Hard Duty By Mark E. Cooper

Copyright©2000 by Mark E. Cooper

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Planet Thurston, Border Zone, Year 2769

An old and well-used MPV coasted along the quiet street with a turbine strong enough to rip trees out of the ground idling beneath its battered exterior.

Multi-purpose vehicles, or MPVs as they were known, were often used for clearing stretches of jungle ready for construction. Although Thurston’s capital was young, its streets were paved as befit any major city, yet a kilometre outside of the city limits, it was almost impossible to tell that Humanity had ever laid claim to the planet. This being the case, most people still relied on MPV’s to travel.

The vehicle looked not at all out of place as it slowed and stopped opposite the gate leading to the grounds of President Thurston’s residence. Its windows were dark as if it had been used recently in the full bright of day, but the addition of extra lighting seemed to deny that. The driver was a dark shadow within his air-conditioned cocoon as he watched the gates, but when a guard began to take an interest in him, he accelerated away.

As soon as the MPV was out of sight, the guard relaxed and went back to his coffee.

“Well?” A second guard said.

“It was nothing, just some damn tourist.”

“Tourist! You’re dreaming. No one in his right mind would come here.”

“We did,” the first guard said in amusement.

“Exactly my point,” the second guard grumbled.

At that moment the sound of a turbine split the air. It screamed like a banshee as the driver aimed at the gate and pushed the throttle through the stops. The guards pulled their weapons and ran out of the guardhouse. Both men crouched and fired repeatedly into the MPV’s engine bay hoping to kill the turbine before impact.

They failed.

The reinforced gates gave way as the driver smashed into them. Both guards dove aside and came up firing, but unbeknown to them they had no chance of disabling the vehicle. It had been fitted with heavy steel armour in strategic places. It was more like a tank than an MPV.

The driver did not flinch as he smashed into the President’s house, nor did he panic as the MPV ground to a stop imbedded in an interior wall, instead he switched off the turbine and retrieved the detonator. With a thumb, he flicked open the red cover and pressed the button concealed there.

Driver, MPV, and residence disappeared in an eye-searing ball of flame as two hundred kilograms of industrial grade explosive detonated.

*    *    *

Gina sat on her rack and field stripped her rifle for the tenth time. The well-practiced movements were automatic after all these years. The repetition of routine soothed her. There was nothing at all wrong with the weapon, of course if there had been she would be screaming at the supply sergeant for a replacement component. She frowned at the thought that screaming might do her more good.

Grace had been with her in boot camp. Both of them had joined on the same day and were fast friends ever since. Even her promotion over Grace had not dimmed their affection for each other, as was so often the case among comrades in the same outfit, but now she was gone. At least it was quick, not like Dan.

Gina snarled something; even she didn’t know what it was. It was quick, so it was all right? To hell with that! It wasn’t all right; it stank!

Oh, what was the use?

If she had brought the launchers Grace would still have died. That was what she told herself, but would she really? Toting a grenade launcher through the jungle would have slowed them, but she would have known that and left earlier, so it didn’t count. She would have set it up behind the riverbank and given it to Pete and Geoff because they were the best at laying it on the target. Eric arrives, the enemy arrives, she orders open fire…

No, that wasn’t how it happened. Grace had lit up the jungle with the AAR before the order was given, but that was okay because she was in the best position to see the enemy. Which in turn meant the enemy launcher had Grace zeroed even before Eric finished introducing himself. Grace was dead from the moment they set out on the mission.

No, she couldn’t accept that!

How about this then? They could have taken an Automatic grenade launcher. Again, it would have taken more time, but they had that. She would have set it up behind the riverbank, it really was the ideal place, and put Pete on it because he was the best with the computer. Eric arrives, and the stupid launcher kills him because he isn’t wearing marine armour with its IFF telling it not to shoot.

Damn!

The only thing that would have saved Grace was her giving up the AAR. She knew Grace wouldn’t have given it up voluntarily. Grace was the best with the weapon and she had seniority. Taking the weapon from her without grounds would have shown a lack of confidence in her that Grace would never have forgotten.

If she knew then, what she knew now, Gina would have taken the weapon anyway and given it to… whom? Whomever she gave it to would have died in Grace’s place. She could have used it herself and… Wrong!

Wrong, wrong, wrong! She would have died and perhaps her whole squad with her. Grace was one person no matter how dear, there had been eight others that needed her—nine including Eric.

Gina sighed and finished the reassembly. She slapped a full magazine into her weapon then raised it and sighted through the window. Grace was dead, and there truly was nothing she could have done to prevent it—just as the Major said, but it hurt.

Dan was a friend, all those in her squad were, but she hadn’t known him as long. She felt guilty that his death didn’t hurt as much, but she was honest enough to realise it.

Gina lowered her weapon as Eric passed by the window. A knock sounded. “Come,” she said and stood to tidy her rack.

“Are you busy? I can come back later.”

“It’s all right, sir. I’ve just about finished. How’s the new arm, sir?”

Eric wiggled his fingers in the air. “It will do for now.”

Gina nodded. Eric was a Viper and spares were hard to find. He would not be a hundred percent combat capable until he returned to his base—wherever that was. “Was there something I can do for you, sir?”

Eric frowned at the sir, but he didn’t mention it. “Yes and no.” He said closing the door. “May I?”

“Sorry, take a seat.”

Eric sat in the only chair and Gina used her rack. “What can I do for you, sir?”

“You can stop with the sirs for a start. I’m not a marine.”

“No, but you’re a Viper.”

Any Viper was accorded officer status among Alliance forces regardless of their actual rank. Eric was at the least a lieutenant of marines, but in real terms, he outranked Stein. All those wearing the Viper patch did of course.

The Viper patch became the symbol of the S.A.G during the Merki war, but all the 501st wore it. Come to think of it, the 501st infantry regiment was exclusively S.A.G these days. The downsizing of the regiment after the Merki war had never been reversed. Vipers were rare and special. The patch showing a snakehead with fangs bared ready to strike was a warning to all.

“Besides,” she went on. “I know you’re a Captain.”

Eric shook his head. “Rank is important to you isn’t it?”

“No more than any other. I’m a marine; I want to be the best I can be. Rank is just a way to keep score.”

“There are other ways, but I’m not here to discuss such things. Have you heard the news yet?”

“I haven’t been out much.”

“Thurston won the vote by a landslide this morning. No one was surprised—well maybe Thurston himself. Anyway, the opposition have disappeared back into their holes.”

“That’s good.”

“Not really. Before they left, they tried to blow Thurston up. When that failed, they left a recording that amounts to a declaration of war.”

“You’re kidding!” Gina said gaping. She hadn’t heard a thing about it!

Eric grinned. “Nope! His house was completely destroyed, but he and his family were out celebrating with friends; they’re fine. What I came to see you for is a mission.”

“You should be talking to the Major, not me.”

“Already done; he says you’re the best person for the job.”

“Well then, I expect I’ll be called for a briefing and— this is it?”

“Afraid so,” Eric said with a smile.

It was highly irregular, but then she had never worked with a Viper before. Maybe they were all unconventional. “Well, go on then.”

“I will lead you and your squad to the so-called resistance movement’s base.”

“To do what?”

“To take out the control centre and perimeter security. I worked inside for quite a while, Gina. You would not believe the stuff they’ve got; no way did they find it all here. Most came from off world, serious stuff.”

She frowned. “Such as?”

“Ground to air missile batteries for starters.” He said with a nod at her surprise. “No nukes as far as I know, but that could change. There’s an extensive mine field both proximity and pressure activated. Laser turrets, but they weren’t online when I was there, they might be now. The sentry guns are definitely operational. I saw a test firing. There are pulsars for ground troops by the hundreds, and men to use them. Slug throwers for everyone and a good many grenade launchers like the one you saw. They have plenty of combat armour, but no powered armour thank God. No tanks, hoppers, or aircraft of any kind, though they do have some old tracked vehicles they converted into mobile launchers. I haven’t seen any railguns or hand held rockets, but that’s about the only things they didn’t have.”

“God dammit!” Gina jumped up and began to pace. “They could take the whole battalion with that much!”

“That’s the problem,” Eric agreed. “Stein launched a drone detailing the situation and requested reinforcement, but it won’t reach here for months. It will all be over by then.”

“So we take out the control centre for the missile batteries and mines. What about the mobile launchers?”

“I’m glad you asked. Did I ever tell you I’m a dab hand with explosives?”

Gina groaned. He was a Viper; he was a dab hand at everything!

Eric gave her another grin. “Once we’re done, we pull out and let the flyboys soften the place up ready for a battalion of marines to come in and kick arse.”

“That should do it,” Gina agreed.

“Let’s hope so. Thurston has declared his intention to apply for Alliance membership, and his citizens voted eighty percent in favour. The rebels seem to think that reducing the number of voting citizens will even things up in their favour. Let’s stop them shall we?”

“Absolutely!”

That night saw them on their way. The noise of the transport’s thrusters drowned out any conversation Gina might have had with Eric, but that didn’t matter. She could speak to him via comm, if she had anything to say, but it had all been said back at base.

For this mission, Eric had been outfitted with the full marine armour and sensor package. He was designated Eagle Two. His own sensors were superior of course, but he was still maintaining his cover. As far as the others were concerned, he was just a gifted amateur attached to the squad to lead them to the target.

It was night outside and they were racing at tree top level above the jungle toward the LZ. She stared into the darkness mentally preparing herself for what was to come. Eric had briefed her regarding the layout of the rebel base before they left; the defences were formidable, but if all went well she would open the way for the others before the night was out.

“Two minutes,” the pilot said over the comm.

Gina opened a channel. “Eagle One to all Eagles, comm check.”

“Eagle Two copies.”

“Eagle Three copies.”

“Eagle Four, reading you five by five.

“Eagle Five—”

Gina counted off her people trying to ignore the knowledge that she was two short. She was three short if she didn’t count Eric. He was a considerable asset, but she still missed Grace and Dan. Bob was recovering from surgery; he would probably rejoin them on the ship taking them off this rock.

Two minutes passed in a flash. Gina tensed as the pilot shut down the interior lights and activated the bay doors. As soon as the doors were fully open, the transport went into hover mode, and Gina pulled herself to her feet.

“By the numbers people,” she yelled before throwing herself into the night.

Gina grunted as the speed brake on her harness brought her up short. Her panting breath was all she heard as she eased the clutch and lowered herself quickly through the trees. There was no way the transport could have landed here. The foliage was much too thick, but there was enough room for her people to descend without too much snagging.

Once on the ground, she released her tether taking no notice as it shot back to the transport. All around her, marines were dropping to the ground, but again she took no notice. Her eyes were surveying the jungle and her sensors. Both reported no hostiles, but she had another resource.

“Eagle One, Eagle Two.”

“Eagle two, Eagle One. Go.”

“I have no hostiles. Do you concur?”

“Eagle Two, no hostiles. Repeat no hostiles.”

“Good.” Gina said breathing easier. “Take point Eagle Two.”

“Eagle Two copies.”

“Eagle One to all Eagles. Two has point. Keep your sensors on passive. Move out.”

“Eagle Four, Eagle One.”

“What is it Pete?” She said as she followed Eric at a crouching deliberate walk.

“We won’t find nothing on passive, Gina. I think I should go active.”

“Negative Eagle Four. Follow the plan.”

“Eagle Four copies,” Pete said with a sigh.

Gina couldn’t explain about Eric, or that his Viper sensors were already trawling for rebel emissions. Even if she could, she knew Pete would still want to go active. Moving through the jungle on passives felt like walking through a minefield with her eyes closed—not much fun, but announcing her presence to all and sundry was not her idea of fun either. She trusted Eric’s abilities, and she trusted the plan they had worked out.

Gina had her night vision optics set on X2 to magnify what little there was to see. Trees, trees, and more trees. Her mikes were set on high gain, but all she heard was a gentle rustling as her marines moved carefully through the undergrowth. Eric was utterly silent. She knew what he was, but she was still impressed. Her marines were good. The little noise they made would not be heard. Even her mikes barely picked it up, but Eric seemed to float through the jungle hardly putting his weight down.

Suddenly he went to ground and waved everyone into cover.

Gina went to one knee amid the foliage scanning her surroundings with her weapon leading the way. Dialling up X4 on her optics, she looked passed Eric but saw nothing. Her sensors reported the usual background heat sources, but nothing the size of a man. Animals often showed up. Her sensors reported nothing human ahead of them, yet Eric was a Viper. If he thought there was something, then there was.

Dialling back to X1, she looked back to see her people crouched and ready. Satisfied they were all under good cover, Gina turned back to speak with Eric, but he had moved. She swore under her breath until she located him stalking something up ahead. She didn’t dare distract him.

According to her sensors, he was stalking a target that her software insisted was a bear. Not that this God-forsaken planet had bears, and if it did, they wouldn’t be in the tropical zone, but that was what her software insisted it was. A bear, not a man. As she had come to expect in the border worlds, the Goddamned software interpreted the sensor data into Earth terms. Its programmers could hardly be expected to know that she wasn’t on Earth could they?

Gina snorted in disgust.

The core worlds provided the Alliance with downloads detailing the native wildlife to avoid this kind of thing, but border worlds rarely had the money for the in depth studies required to compile them. The military had to make do, but that meant the sensor data was often interpreted incorrectly. Luckily, Humans were quite distinctive. The software rarely interpreted a Human profile as anything else, but it seemed to have failed this time.

Gina watched her sensors as Eric went to ground again. His target was not moving, which said to her it was unlikely to be an animal. Suddenly, Eric moved in a burst of speed that only a Viper could produce. He pounced like some kind of big cat. He was a predator in that moment. Gina shivered in excitement as he took his prey down.

“Eagle Two, Eagle One.”

“Eagle One, Eagle Two. Go.”

“One hostile neutralised. You can bring them up.”

“Copy one hostile neutralised. Is he a single?”

“Seems to be. I have no other targets in range.”

“Is this standard procedure for the rebels?” Gina asked intently.

“No,” Eric said grimly. “She had comm equipment, but she didn’t have time to fire off a warning. I have no idea what she was doing out here. Unless they know we’re coming.”

Gina nodded, that was what she had been thinking. “We’re moving up. Eagle One clear.”

“Two clear.”

Gina stood and waved the others forward before moving out. When she reached Eric, she hunkered down beside him, while the others took position in a circle around them looking outward in all directions.

Eric was speedily searching the corpse, but he hadn’t found anything of note. The rebel was a woman of approximately twenty-five years of age. Eric had killed her with a knife across the throat. Silent and efficient, Gina approved.

“Anything?”

“Nothing much. She hasn’t been out here long.”

Gina looked the question at him.

“She brought her lunch with her, it’s still hot.” Eric said pointing to one side.

Gina nodded and moved to the perimeter to keep watch. Why had she been set to watch this approach? Why alone? Surely, it made more sense to watch in pairs.

“No way he’s a civy, gunny.” Pete Westfield whispered through his open visor. “Did you see how easy he made that kill? He a spook?”

Gina shrugged. “He’s a concerned citizen who knows the target.”

“Yeah right,” Pete said with a snort. “He’s a damn spook,” he said this time with assurance.

Gina didn’t disabuse him of the notion and a moment later Eric was again leading the way. Gina slapped her visor down and followed Pete who was now in the number two slot. As before, they moved in single file, silent and careful. If her data was accurate, they should reach the target in another hour.

The darkness was utterly complete, but the low light amplification of their optics brightened the night sufficiently for their needs. Conversation was kept to a minimum, even though it would take a miracle for the rebels to locate their frequencies. Scrambled as they were, overhearing wouldn’t get them very far, but it would give away the fact someone was coming.

Eric moved stealthily as before. Gina found herself envying him his ease of motion. He exuded confidence and strength. Whether or not he felt that way within himself she didn’t know, but he certainly gave that impression. She had worked and trained for fifteen years as a marine. She knew she was good at her job, but she also knew that she was a child compared to a Viper.

S.A.G were special. They were stronger, faster, and more deadly than any Human could ever hope to be. They healed faster; they could take horrendous damage and keep on going. They lived much longer; or rather, they would if they weren’t killed in action. Out of two thousand built to fight the Merkiaari, only eighty-nine survived. The losses had never been replaced except for a token to round their number to one hundred.

Vipers frightened people. Many said Vipers were dangerous to the Alliance. Gina knew it was crap, but many unenlightened people believed it. Those from Bethany’s World were the most vocal in opposing new construction, but none of the core worlds had fought the decision very hard. The Merkiaari were defeated they said, what need for Vipers now?

Short-sighted politicians made her want to puke. The Merkiaari might have been defeated, but that didn’t mean they were gone forever. Who knew what they were up to? Who was to say Vipers might not be needed again in some distant time?

Eric slowed his advance then went to his belly and crawled the last few metres. Gina didn’t need to give the order to her people. One moment they were moving in a crouch, the next they went to ground and hid themselves in the foliage. She crawled up beside Eric and followed his pointing finger to the target. She nodded and opened a channel.

“Eagle One to all Eagles. Target in sight, move up and spread out either side of my position.”

As her people moved up, Gina surveyed what she could see of the rebel base. The trees gave way to a small open area about a hundred and fifty metres ahead. She could see a dimly lit compound with two tracked vehicles parked within it. Guards were pacing the perimeter at intervals, but they were of little concern. They weren’t equipped with night vision optics and were essentially blind.

The laser towers Eric mentioned were just visible in the gloom, but the turrets themselves were lost to the night. There was no way to be sure if they were operational. She couldn’t see the missile batteries he had mentioned, but the snub barrels of the sentry guns were all too apparent. They would have to be dealt with before they did anything else.

“Automated,” she said noting the sensor arrays. “Heat sensors?”

“And motion activated,” Eric agreed. “But they had all kinds of trouble with the local wildlife tripping the alerts. They had to dial back their sensitivity to stop the things fragging everyone. I won’t have a problem getting close to them.”

“And the rest of us?”

Eric looked at her for a long moment in consideration. “You wouldn’t get within a hundred metres.”

Gina was hardly surprised. “That’s what I figured. Is there any way you can tell if the lasers are active?”

“Not until they power up the coils. They’re not powered right now, but that doesn’t mean much.”

“What model?”

“Not sure. They might be the old H&K 2000.”

She whistled silently. “Heavy stuff, but they always did take a minimum of two minutes to power up.”

“I know, but they might be a newer model. I only glimpsed them for a second as I escaped.”

Gina pondered her options. She wasn’t here to take the rebels captive, and she certainly wasn’t here to take the base. Her primary mission was to deactivate the missile batteries, but if she could reduce the rest of the defences as well, so much the better.

“We’ll use the launchers.”

“No.”

Gina tensed. “Are you pulling rank?”

Eric hesitated. “No.”

“Then we use the launchers.” She said and activated her comm. “Eagle One to Eagles Four and Nine. Get set up, but wait for the command.”

“Eagle Four copies.”

“Eagle Nine copies.”

Pete and Geoff shuffled away to either side to set up the launchers. If all went well, they would take out the towers before the lasers could be powered up.

Gina shifted her attention to what she could see of the mine entrance—not a great deal in the dark. She switched to thermal imaging, but again, there was nothing to see. Where was everybody? Where were all the rabid and rebellious terrorists? All she could find were a couple of civvies playing soldier.

Back in the monochrome world of light amplification, Gina studied the guards. She did not think much of them. They were completely oblivious to her presence. They were walking the perimeter as if motion sensors had never been invented! How the idiots had ever been given such responsibility, was beyond her. They were acting like a couple of goons on Zelda’s show!

“Fools...” she muttered.

Eric nodded. “Nothing but foolish children Gina, but still dangerous. Anyone can set a fire that will burn your house down—even wilful children. The Alliance is full of them. You don’t know how many times I have—never mind.”

Gina wondered what he had been about to say, but her thought was interrupted by a warning beep from her headset. “Eagle One, Eagle nine, go.”

“Eagle Nine in position.”

“Copy Geoff. Wait orders.”

“Copy.”

Gina changed frequencies. “Eagle Six status?”

“Just about done Gunny. I had to move further than planned. The damn trees were in my way.”

“Copy that. On the command, I want two rounds apiece on the sentry guns. The chances are good that the turrets contain AA lasers—the old H&K2000 model.”

“That’s handy,” came Pete’s muttered reply.

Gina ignored the sarcasm. “I want the towers gone as soon as you finish with the guns. Copy?”

“Copy that. My pleasure to serve.”

Gina grinned and changed channels to give Geoff similar orders. Eric was watching the base intently while she spoke with her people. He had a vaguely puzzled look upon his face.

Gina was instantly plunged into darkness as she opened her visor, but she did not need her imaging systems to see Eric. “What’s wrong?”

“I don’t know, something’s not right. It’s too quiet.”

That was a bonus to Gina’s way of thinking. She had surprise on her side. “It’s after midnight.”

“That’s the point. When I was here last, the rebels moved around mostly at night to avoid detection.”

Gina frowned into the darkness. There was nothing to cause concern, and that lack suddenly sparked it. It made her nervous. Trying to shake her unease off, she concentrated on business. “I’ve ordered the towers lit up after the guns. With luck, they won’t know what’s hit them until too late.”

Eric nodded. “I will take out the guards. Be ready to lead your people after me. Do not deviate from my path Gina, and that is an order.”

“Aye-aye sir.” She said automatically and was glad the others had not heard her when Eric glared. He was supposed to be a civvy. He really did not like her calling him sir. She wondered why.

Eric held up five fingers and began counting down.

Gina quickly slapped her visor closed and contacted Pete and Geoff. “…three, two, one, NOW!”

Pooomf! Pooomf! Pooomf! Pooomf!

The first four rounds were still in the air when another four were launched to join them. Explosions shattered the night and Gina’s optics flared white as the flashes overloaded sensitive pickups. She switched to thermal imaging for a moment before giving it up as a bad job. She would have to rely on her MK1 eyeballs for now.

Pooomf! Pooomf! Pooomf! Pooomf!

The sentry guns were gone—turned to pillars of fire and flashes of light as their ammo cooked off. Gina winced as a particularly violent detonation shook the air. She ducked as something whirred overhead and struck the trees behind.

It was bloody dangerous out here!

Eric’s pulsar was tracking and firing. Gina watched him pick out one target after another with unfailing accuracy. It was like watching an automated sentry gun. He was machine-like in his precision.

Gina had never believed the propaganda about the 501st. That they were consummate soldiers, yes; that the S.A.G had saved humanity at a time when nothing else could have—absolutely, but that they were inhuman robots incapable of real feelings… robots that killed without compunction or mercy? No.

Seeing Eric like this shook her convictions, but then she remembered that this was Eric and not some machine. She knew him. At least she knew him enough to discount most of the stories.

Pooomf! Pooomf! Pooomf! Pooomf!

Gina watched the first tower fall, but she did not have time to see it strike the ground. Eric had finished his methodical butchery and was getting ready to move into the minefield.

“Eagles Four and Nine hold position. The rest of you follow me. Two has point.”

Gina hastened to follow Eric as he meandered this way and that. They were careful to follow his movements exactly. Only he knew the safe route through the minefield… if the rebels hadn’t changed it.

Gina breathed easier when they reached the perimeter fence without mishap. Eric cut the wire and was inside on his belly before she could blink. She followed and lay next to one of the makeshift APCs. Her team lay prone amongst the shadows as they leapt and cavorted with the flames.

Both vehicles, though civilian in design, had been extensively modified through application of armour plating. Gina could see the twin snub barrels of what looked like an M306A pulsar. That kind of weaponry was a serious threat to the regiment’s transports and needed taking care of.

“Eagles Six and Seven. Take care of those pulsars.

“Copy.”

“Copy.”

While her people took care of the pulsars by application of C15 (remote detonated charges), she tapped Eric on the shoulder and raced across the compound toward the mineshaft.

“No guards?” Gina said as she reached the mine entrance.

“Overconfident,” Eric said though he didn’t sound sure.

Gina used her sensors to scan for the rebels, but the shaft seemed deserted.  “Take us to the command centre.”

Eric nodded and led the way inside. Gina had her pulsar ready, but she was still taken by surprise. She hit the dirt as the rebels opened up on her. Eric rolled to the left and used the tunnel wall to shield himself while she laid down covering fire.

Eric fired and took a rebel’s leg off at the knee. The shrill screaming was an efficient way of distracting the man’s comrades, and he took full advantage. Almost as soon as the screaming began, the fight ended with his pulsar bolts finding targets. Fire from the rebels ceased as the last man fell. The remaining rebel continued screaming in agony, but neither she nor Eric took any notice. They were too busy charging into the empty command centre.

“What the hell is going on?” Gina snarled looking at the empty consoles.

“Don’t know,” Eric said as he began punching up views on the monitors. “The barracks and motor pool are both empty,” he murmured. “The whole place is abandoned.”

“Abandoned or just empty at the moment?”

“What?”

“Those guards you killed hadn’t abandoned the place had they? They fought as if this place was important.”

Eric looked around again. “They’ve gone on a raid!”

Gina nodded grimly. “Disable the missile batteries.”

Eric nodded and began trashing the consoles.

While Eric vented his anger on the consoles, Gina took a moment to contact her people. “Eagle One to Eagles Four and Nine. It’s all in the crapper here. Come in and meet me.”

“Eagle Four copies.”

“Eagle Nine copies.”

“I’m done.” Eric said looking up from a smoking monitor.

She looked around at the destruction with approval. “Let’s go, and don’t forget your prisoner.”

Eric nodded and ducked out the door to retrieve the still screaming rebel.

From the doorway, Gina looked back and shrugged. She slung her rifle and unclipped a brace of grenades from her belt. Weighing them in her palm, she shrugged again before depressing the triggers and lobbing them underhand through the door.

“Fire in the hole!” Gina shouted and sprinted down the tunnel. Both grenades went off and the tunnel roof collapsed as she ran into the compound. Outside, numerous bonfires still lit the night.

Gina took a second to reassure herself that all her people were unharmed before contacting base. “Eagle One, Gold One.”

“Gold One, Eagle One. Go.”

“The mission is a bust sir. We neutralised the lasers, missile launchers, and pretty much the entire base.”

“I hear a but coming, Gina.” Major Stein said.

“Yes sir, there’s definitely a but. Apart from a few guards, the damn rebels are missing. Eric thinks they may have chosen tonight for some kind of raid. I concur sir.”

“Copy that,” Stein said grimly. “I think I know their target and there’s not much time. I’m sending the transport to pick your team up.”

“Understood. Eagle One clear.”

“Gold One clear.

Gina turned her attention to Eric and his prisoner. Her marines had fallen in and set up a defensive ring around her and Eric. The prisoner stopped screaming as Lauren pumped a dose of Fentanyl into him. Although its effect was of a short duration, Fentanyl Citrate was the strongest narcotic they carried. He was hardly likely to die from the loss of a leg, but if he didn’t cooperate he would wish he had.

“What is the target?” Eric asked intently.

“Fuck you!” The wild-eyed man spat.

“Fuck me?” Eric said mildly. “I don’t think so.” He said and crushed the man’s stump viciously.

“AEiii!” The rebel screamed and jerked trying to get free but Eric wouldn’t allow it.

Gina swallowed but didn’t look away. Pete glanced over his shoulder at her, but she waved him back to his survey of the compound. They didn’t need to be taken by surprise twice in one night.

Looked at one way, the mission was a success. Her single squad had destroyed the rebel’s entire base. Looked at another way, the entire mission was a bust. Destroying the base without destroying the rebels was pointless; they would just set up somewhere else. Eric must be sick at the thought of all his work wasted. He had lived here undercover for weeks while learning what he needed to finish the rebels, but now all his work was threatened. No wonder he was pissed at being bad-mouthed by this scum of a rebel.

“God don’t! No more—I’ll talk!”

“Are you sure?” Eric said with another twist of the bloody stump. “I don’t like lies.”

“God! No lies I swear!” The rebel screamed. “They’re hitting the parliament building!”

“When?”

“Noon!” He screamed. “The President re-opens it at noon!”

Eric nodded. “Good boy.”

Gina opened a channel. “Eagle One to Gold One.”

“Red One, Eagle One. Gold One is out of contact.”

“Copy Red One. I have the target, Lieutenant. The rebels are hitting the parliament building at noon today.”

“Copy noon today. Stein guessed the target, but we didn’t know exactly when. Well done.”

“Thanks Lieutenant. Eagle One clear.”

“Red One clear.”

“They’re sending the transport,” Gina said over the all units channel. “The Major guessed the target would be the parliament building. If I know him, he’ll be laying on a reception for them.”

“We’ll know soon enough,” Eric said toward the west.

Gina looked up trying to find what had caught his attention, but she couldn’t see anything until she used her sensors at max range. A small blip appeared with the regiment’s IFF signalling its I.D clearly as a marine transport.

“As soon as the transport lands, I want you all on board.” She said.

“What about the prisoner?” Pete asked.

Before Gina had a chance to answer, Eric did it for her with his pulsar. One shot, and they no longer had a prisoner. She looked at the smoking hole where the prisoner’s face had been and then up at Eric who was just then flicking the safety back on.

“What prisoner?” Eric said ignoring the seven pulsars aimed at him.

Over the noise of the transport’s landing, Gina ordered weapons down and lowered her own pulsar. “Never do that again,” she said to Eric through her open visor. “Marines don’t work that way.”

“No?” Eric said coldly. “Well, I’m no marine.”

Gina stared at him then turned away to order her people aboard the transport. Minutes later they were speeding over the jungle toward the city and another fight.

“He’s a spook,” Pete said privately. “What do you expect?”

Gina shrugged. She knew Eric wasn’t a spook and that made his actions worse to her mind. S.A.G were special. In her opinion, Eric had just dishonoured his unit.

*    *    *

“It’s confirmed Mister President,” Major Stein said.

“But you said the attack on the rebel base would finish them. You promised me it would finish them.”

“Fortunes of war Mister President. We attacked the base and destroyed it. The few guards they left behind were eliminated, but the bulk of the rebel forces are now known to be planning an attack right here at noon today.”

“You are certain. Absolutely certain?”

“There are no guarantees with this kind of thing, but all indications point to an attack here at noon.”

Thurston threw his head back to swallow his drink in one gulp. “God I don’t need this. Don’t ever be tempted to run for political office Major.”

“I’ll keep that in mind sir.”

“Do,” Thurston said with a small smile. “So, what’s the plan this time?”

It was Stein’s turn to hesitate. “You’re not going to like it I’m afraid.”

“Let me be the judge of that.”

Stein shrugged and told him.

Thurston stared in shock. “You’re right. I damn well don’t like it!”

“But…” Stein began but he was silenced by Thurston’s raised hand.

“I said I don’t like it, but I like the alternative even less. You will do your best to keep the damage light?”

Stein sighed in relief. A politician who was also a reasonable man was a rare commodity, but Thurston seemed to be one all the same. “Of course sir, but I cannot speak for the rebels. You and your government will be moved via the tunnels to a safe location. I can, and I do, promise you your safety. As for this building and the plaza… all I can say is that I’ll do my best.”

“Well then, that will have to do.” Thurston said with a smile.

“I need for you and your people to make a big entrance. There is some danger of the rebels attacking you on route, but I think it’s more likely that they will wait.”

“I agree. There is symbolism involved in killing us within the seat of our power.”

“Yes sir, but I was thinking of how much easier it is for them to take you all in a confined space such as the hall of representatives.”

Thurston smiled. “That too.”

*    *    *

“I’m no hero,” Eric said to Gina later that day while she waited for the order to open fire. “Get those notions out of your head. I do my duty to the Alliance with every breath I take. My decision was to execute a terrorist last night, and that too was my duty.”

“Duty? Who decides when duty becomes murder?”

“I do as a Captain of the 501st.” He said without rancour.

“You must report to somebody, be held accountable by somebody.”

“I report to my superiors as you do. The General reports directly to Admiral Rawlins.” Eric took a breath and went on in a milder tone. “Don’t judge me Gina, you know nothing of what it takes to be a Viper. We aren’t just robots that kill to order.

“We were constructed to kill Merki, and we do it well. That frightens people, but the war was a long time ago. Things are different now. I spend all my time these days pissing on fires—trying to stop those wilful children we spoke of burning the Alliance down. We have discretion, perhaps too much, but without it the Alliance could not have survived as long as it has.” He stared into the plaza continuously scanning for targets. “Besides, you have less right to judge me than others I could name.”

“What do you mean by that?” Gina said in annoyance.

“Aren’t you the one who nearly allowed the torture of a prisoner because he killed some of your people?”

“That was different!”

“I don’t see how.” Eric said. “I am nearly three-hundred and thirty years old Gina. You can’t know what it’s like seeing the Alliance stumbling from one avoidable bush war to another over and over again. I have penetrated terrorist cells so many times that the number blurs in my memory. No matter what I do, the same types of people go on repeating the same types of mistakes. I chose to stop that man permanently, if I hadn’t, he would have been setting bombs and killing the innocent again in a year. They just never learn. So don’t judge me until you have lived as long as I have and seen what I have.”

Three hundred years of fighting terrorists? God, she had no idea. What must it be like seeing mistakes happen over and over knowing they were going to happen yet being unable to prevent them? It must be appalling.

“I’m sorry.”

“Forget about it. I would have reacted exactly the same way at your age, except I was fighting Merki then.”

“You fought in the war?”

“Of course, we were constructed for that purpose.”

“I thought you might have…  you know, been built after.”

“No. We fought the Merkiaari, and there were eighty-nine of us left out of twenty-five hundred at the end. The council allowed eleven more units to be constructed to bring our numbers to an even one hundred, but those eleven had already been part way into the construction process. It was a mercy that they were allowed to be completed.”

“Surely the council would not have left them half finished!” She said in shock. Surely no one would have denied those soldiers a normal life.

Eric’s face twisted in a snarl. “You have more trust in the council than I then. The councilman for Bethany’s World campaigned hard to have us all scrapped, but public opinion was on our side. For a time, we really were heroes, but then fear replaced gratitude and here we are almost three hundred years later.”

Eric had a bitter streak a klick wide, but it was hard to blame him. His regiment decimated and everyone afraid the Vipers would turn on them; it was enough to turn anyone sour. Gina wished she didn’t know all this, she had been far happier in her ignorance. Eric said he wasn’t a hero, but he was more a hero to her now for fighting on, than he had been the day the Merkiaari were defeated.

Gina shifted position just a little. She wanted to keep an eye on the elevator doors. The Lt was with Stein and had been for almost an hour. She wished he would hurry back from the briefing. If he didn’t show up soon, she would have to start without him!

“Look alive people,” Major Stein’s voice said over the comm. “The rebels are making their move. I have ten APCs approaching the plaza from the north with many civilian vehicles as escort. Approximately a thousand rebels inbound. Satellite feeds indicate assorted pulsars and small arms as well as M306A’s on the APCs.

“Alpha Company will concentrate on the APCs. I want them all burning before they turn those pulsars on us. Bravo Company will concentrate its fire on the civilian vehicles. Charlie Company will take targets of opportunity and defend the parliament building from any incursion. Good luck.”

“Eagle One to all Eagles. You heard the Major, we take out the APCs, and that doesn’t mean giving up our cover. Let them come to us. Geoff, you hose them with the AAR. Try to bottle them up as they approach the fountain.”

“Never liked that fountain anyway,” Geoff said with glee.

Gina ignored that to sight into the plaza. She and her squad were just inside the main doors and should see some action. Other squads were with them, but the bulk of Alpha Company was on the first floor. It looked as if she would have to start without the lieutenant after all. Boy, was he going to be pissed!

“Wait… wait…” she said as the vehicles entered the plaza. “Now! Let them have it!”

Gina added her fire to that of her squad, but it was a mere sideshow to the heavy thudding of the AAR. Geoff targeted an MPV near the rear of the rebel formation and it blew up spectacularly well. The burning vehicle crashed back to earth blocking the route out of the plaza. Gina nodded with approval at his choice of target.

The rebels were taken by surprise by the first explosion, but as the APCs blew up one after another, they went to ground. They had lost a considerable edge with the destruction of the heavy pulsars in the APCs, but each of the surviving rebels took it upon himself to open up on the parliament building.

The result was inconclusive with regard to the Alliance forces on the ground floor, but Charlie Company on the second floor took heavy casualties. Gina’s squad was unhurt, but the same could not be said for the parliament building.

Windows blew in as pulsar fire ripped the building’s facade to shreds. The marines hunkered down as the rebels pumped overwhelming fire into the building in an effort to suppress the storm that had destroyed their vehicles and was in the process of killing them. Fire from the marines was reduced to a trickle as plascrete walls and columns were pocked and hammered by slug throwers and plasma from the rebel pulsars.

Geoff killed the fountain he hated so much, and in so doing deprived the rebels its use as cover. He left off when it was reduced to a smoking crater, but then he turned the AAR on the shop fronts where most of the enemy were attempting to hide.

“Hand me the launcher would you?” Gina said in a conversational voice.

Eric handed her the shoulder rig and slid a box of ammunition closer before opening up with his pulsar again.

The outgoing fire from the marines increased again until it was a hurricane compared to the rebels light drizzle. No word had been heard from the Major since Charlie Company was hit at the start of the action, but no one needed orders to kill the killers of marines. Eric was using single shot and making every round count. Bodies were piling up as he methodically moved along the line of rebels.

“You should have been a marine sniper,” Gina said as she loaded the launcher with an HE contact fused rocket.

“Been one,” Eric said absently. “Not a marine, a sniper I mean.”

“Oh?”

Eric fired again. “That’s how I was recruited. The colonel liked my moves and the next thing I knew I was going into surgery. When I came out I was no longer a man.”

That was a strange way to put it. Many people said similar things, but she hadn’t expected to hear it from him. “You’re still Human Eric.” Gina said adjusting the targeting display.

“Sometimes,” he agreed.

Gina found what she was looking for—a group of rebels that seemed to be directing the fighting. They were doing a passable job, and she didn’t like that. The rebels were amateurs, yet they had succeeded in keeping her head down and were advancing to a point where they would be ready to storm the building in moments.

“Time to take care of business,” she said and pressed the commit button on her display.

A high-pitched beeping told Gina the rocket was locked on and she depressed the trigger. The rocket flew straight on target and detonated in the centre of the command group. A crater was blasted into the plaza and the building collapsed with a thunderous roar. Collateral damage was extremely heavy, Gina noted with approval. Rebels were dead on all sides, and those not wounded were attempting to retreat.

“Load me,” she said and Eric did.

Gina targeted another group and fired. She didn’t kill many, but the explosion added to the chaos she had generated by taking out the leaders.

Eric loaded her again as rockets began launching from the upper floors. She had hoped for, but not counted on it. Stein had wanted damage kept to a minimum, but there had been no word from him since the battle began. By using her rockets, she had likely opened herself to criticism, but better that than her people dead.

She launched one more rocket then discarded the rig in favour of her pulsar. “Eagle One to any surviving officer, come in.”

“Red… Red One, Eagle…” A halting voice came over the comm. “I’m hurt bad… Stein is down, don’t know if he’s alive.”

“Orders sir?” Gina said intently. “Orders sir!”

“Orders?” Lieutenant Strong said vaguely. “Kill them all,” he whispered. “—Out and kill them all.”

“Red One?” She said but received no response. “Lieutenant?”

“Blue One, Eagle One.”

“Eagle One, Blue one. Go.”

“Stein is down, unconscious. Strong is dead. What are we doing?”

Shit! How the hell should she know? “What about Captain Noble and the others?” Gina asked and fired a burst out the shattered windows.

“Dead.”

“Lieutenant Goldman?”

“Dead too. They’re all out of it Gina. The rebels got lucky. They were on the way back to their units when Charlie Company got hit.”

“Wake up Stein.” Gina said and ducked as rebel fire hit her position and showered her with plascrete fragments. Something was burning nearby, but she didn’t have time to worry about it.

“I’ve tried. No go. You’re senior to me, what are we doing?”

“We’re following Strong’s last order.” She said coldly and switched her comm to battalion wide. “Alpha and Bravo Companies move in pursuit of the rebels by squads. Charlie Company will hold here and see to the wounded.”

“Blue One copies.”

“Green Two copies. Moving out.”

“Copy that, we’re moving.”

“—One copies—”

“—Three, on our way.”

“—Two—”

She listened to the acknowledgements as they came in, but was too busy to answer or pay very much attention. She had no doubt her order would be followed; they were marines.

Gina waved her people forward and gave them covering fire until they found good firing positions of their own. Eric was by her side as she ran in a crouch toward a doorway. Using it as cover, Eric fired from one knee while she stood erect above him and took pot shots at what was left of the rebels.

She fired and took down a rebel attempting to retreat. She noted others pulling back in the same direction. Her thoughts raced as she realised they were getting away. She couldn’t allow that. Her eyes narrowed as an idea came to her. Without hesitation, she ordered five squads forward and another five down the side streets with the aim of squeezing the rebels between multiple fields of fire.

She was in her element, never had she felt so complete. The rebels were withering under a storm of plasma bolts as more and more marines added their own fire to the weight already hammering them. One or two rockets went out but not many; most had been expended on the vehicles at the beginning of the action.

The heavy thudding of multiple AARs blotted out the hiss-crack of plasma rifles. The occasional grenade exploded with men and pieces of men raining in all directions. Over it all Gina heard the battle chatter of nearly a full battalion, and she, a lowly gunnery sergeant was directing it into battle.

Gina snatched a grenade free of her belt and rolled it through an open door. She ducked back as the hiss-crack of a rebel pulsar sought her life. A second later, the rebel’s fire was silenced by the dull whump of her exploding grenade.

She ducked forward and back taking note of the building’s interior and the bodies lying motionless upon the floor. When no one fired at her, she dove inside and up the stairs. The second floor seemed deserted, but…

Gina raised an eyebrow at Eric, “Anyone inside?”

“Two,” he nodded at the first door. “One near the window. The second is hiding behind the door—left side.”

Gina nodded and aimed her rifle at the wall. “About there?”

“Just a bit to your right… that’s it,” he said as Gina made a correction.

Gina squeezed her trigger and held it down. The wall exploded into dust, and Eric charged through the hole. She quickly followed, but it was over before she could blink. The rebel by the window was dead. Only a red stain remained where the other one had stood by the door.

She took a quick look out the window and noted another attempted breakout by the rebels. She estimated their numbers and trotted back downstairs already calling ahead to Alpha Company’s second squad. Eric followed upon her heels a moment later.

An hour later it was all over, and Gina found herself feeling depressed. A strange quiet had fallen over the city broken only by the wailing sound of the emergency services tackling the blazing buildings.

Gina made her way back surrounded by her squad and entered the parliament building—what was left of it. Fire had damaged what survived the rebel attack. It was in a bad way but it was repairable.

“Stein’s awake.” Staff Sergeant ‘Bulldog’ Denton said as she entered the reception area. “He wants to see you.”

“Right,” she said tiredly. “Pete, see to our people. Food, water… whatever.”

“No problem.”

She nodded and followed Bulldog to the Major. “How bad is he?”

“He has a concussion, but the Doc says he’ll be fine in a few days.”

“That’s good.”

“That civvy friend of yours was with him a while ago.”

“Eric?”

“Yeah. He walked in bold as you please, and the Major ordered everyone out while they chatted. What do you think of that?”

Gina shrugged. “Maybe he wanted another take on things.”

Bulldog’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “From a civvy?”

She shrugged again, but she was saved from any further explanations when she reached the door of the conference room.

“Stein’s inside.” Bulldog said and left her to it.

Gina knocked once and entered to find a number of people attending the Major. Eric was standing to one side of the room watching the proceedings. He was wearing a Viper’s black battle dress uniform complete with rank insignia of a Captain in the 501st infantry. He nodded to her, but did not speak.

Stein was half reclining on a couch with Doctor Pearce still wearing his bloodied combat fatigues and sidearm. One look at Lieutenant Pearce’s face relieved her of some part of her worry. He was concerned for his patient, but it was nothing more than that. Stein must be on the mend.

Gina came to attention before her CO and saluted. “You wanted to see me, sir?”

Stein waved Pearce back so that he might see her better. “Yes gunny. You were aware, were you not, of my orders concerning the rebel attack?”

“Specifically sir?” She asked in puzzlement.

“Specifically the orders pertaining to collateral damage.”

Gina stiffened even more. “Yes sir. We were to keep collateral damage to a minimum, sir.”

“And did you?”

“No sir.”

“Why not?” Stein asked.

“No excuses sir.”

Stein smiled. “Relax Gina, I didn’t call you in here to ream you out. I want to hear what you did and why.”

Gina glanced at Eric, but he gave nothing away. She didn’t believe his innocent expression for one minute. He had been telling tales—she would bet her pulsar on it!

“I took command and attacked the rebels with everything at my disposal sir.”

Stein laughed but winced as a headache blossomed. “I’m aware that you attacked, Gina. How did you deploy your forces?”

“I ordered Charlie Company to hold here and defend the parliament building, while Alpha and Bravo advanced by squads into the plaza. Once the rebels had been softened up with rocket and pulsar fire, I sent five squads from each company down the side roads in an effort to flank the enemy and bring them under multiple fields of fire.”

“I see. And did that work?”

“Yes sir,” Gina said with just a trace of pride in her words. “The rebels failed to take note of the manoeuvre and were utterly destroyed some little time later.”

“Prisoners?”

“No one surrendered sir,” she said glancing at Eric who had a small smile on his face.

She hadn’t lied. The rebels had not surrendered, but then, she hadn’t given them time to surrender. Lieutenant Strong ordered her to kill them, and that is exactly what she had done—down to the last man and woman.

Stein nodded. “I will be writing a commendation in your permanent file Gina. You cared for my people when I was unable to. I am promoting you to lieutenant for your outstanding contribution to our mission here.”

Gina gasped. A battlefield commission? Such things were almost unheard of in these days.

“Well, have you nothing to say?” Stein said with a smile.

“Thank you! I mean thank you, sir, but I don’t deserve—”

“Cut the crap Gina!” Stein said with a mock glare. “You deserve it. You know it and I know it. In just a month or so, headquarters will also know it. I have no doubt they will concur with my decision, but until then you have the grade, but not the pay I’m afraid.”

“The Alliance always was stingy,” Eric said with a straight face. “Congratulations.” He said and took her hand.

“Thank you,” She said shaking his hand automatically. “The money means nothing.” She turned back to Stein. “That you believe my actions deserve this means a lot to me sir. More than you can know.” She finished in a choked voice.

Stein nodded pleased to have affected her composure. “Your actions deserve this and more. By rights, you should receive the Alliance star for bravery as well, but I thought the rank would mean more to you than another ribbon on your chest.”

It certainly did. “I have more than enough ribbons. The rank does mean more to me.”

“I knew it would.” Stein said with a small smile. “Dismissed Lieutenant.”

Gina braced and saluted before turning to leave. She could hardly wait to tell her squad the news.

*     *    *