Gods of War (Jethro goes to war Book 5)

by Chris Hechtl

  She immediately climbed the rigging to get away from the trampling feet of the frightened humans.

  She looked down from the blimp to see people evacuating on steam- and wind-powered water ships. Even small dinghies overloaded were headed out. Hundreds were left on the docks screaming for someone to save them. She closed her eyes and averted her gaze at that but knew it would haunt her terribly.

  When she did open her blue eyes, she saw another vision. The few air cars, helicopters, and air vans on the planet in the area darted in and out of the air lanes recklessly, all in an attempt at moving people as best they could to high ground inland. She saw one human fall off a roof of an air car to his death before she turned away. Even the military was on board she noted. The Marine aircraft was there, overloaded and barely moving above the buildings and tree line to get as many to safety as they could.

  When she looked down, she saw that the ground roads were saturated with vehicles and people on foot. When the waves came, the Neo feline sucked in a breath in horror. Her cousins, her mother Mamacita … dozens were down there in that mess. She'd been lucky, working the docks when the alert went out. Hopefully they too got out, though she doubted it. Mama would most likely have gone to ground instead of running.

  She saw the devastation, the crashing waves, and imagined the screams. She turned away, burying her head in shame as tears flowed. She wished her elder sisters Lil White and Lil Red, her mother, anyone else was there to comfort her. But no one was around; her sisters had left the planet days ago. She closed her eyes and did her best to rest and tune the whimpering of the other passengers out of her head.

  <)>^<)>/

  Colonel Pendeckle groaned as he noted the devastation. Again, Protodon had been hit. The planet just didn't have Lady Luck's blessing he mused as he surveyed the wreckage the satellites were showing him. His people were working their way to exhaustion to help those they could. He was proud of them.

  His eyes caught the sight of a Santini Air bird. He nodded. So were the militia groups he thought with a nod of approval.

  “Sir, we're going to need fresh water and support material for the refugees soon. We've got some housing, but some of the refugees were dropped where there is no town or village in haste to get as many away from the coast as possible. They are now asking for support over the radio network,” Captain Ellington said. The Neochimp ran a shaky and frustrated hand over his fur to try to get it to settle down.

  “Easy, we'll get it done.”

  “It's cold in those mountains, sir; hypothermia is a real concern,” the Neochimp said. “Some are wondering why we aren't moving faster,” he said.

  “We'll get there. Tell them to do what they can with what they've got. Set up fires, set a watch, you know the drill. Do what you can to coach them over the radio.”

  “Yes, sir. If the media gets wind of some of this griping though …”

  “They can't expect miracles, but I damn well know they will. And I know we'll catch it in the neck for not pulling them off. It is what it is. Do what you can, son,” the colonel said with a pat on the Neochimp's shoulder before he turned away to the next problem.

  <)>^<)>/

  “Sir, how bad is it on Protodon?” Valenko asked as he eyed the general.

  “Bad. None of our people were hit, we got the warning out, and they were pulled away from the projected impact zones and the projected tsunami zones. They tried to get as many people out as possible, but as usual some dawdled or held up the works. Having a limited amount of transport was also a problem,” the general said with a shake of his head.

  “Are we still on to go to Protodon?” Valenko asked.

  “Yes. We do have some changes though,” the general said, turning to Dana.

  “Sir?”

  “Change in plans, Colonel. The admiral has ordered a hit and hype in Destria. It is already off and running. You are going to send one of your ships with your boys and girls to Hidoshi's World so they can relieve the platoon there. While they do that, you are going to take your remaining forces into Destria.”

  “Why?” Dana shook her head. “Sir, you know a hit and hype is going to warn them, right?”

  “I know.”

  “They'll dig in. They'll spread out. Getting them out will be a pain in the ass!” Dana said in thorough disgust. Valenko nodded in grim agreement. Part of their plan was to hit the enemy hard when they were concentrated. After seeing and experiencing the invasions of Hidoshi's World and Protodon, the Marines had learned it was far easier to hit the enemy when they were concentrated in one place than to dig them out if they were given time to disperse and go to ground.

  “Dana, I know. It wasn't up to me. The admiral wants it done, the orders have been transmitted, and the ships are on their way. Deal with it,” the general said.

  “Yes, sir,” Dana replied, working her jaw. “This is going to make my job a hell of a lot harder, sir,” she said.

  “I know. Believe me I know.”

  Chapter 14

  Since food was precious due to the invasion and upheaval associated with it, Jon had been forbidden by Vanessa to run the family still. He knew they needed all the food they could get and would need to hide some in case of emergency, so he had reluctantly agreed. Next year once they were sure things were going to settle down into some sort of normal for Destria, he'd see if it was worth picking up again if he had the surplus. Besides, he had a small stock laid down of his tipple anyway. It was mellowing out nicely in the oak barrels he'd bought in town years ago.

  They were also making a small profit in the weekly trade runs with the town anyway. He had eased up on his restriction and allowed her to take one of the younger boys with her if he needed Kevin at home for work around the farm.

  Vanessa clucked as she flicked the reins. The team moved out at a steady pace once they broke the cart's static position and momentum helped them along. She looked over her shoulder to her husband and waved. He waved back she noted as she turned back to the team and road ahead.

  She might have forbidden Jon from making moonshine since it was such a waste of good corn or other food, but that didn't mean she wouldn't trade for it or wine, which she planned to do. She couldn't stand Jon's rotgut anyway. After all, a medicinal belt or two was nice, and she knew Jon had laid down stocks from past years. She also knew having some around would be good for actual medicine like cleaning the occasional scrape or other wound he and the kids tended to get on a regular basis.

  Not that she was willing to tell him any of that.

  <)>^<)>/

  Rudy finger-combed her thin graying hair. She was getting desperate again she knew. There was no work in the town for a woman of her limited skills to do. She had gotten her home as a widower and had made credits from sleeping with the right people and then not telling their spouses about it.

  But that had all dried up when the invaders had come. The money she'd taken from Pete hadn't lasted her long, and none of her neighbors were willing to share with her. She resented that, resented the gossip behind her back about taking the money and only giving a small amount of food to Flo. Flo should be grateful she'd given her that much, she'd thought with a sniff.

  She didn't like the sight of her gaunt cheeks and rumbling tummy from all the skipped meals. Her clothes positively hung on her she thought with a critical eye in the silver mirror. She nibbled on a stale cracker and sat by the window. After a long moment, she turned on the one source of entertainment she had, the radio.

  She heard a broadcast over the radio about ration cards followed by a reward if someone turned in an alien or Neo. Each one turned in would get a week's rations.

  She tossed and turned for several hours that night before she gave in. It was her or Flo. If she didn't, someone else was liable to do so and get the reward. It might as well be her. The following morning, she spotted a Horathian patrol. She dressed carefully to be sure she wouldn't attract the wrong sort of attention from the man. She wanted the chits, not a swollen belly, or worse,
a knife across her throat for her troubles.

  <)>^<)>/

  Corporal Vincent Lishman nodded to the woman politely as she came over. He'd scanned her the moment she'd come out of the hovel she called a home. She was unarmed; she didn't have any signs of metal on her. The woman was hunched over in a cloak, and when he got a look at her face, he wished he hadn't. She tentatively made conversation about the weather but then when he ignored her she asked about the reward. He nodded. “It's true,” he said, which it was. He'd been given the script that morning. He'd been tempted to use it to feed the black market. But he'd been warned he had to keep a log of everyone he paid out to, and he'd better make sure every chit was accounted for by bodies. That had kept his temptation in check.

  The woman pointed out a distant blue house with a shaky finger. “There. The chimp lived there. There are three there,” she said, holding out a cupped hand.

  The corporal scanned the house with his goggles. There were indeed three distinct heat signatures there; he could just make them out, faint due to the distance and haze in the air. Two were pretty small though, consistent with kids. “I see three. You'd better be right, lady, or we'll come for you instead,” he warned sternly, one hand on his belt as he considered the situation. If he paid her, he'd go a small but necessary way to win the natives to their side. It was why they had offered the reward he knew. He'd taken basic propaganda and psychology in college when he'd tried to climb the ladder to become an officer.

  They were to integrate themselves with the locals and to establish them as the authorities and source of law and order. It was all part of the plan to domesticate a conquered population he knew.

  He pursed his lips as she started to quiver before he pulled out the container and counted out her ration chits. “I'm serious,” he warned her sternly. She nodded and gulped, but her hand closed over the rations. It shook as she took it into her robes and turned away.

  He reached up with his free hand and keyed the radio transmitter attached to his shoulder pauldron. He tilted his head and spoke clearly. “Romeo One to HQ, we've got a report of a trio of apes on Main Street. I've got a heat sighting to confirm it. Have paid the reward,” he said as the woman walked hurriedly away. He made a note of which house she went to in case he needed to pay her a visit later.

  “Romeo One report received and logged,” HQ answered, sounding bored. Vincent started to ask about abandoning his post to clean the house out when a call came in about a fight at the local market. That took priority, so he had to respond to that first.

  <)>^<)>/

  Claire saw Rudy talking with the Horathian. She was shocked when she saw her neighbor and former friend point out Flo's home and then got paid something. Rudy went immediately to the market behind the Horathian but then stopped when Al closed up shop for the day. She dejectedly hovered for a moment before the Horathian ordered her to move on.

  Claire poked her sister awake and then she passed on a hurried warning to Judith. It was rich gossip, one that would quickly make the rounds. Judith went out the back door to Tessa's tapped on her door and told her and then went over to Isabel's.

  Isabel was shocked when she opened the door to Judith and heard the gossip. “No one told Flo?”

  “Are you kidding? If we warn her, we're as good as dead. Collaborators they call them,” Judith said with a shiver. “It's bad enough Tessa is still here. I feel for her. She's a chimera; I don't know if they'll go after her or not.”

  “Damn it …,” Isabel continued to swear. “I, um, need to go to the bathroom,” she said as she pointed to a basket near the door heaped with clothes. “Here's the washing.”

  “Pity you didn't have a laundry bag,” Judith said. “Oh, yes, that's right; Claire forgot to get it back to you. I'll remember to get it when I bring this back,” she said. She noted Isabel was a bit antsy. “Well, I just wanted you to know,” Judith said with a sniff. She left with a basket of clothes to wash under one arm.

  <)>^<)>/

  Isabel nipped out the back once she was sure Judith was gone. She skulked between the houses over to the pale blue house and then tapped on a window. Flo didn't answer so she tapped harder, wincing. When an air drone buzzed down the street sweeping, she turned away, anxious and ready to go back to her own home.

  “Psst,” Flo said from her basement window. Isabel looked down then knelt. “I can't come out,” Flo stage-whispered.

  “You'd better do something. According to the ladies, Rudy ratted you out to the invaders. They are coming for you anytime. You and the babies,” Isabel hissed.

  “Oh my gods!” Flo said, clearly in shock. “I didn't do anything!” she protested.

  “You are a Neo. They put out over the radio for people to turn aliens and Neos in. They get rations if they do.”

  “Oh, my gods,” Flo murmured softer. “What do I do?” she kept saying that until tears fogged her soft voice. “My babies!”

  “Get out of there, Flo. Go to the town barn or somewhere safe, then get the hell out of town. Do it fast.”

  “But … all I've got, everything Pete …”

  “Flo, you and the kids are what matter in the end, right? Pete would want you to be safe. You can get another home, another … whatever.”

  “Okay,” Flo whispered.

  “Go to where they won't look for you—the cisterns, the drainage, the flood canals.”

  “I can't get far. And at night …”

  Isabel shivered. “I know. And in the heat of this dreadful summer …,” she grimaced. “Do what you can,” she said as she straightened up.

  “Thank you,” Flo said in a voice barely suppressing her sobs. Isabel had shared with her what she could she knew. “Bless you,” she murmured as the tailor turned away.

  Isabel paused, torn, before she retreated.

  <)>^<)>/

  Flo watched her neighbor leave and then acted. The babies picked up on her distress, so she doused them with a shot of whiskey. She'd done it before when they'd had teething issues or a persistent cough. She was careful to give them just the right amount, not enough to knock them out totally though.

  She knew she had to hurry. She had little time if any to act, so she gathered what she could carry, things she had already packed in case she had needed a fast get away. Items of trade, fresh cloth diapers for Taavi, and what little food they had left. She then slung her eldest son onto her back. Ichiro gripped the back of her gown tightly. It was an instinctive thing in apes, to grip the back of their mother's back and hold on.

  She tucked a chef's knife into her bosom, then Taavi into a sling around her neck and then made her way out the back. Her back door was heavily screened by wood and berry bushes that were just coming into their second bloom. There was no time to pick any though as she walked down the narrow back alleys to what she hoped was safety.

  <)>^<)>/

  Corporal Lishman knocked down the door with a well-placed kick of his booted foot and then sent a robotic dog in before he followed to searched the home. His fire team followed him in. There were no heat signatures though, so he was pretty sure he wasn't going to find anything. They might be in the basement though, so he was careful to use the robots to check it.

  There were paintings of chimps so he knew they had the right place, but no one was home. Given that someone had recently torn up the place, he knew they'd just gotten away. “Tear this place apart. Get what you want, then torch it,” he growled to the rest of his fire team and the robots with them. “I've got a date with a woman and a promise to keep,” he said grimly as he stomped out of the house.

  <)>^<)>/

  Isabel watched the home being raided and then torched. Their leader went over to Rudy's and kicked the door in. There was a scream, then nothing, nothing at all, which was even more chilling. After a moment, the soldier had come out. He dropped a bat, something he must have picked up in the house and then went over to his troops. He talked with them for a moment, then radioed in a report, then left.

  After the Ho
rathians left, she gathered with the neighbors outside. They huddled, unsure what to do until she went and got a bucket. “But they torched it!” Judith protested.

  “Yes, they did.”

  “You aren't going to get anything,” Claire said. “What …,” she looked around. “Where is Al and the fire department?”

  “It's almost dark. Curfew,” Isabel said as she pumped water into the bucket. “I wish I had a hose, but I don't,” she muttered as she filled the bucket.

  “Why, Isabel?” Claire demanded.

  “I don't want to have my house burn too!” Isabel said angrily, looking up to glare at them. The group nodded at that wisdom and went to help. Together they formed a bucket brigade to put the house out.

  She caught sight of Judith and Claire sneaking into Rudy's house. They came out almost immediately, gagging and retching. Claire recovered first and then rubbed her sister's shoulders and back. Isabel turned her back on them. Rudy could rot for all she cared. The traitorous bitch deserved whatever she had gotten.

  That thought lasted right up until she turned again and saw Judith and Claire smuggling food and goods out of the dead woman's house. She turned a glare on the sisters before Jerry pushed a loaded bucket into her hands. She angrily turned back to the fire line and the job at hand.

  <)>^<)>/

  The following morning Flo had managed to circle around the town to the west and the main road. She was tired, frightened, and hungry. She had seen the fire in town in the night and had recognized it had come from her house. That told her there was no going back.

  But she had no plan to go forward other than hiding in the drainage ditch and under the small wooden bridge that allowed the water to pass by. There were regular patrols around the town. She knew it; she'd seen them and had fortunately avoided them. She kept in a ditch as the heat of the sun rose, unsure of what to do. She had a chef knife Freya had made for her tucked into her bosom, but she knew it was little defense. The boys had suckled what milk she could give them but remained quiet as they clung to her.