They hit the first combat assets shortly after. The Kadan troopers fired back, but the reserve lines weren't ready. The heavy weapons emplacements were all pointed toward the Vasilov line. The order went out to only shoot the main cannon at the heavy weapons, otherwise there was too much to shoot.
Nikov called out target after target and sent a single round into each emplacement. Other tanks followed and finished anything off. They were almost to the Vasilov lines. At this point the distance between the trenches was less than fifty meters. Fifty meters of hardcore violence, nonstop gunfire, and trench mortars. A perfect plane for the Sigg armor to roll.
Tomi spun the tank in the midst of the no man’s land. The main cannon thundered above while both of the autocannon turrets sheared fire against the Kadan line. Bodacious crawled down the Kadan line with one track drooped down into the trench. Kadan troopers leaped out to escape the armor only to be cut down by the Vasilov troops.
Badger flipped over sideways. The rear hatch exploded and red flames darted out. The main cannon flew off and spun through the air before sticking straight up into the mud.
"AT!" Nikov yelled.
The main cannon swung to the side and peppered out a half dozen shells. A round glanced off the side armor. A dull pung rang through the inside of the tank.
"I don't see!" Nikov said.
Baptism fired off a triple set of airburst rounds. They exploded just above the AT gun and the stored ammo detonated.
The tanks thundered ahead with Bulldog in the lead. The rest of the armor drove right through the midst of the Kadan line. Explosions rocketed out nearby and the first units of Delta company closed in.
All around was the picture of horror. Explosions rang out everywhere. Armor shot down anything that moved on the left side of the Vasilov line. Kadan fled, they fled and fell.
Tomi had never seen anything like it. Not on the movies, not anywhere. He couldn't even imagine the horror. He couldn't imagine what it would be like on the ground. Impossible to take. Impossible. His one goal was to drive, drive to the sea, drive the noose tight, drive the Kadan into the sea.
Blowtorch ran up one edge and spun to the side. Her track flew off and the tank drove ahead for a dozen meters before halting.
Tomi saw it, his foot hovered on the brake.
"Don't stop!" Nikov yelled.
Tomi slapped down on the throttle and left the tank behind.
"Everyone turn off your anti-artillery, now!" Lieutenant Torori called.
Tomi hesitated on the switch and then flipped it. Almost the moment he disengaged it the artillery fell.
Cloudbursts of anti-infantry shells rang out into the darkness. Splinters of white hot steel shot into the failing Kadan lines. All through the Kadan front the aliens fell in droves. Glowing bits of steel smoked in the melting snow. The only Kadan that survived were those who remained in the trenches.
Tomi plowed forward and then the sea was before him. He spun the tank. It slid in the sand and came to rest against a chunk of sea ice foundering in the shallows. Water lapped at the side of Bulldog.
The main cannon fired until thermal alarms sounded. One of the autocannons jammed and no matter what they did they couldn't get it to engage. The other rattled off rounds until they saved what was left for an emergency.
The Vasilov line emerged from the trenches and charged into what was left of the Kadan. They fought as those who had nearly fallen and sought revenge for weeks of terrible conflict. Fires raged, weapons roared out, and finally the sun rose.
The sea was flecked with pack ice and dirty smudges of soot. The red light it bathed onto the ground was matched by the blood that stained that terrible isthmus. What still stood was human, and they moved through the battlefield and executed anything that was not.
Tomi walked out of the rear hatch into the light. His legs shook, he steadied himself on the hull. He almost brought out the bottle of the Colonel's whisky but decided against it. He took in the sounds, the smells, the taste of the sea.
He turned and stared at Bulldog and couldn't believe it. The entire hull was pocked by shell marks, fragments of shrapnel stuck out of everything. There was a massive gouge where the AT round had struck, it looked like a blooming rose.
It was too much and he couldn't stop himself from sobbing. He didn't know why he cried, but he did. His emotions flowed out in tears.
Sergeant Nikov stepped out, lit a cigarette, and threw an arm around Tomi. "You did well. We all did well."
Reach was free.
#
Chapter Forty-Four
Lishun Delta - Reach
The wind gusted off the sea and whipped the slushy snowflakes against everything. The sun poked through the low slung clouds and for a few brief moments it was warm. Then, just as quickly, it disappeared and the damp chill returned.
Colonel Clarke stood on the top of the trench line and stared out into the battlefield. His eyes picked out each and every destroyed piece of Vasilov armor. They'd done well, better than he ever expected, though he couldn't expect much more.
Commander Arap limped down the trench. He grinned past two missing front teeth.
"You made it," Colonel Clarke said.
"So did you, help me up, eh Cole?"
Colonel Clarke helped Arap up from the trench bottom and the two stared out. A recovery vehicle rumbled past with Comanche in tow. The tank was missing both tracks, the entire vehicle was a scarred mess.
"Heard the butcher's bill?" Arap said.
"What's the final total? How many did we lose?" He struggled to say the words.
"Alpha is down three units, Bravo down two, Charlie down three, Delta down four, Echo down two, and Fox lost three. Maintenance is trying to bring a few back to life. one hundred twenty-seven dead, eighteen wounded."
The two men stood in silence. Vehicles rumbled past and the snow fell in sheets.
"We did well."
"We did fucking awesome," Arap said.
Colonel Clarke glanced at the slate on his wrist. "I've got to meet with General Radowitz. Have them continue recovering vehicles and," he paused, "continue burying the dead."
"Yes sir," Arap said.
Colonel Clarke moved through the trenches with Major Bresov close behind. The defenders of Reach grinned and cheered as they walked through. The survivors were wore thin, emaciated, half starved, but they were elated to be saved. He tried to fake a smile but his heart wasn't in it. Victory was his, but he felt a great sense of loss.
The command bunker was filled with Officers. It was cold like an old basement. General Radowitz stood at the back when Colonel Clarke entered. The old General was worn thin, his face gaunt, with white stubble growing from his cheeks.
"Attention!" General Radowitz said.
The room snapped to attention. Officers struggled to stand on wounded legs. The shabby soldiers did their best to look professional. They were wounded, haggard, raw, emaciated, but still, they stood on their own.
"Salute!"
The entire room snapped up a salute and held it.
Colonel Clarke returned the salute quickly.
"At ease!" General Radowitz said.
The room settled but all eyes were on Colonel Clarke.
"We owe you a feast, Colonel," General Radowitz said. "But our rations are a bit thin. The last time the gate opened the supplies were dumped in the sea. Though that won't be an issue anymore."
Colonel Clarke walked through the bunker and stood before General Radowitz. The two men shook hands. The General's hands were cold, like the claw on a bird of prey.
"Thank you, Count-General Radowitz," Colonel Clarke said.
"Just General, I earned the Count bit as a stupid young man. Lucky maybe, but definitely stupid."
Colonel Clarke heard the stories, it was definitely not stupidity, but bravery. "Thank you, sir."
"It was damned good luck one of your units knocked out whatever was jamming our comms."
"That was our lead element up on the North flank. T
hey didn't know what it was other than not one of ours."
"Well, fortune favors the bold."
"Indeed, sir."
"I spoke with LISCOM, you're to be attached here until we get the gate online."
Colonel Clarke frowned. He didn't like sitting still, not like this, not on an island with a couple of spits of sand connecting it to the mainland. He could do more good at Mackinof.
"Colonel, the Kadan are nearly beat here, but just in case they come back we'll need your help." General Radowitz almost pleaded his words. "We can't stand another siege."
"I understand, sir." Colonel Clarke knew better than to argue the orders. "My men can use the rest, they've earned it."
"LISCOM says we can expect a gate this afternoon. Could you assist with supply retrieval?"
"Of course sir, provided they don't toss them in the ocean."
General Radowitz smiled back and nodded toward the exit. The two men walked out and stood on top of the cratered shell of the bunker. The two surveyed the defenses of Reach and stared out toward the mountains. "High tide in a few weeks, most of the Kadan line is going to get washed away. An amazing thing, this war. So quiet for so long, and then this."
"Yes sir," Colonel Clarke said. He counted the burned out tanks once again.
"At least that damned orbital is gone. Did you ever hear what silenced it?"
"No sir. Nothing but speculation."
General Radowitz rubbed his chin. "Can you send some armor up to that rail line and get a good line of sight. Those cannons should have some good range, eh?"
"If we can see it, we can kill it."
"Good god, it must've been a brawl down there."
Colonel Clarke stared down at the battlefield. It was so close, but under the new snow looked clean. "We got lucky, sir, that shrapnel barrage sealed their fate."
"A good thing, it was the last of our artillery."
Major Bresov scrambled up the rise. Two Vasilov Officers followed close behind. She saluted and spoke quickly. "Colonel! We've got a Sigg comms request."
"Sigg? Where?"
Major Bresov cracked a smile. "It's Captain Matsuo, sir, he's in orbit."
#
Chapter Forty-Five
Lishun Delta - Reach
"Clarke?" Umi said.
The speaker crackled and popped, interference hissed in and out. "Umi, what the hell are you doing here?"
"We don't have much time, is your unit combat ready?"
Silence.
"Umi? What's this about? I can't discuss operational details on this channel."
"Clarke," Lady Atli said into the microphone. "This is Lady Atli. Where are you right now?"
"Ma'am, this comms channel isn't—"
"Shut up. Where are you?"
"Reach, ma'am," Colonel Clarke said.
"Radowitz still alive?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"Is the area secure?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"Tell Radowitz to get off his old ass and clear me enough room to land a Lokeen cutter. You got that, Clarke?"
"Yes, ma'am, right away, ma'am."
Lady Atli waved at the microphone. "Shut that thing off, and get ready to leave."
Sevel cut the comms channel. "There is much debris in orbit, it will be a rough ride down."
"Orbital minefield?" Umi asked.
"No, it looks to be the remnants of a station."
Lady Atli cleared her throat. "We hired someone to knock out the Kadan orbital platform. I'm surprised he's not here."
"Who?" Sevel asked. He glanced at his sensor array and said something in the Lokeen language to the other crew on the bridge.
"Vek Esh Shell," Lady Atli said.
Sevel gawked at her. "You hired those, those barbarians?"
"We approached the Lokeen, they weren't open to offers for military interdiction," Lady Atli said in a harsh tone. "Now get us on the ground Sevel, we're running out of time."
Umi jogged through the corridors and found his team packing. "Everyone going down?"
"You're still paying a bonus, right?" Riga asked.
"Always."
Riga snapped shut a rifle case and nodded. "Hot landing?"
"They said it's secure."
"Good."
Tollefson sat up with a groan. "I'm coming."
"Of course, you're Lady Atli's personal guard. Can you cover it?" Umi said.
"Da."
"Let's go."
The Sigg team grabbed their gear and helped Tollefson to the cutter. They all knew the stakes. If the Vasilov worlds fell, the Sigg worlds would be next. It wasn't just a matter of money anymore, but of home.
They boarded the cutter and Sevel took them down. Lady Atli sat with an arm on Tollefson. She looked frail, tiny, old. For a few minutes she looked her age, she looked like a scared old woman going into something she couldn't handle. When Sevel said to prepare to land she straightened her back, set her lip, and the trademark scowl returned. The Iron Lady was back.
Umi stepped to the hatch and nodded to Sevel. "Thank you."
Sevel grunted. "Don't do anything stupid."
The hatch slid aside and cold air rushed in that smelled of the sea. Umi dropped down onto the slushy sand. A company of haggard troops stood at attention with a thin General at the front. Colonel Clarke stood by his side. Soldiers rushed up and grabbed the Sigg gear and whisked it away. Lady Atli stepped out and the soldiers snapped to attention.
A soldier ran up and threw a dirty jacket onto her shoulders. She thanked him and followed Umi.
Lady Atli gave a crisp bow to General Radowitz. "General, we don't have time for pleasantries. We need to get LISCOM on the horn and get the armor ready to move."
"Very well, Lady Atli, if you'd accompany me."
Colonel Clarke debriefed Umi while they walked to the bunker.
When they entered the command bunker, everyone stood at attention.
"Sit down, dammit, I'm an old woman, not a war hero."
The communications team struggled to open a feed to LISCOM. After a few minutes the screen flickered and a surprised Lieutenant raced off. Three men looked back. General Holt, General Obstedt, and Duke Krenshaw.
Duke Krenshaw spoke first. "Lady Atli? How did you get here?"
"That's not important now. We have a major situation. In two days, the Kadan are going to gate a massive army onto this planet. We have to assault that gate, destroy it, and hope we can defeat whatever comes through while they're gate sick."
General Holt cracked half a smile. "Ma'am, we've decimated them on two fronts. They're in a defensive position now. What proof do you have?"
Lady Atli beckoned to Umi. "This is Captain Matsuo of the Sigg Army. He'll explain."
Umi cleared his throat. "I was attacked on Sigg Orbital while delivering Colonel Clarkes armor for transport. A woman saved my life, and gave me information which we have just decoded. It's recovered battle plans and movement orders for the Kadan military."
Genera Obstedt spoke next in a careful tone. "Is the source reliable?"
"We believe so," Umi said.
"Who decoded it?" Duke Krenshaw said.
"Ken-Ashi," Lady Atli said.
"He's not to be trusted. He's an alien with suspect motivations." Duke Krenshaw said.
"General," Captain Kolich said. "This information is correct."
"I feel that this information is true," Umi stated.
"Captain, this isn't your fight. These aren't your troops," General Holt said.
"We're in a strong defensive position. Our stargates will be online soon and Mackinof is fully supplied. There have never been more troops here. In fact, we're stronger than ever. Let them come, if they're coming," Duke Krenshaw said.
"You fools," Lady Atli snapped. "This is the massed Kadan armies, this is Cion support, all under the direction of the Emflife. Look at the data, we'll send it now."
"You can send whatever you'd like," Duke Krenshaw said. "This is a defensive position, we will not go on the off
ensive, then everything could be lost."
Lady Atli looked at General Holt and Obstedt. "Do you agree with that?"
"I do," General Holt said.
General Obstedt leaned back and licked his lips. "We don't have the forces to go on the offensive."
Colonel Clarke said, "I trust this information, sir. My unit can—"
"You have your orders," Duke Krenshaw said.
"This, gentlemen, is your doom," Umi said. "If you take that gate, the enemy will come through disoriented and sickened. You'll slaughter them. You've won two victories, the Kadan forces on this planet are as weak as ever. Strike now!"
"I've heard enough. We're not abandoning our positions on a whim from an alien source. There's no proof beyond the word of a foreign soldier and an old woman. Cut this feed," Duke Krenshaw said. He stood and walked away.
"Stefan Vasilov founded a nation of heroes, not of cowards," Lady Atli said.
General Obstedt glanced at Colonel Clarke, then the feed died.
Lady Atli stood alone in a dirty jacket and glared at the blank screen. The wrinkles in her face stood out as a single tear struggled down her face.
"Please, come with me," General Radowitz said. The pair walked to the rear of the bunker. Lady Atli sat and said nothing. Captain Kolich followed after and stayed with Lady Atli.
"Cole?" Umi said.
Colonel Clarke looked away from the screen. "Do you trust it? Is that information correct?"
"Yes."
"With your entire soul?"
"I'd stake my life on it. Someone gave their life to get this here."
Colonel Clarke locked eyes with Umi. "I'll need your help."
"You've always had it."
A comms Sergeant stood and handed a data slate to Colonel Clarke. "Message, sir, it's secure to your code."
Colonel Clarke tapped at it. He looked up at Umi and handed him the slate.
Umi snatched it up and read it.
Secure the gate and I will support you. Gen. O
"Get your men ready," Colonel Clarke said. "I need to ask mine." Then he left the command bunker.
Umi stood alone in the cold but didn't mind it. He had a purpose once more and it finally felt right.
#
Chapter Forty-Six
Steel Breach Page 26