Every living soul on the Liberty was gathered on the bridge. The holographic navigation sphere had been turned off, the entire three storey curved front wall now a view screen. Displayed on it... the colony ship.
"Gods..." Don couldn't keep his eyes off of it.
When man had first come to this system, he had arrived in a half dozen large, rotating cylinders, habitats able to withstand the voyage of almost a century, delivering hundreds of thousands of colonists to the waiting virgin planets. Generations had grown up in them during the journey, and even more had come into their own on them as mankind slowly terraformed the planets and moons of the inner solar system. As those challenges were solved, the ships were moved outward, to provide bases from which the outer gas giants, almost miniature solar systems in their own right, could be conquered. Now they sat in their third life, as space ports and hubs of trade. Living relics of what man could do. They had been named after mythological cities and empires of the old world. Babylon, Atlantis, Cairo, Rome, Hollywood... and London.
The Liberty slowly approached the docking end of the London. The thirty kilometer long cylinder, rotating just fast enough to provide one g on its inner surface, originally had a massive airlock on the front, into which entire space ships would pass before either unloading cargo, or proceeding through the inner doors into the heart of the station. With its days as a spaceship now over, and permanently in orbit around Hikaru, an outer docking ring had been added around the outer edge of the front. Over a hundred ships could match speed with the rotation and dock, and there had been talk of removing the engine and repeating the process at the other end. Given how tough and robust the ancestors had made this star traveler, though, it could take centuries to achieve that feat even in a time of peace...
Under the control of the station docking computer, the Liberty slowly slipped into its mooring ring. Clamps adjusted to the shape of the ship, and with a shudder the Liberty became one with the station. The ship's gravity deactivated, and all on board felt real gravity take hold as they rotated with the station. An enclosed causeway extended and attached to the ship... and they were here.
****
If any form of democracy existed among the teens, they would have voted to all immediately rush off the Liberty. Over two months in deep space was far too long: Don himself vowed that next time they'd plan things better. Hell, it would have been easier it seemed to just stay still and let the planet come to them rather than to chase it down in its orbit on the other side of the sun. But, the delivery job just completed had demanded it, and with that done they now had enough money to last them almost a year.
Unless the females did the shopping.
The main hatch opened, and Don led the first group of tourists onto the causeway towards the waiting Dockmaster. This was a Rebel station, which somewhat determined some of the choices, but mostly Don picked those he wanted to travel with. Lessa, naturally, which meant Shelly, Bell and Bella. Ger, who Don had truly come to rely on to keep the shuttles going, and who now apparently had two almost twelve year old girls tagging along with him, Wendi and Sirenia. Although, Wendi seemed to be more interested in walking close to Lessa... Sean, as he'd be needed in a moment, and his boy toy Vince. That unfortunately meant that Kine and his sister had to stay on board, as there was no way Don was leaving the ship without either Sean OR Kine on board. Hanna was also with them, with her companion Jenny. That made an even dozen, if his math was correct.
Any more, and this excursion might be unlucky.
The Dockmaster, a rather friendly looking woman in her early thirties, welcome them as they approached. Noting their apparent hierarchy, she looked at Don.
"Do you have papers?"
Don nodded at Sean, who stepped forward and with his right hand presented her with a plastic card, along with some papers and something round and heavy held between them. His Guard ring was clearly visible. The Dockmaster's eyes widened a bit, and she gave the group a closer look. Don smiled.
"We're just here to get some shopping done, and rest. We're hoping it'll be a peaceful vacation." He put his arm around the now somewhat obviously pregnant Lessa, and the woman noting her condition gave Lessa a warm smile. Bouncing the papers in her hand to get a feel for the weight of the hidden coin, the Dockmaster took the card and swiped it into a console next to a 'no weapons allowed' sign and hit some buttons. The coin slipped unobtrusively into her pocket with practiced grace, the rest handed back to Sean.
"Welcome to London."
****
The train broke out of the tunnel into the heart of the station, bringing gasps from those inside. It was one thing to know what to expect, but to SEE it...
They were traveling along the inner wall of the massive cylinder, its sides curving up and over them. Buildings, trees, parks, lakes... all spread out before, and above, them. Sirenia was fascinated, ignoring their immediate surroundings and only looking up. It was just so... impossible! The inner surface was divided into three long segments stretching the length of the station, alternating with three bright thin equally long artificial suns which lighted the land opposite them. There were regular gaps in the suns where train tracks crossed to connect the three habitable segments.
To think, Sirenia thought, we can do this as well as destroy...
****
A short time later the teens exited the train and stood in the middle of a village. Small shops and restaurants dotted the street, various couples and families wandering between them. Shelly looked them over, and gave a laugh.
"Nice day for a stroll, it seems."
Don chuckled, then looked over the group.
"Our first decision for the day. Do we divide up and go where we will, or do we stick together for awhile?"
"I say we walk together," Lessa said, holding his hand. "See what's around before we scatter." There was general agreement, so picking a direction at random they started off.
After a few minutes, as they stopped to look in a shop window at some jewelry, Don noticed Hanna standing next to him with Jenny. Hanna wore a light, long blue dress while Jenny had a battered t-shirt that bared her tummy, and faded torn jeans. Something was obviously on their mind, so Don waited.
"Don," Hanna finally started, as the others began to wander down to the next store. "I... I mean, we... we may want to stay here." Don wasn't surprised by this. She wasn't one of them, however accepted they'd tried to make her feel. The rest of the group, on hearing this, stopped. Vince took a step back towards her with a look of despair on his face.
"But who's going to make those shirts I like for me?!?"
"Hopefully, nobody," grumbled Sean, rolling his eyes. Don had to agree, as the teen's taste in outfits was horrible. His current lime green and orange ensemble was no exception. Don waved off that objection without even looking back, giving the pair a speculative look.
"You're naturally free to go anytime and make a new life. Was... was it anything we did?"
"No," Hanna said, smiling and shaking her head. "It's just..." she took Jenny's hand. "I can't do that anymore. I need to be in a town or city. I want to start a life." Don glanced at Jenny, who nodded.
"I'll take care of her. Between what she's extorted from the fashion fiends and my cut of the last job, we can easily set up here, or elsewhere."
"When you finally decide," Don said, "let us know. We'll miss you." He turned, and the group continued its ambling journey. He could hear Ger fall back and try, half seriously, to talk his favorite mechanic and ex-lover out of it. Nobody had abandoned the ship yet. Once the first defection occurred, though... Don had a sneaking suspicion it would lead to a larger exodus.
So long as Lessa stayed by his side, he honestly didn't care.
****
Walking slightly behind Don and Lessa, Sirenia was casting glances back at Ger. She bit her lip.
"I think I'm going to start mechanic training once we get back," she muttered to Wendi. Her friend just sighed.
"Yeah, that's a good plan." Wendi gazed again at Lessa's form in front of her. The woman was such a warrior! Wendi tried to match that gait, and noticed, despite being unarmed, Lessa's free hand was always near where her holster would normally be. Maybe... she could get up the guts to ask to be trained by her. If she couldn't do that, she didn't deserve to become a warrior herself. Her expression hardened. She'd do it... later.
****
They stopped at a couple stores, not buying much yet. Jenny found a set of four earrings that she wanted to get for Hanna, the younger girls not understanding why she blushed so much when Jenny whispered in her ear. Sure, her ears currently only had two piercings, but surely she could find places for new holes for the other two golden rings...
After an hour they stopped at an outdoor cafe (although, technically everything here was 'indoors'), pulled a couple tables together and ordered lunch. Sirenia found herself once again looking up at the sky.
"How can you do that," Bella asked, shaking her head. "I'm trying to ignore it. It's like the whole thing's going to fall down on us!"
"Wimp!"
That brought a laugh from everyone, but Sirenia was already back to looking up. So much to see... she heard rather then saw Don asking Sean why he'd taken off his Guard ring already, since this was a Rebel world. Her attention had been captured by movement back towards the docking end of the station. Some thing... things... were in the middle, zero gravity portion of the cylinder. They were flowing out of the huge open airlock, moving quickly down the center of the station...
Sirenia's body went cold.
"Don!" Her hand shot out, and grabbed Don's sleeve. She pointed upwards. "Why are there warships up there?!?"
Don looked up, and his eyes went wide. He shot to his feet, chair clattering to the ground.
"Binoculars, anyone!"
Both Lessa and Sean had pairs in their hand instantly. Don quickly grabbed Lessa's while Sean raised his. Both quickly focused on the onrushing craft.
"Federation!" hissed Sean. "How?! Where are the alar..."
He was interrupted by the sound of muffled bangs, and the smoke trails of rising rockets could be seen coming from points all over the inner surface of the station heading towards the invading ships. Dozens of smaller trails shot out from the ships, explosions filling the sky. The sound of them arrived a moment later. As the lead ship passed overhead, it let out a roar and a massive volley of fire. The train station where they had just been exploded. The teens dropped to the ground, shocked. Smoke and small clumps of dirt and metal rained down on them, their path unexpected due to the rotation of the ground beneath them. Other explosions could be heard and felt all over.
Lessa regained her composure first, looking first at Don, making sure he was OK, then over at Sean. She saw Sean's hand coming from his pants pocket and putting his ring back on.
"We have to get weapons," she said, getting to her hands and knees, "then get back to the ship." Ger had his communicator out, and after a moment looked at her shaking his head.
"They're jamming, naturally. We don't even know if the Liberty is still there."
"No time to think that far ahead," Don said, and he pointed upwards. Small craft were spiraling down from the warships towards the surface.
Troop ships.
"Everyone up!" Sean yelled. He helped Vince to his feet, the gaudily dressed teen scared shitless.
They all were.
****
Picking a direction away from the nearest landing ship but towards the docks, Lessa and Sean led the other ten quickly through the yelling, panicking locals. After a few moments Lessa led them off the road, through yards and parks, jumping fences while being wary of large, open spaces. Lessa used her binoculars to get a look at the land over their head, hoping it was similar to what lay unseen right in front of them. They'd need every advantage they could get.
They came around a corner, skidding to a stop. Before them gathered a few dozen adults, half in Rebel uniforms, half not, surrounding a square opening in the ground. One of them quickly had a rifle pointed at the newcomers, but an unfazed Sean raised the back of his hand, showing the ring as he calmly walked forward.
"Guardsmen! We need to arm! Can you spare something?"
A smartly dressed middle aged man stepped out of the group and motioned for his soldier to lower his weapon. He looked at Sean, who stood confidently before him.
"Can you all fight?" He glanced at the young women in the group.
"Yes, but does it matter?"
The officer scoffed at that.
"Nope. Once we're gone, take all you need."
"Is this a raid or invasion?" Sean asked, motioning the others to come up behind him. The officer this time openly laughed.
"As if we'll ever know." Turning, he saw his men were now armed. He gave a brief nod to Sean, then led his troops through a break in the bushes. In a moment the dozen teens were again alone.
Quickly, Lessa jumped down into the supply cellar and began handing out weapons. No flak jackets, for all they were of limited worth, but soon they were loaded down with whatever they were most comfortable with, along with all the ammo they could carry. Making sure his second pistol was comfortable on his hip, Don looked around at his crew.
"OK. We have no idea what's going on. It's probably an hour or more walk back to the ship. We only fight when needed, but should try to stay on a straight path. Safety over speed, speed over conflict. Got it?" They nodded. "Sean, take point. Lessa, rearguard."
They were off.
****
They quickly learned the hazards of fighting on a curved world, although luckily they weren't the ones who failed the test. They had been jogging through a residential area when Sirenia looked upwards to the right. There, clear as could be, was a Federation assault squad advancing towards what looked like a medical complex. Suddenly, from somewhere up and to her left, a wave of hand fired rockets streaked overhead and fell on the unsuspecting Feds. Don looked up, and paled.
"My gods... there's no such thing as cover!"
"Unless we're under a roof," Sean agreed grimly. "Let's go faster."
****
They came to a wide, open parkland.
Sean stopped them at the edge, motioning Don and Lessa forward. The three looked out over the field.
"Well, we can use playground equipment for cover," Don said dryly. "Just go for it?"
Lessa looked around, seeing no movement. The fighting now seemed all towards the other end of the station, with whatever the Feds were after being located there. It was now obvious this was some sort of raid: no attempt was being made to either clear out or secure areas. And, she noted, looking over at a wide burning complex, no concern about the place still being useable after the battle. She turned back to them and nodded.
"Just go for it." Leaning down she gave Don a kiss.
"I'm not kissing you," Sirenia said to Wendi, and they giggled. She turned to offer Ger a kiss when she saw him getting a tender one from Jenny. Sirenia swung her head forward, embarrassed and upset. She then felt a soft peck on her cheek, and turned to see Wendi pulling back her face.
"There. For luck." Wendi drew her gun and moved forward before her friend could react.
Shelly, seeing this, turned to Lessa and arched an eyebrow at her.
"Do I get a kiss from you?"
Eyes full of emotion, Lessa leaned in and kissed Shelly's cheek. Shelly's hand slowly went up, touching the spot as Lessa sat back up next to her lover. Her heart was racing.
"...you bitch," she whispered.
Sean turned his attention back to the field. Vince was shaking next to him, but he had to ignore that. The battlefield was no place for emotion. Or kisses. He raised a hand.
And lowered it.
They ran.
There was no point trying to go from cover to cover. The twelve teens just ran, aiming for the tree line two hundred or so meters away. They didn't run full speed, as there was no way they could hold it for that distance, but jogged as fast as they could. Sean stayed well up in front, with Wendi surprisingly close, and Don found himself back just in front of Lessa. Only her need to actually bring up the rear kept Lessa from passing him, and Don once again cursed his body. Why couldn't he...
****
Lessa was looking behind them to make sure all was still clear when she heard a thud. Something warm and sticky splattered on her face. It had a familiar feel...
...oh... gods...
Her head whipped forward.
Don was spinning and falling forward. The rear of his head was gone.
****
He was falling.
****
Don.
****
Darkness.
****
Emptiness.
****
RAGE.
****
His body hadn't even hit the ground before Lessa was racing through the grass, the Other now fully in control. Her rifle was out, strafing the distant group of figures by a clump of trees. She could see the forms diving for cover. From behind, she heard the shouts of familiar voices. One seemed to shout her name. Another, male, yelled something about covering fire and tend to Bella.
Nothing she need worry about.
Lessa sensed those before her had gotten their wits back, and she threw herself forward and to the left. She hit the ground rolling, barely noticing the tracer fire that flew through her former position. Lessa rolled past a picnic table and was on her feet running forward again. The Federation squad was before her.
****
Sean had them on the ground, in a defensive circle.
Don was dead. That much, at least, was clear. Bella was hit, but it had gone right through her arm missing the bone so that was good. Vince's leg seemed to be shattered, which wasn't so good. And... Lessa had reverted to form.
She had reached the enemy, and Sean ordered the remaining teens to ceasefire. They could see her, moving, spinning among the soldiers. Wendi grabbed the binoculars off Sean's belt and raised them.
"You don't want..." he started, then sighed. She had the right to if she wanted.
A moment later Wendi dropped the binoculars onto the grass, her face as white as Sirenia's. Shaking, she slowly turned to Sean.
"She's..."
He nodded, sadly.
"I know."
****
Lessa had dropped her rifle, now using a pistol and a long knife. Five dead men lay around her. The face of a woman to her left imploded, and Lessa whirled and sliced a man coming at her down the arm, by chance following a major artery. As he fell away screaming, she dropped to a knee just as a shot passed over her head, firing three times into the last soldier. He spun and fell.
Behind her, the man was still screaming something about his arm. Lessa stood, drew a second knife, and turned to stand above him. Squatting, she made three slices and the screaming stopped.
Rising, Lessa gazed over the uniforms of the fallen. She spotted the one with the highest rank. Moving over, Lessa flipped the body on its back. She knelt.
They had torn her heart out. Time to return the favor.
****
"Time to go."
Sean motioned everyone up. He grabbed a drugged, groggy Vince, getting him on his back, while Bell helped her sister. He motioned Wendi to take point, and despite everything she momentarily swelled with pride.
"What about Lessa?!?" Shelly screamed, pointing at the distant figure. Jenny had been forced to restrain her from running out after her, and even now had a hand on her arm.
"I'll bring her back," Sean said, grimly.
****
Lessa had almost finished the job when she heard the shout.
"Lessa! Don is leaving!"
She jumped to her feet and whirled. They were carrying Don away!
"No!"
Knives sheathed, she ran as fast as her exhausted, adrenaline filled, pregnant body could manage. Angling her path, she met the retreating teens just as they reached the edge of the park. Lessa grabbed Don's body, which Hanna and Jenny had been carrying between them, and dropped to her knees, clutching and crying. Shelly hesitantly reached a hand out, wanting to touch her, comfort her. Her hand wavered just above Lessa's shoulder. Her friend was covered in so much blood...
"We can't stop," Sean barked. Gritting her teeth, Shelly reached out and grabbed Lessa's arms and pulled her up. Lessa growled, but after a moment's resistance rose up with Don. Shelly helped, cringing inside, and soon the two of them were hurrying along with the others, the lifeless form of Don suspended between them.
****
Kine paced the hallway.
He didn't know if they had gone far enough into the station to secure the retreat of their friends. He didn't know if they had gone TOO far, and would have to fight their way back. He had left people at the intersections, but...
Mostly, he just didn't know what the fuck was going on.
It was obviously an inside job, in part. That was clear. The large station doors had just opened for the Federation ships, meaning somehow they'd manage to secure those controls. The Feds had just shown up, and gone in...
And HOW did they show up?!? One minute everything was fine, the next this honking big fleet was right next to the docking ring! What, did they have mythical "warp" engines or...
Kine paused. That captain they'd rescued had said something about an engine test blowing up that ship. Could it be... and in the first battle they encountered, ships seemed to pop up near them out of nowhere...
He shook his head. Or it could just be some wonderful new stealth tech, so nobody saw them until they were almost in visual range. That would be easier to believe.
"Kine!"
Amanda's whispered shout got his attention. She was kneeling against the wall, gun drawn, her attention at the far end of the hallway. There was the sound of movement. Kine drew his weapon and knelt behind her, gun aimed over her head. The communicator chose that moment to spring to life.
"Ger to Liberty!"
He snatched it off his belt.
"Liberty! Go!"
"Thank the gods! We're coming in. Do you have patrols out?"
"Yes. I'm in front, and you may be around the corner from me. Shout 'fuck' if it's you."
He heard the sound of "fuck" come from the end of the hallway. A moment later the he and Amanda stood as the tourist party staggered towards them. They were all accounted for, but...
"What happened..." whispered Amanda.
"We got fucked, that's what happened. Kine," Sean panted, shifting the weight of the now unconscious Vince on his back, "could you...?" Kine stepped forward quickly and transferred Vince to his back. Sean took a moment to stretch, then looked at what remained of the crew.
"To the ship. NOW."
****
Sean and Kine burst onto the bridge, with Amanda close behind. Sean sprinted up towards the command chair, shouting, "Status!" Villa gave up his chair as Sean approached, tensely giving a rundown.
"Six destroyers are out there watching the entrance. They fired on one ship that tried to leave the docking ring, but have left the rest of us alone. No idea why: I mean, this IS a warship we're in..."
"Never question the stupidity of others," Sean said, sitting down and getting a look at the data himself. Amanda took over a navigation station, Kine plopping into a station next to Sean.
"We could," Villa offered, "just sit here. They're not bothering us, and if it is a raid they'll leave soon..."
"... at which point we discover if they want witnesses or not. No, I'm not taking that chance." Sean looked over at Kine. "Anything?"
There was no response for a moment, then Kine's eyes went wide.
"Oh, you're shitting me!"
"What?"
"One of the destroyers is the Avon!" Kine looked up at Sean, excited. "Captain Horn's ship!"
"Assuming that really WAS his ship," Sean grumbled.
"We gotta try." Kine was up and moving over to the communication station. He pushed Rich out of the seat.
"Make sure that's a tight beam..." Sean had no illusions that this would work, but was not exactly thinking at his most clearly right then. They might as well give it a shot. Maybe, if the gods were against them, one of the daemons would look kindly on the Liberty...
****
"Captain!"
Horn looked over at the communications officer. Things had been rather dull for the past hour, so maybe this was a horrible crisis to liven things up.
"Report."
"It's..." The man was puzzled. "It's a focused communication beam from a docked ship."
"Well, put it on."
"It's text only, Sir. It reads, 'Kine to Horn: Hello again! Care to have a sensor problem at 13:22:52 and call it even? Love and kisses, Liberty."
Horn stood, and gave a surprised glance at his executive officer. Lieutenant Bush quickly went to the sensors.
"Well I'll be! It IS them! We'll be the closest ship to them at that time." He looked up at the Captain. "Orders?"
Horn looked out at the rotating station.
"That sensor array HAS been giving us problems, hasn't it?"
****
The docking rings burst off of the Liberty. The engines ignited immediately, and the ship sped off, not away from the station, but instead moved to race along its length, spiraling around it so as to keep the bulk of the station between it and any particular destroyer for as long as possible. Once past the far end of the London, they simply opened up the throttle and hoped for the best.
For once that day, it was good enough.