Marten and Osadar mapped what they could of the void, never daring to use the active sensors. Mercury and the Sun-Works Factory were presently on the other side of the Sun.
Felix informed them Maximus led the Highborn on Venus. They controlled the laser-satellites ringing the planet. The four shuttles had originated from there, and with Felix’s help, Marten discovered two other missile-ships in orbit.
“Are those renegade SU craft?” Marten asked.
Felix shook his head. “They’re modified missile-ships, captured vessels kept hidden until now. They are Maximus’s fleet. In the absence of the Doom Stars, those ships form the most powerful fleet in Inner Planets.”
The days became another week. Finally, they crossed Venus’s orbital path as they continued toward the Sun.
As the cyborgs completed their conquest of Mars—attempting to capture the Pancho Villa—the William Tell reached halfway between Venus and Mercury.
“There should have been a signal by now,” Felix said.
“Do you think Maximus found your base?” asked Marten.
“The Commandant is a clever soldier. It’s a possibility.” Felix grew sullen, moodily clenching his fists as he sat by himself. It was like having a lion among them, a restless beast. At all times, Omi, Osadar or Marten secretly watched him, with a needler ready.
A day later, Marten spotted something dim on the sensor screen. Hunching forward with excitement, Marten rechecked his readings. Soon, he began monitoring the sensors closely, looking for radio-signals and energy readouts.
Nadia sat at the weapons officer’s chair. She must have seen something different in him. Learning near, she whispered, “Is that it?”
Something in her voice must have alerted Osadar, who sat in the pilot’s chair. The cyborg swiveled around. “You’ve found the planet-wrecker?”
Marten nodded.
Several of the planet-wreckers launched nearly three years ago had missed Earth and tumbled into the outer void. Apparently, the Sun had captured at least one. Now, the asteroid orbited the fiery star, remaining near the Sun. It was Felix’s secret base.
“Summon the Highborn,” Marten said. “He’ll want to see this.”
Soon, the nine-foot giant loomed behind Marten.
“Check the readings,” Marten said. “The asteroid looks deserted.”
Felix glowered as he read the screen, and his breathing became audible, like that of an angry bull.
Marten’s back prickled, and Nadia leaned away from the Highborn.
“If they were there,” Osadar said, “you would have picked up radio signals or other life-signs.”
“We maintain tight discipline,” Felix said. “They are there, secretly tracking your vessel.”
“You’d better signal them, then,” Marten said.
Felix accepted a com-unit and spoke a string of code words.
“Nothing,” Marten said, as he watched his screen.
“They are there,” Felix said, more ominously than before.
“Let’s get ready then,” Marten said.
The journey to the asteroid took time, several days. Finally, Marten gave the order.
“I am activating the engine now,” Osadar said, tapping her screen.
The ion engine thrummed with power as the boat began to decelerate. A jolt shook Marten. Beside him, Nadia’s head struck her headrest, knocking off her cap.
Compared to the last time they landed on a planet-wrecker, this was a gentle ride. The asteroid was nine-and-a-half kilometers in diameter and first appeared as a smooth object. Soon, on the forward cameras, hills appeared and grew larger. Then ancient impact craters were visible and plains of stardust. The hills loomed steadily larger and they became more jagged. After a time, a single mountain dominated.
“Look,” Nadia said.
Marten spied a slagged lump of metal like a melted coin. It must have been a laser-turret once, destroyed by a Doom Star’s heavy beam in the original battle.
Osadar brought them down as stardust billowed upward, surrounding the craft. Slowly, the patrol boat settled and then the vibration quit as the engine shut down. After eight months in space, they had landed on a solid object.
Even though they had been weightless for months, Marten lectured them on the need to practice caution while exploring the asteroid. If they jumped too high, they would reach escape velocity and simply keep floating. Ever since the Bangladesh, he worried about losing men to space-drift.
Everyone but Felix was tethered in groups of three, the lines attached to their belts.
Marten, Omi and Nadia glided across the bleak landscape with Felix and others following. Since they were so near the Sun, they stayed on the dark side. Otherwise, their conditioner-units would have quickly overheated. Marten led, climbing a lunar-like hill. It was so different from being cooped up on the boat. His heavy breathing echoed in his helmet and it felt good to move for an extended time. As he looked around, the stars were bright gems and dust billowed each time a boot struck the ground.
Clutching a gray rock, Marten steadied himself on the summit. In the valley, he spied a dome. It brought back bitter memories. There was motion to his left. Ah…Nadia climbed beside him. She spooked me. This place does. He pointed into the valley.
“Look at the dome’s jagged crack,” he said. “It crosses the entire width. A beam must have lased in a running slash.”
Through her visor, he saw his wife nod.
Marten spotted something above. He craned his head as Omi flailed uselessly over him. Grabbing the line, Marten pulled him down.
“Don’t jump so hard,” Marten said.
“Rookie mistake,” Omi muttered. He glanced back. “I doubt he’ll do that.”
Marten looked back, watching Felix move in his powered armor. The Highborn glided perfectly. Only Osadar asteroid-walked with as much confidence and ability.
That doesn’t mean they’re going to win. Marten shook off the feeling that maybe it did mean that. The fight wasn’t over until it was.
The giant reached them, looming ominously with his rotating hand-cannon on one arm and a laser carbine in the other.
“They should have signaled us by now,” Felix said.
“How many shuttles did you have?” Marten asked.
“Counting mine, three,” Felix said.
“Could they have left without you?”
Felix hesitated, with his visor aimed at the valley dome. “They would have set up a signal,” he finally said.
“Could they be waiting at the dome?”
Methodically, Felix examined the landscape. “We must beware. This could be a trap.”
Marten blew a lungful of air against his visor. He didn’t want to hear that. “We’re using over-watch,” he told the others. “Use passive sensors but be ready to switch to radar and get an exact fix for your weapons. If they don’t hail us first, fire to kill.”
“If they are ambushing us,” Felix said, “these precautions will do no good.”
“That’s what Centurion Titus thought,” Marten said.
Felix’s visor turned toward Marten. It was silver, the face behind it invisible. “You were a shock trooper once, is that not so?”
“I was.”
“It shows in your training. You are aggressive.”
Marten knew Felix meant aggressive like a well-trained beast. He let the insult pass. We have more important things to worry about.
“Let’s go,” Marten told the marines.
It took time climbing down the jagged hill and time to cross the lunar plain. Marten kept thinking how the asteroid used to orbit Saturn. That disturbed him, and he wasn’t sure why.
With their gyrocs trained on the dome, Marten’s group neared the low-built structure. Behind followed others, Osadar’s group bringing a plasma cannon.