Jefferson did, and Smith had his data. “It’s going to take a while to get this firmed up. You have ammo with you, don’t you?”
“Yes, but we were not told to pass it out. I thought this was some sort of emergency. What the hell’s going on?”
“Even my Battalion Commander doesn’t know. They’re having some sort of meeting right now. I assume that’s where your CO’s gone. But right now, I need ammo passed out and you to set up a perimeter. It’ll be moved around as time goes by and we get this thing up and running.”
“What thing sir?”
“I don’t know, but I don’t want to be caught with my pants down and no way to shoot back if attacked.”
“Yes sir.”
“Can you contact the rest of your unit?”
“Yes sir.”
“Good, tell the senior people what I’ve told you, and get a perimeter set up around this place.”
“I’ll take care of it, Captain.”
As Smith left, he could hear Sergeant Jefferson getting his men in motion.
I’ll wear myself out running around here. Where the heck is that flyer?
He eventually found the flyer’s shipping container with the personnel assigned to that detachment standing around. He walked up to them.
“Who is the ranking man here?” he asked.
“I am sir, Lieutenant William Jones sir.”
We are going to be up to our ears in Smiths and Jones here, he thought. “I need the flyer pulled out and prepped.”
“Yes sir, who’s going to fly it?”
“I am; I’m fully qualified. Here check.” They touched coms and each other’s data was transferred.
“I’m going to call a meeting of all company’s senior people in one hour at these coordinates. In the meantime, get set up according to the instructions I just gave you.”
“Yes sir, I’ll have the flyer ready to go in less than half an hour.”
“Good, thank you.”
Denver went to find the next unit. He looked back and could see the first of the tracks heading out to set up perimeter guard. Good, now we’re getting somewhere.
He went on like this for another half hour, making contact and sending people off to where they are supposed to set up. Some of the units had been dropped off way the heck out by themselves. Those he would get to using the flyer.
Chapter 15 – Deserted
All the while, ships were picking up and heading off to the coordinates where the meeting was to take place. It struck him as odd, but he had his orders.
As he turned away from a Legion sergeant, he saw it, just over the horizon. The transport ships were taking off, one after another. He looked around; he was not the only one to notice.
I had better check on that flyer. As he headed off to find it, people were beginning to approach him with the question that was on everybody’s mind.
“I don’t know. I’ll see what I can find out,” he kept saying.
Lieutenant Jones saw him approach. “Sir, we’re almost done checking it out.” Then he added ominously, “The men are starting to grumble amongst themselves.”
“About what?”
“The officers and the spaceships have left.”
“We’re still here, and I’ve found several other lieutenants.” Then on impulse, he added, “What do we need those arrogant buggers for anyway?”
The Lieutenant smiled. “Hope it will be enough.”
“Let’s not jump to conclusions yet.”
“Sir,” called a mechanic. “She’s ready.”
“Good,” replied Jones.
“I’m going to get the units which were set down farther out to head in; then I’m going to check out the coordinates where the meeting was held. I’ll be back as soon as I can. If I’m a bit late for the meeting, you are in charge.”
“Me?”
“You,” replied Denver. “I won’t be long.”
He strapped the little machine on, went smoothly through his preflight, and lifted off. A lieutenant and a sergeant came up to him as he landed.
“Are you the senior people here?” Smith asked.
They seemed surprised when they saw who the pilot was. “Yes sir,” answered the officer.
“Let’s have your com. I’m flying out to where the officers’ meeting was held to see what’s going on.”
“Good, some of the men are getting a bit jumpy,” said the sergeant.
The lieutenant pulled up the data. “Looks like we got a long walk ahead of us. Why did they drop us off so far out?”
“I’ve been asking myself the same question. They could have put each unit down closer to where they were to set up,” said Smith.
“Sir, are you the senior officer here?” asked the sergeant.
“I seem to be. We have several lieutenants, and each unit has an officer or NCO in charge. I’m going to have a meeting at these coordinates as soon as I get back. If I’m not back in time, I’ve left a Lieutenant William Jones in charge. He’ll take care of things until I get back.”
He lifted off and got two more units headed in the right direction. Then he turned his craft toward the meeting coordinates.
“Let’s see what the brass is up to,” he said aloud. In the distance, he saw what might have been cave entrances. There is always a cave when you need one in the movies.
I’m coming up on the site. It should be … it should be right there. But it wasn’t. He checked his coordinates. They were right. He flew around a while just in case he was off by a kilometer or so, nothing. He returned to the meeting site and landed.
“What’s going on here?” he said as he removed his helmet. It was obvious even before he exited the craft that there had been a large number of people walking around here.
It looks like most of them went off this way. He followed the tracks until they suddenly stopped. He could see where the ramp had set down and marks where the landing pads had been.
He stumbled around in a circle, arms limp at his sides, and looked in every direction. We have been deserted!
The shock was overwhelming. The possibility had been nagging at the back of his mind, but the reality was staggering. He turned back toward the Legion. What was he going to tell them?
“Come on man, get your head together!” Why would they drop us off on some planet where our very survival is in question? It doesn’t make any sense.
They think we killed their Prime Minister. They’re afraid of us. Maybe they’re trying to get rid of us.
I’ve got to go back and tell people something. He thought on that one a long time. His com chimed.
It was Lieutenant Jones. “Sir everybody is here for the meeting. Have you found them?”
Smith took a deep breath and steadied himself. Keeping his voice flat and even, he said, “Understood, I’ll be heading back soon.”
“Yes sir.”
He got back in the flyer. As he lifted off, he remembered the cave openings or at least what he thought were openings. I’ll check them out. He half expected it was just an excuse to put off having to go back with the story.
He headed toward the ridge. As he got closer, he could see that many were just rock overhangs, but others went back into the mountain ridge. He flew over the ridge. It was layered like back on Earth, and it looked as if this side had been tilted up.
He flew over the ridge. Just as he thought, there were only a few caves on the back side. The next ridge had caves as well, interesting. He sat down on the top of the ridge facing the plain where the Legion was setting up.
He quickly typed out a set of orders. We are in trouble, and I’ve got to do something about it. It was only about ten kilometers from where they were to the caves. If we can seal some of these things up and pump oxygen into them, we might have a fighting chance. He lifted off.
He could see th
e group of junior officers and NCOs as he approached. If I don’t do this right, they might panic, and it will be all over.
As he landed, Farouk and Argie ran over to him. He unstrapped and looked at them. They stopped short when they saw the expression on his face.
“What’s wrong?” asked Farouk.
“Everything,” he answered, exiting the flyer.
“Don’t you Lieutenants know how to salute?”
Argie came to attention, turned and ordered, “Ten-hut.”
She did an about face, and they both saluted. She said in a loud military voice, “Sir, the officers and NCOs are assembled as you ordered.”
Anyone who has never been responsible for the lives of others might not understand the necessity for such discipline. The three of them did.
“Stand at ease,” commanded Captain Smith.
Smith looked the assembly over. A few hours ago, this was quite possibly the finest fighting unit mankind had ever put together. Now, it could possibly become a mob, a mob on a planet that promised little hope of supporting them.
He saw Dmitri move up in the assemblage. Smith motioned for him to come forward.
“Sergeant Pisstitoff, allow me to introduce Lieutenants Jones and de la Fuentes.”
He saluted. “Pleased to meet you,” he said.
“You as well,” answered Argie.
“My pleasure,” added Farouk.
Dmitri looked seriously at him. “Are we in trouble?”
“Yep, we’ve got to give these people hope that they can survive, and to do that, we’ve got to keep them together as a fighting unit.”
“What are our orders?” asked Farouk.
“We are to set up camp and await further orders; however, there is a problem.”
“Problem?” asked Argie.
“Yeah, there are no senior officers and there is no navy.” He waited a few moments allowing this time to sink in.
“You know what this means,” said Dmitri.
“We’ve been deserted. Why I don’t know, but we are on our own. Argie, what are the two of you doing?”
“We’ve been setting up for sick call. The hospital tent will be up soon.”
“Stop all that; I’m giving everyone new orders,” said Smith, his voice hard, “based on the fact that I’m the senior officer on this stinking excuse for a planet and I’ve got a full magazine.”
“That would do it for me,” said Farouk.
“You are going to have to talk to the rest of them,” said Dmitri.
“I know; do you have your people under your control?”
“Damn right I do.”
“Good, I may have to …” He paused. “Argie, give me one of your epaulettes.”
She looked at him oddly for a moment then removed her left one. She smiled and seemed to understand.
Smith walked around to where the assemblage could see them from the side. “Atten-hut,” he said loud enough to be audible to everyone.
“Remove his stripes.” Argie and Farouk complied.
Smith faced the assemblage. “By the authority placed in me, I am promoting Sergeant Pisstitoff to the rank of Second Lieutenant.”
He turned back to Dmitri and placed the gold bar on his right shoulder. “Congratulations, Lieutenant.”
“But I don’t want to be an officer,” said Dmitri in a low voice.
“Neither did I, but nobody asked.” He saluted Dmitri who returned the salute. The three of them broke into applause which caused the Russian contingent to join in. This caused the rest of the officers and NCOs to applaud as well. In the distance, the closest units of the Legion could hear and see it as well.
Smith could feel the tension diminish. With his three friends standing behind him, he turned to address the assembled officers and NCOs.
Smith addressed the officers and NCOs. “Gentlemen, gentlewomen, you know what we’ve been through to get to where we are, and you know what we’ve become. You know the battles we’ve fought. We are now about to face our greatest challenge.”
He took a deep breath. “We will now face our greatest challenge ever. I’m not going to kid you; we are on our own.” He paused to let this sink in.
“You’ve all seen the spaceships lifting off, and each of us suspected what has happened. Well, to hell with them! I don’t know about you, but I have had about enough of them and their attitude.
“We are going to move into caves about ten kilometers from here, seal up the entrances so that we can add oxygen to the mix, and breath without breathing equipment.
“I will send out Lieutenant Pisstitoff with a team to find places for each unit. The rest will take what gear and equipment you can carry and head in the direction I will show you. Primarily I am concerned with combat equipment. We will pile as much as possible on the tracks and get away from these tents as quickly as we can.”
He motioned the three to come forward with their coms, whereupon he touched his com to theirs and transferred the data. He turned back to the assembly.
“These officers have the orders you are to take back to your units. They will now come around and transfer the data to each of you. Now, I’m sure there are a million questions, so let’s get started.”
As the three moved out, a hand went up. “Yes?”
It was a Sergeant Major. He came to attention. “Sir, request permission to ask a question.”
“Stand at ease; ask your question,” replied Smith.
“Sir, what did you find over there?”
“Footprints and prints where the ships had landed. That is all.”
“You mean, we’ve been deserted,” burst out another.
The Sergeant Major bellowed, “Come to attention and be recognized.”
Smith was grateful to the Sergeant Major, and he understood what was happening.
The man was a junior NCO who did not yet understand that the greater the danger, the greater the need for discipline.
He came to attention. “Sir, request permission to ask a question.”
“Stand at ease, and state your question,” intoned Smith.
“Sir, have we really been left alone?”
Smith had been waiting for this. “All indications are, yes we have. Now, there is a corollary question, why? If you haven’t thought of that yet, you will, so let me get started on an answer.
“As you know by now, they blame the Legion for the assassination of their Prime Minister. Personally, I suspect that is just an excuse to do what many of them wanted to do in the first place, get rid of us.
“It doesn’t take a brain to figure out that many of them didn’t want us around in the first place. Now they have convinced themselves that they can win the war without us. However, before we shipped out, several of us had just returned from a reconnaissance mission to a planet the navy claimed to have taken from the Reptilians.
“We found they had not been wiped out, even after heavy bombardment. Even with nuclear weapons, they had failed to wipe out the Reptilians. They are going to be in for an ugly surprise, and the Legion will not be there to clean the place out. Next question.”
“Sir,” another called out as he came to attention. “How are we going to survive?”
“We will survive by maintaining discipline and keeping our heads about us. If discipline breaks down, we will all die.
“Next, as I have said, we will seal up some of the caves and find a way to increase the oxygen supply. There are ways we can do this using medical equipment. There might be other approaches as well using chemistry.”
“Sir, I have a question,” asked a Lieutenant, an older man who had probably been a senior NCO. He came to attention and was recognized.
“At ease, what is your question?”
“What about food, sir?”
“A good question. Who is in charge of supply?” he as
ked the men.
A sergeant came to attention. “I am sir. We have enough rations for thirty days in the field ready to go at all times. I personally oversaw the loading. We have them sir.”
“Put everyone on one-quarter rations as of now. If there are any avid gardeners among us, who might have some seeds tucked away, it would be most useful.”
No one spoke. He hadn’t expected anyone to come forward. It struck him that the smallest things, seeds, which few in his country back on Earth even thought about, were now more precious than gold.
Now for the hope. “I have attempted to get a message back to my immediate superior, Admiral La Force, to let him know what has become of us. With any luck, someone who is on the side of the Legion will find us and get supplies to us. Until then, we are on our own.”
Dmitri, Farouk, and Argie returned having completed their assignment.
“Are there any more questions?” There were none.
“Very well, I need you to hold your units together, and maintain order while we work our way through this. If any of you have people with engineering experience, scientific training, or any specialty that might be useful, bring that individual to my attention.
“I need ideas as well. If any of you have a person with an idea how we can handle some problem, have that individual come forward. Right now, anyone familiar with kitchen gardens would be extremely helpful.
“The main thing, however, is to go back and sell the idea that we will survive.”
Dmitri stepped forward and bellowed something in Russian. The men shot their fists in the air and shouted back.
“What did you tell them?” Argie asked.
His response was to repeat in combative English, “We don’t need those arrogant asses anyway!” Again, the Russians responded along with most of the rest.
“Call the men to attention,” Smith said addressing Farouk.
“Detail, Aten-hut.”
Smith came to attention, saluted, and in his best command voice, called, “Dismissed.”
The group broke up with men heading off to their units. The three gathered around Denver.
“This is a hell of a mess,” intoned Farouk.
Hell Fighters From Earth Book 2 Page 13