“How small?”
“Some are single homes, while others are no more than ten or so buildings.”
“I guess this will have to do.”
“I hope so as we’re nearly out of fuel,” said Tarina. “There’s a clearing just off to our right. I’m going to put down there.”
“What are the environmental conditions like?” asked Cole.
“It’s quite nice out,” said Wendy. “As it is summer here, the temperatures will range from seven Celsius at night to twenty-three in the day.”
“Anything but snow would be a welcome change.”
“Coming in to land,” announced Tarina. The ship slowed down and hovered for a second before its landing struts touched the ground. “Welcome to Kandara-Minor.”
Sheridan unbuckled himself and stood up. He reached for his rifle and looked over at Cole. “Come on, let’s grab Kolben’s squad and check that the landing site is safe.”
An hour later, everyone from the ship was waiting out of sight in the woods. Kolben and his men, along with some of the miners, were busy cutting down trees to hide the shuttle from observation by passing aircraft or drones.
“Okay, Komada, this is where you earn your pay,” said Sheridan. “I’ll give you seventy-two hours to find Kitan. If you’re not back by then, it’s everyone for themselves.”
“Can I take someone to help me?” asked Komada.
“Sure, but it has to be a Chosen citizen and not one of my people.”
“A wise decision. I’ll take one of Corporal Kolben’s men. He can act as my bodyguard and help me navigate through these woods.”
“Remember to avoid any military patrol you may come across. We’re trying to hide, not start a fight—at least not yet.” Sheridan held out his hand. “Good luck and good hunting.”
“I hope to be back in the next day or two, Major,” replied Komada, shaking Sheridan’s hand.
After Komada had left, Cole walked to Sheridan’s side. “Do you think we’ll ever see him again?”
“Who knows,” Sheridan replied with a shrug. “I hope so or it’s going to be an awfully long time before any of us sees home again.”
Tarina stretched out her back and looked up at the sky filled with stars and constellations she knew nothing about. It was their second night in the woods and Tarina had volunteered to stand watch from midnight until two in the morning. The night was quiet except for the sound of some people snoring up a storm.
“Ma’am, I’ve got movement on the scanner,” said Fitzgerald.
“In Kurgan,” admonished Tarina.
Fitzgerald struggled for the words. “Box sees something.”
“Close enough. Run back and wake up Sheridan and Cole.”
The young soldier nodded, gave Tarina the scanner, and sprinted back into the darkened woods.
The image on the tracking device showed a small group of people moving straight toward her. She slid her rifle from her shoulder and switched on its thermal sight. Tarina brought up the weapon and looked through the sight. Her heart began to race. She bit her lip and hoped the target moving in her direction wasn’t a Kurgan patrol. A second later, the trees parted and Komada walked out into the open.
“You’re lucky I don t spook easily,” said Tarina. “I could have shot you.”
“I’m glad you didn’t,” said a woman, stepping out from behind Komada.
Tarina broke out smiling the instant she saw Kitan. Her heart was filled with joy. She lowered her weapon and rushed to embrace her. “My God, you don’t know how happy I am to see you.”
“Me too,” replied Kitan. “I couldn’t believe my ears when Komada walked into my home and told me you and Wendy were here.”
Tarina let go of her friend and looked at her. Even in the dark, she could tell that Kitan had gained some weight and looked far healthier than she did when they last saw one another.
“You found her?” said Sheridan, walking to join the group.
“Yes, I did,” replied Komada. “Her home is only a few hours’ walk from here.”
“Michael, I’d like to present to you, Kitan,” said Tarina. Her voice was filled with pride.
Sheridan shook Kitan’s hand. “Tarina has told me a lot about you. I owe you my thanks for keeping her alive in that Kurgan prison.”
“And I owe your father my life for helping me return to my family,” said Kitan. “Komada tells me there are about two dozen of you. Is that correct?”
“Twenty-seven to be exact,” said Cole.
“The sun won’t be up for a few hours. Please rouse everyone, and we’ll make our way to my home.”
“I doubt we could all hide in your home, no matter how big it is,” said Sheridan.
“You won’t be in my home,” she replied. “There are caves and tunnel systems all through these mountains. I’m taking you to a place that will do nicely for you and all your people.”
“I’ll get everyone on their feet,” said Cole, dashing off.
“Does the military patrol these mountains?” asked Sheridan.
“There’s the occasional drone overflight, but apart from that, the army and the police don’t venture up here,” said Kitan. “There’s no need for them to.”
“I take it Komada has told you he wants to initiate a holy war?”
“He has but we’re not as organized as he believed we were. We also lack training and a strategy which will help us purify Kandara-Minor.”
Sheridan cringed when he heard her use the word purify. “Kitan, we can help you but we should really get a move on. We can talk later when we’re safe.”
“They’re all up,” reported Cole. “I’ll take up my usual spot at the back of the column and shepherd the flock.”
Sheridan turned and looked at Kitan. “Okay, we’re all yours. Lead on.”
38
Admiral Robert Sheridan sat at his desk listening to Captain Killam’s daily operations brief. Although he heard what his chief of staff was saying, his mind was elsewhere. It had been six weeks since Operation Olympic had begun and the Kurgans had failed in three attempts to dislodge them from the Kalen star system. The last one was a suicide mission led by two Kurgan battleships and several destroyers without any fighter support. It had been a turkey shoot. For the loss of only six people, they had destroyed the ships and over nine thousand Kurgans.
Killam placed his tablet down and as diplomatically as he could, said, “Sir, I can see you’re tired. I could come back later if you wish.”
“Sorry, Captain, please continue.”
“Sir, we have replaced all of our losses sustained to date. In addition, two more fighter carrier groups are on the way, along with another Army corps.”
“That’s good news. General Denisov has been asking for another corps to bolster his defenses.”
“Admiral, just before I came in to brief you, I received a report from a long-range reconnaissance team who landed safely on Ke-12.”
Robert sat up straight. He steeled himself for the news. “What did they find?”
“The report is only preliminary but it would appear that Major Sheridan’s command was destroyed fighting what the team leader described as bioengineered human hybrids.”
The admiral’s heart sank. “Any word of survivors?”
“From what he can determine, the last remnants of the company fought to the last on the roof of a warehouse. I’m sorry, sir.”
“Have they been able to receive any bodies for burial?”
“Only a handful. The hybrids ate most of the dead bodies.”
Robert shook his head. He couldn’t imagine a worse way for his son to die.
Captain Killam’s watched beeped. He looked down and read the message. Right away, the sad look on his face changed. “Sir, Major Onaedo is outside of your office asking to come in. She has some information you may find interesting.”
“By all means. Let her in.”
Onaedo entered the room and saluted the two senior officers. “Admiral, one of my men just
decoded a Kurgan transmission from Kandara-Minor.”
“Why does that name seem familiar?” asked Robert.
“That’s the planet you let that Chosen woman return to because she helped save countless human lives on that prison planet,” explained Killam.
“That’s right. So, Major, what is going on there that I need to know about?”
“Sir, the military authorities on Kandara-Minor have reported a number of assassinations and targeted killings on the southern continent. They’re calling it a nascent insurgency, and they want all the information they can be provided with on a Junior Lieutenant Komada. Sir, it’s clear that not everyone died on Ke-12. Some of them must have survived and made it to Kandara-Minor.”
Robert Sheridan’s gloom began to lift. He looked at Killam. “Get a hold of Admiral Oshiro’s staff and find out who gave the order to disband Colonel Wright’s unit and have the order countermanded. I want him and his people out here with us in the next ten days or there will be hell to pay. Also, have General Denisov give me a call as soon as he can. Major Onaedo, I want a Special Forces team ready to jump to Kandara-Minor on my order.”
“Yes, sir,” replied Onaedo.
As soon as the door closed behind Onaedo, Killam said, “Sir, this is good news but it doesn’t mean that your son or anyone else from his team is still alive.”
“I know. But someone had to get Komada to that planet, and someone had to show him how to lead an insurgency. My money is on my son being that person. Until someone shows me his body, I’m going to keep believing that he and some of his people are alive and causing the Kurgs some grief on Kandara-Minor, and I intend to give him all the support we can.”
“Yes, sir.” Killam stood up. “If you’ll excuse me, I have a few calls to make.”
“Don’t take no for an answer from anyone. Use my name if you have to, but get me that squadron back under my command.”
“They’ll get here one way or another,” replied Killam, saluting his boss.
Admiral Sheridan returned the salute and got out of his chair. He walked to a window looking out into the blackness of space. The admiral closed his eyes and saw his son when he was a child smiling up at him. His heart told him Michael was still alive, and he wanted him to stay that way. Robert placed a hand on the glass. “Son, I know you can’t hear me but know that you’re not alone and that I’m going to do everything I can to bring you and your people back home.” He paused for a moment. His voice turned somber. “Until then, give them hell!”
END
Ghost Company Page 23
