Warfare: Rise Of Mankind Book 2 (11 page)

              Gray nodded. “Okay, I need to speak to my bridge crew to gauge their confidence level. I’ll get back to you shortly.”

              “Keep the comments about this to private coms when contacting The Font, Captain. I do not want to risk a leak.”

              “You’ve got it, Anthar. I’ll talk to you soon.”

              Gray returned to the bridge and leaned against his seat. He contemplated the view screen and the situation at hand. Kale’s bold plan made sense, it was the kind of thing he would employ himself. Providing his people could do it, they very well might be able to even the odds again.

              “Ladies and gentlemen,” Gray said. “I have a proposition for you and it’ll take all your skills. Pay attention for a moment and let me tell you what we’re going to try. It’s a little crazy but then again, we’re kind of famous for that.”

              Clea leaned against a tree, resting alongside the marines trying to catch their breath. The terrain itself proved far more difficult than anticipated and the traps they encountered along the way made movement slow. After an hour, they were still a couple miles from the facility but at least they didn’t encounter any enemy soldiers.

              Human armor proved to be highly effective during their romp. One of the men was hit by a trap, a whipping vine pulled tight and held by a trip wire. It lashed him across his chest, tossing him back several feet. Other than a little soreness from the surprise, he came away unscathed.

              Another man was set upon by an indigenous insect swarm that covered his body. In order to get them off, he had to jump into a body of water and submerge for a good minute. No one else was bothered by them and Clea discovered he gave off a specific pheromone which attracted the creatures.

              Bad luck for him but after cleaning them off, he seemed to be okay.

              The humidity was bad enough to cover them in a fine film of moisture. The environmental portion of their armor came into great use, granting them some comfort in the misery of the place. Once they reached the facility, it would be totally controlled with air conditioners and filtration systems but until then, they were stuck trudging through the thick, oppressive atmosphere.

              Just before they rested and rehydrated, they were beset upon by one of the local wildlife. Clea caught it on scan a good half minute before it arrived. As the quadruped leaped onto the path, one of the marines fired two shots, both connecting with its head. The beast collapsed to the ground unmoving, and they got a better look at it.

              Grayish-green fur covered a muscular body. All four legs ended in fierce claws, which the computer speculated must be for climbing. The fangs were nearly six inches long and the beady eyes were deep set in the head. They passed by, hurrying for the next clearing just in case another such beast might be out in the bush waiting for a chance to strike.

              Clea widened her scans and honed them in to get a greater warning if such an animal found them again. Her legs ached as she peered into nothing. She tried to take slow, even breaths, willing her limbs to stop trembling. Daily exercise did not prepare her for this type of activity but she took a moment to be grateful for the discipline to have kept it up.

              Without her morning runs, she might’ve passed out already.

              The marines, on the other hand, seemed perfectly fine with their activities. None of them complained nor even lounged during their brief respite. Most of them remained alert, talking quietly amongst themselves. She envied their endurance. These were the true professional soldiers. All the tactics and strategy she learned, all the bureaucratic red tape couldn’t compare to the fighting spirit of that unit.

              “Listen up!” Hoffner kept his voice down but it still felt like a shout. “Let’s get moving, people. Those people are waiting on us.” He turned to Clea. “I hope you know how to get in there like you said. We’re rapidly approaching their defenses.”

              Clea nodded. “Once we’ve got visual on the base, I can send a coded, tight beamed signal. The enemy won’t be able to break it. That’s our in.”

              “You’re just going to knock?” Jenks asked. “Seems simple enough.”

              “Can it,” Hoffner said. “Okay, let’s get there so we can make this phone call. Alsted and McKinney, you’re on point to the finish line. Go for it.”

              Two marines stepped out onto the path and started moving. Clea took up the rear with Hoffner, donating half her attention to the scanner and the other on the path. Nothing came up in their immediate surroundings, no animals to speak of at least but the dense trees around them still garbled some of her readings.

              When one of the marines cried out, Clea clenched her fist and rushed forward but Hoffner grabbed her arm, holding her tightly.

              “Halt.” Hoffner stepped in front of her. “Report!” A gunshot replied. “God damn it!”

              “Stop shooting!” Someone yelled. “Christ, you’re not that good!”

              Hoffner let Clea go and they approached the others. Alsted hung from a vine wrapped around his leg. He writhed around, trying to free himself but it seemed to be moving, countering his motions just as surely as he struggled.

              “That’s not a trap!” Clea shouted. She squinted, then gestured. A bulb roughly the size of a cargo container undulated and split open, tiny thorns lining the inside. “Shoot
that
! Right there!”

              Hoffner nodded. “You heard the lady, fire!”

              Rifles barked, stoccato muzzle flashes erupting in the area. Smelly green goo splattered everywhere, steaming when it hit the ground and trees. Alsted shouted, bending at the waist and hacking at the vine. He gripped his ankle for leverage and began sawing. A high pitch screech burst from the bulb, loud enough to make Clea’s ears ring.

              “Concentrate your fire!” Hoffner shouted. “Keep it consistent and tear that thing apart!”

              The vine began moving Alsted toward the bulb but just before he reached the center, his blade got through. Clea watched him fall and he disappeared into the foliage. Something crunched as he plunged through half a dozen branches and less volatile vines. She winced when the sounds stopped.

              A dozen vines floundered in every direction, thrashing violently. “Fall back!” Hoffner shouted, rushing forward. “I’ll get Alsted!”

              Clea tried to catch him but he slipped her grip, disappearing into the brush. She stood still, unsure whether to fallback or go after the captain. Someone grabbed her and dragged her backwards, moving a safe distance from the vines. “We can’t leave them!”

              “Trust me,” it was Walsh who spoke. “The captain’s got this.”

              She watched, eyes wide as a form paced out of the brush. Captain Hoffner dragged Alsted into the clearing, letting him go as they came close. Some of the green gunk covered his arms and chest. Alsted crouched, catching his breath. “You okay?” Hoffner asked.

              “Yes, sir. I’ll be fine.”

              “Good.” Hoffner looked at the others. “If you guys are done playing with the local flora, let’s get where we’re going.”

              “You were right,” Clea muttered. “He…he really did have it.”

              “Told you,” Walsh said. “He’s just that kind of guy.”

              “Yes…” Clea nodded. “He really is…”

***

              The defenses loomed ahead, abruptly ending the jungle. The trees gave way to a cleared field, roughly three hundred meters of open ground between the tree line and the high tech facility right in the middle. Clea stepped up to the border, observing the area. Her scanner began beeping.

              “I’ve got the frequency,” she said. “I’m reaching out to their control tower.”

              “Let’s make it quick,” Hoffner said. “We’re looking at a lot of open ground to cover.”

              Clea programmed her scanner, sending the tight beam to the facility. “This is Vinthari Clea An’Tufal calling Alliance Base, please come in.”

              “Vinthari?” A female voice crackled in her ear. “Where are you?”

              “I’m at the southwestern perimeter near your outer defenses. I’m with a contingency of Earth marines. We’re here to extract your researchers and data, over.”

              The person sighed in relief. “Thank the Gods, Vinthari! Please send your challenge code.”

              “Incoming.” Clea sent her personal authorization to them and turned to Hoffner. “We’ll just be another minute.”

              “By all means, take your time.” Hoffner paced away.

              “Vinthari, I have verified your identity. Defenses are lowering. Make it quick…we’re under pretty heavy assault on the northern border. We might not hold the line for much longer.”

              “We have a ship ready for departure,” Clea replied. “It can get us all out of here um…Listen, my sister is a part of your staff. Vora. Is she…is she okay?”

              “Yes, ma’am. Vora An’Tufal is present and uninjured. Please make your way to the facility ASAP. Security will meet you at the door.”

              Clea nodded. Something popped then hummed for a moment. All at once, electricity filled the air then seemed to suck up into the sky. Silence fell over the area as the defenses dropped. “We’re ready to go,” she said. “Let’s do it, Captain.”

              “You heard her,” Hoffner said. “Double time to the facility. Faster we get there, the faster we can get back to the ship and home. Fall out.”

              Clea hustled after them, feeling adrenaline rush through her body. She heard explosions not too far off, gunfire echoing through the clearing. The trees and jungle covered it all up before but now, as they drew closer to the real action, she heard the sounds of war in all their terrible glory.

             
My people are dying out there
.

              The thought hit her heart like a bullet and she felt sick to her stomach. Those men and women would not die in vain, not while she still drew breath.

              Their point men reached the facility first, standing beside the door with their weapons raised. The rest of them drew up and stood to either side while Hoffner advanced close. Before he got within a dozen paces, the door opened and a slight, purple haired girl peeked out, waving them in.

              “Quick! We have to seal this up!”

              The men filed in and Clea looked around. Her vision adjusted quickly to the low light and her scans picked up over a dozen lifeforms in the base. Power seemed to be at eighty-percent and dropping.
Not a good sign
. The defenses were responsible for the drain. Her computer suggested they had just over three hours before the entire place would simply shut down.

              “Please take us to whoever’s in charge,” Clea said. “We have a lot of work to do.”

              “That would be Vora An’Tufal,” the girl said. “Please, follow me.”

              Clea took the lead this time, staying close to the woman. The marines took up a two by two formation and followed, their weapons slung. Hoffner tapped into Clea’s communicator, requesting that she set her helmet to private coms. She initiated the request and felt the seal on her helmet close around her throat.

             
That’s not at all frightening
.

              “Vora’s your sister?” Hoffner asked.

              “Yes,” Clea replied. “Why?”

              “That’s good news. We should get all the cooperation we need, right?”

              Clea hesitated to respond. “Not…necessarily.”

              “Uh oh…”

              “We have a complicated history.” Clea sighed. “You’ll see.”

              The gray hallway opened up to an ultramodern command center with consoles lining the walls and a dais in the center. A holographic display of the planet lit up on the ceiling, showing the points of conflict as little red pinpricks. They seemed to be monitoring orbital activity as well with the different ships detailed out enough to determine the make and model of each.

              People milled about, some frantically and others more calmly. Clea took off her helmet and advanced into the room with their guide who went straight to a woman with purple-black hair and silver eyes. Her features were older but Clea felt as if she were looking into a mirror ten years in the future.

              “Vora.” Clea tried to remain placid and calm, as her culture dictated but inside, she wanted nothing more than to hug her older sister. They’d had their differences, they struggled through competition and other foolishness but they still shared blood. For a Kielan, little else mattered in life.

              “Clea.” Vora turned and nodded once. “Good, they sent someone competent. Do any of these people you’ve brought know how to copy data from our systems? Backup protocols? Or are they just the type that shoot things.”

              “We’d like to think we’re diverse in our talents,” Hoffner said. “Show us what to do and we can help as needed or simply provide security while you handle it. Whichever is easiest.”

              Vora nodded. “Very well. Clea, I need you to get on that console over there and finish downloading that material. The wipes are taking longer than we anticipated so we might not be able to cleanse the data as thoroughly as we’d like.”

              “How about destroying it?” Hoffner asked. “Nothing quite eliminates something like blowing it to hell.”

              “A vulgar Earth term, I’m sure,” Vora replied. “But it’s possible. The reactor here would vaporize everything. Of course, if we can’t get away fast enough, then everything we’re doing here wouldn’t matter, would it?”

              “We have a way out,” Hoffner said. “When you get closer to finishing, we’ll have them high tail it over and we’ll be home free.”