Exodus: Empires at War: Book 3: The Rising Storm

by Doug Dandridge

  “Yes, sir,” called out the Marine, lifting on his grabbers and flying just above the ground toward his men. As soon as he reached them they started to move out, in an octet of v-formations, moving quickly through the jungle.

  The first squadron of attack craft moved back in, this time going low and slow, picking their targets with care. They were much more accurate in this profile, but also made much better targets. Two of the craft were hit by beams before they could fire. One went up in a terrific blast. The other trailed smoke and moved away. The twelve remaining ships started cycling rockets and beam weapons into the Ca’cadasan positions, in a knife fight with the ground troops that fired back at them. Another craft was hit, the pilot ejecting his capsule just before the ship exploded under multiple hits. The eleven remaining kept up their attack, and Baggett, watching the take, had to agree that the pilots had courage.

  The Colonel switched his take to one of Marquette’s Marines as those troopers pushed through the gap in the enemy lines. Of course, charging through a gap meant taking fire from both flanks, and the beams and projectiles were coming through fast and furious. The one ton battle suits of the Marines were shrugging off most of this fire like the Cacas were throwing stones at them. Some of the fighting devolved into hand to hand, and one Marine backhanded three hundred kilos of alien and armor into a tree twenty meters away, while another took down a Ca’cadasan with a point blank particle beam shot, the energy causing the enemy’s armor to glow for a few seconds. That’s what I need to get into, thought the Colonel, again thinking how much easier it would be in every respect to lead men who were so armed and protected.

  Right after that thought a Marine took hits from a half dozen beams, lasers and particle, and fell forward with a trio of smoking holes in the armor. Baggett switched to a vitals readout and saw nothing but flatlines for every measure except for body heat, and that one was almost off the scale. Several more Marine icons blinked and went off the HUD, and then his Marines met up with the other ones coming from the North, and the battle was all but over.

  But not quite. The Ca’cadasans did not seem inclined to surrender, no matter what. It took another hour to dig them all out of their positions. In the end a single soldier surrendered, and he was wounded. Baggett thought that didn’t bode well for future operations, trying to take a fanatical enemy out of prepared fortifications. Not that we will have to worry about that for quite some time, thought the officer. The Imperial forces were likely to be on the defensive for years, if they ever gained the offensive initiative.

  Well before the last enemy was taken care of the shuttles started to land on the field that the enemy positions had overlooked. They came in cautiously, an overflight of attack craft keeping watch, and soon were unloading the naval personnel who would turn the grassy area into an embarkation point.

  Colonel Baggett counted his casualties at the end of the fight, in one way relieved that they had been so light. Forty-nine soldiers and fifteen Marines would never see the stars of home. And among those was Captain Marquette, the last Marine combat officer of those who had been stationed on the planet.

  * * *

  THE DONUT.

  The com buzzed on Lucille’s desk as she was going over the revised production figures. A wormholer was under construction outside the station to replace the destroyed unit, and she hoped that the rotation would soon be reestablished. If not, there could be undue wear and tear on the working units. Freighters were due to bring the components of two more of the machines to the station within a week, which would alleviate the problem even more. And then two more after that the next week, she thought.

  “Admiral Lenkowski on the com for you, ma’am,” said the secretary over the link as soon as Lucille acknowledged it.

  “Well, put him on,” said Lucille, hoping that she was not going to be admonished for letting production slip, even so slightly. She still felt obligated to the man who had rescued her from Purgatory, which she knew had to have cost him something. The holo formed over the desk and she was looking into the face of the Grand High Admiral.

  “What can I do for you today, Admiral?” asked Lucille, giving the man a pleasant smile.

  “I do have a favor to ask, Director Yu,” said the man, smiling back, though Lucille could see the marks of stress and fatigue on his face. “But first let me thank you for the wonderful job you are doing.”

  “It would be better if we didn’t have some kind of agent provocateur running around on the station mucking things up.”

  “You let your security staff, IIA and Naval Intelligence worry about that, Director. You just concentrate on getting as many gates to us as you can, with the resources you possess.”

  “Easier said than done, Admiral. I’m sure you know the feeling. It’s stressful to fall short of the goal, even if someone else is working to make you fail.”

  “Yes,” said the Admiral, his expression taking on a thoughtful look. “I do indeed. And I also want to thank you for getting those gates out to the frontier. I’m afraid they’re going to be needed in the very near future.”

  “And we’ll be shipping the local gates out in the next couple of days,” said Lucille with a smile. “That ought to make the local authorities happy.” Then the damned politicians will be able to clog the system with things they want right now, and the military will still have to wait in line. Damn Bureaucrats

  “And that’s exactly the favor I wanted to ask you,” said Lenkowski, his intense eyes gazing into hers. “I want you to delay deploying those gates until I give you the word.”

  “Delay? But why? We’ve already delayed those gates longer than I would have liked.”

  “Let’s just say there are certain, people, I don’t want having instantaneous access to that station at this time,” said the Admiral, his look serious. “Will you do that for me, Director?”

  “Of course, Admiral,” said Lucille, not knowing what else she could say to the man. “I will not ship out those gates until you tell me to. Any idea how long that might be?”

  “I wish I knew, Director. But I will tell you something. If anything happens to me, make sure those gates are installed as soon as possible. I don’t want you implicated in anything. Lenkowski out.”

  The holo died before Yu could get out another word. Leaving her to wonder what else she was getting into that might bite her in the end.

  Chapter Twenty

  One of the traditional reasons for having a head of state, be he or she an Emperor, a King or a President, is that there is a figurehead to rally around. It’s all very well and good to fight for a flag, but no one has ever yelled the name of a Parliament or other legislative body during a battle. It helps if the figurehead is a reputable figure, and even more so if he or she is heroic. But even an idiot will do, as all blame will slide from them and land on the legislative body. Because it is easier to curse those we really do not know.

  Philosopher Francine Thomas, Imperial Year 494.

  SESTIUS SPACE, APRIL 2nd THROUGH 3RD, 1000.

  “I wish to go down to the surface, Admiral,” said Sean, looking at the main viewer.

  “There’s no way in the Seven Hells I’m going to let you go down to that planet,” yelled the Admiral, staring at the young man. “Are you fucking crazy?” The Admiral looked like she had swallowed her tongue, her face flushing, the red showing through her ebony skin. “I mean, I.”

  “Don’t apologize, Admiral,” said Sean, showing his teeth in a wide smile. “I would probably act the same way. And I am willing to take along whatever security or protection you wish to place on me. But I will tour that planet.”

  “Very well, your Majesty,” said the Admiral in a tone that admitted defeat. “But first we will make sure that the landing area is secure. You will grant me that, or accept my resignation on the spot.” She started to turn to issue the orders, then turned back and glared at Samantha. “I thought you were restricted to quarters, Lt. Commander. What are you doing on the flag bridge?”

  “O
n my orders, Samantha is immediately relieved of active duty and is now on my staff,” said the Emperor, waving a hand at his cousin. “She will be responsible for running the civilian government in my absence, once I have been officially installed.”

  “Running the civilian government?” said the Admiral, her eyes again wide. “You’re going to make my Com Officer your Regent?”

  “Why not,” said Sean, nodding. “She’s intelligent enough, which can’t be said for some of those cousins Parliament might try to foist on the Emporal Branch. And she’s loyal.”

  “Wait a second,” said the Admiral, the words finally sinking in. “In your absence? What will you be doing?”

  “Why, running the war effort from out here,” said Sean, his tone of one talking about going on an afternoon’s hunting excursion.

  I wonder how Grand Fleet Admiral Mgonda will react to that. Or all the brass in the Hexigon. The Admiral held back the laugh that threatened to break from her as she contemplated that reaction, and she thought the Goddess was playing a great joke on them all.

  * * *

  The armor felt comfortable, well fitted. Sean kept his visor raised despite the protests of his bodyguards. The Marines were all around him, making sure they were ready to interpose their armored bodies between their Monarch and any danger. Not that there was likely to be any danger in this place and time.

  The planet was beautiful, with air that must have been clean and sweet smelling before the smoke and dust of war invaded the atmosphere. There was jungle all around the large field that was being used for flight operations, and hundreds of flying creatures over those trees. Some large animals were gathered at the far end of the open area, and when Sean zoomed in on those creatures he drew in a breath of shock. They’re as big as dinosaurs, but I’m told they’re mammals, of a sort. Unbelievable.

  As he watched another six assault shuttles came in for a landing, slowing in the air and hovering on their grabber units, then lowering to the ground on their extended pads. As soon as they touched down the hatches opened, and Marines in heavy combat armor came bounding out. They took to the air on their suit grabbers as soon as they were out in the open, flying low over the ground toward the trees.

  “That’s the last of the Marines coming down at this field, your Majesty,” said Lieutenant Tucker, the bodyguard commander. “The standard shuttles will now start coming down to take people off the planet.”

  “And they’ll use the assault shuttles as well?” said Sean, looking at the near jungle, where people in civilian clothing, as well as some soldiers, were coming out into the open. “How many people were on this planet?”

  “A bit over two hundred thousand,” said Samantha, standing next to Sean in her shipboard armor. “Of course, there won’t be that many still here.”

  “No,” said Sean, looking back at the oncoming people, while his Marine guards formed a wall between him and them. “I guess there must have been a lot of people killed here.”

  “You have done all you could do, your Majesty,” said Samantha, using the public protocol.

  “It seems a shame to abandon this world,” said Sean, looking down at his shorter cousin.

  “Are you the officer in charge?” yelled out a commanding voice, and Sean found himself looking at a tall man in Imperial Army medium armor. Not in the same class as the armor of his Marines, but still quite capable. “What is your rank?” called out the Army officer, the insignia of a full colonel on his helmet, his face plate raised.

  “This is your Emperor,” said Lieutenant Tucker, as the Marines blocked the path of the soldiers.

  “My Emperor?” said the confused officer. “What would the Emperor be doing on the surface? And you don’t look like Augustine. Oh crap. That’s right, I forgot.”

  “I am Sean, Colonel,” said the Monarch, smiling at the man. “And I am the Emperor of Humanity.” And he was told that by the Admiral, but forgot. How much stress and fatigue has this man been through?

  “Your Majesty,” said the man, going down on one knee and bowing his head. He looked up and around at his shocked men. “You lugs. Show proper obeisance to the man you swore your oaths to.”

  “Oh, get up, Colonel,” said Sean, pushing past his guard and grabbing the man by the hands. “I should bow to you after the Hell you’ve been through here.” Sean pulled the man to his feet, then bowed at the waist toward him.

  “But, what are you doing here, your Majesty?” asked the Colonel, confusion on his face. “Have the Cacas conquered the Empire, that you must seek safety on an out of the way planet?”

  “Nothing at all like that, Colonel,” said Sean, looking at the tired faces of all the infantrymen, wondering what it must have been like to have fought for over a week against hopeless odds, with no chance of relief. “It is a long story. And one I will be glad to tell you on board the Flagship as we head back to base. And I would have you fill me in on what has happened here, so I might learn the strengths and weaknesses of our enemies.”

  Now civilians were starting to draw near, and the soldiers started to form a cordon to prevent them from getting too close. They were talking and pointing, and there were some shouts of disbelief as the soldiers told them what was going on.

  “Are we going home?” yelled a woman from the crowd.

  “We are home,” yelled a man. “Are you going to protect us from the Cacas, so we can stay?”

  “We will be evacuating the civilians as well,” said Sean to the Colonel, waving hand at the people, as he had seen his father do on parades, hoping he was doing it right.

  “There are some who will refuse to come,” said the Colonel, glancing back at the people gathering. “Oh, not these people. While some might be sorry to leave here, I’m sure all will take the offer of safety.”

  “Then who are these people who you think will want to stay?”

  “The Freeholders,” said the Colonel, saying the word like they were both God and Devil. “The people who live out in the wilderness of the planet. There were about ten thousand of them, and I know damned well they won’t want to leave here.”

  “What will they do then?” asked Sean, not liking the idea of leaving people behind to be slaughtered by the Ca’cadasans when they returned in force to this system. “Hide in the wilderness, and hope the Cacas don’t look for them.”

  “Hell no,” said the Colonel. Sean motioned for his guards to let the officer come to him, and the suspicious Marines reluctantly made way. “Hell no, your Majesty They’ll fight. A guerilla war, and I think the Ca’cadasans will come to hate this place. If they have the equipment to fight.”

  “Then we will see that they have that equipment,” said Sean, nodding toward Samantha. “Weapons, explosives, secure communications, stealth gear, rations. What else?”

  “I’ll make up a list,” said the Colonel, looking to one of his NCOs. “And I’ll want to talk with some of their leaders to see if there’s anything I missed.”

  A quartet of standard shuttles came through the clouds on approach to the field, dropping low and heading for a clear place.

  “Start getting those people aboard, now,” said Sean to his Marines. They looked at him with confusion but didn’t take a step away from him. “Damn, well I guess that’s one command I can’t get away with. Colonel?”

  “Baggett, your Majesty,” replied the Colonel. “And what can I do?”

  “Have your men start organizing those people, and get them onto the shuttles in an orderly manner. There will be a lot more coming. Make sure that families are kept together, if possible.”

  “Yes, your Majesty,” said the officer, talking for a minute into his helmet com system.

  The soldiers started to fan out, talking with the civilians, taking names, making lists to get people up to the ships in orbit. Within minutes the first of the civilians were boarding shuttles, while a pair of the large assault craft came through the clouds and started to circle the field, moving to the spots where Marines landing personnel were waving them in.r />
  More of the civilians were coming out of the jungle, and Sean wondered how many were approaching the other landing and evacuation areas. "How long till the other battle cruisers assume orbit?" Sean asked the Admiral over the com.

  “Approximately twelve hours,” said the Admiral. “I think we should still get as many people aboard the ships we have in orbit. We can transfer as needed to the other ships while we are under way to the hyper limit.”

  “Agreed,” said Sean, looking out over the people that were gathering around his shuttle. “I’m going to send you a list of things we need to transport down here.”

  “For what purpose?” asked the Admiral. He could hear the confusion in her voice, and knew that she was looking at the list that was appearing on her viewer. “Why all these weapons and equipment?”

  “The military commander down here has told me that a segment of the population will refuse to evacuate. Since they won’t come with us to safety, and seem to want to fight the invaders, I believe we should give them the means to resist to the best of their abilities.”

  “This time I agree, your Majesty,” said the Admiral, a laugh in her voice. “I guess we really can’t force everyone on the surface to come along if they don’t want to. Unless we station battalions of Marines on the planet and comb the jungles. And I don’t think the Cacas are going to give us that kind of time.”

  “That’s, very true, Admiral,” said Sean, still watching the people gathering, many pointing his way. “But I was thinking more of the basic freedom of these Freeholders, guaranteed by our constitution. We don’t have the right to tell them what to do with their lives. If they want to stay and fight, then I say let them. Maybe they’ll cause some trouble for our six limbed friends. Lord knows we need all the distractions we can give them.”

  “And when are you coming back up, your Majesty?” asked the Admiral, concern in her voice.