Planet Wrecker

-55-

The Spartacus was under hard deceleration and had been ever since rounding the Red Planet. It was also under greater deceleration than the Highborn’s battle-plan called for.

The decision had come easily to Marten. In these types of battles, one didn’t want to be the first ship to attack the enemy. He’d been through more than his share of combat to value foolish heroics. There was a time for courage and a time for caution. If he could help it—and he could—he’d slip his space marines onto the asteroids after the first several waves of Highborn and Social Unity soldiers had already tried.

He was speaking quietly to Omi, discussing landing techniques, when Nadia spoke up from her cubicle.

“You have an incoming message from Grand Admiral Cassius,” Nadia said.

Marten looked up shocked. Then he swiveled his chair toward the main screen. “Put him on,” he said.

Omi stood beside him, with one hand resting on the butt of his gun.

The image of Cassius came online. The big Highborn had bristly iron-colored hair and fierce intensity in his eyes. He wore a military cap and a blue uniform. There was something magnetic about Cassius and something dementedly dangerous. Behind him, other Highborn sat at their stations.

“Who is this?” demanded Cassius.

Marten stiffened at the tone.

“Careful,” whispered Omi.

Marten glanced at his friend.

“He’s in a Doom Star, with the power to destroy us if we anger him,” Omi whispered.

“I know that,” Marten whispered out of the side of his mouth.

“Just thought you might need a reminder,” Omi said.

“Preman, do I have your attention?” Cassius asked coldly.

“I am Force-Leader Marten Kluge of the Meteor-ship Spartacus.”

“Those are Jovian terms?” asked Cassius.

“We are a Jovian warship.”

Cassius leaned toward him. “I know perfectly well what you are. Why are you decelerating so hard?”

A sharp retort came to Marten’s lips, but he hesitated. The Grand Admiral seemed many times deadlier than the Praetor or Training Master Lycon.

“Your action smacks of cowardice,” said Cassius.

Marten’s eyes narrowed. He’d been taking crap from Highborn for far too long. Their arrogance grated just as much now as it ever had.

“Have you fought cyborgs before?” Marten asked.

It was like watching a wild beast. The reaction was swift, the curl of the lip and a minute widening of his eyes. If they’d been in the same room, Marten had no doubt the Grand Admiral would have attacked him.

“You will answer my questions, not bombard me with yours,” said Cassius. “Any deviation from that and you risk annihilation once my ship is in range of yours.”

“I understand you think of yourself as my genetic superior,” Marten said. “But that holds no value with me.”

Omi made small, urgent motions, no doubt nonverbally suggesting that Marten watch what he say.

“We have journeyed all the way from Jupiter to aid in your assault against the cyborgs,” Marten said. “The least you could do is show some gratitude.”

“You are Marten Kluge?” said Cassius.

Marten didn’t like the way the Highborn asked that. “I’ve decelerated harder than you suggested because—”

“I beamed you orders,” said Cassius, “not suggestions.”

“I am in command of a sovereign vessel from the Jovian Confederation,” Marten said. “That makes us allies. It doesn’t make me your subordinate.”

Cassius had turned his head. He now stared at Marten with greater malevolence than before. “You are a shock trooper and formerly belonged to the Free Earth Corps. You fought in the original Japan Campaign. How did you manage to flee to the Jupiter System?”

“Grand Admiral, that is all history.”

“Answer my questions, preman.”

“How about you answer mine?” Marten said with heat. “What gives you the right to threaten me and act in such a highhanded manner?”

“I have the ability to obliterate you.”

“So might makes right?”

“That is a truism of nature,” said Cassius.

“Fine,” said Marten. “I left Highborn service because my might proved superior to that of Training Master Lycon.”

“You are a fool, preman. Your meteor-ship is of infinitesimal value in the coming battle.”

“Then why bother calling us?” snapped Marten.

A chilling smile spread across Cassius’s face. “Are you deliberately attempting to goad me into destroying your spaceship?”

“No. I’m just sick of your arrogance, of your highhandedness. We’re risking our lives to join this fight. No one has come as far as we have to kill cyborgs and save Earth. Instead of berating us, you should be asking for pointers in how to defeat them. I’ve fought cyborgs on many occasions. Heck, I’ve probably faced cyborgs more than any other person in the Solar System has.”

“You are delusional,” said Cassius.

“I want to land my veteran, cyborg-killing space marines on the asteroids. I’m not going to do that charging in first. I’m a lone ship, while you’re hitting them en mass. Fine. My plan is to land after you’ve softened them enough and gained their attention. From my perspective, that’s sound military practice.”

Cassius had turned away, perhaps reading from a side-screen again. He now studied Marten anew. “You once stormed onto the Beamship Bangladesh.”

“Yeah, that’s right.”

“And you fought on Carme.”

“These space-landings have become my specialty,” Marten said.

Cassius sat motionless as he stared at Marten. “You are a unique preman. I wonder if there has been a miscalculation concerning your abilities.” Cassius nodded curtly. “Send me your recommendations for asteroid-storming against cyborgs. If you’ve gained a tactical insight, I shall glean it from your writings.”

“What?” Marten asked.

Cassius checked his chronometer. “You have two hours to transmit me the report. Grand Admiral Cassius out.”

The main screen went blank, and after a second, Marten sagged against his chair.

“You’re crazy,” whispered Omi.

Marten shrugged.

“But for some reason, Highborn like crazy,” Omi said. “What are you going to tell him?”

Marten sat up. “Get me Osadar,” he told Nadia. To Omi, he said, “Do you realize what this means?”

“That the most powerful Highborn of them all now wants to rip out your throat,” Omi said.

“That all our battles against the cyborgs have meaning,” Marten said. “We just have to distill the most important aspects. Then the Grand Admiral will likely employ what we’ve learned to help save Earth.”

“Do you know what will happen after that?” Omi asked.

“Victory?”

“Cassius will hunt you down like a dog for killing Training Master Lycon. They never forget, Marten.”

“Maybe it’s time we never forgot,” Marten said. “Where’s Osadar?” he shouted at Nadia. “We don’t have much time.”

“Know what I think?” Omi asked.

Marten shook his head.

“That the Highborn gave you the wrong stamp.”

“What’s that mean?”

“Back in Australian Sector they stamped a “2” on your hand. It should have been a “1”, seeing as you’ve done more than hit Highborn. You’ve killed them.”

“Now it’s time to start killing cyborgs,” Marten said. Then he took out a recorder and began to think. He had two hours to write or dictate his report and send it to the Grand Admiral. Before Osadar appeared, he started talking into the recorder.