“But that could be too late.”
“There isn’t anything we can do about that right now.” Julian pondered for a moment and then added “unless we can get someone to control the Coy Cdr mech or the Bn Cdr mech and issue a new standard operating procedure (SOP).”
Emilio sank back in his chair and thought about that. He was still thinking when Rihan appeared.
“How’s it going Chief” asked Rihan. “You look like a man with a problem.”
Emilio and Julian explained their issue while the screens behind them displayed the droids from A Coy mopping up. Every now and then Rihan’s attention was distracted by an explosion or some other image.
“So you see Maam” said Julian “we need someone to take control of a command mech and adjust their SOPs.”
“Is that all Julian?” asked Rihan “And pray how do you suppose we are going to affect that.”
Julian nodded his head as if to say yes I understand the difficulty. They went silent the three of them. Then Julian piped up “We could issue the command from here if we decide to warp away and don’t mind letting the rogan know we are here. One short transmission that’s all.”
“Or we could send down someone in a shuttle tonight” suggested Emilio and then added “if their ammo hasn’t run out by then, in which case they are going to need a resup as well.”
“Shit” said an exasperated Rihan.
Emilio was distracted by an alarm which fired from his work station. They all turned to see what it was. Emilio was already shaking his head. He turned to Rihan and said “1st Pl is at 25% ammo already. The Coy Cmdr has ordered a redistribution but it’s not looking good. Oh and there’s another contact.”
“Julian how long before you can have that transmission ready?”
“Give me ten minutes.”
“Get going then and let me know when it’s ready” she said decisively. “I’ll be up in the command centre.”
She turned and walked quickly to the elevator. As she did so she changed her mind. She wasn’t going to make such an important decision without Dave’s concurrence. She arrived at their cabin a couple of minutes later. She entered without turning on the light and left the door ajar a little. She found Dave asleep and snoring. She knew he only snored when he was really tired but she had to wake him. She sat on the bed beside him and shook his shoulder lightly. He promptly turned over away from her. ‘Terrific’ she thought. She shook him harder and he came too.
“What” he said abruptly.
“Big decision time.”
“Oh” said Dave as he lifted himself up onto his elbow. “Give me a moment.” She backed away as he got up and went to the bathroom, splashed water in his eyes and wiped his face with a towel. He returned and sat down on one of the chairs. “So what is it?”
Rihan explained the situation and finished by saying “we can’t withdraw them till night and maybe not even then. The rogan will have full spectrum surveillance in force by then, if not already.”
“Agree.”
“We can’t afford to lose them. Without them fully functioning we’ll lose the 30th as well.”
“Yep.”
“We can’t send someone down either for the same reason as we can’t extract the droids.”
“True” said Dave. He could not fault her logic. “So you want to transmit and run now. Is that it?”
“Yes but not just run. Let’s take the opportunity to inflict some damage on this rogan fleet before we warp away. We can fire off half our missiles at the nearest cap. That should take it out. We can warp to Alpha Phi in four hours and be back here to hit them again in 8.”
“Or we could fire off most of our missiles, warp back to Klaster, pick up more and be back in two days.”
“Rihan” hailed Aubrey.
“Yes.”
“I need you here now.”
“What is it?”
“Rogan shuttles and fighters launched and heading planetside” said Aubrey and added “Lots” with real emphasis. “Should I wake the Captain?”
“He’s already awake. We’re coming.”
Rihan filled him in as they ascended to A deck. He was again in his tee shirt and shorts. He looked at the holo, saw the tracks and the data tags indicating no less than 16 fighters and 24 shuttles were being despatched from the two nearest caps, Bogey 1 and Bogey 2.
“Crystal on my command engage those fighters and shuttles 2 for 1 and then engage Bogey 1, 75 for 1, and Bogey 2 with whatever we have remaining less ten missiles. Aubrey as soon as the missiles are launched prepare to warp to Klaster. Rihan get Julian to send that transmission as soon as we fire the missiles. Jasmin prepare to send a report to Klaster and Polaris HQ. Tell them we have ground forces in Niku supressing a rebellion, we are engaging a rogan fleet, warping to Klaster and need more missiles. Ivan send a message to 30th Coy, India One and Alliance HQ in Assam. Tell them that we’ll be back in two days and wish them good luck. Everyone let me know when you are ready.” He looked around at everyone but they were already preoccupied.
“Ready” called out Crystal.
“Ready” said Rihan.
“Ready” said Aubrey.
“Wait” called out Jasmin.
“Ready” said Ivan.
“Ready” said Jasmin.
“Fire” said Dave.
“Missiles away.”
“Transmission away.”
“Reports away.”
“Prepare to warp in 1 minute.”
“We have runners incoming from Bogey 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. Bogeys 7 and 8 accelerating to us. Runners from enemy fighters at our missiles. More runners at our missiles from …. Oh all over the place now. Everyone’s having a go” said an exasperated Crystal.
“Warp in 10….5, 4, 3, 2, 1” said Aubrey and the Resolute left the scene of the battle, its missiles running onto their targets. Dave and the crew would not know how effective they had been.
Many of their missiles were taken out by the rogan runners. Ten of their fighters survived with evasive counter measures but six were not so lucky. The shuttles were savaged. Only 11 survived. But what would have pleased Crystal the most was the destruction of Bogey 1. The big cap simply exploded with a light show that was seen from the surface despite the competition from the rising sun. Bogey 2 survived of sorts but was severely damaged. It warped away a few minutes later.
On board Bogey 3, known to the rogan as the Imperial Rogan Ship (IRS) Kunter, flagship of the Rogan 10th Fleet, Admiral Soola slammed his fist onto the surface in front of him. He had never been so stung in all his career. He was not one to take such a blow lightly. His immediate instinct was to pursue this cowardly foe. It was a powerful instinct. Soola had to exercise all his will to master that urge, for he knew he had bigger fish to fry. The insurrection of Assam was only just getting underway.
Part 4
Dirty Deeds
Dirty deeds done dirt cheap
No slippery slope is deemed too steep
Mischief’s afoot and foul play abounds
Corruption’s rife and knows no bounds
Weak minds are plundered and treachery funded
Ambition is flattered and trust shattered
Dirty deeds murk and mire
Who is friend and who will fire
Chapter 1. Niku 0630, 22 May
Not even Art and his team deep inside their office hideaway failed to be aware of the explosion of Bogey 1. Well for them it was not so much the initial explosion but more the intense light show from the massive amount of debris that burnt up in the atmosphere creating a series of spectacular streams of fire and contrail.
Art glanced back down as his console alerted him to an incoming message. He tapped to review and a wry smile came across his face. “That was a parting shot from the Resolute everyone.”
“Art?” hailed Jim.
“Yes Jim. Did you see the show?”
“Yeah very pleasing wasn’t it. But we’re on our own now. Where are you?”
Art gave
him his coordinates by tapping his console.
“OK I see you. We’re in the suburbs now about a click from where you were earlier. Haven’t made any contact just yet. Hang tight. Hopefully won’t be long. By the way Art I am in contact with the Alliance commander in the southern suburbs. He’s taken a bit of a pounding and can’t push forward. Says there’s another column on the way but can’t contact Alliance HQ at Assam anymore. I’ve tried and can’t get through either. What do you think about that?”
“Not good Jim. Could be that they’ve reimposed their comms blackout but I doubt that. They just took a bath upstairs. Wait one.”
Sue was holding up her console in front of Art showing a news bulletin announcing a coup in Assam.
“Shit. Looks like a coup in Assam Jim. Don’t count on that second Alliance column. I’d lay odds they turn back for Assam.”
“Bloody hell Art we’re in a real shit fight now. Good news from the droids. B Coy dished up some rogan on the eastern distributor and is establishing their cordon. A Coy and Bn HQ have set up their cordon too. So we have the rogan boxed in here apart from those AFVs you reported... Damm…gotta go.”
Art heard the sound of an explosion in the background. It can’t have been that far away from Jim.
“Hey boss” hailed Akos from his observation post on the 14th floor where he had a good view over the nearby apartment blocks. “I can see explosions and a fire about three clicks east sow east. There’s a battle going on down there for sure.”
“It’s Three Zero Mike. He must have made contact with that rebel group near our old spot.”
“I can see two of the rogan AFVs heading north down Hosen Rd and now a truck. I’d say they are runners boss.”
“Well they are going to run right into B Coy if they keep going much further and that won’t be pretty for them” said Art. “Can you see the spaceport from up there?”
“Not from here but I can check out the north side.”
“No it can wait. Stay focussed to the east. Looks like the 30th are going to get through to us pretty soon.”
“You got it boss.”
Five kilometres north 1st Droid Bn began mounting for its planned diversionary attack scheduled for later that morning. It had deployed its support systems and began stripping forces from A Coy and B Coy.
One of the droids from A Coy moving westward to their assembly area was the first to spot a rogan shuttle flying nap of the earth westward from the spaceport. The coordinates were relayed to the Bn HQ which tasked one of its support droids to intercept.
A surface to space missile was fired. It quickly rose and then circled in an arc north and then west until it’s on board radar locked on. A counter missile was fired from the shuttle to which the droid missile responded by deploying its countermeasures. The two missiles were locked in a deadly dance that would have a very short duration.
The rogan missile missed but the on board beam defence system did manage to explode the droid missile only ten metres from the shuttle. The resulting explosion damaged the crafts electronics and forced a breach that invoked the on board fire protection system. The AI of this system dismissed the most effective response, which was to starve the fire of oxygen because its payload comprised two human and six rogan passengers. So instead it flooded the hold with fire suppressant foam. The tall human with the business suit cursed louder than the others but the AI system didn’t give a damm. The shuttle held true to its course, south to Assam.
Chapter 2. Resolute in warp to Klaster 0645, 22 May
Dave collapsed on the bed in his cabin. He felt exhausted physically, mentally and emotionally. It was the emotional aspect that gave him the most grief. He hated leaving so many of his marines on the deck unsupported now for at least two days. It wouldn’t have mattered so much had he been down there with them but now the battle was out of his control and he didn’t like it. With a fresher mind and body he would have employed his objectivity and discipline to reign in these feelings but now he felt spent.
Still in tee and shorts he pulled the covers up from where he had tossed them so unceremoniously half an hour earlier. He closed his eyes, forced himself to repeat the mantra and was asleep when Rihan entered ten minutes later.
She too was very tired physically and mentally but emotionally she felt good. She knew she had made the right decision and that they had done the right thing. She went and cleaned her teeth before climbing into bed next to Dave. He was now on his back and starting to snore. She gave him a prod in his shoulder and he rolled over onto his side. She lay there on her back and thought of Sue and Art and wondered how they were fairing. ‘Stay safe’ she said to herself. She rolled over and was asleep in a few moments with a content expression on her face.
Down the corridor in her cabin Kat lay wide awake next to Chase who was sound asleep. She reflected on the last hour and the sheer joy of making love and then contrasted that with the relief she felt at being stood down from CAP now that they were in warp. They were two powerful emotional experiences. The former she had experienced before but the latter was new. ‘Am I wrong to feel this way? Am I a coward after all?’ she asked herself.
Nearby Jasmin came out of the ensuite in her cabin all clean from a shower. Her laté coloured skin still supporting a few beads of moisture that her quick towelling missed. Ivan was in bed smiling at her. She let the towel drop and crawled onto the bed. He threw off the cover and she crawled over his long naked body slowly rubbing her breast first over his thighs, groin, chest and finally his face. He moaned in delight and with his big hand pulled her firm buttocks toward him. She obliged by lifting her knee and straddling him. She could feel his intent but wasn’t ready just yet. Still on all fours she leant over and kissed his eyelids gently and then leaned her cheek against his caressing it softly as she made her way to his ear where she blew gently.
The new experience sent a shiver through his upper body. Ivan cupped her breasts in his hands and gently brought her head up till he could kiss her lips. She was gentle but he was getting earnest. She turned her head to the side deflecting his tongue. She then pulled her knee back over, turned to face his feet and then mounted facing away from him. Ivan was intrigued and praying she would take him now. But instead she lay back onto his chest and she took his left hand onto her breast and his right hand to her groin.
As he delightedly caressed and fondled her, she began to moan. She tilted her head to the side and he kissed her cheek. Her breathing became heavier with his earnest endeavours. He was arching his back up and down and she writhed in sync with his body. Finally she whispered “Fuck me Ivan.”
Chapter 3. Niku 0740, 22 May
It took over an hour for 30th Coy to clear the rebel blocking position. Jim entered the intersection with the burnt out rogan AFV and the truck that had careened onto its side crushing one hapless soldier as it was blown back onto him by Tango 1, the battlewagon that now dominated the intersection.
Jim glanced up and saw a marine on the first floor of the building on the south western corner. Two others could be seen at the foyer entrance to the apartment block on the north western corner. He knew that 1st Lt Ginty Martell had already pushed her 1st Platoon through and were at the next intersection. Her platoon’s handy work was all around. He counted six rebel bodies and two of their own but he knew more were in the building behind him. All up they had lost three troopers KIA, and 2 more wounded. Alas one was 2nd Lt Ken Shinto, who commanded his second platoon. He was being attended to back in the building for a suspected broken leg not to mention an arm that would never work properly again.
“Where’s Cooper” he asked the trooper inspecting the wreck. He pointed upstairs. Jim entered what had been a smart hotel. Ten rounds of 80mm pulse had put paid to the “smart” tag. Broken glass, broken furniture, broken walls, broken doors and broken bodies greeted him as he made his way across to the stairs.
“Cooper” he yelled out.
“Yo” answered Sgt Jamie Cooper from somewhere up on the first floor. He
appeared carrying a dog tag in his spare hand, a grim expression on his face. “She’s gone boss.”
Jim nodded. Cpl Melinda Akun had been a popular member of the company for three years. He beckoned for Jamie to come down. Jim put his arm around his shoulder. “I’m sorry Jamie.” Jamie was holding it together. He nodded his appreciation for Jim’s concern.
“I need you to take over from Ken.” Again Jamie nodded. “Finish up here quickly. We need to catch up with 1 Platoon.”
“Right. Give me 5?”
“OK but no longer. I’m pressing on now.”
Jamie nodded and then turned facing back up the stairs he yelled. “Let’s move it out folks.”
Jim ordered his company HQ group to move out behind Tango 2 whose big wheels were already halfway down the next block.
“Art” hailed Jim.
“Yes Jim.”
“We’re through now. 1 Pl should be four blocks away from you now. We’re moving on the road parallel and south of your loc. We’ll turn north at the last. Hold your fire.”
“Roger that. After you register at the front door, come on up, we’re on the third floor.”
“Yeah” said Jim with a slight chuckle “will do.”
Fifteen minutes later Jim was led by Dai into the open office area on the south side of the 3rd floor. It was in remarkably mint condition. Unlike the apartments, no one bothered to take anything from this office.
“Ah, you run a clean ship I see” said Jim with a smile.
“We could mess it up for you if you like” said Art. “Pull up a pew. So how did you go down there?”
“It was a bloody fight. Lost three. Two wounded including Ken Shinto.”
“Still got all the Trojans?”
“Yep. We put paid to one of their AFVs but the rest buggered off. What got me was the way the rebel grunts stuck it out. Why would they do that? It doesn’t make sense.”
“I ran into an old sparring partner of mine named Bane. He was the guy who hid the Drakush up at Bane Metal. Remember that.” Jim nodded. “Well I saw him at that intersection you fought over just now. He’s the snake in the grass here. I can only guess that he’s the bagman for the rogan and his bag is full of cash or whatever else of value these rebel soldiers will fight for.”
Insurrection: Book 3 of Warner's World Page 19
