The Black Sheep (A Learning Experience Book 3) by Christopher Nuttall Page A
Authors: Christopher Nuttall
Tags: Science-Fiction, Literature & Fiction, Space Opera, Military, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Genre Fiction, War, first contact, Galactic Empire, Space Fleet, Space Marine
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of contacts, humans and non-humans who were involved in fighting the Druavroks, but there was no way to know how valid his list was any longer. It had been two weeks since he’d fled Amstar and the Druavroks were incredibly aggressive. They might well have obliterated the resistance already. She worked her way through the analysis from the tactical staff as the ship settled into orbit and allowed herself a sigh of relief. There were definite signs that the battle was still underway.
“Picking up a response, Captain,” Yeller said. “They’re demanding Captain Ryman’s codes.”
“Pass them on,” Hoshiko said. “And then order the marines to be ready to drop.”
She wanted to go down to the planet herself, but she knew that was impossible. The marines would have to take the lead, accompanied by Captain Ryman - and Max Kratzok, if the reporter still wanted to go. Judging by the reports, the fighting was growing ever more intense, even as her KEWs wiped the visible formations out of existence. The Druavroks simply didn't know how to quit.
And they probably have more weapons than anyone else , she thought, numbly. Pacifying the planet will take years .
“They’ve sent us landing coordinates,” Yeller reported. “Captain?”
“Forward them to the marines,” Hoshiko ordered. She’d discussed possible steps with her officers during the voyage. Now, they'd find out just how good their planning had actually been. “Mr. Kratzok? Get to the marine boat bay if you wish to join them.”
“I do, Captain,” Kratzok said. He rose and hurried to the hatch. “Thank you.”
Hoshiko smiled. She rather doubted Kratzok knew what was awaiting him. He might have fooled around in simulations, or downloaded a full sensory recording from a marine making the jump into combat, but there was no substitute for the real thing.
“Good luck,” she said.
She turned her attention back to the main display. “Do we have any other enemy positions in the system?”
“None as yet,” Biscoe reported. “They don’t seem to have shown much interest in the industrial nodes.”
“Odd,” Hoshiko said. Had the Druavroks been so interested in exterminating everyone else that they’d ignored the industrial platforms? “We’ll deal with them as soon as we can spare the marines.”
“Aye, Captain,” Biscoe said. “We’re also picking up signals from lunar settlements. They’re asking if we’re planning to stay.”
“Tell them yes,” Hoshiko said. The last thing she needed was people, humans or aliens, panicking while her marines dropped into hell. “And ask them for a sit-rep, if possible. I need to know what’s going on.”
Chapter Eight
Chinese forces reoccupied Tibet after a bloody uprising. The Chinese Government claims that the Tibetans came to greet their Chinese brothers after the extremists were defeated, but reports on the ground and orbital observations claim that the Chinese destroyed Lhasa and exterminated much of the population.
-Solar News Network, Year 54
Max hadn't been quite sure what to expect when he'd run into the boat bay, but he definitely hadn't expected a grim-faced man shoving him into a large armoured suit. He had no time to object before the suit sealed itself, his implants reporting that the control processors were attempting to connect to his neural link. The moment he authorised the link, the suit seemed to fade away to a haze surrounding him, as if he was no longer wearing it. But the icons flashing up in front of his eyes told a different story.
“I understand you’ve used combat suits before, Max,” a female voice said. A stream of information from his implants identified the speaker as Lieutenant Hilde Bergstrom. She was standing far too close to him, wrapped in another armoured suit. “Have you stayed in practice?”
“I haven’t
“Picking up a response, Captain,” Yeller said. “They’re demanding Captain Ryman’s codes.”
“Pass them on,” Hoshiko said. “And then order the marines to be ready to drop.”
She wanted to go down to the planet herself, but she knew that was impossible. The marines would have to take the lead, accompanied by Captain Ryman - and Max Kratzok, if the reporter still wanted to go. Judging by the reports, the fighting was growing ever more intense, even as her KEWs wiped the visible formations out of existence. The Druavroks simply didn't know how to quit.
And they probably have more weapons than anyone else , she thought, numbly. Pacifying the planet will take years .
“They’ve sent us landing coordinates,” Yeller reported. “Captain?”
“Forward them to the marines,” Hoshiko ordered. She’d discussed possible steps with her officers during the voyage. Now, they'd find out just how good their planning had actually been. “Mr. Kratzok? Get to the marine boat bay if you wish to join them.”
“I do, Captain,” Kratzok said. He rose and hurried to the hatch. “Thank you.”
Hoshiko smiled. She rather doubted Kratzok knew what was awaiting him. He might have fooled around in simulations, or downloaded a full sensory recording from a marine making the jump into combat, but there was no substitute for the real thing.
“Good luck,” she said.
She turned her attention back to the main display. “Do we have any other enemy positions in the system?”
“None as yet,” Biscoe reported. “They don’t seem to have shown much interest in the industrial nodes.”
“Odd,” Hoshiko said. Had the Druavroks been so interested in exterminating everyone else that they’d ignored the industrial platforms? “We’ll deal with them as soon as we can spare the marines.”
“Aye, Captain,” Biscoe said. “We’re also picking up signals from lunar settlements. They’re asking if we’re planning to stay.”
“Tell them yes,” Hoshiko said. The last thing she needed was people, humans or aliens, panicking while her marines dropped into hell. “And ask them for a sit-rep, if possible. I need to know what’s going on.”
Chapter Eight
Chinese forces reoccupied Tibet after a bloody uprising. The Chinese Government claims that the Tibetans came to greet their Chinese brothers after the extremists were defeated, but reports on the ground and orbital observations claim that the Chinese destroyed Lhasa and exterminated much of the population.
-Solar News Network, Year 54
Max hadn't been quite sure what to expect when he'd run into the boat bay, but he definitely hadn't expected a grim-faced man shoving him into a large armoured suit. He had no time to object before the suit sealed itself, his implants reporting that the control processors were attempting to connect to his neural link. The moment he authorised the link, the suit seemed to fade away to a haze surrounding him, as if he was no longer wearing it. But the icons flashing up in front of his eyes told a different story.
“I understand you’ve used combat suits before, Max,” a female voice said. A stream of information from his implants identified the speaker as Lieutenant Hilde Bergstrom. She was standing far too close to him, wrapped in another armoured suit. “Have you stayed in practice?”
“I haven’t
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