Insurgency_Spartika

by JR Handley

  Evaluating the terrain, Nhlappo grew anxious. This was the beginning of the final push to regain the continent of Baylshore from the traitorous Aux. It would also bring the planet of Tranquility fully into the Human Legion fold, but Nhlappo took particular joy in putting down the Aux’s insurgency. The traitor’s time had come. Spartika needed to die. Nhlappo was pained, however, because her victory meant killing some of her own Marines. She hated that it was necessary, and planned to make Spartika pay for her treachery.

  The trip from Cardamine Island had been blessedly brief; the island was close to the target. Their Stork pilots began conducting their final sensor pass, checking for any troops that might be guarding the factory trench line. She knew better than to assault blindly into an objective, at least when she had the authority to prevent it. Seeking final authorization, the pilot addressed pinged her.

  “Ma’am, sensors indicated no human presence outside the factory. I’ve checked all of the readings: heat sensors, thermal imaging, acoustic–”

  “Land,” Nhlappo abruptly ordered the pilot, and muted his feed channel on the LBNet.

  With a secured landing zone, Nhlappo’s task force began their descent. For once, everything went smoothly. The Marines of Task Force Justice disembarked and quickly established a defensible perimeter while the engineers spread out, searching for potential mines. It didn’t take long for their drones to report in, and the area was declared secure. With a nod to her remaining troops, Field Marshall Nhlappo bellowed, “Move out!”

  — Chapter 54 —

  Midmorning, Post-Revival Day 217

  Makoni Multi-Use Factory, Baylshore

  Commander, Task Force Justice, Human Legion

  The Legion’s approach towards the factory was slowed as Spartika’s forces made their presence known. I knew it was too easy, thought Field Marshal Nhlappo. Smoke settled around the Marines under her command as Nhlappo continued the push to secure the factory for future use by the Human Legion. The resistance had been severe, but they were making good time. She was pleased with how her Marines were holding up. They’d encountered none of the unusual tactics they’d seen when securing Cardamine Island. The enemy insurgents fought like she’d trained them, like Marines. It made the battle predictable and routine, but Nhlappo knew that the fates were fickle, and banished that thought from her head.

  The area outside the factory had been layered with trenchworks, and the aerial sensors hadn’t found any signs of human occupation. They’d cautiously advanced across the open ground, wary that they were walking into a trap. Things went according to plans until the insurgents began popping up out of multiple subterranean tunnel exits. They’d paid dearly to secure the trenches closest to the factory. In the end, they’d sent their sappers to seal each exit and cleared the trench foot by bloody foot.

  With the trenches cleared, Task Force Justice breached the large entrance that once allowed the factory’s finished products to reach the defunct orbital elevators. Opening the large hangar bay doors was a sight to behold. The dirt which had settled over the door fell like an earthen waterfall, accompanied by the sounds of metallic grinding. If these insurgent frakkers didn’t already know we’re here, they do now, she thought grimly to herself.

  When the Marines breached the darkened entrance, they found the cavernous first level of the factory devoid of insurgent activity. Switching to the heat sensors on her HUD, Nhlappo saw the faint traces from the heat put out by the combat armor.

  “Stay frosty. Heat signatures say the insurgents are here,” she told her task force.

  With the first level cleared, Nhlappo again noticed the delicately intricate nature of the construction. Her task force pushed onward to the second level, where the equally cavernous space was full of machinery, automated conveyor belts, and half-finished hulks. She couldn’t figure out what they were or what they were for, but she knew they could hide enemy forces, and sent out all their scout drones ahead of them. Now’s not the time to hold back a reserve, she thought. If we die, the extras wouldn’t be of any use to us.

  The drones, paired with their AIs, again proved their worth. They identified several enemy traps and defense pockets before some of their drones went offline. Knowing the terrain, Nhlappo ordered her Marines to take advantage of the enhanced jump capabilities of the ACE-4 Combat Suits to jump into the enemy ranks. She knew that the shock of such a maneuver would buy her troops enough time to break through the enemy position. If we hit them all at once, this level will be ours quickly.

  On her command, Task Force Justice executed the jump into the enemy ranks. Given the ferocity of the insurgents’ defenses, Nhlappo was shocked that some of the insurgent Marines had surrendered to her forces. The Legion had made no plans on how to deal with prisoners; this was an unexpected development. They didn’t think the enemy would surrender, at least not this early in the fight. She was pleased that she wouldn’t have to kill them. But can I trust them? she wondered. Are they loyal to me, or just unwilling to fight? At best, they were loyal to me, and I could settle for reluctance to fight a civil war, but are they cowards instead?

  “Brinx, have you monitored the chatter among our new prisoners?” she asked her AI.

  Yes, Tirunesh, replied her AI with an unusually somber tone, and some of them were recently awoken Marines unwilling to commit to fighting with any non-Jotun officers. They could be problematic going forward. Others had indeed remained loyal to you and defected at the moment they deemed safest. As for your unspoken fear of cowardice, I’ve found no indication of this. But would a Marine voice such a thing?

  Nhlappo grunted her acknowledgment to her AI, but before she could verbally respond, a fusillade of sabots rained around her, reminding her that the factory wasn’t secure yet. Diving to the ground, she called up the LBNet on her HUD.

  “Find out where those sabots are coming from,” she ordered her security detachment.

  “Ma’am, they’ve got snipers hidden in the ceiling joists. I don’t know how we missed them, but once they fire, we should be able to pinpoint their location,” replied the senior NCO in her security company.

  Nhlappo acknowledged his report while she coolly began firing her SA-71, trusting Brinx to aim her carbine towards the red dot that now lit up her aiming reticle. While shooting, she began tasking her regimental commanders with their individual missions so they could suppress the sniper threat without destroying the factory. Nhlappo knew the Legion needed it to get back to General Arun McEwan and the larger war against the White Knights.

  With the threat clearly identified, the Legion was able to secure the snipers and hidden defensive positions of the next few levels. It wasn’t until Level 5 that they encountered a truly formidable defensive position, one big enough for more than a handful of hidden troops. The insurgents had built hasty barricades among the abandoned equipment, letting the factory itself serve as part of their blockade. It provided them with excellent cover and concealment, leaving no room for the Legion to outmaneuver them. The low-hanging pipes on the ceiling also meant that she couldn’t use her newer armor to jump behind the insurgents again. Meanwhile, the enemy had ample room to hide more snipers.

  Upon seeing the enemy’s position, the lead elements of Task Force Justice acted as one and attacked as if on cue. The battle continued to evolve as more of her task force was brought to bear on the enemy. The cacophony of sabot fire rose, drowning the shouts of Marines as they communicated on the various comms channels she routinely monitored.

  “Field Marshal, the enemy is using old tactics. Hit them with the trifecta: grenadiers, Mini Gunners, and Dragoniers,” said Sergeant Major Anderson.

  “Frakk me, I have regimental commanders! I shouldn’t have to micromanage them, Sergeant Major.”

  Cutting off her outward communications, Nhlappo addressed her AI.

  “Brinx, monitor the tactical situation and keep me updated on any failure to adapt on the part of the unit commanders to utilize appropriate tactics.”

  I’ll ma
ke it happen, Tirunesh, said Brinx.

  While she was running ahead to catch up with her lead element, Nhlappo received constant updates. She hadn’t yet been able to catch up to the lead element of her Marines when her AI broke into her feed.

  Tirunesh, the lead unit is gone. They were there, engaging the enemy, but they’re gone now.

  Nhlappo came to a full stop, not quite sure she’d heard it correctly.

  “Say again,” she demanded.

  The lead battalion, 1st Battalion of the 111th Regiment, is gone. Sensor reports said they were engaging the enemy, but the entire unit went dark. Without more data, I can’t speculate on the cause.

  “Frakk it,” Nhlappo said, her voice laden with anger. “Brinx, connect me to the 111th Regimental commander.”

  While Brinx was connecting her, Nhlappo stopped her advance and took up a defensive stance. She continued scanning around her while she began addressing the 111th’s commander.

  “Colonel, halt your advance and send drones out. I want to know what happened to your lost battalion. Link me to your drone feed, as well,” she ordered.

  When the regimental commander acknowledged her orders, Nhlappo stood and motioned for her security company to follow her. They moved slowly, advancing towards the site of whatever happened to the missing battalion. Rounding a bend where the factory’s equipment funneled into more confined spaces, they came across the missing 111th. The Marines were preparing to advance through the bottleneck to investigate the loss of their battalion. Nhlappo assured the commander that he was in charge of his regiment, and promised him that she would follow behind with her security company.

  The regiment turned the bend and looked down the passageway where her Marines were pushing past the bodies of 1st Battalion. The bodies were lying, covered with sabot holes. Frakk, she thought, why didn’t their armor protect them?

  “Brinx, what are you getting from your sensors readings?”

  Sabots appeared to have wiped their AIs when they were hit. Some unknown new munition. I would need more precise testing to make any inference of what happened here.

  The importance of this incident wasn’t lost on Nhlappo, who instantly realized that they needed to know exactly what happened. Turning to her security commander, she delegated a squad to remain behind, collecting data for analysis. With the matter in hand, she resumed following her lead element. Soon they were caught up and facing another heavily defended barricade. Sick of the constant, grinding assault that was bleeding her Marines, she decided to attempt to persuade the enemy to defect. Turning, Nhlappo handed the commander of her security company her SA-71 carbine before she moved out.

  Taking only a single squad with her, Nhlappo advanced ahead of where her forces were halted, waiting. She was blaring a call for the enemy to hold fire as she advanced, unarmed. She didn’t figure that she needed to mention the Flenser pistol as she moved forward. She had her hands up in what she hoped was an non-aggressive posture, confident that she could reach her fully charged pistol quickly, should the need arise.

  “You don’t have to die for her,” she said to them through the external speakers. “Surrender now. Join humanity on our quest for freedom. Stand with that traitorous sakra Spartika, and die alone. Stand with the Legion, and you’ll build a better future for humanity. Don’t make us kill you.”

  The answer wasn’t what Nhlappo expected after encountering so many insurgents willing to surrender. Instead, the enemy released a fusillade of sabots and strange projectile munitions.

  — Chapter 55 —

  Midmorning, Post-Revival Day 217

  Makoni Multi-Use Factory, Baylshore

  Command Staff, Task Force Justice, Human Legion

  “Damn it,” ground out Sergeant Major Taran Anderson.

  Watching intently, Taran saw the enemy open fire on his commander as she approached them with a chance at surrender. They rewarded her offer of life with a chest full of sabots. He could still see their fire in his mind, repeating in slow motion. When Nhlappo dropped to the ground, he began searching for her. When he couldn’t see her with his naked eye, he had his advanced HUD features search for her. She’d crashed through metal grating and into a maintenance access hatch. Relief washed over him, but Taran quickly pushed it deep down and focused on the mission.

  “Field marshal down. Push through the objective. Watch out for the grated floor. It might not support our weight. I’ll save the field marshal. Strike the insurgents hard. Keep pushing forward. No mercy!”

  With the order given and his task force moving forward to clear out the enemy, Taran sent out a scout drone. He needed to find the best route into the underground tunnel, and drag a medic to save his commander. He knew she lay unresponsive, and Taran needed to save her. He’d charge straight into hell to pull the unconscious Field Marshal Nhlappo back to safety. Luckily, she appeared to be safe from further harm, and he could pull her to safety without unnecessary heroics.

  Shortly after he’d found a route that kept him out from under the enemy’s guns, Taran moved back towards the opening to the service tunnel. He quickly got into the tunnels and ran out towards where his commander lay prostrate and unresponsive. Without the insurgents’ guns to contend with, he made good time to where his field marshal lay. He began scanning Nhlappo’s body as soon as he arrived, and, although initially confused, was shocked at what he found. Nhlappo’s suit was visibly deteriorating.

  “The frakkers shot her with projectiles coated with bacteria similar to the bactabomb,” he said to the medic squatting next to him.

  “Strip her of her armor, then get out of the way,” snapped the medic.

  “Got it, doc,” Taran said as he began to strip Nhlappo with the medic’s help.

  When Nhlappo was safely out of her armor, and in the competent hands of the field medic, Taran stood and dashed back the way he came. He knew he needed to return to the fight and take charge. Looking through the reports from his helmet visor, he saw that Task Force Justice was bleeding officers. Horden’s sweaty balls, he thought, they’re singling out our officers. Jumping onto the LBNet, he turned to the command channel.

  “Officers, turn off your command status beacon! They’re targeting you with them!”

  Without waiting to see if they listened, Taran switched over to the NCO channel on the task force LBNet and began speaking. He didn’t give a preamble and jumped into the heart of the matter.

  “The frakkers are targeting our officers. Get those closest to you to turn off their rank beacon. No mercy for the insurgents. Kill them all. No more chances to surrender. Screw any concerns for the factory. Bleed them with fire, grenade, and sabot. And spread the word to remain behind cover. They’ve got bactabomb-tipped projectiles. Anderson, out.”

  While he’d been handling the command and control of the task force, Taran had managed to rejoin the command element and had taken charge of the situation. A quick consultation with his AI told him that the officers were in shock, having lost so many of their chain of command. Once everyone acknowledged his leadership, he began issuing orders.

  “Task Force Justice, pull back to my position!”

  His Marines continued firing as they began the methodical process of withdrawing back to his position. Taran had situated himself behind the intersection of several large conveyor belts that made up what he guessed was an assembly line. It was out of the line of fire and allowed the rear units to set up an impromptu defensive position. The rear elements began sending their grenadiers and Minis forward. Taran ordered his grenadiers to fire over the massive machinery and target the barricades. He also ordered his Mini gunners to prepare to advance under cover of the grenadiers and lay waste to anyone showing their heads. He knew that the AI-assisted aim made the SA-75 GX Mobile Mini Cannon, or Mini Gun, a precision weapon instead of one whose primary purpose was fire suppression. A few scout drones to relay tactical updates would be all their AIs needed to prevent friendly fire incidents.

  Once all the special weapons Marines were a
t the front and checking their weapons, Taran called out, “Marines, make ready. You’ll assault on my command. I’ve set the task force timer on ninety seconds. Anderson, out.”

  On his command, every Marine in the lead element came out from behind their cover and opened fire. The grenadiers continued firing from behind the large conveyor belts, though the typical pause between the thump of the grenades firing and the following explosions was drowned out by the chaos. The massive quantities of sabots spewing from the Mini Gunners and standard carbine-wielding Marines created an almost musical sound, and allowed Taran to tune out the noise so he could focus on the objective in front him. The precise targeting was having an effect, and the Legion knocked down the barricade the insurgents hid behind. Their defensive position became awash in blood and gore as thousands of sabots from Task Force Justice tore into them. With their protection gone, the massed insurgent ranks began thinning out. Their defense was crumbling, and Taran reveled in it.

  When the last insurgent Marine turned and ran, trying to outrun the sabots flying after him, Taran ordered the task force to advance. Once they reached the enemy’s destroyed defensive works, Taran halted so his Marines could regroup. They would need to reestablish unit cohesion before pushing forward with his special weapons group.

  “Kill them at a distance,” Taran ordered as he physically pushed the Marines farther into the factory.

  Using their superior fire team maneuverability, with the combined weapons support from grenadiers and the Mobile Mini Cannons, Task Force Justice maintained their hard-won momentum. Pushing through one insurgent position after another, they had the factory secured within hours of Nhlappo’s disastrous attempt to negotiate a surrender. Taran reported to the other task force commanders that the objective had been won. With the battle over, Stork shuttles could begin bringing in a regiment to secure the facility so they could continue their assault on the next assignment.