by Lars Teeney
“Herpes Six, heads up!” Herpes Five warned him. Herpes Six turned to face the oncoming vehicle and pulled from his pouch a plasma grenade. He pulled the pin and rushed the front of the vehicle. The operator of the fifty caliber turret sighted in on Herpes Six and fired full bursts of fire, which slammed into Herpes Sixes armor as he jumped upon the hood. Bullets dented his metal, tore into gaps at the joints, shattered his helmet's optical sensors, and dug into his flesh. The barrage had laid Herpes Six out on the hood of the half-track. The plasma grenade slipped out of his hand and detonated, which enveloped Herpes Six, the half-track, and nearby soldiers in a white-hot plasma discharge—reducing all to ash.
“Shit! Herpes! Who is left? Herpes Six is gone, and I’m pulling back!” Herpes Five reported.
“Herpes Two here! The center is under heavy attack—YARRRGH!” Herpes Two’s communication was cut short. Herpes Five assumed he had been killed. Herpes Five rushed on, crossing the center of the battle, in an attempt to find Sergeant Craig a Briuis. Soon, he sees Herpes One, fighting masses of Chinese soldiers with only his Claymore sword, cutting a bloody swathe through the enemy. Herpes Five started off to join him, when, out of the corner of his eye, he saw a massive, lumbering giant approach. It was the Chinese Command tank, they had called them ‘Jade Giants’ due to the color of the armor. Herpes Five had been caught off guard and just stood by silently as the main gun of the ‘Jade Giant’ trained in on him.
“Sergeant, get the fuck out of here while you—” the main gun fired its payload, with frightening speed, the shell slammed into Herpes Five’s armor and erupted into a fireball, vaporizing his form. The hatch on ‘Jade Giant’ opened and out jumped the commanding officer of the Chinese force, a slender and tall man, he walked forcefully toward the lone New Megiddan warrior who had claimed so many of his soldiers.
The Chinese soldiers backed away from the Sergeant a Briuis, who’s armor was broken and dysfunctional, seeing that their commanding officer approached.
“You there! Gwailo! I am Coloner Cheng He. You and your men have fought bravely, but now it is time for you to surrender!” Colonel He demanded. Craig stared at him with bloodlust in his eyes, brandishing his sword threateningly.
“What have you done to my men?” he yelled, gnashing his teeth.
“They are all dead. Submit, now!” Colonel He ordered.
“Never! I—” before Craig could finish his sentence, Colonel He had pulled out his sidearm and shot Craig once in each leg, through ruined armor. Craig dropped his sword and fell to the ground writhing in pain. Chinese soldiers rushed in to subdue him and claimed his sword.
“Qiúfàn dào wǒ de tǎnkè! (Put the prisoner in my tank!)” Colonel He ordered his men to restrain Craig and load him into the ‘Jade Giant’. Craig slipped into unconsciousness.
⍟ ⍟ ⍟
Craig shot upright, waking from his nightmare in a cold sweat. He looked around his cabin and felt relieved when he saw that he was alone. Craig felt the swaying of the ship on the ocean waves and he could see out the portal that it was night. He got out of his bed and walked toward a glass door that led to an exterior deck, and stepped outside. The North Atlantic cold air bit at his exposed flesh.
“These bloody nightmares will never cease. I hope I will find peace soon,” Craig thought. He lit a cigarette and took a drag. After the nightmare he was wide awake, so he spent the remainder of the night on the deck, watching the other ships of the fleet glide across the rough waters of the Atlantic.
⍟ ⍟ ⍟
BAD COMPANY
“Teri! Teri!” He called in a hushed tone. Teri had been tasked with bringing some produce to the Chinese soldiers who had been stationed on the perimeter. Lieutenant commander Junjie Liu called to her from in between two buildings. Finally, she heard his call and squinted to get a look at who it was. She walked closer to the gap.
“Junjie? Is that you?” Teri asked loudly.
“Yes! Be quiet! Come here!” he beckoned her. She steered her wheelbarrow over to the gap and approached him.
“Junjie, why are you away from your men and hiding like this?” she asked, slightly confused.
“I wanted to see you! Come!” Junjie tugged at her arm excitedly.
“Hey, easy. What’s so urgent?” she asked hesitantly.
“Sorry, Teri, I want to spend time—you, I—before fight with Remnant Regime,” he confessed to her. He was fearful of dying in the coming battle and taken a shine to Teri.
“Oh, well, that’s sweet, but my father and your commander—won’t they—” Teri was cut off.
“No, don’t think of that right now. I have been to Russian River! Please come with me,” Junjie begged her. She decided that adventure, at that moment, was more to her taste than labor, so she took his had and shirked her responsibilities. The two of them ran down Bush Street, toward the river, careful to stay out of conspicuous view. After a couple close calls they had made their way down to the rocky Rusian River bank, that was sheltered by nearby trees and thick scrub all around. The pair had their own private beach at that moment.
The two had met up once before and socialized out in the open. What seemed to be harmless fun to the two of them drew strange looks from both Ukiahans and the Chinese officers.
“Teri—your home—so peaceful,” Junjie observed, watching the babbling waters of the river flow by. The odd fish could be seen on its relentless search for food.
“Oh Junjie, you haven’t spent much time here in my country, then, have you? You know, I don’t even know what it is called now. I suppose the State of Ukiah would be my country,” she admitted in a rare moment of analytical thought.
“No, understand that war here. I say nature—still some wild here. China not like that—everything paved over—and smoke in air!” Junjie tried to explain as best he could in broken English.
“I think I get it. When I was younger, my father used tell my brother and I stories of how this land used to be. He said that it was overflowing with wildlife. Apparently this river you see here used host Salmon runs that would bulge from the river, hundreds and thousands of them! The ancient state, he said, actually had land set aside called “National Parks”, people would leave the cities and go camping and hiking, sometimes for days on end—these days if you were to do that, you probably fall victim to bandits,” she recounted. For a moment, there was a glow on her face when she tried to imagine this fabled land from her father’s stories. Junjie shook his head in encouragement of her retelling of the story, partly because he was intrigued by it, but mostly because the way she looked while she told the story.
“Anyway—I have never been away from home. I bet China is exotic! Tell me about it,” she encouraged him. He took his hat off and ran some fingers through his fine, black hair. He did not know how to answer the question without sounding pessimistic. Junjie had joined the military to escape the choking pollution that was a byproduct of prosperity in his country. He fished for something, any tidbit that was positive about his home to feed to her.
“I—I come from place called Kaifeng, in Henan province. It like this town, but way bigger! It had river, uh—Yellow River, like this, but bigger too. But, not clean like this. Many people there,” Junjie explained.
“Really? A river like ours? Your home was large? I have never been to any big cities. I heard our old capital, New Megiddo City was huge. Tell me more!” she said, tucking her arm in his. He smiled at her.
“Um—don’t know—I know I come from people who are different in China. A separate group,” Junjie struggled to elaborate on what he meant.
“A separate group? How were they different?” Teri asked with wide-eyed anticipation.
“Well—I don’t know how to say in English. Different beliefs. In your house, I saw familiar objects. Was like what we had in our—shrine—in Kaifeng,” Junjie recounted.
“I don’t know, Junjie, my family aren’t an eastern religion. We are Jewish, though my p
arents more so than me. I was never really all that serious about it,” she confessed.
“Yes! That is it,” he exclaimed, then he pulled a chain that he wore around his neck from under his shirt, with a medallion hanging from it. Teri’s eyes widened in disbelief. She gazed upon a ‘Magen David’ symbol, and underneath was Chinese characters that she did not understand.
“That’s incredible! I have heard the old stories of the Exodus and Diaspora but I had no idea Jews went that far east. Are you devout?” Teri asked with widening curiosity.
“I don’t know much. My parents—they protect these objects—not many left. Group died out long time ago. Still some who practice in secret. But I cannot read—uh? Junjie seized up, not being able to conjure a term for what he was thinking.
“It’s called the ‘Ivri’, or the Hebrew alphabet,” she informed him, “I had to learn to read it as a kid. I can teach you,” she said with a smile. He looked at her and returned the smile.
“Ivri, I see. I like to learn—Ivri. I want read the stories about my people in China—what happen to them,” he said, looking out at the gently moving waters of the Russian River and picturing the Yellow River. Teri looked at him as he contemplated his peoples’ past. At that moment, she planted her lips upon his. They shared a kiss that lasted nearly a minute, then she pulled away, and looked at him in his eyes. Then, she planted a frisky kiss on his lips once more, and she straddled him on his lap, running here fingers through his hair.
The sound of gunfire interrupted their make-out session. Teri jumped up and looked in the direction of her home. Junjie also climbed to his feet and secured his cap upon his head, straightened his uniform and started jogging.
“I see you back out town! We go separately!” With that, he ran off into the underbrush, back toward town. Teri thought about how she had the worst luck when it came to men. She straightened her dress and adjusted her hair and then set off back to town.
⍟ ⍟ ⍟
Ernest Greenbaum hurried to the trouble scene with several of his militiamen. He had heard the first eruption of gunfire, followed by sporadic shots of a gun battle, judging from the cadence and the automatic versus single shot signatures. They reached the central square and found that Chinese soldiers had set up a perimeter across the street from an alley. Ernest saw that two Chinese soldiers lay wounded and a medic was tending to their gunshot wounds. Major-General He was crouching with his fellow soldiers who had overturned some metal carts and used them for cover. From behind the carts, they fired their automatic weapons at someone in the alley.
Ernest ran toward the hastily improvised barricade and crouched down beside Major-General He, who was busy barking orders in Mandarin to his men. After a moment, Major-General He noticed Ernest by his side.
“Ernest Greenbaum! It seems that your population has turned hostile!” Major-General He yelled over the gunfire.
“What are you talking about? What happened here?” he inquired nervously. Major-General He shot him a distrustful look.
“Aha! So you’re going to tell me you don’t know what happened here? As if you had nothing to do with it!” Major-General He shouted in an accusatory tone.
“I have no idea what the hell has happened here! You must believe me!” Ernest professed, putting his hands up in innocence.
“Two of your citizens were walking past my men and I when we were en route to the wall. One minute they were normal, and the next they began babbling in tongues—at first we though they were playing a joke, but then they yelled about how the “Reverend” and the “Messiah” shall return and that foreigners will be cast down! My men and I desired no trouble so we walked on—the pair had concealed pistols and fired, striking two of my men. They ran into that alley!” Major-General He described the situation.
“Wait! Let me talk to them, please!” Ernest pleaded.
“Are you mad? They’re animals that must be put down!” Major-General He scoffed.
“Listen, Cheng! If you would like to resolve this peacefully, avert any further bloodshed, and keep your men from causing any more animosity among the citizens, then let me talk to them!” Ernest demanded. Major-General He sighed in exasperation and waved a dismissive hand.
“I suppose you are right, President Greenbaum. Very well, talk,” Major-General He agreed, then he yelled in Mandarin for his men to hold their fire. Ernest stood up and spoke,
“You there in the alley, it is President Greenbaum! Hold your fire! I just want to talk!” he shouted, they held their fire.
“What are your names?” Ernest asked.
“Jesse McCastle!” one man yelled, “Tim Pratt!” another answered.
“Okay, okay Jesse! Tim! I have known both of your families, they are good people. Listen, I am coming to you, unarmed! Don’t shoot!” Ernest called to them, as he got up and walked slowly toward the alley. Almost instantaneously, but coming from separate directions, Teri Greenbaum, and Lieutenant commander Junjie Liu reached the scene. Junjie took up position with his comrades behind the barricade and drew his weapon. Major-General He noticed his late arrival and flashed him a look of suspicion. Teri Greenbaum became distraught upon seeing her father approach the alley.
“Dad!” she yelled to him. He turned abruptly and made a sign with his hands that it is okay. He continued on and finally reached them. Jesse and Tim both looked frightened and visibly shook.
“President Greenbaum! I don’t want to die!” Jesse McCastle blurted out, half sobbing.
“Yeah, Ernest! We didn’t mean to, it just happened!” Jesse exclaimed, still waving his gun around, and crouching behind a stack of palettes, “Yes! It couldn’t be helped!” Tim added through choking fear.
“Easy! Easy, I know. What I need you two to do is hand me your guns. Then all three of us will walk out of here together and we will sort it out with the Constable. How does that sound?” Ernest offered, attempting to calm the two young men.
“I ain’t never been in trouble before!” Tim sobbed, making a squinting face in his grief, “O-okay, President Greenbaum! But, you gotta promise that them China men ain’t gonna hurt us!” Jesse said nervously.
“Jesse McCastle, I promise you, I won’t let any harm come to either of you. But, now what I need you to do is kindly hand me those guns!” Ernest presented a hand out to Jesse, to beckon him to place his weapon in it.
“Okay, her you go!” Jesse agreed and place his pistol in Ernest’s palm.
“Good, now you Tim—” Ernest said. Right as he turned to face Tim, and as he looked in Tim’s eyes they looked preoccupied, like they were gazing upon something else. Tim began mumbling unintelligible syllables, then locked eyes with Ernest.
“The Reverend and Messiah will not tolerate those who aid the enemies of the Faith!” Tim screamed with wild-eyed. He raised his gun and aimed, but Ernest was faster, placing a well-aimed round between Tim’s eyes.
“Die, Apostate!” Jesse yelled, having picked up a plank of wood, he brought it down a with some force at the base of Ernest’s neck. Ernest cried out and went to one knee, dropping his gun. Jesse raised the wood for the killing blow.
“Shīhuǒ!” Major-General He shouted the order. His soldiers let loose a volley that tore into Jesse’s torso and head, he dropped the wood, then fell backward, dead, into a trash pile. Ernest stumbled and caught himself.
“Father!” Teri screamed and ran to Ernest, embracing him, and helping him to his feet. At this point, Gertrude, who had heard of the stand-off, also ran to Ernest to help him walk on his unsupported side.
“Oy Vey,” Ernest whispered solemnly, as they hobbled away from the alley. Major-General He approached Ernest slowly.
“Well, President Greenbaum, it appears that you have a bigger problem on your hands than first appearances. I suggest that you crackdown, and expose this plot—” Major-General He was cut off by a Chinese soldier running toward them calling his name.
“Juéshì! Dírén de tǎnkè yǐjīng jiànguò! (Sir! Enemy tanks have been
sighted!)” the soldier cried. Major-General He gave the order for him to assemble an armored defensive line, and told the man he would join the soldiers shortly. The Chinese soldier saluted and ran off toward the defense wall.
“President Greenbaum! The Remnant Regime forces have appeared on the horizon to the north! I suggest you deploy your militia, fast! Join me at the north gate when you are able!” With that Major-General He walked rapidly away and called Lieutenant commander Junjie Liu to follow his lead. Junjie glanced in Teri’s direction and she met his eyes. Then, Junjie turned to follow the Major-General. Teri and Gertrude helped Ernest toward their house.
“Oy Vey!” was all he could say.
⍟ ⍟ ⍟
Teri and Gertrude patched Ernest up as best they could, but there was nothing they could do to avert the stiff neck he would suffer for the next week or so. Once they had patched up his the cuts he had suffered, he thanked his wife and daughter, then he went to the utility closet and retrieved his assault rifle and corresponding equipment, which included a flak vest. Several of his militia met him at his porch and they marched off toward the North gate of the town. As they drew closer to the North Gate Ernest and his militiamen could hear the roar of engines, and the squealing of treads as tanks prowled to and fro, to take up positions. Ernest heard directives and corresponding acknowledgments shouted out in Mandarin.
Ernest did not fail to comprehend the pickle his town was in. The Major-General was convinced that there was a plot to drive the Chinese army from Ukiah, because of the incident at the central square. Now the Chinese army was about to defend the town from a ‘Remant Regime’ attack, and there was no way for Ernest to repay the debt they would soon owe. It became more and more apparent to Ernest that Ukiah would be annexed by the Republic of China. But, would it matter? It was bound to happen sooner or later. After all, that’s what great powers did to get greater: swallow up the little guys.