The Boleman twins nodded.
The sunshields were little more than reflective robes. Vents allowed building up heat to escape while allowing outside air to circulate in. The robes topped out to an umbrella like hood that spanned just over a meter outward in each direction.
The water supply was frozen before being stuffed into insulating containers. Those were loaded on two fat-wheeled carts. The captives would pull the carts behind them until half the water supply had been consumed. At that point, Tawn and Harris would each don packs with another four liters of the life-sustaining substance. The captives would be sent back with the rest.
The door to outside was opened. The heat immediately let itself be known. Groans from the captives told of their trepidation.
Harris turned to Daniel. “I know the direction. You know which path was taken by your people. Point me toward them. And keep in mind, lies are not tolerated. And that goes for the rest of you as well.”
Daniel pointed. “They went this way. It’s twenty kilometers further, but the terrain along the last half is easier. This way and we get you to Barner’s Ridge at about the halfway point. You’ll have to make your way up and over that on your own. We can’t pull this water up those rocks.”
Harris nodded. “We go this way then. And when we hit that ridge, the rest of you can come back. Just keep in mind, the quicker we get there, the sooner you’re coming home. The two we left behind will let you go through the door and down the steps. You go near that room and you lose your reactor. Got it?”
Daniel nodded. “Got it.”
Tawn waved her hand. “Let’s hustle up, then. We have a lot of ground to cover.”
Tawn and Harris broke into a slow jog as the others complained, attempting to keep up. The repeated promise of sunshields being taken and their roasting bodies discarded added incentive. Seventy-three kilometers were covered before the ridge was reached. The sun had long set.
Daniel pointed after taking a large swig of water. “Path goes up through there and then over. If you survive you should join up with the other trail about three kilometers from the colony. In about four standard hours the sun will be coming up. We’re on eighteen hour days here.”
Tawn said, “That leaves you in the sun for a couple hours on the way back. I’d say you’ll want to get a move on.”
Daniel nodded as he took another drink. “It’s early sun, which is far better than late sun. Still, our chances are not good.”
Tawn waved her hand as she pulled a pack of water up under her reflective robe. “I’d wish you luck but I’d just be lying.”
The Biomarines turned toward the ridge, leaving the Earthers to fend for themselves.
“That looks like a decent climb. You think they’ll make it back?”
Harris nodded. “I’m sure he was padding the amount of water they needed. They’ll have more than enough. I’d be more worried if I was one of the others with him. They start running short and there won’t be any drawing straws to see who gets dumped.”
Tawn glanced back at the six men who were hurrying away. “They’ll make it. They’ve been out here long enough to know what they can and can’t do. I’m more worried about our first mates when they do get back. That guy will be trying something. He’s not gonna sit and wait to see what happens.”
The trek up onto the ridge was difficult, but manageable by the two genetically engineered humans. The total transit took less than two hours, putting them back on somewhat flat terrain for the remainder of their hike. The previous slow jog turned into a marathon-like pace.
Tawn asked as they ran, “How you holding up?”
“Good. This night heat isn’t as bad as I thought it would be.”
Tawn smirked. “Not the heat that’ll get ya. It’s the lack of humidity. I know we were climbing back there, but I’ve used almost half my water. Not gonna get cooler when that sun comes up.”
“I’m down a liter. Getting close to loading up though.”
Tawn looked around. “All this desolation… who in their right mind would want to live down here?”
Harris laughed. “Not me. I’d much rather be hanging out at the Luxus. And I could use a trip to the Emporium about now. Steaks and eggs for breakfast. A big pile of ‘em. That would hit the spot.”
Tawn frowned. “Thanks. Now I’m hungry.”
Harris pointed to the side of the trail. Plenty of rocks down there… you could get your iron intake for the week.”
Tawn half smiled. “Actually I was thinking about the nice fat calf of a fellow Biomarine. You’d cook up pretty quick out here.”
Harris laughed. “Never took you for a cannibal.”
“Probably would never have considered it until you told your Helm story with the blood drinking. When it comes down to it I guess it’s all about survival, isn’t it? And when you’re desperate, you’ll eat just about anything, no matter how disgusting.”
Harris chuckled. “You implying I’m disgusting?”
Tawn shrugged. “Don’t know yet, but I would have to assume.”
Harris looked his business partner up and down. “You might not be a bad eat. Got a few extra pounds on you. That added fat adds flavor, you know.”
Tawn shook her head. “How about a new subject before you start thinking about this too much.”
Harris laughed as he reached back, pulling a liter bottle from his pack. “Fair enough. Although, you know what would be great right now? A big dip in a cool bath in one of those Luxus soaker tubs. And a bucket of chicken. I could get into that.”
Tawn did her best to hold in a laugh, instead releasing a sigh. “At least you keep it entertaining. I can’t tell you how many stumps I was assigned with who had the conversational ability of a dead bogler. You’d have made a good squad partner back in the day.”
Harris shook his head. “You might want another sip of that water. You’re starting to sound delirious.”
The morning sun was soon peeking over the horizon. A flap had to be lowered to prevent the heavy infrared rays from baking the skin on their faces and damaging their eyes.
Tawn gave status. “Ninety minutes to go. How’s your water?”
“Half a liter. How about you?”
“The same. Lips are getting crusty from the dry and the dust. Could have really made use of some lip balm.”
Harris nodded. “Same here. Feels like I stuck them on a grill beside a nice T-Bone.”
Tawn winced. “Uh. Why’d you have to mention food again? I’m starving… what kind of sauce you put on that steak?”
Harris pulled back. “What? You’d ruin a good steak with sauce? Not me. I like the natural charred flavor of a nice rare cut. Slap it on a hot grill for a minute a side then drop it on a plate. And get out of my way because that knife and fork will be flying. Add a big stack of fresh mashed potatoes… and some asparagus. Now we’re talking about a meal.”
Tawn slowly shook her head. “Should have figured you for asparagus. I know that’s an original Earth food along with the potato, but bleh, what an awful texture and taste.”
Harris replied with a half scowl. “You don’t like asparagus? What are you… a New Earther?”
“Now, let’s not be insulting. If you’re gonna talk food, at least make it something good. Maybe a nice hot loaf of camber bread, butter, and honey.”
Harris nodded. “I could get behind that. Tack on a six pack of Amber ales and we’re… loafing, I guess. What would you call eating that for a meal?”
Tawn smiled to a cracking lip. “Mmm. Loafing would be good.”
Harris asked, “How are your eyes doing?”
“Not bad. I’ve been squinting for the last couple hours. That seems to help.”
Harris reached for his remaining water, pulling his hand back to his side. “Sorry. I meant to mention that to you back when we started. One of our tricks from back on Helm. Don’t know if it actually helped, but we lived.”
“Nice of you to mention it about ten hours too late. And if your body
is telling you to drink that water you should have at it. It’s not doing you any good in that bottle. Drinking it down now doesn’t mean you’ll be worse off later. If you need it, you need it.”
Harris pulled the bottle, downing his last half liter with several big gulps. The bottle was placed back in the pack.
Tawn giggled. “I can’t believe you fell for that.”
Harris glared. “You saying that was a mistake?”
Tawn burst into a laugh. “Relax. I’m just jerking you around. Call it a payback for talking about food. If you needed the water you needed it.”
Harris asked, “You gonna drink yours?”
Tawn shook her head. “Don’t need it yet.”
Harris scowled. “Yeah, right. You need it just as much as I did.“
“Not yet. I’m stubborn like that. We should be on our last fifteen kilometers in ten minutes. I’ll down it then.”
The time came and passed with the remaining water being consumed. The morning sun, now well off the horizon, was beating down hard. The two less than optimally conditioned Biomarines kept up their pace. The final hour was grueling, with both accepting that their bodies were no longer suited for such a mission. The trail ended as it merged back into the one coming from the north.
Tawn checked the ground. “No sign of two hundred soldiers coming through here.”
Harris looked down the trail. “Three kilometers… we can be there in a few minutes. They have water.”
Tawn frowned as she looked down the trail the other way. “See that dust rising? That would be our assault force.”
Harris pointed toward a close hill. “Over here. Gives us a view of this whole area. They move this way it’s into our firing zone. This is where you prove out those Level 4 sniper stripes.”
The two person team moved up the hill, taking position behind a group of protruding rocks.
Tawn took a deep breath. “Aw, that is just scorching. I sure could have used an extra liter of water.”
“Let’s hope this fight doesn’t drag on.”
Tawn scowled. “Two hundred of them. It’s not gonna go fast. And I know we have a couple thousand rounds between us, but we need to use them sparingly.”
The first of the soldiers came into view. Reflective silver biosuits glistened in the bright sun. They ran in unison to a medium paced jog.
Tawn huffed as she looked over the troops through the scope on her repeater. “Those suits keep in all the moisture. They’re probably as hydrated as the minute they left.”
Harris grinned. “Makes them an easy target, though. All we have to do is hit or damage those suits and they’re toast. Literally.”
Tawn glared. “Says the man with a big fat shiny umbrella on his head.”
“I guess we are gonna have to lose these, aren’t we.”
Tawn pulled hers from its mount. “See if you can position it on the rocks. That sun is behind us. At least that’s one advantage.”
Harris grimaced as the reflected heat from his surroundings began to cook the skin on his otherwise bald head.
Tawn laughed. “Don’t be an idiot, at least pull your hood on.”
Two minutes later, the front of the jogging column was easily within range.
Tawn took aim. “I’ve always found these weapons to hit a bit low at this distance. Aim for just above their heads. Once they reach that rock, you can aim for whatever you normally would.”
Harris chuckled. “I have shot these a time or two you know.”
Tawn smiled as she squeezed off the first round. “Not at level 4 you haven’t.”
The head of the lead soldier exploded. Damaging the biosuit of the soldier beside him. Harris was next, catching his victim square in the chest. Another dozen rounds exited their rifles as the New Earth invaders scrambled for what little cover the sandy desert had to offer.
A second dozen hits followed the first before their position was located. A hundred plasma rounds at once dug into the front of the hill or passed over their heads. Tawn Freely and Harris Gruberg continued their relentless and deadly accurate barrage of plasma fire. The attackers were soon in retreat.
Harris held back from a shot as Tawn took another three, all striking their victims and ending their potential raid of the nearby community.
Harris shook his head. “That is uncanny.”
Tawn shrugged. “After the first few shots I have a good feel for where the round will go. See that last guy who’s slowed to a walk?”
Harris chuckled. “That’s eighteen hundred meters if not more. These weapons aren’t meant to be that accurate.”
Tawn took careful aim, squeezing off a round. A blue bolt of plasma moved across the expanse with a slight arc, striking the soldier center back, the result being his chest exploding out onto the ground in front of him.
Harris’s mouth remained open. “That was an impossible shot. How’d you do that?”
Tawn grinned. “That was actually luck. Didn’t think I’d actually hit him from here. Was hoping to get close so I could grumble about what a crappy weapon the repeater is for sniping.”
“You still feeling lucky?”
Tawn frowned. “Not lucky like that.”
Harris sighed. “Now’s when it gets hard for us.”
Tawn asked, “Why?”
“Why? Because we’re sitting in this oven with no water while they’re down there dickering about what their next move will be. We could be sitting here for an hour before that happens. Not sure I have an hour left in me.”
Tawn looked through her scope. “You know what I’m thinking about right now?”
“How would I know that?”
“I’m thinking about the Kingfisher and all the cool water she has aboard. She’s just the other side of that colony. About five clicks from here. We could probably make that in fifteen minutes if we sprinted. Too bad that stupid dog of yours couldn’t bring us some water.”
Harris replied, “That may not be an impossibility. Although I don’t know how his chassis would hold up in this heat. Tell you what, I’ll send him the command and we’ll see what happens. If we die out here anyway, it’s not like it will matter.”
Tawn said, “There’s an alternative.”
“What’s that?”
“You walk into town and bring us back water.”
Harris winced. “Not leaving you out here. That’s still a hundred fifty soldiers down there. They charge this hill and you’re dead. Probably making plans as we speak to do just that. Besides, what are the chances any of them will open the door for me when I get there?”
“Farker, this is your master. I need you to bring two cold liters of water to the following coordinates. And bring them in an insulated bag.”
Tawn chuckled. “You think that dog can figure that out?”
Harris replied, “Depends on how smart his programming is. What I’m more worried about is did he even receive it. We’re at the max distance for this signal bracelet I use to comm with him, and the Earthers said they were jamming. It’s on a different frequency than our comms, but maybe we get lucky. Remind me to upgrade it to something decent when we make it out of here.”
Chapter 22
_______________________
The attackers split into four groups, three of which began to move parallel to the position on the hill.
Tawn scowled. “Don’t like this. They get in behind us and we lose most of our cover.”
“Options?” Harris replied.
“We could run. Going into town would be bad. What are the odds we could lead them around the outskirts and back to our ships? You have that railgun. Pop out a few rounds from that and we mop up the whole group.”
Harris glanced back at the desert behind them. “You think they’d follow?”
Tawn shook her head. “Not a chance. They would split with half that crew heading in to complete their mission in town. At least that’s what I would do if I was commanding.”
Harris took careful aim, squeezing off a round at a grou
p moving at just over two kilometers away. The round impacted the sand a hundred meters short of their position.
Tawn laughed. “Level 4 you aren’t. Want me to show you how it’s done?”
“You feeling lucky?”
Tawn took aim, raising her sights slightly above the intended targets. A plasma round zipped out, blowing a stream of hot sand up near the middle of the running group.
“Bah. Crappy weapons.”
Harris laughed. “Still impressive.”
The four groups of New Earth invaders came to a stop at the same time.
Harris said, “Here we go.”
Tawn replied, “I’ll take these two groups behind us. You take the two in front.”
Harris nodded. “Consider them dead.”
The attack began from all four groups at once. The soldiers spread out, zig-zagging in random patterns as they fired the occasional round at the hill. Tawn and Harris opened up when they had reached twelve hundred meters. Every fifth shot was finding its mark.
Thirty members of the assault force had fallen before the others reached the base of the small hill. Plasma rounds from the opposing weapons gained accuracy as they closed in, with several striking the rocks next to where Harris held his firing position. Shrapnel punched a number of holes into his sunshield.
“Getting hot up here!”
Tawn replied, “Just keep shooting. We have them pinned down at the moment.”
Harris said, “We can’t outlast them. My shield is getting shredded.”
“You suggesting we charge down?”
Harris thought for a moment. “They may not be expecting that. We head down your side we have fifty meters of cover. That’s most of the way.”
Tawn said, “You move, I’ll follow.”
Harris stood. Crouching over, he sprinted for a line of rocks leading three quarters of the way down the hill. Tawn ran after, all the while firing her repeating plasma rifle into the group gathered at the base below them.
The short run saw multiple plasma strikes on the terrain surrounding the runners. After diving and rolling the final twenty meters as plasma bolts slipped over their heads, the two came to rest behind a large boulder.
ARMS War for Eden Page 20
