“Ryann! We have to go!” yelled Anders, now at his side. The big man grabbed him by the arm, dragging him off towards the exit. “We need to get to the Marianne! We’re no use here on this station! We have to get those drones off the refugee fleet!”
Ryann nodded grimly and followed Anders out of the control centre as another barrage shook the station.
CHAPTER TWENTY
A PLEA
When they arrived at the landing pads they were greeted with a scene of chaos.
Around a hundred Outlanders — the elderly and the families, were milling about in panic as Grande’s crew tried to get them aboard the Serena. The little transport ship was powering up its engines, ready to take off, black smoke still pouring from one drive housing.
Ryann and the others pushed their way through the crowds, battling to get to the ship. Through the open docking gates they could see the fleet of refugee ships overhead, and beyond, the great mass of the Ibis floating in space. And all about, explosions lit them up as the bright streaks of the Luminal fighters swooped and span, red and green laser-beams splitting the darkness.
The landing pad shuddered once more as a drone-ship tore past pouring fire into the station’s protective shields.
“Grande!” yelled Ryann in fury, pushing through the families who were now desperate to escape to the Serena. “Grande!”
Ryann struggled on towards the big man; he was standing at the cargo doors pulling people up the loading ramp and into the crowded ship.
He looked up just as Ryann reached him, grabbing the big man by the shoulder.
“You damn fool!” screamed Ryann. “You brought them down on us! I told you! I told you but you wouldn’t listen!”
In a swift movement, Jean-Baptiste tore Ryann’s hand away, driving him against the side of the ship. Ryann felt the wind knocked from his lungs with the force of the impact, and he slumped to the floor, winded.
“It was your people that did this Ryann Wade!” spat Grande, staring down at him in fury. “Your father attacked the Ibis and brought the aliens down upon us! Your people not mine!”
Two of Grande’s crew appeared at the top of the ramp, pointing their rifles down at Anders and the others as they went to help Ryann.
“Close the ramp!” yelled Grande, turning his back on Ryann. “Get to the Ibis!”
The cargo doors slid shut, leaving perhaps forty or so Outlanders still left to be evacuated. They huddled together on the landing-pad, watching the battle unfolding. The Serena’s engines reached a deafening howl, and as Ryann struggled to his feet she began to rise unsteadily into the air. He staggered in the downdraft, watching bleakly as the transporter headed out through the docking bay shields in a shower of blue static.
As Ryann looked on, three Luminal fighters broke off from strafing the refugee ships and engaged the Serena. She rocked under a blast of fire, doggedly pushing on through the firestorm towards the Ibis.
One of the four remaining Interceptors came into view, trying to protect the little freighter. Ryann watched on helplessly as it was quickly overwhelmed by two more drone-ships. The Interceptor tried vainly to make a run back into the refugee fleet, but he wasn’t quick enough. A trail of laser-fire cut across the ship’s cockpit, burning straight through the glass. Instantly, the Interceptor fell into an uncontrolled spin, the pilot killed or severely injured. It fell down into the mass of burning ships, impacting with one of the freighters and exploded in a dazzling flash of light.
Jean-Baptiste looked on grim-faced, before turning back to the crew of the Marianne.
“Captain Anders, I need the codes to operate your ship so that I can evacuate my people.”
The two men appraised each other in silence for a moment before Anders replied.
“Go to hell,” he cursed, his fists clenched at his sides.
“What have you done Grande?” gasped Ryann as he fought to get his breath back. Jean-Baptiste turned and looked at him with that dark, other-worldly gaze.
“I am sorry Ryann Wade,” he said slowly. “The aliens are coming — they are lighting up the ice-field with their bombs. We never meant for this to happen. We have unlocked all the doors to the refugee ships, you and your people are free to try and save yourselves.”
“Free!” spat Ryann, stepping towards the big man once again. “All our ships our disabled! How the hell are we meant to try and escape? There are over a thousand people aboard those ships — men, women, children — just like your people here!”
“My duty is to my own, I am sorry,” replied Jean-Baptiste solemnly. “Now, Captain Anders, I need those codes.”
He stepped forwards, reaching into a pocket of his pressure suit and taking out a small object. To Ryann’s horror, he saw that it was the remote transmitter that he had used to control the Spiner back aboard the Ibis.
There was a sound of movement behind them, and Ryann looked in fear towards a row of cargo containers at the far end of the docks.
From out of the shadows he saw that terrifyingly-familiar red glow, a cluster of optical sensors that gave the impression of menacing eyes. With a slow movement, the monstrous shape of the Spiner appeared, making its way towards them as the crowds parted before it.
Another movement caught Ryann’s eye, and on the other side of the dock his heart sank to see another Spiner and then another stepping ponderously through the crowds.
“Quickly please Captain,” growled Jean-Baptiste. “My people need your ship.”
“Kill me and you’ll never get those codes,” replied Anders through gritted teeth as the creatures came closer.
“And your crew?” asked Grande. “Would you sacrifice them, just for your ship?”
“We’re all dead anyways if you take our ship,” said Anders, nodding out to the battle that raged on in the space beyond.
“Argh, for pity’s sake!” cut in Angelique. “Will
