by Saxon Andrew
Debat listened to the other officers yelling at each other and knew the rest of the battalion was not going to be able to function without the links. Debat shook his head and said, “Zeta Company, begin the attack.”
Two hundred Life Warriors teleported to within a hundred and ten yards and launched hornets at the bunkers in the Hagrem front line; Jon watched them disappear and said, “Teleport now!”
The sixty Warriors in Jon’s platoon teleported right up against the force field surrounding the giant gun. They each landed on top of a bunker in the back line of the Hagrem and immediately launched a hornet penetrator into the roof of the bunker under them. They immediately teleported to the next line and heard the explosions behind them as they launched another penetrator into the next row of bunkers. Several Warriors were burned by blasters from bunkers that were not totally destroyed. Six Warriors at each end of the platoon’s advancing line fell in behind the advancing Warriors and took the place of any that were hit or removed the bunker that was still firing. The Warriors jumped a fourth time and the Life Warrior teleported in with the teleport unit. He had to teleport naked through the gun’s force field in order to get inside. Jon watched as the unit’s ready light turned green and the White Warrior disappeared. The huge gun was rotating its barrel toward the ground and Jon yelled over the company’s frequency, “Teleport out, Teleport out!”
Zeta Company teleported to the assembly coordinates as the giant gun turned its barrel toward them. Suddenly the gun blew up in a massive explosion that sent the barrel a mile into the sky as a shock wave rushed out into the surrounding bunkers ripping them out of the ground and sending them rolling end over end. The Battalion Commander watched the oncoming shock wave and yelled, “Hit the dirt.”
The Battalion hit the ground and even a mile away the earth shook with a force that was staggering, but it blew over the heads of the prone Life Warriors. Jon stood up and looked at the gun next to the one he destroyed and saw Life Warriors were being chewed up. “Sir, we need to take the next one.”
“You don’t have the coordinates.”
“We’ll do it as best we can. Notify the White Warrior when to come in. We need you to cause a diversion.”
“Debat, what are you doing?”
“Sir, I don’t have time to explain. Have the battalion jump in a hundred and fifty yards from the Hagrem front lines and launch hornets.” There was silence on the channel and Debat yelled, “Are you going to help or get in the way, Sir!?!”
The Major began issuing orders and as soon as the battalion jumped in and began launching hornets, Jon’s platoon jumped to the force field of the next gun and ran to the tops of bunkers along the barrier. They waited until everyone was on top of a bunker and began destroying them as them moved forward. Jon lost eight more Warriors before the White Warrior teleported in, but the second gun went up in another blast.
Jon’s company destroyed ten more of the giant guns and at that point Fleet had a section of sky over the planet where they could bring in the attack ships. The ships spread out and in two more days of heavy fighting, the Hagrem were done. It took another two weeks of cleanup action to finally remove the last hold outs but food shipments were already arriving and being delivered to the starving population.
Jon sat on the ground with his weary platoon after the tenth gun was destroyed and felt his fatigue. More than a hundred thousand Life Warriors had been killed in the attacks and fifteen of Jon’s platoon had perished in the effort.
“I’m glad you two survived.”
Teg said, “We tried to convince our officers to follow your plan but they wouldn’t listen.”
Dern sighed, “The only reason we did live is because our teleport modules moved us before we could be hit. It appears it didn’t need us to issue the commands.”
“I’m just glad you’re alive.”
Debat walked up and said, “Good job, Lieutenant.”
Jon tried to stand but Debat said, “As you were.”
“I lost fifteen of my Warriors, Sir.”
Debat took a deep breath and blew it out, “Those fifteen were the only losses the battalion suffered. Most of the other units involved in attacking those guns lost more than fifty percent of their Warriors. Your platoon made the difference and opened a window for fleet to come in and take out the rest of the heavy guns. The losses would have been much higher if you had not come up with that plan to take them out.”
“What happened to our links, Sir?”
“Fleet is looking into that now. I don’t have an answer for you, yet.”
“Thank you, Sir.”
Debat walked away and the Warriors from other companies in the battalion began coming over to thank the platoon for their sacrifice. All of them knew the price they had paid and third platoon had earned their respect. The new Lieutenant was one they were going to watch. His Warriors let the others know that it was him that made it happen.
Jon sat on the ground and knew that he was still a target. He didn’t know how much longer his luck was going to hold out. He looked over at the remains of a Hagrem heavy gun and knew that whoever had disrupted the communications was hoping the gun would destroy his battalion before they could get organized. He wondered who was responsible.
• • •
Admiral Mandel stood at attention in front of Queen Victoria and said, “We’ve found the one responsible for the programming errors in our defense system.”
“What did you learn from them?”
“Nothing; someone had him killed before we could question him. It was a young Algean that tampered with the system.”
“Are there any more problems in the system?”
“An Elder Algean came in and went through the system and found forty more issues that he removed. It’s clear that someone is going to great lengths to remove Duke Robbin’s son.”
“There can only be one person that would benefit from that.”
“I realize that, but she is not allowing anyone of telepathic ability to get near her.”
“Something is going to have to be done about that convention.”
“That is outside my province, Your Majesty. However, the Duke’s son has distinguished himself in the taking of the planet from the Hagrem. His actions have been viewed and his has been recommended for a Royal Recognition.”
“What medal?”
“The Bristone Star, Your Majesty.”
Victoria tilted her head, “Does he deserve it?”
Mandel nodded, “And more. His actions saved hundreds of thousands of our Warriors. His platoon is what created an opening for our fleet to come in. In my opinion the attack would have failed if not for what he and his platoon accomplished.”
“What about the other two?”
“They tried to get their officers to follow the plan but were ignored. It appears the Captain listened to Jon and agreed to take part going against his orders.”
“Then he is also deserving.”
“He won’t be given a medal but he will be promoted. We can’t reward disobedience even though he did the right thing?”
Mandel hesitated and Victoria saw something bothered him, “What is it, Admiral?”
“Jon has told his regimental commander that he will not accept a medal. He insists that the ones that died in his platoon are the ones that should receive it. He’s adamant about his refusal.”
Victoria slowly shook her head and said, “We were once like that instead of doing everything to gain an advantage.”
Mandel said, “He makes many around him feel small. His total lack of ego has many of our officers reexamining their career path. His bravery in going after those giant guns time and again to save his fellow Warriors shames them.”
“Send me the record of what happened. I want to see what he did.”
Mandel nodded and teleported away. Three hours later Victoria watched the video and sat in her room and cried until there were no more tears. The Royals had lost their way and there was no way to save them. Thi
s young warrior displayed the traits that the Realm’s leaders once possessed but now lacked. She finally stood and her expression turned hard. Her ancestors would never accept what the Realm’s leadership had become and she decided that she was not going to either. The Royals attempting to kill the young Lieutenant were going to pay.
• • •
The regiment stood at ease in their dress uniforms among the other divisions that had teleported in on the Hagrem. The field had most of the survivors of the attack on Belwen waiting for dismissal so they could go home and be with their families. Jon looked around the giant field and saw that many of the units were only a third of what they had been before the attack. The final casualty figures had come in and more than a quarter of a million Life Warriors had been killed in the fighting. Jon felt his remorse for the loss of his fellow warriors that had given their all to free the planet. His battalion was the only one that remotely resembled its former strength. Jon looked at Dominick and saw he felt it as well. Dominick whispered, “So many.”
Jon nodded and said, “I’m glad we were able to prevent the deaths of many more.”
Dominick slowly nodded.
Suddenly, The King and Queen of the Bristone Realm teleported in to the reviewing stand and Admiral Mandel yelled over the loud speakers, “Life Warriors, Attennnshun!” The vast number of warriors snapped to attention and the Admiral turned and bowed to the Royal Couple, “All present and accounted for, Your Majesty.”
The Queen nodded and Mandel turned and said, “Parade….Rest!” The Warriors moved their feet to shoulder width and put their hands behind their backs.
The Queen looked out at the million plus warriors and smiled, “We don’t tell you often enough how much you mean to the Realm. We have viewed what you endured on Belwen and feel compelled to tell you that your actions have not gone unappreciated. We are here to honor you and your fallen comrades for your sacrifice and bravery. Words can never express what you mean to the Realm and we would be remiss if we didn’t come to let you know that you are the best of what we are.”
Victoria looked at Admiral Mandel and he turned and said, “Third Division, Second Regiment, Fourth Battalion, Zeta Company, Third Platoon…come forward now!”
Jon knew they were here to present him with a metal and he was not going to accept it but he wasn’t going to embarrass his platoon by not following orders, “Platoon, Attennnshun. Forward, march. Column left, March.”
The platoon moved out of the ranks and marched to the front of the reviewing stands where Jon halted them and faced the Queen. Victoria looked down at the forty five survivors and saw Jon’s hard expression. She knew he was committed to the honor of the warriors that died under his command. Jon saw her looking at him and then she smiled. He always thought she had a beautiful smile and today was no different.
Victoria looked up at the vast number of warriors and said, “All of you here have been given the recording of what this platoon did during the fight on Belwen. All of you have had the opportunity to see what they did to save your lives.”
Jon was shocked. He had not been given the recording. When had the others been given the video?
“It has been brought to my attention that the Lieutenant that led this gallant platoon has made it clear that he will not accept any kind of recognition for what he did during that fight.” Victoria looked down at Jon and said, “And I will not force it on him.” She looked back up and continued, “He is adamant that the Warriors in his platoon that died are the ones that deserve any recognition that we would offer.” Victoria looked at Jon again, “And I agree with him.” Victoria looked around the huge field and said, “The fifteen warriors in third platoon that died on Belwen will have a marker with their name on it placed at the Robbins Memorial on New Bristone. They will be given the Bristone Star along with all the other surviving warriors in third platoon. The only one that will not receive the award is Lt. Jon Gee.”
The Warriors gathered on the field were shocked at Jon’s exclusion. How could he not be given the medal? He was the one that came up with the plan that saved them.
Victoria smiled and said, “His bravery has spoken for itself and even our highest medal is not big enough for what he has done.” Victoria paused and the silence was deafening. She smiled again, “But after he dies, he will be interred with his fellow Warriors in Robbins Park and he will be given the medal from a loving Realm. I don’t think he can turn me down then.”
The million warriors erupted into cheers and began chanting, “Jon Gee, Jon Gee, Jon Gee…”
Victoria looked down at Jon and saw him barely holding back his tears for the ones that had died. He looked up at Victoria and nodded.
Chapter Nine
Colonel Debat sat in his chair and listened as Jon argued. He calmly waited until he had run down and said, “Are you through?” Jon’s face was red but he nodded. “You really don’t have a choice in this; unless you are ready to resign from being a Life Warrior. Are you ready to do that?”
Jon started to argue but Debat held up his hand, “Answer the question!”
Jon was angry but he said, “No Sir, I’m not.”
Debat said, “Sit down, Jon.” Jon stayed at attention and Debat yelled, “SIT DOWN!” Jon sat in a chair and Debat said, “You are missing a critical piece of information that every other Life Warrior possesses.”
Jon was surprised by the statement and said, “What is that?”
“No one can get you or your brothers to see the thoughts of the Cats or the Zord.”
“Why is that important?”
“Because if you had the ability to do that you would see the trillions of innocent beings that are being killed by evil civilizations in this Creation; you don’t want to have more warriors killed following your orders so you resist being promoted. If you could see the evil we’re up against and the terror and death they cause, you would do everything you could to stop them. You only see the fifteen warriors that died under your command. You forget the hundreds of thousands of Life Warriors that survived because of your actions and the three billion civilians on Belwen that were saved. You are selfish beyond my words to describe.”
“SELFISH?”
“If you could see the depravity being committed, you would do whatever you could to stop it. You only think about your own feelings and forget the trillions that die. Have you forgotten your parents and the planet we found you?”
“I don’t remember anything about it, Sir.”
“Then you need to go see.”
Jon stared at Debat and after a long silence he said, “May I take the time to go visit that planet?”
Debat reached into his desk and handed Jon an old disc, “Take your brothers and play this when you get there. There’s a recorder in the room where we found you.” Jon stared at Debat and he handed Jon another disc, “This has the coordinates of where you need to go. Now go and see where you came from. There’s an attack shuttle waiting in orbit for you.”
Jon stared at Debat, saluted, and left the room. Debat looked at the door Jon had exited and then pressed his panel, “He’s leaving, Sir.”
“Let me know when he comes back.”
“Don’t you mean if he comes back?”
“No, he and his brothers are Warriors. They just don’t know what they’re fighting for.”
“Do you think this will show them?”
“I really don’t know but before they can find out who they are they have to know where they’ve been.”
Debat saw the light go out on his panel and offered a prayer for Jon and his two brothers.
• • •
Jon, Teg, and Dern looked down on the blue and green planet through the viewport on their small attack shuttle. None of them spoke or shared their thoughts. Jon sighed and activated the ships scanners. Most of the cities were overgrown with plants and most of the roads had given way to erosion. The three watched the view come in closer to the large city below them and they saw millions of dark clumps of minerals scat
tered throughout the city. They noticed that plants avoided the clumps. Jon flew around the planet and the view was the same everywhere. There were no birds or animals on the planet. Everything was gone.
Jon looked at his brothers and pressed the final coordinate. The shuttle entered the atmosphere and landed in front of a small house. They exited the ship and walked up to the white and brick building and saw the entire front of the building had been ripped away. Jon nodded toward the house and walked forward. Teg and Dern followed.
They arrived in a main room and saw six dark piles of minerals under the windows. They looked over and saw where the floor had been ripped up and the passage way could still be seen. Jon saw a recorder on the table and he took the old disc out of his pocket and inserted it into it.
A Human female said, “We’re hiding our babies under the house. If you find them, please take care of them.” Jon froze the image and the three brothers saw their parents for the first time. They were firing lasers out the windows at something they couldn’t see. Jon stared at the woman for a long time. Dern said, “You have her eyes, Jon.”
Jon nodded and looked at the human male firing out of the left window. He was Jon’s height and had Jon’s hair color. Jon started the recording again and after the view of the room faded, an image of Admiral Mandel appeared. “I’ve included the recording made by the White Warrior that arrived and brought you out of the passage way. I thought you would want to see it.”
The three watched as the two Zord and Cat took them from the White Warrior and they listened to their conversation. At the end of it, Jon collapsed into a chair. The three brothers linked their minds and shared their sorrow. “They killed everything.”
Jon just stared at the floor and after ten minutes he said, “Debat was right.”
Teg thought, “What?”
“I’m frozen because I lost fifteen warriors in a battle. Every living thing on this planet was killed and it’s still happening out there. My priorities are messed up.”
