The Last Empire Box Set

by Nick S. Thomas

  “Not for them. The ones we left out there. Until they make it back, this mission isn’t over,” he snarled.

  Rossman sighed and nodded in agreement, clearly as frustrated and concerned as Lee was.

  “We must act according the rules of the Corps. You’ve already been incarcerated once, do you want to see that cell again?”

  “No, Sir.”

  “Yeah? Well neither do I. So, we’ll take this to Sanson.”

  “Yes, Sir,” he muttered.

  “Come with me!”

  Lee looked up in surprise, but he didn’t question the order and followed the Colonel.

  “Remain on standby, and be ready to move if we get the go ahead,” said Rossman as he passed Sergeant Stone.

  “Yes, Sir.”

  “Do you think they’re still alive, Colonel?”

  “Do you think I’d be taking this to the General if I didn’t?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Wow, at least I get honesty with you.”

  “I’m still trying to work out if your intent is to do the best for those who serve you, or to get the best out of them, Sir.”

  “Can those not exist alongside one another?”

  “Maybe. But does an officer who just wants to get ahead really care too much about what it costs them?”

  “And you think that’s what I want? To get ahead, get promoted? To what, some position on the inner worlds?”

  “Why not, isn’t that what everyone wants? Retire with a big pension to some cosy estate where you don’t have to worry about anything anymore?”

  “You really don’t know me at all, do you?”

  “I don’t, Sir.”

  “Your cousin got to see some of who and what I am. I’m not here for my career. I actually like this place, and I believe in it. I think by the end he did, too. He could see what we were trying to do here.”

  “And what is that?”

  “Build a better world. Look at the Empire now. It wasn’t so long ago we were no different than these Prians. Stuck on a single world, fighting with one another, we almost killed our own race and drove them to extinction. The Prians are no different.”

  “And you think we can save them from that?”

  “I do. I believe people can be shown a better way.”

  “It doesn’t seem like they want to be shown any way but the one they already know.”

  “And yet I see you have drawn close to Madan already. Does he not share the same desires as you and I?”

  “Revenge?”

  Rossman smiled.

  “Look past the short-term. Madan wants the best for his people. He wants to survive, and he wants his people to survive, and make the best life for them he can. Is that not what we all want? Is that not why you joined the Corps?”

  “I joined up because it was the only career I could ever be good at. I was born to fight, and that leads to two paths. Crime or the Corps.”

  “So between chaos and order, you chose order.”

  Lee was amused by the concept even if he didn’t fully believe it. It did give him something to think about though, as they reached the General’s office.

  “This time, not a word, do you hear?”

  “Yes, Sir.”

  Neither man was confident he could keep to his word. They were shown on through to find the Colonel meticulously poring over written reports and documents.

  “Colonel Rossman, what can I do for you?” He sounded casual as if it were any other day. That frustrated Lee. Time was not on their side, and he couldn’t believe their leader was acting so casually. He opened his mouth to speak but felt Rossman’s fist jab into his flank. He was silenced.

  “Sir, a number from one of our platoons has not yet made it back from Delphi.”

  “How late are they?”

  “Sir, they should have been back hours ago. They were on the ground with an Otter.”

  “And you think they’ve got themselves into trouble?”

  “I think they may need help, no matter their circumstances, Sir.”

  “The Otter, Colonel is a primitive method of transport, but isn’t it one of the most reliable and dependable workhorses any Marine could hope to operate?”

  “Yes, Sir,” Rossman sighed, seeing where this was going.

  “The Marines under your command were in open terrain with an Otter. If they have not yet made it back, then there can be only two likely explanations.”

  “Yes, Sir?” he asked as if knowing the answer but playing to the General’s ego.

  Sanson was the perfect figure of a gentleman. He spoke with the accent of a man who would have gone to the most exclusive schools and come from the top families in the Empire. He was one of the elite, and he made sure everyone knew it. He also seemed to dither, even more so than most men of his standing. Lee sensed he was not a decisive man at all, and that worried him.

  “The Otter either suffered a mechanical fault, or your Marines got themselves into trouble. Isn’t that right? Aren’t those the only two likely scenarios?”

  “Yes, Sir,” groaned Rossman.

  “We have already established that the Otter is a fine piece of machinery. It is like a mule, simple, primitive, and ever dependable. And so your Marines have got themselves into trouble.”

  “It’s not like they went looking for it,” Lee interrupted furiously.

  Rossman looked furious, although not at all surprised he’d broken his silence. The General seemed more amused than anything.

  “You would like to speak, Corporal?”

  Lee looked to his Colonel who was shaking his head. He didn’t want him to say another word, but that was not in his nature.

  “Sir, if members of our platoon are in trouble, surely we owe it to them to help in any way we can.”

  Sanson nodded along as if he fully understood.

  “Corporal, you see this job and this war from where you’re standing. A position I respect and appreciate, but I see it from where I am standing. I’m currently preparing a force that is tasked with retaking Delphi from these rebels. A scenario you are well aware of.”

  “Yes, Sir,” he grumbled as he thought back to the bloody affair.

  “Our job right now is to gather all our strength and give us the best chance of achieving mission success. That means I need everyone on deck. I cannot have Marines running off into the desert. That vast expanse, in the hope they may find those who are almost certainly already lost.”

  “Marines don’t die so easily, Sir.”

  “Then where are they? If they’re capable of handling themselves, and they should be, then they will find their way back here. That is their mission and their duty. Yours is to make sure you’re ready for the operation that is to come. We will be soon departing for a battle the likes of which most of you have never seen before.

  Rossman groaned quietly once more, knowing what he was referring to, a great battle of their history. Sanson had served there and never let anyone forget it.

  “Sir, we left Marines behind,” pleaded Lee.

  “No, they were making their way back here the same as you, weren’t they?”

  “Yes, Sir.”

  “You came by shuttle to get the Colonel back to safety, and I’m grateful to you for that. The others travelled by land. If they got stuck by a sandstorm, then they’ll be delayed and will be back.”

  “And if the enemy found them?”

  “They are Marines, and they will have to handle it. That’s what they’re paid to do. That’s what we’re all paid to do.”

  “So that’s it? We just forget about them?”

  “We’re at war, Corporal. Any other time I would have you on a charge for speaking to me this way, but I need every Marine I can get. You need to get your head back on straight and remember your duty. That will be all.”

  He looked across to Rossman.

  “Colonel, your recon mission to Delphi has provided some quite surprising insights into mutinous actions there. I have to admit they have surprise
d all of us. You made it out with your life, but barely. You took chances that should never have been taken. Make sure the 15th is ready to fight when we set out to Delphi, but next time, think before you act. You may have only lost Rhepoy lives on the ground, but you also lost two shuttles and their crews. These are unacceptable losses. Remember who you are serving, Colonel, and what privilege you possess. That can all be taken away.”

  “Yes, Sir,” he replied through clenched teeth.

  Lee looked at Rossman as if expecting him to do something else, and yet he could see there was nothing. They saluted the General before quickly leaving. Their shoulders were hung low as both men felt they had been let down.

  “So he’s going to leave Marines behind, and you’re going to let him speak to you like that?”

  “I don’t have a choice. That is the chain of command.”

  “That doesn’t mean it’s right.”

  “Right? What do you think this is? This is the Marine Corps, and you will do your duty. You will obey the chain of command, or do you want to see the inside of a cell once again? You could have been an officer in this Corps by now. You may not be as smart as your cousin, but you’re every bit as capable, but look at you. You’ve squandered much of your career, but you have a second chance here. I gave you that chance. Don’t waste it.”

  “Sir, if we can’t be there for each other, how can we trust anyone? How can we go into battle with any confidence that anyone has our back, if our leaders will happily leave us behind, and resist any attempt by others to help?”

  “We did what we could for one another, and don’t think for a moment I’m not grateful for what you did. You saved my life. When it came down to it, you stepped up and became what you needed to be, but Bosque and the others, they’re capable, too. We have to rely on their abilities and their experience to get them through this. Have some faith in them.”

  Lee didn’t respond.

  “We may deploy any day now.”

  “If the General gets off his lazy ass and does something.”

  Rossman grabbed Lee and slammed him up against the side of the corridor.

  “Enough of this. I don’t care what you think of the General. We all have an opinion, and that doesn’t mean anything. You will follow his orders, and you will respect the rank. You don’t have to like your superiors, but you do have to follow their orders. Do you hear me?”

  “Yes,” he snapped.

  Neither looked happy about it.

  “We may have to go back out there any day now, but your platoon has been through hell. We remain on alert, but I will not appoint any duties to 2nd Platoon. Get some rest.”

  “Yes, Sir,” he snarled, shrugged off the Colonel, and walked away.

  Rossman watched him go and felt bad for him. He understood the way he felt, and he agreed with him, and yet that wasn’t the job.

  “Why did I bring this upon myself?” He smiled and shook his head.

  Lee stormed furiously out of the headquarters and back out into the blistering heat. He stopped, looked up to the gleaming sky, and instantly felt thirty. His lips were dry and his throat hoarse. All he could wonder was how bad it could be for Bosque and Griffin, and those who’d been left behind with them. He growled as he headed for one of the towers of a wall to the facility. He climbed to the top, hesitating when he found Madan and his brother there looking out into the distance. It was an awkward situation, as they’d never shared any social interaction before. They’d only talked on operation.

  “What are you doing up here?”

  “Thinking about the friends we left behind,” replied Madan solemnly.

  Lee shook his head, feeling shame he’d not given their feelings a moment’s thought.

  “You were close to them?”

  “All are our people. We came here to serve together, to fight together. To fight for the survival of our people.”

  “I went to General Sanson. I demanded we go out and look for our people, and he said no.”

  There was no response. They didn’t seem surprised, but they also didn’t look happy to hear it.

  “I don’t want to leave them out there. If they’re not back yet, it’s because they’re in trouble. Whatever trouble that is, they need our help.”

  Still nothing; as if they were waiting for him to come to his own conclusion.

  “I’m here to serve the Empire, but that means serving the men and women who fight beside me. If I was out there, I’d want to know you were coming to help.”

  They still didn’t reply.

  “We owe it to them. I don’t give a damn who says what, I won’t leave them out there.”

  “You would ignore the orders of your General?” Madan asked.

  “I will do whatever I have to. This is a family, and I will not leave anyone behind. I’m going out there to find them, and I’m not asking anyone to come with me. In fact, I’m ordering you not to. If this goes wrong, I will be the one to take responsibility. I will take the fall. But I will not stand idly by and do nothing.”

  He left them pondering his words as he headed for the vehicle depot. The sun was getting lower in the sky, and he knew he’d be heading out in darkness. He remembered being told about Joey doing the same, and it almost costing him his life. He had to put that past him. This wasn’t some joyride. He had people that depended on him, and he was willing to do anything to maintain his obligation. He made his way cautiously towards an Otter. He carefully looked around as if expecting to be caught at any time, but it all was quiet. He understood why. The Otters didn’t need protection within their own perimeter. Nobody would be stupid enough to leave the fortress without help, especially at night.

  Pulling open the side door of one of the vehicles, he quietly climbed inside and slid it back slowly as not to make a sound. Just as it was about to seal shut, a hand wrapped around the edge and stopped it dead.

  Shit!

  He thought he’d been caught, but the door was thrown open to reveal Madan and four others from his squad.

  “What are you doing here?” Lee whispered.

  “We will not let you go alone.”

  “You know the crimes I’m committing here. You could be executed for following me.”

  “We agreed to help the Empire to save our people. We will not leave them to die.”

  Lee sighed, not wanting that burden on his hands, and yet glad of the help. He pulled the door back fully and ushered them inside.

  “If we do this, then everything may be forfeit. Our jobs, and even our lives, you understand that, right?”

  “Yes,” replied Madan firmly.

  “Well all right, then, let’s go and get our people back.”

  He climbed into the driver’s seat. It was a primitive and yet a very instinctive vehicle to operate. He powered it up, and the lights flickered to life lighting the view ahead. A single man blocked their path. It was Isaac Nelson.

  Lee smirked as he went back to the door and heaved it open.

  “I know what you’re doing.”

  “You aren’t going to talk me out of it.”

  “I know, which is why I’m coming with you.”

  “Why would you do that?”

  “Because if it was me out there, I’d want to know someone was willing to do whatever it took to save my ass. If the General won’t look out for his own Marines, then we have to do it ourselves.”

  Lee couldn’t agree more, yet surprised to see such a Human side to the big man. He continued to be surprised by him, as he’d previously only seen the self-centred monster. An image Nelson himself perpetuated. He’d assumed Nelson would only be tagging along to protect him, as he had been ordered to do.

  “If we come back with nothing, we’re finished. If we come back with survivors, we may, may just get through this without too much grief.”

  “Let’s worry about that when the time comes. We have a job to do.”

  Nothing else needed to be said. Lee leapt back into the driver’s seat and put his foot on the power.
>
  Chapter 2

  Bosque woke up with a pounding headache as she coughed and spluttered. She covered her mouth and realised she was spitting blood. She felt weak, exhausted, and disorientated. She had no idea where she was. An intoxicating smell of Bhanza wafted over her as if she were in a drug den. It mellowed her mind, and she looked about to establish where she was and how she got there. The bodies of two Rhepoys lay nearby, and the wreckage of their up gunned Otter spread out over sharp rocks. Its nose was buried into the base of a cliff edge. Overhead a sandstorm raged, and she could see Prian locals sitting among ramshackle huts, smoking.

  “Hey, you’re back with us, you okay?”

  She turned back to see Corporal Griffin kneel down beside her. She held up a canteen of water for the Sergeant to drink. Bosque’s hands shook as she tried to support the canteen. She was weak and exhausted.

  “Where are we?” Her voice was hoarse.

  Griffin looked uncertain and scared.

  “I’m not sure. We came under attack and managed to lose the enemy in the storm. We found this place, this shelter, by luck more than anything.”

  Bosque followed the tyre tracks of their vehicle to see they began at the base of a cliff edge.

  “We came off that?”

  Griffin nodded in agreement. “It’s a miracle any of us made it.” She looked at the vehicle. It was an absolute wreck, “This place, I don’t remember it on any of the maps, but they seem friendly enough. I think they’re Bhanza farmers.”

  Bosque pushed up, trying to sit up straight, but she felt a surge of pain and cried out. A metal pole was embedded in her armour, and she could now feel it in her abdomen.

  “Easy, easy,” insisted Griffin.

  Bosque looked forlorn, looking in horror at the pole that had skewered her, and the wreckage of the only transport they had.

  “We’re really screwed, aren’t we?” A few tears trickled down her face from the pain.

  “We’re not done yet,” replied Griffin enthusiastically.

  “Have you made contact with the Colonel?”

  “We’ve got no comms. All that was on the vehicle was wrecked even before the crash.”