When the Stars Fade (The Gray Wars)

by Korenman, Adam

  Hiro let out a sigh, tapping a finger to his lips.“You’re sure about what you’ve seen?”

  “You know I am, sir. We have to warn the system.”

  The Commodore nodded.“I’ll get word to FleetCom. Major, mobilize every unit on that moon and have them deploy to major areas around the planet. We need to be ready to evacuate billions of people at a moment’s notice.”

  “Commodore,”the Major said.“With all due respect, we’re an Army installation, not Fleet. I’ll need to hear that order from General Casey.”

  Hiro’s eyes narrowed.“You’ll hear that order read back from the captain of a firing squad if you delay one more second, Major. Do I make myself clear?”

  “Yes, sir.”He saluted awkwardly and ran from the room, polished shoes slapping against the tiled floor.

  “And Davis,”Hiro said.“I’m sending a shuttle to take you to Colorum. You can finish your recovery there and rejoin your unit.”He gestured offscreen to an unseen officer.“Get me Admiral Walker.”

  Cameron shook his head.“Sir, I’m fine. Just get me a fighter and I’ll help out here.”

  Hiro stared into the young pilot’s eyes.“I know you want to be a part of this, and I am confident you will. But right now, I need you to be debriefed and checked out. You’re no use to me trapped on a besieged world.”

  Even though he hated to admit it, Cameron knew the Commodore was right. He was still weak from days in bed, and certainly in no shape to fly. He lowered his head and let out a terse breath.“Understood, sir. I’ll be ready.”

  * * * * *

  The celebration in the hall was well underway when the Major arrived. General Hennesy and the other staff officers were watching video from the games and drinking. Soldiers were joking and eating and throwing back cases of beer. It was a moment to savor, but it had to end. The Major grabbed Hennesy by the shoulder, spinning him around.

  “Major?”Hennesy listened as the officer explained everything that had just happened. The smile faded off the XO’s face, and the color drained from his skin. He rose, pushing the Major to the side as he crossed to the podium. At first his voice was drowned out by the noise of the dining hall, but company commanders gradually gained control of their troops.

  In the back of the room, seated with the men and women of the winner’s circle, Josh watched with interest as the one-star general held up his hands for silence. Dax and Alexa moved closer to their squad leader.

  “Black Adders, I’ve just received an order from FleetCom.”The collective mood of the room sank.“A Boxti invasion force has been reported in Eros System. All Ranger units are to prepare for immediate deployment to New Eden to secure major cities and prepare for attack. All companies must return to their barracks and get some rest. Shuttles will leave at 0700 tomorrow.”He stepped down from the lectern, and this time no applause followed. Stunned silence covered the hall as each soldier digested the new situation.

  Markov, however, was not so easily distracted. He ran to the XO, stopping the older man mid-step.“General, how will this affect my candidates?”

  Hennesy looked down at the scientist as if he were a bug.“I think this development trumps any school project you had planned.”He started to walk back toward the table, to a waiting drink that he now desperately needed.

  Markov persisted.“General, I have permission from FLINT and Army Command to take these soldiers to my training facility, and that is exactly what I intend.”

  “Did you hear a word I said?”Hennesy asked.“There is an armada bearing down on New Eden even as we speak. Your training site is in just as much danger as anything else on the planet. You’ve got the names of the candidates, I’m sure you can collect them after this is done.”

  “No!”The outburst seemed to shock Markov as much as the General.“I mean...General, my research is intended to help in exactly this situation. If I can get these soldiers somewhere safe, I can begin their training immediately.”He leaned in close.“You’ll need them in the end.”

  Hennesy groaned. A major headache was building between his temples.“Fine. There’s a shuttle coming to take that pilot to Irwin Cove. You can hitch a ride, but there aren’t many Army facilities out in Colorum.”

  Markov smiled knowingly.“That works better than you could ever know.”He ran off to find Sasha, leaving the General to wonder what exactly he had just set in motion.

  - XX -

  The broadcast went perfectly. It had been his best work, easily the sharpest writing of any report he’d ever witnessed. And none of the sheep watching on their TVs would know the difference. That was the problem with this world. People believed whatever was fed to them, as though the events of the universe filled neat, hour-long segments. He wondered how many citizens had ever thought about Mars and the struggles the miners had gone through. Had any? Probably not. Under the soft but constant pressure of the Council’s boot, no Earthling dared raise a fuss over a few million deaths. It had been different back home. Martian men and women were nothing like the shits on the Homeworld. They were harder, more realistic about the harsh truths of life.

  It made him angry to think like this, and he knew he had to keep in control. Mr. Kent had managed not to look scared or threatened during the whole ordeal, but he was a fragile specimen. If Jonah wasn’t careful, he’d make the poor fool snap on camera, and they needed the people on their side. This was just the first stage of a series of events that would change the world. Because that was what it was all about, right? Making the universe a better place? Jonah ran a hand through his hair. He knew it wasn’t right, hearing voices the way he did. But they provided much needed context. They kept him thinking, and that was what kept him alive.

  Victor walked over, careful to remain silent during the broadcast.“Sir, the next group is ready to go.”They’d been releasing hostages in steady increments for the past week and a half. It bought time for more broadcasts, and that was all that mattered. They had plenty of warm bodies to send out.“Is this really helping?”

  Jonah’s lips curled into a smile.“We’re getting to them. The polls are showing a dramatic shift in our favor. I told you before, the body count worked in our favor. Kill a few people and you’re a murder. Kill thousands, you’re a rebel.”He chuckled.“We move on to phase three in a few days. Let the stories sit with the masses a little longer. Make sure they can see how we’re treating our guests, too.”

  It was a campaign to win over Earth’s support. Every few hours, a new broadcast went out detailing the truth about the Mars Uprising. Along with the passages from Jonah’s personal account, video of the hostages enjoying lavish meals and luxurious accommodations helped build Red Hammer’s image within the media and with the populous. No one minded the prolonged“crisis”because it seemed already over. Sure, there had been blood shed and a sizable death toll, but in the scheme of things it all evened out. The Martian Council had decried the attack, only to warmly applaud its brethren for their peaceful protest a week later. Jonah wasn’t at all surprised by how quickly popular opinion shifted. He’d seen it before on Mars, when the world went from loving his fight to hating his people. Before it had ended, the miners couldn’t even find friends on their own planet.

  It had taken years to plan, and there were still months of struggle ahead, but they had already won a key battle. He could see that from his room on the top of the tower. Having attacks all over the globe thinned out the Federate’s infantry reserves. Where only days before the ground had been swarming with soldiers, now civilians formed a protective barrier, witnesses to what they had been assured could become a“silencing operation.”Alexander wouldn’t dare fire the first shot, not with the world watching. In effect, the very people that had condemned so many of his rebels to die would now become their bulletproof vests.

  And, with a little help, Jonah would accomplish the unthinkable. He would steal Earth from under Alexander Burton’s nose.

  - XXI -

  Cameron was still awake when Josh entered the room. He looked up, not
entirely surprised to see the soldier standing in the hall. Though he’d been in and out of consciousness, the pilot often awoke to find his rescuer sitting in a chair reading, or just walking into the room. In his brief lucid moments, they’d shared a quick joke or two. It hurt to think about, but Josh was the closest thing Cameron had to a friend. The last few times, Cameron had been able to talk a little about Tallus.

  “Don’t you have a girlfriend or something?”Cameron asked.

  Josh rolled his eyes as he entered.“You clearly haven’t seen Army women before.”He pulled two beers from behind his back.“I brought some medicine from the doctor. He said you should take it quick, before the nurse comes back.”

  “You are a king among men.”Cameron twisted the top off and took a swig. The boch was a little warm but tasted amazing. “That’s right, tonight was your big ceremony. And you left it for me? All that free booze is just going to waste.”

  Josh laughed, spinning a stool around to take a seat.“Don’t worry. Delta Company took whatever was left for the after party.”He stopped, his smile fading.“Well, now it’ll have to be for the road. They’re deploying the battalion tomorrow.”

  The pilot’s face became serious.“Shouldn’t you be with your friends?”

  “Nah,”he said.“I see them every day. Besides, I just found out I’m leaving with you tomorrow, so I figured we should get better acquainted.”He held out his bottle until Cameron clinked the glass.“You didn’t finish your story.”He took a pull on his drink.

  “Yes I did.”

  Josh took a swig of beer, his eyes never breaking contact.“You need to say it out loud.”

  Cameron looked away.“It doesn’t get better from where we left off.”

  “I know.”

  “A lot of people died there. Everyone I’ve ever served with...”

  Josh held up a hand.“Cameron, I’ve been shot at maybe five times in my life. I was patrolling the streets of Mars six years after the action had stopped. You’ve been through more circles of Hell than anyone should have to endure.”He put his drink down and leaned in.“What I’m saying is that I can’t put myself in your shoes. I don’t know what it’s like. But I’m here, and I think you need to get it off your chest.”

  Cameron wiped his face, ashamed of the tears that fell on his cheeks.“He was my best friend for ten years. We’d taken on everything the universe had every thrown at us. He saved my life a dozen times. And I couldn’t even tow him a kilometer to safety. I let him down. I got him killed.”

  “Stop it,”Josh said sternly.“It wasn’t your fault. Some alien with a dozen sticks up its asshole pulled the trigger, and he’s living on borrowed time now. This is war, Cameron. This is what happens. And we keep fighting until it’s over.”He rocked back and retrieved his beer.

  “He’s right, you know.”

  They both turned and hid their drinks. Josh stood at attention, his jaw clenched tight.“Sir.”

  General Casey took a step into the room. He was still in uniform, still the spitting image of a war hero. He walked over to Cameron and placed a wrinkled but strong hand on his shoulder.“War is the worst thing any of us can live through. The honest truth is that we envy the dead for their peace.”He turned to Josh.“Are you going to offer me a drink, or do I have to make it an order?”

  Josh quickly pulled a beer from his coat and handed it to the general. Casey twisted off the top, taking a long swig.“You want to hear the first time I lost a soldier?”The two men nodded.“Twenty-two years ago. I was here. Well, on New Eden. Some warlord in Foster’s Glen started lopping the heads off anyone he didn’t deem worthy to live in his neck of the woods. We rolled in hot, firing up the neighboring area and straight murdering anyone who looked at us for too long.

  “My platoon ended up walking the long road in, hiking through jungle so thick you couldn’t see more than a few feet in any direction. I had a battle buddy back then, short little grunt named Mosley. He couldn’t have been more than five three. He always had the other joes ragging on him. Called him‘short shit.’”He smiled, remembering the tiny man’s beady eyes and sharp grin.“Mosley was fearless. He once went off to take a piss, came back with five prisoners. Said they’d tried to jump him, but he’d beaten their leader to death with his dick and wrestled the others down.”Cameron and Josh busted out laughing at that.“I’m serious, he was fucking crazy.”

  “What really happened?”Cameron asked.

  Casey shrugged.“We found another insurgent back where he said. But he wasn’t beaten to death. Gunshot through the eye. Mosley wasn’t the best fighter, but he was scary with his pistol. Must have put away one piece and pulled out another. In any case, no one made fun of him for a while after.”His voice softened.“So there we were, crossing that bush and trying to be as quiet as we could. And then we heard it. A click.”His green eyes burned and watered.“They’d set up minefields all over that area. Hell, the ground was fat with explosives. We always joked that if anyone would set off something it would be tiny little Mosley.”He wiped his mouth.“He didn’t make a scene. Just told us to keep going, that he was gonna work it out. He gave me his pistol, said I’d need it more than him. Then he started whistling. We left him there, walked away while he smiled and waved at us, as though we were just headed out for a smoke and would be back soon. I can still remember hearing the soft whump as he lifted his foot.”

  Josh didn’t speak for a few minutes. He sat there, silently drinking his beer and staring at the wall. Cameron could barely move. It was an entirely different world of fighting, going from the sky to the ground. Cameron never had to look his enemies in the eye as he killed them. Or watch his friends bleed and cry for their mothers. The horror of it all affected him in a way he hadn’t expected. His stomach was still in knots, but the general’s story had done the trick. He realized he wasn’t the first to feel this way.

  “I’m sorry,”he said softly.“And thank you.”

  Casey looked up, eyes red.“You’re welcome. It’s a hard business we’re in, Lieutenant. But I’ve met the best people in the universe while in uniform.”He punched the pilot’s arm.“And more women than I can remember.”He stood up, stretching.“Oh, to be thirty years younger. You boys stay safe. The war may need you now, but the galaxy will need you later.”He lumbered out into the hall, yawning wide. His heavy footsteps followed him down the corridor to the elevator.

  Cameron looked at Josh quizzically.“I thought you said Army women weren’t cute?”

  Josh raised an eyebrow.“They’re not, but Fleet gals?”He whistled.“Hot damn. Can’t get enough of that.”

  “Playing in my backyard are we?”

  The soldier lifted his hands in surrender.“Show me a woman as fine as a naval pilot on this base and I’ll amend my ways.”

  “Corporal Haines was pretty cute.”Cameron downed the rest of his beer.

  Josh finished his drink, setting it aside.“And practically like my sister. Nope, not gonna happen.”

  “I dunno,”Cameron started.“What part of Earth did you say you were from? I’m sure they don’t mind familial relations, if you know what I’m saying.”He stopped suddenly.“Where’s your rank?”

  Josh looked down at his shoulders, brushing them as if for dirt.“Oh yeah. I was honorably discharged tonight.”

  “What!”

  He laughed.“Part of the bargain. I’m moving to a new unit, and I’m earning a gold bar along the way.”

  “Lieutenant Josh Rantz,”Cameron said.“I think that works.”

  “And, now I don’t have to feel so weird hanging around with an officer all night.”

  Cameron swung out a fist, but Josh dodged with a laugh.“Do you have any cards, smart ass?”

  Josh shook his head.“But, I do have these.”He pulled two more beers from his jacket pockets and they drank. It felt good, having something to be happy about. They stayed up late, talking about sports and women and booze. They left politics and the war behind. There’d be plenty of time for that in the morning.
<
br />   Chapter five

  Finding Paradise

  “Where is the prince who can afford so to cover his country with troops for its defense as that 10,000 men descending from the clouds might not in many places do an infinite deal of mischief before a force could be brought together to repel them?”

  Benjamin Franklin

  Founder of Old America

  1776

  - I -

  December 10, 2236

  “Rise and shine, candidates.”Sasha walked the space between the bunks, his shiny black boots clicking with each step. He enjoyed wearing a military uniform again. It reminded him of who he used to be. Granted, the last time he’d dressed like this his belt hadn’t seemed so tight, and the cloth had been decidedly more of a red color. Alas, age had taken his beauty and his figure all in one swoop. Not that he complained. In fact, his wound had already earned him the delightful moniker“Sergeant Scar”among the troops. He ran his tongue over his teeth, tasting the remnants of his morning coffee. It was a bad habit he’d picked up from the doctor during their long voyage out of Martian space, though one he had no intention of kicking.

  The ride from Kronos to the Colorum Belt had been dull, aside from the momentary excitement when the soldiers realized they weren’tjust going to another boring base planetside. That pilot, the“fallen angel,”had kept interest with his war stories the entire trip. The brief stopover at Irwin Cove provided the soldiers a last chance to talk to friends and loved ones before going into blackout. It had been this particular detail that General Casey had opposed, taking the men and women so far away from their units for the“training.”Markov had explained the plan for the next few months, leaving out crucial steps of course. Until the soldiers had been trained and prepared, the final phases of the project needed to be known by a favored few.