by Gary Beller
The projectile accelerated down the barrel of her sniper rifle, propelled by a series of electromagnetic coils, leaving the barrel with a loud pop, followed by a sharp crack as the round reached five times the speed of sound. A moment later, it found its mark, passing through the chest of a Banor soldier and dropping him, the kinetic energy causing his immediate death.
On the branch wall, Geoff was starting to enjoy himself. “Hey, Roberts!” he yelled.
“Yeah Chief,” John replied, letting another burst go from his weapon.
“You missed a spot, over on the left.” John looked over at the Corpsman and gave a thumbs up, swinging his gun back around and unleashed another burst. “Having fun, Doc?”
“Yeah buddy!” Geoff said, firing a rifle grenade.
Rob saw the enemy falling back, trying to regroup under the heavy fire. “Roberts, Mason, advance forward and keep them under fire!”
“Follow me, Kid.” Geoff said, pushing forward past Roberts, slapping his shoulder as he passed.
“Right on, Chief. Get some!” John let him pass then fired to cover him. What nobody saw among the growing piles of dead bodies was a nasty surprise. A Banor soldier loaded a shoulder-launched rocket and fired. The rocket landed between Geoff and John, knocking John off the rock face and sending him down into the valley. “Doc! John! You two okay?” Rob asked over the open comm.
“602, 6, Status?” Ben called
CHAPTER 23
“Fixer One is good.” Geoff reported, but sounding a bit worse for wear. His attention now turned to his patient. “John? Hey John-Bob!”
Geoff was already moving down the rock face towards where the younger man lay. He got down there while Rob and Frankie moved forward to provide cover. Geoff looked him over, and saw his visible wounds were just scratches and scrapes. He took John’s vitals, and checked his breathing.
The Banor kept them under fire, but it was slacking off, giving Geoff space to work. He removed a smelling salt stick from his pack and ran it under John’s nose. John’s eyes opened and he looked up “Huh? What…” He said, as Ben was screaming over the radio for a status report.
“Gunner Two is awake, no serious wounds. Probable concussion.” Geoff reported.
“Roger that,” Ben said. Ashlie looked across the valley at him, sympathetic. By now the enemy was in full retreat. Ben switched frequencies. “Phantom Six to Air Control, requesting air support.”
“Air support and reinforcements already en route, Phantom Six.” The controller reported. Right on cue, a pair of Goshawks from the Thunder Chickens rolled in and made a strafing run against the enemy ground troops. As they climbed out of the attack run, they drew much of the enemy’s weapons fire their way.
To Ben’s rear, a group heavy jumpers pulled into a hover and lowered ropes. The first two jumpers fast roped their troops in, pulled off and made room for the next two. The escorting strike fighters from the Thunder Chickens made another run, this time dropping small anti-personnel bombs. In total, the four jumpers deposited nearly two hundred infantrymen, who advanced forward and held near Ben’s position. Ben made his way down to them, and was met by a Coalition Army captain. “Colonel Pierce, I presume?” The man said, offering a handshake rather than a salute.
“Correct Captain…” Ben said, not recognizing the man.
“Gavin Blackwell, sir, Alpha One Thirty-Two.”
“32nd Infantry Regiment, huh? Guess this is your kind of terrain?” Ben asked. The Coalition Army’s 32nd Infantry Regiment was a unit trained in mountain warfare. “Yes, Sir.” Captain Blackwell said.
“Wait, The Army is here already?” Ashlie asked. By now the Banor were far enough down the trail to be out of weapons’ range.
“Yes, Petty Officer. We arrived in force a couple hours ago, and we were asked to lend a hand out here.” Blackwell’s First Sergeant said. His name tape identified him as Laji Khuri.
“The whole 32nd coming up?” Ben asked.
“Yes, Sir. First Battalion is advancing in this sector, second on the left, third on the right. We saw the firefight on the way in.”
“See anything else interesting, Captain? More torch trails through the various passes and valleys?” Ben asked. By now Rob’s four-man team had walked up. John still looked out of sorts, but he was recovering.
“Not that we saw. But it’s possible the enemy killed their torches once they received reports of hostile contact.” Blackwell said. He waved over a radio man, and ordered him to report to the Battalion Commander that they had made contact with Marine Operators.
“Makes sense. Rob, You guys swept that branch?”
“Yes, Sir. It runs five miles of twisting and turning back towards the forest, where the balance of Lima is set up. No smaller branches, but it does open up into a pretty wide pass towards the prairie.” Rob said.
“Well,” Ben said, “We have two options. We can stand around here and flap gums or we can get after the Banor.”
“I’m all for getting after them, sir.” Blackwell said.
“Very well. Captain, move your troopers out. Rob, take your team up on the left, we’ll go up on the right and stay just ahead of the Mountaineers.” Ben ordered.
The Infantrymen from Alpha Company moved down along the trail in staggered columns. Ben made a report to Praxis, including a statement about the pass through the mountains. Ben estimated that, through most of the area, there was enough space for even the heavy tanks and armored vehicles to move side-by-side, and at certain spots they could move three or even four wide. Ben also reported that he had linked up with an Army company.
***
Back at his Command post, Praxis ordered the Corps to begin moving. The 26th and 28th Infantry Divisions, belonging to III Corps of the First Coalition Army, took over 1st Marine Brigade’s blocking position around the Narcanian Colony.
The Special Missions Units had reported three different passes into the mountains passable not just by Infantry, but armor as well. Praxis was at the head of one column, riding along in a light armored vehicle with Tom Westover.
The sun was coming up as the column entered the pass. Marines riding in the armored vehicles opened the top hatches on their vehicles, ready with their rifles and expecting trouble.
During the early hours of the advance, jumpers arrived to pick up the scattered elements of the Special Missions Units, bringing them to different rally points. 1SMU was picked up by the lead elements of the 7th Marines, riding along with them on the advance. Ben sat with Tom and Praxis in the front armored personnel carrier.
Ben filled the two Generals in on what he had seen and what they had done. Ahead of their APC, four tanks were leading the way through. Like an infantry column would, the tanks staggered themselves, the front two tanks had their weapons trained ahead, while the two in trail covered the flanks.
“You ever miss this shit?” Westover asked.
“Miss what?” Ben replied.
“Being part of the regular infantry. How often do you guys go in this heavy?” Tom asked. Ben had been a platoon leader early in his career with the 5th Marine Regiment before being accepted into the Special Operations pathway.
“Don’t miss it at all, Tom.” Ben said.
“You could be commanding a regiment by now, Ben. Think about it. 2500 Marines under your command, invitations to all the swankiest parties, and more staff officers than you can shake a bayonet at.” Westover said.
Ben laughed, “Sorry Tom. I’ll stick to my current assignments.”
“To each his own.” Westover said with a shrug. “Hey, you got any coffee, Boss?”
“Yeah. It’s in your field rations.” Praxis said with a chuckle.
Tom sighed, and ducked down into the vehicle. Ben could smell the flameless heater and the instant coffee heating up. “Hey Praxis, shouldn’t there be some kind of escort unit protecting you?” Ben asked.
“There is. I have four tanks and a Special Missions Operator to escort me.”
“I suppose that works.” Ben
said. A green flash got Ben’s attention. “Contact ahead.” Came the voice in his hear, from the lead tank driver.
The tank’s top-mounted autocannons turned as another green particle beam bounced off the glacis plate on its’ front. Their Operators, working from inside the vehicle’s armored turret, responded with rapid bursts from their guns. Ben brought his rifle up, while Praxis pulled the charging handle on the mounted gun next to him. Tom poked his head out, hearing the sound of weapons’ fire. “You didn’t tell me this was going to be a working road trip.” He threw an accusatory glance at Praxis.
“You thought I just acquired tanks and light armor for a joyride?” By now, Praxis could see the second tank, trailing the leader by a few dozen meters and offset to its’ left, also firing. Praxis focused on a point far down range where the green flashes originated, and where the blue beams from the human tanks were terminating. He lined his weapon on a series of muzzle flashes and fired. Tom came out of the hatch and propped his coffee in the hatch’s lock ring, and began firing his rifle.
Ben turned to look over his shoulder, and saw Kate McMillan and Gene West setting up their sniper rifles. Ben gave Kate a thumbs up, and the two snipers began firing. “Scorpio 1-1, what are you seeing?”
“Small unit, probably a rear guard but maybe a scout team. Dug in, but not well. Tell those tanks to open up with the big guns to drive them out.” She reported.
Ben tapped Praxis on the shoulder, “You get that, Boss?”
“Yup. Lancer 1, Lancer 2, green light for primary.”
The two tanks adjusted their turrets, and moments later the loud report of their large particle cannons firing split the air. Lancer 3 and Lancer 4 moved outwards, driving up the walls of small valley to bring their main guns to bear.
The enemy fire tapered off as the heavy guns took their toll. The driver, sitting in front of Tom, looked back at the officers behind him. “Direct fire gives me a hard on…is that weird?” He asked.
“It would only be weird if it didn’t, Son.” Tom said.
CHAPTER 24
Shortly after routing the Banor troops, Danny Hardfighter’s Marines arrived in visual range of the Banor’s main field base. “Not as big as I expected,” Danny said, looking to Jessica.
“Smaller than Leatherneck.” Jessica said.
“Doesn’t mean it has a small garrison. We know the Banor aren’t as accommodating of their troops as we are.” Danny said. In the Coalition, Marine and Army barracks often resembled college dorm rooms, with no more than 2 Marines to a room. During the battle of Koliath, Danny’s Marines had captured a Banor base virtually intact. The barracks facilities were sparse, with as many as 200 soldiers crammed into a single squad bay.
“So what do we do?” Sergeant Major Le Blanc asked. The Parisian was using the Scout Sniper team’s spotting scope to survey the enemy base.
“We need intel, first thing. Second, we need to bring the hammer down on this thing.”
***
Ultimate planning of an attack lay with Praxis, but Danny did begin to call in resources for intelligence gathering. He also dispersed his Operators to encircle the base, giving him, and by extension his brother, eyes on the enemy base from all possible angles.
The constant cloud cover over the enemy base meant that orbital photographic reconnaissance would be impossible, and a tactical photography overflight would be too risky, since the cloud base was only a few hundred feet above ground level. Danny settled for asking the New Jersey to use a radio frequency topography scanner. The RFT functioned like radar, but used the differences in return time to create a 3-dimensional image of the scanner’s target. By adjusting the radio wave’s frequency, small details could be discerned down to several millimeters.
Danny brought Praxis up on the radio and filled him in, and arranged for the New Jersey to send a copy of the map to Praxis.
As the afternoon turned to evening, the Marines of 1st and 2nd Marine Divisions began arriving in the woods outside the enemy base. They were followed by Valderans arriving on the left and Kntarians on the right. Over the course of the night, the allied force arraying itself against the Banor base reached nearly a quarter of a million troops, as the XVII Corps from the First Army arrived,
Ben was reloading his kit when Praxis showed up in the supply tent. “Going somewhere, Colonel?”
“Just getting ready for that forward recon.” Ben said.
“Not so fast, Killer.” Praxis said.
“Sir?” Ben asked, setting down a pair of grenades and crossing his arms.
“I have an entire battalion of Recon Marines, 2 battalions of Raiders, and 4 or 5 other Special Missions Units to take care of this mission. Your team has been going for 36 straight hours, take the night off. Go see your son at One-Seven’s Aid Station.”
“Alright….wait…run that last bit by me again?” Ben said.
“I know about Roberts, Ben. It came up when he checked in with Medical. He probably only said anything because of the concussion.”
“So what’s going to happen now?” Ben asked.
“Not a damned thing. I would have appreciated being told, but there is no official policy against a father and son serving together.” Praxis said.
“Thank you, sir.” Ben said.
“Anything else you wanna tell me about, Ben?”
Ben shook his head. “Let me guess. You think there is something with Ashlie too?”
“Well….yeah. Actually.” Praxis said.
“Why does everyone think that?”
“The less than subtle flirting, the dancing, she hung out with you while you were laid up…” Praxis said. He pulled Ben outside the supply tent. “So nothing, huh?” Praxis asked. His mannerisms changed from General to friend.
“Yeah. Nothing.” Ben said with a sigh.
“I honestly thought there would have been. She wouldn’t be the first woman under your command that you got involved with.”
“The Kntarian you mean? She was an exchange officer not directly under my command.” Ben said. “How’re things with Jazmyn?” Ben asked, changing the subject.
“Good. Fearless is standing by to provide fire support. Nice to know the Mrs. has my back.” He said. Ben could hear the Comm in Praxis’ helmet crackling. “I gotta fly, run over the One-Seven medical and check on your boy, Ben.”
***
Ben found his way to 1st Battalion, 7th Marines’ Battalion Aid Station and found John sitting in a corner. Geoff was sitting nearby, writing a report. “What’s the word, Doc?” Ben asked.
“He has a concussion, and a few minor scrapes.” Geoff said, standing up and handing the report to Ben. “Are we moving out, sir?”
“No, we’re holding. But you should go restock your kit, Chief.”
“Aye, Sir.” Geoff said, heading out.
“What’s your take, kid?” Ben said, sitting down.
“I’m good to go, Sir.” John said.
“I doubt it, John. Stand up for me.” Ben ordered. “Balance on one leg and touch your nose.”
John attempted to do it, but nearly fell over. “You’re a bit wobbly there, Sergeant Roberts.”
“I’m fine. Honestly.” John said, sitting down.
“Don’t worry, you aren’t missing anything. Rest here until we need you.” Ben ordered. “By the way, General Hardfighter knows.”
“On a scale of one to gangbang, how fucked are we?” John asked.
“Not at all. Nothing officially in the regs, so we’re good. For now, just sit tight until we’re called. I want you resting.” Ben ordered.
“You’re such a fucking dad, you know that?” John said with a groan.
“That’s my job, sonny-boy.”
***
Ashlie was sitting on the front lines, next to Kate and D. J. as the Recon teams moved forward. D. J. was standing, using a large shrub as concealment while he monitored the advancing teams with his scope. Kate had perched her rifle between the branches of a tree. “Anyone else wish that was us?” Ash
lie asked.
“I’m good for right now.” D. J. said.
“I kinda do.” Kate said, “But I like this spot too.” She adjusted her scope slightly. “Phantom Scorpio One to Control, do I have green light to engage targets of opportunity?”
“Control, Scorpio One, Negative. Do not engage unless friendly forces take fire.”
“Well fuck.” Kate said.
“Something interesting, Kate?” Ashlie asked.
“I caught a Banor officer in the open, looked like a General.” Kate said.
“Lots of movement along the base of the walls.” D. J. said. “I think they are digging.”
“Call it in.” Kate said.
***
Advancing across the open field as darkness fell; Captain Vladimir Borstov led the Marines of Charlie Company, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion towards their objective. Teams from Charlie Company were spread out along a line nearly 2 miles long, on their mission to probe the enemy’s defenses.
“Charlie One Romeo Actual to all callsigns, advance two five zero mikes, observe and report.”
Slowly, the Marines advanced forward, staying low to avoid detection. At the designated point, the Marines hunkered down to observe the enemy lines. Borstov observed that the enemy had prepared fighting positions in a perimeter one hundred meters from the main walls of their compound, manned heavily by infantry. “Charlie One Romeo Actual, Charlie Two One, Do you see those dark shapes behind the main line?”
“Actual sees them, Two One.” Borstov said, replying to the leader of second platoon, Lieutenant Sanja Rasmussen.
“Look like armor to you?”
“Dug in, hull down by the looks of them.”
“Roger that.” Rasmussen said.
CHAPTER 25
Dawn broke over the field as the two forces prepared for battle. Reports had come in from the recon teams throughout the night giving reports on enemy troop dispositions. Praxis was gathered with the other commanders and formulated a battle plan. The Coalition Army had moved three Corps of soldiers around to complete an encirclement of the base.
