Episode XVIII
Secret voyages to Heave and Hell. (Part. 2)
 

 Kate stepped gingerly off the pad and fell down into the dust hard, a cloud rose around her feat and spun slowly before resting, finally, on her boots. She gripped the assault rifle hard; the weapon was square, and yet curved at the corners. The weapon looked similar to the ones that the marines wore on their arms, except this one had a visible trigger, and a but. She forced the but into her shoulder, and felt the cold hard metal against her uniform. She sighted down the guard and pulled the weapon from one side to the other, watching for any enemies that might be out there, but if they were hiding, Kate doubted that she’d have seen them in a quick sweep. She lowered the weapon and everyone came out quickly. They all landed in the dust sending it flying. The lead marine turned to everyone. His voice was half muffled by the respirator.
 “All right, here’s the plan. There’s a large room just over here.” He drew a large square in the sand. “Joining up with this room are several corridors, leading to other parts of the station. We don’t have a chart on this station, so don’t get lost. When a team finds the package, activate your homing beacon, it’ll lead us all to it.” The marine commander searched the faces of his listeners. “You know your teams, head out.” The marines saluted and yelled out ‘sir.’ They pulled away from the group. Dove fidgeted quietly with his mask.
 “Damn.” He swore quietly, Kate spun around to try and hear what happened, her braid swung as she turned and new dust kicked up around her feet.
 “What is it?” Dove looked don into the sand, as if an answer was hidden among each grain. He found nothing, looking up, he searched Kate’s eyes for an answer. Ridow eyed the man coolly one of his pistols fitted comfortably in his grip.
 “I’m not sure.” Dove said slowly. “A feeling.” Kate nodded slowly.
 “Let’s get to work.” She said quickly. They trotted quickly after the marines. Sand lifted quietly up around their feet. The sun was low in the horizon and set the planet in a red and brown tone. The building was large, dark, and it blocked out the sun as they approached it. Streaks could be sun running down the plate metal. The Vasudan writing had been crudely sprayed over with warnings of death and destruction. Ridow gave a small laugh.
 “Looks like they don’t want company.” Kate walked up to a heavy door set in the side of the wall. “Why wants to knock?” Ridow asked dryly. Kate looked over the console, it hadn’t been replaced, it was still a Vasudan keypad. Kate looked it over quickly and turned to Vo’rant.
 “You have a password?” Kate asked quickly. She fixed her mask to allow the airflow to increase. Vo’rant stepped forward, sending larger clumps of sand up around his large feet. He placed his large Vasudan Plasma Caster between his hand and his shoulder. He shook his head slowly.
 “I have no password for this base.” Then he thought a moment. “But, perhaps…” He quickly punched in a few numbers on the keypad. Vo’rant pulled his hand away, and touched it to the side of his head. Kate heard a sharp metallic click as the barker disengaged. Vo’rant went back to the computer.
 “Kosh’ick mo’tah, groh’hi di’voh.” The computer said quickly in Vasudan. Vo’rant hit another series of keys. Ridow bounced back and forth on his feet, trying to remember where the marines had gone in, and if they had survived. Vo’rant continued with the computer, pushing buttons and talking to himself quietly. The Marine commander came over the comm. system.
 “Captain Norrow, are you inside? We can’t find a way around here.” Kate shook her head as she raised a hand to her ear.
 “Vo’rant’s working on the panel.” Vo’rant turned sharply.
 “Kish’doh, mi’iran…” Vo’rant cut himself off quickly, as he suddenly realized his barker wasn’t turned on. He quickly went back to the control panel. Kate was about to say something to the lead marine when Vo’rant smiled. Vo’rant quickly punched in the last few keys, and showed the small screen his wrist, it scanned him quickly. And then the door slowly began to open. Vo’rant switched his barker back on and turned to Kate. “I used my Home Guard security clearance to override all the doors in this area.” The marines suddenly yelled out.
 “My god…” One of them began. Kate suddenly stepped through the open door, they were in a small corridor, there was a door at the end. They all pilled in and the outer door began to close. Kate suddenly readied her weapon.
 “What’s wrong?” Kate asked, she didn’t know what was going on. What had those marines found? Did they need help? What was…?
 “Don’t let Captain Vo’rant enter this room. Holly…” Vo’rant suddenly searched the room. Kate shook her head. She turned to Vo’rant.
 “May be a biological weapon of some kind.” Vo’rant nodded. She switched back on the comm. unit. “Is it a gas? Can we open the door.” There was quiet. Tension was running high in the small cramped space. Vo’rant looked particularly worried. Strange for a Vasudan, Kate thought to herself. She waited for the marine’s reply; it was slow to come.
 “Door is secure, but don’t let Vo’rant out of there.” Kate nodded slowly. She turned to Vo’rant. “I’ll make sure.” Vo’rant nodded slowly. Kate walked up to the heavy door, and taking a long, deep, breath, she hit the release on the large door and it slid gracefully open. Kate pushed herself out of the door, and into the large hall. The sight stunned her into disbelief.

     * * *

 David shifted in his captain’s chair. He looked over report after report. He watched the ship’s life ease itself around his deck. Officers checking status, crewmen writing down ships status. David looked over the most recent report, a long-range scan, and high-resolution imaging of a dark station. Like Frankenstine, this station was created from the parts of the dead. Orion class destroyers had been stripped of their metal and reformed into a massive beast. The engines of the mighty ships had been salvaged, and were placed on either side of the apparatus. On one side there was a control tower. David figured the station wasn’t built for fun. It had four collectors strewn about its hideous hull. These collectors shot beams of pure energy into a central stream of fire sending a blast that had only been seen once before; on the Lucifer. Somehow the NTF was building a new Lucifer. David had no doubt that this was only a test, a prelude for something more sinister. But this was not a cheeze Star Gars rip-off; this weapon’s weak points were well guarded. Each collector was guarded by at least five blue beam turrets, meaning that no fighter, or any bomb for that matter, could make it in to hit the collector. Only the fire from another beam turret, on top of a destroyer, could even hope to fight it. The captain of the ship stepped up to David. David turned his chair slowly too great her.
“What do you think?” David asked slowly. The Captain picked up the small pad and looked over the large high-resolution images. She smoothed down her short air; she always did that when she got nervous. She was new, only a few months on this vessel, but already she was proving herself to be a valuable commodity. A strong leader, and brilliant tactician. It almost made David fear for his position, almost.
 “It’ll be finished within the day.” David nodded slowly. “We must attack.” She said tossing the pad down. David nodded slowly; he slouched in his chair he wanted to avoid that, at least until that battle fleet got here. But what if the GTVA intercepted them, then what? Then they’d be on their own, but time was running short, and David had to act quickly if any of them were going to survive.
 “Any way around it?” David asked slowly. The Captain shook her head. David swore. He searched the room, looking at each person. Each one could die, each one had a history, a past, a family, and they might die. Death was not selective, David knew that, but it was a risk he shared with everyone, and this time it was time to ask for the ultimate sacrifice. If they won, they’d be heroes. If they lost, they’ll still be heroes. Time to die. “All right.” David began. “I want a meeting in two hours, come up with as many strategy’s as possible.” The captain saluted, and walked quickly off the bridge. David let out a long sigh. “Where are you Richard?” David asked quietly to himself. But there was no more time to act, he stood quickly. “Keep scanning that node, I want to know the instant there’s a spike.” An officer saluted and gave a dry ‘yes sir.’ But that was what everything was today, dry, even the water.

     * * *

 Kate stepped out into the great hall. But there was nothing great about what she saw. The floor was hard, and covered with dirt. Kate’s eyes trailed up the dark walls, they were covered with blood, Vasudan blood. Her eyes trailed high, and there, hanging from the rafters, were about a hundred Vasudans, massacred, hanging dead from the rafters. Ropes were swung around their necks, and they hung there, motionless, dead. There, in among the lifeless bodies, was one Vasudan with a cloak. His sword, much like that of Vo’rant, was pushed hard through his chest. Kate didn’t have the words to explain the sight. The marines moved slowly, below the bodies, watching the doors. Kate turned quickly, but not enough time to stop Vo’rant. The strong Vasudan pulled himself free of Dove and Ridow, he charged out into the open room. The sight caught him off guard.
 Vo’rant fell to his knees. He changed right there; he turned into someone Kate had never known. The gun clattered to the sand-covered floor. The marines turned sharply, and swore quietly to themselves. Anger, sadness, and fear all filled Vo’rant’s eyes. Ridow stepped out and Dove was right next to him. Vo’rant looked up into the dead eyes of his comrades. He stood lowly. He looked up at the single Vasudan with the cloak. Vo’rant picked up his weapon, and shot the Vasudan down. The body fell to a clump on the floor; the cloak was stained in blood. Vo’rant cradled the dead Vasudan’s head in his hands.
 “Who…” Vo’rant staggered. “Who did this?” Ridow walked up.
 “Richtoven.” Ridow said slowly. Ridow believed what he had seen, what he had felt, he knew that Richtoven was to blame for this atrocity, Ridow had watched from Sirus’ eyes, not being able to move a muscle. He had watched in horror as Richtoven pushed the blade through that helpless Vasudan’s chest. “Richtoven slew that one..” Vo’rant quickly cut in.
 “Ma’rian, of house Ki’snah.” Ridow looked upset, he quickly made the correction to his last sentence.
 “Richtoven killed Ma’rian, he took his sword, and killed him. Then ordered the execution of the rest.” Vo’rant closed his eyes slowly.
 “Richtoven, is mine.” Vo’rant said slowly, stuttering, trying to hold himself together. Kate shook her head.
 “No” She began, Vo’rant looked up at her quickly, obviously startled. “Richtoven is mine.” Vo’rant almost stood, almost drew his sword.
 “You will deny me…” Kate cut him off quickly.
 “No, I made a promise, a blood oath that can not be broken. Extinguisher will avenge the Black Sparrows by killing him, if Extinguisher dies, then that duty falls on me." Vo’rant nodded slowly.
 “Then you will kill him in my name?” Kate just looked at the tall Vasudan. Then she nodded slowly. Vo’rant pulled the sword slowly out of his friend. He let his head slump back unto the floor. He slammed the sword, point down, into the deck, it rang with a metallic thud, but the sword stayed erect. Vo’rant stood. “We must continue.” Kate nodded slowly. The marines checked the door. Kate and the rest of them ran up quickly. They fanned out quickly down the halls. Dove took up the rear.
 Dove was picking up the rear, he held his weapon close to himself, he didn’t like being back among his old comrades. He turned a corner; a small silver cylinder came up in front of him…

     * * *

Richtoven smiled to himself, everything was going according to his plan. The Leader for the Shivans had entered his compound, and she was almost exactly where he wanted. Now, he only had to lead her to Extinguisher, and his death would be the beginning of her downfall. Only a few more things to take care of first, only a few small details that had to be ironed out. A few things to set up, and a few traps to set.

    * * *

Kate walked steadily down the hallways, watching the marines in front of her. She hadn’t noticed Dove was missing, she didn’t have time to call out, a marine rounded a corner, there was a yell, and a horrible metal ring. The marines turned, and opened fire, but soon their fire was drowned out, they staggered backwards, fending off swords, each blast hit strong and cutting at the marines. Time seemed to slow down as the fighting continued. One of the marines drew a knife and stabbed one of his attackers. The Marine leader turned to Kate.
“Go!” He yelled as a sword bit into his stomach. He pushed his gun into his attacker and fired. He slumped against a wall and died. Kate, Ridow, and Vo’rant quickly pushed themselves into a room, Ridow slipped, he fell to the floor, he was dazed, but he got to his feet. They were in a new corridor, this time there were tow ways. Kate looked down each corridor in tern.
“Damn, there’s no way to tell them apart.” She looked hard down one, and then turned to the other. The gray walls both looked the same, but how were they to know what was what, even Vo’rant was stumped on which way to go. Kate turned down one of the passages, and started to walk. The rest of them followed her. The walk was long, they ran half the time, the other half they dove from wall to wall, from niche to niche. They watched the corridor quietly, expecting at any minute an enemy attack. They turned a corner.

    * * *

The GTD Requiem floated slowly in space; they fired the engines and pushed themselves towards the large station. Crews ran from stations to prep the ship for battle. The engines flared and the ship powered itself through space. David sat in his small chair he was uncomfortable, he always was before a battle. His crew was well versed, they had been through hell with him, and he knew that they wouldn’t let him down. The ship continued to move towards the planet, there was no resistance, nothing moved in the depths of space. An officer walked up with several pads; he handed them quickly to David. David read over the status reports, and handing them back to the officer he nodded quietly. They were ready to die, all of them, they were ready to die. Death would have its day, but perhaps that day was not today. Another officer walked up and handed David a series of battle plans David looked over a battle plans, there were two, one was a direct assault on the collectors, and the other was a sneaking maneuver around the stations blind spot. David nodded to the direct assault, get in quick and take out the station, that was his brilliant plan.

    * * *

Sirus walked slowly alongside Dove, there were several guards around him, and a large platoon following from behind. Dove didn’t look up at his old comrade, he didn’t want to see him, didn’t want to remember the pain, the pain he caused. The handcuffs were cold around his hands, and he held them limp down in front of himself. Richtoven turned a corner and the intire group stopped. Richtoven smiled at Dove.
“So this is the powerful Dove.” Richtoven laughed slowly. Dove lifted his head to see Richtoven. Dove was still groggy; the effects of the gas hadn’t quite worn off yet. Richtoven pulled a gun from his cloak. Sirus lifted a hand quickly and blocked Richtoven.
“He is mine.” Richtoven turned angrily to Sirus. The anger brewed in him, he almost shot Sirus dead, right there, without hesitation. But there was hesitation, and Sirus knew that was all he needed to win. Richtoven relaxed quickly, and smiled at Sirus.
“All right.” Richtoven said slowly. Richtoven eased the weapon back into his coat. He was about to move on his way when Kate came around the corner. All the guards quickly moved into action. Richtoven looked out hard at Catherine Norrow. She breathed hard as here eyes fell across the room to Richtoven; he hand left her gun and went quickly to her sword. Richtoven knew these guards were no match for her, she would push past these feeble soldiers in a matter of minutes. The large platoon curcled around the back, there was no chance. Richtoven looked down quickly at Dove, and then back up at Sirus, trying to figure out what to do next. Sirus had moved towards Dove, Sirus was going to get Dove out of there, but why? Had Sirus switched teams, or was this something deeper. Time to think was up and the gun suddenly reappeared in his hand, smoke and blood filled the air.

     To be continued…
 

Leader for the Shivans 3: Journey from Dunwitch Hill
Will continue next Season.