Return to Haven (Empire Rising Book 3)

by D. J. Holmes

  “For now yes,” the lead soldier said. “We used to move around a lot, I’m not sure how much longer we will be here for.”

  Thankfully, the cave entrance was large enough for Johnston and his men to get into it with their combat armor on. However, after one hundred meters it narrowed. Seeing the problem, Johnston exited his combat armor.

  “Moony, Reynolds and Harte, you are with me,” Johnston ordered. “The rest of you can stay here and guard our combat armor. I want two of you on watch at all times. The rest of you can take a well-earned rest.”

  Twenty meters further down the passageway it widened again. Once Johnston ducked down to get through the last narrow section he looked up to see a cavern flooded with light. There were powerful lights attached all around the cavern walls, making it feel like they were all standing in daylight. The cavern itself was thronging with people, some looked military but the vast majority looked civilian. The many children that were running around suggested that this was more than just a military base.

  As the rest of their group split off and went to greet people they knew, the soldier that had been their escort turned to Johnston. “Councilwoman Pennington has set up an office further up the cave. This way,” he said.

  Johnston saw what he meant as they approached the back of the cavern and another small tunnel appeared to go deeper into the mountain. Two soldiers, in armor similar to the leader of the attack on the Indians, stood guarding the tunnel. Both tensed as they saw Johnston and Moony approach in their British uniforms.

  “They are British marines,” their escort explained. “They have come to speak with Pennington. I will vouch for them.”

  “Very well,” one of the guards said. “She has been waiting for your return.”

  Once past the guards, they walked down several meters of dimly lit tunnel before it too opened up into a small chamber. A desk with a woman sat behind it dominated one side of the chamber. The other side had a number of holo projectors with a number of other men and women examining them. A quick glance told Johnston most of the holo projectors were displaying maps of Liberty and the Indian army’s base.

  “Counselor,” their escort called out. “I have some guests here who would like to meet you.”

  Johnston had never seen Councilwoman Pennington before but he had heard of her. As she looked up from her desk he was sure that if he had met her before, he wouldn’t have recognized her now. Her blonde hair was tattered and disheveled. Under her eyes were heavy bags and fatigue oozed off her. Nevertheless, the look in her eyes showed Johnston why she was in charge. Despite everything that had happened, she still looked fierce.

  “Councilwoman,” Johnston said, offering his hand. “My name is Major Johnston of the Royal Space Marines. We are here to help.”

  A look of relief flashed across Pennington’s face. “So we are not alone in this?” she asked.

  “Thanks to Councilwoman Rodriguez, the British are on your side,” Johnston said wishing to get Rodriguez front and center of the conversation.

  “Rodriguez?” Pennington said. Before Johnston could explain she had already figured it out. “She went to the British after she fled from Maximillian. Then did she warn you about the attack on the Kulthar delegation’s ship in time?”

  “You know about that?” Johnston said, tensing. If Pennington was a part of the group that had been working with Maximillian, then he would have to tread carefully with her. Any help he gave her now would boost her popularity with her people and she could become a thorn in their side later on.

  “Yes, Maximillian told me. Then he imprisoned me before I could do anything to stop him,” Pennington said. “Now, did Rodriguez succeed?”

  “Yes,” Johnston answered. “She managed to get to Captain Somerville in time to allow him to stop Admiral Harris and his ships. If she hadn’t, then no one would be coming to your aide. You can be sure of that.”

  “That is what I feared,” Pennington said. “At least now we have hope. You said Somerville, is that the same Somerville that commands Endeavour?”

  “Yes,” Johnston said and plunged into the story of Suzanna’s address to the UN, to the British parliament and her wedding to James.

  “So your government thinks my people will just accept the idea of becoming a British protectorate do they?” Pennington said once Johnston was finished.

  “That is not for me to say Ma’am.” Johnston replied. “I am just a soldier. But from what I have seen so far, being a British protectorate would beat being occupied by the Indian army.”

  “That much is true,” Pennington said. “Well, it certainly looks like Rodriguez landed on her feet. I imagine the British see her playing a key role in whatever future government they have planned for our people?”

  “I can’t say,” Johnston said. “That’s far above my pay grade. I am meant to be worrying about how to kick the Indians off your planet. That is why I am here. Whatever the future holds. I am sure you and my government can work on that together. For now, you only have to deal with me.”

  “Yes, I think we can come to an agreement,” Pennington said. “The future will have to wait.”

  “Well then, can you fill me in on what has happened since the Indians entered your system?” Johnston asked.

  “Yes,” Pennington said as she walked towards the holo projectors. “Edward, get the reconstructions of the Indian’s invasion up on the holo display. Our new friend wants to watch them.”

  “Right away Mam,” one of the attendants said.

  Johnston watched in silence as the highlights of the space battle and then the Indian army’s landing were played for him. Here and there he noticed there were important segments of the battles missing but that was to be expected. Either the communications between Haven’s central command and the units involved in the combat had been disrupted or, as in many cases he suspected, the units involved in the battles had been destroyed without anyone even noticing.

  “They hit you hard,” Johnston said once the display switched off. “Your people fought well though, I don’t think they could have done much better.”

  “Thank you Major,” Pennington said. “We have been doing our best.”

  “What is the situation of your military now? Johnston asked. “Are there any formations still intact?”

  “No,” Pennington answered. “At least not any more intact that what you have seen here. We have military personnel from over five different battalions. Yet together we don’t have the numbers to even make up one. I know there are other pockets of fighters, some are holed up in the city. Others have found places to hide like we have. We have been hitting the Indians when we can. Most of the fighting is going on in the city itself. The general populace has risen up against the Indians. There are some sections of the city that the Indian soldiers simply don’t enter.

  “Oh they could if they wanted to,” Pennington said when she saw the look of surprise on Johnston’s face. “We have very few weapons that can actually penetrate their armor. However, even without such weapons, many of our people attack them with whatever they can find. I think the Indians have just found it safer to leave certain parts of the city alone.

  “That is why we have started hitting their patrols around their base. It’s one of the easiest ways to get to them.”

  “But your attacks are so costly. I must have seen more than twenty people killed in the attack on that Indian patrol,” Ferguson said.

  “You were nearby?” the soldier who had been their escort said in surprise.

  “Barely three hundred meters away,” Johnston said, smiling. “Remember how I snuck up on you?”

  “Point taken,” the soldier said. “Then you will also have seen that we gathered ten plasma rifles. Twenty lives for ten plasma rifles is an exchange I would make in a heartbeat. With those weapons we can easily kill another twenty Indians.”

  “It’s hard I know Major,” Pennington said in response to Johnston’s look of disgust. “But that is the price we are willing to pay for
our freedom. If we have to exchange one hundred Havenites for every Indian soldier, then we will. One way or another we are going to make the Indians regret ever coming to Haven.”

  Johnston didn’t quite know what to say. The look in Pennington’s eyes told him she was serious.

  “How are you going to help us do that Major?” Pennington asked him.

  “Well,” Johnston said. “Like I explained, I am just part of the advance team. When I left Earth the plan was to send a full invasion force. If any attempt to retake Haven from the Indians is going to be successful though, whoever is leading the invasion force will need as much intel as possible. That’s my job. I’m here to scout out the main Indian bases and defenses and make contact with any resistance fighters.”

  “You have succeeded in one of your tasks Major, now let’s see how we can work together to accomplish the other shall we?” Pennington asked.

  “I’m open to suggestions,” Johnston said as he followed the Councilwoman back to her desk.

  “Well I might have someone who can help you,” Pennington replied with a smile.

  Chapter 16 – Forest Guide

  I have always struggled with the Sun Gates, passing them just seems so unusual. I suspect I am not alone. In fact, there is no doubt that even the best naval officers and soldiers have well-hidden fears.

  -Excerpt from Empire Rising, 3002 AD

  28th April 2467 AD, 10km from Liberty.

  “Stop,” Clare said as she held up her hand and froze in place.

  “What is it?” Johnston whispered to his guide.

  Instead of answering she turned her head and glared at him. Getting the point Johnston kept quiet.

  About twenty seconds later Johnston heard a low buzzing sound. Off in the distance his enhanced eyesight picked out movement. If he had been in his combat armor he could have zoomed in on it. Yet Clare had made him leave it behind. As things were, he could just about make out some kind of metallic thing moving through the thick foliage. The combat fatigues he was wearing tingled in a couple of places to let him know that they were absorbing radar and laser scanning rays being directed in his direction. He prayed that the combat suit Clare was wearing was just as effective as his.

  Almost as soon as it appeared, the thing disappeared. Thirty seconds later, Clare visibly relaxed and let out a deep breath.

  “A drone,” Johnston said, “How did you know? I didn’t hear anything.”

  “It’s not what you hear, it’s what you don’t hear,” Clare said, turning to him smiling. “My father loved to hunt in the woods around our settlement. As soon as I was old enough he would take me with him and I know the sounds of all the birds and animals around here. If you had been listening, you would have noticed that it went quiet about a minute before the drone came by. We might not be able to sense it, but the animals around here sure can. As soon as it goes quiet, you know something is up.”

  “Impressive,” Johnston said.

  “Not really,” Clare said. “This is not my first time going to the Indian base. I learnt this trick the hard way. The Indians have more than a hundred of the things patrolling the forest all around here. I have bumped into one or two before. It’s the main reason we haven’t tried to attack the base. They would spot us coming kilometers away.”

  “I’m guessing my combat armor would have the same effect on the wildlife?” Johnston asked.

  “I believe so,” Clare said. “I didn’t want to take the chance. Besides, even with its camouflage, your armor will draw too much attention once we get closer to the base.”

  Johnston wasn’t too sure about that, but he didn’t want to argue with his only guide. “How did you come to join the fight against the Indians? You’re obviously not military,” he asked as they carefully continued their journey.

  “I used to work in the Council Chambers,” Clare answered. “I was a cleaner, I swept the chamber for bugs and other eavesdropping devices. I had to leave over a difference of opinion just before the Indians arrived.”

  “So you are that Clare,” Johnston said putting two and two together.

  “What?” Clare asked, turning to him in alarm. “What do you mean?”

  “You are Councilwoman Rodriguez’s Clare,” Johnston explained. “You are the one who warned her about the attack on the Kulthar delegation ship.”

  Clare didn’t reply, prompting Johnston to add, “Well, aren’t you?”

  “Yes,” Clare said reluctantly. “But you have to promise not to tell anyone back at the resistance base. If they find out they will lynch me. Maximillian has become a martyr to our cause. If anyone finds out I betrayed him, I will be in big trouble.”

  “Your secret is safe with me,” Johnston assured her. “But I want to thank you for your actions. By warning Councilwoman Rodriguez, you allowed her to get to my Captain in time to stop the attack. You saved human-kulrean relations.”

  “Well, you are welcome,” Clare said slowly. “I just did what I thought was right, just like I am now. Now, if you don’t mind, let’s not talk about it any further.”

  “Well then, what would you like to talk about?” Johnston asked.

  “Nothing,” Clare said, “we are here.”

  Peering ahead, Johnston saw that she was right. There was a break in the forest about two hundred meters ahead of them. The sunlight streaming in told him that there was open ground beyond that.

  “Up we go,” Clare said, pointing to one of the trees.

  “After you,” Johnston said, unsure of what she planned next.

  Shrugging, Clare pushed past Johnston and climbed the tree she had pointed to. As Johnston watched she made quick progress. The thick foliage that began at the base of the tree provided many branches for her to use for feet and hand holds. Shrugging, still not sure of what they were doing, he began to climb anyway.

  When they were about eighty meters up the tree Clare stopped and reached above her head to untie something. When her hands returned Johnston saw that she had a metallic wire in them. It stretched further up into the canopy of the trees, seemingly attached to a branch higher up.

  “You are not about to do what I think you are, are you?” Johnston almost groaned.

  All through marine training and then the special forces training he had endured after receiving his enhancements, Johnston had excelled at EVA missions. He was just as comfortable on the ground. Yet, he had never been able to get over his childhood fear of heights. Even when he was wearing combat armor that could easily survive a fall of over one hundred meters, he still got nervous when at height. As a result, during his first stint in the marines he had always gotten skittish on missions where he had to jump out of a shuttle, either in his power armor or with a wing suit or parachute. It had earned him a rather unsavory nickname among his peers, Johnston had been thankful to see that the name had been long forgotten by the time he re-enlisted.

  “You bet, I used to love doing this with my father,” Clare said to his dismay. “He built me a whole series of tree houses that I could swing to and fro from.”

  “And just how does this help us with our mission?” Johnston asked.

  “The Indians have sophisticated movement sensors placed around the edge of the forest. They don’t want any surprise attacks catching them off guard. However, they are only on the ground. Up here we can swing to the edge of the forest and get a good look at the base. I set up all the wires we need the last time I was here.”

  Looking down Johnston had to physically stop his legs from twitching.

  “You’re not afraid of heights are you Major?” Clare asked with amusement in her voice. “If you want you can go first and I will give you a push.”

  “Believe it or not I am,” Johnston said. “Though I am well used to having to deal with it. On you go. I’ll be right behind you.”

  “Suit yourself,” Clare said as she jumped off the branch and let the wire swing her more than twenty meters across to a nearby tree.

  Once she detached herself from the wire she sw
ung it back to Johnston. Johnston attached it to his combat suit and mimicked her jump. Not daring to look down, he focused his attention on his target. With far more ease than Clare was expecting, he landed his feet on the branch and brought himself to a complete stop.

  “Like I said, I may have a fear of heights, but I know how to handle it,” Johnston said to her questioning face. “Now let’s keep going. I am eager to see what the Indians have built.”

  Four more times Clare swung from branch to branch using wires she had already set up. When they came to the final one she tied the wire up after Johnston had used it. Then, with her arms spread out for balance, she walked out along the branch they were both standing on. Johnston carefully followed, noting that the branch was getting thinner and thinner.

  After six meters, Clare reached up in front of her and pulled some smaller branches out of the way. Sunlight streamed in with renewed vigor, causing Johnston to shield his eyes. When they adjusted, he was able to look out over the Indian base set up in the clearing in the forest.