The screams filled the cabin as the craft spun further and began to shake, then a murmur was heard, the lights flickering and becoming brighter. ‘Port engine engaged!’ The craft seemed to slow and twist around, then stabilise into a horizontal flight pattern. ‘Flight overshoot! Insufficient power for 180 turn!’ The moaning started again as the occupants realised the craft was still in trouble. ‘Boosters blown! Landing requires strip, repeat strip….Zaxon control.’
A deeper voice broke over the airwaves, ‘Roger Drop Ship 5, head north east. Settlement landing on Contax Base available. Radio comms with remote base ineffective. Jamming in progress. Situation unknown, rescue unavailable! Good luck Drop Ship 5!’
The pilot’s voice seemed more relaxed, but strained, ‘Affirmative Zaxon Control, I have that location! Keep the faith! Our time is now!’ Then loud static filled the craft’s passenger bay, the high pitched moaning of the occupants continuing in their fear.
The static rose in ferocity, then a whine filled the airwaves as the small craft banked slightly to the right, the pilot’s voice coming over the intercom, ‘Morgon jamming in progress! Estimated landing in five minutes. Ground situation unknown, prepare for hostile intercept!’ The radio noise surged, the whine from the jamming increasing.
Chapter Ten: Touchdown
As the small craft began to descend, Captain Dugachard leant forward, her voice rising, ‘Listen Up! Contax base is to the far north and in the mountains. It will be cold. I was stationed there some time ago…keep alert and be ready. There are local communities and farmsteads as well as the mine.’ She hesitated, looking across the startled faces of the inexperienced soldiers before her, ‘The town is defendable if the Morgons have not broken through the mountains and into to the outer limits…it will also depend on how many troops are garrisoned there now.’ She nodded determinedly, trying to instil confidence, ‘When we land, secure the ship…then we move quickly towards the town together, understand?’
The voices responded more cautiously, but still uniformed, ‘Yes Sir!’ Sam stared at the captain, her frame seeming dynamic as she sat in the forward jump seat, her posture relaxed. He estimated she was about five feet seven and slim, perhaps a couple of years older than him, her brown hair swept back under the helmet, staring across the soldiers with piercing dark eyes.
The craft descended further, bouncing in the turbulence as it approached the small landing strip ahead. The pilot checked his electronic display, seeing the sharp rises in the terrain on either side of the craft seeming to draw in as they slipped through the tall jagged rock formations. He clicked the intercom on the controls, seeing the outer marked on the landing field beginning to automatically flash on the horizon of the ships display, ‘Prepare for landing. Beacon within range.’ He swept his hand across the display panel, the blast shields across the cockpit windows slowly lowering and a dim grey light filtering across the flight deck. Glancing across at his co-pilot, he indicated to him, ‘Keep your eyes on the terrain….report any movement.’
The co-pilot nodded, ‘Yes Sir.’ Pushing himself up in his seat, he began peering out of the windows cautiously.
Debra Hardie indicated to the captain at the end of the passenger bay, ‘Can we talk?’
Captain Dugachard nodded, ‘Of course, please speak freely.’ She indicated nonchalantly with her hand.
Debra nodded across to the three security officers opposite her, her tone lowered, ‘Let’s stay together you guys. The Trevakians will look after us I am sure.’ She glanced round the nervous soldiers around them, their weapons held tightly between their knees, ‘Do you think you can use the weapons?’
Shino nodded in forced confidence, her eyes betraying her fear, ‘Riaz and I play hard-core console games, Debra….we should pick it up I hope.’ She glanced at Sam, ‘What about you?’
Sam shook his head in resignation, his eyes rolling, ‘Not really, I play football and motor racing on the PC…if that even matters now...’
Riaz coughed in mock jest, ‘Not sure that will help…well unless they have a local team!’ He turned to Shino shaking his head in irony, ‘On the computer games side….the enemy could not actually shoot to harm us could they?’ His jaw tensed, ‘It may be different here…did you see those injuries on the station? These Morgons are vicious by the looks of it.’ A crump outside made them stiffen, looking at each other with concern.
The intercom cut in again, the pilot’s voice seeming startled, ‘Sporadic fire in the distance, beyond the town…touchdown in thirty clicks…prepare to disembark.’
Captain Dugachard moved in her chair, ‘Get ready….once the craft comes to a halt, we disembark. Protective stance initially, then move up in one wave to the village.’ She indicated to Hardie, ‘Stay close to me with your earth squad!’
Hardie’s eyes widened, her mouth becoming dry, ‘Er…Yes sir…..’
The captain nodded. The ship bucking as the pilot lined up with the short landing strip, the six metal wheels extending from below the vessel. The slight bump that followed preceded the lone remaining engine’s reverse thrust, the dust and snow on the landing strip spraying to the sides as the wheels attempted to grip the ground below. The craft skidded, beginning to swerve as the thrust from one side of the craft destabilised the landing. The pilot fought against the controls as the ship slewed across the ground, the wheels skidding as he applied the brakes.
The small grey craft slowed as the snow and dirt piled up around the side of the vessel pushing over the roof and forcing the small ship to a halt, the small transport embedded into the gathered dust and slurry. The front side door on the opposite side to the bank of snow and dirt slowly lowered as the pilot flicked off the engines and grabbed his carbine rifle from the overhead locker, the co-pilot pulling the door to the passenger compartment.
The soldiers unclipped their harnesses and rose excitedly from their seats, grasping their weapons, their adrenalin pulsing. Captain Dugachard intervened, shouting to organise, ‘First four to the front of the craft, weapons at the ready! The rest form a perimeter.’
She moved into the space before the cockpit door nodding to the co-pilot, ‘Excellent flying and landing...is there anything out there we should know?’
The pilot shook his head from behind the co-pilot, checking his weapon, ‘No signs of life as yet. The village is a small distance up the hill and I think the residents may have gone to ground or are in hiding.’ He paused as he saw the soldiers file out of the craft, ‘Best move the soldiers up to the village for cover as soon as possible…we will bring up the rear.’
Captain Dugachard nodded firmly, ‘I agree, we will move out as soon as we can.’ She turned, watching the soldiers file out onto the dimming light.
Riaz approached the captain from the back of the craft in the line of soldiers, the shaft of light from outside bathing her slim lower body. He held his rifle before him and approached the light, watching in fascination as the body armour on the troops transform to lighter greys as they stepped out of the craft.
Then he stepped out himself, the chilled air seeming to bite at his cheeks, the combat clothing expanding slightly to add extra defence against the cold. Snowflakes drifted to the earth, the coldness in the mountains crystalizing the water in the air. The soldiers spread out across the landing strip in a cone formation surrounding the front of the craft, their bodies crouched and tensed, weapons raised.
Captain Dugachard stepped down behind him, indicating for Debra Hardie to follow. Glancing round, the captain indicated to the three remaining officers on the ship to disembark impatiently, ‘Out you come then!’
Riaz moved forward to the front of the grey craft, seeing the scorch marks along the hull and across the lower cockpit windows. Raising his weapon uncomfortably before him, he jumped as the visor snapped down, his helmet seeming to pulse around his skull as it adopted combat mode, the pulse heightening his senses as his adrenalin rose. Sporadic flashes in the far distant sky drew his gaze, the sound of muffled explosions reaching the
group sometime after the visual sights.
Moving forward, his visor transformed into a light blue, enhancing his vision as the transparent material removed side lighting, shine and glare. Several red dots appeared, seeming to swim or move across the visor, the dots moving to shaded and darkened areas in the distance as if to highlight possible targeting areas. Riaz grinned in admiration, jumping slightly as Shino nudged him, her voice intrusive, ‘What’s so funny?’
He glanced round at her, the red dots moving to the left of his visor, indicating possible threats elsewhere as he looked into her face, ‘Try raising your weapon in front of you…see what your visor does!’
Captain Dugachard moved forward past the craft, her boots crunching in the snow, ‘Stay apart and move up the hill on either side of the strip!’ The soldiers swept forwards, the unit spreading out across the snow terrain. The airstrip ended after approximately one hundred metres, a snow covered track rising to the right hand side at the end. The rocks rose up beyond the track side for several metres, the terrain broken. On the left, the landing strip was bordered by frozen bushes and some bare trees, the land beyond them also rising into dark jagged rock formations. Dotted along the landing area sides were some broken supply huts and discarded equipment, the snow beginning to cover the evidence of their existence. At the end of the strip to the left, a small two storey control building stood abandoned, its stone and metal exterior beginning to show the signs of age and disrepair.
Debra Hardie and Sam moved with the captain and the two Trevakian Marines, the pilot and co-pilot bringing up the rear as the line moved cautiously towards the road. The supervisor’s annoyance rising as she witnessed Riaz and Shino ahead of them, moving their weapons from side to side in response to the warnings on their visors. Riaz was becoming fonder of the equipment, his realisation the red dots were becoming accustomed to his eye movement. When he looked down the length of his weapon, a small circle magnified around the red dot for a short period, allowing him to determine closer look at the possible area of concern or target, the magnification lasting for a fraction of a second. Shino was also enjoying her learning curve on the new technology, realising even the dreams of the future on the computer generated games she played to virtual perfection had no comparisons to the developments in this reality.
One of the Trevakian Marines approached the supervisor, grinning, ‘I see you are not impressed!’ He indicated to the antics of the two staff before her.
Debra walked forward, ‘Not really. This is a serious situation and they are ‘mucking’ about!’
The marine shook his head, ‘Maybe…but they are learning to use the weapons.’ He patted her shoulder, ‘Perhaps you can too…’ Smiling warmly, he looked at the supervisor, ‘I am Tregan, private in the second marine brigade.’ He indicated to his colleague, ‘That is Mrin. We will both stay with this group to offer some assistance and guidance. Hopefully keep you safe.’
Debra’s eyes widened, looking at the marine, ‘Thanks. I am Debra. We could do with the help…she indicated to Riaz and Shino, Sam nodding next to her, ‘We are a little out of our depth.’ Both marines were similar in height, their frames taller than her and well formed, and their faces clean shaven and angular.
Tregan grinned, ‘We are military professionals…but have never fought a vicious campaign like this! So perhaps we can learn from each other?’ He smiled at Debra, winking to Sam, ‘I had better scout ahead…this unit is vulnerable to ambush without the experience.’ He lunged forward, running towards the rising road, shouting over his shoulder, ‘I will check the track towards the village.’
Captain Dugachard nodded, ‘Understood.’ She glanced around, seeing the soldiers’ exhalations forming in steam before their mouths as they breathed heavily, ‘Hold here! We move up shortly…form a line, keep alert!’
The unit slowly and cautiously moved up the snow covered slope on the track, Captain Dugachard keeping the soldiers spaced for safety as a precaution against the potential of incoming fire. Rounding the bend at the crest of the slope, Riaz and Shino glimpsed Tregan in the distance, the marine talking to a regular soldier by the entrance to the village.
As they slowly approached through the snow, the marine turned to smile at them indicating to the soldier, ‘The sentry states the village is secure. The flashes in the distance are a mobile unit engaging the enemy. The Morgons have been apparently probing their defences all day without success. We should be safe here for now.’
The two officers nodded a greeting to the sentry, their smiles being returned, the snow fluttering down around them. Slowly the rest of the soldiers approached, the green combats dressed sentry stood in the middle of the track.
Captain Dugachard slipped through the group to the front, the sentry raising his fist to his left chest mechanically as he recognised her rank. The captain saluted back, looking beyond the soldier into the village, the low flat roofed prefabricated buildings stretching for a couple of hundred metres into the distance. Two tall towers stood above the lower storied buildings, both adorned with flashing positioning lights marking the village for any residents or travellers passing through the inhospitable valley beyond. The position of both towers chosen to provide a panoramic view of the surroundings over the rising jagged rock faces. Both had sentries positioned with infra-red binoculars on their upper platforms, the soldiers occasionally sweeping the area in nervousness with their high powered glasses.
Captain Dugachard indicated to the sentry before her, ‘What’s the situation?’
The sentry in his late thirties was wearing a Trevakian green army uniform, his hands brandishing an assault rifle like their own. He coughed, clearing his throat, ‘Some engagements in the distance, Ma’am, the mobile armoured unit moved up about a week ago and dug in in the ravine at the end of the valley. The firing began this morning as they engaged with a Morgon reconnaissance unit.
The captain gritted her teeth, ‘How strong is the mobile unit?’
The sentry shrugged, ‘Maybe six hover tanks, a couple of self-propelled guns and perhaps one hundred infantry in transports. Quite formidable I think.’
Captain Dugachard grimaced, ‘It depends what the Morgons throw at them, but the ravine is narrow so they have chosen a good position.’ She turned to Mrin officially, ‘Get your sniper up in one of the towers with one of you two experienced marines.’ She turned back to the sentry, ‘What is your strength?’
The sentry shifted his stance uneasily, ‘Perhaps fifty soldiers and one hundred civilians, mostly miners. The military mine is some distance away in the mountains, but we have lost contact with them due to the jamming. They will have perhaps over one hundred soldiers and miners in total, perhaps a handful of scientists.’
The captain stiffened, seeming suspicious, ‘Scientists…what are they doing out here? It was a quite straight forward mine operation when I was last here.’
The sentry shrugged, ‘Not my remit to know, captain. I am only territorial infantry. Our commander was reluctant to reduce our numbers further by sending some men out to the mine. Perhaps you could oblige?’
Captain Dugachard nodded, turning to the group behind her, ‘We will move into the village, seek refuge for the evening. I am keen to move to the mine and get the additional troops and miners back in case the Morgons break through.’ She turned to Tregan, ‘Take a small squad up to the old mine, you should get there before darkness crosses the valley. Stay the night there and bring the others back at first light.’
Tregan nodded, ‘Yes captain.’ He hesitated, realising the captain had not finished.
She continued, ‘Make good progress, there are some interesting mountain animals in the darkness. In daylight, relatively harmless and timid…but at night, they hunt in packs and could be tempted to try their luck if you are in a remote area.’ He hesitated, then lowered her voice, he eyes narrowing, ‘There are also still some Silakian bandits around, so keep a watchful eye out. Be careful, and move quickly, understand?’
Tregan stiffened,
bringing his right fist across to his chest, ‘Yes captain. I will take six soldiers with me if I may?’
The captain nodded in response, ‘Proceed into the village and turn left at the intersection. Follow that track into the mountains…that will lead you to the mine.’
Tregan nodded, ‘Understood.’ He spun round indicating to Debra, ‘The Heathrow Battalion three with me!’ He looked across the others, pointing at three soldiers in marine combats, ‘You three also! Check ammunition and grenades and then we move!’ Seeing Debra’s concern, he leant towards her as the main group shuffled past, lowering his voice, ‘This is an easy way of gaining experience. A short quick walk and then meet up with one hundred and fifty others to return…you ok with that?’ He looked into Debra’s eyes as she nodded nervously, raising his voice, ‘Good, let’s move!’ He turned, walking past the sentry, the six soldiers cautiously advancing from the group after him. The small squad following the main body of soldiers into the village.
Chapter Eleven: Journey to the Silakian Mine
Tregan walked slowly through the undisturbed snow, his boots crunching on the whitened track. Turning briefly, he cast his eyes across the six soldiers with him, ensuring they were checking the terrain. Debra Hardie trudged alongside him, occasionally checking her weapon sights to familiarise herself with the equipment. Riaz and Shino were walking some distance behind, moving their assault rifles across the terrain in anticipation.
The jagged rocks rose either side of the narrow one lane track, the sharp pointed edges of stone pointing skywards. Rumbling in the distance occasionally filtered across the landscape, an eerie reminder of a distant battle. On the horizon, high mountain peaks rose up into the darkening sky, their tops covered in snow.
The Last Marine in the Galaxy (Galaxies Collide Book 1) Page 10