Valkyrie- Rebellion

by Lucas Marcum

  -31-

  “Under a Scarlet Flag”

  Hellas Army Depot

  September 14, 2248

  Hours later Elizabeth stood in the makeshift command center, her eyes burning and her stomach rumbling. She frowned at the empty cup next to her and muttered under her breath, “Ugh.” The packages of freeze-dried soup were the only thing left to eat inside the compound, and they were decades old. Chief Ikaika had brought them up from one of the really deep tunnels, opened the crates, and passed them out, while explaining they likely dated back to the days right after the rebellions when the famines were sweeping Mars. Apparently, these were left over from the emergency packaged meals brought in by the UEA that even the famine-struck Martian families hadn’t wanted. She shook her head again and reflected that at least the hunger pangs were gone.

  A junior sailor hurried in the door and said, “Colonel Suarez, Staff Sergeant Delgado says he needs you at the gate. Says there’s someone here to talk to you.” Elizabeth nodded and moved to the door. Quickly walking across the compound toward the massive mesh steel gate, she saw the stocky Spaceborne staff sergeant waiting for her behind the barriers set up a few meters behind the mesh steel gate, preventing anyone from seeing into the compound. He was now wearing body armor and carried a compact, dangerous looking rifle.

  He waited until she got close, then said calmly, “Colonel, there’s someone here to see you. Says he’s here to negotiate.”

  Startled, Elizabeth replied, “Is he one of the rebels?”

  Shrugging, Delgado responded, “I don’t know. Seems like he is. Says he’ll speak to the Valkyrie alone.”

  Elizabeth tilted her head, and replied, “Why do you guys keep calling me that?”

  With a crooked grin, the veteran soldier replied, “I’m not; it’s the junior enlisted calling you that. They all know how you wiped out a battalion of Elai on Desolation, single-handedly saved the Marine offensive on Paradise, and that no matter what happens, you’re going to get them through it.” He gestured toward the gate with an elbow, keeping the muzzle of the rifle down.

  Puzzled, Elizabeth replied, “But I didn’t do any of that.”

  “Yeah, I know that. You were like the rest of us, just doing your job the best you could.” The Spaceborne trooper nodded at two sailors carrying a crate toward the hospital. “But they don’t know that. All they know is, no matter what’s thrown at you, or what situations you may get into, Valkyries never die. If you’re on our side, how can we lose?”

  With a sigh, Elizabeth responded, “Not a good idea to get too wrapped up in this hero shit. People make mistakes, and god knows I’ve made more than a few in the last few days.” The sergeant only shrugged in response. After a moment, Elizabeth sighed again and looked at the barriers, then asked, “How we gonna do this?”

  The staff sergeant replied, “He’s going to come forward alone, right outside the gate. We’ll open it, and you’ll step out. Any funny business, and we slam the gates, you hit the dirt, and we mow his ass down.”

  “Is that it?” Elizabeth asked.

  Amused, the soldier replied, “Yeah, that’s it. What did you expect?”

  With a shrug, Elizabeth replied, “I don’t know. Something more complex, I guess.” Seeing the amused look on the soldier’s face, she added crossly, “I didn’t exactly train for this, wiseass.”

  In a kind tone, Delgado replied, “I’m not laughing at you, ma’am. It’s just…” He gestured at the gates again and continued, “I never thought I’d be negotiating with a rebel group in a piss-poor part of Mars, while holed up in a beat up old UEA storage compound, eating thirty-year-old canned soup.” He looked at her and added, “With a nurse corps officer in charge who’s handled herself better than some infantry officers I’ve worked with.”

  Making a face at the man, she replied, “Now you’re just being an asskisser.” The soldier just grinned in reply. Elizabeth wiped her palms on her uniform, and then nodded firmly. “Ok. Let’s do this.”

  Delgado nodded to the sailor at the gate control, then stuck a thumb in the air at the two men on the improvised rampart next to the gate. One of them raised a megaphone and said in a booming, amplified voice, “MOVE FORWARD SLOWLY. KEEP YOUR HANDS IN SIGHT AT ALL TIMES.”

  About thirty seconds later Elizabeth heard the gate open, then the crunching of footsteps. The crunching stopped. Delgado looked up at the sailors on the wall, who were training their rifles down onto the other side of the barrier.

  He looked at Elizabeth and said simply, “Showtime. Go get ‘em, Valkyrie.”

  Elizabeth took a deep breath, then stepped confidently around the barrier. She took three steps and stopped, looking at the man in front of her. He was trim and looked well kept. His clothing was nondescript, and he wore a red armband on his left arm. He had piercing blue eyes under an unruly shock of coal black hair. His face was clean shaven and looked sensitive and intelligent.

  The two stood for a moment, looking at each other. After a moment the man said, “I thought you’d be a blonde, for some reason.” A split second later, he added, “No offense.”

  Elizabeth frowned and replied, “I’m not.” Looking him up and down, she said, “I thought you’d be…I don’t know. Burlier.”

  The young man laughed, his eyes twinkling. He had a pleasant, musical voice, and a slight accent. He replied, “It looks like we’re both guilty of letting our assumptions get ahead of us.” He placed a hand on his chest and stated, “I am Ibrahim Bin Ishmael.” He then extended a hand and waited.

  Elizabeth reached out to shake the man’s hand, finding it strong and warm. She said firmly, “Lieutenant Colonel Elizabeth Suarez, commanding officer of this facility.”

  The man held her hand for a moment longer, then leaning forward, pressed his lips to the back of her hand and murmured, “I am enchanted, Elizabeth Suarez.”

  With a scowl, Elizabeth pulled her hand away, placed both her hands on her hips, and stated flatly, “That’s Lieutenant Colonel Suarez, Mr. bin Ishmael.” She glared a moment longer and then added, “If you wish to continue these talks, you won’t do that again.”

  The man looked startled and opened his mouth, but Elizabeth cut him off. “This is a United Earth Alliance medical facility. We’re noncombatants and have declared ourselves as such. Any movement around the city is solely in the form of relief missions and to assist in the repair of critical infrastructure. Any further attacks will be in direct violation of the Lunar Conventions on Interstellar Armed Conflict and will be reported accordingly.” She paused, regarding the slim, attractive young man, then continued, “We’ve received a request from the hospital for assistance moving patients to our facility here. Will you permit this and ensure safe passage?”

  Ibrahim replied in a careful voice, “Of course, Colonel. We’re not criminals, nor do we wish to hurt medical providers. This is our home, and these people are citizens of a Free Mars. We wish them no harm. As long as you intend no military actions and confine your travels to and from the hospital, you will not be harmed.” He looked at her for a moment and then added, “If you need to provide aid elsewhere, I will provide you with a runner in sight of the gate at all times to get in touch with us. You merely need to let us know.”

  There was a moment of silence as the two regarded each other, broken only by the distant noises of the hospital behind them. After several seconds, the young man spoke again, watching her carefully, “The team you sent to the scrubber station fought bravely.”

  With a curt nod, Elizabeth replied, “I thank you, sir. It’s of the utmost importance to all of us to get it back online.” She paused, eyeing the young man, then added, “I must insist that you and the forces under your control no longer attack the hospital or this compound. We’ve had several people very badly injured from the attacks.”

  With a solemn nod, the young man replied, “I will restrain my forces. I cannot account for everyone in Hellas City, of course, but my men will maintain a three-block distance at all times. I wi
ll require medical aid for my injured fighters.” Seeing her eyes narrow, he added hastily, “They will be disarmed and under my personal jurisdiction, and you may treat anyone else, UEA or other, who arrives at your facility. This will be a true neutral facility in accordance with the Lunar Conventions.”

  Elizabeth considered this, then nodded slowly. “Agreed.” She thought carefully for a moment, then asked, “Is there anything else? We maintain our mutual buffer zone and may run relief missions. In return, you don’t harm the convoys, and we’ll treat your most seriously wounded.”

  The young man nodded and replied, “It’s a deal, Colonel.” He paused, eying her closely. He then said in a low, intense tone, “Please ask. I know you want to.” His eyes were boring into hers.

  Elizabeth stared hard at the man for a few seconds, then asked, “Ok. Why? Why are you doing this?”

  Flashing his beautiful smile, the young man replied in a light tone, “Because the United Earth Alliance doesn’t care about us. When the domes were failing and we asked for help, none came from Earth. When the mines were exhausted, the Earth corporations shut them down and left, and tens of thousands went jobless. Because we had to beg for air and water from the ‘Earth Alliance’ to survive.” He paused, his smile gone. “Because babies went without food, men and women without work, and youth without education.”

  He turned slightly, looking out through the sturdy mesh of the gate, and continued, “Because of their soldiers in our streets, and their governors and mayors in our cities.” He turned back to Elizabeth and looked into her eyes again. “Because the resources of Mars made Earth rich. Because our sons and daughters have died in this senseless war against the Elai, and we still aren’t considered good enough to run our own world.” He looked down at the ground and said in a quieter tone, “Because of little Ayla and Farah, who died too young.” The young man looked back up and said, “We have heard of you, Colonel. A woman who does what’s right, because it’s right.” He smiled and added, “I won’t insult you by asking you to join us. The time isn’t right for that. All I ask is that you see the UEA for what it truly is.” He looked up and down Elizabeth’s body, his eyes seeming to drink her in, before continuing, in a practical tone, “Your hospital will not be harmed. You have my word.” He turned to leave, then paused and said, “I had thought the stories of you were exaggerated. I was mistaken. You’re a formidable woman, indeed. Had things been different, perhaps…”

  He looked at her with his piercing eyes again, then turned and walked out into the floodlit area beyond the gate, not looking back. Elizabeth watched him go, troubled but unable to say why. After a moment, she sighed and walked back into the compound.

  As Elizabeth walked around the barrier, she blew out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding and let her shoulders slump. Staff Sergeant Delgado was waiting for her.

  He frowned in the direction of the gate and said sourly, “Charming little bastard, ain’t he?”

  Taking a deep breath, Elizabeth replied, “Yeah. Too charming by half. I bet that’s worked on other women in the past.” She grinned wearily. “Lucky for us, I’m both uninterested in the ‘tragic poet’ type, and also too goddamn tired to be persuaded.”

  Delgado chuckled, and then turned serious. “You trust him?”

  “Hell no, I don’t.” The two soldiers walked toward the command post as Elizabeth continued, “I think he’d screw us over in a heartbeat if he thought it would further his aims.” In a reflective tone, she added, “But he’s not wrong. The UEA hasn’t been too good to them here.”

  The big staff sergeant shrugged and replied, “The UEA isn’t good to any place but Earth, and not even all of that is treated right.” He fell silent for a moment, then added, “Still ain’t a reason to go shooting at cops.”

  Elizabeth grunted in agreement. Ahead of them, the doors to the building flew open and a sailor ran out, saw Elizabeth, and skidded to a halt. The young woman said, “Colonel, we have contact with the team at the scrubber station!” Elizabeth and Sergeant Delgado traded a glance, and then hurried into the command center.

  Inside, the specialist on the communication station waved them over, pointed at the screen, and said, “Colonel, we have contact with the scrubber station teams. It just came in. The timestamp says it was transmitted last night. It probably got held up in the local net nodes. Lotta weird stuff has just started coming through. The chief is sorting through the rest of it for other important stuff. We’ll show you after.”

  The young man hit ‘play’ on the video message, and the screen lit up with the weary face of Commander Mierzejewski. The young engineer officer started to speak, “Colonel Suarez, M-Eleven reporting in. We’ve secured the scrubber station, and repairs are…” He paused and grimaced, then continued, “Well. They’re going. We’ll be able to get it back online. It’s not going to be pretty, but it’ll work.” Elizabeth breathed a sigh of relief as the young man continued, “I’m afraid several of your chaps are dead, including your Sergeant McCormick.” The young officer shook his head. “The bloody rebels made quite a push to retake the station.” He paused and looked off to the side of the camera with a brief, sad look on his face, then back before continuing, “It’s likely a small consolation, but they fought like lions. You’ll find my recommendations for decorations attached.”

  Pressing her lips together tightly, Elizabeth shook her head slightly as he continued, “We got here right as they attempted to breach the doors again.” Mierzejewski smiled grimly, his friendly face suddenly taking on a frightening, bloodthirsty look, “As it turns out, a crowd of rebels armed with improvised weapons is no match for an angry Pilipino woman in a thirty-ton armored combat construction mech. I’m afraid M-Twelve made a terrific mess but broke up the attack quite decisively.” The frightening smile faded, and the young man said again somberly, “I can’t seem to get data uplinks, but I’ll burst transmit this through the local towers. We’ll stay to defend the scrubber station. If you need help, send a runner in civilian clothing. Uniforms are…dangerous.” Mierzejewski hesitated, then added, “They’ve been hanging captured bobbies from lampposts across the street, trying to draw us out of our positions. Anyway…” His voice trailed off as he looked off camera again. He looked back at the camera, cleared his throat, and declared, “Colonel, it is my official report that Scrubber Station Bravo is secure, back online, and will henceforth be known as Scrubber Station Kiwi. God save the Queen.” He nodded at the camera and added, “See you soon, eh?” He snapped a precise salute, and the video ended.

  Elizabeth stared at the blank screen for a moment, then shook her head and muttered, “That son of a bitch…”

  Yamashita, who had entered the room during the video, commented, “Sounds like a nasty fight.”

  Sergeant Delgado pointed at the blank screen and declared, “That little motherfucker is hanging cops and thinks we’re gonna trust him? Fuck that shit.”

  Elizabeth shook her head. “This was hours ago, and there are multiple groups out there. Anyway, we don’t really have a choice.” She sighed and asked, “Ok. What else did we get?”

  Yamashita shrugged. “Buncha shit from right before the rounds hit, status of the Elai fleet, the defensive warnings, that sort of stuff. Not much from after. The whole planetary network is probably a fucked-up mess.” He hesitated, then sighed, and handed her a datapad. “We did get this.”

  On the screen was an orbital view of Mars, its usually smooth, rust orange color marred by dozens of glowing, white, perfectly round craters scattered across the surface of the planet. Yamashita said somberly, “There’s not a lot of dust yet, so this is probably a just few minutes after impact. There’s dozens of them.” He pointed at one in the southern hemisphere and added, “That’s Huxley Crater. The First Fleet’s Administrative headquarters is gone.”

  Elizabeth shook her head wearily and handed the datapad back. After a moment, she said quietly, “Is there anything else? Any communications from Admiral Saunderson, or the Fleet?�
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  Yamashita shook his head silently. A few seconds later he said, “Captain Naga reports the trucks are ready for another run as soon as you give the go ahead.”

  Rubbing her face, Elizabeth sighed, then nodded. “Ok. Give them three hours to pull their militia back, and then tell Naga she can go. I want every spare gun we have on those trucks. I’m going to check on the troops in the hospital.” Yamashita nodded and turned to his tasks.

  ****

  “Colonel Suarez, Chief Yamashita and Ikaika say they need you in the command post.” Elizabeth looked up from a list of supplies that had just been delivered by the rebels. The truce seemed to be holding for the past few days, and the remaining patients from the hospital had been moved with no interference. She nodded at the young soldier, set the data pad down, stood up, and moved from the small office she’d appropriated both as a place to sleep as well as work.

  The past few days had seemed to melt together as the dim light outside never changed. The city, while still without power, was slowly coming to life. They could occasionally see people moving in the streets, and red arm-banded patrols could occasionally be seen in the distance. They’d even been able to send a truck to the scrubber station to relieve the team there. Moving to the command center, Elizabeth spoke to the two petty officers who were hunched over the communications station.

  As she moved up to the console, Chief Ikaika handed her a headset and said, simply, “Ma’am, help is on the way.”

  She stared at him for a moment, then put the headset on. The enlisted sailor on the console said alertly, “Daka Five-Two, Standby for Valkyrie Six Actual.”

  Elizabeth waited a beat and then said, “Daka Five-Two, Valkyrie Actual. Go ahead.”

  A calm, heavily-accented voice replied immediately, “Valkyrie Six, Daka Five-Two. We’re fifteen blocks west of your position and will be entering your AO in approximately one hour. We’ll be approaching from the west and will signal our approach with green flashes: dot, dot, dash. How copy?”