Chapter 4: More Than They Bargained For (revised)

Lieutenant Carter led her team to flank the oncoming Alliance troops. Staying on high ground with the intentions of using the defensive position at the back door of the bunker as a cross firing position. Colonel Romanov led team two and duplicated the effort of Carter on the other flank. “Carter, engage when we have all positions in range. Should be about five minutes.” “Acknowledged.”

Michael had a clear view of the field below. Alliance troops had no clue what they were about to encounter. Ten years of training honed the security team’s skills to be more than a match for the purple-bellies, even if they were outnumbered 3:1. The Alliance troops were grouped ridiculously close together in some areas, belying their commander's inexperience. They were armed with short range weapons of the machine pistol variety, better suited for close-in fighting than field operations. Michael's .308 sounded off the first shot, dropping the Alliance commander at an easy 200 yards. All fire teams opened up before the enemy could dive for cover. The entire security detail were expert marksman. The standard issue weapon for Destiny's security team was a rifle of bullpup type design using 6.48mm caseless ammunition. The bullets were designed to fragment around an armor piercing tip, giving the best of both worlds to the infantryman. Most shots hit in exposed areas in between the armored areas of the advancing troops uniforms. The rifles had scopes that would display either a virtual 'point and shoot' red dot, for 200 yards or less, or just the standard tactical scope, for longer range out to a 800 yard effective range. The odds were now 2:1. “Defensive positions continue covering fire. Carter, advance!” Michael waved his arm to signal his team to do the same. Lt. Carter skillfully led her team to the left flank while Michael did the same on the right. “Sgt. Williams!” “Sir?” “Take over the team, I’m going after their transports.” “Yes sir.” "Defensive positions advance in the center and continue cover fire until we converge."

The Alliance troops were in disarray. They didn’t have a chance really. They were not only outmatched in skill, but half the Browncoat troops could tell where they lie without seeing them. What they did have was numbers, and two of the Browcoats suffered serious wounds as they advanced on the enemy, lucky hits by purple-bellies from the shear number of rounds being fired. Michael saw both the teams converge on the Alliance troops. Carter stood out to him, as she was the only blonde haired female of the security team. She skillfully dispatched the enemy as she ran past them, her team right behind her. He saw some off them attach bayonets on the run as she shouted the command in her com unit. “Balls and bayonets!” The last ten to twenty yards of fighting was too close for standard gunfire as the two security teams converged together. With the advance of the defensive teams and a pincer movement behind the purple-bellies the enemy was completely surrounded. At this point several of the security team, including Carter, drew pistols or shotguns of the semiautomatic variety. Close range weapons that would not present a friendly fire danger. '00' buckshot obliterated several Alliance heads. Skillfully placed pistol shots lobotomized others. Those that were left of the Alliance troops were in shock. Enemy gunfire had all but stopped and the shots that the enemy managed to get off were ineffective. The security team moved fluidly and with deceptive speed, seemingly dodging the remaining enemy fire. The Alliance soldiers were slaughtered down to the last man. The whole engagement took only minutes.

“Well done Lieutenant. Meet me at the next ridge. Bring your team and have the other secure the area.” That usually meant secure firearms and ammunition from the enemy dead. “Just check for intel and any useful weaponry, leave the rest.” “Yes sir.”

The Alliance pilots were attempting to raise the infantry commander. “Commander, are you there? What’s going…” He uttered his last word as an arrow impaled his neck. Seconds later the wide-eyed man next to him dropped in the same manner. It appeared that overconfidence was the Alliance's undoing. Their troops had just waltzed into a classic ambush, armed for a prisoner pickup and there were no guards posted at the transports. Michael recovered his arrows as Carter and her team stayed close behind. She was a site to behold, covered in blood with ice blue eyes gleaming beneath her cap. Her team members were all in similar condition. “Colonel?” “Yes Lieutenant?” “Perhaps we should try to get a prisoner or two for interrogation?” “Not a bad idea. There are two more ships, as you can see. Go to it.” Michael was confident her team could accomplish the task. Carter split her team and had both ships and their pilots captured in minutes. “Colonel, you’re going to want to see this.” Carter said. Michael came upon five men bound with their hands behind their backs. “Well, well, well, if it isn’t an Alliance mole. You’re not too surprised, are you Carter?” “No sir. This son of a bitch has advocated contact with the Alliance for the last few decades.”

Ferris Simmons had been climbing his way up the Alliance social ladder in the days of the resistance. He never quite made it, as he was considered an outsider and generally disliked by both sides. He game was one of money grubbing and schmoozing up to anyone in power. He had managed to continue his conniving and work his way up the civilian ladder in Destiny’s political hierarchy. He wanted to get off of Earth and go to the core worlds where men like him thrived. The military to civilian changeover taking place in Destiny was, in his mind, the perfect opportunity to attempt communication with the Alliance. The attempt was obviously successful.

“I can’t understand why people like him are tolerated.” Carter glared at Simmons. He started to say something when Carter backhanded him to shut him up. “Well, I think you finally have done yourself in, Simmons. Treason is punishable by death.” Michael unsheathed a blade and held it to his throat, pressing it hard enough to draw a little blood. “No wait.” Simmons shouted as the Alliance pilots looked on in horror. “Shut up Simmons! You led these scum to my home. You betrayed your own government. And now you want mercy? I don’t think that’s going to happen. Carter, what’s the sentence for treason?” “Death by firing squad sir.” Michael wanted to cut his throat but thought he’d give Carter the satisfaction of a firing squad. “Do it. He doesn’t know squat. All he did is raise the curiosity of the Alliance. He of no use to us.” Carter stood Simmons up and walked him several yards away from the pilots and pushed back down on his knees. Four of the security team took positions as Lt. Carter walked over to them. They were already aiming when Simmons started graveling for his life. It always amazed Michael how much men like him were concerned about life when it was their own, but others were expendable. “Fire!” Shouted Carter. Four simultaneous shots rang out, all hitting in the Simmons in the neck. Simmons’ head landed ten feet away from his body and a shower of blood covered the ground beneath him as his body slumped over. Carter grinned a sinister smile. “Well done.” She uttered to the squad. “You four want to tell us what were up against?” Michael addressed the four Alliance pilots. One of them had just finished puking after witnessing the execution. They looked at each other but said nothing. Michael could feel their fear, not only of his team but of the Alliance as well. “You will be treated as POW’s and humanely. If you cooperate, it will afford you some leniency beyond what the law allows.” “How do we know that we won’t end up like that man?” “Are you guilty of treason?” Carter asked them wryly. “How do think your superiors will treat you when they know you’ve fallen into enemy hands?” Michael asked somewhat rhetorically. The pilots knew it would be assumed that their mission had been compromised, that they had given up vital information. The ranking pilot spoke first, “There is one Alliance cruiser behind the Earth’s moon. The rest of our forward task force was ordered to attack the city to the south of here.” “Size?” “About 200 infantry on seven armed transports.” The pilot hung his head. The others glanced at him but knew they would have done the same. “Thank you Captain. On your feet, all of you.” They stood up and Michael cut their bindings. “ Carter, have those two men pilot the other two transports. Take out the homing devices and take them back to the bunker. Conceal them in the woods as best you can. I’ll take the Captain and the queasy one with this transport and meet you there in five hours.” Michael headed up the ramp to the ship with his captives and a couple of the team. Carter divided the rest of the team up and proceeded to carry out her orders.

“What do you know of the village that was destroyed a couple of weeks hard march from here?” “A separate team was dispatched to that area, so not much. I think that was where contact was made with that poor bastard out there.” “Well, that’s where we’re headed. Get in the driver seat and lets go.” Michael tore out the homing beacon and threw it out the ramp as it shut. All three transports lifted off together and sped off in their respective directions. “I suppose you don’t know what went on there either?” “Is it Colonel?” “Yes. I suppose you got that from Simmons?” “Yes. He also said you were a ruthless killer. From what I’ve seen, that’s not far from the truth.” “There’s a difference between killing and murder, Captain. You’ll see who the murderers are soon enough.” Michael had expected that Simmons would have tried to color the opinions of the Alliance crews. “I am a ruthless killer, that’s the truth. But I don’t murder women and children.” “Neither do I Colonel.” “If I thought you had, you wouldn’t be sitting there.” Michael gave a look to the Alliance Captain that sent chills down his spine.

Eva had taken the wounded Browncoats into her home for treatment. She applied her best field dressings and controlled the bleeding but they would need medical facilities soon. The rest of the remaining security team was under Sato’s command and was just finishing up the mop up detail. Little Ann Romanov was asleep and Serina was doing her best to help Eva. Without much else to do, Sato decided to clean up a little more thoroughly. The battle at Destiny was going well, but not as fast as what had went on in the surrounding hills. The cream of the Browncoat crop of infantry was here, so the fighting in Destiny was a bit more defensive. The defense had managed to cut the Alliance off form retreat to their transports in short order, and now they were slowly putting the squeeze on them. The odds were actually in the Browncoats favor this time, so they could afford some cautionary tactics. The alternate defense contingency had gone off without a hitch. The second plan assumed that the first was compromised and it trapped the Alliance inside the city.

Just then Sato observed two transports landing in the woods. Once down, the ramps opened up and the Alliance pilots were escorted out. Sato met Lt. Carter in the midst of the clean up. Alliance bodies were laid in a row next to a trench being dug to bury the bodies. Sato didn’t want a stench so close to their living quarters. All useful equipment had been collected and stowed. Upon seeing the display, the pilots were visibly horrified. They didn’t much associate with the infantry but the shear carnage was enough to overwhelm the untried individual. “Killed down to a man! What kind of hell did the brass throw them into?” The young pilot didn’t know Sato could here him speaking to his comrade. “The kind of hell that isn’t to kind to Alliance soldiers.” “Lt. Carter, I see you’ve faired well.” “Yes Commander. Would you like to take charge of the prisoners? Col. Romanov saw fit to keep them alive.” The pilots looked at each other with some trepidation. “Of course. Take them to the bay. Use the front entrance and place a rotating watch on them while you get cleaned up.” Lt. Carter was soaked in blood, now becoming dried and crusted. She did not seem to mind too much.

The cleanup and burial was soon finished and the dorms were buzzing with activity. Gabriel’s crew was hard at work getting the modifications to the first alliance transport finished. The pilots were placed in a cordoned off area with cots and chairs. They only needed to ask for use of the facilities. They were provided all the water they wanted but only necessary amounts of food. Two guards stood watch on each side about twenty feet away from the space afforded to the pilots. It did not appear as if they really wanted to escape.

The security teams, minus Colonel Romanov and the two wounded, were settling into the dorms. Lt. Carter was the first to hit the showers. She peeled off her bloody uniform and threw it on the floor. A few of the others were doing the same near the other shower stalls. Blood had soaked through their clothes and colored their skin. As Carter stepped into the spray of the shower she immersed her head and the floor of the shower became red. Her body was athletic and chiseled, especially for a woman. None of the men would hazard a long look in her direction but it was hard not to notice her. There were other women on the team, some just as attractive as she was, but none possessed quite the body she did. She noticed the men as well, but they all knew the rules. Infantry was expressly forbidden to be involved romantically or sexually in any way. The reason was obvious. Focus on the battlefield was paramount and worrying about a lover was not an option.

Serina was doing whatever she could for the wounded in the main room of the Romanov house. One soldier was a woman that she guessed was her age. She stirred and looked at Serina. “Do have anything for pain?” She asked while wincing. The bullet that struck her shattered her humorous and tore up the muscle group in her upper right arm. The dull aching had increased until it now was becoming unbearable. “I’m sorry, I don’t have anything.” Serina was almost in tears. She did the only thing she could to comfort her and pick up her left hand and held it. “That’s better.” Said the corporal, deliriously. Serina didn’t understand that she was alleviating her pain with her touch and thought just holding her hand was a comfort. She continued to do so as the corporal seemed to fall into a deep sleep. “I’m glad you’re here, Serina,” said Eva walked as she walked in to check on the other patient. “Ann is still sleeping. I don’t know what to do for these people,” said Serina, distressfully. “You’re doing fine. Just keep it up.” Eva then noticed a subtle vibration in the room. “What is that?” she asked. “I don’t know, it just started.” She looked down at the corporal and the sound became louder. A hum was filling the room. A low vibrating harmonic, not loud but strong enough to be felt physically had become pervasive in the room. Serina then noticed the corporal sweating profusely. “Eva, look!” Eva rushed to check the corporal’s temperature. “She’s on fire!” Suddenly the corporal sat up and gasped for air. Serina let go of her hand in shock and jumped up. The vibration stopped immediately. “What happened?” the corporal asked. “The pain is gone! I’m burning inside!” She stood up, clad in only her sweat soaked underwear, and proceeded to tear off her bandages and what was left of her clothes. She stood and stared, stupefied at what she saw. “You did this!” she smiled to Serina. “It’s is a miracle or something!” Eva and Serina looked on, dumbfounded at what they saw. Her arm was completely healed! Eva went to her and led her to the washroom. She started the water running for her and laid out her cleaned uniform and some fresh undergarments. The corporal had been left in a state of euphoria, not having a care in the world. Eva left the washroom as the corporal cooled herself with the hand held shower. “Serina, can you do that again, for the other soldier?” ‘Maybe this is what Sato had been asking her about’, she thought to herself, already knowing the answer. “I don’t know, I can try.” Serina went to the private lying on a cot. His injuries were worse than the corporal’s. He was unconscious and had lost quite a bit of blood. Eva had feared that his femoral artery was perforated and he wouldn’t make it. Serina took hold of his hand in similar fashion and concentrated while Eva looked on. Not much seemed to be happening after ten minutes or so. “It doesn’t seem to be working, Eva.” “Relax. Don’t think about it.” Serina shut her eyes and within minutes seemed to be in a meditative state. The vibration started again, this time building steadily but more slowly. Eva turned on a medical monitoring device to try and get some kind of reading on what was happening to the private. Just then the corporal came out of the washroom, dressed except for her uniform top. She seemed to have come down from her euphoria. “I’m not sure what happened to me but I feel fine now,” she said to Eva. “All I remember is getting hit and then I was in the bathtub.” “I’m not sure myself,” replied Eva. “You better report to Lt. Carter.” Eva pointed the way for her. “Yes sir.” She replied with a quizzical look on her face and put on her brown shirt as she left the living quarters. “Serina?” Eva tried to get her attention but she was in a trance-like state. Twenty minutes had passed and the vibration was stronger than before. The monitor showed that the private’s body temperature was at dangerously high levels and, like the corporal had been, he was sweating profusely. Just as suddenly as the corporal did, he jumped up and gasped, a stunned look on his face. He tore off the rest of his clothes and his bandages. Serina collapsed on the floor. “Serina!” Eva ran to her. And checked her vitals. Lt. Carter walked in at that moment. “Carter, please get him in a cold bath, quickly!” Eva pointed toward the washroom. Carter coaxed him into the washroom. He was deliriously euphoric and hot to the touch. She turned on the water and got him into the tub. The private seemed content to cool himself, so Carter returned to the main room. Serina was lying down, unconscious but okay, at least outwardly. “What the hell happened Major?” “Not quite sure, but maybe Commander Sato can shed some light on it.” “I saw both Cpl. Hicks and Pvt. McDermott go down in the field, and now they’re fully healed. There is not even a scar on McDermott’s leg! Come to think of it, there is not a scar on him,” she marveled. “The private’s uniform and fresh clothes are over there.” She pointed, “please give them to him and get Commander Sato.” “Yes sir,” she responded dutifully. Carter walked in the washroom, “What am I doing in here, Lieutenant?” The private was visibly confused. “Don’t know myself, Pvt. McDermott. Just get dressed and report to the dormitory.” “Yes sir.” Carter returned to the main room and proceeded to retrieve Sato. Eva laid Serina on the circular sofa and waited. Feeling guilty, she wondered if she should have asked her to do what she did.

Sato rushed in just moments later. He knew what had happened and had seen it before, not what Serina did, but the result of her attempt to use her ability. “How is she?” asked Sato. “Her vitals are fine, she just seems to have lost consciousness.” Eva stood and looked at Sato, “I asked her to help after seeing that she helped corporal Hicks. I’m sorry, I guess I shouldn’t have, but McDermott was dying.” “Don’t worry. She’ll be fine. Some rest will do her wonders. Once she learns how to control what she did today in a more stable way, it won’t happen again.” “I hope so Commander.” Eva was put at ease by Sato’s confidence. They decided to concentrate on Destiny’s ongoing firefight and monitor communications channels.

The Alliance pilots talked amongst themselves. “What do suppose they’ll do with us?” “Who knows? We’ve set out on this cruise thinking the war was over and look what we run into. One thing is certain; even if we could, there is no way we should go back to the Dauntless. That maniac Banes would surely kill us for not having ‘gone down fighting’.” “I’m sure Captain Herrington knows that or he wouldn’t have provided any information. I trust him.” “Me too. That Independent lieutenant gives me the creeps though. I get the feeling that the Colonel wasn’t around, we’d be dead.” They had no clue that it was Carter’s idea to keep them alive in the first place. “If I were you, I’d worry about what the Colonel might do to you.” Lt. Carter walked up with a smirk on her face accompanying their Captain Herrington. The other two pilots stood, wondering how she heard what they were saying. “Gentleman,” said the Captain. “I’ve never been a huge advocate of the Alliance. The only reason I joined is to learn how to pilot a ship. After what I’ve seen today, I want nothing to do with the Alliance any longer.” The Captain relayed the horrors of what Colonel Romanov had showed him at the pilgrim settlement. Lt. Carter stayed next to him observing their reactions. The younger pilot that was with Captain Herrington was escorted to the holding area from the shower room. He was pale and visibly upset and wearing one of the uniforms that Serina had mended. “Tomkins, you okay?” asked Lt. Harris. “Did you tell them Captain?” Ensign Tomkins looked at Lieutenants Harris and Arley. “Yes Tomkins. Go lie down for a bit; you don’t look to well.” More cots were being brought in as they spoke. “I can’t believe it! Children!” Harris trusted Herrington and believed what he had heard, but was having a hard time fully digesting it. His superiors had told him that the Independents were war criminals, although there was no solid evidence to that effect, just hearsay and rumors. “Lt. Carter?” She looked at Arley. “What is going to happen to us?” “That is really up to you and Colonel Romanov. He will be along soon to speak with you.” At that, Carter turned and headed over to Gabriel’s and his crew. The four pilots remained under watch.

Colonel Romanov walked into the living quarters to join Eva and Sato at the communications center. “How is the battle going?” “As planned, slow and calculating. Casualties are light, 8 dead and 15 wounded.” Sato replied with visibly remorseful. “I suggest they finish it before reinforcements are sent in. An Alliance cruiser is certain to carry more than 200 troops.” “I agree Colonel. I take it you have something in mind?” “Yes sir, I do.” Michael smiled at Sato and turned to leave the room. Sato raised his com unit to his mouth, “Captain, balls and bayonets!” Switching channels, “Commander Stewart, go to active scanning and prepare for interception of reinforcements.” Destiny would be broadcasting to the Alliance that they were more capable than the Alliance believed, but at this point it would not matter. “I think that our antagonists are about to get more than they bargained for,” Sato said with a slight smile on his face. “You have a way for understatement, Commander,” Eva stated with an equal look of satisfaction.