by PP
“Let go of me! I am fine,” said Sergeant Green. “Attend to Elena. Don’t let her just lie there like that!”
After Corporal Tonelli had pulled Sergeant Green safely away from the fire, he rushed to Corporal Ceausescu’s aid. Sergeant Green could not move. He watched helplessly as others attended to the lovely Elena. Then darkness took Sergeant Green again.
* * * * *
The mansion home of Ralph Gobind Singh doubled as a fortress. Berms prevented attack from car bombs. A wall and fence prevented infantry attack. Armed guards patrolled the perimeter and manned checkpoints at the entrance. General Electric and the Emperor of the North watched the comings and goings at Singh’s mansion and discussed how to assault such defenses. They discussed crashing the gates with armored cars and even an attack from the air. Finally they decided to hit Singh as he traveled to his office at the mine.
They watched Singh’s escort convoy as it left the mansion. As the convoy entered town, it slowed at an intersection where an accident slowed traffic. An attractive human female lay in the street bleeding. No police or medical aid crews had arrived yet.
“See what assistance we can render,” radioed Singh to the lead car. “That poor young lady looks badly injured.”
Security officers rushed to help the accident victims. As they approached, the injured lady fired at them with a sub-machine gun. Spiders on the nearby roof tops fired RPGs and automatic arms at the convoy. Roadside bombs exploded under the escort vehicles to the front and rear. Insurgents with armored piercing grenades attacked the convoy vehicles from the side.
Singh watched in disbelief as a spider ran up to his limousine and threw a grenade. The long handled German looking grenade seemed to fly in slow motion directly at Singh. A small white parachute trailed the grenade, stabilizing its journey to the limousine. The top part of the grenade made contact with the armored plating of the limousine and blew a hole in its side. Singh was stunned. He could feel hands pulling him from the limousine, but was powerless to resist. A black cloth bag was placed over Singh’s head as he was hauled away.
* * * * *
The spider insurgent entered City Hall at about noon. He was disappointed to find that the building had other uses besides just government. Today it was being used as a tavern. On other days it was used as a church and a community center. Seeing that most of the tavern patrons were human, he unslung his backpack and left it under a bar stool. The insurgent ordered a beer and gulped it down fast. Then he ordered another beer and walked outside with it, leaving his backpack inside. The bomb went off a couple of minutes later.
Soon the sirens of police and medical aid first responders could be heard. Onlookers and fire department workers rushed to City Hall to help. The Legion responded in an armored car. They must have been close. The insurgent then pulled a remote control device out of a pouch and pressed a button. A massive car bomb explosion in front of City Hall destroyed the building and killed many. The blast left a huge crater where City Hall used to be. The Legion armored car lay on its side. Body parts and flesh were splashed against buildings and cars. Humans cried. Spiders hissed. The Legion began detaining everyone. Roadblocks went up at all intersections, but by then the insurgent was far away.
* * * * *
“Today we will be movie stars,” mused the Emperor of the North. “And you are invited.”
“I do not want to be in the movies,” replied G.E. He stared at the video equipment and stage props. A banner reading DEATH TO THE HUMAN PESTILENCE hung as a backdrop to the stage setting. “What is all of this?”
“I told you,” said the Emperor of the North. “We are making a movie. Actually, we are broadcasting a movie in about two minutes.”
Insurgents brought in Ralph Singh and sat him on the floor. Singh’s hands were tied behind his back. Singh had two blackened eyes and a broken nose. He was wearing an orange jump suit but no shoes. The Emperor of the North handed G.E. a black mask.
“Put this on,” said the Emperor of the North. “We start the filming the broadcast shortly.”
“I will not wear a mask,” said G.E. “What are you afraid of? Either you are proud of what you are doing or you are ashamed.”
“The masks are for security reasons,” said the Emperor of the North. “Of course I am proud of what we did today. This is a great moment for our cause.” The Emperor of the North walked over to the video camera mounted on a tripod. He adjusted the focus until he seemed satisfied.
“You are a professional soldier?” asked Singh. “How did you get mixed up with these murderers? I can tell you are not of their ilk.”
“I am a murderer, too,” said G.E. “Do not think I will save you or feel guilt about your execution.”
“I do not want to die,” said Singh. “But I will not beg for my life. What did I ever do to you?”
Bright lights came on. The video filming started. The broadcast was live over planetary cable TV. The Emperor of the North tossed his mask aside and stood next to Singh. G.E. stood on the other side of Singh.
“Today the North Colorado Liberation Army will execute criminal Ralph Gobind Singh in retaliation for the Disneyland Prison Massacre,” announced the Emperor of the North, reading from a prepared statement. “I am the Emperor of the North. This is General Electric. Together we will drive the human pestilence out of New Colorado. As I speak, the Legion is being slaughtered in the streets of Finisterra. The human pestilence, lead by the criminal Singh, has stolen the riches of New Colorado from its rightful owners. The North Colorado Liberation Army will take back what the human pestilence has stolen and establish an independent country for all spiders. The execution of the criminal Singh will prove our resolve and will set an example for what will happen to human pestilence who stay in the North. Criminal Singh, do you have anything to say before you die? Do you wish to repent for your crimes? Your death will be less painful if you do.”
“Yes, I wish to make a statement,” said Ralph Singh. “To my wife and children, I love you. I will half my fortune to my family. I will the rest of my fortune to Alpha Company First Battalion of the United States Galactic Foreign Legion First Division, Captain Czerinski, commanding officer, when the Legion cuts off the head of the Emperor of the North and runs it up the flag pole in front of City Hall.”
“Get me the sword,” ordered the Emperor of the North, stunned at Singh’s defiance. “The arrogance of the human pestilence has no bounds.”
“We do not have a sword,” replied another insurgent.
“How about my combat knife?” asked G.E. “It is sharp enough to saw through anything.”
“His head must be chopped off,” said the Emperor of the North. “Not sawed off.”
An insurgent handed the Emperor of the North an ax used for chopping firewood. “Will this do?”
“It will have to do,” said the Emperor of the North. An insurgent dragged Singh to his knees and pulled him forward by the hair. The Emperor of the North raised the ax and swung it downward at Singh’s extended neck.
General Electric grabbed the ax handle and deflected the blow. The ax stuck into the wood floor. G.E. then faced the camera to speak.
“The criminal Ralph Singh will be ransomed,” announced G.E. “The leadership of the North Colorado Liberation Army will discuss what that ransom will be and relay it to the Legion and to the Singh Mining Corporation during our next broadcast.” The video was then disconnected.
“You traitor!” accused the Emperor of the North. “You have ruined everything!”
“What is so wrong with our making some money for our efforts?” said G.E., nodding to the other insurgents. They nodded back in agreement. “How much is Singh’s fortune worth?”
“It does not matter,” said the Emperor of the North. “If all we want is money, we are no different than common criminals. Any ransom is nothing compared to what we are fighting for. If we win, we get the entire North. Singh’s fortune is nothing compared to that. Singh’s fortune is nothing compared to our freedom.”<
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“If we win,” said G.E. “I say we do one thing at a time. We ransom Singh first. That will humiliate the human pestilence and we will get the bonus of making some nice coin on the side. And we can use some of the ransom to help finance the insurgency. The weapons and supplies I gave you from my shuttle won’t last forever. We will need to buy more. And one more thing. If you ever call me a traitor again, I will kill you instantly where you stand. Do I make myself clear?”
The Emperor of the North looked around the room for support. Not seeing any, he asked, “I suppose you would have this ransom business put to a vote?”
“We are not human pestilence. There will be no vote,” said G.E. “I command here. The matter is settled. We ransom Singh. We will discuss for how much later.”
The room full of insurgents cheered and fired their weapons into the air. The Emperor of the North agreed to ransom Singh. When he did so, the Emperor of the North also allowed General Electric to seize control as the Supreme Commander of the insurgency.
* * * * *
Sergeant Green woke up in a hospital bed. A Purple Heart had been pinned to his pillow. He looked over to the next bed. Elena lay there smiling back at him. Thank God.
“It’s about time you woke up,” said Corporal Ceausescu. “How many Purple Hearts do you have now? You get to wear a cluster.”
“That’s what this whole military operation consists of,” said Sergeant Green. “One big cluster.”
“Watch your mouth,” said Lieutenant Lopez, in the next bed. “I’m in charge of this cluster.”
“What are you doing here?” asked Sergeant Green. “I didn’t think officers got their hands dirty by leading the troops into combat anymore. Have you been slumming again or did the insurgency blow up your office?”
“Private Washington wrecked the armored car,” said Lieutenant Lopez. “You know he doesn’t even have a driver’s license? He tipped the armored car over right in front of City Hall.”
“How did that happen?” asked Corporal Ceausescu. “”Was he hurt?”
“Washington is fine,” said Lieutenant Lopez. “He breaks a leg or arm, and he doesn’t even bleed much. He just grows one back.”
“When do we get out of here?” asked Sergeant Green. “Other than every part of my body hurting, I feel fine.”
“The Doc says we have concussions and broken ribs,” advised Corporal Ceausescu. “After all the steroids they’re giving us, we’ll be out sometime tomorrow.”
“Good. I’ll be asleep until tomorrow,” commented Sergeant Green. “Don’t wake me unless it’s the end of the world about to happen, or if I’m getting sex.”
“Shut up,” said Corporal Ceausescu. “You get nothing until you can grow back limbs like Private Washington.”
“I’m not missing anything, am I?” asked Sergeant Green, checking himself. “I really am glad to see you are okay. You looked dead the last time I saw you.”
“Blah, blah, blah,” said Corporal Ceausescu.
“Can I ask you something personal?” asked Sergeant Green.
“Don’t get all mushy on me,” said Corporal Ceausescu. “Not in front of a room full of legionnaires.”
“Don’t worry. I’m not going to say something mushy,” said Sergeant Green. “When you were knocked out by the blast, did you see a bright light?”
“Are you asking me if I had a near death experience?” Corporal Ceausescu laughed. “Of course not. There is no such thing.”
“I just wondered,” said Sergeant Green. “Actually, I’m relieved.”
“I had a strange dream, though,” said Corporal Ceausescu. “I dreamed God gave me beautiful white wings and I flew to Heaven. But I woke up here.”
“No, no, no!” yelled Sergeant Green. “What kind of shit is this?”
“You don’t like my dream?” asked Corporal Ceausescu, put off. “Or you don’t like the hospital?”
“Neither,” said Sergeant Green. “Wake me when the war is over. Next time, keep your dreams to yourself!”
“Don’t worry! I will!”
* * * * *
The spider wrecker driver pulled the Legion’s armored car back onto its wheels and treads. The vehicle rocked back and forth as the dust settled.
“Do you want me to tow your pretty armored car back to my shop for repairs and a paint job?” asked the wrecker driver. “I can hammer out those dents. I have a great new auto care facility in East Finisterra. Will payment be cash or credit card?”
“We will drive it as is,” I said. “The dents give it character.”
“Yes, sir, the customer is always right,” said the wrecker driver. “Anything for the Legion. I really appreciate how you boys lay your life on the line for us, fighting the insurgency and all. And I really appreciate the Legion paying for my new shop.”
“Screw you,” I said. “The money for your new shop came off my card. I’m going broke fighting the insurgency. No one seems to appreciate that!”
“I love the Legion,” insisted the wrecker driver. “Just keep that loco Lopez out of East Finisterra. We are running out of buildings he hasn’t shot up yet.”
I turned away from the wrecker driver. “Private Washington! See if the armored car will still start. Williams, Kool, check out the cannon and the machine gun. Load this beast up. We are going over the Bridge in five minutes to kick some terrorist butt.”
* * * * *
Ralph Gobind Singh always knew he might be a target someday. It was a risk successful people had to live with. As a precaution, Singh built a fortress home, traveled in a convoy, hired security guards and body guards, and embedded a GPS tracking chip into his thigh. Even though Singh was blindfolded, bound with rope, and being transported in the trunk of a Chevy, he had faith that his foresight would pay off and that he would be rescued. All the Legion has to do is follow the GPS signal right to my ass, he thought. It should be simple, even for them.
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CHAPTER 12
A convoy arrived from New Disneyland with more immigrants and gold seekers. They were escorted by a company of the Waterstone National Guard. The Green spider troops were here to stay. The working girls at Battle Creek decided to relocate to Finesterra, moving into the brothel already built next to City Hall. Also, all the activities that used to take place at City Hall were moved next door, too. Governmental, tavern, and community center functions shared the building easily enough, but there were arguments about church services on Sunday. No one wanted to close the brothel for even one day a week. So, the parishioners were encouraged to sing louder during services to drown out the sound of brothel activities.
* * * * *
The armored car was a formidable war machine when used correctly. When we crossed the Finisterra Bridge searching for Singh, images from two airborne drones appeared on the armored car’s computer monitor. These drones could guide missiles fired down from the T. Roosevelt and from helicopter gun ships. A tank column led by Lieutenant Lopez was also tied into the network. Our plan was to lure the insurgents into attacking the lone armored car, then flank them with tanks. Missiles and bombs would rain down on the insurgents from above once they were located. I followed Singh’s GPS tracking signal into East Finisterra. We took an indirect route so that the insurgents would not suspect that we were tracking them.
* * * * *
From the rooftop of the East Finisterra Hotel, General Electric watched the Legion armored car slowly drive along a side street. The owner of the hotel allowed the insurgency to use the hotel as a safe haven. He thought it would be good for business. G.E. could hear that irritating noise again. This time he immediately knew what the humming sound was. G.E. looked up. He could not see the drone, but he knew it was there. G.E. radioed to the Emperor of the North, who was on the other side of the hotel.
“It’s a trap,” G.E. warned. “They have a drone in the air. Get in your holes now!”
“I can see the armored car turning toward us,” said the
Emperor of the North. “If they get a little closer, I can get a clear shot.”
G.E. jumped down a vent to the ground floor and then went underground. G.E. would decide the place and time to fight, not the Legion. He radioed for Singh to be moved out of the hotel and underground, too.
* * * * *
I watched the TV images of insurgents running about on the roof of the East Finisterra Hotel. They seemed panicked, but several stayed put and were aiming RPGs. I radioed for the T. Roosevelt to hit the hotel. Minutes later the entire four-story building exploded.