Star One: Dark Star

by Weil, Raymond L.

  -

  On the ground, twenty miles north of the cape, General Karver and his remaining command staff poured over the maps of their hard-pressed defensive lines, which they had, formed 32 miles out from the cape. General Karver and his forces had fought for every piece of ground as the insurgents slowly pushed them back. Thousands of dead lay upon the battlefield. Tanks and armored personnel carriers littered the landscape, some still burning. The fighting had been vicious and unrelenting.

  “Forward observers report a massive buildup of insurgent armor here,” reported Colonel Wilmington, pointing to a spot on the map northwest of their current position.

  “They’re getting ready for their final push,” spoke General Karver, eyeing the map. “If they can break our lines, they can move their heavy artillery up and take out all the cape’s launch facilities.”

  “We don’t have enough heavy armor or artillery left to stop them without suffering heavy casualties,” commented General Mann, wiping the sweat from his forehead.

  “They have been holding their armor back in reserve, sacrificing foot soldiers to wear us down,” continued General Karver, nodding his head in agreement. “We have managed to knock down most of their missile attacks with our defensive interceptors, but we’re starting to run low. We’re not going to be able to hold the cape much longer.”

  “The latest reports indicate they have begun to move more troops toward our advance positions here,” said General Mann, pointing to an area on the map which two massive human wave attacks that morning had hammered severely.

  “If it’s a major attack, we won’t be able to hold them,” spoke Colonel Wilmington, looking at the map and thinking about the terrain there. “We’ve been too hard hit in that area. We don’t have the manpower or the armor to hold them back. If they hit us along that line, we won’t be able to stop them before they reach the cape.”

  “Can we reinforce that area?” asked General Karver, looking over at General Mann. The military forces he commanded had sacrificed so much over the last four weeks in order to allow the shuttles to continue to launch from the cape complex.

  “I don’t see how,” replied General Mann, letting out a deep breath. He had watched a lot of brave and dedicated young men and women die over the last few weeks. “I don’t know where we can get the troops.”

  “Then this is the end,” General Karver said, softly. His eyes roamed over his dedicated officers. They had done everything he had asked of them since this battle for the cape had begun.

  “It’s been one hell of a fight, sir,” General Mann commented.

  General Karver gazed at the map with a trained eye. If he moved troops from any of the other critical areas, those areas would be vulnerable to attack. The insurgents had worn down his defensive lines to the point where they could finally launch a successful attack, and there was very little he could do to stop it.

  Over the past two weeks, he had lost nearly 12,000 soldiers in the fighting and another 4,000 to desertions. He hadn’t expected so many former army units to side with the insurgents in this battle for the cape.

  “The second army division and fourth marines are currently entrenched in that area,” added General Mann, tapping the map with his index finger. “After the heavy casualties they have taken the last several days, they are way under strength. They won’t be able to hold back another assault, particularly if insurgent armor is involved.”

  “General Strong still has some armor available,” Colonel Wilmington spoke, his eyes focusing on General Karver. He had just left that area earlier that morning to attend this meeting. General Strong was the commander of the second army division. “He has six battle tanks and some artillery. However, ammunition is running low for his artillery.”

  “It looks like this may be our final battle,” General Karver stated with a heavy sigh, staring at the map and the dedicated men around him. “They took out both of our military launch sites with tactical nukes last night!”

  General Karver knew that Senator Farley must have been desperate to risk using nukes. No doubt due to the constant shuttle launches from both sites, which he had been powerless to stop. The ongoing launches had evidently infuriated the senator to the point where he had risked using the nukes.

  “What about the shuttles?” asked General Mann, looking at General Karver in surprise. Neither General Karver nor he had expected the insurgents to use nukes.

  “The last two were launched yesterday afternoon,” replied General Karver relieved that the shuttles had gotten safely away. “They carried the last of the supplies we were sending up to Tycho City from the military sites.”

  “We have tactical nukes ourselves,” General Mann reminded General Karver. They had warned Senator Farley what would happen if the Senator used nukes first. “We could use a few and see if that might slow the insurgents down.”

  “I won’t use nukes against our own people,” General Karver replied in a firm voice. “We won’t stoop to Senator Farley’s level.”

  “I thought the military launch sites were protected by interceptors?” spoke Colonel Wilmington, his eyes focusing on General Karver. “How did they get through?”

  “Whoever is helping Senator Farley with the military side of this operation is no fool,” General Karver replied with a scowl. He wished he knew who the traitor was.

  “How did they get past our defenses?” General Mann asked. He knew that the air defenses around the two military launch centers should have been able to stop this type of attack.

  “They used stealth attack fighters flying extremely low to sneak in past our radar and dropped the nukes on the launch centers before we could respond. Casualties at the bases were heavy, and I have directed the survivors to surrender. We have made it extremely clear that if nukes are used against the cape that we will retaliate in kind.”

  “That’s only a threat,” General Mann replied.

  “We know that, but Senator Farley doesn’t,” General Karver replied evenly.

  “It’s becoming more evident all the time that they want to capture part of the cape complex intact,” Colonel Wilmington commented. “Without the cape and its launch facilities, they can’t launch a successful attack against Star One or Tycho City.”

  “You’re probably right,” agreed General Karver, nodding his head wishing he could do more to delay the insurgents.

  With the around the clock launches of the last four weeks, they had managed to get almost all the supplies and people originally scheduled up to Star One and Tycho City. It had been a tremendous job, but it had been done. General Karver knew that President Kateland would have been proud of what her people had accomplished. Some of the people on the priority lists hadn’t been able to make it to the cape, but others just as qualified had been substituted. Many of them had worked at the cape in some capacity.

  “What about the cape complex?” General Mann asked. He knew that they could not allow it to fall into the insurgent’s hands.

  “We need to make sure that the cape complex is useless to them after we launch the last two shuttles in a couple of hours,” General Karver replied in a grim voice. “That’s why I’ve ordered demolition crews to place explosive charges throughout the complex. Nothing useful will be left standing for the insurgents.”

  “It’s hard to believe the cape will be gone,” Colonel Wilmington spoke in a more subdued voice. “That’s going to seriously upset Senator Farley.”

  “It’s necessary,” General Mann said in agreement. “Without the cape and its launch facilities, it will be weeks or possibly months before Senator Farley can launch an attack against Star One or Tycho City.”

  “By then, both will be ready for an attack,” spoke General Karver, confidently. “Senator Farley will not be able to take or destroy either one!”

  The general knew that both facilities were already heavily armed, but that information was classified at the highest level. Only a few people knew what he had sent up to protect Star One and Tycho City. Senator Farley
would be in for a rude awakening if he ever attacked either of the two.

  General Karver had hated making the decision to destroy the launch center, but he knew there was no other choice. It drove home even more just how serious the situation was with the insurgents. The cape had been a symbol for nearly a generation now of America’s power and resurgence as the world leader in space exploration.

  “Colonel Wilmington,” said General Karver, looking over at the young colonel. “I want you to return to the cape and make sure all the demolition charges are set. Once we launch the last two shuttles, we will evacuate the cape and set off the explosives.”

  After making their final defensive plans for the coming assault, the group broke up, going back to their respective commands. General Karver knew that this would be the last time he would see many of them. They had served him and their country faithfully.

  -

  Several hours later, General Karver was in the air in a fast attack helicopter, flying high above the fighting, which had erupted once again down below. The clear early afternoon sky allowed for an unobstructed view of the terrain and the opposing forces. He knew that the last two shuttles were scheduled to be launched within the hour. He needed to hold just long enough for them to get safely away.

  He wished that one of the two aircraft carrier battle groups had survived. Somehow, Senator Farley’s forces had managed to gain control of several nuclear attack submarines. Senator Farley’s forces had launched a major air attack against the two aircraft carriers the week before. Under cover of the air attack, the two submarines had managed to move in and take out both carriers with torpedoes and cruise missiles. Both of the submarines had been destroyed by depth charges from several navy frigates.

  The remaining navy ships had moved in closer to shore to add their defensive firepower to the cape’s against incoming missile fire. The destroyer Cleveland had been the last to be destroyed. She had been sunk only two days ago by the last of Senator Farley’s cruise missiles.

  In the distance, General Karver could see insurgent armor consisting of a long column of M-4A heavy tanks interspersed with numerous armored personnel carriers probing his defenses. His fast attack helicopter and the fourteen others following close behind were the last of his air arm that remained. He had held these back in reserve for just this moment. They would make the insurgents pay a heavy price in the upcoming battle. Dozens of other attack helicopters littered the landscape below and around the cape with their burned out, blasted remains.

  General Karver held on as the helicopter banked tightly to the right and hurled itself at high speed at the armor juggernaut assailing his now meager defensive line. Several attacking tanks had already been taken out by scattered artillery fire and shoulder launched anti-tank weapons. He could see General Strong’s last six heavy battle tanks moving up to engage the approaching insurgent armor. They were heavily outnumbered, but they rolled forward fearlessly.

  The helicopter’s copilot carefully targeted the approaching enemy armor. Anti-armor rockets belched out of the helicopter’s launch tubes, impacting on two of the approaching tanks. The rocket’s depleted uranium tips penetrated the tank’s heavy armor, exploding inside. Two large, fiery explosions marked the death of the tanks as their magazines and fuel exploded, showering debris on the other armored vehicles around them.

  The other attack helicopters following closely behind and poured their fire into the armor column, wreaking havoc with the speed and ferocity of their sudden attack. General Strong’s advancing tanks added their deadly fire to that of the attack helicopters, decimating much of the insurgent’s heavy armor.

  For a moment, it looked as if the insurgent’s advance was going to stall. Smoke filled the air and burning tanks and armored personnel carriers littered the landscape. Insurgent troops could be seen running for cover, and even a few were headed back away from the fighting. Massive explosions began tearing huge holes in the ground, as General Strong’s remaining artillery pieces opened up.

  Suddenly, General Karver heard the helicopter’s threat warning go off as interceptor missiles from shoulder held launchers locked onto the helicopter. General Karver felt the pilot push the craft over and dart toward the ground as counter measures shot out from the tail in an attempt to confuse the inbound missiles. The helicopter pilot pulled up seemingly scant feet from the ground, skimming the surface, and then darting back up and to the left.

  Behind them, several powerful explosions in the air and on the ground bore mute testimony to their successful evasion of the interceptors. However, looking back General Karver saw that four of his accompanying attack helicopters hadn’t been so successful. Their burning wreckage littered the ground between the defenders and the attackers.

  The enemy armor started to advance once more, firing round after round into General Strong’s outnumbered tanks. In less than two minutes, the massed fire of the enemy had destroyed all six defending tanks. The insurgent’s heavy armor then turned their fire upon the defender’s heavily fortified and battered positions. Insurgent artillery also began to join in, rolling in waves of towering explosions that marched across the defensive lines. General Karver felt ill, knowing that hundreds of loyal troops were dying below.

  The attack helicopter made a second run, taking out another tank and a personnel carrier, once again having to dodge and juke through rebel interceptor missile fire. One missile exploded in the air so close to the helicopter that it was actually knocked over on its side briefly from the concussion.

  As the helicopter righted itself and banked once again, General Karver saw the first rebel tanks begin to breach his defensive lines, pouring withering fire into the defending troops. In just a few minutes, a major breakthrough was occurring over a wide front. The defenders didn’t have the firepower to stop the rebel armor and most of the attack helicopters had been knocked down by rebel missiles. Only three others besides General Karver’s still remained. Looking out the cockpit window for a moment, he made a quick, decisive decision. Too many loyal troops were dying.

  “General Mann,” Karver spoke over the radio.

  “Yes, sir,” General Mann’s voice came back instantly. General Mann was second in command and was monitoring the insurgent attack from the field headquarters.

  “I’m going to the cape to oversee the launching of the last two shuttles and to make sure the demolition charges are set. I need you to hold for another hour, at which time I am directing you to surrender to the officer in charge of the insurgent troops.” General Karver heard only silence at the other end. “General Mann, many of these men and women will die if we don’t surrender. We can’t hold the cape much longer anyway. We need to think about saving lives.”

  “Yes, Sir. We will do as you ask. Good luck, Sir,” General Mann finally replied. Then, after a moment, his voice returned over the radio. “Sir, it’s been an honor to serve with you.”

  Several minutes later, General Karver’s helicopter landed in front of the cape’s main administration building where Jane Kinsey and Tim McPhryson stood waiting for him. In the distance, he could hear the din of fighting, the explosions from the tank and artillery fire, and heavy weapons.

  “Come with us, General,” Jane Kinsey pleaded not wanting to see General Karver’s life wasted needlessly. “We’re going up on the shuttles. We don’t dare let Senator Farley capture us with the information we have about Star One and Tycho City.”

  “My duty is here,” began General Karver, preparing to turn and walk away to check on the demolition charges. Too many troops had died the last four weeks. He would make his final stand here at the cape. He had already decided that he would not be captured.

  “No, General.” Raising his hand firmly McPhryson stopped him. “We need you on Star One. You know that eventually Farley will attack it and Tycho City. We need your expertise to stop those attacks. You know he won’t rest until Star One and Tycho City have been destroyed. We can’t allow that to happen! President Kateland would want you to survive!�
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  Not knowing what to say, General Karver allowed himself to be led to a waiting vehicle and whisked off toward the two waiting shuttles. He knew that Tim was right. Once the cape was gone, Senator Farley would try to destroy Star One and Tycho City. By destroying the cape, he was only delaying that attempt.

  “We will be taking two separate shuttles,” McPhryson said as the vehicle neared the two towering shuttles. “Jane and I will be on one and you will be on the other. With all the interceptor missiles being launched, at least one of the shuttles should get through. If we don’t see each other again General, it’s been a privilege to serve our country with you. President Kateland would have been proud!”

  General Karver was escorted quickly to the nearest shuttle and taken to the top. As the elevator climbed, he had a good view of the cape. Everywhere the remaining cape personnel were in the process of evacuating. Numerous vehicles were leaving the cape and proceeding south way from the fighting.

  General Karver knew that, within minutes, the only people left would be in Launch Control and the security people still guarding the immediate perimeter. In moments, he was being buckled into an acceleration couch directly behind the shuttle’s commander and pilot.

  “Welcome aboard, General,” the shuttle’s commander said, turning around slightly in her seat to smile at General Karver. “We will be taking off shortly. Hang on because with all the missile fire, this could be a bumpy ride.”

  General Karver watched the main viewscreen in silence as it showed the other shuttle preparing to launch first. He saw the main engines ignite, followed seconds later by the two SRBs. As Karver watched, the other shuttle slowly rose above the tower on a pillar of flame.

  “Our turn is next,” the pilot said, flipping several switches.

  Thirty seconds later, General Karver felt the engines of the shuttle ignite, and the increased pressure pushed him back into his acceleration couch. A low rumble filled the cabin as the engines gulped fuel and pushed the shuttle skyward. As the shuttle rose toward safety, on the ground specially placed demolition charges began to explode, destroying years of work and billions of dollars worth of irreplaceable equipment.