“You’re wasting time hot-shot,” said Lena with a smile. “Get to it.”
Cap looked at her. “Hot-shot, eh? I like the sound of that.” Then he looked at Logan and said, “All right, I’ll have a look. Can’t hurt, might help.” He winked at Lena and dashed through the Blackhawk’s open side hatch.
L.C. Heath said, “What else do you need?”
“Protection,” said Logan. “Hopefully, Ravenwood will come down that hill with the Apollo Stone. Wait for him and escort him here. Don’t let anything happen to him. Lena and I will stay here and protect Cap while he works.” Heath nodded and led the troopers to the bottom of the hill.
Looking back at the nearby bridge, Logan saw the lead PRA tank take a direct hit. It burst into flames and ground to a halt. Logan thought it would delay the PRA column’s progress, but the next tank simply pushed the burning hulk over the edge and into the water. The tank fired its gun and continued on.
A PRA artillery shell slammed into the side of the hill, sending shrapnel in all directions, including into a portion of the trench, killing or wounding a dozen soldiers. More shells struck the defenses, destroying tanks and armored vehicles, killing and wounding soldiers. A League anti-tank gun destroyed another PRA tank, but once again, the next tank in the line pushed the damaged vehicle into the water and the advance proceeded without pause.
Three PRA tanks reached the west side of the river and took up positions about thirty meters beyond the bridge. Armored personnel carriers streamed in between the tanks and opened their rear hatches. Red Legs poured out and rushed toward the League line. As they quickly advanced, the armored vehicles and tanks poured heavy-caliber machinegun fire into the trenches. Though protected by their shields, League troopers hit by the heavy slugs were thrown to the ground, suffered broken bones, or were knocked unconscious. The PRA line pushed forward as more tanks and armored vehicles sped off the bridge.
Just as the number of troops and armor reaching the western side of the river was beginning to swell, Logan saw the Rahani begin to fire bursts of green-colored energy from their long-barreled weapons at the vehicles still on the bridge. The green bursts blew holes in the vehicles’ heavy steel plating, disabled guns, and shredded treads. The Rahani fired again and again until a dozen vehicles were so damaged they could not continue. With so many disabled vehicles in front of it, the PRA column could not advance and the assault was finally stalled.
Then the Grensch charged out of their concealed position among the trees and attacked the now-isolated PRA troops on the riverbank. Logan watched the surprisingly quick creatures as they used their mace-like weapons to sweep aside Red Leg troops as if they were toy soldiers. One of the Grensch reached an armored vehicle and smashed it with his weapon, caving in the entire front end with one blow. Another Grensch smashed a tank’s gun barrel, his mace flashing green when it made contact. The Red Legs were clearly surprised by the Grensch’s flank attack. They tried to fall back, firing their weapons and cutting with their swords as they ran, but neither affected the Grensch.
Seeing the Red Legs in disarray and the column on the bridge blocked, the League troops charged out of the trench and attacked the enemy. Shields on and swords drawn, they launched themselves at the Red Legs, who suddenly found themselves caught between rampaging Grensch giants and furious League soldiers.
The PRA armored vehicles not yet destroyed by the Grensch fired their forty-five caliber machine guns. The impact from the heavy slugs threw back soldiers and successfully penetrated the Grenschs’ thick hide, forcing them to engage their shields.
As the close-quarters combat raged, the Rahani turned their attention to the enemy forces that had reached the shore. The green energy bursts from their rifles tore holes in the PRA’s tanks and caused the Red Legs’ shields to overload and dissipate. Seeing the Red Leg shields going down, many League troops switched to the K-45s and fired on them with deadly effect.
Though Logan was encouraged by the League-Lycian counterattack, he knew it could not be sustained. The PRA forces on the bridge had cleared away the disabled vehicles and more PRA tanks and armored personnel carriers began to reach the west side. They slammed into the defenders and focused cannon fire on the Grensch, two of whom took direct hits and were bowled over, though their shields protected them further harm. Newly arrived Red Legs drew their swords and charged the troopers, shifting the battle’s momentum in favor of the PRA. The outnumbered League troopers fell back with Red Legs soldiers close on their heels.
As the troopers fell back, five of the Red Legs noticed Logan and Lena standing near the Blackhawk. They peeled off from the main group and ran toward the two troopers.
Chapter 86
“Admiral,” said the communications officer.
“Yes. What is it,” replied Var-Imar in a clipped voice as she watched the battle unfolding on the main view screen. They had been slugging it out with the Sahiradin fleet for some time with neither side gaining the upper hand.
“General Gil-Masuur is reporting the Alamani allied with the Sahiradin have completed both of their bridges and are sending units across.”
“Very well,” she said. “Signal fast frigate Brilliant Star to be ready. She is to target the northern bridge only. Our Alamani allies are too close to the southern bridge to risk firing on it. Order all other ships to prepare to fire on my mark. Report when they are ready.”
“Yes admiral,” said the communications officer.
Var-Imar waited for her order to be carried out. She took several deep breaths and closed her eyes, trying to relax and free her mind of distractions and fear.
“All ships reporting they are ready, admiral,” said the communications officer after a few moments.
Var-Imar opened her eyes and looked at the view screen. The Sahiradin fleet had tightened their formation, increasing firepower but reducing maneuverability. “All ships fire now,” she ordered in a steady voice. Then she took several breaths and said, “Fire missiles.”
The view screen showed all of the Lycian ships concentrate their main batteries on a Sahiradin heavy cruiser on the right end of their formation. The combined power of the entire Lycian fleet’s main batteries soon overloaded the ship’s shield. At the same moment, twelve missiles were launched from Intrepid and raced toward the enemy heavy cruiser. Three missiles were destroyed by countermeasures, but the rest found their mark and tore holes in the Sahiradin ship’s tough but not impenetrable borelium armor.
As the impact points along the Sahiradin ship burst into puffs of oxygen-fueled flames, the Lycian fast frigate Brilliant Star peeled away from its position. She darted around the end of the Sahiradin line and the disabled Sahiradin heavy cruiser that had anchored it. The nearest functioning enemy ship tried to intercept Brilliant Star but was unable to maneuver quickly enough to block the agile frigate, which positioned itself above the ground battle and fired four missiles toward the planet.
As the four missiles raced toward the surface, dozens of energy pulses leapt up from the Sahiradin camp toward Brilliant Star. A fraction of a second later, a Sahiradin battery targeted the Lycian missiles and fired surface-to-air missiles, destroying two of them before they had even entered the atmosphere.
Brilliant Star quickly pulled away from her position in orbit above the battle, though she took several hits from the Sahiradin energy pulses. Though not as powerful as an ion cannon, the energy pulses did somewhat damage the Lycian ship’s antiballistic shield.
A Sahiradin light cruiser moved passed its crippled sister ship as quickly as it could and gave chase to Brilliant Star. However, in its haste to hunt down the fast frigate, it neglected to account for the Lycian army’s pulse battery, which fired from the surface and scored numerous direct hits. The Sahiradin ship’s shields went down, forcing it to retreat to the protection of the fleet.
Chapter 87
Logan and Lena engaged their shields and walked forward to meet the onrushing Red Leg soldiers. Logan looked up as several pulses of red light
leapt into the sky. A moment later, several missiles launched from somewhere behind the Sahiradin line. The missiles impacted two of four fiery objects hurtling toward the Earth, causing them to explode, but the other two appeared to be unaffected. Like comets burning in the atmosphere, the two objects rapidly approached the ground. Several more rockets launched from behind the Sahiradin line raced toward the oncoming objects. Two of the missiles hit their targets, causing a massive fireball several kilometers above the ground, followed by two bone-shaking booms.
Lena looked at Logan and said, “Well, I guess the Lycian plan to take out the northern bridge didn’t work out so well.”
“I guess not,” said Logan.
He looked at the base of the hill and saw Heath and the others were fighting several Red Legs. Although they took them down, one trooper was killed. Just then, Ravenwood appeared on the trail above Heath. He was racing down the hillside, but something was different. It seemed to Logan that he lacked the remarkable strength and agility he had displayed at Cumberland Gap.
Logan looked past the five Red Legs running toward him and Lena and saw a column of PRA tanks approaching the little river town along the western bank of the river. They were the vanguard of the PRA forces now streaming across the northern bridge.
Others must have seen the approaching column advancing down the riverbank because League troops threw smoke grenades and teargas at the Red Legs who had crossed the southern bridge. The troopers then fell back toward the hill. Logan saw Lieutenant Styles and the remaining members of Dog and Charlie Patrols falling back, but they didn’t retreat up the hill. Instead, they were running toward him and Lena.
The group of five Red Legs then reached the Blackhawk. Using her Sahiradin black blade, Lena made quick work of the Red Leg on the far left, but two others attacked her simultaneously. It was all she could do to fend off their combined attacks, and she was forced to give ground.
The other two Red Legs launched themselves at Logan. He blocked several swift thrusts, but then he was wounded with a slash to his left shoulder, forcing him to fall back. The Red Legs formed a line and advanced on Logan and Lena at once. Suddenly, a pulse gun on the Blackhawk fired and one of the Red Legs fell to the ground dead.
“Thank you!” yelled Logan.
“You’re welcome!” yelled Cap from inside the Blackhawk, his voice echoing out of the open side entrance.
The three remaining Red Legs pressed their attack against Logan and Lena, getting too close for Cap to risk firing again. Logan blocked three attacks, made a feint toward one and sliced at another, but the Red Leg was ready and blocked the maneuver. Lena surprised her two opponents by suddenly dashing between them, ducking under a neck-high slice and piercing a Red Leg deep under his extended sword arm and into his chest.
Logan gave a glancing cut to his opponent across his jaw line, causing him to spin away. The Red Leg regained his footing and charged forward, but green beams of light from Rahani rifles dropped him and the other remaining Red Leg in their tracks.
Lieutenant Styles and about fifteen troopers arrived moments later, followed by Ravenwood and Heath. About two dozen Rahani and three Grensch also joined them. Together they formed a line to face a contingent of charging PRA forces consisting of about thirty Red Legs and a tank.
The tank turned its turret to fire on the Blackhawk, but it was too slow. Blackhawk sprang to life and fired a rocket into the tank, sending its turret five meters high into the air. The nearby Red Legs were blown off their feet.
Cap peered around the corner of the Blackhawk’s rear ramp. “What are you waiting for? Let’s go! Let’s go!” he shouted.
They turned and ran toward Cap and the open ramp. Logan looked back at the Rahani and Grensch, who still faced the other direction, firing on the Red Legs. He whistled loudly and one of the Rahani looked back. He waved for them to follow. The Rahani said something to his comrades and they all ran toward the Blackhawk.
Cap climbed into the pilot seat. He closed the rear hatch and gunned the engines just as the Rahani and Grensch boarded. The Blackhawk quickly lifted off. As it rose into the air, Cap ordered the gunship’s automated weapons and pulse guns to lay down a suppression fire at nearby PRA troops. Cap then targeted a number of approaching tanks. Two seconds later, the tanks exploded in mushroom clouds of fire and black smoke.
Logan struggled into the cockpit and sat in the co-pilot’s seat next to Cap. “Get us the hell out of here,” he said as he strapped himself in. Go southwest, way behind the lines. We can’t let them have the Apollo Stone.” He pulled the Stone out of his pocket and gripped it tightly in his left hand.
As they swiftly gained altitude, Cap banked right, affording Logan a view of the ground below. To his dismay, he saw the combined League and Lycian forces heading south in full retreat. They hadn’t turned their backs on the enemy, and they were withdrawing in an orderly manner, but there was no mistaking they had already lost the battle. If the main PRA army quickly crossed the river at St. Louis, it would unite with its northern wing and destroy the League’s forces before they could pull back to Deep Six. The war would be over in a week.
Logan looked at the Mississippi River and the two PRA bridges that spanned it. The northern bridge was filled with thousands of briskly marching PRA troops on their way to the western bank, where tanks and other armored vehicles snaked their way up into the hills overlooking the river valley. The lead elements of those units had fallen into line next to the quickly advancing Sahiradin, who were already overrunning the League base’s now undefended perimeter.
Troops crossing the southern bridge were turning left when they reached the little river town. They marched along an abandoned but serviceable road, which led into the heights several kilometers downstream where they would be able to smash the retreating League-Lycian army’s flank. As he watched the swarming PRA and Sahiradin forces chase the defenders south, he wondered how they ever believed they could hold out against such a massive war machine.
With a sad heart, he cast his eyes once more toward the northern bridge and the swarm of troops crossing it. Then he saw something that brought a smile to his lips. A line of four massive boats was winding around a bend upstream. The Northrunners were sending their trade barges into battle. Cannons and automatic guns mounted on their prows and sterns fired on the PRA forces, about half of whom were either crossing the bridge or still on the eastern side of the river. PRA artillery on the high ground fired on them but were having difficulty targeting the surprisingly swift barges.
Logan pointed at the Northrunner boats. Cap had already seen them and nodded his head. He spoke into his headset’s microphone. “Let’s get in the fight.”
Logan opened his mouth to protest and urge Cap to head southwest, but he saw a gritty determination in Cap’s eyes that told him he’d be wasting his breath.
Cap sensed that Logan was watching him. He turned to Logan, flashed a cavalier smile, and said, “Let’s boogie.” Then he turned toward the Lycians and troopers in the back and yelled, “Buckle up! We’re going to take out some bad guys.” The announcement was followed by a robust “Hoorah” from the League troopers.
Puffs of white smoke began exploding around the Blackhawk, but Cap seemed unconcerned as he deftly guided the craft through the PRA anti-aircraft fire. A few of the explosions occurred close enough to hit the Blackhawk with shrapnel, but her armored skin deflected the few pieces that reached her.
“You didn’t happen to get the shields up and running?” asked Logan, the tension in his voice betraying his nervousness.
“No time. Anyway, shields are for sissies,” replied Cap with a grin.
Cap activated the targeting computer. “Not much ordnance left,” he said with a frown. “The PRA pilot must have used most of it during the attack on Jasper Air Base. But we’ll see what we can do.”
He made a few selections and hit the launch button. An array of missiles leapt out from the housing under the gunship’s wings and raced toward multiple artiller
y batteries, white smoke trailing in their wakes. Moments later, the PRA’s shield dome generator and five PRA batteries exploded in rapid succession. Two more batteries were disabled by near hits.
Cap banked hard left and fired two missiles each at the bridgeheads on the eastern side, but despite scoring direct hits and destroying nearby vehicles, they failed to take out their intended targets. Cursing the bridges’ rugged design, Cap prepared to fire again but discovered he was out of rockets. He dropped down into the river valley to avoid PRA defensive weapons positioned on the hill. He touched a few icons on the weapons screen and swooped back up so they were level with the ridgeline.
PRA troops fired their assault guns but could not hit the fast-moving Blackhawk, which returned fire using its fore and aft turrets. PRA regulars tried to run but couldn’t escape the carnage as thousands of rounds tore through the camp, igniting fuel drums and munitions stockpiles that exploded in a series of giant fiery mushroom clouds. Three PRA air-defense batteries fired on the gunship, but the Blackhawk’s advanced stealth defenses prevented them from locking onto the gunship. As the anti-air missiles flew harmlessly by, Cap targeted the batteries and silenced them with a heavy dose of automatic gunfire.
Logan hit Cap on the shoulder and pointed out the cockpit window.
“I see it,” said Cap in a calm voice.
Two mounted pulse gun batteries were tracking the Blackhawk. Cap shot upward and performed a barrel roll over the enemy, leveling off on the opposite side. The PRA guns tried to rotate and target the Blackhawk, but they were too slow. Two of the Blackhawk’s pulse guns fired combined sonic and ion energy at the batteries, causing them to fracture and shatter.
Depleted of missiles and nearly out of bullets, Cap turned the Blackhawk southwest. As they changed course, Logan saw one of the Northrunner barges had been hit and was listing to its port side, but the other three smashed into the northern bridge, causing it to buckle and tip, throwing hundreds of men and several vehicles into the water. Soldiers ran back toward the eastern shore in a panic, but without the elite Red Legs’ shields they could not escape the spray of bullets flying out of the barges’ mounted automatic guns. Soldiers closer to the western side of the river raced for that shore, but they also felt the sting of the barges’ deadly assault. Desperate to escape, many of them leapt into the water. Some survived the plunge, but hundreds drowned as their guns and equipment pulled them to the river’s muddy depths.
The Navigator (The Apollo Stone Trilogy Book 1) Page 45