from a children’s book.
You recognize me. Don’t you, you motherfucker.
Trent’s locked gazes with the prisoner’s as shock coated its face. Without warning, Trent suddenly heard a loud pop.
The sound emanated from the head of the Bearcat. The creature fell to the ground like a rag doll.
Trent returned his helmet to its proper place. He and Thomas stepped forward. As they looked down at the dead enemy soldier, something oozed out of its ears. Thomas gave voice to the communal thought, “What happened?”
“He killed himself to avoid capture.”
“How?”
“Must’ve activated some kind of small explosive implanted in his brain. Guess that’s one objective we won’t be checking off.”
“Smart move.”
“Yeah, our guys thought of that one too. If we get captured, the nanos will make sure there isn’t anything left to interrogate.”
Trent turned to face the gathered survivors. Holding the MRG high over his head, he let out a booming victorious shout, “Revenge is ours!”
The tired warriors followed the example of their leader and shouted at the stars. Putting the universe on notice that humanity had teeth and would use them.
Chapter 13: Victory
A dozen shuttles descended outside the base. The crafts’ gentle landing reminded Trent of the unit’s dramatic arrival, and the cost it had entailed.
Henderson would have loved this fight.
The door of the lead shuttle lowered and out walked a group of gray uniformed Fleet officers. They wore clear full-face breathing masks. He recognized one immediately, despite the few years the man had aged.
“Commander Andersen, fancy meeting you here.”
Andersen approached Trent with his hand extended. He easily found him with the suit’s camouflage turned off. The green stood out in the crimson world.
“I wouldn’t have missed it for the world, Major. It’s Admiral Andersen by the way.”
“Oh...I guess a lot of things have changed in the eleven something years I’ve been off world.”
“You have no idea. Earth has real defenses now. A mighty Legion, strong Fleet, and an orbital defense platform we only dreamt of. Took a lot of work and money, but it’s amazing what a united world can do when it’s motivated.”
“I’m happy you got the command you wanted, which reminds me. When Chen gets back, give the man a warship, he deserves it.”
“That’s the plan. What...,” Andersen paused. “What shape is your unit in?”
Trent looked back on the conquered base. Red and blue bloodstains peppered the domes’ walls.
“Morale is high. That’s the best thing I can say.”
“Casualties?”
“Many,” Trent sighed. “We lost three in our crash landing. Forty-eight made the attack. Of those, twenty are KIA and five wounded.”
“I’m sorry. You paid a high price.”
“Could have been a lot worse. We count almost a hundred enemy dead. The only thing that saved us was the element of total surprise. They clearly didn’t expect a land based assault.”
“If I may ask...why such an odd killed to wounded ratio? It should be the other way around.”
“Yeah, I know. I think that’s the way this whole war is going to shake out. It’s their weapons, pretty damn lethal. You take a hit...well, let’s just say you don’t want to take a hit. All of our wounded lost limbs. They’re lucky they didn’t take a body shot or they all would be KIA.”
“May I take a look at the base?”
“It’s all yours.” Trent walked with the admiral.
Andersen became fixated on a mangled Bearcat body. He stopped to study it.
“It’s huge!” he said.
“Tell me about it.” Trent pulled the blue-coated Bowie knife from his boot, holding it up. The blood had started to dry. Some of it had flaked off. “You should try fighting one of them hand-to-hand sometime. It’s a fun challenge.”
The show had the expected effect when Andersen’s eyes bulged out.
“Oh, my.”
“I hope you don’t mind, but I just had my men police our own and then gave
You recognize me. Don’t you, you motherfucker.
Trent’s locked gazes with the prisoner’s as shock coated its face. Without warning, Trent suddenly heard a loud pop.
The sound emanated from the head of the Bearcat. The creature fell to the ground like a rag doll.
Trent returned his helmet to its proper place. He and Thomas stepped forward. As they looked down at the dead enemy soldier, something oozed out of its ears. Thomas gave voice to the communal thought, “What happened?”
“He killed himself to avoid capture.”
“How?”
“Must’ve activated some kind of small explosive implanted in his brain. Guess that’s one objective we won’t be checking off.”
“Smart move.”
“Yeah, our guys thought of that one too. If we get captured, the nanos will make sure there isn’t anything left to interrogate.”
Trent turned to face the gathered survivors. Holding the MRG high over his head, he let out a booming victorious shout, “Revenge is ours!”
The tired warriors followed the example of their leader and shouted at the stars. Putting the universe on notice that humanity had teeth and would use them.
Chapter 13: Victory
A dozen shuttles descended outside the base. The crafts’ gentle landing reminded Trent of the unit’s dramatic arrival, and the cost it had entailed.
Henderson would have loved this fight.
The door of the lead shuttle lowered and out walked a group of gray uniformed Fleet officers. They wore clear full-face breathing masks. He recognized one immediately, despite the few years the man had aged.
“Commander Andersen, fancy meeting you here.”
Andersen approached Trent with his hand extended. He easily found him with the suit’s camouflage turned off. The green stood out in the crimson world.
“I wouldn’t have missed it for the world, Major. It’s Admiral Andersen by the way.”
“Oh...I guess a lot of things have changed in the eleven something years I’ve been off world.”
“You have no idea. Earth has real defenses now. A mighty Legion, strong Fleet, and an orbital defense platform we only dreamt of. Took a lot of work and money, but it’s amazing what a united world can do when it’s motivated.”
“I’m happy you got the command you wanted, which reminds me. When Chen gets back, give the man a warship, he deserves it.”
“That’s the plan. What...,” Andersen paused. “What shape is your unit in?”
Trent looked back on the conquered base. Red and blue bloodstains peppered the domes’ walls.
“Morale is high. That’s the best thing I can say.”
“Casualties?”
“Many,” Trent sighed. “We lost three in our crash landing. Forty-eight made the attack. Of those, twenty are KIA and five wounded.”
“I’m sorry. You paid a high price.”
“Could have been a lot worse. We count almost a hundred enemy dead. The only thing that saved us was the element of total surprise. They clearly didn’t expect a land based assault.”
“If I may ask...why such an odd killed to wounded ratio? It should be the other way around.”
“Yeah, I know. I think that’s the way this whole war is going to shake out. It’s their weapons, pretty damn lethal. You take a hit...well, let’s just say you don’t want to take a hit. All of our wounded lost limbs. They’re lucky they didn’t take a body shot or they all would be KIA.”
“May I take a look at the base?”
“It’s all yours.” Trent walked with the admiral.
Andersen became fixated on a mangled Bearcat body. He stopped to study it.
“It’s huge!” he said.
“Tell me about it.” Trent pulled the blue-coated Bowie knife from his boot, holding it up. The blood had started to dry. Some of it had flaked off. “You should try fighting one of them hand-to-hand sometime. It’s a fun challenge.”
The show had the expected effect when Andersen’s eyes bulged out.
“Oh, my.”
“I hope you don’t mind, but I just had my men police our own and then gave
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