The battlewagons were not designed to be reversing at such speed but they were being tested right now. The engines were whining at high revs. The next salvo of shells overshot. The enemy commander ordered his AFVs to assault. They pushed down onto the road and began to reorganise into line facing south west directly at the terminal.
As the Resolute’s barrage of ten missiles silenced the enemy mortars back in the city, Jim gave the order to fire. The enemy AFVs were facing with their backs to this latest threat. The range was on the long side but they would have little defence.
Five of the Rizstorms hit their target, which was pretty good for the range. But now the remaining nine AFVs began turning their turrets. ‘Fuck keeping a reserve’ said Jim to himself. He ordered the remaining rizstorms fired. But by this time the AFVs were firing their beam weapons. The 300m gap between the forces was being filled with an immense quantity of pulse fire from quanto and rifles, grenade launchers, rockets and beam weapons.
A lot of the imperialist foot soldiers were cut down in the back before they realised what was happening. Many recovered well though, turned and returned fire. Another three AFVs were knocked out but the surviving six used their beam weapons to devastating effect. Marines and Kaant warriors were being killed around him. Jim had no weapons to deal with the enemy AFVs. “Pull back” he ordered. The whole action had lasted only a few minutes.
The enemy saw the humans retreating north westward but did not opt to pursue – that would be heading away from their objective. Buoyed by their success the warrior remounted their vehicles. These changed facing towards the south. They began accelerating and shook out into a wedge formation as they assaulted.
By the time Ivan realised what was happening the enemy was accelerating across the field. He knew it would be very hard to hit them with a bombardment while they were moving so fast.
Jess’s three battlewagons were still reversing to their next position which was the south east corner of the terminal building. She had 500m to go. Her vision of the off ramp was masked by the remains of the hangars and the angle caused by the slight depression they had entered. She was now coming back out of it. As the off ramp came back into view she could see six enemy AFVs not heading straight toward her but due south across the open field on her right. She knew they would turn westward once they skirted the hangars, which would be real soon. But that suited her fine. She would enfilade them from their left.
Emilio was watching all of this play out from his command droid located under the main concourse in the service area. He was waiting on the command from Ivan to commit his 2nd Droid Coy to a counter attack. He wasn’t happy about this. He thought it a big waste. Yes a droid was metal but it melted real quickly when subjected to a beam at close range. He agreed with Ivan that they would probably take out some of the enemy AFVs before they were despatched. But he still didn’t like it. Perhaps Ivan was right that he was getting attached to his ‘metal monsters’, but throwing them away like this went against the grain even if they were not flesh and blood.
“We can take them” hailed Jess to Ivan. Her blood was up now. She hated losing people and she hated losing… full stop.
Ivan was at the window looking through his sight. He had his console on a small table he had dragged over to the window. He glanced back down to the console and saw the icons for Jess’s tangoes He looked back through his sight and could see the lead enemy AFV coming past the hangars. He could see the clear line of sight Jess would have. The real question is whether or not they could despatch them quick enough. He did not want to lose another battlewagon with four people in it. He would rather waste a platoon of droids.
“Engaging” advised Jess.
As the first shots were fired from the tangoes he realised the decision had been made for him. ‘I’ll have to be quicker than that next time’ he chastised himself.
The range between the tangoes and the enemy AFVs was 700m when the first shot was fired. A minute later two AFVs were knocked out and four had closed to 500m and begun firing their beam weapons. Her tangoes were taking it in turn to duck back and then come forward from around the corner of the terminal building. It was snap shooting but it meant they stood a chance of surviving.
They bagged another AFV over the next 300m dash. The surviving three AFVs unloaded their warriors at 200m from the terminal. The warriors were pumping their legs to shake out into a line formation and assault west to the terminal building. As they did so Argha’s 3rd Platoon opened up on them. His marines fired off all four of their Rizstorms but only took out one AFV. Thankfully the AFVs were more worried about the battlewagons as they kept ducking out and peppering them. They were no longer moving forward but firing their beam weapon in bursts at the corner of the building which was only 150m away.
But the marines were taking a heavy toll on the dismounted warriors. Out in the open they were being cut down. They tried advancing in rushes but that soon petered out. The survivors were now all prone and trying to seek what cover they could from the minor undulations of the ground. Slowly they were being annihilated from pulse, grenades and sniper fire.
Like cornered rats with nowhere to go, the two remaining AFVs desperately kept firing. Then there was one, its mate going up in flames from a direct hit from Tango 4. The driver of the remaining AFV panicked and began reversing. As he did so the few remaining warriors turned and ran too. None got across the field to the hangars.
Emilio sent out one of his droid platoons to sweep the field. They took no fire and reported all clear when they reached the far side of the hangars.
Argha was covered in blood as he tried to save the life of the marine writhing on the floor next to him. He had been shot in the stomach. Argha and one other marine were trying to hold him down so they could give him a shot of opiate but that was proving difficult. His innards were oozing out as he struggled. Suddenly all effort stopped and he died.
“Fuck!!” yelled out the marine assisting him. He looked into Argha’s eyes and began crying. He was covered in blood and entrails too. In that moment it struck Argha that this was a shit of a way to earn a living.
Satisfied that there were no more enemy threats about, Ivan ran down stairs to check up on Argha. He found him kneeling over a body supporting a sobbing marine all covered in blood. There was a touch of déjà vu in the scene he was now witnessing; only the roles were different. A year ago he had been the inconsolable soldier weeping for the loss of his lover Sheri, struck down in the assault through the Pluton tunnels on Klaster. It was Emilio instead of Argha holding him tight and doing his best to comfort him while the pulse fire ranged down the tunnel and it had been Dave witnessing it from the other side of the tunnel.
He had been inconsolable then but time and good friends had helped. He would never forget that experience and he knew that this marine here and Argha would not forget this either. In that detached state that sometimes occurs under extreme stress he asked himself ‘how many times has this scene been played out through the ages. Will it always be thus?’
Argha stared straight at him from across the room strewn with debris. There was a question burning in that gaze and it brought Ivan back to the present. He looked around and saw there were more bodies. He cursed himself for not committing the droids sooner. ‘Better a bot than a body’ he remonstrated to himself.
Chapter 17. Lewista 0715, 15 August
Madge noticed it straight away when she came out to the living area to get some breakfast. Both Felis and Evie were already up. They were talking together in quiet voices trying not to disturb those still asleep. There was something not quite right. She stopped near the corridor and listened. She then realised that the tone of their voices was different. There wasn’t the edginess she was used to hearing. It was almost convivial.
“Morning Madge” said Evie as she noticed her.
“Good Morning” said Madge in a quiet voice conforming to the current mood in the room. She hadn’t seen Evie smile since they landed but here she was having conv
ersation that brought an easy smile to her face. ‘Something’s shifted’ she concluded.
Madge made her way to the kitchen and rummaged in some of the bags of groceries that Erkum had deposited last night. She was looking for some cereal to have for breakfast. She held up a sealed foil bag all brightly packaged. She could not work out the text. Holding it high she asked “What’s this?”
Felis glanced over and gave her a smile. ‘That was definitely a first’ she thought. “It’s um….it’s good…not too sweet…you’ll like it?” He went back to his discussion with Evie. Madge tried to open the bag. She assumed there must be some tag to pull or some perforated strip to tear but on closer examination she found none. In frustration she asked “How do I open this?”
Evie chuckled as she stood up, came over and with her thumb and fore finger of each hand gripped the top of the bag at the centre and then, maintaining the grip, ran her fingers to the edge. She then tapped the side of the bag at the top and it popped open.
Madge gave an expression which said ‘so that’s how it’s done.’ Evie smiled at her again and returned back to the dining table. Felis began talking to her again. Madge found a bowl and poured out the yellow and orange flakes into it. She opened the fridge that masqueraded as a wall panel unless you knew otherwise. She saw a bottle of wine and a plastic container with pea green liquid in it. Again she turned to Evie “Milk?” she asked and held up the container.
Evie smiled at her for the third time. “Not really but close enough. Use it.”
“OK” said Madge and poured a little on. With a spoon she took a taste. “Not bad” she said out loud and poured more. She took her bowl and sat down at the table at the far end, where Felis had sat last night. It did have the best view. The sun was up though she found it a softer light than on Polaris. “I didn’t see any juice” she said.
Evie turned towards her and said “Alas no. Maybe we can get some later once we sort out the time to meet Melnar.”
“You plan on calling him?”
“A little later.”
“Right to let Judy sleep in?”
“Sure.”
“Good. Things here seem…civil.”
“Yes I think we’ve sorted out our differences.”
Madge smiled with her eyes as she took a mouthful of the delicious cereal.
Chapter 18. Rollinium 0730, 15 August
Jim had withdrawn his battered force 1500m all the way back to where he had left Art, Rentra and her staff at the checkpoint. Just as he reached them he got the news that the battle was over. He was keen to go back and see what could be done for the wounded he was forced to leave behind, so too was Rentra and Art tagged along.
The troops were told to turn around and march back. Some marine mumbled “Yes Sir, no Sir, three bags full Sir” but when Jim tried to ID him there was no one obvious. Spirits lifted when Jim hailed his troops and told them that the enemy had been defeated.
With the marines leading, Jim, Art, Rentra and a couple of her staff followed. They encountered a platoon of droids that Sue had ordered to take over the defence of the northern sector. They caused pandemonium amongst Rentra’s warriors until Art reassured them that they were on their side.
Art was very weary as were most of the troops on that march. “You are tired?” asked Rentra.
“Yes I’m tired but probably not as much as these soldiers here. They were doing the fighting.”
“True” she replied. “I had no idea there was another battalion in the city.”
“Do you think there will be more?”
“Don’t know but we need to find out. My troops need a rest like yours do. I will ask Colonel Mekshino to probe south into the commercial district from his positions.”
“Or we could send in the droids. They never get tired – just worn out” he said with a weary smile.
“Your humour is good” she said and smiled “But it should be us. You have done more than enough. I will see to it.”
They walked on in silence for a while, with Art taking short steps and Rentra making large strides. Rentra was struck by the brightness of the daylight and the fact that she had rarely been out walking in daylight since the uprising began six months ago.
“It’s a beautiful morning” she said breaking the silence. Impulsively she added “full of hope” and a big grin filled her face. Art smiled back. “You know our political leaders will want to meet with your Captain. Today would be good.”
“Right…I’ll see what can be arranged. Perhaps it’s best if you let me know the time they can be at the main terminal. We can meet in there.”
“Yes. I will get back to you.”
“Art” hailed Sue.
“Excuse me I have a call” said Art to Rentra and he stepped off to the side. “Darling how are you?” he hailed.
“Tired” she responded.
“Me too. I was worried about you while I was stuck over here.”
“I spent the whole time in my command droid over here at the terminal. I was tempted to help out Argha but he and Jess got them sorted. So no action for me I’m afraid. What about you?”
Art smiled as he listened to her voice. He loved the way she downplayed everything. “Well darling I have been involved in some high risk liaising over here. You know how it is?”
She laughed. “Yes I am all too familiar with your liaising and you better have some for me later or there will be hell to pay Mr Simons.”
Art laughed out loud and nearly tripped over some debris as he walked. Those nearby, including Jim and Rentra, all looked around to see what was so funny. Rentra gave Jim a quizzical look.
“That would be his miss’s” said Jim with an envious smile. Rentra looked puzzled. “His wife… partner…lover” added Jim. Finally Rentra smiled.
Half an hour later across the spaceport Tammy had collated the casualty reports. She called Ivan over and showed him her screen. Ivan nodded as he read the figures. He instinctively brushed back his fair hair. The blood had all dried by now from when he had done the same action with his hair after helping to stack the bodies down below.
“You all right Sir” asked Tammy on seeing the blood.
“Yeah, not mine” he replied. “Send it. I’ll give the boss a call now.”
“Twenty two?” asked Dave after Ivan had briefed him.
“Yes Sir” said Ivan. It was a horrible butcher’s bill and he knew Dave would take it hard. “Plus 12 rogan from the resistance.”
“Gee…” said Dave as he digested the news. “Any officers or senior NCOs?”
“Yep three sergeants - Kapinsky from Tango 3 when it was KO’d, Akers from 2nd Platoon and Owusu from 3rd Platoon” replied Ivan sombrely.
All three had joined his command after Beta Phi and Dave struggled to recall their faces. It was a high price but he knew that with the surprise counter attack it could have been a lot worse. “Listen Ivan I know this might sound cruel but given the circumstances we’ve come off lightly. Had that mechanised force got down off the freeway in force we would be looking down the barrel of defeat and four times that in casualty…maybe a wipe out. So don’t hold yourself to blame for this. From what I’ve seen and heard you did good. Your whole force down there did good.”
“OK Sir” said Ivan. He didn’t sound like he had bought all that but part of him knew it to be true. It was just that the guilt, both survivor’s and commander’s, was hard to shake off right now.
“I’m going to come on down” said Dave.
“Oh” said Ivan remembering his conversation with Art “the resistance leaders want to meet you…here in the spaceport. Can you make 1100?”
“OK good. I’ll aim to be there at 1030. I’ll see you then Ivan. Job well done” said Dave and he terminated the call.
Chapter 19. Resolute over Q2 0950, 15 August
Dave found Chase in the med bay. Mary had let him go through only if he promised not to upset the patient.
A still groggy Kat tried in vain to make out who had just entered the roo
m but with the cast on she had no hope of lifting her head. But she recognised Dave’s voice as he said hello. She appreciated him coming down to see her but then realised it was Chase he was really after. If she could have, she would have shaken her head in annoyance. She gave up the struggle and just closed her eyes. She knew Dave had taken away Chase when Chase let go of her hand. She resented Dave for that. But the pull of the opiates won out and she surrendered to the haze.
Outside the recovery ward Dave said “I’m sorry Chase but I need to go down on the deck and I need you to run things up here. Are you up to it?”
Chase was weary on all levels. Lack of sleep was the least of his problems but Dave’s call to arms cut through. “OK, when are you leaving?”
“Ten minutes. I have to meet with the resistance leaders. I hope to be back later this afternoon. Crystal should relieve Val at midday (referring to the watch). So you’ll just be on call in case anything untoward happens. Hopefully that won’t happen.”
Chase nodded. Dave gave him a pat on his shoulder and left. Chase made his way back in, the other three beds in this recovery ward were all full now – the wounded from Ginty’s platoon. They were out cold after their procedures. The bed next to Kat’s held a female marine who he didn’t recognise. Her head was covered in dressing with leads protruding back to an analyser machine. The dressing was stained with dried blood. ‘It could have been worse’ he thought to himself.
Chase sat back down again and took the hand of his now sleeping lover. He stroked the top of it with his other hand and then let her hand down gently.
There were another three in the next recovery ward and Mary had told him there would be more coming up from down below. Unlike the other battles he had been in, this one was different. He’d seen death and injury up close, real close but this time with Kat he found it…unpalatable. ‘When will this fucking war be over?’
Down on G deck, Dave waited as the walking wounded came out first through the hatch of Whiskey 1. He tried his best to be reassuring but wasn’t sure he was all that convincing. The last two off were on stretchers.
Audacity (Warner's World Book 5) Page 22