by Don Foxe
Following the destruction of their space support ships, commanders pulled the exterior Zenge troops to within two-hundred miles of the base camp. The compacted area of operations made Shah’s deployment of external assets simpler and quicker.
The land on either side of their encampments was hilly and forested. Several streams cut through the topography. The 15,000 enemy now compressed made insertion between them and the encampment more difficult. You get lucky, and you get shit. Those are the facts of war.
While the first division was transported to surround the outer ring of operations, the second group of 20,000 were being divided and delivered to staging areas around and beyond the outer perimeters of the space port now being used as a basecamp and prison for captive Fellen. These operators, the best at silent insertion techniques, would hot-foot it to the middle, while using every bit of electronic and personal stealth capability they possessed. Once on site, they would regroup and establish positions that set them between the basecamp’s 5,000 Zenge troops and the 15,000 deployed in the surrounding forests. Shah led this division herself.
It took hours of hard work and a massive amount of skill to get 40,000 soldiers into place without alarming the enemy. But this army consisted of 40,000 of the best Earth had to offer. They used technology that made night into day, communications safe and secure, and carried weapons and equipment that could do the job, but still light enough to carry over long distances.
They also lucked out. No one bothered to investigate why the guards at the cargo ships did not return after their shift.
Sindy and her Special Operators restarted the engines and computers aboard the eight cargo ships in order to seal all exterior doors, ramps and hatches. They initiated the low-level electro-magnetic force fields to help protect them from small arms fire.
On Elie’s signal, Rain and Fitz descended on the Zenge basecamp from east to west. The two ships laid waste to the ex-space port, leveling the Fell village that had grown up around the spaceport when it had been an active trading location. They scorched the surface of the camp from the cargo ships to the far western perimeter.
Completing that run, they returned in a north to south sortie, cutting down soldiers and staff, Zenge and Mischene, who had ventured out to see what was happening.
Mags and Folly deposited the three additional SO teams near the eastern perimeter fence, behind the cargo ships. They joined Hiro, Noa, and Elie to remove the roving guards and those at stationary guard huts. This allowed Angels 4 and 5 free fire on everything west of the prison ships.
When a group of one-hundred Zenge, led by two white-haired Mischene, advanced toward the cargo ships, firing lasers and planning on setting up plasma mortars, Mags swooped in and Folly delivered a message with two mini-railguns set on either side of the launch. The smaller projectiles traveling at incredible speed ripped through the enemy, sending flumes of blood and scraps of uniform cloth into the air. Before anyone on the ground could react, the launch disappeared into the morning mist.
Gregory’s prediction of no retreat did not exactly come true. While many of the Zenge who survived the initial attacks did stay and fight, getting picked off by a combination of air and ground forces, a couple hundred Zenge escaped into the surrounding woods.
It was nearly impossible for Sparks to track the cold-blooded fighters once they disappeared beneath the dense canopy of tree limbs and foliage. But they were the ones taken by surprise when they ran into Earth military units instead of the outer ring of Zenge. They fought hard and the special operators took casualties, but the fewer, and in disarray Zenge soldiers were soon completely wiped out.
The major firefight occurred when the outer force of Zenge, led by Mischene officers, came into contact with the hidden and dug in United Earth ground forces.
Outnumbered and outgunned, suffering from surprise and overwhelmed for the first time in a surface battle, Zenge dropped by the hundreds. The dark-skinned and white-haired officers were easy targets for snipers, and soon the Zenge were leaderless.
They did fight like fanatics, never considering a retreat or a surrender. As individuals and in small groups they battled, even getting close enough a few times for close-quarter combat. More than a few wore satchel explosives and literally threw themselves at their enemy, killing and wounding anyone they could in their suicidal last act.
Two companies of Earth fighters found themselves caught at the bottom of a ravine created by a deep stream. On the upper banks on both sides, Zenge fighters fired down onto soldiers desperately trying to find cover behind small boulders and downed tree trunks. A call for help resulted in Rain’s arrival. She laid down laser fire along the tops of the ravine, killing most of the Zenge, clearing two whole sections of the forest of trees. This allowed the two companies to regroup and attack the remaining Zenge.
Then the second circle of 20,000 troops closed in. While Shah and her division played the part of the anvil, the outer ring became the hammer. The operation removed every enemy soldier between the two armies. Wounded Zenge fought to the death or set off personal satchel explosives. By the end of the morning, the first action of Phase Two in Coop’s mission plan had been successfully completed.
Over 20,000 Zenge ground assault troops were eliminated. Earth support teams were in the process of burning their bodies with high-yield thermite sprayers, both personal and transport sized, to prevent disease from the decaying Zenge in the hot, moist Fell weather.
Good guys’ casualties numbered less four hundred twenty-seven KIA and another 1,283 injured, from minor sprains to major surgery required. Triage was up and running at the basecamp, and critical cases transported to Star Gazer medical facilities by ground, or by hover-launch.
6,423 captives were freed, some of them for the second time, recaptured after their first daring escape months before. They were also receiving triage with severe and critical cases EVAC’ed to Star Gazer.
Sparks and Storm sent word to resistance groups hiding around the former space port. Small groups, many less than a dozen fighters to groups of over 1,000 men, women and children made their way to the camp Earth troops re-designated HARMONY. Tents were raised. Food and supplies delivered to make Harmony livable for ground troops who would bivouac here instead of back on board Star Gazer. And for the people of Fell who joined them.
Two days after the raid on Harmony, Elie called for a meeting of the original Phase 2 planning team in the same conference room as before. Joining them this time was Commander Cornitsch.
“We don’t have time for a full after action report from everyone, but I think we need to do a quick review and make plans for the next step,” Elie said to the assembled. “Col. Gregory.”
Gregory stood as Elie sat. He started with, “With the wounded who have since died, we have 436 killed in action. All bodies recovered and currently in storage aboard the Star Gazer. 1,274 wounded, of which 589 will not be able to return to service. The remaining 685 have minor to serious wounds, and we are not setting a timeline for anyone’s return to duty. The METS garments saved a lot of lives.
“We have 10,000 battle-ready troops who saw no action. The ones who participated in the first counterstrike, and the entire support division are rested and capable of action at our command,” he told Elie. “Captain Shah received wounds to her upper body while leading a counter attack, but refuses rest. I’d order her downtime, but I’m honestly afraid of the woman,” Anton joked in front of his top officer.
“I’m fine,” Shah reported to everyone. “I got cut up by tree branches, and maybe got a scar from a laser that nipped my left shoulder. I shoot right-handed, so no prob.”
“Put her in for a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star,” Elie said to Gregory. “Along with all the others wounded and those reported for meritorious actions. Make her a Major before the day is over,” she strongly recommended to the ground commander.
“I know of no major battles ever waged on Earth where a complete and decisive victory over so many enemy combatants was accomp
lished in such short order,” Gregory added. “The numbers are staggering if you step back and look at it dispassionately. The combination of highly skilled operators and a sound mission plan going up against amateurs. I do not want our people to become overconfident, but this war may take a lot less time than originally estimated.”
Elie recalled Coop’s concerns that fighting the Zenge and the Mischene had been surprisingly easy for the humans of Earth. There was no way a race that sailed the stars for 5,000 years was going to continue to roll over and die. At some point, payback would rear its head. It always did. But for now, everyone was stoked and morale was high.
“Sparks?” Elie asked, figuring the Fell communications expert would know what she wanted.
“We have established communications with several groups of Fellen resistance fighters and civilians hiding from the invaders. The SC tribe of SCoslene Island request we provide weapons and tactical support teams. They are willing, and would prefer, to engage and destroy the Zenge infestation themselves,” Sparks said. “If we can arm up to 120,000 of their fighters, it will give them a two-to-one superiority over the enemy. They also request that we eliminate the Zenge’s hover-craft and launches, and provide air cover when they mount the offensive to retake their island.”
“Can we provide that many weapons?” Elie asked Gregory.
“We can now,” the Colonel replied. “With the extra we brought for that purpose, and the weapons we retrieved from the armament storage compartments on the cargo ships, as well as off of dead Zenge, Captain Hollisvey should be able to make the SCoslene militia one bad-ass army. I’ll designate twelve-hundred operators to train and provide tactical support. You can determine what they need from the air when a final mission plan is completed. I say we give them weapons, then give my guys thirty days to train them up for the task.”
“In the meantime we have the hover-launch we brought with us and a Mischene hover craft we didn’t destroy at Harmony. We can use those to distract the Zenge forces on SCoslene for a month. With an occasional run by Angel Wing to make sure they keep their heads down,” Elie added. “It should provide the SC tribe the time and space needed to prep for a counter-offensive.”
“May I?” Fitz asked to be recognized. Receiving a nod from Elie, he said, “Mags, Folly, and Sparks should be in Angel 5. I’m good, and my team is good, but I’m never going to be as good as Magpie. The mission would be better served if I’m in the hover-launch. Trinity can pilot the Mischene hover craft, and Anwar coordinates for both of us from either ship.”
Elie objected with, “Fitz, you don’t need to do that. You’ve proven that you’re an excellent pilot.”
“Agreed,” Fitz said with a grin. “I am an excellent pilot, and anywhere else in this universe there wouldn’t be more than three or four better. Except right here and right now. Those three or four are present, and I’m proud beyond belief to serve with them. We need the best in the best ships, Magpie’s crew belong in Angel 5, but I will want her back when it’s time to leave.”
“Agreed,” Elie said, a small catch in her voice.
“We could use our people alone and most likely complete the mission on SCoslene in less time,” Gregory said. “But Fellen need to do as much of the fighting as possible. They must feel they helped earned their planet’s freedom.”
“We have an SOS from the southern Crown,” Sparks said, interrupting the Russian.
“The ES tribe inhabit that region, and they have been harassing the Zenge for months,” Sky said.
“When Mags and Sabre took out the plasma cannon and strafed the base, you also eliminated about 10,000 of the 20,000 troops stationed there. With communications down around the world, none of the Zenge divisions know what is going on outside of their mission zones. With no one to tell them not to, the remaining 10,000 Zenge soldiers have mounted an all out offensive against the ES. About 30,000 members of the tribe, civilians with an estimated five hundred armed resistance fighters, have been backed down a dead-end valley in the Southern Crown. The location has no rear exit. They have children, including babies and toddlers. The mountain walls are too steep for many of them to climb out. The only good news is the valley funnels into their fortified position. The Zenge cannot simply send all 10,000 at them at once. Food and water are running out, and so is ammunition. They expect the Zenge to mount a full-on assault within the week.
“I know you wanted the next attack to be where the largest resistance force could be mustered to assist, but I would suggest the ES need us now,” Sparks finished and waited.
“Can we just send Angel Wing and strafe the crap out of the Zenge?” Rachelle asked.
“The Zenge army is within a few hundred yards of the ES,” Sparks said. “I know you guys are good, and could navigate the canyon, but I’m afraid blow-back would kill a lot of the ES.”
“We can drop troops in behind them,” Shah said.
“When they see what’s behind them they will attack the ES and wipe them out in a suicide charge,” Elie said.
“They also have plasma cannons on transporters,” Sparks said. “They haven’t turned them on the ES yet, but they could cause trouble for low-flying aircraft. They could bring the mountain walls down on the tribe. I don’t know why they haven’t done that yet.”
“Bloodlust,” Elie said. “They want the ES to die up close and personal. They also have a thing about children of the enemy.” Elie remembered the stories of captured children being taken from the adults in the cargo ship cages. The Zenge preferred to eat the young first.
“I have an idea,” Fitz spoke up. “Our ships don’t have shield capability within the atmosphere, but the Parrian cargo ships use electro-magnetic force fields. They aren’t super strong, but they keep them safe from space debris, and they can deflect most small-arms fire. Maybe even a smaller ground-transport plasma weapon.”
“But cargo ships do not have weapons,” Hollisvey said. “You wouldn’t be able to hold off the Zenge while you try to load the ES and escape.”
“Not thinking about an escape,” Fitz said. “We have eight ships sitting at Harmony. We use them to build a wall between the Zenge and the ES.”
“Then Angel Wing can do what we do and not have to worry about blowback,” Noa said. “Brilliant, Fitz.”
“Then all we need are cargo pilots willing to risk their lives,” Elie said.
“No problem, Captain Casalobos,” Commander Cornitsch said. “The Star Gazer has several crew members who are qualified to pilot freight haulers. I can assure you getting volunteers will be easy. We would all like some pay back for what the Zenge did to Star Gazer and Captain Poonch.”
Elie turned to Captain Fitzsimmons and said, “Your idea, Fitz. You create the mission plan and decide what you need. And you fly lead in Angel 5. You can swap out with Magpie after this run. Agreed?”
“Agreed,” a smiling pilot replied.
The passage between the Zenge position and the Fellen was a little more than 1700-feet wide. Parrian cargo ships are no frills cargo boxes 800-feet long, 400-feet wide and 200-feet tall. Because there is no friction is space, a rectangular design operates between worlds just as well as some sleek fighter ship. The problem with Parrian cargo carriers is that they fly like big boxes once they enter a world’s atmosphere. They use hover technology and minimal thrusters, to accomplish basic maneuvers such as go forward and back, and up and down. Other than that, they do not do much. The more powerful engines were located on the exterior, lower four corners. These provided trust for escape velocity and directional speed in space flight.
Elie, in the Space Fleet hover-launch, and Mags in the Mischene hover craft flew point through the Crown. The two skirting mountain tops, and flying through wide gorges until they reached the entrance to the valley where the Zenge held siege on the Fellen. The ships hovered side by side, and then fired multiple projectiles into the rear of the Zenge troops.
They were immediately hosed with laser fire from the enemy soldiers. The Zenge turned their pl
asma cannon on them, and away from the civilians who posed no immediate threat.
With the Zenge occupied covering their rear, a line of cargo haulers flown by Bosine and Woolifer pilots came across the top of the mountain that created the back wall the Fellen were pinned against. The first ship landed cross-wise in the kill zone between inhabitants and invaders. The next ship landing only fifty feet behind it. The two, laid end-to-end, blocked the floor of the valley passage.
Zenge, forced to deal with activity on two fronts, split their armament. The mobile plasma cannon fired at the hover ships, while laser fire was directed at the Parrian cargo ships.
The Parrian force fields held against the lighter fire, and soon all eight haulers were stacked into the tight space. Cargo vessels, two wide and four deep creating a 1600-foot wide, 800-foot tall wall.
When the last ship parked atop its sister carrier, Angel Wing, led by Angel 5, strafed the Zenge position with lasers, rail-guns and tachyon cannons. By the time Elie came through last, the 10,000 Zenge were dead and buried under tons of mountain slides. Nothing passed through the cargo hauler wall and their combined force fields. The people of the ES tribe never felt the heat of the short battle.
With the danger over, the Parrian cargo haulers began the work of ferrying the 30,000 members of the ES tribe back to their village near the northern face of the Southern Crown of Fell. With the remaining Zenge warriors no longer a threat, there was no reason they could not recover their lives and their homes.
Over the next five months the 100,000 plus military personnel from Earth, with the Bosine, Posine, and Woolifers of Osperantue, and Hollisvey, the lone Pagoran, became unofficial citizens of Fell.
The remaining five space ports were taken back from the Zenge with over 30,000 of the 48,920 captives freed from cargo ship prisons. Vengeful Zenge killed the rest, including some the result of collateral damage during suicide bombings.
The Angel Wing crews, now including the two hover craft, were celebrities for the heroics taken to protect Earth’s warriors, and Fell’s citizens while eliminating the invaders.