Kwelengsen dawn, p.33
Kwelengsen Dawn, page 33
"Get the drone in the air and do what you can." Logan made for the door and paused. "We'll distract them."
He gathered up what was left of his team and followed the directions Aurore had given him to the secondary exit. The AMTV armored transport was sheltered inside a broad passage that opened onto a ledge barely wide enough for the heavy vehicle to traverse. The ledge was next to a vertical drop that plunged into waves crashing into the jagged rocks below.
The slope angled up, and they followed it. From the top, the view of the bay was impressive, the mid-afternoon sun glinting on the water, making the scene as tranquil as a painting. But the explosions shaking the rock made Logan all too aware of the danger.
"What now?" he called to Samara.
"Disperse and skirmish." She broadcast the order to everyone and headed south. Malette went in the same direction but took a different route.
Logan moved north toward the main entrance, wanting to remain close enough to help when big trouble arrived and Havji marched toward the approaching enemy. He heard the high-pitched screaming roar of the Predator drone from above. He'd tangled with those before and was well aware of how deadly they were. His suit sensors picked it out, and he tracked its movements.
The drone shot over the rocky bluffs, headed straight for the Corporate forces. It unleashed a stream of gleaming needles into one of the Futens, then broke off its attack. The drone wheeled into a dive, dropping low before firing two missiles from point-blank range at a Mule.
Samara's voice came over the comm-link. "They need to focus the Predator fire on the Mules. We'll handle the others."
He relayed the message and charged forward. His targeting system highlighted the nearest of the enemy aircraft, tracked it, then locked on. He could have fired, but the range was borderline, and he had to save his weapons for surer targets. A rocket flashed into the sky. Both Samara and Malette had equipped themselves with missile launchers, so either of them might have fired.
The missile locked onto a Futen, trailing it for a minute before detonating near the aircraft in a tumbling plume of orange flame. The ship lurched but didn't go down, and Logan lifted his QuenchGun, firing a long blast at it. Another missile lanced out, this time making a solid hit, and the aircraft plummeted to the rocky ground, detonating in a bright fireball.
Logan cursed. He should have fetched the Nomad sooner. With the Corporates controlling the skies, they were in a poor position strategically. Their aircraft would have made a huge difference, but it was too late. He'd let his emotions overrule his brain, and people were going to die.
Another Futen screamed past overhead, sending volley after volley of missiles to blast the rock. In the distance, the dark silhouettes of the spider-like Mules were crawling toward them, accompanied by dozens of Corporate assault troops.
"I know you're down there somewhere, big guy." Heskith's gruff voice sounded on an open channel. "It's not too late."
"Are you planning on surrendering?" Logan snapped into his comm-link
"You got it the wrong way round, bud. Lay down your weapons, no one else has to die."
"I thought you understood me," Logan snarled. "But you don't and never will."
He targeted a Futen and fired a burst from his QuenchGun at it, hoping his erstwhile friend was inside. The ship banked away from the gunfire but seemed otherwise undamaged.
"Good guess, big guy. But wrong bird."
One of the other Futens was bearing down on his position and launched a salvo of rockets. The explosions tore up the ground around him, and the force of the blasts knocked him off his feet. He landed painfully against the rock, the TACS suit protecting him from injury, but it was enough to leave him gasping, the wind knocked out of him. Scrabbling back to his feet, a stabbing pain shot through his side. "Everyone okay?" he called to his team.
"I'm good," Malette grunted. "But that guy's pissing me off."
"Okay here," Samara said minutes later. "We really need some air cover."
It seemed like a long time before Havji's voice came across the comm-link. "I'm hurt."
Logan scanned the area, looking for her. "Bad?"
"Nothing I can't fix," she rasped.
"Sam," Logan said on her channel. "Head for the Nomad, top speed, and bring it here."
"I've never run away from a fight, and I'm not starting now." Her words were short and clipped. "Besides, there wouldn't be anyone left by the time I got back."
"That's an order,"
"Yeah? Screw you, sir."
"Okay, transfer your sentinels to my control," Logan said. "Let's see if we can clear the skies a little."
"The micro-munitions on them won't touch anything that big, Logan." It was Malette who spoke.
Logan grimaced. "Do it."
Several indicators lit up on Logan's helmet HUD as the drones were redirected to his command. He targeted a Futen making another attack run and launched the small drone at it, with a second following behind. The wash from the aircraft pushed the first to one side, but the second got close enough to the turbines to be sucked in. The high-speed rotors chewed up the tiny drone and spat it out, but a plume of smoke trailed behind the craft as it shot overhead.
He aimed a second sentinel at a different enemy aircraft, attempting the same trick, but the pilot must have realized what was happening and jinked the aircraft to avoid the drone. At the same time, a missile streaked through the sky and hammered into the side of it, enveloping the aircraft in a blossom of red-and-orange flame. Despite that, the Futen remained airborne.
The Predator made another pass, its weapons impacting against one of the Mules, though the armored vehicle didn't slow. They were closing, along with the ground troops. The high-pitched thrum of QuenchGun fire filled the air around Logan, and he ducked for cover.
"Trouble with you is, you're way too trusting, bud." It was Heskith again. "You never believe anyone would sell you out."
"How about you come down and we'll discuss the matter face-to-face?"
"I should take you up on that. Because you wouldn't stand a chance. I'm Geneered, remember."
"I'll go easy on you," Logan taunted.
Either Malette or Samara had switched focus from the aircraft as another missile launched, this time targeting the closest Mule. The four-legged vehicle bucked as the warhead exploded, like an animal flinching, but that didn't stop its advance. Logan used his laser designator to highlight one of the vehicle's legs and opened his comm-link. "Target the knees. They're the most vulnerable spots"
He fed the data through to Aurore, and the Predator changed course, wheeling around to attack the Mule he'd indicated. A flurry of missiles fired, and the Mule staggered again. When the air cleared, it was still walking, but its left front leg dragged.
The Mules opened up with their main guns, the heavy cannons recognizable by the deep chonk-chonk-chonk they made while firing. Despite his team's efforts, the Corporate forces were spreading out, threatening to surround the cave complex.
"We can't hold them without heavier weapons," Logan said to Aurore. "Get your people out by the secondary exit. We'll hold them back as long as possible."
Her reply was immediate. "We've done enough running." The transmission cut off.
The large-caliber shots from the Mules tore up the landscape, literally blowing away chunks of rock along with the thick scrub foliage, leaving the area as pockmarked as the surface of an airless moon. Logan's suit picked up traces of movement behind him, and he glanced back. Dozens of people were streaming from the caves, equipped with an assortment of small arms. While he couldn't fault their bravery, the Corporate onslaught would tear them to pieces in minutes.
As if to punctuate his thoughts, a Futen missile intersected the fast-moving Predator and exploded in a white-hot flash. The remnants of the drone tumbled from the sky like a piece of trash caught in a gust. Logan cursed. Their only chance of fending off the attack was gone.
A group of Corporate troops edged to the left in a flanking maneuver. He shot a long volley at them, then several grenades. Aurore dropped to the ground alongside him and crouched behind the rock, clutching a short QuenchGun. She raised it and released a stream of needles at the enemy.
"I'm not losing you again," she shouted over the explosions and needle screams.
"Neither of us is likely to survive this."
"Then we'll go down together, fighting."
A rocket caught the Mule damaged earlier, and its leg collapsed, the fuselage digging a deep rut in the hard soil. A cheer rose over the noise of the battle, but it was premature—the enemy forces still outnumbered and outgunned them massively.
Their heavy weapons chewed everything up, the ground roiling like liquid from the barrages impacting all around. The nearest Mule was barely two hundred meters away, bombarding them with endless streams of needles and autocannon rounds. Even the damaged one had recovered enough to drag itself into an effective firing position.
The Futen had switched from using its missiles and now swooped down to spray the defenders with flame units and heavy-duty lasers, leaving trails of charred corpses. The destruction sickened him. They were treating them the same way they'd butchered the rhison. He wanted to get away—run until he'd left it all behind. But the Corporate troops kept advancing.
"This is a massacre," he shouted to Aurore. "Tell everyone to fall back."
"But—" She stopped when she saw his expression, then triggered her comm-set. "Everyone fall back to the caves."
One by one, the settlers within sight disengaged from the enemy and edged back, harried by continuous weapons fire. "You too," he said to Aurore.
"What about you?"
"I'll watch your back." A volley of smaller caliber needles rattled against Logan's suit, not powerful enough to penetrate, but enough to dig deep scars in the armor.
Aurore scurried back toward the cave entrance, keeping low, and Logan shadowed her, hoping his armor would screen her from any shots directed at them. Several more needles ricocheted off his back, making him stumble.
"...nners ...irk ...trep." His comm-link buzzed noisily, the transmission breaking up into a garble.
"Repeat," Logan barked into the pickup.
"...Manners on the Falkirk..." Static distorted the transmission."...cruiser destroyed ...stained damage."
Something heavier hit him in the back and he staggered, dropping to his knees. Several alarms flashed on his HUD, and he struggled to his feet. The cave entrance was ten meters away, and Aurore was almost there. She stopped, looking back at him, and he urged her on. "Get inside."
His spine was burning, and he forced himself on, every step a fight as the power levels in his suit plummeted. Finally, he reached the gap in the girders and fell through.
"Don't move," someone yelled. "You're on fire."
Several hands grabbed at him, struggling with his suit. Logan reached down to unlock the clasps, and the top half was pulled from him, relieving the sensation of pain in his back. He rose to a crouch, surveying the sparking torso of his TACS gear.
"Thanks."
Aurore reached over and helped him up. As she did, Samara and Malette tumbled through the gap.
Logan looked at them. "Where's Havji?"
Samara was half holding Malette upright but managed an awkward shrug. "I lost track of her in the chaos."
"Seal it," Aurore called.
Someone made to secure the movable truss.
"Wait," Logan said. "Havji's still outside. We can't—"
"You're too late."
Logan looked around. Ogawa stood behind them, a short-barreled QuenchGun in her hands.
"If you're planning to leave," he said, "this isn't the best time."
"I'm not afraid of the Corporates." Ogawa's lips pulled back into a mirthless grin, and she tapped her comm-link. "I have him, and the others. Should I kill him now?"
*
"You're collaborating with the VulCaps?" Samara hissed. "How could you betray Granger?"
Ogawa snorted. "Betray him? I did everything for that useless idiot. Worked out a sweet deal that would set us both up for life. Then he betrayed me."
"Let me guess," Logan said. "You killed him and made it look like it was an animal attack."
"No choice." Ogawa circled to the right, keeping her gun aimed at him. "He found out about the deal and wanted out. The shit was going to snitch me out to the rest of you."
Logan's headset hissed again as Manners transmitted. "Ship damaged... Jump dead. Should have..." He wanted to respond, but Ogawa would shoot him as soon as he moved. Even though her attention appeared to be on her own comm-link.
"He's coming down." Ogawa grinned. "I guess he doesn't want to miss your death. Stay back, everyone." A crowd had gathered, and she swung her gun at them, then pointed it back to Logan.
"...the DX-600 ...too many debts ...even the odds." Manners' signal cut off.
It didn't take much to guess that Manners was going to attempt to take out the giant Corporate factory ship in orbit. If the Falkirk was damaged, it seemed unlikely it would survive the encounter. A surge of adrenaline hit Logan and his head buzzed. How would they get away without the ship? He activated the comm-link, ignoring the danger.
"Manners? This is Logan. Repeat, this is Logan. Do not engage the enemy ship. We have people here in urgent need—"
Ogawa slammed the gun into the back of his neck, and he dropped to the ground. She stood over him, her gun barrel quivering from her white-knuckled grip. "He wants to see you, but I'm not good at taking orders. So, don't push your luck."
"Leave him alone," Aurore yelled.
"Oh, the poor little wifey, coming to help her man." Ogawa spat on the ground. "People like you make me sick with your oh-so-nice lives and oh-so-nice manners. Outside—now. The rest of you colonists, don't interfere, or it'll be the worse for you."
Aurore helped Logan up, despite his protests, and they climbed through the barrier to the decimated area outside. Malette and Samara followed close behind, with Malette limping badly. The two Mules were on the brow of the ridge overlooking the entrance, weapons trained on them. The Futens had landed, but a group of men appeared over the rise and started down the slope toward them, led by the bulky figure of Sergeant Heskith.
Ogawa pushed Logan with her gun as Heskith came to a standstill in front of them. He grinned, as if unexpectedly meeting an old friend in the street, but Logan felt no such camaraderie.
"Hey there, big guy. Long time, huh?" Heskith held out his hand, but Logan made no attempt to take it, and after a few moments Heskith withdrew it. "You really should have stayed away. Things would have been so much easier. Now you've got everyone all riled up for no good."
Heskith was flanked by several armored guards carrying large QuenchGuns. Even if Logan had been wearing his TACS suit, he doubted he could have reached Heskith before getting mowed down.
"What's the deal?" Logan said quietly. "I presume there is one, or you wouldn't be here."
"You always were a smart one, bud." Heskith's grin was still there. "Not much of one. The big cheeses are fretting over the dealings with Earth, so they're willing to offer relocation to everyone. Apart from the ringleaders, like you, your old lady, and the rest in your team. You'll be tried and executed for espionage and acts of terror."
"Corporate justice," Aurore sneered. "A guaranteed result."
"I'm a pragmatist." Heskith shrugged. "You know what they say—you can't fight management."
"Take me," Logan growled. "I'm the one they want."
"No, Logan. You can't!"
Aurore grabbed Logan's arm, but Ogawa punched her away with the butt of her rifle. Logan jerked, but the soldiers with Heskith snapped their weapons up.
"You wouldn't want to cheat people out of a trial, would you?" Heskith said.
"I'm not in charge here, so I can't order a surrender." Logan scowled. "And I don't think those who are will be responsive after what they've—"
A flash of light, brighter than any sun, blossomed in the sky, casting stark shadows around them. Logan looked up, and Heskith turned to do the same. For several seconds, it seemed as though everyone was transfixed by the spreading light hovering above them, until it darkened to a deep orange and then faded from view.
"What was that? Malette groaned.
Heskith was focused on a transmission on his comm-link, not looking at any of the prisoners. After several minutes, he nodded, then raised his hand, waving it in a circular motion. "Everyone back on the ships. Haul ass."
The guards fell in alongside him as he marched away.
"You're leaving?" Ogawa shouted. "What about them?"
Heskith didn't look back. "Kill them."
"What?" Ogawa took a couple of stumbling steps after him. "I thought..."
This time Heskith did stop. Spinning around, he glared at Ogawa. "Do you want to join them?"
She shook her head, and Heskith continued walking away.
"What's going on?" Aurore whispered to Logan.
"I think that was the Corporate manufacturing ship exploding," Logan murmured. "But I've no idea why they're leaving."
Heskith and his guards vanished from sight over the ridge, and Ogawa turned back, pointing her gun at Logan. "Never send a man to do a woman's work."
The crack of a high-velocity needle split the air, and a narrow fissure opened in Ogawa's head. A look of surprise covered her face before she dropped to her knees, then fell into the dust. A scrabbling noise came from a pile of rocks to their left, and Logan looked across.
Havji lay there, half buried in rubble, her gun dropping from her hands. Logan ran over, with Aurore following, and together they pulled her from the debris before removing her helmet.
"You okay?" he said.
"Does shooting someone in the head count as medical malpractice?" Havji tried to smile, but it became a grimace. "I'm hurt."
Fontanell from the sensor room ran out, gasping for air. "The reconsat picked something up."
"Their orbital ship was destroyed," Logan said. "We saw it. "
"The Falkirk flew right into it. But that's not all." Fontanell looked around at the destruction. "Before the collision, it launched a volley of orbital bombardment weapons."
