by Jay Allan
I envisioned this moment years ago, when I first left the blasted hell of Erastus, but even then, determined as I was, I could not foresee this gathering, so many noble soldiers, 70,000 warriors ready to take on a world! We cannot know what will happen after we march through that Portal. We may be divided into different groups, scattered around the globe. But whatever missions await us, whatever battles and struggles you may be called upon to face, know that I am with each of you. Always.
Go forth, my soldiers. Face the foe with the honor and strength you have shown in all things. Know always that our cause is just, that we fight to destroy a great evil…and restore freedom to our families and people. I will not lie and tell you our task is easy, nor that it will not be costly. Many will die, perhaps most of us. But we will prevail. Whatever it takes.
Whatever it takes.
It was cold. Damned cold.
Karl Young had served more than ten years on Erastus, and in that time his body had thoroughly adapted to the brutal conditions there. The soldiers who’d left the planet they called Gehenna along with Jake Taylor took with them that conditioning, the lower hydration and wiry, muscular frames of men who’d marched thousands of kilometers in the blow torch heat of that nightmare world. It had been years now, and Young and his comrades had adapted yet again. When he’d first left Erastus, even a cool breeze on a temperate world cut through him like a knife. He remembered lying on his cot, wrapped in as many coverings as he could find yet still shivering uncontrollably. But he’d gradually adapted to cooler temperatures, and even to the cold, stinging rains they’d encountered on more than one planet. He’d seen worlds where a brief shower dropped more precipitation than Gehenna’s deserts saw in a year. But none of that had prepared him for the icy blasts of the Siberian winter.
“My God,” he said, struggling to control the shivering long enough to get his words out clearly. “What frozen hell is this?”
“It’s a Russian winter, sir. It’s thwarted more than one invasion before. Napoleon, Hitler…my grandfather used to tell me the stories when I was young.” There was something in the statement, the slightest flash of patriotic pride, perhaps. The terminus from Ghasara was located in the northern wastes of eastern Russia, an almost uninhabited wasteland of deep frozen lakes and endless snow-covered steppes. Ivan Stokaya was Russian, like over half the troops that had come through the Portal with Young. Or at least his parents had been born Russian—technically, Stokaya had been a citizen of UNGov’s universal state his entire life. But for all UNGov’s efforts to eradicate connections to the old nation states and their varied cultures and histories, vestiges stubbornly remained.
The few people that had lived in the area had long been rounded up by UNGov and moved to more centralized areas. Earth’s government preferred to have its citizens living where they were more easily watched, and few of the planet’s wastes were more remote and inaccessible than the frozen tundra of northeastern Russia. But UNGov didn’t know there was a Portal terminus in this frozen waste, and their efforts to depopulate the region had inadvertently created an ideal entry point for Taylor’s army, one overlooked even by UNGov’s network of spy satellites.
Indeed, the Portal was in a perfect location to transit without being detected, which was one reason why the army had gone to Ghasara. The Tegeri maps of the Portal network had offered other opportunities—there were many Portals on Earth that UNGov had yet to discover—but this northern wasteland was preferable to an exit point buried deep below the Earth or at the bottom of an ocean.
Young fastened the hook at the top of his parka, and then he reached down and slid his hands into the heavy gloves that had been hooked to his belt. The Tegeri had supplied Taylor’s people with cold weather gear, and now Young knew why.
“Well, let’s hope we don’t add to that list, Captain.” Young stamped his feet, moving around trying to get warm, but all he could feel was wave after wave of biting cold. He looked up at Stokaya, his eyes tearing from the bitter wind, lashes sparkling as the moisture froze almost immediately. “Is everyone through?”
“Yes, sir. All troops have transited. They are awaiting your orders.”
Young just nodded. His orders from Taylor were clear. First, scout out the area and confirm it was safe for the army to follow. And then he was to send out the infiltration teams, small groups of soldiers from various areas of the Earth who would spread out, hide, blend in…find their ways by whatever means they could back to their homes. Once there, they would spread the word, rally the people from the bottom up. The strategy was a gamble—no one really knew how deep UNGov’s control ran, whether or not the people still had the capacity to rise up, to resist and destroy their oppressors. But there was no other option. No 70,000 men every made could conquer an entire world unaided. The AOL would fight to the last, Young was sure of that. But they needed help too.
Young longed to go with the teams, to see the lands of his childhood after so many years…but covert ops were out of the question for him. Most of the Supersoldier mods weren’t terribly obvious, at least if he wasn’t wearing his exos and the fittings where they attached to his body were covered by clothing. But the metallic eyes were a dead giveaway. The average person wouldn’t know what he was at a distance, but his very gaze would bring attention to him. And on Earth ruled by UNGov, there was almost always someone watching, an internal security operative or a citizen paid to spy on his neighbors. And when word got to the proper authorities, UNGov would understand immediately. They would know there were Erastus veterans back on Earth.
“All right, Captain. Deploy the scouting parties. As soon as we confirm we are here undetected, we’ll release the infiltration teams…and we’ll send word back to the army and set up a perimeter around the Portal.”
“Yes, General,” Stokaya snapped back. The officer saluted, and then he turned and trotted into the cluster of troops milling around the Portal.
Young watched his aide go, trying to think of anything but the cold. He didn’t relish the picket duty, protecting the Portal while the army came through, not the least of which because there would be no portable heaters, no fires…nothing that might be detected. He shivered as his eyes darted upward, toward the clear blue sky. What is this frigid hell like at night, he thought, shivering slightly as he did.
* * *
Li Wong pulled the hood of his heavy coat over his head as he stared off across the snowy steppe. The cold was brutal, though he had to admit, the Tegeri-supplied gear was doing a credible job of keeping him something not too far from warm, even in the frozen Russian wasteland around the Portal.
Li had volunteered for sentry duty on the perimeter around the terminus. Not only guard duty, but night guard duty. He could only imagine how cold it would get when the sun set in another hour. By the end of his shift, it would be a few hours before dawn. But by then, Li Wong would be gone.
He wore the insignia of a sergeant, the rank he had held in Force Alantris, but his true allegiance was to UNGov. He was an intelligence officer, originally sent to spy on the soldiers fighting the Machines on Alantris. He’d volunteered for the five year term of service, one that offered considerable compensation and a cushy government posting upon return. But instead of finishing his last year and going back to receive his rewards, he’d been swept up, first into the battle against the mysterious human army that had invaded Alantris…and then joining that force, following Jake Taylor and his Erastus veterans on their crusade against UNGov.
Li had gone along, at first because his whole unit had defected, and he feared what would happen if he didn’t go with them. But then he began plotting, on his own at first, and later with other UNGov operatives he found in the ranks of the AOL. They began to meet, very cautiously at first, and to plot. But there had been little they could do…until now.
The time for action had come. There weren’t a lot of UNGov agents left in the army. Jake Taylor had a remarkable talent for sniffing out disloyalty, and more than a hundred men with allegiance to
Geneva had been rooted out and executed as spies. But Wong had managed to survive, as much because he’d been too afraid to do anything but act like a normal soldier. Beyond a few clandestine meetings, Wong had played the role of a sergeant in the AOL, not daring to vary from that in any meaningful way.
Until now. Things were coming to a head, and despite his firsthand knowledge of Taylor’s skill and ability, he had to believe UNGov on Earth would prevail…and his survival and prosperity depended on what he did now. He could fight in the ranks, and probably end up dead along with all the fools who’d sworn their allegiance to Taylor…or he could strike a blow, alert UNGov to the presence of the Portal and the coming of the AOL. Then he would be a hero, and the rewards would be unimaginable.
He looked out at the setting sun, its reddish rays providing the last bits of the day’s light. Soon it would be night…and he would run for it. He was afraid, and he could hear his heart pounding in his ears. But there was no choice. If he didn’t make his move now, the chance would be lost. Slowly, with great effort, he pushed back the fear, shoving rationality into the forefront of his mind. It was almost time, and he had to be at his best. Success meant a life of comfort and privilege. Anything else meant frozen death.
* * *
“We have a soldier missing, General.” Ivan Stokaya stood at the doorway of Young’s small shelter, the frigid dawn wind whipping around him.
“Come in, Captain. And close the door.” Without any artificial heat source, the shelter was cold, but it was well-insulated, and however uncomfortable, it was a damned sight warmer than it was outside, from Young’s trapped body heat if nothing else.
Young was lying on his field cot, covered in a massive pile of blankets, some miscellaneous hunks of fabric, and something that looked a lot like a tarp of some kind. He’d been awake for the last hour, but the great warrior, who had fought through more than ten years in the legendary cauldron of Erastus and then served alongside Taylor as the AOL fought its way across a dozen worlds, had been steeling his courage to face the bitter cold.
Young took a deep breath and swung his legs over the cot, sitting up to face Stokaya. “Missing?”
“Yes, sir. Sergeant Li. He was on picket duty last night, sector H. He didn’t answer the 4am check in, so Lieutenant Hammond sent two men to check his position. When they got there, he was gone.”
Young stood up, wrapping a large blanket around his shoulders as he did. “Gone?” His voice turned somber. “Is it possible the cold got to him? Could he have frozen to death? Wandered off and gotten lost in the darkness?”
“They searched everywhere, sir. After the initial report, the lieutenant sent a dozen men to search. They found footsteps about a kilometers out, sir. It appears he must have covered his tracks until he was that far away from the camp.”
“Could he have gone mad? The cold maybe?” But Young knew that wasn’t the case…he knew it as well as his aide did, and the realization made his stomach clench. “Or something else…”
He dropped the blanket and moved across the tiny interior of the shelter, reaching for his parka. “I want a platoon sent after him, Captain. Immediately. They are to find him at all costs and bring him back.”
“Yes, sir,” Stokaya snapped back. He turned back toward the door.
“And, Captain…”
“Yes, sir?”
“They are to bring him back at all costs. Dead or alive.”
“Yes, sir.”
Young sighed and watched his aide slip back out through the door. He shoved his arms into the coat and zipped it up to the top. Then he took a step to follow, pausing for an instant.
Fuck, he thought. This is just what we need…
Young hesitated for perhaps half a minute, thinking…and readying himself for the early morning blast of frozen wind. Then he shoved the door open and strode out into the hazy dawn light. At least he didn’t feel the cold as much as he had been…his mind was elsewhere. His force had been sent to lead the way for the army, but now the entire operation was in jeopardy.
He had a UNGov spy in his ranks, and even now the man was on the loose. If Li got word to the government…
Young tapped the small communicator pinned on his jacket. “Captain Carrington,” he said, instructing the small AI to connect him with the specified officer.
“Yes, sir?” Carrington’s response was almost immediate.
“Chris, I need you to get your men together right away. I’ve got a special mission for you, and it’s urgent.”
“Yes, General. Where do you want us?”
“Meet me at sector H as soon as you can…I’m on my way there now.”
“We’ll be right there, sir.”
Young tapped the com unit again, cutting the link. His faced was twisted with frustration, and rage. This was serious. If UNGov got word of the invasion before the army had even transited…
No, he could not allow that to happen. He’d sworn his devotion to the crusade, and he wouldn’t let himself fail his comrades so badly. If the AOL had to fight its way out of the Portal, even against a small, hastily-gathered UN force, the casualties would be enormous. He fought back against the frustration he felt inside, the boiling anger trying to force its way out. His friends called him Frantic, a handle he’d picked up on Erastus, one that poked fun at his frequent outbursts. But this time he was determined to keep control.
Jake trusted me with this mission…
Carrington was an Erastus veteran, a Supersoldier just like Young…and so were all his men. The enhanced warriors were only five percent of the army’s numbers, but Young knew they were a vastly higher portion of its fighting power. One Supersoldier was a match for five regular men, perhaps even more. Even more importantly right now, they would have the advantage over Li Wong…if they managed to pick up his trail, they should be able to catch him. And when they did…
Young hastened his pace, practically jogging as he moved out toward the position where Li had been posted. He’d been entrusted to lead the first force through the Portal, and the idea of failure was anathema to him. If he failed in his mission, he would have failed Taylor too. And Jake Taylor was his longtime commander…and his friend. He would die for Jake Taylor…and he wasn’t about to let his leader down now. Whatever it took.
* * *
Li stopped and dropped to his knees. He’d been running for hours, and his legs just gave out. He gasped hard, still shuddering from the frigid air as it filled his lungs. He had no idea where he was, no clue how to reach a settlement or some other place he could contact UNGov. He was pretty sure his com unit didn’t have the range he’d need, at least not unless he got closer to some kind of government post somewhere. He’d been tempted to try, to see if he got lucky, picked up some rogue station that could connect him with Geneva, but he’d held back. The AOL advance guard was as likely to pick up any transmission he made, likelier in fact, since they were closer and no doubt looking for him by now.
He felt a pang of regret for taking the risk he had. If he’d just stayed behind, he could have played his role as a sergeant in the army, as he’d done for so long. Then, at least, he’d be in camp, instead of out here in the wilderness running God knows where and panicking that every tree rustling in the wind was his pursuers finally catching up to him.
Instead, he’d seduced himself with dreams of rewards…high government postings, a villa in Geneva, all the trappings UNGov showered on its truest servants. And the man who had warned them of the AOL’s arrival, gotten the word out in time to resist as the thousands of soldiers on Ghasara begin moving through the Portal one or two abreast? He didn’t have the slightest doubt…he’d be a hero. And he didn’t have political ambition, just a desire to live the rest of his life in comfort and privilege. That made him the perfect tool for the rapacious politicians who ran UNGov.
Still, he’d taken a wild gamble. Or had he? Staying with the army wasn’t a much better option. Li knew Taylor and his band of zealots didn’t have a chance, not against the com
bined might of all UNGov. And if he got caught in their ranks he could easily find himself as dead as the rest of them. No, making a run for it was the right choice.
He told himself he had surprise on his side, and a big head start. The advance guard hadn’t brought any vehicles through the Portal, no transports, no airships. And even if they rushed any through now, they would take time to reassemble. Li had been through half a dozen transits, and he was well aware how much work was required to take apart large pieces of equipment so they would fit through the small Portal openings. No, there would be no vehicles. General Young would almost certainly send people after him, but at least they’d be on foot, like he was.
But he does have Supersoldiers…
That was the thought that scared him. The Erastus veterans with their cybernetic enhancements. They weren’t like normal men. They had surgically-implanted artificial fibers in their arm and leg muscles, making them stronger and faster. Their enhanced systems included expanded glycogen storage, giving them endurance far beyond that of normal men. Their lungs were modified, increasing the efficiency of their respiration. They were superior in virtually every physical ability.
If one of them caught him…he tried to put the thought out of his head. There were only twenty of them with the advance guard, and there was a lot of ground to cover. He’d changed his direction multiple times, and he’d done the best he could to clear his tracks leading away from his post. He told himself he had enough of a lead, that the area was just too vast for his pursuers to cover. But he wasn’t sure he believed it. The Erastus men were Taylor’s oldest and most loyal troops. Li knew they would follow him, without rest, without food…that they would keep coming until they dropped from exhaustion and died.