Raid on Kahamba (13 page)

Willie stood on the lowered cargo ramp of the transport. 
“
Joshua,”  he called out over the radio, “you read me?”

“
I do,” Joshua replied.

“
I can tell you’r
e on your way from the tactical.”
Willie then added with a chuckle.  “
But t
he pilots are getting antsy anyhow.
 
They say that there are more bogeys inbound, so get here ASAP.”

“A man can only go so fast,” Joshua laughed.
“You keep them on the ground until I get there.  I just took a beating for you guys.”

“I
t
was much appreciated,
a
migo,” Willie responded.  “We’ll be waiting.”

They were only
two more minutes
from the airfield, but it seemed like
two
of the longest minutes that Joshua had experienced.  When they arrived he finally breathed a sigh of relief.  Willie and the HARM ground crew was waiting for them at the transport
’s cargo ramp.  Crouching down, he gently lowered Penny down
and
several men helped her onto the transport.  He then kneeled down and positioned his HARM for loading.  Opening the pilot’s hatch, he was greeted with cheers.  His crew came running up to him and congratulated him even as they completed preparations for winching his unit up into the transport.

X
s
poke out
again
.
“Air defen
c
es are activating to the west of us
again
. 
Another wave of
six unknowns
are
approaching at supersonic speed
.
”

“
I guess it
’
s time to leave,
” Joshua smiled. 
“You can stand down, X.”  
They would be long gone by the time the next wave arrived.  The mission was over. 

Willie came up and cheerfully clapped him on the back.  “You did good back there.  I got someone who wants to speak to you though.”

Joshua had a moment of apprehension.
“Is Angie okay?”

“She’s good,”  Willie smiled, “but she does want to
talk
to you before the medic drugs her up.”  He pulled out one of his big cigars and unwrapped it.  He didn’t smoke them anymore, but he
still
like
d
to chew on one at the end of successful mission. “Follow me.”

The two
quickly
walked up the cargo ramp into the plane.  Behind them, the crew started winching Joshua’s HARM on
board.  Well forward, the medic
had set
up an aid station and
was
working on the wounded.
 
He
even had a reluctant Penny lying down so they could check her over.

The first thing that
Joshua saw
was
Angie was laying on a stretcher
.  Her armour had been stripped off and she
was bandaged around her chest with an IV drip set up next to her.  He
was at
her
side in a flash
and
crouched down next to
her head.

“Hi,
honey
,” he gently spoke to her.

Angie looked up at him and gave him a big s
mile.  “I’m so glad you made it!
” she cried out.  “
The situation
looked
terrible back there for you.”

“I didn’t like the odds much myself
either
,” Joshua agreed, “but Penny and I both made it.”

“You’re just good,” Angie said again. “
When
things were looking really bad
I just kept thinking t
here were so many things I wanted to tell you.  I was afraid I would never get to
say them
.”
 
She raised her hand to touch his face.  There were tears in her eyes.

Joshua held her hand, trying to reassure
her
.  “Hush. Everything will be okay.
”
 

“
Did I ever tell you I think you’re wonderful
?”
Angie
asked
.

“No, but I could get used to it,” Joshua joked back.  “I love you,” he then said seriously, “
Like you said,
we’ll work everything out.”  With that, he bent over to kiss her on the lips, muffling her response.  The kiss was a heartfelt one for the both of them
.  Neither of them
noticed the cargo ramp closing
or
the
jet
engines spinning up
to full power
on the transport.

Only when
they felt
the
vibrations from the
transport racing down the runway did they realize they were taking off.  A number of the commandos
and
ground crew were
giving them
amused
looks
, but no one was complaining.  Both Willie and Penny were all smiles for the couple.
  Shani and Kwasi were also all smiles, but not for the same reason.  Kwasi had Willie’s helmet on and was happily playing
with it while
his mother
watched him
.

When the
stealth
transport was in the air,
it disappeared from
visual sight
when its active camouflage enabled
.
  Undetectable, it set a low altitude course back to Diego Garcia.  This was just the next step to deliver the alien artifact to a secure research facility in Canada.

Epilogue

Grand Master Jk’shth was meditating in front of a replica of the Shre’lor
located in a small shrine
. 
She had come here after watching the battle between the Zr’prihl Hunter units and the human HARM units.  The humans
were
clearly outmatched, yet they had won.  Kr’shl had not taken the defeat well and had been trembling in anger
at the end
.  It was not a good trait in a leader
,
reflected Jk’shth.  She secretly wondered if they were not yet destined to recover the Shre’lor
.
T
he Great Egg did work in mysterious ways.  They had been so close to
their goal! W
ith all her years,
though,
she had learned patience.  Eventually the Shre’lor would be recovered.

The door slid open behind her to admit her aide and Kr’shl.  Kr’shl looked dejected and ashamed, the edges of his mouth straight instead of curled.

Kr’shl bowed.  “Grand Master.   I bring unfortunate news. 
The additional
warriors
we dispatched
were unsuccessful in
locating the humans that
defeated our forces
.
  We are unsure which human faction has
the Shre’lor
now, but we will continue investigating.
”

“This is grave news indeed,”  Jk’shth responded in a firm tone.  “
You performed well
,
Kr’shl.  The Shre’lor has shown itself to us after all these years. 
That
by itself is a hopeful sign.”

“Your observation is wise, Jk’shth.  We will redouble our efforts.”
 

“Very well,” agreed Jk’shth.  “I depart for the Great Shrine tonight.  When arrive I will inquire with the Brazilians about the Shre’lor. 
I know you do not like the humans, but w
e will use all avenues to find it again.”

With a motion of her hand
she dismissed Kr’
shl
,
who immediately vacated the room.  Jk’shth had many thoughts on her mind, ones that were not just about the Shre’lor.  Both
Sh’thimori
and human needed to co-exist on this planet now.  Jk’shth knew they were the invaders, but
felt no remorse.
The Sh’thimori
had needed a new home to escape to from their dying home world. 
T
heir stud
ies
of human behavior
had indicated invasion
was the best course of action
, a decision that had not been made easily
by the
Council of Elders
.
Tensions were rising with the humans again and war would inevitably result if nothing w
as
done.
  Now
that
they were settled
,
war
would be catastrophic for both sides.  Upon her arrival in Brazil she would have to personally supervise the
unity
projects that were possibly the last best hope for peace.

Afterword:

Coming up is a series of interlocking stories that take place in a new time of tension between humans and Newts.  The core of the Exocrisis Blue story happens
seven
years after
Raid on Kahamba
.  There will be more mecha action and new characters that will play out the fate of the world.

To keep posted on exciting developments in the world of Exocrisis Blue, visit my author’s blog at peterlok.blogspot.com or visit exocrisisblue.blogspot.com for more information about this new world.  Links to my sites can be found on my Amazon author’s page.