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Trampship Wars 2

Page 48

by L. D. Roberts


  Sticking his head into the cockpit he saw the Truck Chief piloting the APCC. Mildly surprised, Mark smiled. "Ah Chief; I really don't want them knowing we are coming with 5 APCC’s. I need you to line them up tandem and as close as they can get. Hopefully, (since the English are expecting us) they won't notice how many we have if we are not spread out all over the countryside. Oh and we need to come in from the west Chief." A course plot line appeared on the navigation screen.

  The Chief looked around at Mark. "Traffic control has ordered us to head straight for the bases main office complex Commander."

  "We are Chief, but I want to fly low over the weapons showroom warehouse on the way in so the 4 trucks behind us can drop out and land there without being obvious about it. That means coming in from the west. So let's get lost for a while until you get into position west of them." Looking out the narrowed slits in the cockpits ports Mark smiled. "You can open the armored shutters Chief. We are all friends here right? I will be right behind you in the weapons compartment if you have any questions." Mark started to turn but stopped. “Oh Chief, I know we don’t train for it but we need to look like a military unit with the trailing APCC’s nose as close to the butts of the APCC;s in front of them as possible.” Slapping the Chief on the shoulder like he had seen his father do a hundred times when giving orders even when the person had no obligation to follow the orders.

  The a e rmored shutters finished rolling up revealing the wide tall ports making for good visibility from the Cockpit. Mark glanced around then stepped back into the weapons compartment and pulled out the clipboard again so he could interact with Mickey without looking this side of crazy. But he soon found out that the compartment was much too crowded for him to hold up the sheet to work with and trying to talk with Mickey sub-vocally was just too time consuming. She could not quite understand every word yet. After moving around a bit trying to find a nook where he could work he gave up until he was pushed up against the door to the small head. It was just big enough to hold a man sitting. But it gave Mark enough room and privacy to work.

  The Captain of marines found him a few minutes later. Busy using his air computer since he was hidden in the head with the room to move his arms. Watching him a few seconds with his brows raised the Captain finely asked. "Commander; I just heard you are dumping the other 4 trucks at a warehouse. Why? What is your plan?"

  Mark glanced up without slowing his gestures. "I don't want Captain Summers seeing how big our force is until it is absolutely necessary. Besides there is a lot of work that needs done at the warehouse while we are busy sidetracking the Captain. I am trying to put the orders and lists together now Captain." Seeing the Captain getting impatient. “First thing on the list is ge tting your marines the best modern armor the English have. ”

  "And what are we going to be doing with this Captain Summers while the rest of my troops are getting this new armor?"

  "Ah... We are going to give her a show Captain. Mmm. You still have those pieces of armor that fell off earlier?"

  "Yes. It is too valuable to through away besides it can be reattached in the armories shop. Not easily but we have to do it all the time as brittle as the plates have become with age . But then they just break in another place."

  "Good I need you to glue it back on with quick glue so it will fall off again on cue." Mark fished around in the pouch at his side and then handed a brand new tube of glue to the Captain. "Glue it on with a drop and then make sure it will fall off when slapped. Do it a couple three times to make sure." Mark glanced up at the Captain ’ s disbelief. "If it does not come off on cue we are screwed. We may not have a choice but assaulting that Godstar AI in these pieces of junk. I really don't want to do that." Then buried his head back in the Computer. "NO Mick! We need those damn it. Not those." Mark flipped his hand around the air in front of him a couple times and said. "Good article. Just make sure it gets released in to a credible news station that AI is sure to see before we get there. Yes I know it is a lie but t he AI won't know that. Now do it. We can release a retraction after this is all done and over with."

  The Captain let the head's door close as he turned around with the tube of glue in his hand as he pulled the shoulder peace out of his thigh pocket. Looking at the glue and then the shoulder peace of armor plate and then back and forth several times he finely turned to the lieutenant beside him and said. "Mr. Diggs. Put a drop of glue on this and only a drop and put it in place on my shoulder." Handing the plate and glue to the officer.

  -----------

  An hour later, Mark stuck his head into the cockpit and opened his mouth to speak.

  T as t he transport Chief yelled as he turn ed ing his head toward the open hatch to the back. "Fifteen seconds to the warehouse Commander!" Just in time for Mark to get an ear full and half deafen him.

  "Thanks Chief." Mark tapped his com watch as he looked around toward the stern of the truck. Looking out the overhead ports without shutters closing them off and got a start. The truck behind them was only a couple feet behind and above them with the next one above and behind that truck just as close. The 4 trucks behind looked like stairs climbing up and away. His com beeped. "Yes Captain; ah questions about the plan?"

  "Let me get this straight. You want the Star Queens shuttle crews to board and get 4 shuttles ready to fly without anyone noticing them within an hour. Is that correct?"

  "Yes Captain and the shuttles have to be the ones with the registration numbers I have on my list. Don't worry about being stopped as long as you go straight to the shuttles and don’t talk to anyone or at least answer any questions. The warehouse is pretty much deserted and the few personnel there don’t have a clue about anything that is going on with anyone else that works there since your flight suits and maintenance coveralls look somewhat like theirs . So ignoring each other is normal. Though no one should even ask as long as you look as board as they are and just do your jobs . I have given you and the crews’ maps and the technical details of the shuttles to get them going. Just make sure they understand that any ex cited talk or references about the Star Queen talk or excitement that anyone that works there overhears will make them readily suspicious. Oh… As everyone there is damn bored with their jobs even being and excit ed or in a hurry ement about anything is so unusual that it gets everyone’s attention. Including the buildings Commandant. I know since I got all kinds of attention when I was here simply because I was having a blast. We all have to look like we work there, are bored out of our minds and wish we were anyplace but there."

  "Yes I see Commander and that is another thing. I thought we were after inflatable lifeboats pods. Besides, 250 ton shuttles are too damn big and heavy for the Queen."

  "Who said they are for the Queen Captain? They are the elephant decoys in this circus act for us to give back later and the Transports to get us and a ton of equipment to the other side of the planet battle Captain. Just get them ready to go please. I will explain the rest later sir."

  "Mark." Mickey interjected. "Life rafts boats are not the only thing the Star Queen needs to insure we can launch on time. While l l iferafts are a major factor. It seems ship ’ s guns are another factor with a minimum of at least 4 long range auto firing 5inch 54 long range guns as you noticed on the Galactic Express ship that is being repaired a couple miles from the Star Queen . , The or 8 of the 5inch 38's manually fed guns . T he Star Queen is equipped with only 4 of the medium range 5inch 38 caliber manually fed guns at this need s another 4 guns mounted time and don’t even come close to passing their defense requirements of the same caliber or newer long range turrets installed . W e have to pick up new mounts from the warehouse e ven if the Queen cannot afford the high cost of mounting additional gun turrets . The 5 inch 63 54 caliber guns ’s in the warehouse do not come in twin gunned turrets so simply trading the standard single barreled 5 inch 63 turret for the Queens existing twin gunned turrets is not an option . The ship also…"

  "Shit where do you expect me to get ships guns this late… Oh ahh. I
already picked a pair of 8 inch guns. Will they be enough without adding turrets?”

  “Yes Mark, that should exceed the firepower requirements.”

  “Good, about time something works but first things first."

  Turning to the Marine Captain. "Captain; You heard me talking to the Captain Cook , do your men in the other trucks understand that they must not argue or talk to anyone? Ignore everyone and just go about their assigned tasks looking bored to death as if they belong there. And whatever it takes, no confrontations with the warehouse staff of any kind."

  "Yes Commander. The Master Sgt. will keep the men in line don't worry. What I do not understand is half this equipment list. Especially the remotes. And the assignments of the men are totally redicu…"

  "Just do it Captain. I will be with you as soon as I can to explain." Turning around Mark looked out the cockpit ports. The warehouse was approaching fast. The main building was divided at the middle with a short shipping annex crossing the center of the long warehouse , sticking out a couple thousand yards to both sides. Docking stalls into loading docks clearly visible for both the big transport boats on this side of the warehouse and the trucks on the other side of the warehouse. Now able to see which docking bays were empty he hit his comm. "Chief; sending the other APCC docking assignments now. Deployment in 5 seconds. 4… 3.. 2… 1.. Drop!"

  The 4 trucks dropped away directly below them and within seconds were settling into their assigned docks. "Ok, on to the central office building Chief." Getting a grim look on his face at the unpleasant task ahead. "Mickey get me Captain Summers please."

  "It is about time you showed up Collins. I was beginning to believe that you had turned tail like most tramps after realizing this is military business. "

  Mark smiled. "No. Just gathered up some help I can trust Captain."

  "Help? Well fine. I am headed for my scout ship on the landing platform platform C-3 now. I should be there by the time your truck lands and we can leave. That sum bitch AI has already killed a dozen English Troops sniping at them every time they expose themselves on the perimeter while you have been gathering up your help. I don't know what you can do that my English troops can't but the Admiral thinks so and I will follow orders. Out."

  Mark glanced at the tall building in the distance with what looked like a short control tower on top of the main tower, complete with windows around some kind of control room. Tall enough at over a thousand feet to see the entire base. Mark could only hope they did not noticed the other APCC’s that drop ped ping away to the warehouse. That is if anyone was looking. Hopefully an APCC coming in was just another boring flight they have seen a thousand times before and were reading the Sunday funnies or watching a the Game. Walking back past the Captain he entered the cargo box and started pushing through the mass of troops to the stern hatch.

  "Commander; 15 seconds to touch down." Mark's com said.

  Mark took a deep breath and frowned as he reached the ramp and turned around. "Listen Marines! This Captain Summers thinks we are a bunch of inept hick tramps, good for nothing but slinking around a ship playing solder and running away like a mob when trouble happens." Only the hum of the coils could be heard as he paused. "An hour ago I watched her troops get their butts kicked off of them. I know we can do the butt kicking when her troops failed but I need you to prove that to her when we land. Can you do that Marines?"

  "Harrumph!" A few of the marines said.

  The Captain of Marines stepped up next to Mark. "I could not hear you children? Are you men ready to kick butt?"

  The Captain took over and by the time the ramp was dropped , the marines sounded like they were ready to eat raw meat and came running out of the back of the APCC like they were assaulting the bestial with their bare hands.

  They ran out of the truck and down the ramp in perfect formation. With every step in unison thumping the ground until they stopped with one last thump and a loud Harrumph , they turned to face Captain Summers. The few none armored marines looking like they belonged in spite of their lack of armor and even though one miss step by one of the armored marines would have crushed them.

  Mark stepped up to Captain Summers and after glancing at her scout ship only big enough to hold 20 normal people but only about 10 of the gorillas standing behind him, snapped to attention and said. "Ready to go Captain but I don't think your ship is big enough to hold all my marines." Mark got serious. "I will need them all to take your AI's complex."

  "You told me to pull my troops back to replace them with these? You have got to be fucking kidding." She walked down the line of troops looking them over until she came to the end and looked toward the stern of the truck and stopped, staring.

  Mark followed her stare to a trail of armor plates laying on the ground leading to the back of the APCC and up the ramp. "Well I don't have to worry about the Captains shoulder plate falling off on cue." Mark smiled. "This should be interesting Mickey. May even hear some names from the Captain I have never heard before."

  Captain Summers turned around and starred at the marines shaking her head for several seconds. Looking back at Mark she continued shaking her head as she walked toward him. "Ok? The Admiral said to let you have a free hand. I will get you transportation."

  Mark's mouth dropped open. This was not going as planned.

  Captain Summers walked past Mark toward the boat without giving the marines another glance.

  Not at all according of plan.

  Mark took a deep breath getting desperate. He took a step toward Captain Summers and said. "Captain! I…"

  Captain Summers stopped and started to turn around. "Yes Commander."

  Mark stopped and jerked around to face the Captain of marines. "Let’s go kick butt!" and slapped the Captains shoulder snapping off the plate. As the armor plate fell to the ground Mark looked at it in shock. Picking it up he held it out for Captain Summers to see. Sticking it under her nose. “What the hell is this?"

  Taking it from Mark she held it up to look at it. "Must be 200 years old, brittle with age and worthless even against projectiles let alone blasters and laser beams . Even our light armor is better than this shit. Your marines would be better off attacking naked. At least they would look as impotent as they are." Throwing it over toward with the trail of plates like a Frisbee , the plate sailing through the air to skip to a stop in the middle of the trail of junk plates . "I will make sure they get an English burial after my troops take the installation. Thanks to you. It will cost us twice as much now we have to take the same ground lower floors of the building again."

  Mark frowned. It was not what Mark wanted from her but it would have to do. Somehow. Thinking for a few seconds as his mind raced at a hundred times normal speed. Mark took a fast breath and pulled the pistol on his hip and took a couple of steps closer to the trail of broken armor plates. Aimed the English pistol (he had gotten the day before in the cavern) at one of the largest plates and fired. Hitting the plate dead center. A hole was blown through it digging out the concrete below it. "Ridiculous. My marines aren't going anywhere wearing this shit." Waving his hand over his head. "Back aboard the truck." Calling it a truck deliberately not to draw attention to the fact that it was an APCC.

  "Ya I told the Admiral that you would be to chardon Chardon dung to help." Turning around she started for her scout ship as the marines started marching back toward the back of the truck.

  "Now hold on there Captain. Didn't the Admiral say to let me run things. Tell you what. You said your light armor was better. You let me outfit my marines with English armor and weapons and we will take on that damn fortress."

  Captain Summers stopped and slowly turned around and looked at him with her eyes narrowed as she growled. "I told you that I was not going to waste anymore equipment on you scumbags."

  "Then be sure you tell the Admiral that I offered to help and you are the one that refused a simple commonsense request for a few pieces of equipment that would keep my men from getting slaughtered like yours did."
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  Turning red she took a deep breath. "The General’s men had our latest and best equipment and failed moron. Your men can't do any better than his troops."

  "There you are wrong so quit lying about it. You know better. Not only did they not have the equipment but you had the wrong tactics as well as not taking full advantage of the terrain available to you. As for your troops, two teenagers fucking are better coordinated." Mark smiled as sweetly as he could at her not believing he had repeated what he had heard Pop say to someone a long time ago. "Star Queen Marines have been training to do this shit for decades. They are one hell of a well-oiled attack force already trained in the tactics needed to take that fortress with few casualties. All we need from you is a few pieces of modern equipment you already said we needed . Who knows; you may just learn a thing or two." Getting serious. "And if we fail , you get your equipment back when you bury us."

  She studied Mark for a good minute without blinking. "Fine. Get what you need out of the warehouse for the attack and that is all."

  "Thank you Captain but one more thing. If we pull this off. I need enough lifeboats and such to allow the Queen to pass launch inspections for the outback."

  "What the hell you say?"

  "The Vice Admiral said that you guys have inflatable lifeboats coming out your assess with all the ships being decommissioned. We just need a few of them amongst other things to make the ship safe and pass your board’s inspection to ent er the Outback . You can't argue with equipping us with a few surplus liferafts that now can you Captain. A simple trade for services rendered."

  She balled up her fists. Her face turning several shades of red and purple. Finely she said. "Fine but nothing else got that!"

 

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