Niles moved up to the now locked door. “Alright, everyone, take up your positions.”

“Wait,” Andrea said. “If they get through that door we won’t stand a chance.”

Then Walter added, “You don’t actually think we can hold them off if they get through, do you, Cap?”

Niles knew there was no way they’d be able to hold out if the Order got through.

Maybe, he thought, just maybe, they’d be able to make it look as though they were a threatening force. It might cause those Guardians some apprehension. “Of course not,” he said, slinging one of the Shrieker machine pistols over his shoulder. “But if they think they can take us as soon as they get that door down, then we have no chance at all. We need to look strong, like we’re willing to fight to the death.” He handed Walter a raptor.

“Do you think it will work?” Sidney asked tentatively.

“I guess we don’t know until we try,” Andrea told him.

Niles thought her voice sounded uncertain. But if anyone had a reason not to die here today, it was her, and Niles was going to do his damndest to make sure that didn’t happen.

“So how do we do that?” Sidney asked. “I mean, look tough and all.”

“Well,” Niles said. “You can stand over there.” He pointed to a small jutting console. “And take these.” He handed the furnace boy two pistols. “Make sure you keep them in sight of the enemy—no not like that, do you want to get yourself killed?” He instructed the young man for a moment more. “There you go.” Then he turned to Jon. “How long is this going to take?” he asked, nodding at the galaxy map.

“I’ve locked the weapon onto the fleet. I just need to find a way to reduce the yield before firing.”

Niles was slightly taken aback. “Reduce the yield? Why would you do that? Don’t we want to make sure we annihilate these guys?”

Jon breathed in deeply, seemingly exasperated and said, “The artifact is a world killer, Niles, not a sniper rifle. If I were to fire at full charge who knows what would happen. I don’t want to accidentally blow up an entire civilization in the process. If you haven’t noticed, the beings who attacked us aren’t the only one’s out there.”

“Fine,” Niles said. “You’re the expert, but.—”

“They’re coming,” Emma said, nodding at the hologram. “The Guardians.”

Niles could see all three trams were on the way. “Damn,” he said. Then he moved up to the door for a look outside through the thick crystal viewport. It would be the first part of the door to go. He wondered if the Guardians would lob explosives through the glass. They probably would, so it was up to him to make sure that didn’t happen or they might as well just give up right now.

The Order would come out of those trams and demand their surrender. But Niles wouldn’t give it to them. He couldn’t, or everything they’d done up to this point would have been for nothing.

“I can see the trams!” Andrea called, pointing.

Niles looked back. Sidney seemed to be trembling. “Are you alright?”

“I’m ready,” Sidney said, nodding. Niles could tell he was trying to seem brave, but it wasn’t working very well. “Just stay out of the way, kid.”

The trams came in and with a loud metal on metal screech and thud, they stopped. It was a few moments before Niles could make out movement behind the doors.

Finally men started emerging from the trams. There were at least twenty-five and at the front a bearded man dressed in a long brown trench coat of scorg hide and an important-looking hat, one a military barge captain might wear, was leading the group.

The man pulled a sleek energy pistol out of his thigh holster as he slowly sauntered up to the door and stopped about fifteen paces in front of it.

It was then Niles realized the man wasn’t just some military captain.

Andrea let out a breath in mild exasperation as she brushed away a lock of hair. “Another Guardian?

Niles looked back at her. “Surprised?”

“Not really,” she said. Then she moved up and peered through the glass portion of the door.

The Guardian now had his back turned. Niles could see him issuing orders to his men as they spread out. The men up front had taken a knee, their rifles at the ready.

The Guardian turned around to face the door. “Senior Jon Swords,” the Guardian called. “Where is he?”

“Let me do the talking,” Niles whispered to Andrea. He waited a minute before responding to the Guardian. Every second counted and every single second he could stall for was one more second Jon had to finish this. “Jon... is indisposed at the moment,” he said in the slowest tone he could muster. “You’ll have to speak with me.” He spoke slowly, but tried to keep his tone as deadly and serious as he could. And loud. Fortunately the glass didn’t deaden their ability to communicate. If it seemed to the Guardian that Niles was unconcerned about the situation it might anger him causing him to act rashly.

“And who is it that I am addressing?” The Guardian asked. He stood still, not moving an inch.

“Woodwork... Captain Brent Woodwork. And who do I have the pleasure of addressing, sir?”

Niles saw the man tilt his head slightly as he said, “Senior Guardian Carle Bael, and Captain of the Trenchant.”

“What can I do for you, Senior Bael?”

There was a moment of silence. Then Bael, in a calm voice said, “You can’t win, Captain. I have twenty-eight men at my back and more are surely on the way.”

“Would that include another Guardian?” Niles asked.

“It would. But Captain, I’d prefer it if you weren’t coy with me.”

Damn, Niles thought. He thinks I’m playing around. If Niles kept that up he knew it wouldn’t be long before Bael had the door rigged with timed explosives.

“Captain Woodwork, can you hear me?”

“Yes.”

“Captain, you, and your crew, stand accused of consorting with traitors of the Order and of the murder of one crew serving aboard the Guardian war barge Predator. There were twenty-seven people serving aboard that barge, including a Guardian of the Order. Surrender now and I’ll bring you in peacefully where you and your crew will be tried and sentenced fairly by an Order tribunal. Refuse and you will all die.”

The Guardian was partially right. Though Niles wouldn’t call destroying the Predator murder. Not when they’d been fighting for their lives.

The people aboard that war barge didn’t deserve to die, but it had been the only way—the only way Niles and his crew could press on and finish their mission so they could save the world and all of mankind.

Besides, he thought. They attacked first. It was them or us.

“Niles,” Andrea whispered. “What do we do?”

“We have a mission to complete,” Niles said to the Guardian. “If we fail, this whole world will be in jeopardy.”

“Captain,” the Guardian said, a smile on his face. “Do you realize who you travel with?”

“What’s that?”

“Senior Guardian, Jon Swords is a traitor to the Order, along with his accomplice Emma Brightwater. He’ll no doubt receive a death sentence. Do you really want to be caught up in all that?”

How does he know Jon and Emma are wanted? he wondered. The Guardian couldn’t have been told about their mission, because his barge hadn’t landed at the facility to ascertain what had happened. All he knew was that an alarm had been triggered and an air barge was fleeing the scene.

Wait, Niles thought. That Guardian we captured outside of Drymote. He must have recognized Jon and Emma. “I know who I travel with.”

“But you’re just a pirate. You don’t have to go down with them, you know.”

“If I’m a pirate I’m going down anyway. I don’t need to consort with traitors for that to happen.”

“Why do you follow him, Captain? You know he’s mentally unstable, don’t you? Give him up and I’m sure you and your crew’s sentences will be lightened.”

Jon, mentally unstable? Niles wanted to laugh. It was obvious the Guardian was lying in an attempt to persuade him and his crew to lay down arms and surrender. But it was a good thing. The conversation would allow him to stall for time. “What do you mean?”

“What I mean is,” Bael said. “I wouldn’t be surprised if he put a bullet in the back of your head after all this. He’s done it to his own people before. Just look what he did to his own ship and crew.”

Does this Guardian really believe I’d fall for this? He’s grasping at a rope that hadsn’t been tethered.

“It’s true,” Bael continued. He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a data pad. “Everything on your friend’s mental health is right here. Why don’t you come on out and have a look for yourself?

“Pretty convenient that you have his file on hand in such a situation,” Niles said.

Bael shrugged. “We Guardians have our ways,” he said casually.

“What if I were to tell you I’ve seen the proof of Jon’s accusations?” Niles said.

“And what accusations do you refer to?”

“The accusations that beings from off world are returning to destroy us—to finish the job they started.”

The Guardian laughed. “You see, Captain? It’s exactly what I’ve told you. He’s unstable. Delusional.”

The Guardian obviously didn’t know what was going on, unless he was lying. But why would he? If he knew exactly what they were doing there, he would probably have ordered charges put on the door immediately without even bothering to talk it over.

“You actually don’t know, do you?”

“Know what?!” Bael’s voice was beginning to get impatient now.

“Why don’t you come and have a look so you know what I’m talking about.”

Bael’s face was starting to redden. “Listen,” he said, all trace of cordiality gone. “I’ve given you a way out. Make your choice before I decide to make it for you.” He raised his pistol.

Niles and Andrea bent down before he fired.

The Guardian seemed unsurprised when the glass didn’t break, which was the complete opposite of Niles’ reaction. “I don’t know, Bael,” Niles said. “That door is pretty tough. What makes you think you can take us?”

There was a bit of a smirk on the Guardians face now. He turned and made a motion Niles couldn’t make out.

“Damn,” Niles muttered with his back to the door. Suddenly he thought he could feel a subtle tremor vibrating through the door.

“What is it?” Andrea said.

“They’re prepping a charge.” Then to Jon he said, “How much longer?”

Jon turned distractedly towards Niles. “What?”

“I said how much longer?” Niles barked through clenched teeth.

“I’ve just finished calibrating the yield moments ago.”

“What is that rumbling I feel?” Walter said.

“The weapon has begun its charge cycle,” Jon said. “I believe it will get much stronger before the weapon fires though.”

Now they had to wait for the damn thing to charge up. He could only stall the Guardian on the other side of the door for so long before he decided to break into the room. “How long?”

“I have no idea,” Jon said, “But I’ve programmed the discharge to happen automatically as soon as it reaches readiness.”

It was a good try having stalled the Guardian as long as he did, but it was over now. Unless the damned weapon charged up a lot faster than Niles thought it should, then it was over once they got through the door.

Then came Bael’s snarling voice. “...are you even listening to me, Captain?”

Niles turned around to look at Bael through the glass. A vane was bulging in his neck, his face even redder than it had been moments ago. The Guardian had evidentially been talking the whole time Niles had his back to the door.

“Do it,” Bael commanded, nodded to one of his soldiers who was bending low at the base of the door.

Is he..?

Niles was distracted as he felt a hand come down over his shoulder.

“We’ll have to hold them,” Jon said, his pistol in his right grip.

Bael’s soldiers sprinted away from the door.

Then Niles saw the sparkling fuse. “Everyone back! GET AWAY FROM THE DOOR!”