BattleMaster (The BattleMaster Corps Book 1)

by Nathaniel Danes

  ***

  Stanner jogged up the hill as he pulled on his elbow to stretch his arm. The black BattleMaster body suit felt tight when he first put it on. Cresting the slope, he brought the day’s prep area in sight.

  Two contingents of ground drones walked around while a squadron of aerial units circled overhead. A platoon of infantry lay spread out on the grass, stirring as he approached.

  “Stanner!” a voice called out.

  Joy popped on his face upon studying the infantrymen more closely. “Olsen!” He waved over his head and ran toward his friend. The two connected for a brief slap on the back, handshake, and hug combination.

  Olsen pulled away and looked him up and down. “Look at you! My God, you did it.”

  “I know. I still don’t believe it sometimes myself.”

  “Warrant Officer Michael Stanner.” Veech’s hulking frame joined them. “And to think, you weren’t even my first choice to be corporal.” He shook his head. “Just when I think I’ve seen it all.”

  “Sarge.” Stanner extended his hand.

  Veech straightened and snapped a crisp salute. “Mr. Stanner.”

  Stanner grinned, appreciating the sign of respect which wasn’t something Veech doled out casually, even if regs demanded it. He returned the salute and stuck his hand out again. “Thank you, sergeant, but you can drop the mister crap. Chief will do just fine for me. Seems less formal.”

  “As you wish, chief.” Veech hooked his thumb at the container of Wasps. “I take it those toy models are yours?”

  “Yeah, but they pack a lot more punch than anything you’ll find at the store. Glad you guys pulled training duty today. We’ve been trying to work in a different unit every day or so to get as much exposure to the new system out there.

  “Gives me a chance to see you all. I’m sorry I haven’t had a chance to swing by the old barracks. They’ve been running me pretty ragged with drills and extended multi-day marches.”

  Olsen shook his head. “Don’t mention it. We’ve been too busy ourselves. They gave us a week’s rest, dropped some more newbies fresh out of boot on our laps and started beating us up. Kinda like they did before we launched our grand offensive.”

  “So you think the rumors are true and we’re making a play to finish this whole thing?”

  “Yep.” Veech turned his head to spit. “Nothing else makes any sense. We need to finish the Chinese before the Euros can redeploy here. We do that, we win and can go home.”

  “Just hope I can do my part. BattleSwarm is...”

  “Mr. Stanner!” He turned to see Major Essa with her arms crossed twenty yards away. “Nice of you to join us this fine morning. If you wouldn’t mind, we’d like to get started.”

  “Right away, major. Talk to you guys later.”

  She eyed him as he ran past. “Places, people! I want this done right the first damn time.”

  Metallic feet stumped and track trends rattled. Air swooshed overhead as drones zipped to the rear and circled around. Veech shouted orders to the infantry, causing Stanner to flinch before remembering he wasn’t under his command anymore. He stood behind his box of toys, waiting to be released. A solitary Wasp hung above to serve as his only link to the border fake battle.

  “Attack!” Essa commanded on the com-link.

  Spiders charged straight on with soldiers intermixed with them. Mini-tanks split off in wide arcing flanking maneuvers. Eight of the ten aerial units dove, raking the opposing hilltop in fire as two others flew high above.

  “BattleSwarm, engage!”

  Stanner squeezed his eyelids and clenched his fists. Rotors spun to life and flowed out of the box, seamlessly separating into ten groups of two hundred. The groups spread out while advancing across no-man’s land inches above the tops of the spiders.

  Laser streaks crisscrossed the field, machine guns blazed from the sides as rockets, mortars and scatter-bombs from the sky detonated. Veech yelled for everyone to move faster.

  The sensory input was intense. Sweat soaked his body from the strain, but Stanner kept it together. The swarm was nearing its target and the ten groups converged to maximize impact on the imaginary enemy command bunker. It was developing like a textbook, just like the last dozen drills.

  I got this. I almost feel sorry for those poor Chinese bast...

  Bang, bang, bang!

  The blasts hammered his eardrums as a wave of pressure and dirt hit him, shoving him against his box. His eyes shot open. Smoke clouded his vision and a deafening ringing in his ears disoriented him.

  His mind was consumed with his physical surroundings. The ten windows in his head fell to the background, an afterthought as his ‘fight or flight’ response blazed. Some groups paused, hovering in the open for target practice. Others went off in wild directions while some crashed, bounding across the grass.

  Stanner clasped the side of his head in agony. “Ow!” The link closed.

  “Cease fire!”

  The throbbing in his skull lessened. The smoke blew away and the ringing in his ears softened enough for him to hear again. He was on the ground and a pair of size seven boots stepped right in front of his face.

  “Not so easy with some real shit going on around you is it, boy? Bet you miss the simulator now.”

  He rolled onto his back. Essa was staring down at him with hands on hips. “Get up, you big baby. Those were quarter charges and I placed ‘em well away to keep from hurting your special little ass.”

  Stanner sat up and forced himself to his feet. The world spun. He put a hand on his box to steady his stance.

  “Being able to effectively control your drones under perfect conditions is as useful in real combat as tits on a bull. You need to be ready for real shit to happen to you.”

  She slammed her palms together, sending a thunderous crack into the air. A burst of pain stabbed him between the eyes, causing him to flinch. “Back to starting positions! We’re gonna do this until the prince here can do it right!” She leaned in toward him. “Be on your toes for other little surprises I have ready for you.” She smiled and winked.

  Stanner wondered away from the container. The Wasps were returning to home on a recall order. He bent over to reach for a drone that had crash landed when he felt a heel on his butt. His face plowed into the ground. Laugher overhead mocked him.

  “Stand much?”

  He laid there as the laughter faded away.

  This is going to be a long day.

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Kyle leaned back in his leather chair, sinking into the cushion and letting out a sigh. He could feel the tension melt away as he brought the rocks glass to his nose and sniffed the woody aroma. A sip on his tongue furthered his relaxation. Tipping his head back, he enjoyed the smoky goodness of one of Liberty’s finest whiskeys modeled on those found in the original Scotland.

  The PR tour had been grueling, but at least he had the opportunity to collect luxuries not commonly found on a contested planet. The hurried flight back had taken a lot out of him. Even floating in the acceleration tanks didn’t take all of the sting out of the laser assist.

  Worse yet, they almost had to flip the ship over immediately to begin burning off the speed. The thrust from the electromagnetic drive wasn’t enough to warrant the tanks, but it did make him uncomfortable for the entire journey. He’d overheard an engineer say he’d never seen the EMDrive pushed so hard.

  It had been worth it, though. He was here with vital war materiel and the Chinese reinforcements were still three and a half weeks out. There was no time to waste, however, as he dove into organizing his forces for the offensive. The final offensive, God willing.

  Despite his best efforts to rest his mind, he couldn’t let go of all of the details he needed to take care of before the first shots were fired. Last minute drills for green troops, staged supply depots, medical supplies ... body bags. The list was endless.

  He gulped his drink, hoping to drown out the thoughts for a little while. He needed to get rest n
ow, because he wasn’t going to get any when the assault launched in seventy-eight hours. Hell, he’d be going non-stop with final prep work beginning in another eight hours.

  Beep. The door chimed.

  “Come in. It’s not locked.”

  A lump formed in his throat when Samantha walked into his room. He sprung to his feet. “I...hello. Please, have a seat.” He lunged to clear a tablet and dirty clothes off a couch. “Can I get you anything?”

  A grin graced her face. Despite the shaved head and input port in the back, in that moment she reminded him of the woman he fell in love with. “Sorry for startling you, Kyle. No need to clean up on my account. You were a mess when we dated and it didn’t bother me then.”

  “That’s not exactly how I remember it.” He set the stack on an end table. “I seem to recall you throwing a shoe at my head.”

  “That doesn’t count. You left them by the bed instead of the place I set up by the door. And, besides...I knew you’d dodge it.” She smiled and he couldn’t help but match her.

  “I’m not sure that’s a valid point.” He gestured to the cleared seat. “Please. Did you want something to drink? I picked up a couple nice whiskeys, if you wanted to join me.”

  “Just a glass of water. I need to login after I leave. A lot of data to crunch to get ready for the big push.”

  Kyle raised his voice from the kitchen as he took a glass from the cabinet and set it under the dispenser. “Not that I’m complaining...but what brings you by? You haven’t visited me since...” He emerged in the living with drink in hand. “Since… you know.”

  “Since I got wired and became a cold-hearted CPU.” She took the water.

  “Not how I’d put it but...”

  “It’s what you think.”

  He shrugged. “It was a major change. You changed. Anyone would if they went through what you did.”

  “You’re trying to be polite, Kyle.” She sighed. “I know you didn’t want me to do it.”

  She was right, he hadn’t. It was an experimental program. He feared for her safety and what it might do to her — and them. In the end, he wasn’t factored into her decision-making process. He was an acceptable loss to her and that still stung.

  “Yeah, you did know but didn’t care what I thought.”

  “It wasn’t that simple.” She set the water down. “It was an incredible opportunity, a chance to become something new. A fast track to command. You knew that was something I always wanted.”

  “And what was I?” He threw his hands up. “Collateral damage? You left me and never looked back. How do you think that made me feel? Like shit, that’s how!”

  “I’m sorry I hurt you.” She stood and stepped toward him. “It was something I had to do. If I had stayed for you, I would’ve resented you for it and that would’ve eaten away at our relationship.”

  He extended his arm to keep her at a distance. Was she trying to hug me? She’s never tried that since she became this. And what’s with all the heart to heart? “What’s going on?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “You.” He waved his hand from her head to toes. “You’re acting like...well, you. At least the you I remember.”

  “Oh.” She ceased her advance and paced. “I took myself offline. I’ve never done that before. Being plugged in is all consuming, and there’s only a fraction of myself left for true human interaction.”

  “You’re offline?” His face went slack. “Is that safe?”

  “The Euros aren’t a factor and I calculated a ninety-nine point nine percent probability the Chinese wouldn’t launch a major action this evening. And if they do, I can wirelessly connect in seconds.”

  “What’s it like, being offline after so long?”

  Samantha smiled wryly. “Liberating. I forgot what it was like to not be awash in information. To just be. I can feel things again, things I’d forgotten I could feel. Things I want to feel.” She came to within an inch of him. Her body heat tickled his skin. “I want to feel you again, Kyle.”

  Years of hurt melted away as he took her into his arms and kissed her. She pressed her breasts into him and explored his mouth and physique like a woman returning to her lover after a long journey.

  He lifted her up as she wrapped her legs around him. Urgent strides carried them to the bedroom where they made sweet love for hours.

  Spent, she curled herself into his side, resting her head on his chest. The data port on the back of her skull dug into his shoulder to remind him this was merely a brief moment. A glimpse of love lost.

  He licked his dry lips. “I’d like to believe you went offline just to spend the night with me, but I think you came here for other reasons.”

  “I hadn’t planned this.” She ran her fingers through his chest hair. “I haven’t thought about sex for years and didn’t expect those urges to come flooding back. I’m sorry if you feel used.”

  He snickered. “I’m a guy. We never mind getting used like that. So, why did you come by?”

  “To warn you.”

  “What?”

  She sat up, his eyes darting to her bare breasts for a fraction of a second. “I think the Chinese have laid a trap for you.”

  “What?” He shot up. “How so?”

  “I’ve been bothered for a while about the lack of ferocity in the Chinese attack during our last operation. They hit us hard and we made them pay for it, but it felt like they were always holding something back. My analysis predicted a harder fight for our defenders. It was too easy.”

  “Why didn’t they throw everything at us? It was the perfect opportunity.”

  “Yes, it was...to get rid of the Euros.” She stood and paced. “Think about it. The Euros and Chinese had been taking it easy on each other for some time and were aiming to make an official alliance, right? That’s why we took a gamble. Despite their buddy-buddy relationship with the Euros, the Chinese want this planet all to themselves.

  “If we’re eliminated while the Euros are still here in force, they have to share or fight like hell to kick them off. But what if we do their dirty work for them? Our attack on the Euros opened a door for them.

  “I believe the Chinese assault on our position was designed to make us think they were in a weak position once it’s just the two of us. Intel is sparse, but I’m getting the general impression their hoping to goad us into throwing ourselves at them now.”

  He moved to the edge, placing his feet on the floor. “Why are you telling me this here? What’s Colonial Gov saying?”

  She flipped her wrist. “They think I’m being too cautious. I lost all respect in their eyes when I wanted to give up. I would already have been relieved of command if they had someone to replace me. I’ve been ordered to keep out of your way. They need the war to end soon and this is their only shot.”

  “How sure are you this is a trap?”

  She sat next to him. “I deal with data and probability, but there’s also a human element to it. That’s what makes me special, more than just a computer running a model. My gut is factored into every decision. Sometimes more than others.

  “My gut is screaming at me this time. Too many unanswered questions, like why didn’t we see more Chinese troops or armor committed to the attack? Intel estimated their strength was greater than it appeared and I don’t think they were wrong. Then there’s Sun Tzu.”

  “What does the Art of War have to do with it besides being a strategy text every officer has read?”

  “It’s more than just another how-to book, to the Chinese. It’s the core of their thinking, and the key lesson from Sun Tzu is that war is deception.” She held up a hand. “When you are weak, make them think you are strong.” She lifted the other. “When you are strong, make them think you are weak.”

  A knot tied his stomach and his mouth went dry. “Crap. But command says go. What should I do?”

  “That is the question, isn’t it?” She patted his knee. “How to prepare for the unknown. I’ll do my best to figure out what they
have planned. Recon the hell out of them and crunch data like never before, but you can’t count on me giving you a heads-up. You’ll need to be ready for anything. Keep an ace in the hole. Foil a trap with a trap.”

  He stared at the wall. “Trap with a trap.”

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  Bach strolled through the lab en route to his new office. He carried himself differently these days. His back was straighter, chin higher, and he greeted his colleagues with a smile and hello. He’d even been known to engage a few in casual conversation.

  They looked at him in awe now, the brilliant mind who’d taken military science to the next level. He was getting the respect he always knew he was owed and it was divine. For the first time that he could remember, Xavier Bach was happy.

  He paused to enter his security code. A young lab assistant who’d been leaning against the wall approached. “Doctor Bach?”

  He regarded the petite woman. Her brunette hair was tied in a bun and freckles dotted her cheeks. She wrapped her arms around a tablet pressed to her chest like a shield protecting her. She was cute but wasn’t making any effort to look beautiful. He liked that.

  “Yes,” He glanced at her badge. “Ms. Von.”

  “Um, sorry to bother you, sir.” She looked at the floor and turned beet red. “I, I um, noticed you didn’t have an assistant. I was hoping you might…” she looked up at him, “if it’s not too big of a problem, consider me for the position.”

  “Oh, to be honest, I hadn’t even considered adding an assistant.” The idea instantly struck a chord with him, though. He liked the idea of having an assistant who looked up to him, someone to do the dirty work while he spent his valuable time thinking about the big picture.

  She frowned. “I see. Sorry to bother...”

  “Wait.” He stepped into her escape path. “You got me thinking. I might be interested in some help. Send me your resume and I’ll be in touch.”

  Her green eyes lit up. “Thank you, Doctor Bach. I’ll send it to you right away. I’ll leave you to your work now. Again, thank you.”