“Thousands of human pestilence have invaded our territory while the Legion just looks on and does nothing,” started the spider commander. “This provocation will not be tolerated. Either you remove the squatters, or I will.”
“Don’t get your mandibles in a twist,” said General Kalipetsis, calmly. “If a few colonists got lost and strayed across the MDL, I am sure we can move them back. The Legion will do it. Just don’t shoot anyone.”
“Your colonists have already attacked our patrols,” said the spider commander. “I have brought helmet camera video as proof of their aggression. I gave a copy to your military intelligence officer, Captain Lopez.”
“I have yet to review it,” said Captain Lopez, sliding the chip into a player. “Grab the popcorn, it’s show time.”
They watched on screen as spider mechanized units approached two human colonists setting fence posts on a hill overlooking a small ranch. One of the colonists, a teenager, ran off to warn the others. His father stayed and argued with the spider marine team leader. As the boy returned armed with another colonist, the father shot and killed the team leader. All three colonists were then killed by the turret machine gunner. It was a ghastly video to watch, but clearly the humans fired first. It was unfortunate, but what could be done? General Kalipetsis, thinking the video was over, started to say something conciliatory about the death of the spider team leader. But, the video kept playing. General Kalipetsis settled back into his chair, wondering impatiently how long this was going to take. He checked his watch.
The spiders checked the colonists to see if they were dead. They shot the bodies a couple more times to make sure. Then they waited for more armored cars to arrive. With cannon and machine gun, the spiders fired on the ranch house and outbuildings below. Air Wing fighter-bombers dropped incendiaries on the colonists taking cover in the buildings. A burning colonist ran out of the house and fell. A child ran past her and into a field. The child fell as he was strafed by machine gun fire. General Kalipetsis looked away. The film ended shortly afterward. Captain Lopez removed his chip copy and left the room. He could be heard outside, shouting orders to legionnaires.
“There were no survivors?” asked General Kalipetsis.
“This unprovoked attack on our patrol occurred seventy-five miles north of the MDL,” said the spider commander. “You will do something about these squatters and trespassers now.”
General Kalipetsis was numb with grief for the murdered families. He focused on the small MDL drawn through the ashtray on the conference table as his anger built up. Finally he calmed himself and smiled at the spider commander. He drew his pistol. The spider aides, already alerted to the volatility of the human pestilence when confronted with irrefutable facts, immediately drew their weapons, too. General Kalipetsis fired one round at the glass ashtray, shattering it. A bullet hole was left in the MDL painted across the conference table. Captain Lopez and a squad of tense legionnaires burst into the conference room. It was just luck no one started shooting.
“That was the most immature thing I have ever seen a commander do,” commented the spider commander. “Have you lost your mind? You should never have been put in a position of such great responsibility. Do you realize the importance of what is at stake here?”
“This conference is over,” declared General Kalipetsis, rising to leave. “If any more colonists are murdered, I will order your arrest for crimes against humanity. I am immediately sending the Legion into the disputed border area to protect all United States Galactic Federation citizens present.”
“Disputed border area? Your invasion will not be tolerated,” argued the spider commander, rising to his feet. “Your actions are a violation of the peace treaty!”
“Up yours!” said General Kalipetsis, giving the spider commander the one-fingered salute as he left. “Your actions are murder.”
I whispered in the general’s ear, “We might not have enough men and equipment in place to cover such a large area.”
“The rest of the First Division will be here soon,” advised General Kalipetsis. “I am promoting you to Lieutenant Colonel. I like the way you get things done. Take all of your legionnaires and establish a new protective MDL.”
“The New Gobi is huge,” I protested. “Colonists are spread out across a thousand miles, and the spiders are bringing in more marines and armor. How do you expect me to protect the colonists?”
“Bring nukes with you,” said General Kalipetsis. “We are not backing down. The DMZ is going to be moved north.”
* * * * *
The column of Legion armored cars raced across the MDL. Their dust could be seen for miles. Private Wayne, perched atop a machine gun turret, expected more from the enemy. However, this far out into the desert, there were no border checkpoints or guards. They made their own road when not following tracks left by squatters.
“I don’t get it,” complained Corporal Williams. “Why are we crossing into spider country?”
“To protect trespassers,” said Private Wayne. The big spider legionnaire enjoyed annoying Corporal Williams, and would play devil’s advocate just for an excuse to argue. For that reason, he had printed on his flack vest: DON’T SHOOT, I AM NOT FROM TENNESSEE.
“Anyone who crosses the MDL deserves to get shot,” griped Corporal Williams. “The border is clearly marked.”
“Anyone but us?” asked Sergeant Green. “Shut up!”
“It’s our manifest destiny to colonize the New Gobi before the Empire does,” said Private Wayne. “General Kalipetsis planned this all along.”
“There will never be enough water to grow crops here,” commented Corporal Williams, blowing dust out his nose. “This place is an endless dust bowl.”
The column traveled about seventy-five miles north of the MDL, passing several burned-out cars and shacks. They arrived at the Miranda-Pineda enclave at about noon. Captain Lopez immediately scattered the armored cars to establish a perimeter.
“Put a gun on that hill,” ordered Captain Lopez, turning to Sergeant Green. “I want a body count. Search for survivors!”
They spent the day clearing rubble. Lying in dugout shelters under the rubble they found the burned and charred bodies of the colonist families. Three colonists still lay up on the hill where the initial confrontation took place. After burying them, Corporal Williams and Private Williams took a break.
“Why did they kill everyone?” asked Corporal Williams, expecting his spider friend to have special insight. “They even killed little kids.”
“Because they were trespassing,” explained Private Wayne. “Trespassing is a big deal.”
“It’s not that big of a deal,” argued Corporal Williams. He took a drink from his canteen. “This was murder.”
“Only fools cross the border when there is free land on the American side,” insisted Private Wayne.
“You can join the others,” said Corporal Williams. “I want to stay up here on the hill by myself for a while.”
Private Wayne shrugged and joined the others sifting through the burned-out buildings. There was a cool breeze up on the hill. Corporal Williams intended to enjoy that breeze for a few moments longer. As he walked through the high grass, he tripped over another body. It was a boy of about seven years old. His brown skin was covered with dirt and thistles. The boy was cold to the touch. Corporal Williams stooped down and picked the boy up by his shoulders, shaking him. “Kid, are you alive?” asked Corporal Williams. “Come on, be alive!”
The boy’s eyes opened. He pulled a knife and pressed it to Corporal Williams’ throat, pushing Corporal Williams onto his back. “Who are you, and why did you bring spiders with you?”
“We are the United States Galactic Federation Foreign Legion,” replied Corporal Williams. He could feel the sharp knife poking against his throat. “We are here to protect colonists and to save you.”
“That was a spider you were just talking to,” accused the boy. “You let murderous spiders in the Foreign Legion?”
; “Anyone can join the Legion,” said Corporal Williams. “You must swear an oath to defend the United States Galactic Federation.”
“Can I join the Legion?” asked the boy.
“How old are you?”
“I am ten and a half. What’s it to you?”
“I think you are lying about you age. You look to be about seven, but it doesn’t matter. You have to be an adult to join the Legion.”
“If they let a funny-talking hick like you in the Legion, there should be room for me. Where are you from?”
“Tennessee,” answered Williams defensively. “Tennessee is the Volunteer State. It’s a long tradition in my family to enlist.”
“It’s not fair,” said the boy, pressing the knife in anger against Corporal Williams’ neck. “Who are you to say I can’t join the Legion?”
Corporal Williams closed his eyes and thought about dying in the desert grass at the hands of a crazy homicidal little boy. It was not how he envisioned his death. At least not after all the action he had seen across the galaxy.
“Your hands aren’t even big enough to grip an assault rifle,” said Corporal Williams. “You have too much hate in you. Chill. Be a little kid for a while longer.”
“I do not need to join the Legion to kill spiders,” said the boy, loosening his grip on Corporal Williams’ throat. “Just remember, I am your worst nightmare. I will make the chupacabra look like a sweet puppy.”
“Whatever,” said Corporal Williams, relieved, but feeling drained. Perhaps it was just from closing his eyes, but it felt good to block out the world for a few moments. He fell asleep. When he woke hours later, it was dark. Flashlights shined in his face. Legionnaires were tromping through the high grass. Private Wayne knelt beside Williams, shaking his shoulder.
“Where did that boy go?” asked Corporal Williams. “He was right here. I tripped over him.”
“I see no hatchlings here,” said Private Wayne, shining his flashlight across the grass.
“There is no one out here but you,” snapped Sergeant Green. “You have been hiding to avoid work again. That’s okay, because I have a special detail for you and Wayne! Since you are all rested up, you can dig graves all night. Get back to camp!”
“There was a little boy out here,” said Corporal Williams. “We need to find him. He might be lost.”
“What boy?” asked Captain Lopez.
“Williams was asleep hiding in the grass,” said Sergeant Green. “If he saw anyone, it was in his dreams.”
“The boy wanted to join the Legion,” insisted Corporal Williams. “He held a knife to my throat and spoke of the chupacabra. What is a chupacabra?”
“The boy was Latino?” asked Captain Lopez.
“I guess,” said Corporal Williams. “He sounded like he was from Texas.”
“The colonists that were attacked were Latino,” said Captain Lopez. He grabbed Corporal Williams by the collar and examined Williams’ neck, seeing a trickle of dried blood from a pinprick on his Adam’s apple. Captain Lopez immediately started giving orders. “I want this field searched in a grid pattern! And I want Guido and his dragon out here sniffing for that boy!”
“We have a timetable,” said Sergeant Green. “There are other homesteads out here.”
“We will camp here until dawn,” said Captain Lopez. “Then we move out.”
After an extensive search, the boy was not found. Captain Lopez left a stash of food and water next to the graves. Corporal Williams eventually convinced himself he’d just dreamed it all. That was what everyone seemed to believe. Or maybe the boy was a ghost. The Devil knows there must be enough ghosts and restless souls out here, Williams told himself.
* * * * *
The spider commander sat in his office, wondering what had gone wrong during recent negotiations. He had shown proof to the human pestilence general that squatters had invaded Arthropodan territory and had attacked border guards. Could it be that the human pestilence were just not capable of negotiating in good faith like civilized beings?
The Governor of the North Territory called several times. The spider commander put him off, telling aides to inform the governor he was out inspecting the troops. Finally the Emperor himself called. The spider commander had not talked to his uncle in a long time, and did not particularly want to talk to him now. However, aides refused to lie to or hang up on the Emperor.
“Hello, Uncle,” said the spider commander, cheerfully greeting the image on his communications monitor. “I am so glad to see you after so long. What may I do for you?”
“The first thing you can do is address me as Your Majesty,” snapped the Emperor. “Or would you rather I reach across the galaxy and pop your puny head like the pimple that it is?”
“Yes, Your Majesty,” replied the spider commander. “I am at your service.”
“I already know that,” said the Emperor. “I posted you on the most remote part of the most distant inhabited planet of the Empire as a favor to your mother, and to keep you out of trouble, but still you are able to screw up to the point of causing an intergalactic crisis that might start another war. I swear you could screw up a wet nightmare.”
“What have I done, Your Majesty?” protested the spider commander. “The human pestilence have invaded the New Gobi Desert. It is not my fault.”
“It is your fault!” said the Emperor. “I just watched your little massacre of civilians on cable TV. Now the whole Royal Family is being publicly dragged through the mud by the press, and it is your fault!”
“What can I do?” asked the spider commander. “The human pestilence are overwhelming us with sheer numbers. They breed like vermin, you know.”
“Millions of our own settlers will arrive soon,” said the Emperor. “You will provide them protection as they burrow into their farms and habitats. Understand?”
“But what about the trespass of the human pestilence?” asked the spider commander. “The honor and integrity of the Empire is at stake.”
“You let me worry about my honor and integrity,” said the Emperor. “The New Gobi Desert is a large place. There is room enough for all. If the MDL gets moved a few miles one way or another, it is not that big of a deal. You will establish a stable border and bring order to the frontier. Get your engineers to work bringing in water. The New Gobi is now a valuable part of my Empire. I will not have the New Gobi destroyed by war. It will be the Empire’s breadbasket. You will protect our colonists and escort them to their new farms. Once our colonists are in place, the border will mostly take care of itself.”
“With all due respect, Uncle, appeasement of the human pestilence is ill-advised,” said the spider commander. “They only respect military force.”
“I have been reading much human history,” said the Emperor. “You are wrong. I studied this matter in college, too. The more you bloody the human pestilence, the more stubborn they get. They hold grudges forever. Their Legion still shout and sing slogans about defeats that happened centuries ago. Remember the Alamo, remember Pearl Harbor, remember Nine-Eleven, and remember the Islas Malvinas – these are just a few examples.”
“I agree they are odd,” said the spider commander. “But the more contact I have with the human pestilence, the more I learn the lesson of how really odd they are. I will follow your orders. I will resist their onslaughts where I can. I will establish the MDL where I can. But, I need more troops.”
“More troops are on the way,” promised the Emperor. “But more troops are not the most important issue. Key to our claim on the New Gobi is the fundamental tenant that no other power has the right to settle the New Gobi without leave from His Majesty’s government or the taking of an oath of allegiance from His Majesty’s government or submitting themselves to His Majesty’s government as subjects of the Crown, because of our right by discovery as well as settlement.”
“Yes, Uncle,” said the spider commander. What a windbag, he thought. “I understand completely.” Actually, he understood none of it.
“Good. I am glad to hear you are capable of learning. One more thing,” added the Emperor. “The next time the governor calls you, answer his call. The governor’s military insight and experience are invaluable. And stop calling me Uncle!”
* * * * *
Captain Lopez’ column found several more burned-out homesteads before coming across five families that had banded together for protection by building a stockade of rocks and sod. They were greeted at its front gate.
“It’s not safe here,” announced Captain Lopez. “You are on the wrong side of the MDL. Your fort cannot stand up to cannon and missile attacks.”
“We know where we are,” replied the leader of the colonists. “This was the best land available.”
“There is no water,” argued Captain Lopez. “My engineers will not build canals or lay pipe across the MDL. So where do you expect to get water? From the spiders?”
“We will dig wells if necessary,” said the colonist. “God will protect us.”
“God didn’t protect them,” said Captain Lopez, crossing himself and pointing to smoke on the horizon. “What makes you think God will protect you? What will you do when the spiders come?”
“The spider marines have already been here,” said the colonist. “When we refused to leave, they said we could stay and farm our lands for as long as we wish.”
“What?” asked Captain Lopez. “It’s a trick. Their Air Wing will bomb you at their leisure, like they did to the others.”
“It’s no trick,” said the colonist. “The spider commander only required that we swear an oath of allegiance to the Emperor. We all swore the oath. Now we are all protected subjects of the Crown.”
“That won’t hold,” insisted Captain Lopez, angrily jumping down from the armored car turret. “I am establishing a new MDL here. You are still inside United States Galactic Federation territory.”
America's Galactic Foreign Legion - Book 4: Demilitarized Zone Page 6
