“I need to find out what’s happened to the others and whether the air defence system has been taken out.”
Again she just nodded.
“Whisky 1 any news on Ella, Dai or Jacinta” he hailed.
“Negative” replied Parinya. “SITREP?”
“We have secured Chalker. We are at the FUP with one wounded. He can’t really be moved any further. I need to deal with the air defence system so you can extract us.”
“Understood. Just holla when you want us.”
“Will do.”
Art pulled out his console and began searching the reports. He found the last update to the location of Ella, Dai and Jacinta. They were all near the air defence system. That did not bode well.
Jack was trying to make Roj comfortable. “He doesn’t look good Sir” he hailed. Art came over. Roj’s breathing was laboured. Dai had the medical kit. But Art did have two syringes for emergency pain relief. He gave one to Jack.
“Give him this. It’ll help with the pain” said Art. “Listen up everyone. Roj won’t survive being dragged to Whisky 1 so Whisky 1 needs to come here. But they won’t make it unless we take out the air defence system. It looks like Ella, Dai and Jacinta have been killed or incapacitated. We need to find Dai, get the explosives and destroy that air defence system.”
“I’ll take Jack and Dakota and destroy the system. Buster you and Keto secure this area. Keep an eye on Sue and Roj. If for any reason you have to bug out, head towards Whisky 1. Understood?”
“Yes Sir. Don’t worry about us.”
Chapter 31. Zuon 1020, 28 June
Art was leading his small team in a circular path westward to the last reported location for Dai. The forest was a little thicker and he was tiring. It had been an eventful few hours.
His emotions were mixed. He should have been overjoyed at having released Sue and he was. He had steeled himself to do whatever it takes to free Sue. He had summoned the strength, cunning and detachment which had helped him to survive the civil war. He had called up his IOUs with his best friend to ensure he had a shot at this rescue mission. He had known this would place Dave in a conflict of interest that could still damage his career but he did it anyway. Anything to secure the woman he loved.
But now the ‘anything’ included the loss of three comrades. ‘It’s one thing to be driven and another to reap the consequences’ he thought. Guilt was rising and it trumped relief. His stomach was starting to churn. ‘Snap out of it’ he said to himself. ‘Stay focused or it’s all been for naught’.
He paused and consulted his console. ‘They should be here’ he said to himself. Because of the canopy thickness here everything was in shadow. “Look around guys they should be here.”
After a few minutes searching, “Over here, Sir” hailed Jack. “I’ve found Jacinta and Ella.”
Sure enough their bodies lay close to each other, their suits had decompressed from pulse fire. Jacinta’s body was face up. Art could see that she had died of asphyxiation. ‘What a horrible way to go’ thought Art. Ella’s body was face down. A large mass of congealed blood covered an entry wound in the back of her suit. ‘At least it would have been quick’ thought Art.
“Where’s Dai” asked Art.
They kept searching around but could not locate her. “Let’s go recce forward to the air defence system” said Art in frustration. He didn’t know what he could do to take it out but he couldn’t just stay there. “It should be ahead about 150m, so be quiet and alert.”
Then there was a huge explosion up ahead. Art propped. The others followed suit. A single twang from a pulse gun was followed by several bursts.
“Someone’s coming our way. Take cover” ordered Art.
A grenade exploded up ahead and then another. Art was straining to see. He was hoping like hell it was Dai. And there she was. Her diminutive suited figure came rushing towards them. She turned and fired a shot. When she turned around again, Art’s hand grabbed her rifle. Her initial reaction was to struggle but then she realised who it was. She tapped the side of her helmet indicating her comms were down. Art gave her the thumbs up and released his hold on her rifle.
A burst of pulse fire twanged past them. Art grabbed her arm and pulled her to ground. They both took up a fire position. Another burst of fire and then Art could see the tall suited figure up ahead. He rose to his knee and took a single aimed shot dropping the figure. Another sleth trooper came into view but was cut down by a long burst from Dakota’s quanto. Everything went quiet.
Dai tapped Art’s shoulder. He turned to face her. She was already up and indicating to head off. “Let’s pull back 100m. Jack you go first. Dakota your tail end Charlie.” He got up and with Dai followed Jack back the way they came.
No one followed them. Ten minutes later they stopped. Art began typing into his console. He showed Dai the display. She nodded, confirming the air defence system was down. He gave the thumbs up.
“Whisky 1 this is Bravo 1. All is clear. Come and get us.”
“We’re on our way” confirmed Parinya.
Chapter 32. Hermes 1115, 28 June
Dave breathed a sigh of relief when told that Whisky 1 was picking Bravo team up. He was overjoyed that Sue was alive and free. But he physically slumped in his chair when told Ella was dead along with Jacinta.
His head told him that it was unrealistic to think there would be no casualties but his heart ached nonetheless. He would really miss Ella. ‘Was it fair that she had to die to save Sue?’ asked Dave of himself. ‘Did I really have the right to bring this about?’
He took a deep breath. ‘Now is not the time.’ “Aubrey, as soon as Whisky 1 is on board, launch the nukes and warp out of here.” With that he stood and walked out of the control centre.
Chapter 33. Whisky 1 1120, 28 June
The hatch locked and Parinya powered the warthog skyward. In the main compartment they waited for the green light to take off their helmets. It flashed on. Art hit the release control and took off his helmet. Sue was beside him. She looked very weak. Her face was drained of colour. She hugged him as best the bulky suits would allow. He kissed her on the head and she said in a weak voice “I knew you would come.”
He gave her a smile and made her take a swig of glucose from her suit. She did so but not enthusiastically. “I’m so tired” she said and collapsed her head into his shoulder.
Dai was in medic mode looking after Roj as best she could. She had him on a drip and was recording his stats for relay to Hermes. She saw Art looking her way. “He’ll live” she said out loud so he could hear over the engine noise.
The engines were at full throttle as the warthog powered to escape velocity.
Chapter 34. Hermes 1245, 28 June
Dave was in the docking bay as Whisky 1 glided to a halt. They bought Roj out first on a stretcher. The ship’s doctor, Mary Chernside was there with her assistant. They transferred Roj to the gurney and wheeled him off immediately to the sick bay. Roj was out to it as he passed Dave.
‘Another mangled body’ thought Dave. Part of him was sick and tired of seeing mangled bodies but his self-discipline cut in and he forced himself to look.
Buster and the other troopers filed out. Art helped Sue out through the hatch. Dave could see that she was physically very weak. But he appreciated the smile she gave him. She separated from Art and came over to Dave and hugged him. Tears welled up in her eyes. “Thank you so much” she said.
“You’re welcome” said Dave.
“But am I worth it?” she asked.
“Of course you are. Just ask him” said Dave pointing to Art. “Anyway you need to rest. Don’t worry. We’re going to make these bastards pay for what they have done to you.”
“No Dave you mustn’t” she pleaded. There was more power in her voice. “Listen I need to tell you things about the sleth.”
“Later Sue. I have orders to nuke this base in retaliation for their attack on Klaster. They nuked it a few weeks back.”
Sue slum
ped with shock at the news. “Rihan?”
“She survived but we lost the baby” said Dave. The answer was hard for him to get out.
“I’m so sorry Dave. But it wasn’t the sleth. It was another alien race called the rogan.”
“How do you know this?”
“The sleth told me and I believe them. This other alien race, the rogan, they forced the sleth to make the initial attack on Klaster. If they hadn’t then the rogan would have overrun their home worlds. When the attack failed their home worlds were overrun and the remnants have fled to Zuon.”
“That base down there contains a hospital. There are hundreds of casualties being treated. You can’t nuke it. Please don’t.”
“What hard evidence do you have?”
“None Dave but I believe them. Please don’t do it.”
“That’s enough” said Art. “You need to rest Darling.”
“Not until Dave agrees” she said defiantly.
“You do need rest Sue. Let me think this over” said Dave.
“That’s not good enough.”
“You can be a pig headed woman Sue.”
She smiled “that’s why Art loves me so.”
“OK you have my word” conceded Dave.
She placed her arm on Dave’s. “Thank you.” Art led her out of the bay.
Chapter 35. Hermes 1400, 28 June
“We have to leave early tomorrow morning” said a frustrated Aubrey “to have any chance of getting back on time.”
“Yes but we need some proof or at least a sleth delegation to explain why we haven’t nuked Zuon” replied Dave.
“And how do you propose we get that Sir? We would need Chalker to accompany any overture and Chernside has said she needs at least 48 hours rest.”
“Yes we need to wait.”
“We can’t wait Sir” countered Aubrey “and it’s not just because of our orders but we will be sitting ducks if the sleth come back in force.”
“OK then, we go back tomorrow. We take Hoyle along and the sleth prisoner. Release him to them as a sign of good faith and see what follows.”
“That’s extremely risky and Hoyle himself admits he’s no master of their language.”
“Yes, it’s risky” said Dave “but if what Chalker says is true and the Federation ignores it then all of humanity is in grave risk. I don’t think we have a choice here.”
Aubrey sank back into her chair. “Alright I’ll go along with it. When?”
“Let’s wait till morning. Give Sue a good night’s rest. Then we’ll run this plan by her and see what she thinks.”
“Who’s going?”
“I’ll lead with LCmd Simons and Alpha team. Oh and Dan Hoyle and the prisoner of course. I’ll tell Art. You can give the warning order to the others. Schedule the briefing for 0900 and the launch for 1000 hrs.”
“OK Sir I’ll let them know and work up the flight plan.”
“Thanks Aubrey. You’re doing fine.”
“I appreciate your confidence. I just wish it didn’t have to work out this way. Ella was a good XO. I’m going to miss her.”
The last words were a little broken and Dave saw her eyes moistening. “It’s all right Aubrey. I’m going to miss her too.” He waited a few seconds and then continued: “There will be time for grieving during the warp back. Right now we need to hold it together till this business is sorted.”
“Yes Sir” she said. “I better get on with it then. Will that be all.”
Dave nodded and she stood up and left his room.
He found Art in the officers’ mess having a coffee on his own. He looked done in. His eyes looked forward but the focus was a million miles away. Dave knew that he would be replaying all the key events of the mission, asking himself what he could have done to prevent the loss of life. In the main Dave knew it was futile but it was impossible to ignore.
Art finally registered Dave’s presence and managed a half smile.
“You look like shit” said Dave.
“Feel like shit too.”
“Don’t give yourself a hard time. It could have been a lot worse.”
Cranky Jack put in an appearance. “Can I get you something Sir” he asked.
“My usual coffee, thanks.”
“Coming up” said Cranky and he slipped away into the kitchen.
“I shouldn’t have ordered Ella to provide support for Dai and Jacinta” said Art.
“Then it would have been Dai who would be dead and the air defence system would not have been destroyed and you all would have bought it. It could have been a lot worse.”
“I suppose.”
“Look, you rescued Sue. That is some feat. You should be pleased about that.”
“Oh I am. I really am. Poor thing she’s so undernourished. The doc’s keeping her in the sick bay for observation. She’s got a drip on her.” He paused for a moment and then asked “When’s the debrief?”
“It’ll have to wait. We need to go back.”
“What?”
Dave explained to him why, outlined the plan and then asked “I’d like you to come with me. Are you up to it?”
“I’d rather not but I suppose there aren’t too many other political officers on board.”
“Not a one as I recall” smiled Dave. “I also want to get Sue’s advice about who to speak to. It can wait till the morning.”
Chapter 36. Hermes 0500, 29 June
She woke with the same nightmare she had had every night since her capture. Her body was being sucked towards this huge dark cave. She was powerless to stop it. Her efforts to grab the walls always failed. She always woke up just as the darkness enveloped her with this gut wrenching fear. Only this time she couldn’t move her left hand to cover her face.
Her eyes began to focus. There were little lights on her left. They were familiar for some reason. A tug on her left arm again met with resistance. Then she made out the drip line. She gazed further around her and realised she was in the sick bay, the same sick bay she had occupied while she recovered from her leg injuries.
Memories of Josker and Tindal came back to her for a moment but then she consciously stopped them. She could hear the anxious muttering of a trooper in the adjacent bed on her right. She peered till she could see that he was still asleep. He had a lot more devices attached to him. She could not remember his name but she did remember him writhing in pain at the FUP.
Sue felt guilty that he was suffering because of her. But then a wave of gratitude came over her. People who loved her had risked all to free her. She lay back looking at the ceiling and let the warmth of that feeling wash over her. She couldn’t help but fall back to sleep.
Chapter 37. Hermes 0715, 29 June
Dave closed his bedroom door behind him and stepped out into the wide corridor that ran down the centre line of the crew deck. His meditation was good. It made up for an ordinary sleep.
He entered the officers’ mess and joined the line at the buffet. Ivan was ahead of him heaping cereal into a bowl. “Good morning Sir” he said.
“Morning Ivan. Where is everyone?
“I believe Aubrey is in the briefing room with Chase working on her plan for this morning mission. Val’s got the watch. Art left as I came in. He said he was going to the sick bay to check on Sue.” Ivan paused for a moment. His mind was playing catch up with the fact that Ella was no longer with them. “So that just leaves us Sir.”
“So it does” said Dave.
“Are we going to have some sort of service for Ella and Jacinta Sir?”
“Yes we will. Tomorrow.”
“That would be good Sir. Can I help in any way?”
“Would you like to do the eulogy for Ella?”
“Yeah I could do that.”
“Who was closest to Jacinta?”
“Not sure. She was a bit of a loner. I’ll ask around the other ex-Sydney troopers.”
“Thanks Ivan.”
Chapter 38. Hermes 0830, 29 June
Art was still in the sick
bay when Aubrey and Dave came to see Sue. She was sitting up and had a bit more colour in her face. But Dave could really see how gaunt she was.
He outlined his plan to try and make contact with the sleth and asked her if she could recommend someone they should speak to.
“Timresk” she said. “He’s the character who held the signs.”
Art nodded but it didn’t mean much to Dave. Sue continued: “He’s a doctor. He saved my life. He speaks a little Gelklan but there is another character named Fowlsit. He advises the leader. He speaks it much better. He even speaks some English. He told me the history.”
“So who is their leader.”
“Wenra but she only speaks their native language. I met her once. She is tough and proud. But they are all getting very desperate. I asked Fowlsit how many of them were left. All he said is ‘not many’.”
“What about their ships and defences?” asked Dave.
“I don’t know. I was in a bad way when they transferred me by shuttle direct to the hospital wards. I didn’t see their command centre and they certainly didn’t confide in me.”
“OK” said Dave. He could see her tiring. “I think we have enough to go on. Art is going to come with me but you are in good hands here.”
“No I should come” said Sue.
Art placed his hand gently on her shoulder “no not this time darling”. Turning to Dave he said “give me a few minutes and I’ll join you at the briefing.”
Chapter 39. Zuon 1233, 29 June
Dave munched on an energy bar and took a swig of water before sealing his helmet. Whisky 1 was making its final approach and decelerating rapidly.
Above yesterday’s FUP it began the delicate process of hovering down. There was just enough room here to get down without hitting any major trees.
The hatch opened and Sgt Bill Smithers, the Alpha Team leader, slapped the back of the first trooper in line. His Alpha team disembarked rapidly and Bill was sighting the last of them when Dave hit the ground. Art was at the head of a small column comprising two troopers from Alpha team, Dan Hoyle, the prisoner and Dave.
Redemption: Book 2 of Warner's World Page 12