by Chris Bunch
The Vehicle Commander in the lead Grierson saw a disheveled finf waving frantically, shouting for help, and a man sprawled at the side of the road.
“Drop it, Sy,” he ordered, and the driver obeyed. The VC, a warrant-two, clambered out of his hatch onto the Grierson’s roof before the vehicle grounded.
“What happened?” he called.
“Sir … we lost it, tryin’ t’ lift over them trees,” Kipchak panted. “Think my aspirant’s dead … he’s not moving …”
The Vehicle Commander went quickly down the climbing indents to the ground and to the distraught soldier.
“Easy, man … gleet!” The gleet was caused by a somewhat non-issue stubby blaster pressed against his face.
“Shoot!” Kipchak shouted, and Lir let a burst out of her Squad Support Weapon. The I&R troops came out of concealment, weapons ready. “You’re now the prisoner of the Blue Force,” Petr shouted. “Hiccup and you’re slotted.”
“You can’t do this! You’re not in enemy uniform,” the warrant stuttered.
“Yep,” Kipchak agreed. “Illegal as all hell. Immoral too, probably. Two men to each vehicle. Anybody moves, secure ‘em properly.”
Men and woman swarmed aboard the Griersons. Njangu heard a shout from one vehicle, then a squawk. Nectan’s grinning head came out of the VC hatch. “Secured. One black eye.”
“This isn’t part of the game,” the warrant objected.
“Nope,” Kipchak said. “I’m ashamed of myself. What’re you carrying?”
The warrant pressed his lips together.
“Look, friend,” Petr said mildly. “All I have to do is look for myself. And you didn’t bother blanking your bumper letters, so I know you’re support for Fourth Regiment. Just tell me what’s in the back of the putt-putts, or I’ll behave like a real guerrilla and shoot your young ass. Which means throwing you in the river, then tying you to a tree somewhere up the hill and not telling anybody where you are for a day or two.”
The warrant stared at Petr, decided he was as big a madman as he’d heard I&R noncoms were, and would do exactly as promised. “The first two Griersons have portashelters and sleeping bags, the next hot rations for dinner, and the last has supplies for the Regimental Officers’ Mess.”
The Swift Lance POWs had been prodded off their vehicles, and corralled to one side of the road. Monique came up in time to hear the last of the warrant’s report.
“Oh dear,” she said, not meaning every syllable. “It’s going to be wet, cold, and hungry tonight for some folks. Bet that’ll make Fourth Regiment real nasty fighters by morning. I hear it’s gonna monsoon like a bastard, too.”
“You can’t do this,” the warrant tried again.
“But we just did,” Kipchak said. “You got an umpire with you?”
“No.”
“Hmm. Presents a problem. We could actually strip everything out of the Griersons and burn them for authenticity, but I think Daddy Williams would spank. Lir, you know how to disable a Grierson, not too permanent?”
“Yeh.”
“Do it, then.” Kipchak turned back to the warrant. “Raiders can’t afford prisoners. I could let you go on parole, but you look like one of those sneaky types who’d deny anything happened. What we did to you enemy sorts was line you up against those trees over there, and commit a war crime. To prove it, we’re going to take everybody’s ID card. That ought to convince the umps we done you wrong, and you’re officially dead. Plus we’ll take your pants with us.
“As far as actual damage, gracious freedom-loving thugs that we are, we’re going to turn you loose. It’s about six kilometers up the road to something resembling Swift Lance people, I’d guess about the same distance back to your friends. Have a simply wonderful evening stroll.”
• • •
The Swift Lance attack continued. Holo teams hovered over the front lines, recording the bravery of Our Fighting Men and Women for viewers throughout the Cumbre System. It was a very dull week for news.
The Blue Force fell back and back to more prepared positions, left from the last time around, ringing the crest of Mount Najim. Overjoyed they wouldn’t have to be doing much digging, they prepared for their last stand, which would be followed by the reception on the final “battleground” by Caud Williams and his staff for the Rentiers of D-Cumbre.
The men and women on both sides hoped there’d be a few crumbs falling off the table for them.
• • •
“This won’t make us well loved,” Aspirant Vauxhall said, after considering Hedley’s suggestion.
“Probably not,” Hedley said. “Big flipping deal.”
“But it surely will cause some hootin’ and hollerin',” Senior Tweg Gonzales said thoughtfully. “Which is what I&R’s supposed to do, isn’t it?”
“I guess.” Gonzales eyed his superior. “Jon, let me guess why you came up with this idea. You figure that’ll put us on the shit list, and the worst thing Williams could do to … or for … us is to make us get out there on the Highland walls and work for a living hunting real-life bandits.”
“Why, Brer Rabbit, you perspicacious son of a bitch,” Hedley commented.
• • •
“Lower,” Caud Williams ordered. “I want a closer look at that knoll.”
“ Yessir,” Finf Running Bear said, and took the Cooke down to about thirty meters above the ground. “We’re getting simulated fire, sir.”
“Ignore that,” Williams said impatiently. “This has nothing to do with the war games.” He studied the terrain, rechecked his projected map. “That’ll do,” he decided. “Easy access from the road. Our guests will be able to see the entire maneuver area, and there’s more than enough room for the tents, in the event of rain tomorrow.”
His com buzzed. He keyed the mike. “Lance Six Actual … very well, Mil Rao, I’m scrambling.” He listened, and his eyes widened. “Oh brother.” Williams caught himself. “Message received, understood. Will arrive back in your area in … one-five. Have my staff ready to discuss this matter. Out.” He replaced the com in its slot. “Back to field HQ.”
“Yessir.”
“This’ll put a fine crimp in things,” Williams said. Running Bear maintained an interested silence.
“This is classified,” Williams said. “But PlanGov has just had a deep-space com.”
“From the Confederation?” Running Bear blurted hopefully.
“Negative,” Williams said. “Don’t interrupt, soldier. From Alena Redruth, the Protector of Larix and Kura. He’ll arrive in-system within an E-week for a conference with Governor General Haemer.”
Running Bear waited the appropriate time, then asked, “About what?”
“We don’t know,” Williams said. “But he wants the conference on C-Cumbre, not here. Governor General Haemer wants us to provide an appropriate escort.” He thought for a moment. “I think we can still bring the games to a satisfactory conclusion … but some units’ll have to be withdrawn to prepare for the ceremonies.”
• • •
“You’re what!” Hedley snarled.
“Gone, sir,” Ben Dill said. “I go bye-bye. All the Griersons you’ve got are out of the games and pulled back to Mahan.”
“Why?”
“No word, sir. Not even a rumor. But we’re supposed to prepare for offplanet service.”
“Nobody tells me flipping shit,” Hedley said. “So I don’t have any transport but those lousy flimsy flipping Cookes, which is gonna throw a crimp in my goddamned plans. Or are the goddamned games canceled?”
Dill shook his head. “Dunno, sir.”
“Probably not,” Hedley said. “Continue the mission and all that crap … without any support.”
“I don’t understand,” Vauxhall said. “Why’d they lift our air, instead of taking it from the general reserve?”
“A simple reason. Dill, stick fingers in your flipping ears so you don’t get a big head or think ill of your superiors.”
“ Yessir,” the big m
an said, not moving.
“Aggressors Always Lose, so they’re making it easier for us to take it in the shorts. Remember which end of the stick we’re holding?”
“Oh,” the aspirant said. “So what are we going to do?”
“What we always do,” Hedley said. “Improvise and come up with Plan B.”
CHAPTER
20
The Blue Force held a semicircular line about a kilometer below the plateaulike summit of Mount Najim. Half a kilometer downslope was the knoll Caud Williams had chosen for his reception, promptly dubbed the Pimple by everyone below the rank of mil. Williams positioned his headquarters, in a collection of hasti-domes, behind the Pimple, masked from enemy fire. No sensible officer would have considered sending a missile into the area. Promotions were hard enough to come by in the Force. Covered bleachers were set up atop the Pimple and to one side was a large gaily striped tent rented for the banquet. Caud Williams was ready for final victory.
• • •
Governor General Wilth Haemer arrived with a flurry of aides and a harried expression. Caud Williams saluted him, and Haemer drew him out of earshot. “I’m amazed you aren’t worried,” he said.
“I see nothing to worry about,” Williams said. “The maneuvers are proceeding precisely as I’d anticipated.”
“I don’t mean them,” Haemer said in exasperation. “I mean” — he glanced about — “Redruth’s visit.”
“I’ve learned,” Williams said with more than a touch of pomposity, “to worry about one thing at a time. I’m sure Protector Redruth merely wishes to discuss the current problem with the Confederation. Perhaps he has good news for us, or has a plan for us to work together on. His last visit was most amiable, wasn’t it?”
“Yes, yes,” Haemer said. “But still …”
“Everything will be fine.”
“I certainly hope you’re right.”
The two moved apart, each wishing the other fool would slip into a garbage pit in the near future.
• • •
Twenty-one men and women in Confederation uniform were hidden about a kilometer west of the Pimple. Using a trick learned by the first settlers on D-Cumbre, they’d found a kwelf grove for concealment. The kwelf grows in a circle, sending out runners that root and then climb upward as first saplings, then trees. The trees grow closer and closer together, until it appears the mature kwelf is a solid hedge. But the interior is open, covered by overhead growth and is anywhere from ten to thirty meters in diameter and makes a perfect shelter. An entrance is generally made by cutting away, and then replacing, a single tree.
Jord’n Brooks checked his watch. “They will begin their stupid endgame in thirty minutes. Let us go. May the One help us complete our Task.”
Wordlessly, the twenty picked up their weapons and moved toward the grove’s entrance.
• • •
“I resent that, Daddy,” Jasith Mellusin said. “I wanted to come see this because, well, because you said you wanted me to take a bigger part in the family business, and we do business with the soldiers, don’t we?”
Godrevy Mellusin lifted an eyebrow. “Jasith, don’t take me for an utter fool, just because I’m your father. No, we don’t do any business with the Confederation forces, unless you sell them something in that money-losing lingerie shop I let you talk me into. Nor do I believe you wanted to come out here in the rain just to keep me company to watch a bunch of muddy soldiers run up and down.
“Who is he, and I hope he’s high enough in the ranks to keep me from grinding my teeth?”
Jasith rounded her eyes innocently. “I’m sure I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She started giggling, and her father smiled wryly as one of his aides led them to their reserved place in the bleachers.
• • •
“What’s going on?” Loy Kouro demanded irritably of the soldier.
“Sorry, sir, Caud Williams’ orders,” Reb Gonzales said. “We’re commandeering this vehicle for the duration of the maneuvers.”
“Whaaat? You can’t do that! This is a Matin news lifter! You know what Matin is, don’t you?”
“ Yessir. A holo, sir. But I have my orders. Please step out of the vehicle.”
“But we’re covering your little games, dammit! If you grab this lifter, there won’t be any coverage from us!”
“Yessir,” Gonzales said. “A terrible pity, sir. Now if you’d step out of the lifter, sir?”
“The hell I will,” Kouro said. “Driver, take it up.”
The driver’s hand touched the controls, and Gonzales pulled the door open and yanked the man out.
“You son of a — ” The driver came up, fists ready, and Gonzales’ spear hand went forward into his gut, came back, slammed into the side of his neck.
“I saw that!” Kouro said.
“Saw your driver slip and fall?” Gonzales said. “Knocked himself out on a rock, he did. Half a dozen other people saw what happened, too, and will be happy to testify if you choose to press charges. Now, if you’ll unass the lifter … sir … we can go about our business.”
Kouro got out, and two strikers had him by the elbows. “Put him with the others,” Gonzales ordered. “And drag this poor stumbling lad over to see if he needs medical attention.”
There were seven other civilian lifters, private and commercial, pulled off the main road. Their drivers and passengers were guarded by half a dozen I&R troops. Alt Hedley came out of the brush.
“This is going to make a bit of a stink,” Gonzales observed.
“Probably,” Hedley said. “But if we’d let him go on by, he would’ve said something, and Swift Lance isn’t totally brainless. Pity about that journoh, though. Do you remember how they stand on pay raises for alts!”
“Dunno, sir. I only read The Economist,” Gonzales said.
“And aren’t you the high-class tart.” Hedley tapped fingernails against the side of the lifter, thinking. “On the other hand, this could make things very sneaky … Three, no four volunteers from, who’s in the barrel this week? Gamma.” He raised his voice. “Give me Kipchak, Dorwith with a Squad Support Weapon, Heckmyer and that new guy. Yoshitaro.”
The four came out of the brush. “Get your respective asses in this here journalistic vehicle and stand by. We’re gonna get real flipping dirty, stinky, illegal, and immoral.”
• • •
Simulated missiles launched as the first wave of Griersons swept in from the east, through drifting clouds of rain, and landed on the rising ground on one side of the knoll. It was spectacular, with preplanted demolition charges going off, smoke bombs arcing through the air, and the slam of practice charges from the Griersons and supporting Zhukovs.
If anyone noted the Griersons came in for rather gentle landings to avoid damage, no one commented, nor did anyone ask why Williams ordered a high casualty-producing frontal assault on the Blue lines rather than a flanking attack.
The Swift Lance soldiers, shouting aggressively as ordered, mucked their way toward the Blue positions.
Then the second wave struck, coming in from the west, landing closer to the Blue lines. The spectators were enthralled, battle on all sides.
• • •
“Hey, idiots,” the dec shouted. “Where the hell did you come from? The battle’s over there, you — ”
Jord’n Brooks shot him, and the woman beside him gunned down the noncom’s two flankers. A fourth soldier gaped at the gore, frozen by the dying gasps of his teammates. Brooks shot him before he could recover.
“Hurry,” he ordered. “We’re behind the soldiers’ assault lines.” The ’Raum pushed through the trees, paying no attention to the war cries to their right as the second wave attacked Mount Najim. Ahead was their target — the knoll with a brightly painted tent and bleachers beside it.
• • •
“Land the third element,” Caud Williams ordered, and his executive officer, Mil Rao, spoke into the com.
Five waves of Griersons — the
Force’s First Regiment — lifted from concealed LZs and drove toward Mount Najim as the rain broke, and the sun blazed through for a perfect moment. Caud Williams looked around his command center, saw the smooth efficiency of his staff, heard the roar of the ACVs and thought with enormous pride, This is all mine. I raised this unit and built it from nothing.
The First Regiment would overfly this knoll, and land just behind the Blue Lines, and the war … the battle game, he corrected himself, would be over, and a triumph.
Williams saw a small news lifter, with the logo Matin on it, dart across the battlefield’s rear, in front of the onrushing Griersons. If that idiot gets in the way of my people and there’s a collision … Then he relaxed, seeing it level out well below the Griersons’ flight pattern. Must be that young firebrand Kouro. His father told me he’d be covering this for his holo. Good footage he must be getting, thrilling for Cumbrians to watch, make any real Confederation citizen’s heart pound. Must remember to get a copy of the disc. Williams put the matter out of his mind, turned back to his conquest.
The lifter banked and drove directly for Williams’ command center. From the jungle to the east, seven other lifters joined it.
• • •
Jasith Mellusin peered about, trying to see where her … well, not really, at least not yet, her Garvin might be. She wished she’d asked just what kind of a job he did, for she didn’t know where to look.
• • •
Garvin Jaansma boredly put the touchup sprayer to a scratch on his gleaming Grierson. He wondered if he could ghost out and chance a call to Jasith’s com number, decided it wasn’t a good idea. Ben Dill had assigned him this job, not Senior Tweg Ric or somebody not worth obeying if you could get away with it. He went back to his work, wondering if this secret mission they’d been pulled out of the field for would be interesting, and if it’d keep him from being able to get a pass into Leggett.
