Gateway (Gateway Series Book 1) (13 page)

“This is Lima Charlie,” replied the watch officer.

‘
Lima Charlie, this is Romeo Charlie. Have engaged enemy in force. Estimated Tango strength two or three brigades. Romeo Charlie effective strength five zero percent, no hawks available. Believe large assault is underway. We’re completely defensive and losing ground. Request immediate evac with air cover or support from reserve regiment, over
.’

Admiral Sequentius looked toward Cataline. Once the infantry was off his ship, the admiral had no tactical command of army elements. He could not help Stone.

“Sir, shall I prepare my regiment?” asked Neo.

“No, Colonel, the fight is not going well with the main force. If things do not get better, then we will need your men to support withdraw of the main force.”

“Sir, it sounds as though they are in quite a bit of trouble down there,” replied Neo, unsure of himself but compelled to speak. “My regiment can help them establish a safe perimeter and my transports can start evacuations.”

“The mission of the 25th was to divert enemy troops from the main force, Colonel,” retorted Cataline. “If he is engaging two brigades, then those are two brigades the main force does not have to deal with. In times such as this we must look toward the mission first, Colonel.”

“Lieutenant,” said Cataline to the watch officer, “inform Romeo Charlie that transports and reserve units are to remain in reserve to support operations of the main force.”

‘
Remain in reserve!
’ boomed Stone’s voice over the comms link. ‘
Lima Charlie, place ground force Charlie Oscar on comms link; I know he is there
.’

“Charlie Oscar,” Cataline said dryly.

‘
Charlie Oscar, this is Colonel Stone commanding what is left of my regiment. We have no air cover, we are running out of ammunition, and have not been resupplied. If my unit is not provided close air support and reserves or immediately withdrawn, we will be destroyed. Is that clear, Charlie Oscar
?’

“Your situation is understood, Romeo Charlie. Your orders have not changed. Is that clear, over?”

‘
I understand you needlessly killed a thousand of your own men, General. We will stand our ground and die, as is our duty, while you cower under the protection of Sequentius’s fleet
.’

Cataline fumed. “Romeo Charlie, you are breaking protocol and showing disrespect for your commanding officer, over,” he growled into the comms link, his face red with anger.

***

The argument was interrupted by Martin grabbing Stone’s arm. “Sir, Ters are advancing along our entire front. Major Bruni…” Martin paused.

“Yes, Captain?” asked Stone.

“Major Bruni has been killed.”

“Damn it!” He took deep breath to center his thoughts on the mission and away from Cataline. “Emily, take command of the right wing. I will stay here. Make them pay for every centimeter!”

“Yes, Sir,” replied Martin. She started to turn away but paused. “Sir.”

“Yes.”

“It has been my greatest honor to serve with you. I will pass into oblivion with the knowledge that I fought and died with one of the bravest men who ever lived.”

She paused for a minute and then wrapped her arms around him in a strong embrace. She quickly regained her composure, saluted, and bounded down the slope in the direction of the right wing, her pony tail bouncing as she ran.

Stone returned his attention to the comms link and Cataline.

“Protocol be damned!” he shouted into the comms link. “As for my disrespect, come down to the surface and I will show you just how much I disrespect you, coward!”

‘
Romeo Charlie, this communication is ended, you will not be reinforced. You are directed to do your duty
.’

“Very well! Lima Charlie, this is Romeo Charlie. Request planetary bombardment from all available warships. Target location marked 300 meters in all directions of this communication.”

***

Sequentius quickly stepped forward, almost knocking Cataline over. Stone had finally requested something within his authority.

“Colonel, this is Admiral Sequentius. The damage zone from our main batteries is within your danger close zone. I cannot assure you we will not inflict damage on your position.”

‘
Yes, Sir
,’ came Stone’s reply, ‘
I acknowledge proximity. I request danger close support from main batteries
.’

“Understood, Colonel. I will detach
Intrepid
to provide fire support until we no longer have communications with your unit. Get your heads down, Colonel.” Sequentis gave a quick glance to Cataline. “You honor your family with your bravery.”

***

“Thank you, Admiral,” replied Stone as he opened the comms link to all of his remaining officers. “All company commanders, this is Romeo Charlie. Standby for danger close fire support from orbital destroyer main batteries. Get your heads down.”

***

Onboard
Pantelus Varuk
, Cataline paced back and forth, still livid from Stone’s accusations. After a heavy, frustrated breath, he turned toward Sequentis. “Admiral, I am unsure if now is the most prudent time to detach one of our orbital destroyers.”

“General,” replied Sequentius sharply, “I have not interfered with your conduct on the planet. Please do not question my decisions with the fleet. And if I can give Colonel Lucius a fighting chance, I will do so.”

Cataline stared coldly at Sequentius. Knowing he had no authority to counter the admiral, he conceded. “Very well, Admiral,” he sneered. “It seems as though we may have bitten off a bit too much on Juliet 3. I wish to commence withdrawal of the main force and request that your fleet, minus the
Intrepid
of course, support my withdrawal. That is my prerogative as ground commander.”

“That’s it then, General,” replied the frustrated admiral. “Captain, pass the word to our transports and fighter cover—commence extraction operations.”

***

On the surface Stone watched as Terillian infantry again swarmed over the battlefield. ‘Let’s hope the
Intrepid
is enough,’ Stone thought as he looked skyward.

Finally he saw them. The tell-tale fluorescent blue flashes dotted the night sky. The
Intrepid
had opened fire.

From the flashes he saw the lines of bright blue light—actually superheated metals turned into plasma in the main battery chambers—streaking toward the ground.

The brilliant streaks of light traced their path through the night sky. As they grew closer, the metallic screeching of the molten metal as it slowed to sub-sonic speeds in the atmosphere overshadowed the other sounds of battle. Stone’s ears ached against the pervasive roar of metallic death.

As the massive spheres of molten metal hit their targets, the front of his lines burst into a brilliant flash of red and white, killing hundreds with each blast.

The fire was close. Although hundreds of yards away, Stone could feel the searing heat of the explosions against his face as the field in front of him was turned into a burning caldron of destruction.

“The
Intrepid
is doing a number on them,” said Martin.

Stone was in agreement. He had read the manuals on the power of a destroyer’s main batteries but had never seen it in person. “This might actually—”

The screeching of the next volley from the
Intrepid
drowned out the rest of the sentence. But the roar was louder than the last volley and continued to grow.

‘Something isn’t right,’ Stone thought, as he looked into the night sky. The incoming volley was too close. “Take cover!” he shouted, but no one could hear him over the roar.

He quickly grabbed Martin and a nearby corporal and threw then to the ground.

When the volley impacted, the landscape was filled with a brilliant white light as a solid high-pitched tone pierced Stone’s ears and a wave of heat radiated over Stone’s position. He groaned against the explosion of noise and the almost-unbearable heat surrounding him.

The heat and roaring dissipated, leaving only the ringing in Stone’s ears.

As he rose to his feet, Stone felt Martin grab his arm and turn him toward her.

“Sir,” huffed Martin, still visibly shaken by the explosion, “a round impacted within 100 meters of Bravo Company!”

“Son of a bitch,” replied Stone. “Let’s get over there.”

Stone, Martin, and a medical crew raced toward the location of Bravo Company. The entire party stopped simultaneously as they reached the position.

“Shit…” mouthed Martin.

Smoke billowed from where 1st Platoon had been, 2nd Platoon’s position was still a lake of fire, and wounded were streaming from 3rd Platoon’s location.

“Help those wounded,” directed Stone as he motioned for the medical team to aid the survivors.

“This is bad,” said Martin. “Those idiot gunnery officers overshot their grid. I’m calling them now.”

Stone overheard Martin contacting the
Intrepid
. “India Foxtrot, this is Romeo Charlie. Recalculate firing grid. You’re frying our asses down here. Grid 235-59 held friendlies. Repeat, recalculate firing grid. Resending our position coordinates.”

‘
Romeo Charlie, this is India Foxtrot, authenticate
…’

Martin interrupted the comm. “Shift your damn fire,
Intrepid
, you are hitting friendlies…”

As Martin worked to correct the
Intrepid’s
fire, Stone saw a sergeant stumble by.

“Sergeant,” called out Stone. “Are you all right?”

The sergeant stopped to report. When the sergeant turned toward his commander, Stone could see his face was severely burned and his left arm—broken and charred—hung limply at his side.

“Sir,” replied the sergeant with a vacant stare, “I don’t know what happened.”

“That’s all right, Sergeant,” replied Stone, steadying the wounded man to keep him from collapsing. “Who is commanding Bravo Company now?”

“I-I think I am, sir,” replied the dazed sergeant before collapsing into Stone’s arm.

***

As the first breaks of light flashed over the charred landscape, and exhausted Stone closed his eyes and took in a deep breath. As he did, the smell of smoke and burning flesh filled his nostrils.

Throughout the night, the
Intrepid
remained on station raining death down upon the Terillians from orbit, with Martin keeping them on target.

Stone turned toward Martin. “Status?”

“Yes, Sir,” replied Martin, her voice hoarse from barking orders. “200 men left fit for duty. “Are lines have collapsed to a perimeter on the ridge this hill. No artillery left. No air support. No armor. Five percent ammo…after checking the dead.”

“How many men are left?”

“Two hundred fit for duty.”

“Damn it,” cursed Stone.

He saw Jackson approaching.

“Lieutenant Jackson, how are you?” he asked.

“I think we might have lasted them out,” said Lieutenant Jackson as he applied meds to his injured leg. “The main batteries sure did a number on those Ters.”

Stone looked over the field.

Bodies dotted the landscape in every direction. The fields that had once brought subsistence to Nero’s private empire now gave forth a harvest of death. He wouldn’t even try to estimate the dead. Among the bodies were wrecked hover tanks, heavy weapons, and burning hulks of aircraft. Smoke billowed from dozens of burning tanks and fires started by the
Intrepid’s
bombardment.

“We need to contact command and find out the status of the main withdraw. Maybe they could pick us up if it isn’t too much trouble,” added Martin.

“Very well,” replied Stone, coughing against the smoke drifting over the field.

***

Meanwhile, onboard
Pantelus Varuk
, Cataline and Sequentius were discussing the operation.

“The last transport is off the ground,” said Sequentius. “Let’s get the fleet above Colonel Stone and pick up any survivors.”

“Very well, Admiral. It may have cost me a regiment but we maintained the division intact and inflicted a lot of casualties on the Terillians.”

“That we did, General,” replied Sequentius dryly. “Perhaps your body count will make up for the mission not going as well as planned. Once we pick up Stone’s remnants, I recommend we commence bombardment of the planet and wait for Blue Fleet to arrive with the rest of the Corps to recommence operations on the planet.”

“I concur, Admiral. We may have not established a foothold on the planet, but we just may have taken the bite out of their ground forces. Our follow-on landing with the entire Corps should go smoothly.”

“I hope so, General,” said Sequentius. “Captain, inform Colonel Lucius we are in route for extraction.”