The young Spaniard smiled, his eyes drinking in Trisna. “We were worried about you so we went around the block and came back. The corporal would have a fit if he knew.”
“You ladies should have stayed in the Visitor Center,” Private Everett said. “Didn’t you learn anything earlier?”
“No! Stop!” Katla finally got a word in edgewise. Grabbing the Kentuckian by the shoulders, she pointed at the rooftops on the other side of the street. “Haven’t you seen them?”
“What are you…?” Everett began, and went rigid with alarm.
“Madre de Dios, can it be?” Pasco said.
“We found a dead body in the Visitor Center,”
Trisna told him. “The woman who ran it. They tore her arms and legs off and took her head, as they did to everyone at New Meridian.”
“Not again,” Pasco said.
Everett moved around Katla and Trisna, putting himself between them and the Martians. “Keep going. We have to find somewhere safe and I’ll call this in.”
“Shouldn’t you call it in first?” Katla said.
“They might order us to engage the critters and leave you on your own,” Everett said. “You want that?”
No, Katla didn’t. Unarmed, she and Trisna stood no prayer whatsoever. “The only safe place is your headquarters.”
“We can’t go there, Dr. Dkany,” Private Pasco said. “They would put all of us in cells. Everett and me for dereliction of duty, and Trisna and you for violating the curfew.”
“But if we explain about the Martians?” Trisna said.
“It won’t do any good unless they see the creatures for themselves,” Private Everett said. “Now enough jabber. We have to hunt cover, and pronto. Those things won’t stay up yonder forever.”
Katla didn’t need urging. To stay in the open invited being ripped to pieces. Gripping Piotr’s hand, she jogged with the rest.
“Is there somewhere you can think of, Private Pasco?” Trisna asked.
Pasco shook his helmet. “We are not familiar with Wellsville yet.”
“And we may never get to be,” Everett said.
Katla wished he would use more discretion. She gave Piotr a reassuring squeeze but once again he had gone deep into himself, the only place he was safe from the terrors of the outside world.
Katla went past a short flight of stairs that led down to a darkened doorway but stopped when Private Everett said her name.
Above a closed retractable metal door to a long single-story building hung a sign that read Wellsville Warehouse #2.
As required by the colonization protocols, every colony maintained a stock of emergency supplies and parts in designated warehouses. New Meridian, with its smaller population and single dome, only had one warehouse. Wellsville had two.
“That door would slow our tank,” Private Everett remarked.
“It would slow the Martians, too, I bet,” Private Pasco said.
“We’ll stash you here, Doc,” Everett said, “and get word to the captain.”
“I don’t know,” Katla said.
“The warehouses are reinforced,” Private Everett informed her. “In case of quakes and whatnot.” Without waiting for her to approve, he went down the steps, took out a U.N.I. C. key card, and swiped it.
“I do not want to be separated from you again,” Trisna said to Pasco.
From within the warehouse sounded a series of loud clicks followed by the muted rumble of large gears. The metal door began to rise.
Everett turned toward Trisna and her daughter. “You’re better off here than anywhere else, ma’am. Trust us.”
Katla was about to point out that trust wasn’t the issue when a pair of multifaceted eyes poked from under the rising door, and an instant later, a pair of pincers.
They were reaching for Everett.
“Behind you!” Katla yelled.
The Kentuckian spun, leveling his ICW as he turned. He appeared about to fire but didn’t when the creature scuttled back out of sight.
The door continued to rise. Lights were supposed to come on automatically, but the interior was as black as the bottom of a well.
Private Pasco darted down next to Everett and switched on his EVA suit’s helmet lamp. The bright beam lit up the expansive interior, bathing crates and containers and boxes and pallets. It also revealed a multitude of Martians clinging to every centimeter of available space. The floor, the walls, the ceiling, the creatures were everywhere.
Katla broke out in gooseflesh.
CHAPTER 25
Captain Archard Rahn had long taken pride in his devotion to duty. He was a career soldier, a model trooper who always followed orders to the T. Anything and everything the United Nations Interplanetary Command had ever demanded of him, he did. It was a large part of why he was one of the few chosen for Mars. The list of applicants was thousands long, but the U.N.I.C. only sent their best when it came to their officers.
Never in a million years would Archard have considered disobeying an order. Never, ever, would he have imagined putting anyone or anything before the U.N.I.C.
That was before New Meridian. Before the stunning revelations the planetary scientist shared. The worst of it, the very worst as far as Archard was concerned, was that the chief administrators and the governor and Archard’s own commanding officers had conspired to leave the third colony hanging in the Martian wind when the Martians attacked.
It was a severe blow to Archard’s psyche. An integral aspect to military service was trust. Soldiers not only had to know they could trust their buddies in the heat of combat, they had to know they could trust their superiors to not put them in harm’s way unless it was absolutely necessary.
The United Nations Interplanetary Command and the Earth governments that sponsored and supported it, had betrayed Archard’s trust. His, and the entire populations of first New Meridian and now Wellsville. Those who were supposed to put the safety of the lives under them before all else had done nothing while those lives were being snuffed.
Archard simmered with rage at the injustice of it. The deception was sheer evil. He no longer trusted those in authority. Not Chief Administrator Reubens, not Kylo Carter, not Major Howard. Not the governor or the commander at Bradbury, either.
So now, as he stood listening to Reubens and Carter debate what to do over a holo link with Major Howard at the Security Center, Archard made up his own mind.
“I can send troopers to the Visitor Center to extract the doctor and her friend,” Major Howard was saying. “Corporal Arnold and Private Niven are only a few blocks away. The two new recruits from New Meridian are supposed to be in the area, too, but I’ve lost contact with them. Either they’ve turned off their commlinks or…”
“Or the Martians have killed them,” Kylo Carter said.
“Which makes extracting the women problematic,” Chief
Administrator Reubens said. “The remaining troopers are more important. We might want to pull Arnold and Niven out of there.”
“And leave the women on their own?” Carter said.
“For the greater good of the colony, yes,” Chief Administrator Reubens said.
“I agree,” Major Howard said. “If this is a full-scale attack, I need every soldier we have.”
Archard was filled with disgust for all three of them. Turning, he made for the door, unslinging his ICW as he went.
“Hold on there, Captain,” Kylo Carter said. “Where are you going?”
“You know where,” Archard said.
The holo image of Major Howard thrust a finger at him. “I’ve given no such order. You will stand down and remain where you are.”
“Like hell,” Archard said.
Kylo Carter came toward him. “I understand. They’re from New Meridian. You feel obligated.”
“New Meridian is gone,” Reubens said coldly. “Wellsville is all that matters now.”
“Not for me,” Archard said.
Major Howard’s holo raised its voice. “This is a direct
command, Captain. You are not to leave this room. Understood?”
“Get stuffed, sir.”
Howard’s holo shook a fist. “You’ve just ended your career, mister. You hear me? I will have you thrown in the guardhouse and brought up on charges.”
“Before or after the Martians overrun us?” Archard said. He reached the door, and looked back. “If you want my advice, Major, you’ll get a trooper in your RAM and send others out in the tanks. This colony is about to become a killing field.”
“Captain Rahn, please,” Kylo Carter said. “You’re letting your emotions get the better of you.”
“Damn straight I am.”
“How very foolish,” Chief Administrator Reubens said.
“Two women and two children need our help, and you three throw them to the wolves without batting an eye,” Archard said. “I’d rather be a fool than what you are.”
“I’ll send troopers to place you under arrest,” Major Howard warned.
“With the Martians about to attack?” Archard scoffed. “Like you said, you need every soldier for the battle ahead.”
“There might not even be one,” Reubens said. “For all we know, the Martians are only scouting us out. Isn’t that how you military types describe it?”
“You’re a bigger jackass than I thought,” Archard said. He opened the door.
“One last chance,” Major Howard called out. “Stand down this instant.”
“Not going to happen, sir,” Archard said.
“If I have any say,” Major Howard said, “it will be a firing squad for you.”
“If you’re still breathing after the Martians get done, come see me,” Archard said. Stepping out, he hurried to the elevator. He half-expected to find troopers in the lobby but there were only civilians who stared, mystified, as he sprinted to the outer doors, used his U.N.I.C. override card to open them, and burst out into the Martian night.
Archard keyed his commlink. He knew that the major and every other trooper using the military frequency would hear him, but he didn’t care. “Private Everett. Private Pasco. This is Captain Rahn. Report your positions.”
His earphones hissed with static.
“Privates Everett, Pasco. Report in, please,” Archard tried a second time.
Again, they failed to respond.
Archard ran faster. Either they had turned off their commlinks---or they really were dead. At the next intersection, he turned left onto a side street and was halfway along it when he happened to glance up at the buildings on either side. They were shrouded in darkness. He switched on his night vision and was jarred to his marrow.
The top levels of all the buildings were covered with Martians. Hanging by their eight legs, the creatures were perfectly still except for the swaying of their eye stalks.
Archard’s first impulse was to open fire. It would be his last if he did. Hurrying on, he resorted to his commlink again. “Major Howard, do you read me?”
The hissing continued.
“Major Howard, I have critical intel. Answer me for your own good.”
The major didn’t reply.
It was amazing, Archard reflected, how childish some people could be.
“This is Lieutenant Burroughs,” a crisp female voice declared. “I read you, Captain. What is the nature of your intel?”
Before Archard could reply, Major Howard broke his silence.
“This is the Major, Lieutenant Burroughs. You will disregard Captain Rahn, and anything he has to say.”
“Major?” Burroughs said uncertainly.
“Lieutenant, listen to me,” Archard said quickly. “I’m on Sturgeon Street. Martians are all over the place. They’re massed, but they haven’t attacked yet.”
Burroughs started to say something but Major
Howard overrode her. “Our sensors don’t show any such infestation. You will disregard his claim, Lieutenant.”
“Sir?” Burroughs said.
Archard gave it one last try with, “Burroughs, if you care about the people in this colony, you’ll gear up. The war has come to your door, and your commanding officer is too stupid to see it.”
Major Howard began swearing.
Archard cut the connection and ran. He had blocks to cover. Katla, he thought, here I come.
Above him, on both sides of the street, the Red
Planet’s indigenous life stared and did nothing. As if they were waiting.
But for what?
Katla Dkany became ice cold with fear. There were so many creatures lurking in the warehouse that she and those with her could overwhelmed in heartbeats. “Back away,” she said quietly. “Back away quickly.”
Private Everett nodded, hesitated, then pressed the control for the door and retreated up the stairs. Pasco hastily followed suit.
The door was descending, and making a lot of noise.
Inside, the Martians didn’t move except for their always-in-motion eyes.
Trisna was mouthing a prayer under her breath.
“Katla?” Piotr said anxiously.
“Shhhh,” Katla said, and gently squeezed his arm. “They’re not coming after us. Stay calm.” Which was easy for her to say. Her stomach was a fluttery mess and her pulse was racing.
Everett and Pasco kept their weapons trained on the warehouse until the door came to rest with a thud.
“What do we do? What do we do?” Pasco said. “This is bad, bad, bad.”
“We have to let the bigwigs know,” Everett said.
“They’ll be able to get a fix on our location,” Pasco said, and gave Trisna and Katla meaningful looks.
“Can’t be helped,” Everett said. “It’s the whole colony now, not just us.”
“Do it,” Katla said.
“Yes,” Trisna agreed.
“Switching on my commlink,” Private Everett said, and then, in a more formal tone, “Patrol Able to Command. Patrol Able to Command. Do you read me? Over?” He tilted his helmet as if listening, and his brow puckered. “Hold on. Three of you are talking at once. Everything is garbled. Captain Rahn? Is that you?” He listened some more, and said, “Switching to designated frequency.”
“What’s going on?” Private Pasco said.
Everett motioned for silence, then listened and nodded a few times. “Yes, sir. I know where that is. We’ll have them there in five. Roger. Out.”
“Don’t keep us in suspense,” Katla said.
“The Martians are all over,” Everett said. “Captain Rahn is on his way. We’re to rendezvous with him about two blocks from here, on Gaskell Street.”
“Reunite with the captain,” Trisna said. “That is good.”
“On me,” Everett said, and assumed the lead. “Pasco, cover our butts.”
“Si.”
“What was that about garbled?” Katla was curious to learn.
“Major Howard and Lieutenant Burroughs jumped on about the same time,” Everett explained. “The major wanted Pasco and me to report to the Security Center, ASAP. Then the captain told me to switch frequencies, and here we are.”
“I can’t wait to see him,” Katla said without thinking.
“I’m shocked, ma’am,” Everett said.
Pasco chuckled and Trisna grinned.
Katla was amazed that anyone could crack jokes or even laugh at a time like this. She craned her neck, scanning the tops of the buildings. Sure enough, more creatures were up there. A terrible lot of them.
“If anyone can see us to safety, it is the captain,” Trisna said. “I have complete confidence in him.”
“You and me both, lady,” Private Everett said. “Which is why I’m doing what he wants and not what the major said to do.”
“Major Howard will punish us when this is over,” Private Pasco predicted.
“If we’re all still alive, he’s welcome to,” Everett said.
Katla had to force herself to stop staring at the rooftops. She concentrated on Piotr, on keeping him close.
High above the dome, stars spar
kled, casting their indifferent light over the bloodbath soon to occur.
“I just realized,” Trisna said. “The people in their homes and businesses. They have no idea the colony is being invaded.”
“Thanks to the C.A. and his phony gas leak,” Everett said. “I hope the critters rip him into itty-bitty bits.”
“Why does the captain wants us to meet him on Gaskell Street?” Pasco said. “Why not headquarters?”
“Ask him when we see him.”
Katla listened with half an ear. She was probing every shadow, every unlit nook and cranny. When the assault came, it would be swift and brutal.
“I wish I was back on Earth,” Trisna said. “I wish I never came to Mars.”
“Hindsight is great for blaming ourselves,” Katla said. Not that she would ever regret coming. It was the great adventure of her life. Martians or not.
The buildings they passed were an eclectic mix of architectural modules to fit the many nationalities involved. The psych experts claimed that constructing a colony as Earth-like as possible enabled the colonists to acclimate more fully. Home away from home, was the ages-old motto. Evidently, it applied to planets, too.
Across the way was a structure fashioned like those in Paris, closer stood another that resembled a house in Thailand, and yet again a building that gave the illusion of being transplanted from Europe.
The Martians showed no preference. They clung to everything.
They came to Gaskell Street and stopped next to an old-style market. It had sliding doors and a glass front, and was closed.
“Where can the captain be?” Private Pasco said.
Katla was wondering the same thing when a helmet light flared inside and Archard opened the door to admit them. Entering, she threw both arms around him and whispered, “I’ve missed you.”
To her surprise, Archard pulled back. “You’re not wearing an EVA suit.” He looked past her at Trisna.
“Neither of you. Or the kids.”
“We have not had cause to put one on,” Trisna said as she moved to checkout and wearily leaned against it. Behula had fallen asleep and stirred but didn’t awaken.
“And it’s not as if we can buy one in a clothes shop,” Katla said, miffed that he had ignored her outpouring of affection.
Colony Down: Battlefield Mars Book 2 Page 12
