Star Crusades by Michael Thomas (best ereader for pc txt) 📕

three hundredmetres down. I tell you, these mines are just the surface of what’sgoing on here. And then there’s this stuff.”

She ran her hands along the green algae like matter on thewalls.

“This stuff is becoming more common thefurther down we go. This planet is a world of mysteries.”

“And we’re turning it all to rubble,” said Alexis.

Kalliasseemed far less concerned and laughed as he lifted his cannonsupwards.

“Then they’d bettersurrender, and fast, or there’ll benothing much left of it!”

He bumped fists with Hawkins, and theunit continued forward.

“Lance Corporal,”asked a marine private, “Can I ask you aquestion?”

Valentine looked back at him andnodded.

“Is it true that you were marinesbefore?”

She smiled, though he probably couldn’ttell.

“Yeah, I was a marine. I still am.”

“So how did you become…”

“A machine?”

The man laughed, and Valentinecould sense the nerves in the man’s voice. She knew it wasn’tnerves in talking to her, but almost certainly from the dangerousmission inside the alien world. As she looked athim, she noticed the difficulty themarines were facing as they struggled under the heavy gravity. Itwas far less difficult for her with her powerful artificial limbs,though she could still feel the effects through her torso andlungs.

“No, a metal god.”

Alexis whistled in amusement.

“I’d say the Private is getting sweet on her.”

That amused Valentine greatly. Shestarted to answer, and then stopped as they reached a split in thetunnel. One part descended rapidly, while the other turned away tothe right.

“Wait,”said Valentine as Tex highlighted possible sources of heat, “We’vegot something nearby.”

“Where?” Hawkins said.

He stepped out in front and lookedahead.

“I’ve got nothing ahead…”

He spun about and then shook hishead.

“Or behind.”

Kallias tapped the ceiling with hisguns and then muttered.

“No, nothing up there either, Val.Maybe you’re…”

He stopped as he noticed hiscomrade looking to the translucent floor. There was more of thegreen matter in clumps on the ground. One by one each of them didthe same, with two of the marines activating flashlights on their weapons.

“I see it,” said one.

“Get back!” Valentine yelled.

All but one marine moved away asthe floor shifted and pulsed, and then split open as a chargedetonated. The marines and Novas were showered in debris, followedby a dozen shapes charging from below.They were people, humanoid in shape, and covered from head-to-toein thick, natural looking clothing rather than sealed suits. Theywere taller than the marines but much slighter in build. Theirheads were covered in heavy helmets, with blacked out screens wherethe eyes should be, much like early welding masks. They all carriedhand weapons and slashed and stabbed as they came. Two marines fellinstantly, and then the enemy was all over them.

“Killthem!” Valentine screamed.

The Novas fired first, followed by ragged volleys from themarines. The battle was over in less than ten seconds, leavingthree wounded marines to be patched up with gel sealant, andHawkins with more damage to his chest armour.

“What the hell was that all about?” Hawkins asked.

Alexis bent down next to one ofthe dead. Its suit was ripped open, andshe pulled back part of it to reveal a pale, pallid looking skin,like that of a person that had avoided sunlight all their lives.She continued and finally removed the helmet over itshead.

“What is that thing?” asked a wounded marine, “It looks like the head ofa goat. Is it a demon?”

A marine laughed, but it wasnervous laugh, and Valentine could tellthey were all on edge. Alexis sighed and released it, but notbefore holding up one of its arms. On the thick clothing were worndown marks near the wrists.

“These people were bound, just like theothers.”

“Prisoners or slaves,” saidValentine, “And itsface…look.”

She pulled the helmet away toreveal no breathing apparatus orattachments. Even the inside of the helmet was lacking any kind oftechnology. She hesitated, and then reached for the controls on herheavy helmet.

“No!” Alexis said, but it was too late.

The front plate slid down,leaving just the sealed environmentalvisor in position. She paused, and then let it open a fewcentimetres. She took in a couple of breaths and thencoughed.

“Val, seal that helmet!”

She shook her head and took in anotherfew breaths.

“It’s okay. With the filtersrunning it’s not so bad. It’s laden withfixed nitrogen and low levels of oxygen. With blood infusions it’sbreathable.”

“She’s right,” saidAlexis, “My sensors show it asbreathable.”

“I found something else,”said Hawkins, kicking aside the rubblefrom the breach in the ground.

“What is it?”

“A Ski’lig. But this one isdifferent.”

The Novas surrounded the bodywhile Hawkins rolled it over. It was a normal Ski’lig, with its wings retracted and wearing armour. In oneof its hands was a thick chain, and in the other a much smallerversion of the rifle they normally carried.

“So…theSki’ligs really are slave masters,” said Valentine.

“And it looks like at least one of theprisoners got a hit in. Look.”

He pushed the body onto its side,and they could all see three of the short lances embedded in the Ski’lig’s back.

“Were they attacking us or tryingto escape their slave master?” The pitchof Alexis’ voice had changed again, and Valentine knew she was introuble.

“We’ve still got a mission.” Valentine took a lance from a fallenalien worker. She snapped it over her leg and placed the point inone of her pouches.

“Okay, where now?”Alexis asked.

They looked back to the shaft, andValentine began changing viewing modes.

Okay, Tex, talk tome.

Of course,he said happily, the shaft leading down will intersect the main passage andconnect to the flank of our existing attack. Estimated range, twohundred metres.

Valentine nodded.

Thanks, Tex.

She shared the data with the others.

“Two hundred metres. We’ve takenthe long way around. We need tohurry.”

Alexis slumped againstthe wall, and two of the marines muttered tothemselves. Valentine moved up to her and grabbed herarm.

“Alexis, we ain’t got time forthis.”

“I…I just…”

“No. Just stay with us. I’ve got this, okay?”

Alexis nodded, andthen shook her head like she was tryingto get rid of cobwebs.

“Let’s move out,”said Valentine.

Theymoved on through the crystal like passage, and some of the marinesslipped as the descent became steeper. Thankfully, the descentended as soon as it had begun, and they entered a more open areawith many small rooms on each side. Valentine looked to the marineand noticed he seemed intrigued by her face. She lifted a hand,half-expecting to find blood, but instead her thick bushy hair hadpushed out