by Mark Wandrey
Minu followed Chosen Daniel up the ramp and into the vehicle bay. She didn't know what he and the others soldiers were expecting, but it wasn't the array of vehicles that awaited them. They'd all worked with the mock ups of the future multi-role fighters and been trained on gravitic style flight controls. The transports were painted in the same black and red color pattern as the training mock ups and were now loaded onto the newly finished vehicle management system, a complicated array of hydraulic platforms, robotic arms, and hoverfield stabilizers that allowed for the rapid launching of multiple craft through limited exits. Again, old earth tactics with Concordia technology. A fort with too many doors was impossible to defend. It was capable of handling hundreds of vehicles and craft as long as they were equipped with an RF identifier and constructed with enough stability for the magnetic clamps to haul it around. A few of the soldiers gawked, wondering if these were the promised multi role fighter craft they'd been training to use.
"A much more interesting drill than I expected," Chosen Daniel was heard to say. Minu nodded; glad he was realizing this wasn't a simple readiness test.
Minu took out her computer and held it up to get their attention "Assignment by platoon to the transports." She thumbed the computer and it transmitted the assignments through the network. The transports were designated Saber one through twenty-two. It was an accident that only six hundred soldiers made it to deploy. Had they all made the cut, the craft would have been overloaded. Now only the command units would have more than twenty-five in each.
Minu watched the ranking non-coms to see their reactions. Most snatched at their own computers, a few took a moment to realize what was happening. All the time Minu continued observing and making notes in her tablet. A lot more work to do, she thought. "Here we go!" she yelled and gave the load master a wave.
The vehicle management system came alive with a startling roar of machinery. The first transport was snatched off the tall rack on the wall, dangling by two small magnets and swung out over their heads. A few of the soldiers shouted in surprise as the multi-ton vehicle went by, only a few meters overhead. Once in place over the loading ramp with its bright yellow warning lines painted on the floor, klaxons blared and lights flashed as it was lowered to the floor. Hoverfields in the handling arm made sure the transport was level with the floor then gently sat it down; the ceramic concrete floor reverberated with a thrum. Magnets released, the huge robotic arm swung up and away, and the klaxons and lights ceased their warnings as the craft was now ready for boarding.
"Get them going, commander!" Minu ordered.
The drill was an unmitigated disaster, as Minu feared it would be from the first minutes. In retrospect she wasn't overly surprised, just profoundly disappointed. There were many tense minutes as the unit commanders and non-coms figured out the order of vehicle assignment. Naturally she made sure the vehicles did not come off the wall in order. What would have been a well-practiced neat and orderly deployment had all the battalion made it on time, was now badly disrupted. As the transports were swung into place time after time, squad loading assignments needed to be revised on the fly; forcing units which were from different platoons to double up. Chaos was already rearing its ugly head.
Taking the better part of an hour longer than it should have, twenty two transports floated just outside the vehicle bay exit. Minu rode in her own aerocar, accompanied by Aaron, and used the computer built into her car to monitor the wargame. The rest of her training team used multiple tablets linked with hers.
The drill was simple. As the alert had explained, aliens were invading Bellatrix from an unspecified point and were assaulting the maglev railhead in Dodge City. On everyone’s computers were pre-generated maps showing where the alien invaders were attacking. Of course it was all simulated. For the drill Minu hired contractors to erect temporary buildings just outside of Dodge City. Nothing more than big empty metal boxes with less than convincing facades and spray painted names like Computer Center, Food Storage, Civilian Housing, power generation. It would be enough.
At dawn, the recon team led by Sabers one and two swept in low from the east and then climbed rapidly into the just lightening sky in an overflight of the 'city' to get the lay of the land. Naturally Var'at was waiting and shot down both transports, scoring verified kills with simulated missile launchers. The four squads in the transport were now dead. The pilots landed the transports in a nearby field which was designated the kill zone for the drill.
Chosen Daniel complained to Minu over the network that the drill had made no mention of enemy anti-aircraft. She replied that she was certain that the next aliens to invade their world would be sure to inform him what weapons and equipment they would be bringing. He sent no follow up message, she'd made her point.
The second time Daniel sent only one craft, Saber eleven, in from the North flying low and fast, near supersonic and close to the vehicles maximum velocity, sensors running at full speed. It was fired on but came through intact thanks to the different approach vector. Minu watched as the tactical map was filled in showing enemy locations and numbers, and other unknown concentrations of heat signatures or power readings in buildings.
Less than a minute after the overflight, Daniel transmitted his deployment plan. Two platoons were to land on the east side of the town and create a secure LZ; a two platoon element would also neutralize the anti-aircraft missile battery that destroyed Sabers one and two. Four transports swept in low and fast for deployment. It was a practice drill used regularly, if not as dynamically. Of course in the drill none of the transports ever failed. One of the four transports experienced a primary gravitic impeller failure with a spectacular flare of plasma and trailing smoke. Fire suppression gear kicked in instantly and the emergency impellers worked to keep the craft from crashing nose first into the soggy ground, but the heavily loaded craft slowed to a crawl. Without being ordered to do so, two other transports turned back to check on the damaged craft just as Rasa sharp shooters opened up.
The low powered laser weapons were designated as crew serviced beamcasters. The lead rescue craft's sensors registered a direct hit in the cockpit. The pilot and avionics destroyed, the craft was listed lost with all aboard. The second rescue Saber dodged wildly and thus avoided the same fate (Minu made note of the pilot’s ability), but of course the damaged craft was easily picked off. Four transports down, four platoons dead, and not a boot on the ground.
Daniel was trying desperately to salvage the landing and ordered it to proceed. Minu saw what was about to happen and again was thankful Var'at was on her side. The remaining two transports had not landed but circled, waiting for orders. By the time they turned around and came to settle to the ground, their appearance was no longer a surprise. The Rasa waited until the pair was on the ground, wide boarding ramps lowered and soldiers pouring out before they opened fire. Bright green lasers flashed and simulated explosive charges were detonated. A small swarm of centipede-bots and crab-bots raced from a nearby building to attack both craft as well.
In less than a minute the entire force was wiped out. Careful weapons fire disabled their transports so they couldn't make a run for it, allowing Var'at to make the landing a total loss. Minu wondered if he were laughing right then. She wasn't.
Daniel responded quickly this time. Saber eleven arched in and strafed the Rasa formation, causing a dozen or so casualties and making them fall back from the LZ. It was the first enemy losses of the now five minute old engagement.
The LZ was finally established in the growing light of dawn and two more platoons came in for a landing. Just as he was strengthening his LZ perimeter, the Rasa hit in force, a moving wave of bots attacked the east and west flanks while the foot soldiers stormed the South. Lasers flashed and paint bombs burst as the firefight developed. Minu piloted her car to circle the battle, taking careful note of tactics on both sides. While she spent most of her attention on the human soldiers and how they responded to the rapidly changing tactics of the enemy, she also watched
how the Rasa dealt with their comrades, now temporary enemies.
Var'at knew he had them against the wall and pressed his advantage. But no sooner did he get his first breach in the soldiers’ line, than the humans deployed one of their new weapons. Like magic, every bot for two hundred meters froze in place. One of the gifts left by Pip, the PUFF (Pip's Universal Frequency Fracturer) disabled all bots with ease. The OPFOR responded with confusion, as they'd been instructed, and the soldiers counterattacked. It was so quickly executed and to such advantage that an observer would almost think it was all part of the plan. Minu could see the lengthy casualty counts along with dozens of soldiers lounging on the ground as the fight played out around them and knew better. The Rasa fell back, minimizing their losses. Two squads of human soldiers, emboldened by the sudden retreat, pursued the Rasa and paid the price. They were enveloped by hidden Rasa warriors and neutralized moments later without a single additional enemy casualty. The ill advised pursuit of the retreating forces shifted the advantage back into the Rasa column once more, even after the surprise of the PUFF's deployment.
Daniel landed with the last of his forces, with his losses approaching thirty percent, his chance of retaking the simulated Dodge City was severely in doubt. As he organized his surviving forces, the pickets set around the LZ perimeter were constantly under harassing fire and probe attacks. Worse, Rasa sharp shooters picked off several more soldiers before their location was realized and the snipers neutralized. Minu almost laughed at the ease with which Var'at was taking down Daniel's soldiers. Then she remembered they were her soldiers, and thought 'what if this were a real fight?' To be fair, Var'at now knew human tactics much better, and he had the defensive advantage. Still, she'd hoped for a better showing after a year of training.
Finally organized, Daniel prepared to take the town. Two platoons were reloaded into transports and the immobilized enemy bot force was cleaned up so the PUFF could be deactivated and the soldiers own bots deployed. Soldiers moved out on foot towards the town, while the transports took off to circle overhead and provide fire support. They stayed in careful contact to coordinate their attack. The transports dropped their platoons on the far side of the town at the same time as those on the ground hit the near side. They met scattered resistance which was easily pushed aside and were about to link up in the middle. The soldiers’ bots did their job, flushing out enemy soldiers to be picked off. When Daniel was in sight of the five star Chosen in charge of the other light company, he figured victory was in hand.
Outside the simulated town, the bulk of the OPFOR attacked in perfect order. The sun was just peaking over the nearby hills as wave after wave of bright green withering laser fire tore into the stunned soldiers. A dozen soldiers were 'killed' in the first salvos just as turtle-bots with their shields and fast dodging firefly-bots attacked. The soldiers deployed with three PUFFs. Two were on sabers now lost or disabled, Daniel left the last one to hold the LZ in what was a 'play it safe' strategy. That proved too conservative in this case. The soldiers didn't plan to be encircled in the center of town; they were the ones on the attack. The Rasa had their way with them, one, two, three. Daniel's men made a good fight of it, but it was ultimately futile. They were roundly defeated twenty seven minutes, fifteen seconds after the first shot was fired. A small force of Rasa stormed the LZ, seizing all but two of the remaining transports and the PUFF intact. Christian's team of Scouts held the LZ to the last man as the transports got away, Daniel fought with them. Of the two that succeeded in getting away, one had its drive fail less than a kilometer away and was subsequently declared captured by enemy action.
"Chosen Daniel," Var'at said as he came out in front of his soldiers, "you are defeated."
Daniel's eyes were narrowed, his face red with anger and embarrassment, but he bowed his head in acknowledgment. Then the Rasa soldiers bowed to their defeated adversaries. The human soldiers followed in kind. Minu watched through remote cameras high above, smiling so hard her cheeks hurt. It was a bitter failure, and a great success. "Okay folks, let’s do it again,” she ordered over the radio. “This time the Rasa are on the attack, and the humans are OPFOR. I'm transmitting the details to the soldiers, you have one hour to reset. Aaron, call the mechanics in and get those two transports back in the air and turn all of them over to Var'at. Oh, and be sure to mix the identification number up again so they can't tell..."
It was early evening before the soldiers and transports limped back to Fort Jovich, both so tired they could scarcely walk or fly. Minu ran them through a total of sixteen engagements. Three each with human and then Rasa as the OPFOR and two with a combined human-Rasa defensive unit being assaulted first by Rasa, then by humans. After that series, it was lunch, and 2nd Battalion was called out and Rasa forces were refreshed with rested troops. Then they did it all again.
The eventual plan was to use the humans and Rasa together as a cohesive fighting force, but that created more logistical problems than she expected. One, being the Rasa tendency to use a hybrid hand signal/native language communication during intense combat. The translators they used didn't recognize the hand signals, because it wasn't in their language set. Another was the human soldiers’ natural aggressiveness. The Rasa were less aggressive in seemingly untenable situations. Simply stated, they tended to give up easier.
"There is no reason to fight if the odds say you will lose," Var'at explained late that night in Minu's office. They were sharing a tasty bottle of cherry wine from Lizardville Vineyards.
"But sometimes you can still win," she said after a deep drink of the sweet beverage. "In human history the greatest victories have been by a force that supposedly had no chance of winning."
Var'at had some more of his own drink and considered. "When we attacked you during the vendetta I was confused. You had suffered bad losses in Steven's Pass. My commander there said they had penetrated your inner defenses and expected you to surrender at any time."
"But we never did."
"Exactly! You fought, and fought, and fought. I was still waiting for news of your surrender when your team showed up in Tranquility and began ruining my plans there."
"This is our way," she said, finishing her drink. She turned and looked out the dark window overlooking the sea. Far out in the water she should see the bobbing lights of a vessel, probably a fishing ship. There was almost no shipping that took place on the equatorial sea. Why bother? It was less than a thousand kilometers across at its widest. Even in the days before dirigible travel, when the maglev was not even a dream, it was simpler to just go around. The sea was on the equator, but only covered one hemisphere. The weather was just too unpredictable for safe navigation. So why did some still brave the hazards of that sea? Because humans live to go where there is danger. "Are there any among your people who live to take risks?"
"Just soldiers."
"No, I mean dangerous pastimes? Say sky diving, deep sea diving, flying experimental craft..."
Minu waited while Var'at's translator chewed her comments over. After it finished hissing, popping and clicking her comments he locked both eyes on her in the Rasa's version of a wide eyed stare. "We do not encourage behavior contrary to the specie’s survival."
Minu just chuckled and didn't look from the ocean vista, instead watching the light bob up and down on distant swells, occasionally being lost from view behind tall waves. The craft steadily made progress to the east, very slowly. The city of Gulf was hundreds of kilometers in that direction. She knew that more than a few Chosen living here owned sailing craft in a small private marina a few kilometers away. It was a dangerous pastime, especially since there were no Coast Guard or safety patrols. She told him about sailing.
"And your people do this for fun?"
"And much more," she said. Minu spent a few minutes explaining cave spelunking, and mountain climbing. More stares. Then she told him about sky diving.
"I sometimes wonder if your people are entirely healthy in the brain," he said and refilled his glass with win
e.
"We've wondered that about ourselves for most our history. Earth died without our having a chance to fight for its survival, killed by an anonymous rock from space. We have a grudge to settle against the universe."
"But no one did this to you, it was an accident. Shouldn't you be grateful your species survived at all?"
"We are very grateful to the Tog for saving us, but I feel a deep swell of pity for any species that comes to destroy us. We have no intention of being on the wrong side of fate twice. That is why I had this dream of the soldiers, and why I let you stay and join. You have to understand, we will never surrender. It isn't our way. We will fight in the most impossible situations, with our backs against the wall. And when it looks like there is no chance to survive...that is when we will attack."
"This is contrary to all logic."
"Who said humans are logical?"
"No one." Var'at sipped his wine and nodded. The longer she knew him, the more human he became. "I understand you better now. We are allied with you humans, our futures are intertwined. We too are no more if you lose. Our numbers are small."
"Your people are all males, have you thought of your long term future?"
"We have none without females, what can we hope for?"
"Maybe something can be done about that."