Mrin fired a burst at the Morgon soldier, a spark as one bullet ricocheted off the armour, the other three rounds missing. Behind the black soldier a Silakian fell, clutching his throat. Mrin grasped at his tunic, retrieving a grenade and tossing it before him, keen to deter the advancing tigers. He pushed himself upwards, sprinting after Tregan as his countryman disappeared after the others. His combats lightened as he pushed himself forward, a yelp of surprise from one of the tigers as the flash grenade exploded before them, momentarily blinding the animals. Smoke spurted from the canister as the tigers hesitated, one whimpering as it attempted to remove the bright light temporarily imprinted in its eyes with a large paw.
Thrusting himself through the gap, he glanced to the right, seeing more Silakians running down the path towards him. He lunged forward again, seeing a brief glimpse of Tregan between the rocks pushing the others on, some forty metres in front of him. A howl from behind him pushed his legs forward, the tigers once again running after their prey. Jumping between two rocks, he dropped another grenade from his tunic, the shriek of a Morgon pursuer seeming very close behind him.
Tregan and the others reached a clearing almost breathless in the poor air. The marine pointed to the far edges, gulping air, ‘Form a defensive line behind the rocks. Fire behind Mrin as he comes through the opening.’ He hesitated, shaking his head, as he struggled with his next statement, ‘Try and avoid shooting the tigers unless they are going to attack him…the concentrated shooting should scare them…there are very few left!’ The three nodded grimly, running to towards the next rocks. Tregan turned, dropping to one knee in the middle of the clearing, his teeth gritted in determination as he heard another shriek echo across the rocks. Dropping the grenades from his tunic into the snow, he raised his rifle to his eye as his visor swept downwards.
Mrin burst through an opening in the rock face, half falling over some rubble, the momentum propelling him forward as he struggled to remain upright. Hearing the shouts behind and more shrieking, he pushed his legs on, the poor air causing his chest to heave. He leapt over the next rock formation, pushing himself onwards as he darted through another opening in the terrain.
Stumbling, his gloves scraped across the ground, pushing him upwards as he ran, too terrified of glancing round. A brief smile crossing his face as his body began to steady, his legs straining. Then a snarl from just behind him forced the smile from his face, the razor sharp claws embedding in his back as the weight of the leaping tiger bore down on him. His legs buckled as the enormous predator’s momentum forced him forward, his face hitting the snow and sliding forward.
His rifle slid across the ground, escaping from his grasp. His arm shot out in an attempt to retrieve it as another tiger’s jaws closed around the outstretched limb, the six four inch front incisors forcing their way through his combat uniform and snapping the bones. He screamed at the shock of pain that swept through him, trying to pull his broken arm free. Excruciating pain raced through his abdomen as another tiger closed its jaws round his right leg. His head was forced back as the tiger weighing down on him clawed at his helmet, the sparks flying from the metal. As his leg snapped, his mind began to block out reality. The adrenalin poured through his body as he realised he could no longer move, the weight and jaws pinning him to the patch of snow as blood pumped from his severed arm and leg, his back raked from the claws.
As his head shot back again, the tiger turning its head to bite at his helmet, a last surge of energy swept through him, his mouth opening as the jaws clamped onto the protective headwear, his voice high pitched as he felt the intense pressure forcing down on his torn and bloody back, hearing his ribs crack and begin to shatter, ‘Run!’
Tregan heard the distant scream from his left, beyond the clearing, his mind shaking him as he realised what his comrade, Mrin, had done. Struggling to his feet, he turned and ran, indicating for the others to rise from their positions. As the four of them jumped through the next gap in the rocks, he pushed them forwards roughly, tears forming in his eyes at the loss of his best friend. They ran for several hundred metres, through rocks and clearings, the barren landscape and poor air beginning to gradually reduce their speed. They slowly heard the snarling and shrieking behind them become more distant.
Breaking through some thick bushes and shrubs, they emerged onto a wider path. Tregan frantically pointing for them to turn to the left, the four gasping for air. Jogging for another couple of hundred metres, Tregan indicated for them to move into a small gap in the rocks to the right side of the frozen track. He backed into the opening as the three behind him dropped to their knees, their chests heaving. Debra was struggling to breathe, her gasps forced as she vomited onto the rocks.
Tregan knelt at the edge of the opening, his rifle raised, jerking the weapon around as the visor indicated possible shadows and threats across the terrain.
As Riaz rolled onto his back, gasping for oxygen, Shino held her sides, coughing, her voice strained, ‘Wh-what just happened?’
Tregan glanced round, his face despondent as he swallowed, ‘Mrin led them away from us…’ He coughed as the emotion surged through him, ‘…he saved us!’
The Morgon reconnaissance officer stepped forward towards the broken and shattered body, the exoskeleton armour bending as he inspected his prize. To either side, the tigers gnawed on the limbs of their prey, the torn protective uniform scattered across the clearing amongst the blood and torn flesh. Two Silakian soldiers stood behind their commander, their rifles raised in readiness.
The black uniformed officer bent down, the well-oiled mechanical armour responding to his body movement. The Silakians grimaced as they heard the sickening crack before them, the black armoured soldier rising triumphantly, his helmet eyes glowing red. Slowly he raised his right arm, holding his hunting trophy aloft…the severed head of a Trevakian marine.
Chapter Fifteen: Safety in numbers
Riaz slowly raised himself to a seating position, his hands and assault rifle on the ground between his spread-eagled legs in despondency, ‘Mrin deliberately ran off to save us? That guy was a hero…’
Tregan shook his head in frustration, his voice firm, ‘Hero? No…just another dead marine…but a very brave one. He gave his life so that we may survive a few more days…that is all.’ He slowly turned to look at the three behind him, ‘We now owe him a debt…a debt we can never pay back in full…we must survive this war so that he will be remembered. To tell others what he sacrificed to allow us to survive…we owe him every day we live now, that is Trevakian marine philosophy.’
He sniffed, the emotion rising in his eyes, ‘Every enemy soldier we kill from now on is a part kill for him…do you understand?’ The three stared wide eyed at the Trevakian as his deep blue eyes seemed to look straight through them. They nodded slowly in response, Shino swallowing as she realised his seriousness. Tregan glanced across each of them slowly, ‘Now perhaps you have an understanding of what this enemy is truly capable of...even if you run, they will follow, hunting you down.’ His voice tailed off as he seemed to drift into thought, his eyes drifting downwards, ‘There are too many good Trevakians gone now…’
Riaz looked crestfallen, ‘I-I am sorry, I did not mean any disrespect.’
Tregan smiled grimly, looking up into Riaz’s eyes, ‘Don’t feel any remorse. He is dead, you are alive as a result…celebrate that…let it make you stronger…he considered us worth saving, and for that he gave his life. Let’s just make sure he made the right decision…we owe him that.’
He turned round, glancing out along the wide path in either direction. Looking back he nodded, ‘It’s clear, let’s go! I think this track leads to the main one, to the village…we follow that, then turn north towards the ravine.’ Hearing a howl in the distance, he pushed himself upwards, stepping out from the opening in the rocks, ‘Keep your weapons at the ready…they will probably scour the area.’
Riaz’s eyes narrowed, his teeth clenching as he forced his muscular body upwards, grasping hi
s assault rifle. Glancing at the other two, his voice strained, ‘You heard him…let’s get moving! We stay here, we die!’ He stepped out after the Trevakian Marine, his rifle sweeping across to point at the direction they had come from, ‘I will cover the rear, Debra the right…Shino the left.’
Shino and Debra stared at him, surprised at his determined outburst, slowly picking themselves up and stepping onto the path. They turned right and began to walk forward, their assault rifles held across their chests, glancing across the terrain cautiously as a distant shriek filtered towards them across the rocks.
Sam was checking the area to the north again with his binoculars, straining his eyes to catch a glimpse of life. He had seen what he thought to be some movement briefly, but the numerous jagged rock formations severely restricted his view across the terrain.
Captain Dugachard stood behind him impatiently, her hands on her hips, ‘Do you see anything?’
Sam shook his head slowly, still staring through the binoculars, ‘No Sir…there are too many rocks.’
The captain rolled her eyes, ‘There is something going on…I can sense it. Muffled gunfire from the mine, a couple of distant shots in the valley.’ She bit her lower lip, ‘We need support…the defenders are too weak here and this town is the main route in and out of the valley. If the Silakians are reinforced and overcome us, they will cut off both the Brigade and the soldiers at the mine.’ She hesitated as some distant shots rang out, glancing to the west, ‘Have a look towards the mine again Sam, there is some firing.’
She leant over the balcony barrier, shouting at the two soldiers on the tower opposite, some forty metres away, ‘One of you focus on the mine…the other in the valley! I want information!’
The marine opposite raised his fist to his chest and strode round the platform, raising his binoculars as he disappeared from view behind the tower.
Sam rolled the zoom on the binoculars, staring through the glasses at the mountains in the distance. He slowly began to move the binoculars across the terrain, then he stopped, moving them back, the hairs on the back of his neck standing on end, ‘Sir! I can see something!’
Captain Dugachard stepped forward to be next to him, ‘What is it? Let me see…’
Sam lowered the glasses, passing them to her, ‘It’s gone now…it was only for a second…in the distance, a black figure between the rocks.’
The Captain raised the glasses quickly, her voice rising and demanding, ‘Where? Are you sure it was black?’
Sam hesitated, surprised by the ferocity in her voice. The captain moved the glasses, her head twisting to look at him, her face concerned, voice even more demanding, ‘Tell me!’
Sam nodded, ‘I am pretty sure it was black, very dark anyway…what is it?’
Captain Dugachard raised the glasses again, her voice rising, ‘Describe it to me.’
Sam cleared his throat, ‘I am not sure, it was very quick. A dark figure, probably black, moved between two rocks…I only saw it for a split second.’ He stared into the distance, the captain moving the magnification on the glasses and slowly panning across the distant rocks and mountains.
He looked down at his boots, ‘It wasn’t much…it was only, well a glint of light on the figure caught my eye, then I looked back and it was gone.’
The captain lowered the glasses and turned to look at him, her face filling with concern. Sam’s eyes widened, ‘What is it? What have I seen?’
Captain Dugachard swallowed, ‘You saw a definite glint of light against the black body armour?’
Sam nodded slowly, his nervousness rising, ‘I-I think so…yes.’
She turned back and slowly raised the glasses, her voice low, ‘Then we are in far more danger than we thought…the Morgons are here…and more are coming!’
Shino glanced around, her nervousness rising. The breeze that enveloped them seemed to heighten their fear, the rustling of bushes and distant shrieks creating a daunting backdrop to their walk. Tregan had strode on ahead initially, his emotions in turmoil after the loss of his friend. The other three had left him for a short time, realising his pain, perhaps frustration and feelings of guilt at surviving when his comrade had sacrificed himself for them, a race of people they had sworn to protect.
Debra eventually jogged after the Trevakian marine, drawing alongside him as he walked, his expression grim. She had strode with him for a couple of minutes before speaking, letting his mind get used to the idea of conversing again. She cleared her throat to announce her intention to talk, ‘Were you close to your friend?’
Tregan nodded, biting his lower lip, ‘Yes, we trained together a number of years ago and have hardly been apart.’ He glanced across at her, his eyes cold, ‘We fought in several campaigns together after training…he was always the braver man.’
Debra nodded, ‘It is hard, but you must remember what you told us. He came to the conclusion that we could not all survive. Then selflessly decided that his sacrifice would allow us to go on.’
Tregan nodded again, his eyes straining, ‘Perhaps…but he was always my closest friend…now I have no one…’ He wiped his gloved hand across his eyes, the emotional pain seeming to overwhelm him for a second. He coughed, then swallowed hard, his voice strained, ‘We came a long way together…and now the journey is over…’
Debra reached out and gently placed her gloved hand on the tall marine’s shoulder, ‘It will be painful for a long time…but we are your friends now. We will never replace him…but we can honour him with everything we do.’ A tear ran down her face, her hand feeling his shoulder shake slightly as he cleared his throat. She glanced back over her shoulder, ‘Do you think we can survive out here without you?’
Tregan forced a grin, glancing at her, tears in his eyes, ‘It appears whether we like it or not that our time together is now!’
Debra smiled warmly, her emotion rising, ‘Let’s get to the Armoured Brigade. We need to warn them of what is behind them…that the Morgons have found a way through, or they will die too.’
Tregan grimaced, ‘Yes, this may become a lot worse before we can escape their clutches. If this valley falls, we don’t know what is behind us to stop them. They may have a clear route through to the rear of our main positions…we will lose the planet if that happens.’ His jaw stiffened, ‘We also need to get the information that Shino found out to earth…that they may be there already…your people need to know.’
Debra nodded, her eyes widening, ‘We are all the same people now, Trevakian…human…we have one common enemy together.’
Tregan stared into her eyes for a second, then he spun round looking at the two behind them, ‘You two! Close up with us! We need to be together, concentrate fire if we get attacked.’ He glanced at the sky, seeing the clouds had begun to thicken, ‘It will snow soon, we need to get to the brigade as soon as possible.’
Shino jogged towards him, Riaz behind, ‘I like the snow…it makes the world so beautiful.’
Tregan shook his head, ‘It is also perfect cover for the enemy as they move behind us. Think of the town, how many soldiers they have….if they take the town, we are finished and so are the men at the mine!’
Riaz nodded, glancing around cautiously as he slowed to a brisk walk, determination on his face, ‘Let’s move then. You lead…we will keep up somehow. Let’s get these bastards back!’
Tregan’s eyes widened, glancing at Debra, ‘It seems we may have another marine in our group now.’
Riaz grinned sheepishly, ‘Damn right! Let’s move!’
Tregan smiled, raising his fist to his chest in acknowledgement. Turning, he started to jog along the dirt track, the others increasing their pace and falling in behind him as they ran. Around them, the first snowflakes began to fall gradually across the jagged rocks.
Chapter Sixteen: Secrecy
The video conference call was cut, the Prime Minister turning to the small number of suited people in the room, ‘Ladies and Gentlemen, we will have a brief discussion and then an informal supp
er with our guest before the later video conference. He turned to Admiral Karladen, ‘If you could possible assist with your opinion…please tell us what our next step is?’
The Admiral sighed, his expression becoming grave, ‘Your losses in fighters has far exceeded our expectations. I suspect the Morgon’s will be preparing their drop ships as we speak, their infantry getting ready to land on your planet.’
The Prime Minister nodded solemnly, ‘We have requested further assistance from across the world. As we speak more fighters are being sent from our allies and even countries that have been previously hostile towards us. What else can we do?’
Admiral Karladen pushed himself back in his seat, looking thoughtfully around the small television room at the few assembled cabinet ministers and the opposition leader. He sighed, then glanced back at the computer screens at the end of the room, ‘How many more fighters can you muster? What is the situation with your airfields?’
The Prime Minister indicated to one of the RAF intelligence officers, ‘Brief us please on the current status…’
The RAF officer nodded uncomfortably, ‘Yes Prime Minister.’ He shuffled the papers in front of him and tapped the space bar on his laptop, the screen brightening as the latest reports scrolled up the page. He glanced down, reading from the information on the screen, ‘As you may know already, our medium and long range missile targeting systems do not seem to be able to see the enemy aircraft effectively, so we are relying on low level batteries that are more effective through heat seeking targeting and direct fire.’ He glanced upwards, seeing the frowns and frustrated expressions across the room.
Nervously he cleared his throat, ‘Heathrow is now only accepting essential military supply traffic, we deployed considerable low level anti-aircraft batteries there and it seems to have stopped the enemy for now. However, the airport authority reports considerable damage to its infrastructure. RAF Northolt is virtually unusable, the terminal buildings and runway having been heavily bombed. RAF Brize Norton has limited capacity, also suffering extreme damage. Stansted is struggling to cope with the traffic landing there and Gatwick’s runway is heavily cratered. Luton is also reporting damage to infrastructure and its terminal buildings.’ He glanced up at the Prime Minister, seeing the man indicate for him to proceed. He shook his head, ‘In summary…most airports and RAF fields in the south east and midlands have sustained considerable damage…they are weakening our ability to respond or to protect ourselves. We are having to land all incoming fighters away from the combat area to ensure their safety before they join the battle.’
The Last Marine in the Galaxy (Galaxies Collide Book 1) Page 15