||||Chapter 3 Begin||||
1130 hours, January 5, 2553 (Military Calendar)/61 Artemis-A system, Target area Delta-Omega, Planet Artima Dehli
It was silent… And cold…
My soldiers moved around me, uncomfortable, and anxiety ran high…
-
1150 Hours
We had been told to wait, so I did just that… I waited for my orders, along with my small group of ten men, all covered in armor, and rain water, shadowed in the darkness of the over hanging trees…
-
1155 Hours
"Lieutenant?"
"Nothing yet, Carry…" I whispered across the COM to my men, "Keep an eye, and hold your ground…"
-
1313 Hours
Hours passed by, the rain fell again, the wind picked up… And for an hour I felt that something just wasn't right. My commanding officers hadn't contacted us… As they said they would…
Silently, I stood up tall, giving away my cover to anything that might be lurking nearby, and opened a private COM channel.
"Benedict, are you there? Copy…"
Static followed my words, drowning out the rain that tapped down on my helmet.
"Benedict?" I asked again, louder this time. The COM opened and the static fell away.
"Everything's gone… Nothing is there anymore…"
To hear his voice was comforting, but the words he spoke chilled me. Those two words 'everything's gone' rang through my brain, and finally clicked.
"Everything's gone?" I asked, "You left your post? Where are you?"
The static crackled as words made their way through.
"Front …. Front line … there's blood everywhere … The General's among the dead, along with everyone who went with him … everyone, everything is gone … "
I stood rigid. His words were stabbing at my soul, his voice came through again.
"Looks like we're the leaders here," Lt. Benedict said,"unless we can find someone else of higher rank. Try to contact the battalions, platoons, anything… we'll make our way to you…"
The COM cleared, and I stared into the haze that rose from the ground…
Gone? Everything? What does he mean by that?
"Lieutenant? What happened?"
It was Sergeant Johanson this time, he had moved beside me, still hidden by the undergrowth of the forest.
"Men, contact any platoons, any battalions that you can find, tell them to meet us here. Be discreet, silent, don't shoot unless fired upon, and be here fast, we have NO time to waste."
One-by-one, the green lights blinked on my HUD, acknowledging my orders, and the COM's opened.
I sat back down in a daze, as floods of images from previous battles assaulted my mind, but one face burned brighter than any other…
… Daniel…
"Daniel," I whispered.
I opened a COM to his platoon.
"Major Kingson? This is 2nd Lieutenant Jasmin Connors. We were stationed exactly 300 klicks away from you and are awaiting orders. We have been informed of the unfortunate death of the General, and Lieutenant Myers and I have taken command until we find a higher ranking officer. We are gathering all platoons and battalions to my position, being deemed the safest. If you or any of your platoons still survive, copy…"
… Static …
… Static …
… Nothing …
Ten minutes passed on, my men kept trying to call survivors.
Fifteen minutes, men were showing up…
… Static …
… Static …
"Lieutenant…"
I looked up from where I had stared at the ground.
"Jasmin? ..."
My senses came back to me.
"Major Kingston? Daniel, where are you?"
… Static …
"Major?
"2nd Lieutenant, this is 2nd Lieutenant Christianson calling for a med-vac, immediately. Many of our soldiers are dead, including our medic. Major Kingston is in critical condition, I have been shot in the leg, 3ed degree burns, and two other Privates are still alive. If you can send any help, please hurry. I don't know how long we're safe here…"
A small map appeared on my HUD.
"We're 300 Klicks away. Can you be here in three?" the Lieutenant said into the mic, her voice was quiet, she sounded exhausted.
"We'll be there in three minutes, have faith soldier…"
I closed the COM and stood. I could see many movements heading towards us, ducked down in the grass to avoid being shot.
Turning to my men, I threw out orders.
"Carry, Fisher, McKay, and Summers, follow me, everyone else, stay here and wait for 2nd Lieutenant Benedict Myers to show. Tell him we've gone to med-vac 3rd platoon. Erickson, you're in control until then. We'll be back in … 15 minutes."
|||| Chapter 3 End ||||