“I’ll get back to you as soon as possible.’ Moretti cut the channel.
Chapter 58
Tower
Earth, Sol System
6/3349
“Sir, you have a call from agent M,” Rosalind, one of Nivad’s secretaries, said.
“Connect the call.”
M sounded breathless. “Mister Selvra, Admiral Hall has come up with a plan that might deal with the Harmony Carrier fleet, their security contractors, and getting Peter Quinn.”
“How?” If M was messing with him, he would have his head.
“We buy the security contractors out from under Quinn.”
So simple and so possible.
Nivad sat there for some time, tapping his desk in thought. Scenarios ran through his mind, but it kept coming back to one thing. The security contractors weren’t trying to hide that they were getting hired by Harmony.
Maybe they were looking for other interested parties and a payout?
“If you can negotiate a deal with the security contractors, I will okay the funds,” Nivad promised. Money was of little consequence if it could get him the leader of Harmony. It would also mean the informant in Quinn’s circle would be free to spill the other secrets they knew.
“Yes, sir, I will contact you with the details,” M said.
“Good, bring them to my office in person. Also, I want a plan to remove any of the security contractors that are deemed possible threats to Earth and Her Colonies,” Nivad said.
“I will have it prepared shortly. Am I allowed to bring my own staff in on this?” M asked.
Smart boy.
“You may bring them in as long as you are sure that they will not reveal any information,” Nivad said.
“Yes, sir, I will have it ready as soon as possible.”
Nivad closed the channel, wanting the agent to get to work.
If he can pull this off, then all we have to think about is the Chosen on Earth.
Nivad started writing up a message to send to Moretti. If the security contractors on Mars proved to be worth the credits, then they might be useful in bolstering his Troopers’ numbers on Earth. It would also weaken them if M found out that any of them were a possible threat.
Chapter 59
Central Sector
Earth, Sol System
6/3349
Fusaro looked at the latest report that was playing across his implants. “Order the advance.”
“Sir,” Baashir talked into his communications headset. Moments later, the Chosen’s lines started moving forward. Their armor had been worked on as much as possible, but their force of nearly two million Chosen had been cut down to nearly half.
They had around nine hundred thousand PACs.
They had needed the break, but now all of the PACs were armored and functional. The EMFC in orbit had struck them a few times, killing hundreds of thousands.
Fusaro had stopped the advance, using the dust storm to feed and rest his people. He didn’t know what to expect in Mega City, and he hated giving the Troopers more time.
Still, he knew that it was time well spent; his people were back in properly formed units. They were well rested, fed, and supplied.
They pushed forwards through the dust storm. Unit commanders had their units leap-frog like the Troopers did. Here and there booby traps were found; the Troopers never seemed to bore of the infernal devices.
Then the artillery started. The Troopers’ scouts must have been hiding and watching the Chosen. Artillery rained down on the advancing Chosen, killing anything in their blast radius.
The scouts targeted leadership. Anyone that looked to have any authority was hit with AMRs. The smart officers blended into their units, using their voices instead of their gestures to get their people to move forward.
“Well, it looks like the Troopers will know that we’re coming. No reports of Troopers yet though,” Baashir said.
“Let’s get armored up, it’s time that we moved up,” Fusaro said.
He had walked around, talked, and made his presence felt with the Chosen. He needed to be seen as a leader in the flesh, not just a voice in their ear.
It led to their loyalty and drove them to complete his orders.
“Yes, sir,” Baashir smiled. The Chosen idiot thought that Fusaro was walking, talking Harmony royalty.
What would they do if they found out I was only doing this for the corporation seat I’ll get at the end of it? Fusaro didn’t think that it would be a pleasant experience.
He got into his Powered Armor as aides broke down the command center. They were well practiced, with the Chosen’s advance they had moved forward constantly.
The armor locked around Fusaro. There were two reasons he wanted to move to the front: one, to let his people see him, and two, because he knew that the corporation heads wouldn’t allow orbital strikes in their city.
Fusaro didn’t want to die, he still had a lot he wanted to do.
Chapter 60
Citadel
Earth, Sol System
6/3349
“Here they come,” Ortiz said, looking as Chosen started appearing on the screens, the sensor-sticks and scouts seeing the Chosen as they moved forward.
“Can Indomitable get into position?” he looked at McPherson.
“No, sir, Captain Remblant is pushing his ship as hard as possible. It will be forty minutes until he’s in position. If we can keep them there, then he will be able to hit them,” McPherson said.
“Then let’s hope we can hold for forty minutes.”
Ortiz had been roped back to the command center. It seemed that Nivad Selvra didn’t like to have his general running around on the front lines. A few of the ministry people had come over to have stiff words with him. Ortiz had faced people trying to kill him all across the EHC, so their stiff words and glares were like water on a roof.
It seemed that someone had reported that Ortiz couldn’t give a flying fuck and thus Ortiz had got his own minder. His name was Wallace, and Moretti said that he was Nivad’s top enforcer.
Wallace seemed happy to let Ortiz do as he wanted and acted much as Moretti did, passing on information that Ortiz might find useful.
He stays in my corner and I’ll stay in mine.
Wallace held his ear, his eyes finding Ortiz’s.
What the hell is going on in there?
As if Wallace had heard his thoughts, the man walked over in his tailored suit.
“General, some information has come to light. It seems that Admiral Hall has a plan to deal with the enemy carriers,” Wallace’s voice was quiet, so that only Ortiz could hear.
“What is it?” Ortiz asked. He was worried about those carriers. If they won on the ground but those damn ships were still around, it would take a miracle for Hall to destroy them all. If the Harmony Carriers had full run of the system, then they could pound anything from orbit.
Ortiz felt it would only be a matter of time until they turned Mega City into a pile of rubble and said that Earth and Her Colonies were under their command.
“If we could go somewhere private,” Wallace said.
“I trust these men and women with my life; any information you tell me I’m going to tell them,” Ortiz replied.
Wallace seemed to stew over that for a few moments. “Very well. M is looking to buy up the security contractors that Harmony is trying to buy. If he does so, it is his hope that they will take the Harmony carriers from the inside.”
“Fucking mercenaries,” Ortiz sighed, shaking his head.
We’re no better. We just lie to ourselves and say that we’re fighting for something bigger.
Judging by Wallace’s expression, he seemed to be thinking the same thing.
“Thank you for the information. I’ll keep it in mind, but right now I’m more focused on dealing with the threat marching into Mega City.”
“I will inform you if I find out any more valuable information,” Wallace promised, walking back to the command table that he an
d his people had claimed.
It wasn’t a perfect working relationship, but it worked out of necessity.
“Chosen are moving past the wall into Mega City.”
“Commanders are to fire at their own discretion. Once the Chosen have moved in enough pull back the majority of the scouts, we’re going to need them in their armor soon enough,” Ortiz said.
Chapter 61
Mega City
Earth, Sol System
6/3349
Alexis hadn’t had much time to see Tyler, just a few snatched moments here and there. They had their own duties, and it was hard to have a relationship when there was a war going on.
He was looking over his division while she was looking over her Regiment. They were at half-strength, but ready to fight.
Red carats started to appear as Chosen walked through the electrostatic shield and into Mega City.
“Fire!” Alexis cried, leaning into her turret as she fired into the Chosen. They reacted like the well-trained bastards they were. They fired back and ran for cover.
Artillery was firing on just the other side of the shield. Pieces of the shrapnel were coming through and catching the Chosen in the back as they advanced.
All up and down the Chosen line, Repulsors, AMRs and Screamers let loose. The Chosen weren’t just taking it, and their own artillery started raining down inside Mega City.
Someone screamed as shrapnel tore through the murder hole they were using to aim, cutting through their helmet.
Medics ran up, hauling the person out of the way. Another Trooper took their place. Alexis didn’t spare them a second glance.
Her people knew their jobs, and she, just like the lowest private, was focused on carrying out her duty and cutting the Chosen down.
Vehicles burst from the electrostatic shields.
“Get the trucks!” Mark yelled, as Screamers left a blazing trail to the vehicles. The trucks went up in fireballs, but there were dozens of them. They got through and past the first line. The second started engaging them. The Chosen closed with the buildings that the Troopers were using as strongholds.
“Strongholds, move Troopers to watch all sides,” Ortiz said. The Chosen had penetrated their loose line and an attack could come from anywhere.
Cermite dust made the battlefield hazy as tracers criss-crossed between the Chosen and the Troopers.
Chosen hid behind benches, planters, abandoned air-cars, anything that looked like cover. Repulsors took chunks out of them as Screamers turned them into rubble.
Here and there, convoys of Slum vehicles came racing through the shield, Chosen firing wildly in every direction. Troopers with Screamers, high in the strongholds, fired at the vehicles, which were racing past the first line and into Mega City.
Alexis watched her tracers as they tore into what looked like a bus of some kind. There was a gang emblem on the side of it. It looked like fireworks had gone off inside as the tracers bounced around, tearing the bus apart.
Chosen jumped out of the vehicle, their armor saving them from the ricocheting tracers.
Alexis turned her fire on them, and her two mounted Repulsors tore into the PACs, the special rounds turning their armor into death traps.
Her Repulsor clicked empty.
“Reloading!” she yelled, pushing the spent casings out of the way as she hauled two ammunition boxes to her gun. She tore off the old ones, and attached the new ones to the belt feeder. It started pushing the rounds into the Repulsors. She grabbed the charging handles, ripping them back and then forward, then swung to aim at a new truck that revved as it caught air from what was left of a bench.
She pulled on the trigger, the twin barrels releasing rounds as casings fell around her legs.
“Back in!” She yelled. Techs were rushing all over the place, fixing Repulsors, dropping off ammunition, or patching holes in the walls with Spray-ite.
The Chosen were having a hard time of it, but they were advancing and firing back.
A new truck came through the electrostatic shield. It sagged on its suspension; armor had been tacked across it and Heavies shifted behind armor plates.
“Screamers, get that fucking thing!” Alexis tagged the new monster that had appeared.
It opened up with Heavy machine guns. Alexis ducked as it shot into the wall she was hiding behind, and holes the size of her armored head appeared in the walls.
Black and red symbols appeared around her as Troopers screamed out in pain.
One of the blacks was Liu, her sergeant major.
“Eriksson, you’re my sergeant major, check in with the medics and see if we can get any fire support,” Alexis said.
“Yes, ma’am,” Eriksson said.
Screamers hit the armored truck. It took multiple hits, but one finally got its power supply, turning the entire thing into an incinerator. Blue flames ripped through the truck bed where the Heavies were. Chosen ripped their own defenses apart as they tried to run, then a Screamer hit the bed and opened up the armor, killing any Chosen left.
The power source burned anything in its way and melted armor.
“We’ve got more trucks coming in,” Lieutenant Jovenko reported.
“Motherfucker,” Alexis hissed as she saw that one of her Repulsors had been hit by the Heavies. The entire mount was mangled and fucked.
Unfortunately, there were plenty of empty Repulsor turrets, and Troopers laying dead or yelling in pain around them.
Alexis moved to a different Repulsor, firing at the Chosen as they used the trucks to move forward.
More and more of the trucks were moving forwards, their heavy machine guns firing in all directions as PACs ran up.
The smaller vehicles raced forwards to hit the second and third lines.
All of Mega City was fighting to hold position.
A civilian air-car got close to the action, the people gawking at the war below, then a Heavy caught their engines, sending them cartwheeling out into the Slums.
Stupid motherfuckers.
Chapter 62
Combat Shuttle Four-Two-Seven
Earth, Sol System
6/3349
“Fuck this, we’re going,” Yu said, standing up in the section bay that he and three other Combat Shuttle crews had been given to live in. Young and Bobbie also grabbed their helmets and stood.
“We haven’t been given authorization. We’re not supposed to shoot in Mega City!” Ageada, another Combat Shuttle leader protested.
“I couldn’t give a damn. I’m not going to stay in here while our people are dying. The Chosen are using fucking trucks, our people can deal with a lot, but trucks? That’s something that Combat Shuttles were made for. You can stay here if you want, but I’m not going to leave our people out there.” Yu walked out, and Bobbie and Young followed.
“Talked to Chief Wallow, she’s got us loaded and ready. She’ll have our bird warmed up and ready by the time we get there,” Bobbie said.
“I’ve got flight plans and the latest scans of the perimeter,” Young said
“It’s like you two were planning on fighting the Chosen.” Yu commented with a raised eyebrow.
“I remember someone saying that it was a good practice to be ready for anything and everything.” Young tapped her chin as if in thought.
“Seems he was right,’ Bobbie smiled.
“Bunch of flatterers, now?” Yu smiled back; he couldn’t have asked for a better crew.
The elevator shot upwards to the landing pad, where Combat Shuttles, scarred from battle, were loaded and ready rested, waiting to be called into action.
Other elevators reached the flight deck.
They saluted Yu as they each made their way to their Combat Shuttles.
“Seems that we’re not the only ones with the idea,” Bobbie said, pulling on his helmet.
Chief Wallow was standing in front of her Combat Shuttle. She was a severe looking woman who was bulky from working with Combat Shuttles first hand. She ran a tight maintenance team who
were grinning as they worked on the Combat Shuttles and ran checks.
“Bout time you flyers started getting up here. Wondered how long it would take before your adrenaline-addled minds got sorted out.”
“Sorry, chief.”
“Well at least you’re here now,” she said with a rare smile. “When they hear that you three are going into the sky, well, the rest are going to have to outdo you. You Combat Shuttle pilots are all nuts.”
“We aim to please,” Bobbie said, giving an exaggerated bow as he and Young moved to check the exterior of their Combat Shuttle.
“Try not to ding up my bird too much, Yu,” she said.
“Who me?” Yu tried to look shocked.
Yu might have been the pilot and Combat Crew leader, but Wallow owned the Combat Shuttle. Yu was only given the privilege of flying her if Wallow so deemed.
“Yes, you,” Wallow said.
“I’ll try my best, chief.”
“Good luck,” she said, holding out her hand.
“Thanks,” Yu took it, shaking it. He took a deep breath, turning to his Combat Shuttle. “Bobbie, Young how we looking?”
“Good to go,” Bobbie said walking into the cargo bay, checking the ammunition crates that were locked into the decking.
“Engines are purring, armors being fixed up, flaps replaced,” Young said, moving between the ammunition crates to the cockpit.
“Sealing her up,’ Bobbie said, the rear ramp coming up and the cargo hold’s lights coming on as Yu stepped into the cockpit. He pulled his helmet on and got into his seat. Outside his window he could see other Combat Shuttle crews getting into their rides.
A few landing pads were already being pushed up towards the flight pad on the floor above.
Yu flicked switches, the engines coming alive and turning on various systems. Checks started automatically cascading data down Yu’s vision.
He barely glanced at it, picking up the necessary information by the lights and lines.
“Flight path input, looking good on systems. Missiles loaded and ready,” Young said.
“Someone fucked with my seat, but we’re good on guns,” Bobbie said.
Yu laughed, nerves making his arms and hands tingle. He rubbed his hands together, clapping to try and return normal sensations to them.
Earth (Harmony War Book 5) Page 16
