by Dennis Young
“We can cover him through the other penetrations.” Briggs, watching through the holes in the doors.
“Get ready, Junior. Martin assist, Dosu, cover him, Rory and Briggs, on the doors. I’ll watch back up the tunnel.”
Martin helped Junior out of his armor, setting it all aside neatly and out of the way. Junior eased himself through the ragged opening, carefully avoiding torn metal and sparking wires. In moments he was through. Martin passed him his pulse rifle after, then his HCS.
“Clear. The doors are camo-covered, but the laminate is broken where the rounds penetrated. Really well hidden from this side. Buildings everywhere, some low, some three or four stories. No one in sight, gunfire in the distance. The bunker building is about fifty meters away, like Briggs said. I’m checking out the latches now.”
“Get it done, Junior. Martin, watch that main penetration. Dosu, with me.”
They waited, guns trained into the Nemesis compound. Sounds from the other side echoed as gears groaned and bearings rumbled. Slowly, the doors edged open, screeching against the damage done.
Talice watched over her shoulder, then turned back facing the tunnel. “Far enough. Okay, everyone through, Briggs, Rory, Martin. Dosu and I will follow.”
“Talice, I’ll need more room for the drone.”
“Hang on, Mac, let us get through. Team, on the double.”
They moved through, covering each other, watching every direction. It took only seconds.
“Find cover, watch the streets. Dosu, Rory, check the windows.” Briggs, as Talice eased between the doors.
“Junior, get these doors open for the drone.”
Grunts and groans filled Talice’s helmet pickups. “Need more muscle, Captain.”
“Dosu, give him a hand.”
The big Kenyan leaned into the door crank and the doors protested loudly. But they opened enough for the drone to scrape through.
“Junior, get your HCS back on, pronto. Mac, status?”
“I’ve got two hundred rounds of HE and about half that of AP.”
“Where are your heavy drones with the grenades?”
“Set to go. I can have them over the bunker building in about five minutes.”
Talice considered. “Give us ten, then launch, but stay high. Abie, are you listening?”
“Here, Captain.”
“We’re not going to transport by ATV. Once we’re beyond the tunnel with the hostages, we’re going to scoop and run.”
“I’ll need to find a place close enough with room to do that. But I can hover while we load.”
Talice nodded. She found she was leaning left, her side aching again. “We’ve done that. But this time, we’ve got a lot more to pick up.”
“We’re leaving the ATVs? Aw, darn…” Rory.
Talice managed a gritting chuckle. “Junior, Martin, and I will ride them back. Maybe Scarbach will give you one instead of your pay.” She straightened slowly. “Okay, let’s get closer to that bunker and see what we can see.”
“Captain, I am picking up excited comm from the bunker building.” Nikolay, beyond the tunnel.
“Damn! Okay, assume they know we’re coming. Safeties off, drone on point, spread out. Take the drone through the entrance and follow. We’re officially on OpCom now!”
* * *
Five minutes, and the team was dispersed in pairs; Briggs and Rory, Martin and Junior, Talice and Dosu. She listened to the running reports through All-Channel and dreamed of her left side not developing into an anchor of pain.
“Two doors on the west side, reinforced and auto-feeders to either side. I see movement in the floor above, but the windows have armored louvers.” Briggs, after collecting info from the rest of the team.
“Minigun drone is set down behind the building south. Conserving batteries.” Mac.
Talice roused herself. “Where is Evans?”
“Right here, Captain. No, nothing from Aya.”
“Keep trying. Opinions? What’s her next move?”
Evans chuckled. “Well, you’ve left her a way in. That’s obviously what she was waiting for. Now she’ll go for the hostages.”
“She has to pass us to do that,” replied Junior. “I’ve got my eye on our backsides.”
Talice shook her head. “Jian, eyes front. She’s not going to shoot us. Nemesis will.”
“She’ll wait until the coast is clear, Captain. At least I hope she will.” Evans again, deep concern in his voice.
“If she’s got a death-wish, there’s nothing we can do. Dammit, Aya is not our mission! The hostages are!”
Silence from Evans and Mac.
“Alright… Briggs, you and Rory prepare explosives for the doors. We’ll blow them, send the drone through, then follow. Once inside, your team left, Junior and Martin right, Dosu and I will cover from the center. Copy?”
“Hua, Captain. Working our way around now.”
“Sniper!” Junior’s warning was an instant slow. Rory went down in a hail of fire from a window north.
Briggs bailed right, the tracers following him around a parked groundcar.
Martin popped up from behind a greenery-covered wall and squeezed off a three-second burst into the window. The masonry disintegrated under the HE rounds, and a body fell three stories to the street below.
Junior circled a corner quickly and fired a one-second burst into the figure as it tried to rise. Then silence.
“Fuck! Briggs, report!”
“I’m okay, but Rory’s hit!”
“Stay put! Rory, status!”
A pause, then Talice heard labored breathing. “AP rounds. One in the side, one in the leg… hurts…”
“Junior, where are you?”
“With Rory in ten seconds. Hold on…”
“Everyone else freeze!” Talice counted to ten. “Junior, report!”
“Getting his leg armor off. We’re under reasonable cover.”
Talice listened. “Easy big guy. Let Junior give you a hand.”
“Okay, got pain-jel and a coag-patch going. Side wound is a graze.”
“Put a fucking bandaid on it,” Rory growled. Talice grinned mentally, because doing it for real hurt too much.
“No other hostiles seen, but they obviously know we’re here.” Briggs, as he watched around.
“Did you get the package in place?”
“Negative. We’ll try again in a bit.”
“Stay low. Martin, Dosu, sweep the area with 10X mag. Mac, what do you see?”
“Movement in the streets about six blocks away, armed and armored elements moving from building to building. Looks like they’re searching.”
“For what? The hostages? Infiltrators like us? Survivors?”
“Likely all three,” replied Evans, listening. “You heard what Jance said. The guards have orders to kill the hostages if anyone tries to rescue them.”
“Yeah, and they just may decide to do the deed as a preemptive measure.” Talice nearly snarled. That didn’t hurt. In fact, she needed to rouse herself more. The pain was starting to take over.
“Speaking of Jance, where the hell is she? Mac, how long ago since her last message?”
“Over an hour. She’s late.”
“Captain, don’t we have door codes?” Junior again.
“Fuck! Yes! Where are you?”
“About twenty paces from the doors. I’m in the line of fire of one of the auto-feeders, but if I sprint straight at it, I think I can get below its suppression before it fires. And the other one can’t swing side to side enough to get me.”
Kid is fucking brilliant! “Hua, stay put for a minute. Mac, prep the drone. Junior, make sure Rory is under cover.”
“Fuck that, I’m going in. If you can limp, so can I.”
“Then you’re with me, big guy. Dosu, move up with Briggs. Junior, after you enter the codes, the drone will hit the entrance, then let Briggs and Dosu lead and follow with Martin. Us two cripples will cover as noted before. Briggs and Dosu left, Martin and
Junior right. Copy?”
“Hua. You’re such a strategist.” Briggs, as sweetly sarcastic as he could be.
“Copy, Captain.” Martin, not being sarcastic.
“Drone hot, say the word.” Mac, tension heavy in her voice.
“Everyone hold. Breathe. Abie, do you have Jance’s frequency?”
“Queued up and ready, Captain. I thought you might need it.”
“Raise her, then put it through to me private, with Mac and Evans listening.”
“Got it. Give me a couple of minutes.”
Talice waited. The team was in dire straits and running out of time. With armed Nemesis only blocks away, they needed to get inside the bunker building and secure it.
“Captain, here she is. Patching through.”
“Talice! What the hell is taking you so long?” Jance sounded nearly in a panic.
“Just listen. We’re ready to enter the bunker. Get the hostages on the move, but watch out for elements in the area going building to building. We’re entering in one minute.”
“Alright. I’ve got almost everyone, but it’s… difficult alone.”
Talice had an epiphany, then continued. “Watch for one of our own coming to help you. A… special agent, female. She’s skilled in hostage situations.”
“Sure, and likely to shoot me on sight, right?”
“She doesn’t know you by sight, but she knows you’re… helping. Dammit, Jance, you’ve got to trust me on this. We’re almost there. Cool your paranoia for one fucking minute!”
A long pause. Talice knew Jance was ready to run, and had to keep her from doing so. “Let’s work this together. We’re getting the bunker, you bring the hostages. Then everyone leaves alive.”
“Okay… moving now. Maybe fifteen minutes to finish up.”
Talice desperately wanted to ask about Babs, but knew that would only send Jance into a screaming fit. “We’ll meet you in the bunker. Take care.” She cut the circuit and knelt, panting.
“Well done, Captain.” Evans.
“Hang in there, Princess. We’re almost home.” Mac again, sounding hopeful.
Home. Yeah, sure. May never see it again… Talice shook herself and raised her head. “Junior, are you in position? Teams ready? Sound off.”
“I’m ready, Captain.”
“Briggs and Dosu, ready.”
“Martin, ready to follow with Junior. I’m about ten paces behind him.”
“Rory? Talk to me, big guy.”
“I’ll manage. I’ll wait for you, and we can limp in together.”
Talice huffed a quiet breath. “Okay… Junior, go! Get under the guns and punch in the codes!”
“Moving.”
The auto-feeders opened up… too late. Junior rolled beneath the fire, crawled to the doors and flipped up the keycode cover. He entered the codes. The doors began to open.
“Mac, drone! Now!”
The drone rose from somewhere behind the team, buzzed past Talice and fired. The left auto-feeder swung to track it too late, and exploded under fire from the drone’s minigun. The right one caught the drone a glancing blow and knocked it off course for a moment. The drone fired, taking out the auto-feeder. Then turned on the doorway, fully opened.
“All teams… go!”
They bolted behind the drone, weapons firing, screaming like banshees. The drone crashed the doors, scraping through the entrance, leaving sparks. Briggs and Dosu went left. Junior and Martin, right. Talice eased her way through, caught up with Rory, nearly crawling, and together they found cover behind a room divider.
Smoke cleared. There was no return fire at all. The floor appeared to be abandoned.
“Heads down, let me sweep the area.” Mac, as the drone circled overhead, bumping against the ceiling.
“Cameras tracking, in the ceiling globes.” Briggs. “Get cover, don’t move.”
“Mac, take them out —”
A scream left, and Talice saw debris and blood in the air. She glanced to the darkened globe above her. “Laser! Down, everybody down!”
Mac’s drone spun and fired. HE round cracked the globe and a one-second burst of AP shattered it. Parts and pieces flew, fire and smoke sputtered, and the whole thing landed in a heap beside Talice. She rolled away, wincing.
The second globe lit with red lightning, and the drone exploded. Pulse rifle fire from three locations blew the globe apart and whatever was within it. Hot junk fell to the floor.
The fire suppression system came on line, spraying gas throughout the room.
“Nitron-Ten! Shut off your air intakes! Go to internal air!” Talice crawled aside, collapsing beside Rory who lay prone and barely moving.
“Talk to me, big guy.”
“Just got a booster from Mac. Gimme a minute…”
Talice bumped her fist against his massive shoulder. “Take five. The fire’s almost out, but we’ve got to let the gas settle.”
“I’m fucking tired…”
Talice knew if Rory was hurting, then he was really hurting. She clicked to All-Channel. “Who’s hit? I heard a scream.”
“Martin’s down, vitals are sketchy.” Mac.
“I’ve got him. Need two more hands.” Briggs, sounding a bit desperate.
“On it.” Junior again, and Talice rose to a crouch, covering him as he moved.
“Damn… okay, this isn’t good. Lacerations to his left shoulder and neck, armor damaged, burns to his side and hip. Gonna have to get him out of his HCS.” Briggs again.
“Everyone, stay sharp. Dosu, cover the way we came in. I’ll watch the room. Rory, stay down and rest.”
“Wounds are clean, no bones broken that I can tell.” Junior.
“BP is low, heart rate rapid. He’s on the verge of shock.” Mac.
“Hit him with a booster.”
“You sure?”
“Mac, we need all the firepower we can get. If he’s just burned and cut up, he’ll live.”
“Hit me…” Martin, but his voice was weak. “I can still cover. Patch me up and let’s go.”
Mac sighed in the intercom. “Okay. Done.”
“Holy fuck… that shit burns!”
“Hey, Captain’s orders.” Mac chuckled.
“Sound off. Talk to me, people.”
“We’re all good, Talice,” replied Briggs. “Let’s do this. Jance is gonna be here pretty quickly.”
“Right. Okay, stairwell. Briggs, Dosu, secure it. Junior, get as much of Martin’s armor back on him as possible. Rory and I will cover.”
“Captain, still nothing from Aya. Thought you’d want to know.”
“Mr. Evans, right now, I don’t give a damn about Aya. But thanks. Let’s move, team. Time’s up.”
Talice cautioned them from touching the stairway doors. She clicked to Bělinka’s channel. “How do we tell if this is booby-trapped?”
“Put a surface reader on the door and copy the data to me.”
Talice motioned Junior to the fore. He dug a probe from his side pouch and plugged it into a port on his vambrace, touched it to the door, then repositioned it several times.
“Clear, Captain.” Bělinka.
Talice paused in thought as the report came in. “Wait a minute. Why are we going upstairs? We have the floor secured.”
Silence around the room for a long moment. “They know we’re here,” said Briggs, at last.
“He is right, Captain. Comm from the floor above is nearly frantic. They are expecting your attack.” Nikolay, still on the job.
“So? We can barricade the stairway door and simply wait for Jance. Our job is the hostages, not take on dug-in elements of Nemesis. Once we’re out, we tell the Marines to hit the building.”
“Still nothing from Aya.” Evans, listening.
“Or Jance. She’s overdue again.” Mac.
“Yeah, well, our schedule has been interrupted several times, too. Hell…” Talice considered. “We’ve got wounded. We’re secure. My guess is, there are hostiles on the upper floors who wa
nt no part of us.” Talice took in each of her team, crouching behind cover. Faces hidden behind their visors, she watched for body language and listened for dissent. Nothing.
“Junior, check outside, but be careful. Martin, cover if you can get to the door. Briggs, you and Dosu pile up whatever you can in front of that stairway door.”
“It opens inward.” Briggs, moving to the door. He peeked through the window. “Nothing. But I can weld the edge of the door to the frame.”
“Hell yes! Do it!”
“Talice, there’s movement outside, about four blocks away. Same elements, checking as before.” Mac, keeping her eyes open.
“Fuck! Then we either fight here or fight upstairs.” Talice glanced to the wreckage of the drone, still smoldering. “Fine. Then we play dead. If they come in, we fight. Briggs, don’t weld it. If we have to head upstairs, we’ll do that.”
“Captain…” Junior, returning from a quick look around beyond the entry. “You need to see this.”
Talice moved painfully to the doorway. Junior held an HCS helmet in his hands. On the nameplate it said “Jian.”
“That’s… yours. Your spare suit Aya was wearing.”
Junior nodded.
“She’s shed her armor. She’s going in unarmed and unarmored.” Evans, horror in his voice.
“No weapons, just the armor,” replied Junior.
“… Alright, no time to do anything now. We’ve got to get ready for visitors. Find cover away from the door. Don’t position yourselves to get caught in a crossfire. We’ve got hell above and hell coming in. Let’s make this fight short and sweet. Then it looks like we’re gonna have to search for the hostages ourselves.” And save Aya’s ass in our spare time.
* * *
They waited. Again.
“Captain! I am intercepting comm between the hostiles outside and the floor above you!” Nikolay, sounding worried.
“Pincers move. They’re going to trap us between them.” Talice looked across the room to Briggs, just visible behind a computer station and desk. “Mac, give me details! Niky, jam that comm if you can.”
“Fifteen outside, all armed, nothing heavy. Still searching three blocks away.” Mac.
“Time?”
“Maybe ten minutes, no more.”
Talice’s mind raced. “Briggs, get that door welded shut! Mac, can you bring in one of the grenade drones?”