Earth (Harmony War Book 5)

by Michael Chatfield

  Tyler had spent the time checking outposts by eye, checking that Troopers were ready, cleaning their Powered Armor of Earth’s rust, and being supplied with ammunition to bolster their spirits.

  The battle between the two fleets had weakened the Harmony fleet. The Carrier Retribution had been evacuated and three other Carriers lay destroyed. There were still six Harmony Carriers heading straight for Earth. All of them were filled with Chosen.

  Not a single fighter craft, and minimal missiles. If they weren’t using that space for weapons, then they were using it for something else. My bet’s on Chosen.

  Tyler sat down in the office that had been given over to the Troopers. They’d used the desks to make various areas, with chairs all over the place.

  “How are your people looking?” Ortiz asked, smoking his cigar.

  “Ready, anxious to get into the fight,” Tyler said.

  Ortiz rubbed his face; he looked like he had aged decades since Fernix.

  “Nothing to do but hurry up and wait,” Shultz said from his seat.

  “Patience is a virtue,” Tyler said.

  “Patience is not a virtue - it is a waste of time!” Dashtund objected.

  “Shut up, Dashtund!” Ortiz growled. Tyler could see the small smile Ortiz hid as he pulled his cigar out of his mouth. “They need anything? Ammunition, food, supplies, batteries?”

  “Stop worrying yourself, old man. Our people are as ready as they’re going to get. You taught and trained us well,” Mark said.

  Ortiz made to talk again, but Mark’s raised eyebrow cut him off. Ortiz was a higher rank, but they were friends here. Mark and the others could tell when he was turning himself into a bundle of nerves.

  “Being a general sucks,” Ortiz sighed.

  “I bet.” Tyler was nervous, even though he was hiding it as much as possible. He knew that people, his people, would die in the coming battles. It made him want to go to every outpost and help all of them at the same time. It was impossible, and it would lead to him micromanaging the people that he had trained to work with what they had to face: the enemy.

  But I’d be lying if I said I still wished I could be in complete control.

  “It’s a fine balance between giving your people the room they need to do what they do, while moving the other parts around to support them and complete the mission. I wish I was a damn sergeant again,” Ortiz said.

  “I think the dinosaurs were still wandering around at that time,” Shultz said.

  “No dinosaurs, but Richter and Nerva were my platoon officers. I was a little shit back then, thought I knew everything, ready to piss vinegar and spit fire. I was an angry little shit wanting to kill and destroy. Those two turned me into a real Trooper instead of some Slummer,” Ortiz puffed on his cigar, his eyes unfocused as he lived through his own memories.

  Tyler remembered his times with Nerva and Richter, how they’d turned him from an escaped orphan into a gangster, then into a Trooper. They’d turned him into the man that he was today. They’d seen something in him, and they’d brought it out.

  Thank you for having the faith in me to train me, Tyler thought, his eyes itchy as he thought of his two mentors. He hadn’t been there when they’d died, but every day their actions motivated him to fight, to push forward and teach those that looked to him for guidance; as they had taught him he taught others.

  Chapter 34

  Tower​

  Earth, Sol System

  11/3348

  Nivad looked at the agent in front of him, the man had been the second in command of the Masoul Harmony

  He’d been Nivad’s authority at the front of the Harmony war. He had wielded the power of the Ministry of Intelligence to great effect.

  “Once the war is over, what do you want to do?” Nivad asked him.

  “Retirement on Earth, preferably. I’ve had enough of fighting wars and telling the EMF what to do. I’d like a nice position within a corporation, where I can spend my time on the luxury stations,” the agent who went by ‘M’ said.

  “I could offer you a position as the Head of Intelligence of a system,” Nivad said. The man was capable indeed. His records showed that.

  “No offense sir, but the heads grow old and useless as their skills dwindle. There’s little rivalry up there. I like to have a bit more competition, and I won’t be having to look for people trying to buy or kill me for having someone loyal to their system instead of the ministry,” M said.

  Good analytical mind. Doesn’t want to get stuck in the politics of it all.

  “So are you bored of the game?” Nivad asked.

  “Not so much the game, as the fighting. I have seen a good many useful resources destroyed in war,” M said.

  Does he care for the Troopers and the EMF?

  It would bear later thought.

  “Very well. From time to time there might be assignments where I would find your skills useful. Would you be interested?” Nivad asked.

  “That would be agreeable.”

  If I can hook you in with the contracts, then I could turn you into one of my advisers.

  There was a knock at Nivad’s door. M looked towards the door as it opened moments later.

  “Ah, this is the agent I have heard so much about,” Dalia said, walking over with a smile that seemed to light up the room.

  M stood, smiling as he shook her hand.

  Nivad studied them. Dalia was tense about something, and M was reading her. It looked like he felt the tension she was trying so hard to hide.

  “Thank you for your kind words,” M bowed slightly, smiling.

  Nivad stood and came around the table, offering his hand and smiling. “I look forward to working with you in the future.”

  “Me too,” M said, shaking his hand. He was nervous but also intrigued.

  Interesting, definitely worth keeping him around, Nivad thought. He could do a lot with skilled and interested agents.

  M took that as his dismissal and walked out of the office.

  The door closed and locked behind him.

  Nivad’s fake smile slipped from his lips as he looked at Dalia. “What?”

  “The Victor Corporation. It’s not just a name, it’s a shell corporation. I looked at the Westerly Three Complex crew, wondering why the Troopers would take it over. They aren’t the biggest gang but they provide security for the Greenhouses, which means that they have the most power. I wondered how they had got that contract with the Greenhouses. I found out that they were both connected by a contract, which tied them to the Victor Corporation. The same corporation that The Yard and their subsidiaries are part of, and that are supporting a company out in Osdal. The Victor brothers built themselves an empire, and now it’s all coming together into one corporation.”

  Impressive.

  “And?” Nivad asked, moving back behind his desk.

  “It’s in the top one hundred corporations, at least. I don’t even know what kind of funds they have their hands on. I’ve only scratched the surface, but they gave back a few billion to the Greenhouses from the Westerly crew like it was nothing.”

  “There must be something wrong if you’re here to tell me this,” Nivad said, sitting in his chair.

  “When they get all of their people out of the Troopers, then they’ll be all under one banner. An entire trained Trooper force, sitting on our doorstep.”

  They wouldn’t attack us, they don’t care for the corporations and the rest of it. They want their pay and they want to get out. Sure, they might not like us, but it will take a lot for them to go from not caring to fighting. They’re tired of war. Though, if she is seeing this problem then others might too, and they’ll think that we’re weak.

  Nivad sat there in thought. It was a tricky decision, but it came down to the fact that he needed to appear strong in front of the other corporations. Looking weak would mean that they might try to take him over.

  “What options do we have?” Nivad asked.

  “General Jones is moving ahead
with a hit on the Victor brothers. If we make sure that they succeed after Harmony is defeated, then we cut off the head. Take out the leadership and let it fall apart.”

  “Do it,” Nivad said.

  She turned and left the room.

  They would have been useful to have around, but it’s too dangerous right now. It’s a shame.

  Chapter 35

  Citadel

  Earth, Sol System

  12/3348

  Decades had turned to years, then months, weeks, and days, and now it was just hours until the Harmony Carriers were in Earth’s orbit. They had picked out most of the orbitals and hit them from a distance. A few of their rounds had hit the Slums, but none of them were close to the cities or stations that were around Earth.

  It looked like Moretti had predicted correctly: they wanted to take control of the system. They didn’t want to wreck it.

  Or they could piss off the rich at least, Ortiz amended. Plenty of places in the Slums had been hit and the damage was heavy. Thousands were dead.

  Few cared except the people in the Slums. The gangs were mobilizing and preparing. They’d been crapped on for all of their lives, and now they were getting a chance to kill those who thought of themselves as superior.

  Time moved slowly as Ortiz checked all of the bases and groups of Troopers.

  All air traffic had been grounded, and people were in special bunkers that had been made because of the threats. No matter what, the rich would survive. The bunkers and offices under the citadel were filled with the most affluent people in the known galaxy.

  Never in a million years did I think that I would be protecting a basement full of corporation heads.

  “Carriers are coming into range,” Williamson said.

  “As soon as they’re in range, start hammering them with orbitals. Let’s see that we get in as many hits as possible before they find them,” Ortiz said.

  Moments later the automated orbitals were firing their heavy rail-cannons at the Harmony fleet.

  The cannons were much larger than anything that was on a real warship, and they ripped armor away and opened holes in the Carriers.

  “We’ve got shuttles leaving the Carriers,” McPherson’s voice was tight with nerves.

  “Alert the Troopers,” Ortiz sounded almost lazy.

  Smart little bastards. Instead of having them come all the way and maybe lose a Carrier or two worth of soldiers, they’re dropping them off so fast that even if we do take the Carriers out they will have boots on the ground.

  More orbitals came online and started firing at the Harmony ships.

  Fighters that had been kept in reserve came out of the stations and hiding spots.

  The shuttles weren’t very well armed. It looked like they had two articulating turrets and no missile launchers. The fighters raked them, cutting them down and doing their best to plant missiles into the open flight decks that looked identical to an EMFC’s.

  Well, so that’s what we look like when we drop onto a planet. Impressive.

  Droves of the shuttles were pouring out of their larger carriers, which were hunting down orbitals as soon as they started firing. The ships were badly mauled. Some of them were leaving through holes in the Carriers’ armor.

  “Looks like Admiral Hall gave us something to fight after all. Damn those ships are shot up,” Ortiz’s voice was just loud enough to be heard by everyone in the command center.

  “Just have to show the navy what the Troopers can do,” Williamson said.

  They were old hands at getting the best from their people. Ortiz saw spines straighten and people focus on their jobs.

  “They rule the skies; we rule the planet. We’ve got some payback due with interest on Oathkeeper,” Ortiz’s voice was like hammered steel.

  Chapter 36

  Westerly Three Compound

  Earth, Sol System

  12/3348

  “Alright you lazy bastards! It’s time to earn your retirement!” Dominguez voice rang out through the Westerly Three Compound.

  Mark smiled as he walked into the command center.

  It had a big table to the rear, a hologram in the middle of the room, more tables forward of that and then a main screen. Any hint of humor disappeared as he looked at the descending Chosen craft on the big hologram that was showing Earth.

  “What are we looking at for numbers?” he asked.

  “One point five million,” Moretti trailed off as he read something else. “Fuck, there’s a mercenary security group making a play for Mega City.”

  Mark used his implants to call up Ortiz and then threw the link to his command center’s screen.

  “Mark?” Ortiz asked.

  “We’re detecting security contractors moving through Mega City; they have no reason to move and aren’t contracted out to anyone on Earth,” Moretti said.

  “Pass along the information, I’ll have someone find out if we have any other contractors arming up that shouldn’t be,” Ortiz sounded like he could chew through armor.

  “I will continue to look,” Moretti said.

  Ortiz cut the channel - he was a busy guy.

  “So, Chosen; how many are we looking at?” Mark asked Moretti.

  “Million and a few hundred thousand. It looks like those Carriers take three hundred thousand Troopers apiece, then they took in more from the wrecks. Hell, I’d put it around nearly two million.”

  Mark nodded.

  “They’re entering atmosphere,” one of the controllers said as the holographic display of Earth in the center of the room showed incoming targets.

  “We need landing areas,” Mark reminded them. As soon as the Chosen were down Mark wanted to make them regret stepping on Earth.

  Predicted flight paths were projected all over Earth.

  Mark looked at his command table, limiting the results to the flight paths that were landing in his sector. Every group of Troopers covered a zone, and they were spread out so that they could react and attack as fast as possible. It was the first stage of their plan.

  As time went on, the flight plans made the regions smaller and smaller as Chosen came down.

  “Looks like some idiots went straight for Mega City,” Moretti shook his head.

  Mark watched the incoming craft. They flew better than he’d hoped. The dust in Earth’s atmosphere made things annoying, but they were carrying through. Until they met Mega City’s defenses.

  These were corporations headed up by the most powerful people in Earth and Her Colonies. There were threats on their life every day, and it seemed that every tower in Mega City had some kind of weapon system as they opened up on the incoming craft.

  They were ripped apart by plasma, rail-guns or even normal Gatling guns like the CIWS on the Carriers.

  “Well looks like they’re having a pretty rough day,” Mark smiled.

  “You could say that,” Moretti agreed.

  “Send it to the Troopers.”

  “Sending,” Moretti punched in orders to his surface. Mark knew that, being a basic Trooper, he was a jumble of nerves. He’d linked everyone into the tactical computers, and they knew everything that was going on around them. It was a lot of information, but Mark felt it would get them focused on the battle, instead of thinking about their own doubts and fears.

  “We have the first landings in the Slums.” Diego threw something at the main board and the first landing showed.

  Satellites allowed them to get some imaging on the ground, but Earth’s atmosphere obscured the satellites enough that the image was messy.

  “People in the Slums are running out. Batteries are coming online.”

  There was a shift in image as explosions started hammering the shuttles that were landing.

  For now, there’s just a few of them on the ground where we can hammer them, soon there will be too many of them coming down. Once there’s too many of them then we’re going to start having Chosen all over the damn place.

  “Moretti, I leave you in command, I’ll be ou
t in the field,” Mark said. He unsnapped his helmet from his hip and pulled it over his head.

  “Look after yourself,” Moretti said.

  “Just point me in the right direction. Towards the Chosen,” Mark raised his AMR and tapped it.

  Moretti rolled his eyes and smiled.

  “Dominguez how are we looking?” Mark found her in the hall in her basic armor, with a Repulsor in her arms.

  “Ki’s Regiment is loaded up into their Powered Armor, ready if needed. Alexis and Yule have their forces spread out and ready to jump on any shuttles that start getting through our fire support,” Dominguez stopped as the compound shook.

  “Well it looks like our fire support is firing,” Mark said.

  “I thought it was rain,” Dominguez’s voice was dry.

  “Is Dashtund rubbing off on you?” Mark sighed.

  “Maybe a little bit,’ she smiled.

  “That’s all I need, two Dashtund’s running around.”

  “Saying I shouldn’t have kids?”

  “You talked about it?” Mark asked.

  “Well we haven’t not talked about it. What about you, any little Marks planned for the future?” They wandered past a group of Troopers moving around them as they stepped into an elevator.

  “None planned for,” Mark said.

  “Whole bunch of possibilities if we get our retirement,” Dominguez said.

  “First we’re going to win.”

  “We’ve got Chosen landing in our sector, we’re going to be swarmed shortly,” Moretti said in Dominguez and Mark’s ears.

  “Let’s go kill some Chosen,” Dominguez’s conversational tone turned deadly.

  “Time to wipe them off the map,” Mark growled, looking ahead as the elevator stopped. They entered a massive area where Troopers in everything from their basic load-outs to their Powered Armor waited in groups. Around them in every direction were tunnels that exited throughout the sectors that they were assigned to.

  Chapter 37

  Central Sector

  Earth, Sol System

  12/3348

  Tyler watched the shuttles come down.

  “It’s nine in the morning. It’s way too early for manslaughter,” Dashtund complained.