“8 hits” called out Crystal. “Cap is warping away. Escorts are warping away.”
“Yes” said Chase triumphantly.
“What about the shuttle?” asked Dave.
“It’s still heading for the planet surface” responded Crystal. “ETA with base 5 minutes. Missile impact in 2 minutes.”
“Well fought everyone” announced Dave. “Aubrey, take us into high geostationary orbit over the enemy base. Ivan, advise Bravo 1 we have secured top cover. Shuttle should be destroyed in 2 minutes.”
Chapter 27. Zuon 0922, 28 June
The bright sunlight penetrated all the way through the forest canopy. It was broken up into slithers. Art recalled his father pointing to a similar light effect created when the sunlight had penetrated the clouds over his home town on Polaris. ‘Fingers of God’ his father had called them. ‘Let’s hope he is shining on our side right now’ thought Art.
He couldn’t see the bots up ahead but on his console he could see they were at the edge of the cover. It looked less than 30m of cleared area before the buildings. Well no contact so far. That was a good sign as was the report just in from the Hermes. He thought about waiting for confirmation that the shuttle was destroyed but he knew that they were already committed and delay now would risk too much. He had to get to Sue before any reprisals.
He took another step forward, as did everyone else in the line. Then the first shots were fired – a burst of pulse fire. Art glanced to the console, saw that it was Bella that had fired at an enemy spot some 20m to her right.
Ella too saw the contact as reported on her bot box. She activated the ‘contact right’ command. Bella took cover and continued engaging the target while Alex flanked to the right through the edge of cover. After only a few seconds the AI kicked in and cancelled the manoeuvre as the target was now destroyed. Alex moved back and the pair continued to advance to the main building.
“Akos, can you see what’s happening?” queried Art.
“Can’t see a thing.”
“No worries” said Art. “Keep moving everyone. Dai on your bike.”
“Roger.”
More firing opened up this time from an enemy that looked like it was in or directly in front of the main building. Alex and Bella were engaging. Another spot appeared on his console – again near the main building but further to the right. Art hated fighting like this without direct sight of the enemy. The light started to stream strongly through the canopy ahead. ‘About time’ though Art. He could see the edge of the clearing now. He looked left to see Buster also looking left towards Keto. Art then looked right and checked that Jack and Dakota were in line. Dakota was wrestling her quanto gun past a vine. She caught Art’s eye and gave a shake of frustration as she pulled the quanto free.
A whole minute had passed. Still no word on that shuttle.
Chapter 28. Hermes 0924, 28 June
“One hit on the shuttle” called out Crystal. A pause while she checked her display. “It’s not destroyed…decelerating.”
“Damm” said a frustrated Dave. “ETA with base?”
“Wait” said Crystal. “ETA in 9, no make that 10 minutes.”
“Ivan, advise Bravo 1.”
Chapter 29. Zuon 0925, 28 June
Art wasn’t happy with the news. “The enemy shuttle’s been damaged but it should be here in ten. Let’s lift a gear. We want to be out of here pronto.”
Another three paces and he reached the edge of the cover. He propped on one knee and looked around. The light was at first dazzling but he soon gained focus. He could not see Alex or Bella but he could hear the fire fight. They must have been on the other side of the building that was some 20m away. It was a two storey structure with several portals for viewing out. He scanned them quickly but could see no one.
There was an obvious track that went around the perimeter and a junction with another that must have run past this building in front towards the main building in the centre. The bots had assaulted up that central track and were now engaged in front of the main building. From his console he could see that Sue had been spotted in one of the building to the east on the far side of this central track. So they needed to shift right, cross the perimeter track and make entry into one of those buildings.
“Ella, keep the bots engaged where they are.”
“Wilco.”
“Buster, we need to gain entry into that building on the far side” and he marked it onto his console. “Deploy your team here to our right and provide cover while we breach the building. Do you copy.”
“Ok we’re moving now.”
Art saw Buster lead his team back in the cover a few metres then circle right and deploy. It took an agonising two minutes. Once they were down. He led Jack and Dakota towards Buster position, propped 20m short and looked to see that his cohorts were ready. They were.
He stood up and with a wave of his hand all three of them moved rapidly to the other side and up against the wall of the building. There was no obvious entrance and Art was not going to wait to find one. He extracted the explosive charge from his pack, pulled the adhesive tape from its back and stuck it to the wall. He tapped the timer just once and moved sideways five metres towards Jack. All three of them instinctively crouched while they waited the rest of the minute till it would blow.
Pulse fire impacted the tree next to Buster coming from further east. He couldn’t see the firer but let loose a return burst in the general direction. Keto responded with a longer bust from the quanto.
There was loud crack and then another. “Got him” hailed Akos just as the charge exploded. There was an immediate rush of air as the building decompressed through the rather neat hole in the wall.
Jack was already moving his big frame through the hole. He stumbled over some debris but managed to quickly right himself as Dakota pushed past him. She propped a few metres into the building to gain her bearings. The light was streaming in through the opening from behind her but there was a fair bit of dust marring her vision.
Art joined her, saw that there was no one else about. There were a lot of crates against the inner wall. A light was flashing high up ahead. ‘Probably a hazard warning light’ thought Art. “Buster, bring your team in.”
As Buster’s team came through, Art made his way to what looked like a door. It was sealed. He pulled out his favourite gadget from the pouch on his belt. There were very few electronic doors that could stop this device. He pressed a button and saw the scan wave on its little display change from red to green. The door opened. The air once again rushed out.
Art checked his motion sensor and gave the thumbs up to Dakota. She went through first this time with Jack on her heels. Art waited till he saw Buster enter through the hole in the wall. He waved him to follow and moved through the door. They were in a tall passageway. ‘Well all the rooms are tall here’ thought Art. The hazard lights were flashing here too.
Dakota was pointing down to the right. “That looks like a connecting passageway there” she said.
Almost immediately a suited figure poked its head into the passageway from the very spot Dakota was pointing to. Art fired a bust from the hip but it was Jack who hit the target. Dakota recovered from the shock and rushed forward to the junction of the passageways. She manoeuvred the quanto at right angles in front of her. With the barrel facing down the unsighted hallway she let off a burst.
She was about to let off another when Art’s hand gripped her shoulder. “Stop” he commanded. She turned her head to face him. “Positive ID, remember” he said. She nodded and pushed her own head forward to take a peak.
Apart from the crumpled body at her feet there was no one else down the passageway. “All clear” she reported.
Art interrogated his console. “There should be another passageway down and to the right that connects us to the objective building. “Dakota, stay put here and provide cover. Buster, lead out and stick to the right hand side of the passageway.”
Dakota went prone while Buster moved
past her keeping to the right. Keto followed him and then Roj. Art was about to step off too when he received an alert sound. He bought up his console. It was alerting him to the fact that one of the bots was critically damaged.
“Art this is Ella. Alex has been hit bad. It looks like the sleth are mounting an assault out of the main building. Bella will be overrun if not withdrawn now.”
“Pull her back to the perimeter track but keep engaging from there. It’s important she keeps ‘em busy” said Art.
Buster was giving the thumbs up ahead at the next junction. Art came forward took a look down right. There was another bulkhead at the end .
“Keto cover forward on the right. Roj cover left. Dakota join me.” When Dakota was only a metre behind he tapped Jack on the shoulder and Jack pushed out into the right passageway hugging the left hand side.
At the bulkhead Art was about to open the door as before but he felt a twinge of caution. “Buster, drone.”
Buster withdrew a drone from his pack. He activated it and held the small globe in his right hand. Art released the door lock with his device but held the door closed. “Ready?” he asked.
“Ready” replied Buster. Art let the door slide open just enough for Buster to insert the drone and release it. Buster looked to the controller on his left hand and used it to fly the drone through the space on the other side of the door. “There’s a sleth in a suit on the other side. It’s another passageway. Doors left and right. No other visible enemy.”
“Is he armed?”
“No….wait…he’s holding up a sign. I can’t make it out.” Buster looked to Art unsure of how to proceed.
“No one else there?”
“No.”
“I’m going to open the door part way and go in. Jack and Dakota you follow and break left and right. The rest stay here till I call you. Hold your fire.”
Art opened the door halfway and entered, taking two paces forward. Jack and Dakota slid in behind him. The sleth was about tem metres away. His sign said ‘Don’t shoot’.
“Well I’ll be” said Art. “Keep him covered Jack.” Then to the sleth he lowered his rifle.
The sleth slowly turned the sign over. On the other side it said ‘Hospital. Patients’. The sleth pointed to the doors along the passageway. Art nodded. The sleth then said “Chalker?”
“Yes we come for Chalker” said Art.
The sleth pointed to the first door on the right.
“This could be a trap Sir” warned Dakota.
“I don’t think so” said Art. “Keep him covered Dakota. Jack, get out the spare suit and oxy pack.”
After a minute, Jack was ready. He gave Art the thumbs up. Art used his device to open the hatch. The air rushed out. He opened the door all the way and saw Sue holding her breath off to the right. The room was otherwise empty. “Quick Jack.”
Jack moved past and handed Sue the oxy pack. She affixed it straight away and took a welcomed breath. Her eyes were beaming. She struggled to get the replacement suit on. It was a bit big. Art helped her with the sleeve and leg clamps, ensuring the green light flashed as they were secured tight.
Jack lifted the helmet up with one hand. Sue took a deep breath and released the oxy pack. Jack lowered the helmet and fixed the clamp. Art checked the green light to make sure it was secure. He then gave a double tap on the helmet to let Sue know it was all OK.
She exhaled and began breathing. She could hear Jack on the intercom talking but it took her a couple of deep breaths before she could respond. She put her arms around Art, her helmet touching his and said “Thank you.”
She sounded very weak to Art. But now was not the time to worry about such things. “Are you alright?”
“Yes.”
“We need to go.”
“Wait” and she moved towards the sleth. She put her arms around him and he responded likewise. Art couldn’t believe it but that was another explanation that could wait.
“Bravo 1 this is Whisky 1 enemy shuttle on final approach. ETA in 1 minute. Sunray says it’s time to high tail it.”
“Have secured objective. Withdrawing now” said Art. He switched channels and commanded “Shuttle arrives in 1 minute. We must go now. Come on Sue. Buster you’re team’s tail end Charlie. Dakota lead us out.”
Sue turned and followed Art. She looked back at the sleth for a moment then faced forward and quickened her pace. They passed Buster at the junction. Dakota was stepping out now. Sue was finding it hard to keep up. “Can we slow down a bit” she pleaded.
“Shuttle has landed” called out Akos. “Troopers disembarking. Am engaging.”
“Roger that Akos” said Art. His heart was pumping now. “Keep it up for a minute more then make your way back to the FUP.”
“Roger.”
“Ella SITREP?” demanded Art. But there was no response. “Ella SITREP?” Still no response. “Dai, SITREP?” Again no response. He put it down to the shielding in the building. He would try again once he was outside.
Dakota was already at the hole in the wall when firing broke out from whence that had come.
“Contact” reported Buster. “We have 5 or 6 troopers coming down the passageway from the main building.”
“Don’t hang around Buster” commanded Art. “We’re at the hole in the wall. We will setup on the other side of the perimeter track and give you cover.”
“We’re on our way.”
Chapter 30. Zuon 0940, 28 June
Art poked his head out and looked right to where he expected to see Bella. The bot wasn’t there and there was no firing to be heard. He would worry about that once they were deployed in the cover on the other side of the track.
He motioned for Dakota to deploy and face right. She climbed out of the hole, went prone and hailed “Ready.”
“Other side Jack” ordered Art.
For a big fellow he slipped through the hole with ease, looked left and right and then ran across the 20m to the cover. He too went prone covering the eastern approach. Art climbed through the hole and helped Sue get through. They both then ran to the other side and went to ground.
“Over you come Dakota” said Art.
The only firing he could hear was coming from inside the buildings. “Ella SITREP?” He waited ten seconds. “Dai SITREP?” He waited a few more seconds. The firing from the building was getting closer and louder.
Buster turned into the final passageway that connected to the breached room. Pulse fire hit the wall where he had just been. He saw Keto at the door to the room ready to cover him. Roj must already be in the room he assumed. He took out a proximity mine and fastened it to the wall. He activated it and ran for the room. Roj was already out the hole and facing back in. “Come on Keto. It’s time to exit stage left.”
Keto didn’t need any more encouragement. He took a deep breath in and jumped up heaving the quanto gun into the port position so he could fit through the door. He saw Buster waving him through the hole from the other side.
There was a large explosion as the mine detonated from out in the passageway. Keto ran for the hole. Buster took his quanto and Keto clambered through, took back his weapon and ran to the other side with Buster. Roj fired a parting burst through the hole before he too turned and ran across the track.
“Jacinta SITREP?” hailed Art. But again no reply. “Damm” he said in frustration. “Alright, let’s get moving back to the FUP.” Buster, lead us out. “Akos SITREP?”
“I’m on my way…looks like another 400m.”
Art could tell from Akos’s laboured voice that he was moving fast. “Have you heard from Ella, Dai or Jacinta?”
“Last I heard Ella was going forward to support Dai take out the air defence system.”
“What about Bella?”
“KO’d.”
“Alright hurry up.”
Pulse fire started coming from the hole they just exited. Buster quickened his pace and the rest followed suit. They were now over 100m into the forest. Buster was circling right to
the FUP that lay another 300m away.
“There are some troopers coming after us” hailed Roj, who was tail end Charlie.
“Buster, let Jack take the point” said Art. “Set some mines where you are. Activate them as we come through.”
“Right” said Buster. He reached into his pack and took out the remaining three mines he had. He was fixing the third one to a nearby tree when Art came on through.
“Wait for Roj he’s back about 20m” said Art.
Pulse fire continued to arc through the forest in their general direction.
“I’m hit” hailed Roj. Art went back for him.
“Buster I need your help” asked Art.
Buster found Art applying an oxy pack to Roj. He’d been hit in the shoulder and his suit decompressed. He had also applied an emergency field dressing to the wound. Art was struggling to hold him up and Roj was going into shock. With his left arm, Buster grabbed Roj’s belt behind his back and together he and Art managed to move him along as pulse fire twanged overhead.
As he passed the mines that were strapped to the trees along the rough path they were following Buster activated them. They came up to Dakota. “I got your back” she said.
“Better get back further” said Buster “I’ve left our friends some calling cards.”
“Right” said Dakota and she tagged on behind them facing backwards with every second step. She saw some movement but decided not to open up and give away their position. “Our friends are getting closer.”
With that Art and Buster tried to move a little faster but it was tough going manhandling Roj. There was a loud explosion as the first of the mines went off. That was less than 100m away. For a short while the pulse fire stopped. But it restarted shortly. Then the second explosion and this time the pulse fire stopped altogether.
Five minutes later they came into the FUP. Keto was deployed with his quanto covering down the path they had just taken. Jack helped lay Roj down. Art looked around. Sue was leaning up against a tree looking done in. “Are you alright” he asked her. She just nodded.
Redemption: Book 2 of Warner's World Page 11
