Fallen Empire: A Military Science Fiction Epic Adventure (Born of Ash Book 1)

by Marc Alan Edelheit

  Chris did not reply. He, Wash, and Vex suddenly looked distracted. Keira realized they were listening to something on a closed circuit.

  “We’re out of time,” Vex said. “The Fifth Hakagi are moving into jump off positions. It seems Sara’s right.”

  “I hate it when she’s right,” Chris said. “You both know that.”

  “I guess you should never have married her, then,” Wash said.

  “You’re married?” Keira asked, shocked to her core.

  “Was—divorced,” Chris answered curtly, then scowled. “Before we came to Asherho and after I’d retired from the Corps. Once we divorced, I reupped. It’s a long story.”

  “Either way,” Vex said, “we need to get moving.”

  “It’s time to go with plan B, Gunny, aim for the quickest route to the Seri,” Wash said. “That would be the Beast. We move fast enough, and we’ll catch the UPG napping. Even on the best of days, they move like molasses in summertime.”

  “All right,” Chris said, sounding reluctant, “the APC it is. I just feel like I am missing something.”

  “Safe house? Second ship? What are you talking about? Would someone care to tell me what the hell is going on?” Lee demanded, his voice rising in alarm.

  “Soon enough,” Chris said and then glanced over at his armor, the back of which stood open and waiting for him to climb inside. “Lee and Keira, there’s no time for questions. Get your gumby suits on. I’ll explain after I’ve suited up. Wash, Vex, cover the door. Anyone comes in, you take them down.”

  “On it, Gunny,” Wash said and pulled his rifle from his back. Vex did the same.

  Lee stood there, mouth open wide enough to catch flies. “I don’t understand what’s going on.”

  “Everything we know is about to fall apart,” Keira said. “Hakagi Tower, along with others around the planet, have declared independence. Some of the militia has gone rogue too. Sandy just told me.” She pointed at the marines. “They have a safe house set up nearby, a place for us to hole up and weather out the storm. We need to get there before it all goes sideways. Got that?”

  He just stared at her, blinking, swallowed, then gave a nod. Keira had already left him, heading for her suit, which she had laid out neatly on the floor. He followed after her.

  As she stepped up to her hazard suit, a sense of unease and fear gripped her chest tightly. The oppressive feeling returned, this time with a vengeance. It came on so suddenly and powerfully, she froze, caught in its grip.

  “Keira,” Chris barked at her harshly as he stepped into his armored suit. “Get dressed.”

  That snapped her out of the paralysis. With effort, she shook the feeling off and forced it away. Keira crouched down and reached for her hazard suit. Her rifle lay next to the suit on the floor. She had a sudden premonition that she would soon need it, and that was not a good feeling.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Keira secured her helmet in place, twisting it into position. The helmet clicked solidly and, with a soft hissing, self-sealed to the rest of the suit. As the internal life support kicked on, it automatically pressurized. Her ears popped.

  The suit smelled stale, of body odor and sweat. It wasn’t pleasant, but she’d known worse. Cleaning it had been on her list of things to do today. The indicator lights on the monitor on her right forearm showed green. The gumby suit had sealed properly and everything was reading as nominal.

  “Don’t worry about running a full diagnostic,” Chris told her. He was in his armor again, rifle magnetically secured to his back. He pointed with an armored finger. “Grab your pack. Make certain you have two days’ rations, water included … and spare ammunition for your rifle. Got that?”

  “I do,” Keira affirmed as confidently as she could, though she was feeling anything but.

  Chris handed her the R35.

  “Don’t go anywhere without it. That rifle is now your best friend. It stays with you at all times.”

  Keira gave an unsteady nod as he turned away toward his own backpack. She glanced down at the rifle in her hands. The weapon already had a magazine loaded. A quick check revealed the safety was on and a round had yet to be chambered. She slung the rifle over her shoulder and moved to her pack. As she started to open it, Keira was surprised to find her hands were shaking, trembling violently.

  “Get control of yourself,” Keira whispered to herself. She balled her fists to stop the trembling, then closed her eyes. It did not seem to help, so she took a deep breath and let it out slowly as she willed herself to calm down. A second breath was needed. “Control. Get control.”

  Feeling slightly better, Keira opened her eyes. Her hands had stopped shaking, but she could still feel the nervousness coursing through her system. She finished opening the pack.

  There were two days of emergency rations, along with three full water jugs already in the backpack, each holding a liter of water. She counted six magazines for the rifle, a change of clothes, and a first aid kit. Keira put her tablet inside, then stood and brought the pack over to a transport crate marked R35 ammunition. She had used the crate as a nightstand next to her inflatable sleeping pallet.

  “I have six magazines,” Keira said to Chris. “How many more do I need?”

  He considered the question. He had been loading his own backpack, which was much larger than hers and heavily reinforced. He was adding jugs of water and rations. His pack had been specifically made for his powered armor.

  “Take six more. You don’t want to overpack. We might have to hump some distance before we can get to safety. I’ll bring extra ammunition for you and Lee.”

  Out of the crate she pulled the additional magazines and, as instructed, placed them inside her pack, then closed the top and secured it. Each magazine held thirty-two six-millimeter bolt rounds, all of which were armor-piercing. Testing the pack’s weight, she hefted the bag and found it much heavier than before.

  Chris moved over to her, squatted down, and started pulling magazines out of the ammunition crate. He set them on the floor in neat stacks, then paused in his work and looked up at her.

  “When the shooting starts, keep your wits about you. Don’t panic. Remember your training.”

  “My training?” Keira wondered what he was talking about. She had not been trained for this kind of thing. And she was damned sure not ready for it either.

  “Yes, your training,” Chris said with force, “all those times we went shooting at the range, the active shooter drills, movement while firing at stationary targets, multi-target engagement exercises, rifle transition to pistol, covering fire … did you think that was all for fun?”

  Keira didn’t reply. It had been fun, a diversion from reality.

  “You were being trained for this. Keira, you’re a fine shot. When it comes time, don’t hesitate. Aim and hit what you shoot at.”

  Keira just stared at him. She had never thought this moment might come. It had never seemed real … until now.

  “You have three main weapons.” He pointed at the gravity knife secured in its sheath on her chest, then shifted his finger to the pistol at her hip, before gesturing toward the rifle on her shoulder. “Use whatever you have at hand to win, including your head.” He tapped her helmet with a finger. “That is your most important weapon. And what does winning mean?”

  “Life,” Keira said. “It means life.”

  “Good.” Chris rested a comforting hand on her shoulder. “You can do this. Trust me on that.”

  Swallowing, Keira gave an unsteady nod. Apparently satisfied with what he saw in her, Chris returned his attention to the magazines he had pulled out of the crate. He began putting them into his backpack.

  Sucking in a nervous breath, Keira looked about. Lee had finally gotten his suit on. He looked like he didn’t know what to do next. Keira glanced at Chris. She did not want to let him down, would not, could not even conceive of doing so. She owed him too much. Steeling herself for what was coming, and resolving to meet the challenge ahead, Keira grabbed
six magazines out of the crate and carried them over to Lee.

  “This is crazy,” Lee said as he took the rifle magazines and tucked them into his backpack, which was at his feet. His rifle was leaning against the wall next to him. “I don’t believe this is happening.”

  Chris had filled Lee in while they dressed. The explanation had been delivered in a brusque, rapid-fire manner. He had been told about the safe house too.

  “A safe house?” Lee asked. He sounded borderline panic-stricken, as if he were on the verge of a breakdown. Keira could well sympathize. It all seemed so unreal. “Two militia companies want our stuff, not to mention to sell us for our skills,” Lee continued. “The entire tower revolting against UPG rule. It’s hard to believe this madness.”

  “I wish to god it wasn’t happening.” Keira turned her attention to his backpack. “Do you have rations and water in there?”

  “Yes,” Lee said.

  She looked toward the mules. “We need to get everything packed up and loaded.”

  “Do we even have time for that?” Lee asked, looking away toward the two mechs, then glanced over at Chris, who was striding by them, moving deeper into the control room. “Chris seems like he wants to go now.”

  Keira noticed his hands were trembling, like hers had been. She reached out, grabbed his left hand, and squeezed. The contact clearly surprised him, for he gave a start, a near jump. Keira felt the need to reassure him as to what was coming.

  “I should have told her,” Lee said before she could speak.

  “Told who, what?”

  “Sandy,” Lee said. “I love her.”

  “We’re going to get through this,” Keira said. “We have three combat-hardened marines who will see that we do.”

  Lee took a deep breath and let it out, steadying himself. “Yeah, I’m sure you’re right.”

  Keira let go of his hand. She reached over and grabbed his rifle and handed it to him. They both needed something to do. Working would help with the nerves. “I don’t want to leave anything behind. Our equipment is too valuable, and after everything settles down, we’ll need it, especially the printers. Understand?”

  There was a ripping sound behind them. They turned. Chris had moved and was standing with Vex by the access shaft. Using the brute force of their powered armor, the two of them had pulled the hatch away, ripping it free from the floor. Both were studying the exposed shaft.

  “Start loading,” Keira said. “I’ll find out what they’re thinking.”

  “Okay,” Lee said.

  Hefting her pack, she shrugged it onto one shoulder and started over to them. The pack was heavy, but not unbearably so. Usually, the mules carried it for her. This time, that would not be an option, especially if there was fighting. She would be expected to carry it. There was no doubt about that, for Chris had made her practice shooting the R35 on the move with an overloaded pack.

  Chris glanced over at her as she approached. “If the schematics Pikreet shared with me are correct, there should be a service hatch four levels down, maybe fifty meters at most.”

  “There’s a standard access hatch,” Keira confirmed as she set her pack down at her feet. “I saw it while I was working with the mech.”

  “The monkey?” Chris asked.

  “Yeah,” Keira said. “The hatch shouldn’t be too difficult to open. The mech would be able to do it. I’m guessing that’s how you intend us to get out.”

  “I told you there were other ways out of this room. That’s one of them.”

  “I see.” Keira wondered what other ways there were, for she couldn’t see any.

  “We’re thinking we use the mules,” Chris added. “According to Vex, the level with the access hatch is not occupied—at least it wasn’t when they passed through. Once down, we hurry back to the Beast before Pikreet and the other company of militia from Hakagi gets wise to what we’ve done.”

  “We’re hoping to avoid trouble,” Vex added.

  “Until we get back to the Beast,” Keira pointed out. “Pikreet left the other half of his company there to guard the transport.”

  “About that,” Chris said. “Once he found the Hakagi militia had showed up, he moved that platoon up. He has them waiting a short distance away. Only two militia were left behind to guard the transport.”

  “And the patrols you demanded he run?” Keira asked. “What of them?”

  “He stopped those too,” Chris said. “Though to be fair, he never got very serious about them.”

  “I guess that makes things a little easier.” Keira glanced back at the mules. Lee was busy with the control unit, activating the mechs. She turned back to Chris. Perhaps they might be able to slip away after all. “With all five of us using the mules to go down the shaft, there won’t be much room for the equipment.”

  “We’re leaving it behind,” Chris said, “all of it.”

  For a moment she was unable to speak. That did not last. “We can’t do that.”

  “We are,” Chris said. “The equipment and supplies stay.”

  “Why?” Keira felt her anger stir. It pushed the nervousness back and away.

  “Keira,” Vex said, “we’re hoping that when Pikreet finds we’ve gone, he and his people will be distracted by everything we’ve left. If we get lucky, the two militia companies will fight over it and keep themselves busy.”

  The explanation made sense. However, to give up everything that they had seemed wrong. She didn’t want to leave any of it.

  “Keira, we don’t have time to argue,” Chris said. “Getting out of here is our main focus. The Hakagi militia are getting ready to make their move. Vex is tapped into their comms. They are moving into position now. It seems Pikreet’s not going to make the first move after all.”

  “We need to be gone before that happens,” Vex said, “which means we go now.”

  Keira glanced back toward the mules and the equipment still in the transit crates stacked next to the mechs. Lee had finished activating the mules and had started loading crates. She wanted to argue but found she couldn’t. Clear as day, Chris and Vex were right. It all had to be left behind, and it might just save their lives, too.

  “Why is this happening?” Keira asked, turning back to him. “All this for our equipment? Why does it have to be this way?”

  “It doesn’t.” Chris gave her a strained look. When he spoke next, his voice was hoarse. “They want you too, butterfly. And we’re not going to let them get you.”

  “I wish Scaro was here,” Vex said, “along with a platoon of the old company. There’d be no question on the outcome, at least against the militia we’re facing. We’d teach them a lesson they’d not soon forget.”

  “They’re not here. We’re going to have to get out of this mess on our own. Any help, at this point, is a ways off.” Chris turned back to Keira and his tone became hard, command-like. “Get Lee and the mules over here. Forget the equipment.”

  “What about your ‘surprise’?” Keira asked. “Are we leaving it too? Perhaps now would be a good time to use it, whatever is in there.”

  Chris’s gaze briefly flicked to the crate, then returned to her. He did not immediately reply but seemed to be considering her, as if weighing some internal decision, which he came to quickly. “It comes with us. I will get him in a minute. Now get going. As I said, we don’t have much time.”

  Reluctantly, Keira turned to go. To say that she didn’t want to leave the equipment, especially her tools, was an understatement. Just the thought of doing so was almost a physical pain. They hadn’t even had time to complete the repair. How many people would suffer? How many would die for lack of fresh water? It didn’t feel right to leave before finishing the job, to abandon them. But there was no choice. It was either that or …

  She took a step toward Lee and suddenly the oppressive feeling was back, more powerful than before. It rose up from whatever was below Hakagi and then like a mountain of weight, it crashed down upon her. It crushed her mind to the point where she could n
ot think or draw a breath.

  The pressure increased, and as if to stop the pain in her head, she grabbed at her helmet. The presence was there too, stronger, aware, and focused solely upon her. She could taste its alienness, could feel it, as it tried to force its way into her mind.

  A sense of dread washed over her. Something bad was about to happen. She could feel it, sense it, taste it, as if the terrible thing had already come to pass. Keira cried out in agony and stumbled to a knee as the pressure on her mind increased.

  “Keira,” Chris said, kneeling by her side, “what’s wrong?”

  The pain intensified again. It was growing stronger by the second. The dim light in the control room seemed suddenly bright, painful, agonizing.

  Squeezing her eyes shut against the brightness, Keira saw flashes in her mind, of explosions, smoke, fire … soldiers, militia, as they attacked and battled each other throughout the level, as they stormed into the control room.

  She saw Lee’s broken and bleeding body lying upon the floor and gave a moan of agonized grief. Wash, Vex, and Chris were there too, weapons blazing amongst smoke, ruin, and fire. It was so real, so very vivid. She was being shown something that was about to happen. Keira was sure of it.

  The pain in her head became a tremendous torment. Her heart, pounding away, felt like it would burst in her chest. She was almost paralyzed. With a tremendous effort, she used all her willpower and managed to suck in a breath, as if it were her last.

  “Her heartbeat’s elevated,” Vex said. “Biometrics are off the charts, as are cognitive functions.” There was a pause. “Gunny, we’ve seen this before.”

  “I know,” Chris said, in a gruff whisper that was almost pained. “I know.”

  As if in a tunnel, their voices sounded distant. Keira wanted the pain, the torment to end, but it wouldn’t. It went on and on. She was losing herself. Her sanity was slipping, her mind about to lose its grasp on rationality. Somehow, she knew that when that happened, she would be lost to madness. There would be no going back.

  “Keira.” Chris grabbed her by the shoulder and shook her. “Keira, can you hear me?”