Worldkiller, p.28
Worldkiller, page 28
part #7 of Variant Series
"Shit," I whispered. "It's fallen apart so quickly there."
"That was always a possibility," said Harkin. "The best way into Northbank is through the Bends, so it remains an important strategic location. The government have recognised that and acted accordingly. It comes as no great surprise."
I nodded, knowing it was always likely to go this way. We already knew that the backlash from Mantis had started, and with the custodians now flocking back to the city, the gangs were always going to struggle to hold out for long.
And, in that, I felt we had some responsibility to help. We had, after all, made promises to the gangs. Didn't we have to honour them now?
"We should attack soon," I said, looking at Harkin directly. "Not Northbank, but the Bends at least. We have to make it safe for our allies there, like we said we would. We made promises that we have to keep, sir."
Harkin nodded. "We will march into the Bends as soon as we can, Paige," he said, placating me. "The gangs knew they might have to hold on for a few days at least, once the custodians got involved. I already spoke with the coalition leaders about that last night, and they agreed that we shouldn't wait long. Controlling the Bends is a top priority for us, just as it is for Northbank. As soon as we are set up here, we will make plans to march in and secure the region."
I nodded, some tension released, as Blair and Becca came over to join us.
"OK, we're good to go," said Blair.
Harkin nodded, and looked to Krista. "Keep trying the safe house," he finished. "If you hear from them, let me know." He tapped his earpiece. "We'll be close enough to use comms."
She nodded, and we turned to leave the bunker, climbing up the ladder and out into the morning sun. Nearby, a rumbling sound began to fill the air. That of a great convoy, heading our way. We moved out into the open and saw them, coming up the road in the distance, jeeps and trucks and large, mobile weapons.
We waited where we were, as one of the leading vehicles pulled off from the main group, moving our way. As soon as it arrived, my father stepped out.
"Need a lift?" he asked, as we moved over to join him. Clearly, our concerned faces were noted. "What's happened?" he asked, turning more serious.
"Let's get moving, Max," grunted Harkin. "We'll tell you on the way."
29
The base was set up on a wide open plain, only a few miles away from the bunker, and a few more from the outer ruins. In the far distance, the vague outline of the city was just about visible, though the heart of Northbank still lay at least ten miles away.
It was a good location for that reason alone, giving the soldiers a chance to gaze upon their final quarry. The distance was also within the range of the artillery guns the various armies had brought. If Northbank was to be bombarded, it could be done from all the way out here.
It took hours for the base to take shape, and for the entirety of the army - minus those staying at the garrison in Dover - to arrive. The camp also had a more permanent feel than the one that had been established the previous evening. Here, there were no buildings and constructions for the leaders to stay in, so their larger, multi-room tents and marquees were set up. And, as with the camp outside Paris, the largest of those was at the heart of the Neoroman site, the coalition army's central HQ that would host the war councils and meetings between the main leaders.
I found myself mostly wandering around the camp with Blair and Becca, as the base gradually took its final form, marvelling at the logistical efficiency of it all, trying to keep my mind away from what was happening right now in the city. Unfortunately, that wasn't always easy. News of the escalating war in the Bends had quickly spread through the army, and it had become a hot topic of conversation. From the northern side of the base, you could also hear the faint crackle of battle, off in the far distance. It was, for most, an enticing soundtrack, one the soldiers wanted to lend their voices to. For me, it only served as a reminder that I had people I cared about right there, in the thick of it.
Still, we kept busy, meeting some of our friends along the way as we wandered through the camp, observing as lookout outposts were established around its perimeter, defensive guns unpacked and loaded to better defend the base, should it come under an unlikely attack. Over to the western side, where the Olympian army was bedding in, we ran into Amber, who was in discussion with Perses and Secretary Burns, who liked to wander around the camp himself, liaising with the main leaders.
Not far away, outside the perimeter, I could see a few fiery figures running drills. "What's going on over there?" I asked Amber, looking out beyond the encampment.
"Oh, Elian's taking the Fire-Bloods through a few exercises," she said. "He likes to keep them on their toes."
I smiled, observing them for a moment as they trained. I'd heard that Fire-Bloods were particularly effective when working together, combining the power of their flame. In terms of potential destructivity, there was no more potent fighting force across all four coalition armies.
"And what are those?" asked Blair, looking over toward a series of large metal pillars, being dug into the ground around the camp at regular intervals.
"Portable shield placements," came the thunderous voice of Perses, sounding much like Ares - and looking rather similar to him too - though without the exotic tinge of the Neoroman's accent. "When activated, they will offer additional protection to the camp by way of an energy shield. Unfortunately, it seems that we have underestimated how many we would need to encircle the entire camp."
"Couldn't you just space them out more?" Becca asked, continuing in her 'I'm not intimidated by anyone' guise, as she looked up at Perses, his thickly muscled body visible beneath his black, lightweight, and impressively advanced armour.
Olympus, in fact, had some state-of-the-art tech that I was eager to explore. These shield placements were part of that, a defensive technology that I'd heard Amber mention before.
"That is what we are discussing now, Rebecca," Perses said. "Unfortunately, the shield weakens dramatically when the pillars are more widely spread. We might be able to surround the entire camp but, if we did so, the shield would be easily disabled if it came under attack."
"We don't need it anyway," said Blair with her usual defiance. That pragmatism she'd showed earlier, clearly, hadn't lasted long. She probably thought it made her look strong in front of Perses and Amber. "Northbank would be dumb to try to attack us out here."
"Perhaps," said Burns, "but it's always sensible to set up some precautionary measures, don't you think?" He looked at Blair, giving her an opportunity to change her stance.
"I...guess there's no harm in it," she admitted.
Burns nodded, satisfied. I didn't imagine that there was a wiser person across the coalition. He could always be counted on to bring a level head to proceedings, much as Harkin did.
"The alternative, of course," the telepath continued, "is simply to shield off certain parts of the camp, leaving openings that we can defend more heavily with our mobile gun placements, and stronger soldiers."
"Or, perhaps we could simply circle the entire base, except for the Steinwand side?" offered Blair. "They're camped over to the east, right? So, shield off the north, south, and west, and leave their side open."
"So cruel," said Amber, smiling. "You really don't like those Steinwandens, do you?"
Blair shrugged. "Actually, it's only Kaiser Konig that I don't like. The rest seem all right, I guess. Though they don't say much."
"Yes, they are a quite reserved and recalcitrant bunch, aren't they?" noted Burns. "Not the most approachable people."
"And that's coming from you," said Blair. "You get along with everyone."
"Oh, how kind of you to say, Blair. I do try to act as the glue between disparate groups, if I can."
"Well, you're very gluey, Leyton," smiled Amber. "You've always been brilliant in that role."
"The Sticky Secretary," added Blair. She looked around the group. "A new nickname, perhaps?"
"Hardly the most glamorous moniker," said Perses, chuckling heavily.
"No, but it suits him perfectly," came an energetic, well refined voice behind me. I felt a rush of warmth as Elian pulsed in, pushed along by a burst of flame. "Hey, guys," he said, exposing a dazzling smile, as he looked around the group. "So, what are you discussing? Surely something more important than Leyton's latest nickname?"
He winked at the Secretary, who smiled warmly back. Amber had told me that Elian and Burns had a close bond, after spending time together during the war against the Prime. There was a lot of that going around, most of the figures I'd met knowing each other quite well. It was exciting to be a part of that now. To join the rich tapestry that the last few years had weaved.
"Nothing exciting, Eli," said Blair, always so familiar with people, no matter how well she knew them. Much like Scissors, really. "Just this boring business of setting up your shield wall."
"Boring?" said Becs, frowning at her. "How is this boring?"
Blair shrugged.
"Ah, I see," said Becca. "You're just trying to be cool. Got it."
I laughed, the accusation on point. The others also began chuckling.
"I...I don't have to try," said Blair, falling back on the expected, cliched response. "I'm just cool by nature."
"Yes you are," said Becca, not hiding the condescension in her tone. "You're the coolest girl in camp."
Blair looked at her, a little hurt, a little embarrassed. Becs was joking, of course, but Blair had always been better at dishing out the banter, rather than taking it.
"Well, I'm kinda in agreement with you, Blair-Bear," said Elian, coming up with a nickname of his own to skilfully diffuse her embarrassment. "It's all pretty boring stuff. So, you girls wanna see something more fun?"
Blair nodded quietly.
"Come on then," the dashing Fire-Blood went on, "I'll have my team put on a show for you."
Blair brightened up a bit at that, looking toward the Fire-Bloods assembled nearby. Becs smiled at her and took her arm, and they quickly moved off, led by Elian. Amber, of course, smiled fondly at him as they went. It was a very thoughtful gesture.
"You not going too, Paige?" asked Perses. "Or do our Fire-Bloods not interest you?"
"Oh no, they do," I said. "I'm fascinated, actually. But, I'm also intrigued by this shield technology of yours. Do you mind if I take a closer look, see how it all works?"
"Of course, be my guest," said Perses.
He led me over, the others following, as I began looking more closely at the pillars and generators, used to control and activate the shield. Perses and Burns continued debating the topic of how best to use the shield array, while Amber stood with me, watching closely, asking the occasional question.
"You think you can improve it?" she queried, as I concluded my inspection. "Maybe increase the charge somehow, so that the shield can remain strong even when the pillars are widely dispersed?"
I did an internal roll of the eyes. It was the typical sort of query I got, this expectation that I could do just about anything. If it can be imagined, then Paige can do it. Well, it wasn't quite as simple as that. This was advanced tech, developed over a prolonged period of time, by extremely smart people who were probably just as clever as me. I wasn't even going to try to modify it out here.
I shook my head. "Not that I can see," I said, giving the polite response. "I'd need time and a proper design lab to do anything to it. Sorry."
"Never mind," Amber said insouciantly. "I'm kinda with Blair anyway. I don't think we'll need it. It's mostly precautionary."
I nodded quietly. It was certainly the pervading opinion, though I was happy to see that the various leaders were still taking the defence of the camp seriously. Even if they thought Northbank were weak, and no real threat to us here, they were taking the necessary steps to secure the encampment, just in case.
"So, what's the verdict, then?" asked Burns, stepping over with Perses. "Any luck, Paige?"
I gave the same answer as I just gave Amber.
"I see," said Burns.
"And what's your decision?" asked Amber, sounding a little exhausted, as though the two men had been discussing it for some time. "Please tell me you've come to some conclusion by now."
The leaders nodded at one another. "We're going to focus on the northern side of the camp, mostly," said Perses, "and maintain a strong shield there. Should Northbank try to bombard us with artillery or other long range weaponry, it'll be important that the shield is capable of withstanding such a barrage."
It made perfect sense. The sides, and particularly the rear, could be defended more easily than the side of the camp directly facing the city. We weren't entirely sure of what capabilities Northbank had, in terms of long range artillery and ballistics, but it was certainly possible that they'd have some munitions capable of firing at us from the city. The shield - along with the anti-air guns that we had - would help protect us from that.
"Well, I should relay orders to my men," said Perses. "I shall see you both later. Come along, Amber. We can't have you shirking your duties for too long."
The two Olympians walked away at that, little and large, light and dark. As a pair, it was hard to imagine two more different people. Yet in terms of power - both politically and genetically - they were close to being equals.
"So then, how's the book, Paige?" asked Secretary Burns, as we began wandering back through the sprawling camp, heading to its heart. "Did you have a chance to take a look at it yet?"
"Yes, I read it through last night," I said.
"Oh? Well good. What did you think of it?"
I hesitated a moment before answering. "It was very...insightful," I said. "I can see why it's so well known."
"Yes, such seminal works earn their fame for a reason. I would call it essential reading for anyone with an interest in military or management strategy." He smiled. "That said, I don't believe that General Decimus has ever actually read it. So, perhaps I'm wrong."
"Well, I guess a lot of it is intuitive to some people. And, you can probably pick most of it up through experience as well. Someone like General Decimus could probably write a book like that himself."
"Oh, certainly. Though, the main tenets held by Sun Tzu would, I imagine, be different to the foundations of any book written by General Decimus."
"In what respect?" I asked.
"Well, as you well know, Sun Tzu described the true art of war as winning without having to fight, subduing an enemy without shedding blood. I don't think that's General Decimus's way. Nor, in fact, is it the Neoroman way. Not traditionally, anyway. The General has a fine mind for offensive strategy, but as I said yesterday, he often takes the harder line. He is a conquering general, a man who had spent decades winning lands for his homeland, and expanding the borders of his empire. I don't think he has much experience on the defensive."
"Right," I said. "I mean, Neorome have hardly come up against anyone who can truly oppose them, have they? But, doesn't that make General Decimus a little less...well rounded, if he's never had to defend a city or land against attack?"
"Perhaps, to a degree," nodded Burns. "However, you can only deal with what's in front of you, Paige. And General Decimus has spent some time, at least, defending the borders of the empire. The only caveat, I suppose, is that they have mostly been raids, and smaller battles, rather than true threats to the empire, or city itself."
"So no great army has ever marched on Neorome?" I asked.
"No, not that I know of."
"And that's where you come in?" I suggested. "You were there when Haven was attacked by the Cure, weren't you, before it became New Haven? And when the Prime tried to conquer the city as well?"
"I was," he said. "I played a role on both occasions."
"Then I guess you can understand better than anyone what the powers of Northbank are thinking." I turned my eyes northwest, though the city wasn't visible this far into the camp, especially now that the clouds were gathering. "What do you think they're planning? What would you do, if you were them?"
He smiled across at me, his facial features so neat, manner so endlessly smart. "Now that, Paige, is always the most important question to ask. To know your enemy is essential, of course, as we both know. But in that, you are better placed to answer than I am. So, let me turn the question on you. What would you do, if you were them?"
I let out a long sigh, as we strolled along, the blue skies now fading behind a coming wall of grey. "I've thought about that endlessly, sir," I said. "And that's the problem. I can't figure it out."
"And nor should you be able to," he said. "War is based on deception. If you were to figure out what they had planned, then they wouldn't be doing their job properly."
"But...they must know what we're planning," I said. "Theres's no deception with us, is there? It's obvious what we're going to do."
"Perhaps now it is, yes," he said, "but we have the luxury of being in a position of great strength. However, let's not forget that we have operated through subterfuge and deception already, Paige, to get us to this point. Your entire mission here over the last few weeks has been a fine example of that, a multi-faceted trick, expertly executed, that has laid the foundations for what is to come."
I nodded, stopping for a moment among the sea of tents. We were somewhere along the border, where the Neoroman and Olympian camps merged, the heart of the encampment still some way off.
"What is it, Paige?" asked Burns, reading my concern. "What is it that troubles you?"
I let out a sigh, though felt no compulsion to hide my thoughts or feelings from the man. I felt at ease, speaking openly with him. His was the sort of advice I craved.
"Just a feeling," I said. "A feeling that it's all been too..."
"Easy?"
I nodded. "Yes," I said softly. "It sounds strange but...I don't like that things have gone so well. I just feel like..." I drew a breath, shaking my head, "like something terrible is going to happen."
He looked at me for a prolonged period. "This is war, Paige," he said. "This is terrible. It's only natural that you're feeling this way. But try not to give in to pessimism. It is best to master such anxious thoughts, if you can."
