Chapter 5

Androme and Sirrah weren't in the room when the cadets woke up. It was the start of a new week so it was likely the intensity of their training would increase again and they were excited and ready for it. They were one third of the way through the academy.

When time passed and the instructors still didn't appear, speculation began on what might be happening.

"They are probably just preparing our next training mission," suggested Pyx.

"What if one of them is sick?" said Lyra.

"Nobody can get sick here," said Ceres. "No germs can possibly get in."

"It's got to be a new mission," said Pyx.

"As long as we're not swarmed again," said Orion. He didn't like that feeling at all.

Androme and Sirrah entered and conversation ended.

"We're going on a mission," said Androme.

Pyx looked at Ceres and Lyra as if to say, "I told you so."

Novia observed that Androme sounded solemn and Sirrah's face looked drained and pale.

"Is something going on?" Novia asked.

"Yes," said Sirrah. "It's the Gruus. They are coming."

"They're close?" asked Perion.

"Yes. Closer than anyone expected."

Androme said, "We had a big battle at sector twelve that drew ships away from other sectors to repel the Gruus. It appears to be a diversion. A visual sensor in sector three of the Oort Cloud detected forty to fifty Gruus fighters coming in. We can't get our ships back fast enough to repel the Gruus."

"They'll be in our solar system?" Cassio asked to make sure she heard right.

"You're being called up," said Sirrah.

"We are?" said Ceres.

"If they get through, the Gruus can cause great damage," said Androme.

"We're ready," said Orion. "We can stop them."

"I hope so," said Androme. "We're all going whether you're ready or not."

"So what's our plan?"

"We're going to meet them at the Kuiper Belt."

Sirrah butted in. "We think playing a little hit and run with them in the asteroids will work best. We'll pick them off several at a time and retreat."

Androme said, "We need to do this fast. We're leaving today. We'll talk everything over on the transport. Our Storms are being loaded as we speak. We'll hyperjump as close as we can get to the area."

"So how is everybody?" said Sirrah.

"Excited and scared," Ouranie admitted.

"Me too."

They were on the transport.

Androme said, pointing at the map, "These places are some of the best places to retreat to."

Orion spoke up. "If most of the Gruus get through, it won't matter if we survive."

"Right you are," said Androme. "Terraforce has signaled our asteroids to reconfigure to try to create a funnel and force the Gruus to pass through a choke point. It won't be complete but hopefully most if not all the Gruus will take the path. It's still going to be a battle for us."

Sirrah said, "I know you feel like you can't possibly get some sleep, but give it a try right now. It's going to be a long day."

Sirrah was right. No one could sleep but it was good to lie and rest.

Androme was on the point flanked by Orion and Cassio on his left. Perion and Pyx were on his right. Ceres was trailing. The Kuiper Belt was nearing quickly.

"Let's go," Androme said. "Happy hunting."

"And deadly shooting," said Sirrah. "Not a single Gruus gets through. Not one."

Orion veered off with Cassio into the asteroids. The right flank went the other way. Ceres was with Androme and went into the center. Ceres was to be stationed at the neck of the funnel.

Orion flew at a moderate speed. The Gruus should be entering on the other side now. Novia was alert and ready. There was not a sound on the communication channel instead of the usual chatter and banter so it made everyone feel tense. As time passed, the tension only increased.

"Novia," Orion whispered as if someone else could overhear. He slowed the Storm down to a near stop.

"I see it," she said, swinging her gun toward it.

"It's alone," Orion said. "It must be a scout. We don't want them to know we're here yet."

"Yes," she agreed.

"Cassio, let the ship pass but take it out just before it gets to the point where you can't kill it," said Orion, talking naturally to the pilot instead of Castor who would do the actual shooting.

Orion weaved around asteroids staying close to their surfaces hoping he would blend in enough that other Gruus scouts wouldn't detect him.

"Oh, shit!" said Orion.

"They're all in one place," Novia said, also seeing the mass of ships. "They're staying together."

"Perion! Pyx!" Orion called out. "Do you see anything?"

"No," replied Perion. "You?"

"Yes. All of them. Get over here!"

There was an explosion. Castor had destroyed the scout ship.

"They know we're here now," said Novia. Several Gruus ships accelerated from the pack.

"Run Cassio. Get out of here!" Orion ordered.

"You need us!" she replied.

"You're the rabbit. We'll get them from behind."

Cassio zipped by. Several Gruus were on her tail firing away. Castor returned the fire and nailed the lead Gruus. Novia waited patiently in the shadow of the asteroid. Orion throttled just enough to keep them in the same position, so he wouldn't spin with the asteroid. Novia took a deep breath then fired. In a matter of seconds, she destroyed eight Gruus ships.

Gruus ships stopped coming so Orion zoomed out of there before the Gruus could focus on his position.

"They're moving away. They've found the funnel," Novia observed.

"They're coming your way, Perion!" said Orion.

"Almost there!" Perion said. He sounded excited for battle.

"I'm heading to the back of the Gruus, Cassio," Orion said.

"We'll meet you there," she said.

Orion spotted a few Gruus ships moving backwards as if expecting an attack from the rear. He did a quick mental calculation where the retreating enemy ships would be if they stayed on their course. He sped up his slaloming through the asteroids.

"They'll be around this corner," Orion said.

Novia didn't understand how he knew but she did trust his ability. She readied herself. Four Gruus were right there. She wiped them out.

Another Storm appeared. Castor said jokingly, "Couldn't you wait for me?"

Cassio stopped next to Orion. "So should we pick off some rear ships and try to encourage them to fly the wrong way trying to hunt us down?"

"Exactly."

Androme's voice came in. "They are in the funnel."

Novia said privately to Orion, "The funnel wasn't such a great idea. There's too much empty space and nowhere to hide from their lasers."

Before Orion could reply, Gruus laser fire came perilously close to both Storm ships.

"Dammit!" said Orion. "I should know better than to stop moving."

"Got him," said Castor.

"There's more!" said Cassio.

Orion and Cassio zigged and zagged through the asteroids.

Novia commented, "There's many more Gruus here than forty or fifty."

"I noticed that too," Orion said.

Laser fire came from their right.

"They're trying to drive us toward the main group," Cassio said.

"If that's the way they want it then so be it," said Orion. It wasn't like he had a choice with Gruus behind them and on the right.

"Ahhh!" It was Castor who yelled.

"Are you okay?" Novia said worriedly "Castor? Cassio?"

"We're okay,"" Cassio said after a long second. "We got singed. I'll try not to have that happen again."

"Good idea."

"There's a retreat area," Cassio said. A large artificial asteroid with a canyon was directly ahead. The canyon walls would provide protection if they made it in time.

"Take it if you want," said Orion. "We're not going to stop them by hiding. I'm going to taking as many of these bastards out as I can."

"I'm with you."

Orion suddenly veered his Storm almost impossibly steeply down and the Gruus couldn't follow.

Cassio knew she couldn't make the same move so she didn't even try. Castor continued to fire at the pursuing ships, but they would soon run into the rest of the Gruus and be trapped.

"There's the Gruus fleet," Novia said, looking over but Orion didn't have time to look. He was circling around a big and real asteroid. He knew the main group of Gruus might spot their ship, but he had to do this. "Hang on, Cassio," he said under his breath.

He came back around from doing a full circle. The Gruus chasers had passed by like he calculated.

"Yes!" Orion said

Novia opened fire and took out all seven ships that were closing in on Cassio.

Orion heard Cassio's sigh of relief in his helmet.

Novia could see the distinctive look of Storm laser fire on the other side of the funnel. Lyra and Ouranie were in battle. The Gruus were massing toward them.

"We need to draw some Gruus away," Orion said. "Quick strafing run on side ships then back into the asteroids."

Androme said, "I'm in Area 15. Can you draw them my way? Sirrah will get them as they pursue you."

"Can do," said Orion. "Ready, Cassio?"

"Ready," she said.

"Go!"

Orion and Cassio headed into the open at full speed to provide as much surprise as possible. Novia and Castor took out as many Gruus as they could before both hunters went back into the asteroids.

"On our way," Orion told Androme.

Sirrah said, "Don't fire at them unless they get too close. More ships will chase you if they don't think they'll get hit by laser fire."

"And stay together," said Androme. If you split up, the Gruus will split up.

"I see you," said Sirrah.

Androme and Sirrah's stationary Storm dark in the shadow of an asteroid let loose with rapid laser fire destroying every pursuing Gruus.