Enforcer

by Kevin Ikenberry

  “That’s the good news.” She blew out a frustrated breath. “They’re putting out so much signal that we could probably track them from the edge of the star system. There are four of them, all ringing Moppicut City.” She tapped on her slate and brought up a three-dimensional map of the city. “Three on the outskirts and one larger one on top of an office building here. Their power and frequency profile suggest there is a linkage.”

  She pointed to the larger unit, and Hak leaned forward to study the image. “That’s not a design I’ve seen.”

  “Me either,” she grunted. “The problem with the Galactic Union growing so fast is that we can’t keep up with technological developments as easily as before. We need to find a way to get better intelligence.”

  Hak didn’t respond, which pleased her. Those in leadership positions within the guild tended to pontificate and advocate for change but rarely did anything about it. The Sidar’s methods were suspect, but she’d started to sense a genuine interest in Hr’ent and the mission from the Deputy Selector. Moreover, he appeared to have heeded Hr’ent’s words and kept his mouth shut about the mission specifics.

  Perhaps he’s learning. And actually listening.

  “We’ve got no connection to Hr’ent?”

  “None. The best I can manage is direct laser to Emonk.” Graa’vaa shook her head. “We’re in range for another 120 seconds unless we deorbit. We’re going to have to target that system.”

  Hak’s brow furrowed. “I’ll order the pilots to deorbit immediately. Please remember that we cannot have excess collateral damage, Graa’vaa.”

  “It can’t be helped.”

  Hak pointed at the office building. “Does ISMC own it? That would be within our rules of engagement.”

  “No, they don’t. It’s leased to something called the Dream World Consortium.” She looked up at the Sidar’s face. “The building was leased by them 60 days ago and is listed as vacant.”

  “Can we make sure it’s vacant? That there’s no one inside right this second?”

  “There’s too much interference from that jamming equipment,” Graa’vaa said. “Emonk can put a direct weapon on it, but we can’t verify that there won’t be any collateral damage.”

  Hak stared at the Tri-V. His mouth worked silently for a minute.

  “I’m the release authority for this, aren’t I?”

  Graa’vaa nodded. “You are, Hak. You okay with that?”

  The Sidar sighed and his mouth half-twisted in a chuckle. “Selector Grektch said to expect a time when Selectors would dirty their own hands. I hadn’t imagined it being so soon. Get Emonk on the line.”

  “Drop Alpha, this is Blue Flight.”

  “Go, Blue Flight.” Emonk’s voice was calm, like placid waters. “All hell is breaking loose down there. I’ve lost all comms monitoring as well as Hr’ent’s tracker on my scope.”

  “Same here. I’ve located the source of jamming. Relaying the targeting information to you now.” Graa’vaa tapped a sequence of codes on her slate.

  “Received. Do I have the authority to drop?”

  Hak spoke up. “Lieutenant Emonk, this is Deputy Selector Hak-Chet. For the record and under my authority, you are cleared to engage that target.”

  “Roger, that,” Emonk said, the placid calm picking up an edge of anticipation. “Getting airborne now.”

  They watched the camera feed from Emonk’s weapons platform rocket out of a stand of trees, swing hard to the right, and accelerate toward the city some kilometers off. It took just under a minute for the center of downtown Moppicut City to fill the screens. Her targeting reticle centered on the designated building. Once there, the image focused on the strange, rectangular contraption on the top of the building.

  “Target acquired and locked. Weapon release in eight seconds.” Emonk’s voice was calm and collected. “Five seconds.”

  The camera switched from the dropship’s platform to a seeker head on one of the MGK-120 anti-radiation missiles. A countdown timer appeared in one corner of the display and counted down from three.

  “Release.”

  The missile streaked forward, accelerated quickly to just below super-sonic speed, and raced over the Moppicut City skyline. In a surreal, deceptively slow action, the missile sighted on the jamming equipment and raced toward it. A millisecond before impact, they saw several GenSha attempt to flee before the image flashed bright white and the transmission terminated.

  “Target destroyed,” Emonk called.

  On the Tri-V, the camera switched to the weapons platform on the dropship. The upper portion of the building, perhaps the top three floors, were ablaze. Without some type of assistance or extinguishing system, it would likely collapse.

  Graa’vaa tried not to imagine it falling on innocent beings. Frustration and helplessness tore at her. She knew the whole situation, all of those deaths, had been brought about by soulless manipulation.

  Focus! Find a way to stop this, Graa’vaa!

  A window on Graa’vaa’s Tri-V flashed with hundreds of transmissions at once. She tapped furiously on the slate and identified the ISMC frequencies. “I have comms on all frequencies above the ultra-high frequency range. There’s still lower-band interference from an unknown source. Now for the first item of business.”

  Hak nodded. “Once we’ve got Hr’ent on comms again we—”

  “No.” Graa’vaa said. “I have a better idea. Let’s see if I can…there it is.”

  “What are you doing?” Hak-Chet asked.

  “Ending one threat.” Graa’vaa tapped her headset and zoomed in on the area where the Peacemaker team hunkered down. Two armored sleds burned in the nearby forest. Graa’vaa pointed the dropship antenna sensor into the area and isolated a frequency. She tapped the transmit button. “Commander, Mercenary Unit identified as The Darkness, this is Peacemaker Graa’vaa aboard a Blue Flight vessel in orbit. By the authority of the Peacemaker Guild, you are ordered to stand down immediately.”

  “Peacemaker, this is Lieutenant Diqamm in command of the remnants of The Darkness. I understand your authority, but we have a valid contract with the Iron Sky Mining Corporation.”

  “Your contract is nullified on the grounds of genocide perpetrated under false pretense. The ISMC hired you for protection in a conflict they manufactured with the intent to wipe out the GenSha colony at Moppicut City and beyond. Failure to stand down will result in a strong recommendation to the Mercenary Council that your membership rights be dissolved, and you will risk incarceration or death by their tribunal. I can offer evidence to you once this situation is under control. Do you understand your situation, Lieutenant Diqamm?”

  “Peacemaker Graa’vaa, on my order, The Darkness will cease fire and withdraw to a neutral position on your command.” The voice paused. “The Darkness shall never stand in the way of a Peacemaker, as long as I am in command.”

  “Excellent,” Graa’vaa said. “I also need to inform you that we have an airstrike inbound. My first priority is to my people, so you better get yours the hell out of there in a hurry. Get your people away from the southern and eastern base of that hill ASAP, or they’re going to get caught up in it.”

  There was a pause.

  “Understood, Peacemaker,” Diqamm replied. There was a frustrated edge in her voice, but she was in no position to argue. “Thanks for the heads up. I know you didn’t have to.”

  Graa’vaa smiled. “Coordinates for your withdrawal will be sent within the hour. Cease fire and stand down from operations now.”

  “Your terms have been set, Peacemaker. We will honor them. I’ll have to relay your directive to our CP and receive affirmation, but they’ll have the same response as me. We follow the law.”

  “Tell ISMC to stand down, as well,” Graa’vaa ordered. “Have them contact me on this frequency.”

  Diqamm laughed. “I don’t believe there is anyone left in command of those forces, Peacemaker. Most of them ran and hid when operations began. I will arrange evacuation by drop
ship, pending your approval.”

  “Evacuation by dropship approved. Lift your survivors to orbit. Make no attempt to transition to hyperspace or risk collection and forfeiture of your assets per my earlier warning,” Graa’vaa replied straight out of the diplomacy texts. While the Peacemakers did not answer to the Mercenary Guild, or vice versa, their understandings were simple. Peacemakers would stay out of any contract as long as it did not threaten the few titanium-clad laws of the Galactic Union. Mercenary units would adhere to the demands of a Peacemaker with any valid injunction.

  “Understood, Peacemaker. Diqamm out.”

  Hak smiled and nodded. “Well done, Graa’vaa.”

  “One threat neutralized.” Graa’vaa felt herself flush with pride as she scrolled through the frequencies. “The GenSha were operating in this area of the spectrum before, I just have to find them again.”

  Hak pointed at the Tri-V. “There’s no time.”

  “Blue Flight, there’s a mass of infantry moving up there,” Emonk called. “Standing by for close air support. What are your orders?”

  “We’re past the point of no return, Emonk. Either you drop everything you have along that skirmish line, or we lose everything. Avoid mercenary forces if possible. They’ve been ordered to pull back, but our primary objective is protecting our personnel. We have one shot at this. Just keep their heads down, and Hr’ent will do the rest.”

  “Understood, sir, but you’re asking me to drop within 100 meters of the Peacemaker team’s last known location.” Emonk’s voice finally showed a bit of anxiety.

  Graa’vaa tapped the transmit button. “Affirmative, Drop Alpha. Let those bastards have it. Give them everything you have.”

  “That’s going to be awfully close to Hr’ent. Like scorched fur close.”

  “Then do a good job. Hak said you were the best, here’s your chance to prove it.” Graa’vaa couldn’t help but smile. The opportunity to playfully needle a pilot, and a higher-ranking officer, could not be overlooked.

  “I’ll tell him to keep his head down. Let’s just hope he has his comms on. Drop Alpha, out.”

  * * * * *

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Godannii 2

  Combat Zone Perimeter

  Hr’ent circumvented the GenSha position by a hundred meters, relying on the heavy sound of gunfire to cover his pounding footsteps. Dawn was about to break, and when it did, he would lose the cover of darkness. Trees flashed by in a blur, and he put as many of their thick trunks between him and the Veetanho as he could. Mercs, or at least some of them, would have thermal vision, and he would be a blaring beacon in the cool, dawn air. At his speed, they’d see flashes, but nothing that would be clear—he hoped.

  Steady small arms fire filled the air, punctuated by the cracking beat of the repeater he was after. He scanned to his right, trying to get a bead on the combat taking place between the Veetanho and the GenSha, but there was too much forest and darkness, even for his enhanced vision. He’d traversed about 400 meters in a wide loop around the GenSha and spotted the headlights of the nearest Veetanho combat sled. Its angle showed that it was focused on the GenSha, and then a blue-hued burst from the heavy repeater danced down the hill and into the GenSha position. In the light, he made out the moving shadows of at least a squad of Veetanho around the vehicle. There were more moving Veetanho shadows further down the hill, at least 100 meters in front of the sled.

  The plan came to him in an instant, and he angled out into the forest, putting on another burst of speed.

  Thirty seconds later, he was racing along a low hillside, aiming for the glow of the headlights on the sled pointing down and away from him. There were three mercs on his side of the vehicle and one more out in front of it. The sled had a single driver in the cockpit and one more operating the swivel-mount heavy repeater from a mostly open flat bed with low sides that extended behind the cockpit.

  Hr’ent came in low and fast.

  He threw the silver blade in an underhanded toss at the gunner. It caught her in the neck, and she jerked with the impact, collapsing into the bed of the sled.

  The nearest merc on the ground turned at the sound of pounding boots, the barrel of an auto-rifle swinging around with her. Hr’ent lowered his shoulder and slammed into the surprised Veetanho. He let his momentum carry him straight into the doomed merc, who flew back against the side of the sled with a massive thud of armor against steel with a yelp. Hr’ent skidded to a halt next to the sled, drew his PK in a flash, and opened fire at two mercs who were turning toward him.

  His first shot took the nearest merc in the side and sent her flying forward. His second burned a gaping hole through the next Veetanho’s head in a cloud of vaporized blood and bone.

  He tumbled away from the sled, drew a bead on the next merc, and fired two quick rounds that tore through the chest piece of the Veetanho’s combat armor. The merc in the front of the sled turned at the gunfire and tried to draw a bead on Hr’ent, but the Oogar’s next shot took her in the face.

  Hr’ent heard excited chatter and movement in the cabin. He spun to see the driver shoving a pistol through the open window.

  Hr’ent’s reflexes allowed him to jerk the PK up and aim it in the blink of an eye. A single shot took the driver’s arm off at the elbow before she could pull the trigger. Hr’ent stepped to the side, put one round through the driver’s head, and dropped to the ground as a mercenary opened fire through the cabin of the vehicle.

  From where he lay, Hr’ent saw two pairs of combat boots on the far side. He snapped off a couple of shots, taking a foot off each merc. They hit the ground screaming, and Hr’ent silenced them with two more shots.

  He rose quickly, replaced the power cell in his PK, then holstered it. He looked around the combat zone. He was sure the driver had gotten a message off, but there didn’t seem to be any reaction from any of the Veetanho units. He could see the other sled, further down the hill and forward of his position, but it and the infantry with it seemed to be focused on a heavy barrage of fire coming from the GenSha.

  They’re being jammed, he realized. It was the only explanation. Lucky me.

  Hr’ent hopped up onto the bed of the sled and jerked his blade out of the gunner’s neck. He wiped it off on the corpse’s white fur and slid it into his belt as he looked around at what could only be described as treasure. The swivel-mount bolted to the bed of the sled held a Veetanho-made QuippaVauer K-7 Heavy Repeater, with a row of extended power cells lining the floor. To a Veetanho, the weapon was considered vehicle-mount ordnance only. At nearly three meters long and weighing at least 75 kilos with the power cell, it was an ideal vehicle- or tripod-mounted infantry support weapon. The thing was capable of 90 mercury-based chemical laser bursts a minute due to an advanced capacitor-recharge unit built into the stock. To Hr’ent, it was a viable heavy assault rifle, with a dozen hundred-round power cells lying at his feet, secured on one side of the bed by combat webbing and a length of discarded paracable. There was a row of ammunition cases along the other side.

  He yanked one of the three power cells from a bracket mounted to the swivel, pulled the mostly spent power cell from the K-7, and slammed the new one home. The charge readout spun up from two single red dots to four rows of ten dots, one red, one yellow and two green. He realized he would not be able to get his whole digit into the trigger guard, but a single claw fit nicely.

  Out of the corner of his eye, Hr’ent saw the other sled open fire with a long burst downrange that pinned down a group of GenSha shifting among the boulders just beyond a devastated fence line. The mercs surrounding the vehicle moved forward, opened fire, and took up covering positions 30 meters ahead of the sled as the GenSha responded with a heavy volley from multiple positions. He saw muzzle flashes from several positions between the sled and the GenSha. There was at least a full platoon of mercs pinning the GenSha down.

  Beyond the forward GenSha position, he could just make out a good deal of movement as thick shadows seemed to pour out o
f the ground and move away from the fence line.

  GenSha reinforcements.

  Returning his gaze to the other sled, he let his eyes trace from the vehicle and the six mercenaries ahead of it, down a short stretch of hill, over a dirt road, and up the 200 meters or more to where he’d seen the Peacemakers dug in.

  That was where he needed to be next, and he had to take out the vehicle and everyone around it to get there quickly. He reached down, yanked the cargo netting aside and grabbed the paracable. As quickly as he could, he threaded it through the handles of six power cells, then pulled the two power cells off the swivel and added them to the load. He tied the cable off so he could loop it over his shoulder and around his body. He cut the excess cable with the silver blade, then realized what he held in his paw. It wasn’t just any combat sword, it was Rsach’s Silver Blade. The GenSha had obviously taken it for his own. Hr’ent growled at the audacity and the insult. Even if Rsach didn’t deserve it, the GenSha should never have put his hands on it.

  Hr’ent slid the blade back into his belt and hefted the extra power cells over his head, rotating the rig so they were lined up along his back and beneath his arm. A glance at the row of ammo cases gave him another idea. He opened one of them and pulled out three anti-personnel grenades.

  He rose and took a deep breath. His heart was racing and his vision was red, but he was thinking clearly through the Feral rage. He realized he was finally coming to terms with the beast inside him. For the first time, as he stood there staring at his enemies, he understood that his reason and his rage could exist simultaneously. He fanned the fires within and then, in quick succession, pulled and tossed each of the three grenades along the line of mercs ahead of the sled. The first one went off as the third one landed, sending two mercs flying.

  Hr’ent yanked the K-7 from the swivel and dropped onto the ground as the second and third grenades went off, ripping most of the advance squad to pieces.

  He started jogging forward, the K-7 gripped tightly as he aimed down the open sights.