Atlantis - Return of the Nation

Atlantis - Return of the Nation Page 35

by Steven Cook

  ‘Go,’ instructed Atlas to the aide.

  He turned and looked at the new markers scattered around the city.

  ‘They have withdrawn from their forward positions and have encircled us. General Tinereaus, alert you men quietly to redeploy to face the Minoans.’

  Atlas turned to look at Atkinson and Ilissus.

  ‘If you are correct this will change everything.’

  He looked out at the massed lines of warriors.

  ‘If you are wrong it will be bad for you.’

  He left the threat hanging.

  *

  Northern Plains 26th May

  Craig, Carl and Darath huddled together in the stinging rain in an attempt to keep warm. If they hadn’t felt so miserable they would have found the situation amusing.

  Around them the Minoans were packed together in a slowly rotating mass. Periodic moans of distress erupted from the mass of bodies as they attempted to shield their heads from the rain.

  Minotaur was the only exception. He sat huddled to one side, the broad blade of his axe shielding his single eye from the deluge. He periodically lifted it to the sky to try and guess how long he would have to wait before resuming the search for Hildar.

  The wind was blowing strongly from the West, pushing the heavy clouds before it. To the South the sky was already slowly clearing, letting the early afternoon sun pierce the cover. A number of pale rainbows hinted at the moisture still in the atmosphere.

  To the North and West the deluge was starting to ease. Impatiently, Minotaur stood up.

  ‘Move you pathetic cows. Are you so afraid of water that you cower like calves? I thought you were Warriors. Even the humans are not afraid.’

  He strode towards the packed Minoans and jabbed the butt of his axe into the crowd. Several of the closer warriors pulled away from the pack and warily faced him. They blinked rapidly and shook their heads to keep the rain from their sensitive eyes.

  ‘If we are to achieve dominance we need to show we are not afraid of the elements. Get moving.’ He stepped in again, jabbing into the mass again.

  Reluctantly the Minoans got into line and began slowly trudging towards the mountains. Their prisoners were dragged to their feet and pulled along.

  Minotaur paced along at the end of the line, lashing out with the haft of his axe to keep them moving. Slowly the column picked up its pace, until they were proceeding in a steady jog. Imperceptibly the rain started to ease as the wind took the clouds away to the East.

  Several miles ahead Saraph was leading the mismatched group to the top of one of the hills that indicated the start of the foothills. The heavy rain had finally given way to a fitful drizzle.

  Fisher and Saraph paused at the crest and waved the rest past. Fisher pulled out his binoculars and scanned the terrain behind them.

  ‘Damn it,’ he cursed. He passed the optical device to Saraph who hesitantly raised them to his eyes.

  ‘How far?’ Saraph asked.

  In the distance they both could make out the small figures of the rapidly moving column of Minoans quickly closing the gap.

  ‘I’m not sure. I think they’ll be up to this point in an hour.’

  Beyond the crest the rest of the group had turned to regard the two officers. Dingo and Coran exchanged glances then slowly walked up to join their superiors.

  ‘We’ll slow them down.’ Dingo started to slip his backpack from his shoulders.

  ‘OK Dingo, I don’t want heroics. Delay them as much as you can but don’t do anything stupid. Hit them and pull back.’

  ‘LT, there is no way I’m getting intimate with any of those beasties.’ He grinned at the officer.

  ‘Coran, it’d be best if you acted as spotter for Dingo and used your knowledge of the terrain to keep you both alive.’

  The scout nodded his understanding. He clasped his brother’s arm and smiled at him.

  ‘I will see you soon brother.’

  Without a further word the two very different warriors hefted their weapons and jogged away back along the path. Saraph and Fisher watched them go for a few seconds, then turned and joined the others.

  ‘Let us pick up the pace.’ Saraph took the lead.

  The depleted group fell into line and jogged after him. Fisher let them past, idly wondering how the rag tag group could prevent the world falling into chaos.

  Finally M’Varak strode past, with the easily loping sphinx in close order. Fisher took one last look over his shoulder before stepping out. He broke into an easy jog and caught up with the others.

  Dingo and Coran jogged along side-by-side, eyes scanning for a suitable ambush site.

  ‘How about that hillock? If we use that small grouping of rocks on the side as cover we can retreat through the dead ground and fall back to where we left the others.’ Dingo suggested.

  ‘It is as good a place as any. The Minoans have not got any cover to avoid your weapon.’

  The two left the small track and carefully made their way to the hillock, Coran leading the way. Dingo held back a little, scanning the surrounding area. He raised his hand to his throat microphone.

  ‘Angler, this is Dingo. Over.’

  ‘Go ahead Dingo. Over.’ Fisher replied.

  ‘Can you clarify the Rules of Engagement regarding the captives? Over.’

  There was a long pause.

  ‘I’ll get back to you on that. Angler out.’

  Dingo blew out a lung full of air.

  ‘Shit!’

  He followed after Coran to prepare their hide.

  Eighteen minutes later a solitary Minoan loped down the track. His heavy head swept from side to side looking for signs of Hildar. He reached a small rise and hunched forward, peering into the distance.

  The wide set eyes had picked out the small group heading away. A wide bovine smile spread across his face. Quickly he turned and began to run back the way he had come.

  A hundred and fifty meters away Dingo tracked the Minoan with the barrel of his M4. He had extended the butt to its full length to provide additional stability.

  ‘Sorry mate, that’s the wrong way.’ He gently squeezed the trigger and released a three round burst.

  The Minoan never heard the sound of the rounds that killed it. The rounds hit the creature at full velocity in the side of its head. The bone there was thinner than at the front of the skull, and the rounds smashed their way through easily.

  As the Minoan collapsed the sharp cracks of the shots was absorbed by the wind.

  Two minutes later the rest of the Minoan column arrived on the scene. They pulled up ten feet short of the body and looked in every direction.

  ‘Get ready to pull back,’ whispered Dingo.

  ‘I am ready,’ replied Coran.

  Dingo took aim at a particularly large Minoan.

  Craig flinched as a spray of blood and bone fragment splashed over him. A fraction of a second later he heard the crackle of the rounds. Instinctively he dropped to the ground, dragging Carl and Darath with him.

  The closely gathered Minoans all turned stunned as one of their colleagues thumped to the ground. The mild curiosity was broken as another three-round burst struck another of them.

  This time the attack wasn’t as accurate, and instead of killing the target immediately the rounds caused massive injuries. One of the Minoans let out a pained bellow as it twisted and fell to the ground.

  The rest of the Minoans quickly dropped to the ground to avoid the scathing bullets.

  ‘What is it and where is it coming from?’ queried Minotaur from his position on the ground.

  ‘I think it is can only come from those rocks,’ offered M’Sorta.

  Minotaur raised his head slightly to look in the indicated direction. He then looked at his warriors hugging the ground.

  ‘M’Corsa, S
tand up.’ he ordered.

  The injured Minoan looked at Minotaur in shock.

  ‘Minotaur?’

  ‘Stand up now!’ Minotaur roared.

  Reluctantly M’Corsa stood up.

  A fraction of a second after he reached his full height he was thrown backwards by the force of a three round burst slamming into his chest.

  ‘You were right. They are in the rocks.’ Minotaur had seen the spurts of blood as the rounds entered the unfortunate sacrifices body.

  ‘On my word we all charge the rocks.’ M’Sorta called quietly to the huddled Minoans.

  Slowly they prepared themselves.

  ‘Now!’

  As one the Minoans surged to their feet and charged towards the small outcrop of rocks. As they ran towards their target they ducked one way then the other, leaping over the low scrub. They heard the sounds of shots being fired but none hit the target.

  The first Minoan to reach the rocks saw a strange stick pointing out from under a canopy of twigs and undergrowth. Without pausing he smashed his axe down and through the cover.

  A second warrior stopped beside him and reached down. With a jerk he ripped the branches away. Instead of the body of a warrior they saw a small sphere rolling gently around a slight hollow. They exchanged puzzled glances before the grenade exploded.

  The two Minoans were thrown backwards by the blast. The rest of the column threw themselves to the ground again.

  Two hundred metres away Coran and Dingo raised their heads to see the result of their booby trap.

  ‘That’ll make them more cautious.’ Dingo smiled. ‘We’ll head back along parallel to the track and keep an eye on them. With luck Fisher and the others will be able to make the canyon before I run out of ammo.’

  Keeping low the two men crept away northwards.

  *

  North Atlantic Monitoring Station 26th May

  Chip McCauley had enjoyed the past few days. He had been on leave from the weather station and had put the few days to good use.

  His group of friends had expanded somewhat to include several regulars who frequented the bar he normally visited. They had been impressed by his discovery of the island, and his status as a celebrity had increased as there was more and more coverage on the international news.

  He walked into the building with even more bounce in his step than usual. A broad smile and a nod greeted everybody he passed on the way to his office.

  Reaching his desk he dumped his bag onto the cluttered surface and draped his jacket over the back of his chair.

  Chip started up his computer then went to get a cup of coffee from the machine. When he sat down he started opening the various programs associated with his work. As the final window opened he smiled as the island was displayed.

  Satisfied that everything was as it should he rotated his chair to face one of his colleagues.

  ‘OK Charlie, do you want to let me know what’s been going on since I went on leave then you can go home.’

  Charlie fished his shoes out from under his desk then slowly turned to face Chip. As he laced his shoes he gave a brief synopsis of what weather the North Atlantic had withstood since he had last been in the office.

  Finally the two men said their goodbyes and Chip turned back to his screen. Looking around he pushed his chair back so he could look under the desk.

  He reached out with his foot and teased out the neglected novel. After finding his page he placed the book face down and open on the desk. He leant over and pressed a key to refresh the view on the screen.

  Idly he looked at the screen whilst reaching for his mug. His hand paused as he considered the screen.

  Slowly he pulled the keyboard closer to himself and started tapping in instructions. Finally he scratched his head and reached for his phone.

  ‘Dave, are you awake?’

  ‘What now Chip?’ Andrews asked.

  ‘Can you pop through, I’ve got something I need checking.’

  ‘I’ll be right through.’

  Chip replaced the handset and looked at the screen again.

  ‘What is it?’ Andrews stopped behind Chip and peered over his shoulder.

  ‘OK, this is the Island from the last snap shot.’

  ‘Got it.’

  ‘And this,’ Chip switched to another window, ‘is the island when I came in.’

  ‘So?’

  ‘Do you notice any differences?’

  ‘No, enlighten me.’

  ‘Let me put the grid over each of them.’

  Chip typed a couple of commands and brought the two images up side by side on his two monitors.

  ‘I can’t see anything.’ Andrews said after examining the screens for a few seconds.

  Chip pointed at the screen.

  ‘OK, here is the helicopter crash site. If you look here the shore is here, but here there is more beach but the shore is at the same point later on.’

  ‘I don’t get you.’ Andrews knitted his brows in concentration.

  ‘OK, let me try again.’

  Chip clicked away on his keyboard for a few seconds.

  ‘Here are the corresponding shots of Atlantis. Note the grid on the early shot.’

  ‘Got it.’ said Andrews.

  ‘Now note the grid on the later one.’

  Andrews leant in to peer at the numbers.

  ‘They’re different.’ He murmured.

  ‘True. It looks like the Atlantians were right. More of the island is coming out of the ocean. What they haven’t told us is that the island is moving.’

  Andrews turned to look at Chip.

  ‘In the last half an hour the island has grown out by about fifty meters and has drifted North East by two hundred meters.’

  ‘They always reckoned that Atlantis was situated by the Pillars of Heracles.’

  ‘What?’ asked Chip.

  ‘The legends say that Atlantis was outside the Pillars of Heracles. It’s thought that the pillars were situated at the Straight of Gibraltar and that the Rock of Gibraltar was one of the pillars. If the Island is heading back there it could cause problems.’

  ‘Who should I ring this time?’ asked Chip, reaching for his telephone.

  *

  Atlantis Inner Island 26th May

  The aide strode past the mustered troops towards the narrow side street leading towards the small plaza that Atkinson had indicated.

  Turning the corner he started down the shadowed cut-through. It surprised him that there were so many crates piled across the head of the street.

  ‘Where do you think you are going?’ A gruff voice issued from the deepest shadows.

  The aide turned to the voice. A heavily armoured Minoan stepped silently out of the shadows; it held a long knife in one hand. He turned his head to look further down the passage and noticed more Minoans standing in ranks.

  Frantically the aide started backing away; turning his head to see if he could see anybody he could call out to. He finally realised why the crates had been left where they were. They blocked all views of the passage.

  He drew breath to shout out but he backed into something. He frowned as he felt a pain sweep across his throat. Stunned he turned to see another Minoan holding a knife. Blood glistened on the blade.

  Understanding dawned as he attempted to draw breath again. Air bubbled through his severed windpipe. Dropping slowly to the ground the aide watched in detached fascination as the Minoan cleaned the knife blade, sheathed it then picked up its axe.

  The aide died silently as the Minoans moved quietly through the street towards the plaza.

  In the centre of the plaza Atkinson, Ilissus, Gravioran and Atlas stood examining the map of the city.

  ‘Looking at this I would say that they intend to isolate the central isla
nd and secure access to this gate here.’ Atkinson indicated each point.

  ‘If they can create a channel from the outer wall to the centre they can attack each sector on at least two fronts. You need to get the gates closed to keep out their reinforcements.’

  They all looked up as a deep bass horn blow echoed over the city.

  ‘It has started.’ stated Atlas.

  Across the plaza the crates were thrown aside and the mass of Minoans charged into the plaza. Instead of charging into the rear of an unprepared mass of men they faced Tinereaus’ prepared lines.

  The first lines of Minoans paused briefly as they saw the wall of spears facing them before bellowing and charging towards them. The first few Minoans leapt surprisingly high in an attempt to clear the lethal foot long blades aiming at them.

  The blades of several spears twitched upwards to catch the leaping bodies, but the weight of the Minoans caused the spears to either splinter of vault the bodies back into the lines of waiting warriors. The short swords of the warriors made short work of the twitching bodies.

  The following Minoans used the distraction to smash into the gaps in the spear hedge, and once within the lines they began using their axes and swords in short, powerful controlled sweeps to create further space.

  From his position to the rear Atkinson was amazed at the discipline being shown by the Atlantian warriors in the first ranks. Although their line had been broken they maintained their attention forward, relying on their colleagues to repulse the Minoans who had flanked them.

  The Atlantians formed pockets around the incursions by linking their shields and bracing themselves. The Minoans used their superior strength and reach to smash through or over the shield walls, causing massive injuries.

  However, it was only a matter of seconds before the Orichalcum blades of the warriors would stab out, slicing through the axe shafts or steel blades of the swords.

  With the weapons neutralised the warriors pushed forward, trapping the individual Minoans in their shields. It was then butchery as the short swords stabbed repeatedly between the shields, slipping effortlessly through the leather armour into the Minoans.

  The Atlantians quickly plugged the gaps in the lines. With their momentum and element of surprise lost the Minoans started to withdraw. Tinereaus saw the tall figures fleeing and made a snap decision.

 

‹ Prev Next ›