M'tak Ka'fek (The T'aafhal Inheritance) (27 page)
“What?” the puzzled Beth replied.
“Naked is when you have no clothes on, nekkid is when you have no clothes on and yer up to something,” Billy Ray threw off the covers and stood up.
Beth look him up and down and, dropping her towel, replied, “In that case, Commander, I would say that right now you are nekkid.”
Officers Club, Hangar Hotel
It was after 7:30 before Beth and Billy Ray managed to join the others in the hotel bar for a quick breakfast. As they walked in together everyone turned to look at the pair of officers. Even if they feigned innocence there was no escaping the look that people have after a night of passion—an aura of sated languor that cannot be disguised.
“I hope you two had a restful night,” TK said as they approached the table where he, Sid and Tony were seated. He couldn't fully hide the amusement in his voice. Also at the table were Roger Stoltz and Sally Musselman who smiled cordially as the couple took seats.
Both Sid and Sally immediately understood what TK's remark really meant. Sid because the Texas Ranger was observant and studied the behavior of his fellow humans, Sally because women can just tell about such things. Roger remained clueless.
“The accommodations are certainly more comfortable than a rack on a corvette,” Beth supplied, evading the question. Ranger Sid moved the toothpick from one side of his mouth to the other.
Billy Ray just nodded and attacked his eggs and sausages. Though the Moon base now had producing laying hens, bacon and sausage were still scarce, making this a treat. The table settled into small talk as the two late comers devoured their breakfasts.
Just as they were finishing, the double doors to the bar flew open and a man in military attire strode in. At the sound of the opening doors, conversation in the bar stopped and everyone stared at the newcomer, just like in an old Hollywood western. It was Gen. Jake Crotchet, late of the U.S. Army and now commander of the Republic of Texas Army.
“Why does that man always have to storm into a room like he's storming an enemy position?” TK muttered. In a louder voice he called out, “General, what can we do for you this morning?”
“We got problems, people. I just got a call from some of my troops in Brady. The town came under attack last night by a bunch of armed irregulars.”
“We were just in Brady yesterday evening,” Billy Ray said, laying down his utensils. “There wasn't anything out of the ordinary when we departed at 2100.”
“Attack started around 0400 on some of the outlying houses. Came in from the north. My men on site counter attacked but had to pull back, they were outnumbered at least three to one.”
“My goodness,” said Sally, “what do you propose that we do?”
“I got two platoons, eighty men, ready to go, all with combat experience and a full ammo load. Problem is the roads are all closed 'cause of this snow; I have no way of getting them to the combat zone.”
TK looked at Billy Ray, who nodded. “General, we can provide transport for your men. We can have you on the ground in Brady in less than 30 minutes.”
“I was kind of hoping you'd say that, Major, or is that Commander?” Being a military man, the General knew what the oak leaf cluster on Billy Ray's collar meant.
“Lieutenant Commander, Sir, we're Navy,” he replied, folding his napkin and standing up. “How soon can your men be ready to board the shuttle?”
“The trucks are pulling up outside right now, Commander.”
Billy Ray signaled to his crew chief, who was sitting with the sailors at the next table. “Chief, I think we better get her warmed up.”
Turning back to the wiry little general Billy Ray said, “I'm Billy Ray Vincent, by the way, and this is Lieutenant Elisabeth Melaku.”
“I am very pleased to meet you Commander, Lieutenant. Now if you don't mind, I need to see to my men.”
As the General departed, Roger spoke for the first time since the crisis broke. “We've been getting harassed by bandits and renegades coming in from the northwest ever since winter set in. Normally they hit isolated farm houses. They kill everyone in sight, take all the food and then burn the place to the ground. The General sends out patrols but the raids have been getting worse.”
“And the size of the bands have been getting bigger,” added Tony.
“Weapons for the crew?” Billy Ray asked TK.
“Yeah, Billy Ray. These folks are our allies. I'll talk to Col. Tropsha and Capt. Curtis but I'm sure they will agree.”
“If you don't mind, Commander, I'd like to ride along,” Sid asked.
“Grab your gear and meet me at the shuttle, Ranger.”
Sid nodded and left the room. Beth and Billy Ray also headed out to don their cold weather gear.
* * * * *
Fifteen minutes later the ranger and the two officers were standing next to the boarding ramp as the last of the soldiers trooped onto the shuttle. From external appearances, the General's men looked fit, well equipped and motivated.
“Ranger, follow the Army on board and work your way forward. Tell the crew chief that you're to be up front with me.” This statement drew a look from Beth.
“Right,” Sid replied and followed the soldiers up the ramp.
As the Ranger left, Billy Ray turned to address Beth. His heart was suddenly in free fall—he did not want to deal with this.
“I know what you're gonna say, but you have to stay here with TK.”
“Why? I am a fully qualified combat officer, just as you are. Is it because I'm a woman? Is it because you think I'm your woman?”
“No, its because we can't leave TK here without transport and you are the only other qualified shuttle pilot. Beth, I know that you are every bit the warrior that I am, maybe more, but TK is one of the most important leaders we've got.”
“Really? He's come down here before on his own.”
“Not without a pilot and a couple of Marines, he hasn't. Look, Ludmilla is a fantastic administrator, she keeps everything running while juggling a million and one details; Gretchen is a great captain and is doing a hell of a job building up the Navy, plus we all know she can fight; but it is TK who thinks long term. The other two provide logistics and tactics, TK provided strategy. Until Jack Sutton returns, TK Parker is essential to our future, hell, the future of mankind.”
Beth glared at him but knew what Billy Ray said was the truth. “I suppose you're right, but I still don't like it.”
“Exigencies of the service. I don't want to be away from you for a minute, but we have to do what we have to do. And, Lieutenant, I need you to protect TK Parker while the rest of us are aiding the Texans.”
“Yes, Commander.” Beth turned, jammed her hands into her parka pockets and walked stiffly back to the hotel.
* * * * *
Boarding his ship, Billy Ray walked forward through the ranks of soldiers, all in white winter camouflage. At the cockpit door he stopped and talked with the General, who was now in full web gear with helmet and carbine.
“You're welcome to sit up front, General.”
“Thanks, Commander, but to tell you the truth, I never much cared for flying. Besides, you got Ranger Hopkins to show you where to go, he knows the terrain as well as I do.”
“Fine, Sir. I'll warn you that this will be a bit different from other flights you've been on. You won't feel any motion until we are back on the ground at the other end.”
“Works for me,” the General said with a smile.
Entering the cockpit, Billy Ray found the Ranger already strapped into the right hand copilot's seat. The crew chief was seated behind him at the status board and one of the sailors was on the other side of the cockpit at the controls to the chin mounted 15mm railgun.
“We are all buttoned up and ready to go, Skipper.”
“Thanks Chief, let's get the Army where it needs to go.”
His fingers danced over touch controls on the surrounding cockpit display and then, with the barest movement of the sidestick, the big shuttle rose rapidly and headed north.
“Don't feel like its movin',” said Sid.
“Artificial gravity,” replied Billy Ray.
“You havin' trouble with your girlfriend?”
Billy Ray gave the Ranger a narrow eyed look.
“No offense, I'm just trying to get the lay of the land.”
“My Lieutenant is used to riding toward battles. She was unhappy at being forced to set this one out.”
The sailor at the weapon controls looked over at the crew chief. The chief shot him a keep-your-mouth-shut look and pointedly turned back to his instruments. The cockpit was quiet for several minutes while hilly, snow covered terrain passed beneath the shuttle. Less than five minutes out, Sid spoke again.
“I was there when your ship took off.”
“Where?”
“At Parker's ranch; blew out every window for miles.”
“I remember that day well.”
“You were on board?”
“Yup,” Billy Ray replied, smiling at the memory. “I was at the helm.”
Chapter 16
Brady, Republic of Texas
Capt. Jim Stillwell and his men were in a ditch at the edge of town. It was just the latest holding position they had fallen back on trying to keep the band of marauders at bay. For a bunch of outlaws the enemy was well equipped, most carrying automatic weapons—probably raided from a National Guard armory somewhere. They were also fairly well led, and showed enough discipline for the Captain to suspect that many were veterans of one stripe or another.
It was a hazy gray day, as the days had been for the past several months. Snow was falling intermittently. His sergeant positioned the men with practiced skill. Most of them had seen action in one God forsaken corner of the world or another before everything went to hell. Now home was the battlefield and it was their former countrymen, not the Taliban, trying to kill them.
The bandits were pushing them south along Old Santa Anna Road, back into town. Lieutenant Duffy's men were trying to hold the right flank along Bridge Street, trying not to let the enemy split their forces. If that happened they could be wiped out one unit at a time, what the military called being defeated in detail. The trick was to maintain contact with Duffy while not losing contact with the enemy.
“Bravo Sierra, Bravo Sierra, this is Victor X-ray, over.” The radio crackled. He was BS1 and Duffy was BS2, for a minute he was puzzled by who this Victor X-ray could be. Then he remembered that Gen. Crotchet used VX as his call sign.
“Roger Victor X-ray, this is Bravo Sierra One, I read you 5 by 5.”
“Bravo Sierra, be advised that we are inbound with relief. Mark your position with infrared flares.”
“Roger Victor X-ray, we are holding positions off Old Santa Anna Road and Bridge Street, south and west of the air strip. Marking positions now.”
* * * * *
General Crotchet came forward to discuss deployment with Ranger Hopkins and Lcdr. Vincent. Billy Ray pulled up a topographic map on the instrument display, overlain with the positions of the forces on the ground. The shuttle's IR sensors showed not just the flares but the location of each soldier and outlaw.
“Looks like we can insert second platoon in this field next to Bridge Street. Then we can land first platoon at the airstrip. I really want to catch these bastards in an envelopment and wipe 'em out.” All commanders since the beginning of time longed for the elusive decisive battle.
“Sounds like a plan, General,” Billy Ray agreed. “Chief, get yourself and the men into armor. We will send two of you with each platoon. And pop a couple of recon drones.”
“Aye aye, Skipper.”
“What's with this armor stuff, Commander? Are you talking about those big robot suits that your Marines wear?”
“Yeah, pretty much. You can think of them as light armored vehicles with legs. They are impervious to small arms fire and pack quite a punch themselves. Just tell 'em what you want 'em to do.”
2
nd
Platoon, Kountry Akers Drive
The shuttle rose almost silently from the field adjoining Bridge Street and disappeared into the gray overcast. Major Randolf watched as his men spread out and began crossing the road into the scrub on the other side. Beside his sergeant stood the two armored sailors, like gray-black robots.
“What am I supposed to do with you two?” he asked. “You're big and black and you are going to stand out against the snow like a dog's balls.”
As he watched both armored figures faded to white. “Adaptive camouflage, Sir,” one of the figures said. “I'm Crenshaw, he's Lucas. Just tell us where to go.”
“All right,” the perplexed Major replied. “Crenshaw, go with Lieutenant Gomez and 3
rd
& 4
th
squads, Lucas come with me.”
Gomez's column headed west to strengthen the middle of the defensive line. At the same time, 1
st
& 2
nd
squads moved north to link up with Lt. Duffy's men on the right flank. It didn't take long for them to find both Duffy and the enemy.
Randolf's men moved through a wooded area and an open field beyond. Ahead was another road, with more houses running north to south. A street sign read
Kountry Akers Drive
. The sound of gunfire could be heard just up ahead. Moving carefully between the northernmost pair of houses, the soldiers found their comrades engaged in a firefight with a large number of hostiles.
As he watched, the Major could see several of the enemy trying to flank Lt. Duffy's position, attempting to move past the houses to the west. Their movement drew fire from the adjacent house—from the sound of it, large caliber hunting rifles. Obviously the citizens were not passively watching the battle unfold.
Finally establishing physical contact with Lt. Duffy, Maj Randolf asked for a sitrep—a situation report.
“I've got one squad along the road to the right where it doglegs back to the main road. The rest are hunkered down in the backyard of the northern most house. There seem to be a lot of hostiles trying to infiltrate through the field west of the house lots.”
