Mike's War: Sequel to Jesse's Starship (11 page)

“You know my parents; what do you think?”

Blake stared at Josh and after a moment, he pressed his collar. A voice answered, “General, I’m sorry for disturbing you this late but I have a request.”

“You may disturb me at any time, Sergeant. What is your request?”

“I have a young woman here at the DV-8 facility that I want to release and send to her training station three weeks early. Will you accept her in Fort Athens?”

“Is she worthy of this?”

Blake looked at Josh, “Is she?”

Josh smiled and said, “More than you know.”

“Yes she is, General.”

“I will have transportation for her in the morning. Please provide a military uniform for her and tell her to report directly to me as soon as she arrives.”

“I will, Sir. Thank you.”

“Was that Adams’ son I heard recommending her?”

Blake smiled, “It was.”

“It’s about time he overcame that hard headed trait he inherited from his mother. I suspect it is I that will be thanking you for sending her to me, Sergeant.”

The voice ended and Pricilla turned to Josh, “Does this mean I don’t have to go home?” Josh nodded. Pricilla grabbed his face and kissed him hard. She stepped back and Josh’s face was bright red.

Blake said, “Trainee, you may go to the building outside the fence to the left and clean up before you’re picked up tomorrow. Make sure you scrub extra hard, you need it. I’ll have a uniform sent to you momentarily. Don’t get it dirty!”

“I won’t, Sir.”

“Adams, you will go to the building next to hers. You will be leaving with her.” Josh nodded and extended his hand. Blake shook it and said, “Make me proud, Trainee.”

Josh smiled, “I will, Sergeant.”

The next morning, Sgt. Blake woke Josh up early and said, “Get dressed, someone wants to see you.” Josh got up, showered, and dressed. He found Blake waiting for him in a small carrier. He stepped on and Blake flew the carrier over the fence to the medical building. Blake nodded toward the door and Josh got out and walked in the entrance.

A nurse greeted him and said, “Come with me.” He followed her down the hall and was taken into a room where Brent lay in a hospital bed. Josh shook his head. The doctors were forced to perform emergency surgery to put his face back together. His face was one huge bruise and his chest was black from the punches he had taken. Brent opened his eyes and saw Josh. “I understand you saved me.” Josh nodded. “Why?”

“I saw myself in you.”

“No one is like me.”

“I was and didn’t know it. All my so called friends feared me. I thought I was something special and now understand they would have stood by and watched me die and celebrated the occasion.”

“Just like my so called friends.” Josh nodded. “Thank you.”

Josh turned to go but then stopped. He turned and said, “Brent, make saving you worth it.”

Brent stared at him through his swollen eyes and nodded.

• • •

He sat in the small house and waited for the transport to arrive. He stepped out and walked over to the main gate and saw a young woman in a trainee uniform. She turned around and his mouth fell open. Pricilla smiled, “I clean up rather well, wouldn’t you say?”

Blake was standing beside her and said, “She is a vision to behold, son.”

Josh could only shake his head. Her black hair hung down to her waist and her eyes were the most beautiful green he had ever seen. Her body was incredible. She really was a vision. “You’re beautiful.”

“You don’t look so bad yourself.”

“Hey, look at the coward running away. And you’re taking that slut with you.”

Josh looked inside the fence and saw the T-Rex with all of his supporters standing at the front gate yelling curses at them. They learned the night before that he had opted out. Josh stared at the huge thug and looked at Blake, “Would it be inappropriate to go and teach him?”

“Teach him what?”

Josh smiled, “Manners. He insulted one of our female warriors.”

Blake shrugged and pressed a button. Pricilla said, “You don’t have to do this, Josh.”

Josh looked at her and his eyes were soft, “If you could see you thorough my eyes, you’d know it does have to be done.” Josh looked at Blake, “Are there any rules?”

Blake smiled, “I told you; there are no rules inside the fence.” Josh turned and walked through the gate.

For his part, the T-Rex knew at some level that he had made a mistake when Josh came walking straight for him but he couldn’t back away. To show weakness was not acceptable. Word had spread through the community and all the residents came rushing out of the meal hall to watch the confrontation. The T-Rex made a good effort but had his right arm broken at the elbow on the first punch he threw at Josh. It was then pulled out its shoulder socket just before the other arm was shattered at the wrist and elbow.

When it was over, the T-Rex was on the ground with both arms unable to move and a knee that bent the wrong way. It had happened so fast that it was over before it had fairly begun. The thousands of residents were shocked silent at how quickly Josh had disposed of the larger youth. Josh looked at the crowd and said, “I am going to fight to defend some people on this planet that I think should be defended. None of you are among them.” He pointed at the crying T-Rex on the ground and said, “That is what you are. You could have been like me.”

Josh turned and walked back to the gate. Everyone jumped out of his way as he passed through the gathering. Pricilla hugged him as he exited and whispered, “Please don’t forget me; I owe you my life.”

Josh looked into her eyes, “You and I are now connected. I do hope you realize that.”

Pricilla’s smile was immediate and she nodded saying, “Wait on me.”

“You know I will.”

• • •

Jeanette was waiting at home when Josh entered the front door. She jumped up and ran to him and wrapped him up in her arms. “I’ve been so frightened.”

“I know, Mom. I know. I’ve been dumb for a long time but what you said was true. I was too blind to see it on my own.”

“What opened your eyes, Son?”

“I watched a bully have all his friends celebrate his comeuppance. I had someone there to help me see it.”

Jeanette smiled, “I heard she’s interesting.”

Josh smiled, “You have no idea. Her bravery is incredible and she sees the world through clear eyes.” Jeanette lowered her eyebrows and Josh smiled, “I know I’m young and decisions made at my age don’t often hold water. However, I will marry her one day.” Josh hugged Jeanette, “I love you so much. Thanks for putting up with my hard head.”

“I tell your father that all the time.” Josh started laughing. The General was right about where he got it. “What’s so funny?”

“Nothing, Mom. I’m really glad to be home.”

B
owen sat with Jeanette and Adams and saw them exchange a quick kiss, “The two of you are nauseating.”

Jeanette looked at Bowen, “I beg your pardon.”

“If you could have seen your face when we had you tied up in the back of the car, you’d understand.”

Jeanette stared at Bowen for a moment and said, “You need to get out more.”

Adams burst out laughing and Bowen glared at his former Seal partner. Adams managed to quit laughing and said, “She’s right.”

Bowen shook his head, “That’s impossible. The training schedule is absurd.”

Adams face turned serious, “Are you making any progress?”

“Not really. Even at half speed, none of our trainees survive longer than two minutes against a Gracken charge. What about yours?”

“The same. Maybe we’ll see something today that will change that.”

Bowen shook his head, “I don’t know if it can be changed. We just don’t have the technology to survive.”

Jeanette nodded to the left, “I wonder why Hetzel and ten leaders from the Assembly are here.”

Adams looked at the aliens talking among themselves in the reviewing stand and shook his head, “Jesse told me that if we can’t survive against the Gracken, they’re going to remove their support.”

Bowen shook his head, “Who can blame them.”

Jeanette said, “Bowen!”

“Would you continue to throw all your resources at a project that doesn’t work? I suspect they are here to make a final decision on the issue.”

Adams looked out at the giant stage with the huge digital monitor and said, “Mike doesn’t appear worried.”

Bowen snickered, “How would you know?”

Adams shrugged, “You make a good point.”

Jeanette nudged Adams on the arm, “Who are those recruits marching up to the training monitor?”

Adams and Bowen saw the recruits were in full armor and carrying training rifles, “I have no idea.”

Bowen leaned back, “This should prove to be interesting?” Adams and Jeanette looked at him. “I’ve just received a general message on my communications channel to report to the nearest armory for a demonstration of a new tactic we’re going to employ. I can assume that every member of the armed forces received the same message.”

They looked out at the platoon and Bowen said, “We’ll find out shortly. The communications say that the demonstration will start momentarily.”

Adams smiled, “Now this is interesting!” They turned and saw three more giant monitors were being transported in by heavy haulers and placed around the platoon gathered in the center. A giant monitor was brought in outside the four smaller ones and placed so all the members of the reviewing stand and the gathered troops could see it. The process took forty minutes to hook everything up and the giant monitor was divided into four windows. The top left had a huge number one, top right had number two, bottom right number three, and bottom left number four. They matched up with the monitors surrounding the platoon. The main monitor suddenly had Mike’s face on it and he said, “All forts will have their units go through the platoon size program now and report back to my channel what the best time is for all their units. Start the exercise immediately.”

Adams looked at Bowen, “I’ll bet ten credits no one does better than two minutes.”

Bowen smirked, “I’d just look stupid; keep your bet.”

Jeanette said, “I’ll take that bet.” Bowen and Adams looked at her and she said, “Just to make sure, if any unit beats two minutes, I win.” Adams looked at Bowen and then looked at her and nodded. “Shake on it.” Adams did and Jeanette said, “I do hope you understand that the unit inside those monitors is a unit.”

Adams’ mouth fell open and he started shaking his head. Bowen laughed, “Now I understand the two of you a little better. Close your mouth Adams, you should have clarified the bet.”

Adams shook his head, “Fair enough; let’s see if they’re any better than our best units.”

• • •

Times began pouring in from the thousand forts and they appeared on the giant monitor with the longest time at the top. In an hour, all forts had reported in and the best time against a platoon sized Gracken attack was one minute sixteen seconds.

Mike looked at the times on the giant monitor behind him and said, “All of the armories are having the video from this monitor sent in real time to your displays. I hope you learn something.” Mike turned and nodded.

A loud voice said, “Computer, load platoon size attack on open ground.”

Adams and Bowen winced; Jeanette said, “I should have kept my mouth shut. Open ground is impossible.”

• • •

Derek yelled, “Platoon, step up on the activation pads and load weapons.”

• • •

Bowen said, “Adams, those recruits have bandoliers of reloads over their shoulders.”

Adams looked and shook his head, “Who is going to have time to reload?” Bowen and Jeanette shook their heads.

• • •

Derek looked at the members of Platoon 21 and smiled as he yelled, “Run Program!”

• • •

Sparta’s warriors watched a Gracken charge that was not platoon sized. The platoon in the center of the monitors had formed a square and began firing at the electronic Gracken that rushed at full speed toward their ranks from all four sides. The numbers of Gracken being blown back was incredible but they were moving inside the range of their blasters. The platoon came under blaster fire and they saw the platoon start rotating the troops in each line back and forth. The smoothness of their movements was beautiful to watch and the Gracken forces were forced closer together as they moved closer to the four lines.

The attack continued for thirty minutes and then the Gracken on one side of the square were wiped out. That side marched through the middle and joined the line facing the largest Gracken charge. The other two sides completed the destruction of the Gracken charging them and they pivoted around and joined the front line into a line three times the length of the original. The two sides then did something that silenced every member of the military watching the demonstration. They moved into the Gracken Charge and advanced. In another twenty minutes a voice announced, “Program Completed.”

Adams was shaking his head and he handed Jeanette a ten credit. She absently took it but couldn’t take her eyes off the platoon that had defeated a Gracken force that was at least four companies in size. The heavy haulers lifted the monitors and moved them to the side of the giant field and Derek marched Platoon 21 out to face the reviewing stands.

Every recruit and warrior in Fort Athens jumped to their feet and cheered them. In every armory on the planet the warriors saw there was a way to survive and they joined those in Athens cheering what they witnessed.

Platoon 21 remained at attention and felt pride and joy at the cheers of their fellow warriors. Mike walked up to Derek and said, “Good show.”

“Thank you, Sir.”

Mike allowed the cheers to continue for ten minutes and then he raised his arms. In another three minutes the field became quiet. “This platoon developed this pattern working at night on their own time. Their former Training Sergeant refused to allow them to show him what they developed. Fortunately, we discovered what they developed and now you are going to learn how to do this. We’re sending all the training videos done by Platoon 21 to each of you and you will begin learning this process immediately.”