It wasn’t supposed to be this way.
Frederick was a career desk jockey and he’d been more than happy with that. He craved security and comfort over glory. He didn’t want to be here, but his father, Marshall Von Wolfgang, insisted his only son be there to share in the final victory against the American colonists.
It was to be an easy campaign and it had started brilliantly. The arrogant Americans charged headlong into his father’s trap and were taken completely by surprise by the deployment of their own female super-soldiers and were now in full retreat.
This assignment was considered a forward posting, but his father had assured him he’d never be in any danger. “You’ll be pushing paper a little closer to the front than usual,” his father had told him. “Safe and sound, but near enough to the action to bring greater glory to our name. After all, it would be unseemly for the son of a field marshal to warm his ass at HQ while the war is being won.”
An explosion rocked his desk. “Fuck glory!” he muttered.
His door was flung open, nearly ripping it off the hinges. The huge Sergeant Beck stormed in. “Colonel! You must destroy the network now!”
“We’re under attack, sergeant.” Frederick cleared his throat and stood, puffing his chest out like his father did when addressing enlisted. “We must withdraw immediately. One of the other caravan commanders can run the protocol.”
A wounded man’s pain-soaked scream filled the room.
Beck pounded a fist on the table. “They’re all dead! They died leading our counterattack against the drone station while you hid until we found you. You are the last senior officer and you must enter your security codes from your own terminal.”
Gunfire outside the door intensified and a grenade shook the walls.
Fear punched Frederick in the gut. He jolted around the desk, escape consuming his thoughts. He wouldn’t’ve stopped until he reached the primary spaceport if not for Beck side-stepping into his path. Frederick bounced off the hardened veteran’s thick frame.
Beck ripped the sidearm from Frederick’s belt and pressed it into his sternum. “Do your duty, or I swear to God I will shoot you for cowardice.”
Beck’s eyes burned with rage; his teeth were exposed and clenched. There wasn’t a gram of doubt in Frederick’s mind that Beck would do it. Beck was a real soldier. He’d killed many times before when duty called for it and would do it now.
“All right.” Frederick throw up his hands and walked backwards. “I’ll start the deletion process.” He took his seat and typed away.
It wasn’t supposed to be this way. Support bases this far back weren’t supposed to get attacked and certainly not overrun so easily. How did they do it? They must be super soldiers … or something worse.
Frederick opened his left eye wide and placed his palm on the screen. A beep told him he’d cleared the final barrier. The camp’s network was totally exposed before him. He opened a window to access a set of options he’d never dreamed of using.
A surge of gunfire caused Beck to whip his head around. “Do it! They’re getting through Hagan!”
Beck tossed the door open in time for both of them to see Private Hagan get riddled with slugs. The solid rounds shook the body like a seizure triggering every nerve.
The impacts didn’t detonate. Frederick knew that meant the enemy was close to point-blank range. The smart-bullets didn’t have time to read the target and stayed hard as a default. He was trapped.
I’m going to die.
His mind froze. A haze fell around him, blurring his vision and muffling sounds.
Beck dropped to a knee and fought back from the door. He was a brave man, the kind of son his father had always wanted. His courage got him killed. A round clipped his hand, destroying the appendage. He cried out and collapsed. He tried to raise his rifle with one hand from an awkward position. Three shots slammed into his chest and his body went limp.
A calm settled on the battlefield. Frederick stared at Beck and a revelation struck him with crystal clear clarity. It was a sense of purpose that brought serenity with it. I don’t want to die.
He raised his hands and waited.
***
Two bodies lying in pools of their own blood were all that was left of the force blocking Stanner and Veech’s path.
Stanner pressed the magazine release on his rifle and slipped in a fresh one as the spent box clanked against the floor. He stalked forward, staying low and hugging the wall. The slain men had been protecting this room, so he had to find out why.
They didn’t make a sound, but their stealthy approach felt hollow when a German-accented voice speaking English emanated from their target. “I surrender. Don’t shoot.”
Stanner paused a foot from the opening. “Come out with your hands up.”
“I am complying.”
Veech moved across from him to cover the door from another angle that looked in deeper. “Take it slow and easy. Any sudden moves and I’ll blow you to bits.”
“I understand. Please — please don’t shoot.” The man’s voice was pregnant with panic.
A colonel with thinning blonde hair stepped into the hall. Sweat soaked his displayed armpits.
Veech gestured with his barrel to the floor. “On your knees and cross your ankles.” He paused until the prisoner assumed the position. “Anyone else in there?”
“No. You killed everyone else.”
“What’s in there?” Veech inched closer and patted him down with one hand.
“Nothing. Just my office.”
“Corporal, keep your weapon on him. I’m gonna check out that room. If I find anyone in there, shoot him. If he moves, shoot him. If he’s rude to you, shoot him. Understood?”
“Got it, sarge.”
Stanner tightened his grip when Veech disappeared from sight. He knew the sergeant was only a few yards away, but he felt alone nonetheless. Deafening silence came out of the void. It was nerve-wracking. “You okay in there, sarge?”
A gasp floated into the hall. “Holy Mother of God.”
“What?” Stanner’s heart raced.
“Bring our officer friend in here. I think we’ve found what we’re looking for.”
Stanner jerked his head at the door. “Get up slowly and move.”
“I don’t have any restraints.” Veech had his weapon trained on the prisoner. “Slip your arms inside your uniform tunic and don’t even think of trying anything. You’ll live through this if you play your cards right.”
The colonel nodded and did as he was told. The armless colonel with a bulging torso looked funny and most importantly, not threatening.
“Corporal, cover the hall. Keep an eye on both directions.” Veech raised a hand to his earpiece. “Lieutenant, you still okay?” He paused. “Good. I think we’ve found something big here. May need you to come our way to take a look. I’ll send Stanner if we do.”
Stanner stood watch, following the action from the corner of his vision. Veech grabbed the prisoner by the collar and tugged him around the desk to view the screen. “I know what this is. I can read German. It’s your command interface.”
A wave of sweat poured from the colonel’s forehead. He cracked his jaw open as if to speak but closed it. He lowered his head and nodded.
“Very good.” Veech smiled. “What’s your name?”
He lowered his head. “Colonel Frederick Von Wolfgang.”
Veech laughed out loud at the man’s display of pride. “Fred. That’s a good name. I think you and I are gonna become good friends, Fred.” He pointed at the screen while narrowing his gaze at Fred. “Now, Fred, I am looking for something very specific here and you’re gonna help me find it.”
Blood drained from Fred’s face. “Y – yes, of course. Whatever you need, I can provide.”
“That’s good. Really good.” Veech turned to Stanner. “Go get the lieutenant.”
Stanner took off down the cleared portion of the land-train.
The tank sat in the middle of the drone
bay. Its twin fifties were panning one hundred and eighty degrees to cover the halls and main door.
“It’s me.” He waved a hand over his head. “Don’t shoot.”
Stanner entered crouching low, focusing on the openings as he walked backwards. He found Stephanie where they’d left her, hiding behind a mini-fortress they’d built with heavy work tables and supply boxes. She was curled up in the corner, her fingers wrapped around the barrel of a rifle they’d scavenged for her. BattleMasters went through a vigorous combat course, but she held the weapon like she’d never used one before.
She sniffled and wiped her nose with her sleeve. “Find anything?” She looked away, concealing her red eyes.
He took a knee behind the shield. “Are you okay?”
“Yes, I’m fine. Just got something in my eye.”
Protocol demanded Stanner leave it at that. She was an officer and there weren’t many ranks below his fresh corporal stripes. A knot formed in his gut at seeing her upset. It egged him on. “Lieutenant, it’s just you and me. If you want to talk, I’m here and your secrets are safe with me.”
“Stress. Stupid stress, that’s all.”
He nodded, cracking his mouth open to tell her what they’d found, but she cut him off.
“Fighting in the sky is so different.” Stephanie’s gaze drifted off as she multi-tasked with deep thoughts, conversation, and drone control. “It’s clean...sterile. Drone versus drone is almost … fun. Two master gamers dueling it out, no one gets hurt.
“Even close ground support runs have a bit of fantasy to them. Colored dots on a screen. Red for them, green for us, don’t drop the bombs on the green ones and pull up before you see anything real.” A lone tear escaped to run down her cheek. “Nice and clean, nothing like what I did here.”
“You saved us here, sir. We’d be dead without you and without having done a damn thing to help our friends on the line.”
“There was so much blood. And the screams of pain!” Stephanie shivered as goosebumps sprouted across her arms. “The screams were the worst. I did that, I’ve done that many times before but never noticed. I was too high, going too fast. Neat and clean.”
An urge to take her into his arms and tell her it would all be okay nearly took over. He pushed that impulse down. This wasn’t the time or place for an emotional audit.
“Lieutenant...Stephanie.” He touched her arm. The contact sent a jolt through him. Her eyes opened and locked with his, leading him to believe she felt it too. “I’m sorry you’re going through something. I know you need to work it out, but this is a really bad time.
“We might’ve found what we’re looking for. If it is, that’s huge. Try focusing on all of the lives you can save instead of those you’ve taken.” He squeezed, his heart beating faster. “C’mon, Veech is waiting for us.”
They sat silent for five seconds before she put her feet under her and stood, careful not to expose herself. “You’re right. Too much for us to do for me to go and lose my shit.” A chuckle slipped her lips. “That might explain it.”
Stanner cocked his head. “Explain what?”
“Captain Chandler.” A refreshing smile appeared on her. “I think I understand why she’s such a bitch now.”
The mention of that name caused an involuntary frown on him. “Let’s not talk about her.”
“Okay.” Stephanie shrugged and closed her eyes. “We’re in good shape out there. Whoever’s left is hunkered down.”
“Where’s the aerial?”
“Actively controlling both was giving me a headache, so I put it up five hundred feet and have it on autopilot in a search pattern. It’ll spot anyone trying anything. I disabled the other land-trains before doing that.”
“Enemy coms?”
“Messages got out during the firefight. Can’t say what, but it’s safe to assume Euro command knows something isn’t right. I took out the coms, so nothing new is getting out unless we want it to.”
He rubbed his chin. “I think I know what we need our prisoner to do first.”
“What prisoner?”
“Come on, I’ll introduce you.”
Chapter Twenty
The mangled bodies in the hallway taunted Stephanie. Parts became visible ahead of Stanner as he stalked forward. The gory sight jammed a lump in her throat. She swallowed that emotion; it was game time with incredible stakes on the table. There wasn’t room for her feelings.
Don’t lose it in front of the sergeant, Stephanie. He’ll lose all respect for you if you do.
Stanner pointed at a door. “They’re in there. I’ll guard out here.”
A chill ran up her spine. The Euro soldiers formed a line of flesh and blood she had to cross to enter the room.
Suck it up. You can do this.
Stanner glanced at her with a furrowed brow, likely wondering why she’d stopped in her tracks.
Sucking in a deep breath, she put one foot in front of the other. Thick red puddles stained her boots and she could feel the soles wanting to stick to the floor. She closed her eyes and took a final giant step over a particularly large man.
“Lieutenant, glad you could join my friend and me.” Veech slapped a sour-faced colonel on the back. The blow staggered him forward. “This is Fred, and don’t worry, he speaks English real good. Caught him at his desk up to no good. He’s logged in so there’s a lot of interesting tabs for you to look at. Maybe find that Magic Box Stanner is convinced exists.” Veech pulled the prisoner to the side. “Have a seat and take a look.”
She rounded the desk and dropped into the seat. Falling further than anticipated, she felt like a little girl in her father’s office. Adjusting the height brought her level with the screen and immediate confusion.
What the... Oh, I’m an idiot.
She regarded the colonel. “How do I change the default language?”
Fred shifted his eyes between her and Veech. “It would be easier if I did it for you. The user interface is cumbersome and takes several steps.”
She pushed away from the edge.
Fred moved for the keyboard but paused when he felt the sergeant press a pistol into his back. “Try something stupid and I’ll kill you. Not quickly, either. Remember I can read German.”
“I — I promise I won’t try anything.”
Veech pulled the pistol back. Windows popped up and a dozen clicks later, the text shifted.
Software engineers! They never make the simple stuff simple, Stephanie thought.
Her eyes scrolled across the command screen’s tabs. Duty Roster, Requisitions, Personnel Files, etc, etc... Nothing stood out and screamed, Hey, click on me to disable the entire Euro BattleMaster Corps. Damn software pricks.
Stephanie selected tabs at random and scanned them. Shaking her head, she sighed. “I’m not seeing anything like we want.”
“Well.” Veech rubbed his chin. “It’s not like they’d have it clearly labeled as The Magic Box, Even the Euros aren’t that stupid. You’d have to know where to find it, right?”
“Yeah, I suppose you’re right.”
Veech slapped Fred on the back of the head and jammed the pistol into his spine, making the man grimace. “Tell her where to find the Magic Box.”
“What?” Fred’s face tightened then relaxed. “What are you talking about?”
“Don’t bullshit me.” Veech kicked him in the back of the knee, dropping him into a kneeling position. The sergeant bent over and put his lips inches from the man’s ear. “Tell us where to find the Magic Box or I swear to God I will slit your throat and let you bleed out like a pig.” Droplets of spit sprayed the quivering man’s cheek.
“I — I have no idea what you are talking about. What is this Magic Box? I’ve never heard of it.”
“You asked for this.” Veech inhaled as he straightened, raising the butt of his pistol for a hammer blow.
“Wait.” Stephanie held up her hand. “He might not know what we are talking about. Magic Box is just a term the rumor mill invented.”
Veech’s muscles relaxed a bit. “Fine. Tell him what you want.”
She nodded and focused on Fred, studying him. Sweat ran down his flushed face, his eyes darted in a spasm of directions and his hands trembled. How the hell did you make colonel in the vaunted Euro military? She inhaled through her nose, half expecting to catch a whiff of his piss and shit. Nothing but the stench of fear passed her nostrils. At least that’s something.
Flashing him a bright smile, she opened her mouth but was interrupted by a beep from the computer.
Beep.
Beep.
An alert box appeared on the screen. “Com-link request from Command.”
“Shit,” she muttered.
“What?” Veech leaned in.
“His HQ wants to talk. It looks urgent.”
“I thought you disabled their coms?”
“I did.” Stephanie shrugged. “But I didn’t do it fast enough to stop every message from getting out. And I didn’t fully disable this land-train’s unit. The drones are jamming any signals trying to leave.”
“Why didn’t you take it completely out? How are they getting through if you’re jamming?”
“Cause we’re gonna need it if we plan to use this thing. They must be getting through on the more powerful HQ transmitters. A couple of drones can’t stop that.”
Beep.
Beep.
Beep.
“Damn it!” Veech huffed.
“What’s going on?” Stanner asked from the hall.
Veech holstered his pistol and readied his rifle. “The jig might be up.”
“Hold on.” Stephanie put both hands up. “This is probably a good thing. I mean, it’s not like we can expect this camp to go radio silent after disturbance reports are sent out and hope no one thinks something’s up.” She smiled and tilted her head at Fred.
Veech laughed once. “Right. Good thinking, lieutenant.”
“Well, all of that officer training wasn’t just about how to dress nice.” She stood and gestured toward the chair. “Or maybe it was. The corporal suggested we have Fred call in right away, but I forgot.”
BattleMaster (The BattleMaster Corps Book 1) Page 14