"The Eden Campaign"
Episode 210 – Dunkirk
Day 8 (8 SBW)
"Evacuation is never an easy prospect, especially when you want to evacuate three thousand people. It's a shame we couldn't."
- Dr. Robert "Paperboy" Higgins, from: The Roughneck Chronicles
EDEN
Gossard pulled a kid up off the ground and tossed him to Doc who in turn ran down the darkened streets. The air smelled of death and destruction. The streets were littered with the bodies of the dead. The bugs had broken through the lines a few hours before and wreaked havoc, killing over five thousand civilians in a refugee camp. The bastards had dug right under them. Gossard, Doc and Murphy were trying to find survivors as Rico and the others tried to get as many of the remaining troops together and the civilians to safety.
The sky was dark with a burning red on the horizon. The bodies were strewn about as the few brave who survived the massacre tried to search through the remains for friends and family and began to organize them for burning. The funeral pyre would surly reach into the sky. Gossard felt that such pyres were archaic, but their message could still be forceful in the modern society.
He didn't know much about how the bugs worked with communicating with the brains, only that they could see through them at times. A giant pyre would send the desired message: we're still alive, we're still here.
He continued to look for more survivors, knowing that the chance was slim. Hope was what he decided was defining character of his people. And hope was something that was slowly disappearing from the planet of paradise.
JEAN RAZAK
Carmen sat on the bridge patiently waiting. She had given the order to both groups to begin preparations for a joint operation to retrieve as many people as possible. The Wolves had been dropped in as fresh reinforcements and messengers. They planned to begin at 0700, still two hours away.
The screen view port in front of her suddenly lit up as the Razak crossed the terminator into day. That meant that on the planet, the sun had risen in New Buenos Ares. She could only imagine the carnage. The Wolves had been dropped with more communications equipment. Three hours before, they'd been lucky enough to watch the carnage and massacre via Higgins.
Several planes flew by the bridge and banked sharply before entering the atmosphere. The red streaks arched across the planet then faded as they crossed the upper layers. One of the last flybys needed to get the final layout of the bug forces, that way they could drop the loads and fly in the transports.
She'd been able to speak with Rico for a few minutes and laid down the plans for him. At 0900, Tophetti bombers would commence in a series of bombing runs meant to hold the bugs in place followed by ten minutes of tactical nuking in the designated areas to allow for the armada of transports to land and evacuations proceed. If all went according to plan, the people should be off the planet in an hour after execution.
She looked out at the green planet, it was truly beautiful, a paradise indeed. Paradise had fallen and she'd be damned if everyone there fell with it.
EDEN
Rico led L'Ioo and Zim down the debris strewn street at a full run. They were running out of time. Little more than an hour until the operation began, and they still needed to secure the perimeter too keep the bugs from getting to the transports when they landed. Rico had been involved in to many operations to start underestimating the resourcefulness and cunning of the brains when it came to an imminent victory. The three of them stopped at a corner and Rico signaled for L'Ioo to move on to the opposite side.
"I'm getting to old for this." Zim said as L'Ioo reached the other side.
"Never too old, just tired." Rico said as Zim took off. He quickly followed then the three moved on, repeating the exercise until they reached their objective: a break in their fence perimeter. Debris from the fire fight a few hours before and left a gaping hole in their defensive line. L'Ioo kneeled and quickly got to work on making a makeshift patch that would hopefully last until they were off the planet. Zim and Rico both took up guard position on either side of the Tophetti.
Rico noticed how her hands twisted and weaved through the fibers and cables connecting and cutting and then reconnecting. It reminded him of Gossard.
"How long private?" Zim asked.
"Five minutes, sir," She said twisting two wires together. Sparks flew from the hole in the metal fence indicating that power was running through it again. "Now all I have to do is string some fibers across to patch the hole."
"Be quick private." Rico ordered. The sun was rising into the sky, the smoke from all over the city casting a dull silhouette upon the ground. Rico wanted to leave. Not just the area, but the planet. He'd watch it go from a wonderful, lush planet, straight into a living hell. He tried to shake off the thoughts and focus on the moment at hand. He turned and saw Zim at his back, scanning the outer perimeter.
"Hey Zim," He said after a moment. "Mind if I ask you a question?"
"You're the major." He said quickly in his usual 'all business' tone as some of the squad called it.
"As one soldier to another." Rico answered back. Zim looked at him a moment then returned to his guard duty.
"Shoot." He said.
"Whose side were you on during the Two Months War?" Zim stiffened for a moment then relaxed and turned.
"The right side."
Rico swallowed at the chill in Zim's voice. The war, which was officially called a 'policing action', had encompassed the entire of Earth. Rico had been the good soldier during the time, fighting in London and New York with several other squads. He knew that a few of SICON's elite had defected to protest the Governments actions; he knew that some of them were allowed back in after 'reprimand'.
"Why do ask?" Zim questioned checking on L'Ioo. "How much longer?"
"Only another minute or so." She replied connecting more strands together.
"Trying to ease the tension." Rico said. "I knew a few who defected, I had to fight them, bring them in. Most came in in bags. Never got much of a chance to talk to anyone about it, I was shipped out for the culling of the arachnids a week after its end."
"I was behind a desk most of the time." Zim said. Suddenly L'Ioo stood.
"I am done."
"Good," Rico said looking around. "Let's move out." The patch over the hole looked somewhat like a glistening titanium spider web. They ran back to the base and quickly rejoined the squad. Gossard had returned from the camp and was sitting on a bench with a camera in his face and Higgins on the other side. Zim and L'Ioo dispersed their own ways and Rico slowly approached a pale Gossard. His armor was covered in blood and stained with mud. He looked like he'd been through Hell.
"How many were you able to save Warrant Officer Gossard?" Higgins asked settling in front of Gossard at a comfortable distance. Higgins had managed somehow to keep his youthful appearance and was little changed by time, as Rico knew he was.
"I think the question isn't: how many did I save, but how many didn't I save." Goss looked up with tears rolling down his cheeks.
"Could you please elaborate?" Higgins asked with a soothing, soft tone.
Gossard wiped his nose. "Any civilian, any non combatant lost to the enemy, is too many." He took a breath. "I was able to pull three from the debris. There may have been more, but because the battle lasted for so long, many died from wounds."
"How long was it before you gave up trying to look?"
"I didn't give up." Gossard whispered. "We pulled the last of the bodies out, making everyone accounted for. A lot of identification has to take place through DNA alone. And it doesn't look like we'll even have time for that. So many people will never have the solace of knowing what happened to their loved ones."
Higgins cut the camera off and sat next to his old friend and put his arm around him. Rico came up and Higgins quickly stood back up and saluted.
"As you were paper boy." Rico said. He put his hand on Gossard's shoulder. "It'll be okay."
"So many Jonnie," He said. "So many, so many children." He turned to Higgins. "So how you doing paper boy?"
"Pretty good all things considered," Higgins said. "I dropped with the Wolves earlier tonight. They're a good squad. The action here is more intense than I ever remember."
"Fighting for your life and home every day wasn't intense enough for you Hig?" Rico asked. "Sitting behind that anchor's desk has made you soft."
"It's not that," Higgins said. "If anything, I'm more used to the fighting, I was actually hardened by it. That's why I lost the first four of my wives –"
"Four?" Gossard interrupted.
Rico looked at him and dipped his head to Higgins' eye level. "You've had four wives?"
"Five, actually," He said holding up his hand and taking off his glove, revealing a golden ring on his finger.
"Never thought you had it in you." Gossard said glad to have a change of subject.
"Neither did I," he looked at his feet. "Maybe I don't. After the war, I was a celebrity. I didn't have the luxury of being able to leave the light for a time; I wasn't able to just melt away, especially once the riots started. Then the Two Months War started."
Rico took pity on the kid. He knew the old idiom, about how one never searches for greatness but rather has greatness search for him. He knew exactly the way he felt.
There was an uneasy silence that settled for a few moments. The talk of love in war was something that no one really wanted to discuss. It reminded them of what was behind and what they couldn't possibly have with them on the battlefields. Higgins broke the silence turning to Rico and asking:
"How long until the evacuation?"
"Not soon enough. Last I heard, bombing would commence at 0900."
Higgins chewed it for a second before looking back up at Rico. "One hour, we ready?"
"As ready as we will be." Rico looked him over for a second then realized that there weren't any weapons on him save a pistol on his hip. "Armed light aren't we?"
"I wasn't issued a Morita. The LT thought I should have one, but since I'm technically a civilian, someone at SICON said I was not authorized to handle military weapons." Higgins pulled the pistol out. "I'm guessing they gave this to me for myself?"
Rico snatched the pistol away and handed him his weapon. "You'll need it when it gets hot."
"...Haven't shot one of these in years..." Higgins mumbled.
"No time like the present to get refreshed. They say we learn best under pressure." Rico patted Higgins on the shoulder and left the room.
* * * * *
Doc sat on the grass in front of the makeshift bunker that had once been the town hall. His eyes were directed to the clear blue sky, looking for something, but he didn't know what it was exactly. Everything around him was so calm, he could almost forget for a moment that he was in a war. In his mind he could almost hear the laughter of children and the flapping of the SICON flag in a cool breeze. Everything was serene, at peace. But the razor wire encircling the compound brought the starkness of reality back into plain view.
Standing up he shook the thoughts out from his head and picked his Morita up from the grass. The edge of the perimeter was silent for the moment, not a bug in sight, but he knew that they were there, waiting for the right moment. Being a doctor in the military and being active was almost a contradiction of terms. He was supposed to save lives, but he was constantly forced to take them. There was the argument that the bugs didn't really even think, but it didn't matter, it was still a life that he was taking into his hands and destroying. At least they weren't fighting other humans.
A slight breeze blew across the lawn and brought the smell of sweet air to his nose; he closed his eyes and enjoyed it for a brief moment before the flood of death followed the beauty. He opened his eyes and surveyed the burning city; ruin, death, all from life.
The crushing footsteps from behind awoke Doc from his silent thought. There was the flattening of the grass beneath their weight, the crunching of the blades breaking. Doc turned to see Gossard walking towards him. In the distance there came the high pitched whining of jet engines followed by a sonic boom. Both of them looked up and saw two dozen Tophetti fighters streaking across the sky. Gossard was the first to look down.
"I was coming to tell you it'd be happening soon." He looked around a little bit.
"I am so sick of this." Doc said. Both turned and started back inside when explosions began to rip through the city. The wheeled around and saw a mass of bugs racing for them.
"And I'm sick of them; you'd think they'd be satisfied with just pushing us off!" Doc slapped his helmet to make sure it was on tight and raised his gun. The rest of the Roughnecks raced out of the compound and took up positions.
"We really ought to do something about this new alarm system we use. Kaboom doesn't do anything for me." Kepler said running out.
Zim leaned against the wall lazily looking out into the bugs. "Welcome to the real Mobile Infantry son... ain't nothing like it." He pulled his gun up and readied himself.
"Anybody have any hopes of making it off this planet alive?" Max asked kneeling down and taking aim.
"I did!" Muniz muttered crouching beside a wall.
"Only to laugh at you sergeant when Zim kicks your butt." Murphy yelled from across the lawn. He was lying on his stomach next to a kneeling L'Ioo.
"I never hope for anything," Rico said walking to point. "I know." Everyone looked at him a moment. He raised a Morita and pulled the lock back, loading the first round into the chamber. "I know."
Everyone turned back to the bugs and waited for them to arrive at their doorstep. It only took two minutes, but it felt like an eternity. Seconds were hours as they waited. Soon bodies were being seized in the razor wire and being torn to shreds and the Roughnecks opened up. Weapons fire could be heard from the opposite side as the Wolves tore into their fair share of arachnids.
"I really hate uninvited guests!" Gossard grunted releasing a steady stream of hot lead. "They never seem to know when to leave!"
The whine of the engines returned and the planes dropped their loads, exploding on impact and engulfing the bugs with the Tophetti substance. The Roughnecks paused and watched as many of the bugs were crushed under the weight of their own resistance. Quickly more jet engines sounded in the air and Terran planes flew over head dropping small tactical nukes, destroying the horde.
Rico turned to Muniz, "Muniz, you and Kepler go inside and start bringing them out, the transports will be here shortly." Muniz nodded and grabbed Kepler. Both of them rushed in doors as Rico turned back to the glorious carnage. All around bugs were burning, being crushed, and all together dying. He smiled the smile of dark triumph. But he knew it wouldn't last.
The first of the transports broke through the clouds as Muniz led out the first of the civilians. Over the next thirty minutes, the transports came in and loaded with as many civilians as they could hold. For the most part it was quiet, with sparse weapons fire echoing across the fields. It looked as though the bugs had been stopped cold in their tracks, but everyone knew it would only be a matter of time before a fresh wave pushed forward.
They were about halfway finished when the ground began to shake and warriors erupted from the ground, pouring out like a devilish blood from a pure body. The disease had spread finally to their very heart and there was no hope. Quickly gunfire was resonating throughout the area, but the bugs kept coming. No matter how many grenades were launched, they continued to pour out. Rico began screaming for the civilians to get out of the bunker immediately.
JEAN RARAK
Carmen watched on her view screen as bugs poured in from all over the compound. Rico and Breckinridge were outnumbered beyond hope. She watched as civilians rushed out, many with weapons and tried to help. Some were quickly cut to pieces, others dragged away, it was a complete disaster. She felt the tears begin to streak down her face, it was hopeless, they weren't going to make it out. She opened up a comm. channel to Rico; she had to get them out of there. If she lost both squads right now, it would do incalculable damage to the rest of the war.
EDEN
A burst of static came through on Rico's headset followed by Carmen's voice. "Major, this is Admiral Ibanez, do you copy?"
"Roger Razak, I copy!" He said pumping a few rounds into a bug's head.
"Major, you are ordered to get your troopers on the next transport!" She said. Rico paused for a moment and looked around the compound as the intense fighting continued all around. He knew what she was thinking; there was no way to get everyone off the planet, and she couldn't lose two squads.
"We still have over six hundred civilians down here Admiral." Rico said futilely, he knew the answer. He turned to Zim as Carmen came back.
"I know that Major, you have your orders, we'll relay the same to Lieutenant Breckinridge. Next transport!" And the line was cut.
"All right Roughnecks," He shouted biting over to his squad line. "Pull out; we're on the next boat!"
Most looked at him in shock and amazement but it was Zim who came over the line. "You heard the Major Roughnecks, we're on the next boat."
"What about the rest of these people?" Gossard shouted over.
"We can't leave them here!" Doc followed him up. Muniz and Kepler rushed back out of the bunker firing with several civilians following them. Muniz turned around and shook his head. Rico swore under his breath as three transports came into view and two fighters swooped in and dropped bombs on the outer edge of the bug force. Rico watched as debris showered down and the transports landed. The hatches opened and he waved what remained of the civilians on the surface and his troopers into it.
Within a minute everyone was loaded and the transports back in the air. Murphy was kicking anything loose and screaming at the top of his lungs. Zim quickly had him against the wall by his neck and was talking in a low tone to him.
"You were given an order private. In this squad, when the Major gives you an order, you will follow it or you will have me to deal with. Is that understood?"
"Sir, yes sir!" Murphy said through a slight choke. Rico came up to Zim and eased him back.
"There was nothing we could do son that was it. We got as many out as we could," There was some slight turbulence that knocked the ship around but the rest of the trip was quiet. They broke the atmosphere and set down on the Jean Razak with no complications. The squad and the few civilians who were able to make it in stepped off onto the thick floor.
The hangar was huge and filled with the crying of those who had already gotten off. Many had gathered in the far end and were trying to console who they could with what little words they could find. Rico led his squad out of the hanger and into their designated area for debriefing. One by one they passed him in the locker room and sadness was written all over their faces. He shook his head and walked off to his office to fill out his report. The fleet would take care of the rest of them.
* * * * * *
Carmen watched the displays as the bugs overran the compound where only a half hour before her troopers had been. Her aide came up to her and let her know that all the civilians were taken care off and the last of the ships were secure for departure.
"Very well," She turned to her helmsman. "Mister Hol, please set coordinates for Tesca Nemerosa, Mister Vartan, relay orders to the rest of the task force and the Tophetti ships, let them know where we're going."
The bridge crew quickly began to move and set in for the jump. Systems displays became active showing the status of the entire ship and all its systems. The computers voice came over the intercom and blared its warning. Carmen gripped the arms on her chair tightly as the helmsman eased the throttle forward and the ship accelerated into light speeds.
NEAR LOVELL
Carl twisted the last of the wires together and closed the panel. He'd been standing outside on the barren wastes of the rock floating in the middle of nowhere for close to a day, using his hijacked schematics and knowledge to try and get the ship running. But he was running out of air. He'd used his powers to try and slow it down some, but it was beginning to pass the point where it was futile. One breath every twenty minutes really was stretching even what he could do. He crawled his way back into the airlock and slapped the release and the doors closed. There was a moment then came the hiss of recycled oxygen and Carl twisted the locks on his helmet. It slid off and he took a deep breath and began to revive his body, he knew he'd need about an hour of strict concentration before he could move.
He let his mind wander some, keeping a low silhouette so the queen couldn't detect him. He was on Earth, on Tesca, on Klendathu, on P, everywhere there was a psychic of any power. The war was not going well; SICON may have already been struck the fatal blow, with little hope of any come back. Times of wonder and anxiety caused Carl to both curse and bless his precognitive inabilities, holding true to the age old axiom: ignorance is bliss. Or was it? He spent the remainder of his time coming out his self induced suspension, and when he could move again, he settled into the flight couch and set his course for SICON space.
The small ship shuttered for a moment then with some slight groaning, found itself back into open space. He pushed the throttle forward and quickly left the field before activating the jump sequence.
In her central cave the queen sat squeezing more eggs from her body and shook her head as she heard the call of the human. Her immediate aide noticed her distress and asked her what troubled her.
[He escaped.] She said. [And he is coming back.]
EARTH
Miriam sat in front of the cameras. The light on top was still red. Aides were rushing around filling out reports, signing for reports, typing up the most accurate report of the situation at hand. Report. Report. Report.
She shook her head and looked down at her notes; some basic scribble of what she could say, but not what she should say, not in the least. How could she tell billions that in all probability, Earth was about to be overrun by an invading alien force once again, and this time, there was no hope. She would have consulted the precog's but the only one's left on the planet had been found with their brains blown out and a pistol on the ground. She knew what it meant. Another report was laid in front of her, only raising the list of planets under attack. She looked at her notes again. Her hands were shaking. The camera crew began to move in and a young woman in front of her started counting down, then the light turned green.
Miriam was still for a moment, her lips sealed with doubt and fear. Her hands were shaking so horribly that she didn't know if her tearing the notes was intentional or not. She blinked after what seemed like hours and tears began to pour. The timer next to the camera told her she'd been live for almost twenty seconds now without saying a word. She cleared her throat but neglected to wipe away her tears.
"People of the Strategically Integrated Coalition of Nations and our allies afar," she spoke, her voice bursting forth loud yet broken. Her breathing was un-rhythmic at best. "I come before you today under the gravest of circumstances and in light of the most dire turn of events. I could sit before you and play games with words like, 'possible' or 'indefinite', but they are only games. I am here before you to confirm that the rumors that have been circulating are true: The Arachnid Hoard has returned and is currently engaging our forces across our territory including former bug strong holds." She took a breath and looked down.
"We saw some of the signs, but in our own decadence we failed to realize them in enough time and resolve. For ten years have we let ourselves rot away, here, starting at the core, and allowed it to branch outward. And now, we are faced with our most horrible tribulation yet. I will not lie to you, they are coming here, and they will get here. They will destroy and kill and if we succumb to defeat before that happens, they will win and we will be extinct. Now I could sit here and place blame as to why this happened but it would do nothing but bolster egos and create more internal strife. I sit before you telling you that now is the time to be strong, the time to prepare and the time to fight. The enemy has no mercy and we will show it none. We have fought this enemy before and we have defeated it. We are fighting this enemy again and we will defeat it, should it last one year or one hundred, we will not give in and bow down to extinction." She had felt her anger rise and take over and now she sat silent and staring into the camera.
"This is where we are, and this is where we will stay. Thank you and may God have pity on us." And the light went blank.
JEAN RAZAK
Zim turned away from his tearful wife's face and gritted his teeth. She stopped talking and the VID was replaced by the standard insignia. The Roughnecks, the Wolves and the Falcons had gathered in the mess and watched the address. Everyone was silent. Zim turned back and saw that no one had moved at all and they were all waiting for the next word. Jonnie stood up and walked to the front of the group. He turned the display off and sat down on a table looking out at the three dozen troopers.
"To many of you have seen to many winters, the others: to few." He continued to look at each and everyone of them, Zim caught his eye once and saw something had changed. "I never wanted my job, but I had to take it. I joined the service for the wrong kind of reasons. Hell, I never asked to be born. But, I was, and everything that has happened, has happened. I wish I had something awe inspiring and profoundly moving, but I don't.
"They're attacking us. They're attacking our family, our friends, our colonies, our home. I've faced them for fifteen years and the only thing that comes to mind is this: Give 'em hell. Make them fight for it, make them crawl and scrape for every single inch of space they occupy." He was still for a minute then looked down at his watch. "Dismissed." He said and the mess emptied save for him, Gossard, Doc, and Zim.
"Moving speech," Gossard said.
"Bravo." Doc smirked.
"Plan on going for any medals for that one?" Zim asked. Zim could see it in him, Goss and Doc could too.
Jonnie looked up at them and smiled. "Ten years guys."
"Good to have you back son." Zim patted him on the shoulder.
KLENDATHU
The LT kicked the cracked screen in and cursed. Joseph looked up at him and took a bite of his ration.
"That was the only working vid-display LT." He said chewing. The LT breathed heavily for a moment then looked up and laughed.
"It was, wasn't it?" He sat down next to Jospeh and pulled out his ration. They had reached Fort Pyres without incident and found it deserted with no signs of struggle. They quickly set defensive perimeters and activated the four obsolete CHAS units. They'd been there for six days with no outside communication of any sort and had conceded that they might be all that's left on the planet. Redwing-Zim's address had just finished when the LT decided to replace the screen with his boot and then finish his dinner, or breakfast, they'd completely lost track of time.
Joseph ate another small bite and chewed the wafer for a moment. "LT," He said and let it hang for a second. "What are we going to do now? The bugs are sure to know we're here."
"Maybe not." The LT said.
"How do you figure that?"
"I have no idea. But you can't keep an old man from hoping." The two sat quietly and finished their meal before the LT ordered Joseph to sleep. The LT sat by, watching him as he slept in a nightmarish world waiting to die. He had readied his pistol and considered giving the boy a peaceful ending, one in sleep and painlessness. But life was suffering and suffering was life. The boy deserved to see his enemy and face it and die like a trooper if it came to that. He holstered his pistol and strapped his helmet on and went to patrol the wall defenses, waiting for the next attack to come.
23 Therefore the LORD God sent him forth
from the garden of Eden, to till the ground
from whence he was taken.
24 So He drove out the man; and He placed
At the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims,
And a flaming sword which turned every way,
To keep the way of the tree of life.
Genesis 3:23-24
Episode 210 – Dunkirk
Day 8 (8 SBW)
"Evacuation is never an easy prospect, especially when you want to evacuate three thousand people. It's a shame we couldn't."
- Dr. Robert "Paperboy" Higgins, from: The Roughneck Chronicles
EDEN
Gossard pulled a kid up off the ground and tossed him to Doc who in turn ran down the darkened streets. The air smelled of death and destruction. The streets were littered with the bodies of the dead. The bugs had broken through the lines a few hours before and wreaked havoc, killing over five thousand civilians in a refugee camp. The bastards had dug right under them. Gossard, Doc and Murphy were trying to find survivors as Rico and the others tried to get as many of the remaining troops together and the civilians to safety.
The sky was dark with a burning red on the horizon. The bodies were strewn about as the few brave who survived the massacre tried to search through the remains for friends and family and began to organize them for burning. The funeral pyre would surly reach into the sky. Gossard felt that such pyres were archaic, but their message could still be forceful in the modern society.
He didn't know much about how the bugs worked with communicating with the brains, only that they could see through them at times. A giant pyre would send the desired message: we're still alive, we're still here.
He continued to look for more survivors, knowing that the chance was slim. Hope was what he decided was defining character of his people. And hope was something that was slowly disappearing from the planet of paradise.
JEAN RAZAK
Carmen sat on the bridge patiently waiting. She had given the order to both groups to begin preparations for a joint operation to retrieve as many people as possible. The Wolves had been dropped in as fresh reinforcements and messengers. They planned to begin at 0700, still two hours away.
The screen view port in front of her suddenly lit up as the Razak crossed the terminator into day. That meant that on the planet, the sun had risen in New Buenos Ares. She could only imagine the carnage. The Wolves had been dropped with more communications equipment. Three hours before, they'd been lucky enough to watch the carnage and massacre via Higgins.
Several planes flew by the bridge and banked sharply before entering the atmosphere. The red streaks arched across the planet then faded as they crossed the upper layers. One of the last flybys needed to get the final layout of the bug forces, that way they could drop the loads and fly in the transports.
She'd been able to speak with Rico for a few minutes and laid down the plans for him. At 0900, Tophetti bombers would commence in a series of bombing runs meant to hold the bugs in place followed by ten minutes of tactical nuking in the designated areas to allow for the armada of transports to land and evacuations proceed. If all went according to plan, the people should be off the planet in an hour after execution.
She looked out at the green planet, it was truly beautiful, a paradise indeed. Paradise had fallen and she'd be damned if everyone there fell with it.
EDEN
Rico led L'Ioo and Zim down the debris strewn street at a full run. They were running out of time. Little more than an hour until the operation began, and they still needed to secure the perimeter too keep the bugs from getting to the transports when they landed. Rico had been involved in to many operations to start underestimating the resourcefulness and cunning of the brains when it came to an imminent victory. The three of them stopped at a corner and Rico signaled for L'Ioo to move on to the opposite side.
"I'm getting to old for this." Zim said as L'Ioo reached the other side.
"Never too old, just tired." Rico said as Zim took off. He quickly followed then the three moved on, repeating the exercise until they reached their objective: a break in their fence perimeter. Debris from the fire fight a few hours before and left a gaping hole in their defensive line. L'Ioo kneeled and quickly got to work on making a makeshift patch that would hopefully last until they were off the planet. Zim and Rico both took up guard position on either side of the Tophetti.
Rico noticed how her hands twisted and weaved through the fibers and cables connecting and cutting and then reconnecting. It reminded him of Gossard.
"How long private?" Zim asked.
"Five minutes, sir," She said twisting two wires together. Sparks flew from the hole in the metal fence indicating that power was running through it again. "Now all I have to do is string some fibers across to patch the hole."
"Be quick private." Rico ordered. The sun was rising into the sky, the smoke from all over the city casting a dull silhouette upon the ground. Rico wanted to leave. Not just the area, but the planet. He'd watch it go from a wonderful, lush planet, straight into a living hell. He tried to shake off the thoughts and focus on the moment at hand. He turned and saw Zim at his back, scanning the outer perimeter.
"Hey Zim," He said after a moment. "Mind if I ask you a question?"
"You're the major." He said quickly in his usual 'all business' tone as some of the squad called it.
"As one soldier to another." Rico answered back. Zim looked at him a moment then returned to his guard duty.
"Shoot." He said.
"Whose side were you on during the Two Months War?" Zim stiffened for a moment then relaxed and turned.
"The right side."
Rico swallowed at the chill in Zim's voice. The war, which was officially called a 'policing action', had encompassed the entire of Earth. Rico had been the good soldier during the time, fighting in London and New York with several other squads. He knew that a few of SICON's elite had defected to protest the Governments actions; he knew that some of them were allowed back in after 'reprimand'.
"Why do ask?" Zim questioned checking on L'Ioo. "How much longer?"
"Only another minute or so." She replied connecting more strands together.
"Trying to ease the tension." Rico said. "I knew a few who defected, I had to fight them, bring them in. Most came in in bags. Never got much of a chance to talk to anyone about it, I was shipped out for the culling of the arachnids a week after its end."
"I was behind a desk most of the time." Zim said. Suddenly L'Ioo stood.
"I am done."
"Good," Rico said looking around. "Let's move out." The patch over the hole looked somewhat like a glistening titanium spider web. They ran back to the base and quickly rejoined the squad. Gossard had returned from the camp and was sitting on a bench with a camera in his face and Higgins on the other side. Zim and L'Ioo dispersed their own ways and Rico slowly approached a pale Gossard. His armor was covered in blood and stained with mud. He looked like he'd been through Hell.
"How many were you able to save Warrant Officer Gossard?" Higgins asked settling in front of Gossard at a comfortable distance. Higgins had managed somehow to keep his youthful appearance and was little changed by time, as Rico knew he was.
"I think the question isn't: how many did I save, but how many didn't I save." Goss looked up with tears rolling down his cheeks.
"Could you please elaborate?" Higgins asked with a soothing, soft tone.
Gossard wiped his nose. "Any civilian, any non combatant lost to the enemy, is too many." He took a breath. "I was able to pull three from the debris. There may have been more, but because the battle lasted for so long, many died from wounds."
"How long was it before you gave up trying to look?"
"I didn't give up." Gossard whispered. "We pulled the last of the bodies out, making everyone accounted for. A lot of identification has to take place through DNA alone. And it doesn't look like we'll even have time for that. So many people will never have the solace of knowing what happened to their loved ones."
Higgins cut the camera off and sat next to his old friend and put his arm around him. Rico came up and Higgins quickly stood back up and saluted.
"As you were paper boy." Rico said. He put his hand on Gossard's shoulder. "It'll be okay."
"So many Jonnie," He said. "So many, so many children." He turned to Higgins. "So how you doing paper boy?"
"Pretty good all things considered," Higgins said. "I dropped with the Wolves earlier tonight. They're a good squad. The action here is more intense than I ever remember."
"Fighting for your life and home every day wasn't intense enough for you Hig?" Rico asked. "Sitting behind that anchor's desk has made you soft."
"It's not that," Higgins said. "If anything, I'm more used to the fighting, I was actually hardened by it. That's why I lost the first four of my wives –"
"Four?" Gossard interrupted.
Rico looked at him and dipped his head to Higgins' eye level. "You've had four wives?"
"Five, actually," He said holding up his hand and taking off his glove, revealing a golden ring on his finger.
"Never thought you had it in you." Gossard said glad to have a change of subject.
"Neither did I," he looked at his feet. "Maybe I don't. After the war, I was a celebrity. I didn't have the luxury of being able to leave the light for a time; I wasn't able to just melt away, especially once the riots started. Then the Two Months War started."
Rico took pity on the kid. He knew the old idiom, about how one never searches for greatness but rather has greatness search for him. He knew exactly the way he felt.
There was an uneasy silence that settled for a few moments. The talk of love in war was something that no one really wanted to discuss. It reminded them of what was behind and what they couldn't possibly have with them on the battlefields. Higgins broke the silence turning to Rico and asking:
"How long until the evacuation?"
"Not soon enough. Last I heard, bombing would commence at 0900."
Higgins chewed it for a second before looking back up at Rico. "One hour, we ready?"
"As ready as we will be." Rico looked him over for a second then realized that there weren't any weapons on him save a pistol on his hip. "Armed light aren't we?"
"I wasn't issued a Morita. The LT thought I should have one, but since I'm technically a civilian, someone at SICON said I was not authorized to handle military weapons." Higgins pulled the pistol out. "I'm guessing they gave this to me for myself?"
Rico snatched the pistol away and handed him his weapon. "You'll need it when it gets hot."
"...Haven't shot one of these in years..." Higgins mumbled.
"No time like the present to get refreshed. They say we learn best under pressure." Rico patted Higgins on the shoulder and left the room.
Doc sat on the grass in front of the makeshift bunker that had once been the town hall. His eyes were directed to the clear blue sky, looking for something, but he didn't know what it was exactly. Everything around him was so calm, he could almost forget for a moment that he was in a war. In his mind he could almost hear the laughter of children and the flapping of the SICON flag in a cool breeze. Everything was serene, at peace. But the razor wire encircling the compound brought the starkness of reality back into plain view.
Standing up he shook the thoughts out from his head and picked his Morita up from the grass. The edge of the perimeter was silent for the moment, not a bug in sight, but he knew that they were there, waiting for the right moment. Being a doctor in the military and being active was almost a contradiction of terms. He was supposed to save lives, but he was constantly forced to take them. There was the argument that the bugs didn't really even think, but it didn't matter, it was still a life that he was taking into his hands and destroying. At least they weren't fighting other humans.
A slight breeze blew across the lawn and brought the smell of sweet air to his nose; he closed his eyes and enjoyed it for a brief moment before the flood of death followed the beauty. He opened his eyes and surveyed the burning city; ruin, death, all from life.
The crushing footsteps from behind awoke Doc from his silent thought. There was the flattening of the grass beneath their weight, the crunching of the blades breaking. Doc turned to see Gossard walking towards him. In the distance there came the high pitched whining of jet engines followed by a sonic boom. Both of them looked up and saw two dozen Tophetti fighters streaking across the sky. Gossard was the first to look down.
"I was coming to tell you it'd be happening soon." He looked around a little bit.
"I am so sick of this." Doc said. Both turned and started back inside when explosions began to rip through the city. The wheeled around and saw a mass of bugs racing for them.
"And I'm sick of them; you'd think they'd be satisfied with just pushing us off!" Doc slapped his helmet to make sure it was on tight and raised his gun. The rest of the Roughnecks raced out of the compound and took up positions.
"We really ought to do something about this new alarm system we use. Kaboom doesn't do anything for me." Kepler said running out.
Zim leaned against the wall lazily looking out into the bugs. "Welcome to the real Mobile Infantry son... ain't nothing like it." He pulled his gun up and readied himself.
"Anybody have any hopes of making it off this planet alive?" Max asked kneeling down and taking aim.
"I did!" Muniz muttered crouching beside a wall.
"Only to laugh at you sergeant when Zim kicks your butt." Murphy yelled from across the lawn. He was lying on his stomach next to a kneeling L'Ioo.
"I never hope for anything," Rico said walking to point. "I know." Everyone looked at him a moment. He raised a Morita and pulled the lock back, loading the first round into the chamber. "I know."
Everyone turned back to the bugs and waited for them to arrive at their doorstep. It only took two minutes, but it felt like an eternity. Seconds were hours as they waited. Soon bodies were being seized in the razor wire and being torn to shreds and the Roughnecks opened up. Weapons fire could be heard from the opposite side as the Wolves tore into their fair share of arachnids.
"I really hate uninvited guests!" Gossard grunted releasing a steady stream of hot lead. "They never seem to know when to leave!"
The whine of the engines returned and the planes dropped their loads, exploding on impact and engulfing the bugs with the Tophetti substance. The Roughnecks paused and watched as many of the bugs were crushed under the weight of their own resistance. Quickly more jet engines sounded in the air and Terran planes flew over head dropping small tactical nukes, destroying the horde.
Rico turned to Muniz, "Muniz, you and Kepler go inside and start bringing them out, the transports will be here shortly." Muniz nodded and grabbed Kepler. Both of them rushed in doors as Rico turned back to the glorious carnage. All around bugs were burning, being crushed, and all together dying. He smiled the smile of dark triumph. But he knew it wouldn't last.
The first of the transports broke through the clouds as Muniz led out the first of the civilians. Over the next thirty minutes, the transports came in and loaded with as many civilians as they could hold. For the most part it was quiet, with sparse weapons fire echoing across the fields. It looked as though the bugs had been stopped cold in their tracks, but everyone knew it would only be a matter of time before a fresh wave pushed forward.
They were about halfway finished when the ground began to shake and warriors erupted from the ground, pouring out like a devilish blood from a pure body. The disease had spread finally to their very heart and there was no hope. Quickly gunfire was resonating throughout the area, but the bugs kept coming. No matter how many grenades were launched, they continued to pour out. Rico began screaming for the civilians to get out of the bunker immediately.
JEAN RARAK
Carmen watched on her view screen as bugs poured in from all over the compound. Rico and Breckinridge were outnumbered beyond hope. She watched as civilians rushed out, many with weapons and tried to help. Some were quickly cut to pieces, others dragged away, it was a complete disaster. She felt the tears begin to streak down her face, it was hopeless, they weren't going to make it out. She opened up a comm. channel to Rico; she had to get them out of there. If she lost both squads right now, it would do incalculable damage to the rest of the war.
EDEN
A burst of static came through on Rico's headset followed by Carmen's voice. "Major, this is Admiral Ibanez, do you copy?"
"Roger Razak, I copy!" He said pumping a few rounds into a bug's head.
"Major, you are ordered to get your troopers on the next transport!" She said. Rico paused for a moment and looked around the compound as the intense fighting continued all around. He knew what she was thinking; there was no way to get everyone off the planet, and she couldn't lose two squads.
"We still have over six hundred civilians down here Admiral." Rico said futilely, he knew the answer. He turned to Zim as Carmen came back.
"I know that Major, you have your orders, we'll relay the same to Lieutenant Breckinridge. Next transport!" And the line was cut.
"All right Roughnecks," He shouted biting over to his squad line. "Pull out; we're on the next boat!"
Most looked at him in shock and amazement but it was Zim who came over the line. "You heard the Major Roughnecks, we're on the next boat."
"What about the rest of these people?" Gossard shouted over.
"We can't leave them here!" Doc followed him up. Muniz and Kepler rushed back out of the bunker firing with several civilians following them. Muniz turned around and shook his head. Rico swore under his breath as three transports came into view and two fighters swooped in and dropped bombs on the outer edge of the bug force. Rico watched as debris showered down and the transports landed. The hatches opened and he waved what remained of the civilians on the surface and his troopers into it.
Within a minute everyone was loaded and the transports back in the air. Murphy was kicking anything loose and screaming at the top of his lungs. Zim quickly had him against the wall by his neck and was talking in a low tone to him.
"You were given an order private. In this squad, when the Major gives you an order, you will follow it or you will have me to deal with. Is that understood?"
"Sir, yes sir!" Murphy said through a slight choke. Rico came up to Zim and eased him back.
"There was nothing we could do son that was it. We got as many out as we could," There was some slight turbulence that knocked the ship around but the rest of the trip was quiet. They broke the atmosphere and set down on the Jean Razak with no complications. The squad and the few civilians who were able to make it in stepped off onto the thick floor.
The hangar was huge and filled with the crying of those who had already gotten off. Many had gathered in the far end and were trying to console who they could with what little words they could find. Rico led his squad out of the hanger and into their designated area for debriefing. One by one they passed him in the locker room and sadness was written all over their faces. He shook his head and walked off to his office to fill out his report. The fleet would take care of the rest of them.
Carmen watched the displays as the bugs overran the compound where only a half hour before her troopers had been. Her aide came up to her and let her know that all the civilians were taken care off and the last of the ships were secure for departure.
"Very well," She turned to her helmsman. "Mister Hol, please set coordinates for Tesca Nemerosa, Mister Vartan, relay orders to the rest of the task force and the Tophetti ships, let them know where we're going."
The bridge crew quickly began to move and set in for the jump. Systems displays became active showing the status of the entire ship and all its systems. The computers voice came over the intercom and blared its warning. Carmen gripped the arms on her chair tightly as the helmsman eased the throttle forward and the ship accelerated into light speeds.
NEAR LOVELL
Carl twisted the last of the wires together and closed the panel. He'd been standing outside on the barren wastes of the rock floating in the middle of nowhere for close to a day, using his hijacked schematics and knowledge to try and get the ship running. But he was running out of air. He'd used his powers to try and slow it down some, but it was beginning to pass the point where it was futile. One breath every twenty minutes really was stretching even what he could do. He crawled his way back into the airlock and slapped the release and the doors closed. There was a moment then came the hiss of recycled oxygen and Carl twisted the locks on his helmet. It slid off and he took a deep breath and began to revive his body, he knew he'd need about an hour of strict concentration before he could move.
He let his mind wander some, keeping a low silhouette so the queen couldn't detect him. He was on Earth, on Tesca, on Klendathu, on P, everywhere there was a psychic of any power. The war was not going well; SICON may have already been struck the fatal blow, with little hope of any come back. Times of wonder and anxiety caused Carl to both curse and bless his precognitive inabilities, holding true to the age old axiom: ignorance is bliss. Or was it? He spent the remainder of his time coming out his self induced suspension, and when he could move again, he settled into the flight couch and set his course for SICON space.
The small ship shuttered for a moment then with some slight groaning, found itself back into open space. He pushed the throttle forward and quickly left the field before activating the jump sequence.
In her central cave the queen sat squeezing more eggs from her body and shook her head as she heard the call of the human. Her immediate aide noticed her distress and asked her what troubled her.
[He escaped.] She said. [And he is coming back.]
EARTH
Miriam sat in front of the cameras. The light on top was still red. Aides were rushing around filling out reports, signing for reports, typing up the most accurate report of the situation at hand. Report. Report. Report.
She shook her head and looked down at her notes; some basic scribble of what she could say, but not what she should say, not in the least. How could she tell billions that in all probability, Earth was about to be overrun by an invading alien force once again, and this time, there was no hope. She would have consulted the precog's but the only one's left on the planet had been found with their brains blown out and a pistol on the ground. She knew what it meant. Another report was laid in front of her, only raising the list of planets under attack. She looked at her notes again. Her hands were shaking. The camera crew began to move in and a young woman in front of her started counting down, then the light turned green.
Miriam was still for a moment, her lips sealed with doubt and fear. Her hands were shaking so horribly that she didn't know if her tearing the notes was intentional or not. She blinked after what seemed like hours and tears began to pour. The timer next to the camera told her she'd been live for almost twenty seconds now without saying a word. She cleared her throat but neglected to wipe away her tears.
"People of the Strategically Integrated Coalition of Nations and our allies afar," she spoke, her voice bursting forth loud yet broken. Her breathing was un-rhythmic at best. "I come before you today under the gravest of circumstances and in light of the most dire turn of events. I could sit before you and play games with words like, 'possible' or 'indefinite', but they are only games. I am here before you to confirm that the rumors that have been circulating are true: The Arachnid Hoard has returned and is currently engaging our forces across our territory including former bug strong holds." She took a breath and looked down.
"We saw some of the signs, but in our own decadence we failed to realize them in enough time and resolve. For ten years have we let ourselves rot away, here, starting at the core, and allowed it to branch outward. And now, we are faced with our most horrible tribulation yet. I will not lie to you, they are coming here, and they will get here. They will destroy and kill and if we succumb to defeat before that happens, they will win and we will be extinct. Now I could sit here and place blame as to why this happened but it would do nothing but bolster egos and create more internal strife. I sit before you telling you that now is the time to be strong, the time to prepare and the time to fight. The enemy has no mercy and we will show it none. We have fought this enemy before and we have defeated it. We are fighting this enemy again and we will defeat it, should it last one year or one hundred, we will not give in and bow down to extinction." She had felt her anger rise and take over and now she sat silent and staring into the camera.
"This is where we are, and this is where we will stay. Thank you and may God have pity on us." And the light went blank.
JEAN RAZAK
Zim turned away from his tearful wife's face and gritted his teeth. She stopped talking and the VID was replaced by the standard insignia. The Roughnecks, the Wolves and the Falcons had gathered in the mess and watched the address. Everyone was silent. Zim turned back and saw that no one had moved at all and they were all waiting for the next word. Jonnie stood up and walked to the front of the group. He turned the display off and sat down on a table looking out at the three dozen troopers.
"To many of you have seen to many winters, the others: to few." He continued to look at each and everyone of them, Zim caught his eye once and saw something had changed. "I never wanted my job, but I had to take it. I joined the service for the wrong kind of reasons. Hell, I never asked to be born. But, I was, and everything that has happened, has happened. I wish I had something awe inspiring and profoundly moving, but I don't.
"They're attacking us. They're attacking our family, our friends, our colonies, our home. I've faced them for fifteen years and the only thing that comes to mind is this: Give 'em hell. Make them fight for it, make them crawl and scrape for every single inch of space they occupy." He was still for a minute then looked down at his watch. "Dismissed." He said and the mess emptied save for him, Gossard, Doc, and Zim.
"Moving speech," Gossard said.
"Bravo." Doc smirked.
"Plan on going for any medals for that one?" Zim asked. Zim could see it in him, Goss and Doc could too.
Jonnie looked up at them and smiled. "Ten years guys."
"Good to have you back son." Zim patted him on the shoulder.
KLENDATHU
The LT kicked the cracked screen in and cursed. Joseph looked up at him and took a bite of his ration.
"That was the only working vid-display LT." He said chewing. The LT breathed heavily for a moment then looked up and laughed.
"It was, wasn't it?" He sat down next to Jospeh and pulled out his ration. They had reached Fort Pyres without incident and found it deserted with no signs of struggle. They quickly set defensive perimeters and activated the four obsolete CHAS units. They'd been there for six days with no outside communication of any sort and had conceded that they might be all that's left on the planet. Redwing-Zim's address had just finished when the LT decided to replace the screen with his boot and then finish his dinner, or breakfast, they'd completely lost track of time.
Joseph ate another small bite and chewed the wafer for a moment. "LT," He said and let it hang for a second. "What are we going to do now? The bugs are sure to know we're here."
"Maybe not." The LT said.
"How do you figure that?"
"I have no idea. But you can't keep an old man from hoping." The two sat quietly and finished their meal before the LT ordered Joseph to sleep. The LT sat by, watching him as he slept in a nightmarish world waiting to die. He had readied his pistol and considered giving the boy a peaceful ending, one in sleep and painlessness. But life was suffering and suffering was life. The boy deserved to see his enemy and face it and die like a trooper if it came to that. He holstered his pistol and strapped his helmet on and went to patrol the wall defenses, waiting for the next attack to come.
23 Therefore the LORD God sent him forth
from the garden of Eden, to till the ground
from whence he was taken.
24 So He drove out the man; and He placed
At the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims,
And a flaming sword which turned every way,
To keep the way of the tree of life.
Genesis 3:23-24