Clinton had his tablet connected to the main monitor in the Matter Transmission Station. The complete Hunter Safety Team was armed and ready. Kareet stood ready with his Portable Energy Cannon. Everyone rested while they were able, as they watched the progress on the monitor.

  Somehow, Clinton had accessed the Dirtling broadcasts and displayed a number of the more relevant live feeds to the overhead monitor.

  “Captain Mapps and the Sergeant have done well,” said Hendon.

  Harrick nodded, commenting, “See how they are minimising casualties by telling the unarmed and non aggressive Dirtlings to stay out of the way?”

  Hendon laughed, “I like their phrase, ‘Play dead or be dead’. I’m going to use that.”

  Clinton brought up a new feed, “More serious opposition is coming, Sir.”

  The monitor showed some Dirtling armoured vehicles approaching along the same street on which the Emperor’s party was travelling. They had easily destroyed the earlier armoured vehicles, but these ones looked far more offensive by design.

  “Should we call the party?” asked Clinton.

  “No,” said Harrick, “We can’t. They are on a seperate channel, direct to the Emperor 1. We could call Captain Mapps using the special communicator we gave him, but I think we will leave that for an emergency.”

  Clinton nodded and brought up another feed on the monitor, “More of those vehicles are coming from behind.”

  Harrick and Hendon nodded, watching to see how the PIGs handled a more determined Dirtling attack.

  The ambushing vehicles fired large explosive shells which struck the lead fire teams, throwing them everywhere. The footage was blocked by all the dust and debris.

  “Oh no!” said Clinton and then stopped as Harrick and Hendon seemed unconcerned.

  Hendon saw Clinton’s confusion and said, “Don’t worry about those lads, they are well armoured. They may get some bruises but that is just another day for them. Wait and see.”

  Moments later the lead squad stood up, looked at each other and charged towards the danger.

  Kareet said, “Hey, they have the PEC2. Can I have one of those?”

  Hendon said, “No. We want the more portable one. Have you seen the weight of those? It takes two PIGs to carry one.”

  Kareet sighed in grudging acceptance, and looked on in satisfaction as the two guards fired the PEC2. “Boom!” he added helpfully.

  The two ambushing vehicles were quickly destroyed but a stray final shot by the Dirtling vehicle destroyed the edge of the building above the party. No Guards or the Emperor were hurt by the falling debris, but it looked like Lord Gubbins was injured. Lord Gubbins then fired into the building.

  Clinton quickly brought up another feed, showing Lord Gubbins shooting at unarmed Dirtlings trying to escape the destroyed building.

  “That’s not good,” said Harrick.

  “It will just make them angry,” added Hendon, frowning.

  Another vehicle appeared behind the party and in the firefight they saw the Emperor’s bubble get hit. The bubble rolled around, throwing the Emperor and guard Muffins inside.

  Harrick’s communicator buzzed, “Harrick, can you …”

  Harrick looked at his communicator and said, “That was Captain Mapps. He was asking me for something and then the communication was cut.”

  Clinton reviewed the myriad of feeds he had available and found one focussed on Captain Mapps. He was tapping his communicator. Clinton zoomed in and could partly read the screen.

  “Sir,” said Clinton, “The Captain’s communicator is showing ‘Communications Failure’. That’s the only thing that flashes red on the communicators.”

  Hendon said, “I told you those Dirtlings were clever bastards. They have worked out how to block our communicators.”

  Harris pointed at Nelson manning the Matter Transmitter controls, “Nelson, see if you can get a lock on to the party.”

  Nelson activated the controls and pressed the normal buttons. Frowning he then pressed more buttons and swiped controls, “I can’t. The signal won’t lock!”

  “We’re going in to get the Emperor. If they can’t contact us, they won’t be able to contact the ‘Emperor 1’. Lets go!” Harrick commanded as Hendon raced to the shuttle’s cabin.

  Jango was the pilot who had volunteered. Hendon confirmed he was the best of the options in their team. Although no one had performed a combat descent in centuries, Jango was known for his love of combat sims and always talking about his skills.

  Hendon opened the cabin door and said, “Jango, you’re on. We’re going down to Dirt to rescue the Emperor.”

  Hendon sat down in the seat behind Jango and tapped Jango on the head, “Go! You said you were the best. Now prove it!”

  Jango looked at the Co-pilot who was hurriedly securing his safety straps and looking down at Dirt with a worried expression.

  With a crack of his neck and then cracking his fingers Jango calmly put on his belt and announced, “Can everyone please seat themselves? By orders, this is a rush assignment. We begin in five. Four. Three.”

  He smiled as he heard the hurried activity in the cabin and space behind him as he leaned over and activated the controls.

  “Let’s go!”

  ****

  A National Guard assault helicopter raced down Park Avenue, firing its multi cannons into the alien party. The pilot grinned as he saw the tracers race through the aliens and send them flying in all directions. He then cried in panic as the rear of his helicopter was cut off in a laser shot and he fought to control the downward flight ending in an ignominious crash further down the street, chopper blades damaging buildings either side of the descending helicopter.

  Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

  “Got it!” yelled Tomas as the alien flying vehicle crashed further along the street.

  Sergeant Timms stood outside the Emperor’s bubble standing next to Captain Mapps. Inside the bubble, the Emperor was sitting on top of a prone Muffins, yelling at them, ”I have had enough! It is time to go!”

  Lord Gubbins was taking cover behind from stone stairs and shooting at any Dirtlings he could see scurrying amongst the destroyed buildings, “Take that!” he yelled as each shot hit someone. Battle frenzy had taken hold of him and he was thinking of nothing other than shooting the DIrtlings. They had the temerity to hurt his son, and now they had broken one of his tentacles!

  Captain Mapps tried to explain to the Emperor, “Our communications are not working, my Lord.”

  ‘Then what are we using now, Captain?” said the Emperor, waving at the communicator in his hand and the speaker on his upturned throne.

  “WE can communicate, but communication to the Emperor 1 are not getting through.”

  “What about the Hunter Safety Team? I want Harrick!” demanded the Emperor.

  “I was only able to get a few words to him before communications failed,” said Captain Mapps, “For now we need to keep you safe as we deal with the problems at hand.”

  “This shield is very annoying! I demand you let me out this instant,” demanded the Emperor, as another string of bullets bounced off the shield.

  Rather than flatly deny the request, Sergeant Timms said, “Interference here too, my Lord” as he pretended to open the shield.

  “Bah!” said the Emperor, sitting back down on Muffins. Muffins groaned, but maintained his position.

  Sergeant Timms and Captain Mapps stepped aside and spoke in private.

  “What now, Sir?” asked the Sergeant.

  “We’re not in any great danger,” said the Captain, “Lots of explosions and excitement, but we have had only a few minor casualties, nothing life threatening yet. The Dirtlings are really quite primitive.”

  “So far,” said the Sergeant, “I think we are not yet facing the best opponents.”

  “That’s why I want to get the Emperor out,” said the Captain, tapping his communicator, “But ours communications are blocked somehow. Never seen that before.”

  The Sergeant stopped and started looking around at the buildings.

  “What are you looking for?” Captain Mapps asked.

  “Harrick said that the Dirtlings were more clever than they are classified as. I wonder if they’re blocking the signal?” the Sergeant said, stopping and staring at the rooftop of a building about forty metres away.

  He pointed at the building spotting two Dirtlings watching them. One was wearing some headphones and the other had a floppy hat on his head. “That floppy hat. It looked like ones some of the Dirtling military wear, and the one next to it is playing with some equipment. One moment, Sir.”

  Sergeant Timms raised his gun and fired at the building rooftop.

  ****

  Captain Paige leapt across and pushed Eric further along the rooftop. His green beret went flying and was caught in the laser blast that destroyed the corner of the rooftop behind which they were hiding.

  “Are you okay?” he asked Eric, who fumbled for his equipment. Quickly checking it over, he pulled out a screwdriver and started work.

  “I’m okay, Captain,” said Eric, “But I have to fix the box. The power connection has stopped working.”

  Captain Paige looked behind him and pointed. Eric saw the severed power wires and sighed.

  “That would answer the power problem, then,” said Eric and rummaged around in his pockets. He pulled out a battery and placed it in the ComStop.

  “There!” said Eric, “Blocked again.”

  “And this time we are staying out of sight! That alien pointed at us and I’m sure his smiled as he fired,” said the captain, resting his back against the wall adjoining the next building.

  ****

  “We’re back!” said Captain Mapps, hurriedly tapping his communicator. He frowned and tried again.

  “I get an engaged tone. Who can he be talking to?”

  Captain Mapps looked up as another flying vehicle raced down the street. This one fired missiles, destroying more of the buildings around them.

  Lord Gubbins yelled excitedly as he fired at more exposed Dirtlings.

  Sergeant Timms nodded sadly as he turned to Captain Mapps, “It appears Lord Gubbins has battle fever.”

  “Yes,” said the Captain as he looked at the Emperor sitting with his arms folded, glaring at everything around him, flinching only slightly as the shield quivered at each new deflected bullet or missile.

  “Look out, Sir!” said Sergeant Timms as he pushed Captain Mapps aside. A metal cage with wheels dropped from above, landing with a crash onto the ground between them.

  Looking down at the crumpled, twisted metal frame, the captain said, “How do they think that will make a difference if their large guns don’t harm us?”

  Another of the metal frames fell and landed on top of Lord Gubbins. He fell down under the frame and lay still.

  Sergeant Timms rushed over and pulled the cage off Lord Gubbins while his guards fired up at the roof from which the thing was thrown.

  “Right!” yelled a groggy Lord Gubbins, “They have had it! If you can’t protect me I’m calling my own Protectors.”

  Lord Gubbins staggered upright, groaning as he realised another of his tentacles was broken, and even worse, his fancy dress uniform was a complete mess. He pulled out his communicator and activated it. “Hello! Hello!” he yelled, “Answer me! Why won’t this thing work?”

  Sergeant Timms turned as Lord Gubbins walked into the open waving his communicator around trying to get a connection. The Sergeant thought, “That never works” and turned towards the Emperor.

  Another of the metal cages was thrown off the roof. He fired and the roof was destroyed, complete with a satisfying cry of pain. He then looked in horror as the cage had fell onto a small roof covering a door, lost most of its momentum, then toppled and fell onto the shield in slow motion. It fell through the shield and landed on the Emperor.

  “Ah!” cried the Emperor, “I have been hit! Get me out of here!”

  Sergeant Timms turned off the shield and leapt to the Emperor. He pulled off the metal cage, but the wheels were caught in the throne. Using his full strength, the throne was wrenched free from the base along with the metal cage. The Emperor had a dark bruise on one of his arms and fainted once he was lifted out. The Sergeant held the Emperor and stood underneath the door covering. The shield was down and Muffin arose once the Emperor was removed, quickly checked the battery and connections. He pressed a button and shield was back up.

  Muffins then realised he was now alone in the shield bubble with just an empty hover chair and no Emperor. He turned off the shield and exited, rushing to be next to the Emperor and Sergeant.

  “Sir!” Sergeant Timms called to Captain Mapps, “We must get the Emperor out now!”

  Captain Mapps rushed to the Emperor’s side. The Emperor was unconscious in Sergeant Timm’s arms.

  “Do you think the Dirtlings have realised the shield failed because the cage fell in slow motion?” asked the Sergeant, “There was no momentum to counteract, so it fell through.”

  “We can only hope, Sergeant,” said Captain Mapps as more projectiles of many sizes and shapes were thrown from upper floors.

  Lord Gubbins stood in the centre of the road firing into the buildings as the Guards responded to each piece of falling junk.

  “Come on Harrick!” yelled Captain Harrick, “Did you get my message?”

  A sudden crash captured his attention. A bubble shrouded shuttle was landing right along Park Avenue. The destroyed tanks, buses and trucks, followed by other parked and abandoned cars were crushed and thrown aside and trees broke as the shuttle ended its landing right next to the intersection of 86th and Park Avenue.

  The shield bubble dropped and the Hunter Safety Team leapt out amidst the billowing cloud of dust caused by the disintegrating concrete and road paving. A small drone was thrown in the air and all electronics in the immediate area were fried in a moment of sparks.

  Harrick’s troopers rushed out and met the captain.

  “With Commander Harrick’s compliments, sir,” Hendon said, “Please come with us!”

  Sergeant Timms clutched the Emperor tightly as one of his fire teams and Muffins raced through the open shuttle doors.