Angry as he was, Vanbrook was happy for the excuse to take it out on the enemy in open, if not officially declared, war. Adorned in their lightly armored aethersuits and armed to the teeth, Talon Squad exploded out of the Gladius and jetted down to the deck of one of the Ramshackle Collective's gunships.
Vanbrook parried a powerful strike from a pirate then stabbed him through the chest, destroying his core. Another robot charged, and Vanbrook put a nova crystal round between his eyes.
"Shield generator will be below deck, near the aft thrusters," said Reclan.
"Good,” replied Raivyn. “You, Hrake and Vanbrook fight your way down there, sabotage anything you can and get back up here as quickly as possible. Doc, D'Jarric and I will stay here and cover for you."
"Got it," said Vanbrook as he ducked under a wicked swinging cutlass.
Hrake nodded as he slammed a pirate out of the way with his hammer, sending the unfortunate robot spinning into the aether.
***
Grepk hit the deck of the Ramshackle gun ship with a thud that drew all attention to himself. He smiled in the brief pause before gunfire exploded all around him. The rest of the squad began firing before they landed, wiping out scores of robots.
"Okay, folks, it's scuttle 'n scatter time," said Grepk as he sent a volley of ballistic fire into a group of enemies, return fire glancing off his armor. "Keshri, take the lead."
Without a word the Talpidarian force of nature began tearing a path through the enemy towards the shield generator.
***
On the last gunship, the Brotherhood troopers were tearing apart pirates by the dozen with their mechanically enhanced strength and automatic shotguns. Shells spun off into the aether and robots were torn to pieces as they marched to the engine room and shield generator. Reaching the generator, they were surprised to see they were biological units. Stuck fast to the deck with some kind of mycelium, the generators were about the size of a horse and covered in pulsating nodules.
“All boarding parties, this is the Xanathous Brotherhood,” said the lead trooper. “The shields are of Astralbian origin.”
“I guess that makes sense,” came the voice of the Republic psychic they’d fought clayside. “Thanks for the heads up.”
The troopers stood in a tight semicircle and emptied their drum magazines into the generator, which exploded with green gore and deflated onto the deck.
"Alright boys, let's go," said their leader as he wiped green sludge from his visor.
When he turned, an energized blade stabbed through his throat. When he fell, the other three troopers saw a skull-faced robot staring at them with menacing red eyes. Not giving them time to react, Grim bolted towards them and to one side, delivering another fatal blow and using his second victim as a shield as he rushed the other two.
With their shotguns empty and no time to reload, the troopers threw down their guns and went after Grim with their powered fists.
Grim grabbed a clumsy fist out of the air and swung the entire man- armor and all- out of the way. The last trooper managed to slam his fist into the side of Grim's head, badly damaging his faceplate.
Turning the cold fire of his eyes on the trooper, Grim grabbed the top of his helmet with one hand and swung his energized cutlass, severing the soldier's head from his body.
Seeing that the ship was now unshielded, Grim dashed for the hangar and took off on his stolen hoverbike, heading for a more secure vessel without warning Gnash.
***
Jylik stood aboard his star tree watching the Ramshackle Collective engage the Griffon Republic. Let them both burn. He smiled as the Republic’s fire bounced off the shields he’d provided to the pirate fleet.
He watched with interest as boarding parties appeared on the decks of the pirate’s shielded gunships. Gevrok was watching over his shoulder and saw a Hrudukite among one of the parties. He pointed to the screen.
“I want to go there,” he said in a dangerous voice.
***
Drixen wove his way through a horde of Ramshackle Collective skiffs, blowing them to pieces. His goal was just to keep the aether clear until the shields were down and the bombers could do their thing.
A fresh deployment of void wasps from the Astralbians complicated the issue. Where the skiffs relied on speed and heavy weapons, the wasps were all about maneuverability.
"Squad 1, let's take out the wasps," he directed. "Squads 2 and 3, stay focused on the skiffs. All squads stay in communication and keep your eyes peeled.
“Admiral Crush, your star tree’s maneuverability makes a good match against the wasps. If you don’t mind, I’d like to have your skiffs take on the enemy skiffs while you focus on the wasps.”
“Agreed, Commander,” answered Crush. “It’s a pleasure to be flying alongside you once again.”
***
Vanbrook parried and slashed, dancing across the engine room floor and leaving a trail of devastation in his wake.
"We about done?" he asked impatiently.
Hrake brought his hammer down onto the shield generator decisively, hemorrhaging the strange device and spraying green gore all over the engine room.
"Yup, that ought to do it," said Reclan. "Let's head out."
They stormed their way back up to the main deck and joined the others, only to have a massive Hrudukite in a strange, organic aethersuit land opposite them on the deck. The suit was like a rubbery fungus coating his body, while the helmet was made of a bony substance shaped like an orb with a clear membrane stretched across the face, allowing Gevrok to peer out through with his one good eye. He had his bronze hammer over his back and a thorn gun in his hand.
“Hrake! I am here to finish what I started on Hruduk!” he shouted in Hrudukite.
Hrake turned to the rest of the Squad. “I must finish this alone.”
“Make it quick,” said Raivyn, stepping back and engaging more pirates.
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Gevrok charged across the deck firing his thorn gun, the feet of his suit glomming onto the deck, almost lizard-like. He quickly wasted all his ammo in ineffectual shots that glanced off of Hrake’s armor at the range he was firing from. A robot next to him was spinning up a minigun and fired a volley at Talon Squad. Slamming his useless thorn gun into the robot’s head, he grabbed the gun and swung to train it on Hrake, who was no longer there. A scream sounded overhead, and he looked up to see Hrake descending on him, aided by his maneuver jets and hoisting his hammer high.
Bullets flew past Hrake as Gevrok trained the minigun on him, one tearing a hole in his aether suit. The suit self-repaired around the fleshwound the bullet had left behind. Hrake’s hammer came down with enough force to crush Gevrok’s shell, but the Hrudukite had dodged back and the minigun was destroyed instead.
“You were never a match for me,” spat Hrake in his native tongue.
Gevrok dodged back and grabbed his hammer.
“But if your eye is not enough, if you must force my hand,” continued Hrake.
Gevrok swung his hammer, but the bronze was no match for Hrake’s steel, which bent the handle of the hammer, rendering it a useless chunk of metal.
“Then I will take your life as well!” shouted Hrake, swinging his hammer over his head and onto Gevrok’s. The cracking of helmet and skull reverberated through Hrake’s hammer so he felt it run up his arms and into his chest. Gevrok crumpled to the ground, his blood spilling into aether. Hrake hung his head, turned to his companions and nodded.
They disengaged from the pirates and blasted back into the aether towards the Gladius, which was serving as something between a small gunship and a huge fighter, destroying any wasp or skiff foolish enough to come into range. They were joined by the Marines coming from the other gunship.
"Mission accomplished, Jasken," said Grepk. "You should be able to tear those pirates to pieces now."
***
Jasken watched as the pirates’ three major gunships were slowly blown to pieces. He watched on his display screen as Drixen and Kaihla lead the fighters and bombers in scuttling the pirate's fleet.
"Attention!" shouted a voice Jasken couldn't place. "This is Inspector Zomm-Dhar of the International Galactic Code Authority. This illegal war action, occurring in the aetherspace of a sovereign species, will stop immediately."
"Cease fire!" commanded Jasken.
"Cease fire," repeated Treskt, sounding none too excited about it.
***
Grim heard the IGC inspector and noted the pause in fire, though it was too late for the ship he had been on previously. He watched the burning vessel explode into a fireball and chuckled to himself.
“All troops, this is Admiral Grim. Unfortunately, the late Admiral Gnash was still aboard his vessel when it erupted. As the highest ranking officer in this fleet I will be taking command. Rest assured we will have our vengeance on the Republic and the so-called Free Revolutionary Fleet. For now, however, we head for pirate-friendly aether. There are a few more ships I plan to add to our fleet.”
***
Jylik stood sour-faced in his star tree. The Ramshackle Collective had been torn apart and was fleeing. Priestess Yrinla was nowhere to be found. He raised Lady Trilia on his comm.
“Trilia,” he said shortly. “We must make our retreat while we can. When we have found safe harbor, I wish to continue our earlier conversation.”
She nodded, bowing low. “Of course, your Majesty.”
Crush stood on the deck of her flagship staring at the wreckage of the Ramshackle fleet. She was unsure where to take her burgeoning mercenary society from here. Did they stay in the Cornucopian Cluster? Take the fight to the Ramshackle Collective? She did not lack options, though none appealed to her.
“Excuse me,” said a thin voice from behind her. She spun to see an aged Astralbian female.
“How did you-” Crush began.
“I am a very talented psychic,” said Yrinla with a faint smile. “I believe you are, too. May we talk?”
***
Hoon-Kra was waiting for Darvik when he came back aboard the Swamp’s Pride and walked out of the shuttle into the hangar.
"You've failed, Darvik," he said calmly.
Darvik nodded. "And I don't care if you want to throw me out in the aether for it."
"That is one option," answered the cultist. "The other is for you to truly join our cause. When we met, you saw me as a means to an end, and I saw you as disposable." He walked over to a window, looking out into the stars like a man looking for his home world after a long journey. "But I'd like to give you a second chance. We'll need loyal foot soldiers in our efforts to reshape the galaxy in the image of the aether beasts. I ask you for the last time, Darvik. Will you join us?"
Darvik laughed a cruel, hollow laugh. Hoon-Kra started to reach for his pistol, but then Darvik held out his arm.
"Go ahead," he said. "Get your tattoo kit."
***
Raivyn once again found herself knocking on Vanbrook’s door. He had remained in his room since they had returned from the battle. The Wingspan had been orbiting the planet, now dubbed Gateway, for nearly a week as they waited for relief from a full military fleet.
The swordsman opened his door, regarding Raivyn with cold eyes.
“Van, good news,” she said. “The fleet is here. We’re heading back to Kirakna for some R&R and repairs before we come back out to explore some of the new worlds we’ve identified. The Cornucopia Cluster lives up to its name. There’s a ton of habitable planets showing up in our scans.”
“Guess you didn’t turn me in,” said Vanbrook.
“What?” she asked, taken aback.
“For the attempted murder,” said Vanbrook. “Guess you didn’t turn me in.”
“Van-”
“There’s something I really don’t get, though,” said Vanbrook.
Raivyn sighed. “What’s that?”
“How come you let Hrake kill Gevrok?”
With that, Vanbrook turned away, leaving Raivyn standing out in the hallway, staring at a closed door.
Epilogue
High King Hylik stood waiting to receive his son as the star tree landed in the clearing. The sounds of the birds and insects among the branches of the Astralbian forests were drowned out by the roar of the star tree’s thruster roots.
The King stood stock still, waiting for the doors to open. When they did, his son strode down the ramp, his green cape billowing out behind him, accompanied by Lady Trilia and a complement of guards.
“Jylik, my son, I am very pleased to see that you have returned victorious,” said Hylik. “Not in battle, perhaps, but nonetheless. And the rest of the fleet is busy exploring the Cradle?”
“Yes, Father,” said Jylik, a glint in his eye. “The Cornucopia Cluster, the Cradle… whatever you choose to call it, it is teaming with resources and possibilities.”
The King looked searchingly at his son. “Let us retire to the Holy Grove.”
Jylik nodded and followed his father through the mossy forests to the hateful place. His father walked into the center of the clearing before turning to talk to him.
“Jylik, my son. I am proud of you. I have not said it often enough. Perhaps I have become soft in my old age, but I tire of fighting with you. Please do your father a favor- even if you do not owe it to him- and promise me you will not drag our people into war again. Our kingdom may not be an empire in name, but it is one in spirit. We are at peace with the other great powers. Let it stay that way.”
Jylik looked at the ground, trembling with emotion. He steadied himself and lifted his head, his bright, burning eyes, staring into his father’s dull ones.
“No,” he said flatly.
A dark look crossed Hylik’s face.
Jylik held out his hand, revealing a small rock. “Do you know what this is, Father?” he asked, a sly look creeping across his features. “I picked it up on Hruduk. It’s the stone that the biologicals use to power their ships. It gives off a deadly radiation.”
Hylik had begun to fade from a deep, oceanic blue to the color of a winter sky, trembling where he stood.
“I am, of course, exposing myself to great danger,” remarked Jylik. “But I am young and will heal completely. You will not. When I call guards, you will be a mere crystal, waiting to be cut, polished and placed upon my crown.”
King Hylik began to weep.
“Really, father, have you no pride?” taunted Jylik.
The King’s face became hard for a moment and his attenuated voice choked out his final words, too soft for the guards to hear: “I do not weep for myself, you foolish child. I weep for my people.”