Merkiaari Wars: 02 - What Price Honour (48 page)

“How long to get that open?” she asked impatiently.

“Not long, Admiral.”

“You said that twenty minutes ago, Joshua. I swear that if I get out of this alive, BuShips is going to hear about this day. This ship is supposed to be
tough
.”

Joshua grinned briefly, and then composed himself before his admiral saw it. “It was a lucky hit, ma’am. It could have happened to anyone.”

“Oh? Well it happened to me,” she snapped in frustration.

Joshua remained wisely silent as he worked on overriding the safeties on the hatch. “I think… yes… that’s got it, ma’am,” Joshua said.

“Halleluiah!” Meyers jumped through the hatch even as it was opening.

She blinked dazzled eyes, looking around for signs of damage. At least the lights meant this section had power. She found a bunch of gawping crewmen huddled and whispering around a comm station, and went to join them.

“What’s going on?” Meyers asked, pushing her way through the crowd. “Why aren’t you at your posts?”

A young ensign gaped at her admiral, but then snapped to attention. “We’re cut off, Admiral. Captain says to sit tight and wait for damage control to get to us.”

“You’re in touch with the bridge?”

“Er… yes, ma’am. Ma’am?”

Meyers frowned at the comm’s display. “What is it?”

“Everyone thinks you’re dead, ma’am.”

She grunted. “I’m not surprised, I very nearly was.” She watched a Merki cruiser break up on the tiny screen. “Is this real time?”

“Yes, ma’am. Commander Hanson piped a feed down here when he heard we were trapped.”

“Did he now… good for him! Right, let me at the controls. I have a worried captain to talk to and a battle to win.”

* * *

Aboard ASN Grafton in geosynchronous orbit

“Attennnnnn-
hut!
” Master Sergeant Stone ordered.

“As you were,” General Burgton said, as he entered the main hold of the troop transport
Grafton
. It was the only place large enough to seat the entire battalion.

Everyone sat as the General and his staff made their way to the head of the cavernous room. Captains Penleigh and Hames were grim faced as were the other veterans accompanying the General. They were looking decidedly uneasy, and the tension level throughout the hold soared in anticipation of bad news. Burgton spoke a few words with the Colonel, nodded at what he heard, and turned to face his men. He stood at parade rest and surveyed the rapt faces of First Battalion.

“I had planned for you all to attend a graduation ceremony back on Snakeholme,” Burgton said. “I’m sorry there wasn’t time for it before embarkation to
Grafton
, but our mission here dictated a swift departure. Tomorrow you will be making your first combat drops against Merkiaari.” He smiled grimly at the eager faces. “I would give much for another year to prepare you… six months even, but that is not to be. People are dying in their millions as I speak. They need us now, not six months from now. It won’t be easy, but you are vipers. I
know
you can do the job.”

Colonel Flowers keyed the holotank to life and lowered the lights. A diagram of the Shan solar system appeared, complete with all the planets and both asteroid fields.

“Gentlemen, as you can see, this system boasts two habitable planets. One here,” Flowers said and the fourth planet flashed red. “And one here,” the third planet also started flashing. “The fourth planet is Harmony, and the other is known as Child of Harmony.” He pause to let the information settle before continuing.

“Our mission is to neutralise all Merkiaari in this system in preparation for the arrival of Fifth Fleet, which will hold the system after its liberation. Admiral Meyers has made a good start on that as you can see.”

The holotank display changed to show a wire frame diagram of Child of Harmony, and the ships in its immediate vicinity. In geosynchronous orbit was a blue icon representing
Grafton
. Surveillance satellites seeded around the planet yesterday by the navy glowed a reassuring green. They were extremely important to the regiment. No matter the cost, the admiral had not stinted in her use of them. A little further out, a large formation of blue icons representing
TF19
stooged about awaiting further orders, keeping a wary eye on the wreckage of the Merki ships.

A stupendous
Marauder
class transport broke in two as Gina watched, and the holo tank updated itself by painting each section with new data. The blinking vectors indicated the ship would burn up in atmosphere, and indeed, the forward section was already beginning its final journey. It hit atmosphere, broke apart, and its red icon faded from the tank’s display.

The battle that had destroyed those ships had been costly in men as well as ships.
Victorious
had been damaged, and would need extensive repairs at the yard. She was still combat capable, but the same couldn’t be said for other ships of the task force. Admiral Meyers had lost two of her four
Excalibur
class heavy cruisers with all hands:
Intrepid
and
Coventry
. In addition,
Voyager
, an ageing light cruiser, had to be abandoned when repeated attempts to stabilise her fusion reactors failed. Her crew had been taken aboard
Victorious
.
Voyager
was a lonely icon all alone in the holotank’s display. She would probably be scuttled at some point, but not just yet. Her captain had requested that they wait for the arrival of Fifth Fleet in case his ship could be salvaged.

“We estimate the enemy’s strength at over three hundred thousand troopers on Child of Harmony, with a further two hundred to two hundred and fifty thousand on Harmony. As previously mentioned, this is a
small
incursion.”

There was a smattering of laughter at that, but not from the veterans. They were grim and silent. Repeated scans of the surface of both planets made it clear that although the native population outnumbered the Merkiaari by many thousands to one, their weapons were simply not up to the job of defeating their enemy. They were losing, and losing badly. They had nothing to match the Merki interceptors, which meant the Merki had air superiority almost everywhere on both planets. Not only that, the Shan had not developed shielding adequate to withstand Merki weapon’s fire. They were being slaughtered in almost every battle they fought.

Burgton took over the briefing. “In consultation with Admiral Meyers and my senior staff, I have decided Child of Harmony needs our immediate attention. Although there are fewer Merkiaari on Harmony, they have met with greater success there. They are now conducting what can only be described as mopping up operations. Very few people remain alive above ground. On Child of Harmony however, they are meeting stiff opposition. A number of regular military units have been sighted conducting operations against the enemy, and there appear to be strong resistance movements working independently against the enemy in the larger cities. Coordination between the resistance and the remnants of the Shan military is limited, but it’s encouraging nonetheless.

“Our immediate task will be to establish a base of operations.” Burgton nodded to Colonel Flowers. An aerial view of a spaceport appeared in the holotank. “This is Zuleika Spaceport. It’s located on the northernmost continent of Child of Harmony, roughly equidistant between the Kachina Mountain range and the eastern ocean. This spaceport represents the only one still functional on the planet. The others were smashed by the first wave of enemy attacks. Zuleika is therefore
vital
to our operations. These buildings here…”

Gina listened intently as Burgton laid out his plans to take and hold the spaceport in preparation for full scale operations against the Merkiaari in the nearby city of Zuleika. From there, and with air cover provided by
Sutherland
, they would move on the next concentration of Merki troops and the next until they either liberated Child of Harmony, or Fifth Fleet’s arrival necessitated revising the plan.

Roughly an hour went by with Burgton explaining each step of the plan and answering queries. Colonel Flowers fielded questions regarding resupply, while Lieutenant Hymas concerned herself solely with medical matters, including the temporary repair of viper units in the field. Finally, the holotank shut down and the lights came up.

Gina sighed and rolled her head from side to side, in an effort to ease her tight shoulders. She had been watching the General so intently that her neck muscles felt knotted.

Burgton gestured toward four of the veterans standing with him at the head of the room. “Captains Hames, Elliot, Greenwood, and Penleigh are in command of Companies Alpha through Delta respectively, but that still leaves quite a few slots to fill. Let us take care of that now,” he said, smiling at the anticipation he read on some of his men’s faces. He turned and nodded to Stone. “Master Sergeant Stone, call the roll.”

“Yes, sir.” Stone turned to address the battalion. “When you hear your name called, stand and approach the General. Higgins John J, Roberts Christine, Hiller Ian G, Takeri Selinia, Singh…”

Burgton returned Higgins’ salute and shook his hand. Colonel Flowers stepped forward holding a wooden case containing the rank insignia to be bestowed. Burgton unerringly chose the three stripes and a single rocker of a Staff Sergeant, and handed them to Higgins.

“Congratulations, Staff.”

“Thank you, sir,” Staff Sergeant Higgins said, and went back to his seat, beaming. He was clutching his stripes as if they were more important to him than a fistful of jewels.

Next was Christine Roberts.

“Congratulations, Corporal.”

“Thank you, sir,” Roberts said, and left to find her seat.

The next one was particularly pleasing. Ian Hiller was a Bethanite and as such had been thought of as an unlikely prospect to graduate. Ian had proven himself not only able to disregard his upbringing, with its cultural prejudices and hatred for the technology used to create vipers, he had done so in a manner that had seen him thrive.

“Congratulations, Sergeant.”

“Thank you, sir,” Hiller said, with a smile and returned to his seat.

“Well done, Takeri.”

“Thank you, sir,” Takeri said, and saluted before returning to her seat.

Burgton shook hands with one unit after another handing them their insignia, and the responsibilities that went with them. Gina didn’t keep count, but when no more came forward, she knew the battalion had its full complement of non-coms at last.

“From this point on,” Burgton announced. “Those just elevated not only have the rank and privileges, they also have the responsibilities that come with the stripes. We, your instructors and I, have thought long and hard on those who will fill the position of lieutenant for each platoon. Sixteen men and women have been chosen from the entire battalion as possessing the skills and outlook necessary for the position. Using the results and observations taken over a year of testing and training, I have chosen to promote the following units to lieutenant: Erma Dengler, Kamarl Dolinski, Gina Fuentez, Katherine Richmond…”

Gina grinned in delight when her name was called. She jumped to her feet and followed her friends as they marched to collect their insignia. She almost laughed aloud when she heard Richmond cussing under her breath behind her. Dengler took her promotion in stride, but Dolinski looked unhappy. It had to be the thing with Callendri. There was nothing anyone could do about what had happened, but perhaps a word from her would help in some way. She made a note to get Kamarl alone later.

“Congratulations, Kamarl,” Burgton said. “I know you feel responsible for Roberto, and you are in a way, but it’s a responsibility we all share. I know what it is to kill a friend.”

“Does it get better, sir?”

“No, but it does get easier to live with.”

“Thank you, sir,” Dolinski said, saluted, and took the case containing his bars.

Gina stepped forward and saluted.

“Well done, Gina, especially with the rocky start.”

“Thank you, sir,” she said, and took the small case containing the two silver bars of a first lieutenant. She shook his hand before saluting again.

Richmond stepped forward, wide eyed with shock.

“Congratulations, Katherine. Surprised?”

“Yes, sir,” Richmond said with feeling. “With respect, sir, I don’t like officers.”

Burgton laughed at that. “You’ll find the best officers are the ones who least like ordering others to do the work. I need people who not only know the job, but ones willing to get down in the dirt and do it. A soldier who likes to order others to do what he should have done, has no place in the regiment let alone filling a command slot.”

“Yes, sir, I agree. Maybe my problem is that all the officers I knew came from Bethany.”