Reason For Vengeance (Dark Vengeance Book 1)

by Adrian D. Roberts

  The best option would have been a high level bombing run by the Windsoars, or more appropriately Legion Army Scimitars, the orbital and atmospheric fighter/bomber. The bosses wanted this done without any noise and without anything to lead them to the Pantheon, which meant boots on the ground. Her plan allowed for the possibility of those weapons. They would go in carefully and silently, killing off as many of the guards as possible, before the base was alerted. If they faced high tech weaponry, Shadow Company carried the fire power to deal with it.

  With what they faced clear in her mind, Valerie activated her com and switched to the channel that included all of the senior officers. “Company this is Lead. Target is free of vehicle movement and the landing zones are clear. We are going with plan Alpha. Sound off, platoons.”

  “Lead this is Two.” Captain Forlani answered first. “Second Platoon is ready to go.”

  “Lead this is Three.” Lieutenant Pavel Vobruba said. “Third Platoon is ready to deploy.”

  “Lead this is Four.” Next was Lieutenant Nicki Palicki. “Fourth Platoon is fully prepped, Major.”

  “Lead this is Five.” Lieutenant Lucy Aycox, replied last. “Fifth Platoon is ready to go and all of the platoon’s Armour is showing green and ready to deploy.” The tall, bodybuilder was in command of the Company’s only platoon equipped with the Fully Powered Battle Armour and would be held in reserve. For this mission they would be the sledgehammer Valerie would prefer not to use if she could help it.

  “Excellent.” Switching channel, Valerie set it to the Company wide net. “OK, Shadow Company. As far as our intelligence shows, they don’t know we are coming. Usual drill, so let us keep it that way until we kick the doors down and don’t presume anything. Sanitise and clear, that is the mission. Shadow Lead clear.”

  A moment later, Benz was back on the same channel. “Thirty seconds to braking manoeuvre. Hang on to your dinners!” Valerie counted down in her mind and braced a second before the anti-gravs kicked in. The Helo went from hundreds of kilometres per hour to a complete stop in seconds. It hovered over the landing site for another moment before Hans brought it down to rest.

  The ramp slammed down as soon as the Windsoars landing gear stabilised and First Platoon was out of the door, with Valerie right behind them. Bickerstaff was already directing the troops to spread out and secure the landing site. Everyone was dressed in identical black armour and fatigues. The lightweight armour covered their body, shoulders, arms and legs. Supple and unencumbering, it gave the troops excellent protection against the light weapons they were expecting, without slowing them down.

  “Corporal Nicolas. Pick two soldiers. You’re on guard duty for the Helo,” Valerie ordered.

  “Yes, Major.” The Corporal pointed to two men and sent them out into the jungle around the clearing, before heading off herself to form a perimeter.

  “Sergeant Major. The target is that way.” Valerie said, using her wristcomp to orientate herself and pointing off into the dark. “Let’s go.”

  “Yes, Major. Button, you’re point and, Wester, you’re slackwoman.” The two Privates nodded and Button led the way with Wester ten metres behind, in support. The rest of the platoon moved off in a diamond formation, the point ten metres behind Wester and Valerie in the centre, Bickerstaff right beside her.

  “Lead, this Ops.” The display in Valerie’s helmet showed her Gibson was talking to her over their one to one channel.

  “This is Lead, go ahead Ops.” Valerie answered.

  “All Platoons are down. Two, Three and Four are heading to the target as per plan Alpha. I can see One is also on plan. Five is holding position with their Helo in defensive formation and is ready to deploy at your order, Lead. Still no vehicle movement at the Target.”

  “Thanks, Ops. Keep the channel clear unless the situation changes. Lead out.”

  “Copy, Lead. Ops out.”

  Valerie turned to Bickerstaff. “All going to plan, Gil.”

  “Are you expecting anything less, Major?”

  “I always expect the worst. You know that.”

  “It’s what keeps us alive.”

  She smiled in response to the grizzled veteran and it occurred to her, he would be forty-five in a few months’ time. He had reached the highest rank an enlisted soldier could get to, yet he came from that majority of humanity without Life X. Both Lieutenants Aycox and Vobruba were older and yet looked more than half his age. She herself had lived over twice his years and could be mistaken for his daughter.

  Soldiering needed a young body, particularly the type Shadow Company was involved with. Valerie made a mental note to start training his replacement. Bickerstaff was not ready for retirement yet and he could still match or beat most of the company, so she did not have to put him out to pasture.

  It was times like this, Valerie wondered why Life X was so expensive. The cost had never gone down since it’s discovery over seven hundred years ago. Other drugs and treatments became cheaper, not enough to make them readily available, but enough to be within reach of many more than the Privileged. Life X still cost a lifetime’s investment and without a powerful Family fortune, it was all but impossible to get hold of.

  Now she would see yet another excellent soldier be retired, his body too old to keep up. For the Legion it was a waste of training and resources. For Valerie it hurt her personally to lose people who were important parts of her life. As they grew old, she stayed young. Throughout the Legion, Officers kept a level of distance from themselves and the rankers who would age, long before the Officer thought about starting a second or third career.

  Valerie could not do that. She wanted to have that connection to those who served her. It was a bond and commitment she took seriously, investing her own emotional capital. She truly cared about each and every officer and ranker under her command. They knew it and because of it, she had a level of trust from them no other Officer in the Legion could match.

  Often Valerie thought it was due to her unique upbringing. She hadn’t been brought up in a Family that would do anything to protect its power and privileges. Raised by the Legion, she thought of every soldier and sailor as an individual. Each one as good as the next. No matter if they were Officer or Ranker. Prior to finding and marrying Tom, Shadow Company were the only family she had ever known. Even with a husband and children, her feelings had not changed and it hurt her to lose her people to something as simple as a drug.

  “One klick to target.” Bickerstaff said quietly, breaking her from her morbid thoughts and switched to his com. “Button. Slow it down.”

  “Acknowledged. Slowing down.” The Private responded over the Platoons net.

  “Thanks, Gil.” Valerie said. “Let’s get into position.”

  The Platoon moved stealthy through the undergrowth, until Valerie’s wristcomp showed them to be two hundred metres from the targets perimeter. The trees ahead of them were too thick to see through and they had to trust the map. Valerie waved Corporal Malick Ulrich over. He pulled out a datapad with a ten centimetre dish attached and swept it in the direction of the target.

  “No active sensors at this level, Major.” He reported. “I’ve been catching those aerial sweeps we saw from orbit. That’s all.”

  “Thanks, Malick,” keying her com, Valerie called Gibson on the freighter. “Are all the Platoons in position?”

  “Just about, Major. Wait one,” the com went silent for a few seconds before his voice came back. “Yes, Major. We were waiting on Three and they have now confirmed.”

  “Good.” Valerie switched to the command net. “All platoons move forward. Silent kills and we only go to rock and roll when the balloon goes up,” she ordered. They would only use their Pulse Rifles if the enemy became aware they were under attack. Like the Tea Chests, those phrases origins were lost to thousands of years of human history.

  “First Platoon. Delta wing formation on me as point,” she said and moved off. Slinging her rifle onto her back she drew a Thermal blade with her left and
a Mag pistol with her right. The Platoon spread out on either side. The soldiers on her left and right, both off ten metres to each side and back five metres back.

  The planet’s two moons were high in the sky, their light blocked by the jungle canopy overhead. It made no difference to Valerie. Her helmets night vision had been on since they left the Helo and it gave her an excellent view. Despite that, visibility was only a dozen metres through the thick jungle. She moved cautiously and placed her feet with care to minimise any noise. Shadow Company could not use any active scanners. They would be picked up by the targets security.

  In the same way, if the target used those same scans, it would become a beacon for the authorities. Valerie expected to find spotters in this jungle. Men and women sent out to warn the target of anyone trying to approach.

  With her eyes scanning the undergrowth Valerie let her mind disengage and filter through all the sounds from the jungle. She ignored the sounds of insects, wind moving the vegetation, small animals scurrying around and all the other ‘normal’ sounds a jungle created. Valerie concentrated on picking out the sounds that should not be there. Thirty metres from the target, she heard an unnatural sound. It was the scrape of something large and hard against a tree.

  Stopping where she was, Valerie knew the rest of the Platoon would do the same. Not wanting to even whisper, she tapped a button on her wristcomp, flashing the symbol of a crouched person in their helmets. Quietly, they all followed her order and crouched down, scanning the jungle with their senses. Satisfied they were secure, she moved towards the sounds source slowly. Every step placed with the utmost precision.

  The gentle inhale and exhale of breath drifted out of the night. Pausing, Valerie stopped breathing. Someone was behind a large thick tree six metres ahead and to her left. Continuing her silent movement, she approached, keeping the tree between herself and whoever was behind it. Once directly on the opposite side of the tree from her target she stopped, steadied herself, holstered her pistol and darted round.

  The man leaning against the tree had no chance to react and his rifle dropped to the ground, Valerie’s knife burying itself in his throat. The super-hot knife cauterised the wound even as it removed any chance for him to scream. Valerie grabbed the man by the front of his jacket and held him up easily, while his body thrashed in its death throes. They slowed quickly before coming to a stop and Valerie gently lowered him to the jungle floor.

  Picking up his rifle, she checked the safety was on before inspecting it. Her helmets night vision clearly showed it to her in the deep darkness, a forty shot Mag rifle easily available on Gomez.

  “Shadow Company, this is Lead. One hostile down, armed only with a Mag rifle. Nothing more high tech in evidence. Continue with current plan.”

  After receiving acknowledgements from the Platoon leaders, she signalled for First Platoon to move forward. The platoon crept through the dark undergrowth and two of her troops also encountered watchers in the jungle. They dealt with them just as silently as Valerie. The jungle began to thin until they came to twenty metres of open grass. It stretched out to the first buildings of the base.

  They were simple, cheap, two storey, pre-fabricated units, that could be transported and erected easily. Made of materials that would be of little defence against Shadow Company’s powerful Pulse Rifles; they would not help the defenders.

  “What’s the plan, Major?” Bickerstaff came up beside her as she crouched in the undergrowth.

  “I can’t see any look outs.” Valerie replied and turned to the soldier who came up and knelt on her other side. “Any active scanners out there, Malick?”

  “No, Major. Nothing at all.”

  “OK, Gil. We do this fast and smooth in our fire teams, thirty metres apart. Sweep through and killing as we go.” Valerie ordered.

  “Yes, Ma’am.” The Sergeant Major replied and switched to the Platoon com net. “First Platoon. We are going in fire teams. Mag pistols only, keep your rifles slung. Alpha, from the Major’s position. Bravo, take up position thirty metres southeast along the tree line. Charlie, you’re thirty metres northwest and, Delta, thirty metres beyond them.”

  Acknowledging Bickerstaff’s commands, the platoon spread itself out into teams of five people. The four other members of Valerie’s team grouped themselves around her.

  “Move out.” Valerie ordered. “Fast and low, First Platoon.” With her eyes fixed on the buildings ahead, she took in the shadowy movements of each fire team in her peripheral vision. She was pleased with their speed and smoothness. First Platoon was a silent wave, reaching the buildings without incident and spread out seeking targets.

  With her in the lead, Alpha team swept round the first building. A man and a woman stood leaning against a wall. Their rifles were slung on their shoulders and there was no time for them to react. Valerie shot the woman and Private Button, just behind her, shot the man. Their Mag pistols emitted only a slight hum. Valerie with Button stepped forward and caught the bodies, lowering them to the floor carefully.

  A door to the building stood to one side. Valerie nodded to one of her team and Corporal Richings checked the door. Finding it unlocked, she eased it open with Guggenheim backing her up and Valerie, Wester and Button looking outward behind them. Richings darted inside, followed by Private Guggenheim and Valerie waited for them to secure the building, while she scanned for movement around them.

  Richings came out with a shake of her head, indicating it was empty of any threats. With a wave of her hand, Valerie indicated their next target building and led the team across the short open space. They moved quickly and found no one outside. Pointing to Richings, Guggenheim and Wester, she waved for them to stay outside, while she and Button investigated. The squat two storey building had a stronger door, with an electronic lock, the previous one, merely a mechanical handle.

  Valerie holstered her weapons and plugged a lead into her wristcomp. A small circular pad at the other end attached to the side of lock. Activating her wristcomp, it took a few seconds to synchronise itself with the security device. The holo display showed a dimmed view of the lock. After entering some commands, the small, powerful computer began attacking the much simpler program. It only took a two more seconds before they heard a quiet click and the door swung open.

  Drawing her weapons, she slipped silently inside with Button behind her. The door opened into a corridor running the length of the building, with doors spaced along it and stairs leading up at the end. Moving down the corridor, Valerie opened the first one to find a lounge area with a holovid and comfortable chairs empty of enemy personnel. A quick shake of her head and a nod, told Button the room was clear and he should continue onto the next one. That turned out to be a kitchen area, also with no one inside. The third and last door entered into an empty dining area.

  With the ground floor clear, Button headed up the stairs, Valerie by his shoulder. At the top was a small landing with a single door. Button opened it gently and glanced inside, instead of going in, he pulled back to give Valerie a view past him. She saw a large open barracks room with beds down both sides, all occupied by sleeping men and women.

  Valerie motioned to Button to close the door and pulled a booby trap mine from her belt. Button moved back to cover her and she fixed the small and powerful explosive to the floor, placing it against the middle of the door. Anyone who opened it would get a very nasty surprise. A small button on the mine synchronised it to her wristcomp.

  Valerie studied the floor for a moment, it wasn’t strong enough to stop the power of these small explosives. With a nod to Button they headed back to the ground floor.

  “Set some mines in the kitchen to bring the ceiling down,” she ordered in a whisper. “I’ll do the same in the dining area and sync them to the door upstairs.”

  “On it, Major,” he replied with a grin. “That’ll give them a surprise.”

  Valerie activated her com to Alpha fire-team’s net. “Alpha, this Lead. It’s a barracks. Everyone is asleep. We are set
ting explosives.”

  It took another two minutes for them to finish and leave the building booby trapped. All was quiet outside and Corporal Richings, Alpha’s senior ranker reported.

  “Nothing going on, Major. We haven’t heard a peep.”

  “Alright. Let’s move further in.” Valerie took the lead of the small formation and as they moved out from the shadow of the barracks, the high pitched whine of a Pulse rifle came the north. It was quickly followed by many more from the same direction.

  “Thunder, I repeat Thunder.” A voice identified on Valerie’s HUD as belonging to Private Neil Maslany, Third platoon, Charlie fire-team, called across the Company wide net. Valerie and her team did not hesitate, immediately holstering their pistols and unslinging their Pulse rifles.

  “All units, you are cleared for case Romeo, I repeat case Romeo!” Valerie ordered back over the net, confirming permission for free engagement. An explosion came from the east as presumably a fire team from Shadow Company’s fourth Platoon engaged with grenades. The base would be fully alert very shortly.

  Sounds of fighting came from every direction and Valerie sprinted towards the next building. Her boot impacted with the door and whether it was locked or not, made no difference as it crashed open. A woman stood with a Mag rifle in her hands, a look of surprise on her face. Two bolts of energy from Valerie’s rifle hit her exactly in the middle of her chest. Two men stood to Valerie’s left, their rifles rising as she swung to bring them into her sights. Two shots came from behind Valerie, killing one. Valerie’s own rifle whined twice to kill the second.