Ancient Hunter

“Say again?” The first of the soldiers repeated.

“Problems?” I asked the second soldier.

“The Axon reports seven unidentified ships have entered the system. They are on a vector towards Demeros. The government known and has activated the PD.”

Demeros hadn’t had Planetary Defence when the Landottir were attacked. A lot of planets in the Confederacy had it added after the disaster at Anoxi.

“For you safety ma’am I ask you take shelter in the cave,” the second soldier said while his companion was still on the comms.

I wanted to know more. “What is the ETA of these ships?”

“One hour.”

“Come on Gwen leave the Marines in peace. It will be alright,” Joyce said sounding much calmer than I felt.

I understood her logic there was nothing we could do.

Joyce touched my arm. “If any attackers find their way here we have a way to escape.”

“That didn’t help the Janari,” I stated.

“True, but the Janari weren’t fighters. You and the Marines are.” She arched an eyebrow. “You are carrying?”

I nodded.

She glanced at the Marines. “Best you come with us and shelter behind the waterfall.”

“Yes ma’am!” both Marines saluted her.

They followed her into the entrance and stood there their hands on the coil assault guns strapped to their chests. One of the forensic team walked up concern written on his face.

“What’s going on?” he asked.

“Seven unknown ships have entered the system. The PD is active and our ships are on an intercept course.”

“We gotta get out of here!” The man panicked. “We’re stuck on a mountain with no way of getting off!”

“Stop that!” Joyce ordered.

Even I stood to attention when she said that.

“Gwen can get us out. She know two routes out,” Joyce stated with a nod in my direction. “Go back to work, focus on your job.” She could be quite commanding when she wanted to.

I drifted towards the entrance while Joyce informed the rest of the forensic team of what the situation was. On the most part they act professionally. I stood near the Marines one was still listening on his comms while the other checked his weapon.

The one on the comms turned to me. “Got an ID on those ships, Orsini.” He suddenly gasped. “Lost contact with the Axon.” He glanced skyward. “The other ships still have comms…” He reached for his weapon. “Two Orsini ships have broken through and are on course for Demeros. The locals have issued a mandatory evac alert to the shelters.”

More things implemented after the destruction of the Landottir. I decided it was time I put the Keepers on alert I might need their help. I don’t know how I knew this but it felt like a punch in my gut.

“Moon Shadow?” I called out in my mind.

“Mother?” Moon Shadow answered instantly.

“We’re under attack!”

“We can’t help you we aren’t fighters!”

I almost lost myself to her heartfelt plea. “I’m not asking you to fight. I only want you to help the injured.” I was getting a bad feeling I was going to need their help. Premonitions weren’t something I had but it sure felt that way now.

“That we can do for you Mother. I’ll have to speak to the others and find out how many will be willing to help.”

I looked up to see Joyce watching me. “I saw your lips moving but no sound was coming out and your eyes turned darker than the night. Who were you speaking to?”

“The Keepers.” My Keepers I shivered at the thought I was being too possessive.

“You can do that?” Joyce said adding. “Of course you can. I would really like to meet them?”

“I don’t want them hurt!” I blurted out sounding over protective. They were the last of their kind and I knew they would be exploited.

“All I want to do is to see them in the flesh so to speak,” she persisted.

“Not here and not yet,” I replied caving into her.

“That’s all I ask Gwen.”

“That’s not good!” the Marine on the comms said breaking us out of a difficult conversation.

“What isn’t?” Joyce asked.

I was glad she had dropped the conversation but I had a feeling she’d continue it later.

“An Orsini ship got through the PD.”

“Where’s it heading?” I demanded. I was getting a really bad feeling about this.

The Marine spouted a list of co-ordinates they sound pretty familiar for some reason.

“That’s Grunnleggerby!” Joyce stated alarmed.

“What!” I snapped a chill spreading down my back. It made no sense.

“My team!” Joyce cried out.

I instinctively drew my Seven Double ‘M’. “I’ll get them!” I don’t know why I said it, it was a fools mission by the town was my legacy. I guess my Valkyrie blood was calling to me.

“I’m coming with you!” Joyce declared.

I started I couldn’t let her do that she was unarmed. If anything happened to her the Empire would hunt me down wherever I tried to hide. “Stay!” I ordered.

“They are my team and my responsibility!” There was a determined set to her jaw.

I knew a lost cause when I saw one. I turned to the nearest Marine. He had a holster holding a secondary weapon. I wasn’t going to leave Joyce unarmed. “Pass me your pistol.” I said to him.

“Ma’am,” the Marine replied without questioning my words. He passed his weapon to me. It was exactly the same as mine. I should have never doubted that wouldn’t be.

I gave to Joyce. “You do know how to use it?”

“Without doubt.” Joyce took the weapon adopting the correct hand position and stance.

That was me told.

“What’s going on?” one of the forensic team asked. He was a dark haired younger man in his grey coverall.

“The Orsini are heading to Grunnleggerby we need to rescue Professor Neilson’s team.”

“Hey Phil pass me your sidearm.” The man said to the Marine.

“This is madness you know,” the Marine said but he still gave his weapon up.

“Mad or not the Orsini do not take prisoners.” I added as an after thought. “We want to avoid another Anoxi.” I don’t know it that was the right thing to say. But it got results.

“Kasumi, hold here, I’ll head up.” He looked at me up and down. “Got a shuttle inbound?”

“I have a faster way to get there. This way,” I wasn’t too sure about this.

We headed back into the passage picking up two more of the forensic team as we passed. They were unarmed but ready to fight.

We threaded our way through the remains. Behind me I could hear the gasps of shock from Joyce’s followers. She had already seen all this. We reached the dais room.

“This is a dead end!” one of the men grumbled.

“It’s the way out,” Joyce told him.

I walked to the centre of the dais hoping it would accommodate us all. “Everyone keep to the centre.”

I felt a little crowded and intimidated with the dubious looks I was getting. I raised my hand and a panel appeared under it. “Here goes,” I said and pressed down.

There was a flash and we reappeared on the dais on the surface. The Marine and the other men glanced around shocked. Joyce was on her comms the second we appeared.

“Team fall back to the Administration Building and await instructions.”

I heard the sound of distant gunfire.

“Move now!” Joyce barked unfreezing the others. She looked at me “We should hurry.”

I didn’t need to ask questions.

“If you may,” Marine said. “I’ll take point.”

I looked at the two with weapons. “You two take the rear.”

“Why should we take orders from you?” one of the forensic team demanded.

“Two reasons,” Joyce interrupted. “Firstly Gwen is a lieutenant in the TCA and second she wears the token of the Valkyrie Silver Guard.”

The Marine emitted a low whistle then straighten and saluted, “Order’s ma’am.”

“Take point Marine!” I replied.

The sound of woman’s high pitch scream of terror had us all on alert.