by Ben Hale
"Welcome to the Coalition," Jack said.
Prior to the Harbinger takeover, the thirty-seventh floor had been the Office of Mage History. Liquid light flowed inside a two-hundred-foot map that displayed North America in minute detail. Mages walked through, completing the image and connecting it to the techno threads that would update troop placements.
Every inch of wall was filled. Techno mages had set up dozens of concave displays and were in the process of completing many more. Each would be used to communicate with the distinct commands within the Coalition.
"What are those?" Braun asked. Worthy of his name, the German was well-built and tall. He stood near the rear of the group but had no trouble surveying the room.
"Those are techno walls,” the president responded. “Techno mages use them to tap into every live data stream available. Among other things, they can access wireless, radio, television, and even encrypted satellite feeds."
There was a murmur of irritation at that news, but before it could become anger, the president turned to face them.
"As we agreed, we are using this facility to lead the defenses. The mages are better equipped than we are, and can connect to our forces with far greater accuracy and speed. Previously this technology may have been used against our countries, but right now it is the only thing keeping us from being overrun."
Jack nodded in agreement. "Each of you has been assigned a section of the room that corresponds to your place on the map. Since the German forces are placed in the northeastern part of the US, your station is there. General Braun, you can begin setting up and connecting with your army right now. I will assign each nation its position and then we will convene in the war room in one hour."
General Braun wasted no time in striding to his station. The trio of officers he'd brought were quick to set up their gear and connect to his portion of the army. As they worked, Jack organized the other military leaders into their respective areas. At first, their wonder forestalled most of their doubts, but that changed when they moved to the war council on the floor above.
Jack stood to address the seventy-eight officers. Without preamble, he began, "Forgive me if I ignore formalities. You all know what is at stake. In a few hours the invasion begins, and we know how it ends. Our only hope lies in stopping the Dark itself. The oracle and her immediate allies have been working nonstop to that end. Our job is to hold out until they succeed."
"She is only a girl," General Lefevre said in a thick French accent. "How is she going to perform such a task?"
Jack held his emotions in check. "She has done more than any one of us in this war."
"And yet she did not stop the Dark's release," Pakistan's general said. "The video of her attempt on Mt. Elbrus demonstrated she is incapable of accomplishing what you say."
The president was on his feet. "She succeeded in warning us, general—and imagine for one moment if she hadn't."
The Pakistani general's face clouded with anger, but he fell silent. Jack stepped in before the dispute could escalate.
"Regardless of your feelings about the oracle's chances, she is not our responsibility—or even under our authority. The United States has opened its doors to every nation, army, and individual seeking shelter. For the exclusive purposes of this battle, I have been tasked with the overall combat strategy—"
"Why?" General Xiao from China demanded. "Where is Admiral Hughes?" There were murmurs of agreement.
Jack placed his hands on the table. "Dead," he said, and shared the events at Norad. The news sent a buzz of fear and doubt through the chamber. Jack raised his voice to draw their attention back to him.
"All of us have lost more than we ever could have imagined, and because of this we have been forced to unite. Our survival depends on this unity."
He let his statement sink in. Then he continued, "As members of the Coalition we must work together. I know you were expecting another to lead this battle, but I assure you that no one is better qualified. Of anyone in this group, I have the greatest knowledge regarding the mages, and their capabilities. You may have the soldiers, but the mages have the power. As you are aware, the battlemages have been separated into smaller teams and spread throughout the combat units. Make no mistake. Without them, our line will crumble."
General Braun stood up. "I think I can speak for all of us. We give you our support. Few of our people would have survived without aid—aid which was offered by the magical community and the president. We are in no position to disagree." He shot General Xiao a glare and sat down. In the ensuing silence Jack flashed a tight smile.
"Earth as we know it is gone, gentlemen. Banks, trade, and entire economies are gone. If we survive this, our countries will not return to what they were. By necessity, this Coalition will likely be the ruling body for our entire planet. Race, creed, and people are no longer separated by national borders. Country and organizations have been dissolved—not by choice, but by need. If we don't outlast the day tomorrow, our children will become slaves. Alice and her Dark will rule everything, and the power to defy her will be gone."
He let out his breath and allowed his words to fade into silence. "Whether we care to be or not, we are one people now. I should not need to remind you of the treaty your remaining leaders have signed. There is only one nation now, and we all belong to it. Right now martial law is the only thing holding us from anarchy and defeat. This room represents our sole chance at victory. If we fail, any freedoms you care for will cease to exist."
He stared them down until most nodded. There were a few holdouts from the more hidebound countries, but Jack doubted they would fight much. The more prideful nations had resisted the call to evacuate, and that choice had decimated their peoples. Citizens of countries such as Iran and Syria were quite possibly extinct. Diminished in numbers and spirit, those who had come were desperate. They had no choice but to cooperate.
Jack felt a burden ease off his shoulders. Gaining their confidence was the first challenge. Now he had to lead them into a continent-wide battle that would likely kill hundreds of millions. He glanced at the president, and the returning gaze held approval.
Jack straightened. "Now that we understand each other, we go to war."
He motioned to a light mage near the door. The man stepped into view and brightened a lightcast model of North America. Pointing to it, Jack laid out their strategy. As he spoke, the light mage lit the areas he addressed.
"Our overall army is broken up into two divisions, each with over a hundred million troops and support personnel. Eastern covers the entire eastern seaboard of the United States. Due to the terrain and impracticality of guarding it, Florida has been abandoned.
"Western goes up the west coast, and ends just north of the former Canadian-US border. The bulk of our surviving military vessels are positioned in the gulf in a blockade. Your own ships have been incorporated into the fleet or have positions in rivers or inlets on the coastlines.
"As the Dark expands around us, we will add forces along the South and North. If and when we become overrun, the entire line will fall back to the backup barricades that surround the civilian population in the center of the United States plains."
He paused, leaving room for questions. When no one spoke up, he continued, "Each division is comprised of a thousand companies. Each company is made up of soldiers from a specific unit. 312th company of Western is a Chinese command. The one next to it is from Japan. To further reinforce the line, 'heavy' units have been deployed in a strategic balance. Special forces teams from every country, armored divisions, and elite mage teams will anchor each section.
"Furthermore, each company contains reserves and its own support staff, most of which are civilians. Emergency medics, food services, and other needs are being handled as much as possible by the local town facilities."
Marshal Williams of the British Royal Air Force was shaking his head. "I was made aware of most of this, but I don't understand how. It would have taken weeks to put these kinds of preparations
in place."
Jack gave a slow nod. "The president of the United States evacuated the borders of civilians two weeks ago. Military personnel, volunteers, and other staff were dispatched to prepare for a possible world evacuation to this continent. As your individual forces arrived they were placed into the framework that had already been established."
The Pakistani general bore a deep frown and muttered something to his colleague. Jack rounded on him. "We did not act out of foreknowledge, General. We acted out of caution. Our lives depend on your being part of our army. We do not have the manpower to guard every inch of coastline on our own."
Jack stared at him until he looked away, and then allowed his gaze to roam the chamber. "Our lives hang in the balance. Do not think for a moment that we are any less desperate than you. Our victory will depend on how well we can set aside old grievances and work together."
General Braun stood. "You have my support . . . and my allegiance."
Marshal Williams was second to voice the sentiment, followed closely by General Lefavre. Soon everyone was on their feet. The motion sent a chill through the room. For the first time in modern history, the world stood together.
Jack offered a faint smile of gratitude for their support. "Welcome to the Earth Army. If we survive this battle I look forward to seeing what this Council will accomplish. Dismissed."
As the officers filed from the room Jack felt a combination of emotions tighten his gut. The image of racial enemies standing shoulder to shoulder was inspiring, yet it left him wondering if they were too late. As much as they would fight and die to hold the Dark at bay, in the end it would come down to Tess.
And her will to survive.
Chapter 6: A Sniper's Mind
Kate caught the tail end of Jack's words from the back of the room. The moment she had received his message, she'd come to the Spirus. Initially her pace had been angry and rushed, but by the time she reached the tower it had cooled. She'd then ascended and listened to her husband speak to the generals.
She was a mother, a wife, and a soldier—and all three knew that her husband was the best commander for this battle. That knowledge did nothing to abate her fear. After months of hunting Harbingers and the events on Auroraq, she knew her enemy. She also knew her family. Jack and Tess would find a way to defy Alice.
And Alice would retaliate.
Kate stood on the darkened threshold and looked down on her husband speaking with his men. He stood with a regal carriage, his expression focused. The streaks of white in his black hair served to enhance the determination in his gaze. Before he could spot her, she turned and strode from the chamber.
Stel rose on her neck, and she soothed him with a few quiet words. "I know," she said. "It's our job to protect him."
When Tess had asked her to take care of the energy intelligence Kate had been reluctant, but her daughter had insisted. The moment Charlie had tried to touch it Kate had realized why, and Charlie had nearly lost his finger. Tess wanted Stel to protect Kate, not the other way around. In spite of that, the creature had grown on her and typically slept as a warm band around her forearm.
Catching a lift down, she retrieved her rifle from the ordinance room that her team had set up. Slinging it over her shoulder, she descended to the base of the Spirus and exited onto Sentre. The mage city had been a source of constant wonder to her, but this time its marvels did not give her pause. Hurrying through the morning light, she left Sentre behind and walked to Tryton's.
The sprawling buildings that comprised the mage school felt vacant and hollow. Only a handful of professors had remained after the evacuation of the students, and they had been tasked with reinforcing the charms protecting the south side of the city. Kate had met a handful of them, but one in particular stood out to her. Making her way to the gravity school, she found Professor Lerik in her office.
"May I come in?" Kate asked.
Professor Lerik looked up from the scroll she was reading and flashed a weary smile. "Of course, Kate. What brings you to my door?"
Kate stepped inside but did not sit down. "I understand you're one of the better gravity mages here. Is that accurate?"
Professor Lerik cocked her head to the side. "What is it you require?"
Kate pulled the long-barreled rifle from her back and placed it on the woman's desk. "I want you to augment this."
Professor Lerik leaned back in her seat, her expression inscrutable. Kate did not look away. After years of teaching, Kate knew how to read the type of teacher by the look in her eye. This one would have been as strict as steel, but not unkind.
Firm and knowledgeable, Professor Lerik carried the responsibility of teaching young mages how to harness their gravity magic to fly. Kate had learned that she hadn't seen an injury in her class for over a decade. That alone spoke volumes of her discipline.
"Are you aware that what you ask is forbidden?" Professor Lerik asked quietly.
"I wasn't," Kate admitted, and finally took a seat, "but even if I had known, I would still ask."
"Why?"
"Because I have come to know the enemy we face. Alice is as ruthless as she is smart. We have proven we will not relent, and our continuing defiance will invite retaliation. I suspect she will make an attempt on our command structure."
"Your husband."
How had she already learned of it? Kate touched the rifle. "As hard as it is for me to accept, I cannot protect my daughter. She's beyond that now. I can protect Jack. The only problem is the distance. This is an M40A5 sniper rifle with a five-round magazine. With the charms that Iris placed on the scope I can put a bullet into a target at over a mile. I want you to help me quadruple that."
Lerik's eyebrows shot up. "You want to reach the Spirus from here."
"It's the only way," Kate said. "Every other sniper unit on Auroraq is tasked with watching the perimeter. That's what my job is on top of the Earth school. Even if I could get posted closer to the Spirus, the trees of Sentre block any potential shot. The earth school is the highest point on the city outside of the Spirus."
Lerik looked out the window for several seconds. When she looked back her expression bore a hint of a smile.
"I would not do it for anyone else," Lerik exclaimed, "but you are the oracle's mother, and her valiance cannot be ignored. It may come from her blood, but it was her mother who taught her to magnify it." She inclined her head in a mark of respect.
Kate's throat tightened with emotion. Then she withdrew a magazine from her pouch. "Do you think you can do it?"
"Come with me."
Professor Lerik rose and led her to the rear of the building, where a field of low grass bent with the afternoon breeze. She raised her hands and purple magic seeped from her palms. Flowing out like smoke, it formed a large sphere that hovered in front of her.
"Fire your weapon into the well."
Kate clipped the magazine into place and racked the slide. Thumbing the safety, she braced herself for the recoil and then fired. The sound had been muted by one of Tess's friends, so the rifle barely coughed. Like ballistics gel, the sphere slowed the bullet to a dead stop. Professor Lerik bent to examine it.
"May I have your ammunition?"
Kate ejected a shell and handed it to her. Lerik examined the brass encased bullet and then cast a charm onto it. The bullet began to emit a faint purple glow. Then she handed it back to Kate.
"Please fire again."
Kate took the bullet and inserted it into the chamber. Aiming as she had before, she fired. This time the bullet seemed to wobble before it struck the purple sphere. Lerik muttered to herself as she retrieved the bullet and then adjusted her previous spell. After several more attempts Lerik appeared satisfied.
"Let us try it at a distance."
Kate nodded and shouldered her gun. "We can use the earth school post. Agent Bracken is currently there, but he won't mind allowing me a few minutes."
"Excellent," Lerik said—and then picked Kate off the ground.
Kate's st
omach climbed up her throat as they lifted out of the grass, and it was all she could do not to betray her fear.
"Have you never flown?"
"Once," Kate replied, "when the Harbingers destroyed my home."
Lerik issued a grunt. "They have taken much."
Kate didn't respond, and her mind turned to Tess. In spite of what she'd said before, the worry over her daughter's fate had become an incessant weight on her chest. The helplessness and fear permeated even her dreams, and when awake she dreaded Jack coming to her with the news that Tess had been killed.
"May I share something with you?" Professor Lerik asked. When Kate nodded, she said, "Your daughter took to magic like a babe to breathing. I have seen thousands of students learn to fly, but never one like her. Gravity may bend for me, but it obeys her."
Lerik brought them to a stop. Hovering high above Tryton's, she motioned to the school. "Here we teach young mages how to control their magic. For Tess, the sight of a spell was sufficient for her to know it, as if her nature merely required a reminder of what it could do."
"Why tell me this?" Kate asked.
"Because I do not think you need to fear. She is the oracle, and has a capacity that exceeds any we can imagine."
"I appreciate your words." Kate had to force the words past the sudden knot in her throat.
Lerik offered a small nod and then carried them smoothly to the summit of the earth school. Like a mini-mountain, the earth school towered over the rest of Tryton's and most of Auroraq. Ensconced in an alcove near the top, agent Bracken stood up as they flew above him.
"You aren't due back for another few minutes," he said. His eyes flicked to Lerik and back.
"Do you mind if I start my shift early?"
Agent Bracken regarded her for a moment and then shrugged. "Fine by me. I'll grab something to eat and be back in twenty."
He stepped from the alcove and descended the steps. When he was gone Lerik directed Kate to fire a gravity-enhanced round at the sphere she had left in the field. Attaching the scope, Kate settled into position.
