Blaster Squad #4 Raiders of Cloud City

Chapter 3

Blaster Squad #4

Raiders of Cloud City

1

Keltos IV

Rigellian Star System

4123.8.9 Galactic

Marine Sergeant Rocky Bones peered over the rim of the crater to see the transport machines busily moving supplies into the hold of the alien spacecraft. He dropped down below the crater wall and let his blaster rifle fall into his lap as he sat down heavily with his back to the wall. The odor of stale sweat caused by the overburdened cooling system in his blast-resistant marine battle suit engulfed him, but he ignored the familiar acrid smells of his own stink.

Beads of perspiration dotted his skin under the suit armor. The five-kilometer run from the landing zone had been exceptionally challenging, made more so by the low gravity. Keltos IV was about the same orbital distance from its star as Mars was from Sol, and this world was also about the same mass. It was why he’d been selected to lead this new squad on this insertion. Since he’d been born on Mars, the local conditions weren’t that serious an obstacle for him even with the added bulkiness of the environmental suit.

He glanced left, then right at the five members of his squad, their backs to the wall of the crater. The briefing given him by the Alliance Intelligence officer said they were battle hardened, incredibly fit troopers, but he wondered if they were experiencing some negative effects from the low gravity.

He tapped the button on the suit controls on his left arm that activated the comm unit in his helmet. “Everyone ready?” He spoke in a low voice.

A chorus of “Aye, aye, Sarge,” came over the comm.

Bones allowed himself a small smile. So far, it seemed these marines were as advertised; he should never have doubted their capabilities. It still bothered him he had never seen any of these troopers before, but they were clearly enthusiastic, which he appreciated.

But he had bigger issues right now than the health of his unit. Alliance Intelligence had been right. The enemy appeared to be abandoning this outpost, as evidenced by the number of ships being loaded and readied for liftoff.

He switched comm channels. “Alpha to Mother,” he said into the helmet mike.

No response.

“Alpha to Mother,” he said again, as a knot of uncertainty formed in the pit of his stomach. It occurred to him that the marine starship’s stealth shields may have been penetrated. The massive enemy fleet orbiting this distant world may have attacked them.

“Go, Alpha,” said a feminine voice he knew was L’tal, the marine communications officer aboard the ANSS Phantom, the ship that had dropped him and the squad on the surface.

“Patch me through to the captain,” he said, his deep voice echoing inside his helmet.

“This is Briggs,” came the voice of Captain Patricia Briggs.

“Captain, it’s just as we thought: the enemy is abandoning this planet. Instructions?”

“Deploy the device,” she said without hesitation.

“Acknowledged,” Bones replied before terminating the link and switching his comm to communicate with the squad.

“Mak-Tol,” he called to the bulky, four-armed Lobsan to his right next to Phillips. His voice was grim.

He wondered if the squad would obey the orders as he would. They had all known when they volunteered that this was a suicide squad, so any mission could be their last. The only real questions were the unknown variables of where and when. The survival of the Alliance often dictated the where and the when they would be called on to make the ultimate sacrifice.

Destruction of this world and the supply of exotic minerals being loaded aboard the ship on the other side of this crater wall would slow down the advance of the enemy to allow time for the Alliance fleet to intercept them and stop the rebellion before it could advance any further. It was a death worth giving, as far as he was concerned.

“Yes, sir,” replied Mak-Tol. He was carrying the newly developed weapon, which, when exploded, would create an artificial black hole to consume not only the planet but also any ships in low orbit. By now, Captain Briggs and the Phantom would have left orbit at high speed, headed for deep space in order to be out of range when the device exploded.

Normally they would have set the device and been transported off the surface before it exploded, but they needed to be present to repel any attackers who would detect the energy field as soon as it was activated. Though the chance the rebels would be able to deactivate the device before it reached full power was minimal, Alliance Command ordered a marine suicide squad be assigned to protect the device from any interference.

“Deploy the device,” Bones said. He scanned the troopers around him and saw them visibly tense; all except Mak-Tol.

Bones watched the four-limbed alien trooper unsling his pack and set it on the rock-strewn ground. He opened it and took out what would appear to the casual observer as a gleaming, stainless steel ball about the size of an ancient baseball. The difference being a triangular-shaped dark blue activation plate recessed slightly below the otherwise smooth surface.

The muscular Lobsan’s gray eyes looked up from the device in one of his right hands to lock with Bones’.

Bones nodded grimly. They’d have twenty minutes after it was activated before it exploded and they accomplished their mission.

“No one move,” said a high-pitched voice behind him. Bones froze. Had they been discovered? “Everyone drop their weapons, including their pistols.”

Bones dropped his blaster rifle and pistol at his feet and, without having to look, he heard the clatter of rifles and pistols striking the rocky terrain.

“Stand up, Mak,” said the voice Nick suddenly recognized. Mak, Bones, and the squad all stood. They were now exposed to enemy fire from the other side of the crater wall. His eyes flitted to his right and he saw several heavily armed guards were headed their way. The mission was officially blown.

Erin Hew? How could this be? Hew was a member of the squad assigned to the mission. “Hew,” Bones said between gritted teeth and turned slowly to face the traitorous marine, “what the hell are you doing?”

Ignoring Bones’ question, Hew continued. “Bring me the device, Mak.” A burst of blaster fire created a shower of shattered rock fragments across the ground to their right. “And no tricks.”

“I could just activate it,” said Mak-Tol, his steady, angry gaze fixed on something to Bones’ left. Hew discharged his weapon severing Mak-Tol’s arm with his hand holding the device from his body. His smoking limb landed in amongst crevices in the rocky terrain. The Lobsan howled in pain.

Hew’s eyes flitted to the crevice where the device disappeared then back to lock eyes with Bones. The traitor emitted a grim chuckle. “But you won’t, or I’ll burn the Sarge where he stands. Then I’ll kill the rest of you one by one before I retrieve the device.”

The muscles in Bones’ arms and legs tightened as he tensed in preparation for what he was about to do. It might be suicide to try, but he had fully expected to die during this mission anyway; so what did he have to lose besides his life?

Bones heard the crunch of boots on uneven ground and picked this moment to swivel to his left and strike out with his left arm. Unfortunately, all he met was empty air. He saw the blur of a rifle barrel coming at him. Unable to halt his momentum, he stepped into the contact point with the barrel. The force of the blow shattered the faceplate of his helmet and tore into his left cheek. His face was on fire, the pain shooting across his face as the world began to disappear into a fog. He dropped to his knees; the taste and smell of blood filled his senses.

Finally he collapsed and the squad, the planet, the universe itself seemed to disappear in a swirl of blackness. His final thought was that death had come far too easily. Not how he expected the end to come at all.