Battleground Mars by Eric Schneider Page B

lighters and used them to build a blockade across the valley’s mouth. It had been beautifully executed, they hadn’t suspected a thing. When one of their security patrols came upon it, he’d stood up and roared and the man turned tail and run back to his comrades, too scared to come and fight him like a warrior. They were pressing in close now, and there was no need for the blockade. His soldiers had gone forward and were sniping at the humans. He wasn’t sure if they’d hit anyone, but it didn’t matter. Sooner or later they’d run low on air, food, water or ammunition and they’d have to come out. Then it would be his time. Perhaps tonight, tomorrow at the latest, they’d feast on the flesh and blood of the humans. He looked across at the three Taurons that he’d lost when the humans used their laser cannon to repel one of their attacks. They’d died bravely. Tomorrow they’d be avenged, many times. They would soon know that the power of the Taurons was greater than they’d ever imagined. He stood tall and shouted to the distant mountains. The terrible, eerie, tremolo echoed across the barren Martian landscape.

Chapter Four
     

    They loaded the buggy. Kacy had managed to fit a second laser cannon to Kaz’s observation tower and they were equipping the vehicle with everything that they could possibly need to mount the operation. She’d also loaded spare fuel cells in the cargo hold to replace the damaged ones in the DeVries’s vehicles. They suited up and Rahm climbed in and the rest followed. He was about to signal for the airlock door to be opened when he saw Fechter running into the garage clutching a message pad. He signaled for Rahm to stop.
    “What’s up?”
    “We received a message from Earth. The Taurons have attacked again.”
    “Jesus Christ, how did they let that happen? I thought they’d stopped all that.”
    There’d been a number of attacks years ago, after the two races began fighting for control of the Mars trevanium reserves. After several devastating raids the military forces on Earth had combined to establish a chain of semi-automated defenses, including platforms in permanent orbit. They were supposed to detect and destroy any incoming raiders.”
    “They’ve developed a new approach,” Jacques replied. “It’s a type of stealth tactic, they were able to go past the platforms and attack our installations. One of them was the Mars launch base, so I doubt it was an accident. They’ve got another ship being prepared for another launch, so they’re starting a crash program to bring it into use to get to us. But the net result is that we have to wait an extra three months. That’s almost nine months in total.”
    “Can we do it?”
    He shrugged. “We’ll have to, but it’ll be close, our life support systems are going to be pushed to the limits. I wish I hadn’t agreed to letting you go out there, but I know it’s too late to call it off. Besides, I’m not unsympathetic. I know there’s a lot hanging on this. I want those people back as much as I do. But there’s a reason I wanted to speak to you before you left.”
    He could feel his team listening to every word.
    “If you find anything that might help us on the Eastern Star, bring it back with you. We need life support equipment. It’s going be desperate with the extra wait for the relief. Apart from the portable air scrubbers, I want any cylinders you find, anything else, I don’t know, look around and see what the salvage crews left. You know the situation.”
    Rahm nodded. “We’ll do what we can.”
    He signaled for the inner airlock door and drove forward as it opened.
    Tyrrenha Plateau, Mars
    Damian Hacker walked around their positions, making sure that every man there was behind cover. He came to Gabi Aaronsen and peer through her faceplate. He was gratified to see that she didn’t appear to be too frightened.
    “How are you holding up?”
    “I’m ok,” she said. There was a small shake in her voice,