the medical data for each of 6th squad. Torent was calm. Osho and Jenks were getting nervous. Bubble was quaking and letting out his usual involuntary murmur of fear. Bailey’s heart rate was through the roof.

Jack stood by the exit and checked his pulse rifle one last time.

“Ten seconds,” the pilot called out.

“Keep those electron bayonets powered down,” Jack said. “We don’t want to show them where we are.”

The landing craft touched down and the door fell open, hitting the ground hard. Jack ran down the short ramp and onto the crusty surface of the asteroid.

“Move,” Jack called.

Sam Torent was already running down the ramp, his pulse rifle on his shoulder. He moved in a semi crouch, his legs shuffling fast and his rifle steady, aimed forward and ready to fire.

Half a kilometer ahead, the tac boats had already touched down and the rest of Cobra Company was spilling onto the surface of the asteroid. The Chits were keeping their plasma spears and spitz cannons quiet for now.

Jack moved behind 6th squad, his eyes fixed on the horizon. He scanned left and right for any hint of Chitin movement.

“Maybe they’ve all gone,” Bailey said.

Jack recognized the hope and fear in the boy’s voice. “Focus, Bailey. Watch for movement.”

The movement, when it came, was sudden and close. The ground next to Jack seemed to writhe and erupt in a mass of black tentacles as the Chitin soldier next to him broke cover.

“Contact right!” Jack shouted as he turned. His pulse rifle burst to life and poured a hail of pulse rounds into the Chitin.

The Chitin staggered and thrashed about as the rounds hit home, smashing chunks out of its thick carapace.

“Contact left,” Osho said as another Chit rose from the ground. She fired a burst of well-aimed pulse rounds at the Chit.

Torent called out as he fired at a Chit that stood up in front of the advancing 6th squad. “Contact front.”

Jack stepped back as the Chitin came toward him. He maintained his fire and targeted the massive head. The Chitin fell, its tentacles thrashing the ground, throwing up fragments of the crusty surface.

“They’re all around us!” Bailey said, stumbling away from Torent, who was pouring pulse fire into the massive Chitin soldier towering over him.

“Fire your weapon, Marine.” Jack stood behind Bailey and pushed him forward.

“Target down,” Osho said as the Chit on the squad’s right fell. Bubble was next to her, firing and whimpering in fear.

“Target down,” Torent said.

Jack walked toward the squad leader and fired two more well placed rounds into the writhing Chits head.

“Sound off, Sixth Squad,” Jack said. He stepped around the now motionless Chitin soldier.

All Marines spoke up and reported ready.

“Move your squad forward, Sam,” Jack said. “Watch out for Chits in the dirt. They must know we’re coming and they would like to kill us all.”

The light from the spitz cannons flashed in the distance. The flashes from the pulse rifles replied and Cobra Company advanced.

“Doesn’t seem right, sir,” Torent said. “The rest of the company is up there fighting and we’re back here, mopping up a few strays.”

“We are going to keep a clear passage for the miners back to the landing craft,” Jack said. “If we want to rescue any of them, there must be a clear path for them to get to their only way off this rock.”

“I guess I don’t like seeing the others doing all the work, sir.” Torent checked his weapon.

“If you want to file a grievance with the battalion commanding officer,” Jack said, stepping forward and scanning for any signs of Chitin soldiers, “I’m sure they will be happy to hear from you, Squad Leader Torent.”

“Don’t want to make work for the battalion, sir,” Torent said. “Just want to kill more Chits.”

“As do we all, Squad Leader.” Jack scanned the ground ahead. “Wish I had a dozen like you.”

A Chitin soldier popped up in front of them and fired a plasma spear. The fizzing lance of energy burned through the air and slammed into Bubble’s chest. The force sent him flying backward.

The squad fired and sent the Chit flailing back. A second plasma spear leapt from the Chitin, but it was poorly aimed and raced into the darkness.

Bailey fired as he ran toward the Chit. He stood over the fallen soldier and poured fire into the smashed carapace.

“Stop him, Sam,” Jack said as he walked back to Bubble, who was lying face up, pulse rifle at his side.

“How are you doing, Marine?” Jack said.

“It hurts,” Bubble said. His voice steady and calm.

“Okay, Bubs. We’ll get you out of here.” Jack kneeled next to Bubble. He looked back to the landing craft just a few hundred meters away. “We’ll get you on board and you’ll be the first in medbay, okay?”

“My suit is broken, sir,” Bubble said.

Jack checked the suit’s status on his enhanced data view. The suit was fine but Bubble had taken a plasma spear to the chest. The force had ruptured his lung. Smashed ribs perforated the other.

Bubble held up his hand to Jack. “Help me up, sir. I can make it.”

Jack took hold of Bubble’s hand. “Just take it easy, Bubs.” Jack used his command override to access the suit’s medical package. He administered a painkiller.

“I’m not afraid, sir,” Bubble said calmly. “Make sure they get me home.”

“You bet, Marine,” Jack said.

Bubble’s heartbeat was weak and erratic. Then it stopped.

Jack took the dog tag off the meat suit and stored it away. Torent was standing at his side.

“You want me to get him back to the Scorpio?” Torent said.

Jack looked to the flashes of light over the battle in the distance with a dead serious expression on his face. “Move your squad forward. We’ll pick him up on the way back.”

Jack reached his waypoint and took a knee. He activated the small holostage on his suit’s cuff and checked the battle’s progress.

1st and 2nd squads had punched through the Chitin perimeter and reached the outer walls of the mining community. 3rd and 4th were holding the Chits back on one side of the corridor through the Chitin lines. 5th and 6th squad were holding the other.

Navidi, the squad leader from 1st, sent the call that the miners were ready to move.

“Okay, this is it,” Jack said. “Watch for the Chitins. Check your targets. We don’t want to drop any miners. Here they come.”

The most dangerous part of the operation was moving the group of miners the kilometer through the Chitin siege lines to the waiting landing craft. Jack watched the flanks as the miners came running. Then the spitz guns started up. With the miners and Cobra Company so close to the enemy, there was no way the Scorpio could lay down any supporting fire. Only the Marines with their pulse rifles could hold back the Chits.

As the last miner left the building, Navidi called in that the facility was clear.

Jack watched the rescue in operation. 1st and 2nd moved behind the running miners. Chits came on from both sides, their movements immediately detected by the meat suit’s sensors. The Chitin bodies were riddled with pulse rounds from a dozen well-trained and experienced Marines in seconds.

The fire from 3rd and 4th squads kept the Chits at bay as the miners ran through the narrow corridor of safety.

The first of the retreating miners came along side 5th squad. Stuart Laidlaw messaged Jack.

“Commander Forge, the miners are with me now. We’re rear guard now, sir.”

“Copy that, Stuart,” Jack said. “Hold those Chits and get your people to the tac boats as soon as you get my signal. Copy?”

“Copy that, sir.”

The miners came out of the dark, running toward Jack and 6th squad. The flashes of light from the pulse rifles and the plasma spears flickered over the dull, crusty surface of the asteroid.

“Okay, here they come, Sixth Squad,” Jack said. “You know what to do.”

Torent called out to 6th squad. “Spread out. Back to the landing craft. Make sure we have a clear path.”

Jack let 6th squad go ahead. He waited for the miners to come running. They were dressed in the heavy coats that protected them against the cold and they had breathing masks over their frightened faces. Hard, grizzled men, with no fear of hard work in the harshest conditions mining out vital materials for the human’s war effort, now running for their lives like frightened children. Jack couldn’t blame them. Not once had Jack seen a Chitin soldier and not felt fear, or faced Chitin plasma spears and not wished to be somewhere else, anywhere else. Jack waved the miners past him toward the waiting landing craft that would take them up to the Scorpio.

“This is Laidlaw,” Jack heard the shouts from the squad leader of 5th. “They are coming on hard now. They can see we are running.”

Jack started walking toward the rear guard. He brought up his pulse rifle. He had the urge to run to Laidlaw and help fight off the Chits.

“This is Fourth Squad. We are in position to assist. Permission to assist the rear guard.”

Jack considered the request. 4th squad’s tac boat was close to that of 5th. They could hold the rear as the miners fled and could evac together. The miners were almost at the landing craft and a few minutes of support from 4th could save a few lives in 5th. But the decision was taken from his hands as the orders came down from Major Griff on the Scorpio.

“Negative, Fourth Squad. Hold them off as long as you can, Fifth. All other squads evac now.”

Jack looked at the data on his wrist holostage. The Chits were circling around 5th squad. They would be cut off from their tac boat any moment now. Jack watched the last of the miners with their 1st squad Marine guard go past. Navidi stopped in front of Jack.

“We’ve got them all out, sir. Get to your boat.”

“We need to assist fifth squad,” Jack said. “Second, make sure the miners make the landing craft. First Squad, you are with me. Okay, Joe?”

Joe Navidi was one of Cobra’s most experienced squad leaders and Jack would always be confident to have him alongside him in a fight.

Joe nodded. Jack saw the sudden spike in his heart rate as he prepared to go back in to battle.

“Commander Forge,” the voice of Major Griff came over Jack’s helmet communicator. “What are you doing on the field? Withdraw to your landing craft and bring those miners home. That is an order, Commander.”

Jack glanced at his wrist holostage. Laidlaw was in a fighting retreat, falling back to his tac boat. The engines of 4th squad’s tac boat flashed over the dark surface as it blasted off. The sudden flash attracted spitz cannon fire from a dozen locations.

Navidi looked at Jack for orders. Jack patted him on the shoulder. “Get to your tac boat, Joe.”

Navidi didn’t need a second instruction. He turned on his heel and ran, calling his squad to him as he went.

“Commander Forge,” Griff’s voice came over the communicator again, harsher and angrier.

“Withdrawing now, sir,” Jack said. He turned his back on the mining facility and ran to the landing craft.

Jack ran, using his meat suit’s power assist to help him cover the distance. The light of a plasma spear flashing past his helmet spurred him on. Squad leaders reported in that they were aboard their boats and returning to the Scorpio. Only 5th was still fighting their way over the asteroid.

Another plasma spear flashed past Jack, and then another. One slammed into the ground at his feet. Then another and another. Jack realized he was being targeted. He didn’t dare turn around. All he could do was run.

The landing craft’s pulse laser sent out a rapid fire that held back the Chits on Jack’s tail. Jack grabbed a grenade and pulled the pin. He tossed it over his shoulder, and in the low gravity it traveled a hundred meters before coming down to the ground where it detonated.

The flash lit up the landing craft and the Marines of 6th squad who were lined up, pulse rifles raised and waiting to lay down a covering fire for their commander.

“Get on board!” Jack shouted as he came close.

“Sorry, Sir,” Torent said, “but I’m going to have to refuse that order.”

Jack looked over his shoulder and saw the ground behind him filled with Chits.

The moment Jack came to the line of 6th squad, the Marines’ pulse rifles burst into action. The pulse laser on the landing craft blasted away. The dull crust of the asteroid lit up with a sustained and rapid flashing. Jack turned and added his own rifle fire to the barrage. The Chits were closing in.

A tac boat leaving the surface called in. “5th squad away.”

Jack watched as the tac boat blasted upwards and then came around on a sweeping arc that took it over the heads of the Chitin soldiers advancing on Jack’s landing craft. The tac boat’s hail cannon blasted a swathe through the Chits.

“Get on board, Sixth Squad,” Jack ordered as he marched up the ramp to the passenger deck.

The ramp came up with Torent and Osho firing through the closing gap.

The acceleration hit hard as the craft powered away from the asteroid. The surface of the asteroid lit up with ground fire from the Chits. The return fire from the Scorpio soon put an end to the spitz cannons and the plasma spears.

The miners were strapped in to the seats that lined the passenger deck, while the Marines held on to whatever straps and handholds they could find, and there, strapped into a seat, Jack saw the meat suit that contained Bubble.

It was always going to be a dangerous rescue. Cobra Company was never going to come out of it unscathed. Jack looked at the faces of the miners. Tired, scared, relieved, grateful, and every one looking at Jack with gratitude and respect.

“This is Pretorius,” the captain’s voice came over Jack’s communicator. “Incoming Chitin craft. All craft, combat landing procedures. Strap yourselves in. This one is going to be close.”

2

Jack sat at the desk in his quarters and prepared the action report. Cobra had smashed their way through the Chitin lines and created a safe corridor for the miners to escape. There had been fatalities, but well below projections, and the mission was a success by all measures. But Jack was not happy.

He had sent his men into battle and sat at the rear, safe from the worst of the Chitin activity. All he had been doing was guarding the landing craft, and he’d lost a man.

Jack needed to blow off some aggression. He had watched his company fight like the well-trained professionals that everyone expected them to be, but their commander had sat and watched.

Jack finished the report and filed it. He stood up and checked his uniform. He was wearing his formal jacket. There was a gathering in the officers’ lounge and he was required to attend.

The salutes from the crewmen and Marine guards who walked the corridors of the Scorpio were becoming routine. Jack hardly returned them anymore with anything other than a cursory salute. He entered the lounge. This didn’t feel very routine. He still felt like an outsider here. The officers were gathered to congratulate Griff and Matavesi, as both had been promoted, and both greeted Jack as he entered.

Griff had been promoted to major and given command of the Scorpio Battalion. He was a competent leader and a fierce Marine. Jack was happy to serve under him and gave a salute as he came over.

“As you were, Jack,” Griff said. “You are late. Do I need to set up a court martial?”

“Sorry, sir,” Jack said. “I needed to get that action report filed.” Jack was sure Griff was going to chew him out over his tardiness but knew Griff was joking about a court martial. Jack relaxed.

“Priorities, Jack. Command is all about priorities, isn’t it,” Griff said, nodding. “At least you are not too late to congratulate Major Matavesi.”

“Well done, sir,” Jack said. “The Taurus Battalion is lucky to have you.”

Matavesi grinned. “Sorry to leave you with all the work, Jack.”

Jack was now the only company commander of the Scorpio Battalion. With Matavesi’s promotion to major and transfer to the Taurus, and with Griff promoted to major, the Scorpio Battalion had lost its two best commanders. Jack was the least experienced company commander in the fleet. Now he was the only commander in a battalion short of two commanders.

“Jack,” Griff said, “I’m going to need you to suggest Marines you think are suitable to take over the roles of company commanders. I can’t see Fleet Command sending us any replacement officers. We are going to have to use the people we have. I’ll give you a week to make the assessments and send me a list of names. I will make the final choice.”

Jack could see he was getting even deeper into administrative work with every moment. First he was guarding a landing craft for an evacuation, next he was reviewing files and doing staff performance reviews.

“Yes, sir,” Jack replied.

Matavesi slapped him on the back. “I think Jack is missing the heat of battle already.” She laughed. “Don’t make it too hard for him, Harry,” she said to Major Griff.

“He is a Marine,” Griff said. “He will take whatever is thrown at him.”

Jack nodded. “I will, sir, and I’ll find the best people for the commander roles, sir,” Jack said.

“I know you will.” Griff put an arm over Jack’s shoulder and walked him to the drinks cabinet. “But no need to think about it now. Have a drink and relax. You can find me the best of the bunch starting tomorrow. Copy?”

“Copy that, sir,” Jack said and took the tumbler of the sharp liquor the officers were drinking. He swirled the drink in the glass. He already knew who the best people in Cobra Company were. Jack had fought with them many times and he knew that every one of them was brave and fierce. True Marines every one.

But who would make company commander? Jack didn’t know if he wanted to inflict that on any of them. It was the hardest thing for a Marine, to sit at the back, or behind a desk and write up lists, lists of equipment, lists of training schedules, lists of battles…and lists of the dead.

After an hour and another stiff drink, the party was ready to see Matavesi off. The frigate that would take Major Matavesi to the Taurus had arrived and was flying in formation with the Scorpio. The officers formed a line with Captain Pretorius and Major Griff at the exit from the officers’ lounge. Matavesi walked along the line and received a pat on the back from her fellow officers and finally a handshake from Captain Pretorius and Major Griff.

“Give my regards to Captain Brent,” Pretorius said. “And good luck, Major.”

As Major Trace Matavesi left the officer’s deck, Jack finished his drink. It was time to head to his bunk. He had work in the morning, officer’s work.

The way from the officers’ lounge to Jack’s quarters was familiar, but Jack wasn’t going to his quarters. He hadn’t gotten lost. He had walked on autopilot, and now stood outside the doors to the maintenance hangar. It was time to see some old friends.

“She’s out on a job,” Slim said, a coffee mug in his hands. “A job in the water treatment and recycling plant. She’ll be at it all night, I guess.”

Jack couldn’t even hang out with his girl now. “Maybe I’ll join you for a coffee.” Jack stepped toward the coffee machine, the strong familiar smell drifting over the dirt and grease of the maintenance hangar. “I could do with a strong drink.”

Slim put his mug down next to the other dirty mugs. “Help yourself, Jack.” Slim pulled a large pair of gloves on. “I’ve got to get this beam synchronizer installed by start of first watch or the captain will keelhaul my ass.”

Slim picked up a heavy piece of equipment and placed it carefully on a drone cart.

“You need a hand?” Jack asked.

“No, Jack, I do not.” Slim powered up the drone cart. “I need you out of my way. This is a one-man job and I’ll bet you have never even seen inside a beam synchronizer.” Slim walked toward the maintenance hangar doors, the drone cart following. “And don’t bother Sarah either. She needs to get the work done and the last thing she needs is you getting in her way.” Slim paused and looked at Jack, suddenly looking unsure. “Sorry, I meant to say, sir.” Slim hesitated. “It’s always good to see you, but we really need to get this work done.”

Slim was used to speaking plainly to Jack, and Jack liked that. He let Slim go on with his work. The maintenance department was the most overworked department on the Scorpio. The last thing they needed was Jack getting in the way.

The Marine bunkhouses were always lively. Jack passed the Adder Company bunks and the Boa Company bunks. He walked along the Cobra Company bunks and along to the bunkhouse for 6th squad. It was as familiar as any part of the ship. Jack walked in.

“Commander on deck,” Torent said the moment Jack walked in. He jumped up from his card game and stood at attention. The rest of 6th jumped up and stood rigid.

“At ease,” Jack said. He felt so distant from the squad now. He used to be one of them, now he was the company commander, their boss. The squad stood at ease. They relaxed their stance, but Jack knew as long as he was there, they wouldn’t be able to relax. This was their downtime. He was intruding. “Is there anything you need?” Jack asked. He saw the squad exchange glances.

“No, thank you, sir,” Torent said.

Jack stepped back to the door. “As you were, Sixth Squad,” he said.

The Marines went back to their activities in an uncertain manner. Jack knew they could not relax with the commander in their muster area.

Torent stepped over to Jack. “Is there anything I can do for you, sir?”

Jack walked to the exit. With a sideways nod of his head, he bid Torent to follow him.

Standing outside the bunkhouse in the corridor, Jack walked slowly along, Torent at his side.

“I didn’t do anything on that rescue mission, Sam.”

Torent stopped and turned to Jack. “You led the mission, Jack.”

Jack leaned against the wall. “I just wish I could have done more.”

“You rescued the miners. They say we need skilled people like that if we are going to beat those Chitin scum. You did your job.”

“But I was so far from the action. I don’t want to send Marines anywhere that I’m not prepared to go.”

“I know you will fight when you must, Jack.” Torent leaned on the wall opposite Jack. “But I for one was happy to be at the rear for a change. I could quite happily go my whole life without having to face down a screaming horde of Chitin soldiers again. But you know something, Jack?”

“What’s that, Sam?”

“We are unlikely to go to the end of this war without facing those Chitin scum again, and when we do, I hope I’m standing next to the baddest, most fierce kravin Marine in the entire Fleet Marine Service.”

Jack nodded.

“You don’t know who I mean, do you?”

Jack shook his head. There were dozens of good Marines. As far as Jack was concerned, Torent was one of the best he had ever known.

Torent pushed himself off the wall. “I mean you, Jack. Now if you don’t mind getting the krav out of my squad area, sir…” Torent gave Jack a cheeky smile. “A commander in the area tends to make the guys nervous.”

Jack left the area and wandered the Scorpio. He had been on board the destroyer for just over a year and he knew every square meter of it. The only place he didn’t feel comfortable was his own quarters. It was small and isolated. Jack felt the biggest battle he had to face was dealing with the isolation and the burden of command. The hardest battle he would face would be to send good Marines like Sam Torent into battle and watch them do the work of shredding Chitin soldiers, putting their lives on the line every moment, never knowing if they would survive the next.

Jack dropped onto his bunk. He couldn’t call it sleep, it was little more than a fitful semi-consciousness, but the night watch hours passed and before he knew it, he was being roused by a message on his communicator. He was required on the command deck. Jack rolled out of his bunk, ready for another round of commander duty.

3

The command deck of the Scorpio was buzzing with activity when Jack joined the captain and Major Griff at the holostage.

“Fleet Command has located a Chitin flotilla.” Pretorius tapped the holostage and showed a blurry holoimage. “This is real time data. Fleet Intelligence thinks it is a Leviathan with around fifty other ships, mostly Hydras. They expect that some of these signals—” Pretorius pointed at the fuzzy Hydra-sized objects. “—are actually small squadrons of Krakens. It’s a large force, but we are going to intercept and engage.”

“Sir.” Jack raised his hand. “One carrier group against all that?”

“We are synchronizing our approach with the Overlord Carrier Group. We will attack together. Fleet believes that two carrier groups should be a match for the Leviathan. The Monarch Carrier Group destroyers, that’s us, the Aries, and the Pisces, are to sweep around the port flank of the Chitin flotilla. Overlord Carrier Group destroyers will take the starboard flank and the two carriers will engage the Leviathan head-on with support from all frigates and corvettes.”

Griff turned to Jack. “Looks like you’ll be preparing the battalion for internal defense again, Jack.”

Jack nodded. “Yes, sir.”

Pretorius switched the holoimage to show the two carrier groups in their attack formation. “Both carriers will launch their full fighter force to cover the destroyers from Chitin craft that will attempt to board. We expect to catch the Chitins by surprise, and with superior numbers so they shouldn’t be able to get any boarding operations underway.”

“I want the ship prepared in any case, Captain,” the major said. He turned to Jack. “And I want those recommendations about the potential company commanders from you as soon as possible. I don’t want to be managing a battalion with only one commander reporting to me. Clear?”

“Yes, sir,” Jack nodded.

Jack deployed the battalion throughout the Scorpio. If the Chits were going to get on board, they would head for critical areas and quickly try to disable the ship. Life support, engine rooms, and command deck were heavily guarded. The barrier system devised by Jack was reinstalled to slow Chit movement through the ship.

A ship-wide announcement informed Jack that the Scorpio and the rest of the Monarch Carrier Group would be in combat position in a few minutes. Jack watched through a porthole in one of the outer doors of the hangar deck.

The Chitin Leviathan appeared in the distance as it fired its primary weapon toward the incoming Fleet ships. The fire from the Fleet craft lit up space. The batteries on the Scorpio poured fire at the Chitin Hydras that raced forward to meet the attack.

Jack saw the Leviathan light up as high-energy lasers from both carriers slammed into its black hull. Then the ordnance from both carriers came pouring in. High ex rounds slammed into the Leviathan. The explosions lit up space and the massive Chitin craft. The Leviathan returned fire. Jack pressed his face to the porthole to see the plasma blast burn its way toward the carriers.

The fighter craft from the carriers flew alongside the Scorpio, startling Jack. They turned and flew toward the Leviathan and its support craft, their engine flares blocking everything else from view. As they powered away, Jack saw their pulse lasers pouring fire into a group of Hydras.

The Leviathan took another pulse of the high-energy laser and another salvo of high-explosive and kinetic shot. Then the combat drones came within detonation range. The antimatter explosions grew like billowing clouds, almost perfectly symmetrical. Their energy slammed into the Leviathan.

The Scorpio began to smell of battle as the exhaust from the gun batteries burned back into the ship. Another salvo lit up space and the top-mounted, high-energy laser incinerated a nearby Chitin Hydra. The fighter craft swooped across the advancing Hydras and Krakens that tried to battle their way toward the Scorpio.

Then the call came over Jack’s communicator, the call he both dreaded and longed for. A Chitin Hydra had attached itself to the hull and was cutting through. The Hydra had broken through the fighter defense and attached itself to the Scorpio near the engine room. Jack ran. He was not going to leave this to the Marines stationed there. He was a leader, and he was going to personally lead this fight.

As Jack ran along the Marine deck to the aft exit, he saw the Leviathan give off another massive blast from its primary weapon. The huge plasma gout was as big as a Fleet carrier. A carrier could only take a few direct hits from the Leviathan weapon. This battle was a question of time and damage ratio. If the carriers could inflict more damage on the Leviathan than it could deliver to either carrier, then the Chits would lose. If one carrier went down, then the Leviathan would have a chance.

As Jack ran, he saw the exploding ships, small craft falling to the chaotic dogfight around the two capital ships in their heavy-hitting slugfest. Chitin craft and Fleet ships falling to fire, but as long as the Leviathan went down, the battle victory would go to the Fleet.

But Jack had his own battle to fight. The Chits had made it on board and Jack was going to make them wish they hadn’t.

The sound of pulse rifle fire echoed along the main corridor and Jack sprinted toward it. A Marine squad guarding a barricade near the engine room saw Jack coming.

“Sir,” their squad leader said. “They’ve broken through.”

“Hold position,” Jack said as he ran past.

Jack saw the shadow of a Chitin soldier at the end of a corridor leading to the engine room. The pulse rifle fire was strong and holding the Chits back. The corridor was dead straight and if Jack stepped around the corner, he would be in the Marines’ line of fire. Jack lay on the floor and crawled forward. He looked around the corner and saw the Chitin soldiers taking a sustained fire, but they lumbered toward the Marine squad defending the access to the engine room. The Chitin soldiers took the hits, their shell-like heads fracturing as the rounds hit home.

Jack heard the pulse rifle fire subside. A final burst and then a shout from the squad holding the engine room.

“Target down. Threat neutralized,” a Marine shouted. “Check those Chits.”

Jack called to the squad holding the engine room on his helmet communicator.

“Commander Forge here. Hold your fire, I’m coming out.”

Jack held his rifle around the corner and then stepped into the corridor. He counted the bodies of seven Chits in the corridor. The breach in the corridor where the Chitin Hydra had attached itself was open, leading to the hydra itself. Jack made a sign for silence. He called a Marine forward to take position on the other side of the breach. Jack moved forward to his side of the breach cautiously, quietly, excitedly.

The Hydra had a maximum crew of eight. There were only seven bodies in the corridor. Jack indicated to the Marine who was coming forward that there may still be a Chit inside. The tag on the enhanced data display showed Jack that the Marine coming forward was Dave Jarett, the squad leader from 3rd squad of Adder Company.

Jack and Jarett came closer to the opening. Beyond the breach was the interior of the Chitin Hydra, an alien world only a few steps away. Jack’s heart beat hard as he expected that at any minute, a Chit might come charging out, its tentacles flailing and stabbing, its plasma spears slicing through the air toward Jack or Jarett.

Jack could see that Jarett’s heart rate was climbing as they came near the breach. His own was climbing too.

Jack made a series of hand signals instructing Jarett that they would attack with grenades. With his gestures, he instructed that they would both lob a grenade into the Chitin craft on his signal.

Jarett nodded and slung his pulse rifle over his shoulder. Jack did the same and pulled a grenade off the strap at his shoulder. He checked Jarett was ready. With a nod, they both depressed the fuse standby. A single bright flash indicated the grenades were primed. Another nod from Jack and they both slung their grenades around the corner and into the hydra’s interior.

Suddenly, a Chitin burst out and turned on Jack, knocking him backward. Jack pulled his sidearm, the most easily deployed weapon at this point, and fired a quick succession of rounds into the Chitin’s head. A ridged tentacle stabbed at Jack’s head. He moved quickly aside, the ridged tentacle piercing the deck plate. Jack loosed another burst of fire, the black carapace of the Chitin’s head smashing with every round.

The grenades in the Hydra detonated, sending a shower of debris and smoke into the corridor.

Jack rolled away from another stabbing tentacle and fired with his pulse pistol again. Then the Chitin stopped dead as an electron bayonet burst through the head, splattering the foul slime from the Chitin interior all over Jack’s helmet. The EB was withdrawn, then cut through again.

The Chitin fell lifeless, its slimy guts spilling over the deck. Standing behind was Dave Jarett. He stepped over the fallen Chitin soldier and reached down. Jack took his arm and let the squad leader pull him to his feet.

“I think we got them, sir,” Jarett said. “Thanks for the help.”

“Good work, Marine,” Jack said.

Then the call came over the ship’s address system from Captain Pretorius.

“Chitin Leviathan is going down in flames. All other Chitin craft withdrawing. Well done, Scorpio. Well done.”

4

“I’ve read your action report from the asteroid rescue, Jack.” Major Griff sat back in his chair.

Jack stood opposite Griff.

“And I’ve read your latest from our action against the Leviathan.”

Griff looked up at Jack.

“You are a company commander now, Jack.” Griff held his hand out and offered Jack a seat. “Your job is to direct the troops, not rush at the nearest Chit, guns blazing.”

Jack sat down. He wasn’t taking the criticism well. “I can’t just sit at the rear, Harry,” Jack said. “I need to act.”

“You need to adapt to your new responsibilities. What good is a company commander if they rush ahead of the troops and get themselves killed? The troops need your direction.”

Jack nodded.

“I don’t mean to criticize you too harshly, Jack. Too many officers stay out of the fight and fail to understand what is happening in the hot-zone, but you know the front line. You know what it’s like under fire, and you know how good the Marines in this battalion are. Let them do their job. You must do yours. Am I making myself clear? No more rushing in. Leading the troops does not mean you have to be the first to the fight.”

Jack nodded. It was hard letting others do the heavy lifting. Jack wanted to win every fight. He knew he had to accept that the company and the squads were his weapon now, not the pulse rifle and the electron bayonet. He would have to learn to fight with these.

“Have you decided who you are going to recommend for commander duties?”

“Working on it, Harry.” Jack hated that he had to pull a Marine out of their squad and put them in charge, but someone had to do it.

Griff dismissed Jack and pulled a set of holographic files across his desk.

“Permission to speak, sir?” Jack asked.

“By all means,” Griff said, looking at the files on his desk.

“I’m a Marine and I’m going to fight. If I need to go into battle, I will, no hesitation.”

Griff looked up from his work. He nodded. “Just don’t get yourself killed, okay? I haven’t got enough officers as it is. I can’t afford to lose you too.”

The communicator on Griff’s desk beeped. Captain Pretorius’s voice came through.

“Major Griff. Assemble your officers and join me on the command deck.”

Griff looked up at Jack. “My officers?” he said with a single laugh. “That’s you, Jack. Let’s go.”

The holostage was active with an image of a civilian vessel about the size of a Fleet frigate. Jack stepped up next to Griff. The captain climbed down from his chair and joined the Marine officers.

“The Scorpio has been tasked with intercepting this civilian craft.” The captain tapped the holoimage and zoomed in. “As you can see, this craft is a standard bus, carrying around a hundred civilians. This one craft is the entire population of a number of smaller mining asteroids. The group is retreating back to home space under the civil withdrawal directive.”

The captain tapped the holostage and called up a new image from inside the bus. The internal surveillance showed Chitin soldiers in the corridors.

“They were attacked by a group of Hydras and they have been boarded. The civilians took refuge in a secure compartment deep inside the ship, away from any external hull plates.”

“We will intercept them in twenty minutes. What I want from the battalion is to rescue the civilians from the Chitin boarding party. After we destroy the Chits, we will bring the civilians on board the Scorpio and deliver them to Eros.”

“Do we know how many Chits are on board?” Jack asked, looking at the image of a Chit scurrying along a corridor.

“The captain of the bus reported five Hydras approaching his ship before he hid with the passengers. That would make a maximum of forty Chitin soldiers on board.”

Griff nodded. “If we were on open ground, I could take out forty Chits. But in those corridors, packed in like that…” Griff trailed off.

“We will be fighting them practically one on one,” Jack said. “No point sending over an entire company. There will only be room for a couple of squads in there anyway.”

“And you won’t be able to use pulse rifles in there,” Pretorius said. “It’s a civilian ship, a pulse round will tear right though that hull.”

Jack studied the hologram blueprints of the vessel. There was one main corridor running the length of the vessel with minor corridors running off to port and starboard. The civilians were holed up in a compartment under the central corridor toward the aft section.

“If we can take the central corridor, we will have the ship.” Jack stood up. “I need to assemble my team, sir.” Jack turned to Griff.

Griff gave Jack a disapproving look. “You want to lead the team yourself?”

Jack knew what Griff was saying. He should send a squad or two and let them do the work, and he should stay behind to monitor and direct, then write up the after-action report.

“I am the clear choice, sir. We will have to traverse open space to gain entry to the ship. I’ve got combat experience with such a maneuver.”

Griff looked at Pretorius.

“It’s your call, Major,” Pretorius said. “I’ve been tasked with getting you there and taking the civilians away when you are done. The rest is a Marine operation. Who you send is entirely up to you, Major.”

Griff turned to Jack and nodded. “Assemble your team, Jack. Be ready to move when we are in range.”

Pretorius checked the course data. “That will be in twenty minutes, Commander.”

Jack left the holostage and walked quickly off the command deck. He activated his communicator. “Attention, Cobra Company. First Squad and Sixth Squad, suit up and assemble on the Marine deck immediately. This is not a drill. Forge out.”

5

The Marine deck hangar door slid open, revealing the deep black of open space. Nearby, only a few hundred meters away, was the civilian bus. It looked big from the outside, but Jack knew once they were inside, it would be tight corridors teeming with Chitin soldiers.

Jack sent Navidi out first, leading 1st squad. He activated his suit’s thrusters once the last of 1st squad was away. There wasn’t enough room for more than one squad, so 6th would hold position on the Scorpio as a reserve.

They would enter through the cockpit’s emergency escape hatch. It was at the front of the bus and would make for the easiest entry point. It was a clear space between the five Chitin craft that clung to the outer hull like huge black blisters. The cockpit escape hatch could be resealed after the Marines had boarded, and the Marines would have a readymade operating base from which to launch their mission to retake the bus, kill the Chitin infiltrators, and save the civilians.

Jack held back and watched as Navidi landed on the cockpit. The squad leader of 1st squad was quick and accurate. He popped the emergency hatch and went inside.

The cockpit was only big enough for its flight crew of four. 1st squad would have to infiltrate deeper into the craft to allow the rest of the squad to enter. It would be an anxious time for Jack. The mission could fail here before it had even begun.

“Contact,” Navidi’s voice came over Jack’s helmet communicator.

Jack saw the flashes of the electron bayonets from corridor beyond the cockpit. He waited, patient but anxious, for the last member of 1st squad to enter the bus. Once they were aboard, Jack went in himself, closing the emergency hatch behind him.

The shouts of the Marines in the corridor outside the cockpit filled the communicator channel. They shouted out when they had engaged a Chitin soldier, and shouted when a Chitin went down. Then Jack heard the words he dreaded but knew would come.

“Harrison down. Chits speared him. He’s bleeding out.”

Jack looked out of the cockpit to the corridor beyond. It ran only ten meters to a stairway down to the main corridor. Three dead Chits lay on the deck. A group of Marines were defending the top of the stairway, their EBs on maximum extension.

Halfway along the corridor, next to a Chit with its head split in two, Navidi kneeled next to the body of Harrison.

Navidi looked up at Jack. “The suit is keeping him alive, sir,” Navidi said. The squad leader looked back to his man. “I don’t know how long he can last.”

“This is our medical treatment point,” Jack said. “Leave a detachment here to hold this area. Bring the rest of your squad with me.”

Jack walked to the end of the corridor. He could hear the scurrying of the Chits in the main corridor below. “Squad leader,” Jack called out. “You’re with me.” Jack looked back to Navidi, who was reluctantly leaving his fallen Marine. He walked toward Jack and lit up his electron bayonet.

Jack powered up his EB. “We can get angry later, Joe,” he said. “Let’s get the job done first, okay?”

Navidi nodded but Jack could see that his heart rate was rising. The squad leader was angry. Chits were going to pay for killing his friend.

Navidi called out two Marines. “Hold here,” he said, then pushed past the rest of his squad and ran down the stairs, bayonet forward.

“Contact,” Navidi said immediately on reaching the bottom of the stairs. “Contact front.”

Jack saw the lights flashing as the EBs sliced away in the corridor below. Jack followed and came down to find a Chitin soldier twitching on the ground. Jack speared it through the head. Looking ahead, Jack could see along the full length of the corridor, running the length of the ship. It was filled with Chits. They came forward along the deck and the corridor roof panels. They crawled along the walls. They swarmed forward, their tentacles rigid and ready to start stabbing Marines.

The corridor was only three meters wide, just enough room for four Marines to stand abreast and slash away with their bayonets. A Marine went down to a jab from a Chitin tentacle. Jack saw it slice clean through the meat suit and out the Marine’s left shoulder. Another stepped up and took his place, slashing wildly side to side at the Chitin soldier before him.

“Squad leader,” Jack called out. “Position your men four abreast. Jab forward with the bayonet.”

Navidi shouted, “Yes sir.” He stepped into the line. Another Marine joined him and the four stood like a wall, thrusting forward with their long electron bayonets fizzing at the end of the pulse rifle.

A Chit came rushing along the corridor, shoving the others aside. It slammed into the line of four Marines. The electron blades cut through the tentacles as it barged past, severing them. They dropped to the floor, writhing and twitching. Once beyond Navidi and his forward wall, the Chit was stabbed by a Marine standing behind the four.

Then the corridor filled from top to bottom with writhing tentacles. Jack counted five of the Chitin soldiers rushing forward.

“Hold them,” Jack shouted. He activated his suit’s thruster jet and leaped to the ceiling panels above the line of four Marines. He turned upside-down and fastened himself to the ceiling with his boots’ connection field. He slashed in a wide arc, his blade slicing through a Chitin head.

“Up here,” Jack shouted. “Four of you, in a line here.”

The Marines of 1st squad holding position behind the front line were standing upside-down on the ceiling panels within moments. Jack fell back and stood behind the wall of eight Marines, jabbing forward at any Chitin soldier that came too close. The Marines created a bristling wall of fizzing blades denying the Chits any advance along the corridor.

The civilians were holed up halfway down the corridor. Jack could cut his way down to them. All he had to do was move his Marines forward.

“First Squad,” Jack called, “steady advance. Take it slow. Hold formation. Keep stabbing forward. Move.”

“You heard him. Move, First Squad,” Navidi called.

Jack walked behind the squad and their stabbing bayonets. Chitin soldiers rushed forward to meet the advance and were cut apart by the bayonets of 1st squad.

“Jones is down.”

Jack heard the shout at the same moment he saw the breach in the line. He sent the last man into the position and dragged the injured Marine back. An entry wound in the abdomen was already sealed by the meat suit. Jack checked the vital signs on the enhanced data view and saw that the Marine was calm, having been dosed with tranqs, but he was losing a lot of blood while the suit tried to stop the internal bleeding.

Jack pressed the Marine to the ground. “Hold here, Jones,” he said. It was time to call in the 6th.

“Sam, get over here. I need you to take the wounded.”

Torent quickly responded that he was on the way.

Jack called the two 1st squad Marines that were holding the stairway to the cockpit. “Get down here, we need you ready to get in the line here.”

That was when he saw another man fall. A Chitin soldier pushed the Marine back, stabbing forward with its tentacles. They were now a man short. Jack rushed in to fill the gap. He stepped over the fallen Marine, Joe Navidi, the squad leader of 1st.

Jack saw the Chits rushing forward. The Marines jabbed forward with their electron bayonets, multiple blades piercing the massive head of a Chitin.

Jack acted on instinct alone. He jabbed at one Chit and as that one fell away, he jabbed at the one that replaced it. A seemingly never-ending rush of Chitin soldiers, all determined to kill the Marines that were pressing them back along the corridor.

Jack felt a tap on his shoulder. A Marine was ready to replace him in the line. Jack was standing alongside the Marines and fighting hard. The Marines around him could only go forward. Jack didn’t feel that it was right for him to step back.

“I’ve got this, sir,” the Marine said.

Jack nodded and stepped back, the Marine taking his place in a seamless swap. Immediately, the man was jabbing forward at a Chit pressing up to the line.

“Keep moving forward,” Jack said. He looked back and saw Bailey dragging Jones back toward the stairs up to the cockpit.

“Get the wounded out of here, Bailey,” Jack shouted. “Get them back to the Scorpio. Copy?”

“Copy that, sir,” Bailey replied.

As Bailey dragged Jones away, Jack saw him lift his hand and offer a salute.

“And clear these dead Chits away,” Jack said and went back to manage the advancing line that was fighting against the Chitin soldiers.

Standing behind the line of Marines was harder work than standing at the front. Jack watched every movement and every attack from the Chit invaders. Another man fell to the stabbing Chitin tentacles and another Marine took their place. As the Chitin soldiers were pressed further back along the main corridor, they fought harder and more frenetically. They came rushing forward in combined attacks that hammered into the Marines, but the line held and the Chits were cleared from the central corridor.

The end of the main corridor split into two corridors. There was room for only two Marines, one on the ceiling panels and one on the deck. Jack set a team of two Marines from 1st squad along one and two Marines from 6th along the other.

Jack held position at the junction. He could hear his Marines breathing heavily over their helmet communicators. It seemed to take an age as Jack waited and listened. Finally relief, as the first team reported the area was clear, closely followed by the same report from the second team.

Jack inspected the corridors. The dead Chits covered the walkway. He watched cautiously as he approached the first fallen Chit. He stuck his bayonet into the Chit to be sure. The civilian ship was secure. The civilians were saved.

The captain of the civilian craft opened the door to the sealed compartment. The occupants were red-faced, hot and flustered. They all wore expressions of relief and fear.

“You’re safe now,” Jack said. “We got them all.”

The crew let out sighs—and cries—of relief. Jack could see for himself the strain their ordeal had taken on them all. And the ship itself was suffering from the strain put on it by the many Chitin Hydras still attached to the hull.

It had been a tough fight, and for Jack, who had barely gotten his hands dirty, it had been one of the toughest.

6

Writing the after-action report was harder for Jack than the actual battle. He remembered in detail every moment of the fight. Every wounded Marine numbered. Although there had been several wounded, there was only one fatality. Navidi of 1st squad was dead.

Jack had fought with Navidi at the Battle of Kratos Drydock. They’d worked together to fight off the Chitin infiltration of the Scorpio. Navidi was a good Marine and Jack would have recommended him for a position as company commander. The battalion had lost another good man. Jack wondered if any of them would survive this war.

The corridors of the Scorpio were busier than he had ever seen them when he finally left his quarters. The civilians they had rescued were wandering around the ship. He could see the relief on their faces mixed with excitement at being on a Fleet destroyer.

Jack recognized many of their faces, but none recognized him. He had been fully suited during the rescue mission, his face covered by the meat suit helmet. Jack passed by them all and walked to the VR deck where he slid into the first free VR pod he could find.

A high-level battle exercise was just what Jack needed to work off his energy.

Jack fought one Chitin after another. He went running through a variety of environments, firing his pulse rifle to bring down a Chit and then rushing in and finishing the thing off with his fizzing electron bayonet. He increased the difficulty level, introducing more Chits and making the terrain more difficult.

He ran and he shot and he stabbed. The VR pod reported his heart rate was high and his energy levels low. Jack increased the tempo and fought on. He saw the Chits closing in on all sides. He slashed wildly with his EB, slicing tentacles away.

And the Chits closed in, their shining carapaces blocking out the simulated red giant sun as they surrounded him.

A message from Griff caused the simulation to pause—a Chitin soldier, with its round mouth and ring of white teeth, dripping with slime and poised to smash into Jack’s body, centimeters away from the killer blow.

“Sorry to disturb you, Jack,” Griff said. “I wanted you to hear right away. The Scorpio is leaving the carrier group and returning to Eros to drop off the civilians. We are going to be a cruise ship for a few days. Rest up, Jack. You’ve earned it.”

Jack acknowledged the message and closed the channel. He looked at the face of the VR Chit. He had fought them too many times to count. He’d always had faced them with determination and a cool head, fighting them back time and again. Now his battle with them was more abstract. As a leader and company commander, he needed to fight them with tactics and strategy more than with his pulse rifle. The Marines of Cobra Company were relying on him to make the right call and get the job done. They were putting their lives on the line and trusting Jack not to throw their lives away with poor decisions.

Command was proving to be the hardest fight he had yet faced. Jack cancelled the training simulation and exited the VR pod.

The flight to Eros would take days. The Scorpio was undergoing running repairs and was on low power. The destroyer had been in too many engagements over the last year in space and was badly in need of a refit.

The rescued miners were handy with power tools and were drafted to work in the maintenance department. Sarah Reyes had no time for Jack while she was busy overseeing her new work party, a bunch of grizzled men following the instructions of a young woman.

Not that Jack had time for socializing. He had a mountain of paperwork. He was developing training sessions for the entire battalion and checking the data on every Marine, looking for one who would be suitable for the step-up to company commander. He had lists of Marines and their performance evaluations. He had lists of virtual reality training programs and the masses of data they generated. There was data on accuracy, movement rate, and situational awareness. Data in numerical form and graphical form. Testimonies from squad leaders and personal assessments.

Jack became a recluse, in his small quarters, accompanied only by piles of data. Days went by as he closely studied every squad leader’s meat suit and VR data.

Jack had watched Laidlaw, the squad leader of Cobra’s 5th squad, during the recent rescue mission at the mining asteroid. Laidlaw had handled himself well, and had only narrowly escaped. Laidlaw had been untested in battle when Jack had first met him, but in a relatively short time, he had acquired a lot of combat experience.

Jack had studied Laidlaw’s meat suit data from the recent Chitin incursion on to the Scorpio after the assault on the Chitin surveillance network. Laidlaw had held an access corridor to weapons control and had managed the situation well, even though the Chits had attacked his position in force. Jack studied the helmet camera data. The Chits were determined to break Laidlaw and his squad and stop the Scorpio’s guns. It had been a vital skirmish and Laidlaw had managed the situation well. He fought the Chits off with accurate pulse rifle fire and some neat electron bayonet work, but he had also had the ability to assess the bigger picture and manage his squad well. He had a sound tactical mind and an ability to remain calm under pressure. He seemed like a perfect candidate. Jack marked Laidlaw’s file as a potential company commander and moved on to another.

The call from Pretorius was a welcome distraction. Jack was requested to present himself on the command deck where Captain Pretorius and Major Griff were waiting for him.

“Well done on the last mission, Jack,” Griff said. “No civilian casualties. Excellent work.”

Jack nodded. There had been Marine casualties, but as a company commander, he knew he couldn’t dwell on it. He needed to move forward. He couldn’t forget those he’d lost, but he couldn’t let their loss hamper his leadership and decision-making.

“We’ve got another one for you, Jack,” Griff said.

Pretorius tapped the holostage and brought up an image. It was a building on an asteroid. Jack looked closely. It looked to be a heavily guarded building with perimeter fences and electron shielding. Guard towers at regular points around the perimeter and at interior fencing. There were few entry points in the main building. It looked to be heavily fortified. Very difficult to get into. Then Jack realized something else: it would be very difficult to get out of. The building was not designed to prevent anyone or anything getting in. It was designed to prevent anyone or anything getting out. It was a prison.

Jack looked at Griff when he realized the nature of the structure. Griff was studying Jack. He seemed to notice that Jack had understood what the building was and he nodded.

“Yes, Jack,” Griff said. “It’s a prison facility.”

“I haven’t done anything wrong, have I, sir?” Jack laughed.

Griff smiled. “Not as far as I know, Commander.”

“What’s the mission, sir?” Jack asked, standing upright.

Pretorius stepped away from the holostage as Commander Chou brought a file for the captain to read. Pretorius left Jack and Griff at the holostage and sat in his chair.

“As you know, there is a full-scale evacuation from the outer system and asteroid belt. All humans are retreating to the inner system to escape Chitin attacks. The civilians are better defended by the planetary defenses around Eros and Eras. No Chit vessel has come within range of those defenses and we don’t think they will be suicidal enough to even try. We are passing this prison asteroid facility on our way back to Eros. We are required to remove the prisoners and bring them safely back to Eros.”

“How many prisoners are there?” Jack asked. If he was going to evacuate the prisoners, he would need to take enough landing craft to the surface to take them away.

“Only sixty,” Griff said. “The majority of the low-risk inmates have already been moved on a civilian ship that was passing.”

“So I get to take the bad guys, sir?” Jack asked.

“The high-risk category inmates, that’s correct.” Griff looked Jack in the eye. “Some nasty characters down there.”

Jack nodded and looked at the facility. There was a landing bay large enough for a Marine shuttle. A corridor ran from the landing bay to the prison’s main building. A squad or two of heavily-armed, fully-suited Marines could funnel the inmates along that corridor and into a waiting landing craft. They could be in and out quickly. “Is it an automated facility, sir?” Jack asked. He thought this might be an easy mission.

“Yes,” Griff said. “Fully automated. Even the death row units.”

Jack looked at Griff with surprise. “Death row inmates?”

“That’s right,” Griff confirmed. “The government thinks that justice would better be served by a standard public execution on Eros than leaving them for the Chits.”

Jack looked again at the facility. “I’ll select my team and prepare a plan. How long do I have?”

Jack and Griff looked to Pretorius up on his chair.

“We will intercept the asteroid prison in forty-five minutes.” Pretorius said without looking up from his work.

“I’d better move fast then,” Jack said to Griff.

“It’s not your typical, straightforward mission, Jack. Take as many Marines as you think you need. Get down there. Get them out and bring them back. Easy as that, copy?”

“Copy that, sir.”

“Remember,” Griff said, “these prisoners are lifers and end-of-lifers. They haven’t got anything to lose. They might see this as a chance to get away. Try not to lose any of them.”

Jack nodded and left the command deck. He quickly chose a group of squad leaders.

Since Laidlaw was a clear favorite for commander, Jack wanted to see him in action on this unusual mission. He was in.

Jarett had impressed Jack when they had fought off the recent Chit attack after the mine rescue. He had held his position and then assisted Jack to clear the Hydra of any remaining threat. Jack had seen Jarett’s data and the squad leader was as good as any. Jack would have Jarett and his squad come along on the prisoner transfer operation too.

Jack knew the squad leaders of Cobra Company best so there was no surprise that he wanted to bring along some Marines he knew and trusted better than any others in the battalion. 6th squad was in and Jack knew that Sam wouldn’t let him down.

He opened a communication channel to the group of selected squad leaders.

“Attention. Muster your squads. Prep and suit up. Form up on the Marine deck in ten. Forge out.”

The acknowledgments came back in moments. Jack knew the squad leaders would be hurrying their squads in to action. Jack knew that these men and women were the best and would not need to be told twice.

7

“As you can see, I have assembled three squads for this operation.” Jack marched across the front of the group on the Marine deck. They stood with their helmets under their arms and their pulse rifles over their shoulders.

“We have no prep time on this operation but you’ve all seen the operation brief. We will go down on a landing craft. The prisoners will be released when we are in position. Just move them toward the landing craft, strap them in, and then back to the Scorpio.”

Torent raised a hand. “Sir, we haven’t got room in the Scorpio brig for this many prisoners. Where are we going to keep them?”

Jack nodded. “They will be held in the secondary hangar under Marine guard. We are only a short journey from Eros, where they’ll be someone else’s problem.”

“I don’t see why they should be anyone’s problem,” Jarett said. “Half of them are just waiting for the gallows. Why waste the rope when we can just let the Chits take care of them?”

Jack understood the squad leader’s comment and guessed most of these Marines would be thinking the same thing.

“For one thing, Jarett,” Jack said calmly, “fifty-four of them are serving life sentences. They are not under sentence of death and so deserve to be spared a meeting with the Chits. Six of them are due to hang in a month’s time. The Chits will be here in a few days probably.”

“So they die a few weeks sooner,” Jarett said, laughing. “They say the waiting is the worst. We’d be doing them a favor.”

“We are not in the business of doing favors, Squad Leader Jarett,” Jack said. “We are Marines and we follow orders. Our orders are to bring these prisoners to the Scorpio for transfer to Eros. Do you have a problem following that order?”

Jarett stopped laughing. “No, sir,” he said, looking straight ahead.

Jack studied Jarett’s expression, wondering if he had he misjudged this Marine. Would he be able to do this job? The last thing Jack needed to do was to second-guess his decisions. Running in circles like a headless Chit was no way for a commander to act.

“But most importantly, those are human beings down there. We are going to need every available person if we are going to turn the tide in this war. Maybe one of them can do something to help us win this thing. I do not want any mistakes on this one, okay?” Jack looked at the faces of his squad leaders. They all nodded in agreement.

Jack’s communicator came alive with a message from Major Griff.

“We are in position. Take your team down as soon as you are ready. Good luck, Jack.”

“Copy that, Major,” Jack said. He turned to his squad leaders. “You heard the major. Get your squads to the lander and let’s go rescue some people. Go.”

Jack watched his squad leaders order their squads onto the landing craft. Built to carry an entire company, it was big enough for the task of transporting the sixty prisoners and Marines. Jack was the last up the ramp. Once aboard, he closed the ramp and informed the pilot that they were ready to leave.

The landing craft lurched forward as it left the hangar deck. It moved slowly through the hangar doors into the vacuum of space. Jack walked to the cockpit, staggering as the landing craft moved in a juddering motion. Everything on the Scorpio had been through a lot of action and was in need of repair. The Scorpio battalion’s three landing craft had been through numerous landings. One was awaiting repairs, and the other two were badly in need of a full service. This one was the best of the raggedy bunch.

Jack dropped into the copilot’s seat. The asteroid prison was lit up, a landing bay outside the main complex illuminated by several spot lights.

He noticed that the flight control panel was a patchwork of amber warning lights. The amber lights were all for subsystems and noncritical systems. Jack knew that the landing craft should be grounded and serviced if one of these lights were lit. He pointed at one and then looked to the pilot.

“This lander needs some attention,” Jack said.

The crewman shrugged. “If you got a fully serviced landing craft anywhere, Commander,” the pilot said, “I’ll be happy to fly it for you.”

Jack checked the panel again. He guessed the lander would make it. One more trip and they’d be back on Eros and a Fleet drydock. The Scorpio would finally be given the proper amount of attention. Jack even thought that maybe the battalion would be given shore leave. It would be nice to see his home planet again. Maybe he could visit his old university buildings, check in on his old professor, maybe a few old friends.

Jack realized he was drifting. He was supposed to be leading this mission and evaluating these squad leaders for their suitability for command duties and here he was, daydreaming. He looked again at the prison growing larger in the cockpit viewscreen. Jack went through the plan again in his head.

The landing craft touched down on the landing pads on the top of the wide circular facility. The pilot turned to Jack.

“They are taking us in,” he said.

Jack noticed the landing platform was lowering into the facility. Then the roof closed and plunged them into darkness, with only the warning lights on the control panel lighting the cockpit.

Jack was the first out of the lander. He walked down the boarding ramp onto a landing pad.

Torent came alongside Jack. “Hope it’s as easy to get out,” Torent said.

The environmental readings on Jack’s meat suit showed that pressure was rising and oxygen ratio was approaching breathable levels.

A claxon sounded and a sign lit up on the landing bay’s wall, telling them that the atmospheric conditions were perfect. The landing bay was sealed and there was a breathable atmosphere.

“We keep our suits on at all times, Marines,” Jack said. This was a military operation, not a civilian visit. They were transporting dangerous men. This could be more dangerous than any of them expected. Jack was taking no chances.

The door to the corridor that led to the main compound slid open, screeching as it moved aside.

“What now, sir?” Laidlaw asked.

Jack understood the apprehension but the next move was clear.

“Let’s move out. This tunnel takes us to the main compound. We go and get those prisoners.”

The central compound was a large open space with a cylindrical guard tower at the center. The clear composite windows ran in bands around the tower. Jack looked to the sides of the compound, which was a circular arrangement of prison cells. Each was a small unit just big enough for one person. They ran in a circle around the edge of the inner compound with what Jack estimated to be fifty cells, stacked eight deep. Alongside each stack of cells was a spiral stairway enclosed in chain-link mesh.

Jack saw that only a relatively small number of cells were occupied. These were illuminated by spotlights positioned on the central guard tower. A large red light sat above each of the occupied cells. Some prisoners were leaning on the cell’s transparent wall and looking out to the central compound. They were shouting and whistling at the Marines as they entered, while some prisoners seemed unaware or completely disinterested.

The Marines spread out around the central compound and studied the prison’s geometry. Jack could see the benefit of the arrangement. The surveillance systems were positioned in the middle of the prison and the cells were positioned around the edges. It was an efficient use of the space.

Torent sidled up alongside Jack. “What now, sir?” he said. “I thought they would be waiting for us?”

“Me too,” Jack said.

A drone on the guard tower came down into the compound and positioned itself in front of Jack.

“Commander Jack Forge,” it said. “Transfer of prisoners to your authority. Do you wish to proceed with prisoner transfer?”

Jack looked at Torent. Torent shrugged.

“Yes,” Jack said to the guard drone. “Release the prisoners to me now.”

The drone returned to the top of the guard tower. A moment later, the red lights above the cells all changed color to green.

“I guess that means they are open now,” Jack said. He braced himself, expecting a sudden stampede of prisoners all desperate for freedom, but the prisoners barely moved. Some were standing and looking out of the open doorway, while others still seemed oblivious.

Looking at the wide ring of towering cells and the prisoners, Jack realized this was going to be a tricky job. He was used to giving orders to Marines who were trained to obey. How would he deal with these social outcasts, people who, for one reason or another, had decided to do anything but follow any authority other than their own will?

“Squad Leaders,” Jack called out, “get those prisoners out of their cells. I want them formed up and ready to move. On the double, Marines.”

The squad leaders responded immediately. The squads formed up. Jack watched them running to the mesh-covered spiral staircases. These Marines had dealt with the harshest battle conditions against a determined and fierce enemy. Now they were facing a lethargic and potentially devious group. Jack hoped his Marines could deal with these prisoners as well as they dealt with Chitins.

8

The enhanced data overlay on Jack’s helmet gave him a head count of the prisoners formed up in the compound. He counted fifty-seven. He was still three prisoners short. Jack could see Torent and a few members of 6th squad standing at an open cell. Torent was talking to the prisoner inside.

There were two other prisoners still refusing the Marine’s order to leave their cells. Jack went to the nearest cell. The stairway was right in front of Jack and the cell was only two stories up. The cell looked empty, but two Marines were standing at the open doorway.

Jack pushed the Marines aside when he got there and stepped into the small cell. Jack could see why the cell had appeared empty from below. The prisoner was lying on his bunk, relaxed and apparently taking a snooze. The data overlay showed Jack the prisoner’s name. James Hook.

“Prisoner Hook,” Jack said. “We are here to transfer you. On your feet.”

“You know why I’m in here, fella?” Hook said. He slid his hands under his head.

“My name is Commander Forge. You can call me Jack.”

“I’m in here because I don’t listen to the Fleet Marines. I never have and I never will. I won’t start by listening to you now, fella.”

“You must understand you are in danger if you stay here. We are here to transfer you for your own safety.”

Hook laughed and settled into his bunk. “Save me? You here to take me to another prison. I’m fine with this one, fella.”

“The Chits will be passing this way in a few days, maybe sooner. You don’t want to be here when they get here.” Jack stepped over to the bunk. He unclipped his sidearm and drew it.

“Nothing gets in, nothing gets out. This is state-of-the-art prison facility, fella. I should know, they’ve put me in a few.”

“I can’t leave you for the Chits. They’ll turn you into a Chitin spy and send you against us. I know what it does to a person. It’ll drive you insane, and make you a danger to the fleet. Now you either come with me—” Jack aimed his pistol. “—or I’ll shoot you where you lie.”

Hook opened an eye and looked at the pistol aimed at his head. “I never wanted to aim a gun. Never wanted one aimed at me much neither. Okay, fella. You win.” Hook sat up and slung his feet over the side of the bunk. Even sitting down, Jack could see Hook was tall. He looked fit and strong.

“How come you didn’t get recruited into the Marines, Hook?” Jack asked.

“I was recruited, fella, but I was happy sitting back. I didn’t want to run around, all suited up like you are.” Hook waved his hand at Jack’s meat suit. “I didn’t want to be no soldier, fella. I don’t think I’d like to take orders.”

“A refusenik.” One of the Marines behind Jack stepped forward and reached out to grab Hook by the arm.

Jack held out a restraining arm and stopped the Marine. “He’s not refusing to leave his cell now, are you, Hook?”

Hook stood up. “You just need to ask nicely is all.”

Jack walked out of the cell and onto the stairway. “Bring him, carefully,” Jack said to the pair of Marines in the doorway. “We don’t want to have to carry an injured prisoner when we leave.”

Jack went down the stairs quickly and into the compound. The next cell was right on the top level. Jack went as quickly as he could. He could see the Marines were in the cell and treating the prisoner roughly. Two were leaning over the prisoner. A punch from a Marine in a meat suit could smash a man’s rib cage. Jack didn’t want to lose a prisoner, and certainly not to the actions of his own men.

Jack burst into the cell.

“Stand down, Marines. Stand down. Leave that prisoner alone.”

The Marines backed away the moment they heard Jack’s voice. They let their commander enter the cell. Jack immediately recognized the prisoner on the bunk. It was a face all Marines had come to know, and hate. It was the disgraced former government secretary, Steph Canton.

“Secretary Canton,” Jack said, looking down at the prisoner. His eye was black and his nose was bleeding. “Have my Marines been mistreating you?”

Steph Canton sat up from his bunk. “It’s plain old Mister Canton now, Commander.” Canton wiped the blood from his nose. “I won’t be filing any grievance reports against your Marines today.”

Jack turned to the two Marines. They were a pair from Adder Company. “Report to your squad leader. On the double.”

“It’s Steph kravin Canton, sir,” one of the Marines said, pointing a finger. His tone suggested he felt justified in mistreating the man.

“I gave you an order,” Jack said.

The two Marines left the cell and began their descent on the mesh-covered stairway. Jack turned to Canton.

“Sorry. My men shouldn’t have mistreated you, sir.”

Canton stood up. “It’s not the worst that’s happened to me, Commander. Not by a longshot.”

Jack held out a hand and invited Canton to leave the cell and walk down the stairs.

Canton left with a quiet word of thanks.

The last prisoner was in a ground floor cell on the far side of the circular compound. A pair of Marines stood outside the transparent composite wall, looking in. Jack saw the prisoner sitting on his bunk next to a Marine. The Marine had removed his helmet and was chatting and laughing with the prisoner. Jack called up the enhanced data overlay of the Marine who was out of uniform and fraternizing with the prisoner.

The name displayed over the Marine was Sam Torent.

“Sam,” Jack said, stepping into the cell. “Report.”

Torent jumped to his feet. Helmet in hand. “Just talking, sir.”

“You’re supposed to be taking this prisoner from his cell and placing him with the others for transport. Why are you sitting here?”

“Sorry, sir.” Torent pulled his helmet back over his head. It hissed as it fixed in place. “I could see we weren’t ready to go yet, and I know this man. This is an old friend of mine, sir. This is Richard Butcher.”

“Get him with the others, now,” Jack said.

Jack searched the prisoner database and found Richard Butcher. He was one of the six condemned men. Butcher had been convicted of multiple murders in a gangland killing spree. Of all the condemned prisoners, he was next in line for his scheduled appointment with the gallows. He didn’t seem concerned that he was only days away from the end of his time in this universe. He walked alongside Torent as they exited the cell, laughing at some private joke. Jack watched them walk to the rest of the prisoners standing in a group. Once Butcher was there, Jack called Torent to him.

“You know he’s a convicted murderer, Sam?”

Torent nodded. “He told me it was self-defense, Jack.”

“And you believe him?” Jack looked at Torent closely and measured his expressions for any signs of doubt.

“We grew up in a rough area,” Torent said, turning away from Jack. “We had a hard time of it as kids and he was as rough as any of us. He is a hard man and he will fight for his life. And he’d fight for his friends. He saved my life more than once when we were on the street. He’s tough. He’s a fighter, but he’s not a murderer.”

Jack studied Torent. His bio signs were steady. Jack cross-referenced everything through the suit’s polygraph. As far as Jack could tell, Torent wasn’t lying. He truly believed his old friend was no murderer.

He knew he would have to keep Torent away from Butcher when they got back to the Scorpio. Jack didn’t know if Butcher was a killer or not, but he was a distraction for Torent, who had duties as a squad leader. Butcher had already somehow gotten Torent to disregard protocols and remove his helmet. Jack would have to make a comment on this issue to Torent at another time. It was the sort of thing that should be noted on a permanent record.

Another one Jack had to keep an eye on was Steph Canton. The former secretary had been a vocal campaigner for peace with the Chitins. Jack had heard his speeches. Canton had spoken out loudly that the war had been started by humans invading the Chitin home world and if effort was put into finding peace, then the war could be ended. Canton had accused the Fleet and the Fleet Marines of treason, by deepening the war against the Chitins. That had been enough for many to condemn Canton as a traitor himself. Canton had still urged the government to engage in efforts to make peace. Everyone knew about Canton, the peace campaigner who had so brutally murdered his wife.

Jack knew Canton was in danger from the Marines who he had insulted, Marines who had fought and sacrificed so much. If Jack was going to succeed in his mission and safely transfer these prisoners, he knew he needed to keep a close watch on Canton.

He did a final head count of the assembled prisoners in the huddle surrounded by the Marines. Sixty exactly. So far, the job was going off with only a few minor problems. Jack knew it could have been a lot worse.

“Listen up, prisoners. We will move out of the central compound and head along the main corridor to the landing pad. Move them out, Marines.”

Jack watched as the herd of prisoners was urged into motion with a not too gentle shove of encouragement. Jack didn’t want his Marines mistreating the prisoners, but if no one was hurt in the process, he deemed a slight shove an acceptable level of force. These prisoners needed to know who was in charge. The Marines were in charge here, and Jack was their leader.

They moved into the main corridor to the far landing platform and the waiting landing craft. Since every prisoner needed to be secured in their seat with full body restraints, it would take time to load all sixty, but they were on their way. Stage one was complete. Jack had removed the prisoners from their cells. Stage two, securing prisoners in the landing craft, was underway. Soon Jack would be in the Scorpio and the prisoners would be secure in the auxiliary hold. But for now, they were Jack’s concern.

9

Pretorius was sitting in his chair when the holostage activated. The face of Group Captain Li appeared.

“Group Captain,” Pretorius said, climbing down from his chair. “I didn’t expect you.”

“A bad time, Captain?” Li asked.

“Not at all. What can I do for you?” Pretorius stepped up to the holostage.

“We’ve encountered a Chitin Leviathan. Fleet Command thinks it’s the one that destroyed the carrier, Crown. The Leviathan took heavy damage in that encounter and Fleet asks if I can finish the job.”

Pretorius tapped the console on his holostage and called up the data on the Chitin deployments. A new data point was on the map.

“I can see it here,” Pretorius said. “One carrier group against a Leviathan. It’s a tough job.” Pretorius knew it was impossible. Only a combined carrier group could take down a Leviathan.

“It is a tough job, Captain,” Li said. “I’ve called on the Overlord group, but they are too far away. If I’m going to take this wounded beast down, I’m going to need my destroyers back in the group. How is your prisoner transfer operation going?”

“Still underway. My team should be back on board in around an hour’s time.” Pretorius knew that was too long.

“It’s too long to wait,” Li said. “I need you at these coordinates in fifteen minutes.”

A carrier group rendezvous point appeared on the holostage.

“Can you make it? I don’t want to let this Chit get away from me, Captain.”

Pretorius tugged his cuffs. “Getting underway now, sir,” Pretorius said. He pointed at Commander Chou, indicating he should get the Scorpio underway.

“Good,” Li said. “We will be in firing range in twenty minutes. We’ll go in all guns blazing, Captain. I want this to be a swift and clean kill. Li out.”

The image of Group Captain Li vanished from the holostage. The wounded Leviathan was positioned in the center of the holostage. The Monarch Carrier Group was shown as a scatter of points across the sector, all ships racing toward the rendezvous coordinates.

Pretorius had little to no time to prepare his ship. He needed everyone at their best. He called out across the command deck to the command officers at their stations.

“I want regular status reports. If anything is not ready for battle, I want to know about it. Get the high-energy laser accelerators warmed up. Gun crews to their positions. Pack the tubes, I want a full salvo of combat drones ready to launch.”

Pretorius turned to Commander Chou. “Put me through to the ship.”

Chou tapped a few controls in front of him and then nodded to the captain that they were ready.

“Scorpio, this is the captain. We have been recalled to the carrier group. We are going to kill a wounded Leviathan. Battle stations.”

10

Jack stood just inside the landing craft and watched the Marines secure the prisoners in the seats. Every prisoner needed two Marines to secure him. It was taking ages. Then he had a message from Major Griff.

“Hold fast on current position, Commander,” Griff said.

Jack walked down the boarding ramp. He stepped around one of the large landing struts and into a quiet area of the bay. “Say again, Major,” he said.

“You heard me, Jack. The Scorpio is redeploying. You are being left behind. No time to pick you up.”

Jack knew this had to be a sudden and unexpected development. As a commander and a leader, he knew he had to respond quickly and positively to changes in the plan.

“Copy that, sir. Holding fast. Guess I just pack these prisoners away again.” Jack looked at the group. Fewer than half his prisoners were secured in the landing craft.

“You deal with them however you think is best,” Griff said. “They are your responsibility until we get back.”

“Copy that, sir,” Jack said. “Do we have an expected time for your return?”

“We are going to engage a Leviathan, Jack,” Griff said. “So it may be best not to wait on us. If you can complete the prisoner rescue without the Scorpio then go ahead.”

“Copy that, sir.” Jack knew that a Leviathan was a tough battle and Fleet vessels were often lost in these encounters. “Good luck against the Chits, sir,” he added.

“To us all,” Griff said, then closed the channel.

11

Jack stood looking up at the landing craft. It dominated the landing bay. The Marines were guarding some of the prisoners in a group over to one side, while some were still secured in their seats.

“That landing craft is never going to make it all the way to Eros,” Jack said to the pilot standing next to him.

The pilot shook his head. “I wouldn’t want to take the chance, sir.”

Jack remembered the array of warning lights on the craft’s cockpit display. The vessel needed a serious overhaul of all systems.

“What if we strip some of the subsystems and all the nonessential systems for parts?” Jack said, looking at a fluid leak on one of the landing struts.

“I guess,” the pilot said, “if we had a few engineers with us.”

Jack had worked maintenance before. He knew these landing craft inside and out. He could do it himself, with maybe just a little help.

The squad leaders were standing nearby, waiting for Jack’s orders. Stepping over to them, he shook his head slowly.

“Anyone in your squads good with machines?” Jack said. “I want to get this landing craft space-worthy, but I need help.”

“Commander, I can help you fix it,”

Jack looked over his shoulder. One prisoner waiting to be boarded was shouting to Jack.

“Let me help you.”

Jack looked at the prisoner. It was Steph Canton.

“I might have trouble seeing out of this eye—” Canton pointed at the swelling around his eye where he’d taken a heavy blow from one of the Marines. “—but I’ve got a steady pair of hands.”

Jack ran a background check on prisoner Canton through the prisoner database. The former secretary had served in the Fleet Marines as a commander in the spacedock around Eras before moving into politics. He had technical qualifications in drive mechanics and weapons systems. The Marines shoved Canton back into line and moved him toward the rest of the prisoners.

“Can’t trust a convict, sir,” Torent said as the three squad leaders moved closer to Jack.

Jack shook his head. “I agree. But if we are going to get out of here, we will need to use any resource we can find.”

Jack looked over to the group of prisoners. They outnumbered the Marines two-to-one, but the Marines were a disciplined group while the prisoners were a disorganized group motivated only their own self-interest.

“Move the prisoners back into the main compound.” Jack looked nervously at the rabble of prisoners. He hated making a change to his orders, it made him look indecisive, but if he was going to get these prisoners away, he would have to prepare this landing craft for the long flight to Eros. “Remove the prisoners from the landing craft and get them back in their cells. I’ll work with our pilot and see what we can do to get this landing craft ready to take us to Eros.”

The Marines pulled the prisoners out of their seats and shoved them to the boarding ramp where more Marines pushed and prodded the prisoners back into a single group and then along the tunnel to the main compound. The Marines stood shoulder to shoulder and pressed the rabble back toward the main compound.

“I don’t like the look of this,” Laidlaw said to Jack quietly as the prisoners were all moved out of the landing bay.

“The sooner we get them all back to Eros the better,” Jack said. “Go and keep order, Stuart. And tell Torent to stay away from his old friend.”

“Copy that, sir,” Laidlaw said and marched off after the rest of the Marines.

Jack turned to the pilot. “Okay, let’s power this thing up and see what we’ve got to work with.”

12

The Scorpio reached the coordinates for the rendezvous three seconds behind the rest of the carrier group. Group Captain Li appeared on the holostage in front of Pretorius.

“The group will accelerate to flank speed. The Leviathan probably knows we’re coming. Get into firing range and hit it with everything you’ve got. Li out.”

Pretorius tugged his cuffs. “Flank speed. Target that Leviathan and stand by for action.”

Pretorius turned to Griff, who was standing at the holostage reviewing his battalion’s deployment patterns.

“Is the battalion ready for action, Harry?”

“Marines are always ready. Let’s hope the Chitins aren’t.”

The Scorpio took position on the starboard side of the Monarch. The holoimage showed the deployment pattern with the Aries on the port side and the Pisces holding position a kilometer above the Monarch’s upper hull. The frigates and corvettes spread out in an arc at the rear, five hundred kilometers away.

“Thirty seconds to weapons range,” Pretorius said, studying the holoimage. “Launch the combat drones now.”

The holoimage showed the launch of the drones, each one represented by a single red dot. A similar pattern appeared around the other destroyers as they launched their drones. The flight of drones accelerated away from the group and toward the Leviathan.

“It’s just sitting there,” Griff said. “It must be badly damaged. Maybe it’s dead.”

Pretorius watched the Monarch, waiting for Li to make her move. Then Pretorius saw the flashes of blue from the sides of the massive carrier as the fighters were launched.

“There go the Blades,” Griff said as the fighters curved toward the motionless Chitin Leviathan. “Good hunting,” Griff said. “It looks like we’ve got this one in the bag.”

“Fire all weapons,” Pretorius said as the Scorpio closed in on the Leviathan. “Maintain speed.”

The combat drones closed in, only a few seconds from detonation. The Scorpio’s high-energy laser lit up at the same moment as the lasers on the Aries and Pisces. The three batteries on the upper hull of the Monarch fired into the Chitin craft a moment later. All beams slammed into the Leviathan.

Griff punched the air. “Get it,” he said triumphantly.

An image of Group Captain Gregor Wellard of the Overlord Carrier Group appeared on the holostage.

“Attention, Monarch group. Overlord group incoming. I didn’t think you would mind us joining you for the kill.”

The Overlord group was marked on the edge of the holostage. Pretorius could see they were ten minutes away.

“They’ll never get here in time,” Griff said. “It’ll all be over by then.”

Pretorius watched as the combat drones detonated, their antimatter reactions presented as boiling balls of green fire.

Li appeared on the holostage. “All ships, delta attack formation. Finish that Chit off.”

Pretorius nodded at Chou, who initiated the maneuver, where all ships positioned themselves at four points around the target.

Then Pretorius saw the image of the Leviathan shimmer. It looked like a hologlitch, but Pretorius knew his holostage was in good condition. The data from the Leviathan was correct. This was no shadow image. The Leviathan had taken a hammering and it was falling to pieces, cut by the high-energy lasers and a salvo of combat drones.

“We got it,” Griff said in triumph. “Well done, Captain.”

“All cannons,” Pretorius shouted. “High ex fire,”

The Leviathan image flickered again and Pretorius watched as two Leviathans came out of the wreckage of the first.

“They were hiding behind the crippled Chit,” Pretorius said as Group Captain Li appeared on the holostage.

“All craft, break off. We can’t take on two of the bastards. Converge on the Overlord Carrier Group at coordinates eight-eight-thirteen.

Group Captain Wellard of the Overlord group appeared. “Overlord group is accelerating to flank speed now,” he said, his image flickering. “Powering all weapons. We’ll be with you in two minutes.”

Pretorius held on to the holostage as the Scorpio took a sharp turn, veering away from the Leviathans. The holostage flickered as power was drained away to the maneuvering systems. Then he saw the Kraken class interceptors spread out from behind the Leviathans. The holostage presented a count of five hundred Krakens.

“We’ll never outrun them,” Pretorius said. He stood straight up as the force of the sharp turning maneuver died away. “Leave them a parting shot of a few combat drones. That should take care of a few of them.”

The Scorpio dropped a spread of combat drones behind it. They detonated as the Krakens neared, the expanding green fire of the antimatter explosion annihilating dozens of the Kraken interceptor craft.

13

Jack sat in the cockpit of the landing craft. The control panel showed more systems were failing than functioning. But with some clever re-engineering, he might get this old crate back to Eros, with its cargo of passengers and Marines alive and breathing.

“If we strip out the field injectors from the atmosphere shield, we can use that to boost the environmental stabilizer unit,” Jack said. He turned to the pilot. “We just have to be careful on reentry to the Erosian atmosphere.

The pilot shrugged. “I just fly them, sir, but it’s not just the environmental systems that are failing. The antimatter reactor will never get us back to Eros. It will give out before we get halfway.”

“So, we strip a reactor out of one of the weapon systems. To be honest, we wouldn’t last long in a fight, armed or not,” Jack said.

“I guess that would work,” the pilot said. “I hope it’ll work.” He covered his face with his hands.

“I can do it,” Jack said, and gave the pilot an encouraging pat on the back.

Squad Leader Jarett spoke over Torent’s communicator. “Sir, we’ve got a message from the prison security system in the guard tower here. Seems there’s a breach in the outer perimeter fence.”

Jack stood from the cockpit seat and pulled his helmet on. “Count the prisoners,” he said. “Find out who’s missing.”

“No one is missing, sir. Everyone is accounted for. Prisoners and Marines. We’re all here, sir.”

Jack ran down the boarding ramp and into the landing bay. He ran into the tunnel toward the main compound. “I’m on my way, Jarett.”

The run was easy with his suit assisting him. He made it to the compound in moments. Laidlaw was keeping watch over the Marines who had the prisoners corralled into one small area. Torent was standing at the entrance to the guard tower. He pointed up.

“Jarett is up there, sir,” Torent said as Jack came near.

Jack ran into the tower and up the narrow stairway into a circular room on the second level. A clear composite wall let Jack see out into the compound. In front of that wall, in a ring around the room, was a control panel. Jarett was standing at one area pointing at a small holostage.

“The breach just appeared and the warning system lit up. I don’t get it, sir, no one is escaping.”

Then Jack spotted movement on the edge of the holoimage. Something was moving just beyond sensor range. Then it moved toward the breach from outside of the prison. It moved fast and was inside in the blink of an eye. Jarett scrolled back through the surveillance feed to capture an image of what had entered the prison.

Jack didn’t need to see it again, he knew what it was. He spoke into his communicator. “All Marines. A Chitin has just entered the prison from the north. Be alert.”

Jack watched the holoimage. He knew that Chits rarely worked alone. If there was one, there would surely be more. He sent a message to the pilot on the landing craft to seal the craft and sit tight.

“Watch the perimeter sensors, Jarett,” Jack said as he walked toward the stairway. “Let me know if you detect any more movement.”

But before Jack could go down a single step, Jarett called for his attention.

“Another, sir. And another. Sir, they are coming.”

“All Marines,” Jack said into his communicator as he ran down the stairs and into the main compound, “multiple Chits inside the perimeter. Stay alert.”

The Marines were alert, looking to the north of the compound. The prisoners could sense something was happening and they were becoming rowdy and unmanageable.

Richard Butcher called out to Torent as Jack came down the stairs. “What’s going on, Sammy?”

Jack stepped alongside Torent and spoke gently. “Don’t speak to that prisoner again, is that clear, Sam?”

Torent nodded. “Yes sir,” he replied and continued looking for any movement.

“Keep those prisoners under control,” Jack said as he walked to the middle of the compound. The Chits were coming fast. How could he control the prisoners and fight off the Chits? Jack considered his priorities. Survival was definitely high on the list. He couldn’t return the prisoners to their cells with a bunch of Chitin soldiers heading their way. They would be sitting targets, for one thing, but if the Chits came into the compound, he would need his Marines to fight them off. The prisoners would be unguarded, but maybe self-preservation would keep the prisoners from running if the Chits were around.

Jack wondered how many of the prisoners had seen a Chit in real life. Sure, they would have seen them in government propaganda and in the training simulation VR games that just about everyone had played.

However, few people had seen a Chit in real life and lived. Jack knew how Marines acted when first confronted by the massive soldiers. They reacted with fear and surprise. Time and training removed the surprise, but fear was always present. Marines only learned to manage it.

The prisoners would have no training to help them manage their fear. They would, in all likelihood, panic. When they panicked, they would run, and the only place they could run was toward the landing bay and the landing craft. The landing craft was secure. They would be trapped, but they would be contained. In a situation with only bad choices available, holding out in the landing bay might be for the best.

“Hey, soldier boy,” Butcher shouted as Jack walked across the compound toward the prisoners, “want to tell us what we are doing here?”

A rumble of agreement ran through the crowd of prisoners. Butcher was asking what they all wanted to know.

“Chitin soldiers have entered the prison. They will likely try and capture you. They have a conversion process that will break you and make you a Chitin agent. If you run, they will chase you. If they catch you, you will wish that you had been killed.”

“You don’t scare me with your monster stories, soldier boy,” Butcher called back.

Jack saw a Chitin soldier break through the wall behind the ground floor cell to the north of the compound.

“Here they come,” Jack shouted. “Open fire.”

The Marines opened up with their pulse rifles. The well-aimed shots tore the Chitin apart, only to be replaced by a second and then a third.

The prisoners panicked, just as Jack knew they would. They ran away from the threat, but there was nowhere to go. The prisoners that ran to the south soon turned and headed to the tunnel that led to the landing bay. Jack let them go. They couldn’t do any harm down there, and at least he would know where they all were.

“Keep up the fire,” Jack said.

The Marines had formed up into a line, all thirty firing into the small breach where the Chits were entering the compound. Then another beach opened up with an explosion. The Chit plasma spears lanced through and slammed into the Marine line. Several fell, thrown back by the force of the Chitin weapons.

Jack could see more Chits holding back beyond the breach, launching their plasma spears into the compound, returning the withering fire from the Marines’ pulse rifles.

“Advance on that breach,” Jack said, shoving Marines forward. “Push them back.”

The Marines advanced. Jack pulled two out of the line and told them to gather the fallen, as well as their pulse rifles and the sidearms, and guard them. Jack realized the danger of having weapons lying around with a bunch of hardened criminals loose in the compound. Jack’s suspicions were confirmed as he saw Butcher lurking at the opening to the corridor to the landing bay, eyeing the fallen Marines and their weapons with devious, narrow eyes.

The Marines advanced and poured fire through the beach. Jack had a message on his communicator from Jarett in the control tower.

“Sir, we got them all. No more Chits inside the perimeter. We beat them.”

Jack nodded. For now, at least, the Chits were gone, but Jack suspected that they would be back. The best way to deal with this situation was to not be here when they returned.

“Copy that, Jarett,” Jack said. “Keep a watch on those sensors. Let me know if anything shows up.”

Jack posted Marines at the two breaches in the main compound wall. He needed to keep the Chits out and the prisoners in. There was a determined enemy on one side and a desperate enemy on the other, with Jack and his Marines in the middle. He assembled a squad and marched with them to the landing bay. If he was going to fix that landing craft, he was going to need it clear of prisoners.

The noise from the landing bay was deafening. Sixty voices shouting at once. The prisoners were crowded around the landing craft, shouting to be let in.

“The pilot is under orders not to open up,” Jack shouted, but he couldn’t be heard over the noise. He used his meat suit’s amplifier to speak louder. “If you want out of here, I’m going to have to fix that landing craft. I can’t do that with everyone crowded in here. Return to the main compound.”

A shot rang out from within the group of prisoners. A Marine next to Jack fell, a pulse round smoldering on his chest plate. Then another shot as a Marine returned fire.

“Hold your fire,” Jack shouted out.

Then Jack saw the arm reach around his neck and felt the pulse pistol bump into the side of his helmet. Out of the corner of his eye, Jack saw Butcher.

“Listen to the soldier boy. Hold your fire or this officer will have the worst and shortest kravin headache ever.”

14

Pretorius watched the pursuing Chitin Krakens close the distance to his ship. The fighters from the Monarch were fleeing just ahead of the Krakens and were increasing their distance. The fighters caught up with the carrier group and deployed themselves by squadrons throughout the group.

The Overlord Carrier Group was closing in. Pretorius readied himself to stop running. In just a few seconds, he would come about and re-engage the Leviathans. With two carriers and six destroyers, the massive Chitin craft would be destroyed. It was simply a question of numbers and in this instance, the Fleet had them.

But first, Pretorius needed to deal with the Krakens.

The Krakens were spread out behind the retreating Monarch Carrier Group. The group deployed drones as space mines and they detonated as soon as they came within effective range of the Krakens. Unfortunately, the small Chitin craft were spread out so thinly that only token kills were achieved.

Pretorius knew he was wasting his most devastating weapon. He wasn’t going to spend a drone for one Kraken kill. It was question of numbers, and in this instance, the Chitins had more.

“Load all tubes with combat drones. Set for maximum yield.” Pretorius was going to hit the first Leviathan with all he had. He watched the range finder on the holostage. The Krakens were closing in.

The rearmost of the Scorpio’s high-energy laser batteries was fully rotated and aimed toward the pursuing Chitin Krakens.

“Laser to give pulse fire,” Pretorius called out. “Automatic target selection.”

Commander Chou rushed to the laser control position and programmed the firing solution.

“Fire when ready.” Pretorius watched the holostage with a cool head. The battle was a constantly developing beast, it could change any moment and he needed to be alert. He needed to feel the pulse of the fight and prepare to change his attack if and when necessary.

The aft pointing laser let out a bolt that seemed to travel instantaneously to the target point. That point was a meter inside the hull of the nearest Chitin Kraken. The holostage recorded the kill.

The laser took one and three-quarter seconds to charge and re-aim. Then another Kraken was annihilated by the Scorpio’s rear laser battery.

The rear-facing lasers on the Pisces and Aries were pulsing away. The Monarch had its rear assembly of four laser cannons firing pulses of high-energy laser. The pursuing Chitin Krakens were being destroyed at a rate of four every second.

Still, they had the numbers. As they came into firing range, their forward spitz cannon blasted out a plasma rain that homed in on the Monarch’s engine assembly.

The Fleet fighters were already engaging. The Blades accelerated toward the Krakens, fighting fire with fire. The Krakens continued to take the punishment from the massed laser barrage, but they still outnumbered the fighters two-to-one.

Pretorius could do nothing more for now. The group was nearing grid eight-eight-thirteen. Any moment now, he would be turning back to the fight.

“Stand by for combat breaking,” Pretorius called. He activated the ship-wide communicator. “Combat breaking alert. Stand by.”

The Blades from the Overlord Carrier Group came streaming forward. They joined the dogfight with the fighters from the Monarch. It was still a question of numbers. The Chitin Krakens were outgunned, outmaneuvered, and outclassed by the Fleet fighters.

The Krakens turned and withdrew. The Blades won their victory over the small Chitin interceptor craft. Now the big ships would go to work.

As the holostage showed the Krakens withdraw, Pretorius resisted the urge to celebrate with the rest of the command deck. The Chits weren’t running scared. Pretorius knew this was tactical. Everything about the Chits was tactical.

The Monarch group came up on grid eight-eight-thirteen the same moment as the Overlord group. Pretorius activated combat breaking and brought the starboard flank around toward the advancing Leviathans.

The Scorpio decelerated violently, the stress on the composite hull transferring through the superstructure to be absorbed by the internal dampeners.

The Monarch and the Overlord fired their cannons, and the full complement of cannons on both carriers lit up the nearest Leviathan. Then the destroyers, a fraction of a second behind the carriers, lit up the Chitin craft with their laser beams.

A devastating beam assault slammed into the nearest Leviathan. The combat drones from all ships raced away from their launch tubes toward it.

Then the Chitins’ return fire came on.

The Leviathan’s plasma cannon spat huge gouts of plasma toward the Monarch as she turned to present her starboard battery to the Leviathans. The gouts of plasma came on slowly but surely. They reached their target and detonated at the engine assembly. One of the engine nodes spluttered and died. Another spluttered but maintained a semi-functional state.

Then more plasma slashed across space, one from each Leviathan, arcing in a seething orange strand of barbed fire. Both plasma arcs slashed across the Monarch, catching her amidships. The composite bubbled away under the punishment.

The fire from the combined carrier group focused on the first Leviathan. The fire from its plasma cannon came at a reduced rate. Pretorius could see the groups were dealing damage. One Leviathan was losing power, but the Monarch had taken engine damage and was never going to get away from the battle. The Leviathans needed to be destroyed, or the Monarch would be.

The holostage was a mess of ship markers, energy weapon markers, ships’ headings prediction markers, and waypoints. Pretorius could see the battle was an evenly matched one. It would take one moment of genius, or one mistake, to create an advantage. For now, all Pretorius could do was stand his ground and fight.

The lights flickered on the command deck. All spare energy was being rerouted to the weapons systems. It needed to be devoted to maintaining the fire. Only by maintaining their fire could the balance be held. If one ship dropped their fire for a fraction, it might be enough to tip the scales in the Chitins’ favor. Once that happened, it would be an inevitable slide to destruction.

The support craft added their fire to the fight. The corvettes and frigates dived in and out of the combat zone, delivering as much damage as they could. The support craft were lightly armed and not built for a full-blooded slugfest between two massive forces, but their addition could provide that tipping point and give the Fleet that crucial margin of superiority.

The first wave of support craft attacks was focused on the only Leviathan to have taken any damage. Its plasma arc whipped across space toward the Monarch in a wide curve that put it in the flight path of the support craft as they raced away from their sortie.

One corvette failed to predict the plasma arc’s path and was sliced in two, both halves tumbling away into the space.

Griff looked at Pretorius as the distress call came in from the corvette. Corvette M9 was disabled. Her crew in survival gear awaited recovery.

“I can have a tac boat underway in three minutes,” Griff said.

Pretorius looked at the battle on his holostage. It was finely balanced. It was not the time to go chasing lost personnel.

“The carriers are better equipped to deal with that, Major,” Pretorius said.

Griff gripped the side of the holostage. Pretorius could see the Griff’s frustration. The battle was raging and here he was, standing idle. Pretorius knew Griff had been a front line Marine and was used to being in the eye of the storm.

“I just need to do something,” Griff said.

“You are doing something,” Pretorius said. “You are defending the command deck. I’ll be relying on you if the Chits board us, and you know how they like to do that. Review the battalion’s deployment if you need to keep yourself occupied.”

Then Pretorius saw the Chitins’ mistake. The Leviathans picked separate targets. One directed its plasma cannon at the second sortie from the corvettes and frigates. The second continued to fire at the Monarch.

“We’ve split their fire,” Pretorius said. He put a call out to the group captains. “That’s their first mistake,” he said.

The image of Group Captain Li and Group Captain Wellard appeared on the holostage. The image of Li flickered as another salvo from the Leviathan’s plasma cannon struck the Monarch.

Li was buffeted from side to side and the image flickered even more. A plasma arc slammed into her and all power was momentarily lost.

“How are you holding up?” Wellard asked Li.

“I’m still in the fight. Let’s take down one of these kravin Chits before they do too much damage.”

The holoimages of Li and Wellard disappeared. Pretorius reviewed his status. The Scorpio was firing at its ultimate rate. His laser cannons were delivering punishing beam assaults to the first Leviathan. The shot cannon was sending out one salvo after another of devastating kinetic hail and high explosive rounds. His combat drones were running low, but he continued to send wave after wave of the self-guiding antimatter weapons toward the Leviathan.

Pretorius knew they still needed another advantage. Something to tip the scales before they were all destroyed. Then he saw the Taurus flicker on the holostage, as if it had lost all power. It was a risky move, but one he himself had pulled in desperate situations, and the Chitins took the bait. He watched as both Leviathans targeted the destroyer Taurus, intent on destroying the apparently disabled ship. He prayed that Taurus could stabilize their shields before impact and prevent the ship from being completely torn apart.

With the pressure taken off the carriers, both the Monarch and the Overlord were able to divert all power to their weapons. The full brunt of a high-energy beam assault slammed into the first Leviathan.

The Leviathans ignored the devastating attack. Their plasma arcs slashed across the Taurus, both tearing over the hull from forward to aft. The plasma cannons from both Leviathans targeted the engine assembly. The Taurus’s engines spluttered and died. A fresh salvo of plasma cannon fire from the Leviathans slammed into the dead engines.

All Fleet craft poured their fire into the first Leviathan. A sudden flicker of light, running across the surface and branching like lightning across the entire Chitin craft told Pretorius that the ship was going down. It had taken the punishment from two carriers, six destroyers, and a full complement of support craft.

The Leviathan was out of the fight, but not before its final shot, a dying blow. Its final plasma arc slammed into the engine of the Taurus. The fiery arc cut into the destroyer and instead of slashing across space, it was contained within the destroyer. It filled deck after deck with the seething orange barbed fire.

The Taurus’s weapons ceased firing. The ship tumbled slowly, engines dead and out of control. It drifted toward the critically-damaged Leviathan.

The Leviathan exploded in a ballooning cloud of boiling plasma. The cloud engulfed the Taurus, smashing its broken hull to pieces. The billowing cloud grew further and slammed into the Overlord.

Pretorius ignored the automatic distress call from the Taurus.

“Trace,” Griff said. He looked at Pretorius. “Trace Matavesi was on the Taurus.”

Pretorius redirected the Scorpio’s fire at the remaining Leviathan.

“We need to launch the battalion’s tac boats,” Major Griff said frantically. “There could be hundreds of survivors out there. The Marines in their suits will be well-protected, but we have to get them now.”

Griff walked around the holostage to Pretorius. He grabbed the captain by the arm.

“Captain,” he shouted, “we must do something.”

“Harry,” Pretorius said calmly, “we are doing everything we can.” Pretorius looked down at Griff’s hand and then back up to the Major. He looked Griff in the eye. “Let go of my arm, Harry. I’ve got a job to do.”

Griff let go of Pretorius. His hand dropped to his side.

“You knew Trace, Captain. She was a company commander on your ship for years.”

Pretorius nodded. “She was with the battalion when we first came on board. I knew her longer than you did, Major. If she is lost then I will mourn her, but—” Pretorius moved close to Griff but kept his voice down. “—we will lose more people if we don’t fight now.” Pretorius looked at the holostage. The combined carrier group was winning this fight, but that didn’t mean they wouldn’t take further losses.

“We will send out rescue boats if we win. No point bringing rescued personnel aboard a ship that might yet be destroyed.”

The battle was going well. The Fleet had destroyed one Leviathan for the loss of only one destroyer and a small number of support craft and fighters. The last Leviathan was standing its ground and delivering punishing fire to the Monarch, but it was already doomed. It couldn’t run, it was slower than the Fleet ships, and it couldn’t win, it was hugely outgunned. It was only a matter of time, and how many Fleet ships it would take with it.

The report from a corvette scanning at the edge of the battle detected an incoming signal. The carriers focused their scanners on the target, the wider signal range and combined data resolution confirmed the target.

Another Chitin Leviathan.

“What does that mean?” Griff asked.

“The remaining Leviathan is going to do as much damage as it can to soften us up for the next one. We can either run or fight.”

The image of Group Captain Li appeared on the holostage.

“Hit that Leviathan with everything you’ve got. I want to take that Chit down fast before we move to intercept the next target.”

“But what about the survivors from the Taurus and the support ships?” Griff said.

Li looked out from the holoimage at Major Griff. Her image flickered as a plasma arc slashed across the Monarch.

“I’ll discuss battlefield ethics with you another time, if either of us survives. The Chits have made more than one mistake. They have split their power. If we have a chance to take down a fourth Leviathan, I will take it. Li out.”

15

Jack sat on the floor with the Marines, their helmets off and their hands behind their backs. A group of prisoners pointed the stolen pulse rifles at them while the thug, Butcher, paced, strutting and pointing his stolen rifle at the Marines. He stopped in front of Torent.

“Sammy.” Butcher stopped. “I never thought you’d end up in the military.” Butcher tapped the stripe on Torent’s arm with the muzzle of the pulse rifle. “And they made you an officer, did they?”

“I’m not an officer, Butch,” Torent said. “I’m a squad leader.”

“They made you a squad leader,” Butcher laughed.

“I know, right,” Torent said. “They are so stupid, right. You know how I got this stripe?” Torent moved his hand from behind his back and tapped the stripe with his finger. “I stole it.”

Butcher laughed. “I know you are a good little thief, Sam, but they wouldn’t let you keep it if you stole it.”

Torent laughed. “I made them think I was proper Marine. I played a long game, you know. It’s a classic long con, Butch. I get up to squad leader and then maybe battalion quartermaster. You know what the quartermaster does, Butch?”

Butcher shrugged.

“They look after all the kit. Do you know how much one of those pulse rifles is worth?”

Butcher looked at the rifle in his hand.

“The power cell alone is worth a decade of free power. Imagine how much you can sell a pulse rifle power cell for if it’ll give you ten tears of free power?”

Butcher nodded.

Torent looked to his sides. The Marines sitting on either side of him were scowling. He looked up at Butcher and with a tip of his head, asked if he could stand and impart some secret.

Butcher waved Torent to his feet. Torent moved close to Butcher so no one could hear. “We get them to fix that landing craft and we can have the whole kravin lot. Lander, pulse rifles. The lot.”

Butcher looked sideways at Torent. “You always were a devious scroat. So how do I get this thing flying?”

Torent pointed at Jack. “Him,” Torent said. “The University reject. I’ve seen him fix stuff.”

Butcher walked over to Jack. “This one?” he asked, looking toward Torent.

Torent walked behind Butcher. “That’s him.”

“Don’t look like much,” Butcher said.

“He ain’t nothing, Butch. Just a pair of soft hands and a bleeding heart. He ain’t nothing,” Torent took another step closer to Butcher. “But he could be our ticket out of here.”

“On your feet,” Butcher said, pointing his rifle at Jack. “Fix it. Now.”

Jack looked over at Torent. The squad leader avoided Jack’s eyes.

Laidlaw spat on the floor. “You kravin scroat, Torent. I’ll watch you swing for this.”

Torent stepped forward and delivered a punch to Laidlaw’s face.

“Easy, easy,” Jack said. “I can fix it. Okay?”

Torent stepped up to Jack. “You better fix it, Jacky, or I’ll fix you. About time I showed you who the real boss around here is.”

“You won’t ever be anything again, Torent,” Laidlaw said as the blood streamed from his broken nose.

Butcher pointed the pulse rifle at Laidlaw. Jack watched the thug’s finger feel for the trigger. Torent put a hand on top of the pulse rifle.

“Easy, Butch. That suit’s got value too. You don’t want to cut into your take on this job just because some soldier boy is getting mouthy.” Torent leaned down and punched Laidlaw again. “Keep it buttoned or you’ll get more.”

Jack looked down at Laidlaw. “Keep quiet, Marine,” Jack said. Then he turned to face the Marines all sitting on the floor. “That goes for all of you. Keep quiet and let me fix this boat.” Jack turned to Butcher. “I need some help.”

Butcher rested the pulse rifle on his shoulder and looked at Jack through narrow eyes.

“Who?”

Jack pointed at the pilot and then at the prisoner Steph Canton.

“The government scroat? What d’you need him for?” Butcher looked over at Canton, who was standing back with the rest of the prisoners.

“He has worked on Fleet vessels before. Isn’t that right, sir?”

Canton nodded. “That’s right. I held the rank of Fleet commander at Eras spacedock before I went into office. I patched up a few of these old birds in my time.”

“Okay, okay, okay.” Butcher walked over the Canton and grabbed him by the arm. “Save us the war stories, old man.” He pushed Canton toward Jack and then pointed at the landing craft with his stolen rifle.

“And Laidlaw,” Jack said. “I need him too.”

“You confused about what you are doing?” Torent said, stepping behind Jack. He gave Jack a hard shove toward the landing craft. “Get fixing, Jacky. Get it fixed quick and I might let you live.”

Jack stepped toward the landing craft. He saw Butcher give Torent a scowl. A slight shake of his head told Jack what he already knew. As soon as Jack fixed this landing craft, Butcher would start executing Marines—starting, no doubt, with Jack.

16

“Captain,” the weapons commander called out. “Starboard battery coolant systems are failing. We’ll lose the battery in twenty-eight seconds.”

“Hold fire on starboard battery. Roll the ship, one-hundred-eighty degrees. Give them the port-side battery.” Pretorius tapped the holoimage of the Leviathan and magnified it. The ship was taking damage, but the rate of fire from the destroyers was failing. The two carriers maintained their heavy bombardment, the laser cannon delivering a freshly charged beam second by second.

Pretorius stood in awe of the Leviathan. It was taking a beating and seemed to soak up the assault. The Chitin hull boiled away under the laser beam. Even though they were tough ships, they could only take so much punishment.

A salvo of combat drones raced toward the Leviathan. It lashed out with its plasma arc, slicing through the drones and cutting them into space junk. But it couldn’t stop them all. Three from the salvo made it into detonation range. They erupted into an expanding mass of energy that slammed into the Chitin ship.

“Port-side battery acquiring targets, Captain,” the gunnery commander called out.

“Load high yield explosive rounds.”

Pretorius zoomed out his view on the holostage. He saw a plasma arc slash across the hull of the Monarch. The force of the Chitin weapon pushed the ship off its axis. The Monarch’s engines were spluttering and another node went out of action. The remaining nodes struggled to compensate, to keep the Monarch’s massive laser assembly on target.

“Port-side cannon firing now.”

Pretorius watched the holostage. The support craft were diving in for another sortie. The high ex rounds from the Scorpio raced in. A salvo of combat drones from the Overlord were being knocked out by the Leviathan’s plasma arc.

The Leviathan took the hits from the support craft. One combat drone burst only meters from the Leviathan. The Chitin beast fired a burst from its plasma cannon that raced toward the Monarch.

Pretorius watched the high ex rounds from his port-side battery close in. They slammed into the Leviathan. It was the final hit that sent the network of cracks spreading rapidly across the Leviathan’s surface.

The fire in the cracks grew in intensity before streaming out from each fissure, flames erupting into space, and then the Leviathan simply broke apart.

The command deck erupted with cheers at the sight of the destroyed Leviathan, its fractured hull tumbling uselessly in space.

Pretorius tugged his cuffs. “I want battle prep on all systems,” Pretorius shouted. The cheering died down as quickly as it had begun. “Prep and arm all weapons. Ready ship for battle stations.”

Group Captain Li appeared on the holostage.

“Good work, everyone. There’s one more Leviathan out there. It is all alone and we are within striking distance. The Monarch is running at sixty percent engine capacity so that will give us one hour to intercept. Just means we have a bit more time to dust ourselves off and get ready to smash another Leviathan. I want status updates from all ships in fifteen. Li out.”

Pretorius set his crews to work. The cooling system on the starboard battery needed immediate attention. Even if he could get just a few salvos away, it could mean the difference in a battle with a Leviathan. Even with two carrier groups, they would need every available cannon.

Pretorius zoomed the holostage image out to show the new target, a lone Leviathan. It was speeding in and looking to engage. Pretorius knew it could do terrible damage but it could not win. It would be destroyed and the Chitins would have lost another one of their Leviathan-class ships. The Fleet had lost a destroyer, the Taurus, but it was worth the cost to have taken down three Leviathans, and there was the promise of another Leviathan kill.

Pretorius checked the position of the new target. It was above the ecliptic and toward the outer system. The group was being redirected to attack this tempting target. The group that was supposed to be retreating to the inner system was now going the other way.

It was difficult for Pretorius to accept this supposedly good fortune. He contacted Li.

“What is it, Alistair?” Group Captain Li was preoccupied, her command officers bringing her files and reports. She read and signed as she listened to Pretorius.

“It is too good to be true, sir,” he said. “Another Leviathan, an easy kill for two carrier groups.”

“Easy?” Li said. “We just lost a destroyer. It wasn’t easy, but we’ve chalked up three Leviathans today, and we are going to chalk up another. I think Fleet HQ will think we’ve worked hard today.”

“But we are being pulled out of position, sir. They are tempting us, luring us to the outer system. I am sure it’s a ploy, sir.”

Li stopped looking at files and documents and looked out of the holostage at Pretorius. She fixed him with a stare. Her expression softened after a moment’s thought.

“You might be right, they might be dangling a juicy bit of bait. But that Leviathan is too easy a target to ignore. There are no other Chits in sensor range. That new Leviathan is alone and vulnerable. It’s not the first mistake they’ve made today. We must attack and take it down.”

“It’s not our mission, sir,” Pretorius said. “And I fear we might get pulled too far from our home space.”

“We will support each other, Captain,” Li said, “and I consider that Leviathan as a target of opportunity. We will engage and destroy it.” Li took a file from one of her commanders and quickly signed it. “How is the Scorpio holding up, Alistair?”

“We’ve got a few battle scars, but we still got teeth, sir.”

“Ready to kill another Chit?”

“Yes, sir. Thank you for taking my call, sir.” Pretorius tugged his cuffs again. He would be ready and there was no doubt that the Leviathan would be destroyed. That wasn’t his concern. He did wonder why they were presenting such a tempting target.

“Coolant systems on starboard-side battery functioning, Captain,” a commander called from across the command deck. “But maintenance says it’ll only stand up for a few salvos.”

“Pack them with kinetic hail and have them ready to fire. We’ll tear a few chunks off their hull as an introduction.”

Pretorius was going into battle again and he was going to hit hard. If he went down today, no one would say the Scorpio didn’t fight as hard as it could.

17

Access panels from the lower hull lay on the ground. Jack had his head inside the landing craft, looking at the life support system. Laidlaw stood next to him.

“I don’t know why you need me, sir,” Laidlaw said.

“I need you to tell me what they are doing. I need you to watch them for me. I can’t do it while I’m fixing this.”

“But why are you fixing it for them?” Laidlaw asked.

“I’m not fixing it for them, Stuart. We need it. I was going to have to fix it anyway. I’m just doing what I was going to do anyway.”

“But we are their prisoners now,” Laidlaw said quietly and nervously.

“We are all in prison, but I know what I’m doing. That gives us the edge.”

Laidlaw nodded uncertainly.

“Are you watching them?” Jack asked.

Laidlaw nodded and started to observe the gang of prisoners with the weapons. “I can’t believe Sam Torent would turn his back on us so quickly,” Laidlaw said.

“No,” Jack agreed. He pulled free a unit and dropped it to the ground. “I don’t think he is.”

“It sure looks like it, sir,” Laidlaw said.

“It sure does,” Jack said and gave Laidlaw a brief smile. Then he ducked down out of the landing craft’s access panel and picked up the unit he’d dropped.

Butcher was standing nearby watching Jack. He leveled his stolen pulse rifle at Jack.

Jack held up the unit. “I need Canton there to take a look at this,” Jack said. “It’s burnt out. If he can strip it and—”

Butcher stepped forward. “Why don’t you do it?”

“I could…” Jack looked back at the landing craft. “I could strip this entire ship and clean every circuit myself, but I thought we were in a hurry.”

Butcher waved Jack toward Canton with the rifle muzzle.

Canton was sitting at the base of the rear landing strut, looking at a holofile of all the landing craft’s systems that were need of repair. He looked up as Jack came near.

“Can you strip this?” Jack tossed the unit into Canton’s hands. “It’s burnt out. You can fix it, right?”

“It’ll need a power cell,” Canton said, turning the unit over in his hands.

“But you can do it?” Jack asked.

“Sure. I can’t keep looking over the system error reports. They really let this thing fly down here?”

Jack could hear the concern and disbelief in Canton’s voice. The ship was in a poor state of repair, but it was the best they had. The war was taking its toll on all the Fleet equipment.

Jack turned to Butcher. “I need a pulse pistol.”

Butcher laughed. “I bet you do,” he said. Then he stepped forward and pointed the rifle in Jack’s face. “And why would I let you have a weapon?”

“The power cell from a pulse pistol will fit this unit,” Jack said.

Butcher looked down at Canton, who nodded in agreement.

“Can you remove the power cell?” Butcher asked Canton.

Canton nodded. “Easily.”

Butcher called one of his lackeys over. “Get me one of those pulse pistols.”

The weapons not currently being brandished by Butcher and his gang were heaped in a pile on the far side of the bay. It was not the way to treat Fleet Marine equipment.

The man picked up a pistol and carried it over. He handed it to Jack.

Butcher quickly snatched it away and delivered a swift blow to the lackey’s head. “Not him, you scroat.” Butcher tossed the pistol to Canton sitting on the floor. “Get to work,” he said and then stepped back, rifle held at the hip. “And you,” he said to Jack. “Back to work.”

Jack ducked back under the landing craft and moved to the power systems. They were on the verge of burning out completely. He could remove some conduits from another non-vital system. The fire suppression system could be stripped out and reused in the environmental systems. He would just have to hope there wasn’t a fire.

Torent was standing at the end of the long tunnel from the landing bay to the central compound. He leaned against the wall, his rifle hanging at his side. He sensed someone was coming toward him from the landing craft behind. He turned.

“Oh, hey, Butch,” Torent said and looked back along the tunnel.

Butcher stood next to Torent. “What you looking for, Sam?” Butch said. He fixed Torent with a suspicious and nasty gaze.

“Those Chits we fought off. They’ll be back, Butch. They always come back.”

“Like you did?” Bucher said, shoving Torent’s shoulder hard. “Back to the old life, just like that.”

Torent sensed the edge in Butcher’s voice. Butcher was a dangerous man and Torent knew it.

“You think you’ve been a prisoner,” Torent said. “I’ve been trapped in that Marine squad every bit as much as you’ve been trapped in here. This here’s my chance to get out. If we get that landing craft fixed, we can be away.”

Butcher wrapped an arm around Torent’s neck. He pulled Torent down roughly. “Why should I believe you want to leave your little soldier gang and run with me? I ain’t stupid, Sammy.”

Torent wrestled himself free and shoved Butcher away. “The war is lost, Butch. The Chits keep coming and we keep getting our ass kicked. I never asked to join the Marines. It was Marines or prison. I’ve been looking for my opportunity to get away. Who’d have thought I’d have to break into a prison to find my freedom.”

Butch looked back to the landing craft and the work going on to repair it. “If your friend can get that ship fixed, you might just get away.”

“He’s no friend of mine,” Torent said.

Butcher slapped Torent on the back. “Keep watching out for those Chits and I’ll keep a close watch on the repairs.”

“Hey,” Jack called out from the landing craft. “Sam, you need to hear this.” Jack pointed up the lander’s boarding ramp to the pilot standing there.

“Just came up on the scanners,” the pilot’s voice quivered. “More Chitins on their way. They’ll be landing any minute now.”

18

The Scorpio turned to present its port-side battery to the oncoming Chitin Leviathan. Pretorius gave the order to fire and the high-density kinetic shot cannons spat their vicious hail at the Chitin craft. It was an opening shot. The Leviathan would take much more punishment than a single broadside before breaking apart.

“Fire a full salvo of combat drones and reload port-side cannon with high ex.”

The holostage showed the traces of ordinance from all ships streaking toward the Leviathan. Then the high-energy lasers flashed as the beams lit up, slamming into the Leviathan’s hull.

The Leviathan’s plasma cannon blasted huge gouts of white fire at the Monarch, the gouts of plasma slamming into her nose and scattering over the hull. Then the plasma arc whipped out from the Leviathan, flicking back and forth until it connected with the Monarch, the composite hull on the nose fracturing and flaking off into space.

The combat drones raced away from the Fleet ships, the hardest hitting ordnance racing toward the Leviathan. The Leviathan’s plasma arc sliced away at the drones, cutting through their fragile casings and leaving them to tumble harmlessly in space, but several combat drones got by the Chitins’ defense measures. The antimatter containment fields collapsed inside each drone as it reached effective range. The massive reaction created short-lived suns that expanded suddenly from a tiny point of antimatter, hitting the Leviathan with enormous violence and energy.

The Scorpio fired its high ex broadside. Then the cooling system failed.

“Roll the ship,” Pretorius said calmly. He knew he would lose the starboard-side battery, but there was still a lot more fight in his ship. “Ready the port battery.”

“Contact, sir,” Pretorius’s scanner commander called out. “A new contact on grid eight-eight-fourteen. It’s another Leviathan, sir.”

Pretorius zoomed out on his holostage. The carrier groups were closing in on the current target, and above the group, a new Leviathan was closing in on them.

Li appeared on the holostage. “That Leviathan can’t get here in time to support our current target. We destroy this Chitin ship and then head for home space. Give it everything you’ve got. Li out.”

The support craft swept in close to the Leviathan in concert with another salvo of combat drones. The Leviathan slashed away at the drones with its plasma arc. It turned its plasma cannon on the incoming support ships and fired a seething gout of plasma fire that engulfed the lead frigate, incinerating the nose section and destroying the ship. The next frigate fired its forward cannon before being destroyed by another gout of Chitin plasma. Then a corvette, turning away from its attack, was grazed by a gout of plasma, the fire scorching and fracturing the hull. The corvette broke apart mid-turn.

The laser cannon from the Fleet ships burned against the Chitin Leviathan in a constant and devastating attack. The Leviathan responded with its plasma cannon and near-constant assault with its plasma arc, the barbed plasma whip slamming into the Monarch again and again.

Pretorius could see the Chitin craft focusing its attacks primarily on the Monarch when not defending itself against the combat drones and the assault craft. The Monarch had taken heavy damage.

“Captain,” Pretorius’s scanner commander called out.

But Pretorius already knew. Appearing on the holostage was a new signal. A Chitin Leviathan moving in from grid eight-eight-twelve, moving rapidly toward the combined carrier group from below.

Group Captain Li appeared on the holostage. “Another Leviathan incoming. We are leaving. Full speed ahead, head straight for our current target and give it everything you’ve got. That Leviathan is sitting between us and our escape route to Eros and I would very much like to destroy it as we head home. Li out.”

Pretorius didn’t want that Leviathan firing at him as he ran for home. The Leviathan had taken heavy damage but was still a huge threat. The incoming Leviathans were a bigger threat, but they weren’t in range yet.

“Head straight for the Leviathan, full engine burn, and keep our forward laser assembly on full power. Divert all weapons system power to the forward laser assembly.”

Pretorius watched the holostage and the images of all ships turning head-on to the Leviathan. The two carriers were at the center of the group, their high-energy lasers beating into the Leviathan, while the remaining destroyers and support craft surrounded them. The fighters were flying home, landing in the side landing bays of the massive carriers as the group accelerated toward the target Leviathan.

Pretorius fired the Scorpio’s lasers, the beams lighting up, appearing to connect instantaneously with the Chitin craft.

The Chitin plasma weapons slammed into the Monarch. The ships were too close together for combat drones to be used, so the Chitin plasma arc was free to slash away at the Monarch.

“Stand by to roll the ship,” Pretorius said. “Show that Chit our starboard battery as we pass. Give it a kinetic hail broadside. See if we can’t finish it off.”

Another new signal appeared on the holostage. Another new Chitin Leviathan. It appeared at grid eight-eight-ten, directly ahead of the group. Then another appeared, just coming into sensor range, at their tail.

“Kravin Chits put us right where they want us,” Pretorius said. The Scorpio began its flyby of the Leviathan. It rolled in time to put its port-battery on target. The side of the Scorpio lit up as the high-density shot cannon belched a violent hail of shot in to the Leviathan at point-blank range.

The Leviathan succumbed to the Scorpio’s final assault and began to glow along the fracture lines that rippled over its hull.

“Flank speed,” Pretorius shouted. “That Chit is going to blow.”

The combined carrier group accelerated away. The frigates and corvettes leading the way, the destroyers just behind and the two carriers, the biggest ships of the fleet, bringing up the rear as even at full engine power, they still were the slowest ships.

The Monarch was marginally slower than the Overlord, and it was falling behind. Li appeared on the holostage.

“Monarch’s engines are failing. I’m down to fifty percent power. All ships, evade incoming Chitin Leviathans at all costs. Scatter and run dark. Get back to Eros as quickly as possible, but avoid contact with those incoming Leviathans.”

Li’s transmission ended. The holostage showed the Chitin Leviathan explode in a furious ball of destruction. The expanding detonation wave slammed into the engine assembly of the Monarch, pitching if forward.

Pretorius watched in heart-sinking silence as the Monarch tumbled and broke apart, the engines erupting as the reactor was breached.

“This is the Overlord,” Group Captain Wellard appeared on the holostage. “You heard Li’s order. Scatter. Go dark. Get home. Wellard out.”

Pretorius set his heading at a point of empty space and continued to burn engines at full power, exceeding flank speed duration.

“Reaction chamber seals reaching critical, Captain,” the drive commander called out.

“Shut it down.” Pretorius leaned on the holostage. “Shut it all down.” He tugged his cuffs and opened a ship-wide channel. “All hands. The Scorpio will go dark. Silent running protocols in effect. No ship-wide communications. No electromagnetic activity. Ship’s company to observe silent duties.”

Pretorius ended the call and nodded at his command crew to initiate the shutdown.

Commander Chou brought Pretorius a combat log. Pretorius flipped through the holopages. “Four Leviathans for one carrier, one destroyer, a number of support craft, and krav knows how many lives,” Pretorius said as he signed the log. “Release a communication buoy. Let our Marine team know they need to find their own way home. Better let them know not to call for assistance, this area is crawling with Chits.”

19

The long tunnel from the landing bay to the main compound was teeming with Chits. They rushed forward into the fire from pulse rifles.

The men holding the rifles had been prisoners only hours before. Now they were expected to be soldiers. Butcher pushed them into the mouth of the tunnel and shouted at them to fire.

Jack looked over at the tunnel. The prisoners were firing chaotically. Some were firing off single shots and taking an age to re-aim and fire again. Other prisoners were firing on full automatic, the bursts scattering wildly along the tunnel, many of them slamming uselessly into the tunnel walls.

“Organize that firing line,” Jack shouted.

Butcher walked toward Jack. Fury on his face. “Fix the kravin ship so we can get out of here.”

“Those Chits are going to get in here and kill us all if you don’t organize that defense.” Jack pointed with the field polarizing unit he was checking for damage.

“They are getting slaughtered,” Butcher said, not looking back. “Anyone can fire a gun. Point the right end at the Chits and they die. It’s not that hard, soldier boy.”

Jack handed the field polarizing unit to Canton for him to return to the transmission housing.

Jack stood up. “That is a probe. The Chits are counting your guns. They will come in force any minute and they will smash through that rabble of a line. When that first Chit hits the line, that sorry rabble will disintegrate and we’ll all be killed. Let me put some Marines in that line.”

The rifle butt hit Jack hard on the side of the head. “Shut the krav up and fix that boat,” Butcher said.

Jack felt his head pound and the ringing in his ears drowned out all other noise.

Laidlaw shoved Butch back hard. “How are we going to get out of here if you smash in his skull?”

Butcher raised the pulse rifle and aimed it at Laidlaw’s face.

“He’s right, Butch,” Torent said, stepping over. “We need them both if we want to fix that boat.”

Butcher lowered his rifle. He fixed Jack with a fierce scowl. “Fix the boat.”

“I haven’t got enough time, if you don’t hold the Chits,” Jack said, wiping the trickle of blood off the side of his head.

“He’s right about that too,” Torent said. “Let me pick a few Marines to stand in the line. They can fight good, Butch.”

Butcher looked sideways at Torent. He was filled with suspicion.

“Okay,” Butcher said as he walked away. “Pick a few Marines, but I want my guys aiming rifles at their heads. If they try anything, I’ll have them all killed.”

Torent nodded. “Don’t worry, Butch. They’ll do what they are told. They don’t know how to think for themselves.”

Jack watched as Torent picked out a small group of Marines. They were mostly the freshest replacements. They might not have the fighting ability of some of the more seasoned Marines, but they would listen to Torent and not try anything to fight against the prisoners standing behind them.

Torent walked along the line of Marines and pushed them into formation. He had a rank of Marines kneeling in a line, their pulse rifles aimed along the tunnel. A line of prisoners stood behind them.

Torent went along the line of prisoners. Jack could see him giving basic instructions on how to handle the Fleet Marine pulse rifle. Jack hoped with a few good, trained Marines in the front of them, the prisoners’ ineptitude wouldn’t condemn them all to death.

“Here they come,” Torent shouted.

Jack watched as his old friend knelt in the line of Marines. Torent was a good combat leader, capable and brave. He called out instructions to the small group of Marines and the prisoners behind them.

“Hold. Wait for it. Stand by. Pick your targets. Controlled bursts. Aim for the head. Wait.”

Jack turned from his repairs. He had a clear view out of the landing bay and along the tunnel to the main compound. It was dark in the tunnel, but Jack could see the familiar sight of a mass of advancing Chitin soldiers.

“Fire,” Torent shouted.

The front rank of Marines let out short bursts. Jack watched as they fired, re-aimed, and fired again, short and precise actions that created havoc in the line of advancing Chits.

The prisoners fired as wildly as ever, their shots badly aimed and uncontrolled. Jack hoped Torent would keep the Chits back long enough for the repair to be completed.

Jack didn’t need much longer. The landing craft was ready to go, but Jack wasn’t just fixing the boat. He had another plan. He was rigging the landing craft for a surprise. Jack was in control, and in a short time, he would have his prisoners strapped in their seats and heading back to Eros.

“Hold them,” Torent said. “Keep up the fire.”

Jack looked along the tunnel. The Chits were falling back. A prisoner stepped forward, shoving a Marine aside. He began walking into the tunnel, firing wildly, laughing manically and shouting at the Chits.

“Get back in formation,” Torent shouted.

The prisoner walked on. “Shut your mouth,” he said. He fired wild and sustained bursts into the tunnel.

“They are falling back,” Torent said. “Cease fire.”

The Marines stopped. The prisoners slowed their fire and eventually stopped. The prisoner walking into the tunnel carried on firing and walking forward.

“Get back in line,” Torent said.

The prisoner kept walking.

Butcher stepped into the tunnel. He raised his rifle and fired, the single round slamming into the back of the prisoner. He sprawled forward.

Butcher walked over to the fallen body and reached down to collect the fallen rifle. He then fired another round into the fallen prisoner.

Jack watched, unsurprised by the lack of discipline of the prisoners. He hoped the line of Marines mixed in with them weren’t in more danger from the prisoners than they were from the Chits.

20

Jack had little left to do to fix the landing craft. He was almost done. But he knew that at any moment, the Chitins would try to attack again.

Butcher was clearly pleased with the defensive work of the Marines and his prisoner gang. He pushed more prisoners into the line with pulse rifles in their hands. They looked nervous and unsure to Jack. He would have told these new press-ganged troops to practice fire a few rounds into the tunnel before they were required to fire at real life Chitin soldiers in a full attack.

Jack walked to the rear of the landing craft and pulled another access panel away. He placed it carefully on the ground. The rear of the landing craft was near a group of prisoners and Marines, all being watched over by Butcher and a group of armed prisoners.

The captive prisoners were lying about on the ground. The Marines were kneeling, hands on their heads. Jack counted the prisoners with pulse rifles and the number of Marines kneeling on the ground. It was an even split, but the prisoners had all the guns.

Butcher came over to Jack, pulse rifle aimed and evil in his eye. “Guess you are the prisoner now. What’s it like to be on the other side? Not so eager to bark orders at me now, are you, soldier boy?” Butcher jabbed the pulse rifle into Jack’s ribs.

Jack saw the look of fury on a nearby Marine’s face. He knew if he gave the order, his men would attack. They could disarm and kill many of the prisoners holding the Marines captive. Some Marines would die too, but they knew the risks.

He wasn’t prepared to give that order yet. He looked at the angry Marine and gave the slightest shake of his head. The angry Marine relaxed. Jack had given him an order, a non-verbal and subtle order, but an order nevertheless. An order to hold position.

Jack may not have had a weapon, and his Marines didn’t have their weapons, but he had no doubt about who was in charge of this situation. He was. He was still the company commander and he was still following his own strategy. Jack needed to fix the landing craft and defend the landing bay. So far, he had managed to work toward these goals. Jack also had one other duty—to return the prisoners to Eros. He hadn’t achieved that yet, but he was going to do everything in his power to make sure these prisoners did get home to Eros.

“You better hurry and fix this thing,” Butcher said, “or you’ll be stuck here for good.”

“This is the last step,” Jack said, “and then I can fire up the reactor.”

Butcher smiled a dark, cruel smile. Jack read him perfectly. He was happy to hear he would be leaving this prison soon, and he was excited that he would finally get to kill the soldier boy, Jack Forge.

“Thank you for helping,” Jack said to Canton. He dropped a control panel from the reactor assembly and pointed at it. “Let me know when this goes red, then reduce the inputs here.” Jack demonstrated the sliding action Canton would need to use.

Canton nodded. “Watch out for Butcher,” Canton said. “I think he means to leave you behind when you’ve fixed his escape craft.”

“I think he means to kill me,” Jack said. “But I mean to take him back to Eros.”

“Might as well kill him here,” Canton said. “He’s going to be executed in a few days anyway.”

“I’m a Marine, not an executioner,” Jack said. “I’m here to save you lot from the Chits.”

Jack drained the power from the sub-unit and diverted it to the electromagnetic pulse distributor for the main reactor shunt. He was nearly ready.

“I don’t know why I’m helping you,” Canton said. “If you get me back, it’ll only be a matter of time before they execute me too.”

Jack looked at Canton. He had the look of an honorable man. “Have you been through the full legal process?” Jack asked.

“Not yet, but it’s just a procedure at this point,” Canton said. “They have set me up. They killed my wife and blamed me, just because I took an alternate view on the war with the Chits. The current government doesn’t like dissension in the ranks.”

Jack liked Canton, but the man was a prisoner, and a convicted murderer. Jack couldn’t let himself take a side. Jack had to get all the prisoners to Eros. Everything else was beyond Jack’s control.

“You might as well kill me here and now,” Canton said. “I loved my wife. It destroyed me when she died. They couldn’t take anything else from me that I loved more. To be honest, they killed me when they took her life.”

Jack nodded. “I’m finished here now,” Jack said. “You can go and sit with the others.”

Canton smiled at Jack. “It’s been good to do some work again. Thank you,” he said, then walked back to the rest of the prisoners.

Jack walked casually around the landing craft. Laidlaw stood at the forward landing strut, re-attaching a loose panel.

“Stuart,” Jack called out calmly. He tipped his head toward the boarding ramp of the landing craft.

Laidlaw immediately stopped what he was doing and stepped over to the landing ramp. Jack reached out and pulled Laidlaw on to the ramp. He took a small remote unit from his pulse pistol holster on his hip and held it in his palm. He let Laidlaw see it.

“You ready for this?” Jack asked with a smile.

Laidlaw nodded with a look of grim determination.

Jack tapped the small button on the remote.

The feedback pulse from the reactor shunt hit hard. Jack felt the pulse slam into every nerve in his body. His teeth rattled in his jaw. His hair stood on end, and he nearly fell over from the dizziness.

Laidlaw reached out and grabbed hold of Jack to steady himself.

The pulse filled the landing bay and knocked every last man to the floor. Jack and Laidlaw were protected by the landing ramp, but they still felt a thump from Jack’s improvised energy weapon.

“Go, now,” Jack said. He staggered forward. “Secure the weapons.”

The prisoners and the Marines were lying in heaps around the bay. Some were twitching but most were still, out stone cold. Jack wondered if he’d set the charge too strongly. He hoped he could get some of his Marines back to their feet. Jack began gathering pulse rifles from the prisoners and he kicked every Marine, shouting at them to get up.

Torent was groaning and climbing to his hands and knees.

“On your feet, Marines,” Jack was yelling at the Marines who were writhing on the ground, groaning, their senses having been assaulted by the pulse blast from the landing craft. Jack had no time or sympathy for their pain. They were Marines and they needed to get on their feet.

The prisoners hardly moved at all. Every one of them was out cold. An idle life had made them predisposed to lounging about. None of them made any great effort to shake off the blast. Only Butcher moved. He groaned like all the rest but was making some effort to get to his feet. Somewhere in his bewildered mind he knew he had been attacked. Jack guessed the eagerness to escape was overcoming his propensity for idleness. Jack grabbed the pulse rifle from his hands.

Laidlaw was moving amongst a group of Marines. One was sitting up and clumsily getting to his feet. He used the pulse rifle Laidlaw gave him for support before he fell again and vomited.

“On your feet, Marine,” Laidlaw said, shoving a pulse rifle into the hands of the next Marine.

The Marines were all rousing themselves. They staggered and fell as they tried to regain their feet. Most could just about manage to climb up onto their hands and knees. That was good enough for now, and every semi-conscious Marine was given a weapon.

“Jack,” Torent called out weakly.

Jack looked over to Torent. He was standing against the tunnel wall. The Marines at his feet were pulling weapons away from their prisoner guards. Then Jack saw.

The tunnel was alive, a writhing mass of advancing Chitin soldiers.

“Give fire, Sam,” Jack called out to Torent.

Torent turned and fired. It was a clumsy shot, a shot that Torent would normally be ashamed of, but Jack was proud of him nonetheless. He was on his feet and fighting, even though he had just been blasted by a massive feedback pulse that had temporarily scrambled his nervous system.

“To arms, Marines. To arms.” Jack urged the Marines toward the tunnel. “Fire on the Chits. Hold them back.”

The Marines were all moving, some standing, many crawling, but they were all moving toward the tunnel opening. Jack opened a communication channel to the pilot in the landing craft. He hoped he was conscious.

“The landing craft is ready to go,” Jack said as he walked toward the tunnel. “Get it started.” Jack opened fire, the pulse rounds tearing into the mass of Chitins rushing along the tunnel.

Laidlaw joined Jack at the tunnel mouth. He stood next to Jack and poured rifle fire into the dark tunnel.

“Torent. Laidlaw. Hold the tunnel.” Jack stepped back from the firing line. “Jarett,” Jack called out to the squad leader from Adder Company. Jarret was on one knee, a splatter of vomit at his side, but his trigger finger was under control and the bursts from his pulse rifle were well-aimed and controlled. “With me, Jarett,” Jack said.

Jack grabbed hold of a Marine crawling toward the firing line. “You, with me. On your feet.”

Jack grabbed a few Marines who hadn’t quite recovered, but were regaining their capacities rapidly. The fight at the tunnel entrance was being managed by Torent and Laidlaw. Jack needed help with the prisoners.

The first prisoner to his feet was Butcher, the murdering gangster. Only moments ago, he’d had a pulse rifle pointed at Jack’s face. Now he was helpless and weak. Jack pushed him firmly back to the ground.

Jack barked orders at his Marines. They were still unstable on their feet but could follow orders. He had all the loose weapons collected. The Marines all had their pulse rifles back, but the pulse pistols were still lying amongst the prisoners.

Jack told Jarett to watch Butcher and his gang of lackeys while Jack went and kicked the rest of the prisoners, urging them to rise and shake off the blast that had scrambled their minds.

Then the plasma spears slammed into the landing craft’s nose.

“They are returning fire,” Torent shouted. “There are too many of them.”

The engine nodes at the rear of the landing craft began to glow with a bright white light. Jack knew there were still a few minutes until the craft could leave.

Jack looked at the tunnel. He could see the writhing mass of soldiers in the darkness. There was only one reason why they weren’t firing more of their plasma spears. That was because the Chitins were capturing humans at every opportunity. For as long as his Marines stood their ground, they could hold the Chitins’ attack back, but once the Marines began to retreat, the Chits would swarm out of the tunnel and over the landing craft. If that landing craft hull was breached, then no prisoners would make it. They would either suffocate in the vacuum of space or get captured and converted by the Chitins into brainwashed, human agents.

“We need to collapse that tunnel,” Jack said.

“What I wouldn’t give for a small antimatter charge right now,” Laidlaw said.

“We can use one of the power cells from a pulse rifle.” Jack began to dismantle his pulse rifle. “I just need to rig a detonator.” Jack shook his head. “But we haven’t got time.” He tossed the power cell in his hand. It had the power to collapse the tunnel and stop the Chitin’s advance. The landing craft would be able to get away with all prisoners and Marines safely aboard. Jack knew he was going to be able to complete his mission. He needed to bring down that tunnel.

“Sam,” Jack called out. “Hold them off for as long as you can.” Jack turned to Jarett. “Start loading the prisoners.”

Jarett nodded and called two Marines to him. He began shifting the unsteady prisoners to the landing craft and the seats that would hold them for the journey back to Eros.

“Strap them in good, and keep a guard on them,” Jack said. He walked back to the firefight at the tunnel entrance.

The flashes of the pulse rifles lit up the tunnel. The strobe effect was dizzying. Every flash showed a new view as the Chitins advanced. They climbed the walls and clung to the ceiling. Moving forward. The pulse rifles did their bloody work and smashed the Chits, their hard outer shells fracturing and sending splatters of the thick Chitin slime flying in huge spattering globules.

Every flash showed the Chits getting closer and closer.

“Hold them for as long as you can,” Jack shouted to the Marines. “When we have the prisoners aboard, I will order a retreat. Fall back in a fighting retreat.”

The Marines shouted that they understood.

“The prisoners don’t look so keen to use a pulse rifle now, do they, sir?” Laidlaw shouted over the noise of the rifle fire.

“No, they do not.” Jack looked over the prisoners sitting on the ground and the Marines taking them in small groups to be strapped into the seats in the landing craft.

Jack knew it was taking too long.

Walking back to the landing craft, Jack played with the power cell from his pulse rifle. Someone needed to collapse that tunnel. He was not going to ask for volunteers for a suicide mission and he sure as krav wasn’t going to order anyone to do it. It was his job to do.

Former secretary Canton was on his feet and being taken to the landing craft boarding ramp. He caught Jack’s eye. He shouted over the sounds of pulse rifle fire.

“I served before I went into politics, Commander.” Canton shrugged off the Marine who was moving him to the landing craft. “I can see what you’re thinking.”

The Marine grabbed Canton and walked him to the ramp.

“Let him speak,” Jack said.

The Marine let Canton approach Jack.

“Keep boarding those prisoners,” Jack ordered.

“I know what you’re thinking, Commander, because it’s the same thing that I would have thought.”

Jack looked suspiciously as Canton. “What am I thinking?”

“You are going to detonate that power unit in the tunnel.” Canton held out his hand. “Let me do it.”

Jack held the power unit out of Canton’s reach. “It’s my duty to get you back to Eros, sir.”

“Hurry up back there,” Torent shouted from the firing line at the tunnel’s mouth. “They are getting close.”

“If you take me back, they are going to hang me for a crime I didn’t commit because they said I was a traitor and a coward for opposing this kravin war. If I collapse that tunnel then maybe I can restore some honor to my name. Maybe the name Secretary Canton will mean hero and not traitor.”

Canton kept his hand out.

Jack thought about what it would mean to Canton to restore his name back on Eros. Jack thought about how many of his Marines would be able to return to active duty if they survived the landing bay battle and returned to the fleet.

Another plasma spear that came blasting out of the tunnel hit the landing craft on the nose. Jack ducked for cover as the landing craft’s composite hull fizzed under the energy from the plasma spear. Another spear sliced through the air and hit the far wall of the bay.

“They’re coming, and they’ve had enough of taking damage,” Torent was shouting. “They are returning fire. I don’t think they’re looking for captives anymore.”

Another plasma spear slammed into the ground next to Jack’s leg. The ground exploded in a shower of dust and rocky fragments. The fragments hit Jack’s ankle like a shotgun blast and knocked him to the ground. He went down on all fours. The power cell fell from his hand.

Jack reached for it, but it was snatched from him. Jack looked up at Canton.

“Looks like fate will give me a chance to prove myself. Good luck, Commander.”

Jack watched as Canton ran toward the firing line. Jack saw Laidlaw move into position to stop Canton.

“Let him go,” Jack called out.

Laidlaw stepped aside and Canton ran into the darkness.

“Covering fire,” Laidlaw shouted. The Marines gave a burst of sustained fire.

“Fall back,” Jack shouted.

The blast in the tunnel sent dust billowing into the landing bay. Jack coughed on the thick dust. The sound of falling rubble was deafening and Jack knew that the tunnel was sealed.

“Get these last few prisoners aboard and let’s get out of here,” Jack said, coughing.

Jack felt a strong arm grab him from behind, the forearm on his wind pipe, and the pulse pistol at the side of Jack’s head.

“Thank you for getting us ready to go, soldier boy,” Butcher said. He walked backward up the landing ramp, dragging Jack with him. “Looks like I’m still the one in control.”

“Sorry to tell you this, Butcher,” Jack said, “but you were never in control of this situation.”

“I had the guns, and I’ve got one again. I think you know who is in control here.”

Jack saw Laidlaw slowly raise his rifle. Jack shook his head.

Butcher snarled. “Tell your Marines to back off or I’ll blow your brains out.” He walked further up the ramp.

“They will do what I order them to, Butcher,” Jack said. “But my orders are to get you back to Eros, and that’s what I’m going to do.”

Jack saw Torent raise his rifle. The muzzle flash from Torent’s pulse rifle seemed to happen in slow motion. The pulse round struck Butcher in the eye and he fell like a puppet with its strings cut.

Jack stepped away from the fallen prisoner. He took the pulse pistol out of his dead hand and clipped it to his hip holster.

“I told you not to fire,” Jack said angrily.

Torent and Laidlaw came toward the landing craft. The Marines ran past Jack and took their positions in the passenger hold.

“Actually, Commander, you told Laidlaw not to fire,” Torent said.

“He was enjoying humiliating me too much to want to kill me.” Jack pushed Torent past him up the boarding ramp. Jack slammed the hatch controls and the ramp began to close. He pressed the communication panel and spoke to the pilot. “We’re all clear, pilot. Let’s go.”

The landing craft lifted off the deck and up toward the landing bay’s upper door. The door slid aside and the landing craft blasted off into the dark of space.

21

Jack stood in front of Griff’s desk. Major Griff was reviewing a holofile in front of him.

“Sit down, Jack,” he said, offering Jack the seat opposite him. “Excellent mission, Jack. You only lost two prisoners. If it was up to me, I might have been tempted to let the bastards rot where they were.”

“I was under orders to bring them back, sir,” Jack said, settling into the seat. His ankle was in a therapeutic boot as his bones healed from the near-miss with the Chitin plasma spear.

“You were lucky not to lose more men than you did, and you were lucky not to lose your foot.” Griff pulled a bottle and two large tumblers from a desk drawer. He poured two drinks.

“Guess I’m lucky to have good people around me.”

“Speaking of that, have you made any decision about who you would recommend for company commander?”

Jack took a sip of his drink. It was harsh and dried his mouth. He didn’t like the flavor of the amber liquor, but he drank it anyway. Jack had made a decision.

“Only one, Sir.” Jack drank the rest of the liquor and put the tumbler back on Griff’s desk. “Stuart Laidlaw.”

Griff nodded. “Laidlaw. Good. Why?” Griff took a sip of his drink and looked at Jack over the rim of the glass.

“He’s intelligent, he’s determined, he has the respect of the men, and he’s brave. A good leader needs to be able to fight at the front, sir.”

Griff nodded. “But a good company commander needs to be able to assess a situation in all its complexity and make a decision based on a lot of information. It can be easier to rush to the front. It’s harder to step back and make a cool assessment.”

Jack nodded.

“And that is exactly what you did, Jack,” Griff said, pouring another slug of amber liquor into Jack’s tumbler. “You did exceptionally well, Jack. I might think you were after my job.”

Jack picked up his drink and took a sip.

“I heard Trace Matavesi was lost.” Jack said, turning the glass in his hand.

Griff nodded. “The Taurus went down. All hands lost. A real blow to the Fleet.” Griff raised his glass. “To Trace. She was a true Marine.”

Jack tapped his tumbler against Griff’s and joined his toast to a fallen colleague and friend.

“Sometimes it’s not so good to have friends in the service, Jack,” Griff said. He sat back in his chair. “Is that why you didn’t suggest your friend Sam Torent for company commander?”

Jack took a drink. “Sam’s good,” Jack said. “He’s brave. He’s strong. He’s a good combat leader.”

“Would you trust him to command a company?”

Jack thought. He rolled the idea around in his head. Did he trust Sam Torent to command a company? Jack didn’t know. Even after all they had been through together, Jack wasn’t sure if he trusted Torent at all.

“But Stuart Laidlaw is an excellent suggestion, Jack,” Griff said. “And you ran an excellent mission. A real success. You are a good leader, and we are lucky to have you here.”

Jack knew he had made mistakes. He wondered if he’d made the right decisions, wondered if he could have saved the two prisoners who had died. But through it all, Jack knew he could lead a company of Marines. He had been an officer for some time but now he was a leader, a leader whose skills had been forged in battle.

Forged Under Siege

Jack Forge, Fleet Marine, Book 6

Prologue

Admiral Henson leaned heavily on the holostage. The small points of light on the holoimage represented every ship—military and civilian—merged into a single blurred mass. The entire fleet was in full retreat. Henson rubbed his eyes as the image drifted out of focus.

“What a mess,” Henson muttered. “What a kravin mess.”

Rear Admiral Tel Jackson and Rear Admiral Victor Orlov stood in silence. There was nothing they could do now but watch the retreat. All plans had been made for the defense of the two home worlds. The orbital defenses on the asteroids in orbit round Eras were ready to defend the planet. The two moons around Eros were even better equipped. The Chitins would never break through the final defensive perimeter.

A red blip appeared on the holostage. It was a distress call from a civilian ship. Jackson and Orlov searched for information. Henson knew what was coming.

“It’s a civilian ship. It’s lost its primary drive,” Orlov reported. “The captain of the ship is asking for military assistance.”

Henson bowed his head.

“The Leo is the closest destroyer,” Jackson said. He zoomed in on the destroyer, showing its proximity to the distressed civilian ship. “The Leo could attempt an evacuation. Shall I contact the captain, sir?”

Henson looked up and zoomed the holostage view out to its maximum. The group of fleeing human vessels was being pursued by thousands of Chitin warships. The Chitins were spread out in an arc to the rear of the retreating human fleet. The Chitin armada was closing in. The fleet would reach the safety of the planetary defenses in a little under an hour. The Chitins would not catch them for a little over an hour. It was going to be a close call. The slightest delay would mean destruction, or even worse, capture. There was no time for a rescue.

“Admiral, shall I contact the Leo?”

“No.” Admiral Henson’s voice was strong and stable.

“Receiving a message from a frigate, Admiral.” Victor Orlov zoomed the holoimage in onto the frigate.

The designation code was displayed next to the frigate on a small holographic label. Frigate M-4 showed it was the fourth frigate from the carrier group of the recently destroyed carrier Monarch. Frigate M-4 had suffered minor damage in the Battle of Grid Eight-Eight-Thirteen, but they were fully operational.

“Frigate M-4 is requesting permission to fall out of formation and offer assistance to the civilian ship.”

“Permission denied.” Admiral Henson tapped the holostage and returned to the widest view showing all the retreating ships. The small point of light, blinking red, showing the location of the civilian ship was falling behind and now appeared alone. The gap between it and the retreating fleet increased slowly. The gap between it and the pursuing Chitins decreased.

“It is a fleet supply vessel, Admiral,” Tel Jackson reported. “They are carrying replacement antimatter coils. It has a crew of fifteen.”

“Send a message to the supply vessel,” Henson said. “Message begins. Make all efforts to return to home space. Take all necessary precautions to prevent military equipment falling into enemy hands. Good luck. Message ends.”

Jackson sent the message.

The three watched the holostage. The red point of light representing the supply ship was adrift and about to be consumed within the mass of lights representing the Chitin armada.

The three held their breath.

As the Chitin craft surrounded the supply vessel, a small ball of white light appeared over the image. It grew briefly and then died away. The holostage image updated and identified the wreckage of several Chitin Hydras and the annihilation of one civilian transport vessel.

“Antimatter detonation recorded at the supply ship’s location, Admiral,” Orlov said.

Tel Jackson looked at his colleague and nodded. “They must have collapsed a coil before they were captured.”

“Their last supply drop was to frigate M-4, Admiral,” Orlov said as he reviewed the lost ship’s log. “They delivered replacement coils. Frigate M-4 lost a coil in the Battle of Grid Eight-Eight-Thirteen. It probably wouldn’t be on its way home now if it wasn’t for that supply ship, sir.”

“Update the fleet registry,” Henson said. “Make a note in the records that the supply ship saved frigate M-4 from capture by the Chitins. Award each member of the supply ship’s crew a combat action stripe. Mark it on their records that they acted selflessly and heroically during the retreat.”

1

Jack Forge sat in his personal quarters reading the updates on the retreat. The fleet was pushing every ship to its design limits to get to the protection of the planetary defense cannons. The huge ground-based energy weapons would hold the Chitins at bay. A single blast from one of the defense cannons would annihilate a Chitin Leviathan, leaving nothing bigger than a particle of sand behind, a smoldering dust cloud that was once a Chitin warship. The cannons were capable of firing three massive energy blasts a minute with an effective range of one hundred thousand kilometers. It was an effective defense.

The asteroids around Eras each housed a single defense cannon and provided global coverage. Both moons around Eros housed two of the defense cannons, mounted on massive facilities at the poles. The defenses gave an all-round line of sight and could fire on any Chitin craft coming from any direction.

Jack was heading for the moon of Brecon, the outermost moon of the planet Eros. It would be the closest to home Jack had been in almost two years.

The small family watch that sat on Jack’s desk was contained within its black composite shell. Jack checked the current time in his home town in the northern prairies of Eros. He set his old watch to home time and then dropped it into his jacket pocket.

A message from Major Griff came over Jack’s small desktop holostage.

“How are your preparations, Commander?” Griff asked.

Jack thought the major’s face was creased with a hundred more wrinkles than when Jack had last seen him only a few hours ago. Two companies of the battalion were to deploy to Brecon with all equipment. It was a big job.

“Cobra Company is all set. I ordered them to take a thirty-minute break in the mess. I hear they have cooked up some real meat today.”

“So I hear,” Griff said. “And what about you?”

“Ready, sir. I am just packing away my personal effects.”

“Not planning on retirement, are you, Jack?”

“No, sir.” Jack looked around his small quarters. He had only just become accustomed to it, and now he was preparing to leave, possibly for the last time. “I’m just not sure if we’ll get back to the Scorpio any time soon. It looks like we will be deployed to the field for some time.”

“Yeah.” Griff nodded. “We have to protect those cannons.” Griff nodded and was momentarily distracted by a folder in his hand. He dropped the folder and looked at Jack. “Assemble Cobra Company, Jack,” Griff said. “We deploy in fifteen minutes.”

Jack stood on the Marine hangar deck. Cobra and Boa Companies were aboard their landing craft. Commander Laidlaw stood with Jack, looking out of the hangar door porthole. Somewhere away in the darkness was the Chitin armada.

“Kind of creepy to know they’re out there, isn’t it, Jack.” Laidlaw moved his face closer to the small porthole.

“They have always been out there, Stu,” Jack replied.

“Yeah, but they have never been this close to the home planets before.” Laidlaw stepped away.

Jack checked the time on his small watch. The final boarding order would come any moment now. He looked at the newly appointed commander, Stuart Laidlaw. Boa Company was his responsibility. Since Jack had suggested him for the position, he felt a degree of responsibility not just for his own company but for Laidlaw’s too.

The orders came for final boarding of the Marine landing craft in the form of a brief message from Major Griff.

Laidlaw viewed Griff’s message on the holodisplay panel on the sleeve of his meat suit. “Guess it’s time to go,” he said.

Jack held out his hand. Laidlaw took it and the two shook. They had both risen through the ranks quickly and now they were both commanding fully-manned companies of fleet Marines.

“Good luck, Stu,” Jack said.

Laidlaw nodded. He was looking pale. Jack stepped close and put a hand on his shoulder.

“You’re a good Marine and a good leader. You are going to be fine. You can do this. Copy?”

Stuart nodded.

“You wouldn’t have been given the company if you couldn’t manage it.” Jack gave Laidlaw a hearty pat on the shoulder. “Be sure. Be decisive. Be a Marine.”

“Copy that,” Laidlaw said and turned toward the boarding ramp of his company’s landing craft.

Jack walked up the ramp and into the passenger hold of his landing craft. Cobra Company had been brought up to full strength with the addition of squads poached from Adder Company. Several mixed squads had been assembled from the Marines who had escaped the destruction of the Monarch and the Taurus at the Battle of Grid Eight-Eight-Thirteen. The survivors of half a dozen companies now served to swell the ranks of Cobra to its full complement of twelve squads, with twelve Marines each.

Jack tapped the ramp control panel. The pneumatic systems hissed and squeaked as the ramp closed. It took a moment for his eyes to become accustomed to the dim lights of the landing craft’s passenger hold. Jack did not want to be seen stumbling in the dark, feeling his way forward, giving the company any thoughts that their commander was not fully in control. He stood and waited until his eyes adjusted.

A message from the cockpit came over Jack’s communicator. The pilot had been given instructions to begin final egress procedure.

Jack acknowledged the message and stepped along the passenger hold. The landing craft was barely holding together. Unless the pilot treated her very carefully, it might be her last trip. The panels above the Marines’ seats were missing in several places. Hold lights blinked and flickered in some places. They were absent in others. There were still enough lights operating to give Jack a gloomy view of his company.

The central aisle of the landing craft was stacked with crates of equipment and supplies. There was enough food and ammunition to keep the company going for several weeks. And then along the sides of the craft, strapped in their seats, were the one hundred and forty-four men and women of Cobra Company. All were fully suited up and armed for battle. The pulse pistols were strapped to the meat suits at various locations.

Various other sidearms and extra weaponry was affixed to the suits, including grenades and electron blades. In front of every Marine, held in the standard flight position of butt down, muzzle up, was the Fleet Marine pulse rifle the primary weapon of the Fleet Marines. With a dedicated, well-trained Marine behind it, the weapon was virtually unstoppable.

Jack walked along the passenger deck. The Marines offered a quiet word of deference to Jack, a salute here or a quiet ‘sir’ there. The Marines didn’t need to acknowledge him in this situation, but he had earned their respect in a number of dangerous and difficult encounters with their enemy. They wanted Jack to know they would follow him. He acknowledged their offers of respect with a light return salute, a tap of his finger to his brow, to show that he also respected them.

Finding an empty seat halfway along the passenger hold in the area taken up by 6th squad was a welcome sight. Apart from a brief moment in his quarters, Jack had been on his feet for the best part of a day. Organizing the company for deployment involved more running around than anyone who had never done it would believe. Jack dropped in to the seat.

Sam Torent , squad leader for the 6th, saluted Jack as he sat.

“Sir,” Torent said lightly.

“How is sixth squad doing, Sam?” Jack asked.

“Osho is still after my job, sir,” Torent said. He pointed across to Osho, who was seemingly asleep. “Bailey is still a bit nervous, but I think he’ll be after your job soon.”

Bailey was checking the panels on his meat suit sleeve, his right leg bouncing nervously. He saw Jack and Torent looking at him. He stiffened and delivered a sharp salute.

Jack smiled and returned the salute. “As you were, Bailey,” he said.

“I’m only just getting to know the replacements,” Torent said, pointing to a number of Marines sitting nearby. “We were lucky to get some veterans from other battalions. Some are green, but I have given them a good run through with some of our best VR scenarios.”

Jack nodded. He studied the new members of 6th squad. Even though so many of them were new, 6th squad was still Jack’s squad. He knew it was wrong, but he had a sentimental spot for these men and women. They had been his friends. He had so few left.

“They’ll be okay, sir,” Torent said. “They know what they have to do and they’ll do it.”

“What about you, Sam?” Jack turned to his old nemesis turned best friend. “You okay?”

Torent smiled and nodded. He held out his prosthetic arm. He flexed it, clenching and unclenching the fingers. “If only the rest of my body was in as good a condition as this arm.”

An amber light started flashing, throwing light and shadow about the passenger hold in lazy sweeps. It was the takeoff warning light. The pilot messaged Jack.

“We have orders to leave, sir. Do you want to take a seat in the cockpit?”

“No, pilot,” Jack said. He grabbed the straps to the seat he was in. “Go ahead and take us out.”

Jack strapped himself in.

“Just like old times?” Torent asked.

“Just like old times,” Jack agreed.

Looking around at the faces of the men and women he was leading, Jack could see the respect they had for him, a commander who wasn’t afraid to ride in the back with the troops. Jack knew they would follow him. He also knew he would have to order them into battle and that many of the one hundred and forty-four Marines of Cobra Company in the landing craft might not return home.

Jack knew that the deployment to Brecon was not going to be an armchair posting. Brecon was about to become the front line in the deadly standoff against the Chitins, a war that the humans were losing. With their backs against the wall, Jack knew the fleet Marines would be more determined than ever. He knew Cobra would fight hard. Failure was not an option.

2

The shaking started suddenly and violently. The creaking of the landing craft’s hull was piercing and loud.

“We’re coming in to land,” the pilot’s stressed voice came over Jack’s communicator. “I’ve lost pitch control. I am compensating with thrusters. Brace for emergency landing.”

Jack pulled his meat suit helmet on. It hissed as it created the seal. Then he grabbed the shoulder straps on his seat, his hands across his chest. He activated the inertia reduction field on his meat suit, trying to relax and control his breathing. Training told them that a relaxed Marine would withstand a crash landing better than a tense one.

“Remember your training, Cobra,” Jack said into his helmet communicator on a company channel. Everyone would hear his voice.

The red emergency landing light flashed around the passenger hold. The Marines adopted the crash position.

“Killed by our own ship.” Torent leaned in toward Jack. “Chits won’t even need to attack.”

Jack knew Torent was right but didn’t have time for Torent’s dark humor just then.

“Adopt the correct emergency landing position, Squad Leader,” Jack said. “How are you going to lead your squad with a broken skull?”

“I could use a good knock on the head,” Torent said, pressing himself into his seat. “Probably need some sense knocked into me.”

“I’ll do it for you if you don’t brace,” Jack said.

The violent shaking of the landing craft jostled the Marines in their seats. The hull rattled and screeched as it exceeded its design limits. Jack looked at the hull opposite him as it flexed rapidly. His eyes shook in their sockets, and the whole passenger hold became a blur.

A coolant conduit ruptured and sprayed boiling liquid over the man underneath it. The scream of pain was short-lived. Jack checked the Marine with his enhanced data view on his helmet. He was already dead.

“Coming down hard.” The pilot’s voice wavered with fear. “Lost pitch. Coming in nose-first. Five seconds to impact.”

Jack accessed the landing craft data stream and selected the forward view. He viewed it on the holoimage projection on the inside of his helmet. He wished he hadn’t. The craft was pitched forward at an angle of forty-five degrees, traveling forward at over a hundred kilometers per hour. The pilot had done well to slow the craft, but the old vehicle was still coming in too fast. The rear end was coming down by a few degrees, but the impact would still be heavy.

The nose struck the loose regolith of Brecon, a dry dusty covering littered with fist-sized rocks. The landing craft dug a deep furrow as it raced forward. The nose slowed. The rear end began to drop as the pilot threw all power to the thrusters, forcing the rear down.

The landing craft plowed through the pale Brecon soil, throwing dust into the moon’s thin atmosphere. The noise of rock scraping across the outer composite hull filled the passenger hold. And then came the sound of the outer hull tearing.

Several panels around the hold fell out of place as the hull was stretched and compressed by the collision. The entire hold seemed to twist and bend. More conduits ruptured, spraying fire and ice around the hold. A thin composite beam came bursting through the inner hull, impaling a Marine. Jack watched as the life signs failed.

The rear of the craft eventually hit the ground, and it hit hard, the thrusters driving it downwards to compensate for the loss of pitch control. The sudden downwards force pressed Jack into his seat and he felt his head press down onto his shoulders with sickening force. His spine compressed with the strength of the collision.

The landing craft stopped suddenly and threw everyone around in their seats. A strap failed on a Marine opposite Jack and he was flung along the hold. The crates of supplies along the central aisle slid forward, their restraining webbing failing in places. A crate ripped away from its webbing and slid suddenly to the side, crushing the legs of a Marine.

Jack accessed the landing craft data. The ship was down. The cockpit had been crushed in the landing. The pilot was not responding. A fire had started in the engine assembly. Jack knew he had only moments to clear the craft.

“Squad Leaders,” Jack said into his helmet communicator. “Emergency evacuation procedures. Evacuate your squads. Clear the area.”

Jack looked over to the wide boarding ramp. It was twisted and the seal was broken, but the ramp was still in the closed position. The squad leader of first squad was at the controls.

“Commander, the ramp is not responding.”

“Blow it,” Jack said, unstrapping himself from his seat. “Set charge for a low yield.”

A Marine from 1st with a handy demolition charge came forward and pressed the material into the pneumatic ram. He fell back, shouting.

“Fire in the hole!”

The detonation was a short and powerful bump. The pneumatic ramp snapped under the force of the explosive like a dry twig. The boarding ramp fell open, hitting the dry regolith and throwing more dust up into the thin air.

Cobra Company streamed out of the wreckage as the fire suppression system activated and a mist of fire suppression vapor filled the passenger hold. Then the engines erupted.

The fire spread along the hold, engulfing the Marines waiting to escape. Jack saw the fire race toward him, boiling and bubbling, raw fire in the air. His suit activated its coolant systems just as the fire washed over him.

The temperature in the hold peaked in a fraction of a second. Jack’s suit temperature crept up slowly. He didn’t have a lot of time until the fire overcame his suit’s protection and became fatal.

Jack moved toward the open boarding ramp, herding Marines in front of him until he was out of the fire and into the freezing air of Brecon. Various warning signs on his enhanced data overlay called for his attention. He had suffered a contusion to his entire left side where he’d been pressed forward by the impact of the crash. He had a sprain in his left wrist and left ankle. He was suffering from a mild concussion. His suit’s thermal regulation systems were scrambled but rebooting, and his onboard medical treatment package was offline.

Jack staggered forward, determined to get away from the burning ship. A Marine came along side and pulled Jack’s arm over his shoulder, taking some of Jack’s weight and helping him move. Jack continued for another fifty meters.

“Stop. Stop.” Jack turned and looked back to the burning craft. No more Marines were escaping from it. And then, in a silent and brilliant white flash, the engines erupted, throwing burning composite into the cold Brecon air.

The company casualty report came into Jack’s suit. Thirteen Marines and the pilot were dead or unaccounted for. Another twenty lay wounded around the crash site, some having narrowly escaped, three miraculously having been flung clear through a breach in the upper hull. All were lying in the Brecon dust awaiting assistance.

Jack ran a quick head count by squads. The casualties were concentrated in the higher number squads, the ones that had been sitting closer to the nose section of the landing craft.

“Listen up, Cobra,” Jack sent a message over the suit’s communicator. “Head for the planetary defense cannon facility. Sixth Squad, assist the wounded.”

Jack turned toward the defense cannon in the distance. It was massive, truly monumental. The cannon itself had a muzzle a hundred meters across. It appeared squat at only two hundred meters tall. The surrounding facility was a vast square building. It was pale like the surrounding surface. They had to defend this cannon at any cost, and his company had already taken casualties before the first shot was even fired.

He began limping forward, the sprain on his left ankle making movement painful. He checked his suit’s medical treatment package. It was rebooting but still not able to deliver a painkiller. The Marine who had helped Jack offered his help again.

“Let me help you, sir,” he said.

Jack looked over to the Marine. The data overlay identified him as Corry Allen, the squad leader of 3rd squad. He was a tough Marine with a reputation for fitness and strength. Jack let the kid take some weight.

When healthy, Jack could have made it to the distant facility in no time. The sprain in his ankle hurt, but the frustration was harder to tolerate. He tried to remain calm and struggled forward, but time was a factor. He needed to organize his company and organize the defense.

3

The holostage on the Scorpio’s command deck showed the landing craft’s crash in detail. Major Griff zoomed in on the crash site. Marines were moving out from the craft. Griff requested a head count from the Scorpio’s uplink to the Marines’ meat suits.

Pretorius saw the readout displayed under the holoimage of the burning landing craft. He looked over at Griff.

“Acceptable losses,” Griff said. “Cobra Company will continue on mission and deploy at the northern planetary defense cannon.”

Pretorius nodded. He observed Griff closely. He was an experienced Marine but was still newly appointed to command the entire battalion. Pretorius watched for any sign that Griff was not adapting to his new, expanded responsibilities as well as he should.

Even though Griff had complete authority over all three companies of the Scorpio’s Marine battalion—Adder, Boa and Cobra—Pretorius was in command of the Scorpio itself. If Pretorius suspected that Griff was not performing well enough, it would be his responsibility to act for the good of the ship.

Pretorius knew there was a task that Griff needed to perform as a priority, and would do it himself if Griff didn’t act in the next few moments. He watched Griff, noticing the slight twitch in the major’s left eye lid. It could be fatigue, considering the major had been working flat out for several days preparing his company for deployment, or it could be stress. Stress was a natural response and could be managed and dealt with, but it was more insidious than mere fatigue.

Pretorius could wait no longer. Griff needed to contact the company of the crashed landing craft and ascertain if the commander was among the dead or injured. Chain of command needed to be established quickly. Pretorius didn’t need to wait any longer as Commander Forge’s voice burst over the holostage communicator.

“Scorpio, this is Forge. Communication check.”

“Commander Forge,” Griff replied. His voice was steady. “Communications good. Go ahead.”

“Cobra Company has taken casualties in the landing. Landing craft suffered catastrophic failure. Cobra Company is on task and deploying now.”

Pretorius felt a sense of relief at the sound of Jack Forge’s voice. The young Marine was proving himself to be a reliable and effective commander. Pretorius had feared the battalion could have lost their front-line officer in the crash.

Griff activated the communicator and replied to Jack.

“Copy that, Commander. Proceed as planned.”

“Sir,” Jack’s voice came over the communicator. He was breathing hard. “We’ve lost all our supplies. We’ve got our personal weapons and any ammo we were carrying. We are not equipped for a prolonged deployment.”

Pretorius centered the holostage view on the communication signal coming from Jack’s communicator. The holostage showed the Marines as small, green points of light. Jack was highlighted as commander. He was moving across the moon’s surface directly to the cannon facility.

Pretorius saw Griff hesitate. The twitch in his eye seemed more pronounced.

“Proceed to your deployment area and await further instructions. Scorpio out.”

Pretorius zoomed the holostage view out from Cobra Company on the northern region of Brecon and shrank the view of the moon down to a fist-sized image at the center of the holostage. The fleet was retreating toward Eros, deep inside the defense perimeter.

The Scorpio was maneuvering into position behind Brecon. Pretorius had been on deployment across the Eros System, sometimes deep in Chitin space, but he had the feeling that he was now truly on the front line in an increasingly desperate fight for survival.

Pretorius rotated the view of Brecon on the holostage and placed the southern defense cannon on view. The deployment on the southern region was going smoothly, it appeared. Pretorius zoomed in. He glanced across to Griff.

Griff appeared to relax as he saw the deployment of Boa Company going according to plan. The company of Marines was entering the huge facility. The report from their commander came over the holostage communicator.

“Scorpio, this is Laidlaw. Boa Company deployment first stage complete. Moving supplies from the landing craft and setting up defenses now. Laidlaw out.”

Griff leaned on the holostage. He responded with a cool and quiet voice.

“Copy that, Boa. Scorpio out.”

Pretorius studied Griff. He could see the signs of the strain. They were all feeling the tension. They were all under pressure. Griff had been an exceptional company commander. He had been brave and heroic. His actions at the Battle of Lava Lake on Haydes had been developed into an oft-used VR training simulation for assault on a fixed Chitin position. He had saved the lives of many of the Marines of the Libra’s battalion at the Battle of Asteroid Nine-Nine-Three. He had fought across the asteroid belt, keeping his Marines alive and in the fight for weeks after the Libra had been lost to enemy fire.

But fatigue and stress were pernicious afflictions that had no respect for previous heroics. The battlefield could become overwhelming at any stage, and it could affect the fresh recruit or the most decorated officer. Pretorius was aware and alert to its dangers.

“Captain,” Griff said. His voice was relaxed and the twitch over his eye was gone for now. “I’d like to arrange a supply drop for Cobra Company. I know what they need. I will oversee the arrangements myself.”

Griff stepped away from the holostage. He looked at the view of Brecon, the outer moon of Eros, and hesitated.

A small blip appeared and then disappeared on the edge of the holostage, at the limit of the detector range. Pretorius tapped the control panel and focused all available sensors on the area.

The blip reappeared. Several other blips appeared, and then disappeared, then reappeared. A flickering collection of signals on the edge of sensor range.

Then the signals appeared and remained stable. A group of a dozen ships moving toward Eros on a heading that would take them past Brecon and the Scorpio.

“Mister Chou,” Pretorius called out to his second-in-command. “Ready all weapons.”

Then the blips changed from unknown signals to identified Chitin craft. A dozen Chitin warships on a direct heading to the planet Eros.

“I didn’t think they would let us go that easily,” Griff said. He stepped back up to the holostage and contacted his Marines on Brecon.

“Attention Commanders Forge and Laidlaw,” Griff said into his communicator. “Incoming Chitin craft. Be ready.”

Pretorius sent orders to the drive officer to position the Scorpio. Commander Chou stepped up to the holostage and stood next to Pretorius. The two worked feverishly to ready the destroyer for action.

Griff pushed himself away from the holostage. “I’ll check Adder Company deployment through the ship, Captain.”

“Thank you, Major,” Pretorius said. “Make sure they pay dearly if they board us.”

Griff nodded stiffly. “Good luck, Captain.”

“To us all, Major.”

The signal on the blips changed again as the Chitins came even closer. There was a momentary lull in activity as Pretorius, Griff, and Chou all read the data. The oncoming Chitin craft were all Leviathan class warships.

“We can’t fight them,” Griff said. “The Scorpio on its own wouldn’t be able to take out one Leviathan. A dozen? It will be over before it’s begun.”

“Thank you, Major,” Pretorius said. “Prepare your Marines to repel Chitin incursions.”

“They won’t board us,” Griff said. “They’ll destroy us with one blast.”

“Thank you, Major!” Pretorius shouted. He turned to Commander Chou. “Notify command and control center on Eros that we are about to engage the Chitins at Brecon.”

“Engage?” Griff shouted. “We need to fall back. We need support. Call the Monarch. Tell them to get here.”

Pretorius stepped away from the holostage and put a hand on Griff’s shoulder. “The Monarch was destroyed, remember?”

Griff froze, then nodded.

“See to your duties, Major,” Pretorius said, concern etched into his face. “And let me see to mine.”

Griff nodded again and left.

Pretorius stepped back to the holostage.

“Show me the incoming Leviathans, Mister Chou,” Pretorius said.

The holostage zoomed in on the incoming Chitin craft. The twelve ships were arranged in a box, three-wide. The Chitins had taken losses and Fleet Intelligence had deduced that their supply of the Leviathan warships must be reduced to a token number. Maybe this was the entire Leviathan armada. Twelve Leviathans would make short work of the remaining two carrier groups. The Eros System fleet was reduced to only two carriers and their support craft. The fleet could take on and defeat two Leviathans, maybe three. But twelve was too many. Not even at their previous strength of four carrier groups and the hundreds of fighters and support craft could the fleet have taken on twelve Leviathans.

The group of twelve covered a huge area of space thirty kilometers across and twenty kilometers high. They raced forward in perfect formation, the long, thin, tentacle-like structures pointing toward their target, the Scorpio and Brecon.

The planetary defense cannons on the north and south of Brecon aimed their massive snub-nosed cannons at the incoming Leviathans.

Commander Chou showed Pretorius a communication dispatch from Fleet Command and Control Headquarters on Eros. Another group of twelve Leviathans was closing in on the planet Eras. The planetary defense network in the asteroids around Eras was targeting the second group of Leviathans.

Pretorius put the news from his mind. Twenty-four Leviathans would be enough to overwhelm the entire military in minutes. The planetary defense cannons would have to do their job or the existence of human kind in the Eros system would soon come to an end.

The two cannons on Brecon were targeting the twelve Leviathans on route to Eros. A larger number of cannons on the many asteroids in orbit around Eras were targeting the twelve Leviathans attacking that sector.

The range finder on the holostage recorded the position of the Chitin craft. At just over a hundred thousand kilometers, they were on the edge of the range for the cannons.

Pretorius zoomed the holodisplay out to show the Leviathans and Brecon. At exactly one hundred thousand kilometers, the cannons came alive.

The muzzle of the cannon was suddenly ringed with a swirling mass of force lines as the cannon powered up its first discharge. The dust on the surface of Brecon climbed up off the ground and hovered in the lines of force that ran out over the moon’s surface.

Then the colorful swirling force lines collapsed in toward the cannon. The lights disappeared.

At the same moment, a Leviathan at the top left of the formation erupted in a mass of fire and debris.

The colorful lines of force began to gather again at the edge of the cannon’s muzzle, a swirling pattern of every color, like an oil slick in three dimensions. Then the force lines again collapsed toward the interior of the cannon’s muzzle. At the instant the force lines vanished, a second Leviathan exploded.

The swirling pattern at the northern cannon’s muzzle appeared again. Pretorius was briefly hypnotized by the colorful display. He had read all non-classified documents on the planetary defense cannon’s operational abilities, but there was scant technical data on its functionality. All Pretorius knew was the cannon was utterly and devastatingly powerful, and would protect the planets of Eros and Eras from the Chitins.

Pretorius focused on the approaching Leviathans as the cannon prepared to fire again. The Leviathans were moving quickly and had covered thirty thousand kilometers but had lost six of their number. Pretorius watched as the seventh was destroyed.

The Leviathan appeared to erupt from within. No beam or kinetic round seemed to impact on the surface of the Chitin warship, just fire bursting outwards, rippling along the fracture lines that ran over the surface of the Chitin ships. Then the hull began to expand outward, the spaces between the fractured pieces filled with a rolling and boiling inferno. Pretorius watched in amazement and wonder as the fractured pieces of the Leviathan began to collapse back in on itself.

Pretorius expanded the view to show the entire attacking armada of twelve Leviathans. The craft that had been fired upon by the planetary defense cannon were now little more than smoldering fragments of Chitin debris.

Another Leviathan erupted in fire. The remaining three slowed and came to a complete stop. As Leviathan target nine began to collapse in on itself, the remaining three Leviathans turned and began to accelerate away from the system. Another Leviathan erupted in a fire and debris as it fled. Pretorius took a moment to admire the work of the cannon and the debris field of the ten destroyed Chitin Leviathans.

Commander Chou handed Pretorius a dispatch from Fleet Command and Control Headquarters. The planetary defenses around Eros and Eras had fought off the Chitin attack. Eighteen Leviathans had been destroyed in the failed attack on the two planets. More than had been destroyed in all the years of combat across the entire system.

Jack wiped the dust away from his helmet’s face plate. The swirling dust was thin enough for him to see his way, but it adhered to his suit.

Looking up at the towering defense cannon, he watched the swirling lines of color around the cannon muzzle high above him. The lines were like knotted rainbows, twisting and writhing, turning inside and outside each other in a swirling circle.

The dispatch from Fleet Command and Control was relayed to him from the Scorpio. The attacking Chitin Leviathans had been beaten back by the massive cannon.

Jack came up to the entrance hangar of the cannon facility. He stopped and looked back to his company of Marines still making their way across the moon’s surface. Many were staring up at the massive cannon’s muzzle. He could not blame them, it had been a hypnotic and unusual sight.

“Move it, Cobra Company,” Jack spoke into his helmet’s communicator. “Stop staring and get moving. Squad Leaders, get your people moving. Move, Cobra. Move.”

Jack stepped through the huge doorway to the entrance hangar. This facility would be their home and workplace until he was told otherwise or until he was dead.

Jack stepped out of the swirling dust and into the calm of the huge, plain interior. He called up a floor plan and selected a spot for his forward command post, a small office area through a small rotating airlock door at the far end of the hangar.

The cannons had done their job. Jack might not have to do his if the cannons held off the Chitin armada, but he would be ready, just in case.

4

The planetary defense cannon was more than a single artillery piece, it was a vast piece of machinery. It was fully automated and required no permanent on-site human presence. Its operation was conducted remotely from the Fleet Command and Control Center deep underground on the planet of Eros. There were living quarters built into the facility, designed for the repair and maintenance staff who were the only regular visitors. The only visitors currently on site were Cobra Company from the Scorpio Battalion.

Jack found himself staring at the cavernous space he was standing in, large enough for a Fleet landing craft to dock. The walls of light-colored composite seemed to absorb the sound of the Marines’ footsteps as they came into the space. The main entrance to the facility was on the other side of the vast hangar-sized chamber.

Dust from the moon that had been thrown up by the cannon’s firing fell from the Marines’ meat suits as they walked into the entrance hangar. They looked like ghosts drifting out of a cloud of dust.

The march from the crash site had been long, and he could not deny that the active cannon had been a distraction. As such, it was a scattered group that straggled in. Jack ordered the Marines into parade formation as they arrived.

At last, the Marines of 6th squad came staggering in, aiding and carrying the wounded from the crash.

“Form up,” Jack called as the last group wandered in to the huge space.

The squad leaders of the twelve squads took their positions on the right hand of the front rank.

“Listen up, Cobra,” Jack said. He paced along the front of the parade formation. “The situation is this. The Chitins have been beaten back. The planetary defense cannon has done its job. For now.”

The cheer went up from the company. Jack let them have their celebration, for a moment. The noise subsided and was over the moment Jack started speaking.

“We’ve lost most of our supplies in the crash and I’ve requested a supply drop from the Scorpio. We’ll be supplied as soon as is practically possible.”

Jack walked along the front rank. He listened to the Marines. Without their supplies, they were vulnerable. Jack needed to know if this was going to affect company morale. The parade remained silent. Jack was satisfied that all his Marines were focused.

“We are here to protect this facility. I want an equipment check completed immediately. Make sure your weapon is functional. I want sidearms and auxiliary weapons checked too. If anyone has extra ammo, report it to your squad leaders. Any demolition charges, grenades, smoke grenades, I want them logged. I might want to redistribute them around the company. I don’t want one squad sitting on all our heaviest kit.”

Jack turned and walked back along the parade.

“I want a perimeter check. First Squad, that’s you. Run the perimeter. I want a defensive cover overwatch post set in the upper level of the facility. Second Squad, that’s you. I hope you have a head for heights. I want a forward observation post at one hundred meters out from the four walls of this facility. Third Squad, split into four teams and head out when you are done here.”

Jack walked back along the parade. They had a lot of work to do.

“Fourth Squad. Taku, move your squad into the facility and set up defense of the small side entrances. I can’t think of anyone better for holding the narrow corridors back there.”

When Jack had first met Taku Folau, he had been newly appointed to squad leader of 4th squad. He had killed a Chitin singlehanded in the corridors of the Scorpio and was a fearless Marine. At that time, Folau was a veteran of only a few skirmishes. After months of combat action, Folau had proven himself a great squad leader.

“Everybody else,” Jack went on, “set up a defensive formation along the opening to this entrance hangar. It’s the easiest way into the facility. I want it protected.”

Jack walked back from the parade and stood in front of the company. They were a good company of Marines. Jack had fought with them as a Marine, as a squad leader, and as a commander. He knew they would give their all.

“I’m setting up an operation center in the offices just inside the facility, at the back of the hangar. Squad leaders report to me when you have completed your tasks.” Jack looked across the parade. The company was settled. The crash had been disturbing and already some Marines had lost squad-mates, friends. None of them let it distract them from their purpose, though. They were here to follow orders, Jack’s orders.

“Questions?” Jack asked. The parade remained silent. Jack had given them their orders and they were ready to carry them out.

“Good,” Jack said. “Squad Leaders, get to work.” Jack turned to the small rotating doorway at the far end of the huge main entrance to the sounds of shouts from Cobra Company’s squad leaders as they put their squads into action.

Stepping into the rotating airlock, Jack moved into a quiet corridor that gave access to a series of offices and rest facilities. The offices were equipped with holodesks and communication nodes for visiting maintenance and repair teams. They would now serve Jack as a base of operations. He picked the nearest office and stepped inside. He removed his helmet and dropped it onto a low chair, then stepped up to the holodesk and activated it.

The home screen for the holodesk was a rotating image of the planetary defense cannon, a single-story surface building, and the multi-story subsurface structures of the powerful weapon.

Jack began inputting the company’s location tags into the system. Soon the holoimage of the cannon’s complex was covered in a series of small green dots, indicating the location of each of Jack’s Marines.

Much of the cannon’s operational parts were buried beneath the facility. Aboveground were the muzzle and the support facility that Cobra Company was currently occupying.

The facility was massive given that it housed a single cannon. Each of the light-colored composite walls was a hundred meters long. There was one main entrance leading to the entrance hangar, designed for storage of maintenance equipment and ground vehicles. Most of Cobra Company was there now, preparing the defense.

Corridors crossed the facility that eventually led to the small personal access points on each of the other three walls. Jack studied the geometry of the facility. It was simple. A simplicity that belied the weapon’s sophisticated mechanism.

Access to the roof level was gained through a network of stairs and ladders situated along the back wall of the entrance hangar.

Access to the main working of the cannon was via a large elevator platform at one end of the main entrance for equipment, and via a stairway from the office complex for personal access. Jack was not required to move into the workings of the cannon. He was only here to defend it, but as long as the weapon was functioning, there was little danger of him having to fight off any Chits. Having seen the weapon in action, and having learned of its destructive effect, Jack began to feel he was in the safest place in the entire Eros System.

“Commander Forge. This is Squad Leader, Second Squad.”

The communicator on Jack’s helmet sounded in stereo with the communicator on the holodesk.

“Yes, Ben. Report.”

Jack had known many of the squad leaders from Cobra for a long time. He had a compassion for them that could be dangerous for a commander. Jack tried not to let his personal feelings for these men and women overcome his professionalism, but it was almost harder for Jack not to be too distant, and too severe with them. Striking the right balance was crucial.

“Second squad deployed on overwatch duty, sir.” Ben Horan sounded relaxed. He was experienced, and this was no big deal. “I’ve got a team of three Marines at each corner.”

“Good work, Ben,” Jack said. “Let me know if you need anything.”

“Sir?” Horan asked respectfully.

“What is it, Ben?” Jack replied.

“We could use some ration blocks,” Horan said.

Jack made a note on the holodesk—2nd squad’s request for ration blocks. Jack knew it was a vital request. Horan wouldn’t have asked if he wasn’t in desperate need.

“Copy that, Ben. I’ll get on it.”

“Commander Forge. This is Squad Leader, First Squad.”

Jack stopped what he was doing and listened to the incoming communication. It was the new squad leader of 1st squad.

Jack picked up his helmet from the low chair and sat down. He hadn’t had time to get to know Will Stone. This was Stone’s first action as squad leader. Jack would need to get to know him fast.

“Go ahead, Will,” Jack said.

“I’ve completed my perimeter sweep. There are doors in the middle of each of the walls. All are sealed from the inside, sir. I couldn’t open any of them, but I don’t think they’ll hold off any determined effort to get through them. They won’t hold the Chits out, sir.”

“Alright,” Jack replied. “Anything else?”

“Clear views to the horizon on all sides of the facility. Ground is flat and firm. We covered the distance in good time.”

“Good report, Will,” Jack said. “How are you set for rations? What about ammunition?”

“Sir, I’ve got extra ration blocks. We have no grenades or demolition. We are a bit low on pulse rifle ammunition. We’ll have to rely on the electron bayonet, sir.”

“That we will,” Jack said. “Bring your squad in, Will.”

Jack went back to the holodesk and made a note that 1st was short of ammunition.

He looked at the image of the cannon facility on the north pole of Brecon. He ran his hand over the image and expanded the view. The Scorpio was holding position in geostationary orbit at the Brecon’s equator. The ship was a welcome sight. Jack was sure that Major Griff was putting together a supply drop even as he looked at the holoimage of the Scorpio.

He swiped his hand across the image again. It zoomed out to show the moon drifting around the planet. The Carrier Group Overlord and all its support craft were in orbit around Eros. The carrier Scepter had already deployed to Eras.

Jack wondered why the Fleet would divide its carrier force. Together, they were a match for a Leviathan. Apart, they would be lucky to survive a concerted Hydra attack, but he knew the comfort the people of the planets Eros and Eras would take from knowing the carriers were in orbit. Jack knew he took comfort from the presence of the Scorpio even though the old destroyer wouldn’t last a minute against a Leviathan.

He zoomed out to the fullest view on the small holodesk. The entirety of humankind was represented in its view. All human activity had ceased in the wider system. Now all of humanity was pressed back to the two terrestrial planets of Eros and Eras.

And just on the edge of the holoimage, Jack saw the flickering signals blinking in and out as the Chitin craft hovered on the edge of sensor range. Jack realized that humanity had not only fled to their last safe refuge, they had run into a hole that they would almost never be able to fight their way out of.

Jack knew the Chitins didn’t need to attack again. Humanity was trapped with its back against the wall. It was isolated from the rest of the system. It was reliant solely on the means that could be provided by the two planets. He realized that humanity was under siege and if they were prevented from accessing the mineral wealth of the asteroid belt and the fuel supplies of the gas giants, they would continue to shrink away until finally, when the last destroyer engines burned out and the planetary defense cannons had drained every last bit of energy from their quantum reactors, the Chitins would move in and finish off humankind for good.

It might take years, or even decades, but Jack knew that the Chitins were on the verge of victory. All the Chitins had to do was to sit and wait. But there was one thing the Chitins did not do too well, and that was wait. They were impatient and ruthless. They would not wait a decade. They would not wait one year, or likely even a week. Jack felt in his heart that the Chitins were coming sooner than that.

He tapped a communicator panel on the holodesk.

“Scorpio, this is Forge. How are we coming on that supply drop?”

5

Captain Pretorius looked at the holostage from his chair on the command deck. Eros sat at the center of the image, shrunk down to the size of a fist. The outer moon Brecon was just large enough to be seen on the scale. The Scorpio was represented by a small point of light with a holographic label moving slowly with it.

The holoimage showed the extent of sensor range around Eros, extending out for millions of kilometers. The space was empty, dark, and cold. Nothing moved in sensor range, only the remaining ships of the fleet.

A lone frigate moved away from its position in the fleet massed around Eros. Pretorius received the communication from Fleet Command and Control Headquarters that a single ship was to be sent to probe the empty space for signs of Chitin activity.

Pretorius guessed that some were hopeful that the Chitins were gone. He knew that the Chitins were just hiding out of range of the planetary defenses that had repulsed their Leviathans only hours ago. They had lost more Leviathans in one attack on humanity’s home planets than they had in years of combat in open space.

The Chitins were aggressive, but they probably had the good sense not to send more of their mightiest warships to their destruction needlessly. Pretorius wondered for a moment how many Leviathans the Chitins had in their armada. If there were enough, they could overwhelm the planetary defenses. The fact the Chits were lurking out of sight suggested to Pretorius that they did not have an endless supply of the deadly Leviathans.

The point of light that represented the single probing frigate moved out from the center of the holoimage. Pretorius watched as it approached Brecon. The frigate was fast and moved past the Scorpio and out into the interplanetary space. Within moments, the frigate was feeding its sensor data back to the fleet. The new data appeared on the holostage in front of Pretorius. As the sensor range was extended by the probing frigate, the scale on the holostage was redrawn, Eros shrinking even smaller, like a fist clenched even tighter.

Pretorius watched the edge of the holostage for new sensor readings. And then like a sparkling curtain, the positions of a thousand Chitin craft appeared. An arc surrounding one side of the planet. Chitin craft holding position. Waiting.

The fact that the ships were out there was not a surprise to Pretorius, he just hadn’t expected so many. The data began to feed back on the types of ships. There were seventeen Leviathans in the swarm. There were more than enough Leviathans to defeat the fleet in open space but not enough to overwhelm the planetary defenses.

Along with the Leviathans, there were hundreds of Hydras, which could latch on to a destroyer and infiltrate the ship, or they could land Chitin soldiers to the surface of a planet, moon, or asteroid. The concentration of Hydras alone was a concern to the fleet.

But the most numerous by far were the fighter and infiltrator craft, the Krakens. They were small but deadly in numbers. They were only large enough to hold one Chitin soldier, but as none had ever been captured, it was not known for sure how many Chitins piloted the Krakens, or if there were any Chitin soldiers aboard at all. The best guess of many in Fleet Intelligence was that they were autonomous, or that they were in fact a different breed of Chitin, one designed to operate in the vacuum of space. A soldier, pilot, and spacecraft all rolled in to one deadly, aggressive package.

The frigate altered course and swept an arc, showing more of the Chitin craft. Several Krakens broke from the Chitin formation and headed directly for the lone frigate.

Pretorius watched. He leaned forward in his chair. He noticed the bridge crew all turned in their seats watching the holoimage, all willing the frigate back to the safety of the planetary defenses.

The frigate was fast, but the Krakens were faster. They closed the distance. A new group of signals appeared on the holostage—a squadron of Blades, the Fleet’s deadly fighter ships. The Blades rushed from their orbit around Eros and moved to intercept the Krakens. The squadron was made up of the fighters that had escaped the destruction of the Monarch. They were without a carrier to call home and were eager for revenge. The squadron had taken the name of The Orphans, and they were filled with deadly rage.

The two groups of ships rushed toward each other until, with the Krakens almost in firing range of the frigate, they broke off and headed back to the safety of their Chitin armada.

But the Orphans kept up their pursuit. And they closed in, racing past the retreating frigate to the fleeing Krakens.

“Break off,” Pretorius whispered to himself. There could be nothing gained from a pointless little skirmish between two massed forces teetering on the brink of a deadly maelstrom of fire and fury.

The Monarch’s Orphans broke off their pursuit and turned back toward Eros. The image on the holostage returned to its previous scale and space looked calm and empty, but now humanity knew that the Chitins were just out of range, hiding just out of sight, thousands of ships, poised to attack and destroy humanity once and for all.

The reports came in to Pretorius from the Fleet Command and Control Headquarters. A similar probe around the sister planet, Eras, had just revealed the same thing: a swarm of Chitin craft sitting just beyond sensor range.

6

Jack stepped away from his holodesk. He had watched the probing frigate reveal the presence of nearly countless Chitin ships and he felt a deep-seated worry. He had been in danger many times but always in the thick of the action. Watching the Chitins massed in the distance, simply sitting and waiting, was torturous. He shook off the feelings of dread and went to inspect the company’s deployment.

Jack pulled on his helmet and left the office complex.

The massive doors to the main entrance had been partially closed. Access to the moon beyond was now only through a narrow slit near the ground. High enough to let a Marine walk through without ducking, low enough to prevent any vehicles from entering the hangar. The door had been rolled down and locked in the defensive position.

Several squads were positioned in that opening, ready to defend the facility. Jack crossed the smooth floor of the entrance hangar and stepped out onto the moon’s surface. He looked up into the dark and empty space. Somewhere overhead, beyond visual and sensor range, was the heaviest concentration of Chitin warships ever seen by human eyes. A battle was coming, a battle he knew must be won.

Jack looked across the surface of Brecon. Half a million kilometers away was the blue planet of Eros. It was rising over Brecon’s surface. A beautiful blue and white vision. Jack raised his field scanner and took a closer look. He could make out the prairies of his childhood, half a million kilometers away. They seemed a lifetime away. He had been pressed into the service of the Fleet Marines, and now it seemed as if it was the only life he’d ever had. The past was so distant now, it seemed like a different life, a different world. All he knew now was war and violence. He wished he could go back and retake his place in university, to sit around on the campus lawns and discuss engineering principles under the warmth of the sun, unaware of the malicious enemy that lurked in the dark of space, innocent of war and battle.

But fate had brought him here, to this desolate, dry, and dusty moon, half a million kilometers above his childhood home. Jack feared it was the closest he would ever get to home again.

The voice of Major Griff came over his communicator. It pulled Jack out of his reverie.

“Not disturbing you, am I, Jack?” Griff said.

“No, Harry. Not at all.” Jack took a few steps further out onto the dusty surface of Brecon under the towering defense cannon.

“How are you doing down there?” Griff asked.

Jack looked up. “Just sitting around. Waiting to see what the Chits will do next.”

“Maybe they’ll go away,” Griff laughed.

Jack laughed along with his commanding officer, but Jack had a feeling that Griff was laughing a bit too hard. Griff had been a great help to Jack when he had first become company commander. Jack owed Griff his gratitude and respect. But Griff was not settling into the position of battalion major so easily.

Griff seemed on edge and hesitant. He was not the same man who had fought so valiantly against the Chits in the asteroid belt and on numerous other occasions as company commander.

“How are things on the Scorpio?” Jack asked.

“Yeah, yeah,” Griff said, still chuckling at his previous joke. “Adder Company is deployed throughout the ship to hold off any Chitin incursions. Hope it doesn’t come to it, but your internal defense plans are still the best. You know it is standard across all destroyers now?”

Jack felt surprised. “I didn’t know that.”

“Yeah. The captain sent your internal defense outlines to all destroyer captains and Fleet Marine majors. A dozen battalion majors are cursing you, Jack, for making extra work for them. They’ll thank you if they ever have to fight off a Chitin incursion.”

“Really,” Jack said, still genuinely surprised. He had designed the internal defense and it had seemed elementary, obvious even, that it was the best way to hold off a Chitin incursion.

“Only,” Griff went on, “it’s not a dozen anymore, is it? How many destroyers are left in the fleet?”

“Nine,” Jack said. His matter-of-fact tone belied the worry that the Fleet had so few craft in the face of such overwhelming odds.

“Yeah,” Griff agreed. “Who have we got…” he mused. “Scorpio, of course. And the Aries, and Pisces. The entire Monarch Carrier Group is still in the fight. Not the Monarch though,” Griff laughed. “That got smashed, didn’t it?”

“Umm, yes.” Jack turned and looked at his Marines all waiting for action. “Harry, are you okay?”

“Yeah. Yeah,” Griff replied. “And the Aquarius, and the Libra.”

Feeling a mounting concern for his commanding officer, Jack walked back to the entrance hangar. He had first heard of Major Griff when he had saved his battalion after the destruction of his destroyer, the Libra. The Libra Battalion had held out in the asteroid belt, hopping from one asteroid to another, evading and engaging the Chits. It had been a master stoke of military command and had earned Griff his reputation as a leader and skilled tactician.

“The Libra, Harry?” Jack asked carefully.

“Call me sir, Jack,” Griff snapped. “I am major now, and your commanding officer. I’ll have a bit more formality from my officers. Do you read me, Commander?”

“Yes, sir. My apologies.”

“No, not the Libra,” Griff said, returning immediately to a jovial tone. “What am I thinking? She went down. She was destroyed. She’s gone now. The Chitins blew her up. I watched it happen. I was off ship, on deployment in the asteroid belt. Boom. She went down fast. They can really pack a punch, those kravin no good Chitin bastards.”

“Harry?” Jack asked calmly. “Sir. Is everything okay?”

“Yeah,” Griff replied brusquely. “Just letting you know I am organizing that supply drop for you myself. It’ll be with you soon. Griff out.”

“Thank you, sir,” Jack said, but he had a feeling that Griff wasn’t listening.

Jack had known Harry Griff long enough to know he was a relaxed and jovial character. He carried the burden of responsibility lightly. He had helped Jack carry his burden as company commander and Jack owed him for that. But Griff was acting strangely. This was not the Harry Griff he had come to know and respect.

There was only one person he could mention his concerns to. He walked back out onto the planetary surface and activated his communicator.

“Scorpio, this is Forge. Is the captain available?”

“What is it, Jack?” the captain replied immediately. He was busy but available.

“Have you spoken to Major Griff?” Jack began tactfully.

“What is it, Commander?” Pretorius was not available for a meandering chat.

“I think he’s experiencing stress, sir. I’m worried about him.”

“We are all under pressure, Jack.”

“Yes, sir. Of course, sir.”

“Thank you for bringing your concerns to me. Pretorius out.”

Jack stood in the dust. His sprained ankle was feeling better now that his suit’s medical package was administering treatment, but it was still tender from the crash. He wondered if he was suffering from battlefield stress himself. He looked across the gulf of space to the blue and white planet below. He could only imagine the terror and fear amongst the population there, knowing the wolf was at their door.

Griff’s voice came over Jack’s communicator. He sounded breathless but much more like his old self.

“Jack. The Chitins are moving into sensor range. It looks like they’re attacking again.”

“Thanks for letting me know, Harry,” Jack said.

Running back into the planetary defense cannon facility, Jack ignored the pain in his ankle and administered a painkiller from his med package. He ran across the entrance hangar and toward the rotating airlock doorway to the inner complex. Once through the door, Jack pulled off his helmet. He entered his makeshift operation center and stood before the small holodesk. The Chitins were moving. A hundred Hydras were in sensor range and moving toward Eros. In their way stood the Scorpio, the planetary defenses on Brecon, and Jack Forge, Commander of Cobra Company.

7

The Hydras raced toward Brecon. Jack watched the movements of the Scorpio. Pretorius was presenting the port-side battery toward the oncoming Hydras. The destroyer Aries was moving from its orbit around Eros, seemingly on a heading for Brecon.

Then the planetary defense cannon began to power up. Jack felt the hairs stand up all over his body. The energy being primed for the weapon was massive.

The cannon was virtually silent. There was a slight whirring sound, but the main evidence that anything was happening was the tension felt in the thin Brecon air, the hairs standing to attention.

The first blast from the huge cannon was released and a Chitin Hydra disintegrated. The hairs on Jack’s body fell and lay flat, as if pressed by some force. Then Jack felt his hairs begin to stand on end again.

He watched the holodesk intently as it displayed the destruction of one Hydra after another. Then the Hydra flotilla came into the range of the Scorpio’s guns.

The hail of kinetic shot ripped into the Hydras. Jack zoomed in on his holodesk view and watched the Hydras being ripped apart by the Scorpio’s guns and disintegrated by the massive, silent blasts from the planetary defense cannon. Each time Jack’s hairs fell flat against the back of his neck, another Hydra was destroyed.

The Hydras closed the distance to Brecon, taking a loss every second. Then the Aries came into position and added its fire to the barrage.

Jack could see that the Hydras were taking a brutal punishment, but he knew that many would make it through. They might attack the destroyers as they had done so many times before, attach themselves to the hulls and cut their way in. The Chits had taken destroyers down from the inside before.

But there was another possibility. The Chitin Hydras were heading to Brecon. Each Hydra carried eight Chitin soldiers. The soldiers were determined and ruthless. They would not surrender. They would attack until either their target was destroyed, or they were. Jack pulled on his helmet and left the office complex. He was needed at the front line. He needed to be with his company of Marines.

He called into his communicator. “Pull in the forward observation post. Redeploy squads eleven and twelve to overwatch on the roof level. Watch out for incoming Hydras. Stand by, Cobra. Stand by for action.”

Jack stepped into the entrance hangar. The Marines from the forward observation posts were running in through the narrow gap at the bottom of the entrance.

The squad leader from 8th squad ran over to Jack.

“The last of the observation posts are back inside, sir. Shall I close the entrance?”

“No,” Jack said. He walked toward the entrance. “Form a line,” he shouted. “Take up position just inside the entrance. Watch out for the Chits.”

The Marines advanced and spread out along the opening. Some lay down, others on one knee. All had their pulse rifles aimed at the opening and out toward the dusty surface of Brecon.

The dust rose with every blast from the massive cannon, rhythmically rising and falling along with Jack’s hairs each time the massive energy weapon fired. Every time Jack saw the dust fall back to the surface of the moon, he knew another Hydra was destroyed and there were eight fewer Chitin soldiers to deal with.

“Squad Leaders,” Jack shouted. “Hold position. Hold the line.” Jack backed away from the line of Marines. He turned and ran to the stairway that would take him from the cavernous entrance hangar to the roof level of the facility.

The view from the top was spectacular and frightening. Drive trails from the Hydras were meeting laser blasts from the two destroyers engaging them. The black of space was dotted with small, glowing balls of fire where a Chitin Hydra was destroyed. The space was crossed with plasma arcs slashing out from the attacking Hydras and the pulses of laser fire from the Scorpio and the Aries.

And through it all was the rhythmic pulse of the planetary defense cannon. Jack looked up and saw the tortured rainbow gather at the muzzle before the weapon discharged. Somewhere above, a Chitin Hydra was destroyed, smashed into fragments no bigger than sand.

“Forge, this is Scorpio,” Jack heard the message from a cool Major Griff. “The Chitins have broken through our barrage. Hydras are heading to your location now.”

Jack received the coordinates of the incoming Hydras. They were on a trajectory that would land them a few meters from the walls of the facility.

“Copy that, Major. We’re ready to defend the facility.”

Jack saw the first Hydra land heavily directly in front of him, just in front of the main entrance. The fire from the Marines in the entrance leapt up, pulse rounds streaking across the pale, dusty surface of Brecon. The rounds slammed into the hull of the Hydra. A second Hydra landed just as heavily, throwing up another cloud of dust.

“Hold your fire,” Jack spoke into his communicator, transmitting to the entire company. “There’s nothing to shoot at yet. Wait until you can see them.”

The pulse rifle fire stopped immediately. The Marines on the roof level around Jack watched the Hydra.

“Forge, this is Scorpio. The Chitins are pulling back.” Major Griff sounded elated. “We destroyed sixty of their Hydras.”

Jack felt the cannon fire again and knew yet another had been destroyed.

“Copy that, Major. Two Hydras landed on our doorstep. Request the Scorpio put a laser blast through their hulls.”

Jack waited and watched.

“Negative on the fire mission, Jack.” It was Captain Pretorius, speaking matter-of-factly. “The targeting systems are getting a bit scrambled so close to the cannon.”

“You hear that, Jack,” Major Griff said. “Destroy those Hydras by any means at your disposal. Copy?”

“Copy that,” Jack said.

Jack looked to the two Hydras. They seemed so innocuous, half-buried in the dust. There was no movement. Jack pulled up his field scanner and looked more closely. No movement and no signs of power.

“First squad. Third squad,” Jack spoke calmly, watching the Hydras. “Advance on those Chitin ships and destroy them. Copy?”

Squad Leaders Stone and Allen responded. A moment later, Jack saw the two squads leave the facility and advance swiftly toward the crashed Hydras.

Allen moved to the left while Stone led 1st directly toward the crashed ships. Jack was impressed with the teamwork between Stone and Allen to create a crossfire should any Chitins emerge from the Hydras. The two squad leaders had not known each other long, but they were working well together. Allen was experienced, and Jack was glad to have such an experienced squad leader in his company. Stone was green but skilled. He watched their advance through his field scanner.

“Do you think they’ve given up?” Horan, the squad leader of 2nd, was standing next to Jack. Ben Horan had been a squad leader in Cobra Company before Jack had even joined the Fleet Marines. Horan had seen Jack rise through the ranks.

“I don’t think so, Ben,” Jack said.

“But they’ve been beaten back twice now. They lost all those Leviathans, and now they tried attacking us with the Hydras. They’ve learned their lesson now, don’t you think?”

Jack dropped his field scanner. “No, Ben, I don’t think they’ve given up. I think they have got us right where they want us and now they are just testing us.”

“Well, why don’t they just get on with it?” Horan shouted.

Jack turned and fixed Horan with a stare. “Pull yourself together, Ben. I’m going to need you. Copy?”

“Copy that, sir,” Horan said sheepishly.

At that moment, a plasma spear lashed out from within one of the Hydras. Jack saw the flash of the plasma spear and then a Marine from 1st squad fell.

The pulse rifle fire response was immediate and sustained. Stone reported contact to Jack, but he was watching closely from the roof level of the facility.

“Contact. Contact,” Stone called in, excitedly. This was his first contact with the Chitins as a squad leader. He was dealing with the extra responsibility well, but did sound a little overenthusiastic. “Chits in the Hydras. Returning fire.”

Jack couldn’t see the Chitin position, they were taking cover behind the two Hydras. Then a second plasma spear lashed out. The Chitin fire was from within the ships.

“Stone. Allen,” Jack spoke easily. “Move in and destroy those ships.”

Jack watched the two squads close in. They fired as they advanced, keeping the Chitins inside their Hydras. A Marine from Allen’s squad rushed forward and planted a charge on the side of one of the Hydras. He ran to the second. The first Hydra lit up as a demolition charge smashed the hull. The craft was no longer space-worthy, but Jack was not convinced the Chitins inside had been killed.

The second Hydra exploded moments later, and the two squads of Marines began to close in, Stone on a loop to the left while Allen headed directly to the smoldering Hydras.

The Chitins emerged from the burning wrecks, a dozen of the massive soldiers rushing directly at Allen’s squad.

The rushing Chitins slammed straight into Allen’s squad, the ridged tentacles stabbing forward at anyone in their path. The pulse rifle fire was sporadic. Jack spotted the electron bayonets flare up in the darkness. They slashed back and forth, leaving traces of their deadly light in the darkness.

The Chitins didn’t stop to engage the Marines of 3rd squad but came thundering onwards, directly toward the hangar entrance. Jack counted nine Chitins now rushing at the entrance. They were a dangerous and deadly enemy, but a company of Marines would be more than a match for a handful of Chitins.

At close range, the pulse rifles lit up and slammed a thousand rounds into the advancing Chitins. The barrage ripped the Chitins apart, leaving them broken and twitching within seconds. The Chitins that advanced the furthest lay only a few meters from the entrance. Jack watched as a Marine walked out and stabbed a bayonet into the Chitin’s massive smooth head.

“They can’t win,” Horan said as he watched the Marines of 1st and 3rd squads walk among the fallen Chitins and finish them off. “It’ll take more than a couple of crashed Hydras. They can’t expect to win like that.” Horan folded his arms across his chest.

“They didn’t crash,” Jack said. “And those dozen Chits weren’t sent to beat us. That entire Hydra attack was planned.”

“What plan?” Horan asked. “To get slaughtered?”

“No, Ben, “Jack said. He patted the squad leader on the shoulder and turned to walk back inside. “They were counting our guns. Keep your people sharp.”

8

Jack watched the Marines of Cobra Company carefully. They had just dealt with their first contact with the enemy on this deployment. He gauged the mood. It was buoyant despite the lack of supplies. The Fleet Marine pulse rifle was an awesome weapon and had kept the Marines of Cobra in good stead. It would protect them when the Chitins came again, and it would carry them forward if they needed to go on the offensive.

The large entrance hangar gave Jack the opportunity to covertly observe the Marines. He could gauge a lot about the mood of the company by watching and listening. He wandered around, listening to the Marines positioned at the opening of the entrance hangar.

Some equipment cases and disused materials had been gathered together to create makeshift cover. With the loss of all entrenchment tools in the crash landing, the Marines had to find cover where they could. For many on the ground floor, the best cover was to lie prone, their pulse rifles trained on the open ground beyond the entrance.

Jack listened to the banter of the men on their squad communication channels. He had his communicator set to intercept any private communications that referenced key words involving fear or disparaging language. Jack knew morale would be a key ingredient for success. Once the Marines of Cobra thought they were defeated, they could turn that into a self-fulfilling prophecy.

They needed supplies to construct a decent entrenchment. Jack found some equipment in a neat pile at one side of the hangar—maintenance supplies, including a number of long composite bars with spiked ends. He could only guess at their intended use, something technical in the deep workings of the planetary defense cannon, but now they were simple digging tools. Jack summoned a squad leader who was standing nearby.

Erin Bevan was squad leader of 7th squad. Jack checked her service record quickly as she walked forward. Bevan had been one of the recent replacements deployed to Scorpio Battalion. Her squad was made up of the latest training squad from the new fleet training center on Eras, but Bevan was one of a handful of Marines to survive the destruction of the Taurus at the Battle of Grid Eight-Eight-Thirteen. She had floated adrift for two days before making contact with other survivors. She had formed the group into a deep space life raft by fastening their meat suits together. They had been subsequently rescued by a patrol corvette and brought back to the fleet. Bevan had been promoted to squad leader and given a fresh squad of Marines.

“Erin,” Jack called out.

Bevan saluted smartly.

“At ease, Squad Leader,” Jack said. He pointed at the composite spikes in the pile at the side of the large main entrance space. “I don’t know what these are meant for, but they look like digging tools to me.”

“Yes, sir,” Bevan said. She stepped over to them and took one of the meter-long spikes.

“Have your squad dig a trench in front of the hangar entrance.” Jack pointed to the pale and dusty regolith of Brecon.

“Yes, sir. At once, sir.” Bevan jogged over to her squad, who were lying on the smooth floor of the entrance hangar. She began instructing them to start digging.

In a few moments, Bevan and her squad were attacking the surface of Brecon. The spikes were not well suited to the task, but the Marines were making it work, and soon they had created a shallow trench. It wasn’t great cover, but it was better than nothing.

Jack walked to the stairway at the rear of the hangar. He climbed up a few steps. It gave him an overview of his Marines in the hangar, the elevated position giving him a good view of the approach to the entrance, and he looked out over the surface of Brecon. The trench was developing but was still only a few meters long. It was enough to deploy a squad and would provide better cover than simply lying prone. Bevan instructed her squad to continue digging, then she showed her courage by approaching Sam Torent, the squad leader of 6th squad.

Sam Torent, one of the most experienced squad leaders in Cobra Company. His 6th squad was a legendary squad in Scorpio Battalion, if not the entire Fleet Marine service. Bevan instructed Torent to deploy his squad to the newly dug trench.

A private communication channel opened on Jack’s communicator. It was Torent.

“She’s a feisty one, Jack.” Torent was looking back across the massive entrance to Jack standing on the stairway.

“She’s dug you a nice trench there, Sam.” Jack said. “Good of her to let you use it. Get your people into cover, Sam.”

Torent gave Jack a casual salute. He looked tiny at such a distance, but Jack could read the cocky swagger in his movements.

“Yes, sir,” Torent responded, then moved 6th squad into the trench.

It was a good defensive position, Jack thought. He only wished he had more entrenchment tools. The opening at the entrance hangar was the length of the entire wall, a hundred meters across. It was going to be difficult to defend without good cover. And he had three other sides to defend too, but thankfully, those sides only had single-door entrances that led to tight entrance corridors. A small crew of Marines could hold those entrances. Jack had deployed Taku Folau there and was confident the corridors would be held. If only Jack had the mounted pulse lasers, he could hold those small entrances indefinitely, but the heavy weaponry for a fixed-position deployment had also been lost in the crash.

Thinking of the lost equipment did nothing to bring it back, and Jack had to deal with the situation the best he could with what was available. Jack touched his hand to the small pouch on his thigh where his ration block was stored. He felt a slight twinge of hunger. He knew his Marines would be getting that feeling too.

Fatigue would start to become an issue soon too. He needed to start rotating his squads. He would begin moving them into the rest area of the inner complex inside the facility, where the Marines could remove their helmets and get a chance to eat, and a chance to breathe. Morale would be boosted by a chance to take a moment away from the front line, a front line that was, for now at least, quiet.

Jack started with 1st squad, currently on overwatch duty on the roof level of the facility. He instructed their squad leader to take his people to the inner complex access at the rear of the main entrance hangar.

“If any of your people are missing their ration blocks, share out what you have, clear?”

Will Stone, squad leader of 1st squad, responded enthusiastically.

“Sir, yes, sir. My squad could do with a bite, sir. I’ve got extra ration blocks. If anyone needs one, ask me.”

Jack knew rations would be in short supply. If this deployment was going to stretch on, then rations would be as important as ammunition. Jack couldn’t wait any longer. He opened a channel to Major Griff on the Scorpio.

“What it is, Jack?” Griff sounded busy.

“Any news on the supply drop? We are making do down here, but we really need those supplies.”

Griff was silent. Jack worried the major was ignoring his request. Eventually, Griff responded.

“I’m putting a supply package together now. Everything you need for a long deployment. It’ll be departing the Scorpio momentarily. Griff out.”

Jack heaved a sigh of relief. The supplies were on their way. The door at the top of the stairway leading to the roof level opened and the Marines of 1st squad started down the metal stairway. Jack pressed himself out of their way as they came past. The Marines saluted him and thanked him for relieving them for a few moments’ downtime.

Squad Leader Stone came last and stopped alongside Jack. He leaned on the handrail and looked across the massive, empty space to the opening at the far end.

“I don’t expect we’ll see much action, sir,” Stone said. “They can’t attack this cannon. It’s too powerful.”

Jack didn’t agree, but he wasn’t going to spoil young Stone’s break.

“Go and get your helmet off and have a bite to eat. I don’t know when I’ll next be able to relieve you. Copy?”

“Copy that, sir,” Stone said. He stepped away from the handrail and went after his squad.

Jack watched 1st squad file through the rotating airlock into the sealed inner complex where they could escape the confines of their helmet, wipe the sweat from their necks and brows, ruffle their hair, and take a well-earned rest.

He didn’t agree with Stone’s assessment, though. The planetary defense cannons were powerful and for that very reason, the Chitins were sure to attack them again. They had attacked humans on sight at every opportunity. The cannons were the only obstacle currently in their way of total victory. Jack knew he would face the Chitin soldiers before long. He hoped it would be a long time, but he knew it was inevitable.

The communication channel opened on Jack’s communicator. It was Major Griff.

“Got that supply drop ready for you, Jack. Sending down a tac boat. Have your people ready to unload it. Landing at the entrance hangar in fifteen. Griff out.”

Wishing that he’d had a chance to thank the major, Jack made his way down the stairway to the ground level. The hangar was big enough for the tac boat to fly into, but Jack needed the main entrance door raised for the ship to enter. He connected to the facility’s management protocols and initiated the entrance opening procedure. He then accessed Cobra Company’s communication channel and alerted the Marines.

“Incoming supply drop. Stand by to unload supplies. Forge out.”

9

The hangar door rolled upwards at a slow but steady pace. Dust fell from the door as it rose. The Marines of 7th squad digging the ever-lengthening trench stopped working and looked up as the massive door moved silently upwards.

Jack walked slowly toward the massive entrance. The entire side of the facility was open to space, the surface of Brecon stretched out to the horizon. The planet Eros was clearly visible in the black sky.

The tac boat appeared in the far distance. Jack pulled out his field scanner and looked more closely. The tac boat was approaching the moon at a steep angle and with speed. Jack opened a channel to the tac boat.

“Approaching tac boat, this is Commander Forge, Cobra. I’ve got a visual on your approach. Check your angle and speed.”

The pilot replied with an annoyed and hostile tone. “Commander, I do not intend to spend any more time out here than necessary. I’ll be in the facility hangar in four minutes.”

Jack detected the stress in the pilot’s voice. He was piloting a tac boat through space that had only a few hours ago been swarming with Chitin Hydras. He had every right to be nervous and anxious. He didn’t have any right to be irritated with Jack, but he had enough battles ahead of him that he wasn’t going to pick a fight with a frustrated and nervous tac boat pilot.

Jack walked to the open entrance and watched the tac boat’s approach. The pilot had reached Brecon and was leveling out, flying directly toward the entrance hangar. The ship was still approaching at speed. Jack watched and hoped the pilot would slow down soon. It was becoming uncomfortable viewing.

Then Jack saw the flash from the surface of the moon. It was bright and short-lived. Jack knew instinctively what it was.

Before Jack could react, he spotted a second flash. Chitin plasma spears were targeting the tac boat. They slammed into the hull, sending a shower of light and color across the dark horizon of the moon.

“Contact. Contact.” Jack was running to the newly-dug trench up ahead. “Chitin plasma spears. Take cover.”

Diving into the trench and keeping a close eye on the approaching tac boat, Jack saw another plasma spear hit the underside of the ship.

The tac boat began a series of increasingly erratic evasive maneuvers, twisting and turning.

“Tac boat,” Jack said. “Come in, pilot. Put her down easy and we’ll come and assist.”

The pilot’s channel was open and Jack could hear the panicked panting and grunting from the pilot as he swung the tac boat around, trying to avoid the ground fire.

The squad on the roof level opened fire. The squad leaders reported they were engaging the Chits.

“Chitin plasma spears. Five hundred meters. Returning fire.”

“Watch your fire,” Jack said. “Don’t hit the tac boat.”

Jack realized the Chitins that were firing must have been survivors of the Hydras that had landed on the moon only a few hours ago. They must have fallen back and hidden themselves, waiting for a chance to attack. They had found their chance with the incoming tac boat, a target of opportunity for the devious enemy.

The tac boat climbed away from the surface in a wild evasive maneuver. Two more plasma spears slammed into the rear engine assembly. The tac boat swung toward its starboard side as yet another plasma spear struck its target.

The explosion from the rear of the tac boat sent a shower of fire and debris to the surface of Brecon. The tac boat lost power and carried on its trajectory, spinning out of control. The path of the spinning and burning wreck had it heading directly toward Jack and the main entrance hangar.

“Take cover,” Jack called over the company channel.

The tac boat dropped suddenly and slammed into the white surface, throwing up rock and dust in a huge billowing cloud before skidding to a halt. Jack looked through his field scanner and filtered out the dust. He saw the tac boat half-buried, two hundred meters out.

Chitin plasma spears continued to slam into the downed boat. Jack counted the Chitin fire. There could only be two of the Chitin soldiers out there. They had given away their position and they would not escape Jack for long.

“Sam,” Jack called to Torent. “Get sixth squad ready to move in on those Chits.”

“You got it, sir. Sixth squad standing by.”

The dust thrown up by the tac boat came pouring forward and into the entrance hangar. With the door fully open, the dust rolled right in, rolling over the Marines of Cobra Company.

The plasma spears continued to slam into the crashed tac boat. Jack received a communication from an incoming fighter.

“Be advised, ground troops. Fighter incoming. I’ve got a lock on that Chit position. Taking the shot now.”

The fighter craft raced down from the black of space. A plasma spear leapt up from the surface, narrowly missing the sleek fighter. The fighter’s flank cannon lit up and slammed into the ground five hundred meters away. The fighter pulled up and raced away back into the black sky.

“Enemy position destroyed,” the fighter pilot reported.

“Thank you,” Jack said. “Good to know the Blades are watching over us.”

“Copy that, Commander. Blade away.”

Jack turned his attention to the crashed tac boat. The fire raging on the tac boat was severe and cut through the dust that still hung over the surface of Brecon.

The sudden explosion of the tac boat cut through the dust, black and red fingers slicing through the white billowing dust cloud in jagged spikes.

“Cover!” Jack shouted as the debris came clattering over the surface of the moon toward the entrance hangar.

Jack activated the shutter controls and the door began closing. It came down slowly and smoothly. The debris from the tac boat came bounding forward, the smallest part coming to a skidding halt a few meters from the defensive trench.

Jack checked the tac boat through his field scanner. It was utterly destroyed. He had no time to dwell on the loss of the boat, its pilot, or the vital supplies it was bringing. The Marines would dwell on it enough. They would take it as a sign of their vulnerability, that defeat was only a matter of time. Jack put them to work.

“Sam,” Jack spoke firmly over the company channel. “Take sixth squad and confirm those Chits are dead. Bevan, take your squad and go and see if you can salvage anything from that wreck. Overwatch post, keep a close eye out for any Chitin activity. There might be more out there.”

10

“Forge, report?” Griff sounded annoyed.

Jack walked to the metal stairway that climbed diagonally across the back wall of the entrance hangar. He climbed slowly.

“This is Forge. The tac boat was attacked by ground fire, Major. It’s been destroyed.”

“I can see it’s been destroyed, Commander. I spent valuable time putting that supply drop together.”

Jack took another step up the stairway. “Sorry, sir,” he replied. It was not as if Jack was at fault for the destruction of the tac boat, but he was going to have to live with the consequences. The supply situation had not improved, and although he was sure some part of the tac boat’s cargo could be salvaged, they would still be running dangerously low on supplies.

“I have a squad out searching for any more Chitin soldiers and I have a squad looking to salvage supplies.” Jack waited for an acknowledgement from Griff. Silence.

“Sir,” Jack began cautiously. “Can you arrange another supply drop? We could really use some entrenching tools and some mounted blast lasers. We only have our personal weapons. No heavy weapons.”

“You will make sure the area is clear of enemy before I send in another supply drop. You’ve cost me one tac boat, Forge. I’m not squandering another. Griff out.”

Jack had known Major Griff for a long time and he had never heard the man speak so angrily. He had been a relaxed officer and had dealt with everything the Chits had thrown at him. Jack was worried to hear him so anxious and angry.

He took another few steps up the stairway. He had a good view across the entrance hangar. The first of the salvage from the wrecked tac boat was being brought in to the entrance hangar by Marines from 7th squad.

Jack received a message from Torent.

“Go ahead, Sam,” Jack said. He watched the Marines from 7th squad open a crate. They started pulling out various pieces of sports equipment. The Marines passed the items around in amused disbelief.

“Just made it to the Chitins’ nest, Jack.” Torent reported. “That Blade made a right mess of the Chits here. Not sure how many there were. They are splattered across the surface now.”

Jack watched as two Marines began an impromptu game of football until the squad leader took the ball and sent them back to their position in the defensive line.

Jack walked down the stairs. He couldn’t believe he had been sent a crate of sports equipment. He went to double-check that it wasn’t a bad joke or a bad dream.

“Sam, search the area. See if there are any other Chits hiding out there.”

“Copy that, Jack. Torent out.”

Jack walked across the entrance hangar. The crate was open and showed the contents. Footballs, baseball bats, a box of tennis balls. Jack picked up one tube of the tennis balls. He opened it and tipped the tube upside down. Jack watched in disbelief as the tennis balls fell out. They dropped to the floor, bouncing and rolling away. Jack threw the tube back toward the open crate.

Jack called a Marine over to him. “Get this rubbish cleared away,” he screamed. The Marines sprang into action and moved the crate aside.

Two Marines from 7th squad were carrying another crate toward the entrance. Jack went to meet them. The two Marines placed it down, turning to face Jack as he came over.

“What is it?” Jack asked. The crate was charred on one side and the lid had split open. Jack looked inside. It was filled with virtual reality headsets.

“There’s not much left, sir,” one of the Marines said.

“These were the only two crates intact,” said the second.

Jack picked out one of the headsets. It was a VR entertainment headset. He hurled it against the wall.

“Move this crate out of the way.” Jack turned on his heel and walked toward the small doorway at the far end of the entrance hangar. He opened a channel to Griff.

“Sports equipment?” Jack nearly screamed. “VR headsets?”

“You are going to be there for a long time, Jack,” Griff snapped back. “I sent supplies appropriate to the deployment and the estimated duration.”

“Virtual reality headsets, Harry?” Jack stepped into the rotating door at the back of the hangar and moved into central complex. He pulled off his helmet. “We need ammunition. We need heavy weapons. Please tell me you sent those too.” Jack walked into the small office serving as his operation center.

“I sent you what I could.”

“I need ration blocks, Harry,” Jack implored. “Can you at least send me some of them?”

Jack looked at the holostage. He tapped the controls and opened it out to its furthest range.

“I haven’t got a ship ready for you yet. Maintenance is trying to get a ship patched up for you now. I’ll make sure you get rations. Until then, stop complaining, Forge, and do your kravin job.”

Jack bit his lip. How could he do his job with a collection of sports and entertainment equipment?

“Copy that, sir,” Jack said. “Forge out.”

Jack dropped into the low chair in the corner of the small office. He checked his medical data. His pulse rate was elevated. No doubt due to his quarrel with Harry Griff. Jack rolled his eyes in disbelief. What was Griff thinking sending such irrelevant supplies? Griff should know they needed weapons and ammo. And rations. Something was getting to Major Griff and it had muddled his thinking. Jack considered contacting Captain Pretorius and reporting the strange set of supplies, but Jack knew that the captain had enough to do without getting involved in Marine supply problems.

Jack stood up and went to the holodesk. The display showed the space around Eros and Brecon out to the limit of sensor range. Then at the edge of the display, Jack saw a flicker of a signal. As Jack tried to focus on the weak signal, he saw another flicker, and then another. Soon the edge of the display was a mass of signals. The signals were soon labeled by the holodesk as the information from all the sensor readings in the fleet fed into his small holodesk. A swarm of Chitin ships was coming.

“Torent. Come in, Sam.” Jack watched the holodesk.

“What is it, Jack?” Torent asked.

“Get back, now. Forget the search. We’ve got incoming. Move, Sam. Move.”

Jack watched the holodesk. The latest data showed hundreds of Hydras and Krakens incoming. They were moving fast and heading straight toward Brecon. He picked up his helmet and pulled it on.

“All hands on deck, Marines. We’ve got Chits incoming. Multiple craft. This is it, Marines. Check your ammo and check your power. Get ready for action.”

Jack marched out of his office toward the rotating airlock to the hangar. The Marines of 1st squad were leaving the lounge and heading back to their positions.

“Looks like we were lucky to have a break, sir,” Stone said to Jack in the narrow corridor leading to the hangar.

“Make the most of it, Will,” Jack said as he and Stone stepped aside for 1st squad to hurry past. “I don’t know when you’ll get another.”

Stone nodded and pulled his helmet on. He saluted, then ran after his squad out into the entrance hangar. Jack walked behind. He saw how vulnerable the position was. A hundred-meter-wide front on one side with only pulse rifles to hold back a horde of Chits. It would be a tough fight.

“Take cover, Marines,” Jack said as he walked forward.

Sam Torent and 6th squad came jogging in and took up position in the trench. Jack had fought with 6th squad and knew how fierce they were. They had done more fighting than half the squads of Cobra Company combined. 6th had fought on the front line plenty and Jack knew they would fight to the end. But Jack wanted 6th squad to survive the coming battle. It was fondness for his old squad that prompted him and he knew it, and Jack knew it was poor leadership to play favorites, but Jack had an excuse to pull them off the line: he needed more Marines defending the smaller side entrances.

“Torent, get up here with sixth squad.”

Torent replied and immediately clambered out of the trench. 6th squad came running over the smooth ground of the entrance hangar to Jack. They stopped in front of him, looking to him for orders.

“Sam, I want you to support Taku and defend the side entrances.”

“I think Taku can handle it,” Torent said.

“I know he can handle it, but I want extra cover on those entrances.”

“But the line here is a bit thin, Jack,” Torent said. “Cobra could do with seeing some veterans in the line. Why don’t I take sixth into the middle of the line?”

“Why don’t you shut up,” Jack snapped. “Sixth squad will assist fourth and will hold the side entrances to this facility.”

Jack tapped the panel on his sleeve and called up a holoimage of the facility. The wide opening at one side was lit with dozens of small blips, each representing a Marine. Jack pointed out the small side entrances on the other three sides.

“Make sure you cover these entrances. A team of eight should hold off an army of Chits at those small entrances. Copy?”

“If that is your order, sir.” Torent said.

Jack nodded. “Go,” he said. He watched as 6th squad, his squad, ran off to the rotating airlock that led to the inner complex that would in turn lead them to the side entrances. Then, with 6th squad away, Jack turned his attention to the main entrance.

The newly-dug trench in front of the wide hangar door would provide a vital piece of cover. Jack only wished he’d had time and the proper tools to prepare a more significant defense.

Looking out to the surface of Brecon and the black of space, Jack hoped he could stand and hold this position. If this position failed, the Chits would destroy the planetary defense cannon, and the planet of Eros, rising high in the black sky, would be doomed.

A flight of Blades flashed over the surface of Brecon. They headed directly toward the facility and then climbed at the last minute. It was a showy piece of flying, totally unnecessary, but it filled the Marines with energy. They shouted and cheered as the Blades raced vertically away from Brecon’s surface. It was a brash piece of unnecessary flamboyance, but at least Jack and Cobra Company knew they had the Blades with them. The Fleet Starfighter Corps was in this fight too. Jack knew they were going to need them.

It was going to be a long and tough battle.

11

Sarah Reyes slid back under the tac boat’s forward landing strut with a large hammer in her fist as the pilot stood idly by.

“This is a sophisticated machine,” the pilot said. “I’m not sure a hammer is the right tool.”

“You never worked maintenance, did you?” she said as she lined up her shot. “If it doesn’t work, you haven’t used a big enough hammer.”

Reyes hit the articulated joint hard, the dull thump echoing around the Marine hangar deck. She shouted in between thumps.

“You. Will. Fit.”

The joint moved. Reyes relaxed for a moment and then slid back out from under the tac boat.

“There, try it now.”

The pilot looked over to Reyes. He was leaning against a weapons trolley.

“Now, pilot!” Reyes shouted. “I’ve got friends down there who need this stuff.”

The pilot sauntered over to the boarding ramp of the tac boat.

“I won’t get departure clearance now,” he said.

“What? What do you mean? They need these supplies.”

“There’s a wave of Chits incoming,” the pilot said casually, as if it was a shower of rain and not a massed attack by the deadliest enemy they had ever encountered. He showed Reyes the data feed on his handheld holopad. “See?” he said.

Reyes dropped the hammer on to her tool trolley. She opened a channel to Major Griff.

The call went unanswered. Reyes tried again. Nothing.

“He won’t answer you now,” the pilot said. “Maybe we should get to our shelters.”

“You are not going anywhere, do you hear me?” Reyes fixed the pilot with her big, dark eyes. She wiped her oily hands on a dirty cloth and grabbed her diagnostics pad. “Let’s get this thing ready to fly. The moment we are cleared to depart we are getting these supplies down there.”

The pilot shrugged. “Okay.” He leaned against the trolley stacked with pulse rifle ammunition and grenades, tapping away at his holopad.

“Thanks for lending a hand,” Reyes said sarcastically as she connected the diagnostic pad to the tac boat’s internal processor.

The pilot shrugged. “I fly them, not fix them,” he said without looking up.

Captain Pretorius climbed down from his chair and stepped up to the large holostage in the center of his command deck. The Scorpio had been in more than its fair share of engagements, but now Pretorius began to wonder if this might be his last.

“Bring the laser cannon around to support the port-side battery. Load kinetic shot and put a wall in their face. Fire the port-side battery.”

Pretorius watched the incoming Chitin craft flying toward his barrage of high-energy kinetic shot. The planetary defense cannon at the north pole of Brecon was firing, with every blast destroying a Chitin ship. The wave of Krakens and Hydras flew into the wall of kinetic shot blasted into their path by the Scorpio’s massive port-side battery.

The incoming Chits took a beating, but still they came.

The scores of Hydras were each supported by the small, highly maneuverable Krakens. They came on undeterred as Krakens and Hydras were eliminated by the massive cannon and the kinetic hail from the Scorpio.

Then they came within range of the Scorpio’s laser cannon.

“Fire at will,” Pretorius said, watching the Chitin craft come ever closer.

The top-mounted laser cannon fired pulses of energy. They struck their targets, smashing chunks of the Chitins’ hulls away.

“Hold steady,” Pretorius said, his calm and commanding voice filling the command deck officers with confidence.

Pretorius watched as the Chitins came ever closer. At the prime moment, he ordered his drive systems to full. The Scorpio moved away to one side of the wave of Chitins and the Aries came out of its shadow to fire its own devastating volley of kinetic hail and laser blasts.

Pretorius watched the Chitins come on. Half the swarm was destroyed, disabled, or damaged, but the other half was still a sizable and deadly force.

The Blades swept in, their forward-mounted laser blasters slicing through the tight Chitin formation as their flank cannons poured high-energy kinetic hail into the oncoming enemy.

“Why aren’t they returning fire?” Griff said. He was standing at the holostage, his hands gripped the edge of the holostage, knuckles white and eyes wide and red.

Pretorius ignored the question. He hoped they held their fire. The Scorpio had been through a lot. Even though she was a tough old ship, she was not invincible. Pretorius did not want to test her.

But the Scorpio was to be tested. A frenzied mass of plasma arcs whipped away from the Hydras and slammed into the Scorpio. The power fluctuated across the ship. The command deck momentarily plunged into darkness, only the holostage giving light.

Pretorius saw Griff push himself away from the holostage just as the Scorpio lurched under the plasma arc barrage.

“Captain. They will break through.” Griff walked to the command deck weapons locker. He input his security code and pulled open the door. Inside were racks of pulse pistols. Griff took two. He pointed at a nearby command deck officer and instructed him to distribute the rest.

Griff stepped up to the holostage and slid a pulse pistol across to Pretorius and one to Commander Chou. Griff pulled out his own sidearm from the holster on his hip and checked the magazine and the chamber.

“I’ll tour the ship’s defenses.”

Pretorius picked up the pulse pistol and tucked it in the small of his back. He noted Griff had some of his old confidence about him.

The Scorpio took another hit as more plasma arcs slammed into her composite hull. Then the Hydras veered away and headed down to the surface of Brecon. Pretorius opened a channel to Jack Forge on the surface.

“You’ve got incoming, Commander,” Pretorius said. “They will try to disable the cannon. It’s the only way they can deploy their Leviathans.”

“Yes, sir. I agree, sir,” Jack replied. “The cannons are the only things standing in their way.”

“No, Commander,” Pretorius said, gripping the edge of the holostage as the Scorpio lurched violently again under the Chitin plasma arc assault. “You are the only thing in their way. Good luck, Jack.”

12

Taking up a position on the metal stairway at the rear of the hangar gave Jack a view out across the surface of Brecon and an overview of his ground-level Marines. His pulse rifle was slung across his back. It would be ready for him when he needed it, but Jack’s most potent weapon in this engagement would be the Marines of Cobra Company. He would need to wield them as easily as he did his pulse rifle. And Jack knew that if he was forced into the line, it was because the battle was all but lost. One more pulse rifle could do little to sway the course of the battle, but one good commander could.

The Marines in the trench leaned on the forward rampart, their pulse rifles trained on the ground in front of them. Behind the trench, inside the entrance, were the piles of equipment arranged to provide cover and a second firing position. The Marines on the roof level a hundred meters above provided a third firing position. Underequipped though they were, the Chits could expect a brutal reception.

Jack watched the holoimage on his wrist display. The range on the suit-mounted holodisplay was limited, but Jack knew the Chits were coming. He watched for the first indication of their arrival. He saw the blip appear at the edge of his wrist-mounted holodisplay and then, a fraction of a second later, he saw the flash across the black sky of Brecon. The Hydras were landing.

The rhythmic pulse of his hairs standing on end and then falling as the huge cannon discharged marked the pace of the battle in orbit high above the moon. The many engine flares of the landing Hydras were an indication of the pace the ground battle was going to take. It was going to be frantic and relentless.

The sudden appearance of the Blades overhead startled Jack. The fighters raced away from the facility toward the landing zone where the Hydras were deploying the Chitin soldiers to the moon’s surface. Silently, the Blades flank cannons and forward lasers lit up the Chitin landing zone.

A group of Krakens raced overhead in pursuit of the Blades. Their plasma spear spitz cannons poured a relentless stream of deadly plasma bolts into the rear of the Blades.

The Blades made their pass over the Chit landing zone, and Jack saw the demise of several Hydras, marked by the billowing fireballs as the craft were destroyed. Even though the Hydras were destroyed, he knew the soldiers on board were far from beaten. They were probably pouring forward toward their objective—the planetary defense cannon.

Jack’s wrist-mounted holoprojector showed him the range of the oncoming soldiers. They were only a kilometer away. The blips representing the Chitin soldiers were blurred into one pulsing and seething mass. His meat suit-mounted scanners made their count of the enemy. It was recalculated moment by moment and fluctuated by dozens a second as more of the Chitin soldiers landed. But Jack was sure that the count exceeded a thousand soldiers. It was the single greatest number of Chitin soldiers Jack had ever faced.

He pulled up his field scanner and watched the mass of soldiers pouring forward. The range finder showed they would soon be in range of the pulse rifles. Jack opened a company channel and issued his fire orders.

“As soon as you have them in range, open fire. Make your shots accurate and put the Chits out of action before they can bring their plasma spears to the fight.”

Jack watched the Marines in the trench ready their pulse rifles, setting the ranged firing sights, checking power levels and ammunition. The line settled as every Marine made ready. Then, at the same moment, the line lit up as each Marine fired a round at a well-chosen target.

The initial volley of shots was soon replaced by a steady crackle of fire as the Marines fired at will. Each Marine found a target, took aim, and fired. The second line, taking cover behind the makeshift barricades, had the oncoming Chits in range a second after the trench line and opened fire in the same controlled manner. The defending Marines, fifty strong, made every shot count and the Chitin soldiers fell moment by moment.

Jack watched the range of the rushing horde carefully. The Marines would soon switch to rapid-fire bursts when the Chits were close enough. Jack had the urge to pull up his pulse rifle and jump into the line. The Chits were coming on fast and they were being killed too slowly.

Out of nowhere, the flight of Blades came tearing across the black sky from the right. Their cannons and lasers slashed a swath through the Chitin horde, then raced away, pursued by the Krakens.

Jack checked his scanner’s data feed on the advancing enemy and noted with satisfaction that the Chits were taking a pounding. But the Chitin strategy was clearly to overwhelm the defenders by numbers. They did have the numbers, and soon they would be on top of the Marines.

The change in the cadence of the pulse rifle fire informed Jack that the Chits had closed the distance and were in the rapid-fire range of the rifles. The staccato crackle was replaced by the sustained, rapid-fire bursts. Although more rounds were fired, they were less accurate. The proximity of the densely-packed Chitin horde negated the need for accuracy and practically every round fired was a hit. Jack watched the hail of pulse rifle rounds slam into the advancing, writhing wall of Chitin soldiers.

The change in the rhythm of the pulse rifle fire to the rapid-fire burst also meant another thing. The Marines were in range of the Chitin plasma spears. The moment the realization occurred to Jack, the first volley of plasma spears slashed out toward the Marines.

The spears fizzed across the surface of Brecon. Some fell short and slammed into the ground, throwing up clouds of dust and rock. Others went long and slammed into the smooth ground of the interior of the hangar. The random spread of plasma spear fire burned into the partially-closed main entrance door. Jack saw the composite of the door glow on the inside, each heated patch an indicator of where a plasma spear had struck on the outside.

The Chitins’ plasma spears came on in a wild, sustained barrage, the spears scattering across the target area, and again, with the sheer volume of spears came the inevitable hit.

A stack of equipment cases behind the trench was struck. The spear exploded and sent the stack of cases tumbling across the hangar floor. The Marines taking cover behind it fell away, scrambling for more cover as the spears sliced through the thin air around them. Some rushed for the cover of another nearby stack of boxes. One scurried forward toward the trench. Another was struck by a plasma spear, and his arm burned away.

The injured man was flagged on Jack’s data feed. He really needed a reserve crew to gather the wounded, but he needed every pulse rifle in the fight. Jack opened a channel to the wounded Marine.

The wailing of pain and fear filled Jack’s communicator as the channel was opened. Jack reduced the volume on the transmission and shouted his orders.

“Let your suit deal with the damage.” Jack watched the Marine writhing on the ground, exposed in the middle of the vast entrance hangar, plasma spears slamming into the ground around him. “Do you copy, Marine? Get to cover and let the suit do its job.”

The Marine stopped wailing, possibly a reaction to Jack’s commands or possibly as shock set in. The Marine stood and staggered about the open space until a plasma spear struck him in the back. The Marine fell. Jack’s data log recorded the first fatality of the engagement.

The Blades came on another pass and poured fire into the advancing Chits. One Blade, its port-side flank belching fire, flipped over violently and slammed into the surface of Brecon. The fighter tumbled forward, exploding and scattering flaming debris and a huge energy pulse as the drive section erupted, killing dozens of Chits in the process.

The Krakens came past again, pursuing the squadron of Blades, spitz cannons flashing across the black sky above Brecon.

The Marines’ reaction to the Blade’s destruction was a renewed vigor in the pulse rifle fire. Jack checked the scanner data and was satisfied to note that the Chitins had lost half their number, but they had almost covered the distance to the main entrance.

Jack touched his pulse rifle slung across his back. It was ready for action. The moment the Chitins reached the trench line, the Marines would fire up their electron bayonets and start slashing away at the Chits in close quarters combat. Jack somehow knew he would not leave this place without getting his hands dirty with Chitin blood and slime.

A plasma spear sliced through the air and slammed into the wall just to the side of Jack. He pulled up his pulse rifle, set it to single-shot accuracy, and aimed. The head of a Chitin soldier, its plasma spear launcher glowing in its tentacle, appeared in Jack’s sights. Jack fired the single round. It slammed into the Chitin’s massive, smooth head. He watched through his pulse rifle sights as the creature stumbled and fell sideways, yellow and green puss oozing from its cracked shell-like skull.

Jack selected another target and fired. Another Chitin fell to his attack. Knowing this was a futile addition to the fight, Jack stepped down from the stairway.

“Maintain the fire,” Jack said as a sudden wave of casualty reports was logged.

Jack marched across the hangar toward the trench line. Plasma spears sliced through the air.

Another casualty report. The dead were mounting. The injured were many. The plasma spears were tearing limbs from Marines as easily as a cruel child pulled legs off a fly. The meat suits cauterized and sealed the wounds, administered painkillers, and in some extreme cases where pain was cruel and crippling, the meat suit administered a general anesthetic.

Jack could not afford to lose a single Marine. Even a Marine with one arm could fire a pulse rifle. He accessed the company medical protocols and adjusted them to keep as many Marines conscious and in the fight as possible.

“All Marines. Hold them off. Give it everything, Cobra. We must not fail.” Jack brought his rifle up to his shoulder and advanced. He viewed the advancing Chitin soldiers through his pulse rifle sights and fired one well-aimed shot after another. With every step, he fired another round. He stepped, fired, re-aimed, fired. He advanced toward the trench line, plasma spears flashing around him, slamming into the ground before him, flying overhead.

He watched as another Chitin soldier’s head exploded from his well-aimed round. He moved steadily toward the trench line. Jack noticed the Marines in the trench were firing blind, crouching for cover and firing into the advancing horde, spraying wild fire over the top of the trench. Jack cursed himself for not spotting this sooner. He opened the company channel and instructed the company.

“Get your heads out of that ditch, Cobra. Look at what you are doing.” Jack fired another round and stepped closer to the trench line.

Jack noticed the Marines respond and stand up.

“Everyone in that trench. Look to the enemy and fire on them.”

The other more reluctant Marines began to stand up. The fire from the trench immediately became more effective.

Jack fired another round and dropped a Chitin soldier, the plasma spear launcher pointing directly at him as he viewed his target along the pulse rifle sights. He reached a barricade of piled-up maintenance equipment. A Marine was firing lefthanded, his right arm lying on the ground by his feet.

Jack took cover as plasma spears slashed around him. Jack risked a look out toward the advancing Chitins. Plasma spears slammed into the barricade and the ground just to the sides.

The Marine ducked back behind the barricade. He slumped to the ground. The plasma spears seemed to come at a huge rate, burning chunks out of the smooth ground of the entrance hangar.

“I think they like you, sir,” the one-armed Marine said. “They didn’t fire at me this much before you got here.”

Jack checked the Marine’s medical data. The data informed Jack rather needlessly that the Marine was missing his right arm above the elbow. The suit had resealed itself and the internal environment was being maintained at optimal levels. The onboard medical package had administered a blood clotting agent and had cauterized the wound. The Marine had received a limited amount of painkiller and a serotonin boost to enhance the wounded Marine’s mood. He was in good spirits and adding his weight to the battle.

“Good work, Marine,” Jack said. “Keep up the fire. We will hold them off.”

“If they come near me, I’m going to slap them around with that arm.” The Marine nodded toward his severed right arm. Then, standing up, he stepped out from behind the barricade and let off a burst of fire.

Jack glanced around the edge of the barricade and judged the distance to the trench. He could make it in a few seconds at a sprint. He checked his breathing and then made his dash.

The plasma spears fizzed all around him, thick like horizontal rain. Jack put all thoughts of fear from his mind and focused on the trench up ahead. He dashed away from the hangar onto the surface of Brecon, the dusty ground crunching under foot, the black sky towering above to infinity.

Diving to the ground and skidding the last meter, Jack threw up a cloud of the pale Brecon dust. He dropped into the trench as the plasma spears fizzed overhead.

The trench was littered with dead and wounded. Jack moved along the trench, crouching to keep his head out of reach of the Chitin’s plasma spears that raced overhead. He came to a wounded Marine. His medical data showed signs of concussion. He had taken a glancing blow and been flung back against the back side of the trench. His helmet was still clearing vomit away from the inside of the faceplate.

Jack took a knee next to the Marine. He put a hand on his shoulder.

“You’ve taken a knock on the head, Marine, but I need you in the fight. Can you get up?”

The Marine looked up at Jack.

“I said I need you in the fight, Marine. Copy?”

The Marine looked away.

Jack accessed the company medical protocols and searched for a chemical boost for the Marine. The medical package suggested a synthetic energy boost. Jack allowed the Marine’s meat suit to administer the maximum dose.

“You ready to get back in the fight?” Jack asked.

The Marine clambered to his feet. “Yes, sir. Sorry, sir. Don’t know what came over me, sir.” He leaned against the trench rampart and fired a number of short bursts.

Jack patted the Marine on the back. “Good work, Marine.” And then he went on, surveying his troops and urging them to action.

The Blades made another pass. Jack stopped to watch their flight. They swooped down low and poured fire into the Chitin soldiers. The Chits were almost on top of the trench, only twenty meters away in some cases. The Blades executed a piece of precision flying and shooting to smash the front of the Chitin line. The Blades completed their run and raced away, back up into the black. Jack watched the Chitin Krakens that were still in pursuit. There seemed fewer of them this time. The Chitins were taking a beating from the Fleet.

“They are falling back,” Jack heard a Marine speaking over his squad channel.

Jack looked and saw the Chitin soldiers lurching backwards. Their plasma spears still flashed toward the Marines, but the intensity and accuracy was failing. The Marines were cheering and jeering. Jack moved along the trench, keeping low and calling out his commands.

“Maintain the fire, Cobra. Heavy fire. Give them everything you’ve got.”

The Marines were pressed back to their task, positioning themselves against the trench and firing bursts of pulse rifle fire into the retreating Chitin soldiers.

“Blast them, Cobra. Aim and fire. Keep the intensity. You got them on the run now, Cobra. Keep them running.”

Jack looked out at the surface of Brecon and the smoldering battlefield littered with Chitin corpses and the wrecks of Fleet ships. He looked up and saw the distant flashes of a battle a thousand kilometers above him in space. Jack pulled up his field scanner and looked at the distant battle. A destroyer was fighting a fierce battle, all its guns firing and Chitin plasma arcs slamming into the hull. Jack knew the Scorpio was up there. He hoped his old shipmates were doing well.

“That’s it, Cobra,” Jack said as the Chits fell back to the edge of the pulse rifle range. “Don’t let them off the hook. Keep hitting them.”

Aiming down his pulse rifle sights, Jack picked a target and fired. The Chitin’s head exploded as the pulse round hit. Jack knew they had won a fierce battle, but he didn’t expect it was the last. The Chitins still had humankind right where they wanted them. The Chits wouldn’t give up until all the humans were dead or gone.

Jack clambered out of the trench and walked toward the small doorway at the far end of the hangar. He sent instructions to all squad leaders to deal with their dead and wounded. Jack headed for the small office that was his command center. He needed to assess the battle data. The Chits would come again, and he wasn’t going to make it easy for them. He would have to surprise them the next time they attacked. He needed to use his numbers wisely. He needed supplies. More than anything, Jack needed to win. For the sake of humankind, Jack needed to win.

13

The port-side battery fell silent as the cannon muzzles overheated—a perennial problem on the Scorpio. Pretorius ordered more power to the laser cannon. The Krakens and Hydras closed in.

The Aries was holding position underneath the Scorpio. They hung in space, their bellies together, giving more room for the top-mounted laser cannon to operate. The captains held the formation and defied the onslaught of the Chitin ships.

The squadron of Blades from the destroyed carrier, Monarch, buzzed around the two destroyers fighting off the incoming Krakens and Hydras, their forward laser cannons accounting for many Chitin ships that came too close to the pair of destroyers.

Pretorius contacted Captain Lauafa on the Aries.

“Janie. Hi,” Pretorius said as if he was meeting his colleague at a weekend picnic. “Lost my port battery. They’ll be on me soon.”

“Good luck,” Lauafa replied, equally as matter-of-fact. “Alistair, don’t forget, you still owe me that golf rematch.”

Pretorius saw the first Hydra break through the defensive perimeter and latch onto the Scorpio’s hull.

“I’ll book the course next time I’m on Eros,” Pretorius said.

The Blades attacked the Hydras close to the Scorpio, but numbers were winning the day and soon, another Hydra attached itself to the Scorpio’s hull, and then a flood of Hydras broke through to attach, limpet-like.

“Janie,” Pretorius said to his colleague aboard the Aries, “I’ll let you know if I need to initiate the capture avoidance strategy in plenty of time for you to get clear.” Pretorius saw the hull breach alert warning pop up in front of him. He swiped it away.

“Don’t be too eager to try it, Alistair. I’ll see you on the first tee.”

“Pretorius out.” He pulled the pulse pistol from the small of his back and checked the weapon again. If the Chitins made it as far as the command deck, Pretorius would be too busy to use a sidearm, but protocol dictated that in this circumstance, he should be armed. He tucked the weapon back into his waistband. He opened a channel to Major Griff to confirm the Chitins were about to board the Scorpio.

Griff was walking purposefully along one of the main corridors that ran the length of the Scorpio. He moved swiftly from one Marine holdfast point to another, checking on Adder Company’s deployment. They were following the standard deployment protocol created and implemented by Commander Jack Forge.

The communication from Pretorius had confirmed that the Chits were boarding. The destroyer’s counter-infiltration deployment tactic, and the Marines implementing it, were about to be tested.

“Thank you, Captain,” Griff said as he passed another holdfast point. “I’ll keep them away from the critical systems. Adder Company will keep you in the fight.”

Griff walked into the Marine hangar area. A pilot was standing next to a tac boat, its landing ramp down and the interior lights on. Griff walked toward the pilot.

“Pilot?” Griff shouted out angrily. “That boat should be powered down and secured.” Griff walked quickly toward the nervous-looking pilot.

“Sir, sorry, sir. I was told…”

“I’m telling you now,” Griff cut him off. “The kravin Chits are about to burst through the hull. This area should be clear of personnel.”

Sarah Reyes slid out from under the tac boat. She was covered in grease and grime. She looked inside the tac boat.

“That’s it. It’s ready to go,” she said enthusiastically.

“That tac boat is going nowhere, and you are going to the secure area in the aft section. Move it, crewmen.”

Reyes ignored Griff. “I’m not a crewman. I’m maintenance.” She ducked under one flank of the huge tac boat and closed a loose panel. “This tac boat is ready to launch.”

“That boat is not going anywhere,” Griff repeated. Griff fixed the pilot with a stare. “Are you still here?”

The pilot gave Reyes an apologetic shrug and jogged off.

“These supplies are for Cobra Company at the planetary defense cannon.” Reyes stepped up to Major Griff. “It’s for Commander Forge. He needs these supplies.”

Griff looked at the tac boat. It was stuffed with ammunition boxes and a few crates of rations. He even saw the packing crates for the fixed position pulse laser. There was no doubt the supplies were necessary, but the time was not right.

“Stand down, maintenance technician.” Griff leaned in and looked at the dirty nametag on the coveralls. “Reyes.”

“We can’t leave him down there without the right tools for the job,” Reyes said.

Griff pulled his pulse pistol and aimed it at Reyes’s face. “You clear my hangar now or I will drop you where you stand.”

Pretorius’s voice came over Griff’s communicator.

“Major. We have a priority request for supplies on Brecon. Commander Forge took a beating and he needs supplies. He reports he won’t stand another attack without them. I have a detachment of Blades holding to escort your supply drop. Are you receiving, Major?”

Reyes looked at Griff. “I fixed the boat myself. It’ll get there.”

“You sure you can fly it?” Griff put his pulse pistol away.

Reyes nodded. “Yeah, I can fly it.”

“Major.” Pretorius spoke again with a hint of anger at being kept waiting.

“Thank you, Captain. Launching tac boat supply drop from starboard hangar in two minutes.” Griff stared at Reyes. “You got two minutes to get it off this ship.”

Reyes turned and ran up the ramp of the tac boat, and it closed behind her.

Major Griff walked to the aft exit of the Marine hangar. He still had positions to check, but then Pretorius called again.

“Major. We have intruders in the port side, aft section.” Pretorius sounded calm.

“I’m heading there now, Captain.”

“Don’t let them near the engine room.”

Griff walked out of the aft hangar exit. He glanced back at the tac boat. It was purring like a kitten and sounded like it was fresh off the production line. The claxon alarm and flashing alert lights at the exterior hangar door informed Griff the tac boat was ready to depart.

He closed the door and sealed the hangar deck. He watched the exterior doors slide open and the tac boat move out gracefully into space.

Griff ran along the short corridor and joined up with the main corridor that would take him to the aft section of the ship. Intruder calls were coming from multiple locations. He opened a channel to Adder Company.

“We will not lose this ship today. You are Adder Company. You will stand. Kill every Chit you see. Don’t let them take you alive. Major Griff out.”

Griff turned off the starboard corridor into a side corridor to the port-side main corridor. He saw the shadowy movement along the main corridor up ahead. The Chits were moving along the port-side corridor. He’d seen the Chits up close before, killed Chits up close before. Griff pulled out his pulse pistol and moved silently forward.

Reyes moved out into space. The vast openness all around the tac boat’s cockpit was awesome and awe-inspiring. Then Reyes noticed the chaos of battle as the energy and kinetic weapons of two destroyers fired at a mass of oncoming Chitin craft.

A sudden movement caught Reyes’s eye. Up and to her right, she saw something moving out of the black toward her. She flinched in her pilot’s seat and worried the worst was about to happen, but then she recognized the sleek lines of the Fleet’s fighter ships. A detachment of four Blades dropped into formation around her tac boat.

“Tac boat pilot, this is Commander Scherer. I’ll be your lead escort. We will be descending to the moon Brecon in as short a time as possible. There is a high probability that we will be pursued by Chitin Krakens determined to destroy us. Probability of receiving ground fire is almost certain. So if you will hit your main drive up to suicidal speed, we will get this little jaunt to Brecon underway. Scherer out.”

Reyes looked out through the transparent composite of her cockpit to the cockpit of the

Blade flying so close as to be almost touching. The pilot gave her a casual salute and then pointed downwards.

“Whenever you’re ready, beautiful,” Scherer said.

Reyes pointed the tac boat directly at the planet and hit the drive, pushing it to its max.

The flight to the surface was fast and frenetic. The Blades danced around the tac boat’s cockpit, spinning their craft through maneuvers so fast they were dizzying. One Blade on Reyes’s left turned and pointed his nose behind them. His flank cannon flashed briefly before he turned again to face the direction of travel. The Blade on her right broke formation and raced away. A shower of fire and debris clattered across the front of the tac boat and then the Blade was back in formation. Reyes looked and was sure she saw the pilot wink at her through his heavily-frosted faceplate.

A Kraken raced up from the planet below, its cannon spitting fierce plasma bolts toward Reyes. The forward laser from the Blade holding formation below her made the kill. The Kraken broke into a thousand flaming pieces that clattered over the clear composite cockpit.

The planet was racing upward fast. Reyes reached out to the controls and was about to slow for approach speed.

“Don’t touch the control,” Commander Scherer said. He was flying upside-down above Reyes. He was looking down into her cockpit and watching her every move.

“I can’t take it in too fast.” Reyes said, reaching for the reverse thrust.

“You can and you will. We are already too slow. We’ve got incoming on six sides. Take it to the deck and then we’ll fly you right into that hangar. Copy?”

Reyes nodded. “Copy,” she replied.

The Blade to her left spun and fired to the rear. The spitz fire ripped over the cockpit and broke the fighter in two. The Kraken raced over the top of the burning, tumbling wreck.

Reyes looked horrified as the wreckage tumbled alongside her tac boat. Her attention was pulled back to the flight panel with the sound of an emergency alarm. Spitz fire had scorched her port side and she was venting fuel.

“I’ve been hit,” she said. “I’m going to have to bring her down to approach speed. I’ll be at one hundred meters altitude above Brecon in thirty seconds.”

The Blades suddenly moved off in a triangle formation. They fired at the surface of Brecon as it rapidly approached. The smooth white surface was becoming more detailed with every second and now Reyes could see craters and rocks. There were several large dark craters. A second later, Reyes could see they were the wrecks of ships. One was definitely Chitin. The others looked more like Fleet vessels. There were things moving about, dark spots on the pale surface. She realized they were Chitin soldiers. She was heading straight for them.

The automatic countermeasure alarm beeped, and Reyes knew the tac boat was under attack again. The counter measures would deflect the spitz fire and save her boat. The three Blades came up from the moon where they had been attacking a concentration of ground forces. They flew past her with such speed and so close that Reyes gasped with heart-stopping surprise.

The Blades returned and took up formation in front of Reyes. Only two. She looked around her all-around view for the third. All she could see was a billowing fireball behind. Another Blade was gone. Reyes focused. She needed to bring this equipment to Jack or it would have all been a horrible waste of time and life.

She aimed her tac boat at the planetary defense cannon entrance hangar and brought the speed down. She still seemed to be going too fast, but the Blades were even faster. The pair fired at the ground and then turned about and fired toward Reyes.

Reyes ducked as the forward laser and the flank cannon on the pair of Blades lit up. The Blades’ weapon fire was not intended for her and it flashed past her. She could only guess at how close her pursuer had been. Commander Scherer spoke over Reyes’s communicator.

“Scratch up another Chit for the Blades.”

Reyes leveled out her tac boat and saw the open entrance hangar a few hundred meters away.

“Thank you, gentlemen,” Reyes sent her communication to her escort. “I can take it from here. Good luck.”

The Blades raced toward her and then were gone in a flash. “You have been flying with the Orphan Blades,” Scherer said, “Thank you for choosing to fly with us today and we wish you a safe onward journey.”

Reyes brought the tac boat as low and pushed the speed as fast as she dared.

Then the sudden thump sent her sprawling forward over the control panel. She re-gathered herself and looked at the sudden appearance of countless yellow and red warning lights on the control panel.

Reyes reached for the emergency landing panel when the tac boat hit the surface of Brecon. She saw the pale surface race up to greet her a moment before her head smashed into the control panel and she blacked out.

Jack ran toward the hangar entrance. His hopes of a supply drop were dashed as the sudden eruption of ground fire slammed into the approaching tac boat. He paused, and watched with bated breath, expecting the tac boat to explode. It took a second’s hesitation for Jack to act. It was a second too long, but Jack could write a disciplinary note in his own record later.

“Bevan. Allen.” Jack called to the two most experienced squad leaders in the trench. The pair were up and out of the trench, running toward Jack, before he took another breath. Pointing at the tac boat crash site two hundred meters away, he shouted, “Take your squads and secure that crash site. Torent. Leave sixth squad and get up here now. Take over from me. I’ve got someone to see.”

The supply drop was just within reach. Jack had one of those horrible feelings that things might just go his way for once.

14

Jack ran out of the hangar onto the dusty surface of Brecon. He checked that his sensors were active and searching for any nearby Chitins. He swung up his pulse rifle as he ran. The tac boat was not far away but in hostile territory. Out here, a company of Marines could be isolated and surrounded. Jack knew he would have to move fast.

Allen and Bevan were deploying their squads around the tac boat. The Marines scanned the area for Chitin movements, their pulse rifles slowly sweeping in arcs.

Jack rushed to the tac boat and pressed the control panel to open the boarding ramp. The ramp opened with a screech until the mechanism seized up with the door partially open. There was just enough room for Jack to scramble inside.

The interior was a mess. Some of the supply crates had broken free of their straps and lay smashed open, spilling their contents over the hold floor. Jack was satisfied to see the ration block and ammunition crates. All he needed to do was get it back to the facility.

Jack stepped over a crate and leaned into the cockpit. The pilot was slumped over the control console. Jack accessed the flight suit’s medical readout. The information appeared as a holofile over the pilot’s right shoulder. The pilot was unconscious, but the life signs were stable. Then Jack spotted the pilot’s name on the holofile.

Reyes.

Jack climbed into the cockpit and pulled Reyes away from the console, leaning her back in the seat.

Sarah Reyes.

A message from Allen came over Jack’s communicator.

“Commander. Chits. Approaching on all sides. Engaging.”

The sounds of pulse rifle fire followed a moment later. Jack stepped back into the tac boat hold and went to the door. The pneumatic rams that controlled the door were buckled and the door was stuck only partially open. Jack fired up his electron bayonet and applied the fierce white blade to the first pneumatic ram. The composite fizzed and spat as the bayonet cut through. The ram jerked as it was cleaved in two. Jack went to work on the second.

Jack saw the flash of plasma spears and pulse rifle fire through the partially-open ramp.

“Allen, report,” Jack said.

“They are all over the place. Fire coming in from all sides. We are in an exposed position, sir.”

“Copy that, Allen. Move clear of the boarding ramp. It’s coming down.”

Jack cut the second ram and the ramp fell. It landed in the dusty surface and threw up a billowing cloud. The plasma spears came thick and fast toward the open door until, with the dust reducing visibility to practically zero, the plasma spears died down.

Jack went back to the cockpit and began unclipping Reyes from her seat. She was waking and moaning quietly.

“Bevan. Allen,” Jack said to the two squad leaders. “Hold those Chits off. I want these supplies back to the hangar.”

“I can fly,” Reyes said in a weak voice. Her hands began moving over the control panel that was covered in blinking warning lights.

Jack climbed into the copilot seat and looked more closely. The landing gear was smashed, life support system was wrecked, the drive assembly was powered down, and the reactor was overheated.

Jack could see the workaround. The tac boat would not make it back to the Scorpio, but it might make a few hundred meters over the moon’s surface.

“If I disconnect the reactor heat dump controls,” Jack said.

“No. I’m routing the life support gas scrub pump through the reactor cooler. Cut that boarding ramp away.

“Bevan. Allen. Get your Marines in here.” Jack was out of his seat and picking his way through the supply crates, the scattered ration blocks and pulse rifle rounds. He stood on the boarding ramp and fired up his electron bayonet.

The Marines began clambering into the tac boat. Bevan and Allen had a rear guard, giving covering fire as the Marines clambered inside.

The plasma spears came again, a sustained fire, the white fire lances slamming into the side of the tac boat and into the dusty ground all around the craft. A Marine on one knee blasting away with quick bursts of pulse rifle fire took a plasma spear to the side of his helmet. He was flung backwards and to the side as the spear ricocheted off the helmet and into the side of the tac boat.

Bevan ordered two of her squad to start cutting away the boarding ramp, then she stepped up to Jack. She pushed Jack away from the open doorway.

“Get to cover, sir,” Bevan said.

Jack was reluctant to hide, but Bevan was insistent.

“You can’t get hit, sir.”

Jack was moved by the force of Bevan’s argument. He had respect for the young squad leader and knew that she was thinking of the company and the mission. Jack stepped back to the cockpit as a plasma spear came in through the open doorway to explode in a shower of white plasma globules across the tac boat hold.

Jack stepped into the cockpit. “Put those fires out.” Jack saw Reyes powering the engines. He felt the tac boat juddering and then it lurched forward.

The nose of the tac boat plowed through the pale, loose dirt.

“We’re too heavy,” Reyes said.

“Push it,” Jack said. With one blast from the stuttering engines, the tac boat had covered fifty meters.

“It won’t make it,” Reyes said. She canceled a warning light that blinked rapidly. A catastrophic failure was imminent.

Jack knew to trust Reyes. She could push a machine to its absolute limit, but a total mechanical failure was inevitable. Jack needed these supplies moved another hundred meters at least.

“Bevan. Allen,” Jack called to his squad leaders. “Get your squads out of here on the double. We need to lighten the load. Get back on foot. Go.”

Jack looked around and saw Bevan order a Marine to jump. The Marine went without a moment’s hesitation. Bevan waved her hand, sending the rest of 7th squad after. Allen stepped up and leaped out of the tac boat to the ground racing by, dust and rock thrown up by the nose plowing through the loose ground.

Allen jumped next, calling to his squad to follow. Jack watched the Marines bail out. He turned and saw Bevan jump last.

“That’s it,” Reyes said. “We just bought a few meters more.”

Jack watched the hangar of the cannon facility come closer. He could see the Marines in the trench and the Marines on the roof. They were all firing past the approaching tac boat, giving covering fire to the squads of Bevan and Allen.

“Nearly there,” Reyes said. “Where do you want me to put it?”

The tac boat was bumping over the ground. It would make a mess of the trench if it went over it and into the hangar. Also, the tac boat was in danger of a catastrophic failure any moment. It would be a bad idea to put a potential antimatter detonation inside the hangar.

“Drop it in front of that trench,” Jack said. “Can you turn it so the open door is facing the entrance hangar?”

Reyes began tapping the control panel. “I can try.”

The tac boat lurched again. Jack was pitched forward. The tac boat turned violently to the side and skidded to a halt. Dust came flying into the tac boat hold and cockpit.

Jack wiped the dust away from his helmet face plate and jumped out of the cockpit to find himself only five meters from the trench. The Marines in the trench were punching the air.

Jack ran around to the side of the tac boat and looked for the Marines he had left on the surface in hostile territory. The two squads of Marines were running for the relative safety of their trench, a hail of plasma spears slicing through the dust cloud thrown up by the tac boat’s unorthodox maneuver. Jack counted—all his Marines were coming back. Some were wounded and being assisted by their squad-mates. Some were stopping, turning and returning fire. Jack opened a channel to the two squads.

“Get back here. On the double.” And then, over a company channel, Jack said, “Give those Marines covering fire. It doesn’t need to be pretty, just aim at the flashes from those plasma spears and give them a blast.”

The Marines in the trench and the Marines on the roof fired into the white dust cloud with a terrifying intensity. Jack jumped into the trench and grabbed a couple of Marines. “Unload those supplies,” he said. The Marines slung their pulse rifles across their backs and jumped to it.

“First Marine to find a fixed position blast laser, set it up next to the tac boat. Make it ready to fire as soon as possible.”

The plasma spears began to die down. Then the pulse rifle fire subsided. The dust cloud thinned and drifted away. The deep furrow plowed by the tac boat ran across the surface of Brecon away from the facility. And further away, Jack saw the movement of Chitin soldiers moving into cover.

Sarah Reyes stepped into the open doorway. The drop was only a couple of meters, but Reyes looked unsteady. Jack stepped over and helped her down as she half-climbed and half-fell. Jack steadied her fall by wrapping his arms around her and led her away from the tac boat, over the trench, and away into the hangar.

Sam Torent jogged over to Jack. “Don’t ever do that again, Jack,” Torent said.

“Do what?” Jack said.

Torent took hold of Reyes and helped Jack walk her to the rear of the hangar.

“Don’t ever go running out of cover,” Torent said.

“I’m the commander, Sam.”

“Commander or not, you expose yourself to that sort of danger again and I’ll punch you on the nose.”

“They’ll hang you for that.” Jack stopped in front of the rotating airlock leading to the inner complex.

“It’d be worth it.” Torent said. “Krav it all, Jack. What are you doing putting yourself in danger like that? Who’s going to control this lot if you get hit?”

“You,” Jack said. He put a hand on Torent’s shoulder. “Get those supplies organized, Sam. Set up any heavy weapons the moment you find them.”

Torent nodded, then looked at Reyes.

“Hi there, Sarah,” Torent said. “You picked a bad time for a social call.”

“You look like you’ve got things under control,” she said weakly.

“Always doing my best to make Jack look good,” Torent said.

Jack pushed open the door to his makeshift command center. He moved Reyes toward the low, soft chair and lowered her into it. She groaned as she went down. He pulled off his helmet and dropped it on the desk with a cloud of pale Brecon dust. Then, kneeling in front of Reyes, he detached her helmet and carefully pulled it off.

Reyes’s hair tumbled out and fell around her bruised face, a large purple bruise on her forehead and red contusion on her left cheekbone.

“Hey, gorgeous,” Jack said. He smiled and looked in to Reyes’s deep, dark eyes.

“Hey, you,” she said, wincing in pain as she adjusted her position in the chair. “Nice place you’ve got here.”

Jack nodded, taking her hand. “If I knew you were coming, I’d have done something special.”

Reyes gave a small laugh.

Jack kissed her. He kissed her gently so as not to aggravate her many bruises. He sat at her feet, her hand in his, and looked up at her soft features.

“Shouldn’t you go and organize those supplies?” Reyes said. She winced in pain again.

“Sam can handle it for now. What’s the news from the Scorpio?”

“Chits boarded,” Reyes said. “Adder Company is defending vital systems. I only just got away with the supplies.”

“Why did you bring them?” Jack asked.

“Right place at the right time, I guess.” She put her hand on Jack’s cheek.

Jack accessed her suit’s medical package and checked her over.

“I’m okay,” she said, “just a bit battered.”

The med check came back in the green. Apart from a few bruised ribs and a slight concussion, Reyes was fighting fit.

Jack stood up. He grabbed his helmet. “Rest up here. I’ll look in on you when I can.”

Reyes stood up. She moved awkwardly and winced again. She stood in front of Jack and kissed him deeply. She pulled away slowly and lowered herself back into the chair. “Listen to Sam,” she said. “Stay out of danger.”

“Wouldn’t that be nice,” Jack said. “Unfortunately, Sarah, there isn’t a single place in the system that is safe anymore.”

Major Griff moved along the side corridor and followed the Chitin soldiers heading toward the aft engine and reactor rooms. They would come up against the barricade and the Marines of Adder 8th squad. Griff would engage the Chitin soldiers on the rear flank and finish them. He moved silently, keeping his distance.

He felt alert and awake, more than he had for days, or even weeks. The office of battalion major was tiresome. Harry Griff was a Marine, a good Marine. This was where he was at his best, stalking the enemy, preparing to finish them with bullets and blades.

The sound of pulse rifle fire leapt up suddenly and echoed along the corridor. Griff moved into position. It was the Chitin soldiers firing at the barricade blocking their way to the reactor chamber. The Chits were pressed to the sides of the corridor and some were clinging to the ceiling panels. All were firing their plasma spears. The composite material of the corridor walls, floor, and ceiling fizzed under the plasma weapons’ attack. The pulse rifle fire was accurate, but it was broken and stuttering. The Chits were advancing slowly. Griff broke cover and pumped a half-dozen rounds into the back of the rearmost Chitin. The creature fell, its tentacles thrashing wildly.

Another Chitin turned and spotted Griff. It moved in. Griff loosed another couple of rounds before falling back. The plasma spear struck the corner that Griff had just ducked behind.

Griff moved quickly to the next junction. He saw a shadow of a Chitin soldier moving along an adjoining corridor. He followed, stalking silently.

The lone Chitin was moving away as he rounded the corner. Griff stepped into the corridor quietly. He raised his pulse pistol and fired three shots into the back of the Chitin’s head. The enemy soldier turned, its plasma spear launcher glowing and ready to fire. Griff fired another couple of rounds into the Chitin’s head. The Chitin fell. A lucky shot stopped it in its tracks.

He heard the scurrying of a Chitin soldier in the corridor behind him. Griff moved quickly, leaping over the body of the fallen Chit and running around the next junction.

The three Chitins in the corridor were still and silent, and facing Griff. The small round mouths opened to show a wide ring of white teeth.

Griff fired and fell back around the corner. He fired up his pulse pistol’s electron blade and made ready for the three Chitins to rush him. He had taken on Chitins before. He wasn’t afraid of them. He could kill them all.

The rigid tentacle burst out from his shoulder, just underneath his collar bone. Griff looked down at the black spike sticking out of his suit, his own blood dripping off the pointed end. Griff turned to look over his shoulder. A Chitin solder was looking down at him, slime dripping from its round mouth.

The three Chitins came around the corner slowly. They stood in front of Griff. Griff fired two quick shots, aiming from the hip. A tentacle slapped the weapon from his hand. And the Chitins moved in to surround him.

The voice of Captain Pretorius came over his suit’s communicator.

“Major Griff. Come in, Major.”

Griff looked at the tentacle sticking out of his suit. His breath was lost, his voice gone. The Chits moved in closer, and all was black.

15

Walking out from the inner complex, Jack saw the hive of activity at the hangar entrance. Torent was directing the setup of two big, fixed position blast lasers. The massive guns were being built at the sides of the main entrance. The makeshift barricades had been moved to give the big guns and their crews extra cover.

The supply crates were being taken from the tac boat and stacked neatly. The small ration crate held enough of the heavy ration blocks to maintain a company of Marines for a week or two. The massive stack of pulse rifle ammunition, power cells, and grenades was enough for a week of hard fighting. The barrel power cells for the blast laser would keep the heavy weapons firing constantly for a year.

Jack knew it was all necessary. The Chitins weren’t going to give up and melt away into the black. They had been engaging and harassing the human settlers for almost two years, ever since the first encounter with them at their gas giant home world of Zelos.

If the fleet hadn’t visited that world, maybe the Chitins would have been unaware of the human presence in the system and the two civilizations might never have met. Now that they had, the Chitins showed no signs of interest in human affairs, or in the early human diplomatic approaches. The Chitins were bent on destroying any and every human craft or settlement they encountered.

There was no reason to believe the Chitins would leave the humans alone now. They were cornered, cut off, isolated. The humans were reliant on supplies of energy and material that they had been sourcing from the wider Eros system. Cut off from their supplies, it was only a matter of time before they were spent, exhausted, depleted, and entirely at the mercy of the Chitins.

Jack had encountered the Chitins on many occasions and there was one thing he was sure they were lacking, and that was mercy.

Torent looked completely at ease as he directed the Marines. A small group had unpacked an entrenchment kit and they were rapidly building up the crude trench into a much more substantial defensive system.

Torent had incorporated the crashed tac boat into the defensive trench system and had created a forward command center, right in the middle of the defenses. The power systems were inoperable, but the hull was still a solid defense. The tac boat’s cannon was being stripped out. It would make an excellent addition to the defense. Jack was impressed with Torent. He had been in command for a little over half an hour and he was making an impact.

Jack stepped up next to Torent and watched the work.

“Excellent idea to make the tac boat part of the trench, Sam,” Jack said.

“I wish it was operational,” Torent said. “I’d be out of here in a shot.”

Jack smiled. “You wouldn’t leave me to manage all this on my own, would you?”

“Why don’t we just run?” Torent folded his arms. “We have been getting beaten at every turn for over a year. I’ve had about enough of it, Jack. If that boat was operational, I’d be out of this system and on route to another. There are a billion star systems in this galaxy alone. Why do we stay here and get our kravin butts kicked day after day?”

Jack had never heard Torent sound so defeatist. This was not the pugilistic, aggressive old squad-mate he once knew. Torent had never backed away from a fight before, but the constant pressure was making everyone a little anxious.

“Maybe if we had left after the first attack, we could have all gotten away.” Jack shifted his weight from one foot to the other. He was battered and bruised. Standing was painful. “The fleet could have just about carried the populations of Eros and Eras, but not now. There are too many people and too few ships. Besides, I don’t think we would make it past the orbit of Zelos before the last ship was lost to Chitin attack.”

Torent stepped forward as the tac boat cannon came free of its housing. “Deploy that cannon to the middle of the trench line,” Torent said. Then he turned to Jack. “If that’s okay with you, sir?”

Torent’s tone was respectful. And his tactical understanding was developed after a year of combat with the Chits.

“Good call, Sam,” Jack said.

“Hook up the power. And keep those big guns silent. I don’t want to let the Chits know we’ve got heavy weapons support.”

“Good thinking, Sam,” Jack said. He slapped his old squad-mate on the back. “You know, you’d make a pretty good officer yourself.”

“What have I been telling you? Ever since boot camp, I told you they should put me in charge.”

“And what would you do if they did put you in charge? Run?”

Torent turned toward Jack. “You know I am no coward, Jacky. You know I’ll fight them.”

Jack nodded. Torent wouldn’t run. He was too proud to run from a fight. But Jack didn’t know if Torent could lead a company. A squad was one thing, a company was another entirely different set of problems, but from what Jack had seen, Torent was developing.

The message from Pretorius came through to Jack alone. He watched the busy company of Marines as Pretorius told him the news.

“Expect another attack, more Hydras incoming. Thousands of them. The Scorpio is falling back. We’ve got Chits in every corridor. Good luck, Jack.”

The hairs on Jack’s body stood up and the dust became sticky as the defense cannon discharged. Somewhere out in space, a Chitin craft was annihilated.

Jack looked out at the surface of the moon beyond the hangar entrance. The pale surface stretched away to the black horizon and the planet of Eros hanging high in the black sky.

“We’ll hold them off, Captain. I’ve got an exceptional company down here.”

Jack saw the engine flare in the black sky as the Scorpio turned back to Eros and the safety and support of the fleet.

Jack sighed as he thought of the fleet, cowering behind the planetary defenses. It had been a magnificent fleet once, but now it was a shadow of its former self. Half of its most powerful ships had been lost to enemy attacks and the remainder were badly in need of repairs.

A squadron of Blades flashed across the moon’s surface, several of them performing barrel rolls and end over end flips. More flamboyant flying just to show the Marines on the ground that the Blades were still in this fight.

Jack dusted off his sleeve and activated his wrist-mounted holodisplay. The range was not good but already it was picking up the first wave of Chitin craft.

“To arms. To arms.” Jack spoke calmly and with authority over the company channel. “We’ve got more incoming.”

16

The Hydras began landing beyond the horizon. Jack watched their landing jets sparkle in the black sky above Brecon. The Blades flashed in and amongst the Chitin craft, flashes of light bursting over the dark sky as the Blades destroyed one Chitin craft after another before they could land and deploy their soldiers to the ground.

Jack stood on the stairway at the rear of the hangar and watched. All he could do was watch and wait. The dust cloud rising on the horizon told him what he feared. Thousands of Chitin soldiers were rushing toward his position. The same attack was probably taking place on the southern pole and the cannon located there. Jack hoped the new commander of Boa Company was managing. Jack was hopeful that Laidlaw could do the job he was assigned.

“Hold fire, Cobra,” Jack said over the company channel. “Set those blast lasers on wide planar beam. Hit them with pulse rifle fire when they are in range. Let’s bring them right on top of us before we fire the laser. We don’t want to show all our cards at once.”

The dust cloud grew higher and came closer. Eventually, Jack could see the dark smear on the horizon as the Chits came on. Thousands and thousands of them, each focused on the single objective to destroy the planetary defense cannon. Only then could the Leviathans approach Eros and finish the job of killing the human population of that planet. Jack was in their way. Soon the Chitins would know that it took more than numbers to beat Jack Forge.

The first volley of pulse rifle fire sounded as every rifle fired a well-aimed round. The distance the enemy was at meant the Marines required accuracy not rapidity of fire to make an impact.

Jack watched through his field scanner. The Chitins at the front of the horde were taking fire, every shot a hit, smashing chunks out of the shell-like skulls. But as the front rank fell to the ranged pulse rifle fire, another rank of Chitin soldiers rushed over them to continue the relentless surge forward.

“Commander Forge,” Taku Folau messaged Jack. “I’ve got Chits advancing on the rear of the facility. Hundreds of them.”

Jack knew the entrance to the rear of the facility was too narrow for a meaningful attack. The narrow entrance and the long, narrow corridor that led off it would negate the Chitin numbers. Soon, those corridors would be filled and blocked with the bodies of Chitin dead.

“Hold them, Taku,” Jack said, watching the massed frontal assault moving ever closer. “Stand your ground, is that clear, Squad Leader?”

“Clear, Commander,” Folau replied.

The mass of Chitins came ever closer and Jack heard the pulse rifles move into the short burst firing pattern. The short bursts of pulse rounds struck the front of the Chitin wave and Jack saw the Chitin advance halt for a moment. But it was only a momentary halt until the press of numbers overcame the bursts of rifle fire.

“Stand by on those blast lasers. Tac cannon, fire.”

The purring of the tac boat’s kinetic hail cannon echoed around the entrance hangar. The rapid firing cannon cut a swath through the advancing Chits, a hundred Chitin soldiers torn to fragments by the brutal weapon. Designed to smash a Hydra’s hull, the tac boat’s cannon made short work of Chitin exoskeleton. The cannon stopped firing and the coolant system vented with loud hiss. Then it fired another burst, its gentle purring belied its deadly nature.

Still, the Chits came on. Still, there were thousands. They would not stop. This was to the death. Jack noticed the Blades in the distance, dancing around in a deadly aerial ballet with Krakens as more Hydras landed to unload fresh Chitin soldiers to the attack.

Thousands had already died, thousands more would die, and Jack didn’t want to lose one more Marine. He couldn’t lose one more Marine.

“Stand by on the blast laser. Planar beam. Fire.”

The blast laser fired the moment Jack gave the command. With the weapon set to planar beam, it sent out a flat, wide beam of deadly energy. The green laser plane sliced through the Chitins that it connected with. The plane held for a second and then disappeared, leaving a battlefield strewn with dissected Chitin soldiers, some writhing in their death throes.

The tac boat cannon purred again and knocked another swath through the advancing Chitins. Then the blast laser fired another deadly sheet of laser that cut another hundred Chitins in two.

But still they came. The front line of the Chitin advance was reduced to a few scattered individuals. The Marines pulse rifles targeted and finished them.

But still they came.

And then came a communication from Pretorius. A private message for Jack.

“This is classified, Jack,” Pretorius said. “But you need to know. The Chits have destroyed Eras.”

Jack’s breath stuck in his chest. The Chits couldn’t destroy a planet. It was impossible.

“What?” Jack asked, stunned.

“They slammed an asteroid into it. It was massive. Fleet HQ thinks it must have been a neutron star fragment. It punched right through the planet. Eras is gone. We’ve lost all communication. The ships positioned there are trying to regroup with us here at Eros, but it looks like they are cut off by the Chitin blockade.”

Jack was stunned. He stood, open-mouthed, staring at the firing line and the Chitins who were coming ever closer.

“No,” Jack said in stunned disbelief.

“I’ve seen the data. It’s true.” Pretorius paused. “Are you okay, Jack?”

Jack mentally shook himself. “Yes, sir, just a little shocked is all. It’s a bit much to take in.”

“Get used to it. Eros is probably next, unless we can break this kravin stranglehold they have on us.”

“How are you, sir?” Jack asked. Anything to change the subject from the shocking news. “How is the Scorpio?”

“We are managing. Marines from the Aquarius transferred over. We’ve secured the ship and the Chits are all but finished.”

“Good to hear, sir,” Jack said. He saw three Blades race across the entrance and blast a concentration of Chits that had herded together from fear of the blast laser’s deadly cutting planar beam.

“You hold that cannon, Jack,” Pretorius said. “If that facility falls, it’ll be over in a matter of hours.”

“We’re holding our own, Captain.” Jack checked the view through his field scanners. A Blade was struck by ground fire and crashed to the moon’s dusty surface. The explosion that followed suggested the pilot was surely lost.

“Good luck, Jack,” Pretorius said.

“Commander,” Folau’s voice came over Jack’s communicator. “The Chits. They are in the facility. They smashed the small rear door. They are inside, sir.”

Jack climbed down from his vantage point and headed for the rotating airlock to the inner complex. “Those side doors were never going to hold them out. But they can’t deploy numbers against you in the corridors. As long as you’ve got ammunition, they can’t take the corridor.”

“I’ll make every shot count,” Folau said.

Jack went to the rotating airlock door to the inner complex and headed inside. If the Chits were in the complex, Jack wanted to be sure Reyes was safe. He could keep her safe.

He ran to the small office. Reyes was gone.

“Sarah,” Jack called into his communicator. “Reyes, come in.”

17

“Sarah?” Jack called as he ran along the corridor of the inner complex. He flung open one door after another looking for Reyes. They’d had so little opportunity to spend time together these last few weeks, and Jack didn’t want to lose her now she was so close.

Jack threw open a door and spotted Reyes sitting at an engineering station of a control room. A holoimage rotated slowly in front of her, showing a network of pipes and cables that looked like a mess of noodles to Jack. Reyes was transfixed and clearly saw something else in the image. Jack walked over to her.

“Sarah, I was calling you. The Chitins are…”

“Look at this, Jack,” she said, not taking her eyes off the holographic technical diagram. “It’s what makes the planetary defense cannon work. Isn’t it amazing?”

“Sarah, we’ve got to go,” Jack reached out and took Reyes by the hand.

Shrugging Jack off, she tapped a few controls. The diagram disappeared, and a list of data started streaming across the holoimage.

“I found data on the cannon’s activity. It’s a brilliant piece of equipment. Look how it tunnels through spacetime directly to the center mass of the target.”

“I’m sure it’s amazing, but we need to get you somewhere safe.”

Reyes rolled her chair along to the next terminal and taped a single button. The Eros System appeared with the surrounding Chitin armada. “Nowhere is safe anymore, Jack.”

Jack looked at the holoimage of the Chitin armada. The Chitins had Eros surrounded. They would move in for the kill sooner or later. Jack was determined not to let them take him without a fight.

“Can you do anything to extend the range of the cannon?” Jack asked.

Reyes was shaking her head. She rolled her chair back to the first terminal.

“No,” Reyes said. “The range is a function of the energy transfer. Any further and the energy is reduced to practically zero. It just evaporates, but look at this.”

Reyes changed the holoimage to show a Chitin Leviathan.

“This is data from the last attack. Look where the particle beam emerges in the interior of the Leviathan. The data shows the Leviathan fails instantly, but look here. The previous attack and the energy was much higher, but the focal point of the beam was off by only a fraction”

“No, I don’t get it. You’ll have to make it a bit easier for me, Sarah.” Jack tried to see what appeared so obvious to Reyes.

“Okay, look here…” Reyes tapped the console. An image of a Leviathan appeared. It seemed to be tethered to the surface of a planet, or a moon. Then Jack recognized it.

“That’s the Leviathan we took down at the Battle of Kratos Fuel Station.”

Sarah looked up at Jack and nodded. “I located the data in the Fleet database.” She looked back at the image. “Don’t ask me how I did it because I don’t think it was strictly legal.”

“What is that telling us?” Jack leaned in, as if getting closer to the image and the data steaming over it would make any more sense to him.

Sarah stopped the data scrolling over the image and highlighted a single data point.

Jack recognized a set of coordinates when he saw it. He knew that much.

“Coordinates. What for?” Jack asked.

“For this.” Reyes pointed at the image of the Leviathan. She expanded the image and showed a point deep inside the Leviathan.

“That is where the damage was done to the Leviathan we destroyed at Kratos fuel station.” Reyes called up the image of the Leviathan destroyed by the defense cannon. The same point was highlighted.

“I don’t think they’ve spotted it but look, Jack. The Leviathans are tough ships, right? They have taken a beating from our biggest ships and barely take a scratch until they crack. Well, I think they are superbly strong, but all that is somehow dependent on this one point in the ship’s interior.”

Sarah looked up at Jack.

“So,” Jack said, “it’s like a weak point.”

Sarah looked back to the image. “Kind of. More like a hinge point. You know like when the doctor checks your reflexes and makes your leg jump with a little tap from a hammer? It’s like that. Little force, big reaction.”

“So all we need to do is to give them a little tap with a hammer?” Jack said.

“Well, not that little, but if it’s in the right spot, it doesn’t need to be massive, not nearly as much as the planetary defense cannon can apply. A kiloton should be more than enough.”

“You are a genius, Sarah.” Jack leaned down and kissed her cheek.

Sarah blushed. “I’m sure anyone could have spotted it eventually. We should tell Fleet HQ right away.”

Jack felt a sense of elation. They could break the Chitin blockade. The fleet could target the specific area of the Leviathans and push the Chits back to their home world. All Jack had to do was inform Fleet Command and Control. Jack was about to open a channel to the nearest Fleet officer when he hesitated.

“What if the Chits intercept the transmission? They will know we have found a chink in their armor.”

Sarah switched off the terminal. “I deal with the technical stuff, Jack. Tactics is more your thing.”

“A kiloton explosion,” Jack said to himself. “A few antimatter power cells ought to do it. I just need a way to get it in place.”

“You?” Reyes said, suddenly alarmed. “No, Jack. Tell Fleet HQ. Let them do it. You can’t take on the whole Chitin armada by yourself.”

“I won’t take them on by myself. I’ll have help. Sarah, can you get one of their Hydras flying?”

18

The trench line was quiet at the front of the entrance hangar. Jack looked out to the moon’s surface. Torent stood next to him, silent. The moon around the facility was crawling with Chitins, the survivors of the last assault. It would be a dangerous thing to do to break cover and attempt to cross the surface of Brecon with all those Chits out there. But Jack had no option. He had to act and act fast.

Jack called Corry Allen, the squad leader of 3rd squad, over to him. “And you too, Bevan.” Jack waved the young squad leader over to him. “Fall in with me.”

Allen and Bevan came over quickly and smartly. Bevan saluted Jack and came to attention.

“At ease, guys. Corry, I know you have faced off against the Chits plenty, and Erin, you’ve spent time adrift in open space. You two have the experience I need on this job. You survived for days in the wreckage of the Taurus, right?” Jack asked Bevan.

“I did, sir,” Bevan replied confidently.

“I need more Marines who have experience in open space.”

Torent folded his arms and nodded. “I’ve been in that sort of situation with you before, sir,” Torent said. “Where are we going this time?”

“Not you, Sam,” Jack said. “I need you to take over down here. We are going to destroy some Leviathans.”

Jack sat in the trench with Reyes, Allen, and Bevan. They each carried a pack stuffed with pulse rifle power cells and had a guidance system activated on their wrist-mounted holodisplay. The Marines on either side of the Jack’s little team looked at Jack for the signal.

A final silent check with his small team and they all nodded that they were ready to go. With a simple gesture, Jack sent the Marines forward.

They climbed over the top of the rampart and rushed forward over the moon’s surface. They ran in a spear head formation with Jack and his team running behind the tip of the spear. Jack knew in only a short while, this team would be the only hope for humanity’s survival.

The plasma spears started up from positions around the area, small pockets of Chitins taking the opportunity to fire at the Marines in the open. Jack saw the first Marine fall. He went down hard, a plasma spear’s residual fire smoldering on his helmet.

Another Marine ran up and took the fallen Marine’s position. They began to return fire, but it was difficult to fire accurately or in a sustained burst while running. Short blasts of pulse rifle fire flashed across the surface of Brecon as Marines fired at the hidden Chits that their scanners detected. The shots were inaccurate, but it served to keep the Chits’ fire to a minimum.

The scanner on Jack’s wrist showed him the location of a Chitin Hydra. The Chitin transport craft lay open and hopefully empty.

They ran directly for the opening of the Hydra. This was no time for finesse, this was a rough and ready operation, and it needed to be quick.

The first Marine to reach the Hydra was the Marine on point. She rushed inside, her electron bayonet carrying her forward into the dark interior of the alien craft. A second Marine followed and by the time Jack and his team arrived, the two Marines were stepping out and giving the all clear.

Jack waved Reyes, Allen, and Bevan inside. The Marines established a perimeter and took cover on the surface as best they could. The plasma fire began raining down furiously. The return fire from the Marines was equally furious, and now that they were stationary, the fire was well aimed and deadly.

Jack stepped into the Chitin Hydra.

The interior was a mess of tentacles dangling and hanging from very surface. In between the tentacles were pockets of polyps that were lighting up. Jack pressed his way toward Reyes. She was in a chair-like structure made of tentacles that were wrapped around her body. She was pulling tentacles and pressing the colored polyp panels.

“How long before we are on our way?” Jack asked on a secure communication channel open to the small team.

“We already are,” Reyes replied cheerfully. “Look.” Reyes wiped her hand over a panel and the hull appeared translucent, showing the surface of Brecon falling away. The Marine escort was already hurrying back to the defensive position at the planetary defense cannon. The surface of Brecon was littered with dead Chitins and crashed, burning Fleet fighters. There was a shimmering oily edge to the display that made it all seem unreal. Jack knew battle too well, but it always looked strange and surreal to him.

“Once we are within range, we go on alone,” Jack said. “Suit thruster jets only.” Jack pulled out his pulse pistol. “The electron blade is our door key.” Jack tapped the holodisplay on his sleeve. It showed the point in the Leviathan where they needed to plant their explosives. “We plant our package at this point and no other, copy?” Jack said.

Allen and Bevan looked at the holoimages on their own sleeve holodisplays. The route to the Leviathan’s weak spot was highlighted.

“Easy as falling off a log, right?” Allen said.

Jack nodded. He hoped they would all make it back alive. He would be able to joke about it then too.

“Nearing the first insertion point,” Reyes said. “I’ll open the doors now.”

Jack nodded, surprised at how quickly they had crossed into enemy territory, and equally thankful their stolen Chitin ship hadn’t been targeted. He looked at his small team. “We don’t know what we’re going to find in there, but we need to get these charges in place. We must not fail.”

The two Marines nodded.

“You’re good to go,” Reyes said.

Allen went first. He moved to the door with purpose and stepped out into the black without hesitation.

Jack followed his progress on his scanner until he was out of range.

The three insertion points were set so the three Marines would arrive at their target Leviathans simultaneously. The detonations should occur within seconds of each other. If Jack’s plan worked, the Chitins wouldn’t know what had hit them.

“Insertion point two,” Reyes said.

Bevan gave Jack a smart salute and then ran out of the Hydra.

Jack went over to Reyes. He put a hand on her shoulder. She turned to look at him, and their helmets bumped together lightly.

“Take care,” Reyes said

Jack knew he was heading into danger and he needed to win, not take care.

“I’ll see you soon,” he said.

“Insertion point three,” Reyes said.

Jack turned and walked toward the open door. He stepped out into the black and activated his meat suit’s thruster jets.

The Leviathan looked huge. It hung in space, the light from the distant star glinting off one aspect and then another as the massive Chitin warship turned slowly in space. As Jack came close, he could truly appreciate the scale.

He had seen a Leviathan up close before, but they never stopped looking imposing. They seemed to grow every time he encountered them. If his plan was successful, Jack hoped he might never encounter one again.

The holoimage on his wrist directed him to the access point on the Leviathan. He moved in closer and closer, the black hull seeming to fall further into the black of space the closer he got. He felt he was falling down a dark hole with the ground racing toward him and away at the same time.

Jack felt the fear in his chest, the fear of any small creature next to a deadly one many times its size. He was hoping he could swim into the shark’s mouth because the shark didn’t know he was there or didn’t consider him a threat. If that Leviathan spotted him, or decided the puny human had wandered too close, Jack guessed that at least the end would be swift.

He came up to the Leviathan hull. It was a strange black, not just the absence of color, but almost absence of matter. The construction was so durable, so tough, that it took hundreds of fleet munitions to crack it, but up close and with his pulse pistol’s electron blade applied to the hull firmly, the shell opened easily.

Jack pressed the electron blade into the hull. He cracked open a fissure. It opened just wide enough for him to press himself inside. He dragged himself forward, grabbing the loose flesh of the interior to pull himself deeper inside.

He found himself in a thick, syrupy liquid. It made movement very difficult, but with a combination of swimming strokes and his suit’s thruster jets, he moved to the point that Reyes had identified as the weak spot.

Jack had his scanner active for any Chitin movement. Surely a vessel this size would be crewed by hundreds of Chits. Jack’s scanners couldn’t penetrate the thick liquid very far, but as far as it could, it detected no Chitin crew.

He came across a thick white sinew-like tendril. He avoided touching it but carried along on his route to the weak point. Then he found another tendril, and as he came closer to the weak spot, he discovered more of the thick sinews converging. At the coordinates of the weak spot that Reyes had identified, Jack found that the white sinews converged and formed a large, glistening white knot.

The weak spot. The Achilles Heel. Victory.

Jack carefully positioned his charge at the node where the tendrils converged. He set a detonation timer to give him just enough time to reach a minimum safe distance. His suit’s extreme environment capabilities were about to be tested like never before. Could they withstand the destruction of a nearby Chitin Leviathan? Jack hoped so.

Jack moved away carefully at first and then quicker, more urgently, until he reached the escape point. The hull had begun to rejoin and the gap had closed up. Jack opened the incision further with his electron blade and forced himself out into space.

The fluid from the Leviathan’s interior spewed out with Jack. It was as if the craft had birthed a Marine fully clad in a Marine extreme environment suit. The sticky fluid clogged Jack’s jet thrusters and he limped away.

The Chitin armada lay all around. In every direction, he saw a Hydra or a swarm of Krakens. And dotted about the armada were the massive Chitin Leviathans. If their plan worked, three were about to suffer a sudden and unexpected catastrophic failure.

Jack watched the countdown on his wrist display. The timer reached zero, and he watched in anticipation.

Jack felt a year’s worth of tiredness fall on him. Anxiety, disappointment, and regret. All the sadness for lost friends. The entirety of his life slipping away as he began to fear that this was where it all ended, alone, in the dark of space, surrounded by a violent and remorseless enemy.

He waited. Frozen in dread.

The first flicker of light across the Leviathan ran the length of the massive ship, from its tentacle-like structures on one end to its large bulbous head on the other. Then the flicker of fine lines appeared suddenly over the entire outer surface.

And then in a silent, violent, bright flash, the Leviathan broke apart. Huge chunks of outer hull moved rapidly apart, all separated by the fracture lines.

A large fragment raced toward Jack as he stared in wonder and relief. The section was moving extremely fast and Jack realized he was in danger. He moved with his stuttering thrusters and put himself out of the path of the flying piece of debris.

Away to his right, Jack spotted two other massive detonations. The light bursting out from between the huge sections of Leviathan hull.

Jack punched above his head in elation. He had delivered a blow only previously managed by a combined carrier force of the Fleet’s most powerful ships. He had delivered a massive blow to the Chitin fleet.

Then elation gave way to fear. Surely the Chits would come looking for him now. He wouldn’t be able to escape their wrath. Fear gave way to resignation. His fate was sealed, and he accepted it. Then with acceptance of his imminent destruction, Jack felt a sense of pride that he had fought as hard as any Marine, done his duty as well as any Marine. He had given everything to the Fleet Marine Service and given everything for the preservation of humanity in the Eros System. Hanging alone in space, he knew he couldn’t have done more. The pulse pistol in his hand would be little use against a Chitin ship. He deactivated the electron blade and held the pistol loosely at his side. He would not let the Chitins kill him when he had ammunition in his pistol. He would not let them take him alive either. He would not be corrupted and converted into a Chitin agent like others had been before. Jack would save one pulse pistol round for himself.

He looked at the Chitin ships spread across hundreds of thousands of miles all around him. Surely one was on its way to finish him off. But through the still-expanding wreckage of the Leviathan, Jack saw the Chitin craft moving away. He checked his scanner to confirm the apparent movement. They were moving away, and they were accelerating. Then, as the Hydras retreated, the swarms of Kraken moved off at speed and with a strange grace, the remaining Leviathans turned and headed away into the black of space.

Jack hung there. His arms and legs floating out from his body as he relaxed. For the first time since he had sat in the lecture theater on Eros, seeing that his grades had dropped and he was to be pressed into the military, he felt himself relax, truly relax.

He had won. Jack had fought the toughest enemy. He had given everything he could, and more. Jack had once dreamed of all he could be. Now he knew who he was. He was a Marine, forged under siege.

Forged to Hunt

Jack Forge, Fleet Marine, Book 7

1

The tac boat slowed to approach speed and moved in closer to the surface of the massive asteroid. The search lights burst to life, throwing long shadows across the jagged surface, where thin ridges flanked deep channels that had not seen light in eons. The surface looked like rows of dark knives, their blades pointing up to the cold emptiness of space.

The blade-like surface was interrupted only by a single smooth trench that had been gouged across the asteroid. The tac boat followed the trench, its search lights washing away the darkness as its sensors scanned every square meter of the surface and every dark recess. Finally, it came upon the object that had created the smooth scar on the otherwise serrated surface. A Chitin Hydra had plowed the trench during a crash landing. It was the first Chitin craft that Jack Forge had seen in weeks.

“I’ll put us down in the trench,” Jack said to the small team of Fleet Marines in the ship. “It’s the only suitable landing site on this jagged rock.”

The reconnaissance of the asteroid belt had been underway for just over two weeks and barely a fraction of the belt had been cleared. The Chitins had almost entirely vanished from the system as far as the outer edge of the asteroid belt. At least, that was as far as the fleet had dared venture so far. All the fleet’s warships were operating close to the cover of the massive planetary defense cannons that had saved humanity from total destruction. Only the small craft, the tac boats and the fighters, had ranged this far.

Encounters with Chitin forces had been sporadic, just occasional encounters with lone Hydra-class craft or small groups of stranded Chitin soldiers hiding on the surface of an asteroid. It was nothing that the small task force of tac boats and fighters couldn’t handle.

With the carrier groups patrolling the planets and moons of the inner system, within the cover of the massive planetary defense cannons, the massed squadrons of fighters had swept the asteroid belt around the entire span. Now that the fighters had finished their initial sweep, it was time for the Fleet Marines to comb the belt. A series of tac boat-based teams were moving from one asteroid to the next, scouring every rock to ensure that no Chitins were left.

The last encounter with Chitin forces had been reported a few days before when a team from Task Force Three had encountered a group of Chitin soldiers and had dispatched them with ruthless efficiency. Jack would be happy if it was the last recorded encounter with the deadly enemy. He had fought them across the Eros System for over a year, and he would happily live out the rest of his life and never encounter a single Chitin soldier ever again.

Jack landed his tac boat in the smooth trench a few meters from the crashed Hydra and reported his location to Fleet Command.

“This is Commander Forge, Task Force One. We have located a Chitin Hydra-class craft. It appears to have crash landed. Sending surveillance data. Moving with my team to a foot patrol of the asteroid.”

Launching a small swarm of drones with a few taps of the control console, Jack stood up from the pilot chair. He walked to the door and tapped the control panel. The side of the tac boat opened upwards and the small ramp slid out, driving itself into the surface of the asteroid.

Looking back at the team of four, Jack was disappointed to see the lethargy and casual behavior. This was not the clear, sharp actions he had come to expect from a well-disciplined group of Marines. The team was made up of a small group from squads throughout the Scorpio battalion’s Cobra Company. Jack had been disappointed with the performance of these Marines and had selected them personally for his team on the search and destroy mission in the asteroid belt. It was a low-risk operation and Jack hoped he could try and motivate, and in some small part re-train, these Marines.

Louise Tyler was young and pretty, and a habitual thief. She had chosen Marine service over prison. A string of arrests for petty theft and vehicle theft had landed her in court facing a lengthy custodial sentence. With the Chitin war at its height and Marine numbers low, she was lucky to have an option and an opportunity to avoid incarceration. She was bright and technically able. If she had chosen a lawful career instead of a criminal one, she could have been successful. Jack didn’t hold out much hope for her rehabilitation, given he already suspected her of theft from the Marine store, but everyone deserved a chance. Jack was giving her another chance. It would be her last.

Jason Drake had been conscripted after the end of his compulsory education. He had failed to achieve any grade in any subject. He had skipped school regularly from the age of ten. He had missed so much of his compulsory education that it was difficult to understand how he could even read. Jack had caught him gambling in a supply room onboard the Scorpio and the surveillance footage had showed that his ability to calculate the odds while betting on cards or dice was fast and accurate. He clearly had a mathematical mind and should have aced math class, if he had ever attended. Jack was sure that Jason Drake could be a valuable member of any Marine squad if he would just apply himself.

Jon Attah had joined early in the Chitin war and had shown promise. Jack had read through his record trying to identify the point where this once highly motivated Marine had become so lazy. He was always last to take on any task and always the first to take on recreation. He avoided work, responsibility, and combat. His pulse rifle fire rate was the lowest in the entire battalion, although rifle range data showed he was an accurate shot. His electron bayonet had never been used in anger and had only been activated once during initial training. His suit’s medical package, however, was among the most active in the battalion and he regularly administered stim or pain relief meds. His medical package was being monitored directly by Scorpio med bay and his squad leader. Jack was not going to lose this once promising Marine to med abuse and he was determined to help Jon Attah rediscover his early enthusiasm for the service.

Paul Garcia was the old man of the group. He had joined the Marines straight out of school, before the first encounter with the Chitins. Although he had a good academic record, he was a distinctly average Marine. He had never excelled in any area of the service nor had he ever fallen below expectations. He was not ambitious or highly motivated, and he did just enough for the officers to leave him alone. He had friends in his squad and throughout the battalion, he was well liked and enjoyed socializing whenever the opportunity occurred, and he fought hard when confronted with the Chitins, but Paul Garcia he had never volunteered for any duty in his career, nor had he shown any drive to achieve more than a basic standard. He was coasting. Jack wanted more from Garcia. The Marine was experienced and had served on the Monarch before being transferred to the Scorpio at the outbreak of the war. Garcia permanently kept his head down and did the best he could to remain invisible. Jack had spotted him, and Jack wanted more from him.

“Disembark in battle formation, Marines.” Jack stepped aside from the open door. “Garcia, take point. Move.”

Garcia stepped out of the tac boat, his pulse rifle held casually across his chest.

“Bring that weapon up, Garcia,” Jack said. The old Marine should have known battle formation and that the soldier on point should have his pulse rifle raised and ready to fire.

Garcia brought the weapon up to his shoulder. He pointed it forward as he moved with the casual gait of one out for a walk in the park. There was no urgency or precision in his movements. He was a plodding mess.

“There is a Chitin Hydra out there, Marines,” Jack said, measuring his tone. These Marines were not well disciplined, but a heavy hand might not be the best approach. He was trying the gentle approach, for now.

Attah and Tyler stepped out next, taking positions behind and to the sides of Garcia. Drake went last, moving slowly, keeping low, his pulse rifle raised.

Jack stepped out onto the surface of the asteroid and looked at the crashed Hydra. Using a filter on his field scanner, Jack could see that the Hydra engines were cold. The craft had been powered down for some time. The craft was twisted and there was a large crack in the hull, large enough for a fully-suited Marine to step inside the craft. Jack watched the crack carefully as he sent his Marines forward.

Jack moved the group toward the crashed Hydra and studied their actions. Tyler was the most nervous, her pulse rate climbing. Garcia was as calm as ever. Attah requested a dose of a stimulant from his suit’s med package. It flagged on Jack’s data overlay, the request blinking in red text displayed over Attah’s right shoulder.

“You requested medical treatment, Jon,” Jack said on a private channel. “Is everything alright?”

“Just fatigue, sir,” Attah replied.

The squad had been on task for just over two weeks, constantly moving through the asteroid belt, landing on one asteroid after the next, marching over the surface and checking every cavern and crater for signs of Chits. Jack had moved slowly and with care so as not to miss a single possible Chitin. He had not worked this small team too hard, but it was probably harder than they had been worked for some time. Jack could see no medical need for a stim shot. He forwarded the request to the med bay on the Scorpio. The reply came back immediately. There was no medical need for the request. The request was at the discretion of the officer in charge.

Jack considered the request. He saw Attah look back over his shoulder at Jack. The Marine’s pulse rate was rising. He was becoming nervous as he was forced to wait for his stim shot.

Jack opened a private channel. “Once we clear this asteroid, we will be on a scheduled rest period. Make sure you get some sleep. Copy?”

Jack waited for Attah’s reply. And he waited. Jack wouldn’t wait a moment longer.

“Respond, Marine. Do you copy?”

Attah’s voice was frustrated and angry, and just short of insolence. “Copy that, sir,” he said.

Jack knew the man was struggling with his med use and so cut him a bit of slack and authorized the stim. It was rare for Marines to misuse the medical package and Jack was surprised that Attah’s excessive use had not been identified sooner. “Focus on the task, Marine. Watch that crack in the hull. We don’t want any Chitin soldiers surprising us.”

“Copy that, sir,” Attah said, his tone showing at least a small increase in respect for his commanding officer.

The team moved forward slowly. It was painful progress. Jack knew any team from 6th squad would have cleared this Hydra by now. He could have easily left these Marines on the Scorpio and brought a group that he knew and trusted, a team that would get the job done more efficiently. Jack had concerns beyond this search and destroy operation, though. He was the commander of Cobra Company, so all of these Marines were his responsibility. It was down to him to encourage and enforce a higher standard for all of them.

These four Marines were poor performers, probably the worst in the battalion, but Jack thought they could be reformed with some personal attention. An operation with their company commander watching over them might bring them around. Jack felt he owed it to them, and to the battalion, to give them the chance to become effective and efficient Marines, to be the best they could be.

“Get a light in there,” Jack said over the team channel. He drew his pulse pistol and kneeled, aiming at the breach in the Hydra hull.

Garcia activated his suit’s flashlight. A bright beam of white lit up the Hydra’s hull breach. The slight movement as Garcia shifted his weight on the uneven surface created a mass of dancing shadows in the Hydra’s interior.

“Keep that light targeted on the breach, Paul,” Jack said. “Everyone, lights on.”

The suit flashlights from all four Marines poured into the dark interior of the Hydra. Jack brought up his field scanner and peered into the breach. The shadows flickered as the meat suit lights moved about with the slightest motion from each of the four Marines. Then Jack saw a flicker that was more than a shadow. It was dark, but solid. There was movement in there.

“Movement inside,” Jack said. He stood and moved up to the Marines in their diamond formation, taking a knee next to Garcia.

“Let’s toss a few grenades in there. That should clear it up, sir,” Garcia said.

“Negative,” Jack replied. “We need to confirm every Chitin kill on this operation. Fleet Command needs to know exactly how many Chits are still around.”

Jack looked at the breach. A single grenade set to high yield, or even an explosive round from a pulse rifle, would shred whatever was lurking inside the Hydra. A blast from the tac boat’s hail cannon would destroy the Hydra, contents, and vaporize the surrounding asteroid rock. But this was a search and destroy mission, not a simple case of destroy the first thing that moves.

“I see it,” Tyler said. She re-aimed her pulse rifle and adjusted her position. She moved a lot and for no great effect. “Movement inside, sir. Blast it.”

“Hold your fire, Louise,” Jack said calmly. He walked over to her. She was shifting her weight and juggling her rifle, setting it against her shoulder and aiming only to repeat the process again and again. Jack put a hand on her shoulder.

“Easy, Marine,” he said. “Take point and move up.”

Tyler went through her shifting and readjusting again, her boots scouring a small ditch in the asteroid’s surface.

“On your feet, Marine,” Jack said more forcefully. “Move up.”

Tyler stood up and walked forward. Every step forward seemed to fill her with confidence until finally she walked casually toward the breach, nonchalant and careless. Jack might have thought she was simply confident in her actions if she had been another Marine, but he knew her and guessed correctly that she was in fact acting in a careless manner.

“Focus, Marine,” Jack said. “Advance with caution. Garcia, go left. Attah, right. Drake, you’re with me.”

Jack walked behind Tyler as she moved forward. She hesitated at the flicker of movement spotted inside the Chitin craft.

And then she opened fire.

“Cease firing,” Jack shouted but not before the rest of the Marines had joined the panicked Tyler and fired into the breach.

“Cease fire, Marines. That is an order.” Jack shook his head as the Marine’s rifles fell silent. This was the action of an ill-disciplined and easily-panicked group. No accuracy in their rifle fire. The impact marks around the breach in the Hydra’s hull showed him that many of the rounds hadn’t even gone inside the craft.

Jack brought up his field scanner and looked closely inside the Hydra. Movement, again. A twitching and flickering movement.

“Hold your fire, Marines,” Jack said quietly as he moved ahead of the team. The movement inside the Hydra was familiar and as Jack came up to the breach, his suit light illuminating the interior, he saw the unmistakable movement of a Chitin tentacle.

Jack took cover against the right side of the breach and called Tyler up to take position on the other side. The rest of the team kneeled in a line facing the breach, their lights lighting up the dark interior.

Inside, Jack could see a Chitin tentacle flopping lazily from side to side. Taking another quick look around the corner, he tried to spot the body of the Chitin and saw the dark mass within the shadows. It looked too big to be a Chitin soldier. Maybe it was something else, something they hadn’t seen before. Jack took another quick look. He saw another tentacle at the far end of the black mass. It was thrashing around in the space above it, coiling up and stretching out, flailing from side to side. It appeared to be trying to grab something, but the surroundings were all out of its reach.

Jack looked over at Tyler. Her pulse rate was climbing and she was showing signs of fear. She was one of the least experienced of the small team and had only encountered Chitins at the Battle of Brecon Moon. Jack had fought the Chitins more times than he cared to remember, and he still felt the cold chill of fear whenever he saw them coming for him.

But the Chits inside this crashed Hydra were not coming. There was movement and there was clearly something inside, but it wasn’t attacking. Jack risked a longer look.

Peeking around the edge of the breach, Jack looked at the dark mass with the two moving tentacles. He brought his pulse pistol around and pointed the pistol’s flashlight at the mass.

Jack saw the Chitin. It was on the deck, on its back. Its tentacle flapped about. Jack moved the pool of light along the Chitin soldier. There he saw another Chitin mouth, the round opening in the smooth black head and its circular arrangement of white teeth. The teeth were moving in that rasping motion that appeared so strange and threatening, and behind that rasping circle of teeth, Jack saw the inner beak, the flat blades slowly biting together. Jack moved the pool of light over to the far tentacle whipping about so violently. He traced the tentacle back and found it was one of another dozen or more tentacles that lay in a frozen black mass.

Jack spotted another set of Chitin teeth and the horror of what he was seeing came over him. The Chitin crew was piled in a heap, their bodies partially melted together. Jack looked closer and could see that the Chitin soldiers’ outer shells had fused together, presumably in the fierce heat created during the crash landing. At least two of the Chitins were still alive, at least partially so.

Jack needed a headcount. He knew the Hydra-class craft could hold up to eight Chitins. He looked again at the black mass. It could be the eight Chits melted together. The only way to be sure was to pull them apart and count the dead. First thing to do was to make sure they were all dead.

“Tyler,” Jack said, looking over to the frightened Marine. “Get in there and put a pulse rifle round in anything that looks like a Chitin head.”

Tyler nodded and nervously stepped into the breach. She raised her pulse rifle.

“Not too close, Marine,” Jack said, but it was too late.

The rigid tentacle stabbed out from the melted mass of Chitin bodies and pierced Tyler’s suit at the chest. She fell forward as the tentacle was pulled away, blood spurting from the wound. Jack reached out and grabbed Tyler to stop her falling deeper into the Hydra’s interior, and closer to the melted Chitin mass. He pointed his pistol around the corner at the black mass and fired a handful of rounds.

The rigid tentacle stabbed forward again, and again, cutting into Tyler’s suit. As she fell from Jack’s grip, her life signs dropped to critical and then she flat-lined. Blood loss and major organ failure was reported to Jack via Louise Tyler’s medical package.

Jack moved back into cover and gasped for air. He played back a recording taken with his helmet cam and saw the black mass of melted Chits and the one nearest the breach stabbing out. Jack fired blindly into the mass. He peeked and saw more of the tentacles writhing about, stimulated by the appearance of Jack and his team.

Jack studied the image taken with his helmet cam. There were clearly several Chitin soldiers and they were clearly melted together. They were so helplessly fused that movement appeared impossible. The tentacles could writhe about and they could still form the stabbing tentacle, but they appeared unable to activate their plasma spears. Jack wasn’t going to take another chance. He pulled a grenade from his belt and set it to high-yield incendiary.

“Move back,” Jack called to his team. He grabbed Tyler’s boot and dragged her body free from the Hydra, then he tossed the small grenade inside.

Intense heat and light poured out of the Hydra’s interior. It lit up the asteroid, the light glinting off the walls of the trench that the Hydra had dug through the asteroid’s jagged surface.

Jack looked into the inferno. He set filters on his helmet to allow him to see into the light. The Chitins were writhing in the intense heat. Every tentacle seemed alive now but the bodies appeared quite dead, with only the slight rasping of the round mouthparts from one of the Chitin soldiers as evidence of life.

Then the mouthparts melted, and the tentacles burned away in the heat. The black mass of fused Chitin soldiers became a white-hot blob of melted matter.

The light died away after a few moments, but Jack’s suit warned him of the intense heat that remained. He stepped forward cautiously and looked at the melted heap. He scanned the mass and tried to identify individual Chitin soldiers. However many Chits had been in there, it was now impossible to tell.

Jack reported the elimination of two confirmed Chits in a crashed Hydra and the loss of one Marine. The response from Fleet came back almost instantly, informing Jack to mark the Hydra’s location and proceed on task. With no mention of how to deal with the fallen Marine, Jack decided to bring the body of Louise Tyler with him so she could be returned to Eros for a proper burial. For all her faults, she didn’t deserve to be left alone on this asteroid.

Jack called Attah and Drake over to collect Tyler’s body and return her to the tac boat. Jack called Garcia to join him.

“We have still got a lot of this asteroid to cover,” Jack said. “We will proceed in a search line, ten meters apart. Copy?”

Garcia nodded. “Copy,” he said. His voice was calm but slightly muted. He might be indifferent to his life as a Marine, but he was not heartless, and he had just seen a Marine fall to the Chits. Many had fallen and although the Chitins had seemed to have pulled back from the inner system, there still were threats and Marines were still falling victim to their hated and deadly enemy.

Jack noted that Attah and Drake had returned Tyler’s body in the tac boat and were now sitting idly by.

“Marines,” Jack called out. “Spread out. Form a search line. Let’s clear this rock.”

2

Resting in a tac boat with the body of a fallen Marine was not easy for Jack. He had lost Marines on operations before and he was sure Louise Tyler would not be the last fatality in this war. It was true that the Chitins had fallen back, but the asteroid belt still held the scattered remnants of their once massive fleet, and every Chitin was a threat.

Jack looked at the meat suit holding Tyler’s dead body strapped into the seat at the back of the small tac boat. The Marine Extreme Environment Tactical suit’s acronym had always been a dark joke amongst the Marines, but Jack didn’t find it funny today. The meat suit was set to preserve Tyler’s remains until she could be delivered to her loved ones for burial. Jack checked her files. She had no next of kin recorded on her file. She was more like Jack than she would ever have known.

With no loved ones to take care of her body, it would fall to her battalion commander to conduct the funeral ceremony aboard a ship of the line. Scorpio Battalion currently had no commanding officer, not since the death of Major Griff. Jack would offer to take the sad duty himself. As she was a Marine in his company, Cobra, he was the obvious next choice.

The remaining Marines of Jack’s little team were complaining again. They sat in a huddle and ate their sticky ration blocks. Jack understood their complaints, although he would never agree with them. The tac boat was getting smaller by the day. At every rest period, the walls seemed to close in a little more. With the latest casualty of the war sitting only a few meters away, the walls seemed to have closed in even more tightly.

“Get some sleep,” Jack called over to the Marines. He knew they needed rest. They would be on this operation for at least another two weeks before they would be back aboard the Scorpio. Sleep was the one place where the Marines could escape the confines of the small ship.

Jack had requested entertainment VR programs for use during the rest periods, to give his team a chance to escape the cramped tac boat, and each other, for a short time at least. The request had been denied. Fleet Command wanted the asteroid belt checked for any Chitin presence as quickly as possible. Jack knew the reason for the haste—the fleet was low on resources and the asteroid belt was the best source of materials. Industrial activity in the belt had to resume as soon as possible if the fleet was to refit and rearm while the Chitins were absent. Who knew for how long they would be away. They may have been scared off, but no one believed they were gone for good.

Jack moved the pilot seat back as far from the console as it would go and stretched his legs out. With the tac boat pressurized, he could remove his helmet, but he was reluctant to give permission to remove the entire suit. They might be called to action at any moment. He loosened a few fastenings and made the suit a little more comfortable.

The meat suit was light and robust, with a hundred built-in features, from the onboard medical package to scanners and a wrist-mounted holostage. The suit was designed to protect the wearer from extreme environments ranging from the vacuum of space to the high-density atmospheres of some gas giants. It could sustain and protect a Marine on prolonged deployments. It was a marvel of engineering, but it was not a leisure suit, so Jack tried to make himself as comfortable as he could.

Jack accessed the flight deck console and called up a holoimage of Cobra’s deployment around the asteroid belt. He had deployed every tac boat at his disposal, and a few more that he had commandeered from other companies. The ships of Cobra Company formed Task Force One, and they were spread out in a line across the belt from the sunward edge to the outer system edge. They were moving in a coordinated sweep, covering every square meter of the belt, searching out any remaining Chits. Even with four other task forces sweeping their own quadrants of the belt, the operation was going to take weeks.

Jack spotted one tac boat from Task Force One on the holoimage that was way ahead of the rest. Most were in a roughly uniform line across the belt, but one on Jack’s starboard side, the one nearest to the outer system edge of the belt, was way ahead by several kilometers. Jack zoomed in on the advanced ship and called up the team’s data.

The tac boat was under the leadership of Jack’s old friend, Sam Torent. Jack opened a channel.

The image of Sam Torent appeared on the holostage. He was reclined in the pilot seat, his feet up on the console. He was wearing a gray vest, his meat suit discarded. He held his prosthetic right arm in his left hand and had it slung over his shoulder.

“Jacky,” he said cheerfully. “What can sixth squad do for you?”

Sam had always treated Jack with a casual and familiar manner. Jack was pleased that Sam always showed the proper respect for his rank when any others were present, but when they were alone, Torent was informal to say the least.

“Sam,” Jack said sternly. “You’re out of your suit?”

Torent waved the prosthetic arm at Jack. “My arm is itching like crazy. I needed a break from the kravin thing.”

Jack knew Torent had problems with the prosthetic. He didn’t complain about it, but he did remove it at every opportunity. As much as Jack had sympathy for Torent and his uncomfortable prosthetic, this was not a suitable opportunity to remove it. Jack’s standing order for the operation was for all personnel to remain suited, only the removal of helmets was permitted, and only during official rest periods.

“What if you come into contact with a Chit, Sam?” Jack said. “You won’t have time to get suited up.”

“There’s nothing out here, Jack,” Torent said. “You scared them all away.” Torent grinned. He reached over his shoulder with the prosthetic and gave his back a scratch while letting out a deep and satisfied sigh.

“I can have you returned to the Scorpio for a medical checkup if you can’t handle it,” Jack said.

Torent sat up in his chair. He lay the prosthetic arm on the flight console and sat back. “Watch this, Jack,” he said.

The fingers of the detached prosthetic began to wriggle and then crawl forward over the console, dragging the rest of the arm behind it. Torent pointed at the arm as it seemed to move independently.

“I’ve been practicing. I can activate it from a few meters away now.”

Jack couldn’t help a small smile creep over his face as much as he tried to maintain his composure and his authority.

Torent called the arm to him and the fingers crawled over to his waiting hand. He picked up the arm by the wrist and held it aloft in triumph.

“Enough, Sam,” Jack said through his stifled laughter. “Reattach your arm and suit up. Copy?”

“Copy that, Sir,” Torent said with a casual but reconciled tone. He positioned the prosthetic next to the housing on the end of his arm. The black tendrils of the prosthetic found their way into their housing and the arm pulled itself on tight. Torent pulled the meat suit back on.

“One other thing,” Jack said. “You are getting too far ahead. We need to maintain formation for an effective sweep.”

Jack noticed the flicker of frustration on Torent’s face.

“Do we want to clear the belt or not, Jack?” Torent asked.

In the background of the holoimage, over Torent’s left shoulder, Jack saw Osho and Terry standing at the rear of the tac boat. They were listening in to the conversation, and Torent was on the verge of becoming insubordinate.

Jack didn’t need to explain his reasons to Torent, although he was always ready to discuss tactics with his Marines, particularly his squad leaders, but Torent was already disobeying a standing order by removing his meat suit, even if he did have the unique circumstance of his prosthetic arm. But now Torent was questioning the deployment and willfully moving ahead of the formation.

“Return to formation, Sam,” Jack said. He spoke calmly. There was no need to pick a fight with Torent.

“I can just wait here for you to catch up,” Torent said with a smile.

Jack was losing patience. It had been a long operation and they were only halfway through. He spoke to Torent slowly and firmly.

“Back in formation, Marine.”

Torent slumped back in his chair. “So you want me to sweep the same section of belt again after the rest period, is it?”

Jack guessed that everyone was feeling the strain, but his orders were not a matter for debate. He repeated himself with the same calm tone.

“Return to formation,” Jack said ,but there was a slight edge to his voice that he hoped Torent would detect, an edge that made clear the discussion was over.

“Yes, sir,” Torent said. He leaned forward and tapped a few controls on the flight console.

“Good work with your sweep so far, Sam,” Jack said. “Does your team have everything it needs?”

Osho, partially hidden in the shadows at the rear of Torent’s tac boat, shouted, “We could use a new squad leader.”

Jack laughed. “You’re stuck with Sam for the time being, Osho,” Jack said.

The search signal on the flight console beeped. Jack moved toward the console and tapped the scan panel. A Chitin contact had drifted into range.

“I’ve got a contact,” Jack said. “Moving to investigate. Forge out.”

The holoimage of Torent flickered away to be replaced by a map scan of the local area. In the distance, on the edge of sensor range, was a Chitin signal. It was drifting across the asteroid belt at a constant speed. As Jack moved his seat closer to the flight console, he tapped at the controls and set an intercept course.

“Listen up, team,” Jack called back to the Marines resting behind. “Chitin contact up ahead. Intercept in five minutes. Suit up and stand ready. I want the boat depressurized and ready for extra vehicular action. Copy?”

The team replied with as much enthusiasm as Jack had come to expect from them—unmotivated and lazy. Jack hoped they would find some focus soon. Maybe it would take a face-to-face encounter with a Chitin soldier that was determined to kill them to motivate them. If that didn’t wake them up, nothing would.

Watching the holostage intently, Jack felt his heart beating with anticipation, with excitement, with dread. He had faced the Chitins so many times he had lost count, but the feelings never died.

The image of the Chitin craft appeared on the flight console’s holostage. The image was small but unmistakable. The craft appeared to be tumbling through space. It was traveling at a low speed, unpowered and out of control. Jack moved in closer.

With the Hydra now within a kilometer, Jack could make it out through the view screen. It appeared as a tiny, glinting speck in the vastness of space. As it tumbled, the light from the distant sun flickered off its smooth surface.

“What do you want to do, sir?” It was Garcia. He had stepped toward the flight deck and was looking through the view screen. Drake and Attah were standing at the tac boat door. Jack noted with some satisfaction that all had their helmets on. He checked the data overlay and confirmed that his small team were all sealed inside their Marine Extreme Environment Tactical suits, their Fleet Marine pulse rifles slung across their backs.

Jack studied all available data. The Chitin craft posed no immediate danger. It was just another target to be destroyed.

“It looks like it’s unpowered,” Jack said. He activated the tac boat’s cannon. The four hail cannons were capable of firing a thousand kinetic hail rounds per second. It was devastating against the Chitin soldiers and the lightly-armored Hydra craft. The Chitin’s tactics relied on numbers and their massive Leviathans. A tac boat hail cannon would not make a dent in a Leviathan, but it would tear a Hydra in two with a short burst. The Hydra’s best defense was its maneuverability. This craft was adrift, tumbling randomly through space. It would not pose any challenge at all.

Jack acquired a target lock on the Hydra and fired. A stream of orange hail raced across to the Hydra and sliced through its hull. The Hydra broke apart. Jack watched closely as the tumbling rotation caused the hull to tear open further. Then, spilling out of the Hydra came a Chitin soldier. Jack was suddenly alert to the danger that even one Chitin soldier could pose. Jack watched carefully and finally determined that the soldier was surely dead.

Then the creature moved.

The Chitin writhed in the blackness of space. It orientated itself and faced the tac boat, looking straight at it. Jack felt the Chitin’s gaze fall on him, a gaze from behind the smooth black head with its round rasping teeth.

The movements that the adrift Chitin made were utterly futile. It thrashed its tentacles in the vacuum of space, but that only served to send it tumbling even more wildly.

The cannon was useful in landing operations against massed Chitin forces, but its targeting system was also pinpoint accurate and could pick out a single Chit at a hundred kilometers. Jack acquired the new target and let off a short burst. The Chitin soldier was obliterated by the burst of cannon fire.

Then Jack spotted a new target on the holostage. The view zoomed in on the broken Hydra. Another Chitin was inside. It was moving over the broken hull and seemed to be readying itself to pounce.

The moment that Jack had spotted it and identified the potential danger was the very moment that the Chitin soldier leaped from the broken Hydra. It raced across the space between its broken craft and Jack’s little tac boat.

Jack fired the Tac cannon and another Chit was obliterated, reduced to a few writhing tentacles and a thick stream of slime that quickly dissipated and drifted into space.

Then another Chitin leaped from the broken Hydra, and another, and yet another. As the tac boat’s cannon purred and poured fire at the new targets, another Chitin leaped toward the tac boat.

The cannon destroyed one soldier after another, taking only seconds to acquire a new target and destroy it. Jack saw that each Chitin was making it just a little closer than the last. Jack backed slowly and carefully away.

The seventh Chitin was destroyed. Jack knew to expect one more. He deactivated the cannon. Coming through the splattered remains came the last, the eighth of the Hydra’s crew. It moved toward the tac boat at a constant speed, its only form of propulsion coming from the leap out of the Hydra.

Jack kept the ship moving backwards, holding the Chitin at a controlled distance from the front of the view screen. The Chitin soldier reached out in vain with its tentacles and tried to catch hold of the tac boat. Jack kept out of its reach. He called his small team forward.

“This is why we need to be alert at all times,” Jack said, pointing at the Chitin soldier thrashing in front of the tac boat, reaching out with its tentacles and grinding its rasping teeth. “This is why we need you to be Marines. One of these Chits could be lurking in the next shadow. Only by keeping focused on what you are doing will you reduce the chance that one of these will be the last thing you ever see.”

Jack looked back at his small team. They were staring at the flailing Chit. Jack activated the cannon and let the system acquire the target and destroy it. Then he targeted the remains of the Hydra craft the soldiers had come from. He set the cannon to deliver an incendiary pulse that would reduce the Chitin Hydra to a molten mass. Then he marked the remains, its speed and heading, on the Fleet database.

Jack re-pressurized the tac boat and pulled off his helmet. “Okay, relax. This is supposed to be our scheduled rest period.”

Jack moved the seat back away from the flight console and stretched out his legs. He felt tiredness creep over him, so he let it come and drifted to sleep.

He was running over the prairie of his childhood. Sarah Reyes was running with him. The sun was hot, the ground hard, the sound of dry grass rustling, and the smell of the dust in the air. He was drinking water in the kitchen of home, sunlight sparkling on the edges of his favorite childhood glass. His brother was on the hill calling him. Jack turned as he heard his father and mother call him from the family room. He walked, excited and nervous, over the cool stone floor. Captain Pretorius was standing at the holostage in the middle of the family room.

“You’ve got a lot to learn,” Pretorius said.

Jack turned around. A Chitin soldier was standing behind him, looming over him. Thick gray fluid dripped from its round mouth, and deep inside the mouth he saw the snapping blades of the guillotine-like beak.

Then the Chitin was Sam Torent, fists raised and ready to strike. Then it was Tyler, a rigid Chitin tentacle lodged in her chest.

“You’ve got a lot to learn,” Pretorius called out again.

Jack woke with a jolt, feeling uneasy. He quickly scanned the flight console. He had been asleep for two hours. Everything was quiet and his small team was all strapped in their chairs. Their medical readouts showed him they were all asleep.

Jack settled back into the chair. He wouldn’t be able to hunt Chitins or command effectively if he was fatigued. He let himself drift back to sleep.

3

The suit’s built-in chronometer woke Jack gently. If this had been an emergency, the suit would have revived Jack with an intravenous dose of stimulant, more effective than a bucket of ice water in the face, but as it was, the suit could let Jack wake slowly.

The console blinked with colored lights indicating the tac boat’s systems in various states of operation, some in standby mode, others running scheduled self-diagnostics. Jack brought the boat back to operational readiness.

The holostage on the flight console showed the line of tac boats stretched across the width of the asteroid belt. Jack sent a command to every ship of Task Force One to get underway and continue with the operation.

“Maintain formation,” Jack said over the Task Force One channel. “Don’t rush. Check every last rock, every little cavity and crater. Report any contact directly to Fleet Command and Control. Forge out.”

Setting the boat’s search pattern, Jack saw that the first stop would be a major asteroid, the biggest asteroid that Task Force One had yet encountered. The rest of the search line would have to slow to let Jack conduct a ground search.

His small team in the back was casually pulling on their helmets and getting ready for another day of reconnaissance. Jack hoped they didn’t run into any trouble—he was beginning to enjoy the slower pace of life. For too long, he had been running and fighting, so the search was welcome break.

The tac boat was handling well. In all his time in the Fleet Marines, Jack had traveled in some extremely rundown craft. From company landing craft to destroyer-class ships of the line, the Fleet had been at war with the Chitins for so long that everything had taken a beating and was in desperate need of repair. The tac boats had all been serviced and put in good shape for the asteroid belt sweep.

Even though the whole fleet was still on active service, there was time to refit and repair. The destroyers were patrolling the inner system along with the fleet’s two remaining carriers in a big wing. They were in close proximity to the industrial sectors on Eros and its orbiting asteroid mines. A break in the conflict and the shortened supply lines meant the fleet was being put back into good order. With every minor repair and every small maintenance job, the fleet was growing in strength, although it would take a year or more to rebuild. The fleet was becoming more powerful by the day.

The group of corvettes that had been assigned to patrol the debris ring left by the planet Eras found it clear of Chitins. The debris was localized but was steadily spreading out along the orbit the planet used to occupy and creating a new asteroid belt. Already, mining ships and civilian crews were being landed on the debris, mining its exposed core for metals and rare elements that would be invaluable for sustaining and repairing the fleet.

The asteroid belt was another vital source of material, but it was too far out from the defensive cover of the planetary defense cannon to risk the fleet’s warships, so the tac boats and the fighters from the destroyed carrier craft had been deployed to the asteroid belt to sweep it clean. The belt had been divided into four quadrants and Jack had volunteered to lead Task Force One, made up of Cobra Company, in the sweep of one of the four quadrants.

So far, the big wing of the carriers and destroyers had covered the entire inner system. The planet Eros had been declared Chitin-free by the battalions of the Scepter Carrier Group.

The Chitins were gone. Jack could hardly believe it. He expected a Chit to appear around every corner. The only Chitins he had so far encountered were the abandoned remnants of the massive Chitin fleet. Unpowered Hydras and lone soldiers lost and abandoned. Forgotten fragments of a once devastatingly powerful force.

It was tempting to believe that after the asteroid belt was clear, humanity could return to normal, return to living as they had done before the first encounter with the Chits and the start of the brutal war.

The target asteroid appeared out of the black. It was large and roughly spherical, and was among the biggest asteroids in the belt. Although it was not charted as a former mine asteroid, it was highly likely it had been occupied by humans at some point in its history.

The tac boat matched the asteroid’s spin and Jack brought the boat down, resting it on the rocky surface. With the ship secured on its landing site, Jack called out to his small team.

“Helmets on. Pulse rifles ready.” He verified his team was suited up and then began decompression. With the air fully drained back to the storage tanks, Jack nodded to Drake at the door.

“Open her up, Jason.”

Drake appeared to hesitate as Jack climbed out of his seat. Attah gave Drake a nudge and then the door was opened. The side of the tac boat opened and the small boarding ramp slid down to the surface.

Drake stood in the fully opened door way and looked back at Jack.

“Take point, Jason,” Jack said and waved Drake out.

Attah and Garcia both looked at Jack for instructions. Jack sighed to himself. He couldn’t believe these Marines still showed no initiative, no drive. They waited for every last instruction, not willing or able to act without the explicit order from Jack. They were either unable or unwilling. Jack still hoped that with a bit more time together, they would become able and willing, and place themselves among the best in the Marine service.

Jack knew the fleet needed good Marines, now as much as ever. The war had robbed the service of its most experienced professionals. The men and women who had served in the fleet before the outbreak of war had been well trained and highly motivated.

Then came the war and within weeks, the fleet had lost dozens of companies. The replacements had come forward from the population, ready to fight for humanity’s survival.

But then the Fleet Marines had suffered their biggest losses with companies made up of new recruits and seasoned professionals defeated in the battles of the asteroid belt and the moons of the gas giants Penthus and Zelos.

Following the rash of defeats, the Fleet Marine Service had been in desperate need of replacements. First, they had taken back into service Marines previously dismissed for misconduct, then came the draft, where every able-bodied man and woman had been required to submit to service, and then, with losses climbing daily, the prisons had been stripped of low-level offenders prepared to take the fight to the Chits for the promise of a reduced sentence.

Finally, school dropouts were sent for compulsory training, and then active students with low grades were conscripted. Soon, with total war upon humanity, every man, woman, and child were pressed into service in some way. It was a fight for survival—a desperate, determined fight against extermination.

They had nearly lost, and nothing had yet been won. Jack feared the lull in the fighting was merely a stay of execution, and that soon the Chitin forces would be back. At least the fleet had time to refit, repair, and rearm. Time to prepare to fight for their lives once again.

The asteroid was dark and hard. Jack used filters on his helmet display to better survey the terrain. The filter picked up a residual heat pattern on the asteroid surface. The surface had been in contact with a heat source recently.

Having decided to take a closer look at the location, Jack released a surveillance drone from the tac boat. With the drone nearing the target area, Jack halted his small team of Marines.

The markings were a few days old, but running the data through an identification program would give Jack some idea of their origin. The answer came back quickly. The patterns were consistent with the residual energy from a Chitin Hydra. An enemy ship had been on the surface of this asteroid recently.

Sending the drone higher, Jack was able to get a better view of the area. It was a wide, flat plain on the large asteroid. Although it was almost spherical as a whole, the surface of the asteroid was a lumpy network of peaks and troughs. The area up ahead that had the residual energy marks was one of a few landing spots.

The surveillance drone scanned the surface. Jack flicked through the images that streamed over the enhanced view afforded by his helmet. A cold, dark spot lay just to the edge of the residual heat pattern. Jack moved the drone closer. It was a tunnel, running vertically down into the asteroid.

Sending the drone crashing to the surface created a mini seismic shock that transmitted itself through the rock. The detectors on Jack’s suit and the tac boat received the information in the minute tremors coming from the drone impact and presented it to Jack as a three-dimensional map of the asteroids interior. The vertical tunnel led to a subsurface network of tunnels and chambers.

Before the Chitin war, it was not unusual for asteroids to have been used by miners, traders, and even pirates. The fleet had patrolled the asteroid belt seeking out pockets of illegal mining. It looked as if Jack had found one, an abandoned one, long since disused.

Then his seismic sensors detected a shifting density pattern in one part of the cavern. Jack took a step back toward the tac boat. He felt the danger. He sensed the danger. Logic told him that the shift in density readings was simply some part of the subsurface cavern that had been dislodged by the drone impact. Instinct told him his team was in danger.

“Back to the tac boat,” Jack ordered. His voice was calm but inside, he was on full alert, ready for the danger that could come from any of the dozen or so cavern entrances his freshly acquired subsurface map had detected. It was essential that no matter how anxious he was inside that he didn’t betray that feeling to his team. Better to wear an uncomfortable appearance of calm than panic his team with even the slightest flicker of concern.

“Back to the tac boat,” Garcia complained. “But we’ve only just got out.”

“Yeah,” Drake agreed, “we’ve only just started our search, sir. Give us a chance to stretch our legs.”

“Quietly as you can,” Jack said. “Return to the tac boat.”

Releasing another drone from the tac boat and sending the surveillance unit high above the asteroid gave Jack a view around his team. The asteroid was covered by a series of knee-deep channels bounded by jagged walls. He picked his way back along a channel toward the ship, all the while watching for the slightest movement.

The base of the channels showed on the surveillance data as dark, pure black lines speckled with the slightly more reflective peaks of the channel walls. Jack instructed the drone to light up the asteroid. With a sudden flickering of light, the drone imaged the entire surface around the tac boat and the retreating Marines. The detection of a slight movement in a nearby channel was inconclusive but coupled with his gut feeling, he had no doubt that the Chitins were here.

“Fall back, Marines. Defensive positions at the tac boat,” Jack said calmly.

He sent up another drone and had it sweep the area behind him. He turned and looked toward the tac boat while keeping a rear-view display relayed from the drone to his helmet visor.

The flickering in the shadows became more frequent. Jack guessed there were at least eight Chitins moving about in the deep jagged ridges of the asteroid. All of them closing in on his retreating Marines.

A message came over Jack’s helmet communicator. Sam Torent of 6th squad was clearly irritated at the slow progress.

“Jack, what’s taking so long down there? We are ready to move the task force search line forward. Give me permission to proceed, Jack. You can catch us up when you’ve finished kravin around down there.”

It was typical of Torent to want to get stuck into the Chits, but this was not the time to go charging off. Jack answered Torent with a growing feeling of annoyance at his old friend’s impatience.

“Negative, Squad Leader. Hold your position. I’ve got Chits down here. Stand by.”

“Do you need support?” Torent sounded eager. “Sixth squad is ready to assist, sir.”

“Negative,” Jack said. He saw the flicker of movement in the dark channels of the asteroid on his helmet’s view, relayed from the surveillance drone high over head. “Hold position and wait for my orders. I’ve got this under control. Do you copy?”

Jack waited for the reply. He could tell by the slight delay that Sam Torent was impatient and frustrated. The communicator channel flickered to life with Torent’s begrudging compliance

“Copy that, sir.”

Torent poured all his frustration into the simple response, but Jack had no time for Torent’s frustration. There were Chitin soldiers creeping up on his position and he needed to get his team to the relative safety of their defensive position at the tac boat.

Jack accessed the ship’s systems through his suit’s wrist-mounted interface. The door opened smoothly as the Marine on point, Garcia, neared the boat.

“Activate that hail cannon, Garcia,” Jack said. “Access the surveillance drone data to enhance the targeting computer.”

Jack came alongside the tac boat and turned to face the oncoming Chitins. He watched carefully, scanning the surface of the asteroid. The surveillance drone data was added to his helmet’s visor, highlighting areas of movement. The whole surface of the asteroid seemed to twitch and writhe as Chitin tentacles moved in the dark shadows of the low channels.

“Jack, you’ve got Chits closing in on your position,” Sam Torent’s voice came over Jack’s communicator.

Jack knew Torent could not have detected the Chits here on the asteroid from his location on the outer edge of the asteroid belt. Torent had to have disobeyed his orders to hold position.

“Where are you, Sam?” Jack asked.

The tac boat flew overhead, the engine thrust disturbing the finer particles of dust on the asteroid surface. The dust leaped up from the surface and chased after Torent’s ship.

“Thought you needed a hand,” Torent said.

Torent’s boat lit up as the hail cannon’s poured fire into the surface.

“Engaging the Chits, sir,” Torent said excitedly.

“I’ve got Chit targets available, sir,” Garcia said. “Permission to fire.”

Jack watched Torent’s boat hold position above the asteroid and turn on a dime, its hail cannon spitting a vicious stream of fire into the asteroid’s surface. Torent’s ship was only twenty meters off the surface. Jack’s tac boat could add its fire and cut down the Chits hiding in the trenches, but there was still a risk of causing damage to Torent’s boat with the debris thrown up from the asteroid under the assault of two, close-range hail cannon attacks.

“Hold your fire, Garcia,” Jack said. He stood and looked at the tac boat hovering and wheeling about, blasting chunks out of the asteroid’s surface. A cloud of debris came billowing toward Jack. It was thick with fragments of rock. It rattled over his meat suit like a hard rain made from rock fragments and broken pieces of Chitin shell.

A thick cloud hung over the asteroid, trapped by its meager gravity field. The dust would hang around the asteroid for days, possibly months, shrouding the massive rock in a thick cloud, obscuring and concealing any hidden Chitins for a long time to come. Jack couldn’t wait here for the dust to settle. He would have to move on and return to this location later.

“Torent, report,” Jack said.

Torent let out a whoop of victory and then replied more formally.

“Enemy down. My boat triangulated with your surveillance data and detected six Chitin soldiers. My hail cannon sensors confirm six kills, sir.”

“Sam Torent. Return to your position on the search line immediately and await my instructions. Copy?”

“Copy that, sir. You can thank me later for saving your hide if you like.”

“Sam…” Jack could barely contain his anger. “My team was in no need of rescue. Your orders were to hold position. You have disobeyed a direct order. I will be placing you on report. Is that clear, Sam?”

“Report? For killing Chits? For saving your sorry little team of mediocre Marines? Nice one, Jack. Thanks.”

“This had better be a private channel, Sam,” Jack said, “or I’ll be submitting you for court martial. This is insubordination.”

“Yes, it’s private,” Torent said with a much-deflated tone and a greater degree of respect. “Sorry, Jack.”

“Return to your position on the belt. Forge out.”

Drake and Attah were standing just inside the tac boat when Jack came to the door.

“Was that sixth squad?” Attah asked. “You were their squad leader, weren’t you, sir?”

“Good thing they turned up when they did, isn’t it, Commander?” Drake said.

Jack walked up the ramp. He tapped the controls and let the door close behind him. It was not good at all, he thought. A small group of Chitins was just the kind of challenge this team needed. Six Chits was no great threat. Jack had stood his ground against greater odds than that, but this group of Marines needed motivation, they needed action. Frankly, they needed a threat to bring out their courage. The hidden Chits on this asteroid had been just the opportunity he’d been hoping for.

“Well done out there, team,” Jack said. The tac boat pressurized, and he pulled off his helmet. The team could use some encouragement and some praise. They had not taken down the Chits themselves, but they hadn’t messed up either. It was a start.

4

Drifting through the belt was an easy task for the small team of Marines who had drifted through their entire service in the Fleet Marines. For Jack, it was becoming one of the hardest deployments of his service. He was constantly on the lookout, knowing that at any minute an enemy could appear.

Dread and boredom were constantly competing for prime position in his thoughts. He had been close to defeat many times, so he knew it could come in an instant.

The tedium was shattered with the sound of a contact alarm from the flight console. Jack fed the data to the holostage. The distant image was still poorly resolved, but Jack recognized that configuration. He sent a halt command to the task force and opened a channel to Fleet Command and Control on Eros.

“Fleet Command and Control. This is Commander Jack Forge, Belt Task Force One. I have encountered a Chitin warship. A Leviathan-class vessel. Sending coordinates to you now. Please advise.”

Jack stared at the view screen. In the dark distance lay a Leviathan, the most deadly and powerful of all the Chitin craft. Even with a hundred tac boats, Jack knew he could not hope to put a scratch on the huge Chitin warship.

“Commander Forge. This is Fleet Command and Control. Close with the target and ascertain its operational status. Fleet out.”

Jack hesitated. If he moved too close to the Leviathan, he would be destroyed in an instant. If he left the boat and went alone, traversing the space in his meat suit, he would not have the sensor detail to determine the Leviathan’s status. The Fleet needed to know if this was a vanguard of a new wave of Chitin attacks or if it was another abandoned craft.

Jack knew the Fleet would sacrifice a tac boat to discover the level of threat from this Leviathan. He was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. But Jack didn’t have to put himself in danger, perhaps he did have a solution.

“Fleet, this is Forge. Sending surveillance drone swarm to the Leviathan now.”

“Negative,” came the swift response from the Fleet Command and Control. “Fleet requires a full data sweep from tac boat sensor array. Proceed immediately, Commander.”

The admiral and his staff were safely hidden away beneath a kilometer of planetary crust back on Eros. Jack knew they were all at risk from the Chitins no matter where in the system they were, but Jack’s proximity to danger was much more immediate. Jack activated his tac boat’s drive systems.

“Copy that, Fleet. Advancing on target now.”

“We’re not going in, are we?” Garcia asked, standing behind Jack’s seat.

“Yes, we are, Garcia. Suit up, just in case it gets rough.”

“Suit up?” Drake said. “What are the chances of surviving against that thing even if I do suit up?”

“You’re the commander,” Attah said. “You could send one of the other boats in, sir.”

Jack turned around and found all three Marines crowded around him. They looked as terrified as Jack felt, but they were letting it show.

“I will not send someone else to do my job. We found the kravin Chit. We’re going to check it out. Now suit up and strap in.”

The Marines drifted away to the back of the ship and took their seats. Jack returned to the flight console and watched the data carefully. He felt a growing sense of dread. He moved his tac boat closer to the massive warship.

The sensors recorded no activity. There were no energy readings, no propulsion, no weapons charge on the massive plasma arc generator that fired the great seething loops of plasma, each one hundreds of meters long that curled and unfurled across space and smashed ships apart. The Chitins were most deadly when they attacked in great numbers, but the plasma arc was an extremely powerful weapon. A single Leviathan and its plasma arc weapon was more than capable of smashing the fleet’s heaviest warships apart. Jack was relieved to see it was currently dormant.

Then Jack spotted a breach in the side of the Leviathan, a small breach by comparison to the Leviathan’s massive size. A stream of fluid was drifting out.

Jack opened a channel to the Fleet.

“This is Forge. The Leviathan is inactive. It looks dead in space. There is a breach and the craft appears to be bleeding some kind of fluid out onto space.”

“Fire on the Leviathan, Commander,” the order came back.

“Don’t do that,” Attah said. “You’ll wake it for sure. It’ll smash us.”

“Maybe you’re right,” Jack said, “but we will fire on it nevertheless. Stand by to fire on the Leviathan.”

Jack opened the channel to Fleet Command and Control.

“Confirm that order please, Fleet,” he said. He selected the target for the hail cannon and took aim.

“Fire on the Leviathan, Commander.”

“Acknowledged, Fleet. Firing now.”

The stream of hail poured from the cannon and streaked across the black gulf toward the Leviathan. Jack watched as the stream of hail raced forward.

The hail slammed into the Leviathan and blasted a chunk out of the outer hull.

Jack sat forward, intrigued by the result of his cannon’s fire. The Leviathan could take a salvo from a destroyer’s high-density shot cannon or high-energy laser and barely show a scratch. The hail cannon shot should have vaporized on contact, but instead, it blew a hole big enough to park the tac boat in.

“You smashed it,” Drake said, his voice filled with relief and excitement. Jack had never heard him so animated before.

Opening a channel to Fleet, Jack watched the fluid spill out from the new breach made by the cannon.

“No response to our fire,” Jack said. “The Leviathan is not responding. The hail cannon blasted a hole in the hull. It looks like the Leviathan’s hull is vulnerable to our fire when the ship is unpowered.”

“Break off, Commander,” the response came. “Resume search and destroy operations. Fleet out.”

The tac boat’s holostage showed Jack three new ships racing into the sector. Three frigates. They slowed as they neared the Leviathan, the frigates dwarfed by the massive Chitin craft. The frigates each fired harpoon tethers at the Leviathan and began to tow it away from its place in the asteroid belt toward the inner system.

“What are they doing? We should destroy it,” Garcia said.

“They want to study it,” Jack said. “Maybe we can find their weakness.”

“But they’re all gone,” Attah said. “They couldn’t break into the inner system so they retreated. We’ve won.”

Jack turned and looked at his small team. “Do you really think we’ll never see them again? Do you think they would give up that soon? They have constantly tried to destroy us, and have won at every turn. We win one big victory and you think they won’t respond to that? This war isn’t over yet,” Jack said heavily.

The team was quiet.

“We have a job to do.” Jack reached out to the flight console and reset the boat’s flight path. “Resuming search operations.”

5

Jack sat at the flight console and watched the holoimage of the search line. The tac boats were spread across the belt and appeared as tiny points of light. The entire belt would be swept clear of Chits once the search pattern was complete. It was slow going, but it would be worth it to know that the asteroid belt was clear. It was another matter whether the Chitins would return and attempt to retake the belt, but that was a problem for another time. Jack’s orders were to sweep the belt, so that was what he was going to do.

Reports came in from boats all along the line. One asteroid after another was swept and marked as clear. Most of the asteroids were small, no bigger than a tac boat themselves. Some were about the same size as a destroyer-class vessel and were mostly lumpy aggregations of rock and ice. Several asteroids in the belt were huge moon-sized rocks. They carved a path through the belt, collecting smaller asteroids as they went and adding to their own great size.

The moon-sized asteroids were classified as belt planetesimals with a catalogue number relating to the order in which they had been mapped and classified. BP-8 was just ahead of Jack. It came out of the black of space, a dull gray rock, cratered and scarred by thousands of collisions with smaller asteroids.

Jack knew that these moon-sized asteroids would be perfect sites for the planetary defense cannons, and he wondered if the belt sweep operation was the first stage in creating a defensive ring of these cannons. If there were enough sites for the huge Leviathan-busting cannons to be built, the inner system could be protected from Chitin attacks. Jack knew that not only did the huge cannon require a large asteroid as a site, but all the cannons would need to be mutually supporting, therefore, their fields of fire would need to overlap, otherwise the Chitins would simply pick them off one by one, or slip between them unscathed. A defensive ring of planetary defense cannons would surely hold back any Chitin counter-attack.

As BP-8 came within a few hundred meters of his tac boat, Jack messaged Task Force One and ordered a halt.

The sensor sweep of BP-8 returned a bright reflector. Something was on the surface. Jack moved his boat in for a closer look.

“Helmets on,” Jack called out to his team. “I don’t know what we’ve got here, but it’s something.”

Jack launched a small number of surveillance drones. They raced away toward BP-8 and spread out. Soon, they returned a detailed image of the surface of the planetesimal. The bright reflector was revealed to be a small spacecraft. Jack noticed first and foremost that it was not a Chitin craft. Then he realized it was not a Fleet vessel either. It was an independent craft. It looked like a small trading vessel.

These types of craft were once a common sight in the asteroid belt, moving cargo and people around the various settlements and industrial sites dotted across the belt, but they had disappeared soon after the start of the war. The independents were defiant at first. It was their nature to be defiant, they were entrepreneurial and saw risk as opportunity, but as the Chitins pushed deeper into the inner system, the indies were forced out, their ships captured or destroyed. Eventually, the indies had abandoned the belt to the Fleet and the Chitins, and conflict.

“They must have been down there for some time,” Attah said, looking over Jack’s shoulder at the holoimage of the craft on the surface of BP-8. “I can’t imagine there’s anyone alive down there. Are we suiting up, sir?”

“Yes,” Jack said. “We’ll go down and check it out.”

Sitting back in his chair, Jack felt a sense of satisfaction that Attah was beginning to take interest in the work. Time away from his acquaintances in the battalion with Jack keeping a tight grip on his med package use was beginning to bring Attah out of the stim-induced indolence. There was a good Marine in there somewhere. Jack needed to help that Marine out from under the months of recreational med use.

Jack marked the location of the downed independent ship and informed the Fleet that a human craft had been detected on the surface of BP-8.

Jack turned in his chair. Attah was looking at the holoimage. He was transfixed by it, and then noticing Jack’s attention on him, he stood up sharply.

“Suiting up, sir,” Attah said, remembering what he was supposed to be doing.

“You volunteered for the Marines, didn’t you?” Jack said, looking up at Attah.

“Yes, sir. Just over a year ago, sir.”

“About the same time as me,” Jack said.

“What made you volunteer, sir?” Attah asked, relaxing slightly.

Jack smiled. “I didn’t volunteer. I was studying engineering at university on Eros. I missed a few classes and then dropped a grade. That meant mandatory service. I was pressed into service.”

Jon Attah looked visibly shocked. “I didn’t know that, sir.”

“I’ll go back to my studies one day,” Jack said, grabbing his helmet. “Why did you volunteer?”

“My brother was a professional Marine, sir. He joined when I was just a kid.” Attah paused. He hesitated. And then, finally, Attah stood up straight and spoke with a tone of pride tinged with loss. “He was on the Gemini, sir.”

Jack had heard of the Gemini. It had been in the news feeds in the days before he had been pressed into service. The destroyer had been sent to deflect an asteroid on a collision course with Eros when a Chitin Leviathan had attacked without warning. It had been blanket coverage, but Jack had been too preoccupied with his brother’s funeral to care about a distant war and unknown Marines.

Jack looked up at Attah. “I’m sure he was a great Marine,” Jack said.

“He was a bully,” Attah said. “Always beating on me. My whole life, I thought I hated him, but when the Gemini went down, I knew I wanted to fight the Chits and make them pay for taking my brother from me. Does that sound stupid, sir?”

“No, Jon,” Jack said, “sounds pretty noble to me. Now suit up. I’m putting us down.”

Jack pulled on his helmet and moved the boat in close to the craft on the surface.

The surface of BP-8 was very different than the smaller asteroid. Like most larger asteroids and all other Belt planetesimals, BP-8 was covered in a fine powder, the fallout from a thousand collisions with smaller asteroids. Jack ordered his Marines to move lightly and not disturb the dust too much. As he neared the indie craft, Jack had his team spread out.

“Attah, go left. Drake, you go right. Garcia, you are with me.”

Jack headed straight for the craft and the small hatchway half-buried in the dusty soil of BP-8. The hatch appeared to be sealed. These indie craft were capable of extremely long interplanetary trips and a small crew could be sustained for weeks, even months, but this region of space had been swarming with Chitin craft only a short while ago. It was unlikely that they would have missed this one. Jack guessed the craft was abandoned, or that the occupants were dead.

Approaching the hatch with caution, he accessed the craft’s central computer with his meat suit’s remote connection. The ship still had power. Jack checked the computer for details on the passengers and crew.

Jack was stunned to discover that a four-person crew was alive inside. He sent a message to the craft’s communicator circuits.

“This is Commander Forge of the Fleet Marines. I need to clear this asteroid. Do you require assistance?”

The hatch opened. It slid upwards, a dull light spilling out and the pale dust falling away from the hatch cover as it moved. With the hatch fully open, Jack saw four figures standing inside. They wore the bright red civilian space survival suits. Their leader stepped forward, hand extended.

“Thank you, Commander,” he said. “We’ve been—”

Then the communicator cut out. Jack tried to reconnect, but he was prevented by a communication block.

The leader of the group tapped the side of his helmet. His gestures told Jack that he couldn’t hear. Jack copied the action and shrugged. He opened a channel to his team.

“Let’s get them back to the tac boat,” Jack began.

“Cancel that order. This is Agent Visser of Fleet Intelligence. Commander Forge, return to your tac boat and continue with your search. Leave these people for recovery by Fleet Intelligence. That is an order.”

Jack looked up as the engine flare of a corvette decelerating overhead caught his eye. The ship came vertically down to the surface of BP-8. At twenty meters, a hatch on the underside of the corvette slid open and eight Fleet Intelligence enforcers dropped to the surface. They were wearing their trademark black meat suits. The enforcers surrounded the indie crew. Jack looked up at the corvette as the crew of the indie craft and their captors were carried upwards by an elevator beam. The beam drew a swirling column of pale dust up with it.

As the underside hatch closed, the corvette sped off. The column of dust remained hanging in front of Jack and slowly started to collapse back to the surface.

“What was that all about?” Attah asked.

Jack knew it was pointless to ask. Fleet Intelligence had wide-ranging authority and were able to pull strings no company commander could ever hope to. Whatever was happening was far above Jack’s level of clearance.

“The crew has been rescued,” Jack said, although he knew it looked more like detention than rescue. “We still have to complete our search and move on. Copy?”

Attah, Drake, and Garcia all responded. Jack sent the drones racing across the surface of the huge asteroid and followed, his team spread out on either side.

“Let’s clear this rock,” Jack said to his team, trying to sound as if it was business as usual, but Jack had an uneasy feeling about what had just happened. He had come here to kill Chitins, but a rescue would have felt good. Fleet Intelligence probably wanted to question the civilian crew. Jack guessed they would have to explain how they had evaded the Chitins out here for so long.

A message came over Jack’s private channel. He recognized the voice immediately. It was Agent Visser.

“Commander Forge. Leave BP-8 immediately. Visser out.”

Jack stopped in his tracks. If Fleet Intelligence was ordering him off this rock, he was going to leave. Just as he was about to open a channel to his team, he received another transmission.

“Jack. Hello.”

“Captain Pretorius,” Jack said with genuine pleasure at hearing from the captain of the Scorpio, a ship Jack had come to regard as home. “It’s good to hear from you, sir.”

“No time for pleasantries, Jack. I can see you are on BP-8. Leave immediately. I have orders from Fleet Intelligence to fire on a civilian craft on the surface. Commencing fire operations in three minutes. Good luck.”

“Three minutes. That doesn’t give me much time to get my team off the surface, Captain.”

Jack waited for a response, but the channel was dead.

Jack turned and was running back to the tac boat in a fraction of a second. If Fleet Intelligence was involved, then Jack knew not to ask too many questions. He called to his team as he went.

“Fall back. Three minutes before the surface of this asteroid is molten rock.” Jack connected with the tac boat’s flight console and sent preflight checks and engine start. In the distance, he saw the engine flare and the dust rise up around the ship.

Three minutes, he could just make it. Then he heard Pretorius on a private channel.

“You’re going too slow, Jack. Don’t respond. I’ve got Fleet Intelligence agents on the command deck. I can’t hold fire. You need to move faster.”

Jack ran, breathing hard. He reached the tac boat, gasping for air. He increased the oxygen concentration in his suit’s air supply and eased his labored breathing. Drake was almost at the boat and Garcia was not far behind. Attah was falling behind. Months of shirking had left him unfit. He was probably just fit enough to pass his regular fitness checks, but he was not going to make it to his next checkup if he didn’t make it to the tac boat in the next seventy-five seconds.

Jack accessed Attah’s medical package. He accessed stimulants and prepared a dose. He opened a channel to Attah.

“You are too slow, Jon,” Jack said. “I’m going to give you a kick.”

Jack released the stim into Attah’s system. Immediately his pace quickened and Attah came running, throwing up dust behind him.

“Stand by on the door controls.” Jack pushed Drake toward the door control panel. “You, sit and strap in. Combat liftoff coming up.” Jack dashed to the flight deck and strapped in. He watched through the view screen as Attah came near.

Jack turned in his seat and watched the doorway. “Drake, you grab hold of him when he gets here. I’m taking off the second he’s onboard.”

“Copy that, sir,” Drake said.

Jack turned and watched Drake urge Attah to run faster. With only seconds to spare, Jack saw the Scorpio maneuvering into position.

“Preparing to fire,” Jack heard Pretorius say. The channel was open to the Scorpio’s command deck, the familiar sounds of the command crew going about their business reminded Jack of how isolated he was beginning to feel on this search and destroy mission.

Then he heard the voice of Agent Visser.

“Fire, Captain. Immediately.”

“Power to the high-energy laser assembly,” Pretorius said.

“Got him,” Drake shouted triumphantly.

Jack glanced over his shoulder and saw Attah slumped in Drake’s arms, exhausted. Jack hit the engine controls and took off. The G-force pulled Jack into his seat. The tac boat door was closing and holding Attah and Drake inside but only just.

The beam lanced down from the Scorpio and slammed into the grounded indie craft. The ship vaporized and burned with a brilliant incandescent flame, its fierce brightness muted by the billowing dust thrown up by the violent laser attack.

As the tac boat raced back up to the black of space, the white billowing dust cloud spread across the surface of the massive asteroid. Watching the laser finally cease fire, Jack realized how close he had come to being vaporized along with the civilian craft. He had come close to death so many times in combat with the Chitins, but he had never come so close to being killed by friendly fire, and from what he had come to regard as his own ship.

Fleet Command and Control was pushing hard and risking the lives of the Marines in the search across the asteroid belt. Jack had been told to engage a Leviathan, and now he’d been given barely a few seconds to escape the blast zone of friendly fire. He knew that he was a combat Marine and there was always danger, but he would never give those orders if he were in charge. Until then, he was determined to do his best to protect those that he could.

6

Jack sat in the pilot’s chair and watched the holoimage of the Scorpio moving away at high speed. It was soon lost to the limited sensor capabilities of the small tac boat. Jack wanted to know why Fleet Intelligence had swooped in to take the survivors of the civilian craft. He guessed he would never know for sure, but he had a fairly good idea of why.

The Chitins had found a way to brainwash humans. His old squad-mate Bill Harts had been one such victim, as was his former commander, Finch. Both had been converted by some Chitin technique and changed into Chitin spies. Harts was now dead and Finch was in the custody.

Fleet Intelligence was in all likelihood scouring the fleet for any other Chitin spies. A group of humans left alone in Chitin-controlled space for a prolonged period were definitely potential victims of the Chitin mind control. The destruction of the crashed civilian craft was just good housekeeping as far as Fleet Intelligence was concerned. The potential loss of a tac boat and its team of Marines was of little concern.

That was all interesting reflection, but it didn’t help Jack with his current task. He was here to clear the asteroid belt. As a Marine, Jack knew he needed to focus on his task.

The ships of Task Force One continued moving through the belt in formation. The smaller asteroids only needed to be scanned by the tac boat sensors. Any cavities that might hold a Chitin soldier were studied more carefully with a surveillance drone. Only one more asteroid in Jack’s path had required him to set down and conduct a ground search. That had yielded no results. There had been no contact since the ship on BP-8. Jack forced himself to maintain his concentration. The moment it slipped would be the moment a Chitin attack would come. If an attack came and Jack was unprepared, he knew that it would lead to disaster.

The small team lounged about in the passenger section of the boat where there was some room for them to spread out. The tac boat’s primary role was as a combat landing craft for a Marine squad of twelve, and with only three remaining team members, Jack had some space. But after such a prolonged deployment, the tac boat felt cramped.

The Marines looked at every asteroid big enough to land on as a hopeful sign that they would be ordered to go on a search patrol. Jack moved around every rock hopeful of the same, but with the asteroids cleared by the sensors, there was no need to set down. They moved through the belt at a snail’s pace, checking every rock for signs of Chitin activity.

A report from a tac boat on the sunward side of the belt was the only distraction during this watch. Jack kept a channel open and listened to the squad leader of 1st squad, Will Stone, as he led his team on a sweep of BP-1, the innermost planetesimal of the belt and the first ever discovered by the Fleet during the earliest surveys of Eros System during the first days of colonization.

Jack listened to the communication traffic intently. The search took Stone a little over an hour and BP-1 was reported as clear.

Jack sat back in his chair as the final message from Stone came that the tac boat was off the surface and continuing with sweep operations.

Looking at the task force image on the holostage, Jack could see that Stone’s ship was a few kilometers behind the main task force, but one tac boat on the outer edge of the belt was a hundred kilometers ahead. Jack didn’t need to check who it was.

“Torent, what are you doing?” Jack opened a private channel to his old friend.

“Torent here. I’ve just moved out of formation to check out a sensor signal on a small asteroid. It’s only a pebble really, but it was a strong reflector. Might have been debris. Just wanted to confirm it.”

It was impossible for Jack to keep his temper. He had been cooped up for days on end with his small team, and the search was a painstaking and frustrating task. He’d even lost a Marine, and now one of his trusted squad leaders was charging ahead of the task force. Again.

“Sam, you have been ordered to remain in formation. I don’t care what you saw out there. Charging off ahead exposes you to risk. Hold formation or I will send you back to the fleet.”

“Risk?” Sam Torent spat out with a burst of hard laughter. “You talk about risk? If a kravin Leviathan shows up, what good is your little formation of tac boats going to be?”

“Stow that insolent talk, Marine,” Jack said, trying to control his anger as best he could. “One more outburst and I will have you strapped to a post on the Scorpio’s Marine deck before the day is out. Is that clear, Sam?”

“I’m moving back into formation now, Jack. What’s the big deal?”

Jack felt the heat in his suit. He increased the coolant level to take away the uncomfortable feeling of heated fury.

“The big deal,” Jack answered Torent, “is that you are not following my orders. I have a very good reason for keeping us in formation and if you find you cannot follow my orders then I will be forced to issue a formal reprimand. Hold formation. If you spot something, then report it, but you will hold formation or…”

“Or what?” Torent said with a belligerent tone that pushed Jack to boiling point.

“Or I will have you removed from the task force and report you for dereliction of duty and insubordination. Do you know what that means?”

“Yeah,” Torent said mildly.

“Do you?” Jack said. “Because I think you need reminding. They will flog you, Sam. They will take the skin off your back. Don’t put me in the position where I have to order that.”

“Jack, I’m sorry. It’s been so dull out here. I’ve had nothing to do…”

“So read a kravin book,” Jack snapped, cutting off Torent and his list of excuses.

“Sir,” came Torent’s acquiescent reply.

Jack had always relied on Torent. He was an outstanding Marine. They had become friends early, but Jack knew he couldn’t be seen to be tolerant of insubordination from anyone in his company, not even someone who was a squad leader and a friend.

He returned to watching the distant specks of starlight as the task force crept through the belt. Jack scanned an asteroid up ahead. It was just over fifty meters in length but only ten meters in width. It was an oddly elongated asteroid for the belt. Although belt asteroids were found in all shapes and sizes, they mostly tended toward the spherical. A torpedo shape was unusual.

The density readings appeared and showed there were no subsurface cavities. Jack was about to clear it, but the density reading looked unusual. It was much higher than any other asteroid in the belt.

The asteroid moved in a lazy end over end tumbling motion as it spun in its slow and lazy orbit around the system’s star, no faster or slower than any other of its neighbors.

Then a glint of light from the far tip caught Jack’s eye. The asteroid reflecting sunlight was Jack’s first thought, but he dismissed that assessment in an instant. Before he really knew what was happening, he was calling his team to order and initiating evasive maneuvers.

A Chitin Kraken lifted off the far end of the asteroid and moved to attack.

Jack fired the engines and brought them to full power. The maneuvering thrusters on the port side were burning at full capacity, flinging the tac boat sideways. The spitz cannon on the Chitin Kraken spat plasma fire toward the Marine ship, a stream of plasma spears flashing through the black. The boat moved sideways and out of the way of the first stream. The team cheered Jack’s quick thinking and rapid response.

“Man that hail cannon,” Jack shouted as he flung the tac boat into a dive toward the long, tumbling asteroid. “Fire at the Chit.”

Garcia stumbled around the passenger hold as Jack flung the small attack boat about in space. Gripping the short ladder up to the manual control turret, Garcia shouted out his progress to Jack.

“Entering the hail cannon firing turret now, sir.”

Jack pushed the boat to its top speed and moved toward the asteroid. The tumbling rock had moved so that it lay like a long beam, its long axis pointed away from the front of Jack’s boat. The Kraken shot past. Looking at the holostage quickly, Jack saw the Kraken was taking a position on his tail.

Pushing the tac boat into a wide spiral, Jack maneuvered underneath the asteroid. The near end of the asteroid was now moving upward and away from Jack, exposing him to fire from the Kraken holding position some five hundred meters away.

The tac boat was exposing its underside to the Kraken. The asteroid was tumbling further away. The hail cannon purred as the first fire from the boat’s weaponry ripped through space toward the Kraken. The Kraken was the most maneuverable and fastest of the Chitin craft, though. An infiltrator and fighter, it was extremely agile and extremely deadly. It easily sidestepped the incoming kinetic hail and fired another burst of spitz cannon plasma spears.

The underside of the boat was facing the near end of the tumbling asteroid, which was moving upward and away rapidly. Jack activated the landing tether harpoon. A projectile harpoon attached to the tac boat by a high tensile cable raced away. It slammed into the asteroid and fixed itself in place.

The cable pulled tight and the tac boat was jerked by the asteroid. Like a pendulum suspended from the tip of the asteroid, the tac boat swung in a wide arc.

Spitz cannon plasma spears chased the boat as it was pulled by the weight of the tumbling asteroid. Jack fired the engines and pushed further, racing ahead of the near tumbling end and positioning the tac boat on the other side of the asteroid, hidden from the Kraken.

Jack knew his shelter from the plasma spear storm would be short-lived and the Kraken would acquire its target in a few moments. Just enough time for a call. Jack opened the communication systems on a Fleet-wide channel.

“This is Commander Jack Forge. Have encountered a Chitin Kraken. Require assistance.”

Checking the fleet distribution, Jack could see that the nearest destroyer was an hour away. There were no fighter craft in Jack’s sector, because most of the Blades were patrolling beyond the outer system edge of the asteroid belt, checking for any incoming Chitin ships.

The closest support was from the tac boats of Jack’s own task force. The closest of these should have been Sam Torent on Jack’s starboard side, but Sam was still ahead and returning to his designated position on Jack’s right flank.

The tac boat on Jack’s port side was under the command of the squad leader of Cobra’s 2nd squad, Ben Horan.

“Just hold it off for a few minutes, Commander,” Horan said. “Moving to engage Kraken now.”

Jack released the tether and the tac boat was free again. He pointed the front along the axis of the asteroid. The far end was now falling away. Jack raced the boat toward the pivot point, the center of rotation, halfway along the axis of the long asteroid.

The Kraken had moved around the asteroid and into a firing position. A warning alarm sounded on the flight console, alerting Jack to the danger.

The hail cannon purred again as Garcia loosed off another barrage. He shouted with fury and excitement.

“Take that, you kravin Chit.”

“Focus, Garcia,” Jack called out. “Remember your deflection shooting training. Lead the Chit. Anticipate.”

The Kraken fired another burst from its spitz cannons, the spears flashing toward the upper side of Jack’s ship. Jack fired the reverse thruster. The view screen was filled with the flare from the reverse thrust. Jack was thrown forward in his seat as the boat was flung backward. The stream of plasma spears raced overhead, slamming into the asteroid just in front of them. The eruption of plasma fire flooded the view screen, the filters activated to block out most of the sudden flash. When the filters cleared, Jack saw the molten patch of asteroid where the spitz cannon’s plasma spears had struck, right where the tac boat had been situated only a fraction of a second before the impact.

Jack rolled the ship and put it under the asteroid, again using the massive tumbling rock as a shield.

“Jack, this is Sam. I’m on my way. I’m coordinating with Horan to catch that Chit in a crossfire.”

Jack looked at the holostage and the relative positions of Torent and Horan. Ben Horan would be in firing range in a minute. Torent was further out but closing fast. Jack didn’t need Torent’s help, he only needed one other tac boat to help cut down the Kraken.

The Kraken was too fast and mobile for one boat to take on. Jack’s was completely isolated and lucky the asteroid was giving him cover. He could keep moving around the long spear of rock and stay away from the Kraken’s deadly spitz cannon until he had the force needed to engage and destroy the Chitin craft.

The Kraken fired another burst from its spitz cannon. Jack was covered by the asteroid, moving around the narrow axis at the rotation point. He could easily keep in cover, but then he saw the attacking Kraken’s true purpose, as yet another burst of fire slammed into the asteroid at the central point of long asteroid’s rotation. The plasma spears were heating the rock, liquefying it. The asteroid had already thinned at the central point as the rotation pulled at the increasingly malleable center, the very point where Jack was taking cover.

The asteroid suddenly ripped in two.

Molten chunks of asteroid flung off in all directions as the long rock tore itself apart. Jack pushed the engines to full power and raced forward, narrowly avoiding the molten boulders that threatened to collide with his boat.

The hail cannon purred as Garcia poured another burst of fire at the Kraken weaving and dodging high above.

“I will be in weapons range in ten seconds,” Horan’s voice came over Jack’s communicator.

Jack checked the coordinates. He picked a firing position from his location and sent it to Horan.

“We’ll get it in the crossfire at this point,” Jack said.

The spitz cannon sent another blast of plasma spears at Jack. They tore through the gap created in the asteroid by the Kraken’s fire. There were now two tumbling asteroids with Jack dancing between them, moving to the cover of one and then the other, avoiding plasma spears and chunks of molten debris.

“Drake, Attah, grab those pulse rifles and get in that doorway,” Jack called out. “We’re going to outgun that Kraken.”

Drake and Attah moved into the doorway. Jack turned the ship to present the doorway to the Kraken that was still holding position five hundred meters away.

The door began to open. The flashes of the tac boat’s hail cannon flickered over the edges of the open doorway. Drake and Attah needed no instruction and they opened up with their Fleet Marine pulse rifles as soon as the Kraken came into view.

With the kinetic hail cannon purring away and the two pulse rifles adding their own fire to the assault, the Kraken began to weave and dodge, moving rapidly from side to side. Its spitz cannon fire came at an increased rate, but because of its evasive movements the fire was also far less accurate.

Jack moved his hands over the flight console with an ease that belied his inner tension. It was a fight for life and death. He was aware of every alert signal on the flight console. Incoming fire warning, engine coolant warnings, hail cannon operational efficiency. He controlled the power supply to the cannon when its efficiency dropped.

While operating the ship systems and organizing the counter-attack, Jack also had to fly the tac boat. He threw the ship to one side and maneuvered around the nearest part of the smashed asteroid as its tumbling rotation came around and almost sideswiped the boat.

The main engine began to splutter. The tac boats were still not at their best, showing signs of the wear and tear from the long Chitin war despite their repairs. Jack flipped the boat over its front section. He kept the open doorway pointed toward the enemy, but was able to use the reverse jets as the main thrust. They would only last so long before Jack’s boat was dead in the void.

The distant flicker of light far beyond the Kraken was a welcome sight. Jack knew that Horan had arrived and was pouring fire at the lone Chitin fighter.

Jack moved out from the debris field and moved in toward the Kraken. The fire from two tac boats had the Chitin outgunned and outmaneuvered. It raced upwards away from the plain of the asteroid belt, up to the dark space above the system’s ecliptic plane. Jack turned his boat toward the fleeing Chitin.

“Closing doors,” Jack called. “Good work, team,” he added before pushing as much energy through the main drive as the boat could reasonably cope with. “Maintain the fire, Garcia,” Jack said.

“We’ve got it on the run now, sir,” Squad Leader Horan’s voice came over Jack’s communicator.

“Maintain pursuit,” Jack said, “but don’t get too far ahead. My boat is only operating at seventy percent efficiency. You will get too far ahead and be isolated.”

“He’s getting away, sir,” Horan said. “I have him in my sights. Hail cannon firing now.”

Jack pushed his ship to the limit. He heard the purring of the cannon as Garcia fired. The holostage showed Garcia’s fire was missing to the port side of the Chitin Kraken, effectively corralling the craft and pushing it toward Horan’s fire. Horan’s fire was being delivered in bursts, targeting and retargeting as the Kraken dodged and weaved, jerking from port to starboard, flipping and rolling, desperately evading the fire from the two tac boats.

“In firing range in ten seconds,” Sam Torent said.

Jack watched the three boats and their attack on the single Kraken. The Chitin was forced into the vertical escape route up from the ecliptic.

Jack spotted another group of signals racing in from the outer system edge of the asteroid belt. A detachment of three Blades were racing in to cut off the Kraken’s final escape route.

The warning signal on Jack’s flight console told him that engine efficiency had dropped below battle effectiveness. He was limping along after the Kraken. He cut the engines entirely and set the integrated maintenance systems to recover functionality. The boat drifted after their target, the hail cannons still laying down steady stream of fire that cut off every avenue of escape.

Then, as Torent came in from the outer system edge of the belt and three Blades raced in from further out, the Kraken turned into a headlong charge at the best hope for escape through the asteroid belt. It turned toward Horan’s ship.

Jack hit the maneuvering thrusters in an effort to close in on the Kraken. The hail cannon from Horan’s tac boat poured a stream of fire at the Kraken.

The Kraken spitz cannon flickered as it raced headlong toward Horan. The first plasma spears splattered over the flat nose section of Horan’s boat, sending balls of plasma fire flickering over the hull. Then another burst slammed into the tac boat and blasted their way through the nose section. Debris burst out through the breach as the ship depressurized.

The next burst of plasma spears entered the tac boat through the broken front section. Jack saw a plume of orange fire as the plasma spears destroyed the interior, reactor fuel and ammunition detonating in a billowing flame that burst out of the destroyed front section of Horan’s ship.

The Kraken raced over the top of the stricken tac boat, its spitz cannon strafing its target, several plasma spears striking the upper hull and the last blasts of the strafing run slamming into the spluttering engines.

The Blades came racing past Jack, flashing through the dark of space lit only by the billowing explosions.

Jack watched the Blades chase down and fire at the Kraken for a brief moment before turning his attention back to Horan’s boat.

“Horan, this is Forge. Respond.”

The Kraken took fire from the three Blades and broke apart in a sudden explosion, the white fireball tumbling forward. The Blades turned away from the expanding fireball and returned to their patrol at the outer edge of the asteroid belt.

“Chitin down,” the lead Blade said over Jack’s communicator. “Mark up another one for the Blades. Good hunting, Marines.”

“Horan,” Jack said. “Come in, anyone from Horan’s tac boat. Respond please.”

“Commander, this is Torent, moving in for search and rescue on Horan’s tac boat. Over.”

“Negative, Sam,” Jack said. He activated his ship’s maneuvering thrusters and slowly moved himself back into his position in the Task Force One search line. “We’ve lost them. Return to your position in the belt and resume your sweep pattern.”

“But we need to check. Ben had a team of six Marines. There might be survivors.”

“Return to your position in the line, Sam.” Jack spoke calmly and softly, but his heart boiled with anger. He felt it rise up to his throat. He would not let it pour out of his mouth. Torent had failed him by not being in position when needed, but it would be a bad leader who let emotion overcome their focus on the mission.

“Yes, sir,” Torent said.

Jack remained silent. He returned his tac boat to its place in the search line and continued with the search.

The Chitins had not vanished entirely. There were still scattered elements of the once massive Chitin force around the inner system. The few Chitins that lurked in the inner system could still be deadly. Jack knew there were still Chitin forces somewhere out beyond the asteroid belt. This war was not over for the Fleet Marines, but this search and destroy mission would be the last mission for some.

7

Sitting at the front of the tac boat in the pilot seat, Jack was only a few meters away from the rest of his small team, but he felt isolated. He wrote up the daily mission report as the rest of his team relaxed. He hesitated to add an official reprimand on Sam Torent’s record. It was true he had been out of position, having raced ahead of the search line yet again, but Torent was not leaving any area unchecked. He was clearing and moving on. Maybe speed was as useful as meticulous attention to detail. Maybe Torent deserved a break. Could he have prevented Horan’s destruction even if he had been closer? It might be that Horan would have been destroyed, or Torent might have been destroyed. The Kraken was a fast and powerful fighter. It was lucky that any of them had escaped.

Jack described the skirmish accurately and recorded the positions of all tac boats of the task force, including those that came to the fight. The report would not be an indictment of Torent in any way, but in Jack’s mind, Torent was on a last warning.

The next phase of the sweep would take Jack’s task force to the halfway point of the operation. It had been a long operation already and they were only halfway through. Jack had fought tough battles before, but this was proving one of the hardest.

The line of tac boats had been redeployed across the line to cover the space left by the destruction of Horan’s ship. Eventually, Jack would have to find a new squad leader to take over for Horan, but for now, he could only focus on sweeping the asteroid belt. He didn’t need to promote a new squad leader until he returned to the Scorpio.

The day’s sweep had been long and without further incident. No ship of Task Force One reported any contact. The sweep had taken them through a region of low asteroid density. Only one boat had to set down during the entire phase to conduct a ground search of a large asteroid. Jack had remained seated in the pilot’s chair, monitoring the flight console for the last countless hours.

Amber warning lights had been flickering on the fight console intermittently for the last few hours. The ship had taken a pounding during the battle with the Kraken and some systems were beginning to struggle with the constant operational activity. The tac boat was limping along, but Jack was beginning to think there was no way the boat was going to make it to the end of the sweep without some maintenance.

The onboard supplies were limited. There were few tools apart from the very basic. Even if Jack had replacement parts for the systems that were on the verge of burning out, he wouldn’t have the tools to replace them. It was vital that Jack managed the tac boat and kept it limping onwards.

The communicator burst into life with the voice of an excited and nervous Marine.

“Chits!”

Jack was alert the moment he heard the message from the Squad Leader Erin Bevan’s ship. Jack accessed the view screen from her tac boat and looked at the image.

Three Chitin soldiers were floating in space in front of her boat. As far as Jack could see, they were drifting lifelessly through the belt. It was possible for the Chitin soldier to survive exposure to the vacuum and cold of deep space for prolonged periods, but these Chitins looks very dead.

“Engaging enemy,” Bevan said.

Jack could hear the stress in her voice. She hadn’t made the necessary assessment of the situation. Jack opened a private channel and spoke calmly to her.

“They pose no immediate threat,” Jack said. “Mark their position. Mark their speed and trajectory. Do you copy that, Bevan?”

Bevan responded. “Copy that, Commander.”

Jack waited for a few seconds and then the data appeared on his console.

“They are adrift in the belt,” Bevan said with relief. “They are moving with the asteroids. Speed and trajectory suggest they are in solar orbit, sir.”

Jack nodded. “So they have been adrift in the asteroid belt for some time. Do you agree, Squad Leader Bevan?”

“Yes, sir,” Bevan said, sounding slightly relieved.

“Good work, Bevan,” Jack said. “What’s your plan?”

Bevan hesitated. “Do you want me to bring them in, sir?”

“Negative,” Jack said. “This is a search and destroy mission, Bevan, not a treasure hunt. Mark their location and destroy them. Do you copy?”

“Copy that. Activating hail cannon, sir.” Bevan sounded immediately more relaxed and in control.

The sudden surprises were testing the nerves of the Marines in the task force. A few floating dead Chits would have been of little to no concern before, but after being cooped up in a tac boat for two weeks, Jack could tell nerves were getting stretched close to breaking point.

Jack watched the gun camera feed from Bevan’s tac boat. The hail streamed out silently and obliterated the first Chitin corpse with a short blast. The second was destroyed a second later. The third, nudged by flying pieces of its dead and destroyed companions, evaded the blast of hail cannon fire as it drifted slightly to one side.

“Focus, Bevan,” Jack said.

The final burst slammed into the Chitin corpse and obliterated it.

“All done, sir. Why did we blast them if they were already dead, sir?” Bevan sounded at ease.

“So they didn’t suddenly come back to life and attack you. They could have been playing dead and waiting for some ship to come by before latching on and infiltrating. Better to blast them to bits, don’t you agree?”

“Yes, sir,” Bevan said. “Thank you, sir.”

Jack smiled to himself. He was keeping this task force together even though he hadn’t seen Erin Bevan, or any of the other tac boat teams, for over a week. Maintaining authority and command while being isolated from his company was challenging, but the company was performing well. Jack made a note to commend Bevan in his next daily report.

The alarm on the flight panel fractured Jack’s moment of calm. He looked to the console. The reactor coil was polarizing. Jack activated the retarder and powered down the reactor. He sat back in his chair with a frustrated sigh. The tac boat was out of action.

Jack opened a channel to the task force. “Task Force One, this is Commander Forge. Listen up, Marines. My boat is out of action. I’m on maneuvering thrusters only and I’m down to my backup power supply. I’m dropping out of formation.”

The task force ships acknowledged Jack’s message. Now they were awaiting orders.

Jack scanned the asteroid belt ahead on the trajectory he was traveling on. He spotted a large asteroid, BP-13, directly ahead and only an hour away at his current speed.

The tac boat would drift until close to BP-13, where Jack could set down with maneuvering thrusters. Now Jack needed to nominate a ship to take command of the task force. Bevan had performed well after an initial burst of anxiety. Stone was an accomplished if inexperienced Marine. Sam Torent was racing ahead too much, but he was the natural choice to take over for Jack. He was experienced and a respected squad leader in Cobra Company. Jack hoped a bit of authority and responsibility would hold him in his position in the task force as they swept on through the asteroid belt. He could not think of anyone better suited. He hoped Torent would not let him down.

Opening a private channel to Torent, Jack had a final moment of doubt.

“Jack,” Torent said. “So your boat has broken down. If anyone can fix it, it’s you.”

Jack’s doubts began to evaporate.

“This job is a bit beyond me, Sam,” Jack said. “I’m going to have to wait for a support craft to assist. I need a new reactor coil.”

“Are we going to hold position and wait for you?” Torent said.

Jack detected a hint of frustration in Torent’s voice.

“No, Sam. I want Task Force One to carry on with the sweep. We still have enough boats to make an effective sweep. Sam, I want you to lead them.”

Jack heard the swell of pride in Torent’s voice as he replied.

“Sir, yes, sir,” Torent said. “I’ll keep them on task, sir. Thank you for showing confidence in me. I won’t let you down.”

Jack knew Torent would not let anyone down, at least intentionally. He was a natural leader and a strong and powerful Marine.

Jack opened a channel to the task force to let them know the situation.

“Attention Task Force One. I’m setting down on BP-13. Squad Leader Sam Torent will be ranking Marine. I will continue to oversee the command of Task Force One from BP-13. Forge out.”

Jack sat back in his chair and watched the flight console as all boats acknowledged his orders. Then he opened a private channel to Torent.

“Torent here, sir,” Torent said eagerly.

“It’s not just you out there now, Sam,” Jack said. “Keep that line intact. Maintain proper distance. Check in with the other tac boats regularly. Keep alert for any Chitin activity.”

“Jack. It’s fine,” Torent said. “I have this under control.”

Jack pressed his lips tightly together in case he let a curse slip out. Torent had been too hasty and had pressed ahead too often, but of all the squad leaders and Marines in the task force, Jack trusted Torent the most.

“I’ll contact the Scorpio right away. I should be up and running again before you complete the next phase of the sweep.”

“You take it easy,” Torent said. “Put your feet up and wait for the maintenance crew. You deserve a break.”

Jack couldn’t agree more. He was starting to feel worn out, but this was not the time for a break. He needed to get his boat back in formation as soon as possible.

He sent out his distress call to the Fleet. A noncritical failure of his tac boat. It meant they would get to him when they could. Jack knew he would be waiting for some time. The fleet was already stretched extremely thin with the inner system sweep, and because of the severe lack of crew due to the devastation of the war with the Chitins, every operation was taking longer to complete.

Jack knew the Fleet was hanging on by its fingernails. If the Chits hadn’t withdrawn when they had, Jack knew that all humanity could well be gone, wiped out, the entire human presence in the Eros System destroyed.

Jack looked at the small holostage and looked for the nearest ship that could provide support. The two massive carriers were both in orbit around Eros. The destroyers were spread across the inner system. The smallest craft, the tac boats and the fighters, were spread through the asteroid belt.

The nearest destroyer was the Virgo. Jack sent a message to the maintenance crew on the Virgo and requested parts for his boat. The reply from the chief was short and brusque. Jack guessed from the blunt impoliteness of the message that everyone was feeling the pressure.

Jack searched for the Scorpio. It was not close, but at least it was on the same side of the star as Jack’s tac boat. The Scorpio was holding position amongst the debris of the planet Eras.

Jack accessed the captain’s communicator. He could personally request assistance and if the captain could help, then Jack was sure he would.

“Jack, my boy,” Pretorius said. “I hope you are not calling to ask me for a favor.” The captain’s voice was relaxed but firm.

“Yes, in fact, I am asking for assistance, sir,” Jack said. “My tac boat is adrift.”

“And you want me to do what? Rescue you? Would you like Mister Chou to give you a push?”

Jack could hear the captain moving around. Jack could almost see him hard at work on his command deck, managing some operation, or even several.

“You are right, sir. Sorry to have bothered you.”

“No bother, Commander,” Pretorius said. “Have you reported your condition to Fleet Command and Control?”

“Yes, sir. I expect they’ll get to me as soon as they can.”

“Jack,” Pretorius said brightly, as if struck with an idea. “Mister Chou suggests you ask our maintenance department for assistance. They might have the parts you need. We can send it over on a drone if we have one spare. Okay?”

“Yes, sir,” Jack said. “Thank you, Captain. And thank Commander Chou for me too.”

“No thanks required, Mister Forge. I haven’t done anything yet. Pretorius out.”

Jack felt a smile creep over his face and a lighter feeling in his heart. He opened the Scorpio channel and directed the communication to the maintenance department. If he was lucky, someone would be in the familiar old workshop, with its benches and its dark coffee and its familiar personnel.

Jack recognized the gruff tones of Slim, the chief maintenance technician.

“Slim, it’s Jack. Can you talk?”

“I guess” Slim said glumly.

“What’s wrong?” Jack asked, concerned.

“It’s Reyes…”

“What about her?” Jack asked in a panic.

“She’s gone.”

“What? Where?” Jack felt his voice rising in confusion and anger.

“Fleet Intelligence. They took her away.”

“What do you mean?” Jack asked apprehensively.

“I don’t know where. They came in and talked to her. She left with them without saying a word.”

Jack slumped back in his chair. His mind raced. Why?

A long time ago, Jack and Reyes had come under the attention of Agent Visser of Fleet Intelligence, but that had all been cleared up. Why would Fleet Intelligence want Reyes now?

Then Jack remembered the human survivors on the downed transport craft. Agent Visser had swooped in to take them away before Jack could have them transported. It was as if they had been waiting to find humans who had come into contact with the Chitins.

Jack knew the Chits had found a way to get inside the heads of people and bend them to their will, making them unwitting and unwilling Chitin spies. Maybe Fleet Intelligence thought Reyes knew too much about the Chits. She had helped bring down a Leviathan at the Battle of Kratos Fuel Station. Reyes had helped Jack break the siege of the home planets by showing Jack where to attack the Chitin Leviathans. Maybe her inside knowledge had brought her to the attention of Fleet Intelligence.

Whatever the reason, Jack was suspicious of Agent Visser and he feared Reyes was in as much danger from her as she was from the Chitins themselves.

Jack stood up and paced back the small tac boat. He felt the confinement more keenly than he had since beginning the sweep operation. He was concerned for Sarah, but, as he overcame his frustration and started to think more clearly, he realized he had no real way of even finding out where Reyes was. He had to trust that she could take care of herself, for now.

The collision alarm sounded from the flight console. Jack turned and saw the massive asteroid, BP-13, up ahead, and getting larger as the tac boat moved closer.

Jack jumped into the pilot chair and activated the reverse thrusters, slowing the boat. The asteroid came closer and closer, slowing down but still racing toward the tac boat. Jack threw everything into the thrusters, but they were still approaching the asteroid too fast.

Jack cursed his team for not noticing the approaching asteroid. Then he cursed himself for passing the buck. His frustration was making him irrational. He knew he should not have been distracted, even over Reyes, even for a moment.

“Get those helmets on and strap in,” Jack said as he slowed the boat another few meters per second and then rotated, positioning the doorway toward the asteroid.

“Overriding the depressurization safety systems,” Jack said. “Opening doors now.”

The doors opened a crack and the air rushed out, creating massive extra thruster jet that slowed the boat even more. Jack looked back at the open door and saw the asteroid getting bigger by the second. He could see features on the surface, growing in detail, as the asteroid, now looking like a small moon, came racing closer.

Jack turned the tac boat again and presented the lower hull to the approaching asteroid. The landing was going to be hard but hopefully not catastrophic. With the landing thrusters firing and the landing struts extended outwards, the boat approached BP-13. The speed was way above regulation landing speed, but Jack was sure the boat would take the hit.

He closed the door again just to preserve the hull’s overall strength. And with the thrusters still firing at their strongest, a collision warning sounded through the tac boat.

The ship hit hard. Jack felt himself pressed into the seat as inertia threatened to carry him through the lower hull and into the surface of BP-13.

Jack checked for damage alerts on the flight console. No damage was reported, not even from the landing struts. They must have taken a load far in excess of what they were expected to withstand at nominal landing speed.

The power systems were all operational, only the systems Jack had deactivated after the encounter with the Kraken were not functioning.

“Sound off,” Jack called to his team. They replied one at a time, each sounding a little shaken but reporting themselves unhurt.

Opening a channel to the fleet, Jack felt foolish for letting the ship crash land. He had been distracted. It was inexcusable. He was supposed to be bringing his team of Marines up to the expected standard. He was determined not to let them drag him down to their level.

“This is Commander Forge, Task Force One. My tac boat is experiencing mechanical failure. I’ve set down on BP-13. Request tac boat repair team to my location. I’m continuing with my sweep of BP-13. Forge out.”

Throwing off the chair straps and climbing to his feet, Jack felt the pain caused by the unorthodox landing. He tested his weight on his legs and walked about carefully. Attah, Drake, and Garcia were all looking up at him, waiting for instructions.

“On your feet, Marines,” Jack said, moving toward the door. “We’ve got an asteroid to clear.”

“But we’ve just crashed,” Attah said. “I think I’m hurt, sir. I need a dose of pain relief before I can do anything.”

Jack accessed Attah’s med package. His stats were all in the green. The Marine was in the best shape he had been in for years.

“You’re fine,” Jack said. “Just a bit shaken up. Get up and moving and you’ll be fine.”

Drake got up out of his chair and grabbed his pulse rifle. “Do you know the odds of surviving that sort of landing? Extremely low.”

Jack stepped over to the door. “Do you know the chance of getting a repair team down here before we finish our sweep of this rock?”

Drake shook his head.

“Even lower,” Jack said and opened the door.

“This is Fleet Rescue,” Jack heard an unfamiliar voice over the tac boat’s communicator. “Come in, Commander Forge.”

“This is Forge. Go ahead.” Jack looked at his Marines, who were looking expectantly at him.

“We have you on our work detail. We’ll bring you in for repairs. Estimated time to recovery is fourteen hours. Copy.”

“Copy that, Fleet Rescue. Forge out.”

Garcia dropped back into his seat and stretched his legs out. “Fourteen hours,” he said with a satisfied sigh. “No rush sweeping this rock then, is there?”

Jack stepped over to Garcia, reclined in his chair. “On your feet, Marine. You’ve got fourteen hours to clear this rock, and fourteen seconds to get out of that door. Copy?”

Garcia looked up at Jack. He held his position. Jack fixed Garcia with a stern look.

Garcia was years older than Jack. It was probably difficult for him to take orders from the younger man. Jack hadn’t asked for this position, but he had decided to take on these poor performing Marines. If he couldn’t take this challenge to his authority, he would be in deep trouble, and so would Garcia.

“You’ve been in the service long enough to know the penalty for insubordination, Garcia,” Jack said calmly. The whole team knew the sanction was brutal.

“Won’t be the first time they’ve put a lash across my back,” Garcia said.

Jack nodded. “And do you know the penalty for an officer for killing a Marine for insubordination?”

Garcia nodded.

“That’s right, Marine. Nothing. So get on your feet or I will have the problem of how to deal with your dead body.”

“Okay. Okay,” Garcia said gently, hand raised and getting to his feet. “I was just joking around, sir.”

Jack didn’t believe Garcia was joking around. It was pure laziness and a deliberate challenge to his authority. He pushed Garcia back down in to his seat and stood over him.

“This is not a joking matter, Marine,” Jack said firmly. “This is a combat operation. You had better start taking this seriously or you are going to get yourself killed. Worse still, you are going to get your team killed.”

Garcia remained motionless. Jack accessed his med data. His pulse rate was rising.

“On your feet, Marine. On the double. Move out. You can take point. Copy?”

Garcia nodded. “Copy that, sir,” he said. He stood up and walked out of the tac boat, down the short ramp on to the surface of BP-13.

Jack sent a small swarm of drones out across the surface of the asteroid, mapping and scanning, relaying all data back to Jack. The asteroid appeared to be clear. There was no obvious movement.

He walked at the rear of the team that was arranged in a wide diamond formation. Garcia walked fifty meters ahead of Jack. Attah walked at the same slow pace fifty meters away to Jack’s left, while Drake was fifty meters away on the right.

BP-13, like all the belt planetesimals, was roughly spherical. It was one of the smaller planetesimals at only five kilometers diameter, but gravity was strong enough to crush it down to its roughly spherical shape.

“It’s going to take us a hundred hours to clear this rock on foot,” Attah said over the open communication channel.

“You think it’ll take that long?” Jack asked. “You haven’t done the math, have you?” Jack had calculated the time to cover the ground in this formation and he knew he had plenty of time, but this conversation was good for morale. He let it run. “How long will it take us, Drake?” Jack asked.

“Shouldn’t take us much over ten hours at this pace, in this formation, sir.”

“Ten hours?” Garcia complained. “We are going to walk for ten hours straight?”

“Fourteen hours till our repair team gets here. We’ve got time for a meal break.”

“I don’t need a meal break, but I am pretty tired, sir,” Attah said. “My med package won’t administer a stim. I think it’s malfunctioning, sir.”

“For krav sake,” Jack said as jovially as he could. “What with you and Garcia complaining, I’m surprised we have time to talk about anything else. How many complaints a minute is that now, Drake?” Jack asked.

Drake’s med data suddenly flashed on Jack’s enhanced data overlay. Drake was in critical condition, his life signs failing.

Jack looked over to Drake on his right. The Marine had collapsed.

Jack started running. “Drake, respond.”

Drake’s medical data red-lined and reported a fatality.

“Garcia. Attah. On me.” Jack ran. He saw the fallen body of Drake, face down in the loose gray rocks with his helmet lying beside his lifeless body.

Jack slowed and approached the fallen Marine. Body fluids were expanding and boiling away in the vacuum of space, leaking out and drifting over the dusty surface of BP-13.

Attah was the first to arrive. He kneeled next to the body and put a hand on the Marine’s back. Jack stooped down and picked up the pulse rifle. He handed it to Attah, who slung it over his back.

Garcia arrived and looked down at the body. Then he picked up the helmet that lay just next to Drake.

“Why?” Garcia asked. “Why did he take off his helmet?”

Jack shook his head. He had only known Drake for a short time, but they had spent the last few weeks so close together. This team of Marines was as familiar to Jack now as any of his closest friends.

Jack reached out to Garcia and asked for the helmet. Jack turned the helmet over in his hands. It was not damaged in any way. It appeared to have been removed by the usual release mechanism.

Jack looked around. The pale asteroid surface and the black of space with nothing else to see. He looked up and down for any sign of any reason why Drake would have removed his helmet.

“Space mirage?” Attah said. “Marines sometimes see a space mirage when they are overworked. Maybe he thought he was back at home.”

Jack handed the helmet to Attah, who was still kneeling beside Drake’s body.

“Cover him over and mark the grave with his helmet,” Jack said.

“We are not a grave detail,” Garcia complained.

Jack turned on Garcia with a fury that scared even Jack himself.

“I don’t expect you to like the work, Garcia, but I expect you to do it, or I will put a pulse pistol round through your lazy head. Do you copy that, Marine?”

Garcia squared off against Jack. “Do it. Save me the trouble of doing it myself,” Garcia said.

“Too lazy to work. Too lazy to die.” Jack was furious. “How do you even manage to keep breathing?”

The flash of light from the horizon caught Jack’s eye. Before he could turn, a plasma spear had slammed into Attah’s helmet.

The medical data on Jack’s visor showed another fatality. Attah was dead before he hit the ground.

Jack dropped to the ground. Garcia was still standing, looking down at Attah and the burning hole in his helmet. Jack reached up and pulled Garcia to the ground.

“Chitin,” Jack said as he looked to where the plasma spear had come from. There was no sign of any movement, no sign of any Chitin.

Jack looked across the surface of the asteroid. He could make out a light trail across the dusty surface. It was so faint, he had missed them when he was standing up, but down close to the ground with the light of the distant sun shining at a low angle across the surface, he could just make out the familiar tracks of a Chitin soldier.

Grabbing Drake’s helmet, Jack took a closer look. There was a thin film of slime across the faceplate of the helmet. It was as if it had been gripped by a Chitin tentacle and twisted off.

“Where are they?” Garcia asked, pressing himself as close to the ground as he could get. He pulled the body of Drake in front of him for cover and pulled up his pulse rifle.

“Just one,” Jack said, looking at the horizon for any sign of movement. “And it’s gone.”

“Good,” Garcia said. “Let’s get back to the tac boat and hunker down. We can wait it out until the rescue team gets here.”

“First,” Jack said, “it’s a repair team, not a rescue team. Second, this is a search and destroy operation, and it looks like we’ve got a target to destroy.” Jack turned to Garcia. “And lastly, you had better do as I say or there is a real chance that neither of us will be getting off this rock alive. Copy?”

Garcia nodded. “Copy that, sir.”

“Okay, then. Let’s get to work.”

8

The drones returned to Jack at his position where Drake and Attah had fallen. Jack sent them sweeping out, low across the surface. Within minutes, they had swept the asteroid again. Still no sign of the Chit that had attacked them. Jack crawled over to the faint tracks on the surface, keeping low. The tracks led off in the direction where the single plasma spear had come from, but the tracks had no obvious point of origin.

Jack called up the drone scan data from when they had first moved over this point. The area was clear. How could the Chit just appear out of nowhere? Jack touched the track mark. The chitin had been moving so lightly it had barely left a mark. Jack spotted a line in the dust. A straight line. Jack traced it with his finger. He moved the light gray dust aside. A few centimeters under the dust, Jack found a hard surface. He brushed the dust aside and revealed the hull of a Chitin craft.

Jack revealed a hatchway to a Chitin craft. He pulled his pulse pistol and activated the electron blade. He pressed the blade into the join between hull and hatch and cut along the edge.

The hatch slid open. Jack called a drone to him and sent it inside. The data streamed through to Jack’s meat suit and he could see inside. It was clearly a Chitin craft, the walls covered in short tentacles and polyp arrangements, but unlike the active Chitin craft Jack had seen, this one was dull and lifeless. It was an unpowered craft.

As the drone moved deeper into the craft, Jack saw that a large jagged rock of the same pale appearance as the rest of the asteroid was protruding into the craft with the hull burst inwards.

“It is a Chitin craft for sure,” Jack said. “Looks like it was a crash landing.” He let Garcia access the drone data. “That rock has punched clear through the hull.”

“They must have come down hard,” Garcia said.

The drone moved slowly around the dark interior. Then in the shadows, Jack saw a familiar image.

Garcia jumped as the sight of the Chitin soldier came out of the dark. Jack grabbed Garcia’s arm to stop him scurrying backwards.

“It’s a lifeless corpse. Look.”

The Chitin toppled forward and fell slowly to the deck. The drone moved back to let the Chitin soldier fall. There behind the first Chitin was another.

Jack sent the drone forward to bump into the Chitin in the shadow. The drone’s scanner imaged the interior and returned the data to Jack.

“Seven dead Chitins,” he said. “And the size of the craft looks to be a Hydra-class vessel. The crew is all dead, except for one.”

Garcia looked to the horizon. He pointed with his pulse rifle. “That one,” he said coldly.

“That’s right,” Jack agreed. “But it won’t be around for much longer. You ready to move out?”

Garcia nodded. “Ready, Commander,” he confirmed.

Jack clambered to his feet, cautiously watching the horizon. “Keep the communication channel open,” Jack said. “Spread out. Fifty meters. Go.”

Garcia got to his feet and moved off quickly, keeping low and watching the horizon.

“I’m sending the drones ahead,” Jack said.

Jack had a drone study the tracks left by the Chitin soldier and then set the drone to follow the markings. The rest of the small swarm spread out around Jack and Garcia to watch for danger.

The drone following the Chitin trail stopped. Jack looked at the drone’s data. The tracks had vanished.

“Is it another buried ship?” Garcia said.

Jack hoped not. If there were more than a handful of Chitins on this asteroid, then he and Garcia might not survive for very long.

Then the drone stopped delivering data.

“Get down,” Jack said as he dropped to the ground. The plasma spear came from low on the horizon, narrowly missing Jack as he hit the ground.

“Commander?” Garcia called. “Are you okay?”

“Stay down,” Jack said. “We’ve got it. It has given away its position.”

The last location of the drone following the tracks was just up ahead. Jack studied the visual data from the drone taken moments before it was destroyed.

“That drone was right on top of it,” Jack said, “The Chitin destroyed the drone and then fired at us. Stay down, Garcia. Keep still.”

Jack applied various filters across the visual data and viewed the trail in a variety of spectral forms. The track did stop. Jack rescanned the data over and over and began to see the faint outline of the Chitin soldier in the dusty surface.

“There,” Jack said. “See it?”

Garcia muttered in agreement and then after another few moments, he replied excitedly. “Yes, I see it. It’s in the dirt. It’s hiding in the dirt.”

Jack ran his fingers through the gray dust in front of him. It was deep, but not deep enough to bury a Chitin soldier.

Jack sent a drone high above the point where the drone had been destroyed. Zooming in on the spot, Jack could see the Chitin soldier’s outline pressed against the ground. It had flattened itself against the ground and covered itself in the dust.

“Got it,” Jack said. “Keep a close eye on it and move in. Stay low. If you have a clear shot, take it.”

The image from the drone was swamped by a sudden bright light as a plasma spear slammed in to it. The feed was lost and Jack spotted the bright flash against the black of space as the drone was destroyed.

Jack’s communicator burst into life. Jack, startled, dropped to the ground. He berated himself for reacting like a startled creature.

“Jack, are you okay?” It was Sam Torent. “The whole of Task Force One is standing by to offer assistance.”

“Hold your position, Sam,” Jack said. “I’ve encountered a single Chitin soldier. It’s isolated and alone. My team is moving in now.”

“Sir,” Garcia called out. “Movement.”

Jack looked toward the last known location of the Chit. A clear outline of a Chitin soldier appeared on the horizon, framed against the black of space. The outline was familiar, but the color was unusual. It was the same pale gray as the asteroid’s dusty surface.

“It’s giving away its position, sir. I’m taking the shot.”

Garcia fired his pulse rifle from the prone position. Jack aimed his pulse pistol and fired a few rapid shots at the distant pale Chitin soldier.

Garcia was up on one knee and firing another blast. Jack moved forward a few steps, dropped to a knee and, with a quick but careful aim, he fired another few rounds.

Garcia was standing up, pulse rifle at his shoulder, firing several rounds for every step he took toward the target.

“Keep down, Garcia,” Jack called. He watched Garcia advance steadily, firing as he went. Jack got on his feet and walked toward the chitin on the horizon, pulse rounds flashing all around it. The Chitin raised a number of tentacles and they writhed around it.

Jack knew he was too far out to be sure to hit the Chitin with his pulse pistol. He moved in closer. The Chitin soldier was backing away as Jack and Garcia moved in.

“It’s trying to get away, sir,” Garcia said. He started moving faster, running toward the Chitin, pulse rifle pouring fire toward the Chit. The rounds went all around the Chitin, many of them slamming into the ground, throwing up a cloud of dust that began to obscure the pale soldier from sight.

“Slow down, Garcia,” Jack called. He began to run and fire, trying to support Garcia’s lone attack. The dust was billowing up and the Chitin soldier was almost lost within its swirling clouds. Then the whole cloud lit up from within and a single plasma spear sliced out, slamming into Garcia’s chest.

The medical data reported Garcia’s life signs failing. Jack dropped to the ground as a second plasma spear came shooting toward him. The silhouette of the Chitin within the dust cloud illuminated as light from the plasma spear defused through the dust hanging over the surface of BP-13.

The med data streaming to Jack’s meat suit informed him of a fatality. Jack deactivated the med data signal from Garcia. There was only one Marine left on this rock. Jack didn’t need to be distracted by med data.

Jack grabbed a fistful of the dirt and brought his fist down hard on the surface of the asteroid. He had failed. He had brought this group of Marines out into the field with him to bring them up to the proper standard, but instead, he had gotten them all killed.

There was no time for self-pity, though. No time for sorrow. A Chitin soldier was on this asteroid and Jack’s only duty now was to ensure that it was destroyed.

Jack looked up and saw the indistinct outline of the Chitin soldier in the dust cloud moving slowly away.

In all his time fighting the Chitins, Jack had come to know them. They were relentless and bold. They threw themselves into battle with scant regard for their own safety. Their power was in their numbers, and they had used their numbers to overwhelm the human defenses time and again.

But this Chitin was different. It was not rushing on mercilessly, fearlessly. It was keeping out of sight. It was hunting its prey. It was stalking and then striking from cover, before melting away into cover again.

Jack felt unnerved by the new tactics, and he felt as if he was being watched.

Pressing himself deeper into the loose gray soil of BP-13, Jack accessed the swarm of drones. Only a few still remained. Jack could search the asteroid for hours with his small number of drones and not catch sight of the Chitin.

Jack needed support. He opened a channel to the Sam Torent.

The dead channel was unexpected. Jack reopened the channel. It was silent. Jack reset the channel to all squad leaders in the task force. Again, nothing but silence.

Running a diagnostic program on his meat suit’s communicator, Jack hoped to fix the connection problem swiftly. The diagnostic program returned its results. The communicator relay on the tac boat was not transmitting.

Jack didn’t know how it had happened, but the communicator was jammed. The Chit must have jammed it. There were three dead Marines on this asteroid, all of them with a fully functional meat suit. If the Chitin had accessed one of the communication units in one of the suits, it could have found a way to block Jack’s signal for help.

Jack scanned the horizon with a growing sense of unease. He was trapped here with the Chitin, his enemy.

“Defensive position,” Jack said to himself. “Establish a defensive position.” Jack accessed the drone data and called all the drones to monitor his surroundings, scanning for Chits within weapons range. He looked down at his only weapon, the pulse pistol. It was an adequate sidearm, but it lacked the range and accuracy of the pulse rifle. There was one in the tac boat, and that tac boat was the best place to establish a defensive position. It was good cover and had the powerful hail cannon that could hold back a hundred Chitins. Jack knew the boat was behind him and only a few kilometers away.

The small swarm of drones came in and scanned the area. Jack checked the composite drone view on his wrist-mounted holostage. The area was clear. No signs of movement, but this Chit was cunning and could be hiding. Jack decided to sacrifice one of his drones to set off a seismic wave that might reveal the location of the Chit. He sent the small device hurtling to the ground. It impacted at a speed sufficient to set off a ground wave. The rest of the drones monitored the resulting shockwave.

The image of Jack lying prone on the surface came back as a reflector in the ground wave data. If that Chit was anywhere nearby, it would be highlighted too.

The data suggested that the way was clear. With caution, Jack began to get to his feet. He had the drone data feed on his helmet’s visor giving him an enhanced view of the surroundings in multiple spectral fields.

Jack turned for the tac boat and sped off.

The tac boat door was open, as Jack had left it. He approached cautiously. The drones swept around the perimeter and Jack sent one inside. It was empty. Jack went inside and closed the door.

The small boat had been his home and base of operations for what felt like months. It had started to feel cramped, but now alone it seemed vast and empty. He sat in the pilot seat ready to access the flight console. The communicator relay in the tac boat was much more powerful than the meat suit communicator and was able to transmit directly to Fleet Command and Control on Eros.

Jack tapped away at the console and found it unresponsive. He tapped again. As he picked his gloved finger up off the console, he saw the thin strand of slime drawn up from the console. Then he noticed the shimmering sheen spread thinly and evenly across the panel. He hesitated. Then lowering his head to look obliquely across the console, he saw an unmistakable coating of slime, just like the substance Jack had seen on Chitin controls in their own craft.

Drawing his gun and spinning around, Jack feared the Chitin was inside and already launching its attack. The tac boat was empty.

“Lights up. Maximum illumination.”

The light came up to a brightness greater than a summer’s day on the prairies of Eros. The tac boat had no place where the Chitin could hide. It was empty. Jack stood up and walked the few paces to the back.

Jack realized suddenly that the boat was in fact totally empty. Where was the body of Louise Tyler? The fallen Marine had been strapped in the furthest seat back, waiting to be returned to the fleet. The body had been taken.

The drone swarm outside detected movement on the horizon.

“The Chit,” Jack said, and he stepped over to the hail cannon turret. Climbing up the few steps to the turret, he accessed the targeting display. The display was showing the point on the horizon where the drones had spotted the movement. Jack zoomed in the targeting display. Nothing. All the targeting display could show was the pale gray dusty surface of BP-13.

Then the view was transformed into a sudden brightness. A plasma spear launched from the horizon.

The impact rocked the tac boat. The interior lights flickered and the targeting display went blank. Damage reports flashed up on the hail cannon interface. One of the four cannons was damaged beyond use.

Then another flash and another collision as yet another plasma spear slammed into the boat. Jack sent a drone out toward the location where the plasma spears were coming from. Jack had the view from the drone relayed to his helmet visor. The flash of light as the plasma spear struck the drone was so bright it was painful, and Jack clenched his eyes shut and turned his head as a reflex. He canceled the drone display before he opened his eyes again.

Jack had the drone’s final data analyzed. The Chitin had been detected a moment before the plasma spear had been launched. The Chitin soldier was low to the ground and partially covered in the gray dust.

Jack sent the rest of the drones high above the asteroid and attempted to firmly establish the Chitin’s location. If he was going to attack, he would have to know where this Chitin was.

The drones were lost in rapid succession as they were blasted out of the black sky by a few well-aimed plasma spears. Jack withdrew the drones as quickly as he could, bringing them to cover. If he lost these drones, he would effectively lose his eyes, then he would struggle to win this duel.

Only two drones came back and settled to the surface of BP-13, out of sight of the Chitin plasma spear.

Then the plasma spears struck the tac boat again. Each one rocked the small boat and then, by the third or fourth, one burst through the light armor and exploded around the interior. Tiny, white-hot fires burned on the surfaces in small, fizzing and spinning beads of plasma. The smoke from the smoldering hull filled the ship.

Another volley of plasma spears slammed into the boat and more burst through. Jack dived to the deck and took cover in the small recess by the door. The view screen exploded as a plasma spear burst through the forward hull, shattering the view screen mounted above the flight console.

Jack reached up to tap the door control panel, but at that moment, a plasma spear struck the central power distributer node and interrupted all power supplies. With the central power distributer node disabled, the tac boat was in danger of a power overload. The reactor core retarder would eventually fail and then, with the reactor coil fully polarized, the reactor would develop a meltdown cascade.

The boat fell into partial darkness, only the burning plasma fires giving Jack a light to see by. Then the plasma fires were blotted out by the thick smoke that filled the interior.

Jack flinched as a plasma spear blasted another hole out of the forward view screen before slamming into the deck next to him.

The tac boat was a defensible position, if he could get a shot at the enemy. At the moment, the tac boat was an easy target and Jack was trapped inside.

Activating his pulse pistol’s electron blade, Jack began to formulate his response. He jammed the blade into the base of the door and started to cut away the base clamps so he could push open the gull wing door.

Jack knew that a plan was vital. He needed to have a clear set of objectives to follow if he was to stand a chance. First objective was to evacuate the tac boat. As the electron blade cut through the first clamp, he decided his second objective was to take cover behind the boat. Then Jack would send out the final two drones and acquire the target. Only then, after locating his enemy, could Jack engage and hope to destroy the lone Chit. For now, he needed to evade.

Jack cut through the second base clamp and then pressed against the door. It moved up and away from the side of the boat, the movement clearly attracting the attention of the Chit. A plasma spear struck the side of the door and sent a shower of plasma fire raining down on him.

Jack tumbled across the deck, dropped out of the doorway and down to the surface, throwing up a small puff of dust. A plasma spear struck the ground next to him and threw up another billowing cloud. Jack scurried across the ground to the rear of the tac boat and into cover.

The fire from the plasma spears stopped. Jack sat, his back against the rear landing strut. He felt his heart beating in his chest. He made a concerted effort to control his breathing. He relaxed.

Checking his weapon, Jack felt ill equipped for the challenge. Only a pulse pistol and a couple of drones at his disposal. He needed to get close enough to strike.

“Why don’t you ignore my orders now, Sam,” Jack said to himself. He looked up to the black of space. Out there was a line of tac boats moving through the asteroid belt hunting isolated Chitin positions, but there was an enemy here. A few days ago, Sam Torent was dashing here and there trying to engage any and every potential target. Now, when Jack really needed some fire support, his old friend was actually following his orders.

Jack called forward the two drones. They raised up out of the dust and came slowly forward, skimming over the surface of the asteroid. Jack reached out and grabbed one. He turned the small fist-sized drone over in his hands to find the small control panel. The drone skidded about in his hands. His hands were covered in the Chitin slime that had covered the control panel. Now it coated the entire drone. Jack found the small thumb-sized access port and flipped it open. With a small adjustment to the power cell, Jack could turn the drone into a small explosive device. He made the adjustment and closed the port. He held out his hand and let the drone hover next to its partner.

Setting the second drone as an explosive would leave Jack without any remote surveillance platform. He left the second one untouched.

Glancing over his shoulder, Jack took a look out to the horizon. The Chit was motionless, and in hiding again. Jack lay on the ground, taking cover behind his ship’s rear landing strut. He pulled out his field scanner and surveyed the horizon.

A small puff of dust drew his attention. It might be the Chit carelessly disturbing the loose dust on the asteroid’s surface.

Jack focused on the spot. He couldn’t be sure, but he thought he saw the movement of a Chitin tentacle.

Jack sent the drones toward the spot, fifty meters apart and fifty centimeters above the ground. They moved slowly to not disturb the loose surface and give away their position. Jack watched through the field scanner as the drones moved to flanking positions on the location where he’d seen that puff of dust and that Chitin tentacle.

The flash from the plasma spear filled the field scanner’s view. Jack ducked back into cover, but the spear was not aimed at him. The drone on the left flank exploded as the plasma spear struck. A pinpoint accurate shot from the Chitin.

Jack lowered the second drone to the ground. It was the one set to explode, and Jack needed to get it closer if it was to do any damage.

Then the drone reported movement. Jack picked up his field scanner and looked at the point the drone had identified. The field scanner could only show a flickering of the Chitin’s pale tentacles just above the ground, but the drone, being close, was able to see more of the Chitin, its pale smooth head with the circle of rasping teeth, that inner beak like mouth chattering with the rapid opening and closing. Jack couldn’t hear but he knew that sound, the chattering of the hard, flat beak, like a stone-bladed guillotine.

The Chitin was advancing, slowly and carefully, toward the drone sitting in the dust. Jack watched closely and willed the Chitin to continue advancing on the explosive drone.

Jack judged the distance to the chitin from the drone. The explosion would be a powerful blast, but with the drone so close to the ground, a lot of the blast’s destructive power would be lost. Jack needed the Chit to come closer.

Then as if reading Jack’s thoughts, the Chitin stopped.

Jack remained in cover. The Chitin was advancing toward him, stalking him, hunting him, but the Chit didn’t know about the deadly surprise waiting a few meters away. If the drone was only a few meters off the ground, the detonation would be enough to cripple, if not kill, the Chitin soldier. Jack knew the time was right. It was time to make his move. The drone would have to be quick but even if the Chit blasted the drone with its plasma spear, the detonation would still be enough to severely injure it.

Jack instructed the drone to climb to a height of ten meters and then detonate. He gave the command and braced for the explosion.

Nothing.

Jack glanced over his shoulder, back toward the drone and its supposed target, the lone, pale Chitin soldier.

Nothing.

Then Jack noticed the data from the drone. It was still live. He accessed it.

The drone was holding its position at ten meters above the surface of the asteroid. Just a few meters away, pressed against the ground and moving slowly forward, was the lone Chit.

Jack watched in astonishment as the massive Chit moved smoothly across the ground. Why had the drone not detonated, and why had the Chit not seen the drone? Jack sent the detonation command again.

Nothing.

Jack pressed himself to the ground and pulled out his field scanner. The drone was clearly visible, hovering above the surface. Its dark outer casing glistened with the Chitin slime it had picked up off Jack’s hands.

“It’s that nasty Chitin slime,” Jack said. “It’s fouled up the detonation.”

The data from the drone showed Jack exactly where the Chitin was. He used his field scanner and focused on the spot. He could just make out a faint movement at the spot where he knew the Chitin was. If he didn’t know, he might have missed the subtle movement.

Jack pulled up his pulse pistol. He took careful aim at the spot the drone had identified as the Chitin’s location. Jack was firing at an unseen target, hoping for the best and trusting the data.

The instant he pulled the trigger, Jack saw a puff of dust on the horizon. Checking with the drone data, he saw the pulse round slam into one of the Chitin’s tentacles. A spurt of orange came out of the tentacle, drifting into the vacuum of space as the tentacle writhed about, thrashing down into the dust and throwing up a plume of pale powder.

Jack had his target. He fired again and struck the Chit a second time, hitting the massive smooth head this time. Jack fired another shot, but now the Chit was scurrying away. Its location discovered, it sought out a new hiding place.

Jack stood up and aimed his pulse pistol. He fired and at that same moment, a plasma spear came toward him. Jack moved back into cover. The plasma spear was not so accurate this time with the chitin soldier scurrying away and it struck the side of the tac boat, exploding in a shower of spinning balls of white plasma fire.

Jack sat on the ground, his back against the landing strut and his pulse pistol held, two-handed, to his chest. He tipped his head back and took a breath. He felt as if he hadn’t breathed for minutes.

He had hit his enemy. Not a fatal hit but a crucial one. Jack had drawn Chitin blood. Now he had to finish the job and win this battle.

9

Heading to the point where the drone was hovering, Jack felt excited and nervous. He was hunting the Chitin now, the Chitin had become his prey, but the Chitin was still a dangerous and deadly adversary. Jack had to be cautious. As he neared the drone, he sent it higher.

The expanded field of view showed Jack the direction the Chitin had headed, but the Chit was lost to view. Jack brought the drone back down the eye level.

The slime over the drone was still coating the entire dark sphere. Jack guessed it had fouled up the detonation, but had it also prevented the Chit from seeing it. Jack had no way to test his theory, and this was no time for experimentation. He had a Chitin to seek out, and to destroy.

Sending the drone ahead to the point where the Chit had taken the pulse pistol rounds in the tentacle and head gave Jack a slight feeling of safety. The drone would surely spot the Chitin and give Jack a chance to act, to hide or attack.

Jack reached the point where the Chitin had been lurking and he immediately spotted the splatter of orange slime that had spewed out from the pistol wounds. The bright orange blobs lay in a trail across the pale dust, a trail that would lead Jack to his prey.

The light scuffmarks in the dusty surface made by the Chitin’s tentacles were a little more pronounced but still very faint. Only the trailing, wounded tentacle left any real discernible print, but it was still an easy trail to follow. The only danger was that Jack focused too much on the trail and not the distance, where the Chit would most likely lie in wait, ready to attack.

Jack sent the drone ahead, skirting across the ground at a height of only a few centimeters, following the bright orange trail.

And then, lying partially covered in dust, Jack saw the body of the Chitin through the drone’s scanners.

Jack dropped to the ground. He moved forward slowly and carefully. He crept forward on his elbows, getting closer to the Chit, getting to striking distance, where his pulse pistol would be effective, where he could deliver the killing blow.

Then the tac boat exploded.

The flash of light burst over the asteroid, throwing Jack’s shadow forward in front of him. The shockwave from the violent explosion hit and sent Jack sprawling forward. The drone was knocked to the ground. It landed in front of the Chitin and threw up a puff of dust.

Jack clambered back up to his feet and saw the Chitin strike out at the drone, slamming one of its tentacles down on the surface at the point where the drone had hit the ground. Then, slowly, the Chitin turned its great smooth head toward Jack. The round mouth ringed with teeth opened wider and the snapping interior beak chittered.

Jack brought up the pulse pistol and pulled the trigger just as a billowing cloud of fine dust thrown up by the exploding tac boat came pouring over him. The pulse pistol fired a round and then jammed.

Jack pulled the trigger again but nothing. In a swirling cloud of fine pale dust, Jack felt more lost and isolated than he had since becoming a Marine. There was no focal point. All around was the same fine dust. Visibility was reduced to a few meters.

The pulse pistol’s operation circuits sent a performance failure report to Jack’s meat suit. The fine dust had entered the pistol and become molten, jamming up the firing mechanism. Jack activated the electron blade, the thirty-centimeter cutting blade now his only weapon, and his only defense.

Then out of the pale fog came the Chit.

The Chitin appeared in the dust cloud just a meter or two in front of Jack. The rigid tentacle came stabbing forward. Jack dropped to his right knee and let the stabbing tentacle slice the cloud just above his left shoulder. Jack sliced through the cloud toward the tentacle in a wide arc. The tentacle pulled back just an instant before Jack’s electron blade could cut it away.

Jack anticipated the next move from the Chit. Another stabbing tentacle came toward his chest, but Jack had already moved. He rolled forward over his shoulder and came up on his feet in front of the Chit. He stabbed forward and thrust the electron blade deep into the Chitin’s body.

The Chitin pulled away, tentacles flailing. The thick orange fluid spurted forward, splattering over Jack’s stabbing arm. One thrashing tentacle caught Jack a ringing blow on the side of his helmet and sent him sprawling. As he skidded to a halt in the dust, he knew not to hesitate. He scrambled forward, rising to his feet just as another tentacle came stabbing out of the pale dust. Jack could just make out through the swirling thick dust cloud the silhouette of the Chit as it stabbed blindly.

Moving forward and to the side, Jack put himself on the Chitin’s left as it stabbed into the dust. Jack took a bold step forward and thrust the pistol’s fizzing electron blade into the massive, smooth Chitin shell.

The Chitin spun around, and a tentacle caught Jack on the upper arm. It was rigid and heavy. Jack felt the bone in his upper arm snap. The pain flooded out from the point of the break, rushing over his arm and shoulder. It filled his sinuses and his gut with a sickening feeling of horror and pain. As he fell under the force of the blow, his medical package stiffened the suit’s left upper arm and created a battlefield splint. The analgesic and antiemetic drugs took effect in an instant and the pain of the break and the sickness it caused soon dissipated, leaving just the fear.

The stabbing tentacle came toward him as he stumbled. He slashed out with his electron blade and sliced through the tentacle. Jack landed heavily but was on his feet, his left arm held uselessly at his side, his right arm bearing the deadly electron blade.

The Chitin sent another tentacle swinging toward Jack, slashing through the dust. Jack held the blade up and in front of the tentacle. The tentacle struck the bayonet and was severed under its own weight against the fine, glowing blade.

Jack advanced, his right hand with the blade drawn back over his shoulder, tip forward. He stepped forward, his left side to the Chit presenting a narrower target for the stabbing tentacles.

And then Jack was face to face with the Chitin. The dust swirling around stuck to the thick orange liquid that leaked from the Chitin’s wounds. A tentacle came around to deliver a blow, but it was weak and Jack parried it with his stiff left arm. He stepped forward a half a step more and plunged the electron blade deep into the Chitin’s shell right up to the muzzle of the pulse pistol. And then, slicing effortlessly sideways, Jack cut the Chitin in two. It fell and lay at Jack’s feet, twitching and writhing in its final throes before becoming still and limp, utterly lifeless.

Standing over the fallen Chitin soldier, Jack deactivated his electron blade. He felt the pain in his broken arm. He looked into the dust that surrounded him, lost in a swirling cloud. He recalled the faces of the Marines lost on this operation. There was still work to do before the belt was clear of Chits, but for now, all Jack could do was wait for rescue. He sat on the ground next to his fallen enemy and waited.

10

Jack stood on the command deck of the Scorpio, his arm in a sling across his chest. His wounds were dressed and his uniform was freshly laundered. He felt a hundred times better for the simple comforts and his short rest.

The command deck was bigger than the tac boat where he had spent so much of the last four weeks. The space seemed extravagantly large. The holostage appeared to have been refurbished, and the entire command deck had been given an upgrade.

Captain Pretorius stepped over to Jack and presented him with the small box that contained the Fleet Marine Star.

“By the order of Marine General Wallace, it is my great pleasure and honor, to award you with the Marine Black Star.” Pretorius held out a small black box to Jack.

Jack took the small box and tried to open it one handed. It contained only a small black metal star, but the significance of the item gave it a weight that Jack felt barely able to hold.

He was being promoted to major. He had no idea why. The search and destroy mission had not been a smashing success. In fact, his entire team had been lost. There was something happening that Jack didn’t understand.

Pretorius took the star out of the box.

“You are out of uniform, Major,” he said with a smile and pinned the star on Jack’s collar. Then Pretorius offered his hand for Jack to shake. They were equals now, but Jack would always have a huge amount of respect for the Captain of the Scorpio.

“Congratulations, Major,” Pretorius said. “The Scorpio Battalion is yours. I know the battalion, and all of us, are in good hands. Well done.”

Jack looked across the refurbished command deck. The command officers were all standing at their stations, Commander Chou at the holostage in his usual position, and then, at once, the whole command crew saluted Jack. He was Major Forge, Commanding Officer of the Scorpio Marine Battalion.

Pretorius stepped alongside Jack and put an arm over his shoulder.

“Walk with me, Major,” Pretorius said, and he walked Jack toward his small office to the side of the command deck. “You will have to call me Alistair from now on, Jack my boy.”

“I don’t think I could get used to that, sir,” Jack said, still suspicious.

Pretorius laughed and stepped into his office, closing the door.

“You will have to get used to a great many things,” Pretorius said.

Then Jack detected a change in the captain’s tone. The lightness of the promotion ceremony was replaced by a deadly serious tone that Jack had come to expect from Pretorius during the most difficult and challenging encounters with the Chitins.

“Now that you are a major, you have access to information that other ranks do not. It is by no means a pleasure for me to show you this, Jack, but it is my duty.”

Pretorius sat behind his heavy timber desk. He tapped the holokeys projected onto the timber’s polished surface and activated a holoimage of the system. He looked up at Jack to make sure he had his attention. Then Pretorius zoomed the view out to the widest extent. Around the system, in a sphere several light-weeks across, there was a scatter of thousands upon thousands of tiny orange dots.

“The fleet sent micro-surveillance drones out the moment the Chits withdrew after you delivered our stunning victory at the Battle of Brecon Moon. The drones have returned their data. Every dot in this image is a Chitin craft. We estimate ten percent of them are Leviathan-class vessels.”

Jack felt his heart drop to his stomach. He felt ill and dizzy. The entire system was surrounded by thousands of Chitin craft.

“This information is classified as top secret. No one below our rank is to know of the true threat we face. As far as I can tell, Fleet has not yet decided our best course of action, but it comes down to one of two options.”

“Stay and fight,” Jack said, “or run. Completely abandon the system.”

Pretorius nodded.

Jack staggered toward the chair opposite Pretorius and sat down heavily.

“How many?” he managed to say.

Pretorius shook his head. “That information is above our level of clearance, but I think it’s clear that there are too many for our current force to reasonably deal with.”

“Why don’t they attack?” Jack said, feeling ill.

“We don’t know. We expect to have mobilization orders in the next few hours. Organize the battalion, Jack. Use whatever personnel you have available. I don’t think we’ll be getting any more replacements.”

Pretorius switched off the holoimage, then pulled out a bottle of amber liquor and two heavy tumblers from his desk draw. He poured two measures of the sharp liquid.

Jack didn’t really like the taste of the liquor, but he grabbed the glass and downed it all at once.

“You okay?” Pretorius asked Jack.

“Yes, sir. Just a bit of a shock, is all.”

“Indeed,” Pretorius said. “Go and rest. You will need your strength.”

Jack nodded but remained seated.

“I can’t order you,” Pretorius said as he turned to leave, “but I do encourage you, Jack. Go and rest.”

“Alistair.” It felt weird to call him by his first name. “Do you know anything about Sarah Reyes?”

Pretorius stopped at the door and looked back at Jack. “That’s classified, I’m afraid,” he answered. “All I know is that Fleet Intelligence is gathering up anyone and everyone they think might have knowledge of the Chitins.”

“Okay.” Jack had expected as much, but had still hoped for more information. “Thanks, Alistair.”

He had never felt so isolated. He had learned much, but it seemed like there were more questions than answers, still. He was in sole command of the Scorpio Battalion now, and alone in the knowledge of the crushing threat that lurked just beyond sensor range.

Jack knew he would soon be put to the ultimate test. He smiled grimly knowing his skills had been tested and forged on the hunt.

Forging a Trap

Jack Forge, Fleet Marine, Book 8

1

Major Jack Forge sat in the conference hall surrounded by a host of unfamiliar faces, each one belonging to a high-level officer in the Eros System Fleet or the Fleet Marines. This room in Fleet Command and Control Headquarters was a large amphitheater that looked down onto a large central holostage. The tiered seats dropped away sharply to the floor below where the holostage was displaying an image of the planet Eros. Jack sat in the furthest row back, the highest of the circular tiers. He felt as if he was flying over the world below.

A pair of battalion majors next to Jack chatted amiably. Jack could tell they were old friends meeting up after a long time. They asked about each other’s family and reminisced about old times, but neither mentioned any of the many engagements of the long Chitin War, engagements they would have both been heavily involved with. One of the two majors glanced at Jack and gave a minute but friendly tip of the head.

The row in front of Jack was occupied by Fleet Marine colonels. These officers were a rank above major, and Jack was surprised by how many of them there were. Most of the colonels were based at Fleet Command and Control Headquarters. They were all desk jockeys, middle management Marines who hadn’t picked up a Fleet Marine Pulse Rifle in years. Some were flabby, most were graying, and all looked comfortable in the large conference hall where they had spent more time talking about the war than fighting it.

Sitting alongside the row of colonels, Jack spotted the two colonels of the Eros fleet that were on active service, who were attached to the carriers the Overlord and the Scepter. They were the highest-ranking Marines on active service with the fleet. Although they rarely left their home carriers, they had been involved in every major engagement of the Chitin War. They both looked stern and surrounded by a chill determination. The middle management colonels based at Fleet Command and Control headquarters wore clean, pressed uniforms with shining braid and buttons. The two carrier colonels wore the medals and the stern expressions won in battle.

In front of the colonels sat the small group of high-ranking officers, the brigadier generals. These officers rarely left headquarters. They were the Marine Service upper management. These were the planners and organizers of the Fleet Marines. Jack recognized only one of them.

Brigadier General Rex Telford was the hero of Haydes. Early in the Chitin War, he had fought a desperate battle against a mass Chitin attack, the first Chitin ground attack of the war. He had been a lowly squad leader at that time and his heroics had been wall-to-wall broadcast news. Telford looked relaxed, confident, and extremely tough. He was an officer Jack felt he could trust.

Across the amphitheater and opposite Jack and his Fleet Marine officer colleagues were the officers of the Eros System Fleet. The fleet captains sat together with space around them for double their number. They were a much smaller group now than at the start of the Chitin War. Every one of them had lost friends and colleagues, but they were at ease and chatted casually. Jack spotted Captain Alistair Pretorius amongst them. The Captain of the Scorpio, Jack’s ship, was studying a small holofile on his handheld holostage. In all the time Jack had known Pretorius, he had never known the Scorpio’s captain to take a break. He was dedicated, hardworking, and a brilliant combat captain. Jack had quickly realized how lucky he was to have been posted on the Scorpio.

Pretorius was sitting next to a tall captain with a gray stubble-covered face who talked to all the captains around him, his constant chat punctuated with huge bursts of laughter. He moved a lot, reaching out to roughly pat his fellow captain on the back or deliver a friendly punch. His laughter filled the amphitheater. Jack ran a quick search through his enhanced data view and discovered he was looking at Captain Finley Cuthbert of the destroyer Virgo. Jack had never met the captain of the Virgo before, but he was an impossible person to forget. He was loud, and his near constant laughter was boisterous, but Jack could see the steely edge to the otherwise jovial captain. There was no doubt that he was a different man in the heat of battle.

In a row in front of the captains sat two fleet officers that Jack knew instantly. They were group captains of the carrier-class vessels—Group Captain Gregor Wellard of the Overlord and Group Captain Mashiro Tanaka of the Scepter. They were the captains of the only two remaining carrier-class vessels in the Eros fleet. They were sitting next to each other and were carefully studying a small holofile.

The Fleet Intelligence agents sat to one side of the amphitheater in between the officers of the Fleet and the officers of the Fleet Marines. Their black uniforms and silver braid hinted at their secretive operations…and their dark deeds. Jack looked across the group and saw a familiar face amongst them, one he didn’t care to see again. Agent Corli Visser. She had investigated Jack once, and he often wondered if she had ever really taken her eyes off him.

In the very center of the amphitheater, the ring of seating at floor level around the holostage was vacant. Everyone waited. Jack wished he felt as relaxed as everyone else looked. Then he felt the tension in the room rise a notch as two Fleet rear admirals and a Fleet Marine brigadier general entered.

Soon after, the leader of the Fleet, Admiral Henson, entered along with Marine General Russell Wallace, the highest-ranking officer in the Fleet Marine Service.

The chatter in the room died in an instant, and everyone rose to their feet.

“Sit. Sit.” Admiral Henson waved everyone back to their seats. He took a seat in the front row, directly in front of the holostage. Wallace took a seat opposite the admiral in front of his Fleet Marine Officers.

One of the rear admirals stood at the holostage. Jack searched for the Fleet Officer’s public record on his enhanced data view and discovered it was Rear Admiral Tel Jackman, the man in charge of fleet operations across the Eros System.

Rear Admiral Jackman tapped the controls on the holostage. The image of Eros grew in size until it was ten meters across and filled the center of the amphitheater. This was real time current data and Jack could make out the tiny images of the orbiting fleet—the carriers Overlord and Scepter holding position at the poles and the ring of destroyers at the equator. The labels were just big enough for Jack to read. He saw the tiny image of the Leo drift by in front of his view. Then came the Sagittarius, then the Virgo. Jack found his ship, the place he had come to think of as home. The Scorpio appeared on the far side of the holoimage. It seemed so small and far away.

“The reason we have you all here today is to inform you, as a group, of the next operation in our struggle against the Chitin forces.”

Rear Admiral Tel Jackman tapped the side of the holostage and the view rescaled rapidly, Eros shrinking to the size of a baseball. The sudden resizing of the planet was dizzying, and Jack almost felt as if he was falling. The Eros System star appeared at the center of the image and shrank as the image pulled further out. The asteroid belt appeared and shrank to a small ring around the star at the center of the image, but still the scale raced down. The outer gas giants raced away, shrinking until the image of a thousand red dots scattered in a sphere around the tiny star at the center of the Eros System appeared. The image stopped resizing and held with the image of the sphere of red dots filling the center of the amphitheater.

“We have all seen this data,” Jackman said. “This is the extent of the Chitin forces. There are just over five thousand individual craft, according to our latest count. More craft are being detected joining the armada on an hourly basis, all arriving from outside the system. We estimate that one in fifty craft currently in the armada are Leviathan-class vessels. That makes over one hundred Chitin Leviathans. There are over three thousand infiltrator fighter craft, the Krakens. The rest of this armada is made up of Hydra-class vessels.”

Jackman switched the holoimage to show a file on each of the Chitin craft. The images rotated to show the craft from all sides, streams of data accompanying each image. The largest of the Chitin craft dominated the holoimage—the Leviathan, a massive warship with its many tentacle-like structures reaching out before it. Then there was the Hydra, a robust troop-carrying fighter capable of delivering eight Chitin soldiers to the fight, and finally the smallest and fastest of the Chitin craft, the Kraken, a highly maneuverable and destructive infiltrator. All craft were heavily armed with plasma arc weapons and spitz cannons. They were all robust craft capable of delivering staggering amounts of damage. Jack had faced them all and knew he would have to face them again.

“We are outnumbered, outgunned, and standing on the verge of destruction.” Jackman paused. “We believe the Chitins are preparing to strike. Given their current force strength, we believe they would be utterly unstoppable. We have only one option. Our next operation is to abandon the Eros System.”

The noise level in the amphitheater jumped suddenly as every officer made a small comment to their neighbors. Jack remained quiet and stared at the image of the Leviathan that slowly rotated above the holostage.

He had encountered the massive Chitin warships more times than he cared to remember. If he could leave the Eros System and never have to face them again, he would, gladly. Jack was not alone in that thought, but some in the assembly clearly held a different view.

“Retreat?” a Fleet officer stood up and shouted. “After all we have given? After all they have taken?”

Admiral Henson stood up slowly and turned to face the officer, a captain that Jack now recognized. It was Captain Finley Cuthbert of the Virgo.

“Sit down, Captain,” Admiral Henson said in a low and heavy voice.

Cuthbert sat back down. Jack watched the admiral, who remained standing for a moment. The room waited. Henson finally sat down. Once seated, he nodded at Rear Admiral Jackman as an instruction to continue.

“We withdraw,” Jackman said, looking first at Cuthbert and then around the room. “Our final operation in the Eros System is to withdraw and transport the civilian population to a new system and a new home.”

The murmurs around the amphitheater were low and muted, but they were impossible to ignore.

“Fleet Intelligence has known for some time about the armada, but we have been unable to respond effectively. Now we have been given an opportunity to withdraw. The Chitins have pulled the vast majority of their force back to a sphere about fifteen billion kilometers away. We can thank some creative thinking from a small number of individuals for scaring the Chitins off during our last major encounter. They are holding back, at least for now.”

Jack noticed several officers in the room turn to him. He felt their gaze and heard a few quiet comments from the Marines around him. Then he saw the admiral looking up at him. Jack felt his heart jump in his chest. His face burned with a blush as he felt so many eyes on him. Jack looked to Pretorius on the other side of the amphitheater. The Captain of the Scorpio was looking at him and smiling. He gave a brief nod and acknowledged Jack. It was thanks to Jack’s desperate, last-ditch attack on the Leviathans that had caused them to retreat. He had given the Fleet a window of opportunity and they were taking it with both hands.

“One other individual has been working closely with the Fleet through our colleagues in Fleet Intelligence. She is a capable and creative individual and has developed some useful theories on Chitin technology. It is thanks to this individual that we have been able to plan our withdrawal. The plan is simple, although getting here has been anything but. The Fleet will attempt to slip past the surrounding Chitin forces. Once beyond the Chitin armada, we will regroup, head for a new system, and rebuild.”

Jackman sat down and Rear Admiral Victor Orlov stood.

“We have been constructing a number of ships capable of transporting the population out of the Eros System. These ships have been under construction for months and have taken up a large portion of our material resources. If your bunk mattress has felt a bit lumpy and you couldn’t get a replacement, it is because of the huge drain on resources caused by this huge construction task.”

Jack had never felt that his mattress or seat cushion needed replacing, but he had often wished for a replacement reactor coil or a coolant node. He guessed Orlov was being humorous.

“Together with the ships of the fleet, we have enough capacity for every man, woman, and child in the system, all of whom are now here on Eros. We will be able to move as soon as our final preparations are complete.”

Orlov sat down and Jackman stood again.

“We know the Chitin can detect any and all human communications as well as our Fleet drive systems, but our scientists have discovered a substance that the Chitins secrete that we believe will make our ships invisible to them. We have created a chemical cloak that should hold long enough for us to clear the system. We will have to synthesize a huge quantity of this substance if we are to cloak every transport ship, and every ship of the fleet. We will be able to proceed shortly, but we currently need a live Chitin sample to work from. We will be tasking a team of Marines with a capture mission immediately.”

Jack stood up. He raised his hand. Now all eyes were on him.

“I volunteer to capture the Chitin, sir,”

The silence was terrifying.

“Major Jack Forge,” Jackman said after the pause where he had presumably searched for Jack’s profile. “Thank you, Major. Speak to me later.”

Jack sat down. He saw the head of Marine General Russell Wallace turn and then he saw the deep, dark eyes look up at him. Jack felt uncomfortable under the stare. Thankfully, the general looked back to the holostage, leaving Jack feeling relieved.

As the two rear admirals delivered their addresses, Jack observed the officers around the amphitheater. Many were tired, their uniforms shabby and worn. The war had been brutal on the Fleet. Ships had been lost, and with them many of the highest ranking and most experienced Fleet officers. The few that remained were worn out but retained a level of determination and defiance that only the truly dedicated could manage.

Although they wore the same uniform, the people inside them were all very different, from the jovial Cuthbert to the practical Pretorius, to others who were grim and dour, their characters etched on their faces along with the rigors and responsibility of command.

Jack wondered how battle-worn he was looking these days. He had fought the Chitins back and forth across the Eros System. From the surface of moons and asteroids to the empty void of space, Jack had fought them on every type of battlefield and every terrain.

Listening to the senior command officers tell the assembled officers how they planned to end the war, by withdrawing and leaving the Eros System to the Chitins, Jack felt a year’s worth of fatigue creep up on him.

Rear Admiral Victor Orlov stepped up to the holostage and displayed an image of one of the massive transport ships. For scale, an image of a Fleet carrier was displayed next to it. The transport ship was almost twice the size. Jack noticed with a sudden chill that the carrier being used for scale was the Crown, the first carrier to be destroyed by the Chitins.

“The transport ships have been built with every new development in ship design and technology.” Orlov was clearly impressed with the performance of his construction teams. “A zero-mass shell and a graviton drive will make this the fastest Fleet vessel ever constructed. We will be retrofitting the carriers with the graviton drive once we are beyond the Chitin blockade and traveling interstellar.”

Jack caught himself as the tiredness grew. He shook it off. There was still a ways to go before Jack could rest. There were still vital operations left in this war before humanity could be free of the Chitin threat.

Admiral Henson stood up and took the floor. The holostage deactivated and the amphitheater lights brightened slightly as the massive holoimage of the transport ship disappeared.

“Busy times ahead. All leave is canceled, although I am sure no one here is thinking about vacations. The entire fleet is on a three-watch rotation. First watch will begin after this conference is concluded. Details will be delivered to your own offices. We have a reception arranged. All are expected to attend.”

Henson stepped away from the holostage. Marine General Wallace stood up.

Rear Admiral Jackman called out in a loud voice. “Attention on deck. Admiral and Marine General departing.”

Jack stood up and saluted with the rest of the assembled officers. As Henson and Wallace exited through the doors to the side of the amphitheater, Jackman dismissed the assembly.

The noise in the amphitheater grew as everyone talked about the briefing. They moved slowly as a group through the large doors and the amphitheater slowly emptied.

The two Marine majors that had been sitting nearby stepped in front of Jack as he made his way toward the exit. One held out his hand.

“Major Mike Lyon,” the officer said. “Good to meet you.”

Jack shook his hand and nodded.

“Major Kurt Beale,” the second said, offering his hand. “I’m Battalion Major of the Aries. He’s got the Pisces Battalion. Worst in the fleet, I hear.”

Lyon smiled and stepped alongside Jack. “Don’t believe a word he says, Major.” Lyon draped an arm over Jack’s shoulder. “Guess this is your first time at one of these receptions?”

“Don’t frighten our new colleague, Mike,” Beale said, then turned to Jack. “They are usually quite boring, but the food is good.”

Jack walked with Beale and Lyon and left the empty amphitheater as the lights dimmed.

2

Jack stood at the side of the large reception room. Tall windows looked out across a wide green lawn with bright colored borders of native Eros plants and some hybrids developed from strains brought by the initial settlement from Earth. Jack recognized the rose. His mother had grown them in the small garden back home. That was before the war.

Jack heard a familiar voice and turned his attention back to the room.

“This is the new Commanding Officer of Scorpio Battalion.” Captain Pretorius was walking over accompanied by two other fleet captains. “Jack, let me introduce you.”

Jack turned to meet two destroyer captains. Before he had time to search their profiles, Pretorius spoke up.

“This is Captain Janie Lauafa of the Aries, and Captain Derrie Baskin of the Pisces. Captains, this is Major Jack Forge.”

The two captains shook hands warmly with Jack and congratulated him on his recent promotion.

“Not sure I deserved this promotion,” Jack said diffidently.

“Nonsense, Jack,” Pretorius said. “Combat is a cruel beast. We’re just glad you made it back.”

Lauafa nodded. “Ali is right,” she said soothingly. “If we all lost our rank because we lost people in combat, then the Fleet would have no officers at all. You do your best at every given moment. War decides who survives, not you.”

“I must introduce you to the Aries battalion commander,” Captain Lauafa said.

“I’ve just met with Major Beale,” Jack said. He turned to Captain Baskin. “And I’ve met Major Lyon too.”

“No reason to believe we will be kept in the same carrier group, but if we are, then our ships will be working closely together,” Pretorius said, smiling. “Good to know who’s who.”

Jack spotted Rear Admiral Jackman across the room. He was talking to Captain Cuthbert, the tall jovial captain of the destroyer Virgo.

“Excuse me, Captain,” Jack said to Pretorius. “I need to talk to Rear Admiral Jackman.” And with a nod to his companions, Jack left.

Jack could just overhear Pretorius as he walked away.

“He’s a terrific Marine officer. Best I’ve worked with.”

Jack felt a swell of pride. Captain Pretorius was the best Fleet officer as far as Jack was concerned, and it was a huge source of pride that the captain valued Jack, but then he overheard Derrie Baskin ask Pretorius a question that struck at Jack’s heart.

“Will he get over getting his team killed in the asteroid belt? He will have to deal with that if he is to be a really great officer.”

Jack strained to hear Pretorius’s reply, but a burst of laughter from a group nearby drowned out the response. Jack took another few steps forward and as he came closer to Rear Admiral Jackman, he began to overhear the conversation between the admiral and Cuthbert.

Although Cuthbert was speaking in a jovial tone, there was a hard edge to his comments.

“Humanity has every right to be in the Eros System,” Cuthbert said. “We should fight for our right to stay.”

Jackman nodded politely as Cuthbert spoke.

“Thank you, Captain,” Jackman said, ending the conversation when he spotted Jack. “I’ll pass on your comments to the admiral.” He turned to Jack. “Major Forge,” Jackman said brightly. “At last, a chance to put a face to the name. I’ve seen your name in dispatches and after-action reports. Good to finally meet you.”

“Thank you, sir,” Jack said, slightly taken aback by the rear admiral’s warm greeting.

“You have delivered some of the most important victories of this war,” Jackman said.

“Not enough, clearly, sir,” Jack said. “Or we wouldn’t be losing and turning tail and running away.”

Jackman nodded. “You are not going to give me the same old stand and fight to the end, suicidal nonsense I’m getting from some other officers, are you, Major?”

Jack shook his head. “I follow orders, sir.”

“Not always,” Jackman said with a twinkle in his eye. “The Battle of Kratos Fuel Station. You were ordered to withdraw. You disobeyed that order, and then you brought down the first Leviathan the Chitins ever lost.”

Jack shifted his weight uncomfortably. “There was an opportunity and…”

Jackman cut Jack off mid-sentence. “And you took it. That’s the kind of Marine I like, Jack. Brave. Creative. Instinctive. I’m sorry to say that the population will never hear of so many of your bold actions.”

“I don’t do any of it for glory, sir,” Jack said.

“Then why do you do any of it?”

“For the Marine next to me, sir. Whatever I have done has been to keep the men and women next to me alive.”

“But the last action report of yours I read seemed to suggest you’re not always successful,” Jackman said, fixing Jack with a look.

“I can remember the name of every Marine I’ve lost in combat, sir,” Jack said. “I have made some decisions in the field that have led to losses, but I make the decisions. I take the responsibility, and the grief.”

Jackman nodded. “I agree. Operations always carry a huge risk. I’m just glad you have made it through so far. You’re an asset to the Fleet Marine Service, Jack. I will have to introduce you to the Marine general.”

Jackman glanced around the room, looking for Marine General Wallace.

“Please, sir,” Jack said, “I think I’ve met enough people for one day. I just want to volunteer for the Chitin grab operation.”

Jackman nodded slowly for a moment after Jack spoke and then replied. “Why should I let you take this operation?” Jackman asked calmly. “You are one of the best Marine officers in the Fleet Marine Service. You’ve come up through the ranks, and you have developed into a great combat leader and a fine tactician. Why should I send you on such a dangerous operation? It is likely that the team that goes to capture a live Chitin soldier will suffer losses. What if we lose you, Jack? Who do we replace you with?” Jackman said, casting an arm about the reception and fixing Jack with a stare.

“I should go because I will get the job done, and I have experience…”

“Yes, yes. You are probably the best man for the job, but you are a major now. Your job is to manage the battalion. This is a job for a strong squad leader or a company commander at the most. This is not the job for you, Major Forge.”

Jack nodded. He had moved up the ranks so fast that he still felt like a front-line soldier. He had never been comfortable watching his company fight the battles while he sat back and directed them. Now he was responsible for an entire battalion of three companies. It would be better if he remained on the Marine deck of the Scorpio while a squad went out to capture a Chitin soldier.

“But,” Jackman said, “the Scorpio is due for a refit and the battalion will be standing idle, or assisting with ship maintenance. Maybe the battalion could manage without its commanding officer for a few days.”

Jack brightened. “Yes, sir. I’ve just appointed the new company commanders for Boa and Cobra Companies. They are good Marines and I have every confidence in them.”

Jackman was nodding as Jack spoke. “I know. I have read your latest reports.”

Jack felt a little taken aback. He had no idea anyone actually read the reports he filed from his office on the Scorpio, much less a rear admiral.

“Don’t look so surprised, Major,” Jackman said. “I wanted to learn what I could about Major Jack Forge before I met you in person. Like I said, your name has come up quite a bit lately.”

Jack felt a glow of pride and a slight blush of embarrassment.

“There,” Jackman said. “I’ve just authorized the operation. It’s yours, Major. Plan your operation and select your team. Send me your operation plan at the end of first watch and be ready to move immediately. Clear?”

Jack stood up proudly. “Yes, sir. I won’t let you down, sir.”

“No pressure, Jack,” the rear admiral said, “but it’s not just me you would be letting down if you fail. We need a live Chitin soldier if we are to synthesize the chemical cloak. You’ll be letting down the entire population of the Eros System. We are all relying on you.”

Jackman smiled mischievously. Jack felt a knot in his stomach.

“Don’t panic, Major. No one is going to know if you succeed or fail. This operation is top secret. No one will ever know what you have done. Well, only you and the team creating the cloak. I believe you know one of them. Sarah Reyes.”

Jack felt a sudden rush of emotion and adrenaline. The very sound of her name was enough to make him dizzy. The last he had heard of Reyes was that she had disappeared with Fleet Intelligence for a secret project.

“She can’t be here with us right now,” Jackman said, “but she is nearby. I can arrange a meeting if you like.”

Jack looked a Jackman and worried that all his feelings were pouring out. He stiffened and replied as firmly and as plainly as he could.

“She is an old friend. I would like to say hello, sir.”

“Done,” Jackman said. A small escort drone drifted over at shoulder height and hovered next to Jack. “Follow the drone. It’ll escort you to our research and development laboratory. The drone has authorization codes from my office giving you permission to meet Reyes.”

“Thank you, sir,” Jack said.

“And then go and catch me a Chit. Copy?”

Jack saluted. “Copy that, sir.”

The buildings of the Fleet Command and Control Headquarters were bright and spacious. Jack followed the drone along one long corridor after another. Tall windows looked out at wide landscape gardens. Fruit trees from Earth and Eros grew side by side, heavy with bright fruit. Eros’s native winged creatures flitted from tree to tree.

The war seemed a million miles away, almost as if it wasn’t happening at all. Jack wondered how the upper echelons of command could properly plan operations for such a brutal, relentless war in such pleasant surroundings.

The drone turned away from the tall window and led Jack along a dark corridor, then down a stairway into the lower levels, hidden from the light of day.

Jack went down flight after flight until the drone flew off along a corridor illuminated by bright ceiling panels. He guessed they were twenty meters beneath the surface. The low ceiling and the heavy walls created an oppressive feeling, but Jack walked on.

The drone stopped at a double-door halfway along the corridor. The door opened into a large, brightly lit security checkpoint.

Sitting behind a small desk at one side of the guard room was a Fleet Intelligence agent in his black uniform with silver braid. He looked up at Jack.

Two Fleet Intelligence enforcers, fully kitted out in their black meat suits, stood flanking a large double-door. The standard issue Fleet Marine Pulse Rifles were slung neatly over their shoulders.

“Authorization,” the agent at the small desk said, looking up at Jack.

Jack indicated the small silver drone that hovered in front of him. The agent scanned the drone and then nodded.

“Thank you, Major.” The agent stood up and walked to the door between the two enforcers. The agent accessed a security panel on the center of the door. The door slid open, and the agent led Jack through.

The door slid shut behind Jack, leaving him in the center of a short and dark corridor that was open at either end. A bright light was spilling into the shadows from beyond. Jack walked toward one end, turned, and found himself in a viewing gallery looking out at a large laboratory and workshop behind a wall of transparent composite.

The laboratory was filled with huge pieces of equipment that Jack could not identify. He was able to strip and rebuild a tac boat or even a Marine company landing craft, so he was familiar with the inner workings of some of the heaviest weaponry in the fleet from the blast laser to the high-density hail cannon. There was nothing here that Jack recognized.

Then, in a dark shadowy corner, he saw something he did recognize. A Chitin soldier.

Jack dropped to one knee, hand going to his hip. He felt the grip of his Fleet Marine Pulse Pistol against his hand. Then Jack saw movement within the limp hanging tentacles of the Chitin soldier, and out stepped a person wearing a set of tight coveralls and a large protective helmet. The person walked backward from the Chitin, looking it up and down. There appeared to be no danger here. Jack relaxed and took his hand away from his holstered pistol, standing up.

His movement alerted the figure in the workshop, who turned and looked up to the large viewing gallery that Jack was standing in.

The person waved enthusiastically and hurried forward. Removing the protective helmet caused a tumble of dark hair to fall out and over her shoulders.

“Sarah!” Jack shouted.

Reyes smiled. She dropped the helmet on a workbench.

“It’s so good to see you! I’ve missed you so much,” Jack said. He stepped up to the wide window that looked out onto the workshop.

Reyes held her hand to her ear. She mouthed something to Jack and made a gesture that told Jack she hadn’t heard him. Then she hurried forward and to the side of the wide window.

A section of the transparent composite at one end of the window slid open and Reyes climbed up into the viewing gallery.

“Jack!” she shouted as she rushed toward him.

Jack held out his arms and took Reyes in an embrace. He kissed her on the lips.

Reyes took a step back and smiled.

“Good to see you too, Major.” She reached out and took Jack’s hand. “Come and see.” She dragged Jack toward the entrance to the workshop.

Reyes pulled Jack from one bench to another, enthusiastically telling him about Chitin technologies and the work she had been doing with Fleet Intelligence. Jack listened but failed to understand even half of the details. He was able to understand the potential outcomes.

“So you have worked out their technology?” he asked

Reyes smiled and nodded. “A lot of it, yes. I think they are amazing really. How they manipulate matter and energy. It is really different than how we do it. They understand it differently, and it sent their technology in different directions from ours.”

Jack looked at the scattered materials. He spotted one workbench that had a section of a Chitin control panel on it. Jack recognized it from his many encounters with Chitin craft. It was covered in the familiar polyps and short, fat tentacles, but these were dull and gray, not the usual colorful collection of controls Jack had seen in their ships.

“It lost all its color when we removed it,” Reyes said as if reading Jack’s thoughts.

Jack wandered toward the panel, Reyes following and talking.

“I tried hooking it up to various power sources, but I couldn’t get it to work. It’s almost as if it was alive itself. It is almost as if the Chitin technology is a species of its own, like a symbiotic relationship between two species. Like termites using ants as slaves.

“Like a parasite?” Jack said.

Reyes shook her head. “No,” she said uncertainly. “But…” She walked over to a far workbench. “Maybe if I…” She trailed off, lost in her thoughts, and started pulling at a bundle of cables that looked biological rather than technological.

Jack watched Reyes work. She dragged the cables over to the panel of gray, lifeless polyps, muttering to herself and pointing to one corner of the workshop and then another.

“So,” Jack said, “I don’t have much time.”

“Right,” Reyes said, snapping her fingers. She patted Jack on the shoulder. “Time,” she said again as she rushed to another workbench and picked up a clunky and heavy piece of human tech and hauled it over to the gray polyp panel and the bundle of biological cables. “Time is critical,” she said, “like frequency.”

Reyes began attaching the cables to the large, clunky box and then she squashed some cable over a polyp or two. She accessed a panel on the clunky device and adjusted some settings.

Jack looked over her shoulder but couldn’t make any sense of what she was doing. He glanced around the workshop. It seemed to disappear into the distance. Only the front section, as big as the Scorpio’s maintenance hangar, was lit. Hidden away in the shadows, there was clearly much more.

Jack turned around as he heard a squeal of delight from Reyes. He looked at the Chitin control panel and saw that the polyps were no longer gray but showing signs of color returning. A dim and muted version of the bright colors he had seen in the Chitin ships, but definitely colors. Then the colors faded away and the panel returned to the dull matte gray color.

Reyes jumped and punched the air. “Yes,” she said excitedly. She turned to Jack. She grabbed his jacket and pulled him to her, planting a big kiss on his lips before stepping back. “You, Jack, are a genius. Frequency. Timing. I think I can make it work, given a bit more time.”

“We don’t have time,” Jack said somberly.

Reyes looked at Jack. She held his hands in front of her. They stared for a fraction of a second before shuffling nervously.

“You’ve got to see this,” Reyes said, beaming her great smile. She dragged Jack by the hand into the darkness at the far end of the workshop.

Moving along the lines of workbenches, lights came on as they moved deeper into the workshop. Soon the viewing gallery was lost in the darkness.

Jack spotted a line of Chitin soldiers hanging from the ceiling, their tentacles dangling limply. Other workbenches had tools and unrecognizable pieces of equipment on them. Jack looked left and right, trying to take it all in, but the thing he wanted to look at the most was Reyes’ dark hair bouncing as she ran.

If only he could take her to the prairie where he had run as a youngster, if only there was no war and they could run together up the far hill where he sat and read and played as a boy. He wanted to take Reyes there and sit and listen to her talk enthusiastically about things he barely understood, but he knew one thing better than anything else: he was happy when he was with Reyes.

“Check it out, Jack,” she said, stopping in her tracks.

Jack looked up and saw, hanging in the middle of the workshop, a Kraken, the quick and powerful Chitin fighter craft.

Jack half-dropped, half-turned, starting to go for his gun at the sight of his enemy.

“What?” he said cautiously. He realized there was no immediate danger.

“It’s dead,” Reyes said. “But I think I can bring it back to life.”

“Life?” Jack said in disbelief. “But it’s a machine, isn’t it?”

“Kind of,” Reyes said. “But it’s also alive, kind of.”

“Both?” Jack said. He stepped forward and looked closely at the Chitin craft. “How can it be both?”

“Because,” Reyes said, stepping alongside Jack, “it’s Chitin. It’s different from us. It’s like a virus, mechanical and biological, both and neither. I think I can activate this Kraken, but it’ll start killing us. I have come up with a solution, and if I am right, we might be able to get away from here before they kill us all. The Fleet is sending someone to try and trap a live Chitin soldier so I can test my theory.”

Jack turned to Reyes. He realized he was still holding her hand.

“It’s me. I’m going to do it.”

Spotting the sudden look of worry on Reyes’s face made Jack feel even more strongly for her. He stepped in front of her and took both her hands. “I can do it,” he said.

Reyes nodded. “Please be careful, Jack.”

Jack stepped closer to Reyes. They moved together and kissed again.

Jack’s communicator burst to life.

“Jack, my boy.” It was Captain Pretorius. “I’m heading back to the Scorpio now. Do you want to come up with me or will you join me later?”

Jack pulled out his pocket-watch from his uniform pocket. It was approaching the start of the Fleet-wide first watch.

“Thank you, sir,” Jack said. “I’ll return to the Scorpio with you. I’ll join you at the transport shortly. Forge out.”

“Copy that. Pretorius out.”

Jack looked at Reyes. She was flushed and misty-eyed. Jack put his arm over her shoulder and walked back to the exit from the massive workshop.

“I’ll get you that Chitin soldier so you can save us all. Deal?” Jack said.

“Deal,” Reyes replied.

Jack walked through the workshop and as the lights blinked off behind him, he could almost sense the Chitin Kraken hanging in the dark. His deadly enemy lurked in the blackness behind him. They were out there, thousands of them, poised to swoop into the inner system at any moment. Jack hoped they would have time for Reyes to put her theory into practice and save humanity from destruction.

3

The Marine deck on the Scorpio was quiet and empty. Jack walked along spaces marked out for each squad of each company of the battalion.

Adder Company was now under the command of the youngest ever company commander in the history of the Fleet Marine Service. Erin Bevan was a capable leader and had saved a number of Marines following the destruction of the Taurus at the battle of Eight-Eight-Thirteen. She was brave, determined, responsible, and had shown authority leading a squad of fresh Marines. She had developed a fear of floating in open space that concerned Jack, but he was prepared to give Bevan a chance to prove herself.

Jack had wrestled with the decision to promote Bevan. Squad leader Dave Jarrat from Adder Company had been a promotion prospect, but for all his combat and leadership experience, Jack just didn’t think he would be able to lead as a company commander. He was brave and determined, but Jack wasn’t sure he could think tactically.

Erin Bevan had narrowly won the promotion.

Boa Company was currently under the command of Commander Stuart Laidlaw. He was an intelligent man, and Scorpio Battalion’s most experienced company commander, even though he had only been in the position for a few short months. He had conducted himself heroically during the Battle of Brecon Moon, where he had defended one of the planetary defense cannons. He’d had an easier job of it than Jack, since Laidlaw had arrived in position with all his supplies and equipment intact, but it had still been a brutal fight. Boa Company had taken casualties and was still at a reduced strength, but Jack had confidence that Laidlaw would have them performing at their best.

Jack walked over the deck to the area marked out for Cobra Company. Even though Jack was now in command of the entire battalion, he still thought of Cobra as his. He walked into the square marked out for Cobra and remembered the first time he had stood here and waited for his first assignment, a simple recon mission that led to the discovery of a Chitin fuel station. That had been Jack’s first mission, and he had encountered a Chitin Leviathan. If it hadn’t been for Sarah Reyes’s clever thinking, Jack would not have been able to defeat that massive warship, and his first mission as a Marine in Cobra Company would have been his last.

Cobra Company was a special company for Jack. Its commander would have to be someone Jack knew and trusted, someone Jack respected, and someone who also knew and trusted Jack. There was only one Marine in the entire Fleet Marine Service that Jack would entrust Cobra Company to. Only one man alive fit to command the best company in the Fleet Marines.

Jack stood on the point marked out for 6th squad where he had stood for that first mission briefing. Soon he would give his first as battalion major. He looked up as his company commanders entered the Marine deck.

Stuart Laidlaw, Erin Bevan, and Sam Torent stopped when they saw Jack.

“Battalion major on deck,” Torent said loudly, and the three commanders saluted their new battalion major.

“As you were, guys,” Jack said as he walked over to the group. “Join me in the office.”

Across the Marine deck was a small office. The holostage was mounted against one wall and so took up less space. There was seating for Jack and his three company commanders, and extra seating for others who might be required to come before the battalion major.

“We have an operation that needs to be completed as quickly as possible,” Jack began as he took his seat. “It is vital for the war effort and I have volunteered to take it on.”

“Then I volunteer to go with you,” Torent said.

“You don’t know what it is yet,” Jack said, leaning back in his chair.

“I don’t need to know.” Torent stood up straight. “If my battalion major is going, it’s my duty to go and make sure he comes back alive.”

Jack nodded. “What if we both get killed?” Jack said with a smile. “Who’s going to run the Scorpio Battalion then?”

Erin Bevan held up her hand. “I’ll do it.”

Laidlaw nudged Bevan. “Bit too eager to see the boss get killed, Erin. Put your hand down.”

Bevan shoved Laidlaw away. “Not the battalion job, Stu, the operation. I’ll take on the operation so Major Forge can stay back here and keep you alive.”

“I’ll be selecting my team,” Jack said. “I just want to take suggestions and advice on the plan from you guys.”

“Kill them with pulse rifle fire usually works as a plan,” Torent said, sitting back down.

“Not this time, Sam,” Jack said. He leaned forward onto his desk. “This time we are going to be taking them alive.” Jack waited for the sudden surprise to dissipate. “Fleet Command and Control wants to review my plan right away. Suggestions?”

“Shoot down a Hydra and capture the crew,” Torent said.

Jack nodded. It was just like Torent to go in guns blazing. Jack liked the plan, but the only Hydras were in the sphere of the Chitin armada surrounding the system. They wouldn’t last a minute against the massed Chitin armada.

“We need to find a Hydra first,” Laidlaw said. “I can check the database and see where the last encounter with a Hydra was. We can extrapolate its heading and try and intercept it.”

Jack nodded. The ideas were coming now.

“We can try and infiltrate a vessel,” Bevan said. “If we find a Hydra and approach stealthily, run dark and silent, just a small group of Marines in meat suits…” Bevan trailed off. Jack noticed she was becoming nervous thinking about floating free in space, but she had the idea and it was a good plan that had worked before. Jack realized how brave she was to suggest a plan that terrified her. Jack had no doubt that if he ordered her to carry out the plan, she would do it and lead with exceptional courage and focus.

But Jack knew infiltration was the easy part. Taking a Chitin alive would be hard, and even harder on one of their ships.

Standing and crossing to the wall-mounted holostage, Jack added his own idea. “What if we could get some Chits to infiltrate a ship of ours?”

“Yes,” Laidlaw said. “We’d be on home ground and our Marines would act with more confidence.”

“And we would know where to set up kill zones,” Torent said. Then he remembered the plan. “We need to keep them alive,” he said, rolling his eyes. “Doesn’t seem right.”

“A kill zone could also be used to trap a Chitin soldier.” Jack tapped the holostage controls and called up a list of Fleet ships. “We need a ship big enough for the Chits to try and infiltrate, but small enough so we can contain them.”

“A frigate,” Laidlaw said. “Fast, and they have good weapons systems.”

“Remember,” Jack said, calling up the specifications for a Fleet frigate, “we need to take them alive.”

An image of a frigate appeared on the holostage. Jack projected it into the center of the battalion office. Laidlaw, Bevan, and Torent all stood and walked around the image. The large cockpit was big enough for a small flight crew, but the ship was able to be piloted by one experienced pilot. Jack was sure he could take the role.

Along the center line of the frigate was a single corridor. Weapons bays led off to port and starboard and a ladder led up and down to the blast laser turrets situated on the upper and lower hulls amidships.

Jack ran his finger along the corridor. “Here,” he said. “It’s long and wide. There are cover points at the entrances to the weapons bay. This is the perfect spot to capture a Chit.”

“But how do we get a Chit in there so we can capture it?” Torent said.

“A distress call?” Jack said, looking at his company commanders.

Bevan nodded. “Are they still snatching people from Fleet vessels?”

Jack shrugged. It was a risk, but then the entire operation was a risk. “It’s safe to bet they haven’t stopped capturing people when they can.”

“I thought we were supposed to be capturing them,” Torent said.

“And we will,” Jack said. “So we requisition a frigate from the remaining ships of the Monarch Carrier Group and we go and make like an injured vessel in deep space.”

“And hope they come and take the bait?” Torent said.

“Indeed, and we will hook them and land them and drag them back to Fleet Command and Control Headquarters.”

Feeling Laidlaw’s gaze on him, Jack turned to the Boa Company Commander. “Thoughts, Stuart?”

“Why, sir? Why are we capturing a chitin soldier?” Laidlaw said.

Jack walked behind his desk and sat down heavily. “Stuart, guys, it’s a tricky operation and it is a vital operation, but I can’t tell you why. All I can tell you is, it is classified, but I wouldn’t have volunteered if I didn’t think it was important.”

“I don’t care if it’s classified, top secret, or you are just doing it for kicks,” Torent said, sitting down again. “If you’re going, I’m coming too.”

Jack nodded. “Okay, let’s plan this thing in detail and get it off to the Fleet. Copy?”

Bevan, Laidlaw, and Torent all responded in the affirmative. Jack nodded with satisfaction. He had a good team of officers.

“Sam?” Jack said casually.

“Boss?” Torent replied.

“Where is your arm?”

Torent pointed over his shoulder with his thumb. “Back in my quarters. The thing was irritating me like crazy. You want me to get it?”

Jack shook his head. “No, it’s fine. Just make sure you have it with you when we head off for our Chitin hunt.”

The plan was looking strong. All they needed now, what they always needed, was a bit of good fortune.

4

Sitting in the cockpit of Frigate M4, Jack could see he had been given a well-maintained craft. Every light on the flight console was green. There were no warning lights, no failing or bypassed systems. Every weapon and drive component was in top condition. It was a rare and welcome sight.

The Fleet had allocated one of the best frigates from the Monarch Carrier Group to the operation. Jack realized the importance Fleet had placed on the mission, and how important it was that he succeeded.

The frigate was currently traveling unpowered, running dark and silent. The slingshot maneuver around Brecon Moon had sent M4 hurtling toward the asteroid belt. All traffic had been withdrawn from a huge sector to leave Jack and his team aboard M4 as the only craft in the area.

Jack was approaching the designated operation point and alerted his team.

“Helmets on, Marines. Approaching zero point now. I’ll be letting the entire system know where we are in a few minutes. Good luck, everyone. Sam, join me in the cockpit, please.”

Hearing Sam climbing up the few steps into the cockpit, Jack turned in his pilot’s chair. Torent had his helmet under his left arm and his pulse rifle over his shoulder. Jack indicated the observation seat at the side of the cockpit.

“You sure you can fly this all by yourself?” Torent asked. He took the pulse rifle off his shoulder and set it against the side of his seat.

“You sure you can handle Cobra all by yourself?”

Sam smiled. “Smart ass,” he said.

“You got anyone on Eros, Sam?” Jack said, turning his seat to face Torent.

“No,” Torent said. He flexed his prosthetic right arm and tested its movement. “I’m all alone in the universe.”

“Do you miss it?” Jack asked.

“Yeah,” Torent said. “This arm is stronger for sure, but it sometimes irritates a bit too much. It’s all right now, though. I gave it a good service before we suited up.”

“Not your arm, Sam,” Jack said. “Eros, I mean.”

The stare Torent gave Jack made Jack wonder if he knew Torent at all. They had met as enemies and now Torent was one of Jack’s oldest and most trusted friends.

“There was never anything for me on Eros.”

“So you were happy to join the Marines?”

“I didn’t join voluntarily, Jack,” Torent said. “I was arrested for petty theft and burglary. They were going to throw my kravin butt in jail. It was the service or a cell. Of course I joined, but I wasn’t happy.”

There was a dark tone to Torent’s voice. Jack felt as if he was seeing a side of Torent for the first time, or at least one he had forgotten about.

“You know what,” Torent said, leaning in, “I guess I am happy now, but it wasn’t that long ago that I was still looking for the easy route. When we were transporting the prisoners and I was offered a way out, I nearly took it. I could have left everything behind right there. No, I don’t miss Eros, but I might miss the Scorpio, or some other kravin busted old ship.”

Jack stared at Torent. When they had been on the prison colony, and Torent had sided with the prisoners, Jack had been sure Torent was play acting and trusted that he was only manipulating the prisoners and their ringleader. Now it seemed that Torent might have been thinking about abandoning his Marine family for his old criminal one all along.

“You shot your old friend dead in that prison,” Jack said. He wondered how easily Torent might commit murder.

“He wasn’t a friend. Despite what you might have read, there is no honor among thieves. He was a kravin scroat, and it was him or me.”

“I seem to remember he had gun against my head, not yours.”

“If he had killed you, I would have been stuck with him. Guess I’d rather be stuck with you.”

Jack nodded as he took the comment and realized that for all the bitterness in Torent’s voice, the comment was in fact a compliment. Torent was rough, even for a Marine, and kind words didn’t come easy.

“Heads up, Jack,” Torent said, standing up. He pointed to the flight console. “Zero point.”

Jack turned back to the console. They were in position.

“Ready to send a party invitation to the Chits?” Jack said.

Torent pulled on his helmet. Jack heard Torent’s voice over his communicator. “Bring ’em on, boss.”

As Torent climbed back down the steps to the central corridor, Jack heard him shouting commands to the small team of Marines. Jack activated the drive and initiated a braking maneuver, dropping the ship from its silent cruising speed to a dead stop. Then he sent the distress call on a wide channel.

“Ship in distress. This is Frigate M4. We are unpowered and adrift. Sending coordinates. Request immediate assistance. Ship in distress. Repeat, ship in distress.”

Jack powered down the communication beacon and sat back in his chair. He opened the team communication channel as he pulled his meat suit helmet on. “Message away. Hope the Chits still want to capture a few Marines. All we can do now is wait. Be ready. They could be here at any time.”

Any time proved to be no time at all. Within an hour, the passive sensor nodes detected an incoming Hydra.

“Chitin craft on intercept course,” Jack said over the ship-wide communicator. There was no fear about revealing their position or their condition to the incoming craft. In fact, Jack wanted to make his position known and bring on the Chitin Hydra to infiltrate the frigate.

Jack watched the signal on the holostage as the Hydra drew close. He waited with bated breath, his only fear that more Hydras would come and attack. There was a danger that the Chitins were no longer interested in snatching humans from ships as they had done so many times in the past. It was possible that this Hydra would attempt to destroy the supposedly stricken frigate.

The frigate’s armament was more than sufficient to fight off a single Hydra, but if the Chits came in numbers, determined to destroy the frigate, then all Jack could do was run. That would be a total operational failure and a potentially fatal outcome for humanity. Without a live Chitin soldier, Reyes could not develop her chemical cloak and humanity would surely succumb to the onslaught from the thousands of Chitin craft just waiting to sweep through the system and clear it of every last living person.

The Chitin Hydra came into visual range. Jack looked out into the black of space, looking for the Hydra that was coming out of the void. Then he saw a glint of light on a flank of the ship. Jack checked the holostage. No other Hydras were detected. This one was coming in alone.

Jack felt the urge to activate the frigate’s weapon systems and make a show of fighting off the Chitin craft, but the danger of actually hitting the Chitin craft and destroying it was too great. He watched as the Hydra came closer. The tension inside him rose.

“Everyone in position. Sam, get everyone ready back there. The Hydra will be on us in one minute.”

Sam Torent reported back that the Marines were ready and waiting. The alcoves leading off the central corridor made for excellent cover. At the barricade at the aft section, an armed Marine stood ready to protect the drive room. Sam Torent stood at the forward end and protected the cockpit. All other Marines were armed only with nonlethal weapons. Their task would be the hardest of any Marine to date, and Jack knew it. They were to subdue and capture as many of the massive Chitin soldiers as they could.

Each Marine carried a net launcher loaded with a single, high-tensile net that would, hopefully, hold a Chitin tight and make it safe for transport. The Chitins had never faced this from the Fleet Marines before. Jack hoped surprise would work in their favor.

The Chitin Hydra continued its approach toward the frigate, its smooth hull so familiar to Jack, so hated. The Hydra touched down on the upper hull with a clunk that echoed throughout the ship. Jack had never been so relieved when a Hydra attached itself to the hull of his ship.

“Hydra latched on. They are forward of the upper blast laser assembly. They are cutting in.” Jack turned around in his seat and looked out along the central corridor. He could see the scorch marks already appearing on the upper hull.

Alarms on the flight console sounded as the Chitins cut through system conduits. Jack turned back to the flight console and rerouted systems to maintain the frigate’s operational status. The Chits didn’t care if the frigate was put out of action, they were here for the contents, the Marines. Little did they know that the Marines were waiting for them.

Jack rerouted all affected systems and turned back to watch as the upper hull finally gave way. It was punched inwards and fell to the corridor floor. The first Chit came scuttling in after it.

Instantly, the comm channel was filled with Marines calling out the contact. The Chitin fell into the corridor and moved swiftly toward its first target. The second Chit fell in and then the third. They were quick, moving in their scuttling motion, their tentacled limbs thrashing about, propelling them along. Jack could see the smooth black heads and the twitching antennae that he had shot at so many times before.

The first net was launched. Jack saw it slide over the smooth head, catching on the tentacles. The Chit appeared to stop for a moment and then lurched at the Marine. The Marine was enveloped by the Chitin tentacles and was dragged away, yelling, punching, and kicking.

Another net was launched from the aft section. Jack saw it splay out and almost fill the corridor. It slammed into the target Chit and wrapped around it. The Chit thrashed with its tentacles but as the net drew tight, the tentacles were gathered up in a tight knot.

The first Marine was carried up through the breach to the Hydra above. Jack heard his yells turn to terrified screams as he was taken into the alien craft. Jack opened a channel to the Marine.

“Hold on, Marine. We’ll get you out of there.”

Another net caught a second Chitin. Jack climbed down the short ladder and into the corridor in time to see a second Chit get bundled up, its tentacles pressed against the long head and the huge body. One tentacle lay outside the net. It became rigid and began slashing side to side, threatening to smash any Marine who came too close.

Another Chitin dropped into the corridor and was met with nets fired from two sides. The nets interfered with each other and trapped the Chit in a loose net. The Chit fired a plasma spear that slammed into the chest of the nearest Marine. Meat suit data flashed up on Jack’s enhanced data view immediately. A Marine had lost their life in an attack that was only a few seconds old.

“Secure that Chit,” Jack shouted. He had two Chitins down, one stabbing and slashing with a tentacle, another firing its plasma spears wildly from its loose net. Another net was fired at the Chit in the loose net and fully enveloped it, pulling tight and trapping the Chitin in a tight bundle.

A Marine moved toward the Chit that was slashing with its tentacle. As he stepped under the breach in the upper hull, long tentacles reached down and caught hold of him and immediately dragged the Marine swiftly upwards. The sudden shouts from the Marine filled the communication channel.

Jack jumped down to the corridor. Three Chits lay bundled up. Two Marines had been taken into the Hydra by the Chits. Jack knew there were likely to be another five Chits in that Hydra.

Jack had accomplished his goal of capturing a live Chit. Now he needed to ensure he got them back to the Fleet.

A Marine stepping toward the trapped Chitin soldier with its tentacle protruding out of the net made the mistake of stepping too close. The Marine saw the mistake too late and tried to twist away. The stabbing tentacle thrust at the Marine and drove clean through the meat suit into the Marine’s side.

The environment was breached, and blood and gas raced out of the hole in the suit.

Jack accessed the Marine’s med data and administered an induced coma. The Marine fell to the deck. The meat suit resealed itself. The fallen Marine was dragged away by others of the team.

“Cut that stabbing Chit tentacle away,” Jack said. He stepped toward the breach. “Sam. You are with me. We’re boarding that Hydra and getting our people back.”

“They are lost, Jack,” Torent said. “Mission accomplished. Let’s go.”

“They are not lost, Sam. We are not going to lose them.”

Jack drew his pulse pistol. Torent walked toward him, his pulse rifle across his chest.

“Are we authorized to use lethal force?” Torent asked.

Jack fired up the electron blade on his pulse pistol. “Inside the Hydra, we shoot to kill. Secure the prisoners. We can’t lose them.” Jack stepped under the breach. The tentacles came down like a flash and grabbed him, pulling up into the Hydra. Jack let the Chitin tentacles pull him into the Hydra and he spoke calmly on the private communicator channel with Torent. “Get in here, Sam. Quick now.”

Jack sliced at the Chitin tentacles that had dragged him into the Hydra, and the Chitin fell away, thrashing, thick slime leaking from the severed tentacles. Sam Torent jumped up into the Hydra, propelled by his meat suit’s thrust jets. He had his pulse rifle at his shoulder, ready to fire.

“Jack, get down,” Torent said.

Jack dropped as pulse fire burst from Torent’s rifle. The target was a Chit advancing out of the dark interior of the Hydra.

The Chit fell back as the pulse rounds slammed into his elongated head, the teeth rasping and the inner beak chittering.

Jack spotted the two captured Marines, secured by thick strands of hardened Chitin slime.

“Major,” one said over his communicator. “Help.”

Jack nodded and held up a hand, a signal for the Marine to wait. Only Jack and Torent were armed. Only they could finish the Chitin crew. Jack stepped forward cautiously. The Chit that Sam had fired at lay twitching on the floor. Meter-long tentacles and stubby polyps covered the walls of the Hydra and created a nearly impenetrable mass. Jack picked his way forward, Torent on his left shoulder.

Jack pointed at the fallen Chit at his feet.

“Four down, four to go,” he said.

Torent nodded.

Then the Chitins rushed in.

Jack dropped to one knee and fired his pulse pistol point blank into the first Chit. Torent stood behind and fired a sustained blast of pulse rounds. The Chit fell, but the next was already in its place. It stood a meter away and thrust forward with a stabbing tentacle. Jack moved his head aside as the tentacle came for him. It sliced along the side of his helmet, the scraping noise loud and fearful.

Jack fired a number of rounds in quick succession as the tentacle was pulled back. Torent stabbed forward with his electron bayonet and thrust it deep inside the Chitin’s head. The creature fell on top of the one already on the ground.

He noticed the polyps brighten and guessed the remaining Chits were powering up the ship and preparing the Hydra to break away.

Jack got to his feet and moved deeper into the mass of slime-covered tentacles. He sent a number of micro drones out from his meat suit and had them spread through the Hydra. The micro drones sent back their data and created an enhanced view of the ship’s interior for Jack and Torent to use. Then the remaining Chits were found, spread out and at either side of the Chitin craft.

Jack gave a hand signal for Torent to move to the left and engage while he went right.

The flashes of pulse rifle fire told Jack that Torent had located his final target.

Then Jack found his.

The Chitin came on fast, a rigid tentacle aimed forward like a lance. He moved aside and slashed out with his electron blade, cutting the tentacle away. The Chit came on undeterred and barreled into Jack, knocking him backward and to the ground. The Chit lay on top of him and pinned his legs with heavy, crushing tentacles, its rasping teeth grating away at Jack’s faceplate.

The rasping teeth parted rhythmically and with every movement, he could see the crushing inner beak. Jack tried to bring his pistol up to fire, but his arms were pinned. The pistol was still in his hand and Jack could see the electron blade fizzing and sparking, ready to cut through the Chitin’s smooth shell. He moved his hand and tried to bring the blade around to slice the Chitin’s tentacle.

The blade connected, the tip scorching a part of one of the Chitin’s many tentacle limbs. The Chitin seemed to squirm and react to the cut, then the pistol was snatched away by another of the Chitin’s tentacles while the rasping teeth continued to grind away at Jack’s faceplate.

The suit’s warning system blared that external pressure was approaching design limits. Jack could feel the external pressure on his chest and didn’t need the suit to tell him. He tried to wriggle free but was held fast.

Jack accessed the suit’s thrusters and fired the boot jets. He moved suddenly and felt himself slip free for a moment, but the Chit gripped him again and held him, crushing him, still gnawing away at his faceplate.

He fired the maneuvering thrusters at his wrists and managed to free his right hand.

Jack brought his fist around and slammed it hard into the Chitin’s round, rasping teeth. He saw a flailing tentacle try and retake the free arm, but Jack delivered another heavy blow to the side of the Chitin’s head. While he kept his hand free from the tentacle trying to catch hold of it, he also brought it round and delivered another blow.

Jack saw a free tentacle rise over the head and behind the Chit as he delivered another blow to the teeth. The teeth were hard, and he felt the blows through his meat suit gauntlet. He was sure he felt a number of teeth loosen. Then he saw the tentacle above the Chitin’s head stiffen and aim itself at his face. He twisted as best he could but was held fast. He fired his boot thrusters and tried to jerk himself free. He fired the maneuvering jet on his wrist and added as much power to his next punch as he could. Jack punched through the Chitin’s head and knocked out a scatter of teeth.

The Chitin’s grip loosened for a moment and then it tightened again. The Chit’s head was directly in front of his. It appeared to fix him with a stare from behind its smooth, shell-covered face, its antennae twitching. Then the rigid tentacle lined up on its target again—Jack’s face.

Jack knew he had captured a live Chit. He had captured three. There was no way this one Chit was going to foil the operation, but Jack saw, in that hovering tentacle, his own end. He had fought and he had won, but now he had reached the end of his war with the Chits. He hoped it would be quick and painless.

An electron bayonet suddenly flashed in front of Jack’s face. The blade rammed forward into the Chit’s head. Jack felt the Chitin fall fully on top of him. His suit’s warning system alerted him that he was being crushed.

The flashing electron bayonet filled his view again and the weight of the Chitin began to fall away. Then Jack was looking up at Sam Torent. Chitin slime dripped from his rifle, and the electron bayonet glowed fiercely.

Torent pushed the severed chunks of Chitin corpse aside and helped Jack climb to his feet.

“That’s all eight, Jack. You didn’t mind me finishing off the last one, do you? It looked like you had it right where you wanted, but…”

Jack looked down at the Chitin corpse. Jack’s view was cloudy where the Chitin had rasped away at the faceplate, but he could still make out the Chit, its head sliced in two by Torent’s electron bayonet.

“Free those two Marines, Sam,” Jack said, looking for the way back to the breach. “I’ll get us out of here.”

“Copy,” Torent said. “Do you want me to cut the Hydra off our back?”

Jack took a few steps toward the breach. He could see the bright lights of Frigate M4 coming up into the dark Hydra.

“Negative, Sam. Let’s try and take it back with us. I know someone who might like to take a look at it.”

Jack dropped back down into the frigate. The lights reflecting off the scuffed faceplate gave him a blurred view. He saw the fallen Marines and the three tight bundles of the captured Chitins.

The Marines were preparing the storage crates, the solid composite cells that the Chitins would be contained in for the journey back to Eros.

They stopped and saluted Jack as he appeared in the corridor.

“As you were, Marines,” Jack said, returning the salute. “Pack them and stack them. Let’s get out of here.”

5

Sitting in the frigate’s cockpit, Jack watched the storage crates on the internal surveillance feed. The three crates were stacked at the rear of the central corridor and secured with heavy straps. The Marines were fully armed and stood watching the crates for any sign that the captive Chits were escaping. The crates would contain them, Jack had no doubt. They, like the net guns, had been supplied by Sarah Reyes’s workshop in Fleet Command and Control on Eros, where Jack was heading now.

The flight to Eros would be longer than the journey out. Jack was flying carefully and trying not to dislodge the Chitin Hydra clamped onto the upper hull like a limpet. He was sure Reyes would have enough work to do with synthesizing the chemical cloak, but the chance to bring in a captured Chitin Hydra was hard to refuse.

The faceplate on Jack’s helmet had been so badly scored by the Chitin’s teeth that he was finding it awkward to see. The suit compensated for the distorted image, though, and some repairs to the faceplate gave Jack a better view so he could see well enough to pilot the frigate. He wanted to take off his helmet, but the frigate was still depressurized. The danger that the Hydra would fall away and blow the Marines out of the breach was too great and so Jack had removed the air from the frigate. The Marines were relying on their Marine Extreme Environment Tactical suits to keep them alive until they reached Eros.

Jack checked the frigate’s position and they were only a couple of hours away from Eros at current speed. Desperate as he was to speed things along, the Hydra was a worthy prize and might prove useful to Reyes and the Fleet.

As close as they were to home, they could not relax. Frigate M4 was still exposed to danger. Jack knew another Hydra could appear at any time and he watched the holostage carefully for any sign of an approaching craft.

The frigate’s scanners were on par with those aboard a destroyer. Although the frigates were tiny by comparison, they had excellent scanning ability and were well armed. They were combat ships as well as tactical reconnaissance ships. They were quick, well armed, and able to scan accurately for just over a hundred thousand kilometers with passive scanners, over a million kilometers with active scanning enabled. Jack was using active scanning now and watching the surrounding space carefully.

Then came the signal he had feared, yet half-expected. Another Chitin Hydra was racing in on an intercept course. Jack didn’t need to treat this latest Hydra carefully. This was a deadly threat and needed to be met with deadly force. He opened a channel.

“Sam, organize the Marines. I want every gun position active. We’ve got incoming.”

Watching the holostage showing him a sphere a million kilometers across, Jack saw the signals of Hydras appear. Not one this time, but several. As Jack watched, wondering how he would fight off this attack, even more appeared, and still more until he counted a dozen Chitin Hydras racing to intercept Frigate M4.

He turned in his seat and looked out to the breach in the upper hull and the Chitin Hydra still lodged there. The Chitin soldiers were the important part of this operation. The Hydra had been a bonus and Jack was about to lose it, but he was not going to fail in the operation to bring these live Chitin soldiers back to Fleet Command and Control Headquarters.

“Sam, pack whatever explosives we have in that Hydra and get ready to push it off our back. Copy?”

“Copy that, Jack. I think we’ve got a spare antimatter coil. I can rig a detonator on that. That should give you a big bang.”

Jack checked the approach speed of the Hydras. They were closing fast. The antimatter detonation would be huge and might just wipe out the entire dozen, but he would have to deploy immediately if he wasn’t going to threaten M4 with the blast too.

“Yes, Sam. Get it rigged and get ready to detach the Hydra. We haven’t got long.”

Watching the Hydras approach, he wondered what other Chitin ships were lurking just out of sensor range. There were thousands of Chitin ships on the edge of the system. There were more than enough to utterly destroy humanity in one massed attack. Jack guessed the destruction of the three Leviathans at the Battle of Brecon Moon had scared them off, but the Chits wouldn’t stay scared for long. They would find their courage and finish off humanity soon enough. Jack hoped Reyes would have time to prepare the transport ships so the population could sneak past the surrounding Chits and head off to a new system and a new home before the Chitins attacked.

“I’ve got that coil in position, Jack,” Torent said. “Do you want this detonator on a timer or do you want control?”

“I’ll take control.” Jack saw the trigger appear on the flight console.

“You should have the trigger now,” Torent said.

“Copy that, Sam. Now get your Marines clear of that Hydra and cut it away.”

Jack turned in his seat and watched as a Marine dropped into the frigate from the Hydra attached on the upper hull. From inside the Hydra, Jack saw a bright flash as Torent activated his electron bayonet and started cutting the Hydra away.

Torent dropped inside and hung from the upper hull. He looked over to Jack in the cockpit and raised a thumb.

“It’s free,” he said. “Just need to bump it loose.”

“Do it,” Jack said.

Torent nodded and fired his pulse rifle up into the Chitin craft. The force of the pulse rounds pushed the Hydra away. The breach reopened, and Jack saw the black of space appear as the Hydra fell away.

Jack turned back to the flight console. He altered course and speed and put the floating Chitin Hydra, and its antimatter coil explosive payload, between Frigate M4 and the incoming ships.

The Hydras were closing in fast and Jack pushed the frigate to its maximum speed. It was faster than the Hydras and began to pull away. Jack watched the point on the holostage where the floating Hydra bomb was and the distance between it and the incoming Chitins. They were heading directly for the rigged Chitin ship. He would take them out with a single blast if they held their course.

Then a warning signal flashed on the console. The ship’s communicator relayed the alarm to Jack’s meat suit. The frigate was close to a critical failure. The breach in the upper hull had weakened hull strength, and the speed and power provided by the drive section was going to tear the frigate apart.

There was only one option to prevent tearing the ship in two, and that was to slow the frigate. As soon as Jack reduced speed, the Chitins began to close in. They closed rapidly and began to spread out in a line to close in on the frigate and envelop it on the rear and both the port and starboard flanks.

The line of Hydras reached the point where the drifting Hydra with its improvised explosives lay. Jack hit the trigger.

The flash from the detonation flashed into the frigate through the breach in the upper hull. Jack watched on the holostage as four of the pursuing Hydras were eliminated. Another dropped out of formation and appeared to have been damaged by the blast.

“Get on those blast lasers,” Jack said over the team communicator. “We’ve got Hydras closing fast. Weapons range in twenty seconds. Fire when ready.”

The flashes of the blast lasers flickered around the central corridor and up into the cockpit. Behind Jack, the Marines manned the blast lasers and poured fire at the Chits closing in on the flanks.

Jack turned to look along the corridor. With every gun already being used by a Marine, there were four Marines that had nothing to do and they were standing guard over the captive Chitins in their transport crates. They looked nervous but held their pulse rifles eager and ready for battle.

Jack knew they could do nothing where they were, but maybe they could join the battle. He pointed back to the group.

“You Marines. Get up through that breach and get in the fight. Clamp on to the outer hull and fire at the Chits.”

The Marines looked confused for a moment, but then realized they had an opportunity to join the fight instead of standing idle, and they rushed toward the breach. One by one, they scampered through the hole.

Using an external surveillance feed, Jack could see the four Marines position themselves along the upper hull. They put their pulse rifles to work and fired at the Hydras closing in on the sides.

A flash in the dark of space told Jack that a Hydra had been destroyed. The gun camera feed informed Jack that the aft starboard blast laser had destroyed another ship.

But still, the Hydras closed in on two sides. Their plasma arc weapons would be active soon and the frigate would take a beating. Jack couldn’t fight on two fronts. The three Chitins on the port side included the one Hydra that had been damaged by the antimatter coil detonation. It was falling behind. The attack on the starboard side was comprised of three fully functional Hydras, and they would soon be close enough to bring their plasma arc weapons into the fight. That flank was the Chitins’ strongest, and the one Jack needed to defend most urgently. The best way to defend that flank of the frigate was a concentrated attack. The only way out of this situation was to fight.

“Concentrate all fire on the starboard flank,” Jack said. “Upper and lower turrets, fire to starboard. Marines, turn your fire to starboard.”

The upper and lower blast lasers rotated toward the Hydras on the starboard flank. They poured their blast laser fire at the incoming ships.

Then the first plasma arc slammed into the frigate.

Jack was thrown forward in his seat as the frigate bucked under the attack. Then another came and another as the Hydras attacking the starboard flank struck with their plasma arcs. The blast lasers fired at the Hydras. The Hydras slowed and then held their position in space and lashed the frigate with another volley of plasma arcs.

The plasma arcs from the two port-side Hydras struck and flickered across the length of the frigate. Jack was jerked sideways as the frigate lurched under the attack, the flashes of the plasma arcs lighting up the interior of the frigate in a flickering orange strobe effect.

A Hydra attacking the starboard flank exploded under a concentrated fire from the massed blast lasers and four pulse rifles stationed on the upper hull.

“Maintain the fire. Take out that port-side attack.” Jack altered the frigate’s heading and sent M4 into an arc, pushing it toward the starboard attack and away from the two port-side attackers and the third port-side Chitin limping into range.

A detonation told Jack that another Hydra had been destroyed. This time, it was one of the port-side attackers. The port-side battery of two blast lasers could only fire in a wide field. The odds were slowly turning in their favor when all Hydras, port and starboard, struck out with their plasma arcs simultaneously.

The frigate rocked and the lights along the central corridor flickered. The flight console’s primary lighting failed, and the emergency system came to life. Jack diverted power to the drive system and maneuvered closer to the remaining starboard attacker.

The comm channel burst into life with an excited and unfamiliar voice.

“Attention, Frigate M4. This is Commander Scherer of the Orphan Blades. We are approaching you head on. Check your fire. We’ve got those Hydras in our sights. Firing now.”

The stream of fire from the Blades came flashing out of the black. Jack flinched as the laser blasts came racing directly toward him.

The explosion of the Chitin Hydra on Jack’s port lit up the cockpit in a sudden flash. Then came the rattle of debris hitting the side of the frigate as the Blades raced past. Jack checked their position on the holostage. They appeared as blue points of light on the small flight console holostage. They took up position on the frigate’s rear section, their blast laser pulses targeting the remaining Hydras.

Another salvo of plasma arcs slammed into the frigate. The lights flickered along the length of the ship, and a power conduit exploded half way along the central corridor.

“Aft port side blast laser damage,” a Marine serving the weapon reported. “The targeting system is inoperable. I will have to use manual targeting.”

Jack knew manual targeting would be hopeless against the Hydras. The best the Marine serving the weapon could hope for was a lucky shot, but they were not going to let a blast laser lie idle in a fight. Jack knew that battles were won and lost on matters of luck. He called to the team on the aft port-side blast laser.

“Pour it on them and take them down.”

Another pass from the Blades and another Hydra exploded, showering the frigate with debris. The remaining two Hydras fired another salvo of plasma arcs. The drive system failure slowed the frigate to a crawl.

The Blades raced forward and past the cockpit, their drive flares bright against the black of space. Another Hydra was destroyed, this time by fire from the lower hull blast laser assembly. The cheer from Sam Torent was wildly ecstatic.

“Got the kravin Chit! Boom! What a blast!”

The only remaining Hydra was the slow, damaged one. It came under fire from all available weapons. The Marines on the upper hull were firing a stream of pulse rounds that were slamming into the ship, each and every hit creating a small superheated spot on the durable Chitin hull material. The frigate blast lasers were knocking the Hydra back with every hit. The Chitin activated its plasma arc, but the weapon stuttered and a small, overcharged arc formed at the front of the generator. The arc, only a few meters across, contained all the power of the full-length arc and it heated the front of the Hydra to a bright white heat.

Then the Blades made another pass, in a tight group. A stream of blast laser pulses from the center Blade slammed into the Hydra.

The Chitin craft’s damaged plasma arc collapsed back onto the Hydra. The destruction of the Hydra was total as the entire craft was vaporized, leaving a glowing, expanding cloud of gas where it had been.

“Commander Scherer,” Jack said over his channel to the Blades. “Thank you for your assistance.”

“Chalk up another couple of kills for the Orphan Blades,” Scherer replied in jubilant tones.

Jack looked out of his cockpit window and saw the Blades in position alongside him. Commander Scherer was giving the thumbs-up signal. The markings on the side of his fighter had been repainted. The designation of the fighter as being part of the Monarch’s squadron had been replaced by a large O. The Blades of the Monarch had been engaged in battle when the Monarch had been destroyed by a Chitin Leviathan at the battle of Eight-Eight-Thirteen. The squadron took the designation of an orphaned squadron and used any and all Fleet craft to dock. Some were housed on the Overlord and others on the Scepter, while the remainder were given space on the destroyers where two or three of the Blades could be housed.

Commander Scherer pointed forward. “Looks like we’ve got more company,” he said, then gave a casual salute with his fore finger against his flight helmet. “Orphans away. Good luck, Marines.”

Jack looked at the incoming ship that Scherer had pointed at. Up ahead, coming out of the dark, was a carrier. Jack checked on his holostage. It was the Overlord. A message came in to Jack from the Overlord’s command deck.

“Attention, Frigate M4. This is the Overlord. We are here to escort you back to Eros. Hold current course and speed. Overlord out.”

Jack watched the massive ship move over the top of the frigate as the Overlord fighter squadron launched from her flight decks. The carrier was massive. One of its flight decks was easily big enough to house a frigate. Jack wondered for a moment why he wasn’t being ordered to dock, but he understood why. The frigate was quicker than a carrier, and should another attack come, the Overlord was here to hold the Chitins off so Jack could take his vital cargo to the Fleet Command and Control workshops. These live Chits were so precious, so important, that the fleet was willing to risk one of the remaining two carriers for its safe return.

Activating the frigate’s drive systems and powering down the weapons, Jack readied the frigate for a high-speed return to Eros. The drive had taken damage, but there was enough punch in the system to get Jack home quickly.

“You Marines topside,” Jack said over his communicator channel, “get back inside.”

“Look at the size of that carrier,” one of the Marines said, clearly in awe. The carrier was only a few hundred meters above the frigate and was impressive to see so close.

“You heard that officer,” Sam Torent’s voice came over the channel. “Cut the chatter and get your kravin ass back inside. Copy?”

“Copy that, Commander Torent,” the reply came.

“Sam,” Jack said over the team channel. “Check out our cargo.”

“Copy that, sir,” Torent said. He came back a moment later. “All secure. They are a bit agitated. I can hear them rattling around in there.”

The report was welcome, and Jack felt a feeling of calm come over him. As the frigate passed underneath the huge carrier, he felt a sense of security. With the Chitin soldiers alive and kicking in their storage crates, it felt like a job well done, but the job was not over yet.

“All Marines back inside, Major,” Torent reported.

“Hold on to something, Marines,” Jack said. “I’m going to push this crate to the limit. It might get a bit rough. Hold on.”

Jack activated the drive system and pushed hard. The hull began to shake. Deflection shielding held the breach steady as Jack pushed more power through the drive. The carrier’s lower hull passed rapidly overhead, and suddenly the frigate was clear and the silver-gray hull of the Overlord was replaced by the deep black void of space.

Jack was heading home.

6

The landing pad at Fleet Command and Control was surrounded by Fleet Intelligence enforcers, fully kitted out in their black meat suits, pulse rifles across their chests. A group of Fleet Intelligence agents and some Fleet officers stood in a small group to one side.

The sun was high in the sky over Eros, and the shadows were short with clearly defined edges. The shadow of the frigate appeared on the landing pad as Jack maneuvered the craft carefully down to land.

The enforcers approached the ramp the moment it lowered to the landing pad. They marched to the cargo, pushing the Marines out of the way.

“Manners cost nothing,” Torent said bitterly as an enforcer pointed him back to his seat.

Jack looked down into the central corridor. “As you were, Commander Torent,” Jack said calmly. “This is their operation now.”

Jack watched as the crates containing the captured Chits were pushed along on its hovering pad to the ramp in the frigate’s central corridor that ran down to the landing pad. Jack slid down the handrail of the small ladder from the cockpit and followed the enforcers and the crated Chitins down to the landing pad. A group of maintenance technicians came up the ramp, looking at the damage on the frigate. A flight crew came next. The pilot stood in front of Jack.

“I’ll relieve you of the frigate now, sir,” the pilot said to Jack.

“I stand relieved, pilot,” Jack replied. “Take care of her. She’s a good ship.”

The pilot nodded stiffly and climbed aboard Frigate M4.

Jack walked across the landing pad toward the group of officers standing at the doorway to the interior of headquarters at the side of the landing pad. One Fleet Intelligence agent stepped away from the group of officers and toward Jack.

“Major Forge,” the agent said. “I thought that was you.”

Jack stood with his meat suit helmet under his arm. Sam Torent and the team of Marines gathered behind him.

“Agent Visser,” Jack said as coolly as he could.

Jack felt Visser’s cold eyes staring into him, then she smiled.

“Why don’t you come and observe the procedure, Major?” Visser said.

Jack had seen enough of the Chitins, and enough of Visser, for one day, but if he went along, he would have a chance to meet up with Reyes again. Jack nodded.

“Thank you, Agent Visser. I’d be interested to see that.”

Visser smiled again. For the agent, it was a dangerous expression, like a wolf grinning at its prey. “Join me when you are ready.”

Visser turned and walked into the complex through the large doorway at the side of the landing bay. Jack turned to Torent.

“If you want to wait for me, Sam, we can go back up to the Scorpio when I’m done here,” Jack said. “I’m sure you can find a meal or a bunk here at headquarters.”

Torent straightened up, his chest puffed out. “No thanks, sir. I think I’ll find a transport and get back to the Scorpio right away. I’ve got some work to do with my company.”

Jack smiled. “Your company, is it now, Commander?”

“Cobra is my responsibility now. We can’t all hang out on Eros with Fleet Intelligence. Some of us officers have work to do.”

Jack nodded. He held out his hand to Torent. The pair shook hands warmly.

“Then I’ll see you back on the Scorpio,” Jack said.

“I’ll leave the team down here, sir,” Torent said. “They deserve a chance for some shore leave and they can return with you, if that’s okay with you, sir?”

Jack nodded. “They are in your company, Sam. It’s up to you.”

Jack walked away and into the complex. He heard Torent barking orders at the team.

“All right, you Marines. Get some chow and get some sack time and be ready to move when the major calls. Copy?”

The Marines responded eagerly. A chance at some unexpected shore leave was a real treat. Jack was sure that although Torent was a hard Marine and would expect his Marines to fight hard, he would reward them with comfort when he could.

The doorway off the landing pad led into an elevator shaft. Two elevator doors were closed. One opened as Jack stepped toward it.

“Ground floor,” Jack said. The doors slid shut and Jack was away, heading toward the workshop of Sarah Reyes.

The elevator opened onto a wide-open concourse. Huge windows on one side let the sunlight stream in. The large space contained several native tree species growing in containers. Small drone gardeners buzzed around and between the branches.

Seating areas along the walls and under the trees were taken up by Fleet and Marine officers, chatting and looking at handheld holostages showing various files or schematics. There seemed to be a calm that was at odds with the very real and imminent threat of the Chitin armada holding position at the edge of the system.

The polished white walls of the concourse were decorated with paintings of Fleet spacecraft and views of the Eros System. Jack saw one that showed Eros rising over the horizon of Brecon, the planetary defense cannon rising out of the pale surface of the moon. The painting was beautiful, but the last time Jack had seen Eros rising over the horizon of Brecon was during the Battle of Brecon Moon. It had been a deadly and horrifying place. Looking at the painting made the battle seem so distant and so long ago, and yet so recent.

A guide drone drifted out of its housing in the smooth walls and hovered in front of Jack. Jack instructed the drone to lead him to Agent Visser. She would be near the Chitin soldiers he had captured, and Sarah Reyes would not be far from them.

The drone moved off toward a corridor and led Jack away. The drone asked if Jack required a transport platform.

“I’ll walk,” Jack said. He had been sitting in the cockpit of the Frigate M4 for too long. He needed to stretch his legs and feel the solid ground beneath him.

The drone led Jack to another elevator that carried him down into the basement levels of the Fleet Command and Control Headquarters.

The ceiling lights lit the long basement corridors with a bright light that felt stark and artificial after the bright sunlight Jack had just enjoyed. The drone drifted off and Jack walked behind. There were no other personnel in the corridors on this level until Jack came to the entrance of the workshop where he had recently met Reyes. A uniformed Fleet Intelligence agent sat behind the desk. It was not the same agent who had previously been sitting here, and the extra row of silver on his shoulder showed Jack that this agent was a rank above the previous one. Two Fleet Intelligence enforcers flanked the door to the workshop viewing gallery. With their meat suit helmets on, Jack could not tell if they were the same pair or replacements.

The agent behind the desk spoke up.

“Major Forge. You are expected.”

The agent stood up and went to the security panel. With a key card, the agent cleared the security panel. The door clicked as it opened. The two enforcers flanking the door each pulled a handle, opening the door for Jack to enter.

He walked along the short open-ended corridor and came out into the viewing gallery. Agent Visser was standing, her hands behind her back, looking down into the workshop. A line of enforcers, fully suited and heavily armed, stood in a line at the back wall of the viewing gallery.

Several transport drones were lowering the crates containing the captured Chitin soldiers into a heavy cage. Reyes stood at one side with a number of fully-suited enforcers.

With the crates in the cage, the drones began to dismantle them.

The crates were taken out of the heavy cage piece by piece, leaving the Chitin soldiers lying on the ground, still tightly bundled in their capture nets. Then the drones moved in again.

“This is probably the most dangerous part of the operation,” Visser said without looking at Jack.

The drones cut the nets holding the Chitin soldiers. With only a single cut, the nets fell apart. Immediately, the three Chitin soldiers burst to life and slammed into the heavy cage. One struck out with a tentacle and smashed a drone, knocking it out of the air and crushing it.

The Chits snarled and hissed, their tentacles flapping, grabbing the bars of the heavy cage and pulling. The antennae on their smooth heads twitched rapidly, the rasping teeth and inner beak on that hideous round mouth chattering and grinding.

Reyes staggered back in surprise. Jack noted that the enforcers also fell back a step as the Chits thrashed in their cages.

The Chitins stabbed out through the cage. Their limb-like tentacles stiffening and jabbing out through the bars.

“Yes,” Agent Visser said testily. “I am convinced they are alive. Proceed with the extraction.”

Wondering how anyone would be able to get close enough to the Chits, Jack saw Reyes step forward with a small package in her hands. She threw it upwards. The package hovered in mid-air and then dropped slowly through the top of the heavy cage. The package unraveled and spread out into a wide net. The net came down on top of one of the Chitin soldiers and began to settle over its bulbous head. As the Chitin thrashed, the net drifted slowly down and covered all the tentacles. Then in an instant, the net pulled tight and trapped the Chitin in a tight ball.

Jack stepped forward. He looked in amazement at the Chitin soldier held firmly in the fine net. Reyes tossed up two more packages that settled over each of the remaining Chits. Then she looked up to the gallery. Her voice came over a small communication speaker in the viewing gallery.

“The Chitin soldiers are now immobilized. I will proceed to the next stage”

Jack looked down at Reyes. She looked excited. She clearly knew what she was doing and was enjoying this challenge. She looked up and spotted Jack. She gave him a small wink before tapping a small console strapped to her left palm.

The cage was lifted a meter off the floor and left hanging in the air. The Chitins were left on the ground contained within their nets.

Reyes tapped a control on her palm console and the Chitin began to move over to a workbench that lay cleared and ready for the job. Reyes walked along with the floating Chit and settled it onto the bench.

“I will now proceed to extract the Chitin secretion fluids.” Reyes picked up a device about the size of a pulse rifle. The device tapered down to a fine point. She drove the point into one of the tightly-bundled tentacles.

Jack watched as the antennae on the smooth head that were protruding through the fine mesh of the containment net twitched and danced in agitation.

“Nearly there,” Reyes said in a soothing voice. Jack wasn’t sure if she was talking to him and Agent Visser in the viewing gallery or the Chitin soldier itself.

Reyes pulled the device away and set it down on an adjacent workbench.

“Now I will attempt to increase the volume of the secretion fluids with a synthetic chemical analogue. Then we can proceed to testing.”

Jack watched Reyes deliver the contents of the large probe to a small device on yet another workbench. She placed the probe down carefully and then looked up at Jack.

“This shouldn’t take long.”

Jack looked again at the Chitins. Two were still bundled on the floor of the workshop underneath the cage hanging above them. The only movement was their twitching antennae sticking through the fine mesh of the net that held them. Jack had never seen a Chitin contained. It didn’t give him any peace to see them so close to Reyes. He wanted to put those Chits far from her and keep her safe from the danger they posed.

Reyes walked back to the bundled Chits and lowered the cage over them, then the drones moved in and snipped the nets that held them. Immediately, the Chits began to thrash. Jack spotted the red line on the floor around the cage. He could see it was the range of a stabbing Chitin tentacle. Reyes stood on the edge of the red line. A tentacle thrust out toward her. She staggered back in surprise.

A small beeping noise came from the synthesizer. Reyes walked over to it.

“That’s it,” Reyes said. “It is ready.” She took a liter-sized container out of the chemical synthesizer and held it up for those in the gallery to see.

Reyes looked at the bottle and then up to the gallery. “This secretion will render anyone or anything invisible to the Chitins.” She walked over to the two bundled Chitins. “I will test it now.”

“No!” Jack shouted out.

“No!” Visser shouted. “Enforcers, stop that technician and hold her back.”

Jack turned to Visser. “Thank you,” he said.

“Don’t mention it,” Visser said. “She’s too important to risk on this test.”

Jack nodded.

“We need someone with experience of the Chitins to climb in one of those cages and test their reaction.”

Jack nodded.

“Major. You seem the perfect candidate.”

The enforcers at the back wall stepped forward as Jack turned his fierce gaze on Agent Visser. Now Jack knew why Visser had asked him to attend the procedure. She had never liked Jack, and it was just like the Fleet Intelligence agent to throw the Fleet Marines into danger to test their theories.

Jack nodded at Visser, then looked down at Reyes. She had been dragged back by the enforcers and had been sat in a chair, an enforcer standing over her in a threatening manner.

“Yes,” Jack said, looking down at Reyes. “No need to order me, Agent Visser. I volunteer.”

Jack saw Agent Visser out of the corner of his eye. She nodded at the enforcers, and they took Jack by the arms and led him to the entrance to the workshop.

Jack shrugged off the enforcers and looked at their black helmet faceplates. He knew the view they would be getting through their meat suit helmet. Jack’s heart rate would be registering. Visser had infuriated him and his heart rate was elevated, but he took a moment and calmed himself so they would not think he was afraid.

Jack climbed down into the workshop and stepped up to Reyes. The enforcers stepped aside and let the two come together.

“I’m sure we could test it on some wild animal first, maybe a flesh drone. We can’t test it on you. I’ll refuse to work if they insist,” Reyes said. She stepped close to Jack.

“There’s no time, Sarah,” Jack said. “We have to know if this will work right now.”

“It’ll work, Jack,” Reyes said. She looked Jack in the eyes. Her dark eyes had small tears in them.

Jack put a hand on her shoulder. “Don’t worry. I know how good you are. If you say it’ll work, then I know it will, but Agent Visser up there needs to know. I’m not sure if she’d be happier if it works or fails.” Jack smiled at Reyes. “So, how do we do this?”

Reyes took the sample bottle and carried it to a medical workbench. She loaded some of the synthesized Chitin slime into an aspirator.

“This is probably going to sting your skin a bit,” Reyes said, “but we need it to come into contact with your sweat glands.”

Jack nodded. He opened his jacket and exposed his chest and neck, rolling up his sleeves. He held his arms out wide and fixed Reyes with a questioning look.

“Okay?” He asked.

Reyes nodded. “Close your eyes, Jack.”

Jack closed his eyes. He heard the aspirator hiss and then felt the fire on his skin. It burned hot like plasma fire and stung like the fire nettle that grew next to the creeks on the prairies back home.

Jack felt the burning grow and grow. He hoped it would settle like the sting from a fire nettle, but it just grew more intense by the second.

“That’s it, Jack,” Reyes said, her voice like a soothing balm. “You are ready.”

Jack opened his eyes and looked at the caged Chitins, then he heard Visser’s voice on the communicator.

“Take him to the Chitins,” she said.

The enforcers prodded Jack and pushed him toward the Chitins that were still thrashing around in their cages. Jack shrugged off another shove from the enforcers and walked up to the red line on the workshop floor. He took a confident step over the line and marched toward the cage. He knew he was within range of the stabbing tentacles and braced himself for pain. He didn’t want to yell out in pain or fear. He would show Agent Visser and the enforcers around the workshop that the Fleet Marines were made of stronger stuff.

“Closer,” Visser said.

Jack took another step. He felt a rush of fear. He stepped forward in defiance and overcame the fear. He marched right up to the cage and stood with his chest almost touching the bars.

Jack looked up at the Chitin soldier. The Chitin was grabbing the bars with its coiled-up tentacles and pulling and pushing. It slammed its tentacle at the bars as it tried to free itself from captivity. Jack looked up at the smooth head that was slamming into the bars. The antennae were twitching with extreme agitation.

Jack had faced Chitin soldiers many times, but he had never stood before one for so long. Usually his encounters were brief and violent and ended with the Chitin soldier lying dead at his feet, but now he could stand there and study his old enemy.

The Chitin was a massive and powerful being. Even alone, the huge Chitin soldiers were deadly, but here Jack stood, and the Chitin ignored him.

Jack reached inside the cage. The Chitin tentacle moved over his bare arm. A thrilling mixture of fear and excitement raced through his body. The Chitin skin was hard like shell but flexible. It was cold and smooth. Jack touched a tentacle with his hand and it slid through his grasp. He reached up to the head and its mouth of rasping teeth and the inner snapping beak. Jack ran his fingers around the mouth.

“That’s enough, Major.”

Jack heard Visser’s voice over the communicator. Jack turned and looked up at Visser in the viewing gallery.

“It works,” he said with his hand on the Chitin.

“Step back now, Major,” Visser said.

Jack could see the enforcers waiting just beyond the range of the Chitin soldiers’ tentacles.

Jack dropped his hand and removed it from the cage. He stepped back, away from the Chitin. Jack still felt a deep distrust of the creature and although he was seemingly invisible to the creature, he still could not turn his back on it. He stepped away until he was alongside the enforcers.

“I will now attempt the next test.” Reyes carried the bottle of synthesized Chitin secretion to a second device. She poured the thick liquid into the device and activated it.

Jack came alongside her. She gave him a wet towel and he began to wipe his skin. It still burned, but it had become bearable. The damp towel wiped away the Chitin secretions and left his skin feeling fresh and alive. Jack felt excited to be standing next to Reyes, as excited as he had been standing next to the Chitin. Both were exciting. Both were dangerous.

Reyes gave Jack a sideways look and a smile. She reached out to the device on the workbench and let her hand slide over his. Jack felt a shiver of excitement to be so close to Reyes.

The device beeped, and Reyes deactivated it. She pulled out another liter bottle and connected it to a large aspirator pump.

“The chemical inversion is complete. This fluid should now work to neutralize the effects of the Chitin chemical cloak.”

Reyes walked over to the Chitins in the cage, aiming the aspirator pump at the nearest and spraying.

The spray covered the Chitin’s head and it thrashed about in the cage. Almost immediately, the adjacent Chitin began to stab at its neighbor. The stabbing tentacle burst through the bulbous Chitin head and smashed the Chitin to pieces. Jack saw Reyes turn away, a look of deep sadness on her face.

As the Chitin succumbed to the attack of the other captured Chitin, Reyes walked over to Jack. She stood next to him, eyes downcast while Jack watched the Chitin soldier attack and destroy its companion.

“Good work, Reyes,” Visser’s voice came over the communicator. “Prepare a sample of the chemical cloak for the final test. Major, you will leave Reyes to her work and join me?”

The enforcers stepped between Jack and Reyes. Jack took a step back. Reyes looked at him.

“I need to get this done,” she said. “One more test and we’ll be safe. I’ll see you soon.”

Jack was pushed toward the exit, where he climbed back up to the viewing gallery.

“Excellent work, Major,” Visser said. “This has been a long process. You are lucky to be here to see the final stages. We have a fighter on a landing pad ready to be treated with the chemical cloak. You should watch the final test with me, Major.”

Jack looked back into the workshop. Reyes was hurrying about her work. The enforcers approached the Chitin still bundled up in the net and the surviving caged Chitin. They swung up their pulse rifles and fired at the trapped Chitins. Jack felt a sense of revulsion to see these caged Chitins butchered in this way. He had killed his share of Chits, more than his share no doubt, but that had always been in the heat of battle. To murder them in cages seemed wrong somehow.

Jack felt a wave of sympathy for the helpless creatures as they fell under the enforcers’ fire. He felt sure the Chitins would have no such sympathy for him or his Marines, but that was supposed to be the difference between the species, wasn’t it? Humans valued life. Being so close to so much death made life so much more precious. People knew how suddenly it could end.

The caged Chitin soldiers dropped and squirmed, eventually falling still, but still the enforcers fired, blasting chunks out of the Chitin shells. Jack had a feeling the enforcers were enjoying the slaughter. For all the killing Jack had done, for all the deadly meetings with his relentless enemy, Jack had never remembered enjoying the kill. He enjoyed the moments after, when the bloody work was done, but never the kill itself. He wasn’t sure he could name any Marine that he respected who actively enjoyed the killing. All they wanted was to be free from the war. Maybe that time was coming soon.

“I need to eat and wash up,” Jack said to Agent Visser, then marched off.

“I’ll call you when we are ready for the final test,” Visser called as Jack left the viewing gallery.

Jack knew it was not an option. He would have to attend the final test. At least he would get to see Reyes again.

7

Jack found a quiet cantina where he grabbed a bite to eat. He found a washroom and doused his body with warm water. It was a brief moment of luxury in the weeks and months of near constant work and war. While he washed the last residue of the synthesized Chitin slime from his skin, he wondered how Reyes would make it adhere to the hull of a spacecraft. He realized she would know how to do it, and then he realized he was only thinking about her.

Soon his communicator burst to life with the voice of Agent Visser. The final test was about to begin. Jack made his way to a landing pad on the roof level of the massive Fleet complex.

Jack stepped out into the cool breeze on the high landing pad. A single fighter was sitting on the pad, with Reyes busily running around it. She directed a drone work detail as it sprayed a coating of chemical cloak over the fighter. He stood to one side of the landing pad next to Rear Admiral Tel Jackman.

“This must work,” Jackman said under his breath.

“It’ll work, sir,” Jack said.

Jackman replied with an unconvinced grunt.

A pilot from the Fleet Fighter Corps was checking and double-checking the spray coating. He ducked under the nose section of the fighter. Jack noticed the markings alongside the cockpit. They seemed familiar.

The pilot stepped up alongside Reyes as she worked. He laughed and joked with her. She looked to be enjoying the attention of the flamboyant pilot.

“Excuse me, sir,” Jack said to the rear admiral before walking over to the fighter craft.

Jack spoke as he stepped forward. “The cloak works. I have tested it myself. You are in good hands, Commander.”

Commander Scherer looked at Reyes with a twinkle in his eye. “I’m happy to be in your hands any time, Sarah.”

Sarah laughed lightly and carried on with her work.

Jack stepped in front of Commander Scherer, placing himself between the pilot and Reyes. “You look familiar, Commander,” Jack said.

“And she looks…” Scherer looked past Jack at Reyes hard at work.

Jack felt the jealousy rise in him. This flyboy was interested in Reyes, and he didn’t like it. Then, feeling foolish for his stupid attack of jealousy, Jack held out his hand to the pilot. “Good luck, Commander.” Jack knew he meant it.

“If she is as good they say, I won’t need luck.” Scherer looked at Reyes as she climbed a ladder to stand on top of the drive assembly at the rear of the cockpit.

“She is that good,” Jack said. “We’ve known each other a long time.”

Scherer looked at Jack, and a smile crept across his face along with the sudden realization that he was treading on Jack’s toes by looking at and admiring Reyes. Scherer straightened and looked at Jack with a cheeky grin. “Understood, Major. I can see why you would want to take care of her. I hope she can take care of me with this chemical cloak. If it doesn’t work, those Chits will vaporize me, or worse.”

Reyes stepped away from the fighter. The pack of drones flew away, and the fighter was fully prepared.

Rear Admiral Jackman stepped toward Commander Scherer. The pilot snapped to attention and delivered a crisp salute. Jack saw the serious Fleet pilot beneath the playful exterior as he respectfully met the rear admiral.

Returning the salute, Jackman stepped forward and offered his hand to Scherer. “Good luck, Commander. We’ll be watching closely. Fly true.”

Scherer shook the admiral’s hand and nodded. “Fly true, sir. Copy that.”

Jack stepped away from the fighter as the drone ground crew finalized the ship for launch. Reyes stepped alongside Jack.

Jack touched Reyes’s hand secretively. She returned his touch.

“We are good together, Sarah,” Jack said.

Reyes nodded.

“I want you to have something,” Jack said. He put his hand into his pocket.

Sarah smiled expectantly.

“It’s not much, but it is mine and I want you to have it.” Jack held out his clenched fist. He opened it. Sitting on his palm was his family watch in the black composite case Reyes had made for it.

Sarah smiled and took the watch. “You sure you want me to have it?” she asked, looking at the watch held delicately in her hand. “It must be valuable.”

“It reminds me of family,” Jack said. “I want it to remind you of me.”

Reyes nodded and put the watch in her pocket. Then she looked over to the fighter as Commander Scherer climbed into the cockpit.

“I hope he’ll be okay,” she said, looking at Scherer and the fighter with its experimental chemical cloak.

“Let’s go and find out,” Jack said, and he walked off with Reyes at his side.

The operation center at Fleet Command and Control was vast but similar in design to the command deck on battleships. Jack had spent enough time on the command deck of the Scorpio to recognize the various stations.

At the center of it all was the holostage. The image currently displayed was that of the Fleet Command and Control Headquarters on Eros. A sprawling complex of buildings, shipyards, hangars, barracks, shopping malls, and gardens. It was a city in its own right, a city dedicated to one thing: the management of the Eros System Fleet.

Jack was invited to stand at the holostage by Rear Admiral Jackman. Reyes stepped up next to him. Across the large holostage from Jack was another rear admiral that Jack recognized from the briefing he had attended in the huge conference hall. It was the rear admiral of Fleet Command, the man responsible for all fleet materials, from the carrier-class vessels down to the last round of ammunition for the fleet’s hail cannons. Rear Admiral Victor Orlov was here today to watch the single fighter fly out to the very edge of the Eros System, right into the face of the enemy armada.

Jackman was clearly running the operation. He called out for the image on the holostage to show the fighter’s progress. The small red blip of Commander Scherer’s Blade appeared on the image of the Eros System. It had already passed the distant gas giant and home world of the Chitins and was racing toward the sphere of Chitin ships still surrounding the system.

A voice from one of the stations called out.

“Target will be in range of the Chitins in five minutes.”

Jack watched the painfully slow progress as the Blade raced at maximum speed toward the wall of Chitin craft. Then the moment of truth came.

The image of the fighter pulsed, its marker light on the holoimage growing and shrinking.

“In range of the Chitin ships now,” Jackman said. “Focus on the fighter and increase zoom.”

The image zoomed in on the fighter. The marker dot on the holoimage was replaced by an image of the ship relayed back from the micro drones that the fleet had scattered throughout the system.

The fighter moved closer to the wall of Chitin craft. Then the image of the first Chitin craft appeared on the edge of the holoimage. Jack could tell even from the small part of the craft to be shown that it was a Leviathan, its long, tentacle-like structures stretching forward of the massive warship.

The fighter slowed as it approached the Leviathan and moved in closer. Then the fighter drifted alongside the Leviathan, maneuvering to within a few hundred meters of the massive ship.

After a breathless few minutes for Jack and Sarah, Commander Scherer flew past the Leviathan and beyond. Jack turned to Reyes. He realized he was holding her hand. They let their hands slip away from each other.

“It worked,” Jack said.

Reyes looked up at him, smiling. “It worked,” she said.

The fighter turned around and raced back toward the inner system. The data relayed from the fighter’s sensor nodes showed the spaceward side of the Chitin wall. The huge Leviathan hung in space, seemingly inert. Dead. Surrounding the Leviathan were Hydras and Krakens. All seemingly dead in space.

A new signal appeared on the holostage, racing out from the inner system and following the path Commander Scherer had taken.

“Here comes our control ship now,” Rear Admiral Jackman said.

Rear Admiral Orlov leaned in. “I wish we hadn’t sent a fighter for this test, Tel,” Orlov said. “We could have just sent a drone. I can’t afford to lose a fighter at this stage. I need every ship.”

“We need to test them with proper ships.” Jackman stared intently at the holoimage. “The Chits have ignored drones in the past. This is the only way to be sure.”

The image of the new fighter pulsed as Scherer’s fighter had done before it.

Jack looked at Reyes. “It’s coming into range of the Chitins now,” Jack said.

“Is that ship on autopilot?” Reyes asked. She looked at Rear Admiral Jackman. Receiving no reply, she spoke up again, more anxiously. “Is that fighter unmanned?”

Jackman looked at the holoimage. A plasma arc leapt out from the Leviathan and slammed into the fighter. The fighter exploded and vanished from the image, leaving only a holofile on the image with details of the ship that had just been destroyed.

With the second test fighter destroyed, the first fighter, piloted by the commander of the Orphan Blades Squadron, began its flight back to Eros. It moved slowly past the Leviathan and lingered in range of the plasma arc weapon. The Leviathan did not react to the fighter. Reyes’s chemical cloak worked.

“We did it,” Jackman said. He turned away from the holostage and looked about the vast operation center. The operators were standing at their stations. They cheered and punched the air. Jackman repeated, “We did it. Operation Cloak is a success.”

Victor Orlov called for calm. “We still have work to do. Prepare the transports. I want every transport cloaked and ready to fly. Time is critical. Let’s get to it.”

Reyes looked at Jack. “I hope that was an unmanned ship,” she said.

Jack had no way of knowing, but he suspected that the fleet would not have trusted a test on an unmanned ship. It was cruel and ruthless. It was war.

A pair of Fleet Intelligence enforcers stepped up beside Reyes and took hold of her.

Jack felt fury build in him. He grabbed one enforcer and pulled his hand off Reyes. The other pulled out a tazer baton. The baton fizzed into life and the enforcer moved it toward Jack.

“Major Forge,” Rear Admiral Jackman shouted. “Control yourself, man.” Jack let go of the enforcer. The enforcers quickly escorted Reyes away. Jack began to follow. Reyes looked back over her shoulder.

“I’ve got work to do, Jack. They’ll need me if we are going to produce enough of the chemical cloak for all the transport ships. I’ll see you when it’s done.”

A Fleet Intelligence agent stepped in front of Jack. He placed a black-gloved hand on Jack’s chest and fixed Jack with a stare. “You need to return to your ship, Major. You will have instructions. We all have our jobs to do.”

Jack brushed past the agent and marched out of the operation center. He opened a channel to Torent on the Scorpio.

“Send a tac boat down, Sam. I’m returning to the Scorpio immediately.”

8

Jack assembled his battalion on the Marine deck. The orders had come through from Fleet Headquarters, from Marine General Wallace himself. The Scorpio Battalion was to manage the boarding of the transport ships at the capital dockyard on Eros. No sooner had Jack returned to the Scorpio than he was preparing to depart again.

The battalion was kitted out for a police and security operation. The Marines wore their standard shipboard operational dress, with packs that contained rations and supplies for a long duration deployment on their backs and pulse rifles in their hands. A beret with battalion insignia topped off the outfit.

The three commanders stood in front of their companies, checking with squad leaders that every Marine, team, and squad of their company was ready for deployment. Jack stood back and surveyed his battalion. This was the first time he had been responsible for the entire Scorpio Battalion on an actual operation. This was not combat, which Jack was experienced in. This was a security operation around civilians in the capital of Eros. There was a whole other set of priorities here, but Jack knew there was one thing that never changed—the battalion would have to be disciplined. Ultimately, that was his responsibility.

The company commanders would have their part to play in the smooth and disciplined running of the operation, and these company commanders were Jack’s people. He had appointed them and given them the positions himself. If they failed to maintain their company’s good order, it would be his fault for selecting the wrong people for the job.

But he had confidence in his three commanders.

The Marine squad leaders would be a most vital link in the chain of command. Jack had been squad leader himself and he knew the responsibility these Marines had in managing their squads of twelve Marines. It seemed like such a short time ago that Jack was squad leader. Now he was a battalion major. It was a sobering thought, and it filled him with determination to do the job well.

Jack walked over to Commander Bevan. She turned and saluted Jack.

“Adder Company ready for inspection,” she said. She was loud and keen. Jack returned the salute and walked between the squads of Adder Company. The Marines of Adder looked calm and ready. The team was well presented, and the Marines looked disciplined. Jack stopped in front of the squad leader of 8th squad.

“You ready, Squad Leader?” Jack said.

“Sir. Yes sir,” the squad leader said with confidence and enthusiasm.

Jack recognized the Marine. “I know you, don’t I?” Jack said.

“Yes, sir,” the Marine said proudly. “We fought through the trenches at the Battle of Drydock, sir. I earned promotion that day and was moved to eighth squad, Adder Company. I tell my Marines if they fight half as well as our battalion major, we will never lose. Sir.”

Jack remembered the man now and how they had attacked a Chitin spitz gun and cleared the trench at the defenses around the massive drydock.

“I’ll try not to let you down,” Jack said.

The squad leader saluted again, and Jack walked on to the next squad, receiving and returning salutes from the squad leaders of each of Adder’s twelve squads. Once he’d finished, he returned to Erin Bevan.

“They are a good company, Commander. Trust them, respect them, and they will do you proud.”

Bevan saluted Jack and returned to her position in front of her company.

Stuart Laidlaw welcomed Jack with a salute. Laidlaw had commanded Boa Company at the Battle of Brecon Moon when he defended the southern planetary defense cannon. Laidlaw was clever and brave, but more importantly, he was experienced. Right now, he was Jack’s most experienced company commander. He needed to rely on Laidlaw and trusted that he wouldn’t let him down.

“Boa Company ready for inspection, sir,” Laidlaw said, saluting.

“Good to see you, Stuart,” Jack said. “Anything you need?”

“We have everything we need. We are all eager to deploy, sir.”

Jack nodded. He walked through the squads. Some of Boa Company’s Marines were fresh-faced rookies, but some were familiar old faces. Jack stopped in front of a Marine in 3rd squad.

“Did we fight together when the Chitins boarded the Scorpio?” Jack asked.

“Sir. Yes, sir,” the Marine said. “We held them at the entrance to the command deck.”

“Glad to have you with us, Marine,” Jack said.

The man saluted sharply. “Thank you, sir. Glad to serve with the best battalion major in the Fleet Marines, sir.”

Laidlaw walked alongside Jack. “They are a good company, sir,” Laidlaw said, excusing the Marine’s complimentary outburst. “They are enthusiastic is all, and glad to have you in command.”

Jack nodded. He hadn’t realized how much the battalion thought of him. He kept a stiff expression and walked over to Cobra Company.

Torent saluted his friend with a casual and exaggerated salute.

“Sir. Cobra ready.”

Jack smiled. Sam Torent was boisterous and impertinent, but he was respected and had a natural authority and roguish charisma.

He walked through the ranks of Cobra Company. This had been his company; he had been one of these Marines. He knew Cobra better than any company in the battalion, and he struggled not to feel affection for it.

Jack stopped in front of the squad leader of 6th squad. That had been his squad. He had known the squad leader since day one in training.

“At ease, Osho,” Jack said as the squad leader saluted him. “How are you finding the pressure of command?”

“Terrible, sir,” Osho said, “but as long as I discharge my duties as squad leader better than you did, I’ll be happy.”

Jack sensed the unease from the Marines in 6th squad that their squad leader would talk so casually and informally to the battalion major, but Jack knew Osho. They had fought together more times than Jack cared to remember. They were not just former squad-mates, Jack considered her a friend.

“I’m sure we can all learn a thing or two from you, Osho,” Jack said and then with a tip of his head at 6th squad, he added, “Make sure you look after my squad.”

“Your squad?” Osho said. “You look after the battalion and I’ll look after my squad, sir.”

Jack saluted Osho and walked off smiling. Torent fell in beside Jack as he walked to the small podium in front of the battalion. Torent spoke quietly so only Jack could hear.

“So, Jack, we going now or what?”

Jack patted Torent on the shoulder. “Yes, we’re going, but remember, Sam, this is a security operation, not a combat one. Keep Cobra under control. There will be distractions. Most of these Marines haven’t seen Eros in months. Make sure you keep them on task. Clear?”

“You got it, boss,” Torent said, then returned to his position in front of Cobra Company.

Jack stepped up onto the small podium. This podium also had a sturdy holostage built in so the battalion major would be able to address the battalion via a hololink from the comfort of his office. Jack had vowed never to be so distant. These Marines were his responsibility and he would always give them the respect of sending them on deployment in person.

“Listen up, Scorpio Battalion. We are going to assist the boarding of the transport ships that will take the population away from Eros, away from danger, and to our new home. There will be emotions from fear, to anger, to distress, and our job is to remain calm and direct the population to their designated transport. They will look to us for safety and security, so we will show them discipline and courage. Company Commanders, move out.”

Jack stepped down from the podium and walked toward the three landing craft on the Marine hangar deck. He stood and watched as, squad by squad, the Marines poured up the ramps and into their designated seats in the huge landing craft.

With the last Marines aboard, the three company commanders entered their designated landing craft. Jack walked toward Cobra’s craft and jumped onto the boarding ramp just as Torent closed it.

“You need me to find you a seat, sir?” Torent asked.

Jack shook his head. He went to the front of the craft and took a seat in the cockpit. He watched every move the pilot made. The flight console was green. The landing craft had been serviced, and all were in good shape. Jack looked out of the view screen and watched the hangar doors slide open. Eros lay ahead, a blue jewel in the black of space.

He was heading home with his battalion to save the population from destruction by the Chitins. Even though they had won many battles, they were still abandoning their home and running away, but Jack knew that it would do no good to fight to the death. Any one of the Marines would bravely fight to the end and die in a last-ditch battle if it meant victory, but there could be no victory over the Chitins. What good was fighting to the death when there could be only defeat? What purpose was there in constant war, when they could all be free? Even though abandoning Eros felt like a defeat, it was the only real hope for victory.

Jack had a job to do. His only thoughts now were of doing that job the best he could.

9

The landing craft of the Scorpio Battalion approached the capital in formation with Cobra’s craft flying front and center. Jack looked at the view screen and saw for the first time the lines of transport ships sitting and waiting for their human cargo and their orders to leave the planet.

They were massive ships, and they looked even bigger now that Jack saw them for real and not just some holoimage projection. They were arranged in two lines of five ships in the center of a massive open-topped hanger. Around the hangers were lines of fences and walls that channeled the population to the boarding gate. Already, the population was waiting, a sea of people waiting for their turn at evacuation from Eros.

“How did they build them so fast?” the landing craft pilot said.

“We’ve been preparing this evacuation for some time, pilot,” Jack said. He leaned forward in his seat in awe at the sight of so many huge craft.

Unlike the carriers, these transport craft were pale in color. The drive assembly at the rear of the transport ship was similar to the drive on the carriers, but the nose section was different. Instead of the chiseled nose section of the other Fleet craft, these ships had a number of horizontal beams jutting forward over fifty meters in length. Amongst the horizontal beams were three curved beams like twisted scythe blades, curving inwards. The beams were made of a pale lattice work while the curved blades were solid.

“Have you ever seen anything like that before?” the pilot asked.

Jack shook his head, but the more he looked, the more he thought the structures at the front of the transports did remind him of something. They looked like the forward section of the Chitin Leviathans.

People were already streaming aboard one of the transports. A huge boarding ramp was positioned next to the massive ship and a wide entrance was open along the side of the massive craft, letting hundreds of civilians pour inside.

“Coming in to land now, sir,” the pilot said.

Jack spotted the landing pad in front. “Prepare for landing,” he called back into the passenger hold. He heard the call repeated by Commander Sam Torent and then again by the squad leaders.

The landing craft set down on the pad and the doorway opened, the boarding ramp sliding away. Jack was up and out of his seat. He watched Torent order his squad leaders to move their squads out. It was a textbook operational egress.

Torent looked back to Jack. “All squads deployed.”

Jack walked over to Torent. The bright sun poured into the landing craft’s passenger hold, fragments of dust dancing in the bright rays.

“Stay with your company, Sam,” Jack said.

Torent saluted and jogged off down the boarding ramp.

Jack followed out into the wide-open courtyard just outside the massive hangar.

The entrance to the courtyard of the hangar was protected by a heavy-duty fence with a set of gates set in them. Beyond the fence, there was a series of low walls and high fences, clearly designed to stop the mass of people pushing at the fence as one. Even the strongest fence would not withstand the pressure of thousands of desperate people pressing against it. Jack watched as the population weaved their way through the series of fences to the large set of gates, a crowd of several thousand civilians, with even more joining the back of the crowd every second.

Jack took position in a command post set on top of a tall observation tower in the middle of the courtyard. He looked out across the long, wide courtyard leading to the transport ship’s hangar and then to the crowd flowing up to the gate. If they were going to get these people aboard their transport, they would need to start boarding right away. It looked like it would take days.

A sudden wind blew up from behind Jack, blowing in through the open windows on his observation tower. A transport ship was lifting off from the far end of the hangar. The pale, hulking craft lifted slowly and silently. Jack watched the apparatus on the front section begin to move, the scythes rotating impossibly amongst the stiff horizontal beams.

The front of the transport ship began to rise gently and pointed upward before, suddenly and impressively, accelerating away into the bright blue sky.

The crowd cheered as the ship climbed away. Jack found himself feeling a sense of relief. The evacuation was underway.

Soon the massive transport ship was lost to sight as it raced away under the power of the graviton drive. Jack pulled up his field scanners and looked at the ship. It was already on the edge of space and still accelerating away.

Jack felt a sense of elation that the first transport had successfully lifted off and was on its way to a new home. He began to understand why the Fleet had struggled with poor maintenance and substandard equipment for so long. All the resources of the entire system had been poured into these transport ships. He had only just been made aware of the huge threat to the system. He realized the threat must have been known for some time.

All Jack’s efforts since being drafted into the Fleet Marines had been buying time for humanity to finish its greatest engineering project since first arriving in the Eros System. He was now witnessing the culmination of all that effort.

A communication came in from Fleet Command and Control with a message to the entire population. The first transport was away. Transport hangars all across Eros were departing and soon the total evacuation of Eros would be complete.

Jack opened a channel to his commanders.

“Did you hear that, Marines?” he said.

Torent, Laidlaw, and Bevan all responded. Jack could hear the cheer in their voices. It was good to be saving people instead of fighting Chitins for a change, and it made them all feel good.

“Any idea when we can start letting these civilians through, sir?” Bevan said.

Jack looked over to the large gates. They were still closed. Jack had assumed the Scorpio Battalion was here to facilitate the orderly boarding of the transports. Jack accessed the observation tower’s holostage and called up the details on the gate. The status of the gates was locked, and Jack was unauthorized to open them.

“Hold position, Bevan,” Jack said. “We are not boarding at this gate yet.” Jack accessed the evacuation orders. The population had all been given transport ship codes and had been directed to this gate. Jack had no way of knowing when they would be boarding. He opened a channel to the battalion.

“This is Major Forge. Listen up, Marines. We’ve got a lot of worried people out there. Just hold position. Inform them that we will begin boarding as soon as their transport ship is cleared for boarding. Ask for their patience. Forge out.”

Jack looked out at the fence and the entrance gates. It looked more like a heavy fortification than a simple security fence. Not far behind him, in the huge transport hangar, was the only available way off the planet Eros.

The rush of wind behind alerted Jack to another transport taking off. He turned and watched as the massive craft lifted off, pointing its strange forward apparatus skyward before accelerating away.

Cheers went up again from the crowd. There was definite joy in the cheers as all could see the means of their escape. But Jack knew that soon that joy would turn to frustration, and to fear soon after that if they too were not allowed to board.

A message from Laidlaw came over Jack’s communicator.

“Sir, I’ve got a family at the gate here. Their transport boarding codes are all different. The children have different designated transport to the parents. Can we do anything about this, sir?”

Jack looked out at the growing mass of people. How many other transport boarding codes were in error, he wondered. There would be other errors in the system. An operation of this scale would always have glitches and errors, but he knew that as long as everyone got away, the errors would be worked out eventually. The most important thing was that everyone was safely taken away.

“Laidlaw, is the family at the correct gate?”

Laidlaw replied after a few moments. Jack pulled up his field scanner and looked to Laidlaw’s position. He was standing at the heavy fence and looking at each of the family’s boarding codes.

“Yes, sir,” Laidlaw said. “They are all at the correct gate. They have different transport designations. They say they’ve been here since last night waiting to ask someone for help.”

“I’ll see what I can do,” Jack said, looking at Laidlaw’s position at the fence. The family on the other side of the fence was showing Laidlaw their documents. “Tell them to sit tight and we will find a solution.”

Jack opened a channel to the evacuation operation center at Fleet Command and Control. An automated reply told Jack that his gate was not yet authorized for boarding.

Another transport departed. This time, the cheers from the crowd were tinged with the frustration that Jack expected to hear.

Jack opened a channel to the battalion. “Remain calm, Marines, and the civilians will remain calm too. Forge out.” Then Jack opened a channel to his company commanders. “I’m going to try and find out something about that gate. There is an office in the transport hangar. Keep me informed. Copy?”

The three commanders replied. Jack knew they could manage the situation for now. There was, in fact, very little to do until the gates were opened, then it would be a case of moving the population to their designated ship as quickly and safely as possible. But for now, Jack wanted to get that gate open.

The noise of the crowed died away as Jack walked toward the hangar. A cheer went up, and Jack knew another ship had lifted off.

Inside the hangar, Jack found a bank of hover bikes. He jumped on one and made his way into the vast cavernous space toward the small office.

The office was at the base of the inner landing pad where Jack’s transport had landed. The Scorpio Battalion’s landing craft were gone and a smaller, sleek, private craft was in their place. A few people were wandering down the ramp into the hangar.

A hover transport came racing out of the distance and stopped at the base of the landing pad.

Jack could see the few people were clearly among the wealthy and powerful. Jack recognized a politician amongst the group. Another was ageing and overweight. He was accompanied by a glamorous young woman, and they were followed by a number of well-presented, young domestic servants, all carrying huge, plush luggage cases.

“You there,” the overweight man shouted.

Jack looked over and realized the man was shouting at him.

“Help the staff bring the rest of my luggage.”

Jack looked at the line of servants and the mass of bags. He couldn’t believe there was still more. The transports were big, but space was still at a premium if the entire population was to be evacuated.

“Who, me?” Jack said.

“Yes, you. Help now.”

The politician stepped next to the large man and said something in his ear. The large man threw his hands in the air.

“I didn’t get where I am today only to have to carry my own bags,” he said.

Another word from the politician and the large man climbed onto the hover transport, the craft drooping dangerously low to the ground under his weight.

The politician walked over to Jack.

“Major? Major. Hello. I’m Secretary Hudson.” The secretary held out his hand for Jack to shake. “How is the boarding going?”

Jack shook the secretary’s hand. “Slow, sir. The gate I am responsible for hasn’t been opened yet.”

The secretary nodded.

“Get on board, Hudson,” the fat man said.

Hudson stepped away from Jack. “You are doing a fine job, Major. We’ll get those people to their ships. I’ll send a message to the evac central command right away.”

The secretary climbed onto the hover transport. The transport moved off immediately, heading toward the distant evacuation ships.

“Evac central command,” Jack said to himself. He tapped his wrist’s holostage and searched for the evac central command.

Jack found the office. He opened a holochannel and waited for the answer. An automated reply informed Jack that evacuation protocols were in effect.

The small office at the base of the landing pad was open and empty. Jack went in and tried to find a person responsible for his gate. The only information he could find was that the Scorpio Battalion had been deployed to manage the civilians at the gate.

Jack looked to the hover transport disappearing into the distance. The next ship looked small at this distance. There were still more than enough ships for all. Jack just needed to get the people from his gate to the correct ship.

The hover transport with the fat man and Secretary Hudson was disappearing fast. Jack jumped on the hover bike and went after them. Secretary Hudson would know who to talk to.

Jack caught up with Hudson at the base of the evac ship. Drones were swarming around the craft, spraying it with the chemical cloak.

More people were arriving from other landing pads on hover transports. They all looked well dressed and carried an air of superiority as they walked up the boarding ramp to the massive transport ship. There were more luggage bags and more domestic servants. Well-dressed men with heavy watches and cufflinks accompanied by glamorous women with long hair and short dresses.

“Secretary Hudson,” Jack called out, seeing the politician walking up the huge boarding ramp into the evac ship.

Hudson turned and spotted Jack. He waved politely and carried on walking.

“Major Forge,” a voice burst over Jack’s communicator. “This is Fleet Intelligence. You are not at your post. Explain.”

“I’m trying to find out details about my boarding procedures. When can I start boarding at my gate? I thought the secretary would help.”

Jack looked up the ramp as the secretary was being welcomed aboard by a hostess.

“The secretary is busy, Major,” the voice on his communicator said. “Your gate will be boarding at the appointed time. Return to your post and prepare for boarding.”

Jack looked into the hanger. The next transport was barely visible in the distance and the darkness. It seemed still, and there was no activity on the boarding ramp.

Jack stepped toward the hover bike.

“Acknowledged,” Jack said, climbing onto the bike. “I am returning to my battalion immediately. Please let me know if you have any information.”

Jack activated the bike and sped off toward the end of the transport ship hangar. He stopped after a short way and pulled out his field scanner. He looked into the distance at the next evac ship. There were no signs of activity. There were no drones spraying the chemical cloak, and then Jack noticed there were panels missing from the hull, and at the front of the ship, the rotating assembly that appeared to be powering the ships was missing.

“It’s unfinished,” Jack said to himself. “There aren’t enough evac ships.”

Jack stared in disbelief for a moment before he powered up the bike and sped back to his post.

He had no news to bring to his battalion, and no news for the population waiting at the gate. At least, he had no good news. He feared that the Scorpio Battalion was here not to facilitate boarding but to prevent the population from swarming onto the transport ships.

Jack sped back to the gate. He didn’t know what he was going to do. He didn’t know what was for the best. Should he tell everyone what he suspected? Should he tell the people waiting at the gate that they were being abandoned? They would surely know soon enough. Then what was Jack to do? Was he here to assist the people, or defend the transport ships?

Somewhere in the back of his mind, he realized he would probably never leave Eros. He was going to be left behind with the thousands at the gate. He put the thought out of his mind and concentrated on the dilemma at hand.

10

Reaching the top of the observation tower in the middle of the courtyard, Jack could see the crowd beyond the gate had grown to an even greater size. The series of low walls prevented the whole mass of people from pressing against the fence, but the crowd at the gate was still packed in tightly. Everywhere along the fence, Jack could see people desperately clamoring to be let through. The Marines of Scorpio Battalion were holding their positions at the fence and were in good order. The company commanders were pacing along behind the line of Marines and calling out encouragement to the population, calling on them to be patient and be calm.

Jack saw the small frame of Commander Bevan step up to the fence, and she bent down to talk to a child. Bevan looked back toward the observation tower. She opened a channel to Jack.

“This child says they are lost, sir.”

Jack could feel this operation was not going to be a simple one.

“Move that child toward the gate. Once it opens, we’ll make sure the child gets in first.”

Bevan nodded back at Jack and gave a thumbs-up. “Copy that, sir.”

The gate controls in the observation tower were still locked out. Only the message telling Jack to stand by for boarding appeared on the holostage whenever Jack requested information.

The mass of people was becoming unruly. He saw bags being thrown away as people tried to press through the crowd and get closer to the gate. There was no cheering now, only the sound of anxious voices.

Jack pulled up his field scanners and surveyed the crowd. Toward the back, a man was standing on a pile of cases and talking to the people. He was pointing and gesticulating, holding the people around him with his speech. Jack focused his scanner’s audio detector on the man and heard a snippet of the speech.

The man was shouting and telling the crowd that they were being forgotten and left behind. There was no room for them on the transport ships.

Jack knew immediately this was dangerous talk for a crowd already stressed and nervous.

Then the holostage on the console in front of Jack lit up with instructions. Jack read it in disbelief.

The order from evacuation control was for Scorpio Battalion to disperse the crowd. Then the next line froze Jack’s heart.

Lethal force is authorized.

Jack looked out at the mass of scared people. All they wanted to do was get to the transport ship they had been sent to. The only thing on the minds of all those people was to get through the gates and get to safety. It would be impossible for Jack to disperse them.

A channel opened on Jack’s communicator. The voice was cold and firm.

“This is Fleet Intelligence Special Agent Division. Fire at the crowd, Major. One battalion-wide burst of fire. That is an order.”

Jack looked out at the crowd. There were thousands of people clamoring to get in. They were pressed up against the heavy fence. Just this side of the fence was the thin line of his battalion. Just over four hundred Marines, Marines that had fought the Chitins to protect the population, now ordered to turn their Fleet Marine Pulse Rifles on the civilians.

Jack could not accept this order.

“This is Major Forge,” Jack said, looking at the people he was here to save. “Who is on this channel?”

The hard voice came back.

“This is Fleet Intelligence Special Agent Division. That is all you need to know. Now carry out my order, Major.”

“Repeat your order, Special Agent Division,” Jack said.

“Your orders are to fire into the crowd. Do you copy, Major Forge?”

“Special Agent Division, this is Major Forge. I must be having a problem with the communicator. I need someone from your division to bring me your orders in person.” Jack knew he was stalling for time while he thought about how to deal with this order.

“Negative, Major. Your communicator is functioning just fine. You are malfunctioning, Marine. You have your orders. Carry them out immediately.”

Jack looked down at the line of Marines. He would have to order them to fire. They would always remember the day they fired at frightened civilians, and who gave the order.

“The fences will not hold, Major,” a new voice came over the communicator. “You must regain control of the crowd before we can permit boarding. Carry out your orders, Major.”

Hearing the screams of the civilians in the distance, Jack realized his head had dropped and he was staring at the console. Jack looked up. Away in the distance, he saw people running in all directions, many of them running toward the already crowded fence. And up above them, in the distant sky, Jack saw a dark shape that he recognized immediately. He opened a channel to his battalion.

“This is Forge. Incoming Chitin Hydra. Dead ahead. Weapons free. Fire at will.”

Within a fraction of a second, the entire line of Marines fired into the far distance. Jack pulled up his field scanner and looked at the distant Hydra. The fire from the Fleet Marine Pulse Rifles was slamming into the craft, every Marine producing the best accuracy of their professional lives. The Hydra fired with a plasma arc toward the ground and the scattering, screaming civilians. The plasma arc tore up the ground, throwing dust and debris into the warm air.

“Bring it down, Scorpio Battalion. Bring down that Chitin ship.”

The sight of a battalion giving fire was extraordinary. Every Fleet Marine Pulse Rifle let off one burst after another. The sky between the gate and the incoming Chitin ship was filled with burning flashes of pulse rounds as the battalion poured their fire and fury at the enemy.

The Hydra fired its plasma arc weapon again, then jerked violently as it succumbed to the battalion’s concentrated fire. It came closer and closer to the fence before turning skyward to race away.

Jack watched as it reached the fence line. The Marines underneath it fired upward into the retreating craft, and then the Hydra stopped climbing. It seemed to hang in the sky for a moment before falling back to the ground, tumbling uncontrollably.

Jack opened the battalion channel.

“Clear away from under that Hydra. It’s coming straight down. Clear away.”

Jack saw that the crowd had dispersed, people running and screaming in every direction. The Marines retreated toward the massive transport hangar as the stricken Hydra dropped.

The Hydra finally slammed into the ground in an ear-shattering crash. Jack took cover behind the console in the observation tower, expecting a detonation. There was no explosion, and Jack looked up. The crashed Hydra had taken down a large section of the fence. Climbing on top of the Hydra, Jack saw the terrifying sight of a Chitin soldier. Then another. Then yet another. Chitins soldiers on Eros.

A plasma spear came flying toward Jack in the tower. He took cover again. The plasma spear smashed the transparent composite walls and tore off the flimsy roof. He risked a look and saw the Marines firing at the Chits that were quickly leaving the Hydra and heading toward the hangar.

Opening a fleet emergency channel and climbing down from the tower, Jack called out his report.

“Chitin Hydra at the capital transport hangar. This is Major Forge. We’ve got Chits on Eros. Repeat, we’ve got Chitin soldiers on Eros. Engaging the enemy. Forge out.”

A reply came in as Jack reached the ground. He drew his pulse pistol and ran toward the fight with the crew of the Hydra. Jack recognized the voice. It was Pretorius.

“Jack. Do what you can. The Chitins are coming in force. Hundreds of Hydras swarming toward Eros right now. The planetary defense cannons are being overrun. We’ve just lost contact with Brecon’s north facility. The fleet is moving to engage the Hydras, but the Leviathans just began to move in. Get as many people out as you can, Jack. Good luck.”

Jack watched the last of the Chitin soldiers standing on top of their crashed Hydra fall to the withering fire from the Scorpio Battalion. Then, as the Fleet Marine Pulse Rifles fell silent, Jack heard another noise growing and building. The floor shook. Jack looked up to see hundreds of people rush toward the breach in the fence.

“What do we do, sir?” Sam Torent came running over to Jack.

Looking at the oncoming crowd, Jack knew that the civilians would push and panic and force their way through the gap in the fence. So many of them would be crushed and killed in the stampede.

“Set demolition charges at the fence and blow it,” Jack said. “Bring the whole lot down. Do it now.”

Torent walked off shouting orders to his company. The Marines moved quickly and within a few moments, the charges were being set.

“Fall back, Marines,” Jack called to the battalion. “Back toward the hangar. Form up in two lines and make a corridor. Let’s try and bring this crowd to order.”

Looking back into the hangar, Jack knew there was only one transport ship left. It was the only way out from this facility.

He opened a channel to 6th squad. “Osho. Fall back into the hangar and get back to the transport ship. Prevent it from taking off. We are going to get as many of these people aboard as we can. Copy?”

“Copy that, Major,” Osho said.

Jack saw she was already running into the massive facility, her squad doing their best to keep up.

“Charges set, Major.” Sam Torent’s voice was calm.

“Fall back, Marines, and blow that fence.” Jack pulled up his field scanner and watched the crowd rushing the fences. Any delay and many of them would be caught in the blast that was designed to save them.

The Marines began to fall back and took up a formation that would funnel the crowd toward the hangar. Jack walked backward, watching the crowd. They were so close now, it was almost frightening. The crowd had no order, no control; it was a seething chaotic mass of scared people.

The explosions went up in a single blast along the fence. Jack saw the crowd hesitate and stall in its headlong rush toward the hangar, but then, as the hundred-meter length of fence fell, the crowd rushed on again, shouts and cheers rising in excitement and fear.

In the far distance, Jack saw a number of dark spots appear in the sky. They could only be one thing. Jack pointed his field scanner at the distant specks and checked. Dozens of Chitin Hydras were racing toward the civilian crowd.

Jack opened a battalion channel. “Contact. Contact. Incoming Hydras. Make way for the civilians and prepare to fire on the Chits. Come on, Scorpio Battalion. This is our fight. No one else is going to take this on. Good luck, Scorpio Battalion. Good luck.”

11

The Hydras came in fast, their energy weapons firing and tearing up the ground, throwing up clouds of dust and smashing the abandoned luggage cases that lay scattered around. Jack looked at his pulse pistol. He knew he could defend himself, but it was not a suitable offensive weapon. Jack needed to use his battalion to counter the incoming Hydras.

“Fire by companies.” Jack walked back to the observation tower. “Adder, take the left most Hydra. Boa Company, take down the right most. Commander Torent, make sure Cobra targets the central Hydra. I want concentrated fire. As soon as the Hydra is knocked out of the sky, take down the next.”

Jack reached the observation post and began to climb. The civilians were streaming into the hangar facility between the lines of Marines that all had their pulse rifles pointed at the distant, but fast-approaching enemy. Jack reached the top of the tower. A loudspeaker let him speak to the rushing civilians.

“Attention, civilians. Keep moving into the hangar.”

The rifles of Scorpio Battalion sounded as one the moment the Chitin Hydras came into range. Jack watched with satisfaction as a Hydra fell from the sky, the rifles of Cobra Company smashing the Chitin hull. Then two others fell as the concentrated fire did its damage.

The Chitin crew of the downed Hydras began clambering out in that familiar scuttling movement. It was a sight Jack had seen so often before, but he never thought he would see it here on Eros.

“Fire at the Chits,” Jack sent the order to all Marines in his battalion. “Careful aim now, Marines. We don’t want to hit any civilians.”

The Hydras had no such considerations and their plasma arcs scored the ground, throwing up huge piles of debris—abandoned luggage thrown up along with dirt and broken rock. The flying rock thrown about by the plasma arcs caused as much damage as the energy weapons themselves. Jack saw a squad caught by a flying section of broken fence. A group of civilians were thrown off their feet by the force of the plasma arc’s impact on the ground. He watched as they clambered to their feet and scattered in panic, some running toward the transport hangar, others away, desperate to avoid the attacking Chits.

The battalion targeted the Chitin soldiers as they rushed forward with the civilians. Jack watched with satisfaction as each one fell quickly to Marine fire, and not one civilian hit.

More Hydras passed over head and the Marines turned their fire onto the vanishing craft.

“Check your fire,” Jack called out calmly. “They’ve gone. We’re just wasting ammo. We’ll get them when they make their next pass.”

Jack received casualty reports from squad leaders. The battalion had accounted for three of the Hydras but had taken many more casualties. Jack ordered the wounded to be taken to the safety of the hangar facility.

Jack received a communication from Torent.

“It’s the Squad Leader of First Squad,” Torent said. “He’s wounded. So is most of his squad. Got hit with debris. They are refusing to fall back, sir.”

Jack looked down at the squad. He knew Will Stone and was not surprised he didn’t want to leave the fight. He was in good cover—his squad had taken position in a crater left by a plasma arc impact. “Let them stay, Sam,” Jack said, “and tell Squad Leader Stone he’s a credit to the battalion.”

The numbers of civilians rushing forward had thinned to only a few. In the distance, Jack could see the civilians scattering, some dragging the luggage they had brought with them. Jack would have urged them to run and take cover, but they were too far out. For now, those civilians would have to fend for themselves.

The holostage on Jack’s wrist beeped a warning. Chitin Hydras were coming around for another pass. “Incoming. Stand ready. Fire by companies. Let’s bring those Chits down.”

The Hydras raced toward the hangar entrance. Jack braced himself for the impact of the plasma arcs and the sounds of pulse rifle fire, but the Hydras halted their approach and landed. There were distant screams of terror as the few remaining civilians fled.

A communication from Squad Leader Osho came over Jack’s communicator. It was good to hear his old squad-mate, but Jack had no time for pleasantries.

“Sir, I’ve got a very angry politician on the boarding ramp of this transport ship. He says they are fully loaded and have permission to leave, but there are still some people coming. There are loads more transport ships. Shall I hold this one?”

Jack knew that was the last transport ship that would leave the capital transport hangar. The last few civilians were on their way.

“Hold that ship, Osho. If they are full, toss some luggage. Wait until you have the last civilian aboard and then go.”

“What about you, sir?”

“Don’t wait for me.”

On the far horizon, Jack saw another mass of dark shapes rushing across the sky. Another mass of Chitin Hydras, and in the distance, from a district transport hangar, Jack saw a pale transport ship lifting off. The Hydras ignored the massive ship and continued to fire at the ground.

“Jack, this is Pretorius.”

Jack was pleased to hear the captain’s voice, but he sounded less calm than usual. There was a hint of emotion in the otherwise steady voice.

“Go ahead, Captain,” Jack said.

“The last of the planetary defense cannons has fallen. Brecon is over run. The fleet is preparing to disengage. We’ve lost the Virgo and the Aries. I have orders to run silent and attempt to leave the system. Can you get back to the Scorpio, Jack? I’ll wait as long as I can.”

Jack watched the Hydras racing across the sky, some firing their plasma arcs at ground targets. Jack saw a civilian craft attempting to leave Eros, only to be destroyed on takeoff. Jack knew the company landing craft were slow and would make an easy target for the Chitin Hydras.

“I’ve got civilians still making their way to the transport ship. I’m going to make sure they make it to their ship, sir. Go without me, Captain. I’ll get away when I can.”

“We just lost the Pisces,” Pretorius said heavily. “Good luck, Jack. Scorpio out.”

Jack knew there was nothing else to be said. The channel went dead as the Scorpio went silent for its escape attempt. Jack looked up. Somewhere up there was his home, the Scorpio. He saluted in the direction of the Scorpio, hidden from view hundreds of kilometers above in the space swarming with Chitin craft. He spoke quietly to himself, “Fly true, Scorpio.”

A huge explosion in the distance caught Jack’s attention. Somewhere on the horizon, an energy plant had been destroyed. Its towering blast cloud raced skywards in a huge, gray billowing cloud, and then another went.

“Major Forge, this is Osho. I’ve got all the civilians aboard. I can’t see any more in the hangar. And I’ve got some very angry fat man here telling me to bring back his luggage.”

Jack smiled to himself. “Tell the fat man to get the luggage himself, but you are leaving. Do you copy that, Osho? Take sixth squad and leave.”

“I can’t leave the battalion, sir,” Osho said.

“The people on that transport will need you more than we do. You know that sixth squad is the best squad in the battalion. You are a capable leader, Osho. Take care of them. Take care of the civilians. Go now. Good luck.”

“Good luck, sir,” Osho said. “Sixth squad departing.”

Jack looked to the wide, tree-lined boulevard leading to the entrance of the capital hangar facility. Hundreds of Chitin soldiers were stalking forward. Hydras filled the sky. Then, rising from the hangar behind him, Jack saw the huge transport ship lifting off. A flight of Hydras ignored the huge, pale ship as it rose skyward.

Jack received a communication from the Marine general aboard his transport ship. It was text only. Jack read it quietly.

All Marines evacuate Eros by any and all means, by order of the Marine general.

Jack read it again. To leave in a ship with inadequate supplies and no chemical cloak was suicide. To stay and fight was the only chance of survival. Jack looked at his battalion in the scarred battlefield below—broken fences, plasma arc impact craters, and the scattered luggage of a thousand abandoned civilians. Jack knew he had to stay and fight.

“Jack.”

The voice on his communicator lifted his spirits.

“Sarah,” Jack said. “Are you safe?”

“I am. I’m with the Fleet Intelligence Service on a transport ship. We are past the Chitin armada and heading out of the system. I’ll be out of communicator range soon. Listen, Jack. I know where you are. They wouldn’t let me transmit the cloak production procedure to you. Worried the Chits will intercept the message. But, Jack, if you find my old workshop, I’ve left details on the method for you to find. It’s hidden in plain sight. You’ll know it when you see it.”

Jack looked out at the Chitin soldiers covering the ground in the far distance, slowly closing in on his position.

“Good luck, Sarah,” he said.

And then the channel cracked out of range and was lost.

Jack climbed down from his observation tower. He opened a battalion-wide channel.

“Attention, Marines. As far as we know, we are the last offensive force left on Eros. We are outnumbered and outgunned, but we know this enemy, we know their capabilities. We will continue to fight them as long as we have breath in our lungs and ammunition in our rifles. There are people out there who are going to need our help. We will defend them as best we can for as long as we can.”

Jack stood and looked at his battalion. If he was going to maintain the battalion’s combat effectiveness, he would have to lead them better than ever before. He knew he could lead them, and he knew they would fight. Jack had no doubt about the Chitins’ capabilities. He had no doubt about his own capabilities either. If he was going to stay here on Eros, he would have to fight. He would fight. He was Major Jack Forge of the Scorpio Battalion. He had forged a perfect trap, but now he was trapped himself.

Forged by War

Jack Forge, Fleet Marine, Book 9

1

A fresh wave of Chitin Hydras came racing over the smoldering ruins of the capital, black smoke and dust swirling in their wake like the wings of a giant black bird. Fires burned in the ruined shells of city towers, standing like massive torches. Looking out at the approaching wave of Hydras from a rubble-filled crater, Jack Forge was already planning his next move.

It had been over an hour since Jack had seen anyone other than a Marine from Scorpio Battalion. The afternoon was presently warm, and the street cafés should have been filled with people enjoying the day. The smashed streets were empty now, though. All the civilians and military personnel were either on a transport out of the system or in hiding somewhere on the devastated planet of Eros.

“Take cover!” Jack called out. The call was taken up by the battalion commanders and then the squad leaders, rippling around the area as the Hydras raced in.

Jack pressed himself into the rubble. The sound of the enemy spitz cannons and the plasma arcs smashed the broken ground. A Marine lying next to Jack looked anxiously as the Hydra raced overhead and away toward the darkening horizon.

“Easy, Marine,” Jack said to the man, and with the latest danger past, he stood and shouted.

“Move! On your feet, Marines! Move!”

Scorpio Battalion broke cover. All around, the Marines clambered out of their hiding places and ran. They were heading away from the center of the city that was already swarming with the enemy ground troops, the massive Chitin soldiers eerily scuttling, their tentacle-like limbs thrashing.

Jack hoped that the edge of the city, amongst the sprawling housing complexes and long avenues, would provide cover for his battalion. They were looking to him for leadership and he had made his call: Scorpio Battalion was to leave the city.

A forward scout came running back. Jack watched him come closer, leaping over the rubble and weaving between smashed street-level transports.

“Major Forge,” the scout said, gasping for breath. “Chitins to the west, sir. About five kilometers out. They are moving dead slow. I saw a group putting up resistance. Civilians.” The Marine dropped his head. “They didn’t last long, sir.”

Jack looked to the west. If the Chits were moving in from the western suburbs, it was a safe bet that they were also moving in on the other flanks too. If they were moving slow, it was so they could check every square meter of the city and dig out every last living human. After the evacuation of Eros, there should have been few civilians left, but Jack knew many had been left behind.

A shout came in from the northern edge of the battalion’s formation.

“Incoming Hydras! Take cover!”

Jack ran to the wall of a low-level office building and pressed himself against it.

“What do we do, Major?” the scout asked.

Jack had been an officer in the Fleet Marines for some time and he had led Marines of Scorpio Battalion against the Chitin forces on many occasions, but now he was stranded on Eros. The fleet was gone, the Marine service was gone, and now he was the highest-ranking Marine on the planet. For the first time in over a year, Jack wished there was someone who could tell him what to do.

He was lost in a broken city. Jack had visited the capital several times as a young man but did not know the city. He was only a boy from a small town bound by wide yellow fields. He was trying to get back to the open spaces he knew, but he was trapped here and in command of a battalion of anxious and frightened Marines. They had all been abandoned. They needed a leader. As much as Jack was surprised by it, the leader was him. They looked to him for leadership. Jack would not abandon them.

“Take cover, Marine,” Jack said calmly. He heard the drive systems of the Hydras roaring in the hot city air.

The Hydras raced over head, their weapons blasting the already smashed city. Gray dust billowed up in massive clouds, swept along by the rush of air that followed the ships.

Jack watched them race away to the south.

“What do we do now, sir?” the Marine asked.

Jack climbed to his feet. “Stay down,” he said, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. Then Jack walked along the quiet street, calling out in a harsh whisper.

“Hold position. Stay in cover.” The Marines looked up at Jack as he walked from one team to another.

“Pass the word,” Jack said to the huddled men and women around him. “Company commanders on me now.”

Jack walked over to a building with its large bottom window blasted out. He stepped through the doorway. The building had recently been an office and there were a few scattered chairs and desks. He turned a chair right way up and positioned it at the desk.

“Doing a spot of housekeeping, Jack?”

Jack turned at the sound of his old friend’s voice. Sam Torent climbed through the smashed window.

“Sam,” Jack said. The sight of him gave Jack a welcome confidence boost. “Take a seat.” Jack pointed at a chair lying on its side amongst the smashed office equipment.

Torent picked up the chair and dropped it on its feet. He wiped the rubble off the desk and sat down with his feet up, leaned back in the chair, and waved his right arm in a wide circle, stretching and flexing it as if to shake off fatigue. Jack knew it was Torent’s prosthetic arm and it was probably starting to feel uncomfortable.

The sound of boots on the shattered glass caught Jack’s attention. Walking along the front of the smashed window was Commander Bevan. She stopped on the sidewalk and looked in.

“Bevan here, sir,” she said.

Jack invited her in with a nod.

“Stuart is just coming now, sir,” Bevan said, pointing along the street.

Jack sat at the desk as Stuart Laidlaw, Commander of Boa Company, came rushing through the door.

“Hydras!” he shouted. “Cover!”

Bevan ducked under the desk. Jack and Torent remained seated. The Hydra’s drive system disturbed the dust on the desk, and the desk began to vibrate. The dust danced, creating a vibrating pattern that might have looked pretty in another time and place.

“I think we’re in good enough cover, Erin,” Jack said, pulling Commander Bevan out from under the furniture. “As good as we’re gonna get, anyway.”

Laidlaw picked up a chair and brought it to the desk. He sat down heavily.

The cut on Laidlaw’s forehead and temple was wide and long. The blood had dried on his cheek and around his ear, but the wound was still fresh.

“You’re wounded,” Jack said.

“Stings a bit,” Laidlaw said.

“Why isn’t it covered, Commander?” Jack said.

“Lost the bandage a few minutes ago diving for cover, sir,” Laidlaw said.

Jack fixed Laidlaw with a stern look. “Cover it now, Stuart,” Jack said firmly.

Bevan pulled out a med-kit and handed it to Laidlaw.

“My arm hurts, sir,” Torent said with a cheeky grin, flexing his prosthetic arm.

“We’re going to be caught in a trap before long,” Jack said. “Chits closing in from the west, probably coming in on all sides. Chits in the air too. They are hunting down every living person and we are not going to be able to evade them for much longer.”

Jack looked around. Torent took his feet off the desk and sat straight. Bevan held a hand to her mouth. Laidlaw flushed his wound with sanitizer and pressed a bandage to it. All three looked to Jack.

“I didn’t want to do this, but I think it’s going to be our best chance. We have to split up.”

The three commanders nodded in silence. Together they were a powerful fighting force, but they were too many to continue to hide.

The sudden noise from Jack’s communicator put everyone immediately on edge. A group of Marines came to the smashed open window and looked in. Jack turned the volume down on his communicator.

“Who’s using a communicator?” Bevan said. “They are going to get found.”

Jack listened to the voice, stammering in fear, as it came over the weak communication channel.

“I need help.”

It was the voice of a young man.

“I’ve got the communicator to work, but the power supply is not great. I don’t know how long I can keep talking.”

“Turn it off, you fool,” Bevan said.

“I’m at the base of the capital orbital elevator. If anyone has a ship, if anyone can get me off Eros…”

The channel went dead.

The orbital elevator was on the southern edge of the capital on the equator of Eros. The elevator had somehow remained undamaged in the attack, until now.

Jack shouted out to the Marines gathered outside the window.

“Find an elevated position and investigate the orbital elevator. Go.”

Two of the Marines dashed to the other side of the street and into a tall building.

Jack ran a finger through the dust on the table. He began to draw a rough outline of the city in the dust.

The battalion was too small to take on the Chits in a stand-up fight, but too big to sneak around as a group. The three companies might be able to move more stealthily if they acted alone.

“We can’t get out of the city,” Jack said, running his fingers through the dust. “We can’t hide much longer. We need to plan our escape.”

A Marine outside the window called out.

“Lookout in position, sirs,” the Marine said.

“Can they see the elevator?” Jack asked.

The Marine looked up to the lookout and made a series of exaggerated hand signals. He then reported back.

“Chitin Hydras converging on the elevator tower. They are firing on the tower. Something else. A Chitin Leviathan coming down. Just beyond the horizon.”

“That’s only eight kilometers away,” Laidlaw said.

“Leviathan is firing on the orbital tower. Plasma arcs. The elevator is coming apart at the base.”

Jack picked a drone out of his pocket and threw it into the air. It flew out of the window and into the sky. Jack held his arm onto the desk and activated his wrist-mounted holostage. The image of the Leviathan firing at the orbital elevator tower appeared. Jack watched as the base of the tower crumbled under the assault.

He zoomed in and watched as the base disintegrated. Then the tower pulled away from the ground, the structure freed from its link to the planet. It began to climb slowly, then raced away with increasing speed, vanishing skyward.

Jack brought his drone back and tucked it away. The communicator crackled again. Another voice this time, afraid and alone.

“I heard your message. I can’t get to you. There is one of those huge Chitin warships on the ground not far from here. It has settled over the capital stadium. There are thousands of Chits everywhere, and smaller Chitin ships flying around. I’m hiding in a tower block. I can see it all. I was waiting for the big ship to leave, but it looks like it is some sort of Chitin base. The ship is attaching itself to the ground. It looks like it is…”

The communication fell silent.

“Why do they keep using their communicators?” Bevan said.

“They don’t know the Chits can locate the signal origin,” Laidlaw said.

“Hydras!” a Marine shouted.

Jack leaned back in his chair. He watched the dust drawing of his city vibrate as the Hydras passed by.

“Listen up, Marines,” Jack said.

Torent, Bevan, and Laidlaw leaned in.

“This is what we’re going to do.”

2

Commander Bevan ran along the wide city street with Adder Company. The forward scout raised a hand. A flight of Hydras was sweeping in from the north. Bevan took cover next to a burnt-out ground transport.

Checking with her field scanner, she watched her company conceal themselves around the deserted streets. The lone Chitin Hydra raced over their heads. Bevan waited a moment, then clambered to her feet and started running.

All around her, the Marines of Adder were getting to their feet and running. Bevan felt the fatigue creep over her. Only twenty-four hours ago she had been on the Marine deck of the Scorpio, preparing to assist the evacuation of Eros. Now she was stranded on the planet with no way to escape, unless she could find a transport.

The capital evacuation ship hangar was still a few kilometers away. Under normal conditions, she could move her company there in an hour. The Marines could advance at speed and still fight a battle at the end of it, but now, with the light failing and the constant appearance of Chitin Hydra craft in the sky, Adder Company’s progress was painfully slow.

A scout sent back another message that a Hydra craft was hovering in the street ahead. Bevan took cover at the side of the road next to a city information point that was somehow undamaged while all around it, transports, windows, and walls lay smashed and broken.

The signal came back down to Commander Bevan that the Hydra was holding position.

Bevan bit her lip. One Hydra was no threat to her company. With a surprise attack from cover, the Hydra would fall to her company’s fire, but that would give away their position. She needed to make it to the civilian spaceport undetected if she was to stand a chance of carrying out the major’s orders. She needed to find a ship if anyone was going to get off Eros.

“What now, sir?” David Jarret, the leader of 3rd squad, asked.

Bevan pulled out her field scanner and looked to the distance. She could just make out the swirling dust kicked up by the hovering Hydra, then she saw a glimpse of the hull as the Hydra drifted upward.

“Erin,” Jarret said testily. “What now?”

Bevan tucked her field scanner away and turned to Jarret. “Move through the buildings and evade the Chit.”

“We can take down one Hydra,” Jarret said. He stood up and looked to the distant craft.

Bevan pulled Jarret to the ground. “We evade the Chit and continue toward our target destination. Is that clear?”

Jarret fixed Bevan with a stare. He still resented the fact that Bevan had secured the promotion to Commander of Adder Company over him. He seethed resentment with every word.

Bevan made a hand signal ordering the Marines to make their way through the buildings on their right. Then she turned to Jarret fixing him with a piercing gaze. “You will address me as ‘sir’ Squad Leader, and you will follow my orders. Is that clear?”

Jarret turned away and dashed over to his squad, staying low.

Bevan stood up. She called out as loudly as she dared.

“Squad Leader Jarret,” she hissed. “Come and stand before me at attention.”

Jarret turned. He hesitated. He looked at his squad-mates and then, nonchalant and haughty, he walked over to Bevan.

“This company will not function if my squad leaders cannot accept my authority. Can you do your job, or do I need to replace you?”

Jarret looked Bevan in the eye. “Major Forge ordered us to make directly for the transport hangar. You are disobeying an order.”

Bevan stepped up and squared off against the taller, broader Jarret.

“Major Forge ordered me to find a transport. We can’t find a transport if we are all dead.”

The Marines of Adder Company were clambering into the buildings along the right side of the street. Soon only Bevan, Jarret, and 3rd squad were left in the street, Bevan and Jarret squared off to one another.

“Move your Marines through the building,” Bevan finally said.

Jarret waved his squad forward and sent them into one of the buildings, the front smashed open by Chitin fire. Bevan stopped Jarret following.

“Is this going to be a problem for you, Dave?” Bevan asked gently.

Jarret shook his head and stepped over a fallen beam into the wrecked shell of the building.

Bevan watched him go into the building, then pulled out her field scanner and looked at the Hydra holding position at the end of the long, wide street. She would have to be on her guard if she was to successfully complete her mission. She was one part of the plan to escape Eros. If she failed, the Marines of Scorpio Battalion would be doomed.

As the Hydra continued to hover like a deadly omen, Bevan tucked her field scanner away and moved into the building to find a route around the Chitin craft that was blocking her way.

3

Stuart Laidlaw lay on the timber floorboards of a three-story building. The high towering buildings all around were smoking as fires were snuffed out by the fire suppression systems. Black clouds poured out of all the buildings and drifted on the wind like so many billowing black rivers.

Across the street in wrecked buildings, the Marines of Boa Company waited in cover, their Fleet Marine Pulse Rifles ready in their hands. Laidlaw watched a Chitin Hydra race across the late evening sky. It moved toward the distant capital stadium and the Leviathan holding position at ground level amongst the buildings of the stadium complex.

A lookout high on a nearby building signaled to Laidlaw. The way was clear. Time to move. Laidlaw signaled his squad leaders. The Marines broke cover, moving as one and advancing to another street closer to their target.

Laidlaw moved down the stairway from his high vantage point. Halting at a smashed exterior wall, he took a quick glance left and right. The way was clear, so he dashed quickly across the street, avoiding the debris from smashed buildings and ground transports. He reached the building on the far side of the street and kicked at a closed door.

The lock held firm and Laidlaw was knocked back by the force of his own kick hitting a firmly-closed door.

“Kravin door. The only closed door in the entire city.” He fired up his electron bayonet on the end of his pulse rifle and slid the fizzing blade into the mechanical lock. The door opened as the mechanism melted and flowed out over the door. He pushed the door and it opened a little, restricted by fallen debris inside.

Laidlaw pressed himself through the partially-open door. A quick glance along the street and he saw the last of his company entering the line of buildings. This was slow and painful progress, and the company was on edge. They had a difficult task ahead. They were to move into position as close to the grounded Leviathan as possible. There was only one reason why they were advancing to that position and every Marine knew without Laidlaw having to tell them the orders.

Boa Company was going to engage the enemy.

4

Jack advanced with Cobra Company. He felt at ease to be surrounded by Marines he knew so well. Sam Torent, the Cobra commander, walked alongside him.

“You really think you can pull this off, Jack?” Torent asked.

“Yes,” Jack said. He watched the Marines moving along the edges of the buildings, keeping as close to the walls as possible.

“Sarah Reyes was a bit of a genius when it came to the Chits,” Torent said “She understood them. All you know is how to kill them.”

“I’ve kept us alive this long,” Jack said, watching the company’s progress along the city street.

“You think you can follow her instructions?” Torent asked.

“You sound nervous, Sam,” Jack said. “You feeling okay?”

Torent stepped around an underground service entrance hatch that had been smashed, revealing a hole down into the deep subsurface world that lay beneath every city. Torent took a wide route around it, stepping out into the center of the street.

Jack leaped over the hole and grabbed Torent by his jacket, dragging him back to the cover of the buildings that lined the street and the piles of debris that lay there in heaps.

“Stay in cover, Sam,” Jack said.

Torent shrugged off Jack’s grip and stepped toward the side of the street. “I know what I’m doing,” he said tersely. “Do you?”

He knew something was bothering Torent. His old friend only got brusque when he was bothered. The entire company was on edge, but Jack had to make sure they didn’t lose composure. He was the leader and it was his responsibility to keep everyone calm and in control.

“Yes,” Jack answered Torent, “I know what I’m doing. At least I know that Sarah has left me instructions on what to do,” Jack said. “She knows to make it simple enough for me to understand. I bet even you could understand it, Sam.”

“I’ll probably be too busy saving your kravin hide. Again.” Torent clambered up a heap of rubble and dropped into a prone position, scanning the street ahead down the sights of his pulse rifle.

Jack chuckled to himself. That was the Torent he knew. He took a knee and scanned the ground ahead and sky above, checking constantly for any sign of approaching Chitins.

“It’ll be dark in an hour,” Jack said. “Get Cobra off the street, Sam. We’ll take a break and then move under the cover of dark.”

Sam gave a low whistle. Jack moved to the nearest entrance and pulled out his field scanner. He looked from one squad leader to another and saw with satisfaction how they all responded quickly and efficiently with hand signals where they were going to take cover with their squads.

Along both sides of the city street, the remaining squads of Cobra Company took the opportunity to rest. It had been a long deployment, and this was the first chance any of them had had to rest. Like all seasoned veterans, they immediately took the opportunity.

Torent stepped next to Jack. “There’s a home furnishing shop next door, Jack. They have a bed in the window. Why not grab some snooze on that?”

Jack felt the yawn build inside. He stifled it and settled against the side of the building.

“No, you take it, Sam. I’ve got work to do. Tell your squad leaders to rotate their lookouts.”

“Already done, Jack,” Torent said. “If you didn’t see me send those orders, then you really are tired. We are going to need you alert if we’re going to make this work, and because we probably won’t make it work, you might as well grab some sleep anyway.”

Jack felt the yawn come again. “Okay, Sam. I’ll rest here. Can’t let the men see me in that bed. Wake me in thirty minutes so you can rest. Copy?”

Torent nodded. “Copy that, sir. I’ll make a check on the company.”

Jack watched Torent dart from cover to cover, checking the street for movement as he went from one position to the next, checking on all the squads of Cobra Company.

In many ways, Cobra had the easiest job of the three companies. Jack thought of Bevan, a new commander on one of her first deployments, holding together a company of Marines, all shocked at the sudden destruction of their home world and all stressed at being left behind as the entire fleet fled the system. Jack could have appointed another commander, but that might have only made things worse. For now, Adder needed some stability, and Commander Bevan would have to provide it. If Adder could make it to the civilian spaceport, they might be able to find a ship. If it wasn’t space-worthy, Jack knew that Adder Company should have the expertise between them to make it space-worthy, and Bevan would have to see that that expertise was deployed correctly.

It was a tough job, but Jack hoped Bevan could do it.

It was Boa Company that had the toughest job. Jack had plenty of confidence in Boa’s commander, Stuart Laidlaw. He was an experienced commander and a clever Marine. Jack had tasked Boa with the difficult and dangerous job of seeking out the Chitins and attacking them. Boa Company was full strength and had been in deadly encounters before. Jack knew that Boa wouldn’t come through the next few days unscathed, but he hoped that losses would be minimal. If Laidlaw used guerilla tactics, he should be able to evade the Chits and avoid a toe-to-toe slug fest, but even striking from cover in ambush attacks, the would be in extreme danger. Jack regretted having to ask them to take the attack forward, but he didn’t think there was one Marine in the company that would refuse the order. He knew that Boa would take on the challenge in a positive and full-blooded manner, and if anyone could make it a success, it would be Stuart Laidlaw.

Jack felt himself drift toward sleep. He had an easy job by comparison. All he had to do was find Sarah Reyes’ top secret subterranean workshop in the smashed debris of Fleet Command and Control Headquarters. Then recreate the chemical cloak that had allowed the fleet to hide from the Chitin armada. Before that, though, he had to find the instructions. He remembered her voice as he drifted to sleep.

“You’ll know it when you see it.”

5

The buildings of Fleet Command and Control were in ruins. Lying in a crater almost two kilometers away, Jack focused his field scanner on the smoking rubble of the once grand headquarters. The charred white stones of the building were flecked with dark spots, which were moving in a distinctive and sickening motion. The ruins were crawling with Chitin soldiers.

Jack rolled onto his back and slid down into the crater.

“It is crawling with Chits,” he said, handing his field scanner to Sam Torent.

Torent scrambled up the side of the crater and looked toward the ruins. After a moment, he slid back down.

“Guess we’re not welcome,” Torent said.

“You ever miss a party just because you weren’t invited?” Jack said.

Cobra Company was at reduced strength. It was not a force suitable for a frontal attack on a swarm of Chits. Jack weighed his options.

“I’ll send second and third squads up the middle,” Torent said. He stopped talking when Jack shook his head.

“It’s too risky,” Jack said. He pulled his jacket closer. The night air was chilly. Jack wished he had deployed to Eros in the meat suit. The sarcastically named Marine Extreme Environment Tactical suit would have kept the cold air off his skin. He hated that they would have to battle exposure to the elements as well as the enemy.

“You always have a plan, don’t you, Jack?” Torent said. “What’s it going to be this time?”

Jack shook his head. “I don’t know, Sam,” he said. “But we really need to get into Sarah’s workshop.”

“So frontal assault it is,” Torent said. “It’s dark and we have the element of surprise. We can take them before they know what’s hit them.”

Jack looked up at the darkening sky. Brecon moon was a thin crescent high overhead. The debris of the planet Eras was spread low across the horizon like a scatter of white beads. The main mass of the planet’s rubble had spread out even further in the weeks since its destruction by the Chitins. It reflected a diffuse band of light across the night sky.

“If we move in quietly, we might be able to take out some of the soldiers, but then we still need to find an entrance.” Jack clambered back up the side of the crater and looked toward the ruined headquarters. The faint glow from the debris of Eras highlighted the Chitin soldiers ranging over the rubble of the Fleet Command and Control.

The headquarters had taken a pounding the moment the planetary defense cannons had failed. As soon as Eros was open to attack, the Chitins had struck with force and precision. Headquarters had been first, followed by communication hubs across the planet. The Chitins were unknowable in so many ways, but their attack showed they fought much like any enemy. They struck at the command structure and then communications. Once the hierarchy was disrupted, the defenders were easier to destroy.

But the Chitin tactics told Jack something else, something he knew already. The battalion would have to act in a coordinated manner if they were to stand any chance of victory, and in this battle, the only victory that could be achieved was escape.

Jack looked at the Chitin soldiers crawling over the ruins of Fleet headquarters. He suddenly realized they were there for the same reason he was: to find a way in.

He reached for his pocket and put his hand on the small drone. Maybe he could search using the drone, and once he found a way in he could launch an attack with Cobra Company. He was down to his last drone, though, and had to be careful how he used it.

Sam Torent scrambled up the side of the crater on his elbows and positioned himself just at the lip of the it.

“Guess you are right, Sam,” Jack said. He pulled up his field scanner. “We move in fast and try and take them by surprise. We’ll spread Cobra out in a thin line and move in on a wide front. Make sure the squad leaders know not to engage until we are right on top of them.”

Jack pointed his field scanner at the distant objective. He did a last-minute recount of the numbers against him. He guessed some of the Chits were hidden amongst the rubble, so there would be more than he could currently see. Even with a modest estimate of the hidden numbers, Jack knew Cobra would be outnumbered more than two to one.

Jack nodded to Torent.

“Spread Cobra out, Sam. We’re going in.”

A sudden bright flash in the northeast lit up the ruins. Jack and Torent pressed themselves closer to the ground and looked toward the light. A white flash lit up a growing mushroom cloud that towered into the night sky.

“What the krav was that?” Torent said.

“That came from the capital stadium.” Jack looked with his field scanner to the far explosion. “That’s Boa Company. Stuart is hitting them hard.”

Jack looked back to the headquarters. The Chits were scurrying toward the blast, leaving their search.

“Sam,” Jack said, tucking away his field scanner. “Now’s our chance.” Jack pulled out his pulse pistol. He checked the charge and load. “Get Cobra moving. Go.”

And with that, Jack scrambled over the ridge and started toward the rubble of the Fleet Command and Control Headquarters.

6

Stuart Laidlaw watched the Marines as they ran back to his position. They had laid the demolition charges at the base of a tower block that stood near the capital stadium. The white stadium arms that arced out of the ground to hold the stadium seemingly suspended off the ground were covered by the splayed tentacle-like structures of the Chitin Leviathan that had landed and set up base on the stadium.

The detonation shook dust and rubble from the building that Laidlaw was holed up in, and the force knocked the running Marines off their feet. A black cloud climbed high into the night sky. The tower wobbled and then began to fall, slowly at first but with growing speed and inevitability. It was a well-designed blast that caused the tower to fall toward the stadium and the Chitin Leviathan sitting on top of it.

Laidlaw watched as the building fell and smashed into the huge craft. A cheer went up from Marines scattered about the ruins as the blow was struck.

Laidlaw watched the dust cloud climbing and the fires from the explosion flickering against the dark. Through it all, he saw the Leviathan still in place, although the stadium was being crushed yet further under the weight of the tower crashing down.

The Marines in the street were back on their feet and running back to Boa Company in their meager cover inside already decimated buildings. The Hydras came sweeping up behind them.

Laidlaw heard the Marines in cover calling out to their fellow Marines, urging them to hurry. The Hydras’ spitz cannons ripped up along the street and into the backs of the running Marines. Laidlaw put his hand over his mouth in revulsion.

The fire from Boa Company came as an immediate reply. Pulse rifle fire poured out from smashed windows and doorways in a half-dozen buildings in the area. The fire targeted the lead Chitin craft and the damage was done. The Hydra dropped out of the sky and crashed into the street, sliding forward before crashing into the base of Laidlaw’s building.

The other Hydras fired at the concealed positions. Their cannon fire ripped through what remained of the composite material of the building’s outer walls.

“Withdraw,” Laidlaw shouted to the men on either side. The Marines repeated the order to their nearest neighbor and so the word went through the company and by the time Commander Laidlaw was running down the inner stairwell, the entire company had the order and was on the move.

Stuart Laidlaw ran along the ground floor and out of a doorway that led away from the grounded Leviathan. He had struck a blow. It was not one that would have destroyed the Leviathan, but it did tell the Chits there was still a fighting force on Eros. Stuart had done his job. He had made noise, now he had a swarm of Chits on his tail and his next trick was to relocate with speed.

7

The buildings of Fleet Command and Control were unrecognizable. Jack clambered over the rubble. There had to be a way to reach the subsurface levels of the complex. If they couldn’t find Reyes’ workshop, all would be lost. A hundred other things had to go right, but without the chemical cloak, Jack and the battalion would be trapped on Eros for good, and that didn’t promise to be for very long.

Jack activated his wrist-mounted holostage and accessed the site map of headquarters from just days before the Chitin attack. He found the location of Reyes’s underground workshop. Using the original holomap of the area as a guide, he picked his way over the rubble.

Torent deployed Cobra Company in a wide perimeter to keep watch for any returning Chits. Away in the east, the flash and thump of distant battle told Jack that Laidlaw and Boa Company were engaging the Chitins in a heavy contact. Jack spurred himself on to find an access point quickly.

Following the holomap, Jack knew he was approaching a large central lobby that had once been bright and clean. Now it was a crater in the ground. The lobby had given access to a series of stairways leading up and down. The twisted frame of a stairway stuck out of the rubble, and Jack knew that he was close to a way down.

“Sam,” Jack called out. He pointed Torent toward the base of the crater. “Have your team clear this rubble out.”

“Yes sir,” Torent replied and began instructing a nearby squad to start digging.

Jack stood at the top of the crater and looked down at the Marines shifting huge pieces of smashed composite building material out from around the twisted frame of the stairway. The flashlights on the Marines’ uniforms lit up the rubble. In the distance, flashes of light from Boa Company’s firefight were petering out. As the flashes stopped, darkness reclaimed the night. No more flashes of pulse rifle fire could be seen. Jack hoped that Boa Company had not been completely destroyed. He was sure that Boa’s commander was already planning his next attack, but for now, he would fall silent and wait for another chance to strike at the Chits.

Jack knew the Chits would soon be back to headquarters to resume their search. He was about to shout his encouragement to the Marines below him when he spotted Torent give him a signal. They had broken through.

Scrambling down the crater wall, Jack spotted the deep, dark hole that the Marines had cleared. He pointed his flashlight at the hole and spotted a buried stairway.

“Sam, take charge up here. Keep the way clear for me to get out again,” Jack said as he reached the edge of the buried stairway. “Create a perimeter and hold off any Chits. I’ll be as quick as I can.”

Torent stepped in front of Jack and blocked his access to the stairway.

“No, sir,” Torent said. “I’m not letting you go in there alone. I’ll send a team with you.”

Jack looked Torent in the eye. Nowhere was safe. The buried corridors could be crawling with Chits, just as the surface would be in a very short time. Jack looked around at the rubble-covered ground. The Marines of Cobra would be exposed to the deepest cold of night and assault by the Chits if they remained above ground.

“Commander Torent,” Jack said.

Torent set his jaw as he prepared to have Jack reaffirm his order.

“Call in Cobra Company,” Jack said. “I want every man underground.”

Torent turned to the Marines from the excavation team. “You heard the major,” Torent said. “Inform all squad leaders to bring in the perimeter guards and get underground.”

The Marines ran off. Jack looked down into the dark hole. His flashlight illuminated the floor of a corridor four meters down.

“Quite a drop,” Jack said as he sat on the edge of the opening. “You don’t mind if I go first, do you, Sam?”

Torent checked they were alone. “Just don’t smash your legs when you land. Last thing I need is a broken Marine major to look after.”

Jack lowered himself into the dark and let himself drop.

The ground hit hard. A long drop into the dark was as terrifying as any encounter with the enemy. He missed his footing and stumbled over a step, sliding down a few more and knocking his elbow and hips against the hard stairs. Finally coming to a stop, Jack pointed his flashlight down. The stairway went down into darkness.

“Jack? You dead yet?” Torent said.

“It’s a nasty landing. Get Cobra down here quick. You come last, copy?”

“Copy that, and I was so looking forward to jumping in right away and smashing my prosthetic arm on the landing. Now I’ve had time to think about it, I might try and keep it.”

“You better,” Jack said. “Last thing I need is a one-armed company commander to have to look after.”

“I can shoot just fine without it,” Torent said. “Still a better shot than you.”

“Don’t count on it,” Jack said, taking a few steps into the dark.

“Here they come, sir,” Torent said, shouting down to Jack. “Third squad coming in first.”

Jack pointed his light for the Marines to judge their landing. They dropped in one after another. A second to drop and a second to move, the entire squad was in the stairway and moving past Jack in under a minute.

Waving the Marines of 3rd squad past him and down the stairs, Jack called up to Torent. “Get them moving, Sam. Let’s speed things up.”

The next Marine landed and tumbled down a few steps, bumping into Jack, who held the man up and stopped him tumbling even further.

“Thank you, sir,” the Marine said. “Sorry to bump into you, sir.”

Jack gave the man a heavy slap on the back. “Just glad you’re down here safe. Move down the stairs.”

“Copy that, sir,” the Marine said and moved down in to the dark.

Watching the Marines dropping into what was for them the complete unknown gave Jack a huge sense of respect for his entire team. They were stranded on an enemy-infested planet and being told to drop into a dark hole in the ground, and they came on without a sound, without hesitation. He moved them down the stairs, catching the occasional Marine who stumbled as they landed on the stairway.

“How we doing, Sam?” Jack shouted as he steadied another stumbling Marine.

“That’s the last of fifth squad. Only fourth squad left, and they’re on their way. Hundred meters out.”

Jack felt a sense of relief that he had nearly brought all his Marines down into the subsurface corridors of Fleet HQ. But the relief was suddenly marred by a feeling that time was cruelly short. The uneasy feeling was confirmed the very moment he thought it.

“Chits,” Torent said as loudly as he dared, calling down to Jack.

“Tell fourth squad to hurry. You get down here right now, Sam.”

A body dropped into the stairway from above and stumbled into Jack. Jack pointed his flashlight at the Marine. It was not Torent.

“Sam, get down here, now,” Jack called up.

Another Marine dropped and then another. They rushed down the stairs.

“Where is Commander Torent?” Jack asked the next Marine. The Marine pointed up and then moved on to let the next Marine drop into the stairway.

“Sam,” Jack shouted up. “Get down here now.”

“Nearly ready, sir,” Torent said as another man dropped in.

Jack recognized the squad leader of 4th right away. Taku Folau.

“Only the commander left topside, sir,” Folau said.

Jack sent Folau ahead. “Move the company down, Squad Leader,” Jack said. Turning back to the opening above him, he called again. “Sam. Get down here now.”

Silence.

Jack took a few steps toward the opening. He spotted Sam Torent’s legs dangling over the edge of the hole above.

“Sam. Commander Torent. On me. Now.”

“Copy that, sir,” Torent said.

Jack waited another second. Torent still hadn’t moved.

“Sam, do we have a problem?” Jack hissed.

“No, sir.”

Jack waited.

“Sam, for krav sake. Get down here now.”

“Jack,” Torent said in a tone Jack had never heard from the tough Marine before.

“What is it, Sam?”

“I can’t jump down, sir. The Chits are nearby. I’ll hold them off. Go.”

“I’ll blow the entrance once you are in,” Jack said. “Drop now.”

“I’ll fight them off, sir,” Torent said.

Jack detected the tone again and he recognized, suddenly and surprisingly, that Sam Torent was afraid. Jack realized that his old friend was afraid of dropping into the dark hole at his feet.

“I haven’t got time for this,” Jack said to himself as he walked down the stairway until he came up to Squad Leader Folau.

“We are moving sir,” Folau said. “It’s just taking a little time. The stairs are narrow and it’s slowing us down.”

“Commander Torent is having difficulty getting down. Go and drag him down here. Copy?”

Folau nodded once sharply and rushed up the stairs. Jack watched as Folau jumped up and grabbed Torent by the ankle dangling through the hole.

Jack heard Folau grunt as he tugged violently at Torent’s ankle until Sam Torent was finally dragged down into the subterranean stairway.

Jack stepped over to the pair lying in a heap on the ground. He pulled Folau up. “Get my Marines moving, Squad Leader,” Jack said.

Folau saluted and ran off, calling out the orders in a hissing whisper. Jack pulled Torent to his feet.

“You would rather face a swarm of Chitin soldiers than drop into a dark hole, is it?” Jack said with a smile.

Torent shrugged Jack off. “Shut up, Jack,” he said testily.

Jack smiled broadly, then snatched a demolition charge off Torent’s jacket.

“Better get moving, Sam. I’m going to blow this entrance before those Chits get here.”

Jack rushed down the stairway and into a long corridor where Cobra Company had halted. He closed the stairway door behind him. He waved the Marines to move further along the corridor, then detonated the charge he had planted at the entrance. The dull thump was followed by the sound of rubble falling into the open stairway. The rubble crashed into the door and pressed it open slightly before stabilizing with only a distant sound of grit falling between the larger pieces of rubble.

Jack looked at the wrist-mounted holostage and planned a route to the workshop. He walked past the Marines who were taking a moment to rest against the walls. Some were sharing ration blocks and water. One offered Jack a ration block as he walked past. He realized he hadn’t eaten in almost twenty-four hours, so he took a pinch of the dark, sticky block and pressed it into his mouth.

“Thank you, Marine,” Jack said.

“Yes, sir,” the Marine said as Jack walked on.

The corridor on the map stretched away for a few hundred meters before ending at a set of offices. Halfway along the corridor was another stairway. Jack mapped the route down through the maze of corridors to the workshop. It was going to be a long walk. He hoped it was clear all the way.

“Commander Torent, front and center,” Jack said as he marched off toward the stairway down.

Torent came up alongside Jack. He was flexing his prosthetic arm, waving it in circles around his shoulder.

“Arm okay?” Jack asked as he consulted the holomap.

Torent was silent.

Jack pointed at the map projected above his wrist.

“We are here. This is our destination. We go down another level and then along to this point here.” Jack looked up at Torent. “You listening, Commander?”

Torent looked at Jack. “Sorry, sir. Yes sir. Just…” He hesitated.

“What?” Jack asked.

“I don’t like dropping into the dark.”

“Understood,” Jack said. “You okay now?”

Torent nodded.

“Okay,” Jack said gently. He had never known Sam Torent to show fear and it would have been concerning if he didn’t already have a hundred other concerns. Torent would just have to suck it up and deal with his phobia, Jack couldn’t help him with it now. Then, returning his attention to the map, he gave his instructions to Torent.

“Move Cobra down to this level and hold for me at this point. Go.”

Torent moved the Marines down the stairway. Jack watched them stream past him and recognized so many of these Marines. This was Cobra Company. He knew every squad leader by name, and he knew the face of every Marine. He had fought beside them on so many occasions. Now he was leading them for what would hopefully be the last time before they escaped Eros and the threat of attack by the Chitins forever.

The corridor Jack turned into looked familiar even in the dark. He had been here a number of times recently. The doorway along the side of the corridor led to the entrance to Reyes’ workshop. Jack stepped up to the door and pushed it open.

The burst of rifle fire slammed into the partially open door, tearing chunks out of the composite door and throwing the door shut. Jack fell backward and moved quickly to the cover of the side of the door frame. He would recognize the sound of Fleet Marine Pulse Rifle fire anywhere. That was no Chitin soldier behind this door.

“Hold your fire,” Jack called out. “Hold your fire.” Jack identified himself to whoever was behind the door. “Fleet Marines. Scorpio Battalion. Cobra Company. I’m Major Forge.”

Jack pressed the door carefully open.

“Stay back, Major,” a voice from behind door called out.

Torent looked at Jack. He pointed at his Fleet Marine Pulse Rifle. Jack shook his head. He stood up and raised his hands.

“Don’t shoot,” Jack said, stepping in front of the partially open door.

The small room behind the door was the security entrance to the workshop. Inside the small room were a Fleet Intelligence agent and two Fleet Intelligence enforcers. The enforcers stood on either side of the secured door that led to the workshop. The agent was taking cover behind a small desk. It was inadequate cover and any serious attempt to gain entry would hardly be slowed by these three sentries.

The agent rested his pulse pistol on the desk and aimed it at Jack with shaking hands.

“I have my orders Major. No one is allowed to enter.”

Jack walked in slowly. “I need to get inside that room,” Jack said calmly. “I am an officer in the Fleet Marines and I need something from that workshop if I am going to be able to do my job.”

“I don’t care what your job is,” the agent said, standing up. “Mine is to keep that door secure for as long as I am able to stand.”

Jack looked at the enforcers behind their black meat suit helmets. “And what about you? Are you ready to stay here until you either starve or get chewed up by Chits?”

The enforcers stood stock still.

The agent stepped around his desk, the gun pointed shakily at Jack’s chest.

“Leave now, Major.”

Jack smiled, then laughed. He looked at the agent and the enforcers. They had presumably been told to stand here until death by Fleet Intelligence and despite the devastation raging outside, they were still here following an order given by someone who was probably safely tucked up on a transport ship, or more likely one of the fleet’s two carrier class vessels, and halfway to another star system by now.

“This is no laughing matter, Major,” the agent said

“Major?” Jack said, laughing. “There’s no civil or military authorities left on Eros. Just you and me. I’m not really a major anymore, and you are not an agent. We’re just people trying to survive. Step aside.”

“Stand down or I will fire on you,” the agent said.

Sam Torent walked briskly into the small room and a team of Marines came with him, walking smoothly and determinedly, their pulse rifles raised.

Jack raised his hands. “Gentlemen, let’s just be calm. The Chits are lining up to kill us up there. Let’s not do their jobs for them.”

“I will,” the agent said, stepping forward, his pulse pistol almost touching Jack’s chest.

“Sam,” Jack said, his tone an instruction for Torent to act.

Torent stepped forward and in a swift movement, he grabbed the pistol with his prosthetic arm. The pistol fired as Torent levered it upward, then he smoothly disarmed the agent and delivered a left jab to the agent’s nose. Torent tossed the pistol to Jack and grabbed the agent as he staggered back. Torent moved the agent around his desk and sat him in the small chair.

“Sit down, freckles,” Torent said.

“Do you have any idea of the penalty for punching a Fleet Intelligence agent?” The agent tipped his head back as blood flowed from his nose.

“Oh, I don’t know,” Jack said, stepping up to the control panel. “Is it getting left behind on a planet swarming with Chits? Could it be any worse?”

Jack stepped in front of the two Fleet Intelligence enforcers, a line of Marines behind him with rifles raised.

“I am going through that door,” Jack said. “You are welcome to continue to guard the door, and when I am done, you are welcome to join me and my Marines. You have time to think it over.” Jack turned to Sam. “I need that agent’s hand to open this door.”

Sam fired up his electron blade and let the fine white energy blade fizz in front of the sweating agent.

The agent stood and moved cautiously past Torent.

“Okay. I’ll open the door.”

“Good choice,” Jack said. He tucked the agent’s pulse pistol in the waistband at the small of his back. “You might have saved us all.”

The enforcers lowered their pulse rifles slowly as the agent stepped between them and up to the door access panel.

“Okay, stand down, Marines,” Torent said, and the line of Marines lowered their pulse rifles.

The double door slid open into a dark corridor that ran at a right angle to the entrance door and so blocked the view to the workshop. Jack walked in, a flashlight lighting the way.

The corridor led to a wide viewing gallery that looked down on the cavernous workshop. Here Jack had seen firsthand the results of the Chitin chemical cloak devised by Reyes. She had left him a message before her departure from the Eros System that there were instructions here for him to find, instructions that would enable him to create the chemical cloak himself.

“Hidden in plain sight,” Jack said to himself. Except the workshop was in darkness. “If only I could see.”

The power across the capital was intermittent in places, but here in the ruins of Fleet Command and Control, it was completely cut off. Jack marched back to the small entrance and called a squad of Marines to follow him. Sam Torent decided to join Jack too.

“So do you know what you are looking for?” Torent said walking alongside Jack.

“No,” Jack said.

“Do know what to do if you do find it?” Torent asked.

“No.”

“Bet you wish Reyes was here?”

“No,” Jack said. He called to the line of Marines along the viewing gallery to direct their lights into the workshop.

“Are we going in?” Torent said.

Jack nodded and walked to the small doorway at one end of the viewing gallery. He slid the door open and walked down the few steps into the workshop.

The lines of benches were covered in tools and devices all neatly arranged as if the next shift was due to begin work. Jack called Torent to join him. The benches threw long shadows as the beams from the Marines’ flashlights pierced the darkness.

“This place is huge,” Torent said, jogging up beside Jack. “How far back does it go?”

“Pretty far,” Jack said, looking at the benches as he slowly passed.

“What were they doing in here?” Torent asked. He picked up a device off one of the benches and turned it this way and that, trying to discern its purpose.

“This is where the Fleet Marine Pulse Rifle was designed and built, or at least some place like it. All of our equipment came from workshops like this.”

“What’s so special about this one?” Torent said, tossing the device onto a bench and letting it clatter over the surface.

Jack came to a halt. In front of him was a large cage. Lying at the bottom was a dead Chitin soldier.

Torent brought his pulse rifle up in a swift and smooth motion the moment he saw the fallen Chitin, ready to engage the enemy.

“It’s dead,” Jack said, stepping around the cage.

“Good,” Torent said. He fired his electron blade and drove it into the Chitin skull.

The familiar smell of burning Chitin exoskeleton took Jack back to the many encounters with the Chitins. Then he spotted a workbench that was a chaotic mess of tools and equipment.

“This is what we are looking for,” Jack said, stepping up to the workbench.

“What? A pile of junk?”

“This is Sarah’s workbench,” Jack said. He stood before it and looked at the piles of equipment from human to Chitin tech.

“How do you know?” Torent said. He looked around at the many dozens of workbenches in the huge workshop.

“Look at the mess,” Jack said. “Only someone as creative and clever as Reyes could work in a mess like this.”

Torent stepped up on the other side of the bench. He slung his pulse rifle over his shoulder and began picking through the equipment.

“What are we going to find here?” Torent said.

“We’ll know it when we see it,” Jack said and began picking up a pile of loose cables, moving them carefully and looking around them.

“Look,” Torent said, picking something out of the debris. “You had a watch like this.”

Jack looked at the black-cased watch Torent was holding up. It was his watch, the watch he had given to Reyes the last time he had been with her. Jack came around the bench and took it from Torent.

Turning it over in his hands and flipping open the case, Jack tried to see the hidden message Reyes had left for him. She had said it was hidden in plain sight. It was obvious to Jack that the message was here. Otherwise, Sarah would not have abandoned the watch. She had left it for Jack to find, and for everyone else to ignore as irrelevant.

“Give me some light here, Sam,” Jack said.

Torent pointed his flashlight at the watch in Jack’s hands. The case had once been silver, but Jack had used it to fix a combat drone. That had saved Jack’s and Sam Torent’s lives. Then Reyes had made the new, black composite case. It looked like it was about to save Jack’s life again.

Jack cracked open the case. The watch mechanism was missing, and a small storage chip was in its place. Jack pulled out the chip.

“If only we had our meat suits, Sam. I could read this data.”

“I know where we can get one,” Torent said.

Jack nodded in agreement. “Go and get it for me,” Jack said. He looked at Reyes’s workbench. “I’ll use Sarah’s workbench. For luck.”

8

Commander Bevan took cover at the corner of a building a kilometer out from the civilian spaceport. The ruined city streets and the dark of night gave her cover to move.

The Chitins had hit the port hard, and Bevan hoped this was not a wasted trip. Squad by squad, she sent her company out into the wide avenue that led to the spaceport.

With the final squad waiting behind her, pressed to the side of the building, she made ready to send them out into the avenue. The squad leader sitting behind her waited for her signal.

“Keep to this side of the avenue. Move to the front of the company and signal when you are in position. Go.”

The squad of Marines ran past Bevan as she crouched on the ground. They turned the corner and ran, keeping as close to the buildings on their right as possible, only stepping away and out into the avenue to avoid piles of debris that had fallen from the floors above.

Bevan took a final look behind her and checked they were not being followed, then got ready to move out into the avenue.

Moving her company forward with squads coming from the rear to the forward position meant her company was advancing slowly, but at least she was maintaining her cover. She had not encountered any ground troops and had avoided the Hydras that periodically flew overhead.

Running around the corner of the building and moving along the building toward the spaceport, Bevan spotted a ship rising from the port, a small civilian ship no bigger than a Fleet corvette. It climbed slowly, but then the noise hit. This was no stealth ascent, it was a desperate bid for freedom.

The Hydras came from the west, rushing up behind Bevan. She flung herself to the ground and pressed herself against a fallen rooftop statue that lay smashed on the sidewalk.

The Hydras sucked the dust up off the street as they raced along the wide avenue at treetop height. They closed in on the civilian craft and opened fire with their spitz cannon before the craft had climbed half a kilometer.

The cannon fire slammed into the hull of the craft, blowing out a huge section with the first hit. The drive of the civilian craft began to whine, and the liftoff began to lose power. The craft started to fall away, its drive system presenting itself to the oncoming Chitin Hydras.

Squad Leader Jarret came scrambling over the piles of debris toward Bevan’s position.

“Take cover,” Bevan said as Jarret came closer.

“We need to engage the Chits. They are attacking that ship. They don’t stand a chance.”

“Take cover, Jarret,” Bevan said.

Bevan stood up to drag Jarret down into cover when a squadron of Blades raced along the avenue, chasing the Hydras. Their forward pulse lasers fired and their flank cannon purred as the squadron of Blades gave fire to the Chitin craft.

One Hydra exploded mid-air and sent a shower of debris clattering along the avenue, the main body of the craft bouncing and tumbling, bashing abandoned ground transports aside.

The civilian craft took another salvo of fire as the Hydras turned toward the night sky and raced away. It toppled and tumbled, its drive systems seemingly out of control. The massive explosion a few seconds later told Bevan that the ship had crashed back to ground, the fireball lighting up the dark night.

The Blades raced on after the Hydras climbing out of view, their cannons sparkling in the dark. The bright explosion of a Hydra burned like a short-lived star in the night.

“At least someone is fighting them,” Jarret said bitterly. He stood up to move.

The flicker of movement in the dark avenue was enough of an indication to Bevan that there were Chitins nearby. Adder had come into contact with the enemy. She grabbed Jarret by his collar and pulled him back. She was small but strong, and she’d had enough of Jarret’s attitude.

“Contact,” Bevan whispered into Jarret’s ear. “The crashed Hydra. Look. Chits.”

The Chitin soldiers in the Hydra brought down by the Blades had survived the crash and were climbing out. They immediately gave fire with their plasma spears. The spears slammed into the walls and ground around Bevan and Jarret. Bevan dropped to the floor, pulling Jarret with her. The flashing of the Chitin’s spears lit up the dark avenue.

Jarret attempted to bring his pulse rifle up to return fire, but Bevan put a hand on the muzzle. Jarret shot her a disdainful look. Bevan pointed across the avenue to a squad in position and another further along that had created a perfect crossfire.

“Stay down,” Bevan said.

And then the Marines around the avenue gave fire. The first pulse round came from the squad on the far side of the street and was immediately joined by a withering hail of fire pouring in from three squads, one on the far side of the avenue, a second further along toward the spaceport, and a third in position on the upper floors of a building on Bevan’s side of the avenue. The storm of pulse rifle fire tore the three Chits apart in seconds, and no sooner had the rifle fire began than it ended. Three dead Chits and absolute silence from the Marines of Adder Company.

Bevan stood up and looked down at Jarret, who was still processing what had just happened.

“When I say cover, you take cover. When I say attack, you attack. If you think I won’t fight them when we must, you are a fool and you don’t know me at all. If you think I won’t shoot you in your little head if you endanger my company again, you are an even bigger fool. Move your squad to the spaceport and secure the entrance.”

Jarret squared off against Bevan. He glowered down at her. Bevan was young and looked innocent, but her eyes burned with a fierce determination that made Jarret think twice about questioning her again.

“Sir,” he said simply and moved off, keeping to the side of the building and using it as cover.

Bevan watched Jarret running. He was a good Marine and an excellent squad leader, but he was having difficulty following orders. Bevan understood, with chaos all around and the company operating independently, without regular communication with the battalion major, it was easy to see how he was losing his discipline. She would have to make him understand the importance of his compliance if they were to succeed.

Jarret’s squad moved along the avenue, and then the last squad moved out of cover and followed them. They moved with skill and purpose, observing the surroundings and constantly checking for danger. Adder Company was lucky to have so many experienced Marines. Even though she was an inexperienced commander, she had to act like a seasoned professional. She would have to make the tough calls when they came. Without her clear thinking, the company wouldn’t survive. The pressure was intense, but Bevan wore it with pride. She moved out of cover and along the avenue, watching Adder Company advance in good order toward the civilian spaceport.

The mass of abandoned ground transports around the spaceport gave excellent cover. A fresh wave of Hydra craft swept overhead as Bevan was poised to enter. Keeping a company of Marines out of sight was challenging and made for slow progress, but Bevan had achieved her first objective. She had made it to the spaceport.

The interior was wrecked. The high clear composite ceilings had been smashed, and the ground of the entrance was littered with debris. The hundreds of discarded luggage cases told its own story of the civilians who had attempted to flee. They had abandoned their luggage in fear and haste. Where the civilians were now was anyone’s guess. There were no bodies in the spaceport entrance, and Bevan hoped the civilians who had come here out of desperation had fled into the city and hopefully taken cover from the Chitins.

Moving through the wreckage of the once bright port’s entrance, Bevan started to fear there would be no space-worthy craft here, only wrecks and dead bodies. She put such thoughts out of her mind. She could only work on one problem at a time. First thing she had to do was check the facility for a spacecraft.

Bevan assembled a small number of Marines with her to act as message runners. She sent her instructions out to the squads—some to hold the entrance, and others to move past the barriers to the landing pad beyond the entrance and the passenger terminal.

She moved slowly and silently past a barrier to the first landing pad.

The transport that sat on the pad looked in good condition apart from the ceiling beam that had fallen and pierced the upper hull. It might be possible to repair that hull, but then Bevan noticed the beam had traveled through the entire body of the craft and was sticking out of the bottom. Conduits and transmission cables dangled out like the guts of some mechanical beast, harpooned and skewered to the spot.

Bevan moved past the transport and saw another. Burned out. It took some time for the company to advance further, picking their way through the broken gantries and walkways. The next pad was empty. Bevan could see beyond the landing pad to the very end of the spaceport. There at the far end, Bevan saw a sight that brought a dangerous and distracting mixture of joy and hope.

The last pad was occupied by a Fleet corvette. A small but powerful gunship designed to support the larger destroyer class craft. The corvette appeared to be trapped under a section of the composite wall of the spaceport that had fallen on it. It was trapped and would have to be freed, but it might still be serviceable. Or the corvette could be out of action.

“Only one way to find out,” Bevan said to herself. She waved to a nearby runner and sent word to all squad leaders to converge with stealth and speed on the corvette on landing pad four.

9

Jack sat in the entrance to the workshop wearing the Fleet Intelligence enforcer’s meat suit. The enforcer sat shivering while Jack viewed the data left behind by Reyes.

The Fleet Intelligence meat suit was exactly the same design as the Fleet Marines’ version except for the intimidating black color. Jack had no difficulty loading the chip Reyes had left for him.

The data streamed over the enhanced view. Jack hoped to find a personal message from Reyes in the files, something to tell him of her feelings about him, but there was nothing. Just technical details on how to synthesize the chemical cloak, and the inverted version of the cloak that drove the Chits into a frenzy and set them against each other.

Details on the equipment location, how to prepare and calibrate, how to activate the synthesis process and then when Jack had just about absorbed all the information, a fresh new file opened, and there standing before him was a holographic projection of Sarah Reyes.

She looked exactly as she had when he had last seen her. A quick check of the timestamp on the recording told him that it had in fact been recorded only hours after their last meeting.

“So glad you found the watch. I hoped Fleet Intelligence would overlook it, but I knew you wouldn’t. I wanted to keep it with me to remind me of you. Keep it for me and find me, ok?.”

Jack was glad he was wearing the dark face plate helmet because the sight of Reyes standing before him was bringing a sudden and unexpected wave of emotion.

Jack pulled himself together. He knew a good leader was not an emotionless robot. A good leader needed feelings, and needed to understand them in others, but it was perhaps not a good idea to display them too overtly when in a struggle for survival. The Marines under Jack’s command needed to be able to rely on him, and becoming emotional at the sight of his friend might not be a deal-breaker, but it hardly instilled confidence.

“Fleet Intelligence was so desperate to evacuate Eros that they wouldn’t listen to my plan. I think we can use the cloak to hide the planet, at least make the Chits forget about it. I don’t know how it works exactly, but I know it does. It was the data from your action on belt planetesimal BP-13 that gave me the idea. The Chits ignored the drone you sent after it.”

Jack remembered bitterly the actions of BP-13. A small team of underperforming Marines had been killed by the Chitin soldiers on that rock, and Jack could do nothing to save them. Then, to make the failure even more bitter, Jack had been promoted.

Emotions turned from joy to bitterness as Jack remembered the Marines who had died on that operation. But here was Reyes telling him that that operation had led to the discovery that had saved most of the population of Eros.

“Jack. You need to synthesize the cloak according to my outline. You then need to deliver it to the atmosphere. Any mass power distribution node will do the job. The detonation of a node will be powerful and clean enough to deliver the cloak to the atmosphere. The cloak will disperse in the low pressure and spread through the atmosphere. The Chits in orbit will ignore the planet and drift away.”

Jack listened to Reyes’s message. There was no downside here, so why hadn’t the Fleet or the civilian government authorized the plan?

“The only drawback, Jack, is the detonation will feedback through the power distribution system and knock out all power planet-wide. You will lose all tech capabilities once the cloak is dispersed. If you can find a ship with its own power source, you could get away. If you can get away, then maybe we can see each other again. Good luck, Jack. See you soon.”

Jack let the recording end. He replayed the technical instructions and gave himself the chance to bring his emotions under control. Then, with a sudden sense of urgency and focus, Jack pulled off the meat suit helmet and looked up at Torent.

“Orders, sir?” Torent asked.

Jack pulled the Fleet Intelligence agent’s pulse pistol out of his waistband and tossed it to Torent.

“Return that to the agent. Ask him and the enforcers if they want to come with us. Get Cobra ready to move, Sam. We’ve got work to do.”

10

Laidlaw sat in the corner of a burned-out building. The embers of the fire that had ravaged the structure were still warm and warded off the cold night. A squad leader came toward him, his boots crunching on the burned debris underfoot.

“Confirmed, sir,” the squad leader said. “It’s a ground operating base. We count eight Hydras arranged around a central Hydra. The Chits are moving in and out of the Hydras and heading off in squads of three into the surrounding area. They are not traveling far before returning. Any idea what they are doing, sir?”

Laidlaw stood up and looked out of the smashed window.

“No idea, but we should stop them, whatever it is. Pass the word. We move on the Chits right away.”

Laidlaw picked up his pulse rifle and checked the weapon. There was going to be action.

The route to the Chitin Hydras took Laidlaw through a series of wrecked buildings. He climbed over a broken wall into the city street and crossed to the wall of the building opposite. All along the street, Laidlaw saw the shadows of his Marines exiting the buildings on one side and moving as one, crossing the street and taking cover against the wall of the building opposite.

On the other side of this last building was a wide plaza where the Chits had landed their Hydras. Laidlaw held up a hand and instructed his company to hold position. The signal went up and down the street to the entire company.

Laidlaw entered the building through a wide doorway. The door was missing and the frame was smashed. The interior was filled with rubble. The upper floors had been destroyed and had fallen to the ground floor. He picked his way carefully over the wreckage and headed toward the far side of the building.

When on top of the rubble, he found himself at the second floor. A hole in the wall showed him the plaza and the circle of Chitin Hydras.

Looking down at the Hydras from his vantage point, Laidlaw assessed the target. There were too many Chitin soldiers moving about the area for him to take out in one hit. The Hydras would have to be the target.

The moment the attack began, Laidlaw’s position and the positions of all the Marines of Boa Company would be revealed. This would have to be a swift and powerful attack, followed by an immediate retreat. Another hit and run attack, just what he had been tasked to do.

Laidlaw scrambled back to the street where Boa Company was waiting. He called in the squad leaders. They sat in a huddle at the smashed double doorway.

Laidlaw whispered, “We attack the Hydras.”

The squad leaders looked at Laidlaw with grim determination. No one was going to avoid this battle.

Laidlaw drew an outline of the Chitin position in the dirt on the ground as a simple circle, then a line in front of it to represent the building.

“We attack from cover in this building.” Laidlaw pointed along the line. “We each attack the nearest Hydra.” Laidlaw drew a line from the right side of the line in the dirt to the side of the circle opposite, then drew on the other side to indicate the lines of fire.

“Set demolition charges in this building to cover our retreat. When we retreat, we take positions across the street.” Laidlaw pointed to the opposite side of the street and the buildings there.

“Send word to me that the demolition charges are ready and then wait for my first shot. That is the signal to attack. We take out three Hydras in one hit. Then we fall back.”

Laidlaw drew another line in the dirt, marking the fallback position.

“Once we are all in position across the street, blow the charges in this building here. Hopefully we’ll take out their counter-attack and cover our retreat. After the demolition, fall back and regroup. Questions?”

The group of squad leaders remained calm and focused. None spoke.

Laidlaw nodded.

“Go,” Laidlaw said. The squad leaders moved away, low, fast, and silent. Laidlaw watched them move into the dark.

Once out of sight, he moved into the building and found a firing position in front of the circle of Hydras.

The Chitins were moving around freely, circling the Hydras. There seemed to be a pattern to the movements as they moved in squads of three. Whatever they were doing, they were about to be interrupted by a sudden, and hopefully devastating, attack from Boa Company.

The runner approached Laidlaw silently.

“Sir. Demolition charges set. All squads report ready.”

Laidlaw nodded. He felt the knot in his gut. He looked out of the hole in the wall at the Chitins below.

“With me, Marine,” Laidlaw said. He raised his pulse rifle to his shoulder. The runner picked a position in the rubble and took aim.

“I’ve got a grenade, sir,” the Marine said.

“Toss it,” Laidlaw said. “See if you can get it in the opening of that nearest Hydra.”

The Marine pulled the grenade off the straps on his chest. He pressed the charge activation button and tossed it through the hole in the wall.

Laidlaw watched the grenade fly. He counted down the fuse. Before the grenade landed, he gave the order.

“Open fire.”

Laidlaw let off a burst of pulse rifle fire aimed at the nearest Chitin Hydra. The rounds slammed into the hull, creating small, superheated spots on the dark material.

Then the grenade detonated at the ship’s opening. The interior lit up with a bright, incandescent flash. Laidlaw sent a burst of fire into the Hydra as the occupants, a group of Chits, came rushing out, burning with white fire from the grenade blast. They fell at the base of the Hydra as Laidlaw poured another burst onto the target.

The line of fire poured away from the side of the building and peppered the Hydras with pulse rifle fire. Laidlaw counted the detonation of half a dozen grenades and then he heard the rumble of a demolition charge that had been thrown on the left flank of the Chitin position.

The first Hydra exploded from the demolition charge, then as Laidlaw fired another burst at his target, that too exploded.

The Marines’ fire held steady and a third Hydra exploded, sending burning fragments scattering across the plaza.

The attack had lasted for a few seconds. The three targets were destroyed. The company knew to fall back, their work done. Then the return fire came, and Chitin soldiers let loose with their plasma spears.

A spear lanced through the hole Laidlaw was positioned at. The spear slammed into the Marine next to him, throwing him backward and slamming him into the rubble-strewn ground.

Laidlaw retreated. He checked the Marine’s neck for a pulse, but he was dead, a cavity burned through his chest.

Laidlaw ran as plasma spears burst through the walls of the building and sliced through the air above his head.

Scrambling down the pile of rubble in the building and out into the street, Laidlaw saw the Marines of Boa Company pouring out. Plasma spears blasted clear through the building and into the walls of the building opposite.

Laidlaw took cover and watched the Marines move. Then he heard Chitin soldiers scurrying through the building in pursuit. He threw himself forward and sprinted across the street. The flash out of the corner of his eye momentarily distracted him. A slight glance to his right confirmed his suspicions. The Chits were moving on his flanks, firing plasma spears at the fleeing Marines.

He pushed himself faster. He made it to the next building and flung himself through a smashed window as plasma spears sliced through the air around him. He landed heavily on the floor of the wrecked building, turned, presented his pulse rifle, and gave fire to the Chits already streaming out of the building he had just abandoned.

“Blow it!” Laidlaw shouted. He was about to call again when the ground shook. It was a low rumbling at first and then a terrific roar as the demolition charges exploded. Dust fell from the walls and from the ceiling of the building Laidlaw was currently occupying. An orange flash of fire burst out of the building opposite and engulfed the emerging Chitin soldiers. Then the building began to collapse in on itself. Slowly at first, and then in a sudden rush. He turned as the dust cloud poured in through the broken doors and windows. Laidlaw ran, bursting through an interior doorway to the next room, leaping through a hole in one of the walls and then rushing out of the far side of the building.

He could hear the Marines running as the company fled the scene of the attack. The city was ruined and cloaked in darkness, lit only by the plasma spears that chased them. The number of plasma spears dropped away as Laidlaw ran in through the doorway of another building and picked his way through rooms and hallways to emerge on the far side, a number of streets away from the burning Hydras.

Laidlaw leaned against a wall and caught his breath. He would have to keep moving and regroup with the company. Then he would weigh the result against the cost.

But whatever the cost, Laidlaw knew that, before dawn, they would attack again.

11

The distant sounds of battle spurred Jack on as he ran through the city. Somewhere to the east, someone was on the attack. He knew that was where Stuart Laidlaw and Boa Company were, and he knew that Boa Company was doing their job.

Jack also knew the danger Stuart Laidlaw was in, but he hoped Laidlaw knew that his actions were opening space for Jack to work. He needed to produce the chemical cloak. Reyes had left instructions for hundreds of gallons to be produced, and he would never be able to do it with Chits all over him. He hoped Boa Company had enough fight in them to let Jack complete his part of the plan.

The buildings around Jack changed from commercial and residential to industrial. He knew he was getting close. Somewhere ahead of him, just a little further west, was the chemical plant that Reyes had told him to head for. Her message had been clear, and Jack knew what he had to do. He saw the towers of the chemical plant against the dark sky. The towers were still standing, but Reyes’s message had assured Jack that as long at the bulk synthesizer was operational, the process would work.

Then in the sky above the distant towers, Jack saw a flash high in the night sky. Then another. And another.

“What do you make of that, Jack?” Torent said. “Is the fleet still putting up a fight?”

Jack shook his head. Any fleet craft that had not left the system would have been destroyed by now for sure. He watched the bright sparks in the sky grow larger. That was no space battle, it was something of a reentry flight.

Then the burning spots grew even larger and Jack could tell that something was heading directly toward Cobra Company at terrific speed. He pulled up his field scanner and looked at the fire in the sky.

Jack could see a dark core to the flame. The black core tumbling and burning. A huge collection of tumbling, burning debris.

“It’s something falling back to Eros,” Jack said, putting his field scanners away. “Destroyed spacecraft, Chitin or Fleet, I don’t know which, but it’s heading straight for us.”

“Should we fall back?” Torent asked.

And then the first piece of burning debris slammed into the ground just ahead of Jack and Torent.

“Take cover!” Jack shouted.

“Cover!” Torent repeated.

And then a chunk of flaming debris the size of a ground transport hit the ground next to Torent, throwing up a shower of dust and rock.

Jack hit the ground. Pieces of broken spacecraft poured across the sky. Some larger pieces roared overhead. He could feel the heat from the broken ships, the composite hulls charred and molten, tearing across the sky overhead. A huge piece of debris, the size of a small family home, struck the ground five hundred meters behind Jack and Torent. The ground shook, and a huge plume of dust was thrown skyward, heat radiating out from the impact.

The dust poured over Jack. He held his head to the ground and heard the clatter of pebbles and small jagged rocks bouncing across the already broken ground. The night was shot through with fragments large and small cutting through the dust creating small shooting stars that lit up before slamming into the ground all around.

“I hope that was a Chitin craft falling out of space,” Torent said as the clatter of falling debris subsided.

“Probably,” Jack said, but he knew it was just as likely, if not more so, that they were the remnants of Fleet ships mixed in with that shower of broken material.

Jack looked to the sky in the west. It was clear of falling debris, for now.

“Let’s get moving, Sam,” Jack said, clambering to his feet. He noticed a smoking rip on his jacket sleeve.

“You okay, Jack?” Torent said.

Jack pushed his finger through the hole. It came out bloody.

“Just a cut,” he said, wiping the blood on his sleeve.

Torent pulled a medical package out of his jacket and held it out. “Patch it up, Major.”

Jack slipped his jacket off. The cold night air chilled his sweaty skin. He was dirty, and his left arm was covered in blood from a deep but mostly cauterized cut on his upper arm.

“Lucky that was burning hot when it cut you, Jack,” Torent said. “Look, it’s sealed the wound.”

Jack pressed the package over his cut. It fixed itself in place. He felt the burning of the wound a moment before the anesthetic in the package took effect. Jack pulled his jacket back up over his shoulders and carefully slid his left arm back into the sleeve.

“Thanks for the med pack, but what are we going to do if you get hit?” Jack said.

Torent took a knee. “I’ve got another, but I’m not going to be stupid enough to get hit.”

“Good plan,” Jack said as he looked at the towers of the chemical plant against the night sky. They were close. So close. “Keep the company moving.” Jack fastened his jacket, keeping the shivers from taking over. “And do it quietly, Sam.”

“Copy that, sir,” Torent said and walked off into the dark.

Jack moved carefully around the fragments of burning wreckage littering the ground. He noticed a large fragment of a Chitin craft. It gave him confidence to see a smashed enemy ship, but his mood was returned to ground when he saw the smoking, charred piece of hull from a Fleet craft. The markings on the dark composite showed clearly it was from a Fleet frigate. The lettering was impossible to read fully, other than a white O for Overlord and the remains of a number. This was a frigate from the Overlord Carrier Group. The battle in space had been costly, and here was a part of the bill.

The chemical plant outer fence loomed out of the shadows. The dark chain-link fence was the first barrier to prevent trespass. Jack looked to his right and saw a Marine halt in front of the fence. The same on his left. He sent a message with a hand signal to the Marines on either side to cut their way through.

Jack fired up the electron blade on his pulse pistol and sliced downwards, the thin metal links parting easily. A two-meter slice in the fence was more than enough for him to step through.

All along the line, Jack saw the electron bayonets of Cobra Company light up and slice the fence. Jack instantly recognized his mistake. The bright bayonets would be visible for hundreds of meters around. If any Chitin ground forces were operating nearby, they would have a fight on their hands very soon.

The only option now was to advance with speed. His hand signals to the Marines on either side of him were passed along the line and in moments, Cobra Company was moving forward, low and silent, watchful for enemy movement.

The ground inside the perimeter fence was rough scrubland that had been chewed up by the falling space debris. Jack moved forward quickly and came upon the inner perimeter, a high wall of dark composite. This would not be breached with a simple slice from an electron blade.

Jack sent a hand signal along the line. Cobra Company would scale the obstacle by squads.

The squad next to Jack assembled and two Marines linked arms to provide a stable base for the next Marine to leap up and reach the top of the wall. Jack walked over and watched the Marines perform the operation in silence with absolute accuracy and determination. The first Marine on top of the wall reached down and hauled the next Marine up.

Jack stepped up in front of the Marines of 9th squad and took his turn to climb the wall. The men at the base let Jack step on their cupped hands and then shoulders before he was hauled up by the Marine on top of the wall.

He sat astride the wall. In both directions, Marines were reaching the top and then dropping over to the other side. Jack reached down and held a hand out for the next Marine to climb up.

“Sir,” the Marine sitting atop the wall with Jack whispered. “Climb down, sir. We’re targets up here.”

He knew the danger, and this was exactly why he was assisting the Marines to move quickly over the wall.

“Sir, please. I’ve got this,” the man said.

Jack reached down and pulled another Marine over the wall who dropped quickly to the other side. Jack reached for the next.

The next up was Sam Torent. He reached the top of the wall, swung himself over, and hung, elbows on the top of the wall. He looked at Jack.

“What the krav are you doing, Major? Get down.” Torent turned to the Marine. “What are you doing letting the major sit up here?”

The Marine reached down and pulled up another. “I told him, Commander, but the major isn’t taking orders from me, sir.”

Jack looked at Sam. “You are in the way, Sam,” Jack said.

Torent grabbed Jack by the collar and pulled him down off the wall. He whispered harshly, “Get down. Who is going to lead, if you get hit? Me? Get down, now.”

The Marine nodded at Jack. “It’s okay, sir. I’ve got this.”

Jack slipped over the other side of the wall and hung by his fingers, then let himself fall. The drop was significant and the ground hidden in darkness. Jack looked up and saw Torent still hanging there.

“Sam, get down.”

“Is it far?” Torent said.

“Far? What’s the difference? Get down here.”

Jack jumped up and grabbed Torent by the foot, tugging him off the wall. Torent let out a muted panicked cry. The two hit the floor and landed in a heap.

Jack laughed. “You really don’t like drops do you, Sam. Never thought you were afraid of anything.” Jack stood up and offered Torent a helping hand to stand up.

Torent batted the offered hand away. “I ain’t afraid of nothing,” he said harshly.

Jack laughed quietly. “Course not. We’ve been friends a long time now, Sam, and I never knew you were afraid of heights.”

Torent started walking. “Why are you not afraid, ever, Jack?” Torent said bitterly.

“I am afraid, Sam,” Jack said. “I’m afraid of letting you guys down.”

Torent muttered something to himself. Jack patted him on the back.

“To be honest, Sam, you are the most frightening thing I’ve ever come across, and now that I know you don’t like heights, I think you are even more terrifying.”

“Don’t mind heights,” Torent said in a dark muttering. “Just don’t like dropping into the dark. Don’t like not seeing the ground.”

“Fleet Marine is probably not a great choice of occupation then, is it?” Jack said

Torent moved away from Jack. “I’m going to check on the company.”

“Sam,” Jack whispered, “we’ll be at the plant in a few minutes. Noise and light discipline. Copy?”

Torent made a hand signal to confirm the order.

Jack carried on walking forward, the outer pipework of the chemical plant looming out of the darkness just ahead. He took a knee and pulled his jacket over his head then looked at the holomap on his wrist-mounted holostage. The bulk synthesizer was located at the near side of the plant and a few levels down.

Jack deactivated the holostage and pulled the jacket back down.

Then the plasma spears came racing out from the plant.

The return fire from the Marines of Cobra Company was immediate and fierce. Jack rushed along the line of Marines, all dug in behind any cover they could find.

“Advance, Cobra,” Jack said. He ran at a crouch, plasma spears racing around him, slamming into the ground and throwing up clumps of dirt.

Jack saw Torent climbing to his feet and repeating the order. “On your feet, Marines. Advance.”

“Move in fast and low.” Jack ran along the line, kicking reluctant Marines into action. One Marine had dug in at a shallow dip in the ground, firing his pulse rifle blindly into the chemical plant.

“On your feet, Marine,” Jack said, pulling the Marine by his collar. A plasma spear struck the ground immediately in front of Jack. “On your feet. Move up.”

Cobra Company began to move. Jack heard squad leaders urging their squads forward. The plasma spears lit up the ground and Jack saw silhouettes of the Marines moving forward, their pulse rifles giving fire to the hidden Chitin attackers.

Jack met Torent coming toward him. He dropped behind cover and waved Torent down to the ground.

Torent held his hands over his head, but his face was calm as plasma spears raced about them.

“Move up quickly. We need to engage the Chits with bayonets, Sam. We can’t risk damaging the plant.”

“Copy that.” Torent moved off toward the plant and the hidden Chitin soldiers.

Jack looked at the ground he had just covered. The dark mounds on the ground had not been there moments again. As a plasma spear raced over head, throwing its fizzing white light on the ground, Jack saw the bodies of fallen Marines.

He got to his feet and rushed forward, his pulse pistol in hand. Jack suddenly saw a plasma spear fired from an upper level race toward him. It struck the ground to his right and threw him off balance. He reached the network of pipes and tanks and the corridors between them. Jack fired his electron blade and moved into the darkness.

The dark shadows of Chitin soldiers lurking in the pipework-lined corridors were lit up by the plasma spears from the Chitins on the upper levels. Jack charged the nearest and plunged his electron blade deep into the massive, smooth head. The antennae on its head twitched in distress as its life flowed away.

A Marine appeared at Jack’s side and plunged his electron bayonet deep into the Chit, the white energy blade bursting out the other side. The Chit fell to the ground, its tentacles twitching as the last life ebbed away.

Another Marine arrived, already smeared with Chitin slime. Jack sent them ahead of him, their blades fizzing and lighting the way. He walked behind, looking at the holomap.

Another movement came up on Jack’s rear. Jack turned, the electron blade on his pulse pistol raised. A Marine’s concerned, sweaty face shimmered in the fizzing light. Jack deactivated the blade and tucked the pistol in its holster on his left hip, waving the soldier on.

A Chitin soldier rushed out of the shadows, stabbing tentacles lunging forward. The two Marines slashed away in tandem and cut the Chit down. One stepped forward and drove his blade down to finish the job.

Jack grabbed the latest Marine to arrive by the shoulder.

“Send word. Company will converge on this area.” Jack pointed at a series of stairways on his holomap. The Marine nodded and rushed off into the dark corridors.

“Okay, forward, Marines.” Jack said and walked just behind the two Marines.

The flicker of dark in the shadow to Jack’s right was all the stimulus he needed. He grabbed his pistol and activated the blade as he brought his hand around in a wide arc. The blade sliced through the smooth face of a Chitin soldier. The stabbing tentacle thrust forward, narrowly missing his chest, and snagged on his jacket as the Chitin fell dead. The fine edge of the tentacle cut the jacket. The cold air on his damp skin and the near brush with death sent a shiver down Jack’s spine.

The two Marines were looking back at him for instruction. Jack made a signal with his pistol, waving it forward, and they resumed their cautious advance.

At an intersection between two corridors, Jack saw a number of electron blades shining in the dark. They moved forward slowly.

“Form up, Marines,” Jack said as the squad came near.

“Third squad here, sir,” the squad leader said. Jack recognized the voice. He had known Corry Allen since he had first taken over as squad leader of 6th squad in Cobra Company. There were so few squad leaders left from that time. It seemed so long ago and yet so recent.

“Good to have you with us, Corry,” Jack said. “Send a runner to find Commander Torent. Instruct him to hunt down those Chitin snipers. Rest of third squad with me.”

Jack moved off with a line of four Marines in front of him, and a squad behind. Squad Leader Corry Allen brought up the rear.

Arriving at the stairway down to the lower level and the room containing the bulk synthesis equipment, Jack paused. Cobra Company was spread out throughout the chemical plant. Flashes of light through the pipework told Jack that the Marines were engaging the Chitin soldiers scattered through the facility, the fighting proceeding in darkness and silence.

A runner came out of the dark. The bayonets of 3rd squad turned toward them.

“It’s okay. At ease, Marines,” Jack said and let the panting Marine deliver his message.

“Commander Torent has cleared the Chits from the upper levels. Holding position and watching for approaching ground troops.”

Jack nodded. He checked his holomap. The upper level of the facility gave a view over the eastern approach that Jack had just traveled over. The huge facility would take an entire battalion to secure. Jack had taken this flank and it was all he needed, but he needed to hold it.

“Inform Commander Torent to hold and keep watch. Maintain cover and communication silence. Copy?”

The Marine nodded and ran off to deliver the message.

Jack turned to Allen, who was at Jack’s side.

“How’s your chemistry, Corry?”

“Better than my math, sir. I can never tell when we are outnumbered.”

“We are always outnumbered,” Jack said. “Let’s go and make this chemical cloak. Maybe we can try and balance the odds. Move your squad into the lower levels, Squad Leader.”

“Copy that, sir,” Allen said, then moved with his team down the stairs into the darkness.

12

Bevan looked at the corvette. The collapsed wall had been cut away. The upper hull of the corvette was crumpled and scarred. A long scorch mark across the upper hull suggested the ship had been in a firefight with the Chits before it had landed. The scorch marks and charred composite of the wall panels that had been cut away from the corvette showed signs of a Chitin aerial attack, presumably plasma arcs or spitz cannon fire from one of the many Hydras that stalked the skies of Eros.

The corvette was now exposed to the sky. Adder Company was in cover, hiding from the patrolling Hydras underneath the smashed civilian ships and the collapsed roof of the spaceport. The night sky above was dark and deep, the corvette a dark shape against the deeper dark of night.

“It’ll never fly,” Jarret said, looking up at the ship.

Bevan had had enough of Jarret’s complaining. The squad leader had complained about every move the company had made. Bevan rounded on him, taking him by surprise.

“If you think you are going to lose, you will find a way to make it happen. I aim to win, Squad Leader Jarret,” she spat his name. “If you can’t correct your attitude right now, I will find a Marine in this company who can lead and inspire a squad to succeed.”

Jarret scowled at Bevan. “If you put us in that ship, you will kill us all.”

“If I order you in that ship, you will go. We are at war, Marine, and you will follow my orders. Is that clear?”

Jarret nodded curtly.

“Answer the question, Marine,” Bevan said.

“Yes, sir,” Jarret said, his voice quiet but clear, and without contempt.

Bevan looked up at the corvette. “Only one way to know if it’ll fly.” Bevan took a step toward the ship. “Set a perimeter defense,” she said to Jarret. “I’m going to power it up.”

Bevan walked across to the corvette. A distant sound of approaching Hydras resonated in her guts. She took cover under a piece of debris from the collapsed roof.

The Hydra raced over head, the sound receding. Then the noise of the Hydra’s engines, spluttering in the atmosphere, stopped receding and returned. The engine sound grew loud. Bevan pressed herself into deeper cover, her pulse rifle ready.

The Hydra hovered over the smashed roof of the spaceport. Light burst onto the ground. Bevan could see through a narrow crack in the heavy roof composite that the Hydra was hovering and moving a search light around the vast hanger. The light fell on the corvette, a wide beam of harsh white light expelling the dark.

Bevan saw a huddle of Marines underneath a civilian ship. The civilian craft had been smashed by Chitin attacks, the cockpit was blasted open, conduits and cables hanging from the undercarriage like the guts of a machine. That craft would never fly again, but it was good cover for a squad of Marines.

One Marine pulled his feet in as the beam of light came closer, sweeping across the debris-strewn ground.

Then the light was extinguished, and darkness returned to the spaceport, dark shapes in the night. As the Hydra powered away, Bevan crawled out of her position and looked up to the sky. The noise of the Hydra’s engines faded as it raced away.

Bevan walked toward the corvette. A few Marines were clambering out of their hiding places and joined her as she walked toward the ship. Jarret came to her side.

“That was lucky,” he said.

“Yeah,” Bevan agreed, “but you are only lucky when you are winning. Get that perimeter set. Go.”

“Yes, sir,” Jarret said and ran off, calling out instructions in a harsh whisper.

Bevan stopped at the base of the forward landing strut, the belly of the corvette ten meters above her head. A small access hatch was located at the top of the landing strut bay, so she began to climb.

The ten-meter climb was easy, but reaching the hatch was not. She reached out with one hand, the other holding on to the cold and slippery landing strut. She twisted the access handle and finally it opened with a sudden rush of air that nearly unbalanced her.

The hatch dropped down, and grips on the inside of the hatch let Bevan take hold. She moved both hands over to the open hatch cover, her feet still on the landing strut.

Bevan swung away from the strut and hung from the handholds on the hatch cover. She pulled herself up to the next, and then the next, lifting herself with her upper body strength alone as her legs dangled in the air. Once she had pulled herself up a few of the grips, she was able to lift her leg and get a toe in the bottommost handhold on the hatch cover. With a final surge of strength and willpower, she pulled herself into a standing position.

Moving a floor panel aside, Bevan found her head level with the corvette’s gundeck. She made her way to the ladder control panel and let the access ladder drop to the ground, extending out as it dropped away.

Bevan climbed up onto the gundeck. The composite was cold. She clambered to her feet and activated a flashlight, looking toward the cockpit. The forward view screen was unpowered but looked to be intact. The flight console also appeared undamaged.

The gundeck was dark and empty. There were no portholes. It was a sealed world. The targeting view screens of the weapons assemblies along the side of the corvette were unpowered like the rest of the ship. She hoped the boarding ramp would still have power.

In the center of the gundeck, Bevan found the boarding ramp controls. She hit the button. A hiss and a rumbling of power filled the quiet, dark ship as the landing ramp lowered.

She walked down and found a group of Marines at the base. Quietly they cheered their commander for successfully accessing the ship.

Bevan took the praise, then hushed the small group she had assembled. These were the best machine operators and engineers in her company.

“Let’s see if this ship has got any life in it,” Bevan said, smiling. “Check the drive, energy shielding, and check the weapon systems, lasers and blast cannon. Also, check the ammo store to see if we have anything to shoot, because we sure have plenty to shoot at. I’ll check the cockpit. Let’s get this boat ready to fly.”

Bevan sent her team running up the ramp, eager to check the ship. As her maintenance team ran into the corvette, Bevan looked out at the dark spaceport. In the east, a shard of light burst through a far window, a bright orange light.

It was dawn of the first day after the devastating Chitin attack on Eros, dawn of the first day following the evacuation of much of the civilian population. Dawn of the first day on Chitin-controlled Eros.

Bevan looked up at the corvette. One ship against the biggest armada ever known. Bevan stopped herself mid-thought.

“Don’t get negative on me now,” she said to herself.

Then she saw a Marine running toward her. Squad Leader Jarret. He was moving fast, his rifle in his hands as he ran. From his demeanor, Bevan knew what he was about to say.

“Report,” she said as Jarret slowed.

“Chits,” he said through heaving breaths. “Coming from the east, out of the city. Maybe a hundred of them.”

Bevan bit her lip.

“Fall back, every Marine. Take cover around the corvette and hold fire until fired upon. Copy?”

Jarret looked confused. “But we have surprise. The company could drop most of them in one hit.”

“And then the Hydras will be here to finish us. Fall back, Marine. Copy?” She fixed him with a stare and scrutinized his expression.

Jarret nodded. “Copy that, sir. Falling back.” Jarret turned and ran to take the word to the company.

Bevan watched him go. She looked to a few Marines taking cover nearby, all looking at her. The Chitins were coming. If she hid, she might keep them off her for a while, long enough to see if the corvette was ready for action, but sooner or later she was going to have to fight them.

“It’s going to be a tough day,” she said to herself and walked into the corvette.

13

The bulk synthesizer looked to Jack like a series of silver cylinders and pipes, no different than the rest of the plant. A small holodisplay was the only indication that he was standing before the correct apparatus.

Reading the instructions left by Reyes on a file projected by his wrist holostage, Jack began the process. He hesitantly tapped keys on the display and activated the synthesizer.

“How much of this stuff is it going to make?” Torent asked.

Jack shrugged and tapped in the last few numbers. “I have no idea. I hope it’s enough.” He began inputting the instructions. A series of chemical equations, process codes, and a series of numbers that Jack struggled to understand in detail. Now he needed time to produce the cloak in quantities sufficient to hide an entire planet.

Tapping the final key, a red holographic button appeared for Jack to press.

Jack looked at Torent. “Guess this is it,” he said, then touched the button.

The holodisplay began to show streams of data, numbers flashing past at speeds too fast for Jack to read.

“What’s any of it mean?” Torent asked.

“I hope it means it’s working,” Jack said.

Then, at one side of the data stream, a file appeared. It showed a canister of chemicals with a filling graphic. The canister was not even filled by a single percentage point.

“Is that it?” Torent asked, pointing at a canister just behind a series of pipes and cylinders.

Jack shrugged. “Looks like it.”

Jack looked back through the files Reyes had sent. There was no indication of how much time he needed. Jack thought back to the time when he’d watched the fighter craft being prepared for its first test flight using the chemical cloak. A canister of the cloak had been on the landing pad and the chemical had been sprayed over the hull in huge quantities. Jack couldn’t be sure if the entire canister had been used or a small part, but he knew this was their only real defense against the Chitins currently roaming freely over the surface of Eros and dominating the orbital space above the planet.

Sam Torent crawled in through the pipework along a conveyor and gave the canister a shake.

“It’s filling up quickly,” he said. “We could be out of here real soon.”

Then the bulk synthesizer let out a short series of beeps. The process was complete. The canister slid out on a small conveyor, bringing Torent with it.

“Now all we need is a ship,” Torent said.

“A ship that won’t get blown out of the sky,” Jack added.

Torent looked at Jack and the canister of chemical cloak. He gave it an experimental shove.

“This is too heavy to move, Jack,” Torent said. “If Bevan has found a ship, she’s going to have to bring it here.”

“And how do we get it here without bringing the entire Hydra fleet after it?” Jack looked at the controls for the bulk synthesizer, then set it to produce a canister of the inverted chemical cloak.

“Sam, I need a pump for this canister,” Jack said, and he began tapping away at the holodisplay for the synthesizer. “We’re going to cloak some runners and get messages out to Adder and Boa. Find me some volunteers,” Jack said. “The fastest Marines you can find.”

The second canister of cloak was finished by the time Torent had assembled a group of four runners. The fastest Marines in the company. A third canister was nearly completed.

Jack stood with a spray gun attached to the canister of the chemical cloak. He handed the gun over to Torent.

“Brace yourselves, Marines,” Jack said. “I’ve done this myself, and it is going to sting.” He knew only too well just how badly it would sting, but he also knew how well it would work. The Marines, coated in the chemical cloak, would be able to approach a Chitin soldier without being detected. It was perfect camouflage.

“Cover your eyes,” Torent said with a cruel smile, and he began to spray.

The Marines squirmed and gasped in shock as the spray began to burn.

“You’ll live,” Jack assured them. “Spray them good, Sam.”

While Torent sprayed his volunteers, Jack carefully filled several flasks of inverted cloak, taking care not to spill any of the chemical solution. Then, with a dozen small flasks filled with the inverted cloak and set carefully on the top of the canister, Jack turned to the runners.

“We have a chance to make a difference here, Marines. I need you to send word to Adder and Boa Companies.” Jack handed the flasks of inverted cloak over to one pair of Marines. They stored them about their persons, tucking them into the grenade pockets on their tactical vests.

Jack delivered his instructions. They were clear and simple, yet set to have a huge impact. The Marines ran out of the facility.

“Guess we just wait now,” Torent said.

“Guess so,” Jack said. Then he turned to the bulk synthesizer and started tapping in a now familiar set of instructions. “Might as well start cloaking the company, Sam,” Jack said. “Get them in here by squads and get them cloaked.”

Jack set the synthesizer to work again. They had time on their hands now and he wasn’t going to let this equipment stand idle.

14

Bevan stood at the base of the corvette’s boarding ramp. An orange warning light flashed on the hull, throwing its lights across the ramp and the debris-strewn landing pad. Her forward observation post had reported two Marines running toward the spaceport, heading directly through the mass of Chits that had halted their advance and were surrounding the port.

The runners came toward her, weaving between the debris. Waiting with her arms folded across her chest, she wondered how they had made it through the Chitin soldiers massing on the western flank of the port. The runners stopped in front of Bevan, flanked by two Marines from Adder Company. One runner spoke as he heaved huge gulps of air.

“Message from Major Forge,” the runner gasped. “If you have a ship, be ready to send it.”

Bevan held an arm out to indicate the corvette. “I have a ship, Marine,” she said. “How, might I ask, did you make it past all those Chits out there?”

The second Marine was bent over and held his hands on his knees, sweat dripping from his forehead. A Marine from Adder Company held out a water canteen for the breathless runner to drink.

“Permission to sit, sir,” the first Marine said.

Bevan nodded. “Yes. Sit.”

Both Marines collapsed to the floor. They lay helpless and breathless. One drank from the canteen in greedy spluttering gulps before offering it to his fellow runner.

Bevan took a knee next to the Marines. She put a hand on his shoulder. “In your own time, Marine. Tell me how you got through the Chits.”

“Major Forge has taken the chemical plant. He’s synthesized a chemical cloak. He sent us. I thought we were dead, but the Chits ignored us.”

The second Marine, having caught his breath, sat up with his arms around his knees. “It was mighty strange being so close to the kravin Chits and not have them try and smash us to bits.”

Bevan nodded. She never expected to survive the first night on Eros with Chitins covering the ground and filling the air. She had survived one night, and she had found a functional Fleet craft. She entertained the thought that she might make it off the planet and away to safety.

“When do we make our move?” Bevan said. “What are the major’s orders?”

Both Marines were getting back to their feet. The first one spoke, and his message was a little cryptic.

“Major Forge says you’ll know when it’s time. Look to the north and wait for Boa Company to make their move.”

Bevan nodded. She knew what to do, but the moment she tried to take off, she knew she would come under fire from the Chitins on the ground. She hated the idea of abandoning her company, but she had orders. She called over one of her runners from Adder Company.

“Go and find Squad Leader Jarret. I want him here on the double. Go.”

As the runner dashed off, Bevan looked back to the corvette. It was a lucky find and a fine ship. She had doubts that she would be able to take off without coming under fire from the Hydras that patrolled the skies. She was in even greater doubt that she would make it to Major Forge’s position, but she had survived this long, maybe she would make it through one more day.

15

Laidlaw picked his way through the rubble of the city moving from one smashed building to another, buildings that had once been the gleaming city streets of the Eros capital.

Moving carefully, he approached the area surrounding the capital stadium. The Leviathan was still resting atop the stadium, the collapsed building that they had dropped onto the massive ship only a few hours ago lying in ruins around the Leviathan. Laidlaw was nervous returning to the site of a previous attack, but maybe this time, his attack would be even more devastating.

The Leviathan was only a few blocks away now. The Chitin soldiers moved about the area lazily, and Hydras passed overhead in squadrons of twelve or more, passing from one direction or another every few minutes.

Laidlaw halted Boa Company in a burned-out building within sight of the Leviathan. He rubbed his chin and studied the problem. The flasks of chemical sent by Major Forge would, he was told, set the Chits against each other in a frenzied attack. It was a necessary diversion to create some space for Bevan to move.

The best place to deposit the chemical was on the upper hull of the Leviathan. The only way to get it there was to send the flask on a drone.

Laidlaw pulled out his only drone and set it on the ground in front of him. The moment he sent it into the air, he was sure a Hydra would attack and destroy the drone, the flask, the chemical, and any hope of creating a diversion.

“Get those runners from Cobra up here,” Laidlaw said to a Marine next to him before turning to another. “I want every drone the company has up here now.” A second runner moved off, taking the request for drones.

The two runners had moved ahead of the company, the chemical cloak keeping them safe from any Chits that might have been in the way.

The first arrived at Laidlaw’s location, on the fifteenth floor of the burned shell of a building.

“Cut that sleeve off your jacket, Marine,” Laidlaw said.

The Marine looked a little confused as he took off his jacket. He fired up his electron blade and sliced the sleeve off.

Laidlaw wrapped the sleeve around the drone. Then Laidlaw sent the drone out of a hole blasted in the wall of the building and out into the morning air.

A flight of Hydras raced overhead the moment the drone moved out from the building. Laidlaw felt his heart leap into his mouth, but the Hydras passed overhead and raced away toward the Leviathan and the many Hydras circulating around it.

Laidlaw watched the drone move higher into the sky. Another flight of Hydras came racing along the street. Laidlaw was satisfied that the Hydras were ignoring the drone.

A Marine came quietly alongside Laidlaw with three small drones collected from the Marines of Adder Company. Laidlaw set them out in front of him, then turned to the two runners from Cobra.

“I need to cover these drones,” he said. “That cloak is in the material of your jackets. We can hide these drones and get these flasks over to that Leviathan. No need to go naked, the sleeves should be enough.”

The two runners pulled off their shirts and cut away the sleeves. Laidlaw set the Marines to work covering the drones with the material while he pulled up his pulse rifle and looked through his scope to the distant Leviathan.

The distance was on the edge of range for the pulse rifle, but it would be a makeable shot to hit the drone and the flask from this distance. It would be a difficult shot, though, and he would have only one chance before the Chits moved in on his location. Fortunately, Laidlaw had a hundred shots if every Marine fired. It would certainly give away his position in the burned-out building, but the shot would be made and the inverted chemical would be delivered to the target. Those were his orders, and that was what he was going to do.

“Ready, sir,” a Marine said.

Laidlaw looked. Arranged on the edge of the building in the smashed opening sat the drones, all covered in material from the Cobra runners’ sleeves.

Laidlaw set down the flasks containing the inverted cloak.

“Fix those on the drones and get them ready to fly,” Laidlaw said. He looked again at the distant Leviathan. The air was swarming with Hydras and hundreds upon hundreds of Chitin soldiers moved around on the ground of the stadium.

Laidlaw would have one chance and then that mass of Chitin soldiers would be swarming toward his location. He laid his pulse rifle down in front of him. He only needed one chance.

“Pass the word to the company,” Laidlaw said to a runner. “We will fire at the drones on my command. Get in position to fire and hold.”

The runner moved off. Laidlaw activated the drones and sent them drifting off silently toward the Leviathan. He watched their progress through the scope on his rifle. The drones drifted further and further away, becoming tiny dots in the distance. Finally, he judged them to be in position above the upper hull of the massive Chitin warship hovering only a few hundred meters above the surface of Eros.

Laidlaw took careful aim.

“Get ready to fire,” he said to the Marines next to him on the fifteenth floor. He heard the word pass along from one Marine to another. It took some minutes for the word to spread and for the word to come back. The company was all in position and ready to fire.

Laidlaw steadied his Fleet Marine Pulse Rifle against a broken piece of wall composite and breathed calmly. Then, with one of the drones in his sights, he squeezed the trigger.

The building was suddenly alive with pulse rifle fire as the entire company took their command from Laidlaw’s first shot. The pulse rounds flashed in the morning air. Laidlaw looked through his scope at the distant scene. The Chitins on the ground were already rushing toward his position. A squadron of Hydras was turning in formation, setting up to move in on Laidlaw’s position.

The pulse rifle fire was pouring toward the distant drones, and then one exploded in a flash.

He watched the drone explode and a saw light mist take its place. Then another drone exploded silently in the distance. Again, Laidlaw saw a cloud appear. The chemical rain drifted down toward the Leviathan underneath.

The drones were all hit, and Laidlaw called out for the company to cease fire. He watched the mist drift down onto the Leviathan.

The flight of Hydras turning in the sky above the Leviathan struck out with their plasma arcs, the barbed fiery loops slashing out at the Leviathan. Then the spitz cannons poured the huge white beads of fire into the upper hull of the large craft.

Laidlaw watched in awe as the Hydras held their position and fired every weapon into the top of the massive Chitin warship. Then he spotted the Chitin soldiers on the ground stop their advance and turn to face the Leviathan. Their plasma spears launched in a constant flickering attack on the underside of the Leviathan.

“Send word,” Laidlaw said to the Marine next to him, “withdraw to the fallback position.”

Laidlaw heard the word get passed along the Marines, from one Marine to another, from one squad to another until the entire company was moving back from the distant firefight where Chitin relentlessly engaged Chitin.

Laidlaw watched as a fresh squadron of Hydras came racing in from the east, their spitz cannons flickering and slamming into the side of the Leviathan before, once in range, their plasma arcs lit up.

The sight was mesmerizing—the bright plasma arcs flickering out from the Hydras, slashing across the top of the Leviathan. More Hydras joined the attack and more plasma spears lit up the morning sky. The cannons flashed, and the Chitin ground troops fired up at their own massive ship.

“Sir,” a Marine said, tugging at Laidlaw. “We are falling back, sir.”

A huge explosion erupted from the top of the Leviathan, throwing shattered Chitin hull high into the sky. The Hydras continued their attack.

“Why doesn’t the Leviathan fight back?” the Marine said quietly, watching the distant firefight.

“Let’s hope it doesn’t,” Laidlaw said. “It would take out those Hydras in a second.”

Laidlaw watched as a mass of Chitin soldiers clambered up the walls of the stadium and made their way up onto the Leviathan where they began pounding the upper hull with their plasma spears at point blank range.

“Sir,” the Marine said again. “The company is falling back. Sir?”

Laidlaw got to his feet and backed away from the smashed wall and the awesome sight beyond.

“Copy that, Marine,” Laidlaw said. “Fall back.” With that, Laidlaw turned and moved away with the distant sounds of battle rumbling over the chill morning air.

16

“The moment this ship takes off, it is going to take fire from those Chits,” Bevan said to Jarret.

Jarret nodded.

“I need you to take command of Adder and give us a chance to get away.”

Jarret nodded again.

“I’ll pilot the corvette myself with a skeleton crew, just enough to service the weapons.”

Jarret nodded a third time.

“And I’ll take these Cobra Marines with me too and get them back to their company,” Bevan said.

“With respect, Commander,” one if the runners from Cobra said, “we can assist Adder. We are invisible to the Chits. We’ll be more use here on the ground than in that ship with you.”

Bevan nodded. She turned to Jarret. “You’ll be acting commander. Take the fight to the Chits, Dave. I know you will do a great job.”

Jarret saluted Bevan. “Thank you, sir. I’ll make sure to get your company back to you in good condition,” he said.

Bevan placed a hand on his shoulder. “Just give me a chance to get this ship past those ground troops. Move out.”

Jarret nodded again and turned to a runner. “Bring the company into formation. Prepare to advance.” Then he turned to the two Marines from Cobra with the chemical cloak protecting them. “And you Cobra boys can go ahead and put those electron bayonets to work.”

Then a Marine came running over to Bevan.

“Explosions in the north, sir. Looks like Hydras attacking a ground target.”

Bevan turned and walked toward the boarding ramp. “That’s our signal,” Bevan said. “Adder is yours now, Dave,” she called over her shoulder. “Give me cover from those Chits out there.”

Bevan heard Jarret shout orders to Adder Company, orders to advance and engage. Bevan knew Jarret had wanted to attack the Chits and now was his chance. She knew Jarret would give the Chits a hard time with Adder Company on the attack.

Bevan closed the ramp behind her and walked to the cockpit. She dropped into the pilot’s seat and finalized the takeoff procedure. A grim thought flashed across her mind that this might be a short trip because the Hydras were attacking everything in the sky. She shook the negative thought from her head. She shouted back along the corvette to the weapons stations.

“Watch out for ground fire. Give it back to them with interest. Here we go. Taking off now.”

Bevan watched the scenes on the ground through the forward view screen. Adder Company was pouring forward, their pulse rifles firing a punishing hail that tore into the massed ranks of Chitin soldiers in the rubble beyond the spaceport.

The lower blast laser of the corvette let out a lancing beam that smashed into the ground before it, moving across the ground, throwing up dust and debris and smashed Chitin soldiers. The port and starboard cannon blasted out a salvo of high-density shot, tearing into the Chitins on the ground.

A mass of plasma spears came flashing toward the corvette, fired up from the Chitin soldiers on the ground. They slammed into the heavy composite of the corvette’s hull. One hit the forward view screen, and it exploded in a shower of plasma beads. The screen flickered, and when it returned to full view, the corvette was over the mass of Chitin soldiers and racing over the wreckage of a city that only a few days before had been a pristine example of humanity’s endeavor on the planet of Eros.

Bevan set her heading for the chemical plant in the west and set her altitude to extremely low level. The ground raced away underneath. As the ship passed over business and residential districts, she was sure she saw small groups of civilians wandering amongst the ruins.

Many had not gotten away in the evacuation. The Eros Fleet was down to one ship as far she knew, this single corvette. It wasn’t even enough to evacuate the Scorpio Battalion, not even a whole company.

Bevan calculated the time to arrival at the chemical plant. Only a few minutes.

“Coming up to the chemical plant now. Stand by your weapons. Let’s be ready for the Chits, and let’s not hit the chemical plant. Major Forge is in there with Cobra Company. Stand by. Coming in now.”

17

Jack stood on an upper gantry of the chemical plant looking to the east through his field scanners. Sam Torent was at his side, scanning the horizon down the sights of his Fleet Marine Pulse Rifle. The sight of a glittering corvette filled Jack with amazement and delight.

“Oh! She only found a kravin corvette!” Torent laughed brightly.

“Any ship would have worked, but a corvette…” Jack shook his head in amazement. “Lucky for us.” Jack tucked his field scanner away. “Send out your Marines, Sam,” Jack said.

“We won’t be able to get the entire battalion on board that little ship,” Torent said with a hint of concern.

“One thing at a time, Sam,” Jack said.

“Copy that, sir,” Torent replied. Turning to a runner, he sent word for three squads to move out of the chemical plant and bring the corvette to land.

Jack pushed himself off the handrail of the gantry and made his way back down into the lower levels of the chemical plant where the huge canisters of chemical cloak were waiting.

The Marines standing around came to attention when Jack came into view.

“As you were, Marines,” Jack said, striding forward. “Start moving these canisters up to ground level. We’ve got our ride.”

The Marines had already loaded the canisters onto hovering platforms and began pushing them toward the open ground. Through the pipework-lined corridor of the ground level, Jack could see the corvette coming in to land. Dust billowed up all around as the ship lowered toward the ground.

A squad of Marines was bringing a pump system toward the canisters now waiting next to the landed corvette. The boarding ramp hissed and began to lower to the ground. Bevan was already stepping out before the ramp had touched the ground. She walked over to Jack, her face beaming with delight.

“Found you a ship, sir,” she said.

“Great work, Erin,” Jack said. “I even like the color.”

Sam Torent was ordering the Marines to set up the pumping system and connect the canisters of chemical cloak. He called over to Jack once he was ready.

“Carry on, Sam,” Jack said. “Get that ship covered. Don’t miss a spot.” Jack turned to Bevan. “I think we had better get you sprayed up too. Did you ever want to be invisible?”

Bevan gave Jack a look of uncertainty.

“It’s an order, does that make it easier?” Jack said with a smile. “Take your crew into the plant. Eighth squad is coating everyone.”

Jack watched Bevan muster up her corvette crew and head off to get coated with the chemical cloak. Jack looked to the eastern horizon, where something caught his attention: a dust cloud climbing in a broad line over a kilometer wide. Jack pulled up his field scanners. At the base of the dust cloud, Jack could see a mass of Chitin soldiers rushing forward. They were falling over each other in their haste.

“Looks like we’ve got company, Sam,” Jack called.

Torent looked away from the corvette-spraying operation. He swung up his pulse rifle and looked down its sights to the eastern horizon.

“Chits,” he said. “Must have followed the corvette. Bevan has brought us more than a ship, sir,” Torent said. “Looks like she’s brought the entire Chitin ground force too.”

At that moment, a runner came dashing over.

“Major Forge, sir. Lookout reports Chits, sir.”

Jack put his field scanners away. “Thank you, Marine,” he said calmly. “Take word to all squad leaders. I want the company to form up in a line in front of the corvette.”

The runner saluted and ran off.

“Sam,” Jack called out. “Every square centimeter. Make sure it’s all covered. Copy?”

“Copy that, sir. Where are you going?”

“I’m loading the chemical cloak to the corvette. We take off the instant we are ready.”

“Nearly ready,” Torent said.

Jack walked into the chemical plant and to the Marines guarding the huge canister of chemical cloak.

“Get that canister loaded and then join the company,” Jack said.

The Marines began moving the huge canister toward the corvette. Even with the hover loader, it was a difficult operation and they moved slowly.

Jack walked behind them toward the corvette and the open boarding ramp. Marines started to stream out of the chemical plant and run past the corvette, forming a line facing the oncoming Chitin horde.

Bevan came up to Jack. She was clearly in some discomfort from the burning caused by the newly-applied chemical cloak.

“Who’s in charge of Adder?” Jack asked as Bevan came near.

“Dave Jarret, sir.”

Jack nodded. “Good choice, Commander,” he said. “I’m taking the corvette to the power distribution node. I’ll be delivering the chemical cloak. You take over here. Commander Torent is coming with me. Copy?”

Bevan nodded. “Copy that, sir. Good luck.”

“Ship ready, sir,” Torent called out. “Every square centimeter covered.”

Jack looked over. The canister of chemical cloak was being maneuvered up the ramp. It barely fit in the corvette.

“Okay, Sam. Get aboard and secure that cargo.” He turned to Bevan. “Wait until we are away, Commander Bevan,” Jack said. “Then take Cobra and find a place to hold up. Good luck, Commander.”

“And look after my company,” Torent said to Bevan as he walked up the ramp into the corvette.

Bevan saluted Jack. Jack returned the salute, then ran to the corvette. He heard Bevan shouting as he closed the ramp behind him.

“Listen up, Cobra!” Bevan said. “Hold your ground until the corvette is away! Fire up those electron bayonets, Marines!”

The ramp closed with a dull clunk. Jack clambered past the canister that filled the central gundeck and made his way to the cockpit.

“Where do you want me, Jack?” Torent called out.

“You’re gonna be the bomber,” Jack said, dropping into the cockpit. “I’ll get us over the power distribution node and then you drop the canister on the target. The impact will be powerful enough to set it off.”

“No problem,” Torent said. “Wake me when we’re near the target. I’m overdue a few moments’ snooze.”

Jack hit the lift drive and pushed the corvette off the ground. He rotated the corvette a few meters off the ground and put it on a southerly heading toward the nearest power distribution node. The deep planet power systems were still fully functional and would be for years to come, until the canister of chemical cloak was delivered, at least.

As the ship rotated toward its heading, Jack caught a glimpse of the advancing Chitin horde. They had slowed but were still coming on in a huge wave, no longer sure what they were chasing. Jack saw Commander Erin Bevan fire up her electron blade. She waved her arm over her head and called Cobra Company to join her in a charge against the enemy.

Cobra ran toward the line of Chitin soldiers, their electron blades flashing in front of them.

“You should see this, Sam,” Jack said. “I thought Bevan was always a bit more defensive. She’s attacking the Chits.”

“She’s making the right call, is all, Jack,” Torent said, pulling his jacket collar up around his neck and settling into a weapon bay, eyes closed. “If attack is the best plan, she’ll choose it. Now if there is nothing else, I’m going to grab some sleep.”

Jack brought the corvette around to its new heading and punched the drive.

“Enjoy your sleep, Sam. We’ll be at the target in about fifteen minutes.”

Jack turned around to check if Torent had heard him, but his old friend was already fast asleep.

“Sam, wake up. Target ahead.”

“Thought you said fifteen.” Torent clambered to his feet.

“We’ve got a problem, Sam,” Jack said.

“You surprise me,” Torent said.

“There’s a Leviathan sitting over the target.”

Torent climbed onto the canister of chemical cloak and looked out of the forward view screen.

“Ahh,” Torent said simply.

“Ahh, indeed,” Jack replied. He slowed the corvette and brought it to a halt, hovering in the sky a kilometer out from the massive Leviathan sitting over the power distribution node.

“So we don’t drop the canister on the target then?” Torent said.

Jack’s hands danced over the flight controls. “Guess not. Plan B it is.”

“We have a plan B?” Torent said, moving into the cockpit.

“We do now.” Jack moved the corvette closer to the massive Chitin warship. “I hope you got every spot on this corvette covered, Sam.”

“I think we’ll know soon enough if I didn’t.”

Jack lowered the corvette and landed it as quietly and gently as he could only half a kilometer out from the Leviathan.

“Remember when we first met?” Jack said.

“Training moon,” Sam said.

“We had to run that obstacle course,” Jack said. “With old Sergeant Hacker zapping your kravin ass every few seconds with his taser.”

“How could I forget.”

“Well, this is going to be like old times.” Jack pointed forward. The ground around the power distribution node was a series of small hillocks with wide channels running between. In those channels were Chitin soldiers. Sitting above it all was a Leviathan.

“Looks like the old obstacle course alright,” Torent agreed.

“Just like old times,” Jack said. “Only this time, we are going to be moving that canister with us.”

“And what do we do when we get there?” Torent said.

“We are going to create a big enough bang to puncture this canister, activate the power node, and blast this chemical cloak into the atmosphere.”

“Oh, is that all?” Torent said.

“Help me strip out this blast laser.” Jack was pulling out a panel next to the forward blast laser assembly. “We are going to need the power cell.”

18

The Leviathan hovered over the power distribution node, its forward tentacle-like structures pointing down and spreading over the node. Hundreds of Chitin soldiers stood around the base of the power node, moving about slowly.

“What are they doing?” Torent said, looking out of the corvette’s forward view screen.

“As long as they keep doing it while we get to work, I don’t care,” Jack said.

The ramp hissed as it lowered. Jack powered up the hovering mobile platform that the canister of chemical cloak was sitting on. The platform raised up a few centimeters, and he pushed it down the ramp.

Stepping out from under the corvette’s hull, the sight of the Leviathan hanging in the air took Jack’s breath away. He had seen the massive warships up close before, but he still found the massive black craft impressive and imposing.

“Noise discipline,” Jack whispered to Torent. “They can’t see us, but they might be able to hear us, and try not to bump into any of them.”

Jack and Torent pushed the huge canister slowly, maneuvering it between the Chitin soldiers. Torent looked up at the smooth face of one of the massive soldiers as he walked past. The antennae on the head twitched and the tentacles moved around lazily.

“I just want to kill them all,” Torent hissed.

Jack held his finger up for silence. He knew Torent’s thoughts well enough. These Chitin soldiers were completely unaware of their presence, so it would be an easy task to push an electron bayonet through the smooth exoskeleton.

Jack made a signal telling Torent to focus on the objective. The entrance to the power distribution node lay ahead, beyond the Leviathan’s huge tentacles that hung down and touched the ground.

Jack walked past one of the Leviathan’s massive tentacle structures. It was pulsing and throbbing, a fine network of lines crossing the tentacle. It almost looked biological.

Looking up at the Leviathan, Jack could see the primary weapon’s glow. In between the tentacles on the forward section, the massive plasma arc weapon was glowing with a dull, dirty orange light. It seemed to pulse in time with the tentacles.

Torent pointed up. “It’s feeding,” he said.

Jack shrugged. Refueling. Feeding. Maybe for the Chitin spacecraft, it was the same thing. It looked as if the massive ship was drawing power from the distribution node.

Jack reached the entrance to the facility, a small single-story structure that gave access to the huge subterranean power network. Jack waited as a Chitin soldier wandered past. As soon as the Chit was out of the way, he sent Torent forward to pull open the doors.

Torent looked back. He pointed at the handle of the facility and showed Jack the entrance was locked.

Jack pointed at the muzzle of his holstered pulse pistol. Sam nodded and swung up his rifle. He aimed the weapon at the hinge on one side of the large doorway and fired up his electron bayonet.

The meter-long fizzing energy field appeared and sliced through the hinge. Sam Torent cut it down. The door creaked as Torent destroyed the upper hinge. Then, moving downwards, the electron bayonet cut through the lower hinge. The material dripped away in superheated rivers of melted composite.

It let out a creaking and a cracking sound as it popped away from the walls. Jack caught the movement of the nearby Chitin soldiers out of the corner of his eye. Several Chits turned suddenly at the sound of the door popping away from its hinges.

The door still stood although was now cut away on one side. The pair of Marines could have squeezed through the gap, but they needed to move the huge canister inside. Torent pointed at the hinges on the other side of the door. Jack nodded and let Torent get to work.

The hinges on the second side were cut through in seconds. Torent stepped aside as the door fell forward. It landed on the floor with a bang, throwing up a cloud of dust.

Jack saw the Chits move in toward the sound. He pressed the hovering platform toward the doorway, sliding through with barely centimeters of clearance on either side. Torent followed him into the dimly-lit interior.

Jack looked out and saw the Chits hovering around the fallen door. A dozen had converged on the area and stood in a semi-circle around it. None moved onto the fallen door or moved toward the entrance.

Torent stood with his electron bayonet ready for action. Jack pulled his pulse pistol slowly and held it ready. After a few breathless minutes, the first Chitin soldier drifted away. Jack holstered his pulse pistol and started pushing the hovering platform deeper inside the low building.

At the end of a short corridor, Jack and Torent came out into the wide area surrounding the power distribution node. The node glowed with a dull red light. The power network was threaded through the deep crust of Eros and came to the surface at various locations around the planet. Any of them would be suitable for the chemical cloak distribution.

“You sure you know what you’re doing?” Torent asked Jack.

Jack set the blast laser power cell next to the node.

“No,” he said, “but I’m sure Sarah Reyes did. If we smash the canister and the power node, the chemical will be delivered to the atmosphere. Only trouble is, it’ll knock out all power to the entire planet.”

Jack looked at the blast laser power cell control systems. He could set it to overload and deliver the correct explosive yield. The power cell would reach the correct yield in a short time. He realized all too clearly now the shortcoming in his plan. They didn’t have enough time.

“Okay, Sam,” Jack said. “You start back to the corvette and wait for me there.”

Torent stepped toward the corridor out to the field of Chits outside. He hesitated. “How long will you be?”

“I’ll be right behind you.”

“I’ll wait,” Torent said.

“You can’t wait,” Jack said. “I need you to get the corvette ready to fly.”

“I’m no pilot, Jack,” Torent said.

Jack turned to Torent. “Just activate the power systems, okay?”

“Not really,” Torent said. “We go together.”

Jack shook his head. “I need to…” He hesitated.

“You need to what?” Torent said.

“You wouldn’t understand. It’s technical.”

“Try me,” Torent said.

Jack stood up. “Just get back to the corvette and wait for me. That’s an order, Commander.”

Torent swung his pulse rifle over his shoulder and folded his arms across his chest. He leaned against the wall. “You said yourself, there is no Fleet Marine Service left on Eros. You can’t order me, so tell me, Jack, what’s so technical?”

Jack sat down on the side of the power distribution node and sighed. “The overload system on the blast laser power cell, it’s got a set time to detonation.”

“How long?” Torent said.

“I can set it and run for the corvette. I’m faster than you. I can make it if you aren’t slowing me down.”

“I’m not that much slower than you, Jack,” Torent said.

“You’re still not fast enough. You won’t have time.”

“How long, Jack?”

Jack hesitated. He thought for a moment. “About three minutes.”

“Well, now I know you’re feeding me a load of garbage.”

“You would know, wouldn’t you?” Jack said.

“You wouldn’t say about this time or about that time. You would know exactly what the time to detonation would be, so it sounds like a load of kravin garbage to me, Jack.”

“Okay,” Jack said, throwing his hands in the air. “Three minutes. It is exactly three minutes.”

Torent walked over to the power cell. “I can make it to the corvette in three minutes. Show me how to activate it and you go and get the ship ready.”

Jack looked Torent in the eye. “You can’t do it,” he said calmly.

“Why not?” Torent asked.

“This is my job, Sam. I have to do it.”

“There’s something not right here,” Torent said. “Why you being so weird about it?”

“Because there’s not enough time, that’s why.”

“Three minutes?” Torent said. “Loads of time.”

“It’s not three minutes,” Jack said quietly

Torent realized what he meant and stood in front of Jack. “Oh, I get it. How much time? And don’t kravin lie to me, Jack.”

“Thirty seconds,” Jack said immediately.

“Oh,” Torent said quietly. “That’s not enough time to get back to the corvette.”

“No,” Jack said. “So you go. I’ll set it to overload and I’ll run like kravin fury to make it. I stand a better chance of making that run than you.”

Torent smiled at Jack. “Didn’t take you for the suicidal type, Jack,” Torent said. “I can do it.”

Jack shook his head. He was not going to let Torent give his life. Jack had ordered him into many deadly situations, but this was Jack’s job now. He wasn’t going to let Torent take on the duty.

“I can’t let you do it, Sam,” Jack said sadly.

Torent beamed, his face covered in a bright grin. “I can set off the overload.” He grabbed his right arm by the wrist and twisted. The arm came away, falling out of his sleeve. The back tendrils at the end writhed in the air. “I can do it one-handed,” Sam said, holding up his prosthetic arm.

Jack looked at Sam with a mixture of confusion and amusement. “How?”

“I’ve been practicing. Look.” Torent set his arm down on the ground and walked away. “I can get it to work from a distance. Look.”

Torent’s prosthetic arm began to crawl along the floor with its fingers. Then the fore finger tapped the floor.

“See?” Torent said. “Set up the arm on the overload switch and I can set it from almost a hundred meters. That’s halfway to the corvette. Thirty seconds might be enough.”

Jack clasped a hand on Torent’s shoulder. He smiled brightly. “You sure you can manage without the arm?” Jack said.

“I’d be delighted,” Torent said. “The kravin thing is nothing but a pain in the ass…well, the shoulder.”

Jack pulled his micro drone out of his pocket and let it hang in the air. “We can see using this,” he said. “Put your arm on the power cell, Sam,” Jack said.

Torent made the arm crawl with its fingers toward the blast laser power cell.

“Don’t mess about, Sam,” Jack said. “Hurry, please.”

Torent stomped over to the arm and picked it up off the floor. “Always so serious, Jack,” Torent said. He set the arm down on the power cell.

Jack pointed at the correct switch. Torent placed his prosthetic arm’s first finger over the switch. Jack called up the image from the micro drone and displayed it on his wrist-mounted holostage. He unclipped the holostage. Torent held out his arm and Jack strapped it on Torent’s left arm.

Jack nodded at Sam. “Okay. You hold at one hundred meters while I power the corvette. Give me sixty seconds to get the ship ready then you can sprint over so we can take off. It’ll be close, but we should make it.”

Torent nodded. He handed his pulse rifle over to Jack. “Let me swap for your pistol. It’s easier to handle one-handed.”

Jack nodded. He took Torent’s rifle and slung it over his shoulder, then he unclipped his pulse pistol and handed it over.

Torent looked at the pistol. “Not a patch on the old Fleet Marine Pulse Rifle,” he said.

“You can have your rifle back if you like, but you’ll need your other arm back and then I’ll have to set off the explosion myself,” Jack said.

“Always trying to be the hero, ain’t you, Jacky,” Torent said.

“I never try,” Jack said. “Some things just happen that way.”

The pair readied themselves and turned to the exit. In an unspoken agreement, the pair started off at a jog.

The open doorway was still surrounded by Chitin soldiers, but there was enough room for Jack and Torent to slip past. Just beyond the structure, Torent stopped and looked at the holoimage on the wrist-mounted holostage. Jack nodded and ran off at full speed to the corvette. He ran up the boarding ramp and jumped in the pilot’s chair. A few switches flipped, and the ship was ready for takeoff.

Jack looked out to Torent, who was looking down at the holostage.

“Come on, Sam,” Jack said to himself.

Torent began walking back toward the power distribution node facility. He stopped after a few steps.

“What are you doing? Hurry up, Sam.”

Torent walked toward the facility again, taking huge strides forward.

“What are you doing?” Jack said. And then, Torent turned and started running as fast as Jack had ever seen him move.

As Torent ran, Jack saw a nearby Chitin soldier move toward him. Maybe the noise of his running or a disturbance of the ground brought its attention. Torent raised his pulse pistol and took aim.

“Don’t do it,” Jack said.

Torent fired. The pulse round slammed into the Chitin soldier’s head.

“Krav it all, Sam,” Jack said. He clambered out of the pilot’s chair and ran to the ramp. He grabbed the pulse rifle and took a position on the boarding ramp.

Chitin soldiers were moving in toward Torent, who was now firing at every nearby Chit. The Chitin soldiers were moving in on all sides. Jack took aim and dropped two of the nearest. He shouted out.

“Stop firing, Sam! Run!”

Torent waved Jack back inside the ship and dropped another Chitin soldier with a well-aimed shot.

Chitin soldiers moved in toward Jack firing from the boarding ramp and blocked Torent’s path. Jack let out a burst of fire and dropped the Chits, cutting a path for Torent. He came leaping over the fallen, twitching Chitin soldiers.

Jack ran back to the cockpit. He watched Torent’s progress on the ramp’s surveillance feed. The moment Torent set foot on the ramp, Jack hit the drive.

A Chitin soldier right behind Torent came onto the corvette’s gundeck. Jack began to close the hatch, the Chitin soldier still inside. Torent was sitting and looking up at the towering Chitin soldier as it scurried toward him.

The Chit began to strike out with its stabbing tentacles, jabbing toward Torent.

“Shoot it, Sam!” Jack shouted. “Now you can shoot it!”

Jack could see Torent had lost the pistol and it lay on the ramp as it slowly closed. Jack grabbed the pulse rifle. He held it on his shoulder, pointed backward toward the Chit, and then using the gundeck surveillance feed to aim, he fired a single shot.

The pulse rifle round slammed into the Chitin’s smooth head, knocking it sideways. Torent took the opportunity and scrambled for the pistol. He grabbed it, turned, and fired a number of rounds into the Chit.

“Hold on,” Jack said. “Three seconds. Two. One.”

The flash lit up the interior of the corvette as the light streamed in through the boarding ramp door as it closed the last few centimeters.

Jack turned the corvette on a heading away from the blast. He checked the detonation on the surveillance feed.

A blast came rumbling along the ground toward the fleeing corvette. The Chitin Leviathan was not moved by the blast, but a cloud of gas from the chemical cloak was billowing up into the atmosphere.

The cloud of dust thrown out by the blast was catching up to the corvette. Jack pushed for greater speed, but the ship was designed for maneuvering speeds in the atmosphere and only reached full speed in the vacuum of space. The hull began to rumble as the ship pushed through the atmosphere, the explosion blast catching up rapidly.

Then the shockwave hit, pitching the corvette forward. Jack struggled to regain control, his hands moving over the flight console, pushing the stabilizing thrusters into action and attempting to power out of the wave.

A power conduit ruptured toward the rear of the gundeck, vapor streaming out of the conduit.

“I’ve got this,” Torent said and started to lock down the rupture.

The corvette stabilized and moved ahead of the wave. Jack slowed the corvette and pushed it higher into the atmosphere. He turned the ship and looked back to the power distribution node. A column of gas was rising and leveling off, spreading out in all directions like an umbrella. The cloud continued to billow out of the power node site and stream across the sky.

“Sam,” Jack called out. “Report.”

“I’ve got the rupture under control,” Torent said. He picked up the pulse pistol and walked toward the cockpit, firing a couple of rounds casually into the fallen Chitin soldier as he stepped past it.

“We’ve done it, Sam,” Jack said.

Torent dropped into the copilot seat and looked at the forward view screen.

“You did it, Jack.”

“Well, you had a hand in it,” Jack said.

Torent laughed. “A hand it in, good one, Jack,” Torent said.

Jack looked at Torent in confusion.

“A hand in it,” Torent said again. He pointed at his loose left sleeve.

Jack saw the joke. He still didn’t find it funny.

“What’s next, Jack?” Torent asked. “You ready to retire now that you have saved the world?”

Jack turned the corvette away from the billowing cloud of chemical cloak streaming into the upper atmosphere. “Let’s form up the battalion before we monitor the cloak and decide on our next step.”

Torent nodded. “Copy that,” he said and put his feet up on the flight console.

Jack slapped his feet away. “Go and drop that dead Chit out of the boarding ramp and take a seat in the back,” Jack said.

“Copy that, sir,” Torent said and climbed out of the copilot’s seat.

Jack set a heading to take him toward Laidlaw’s and Boa’s last-known position. The Scorpio Battalion had been through a lot these last few days. Maybe, just maybe, it was finally all over.

19

Jack and Sam Torent stood on the broken roof of the civilian spaceport awaiting the arrival of Cobra and Boa Companies. Adder Company was holding the perimeter around the spaceport. Boa Company came in from the northwest, where the Chitin attack on the stadium Leviathan was still in progress. The plasma arcs still lit up the sky.

“Those Chitin Hydras are giving that Leviathan a beating,” Torent said.

A formation of Hydras raced overhead. Jack and Sam instinctively took cover, but the chemical cloak was still effective and the Hydras ignored the pair. Jack watched them fly toward the distant attack on the Leviathan.

Jack looked to the distant battle where Chitin Hydras, attracted and stimulated by the inverted cloak that Laidlaw had delivered, were firing at their own massive warship.

“Why doesn’t the Leviathan fire back?” Torent said.

“It can’t fire on its own kind,” Jack said. “It’s only the inverted cloak that makes the Hydras attack.”

“How much damage can a Leviathan take?” Torent said with a breath of exasperation.

“They are tough ships,” Jack said.

And then at that moment, the distant sky lit up. A deep rumble was felt at first and then heard, the huge rumble of a massive explosion. A dust cloud came racing over the ground and a fireball grew above the horizon. Then, climbing out of the fireball, came a Leviathan, listing to one side with fire erupting from its shell-like hull, and still there were the flicker of plasma arcs from distant specks of the attacking Hydras.

Then the Leviathan fell back to the ground, lost in a billowing cloud of dust and fire.

Jack aimed his field scanner at the distant explosion. It was satisfying to see a Leviathan fall. And then on the ground in the near distance, Jack saw movement. He focused his field scanner on the area. It was a company of Marines. Laidlaw was bringing Boa back to the battalion.

Jack turned to a runner sitting nearby. “Take word to the northern observation post. Marines approaching from the north. Let them in.”

Jack went down to the ground level to greet Laidlaw. They met outside the smashed walls of the civilian spaceport and shook hands warmly.

“Good to see you, sir,” Laidlaw said, exhausted and dirty from two days scrabbling through the rubble of the city and hard fighting.

“You too,” Jack said. “Good work delivering that inverted chemical to the Leviathan. We just saw it destroyed,” Jack said. “Great work, Stuart.”

Laidlaw nodded. “Boa Company fought hard, sir. Now we’re just glad to be out of the fight.”

“It’s not over yet,” Jack said gravely. “Eros is still swarming with Chitin soldiers.”

Laidlaw nodded.

“And there are still Hydras and Leviathans inside the atmosphere,” Jack said.

“I saw the chemical cloak enter the atmosphere,” Laidlaw said. “Isn’t that going to blind them to us from now on?”

“The ones in orbit will ignore the planet, sure,” Jack said. “But those inside the atmosphere…” Jack shrugged. “Looks like they are staying. We still have a fight on our hands to clear those Chits out.”

Laidlaw looked at Jack slack-jawed and stunned. “One battalion against a planet-wide invasion. There must be thousands and thousands of them still on the planet.”

Jack nodded. “But there are civilians too. We have to do our best to protect them.”

Sam Torent came running over to Jack and Laidlaw.

“Cobra Company coming in from the west, sir,” Torent said.

Jack stood at a table in the makeshift command center on the corvette rear gundeck. Sam Torent and Stuart Laidlaw stood with him. Erin Bevan came up the boarding ramp, pulse rifle slung over her shoulder. She stepped up to the table and placed a small flask with a grenade strapped to it on the table.

“It’s that inverted cloak,” she explained. “We made a whole batch of them at the chemical plant.”

Torent picked up the grenade with the flask attached. A small device that would spread the inverted cloak over any Chitin and make them the target for a brutal and withering attack from their own kind.

“Good work, Erin,” Jack said.

“And we’ve got enough of the chemical cloak to make the entire battalion invisible to the Chits. My squad leaders are spraying everyone now.”

Jack nodded. “Great work, Erin, but we have more to do.”

Torent placed the grenade back on the table. “How many of these have you got?” he asked. “We’ll need thousands of them.”

“I’ve made just over two dozen. The inverted chemical isn’t an issue, but we only have so many grenades.”

Jack removed the grenade from the table and pointed at the simple map of the city he had drawn on the tabletop.

“Supplies,” Jack said. “That is our first objective. We need ammunition if we’re going to fight off these Chits.”

Jack pointed to the Fleet Command and Control buildings on the map. “There are supplies here. I want a team scouting and bringing back anything they can carry.”

Bevan held up her hand. “Adder Company hasn’t moved so much in the last few days. I’ll pick a team from Adder.”

Jack nodded. “But we also need to assess the enemy strength and position. I want every Leviathan in the city identified so we can take them down with the inverted cloak. Set the Chits against the big ships and then we can deal with the leftovers.”

A crackling sound from the cockpit drew everyone’s attention. The communicator was coming alive with a transmission.

“Who’s transmitting?” Jack said in annoyance. “Don’t they realize they’ll be found?”

A voice came through the crackling of a weak signal.

“The Chits are attacking each other,” the voice said. “I’ve just seen a Leviathan get destroyed by its own kind.”

“Who is that?” Torent said.

“It’s a civilian channel,” Jack said. He dropped in to the pilot seat and listened intently.

“The Chits on the ground and the ones in the air were all attacking the big warship. I’ll keep you all informed of any other developments.”

“They are going to get themselves killed,” Laidlaw said.

“Wait,” the voice said. “There is a Leviathan approaching now. Looks like I’ll have a ringside seat when this one gets attacked. I can’t tell you how kravin big this ship is. It’s moving in slowly.”

“Stop transmitting,” Bevan whispered.

“There are a few of the small ships coming too, and I think I can see some Chitin soldiers on the ground. Wait a minute. The little ships are not attacking the big one this time. I think they are going to fire their weapons.”

And the channel went dead.

Jack stood up from the pilot’s seat. “And we need to find as many civilians as we can and tell them not to transmit.”

“How are we going to get to everyone?” Torent said. “Maybe we could send one quick message on a broad channel and tell anyone and everyone to maintain communication silence.”

“But that will bring the Chits down on us,” Laidlaw said.

Jack snapped his fingers. “Of course,” he said. “The transmission will bring the Chits down on us. I think I’ve got a way to clear Eros of the Chits. Well, the Leviathans and Hydras at least. Okay, here’s my plan.”

20

Jack stood on the base of the boarding ramp with Sam Torent, Erin Bevan, and Stuart Laidlaw.

“We all know what to do,” he said. “Good luck.”

Bevan and Laidlaw saluted.

“You sure you can do this by yourself?” Bevan said.

“All I need is a ship and a communicator. Sam can assist me. You won’t have much need of a one-armed Marine down here.”

“It’s my best arm,” Torent said. He clenched a fist and held it up as if to challenge Jack. “At least, it is now.”

“Let me send some Marines with you to service the corvette’s weapons,” Laidlaw said.

Jack considered it. “I won’t need them, and you need every Marine available down here.”

“There are some walking wounded,” Laidlaw said. “I would only have them hold the command post. They can go with you.”

“If this works, I won’t need them. If it doesn’t, they’ll be safer down here than up there with me,” Jack said.

“Great,” Torent said. “So why don’t I get to sit on my kravin ass in the command post too?”

Jack looked at Torent. “You can stay if you want, Sam.”

Torent shrugged. “Nah, I’ll go.”

Bevan and Laidlaw saluted Jack. Jack returned the salute and then walked up the ramp.

“Close the ramp behind you, Sam,” Jack said. “Let’s get out of here.”

Climbing out of the spaceport gave Jack a view over the city. He climbed higher and spotted the fires of the fallen Chitin craft. A horde of Chitin soldiers were moving through the city in a wide sweep. They would reach the command post at the civilian spaceport in a little under an hour.

Torent leaned forward and looked closer.

“We should go back and let the battalion know the Chits are closing in,” Torent said.

“They’ll do just fine,” Jack said. “Besides, we don’t need to go back. I’ll tell them right now.”

Jack looked over to Torent.

Torent nodded.

“Ready?” Jack asked.

“Ready,” Torent replied.

“Opening a channel now.” Jack reached out for the communicator, then he hesitated. The corvette was currently invisible to the Chitins thanks to the chemical cloak. As soon as he hit that button, he would light up like a flare and bring the Chitins against him.

“Attention, Scorpio Battalion. Chitin ground forces advancing from the south. Stand by to defend your CP.”

Jack deactivated the channel.

“I’m sure they’d say thanks if they could,” Torent said.

Jack nodded. He looked at the passive scanners. A flight of Hydras was moving toward the corvette at speed.

“Incoming, Sam. Let’s take them on a ride.”

Jack powered the drive and pushed the corvette to speed. He checked the progress of the Hydras moving to intercept. They had reached the point where Jack’s transmission had been made and were holding position.

Jack opened the channel again.

“This is Jack Forge, Scorpio Battalion, Fleet Marine Service.”

The Hydras leapt to high speed and moved in on the corvette. Another flight of Hydras approached on the port side. Jack moved off with a burst of speed. He stopped and waited and watched. The Hydras formed up into a massed squadron. Jack hit the communicator controls again.

“This is Corvette Scorpio One.”

The Hydras moved in again, another group moving in on an intercept course. Jack moved off slowly and let the Hydras come close to his tail. He pushed the passive scanners to their limit. Hydras were moving in from all over the continent.

“This is Jack Forge aboard Scorpio One. Scorpio Battalion.” Jack powered the drive and accelerated away. The Chitin Hydras followed. “Major Jack Forge and Commander Sam Torent of the Fleet Marine Service.”

Jack saw the Hydras moving in on all sides. They darkened the sky with their number, all converging on the continually moving transmission. A plasma arc leapt out from one of the Hydras and then another, the plasma arcs converging and sparkling in the evening sky.

“Come on, Chitins, is that the best you can do?” Torent said into the communicator.

Jack took evasive action as a flight of Hydras and a Leviathan moved in on an intercept course. Jack punched the corvette higher into the atmosphere.

“Bring that kravin Chit fire up here,” Torent said. “You Chits ain’t nothing but a bunch of scroats. I’ll beat you down with my one good arm.”

Jack turned to Sam and gave him a puzzled and amused look.

Torent saw Jack staring. He shrugged. “I’m running out of things to say.”

Jack pointed at the communicator.

Sam reactivated it. “I’m running out of things to say to you Chits. All of you Chits ain’t nothing. I’ll take you all on. Me and Jack Forge will smash your hulls with a legendary beat-down.”

Jack saw the Chitin craft following, advancing on the transmission only to find it had moved. Jack pushed the corvette vertically and climbed out of the atmosphere. Black space filled the view screen. Jack powered on. He activated the communicator.

“This is Major Jack Forge. Fleet Marines. Welcome to space.” Jack switched off the communicator and turned to Torent. “That’s enough. We’ve cleared the atmosphere.”

Jack turned the ship, tipping it end over end, and pointed the nose back at Eros. The corvette still moved away from the planet, but Jack could see the blue planet and the swarm of Chitin craft. The passive scanners showed hundreds of craft, including several Leviathans, all following the signal that had now vanished.

“What if they just return to the planet?” Torent said.

Jack watched. The Chitin formation was beginning to drift apart, opening out into a defuse arrangement of ships.

“They don’t know where it is,” Jack said.

Then a number of ships accelerated toward the corvette. Jack turned the ship and moved away, maintaining his distance.

“Do you think they have spotted us?” Torent asked.

“I don’t know, but why don’t we give them a more attractive target. See if you can find one of Bevan’s grenades, Sam.”

Torent clambered out of the copilot’s chair. Jack watched the pursuing Chits. Every Chitin signal was beyond the atmosphere of Eros. Every Chitin craft was in space. Amazingly, not a single craft was left on Eros. Any that had been in orbit had long drifted away, but the hundreds of Hydras and the Leviathans that had been inside the atmosphere were now pursuing Jack’s little ship.

“I’ve got a crate of them here,” Torent said. “Six grenades. What’s the plan, Jack?”

“Load them into the high-density shot cannon and get ready to fire. Let’s put some distance between us and Eros first. Full power to the drive. Hurry up, Sam. I don’t know how long I can keep ahead of them.”

The lead Leviathan closed in on the corvette. Jack pushed the drive to melting point.

“How’s that cannon coming along, Sam?” Jack called out.

“Done. Loaded. We’ve got three shots.”

Jack turned the ship about its midpoint and brought the cannon around.

“I’ve got that Leviathan in my sights,” Torent said.

“Fire.”

Jack watched the surface of the Leviathan on the passive scanner. The small detonations of the grenades lit up like tiny specks of lights glinting against the dark hull.

Then the Leviathan lit up as a plasma arc blasted out from an adjacent Leviathan, targeting its companion.

“It worked,” Jack said. “Target another, Sam. Let’s put the cat amongst the pigeons.”

“Or the Chit amongst the Chitins,” Torent’s said, firing another blast from the cannon.

A second Leviathan lit up with tiny flecks of fire as the grenades with the inverted cloak exploded on its surface. The tiny detonations were never going to make a scratch on the powerful Chitin warship, but it would attract the plasma arcs from the surrounding Chits, and a Chitin plasma arc was an extremely powerful weapon.

Nearby Leviathans slashed out with their plasma arcs, firing on one of the tainted Leviathans and then the other. The Hydras moved in, their smaller arcs flickering over the dark hulls of the Leviathans, spitz cannon blasts slamming in and lighting up the targets.

Jack moved off at speed as the Chitin ships turned their firepower against the two Leviathans.

“One more shot, Jack,” Torent said.

“Save it. We might need it,” Jack said. “We’re heading to Zelos. We’re gonna make sure the Chitins go home.”

The massive gas giant world of Zelos was surrounded by Chitin Leviathans. The armada that had attacked and surrounded Eros had drifted away after the chemical cloak had hit the atmosphere and effectively hid the planet. They were now hanging in orbit above their home world.

Jack deactivated the drive, powered down the ship to minimal power, and coasted past the massive planet.

“Looks like they returned home,” Torent said. “We did it, Jack,”

“It’s not over yet,” Jack said, looking at the scanner. There is still quite a fight going on back on Eros. “I wonder how they are holding out on Eros?”

As if in answer to his question, a deep space message was detected. “This is Commander Laidlaw. We have come under heavy ground attack, but we are holding out. There is no Chitin air craft anywhere on Eros. We’ve been joined by a squadron of Blades, and they report clear skies. The Blades are assisting the battalion. We will clear Eros eventually, sir. We understand if you can’t respond. Laidlaw out.”

“Did you hear that, Sam?” Jack called back along the gundeck.

Jack turned and looked back at Torent. He was rigging the blast cannon to fire.

“What are you doing, Sam?” Jack asked.

“They attacked us, Jack. We can’t let them get away with it. I can’t let them get away with it. They took my arm, Jack. They nearly took my life.”

“Hold fire!” Jack shouted.

“Negative, Major,” Torent said with a mischievous smile.

Jack looked at the passive scanner and saw the small shot race away from the corvette, a small collection of grenades with the flasks of inverted chemical cloak.

“What have you done, Sam?” Jack shouted.

“Just a little payback.”

The grenades raced toward the planet and disappeared into the atmosphere.

Jack watched the ships surrounding the planet, and then, as one, every Chitin ship—Leviathan and Hydra and Kraken—fired their weapons into the gas clouds of the giant planet.

The firepower was intense and terrifying. Hundreds of ships firing at once.

Then Chitin craft came racing in from their furthest reaches of the system and added their fire power to the attack. Jack looked on, horrified and mesmerized.

Despite the display of firepower, Jack doubted that even the combined might of the Chitin fleet could destroy the planet. Even if it did, there were more than enough ships and soldiers in orbit to wreak havoc across the system. Jack assumed the effects of the inverted chemical cloak would wear off before too long, anyway.

Either way, the Chitins had attacked only after humanity had attempted to mine the gas clouds of Zelos. As long as humanity stayed clear of Zelos, they should be able to live in the system free from attack.

The communicator crackled as another message was detected. Jack checked the Chitin armada one more time. They were still attacking their own world with as much fury as they had ever deployed against the Eros Fleet and the Fleet Marines.

Jack turned back to the console to check the incoming communication.

Torent dropped into the copilot’s chair next to Jack. “We got a message?” he asked, casually and lightly, almost as if setting the entire Chitin armada against their home world meant nothing to him at all.

The communication was weak, the signal too distant and too defuse to carry visuals or speech. Only a single tone signal could be detected.

“It’s code,” Jack said. He listened to the series of beeps.

“Code?” Torent asked. He put his feet up in the flight console.

Jack slapped Torent’s feet off the console, then adjusted the communication receiver. “Yes, for very long-distance communication. I’ll have to put it through the decryption core.”

Torent climbed out of the copilot’s seat and wandered into the rear of the corvette. “I think I saw some ration blocks back here,” he said. “You want one?”

The small holostage on the flight console showed a holograph text message.

“Listen up, Sam. It’s a message from the carrier Scepter. They are under attack from unknown forces. They request assistance from any and all Fleet vessels.”

“Ration blocks,” Torent said. He walked back to the cockpit and dropped a silver-covered ration block in front of Jack. “Eat,” he said.

“The Scepter?” Jack said to himself. “I think Sarah went on the Scepter when they left Eros.”

Torent took a bite from his ration block. He chewed greedily. “So what you going to do?”

Jack set a course. “We’ve got no crew and no ammunition.”

Torent pulled out the Fleet Marine Pulse Pistol from his holster and dropped it onto the console.

“We got some,” Torent said, taking another bite of the ration block.

“They’ve got a three-day head start and are under attack from an unknown force. We don’t know if one corvette and two Marines are going to be of any help at all.”

“Want to go and find out?” Torent said.

“I’ve already sent us on our way,” Jack said. “Drive at full power. Heading out of the Eros System now.”

Torent tapped the passive scanner and called up the image of Eros. The small planet was receding fast until it was just a dot. Zelos was surrounded by Chitin warships firing their weapons in a wild firefight that seemed to be raging between all the ships.

“How long until we make it to the Scepter?” Torent asked.

Jack shrugged. “Don’t know. It’ll be hard to find them out there. We don’t know where they were heading. Hopefully, they’ll keep transmitting so we can approach and offer assistance.”

“Wake me when we get there,” Torent said and crossed his arm over his chest, still chewing a chunk of ration block.

Jack looked out into the black. Somewhere out there was Sarah Reyes. If she had not discovered the chemical cloak and the inverted form of the chemical that drove Chitins to destroy themselves, then the Fleet and every human in the Eros System would be no more. She deserved a chance at being saved from this unknown enemy.

Jack was in a position to help. He had been transformed from a mild university student and sole survivor of his family into a Marine, an officer, and a hero. It had been a long time, and no time at all, and through it all, he had been Forged by War.

THANK YOU

Thank you so much for reading the stories in the Jack Forge Fleet Marine Boxed Set. I hope you enjoyed following Jack as he went from unwilling hero to Fleet Marine commander. It would be awesome if you left a review for me. That really helps me know how my stories are doing.

Humanity may have survived the Chitins, but they are far from safe. There are more adventures coming in a new series starring Jack and some of the other heroes from this series. The first book in the new series is called Lost Marine and you can get it on Amazon now.

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I also have another military science fiction series you might like. It’s called the Outcast Marines. It features a cast of “heroes” who are anything but heroes. In fact, they are all criminals. They will be called on to save humanity, though, so we better hope that these “bad guys” can step up and save the day. The first book in the series is called Outcasts of Earth and you can get it on Amazon.

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