“Yes, one got out of the vehicle and met the one who had walked around the dune,” added Juliette.
She added with a smile, “We make pretty good snoops.”
“Right you are.”
Juliette turned and looked after Fitz. He was examining one of the containers. He was soon returning with it.
“Hello,” said Mei Ling. “What are you?” She dropped down to her knees and carefully removed sand from a small brass colored cylinder.
“There are no tracks out that way. My guess is that they practiced shooting from here,” Fitz said as he neared the women. He saw them down on hands and knees uncovering several of the objects.
“What did you find?” he asked.
“These,” Mei Ling said. “Look, there are several of them.”
Fitz got down on all fours and looked at what they had found. He made images of them as well.
“What are they?” asked Mei Ling.
“They are brass casings for ammunition.”
“In English please,” she added.
“Sorry.” He fished out his gloves and carefully picked one up and held it up for inspection.
“The powder goes in here, and the projectile fits on the end.”
He turned it over and showed them the enclosed end. “You see, the primer is this thing here,” he said pointing.
“Primer?” asked Mei Ling.
“It is a small explosive charge that ignites when you pull the trigger, and the firing pin is driven into it at high speed. It then causes the powder to burn rapidly, sending the bullet down the barrel.”
“How did you get so smart?” asked Mei Ling.
“I had to; you wouldn’t marry a dummy, would you?”
They all laughed.
“Let’s take this back along with the container. We’ll leave the rest in place in case someone wants to examine the site, hopefully someone who knows more about this sort of work than I do,” said Fitz.
He stood, “Good job ladies. I had better get you back, and remember not a word to anyone.”
“I don’t know if it’s that bad,” said Juliette who was not one to take anything seriously.
“Juliette, these people, whoever they are, were bold enough to kill the Prime Minister, and now they’ve gotten the entire Legion with its auxiliary off the planet. I suspect this goes all the way to Parliament.”
“Parliament, I doubt that,” said Juliette skeptically.
“The people they brought to guard the operation were from detachment Theta.”
“Theta!” she exclaimed. “That could only mean that someone very high up is involved, assuming there is a connection between the assassination and the Legion being moved.”
“Let’s get back. I need to find the Admiral. Please, both of you, do not take any chances,” said Fitz. “If our suspicions are correct, not only are we on our own, we are playing way above our pay grades.”
Chapter 14 – Arrival
Denver had gone on an impromptu tour of the troops carried by the in-system ship. It was a headquarters company, and as expected, no one was ready for combat. All the equipment was in piles. The CO was nowhere to be found; no real surprise there. He would be with the other Separatists.
“Do you know what’s going on sir,” asked a cook’s assistant. All eyes had turned to him. They knew who he was, as he was obviously not an officer from Separatist Society and he was a Captain.
“Afraid not, and I can’t find anyone who does. Where are your weapons?”
“We don’t really have any sir. I mean we’re an auxiliary company. I guess we’re not really part of the Legion,” he added looking at the deck.
Smith had wondered about that, about those guys who were told they were not good enough to be a part of the Legion proper but were still needed for all the other jobs required to keep men in the field.
“No weapons?” Smith asked suspiciously.
Why would they send people on an emergency mission without weapons? No weapons, no briefing, no ATACs, there was nothing. Not even the Battalion CO knows what is going on. Something is very wrong.
“What’s in those crates?”
“Don’t know sir,” he replied.
Smith went aft and forced one open. The crates were full of AR-15’s just flung in. He opened another. It was full of rounds; another had empty magazines.
He turned back to the men. “Does anybody know where your CO is?”
Several shook their heads. One spoke up, “No sir. We never know where he is.”
“Do you have any other officers, preferably ones who are not from those paleface guys?” asked Smith while making a supreme effort to keep his voice level and under control.
There was general chuckling at his use of that pejorative. A staff sergeant stood up. He was a head cook.
“No sir, we only have officers who are from …,” he paused, “from those people.”
“Are you the ranking NCO here?”
“Yes sir, I am.”
“I don’t know what we are going into, nor do I have any authority over your men. That being said, it would not hurt anything if these magazines were filled and these men had rifles.”
The sergeant looked at him for a moment, then at the wide-eyed stares of his men. “I’ll take care of it sir, but what do I tell the CO if he comes back and gives me trouble about it?”
Another man spoke up behind Smith. “Yeah, we’re always getting attitude from them.” Several men grumbled agreement.
“Tell them the instructions were delivered by a member of the Battalion Commander’s staff.”
“Sir, do you have any pull with them?” asked the Sergeant.
“Not really,” replied Smith.
Someone else spoke up. “Is it true that you decked one of them?”
Smith grinned lopsidedly. “I fail to recall.”
The sergeant came to attention and formally saluted, but could not wipe the smile off his face. Smith returned the salute and left without further comment.
On the way back his com beeped. He pulled it out and opened it. The message read, “There will be a meeting of all officers of the grade of Captain and above at the following coordinates one half hour after we land.” The coordinates scrolled across the screen.
Smith saved them and went to the screen showing the landing area. Funny the coordinates are several kilometers away from the landing zone.
What kind of blasted emergency is this, and why are we admin? We should be ready for combat.
He was stopped by the Battalion exec. “Hey Smith, the CO got word that you are to stay with the unit. See that everything is set up. Here is the plan.”
He touched his notepad to Smith’s com and the data transferred directly. “You’ve got a couple of hours. Look it over as best as you can.”
“Yes sir. Sir, what’s this about a meeting, Captains and above?”
“Don’t know. Maybe we’ll find out after we are on the ground and have the meeting.”
“Yes sir, it would be good to get some answers. Will that be all?”
“Yes Captain, I’ll let you know something as soon as I do.”
“Yes sir, thank you sir.” Smith headed off to find a bunk and study the plan detailing where each unit was to set up.
* * * *
Smith awoke with a start. They were dropping back into real space. That meant they were to be ready to go. He quickly put on his combat gear but suspected that he was the only one who would. His kit was packed tight. He could move out with everything he had in one trip. If there was action, he could drop everything and fight.
He was out the door and soon found the Battalion CO. “What are your instructions, sir?”
Blackstone looked at him. “Did you read the deployment plan?”
“Yes sir.”
“Insane, is
n’t it? Where is the emergency?”
“Don’t know sir; I suspect there isn’t one,” replied Smith who stood ramrod straight.
“Then what the devil is going on?”
“Don’t know that either sir. Am I to have complete control of the Legion and the Auxiliary? Is that what I am to understand?”
“Only until we return from the briefing; it shouldn’t be long.”
“Yes sir. I’ll get things started,” said Smith. Already something was tugging at the back of his mind. Then he had it.
“Sir, the meeting’s coordinates are several kilometers away from where we are to land. Why is that?”
“Don’t know,” replied Blackstone.
“Sir, how do you plan to get to the meeting?”
“Hadn’t thought of that,” replied Blackstone with a slight chuckle. “I’ll have to check into it.”
Something clicked in Smith’s head. “Sir, I have what might seem a strange request.”
Blackstone looked puzzled. “Yes?”
“Should you find yourself back on the training world, would you please find Admiral La Force and let him know what’s happened and where we are?”
“Come to think of it, I don’t really know where we’re going. I don’t know when we’ll get back either. Perhaps we’ll know something after the meeting.”
“Yes sir.” Smith saluted and left. The more he thought about it, the more of the pungent aroma of the barnyard he detected. I wonder what it would take to disable this ship. Not really break it, just stop it from leaving.
He went to find the senior NCO. He was with his men. Each had a rifle and three hundred rounds of ammunition.
The NCO saw Smith and called his men to attention. He saluted Smith and Smith returned the salute.
“At ease,” he ordered. “We will be landing shortly. I have been given instructions on setting up. I will give your Sergeant, instructions on where to set up the mess. I frankly don’t know what’s going on. The officers are having a big powwow, and maybe then we will have answers.
“Be prepared for anything that comes at us. We will need to set up, and get a hot meal ready as quickly as you reasonably can. Sergeant.”
The sergeant came over, and Smith touched his com to the NCO’s, which transferred the data Smith had prepared for him. “By the way, I didn’t get your name.”
“Washington, sir, George Washington.”
Smith smiled. “Very well Sergeant Washington. Have your men get everything off the transport when we land, and we’ll see if we can get this show on the road.”
Smith turned to the men. “Are there any questions?”
“Sir,” asked one of the men, “if this is such an emergency, why are we going in administratively. For that matter sir, why are we going in at all, and why did we have to grab everything?”
Some of the men grumbled in agreement.
“Excellent questions and I won’t blow smoke up your ass. I don’t know; the Battalion CO says he does not know either. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that something is not right.”
“Sir,” another asked, “are we being set up?”
“I don’t know, but I’ll get somebody out on security ASAP. I’ll let you guys know something as soon as I do.”
“Something is wrong, isn’t it, sir?” asked a cook’s assistant.
“Yes, but let’s not go getting too crazy until I can get the lay of the land. Just do your job and keep your rifle close.”
“Are we going to get real rifles?” asked another.
“If I can lay my hands on any that are not in use, that might not be a bad idea. But, I’m not making any promises.
“People, I’m in the dark just as much as you. I know something is not right, and I’ll do what I can to work it out. Until then, keep your heads and listen to Sergeant Washington.
Smith turned to Washington, “This should prove interesting. Keep your men together, your eyes open, and make sure they have their rifles with them at all times.”
“Sir, I have a question. How do you plan to set this whole thing up?”
“Well Sergeant Washington, I’ll tell you, I don’t know. I’m making this shit up as I go along.”
“Thank you for your honesty sir.” Washington turned serious. “And sir, thank you for showing respect for the men and for being honest with them.”
“It’s the least I could do. They deserve it; we all do.”
“Yes sir.”
“Prepare for landing,” instructed Smith.
“Yes sir.” Sergeant Washington came to attention and saluted. Smith returned the salute.
Smith made his way back to the area where the staff was supposed to be strapped in. They weren’t, and they stared at him as he entered.
He ignored them and strapped in as per regulations. No one else bothered to strap in. Smith clicked the combat information system on in his helmet. They would be on the ground in under fifteen minutes. No sign of hostiles, no sign of anything.
Wait a minute. What are those dark spots over there? He enlarged the appropriate section. They could be entrances to caves.
They’re everywhere. “What is this,” he said aloud, “the planet of Swiss cheese?”
He pulled up the data they had provided him, 0.8g on a planet slightly larger than Earth. There were some small bodies of water left, brine mostly, weak magnetic field. This was starting to look like a failed Earth.
Heck Mars and Venus are failed Earths, he thought. Therefore, the galaxy must be full of them, interesting.
Fortunately for Smith, he had learned to fly one of the atmospheric flyers. He would have to get a look at some of these cave entrances. Already the makings of a plan were forming in his subconscious. He had not been able to admit it to himself just yet.
Wonder where Argie and Farouk are. I’ll have to make a point of finding them after we land and I get things moving.
He kept reviewing his combat information system. He could not find any sign of a threat, but there was something. The atmosphere had too much carbon dioxide and was a bit too low in oxygen for humans.
“Surely they wouldn’t dump us off in such a place,” he whispered aloud. Then the dam broke. He knew or felt he knew what was going on. The Legion had been blamed for the Prime Minister’s assassination, and that was the excuse to move them off planet.
But that was only part of the puzzle. What was the rest?
* * * *
When Smith hit the ground, he could see spacecraft landing all around, some already disgorging troops, and men just milling around. He put the data in his com up on his combat display. These ships were not landing in the best places to get the Legion set up. It was all wrong.
“Sergeant Washington, set up there next to that rise.”
“Yes sir. Okay people, you heard the man. Let’s get this gear and get moving.” They did.
Denver headed off toward the nearest group of men. “Who’s in charge here?” he asked.
A PFC turned and looked at Denver for a moment. “Hey, you’re the guy …” He stopped, dropped what he was carrying, and came to attention.
Smith returned his salute. “Who is in charge here?”
“The CO I guess.”
“Where is he?”
“Don’t know, he took off a minute ago.”
“Who is the highest ranking individual you have here?”
“That would be me Captain,” said a Lieutenant who walked up from Smith’s right. The man looked like someone who had been in uniform for a long time, probably a sergeant who had been promoted to platoon leader.
“How are you doing?” Smith asked.
“Been better, been worse. Do you know what’s going on?”
“Not really, but I’m supposed to set things up while the brass attends a meeting. What’s your contact info?”
The officer took out his com and linked it to Smith’s. Denver made some notations then held it out to Lieutenant Sam Clemens, as the device had identified him.
“I’ve got to find the tracks and get some security out. Set your men up as I’ve indicated here.”
Clemens asked, “Why are we admin, and where are we?”
“Don’t know; the Battalion CO doesn’t know. I’ll call you as soon as I know something.”
“Where are they going?” a voice said behind him.
Smith swung around to see the first of several spaceships take off and head to the coordinates supplied for the meeting.
“This looks good, Captain.”
“Do your men have their weapons and ammo?”
“We have weapons. I haven’t handed out ammo.”
“Pass ammo around and keep someone on watch after you get set up.”
“You got it Captain, and Captain, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“Likewise, I’m sure,” Denver said extending his hand.
They shook, and Smith took off in a fast walk to find some transport, because they were landing ships all over and units were scattered everywhere. Soon he found the first of the track vehicles with the fifties mounted on them.
“Hey,” he called out to the gunner. “Who’s in charge here?”
“Don’t know sir. The Company Commander got on a spaceship and took off.”
“Where can I find the Lieutenant or senior NCO for your unit?”
“That would be Sergeant Jefferson; he’s over there, sir,” he said pointing.
“Thanks. You got ammo?”
“No.”
Smith swore under his breath. “I’ll see if I can get you some.” He went to find Sergeant Jefferson. It didn’t take long.
He was arguing with a Corporal who was concerned about the lack of Separatist officers. “We can’t do this alone,” he complained.
“Can’t do what alone?” demanded Smith.
“Ten-hut,” called Master Sergeant Jefferson and saluted Smith as he approached.
“We don’t have any officers. They’ve all got on those ships and left. Now we are on some rock where we can’t even breathe without rebreathers.”
“I’m here, and I’m in charge. Sergeant Jefferson, I need your men out on the perimeter as quickly as possible. Give me your com.”
Hell Fighters From Earth Book 2 Page 12
