Casserine (45 page)

“Good,” Jake replied. “Let’s go down fully cloaked and shielded. We’ll land right on their front lawn, and play it by ear from there.”

“Aye, aye, Sir,” Corey acknowledged. “I’ll be talkin’ to you, that is, if you ever put your headset or helmet on, General.”

“Why you.” Jake began, but stopped as Cory gave him a little wave, and jogged towards her cockpit hatch.

Jake switched his helmet to his left hand, and fumbled his headset into place. He left it turned off though as he walked through the rear Drop Ship hatch. Over five hundred Marines snapped to attention with a chorus of ‘ooh-rahs’ inside the Drop Ship. Jake grinned appreciatively at the familiar faces of his elite force. Not for the first time did he consider wiping out the ET home world rather than risking even one of the young men in front of him.

“At ease, boys,” Jake called out, as he sealed the rear hatch. “Strap in, and remember when we get down there, don’t take the appearance of these cuddly ET’s as a reason not to vaporize them if they even look at you cross eyed. They ain’t got mandibles, but they sure as hell have weapons. If an ET gets blown apart, making a quick move to scratch his butt, one of you thought was suspicious, well that’s just too bad. Understood?”

Another chorus loudly professed the Nest Marines’ understanding of their Commander’s rules of engagement. They all sat down and began strapping in as ordered. Jake walked back to his usual seat next to Mercer and Dougherty, near the Drop Ship’s deck gun at the center of the ship. He nodded at Vic McClure and his squad, seated against the bulkhead to his left. He sat down in between his two friends.

“Nice speech,” Mercer said.

“I just don’t want anyone getting fatherly down there concerning our cute little friends,” Jake replied. “Tim, will the increased power to their force field give us any problems?”

Dougherty laughed. “You could have either the Intrepid or the Yorktown give them a little lesson in the futility of trying to force field us away; but they might make an error in intensity up there, leaving the ET’s with no force field, in which case it will be dinner time for the Bugs. I’ll be the force field adjuster when we get down to it. I’ve figured out what it will take to punch through without a meltdown.”

“And if we need a firing solution from Intrepid or Yorktown?” Jakeasked.

“Then the ET’s will have bigger problems than our landing force,” Dougherty answered. “I talked to Colonel Wilcox, and I don’t think he cares much about whether their force field protection survives or not. I believe he’ll take out the whole field, and blanket the surface around us with particle beam fire out to a mile radius.”

“Ouch,” Jake commented.

“There won’t be much of a Command Center left to negotiate with,” Mercer added. “If you plan on talking to anyone down there, Jake, you better keep in touch with our ship commanders. Jas was silent the whole time Doug laid out his plan of overwhelming force to us, and I don’t think either one of them think much of this interdiction.”

“I will keep my helmet on,” Jake concluded. “You guys think we should just pack up, let the Bugs have the ET’s, and then come back later to take care of the winner?”

“I think their historical significance is something to look into once things stabilize,” Mercer opined. “If some of the ungrateful little pricks open up on us though, I’m on Doug’s side.”

“I’ve brushed up on some of my history since meeting up with them, and this could be a big deal in terms of trade and alliances,” Dougherty offered. “You have to look down that road, Jake. Charlie and I have talked it over, and we back anything you think best in the big picture. The people back on Earth ain’t going to like it if we exterminate the ET’s.”

‘Tea, I thought of that,” Jake sighed. “Oh well, thanks for the input. We’ll try to save them, but you be wild on the deck gun, Tim. Our guys can handle themselves inside, but I want anything alive with a weapon on the ground, or in any of the buildings around us wasted if we go in.”

“I’m going to take care of that little problem before we even set down,” Dougherty replied. “Colonel Peters has already warned them not to have any armed personnel in the area, or they will be killed. I believe they think the modifications in their shield will suffice to make them invulnerable to our landing. We were busting shield technology like they have back during the Tarawa Jump Gate conflict.”

Jake nodded, and switched on his headset. “Matthews here, Harpy. Take us down.”

“Harpy, aye,” Corey shot back, drawing laughter on the command channel. Corey eased Alpha out of the Intrepid hanger bay, and began the descent. “Tell Tim to get his headset on, and get in position. We’ll be at the force field in five minutes.

As the Drop Ship left dock, Dougherty put on his helmet at Jake’s gesture, and went up inside his gun turret to strap in.

“On line, Major Corey,” Dougherty reported formally.

“Four minutes and counting, Tim,” Corey replied.

“Aye, aye, Ma’am,” Dougherty acknowledged.

“Colonel’s Peters and Wilcox, you will refrain from vaporizing the ET populace until I say so, okay?” Jake inserted.

“Aye, aye, Sir, but what about when you’re out of sight, and Alpha comes under attack?” Wilcox asked immediately.

“Sara will have countermanding authority in any situation endangering Alpha and our troops while I’m in the Command Center. Anything else?”

“Good luck, Jake,” Peters replied. “I hope things work out. You’ll still be on line the whole time, won’t you?”

“Tep, and we’ll have the helmet cams on.”

“Okay Tim, we’re here,” Corey announced. “You reading it on your scanner?”

“I see it. Are we cloaked and shielded?” Dougherty asked.

“Not until you say so,” Corey answered.

“On my mark,” Dougherty said, as he counted down from ten, and fired a low intensity disruptor blast into the shield structure.

Chapter 43 

ET Leadership Adjustment

Corey cloaked and powered up Alpha’s shielding, punching through the Passallion force field where Dougherty had cleared the way. “We’re through, Jake, and on our way down.”

“I’m scanning ET Command Central, while descending,” Dougherty added. “Plenty of ET’s around, but no weapons. We’ll have to get closer for me to be sure about the building.”

“Land her, Sara, and let’s see if we take fire,” Jake ordered. “Let me know if anything changes, Tim?”

“Yes Sir,” Dougherty replied.

“You don’t think they can see through our cloak, do you, Jake?” Corey asked, maneuvering through the atmosphere.

“I don’t know, Sara, but I hate surprises.”

“Hang on, we’re coming in to land at the pavilion in front of the Command Center. You could cut through the top of the building and descend inside like at the Bazantlan prison complex,” Corey suggested.

“I’m not that interested in stealth, Sara,” Jake replied, leaning back and closing his eyes in concentration. “I kind of like Zaros and his people, but not enough to go sneaking around inside an unfamiliar complex from the top.”

A slight jolt heralded Corey’s next statement. “We’re on the ground, Jake. Nice looking building.”

“Scanning now,” Dougherty informed them. “We have armed ET’s inside the complex on every level. Their avenues outside are all deserted.”

“No one moving, other than normal traffic, in any of their other areas on planet,” Colonel Peters added. “We’re monitoring their space station too. If they so much as blow their nose, Doug and I will wipe it for them.”

“Tim, can you isolate the armed ET signals inside the complex, and narrow a beam to zap right through and pick them off?” Jake asked.

“Oh man, why didn’t I think of that?” Dougherty stated. “Hell yea, I can. Working on it.”

“Jas, open a channel again, and warn them we ain’t playing around here. Tell them to march Zaros out so we can see what’s happening.”

“Right away, Jake,” Peters acknowledged.

Jake stood up, and five companies of Nest Marines jumped to their feet with him. He led them over to the rear hatch, with Mercer by his side. They all put on their helmets, and made final checks on their weapons.

“I’ve got them zeroed, Jake,” Dougherty said. “It looks inside to be some kind of stupid ploy to get our force inside, and then ambush you guys inside the entrance.”

“No answer, Jake,” Peters put in.

“Start with the ones nearest the inside entrance area, Tim, and try out your beam.”

“Aye, aye, Sir.”

Jake watched the front of the building from the monitor at the rear of Alpha Drop Ship. Pencil sharp beams hit the Command Center, one after another.

“They don’t know what to do, Jake,” Dougherty whispered. “This is so cool. I don’t know how far the beams are going though. They’re puncturing the building, their targets, and then right out through the other side. Anybody out there on the other end ain’t happy either. Want me to try cutting down the intensity, Jake?”

“Nope. Keep at it, Tim. When they start getting the message let meknow.”

Tim laughed a few moments later. “They’re slow learners, Jake, but I think it’s dawning on them how unhealthy it is to be holding an energy weapon.”

“Okay, now that you have their attention, me and the boys will go in and help them spring their trap,” Jake replied, as he dropped the rear hatch.

“They can still have conventional weapons, Jake,” Dougherty reminded him. “I can’t read those.”

“That won’t do them any good against our armor,” Jake replied. “Let’s go, boys.”

Jake nodded at Mercer, who took charge of deployment. Three companies of Marines deployed around the ship, and everywhere between Alpha Drop Ship and the Command Center. Mercer directed company commanders, who in turn set up liaisons with their platoon and squad leaders. Ten minutes later, Jake and Mercer were at the front entrance with Vic McClure’s squad with them, and two companies of Marines behind them.

“We’re in position, Jas,” Jake stated. “Tell them to get face down on the floor. Anything standing inside will be executed.” “On it, Jake,” Peters replied.

Jake tried the entry switches on the outside of the Center for a few seconds and then backed off, and let McClure’s squad blow the door. Passallions were lying on the floor in varying positions across the entryway. They had been caught totally by surprise. As there was no time to sort out the innocent from the guilty, Jake put Mercer in charge of securing the main floor of the building. Moments later, Marines were in key spots all over the huge mezzanine, and all entrances into it were guarded.

Jake took off his helmet. “Any of you speak our language?”

Many hands raised in response to the question. Jake knelt near a male Passallion, who lay near where he was standing. “Stand up.”

The Passallion gingerly pushed himself up to a standing position, staring up in open awe at Jake.

“Do you know one of your people named Zaros, who we rescued from the Byzantlan home world with a group of other Passallions?”

“Yes, I know of him. He was taken into custody shortly after your people began the operation against the vicious creatures I have heard you call Bugs.”

“Who took him into custody, and why,” Jake asked in some confusion.

“Our military commanders were unhappy with the prospect of Zaros gaining so much power, and the right to act as our emissary with you humans.”

“You seem well informed,” Jake commented.

“I was a member of our ruling council. My name is Mardok. Have you been successful in your mission against those foul creatures beyond the force field?”

“We just finished up wiping out the first nest, and then one of your cruisers took to the sky against my express orders. That was when we found out we could no longer communicate with Zaros. I’m Jake Matthews, General, USMC, and commander of our forces.”

The small creature flinched at the news he was talking to the human commander. “What is it you want of us, General?”

“Only to reestablish lines of communication with Zaros, and make sure your military understands their position. I came to a clear understanding with Zaros, and until all of the Tattallias Horde is wiped out, I expect him to be in charge here. For normalization of relations between our race and yours, he will be a key ingredient, because he knows our position and our power.”

“If the military will not accede to your demands, do you have any other way which might be feasible to accomplish this normalization of relations?” Mardok asked hesitantly, and then backed up a step, as even he could see anger flash across Jake’s face. “I meant no disrespect, General,” he added quickly.

“If things do not proceed in exactly the way outlined from the beginning,” Jake explained quietly, “we will back away, and allow the Bugs to obliterate your race, and then we’ll come down and exterminate them later.”

“But that…that would be.”

“Inhuman?” Jake inserted. “Not really, because you Passallions have your fate in your own hands. If we needed slaves, you all would be in chains right now. Follow directions, or die, simple as that.”

Mercer, who had been listening to the exchange intently, spoke up angrily. “It would be extremely intelligent for you to go and find our little buddy, Zaros, rather than have me come looking for him. Not too many of you ET’s will be left alive by the time my search concludes.”

Mardoc looked to Jake, as if expecting him to countermand what the other dark complexioned human next to him had said. “Is there more than one commander in your group?”

“Why you little.” Mercer began, as he started forward, but stopped when Jake held up a hand.

“Colonel Mercer here carries out my orders, and how he carries them out, I leave up to him,” Jake instructed. “If I tell him I want Zaros brought to me, he will bring him to me. Zaros, by that time, may be the only live Passallion on your planet, but the Colonel will bring him to me. Do you understand?”

“Yes…I…did you know there are armed troops in the other parts of this building in preparation of your coming?” Mardoc asked. He thought rightly, it would be very bad for him if these humans believed he was hiding anything.

“Most are dead already,” Jake replied. “We do not take well to traps. Now, can you find someone around here with enough sense to bring Zaros out, or shall I ask Colonel Mercer to find him?”

“I will find him, General,” Mardoc promised fearfully. “Am I permitted to leave?”

“Sure,” Jake said. “You can take everyone else with you too, but if you come back here without Zaros, this room will be the safest place on the planet for Passallions. You might want to leave everyone else where they are.”

“Yes, General,” Mardoc agreed quickly. “I think it would be better if my people here stay where they are.”

“Good luck then,” Jake said, stepping aside.

Mercer escorted the Passallion past the Marines and to a small rectangular passage, which led to one of twenty clear oval carriers, which traveled between levels. By the time Mercer returned, Jake stood next to Vic McClure, going over diagrams of the complex on a panel Dougherty had issued to all company and platoon leaders. Jake had already put his helmet back on, and Mercer followed suit.

“I take it you don’t have much hope Mardoc will bring Zaros back with him,” Mercer said, using only the helmet amplifier to speak to Jake.

“It would make things easier,” Jake shrugged, “but these ET’s are not as intelligent as I originally estimated. “Can you imagine setting traps for an armed force with ships in orbit ready to annihilate your race?”

“While they eradicate a menace also threatening your existence,” Mercer added. “Are you getting the same tingling sensation I am about all this?”

“They’re hiding something,” Jake agreed, “but what? Zaros told me they had no human prisoners here. Maybe he couldn’t convince them we weren’t going to enslave their race.”

‘Tea, but logically they’d wait until we were through getting rid of the Bugs before they made a play, wouldn’t they?”

“We’re imparting logic to them, but how do we know they have any,” Jake replied. “Hell, maybe they still have visions of being the end all of the universe. The way Zaros and his people talked, I thought they couldn’t get enough of us. I’m very hurt.”

Mercer laughed appreciatively. ‘Tea, me too, I.hey Jake, look who’s coming down to join us.”

Jake turned and followed Mercer’s gesture. Coming down in one of the clear bubble carriers were Mardoc and Zaros. “Well, well, well, maybe we won’t have to do any ET extermination today after all.”

“He don’t look so good, but at least he’s still alive.”

Jake led the way over to the carrier, with Mercer right behind him, and McClure’s Marines trailing them.

“Jake, you have someone coming down to your level carrying something with a huge energy signature,” Dougherty cut in suddenly.

“Vic,” Jake shouted, “put a hole in the ET with Zaros. Zaros is the one slightly hunched over.”

Without a word, McClure shouldered his particle beam rifle, and put a neat hole right through the bubble carrier, and right through the head of Mardoc. Mardoc collapsed, and Zaros tried to steady himself, but he too fell to the carrier floor.

“Nice shot, Vic,” Jake said. “Get everyone back until we find out what the hell he was carrying. We’ll wait and see whether Zaros can get out of there of his own accord.”

“I hope it wasn’t a vid recorder,” Mercer joked, as they moved quickly away from where the carrier would reach the main level.

“If Tim had him register on his scanner, then he’s carrying something more than an energy toy,” Jake grinned. “I assume it won’t take out the building, but who knows. At least we won’t survive this dumb ass mistake. I should have figured they’d try something like this.”

“Tea,” Mercer retorted. “Just how the hell would you have predicted something as stupid as this?”

“All I know is, I’ll have to hear about this from Doug. He’s probably powering up right now to erase the planet. We’ll be lucky to get back on Alpha and take off before the planet goes nova.”

Mercer and the other Marines within earshot laughed at Jake’s mention of the Yorktown’s Commander and his penchant for handling situations straightforwardly. The carrier came to rest, as the Marines had gathered up the ET’s on the mezzanine level, and retreated to the main entrance with Jake and Mercer leading the way. The carrier hatch slid open, and Zaros crawled out. He pushed himself up to one knee, and gestured for everyone to stay back. He stood up, staggered back inside the carrier, and after using the inside panel, sent the carrier back up. When the carrier was on its way upwards, Zaros moved shakily towards the front entrance.

“Stay here, men,” Jake ordered, and went to meet Zaros. He grabbed up the Passallion in one arm, and carried him to the entrance. As he laid him on the mezzanine floor, Zaros groaned loudly, but managed to smile up at Jake.

“Hello, General,” Zaros whispered, his voice shaky. “I congratulate you on your success with eradicating the Queen and her nest. How did you know Mardoc had an explosive device?”

“The weapons officer on board my Alpha Drop Ship has been scanning everything in the building, especially stuff approaching us,” Jake answered. “What’s this all about?”