As one unit they slowly gave ground while continually checking for the enemy. A few tried to attack from the outside, but the marines and Khreenk were ready. A dozen Thegns were gunned down by the time they reached the broken outer walls. Light finally burned through the dust and was replaced by three Bulldogs skidding to a halt. Their powerful lamps cut through the dust and created a dull yellow hue. Lieutenant Elvidge appeared next to Private Jenkell. The Khreenk and marines looked to him for advice. Unlike the first time Jack had seen him, the Lieutenant seemed calm and collected, even in the middle of something as violent and traumatic as this.
“The machines are making use of the sewer system. We’re sending teams down there to slow them down.”
He then pointed to the breached wall.
“We have orders to fall back to the General’s compound. Grab what you can, and get out of here, fast!”
He moved out through the gap and headed directly for the first Bulldog. The ground continued to shake, and Jack increased his speed to reach the doorway. Hands reached out for him and dragged him inside while the vehicle’s top mounted gun turret swiveled about. Even as Jack found himself being manhandled inside, the gun opened fire. As he struggled to maintain his balance, Jack looked back and the door slid shut. The last image he had of the battle was a line of Thegns blasting away with rifles.
“Get us out of here, now!” Sergeant Stone hollered.
Jack looked about inside the darkened interior at the faces of Jenkell, Sergeant Stone, and others he knew. All of them were filthy from the mixture of dust, smoke, and blood. Worse though, Jack could see the look of resignation on them.
That wasn’t a win. We only held for hours, not days.
He pulled down one of the ceiling mounted displays that showed the exterior of the Bulldog. Street after street flashed past, but that wasn’t what really got his attention. It was the long columns of black smoke filling the city, and the never-ending streaks of flame and smoke marking the arrival of yet more machines.
“Sergeant. What happened up there?”
He pointed up in the air.
Sergeant Stone looked as impassive as ever.
“The fleet, Son. It’s lost space superiority. They’re preserving the fleet for hit and run attacks. The fight’s gonna be decided down here now…not up there.”
Jack looked up as though he could see through the armor of the Bulldog. He’d seen the reports coming in, of the fighting in space and more recently, the struggle for dominance of the sky between fighters and light warships capable of atmospheric flight.
“We’ve not got long. When we reach the compound, we need to get ready for the next one.”
Private Jenkell looked surprised.
“For what, Sergeant?”
The seasoned warrior deactivated his visor, and it slid up into the armor. His sweaty, slightly pale face peered out at her. Before he answered, he looked about at the motley collection that had escaped.
“We took fifteen percent casualties on the line, mainly injuries, but some deaths too. The AA gun is down, and the NHA is regrouping with those at the next compound back.”
He lifted his hand to wipe his face and then thought better of it. For some bizarre reason, Jack recalled trying to do the same. A scarred and rough armored fist was the last thing you wanted touching your face. He started to speak, but the sound of Lieutenant Elvidge’s voice entered the helmets of all those inside. He shrugged and said no more.
“The initial attack has been halted, but Biomech forces have infiltrated multiple points and established heavily defended landing zones on the western approach to the city.”
A simple two-dimensional image of the city appeared above his right eye. It showed the defenders’ positions in green and the enemy in red. Just as had been explained, the city was now engulfed in red, and a chunk of territory on the perimeter had already been lost.
“Our forces are withdrawing to our secondary lines of defense. We have nine hours before the Ark will be in a position to launch the next ground assault. The fleet will do what it can, and so must we. Our platoon is being moved to plug a gap at this point.”
The map spun about and moved further into the city before stopping between the ruins of two tower structures.
“CES teams have erected a breastwork at this point to guard the approach to the center of the city. The Khreenk have sent a ten-man unit to assist plus our SAAR robots. We have to slow them down. Time is on our side, not theirs. Their forces dwindle in size every hour; ours will increase when our reinforcements arrive.”
He continued speaking, but Jack’s mind was already wandering. Unlike most of the marines, he’d been following the campaign and force dispositions prior to Spascia. He knew where the ships were waiting, and he also knew that every one that could be used was already on the line. The bulk of the Allied fleet waited around Helios Prime, and a myriad of forces were positioned on the ground, ready for the inevitable carnage.
Reinforcement? What reinforcements?
CHAPTER NINE
The Echidna Union was the tortured child of that shadowy organization known as the Sons of the League. Following the armistice in the last days of the Great War, a number of high-level assassinations and suicide bombings destroyed the archives of the League. Many Generals, officers, and politicians vanished along with these records, only for them to reappear in the service of the Biomechs half a century later. This led many to speculate that these humans were the emissaries of the machines, perhaps even clones of long dead statesmen, and a way of preparing humanity for the rise of the machines. One group of scientists even proposed that they might actually have volunteered to join a Biomech program, as a way to seek revenge in return for their indentured servitude. One thing was certain, Typhon and Pontus had been killed more than once, and yet they continued to trouble the Alliance with their plotting and scheming.
A Brief History of the Zealots
A Biomech fighter flew past with a single Hammerhead in close pursuit. The rumble of its guns was barely audible over the sounds of heavy weapons throughout the city. They vanished as quickly as they'd arrived, merging into one of the hundred columns of black smoke rising into the sky. Behind it came a battle damaged Bioray that crashed into the city block and slid over two hundred meters before hitting an NHA barricade. Some of the soldiers broke cover and ran, but the majority stood their ground and opened fire with everything they had left. The hatches hissed open, but less than a dozen Thegns clambered out, only to be shot down by thermal rifle fire.
"Order your soldiers to surrender!" said a mechanical voice that dripped with anger.
Gun tried to move, but after the third attempt, he gave up and grunted. All he could see was the smoke filled sky, and his limbs felt as though they had been pinned down under the weight of a Bulldog vehicle. He forced himself to twist to the right and managed a brief look at the heap of bodies all around him. The majority were the mangled remains of the Biomech foot soldiers, but there was also a smattering of Jötnar.
Wait, who's talking to me?
It hadn't even occurred to him that it must have been the enemy. He shook his head and coughed.
"Help me up. Then we can talk."
His view changed almost immediately, and he found himself facing a machine twice his size and heavily armored. It was bipedal yet carried no obvious weapons. Its torso was shaped like a plated egg, but there were no eyes or head to speak of. Gun raised his eyebrows and laughed.
"What the hell are you?"
Just ten meters behind it, a Jötnar and a Vanguard were engaged in a brutal melee with an Eques walker. Though outmatched, the two dodged its attacks and continued to fight, even as the thing tore at their armor, leaving holes and gashes.
That's my boys!
The machine lowered itself on its legs, bringing it to only slightly above the height of Gun. As it did so, Gun moved his eyes slowly and scanned the area around the battleground. There were still NHA soldiers fighting with Thegns in something mo
re akin to a medieval battlefield. He watched as a trio of Thegns with the sickening blades butchered one alive. His blood pumped faster, and he could feel adrenaline screaming through his body. Further back, the shapes of several of the massive Eques walkers marched about and hacked at or blasted any of his warriors still left. Then he spotted them, a small line of black Jötnar. They were at the bottom of the mountain and in a small circle, each back to back with his comrades. There were just six of them, and Thegns surrounded them.
"Order your humans to surrender," it hissed.
Gun turned his attention back to the machine in front of him. The Thegns holding his arms relaxed, and he dropped to his knees in front of it. Gun tensed his muscles, preparing for what was to come, but instead another group of Thegns approached with two prisoners. One was a female Helion soldier, the other an Alliance gunner from one of the artillery units. Gun looked at them and back at the Biomech.
"Obey us, or they...die!"
Gun didn't hesitate. He lurched ahead even as he spotted the Thegns thrust their blades into the hostages’ chests. He ignored them, sacrificing them for the kill and leapt directly at the Biomech. It lurched back, but it was too little, too late. Gun was on its torso and forcing the machine backwards even as the hostages fell to the ground, spurting their last few breaths. The Helion said something in her alien tongue, but as Gun smashed at the machine with his fists, he heard the dying gunner shout out just one thing.
"Kill the bastard!"
Gun tore open the metal housing on the Biomech, and it emitted a piercing shriek from some hidden speakers. Anybody else might have stepped back, stunned from the sound, but not him. The two fell to the ground, and Gun ripped it away to reveal the protective sphere inside that was surrounded by pipes, cabling, and wires. Its robotic arms flailed at him, but a Vanguard staggered alongside him and fell onto the machine. The marine's armor was covered in marks, and at least a dozen holes indicated where the armor had already been penetrated.
"Do it," said a female voice from inside the suit.
Gun punched at the machine three more times to clear his way past the protective plating inside its body.
"I am not..."
He grabbed the pipes feeding some kind of nutrients into the body and ripped it out. A foul collection of fluids rushed out like the blood of a ruined beast. Most of it ran down the Biomech's body, but a large part spurted over Gun's shoulder and down his flanks.
"Human!" he finished with a scream.
He reached inside and ripped out the Biomech's core, raising it over his head like some hunting trophy. The Eques walkers and Thegns fighting in the streets turned back like a switch had just been flicked inside them. Every single one in sight moved directly toward him, each ignoring their foes and intent on protecting their master. He was alone, with a non-functioning firearm, and a small army heading toward him. Gun lifted the object in front of him and staggered over the bodies toward them.
"Brothers, to me," he said quietly over his intercom.
The survivors of Gun's elite bodyguard needed no further encouragement though, and even the NHA soldiers emerged from cover and ran out to charge down the Biomech soldiers. A Bulldog, partially ablaze, rushed out from the right and crashed into the leg of the first Eques. It staggered and collapsed before trying to right itself; too late though, and the NHA soldiers swarmed over it like ants. The Thegns reached Gun first, and although some managed to wound him with gunfire, it was the melee that decided the fight. First came three, and then Gun was buried under the weight of all the remaining Thegns in that city block. He vanished for a moment until his six comrades arrived. They stopped and took aim at the mass of bodies.
There was no hesitation, just the need for the kill. One by one, they blasted the Thegns apart, and then ran into the bloody mess to hack and stab like demented demons. In seconds, the Thegns were dead, each one shot or butchered like cattle. Underneath the bodies was the still shape of Gun, his armor bent and crushed. Yet as one leaned down to check him, he pushed onto one knee and lifted himself upright.
"Colonel, are you hurt?" asked the first of the Jötnar.
Gun activated his visor, and it lifted halfway up before jamming. He breathed in the warm air and then began to laugh. Only a handful of Thegn foot soldiers remained, and the NHA contained them while the small group of Jötnar laughed and howled in amusement.
* * *
The five Red Watch Jötnar marines led the way, using their bulk and armor to shield those following from the odd stray round that hit near them. Spartan and Teresa inched along the upper-level, ten meters behind the small group of Jötnar. They kept as low as they could, though the Jötnar didn’t bother. Their size and bulk made it almost impossible to hide. Broken glass and metal lay scattered across the floor from both the previous fighting and from when the Thegns had overrun the place. An entire platoon of marines followed right behind them, all with their carbines out and ready, each waiting for a sign of the dreaded enemy.
“How much further?” Teresa asked.
Captain Cobb and Captain Rivers were now alongside her. It was the Earthsec officer than answered first though.
“Another fifty meters and then into the apartment complex. Are you sure about this?”
They moved several more meters before Captain Rivers spoke.
“This is where the enemy is showing as the strongest.”
A shape moved just a fraction ahead, and Spartan immediately dropped to his knee. A shot rang out and struck the wall near him. His response was fast and deadly. The L52 was a remarkable piece of equipment, and he found it hard not to smile as he struck the Thegn soldier in the forehead with a single burst. A dozen lights flickered across the windows of two shops, and two of the marines dropped to the ground.
“Now!” Spartan shouted.
The group of Jötnar exchanged gunfire with the Thegns. Two were killed instantly, but the others melted into the shadows. In their place appeared the horrific arachnid walkers, the machines that had proven so deadly in the past. Several bullets hit them before they too hid in the shadows. The Jötnar fanned out to present a firing line to the wide front of the apartment section. The marines spread out along the raised walkway to ensure all lines of attack were covered. Their return fire was impressive, but the enemy had now gone to ground. None of the Jötnar moved closer and instead held their position, each one waiting for the order to move in.
“How much longer?”
Spartan could sense her nerves, but it was barely discernible.
She’s calmer than I am.
“Z’Kanthu should be making his way through the transit area now,” replied Captain Rivers.
He then placed a hand on Spartan’s shoulder. He knew the old marine by reputation, but until today he’d never actually met the man. Even so, he and the others had quickly deferred to him when it came to fighting the Biomechs, and with good reason. Few in the Alliance knew as much about the enemy, or how to fight them.
“Are you sure this is going to work?”
Spartan shrugged.
“Probably. Just remember, they are not stupid. We might just be demonstrating on this front, but they have to believe it is the focus of our attack.”
He pulled himself closer to the Captain.
“If they believe for even a second that this isn’t the real deal, they’ll fall back and Z’Kanthu will be trapped. Understood?”
Captain Rivers nodded.
“Now all we need is the word from Khan and we go on.”
Now Captain Rivers looked very concerned. He reached out to Spartan.
“Wait, I thought we were the diversion?”
Spartan chuckled.
“Yes, we are.”
“So why are we waiting?”
Spartan shook his head ever so slowly.
“If I know Khan, he’ll be itching to do some killing.”
The Captain still didn’t understand. He looked back at the waiting marines and began to wonder if his trust in this almost myt
hical man had been wise. Teresa was something else. Her reputation was more than just old stories. It was based upon recent events, ones that he had even witnessed with his own eyes. The more he thought about it the more he began to doubt the plan. Finally, he tapped Spartan’s shoulder.
“It’s bait, a diversion, nothing more. One Biomech and four Jötnar will not be able to reach the Core on their own. He does know that, right? We have to give them the diversion they need.”
Spartan began to laugh, and it took Teresa to answer the man.
“Khan is a firm believer in Spartan’s approach to a feint.”
She moved up toward where Spartan and the others had taken position. Her movement was fast and stealthy, almost too quiet as she slid over the rubble to join the others. The other marines did the same, and in seconds they were in position, waiting for the order. She glanced back at the confused look on the Captain’s face.
“Uh, what exactly is Spartan’s approach?”
Teresa smiled, and even Captain Rivers could make out her expression through the smoked glass of her visor.
“Just wait.”
* * *
Khan and Olik moved first, with the next two Jötnar following behind. They moved at a fast walk, checking for signs of the enemy, especially for traps or sabotage of some kind. The journey through the underground tunnel had taken them several minutes longer than expected, and it was making Khan uncomfortable.
“Spartan, are you in position?”
The imagery of Spartan’s face appeared inside the visor.
“Khan, get off your ass and get moving. We’ve been here for thirty seconds.”
Khan grumbled and then stopped as they reached a dead end. He looked around him, striking the wall on his right in frustration. The panel fell down and revealed a loading entrance heading directly into a derelict and partially fired damaged department store.
“Stupid place to put it.”
Star Crusades Nexus: Book 07 - Battle for Helios Page 16