Artemis Neo
by H-M Brown
Planet Artemis, an uninhabitable planet surrounded by three moons and mineral enriched asteroid fields that littered around the orbit. Earth claimed it and the fields as a colony, and annexed it into statehood. Humanity built ring shaped space stations that rotated on a tilted spinning axis, like tops. These space stations became towns and cities. In time, these municipalities banded together and established national borders from the planet's orbit to the three moons. A span of two hundred thousand miles in circumference, emulating the latitude and longitude of the planet itself, creating an extension of a global world made out of space itself. With the borders set, space travel relied on the three moons as access points for navigating to and from Open Space. Of these three moons was Neo Luna II within the province of New Vancouver, in the country of Cascadia. On the moon's surface lied the domed asteroid mining town of West Haven, and one of its local businesses was the ship garage, Artemis Neo.
The radio gave its report on the local news as Russell Johnson took a sip of his coffee. He read a list of bounty hunting jobs available and slid his fingers across the screen sliding the text aside to the next page. His eyes wandered to a glass frame containing Air Force medals he earned back at Earth. He leaned back for a moment as the anchorwoman on the radio caught his attention.
“In International News, the latest in the war between Appalachia and the Southern United has taken a turn for the worst. Southern United Government blocked off social networking sites from internet users of both countries. People reported that Southern United military used biological weapons along the disputed border cities near the country of Maes. Maes officials stated that they had to close the borders to both countries to prevent viral outbreak and are gathering all refugee ships to an isolated location as a quarantine.”
As Russell took another sip of coffee, a knock on the door startled him. He spilled the cup and the liquid floated in the air. Russell let out a deep breath as he looked back at the door.
“Come in.” Russell said as the door opened.
Entering inside was one of his wingmen Lina Engel. She watched Russell struggle to catch the coffee with his cup while keeping his feet on the ground. Lina saw his touch tablet float before her and she grabbed it.
“Having fun?” Lina said as she walked toward Russell.
“I managed to win this game.' Russell leaned on his chair, taking a sip of his recovered coffee, and acting as though he never spilled it to begin with. ‘So what can I do for you?”
“Juan found us a job.' Lina said as she handed him his touch screen tablet. ‘He's negotiating right now. It's an escort mission to Maes. The money looks good enough for us to pay the rent and get some supplies for our Sidewinders.”
“So our budget won't go in the red?”
“No. We should manage for at least three weeks.”
“Good.' Russell and Lina listened to the news report about the United Nations voting on sanctions against Southern United. As he turned off the radio, Lina looked at the framed medals.
“It's been four years hasn't it captain?”
“You don't have to call me that anymore. Those days are over… lieutenant.”
“You'll always be captain to me.” Lina noticed a picture of herself, Russell, and a young man in flight suits posing in front of fighter planes. She picked it up as Russell sat down on his bed.
“You can have it if you like.”
“I…' Lina turned around with the picture to her chest and closed her eyes. ‘I still think it's unfair that they blamed you for Errol's death. If I was in your squadron, I would have told him to listen to you.”
“Your brother was always stubborn.' Russell lied on the bed looking up at the ceiling. ‘But his choice made him a hero in the end. He got us all out of that mess. I'll never forget that.”
“Thank you.' Lina placed the picture back on the table. She slid her fingers off her brother's face and smiled. ‘I'll get Hikari and head for the conference room. We don't want to keep Juan waiting.”
“Hikari should be in the stock room doing an inventory check.”
“Okay.” Lina said as she left the room while Russell pulled himself up, grabbing the magnetic boots beside his bed.
Russell arrived at the entrance of the conference room. Just as he saw Juan Castillo inside standing before a monitor, he heard footsteps stomping behind him.
“Russell!”
“Hikari?” Russell turned around and saw Hikari Watanabe accompanying Lina, carrying a touch tablet. He took one-step back as she raised the tablet to his face.
“Here is the inventory list you asked for.” Hikari handed the tablet to Russell. She crossed her arms as he read the list of supplies and the price.
“Lina?' Russell said handing the tablet back to Hikari. ‘Do we have enough to get these supplies?”
“If this job doesn't pay well, we won't.”
“And worse, we're running out of food.' Hikari said as she stormed into the conference. ‘Juan hasn't gotten us a good job lately. I'm going to make sure these guys pay us big.”
“Wait no!” Russell and Lina said as they hurried inside and covered Hikari's mouth. The three looked up at the flat screen monitor, where Juan turned around and sighed at his friends. On the other side of the screen was their client, a three fingered blue skinned, hunchback humanoid with flat ears, scratching his head watching everyone act foolish. As Russell approached Juan, with Lina and Hikari following, the client leaned his head close to his screen to get a good look.
“Mr. Castillo, who is that man?” The client said with a slurred speech.
“Russ, you made it.” Juan stepped aside as Russell looked up at the screen.
“I am Russell Johnson, leader of Skyhawk Squadron.”
“Captain Zxarg Threx of the freighter Nixk, from the Planet Kyren.”
“I understand you want us to escort your ship to Maes.”
“Correct.' Zxarg tapped on the keyboard and a small in-picture screen of a vial of blue liquid appeared. ‘My country is donating this vaccine for the disease your people's war used. My people living within Appalachia are infected as well. Our doctors were able to make the cure compatible for you Earthlings. The United attacked us when we got near the Maes border in Open Space, and we were led in the wrong direction during our escape. However we have only twenty four hours before the first infectees start to die.”
“Where are you at?”
“New Rhodes City, Atlantica.”
“Next to our side of Southern United.' Juan said as he brought up a map of the boundaries. Atlantica was east of Southern United with both Appalachia and Maes bordering the country to the West, but Maes' border is wedged between Appalachia and Open Space.
“Hmm…' Russell rubbed his chin. ‘It will take six days to get around both the United and Appalachia within the planetary boundaries from New Rhodes.”
“Exactly.' Zxarg said. ‘Which is why my proposed route is through Open Space.”
“Open Space? Interesting, but going in that direction is a three-day flight. We'll still be too late to get to most of the people.”
“Not unless we use the ARC Drive.' Hikari said. ‘It should take us a few seconds to get to Maes from New Rhodes City.”
“Which is where we come in?' Juan said as he leaned on the table. ‘Since Intergalactic Law forbids any form of military or law enforcement from traveling Open Space. That means he can't get officials from Atlantica to escort them through Open Space. Only an outside contractor is capable of protecting his freighter without drawing too much attention to the Interstellar Alliance.”
“And I was told by the Specialist Guild that you guys were the closest and available to hire.” Zxarg leaned back on his seat, tapping his finger on the console as Hikari handed Juan her tablet.
“Captain Threx,' Juan said. ‘you do realize there will be fee for our services?”
“Yes, I know. What is your offer?' Zxarg leaned close to the monitor as Juan typed the price. The captain's eyes grew wide and his hand curled into a fist. He had a lot to say about what he thought of the payment, but he felt time was not on his side and conceded. ‘Fine.”
“Good.' Russell said. ‘Then we will meet you at New Rhodes.”
“Very well. I'm docked in bay forty-three. I'll have your landing clearance arranged for your arrival and provide you your landing permits.”
“Thank you.' Russell turned off the monitor and turned to his wingmen. He saw the childish light in their eyes as they finally got a job and anxiously awaited his orders. ‘Alright. Let's go re-calibrate the ARC Drive on our Sidewinders so we won't be liquefied during the flight.”
Russell arrived at the hanger, carrying a folded flight suit, helmet, and duffle bag. He heard the sound of a radio broadcast in an office with a sign that read ‘Gerin Kelick — Owner'. He stood by the door and saw blueprints of a spacecraft on the table, a calendar of a female slug like creature lying sultry on the beach, and keys hanging off hooks on the wall. Across the room where the radio played was the back of a seat, with smoke rising to an open vent on the ceiling. A grey hand with four suction cup fingers leaned over an ashtray and tapped the butt of the cigarette.
“How's Chicago doing Doc?” Russell said as the grey hand stopped tapping.
“Here's the pitch.” The radio announcer said to the roar of the crowd as a long snake like neck rose up from the chair. Gerin turned his head around in a coil revealing a catfish like face, with whiskers acting like a mustache. His ocean blue eyes blinked twice and he blew smoke into the air.
“The rent's due.” His deep voice sounded like a man who commanded respect and his mouth moved like puppet.
“Don't worry. We got a job and we will make enough money to pay the docking fees for our Sidewinders. You'll get paid when we come back.”
“Good. I'm tired of seeing your ships sitting in my garage, collecting dust, and taking up room from my customers. This is not a museum.”
“Yeah, yeah.' Russell waved his hand as he turned around and looked back before leaving. ‘By the way. Twenty duros says Chicago will lose again.”
“You're on Russell.” Gerin slinked back behind the chair focusing on the radio.
Russell approached four docked fighter planes. The cockpits planted near the back of each ship just in front of the engine. The nose was slender and the wings pointed downward. He stood before the purple and black plane, the name Bladewing decaled under the canopy of the cockpit. The trademarks Yamato Motors and Sidewinder NX-8 emblazoned the panel alongside the engine. Russell pressed his hand on the cold surface. With eyes closed, he heard the roar of the engines in his memories, and the sensation of the flight that thrilled his heart.
All of that ended when a loud rumble of the hydraulic lift interrupted his thoughts. Russell looked down to the lower level of the hangar. There was Vince Falcon, elevating a small ship until it came to a stop. Russell leaped over the railing, floating down to the lower level. His boots made a suction sound as he landed and he approached the mechanic.
“Hey Vince.” Russell said as the mechanic used a spanner to unscrew the bolts of the panel.
“Juan told you me guys have an escort job.” Vince said as he pulled the panel off the ship and hung a lamp on the edge of the opening revealing the ships insides.
“Yeah, the United military attacked a freighter carrying medicine to Maes and chased them to Atlantica from Open Space.”
“Open Space?' Vince pulled out a large disk, bent and chipped along edges. ‘Are they trying to get Earth in trouble with the I.A.?”
“It looks that way.' Russell took the large disk and whistled at the damage. He turned his head and looked at the device inside the ship ‘What happened to the ARC Drive?”
“This family came all the way from Earth and the idiot husband decided to take a route with a fifteen percent chance of striking debris in ARC speed. All so he could shorten the travel time. I sent them to the inn in West Haven until I get this fixed.”
“Well, I better get started making the adjustments on the ARC Drive on Bladewing.”
“Why I thought you were going to Maes?” Vince picked up a torque wrench and reached inside the ship.
“We are. We're going to use ARC Speed through Open Space to get past the United Military and into Maes.”
“You guys got guts. Don't go getting yourselves killed doing that.”
“We won't. Plus we updated the G.A.P.S and secondary weapons, so we're combat ready.” Russell jumped and floated back up to the dock, where his friends waited for him above.
An hour passed as everyone in flight suits and helmets climbed into their Sidewinders. Lina strapped into her seat in the teal ship while Juan typed on the console of the red plane, and Hikari watched the canopy closed on her silver fighter. Each engine burst and flames licked the walls.
Russell reached for the handlebars and twisted the accelerator in his right hand like a motorcycle. His Sidewinder roared like an animal. The landing wheels jerked a little, desperate to drive off and launch. Russell looked up at the control room by the docking bay door where Vince climbed inside closing the door behind him.
Vince stood before the console and tapped on the screen. He slid his finger on a straight line and the inner docking bay door lowered itself. Each Sidewinder wheeled inside and waited before the outer door. After the inner door closed, the room became an echo chamber. The window in the control room rattled and vibrated violently. It was as though the glass was ready to shatter. The second door opened and whatever air remained flew out into the space. The window stopped rattling and the noise went mute. The flames of the engines lowered to the size of a campfire. Ahead of them was a runway on the moon's surface and the received clearance to launch. Each Sidewinder flew out of the garage and lifted off into space.
“This is Bladewing.' Russell said. ‘All Sidewinders report.”
“Nightshade here.' Hikari said. ‘Standing by.”
“Dreadnaught.' Juan said. ‘Ready to go.”
“Hellscythe reporting.' Lina said. ‘All systems are set.”
“Skyhawks…' Russell said. ‘…ride out!”
Each Sidewinder picked up speed and flew to New Rhodes City, Atlantica.
Skyhawk Squadron arrived at the city. There was busy flight traffic in and out of the tilted space station. Military and law enforcement ships were everywhere, patrolling the region. Russell's radio rang and received transmission from flight control tower. He answered the call.
“Flight traffic control, this is Russell Johnson of the Sidewinder Bladewing, four zero jacket bobby nine, leader of the Skyhawk Squadron. Requesting clearance to land in docking bay forty-three.”
Everyone else provided their permits and clearance information to traffic control and waited for a response.
“Security is tight.” Hikari said looking up at the military ship flying over her.
“Tell me about it.' Lina said. ‘The war seems to have everyone on edge.”
“Do you think Captain Threx told the authorities about the United's attack on his freighter?”
“Maybe. But even if he didn't, I think Atlantica was already aware of the United's actions in the war and decided not to take chances.”
“Sidewinder Bladewing.' The flight traffic controller said. ‘You and your squadron are cleared to land.”
“Roger that. Let's go everyone.”
The Sidewinders approached the space station. They turned the ships on its side, the underbelly lined up with the surface. Their perception changed, the station no longer looked like a horizontal top, but a vertical wheel. It was as though they were flying over a planet's surface now. They could see the horizon of the station ahead. The ships launched and entered docking bays. They followed the coordinates and found the runway to docking bay forty-three. Everyone lined up in a single row, their landing wheels lowered, and adjusted their speed to allow room for landing. Each one entered inside the tunnel that led to an open chamber and landed. The airlock door closed and filled the room with air causing the flames of the engines to flare up. The sound of engines roared once again. When the inner doors opened, the ground crew waved their flags and directed the pilots to each dock.
After climbing out of their Sidewinders, everyone looked up at the freighter Nixk across the hangar, and saw some of the damage on the hull. Mechanics rode up elevated platforms to weld metal panels on the melted holes, while the ship's crew refueled, and assessed their cargo. Hikari called over one of the ground crew as Juan pointed out to Zxarg across the docking bay talking to a mechanic.
“I see him Juan.' Russell turned around to Hikari. ‘Make sure we get unleaded this time.”
“Okay Russ.” Hikari said as Lina stared at the decayed metal on the ship's hull.
“Captain… I mean Russell. That looks like plasma burns.”
“Yeah. I don't like this either. Let's go talk to the captain. Juan, contact your sources and find out about those plasma burns.”
“Got it.”
“Let's go Lina.”
Russell and Lina approached Zxarg. They shook hands as a forklift drove by. Together they walked toward the freighter, where a taller Kyrenian stood beside one of his subordinates. He slid his finger across the blueprint and pointed up to the freighter. After the subordinate left, he turned around with coldness in his eyes.
“Captain, we are ahead of schedule. We should be able to depart for San Bernardino within one hour.”
“Good. Good. Russell Johnson this is Commander Firg Zraj.”
“A pleasure to meet you Captain Johnson.”
“Please you don't have to call me that.”
“But you are the leader of your squadron correct?”
“Well yeah, but it's not a title I like to carry around.' Russell rubbed the back of his head as Lina rolled her eyes. Russell walked up to the banister and pointed to the damage on the ship. ‘Captain, you didn't tell me that you were struck by plasma caps.”
“We didn't know either.' Zxarg said as Lina talked with Firg. ‘Not until we actually docked here. We were lucky. We of course notified your United Nations about this.”
“You do realize our Sidewinders do not have the strength to handle such strikes.”
“I know. If I had told you, you would have rejected the job.”
“How many contractors have you contacted since you got here?”
“You're the fourth.”
“I'm doubling our fee.”
“What?!” Zxarg said as Lina and Firg turned around.
“You heard me. If we get in a dogfight with Southern United in Open Space, we may not make it across the border when they start using plasma caps.' Russell tightened his grip the cold railing. He could feel Lina's eyes on his back as he kept his head down. Russell looked back at her with the corner of his eyes, holding her ground and showing no fear. He knew she understood what he thought, about the potential of facing a dogfight involving plasma caps, but he saw some crates marked food and medicine reloading into the ship. He took a deep a breath and turned around. ‘Sorry. The original fee stands.”
Russell walked past Zerg and Firg as Lina followed him. He kept his eyes forward as Lina crossed her arms.
“Say it Lina.”
“What the hell was that?!”
“Plasma caps. Southern United has plasma caps.”
“Yeah. Which means we're could be facing bullet hell combat. It's not like we haven't trained for this before.”
“I know.”
Lina stopped for a moment and curled her hands into fist. She shook her head side to side, as Russell stopped and turned around.
“I know its frightening Russell. Fighting in bullet hell.' Her voice choked as Russell placed his hands on her shoulders. ‘We don't have to this. There are other jobs.”
“Of course there are.' Russell said looking at the medicine crates. ‘But this crew only wants to get medicine and food to the refugees in Maes. We had these missions before. It was why we joined the Air Force. I guess, I still feel like I should do the right thing and help get these supplies to them. I just lost myself in the moment. The memories.”
Lina shook her head in agreement and tried to lift her arms up to reach for his face, but she felt the grip of his hands on her shoulders. She blushed lightly as he removed them out of shocked.
“It's okay Russell. Let's go get a plan ready for this mission.”
Russell and Lina returned as Juan climbed down from his plane. They all sat down on the wings of the Sidewinders as Hikari showed up and handed Lina the receipt.
“The Sidewinders are fueled and ready to go.”
“Good job Hikari.' Russell said. ‘Juan what did you find out?”
“Southern United made an arms deal with the Yerydirans and bought plasma caps. They've been using them in covert operations.”
“No doubt going after humanitarian ships.”
“They want the Appalachians wiped out.” Juan leaned forward with hands folded.
“All right.' Russell said. ‘We got one hour before the Kyrenians finish repairs. We'll do some bullet hell simulations for thirty minutes and then we'll take a break once we're done.”
Skyhawk Squadron led the freighter Nixk toward Open Space. The planes and ship picked up speed as Russell's monitor showed the speedometer increasing. All the vehicles broke the sound barrier as they crossed the border. The on board computer acknowledged the enabling of ARC Speed and Russell typed in the coordinates to the ARC Drive. The GPS tracking system on his monitor charted out the course. A line on the screen curved around in a one-hundred eighty degree turn. It warned that there was a fifteen percent chance of debris damage along the route and tapped okay on the screen. Thick metal shielding stretched over the glass of the canopy and locked into place on all the Sidewinders.
The engines of the Sidewinders and the freighter had a blue neon light. They disappeared, leaving behind a ripple in space like a pebble splashing into an undisturbed pond. Space became a bent, warped tube. It stretched out like gum for a brief moment. Not more then a few seconds, space rippled as everyone returned to mach speed. The momentum was rough in their seats, but their bodies held in place. The monitor showed that they arrived at the Maes border. With the shielding removed, Russell saw San Bernardino in the distance. After they crossed the border, Russell's radar picked up two ships nearby. He looked around and saw nothing, until a couple of missiles from above struck the city.
“No. Carrier Class Warships.” Russell said as fighter planes launched out of the city to attack the invaders. He overheard security calling for help from the Maes Government.
“Mr. Johnson.' Zxarg said over the radio. ‘We need to fly deeper into the country.”
“Damn.” Russell said, banging his fist on console.
The Sidewinders and Nixk turned, flying away from the skirmish, but radar showed fighter planes heading toward them. Russell looked to his right and there were two squadrons of five fighters each.
“Zxarg, go on ahead. We'll take care of the drones.”
The Sidewinders turned a wide arc toward the enemy. Russell plugged a tube to the back of his helmet and received oxygen throughout his flight suit. He pressed the button that read G.A.P.S and the words ‘Gyroscopic Axis Propulsion System Active' appeared on the screen. An air vent behind him vacuumed the oxygen and everything inside the cockpit became quiet. All there was left was the sound of breathing and the radio in his helmet. The monitor noted that there was no air pressure present. So, when Russell turned his Sidewinder to the right, a small burst of air under the belly of his ship shifted into an extreme right angled turn, and his body remained intact never feeling the force of pressure. The Skyhawks followed Russell and together they confronted the enemy ships.
“Split up and thin out them out.”
Everyone separated and the enemy ships spread out into pairs. Russell followed one of the fighters and locked on. He fired his bullets and it pierced engine. The enemy fighter broke apart and the flames just flick into nothingness like a light switch. The radar picked up two fighters behind him. He received the warning that he was locked on. As he turned the Sidewinder to the left, he saw Lina's ship on his radar.
“I got you covered Bladewing.” Line fired a stream of bullets striking both fighters. The collided with each other from the shock of being caught off guard and exploded.
“Thanks Hellscythe.” Russell said over the radio.
Lina followed one of the fighters. It swerved side to side trying to avoid her lock. She saw the fighter pull up in a long arc and to the right as she turned sharp taking the inside curve. A warning blared that a nearby ship was going to collide with her, and looking above was Hikari. Lina pulled the handlebars and her Sidewinder spun to the side. Hikari and her opponent just missed Lina as they dove downward.
“Watch out Nightshade.”
“Sorry.' Hikari said as locked on to her target and sprayed bullets on the fighter's engines, destroying it. She pulled up and saw San Bernardino breaking apart as small escape pods ejected out of the station. Each one shot down by the two carriers. She gritted her teeth as she watched the innocent die. ‘The cowards.”
“Stay focus.' Juan said as he flew under her chasing his target. The enemy tried to finesse its way with twists and turns, but Juan was one-step ahead when he push up and fired. The ship blew up as he ascended alongside Russell.
“Good job Dreadnaught.” Russell said as the remaining enemy fighters retreated. However, Russell saw them regrouping with three squadrons of strange looking ships. Two squadrons looked like two layers of saw blades rotating in opposite directions, sandwiched between two gun turrets. The other squadron look liked turtle-shelled crabs. All four squads headed for the Nixk and Russell led the Skyhawks toward them. The Sidewinders took a v-shaped formation as they approached the Nixk. The turtle shelled crabs flew between them and the freighter, taking a formation of two above and three under. Each bullet fired bounced off the shell. The enemy responded with a spread of red metal casings.
“Plasma caps.' Russell said. ‘Take evasive maneuvers.”
The plasma caps passed along side each other leaving very little room for everyone to move. The Sidewinders shifted up and down in a vertical motion, side to side with cashing into each other. They worked their way around the mass hail of fire as though they were flying through an asteroid field.
“Activate Spreader.” Russell said as pair of guns emerged from the side of his wings. He pulled the trigger and a volley of armor piercing bullets spread outward toward the enemy. Each bullet struck the claws and shells of three fighters destroying two of them. The enemy realigned themselves as Lina flew ahead of Russell.
“Firing Nailer.' Lina said as a cannon emerged from under the belly of her Sidewinder. She avoided another volley of plasma caps while she held her focused. ‘Target's locked.”
Lina pulled the trigger and a cannonball flew under the enemy. It blew up without impact and large nails spread outward. The damaged ship blew up while the other two tilted aside unable to fly, allowing the Skyhawks to fly pass them. Lina looked out at the Nixk with a gasp as Russell flew past her. The freighter took lots of damage from plasma caps and the rotating blades ripping the hull on both sides.
“Let's split up.' Russell said. ‘Dreadnaught you're with me. Hellscythe, Nightshade, take the right.”
Skyhawk squadron split up and flew alongside the Nixk. The fighter planes that regrouped earlier slowed down to get past everyone, but Hikari took out one of them during the transition. The remaining four fighters split into pairs and followed the Skyhawks on each side.
Hikari approached the bladed ships as they turned from horizontal to vertical. The enemy whipped the plasma caps in a vertical rotation. She pulled back as the casings spread farther apart. The monitor flashed that she took damage from the bullets as the radar showed Lina pulling back to deal with the enemy fighters. Hikari navigated around the red shells as she flipped a pair of switches.
“Come on out Fireflies.” A pair of small fighter planes slid out from under the belly and flew alongside her Sidewinder. The Fireflies followed her every movement. Hikari swung to the right where she was able to see the surface of the enemy in its vertical position. She pulled the trigger and moved her Sidewinder to the left. Her plane and the Fireflies fired four rows of bullets pelting each of the enemy ships. Two of them lost control and slammed into each other, while the turrets of the other three blew up. The buzz-sawed ships spun out of control passed Hikari, and they slammed into the fighters that Lina fought.
On the other side of the freighter, Russell avoided each shot fired by the two fighters that followed him, while Juan targeted one of the buzz-sawed ships with a missile lock. He held steady as his monitor signaled the lock on.
“Drillers, launch.” With the press of a button, a missile with a drill bit at the tip flew toward one of the buzz-sawed fighters. It connected and burrowed its way through the turret. It burst into pieces and the fighter slammed into its wingman, slicing the ship in half. Both exploded.
Another volley of plasma caps from the three flew towards the Sidewinders and the enemy fighters behind them fired a volley of bullets. Russell and Juan found themselves in a maze of ammo. Spinning, elevating, and diving. Threading the needle of death as they fired bullets in return. Russell found himself trapped as the caps surrounded him. A flash of memory took over his thoughts. When he stared at the same situation, he felt his plane bumped to the side completely avoiding the field of plasma caps, and Errol telling him over the radio that he would cover their squadron's escape.
“Bladewing!' Juan said. ‘Do a barrel roll!”
Russell's eyes blinked and he twisted the handlebars out of reflex. His Sidewinder spun around, slipping past the plasma caps. He emerged into an opening and now had room to avoid the rest. The Sidewinders finessed their way around the caps, but the enemy fighters behind Russell were not so lucky. The caps shattered like glass and red liquid spread over the enemies ships eating the metal and glass. The enemy fighters exploded, but the shrapnel pelted the Sidewinders from behind. The damage was minimal.
The remaining three buzz-sawed fighters prepared to launch another volley of plasma caps, but bullets from above pelted the enemies. Lina and Hikari dove toward the enemy concentrating their bullets on the turrets of one of them. As they made the enemy explode, Juan's Driller struck the second ship destroying it. The last ship escaped as Russell's bullets pelted it. Just as he turned around ready to give chase, there were military ships flying by from the other side of the freighter, following the enemy. He saw the word Maes on the hull with fighter planes launching out.
“This is the M.S. Odyssey.' A communications officer said on the radio to all the ships. ‘Proceed to Madrid immediately. There will be assistance provided on your arrival.”
Russell laid back and let out a calm sigh of relief as he turned his ship around. His wingmen gathered around him and he saw Lina in her cockpit giving a victory sign, while the cheers from Hikari and Juan blared over the radio.
“Mr. Johnson?' Zxarg said over the comm. ‘What's you status?”
“We're all fine out here. You?”
“We took some damage but we're fine. Good job.”
“Thanks.' Russell said while deactivating the G.A.P.S., and air filled up the cockpit. ‘Let's get you to Madrid.”
The Sidewinders flew ahead of the Nixk as another military ship passed by. Skyhawk Squadron guided their clients to their destination, as other ships with damage on their hulls, flew alongside the freighter and the Sidewinders. A space station appeared in their sights ahead. The radar read Madrid.
“Skyhawks.' Russell said. ‘Mission Accomplished.”
The End.
The radio gave its report on the local news as Russell Johnson took a sip of his coffee. He read a list of bounty hunting jobs available and slid his fingers across the screen sliding the text aside to the next page. His eyes wandered to a glass frame containing Air Force medals he earned back at Earth. He leaned back for a moment as the anchorwoman on the radio caught his attention.
“In International News, the latest in the war between Appalachia and the Southern United has taken a turn for the worst. Southern United Government blocked off social networking sites from internet users of both countries. People reported that Southern United military used biological weapons along the disputed border cities near the country of Maes. Maes officials stated that they had to close the borders to both countries to prevent viral outbreak and are gathering all refugee ships to an isolated location as a quarantine.”
As Russell took another sip of coffee, a knock on the door startled him. He spilled the cup and the liquid floated in the air. Russell let out a deep breath as he looked back at the door.
“Come in.” Russell said as the door opened.
Entering inside was one of his wingmen Lina Engel. She watched Russell struggle to catch the coffee with his cup while keeping his feet on the ground. Lina saw his touch tablet float before her and she grabbed it.
“Having fun?” Lina said as she walked toward Russell.
“I managed to win this game.' Russell leaned on his chair, taking a sip of his recovered coffee, and acting as though he never spilled it to begin with. ‘So what can I do for you?”
“Juan found us a job.' Lina said as she handed him his touch screen tablet. ‘He's negotiating right now. It's an escort mission to Maes. The money looks good enough for us to pay the rent and get some supplies for our Sidewinders.”
“So our budget won't go in the red?”
“No. We should manage for at least three weeks.”
“Good.' Russell and Lina listened to the news report about the United Nations voting on sanctions against Southern United. As he turned off the radio, Lina looked at the framed medals.
“It's been four years hasn't it captain?”
“You don't have to call me that anymore. Those days are over… lieutenant.”
“You'll always be captain to me.” Lina noticed a picture of herself, Russell, and a young man in flight suits posing in front of fighter planes. She picked it up as Russell sat down on his bed.
“You can have it if you like.”
“I…' Lina turned around with the picture to her chest and closed her eyes. ‘I still think it's unfair that they blamed you for Errol's death. If I was in your squadron, I would have told him to listen to you.”
“Your brother was always stubborn.' Russell lied on the bed looking up at the ceiling. ‘But his choice made him a hero in the end. He got us all out of that mess. I'll never forget that.”
“Thank you.' Lina placed the picture back on the table. She slid her fingers off her brother's face and smiled. ‘I'll get Hikari and head for the conference room. We don't want to keep Juan waiting.”
“Hikari should be in the stock room doing an inventory check.”
“Okay.” Lina said as she left the room while Russell pulled himself up, grabbing the magnetic boots beside his bed.
Russell arrived at the entrance of the conference room. Just as he saw Juan Castillo inside standing before a monitor, he heard footsteps stomping behind him.
“Russell!”
“Hikari?” Russell turned around and saw Hikari Watanabe accompanying Lina, carrying a touch tablet. He took one-step back as she raised the tablet to his face.
“Here is the inventory list you asked for.” Hikari handed the tablet to Russell. She crossed her arms as he read the list of supplies and the price.
“Lina?' Russell said handing the tablet back to Hikari. ‘Do we have enough to get these supplies?”
“If this job doesn't pay well, we won't.”
“And worse, we're running out of food.' Hikari said as she stormed into the conference. ‘Juan hasn't gotten us a good job lately. I'm going to make sure these guys pay us big.”
“Wait no!” Russell and Lina said as they hurried inside and covered Hikari's mouth. The three looked up at the flat screen monitor, where Juan turned around and sighed at his friends. On the other side of the screen was their client, a three fingered blue skinned, hunchback humanoid with flat ears, scratching his head watching everyone act foolish. As Russell approached Juan, with Lina and Hikari following, the client leaned his head close to his screen to get a good look.
“Mr. Castillo, who is that man?” The client said with a slurred speech.
“Russ, you made it.” Juan stepped aside as Russell looked up at the screen.
“I am Russell Johnson, leader of Skyhawk Squadron.”
“Captain Zxarg Threx of the freighter Nixk, from the Planet Kyren.”
“I understand you want us to escort your ship to Maes.”
“Correct.' Zxarg tapped on the keyboard and a small in-picture screen of a vial of blue liquid appeared. ‘My country is donating this vaccine for the disease your people's war used. My people living within Appalachia are infected as well. Our doctors were able to make the cure compatible for you Earthlings. The United attacked us when we got near the Maes border in Open Space, and we were led in the wrong direction during our escape. However we have only twenty four hours before the first infectees start to die.”
“Where are you at?”
“New Rhodes City, Atlantica.”
“Next to our side of Southern United.' Juan said as he brought up a map of the boundaries. Atlantica was east of Southern United with both Appalachia and Maes bordering the country to the West, but Maes' border is wedged between Appalachia and Open Space.
“Hmm…' Russell rubbed his chin. ‘It will take six days to get around both the United and Appalachia within the planetary boundaries from New Rhodes.”
“Exactly.' Zxarg said. ‘Which is why my proposed route is through Open Space.”
“Open Space? Interesting, but going in that direction is a three-day flight. We'll still be too late to get to most of the people.”
“Not unless we use the ARC Drive.' Hikari said. ‘It should take us a few seconds to get to Maes from New Rhodes City.”
“Which is where we come in?' Juan said as he leaned on the table. ‘Since Intergalactic Law forbids any form of military or law enforcement from traveling Open Space. That means he can't get officials from Atlantica to escort them through Open Space. Only an outside contractor is capable of protecting his freighter without drawing too much attention to the Interstellar Alliance.”
“And I was told by the Specialist Guild that you guys were the closest and available to hire.” Zxarg leaned back on his seat, tapping his finger on the console as Hikari handed Juan her tablet.
“Captain Threx,' Juan said. ‘you do realize there will be fee for our services?”
“Yes, I know. What is your offer?' Zxarg leaned close to the monitor as Juan typed the price. The captain's eyes grew wide and his hand curled into a fist. He had a lot to say about what he thought of the payment, but he felt time was not on his side and conceded. ‘Fine.”
“Good.' Russell said. ‘Then we will meet you at New Rhodes.”
“Very well. I'm docked in bay forty-three. I'll have your landing clearance arranged for your arrival and provide you your landing permits.”
“Thank you.' Russell turned off the monitor and turned to his wingmen. He saw the childish light in their eyes as they finally got a job and anxiously awaited his orders. ‘Alright. Let's go re-calibrate the ARC Drive on our Sidewinders so we won't be liquefied during the flight.”
Russell arrived at the hanger, carrying a folded flight suit, helmet, and duffle bag. He heard the sound of a radio broadcast in an office with a sign that read ‘Gerin Kelick — Owner'. He stood by the door and saw blueprints of a spacecraft on the table, a calendar of a female slug like creature lying sultry on the beach, and keys hanging off hooks on the wall. Across the room where the radio played was the back of a seat, with smoke rising to an open vent on the ceiling. A grey hand with four suction cup fingers leaned over an ashtray and tapped the butt of the cigarette.
“How's Chicago doing Doc?” Russell said as the grey hand stopped tapping.
“Here's the pitch.” The radio announcer said to the roar of the crowd as a long snake like neck rose up from the chair. Gerin turned his head around in a coil revealing a catfish like face, with whiskers acting like a mustache. His ocean blue eyes blinked twice and he blew smoke into the air.
“The rent's due.” His deep voice sounded like a man who commanded respect and his mouth moved like puppet.
“Don't worry. We got a job and we will make enough money to pay the docking fees for our Sidewinders. You'll get paid when we come back.”
“Good. I'm tired of seeing your ships sitting in my garage, collecting dust, and taking up room from my customers. This is not a museum.”
“Yeah, yeah.' Russell waved his hand as he turned around and looked back before leaving. ‘By the way. Twenty duros says Chicago will lose again.”
“You're on Russell.” Gerin slinked back behind the chair focusing on the radio.
Russell approached four docked fighter planes. The cockpits planted near the back of each ship just in front of the engine. The nose was slender and the wings pointed downward. He stood before the purple and black plane, the name Bladewing decaled under the canopy of the cockpit. The trademarks Yamato Motors and Sidewinder NX-8 emblazoned the panel alongside the engine. Russell pressed his hand on the cold surface. With eyes closed, he heard the roar of the engines in his memories, and the sensation of the flight that thrilled his heart.
All of that ended when a loud rumble of the hydraulic lift interrupted his thoughts. Russell looked down to the lower level of the hangar. There was Vince Falcon, elevating a small ship until it came to a stop. Russell leaped over the railing, floating down to the lower level. His boots made a suction sound as he landed and he approached the mechanic.
“Hey Vince.” Russell said as the mechanic used a spanner to unscrew the bolts of the panel.
“Juan told you me guys have an escort job.” Vince said as he pulled the panel off the ship and hung a lamp on the edge of the opening revealing the ships insides.
“Yeah, the United military attacked a freighter carrying medicine to Maes and chased them to Atlantica from Open Space.”
“Open Space?' Vince pulled out a large disk, bent and chipped along edges. ‘Are they trying to get Earth in trouble with the I.A.?”
“It looks that way.' Russell took the large disk and whistled at the damage. He turned his head and looked at the device inside the ship ‘What happened to the ARC Drive?”
“This family came all the way from Earth and the idiot husband decided to take a route with a fifteen percent chance of striking debris in ARC speed. All so he could shorten the travel time. I sent them to the inn in West Haven until I get this fixed.”
“Well, I better get started making the adjustments on the ARC Drive on Bladewing.”
“Why I thought you were going to Maes?” Vince picked up a torque wrench and reached inside the ship.
“We are. We're going to use ARC Speed through Open Space to get past the United Military and into Maes.”
“You guys got guts. Don't go getting yourselves killed doing that.”
“We won't. Plus we updated the G.A.P.S and secondary weapons, so we're combat ready.” Russell jumped and floated back up to the dock, where his friends waited for him above.
An hour passed as everyone in flight suits and helmets climbed into their Sidewinders. Lina strapped into her seat in the teal ship while Juan typed on the console of the red plane, and Hikari watched the canopy closed on her silver fighter. Each engine burst and flames licked the walls.
Russell reached for the handlebars and twisted the accelerator in his right hand like a motorcycle. His Sidewinder roared like an animal. The landing wheels jerked a little, desperate to drive off and launch. Russell looked up at the control room by the docking bay door where Vince climbed inside closing the door behind him.
Vince stood before the console and tapped on the screen. He slid his finger on a straight line and the inner docking bay door lowered itself. Each Sidewinder wheeled inside and waited before the outer door. After the inner door closed, the room became an echo chamber. The window in the control room rattled and vibrated violently. It was as though the glass was ready to shatter. The second door opened and whatever air remained flew out into the space. The window stopped rattling and the noise went mute. The flames of the engines lowered to the size of a campfire. Ahead of them was a runway on the moon's surface and the received clearance to launch. Each Sidewinder flew out of the garage and lifted off into space.
“This is Bladewing.' Russell said. ‘All Sidewinders report.”
“Nightshade here.' Hikari said. ‘Standing by.”
“Dreadnaught.' Juan said. ‘Ready to go.”
“Hellscythe reporting.' Lina said. ‘All systems are set.”
“Skyhawks…' Russell said. ‘…ride out!”
Each Sidewinder picked up speed and flew to New Rhodes City, Atlantica.
Skyhawk Squadron arrived at the city. There was busy flight traffic in and out of the tilted space station. Military and law enforcement ships were everywhere, patrolling the region. Russell's radio rang and received transmission from flight control tower. He answered the call.
“Flight traffic control, this is Russell Johnson of the Sidewinder Bladewing, four zero jacket bobby nine, leader of the Skyhawk Squadron. Requesting clearance to land in docking bay forty-three.”
Everyone else provided their permits and clearance information to traffic control and waited for a response.
“Security is tight.” Hikari said looking up at the military ship flying over her.
“Tell me about it.' Lina said. ‘The war seems to have everyone on edge.”
“Do you think Captain Threx told the authorities about the United's attack on his freighter?”
“Maybe. But even if he didn't, I think Atlantica was already aware of the United's actions in the war and decided not to take chances.”
“Sidewinder Bladewing.' The flight traffic controller said. ‘You and your squadron are cleared to land.”
“Roger that. Let's go everyone.”
The Sidewinders approached the space station. They turned the ships on its side, the underbelly lined up with the surface. Their perception changed, the station no longer looked like a horizontal top, but a vertical wheel. It was as though they were flying over a planet's surface now. They could see the horizon of the station ahead. The ships launched and entered docking bays. They followed the coordinates and found the runway to docking bay forty-three. Everyone lined up in a single row, their landing wheels lowered, and adjusted their speed to allow room for landing. Each one entered inside the tunnel that led to an open chamber and landed. The airlock door closed and filled the room with air causing the flames of the engines to flare up. The sound of engines roared once again. When the inner doors opened, the ground crew waved their flags and directed the pilots to each dock.
After climbing out of their Sidewinders, everyone looked up at the freighter Nixk across the hangar, and saw some of the damage on the hull. Mechanics rode up elevated platforms to weld metal panels on the melted holes, while the ship's crew refueled, and assessed their cargo. Hikari called over one of the ground crew as Juan pointed out to Zxarg across the docking bay talking to a mechanic.
“I see him Juan.' Russell turned around to Hikari. ‘Make sure we get unleaded this time.”
“Okay Russ.” Hikari said as Lina stared at the decayed metal on the ship's hull.
“Captain… I mean Russell. That looks like plasma burns.”
“Yeah. I don't like this either. Let's go talk to the captain. Juan, contact your sources and find out about those plasma burns.”
“Got it.”
“Let's go Lina.”
Russell and Lina approached Zxarg. They shook hands as a forklift drove by. Together they walked toward the freighter, where a taller Kyrenian stood beside one of his subordinates. He slid his finger across the blueprint and pointed up to the freighter. After the subordinate left, he turned around with coldness in his eyes.
“Captain, we are ahead of schedule. We should be able to depart for San Bernardino within one hour.”
“Good. Good. Russell Johnson this is Commander Firg Zraj.”
“A pleasure to meet you Captain Johnson.”
“Please you don't have to call me that.”
“But you are the leader of your squadron correct?”
“Well yeah, but it's not a title I like to carry around.' Russell rubbed the back of his head as Lina rolled her eyes. Russell walked up to the banister and pointed to the damage on the ship. ‘Captain, you didn't tell me that you were struck by plasma caps.”
“We didn't know either.' Zxarg said as Lina talked with Firg. ‘Not until we actually docked here. We were lucky. We of course notified your United Nations about this.”
“You do realize our Sidewinders do not have the strength to handle such strikes.”
“I know. If I had told you, you would have rejected the job.”
“How many contractors have you contacted since you got here?”
“You're the fourth.”
“I'm doubling our fee.”
“What?!” Zxarg said as Lina and Firg turned around.
“You heard me. If we get in a dogfight with Southern United in Open Space, we may not make it across the border when they start using plasma caps.' Russell tightened his grip the cold railing. He could feel Lina's eyes on his back as he kept his head down. Russell looked back at her with the corner of his eyes, holding her ground and showing no fear. He knew she understood what he thought, about the potential of facing a dogfight involving plasma caps, but he saw some crates marked food and medicine reloading into the ship. He took a deep a breath and turned around. ‘Sorry. The original fee stands.”
Russell walked past Zerg and Firg as Lina followed him. He kept his eyes forward as Lina crossed her arms.
“Say it Lina.”
“What the hell was that?!”
“Plasma caps. Southern United has plasma caps.”
“Yeah. Which means we're could be facing bullet hell combat. It's not like we haven't trained for this before.”
“I know.”
Lina stopped for a moment and curled her hands into fist. She shook her head side to side, as Russell stopped and turned around.
“I know its frightening Russell. Fighting in bullet hell.' Her voice choked as Russell placed his hands on her shoulders. ‘We don't have to this. There are other jobs.”
“Of course there are.' Russell said looking at the medicine crates. ‘But this crew only wants to get medicine and food to the refugees in Maes. We had these missions before. It was why we joined the Air Force. I guess, I still feel like I should do the right thing and help get these supplies to them. I just lost myself in the moment. The memories.”
Lina shook her head in agreement and tried to lift her arms up to reach for his face, but she felt the grip of his hands on her shoulders. She blushed lightly as he removed them out of shocked.
“It's okay Russell. Let's go get a plan ready for this mission.”
Russell and Lina returned as Juan climbed down from his plane. They all sat down on the wings of the Sidewinders as Hikari showed up and handed Lina the receipt.
“The Sidewinders are fueled and ready to go.”
“Good job Hikari.' Russell said. ‘Juan what did you find out?”
“Southern United made an arms deal with the Yerydirans and bought plasma caps. They've been using them in covert operations.”
“No doubt going after humanitarian ships.”
“They want the Appalachians wiped out.” Juan leaned forward with hands folded.
“All right.' Russell said. ‘We got one hour before the Kyrenians finish repairs. We'll do some bullet hell simulations for thirty minutes and then we'll take a break once we're done.”
Skyhawk Squadron led the freighter Nixk toward Open Space. The planes and ship picked up speed as Russell's monitor showed the speedometer increasing. All the vehicles broke the sound barrier as they crossed the border. The on board computer acknowledged the enabling of ARC Speed and Russell typed in the coordinates to the ARC Drive. The GPS tracking system on his monitor charted out the course. A line on the screen curved around in a one-hundred eighty degree turn. It warned that there was a fifteen percent chance of debris damage along the route and tapped okay on the screen. Thick metal shielding stretched over the glass of the canopy and locked into place on all the Sidewinders.
The engines of the Sidewinders and the freighter had a blue neon light. They disappeared, leaving behind a ripple in space like a pebble splashing into an undisturbed pond. Space became a bent, warped tube. It stretched out like gum for a brief moment. Not more then a few seconds, space rippled as everyone returned to mach speed. The momentum was rough in their seats, but their bodies held in place. The monitor showed that they arrived at the Maes border. With the shielding removed, Russell saw San Bernardino in the distance. After they crossed the border, Russell's radar picked up two ships nearby. He looked around and saw nothing, until a couple of missiles from above struck the city.
“No. Carrier Class Warships.” Russell said as fighter planes launched out of the city to attack the invaders. He overheard security calling for help from the Maes Government.
“Mr. Johnson.' Zxarg said over the radio. ‘We need to fly deeper into the country.”
“Damn.” Russell said, banging his fist on console.
The Sidewinders and Nixk turned, flying away from the skirmish, but radar showed fighter planes heading toward them. Russell looked to his right and there were two squadrons of five fighters each.
“Zxarg, go on ahead. We'll take care of the drones.”
The Sidewinders turned a wide arc toward the enemy. Russell plugged a tube to the back of his helmet and received oxygen throughout his flight suit. He pressed the button that read G.A.P.S and the words ‘Gyroscopic Axis Propulsion System Active' appeared on the screen. An air vent behind him vacuumed the oxygen and everything inside the cockpit became quiet. All there was left was the sound of breathing and the radio in his helmet. The monitor noted that there was no air pressure present. So, when Russell turned his Sidewinder to the right, a small burst of air under the belly of his ship shifted into an extreme right angled turn, and his body remained intact never feeling the force of pressure. The Skyhawks followed Russell and together they confronted the enemy ships.
“Split up and thin out them out.”
Everyone separated and the enemy ships spread out into pairs. Russell followed one of the fighters and locked on. He fired his bullets and it pierced engine. The enemy fighter broke apart and the flames just flick into nothingness like a light switch. The radar picked up two fighters behind him. He received the warning that he was locked on. As he turned the Sidewinder to the left, he saw Lina's ship on his radar.
“I got you covered Bladewing.” Line fired a stream of bullets striking both fighters. The collided with each other from the shock of being caught off guard and exploded.
“Thanks Hellscythe.” Russell said over the radio.
Lina followed one of the fighters. It swerved side to side trying to avoid her lock. She saw the fighter pull up in a long arc and to the right as she turned sharp taking the inside curve. A warning blared that a nearby ship was going to collide with her, and looking above was Hikari. Lina pulled the handlebars and her Sidewinder spun to the side. Hikari and her opponent just missed Lina as they dove downward.
“Watch out Nightshade.”
“Sorry.' Hikari said as locked on to her target and sprayed bullets on the fighter's engines, destroying it. She pulled up and saw San Bernardino breaking apart as small escape pods ejected out of the station. Each one shot down by the two carriers. She gritted her teeth as she watched the innocent die. ‘The cowards.”
“Stay focus.' Juan said as he flew under her chasing his target. The enemy tried to finesse its way with twists and turns, but Juan was one-step ahead when he push up and fired. The ship blew up as he ascended alongside Russell.
“Good job Dreadnaught.” Russell said as the remaining enemy fighters retreated. However, Russell saw them regrouping with three squadrons of strange looking ships. Two squadrons looked like two layers of saw blades rotating in opposite directions, sandwiched between two gun turrets. The other squadron look liked turtle-shelled crabs. All four squads headed for the Nixk and Russell led the Skyhawks toward them. The Sidewinders took a v-shaped formation as they approached the Nixk. The turtle shelled crabs flew between them and the freighter, taking a formation of two above and three under. Each bullet fired bounced off the shell. The enemy responded with a spread of red metal casings.
“Plasma caps.' Russell said. ‘Take evasive maneuvers.”
The plasma caps passed along side each other leaving very little room for everyone to move. The Sidewinders shifted up and down in a vertical motion, side to side with cashing into each other. They worked their way around the mass hail of fire as though they were flying through an asteroid field.
“Activate Spreader.” Russell said as pair of guns emerged from the side of his wings. He pulled the trigger and a volley of armor piercing bullets spread outward toward the enemy. Each bullet struck the claws and shells of three fighters destroying two of them. The enemy realigned themselves as Lina flew ahead of Russell.
“Firing Nailer.' Lina said as a cannon emerged from under the belly of her Sidewinder. She avoided another volley of plasma caps while she held her focused. ‘Target's locked.”
Lina pulled the trigger and a cannonball flew under the enemy. It blew up without impact and large nails spread outward. The damaged ship blew up while the other two tilted aside unable to fly, allowing the Skyhawks to fly pass them. Lina looked out at the Nixk with a gasp as Russell flew past her. The freighter took lots of damage from plasma caps and the rotating blades ripping the hull on both sides.
“Let's split up.' Russell said. ‘Dreadnaught you're with me. Hellscythe, Nightshade, take the right.”
Skyhawk squadron split up and flew alongside the Nixk. The fighter planes that regrouped earlier slowed down to get past everyone, but Hikari took out one of them during the transition. The remaining four fighters split into pairs and followed the Skyhawks on each side.
Hikari approached the bladed ships as they turned from horizontal to vertical. The enemy whipped the plasma caps in a vertical rotation. She pulled back as the casings spread farther apart. The monitor flashed that she took damage from the bullets as the radar showed Lina pulling back to deal with the enemy fighters. Hikari navigated around the red shells as she flipped a pair of switches.
“Come on out Fireflies.” A pair of small fighter planes slid out from under the belly and flew alongside her Sidewinder. The Fireflies followed her every movement. Hikari swung to the right where she was able to see the surface of the enemy in its vertical position. She pulled the trigger and moved her Sidewinder to the left. Her plane and the Fireflies fired four rows of bullets pelting each of the enemy ships. Two of them lost control and slammed into each other, while the turrets of the other three blew up. The buzz-sawed ships spun out of control passed Hikari, and they slammed into the fighters that Lina fought.
On the other side of the freighter, Russell avoided each shot fired by the two fighters that followed him, while Juan targeted one of the buzz-sawed ships with a missile lock. He held steady as his monitor signaled the lock on.
“Drillers, launch.” With the press of a button, a missile with a drill bit at the tip flew toward one of the buzz-sawed fighters. It connected and burrowed its way through the turret. It burst into pieces and the fighter slammed into its wingman, slicing the ship in half. Both exploded.
Another volley of plasma caps from the three flew towards the Sidewinders and the enemy fighters behind them fired a volley of bullets. Russell and Juan found themselves in a maze of ammo. Spinning, elevating, and diving. Threading the needle of death as they fired bullets in return. Russell found himself trapped as the caps surrounded him. A flash of memory took over his thoughts. When he stared at the same situation, he felt his plane bumped to the side completely avoiding the field of plasma caps, and Errol telling him over the radio that he would cover their squadron's escape.
“Bladewing!' Juan said. ‘Do a barrel roll!”
Russell's eyes blinked and he twisted the handlebars out of reflex. His Sidewinder spun around, slipping past the plasma caps. He emerged into an opening and now had room to avoid the rest. The Sidewinders finessed their way around the caps, but the enemy fighters behind Russell were not so lucky. The caps shattered like glass and red liquid spread over the enemies ships eating the metal and glass. The enemy fighters exploded, but the shrapnel pelted the Sidewinders from behind. The damage was minimal.
The remaining three buzz-sawed fighters prepared to launch another volley of plasma caps, but bullets from above pelted the enemies. Lina and Hikari dove toward the enemy concentrating their bullets on the turrets of one of them. As they made the enemy explode, Juan's Driller struck the second ship destroying it. The last ship escaped as Russell's bullets pelted it. Just as he turned around ready to give chase, there were military ships flying by from the other side of the freighter, following the enemy. He saw the word Maes on the hull with fighter planes launching out.
“This is the M.S. Odyssey.' A communications officer said on the radio to all the ships. ‘Proceed to Madrid immediately. There will be assistance provided on your arrival.”
Russell laid back and let out a calm sigh of relief as he turned his ship around. His wingmen gathered around him and he saw Lina in her cockpit giving a victory sign, while the cheers from Hikari and Juan blared over the radio.
“Mr. Johnson?' Zxarg said over the comm. ‘What's you status?”
“We're all fine out here. You?”
“We took some damage but we're fine. Good job.”
“Thanks.' Russell said while deactivating the G.A.P.S., and air filled up the cockpit. ‘Let's get you to Madrid.”
The Sidewinders flew ahead of the Nixk as another military ship passed by. Skyhawk Squadron guided their clients to their destination, as other ships with damage on their hulls, flew alongside the freighter and the Sidewinders. A space station appeared in their sights ahead. The radar read Madrid.
“Skyhawks.' Russell said. ‘Mission Accomplished.”
The End.
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Author's Note
Series: Artemis Neo
Story Arc: N/A
Status: Unpublished Work, ©2011 Henry-Michael Brown
Welcome to my Science Fiction Short Story, Artemis Neo. There is a lot of Hard Sci-Fi, but very little technobabble. My little homage to space operas and games like Gradius.
NOTE: I highly recommend reading Artemis Neo in PDF Format as offered by Fictionaut. Or you can click on Font Size Change Button next to the PDF Option to enhance your reading experience. Both options are above the title of the story.
I encourage you all to take your time reading Artemis Neo. There is no need to rush or feel you have to read it in one sitting.
Enjoy the story.
Other stories by H-M Brown
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