by T S Paul
Chapter 6
Colonel Lee rode at the head of the column in an armored personnel carrier. Behind him riding in trucks was as many troops that could be found. He had two battle ready platoons and a third that was a mis-mash of available warm bodies. Hopefully they would be in time. Grabbing the many troops, equipping them, and finding transportation took time. The militia base was ten miles from the city center. As they entered the city reports were already streaming in from the newscasts and local reports. In the distance black troopships hovered like vampire bats strafing the crowds of people with rockets and lasers. Reaching the causeway the militia troops were slowed by crowds of bloody, wounded civilians screaming for help as they stumbled and ran. After nearly hitting a wounded man, the Colonel slowed the column to a crawl.
Turning to his communication specialist Colonel Lee said “Contact my daughter Major Lee!” Colonel Lee used his link and contacted Governor Stoner. The Newsies were broadcasting every bloody detail, the Governor already knew. “Roy, I’m sorry we could not get here in time. What are your orders?”
Governor Roy Stoner had been in his position for over 30 years. Governor for life he liked to joke. Even through the war he had never had anything like this happen, not to his planet. This was a moral decision not a political one. First and foremost was justice for all the innocents that were killed today. He didn’t like it but he knew what he had to do.
“Colonel I want justice for our citizens. Do whatever you have to do to bring them to justice. You have my complete authority!”
Taking the communicator from his aide Colonel Lee bowed his head and said a silent prayer. “Major Lee, your orders are to take out those troopships using any means necessary by order of Governor Stoner!”
The colonial attack ships moved in for the kill on the unsuspecting troopships.
With blood in his eyes and fire in his heart Colonel Alexander Lee began shouting orders at his troops. If he was going to commit treason he might as well go all the way! He ordered his two combat platoons to start rounding up any and all Empire personnel from inside the buildings.
“Get them all, anyone with authority.” He needed prisoners they could bring to trial.
He instructed the mixed platoon to start organizing survivors and help get the medical aid stations set up. Emergency services were, just now, starting to show up. The Colonel walked the front line of the dead. He was checking for any survivors among the march leaders or any of the murdered children who now lay in the street. His face was like a piece of stone as he watched his troops search for the living. A pile of bodies in the center attracted his attention. Stepping carefully he and his small protection team picked their way across the carnage. Near the center of the street was a literal pile of adult bodies. Behind them were the remains of children who had tried to hide. The bloody and tattered remains of one adult was draped over their bodies as if to protect them. Bracing himself he carefully turned the body of his son over. His daughter-in-law’s body was a short distance away. With tears in his eyes he had his men carefully pick up their bodies and take them to the collection site.
His son was dead! Every deal, every bargain, every accommodation to the new alliance flashed through his head. Everything that he had done to help the Bastards that KILLED HIS SON! He had helped those people. His own daughter was married to one. He paused. His daughter… Athena was right, I did sell my daughter. Gazing up into the sky he watched his other daughter take her vengeance on those that had killed her brother in cold blood.
___
Minerva flew at the head her formation of star fighters leading them in to battle like her namesake battle goddess . She was lucky to have the fighters. The Empire had only recently allowed them to have them. The Militia had two full wings of fighters. The second wing, stationed of the other side of the planet near the Greek colony , could not get here in time. Hers was made up of surplus Sky Sharks and one Mark 4 Starfury her personal ship. A mark 4 model, her ship had been upgraded with more powerful weapons and better armor.
When she had reached the airfield all of the fighters were armed and fueled. Her pilots had seen the massacre on the vid. Min had spoken to the other squadron commander. Commander Conrad’s squadron were the “Black Sheep” while hers were the “Silver Valkyries”. He was going to have his group fly CAP for the Militia on the ground at the Capitol. The ‘sheep’ were mainly well maintained Fuglies and Stuka’s.
Speaking to her brothers in arms she told them to switch off IFF and prepare for battle. On her radar screen she could see the troopships as they gained altitude. The menacing looking ships were studded with weapon turrets and laser ports. None were Empire standard ships. Not regular navy she could not trust them to follow the rule of war and respect surrender or non-combatants. Min said a prayer for her people and keyed her microphone. To her pilots she said, “Everyone ready? Break and attack! No mercy!” Like a star burst the fighters broke formation and screamed in on the unsuspecting ships.
___
ESS Captain Gary Ridgway was not happy about this whole mission. The deaths of the civilians didn’t matter to him in the least. It was this drop that was bothering him. These troopships weren’t part of the team. The pilots and crews had beens seconded to them from some of the Senate’s personal ship crews. They had not trained with his troops so they weren’t ‘clan’. He would feel much better when his people were back on board the Station. One of the ship crew waved at him to get his attention.
“You need something sailor?” He barked at the crewman.
“Sir, we have a flight of ships on radar. IFF reads them as a local militia flight. The pilots are asking if they are an escort?”
“Have them check with Station control. That is their job. Why in the hell are they bothering me?” The Captain was glaring at the crewman now.
“Sir, they did that and the Station did not authorized it. They are coming in at top speed.”
The black clad Captain looked up from his tablet yelling “What? Why in the 9 hells didn’t you say that to begin with?”
He glanced around the cabin. “Action stations! Attack incoming get to the guns!”
The ESS troops unbuckled from the seats and sprang into action. They pulled the ships crew out of the firing ports and manned the weapon stations. The Militia star fighters were flying in a tight formation headed straight for the troopships. Suddenly the formation burst apart, the fighters targeting the troopships and attacking.
“Sir, IFF won’t let us fire. The computers all say those are friendly ships and won’t allow us to use the weapons.”
A nearby troopship blew up in a massive fireball. The craft the Captain was on shook from the shock wave. “Do those ships look friendly to you? Override it! Do it now my men are dying out there!”
“We can’t Sir, that is what I am trying to tell you!” The crewman recoiled visibly when the black clad captain drew his weapon.
“Where is the computer module located at?” The crewman pointed to the armored box to the left of the cockpit. The Captain pointed his laser pistol at it and fired. “Fire in the hole!”
It took two shots but the computer box exploded in a shower of sparks and shrapnel. The troopship shuddered and jerked as the flight crew struggled with the controls. The death of the computer had put the ship on manual. With their weapons now free the Captain Ridgways ship started firing on the militia fighters. Better late than never, five of the troopships had already been destroyed.
Yelling at the flight crew the Captain told them to “contact the station, get us some help out here!”
“We can’t call anyone! When the computer stopped working it killed all communications and all but the basic controls up here!” The pilot was grunting as he fought the ship. “We can’t call anyone or boost into orbit those controls are hard wired to the computer.”
“Damn it! To hell.” He thought for a moment. “Try and head for the manufacturing center. We have a unit of special forces guarding that and maybe they can help us. An
ything is better than dying up here!”
The Pilot shook his head yes and started maneuvering the ship toward the North. The other ships seeing the command ship leaving the area tried to follow. Still unable to fire over half were shot down and destroyed.
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Militia Colonel Lee could not allow those troopships to escape. His daughters report had said that they were heading in a Northern direction over the mountains. The only armed support the Empire had on the planet was at the manufacturing center and the space port.
Only the manufacturing center was in the North. Checking his tablet he saw that the Empire had two special forces units stationed there along with an armored transport group. What they were armed with or their numbers was not shown. “Damn it! We don’t have enough troops.” He looked to his communications aide. “Contact the Governor on a secure line.” Looking to his second in command, his son Han, he said “wrap things up here. Coordinate with capitol police units to secure the prisoners and take charge of the emergency crews. I am leaving you the mixed unit. Draft any stragglers and do what you can for our people. I’m taking the two combat units and going after those murderers.”
“Father, Sir, let me go.”
“No, stay here. I am activating project Trojan horse so you will have plenty of organizing to do. Get with your sister I want a CAP of the capitol. Good luck.”
Switching frequencies the Colonel contacted the Governor. “Roy I’m activating project Trojan horse.” The Governor was arguing with him. “NO, no. We have to. You know that what we just did is a rebellion. Me and my troops just became revolutionaries in the eyes of the Senate. We need the support. Damn it to hell Roy! I know that stuff was for a rainy day, but its pouring now. Make the announcement. Please. If we don’t they could destroy everything that we have built here.”
Beneath the Capitol building inside the emergency bunker Governor Roy Stoner had his head bowed. He was saying a prayer for his people and their way of life. He looked up and signaled his people. “Contact the news agencies and tell them to stand by for an official announcement from me.” He tapped several buttons in sequence on his desk console. A hidden panel opened up on the side of his desk. The governor studied the new controls for moment then activated them. Turning to the cameras he began to speak to the planet.
Chapter 7
The Hong Kong planetary Militia came from an idea that a former colony ship captain had. Hong Kong had the crews from three such ships. Willing crewmen formed the cadre of what the militia became. Colony founders used a old Earth model created my the former Israeli and Swiss military. Military service was compulsory for all 17 year olds. The militia itself was made up of less than 3% of the population. The rest were considered auxiliary or conscripts. The auxiliary had all taken a seven week basic training course and had four weekends a year muster meetings. All residential houses or apartments were required, by law, to have shelters provided for residents. In each community centrally located shelters and emergency services were available. Due to the war between the PPL and the AA defensive gun batteries had already been emplaced. When the Empire was formed the militia had been stood down and its weapons slated for destruction.
Empire troops were found to be inadequate to assist the planet with pirate defense and natural disasters. This and some political maneuvering brought about the rebirth of the militia. With one caveat. Local military was not allowed heavy weapons, armored vehicles or advanced ships. Those were reserved for the EOM standing army.
The Issue had not sat right with both the Governor and Militia leaders. How were they to defend their world if they had no weapons to do so? Secretly they stockpiled the weapons that had been reported destroyed. Hidden around the planet in former defense bunkers were armored vehicles and war surplus heavy weapons. Code named Trojan horse, only a small handful of Militia officers and the Governor new the secret. Systems were set up to activate the weapons and to call up the auxiliary. Over 80% of those aged 18-50 were a part of the planets militia auxiliary. Most considered it an honor to serve.
Members were allowed to take their weapons home. When alerted they were to meet at designated locations and receive orders. When Governor Stoner activated his system the ‘gloves came off’. This planet would now show its true strength and woe be to its enemies.
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Legation Station was on lock down. Red alert lights were flashing and sirens echoed throughout the halls. As soon as the newsies had gone live with vid of the massacre, government forces had sprung into action. Everything was sealed and a curfew was in effect. Only navy business could be conducted and only with written orders. The Sector Government afraid of reprisals or sabotage had posted guards at every hatch and doorway. The black uniforms of the ESS special guardsmen were everywhere.
Captain Gorshin had given orders to lock down the ship. Our shipboard marines were now stationed at the main hatchway and at all vital sections of the ship. We were still in space dock on board the station. If something happened to it, it would happen to us too. I had returned to my cabin after meeting with the Captain about Davids death. Dar had been waiting for me. Her ‘spies’ in the marine force alerted her to my troubles. I took one look at her and burst into tears. She held me in her arms, gently rocking me.
Dar kissed my forehead and whispered in my ear. “I am here for you, always.”
I looked up at her and kissed her on the lips. My emotions were out of control. I have seen death, I have even killed in my own defense. But seeing my brother die live and in vivid color has me all stupified. Dar kissed me back, wrapping her arms around me in a warm embrace.
“Just hold me please. I need for you to hold me.” With tears in my eyes I let myself go and melted into her embrace. We sat this way for over an hour sharing our love until my comm system alerted me that I was needed on the bridge. I kissed Dar goodbye thanking her for just being there for me.
I made record time getting to the bridge. The marine guards nodded to me as I entered the command deck. Captain Gorshin and Commander Wang were watching the main screen. The screen showed a battle going on over the planets capital.
“Lee, good you’re here. What do you know about the planets militia forces?” Both officers had turned to watch me.
I glanced at the screen and watched planetary fighters engage troopships. “I uh, know that there are two squadrons. One stationed here and the other on Helvetica near the Greek colonies. My sisters squadron is stationed just outside of the Capitol. My father commands the Militia ground units and the training academy. Why?”
Pointing to the screen behind him he said “that battle? It is Militia fighters going after the troopships that killed all of those people. It is the reason that the station is in lock down.” As I watched, the fighters killed several of the troopships. For some reason the ESS ships were not fighting back.
“Athena, we have been getting reports that ground units are rounding up Empire officials. It is starting to look like Hong Kong is in a state of rebellion”
I barely acknowledged him. Watching the screen before me I had figured out which fighter belonged to my sister Min. She was bobbing and weaving her fighter attacking the troopships.
One of the ESS ships was firing back now. It must have been damaged because it seemed out of control. That ship had turned from the battle leading the others away toward the mountain range.
I looked back at the Captain. “Do you know what the Sector Governor will do?”
“No, that is what worries us. Currently there are three ships in port counting us and the station has three full squadrons of fighters. We have no idea what resources those ESS troops have.” The Captain looked pensive.
“Athena, did your AI get the newscast out of the system?” Commander Wang had turned to look at me.
“I have no idea. I can ask him.” I thought hard about it. Did Wilson mention anything. “Wilson. Wilson are you listening to this?”
“Yes, Athena, I heard. Tell the Captain that I did get the broadcasts out. I
sent it to Navy HQ, the Senate offices, and about half of the sectors around us before the satellites shut down.” I relayed that to my commanders.
“With the satellites shut down all of our orders will come through the Governor’s office now. It makes me nervous that they could order us to do anything.” The Captain closed his eyes, as if he was thinking. “Athena, have your techs tear into the communication systems. Total tear down, I want it out of order for as long as possible. Any official orders will have to come in writing from the Governors office. If we have to do something against regs I want written proof. Tell Commander Hadley that I ordered it. Go and take care of that now please, dismissed.”
“Yes sir. Thank you sir.” I took one last look at the battle on the screen. The ESS troopships were retreating toward the manufacturing center with Min’s flight behind them.
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Engineering was a different place when I arrived. The atmsophere had changed. Our new commander was barking orders and my, I mean, our people were jumping. Gone was the fix it because we can attitude. Then he spotted me.
