Treason, page 19
part #2 of The Descendants War Series
The resource check would tell them how they were killed.
"Scans are coming back," Inda said. "The reactor on the station is overloaded. It's jamming my signal. I can't even access their computers from here. That's incredibly odd. This whole place is set up for our systems to interact. That interference shouldn't stop me from accessing the network."
Vhel replied, "The security protocols have been rewritten. That's why you can't get in. I'm struggling with it too. I just sent you something. Take a look."
Inda gasped. "That's an insane amount of radiation! And it looks like they've taken down all the safety protocols. There are no force fields, no bulkheads, no ventilation shaft shutdown! This is crazy!" She turned to Porth. "Sir, I don't believe the station was damaged. I think someone sabotaged it."
"Why's that?" Porth asked.
"There's no external damage." Inda brought the layout of the station up on the screen. "You can't see any scorch marks or burns anywhere. External defenses are still online and operational. Someone must've landed in good faith, boarded the structure, and caused all this havoc."
"For what purpose?" Kivda asked. "What's the benefit?"
"If they rewrote the security," Vhel said, "then they'd have unfettered access to the archive. They could take whatever they want from it."
"That's... not entirely true," Inda replied. "They'd be able to try but it wouldn't simple. Once you're accessing the network, you need access codes. Personnel sign ins. All kinds of information random people wouldn't necessarily have. Unless we had a traitor, I don't see how it would be possible."
"Don't count out the ingenuity of criminals," Kivda said. "How do we find out if they've accessed the data?"
"Um..." Inda paused. "Sir... there seems to be some kind of conflict going on at the monastery. The data storage facility, I mean."
"How'd you find that?" Porth joined her. "That's definitely weapon fire!"
"When I did my scan before, nothing was going on." Inda shrugged. "Why'd it just start?"
"Because," Vhel jumped in, "that's when these thugs got to the gates. The time stamp on these rewrites shows just enough time to get from the station to the surface. But we know they couldn't land right on the front gate. Which means they'd have to make their way up the hill... in snow it seems."
"That helps a little." Kivda contemplated his response to the situation. I need to keep that information safe, but can I get a crew to the surface in enough time to do anything about this? "Renz, I'm deploying two squadrons to secure the area. Do you have any thoughts on the matter?"
"Yes." Renz didn't look up from his device. "Ensure you find their ship ASAP. You'll need to take it out if you don't want them to get away. And I for one would like to question the scum who think they can hit our facility so brazenly. If this is who we think, then this might be a big break."
It's not going to exonerate us from tracking what our enemies are searching for. Kivda knew his friend's mind. When they ate with Vhel, Renz made it clear he wanted to finish their current assignment fast. He couldn't stop carrying on about how he felt that his current crew could wrap anything so simple up in no time. Arrogant stupidity.
"We'll... worry about that when the situation is classified and understood." Kivda returned to Porth. He watched the scanner activity meter bounce around, trying to get a solid signal. Suddenly, it broke through. Information flooded the screen from life signs to radiation pockets all across the surface of the station. "What... is all that?"
"Damage throughout the station," Inda said. "Small arms fire mostly. Some explosions. They took out the generators for weapons though it doesn't seem they got a shot off. I'm tapping into the station logs now."
Porth asked, "Life signs? How many people survived over there?"
"Twenty," Inda said. "The normal crew for that station is one hundred-ten."
Kivda closed his eyes. How the hell did this happen? "What about the surface?"
"I'm... getting that now." Inda paused. "There's activity at the archive."
"Species?" Renz stepped closer.
Oh, now you're interested?
"Kahl, sir," Inda said. "All of them."
"Kivda," Renz gestured at the elevator, "get soldiers down there to support them. Pick a good pilot who can put our forces as close to the doors as possible. Prisoners if possible but the primary focus is saving the archive. Porth, try to contact the security forces engaging the enemy. Find out how long they can hold it."
"Yes, sir."
Kivda sent the message to the ground soldiers, having them rush to the shuttles. Whoever would have expected this planet to fall under attack? Much as he found Renz's initial attitude annoying when they arrived, it wasn't a surprise. This planet is not likely known by any that we're at war with.
Rank and file soldiers were rarely given coordinates to important places. A high-ranking officer had to have given it up. That or these rebels managed to get into one of the major databases. Prisoners might reveal the traitor though he doubted they'd have names. Best to try regardless.
"What's that expression?" Renz asked. "And are the soldiers on their way?"
"They are." Kivda didn't look at him. "Just trying to figure out why this place... and how."
"Loose lips," Renz said. "That's all it could possibly be. That or a tracker on the right person or equipment. Toss it on a shuttle, have the coordinates sent back, then hit this place like you're a friend. Once they were on the shuttle, they likely gained the clearance they needed to enter the air space above the monastery. It's that simple."
Probably. Kivda felt like there had to be more to it. I simply don't want it to have been so easy. I still think we have a higher-ranking traitor. We'll need to inform the Lord Marshal. His soldiers let him know they had launched and were on their way to the surface. He hurried back to Inda.
"Have you reached anyone on the comm yet?"
"They acknowledged they have the signal," Inda said, "but they have not replied."
"Tell them they have reinforcements on the way. Hold out." Kivda scowled at the screen. "It won't take long to save them."
"Still no sign of any ships," Vhel called. "Must be fully offline down there somewhere. That's a brave move."
Renz snorted. "They didn't believe anyone would interrupt their little attack." He leaned forward in his chair. "Contact the regular colony. Tell them to ground all flights until further notice. We cannot risk shooting down a lawful ship in the midst of this conflict. That way, the only people in the air will be our target."
Solid idea. Kivda returned to his seat to oversee the attack on the surface. If they threw caution to the wind, they would be down there in plenty of time to intervene, to stop the attack at the front gates. Once it spilled inside, friendly casualties would be bad. All comes down to the defenses of that structure... and the men they armed.
***
Maz Faulner rushed toward the gate of the monastery, taking deep breaths of cold air as he ran. The attack came fast, without warning forcing him out of bed. He barely had time to get dressed and grab a gun before charging out to protect the place, to keep not only the contents safe but the personnel as well.
Tall, dark haired and fit, Maz had been a high-ranking member of the Kahl military. An injury had ended his active career, relegating him to civilian life or a security detail. When they'd assigned him to the archive, he'd privately relished the opportunity to be off the beaten path, somewhere he could relax in quiet contemplation.
Why would the divines put me in this position? Maz had wondered if something might happen eventually though over a year passed since he arrived without a single incident. Though he kept up his skills with several other soldiers, they didn't have much to do. Some of the priests there considered them unnecessary... that there were too many of them.
Bet they feel otherwise now.
Conzi Ensz joined him on the left, a younger officer straight out of the military academy. The young man hadn't mentioned why he never had to attend active duty but he maintained his discipline. That's all Maz really cared about. As far as the soldiers went, Conzi actually seemed reliable.
Curiosity is the only reason to eventually bother him about this stuff.
"Why didn't the station warn us?" Conzi asked. "Did you hear anything?"
"Control stated they lost contact," Maz replied, "but also that it happens roughly five times a day due to the weather up here." They were moving into the winter months. So high up in the mountains, that meant snow already. Later, it would become bad enough to require laser cleaning to keep the paths clear.
These attackers knew when to arrive. A lot of our personnel are at the settlement gathering supplies for the rest of the season. Maz figured they had to be Prytin. No other military had the gall to attack so deep in their territory. We should have wiped them out of the universe first.
"My comms are acting up," Conzi said. "You know what that means."
A wind storm. Maz had records to prove out that just before the heaviest windstorms, their communications network started struggling. Which was probably why control didn't think anything of losing connection with the station. We'll have to shore up that attitude when this is all over.
"Commander Maz!" A voice crackled in his earpiece. "Please come in!" Weapon fire cracked in the distance, high-pitched chirps revealing the presence of the enemy along with the response of the wall guards. "Do you read me? This is control!"
"I hear you," Maz replied. "What is it?"
"A Kahl warship has arrived near orbit! They are sending aid. When the ship arrives, it is a friendly!"
"Thanks for the warning." Maz relayed the information to Conzi.
"Great news." Conzi frowned. "We need helmets at least."
"We can grab some in the guardhouse." Maz winced at an explosion. "What exactly are they hitting us with?"
"That sounded like an incendiary device. Perhaps a shoulder mounted blaster?"
Maz slowed as they reached the wall. Men on top ducked, firing wildly at whoever sieged the front. "This doesn't add up. Why a frontal assault? They can't possibly..." He paused, turning to Conzi. "They might have another way in. Can you think of any possible breach elsewhere in the facility?"
Conzi moved into the guard room, grabbing the basic chest armor and a helmet. Maz did the same.
"Maybe..." Conzi shrugged. "What about the cellar? That's ancient. These walls are lined with the same material as starship hulls but I'm not sure they renovated much of the interior beyond living quarters, the command center, and the archive itself."
"How do you know?"
"During the summer, I saw them bring in portable devices to keep several of those rooms cool. I didn't think anything of it at the time."
"One more thing to fix when this is over." Maz hurried over to the nearest computer terminal, taking a look at the cameras pointing outside. There were at least twenty people dug in behind rocks and portable cover exchanging fire with the guards. They didn't take risks, leaning their weapons out without exposing themselves. "Okay, we need to move."
Conzi stood beside him. "I agree. This definitely looks like a distraction. Do you think we can handle whatever they've got?"
"Look." Maz gestured to the scan data showing what they were up against. Other Kahl. "Those are our own people. Pirates or deserters. Something like that."
"Why? What could they possibly gain here?"
"Archive information has value to the right people." Maz patted his arm. "Come on. These undisciplined thugs won't be a big problem."
Conzi followed at a trot. "They seem pretty focused to me." He grunted. "HUD is having a hard time coming online too. Did they not bother with gear out here? Why does half our stuff barely function whenever there's a little breeze?"
A little breeze meant winds pushing thirty-five to forty knots. The gusts could knock a man down with ease. They lost a guard who wandered around on the walls during his shift at one point because he didn't respect the wind. Threw him clear of the courtyard in front of the gate, straight off the cliff's edge.
"Part of the benefit of this place," Maz spoke between breaths, "is the isolation. That's the defense. So yes, you trade off." Every time he inhaled, his lungs burned from the cold. He tried to work out in the cold as often as possible, to prepare himself for any eventualities. A few of his campaigns took him to tundra environments.
No amount of work made it less painful. He just found himself capable of functioning through the misery. It always remained. When fully armored, they had filtration masks. If the seals broke though, they were sucking in ice particles, feeling the burn of their environments. If they didn't die instantly from some toxin or environmental hazard.
They slowed down as they reached the opposite side of the compound. Each lifted their weapons, clearing the left and right before heading toward the cellar. A map of the place winked onto Maz's HUD. He took a moment to tap the controls on his wrist to focus on weak points in the structure, anything that might be easy to breach.
"Hey," Conzi tapped his shoulder, "the sound we heard. The explosion. It might've come from the back corner over there." The back corner of the base nuzzled up against a sheer rock surface heading up dozens of meters. One of the reasons they didn't have direct arrivals during the winter involved the high peaks.
They weren't safe in the high winds. Summer was mostly fine but as the snows fell, even when there wasn't a storm, the breezes were heavy enough to challenge the best of pilots. Maz didn't believe it at first but the radiation signatures over there made it clear. Someone had discharged a powerful weapon in that area.
"Okay. Stay sharp." Maz led the way with Conzi only a few paces behind and to the left. They approached the other door, slowing so they could each take a side. Counting with a nod, they went on three, busting through the door...
And nearly fell through a hole in the floor that led to one of the subterranean tunnels that looped the cellar. Conzi grabbed Maz by the arm to help steady his balance.
At least we know where they went now. Maz checked the schematics. The intruders had access to a tremendous part of the facility through that area. If they want the command center, they only have to find the kitchen then slip out for two doors. While their forces attack the front, they can do as they like in here.
"We've got to pursue them," Maz said. "I wish the HUD picked up their life signs. That's strange. Everything else seems to be working."
"There's a lot of strange interference," Conzi replied. "I'll send word to command to lock the doors. They need to secure themselves from a breach."
Snow rushed in through the breach in the wall. The cellar tunnel looked dark and particularly foreboding. Maz frowned as he crouched, leaning to get a look in either direction. He didn't see any lights, no signs of life to speak of. He came to a decision, waiting for Conzi to finish his chat.
"They're locking the place down tighter," Conzi said. "You ready?"
"I want you to get over to the kitchen. Stand guard there in case we've already missed them."
"We shouldn't split up, sir. We have no idea how many people we're facing."
"Our backup is busy. This is the best we've got. I'll be careful. You do the same. The guards at the command center can help you if you see more than a couple." Maz patted the younger man's arm. "I have total faith in you. Good luck." He hopped down the hole without another word, darting off.
Conzi sighed over the comm. "That's reckless, sir. I'll see you when you come out the other side."
I don't know if I like that choice of words, Maz thought. Oh well. All that time idling around had to be paid for eventually. Today's the day.
Chapter 12
"Sir!" Inda shouted, pulling Kivda's attention from watching the approach of their shuttle. Porth joined her. "I think I've picked up the tech reading from the enemy ship! It was a surge of power, like thrusters kicking on. Enough to take off for sure." She brought it up on the main screen.
Kivda noted the flashing red globe where she found the power reading. It was located to the north of the facility, deep in the mountain itself. They must've dropped forces off on the path to hike up then landed back there. If not for the peaks, they would've had a straight shot to the rear of the monastery.
"What're we missing?" Kivda asked. "Why would they go there? Do we have schematics for the area?"
"I still can't access the station computer," Inda said. "Decryption is almost done. Once we get in, we should have everything we need about the base itself."
"I think it'll be too late by then." Kivda tapped the comm, bringing up the shuttle. "Take care, you might have a ship incoming. You must get those soldiers on the path to take out the enemy striking the gate. Do whatever is necessary to keep your ship intact until you've deployed your payload."
He clicked off the comm, turning to Renz. "Our enemies down there are clever. They must have a former officer with them. Someone capable of this type of tactical work."
"Why would you give them that credit?" Renz asked. "They're going to lose most of their forces."
"Do you honestly think they care?" Kivda tilted his head. "Would we? Ground force work operates on an acceptable loss standard. If they do the same, then all they care about is achieving their goals."
"Porth," Renz called, "have the destroyers ready to target any flying vehicle that isn't ours. If the enemy ship gets out there to waylay our people, give them a warning to stand down then obliterate them. That will settle the problem quickly enough."
Kivda bit his lip. Yes and no. He felt like the enemy must've had another ship somewhere, some kind of backup. There was no way they'd lock themselves into a situation they couldn't get out of. What would be the point of the operation without some plan to escape?
We're still missing something. Kivda looked at Inda. She needs to hurry if we want to get ahead of this. Arriving when they did meant playing catchup. If they didn't pick up the pace, their slow reaction time would likely be fatal to someone. Not to mention the loss of whatever data these people are here for.
