Asterion (33 page)

Provisional forces have installed a series of outposts that oppose the strong points of Asterion’s forces. Sensing mechanisms and robots patrol a distance from these stations while troops assisted by robots patrol the extended lines. Under cover of darkness, several squads of Asterion’s troopers meander through the terrain to avoid detection. Getting into position, they wait for their prey. As a patrol passes, the troopers jump them and they begin a pitched gun battle with the provisional troopers taking up position behind vehicles and natural barriers. The beasts brave the gunfire to close in with the troops. In close combat, the provisional soldiers don’t stand a chance. Their body armor is no match for repeated abuse. Some of them use their last grenade to take out a beast at the last. The beasts celebrate their victory with wailing, bellowing and aggressive horseplay. Throughout the long night, the creatures attack the line repeatedly. Provisional command thinks the enemy’s numbers are greater than they are and starts to move its resources from secondary targets to the line. That includes the resources protecting the lab.

Milar scans the horizon topside through the security cameras and notices the soldiers bugging out. Surprised, she calls command and they inform her of the renewed battle at the front. She responds, “Who will provide security topside for us?”

“Command determined that improving line security will keep them out of range of the lab.”

“What if they infiltrate the line?”

“There are perimeter sensors installed that come directly to us. We’ll know if they try.”

“That’s too close for any kind of support to reach us in time.”

“They can’t get far in if they try. The other security measures will buy you some time.”

“That’s little comfort.”

“Sorry, but we have to put our assets in a critical area.”

“Okay.” Milar ends the call.

She races to the lab to inform the others of the security situation. “We are essentially on our own.”

Taylor raises his head from a piece of equipment, “What.”

Christine and Phil leave their stations to hear Milar.

Milar continues, “Asterion is attacking the front line with great strength and numbers. Command moved the troops to the line. They say that will keep them from penetrating too deep and attacking us.”

Christine sighs, “You mean they hope it keeps them away.”

“Pretty much, but we do still have some robots that weren’t sent out. Is there any way to get several of them up and working sentry duty?”

Phil scratches his head, “Don’t see why not.”

Taylor interjects, “We could possibly have them going by sundown.”

“Great, follow me, I know where they are at.”

They proceed to the airport hangar, load the robots on a cart, and move them to the lab. They start removing the protective material used for shipping and outfitting them. They put the cerebellum chip in them and do some rudimentary testing of their functions. Satisfied with their performance, they program the sentinel functions in them and let them patrol the base. They each take a small command device that allows them to see what the robots alert on and make enemy or friendly decisions on humans. They will dispatch the beasts immediately.

Asterion monitors the provisional troop movement. Now he can mount an all-out assault on them to keep them busy. He plans with his centurions for the night’s battle. “Make a lot of noise, but don’t sacrifice our troopers. We will execute another series of hit-and-run raids in much larger numbers. They did not push back. That means they are too weak to go on the offensive. Assemble your troops and move to a position where you can get in place quickly after dark.”

He sends them out. His victories embolden him as well as please him. He is confident that they can prevail over the province.

The Vice Leader enters Burnsom’s office. “Ira, we have to talk about what you are doing.”

Burnsom looks over his glasses and motions for her to sit down. “Jean, here’s the deal. The province needs to get in line and obey the government, pure and simple. The survival of the country depends on our accessing their resources.”

“It’s not that simple.”

“No, no, that is how it is. It is just that simple. We have the support of the other provinces. They are suffering because of them, so there is no sympathy for their cause among the people.”

“This is slaughter of our own citizens. This is ludicrous. I won’t stand by and let you do this.”

“Then I’ll consider this your resignation.”

Jean’s expression turns from anger to astonishment. “Just like that?”

“Yup, just like that. Clear your things out of your office. The secrecy agreement you signed is still in effect, so don’t go run to the press. I wouldn’t advise it anyway. They have been reporting the favorable response of the populace to our actions. I don’t think they want negative news or opinions right now. In fact they might take it out on the messenger. I would hate to see anything happen to you. We’ve been friends for so long.”

She gets up in a huff and slams the door as she leaves. With tears in her eyes, she gets a box and starts gathering up her personal effects from her office under the scrutiny of a guard. Looking over the mementos of her time there, she thought she was doing some good there. Now she realizes that there is nothing good that can come from Burnsom. In reality, she was only a token that lent some legitimacy to him. From the inside, she thought she could make a difference. A voice for the preservation of some of the people’s freedoms, but she was just a figurehead in his administration to make people believe that he listened to all sides. In reality, he only listens to his own voice.

Tom calls Devin, “Son, you’ve done a great job for us out there, better than we thought.”

“Thank you sir, I’m glad to help.”

“Good, now we have a new position for you.”

“Really, what is it?”

“Vice Leader” Tom does not hear a response on the other end. “Are you still there?”

“Yes, yes, I’m here. I’m just taken aback at the offer.”

“We’ll you’ve earned it. Your performance out there proves you have what it takes. We will get you some training to get you up to speed while you’re on your tour of the provinces. When you’re ready, we’ll announce it and it will be official.”

“I won’t let you down sir.”

“I know. Good luck out there.” Tom hangs up the phone

Devin is elated. He continues his tour with greater vigor.

Asterion stars at the crates with the bombs and wonders how to deliver them. His eyes light up when he spies equipment drop chutes. He theorizes that he can attach one to the crate, which is too flimsy to hold the weight of the bomb. Dropped from the rear ramp of the transport it will go through the crate when the chute opens and he can guide it to the main shaft of the lab. It will remain hidden from the flight crew until it’s too late. He knows that penetrating the elevator shaft will deliver the bomb deep in the lab and the subsequent explosion, fire and percussion will finally rid him of his creators. He instructs his centurions to attach the drop chute and get it ready. He informs the transport crew to drop the crate at these coordinates at three in the morning. That will be at the height of the battle. He snarls in anticipation.

CHAPTER 35 - ALL FALLS DOWN

Sanderson enters Stanley’s office. Stanley smiles “Have a seat General. What’s on your mind?”

“I wanted to update you on our situation. We are getting low on resources. Our automated systems have suffered a lot of damage and we are down to twenty percent. Our soldiers avoided the brunt of the battle, but that will probably change, as we have to rely on them to carry the fight to the enemy. Munitions are approximately fifty percent and ground and air vehicles are at thirty percent. Burnsom and his beast seem to be rallying and preparing for an all-out assault on us.”

“The finishing blow, so to speak.”

“Yes, that’s what I am anticipating.”

“We have exhausted what our friends and allies can give us. What about our team in the lab?”

“Let’s contact them and see how they are progressing.”

Stanley initiates a call to the lab. The team assembles and Sanderson lays it out for them. Stanley inquires, “Is there anything you are working on that can come on line now? How about the new battle suits, what is there status?”

Taylor looks at the team and turns to the speaker, “I’m sorry sir, it is still in development. It could be almost a week before they are ready and that is with abbreviated testing. Then we have to mass produce them. Not the best scenario.”

Sanderson takes a deep breath, “I know each of you have done your best and we have accomplished a lot in a little time. Do your best. If we manage our resources and Asterion is not as strong as we think, we may be able to hold off for a while as we slowly withdraw in front of them.”

Taylor puts a two-foot long tube in front of the camera, “I whipped up something quick so that our troopers don’t have to use a grenade to end a bad situation.”

Stanley and Sanderson look at it curiously, Sanderson squints, “What is it?”

“Shortened bang stick from the Navy used to protect divers from sharks. I modified it for close combat and replaced the lead with a pointed steel slug. Should stop the beast if they stick it under their throat and aim for the brain. Might save their life.”

“Brilliant, finally a quick solution to a problem. How many do we have.”

“Navy has already modified a thousand and should have hundreds more each day. They’ve made gunsmiths out of everyone they can.”

“Great, we’ll get this to the front line immediately.”

Stanley concludes, “Good work. I never thought you could have done all this as quickly as you and team have. We’ll do our best and the rest is left to God and those who pray to Him.” With that, the call ends.

Stanley looks at the General, “What about the lab. Do they have a chance?”

Sanderson huffs and thinks for a second. “You just reminded me, I have to make a call.” Sanderson leaves without answering Stanley’s question.

Stanley sits there expressionless. He calls Cameron and they pray together.

The four look at each other with concern. Taylor breaks the silence, “I heard a lot of ifs. That’s not just my imagination, is it?

Christine looks at him, “No, I got that impression also.”

Phil and Milar nod in agreement. Phil looks at Milar, “I guess I should show you what else I have stashed here, just in case.”

Milar smiles, “Paranoia is your best quality.”

Phil laughs, “It always pays to have too much rather than not enough.

“What do you have?”

“I have smart mines that don’t blow friendlies up, remote control mortars, small, remote missile batteries and some large caliber personal arms.”

“We’re not going down without a fight.”

“No ma’am we’re not.”

Phil and Milar head down the hall to start setting up the defense of the lab. Taylor knows that it will be a last stand situation. He ponders what he can do.

Christine looks at him. “I don’t like that look. What are you planning?”

“We can either let Asterion destroy us here in the lab or try to distract him some way.”

“What way?”

“One of the suits is working fine. If I can draw him away from his troops, they will quickly stop fighting. They have to have their leader urging them on. It’s just their way.”

“And suppose he kills you and just continues?”

“Then the outcome is still the same, but I’m not going to let that happen.”

“I don’t know. It’s too much to take in right now.”

“Okay, we’ll sleep on it.”

They follow the other two and begin to haul the munitions out. They enlist a few of the robots to pull the carts of heavy weaponry to their locations. Taking care to camouflage or hide them behind structures, they spend the balance of daylight getting ready for Asterion.

The four dine in silence that night. Too worried and too tired for anything other than the essentials. The go to bed with their control devices at the ready in case they come under attack. At three in the morning, shaken out of their beds by the deafening blast of the bomb, they know Asterion’s plan now. The blast throws the massive blast doors around like paper in the wind. The lighting goes out and the dim emergency lights come on.

Phil throws masks at the rest to help with the choking dust. “That’s no ordinary bomb.”

Christine pulls the mask down over her face. “A bunker-buster?”

Taylor coughs, “That’s all it can be.”

Milar pulls the straps tight on her mask, “So much for him not getting ahold of one.”

Phil distributes hand held lights to the group. “That’s why I don’t trust government. We’re just worker bees. A few get squashed, they’ll make more.”

Taylor looks at Christine. She looks back at him. “I don’t like this idea.”

“I don’t either, but we have to do something. We just can’t wait to be killed if he has more of them.”

Phil touches Taylor’s shoulder, “Lure him away and have him pursue you through the minefield. They won’t detonate on you, but they will get him. If he makes it through, either the robots or one of us will finish him.”