“Don’t think so. You might be sick of my driving, but not me.”
Harris shook his head. “Doubt it. I’ll be back there strapped in and sleeping. Once I’m down I’m dead to the world. You could roll us over and I would probably never know.”
Tawn put the vehicle in reverse and stomped on the gas. The tires spun, kicking up sand and dust. Seconds later, she threw the lever into “Drive.” Again the big tires flipped sand in the air as the armored APC lurched forward. “I’ll do my best to keep you from getting down, then.”
The active suspension of the Morgan-made carrier translated an otherwise rough surface into a fairly smooth ride. An “honest” distance was maintained from the vehicle ahead. A bar dragging chains behind the vehicles left a track that would be difficult to detect from the air. Sensors told of empty skies above.
An hour into the journey, Tawn broke the silence. “You have any other good stories from the corps?”
Harris took in a deep breath. “Something that you haven’t heard? Give me a minute to think. If you have something in mind, spit it out.”
Tawn scratched her forehead with a free hand. “Gennis back there mentioned Landau II. I was there about twelve years ago. Bloody mess that one was. We dropped in fifty Bios along with close to two thousand regulars. We were told to stop the twenty-eight hundred Earthers from crossing the Whichiachi River.”
“The what?”
“Wichiachi. There was a two kilometer stretch that could be forded or easily used to construct a pontoon bridge. Ten clicks back from our side of the river was a supply depot with an artesian well. The Earthers wanted it. We weren’t giving it up.
“The Earthers had the superior side of the river. We were better dug in.”
Harris chuckled. “Foxholes?”
Tawn nodded. “With ion shields sitting up front. On most of them anyway. I was in a double with a stump. Ricker. He was hilarious, by the way. Made for a decent deployment on the days we weren’t getting shot at. He could throw a fist-sized rock like nobody’s business. Twice I saw him take out some unfortunate sap on the other side. The guy had a cannon for an arm.”
“Narrow river?”
“About seventy-five meters directly in front of us. Anyway, we had several assaults where the Earthers made it to within meters of us. We repelled them all, but they kept trying. By the time they left we had cut their numbers by over half. We were down 40 percent ourselves.”
“They just gave up?”
Tawn nodded. “Their CO called ours and asked if we’d allow transports to come get them. We did and they left.”
Harris winced. “There were a lot of battles like that during that war. Our Earth history back there at the bunker points to some of the same.”
Tawn was quiet.
“That was it?”
“Yep. You got anything?”
Harris rubbed the back of his neck. “Was on patrol once and was almost stampeded by a herd of boglers. My squad was cutting across this field with a small herd occupying a hill to our left. We didn’t see the lone cow down to our right. When we cut between, the rest of them charged. Sandoval, he was our chief at the time, got caught out in the open.
“This seven hundred kilo bull charged right for him. I was just about to turn that bull into steaks when the chief swung his rifle out at it. The bull swerved, going just around him.”
Tawn said, “You know, they say those boglers are on almost every inhabited planet now?”
Harris nodded. “All they do is eat and breed. They came from New Earth. At least that’s what I was told. The Earthers killed off all their natural predators before shipping them off to other colonies. That massive herd on Farmingdale was from Earthers.”
Tawn said, “I know where this is gonna lead, but have you ever had Earth beef? They have cattle farms on Domicile that specialize in raising them. Much more docile than boglers. Taste better too.”
Harris shook his head. “Haven’t had the pleasure. You thinking the beef or fish pack for lunch?” He stood and walked to the back of the cabin.
“Get me a fish. I’ve had about enough of the beef from the pacies food deliveries. Just doesn’t taste right.”
Harris chuckled. “Nobody told you?”
“What?”
“That’s not beef. It’s some veggie cram seasoned up to taste something like beef.”
“Huh. That explains why I never feel full after eating one of their packs. Tell me we have standard issue MREs in here.”
“We do. Bannis had his people pack them before the colonel picked them up.”
“Finally, something I can sink my teeth into.”
Harris checked the meals. “We have bogler steak, bogler ribs, bogler burgers, even a couple bogler brains.”
“I never understood why you stumps liked that so much.”
Harris shook his head. “Not me. Too spongy. We have sea biscuits, king buttel, cambrello, and squamish…”
“Cambrello. Those others leave you with fish-breath for most of the day.”
“One cambrello meal and one bogler ribs, coming up.”
A hundred kilometers turned into five hundred, and then to a thousand. Harris slept strapped to his bunk as Tawn entertained herself with Earth music she had loaded into her data store from the bunker archives. After jamming on the brakes the APC slid to a stop.
Tawn walked back, shaking Harris awake. “We got a problem.”
Harris rubbed his eyes. “My turn already?”
“Nope. I think we lost Gennis and her spotter.”
Harris unfastened four straps that had held him in place. “How?”
The truck was leaning hard forward. “Are we in a ditch?”
Tawn nodded. “About three meters in front of us is a crevasse. Runs out as far as the sensors can detect to either side and drops about five hundred meters straight down in front. Maybe thirty meters across.”
“And you think Gennis and Jeld went into it?”
Tawn half scowled. “Should have sent out their blip about fifteen minutes ago. We got nothing.”
Harris sat up. “How’d team one get across?”
Tawn shrugged. “They went well north of here. It must end at some point in that direction.”
“So just turn us around and take us north.”
“Might not be that easy.”
“What’s the issue?”
“We’re on a 38 degree slope, three meters from the edge. We start backing up and we might just slide forward.”
“Nothing to hook onto with the winch?”
Tawn shook her head. “We’re on a sloped rock that’s partially covered with dust and sand. I put on the brakes forty meters back as soon as I topped that crest. Skidded all the way to here. The winch has about thirty meters of cable on it.”
Harris hopped down to the floor as he pulled on his helmet. The APC slid forward half a meter.
“Might want to keep any movement slow and deliberate.”
Harris gently walked toward the back.
“Where you going?”
Harris nodded toward the rear hatch. “Out that door. If you wanna stay in here while we try to figure this out, you’re more than welcome to. I’ll be standing out there.” Harris reached for the door.
Tawn said, “Before you hop out, you’ll want to keep an eye on your footing. A slip could send you sliding down over that edge.”
The hatch was opened. Harris carefully stepped out onto the sand-covered rock. “Not bad, but kind of eerie.”
Tawn gently followed him out onto the steeply inclined ground. “Let’s get back up top and have a look at the situation.”
With Harris’ first step he slipped and caught his balance. “OK … gotta move slow.”
The forty-meter trek up the hill took five minutes of careful climbing.
“How’d you even manage to get us stopped?” Harris asked.
“Luck. I hit the brakes just as we topped this rise. I guess the tires caught just enough. So how do we get her back up
here?”
Harris surveyed the situation. “We need a spike. Set a spike in that rock and attach the winch to it.”
Tawn waved her hand toward the APC. “You do know that beast weighs about six tons.”
“And?”
“We have forty meters to pull it. This rock is not hard. Gonna need a long spike.”
“We don’t have to pull six tons. The truck will be doing that while the winch is running.”
Tawn glanced down at the precariously positioned vehicle with an uneasy look. “That means one of us has to be driving it.”
Harris nodded. “And who’s the best driver here?”
“That would be me, but I’m not all too eager to get behind the wheel this time.”
“You were supposed to say it was me. Give me that one little credit before I volunteer.”
“Ah. OK. You’re the best.”
“Thank you. Now let’s find us a spike.”
Tawn placed her hands on her hips. “Gonna take two moves to get us back up here. That cable isn’t gonna reach all the way.”
Harris began the walk back down. “See that flat-ish spot about ten meters up? I say we put our first spike just above that and pull the APC up to there. After that we bring the spike up here.”
Tawn nodded. “Sounds like a plan.”
A steel support beam inside the APC was unbolted and carried to the first position. Harris held the beam at its base as Tawn pulled her Fox-40.
“Hold that steady down there. This may be rough until we get it started.”
Harris glanced up. “Just don’t miss. I’d rather not have my hand smashed.”
Tawn half smiled. “Better you than me.”
Tawn aimed the Fox down at the top of the beam and pulled trigger. A loud zap saw the metal beam dig a centimeter into the rock.
Harris nodded. “Good sign. Keep them coming.”
With repeated low power plasma pulses, the steel spike was driven a full meter into the soft rock.
Harris stood. “That’s gonna have to do it. We don’t have anything longer without tearing that truck apart.”
Tawn pointed. “Hop in while I hook us up.”
Harris chuckled. “How about you hook us up and then I’ll hop in.”
“Guess that works too.”
“Works much better for me. Let me know when you’re ready.”
Harris slipped twice as he carefully moved to the driver’s side door, both times barely regaining his footing before continuing on.
Tawn called from around back. “Hooked up and tight.”
Harris climbed in the cab, powering up the drive and putting the big machine in reverse.
Tawn said, “Take it slow and easy.”
Harris looked over his shoulder. “Who’s the best driver?”
Tawn nodded. “You are. At least from here to the top of the hill.”
The first ten meters of climb passed without incident. A move of the spike to the top of the hill saw a repeat of the first section put into play.
Tawn worked the winch as she said, “These last dozen meters are the steepest. Just keep doing what you’re doing and we should be golden.”
With five meters to go, the tires of the APC spun when a thin piece of rock came loose from the hillside. The APC jerked and began to slide.
Tawn yelled, “Spike is coming out!”
“Well, get it back in!”
The APC began to slide down the hill, this time picking up speed, the tail end beginning to slide to the side. Harris turned the wheel, stomping on the accelerator. All four tires spun violently, spraying out sand and small bits of soft stone. The downward trajectory of the APC stopped. Slowly momentum reversed. Forty seconds later the armored truck sat on top of the hill.
Harris stepped out, taking in a deep breath. “Whoa. Can’t say that was fun.”
Tawn chuckled as she disconnected the loose beam and retracted the winch. “You are the best driver. And I’ll let you be the best driver whenever you want.”
Harris walked to the back to assist with the beam. “Let’s just get this together and get back on the trail. This is gonna put us back half a day. And it’s boiling out here.”
Tawn nodded.
Chapter 9
_______________________
A trek to the north saw the duo back on the path to their destination. Four further days of driving had them parking between two outcroppings. The skin coloring of the APC was set, gear packed, and the sniper and her spotter began a fifty kilometer hike toward Fireburg.
Harris said, “What do you think it’s gonna look like?”
“A dome.”
“I know that. I’m talking the rest of their operation.”
“Vehicles moving dirt around? I don’t know. The spot we chose has a free view of most of the mine pits. I’m sure there are plenty of targets.”
Harris sighed. “Wish we could have talked to the other team.”
“The relays are set. They have to be in their APC. We can check for a message when we get back. In the meantime we have some Earther equipment to destroy. You brought the blind cover, right?”
Harris nodded. “Three of them. We’ll have a choice of color patterns depending on exactly how you want to position us.”
“You bring the matching spray?”
“One can.”
Tawn scowled. “Should have brought at least two. I told you two.”
“I improvised with the other blind covers.”
“Nice thought, but we only needed that base desert blind. The matching spray would let us change it if we need to. Next time bring exactly what I say.”
Harris chuckled. “Didn’t know I’d be working for such a hardass.”
Tawn stopped. “It’s called being a professional. You should try it sometime.”
The hike ended as they came to a rise. Tawn dropped to her knees, crawling the last five meters to the top.
Harris asked, “Where you want it?”
Tawn pulled a scope from her pack. “Hang on while I check my angles. I want to set this up once. Especially since we only have one can of matching spray. Kind of keeps us in one spot.”
“You aren’t gonna let that go, are you?”
Tawn smirked. “You gave it to me. I’m just gonna keep giving it back. Hmm. See that spot about fifty meters to our left? Where that rock ledge drops off by a meter?”
“Yeah?”
“I think we set up right in that crease. Why don’t you slither back down and head over. Wait at the base for me. Team one said ‘target rich’ and I think they were right.”
Harris followed the order. Tawn joined him several minutes later. A short climb and then a crawl placed them at the selected spot.
Tawn opened Harris’ pack, removing the standard desert-color blind and the can of matching spray. “I’ll have this up in about five minutes. Stay down here. We’re at our most vulnerable during this next few minutes.”
Harris nodded and sat as the level four sniper ascended the final meters of the hill. The blind was unfolded and dragged behind her as she moved up the crease in the rock. Plastic posts gave it structure. Most of the can of matching spray had it blending in nicely with the surrounding rock. Tawn crawled back to Harris on her belly.
“We’re set. Follow my path exactly. When I get you in the blind I’ll be coming out to hide our tracks. You can sit tight until I come back. After that, we observe for a bit and then select our first target.”
Harris followed as Tawn crawled up toward the blind. The spotter was delivered and the veteran sniper returned to clean up. Several minutes later, she slid up under the blind. “We’re set.”
A flap was opened and two scopes were raised.
Tawn said, “Just observe. Watch for habits and patterns. If you happen on equipment, try to determine what might be a weak point. We can discuss before selecting it as a target.”
“You sure are cut and dried on this stuff.”
“This is business. We follow the rules. We have t
o be patient. Success will come if we do those two things. Now, tell me what you see.”
“I count a dozen diggers in that pit to the left. Center has eight. And the one to the right has two.”
“Good. I concur. Give me your best truck count.”
“I see three, four, and two, and five backed up at that hopper, so fourteen?”
“Right. Now list off any equipment or other targetable items they have out there. Ignore the hopper and the processing gear for the moment.”
Harris panned the pits and the surrounding area. “I count five generator stations, three water stations, two tented areas that appear to be for personnel, and all the way to the right looks like a maintenance station.”
“What about the eight watch towers? And that pool of parked vehicles. Then move up on the dome. Six watchtowers that we can see on this side. And down just by that north bay. That look like the nose of a fighter?”
Harris zoomed in. “Yeah. Guess I misunderstood what would be considered primary targets.”
“We don’t yet have primaries. This exercise will give us our complete target list. From there we’ll divide them into four camps. Must haves—we keep that list to no more than four— primary, secondary, and finally the rest. We’ll also be presented with targets of opportunity that aren’t visible at the moment.”
Harris said, “OK, hang on. I’ll record these to my data store. We can reference that when we’re ready to categorize.”
Tawn shook her head. “Bad idea. If we get captured we don’t want to have anything that will tell them which targets to best protect. From here on this is a memory game. We look. We discuss.”
Harris nodded. “Got it.”
Over the several hours that followed a list was developed and prioritized. A conveyor motor that powered a belt pulling ore from the giant hopper would be first. Next would be a fusion reactor powering a maintenance tent. Following that, taking out the nose spike on the fighter that sat parked in the north bay would require a trick shot by Tawn. The spike was integral to the fighter’s sensor set, making it less useful during a search for the snipers.
Tawn opened the flap.
Harris asked, “Would any of these be better at night?”
Tawn shook her head. “Not unless you want them coming right for us. These rifles are good at suppressing the beam that usually points back to where they were fired from. That effect is really good during the day, not nearly so at night. With the right equipment they could pinpoint our location.”
ARMS Jebwa Atrocity Page 8