“It’s not that simple, Sir.Nobody knows the ship’s computer systemlike I do.”
“That’s why you have tocome with us.”
“The system is complex, witharbitrary barriers that cannot be easilyexplained,” he said sadly, “Either I go with them, or they willhave no chance.”
Captain Zacharias pulled himcloser, holding him there for a moment.Finally, they separated, and the Captain kept shaking hishead.
“I will take the data we recorded andmake sure Command gets it. You…bring this ship down on their heads.Punish them.”
“I will.”
The two men then saluted and movedapart.
“Good luck to you all,” said General Rivers, “This day will be longremembered.”
He moved ahead of the mixed group ofmarines and navy crew.
“That is one hell of a man,”said Lieutenant Fletcher.
“Yes. That he is,”said Olik, “Now…”
He lifted his arm and checkedthe tactical data. It took a few seconds,and then he inhaled slowly.
“Let’s go.”
They moved from the halland into a series of long passages, eachdarker than the next. Sometimes movement ahead forced them into theshadows, and other times a stray Ski’lig would be despatched withblades. As they moved deeper inside the ship, they left behindsmall trackers. Each was no bigger than a single dice and couldscan for movement and changes in temperature. Valentine movedalongside the ship’s engineer and spoke quietly to him. He lookedso puny next to her bloodied Rhino armour, but there was a look ofsheer determination to him as well.
“You’re sure you can do this?”
He smiled.
“They’re a strong, powerfulpeople. But their computer systems show an arrogance youmight be surprised at. It took days tobreak their basic access codes, after that you’ve got privilegedaccess.” He then laughed, “They clearly don’t expect people to comeaboard.”
“That is a mistake we shallexploit.”
They continued ahead, passingmore landing platforms filled withsoldiers and waiting spacecraft. And as they moved away, they couldhear the radio transmissions of the combat units now withdrawingfrom the ship. Clearly, there was heavy fighting, but eventually,they were so far away the dampening field blocked them out, leavingthe last platoon of Novas separated from the outside world. Aftermoving for almost fifteen minutes through the brutalist alienenvironment they came to a great arch, and beyond it a was a brightyellow light.
“This is the place,” said Chief Engineer Thompson, “We came here once.Up there, beyond the statues is their command centre.”
Valentine moved behind a curvedbulkhead and checked her overlay. She could see the patterns fromthe other members of the platoon. They were down to thirty-one Novas split into three separate groups,and all heading to the same target.
“Captain,” said LieutenantFletcher, “We’ve got aproblem.”
“What is it?”
“Trackers are showing movement behindus. Something is hunting us.”
“Thenwe must keep moving.”
They advanced further insideand reached a massive arched hall, likethe interior of the greatest cathedral ever constructed. Tallpillars rose on each side, atop which was a strange warrior.Valentine looked with astonishment at multi-armed creatures,armoured warriors, and a host of others.
“What in the hell is this place?” Kallias asked.
“Who cares,” said Tsarkov,“Look.”
He pointed ahead to a massiveopening, and beyond it the pale reddishhue of a vast chamber. It was all towers and curves, and withconstantly moving lights inside.
“That is the place.And it is guarded by…”
He stopped and looked at the twomassive creatures. They had looked like the other statues aroundthem, but now it was clear they wererepresentations of the elders, and standing there to ceremoniouslyblock the entrance. Their great size made even Olik seeminsignificant.
“There’s nobody here,”said Hawkins.
And then came movement from inside thecommand centre. Dark shadows in the red light.
“Back!” Olik ordered.
The Novas scattered to behind the columns and waited in theshadows.
“Those are theelders, the Ski’lig leadership caste.Last time we tried to get past them we lost many of ourpeople.”
“Novas.Are you with me?” Olik demanded.
“We’re with you!”Valentine shouted, along with theothers.
“We do not stop until we’reinside.”
Olik looked to Chief EngineerThompson.
“Stay behind us. Once we’reinside, get to work.”
He nodded. Olik lifted his Thumper into position and then gave anod.
“Silent advance behind smoke,have your bayonets ready.Smoke!”
Three Novas placed the smoke charges on the ground nearby, andthen waited as they flashed, sending smoke all around them. ChiefEngineer Thompson pulled his mask over his face and watched inhorror as everything around him vanished.
“Stay close to me,” said Valentine, “And you’ll live.”
The man tried to lookconfident, but it wasn’t easy, being in aplace surrounded by death and facing off against not one, but twoof the almost demonic entities any of them had ever seen. And thistime they were expected not just to survive, but toprevail.
“Advance,” said Olik.
Theymoved close to the sides of the massive hall, all while the smokecontinued to waft around the areas. Valentine looked up at themassive statues and pillars.
“A place as majestic as this, and at the foot of it all, a heap ofcorpses and slaves. It’s like the universe lacks anyimagination.”
Chief Engineer Thompson lookedback at her, and she could tell he musthave been utterly dumbfounded by her conversation.
“I…uh…”
Valentine chuckled toherself. “It’s okay. Are youready?”
He nodded.
“Good.”
“Now!” Olik shouted.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Ski’ligFlagship, EkatiAlpha
The Novas moved out from cover and broke into a run. They made itto within twenty metres of the statues of the creatures when a lineof six Ski’lig guards blocked the entrance with their bodies. Theycarried different weapons to normal. At first glance, they wererifles connected via cables to their bodies, yet under the muzzlewas long stabbing blade, like the tip of a boar spear.
“Get back!” Bandu grunted as the alien warriors took aim and fired.Streaks of energy lanced out at the advancing Novas. Bandu explodeddirectly in front of Valentine, showering her with shattered metaland broken flesh. She lifted her shield and braced herself for thenext shot.
“Bastards! Bandu is gone.”
“Gun them down!”Olik howled.
Valentine didn’t even aimand simply opened fire with her rifle. Texblasted away with the cannon, and on they went. One enemy splitapart, but another stepped up to take its place. The Novasunleashed a wall of fire that obliterated columns, sculptures, andanything else in the way.
“More grenades!” LieutenantFletcher shouted, “We needsmoke!”
Smoke charges flashed one afterthe other, and then all Valentine couldsee was two enemies in front, and behind them the red glow of thecommand centre. She
