Reason For Vengeance (Dark Vengeance Book 1)

by Adrian D. Roberts

  A single pin would be painful for anyone caught by one but it would not be fatal unless they were very unlucky. However each grenade contained thousands of pins and the three, Valerie threw so casually over the ramparts, detonated far enough apart to cause havoc amongst the hostiles.

  With them firmly distracted, Valerie drew her pistol and rolled round the corner, lying flat on her belly. Six hostiles were either dead or incapacitated on the floor immediately in front of her, including the guy who managed to avoid her moments ago. Further back a woman and a man were crouched by the ramparts and a woman by a pillar. They were still in shock from the grenades. Valerie did not give them time to recover. Her pistols hummed and killed each one quickly. A movement from this sections stairs caught her eye. She rolled to her left as two men came out with their rifles at the ready.

  Firing while rolling, her shots were not as accurate as before. This time, the jagged shards struck the legs, ripping the flesh and stopping in the bone. They screamed in pain and dropped to the ground, where Valerie’s following shots found more vital parts of their anatomy.

  Using a pillar as cover, she came back to her feet and saw Button was finished with setting the booby trap at the west stairs. He was now at her previous position at the corner rampart.

  “How are we doing, Major?” he called over to her.

  “Almost done I think. On three?” Button nodded in response. “One, two, Three!” Valerie went to her right, around the pillar, away from Button, so that she was on the outside of the roof. At the same time, Button came up from his crouch, around the corner and advanced along the courtyard side of the roof.

  They walked forward, guns up and firing at any threat. There were only three hostiles left. Button killed two of them and the last, Valerie shot in the back as the woman tried to run for the outer wall. What she was going to do Valerie had no clue. There was no way down. It did not matter, the mission called for sanitisation and that meant no survivors, certainly not any of Boyle’s Enforcers.

  Reaching the stairs, Valerie threw three more grenades down and stepped back as Button moved in with the booby trap. A simple set of linked frag grenades with a laser detonator aimed down the stairs. If anyone crossed the lasers, the grenades would explode and in that tight, confined space, they would not survive.

  “All clear, Major.” Richings reported as she joined Valerie and Button. “All hostiles are down, Wester and Guggenheim are keeping an eye on the two entrances.

  “Good work, Corporal. You look after this one. Button, you’ve got the east wing. I’ll check on the rest.”

  Richings took up position and Button jogged back to the first entrance he booby trapped. Valerie stepped over to the ramparts over the courtyard. Looking down, she was pleased to see Fourth Platoon had sortied out from the east building. The entrance to the hidden bunker was secured with a fire team and the other three were entering the north, west and south wings. They would link up with the teams from First and Second Platoon, supporting them as they cleared the building.

  Taking the moment of calm, Valerie consulted her wristcomp to get an update on the situation. The map showed Third Platoon, with the elements of First and Second Platoons, were still some way from her position, on the south-east side of the camp. She frowned for a moment and then shook her head with a wiry grin. It seemed like an hour since she last checked on the Company. In reality it had not even been ten minutes.

  Turning from the courtyard, she walked over to the North West corner of the building. From there she had a clear view over the low, single or double storey buildings of the camp. Her helmets night vision could not penetrate all the way to the other side, even with full magnification. Valerie could still see almost halfway. Further out, the multiple fires gave her a clear indication of Shadow Company’s progress.

  A wind was now coming from the south over the jungle canopy. Valerie stepped back from the edge so she was under cover again. In as safe a place as could be reasonably expected in the middle of what was effectively a war zone, she took off her helmet. Running her fingers through her dark hair, she revelled in the cool breeze. Her helmet was climate controlled and designed to allow her to operate effectively in all but the harshest environments. Though, even the most modern combat equipment that Shadow Company used, could not regulate away the sweat from the adrenaline of combat.

  She stood there for a few minutes, letting her body cool from the rush of combat and trusting her troops. They would call if they needed her. Right now she was on yet another foreign world and she did wonder when it would ever end? When would the Families running the Pantheon have enough to be satisfied? She shook her head, not knowing the answer to that question, just as no one really did, including the heads of those same Families. Valerie’s priority was keeping her own family safe, including the men and woman of Shadow Company.

  “Lead this is Two.” Valerie’s com came to life with Captain Forlani’s voice and a glance at her wristcomp showed it was on the command net.

  “Go ahead, Shannon.”

  “All wings of the building are secure. Do you want me to sortie out to meet with Vobruba?”

  “Gibson. What’s your recommendation? How is the situation?” Valerie asked the Operations Officer.

  “I think those with you should sit tight, Major,” he answered. “Third Platoon and the rest have almost finished their sweep. They’ve met very little opposition in the South East.” That confirmed Valerie’s early estimation of the situation.

  The Operations Officer continued his report. “All teams have been clearing as they go and have Burn Bags of any sensitive material.”

  “Understood, Ops. Let me know if anything changes. Two. Set fire bombs to this building.”

  “Yes, Major.” Captain Forlani replied. Without bringing in Fifth Platoon and their heavy armament or using the ordinance on board the Helos, they did not have the tools necessary to destroy a permacrete building. The fire bombs would do just as well by consuming everything inside in an inferno burning at over a thousand degree centigrade.

  “Lead, this is Four. We’re in the bunker. I think you should come down to have a look at this.”

  “OK, Four. I’m on my way.” Valerie frowned. The Lieutenant hadn’t used the command net. Instead she’d called Valerie on number one, the net set aside for just Captain Forlani, the Lieutenant and Valerie. It could be an error on Nicki Palicki’s part, but Valerie didn’t really believe that and her curiosity was aroused.

  “Richings.” She called to her team. “The building is secure and they’re setting the firebombs. Remove the booby traps and get off the roof. I’m meeting up with Lieutenant Palicki. I’ll see you outside to the west shortly.”

  “Yes, Major. You heard her. Clear your wings.” The Corporal rattled off her orders and Valerie left them to get on with it. Walking to the courtyard side rampart, she jumped off and used her grav-belt to ease her to the ground.

  A fire team from Fourth Platoon stood guard outside the bunkers entrance. One of them with a bandage over his forearm.

  “Good work, soldiers.” Valerie told them as she approached. “Crisp and clean, well done. How’s the arm, Ahmed?”

  “I got clipped by a Mag round. Nothing too serious. Stings a bit though.”

  “Glad to hear it. I don’t like my people getting complacent.” Valerie said with a smile as she went through the now open door to the bunker.

  “Absolutely, Ma’am,” Private Ahmed called after her with a laugh.

  Inside the door was a small entrance way and a grav lift. Lance Corporal Mariya Rajan stood in the lift, waiting for Valerie.

  “Lieutenant Palicki asked me to bring you to her, Major.”

  “Thank you, Mariya.” Valerie said as she stepped up beside the Lance Corporal. “As I told Fourth Charlie. Good work today.”

  “Thanks, Major. How are the others doing?” The Lance Corporal activated the lift and it descended smoothly.

  “We’re pretty much done. Lieutenant Vobruba is leading the other
half of the Company and has almost finished the sweep of the camp.”

  “First door on the left, Guv.” Rajan said when the lift came to a stop and she pointed down the single long corridor.

  “Thanks, Mariya.” Valerie estimated they descended about fifty metres, much further than her initial estimate. How could Legion Intelligence have missed such a major construction project? Even with all the corrupt officials the Drug Lord no doubt had in his pocket, it would have been nigh on impossible for him to hide something like this from Gomez’s security agencies.

  Making a mental note to have a long chat with General Vrolijk, Colonel Lieberman’s boss, when they got home, Valerie went through the door indicated by the Lance Corporal.

  “Hey, Guv! Look at this.” Valerie caught with one hand the Pulse rifle Private O’Grady tossed to her.

  She studied it for a second. “GT66, with auto sighting rig.”

  “One of ours, Guv. Almost took my head off when I came through the door.”

  “Hardly a surprise, O’Grady, you know why we’re here.” Valerie told the trooper mildly. “I’m just glad it was down here and not up top facing us.” The room contained racks of the Pulse rifles, each with multiple power packs charging underneath. Another trooper was setting explosives along with Lieutenant Palicki.

  “What are we looking at, Nicki?” Valerie asked her.

  “There are three other rooms like this one, Major. The rest of the bunker is empty. I’d guess they only managed to ‘buy’ one shipment and get it down here before we arrived. There were a number of crates in the east wing upstairs, with all sorts of equipment in. None of it was military, just the bits and pieces you would need to make this place more homely.”

  “Great.” Valerie said, shaking her head. “There is no way the locals would have been able to deal with this once he was up and running.” The weaponry was definitely from the Pantheon, that wasn’t a surprise. What was of concern was that it was more advanced than normal. The GT66 was standard issue for the Legion Army, only one removed from the ST39 Pulse rifles Shadow Company used.

  It seemed she had another thing to chat through with General Vrolijk.

  “No danger of that now, Major.” Private O’Grady interjected. “Boyle’s the one who tried to blow my head off with that.” He said pointing to the weapon still in Valerie’s hand. “I put two in his head. He won’t be causing any problems.”

  “No, he won’t. Good work.” Valerie placed the GT66 on one of the racks with the others. “I take it you are going with flash bombs?” she said looking at Palicki.

  The Lieutenant nodded her head. “Yes, Major. Alop has set the charges to match the GT66s power unit. They’ll all detonate and leave nothing behind. These permacrete walls will contain the heat and it’ll be weeks before the locals can get down here. By then there will be nothing worth finding.”

  “Excellent, Lieutenant. We’ll blow this one once we’re in the air. I’ll leave you to it then, let me know when you’re back topside.”

  “Of course, Major, and thanks for clearing the roofs earlier.” Palicki said and followed it up with a rare in the field salute.

  “That’s what I’m here for.” Valerie said with a wiry grin and returned the salute. “I know you could have made it out if you needed to.” With that said, she walked out and back to the lift. Private Rajan was no longer there and probably setting more of the flash bombs.

  The lift deposited Valerie back in the courtyard and as she stepped out her com came to life on the command net. “Lead, this is Three.”

  “Lead here. Go ahead, Pavel.”

  “Sweep is complete. We found some product you might be interested in looking at before we pull out.”

  Valerie checked her wristcomp for his position and saw that it wasn’t far. Also Shadow Company was now all concentrated in the South East quadrant of the camp. “On my way, Pavel, I’m five minutes away. Ops, this is Lead.”

  “Go ahead, Lead.”

  “Target is Sanitised. I am bringing the Helos in for extraction on the clear ground outside the camp to the South East, extraction point Three.” She told him.

  “Copy, Lead.” Gibson responded. “We show locals at sixty minutes out, they’ll be well clear of you and won’t get a peep.”

  “I read you, Ops. Let me know if it changes. Benz, bring in the Helos. It’s time to move. Did you copy the pick up?”

  “Acknowledged, Lead. Extraction Three,” the Captain replied. “Moving now, two minutes.”

  “All Platoon leaders. Did you copy that?” Valerie asked.

  “Two received.” Captain Forlani said. “I’ll round up my boys and girls.”

  “This is Three. Understood, I’ll send my Platoon on and wait for you here with my fire team.” Lieutenant Vobruba said, using his initiative, just as Valerie would expect.

  “Four is finishing up and moving, Major. Bunker is ready to go.”

  “Five is boarding the Helo now, Major. We’ll stay airborne at the extraction in case you need cover.” Lieutenant Aycox said. Fifth Platoon had spent the entire mission waiting by their Helo.

  “Thanks, Five.” Valerie told her. “Sorry your team had such a quiet night. I’ll make sure Five is on the assault element next time.”

  “That would be appreciated, Major.” Valerie smiled at that. The young Lieutenant did like to emulate Valerie and part of that was leading the assaults. It also explained her passion for body building and unarmed combat. Lucy Aycox’s goal in life was to be able to say she took Major Valerie Carter one on one.

  That was not going to happen, but Valerie would never tell her. She believed it was always best to have a clear goal. There was nothing wrong with an unachievable goal, as long as they didn’t know it was unachievable. All the while Lieutenant Aycox thought it was possible to beat Valerie she would strive to be the best she could. That was good for Lucy’s career and Shadow Company.

  “Sergeant Major.” Valerie said after switching to her Platoons net. “Helos are two minutes out. Get ‘em organised. Extraction Three.”

  “Yes, Major.” Bickerstaff acknowledged. “You heard the Lady! Grab your gear and Burn Bags. Extraction Three’s our exit, people. Move it!”

  “Button.” Valerie said as she replaced her helmet and started at a light jog across the courtyard, into the building. “Meet me outside the North wall. We’ve got a side run to do.”

  “On my way, Major.”

  Aside from the occasional body, the building was easy to navigate and Valerie was soon outside. The Private was waiting for her. He came down the quick way using his grav-belt.

  “Where to, Major?” he asked.

  “We’re meeting up with Lieutenant Vobruba and we need to move it.” Valerie told him as she set off at an easy run. Button dropping in beside her, keeping pace. They arrived at a long, high, hanger resembling building, well within her five minute estimate.

  Two of Third Platoons Alpha fire team were standing guard by the main entrance. Not having the time for her usual pleasantries, Valerie restricted herself to a smile and a nod as she passed. Button was a bit more friendly and indulged in a pat on the shoulder of each as he followed her in.

  Inside, the building was completely open, all the way up to its rafters. To one side was what looked like a make shift camp, with blankets hung on ropes to make crude rooms. A number of the blankets were pulled aside and Valerie could see old, dirty, four bed bunks. Designed for tight spaces the bunks only allowed half a metre between the thin mattress and the one above.

  The rest of the building was taken up by long tables heavily laden with Coca and Poppy plants, all at various stages of being processed. A loading dock sat at the far end. In an open area, between what could loosely be described as the living quarters and the tables, were a large group of people.

  They were a mix of ages from children, only a little older than Valerie’s daughter Daphne, to men and women in their seventies and eighties. The majority were in the lower and higher age range, with few in between. A
ll of them huddled on the floor, kneeling or sitting, and casting fearful looks at Lieutenant Vobruba and the two remaining members of his fire-team, who were alert but not threatening, with guns pointed away.

  Valerie glanced at Button who nodded to her and she walked up to the Lieutenant.

  “Thanks for calling me, Pavel. I take it they have been scanned?”

  “Yes, Ma’am,” he said with a nod. “They only have the clothes on their backs. We haven’t had time to interview any of them, so I don’t know where they are from.” He nodded to the bodies scattered around. “They were heavily guarded by a dozen goons. I don’t think they’re here by choice.”

  “OK. Get your team out of here. Button and I will take care of this.”

  With a nod, the Lieutenant waved to his two troopers. “Let’s go.” They headed out and Valerie looked over the prisoners while she waited for them to leave. The mission was a Sanitisation even if it did not say it anywhere in her official orders. Under that remit, these people’s lives were forfeit and that is what Vobruba should have done when he found them.

  Shadow Company did not kill innocents unless they absolutely had to. Captain Gibson was still an unknown in that area. Valerie strongly suspected he could cause problems if he knew. She was confident she could bring him round. She would do it by getting him in the field a few times. Once he saw how much the Company relied upon one another, those attitudes instilled in him since birth would begin to break down.

  In the meantime they could not afford for him to know what they were doing, or expose the junior officers. It was why Vobruba kept it as low key as he could. She wasn’t worried about Button, although only a Private, he had been with the Company since she founded it. Something of a maverick, he joined the Legion as a basic recruit rather than as an officer, as his Family’s wealth would have made easily possible. He was not lazy and always pushed himself as hard as every other member of the Company. For some reason Valerie had never been able to work out, he actually enjoyed being a Private soldier.