“Alpha Team go!” called out Warner. Of the four that rushed through only Li and two others made it. Seeing his troopers fall like that was affecting Warner and he knew that it would be affecting Ivan’s group even more. He could not afford to wait, though as this would only further undermine their courage.
As soon as Li was down and firing, Warner ordered Ivan to assault. He jumped up with them and broke left to join Buster. He hit the ground hard. He knew he would have a massive bruise there if he survived this.
Ivan’s big legs were pumping hard. He dove down and the rest of the MPs joined him. Not one was hit. Thank god thought Warner. They were returning fire but more enemy were pouring in. The gap now was about 250m.
“Chuck you got to stop the enemy from heading back here” barked Warner.
“Roger Sir but we’re running low on ammo.”
“Alpha/Bravo go” called out Warner. Buster rushed forward with the rest of his group following. He lost another marine for the gain of 20m. At this rate, thought Warner they would all be dead soon. “Buster stay put. Provide covering fire. Ivan, you’ll have to carry the assault forward.”
“Roger Sir.” Ivan looked to Sherri next to him. He could see the fear on her face but there was also determination. It reinforced his own. “MPs forward” he ordered. He stood and charged. The eight MPs were up with him in a good line. Fire was being laid down from Buster’s group. The enemy, however, was equal to the challenge and picked up their rate of fire as they saw the charging soldiers.
Pulse rounds were whizzing past. Ivan dove for the ground. He crawled a bit then popped up slightly and took a shot. He turned to his right to see Sherri. She was not there. He looked back in a fit of anxiety. She was down two metres behind him firing also. He breathed a sigh of relief.
“Charlie forward” Ivan ordered. Charlie Team rose, rushed and hit the ground under a strong rain of shot. Two went down. Warner couldn’t believe how many troopers he was losing. He knew all too well that in a vacuum, any penetration of the suit will kill you in a minute even if the wound itself isn’t lethal, the loss of air will suffocate you.
Again Ivan ordered the MPs forward. They were now about 150m from the enemy. As Ivan pushed his legs hard he saw Sherri on his right receive a hit to her stomach. Her body crumpled backwards, then forwards. Ivan dropped as fast as he could. He turned back and crawled to her as shots rang around him. He could see the large exit hole. He knew it was hopeless. He brought his helmet closer to hers. The life was draining away fast. Her eyes were already not registering. She gave a slight convulsion and then nothing.
It all happened so quickly. ‘So quick’ he said to himself. His hand stretched out to hers. He knew she was gone but he so desperately wanted to touch her. He was crying now. His universe was now just the few feet around him and his dead consort. Nothing else existed. Nothing else mattered. He didn’t register the hailing voice of Emilio, nor that from his commander. They didn’t matter now. All that was precious to him was being taken away. He had to see her off. It was the right thing to do.
“Ivan, this is Warner. Come in” yelled Warner. Slowly the sound of his boss registered. Emilio had rushed forward through the fire. He hooked his big hand around the young officer’s webbing and dragged him back to the wall of the tunnel. It was a miracle neither were hit. Emilio, now lying down next to Ivan could see that he had lost it.
“Sir, he’s OK but out of it” advised Emilio.
‘Thank god’ thought Warner. He had come to like this young subaltern. He couldn’t bear to lose him. In fact he had had enough of the killing.
“Chuck?”
“Sir.”
“We’re spent. I’ve lost half of my force. How many enemy do you count?”
“Sir, they’ve been pouring out of section four and heading back to fight you. I count just ten here with another 15 near the door on your side. But don’t worry Sir. You hold there and we’ll finish them off. Is that alright Sir?”
“Yes Chuck that’s fine. We’ll hold here. You attack” said a grateful Warner and he added “Thanks Chuck.”
“My pleasure Sir.”
“Reina, this is Warner.”
“Sir.”
“Where are you?”
“We’ve just deposited our Alpha Team at the bottom of the facility shaft. I’ll have the whole lot down in about thirty minutes.”
“Right, commandeer some transport and get them to the main entrance. Yaeger’s going to be making an attack soon. He may appreciate the backup.”
“Roger Sir. How are you going?”
“We’ve sustained heavy losses but we’ve got the enemy trapped here. We just need to finish them off.”
“Right Sir. I’ll get cracking.”
“Sir” hailed Chuck. “I’m going to be opening the fifth set of doors and letting the loggies assault forward. Can you neutralise those enemy in your section when I give the command?”
“You got it. Just say the word.”
Chuck went about issuing orders for his 3rd Pl remnants to provide fire support and for the loggies to form extended line. When they were in position their leader, Chief Wally Blumberg, advised Chuck and he gave the command.
Wally had only once before in his long career participated in actual combat and that was 13 years ago when he was on the receiving end. His larger than regulation stomach was churning now at the prospect of leading an assault.
Tango 4 let fly with a barrage of cannon shell. It had run out of ammo for its pulse guns. The remaining marines opened up and the guard opened the doors. Warner had his marines open fire too. The enemy was getting it from both sides now. When they saw the doors open and the extended line of soldiers, they tried to pull their own soldiers back into section four to face them. But most were cut down by the fire from the Hermes’ marine detachment.
Chuck had not dared order the loggies to fire and move. He didn’t risk them stopping in case they stopped for good. As they passed him he moved ten metres behind Wally in the centre of the line. He urged them on. A soldier on the right fell but with Chuck’s coercion Wally kept moving forward. They were stepping, firing, stepping some more. There wasn’t a lot of return fire but every now and then one or two bursts of fire would be made. They lost another loggie in the centre. Some rounds buzzed past Chuck. They advanced a whole 100m and were now just 100m from the forward enemy position.
Another group of enemy from section three made a dash through the breached doors. Two of them were cut down by blasts from Tango 4. But the other four got through and started firing back fiercely. The man next to Wally was hit and Wally started to waiver. Chuck stepped forward and grabbed his webbing and pushed him forward. “Come on Chief. We can do this” said Chuck.
Wally regained his nerve and fired back. He took another step assisted by Chuck but then shook himself free. “I’ll be right Sir.”
Tango 4 stopped firing. “Sir, we’re out of ammo” reported their commander.
“Roger that” said Chuck “Get your personal weapons and form a second line.”
As Chuck passed the rear 3rd Pl position he called on its occupants to stand up and join the assault. They did so. The few enemy remaining in section 4 were now trying to move back into section three but none made it.
“Front line halt and deploy” ordered Chuck. “Second line fire and move through.” The surviving loggies in the front line were never so grateful to hit the ground. The more experienced 3rd Pl troops in the second rank began firing and moving forward to the gap in the doors. When they reached the doors, they stopped and began firing through the gap at the enemy remaining in section three.
The enemy were now in a hopeless situation. They were surrounded and being fired at from fifty metres. They were being picked off rapidly. But they didn’t surrender. They hurled some grenades but these failed to reach.
Finally Chuck ordered “Cease Fire”. He hoped the surviving eight enemy would respond by surrendering. But they gave no indication other than to stop firing themselv
es.
“Sir, how do you want to play this?” asked Chuck.
“Dammed difficult isn’t it” responded Warner. “How do we tell them to lay down their weapons?”
“I have an idea” said Chuck. He picked up a rifle from the battlefield and crawled forward. When he was near the breach he threw it out into no man’s land.
The enemy stared across at them through their helmets. They got the message. The nearest enemy to Chuck, threw his weapon out in front of him. The others then followed. Chuck stood up and raised his hands in the air. The enemy did likewise. Chuck then ordered his 3rd Pl to move forward and restrain them.
“I’m impressed Chuck” said Warner and he too stood up and ventured forward.
“Pretty simple, hey?” said Chuck with a smile. “Must be a universal form of communication!”
“Take them through to section five and pull the rest of your men back there too. We’ll seal the doors and leave this mess for someone else to clean up.”
“Sounds good to me Sir” said Chuck and he started to issue orders. He slapped Wally on the back and Wally appreciated it.
“Rihan?”
“Dave.”
“It’s over” said a weary Warner. “We have eight enemy prisoners. I’m sending them through to you with an escort. Find someone who can work out how to communicate with them and send some engineers up here to reseal these doors.”
“Sure. Are you alright?”
“I’m fine, just tired. Can you let the Admiral know?”
“Yes will do. I’ll send some transport down. What about casualties?”
“We lost a lot of good people Rihan. A lot of good people. I need to check with Emilio. I’ll get back to you…Oh how’s Art and Sue?”
“Art’s OK. He’s up in the vent near the surface relaying comms.”
“Good on him. And Sue?”
“She’s missing Dave” said Rihan and she explained what happened.
“So there’s a chance she could still be alive?” he asked.
“Maybe. Unlikely but possible.”
“We need to ask the enemy if they know where she is. Ask the Admiral if they have any language experts. Get onto that as soon as you can.”
“Sure Dave. I’ll come and see you soon.”
Warner was now looking back down towards the dock end. He could see Ivan still sitting up against the wall. “Looking forward to that, honey. I got to go.”
Warner reached Ivan. Ivan raised his helmet to look at him. His eyes were still red from crying. Warner looked across the ten metres to Sherri’s body. He turned back and held out his hand to Ivan. Ivan reluctantly accepted it. Warner pulled him up.
“Come on Ivan. Help me move her?” and the two of them carried her body to the side of the tunnel and laid her down next to the row of bodies being formed there.
Once again it struck Warner that they and the enemy already shared one common aspect of civilisation. ‘Surely there were others they could build on.’
Chapter 7. Pulton 1 1400, 26 May.
Warner was on hand with the Commodore and Rihan to welcome RAdm McDermot to what was left of Klaster. Shangri La was untouched. The Admiral, like all first time visitors just stood their gaping at the luxury on display.
“This way Admiral” said the Commodore and led him to the large conference table. Lindsay Han had to be guided down by Rihan.
“Amazing” was all Lindsay could say.
“Yes it is” confirmed Rihan.
She like everyone there was tired but relieved. It had been a harrowing ordeal. But she was so glad to be reunited with Dave. They had met half an hour ago. It wasn’t the passionate reunion of long parted love. There was but a moment’s embrace in front of the Commodore. But his eyes had smiled at hers and she was reassured by that.
She was concerned at how weary and almost despondent he had looked. But when he rattled off the names of the marines who had been lost from the Hermes she understood.
Now they were trying to work out what to do next.
“Well Captain you and your marines excelled today” said the Admiral. “I do appreciate the sacrifices your troops have paid. All in all, though we got off light. Don’t you agree?”
“I suppose” said Warner “though try telling that to the surviving 50% of my marine detachment.”
“The enemy’s losses were far greater. We destroyed their carrier, one of their caps and eliminated their soldiers on Klaster. That’s a drubbing if ever there was one.”
“Yes Admiral” interjected Pious “I do agree we inflicted a significant defeat. The question is what we do now.”
Lindsay Han spoke up “I think we must follow up and warp to Chelora. Chances are we will catch the rest of their fleet there and with a bit of luck wipe them out.”
“Or we may run into an even bigger enemy fleet and get ourselves wiped out” countered the Admiral.
“What do you think Commodore?” asked McDermot.
“I agree with you Admiral” said Pious. “I think it wise to stick with our original plan and send a reconnaissance in force post haste.”
“And you Captain?” asked McDermot.
“Militarily, I support the recon option” said Warner. “I think we’ve played our luck as far as we dare.” Warner paused in thought.
“Is there something you want to add?” asked McDermot.
“Yes there is Admiral. I’m wondering whether we shouldn’t be seeking a political option. The enemy have taken heavy losses. We’ve checked them here and they may be ready to negotiate a settlement.”
“What!” exclaimed Lindsay. “We have them on the ropes. Why on earth would we want to capitulate now?”
“We may or we may not. We frankly don’t know their true strength. What we do know is that they have some superior technologies and some inferior. They have been checked here but the fleet we have just defeated may be only the tip of the iceberg. They are clever and organised. They are also brave and determined and they show signs of civilisation like the way they treat their dead. They have suffered hundreds of dead. They too might be starting to ask whether the cost is worth it.”
“Have you forgot the small fact that they nuked New Hamersley and laid the blame on us?” argued Lindsay.
“Sure they’re devious and there will have to be some compensation. But how many more New Hamersleys do we want?”
“Alright you two” warned the Admiral. “Let’s keep it calm and rational. Commodore, what do you think?”
“I see merit in Captain Warner’s point. Maybe the best option is to send our frigates to Chelora to recon but also to attempt to make contact for negotiations. We can put out a feeler and see how they respond. If negative, then I agree with Lindsay here, our next step should then be a full-fledged strike against Chelora. But we should first seek advice from the joint Councils.”
“Yes, I agree we need to consult our political masters. How long do you need for this?”
“48 hours, Admiral” responded Pious.
“Then we’ll both seek guidance from our respective Councils and wait for their responses. In the meantime, we need to see to the defence of Klaster and the restoration of the base. Commander Kabel, can you provide a list of priority items you need. I know you will be providing such a list to your Fleet HQ but on behalf of the Alliance we would like to assist if we can.”
“That’s most generous, Admiral” said Rihan.” I’ll have that to your Quartermaster tomorrow.”
“I would recommend giving priority to Fleet support so we can keep the Group here while you rebuild. Do you agree?”
Rihan looked to the Commodore, who nodded. “We agree Admiral. In which case, I will have our base force warp here tonight. It’s going to take some time to rebuild the main facility.”
“Especially if it is to this standard” said the Admiral sweeping his hand around with a grin. Everyone had a chuckle.
“I’m not sure we can match the standards of the Fixar Corporation” said Rihan “but we can aim high, c
an’t we?” Everyone laughed.
Chapter 8. Shangri La 2200, 26 May.
Rihan had a mountain of work to do that afternoon and it had continued into the night. She had eaten with the Commodore down at the temporary command centre. Dave had been off with Art.
She had been with Dave when they met Art. Art had been in a funny state - well not that funny considering what he had just been through. Part of him had wanted to cry and part of him forbad it. Rihan had tried to connect but it was to Dave that Art had turned for solace. She had excused herself and left them alone.
It was near 2200 when she finally got back to their suite at Shangri La. The Commodore had graciously given it to them as he said it was far too big for just his old bones to rattle around in. He was now downstairs.
The lights were all off, despite the fact that the generators were going again. She opened the door of their bedroom and could hear Dave snoring loudly. ‘Poor thing’ she thought. She went and took a shower and climbed into bed next to him. He didn’t notice. She rolled onto her back and stared out the skylight.
‘What a day’ she thought. ‘So much drama, so much death and now so much life’ she added as she placed her hand over her belly. Despite all the angst and worry, the fatigue and toil, she felt extremely happy to be carrying their child.
Chapter 9. Shangri La 0700, 27 May.
Rihan couldn’t wait any longer. She had been cuddling into his back hoping to wake him up for a couple of minutes now. She gave Warner a nudge but he showed no signs of response let alone of waking up. She poked him. He grunted and adjusted position a little but not the response she was looking for.
‘This calls for a different tack’ she said to herself. She slid her hand down to his groin. When he began to get excited she said to herself ‘now that’s more like it.’ He looked up to her in pleasant surprise as she mounted him. She extended first her left leg forward and then her right. He took her outstretched hands and they entwined their hands around each other’s forearm.
The Awakening: Book 1 of Warner's World Page 42