The Battle for the Ringed Planet (31 page)

Lieutenant Torian McCallum turned to pretty blonde haired girl watching him intently, “You ready for this?”

She nodded, and then shook her head, “No.”

“When can you go?” Neil checked the time on a floating screen.

“As soon I have a vehicle and equipment.”

“Take Lieutenant Martine’s MUV.”

Outside the command bunker Kat led Torian and Siiri into the hazy compound blanketed by drifting smoke from the burned out ruins. The marines had finally put the fires out and all that remained was the removal of the bodies, a task Torian was glad he was going to miss.

Beside the MUV that Kat had driven, a huge armored box with tapered sides and a big gun turret zoomed up. As soon as it stopped, both heavy back doors swung open and two commandos exited followed by a slow reluctant May, with a distant battle weary look, wearing her full combat attire.

“May!” Siiri called and the tall marine glanced over at the blonde girl. A faint grin appeared on the chapped lips below the dark visor as she lifted off her helmet.

“Did you have something to do with this?” She stared at Siiri and Torian, and then she saw Kat, “Ma’am.”

But Kat turned to Torian, “I’m sure you can find your away around, I’ll sign the vehicle over to you, I’m going to prep my platoon.” Torian nodded and then was about to salute the black female marine but stopped, and then she sighed and strode off.

He walked around to the utility vehicle, a four seater sporting armored sides and transteel windows with a cargo area in the back and a small gun turret on the roof between the front and rear seats, “Stow your stuff in here, May, I looked for you at the infirmary after breakfast, but they said you had left.”

“My wounds were healing, so I asked to go back to my battalion. Dumb mistake.”

Torian glanced back at the smoldering ruins of the medical facility, and then he spoke a little softer, “How was it out there?”

The towering woman dumped her pack and rifle in the back seat, “Those mutant Imperium monkeys don’t quit, even when you hit them several times. And I swear, if I ever hear that ‘For the Emperor!’ battle cry again I’ll puke.” She became solemn, “I lost half my company.” When she surveyed the burned out buildings and skeletons of Spacemasters littering the landing pad, she remarked, “It looks like you had it rough here, too.”

Siiri climbed into the passenger seat of the MUV and peered back at May, “I have good news.”

“Well, that would be a change.”

Suddenly Torian revved the MUV and sped like a mad man whipping around catching Siiri off guard. He tore off towards the QM stores zooming past other marines kicking up dust and ash.

“You drive like a formula racer!” May complained from the back seat watching nervously as Torian spun the wheel casually with one hand, then she leaned forward, “What’s the good news?”

“Um…” Siiri held her stomach and turned to Torian, “Slow down, I’m not used to this.”

Glancing at the blonde girl, who started to look a little green, he slowed the vehicle with a sheepish grin, “Oops.”

Stopping in front of the QM building, Siiri recovered, “You’re getting an honorable discharge!”

“What?”

“And a silver star,” Torian added.

May was speechless as they exited the MUV with Torian striding and Siiri close behind. The tall marine trailed with a puzzled expression. 

Inside the QM Stores building, the man behind the counter was another one of those grizzled veterans, probably rebuilt with titanium, sporting a rank symbol of numerous chevrons forming a big multilayered diamond with a little one inside.

Glancing at the sergeant, Torian whipped out his Con, “I need webbing and supplies, back packs, sleeping bags … May are you good?”

She nodded in response.

“… rations, individual prox shields and a vehicular shield generator.”

The grey haired supply sergeant glanced down at his Con, reading a holo with scantily clad women, “All my boys are out cleaning up that mess, and you need an officer to sign for that stuff.”

“Thanks for reminding me.” Torian pulled off his specialist rank and tossed it at the thin stick of a man, “And a First Lieutenant rank patch.” The symbol for a Marine First Lieutenant and Fleet Lieutenant Junior Grade were the same. 

Swallowing, May stared at Torian, “Are you for real? An officer, Space Jockey?”

“Yeah, Siiri gave me a kiss and next thing you know …” He displayed the floating screen with his commission certificate, signed by the colonel.

“That must have been some kiss …”

“It sure was.” Torian grinned and Siiri turned away blushing.

The sergeant stared at the certificate, and got Torian his rank badge, muttering, “Dunno what the Corps is coming too…”

Outside, next to the MUV, with their kit thrown in the back seat, May and Torian helped Siiri with her equipment, linking up her Con with her helmet visor. The visors went from clear to dark depending on the brightness of the sun’s rays. She wore hers clear and when the Con sent images and writing, they scrolled horizontally and vertically.

“Someone showed you how to tie your laces right and blouse your pant legs over your boots.” Torian commented as he stood back examining her.

“I had to catch on quick, or face continued embarrassment.”

The young officer motioned to May to help him with the green box shaped generator and they lifted it into the cargo space of the MUV, and the Dragon marine shot her a look of sympathy, “Welcome to the marines.”

“In the back May, you get gun and Siiri shield duty.” They all climbed in the MUV with Siiri in the passenger seat. Torian flicked on some virtual flat panel screen controls while May plugged in the generator. A moment later, there was a buzzing noise from the shield and Siiri watched the flat panel that showed one hundred percent.

“The shield is a lot stronger than the personal prox shields. Most armored vehicles have these, but they’re optional for light skinned MUV’s. It won’t withstand a direct hit from artillery rounds, but it will reduce the damage, most of the time the occupants survive. But for near misses, we won’t be sprayed with shrapnel or heat.”

At the small commando hut Torian exited with a small satchel of equipment and inside the MUV opened it and showed May, “Familiar?” It consisted of several small black box devices similar to a Con and a small toolbox of long thin metal instruments.

“Just like daddy’s work shop.” She grinned.

“What are they?” Siiri peered over from the front seat.

“Lock tools, to crack codes and security shields.”

The last stop was the armory where Torian had to show his authorization from Major Duncan to get the equipment he wanted from the dubious lieutenant in charge, just like at the Special Forces hut. He gave May an assault rifle fitted with grenade launcher while Siiri only wanted a pistol, and Torian didn’t argue with her, leaving her with the weapon she felt comfortable with. Along with a shorter but equally deadly commando rifle, Torian also selected a short tubular rifle with a specialized metal backpack and May raised her eyebrows, but did not say anything until they stepped out to the MUV.

“Wow, Space Jockey, you’re going to pitch a tent with all that military hardware.”

Torian rolled his eyes, “That the way you talk on civvie street?” May grinned.

Siiri looked puzzled, “I don’t get it, why would you want to put a tent up here?”

“Come here, girlie.”

May bent down and whispered in her ear, and then Siiri giggled, “Oh …”

“Awww, now you’re corrupting her with marine slang …” Torian finished loading the strange rifle into the MUV.

He patted the passenger seat and Siiri climbed in. With the ammunition and equipment loaded in the MUV, Torian called Neil who said he would meet them at the Command Post after dinner. At the mention of food Torian suddenly felt weak from hunger and sped down the central dirt strip of the compound towards the mess hall glancing in his rear view mirror at the burned out medical facility and engineer garage.

The new lieutenant felt badly when May had to stand in the enlisted line up while he and Siiri walked up to the shorter officer’s queue. After dinner, he went down to see Neil to iron out some last minute details while the two women waited in the MUV. Torian did not like the major, and he sensed the feeling was mutual, but when they were alone they seemed to gain a little respect for one another. Neil had been a veteran of many engagements, and Torian guessed his boyish smile and good looks were the results of expert reconstruction surgery, and his specially designed contacts hid the pained distant look of a man who had seen too many tours. Still, Neil had a one-track mind.

“You know a lot more that you let on, lieutenant.” Torian was still getting used to the new title.

He was not going to deny the truth, nor was he going to let it all slip out, “I know stuff that would blow your mind.” He stood and checked the timing details on his Con.

“She has special abilities, doesn’t she?”

“Career aspirations, major? You bring in the big fish and get, what … a promotion?”

“It’s not that, I’m thinking of the cause. An army of enhanced soldiers …”

Then Torian leaned forward over the major’s table, “Look, I don’t care about the war, for me it’s almost over, for you … look at you, all rebuilt! No, I’m going to bring that girl home with me so she can live a normal life …”

“With you?”

“With who ever she wants.”

“And you think SIS is going to let you?”

“They all died on the Callisto.”

“Not the whole team. There is an agent on the C.S.S. Europa, waiting for her. I was going to have the girl transferred as soon as they secured orbit, which they have.”

Blinking, Torian looked away, “As soon as we’re finished …”

“That’s right, you’ll probably go too, since they need Hawkeye crew, the Immortal Fleet has threatened to destroy earth, so every scout ship in the fleet is looking for them.”

“Glad I have something to look forward to in my last week.”

“Don’t count on that, we stay here until the mission is over, no matter how long.”

Clenching his fists, Torian seethed, “That’s not fair, I’ve done my bit, and then some …”

 “Join the club …” he sighed, and then tried to start again, “Look, as soon as they see the MUV enter the city they’ll throw everything they got at you. Know the route inside out and drive fast. We can’t lose the girl, but we need her to get that shield down.”

“I don’t plan on losing her.”

“Of course. Now, you know what it means if you’re successful, but turn back of it get’s too hot. I need that girl alive.”

Chapter 23: Hunter One

Casually speeding up through the front lines to the electrified razor wire entrance Torian glanced apprehensively to the west where the buzzing and hissing of plasma small arms fire and the louder whining of artillery over the shields continued. The rebel legion had made contact with the perimeter, though he knew from experience they were only probing, testing the defenses. Still, it was unnerving.

Fortunately, they had reached the north entrance and he glanced at Siiri while speaking through his helmet Comm to the major, “Sierra Two, this is Hunter One, we’re at the gate, over.”

“Roger Hunter One, you are cleared … good hunting.”

Torian peered at Siiri again who looked anxious, and then back at May, who was all professional scanning for targets standing up in the turret. Two marines stood by at a gun emplacement by the gate, a construction of metal and wire, as it began to slide open to let the MUV out of safety. The girl with blonde wisps of hair poking out from under her helmet looked to him for reassurance, and he nodded. Then he sped out of the compound towards a dirt trail, widened by troop movement towards the south end of the city.

The military hover vehicle, its canon pointing ahead under May’s watchful eyes, kicked up branches and dirt from the trail from the thrusters underneath, scraping through the brush and trees blanketing the trails.

“Oh that’s disgusting!” The Dragon marine remarked.

‘What?” Torian stared straight ahead as Siiri shifted uncomfortably in her seat rushing through a tunnel of green.

“A bee, or wasp, just splattered my visor.”

Siiri glanced back and up, “If they built this planet’s nature, why did they include insects?”

“That debate has raged over the holonet forums for years. My older sister is a bit of a space junkie, so she told me that they needed to maintain a balance or something like that.” Torian glanced out the driver side window and sniffed lilacs.

Then his helmet com cackled, “Hunter One, enemy arty is shifting, over.”

“Roger Sierra Two, coming on route now.” Torian steered from the woodland trail onto the paved parkway littered with abandoned vehicles. So far, there were no signs of enemy troops, but he knew they were monitoring the base, especially the ways into the city. Though the rebels lacked cruisers in orbit since the fleet had defeated them, they would have launched probes over the planet and drones above the river spying on the marines. Any movement toward the city would arouse suspicion and they would be harassed.

Weaving around the wrecked cars and trucks, Torian tried to drive fast and cautious. He did not want to crash at their most vulnerable point of the journey. Once they entered the built up areas they would take the side streets under the protection of the buildings.

 All three viewed the tall buildings coming up fast while they sped down the road in the open area near the river. May craned her neck around watching the sky for Solvairs but fortunately, Starhawks were on Combat Air Patrol and chased them away.

Suddenly May shouted and ducked down, “Incoming!”

Torian shifted the vehicle as a round of plasma blasted a fireball meters from their location. He weaved again and a round fell behind sending burning fragments lighting up the shield around the MUV. An artillery round consisted of a thousand little tungsten alloy balls ionized into plasma upon impact, spreading out in every direction with a kill radius of over fifty meters. It was beautiful to watch, with streaks of bright reds, yellows, and oranges shooting out like branches in a tree.