Hero

by Joel Rosenberg

  He wasn't, of course. A seventeen-year-old, offplanet for the first time, shouldn't have been offered any kind of command at all. Unless he were an exceptional soldier, and under exceptional circumstances.

  This was exceptional, but not in the good sense. Offworlders tend to overplay the influence of Metzada's Nipponese heritage. There had only been a few Bushidists transported to Metzada, along with the Children of Israel, and their influence is more apparent than real: his uncle's epicanthic folds, his brother's name. But sometimes the influence is there.

  There was a time when his Nipponese ancestors belted some of their young men into stubby-winged gliders called bakus, each with a half ton of explosives in its nose. When they did, their faces may have looked like Shimon's did as he asked again:

  "Well, Ari? Are you ready?"

  Ari drew himself up straight. "Yes, sir," he said slowly, "I'm ready."

  "We'll see how you do," Zuchelli sneered. "We'll see about that when you're under Distacamento de la Fedeltà discipline—"

  "Wrong." Shimon shook his head. "We're not attaching him to F Company. Just the other way around. I'm not going to see my nephew swinging from your gallows if the attack fails and he's lucky enough to survive."

  "Eh?"

  "It's simple, Major. You don't have authority over my men; you do over CPE forces. So instead of loaning Jocko a company commander, I'm having him loan me a company." Shimon Bar-El smiled. "Which puts paid to your meddling, doesn't it?" He pulled a sheaf of flimsies out from his breast pocket and slammed them down on Giacometti's desk. "Sign this, Vittorio. It attaches F Company to my Thirtieth—"

  "Mm." Giacometti smiled. "Putting Casalinguese forces under Metzadan control?" he asked, toying with the idea.

  Shimon shrugged. "Those are the terms. Those are my terms. How's your comm to Divisione?"

  "At the moment? Land lines are up; soon as you get out of here, I am going to use one to call up my cousin in Gl. It's all I have: radio truck got hit by a cruise two days ago, and plexlase went down last week. Any spare 'tronics techs handy?"

  "Sorry. All the fancy electronics looked so nice in the showroom, didn't it?"

  "Very pretty, indeed." Giacometti almost smiled. "Ah, well. That still doesn't solve the problem."

  Bar-El snorted. "So get off the pot and get your general on the line. If you don't think you have the authority to detach a company," Shimon said, smiling to take the sting out of the reproach.

  Zuchelli had been holding his peace impatiently. "I object," he said. "I refuse to permit any operation that involves separating our forces from the watch of Distacamento de la Fedeltà troops."

  "Shit, Major," Tetsuo said, "in another couple of weeks the whole damn war is going to be over—the TW is shoving a cease-fire up your ass, remember? Why not just grease the way a bit and make it easier on yourself, eh?"

  "Gracious as always, Tetsuo," Shimon said. "Still, Major, his point stands."

  Zuchelli tented his fingers in front of his face. "If we had known about the cease-fire, I hardly think that your regiment would have been hired."

  "So? You offering us two weeks off, with combat pay?"

  "Don't be silly. I don't have that kind of authority."

  "So shut up." Shimon Bar-El turned to Giacometti. "Decide, now."

  Giacometti looked from Shimon to Zuchelli, and then back to Shimon. Giacometti would have to live with the Distacamento de la Fedeltà for the rest of the war, and well into the scapegoat-hunting period of the truce. Right here and now, Zuchelli couldn't overrule him directly. But he might be able to see that Giacometti was hanged later.

  "You want to go with them, Major?" Giacometti asked.

  "Of course."

  Giacometti pursed his lips. "I'll give you the company, Shimon. But you'll have to take Major Zuchelli and a Distacamento de la Fedeltà squad, too."

  "That seems a reasonable compromise." Zuchelli turned to Ari and nodded. "We'll help you chivvy them along in the attack."

  "No." Shimon pulled out a tabstick. "You can bring up the rear, Major. But not Ari." He looked at Ari. "This will be my nephew's command, Major Zuchelli. Tell him, Ari."

  "None of the men," Ari started, "will—"

  "No," Shimon said. "Again."

  "None of my men," Ari said, parroting the words he had learned in school, "will set foot on hostile ground before me. I lead the attack, Major Zuchelli."

  And I'll not disgrace my family again, he thought—terrified that he was lying to himself.

  He was able to get a moment alone with Elena in Giacometti's outer office, while Shimon and the others were going over details of the assignment and orders. Zuchelli's two guards had been loitering in the outer office, but left at a twin glare from Ari and Elena.

  When the door closed, she came into his arms. She smelled of soap and lemon.

  "Stefano—I mean, Major Zuchelli—I know he won't let me come with you. I can come out after, probably." She ran her fingers through his hair, her nails gentle against his scalp. "I can see you after you've taken a town for me."

  He forced a smile, "Of course. You can wear it on your finger."

  Her lips were warm against his for a long moment, but they jerked apart guiltily at the sound of a creaking chair. They were still alone. "You asked me about the long term," she said.

  He nodded. "Yes, I did."

  Her eyes brightened. "I took out my Bible the other day. Remember the part from Ruth? 'Wither thou goest. . . .' "

  "She was talking to her mother-in-law."

  "I'm talking to you."

  He was reaching for her when the door creaked opened, and he tried to turn the motion into something more natural, sure that he ended up looking like a puppet on a tangled string.

  Zuchelli nodded at him. "Are you ready, Captain?"

  "Always, Major."

  CHAPTER 15

  Tetsuo Hanavi: Keeping the Faith

  HEADQUARTERS

  Thirtieth Regiment Metzadan Mercenary Corps,

  Operational

  Menadito, Casalingpaesa, Nueva Terra

  Special Field Orders 10/28/38

  To: Captain (brevet) Ari Hanavi, MMC

  Assignment

  1. Effective immediately, by order of the commander of the 2nd Division of the Casalingpaesesercito (hereinafter CPE), Company P of the 21st Battalion, 10th Brigade CPE is detached from the CPE and attached to the MMC Expeditionary force for a period of five (5) days.

  2. You are herewith detached from present duly, designated as commanding officer of this company, and so assigned.

  3. You are reminded that during the period in which you will be serving as commander of Company F, the company is attached to the MMC and is to be considered as though it is a part of the MMC. It is your responsibility to conduct yourself and your company accordingly.

  Mission

  4. On 10/30/32 at 0230 local time, your company will capture Anchorville (Correggio).

  5. Artillery preparation will be at your discretion.

  Forces

  6. Enemy forces:

  a. Direct opposition:

  1) The enemy force in Anchorville itself consists of a reduced-strength company of Freiheim troops. Ten crew-served automatic weapons of standard type are emplaced in a rough arc approximately 260 meters to the south of the town. (See map)

  2) All indications are that the herrenvolk are in just as tired and sorry shape as are the Casalinguese.

  b. Supporting opposition:

  1) Supporting enemy forces appear to consist of two artillery batteries, capable of laying down a barrage approximately 200 yards in front of the auto emplacements.

  2) Freiheimer communication is known to be inadequate. It appears that the signal for the barrage is the firing of a green rocket, which results in a Battery Ten along the indicated area (see map) on the south side of Anchorville.

  7. Friendly forces, Supporting:

  a. Three batteries of the CPE Twenty-Fifth Artillery Battalion. Note: Company G (Heavy M
ortar) of the 21st Battalion CPE has been detached and will NOT be available for supporting fire.

  b. Daleth Party (see below) will consist of a two-person detachment from Eighteenth Regiment HQ, consisting of Captain Tetsuo Hanavi and Master Private Dov Ginsberg. These will be supplemented by Casalinguese DF troops.

  8. Friendly forces, Adjacent:

  a. Company E of the 81st Battalion CPE (see map).

  b. Company H of the 21st Battalion CPE (see map).

  Allotment of units

  9. Platoons 1 and 2 are designated Aleph Party; Aleph Party will be under your direct leadership.

  10. Platoon 3 and the First section of Platoon 4 are designated Bet Party; Bet Party will be under the command of Lieutenant Paulo Stuarti.

  11. The second section of Platoon 4 is designated Gimel Party. You will designate a senior NCO to lead it. You will also, on a one-for-one basis, exchange all armed medic personnel from other sections for non-medic personnel in Gimel Party. In effect, Gimel Party will be the medic section. However, your attention is drawn to the Casalinguese practice of unarmed medics and the wearing of brassards; as all personnel will be armed, the brassards MUST repeat MUST be discarded to avoid violation of the Conventions of War.

  12. The two-person detachment from Eighteenth Regiment HQ plus an unknown number of CPE DF troops are designated Daleth Party.

  Execution

  13. Company F will, under cover of darkness, insert itself onto north face of Hill 201. Should you choose to employ artillery preparation, upon the firing of a red flare from Hill 201, the supporting artillery will engage in preparatory fire on the autogun emplacements. Either after or in the absence of preparatory fire, Company F will advance, assault, and take Anchorville.

  14. Mission of Aleph Party:

  a. Aleph Party will approach Anchorville, in staggered line deployment, as the first wave.

  b. While the advance will he silent, it is anticipated that you may be able to get no closer than fifty meters from the defensive perimeter without drawing enemy attention and fire; accordingly, when the lead elements are fifty meters from the line, Aleph Party will take cover.

  c. If the defenders observe Aleph Party prior to that, you may exercise your option to call in preparatory fire, and will in any case take cover. The actual line at which Aleph Party takes cover will be considered the line of departure.

  d. Upon your voice signal, Aleph Party will rise and, maintaining moving fire, overrun the autogun emplacements and assault Anchorville. You will overrun any opposition, and strike into the heart of the town.

  e. After securing the town, you will prepare defensive positions against a possible Freiheimer counterattack.

  f. Pursuit and exploitation are forbidden; the limit of your advance will be the northern outskirts of Anchorville.

  15. Mission of Bet Party:

  a. Bet Party will be positioned at the military crest of Hill 201.

  b. During the assault by Aleph Party, Bet Party will advance to engage the enemy auto guns in suppressive fire. After the autoguns are overrun, Bet Party will complete the tactical elimination of any opposition on the outskirts of Anchorville, and then proceed to coordinate with Aleph the final reduction of the defenders.

  16. Mission of Gimel Party: Gimel Party will function as armed medic and support, giving first aid to casualties from the first two assaults, and will also function as the reserves at your option.

  17. Mission of Daleth Party and CAF DF troops: Daleth Party and the CAF DF troops will engage in any measures necessary to encourage soldiers and officers in the performance of their duty.

  Logistics and Support

  18. All supplies will be furnished by the CPE QM Corps. Medical evacuation via skimmer will take place once the town has been brought under your control.

  Command and Signal

  19. Signal Instructions and information: It should be noted that local commo is unreliable, and is not to be depended on.

  a. A red flare will instruct your supporting artillery to engage in or repeat its preparatory fire mission. For the sake of simplicity, the fire mission will be a Battery Three.

  b. A blue flare followed by two yellow flares will signal the completion of the mission.

  c. A double white flare will call for final protective fire beyond the town.

  d. (Special) You are reminded that, in current local Freiheim usage, a green flare is the order for a Freiheim defensive barrage (see map for rough area of barrage.)

  20. Location of commander: During the assault, you will be located at or near the point position.

  Special Order: If all else fails, improvise.

  (signed)

  Shimon Bar-El

  General, MMC

  Across from Tetsuo in the cramped passenger compartment, Ari was going through sheafs of flimsies—mainly personnel reports—as though they mattered.

  Tetsuo sighed and shook his head, then picked up his copy and read the orders again as the skimmer rattled along.

  They were a standard set of formal orders, old-style, just like he studied in school. Nicely done, very nicely done—Shimon had even been careful enough to keep the brevetting orders separate. Ari might have to show these to some Casas; best they keep thinking Ari was a first lieutenant who had been brevetted to captain, and not a green private.

  The last line was one of Shimon's trademarks. There's an old saying to the effect that a battle plan never survives the battle; the last line was Shimon's guarantee that his would.

  Tetsuo didn't want to admit it, but Ari was bringing off the commanding officer bit quite well: there was a confident air to the way he flipped through the flimsies, pausing occasionally as though he could separate what was revealing from what was just pro forma paperwork.

  No, that wasn't true, Tetsuo did want to admit it: he was happy that Ari was faking it well.

  Ari probably wasn't thinking it through, though. Tetsuo was willing to bet that baby brother hadn't noted that both skimmers were overloaded, which didn't bode well. When you're near the front, overloaded transport usually means that supplies are coming through on an irregular basis. The Casas were throwing everything into Triumphant, down south: The northern front was suffering, and not just in supply. He could hear the fluttering whine of the forward fan, clear evidence that routine maintenance was going by the boards. The Casas were overusing equipment, expending it instead of maintaining it.

  Not the only thing that was being expended.

  Tetsuo admired the old man, but this was raw, even for Shimon. Might work, though, if Ari could get his head out of his ass long enough to lead a charge.

  Just one time, little brother, just once. That was all Tetsuo wanted.

  After that, he thought, drumming his fingers against his thigh, a disabling wound—in the legs, say, or the gut—heroically received, and Ari could go back to being the clerk that he clearly was destined to be.

  Tetsuo shrugged. It might be worse. They'd called Ari the General when they all were boys, but they weren't boys anymore. They were men, with men's responsibilities to the family. Here, Benyamin was head of the family, and Benyamin had told Tetsuo to make sure that if Ari fucked up this time he didn't have the chance to do it again.

  We take care of our own. He wouldn't stop Dov from killing Ari if Ari froze again, but that was where he drew the line. Tetsuo would take care of his own.

  Besides, all Ari had to do was stand up and shout Follow me.

  Once.

  He could do that.

  Through the window to the skimmer's cargo compartment, he could see Dov sitting on the large aluminum case containing his personal supplies. It took a lot of ammunition to keep Dov in business; Tetsuo thought of the ugly man as a human weapons carrier.

  Dov was also one of the few men who could take Tetsuo in a fair hand-to-hand, although if Tetsuo ever had to go up against Shimon's pet psychopath, it wouldn't be a hand-to-hand affair. Tetsuo would prefer a sniper rifle at four hundred meters, but he would se
ttle for a flamethrower at a hundred.

  There was a certain something about the times when you're moving out, Tetsuo decided. There was something special about traveling in the direction of an armed enemy. His stomach was always tight, of course, and he knew that if he didn't control each and every word he spoke there would be a tremor in his voice that could be heard a klick away, but there was something special about it, too. The air tasted sweet, and rare, and precious. The only time it tasted sweeter was after.

  Zuchelli held out a pack of tabsticks to Ari—who declined with a shake of his head—and then to Tetsuo. "Would you care for one, Captain?"

  "Yes, Major. Thank you." Tetsuo thumbed a stick to life and inhaled the rich smoke. Tobacco was one of his offworld vices, and the Casas had good tobacco—mainly burley, with just a spicy hint of perique.

  "Might I examine your sidearm?" Zuchelli asked Ari. "Looks like an expert's weapon to me."

  Tetsuo kept his face blank.

  "Certainly," Ari said, loosening the tie-down thong, then slowly drawing the Desert Eagle. He thumbed the clip free and worked the slide, making sure the chamber was empty before he handed the weapon to Zuchelli.

  Zuchelli examined it with a smile. "Classic, Captain, a classic. Desert Eagle, I believe?"

  Ari nodded sagely, "Very early. It's a Belge copy of the one that originally had a reversible safety," he said, as if he knew what he was talking about. It was something that Benyamin had once mentioned.

  "Eh?"

  "Originally, if you stripped the piece and put the safety in backward, you could find that what you thought was putting the gun off safe had just the opposite effect. It's important to know when a weapon's live."

  "It is, at that. Is this your regular sidearm?"

  "Yeah."

  Zuchelli nodded, his face impassive.