The Oppressed

by Matt Thomas

  The Hetarek gunners responded quickly, much more efficiently than Bryan would have expected from supposedly complacent occupation troops on a routine patrol. Their heavy blasts streaked overhead, the distinctive, high-pitched hiss of energy burning through the air and leaving the smell of ozone in its wake. Jess took out a second gunner, leaving only one heavy weapon occupied.

  Bryan checked his line again. A few of the trainees had tried to disappear deeper into the earth, but most continued to lay down enough fire to keep the fight going.

  “O, are you picking up any comm signals?” He asked.

  Next to him, his communications sergeant checked the screen affixed to his forearm. “I got outbound calls but nothing inbound. They must be asking for help.”

  “But nobody’s calling back?”

  O shook his head. “They probably can’t get around these rocks.”

  Another burst from one of the turrets struck a boulder providing cover for some of the newly-minted partisans. The boulder shattered, creating a small landslide. One of the recruits had been blown backwards, but another followed the chunks of stone and earth as they tumbled down the slope towards the Hetarek.

  “Smythstyne...” Bryan began.

  “On it.” From behind them, OTIS galloped over the line towards the fallen resistance fighter, who had rolled to a rest behind a wide tree. The machine drew some fire, but it absorbed the blasts on its armor.

  Taking advantage of the confusion, Hetarek began to pour out of the vehicles. Bryan admired their courage, particularly in light of increasing intensity and accuracy of the fire as the locals either gathered more confidence or fought to protect their endangered colleague. The dead gunners in their turrets were replaced until those new gunners were killed. From the protection of their vehicles, they fired hastily aimed shots. Siskind kept checking, but heard no calls for a medic or moans from any wounded. Smythstyne was yelling at the injured fighter down the hill to grab onto OTIS. Eventually he complied and the robot hoisted the man inside, tilted its chassis to keep its armor between the Hetarek fire and its cargo, and climbed back up the slopes.

  One of the team launched a grenade that detonated above and behind one of the armored vehicles, blasting shrapnel into the Hetarek under cover. Several scrambled to the next vehicle and were cut down en route.

  Bryan grabbed O’s arm, twisting it so that he could see Loki’s observations on the screen attached to O’s chest. He confirmed that no reinforcements approached from the highway and gave Siskind back his arm. He strained to hear the differences in gunfire. He no longer heard the incoming rounds flying by, and a quick check over his shoulder found no rounds impacting around them.

  “O, you got any movement on the other side of those Komodos?”

  Siskind zoomed in on the image. “Not that I can tell.”

  “Cease fire, cease fire, cease fire.” He called.

  The weapons fire decreased to a trickle, and finally stopped. They lay prone for a few minutes, and he made out Starek yelling at some of the recruits to stay quiet. It took patience. Bryan kept checking his watch and let three minutes count down.

  “Ed, anyone hurt?”

  He watched Jedynak look in his direction from behind OTIS and key his mic. “A couple of scrapes and bruises, mostly. The guy who fell broke his leg pretty bad. We got one with some burns, but nothing serious.”

  Bryan checked his watch again, resting his hand on his still-cold rifle. “Alona, Smythstyne, Bridget, and Harry, go check it out.”

  The four pulled back from their spots on the firing line and moved north, a hundred meters away from the vehicles before scrambling down into the draw. They approached the remains of the patrol from the rear, cautiously, weapons raised. All others provided overwatch.

  “Alan, make sure these guys don’t shoot our people.”

  “On it.”

  All four of the team on the ground suddenly opened fire, letting go only a few rounds without stopping their approach. They fired another burst as they got closer.

  Lucas came scrambling over to Bryan from behind his cover. “That went great. I got two!”

  Bryan didn’t bother looking over his shoulder. “It’s not over. Get down.”

  Underlining Bryan’s statement, a Hetarek round flew from inside one of the Komodos. Lucas squatted behind him, staring over his shoulder.

  The small team stepped out of the field of fire and out of Bryan’s line of sight. A few tense seconds went by. He heard a friendly rifle let loose two controlled rounds, and saw the muzzle flashes reflecting in the windows of the third vehicle.

  “Clear.” Alona called over the radio.

  Bryan pulled himself to his feet, and had to haul up Lucas by the arm. “Your people did awesome...”

  “Thanks!”

  “But they need to get out of here right now. The Hetarek are going to come looking for their patrol any minute. Get everyone out of here.” Lucas turned to give order, but Bryan grabbed him by the elbow. “They need to go home different ways. If they all go in one big convoy they’re fucked. You’ve got wounded people. Do whatever Sergeant First Class Jedynak tells them to do to take care of themselves. And don’t get cocky. They did awesome but we are a very long way from where we need to be.”

  “Okay.” Lucas looked like he was going to say more, but Bryan turned away and keyed his radio.

  “What’s it look like down there?”

  “We got twenty EKIA.” Alona replied.

  “Shit, that’s really good.”

  “Yeah, and two of these Komodos are NMC, but Smythstyne says we can make the other two work.” From his vantage point, it wasn’t hard to believe the first and third vehicles were non-mission capable. The first was a smoldering wreck, while the third, where most of the Hetarek had taken cover, had been so peppered by rounds and shrapnel he couldn’t imagine what it looked like up close.

  “Pull the transponders from those two and get the bodies out.”

  “Already working on it.”

  Jess appeared once again by Bryan’s side, her fatigues and equipment covered in dirt. “Did you find a mud puddle or something?”

  She shrugged. “It happens. But this went well.”

  Bryan nodded. “They all got their gun on, can go tell their friends how they killed Hetarek, and we got two more Komodos. Not bad.”

  “I’m going to go check the bodies.”

  “Have fun.” As she trotted down the side of the ravine towards the trucks in search for usable intelligence, Bryan took a seat on a rock and called in very positive situation report.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  For nearly thirty years, the Speaker had participated in conferences about the obligations of first seizing and then occupying the planet. Almost two generations of his occupiers had passed by, both with the unwavering belief in their role in their species' history. There had been moments of stress, where the heat and humidity in the room became unbearable as their bodies temperature fluctuated wildly. There has been moments of anger where the ground shook as they rocked angrily on their hind limbs, slamming their forearms into the ground as their ancestors had. They had thrown blame at him as a representative of his frustrating species so many times it had long ago lost any threat and become almost comical. He had become secure enough in his position that each time they didn't kill him he felt more powerful. He had weathered many storms.

  This storm was different. There were nerves. Claws rasped against the table. Dual forked tongues flicked at the sides of mouths. Yes, the temperature grew to be unbearable, but he couldn't separate physical discomfort from the anxiety.

  Kevak Akkad spoke first, as was his right. How bad are these attacks?

  Darga Kahil spoke up after a long pause, the hesitation a rarity with him. We have had two engagements in the last week. In the first, we tried to corner them in a Metic Ahai living compound after receiving a tip from the Metic Ahai themselves. We lost nearly everything. Six Komodos and twenty
-three warriors dead, seven more severely injured. In the second, we had a tip that they were training insurgents in the mountains. We lost four Komodos and twenty warriors.

  How many of the humans have we killed?

  The military adviser shuffled back and forth on all six limbs. We have no confirmation of any. We killed three Metic Ahai in the compound. The Metic Ahai there claim that we wounded some of the humans.

  So we lost forty-three Warriors and ten Komodos, and they have lost nothing?

  In those engagements.

  What about other engagements?

  I don't have those figures, Kevak. These have been the largest so far.

  The Executor considered the facts. How many of these outside humans are there?

  Our sources says twelve. But they are also recruiting heavily from the local population. The second engagement was while they were training locals. We have no idea how many there were.

  How can we respond with force?

  Thrael shifted on his couch before speaking up, no longer eager to contribute. The low rate of hatching over the last five years means we are limited in the availability of warriors. Even if the females will increase breeding, it would be two years before we could significantly improve our strength. Hatchlings are being immediately sent to the region to be blooded and sent to fight the humans. For now, we must conserve our forces. I have given orders to obstruct humans but not engage them closely unless we can amass enough forces to assure a victory.

  The Kevak thought for a long time. What about warriors from other regions? Can we redirect them?

  We can, Kevak. Kahil answered. But our forces are thinly spread. The warriors who helped invade are either dead or too old to continue fighting. Most of our warriors have only seen Inventories and a few mild uprisings, nothing more. The humans have heavy weapons. They are very skilled. This is the type of battle our warriors have seen on the other planets. Not here. If there are others on Earth, if other enclaves in other districts hear of this and start fighting, we will not be able to risk bringing everyone to one place.

  Is this the return of the humans? The Kevak asked.

  It is likely, Kevak. Kahil admitted.

  We can stop them in space. Khuu Rekai suggested. If they come back. We can keep them from landing.

  We can. Kahil answered. But they do not need to win in space if they win on the ground. As they grow their numbers, they become harder to predict. As word spreads of them, the message will be harder to control. And, Kevak, our warriors report that the Metic Ahai are assisting them.

  Khuu Rekai, I am disappointed that the Metic Ahai, after so many generations, believe that they can freely support these humans. The Executor scolded.

  Respectfully, they do not freely support them, Kevak. Only a very small number.

  Akkad ignored the defense. Khuu Divrack, I am equally disappointed that the humans have not been sufficiently managed to quash any hope of such an uprising before it began.

  Kahil came to the defense of his friend. The Metic Ahai have reported to us human attempts to recruit them. That is how we cornered the humans in the Metic Ahai compound.

  But some Metic Ahai are supporting the humans.

  Yes, Kevak. Kahil replied before Rekai could.

  And the humans trust them?

  The Speaker looked from Divrak to the Executor, speaking slowly for the translation. “They do not, Kevak. They have never trusted the Metic Ahai. I wouldn’t believe that the humans here on Earth would join forces with the Metic Ahai without intervention.”

  Yet they are able to set aside their difference to fight a common enemy, us? The Kevak asked.

  Kahil spoke up. They fight the same enemy with the same weapons, but I cannot believe they are truly allies.

  The group pondered the implications. Kevak, Dirvrak began. The humans see the Metic Ahai nearly as they see us. If they confirmed their bias against the Metic Ahai, it is unlikely even these Runner humans could convince them to join against us.

  “Runner humans?” Khuu Rekai asked.

  “The term local humans use for those who fled upon our arrival here.” The Speaker clarified.

  Khuu Divrak, can you widen such a divide?

  I believe so, Kevak. The Metic Ahai, like their cousins, will do what is best for the Collective. It will only take one to drive a wedge so clearly between the humans and Metic Ahai that no bridge will ever reunite them.

  Then do so. The Executor of Earth commanded. Make the Metic Ahai and the humans become enemies, and you shall make the Ahai and the Hetarek true allies again.

  *****

  Bryan stayed in the truck "to keep near the radio" and out of the cold as long as possible. The rest of the team walked to the other vehicles, checking on all of the locals and giving last-minute instructions.

  The sun was just coming up, and a heavy frost glimmered and crunched with each boot step around him.

  "What I wouldn't give for a cup of coffee." O muttered from the back seat.

  "Have some tea." Jess said, offering a container.

  "That's not tea. It's hot water with flowers in it."

  "It's the best we have."

  "I thought this place was known for coffee. That was clearly in the background materials before we got here."

  "It was known for distributing and drinking it, not growing it." Bryan said. Taking the bottle from Jess. O was right, it was barely flavored hot water. "I guess I should have packed more hydroponic coffee, but I foolishly brought ammo."

  "If I was awake and warm I'd probably use less ammo." O quipped.

  "We'll start walking in a second. That'll take care of both."

  Taylor came over and opened the door to the truck. "We're good to go."

  "Alright." Bryan picked up his weapon and dropped out of the truck. Behind him, the others did the same. "Smythstyne, you and Harry stay behind with the trucks. You hear gunfire don't wait for me to call."

  "Take care of OTIS." Smythstyne said from the driver's seat.

  "I will." He got out of the truck and grabbed the radio from O. "Serpent Eight-Two, Beast Two-Two. Game on, time now."

  "Serpent Two-Two copies 'game on.'"

  "Let's hope this works." He said as he started walking, trusting the others to fall in behind.

  The plan was outrageously simple. By walking out in the open, in the day, they hoped to convince the leader of the nearby enclave that they had enough strength and participation to make a difference. Their force was not overwhelming, but it was a presence. They found twelve people from the west side of the mountains, all now veterans thanks to the quick ambush in the mountains, where the dense concentration of ruins led to better freedom of maneuver. Jess had picked several of those for the more intensive training and designated a leader, Cho. Another six partisans came from Lucas MacIntyre’s groups on the east side around the schleckt plantations. The eight green berets with them took up forward and rear positions in the formation, outfitted with just enough equipment and light armor to show preparedness.

  Bryan lead them along crumbling pavement for nearly a kilometer. The trucks remained tucked amongst the ruins of an abandoned farm. Everything was perfectly still, safe the footsteps and breathing. O checked his monitor regularly, where Loki provided a wide area scan.

  Walking in a mass formation across the open fields, particularly in the schleckt-heavy fields along the valley, demonstrated a certain bravado. In the months since their arrival, the numbers of locals increased as word spread of the Runner soldiers and their mission of liberation. The Metic Ahai slowly, and mostly quietly, added to the ranks, providing intelligence, slowing efficiency as they administered the Hetarek affairs on the planet, and even providing fighters. Bryan thought it had less to do with the well-strategized propaganda than the word-of-mouth about two humans risking their lives to save a Metic Ahai elder. He didn’t care why they came, as long as they came. Two pairs of non-humans under arms walked somewhere behind Bryan.

&
nbsp; Their encounters with the Hetarek became fewer and more manageable after the first few engagements. Their surrogate forces found ways to hit checkpoints before the team moved through, or harass the enemy elsewhere, pulling them away from wherever Bryan and his team needed to be. The Metic Ahai diverted resources to where they weren't needed. More and more, they were able to predict, and sometimes shape, the Hetarek response. Generally, he was pleased with the progress. The Heterak also seemed less inclined to engage the forces up close. If the kill estimate Xander Gretter had provided was even close, he didn’t blame them.

  But progress bred complacency. The number of local forces increased, but not enough. The gunfights lowered in intensity and raised in confidence, but the small skirmishes were nothing compared to what would come. More importantly, those humans spread throughout the rural areas, clustered in remote enclaves covering wide ranges of clearly Hetarek territory rarely saw the confidence-inducing successes. They might hear about them from Julian and Ava, or the Hetarek might portray them as justification for their brutality. But they never saw enough to throw their support behind the insurrection in the numbers the Free Humans needed for their return.

  The march across the snowy fields towards one of the largest enclaves in farm country, free from any cover, demonstrated their ability and commitment. Or so Bryan hoped.

  The Hetarek were absent, thanks to false reports of insurgents at a processing facility more than an hour away. A few locals, told by Julian and Ava to expect the team, as always, by the roving mechanics, stood by the compound gate. From Loki's view, Bryan knew how his team looked. A long V-shaped formation, three special forces soldiers in their hard-used equipment and carrying heavy weapons at the point, the rest of the team spread amongst a ragtag yet somewhat disciplined group of local fighters.

  As they approached, Bryan exaggerated his smile, holding up his hand in a wave that could be seen at a distance. Beside him, Siskind radioed that they had reached their destination.