Casserine (22 page)

“Okay, let’s see the damage,” Adrian ordered.

“I missed you,” Jake replied quietly.

Adrian burst into tears, and ran into his arms again. He held her quietly, drinking in the scent of her hair, and the welcome feel of her arms around his neck. Suddenly, the Queens, Omaha, and Bougainville seemed like a distant memory. Jake closed his eyes, imagining they stood on the porch, waiting for the next sunset on Casserine. Many moments later, Adrian lifted her face up, her lips caressing Jake’s with a sensual softness, before she backed out of his embrace firmly.

“General Risling needed a message delivered directly to you, Jake. He asked me to take it because I’ve been hounding him for information, and he knew he could trust me implicitly. I have a disc for you from him. I was not permitted to see it, and I have no idea what’s on it. I just wanted to see you, and he gave me the chance,” Adrian explained, as she took a small package out of her smock and handed it to Jake.

The package read Top Secret, Eyes Only, General Jake Matthews. Jake nodded. “I figured it had to be bad, because there’s no way in hell he would have authorized your transfer to the Tennyson otherwise. I’ll be right back, Honey. You can dress the wounds after I shower, and then I’ll go take a look at this disk.”

Jake put the disc in his pocket, and walked over to lock the examining room door. He stripped off his clothes, and entered the disinfecting shower in the corner of the room. While in the shower, he removed the old bandages, and cleaned the wounds carefully, noting the most recent one was already closing. The door to the shower opened, and an unclothed Adrian joined him. All thought of the disc, his wounds, or his mission, fled Jake’s consciousness in an instant.

“I want to collect some samples,” Adrian whispered, as she moved into his embrace.

Jake sat on the examining room table as Adrian applied new dressings to his wounds.

“I saw what you did down there in the nest, Jake,” Adrian said, as she finished her task. “Have you felt any ill affects from practically inhaling that stuff?”

“It weakened me when I fell in there on the first nest operation, but only because we were not prepared for me to get fully immersed in the Queen’s fluids,” Jake replied. “Walking out of there in the contaminated clothing was about as tough as anything I’ve ever done. I figured if after ingesting some of it, and wearing a bunch next to my skin for a few hours, I survived, then it would be safe to assume I’d attained full immunity.”

“You still won’t be able to tell yet what the long range problems might be, health wise,” Adrian pointed out. “Can I come up to your room with you?”

“Let me gather my Chief of Staff, and my friend Charlie Mercer to look at my disc with me. Charlie was the one with me on the nest missions. He was also with me in the nest on Omaha, way back when. No matter what Risling thinks, I have no secrets from them. I’ve got to get some sleep then before we reach Bougainville. Give me an hour, and then come on up. I’ll fill you in on everything I can.”

Adrian nodded in agreement. “I will see you then, but won’t it be hard to sleep with me there.”

Jake stood up and kissed her lightly on the forehead. “Just about impossible for a little while.”

Jake, Tokoru, and Mercer sat together in front of the viewer in his room. The image of General Risling appeared on the screen. His dour look conveyed the impression this was not some pat on the back for a job well done.

“First off, you and your men achieved more than anyone could possibly hope for in so short a time, Jake,” Risling began. “Thanks to you, our mining operation will be back fully functional on Omaha probably by the time you see this.

Risling paused, folding his hands together in front of him. “There ain’t no easy way to say this, Jake. I could not reveal details of the Bougainville episode over unclear lines, or I would have filled you in on my last transmission. Earth Command sent a rogue mission to Bougainville, because they thought they could just bypass all safety concerns, and kill the infestation there by the time you finished on Omaha. God only knows what they have in mind for a galactic war. My replacement is on his way to Genoa. I have decided not to relinquish control. All bases of operation around and including Genoa have unanimously joined me in support.”

“If you wish to join me, General, you will need to consolidate all military under your command, including all personnel on the warships, and all freighters in the Tennyson class. With this new alien threat, we need to make a statement to these idiots they cannot make decisions, regarding the lives of thousands of men, on the whim of these corporate conglomerates. I have pushed for the creation of a military governor out here for a long time, answerable only to legitimate Earth Command interests, and wholly responsible for the execution of any military operations. I am now rebelling for the creation of a military governor.”

“I will leave it to you to decide whether to join me or not. I cannot do it without your backing. If you wish to join me, you will need the complete support of all forces under your command. I do not want anyone ordered into open rebellion. I will await your answer upon the completion of the rescue mission on Bougainville. I’m sorry to have to lay this on you, Jake, but watching those kids die on Bougainville, and get trapped there on a real time video transmission, was more than I could stomach. The following is the record of the ongoing travesty on Bougainville. Risling out.”

The three marines watched in horror as the Drop Ships from the Earth Command mission on Bougainville landed on unsafe landing zones near the nests they wished to attack. Although three of the Drop Ships landed on the Epoxy Landing Zone created during Jake’s first sojourn on Bougainville to reoccupy the habitat, two others, including the Commanding Officer’s Alpha ship landed at the separate nest areas, without benefit of epoxy reinforced material under them.

Jake sighed in relief as he saw, through the company commanders’ helmet cams in the habitat, Marines sealing the blown out wall Deke Larson had used to get the Colonists to the escape ship. The video was split into three separate partitions, so the viewer could watch the habitat proceedings, along with the dual attack on the nests. The Alpha ship of the mission opened, and a platoon of Marines ran out at the ready, around a pair of soldiers with only holstered sidearms. Jake figured them to be General Zamudi and his Chief of Staff. Bugs exploded straight up under the landing party, and in a matter of moments, they ripped the hesitating Marines to bits.

Warned in time, the other Drop Ship at the second nest lifted off. The Turret Gunner, with the fast reaction of a few Marines at the hatch, managed to keep the Bugs from getting inside the ship before they sealed it. The pilot lifted off immediately, and the Gunner hosed down the area where over a hundred Marines died in a matter of moments.

What looked like as many, died around the habitat as the Bugs disgorged from around the perimeter of the habitat, and cut off two companies of Marines. The Drop Ships on the Epoxy Landing Zone provided covering fire to allow small numbers of survivors to retreat back inside the ships, but the slaughter on open ground claimed ninety percent of the doomed companies even before the Bugs swarmed over everything. They literally coated the habitat and Drop Ships with bodies. After liftoff, the Drop Ships tried to clear pathways for escape from the habitat, but could not keep them clear long enough for evacuation. The transmission ended there.

Mercer was the first to break the silence. “No level of hell could be hot enough for the bastard who engineered that mission. Didn’t they watch the live feed we sent them?”

“Jake, they didn’t even have the MAG50 alteration on the Drop Ships,” Tokoru added quietly. “We sent Earth Command the exact plans for the addition right after we tested them on Bougainville ourselves.”

“Just thank God they sealed the wall in the habitat before the attack or we’d have thousands dead instead of hundreds,” Jake added. He turned to Mercer. “What about the habitat defenses there, Charlie?”

Mercer shook his head. “The Bugs tore up the inside of the habitat. What they didn’t tear up, we blew up, fighting them. I doubt even one of the turret guns were operational. Those boys better hunker down on the inside until we get there.”

“What happened to the isolation signal?” Tokoru asked. “I know the second Queen on Omaha kind of adlibbed her little variation at the end, but no way they could have made that kind of jump on Bougainville without even one exposure.”

“Risling told me they tried it ass backwards,” Jake explained. “Instead of relaying an amplified signal out from the habitat, they tried a stronger burst from the Intrepid. The atmosphere disrupted it, and they were hung out to dry. Your decisions, gentlemen?”

“I hope you’re backing Risling,” Mercer stated, “but I go where yougo.”

“Count me in all the way,” Tokoru agreed.

Jake flipped on the record switch, and added his own final comments to the disc.

“You have witnessed the botched Earth Command mission on Bougainville, and General Risling’s decision to rebel in favor of a military governor’s position to prevent this kind of idiocy. I am General Matthews, currently in command of the military mission from Omaha. This is Colonel Tokoru on my right, second in command. Major Mercer on my left is my Chief of Staff.”

“We support General Risling’s efforts to establish a military governor’s office. I need to know if we can count on the support of all military forces under my command, and those we are being sent to rescue. No one will be compelled to join the rebellion. In the meantime, make your decision known to your commanding officers. We are on our way to Bougainville, and God help anyone standing in the way of our rescue operation there. After Bougainville is secured, we will have to let General Risling know where we stand. Matthews out.”

Jake switched off the recorder, and then handed the disc to Colonel Tokoru. “I want this sent out everywhere, Yuri. Ask Major Stedman to get it done for me right away, and then you get some sleep. You too, Charlie, we’ll talk more when we’re prepping for Bougainville. Do you have enough equipment to set up the signal amplifier at the habitat there, Yuri?”

“Yes Sir, it will be a bit more difficult setting up the receivers, but we’ll handle it,” Tokoru replied. “I’ll get this to Stedman, see you all later.”

“Jake, you ain’t thinking about an armed rebellion against Earth Command, are you?” Mercer asked.

“I’ll quit first, Charlie, and so would Risling. Either everyone’s with us, or we don’t do this at all,” Jake replied. “Go get some sleep now.”

Mercer nodded, and turned to go. “Oh yeah, I heard some disturbing news about you being pussy whipped. Will you be allowed to go.”

Mercer ran for the exit hatch, with Jake a split second behind him. Mercer cleared the hatch, but Jake nearly ran over Adrian, who was just getting ready to enter as she had turned to watch Mercer running. Jake stood pointing at Mercer, who had slowed, and turned back to wave.

“I am going to use that big mouth of yours to collect samples of nest fluids, you prick.”

Mercer laughed as he continued down the corridor.

“What the heck was that all about?” Adrian asked, as she entered Jake’s living quarters.

“It seems the crew of the Tennyson has been regaling everyone within earshot about our rather unusual chain of command on Casserine,” Jake replied, shrugging his shoulders. “Unfortunately, I see I will have to give out a few attitude adjustments in the interests of good discipline.”

“Meaning your friend fired off a good shot?” Adrian laughed.

“Exactly, and his timing was impeccable,” Jake admitted.

“So, anything you can tell me about Risling’s disc?”

Jake related the news, and his addition at the end of the disc. “If you wish to see hundreds of men slaughtered, the whole thing will be broadcast to every division in the quadrant. The bottom line will be defined by how far we will have to go to get what we want, short of a bloody rebellion. We may end up visiting Casserine as tourists.”

Adrian wrapped her arms around Jake’s neck. “Well, I agree with what you’re doing, but since I can’t help you much with it, why don’t we take the opportunity to live for the moment?”

Jake scooped her up in his arms with a flourish. “Now you’retalkin’”

Chapter 21 

Bougainville Mission

Jake walked into the Tennyson wardroom with Charlie Mercer. The group of officers seated inside jumped to their feet and began to applaud. Jake nodded his thanks and gestured them to silence. “I take it everyone in this room has already chosen sides. If all personnel feel as you all do, we’ll get the message to General Risling. First, we have a more pressing matter to deal with.”

“I have been informed two more Drop Ships have been fitted with the MAG50 turrets, so we will head down with a full force. Colonel Tokoru will be taking you through your assignments, and will be heading up the Command Center in the Bougainville complex. We will be employing an isolation signal beamed down from both the Tennyson and the Intrepid. With Two amplification setups on the habitat, we should be able to cover the operation very well. Our Weapons Officer, Major Richardson, has uploaded the signal variation software, we used on Omaha, to the Intrepid.”

“We will face our toughest test getting the amplifiers set up, while a full scale attack goes on.” Jake nodded to Major Stedman, who started a hologram projector.

A hologram of the Bougainville complex, surrounded by five Drop Ships, appeared in the center of the wardroom. One of the Drop Ships fired a MAG50 round, with a blast radius coming within feet of the outer complex. Two other Drop Ships followed suit right next to it, after calculating the distances adjoining the first blast area. The one in the center filled the crater they made with Epoxy, while the two on each side kept up barrages of turret gunfire into their respective craters. This continued until the Epoxy dried. The hologram show ended with a Drop Ship landing, supported by the other four.

“As you can see, we do not believe they can disrupt the Epoxy LZ from drying if we can make it deep enough and close enough to the habitat entrance,” Jake explained. “We don’t have much time. The Drop Ship crews, flying support now, are exhausted. The Marines trapped inside cannot even open the entrance right now. I have two Command Wing Fighters running interference in case anything odd happens off planet before we get done. Any questions?”

A Marine Corps Colonel stood up. Although nearly six feet tall, the man appeared taller, because of his stiff bearing. His close-cropped blonde hair framed a lined, craggy face. “Sir, I’m Colonel Mark Kowalski, acting commander of the Marine force off of the Intrepid. The habitat is swarmed, Sir, and we cannot use particle beam fire to burn the things off for fear of blowing holes in the habitat.”

“Thank you, Colonel,” Jake nodded. He pointed to Chief Dougherty, the only enlisted level member in the group. “Want to take this one, Tim?”

“Yes Sir,” Dougherty replied, as he stood up and faced Kowalski. “We have an electromagnetic load for the MAG50 turret, which will fry the Bugs off the habitat, but will not zap everything electrical on the inside. We can use the charge anytime during the operation, until we get the receivers for the isolation signal relays mounted.”

The Colonel nodded his understanding and sat down.

“Thanks Chief,” Jake said. “If there’s nothing further, we have some Marines to rescue, and a mining colony to get back on line.”

Jake rode down in the cockpit of Alpha Drop Ship, with Sara and her co-pilot. As they dropped through the atmosphere above the habitat area, they could see the Drop Ships from the Intrepid were blowing up everything within a mile of the place, but could do nothing about the swarm covering the habitat. The Bugs poured out of the ground within yards of the habitat, all around the perimeter. A constant flow of the creatures roiled in and out of the ground, making the ground around the habitat appear as if it were a boiling liquid.

“Relieve the Intrepid Drop Ships officially, Sara, and tell them to go and get some rest. We may need them later for mop up. I’m going back with Tim.”

“Aye, aye, Sir,” Corey acknowledged. “Good luck, Jake.”

“It may get a little crowded on our LZ for a few minutes, Sara.”

“We’ll handle it. Just keep your helmet and uniform on this time. No posing for Charlie’s helmet cam.”

Jake laughed, and waved on his way out. He walked over to where Charlie Mercer had begun to form up the Marines going into the habitat. “Nothing new here, men. We don’t even have to worry about unruly colonists this trip. Anyone want to try negotiating this time down?”

Everyone laughed in appreciation, as they readied for landing. Mercer came along with Jake to where Tim made final preparations on his turret control panel. He looked up and grinned at their approach. “We’re all ready, Boss. As soon as the Intrepid’s Drop Ship contingent leaves the area, I’ll test out our Bug zapper.”

“Do you want to take a few MAG50 shots to zero in on the blast area?” Jake asked. “It will have to be very close to the habitat for this to work.”

“I am going to lay that baby in so tight, they’ll have to repair the edges of the habitat foundation,” Dougherty said confidently, “but I won’t even scratch the outer walls.”

“I want you to lay two in, Tim,” Jake replied. “I want this initial crater deep. I want these Bugs to have to swim through twenty feet of drying landing zone to be able to bust through.”

“Sounds good,” Dougherty replied. “The Intrepid Ships are clear. Permission to hurt this Bug blanket covering the habitat?”

“Fire away. Charlie and I are going to watch the show from the view port. As soon as you clear the habitat, go ahead and blast for the foundation. I’m putting on my com unit, so if I see anything I don’t like, I’ll let you know about it. Be careful, Tim.”

“Will do, Jake. Get over by the port, and enjoy the fireworks.”

Jake and Mercer made it to the Drop Ship viewing port just as the round from the MAG50 turret jolted the ship slightly. It hit the habitat roof dead center. The black swarm of Bugs, completely covering the habitat, fried as their bodily juices boiled in the blue arc, which blasted out from the strike area. It swept down over the building and out twenty yards from the habitat, before dissipating.

“Oh man, that’s sweet,” Mercer exclaimed. “Look at them things. Listen here, Jake, I am not sweeping up that mess.”

Jake laughed. “Okay, no clean up crew for you, Charlie. We’ll just take a couple of quick jaunts down into hell, and let the colonists handle the light work.”

The ship jolted again, and then rocked slightly as the MAG50 round hit in front of the habitat. The two other Drop Ships, flanking Alpha, fired slightly back, and off to both sides of the initial round from Alpha. When the smoke and dust settled moments later, they could see the crater from

Chief Dougherty’s initial round had concaved an area with nearly a fifty-yard radius. Its perimeter virtually touched the habitat entrance. The other two blasts had added adjoining fifty-yard areas creeping to within ten yards of the habitat.

“I love to watch a professional work,” Jake said, as the second round from Alpha hit exactly at the center of the first crater.

“You’ve got that right,” Mercer nodded admiringly. “I knew gunners you wouldn’t want to trust being within a fifty yard range of their shots.”

The three Drop Ships moved back, allowing the two remaining ships to fly in and hover over the blast areas. They partially dropped their hatches, snaking out mixing hoses into the crater areas for filling them with the Epoxy mixture. The huge mixing tanks mounted on the sides of their ships caused some handling problems as the pilots held their ships as still as possible. It took only twenty minutes to fill the craters.

“Okay everyone,” Jake said over his com unit. “I want random fire from all five ships with the field charged rounds. Let’s keep the surrounding area zapped until our Epoxy dries. Fire at will, and pilots, keep moving around in a circle over our new LZ.”

The Bugs did not recover for another hour. By the time they started moving on the perimeter of the still firing Drop Ships, the new landing zone was dry. Alpha moved into position over the habitat, and lowered its hatch. Two platoons of men under now Lieutenant Robert Mendez, deployed onto the habitat roof, with four large particle beam stationary weapons and four MAG50 mortars. Charlie pointed at Mendez, smiling broadly as all of the Marines on the roof were knee deep in Bug crisps.

“Don’t get dirty down there, Bob, I want those uniforms kept spotless,” Mercer ordered, as Jake looked on.

Mendez saluted smartly, as Alpha moved away, and then flipped Mercer off just before the hatch closed. Mercer grabbed for his helmet, muttering about having a word with the insolent shave-tail, but Jake intervened.

“We don’t have time for you to play footsies with Lieutenant Mendez on our command channels,” Jake said good naturedly, grabbing Mercer’s helmet from him. “Besides, that was exactly what you would have done. You can dish it out. You just can’t take it.”

“This is about that pussy whipped crack I made, isn’t it?” Mercer asked, still tugging on his helmet.

“Major, can we get back to work?” Jake replied, as he relinquished the helmet.

“Okay, but I may forget to take down extra water for your bath down in the Queen’s chamber,” Mercer said, nonchalantly.

“No more chamber diving for me,” Jake said quickly, his face screwing up in distaste. “I still can’t get the memory of that stuff out of my mouth. Everything I eat leaves a Bug aftertaste.”

Alpha landed softly on the landing zone, her rear hatch dropping down over the surface. The rest of the five companies of veterans from the Omaha landing poured out of the hatch, and into positions surrounding Alpha. Jake and Mercer jogged down to join them, and waited for their Marines to get set up before Jake called down the other two Drop Ships.

With the Deck Gunners, from the three landed Drop Ships, firing on all new appearing targets, and the two ships still patrolling the entire area around the habitat, Jake met up with Colonel Tokoru on Drop Ship two. With two platoons of Marines, carrying the amplification gear and signal receivers, Jake led the group through the cheering throng of haggard

Marines spilling out from the habitat. A Major, with a bloody bandage covering his upper left shoulder, saluted formally at the entrance.

“Major Kitchner, Sir,” the Major said with a tired smile, as he shook Jake’s proffered hand. “Forgive me for saying so, but I’m damn glad to see you. Just the noise from those things was driving us mad.”

“We’re happy to see you guys too, Major. This is my second in command, Colonel Tokoru, and my Chief of Staff.”

“Major Mercer,” Kitchner finished for him, shaking each of their hands enthusiastically. “You guys are all famous. Everyone saw your first operation here, and the mission on Omaha. Those live feeds broadcasted back to Earth, where we deployed from, have kids running around with shirts sporting General Jake Matthews on one side, and a picture of you covered in Bug juice, blowing the crap out of the Queen on the other side. Marine recruitment for Colony deployment has skyrocketed.”

Jake looked around at the young, Bug weary kids, crowding around the habitat entrance, cheering and applauding. He turned to look at his companions, and saw the same rage coursing through him, reflected in their eyes.

“We’ll talk about this later, Major,” Jake said, gesturing for them all to get inside. “Let’s let Colonel Tokoru get started on our isolation signals, and then we’ll load you and your men up for return to the Intrepid.”

“Aye, Aye, Sir,” Kitchner replied, turning to lead them back through the habitat entrance, with the habitat Marines falling in around their relief column.

Tokoru went about the business of directing the setup of their Command Center, which would be the filter for all incoming and outgoing communications, in addition to directing and monitoring the isolation signal receivers from the top of the habitat. Major Mercer took the two crews, setting up the receivers on top of the station, through to where they could get to the roof. Turret repair crews went up to repair the habitat’s gun turrets, and to add the scanning receivers where they could track all movements above or below the surface.

Jake assessed the casualties inside the habitat personally. He shook hands with the walking wounded, and commiserated with the stretcher cases, promising to get them all out quickly. There were nearly two thousand Marines in the habitat, with nearly a third incapacitated, and some near death.

“Are you receiving all this?” Jake asked grimly into his helmet comunit.

“It’s all live, Sir,” Major Stedman answered from the Tennyson. “The commander of the Intrepid, Colonel Taskaroff, is on line, with General Risling monitoring from Genoa. Although on a delay, General Risling wanted me to express his anger, and stated he was using Genoa’s power base to break through the black out on Earth. Earth Command’s selection for Genoa command has arrived, and immediately voiced allegiance to General Risling.”

“General Matthews?” Taskaroff put in.

“Yes Colonel?” Jake acknowledged.

“I must protest the use of the Tennyson as the Command Base for this operation. I.”

“Listen closely, Colonel,” Jake broke in. “You may have noticed the Command Wing Fighter near your present orbit. Jas, you monitoring this?”

“Yes Sir,” Now Colonel Jason Peters replied.

“Space Corps Colonel Peters will land and assume command of the Intrepid immediately if I hear even one more challenge to my orders. I have people already on your ship, including your acting Marine commandant,