When the Stars Fade (The Gray Wars) (59 page)

             
“Yes, sir. He says to let Sergeant Perez on his way
.
”

             
Grahams grinned
.“
Well, then it seems we worked out that little misunderstanding. Sergeant,
I’
ll see you at the office
r’
s call tonight
?
”

             
Zev was about to respond when something caught his eye overhead. A dark shape descended from the sky, flames and debris spilling off the side as it tore down through the atmosphere. As it neared the ground it unfolded, angular spires spreading out like a blossoming flower. A roar followed, thundering engines slowing the fall of the object. Before the soldiers had a chance to react, the base siren sounded. Zev shared a look with his commanding officer, then both tore off to their vehicles.

*              *              *              *              *

              It all happened too fast to react. A message came to all the Terran ships, simple but dark and ominous
.“
We are landing
.”
Immediately the Boxti fleet engaged powerful disruption fields around the immense carrier as the hive-shaped ship began a ponderous descent toward the planet. The humans were a step behind in reacting, sending frigates to try and cut off the aliens. By the time the air-denial forces arrived, the carrier was inside the atmosphere.

             
Commodore Osaka sent a series of warnings to the Boxti dreadnought, but none were heeded. There was
n’
t time to wait for a response from the High Chancellor. He gave the fleet permission to use force to halt the enormous hive. Missiles left crisscrossed trails of smoke as destroyers fired on the enemy. Heavy slugs impacted the shields generated by the black vessels, bouncing harmlessly to the side before falling into the atmosphere. The Nangolani fired white-hot beams of energy into the Boxti formation, carving through the hulls of several frigates. The
Barrenon
circled around the sortie, lances of green light lashing out and slicing into the black-hulled ships.

             
“Stop them from landing
,”
Hiro shouted. He ran to the battle projector, watching the trajectory of the alien carriers and pinpointing their landing targets
.“
Alert ground units. Incoming enemy forces
.”
No red dots appeared from the hive. They were
n’
t launching fighters to support their journey. Only larger ships were beginning to engage the fleet. The carrier shuddered as long range guns fired on the Boxti line.

             
“Commodore
,”
Nari called out
.“
The
Barrenon
is attacking the dreadnought. It needs reinforcements
.
”

             
Hiro waved his hand over the 3D display, pulling and stretching to close in the view on the massive Boxti warship. He circled the dreadnought with his finger and held the digit there until a red box appeared
.“
Direct all missile frigates to unload on the flagship. Launch all fighters and engage
.
”

-                           
XIV                            -

              Zev jerked the wheel to the right, putting his truck into a controlled slide that carried him into the armory parking lot. He leapt from the vehicle, tossing his keys to a bewildered private near the gate. Legs pumping, he sprinted into the ready room and dropped his jacket on the ground. He jammed his military ID into his locker and pulled out his combat webbing and helmet. Keys, phone and wallet went into storage for safe keeping, exchanged for his combat ID tags. Holding the small metal disks in his hand, Zev felt a chill run up his spine. With all the advances in technology over the last few centuries, nothing could replace the iconic dog tag. He thought back to boot, to his one-eyed drill sergeant explaining the different parts of the uniform.
If yo
u’
re in the shit and think yo
u’
re done for, check your tags. Got two? Good, yo
u’
re still alive. Now nut up and get in the fight
. Donning the gear, he jogged to the caged weapons area.

             
“Sergeant First Class Zev Perez, 10029
.”
He waited impatiently, drumming his fingers on the table, while the armorer pulled his GK Modular Assault Rifle Kit and handed it over. A specialist dropped ten loaded magazines into the bag and pushed it through the opening.

             
“The company is mustering at the motor pool, sergeant
.
”

             
Zev grabbed his equipment, slinging the rifle across his back
.“
Thanks
.”
He walked briskly, stuffing the polymer banana clips into pouches on his combat vest. His heart pounded in his ears, adding a beat to the raging noise around him. Engines roared to life as trucks and five-ton transports moved out from the bay, heading toward the barracks to collect the waiting troops. Zev saw his platoon leader standing near the tanks and ran over.

             
First Lieutenant Gabriel grinned as his platoon sergeant joined him and the rest of the soldiers. The joes had been at the barracks and were already assembled and checking their gear. Part of being Scout Platoon for the most active company meant maintaining an alert posture at all times. Checking the young faces, the platoon sergeant saw the usual wide eyes and clenched jaws. Most of the scouts were combat veterans, but at least ten were in for their first taste of battle. Zev did
n’
t have time to feel pride in his adopted group. Something big was going down, and New Eden needed boots on the ground immediately.

             
“Fall in
,”
he called out, taking his position at the front of the rectangular formation. He waited for his four squad leaders to check their ten-man teams before performing an about-face and saluting the officer
.“
Scout Platoon is accounted for, sir
.
”

             
Gabriel nodded
.“
Thank you, sergeant
.”
He returned the salute and stepped forward, taking a spot next to the NCO
.“
At ease, gentlemen.
I’
m sure you already know why yo
u’
re here. Ther
e’
s a Boxti invasion force two hundred klicks over our heads. Tha
t’
s Flee
t’
s problem. The carrier landing in our backyard is ours. Camp Peterson is taking lead on evacuating civilians. Our job is to close in and start gathering intelligence. If any baddies decide to step outside the hatches, then we make sure they get a warm welcome.

             
“Captain Grahams is going to position the company in a blocking formation around the main landing zone, but these things are pretty big. Another two tank companies are picking up the far areas, each taking about a third of the perimeter. We need to make sure that they know wha
t’
s coming early so they can react appropriately
.”
He stopped as a hand went up in the back
.“
Garcia? Are you really raising your hand right now
?
”             

             
The buck sergeant grinned as the soldiers around him laughed
.“
I have a question, sir
.
”

             
“This is
n’
t a classroom, Garcia
.”
The officer shook his head
.“
Go on
.
”

             
Garcia looked around and asked the question he knew his brothers were thinking
.“
Is this an invasion? Like
a‘
no-shi
t’
alien invasion
?
”

             
Gabriel chewed on his lip
.“
The best answer
I’
ve got is that I do
n’
t know. But the Boxti have
n’
t tried a diplomatic approach before, so we have to prepare for the worst. As of now, rules of engagement remains the same. Once they open fire, we are clear to rip them apart.
I’
d like to say
I’
m hopeful diplomacy will win the day, but these bug-eyed freaks do
n’
t exactly follow the Federate Accords
.”
He paced in front of his platoon
.“
W
e’
ve never seen the Boxti on the ground, but yo
u’
ve all received the briefings. Expect heavy infantry with light armored support. The Nangolani say that their forces are mostly slave labor or indoctrinated creatures from other planets. Suffice to say, w
e’
re about to meet a whole lot of new faces. But anyone coming out of these carriers is to be treated as hostile unless proven otherwise
.
”

             
“Can we trust the Grays on this
?
”

             
The lieutenant scowled
.“
Sergeant, the
Nangolani
have been forthcoming at every turn. We owe them the benefit of a little trust. And
I’
ve told you, I do
n’
t like that term
.
”

             
Garcia rolled his eyes, but straightened up when he saw Zev staring daggers in his direction. It was
n’
t anything personal, he just did
n’
t trust the newcomers that every politician fell over to promote. But it was
n’
t something he was willing to piss off the new PSG for
.“
Sorry, sir
,”
he said.

             
“Head to your trucks. W
e’
re rolling out in ten minutes
.
”

             
The platoon dispersed, each soldier moving with a purpose toward their vehicles while the tank crews prepped their vehicles in front. At fifteen feet tall, the M225 A3 Shiva Main Battle Tank exuded power and dominance. Twin 205mm smooth bore cannons stuck out from the angled turret. The sleek hull was speckled with anti-slip paint to help crews move about the monstrous machine. Fifty caliber M11s slaved to the main guns provided inescapable fields of fire against infantry, and enabled the four-person crew to take on just about any foe.

             
Captain Grahams appeared from inside the bay dressed in his fire-resistant coveralls and carrying his helmet. He climbed onto his tank, stowing his gear in the sponson box before crawling inside. Within minutes, the massive machine rumbled to life. Twin Helios engines thundered behind the crew compartment, spitting up small jets of blue flame from the exhaust panels on the back plate. The loader for each vehicle marched in front, guiding the ninety-ton tracks out of the bay. Even though the Shiva utilized an autoloader system, a human still had to be inside to service any issues and, of course, walk the tank out the gate. Metal groaned as the emergency brakes released and the war-machine lumbered forward.

             
Inside his truck, Zev activated the small tablet on the dashboard. A topographical map appeared with every friendly force displayed in blue. The unknown object was marked with a red X. Already a perimeter of blue dots had formed around the landing zone. Messages popped up at the bottom of the screen; reports from the advance party. The carriers still had
n’
t landed yet, but were firing incredibly powerful rockets to slow their descent and allow a safe touchdown.

             
The convoy moved out without fanfare. Heavy armor took the dirt path to the north while the trucks and support vehicles stuck to the hardball road. As the lead element, Zev could see the fight brewing up ahead. The strange dot h
e’
d seen before had grown into a gigantic battlement. Hovering hundreds of feet in the air, the carrier was a floating mountain. Rockets roared, easing the behemoth toward the clearing while burning black scorch marks in the green field. It had no escort fighters, but Fleet was
n’
t taking advantage of the easy target.

             
H
e’
d seen the carriers in videos and on reports, but looking at one from the ground was awe inspiring. The sheer size of the ship dominated the horizon. Its body had changed shape during the descent, though the hive structure remained intact. Eight spires had risen around the craft, and it appeared that the vessel had become wider. It no longer qualified as a naval ship. It was a fortress.