Unity War

[Micah G]

Unity War

Major Lucas Bell watched silently as the Minister of Military Affairs Philip LeClerc’s rover traveled quickly eastward back to the safety of Hommel’s Citadel. Lucas’ brow furrowed in quiet consternation. He scanned the printed message one last time.

To: Major Lucas Bell
From: Colonel Santiago C-in-C
Sparta Command

Major Bell you are directed to assume overall command of all Spartan forces on the Western Front.

Your primary goal is to deny the enemy access to the Unity crash site until Dr. DeLagaurdia’s salvage team has thoroughly searched the site and removed all military and scientific material from the site.

Your secondary goal is to engage and destroy all Hive and Peacekeeper forces that attempt to interfere with your primary mission. You are not to engage in a general offensive operations until the primary mission is complete.

The Council and I pray for the success of this mission and have the utmost faith in the abilities of you and your command.

Hail Sparta
Signed,
Colonel C. Santiago C-in-C Spartan Republic

So, the diplomats had failed. War had come to Chiron. Mankind’s last best hope at living together in peace on this hostile new world had failed. The press had called this the Unity Crisis. Now he guessed they would call it the Unity War. Had they all gone mad? How could Sparta hope to defeat the combined might of the Peacekeepers, the Hive, and the Believers? So far, only Morgan and his Capitalistic minions had remained neutral. There were rumors that the mission xenobiologist Deirdre Sky and that the Unity Science Officer Dr. Prokhor Zakharov had formed their own factions on the South Continent but so far they were just rumors.

Sparta could easily defeat any one of them. But, all three combined? It seemed like a Herculean task indeed. They only good news was that the Believers territory lay across the Red Sea to the East. With the huge xenofields that covered the Red Sea the Believers would be hard pressed to mount an effective offense against Sparta.

Thankfully, he only had to worry about the Peacekeepers and The Hive. He snorted ruefully and the second half of his secondary mission. Mount an offensive? He would be lucky if The Moles and the UN did not overwhelm them first. He had four companies of troops to defend the entire crash site. Two speeder companies one mobile artillery company and an infantry company. The Hive alone could muster almost a combined regiment of troops. And the UN could muster at least a force the size of his. Not to mention that he had been told in no uncertain terms that reinforcements would be limited in nature for at least six months.

“I am tired that is why I am thinking like this.” He said aloud to himself.

What was it that Stonewall Jackson had said, “Never give counsel to your fears.” Or was it Lee, he could not remember. I must get a few hours sleep, he thought. Then I can plan a mobile defense and whip these bastards like a Junkyard dog on feeding day.

Lucas walked back to his command tent and into the airlock. The soft hiss of the outer door let him know that the seal had engaged and he could enter and remove his air mask. He had long ago developed what the troops had called the Chiron smile. The tight fitting Spartan air mask left a discernable callous ring around the users mouth after prolonged use. And the troops had used it as a strange badge of honor. Anyone who had one had spent a large amount of time outside of the four bases that made up the Spartan Republic.

Closing the inner door and pulling off his mask he called out, “Captain St. Cyr wake me in case of an emergency or in four hours whichever comes first.”

Captain Cynthia St. Cyr was his executive officer and though she was close to sixty other than her snow white hair she looked more like forty. She was not even on the life extending drugs that he was. Granted he was only on half treatments but he himself did not look a day over thirty five. The troops called her “The White Witch” but not her face. She was known to be a demon in a fistfight or with a knife. And her keen tactical mind made her one of the best officers under his command. The hard training regimen of a Spartan made even the elderly deadly combat opponents.

Cynthia followed Lucas to his cot then stood silently watching him with her hands clasped behind her back as Lucas lay down. After lying quietly with his eyes closed for a few minutes he knew she would stand there until he either acknowledged her presence or he woke up.

Exasperated he said quietly, “You have something to ask Captain?”

“Yes Sir, what did The MMA say?”

Noting the acronym used for the Minister of Military Affairs Lucas remained silent at first. Then he cleared his throat and spoke without opening his eyes, “You know what he said Cynthia. We are at War. Just like we suspected. I won’t order you to tell the troops to increase their alertness because I know you have already done so. I need to sleep so that I can think rationally when the time comes to make our planes.”

“So it’s just like the old days when we fought in the food riots in Houston back on old Earth”, she said quietly.

“No, Cynthia it isn’t. If we fail here it won’t be urban destruction that we face. No, here if we fail, we face annihilation.”

“We didn’t fail there and we won’t fail here sir. Not with the Gunslinger in command.”

“You know I hate that name Cynthia.”

“Oh, I know. But when you go around carrying a pair of matched .45’s in a quick draw rig what do you expect? After all, you are the fastest draw west of the Styx River. Hell, you are the fastest draw on Planet.”

“That’s what you get for being a dreamer as a child,” he said forlornly.

“So, the alliance rejected our claim on Unity?”

“Yes, Lal claims that the Unity belongs in part to everyone. Chairman Yang and Sister Miriam agree with him. The Colonel informed them of what we have already sacrificed to keep the mind worm boils away from the wreck and why it should belong solely to us. So, we have a stand off. Apparently, the Council felt that the others would not declare war to get a portion of the spoils. They were wrong.”

“Hmm.. well, personally I think we can take them all,” said Cynthia with strong conviction in her voice.

“We shall see,” he said quietly.

“One last thing Sir.”

“Yes, Captain.”

“We have conducted a sweep of the Fujikara xenofield to the south. Our xeno recon team believes we might get a visit from a sizeable mind worm boil in the near future.”

“Fine, I think I need to tell Murphy to go to take a jump off a tall cliff.”

“Corporal Murphy Sir? I don’t understand. What has he done?”

“No, not Corporal Murphy. Murphy as in the Murphy of Murphy’s Law, you know if it can go wrong…”

“It will.” She finished for him. “Yes sir. You want me to go stomp him into the ground, sir?”

“No, I want you to let me sleep for four hours Captain.”

“Yes sir.”

[Micah G]

He couldn't get the mind worms out of his mind as he drifted off to sleep. It had been what? Thirty three or thirty four years ago sense he had come across the mind worms for the first time.

He and his wife Vickie had been teamed up with Tom and Alicia Hope in the first scout speeder recon team. They had been assigned to scout the area around Sparta Command to find a suitable location for a new colony pod that was nearing completion. Once they found a good location they were to return to Sparta Command and escort the colonists to the site and help them get set up. They had found a good location sooner than they expected. It was a valley with a slow moving river that ran gently through the center of it. Good mineral deposits in the hills to the west, and rich farmlands on the east bank made it an excellent location. The only negative they had discovered was a strange field of red coral like material that stretched for miles. At the time it seemed immensely huge. Later, after finding even lager ones it was considered only average in size.

They had pulled up to the edge of the field and began taking sensor readings before they disembarked from the speeder. Lucas looked over at Tom as he checked the computer readings in the back compartment of the cramped speeder. Tom was close to his age; sandy haired with a healthy light tanned completion. His blue eyes had a natural twinkle in them that came from his odd sense of humor. That humor had kept the trip enjoyable and easy going.

Tom was like the brother Lucas never had. They had talked about their hopes and dreams for the future together. Some of those thoughts he had not even mentioned to his wife. When they needed to let off steam they would wrestle or have impromptu shooting matches to see who was the better shot. Lucas called him Tiny in reference to his lanky 6'3" frame and Tom called him Red, which was short for red neck, in reference to Lucas' rural Texas upbringing.

"So, Tiny, what is it?"

"I don't know. It appears to be some form of coral. Maybe the sea level was much higher here at one time and this is some ancient form of sea coral, that remained."

"Alicia, you are the team geologist, have you seen any signs of an ancient sea that may have covered this area at one time?"

She looked pensive at first, glanced over at her husband then looked back to Lucas and said, "no I have not seen anything that would suggest that the sea used to cover this area. "But," she added hastily, "this is an alien world. So, with out more information I can not be one hundred percent certain."

"Trying to get a straight answer out of you two can be like getting an ice cube from Satan," he chuckled.

They all laughed quietly at that. Lucas looked out the front view port at the immense field of red that stretched out before them. It disappeared in to the distance covered by the brown ground haze that was a constant reminder of the higher than Earth level of nitrogen. He hated thinking about it because of how sharply it reminded him of the fact that he was far, far from his native Kerrville and the slowly winding Guadalupe River.

His wife broke his reverie when she stated, "I am getting a headache. I need a painkiller."

"Now, that you mention it I think I am getting one as well," said Alicia as she absently rubbed her temples.

Lucas felt something as well but it did not feel like a headache. It was an annoying feeling like someone tattooing his brain. Tiny little needle taps over and over. Individually they didn't hurt but taken all together it was mildly discomforting.

"I feel something too, but I don't think it is a headache," Lucas stated flatly.

"No it's more like a tapping inside my skull," said Tom hoarsely.

Lucas was about to say something more when his vision became hazy and kaleidoscopic in nature. Looking out the main view port he saw it. It was a mass of undulating something, what was the word? He could not remember, noodle, no, spaghetti that was the word, or was it? It was becoming harder to focus and think. No it was worms! That was the word. He felt a sudden strange elation at remembering something so simple.

What was he trying to remember? Words? Worms? No, food that was what he was trying to remember. He was remembering food. It was scarce now. The blight had caused the crops to fail in the mid west. No one had enough food anymore. It was rationed out by military order now. His platoon was stationed at the downtown Houston railroad station. A large camp of squatters had formed around the area waiting for the next food train. Lt. Bell had calmly requested police support to back up his out numbered infantry platoon. But he was not expecting the train until tomorrow and by then Captain Moody would be here with the rest of the company. That would give them more than enough support to keep the squatters away from the terminal.

"Hay L T," shouted Corporal Gonzales. "We have a problem. Sergeant St. Cyr just radioed that the food train is going to be here in ten minutes."

"What? Get on the horn and talk to our contact in the police department and tell them to get people here on the double or we could have a riot on our hands."

"Yes sir," he shouted back quickly as he picked up the landline phone to call the police.

It all went to hell after that. The police were afraid to send people out. When the train arrived the crowed surged forward to the fence line.

Lucas picked up the bullhorn and spoke firmly, "attention, attention. You must stand clear. The food will be distributed fairly and impartially. You must disperse. This is a restricted area. Failure to disperse could result in arrest or worse. You must disperse."

The crowd only pressed closer. He could hear several of them shout, "Please, I need food for my baby." Or, "go ahead and shoot us, just give us some food!"

Lucas turned to Sergeant St. Cyr and said quietly, "Tell the men to lock and load. This is going to get nasty. Tell the troops to shoot high to try and disperse the crowd. They must not get over the fence."

His plan sounded good. He was sure that a few bursts of M-16 fire would cower the crowd. He was wrong. Someone in the crowd urged every one to push their children to the front of the crowd. The soldiers would not dare to kill hungry children. People held their toddlers and babies in front of them like shields as they began to scale the fence.

Lt. Bell's face was ashen and his troops were looking around nervously. He knew that if the crowd got over the fence, that he and his troops were dead and many others would go hungry. Lt. Bell ordered his men to fire over the crowd. The mob paused briefly. Sensing weakness they surged forward. He warned the crowd again but they would not listen. He grimly gave the order to shoot to kill. The bodies of the children blew apart in hideous red tangles. Tangles? No that's not right he thought. Worms. His mind focused on the worms.

That's not how it happened. There were not any worms. If he opened the hatch the worms would go away. Yes, and then there would be peace. Lucas turned and saw Tom hunched over standing weakly on his feat with great red furrows and gouges on his face where he had been clawing at his eyes. Tears of blood streamed down his face.

"I have to make it better,' Tom whispered.

Tom turned to open the locks on the hatch. And that was when Lucas remembered the laser guns. Grabbing the firing stud he pressed the trigger again and again. Directly into the mass of writhing undulating worms. The pain was getting less and less.

"Tom!" Lucas screamed. "Don't open the hatch. Don't open the hatch!"

He turned to see Tom's hand on the handle preparing to open the hatch. If Tom did they would all die. Lucas knew that with a certainty. With tears streaming down his face, Lucas used his free hand to pull his .45 free from his holster.

He carefully aimed and said, "Forgive, me Tom." Tom looked at him nodded once as he started to move the unlocking handle.

The boom of the shot being fired was the loudest sound Lucas had or ever would hear in his life. The door was covered in red gore as Tom's body slumped soundlessly to the floor. His pale blue eyes fading as Lucas watched the life drain away from his best friend. A sickly grin remained plastered on his friends face as he passed into the next world. All three of the occupants of the little speeder cried for a very long time. The slight sound of the ruby red laser as it sliced through the ever-shrinking mind worm boil was the only sound heard for miles around.

[Micah G]

Lucas sat bolt upright on his cot. Christ on the Cross, he cursed. He had not had that dream for years. Why now? He glanced at his antique watch and noticed that he had slept for three and a half hours. That was more time than I expected to get, he thought. He stood up slowly and walked to the sink. Dampening a washrag he rubbed the grime from his face and the back of his neck. He heard someone walk up behind him and stop.

Let’s see he thought, light step, even, and tentative. That would make it Lt. Dubrick.

“Yes, Lieutenant. What is it?”

“Sir, Sergeant North reports a small Peacekeeper force trying to flank us from the North, through the Unity forest.”

Apparently when Unity crashed on Chiron a forestry pod broke loose and crashed to the north of Unity. Over the years sense the crash the forest had grown to a very large size indeed.

“How many are there, and what is their ETA?”

“Two speeder companies, and their ETA is about four maybe five hours.”

“Two speeder companies? No infantry or artillery?” Lucas said as he turned to face Lt. Dubrick.

“No sir, just the two speeder companies,” said Lt. Dubrick as he turned waving a hand at the 3D holo tank. “I can show you on the video feed.”

Lucas walked over and stared at the monitor, noting the major landmarks in the area. In the center of the screen was the Unity crash site. To the east across two small ridgelines lay Hommel’s Citadel. To the south lay Planet’s largest known xenofungus field the Fujikara field. An endless stretch of barely explored territory void of life with the exception of the mind worms and a few hermits. Little was known about the Fujikara field. To the west lay Hive territory with The Chairman’s Burrow being the closest base. It was rumored that the base held between three to five thousand people. To the North lay the Unity forest.

“Zoom in on grid number Tango Zulu 56, 12.,” said Lt. Dubrick. “There sir. They are moving along that small creek,” said Dubrick.

“Their commander is foolish. Moving through dense forest over rough terrain without infantry support is very stupid. Who is the Peacekeeper commander Lieutenant?”

“The overall commander is rumored to be Commander Haj. It is unknown who the commander of this group is sir.”

“I see. Haj, huh? Get me a detailed dossier on him as soon as possible. Notify all company commanders to meet here ASAP for a command meeting. And send out a warning order for Captain Falkirk and Dooha to saddle up their companies to roll out.”

“Yes sir,” said Lt. Dubrick. He saluted then turned to carry out his orders.

A quarter of an hour later all the company commanders and his executive officer stood watching the display monitor intently. Lucas looked at each of them briefly. At five foot four inches tall, dark skinned thick necked and humorless; Captain Dooha reminded him of human stump. Dooha was positively gifted when it came to the effective use of artillery and because of that Lucas had placed him in command of his mobile artillery battery. Captain Marcy Falkirk was raven haired, hawk nosed and of thin build. She reminded him of a strange bird of pray; constantly watching, waiting and ready to swoop down on the weak or unwary. She loved being with the troops and fussed over her infantry company like they were each her own children. Captain Karl Whitman and Captain Kel Hood each commanded a speeder company and rounded out his company commanders.

Lucas spoke in measured even tones, “the Peacekeepers apparently want to play hero. A small group has maneuvered north of us and is traveling slowly through the forest towards our position. Their force is comprised of two speeder companies. As of know it still appears that the Hive is not ready to muster their forces. General Chau is still trying to assemble his forces. But he is having trouble finding them with all of his concubines occupying his time.” Everyone chuckled at that and all had heard the rumors of General Chau’s fondness of female company. Lucas continued, “I want Captains Dooha and Falkirk to ambush them. Captain Falkirk will assume command of that operation. In the event of an ambush or trap I want Captains Whitman and Hood at ready five status. Just in the event that I need you to roll out. For the ambush team I want artillery to load airburst rounds. After a two minute bombardment I want Captain Falkirk’s company to finish off the rest. Any questions or comments?”

Captain Falkirk spoke, “what about prisoners, sir? And should we pursue if they break off?”

“You will allow any who surrender to do so. I will leave it up to your discretion Captain as to whether or not to purse in the event of retreat. Do not allow your companies to become separated or led into an ambush. The primary goal is to teach the Dove Lovers a lesson. Any other questions?”

Lucas looked around the room and no one spoke. “Good, lets roll and show them what a Spartan warrior can do. Hail Sparta!” He said as he saluted.

“Hail Sparta!” They all shouted back.

Lucas watched as they filed out of the room. Captain St. Cyr watched them with burning eyes as the others left. Lucas knew that she wanted to be out there in the forefront of the action. He sympathized with her but he needed her here to coordinate the attack with him.

“Sir… “ she started to say.

“No, Captain you will remain here in case I need you.”

“Sir, a leader leads. You know that. You don’t need me here you have a capable staff to handle any problems. I should be at the front to help observe and coordinate if needed.”

He met her gaze and held it. She was partially correct. He trusted her judgment above most of his command staff. But, the troops would fight better if their commanders were visible and taking the same risks they did.

“Fine, but Cynthia I don’t want you playing hero. You are too old for that. I need you as an officer more than I need a dead hero.”

She laughed the old fire coming back to her eyes. “I am too old to be a hero. I just need to smell the gunpowder one last time. You know I am not a spring chicken any more. This is probably my last campaign.”

“Maybe, and maybe not. Give them Hell Cynthia.”

“Of course I will. I have to keep my nickname in tact, after all.”

[Micah G]

Sgt. O’Connor watched the speeder in front of him move cautiously along the creek edge as they slowly followed behind in his speeder. His platoon was the last in line of the two companies moving slowly toward the Unity crash site. What moron thought up this plan, he thought to himself. If the Spartan’s realized they were coming they would be ripe pickings in an ambush. Of course, Commander Haj assured them that the Spartans would not know until it was too late. And once they had drawn the enemy forces north the other strike group would strike from the south over running the Spartan camp and ending the war.

He thought they should have waited until the Hive troops were ready but apparently they were having difficulties mobilizing and the officers felt that time was not on their side.

“Rapu, keep your interval. You are too close to Red One. Remember thirty yards between vehicles. If we bunch up, one hit could take out several of us.” Rapu was a new driver and had little experience in combat formation driving. This was the third time in an hour he had warned him about that. He was going to have to find a better driver after this was over.

“Sorry Sergeant. I keep forgetting. And Red One keeps changing their speed,” Private Rapu said testily.

“That is why you have to watch them and anticipate, Private. Corporal Felix and I will watch out for the Spartans. If I have to do your job I cannot do mine. And that could get us killed,” he said a little angrily.

“Hay Sarge,” said Felix.

“Yes, Felix what is it?”

“Is it true that the Spartan’s all sleep with each other so that they bond better in battle?”

“I do not know Corporal.”

“That could be nice if your CO is a woman.”

“Why is that Felix? I thought you liked men.”

“Ha, ha, very funny Sarge. You are a frikken riot.”

“Yah, well I would worry less about who is sleeping with who and more about any sneaky Spartans out looking to pop us, “ O’Connor said as he scanned the trees to their left.

They moved along quietly now and the only sound was the soft rev of the engine and the squeaking of the suspension as they followed the rest of the convoy. I do not like this one bit O’Connor thought. This feels like a trap if I ever saw one. The river makes a slow bend up ahead. He could only see half of the convoy now. This is where I would hit us if I were the Spartan commander he thought.

“Listen up guys, be ready to rock and roll. This is textbook ambush country. Half the convoy is out of sight around the bend. If we get hit it will be right here,” O’Connor said as he shifted nervously in his seat.

“Sarge, you have to be Planet’s…” started Felix but he never finished.

At just that moment the first artillery shells burst overhead. Followed quickly by the sound of demo charges going off. O’Connor could see Lieutenant Blake up ahead chest high out of the top hatch of his speeder, jerk suddenly and then slump down on the roof. Red One slowly rolled to a stop.

Felix began yelling, “It’s a trap! We have to get out of here! Get us out of here! We are all going to die!”

“Shut up Corpral, look for targets! Rapu break right! Get us out of the kill zone!”

Rapu jerked the wheel hard to the right causing their speeder to briefly rise up on two wheels as the speeder headed south.

“Do not stop, weave your way through the trees. Felix, watch our six! I do not want to get popped in the pooper as we beat feet outa here!”

O’Connor could hear the turret motors whine as the turret turned to face the rear of the vehicle. The radio quickly became a cacophony of noise as the Company discipline broke down. Calls of help were the most common. O’Connor could see Rapu’s hands, white knuckled, on the steering wheel as he jerked the vehicle around to avoid hitting trees.

The vehicle bounced along up a slight rise in the terrain quickly reaching the crest. To his horror O’Connor realized that the incline on the far side was much steeper and more broken up with boulders and tree stumps.

“Brake!” O’Connor screamed.

But it was too late. At just that moment a Spartan trooper hidden near by fired his shoulder carried rocket launcher at the fleeing speeder. The sudden lurching of the speeder as it slowed threw of the Spartan’s aim off causing the rocket to hit the rear wheel of the vehicle. The explosive force caused the speeder to veer crazily to one side causing it to roll side over side down the far side of the hill.

Everything was wrong. O’Connor felt as if the world was up side down. I must have blacked out he thought. Then he realized that he was upside down. His seat restrains holding him snuggly in his seat. What was wrong with his face? He moved his hand to his forehead and felt it covered in blood. Feeling further he felt a small gash on his temple that was bleeding heavily. He moved his other hand down to release his harness and found the locking mechanism smashed.

At that moment he heard the side hatch open and could see light stream in the darkened cabin. He started to call out to who ever had opened the door when he heard a voice from outside yell, “drop the pistol! You are a prisoner. Seconds later he heard the soft hum of a laser riffle and a loud thumping sound. Thinking quickly O’Connor let every muscle in his body go limp.

A voice from outside spoke softly, “that was a dumb idea. You should not have reached for your pistol like that.”

A second voice called, “search for survivors. And do it quickly.”

O’Connor heard someone crawl into the wrecked speeder. The person was next to Rapu. He heard some soft noises but could not guess what they were. He then felt a hand push his head from side to side. That was followed by the sensation of fingers pressed on his carotid artery. And after that he felt a tugging at his release harness.

“Well?” Called the second voice from just inside the hatch.

“The driver broke his neck and has half his head caved in. This guy has a concussion and has lost a lot of blood. Plus his safety harness is jammed,” said the voice of the man who shot Felix.

“Then leave him. He cannot get out, he’s half dead and I won’t waste medical supplies on him when we have our own wounded.

“Should I shoot him in the head, just to make sure Andre?”

“No waste of energy. Plus we aren’t murders. He will just bleed out. That is not a bad way to go if your time is up.”

“All right give me a second, I want to search for food.”

“No, Jax. No time. After the battle you can look, right now we have a job to do.”

“But I am starving Andre. We haven’t eaten all day.”

“Deal with it trooper, now lets go. We have more Doves to hunt.”

O’Connor hung motionless for what seemed like an eternity. He then moved his right hand to his right boot and retrieved a small combat knife. Taking his time he cut through the restraints and fell from his suspended seat to the roof of the cabin. He was battered and bruised but not seriously hurt. He quickly checked Rapu and discovered that the Spartan’s assessment of his medical condition was correct. O’Connor then crawled outside and checked Felix’s body. He was lying slumped down with a neat laser hole burned right through his heart. It did appear that Felix had gone for his pistol as it lay on the ground next to him. Chocking down his emotions O’Connor crawled back inside found a med kit and treated his wound. After a quick search he grabbed two water cans, the med kit and some food packets. A further search produced the laser rifle secured in the weapons locker. Securing all of the small items in a small canvas bag he quickly left the speeder. He ran quickly into the woods and then hid a small ravine. He then pulled some dead branches over his body to cover himself as good as possible. He had decided to lay still until nightfall.

[Micah G]

Andrew Hong pulled the new kid close to his face. Glanced around quickly and then spoke, “now listen, your job is simple. You keep an eye out and make absolutely sure that the area is clear. If you see anyone, anyone at all I want you to fake a sneeze. Got it?”

The new kid looked like a scarecrow. There was not much flesh on him and his ill fitting clothes just hung on him. He had been pestering them for months to let him come along on one of their freedom runs. Here in the Human Hive there was little self-expression. Every few weeks he and a few close friends would grab some spray paint find a quiet sector of the base and scrawl a quick message to let the Chairman know that he had not extinguished every trace of humanity out of them. Finally, after months of pestering, Andrew had decided to let the kid come along.

“Sure, sure… I ah, understand Andrew. You can count on me.” The kid finished with a weak grin briefly flashing on his face.

“We better be able to count on you because if you screw up and a Hive Guard comes by, we all get to take to take a vacation to the mines. So keep your eyes peeled!”

Andrew steered him to the crossway so that the kid could see anyone coming from any direction. “Now, you stand right here and don’t move. Remember, if you see anyone you sneeze and walk back our way. Got it?”
“Yeah, I got it Andrew.”

“Good.” Andrew said as he turned to walk back to Tommy standing by the wall.

“So, what message should we send to the masses today Tom?”

“You know I am partial to either, Blow it out your hole, Chairman Yang, or Shine the light of freedom,” said Tom with a sly grin.

“Well we used, Shine the light of freedom the last time, so lets use the other one. Besides I never tire of seeing the Chairman’s backside waving in the air.” Andrew was referring to the caricature they drew with this slogan. It depicted the chairman grabbing his ankles with his posterior waving in the air and a devilish grin on his face. Only minutes later they had finished painting their latest mural on the wall.

“Tom, you are a modern day Michelangelo. This is your best Chairman yet.”

“You did manage to catch the Chairman’s smile very well,” said a deep unknown voice from behind them.

Andrew turned to look over his shoulder to see two Hive Guard militiamen staring at them with grim faces. His mouth formed a visible O in surprise. Their dark blue uniforms looked almost black in the dim light. Their tinted eye visors made them look vaguely like art deco androids. The taller of the two had three red stripes on his right arm identifying him as a Sector Sergeant. And both had retractable batons in their hands ready to strike at a moments notice.

“Yes Militiaman Van Hoyt, I have to agree, a very good likeness indeed. Maybe the Magistrate will take that into consideration when he sentences them both to the mines. All right boys against the wall,” he said firmly.

Andrew turned quickly and using a spray can in each hand sprayed the visor of each Guard using the paint to block their vision. The Sergeant instinctively flipped the baton out narrowly missing Andrew as he ducked left trying to avoid the deadly blow. After turning and starting to run at full speed he noticed that Tom was not following. Militiaman Van Hoyt had also struck out instinctively with his baton but unlike the Sector Sergeant, Van Hoyt’s blow hit Tom square in the mouth. Tom lay on the ground clutching bloody hands over his mouth as a thick stream of blood and shattered teeth lay on the ground. Realizing there was no hope for his friend Andrew turn and fled once more.

After quickly blending into the crowd he knew he had to get home soon and get supplies. Andrew knew that Tom would not hold up long if the Hive Guard pressed the issue of who their other assailant was. Damn, that Kid. Where had he been? Andrew’s thoughts raced as he climbed the central stair to level four. His family’s quarters were just past the food court and across from the serenity garden. Panting slightly he rushed through the common area for his family’s apartment and the four other units that branched off from the common areas. Running into the den with out a pause Andrew skidded to a halt when he saw a middle aged man in a black coat sitting across the table from his worried looking mother. Andrew knew instantly that the Hive Guard got here before him. The realization that he was going to spend the next ten years in the mines overcame him. He sank to the floor and could do nothing but stare blankly forward.

“Hello Andrew, my name is Detective Sergeant Tupolev. Your mother and I were just discussing you. I think you should come with me to see the magistrate.”

“How?” Tom whispered.

“Your accomplice was very cooperative with our investigators, and they radioed me as I was the closest Detective on duty.”

Andrew started to breathe rapidly and knew he had only one chance to escape. Andrew turned to leap up and out ready to out run this middle aged cop but, before he could leap up a guard he had not seen standing by the door rapidly struck Andrew three times across the head. Andrew slumped back to the floor unable to focus his vision.

“That was foolish young man. Let us understand each other. You are coming with me and any more foolish attempts like that one will result in more bruises for you and a trip to the detention center for your parents. Do I make myself clear?” Detective Sergeant Tupolev obviously expected an answer from Andrew but his head hurt to much to speak. So Andrew compromised and feebly nodded his head once.

“Very good young man. Let us strive to have a positive association together. Though I am sure that we will only know each other for a short time.” At that statement Detective Sergeant Tupolev smiled showing a perfect row of white teeth.

Five hours later Andrew stood before the magistrate handling his case. His wrists were bound behind him and his head had already been shaved. His clothes had been taken from him and a pastel pink prisoner jump suit had replaced them. The magistrate seemed to be reading from a monitor that was located inside the top of his desk. After several minutes the magistrate looked up and stared at Andrew with a piercing look.

“Andrew Hong, are you prepared to receive sentence?” The judge’s voice was as cold as a polar cap blizzard.

“Sir I must protest.” Andrew mumbled weakly.

“Protest? Protest what? Are you Andrew Hong of 24 A Sector 67 Level 4?”

“Yes sir, that is me but…”

“But what? And make it quick I have already wasted enough time on a miscreant such as yourself.”

“Sir, I am innocent… there has been a mistake!” Andrew needed to buy some time. He was convinced that he could talk his way out of this problem.

The judge’s eyes narrowed and he spoke with venom in his voice. “So the sworn depositions of Sector Sergeant Blake, Militiaman Van Hoyt, Detective Sergeant Tupolev are all lies? And that your confederate Tom Apple, and the juvenal Dorian Smith have also told lies to frame you?”

Dorian Smith? Oh, the Kid. They caught him as well.

“Well, your Honor you see….”

“Yes, I see very well you degenerate scum! Every one is to blame but you! You have been framed by a massive conspiracy! You poor unfortunate boy!” The judge was absolutely screaming now. A small string of spittle hung from the right side of his mouth.

With visibly shaking hands the Magistrate boomed out in a loud voice, “Andrew Hong, I find you guilty of the crimes you have been charged with. I sentence you to five years in a reeducation militia company. If you survive training, and the war with a respectable military record I order that your criminal record erased and your parents shall not receive reeducation. If you fail to conduct your self in the proper manner I will have your sentenced increased to add 2 years in the mines after the completion of military service. You are dismissed.”

[Micah G]

Lucas stood next to his personal command speeder “Gunslinger 6”, listing to the command radio. The reports so far were better than he had hoped. Casualties had been lighter than he had expected and the Peacekeeper force had been effectively destroyed. He stared north across the wreck of the Unity the twin suns of Chiron beat down unmercifully. Well, that is one enemy down and one to go. Unfortunately, he knew that the Hive would not be defeated so easily. Where were they? Why had Chairman Yang not replaced General Chau? His conduct, according to intelligence reports, had been criminal. His left eyelid twitched. A sure sign that he was more nervous than ever.

Damn the inactivity. His mood always turned black when he had too much time to think. I am spending too much time here and not enough time at the front, he thought.

“Sir,” called his com tech sergeant.

“Excuse me. Sir?” The sergeant said louder.

“Yes sergeant.”

“Sir, Captain St. Cyr reports that the battle is over we have eight dead fourteen wounded. Enemy dead is confirmed at forty-eight. Enemy wounded is ninety-six, and seventeen POW’s. We have also captured four Peacekeeper Speeders.”

“That is excellent news sergeant. What is the status on the enemy commanding officer?”

“Wait one. I will check.” The com tech sergeant ducked back inside of the speeder.

Lucas pulled his digital binoculars up and looked northward. He knew he could not see the battle zone but he had nothing else to do. The sergeant stuck his head out again and spoke, “sir Captain St. Cyr says they have one wounded captain and one lieutenant POW. She asks if you want her to conduct a field interrogation?”

“Tell her no. Bring the officers here. Have the others processed for transport back to Hommel’s Citadel. Tell her to police up the battlefield, leave a few scouts in the area and have the rest of the force return here. Oh, and tell her I want her here with the officers ASAP.”

“Yes sir.”

South of the Unity Crash Site

Private Ricardo Hernandez wiped the blood from his knife on to the dead Spartan’s tunic, and let out a long sigh. That was too close he thought. The Spartan fought like a caged tiger. If he had not had surprise he would be dead instead of the Spartan. He knelt down quickly and examined the Spartan’s laser riffle. It was lightweight compact, good grip and small charge canisters. This thing is far better than our version. He slung his riffle over his back and picked up the Spartan’s. He then searched the body for ammo and anything that would be good for intelligence.

He found the woman’s ID book, pulling it out he opened it. The 3D hologram flashed to life. Her name according to this was Colleen Forbes, Spartan Trooper, ID# 567-001-01. He flipped the page and the hologram changed to that of a young girl about four years old. That must be her daughter he thought. He snapped the book closed and placed it in an inside vest pocket. Crouching low he sprinted to the lip of a small rise blending in with the xenofungus. Ricardo made sure his uniform was closed tight and that his helmet was fitting tightly, he did not want a mind worm to wriggle its way in and ruin his day. Looking through his binoculars he scanned the south side of the crash site. Hmm.. he thought. Only a few recovery teams, it doesn’t look like the Spartan’s are expecting an attack from the south. He checked his wrist chron, the northern strike force should be in position in about two hours. After the Spartans shifted their forces north they would strike from the south and catch the Spit-ons completely by surprise. Commander Haj would be very happy that his recon had proved successful. It did not appear to him that the Spartan’s had even traveled as far south as the obelisk.

The Spartans obviously thought that no one could travel very far into a big xenofungus field. Now all he had to do was wait until the attack and radio a warning if the Spartans looked like they expected something.

The Spartan Command Post Unity Crash Site

Lucas sat across the table from a disheveled looking Peacekeeper Lieutenant and wondered briefly what was going on inside the man’s head. Was he afraid? Or was he going to be defiant? His body language seemed relaxed and tired. Perhaps he his just resigned to his fate. His powder blue uniform was caked in dust and grime. His short cut brown hair was matted with old dirt and flakes of mud. The man was of medium build and he looked to be in his late twenties.

Using his best concerned fatherly voice he said, “Have my men treated you properly, Lieutenant?”

The Peacekeeper glanced at Lucas’ collar and noting the one black triangle under the insignia of a stylized version of a Greek war helmet said, “Yes, Major your men have treated me properly.”

“That’s good son. What is your name Lieutenant?’

“Lieutenant Corval sir.”

“My name is Major Lucas Bell. It is good to make your acquaintance.”

“No offence sir, but I would rather have not met you.”

Lucas chuckled slightly, “I understand Lieutenant.” His smile widened and he said, “Your men fought well,” Lucas lied. “You and the others will be taken to Spartan territory where a POW complex has been set up. If you and your men are not treated properly ask to speak with me. Of course any attempt at sabotage or escape will result in the execution of the offenders.”

“Sir, it is the duty of all POW’s to attempt escape. It is in the UN charter.”

Lucas shook his head sadly and spoke softly, “that portion of the UN charter was added after Planet fall and has only been ratified by your faction and the Morganites. Your alliance also includes the Believers and the Hive. Neither of them has agreed to this issue. Therefore we will not either. I must be very clear on this: do not abuse our hospitality. If you do, you will pay the ultimate price. Please pass that information on to the others. I am sure it will not be an issue in any event. He continued, “Do you or your men need anything?”

“No Major, we are fine considering the circumstances.”

“You must forgive me Lieutenant but I must ask, why didn’t your commander include infantry in his force?”

“We didn’t have enough for both groups.” Realizing what he just said his eyes widened briefly in shock. Quickly regaining his composure he turned his face into an expressionless mask and stared straight ahead. He then added softly, “I have nothing left to say, please return me to my men.”

“Of course Lieutenant, of course.”