Resolve of Steel (Halloran's War Book 2)

by J. R. Geoghan

  “Stop here,” came the order through his comm earpiece. He knew his own comm transmitter was set to ‘off’ so as not to distract from the leadership discussion. Patredes put up a fisted hand to signal Anders behind him.

  “What does that mean?” Anders whispered. But he stopped.

  “Team Three, are you at the waypoint?” He heard the officer up front ask.

  “Team Four, we’re there. How far are you?” said another voice on the channel.

  “We’re half a kilometer from your position.”

  “You’re in a tight section there, Kalrod. You got Anders on your team, right?”

  A moment, then his buddy keyed his comm. “Yes, sir. Anders here.”

  “Kalrod, Anders’ family used to work that section of the mines. Get him up front and lead the way to our position.”

  Kalrod keyed an acknowledgment, then, “Anders and your buddy, come forward.”

  Anders tapped Patredes on the shoulder as he passed, their eyes making contact. They pushed past a dozen men dressed in Tavarran police gray and orange, several of whom patted Anders on his shoulder. The man is well-liked, Patredes thought.

  He found himself recalling the time when he’d been on his first sea patrol, on the old Minnesota. He’d been asked to get a hundred feet of ‘gig line’ from Engineering by his PO. Once he arrived in Engineering, the watch officer had looked startled for a moment before nodding knowingly. He’d sent Patredes forward to the Torpedo Room where the gig line was stored out of season. Once at that location, the Chief Torpedoman had shook his head and directed him back to Maneuvering, since the gig line was actually stowed there on a temporary basis.

  It was only after he noticed crew members sticking their heads out as he passed only to yank them back in, their grins obvious, that Patredes had realized that the joke was on him.

  After confessing his annoyance to his team lead, that officer had smiled broadly with “That’s because they like you. You don’t want to know what they do to the ones they don’t like.”

  Anders had stopped next to Kalrod and Patredes came up to a halt as well.

  “You know where we are, son?” The officer asked.

  “Yes, sir. Can I see the map?”

  Kalrod passed over a tablet as Patredes sighted down the empty corridor in front of them. Even with the overhead lights cut into the tunnel, the place was deceptively dark. The sight illuminated the distant corner where the passage bent out of sight. Between them and the corner, several side passages showed by their black entrances.

  Anders was looking at the chart on the tablet. “Sir, we’re a level too low to get to that spot.”

  Kalrod pointed to a dot on the display. “We’re headed there to link up.”

  “I understand, sir, but that passage is a level above us. This chart is incorrect.”

  Kalrod glanced at Patredes before leaning in to Anders and whispering, “You’re sure about this.”

  “Sir, my family mined this section for ten years.” I spent my childhood running around these passages.”

  Kalrod keyed his mic. “Team Three, we’ve got an issue here. Anders states that we’re a level too low.” He unclicked the comm and looked at Anders. “No way to ascend between here and there?”

  Anders shook his head.

  “We’ll need to backtrack and attempt another go at your location, Team Three.”

  “Acknowledged, Team Four. Keep me in the loop.”

  Another voice came over the channel. “I’m looking at the same charts, Kalrod. Where is the error?”

  Anders pointed again. “Here, sir. This whole section is off.”

  Kalrod tapped his comm. Anders took the hint and keyed his own. “Sir, the whole section is off. The tunnels I’m seeing don’t exist—or at least they didn’t exist on this level when we worked it.”

  Kalrod nodded. “Max, what do you want us to do?”

  Patredes realized that the man on the other end of the conversation was the head of security, the one named Max who had sworn them in as citizens. Patredes wasn’t sure exactly what that meant for him, but he had rolled with it after the Skipper had talked them through the reasoning.

  “You’re the man on the spot, Kalrod. Keep your eyes open and make best speed. Teams One and Two are already linked up at the far edge of level fifty-six.”

  Kalrod exhaled. “We’ll keep the line open, sir.” He pointed down the passage while looking at Anders. “Forward or backtrack?”

  Anders frowned. “I’m pretty sure that if we go forward, we’ll hit a main intersection. It should allow us to move back and around this mis-mapped area.”

  Kalrod motioned him. “Lead on.” He gave Patredes a push to get him following the lead Tavarran.

  The intersection arrived in short order and Anders paused, looking around. “Hmm.”

  Patredes came up and looked around him. “What?”

  “Odd. There're signs of activity here. I don’t remember these two tunnel branches. They’re clearly new.”

  “Sir,” Patredes turned. “Signs of activity.”

  “Weapons at the ready!” Hissed Kalrod through his comm.

  “What is it, Kalrod?” Called Max.

  “Not sure, sir.” The officer pushed past Patredes.

  The sounds of men yelling and weapons discharging filled everyone’s ears—but it wasn’t from in front of them. It was coming over the comms.

  Max came back on. “Team Three, report!”

  The live-mic cacophony of chaos continued unabated without reply from the other leader.

  Kalrod grasped Anders by the sleeve. “Can you get us there now?”

  Anders looked first at Patredes, who could sense his indecision, then at their leader. “I—I think so, sir.” He pointed. “This tunnel wasn’t there before. I think whoever is down here cut it. The only direction it could go is toward your other section.”

  Patredes said, “But the enemy could be waiting in there.”

  “It doesn’t matter,” answered Kalrod. “We go in. Our guys are getting cut up on the other side!” He called the rest of their team to the run and barged into the tunnel. His weapon light bounced and illuminated the passageway walls in an eerie fashion.

  Anders was right on his heels, with Patredes and the rest coming up behind. The tunnel bent hard right and then sloped up; the walls dripping with gleaming ice formations that reflected the gun lights in crazy ways as the group passed. Kalrod had slowed and let them catch up, waving Anders and Patredes two abreast into the lead. Fear filled the back of the Earther’s mind, crowding out his senses and fighting for control. Focusing on the tip of his barrel in front of him, he frowned and lifted the sight before one eye without losing step. The tunnel turned left about thirty meters ahead.

  As Anders paused and stuck his head around the corner—wisely, it turned out—a plasma bolt burst against the outer rim of the tunnel. Patredes had a sudden memory of that moonbase near—was it Pluto they’d said?—and the plasma bolts cutting metal and flesh apart. It was like a waking nightmare.

  Anders poked around the corner and let loose a blast of his own. Kalrod came up along with another Tavarran, pushing his way forward.

  Wilson was there, hunching close to Patredes. “What’s up?”

  The presence of another Navy man calmed Patredes somewhat. “That wasn’t our shot. Someone’s up there.”

  “What team is getting hit on the comm?”

  “Team Three, sir.”

  Wilson cursed. “That’s Whitney and Parker’s unit.”

  Several Tavarrans had bunched up at the corner, and Kalrod led them into the passage beyond, weapons firing bolt after bolt in a blinding display. Return fire from up ahead caught a man in the chest and threw him back against the tunnel wall.

  Wilson grabbed Patredes’ shoulder. “They stick together. Let’s catch up to our buddies!”

  They ran up the passage after the Tavarrans, leaping over another body—not Anders, Patredes noticed thankfully. Beyond that the tunnel turned
again, and they both saw the devastation wrought from the concentration of plasma fire against the tunnel wall from the advancing Tavarran men.

  The passage opened up and a stray bolt hit the overhead near them, shooting deadly shards of rock in every direction. Patredes felt the sting and warmth of a small sliver embedding itself in his cheek as he careened by the spot. Wilson was ahead of him by several steps when an arm reached out and shoved him to one side with great force.

  Patredes saw the bolt coming directly at him, through the spot in the air where Wilson had been only milliseconds before. The light filled his vision as he tried to dive under it. Then everything went black.

  He came to, flat on his back and looking up at Kalrod standing over him. The officer was hollering into his comm in a one-sided conversation as plasma bolts tore into the tunnel walls around him. “No, we’re pinned down!”

  Another retina-searing bolt. “I think we’re doing that,” Kalrod answered the unheard question. He ducked as a bolt got too close. “Sorry sir, can’t get a clear look.”

  The face of Anders swam into view. “Buddy, are you unhurt?”

  Patredes grimaced. “I—don’t know.”

  Kalrod leaned over them. “He’s fine. Took a plasma bolt past his head, damn near parted his hair!” The man grinned in a disconcerting way.

  Anders helped Patredes up. “They’ve got a good defensive spot up ahead! Can’t break through to the other team!”

  “Are we close?” Patredes noticed the blood trickling down Anders’ face in front of an ear.

  Anders nodded, flinching as a bolt hit directly across from their spot huddled against the tunnel wall. Someone cried out nearby.

  Kalrod yelled, “See to that man!”

  Patredes saw Wilson prone on the ground, firing carefully aimed bursts at the invisible enemy blockade. He recognized that he wasn’t doing much to contribute to the attack; in fact, he’d been mostly inept at combat so far.

  And he realized that he was scared; more scared than he had ever felt before. Time slowed down. The plasma bolts slicing into the rock seemed muted in sound. Kalrod was calling something out but Patredes had difficulty focusing on the words. He tried shaking his head, but it just made the fuzziness inside worse.

  He wanted so much to be of use. But the dullness spread in him and he dimly felt the wall thump him on the back…was it moving? He struggled to get steady but his legs wouldn’t obey. Then a tremendous explosion nearby assaulted his ears and drove him facefirst into the stone floor, hard. Then he saw no more.

  Light. It seemed too bright to be real. As it took shape in his mind, he tried to blink the brightness away. But his eyes couldn’t work. He began struggling against some restraining force, becoming desperate to close his eyes. Close them!

  “Whoa, hold up there, Seaman,” Came a voice to his ears. He tried to turn his head to see the source, which seemed familiar.

  A hand came into view, resting firmly on his forehead. “Stop that thrashing around or I’ll sedate you again, Rick.”

  Patredes croaked, feeling the parched throat. “Whitney.”

  “Yep. You took quite a hit, Rick. Try to lie still now.”

  “What…”

  The Corpsman’s face moved into view. “Don’t try to look at me. Here, I’ll come ‘round for you.” He shifted closer. “That better?”

  “Yes. Why can’t…eyes.”

  “Your eyes? Oh yeah, they gave you some drug that freezes certain parts of your brain in place, somehow. You took a severe concussion—twice, judging from the bruising. Try to keep still and relax.”

  “Easy…you to say.”

  Whitney chuckled. “That’s my boy.”

  “What. Happened.”

  Elias grew serious. “We found them, Rick. The Prax. A bunch of them jumped us while we were waiting for your team. Would’ve gotten us, too, if it weren’t for a local guy who gave the warning. Got killed for his trouble.”

  “We win?”

  “Don’t try to look directly at me, I said. Keep those eyes up. After your team got pinned down we managed to break through their barrier and drive them off down a tunnel or something. Lost six guys in our team. Your team lost another five.” He looked away. “Damn Prax.”

  “Mr. Whitney, please leave the patient alone. He needs to recover.” A voice Patredes recognized as Chief Reyes preceded the man himself, who leaned in. “You holding up, Patredes?”

  “Yes, sir. Can’t close my eyes. Hurts.”

  Reyes nodded. “Suck it up, son. You did good out there.”

  Patredes searched his memory but couldn’t come up with anything meriting that compliment.

  Reyes patted him somewhere near his shoulder. “They say you’ll be back on your feet in no time. Let ‘em work on you and be a submariner.” Then the Chief was gone.

  Patredes sighed. He was alive. He would have another chance to really prove himself in battle.

  Chapter 19

  Halloran tapped the map on the tabletop display. “Well, we knew they were here somewhere. Now we know they are armed and ready to fight.”

  Max was across from him, arms crossed. “Tell me again that your ship is in orbit with our steel in its hull. It all seems incredible.”

  Jackson came into the room. “I was in Control when I heard about the fighting. So you found the source of the disruptions?” He asked Max.

  Max looked at Halloran. “This man’s claims appear to be proving true.”

  Jackson reached the table and looked down at the schematic. He touched the surface, and the legends popped into view. “Level sixty. They’re deep.” He looked up at Max. “What level did we lose those men earlier?”

  “The egress was located on fifty-seven.”

  Halloran interrupted. “Look, these are Prax and they are infiltrating the colony and secreting out enough of your steel to build at least one stealth ship, which I am in possession of—.”

  Max leaned over the table. “Stealth ship? Tell us more.”

  Jackson got in between them. “I heard we took casualties. Max, the goal here is to secure the colony, and now. I want a full assembly of the police and security groups, geared up and ready to move into the lower levels. We need mass force.”

  Max was about to respond when the comm unit built into the table chirped. “Governor Jackson.”

  Jackson hit the channel indicator. “Jackson here.”

  “We just received a communication from Captain Orris that a message drone was launched from the planet a few minutes ago.”

  “Someone was signaling them?”

  “No, sir. The drone jumped right after it cleared the atmosphere.”

  “They’re phoning home,” muttered Halloran.

  “What was that?”

  Halloran looked up. “The Prax are sending a message—they’ve been discovered.”

  The person on the comm spoke. “Should I tell the Captain anything, sir? He seems perturbed.”

  “Maybe we should ask for help after all,” offered Halloran.

  “No!” Jackson’s fist came down on the table.

  “Sir?” queried the man on the comm.

  In a more calm tone, the Governor said, “Tell Orris we’re investigating the source of the drone and will relay information soon.”

  “Um, I don’t think—.”

  “Stall him, Bendis.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Max was smiling. “Look at my cousin. His head is all red.”

  Halloran kept his expression neutral.

  Jackson paced across the room and back again, returning to the table. His color had returned to a more normal state.

  “You’re not a fan of the Fleet,” Halloran observed.

  Jackson placed both hands on the table and looked at Max, then Halloran. “Actually, we owe them a debt. I place them high regard. But,” and here he lightly tapped his fist on the display, “We won’t be robbed of our sovereignty.”

  Halloran smiled. “Hey, I’m with you. We’re citizens of yours now, r
emember?”

  Max opened his arms wide. “Jackson! That means Tavar has a fleet of its own now!”

  Jackson ignored his cousin. “Can your ship help us?”

  “I don’t know. I don’t think so. We have advanced sensors, but I don’t know if they could penetrate into your mountains down here.”

  “How did you know about the entrances?”

  “The sensors. Carruthers did report the number of life forms…hmm.”

  “Can you talk to them?”

  Halloran shook his head. “Total blackout. We didn’t want to take any chances of the Fleet ships picking us up.”

  Max was interested. “Your ship cannot be sensed by them. How is that possible?”

  Halloran looked evenly at him. “Advanced technology shields.”

  Jackson guffawed quietly. “That hide an entire ship?” He slapped the table and turned away.

  But Halloran was thinking. “We dropped down quick into the atmosphere while on the away side of the orbit from the Fleet units. We could get the shuttle back up in the same way…bring the ship’s sensors to bear on the mountains and look for intel.”

  “Who’s your pilot?” Max asked.

  “Captain Kendra. She’s excellent.”

  “You don’t say, Halloran.”

  Halloran felt a slight flush in his face and redirected it to a decision. “You want us to proceed with this direction, Governor?”

  Jackson nodded slowly. “The Fleet is going to find out about your ship, anyway.”

  “We’ll do it quietly. I have confidence in Kendra.”

  Max grinned mischievously again and turned to the door. “I’m going to work on the outfitting of our ground force.”