Hellsky (Hunter-Killer #3)

Chapter 40 - Brother Blood

When Brekka's walls finally came into view again, Ryke felt a broiling mixture of relief and apprehension. Those walls had been his world for the longest time, taking him in after the Scraegans destroyed his home all those years ago.

He remembered vividly the old Ryke Vannigan. It was barely two years ago that he'd first applied for the Hunter-Killers and hurled himself into the war, wanting little more than vengeance. Now here he was, approaching Brekka with a Scraegan warband by his side.

It was a weird old world they lived in.

Grunn and the others shed their human burdens as they drew within sight of Brekka, with the surviving engineers and guards hitching a lift on the armoured hides of the Hunter-Killers for the final leg of the journey. He was aware of Ivy perched on the shoulder of his mech, her faint weight only just registering on the war machine's physical feedback loop.

It should have been a triumphant moment. They'd just plunged deep, deep into enemy territory, and pulled off a rescue alongside a Scraegan ally. By any metric it was a momentous day, but the dark cloud rising to the west of the city reminded him that their problems may only just have been beginning.

The armies of the north, camped right on their doorstep. Uninvited.

"HK-Rupture – Forge-CC6," Ryke called over the wide-band to the Brekkan military command. "This is Sergeant Vannigan – callsign 'Lockjaw' – we are on approach to the southern gates, with friendlies. Are we cleared to enter?"

"Well, I'll be damned," a woman's voice chucked after a moment. "Not bad, sergeant, not bad at all."

He realised with a jolt that the person speaking was none other than Colonel Hackley.

"Ma'am!"

"Good to have you back in one piece."

"Thank you, ma'am." He grinned. "Operation was a success. And I think we've learned a little more about the Scraegans who are spoiling for a fight. Whoever they are, our friends here didn't think much of them."

"I can't wait to read the mission report," Hackley replied, and from his experience of the woman, he didn't think she was joking.

"I heard you've got some guests of your own. What's our situation?"

The levity quickly faded from her voice. "Let's be charitable and call it 'delicate', eh? You'll receive a full update after your debrief. In the meantime, we have you tagged and confirmed. Standing by for your arrival. Welcome home, Lockjaw. Damn fine work, from all of you."

"Thank you, ma'am."

"Countermand that. I say again, countermand. HK-Rupture, you are not cleared for approach."

The sudden bark over the comm made Ryke flinch, his brow scrunching up in confusion as he tried to identify the source. The Hunter-Killer's system's rooted through the comm bands until it found where the signal had originated from. His heart sank when he saw the blinking indicator on the HUD, sitting slap right in the middle of the northern military encampment.

"Who in the bloody Rapids is this?" Hackley snarled. "Identification – now, soldier!"

"This is Captain Bakken, chief of staff to General Llewellyn. There are live hostile targets on approach to Brekka. We have standing orders to engage any Scraegans within our defensive perimeter. Rapid deployment units are already en route."

"Hostile targets?" Ryke erupted. "Lieutenant, these Scraegans are our allies."

"We have standing orders," the man repeated bluntly. "I repeat, you are not cleared for approach while the Scraegan presence remains intact. Our units will reach you in four minutes. I advise you to move clear of the Scraegans and surrender yourself to the custody of our units-,"