When the Stars Fade (The Gray Wars)

by Korenman, Adam

  * * * * *

  If he hadn’t been waiting for the shuttle, he might have missed it. Overhead, clear in the night sky, a brilliant star appeared and disappeared in moments. Josh and Dax looked up and shouted, pointing to the other soldiers around them. Zev, who had been resting in the truck, peeked his head out and glared. But his face softened when he saw the brilliant display.

  “What the heck was that?”Dax asked.

  Josh shrugged.“Maybe a satellite?”

  Zev shook his head, pulling himself from the vehicle. He still favored one leg as he hopped over to the two men.“Couldn’t be. They don’t carry enough fuel to make that big a boom.”He pulled out his night-vision goggles and turned them on, staring up into the dark.“There’s a lot of debris. Jesus, must have been a collision or something.”

  Josh frowned. Something had suddenly caught his eye that was significantly closer to home. A burning light, growing brighter every second. At first he thought he was imagining it, but there was definitely a sound as well. A roar that became louder and louder. By the time he realized what it was, he was already shouting.“Incoming!”

  The burning ball of light roared just overhead before crashing down in the canyon nearby with a momentous BOOM. Soldiers struggled to hold their ground as the earth shook from the impact. Josh was moving before anyone even registered the sound, racing toward the smoking crater. Dax and Zev were right behind him, with Alexa sprinting to catch up.

  “What the hell,”Dax called out.“Where are you going?”

  Josh, leading the pack, ran as fast as he could, the wind rushing past his head.

  “It was a ship,”he yelled back.

  They arrived at the impact area a moment later, out of breath and panting hard. Josh was the only one standing tall, his heart racing but his face bright with excitement. He leapt into the crater, moving quickly but cautiously toward the smoldering wreckage. From this close, it was obviously Terran, and most likely a smaller craft. The glass canopy had held up remarkably well, and the impact-absorbing polymaterial had deployed as designed, completely engulfing the pilot inside. Josh stepped in closer, donning his gloves and pulling at the canopy to break it apart.

  “Come on,”he said.“The pilot can’t last forever in this stuff.”He waved for his friends to join him.“Put on protection, this shit will get under your skin and stay there.”

  “It sounded like a bomb going off,”Dax said.“You think anything will be left?”

  Josh looked up at his friend.“Deceleration rockets. Look at the crater.”He pointed at the three large black circles around the crater.“These pods touch down gentler than a Valkyrie.”

  Dax jumped in, lending his strength to the task. He ripped the hull apart, chucking huge pieces over his shoulder. Zev took the other side, and together the three pried the escape pod loose, leaving just the white, spongy foam. Josh reached into the substance, rooting around for something to grab. He grunted with effort, finding what felt like an arm and pulling hard. Slowly, a hand emerged. Zev grabbed the arm under the elbow and they removed the pilot, carefully laying him on the ground next to the wreckage.

  “Careful with his neck.”Alexa shouted from the edge of the crater.“He might be injured. I called for a medic already.”

  Josh unstrapped the pilot’s helmet but left it on. He loosened the man’s suit and unlaced his boots. Dax popped the snaps on the pressure cuffs that looped around the pilot’s arms and legs. The man’s uniform identified him as an SP pilot from Luna wing. Underneath the crescent patch was another, a small broken wall over a raised fist. Josh shared a look of confusion between the other soldiers. They threw sand on the flames to douse them, allowing the cool night air back into the pit. Josh wrinkled his nose at the acrid stink that permeated the crash site. Dax slumped down against the ramped earth, grunting with the effort. He took off his vest, sweat shining on his bulging arms.

  “Damn, Josh. I need a month off after this.”

  The pilot groaned, hands reaching for his helmet. Josh grabbed him by the arms and firmly held them in place.

  “Don’t move,”Josh said.“You may be injured.”

  The pilot struggled for a moment but settled down quickly.“Where am I?”

  “Kronos. You crashed our little victory party.”

  “Yeah, that’s the sort of thing I do,”the pilot said.

  Dax and Zev laughed. Josh eased the ballistic visor back on the man’s helmet, revealing a pair of bloodshot blue eyes. The pilot lifted his hand weakly, which Josh took in his own.

  “Name’s Cameron. Cameron Davis.”

  “Joshua Rantz.”Josh grinned.“It’s nice to meet you, Cameron. Any particular reason you decided to crash yourself on this sorry piece of rock?”

  Cam’s gaze drifted toward the sky.“Better than what’s out there.”His eyes rolled back in his head and he passed out.

  Alexa popped a flare and waved down a medical shuttle as it neared the training area. Behind the craft, several transports appeared, headed toward a clearing near the fort. Dax stood, stretching his limbs. He helped Zev up and they walked over to Josh and the injured pilot.

  “Picked a pretty good place to land,”Zev said.

  Dax nodded.“Lucky. Must have a whole squadron of angels on his shoulders.”

  He looked up as two combat medics slid down the ramp into the crater, dragging a litter between them. They pushed Josh aside and gently moved Cameron onto the stretcher, strapping him onto the board with nylon belts. With a silent countdown, they lifted the pilot up and onto their shoulders and began to climb up and out. Zev and Dax moved alongside, spotting them from falling. Josh followed behind, but glanced over his shoulder at the last remnants of flames.

  What was going on up there, he wondered. And how the hell had a pilot from Sol made it all the way out here?

  - XV -

  November 25, 2236

  Josh never felt comfortable in his dress grays. The uniform looked great, no doubt about that, but he’d never seen the military as a career. He’d enlisted looking for money to pay for university, a decision he never regretted but often thought about. It certainly had thrown a curve in his ten-year plan. But without the Army, there’d be no way his family could have afforded to send him to school. The Colonial Military Education bill was his only hope at higher education, and he had loftier goals than working at some nine-to-five the rest of his life.

  The banquet wall was elaborately decorated. Round tables filled the floor space, surrounded by comfortable chairs. Each setting had a full assortment of silverware, giving the whole affair a more elegant air than just a military ball. Josh had to admit, he found it more interesting than gaudy. He’d grown up in a working-class family and never seen a truly elegant dinner before. In his class-A uniform, Josh made an impressive figure. Dax, on the other hand, couldn’t have looked more out of place. The man was simply a mountain, even without eighty pounds of gear.

  They walked into the room, Dax towering over the other soldiers, and looked for their table. Alexa waved at them from across the room, holding out two chairs. She looked stunning in her formal wear, and her hair was neatly tied in a Martian braid. The two men crossed the floor briskly, not wanting to get sucked into conversation with any of the brass. Josh knew it shouldn’t bother him, but talking with officers always seemed somewhat forced. Most of the lieutenants were his age or younger, and the field grades just seemed out of touch with the soldiers.

  “Can you guys believe this?”Alexa asked. She gave Josh a short hug and squeezed Dax’s arm.“I mean, I’ve been to some swanky dining-ins, but this is amazing.”

  “Definitely not what I excepted,”Josh said. His voice was distant.

  Dax leaned over.“Are you OK?”

  “I’m still dealing with everything else that’s going on.”

  It had been quite a shock, coming home from the games only to find that something unimaginable had been taking place. The battle at Sol, the attack in New York, the loss of Tallus. The universe seemed to have gon
e crazy during the few months they were on Kronos. He didn’t understand why they didn’t let them know. Why the games continued during these awful weeks. Surely the Army could have used a few more troops to secure government sites, or to help retake the Galactic Media Tower. Many of the soldiers had family on Tallus, or at the very least friends and relatives. And even more knew those in New York.

  There had been a mini-riot when they’d first come home. Mailboxes were full of letters from mothers and fathers, husbands and wives all wanting to know if their loved one was still alive. Some of the senior NCOs had gone to the command board demanding answers for the media blackout. Why had so much been kept from the soldiers? Even the officers were up in arms, defending their Company’s right to know. Almost a third of the Battalion had lost someone in the last few months, and to find out this way had been heartbreaking. Every soldier wore an orange ribbon on their lapel, in memory of those lost on Tallus.

  Alexa sipped on her glass of white wine.“It’s surreal,”she said.“I mean, we’re actually becoming friends with aliens. Real live aliens.”Alexa had been lucky. Her family lived on Earth in a small town in the Americas. Aside from a hilarious message from her father, she was untouched by the chaos.

  “They look so strange,”Dax said.“I mean, they look human. Well, not human, but they have arms and legs and everything.”

  “Humanoid,”Josh said, detached.“I wonder what they’re like. Whether we can actually trust them.”

  Sergeant Felix sat down at the table, nearly spilling his two beers.“Good evening, bitches.”He belched. His face was bright red.“Did you guys see the open bar? This is great. And Alpha’s buying the shots.”

  “They’re free, Felix.”Josh smiled weakly.

  Felix gave a toothy grin.“But Alpha has to wait by the bar for us.”He collapsed into a chair and nursed his drinks.

  “This is awful fancy for an end-of-training banquet,”Alexa said.“You think they’re going to cancel the leave passes? I bet they do. Wouldn’t make sense to let everyone go off and play when we’ve got an intergalactic war to fight.”She teetered precariously for a moment, only to be steadied by Dax’s huge hand on her shoulder. Her cheeks were flushed from the alcohol.

  Josh didn’t answer. He was watching the main table at the front of the room. General Casey had taken his seat, along with a few other senior staff. The Post Commander stared out at the sea of gray uniforms with one clear blue eye. His cybernetic patch covered the business end of a scar that ran from temple to jaw across his face. The old man seemed weighed down by the sheer volume of medals and ribbons and cords lashed to his uniform. At 70, he was a veteran of more battles than anyone had a right to survive. Down the table, a wiry young man with slick hair and glasses sat near the end. Brigadier General Hennesy, the post XO, took to the podium and tapped on the microphone, silencing the room.

  “Good evening, Black Adders,”Hennesy said. The crowd roared.“Congratulations on what has to have been the best war game we’ve seen since Kronos training camp was founded back in 2158. The assembled generals, politicians and civilian consultants would have me thank each and every one of you for a masterful performance. You all executed your missions with audacity, with tactical proficiency, and with a hell of a lot of style. You officers and enlisted men should be proud of everything you’ve accomplished.

  “By now, all of you know the dire state the universe had come into over the last few months. An alien race has declared open war on humanity. The fight is young, and has already claimed more lives than any battle before. From this moment on, our role in the future of mankind is pivotal. Without warriors such as yourselves, our great civilization will be but another footnote in the ageless history of the universe. We must accept upon ourselves the responsibility such a position demands, and give our all for the safety of our families, our loved ones, and our citizens.”

  The crowd beat their mugs on the tables and cheered. It wasn’t hard to excite a group of soldiers, especially when the wheels had already been greased with sufficient free booze. Hennesy held up his hands until the commotion died out. He looked to the table, where a battered and bruised Cameron sat and drank a glass of water.

  “The last few days haven’t been without small but significant victories. In New York, the terrorists inside the Galactic Media Tower have begun releasing hostages. Admiral Gilroy has assured the Council as well as the rest of the galaxy that a swift resolution is imminent. The rescue operation on Tallus has recovered some five thousand survivors of the horrific attacks. And here on Kronos, our resident fallen angel Lieutenant Davis is expected to make a full recovery. We look forward to learning how exactly he ended up out here. For his bravery at the battle over Tallus, and for his efforts to return to us with such pertinent intelligence, Lieutenant Davis has been awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.”

  More applause, this time as much from the main table as the floor.

  The XO continued.“But I’m sure you all didn’t come here to listen to me speak. In fact, I’m betting you are all still eager to hear the results of the games.”A murmur of agreement rose from the crowd.“Well, I don’t want to waste any more of the evening. We have in our midst an honored guest. A man whose accomplishments I shouldn’t even need to extoll. He is one of the brightest minds of our time, and the most brilliant scientist in all of the Federate. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome our speaker tonight, Dr. Markov Ivanovich.”

  As one, the soldiers stood and clapped, welcoming the thin Martian to the podium. Markov waved and smiled, clearly enjoying his return to celebrity status. He didn’t fully understand the change in tone regarding his name, but he didn’t want to waste the moment. The noise died out quickly and the audience took its seat, continuing to eat their first courses as he began his speech.

  “Thank you, General Hennesy, for that introduction. I am truly humbled.”He reached underneath the lectern and took a sip from the provided bottle of water.“Officers and soldiers of the Terran Federal Council, I am honored to have a chance to speak before you. For those of you who don’t subscribe to a scientific periodical, allow me to introduce myself further. Many of you are probably familiar with the name CROWN. Either through anecdote or perhaps in study during your military training, the half-trillion-dollar project lives in infamy as a painful waste of resources during the height of the Martian conflict. There were many scientists and generals attached to that failure, but I personally take responsibility.”The crowd whispered in wonder.“I was young then, only a few years before having achieved my masters. I was cocky and made a terrible error in judgement.”

  In the back of the room, leaning against the wall, Sasha watched in awe. He didn’t know exactly where his new friend was going with this particular line, but the reaction of the crowd was interesting enough that he didn’t give it much thought. A waiter passed by with a tray of drinks and the old soldier lifted a tumbler without taking his eyes off the stage.

  “I wanted to take the average warrior and give him a tool with which to become the greatest weapon on the battlefield.”Markov looked down at his notes, allowing a moment of reflection.“I admit, I thought I was looking out for what was best for the troops. Now I know better. Years of analyzing and agonizing over the project have left me with some much needed hindsight. CROWN failed because I wanted to improve the soldier. I thought, incorrectly, that you needed my help. A failing, I must admit, that came from a lack of interaction with you all. But my ten years of research since that flawed endeavor have led to a new directive. I don’t want to make you a weapon, nor do I want to try and affect the way you perform your duties. Instead, I seek to simply enhance what you are all already proficient in doing. I want to make you better warriors.

  “Over the last few years, I have been creating a new and exciting training program for the special forces of the Federal military. Through these simple exercises, soldiers found their combat efficiency increased dramatically. It was through the application of physical sciences rather than theoretical expe
riments that I regained my faith among the military brass. And it is because of that faith that we sit here today after months of grueling tests. With the permission of the Kronos training staff, the last few months have been a part of a grand selection, one that concluded only nights ago.

  “Your successes and challenges were mapped and regarded, and seven names have come from the midst of thousands.”Markov’s voice rose, his excitement growing and building within the crowd.“For those of you selected for this new training program, you will travel immediately with me to a secure location on New Eden. From there, at a remote facility, you will train with the most elite of the elite and become a new breed of special forces. For those of you who remain, you will also receive new and powerful training tools for use within your units. And, as an added benefit, you will all receive two weeks of leave on New Eden to spend as you choose, once the immediate hostilities are ended.”He paused, allowing the stunned crowd to roar and pound the tables. Soldiers, he thought with a smile. So easy to please. He raised his hands and attempted to quiet the men and women.“Please. You deserve the time to remember what you’re fighting for. I want you all to know that in my eyes, you are each winners in this competition. In my years working with the military, I have never seen such skill and prowess in the application of violence. But our selection process is extremely restrictive. There are seven of you in the crowd tonight who will be afforded an opportunity to train with special services. If you prove yourselves, you may even get an opportunity to join their ranks.”This drew even more conversation from the crowd.

  Markov smiled, looking over at General Casey. The elder officer wore a sour expression. He clearly didn’t approve of the doctor’s choices. But, such were the privileges to having support in the government for the project. He turned back to the soldiers.“For now, please enjoy your meal. We’ll announce the candidates after dessert. Thank you all once again.”He walked back to his seat, accompanied by applause. He sat down in the chair next to Casey, waving a final time to the crowd.