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

by McGregor, Andrew

  They had stood in groups for a short while, joking and pointing out the flashes in the dark sky above with excitement, feeling as one, their armour impressive and providing confidence. The soldiers that mulled around them were from other countries, their shoulder flags indicating Russia, Germany, Spain, the USA and even some far eastern countries, his recognition of the many flags from airport flight boards and translation staff.

  Finally formed up into lines and units, the staff had marvelled at the strength displayed, Rees estimating at over two thousand heavily armed soldiers. A brief speech by a commander from their new allies, the woman visibly moved by their presence as she shouted across the space port’s loading bay, the soldiers stood in lines before her. They were welcomed to Zaxon B, the saviours of the planet to compliment the Trevakian Marines into battle and defeat a merciless and terrible enemy. The assembled troops were told the Trevakian people and their allies would never forget this gesture and that they would be written into history as the first soldiers of an alliance that would last for centuries, eventually securing the galaxy’s security peace for eternity. The commander had then walked along the soldiers, speaking to small groups and thanking them for their support, her shoulder armour glistening with military colours of recognition.

  They were then broken into groups, their commanders given specific objectives and his own soldiers ordered to march up to the cliffs, a defensive position behind the front line. As they progressed through the narrow streets in the darkness, sentries had saluted, the few awake local residents waving and wishing them well in a language they did not comprehend. Morale was high, they had come to make a positive difference…his colleagues grinning in satisfaction and bravery as the column marched confidently forward.

  He coughed, saliva catching in his throat as his head bounced upwards, then the exhaustion overcame him again and his upper body slipped forward, eyes closing as the sounds of battle drifted through his consciousness, the faces of his friends drifting away through the darkness as they fell innocently in battle…his head shook slightly, eyes tightening as if to force the vision away…he no longer knew who was left.

  Lieutenant Kim stared through binoculars into the swirling snow, the Morgon lines only some five hundred metres away from the edge of the village defensive ring. Helmets ducked up and down in snow covered foxholes and trenches, the occasional explosion tossing frozen earth and smoke into the air. The land extended flat and barren for considerable distance, the enemy positions just out of sight through the worsening blizzard. He knew from intelligence the Morgon landing zones and ships were several clicks further east, their transports depositing fresh troops in readiness for a final push to take the planet.

  He shook his head dismissively, handing the glasses back to the Trevakian marine next to him and nodding his thanks, his voice inquisitive, ‘What will they do now? These Morgons?’

  The Trevakian officer smirked, glancing across the Korean’s heavily bruised features, his few soldiers in the trenches before them. He sniffed against the cold, his eyes dropping to the strange flag on the man’s shoulder armour, ‘They will wait…cut off our supplies and starve us. They will launch attacks to expend our ammunition and they will taunt us…brandish the heads of our dead countryman on poles for us to see. They have done it before…several times. Once we are weak, they will slaughter us. Rationing of the food starts tomorrow.’

  The South Korean’s head turned slowly, his jaw tightening in defiance, the Trevakian seeing his reflection in the Oriental’s black visor as he spoke softly, ‘The Morgons know nothing of human history…we will not make it that easy for them.’

  The Trevakian stared curiously at the human officer, ‘W-what do you mean?’

  Lieutenant Kim mouth twitched, a brief smile extending across his face, ‘This has happened to us before too…in Vietnam, in World War 2 and back through our distant history. This enemy faces South Koreans and Americans…it will take more than deprivation to defeat us…our resilience will shine through.’ He glanced back at the officer defiantly, ‘We are far from beaten yet! This war has just begun for us.’

  Jo looked down at Rees, his head lolling as he tried to stay awake, a fond smile spreading across her face as he slipped forward once more in slumber. She slowly and painfully lowered herself next to him, her back slipping down the cold wall as she gently pulled his upper body onto her lap, holding him tightly and offering shelter from the heavy snowfall, her eyes welling with tears as she gently stroked his matted hair.

  Towards Morasat, the rumble of artillery spread across the landscape, every Trevakian gun targeting the coordinates provided by a recent reconnaissance flight, the crews frantically reloading their artillery breeches. Across the city, every available artillery piece was manhandled towards the eastern suburbs, the residents staring warily out of their boarded windows as heavy guns were manhandled and lumbered through the narrow snow covered streets.

  All were all now fully aware of the perilous danger that was approaching, rumour had spread quickly that one of the Herrakian fiercest fighting units had most likely been annihilated, the eastern approaches to the city were now very vulnerable.

  Chapter Twenty Three: Understanding

  Shino grasped out, beckoning towards the girl, her voice pleading urgently, ‘Come away from the doorway…’

  The girl’s mother sobbed with fright to the side, her shoulders shaking as Tregan slowed behind her, wary anyone inside had a clear shot of the Philippine lying in the snow. Indicating frantically to his right for the others to move behind the dilapidated building.

  Riaz nodded and stepped carefully through the snow with the three marines, their rifles rising and visors slipping down as they progressed, pushing their boots forward. Debra drew level with the mother, her hand dropping onto the weeping woman’s shoulder as she glanced down.

  The child grinned widely in excitement as Tregan carefully beckoned to her, turning her head to look back into the gloom of the barn, then skipping forward into the darkness as Shino grimaced, biting her lower lip in frustration.

  Shuffling inside the structure, Shino’s eyes widening as she heard whispers and hushed voices, the girl talking to the Silakians eagerly. The Philippine glanced across at Tregan hissing, ‘What are they saying?’

  The Trevakian marine raised his hand, straining his ears as he lowered himself next to the child’s mother, whispering in a language Shino and Debra did not understand, his rifle laid across his knees, one hand holding the weapon. The woman replied determinedly, glancing up at the soldier as the mammoths snorted nearby, causing the Philippine to jump instinctively.

  Tregan shrugged, glancing up at Debra, then staring at Shino, his voice a whisper as he indicated for her not to move, ‘The girl is telling them not to fire on her friend…you…’ His voice tailed off as the mother grasped his arm tightly, leaning down to listen to her intently as she hissed at him. Tregan shook his head, his eyes widening, ‘They are telling her to come back out…to keep us out here and they will leave from the back. That they will not fire on you…’ His eyes narrowed in confusion, ‘What was that word you said…Russ-kai? They are talking excitedly about that apparently amongst themselves…what does it mean?’

  Shino felt a jab of adrenalin shoot up her spine, her eyes widening further in surprise and indicating to the side, ‘Call Riaz and the others back…move them down the slope!’

  The Trevakian grimaced, his eyes displaying a deep concern for the idea, Shino’s voice becoming more demanding, ‘Do it! Let them leave…I need time to think more…we have to see them, try and talk with them.’

  Tregan nodded nervously, indicating to the Trevakian marines far to his right to fall back, the soldier beckoning to the others, a grunt of dissatisfaction coming from Riaz as they stepped cautiously back down the slope.

  The girl stepped back suddenly through the open doors, her smile and bright eyes reassuring Shino as the small figure extended her hand, indicating for them to go as she glanced confidently at her
mother. Shino scrambled upwards, her eyes nervously on the darkness beyond the doors as the gathering mammoths behind snorted again. Her heart beating hard in her chest, she grasped the girl’s hand as she rose, moving from the opening as she breathed heavily, her adrenalin soaring. They stepped away from the doorway, the frozen snow crunching as exhaled air hung around them.

  Shuffling in the barn made her stiffen, the Silakians readying to leave as a creak of wood from the other side of the structure spread across the terrain. Walking back down the slope, Shino glanced back, seeing four darkened figure step quickly away, their boots pushing the snow to either side and weapons held across their chests. As the figures reached the top of the rise beyond the barn, one turned, a brief wave as shouted words echoed across the landscape, ‘Poka! Russkie Tovarishch!’ (See you later! Comrade!)

  Shino stared dumbfounded, her body tensing in stunned silence as she stared at the departing silhouettes, her breathing becoming shallow with shock as the figure that waved began to disappear over the slight rise, the soldier glancing back once and waving again as she slowly raised her hand in response. The Philippine spun round as Tregan stared down at her, his perplexed expression displaying confusion, ‘What is it? What did that mean?’

  Shino glanced at the girl, her head shaking in disbelief as she spoke uncontrollably, ‘They are human…you are fighting the Russians…human Russians…this is insane! The Silaks are Russians…why?’ Her head shook again, looking down into the snow in confusion then rising quickly, her voice demanding, ‘What is the girl’s name?’

  Tregan stared at the Philippine for a second, then turned addressing the mother, the language unknown to the humans.

  The mother looked to her daughter, then back at the Trevakian, a brief knowing, yet resigned smile crossing her face, ‘Anastasia.’

  Tregan looked back, Shino dropping to her knees in the snow, her hands rising to her head in disbelief as she rolled over, her giggling confusing the marine as he shrugged in innocence, indicating for the others to move forward again. Debra dropped down next to the Philippine, smiling in natural response to her laughter, ‘What is it? What are you thinking?’

  Shino sat alone away from the barn, her legs tucked up against her chest on the snow as she considered what had happened, her mind in turmoil. The Silakians had seemed relatively young, far younger than they should be had they come from 1986 and the Chernobyl area. ‘What did that mean? Were they living and becoming parents here on this distant and unwelcoming planet?’ She shrugged, ‘There was just not enough detail to know…’

  She glanced round, seeing the soldiers carrying two compact bales of food meal out of the barn for the mammoths, her vantage point on the top of the gradual rise above the structure. Grinning fondly as she witnessed Riaz stretching his back pensively, his rifle pushed across his shoulder as he extended a hand gingerly towards one of the animals in anticipation, his body jumping back slightly as the large mammoth snorted in response, its matted hair shaking as frost and melted snow swept over the Asian figure.

  She giggled as Riaz stood with his arms outstretched in mock irritation, moving his face closer to the mammoth to scold it, then wagging his finger in front of the beast’s nose. Shino squealed in surprise as a rough tongue swept across the side of her face, the small mammoth calf having moved up slowly behind her and pushing on her back for attention. Rolling over and giggling, the beast stepped forward, lowering its head to chase her small body for attention, its dark eyes staring through matted hair as it snorted playfully. The stale aroma of the animal hair and breath swept through her nostrils as it playfully pushed her body with its large snout, a tongue sweeping across her face once more as she laughed aloud.

  Riaz jogged up the slope, his new playmate staring at him briefly before snatching at the corner of the meal bale, its teeth grinding across each other as it chewed on the food. Satisfied snorts spread across the snow as the Asian male neared Shino, her hands rubbing the lowered head of the mammoth fondly as the beast groaned in satisfaction.

  Riaz grinned, watching the spectacle, his voice raised, ‘So you finally have a soulmate…’

  Shino giggled again, the large calf licking her gloves and combat uniform as it pushed against her, her body sliding through the snow, ‘At least this guy smells better than you do now!’

  The Asian male shook his head, grinning widely, ‘I am not the only one that has not had a shower in days…they say your body oils slowly make you waterproof if you don’t wash…’

  Shino laughed again, still scratching at the large snout as the mammoth rubbed its head against her and playfully snorted, ‘We should be able to float soon then!’

  Tregan’s raised his hands to his hips in irritation at the open barn doors, his eyes taking in the marines and Debra cheerfully petting and scratching the mammoths as the animals ate, the girl hugging one tightly as her mother laughed. Raising his voice, he called out roughly, ‘We will move further up the slope, re-join the track and continue on the patrol…I think the animals are quite impressed with our armour, but the Silaks know where we are and I do not want them coming back with more troops…’

  The marines stiffened, patting the mammoths a final farewell as they stepped back, beginning to trudge up the slope. Debra nodded, acknowledging the need to move and indicating to the child’s mother to come with them. Tregan called out, ‘That’s ok…they can stay with their animals and make their way back to town later…that’s apparently what normally happens. We will meet them later and give them some food with the rest of the residents. I know the rest of the way from here from the maps.’

  They walked slowly through the snow at the side of the clearing, the temperature dropping further as they reached the top of the slope. Tregan indicated to the track opening between the rocks on the right, his voice rising once more, ‘We follow the track for about half a click, then find a path that heads north into the mountains. It will circle round and then we return to the village. This covers all the ground that the enemy could hide in this side of the wasteland…’ He indicated to the makeshift barricade across the track, ’Make sure that stays on place…the animals must stay up here…’

  They turned onto the track, slipping between the empty military boxes and resin pylons, the barricade removed each time the halftracks made their way up the mountain to supply more food. Trudging forward, Shino glanced back, seeing a couple of mammoths staring longingly after them over the boxes, the animals having followed them up the clearing. She sniffed, her emotions high at the fond and loving nature of the massive beasts, her head shaking as they progressed further, a determination to come back to the loving animals rising within her as she waved back, a distant snort warming her heart.

  Debra drew next to Tregan, her eyes staring expectantly up at him, ‘What is this wasteland you mentioned?’

  The Trevakian marine turned to face her as the track climbed, ‘Thousands of clicks of barren and freezing wind swept desert…spread through heavy mountain ranges and impassable gorges. On the far side of the wasteland to the west and on the other side of the planet will be the Morgon landing areas as they attack towards Morasat. It would take years to pass through them…we once had a mad adventurer and explorer who thought he could map a passage, but he disappeared on one of his strange missions into the mountains. According to rumour, we presume he fell or was attacked by snow tigers as he never answered his radio…that was a couple of years ago, so his body will be nothing but dust now!’

  They neared the path to the left, the jagged rocks on either side casting snow across their bodies as the strong breeze began to rise in ferocity again. The combat suits began to inflate slightly, the figure hunching against the penetrating cold as they turned onto the path, Tregan striding forward to take the lead once more as the snow beneath their boots got deeper.

  The path got narrower as they climbed, the wind whipping about their helmets as the snow swept over them. Pulling their scarves up over their mouths again, the exhaled breath was seemingly pulle
d from their mouths as visibility decreased, the cold beginning to bite at any exposed skin. Their bodies buffeted by the force of the gale, the soldiers advanced further, Tregan shouting through the wind, ‘Keep together…we can’t afford to slow down in this weather…’

  The snow bound path twisted from side to side, the seven figures braced against the elements as they climbed further, high rock rising to their left as they skirted the exposed mountain side. Riaz began to feel intense tightness across his chest as the oxygen levels fell further, the cold adding to the extreme discomfort in his lungs as he heard the internal wheezing of his breath. Shino began coughing deeply as Debra slapped her back, her own breathing irregular as she tried to suck in oxygen, their weapons held loosely across their heaving chests in readiness.

  The path began to climb more sharply, the slope now nearly a thirty-degree angle as they struggled upwards, the rocks dropping away on either side and reducing any possible shelter. Riaz gasped as the air temperature began to drop dramatically around them, feeling the exhaled breath beginning to congeal on his scarf as the moisture froze instantly.

  Shino clutched Debra’s arm, the two walking forward hugging each other as the snow pelted their frames. Riaz ducked down, swearing as he crouched low, the rest of the Trevakians lowering their bodies against the wind. Tregan pushed on half-crouched, reaching the summit of the path and feeling the decline beneath his boots as he stepped forward, his words stolen in the fierce storm as he shouted some words of encouragement back.

  The rocks rose dramatically on either side as he slipped, nearly losing his footing on the winding steep downwards slope. The wind and snow swirled around his frame as he lowered his body backwards, digging his heels into the ice beneath to control his descent.

  As the stone slopes got higher on either side, he descended from the sideways snow storm, the flakes now drifting to earth in the sheltered air. Scrambling to the side, Tregan leant against the freezing rock, awaiting the others as the silhouettes emerged from the swirling thick snow, the path forking further down the icebound slope.