The Vanguard Emerges (Maraukian War Book 2) Read online

  It was some time later before they were both able to get hold of their emotions. They might be happy to see each other but now was not the time to waste, the time they had to open up to each other.

  “So, these Maraukians—what are we looking at? They as bad as the legion is saying?” Jerome asked.

  “As bad if not worse.” Mark shook his head.

  “What’s the play?”

  “Nivad and Jones need to die,” Mark said.

  “Why?”

  “They’re the ones who had Alexis and Tyler killed.”

  Jerome looked to Mark, questions all over his face.

  “Ask Moretti to look into Jones’s file. He’ll find out what I mean,” Mark said.

  Jerome nodded, trusting his brother.

  “Okay, if we do kill Nivad—” Jerome shook his head. “Which is going to be nearly impossible.”

  “Never tell a Victor that something is impossible,” Mark warned him.

  “Okay, so that can’t be all to your plan,” Jerome said.

  “No, we need to get this damn yard out of here. I have some good friends in the Emarl system. However, we need to get there. For that, we need to build some damn faster-than-light space drives. Me and my Phantoms have been working on the plans with the tech team that are running support for us.” Mark pressed his finger to a nearby tablet. A gray line seemed to form from his finger and dissolve into the tablet; streams of information, including blueprints and technical designs, appeared.

  “This should work.” Mark’s finger returned to normal as he passed it to Jerome.

  “That is just freaky as shit.”

  “Love your words of confidence,” Mark said sardonically. “Now, this meeting never happened. I need a ride out of here back to the Moby. I can confuse the EMF sensors. Been using them so much, it’s simple getting past them.”

  “I have a crew that might be willing to take on the job.” Jerome smiled mysteriously.

  Jerome organized it so that no one would see Mark and him as they moved through the Yard, passing from the offices to the maintenance bays.

  Jerome kept on looking to Mark in his armor. Even as a veteran of the Harmony War, he was impressed by Mark’s armor.

  “So when do I get a set?” Jerome asked.

  “Becoming a merger isn’t that simple,” Mark said gravely.

  “Brothers in life and death, through hell and the Colonies.” Jerome’s words left Mark without excuses and flooding memories.

  “We’ll talk about it when you get to the Emarl system,” Mark promised.

  Jerome sealed up his space suit as an air lock opened in front of them.

  They looked into a single maintenance bay.

  The shuttle’s profile was familiar to Mark. It was nearly identical to the combat shuttles that the Earth Military Force used.

  As he approached, he saw the three crew members of the vessel.

  “Hey Jerome, so what are you bringing this old girl out of storage for?” Captain Yu smacked the combat shuttle, his eyes sliding over to Mark.

  “Today we’ve got a pretty special guest,” Jerome said.

  Mark didn’t fear vacuum; even if he was completely naked, he could walk around in vacuum for a few minutes before his body started to fail. He reached up and grasped his helmet.

  “Whoa! This is a space suit-wearing area!” Young, Yu’s second-in-command, yelled, a severe look on her face.

  Bobbie, the last member of the three-person team and the cargo master, looked as if he were about to react too, but his eyes bugged out and his jaw dropped.

  “Well, seems that coming back from the dead has this kind of effect on everyone.” Mark looked to the three in front of him. They had gone through thick and thin, from covert operations behind enemy lines, to having them fly overhead in support or extracting them from some of the worst battlefields.

  “Mark?” Young said, as if in disbelief of her own words as she looked at him.

  “The one and the only. Seems like I’m going to need the finest combat shuttle crew in the EMF to give me another ride.” Mark laughed.

  “You owe me forty credits!” Bobbie said, his voice gruff.

  They greeted one another, tears in their eyes as well as laughter and staring as they all looked over Mark. He was taller and different than before, a darkness to his eyes.

  They had changed as well. Now, instead of going into battlefields, they delivered cargo all over the Sol system.

  They bumped forearms—the salute of armored troopers—the combat shuttle crew in a state of shock and happiness.

  “All right, you can ask him all about it on the shuttle ride. He needs to get back to the legion ship Moby before anyone notices that he’s gone.” Jerome didn’t want to see Mark disappear once again but now, knowing that he was alive and the orders that he had passed on, Jerome felt as if he had been woken up from the dream he was drifting through.

  With Mark came change and the promise of progress.

  Mark waved good-bye to him, and the combat shuttle crew boarded and secured Mark. Jerome left the hangar, deep in thought.

  As the combat shuttle’s engines fired, the hangar doors opened, and then the combat shuttle pushed out into the inky darkness.

  Jerome pulled out a box from his cargo pocket. Mark had given it to him just moments before. Jerome opened the box and found a silver armband inside. Mark had called it a NIAI and the ideas behind it both intrigued and worried him.

  Jerome undid his shirt though, trusting his brother. He put the armband up over his upper arm as per the instructions on the lid. A cool sensation seemed to spread out from the armband and run through his body. Then it was as if the world came alive. He ignored the messages and what was going on in his head.

  ***

  “Are you sure about this?” Yu asked.

  “I am. Don’t worry. I have things under control.” Mark laughed and he hit the harness around him, standing up in the combat shuttle.

  “Cargo bay is free of air,” Bobbie reported.

  “Plot is checked. We’ll reach launch point in two minutes.” Young’s voice was calm and precise, as if they weren’t running an EMF blockade.

  “Fine, open the hangar doors.” Yu shook his head. A smile appeared on his face as he thought of all the crazy shit that he had got up to with the Victors and the members of the Triple-Twos he’d taken in on covert missions.

  “See you soon enough!” Mark ran across the cargo bay and jumped out the back of the combat shuttle.

  He shot off on a plot. After just a few seconds, he disappeared from the combat shuttle’s sensors.

  “Well, there is no way that the EMF ships will be able to pick him up,” Young said.

  “Sealing hatch,” Bobbie said.

  “Well, he certainly hasn’t changed much.” Yu laughed as he altered their flight path, taking them away from the blockade.

  They were far enough out that few of the EMF personnel would even care to check them out. Once again, they disappeared into the inky darkness.

  Chapter 3

  SLS Moby

  Earth Orbit, Sol System

  5/3354

  “Welcome back,” Evan said over the net as Mark made it back into the Moby. He was overlooking simulation training going on in the interior of the decks, but being linked to the ship’s sensors and his processing power, he was able to split his attention and do multiple things at once.

  “So, we ready to go down to Earth?” Mark walked from the air lock he had come from toward the interior of the Moby.

  “One week,” Evan said.

  “Of course. Even now, they’re playing power games.” Mark shook his head.

  “Looks like you’re not space dust yet,” Ava said over the net, walking out from an adjacent corridor as Mark walked deeper into the ship.

  “Sorry to disappoint,” Mark said. Sarah transmitted his amusement.

  “What’s the play?” Ava asked.

  Mark could sense that all of the merger leadership were list
ening in.

  “Blood begets blood. Nivad Selvra and Jones must die. I’m going to protect those who are left from my time in the EMF and send them to the Emarl system.”

  “What about the talks?” Evan asked.

  Mark sensed the agreement of the others, their interest piqued.

  “Who would you trust—the guy who would turn on his troops or the chaos that follows afterward? The corporations had their time—now let’s let the people of Earth and Her Colonies make a choice for what they want.” Mark had fought as a trooper, originally to suppress the Colonies, later to save them all from the Harmony Forces’ machinations. He could no longer fight for the corporations against the Colonies and knew that they deserved a chance to find their own future instead of remain corporate slaves.

  Mark didn’t hide any of his emotions or motivations.

  “It is unlikely that Earth and Her Colonies will make an agreement with Roma and the allied systems without looking to benefit from it greatly. While we fight, they will look to take advantage of us at the rear. We will be eaten up from both sides,” Chyna said, adding in his own thoughts.

  There were no complaints; they’d fought together and through the net, they knew one another better than few others might. With all that had been said, they agreed with their leaders.

  Mark knew this was mainly personally motivated but he wouldn’t rest until those who brought about the death of his brother and sister-in-law were dead as well.

  Chapter 4

  Tower

  Earth, Sol System

  5/3354

  Moretti looked through the various reams of information. Jerome had sent him a coded message for him to clarify a few things.

  Moretti, being part of the Ministry of Intelligence, was easily able to access most information. With his skills, even if something was hidden away, he could get past the firewalls and security in his way.

  It had taken him the better part of a few days in order to access the files on General Jones. Most of his file was available for all to see. To most, it would seem complete. To Moretti, who had been at the heart of many Ministry operations and knew the various ways they would hide information, he saw that there were clear signs of attached information.

  Moretti used a false identity as a high-ranking person within the Ministry of Intelligence. The page in front of him changed in moments.

  Moretti sipped on the coffee next to his terminal. The cold mixture hit his stomach like a weight as he scrolled through the information.

  His cup paused in mid-air as he read one of the new files that had appeared. He put down the coffee, his motions robotic as he checked the date of the file, re-reading the header of the file.

  He quickly read on, his body cold as his skin was prickled with goose bumps. His state of disbelief turned to one of anger, but he continued to read. A perverse feeling of needing to know but not wishing to continue filled him.

  He finished the short document and simply stared at his screen. He thought the information might show just how useless Jones was; he never thought it would be such a smoking gun, one that affected him directly.

  How did Jerome know Jones contracted out the assassination of Alexis, Tyler, and Mark? Does he know Nivad Selvra knew of it and okayed it?

  Moretti was filled with question after question. However, there was nothing he could do. General Jones had used his connections and was one of the most powerful men in the Earth Military Force. Nivad Selvra was the leader of the Ministry of Intelligence and was the de facto head of Earth and Her Colonies.

  Although Moretti wielded a lot of power on Earth and among the corporate heads who called it home, they were both on different planes of existence, and no one cared about the dead heroes of four years ago.

  A cold, murderous light filled Moretti’s eyes as he made a silent promise to himself. They might not care, but we went through thick and thin, relying on one another. No matter what the cost, I’ll take down Jones and Selvra myself.

  He opened up his planner and sent a message to Ortiz in order to meet. It was regular for them to get together and share war stories. They were the only two who remained within Mega City. The other troopers and personnel they had served beside were now part of the Victor Corporation, moving goods across Earth, Sol, and the Colonies. Or part of the Westerly Three Complex Crew, who protected the greenhouses controlling the slums, or the Yard that serviced the trading vessels and built the largest trading ships within the EHC.

  Moretti didn’t know what the future held, but he needed to let someone else know what he knew. If he died, then no one would know the truth of Jones and Selvra’s plans.

  Chapter 5

  SLS Moby

  Earth Orbit, Sol System

  6/3354

  “Captain Chen to the bridge, we have communications with the surface.”

  “Inform the VIPs,” Chen said.

  “Already done so, Captain.”

  Chen jogged from his cabin to the bridge in the middle of the ship. The senators were alerted and used their NIAIs to holographically appear on the bridge.

  “Captain?”

  “My communications officer received a communication from the surface a few minutes ago.” He pointed to the officer, who calmly focused on her job, seemingly ignoring the pressure.

  “We received a hail from Earth’s government building, asking to talk with our representatives.”

  Senator Weng, the leader of the delegation, spoke up. “We will be there in person shortly.”

  The senators disappeared. Some ten minutes later, they entered the bridge.

  “Open the channel, please,” Weng said, as if everything were within his expectations.

  The communications officer did so, showing the president of Earth and Her Colonies backed by a roomful of powerful people, including the COEMF heads of the revenue and intelligence agencies, generals and admirals, as well as representatives for the Colonies. The president spoke first, his brilliant white teeth flashing.

  “Ah, Senator Weng and Florence. We will allow you to land your delegation with their bodyguards on Earth for talks to take place. Only if our people are allowed to check your ships to make sure they don’t pose a threat to our security.”

  Chen saw Weng and the delegations’ eyes become slightly unfocused as they talked among themselves.

  “We find this to be agreeable. We will be able to land within three hours.”

  “Magnificent.” The president’s smile flashed again. “We will give you a flight plan and escorts to ensure your safety.”

  More like to shoot us if you think we’re doing something wrong, Chen thought.

  “Thank you, Mr. President.” Senator Weng bowed his head as was the custom of his world.

  Chen didn’t miss the look of power pass over the president’s face as the senator did so. But he grinned as he thought of the Phantom Lords in his storage lockers.

  The president replied with a slight bow as the channel ended.

  ***

  “All right, Phantoms, we’re going in as protection detail!” Mark said through the net as he moved away from the fusion power plant of the Moby.

  The Phantoms armored up. Their individual Pluto suits adapted to their fighting styles, with increased armor, anti-grav nanites, and hundreds of minute things that helped them in battle.

  Their clothes changed into the base nanites they were made from as they stepped into the liquid nanite membrane that filled the suit. The openings closed; nanites reconnected the carbon hendral plating on a molecular level, making them seamless. HUDs came alive as the NIAI suit and wearer re-integrated systems while checking to make sure they were at full readiness; any issues were shored up as nanites raced to fix them. M20s mounted on their forearms cycled together, rotating around their forearm, and then cycled apart. Mono-blades and the gray high-density blocks that adorned their armor where checked by eye and by scans. In five minutes, every suit was ready and they turned their faceless helmets to Mark.

  He looked at th
em. Their armor was as black as space with a tinge of purple, which was easier to see in areas where coil guns, plasma blasts, vibro-blades, debris, and hundreds of things that would have killed an unarmed person had made their mark.

  “All right, Phantoms, you know what your jobs are. Look after each other as I know you will, and above all protect the VIPs. Protecting them is of the highest priority.” Mark could feel the agreement coming through the Phantoms’ net. It was calming, yet at the time of a merger’s death, it was terrifying as those who survived would feel their last emotions before their connection ended, leaving an inexplicable hole in the network.

  “I know I’ve asked a lot of you and I’ve asked if I can get you some leave passes to enjoy the sights of Earth. You’ve earned it. Now let’s get ground side.”

  Mark turned and led his people through to the waiting glider. Charles, the leader of the design team for the Pluto suit, gave Mark a half-earth salute with two fingers. His design team was with him. At first Mark thought he was here because then he could bug his direct boss Damus more for his projects. It seemed more that he was now the permanent head of supply and innovation for mergers, as well as the guy who had to take the tech and see how normal legionnaires could use it. A task Mark happily left to him and his team.

  Mark and the Phantoms took their seats. Modified harnesses enclosed them as the VIPs boarded, wearing their own vac suits. Except Damus’s direct representative, Legate Julio Melchor Alves, who wore a mark-one set of Mars armor with filler that showed the nicks and scars similar to those on the Phantoms.

  “Doors secure. Opening drop hatch. Disengaging clamps.” The glider fell out of the drop hatch facing toward the red and silver marble of Earth. The green had long ago been removed and placed in towers.

  Earth’s gravity pulled them downward as the pilots only used maneuvering thrusters to enter the atmosphere. The glider was buffeted by the atmosphere; the whine of planetary engines kicked in and pushed them through the outer layers of the atmosphere into a smoother ride as they were greeted by two flights of fighters hugging their left and right rear.