by Danny Loomis
He frowned. “Lenora, just remember who the enemy is. You only make things worse if you kill innocents…”
She stood abruptly, face twisting in hate. “None of them are innocent. They’re either with us, or against us. Nothing else.”
He put a hand on her arm when she turned to leave. ‘Please. Don’t turn into someone who kills just to be killing.”
She jerked her arm away. “I can’t believe it. Still a soft core to you. You didn’t see our parents killed, while so-called ‘innocents’ stood and watched. They all deserve to die if they don’t join the struggle.” She stalked off, joining the seven men who followed her.
Sorrow filled him at another loss. The Lenora he’d known was no more.
For Irish, the drive back to the rebel base was made in a haze. Once parked in the underground motor pool, Two Eagles popped him one on the shoulder. “Damn, you got back here in record time and one piece. Only scared the hell out of us a couple times, too.” He laughed. “But you didn’t squeeze the wheel too hard this time. Just remind me to send one of the Fireplug Twins on the next ride with you.”
“Hey, sorry man. The talk with my sister didn’t go too well. ‘Fraid I zoned out a little.”
Two Eagles nodded soberly. “It can always be tough when family’s involved.” He looked around. “I’d better get this latest batch over to our barracks. Try to relax.”
Irish slung his rucksack over a shoulder and trotted towards Brian’s office, impressed with the activity around him. At least twice the number of people he’d seen before filled the hallways, all intent on their missions. When he entered, two men strode from Brian’s inner office, looking overly serious. He turned to Brian’s new receptionist. “Hi, I’m…”
“You’re Mister Irish, aren’t you? Brian said you’d be around sometime today. He’ll be through in a minute, okay?”
He nodded and perched on a chair, giving her a once-over. Not bad. Light blonde, blue eyes; good figure. Nice eye candy to keep you occupied while waiting. She glanced up and smiled. He quickly looked away. Wups, caught in the act.
Brian came from his office, crooking a finger at him. “C’mon in, Captain. Just the man I wanted to see.”
Once seated at the conference table in his office, Brian tossed a data cube to Irish. “Here’s the latest information far as our efforts against the Legs are concerned. Also included the draft of a plan for eventually taking over the artillery plant. I’d like your input, if you don’t mind.”
“Sure, be glad to. By the way, I don’t think I’ve seen it so busy around here before.”
He nodded. “Yes, we’re in the process of opening two more bases, one of them on the continent of Burunda. Got quite a few recruits to train over there.” He straightened, shaking his head. “Damn me, where are my manners? You care for some tea? He waved a hand. “Bernie, could you get us some tea?”
Seconds later she entered with a tray. “Your wish is my command, Master.”
“You’re a sly one. Bet you were already bringing it in to us,” Brian said when she put cups in front of them. “Captain, I’d like to introduce you to my cousin, Bernadette Olsen.”
He stood, offering his hand. “Pleased to meet you, Bernadette. If you have any problems with this slave driver, you can come work for me.”
She smiled, giving him a once-over. “Wait’ll this war’s over and I might just take you up on that.”
He reddened while she walked back to her desk, causing Brian to laugh. “Oh, my. Never seen you at a loss for words, let alone blush so prettily.”
Irish gave an involuntary glance towards Bernadette’s desk. “Before I totally embarrass myself, we’d better get on with our meeting. I was talking with Two Eagles, and he’s highly impressed with the quality of recruits they’ve been getting. Even adding more training about how to hunt for enemy snipers, they’re coming along nicely.”
“I guess you could call it nicely, when we’ve got forty additional snipers to add to the first bunch you trained,” Brian said with a grin. “Last time we talked, he said we should have another thirty ready in a week’s time.”
Irish set his cup down. “I have to tell you, I’m deeply concerned about Lenora and her group. I just met with her, and she indicated they were going to attack a rally the Legs were having over by Carrow. The way she was talking she didn’t care if they were Legs or bystanders, she was going to kill them. You heard anything about this?”
Brian leaned forward, frowning. “I’d heard about the rally. In fact, we were planning on having some folks there so we could come up with counter-arguments to whatever their message is. It’d be a big mistake for something to happen there, since most folks in that area either supportus or are fence sitters.”
Bernadette hurried in. “Here’s a priority message from the Erebus, Sir. The Alliance is landing troops now.”
Brian snatched the message, scanning it rapidly. “Shite. They’re landing a regiment’s worth of troops, a battalion at each major city. Mister Shag says they’ve also seen several troop carriers emerging from the nexus. Radio traffic identifies it as the 41st Division, and they’re being transported directly to the planet.” He took a deep breath, let it out. “Probably be landing the division close to Galway. They’ve been doing a lot of work on what we thought was another Leg base, but no one moved in when it was finished.”
By now Irish and he were both standing. “I’ve got to head out, Brian, but one last thing. As you know, the Confederation’s only here to help against the Alliance, and in this case the government that’s in power since it’s friendly with them. Once we kick the Alliance’s ass and you get rid of the Legs, you’ve got to have a government ready to take over. I’m probably preaching to the choir about this, but just wanted to remind you.”
“You be able to stick around while the Alliance is here?”
Irish held out his hand. “You’ve got my work on that. I’ll be around till they either kill me or the Alliance is thrown off Eire.”
“Brian shook his hand. “Thanks, Captain. That means a lot to me. Now go take care of business, man!”
CITY OF GALWAY, ALLIANCE HEADQUARTERS (Day +65)
Major Vogel stood at the entrance to the Second of the First Battalion’s Headquarters, watching while each of the four line companies filed into a separate building. They’d taken over an abandoned school, one that had buildings laid out in a quadrangle. Their headquarters was at the apex of the quad.
He walked inside. “Corporal Feltz, any word from the Commander yet?”
A short, thin man hurried out of Vogel’s office, situated next to Lieutenant Colonel Pryor’s. “Nossir, said something about making sure his quarters were up to snuff.”
After a last glance outside, he headed for his office. “You got my office set up like I said to?”
“Yessir. The Commander’s aide has one last load, an’ he’ll be finished, too.”
Vogel waved a hand. “Don’t just stand there, go help him.” He glanced around his office while entering, satisfaction filling him. Yes, the Grand Admiral really had forgiven him for past indiscretions. That, and a reward for the recent private assistance he’d provided.
After one more glance around the office, Vogel strode towards the organized mayhem of a Battalion moving into new quarters.
It was closing in on evening of the second day. Vogel was taking a much-needed coffee break in his office when Corporal Feltz dashed in. “Sir, you’ve got to come right away. It’s the Commander.”
He followed Feltz upstairs to Pryor’s room. The screams he’d been hearing while nearing the room were deafening when he entered. A woman with her dress hanging in rags was being held by a guard. Another tended to their Commander, lying on the bed and whimpering loudly. A knife protruded from his stomach.
“Medics are on the way, Sir,” the soldier tending to Pryor said.
Vogel turned to the screaming woman and slapped her. “Shut it, or I’ll kill you now.”
He pointed at Feltz. “Get Regiment HQ on the line, tell them what happened. Once the medics get him out of here, everyone meet in my office. I’ll be next door, finding out what the hell happened.”
He stepped into the next room and watched while the guard finished tying the woman to a chair. “Stay outside. Make sure no one disturbs me.”
Vogel waited until the guard hurried out before smiling at the woman. Her head drooped forward, but of more interest was her nakedness. She was only in a shredded dress, leaving little to the imagination. Apparently Pryor had been in the process of convincing her to join his list of conquests. He shook his head. A good commander, but had too much of a weakness for women.
He reached forward and caressed the breast that was exposed, causing her head to jerk up with a whimper. “Now, my dear, let’s have a talk, shall we?”
A half-hour passed before he entered the Commander’s office. His aide, Corporal Jenkins, sat across from Feltz. They came to their feet when he entered. “Sit, gentlemen.” He sank down in Pryor’s chair behind the desk. “Any word on the Commander’s condition?”
Jenkins nodded. “They’re medevacing him to the nearest ship with a regen chamber, Sir. Said it’d be a couple weeks before he returned.”
“Colonel White wanted you to call when you had a chance, Major,” Feltz said.
“In that case, you’d better see if he can talk to me now. Put the call on my desk comm when it comes in, will you?” He turned to Jenkins. “Tell the Company Commanders we’re having a meeting in this office immediately after my call with the Regimental Commander.”
Less than fifteen minutes had passed when White’s face appeared on his screen. “Major Vogel, I heard about Lieutenant Colonel Pryor being wounded. Could you give me a rundown on what happened?”
“Certainly, Sir. The Commander was entertaining a young lady in his quarters, when she stabbed him. I questioned her, and learned she and some of her friends aren’t happy with the Legislaturist government, and especially with us. Consider us to be invaders. I wanted to proceed to her village of Murray’s Rest and see if what she’d said about most of the people there being rebel sympathizers is true, but wanted to wait for further orders before doing so.”
White nodded. “Appreciate your actions, Stan. You have a problem with assuming command of the Battalion until Pryor is back on his feet?”
“Be happy to, Colonel.”
“Good. Then I want you to do what it takes to root out those damn rebels. I think a heavy hand at the first is good. Remember, though, the Legislaturists are nominally in control. Ask nicely before you use military force. Might even be a good idea to take a representative along with you to that village.”
“Yes, Sir. Is there anything else?”
White shook his head. “Good hunting, Major.”
Vogel disconnected, satisfaction filling him. “Corporal Feltz, are the Company Commanders here yet?”
Feltz appeared in the doorway. “Yes, Sir. You ready for them?”
He nodded with a smile. “Ready as I’ll ever be.”
* * *
The shuttle landed in the middle of the village square. Vogel turned to Captain Pauley, the Legislaturist officer their Command Group had elected to send with him. “You ready, Captain?”
The short, overweight officer smirked. “Ready, Major. Looking forward to this. These assholes been too cocky. Time they got their comeuppance.”
Vogel led the way down the shuttle’s ramp, noting how fresh the air smelled after a morning rain. The clouds were dissipating, and the day promised to warm up nicely. An older man in his sixties stood between two of his troopers, looking decidedly uncomfortable. He walked up to him, hand outstretched. “Good morning, Sir. I’m Major Vogel, of the Alliance. Good of you to meet with me.”
“Er-I’m Donald McMurray, Chairman of our village council. What’s with all the soldiers?”
“We’ve had some unpleasantness that seems to have originated from here.” Two flitters buzzed overhead, almost drowning out his voice. Three shuttles landed, disgorging a flood of Alliance troops. He indicated a nearby house. “Is that your home? Yes? Let’s go inside and have a more private chat.” He led the way, McMurray silently following, Pauley and the two guards with him.
Inside, Vogel glanced around before sitting at the dining room table. McMurray was still standing, the guards on either side. “Not fancy, but nice. Would you happen to know a young lady named Mary Stern?”
McMurray flinched. “Is this about Mary? What’s she done this time?”
“Ah. I take you do know her. She was involved in an incident that involved an officer of the Alliance. The officer was unfortunately wounded when she tried to kill him.”
“That damn stubborn woman. I told her not to go into town yesterday. Too much goin’ on. But she just had to go find the perfect dress for her wedding. Stupid women seem to go nuts when…” He abruptly stopped talking when Vogel casually took his pistol from its holster. His eyes widened when the pistol was tapped on the table.
“You will stop your yammering and answer my questions in as direct and short a manner as possible. Nod your head if you understand. Good. Which home did Miss Stern live in?”
“Last home on the right, at the end of Burl street–What did you say? What d’you mean, ‘did’ live in?”
Vogel sighed, glancing at Pauley. “I told him, but he just doesn’t listen.” He lifted the postol and shot McMurray in the head. The shatteringly loud report caused Pauley to flinch back. Vogel holstered his pistol, rubbing his ears. “Shit. Forgot how loud a gun is in a small room.” He grimaced while standing. “Sergeant Bors,” he called. “Take a team down to the last home on the right, at the end of Burl Street. Bring everyone from there to that pub across the square.” He pointed at the “Karl’s Pub” sign.
By the time he and Pauley situated themselves at the main table inside the pub, three civilians were pushed into the room, amid loud protests from the youngest. “Don’t you go pushing my maw like that.”
“Quiet, son,” said the older man, putting a hand on his arm. “Now’s not the time.”
Vogel noted the quiet fire in the man’s eyes. “Mister Stern, I presume?”
“And what’s it to you?” Barely masked anger leaked through, sparking his eyes.
“I understand there was to be a wedding in a few days. May I ask the name of the groom?”
“He’s not done anything, and we got proof he was at the logging camp all last week.”
“You leave my pop alone,” shouted the boy. “You ain’t got any right treating us like this.”
Vogel had been watching Mrs. Stern, noticing the bloom of fear rise in her eyes. He turned to one of the guards. “Take her. She’ll be one of the prisoners.” He looked back. “I’m only going to ask once more. What’s…”
With a roar the elder Stern drove a fist through the face of the guard on his left, and managed to chop his hand across the other’s throat before Vogel fired two shots into his body. Two other guards had piled on the boy, pinning him to the floor while he howled in grief and horror.
A piercing shriek blasted ears already hurting from the gunshots, causing everyone to pause. The boy’s mother tore loose from her captors and landed on top of the two holding her son. Vogel leapt back, pistol questing for a target. A sharp blow to the back of his head sent him spinning to the floor, barely aware of the fight raging around him.
Seconds later the roaring, screaming knot of fighters flowed out into the square, two more civilians having joined in. Four soldiers piled on. Vogel was helped upright by Pauley, and managed to sit in a chair. He touched the sore knot on the back of his head. No blood but hurt like hell. He glanced around, noting that Pauley and he were the only ones left m
oving inside the pub.
The soldier who’d been slugged groaned, rolling over. Vogel gave a mirthless grin at the sight of a badly battered face. Missing a few teeth, too. With Pauley’s help, he gained his feet and moved to the other guard. This one hadn’t been as fortunate. Looked like his throat had been crushed by the blow.
He cautiously bent and picked up his pistol, rising slowly. Still too dizzy to move very fast. Two men slammed through the back door, looking wildly about. Pauley fired four times, two chest shots in each. Vogel grimaced again, having been tardy in covering his ears. At this rate he’d have to visit a medical bay on one of the ships to regain his hearing.
Vogel started towards the door, weaving slightly. “Come on, Captain Pauley. Sounds like the party’s moved outside.”
They barely avoided stumbling over two soldiers scrambling to their feet. Two others pinned a weakly struggling Mrs. Stern to the ground. A squad of Legislaturist troops trotted up, followed closely by a platoon of alliance soldiers.
Pauley gestured at the squad. “Secure the back of this place. Kill anyone trying to escape.” He turned to Vogel. “Will you be okay, Sir?”
“Yes, fine. Go with your men, I’ll talk with you later.” He watched him trot after the squad and shook his head. Overweight or not, there went a good officer. He faced the two men holding the woman. “Take her inside and tie her up.”
An officer, Lieutenant Rollins, came to attention in front of him. “What are your orders, Sir?”
He glanced around, mind sharpening. “First of all, even though you did the right thing by not saluting while in a hostile environment, you never come to attention in front of someone unless you want them to get shot. Second, and for the same reason, why is your platoon in formation?”
Rollins turned towards his troops to give an order. A shot rang out from across the square knocking him down, mouth gaping in shock. Vogel closely followed, eyes scanning the surrounding area. A town square wasn’t the best of places to be with a sniper around. He noted the Platoon Sergeant barking orders while dispersing the platoon into whatever cover was available.
