Asterion (26 page)

“Combat troops will mount a rescue mission to get those folks out of the city. The rest of you will support and move us to our new home. A place of freedom and a safe port in the storms of war we now face. Security will see to the safety of families and belongings. Take your most precious possessions. Unfortunately, we can’t allow everything. I know that this is a shock to most of you, but together we can get through this trial. God bless us in our efforts to free the oppressed and seek our own freedom. If you feel that you must align yourself with Burnsom, you are free to leave when we leave. No one will molest you and your families. We now must labor with heavy hearts to accomplish what seems impossible, but I assure you, we are capable and we will not fail. Dismissed.”

The assembled look to their respective leaders and are instructed to return home and get their families ready. Transports will gather them and a few belongings at dawn. Everyone races home to get ready to leave. Dawn comes quickly and sleepy families are loaded along with their most important possessions. Chaplains and base aid personnel help them cope with the ordeal. They watch with blank stares as their homes and possessions disappear around a corner. Combat command and support race out of the base with aircraft streaking away into battle. Several decide that they can’t go against Burnsom. Given transportation and supplies to get them to friendlier territory, they leave in the opposite direction. Turning back now is not an option.

CHAPTER 28 - RESCUE AND RETREAT

One O’clock in the morning and the city is quiet. Asterion and his troops are confident. So confident that they are all asleep and no one is on watch. The helicopters approach the dim lights of the city. The lead chopper calls out for them to run in stealth mode and the group goes quiet. Below them, the transports escorted by ground troops quiet their exhaust and approach cautiously.

Sergeant Caldwell radios in, “Infrared shows no sentinels at the outer perimeter.”

Sanderson communicates to the whole group, “It’s a go. Hit them hard and watch civilian casualties.”

Night vision shows the areas large enough for the helicopters to land. Others choose rooftops to insert snipers into the mix. For several minutes, hundreds of soldiers get ready to attack. The ground commander, Colonel Martinez checks her watch, zero hour. She gives the command and the beasts, besieged from all directions are startled. They become confused and scatter. Asterion takes shelter amongst the marble statues he used for a command post while bullets wiz by and ricochet around him. Heavy machine guns, rocket propelled grenades and precise sniper fire take out many of the beasts.

Troops start broadcasting to the residents to leave and come with the troops to safety. Many scurry to the transports while some protest. Others want to bring belongings, but the soldiers tell them to leave them there. Transports take many directly out of the city while others ferry people back and forth to the airport.

Sanderson’s support comes in the form of transportation, ammo and artillery fire. Connecting with Foxx’s troops, they overwhelm Asterion. Asterion tries to rally his troops but the withering fire keeps them at bay. They retreat into the interior and come across soldiers escorting civilians out of the area. The soldiers keep them at bay while the people slip away. They call for support, but the tall buildings prevent support from giving them the cover they need. With all avenues cut off and dwindling ammo the lieutenant radios, “Drop it all on my position, now. Lieutenant Todd Benson, serial number 111751012.”

“Roger that. Your call, make yourselves small.”

“Take cover now.”

A soldier turns and says, “In here, they’ll kill us to!”

“Better to die with them than to be eaten by them.”

With fear on his face, the soldier turns and pours lead into the beasts as they approach. The beasts stop and look overhead. Streaks of fire whistle in and explode on impact sending the beasts in all directions. The beast’s tough hide is no match for high explosives. The soldiers flatten themselves out as much as they can against one of the buildings. Dirt, grit and concrete debris sting and burn, the noise is deafening, but they hold their position. The area goes silent and the dust slowly clears. The soldiers slowly look up and take stock of themselves and their comrades. Most of them have wounds, but several are dead with the beasts a scant few feet from them. The lieutenant rallies his remaining troopers out of their shock and back into action. They gather the fallen and work their way out of the rubble and to the medevac choppers.

Asterion fears the worst as there are less and less of his beasts around. He commands several to follow him. He had already scouted out the city in case he ever found himself trapped. He has hidden a transport in one of the huge storm drains in the city. They climb in it and drive several miles until they come out of the drain and onto a riverbank. From there they make their way east.

Several hours later a soldier reports to Martinez. “Ma’am, we’ve searched everywhere and we can’t find the one called Asterion.”

“What about a body count?”

“It’s quite a mess out there. We are trying not to double-count the beasts.”

“Civilian casualties?”

“Several dead and a few dozen injured.”

Martinez instructs her driver to take her to the provincial capitol building. Arriving there, she enters the building and the governor, mayor and chief of police meet her there.

The governor demands, “What is going on here?”

“Sir, the forces of South Central and Fort Pershing are rescuing you from the beasts Burnsom unleashed on the citizens. We are evacuating you because our resources are overextended and we must retreat to a better vantage point.”

The mayor asks, “Is that in the South Central province?”

“Yes, we have ground and air transport awaiting you.”

The chief frustratingly inquires, “Why was I not informed beforehand?”

“Sorry, but the short lead time and the need for surprise demanded that we not inform anyone. If anyone is not willing to escape with us, we will provide provisions for their survival.”

The governor looks at his colleagues and says, “Gentlemen, I’ve had enough of Burnsom’s playing overlord of the country. His plans have led to the situation we are in today. I’m going.”

The mayor and chief agree and start to join in the effort to help residents with the move.

Pressed into duty, provincial and city transport assist in the evacuation.

Martinez reports in to Sanderson, “Sir, everything is progressing well, but it will take a few days to get everyone out.”

“Do your best. Intelligence tells us Burnsom is about to launch an all-out assault on the convoy and the Southern command.”

“Understood, we’ll step up our efforts.”

“Good job. Sanderson out.”

Martinez turns to her junior officers, “Well you heard that. One hundred and ten percent is now one hundred and twenty percent. Let’s get to it, dismissed”

The officers hurriedly leave and continue the evacuation. They inform the citizens that they are in imminent danger and time is precious.

Thomas rushes into Burnsom’s office. “Have you heard?”

“Close the door!”

“Ira, what are we going to do?”

“I know what I should have done. That Stanley has been a thorn in my side for some time. I should have done what Stalin did.”

“Get rid of everyone he was afraid of, even if he imagined they were against him.”

“No, just the real ones who oppose me and have some sway with the people. Sanderson and Foxx are two other examples. I did not promote them, so they don’t swear allegiance to me. They still hold to the Constitution and the old ways.”

“We still have control of the commanders at Progress and Forward?”

“They will protect the country, but they are reluctant to go against fellow soldiers unless attacked first or they know of an imminent threat.”

“What about Asterion and the beasts?”

“Asterion and a few of his beasts were picked up some distance from the city and are in the air now.”

A knock at the door gets their attention. “That would be Trent. Come in.”

“Sir, I heard what happened.”

“What resources can we muster?”

“Good news sir. We have created one hundred thousand of the first generation beasts and three thousand second generation smarter beasts. They have been in training and are just about ready. Asterion can command the smarter centurions who will direct the other beasts.”

“Good, but what about better armor for them. Heavy fire ripped them to shreds and explosives blew them to bits.”

“We’ve developed armor for them and weapons they can handle. With a better control and command structure we can destroy the Liberty Movement.”

“I want them on the attack in a few days.”

“A few days, it will take over double that to get going. I’ll go to twenty-four hour shifts and maybe we can shave off a day or so, but any more than that, I can’t make promises.”

“Do your best son; the country is depending on you.”

“I’ll do everything I can Sir.”

Trent leaves the office. He smiles wide. Their dependence on him is growing. He now knows how important he is and that means growing power.

Thomas watches Trent leave and turns to Burnsom. “Ira, can you trust him?”

“Tom, we have to for now. I am keeping an eye on him, or at least someone else’s eye. That nephew of mine is willing to do anything he can to keep his position and stay out of combat.”

“Good, I just want to make sure he does not get too big for his britches.”

“I haven’t heard that one for a long time, but your right to be concerned. You have always been my best adviser and best friend.”

“Ira, you can always count on me. What do you want me to do?”

“Speeches Tom, speeches are what I need right now. I have to wow and inspire the people to keep them on our side.”

“You got it. I’ll get a crack staff working on it right away.”

Thomas gets up and leaves Burnsom alone. He unlocks his safe and removes a lockbox from it. Putting it on his desk, he opens it with a key on a chain around his neck and peers in it as if taking inventory. He smiles, closes it and puts it back in the safe.

He presses the intercom and his assistant responds. “What is it Sir?”

“Get the commanders from Progress and Forward here for a meeting in one day. Inform the military advisors here to meet with me also at that time.”

“What time sir?”

“One O’clock our time and I’ll hear no exceptions from any of them.”

“It will be done sir. Anything else?”

“That is all for now, thank you.”

“Burnsom attempts to get back to work when he is interrupted by the ringing phone. “Yes,” is his frustrated response.

“Ira, this is Jean. What is going on there?”

“Jean, we have widespread rebellion that the government officials were incapable of dealing with and I had to act to quell the violence and prevent the spread of copycat protests.”

“But those beasts, Ira, how could you unleash them on our fellow citizens?”

“Citizens should act like citizens and obey the government.”

“But …”

“And, VL’s should obey the Leader. Is that clear.”

“Ira, don’t pull that with me. We are not talking about policy or planning. This is a gross overreach of your powers. I will have nothing to do with any of this.”

“Your protest is duly noted.” Burnsom hangs up the phone, takes his reading glasses off and grips the bridge of his nose to alleviate the stress he is feeling.

CHAPTER 29 - ON THE ATTACK

Taylor and Phil are moving some equipment around when they see the movement of stockpiles of automated systems out of the warehouse.

Taylor looks at Phil. “I hope that there are enough of them to stop Burnsom’s troops.”

Phil smiles, “We have been stockpiling them for some time.”

“Good, it will take a lot of them to grind those beasts down.”

They get what they are looking for and return to the lab.

Later that day Taylor and Christine are eating a rare evening meal together. Working to the brink of exhaustion gives little energy for small talk. Taylor stops eating, puts down his utensils and looks at Christine. “I worry about us.”

“Us, what’s wrong with us?”

“Not us as in you and me, but the future with all that is going on.”

“If we survive, we survive together. If we die, we die together. Make me a promise you won’t do anything without me.”

“What if I have to protect you?”

“We’ll protect each other. I think we are stronger together than separate.”

“Can we really make that promise with everything happening so fast?”

“Trust me; we are better together than apart.”

“Okay”

They return to their meal in silence. Only the tinkling of silverware breaks the silence.

Taylor reviews the combat protocols for the automated systems with the development team. Sanderson has asked him to review all the systems for his input. “Guys, I’ve looked over the command structure for initiating attacks in the software and we have a problem. They now have to have a human give a go, no go and friend or enemy determination. We are facing a fast moving attack force that could easily overwhelm our systems if decisions have to be made.”