by Gary Beller
“Alright, blue team, let’s move.” Ben said, leading his half of the team. They reached the forward edge of the 7th Marine Regiment’s lines, where they were met by General Westover and Colonel Williams. “Good morning, fellas.” Ben said.
“Nothing good about this morning, Ben.” Tom said.
“Don’t mind him; he’s just grumpy that the Banor snuck away on us.” Billy said. “So, how’re things with your merry band of thugs?”
“Merry band of thugs…” Kate said, shaking her head, “If your father heard what you had to say about us…”
“Maybe he’d give me a promotion.” Williams said. The rumor was that, although deserving a promotion to Brigadier General, he was being held at Colonel because his father was the Commandant.
“Sucks, don’t it, sir?” John said.
“What sucks, Sergeant?” Williams asked.
“Having a father in high places.” John said.
“Like you would know.” Williams scoffed. Ben and Ashlie shared a knowing glance, which drew a look from Tom. “Sergeant, I’m not aware of any ‘General Roberts’ in your chain of command.”
“My father’s not a General, and we don’t share a last name.” John said.
“Yup.” Ashlie said, “He sure is his father’s son though,” Looking accusingly at Ben.
“I don’t wanna know,” Tom said, “I just want to find some Banor to kill.”
“Works for us. Phantoms, on me.” Ben said, leading the way. He ordered the team to spread out. Tom gave them a fifteen minute head start before deploying 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment forward as his skirmish line.
Ashlie and John flanked Ben as 1SMU moved forward. He spread his team out in two-person elements, with the exception of his own, choosing to keep Ashlie with him because of the odd number of Operators available to him.
“Phantom Six, Scorpio One.” Kate’s voice crackled in his headset.
“Go ahead, Scorpio one.”
“The Spine is coming up on our southern flank, it’ll cut us off from the 2nd Division, but anchor that flank.”
“Acknowledged. All sections hold on present positions.” Ben ordered. He knelt down and radioed in to Tom. “1 Bravo Actual, Phantom Six. We have a ridgeline coming up here to the south of us, It’s not big but it separates the dense woods the Valderans are navigating through from a large savannah. The enemy formerly occupied the grassland, with an airbase farther south.”
Tom looked at his map as Ben was talking. “What’s north of the ridgeline aside from trees, Colonel?”
“The Narcanian colony, sir.” Ben replied.
“Standby.” Westover said. A moment later he came back, this time on the command net. “1 Bravo Actual to all callsigns. New mission objective. Locate and secure Narcanian colony north of the Andar Spine. Alpha Company, Third Tanks and Hotel Battery Two-Eleven will provide support. Press on Marines.”
Ben ordered 1SMU to regroup on him. “1 Bravo Actual to Phantom Six.”
“Phantom Six reads, 1 Bravo Actual.” Ben said.
“Get your team up on that ridge line. You know the terrain; I want to know what’s around it.”
“Roger, Phantom Six out.” Ben said. Once his team had regrouped, he led them up onto the Andar Spine once again.
“Ahhh our old stomping grounds,” Jenny Rickles said.
“Except we brought some friends with us.” John said.
“Stay below the crest of the ridge, if the enemy is out there, no point in making ourselves targets.” Ben ordered.
“Again.” Wilkie said from behind him.
“Oh come on Wilkie, you know working that gun was fun.” Geoff said.
“Most fun I’ve had all week. Until the counterbattery fire started dropping on us. That wasn’t so much fun.”
“Better than a poke in the eye with a bayonet.” Ben said.
Kate moved forward and set herself up to scout across the prairie below the ridge. 2nd Brigade from 1st Division was moving across the open field alongside the tanks and armored vehicles from 3rd brigade. Farther down, she could see 2nd Division deployed similarly, and well to the rear the self-propelled artillery pieces and support vehicles that made up each Division’s artillery component moved as one long, continuous line. Smoke still rose from where the airfield had been. The two Special Missions Units had inflicted significant damage, and in the air strikes and naval fire support missions that followed over the past two days, what had remained was destroyed.
“Looks clear so far, Sir.”
“So far. But keep sharp, the enemy is out there.”
CHAPTER 19
1st Brigade made their way to the Narcanian colony in good time, but were dismayed to learn the colony had not gone unnoticed for long. Kiyahla was supervising the cleanup as Ben approached with Tom.
“Prime Overseer Kiyahla.” Ben called to her.
“Colonel Pierce….An unexpected pleasure. And you bring a friend?” She said.
“Prime Overseer Kiyahla, this is Brigadier General Thomas Westover, commander of the 1st Brigade, 1st Marine Division, Expeditionary Corps Lima.” Ben made the introductions.
“Westover. You sir, are a legend. The humans tell me you are something of a mad man.”
“Every time, I tell you. You run roughshod over too many enemy divisions at bayonet point and everyone assumes you are either stupidly reckless or batshit crazy.” Westover said with a smile.
“I meant no disrespect, General…” She began, but Ben cut her off. “He’s being a smartass, Kiyahla. Aside from killing Banor, it’s one of his few talents.”
“Colonel, do you always speak so disrespectfully to superior officers?” Kiyahla asked, shocked at his tone.
“No, only higher ranking ones.” He said, drawing laughter from Tom and Billy Williams, who overheard him as he approached. The joke was lost on Kiyahla, though. Ben figured the distinction was lost in translation for her.
“Never mind. Welcome, General.” Kiyahla said, leading them in. The humans and Narcanians stopped working on the cleanup to see the Marines as they came through. “Early this morning, a Banor patrol located us and attacked with some heavy weapons, but our militia forces were able to force them back.” Kiyahla said.
“How long ago?”
“About six hours. They retreated across the Spine, and then proceeded southwest. Our troops attempted to follow, but artillery fire forced them to stop the pursuit.”
Tom turned to find his adjutant. “Major, did you catch that?”
“Yes, sir, Southwest of our position, six hours ago.”
“Call it in. See if Headquarters can’t get some air assets out there.”
“How far can the Banor move in six hours?” Billy asked.
“They tend to march a bit quicker than we do, but maybe six miles per hour, so they can be anywhere within a thirty-six mile radius of here.”
“Well fuck.” Ben said.
“Basically. Our best Intel on where the Banor are now…and my entire brigade is out of position.”
“Sir,” the Major said, “Corps Headquarters says 2nd Division made contact twenty minutes ago, fifteen miles south of our position, looked like a line of forward observation posts.”
Tom stopped and looked around. “Wait just one fucking moment.” He said. “Billy, deploy your regiment in a defensive line running north and south. Colonel Wronski, deploy 5th Marine Regiment east and west, along the north side of the colony. Make sure your flanks connect.”
“Sir?” Colonel Williams said, confused.
“They are attacking here, Billy. They know we will take this world, they can’t be reinforced or pulled off. So the only thing they can do is try to attack the indigenous people, kill as many of them as possible and make it a pyrrhic victory for us.”
“Those nasty little fucks.” Billy said. “Alright.” And off he went.
“Ben, where is their most likely approach to this colony?” Tom asked.
“Through the Andar Gap, the only real break in the spine.
The hills themselves are passible by Infantry, but if they want to bring heavy units, they have to come through there. Otherwise they either have to get past 3rd Marine Division east, by the beachhead, or go through the mountains to the far west.”
“Alright.” Tom said. “Go set up on that spine, you’re my eyes and ears. Once they start coming through the gap, call into our artillery here and we’ll light those motherfuckers up. I’ll have a tank platoon setting up behind the ridge to support you and set an ambush.”
“Yes sir.” Ben said. “Phantoms, gear up and let’s go.”
Ben led the team back to the Spine, heading towards the gap in the hill line.
“It strike anyone else that this is just a weird bit of geography?” Wilkie asked.
“No, not really.” Jenny said, “It’s a ridge line. What’s so weird about that?”
“Normally there’s more than one ridge, and valleys.” Wilkie said. “Ever been to the Black Hills?”
“Yes,” Sid said, “Alien world, alien geography.”
“It’s called an Esker.” Rob spoke up.
“An esker?” Jenny asked.
“Yup. It’s an esker. Should have paid more attention in science class, kids.” Rob said, laughing. They arrived near the gap, and found six tanks approaching them. “I thought there were only four tanks in a platoon?” John asked.
“They must have been reinforced.” Sid said.
“Everyone, hold here, take a knee.” Ben ordered, heading off towards where the tanks were lining up.
“Colonel Pierce?” An officer said from the open hatch in the turret of one of the tanks.
“Yeah.” Ben said, as the Lieutenant climbed out of the hatch and joined him on the ground. “Lieutenant Flesher, India Company, 3rd Tanks. We got reinforced by two tanks for Kilo Company. What’s the plan sir?”
“Any chance your tanks can go up the ridge, Lieutenant?”
“Sir, these tanks will go up any incline up to sixty-five percent. We can climb the ridge, probably, but we’ll be vulnerable to fire from below.” Lieutenant Flesher said.
“Fuck.” Ben said. He had forgotten that the tanks were move vulnerable on their undersides than any other direction. “Okay, any ideas?”
“Actually, yes.” Flesher said. “I’ll take 4 tanks through the gap and out the other side, and deploy in a wedge on the other side. I’ll leave two tanks here, in the gap, to plug things up. If you guys can spot fire for us from the crest, we can probably hold back the enemy. At the last minute, we fall back through the gap, and bottle the enemy up in there.”
“Any chance you were a history major at the academy, Lieutenant?”
“Yes, Sir, with a focus on ancient Greece.”
“It shows.” Ben said. “Alright, let’s turn this little pass into the Hot Gates.” Ben turned and went back to his unit. “Sid, Wilkie, you guys bring claymores?”
“Of course, sir.” Sid said.
“Alright. Make a hole, let the tanks pass through. Once they are on the other side, I want claymores set up along both walls of the gap, quick as you can.”
***
Back at the Colony, Colonels Williams and Wronski deployed their regiments as ordered. The two officers reported in to Westover at his command post, set up just fifty meters behind the center of the defensive wedge. “Okay, lay it out for me.” Tom said, laying a map of the area out.
“Sir,” Williams started, “Along my line I have 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Battalions deployed in that order. 1st Battalion starts right here,” He pointed to the tip of the wedge, “Alpha, Bravo, Charlie and Delta Companies are all on-line, with each Company’s weapons’ platoon supporting the rifle platoons with a mortar, two Multi-Role Rocket Launchers, and two light autocannons. 2nd Battalion has Echo and Foxtrot Companies on the line, with Golf and Hotel held in reserve. 3rd Battalion has India and Kilo Companies parallel to the main line. 3rd Platoon from Kilo Company links up with Lima Company, turned 45 degrees back from the main line, denying our flank. Mike Company is in reserve.”
Wronski laid out his line, similarly organized, although all three of his battalions held a single company in reserve, with his weapons teams deployed very similarly to Williams’. As he spoke, Lieutenant Colonel Zakarian and Lieutenant Colonel Valla, the tank and artillery commanders, approached.
“How is our Armor deployed?” Westover asked.
“Sir,” Zakarian said, “I have deployed one tank to support each of the eighteen rifle companies along the line. Of my remaining eighteen tanks, I have held eight as my strategic reserve. I have two platoons assigned as flank guards, one next to Three-Seven and one next to Three-Five. Two tanks from Kilo Company are moving up now to support the center of the wedge.”
As Zakarian said that, the two tanks passed along either side of Westover’s command post and took up positions near where the two Alpha Companies were linked up. “Colonel Valla?” Westover asked.
“I have my artillery concentrated about 200 yards behind the line, set up so that each battery has clear lines of fire along our entire front, as well as support Colonel Pierce’s detachment out at the Andar Gap. I have dispatched a forward observer to report to Colonel Pierce at the Gap, to act as a liaison.”
“How far beyond that gap can your guns reach from their present position, Colonel?”
“With an Observer on that ridge, we can light up any enemy force that comes within visual range of it.” Valla said.
“I like this.” Tom said. “These deployments will work.”
CHAPTER 20
The Forward observer arrived just as Sid and Wilkie were finishing their Claymore traps. “Sir,” The Observer said, “Staff Sergeant Makayla Prall, reporting under orders from Colonel Valla.”
“Welcome to the Hot Gates,” Ben said. Echoing Lieutenant Flesher’s earlier sentiment relating the Andar Gap to the Battle of Thermopylae.
“You really think you can hold off the enemy with two dozen Operators and a half dozen tanks?” Prall asked.
“That’s the plan.” Ben said. “You stick with me at all times, Staff Sergeant.”
“Yes, Sir.” She said, following the Colonel up the hill. Ben had deployed his team with half on either side of the gap. John and Danny had set up their guns at the edge of the gap, giving them an overlapping field of fire leading into the choke point, while Gene and Kate were at the far ends of the line, acting as Ben’s eyes and ears on his extreme flanks.
“Phantom Six, Scorpio One.” Kate called.
“Phantom Six reads, Scorpio One.”
“We have enemy armor and infantry advancing from the woods, 5 kilometers south, at the Ten O’clock position.”
“Phantom Six acknowledges, out.” Ben said, looked through his scope, and even with only four-power magnification he could see the enemy troops coming through. “Prall!”
“Yes, Sir,” She said from behind him.
“I want you to find a landmark out there, halfway between us and them. Once they cross that point, make it rain.”
“Yes, Sir.” Prall said, and set to work.
“Slammer Six, Phantom Six.”
“Go for Slammer Six.” Flesher said.
“Enemy approaching from your ten O’clock. Hold your fire until they close within 2 Klicks, unless fired upon first.”
“Roger that, Phantom Six.” Flesher said. Below and ahead of Ben, the tanks trained their turrets towards the enemy.
“Phantom Six, Scorpio Two.” Gene radioed.
“Go ahead Scorpio two.” Ben said.
“Sir, I have a line of sight on friendly armor in the tree line, looks like Infantry massing alongside, six kilometers out.”
“One Bravo Actual,” Ben radioed for Westover.
“Go ahead, Phantom Six.”
“Sir, Enemy forces are advancing on our position. Our forward observer has firing orders ready for the Battery….And Friendly troops are massing opposite hostile forces.”
“Standby, Phantom Six. All callsigns, weapons tight.”
; “Roger that.” Ben said, then switched back to his tactical frequency. “All callsigns, Weapons tight.”
A moment later, Tom came back. “Phantom Six, friendly forces you are seeing is the balance of 1st Marine Division. They are aware of your position. Do not…I say again Do not…compromise your position by signal. They are going to flank the enemy attack. Report progress to me.”
“Roger. Phantom Six out.”
Ashlie slid up next to Ben, her arm around his waist. “What’s going on?”
“General Grant is going to flank the enemy. I think Westover’s rethinking his battle plans back there.”
“He was planning a big defensive stand. If he can turn it into an offensive move, he will.”
“No doubt.” Ben said. “I have every intention of making that happen for him.”
The wait was tense. By now, everyone could see the Banor troops and tanks moving through the field. Prall set herself up with her spotting scope, and worked the radio, calling for fire. Ben watched with grim interest as the shells came down, exploding a meter above the ground. The airburst munitions sent shrapnel travelling outwards in all directions at several times the speed of sounds, cutting down infantry with grizzly efficiency.
Kate was preparing to fire her rifle, using a long-range technique she had practiced back at Leatherneck. She had a Banor officer lined up and was about to fire when the alien exploded. “D.J. Did you see that?”
“Oh yeah.” He said. “He take a direct hit from a shell?”
“Looked like it.”
Kate switched targets, finding a tank Commander with his head sticking out of the gun cupola atop the main turret. She fired, and a second later the alien’s head jerked sideways, spraying the top of the tank with purple blood. A moment later, the tank’s turret exploded, destroying the vehicle’s anti-gravity drives and sending it crashing to the ground. Kate looked down the hill and saw the tanks at the mouth of the Gap were firing their main guns now.
In addition to the artillery batteries from Westover’s position, the Division Artillery assigned to support 2nd and 3rd Brigades began firing into the enemy forces too. By now, two enemy divisions’ worth of infantry and armor were moving across the open field, and were being cut to pieces by the intense fire. “Friendly troops advancing!” Master Sergeant West reported.