by John Walker
“We’re in range,” Redding announced. “Permission to fire on the battleship.”
“Sir,” Agatha interrupted. “I’m getting a hail from that battleship. They’re urgently requesting communications.”
“Oh boy.” Gray sighed. “Dubaris will love this. Put them through.”
A face appeared, far younger than the commander of the military forces but hardened. Gray guessed he’d seen plenty of skirmishes in his time and probably led these people by example. He stood up straight as their connection established and cleared his throat before speaking.
“This is Su-Anthar Touqi of the Vigor. This is not your fight. Please turn around and disengage immediately. We do not wish to fight you.”
“We’re working to bring order to this system,” Gray replied. “That means establishing a peaceful resolution on behalf of the legitimate government. I represent the alliance and we’re here to settle this.”
“You don’t have any idea why we’re fighting!”
“Do you?” Gray asked.
“Our people have been oppressed on the colonies, practically made indentured servants. We’ve demanded they treat us equally and they chose not to so we rose up.” Touqi shrugged. “Now, we’ll take their planet and force them to our terms. It’s how every great society cleans up the rubbish.”
“That’s not the story we’ve been told,” Gray replied. “And if you’re so dead set on a resolution like you describe, then stand down. We’ll call a cease fire and work this out at the diplomacy table instead of over guns. Otherwise, I’m afraid we’re going to have to disable your craft and achieve our mission.”
“Are you so sure you can handle us?” Touqi gestured over his shoulder. “We have another incoming.”
“Then I suppose we’ll have to take care of you quickly so we can be ready but please note that this is unnecessary.” Gray sighed. “Please, consider our offer. We’ll insure that everyone is treated fairly during those talks.”
“Our benefactors said the alliance would issue such lies if they ever showed up.” Touqi sneered. “Now you’ve proven they were right. I’ll see you on the battlefield and we’ll settle this like warriors. Prepare the souls of your people. I intend to send them on their way to whatever afterlife you believe in.”
The connection dropped and Gray felt Adam’s eyes on him. He shook his head. “Redding, I believe you said we were within range for a firing solution?”
“Aye, sir. I’m prepared to fire on your mark.”
“Then by all means,” Gray said, motioning toward the screen. “Fire at will.”
***
Captain Willian Hoffner led the forces heading for the planet, strapped in near the pilots. The rest of his platoon, a group of hardened, battle tested marines, sat nearby, clinging to their rifles as they plunged headlong into a battle zone of fighters and capital ships on the verge of serious action. He took a steadying breath and prepared himself for the landing.
Their mission involved checking out a power facility and potentially reclaiming the farmlands supposedly held by rebel forces. Intelligence suggested the opposition would be well armed and extremely dangerous, prepared to fight to the death to hold the ground they’d taken. The surrounding towns and cities relied on the resources being held so the Behemoth offered to take them back.
The secondary objective involved discovering any data on an alliance intelligence officer who had been operated in the area. The way Lieutenant Colonel Marshall Dupont gave him the orders though made William suspect a higher importance for the objective. After all the time he spent in the military, Captain Hoffner knew when something classified was being withheld.
“I doubt we’re going to find him down there if that’s what you’re hoping,” Hoffner had told Dupont. “If the guy was working this area, surely he’d be long gone by now…or dead.”
“Whatever evidence you can find will be good enough for us,” Dupont replied. “Just make sure you get this done right. Scans, body checks, the works. The resources are your primary objective still though. Don’t forget that.”
Hoffner didn’t push but he understood the overall sense of the situation. What made him curious, and he wished he’d asked when he had the chance, was what the intelligence agent was doing on the planet. They all knew the rebels were active and they also understood that the Orion’s Light were involved. What else could a spy need to know?
Whatever they stole on that station…I’m guessing it has something to do with that. Probably some classified personnel data or weapons. Those two things tend to get a government up on their hind legs for action.
“One minute for atmo break,” the pilot announced. “Hold on tight. We’re about to enter the combat zone.”
Hoffner looked out the window and winced at the energy blasts flying back and forth between the two factions. Their own fighters engaged the enemies, flying in wild maneuvers to get decent firing solutions. A ball of fire appeared to his left and another dead ahead, ships exploding from core detonation.
The gunner for their shuttle sat in the copilot seat and as he began to unload, the entire ship warmed up. Even their environmental suits couldn’t completely protect them entirely from the increased temperature and while it didn’t cause any discomfort, they sure as hell felt it. Other ships went down around them and the gunner calmly called his shots with all the passion of a golf commentator.
“You sure he’s killing people?” One of the marines shouted out. “Or is he just tickling them? I can’t tell by the way he talks.”
“He’s just a sociopath,” someone else dismissed the situation. “Or he thinks he’s playing a video game. Either way, as long as we get on the ground in one piece, I don’t care if he starts singing a country song. Let those guys do their jobs without criticism I say.”
“No criticism,” the first marine replied. “I was just curious. I hate to think what the dude’s like in bed.”
“That’s enough,” Hoffner cut the talk short. “Let’s focus on the objective and keep the colorful commentary to a minimum. You guys have a lot to do in the next few hours and I expect you on your toes. If there are rebels down there, we’re going to have one hell of a fight. We’re outnumbered but not outgunned. Remember that.”
The plan involved letting the pilots do a buzz over a couple LZs, dropping bombs to distract the enemy from the deployment of troops. They’d land three kilometers away from the power facility and make their way over there on foot, engaging hostiles only if necessary. Once there, they were to take back the facility then sweep the farms for any other occupying soldiers.
Straightforward missions always seemed like the hardest to keep on track. Whenever someone thought things would go smoothly, they tended to twist, throwing some kind of fly in the ointment. Hoffner was prepared for such an eventuality but he didn’t have to like it. At least they were being deployed into a situation they were accustomed to: straightforward combat.
With a side of investigation. That’s the rub, huh?
“Pilots confirm our path is clear. We’re heading into atmo now.” The ship began shaking violently as they descended toward the surface. Hoffner held on tightly, scowling as he considered the helplessness of being passengers aboard a drop ship. He’d seen them torn out of the sky plenty of times before, all hands lost.
He never entirely got over the anticipation of death on a drop, the thought they might all be gone in the blink of an eye. The others used various methods to fend off their own concerns. Bravado, sleep, silence…each had their own way but they all amounted to the same thing. Whether they were afraid or simply adrenalized, each man knew this drop might be their last.
The noise kicked in from turbulence as everything started rattling around him. Two fighters accompanied them close by, their engines screaming and competing with their own. Another four ships rocketed past them, plunging toward their targets, a rebel camp they were instructed to take out.
Hoffner leaned to watch out the window but only managed to see an eruptio
n of fire some distance below them. The speaker in his helmet crackled as the pilot spoke up again.
“Our distraction is in motion and we are making our final approach for landing. Be ready to disembark and we will extract at the appointed time.” Hoffner felt himself relaxing from the news, which amused him considering what they were about to do. A moment later, everything changed as the ship rocked from some kind of impact.
“We’ve been hit,” the pilot’s calm bordered on insane and Hoffner began to agree with the marine who talked about the man being a sociopath earlier. “Superficial damage but it was from an infantry held weapon. We need some cover fire down there. Get these guys something else to worry about rather than us.”
A shoulder mounted rocket. Thank God for the shields. That could’ve been bad.
“Will you be able to make it back to orbit?” Hoffner asked. “How bad was the damage?”
“They got our wing but it was all concussive. We’ll make it back and just need a little welding job to get her back up to a hundred percent. Don’t worry about us, sir. We’ve got this bird just fine. You guys take care of your part so we can get home.”
I’m glad you’re so nonchalant about being tapped with a rocket! Hoffner kept the thought to himself and just shook his head. Maybe they’re like us in that they can’t give in to worry or concern lightly. Whatever’s going to happen will and sometimes, there’s not a whole hell of a lot we can do to stop it.
“Ten seconds to the LZ.”
Hoffner related the information to his men. “Get your asses ready! I want boots on the ground the second this thing slows down!”
At five seconds, the marines disengaged their safety harnesses and prepared to disembark. The ramp opened and wind buffeted them as it rushed in. The men prepared themselves, holding tight to the safety straps overhead. Engines cried out as the ship lurched, the nose pulling up to reveal the ground beneath.
They were less than eight feet up when the first of the soldiers hopped out and started securing the perimeter. Others followed suit and soon, the platoon formed a solid circle for the captain to join them. The ship pulled up and rocketed back up, hitting the afterburners for a swift trip back into orbit.
Their environmental suits not only protected them against hazards but they also held a decent amount of armor. The enamel fended off all but the absolute best scanners as well, granting them a moderate amount of stealth. Considering the technology in the briefing, it would be more than enough to get close to the base without detection.
Hoffner checked his scanner to catch their bearings and pointed off toward the south. “We’re this way, men. Let’s fall out and get that power plant back in ally hands.”
The marines filed out, taking up a staggered position as they hurried across an open field toward a tall structure some three kilometers off. Explosions rocked the landscape on either side of them as combat raged across the region. They were eleven men amidst armies at war, men and women killing each other over a civil dispute.
Intelligence stated the biggest action would take place quite a ways away from their current location. Where they were heading was practically considered no man’s land comparatively speaking. Desolate, mostly fields and farm land, the power plant was put in place to provide energy to the families living out there.
The real action took place at mining facilities and fabrication buildings. Hoffner didn’t think manufacturing would come into play for victory in this conflict. No one was going to build another ship in the time it took to put down the rebels or have them unseat the government. However, the sooner they held those resources the better off they’d be when or if they won.
Hoffner kept a close eye on the scanner, noting there were forces surrounding the building. Checking the latest report stated the government had not taken it back themselves. The last thing he needed was to take down a bunch of legit soldiers who somehow struck back against their enemies.
The briefing stated they’d be wearing the right uniforms to look the part, which felt suspicious. Why would they bother to do so? Surely they didn’t want to get shot by their own people. Something had to differentiate them. He hoped to find out so when they went after the farms, they’d know specifically what to look for.
The power facility had two entrances. The front provided some security where people were forced to check in through actual armed personnel then a reception area provided people with a place to wait for whatever meeting they hoped to attend. The other was a side door which, according to intel, had been welded shut and barricaded.
Explosives might get them in but the noise would make it an unnecessary advantage. They might as well go head on if they were going to blow something up. In any event, the crouched low some hundred yards from the facility and observed through binoculars, gauging to see what they had to contend with.
Hoffner’s expectation of an occupying force involved a perimeter guard, either roving or stationed at the back. If he had his way, he would’ve put someone on the roof to spot people but his scan showed no one up there. This left anyone that might be walking around but even that, with their decent view of both sides, turned up no real activity.
“Contact,” Private Dorens muttered. “East side of building.”
Hoffner redirected his binoculars and frowned. An armed man indeed came around the side of the building and looked like a patrol…until he stopped and started to relieve himself on the wall. “Sir,” Private Goodman spoke up, “what kind of yahoos are we dealing with, anyway? Why couldn’t the military take this place back?”
“They’re occupied,” Hoffner said.
“Apparently, so was the privy,” Dorens added.
The other marines chuckled softly.
“Let’s just get this done.” Hoffner noted no one was in line of sight of this guy. They must’ve really thought they had the area locked down. He wore the uniform of the security staff of the building. “Corporal Lorenz, take the shot.”
Lorenz carried their sniper rifle, a high powered suppressed affair and zeroed in with his scope. It only took him a moment and just as the target pulled up his fly, the weapon discharged. Hoffner watched the man’s head jerk to the right, a puff of red expelled from the other side as he dropped to the ground dead.
“Nice,” Dorens said.
“Move out,” Hoffner said, pressing forward. “Lorenz, give us some cover from the east and let us know if anyone shows up. Tossey, you take your boys around the west side and we’ll meet up at the front. Careful about windows and watch your scanners. You don’t want to get surprised on this one.”
They all pressed forward, hustling until they arrived at the back of the building. Lorenz rushed off for cover near a small hill which should’ve given him a decent vantage of the area. When they got to the back wall, they separated, moving to their respective corners before preparing for the mad dash to get the length of the building.
Without cover, anyone who peeked around the corner and saw them would have a clear shot to open up. Their weapons may not have the impact to cause serious damage with the environmental armor suits the marines wore but Hoffner wasn’t willing to risk it. Protocol required him to take up somewhere in the middle of the squad but he never felt comfortable hidden away.
Instead, he led his part of the team, taking point until they reached their destination. He’d allow one of the others to take over when they were about to breach the building but until then, he needed to have control over the short distance they were rushing over. They ducked several windows along the way and approached the corner cautiously, noting the scanner showed a good half dozen men near the front door.
Corporal Geralt took the other team, and his voice piped in through their secure com network. “Contact. Three tangos in casual guard. They seem to be occupied with a tablet. If they’re on scanners, they clearly don’t see us.”
“Get in position for take down,” Hoffner said. “We’ll stay in cover and when they’re gone, we’ll converge on the door.”
&nb
sp; “On my mark,” Geralt called. “Link targets…aim…fire.”
A dozen suppressed shots went off and the targets on Hoffner’s scanner each winked out. “Move out!” Hoffner and his team rushed over to the door and were met by the rest of the platoon. The bodies on the ground were not dressed in the uniforms they imagined they would be. Each wore the Orion’s Light garb of black and their weapons were much better than anticipated.
“This is interesting,” Geralt said. “Captain?”
Hoffner hummed. He didn’t anticipate the Light to have occupied the base. They thought they were facing rebels. Still, the objective didn’t change. Taking it back, regardless of who held it, stood. He moved to the door and checked, noting it was not locked. “We can go in,” he said. “Let’s get someone on this network and patch into their cameras.”
Private Tully plugged in and a moment later, their HUDs showed the various cameras. Hoffner cycled through them, counting more than twenty soldiers inside at various locations. Why do they want this place so badly? He turned to the others. “There are too many in there to be sneaky. We can try at first but I’m guaranteeing we’ll have to go loud sooner than later.”
“We’re ready,” Geralt replied. “I’ll take point.”
“After you, Corporal.” Hoffner stepped aside.
Geralt pushed the door open and let his rifle lead the way, pacing quickly into the lobby. Hoffner followed close behind and they both had to fire immediately, taking out a man who stood behind the reception desk. The body hit the ground and took the chair with him, making a clutter.
A voice from down the hallway to the right called out, “what was that?”
The marines moved into the lobby and took positions to guard all the entry points, including the one they’d just entered by. A man came to explore poking his head in. One of the marines popped him right in the forehead, dropping him to the ground. Someone else cried out, shouting for an alarm.
