The Vanguard Emerges (Maraukian War Book 2)

by Michael Chatfield

  “We will reach our destination in two hours,” the pilot said as many of the passengers used external sensors to look at the planet below and around them.

  Mark did, too. Air-cars whizzed to and fro between the massive sky towers and other larger vehicles littered the sky. He looked to the bottom of the towers, seeing a sea of garbage to be taken away. It was picked through by the poor so they could live a few more days, instead of working in the massive factories that supplied Earth and Her Colonies with goods.

  Mark closed off the sensors and changed his display to his reader.

  “About to land,” Sarah told him.

  His HUD showed him the immediate area; around him, symbols highlighted auto turrets, EMF marines, and heavy emplacements.

  “Touchdown in five.”

  Thrusters fired, turning the glider as legs came down seconds before they touched the ground. The glider’s anti-personnel turrets automatically looked over the forces, no doubt making them as uncomfortable as he felt.

  “Something’s wrong.” Mark hit his harness release and stood.

  “How so?” Jarek also stood.

  “Look at the marines’ uniforms and weapons, and the way they hold themselves.”

  “I see what you’re saying. These marines might look good but their uniforms and weapons are brand-new or haven’t been used at all in combat. These are show troops, not veterans.”

  “Sarah, what unit are these marines from?”

  “Earth’s home defense marines, the 29th.”

  “Fucking pansies.” Mark snorted and Sarah changed him back to the general channel.

  “Mark?” Chyna asked.

  “These are the 29th Marines—for all purposes, show troops. They never leave Earth and are used mostly for decoration. Though to use them when greeting us, it raises some questions.”

  “Like why the hell they’re letting their security be looked over by troops that’d never fired a shot in anger?” Evan asked.

  “Exactly. Sarah, what can you get me?”

  “Seems the EMF troopers and personnel who have seen combat got word of the legion showing up. Seeing another opportunity, most of them have been sent onto tours of duty and put back into cryo to make sure there wasn’t a mass exodus from the EMF. The government and its corporate handlers believed it was best to go with a unit that’ll back them up.”

  Mark passed on the new information to his people and the VIPs.

  “Well, even with this new turn of events, we should go and meet their representatives.” Senator Weng stood from his seat.

  “Phantoms, protective detail. Rachel, your contubernium up front. Dodger, rear guard. Jarek, right. I’ll be left. Move.”

  The Phantoms fell into their position. Senator Weng moved forward; Senator Florence and Legate Alves fell into position.

  “Open rear hatch, cargo master,” Mark said.

  The cargo master did as he asked as the formation moved out from the glider and into the courtyard.

  The president and his delegation came out from behind heavily armored doors wearing masks, and float cams and reporters flocked around them.

  “Ah, Senators, Legate.” The president held out his hand to the others; the Phantoms automatically moved apart to let him shake the others’ hands. The president’s face showed a beatific but wholly fake smile.

  Mark’s eye twitched as his sensors picked up something that didn’t belong and the digital tracker he’d put on Ortiz flared up at the same time.

  Chapter 6

  Mega City

  Earth, Sol System

  6/3354

  Once Ortiz had learned of the truth, he had started plotting. After the Harmony War, he’d been able to hide away a lot of gear. Most of it had gone to the Yard in case they ever needed to defend themselves. The majority of the EMF troopers he had fought with had gone there while he’d clung onto the hope of changing the EMF for the better and if not, hoping that he could do something for the later generations of troopers.

  He’d found out the locations that Nivad would be making public appearances.

  So as the legion was finally coming to Earth, Ortiz pulled out a high-powered anti-material rifle from one of his caches, grabbed a magazine of ammunition and went to work.

  He’d found a perch overlooking the landing pad where the party would be landing and moved to another overlooking it.

  He watched as the legion combat shuttle flared its engines and then started to settle down on the landing pad. He watched the Phantom Lords march out of the combat shuttle, the senators between a number of them. He studied the Phantom Lords. This was his first time seeing them in the flesh. They were as powerful and dominating as they’d appeared on the feeds from Gilese.

  Ortiz saw as Nivad stepped out. He was at the rear of the greeting party. It was hard to notice him if you weren’t looking for him.

  Ortiz checked his windage, shifting his shoulder and getting into a comfortable shooting position.

  “Ortiz, what the fuck are you doing?”

  A sudden voice made Ortiz freeze. Who the hell was that? It sounded almost like Mark.

  “Did all of that chew go to your head, you daft bastard?” the man sounding like Mark growled in his ear.

  “Who the fuck are you and how did you get my implant key?” Ortiz hissed.

  “Well, you gave it to me awhile ago, you idiot. It’s Mark. Now listen to me, and I can get you to the shipyards. I’ve already talked to Jerome. He’s locked everything down and his people are all ready to duke it out if need be,” Mark said.

  “Mark died four years ago,” Ortiz hissed.

  “Tyler and Alexis were killed in the blast. The legion tried to get us all and heal us up. Nerva told you about the legion anyway,” Mark said.

  Ortiz’s head buzzed. He wanted it to be true, but he knew that he couldn’t trust a voice on the other end of his implant.

  “Look, if you go out there, you’ll be dead. At least if you’re with Jerome, there’s a possibility to live on and get out of this shit hole. Also, I need someone to lead the Westerly Three Crew,” Mark said.

  “Tell me your plan,” Ortiz said.

  “Get you to the shipyards, move people from the Yard down to Earth, rally the Westerly Three Complex Crew, have them ready to move on Mega City with all of the other gangs and the greenhouses backing us.

  “General Jones was the one who called in the hit on Tyler, Alexis, and myself. Nivad knew about it and did nothing to stop it. They won’t be able to escape. I’ll deal with them. In the chaos, we take Mega City. This time we’ll take this stupid system away from these corporate fucks,” Mark said, clearly incensed.

  Ortiz’s hand tightened on the anti-material rifle, still pointed at Nivad Selvra. It was only through Moretti, his man on the inside of the Ministry of Intelligence, that he was able to find out Nivad’s involvement in Alexis, Tyler, and Mark’s deaths.

  Ortiz had come here knowing full well that there wasn’t much chance of him making it out alive.

  “Train that sight on the Phantom Lord closest to the legion combat shuttle,” Mark said.

  Ortiz moved his sight, looking to the Phantom Lord.

  “Look at my hand,” Mark said.

  Ortiz focused on the Phantom Lord’s hand. He snorted, seeing the Phantom Lord flip him the bird.

  “Now sit on it and put that fucking rifle away and listen to me,” Mark said. “You’re going to disassemble the rifle into its three major components, dropping them down random garbage chutes. You’ll reach landing platform 217 and grab a shuttle to the Iurs station. From there you’ll go to hangar J-12. There you will find a Victor Corporation vessel unloading food goods. Talk to the captain. He will get you passage to the Yard.”

  “What are you going to do?” Ortiz asked.

  “In one week, they’ll both be dead or I’m not Mark Victor.”

  Ortiz looked at Nivad through the sights of his rifle once again. With a half-grunt/half-sigh, he looked away and got to his feet, starting to pull
apart the rifle as he recited the information Mark had said, ingraining it into his mind.

  “I’m glad you are alive, fucker!” Ortiz said.

  Mark just chuckled.

  ***

  Mark watched over the proceedings. No more attempts on anyone’s life were made and Mark stood there with the Phantom Lords, looking imposing. The senators were greeted and introduced to the members of the upper crust who had bought or bullied their way into the event, hoping to get to know the two senators.

  ***

  Four parade troopers forced themselves to stand taller, trying to look bigger and tougher than they were for the blonde aide before them.

  It was their job to go to these things and show off the perfect troopers, which had turned them into something of playboys. Many people within the corporations were interested in becoming these useless adornments.

  The woman in question was extremely attractive. Her hair was pulled back in a loose ponytail; her business clothes hugged her figure to show her tight stomach, shapely legs, and how stacked she was.

  “You try anything with her and you’ll have to deal with us.” The sergeant smirked.

  “Are you still in the way?” Rachel took a step up to him, making him a foot shorter than her now.

  “Did you hear me?” The man came dangerously close, his finger an inch away from Rachel’s breastplate.

  “Yes, you want to look big and tough in front of this lady here in an attempt to get her to sleep with you. Or brag to your men that she’s ‘nearly there.’” Rachel raised her fingers, making quotation marks.

  “That might be how you legionnaires do things. We’re more civilized here,” the show trooper growled.

  “So I’ve seen.” Rachel’s voice was dry as she leaned back.

  “Watch yourself.” A dark look passed over the man’s face as he jabbed his finger into her breastplate, hard. If Rachel’s boots hadn’t clamped onto the ground below her, she would’ve rolled backward. Instead, he was awarded with a broken finger.

  “What the...” Shock registered on his face.

  “You lot—take him to get his finger and hand fixed. And don’t try to push people down the stairs.”

  Blank stares registered.

  “Do it now!” Her commanding voice put them into action as they pulled him past the Phantoms, who made a hole for him as they continued to follow the blonde, who looked back every so often.

  Mark thought it was his imagination that he saw a glimmer of a smile on her face as she led them up some lifts through a couple of corridors to their final destination. The marines seemed to have gotten word of the incident, watching the Phantoms more closely. Including the security personnel, who stuck out like sore thumbs as part of the sunglasses and furtive glances club.

  “This is your room.” The blonde opened a door to a corner of the Earth’s governmental building. There was a main lobby leading to a couple of offices, a group of rooms, and an eating room.

  “Full sensor sweep.” Rachel’s contubernium swept out.

  Some pulled apart walls; others checked under desks. A bed flew out into the main lobby.

  Rachel held a sheet. Jumbles of wires, black pieces, and pieces of every color were thrown into the sheet. Once satisfied, the Phantoms held their positions in their rooms.

  “All clear,” she announced.

  Both Senator Weng and Florence’s eyes twinkled proudly as they and the others moved into the room.

  Rachel walked out the door. Mark pulled her feed up on half of his HUD. She walked to a door, rapped on it, and waited a few seconds. After no response, she dumped the sheet in front of the door. “I brought you back your gadgets; it would be appreciated if you didn’t send us any more.”

  Mark grinned as Rachel came back into the room and closed the door.

  Chapter 7

  Westerly Seven Sector

  Earth, Sol System

  7/3354

  General Ortiz looked at the safe house again from his holo paper, sipping some coffee. It was like every other tower house, with its blank cut metal door with a simple number on it. It was a three-bedroom, meaning unlike the one-bedroom houses, it took up two units and had a front and back door.

  A woman and two children had entered the house after what was the end of the school day; a father had later arrived, wearing a business suit, which put him as some kind of manager or low-ranking bureaucrat.

  Sighing, he put his credits on the pay tab to automatically take his money. He stood, checking his side arm with a glance of his hand as he approached the apartment and knocked on the door. A few seconds later, the wife opened the door. Just her head showed.

  “Ah, General, we’ve been waiting.” She opened the door more to let him in.

  “Are you going to stand there and let all of the warm air out?” she asked after a few seconds.

  “Thank you,” he mumbled as he entered the room.

  She carried a pistol not of any Earth make that he knew. She shut the door, following his eyes to the pistol.

  “Ninth normal issue.” She shrugged as it disappeared in her clothes.

  “Tina, George—this is General Ortiz,” the woman said to the two children. They’d been hiding in their room but rushed out to say hello, interested to have a guest, let alone a general.

  “John? On my way, dear.” A man appeared from what was the kitchen, putting food-filled plates on the table.

  “Hello, General.” The man smiled. The general could tell closer up the man was military by his mannerisms.

  “What unit?”

  “The 12th Fleet, Space Legion.” The man turned to his wife.

  “Five-year stint with the space legion. My name’s Biancka.”

  The man laughed at the general’s face. “You think that’s a surprise? Imagine being married for eight years and finding out a month ago.”

  “I told you I was sorry,” Biancka said, nervously playing with the hem of her clothes.

  “I told you, it was just a shock. I will always love you. Plus it means I understand why I’ve seen your parents twice and they live two star systems away.”

  She grinned at him, holding him tight before looking at the general. “All right, now get that fake face and hair off and wash up and we’ll have some dinner.”

  The younger boy looked at Ortiz as if studying him before going to play with his toys. The parents were already working to put more food on the table as the daughter took her homework off it.

  Definitely not how I thought I’d meet someone from the Ninth. Ortiz went off to the bathroom, doing as the woman had told him. He put the face and hair in his pocket just in case. Trust but verify, he reminded himself as he checked his stunner and a pistol.

  “Message,” his planner said as he opened it.

  “Ortiz.”

  “Tei here. The Corporations look to be mving, it seems that they want to use the senators as bargaining chips against the Roma Union.”

  “Are they fucking stupid or just brain dead?” Ortiz hissed. The Corporations were used to these kinds of dirty games, but from Ortiz had seen the Legion and the Roma Union wouldn’t play along. He didn’t know the full capabilities of the Roma Union but it didn’t seem to be insignificant.

  “What’re your orders sir?” Tei asked.

  Ortiz stood there, his customary scowl deepening He felt as if he was standing on the edge of a cliff.

  “Send word to Jerome and our people, start pulling the people that are loyal to us and start getting together an evacuation plan. We look after our people first,” Ortiz said.

  There was silence on the line as Ortiz’s words sunk in.

  “I’ll pass on your orders sir,” Tei said.

  The line went dead as Ortiz opened up a private channel and sent a message to Dominguez, altering her and the westerly three complex crew.

  “Come with me.” Biancka took him into one of the rooms; it looked to be the boy’s based upon the toys littering the room. She played with something behind a view screen as a
section of the floor opened, showing a ladder.

  “Go down there. Turn to your right and follow the passage all of the way. You’ll come to a wall. There’ll be buttons on the right. Press the green one.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” He grabbed onto the ladder as he descended. The floor went back into place. He followed her directions and put on his disguise again as he walked out into an alley. Turning back, he studied what looked like any other alloy wall in a tower. Shaking his head, he moved out into the dimly lit quarters as he made his way toward the shipping hangars, where a Victor Corporation hauler was unloading its cargo.

  Chapter 8

  Mega City

  Earth, Sol system

  “The senators are getting a communication. The talks are back on.”

  “How would you know this?”

  “Well, we do have really good audio sensors and it’d be a waste not to use them. Plus, I’m in the building’s network.”

  Mark acknowledged it was useless fighting with a NIAI, especially the one inside his head. He sighed, and the air came back at him from the close faceplate.

  “All right, give me a report.”

  “Everyone’s back from last night. Quite a few are sleeping it off. The information agency’s making some stink over it, as well as the marines saying we should all be kept locked down.”

  “Great.”

  “I’ve got the security system under my control; the admins just think I’m another one of them. They tried to put more bugs in the room last night but Chyna popped his head upstairs to have a talk with them. Literally.”

  A feed showed Chyna standing in a room, cocking his head slightly before moving a few feet and jumping into the ceiling. Only his head stuck out of the other side as he crossed his arms underneath his head, turning as he lectured the people above. Finally done and the people retreating out of the room above, he came back to the floor, with parts of the ceiling/floor following him.