these traits in an E.D. F trooper, normally they were aggressive, go out there and get the job done types. Rachthausen appeared thoughtful, calm and serene however.
She thought that if the sergeant was a little more aggressive and forthright, he would make an excellent commando. Though the only other commando she had met personally was Nikolai Vargev, and the Russian colonel was the sergeants match in both size and strength, and much more aggressive.
Kathryn bandaged the corporal’s face with ‘synth-flesh’ bandages, and tied a strip of cloth over the man’s ruined eye sockets, other than giving Jankov morphine injections, there wasn’t a lot more she could do for him until she got him back to the ship.
“Shuttle alpha-zero-four to Copernicus, are you receiving, over?”
There was a tense pause, and Kalschacht thought for an instant that the Copernicus had indeed been hit.
“Copernicus to shuttle, are you alright down there, that was one hell of an energy surge.”
“It’s good to hear your voice captain, we’re fine, but we have wounded down here, request permission to return to the ship.”
“Granted, but you’ll have to hold out a little while, until we re-enter orbit.”
“Understood Copernicus, just don’t take up an orbit that puts you anywhere near the structure.”
The communication was suddenly cut-off. “Copernicus….Copernicus, are you receiving? Damn I’ve lost contact with them.”
“Keep trying,” Kathryn said as she continued to tend the wounded Jankov.
“Shuttle to Copernicus, do you read, over?” Kalschacht tried again, “Shuttle alpha-zero-four to Copernicus, are you receiving.” He waited for a response, then with a hint of frustration said, “all I’m getting is static.”
“What the heck is going on up there?” Kathryn asked, her own frustration was beginning to show, she was the mission commander and this whole thing was going to hell and a handbasket.
Unbeknownst to those on the planet, a second craft had detected that gigantic energy release. It bore a striking resemblance to a Solarian cruiser, with its crescent shaped hull, however instead of the gleaming silver of Solarian ships, this was dark, almost completely black except for the faintest of light given off by its portholes. It had a raised command structure, like its Solarian counterpart, though not beak-like, this was swept forward, sharp and angular like a snake darting forward to strike at its prey. Along the outward port and starboard sides of its gently curved hull, were a series of blade like fins.
Right now, just like a snake, it was stalking the Copernicus. Its crew had identified the energy signature from the surge as being one of their own.
One of the aliens aboard, turned toward another sat atop a dark, raised, almost throne like command chair. “Ship is rigged for silent approach, one quarter sub-light speed; their communications are still being jammed.”
“Good; very good.” Drax replied to his subordinate, “close to within weapons range, then load dark matter torpedoes in tubes one and two, fire on my command.”
The Copernicus, still on full alert after that near miss from the energy surge was on-course to re-enter orbit with the planet, it had not detected the dark predator sneaking up behind it.
“See if you can isolate the source of the interference,” Akimbe said to Strandzhar, the captain was delighted his science team was still alive. After a surge of that magnitude, he had feared the worst. However, he was also frustrated that his communication link to the shuttle was rudely cut-off.
Strandzhar worked the controls furiously, “It seems the source of the interference is coming from behind us, captain.”
Akimbe stood instantly, wide eyed with horror, “What!”
The alien ship continued to close, “Steady… steady.” Drax whispered as he stared at the image of the Copernicus getting steadily closer.
“We are within firing range, we have target lock.”
Drax silently allowed a couple more seconds to pass by, to be absolutely certain of the kill.
“Fire!” He shouted; fist clenched.
Twin torpedoes immediately shot forth from launchers secreted either side of its angular command hull, and raced toward their target.
The tiny Copernicus had no time to react, as the two warheads slammed home with horrifying force. One tore its primary sub-light engines to pieces in a violent explosion. Flames and shattered debris were flung far out into space. The second smashed headlong into the starboard side of the vessel, blasting a gigantic fiery hole through the hull of the ship.
Onboard the stricken Copernicus, it was carnage, bodies lay bloodied and burned everywhere. Smoke hung like a thick pall in the air choking those that still lived. Flames licked out from half a dozen smashed consoles on the bridge. Delicate wiring hung limp, with only the occasional spark and crackle to give any clue that power still ran through those severed conduits.
Akimbe struggled, dazed, to his feet, a nasty slash to his forehead that bled profusely down the right side of his face. “Status!” He shouted, half-choking under the intense heat and acrid smoke that filled the bridge.
A young navigation officer, one of the few men left alive managed to make it to an intact computer terminal. “Main engines are destroyed, we have a breach from decks four through eight, fire is spreading through decks five and six!”
“Get to the escape pods, everyone abandon ship!” Akimbe ordered in desperation as he rushed to the only functioning sensory console left intact on his bridge. He had one last duty to perform, and mere seconds to do it in. He quickly performed a computer core dump into a distress beacon, and punched the launch key.
The beacon containing the Copernicus’s computer core records and sensory data shot out from beneath the vessel, and into the inky blackness of deep space.
Akimbe switched the crackling, barely functioning viewer to rear view mode, in order to glimpse his assailant. He could only barely make out its shape against the blackness of space, its dark hull glinted as the light from the Aurigan sun reflected from its numerous surfaces. The monstrosity blotted out the very stars themselves, poised like a great black bat, ready to snuff him out of existence at any moment.
Akimbe sighed, safe in the knowledge that the distress beacon was away, and that the E.D. F would eventually learn of what had transpired here.
That was the last thing Captain Johnatan Akimbe of the Copernicus ever saw.
“Ready laser lances, fire at will, finish that thing!” Drax called out, not hiding the distain in his voice for such an unworthy foe.
The twin wingtip mounted laser lances at either end of the ships main hull, flashed out, bright violet beams instantly blasted the Copernicus apart in an intense fireball. Torn pieces of the ships shattered hull were thrown out in all directions due to the force of the now dissipating explosion. Some of the fragments hurtled through the atmosphere of the planet below, looking like a faint meteor shower blazing across the sky.
A few of those now stranded on the surface spotted the myriad streaks shooting past overhead, witnessing their trails with awe, unaware that they were really witnessing the deaths of their friends and co-workers.
“Contact our other ships nearby; let them know we have found one of the long lost halo worlds,” Drax said with a wide grin.
4. The darkness descends
“Kaeleth, have two units of my elite Kallan warriors form up in the main hangar bay. I want two assault landers ready to launch immediately, you are in command of the ship until I return; see that she remains in one piece.” Drax added with a malevolent grin.
“But sir,” Kaeleth made to protest. A simple wave of the hand had convinced him that his commander had made up his mind, it was useless to try to change it.
With a final nod, Drax left his dark, brooding, ominous command centre and headed straight for the hangar bay. This will be an interesting hunt, he thought to himself, the thought amused him.
Drax gave off the air of a consummate and powerful commander, a brutal disciplinarian, he was not above
