Warzone: Nemesis: A Novel of Mars

by Morris Graham

  “No can do, Yuri. It is on our side of the line.”

  “I have tried to be reasonable. Prepare to die.” With that, the Soviet cut off all communications and drew his men into attack formation. With a squad of five tanks, the squad leader has the lead with his wingman close while the other three back his play.

  The Soviet leader knew which tank was mine and he led the attack against me, with his wingman close on his starboard wing. My other three tanks met the remaining enemies and a violent clash ensued. My usual wingman was on leave, and today CPT Two Horses had my six. We kicked up so much fine dust in the air with our engine jets that we were forced to fire at heat signatures. My master panel, which kept track of the GPS signals from my ships, showed we’d lost one of ours already. The air was thick with fine dust, smoke and fire. I was firing at the heat signature of COL Tkachenko’s tank and estimated that I was doing some damage. His heat signature was changing, indicating his tank was on fire. My ship shook violently when I took a direct hit. Now my engine was smoldering.

  “Sorry Colonel, I’m done,” reported CPT Two Horses. I felt the shockwave from his tank exploding, and I prayed he was able to survive to eject. I took another direct hit.

  “Engine critical, twenty seconds to destruct,” reported my computer’s familiar female voice. Smoke was filling the cockpit, beginning to make my control panel gauges unreadable. I turned on my rear ventilator, vented the smoke out and concentrated on the business at hand. COL Tkachenko’s wingman had lost his tank the same time mine had, and the heat and radar signatures on my control panel revealed only four other tanks left. I made one last attempt to bring him down before my engine blew and fired twice with both cannons and ejected. Both our tanks blew at the same time.

  The fine dust and smoke suspended in the air obscured my view as I drifted back to the ground. A brilliant flash and a loud roar signaled another tank had blown. My visibility was poor. I no longer had my ship’s console to aid me in keeping track of where my pilots and their ships were.

  I slung my sniper rifle over my shoulder and walked south a little to see if I could find some cover and get a better look. Another two explosions signaled what I estimated was close to the last two tanks if I counted right.

  We were in trouble. All of the pilots were outside of their ships and on the ground and a large dust devil was heading our way. I tried to radio my post on my personal communication device in my suit but got a lot of static interference. This was no small dust devil. I estimated it was one kilometer wide across the base and at least eight kilometers tall. The top six or seven kilometers of the devil consisted of a blue cloud of ice crystals. Dust devils were truly the God of War’s version of wrath. There was no predicting them, just deal with them when they occur. I didn’t know which was more dangerous, COL Tkachenko armed with a sniper rifle, or a dust devil coming at us with full force.

  From across the battlefield, I saw the slumped figure of CPT Two Horses being picked up by the dust devil. His body was assaulted by a vortex of dark basaltic sand particles, mixed with ice crystals. The high-speed material was pinging my officer’s body, arcing his form with filamentary static discharges. The dust devil pulsated with a light show within as the static charges hit my pilot over and over while carrying his body along its path down the Martian landscape.

  The Eisenhower Plain was mostly flat and had few rocks, but it did have a few. Bumping into a small boulder about the height of a man, my leg protested. I let out a salty epithet that sailors keep in reserve for such events. A quick examination of my suit revealed no tears or rips. It would make for a nasty bruise, but that was not my immediate concern.

  After the dust devil moved away from our position, the wind had calmed, revealing no tanks left on the battlefield. I started using my sniper scope to look for enemy snipers, and I saw a Soviet sniper doing the same. His scope was moving toward line-of-sight with me, and I focused my aim on his heart. I fired at the same time that he did. The wind kicked up again and I assumed that it threw both our shots off. I felt a sharp pain in my back. The bullet had missed me cleanly from the front, but then ricocheted off the rock behind me. I’d fallen forward and was laying belly down, unable to move or even feel my legs. My suit would start decompressing in seconds. I felt around back and found the hole and pulled out a #4 hot patch and stopped the leak. I wondered if my patch job was a futile attempt; Tkachenko might still finish me off with a second shot. I pulled my spotting scope out of my suit pocket and looked for him. Incredible! He was on his back and not moving, either. I’d hit him after all! The dust storm started again. The storm was getting more violent, this time as violent as a Mongol horde in battle array. This was not a good day to fight out here. I accessed my remote comm. link through the static and raised my executive officer.

  “LTC Killer Instinct, status of reinforcements!”

  “Sir, with the dust devil in your vicinity and the storm starting again, the reinforcements on both sides won’t be able to do much in this weather.”

  “Call the Soviet XO. Advise that his commander has been shot and we request a truce to recover our dead and wounded. Also advise that we will revisit the issue of possession of this object when the storm breaks. And Colonel?”

  “Sir?”

  “Please send a team to retrieve us. I need medical attention. I’ve been shot.”

  The cost of the skirmish was high. We recovered the bullets from my men’s bodies, confirming that COL Tkachenko killed them all before shooting me. The ballistics of the three men killed matched a bullet we retrieved from a pilot confirmed killed by COL Tkachenko in a previous engagement.

  We couldn’t immediately recover CPT Two Horse’s body. The dust devil had lifted and moved his body fifty kilometers west before its static energy was discharged and it dissipated. We were unable to recover his body until after the storm was over, two weeks later. The dust devil sand and ice blasted off his space suit, and peeled the skin off of his body. The only part of his spacesuit left was his helmet and boots. The nights near the equator were very cold, but the summer sols lately had been a balmy 60 °F. I could only assume that his body was freeze-dried at night, and then thawed out during the day. In the soft vacuum and low humidity, his corpse had become mummified by the time we retrieved his body. It was a gruesome sight, and we didn’t let his son CPL Gray Eagle view the body. Of the squadron that I left with, only 1LT Gladiator and I survived.

  MAJ Sawbones couldn’t remove the bullet from my back without possibly killing or permanently paralyzing me. The swelling began to subside and little by little I recovered feeling in my feet and legs. The physical therapist here was as good as any back on Earth so I would do my rehab here. It took a month before I could walk with a walker, another to walk with a cane and was allowed to return to desk duty.

  After the dust storm season was over, the object of the dispute was further uncovered. It was a piece of an old tank, nothing more. We let the Soviets inspect it, but COL Tkachenko was not present. I was still unsure of COL Tkachenko’s fate until he contacted me. He looked as fit as ever. He played me a game of chess online as if nothing had ever happened; beating me two games to one. I had time during physical therapy and my restriction to desk duty to begin to process nearly dying or being confined to a wheelchair for life. I’d never retreated from a challenge before, but was beginning to wonder if it was time to pass the torch to my first officer.

  GLOSSARY OF TERMS

  NAVAJO TERMS

  bilagaana- Navajo word for white man.

  Chindi- In Navajo religious belief, a chindi is the ghost left behind after a person dies, believed to leave the body with the deceased’s last breath. It is everything that was bad about the person: the residue that man has been unable to bring into universal harmony.

  Dawn boy- The sun bearer, gave gifts to the Great-Chief-of-All-Magic, and received gifts from him for all men.

  Diné- Navajo people.

  Hataalii- Blessing way singer, Navajo medicine man that uses sand p
aintings, chants, stories and songs to cure and restore the patient to harmony with the world.

  Hozho- Navajo concept of harmony with the world.

  Uncle- Uncle, the Navajo term of respect for an older man but not aged, who would be referred to as grandfather.

  Yei Bechei- holy beings in Navajo metaphysics.

  MILITARY AND OTHER TERMS

  1-MC- General loudspeaker which is turned up high enough so that anyone can hear it on the naval base, used to transmit orders, alerts, or general information.

  4P- Mars, fourth planet from the sun.

  APO- Army Post Office.

  ARVN- Army of the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam).

  Bad bear- Phrase or expression used to indicate that a certain situation or object is difficult.

  Bandits- Hostile aircraft.

  Beans, bullets and bandages- Expression for things a logistician must provide his or her unit: rations, ammunition, and medical care.

  BG- Brigadier general, first rank above full colonel.

  Bullet sponge- pejorative term for a marine.

  Cannon cockers- Artillerymen.

  Chicken Plate- Bullet proof vest that the gunners wore, but the pilots often sat on.

  Chief- In this story, this applies to Chief Wolverine, rank CW5, or Chief Warrant Officer, grade five.

  Class A- Dress uniform.

  Cooking off- (or thermally induced firing) refers to ammunition exploding prematurely due to barrel overheating due to excessive firing.

  CPL- Corporal.

  CAPT- Captain, U.S. Navy, equivalent to army rank of colonel.

  CPT- Captain (not Navy), equivalent to navy rank of lieutenant.

  CSM- Command Sergeant Major.

  Dead-Man zone- Height versus velocity curve—proper speed that should be attained before climbing or landing to avoid engine quits. Also at takeoff and decent, a helicopter is at their most vulnerable state. Dead-man zone takes on a whole new meaning with Charlie shooting at you.

  Deep-sixed- Throwing something overboard into the water, usually at sea, but this time in the Cua Long River.

  Derobements- in fencing, an avoidance of the opponent’s attempt to take the blade or beat, performed with a straight sword arm.

  DEROS- Date of Estimated Return from OverSeas.

  Det- Detachment, group of troops or ships - in this story, sniper detachment or Seawolf detachment.

  Disengage thrusts- in fencing, A circular movement of the blade that deceives the opponent’s parry, removes the blades from engagement, or changes the line of engagement.

  Doc- Navy corpsman, medic attached to Navy Seal unit.

  Dojo- Martial arts practice hall.

  DRV- Democratic Republic of Vietnam, communist North Vietnam.

  Fire bottle- Fire extinguisher on a helicopter.

  Fit Rep- Fitness Report.

  FTL- Fire Team Leader, the pilot of the lead bird (helicopter) in a two bird detachment.

  GEN- Four Star General.

  Ghillie suit- Type of camouflage clothing designed to resemble heavy foliage. The suit gives the wearer’s outline a three-dimensional breakup, rather than a linear one.

  Gi- Martial arts practice uniform.

  Gozinaki- A traditional Georgian (East European) walnut-honey candy.

  Green Faces- The name Charlie called the Navy SEALs, because of the camo makeup they wore on ops.

  Gunnel- Nautical term, variant of old English gunwale, the upper edge of the side or bulwark of a vessel. The handrail about waist high on the deck.

  Gunship/helicopter- Armed helicopter fitted for combat.

  Hard charger- Term of endearment from a superior to a subordinate marine when he or she completes a difficult task, so named for charging through the assignment, or general toughness.

  HE shells- high-explosive shells.

  HOG- Graduate of Marine Scout/Sniper School: stands for Hunter Of Gunmen.

  Huey- Bell UH-1B Iroquois attack helicopter, Bravo designating the B model.

  Intel- Information, intelligence.

  Jayjee- US Navy Lieutenant, Junior Grade.

  Joe- Coffee, so named because United States Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels eliminated beer and wine from naval ships, declaring nothing stronger than coffee would be allowed.

  Kata- In martial arts, a kata is a detailed choreographed pattern of defense and attack movements is practiced either solo or in pairs, for exercise and practicing concentration. Sometimes it is practiced with hand held weapons, such as a knife, staff, sword, nunchuckas, or sai.

  KBA- Killed by aircraft.

  Kuzma’s mother or Kuzka’s mother - is a part of the Russian idiomatic expression, “To show Kuzka’s mother to someone” means to teach someone a lesson, to punish someone in a brutal way.

  LST- Landing Ship, Tank—naval vessels created to support amphibious operations, by carrying significant quantities of vehicles, cargo, and landing troops directly onto an unimproved shore.

  LZ- landing zone.

  Light Colonel- LTC, Lieutenant Colonel.

  LTG- Lieutenant General, three star general.

  LT- Lieutenant.

  Luna- Earth’s moon.

  Mag Cannon- Was outlawed by accord between the Soviets and Americans. A devastating weapon when fully charged, firing purple balls of concentrated magnetic energy. Two fully charged MAG cannon blasts will destroy a ship.

  MAJ- Major.

  Mike boat- LCM-8 River boat and mechanized landing craft used in Vietnam.

  MITS mines- Magnetic tethering snare mines.

  Near beer- Beer containing less than 0.5% alcohol by volume.

  NCOIC- Non commissioned officer in charge.

  NVA- North Vietnamese Army regulars.

  OIC- Officer in charge.

  ONI- Office of Naval Intelligence.

  Parries- In fencing, a block of the attack, made with the forte of one’s own blade.

  Particle Beam Cannon- A particle beam weapon uses an ultra-high energy beam of atoms or electrons (i.e., a particle beam) to damage a material target by hitting it, and thus disrupting its atomic and molecular structure, (Wikipedia reference) which is the standard energy weapon from alien technology used in Soviet and American tanks alike.

  Phantom VIR- Visual Image Refractor, or phantom, makes ship invisible to satellite cameras and to the human eye, but doesn’t remove the radar signature. Uses fuel while in use.

  Pit- On a shooting range, the bull pit or pit is the place downrange where the targets are.

  PVT- Private.

  Rats- military rations, food.

  Redfield Generators- Radar Echo Dampening Field, visible to satellite camera and the human eye but removes the radar signature. Uses fuel while in use.

  Roger wilco- short for Roger/Understood wilco/will comply.

  Ruff Puff- In Vietnam, the local militia, Regional and Popular forces, were called Ruff Puffs which occupied Ruff Puff outposts at the canal crossways, which doubled as fuel and ammo resupply points.

  SEALORD- Minimally armed helicopter transport, also known as a SLC.

  Seawolves- HA(L)-3, Navy Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 3, conceived, deployed and decommissioned entirely during in the Vietnam conflict.

  SGT- Sergeant.

  Shogun- A hereditary military dictator of Japan, the shoguns ruled Japan until the revolution of 1867–68.

  Slicks- See reference SEALORD.

  Soke- One who is the leader of any school or the master of a style, but it is most commonly used as a highest level Japanese title, referring to the singular leader of a school or style of martial art. In this scenario, it refers to Master Karl W. Marx, found of Keichu-Ryu Karate Do Jitsu.

  Song Cua Long- Cua Lan River.

  Stoner- .223/5.62mm (used linked ammo) Stoner designed AR15-M16, (light machine gun) by Eugene Stoner of Fairchild Armalite Corporation.

  Stop hit- in fencing, a counterattack that hits: also a counterattack whose touch is valid by virtue of its timing.

  Squid- Pejorativ
e for sailor, usually used by marines, comparing sailors to a marine animal with no backbone.

  Sub-colonel- literal Russian translation for lieutenant colonel.

  Tactical Operation Center- also know as tac ops, or TOC, the command post for all security, military intelligence and planning on the post.

  Tet- Vietnamese New Year.

  There is no sex in the Soviet Union- The Leningrad-Boston “telemost” (TV Bridge or Space Bridge) was one of the first joint Soviet-American programs filmed live. When an American woman brought up a topic about sex, a Russian lady exclaimed to the whole world about the absence of this phenomenon in the Soviet Union by saying “There is no sex in the Soviet Union.” However, the viewers only caught the first part of her response as she was interrupted by a burst of laughter. In response to the question of whether or not the Soviet media had the same amount of sexual content and violence as did the media in the US, Lyudmila Ivanova responded by saying, “There is no sex in the Soviet Union… but there is love!” This statement was mostly a commentary comparing the Soviet’s view of sexuality to America’s sexual revolution at the time. However, in a broader sense, it also showed the Soviet government’s policy of keeping their people’s public expressions in check, and in control.

  Thrusts- In fencing, an attack made by moving the sword parallel to its length and landing with the point.

  Trail AHAC- Attack Helicopter Aircraft Commander, pilot of the trail helicopter in a two helo detachment.

  VC- Viet Cong, NVA guerillas, designated by first two letters and dubbed Victor Charlie, shortened to simply Charlie.

  War of northern aggression- This is what the South Vietnamese called the VN War.

  XO- Executive officer or first officer, second-in-command.

  Zoom bag- Naval avaiator’s flight suit.

  BOXING TERMS

  Bob and weave- Bobbing moves the head laterally and beneath an incoming punch. As the opponent’s punch arrives, the fighter bends the legs quickly and simultaneously shifts the body either slightly right or left.