ARMS Helm's End: (Book 7)

by Stephen Arseneault

  "We'd have shown on a bioscan."

  "That would mean the Burrell won and aren't wasting their time on people who are already dead."

  "You are just a ray of sunshine tonight."

  "I just know what the coming hours might bring."

  Tawn said, "I just sent you a hail. It not come in?"

  "I got nothing."

  "You're a meter away from me. How’s that possible?"

  Harris stopped. "Maybe your theory about a jammer is right."

  "Maybe. This means we have to make it all the way to the colonel before they'll know we're there. Won't be anyone bringing water out to us."

  Harris again pulled on the travois. "We've been on our own since the crash. I just hope when this is done we can salvage the Bangor."

  Tawn chuckled. "It's still half my ship, you know. Partners and all."

  "Title says it's mine."

  Harris continued dragging through the night. As the sun rose over the horizon, the top of the structure that had housed the Biomarines came into view. Both Tawn and Harris had been out of water for several hours.

  "Just drop me here and run for it. You can send someone back for me."

  "I'll finish the job I started, thank you. Never let it be said that Harris Gruberg left anyone behind."

  Tawn nodded. "I'll give you credit for finishing this one out."

  Harris stopped short of the final hilltop, setting the travois and its passengers on the ground.

  "Where you going?"

  "Gonna have a look. Not dragging you out into the open until I know what's there."

  Most of a minute passed before Harris returned. He shook his head. "This is the end of the line for us. Helm's end."

  "Why?"

  "Huge crowd of Burrell soldiers just over that hill. The structure is crawling with them."

  "Any sign of our people?"

  "Nothing. No bodies, and no sign of a fight."

  "Well, what are they doing?"

  "Just milling around as far as I can tell. Didn't seem overly alert either. Guards were all sitting. Looks like they're camped out there for whatever reason."

  "Wonder if the colonel made it to that transport?"

  Harris smirked. "Maybe he did and they left."

  "Wow. This just keeps getting harder and harder. You think they have any patrols out and about?"

  "Doesn't look like it. Why?"

  "We could ambush them and take their water."

  Harris chuckled. "You gonna sneak up on them crawling on your elbows?"

  "I'll do whatever it takes."

  "How’s the leg feeling?"

  "Not as much pain as I thought it would be. Just soreness. I think you did a good job of setting it. And the battlesuit has kept it in place."

  "How's the power on your suit doing?"

  "I'm at 22 percent. You?"

  "Eight. I'll lose my comms and the rest before the day ends."

  Tawn reached into her pack, retrieving an MRE. "Guess we might as well celebrate our near success with a final meal."

  "Where'd you get that?"

  "Was holding it in reserve for a real emergency. I'd say this qualifies."

  "I should be mad, but I'm more hungry. Break it open. And… what'd we get?"

  Tawn smiled. "Bogler ribs. I figured if I needed to get that one final push out of you, this meal would do it."

  Harris pulled a rib from the packet and stared at it for several seconds. "Almost hate to eat it, knowing it might be my last."

  Tawn pulled one and devoured it, licking the sauce that remained on her fingers. "Oh, that is good stuff." She handed the packet over to Harris.

  "What's this?"

  "You eat them. You need the energy. You still have a chance to make it to one of those transports. That's forty kilometers, but you won't be dragging me along."

  "Not leaving my partner."

  "Look, if one of us lives, isn't that better than neither of us living? Isn't this war still going on? Do you like me so much that you want to stay here just so you can die with me?"

  Harris smirked. "I guess if you put it like that, fine. When I'm done with the meal I'll head out to where we last saw the transports."

  "Good. Now hand me your pouch tube."

  "What?"

  "I still have half a tank. Take it."

  "You're just breaking all the rules, aren't you?"

  "We got this far. You can go the rest. Find help or more water and bring it back."

  Harris scowled as he drained the water. "I'm leaving you a swig."

  Tawn took his hand before he could remove the transfer tube. "Nope, you need it. Farker will be here to keep me company."

  The pouch emptied. The tube was stowed. Harris let out a sigh before turning toward the nearest ship.

  Tawn said, "I'll be right here." She pulled her plasma rifle from its clamp.

  Harris stopped and turned. "What are you doing with that?"

  "Gonna drag my ass up the hill and watch the Burrell for a bit. If I feel myself slipping away, which won't be soon, I plan on leaving them with a parting gift."

  — Chapter 18 —

  * * *

  Harris stopped and turned. "Last chance to come with."

  Tawn went silent, staring at something coming from the direction in which Harris had been walking.

  After a deep suspense-filled breath, Harris turned to look behind him. A dozen Biomarines stood with their plasma rifles ready and grins on their faces. The base of the hill in front of him was soon covered with hundreds of slugs and stumps. The colonel walked down the slope toward them.

  Harris took several steps in disbelief, holding out his hand as the colonel neared. "Only been this happy to see a senior officer one other time, Colonel. And that was on this planet."

  The colonel clasped Harris' forearm before pulling him in for a shoulder bump. "Gruberg lives. As does Freely. What brought you two here?"

  "We were shot down. Managed to make it to the transport that hit us. Took down its crew, but not before the thing caught fire. Tawn busted her leg trying to get out. Farker bit it during our assault. I dragged them both here on the travois. You wouldn't happen to have any spare water, would you?"

  "Spare? No. Some we can share? Absolutely. Masters! Get these two something to drink!"

  A sergeant hustled off.

  Tawn waved them over. "Colonel, fill us in."

  "We followed your suggestion and outflanked the transport nearest here. After taking control we attacked the Burrell column that was still coming this way. Split them in half, and then in half again. Once their numbers were within a reasonable value, we attacked. Over this hill is the last of what was close to a hundred thousand of them. We estimate about twenty thousand."

  "Any captives?"

  "They don't surrender. We gave them plenty of opportunity."

  The sergeant returned. Harris gulped down a quart before handing the container to Tawn with a satisfied sigh. Tawn took her fill.

  Harris asked, "Casualties?"

  "Close to thirty-two hundred. Eighteen hundred of those gave their lives. The others are back at the transport receiving care. Leaves us about five thousand strong. You have any word from Gondol before you went down?"

  "We got a look at the fight briefly while on the Burrell transport. They were watching on a display. Bax was winning until the two thousand cruisers from here showed up. Last we saw, her losses were heavy and the numbers were not running in her favor. That was four days ago."

  "That battle has to be long over. And we've had no visitors, so that's a good sign."

  Tawn said, "Our comms are useless. They have some jamming gear running?"

  "They do. Something portable that's just over that hill. Interferes with the signal all the way out to the transport from here. We haven't heard from or seen anyone else. What happened to the Hailstorm?"

  "We think it went down as well. We had a comm that went silent. I take it you're about to raid that structure. How can we help?"

&nb
sp; The colonel smiled. "You slugs get busted up and just don't stop, do you? Give us about ten minutes to get set. After that, if can make your way to the top of the hill, we could use another sniper."

  Tawn grinned. "I would be so into that, sir."

  Harris nodded. "Put me with a team, Colonel. I'm good to go."

  "Masters! Take Gruberg here and team him up with squad forty-four, all slugs, and our best ass-kickers. You tell them you were here for the Helm Engagement and they'll make sure you survive it twice."

  Harris followed the sergeant to his new squad.

  The colonel turned. "Rexall! Assist this sniper to just short of the hilltop. Tamlin, Harvey, spread the word that we go in eight minutes. Once those first shots are fired, I want to hear screams of rage. Let's put some fear in them!"

  Tawn was helped up the hill and gently set on the ground. Five other snipers joined her as they slowly crawled toward the hilltop perch. Harris was introduced to his squad.

  "Forty-four, this is Harris Gruberg. He'll be joining you in this fight. Just so you know, he's been to Helm before. You've probably seen him a time or two at the Retreat over the last two years. The colonel wants him to still be standing when this is all done."

  The squad leader stepped forward. "Hansen, sir. This is Gwendell, Sharp, Santos, Flaxman, Burwitz, Keeler, and Zombo."

  Harris nodded. "Ladies. I believe I've worked with Keeler before. You on Xenuk about twelve years ago?"

  "I was. And I remember seeing you around. Didn't you spend some time in the brig during that for fighting?"

  Harris smirked. "I did."

  Keeler smiled. "As I recall, you won. So welcome to forty-four."

  Hansen pointed. "Keeler, he's yours. Keep him with the living."

  "I'll do what I can, Lieutenant. Just keep in mind he's a stump."

  Several chuckles came from the other squad members.

  Harris said, "I'll do what I can to return the favor."

  Hansen gestured toward the rightmost crest of the hill in front of them. "We're up there. Sprint your first ten meters and then flop. Keep firing as you porpoise your way down the other side, and don't bunch up. I want at least two meters between you at all times. Once we reach about half hill, you'll see me stand. That's your cue to follow me to the corner of the building. We'll be the first team in the door. After that it's hall-to-hall and room-to-room."

  Eight nods were returned. Harris followed the slugs to their start position.

  Keeler asked, "You been up against the Burrell, Gruberg?"

  "Just a handful of crewmen. They weren't really prepared. Did get into some hand-to-hand with some Hoya though. They were insanely fast, but predictable."

  "Yeah, that's nice. We're talking about the Burrell infantry who are just over that hill."

  "Well, no, then. Haven't had the pleasure."

  "They're skittish. And too organized. They don't seem to readily adapt to the situation. If you see something you can capitalize on, then keep looking for it because more will be following that behavior. And target their leaders first. You take out a commander and all the squads under them scatter like ants from a disturbed anthill. You take a squad leader and that squad just hunkers down in place. Very few free thinkers among them."

  "How's their aim?"

  "Not great, but it will kill you. So try to keep yourself small."

  Keeler squatted with the rest of the squad. "How's the stamina?"

  "I just dragged a travois with a slug and eighty liters of water on it for most of the last four days."

  "So you're fresh then?"

  Harris chuckled. "Ripe would be more accurate. I'm fatigued, but I still have some juice left in me."

  "Just try to keep up if you can. Forty-four is high velocity. We won't be slowing down until the mission's complete. Comprehend?"

  "I'll do my best to not hamper your effectiveness, Keeler. You have a first name?"

  "Stella."

  "Don't hear that name much."

  "The gals call me inter-Stella. Been known to get caught outside an airlock now and again. Love that floating feeling."

  "Won't have that problem down here."

  "No, sir, we won't."

  Several minutes of silence were followed by Hansen standing with a wave. Squad forty-four moved into action. The hill was topped and a ten meter sprint was followed by a flop. Plasma rounds erupted from four hills surrounding the encampment. Violent screams of rage could be heard as the Burrell soldiers rose, exploding bodies filling their ranks. Confusion was followed by those in charge barking out orders. The instructions were a dead giveaway of their commanding officers and drew the immediate wrath of the Biomarines.

  The chaotic movement of squads followed, just as Keeler had stated. To the left and right of Harris, slugs porpoised and fired, working their way down the hill-face as scattered fire came back from the responding Burrell fighters. A second line of Biomarines was soon followed by a third and a fourth. The encamped Burrell were not faring well in the early fight.

  As squad forty-four reached the halfway mark, Hansen stood and sprinted for the corner of the building. The squad followed as laser pulses sizzled past, making black molten spots on the ground as they made impact. Harris stumbled on his weakened legs. Keeler grabbed his elbow from behind, lifting him back to his feet as they continued to run.

  The squad leader and five other members were the first to the doorway going in. The whump-whump of plasma rounds being fired was followed by the thuds of exploding bodies. The entry hall was cleared in seconds. The rooms to either side followed.

  Harris yelled to Keeler as he ran. "You weren't kidding about the pace."

  "Focus on the fight, sir. Save the chatter for over a beer later."

  Harris turned dropped and fired, dispatching two Burrell soldiers who were attempting to enter the building behind them.

  Keeler nodded as she stopped to grab his bicep, pulling him back to his feet. "Nice eyes, sir."

  Harris grinned. "Save the chatter, Keeler."

  The squad had cleared four rooms before a hailstorm of laser pulses impacted the hallway walls just in front of them. The metallic walls glowed white hot in spots before holes melted, showing light coming from the room on the other side.

  Hansen turned as she waved her hand and yelled, "Back! Back! Back!"

  Half a dozen pulses lit up her back, setting her battlesuit ablaze. With her last action she turned, unleashing a torrent of plasma rounds into the oncoming rush of Burrell. The hall erupted in flame as several dozen pulses impacted the squad leader and the hallway around her.

  As the other members took refuge in the side rooms, Harris dropped to the floor and began firing. His efforts were quickly joined by his teammates, driving the Burrell onslaught back toward where it had come from. Harris stood, sprinting after them, screaming at the top of his lungs.

  The Burrell at the end of the hall scattered. Harris again dove, this time sliding up into the hallway door, his Saxon rifle letting out repeated whumps. As he finished screaming and began to get his wits about him, he realized his mistake. The hallway opened into a wide room going back fifty meters. It was full of Burrell soldiers.

  As he scampered back into the hallway, a hundred laser pulses followed, melting an entire wall and setting the room beyond into a rage of smoke and flame.

  He frantically waved at the others as he hurried down the hall. "Go! Go! Go!"

  Seconds later, the space glowed white hot. As he exited the door to the outside, Keeler hooked his arm, swinging him aside. Dozens of laser pulses followed just behind.

  Gwendell took charge. "Back down this way. They'll be pouring out of that door. We defend from this side of the building for one minute, then we're blasting our way through this wall. Should put us right back in the dining hall."

  Keeler yelled, "Let's kick some ass for Hansen!"

  The squad took position beside the building. As Burrell soldiers exited and turned the corner, they were met with a storm of plasma fire. Bodies e
xploded with thuds, the unfortunates nearby taken out by flying bone and hot guts. At the sixty second mark, Gwendell stood and fired a half dozen plasma rounds into the metallic outer wall of the structure. It shattered, blowing inward. The squad rushed in.

  Burrell bodies exploded, knocking those behind them back, and the Biomarines fanned out, again flopping to the floor as a constant parade of whumps emitted from their rifles. The chaos that ensued showed poor training on the part of the Burrell. Two minutes after the surprise assault, the dining hall fell silent except for the occasional groan.

  Gwendell stood and moved toward the hall. A dozen laser pulses emerged and were chased back in by plasma rounds. Harris turned to the near wall, cutting loose with a burst of plasma. As the wall failed, he ran forward and dove through the hole he’d made, sliding into view of the Burrell attempting to defend their position. Four well-timed and well-placed whumps saw the choke point cleared.

  The rest of the squad quickly gutted the hall, effectively ending the Burrell’s occupancy of that end of the building. A far door opened and a slug flopped out onto the floor.

  She yelled back before standing. "Clear!"

  Harris looked at Gwendell. "We on lunch break or is there more fight to be had?"

  Gwendell grinned. "I like the way this stump is wired. This way. I'm sure that fight outside has a ways to go."

  The field outside was filled with strewn boulders and the occasional trench. The bulk of the Burrell force had been wiped out in the initial assault and the resulting confusion. Harris followed the new squad leader out to the nearest chunk of granite stone.

  Gwendell pointed. "Flaxman, you, Burwitz, Keeler, and Gruberg, work your way to the right. We'll be going atop this slab. Be ready to pop any we flush out your way."

  Harris followed as the mini squad made its way from one boulder to the next, putting thirty meters between themselves and Gwendell. As her team fired at Burrell positions, the recipients moved. Keeler, Harris, and the others were waiting, picking off dozens as they came into view. After fifteen minutes of flushing and sniping, both mini squads moved thirty meters to the right, where the process was repeated.

  Gwendell rushed across an open expanse to the others. "We just spotted what we believe to be the interference box. We take that out and we get our comms back."