by Dennis Young
Talice clicked again, to All-Channel. “Nikolay, do you recognize that speech? Junior? Anyone?”
“It’s not Chinese, but definitely Olde Earth Southeast Asian, Captain,” replied Junior.
“I am not familiar with it, Captain, but they are being very careful with their inflection. And no body language or gestures to speak of says it may be code.” Niky.
“So… they’re using some ancient or made-up language?”
“Talice, the crypto analyzers say ninety percent chance this is ancient Olde Earth Japanese or Korean. But there’s no translator available for it.” Mac.
Talice watched and listened for a few more minutes as the team discussed among themselves. Yeah… that’s what they’re doing. They’re piecing together a code as they talk. Probably using unfamiliar terms to mean certain things… plans, time schedules, movements, contingencies. Damn… I guess I never really thought what it takes to be a spy.
She clicked to All-Channel again. “Evans and Aya are communicating a plan. We’ll just have to pay attention and follow their lead. Assuming they’ll head for the others in about…” Talice glanced at her chrono. “About thirty minutes, plus his thirty-minute buffer, we’ve got an hour max.”
“Their speech pattern is increasing tempo, Captain. They are becoming more confident in meanings and information exchanged.” Nikolay again.
“Captain, I recommend we move closer. We’re a kilometer out and that’s still too far.”
Briggs is getting antsy, thought Talice. “Well, it’s dark as a cave, so move up at your discretion. Cover team, follow once Briggs and Ollie are in place. Monitor Team will follow. Don’t get any closer than half a kilometer, big guy.”
“What about our drone diversion?” Mac again.
“Damn, I almost forgot. Okay, once Evans has everyone together, that’s when we’ll hit it.” Talice paused. “Or we could have the drones do a pass over the compound with guns blazing.”
Mac chuckled over the comm. “That should get their attention.”
“Yeah, and actually cause a bit of confusion. Give our people a chance to get the jump on whoever is in there with them. Set it up, Mac.”
“Drones are still in their previous position and will take about five minutes to reach the compound. I’ve got two hundred rounds and a grenade in each one.”
“Abie, are you on the line?”
“Right here, boss. What’s up?”
Talice thought for a moment. “Niky, can you pinpoint our people once they’re together with the others? I mean precisely, not general location.”
“I can locate them within twenty meters, Captain.”
“Abie, we’re going to advance the schedule. Once we have the drone diversion started, I want Bird One in the air and ready to hit the compound as far away from our people as possible.”
“No problem. I can throttle back the Hellbores a bit, slow the rate of fire.”
Talice nodded inside her helmet again. “Good. Be ready to lift in about forty minutes. Get hot.”
“Copy, prepping Bird One now.”
“Forward Team in place.” Briggs.
“Cover Team is in place.” Junior.
Talice clicked to Mac’s channel once more. “Talk to me.”
“You’re doing fine, Talice. I’ve got my eye on everyone. It’s a good plan.”
Talice took yet another drink from her S-H tube. “I just hope we don’t kill our own people in the fireworks.”
* * *
Talice had Mac put the audio and Evans’s vid feed on All-Channel. She wanted everyone to understand what was happening, what Evans and Aya were setting up, and how their other teammates were responding.
She wanted the emotional component of the situation to be part of what they were doing. No, it wasn’t typical covert-ops procedure, and no, it wasn’t even what Talice herself usually wanted. But this operation was different. These weren’t just hostages they were trying to rescue; they were people taken from their lives and made into servants, slaves, and sex toys.
This wasn’t just about money; it was about control of hearts and minds. If she hadn’t had her helmet on, Talice might have spit. Or thrown up. All she could do was grit her teeth and listen.
Talice watched as Evans rose, then Aya. Rory shifted, came to attention. Martin as well. Bělinka moved to Evans’s side as they walked slowly to the door. “All teams, stand by.”
“Take us to the others now,” said Evans.
Aya bowed slightly. Martin opened the door and went through. Two guards stood beyond at a corridor junction and turned as the door opened.
“Escort us to the meeting chamber if you will,” said Evans to the guards. Clearly a command, but with a bit of casual manners.
Damn, he’s good, thought Talice. Just enough temperament to not sound like an asshole. She chuckled to herself.
“Drones in place, ready on command.” Mac’s voice was a bit tense as well.
“Abie, how long to reach the compound?”
“Three minutes. Guns are on standby. I don’t want their IR detectors to pick up anything. Thirty seconds to heat up the Hellbores.”
“Copy. Once the drones start shooting, lift and follow Nikolay’s map. Stay clear of the meeting area.”
“Hua, Captain. Not a problem.”
Evans and his entourage followed the Nemesis guards through low-lit corridors for several minutes, then arrived at a double doorway where the office flunky waited with two more guards.
“Not good,” said Talice to herself.
“Captain?” Briggs.
“I was hoping for a minimal guard contingent. Obviously, they still don’t trust Evans as much as we thought.”
“Maybe it’s Aya they don’t trust,” said Mac.
Talice said nothing as her team and the guards entered a large, brightly lit ballroom. There were at least a dozen women along the far wall, and two men as well. All were dressed in similar fashion as Aya, obviously having been pulled from their clients or other duties.
“Do a nose count. We don’t want to lose anyone on the way out.”
“Sixteen, two men, fourteen women,” said Briggs.
“Confirmed, sixteen.” Mac.
“Copy, that’s my count.”
Evans walked slowly by the line, meeting the eyes of each escort. Aya followed, speaking softly to each one. Talice hoped she was conveying instructions for escape. She noticed only then there were two more guards in the room, one at each far corner.
“Damn… six against ours.” Briggs.
“Easy, big guy. Bělinka has noise-makers and stun gear.”
“Yeah, but they’re spread out. Rory and Martin might get three or four, but that’s all.”
Talice studied the vid for a moment. “Okay, let’s see if we can lower the odds. Mac, I think it’s time for some fireworks.”
“Damn straight. Okay, drones warming up. Two minutes.”
“Captain, I am picking up a repeating phrase in Aya’s words to the others.” Nikolay paused and Talice waited. “Yes, she is repeating a single three or four-word phrase in a calming voice. I cannot know what it is—”
“She’s likely telling them they’re going to be safe, or something similar.” Junior.
“Makes sense,” said Talice. “Or some kind of warning. We can only hope we’re right.” She straightened a bit. “All teams, stand by. OpCom in two minutes.”
“Bird One standing by.”
“Forward Team, ready.”
“Cover Team, ready.”
Talice counted the seconds, then looked to Nikolay, huddled once again in front of his scanner. “Can you do this, Niky? We need your guidance. You’re on point.”
“I am ready, Captain. Mapping is updated and online. Please shoot carefully.”
“Hua, and let’s go. Mac, light up the sky. All teams, OpCom now!”
CHAPTER SIX
Working for a Living (Part Three)
Fire in the Sky
“Appear at points which the
enemy must hasten to defend;
march swiftly to places where you are not expected.”
Sun Tzu, “The Art of War”
Crius, When the Walls Fell…
The drones crested a hill and approached the eastern edge of the compound at high speed. Once in range, Mac let go with timed and controlled bursts from the auto-feeders. Debris flew, and figures scattered under the hail of gunfire. Mac dropped the grenades near what appeared to be a fuel truck, and Talice’s visor lit with a mammoth explosion.
Damn good work, Mac. Talice could only admire.
Thirty seconds later, Bird One roared overhead, inbound. Talice watched at 10X mag as the Hellbores cut loose. Buildings literally disintegrated. Concrete and steel were turned to junk under the onslaught of a hundred rounds per second of HE and AP rounds. She swallowed hard, hearing in her mind the screams of victims being torn apart by the heavy, hyper-sonic slugs. Sometimes this job just fucking sucks, you know?
A lull, and Bird One thundered over for a second pass, this one closer to the compound center. Again, sheds and warehouses and other structures simply disappeared in a cloud of debris reaching a hundred meters into the air. Return fire was almost nonexistent.
“Lost a drone, friendly fire.” Mac, on top of things as always. “Drones up top still waiting. Tell me what to do, Talice.”
“Do you have ammo on the remaining gun drone?”
“Not much, maybe fifty rounds.”
“Alright, stand by. We’re going to use that one and one of the high drones to clear the way for Evans and the others. Bring the high drones down to two kilometers and hold.”
“Copy, descending.”
Talice clicked to All-Channel. “All teams, stand by. We’re going to lead Evans and the hostages out with drones. Once they’re beyond the compound, lay down suppressing fire for thirty seconds, then get the hell out of there!”
“Hua, Captain, weapons hot.” Briggs.
“Niky, status, then pack up.”
“They are in panic mode, Captain. They had no warning and no organized resistance.”
“Good, now close shop, we’re leaving!” Talice clicked to Evans’s private circuit. She pulled up the vids from the ball room once again. It was a madhouse. “Get the guards out or eliminate them. I don’t care which! Do it now!”
She watched as Evans’s camera swung around. “Take your guards, get to a safe place! Aya and I will handle this!”
Unintelligible replies from the office man and two guards muddled things completely. A pair of guards went to the door and eased it open, then exited. The office man followed, then two more guards. The remaining pair took up positions at the door and closed it.
“Rory, wait thirty seconds, then take down those guards. Evans, stand by. We’re clearing a path. Follow the drones above you once you’re outside.”
Rory grunted acknowledgement. Evans wheeled around again, facing Bělinka who was working her way down the line of screaming escorts, trying to calm them. The two male escorts stood aside, watching closely. One dropped back as the other slid a hand to his side.
“Rory, Martin, the men are plants, not workers!” Mac, eyes sharp as the proverbial tacks.
Martin swung his pulse rifle around, just as something was thrown his way. The chest of his HCS erupted in flame and he was thrown back against the wall.
Rory fired, taking down the guards at the door with a three-second burst. The door exploded outward, torn from the hinges, and both guards fell in a spray of blood and guts.
Bělinka whirled, pulled two stun caplets from her necklace and threw them at the male escorts. One hit, and he dropped like a pole-axed steer. The other dodged, ran at Bělinka with a knife in his hand. She spun, caught his arm as it descended, cracked it across her hip, and drove an elbow between his eyes. She took the knife out of midair, drove him back with a savage kick to the face, then buried the knife in his chest. He fell, eyes wide, thrashing. Rory fired a single shot, cracking his skull open like an egg. It had taken five seconds. Talice was impressed.
Screaming stopped. The room was almost deathly quiet. Evans swung around to look at Aya, standing with the other women. She nodded.
Bělinka knelt at Martin’s side. He was scorched and bruised but grunted and rose on her arm as Evans watched.
“Secure. Ready to move out.” Rory, taking charge. He turned to Evans and Aya, side by side. “I’ll lead, you follow with the women, Martin and Bělinka cover. Stay together, don’t get lost, because we’re not coming back. In about five minutes, this place will be a pyre.”
Talice watched as the escorts stood in shock and moved only as Aya and Evans prodded them along. Rory led through the shattered doorway, scanning both ways, gun in hand. He headed up the corridor as explosions rumbled beyond the building and dust shook from the ceilings. They emerged into a hellish scene of flame and smoke and people running everywhere, paying them no mind. Twice Rory held them at a corner, and twice he fired at armed guards barring the way. No one fired back; they either ran or died.
“Rory, look above you. Two drones, red and green lights. Follow the green one, red will trail and stop anyone following. Move out, double-time.” Talice swallowed hard, her heart pounding in her ears as she watched. “Mac, stand by. This is gonna be close.”
“Copy, we’ve got company behind and on your left at the second side-street, Rory. Hold when I say hold.”
Explosions roared behind the entourage, and screams echoed from the buildings around as they ran. Once more Rory cleared the way with a burst of fire.
“Hold! Wait thirty seconds!” Mac again.
“Briggs, Junior, they’re about three minutes from exit. Once they’re out, get them away from the buildings as quickly as possible.” Talice watched from the green-light drone as two grenades fell away. Five seconds, and explosions rocked the intersection, clearing anyone around. She couldn’t tell if they were armed guards or civilians. She really didn’t want to know.
“Go! Follow green, stay tight. Briggs has two ATVs half a kilometer out. Load them up however you have to, but get those women out. Briggs has orders for the rest of you.”
“Copy. Moving.” Rory’s voice was strong, but a thread of fatigue was creeping in.
And if he’s getting tired, the escorts are exhausted, thought Talice. “Mac, can we move the rescue team in closer?”
“Clear ahead, but if they can get out in the next few minutes, Bird One can cover.”
Talice clicked to Abie’s channel. “Bird One, stand by, our people will be emerging in about three minutes, give them rear cover. Be really careful who you shoot.”
“Copy, Bird One swinging around, one minute to position.”
Talice clicked to All-Channel again. “Rory, cover coming, you’re almost there. Dig deep, big guy.”
“Hua…”
“Mac, talk to me. Anyone trailing?”
“Negative, the compound is in chaos. Whoops!”
Talice saw an ATV round a corner from behind, firing. Bělinka shouted everyone down. Martin ducked away, cutting loose with his pulse rifle. Rory dropped, fired, rolled away, fired again. Mac chased the ATV with the red drone, holding the last grenade until she had a clear drop. The remaining gun drone emptied its ammunition against the ATV’s armor without effect.
“Got one shot at this…” Mac released the grenade. It plopped onto the ground ahead of the ATV. The explosion lifted the vehicle over and backward, scattering the light under-armor everywhere. Martin and Rory rose, running at the wreckage, firing as they went, cutting down anyone who might remain alive. Two more explosions from detonating ordnance and they retreated.
“Everyone up! Watch the green lights above and follow!” Evans shouted as he and Aya took point. Talice’s eyes bounced along with the cameras until she had to look away. Bělinka followed the crowd, and from Rory’s camera, Talice could see he and Martin were trailing, watching behind. Two escorts were being carried by four others. All were bloody.
The scene from Ev
ans’s camera cleared of buildings. Ahead were the lights of Briggs’s and Junior’s ATVs. Talice counted out a minute. Then another. Then one more. “Rory, turn and give me a full sweep of the compound. Martin, cover. Evans, don’t stop for anything, get those people into the ATVs!”
Rory turned, did a full slow side-to-side sweep, gun barrel moving with his camera. Half the compound was in flames, the other half dark. Talice saw no movement beyond the buildings. “Status, all units. Give me a count.”
“Briggs clear, loading ATV One, Ollie covering.”
“Junior clear, loading ATV Two. Dosu is with me.”
“Bělinka clear, Captain. All escorts alive, several injured, nothing critical.”
“Martin clear, but my chest sure hurts.” Talice nearly laughed, listening.
“Rory clear, noses counted, we didn’t lose anyone.”
“Evans and Aya clear. Aya is unconscious but breathing.”
“Nikolay here, Captain. Equipment safe, recordings backed up, all data intact.”
“All units, get as far away as you can from the compound. You have three minutes. Mac, status?”
“Red and green drones clear, remaining gun drone clear. I have one more grenade if you need it.”
“Abie, I want three passes and light this place up. On the last pass, drop the special package. Go on my command.”
“Copy, Bird One standing by.”
Talice waited, counting out the seconds, then the minutes.
“All teams are clear and have cover.” Briggs.
Talice nodded to herself. “Bird One, start your pass. All units, heads down. Fire in the Hole!”
* * *
On the Way Home to Theia…
The ready room was crowded with wounded waiting for the infirmary to clear. Twelve women—six injured, but only two seriously—and none with critical issues. They were treated, one by one, by Jamal, Bělinka, and Evans, then offered food and water as they sat closely by, whispering and comforting one another.
Martin had collapsed once everyone was on board and secure, and was promptly carried to the infirmary by Rory and Junior. Jamal and Will worked on his injuries for more than two hours. A cracked sternum, three bruised ribs, broken clavicle, ligament damage, and a tear in the sternal attachment head of the pectoral muscle (translation: “it hurts really bad”). His HCS had saved his life, but it would be an uncomfortable trip home for the trooper.