The Price of Liberty (Empire Rising Book 4)

by D. J. Holmes

  Five minutes later, Johnston stood on the third floor of an apartment building overlooking the gardens surrounding the Council Chambers. He stood beside gamma company’s Lieutenant who had just cleared the building. “It’s beginning,” the Lieutenant said as he pointed towards the southern end of the Council Chambers. Having taken a direct route to the Chambers, the lead elements of Colonel Hazzard’s division were already engaging the Indian defenses.

  Viscount heavy tanks burst through the steel fence lining the Council Chambers’ gardens and advanced. Squads of marines took cover behind them as they charged. From within the Council Chambers an intense wave of plasma bolts reached out and struck the marines and heavy tanks. Several hyper velocity missiles also fired, destroying two tanks. In response, hundreds more plasma bolts shot from the buildings surrounding the Council Chambers as British marines tried to lay down covering fire for their comrades.

  “All other forces are to join the attack,” Colonel Hazzard ordered over the command COM channel.

  “Beta and gamma companies will advance on the chamber,” Johnston ordered. “Alpha company will lay down covering fire from here. Good luck everyone, let’s put an end to this war.”

  As soon as the Lieutenants of beta and gamma companies reported the men were ready, Johnston gave the order to attack. Within moments of the marines appearing out of the buildings they had been hiding in, fire erupted from the section of the Council Chambers they were facing. In response, Johnston and the other marines from alpha company opened up on the Council Chambers.

  Assisted by their combat armor, the marines from the beta and gamma companies crossed the large open gardens of the Council chamber in thirty seconds. Even so, with next to no cover, the charge was a bloodbath. Of the one hundred and fifty-eight marines who charged, just over a hundred made it to the Council Chambers. As they burst through external doors and windows, they joined more than eight hundred other marines who had already made it to the Council Chambers as they fought their way deeper into the buildings.

  One of his Lieutenants signaled they had cleared the Indian soldiers out of their firing positions. With a command, Johnston prepared alpha company to advance.

  An intel update from one of the drones circling overhead caught his attention. A small formation of Indian forces had been spotted breaking out of the Council Chambers and heading west, away from the battle with the British forces. It has to be Malhorta, Johnston thought. There must be at least ten thousand Indian soldiers in Liberty, and who knows how many others scattered around the planet. He’s not going to let himself get caught.

  Switching his COM channel to the command channel, Johnston tried to get hold of Colonel Hazzard. When the Colonel didn’t respond, Johnston brought up a map of the Council Chambers on his HUD. If the drone’s data was correct, the column fleeing the Council Chambers was less than half a kilometer from his current position. There were no other marine units any closer. Making a snap decision he switched his COM channel back to his battalion. “Beta and gamma companies, continue the attack on the Council Chambers. Alpha company with me.”

  Johnston turned and ran out of the building after Malhorta. Coming to an intersection, he paused to look both ways along the street in front of him to make sure there were no Indian soldiers present. As the rest of alpha company caught up to him, alpha company’s Lieutenant rested a hand on Johnston shoulder. “You should let my men take point Major,” the Lieutenant said. “That’s what we are here for.”

  “Yes,” Johnston replied, nodding. “You’re right of course. We need to get ahead of this Indian column. I think they are moving along this route.” He transferred the drone’s data and his estimate of the Indian column’s position to the Lieutenant’s HUD. “We need to set up an ambush. There is no time to be careful about this. Put one of your squads on point and let’s keep moving.”

  Johnston fell in beside the Lieutenant as the rest of the company sprinted across the intersection and along the street. Twice plasma bolts shot out of nearby buildings, gunning down a couple of marines. The rest of the company didn’t slow their charge, they simply fired a hail of plasma bolts back at the Indian soldier until their target was left behind.

  “Echo squad is reporting a large Indian tank and at least a company of soldiers ahead moving along the street parallel to ours,” the Lieutenant reported.

  “That’s them,” Johnston said. “I’m going to take two squads with me, we’re going to sprint ahead of their column. As we do, I want you to attack the rear with the rest of your men. Hopefully your attack will slow them down and draw most of the soldiers away from the tank. It has to be Malhorta’s command tank.

  “Understood,” the Lieutenant replied before assigning two squads to accompany Johnston.

  Without waiting to see who was with him, Johnston broke into a sprint, throwing caution to the wind. The sounds of fighting could be heard over the COM channel as his men engaged the Indians from the rear. When Johnston got to the next intersection, he took a sharp left and slowed. He crept along the edge of the building and peeked his head down the next street. A large Indian heavy tank was trundling straight towards him. Looking beyond the tank, Johnston could see clear signs of a firefight.

  “This is it,” he said to the two squads who were taking up position behind him. “First squad, break through this building’s wall and get into the second and third floors. As soon as you are in position open fire on the column, use your hyper velocity missiles on the tank. However, aim for its tracks. If we can, we’re going to capture Malhorta alive. Fourth squad, once they open fire we’re going to charge. We need to clear the Indian soldiers away from the tank. If Malhorta is in there, we are going to get him out. Understood?”

  After acknowledging the new commands, first squad used their power armor to break through the building’s permacrete wall and found the building’s staircase. “We are in position,” first squad’s Sergeant said over the COM channel.

  “Open fire,” Johnston ordered.

  Peeking his head around the edge of the building, Johnston saw the first hyper velocity missile hit the tank. It blew its forward tracks into pieces, causing the tank to grind to a halt. A wave of plasma bolts descended on the Indian soldiers who were around the tank. Just as the Indian soldiers who survived the initial attack lifted their rifles to fire back at first squad, Johnston charged around the building.

  Tossing two grenades as he ran, he fired at the nearest Indian soldier. As he gunned down one, a second and then a third Indian soldier, time seemed to slow down. Plasma bolts zipped past his shoulders. Some tore into the Indians in front of him, while others gunned down marines from fourth squad as they charged. Then the two grenades he had thrown exploded among the Indian soldiers.

  It took Johnston less than ten seconds to reach the disabled tank. Throwing himself to the ground, he skidded around the front of the tank. At its far side, four Indian soldiers were taking cover from the fire coming from first squad in the building above them. Not expecting a British marine to come skidding into them, they all jumped. Johnston dispatched two of them with his plasma rifle. As the third and fourth were swinging their rifles to avenge their comrades, fire from first squad killed them.

  Jumping back onto his feet, Johnston surveyed the Indian tank. Its heavy plasma turret swung round and unleashed a bolt of plasma into the building first squad was in. Johnston instinctively ducked as the plasma cannon fired, even though he knew it wasn’t aimed at him. Glancing at the devastated building, he cringed as he realized most of first squad had been caught in the blast. Turning back to the tank, Johnston moved around it, searching for the access hatch. Despite the firefight around him, his focus was fixed on getting into the tank.

  Coming to the rear of the tank, Johnston smiled. It had a large access hatch just like the one General Hawker’s command tank had. He pulled a special grenade from his utility belt. Placing it on the door, he set the timer for five seconds. He ducked round to the side of the tank to take cover. As the g
renade exploded, its force buckled the tank’s door, sending a large section of the access hatch tumbling into the tank.

  Johnston pushed his way past the broken access hatch into the tank. With his plasma rifle raised he shot the first Indian soldier who charged him. The part of the access hatch that had been blown into the tank had killed three of the Indian soldiers manning the large holo display in the center of the tank. Of the remaining three Indian men in the tank, only one of them had combat armor on, though he wasn’t wearing a helmet.

  “Nobody move,” Johnston ordered. “Surrender or I will kill you.”

  When none of the three men tried to get up from where they had fallen, Johnston made his way towards the one in combat armor. He flipped the Indian soldier over so that he could see his face. “General Malhotra I presume?” Johnston said.

  “Yes,” Malhotra responded as he pushed himself into a sitting position. There was a large dent in his combat armor where a part of the access hatch must have collided with it.

  “Do you surrender?” Johnston demanded, he almost shouted point blank into the Indian’s face. His anger after spending months watching Havenites die at the hands of this man was threatening to get the better of him.

  A look of defiance flashed across Malhorta’s face but as he sensed Johnston’s rage it was replaced by fear. Before he could answer, Johnston grabbed Malhorta and pulled him to his feet with one hand. With his other he shoved his plasma rifle into Malhorta’s face. “I’m not messing about here General. Answer me!”

  “Alright, alright,” Malhorta answered feebly as he eyed the muzzle of Johnston’s plasma rifle. “I know when I’m beaten, we surrender,” Malhorta said. As soon as Johnston let him go he slumped back into a sitting position.

  “How’s it going out there?” Johnston asked his Lieutenant while he kept a wary eye on Malhotra.

  “I think we’ve beaten them off,” the Lieutenant replied. “The Indian soldiers have retreated into a couple of nearby buildings. They are still firing at us but they’re not making any attempt to rescue Malhotra. Was he in the tank?”

  “Yes,” Johnston replied. “I’m looking at him right now. Keep an eye on those Indians, if they try to make it back to the tank gun, them down.”

  “With pleasure,” the Lieutenant replied.

  “Now,” Johnston said as he reached up and hit the release button for his combat armor’s faceplate. “You are going to order the surrender of all your troops on Haven General. You and your men have fought bravely, but it’s over.”

  “You must be joking,” Malhotra said with a laugh, determination appearing on his face. “Even if you take the Council Chambers my men can fight on. This has been a bloody day for us, but for you as well. Our fleet will be back.”

  “I think you misunderstand the offer I’m giving you,” Johnston replied. “Your fleet may be back, but your army will have been defeated by then. Do you recognize me?” Johnston asked as he moved closer to the Indian General.

  “You,” Malhotra peered into Johnston’s face for several seconds before he jumped back to his feet, anger contorting his face. “You’re that damned British marine who has been fighting with the resistance. You’ve killed hundreds of my men.”

  “Yes,” Johnston said with as wicked a grin as he could muster. “And so, you know you can trust me when I tell you, if you don’t order your men to surrender right now, right across Haven, then I promise you that every one of them will die. Either we will root them out and kill them one by one, or even those who surrender will be executed. And that includes you.”

  “You can’t do that,” Malhorta shouted. “You are a British marine, you’re supposed to hold to the Geneva Convention.”

  “I am,” Johnston replied. “But the Haven Council has never signed the Geneva Convention. As far as they’re concerned, you and your men are invaders and pirates. To me and you this is a colonial war between two star nations. But to them, this has always been a war of extinction. To them, you’ve been trying to destroy everything they and their ancestors stand for. I’m giving you one chance. If you surrender all of your men to me now, then I give you my word, they will all be treated as prisoners of war under the Geneva Convention. But, if you refuse, if you force the people of Haven to endure days and even weeks more fighting, then I guarantee you every Indian soldier that we capture. Every injured Indian soldier who is lying out there on the streets of Haven right now. Every single one of them will be executed by the Haven Council. And let me tell you, they will do it with gladness. I have fought alongside the resistance for months. There will be celebrations in the streets for every Indian soldier who is put to death. Look at my face, I am not lying to you.”

  Johnston saw the seriousness of what he was saying dawn on the Indian General. With the arrival of the British fleet and the marines, Malhorta may have thought he was fighting an honorable battle between two armies. Yet this had never been how the resistance had seen things. The Indians were now sworn enemies, every one of them was to be killed on sight. In fact, that’s exactly how the resistance had been fighting.

  “Your superiors would never let the Havenites treat prisoners of war like that,” Malhotra said, though Johnston saw he had doubts.

  “When the Havenites pour out onto the streets and begin to tear your men limb from limb, do you really think my superiors are going to order British marines to engage the Havenite people? We can let them do what they want with you and simply say we couldn’t stop them. After the rest of the earth nations see just what you’ve done here, do you think anyone’s going to make a fuss? Surrender all your forces now and I give you my word we will protect you. We can transport your men into orbit where they will be safe. If you continue to fight, you’re only going to cause more needless bloodshed. Your army cannot hold this planet any longer.”

  A long pause ensued as Malhorta considered his options. “Okay,” he said as he lowered his eyes and his shoulders slumped. “Your Lieutenant General Hawker has beaten me.”

  “He has,” Johnston said, happy to let the architect of the day’s battle receive credit for the victory he was no longer alive to see. “Now, can you send a message to your troops from here?”

  “No,” Malhotra answered. “The tank was damaged in the firefight. If I’m going to contact all my troops, you need to take me back to the Council Chambers.”

  “Right, on your feet then,” Johnston said as he reached down and hefted Malhorta to his feet. “Let’s go,” he said as he pushed the Indian General out of the command tank and into the street.

  They marched down the street the command tank had tried to flee along. It sounded like most of the fighting had stopped. Marines were milling around, guarding one of the large doors into the Council Chambers. As Johnston and his men approached, they cheered when they recognized the prisoner being escorted. Following the directions the marines gave him, Johnston led Malhotra into a large reception room that had been turned into a command and control center by the Indians. Colonels Hazzard and Humphrey were both looking through the Indian data they had managed to capture intact.

  “I’ve brought someone who wants to speak to you,” Johnston said as he walked into the room.

  “I’ll be damned,” Colonel Humphrey said as he recognized who Johnston had standing beside him.

  “Why am I not surprised?” Hazzard said, shaking his head. “When I saw you leading a company of marines away from the Council Chambers I knew you were up to something. But I didn’t imagine this.”

  “There’s more,” Johnston said. “Malhorta is here to order to the rest of his army to surrender.”

  “Only,” Malhorta almost shouted. “If you can promise me that my men will be treated fairly under the Geneva Convention. I’m not going to leave them in the hands of these Havenite primitives.”

  “You have my word,” Hazzard said as he reached over and guided Malhorta past him towards one of the COM terminals. As he did he looked at Johnston, puzzled.

  Johnston simply smiled and winked at
Hazzard. “I’ll leave you to it,” he said as he turned and walked out of the command and control room. The battle for Haven was over and he wanted a few moments to himself.

  He eventually came across a series of stairs. Taking them to the roof, Johnston was shocked as he stepped out into the fresh air and beheld the city. He slowly turned, taking in a three-hundred-and-sixty-degree view of Liberty. In every direction smoke billowed into the sky and there was hardly a single building in sight that didn’t have some scorch marks or damage. Many were simply smoldering piles of rubble.

  It had been more than a hundred years since two human armies had fought for control of a planetary surface. Even though Johnston had watched ancient visuals of the aftermath of ground combat, he was shocked by the sheer scale of the damage before his eyes. Even though he expected it to be bad, as he brought up the statistics on his battalion, his shock deepened. Of the three hundred men who had begun the day in the third battalion of Hazard’s regiment, one hundred and sixty-four were officially registered as casualties. More than a hundred of them were confirmed dead. Alpha company, the one that had helped him capture Malhorta, was down from one hundred to just forty battle worthy marines.