Reason For Vengeance (Dark Vengeance Book 1) (9 page)

It seemed she had another thing to chat through with General Vrolijk.

“No danger of that now, Major.”  Private O’Grady interjected.  “Boyle’s the one who tried to blow my head off with that.”  He said pointing to the weapon still in Valerie’s hand.  “I put two in his head.  He won’t be causing any problems.”

“No, he won’t.  Good work.”  Valerie placed the GT66 on one of the racks with the others.  “I take it you are going with flash bombs?” she said looking at Palicki.

The Lieutenant nodded her head.  “Yes, Major.  Alop has set the charges to match the GT66s power unit.  They’ll all detonate and leave nothing behind.  These permacrete walls will contain the heat and it’ll be weeks before the locals can get down here.  By then there will be nothing worth finding.”

“Excellent, Lieutenant.  We’ll blow this one once we’re in the air.  I’ll leave you to it then, let me know when you’re back topside.”

“Of course, Major, and thanks for clearing the roofs earlier.”  Palicki said and followed it up with a rare in the field salute.

“That’s what I’m here for.”  Valerie said with a wiry grin and returned the salute.  “I know you could have made it out if you needed to.”  With that said, she walked out and back to the lift.  Private Rajan was no longer there and probably setting more of the flash bombs.

The lift deposited Valerie back in the courtyard and as she stepped out her com came to life on the command net.  “Lead, this is Three.”

“Lead here.  Go ahead, Pavel.”

“Sweep is complete.  We found some product you might be interested in looking at before we pull out.”

Valerie checked her wristcomp for his position and saw that it wasn’t far.  Also Shadow Company was now all concentrated in the South East quadrant of the camp.  “On my way, Pavel, I’m five minutes away.  Ops, this is Lead.”

“Go ahead, Lead.”

“Target is Sanitised.  I am bringing the Helos in for extraction on the clear ground outside the camp to the South East, extraction point Three.”  She told him.

“Copy, Lead.”  Gibson responded.  “We show locals at sixty minutes out, they’ll be well clear of you and won’t get a peep.”

“I read you, Ops.  Let me know if it changes.  Benz, bring in the Helos.  It’s time to move.  Did you copy the pick up?”

“Acknowledged, Lead.  Extraction Three,” the Captain replied.  “Moving now, two minutes.”

“All Platoon leaders.  Did you copy that?”  Valerie asked.

“Two received.”  Captain Forlani said.  “I’ll round up my boys and girls.”

“This is Three.  Understood, I’ll send my Platoon on and wait for you here with my fire team.”  Lieutenant Vobruba said, using his initiative, just as Valerie would expect.

“Four is finishing up and moving, Major.  Bunker is ready to go.”

“Five is boarding the Helo now, Major.  We’ll stay airborne at the extraction in case you need cover.”  Lieutenant Aycox said.  Fifth Platoon had spent the entire mission waiting by their Helo.

“Thanks, Five.”  Valerie told her.  “Sorry your team had such a quiet night.  I’ll make sure Five is on the assault element next time.”

“That would be appreciated, Major.”  Valerie smiled at that.  The young Lieutenant did like to emulate Valerie and part of that was leading the assaults.  It also explained her passion for body building and unarmed combat.  Lucy Aycox’s goal in life was to be able to say she took Major Valerie Carter one on one. 

That was not going to happen, but Valerie would never tell her.  She believed it was always best to have a clear goal.  There was nothing wrong with an unachievable goal, as long as they didn’t know it was unachievable.  All the while Lieutenant Aycox thought it was possible to beat Valerie she would strive to be the best she could.  That was good for Lucy’s career and Shadow Company.

“Sergeant Major.”  Valerie said after switching to her Platoons net.  “Helos are two minutes out.  Get ‘em organised.  Extraction Three.”

“Yes, Major.”  Bickerstaff acknowledged.  “You heard the Lady!  Grab your gear and Burn Bags.  Extraction Three’s our exit, people.  Move it!”

“Button.”  Valerie said as she replaced her helmet and started at a light jog across the courtyard, into the building.  “Meet me outside the North wall.  We’ve got a side run to do.”

“On my way, Major.”

Aside from the occasional body, the building was easy to navigate and Valerie was soon outside.  The Private was waiting for her.  He came down the quick way using his grav-belt.

“Where to, Major?” he asked.

“We’re meeting up with Lieutenant Vobruba and we need to move it.”  Valerie told him as she set off at an easy run.  Button dropping in beside her, keeping pace.  They arrived at a long, high, hanger resembling building, well within her five minute estimate.

Two of Third Platoons Alpha fire team were standing guard by the main entrance.  Not having the time for her usual pleasantries, Valerie restricted herself to a smile and a nod as she passed.  Button was a bit more friendly and indulged in a pat on the shoulder of each as he followed her in.

Inside, the building was completely open, all the way up to its rafters.  To one side was what looked like a make shift camp, with blankets hung on ropes to make crude rooms.  A number of the blankets were pulled aside and Valerie could see old, dirty, four bed bunks.  Designed for tight spaces the bunks only allowed half a metre between the thin mattress and the one above.

The rest of the building was taken up by long tables heavily laden with Coca and Poppy plants, all at various stages of being processed.  A loading dock sat at the far end.  In an open area, between what could loosely be described as the living quarters and the tables, were a large group of people.

They were a mix of ages from children, only a little older than Valerie’s daughter Daphne, to men and women in their seventies and eighties.  The majority were in the lower and higher age range, with few in between.  All of them huddled on the floor, kneeling or sitting, and casting fearful looks at Lieutenant Vobruba and the two remaining members of his fire-team, who were alert but not threatening, with guns pointed away. 

Valerie glanced at Button who nodded to her and she walked up to the Lieutenant.

“Thanks for calling me, Pavel.  I take it they have been scanned?”

“Yes, Ma’am,” he said with a nod.  “They only have the clothes on their backs.  We haven’t had time to interview any of them, so I don’t know where they are from.”  He nodded to the bodies scattered around.  “They were heavily guarded by a dozen goons.  I don’t think they’re here by choice.”

“OK.  Get your team out of here.  Button and I will take care of this.”

With a nod, the Lieutenant waved to his two troopers.  “Let’s go.”  They headed out and Valerie looked over the prisoners while she waited for them to leave.  The mission was a Sanitisation even if it did not say it anywhere in her official orders.  Under that remit, these people’s lives were forfeit and that is what Vobruba should have done when he found them.

Shadow Company did not kill innocents unless they absolutely had to.  Captain Gibson was still an unknown in that area.  Valerie strongly suspected he could cause problems if he knew.  She was confident she could bring him round.  She would do it by getting him in the field a few times.  Once he saw how much the Company relied upon one another, those attitudes instilled in him since birth would begin to break down.

In the meantime they could not afford for him to know what they were doing, or expose the junior officers.  It was why Vobruba kept it as low key as he could.  She wasn’t worried about Button, although only a Private, he had been with the Company since she founded it.  Something of a maverick, he joined the Legion as a basic recruit rather than as an officer, as his Family’s wealth would have made easily possible.  He was not lazy and always pushed himself as hard as every other member of the Company.  For some reason Valerie had never been able to work out, he actually enjoyed being a Private soldier. 

Chao Button was Valerie’s most trusted trooper, a Life X recipient who, with his training and experience, had the best chance of keeping up with her.  She knew, without a very solid reason and evidence to back it up, Gibson wouldn’t dare go after him.

The prisoners looked a sorry lot and many bowed their heads, avoiding Valerie’s eyes.  There were a few scattered about that didn’t.  For some of them, it was the vacant gaze of people who no longer cared what happened or had given up, as there was nothing they could do to change their future.  They would have in all probability been brought here against their will to work for Boyle.  A couple met her eyes defiantly, they had kept their strength and Valerie did not know how.

She picked one man she guessed was in his late fifties.  “You.  Stand up,” she said pointing to him.  Hesitantly he stood, though his eyes never wavered.  His clothes were thin and worn, with holes in them.  A young boy huddled next to him, holding on to his trousers.

“Do what you will.”  The man said, putting a protective arm around the boy.

“I’m not going to hurt you or anyone here.”  Valerie told him.  “We have done what we came to do.  This operation is gone and my employers can take over his business.  Our contract was to kill everyone here, so believe me when I say that you owe me your lives.”

The man’s eyes widened at Valerie’s pronouncement and she continued.  “I’m sure the authorities will be along at some point.  You will tell them nothing of us.  All you will say is that you hid when you heard the gunfire and did not come out until after it was over.  You did not see or hear anything and you will stay in this building.  Do you understand?”

He nodded.  “No one will say anything.”

“Good, I’m sure I don’t need to say what will happen if anyone goes against my wishes?”  Valerie said in a well-practised cold voice and he shook his head vigorously.

With nothing more needing to be said, Valerie turned and left with Button behind her.  As they exited the building, Valerie looked around, checking none of the surrounding buildings on fire would cause any danger to the former prisoners.

“They’ll be safe enough,” she told Button.  “What do you think?”

“They won’t say anything,” he replied.  “Even if they did, what can they say?  Black clad men and women came in, killing and destroying everything.  There’s nothing to tie us back to this.”

“I agree, now we had better run if we’re going to catch our ride out of here.”  Valerie said, putting action to her words and taking off towards the Helos.

Button charged after her, his longer legs matching her shorter but quicker strides.  She kept to a pace he could keep up with.

“What?” He asked.  “Do you think they’ll leave you behind?”

“No, but there is a real chance they might leave you.  While they’re congratulating themselves on that little trick, I might have to walk out of this jungle!  It’s a bloody long way home and I’d make it as miserable as I could for you.”

“Major.  You can be so cruel.”  Button responded and picked up his pace.  Valerie matched it easily.

Their run ate up the distance and they soon passed the last of the buildings.  The five Helos sat on the open ground, their engines whining.  First Platoons Helo was the closest.  Captain Benz had known Valerie would be the last to leave and would have deliberately parked there.  They slowed as they approached and jogged up the ramp.  Button went straight for his seat, with the rest of the Platoon, and Valerie to her chair at her command station.

Quickly, she strapped herself in and glanced at her own screen before keying her com.

“All units are green.  We are good to go, Hans.”

“Copy that, Major,” he responded.  “All units lift on my mark, max accel to the FOB.  Three, two, one.  Mark.”  The Windsoar flung itself straight up and into the sky.  Valerie watched on her screen as the five drop ships reached two hundred metres.  In perfect synchronisation they swung into formation, pivoted their noses towards the stars and activated their main engines.

With no sign on her screen of Shadow Company being caught by the Gomez government and the ships heading back to base, Valerie relaxed in her seat.  Another successful mission complete, with no casualties and few injuries.  It was another job well done.

This is the definition of true happiness, Valerie thought as she sat at the controls of her Kingfisher aircar.  It was a beautiful Saturday morning and the sun was shining in the clear blue sky.  The self-tinting wind screen reducing the glare, but more than enough came through for her to appreciate it properly.  After months in space, it was particularly satisfying.

Valerie was well used to time in the confines of a starship or in this case a FOB module, but there was nothing like the feel of real sunlight.  Particularly from the one in the Olympus system, which was the closest to Sol, humanities birthplace, than any other so far discovered with a terraformable world within the Goldilocks zone.

She had left Mountnessing, the Legion’s main base on the outskirts of Zeus, far behind, travelling swiftly in the Blue zone and revelling in the feel of the Kingfisher.  Shadow Company all arrived on the planet together, after completing the debriefings on Furioso.  Everyone earning a well-deserved break.  They were all off to spend time with family or to blow the pay they accumulated during the mission, which they hadn’t been able to spend.

The March Kingfisher had the functionality of a family vehicle with its six seats and large cargo area coupled with souped up twin turbo charged engines and racing spec aerodynamics.  It was more than she could afford on a Major’s salary, let alone her cover identity’s Lieutenant pay.  Tom surprised her with it on her last birthday and she loved its speed and manoeuvrability.  With the added bonus of her Legion Elite Pilots Licence, she could fly with manual controls up in the Blue Traffic Zone.

With the introduction of relatively inexpensive aircraft, inexpensive if you were one of the Privileged or a Government department anyway, a safe and effective air traffic control system needed to be developed.  It would have been inconceivable to expect the general public to be trained to the level of commercial, civilian and military pilots, when aircraft were still relatively rare.  It was decided that a coloured lane system would be implemented, with the majority of civilian everyday cars to be under computer control.

Although a true artificial intelligence had turned out to be impossible, an incredibly powerful computer capable of handling the millions of vehicles across a planet wasn’t.  The system worked from the ground up into low orbit, starting with Red at ground level.  Red was for wheeled vehicles only.  Allowing those who couldn’t afford aircars a sense of freedom, by giving any vehicles driven on the roads manual control.  Aircars could also be used the same way, as long as they were set to hover with a maximum height of one metre.

Above the red, came the Orange band, used purely for vertical movement from Red into the higher bands, under computer control only.  Yellow and Green were the main thoroughfares, both under computer control, Yellow for short journey’s and Green, above the Yellow, for the longer ones, with faster speeds.  Blue was the first band allowing manual controls, for those with the requisite licences and also used for the long haul cross continent or ocean flights.  Above that, the Indigo band was mainly for the big commercial liners moving workers around the planet.  Violet, the uppermost band, was for transferring out of the atmosphere into orbit.

It was almost impossible to override the autopilots hard wired into all vehicles when they were built.  Even in the direst of circumstances, the autopilot could not be switched off.  Accidents had happened when Traffic Control went wrong and people died.  It had been decided that the much smaller risk of computer failure, was more preferable to the greater one of human nature.  If a ground car hit something, the death toll was mostly one or two people.  If an aircar crashed, the force of the impact was so much higher and particularly in an urban environment, the death toll could easily be in the hundreds.

Valerie’s licence allowed her to fly clear up into orbit if she so chose, the Kingfisher was rated for a maximum ceiling just short of the top of the Indigo band.  Today it was a short flight from the Space port to home, so she was skimming just above the autopilot zones and enjoying it immensely. 

For fun she switched the Kingfishers artificial gravity off and initiated a barrel roll.  The G-forces pulled at her and she grinned in pure glee, revelling in the freedom of the skies.  Valerie followed this up by first straightening the Kingfisher and then pulled back on the controls.  The Kingfisher went first into a climb that became steeper and steeper, until it pulled all the way over onto its back.  Now in an upside down dive, Valerie continued the manoeuvre to bring the Kingfisher level.

Not finished with her fun, she decided a simple lateral spin was in order and brought the joystick all the way over to the left.  The Kingfisher responded instantly and spun around and around.  Valerie could not help but to let out a load whoop of joy.  It was all too short though and she soon saw the sprawling town of Gooseberry Green, in the low hills on the out skirts of Zeus, passing over her head as she spun around.  With a contented sigh she straightened the Kingfisher one final time.

Built exclusively for those with the larger bank balance, it was a sea of expansive houses set back from winding roads, with swimming pools, landing pads and large gardens.  Broken up by communal woods, parks and schools, with open shopping and entertainment boulevards it was as close to perfect a place to raise her children, as Valerie had experienced.

The salary from Valerie’s cover identity, of a Senior Grade Lieutenant, wouldn’t come close to cover the cost of these homes, but Tom’s, coupled with his Family’s money, made them actually a few steps down from what they could afford.  Tom wanted a homely and open area for their children, something Valerie firmly agreed with.  His family hadn’t liked the idea, they thought it was below his station.  Marrying a lowly lieutenant had given Tom a lot of practise when dealing with his family, so their opinion had little impact on his and Valerie’s decision.

Valerie braked gently and brought the Kingfisher round in a gentle curve, its guidance system steering her directly above their home.  Once at a complete stop, hovering high above Gooseberry Green, she retracted the air wings and engaged the autopilot.  The Kingfisher smoothly descended to land lightly in front of the house.  The engines whined down and she shut down the various systems.  Grabbing her bag, from where she tossed it on the front passenger seat, she opened the side door and stepped out. 

“Mummy!!”  The cry sang out as a blonde ball of energy leapt at Valerie.  She needed her enhanced reflexes to gather Daphne into her arms, hugging her fiercely.  Daphne of course knew exactly how fast her mother could catch her.  She had a child’s unfailing trust that her parents would never let her fall.  She also knew Mummy was much better at catching her than Daddy. 

Valerie buried her nose in her daughter’s blonde hair, breathing her scent in and knowing it had been far too long.  When you are over a hundred years old, a couple of months seems like no time at all.  For a six year old it was an eternity.  Valerie saw how much she had missed.  Daphne was taller and her hair was desperately in need of a cut, Valerie cut it herself last time she was home.  There was no way she could quantify how much of Daphne’s life she had missed.  It would be impossible for Daphne and Tom to tell her everything in the two weeks she had, until she needed to report back aboard the Furioso.

“My darling,” Valerie said.  “How I’ve missed you.”

Daphne looked up from the hug and gazed at her mother with her big blue eyes.  “I’ve missed you too, Mummy.” 

Valerie held her daughter out in front of her easily with her hands under Daphne’s armpits.  “Have you been growing again on me?”

“Yep,” the blonde girl replied with a massive smile on her face.  “I’m taller than Melia now and I beat her one on one.”  Daphne was referring to the Captain of her Flyball team.

“Wow, did you make Striker then?”

“Yep,” she answered proudly.  “Coach put me in for the final.”

“It’s a good thing I made it home in time then.”

“We’re all very glad you did.”  A deep male voice said.  Valerie turned and saw her tall, dark haired husband, with Bobbie sat on his broad shoulders.

“Mummy!”  Bobbie cried out, unknowingly echoing his older sister.

“What do you say, Tom?”  Valerie asked her husband.  “Want to swap?”

“I’ve got a better idea,” he said with a grin, engulfing Valerie and Daphne in a big hug.  His long, strong arms gathering them both to him, with Bobbie perched on his shoulders.  The four of them stayed there for a time, losing themselves in the satisfaction of being together as a family.  It didn’t take long for Bobbie to begin squirming as only a four year old can.  Valerie and Tom separated, both smiling at the other.  Tom scooped Daphne up with one arm while, Valerie reached up for Bobbie and gave him a hug of her own.  Together they walked to the house with the kids in their arms.

***

“Come on, Daphne!”  Valerie called.  The girl caught a high throw from Melia, her team Captain, and charged forward with the ball under her arm.  A particularly tenacious and large seven year old on the opposite team, lunged for her from the side and Daphne pivoted, just as Valerie taught her, keeping the tags at her back out of his reach.  It barely interrupted her run and another defender was coming at her, just not quite quick enough.  In mid-stride, she threw the ball straight for the one metre square goal high on the wall.  The ball caught the lip with just enough angle to spin in and give the Gooseberry’s the lead.

The stands were packed at the cup final.  The Gooseberry’s parents and supporters cheered loudly.  Bobbie jumped up and down in his customary place on Tom’s shoulders.  Her husband letting everyone know just whose little girl scored.  Valerie clapped, cheered and whooped with the best of them.  Daphne jogged back to her team, waving at her family.  The two Flyball teams settled themselves back into position on their respective sides of the large court, ready to begin again.  

Flyball was the junior and introductory sport to its bigger and nastier cousin Blitzball.  A more relaxed game it was designed for younger and casual players.  It didn’t have the full contact and flight elements of Blitzball that made it so exciting and dangerous.  The rules were very similar and just as simple.  Eleven players on each team, with the objective to take the single ball and get it into the opponents goal, by any means necessary.  The ball could be carried, passed or kicked in any direction.  An opponent could be tackled by any member of the other team, if they were within a proximity of one metre of the ball.  Tackling for Flyball, simply meant removing a cloth tag static bonded to the small of the back of each player. 

Blitzball used the same rules, with the addition of anti-grav technology, giving the players full flight capability and full contact tackles, for anyone within five metres of the ball.  When played professionally, it was a brutal competition watched every week by billions throughout the Pantheon and beyond.  Long ago Valerie played in the Legion’s internal league.  It was considered by many of the big commercial teams, as an excellent proving ground to poach players from.  Unsurprisingly, given her advantages, she was very good at it.  Only the Legions long standing policy, stopping teams from the Commando’s broadcasting their games and never releasing players identities, prevented the top teams offering her very lucrative contracts. 

The games and players stats were still open to the public anonymously.  There was a lot of money involved.  Substantial bribes were used to approach the really good players from the Commando’s.  Individuals could transfer to a less sensitive part of the Legion, allowing them to pursue a professional career outside of the Legion.

Even here though, those without Life X were at a distinct disadvantage.  Talented players with decades of experience and still being in their physical prime, had a massive edge over even the most talented eighteen or twenty year old.  Teams had little interest in investing the time, money and training on those with a ten or fifteen year shelf life.  For them, it made more sense to push someone they could groom into a Galactic class player, who would give them over a hundred years of return.

None of that was of any concern to Daphne, even if Valerie worried about it herself.  Her girl was ecstatic at having scored.  Valerie hoped she would be focused on the next part of play, although it might be a bit much to ask of any six year old.  Daphne was out there enjoying herself, which was all Valerie wanted.  If the Gooseberry’s won it would just be an added bonus.

It seemed Valerie had done her daughter a disservice, as soon as the opposing team, the Pownall Park Pandas, kicked the ball, she was off again.  Sprinting into position, she was ready as the Gooseberry’s advanced, tossing the ball between them.  It didn’t last long, one boy missed the catch and the Panda’s were on the attack this time.

The game played out, Valerie loving every minute of it.  At half time the score was five to four to the Panda’s.  Valerie took advantage of the break to go and buy them all drinks, with chocolate for Bobbie, a pie for Tom and cake for herself.  They all settled in, enjoying their treats and the teams came out for the second half, to cheers from everyone.

The second half was even more intense than the first, the children played their hearts out, obviously enjoying themselves.  Despite the high stakes of the game, there was no animosity between the teams, the players or even the parents.  Tom was bantering with a mother of one of the Panda’s, who was standing next to him.  It was good natured and Valerie felt confident she wouldn’t have to separate them both.