The Red Leopards of Zaxon B (Galaxies Collide Book 2)

by McGregor, Andrew

  Riaz chuckled, his head turning to the side, ‘Miss my BMW though…especially the air conditioning now…what about your Audi?’

  Shino grinned, spitting snow from her teeth, ‘It’s still in the staff car park…hope my baby is ok!’

  Riaz nodded, ‘What about your boyfriend…where is he?’

  Shino’s face darkened, ‘I hope he is with my cousins and mum…they should be together now, cooking and having a few drinks maybe…supporting each other. I guess they will wonder where I am.’ Her voice tailed off, her head dropping in thoughtful dismay.

  Riaz gritted his teeth, regretting the question, ‘The company will have let them know…they are very good at that…’ He kicked the snow in despondency, mentally scolding himself for bringing the subject up.

  The Philippine looked up, ‘What about you? No one knows about you at work…family, girlfriend? You keep yourself to yourself! Very secretive!’

  The Asian male officer smiled to himself, his privacy important to him, ‘She will be ok…she works in Central London, we don’t mix work and us.’

  Shino fell silent, the cold tugging at her resolve as they trudged on, eventually speaking again, ‘If you ever need to talk…well I have no option but be here!’

  Riaz grinned in response, ‘Ok…same to you…I think we are stuck together for a while at least. One day we will see them again, I am sure.’ They trudged on in silence, the snow billowing around them as it thickened, the breeze seeming to get even colder as their uniforms inflated slightly for protection and insulation.

  The troops marched on through the thickening snowfall, visibility decreasing as the soldiers placed a reassuring hand on the sides of the vehicles next to them. The track began to descend, the thin air seeming to bite further as they progressed, their combat uniforms inflating further against the elements. Captain Dugachard eventually stopped, turning to Tregan, ‘According to the time we have been walking, the base is up ahead…go pass the word and cheer them up, they must be pretty miserable by now!’

  Tregan nodded, turning on his heels and walking back up the slope as the captain stared ahead in the morning light, briefly glimpsing the outline of a structure in the distance through the falling snow, flickering torches below. Gradually distant figures became visible through the thick snowfall, the shadows of low buildings surrounding the larger structure. The captain walked forward with Debra, their boots crunching on the ice beneath as the supply column approached Rangara Outpost.

  Chapter Fourteen: The remnants of the Viper fighter battle

  Flight Leader Anjara’s silver star jet swept into towards the landing platform, his exhausted eyes widening at the sudden flashes to the north, the two large Morasat defensive guns firing high into the heavens above. Behind him, the remaining two jets of his fighter wing came into land on separate platforms, the dust flying and swirling from beneath the sleek scorched craft as they lowered to the decks.

  As his damaged canopy screeched backwards, Anjara glanced down at the ground crew, their helmeted eyes widened at the scorch marks and shrapnel damage across the crafts hull. He wearily rose from his seat, a helpful hand extended from his orderly as he lifted his leg to climb from the cockpit, his eyes meeting with his long term friend. His voice a croaked whisper, he half stumbled onto the wing, ‘Re-arm the ships…we take back to space as soon as possible…’

  The middle aged orderly shook his head, ‘Commander…you are exhausted, perhaps we will take a rest and then continue?’

  Anjara struggled forcefully upright, a tired hand extending upwards through the falling snow, as his voice rose in defiance, ‘Are they resting? I have lost four pilots in the battle…eleven Morgons have plummeted to their deaths as a result of our flight…we need to take out more!’

  The orderly smiled grimly, patting his shoulder, used to his companion’s stubbornness and resilience, ‘Your star fighters are too damaged to go back up for now…but if you insist on killing yourself as usual, there is another option!’

  Anjara spun round, his lower mask falling away as he smiled across burnt lips, grasping his friend by the arm, adrenalin overcoming his exhaustion, ‘And what is that option for glory?’

  The orderly gritted his teeth in forced smile, ‘This time you have the chance to take me with you to both our deaths!’ He watched as his commander’s bleary eyes widened beneath the clearing flight visor, ‘Let’s get you and your remaining flight a little drink and food and we will discuss the enticing option offered by fleet command…’

  The Morasat guns roared again, causing them to jump instinctively, the barrels gradually lowering as the enormous artillery pieces slowly turned to face the east.

  Flight Leader Anjara grinned widely, the craft bucking as he jerked the controls, his orderly grimacing in terror next to him in the small transport ship as it swept upwards. The flight leader shouting with adrenalin, ‘Just like the escape from Frascau…lots of flak and explosions…eh, my friend?’

  The orderly pursed his lips, closing his eyes as a nearby flash lit up the cockpit, his voice broken with fear, ‘I was in the fuselage of your fighter then…now I can clearly see how mad you actually are!’

  Anjara clenched his teeth, spittle flying from his mouth as he jerked the ship from side to side, avoiding the incoming Morgon fire. The transport buffeted and bucked, the small ship below exploding as enemy fighter swept through the broken defensive droid field. Debris swept outwards, smacking against the hull as the reserve troops in the cargo hold screamed in fear. The station flak guns blue lasers swept past, one of the Morgon fighters flipping and spiralling away out of control towards the planet’s surface as the black wing belched fire, the inferno engulfing the craft as it entered the atmospheric ring below.

  The flight leader steadied the controls, sighting the pulsing lights of Alexion One’s landing bay up above them, his experienced eyes darting from side to side for any sign of threat as the craft accelerated forwards, heading for the opening. His hands gripped the controls tightly, the scorched jaw beneath his flight helmet tensing as he spoke into the microphone for the rear passengers to hear, ‘Landing will be tight and bumpy…brace!’

  The small transport craft bounced on the smooth landing floor, then skidded as it landed again, sparks flying from the landing skis, their metal alloy screeching against the shining floor as reverse thrust was applied, the craft coming to a jolting abrupt halt. Two transports swept on behind them, the squealing of metal echoing around the landing bay as they came to a sudden halt.

  The widely lit bay had debris strewn across the shining floor, three severely damaged silver fighters lying at angles, their hulls smouldering. To the end, wounded were placed in lines, awaiting the possibility of transport to the planet’s surface and potential safety. The few remaining medical staff running towards the newly arrived transports in eagerness.

  Flight leader Anjara stepped from his craft, the ashen faced volunteers from the surface jumping out behind him as a blue uniformed station officer approached, saluting formally. The flight commander returned the gesture, nodding as he shouted, ‘Load the wounded and then disperse as per station command…’

  The officer nodded gratefully, ‘Thank you for making the flight Sir, we need as many to join the fighting as possible…the enemy is in control of some of the floors at the top of the station and we need to contain them!’ Anjara grimaced, indicating for the men behind him to hurry up.

  The soldiers ran forward, passing a C.R.A.B. walker to get to the wounded, the mechanised loader being used to transport stretcher cases. With six automated legs and hydraulic claws, the machine had one operator sitting above the main body, to the rear of the operator a large cargo shelf.

  The dark grey walker approached the first transport, one stretcher held carefully in the hydraulic grips and three across the rear shelf, the operator indicating for some of the soldiers to assist with the unloading.

  Three pilots approached Flight Leader Anjara, their fists slamming against their light blue flight su
its as they stiffened to attention, the first addressing the commander formally, ‘Permission to accompany you to the surface Sir.’ He indicated to the smouldering fighter hulks, ‘As you can see, we no longer have our own fighters…’

  Anjara nodded his approval, ‘Flight Unit?

  The pilot grimaced, shaking his head in despondency, ‘It’s gone now Sir…all the fighters are destroyed…but we were part of the third Morasat squadron.’

  The Flight Leader slowly raised his hand, patting the pilot’s shoulder in condolence, ‘Well you have joined Viper squadron now, get on board…let’s see if we can find some more fighters for you back at the airbase.’ He turned to his orderly behind, ‘Help them aboard…’

  The orderly stepped forward, his voice lowered as he spoke softly, ‘I think its best I stay here Sir…they need the manpower…’ The middle aged man raised his assault rifle across his chest, forcing a smile at his commander as he looked him solemnly in the eyes, ‘We all need to play our part now Sir…’

  Anjara hesitated, swallowing hard beneath his helmet, a fondly forced smile directed at his long term assistant, his eyes glancing away uncomfortably, ‘Very well my friend…’ He slapped his shoulder, ‘Keep your head down…’

  The orderly nodded, turning away and jogging across the hangar as the Flight Leader followed his retreating figure, his friend slowly disappearing behind soldiers running forward with the wounded.

  Chapter Fifteen: The US Motorised Cavalry are coming!

  To the north east of Morasat, Captain Mason shouted impatiently through the partition wall of the halftrack, the driver grimacing as he heard the American’s voice yet again, ‘Can’t we go any faster? Those troops are probably cut off ahead!’

  Captain Mekeert leant forward, grasping the American’s upper arm firmly, the vehicle bouncing across the uneven terrain, ‘Leave them to it…they are doing their best!’ The whir of the quad gun overhead startled them, Mason tensing in response as the female officer shook her head, ‘He is only testing the mechanism…we will be there soon enough!’

  Mason nodded solemnly, gritting his teeth, ‘I know…just got an adrenalin rush…how much longer will we be?’

  Mekeert shrugged, ‘The marker was several clicks from here…we have five armoured halftracks, three jeeps and three hover tanks…we should be able to break through to the Blue Leopards south of us!’

  Captain Mason forced a polite grin, his voice adopting a sarcastic tone, ‘I am not worried about breaking through to them…I am worried that’s all we will do…we need to keep on going and break them out too!’

  Deep roars above made them stiffen, the two glancing upwards, Mason grasping the Trevakian officer’s arm, ‘What the hell was that?’ The halftracks shook as the upper quad gunner shouted desperately, fear edging his voice, ‘Morgon dropships hovering! Their troops are jumping out behind us!’ The quad guns began firing, the blasts deafening in the passenger cabin as steam poured from the weapons above, the gunners shouts hardly audible, ‘Hundreds of them!’

  Mekeert lunged forward and slammed her fist against the partition to the driver, ‘Faster!’

  Blue Leopard commander Malikkas looked across his soldiers lining the depression as the magnesium ground flares began to die, the pulsing light fading and plunging them into virtual darkness, the pin lights on the sides of helmets automatically flickering into life and bouncing off the swirling smoke and dust. Raising his voice, the Herrakian shouted, ‘Defensive perimeter…draw the flanks in! Form a circle and start digging…’ He shook his head in distain, his black visored eyes meeting Jozefina’s as ferocious shrieking filled the air to the east and south.

  Rees’s hands were shaking, his head darting from side to side nervously, the defenders clustered around the small laser guns. The soldiers ducked instinctively as dropships swept above them, high flashing lights zooming overhead and lowering far to the west, the Morgons reinforcing their wingers to close the trap, the craft out of range of the ground lasers. The encircled troopers were glancing round nervously, their faces contorted in fear, some frantically hacking at the snow covered earth on the edge of the dipping ground with their rifle butts in attempts to create shallow defences.

  Lieutenant Kim of the South Korean Blue Dragon marines strode out between the small groups clustered around the defensive lasers, indicating for Jozefina Kapralova to come to him. He shouted at the troops, ‘South Koreans…reinforce the Blue Leopards on the outer circle edge…Heathrow volunteers into the centre…’ His head spun round as Jo approached, ‘Form your volunteers into small groups…if they break through…you drive them back!’

  Jozefina’s eyes widened, her breath coming short and shallow with dread as she nodded in shock, the snow beginning to swirl around them as the pin lights swept across the darkened terrain. Shrieks spread across them from the east, this time louder and nearer in the darkness, the Blue Leopards and Koreans beginning to line the terrain, their armoured bodies lowering in readiness. Additional troops lunged forward to the outer perimeters, Jo’s head spinning as the loud bloodthirsty shrieks seemed to now echo from all directions.

  Commander Malikkas ducked down behind the forward troops, his voice determined, ‘Prepare flares now…fire to the east!’ Some of the Blue Leopards were struggling to move the laser guns, pushing them forward and to the rear of the lips of the depression, Rees grabbing the nearest and manhandling it towards the back of the circle, his hands shaking uncontrollably as nausea swept through his stomach.

  The puffs of flare guns could just be heard through the shouting, most soldiers turning to watch the three lines of smoke rising eastwards into the darkened sky, the snowflakes buffeted by the cold breeze that enveloped the defenders. As the smoke trails disappeared upwards, the pensive audience staring upwards, a small number of experienced defenders ignoring the spectacle as they tensed, their pulsing red visors pre-empted the light that was about to shower from above.

  The flares exploded, bright green light illuminating the snow covered terrain below to the east, the defenders’ eyes widening as their visors surged bright red. The lights pulsed, the flares twisting in the snow-flaked flurrying night sky as the helmets of hundreds of Morgon troops glistened some five hundred metres away, the murderous shrieks heightening as Rees dropped to his knees in disbelief, his head dropping into his hands.

  Malikkas drew breath, his arm rising as the light caught his armour, ‘Fire!’ He spun round as the terrain lit up, the deafening muzzle flashes tearing across the front line as nearly five hundred assault rifles opened fire, his voice drowned out as he shouted frantically, beckoning to all the reserves, ‘Front Line now!’

  The forward upright lasers spun, steam cascading from their angular frames as the upper small quads spewed fire towards the enemy. Several Heathrow volunteers scrambled forward, their hands shaking with their rifles as the fire poured upon the advancing enemy, the screams of hatred echoing across the landscape.

  The first line of Morgons disappeared under the barrage of bullets and laser fire, the rest dropping to ground as the enemy prepared to return fire. Jets of flame swept towards the defenders, rockets sweeping forward as flashes filled the darkness, bullets zipping across the defensive line. Explosions erupted along the lip of the depression, many defenders ducking back as they were showered with freezing dirt. Bodies twisted as the bullets hit home, armour shattered and blood splattering across neighbouring defenders as the screams of the wounded filled the dark cold air. More explosions detonated all across the line, several rockets sweeping past or above, the aim too high. Bodies were thrown into the air, several breaking under the explosive force as the defenders fired continuously.

  Commander Malikkas shouted for more flares, to blind the advancing enemy as the defenders fired out. Rees scrambled next to Jozefina, his eyes staring at the dead South Korean at her feet below the lip of the depression, the body’s helmet half gone, blood spilling out across the snow as the corpse twitched.

  Lieutenant Kim was screaming at his
men, firing his rifle on automatic as blue laser energy flashed past his frame. Rees raised his weapon, the muzzle shaking as he pulled the trigger, bullets flying out towards the enemy as tears of terror formed in his eyes. Smoke billowed across them, the explosions rocking the line as the frontal Blue Leopards fired flares and explosive rounds towards the grounded Morgons.

  Kim turned to shout at Jozefina, his rifle still bucking in his hands, ‘They are weakening us before they move in for the kill…stay close to me and my men!’ Flares erupted amongst the prone Morgon troops, flashing against the snow, the detonations from explosive rounds flashing flame and throwing armoured bodies into the air with the blast waves. Grenades puffed across the snow before the depression, the bursts of smoke billowing from the small canisters as the Morgons sought to blind their defending enemy.

  Jo’s assault rifle clicked empty, her hands scrambling frantically for a fresh magazine as the soldier next to her twisted sideways, blood pouring from his shoulder as he fell forwards. Rees’s eyes widened, his arms shuddering as he fired out, his head turning as he vaguely heard the deep whoosh above, the air seeming to shudder as his weapon clicked empty.

  The eastern horizon flashed white, a wall of flame rising dramatically into the air as Rees drew breath, fumbling for another magazine for his rifle,. Jozefina gasped, the Blue Leopard next to her shouting hoarsely, ‘It’s the Morasat battery!’ Distant figures were tossed into the air, their tiny frames visible against the flaming backdrop, Rees swearing under his breath as he realised how far the Morgon forces went back in depth. The flashing lights of enemy drop ships speeding overhead, their crews dropping troops to the rear of the defenders to strengthening the positions.