The Red Leopards of Zaxon B (Galaxies Collide Book 2)

by McGregor, Andrew

  Tregan turned, his raised voice barking as he pointed, ‘Parade dismissed…you four on the main gate, the rest on the walls!’ The soldiers turned to the right formally, then broke from formation, jogging to their pre-determined positions.

  Shino stared past the quad gun’s defensive shield, the exposed platform they stood upon being swept by the cold breeze, snowflakes fluttering downwards around them. The low houses were mostly single storey, grim grey buildings with flat snow blanketed roofs extending for about a hundred metres along either street. Wisps of thick smoke rose from small chimneys, the petrified wood gathered locally providing minimal warmth for comfort. The small windows were mostly boarded up as protection against the elements, snow lining the narrow deserted street as the residents awoke from the night.

  Riaz leant against the armoured plate, indicating down the ram shackled narrow street with a gloved hand as his rifle clanked against the alloy armour, ‘Would you come here on holiday then?’

  Debra slapped his shoulder in irritation, ‘Show some respect…these people have been at war for a century!’

  Riaz shrugged as Shino grinned beneath her scarf, ‘It’s hardly a resort, is it? I mean these poor people have no life surely!’

  Debra leant forward between them in disgust, her exhaled air swirling, ‘How do you know…life seems simple here, perhaps they are very content…’

  Riaz indicated to two lone bedraggled figures trudging through the snow, the woman and a smaller girl heading up towards the corner entrance to the outpost, ‘Not sure that walk is the indication of happiness…they look really miserable.’

  The two main metal gates of the compound creaked open, Shino glancing back as the engines of the halftracks roared, their tracks spinning slightly before gaining traction and churning forward through the thickening snow. Single soldiers stood braced against the cold in the quad guns on the roof, glancing furtively around as the armoured vehicles ground forward, turning east along the main street on their way back towards the supply base. A small group of soldiers marched out behind the vehicles, padded jackets over their combat uniforms for warmth as they hunched their shoulders against the cold.

  The three stared down as the woman and her son waited patiently by the gate in the biting cold for the vehicles to pass, the woman indicating to one of the sentries and conversing with him. Riaz stared down in curiosity as Tregan was summoned to the entrance, the woman speaking with some concern to the second in command before the Trevakian turned and strode back towards Captain Dugachard, the two talking for a brief time before Tregan beckoned Debra to them.

  Riaz nudged Shino, the young Philippine glancing down into the outpost as Debra walked out towards the commanders, ‘I bet this will mean something for us to do!’ He shivered, ‘It’s getting damn cold now…when they said winter was coming, they weren’t joking…it seems to arrive on one day!’

  Shino nodded, dusting snow from her shoulders as her exhaled breath hung in the air, ‘If this is what it’s like during the day…how much colder will it get at night?’ He eyes drifted back towards the main gate, then watching the conversation that had just commenced.

  As Shino stared at the three talking in the centre of the garrisoned position, Riaz strained his eyes through his helmet visor towards the northern end of the street, glimpsing some distant dark figures against the snow, his body stiffening as the figures seemed to stop and stare towards them. Slowly, he reached for his rifle, nudging the shorter female next to him as his senses became more alert, glimpsing the flash of binoculars in one of the silhouettes hands in the distance, his voice hissing, ‘Silaks!’

  Shino spun round, the hairs on the back of her neck twitching as her gaze followed the Asian male’s outstretched hand, glimpsing the three figures in the distance. Riaz whispered further, ‘They are watching us through binoculars!’

  The Philippine glanced up at him, ‘How do you know they are Silaks? They may just be curious…you’re just spooked!’ She turned back to look at the retreating armoured vehicles with figures marching behind, the engines whining in the distance as they climbed the slope away from the village, ‘Just as our main force leaves…’

  Riaz shouted across the outpost square, ‘Captain…three figures watching us!’ The commander turning to stare at him before lunging forward with Tregan, climbing the central steps two at a time, her voice rising, ‘Close the gate! Bring the woman and child inside!’

  Breathless in the thin air and from the exertion, Captain Dugachard stared out over the alloy defensive wall, grasping her binoculars and raising them to her eyes as she strained to see through the falling snow.

  Slowly she lowered the glasses, handing them to Tregan, her voice strained, ‘My bet is Silaks…or sympathisers. They are not even hiding!’

  The male Trevakian drew breath next to her, ‘They must know our strength if they are not hiding…I will take out a patrol and see what is going on…sweep the area, see what we can find.’ He stiffened, indicating over his shoulder, ‘Can we trust the girl and her mother?’

  Captain Dugachard shrugged, ‘The previous commander told me they come every day and ask for an escort to their animals up in the fields. The woman’s husband was apparently killed last year by the Silaks near Contax Base and we have helped them ever since…we will continue this tradition. He was of great help to our people, regularly running supplies from the base to here and Contax.’ She indicated to the centre of the base, ‘Get the patrol out with the woman and girl as normal, act as they expect, but keep alert…I will man the walls and gate, have another small patrol walk the main street within sight.’

  Riaz stood impatiently by the main gates, admiring his shoulder armour as he slowly ran a hand over the bubbled resin, his fingers slipping into the red lined grooves that lined the reinforced protection. He raised his arm, glancing across the piped resin on the elbows and then down on the knees, the armour reinforced behind to protect his joints. The combat uniform seemed thicker than before, an inner lining adding more protection and insulation as he adjusted his newly issued white mottled camouflaged lower facial cover.

  His helmet also had the same bubbled resin covering, the substance light sensitive as before, but seeming to form tighter against his skull, providing additional protection. The recessed pin lights on the side would react to poor light, enhancing the vision of his helmet visor.

  He glanced across the compound yard as Tregan emerged from the command bunker, waving to indicate they would be joining him shortly. He sighed, slipping the assault rifle from his shoulder and checking the ammunition counter, the electronic display stating he had forty-two rounds left. Mentally checking the ammunition pouches on his new belt, he reassured himself apprehensively they were all full, five magazines in all.

  Staring across the yard, the sentries were slowly trudging around the high gantries, their shoulders hunched against the freezing early morning temperature as they glanced out over the walls. The remaining halftrack and jeep were slowly becoming covered in a thin layer of snow, the vehicles parked beyond the command bunker and next to the barracks they had slept in along the left wall. The mountains rose up from virtually the back wall of the compound, his eyes training in attempt to see an opening or gap that would indicate the possible presence of the path to the secret base.

  Turning again, Tregan, Shino and Debra were approaching, Riaz grimacing beneath his scarf as he felt the stubble rub against the fabric, his skin seeming to scratch roughly. He glanced at the weapon in Shino’s hand, indicating to it as three more soldiers emerged from the barracks, ‘New rifle?’

  Tregan nodded, ‘It’s a more compact assault rifle, lighter in weight and shorter…we found some earlier in the armoury.’

  The Asian male moved to say something, Shino glaring at him in jest, ‘Don’t say it Riaz…remember you need to sleep at nights!’

  Debra’s eyes widened, attempting to hide her grin as Shino blushed a grimace, ‘I didn’t mean that! You people are just obsessed! Dirty little minds…’


  Riaz smiled, ‘Don’t worry, I think we are both perfectly safe…strangely, people are really not very sexy when they are in the same uniform!’

  Tregan grinned, his eyes dropping to his rifle in embarrassment, ‘I think we need to chat about some of the species in our empire…you would not believe some of the females on the other side of our galaxy.’ He swallowed nervously, seeing Debra and Shino glare at him, ‘…oh, and the males. There is an island on our home planet where all the most beautiful Trevakians seem to all live…I will take you there one day?’

  Shino smiled politely, ‘We have the same on earth…it’s called the Philippines!’

  Riaz rolled his eyes as Debra pushed her playfully, turning to the confused Tregan, ‘Don’t listen to her…give her a new weapon and she gets all excited!’

  The Trevakian nodded warily, ‘I think I have a lot to learn about your humour.’ He indicated to the three approaching soldiers, ‘One of you ask Captain Dugachard for the civilians please, I think she is finding them some extra clothing in the stores!’

  One of the soldiers nodded obediently, jogging back across the yard towards the furthest low building. Tregan glanced at Shino, ‘Can you personally accompany the civilians please, they will not speak your language, but you should get along…’

  The Philippine nodded, smiling, ‘Sure, it will be a pleasure…’

  Riaz giggled mischievously, ‘Is that because they are the same height?’

  Debra scowled at him, shaking her finger, ‘That’s enough of your mischief young man…’ She glanced at the Trevakian as Shino glared at the Asian male, ‘Where do we go on this patrol? Is there anything we should look out for?’

  The Trevakian nodded, ‘We follow one of the mountain tracks that leads up onto some fields, that’s where their animals are apparently. Mostly we are out and about to reassure the locals and deter any Silaks or sympathisers. Most have small plots or animals in the surrounding area and we are assured the Morgons cannot break through to here…the mountain ranges are too dense and have remote anti-air defences dug into the rocks.’

  He indicted as the Captain emerged from the command bunker, the local woman and her daughter stepping out behind. Now dressed in some spare clothing, they seemed more relaxed, perhaps warmer as Shino stepped towards them, extending her hand towards the small girl, ‘Let’s go and see your animals then…’

  The small girl was perhaps five or six, her slim frame undernourished as she stared blankly at the outstretched glove, glancing up into Shino’s encouraging face as the Philippine lowered her scarf, a brief smile spreading across her lips. Slowly the small hand rose, grasping the glove, Shino smirking in satisfaction as they began to walk towards the others, ‘I think you and I will become good friends…’

  Chapter Twenty One: The patrol outside

  Riaz and Tregan led the small group, their eyes scanning the low grey buildings to either side as they walked slowly along the snow covered street. The Asian male noted the cracked and worn boards that covered the windows, the aroma of burning wood and cooking filling the air. Another smell made him grimace…a stale, seemingly tree like stench drifting across the street, his head turning to the Trevakian, ‘What’s that?’

  Tregan smiled faintly, ‘A morning brew I think you call it, very popular with the locals. It’s the boiled bark of the firewood mixed with the thick milk of the local animals. A soup like mixture I think you would call it…they drink it first thing in the morning and all during the day…quite nice flavour and apparently very nourishing!’

  Riaz looked aghast, ‘A rustic smoothie…yuk!’ He glanced back at the Trevakian, seeing him smile beneath his visor, his voice lowered, ‘Perhaps I will get you some for later…we provide the residents with a tin of food for each household in the evenings, some bring gifts…not much, but it shows their appreciation.’ He sighed, ‘I am not sure how long we will be able to keep giving them food now…’

  The young Asian’s eyes widened, a warming smile spreading across his lips, ‘This seems like quite a community…’ His mind swept back to London life wondering if the same behaviours would be repeated if the provisions were similarly limited.

  A childish shriek of laughter came from behind, Riaz glancing back and grinning widely as he saw Debra and Shino both grasping the young girl’s hands, pulling her upwards at unpredictable intervals as she giggled, the three other Trevakian marines behind with her mother.

  The girl’s mother smiled, her black hair hanging loosely around a face that bore the signs of emotional and physical hardship, a scar running across her right cheek. Riaz warmed to the woman, her expression lightening as she witnessed the simple fun her beloved daughter was experiencing with new found friends. He looked to the young girls smiling face, his eyes filling up as he witnessed the childish grin, her laughter beneath an oversized jacket, the piercing brown eyes and white hair a pleasing sight. He turned back, lowered the rifle from his shoulder warily and hissing to Tregan, ‘That young girl will break hearts when she is older…’

  The Trevakian glanced at him, his eyes arrowing in confusion, ‘I am not sure I understand that expression…’

  Riaz grinned playfully, ‘Don’t worry…I will explain it over a smoothie later!’

  The patrol emerged from the buildings, the freezing breeze biting further as they became more exposed, the track rising and bending towards the left as the snow billowed across them. Shino and Debra lowered the girl, slipping their rifles from their shoulders and holding them across their chests in readiness as the track climbed more steeply, passing between jagged rocks on either side.

  Tregan glanced across the track ahead, the snow lying thick on the ground as he observed no footsteps. Shino turned, walking backwards and looking over the three soldiers behind, their combat uniforms inflated against the cold, her voice inquisitive, ‘Are you all from Contax Base?’

  The figures nodded grimly, a female nodding thoughtfully, ‘I was at the mine when you came…we thought you humans would not be very good…’ She grinned, glancing across the rocks, ‘You are learning!’

  Shino nodded her gratitude, smiling briefly, ‘Thank you…it’s quite scary, but we are with you now…’ She turned, glancing down as the girl tugged on her arm, pointing further up the track to a grouping of frozen bushes on the left, her voice concerned, ‘Sanga! Sanga! Dalka won tu…salihan!’

  Shino shrugged, lowering to a crouch, her hand grasping the girl’s shoulder fondly as she shook her head, ‘I am sorry darling…I don’t understand…’

  The Trevakian marines behind lunged forward, their eyes scanning the terrain as weapons raised, the female touching Shino’s shoulder as she hissed, ‘There is probably a track ahead…a short cut perhaps, she says we can go that way, but to be careful.’

  Tregan ran forward, Riaz dropping to a crouch and raising his rifle, his voice a hiss, ‘Is there a path?’

  Tregan stopped next to the bushes, his rifle extended as he leant from side to side attempting to see, ‘Yes…well concealed…’ He indicated back down the track to the others, ‘What is up there?’

  The female Trevakian marine dropped to her knees next to the girl, her eyes staring into her brown eyes as she whispered reassuringly, the mother stepping forward and replying, Shino shrugging as she looked up at Debra.

  The marine turned, grinning up the track, ‘She says to be careful as it will be slippery…the path is sloped! It is a short cut to the animals.’

  Tregan shook his head, Riaz smiling broadly beneath his scarf, ‘I guess we are a bit jumpy!’ He indicated forward, ‘Shall we take this short cut then?’

  The path was narrow, the freezing snow deep in places as it crept along the side of the high rocks. The soldiers began to regret the choice after several hundred metres, the drop to their left into a deep narrow dark ravine. Edging along, they pushed their bodies against the cold rock to the right, wary any fall would lead to a quick demise, now stepping in single file as the girl and her mother walked confidently ahead.
They would turn occasionally, indicating to loose rocks or slippery ice, the increasing narrowness of the walkway causing the troops to grit their teeth in apprehension as the boots tensed around their feet on the ice.

  The path turned back to the west, rising between high dark rocks on either side, dusted snow falling from above as they progressed upwards. Trudging in single file, the clouds of exhaled breath hung in the narrow passage, the soldiers shivering as their uniforms inflated to maximum strength. Iced tentacles extended from some of the overhanging rock, the moisture and ice gathering over months and years.

  Tregan stared cautiously upwards, following the narrow opening as it led further, brighter grey daylight ahead in the distance as the girl and her mother moved further on before them. He glanced back, beckoning the others behind him and indicating above, ‘It seems to open up ahead…perhaps we are near the top? Stay sharp!’

  Debra nodded behind him, her chest heaving in the poor quality air as Shino and Riaz leant against the cold rock, breathing heavily. The Trevakians behind grinned to each other, nodding at the three humans in fond mockery, the female whispering, ‘Our air is perhaps not ideal for you!’

  Riaz glanced back smiling, his mouth gasping as the side lights on his helmet flickered into life, ‘Not enough pollution for me…London has much more…this air is too clear and clean for us.’

  They struggled on, the steep climb proving extremely strenuous in the poor air between the rocks as flakes fluttered from above. Looking up, Riaz saw the girl and her mother waiting patiently at the top, their figures sitting cross legged on the snow, staring down into the shadows on the soldiers as they climbed.