The crew he passed were all in shock. Alpha Base had been the modern-day Rock of Gibraltar, an unmovable object defending the most important chokepoint in the universe. The idea that an enemy had defeated the famed station, much less with ease, was hard to digest.
Morale was scraping the bottom of the barrel and that was a problem.
The sick bay was full but quiet. All of the wounded were from the bloody Kitright Prime campaign. He found his great-great-granddaughter staring at the ceiling. She’d lost a leg when her Avenger crash-landed in the middle of a war zone. She would’ve died if not for Hido trading his life for hers.
“Is it true?” She didn’t take her dead eyes off the ceiling.
He sighed. “I’m afraid so.”
Confirmation of what she already knew sent a lone tear down her cheek. She tightened her face and held back others that might’ve joined it. “So many friends... My family on Earth...”
Seeing her in pain was worse than his own sorrow. “I know. We haven’t forgotten about them and we won’t abandon our home without a fight. We’ll accomplish our mission and finish this sick cosmic joke once and for all this time.”
“What mission?”
He told her all he knew. As she listened, a spark of hope ignited a flame in her soul. Its flickering light could be seen in her eyes. The sight brought joy to his heart. There was hope.
***
Roger Frost was a man without purpose. He’d aimlessly wandered the American southwest since the showdown with UES Internal Security at the radio telescope installation. He almost died that day, as he was prepared to, but his estranged father had saved his life. The mission was a total success. He and the elderly CIA team got the data burst off to Alpha Gate.
What good it did, he had no idea.
He was aimless but not without means. Any spy worth his salt had secret bank accounts to tap. The heat of pursuit was also off him, as IS believed he had died when the radio astronomy control center exploded. He could do almost anything he wanted. Anything but what he wanted to do, that was.
He was a lifelong shadow warrior without an army or war. He wanted purpose more than luxury.
It was a Tuesday when the news broke on Earth. An unstoppable alien invasion was coming and there wasn’t anything anyone could do about it. Frost had been enjoying a drink at a dive Tucson bar when it hit the newsnet. There are a precious few moments when the world stands still; this was one of them.
Frost wasn’t linked in, so when the woman on the stool next to him began to cry and people shouted obscenities for no apparent reason, he was confused.
He stared at the dazed bartender. “What’s going on?”
“Check the net, man. We’re all dead.”
He logged in immediately and gasped. “My God.”
Forgetting his tab, he wondered outside. Hundreds of people, not sure what to do, joined him. They all looked up, as if they half expected the alien horde to drop from the sky that instant.
A thought came to him. “We have about a year.”
A stranger nearby turned to face him. “What did you say?”
He looked at the man but his gaze went through him. “We have almost a year to prepare for the invasion.”
“What difference will that make? You saw what it did at Alpha Gate. Nothing can stop it.”
He looked away from the fool. A lot can happen in a year when a whole world is desperate. Conquering a planet is far more difficult than destroying a space station. We must be ready.
Frost knew what he had to do. He had a new mission. He walked to the nearest Legion recruitment center and enlisted.
Chapter Three
Life in the Face of Death
“Your call,” Colonel Nina Jones pointed at Major Walter Simms.
He slapped his cards facedown. “I fold.” The clap echoed off the metal walls in the small officer’s quarters. “I can’t get a decent hand to save my life.”
Jones laughed. “You wouldn’t know what to do with it if you got it. How many credits are you two in for me these days?” She gestured toward Major Jane Thomas, Simms’ long-time lover.
Thomas bobbed her head. “I think we’re up to a cool half a million, combined.”
Leaning back in his chair, Sergeant Stan Gabriel whistled. “Woo wee, that’s getting to be some serious money. How the hell did you two get so far in the hole?”
Simms shrugged. “Boredom. It started on our detour from Black Marble, remember.”
Gabriel slid his cards to the middle. “Yeah, that was a dull time. I’m out too. I kept myself busy on that pleasure cruise with a really nice private from the Fourth Cohort. We comforted each other in our hour of need.”
“I’m sure you did. I’m out. It’s all yours, colonel.” Her finger twirled the dark hair on the back of Simms’ head.
Jones smiled at the victory but sighed on the inside. Gabriel’s bragging of his sexual exploits and the PDA between Thomas and Simms reminded her all the more of how lonely she was. Life wasn’t easy for a woman two meters tall and built like a linebacker. Her boyish haircut didn’t help, either.
She surrounded the pile of chips with her hands, dragging it to her. “Speaking of which, when are you two planning to pay me?”
Thomas smirked. “After we win the war.”
“Might as well be then. Not like I can spend it while we’re fighting or dead.”
Gabriel gave her a thumbs-up. “That’s the spirit, colonel.”
“Another hand?” Jones shuffled the deck.
Gabriel glanced at his antique U.S. Army watch. “I can’t. I’ve got a date in a couple minutes I should be getting to. A gentleman never keeps a lady waiting.”
Simms punched his shoulder. “Then why are you in a hurry?”
“Yeah, it’s getting late.” Thomas tickled her lover’s neck. “We should be going.”
Metal on metal screeches filled the room as the three guests pushed away from the table and made for the exit.
Jones turned to watch them leave. “See you guys around.” No one replied. She frowned and stopped shuffling to deal the cards out for a game of solitaire.
I hate this bloody game.
***
The fresh aroma of sex hung in the air as Thomas slipped her sweaty, spent body off Simms, her olive skin glistening in the soft light. They’d been spending a lot of time in bed recently. Their intimate sessions had also grown more vigorous.
She inhaled deeply to catch her breath and rolled onto her side. Simms’ skin was bright red and damp. His heart pounded like a jackhammer. “Don’t get too comfortable, mister. Your work isn’t done yet.”
“Again?”
“You sound disappointed.” She smiled and ran her fingers across his stomach. “Don’t think you’ll be able to rise to the challenge?”
He smirked. “Noooo. I can run a three-minute mile in full gear. I can make love to you as many times as you like, and I’m happy to do it. I’m just surprised. You usually aren’t so enthusiastic for repeat, uh, repeat performances.”
She knew he was right. Her sex drive was running at maximum. She knew why, but wasn’t about to admit it aloud. For the first time in her life, she was scared of the future. Even during the darkest, most desperate moments, of her military career, she’d always had an inner peace. She had been confident that if she did die, the war would still be won. Humanity would continue. It didn’t matter if she wasn’t there to enjoy it, just that she didn’t die for nothing. She fought for the future.
Now, though, she didn’t see how they were going to win. Their current mission felt more like a wild goose chase than a military op. The sex was a convenient way to escape the growing sense of doom that knotted itself in her gut like a tumor. Being with Simms also made her feel alive and loved. She wanted to experience both those sensations while she still could.
Her eyes drifted away. “I know I’ve been horny lately. It’s just that … there’s nothing else to do.”
Instantly she knew that he didn’t
buy it. He could read her too well. “What is it really, Jane?” He pinned a loose strand of brunette hair back behind an ear.
“Do you think we really have a chance to win?” Her almond-shaped eyes met his. “Really?”
“Of course we do.” He lifted himself onto his elbows. “After all we’ve been through, we always find a way to win.”
“This is different. You saw what that ship did to the fleet. How can we hope to fight something so powerful?” She shifted her gaze to the sheets. “Maybe we should run. Take our battle group and find a safe place, somewhere far, far away and start over. Somewhere off the charts. It might be humanity’s best chance for a future.”
He put his pinky under her chin to lift her face. “We can’t just quit and run away while billions of lives are facing certain death. We are Earth’s only chance. It’s our job to do whatever it takes, no matter what.”
He pulled her close, resting her head on his chest. “Maybe it will come to the point where running is the right move, but we’re not there yet. Trent seems to think there’s hope, and that’s good enough for me. He hasn’t led us wrong yet.” He squeezed her. “I love you. I’ll never, ever leave you. I promise you that with every fiber of my being. No matter what, we’ll see this to the end, one way or another.”
“I want kids.”
“What?”
“We’ve never really talked about it before, but I wanted to let you know I want to have kids. When it’s over. I want to settle down someplace nice and quiet and raise a family like a boring married couple.”
“Marriage?”
She looked at him with giant doe eyes. A tear threatened to fall, and his heart went out to her. “Of course, honey. Whatever you want. I’ll even throw in a white picket fence. A dog, too.”
A brilliantly bright smile exploded on her face. “Thank you!” She attacked his lips with hers. “I can’t tell you how happy I am to hear that.” Maybe there will be a future after all.
Stealthily, her hand slid down to his member. She gently stroked him. “Don’t think you got yourself off the hook. You still have work to do. Lots and lots of hard work.”
***
Amanda turned when the door slid open. Susan rolled in with Trent pushing her chair. “Glad you could join us for drinks.”
“Thanks for having me. I was starting to go crazy just sitting there. It’s good to have friends in high places that can break you out of the med bay now and then.”
“R.H.I.P.,” Trent smirked.
Amanda laughed. “No matter the war or the army, rank will always have its privileges.”
Trent took a seat at the table. “I’ll drink to that.”
Amanda pushed Susan up to the table and moved to the wet bar. “How’s the leg growing back?”
“Slow, and it itches a lot.”
Amanda turned around with a tray of three rocks glasses and a bottle of Johnnie Walker Black Label on it. They clanked together when she set it down.
Susan took a glass. “Why don’t you ever have any beer or wine?”
“It’s a matter of space.” Amanda poured. “A case of beer takes up a lot of room and doesn’t last nearly as long. Although I do have a few bottles of red wine hidden away for a special occasion.” She handed Trent a drink.
“Thanks, hon.”
“Thank you.” Susan took a sip. “I don’t suppose you have anything normal to eat, do you? They say they feed us the same thing in the med bay that everyone else gets, but I don’t believe them.”
“I’m sure I can find a little something stashed away. I think we have some real cheese and crackers left.”
“Oh, thank you, Sergeant Roth. I’d really appreciate that.”
Amanda stood and placed a hand on her shoulder. “Please, when we’re alone, call me Amanda. In here, we’re family and the war is a distant memory.”
Susan nodded and smiled. “I’d like that, thank you.”
As she searched for the cheese and crackers, Amanda remembered her own family. Her childhood in Arizona seemed like a million years ago, and that’s how she liked it. She hadn’t been abused, not physically, at least.
She often wished her mother had beaten her instead of making the verbal and emotional attacks she had been forced to endure. Amanda was tough, and she could’ve taken a punch better than being reminded that she was a constant disappointment to her mother.
Her father meant well. He was more concerned with his own survival in the dysfunctional household, though, and sought refuge in his work. She and her brother had to fend for themselves.
She’d been close with her brother, but they started to drift apart after she joined the old U.S. Army. The twelve-year mission to Big Red had made them total strangers. The eighty-plus year Black Marble mission ended any chance of starting over,
Real family was something she’d always craved. She suspected that was one of the reasons she’d been attracted to Trent in the first place. Underneath his warrior’s armor was a family man. After their heart-to-heart that night in the shuttle bay aboard Earth’s Fist, she made it her mission to win his love.
Setting the cheese and crackers before a grateful Susan, she couldn’t help but smile. She draped her arm across Trent’s shoulder. By some twisted, cosmic accident, the three of them were the closest thing to a family she’d ever been a part of and she liked it.
Chapter Four
Earth’s Defense
The four months of condensed training went by in a blur for Frost. He was in one of the last Legion classes to complete anything that resembled a formal program. There simply wasn’t time to properly train more. The year he estimated they had to get ready for the invasion turned out to be only eight months.
There wasn’t time to build more ships and now there wasn’t time to train real soldiers. What mankind did have time for was to dig bunkers and manufacture small arms by the millions.
“Ready, aim, fire!” Sergeant Frost shouted to his militia recruit platoon. Fifty MRGs opened up in a hot mess. Some were on full auto, spraying wildly. Others sent single shots and multi-round bursts in every conceivable direction but at the targets downrange.
He hung his head. “Cease fire!”
Two days. That’s all the time he was budgeted to instruct these civilians on basic weapons and tactics before he’d move onto the next group. Half of them didn’t even have helmets yet to help them target. Not that that seemed to make much of a difference for the half that did.
Most people weren’t accustomed to using their hands anymore. Even video games had been controlled via brainwaves for a couple hundred years. Participation in sports had also been declining for generations. Grunts still needed to aim their rifles, however, and that requires hand-eye coordination.
Frost sighed and flipped his wrist. “Take five and do those hand exercises I showed you.”
We’re doomed.
“Sergeant?” a voice called out from behind. He didn’t move. “Sergeant Frost?” the voice repeated. This time he jerked his head. He still wasn’t used to being called sergeant. He’d been promoted right out of boot two days ago. The terrestrial Legion was in desperate need of non-coms to lead militia units and he’d shown remarkable ability during training. He let them believe he was a natural. He’d considered enlisting under a new assumed identity but decided against it. He liked the name, Roger Frost and seriously doubted that with everything that was doing on, IS was still hunting for burnt-out CIA survivors already believed dead.
“Yes?” He looked at the petite woman. She wore blue jeans and a spring coat.
“Militia Corporal Madison Wyatt, sergeant.” She gave him an enthusiastic salute. “Reporting for duty. I’ve been sent to aid you.”
He sized up the little woman from head to toe. She was straight as a rail and lacked any semblance of muscle. She had strawberry blonde hair and was cute but not remotely his type. “And what exactly are you supposed to help me with?”
“Training, sergeant. You requested assistance and HQ sent me.”
He chewed on his cheek. “You’re good with a rifle?”
“Been shooting my entire life. I was a regional junior marksmen champion and I taught gun safety for the NRA for five years.”
“Long live the Second Amendment, huh?”
“From my cold, dead hands, sergeant.”
“It may just come to that, corporal.” He stared at his training platoon and shook his head. Break was over and they were forming on the firing line. “Have you received your nano injections?”
“Yes, sergeant. I was one of the first militia volunteers to get them.”
“Excellent. Let’s see what you can do on the range.” He faced her. “That’s unless you’re afraid of a little competition.”
She glanced at the target range. “If you don’t mind losing to a girl, I don’t mind beating you.”
I’m liking her more and more. “Platoon, stand down.”
They walked up to the firing line. Every eye tracked their movements.
He raised his helmet. “With or without?”
“I’d prefer no helmets. That damn crosshair just gets in my way.”
He waved downrange and pressed a buttons on a tablet to bring up a holo target. “Ladies first. Twenty-five meter target.”
She snapped her rifle up and fired without hesitation. The shot sailed through the bullseye, stopping in the side of a hill.
Their audience gasped.
Frost took his time aiming and matched her accuracy.
Back and forth the pair traded shots. Fifty, seventy-five, one hundred, two hundred, three hundred meters, and on, all bullseyes.
Frost nailed the one kilometer target. His platoon cheered the achievement. Wyatt’s jaw dropped.
“When did you join the Legion?”
“About four months ago.”
She cocked her head. “You’ve been shooting a lot longer than that. Where did you learn to shoot like that?”
He grinned. “I’d tell you, but then I’d have to kill you.”
***
Chairman Robert Dalton still had a difficult time wrapping his mind around the reversal of his fortune. Less than a year ago, he had been on a clear path to turning the United Earth Systems government into a real political force. First, his primary communications hub was captured and its data compromised. His enemies had uncovered his greatest secrets.
The Last Charge of the 1st Legion (The Last Hero Trilogy Book 3) Page 2