Footprints In Ash Read online

  Footprints In Ash

  Pox War Runners Episode 6

  By

  Joshua Done

  Edited by

  Tanya Andrious & Jana Miller

  Table of Contents

  1

  2

  3

  4

  Thank you for reading!

  About this eBook

  1

  “Another wave incoming!” Giles shouted from his spotter position on the roof of a nearby building. More pops came from down the left alley as one of the surviving squads engaged another wave of ‘Tal. We had our own problems to worry about. A stream of kinetic energy hit the building Giles was on but didn’t do much more than char the building’s exterior. The aliens didn’t know where the sniper round had come from and were just shooting blindly from too far of to do much damage.

  Suzie was just inside the building helping two men who had severe burns on their arms. The shields may have blocked the brunt of the alien’s weapons, but sustained blasts could still burn the soldier beneath. I was now free to fight without worry. I tracked an alien and squeezed off a round. the familiar buz-thwack! sound echoed lightly after each shot. My weapon may have only been a Walsh side arm, but it could field mosquito rounds, and at several hundred yards they were accurate enough to drop a ‘Tal in one shot to the head.

  “I’m out.” The man beside me whispered. He hadn’t been as sparing with his shots and had only taken out one alien so far. The destroyers and battlewagon were hammering the ‘Tal positions and had prevented any more of the aliens from landing, but there were still thousands of Tarin’Tal already on the ground. Even though the battle had turned against them and the Constitution would be launching troop ships any minute they still attacked with reckless abandon. Stupid move, but they just might take us with them.

  The air was already thick with ash and debris. “Get down.” One of the more forward soldiers said, idly tossing a gel-grenade down the road and to the feet of the Tarin’Tal. Gel grenades aren’t the most efficient weapon, they had two detonations and only the second was dangerous. The device, however, first exploded with a splash of gel, which would detonate a moment later and fry anything that had come in contact with the sticky goo, which just happened to be four small, only three hundred pounds a piece, Tarin’Tal.

  The detonation wasn’t deadly as gel-grenades were meant for anti-human-personnel ops in close quarters, but they did adequately singe the frontal hair off of each of the creatures and sent them into a blind rage. I liked it when my enemy was a long ways off and in a blind rage, it meant I could pick them off in relative safety while they charged into the open like a blind lunatic. The battle was still dangerous but almost all the human positions had dug in, and the ‘Tal were fresh out of reinforcements. What was left was something more of a statistically calculable chess match and execution, than a battle.

  The problem now was outlasting the remaining trickle of ‘Tarin’Tal attacks, and that wasn’t easy. I was already tired. Battle is tiring, and even more so in New Croatia’s punishing gravity. The soldiers, however, were used to the punishing weight, and were able to move with relative ease and fluidity. I felt sluggish. “Troop ships!” Someone shouted at last, and I glanced up following their flight path. One was headed right for us. The only person in the middle of the burnt open ground in the street backpeddled out of the way and the round pod crunched down, opening to reveal several Ishikawan men at arms wielding everything from plasma Nodachi and Naganata, to full bore assault rifles. Their leader was the first out, and had his sword drawn. He was a big man for an Ishikawan, he stood six and a half feet tall but out of his cybernetic armor he probably was only five five or something. “I am Sr. Takaishi, where is the enemy?”

  “Samurai?” One of the men stammered.

  “Hai.” The man agreed. “Where is the enemy?”

  “Everywhere.” I said. “They keep hitting us from down those two alleys and the main street.”

  “I’m receiving a transmission packet from the Constitution.” He said and then paused. “Ah, they are massing two hundred yards down the main street and in a side alley. Have you received lightened attacks in the last few minutes?” I nodded. “That is why. They will attack and we will meet them head on. Flank us.”

  The half dozen armored men and their lord walked to the crest of the little fox hole where it met the road and waited. We all took our positions again, waiting for any of the aliens to show themselves and give us a shot of opportunity. Takaishi had his suit’s speekers on and inhaled deeply. “They are coming.” A swarm of activity burst around the corner two blocks away and an entire herd of Tarin’Tal came thundering towards us, blades flashing and kinetic weapons firing. Those of us with rifles and firearms returned fire but there was no way we would come close to taking the mass of aliens down before they reached us.

  The remaining Ishikawans waited patiently, a few of the alien’s blasts pinged off their armor but the soldiers just side-stepped every sustained blast; the weapons only scouring the mettle in the fractal seconds they remained in contact. The Ishikawans were known for speed, and even when standing in the line of enemy fire they demonstrated that quality.

  Takaishi must have been waiting for the distance to close because just as the herd passed the last block he rocketed forward along with his troops. They slammed into the enemy with a brutality that can only be experienced. The lumbering beasts couldn’t touch the speed and precision with which the Ishikawans fought. Sidestepping slashes and sweeps from the aliens hooked swords Takaishi snapped his long blade through the midsection of a bull, sending its gore flying and a perfect arch. His retainers passed another and moved so fast all I saw was a blur and another alien collapsed.

  One of his smaller men had heavy plasma impactors on his forearm instead of traditional weapons. They acted on the same principle as the battle hammers that released plasma when they made contact. The result was a blast of plasma directly into the beast which blew an exit hole several feet wide in the Tarin’Tal’s back. Almost as quickly as the Ishikawan forces had attacked the battle ended. Every single ‘Tal lay dead and Takaishi’s suit’s sensors most defiantly ensured there were no alien life signs left, otherwise he would finish the aliens before their blood cooled. Ishikawans had a thing about executing people in cold blood.

  Takaishi snapped his blade downward and to the side with enough suit-assisted power to remove all the alien blood from it by centrifugal force alone, and sheathed it in a solid motion. “Now,” he said as he walked back to me. “They no longer come from all directions. I will hold this position, my commander requests all surviving forces from this location enter the building for immediate medical treatment.”

  “Thank you.” I said and motioned for the soldiers to start heading inside.

  “It was my honor,” he said with a half bow, and I believed him completely.

  2

  The building’s great hall had been turned into some sort of medical facility by the time we arrived, and ships were parked along the large exterior balcony, offloading troops and equipment and shuttling people back up to the Constitution. “Where is the governor?” I asked.

  “Went ship-side.” A medic in an Imperial fleet uniform said. “Territorial command has been transferred and all defensive operations are being conducted by the Empire. All colonial troops have been ordered to defensive positions such as these. Too many unnecessary losses. What was your name again?” I told him and he spoke into nothing, obviously using an implanted communicator. “OK, he continued. The Admiral wants you aboard the Constitution.”

  I went out onto the broad balcony and walked over to one of the shuttlecraft that was loading people up for a trip to the ship. There were still a few ‘
Tal anti aircraft weapons in the city and the odd gunship but the shuttles had enough shields to hold off most attacks until fighter support arrived.

  The flight afforded me a great view of the city, which while battered and smoking, was still standing for the most part. It was a testament to the Croatian builders and the forceful arrival of the Empire that it wasn’t anything less than a pile of burning ruble. The windows on the craft were small, little more than old fashioned port holes as the vessel’s designers had sacrificed passenger view for armor, but Suzie had her face glued to the view and had a constant stream of questions for me ranging from the tactical significance of fighter support to why there were so many arches in the city.

  There was a large central docking bay in the half doughnut shaped fortress ship and the shuttle entered several sub-levels before finally coming to a landing before a central transportation hub. “Follow me.” A large Imperial marine said as we stepped out of the shuttle.

  Two minute later we found ourselves walking into the fortress ship’s command and control center. Unlike the bridge or command decks of most starships the entire room was a staggered circle, almost like a traditional theater with seating 360 degrees around the central point, a massive holographic display showing the battle in space, the air battle above the city, and all known land units in great detail.

  The count appeared almost as a conductor in a vast orchestra of battle stations and command terminals; the soldiers around him composing the sections and companies of his symphony in a brilliant sonnet of death, destruction, and preservation.

  The governor appeared out of nowhere and was shoving a datapad in my hand. “Grumman we need you in the air. This team has been assigned to your protection during the trip.”

  “Trip?” I asked. “You’ve got dozens of shuttles lifting off and setting down here. Why can’t you just drop me at the Vermillion and call it good?”

  I’m afraid that the only airspace secure for shuttle traffic is directly beneath the Constitution. We’ve got increasing fire coming from all directions. The Count just informed me that two additional spireships have entered the battle and are releasing clouds of gunships.”

  “Out luck.”

  “Aye.” The Governor agreed. “By fallen Earth it is.”

  I flipped the pad around and handed it back to the governor. “Thanks for the backup.” I jabbed my thumb behind me, towards Giles. “FYI.” I said. “Giles is with us now.”

  “Fine,” the Governor nodded. “His unit was hit again after the Ishikawans advanced. The Samurai got back in time to save almost all of them but the unit is out of action for now.” He made a few notes on the pad before looking up and over my shoulder at Giles. “Consider yourself reassigned. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got more units to reassign. These bloody Imperials are efficient when it comes to battle command, but they make my life hell for organization.” He wandered off muttering something under his breath.

  By the time our shuttle landed the aerial battle had grown more intense. Less heavy firepower but a lot more support ships were entering the atmosphere and the whole sky was full of flashes and falling debris. “How are we going to do anything in that?” Suzie asked.

  I held her hand as we made our way deeper into the building’s subterranean transportation hub. I didn’t expect it to be operational, but it would certainly give us more cover than making our way by street. “All we have to do is survive and sting them where we can. Its all anyone can do in a battle like this.” She nodded and ran on ahead, poking her head around a corner after a few of the militia the governor had assigned to us disappeared around it and into the darkness.

  I felt an ominous tingle run down my spine. Maybe it was years of suspense movies about the dangers of dark corners during alien invasions… maybe it was the fact that we were about to go down a dark corner during an alien invasion, but something didn’t feel right. Sure enough the cliché part of my brain was unfortunately vindicated by a scream only ten feet down the corridor.

  Hitting the floor by instinct I heard the squad’s commander yell “Everyone down!” immediately after.

  “Suzie, keep close.” I snapped, and she tapped my arm twice from next to me. I don’t know how she had made it back to me in the almost solid dark, nor how she knew exactly where I was, but it was one less thing for me to worry about. There as a pop-hissing sound from one of the soldiers and a flair was tossed into the deeper point of the tunnel. The creature holding the limp form of a militiaman wasn’t a Tarin’Tal, it was… something else, something I’d never seen before.

  Its feet and forehands were webbed and covered in short bristling growths. It had mole-like appendages on its snout, elbows and knuckles. Its body was snub and covered in bristling hair that almost looked like quills. In all it reminded me of a giant deadly and vary angry mole. The creature’s eyes were dead, but somehow they portrayed a deep thought, and it was one that required no translator or words. Everything about that creature told me it was smart, angry, and desired nothing more than to eviscerate every person it could possibly find.

  “Fallen Earth!” The captain shouted before the creature bowled into him, tossing the limp soldier it had been holding toward a denser pocket of militia.

  “Suzie!” I snapped. “Hit it with your arm thing!”

  I felt a slight tingle as the device charged and released in a shuttering blast. The monster went flying. Charging forward, several of the lead soldiers recovered themselves and open fire on the creature, sending clouds of black and rancid smoke into the air wherever they hit and vaporized portions of the monster’s hair and flesh. “Grenade!” I shouted. “Someone use a grenade.”

  “Wilcox!” The commander demanded. “That means you.”

  “Yes Sir.” the soldier needlessly responded as he threw a small cylinder at the beast. The explosive charge must have had some sort of coating on it because it stuck to the monster like a magnate. When the beast tried to pull the offending tube off its leg it only succeeded in getting itself more entangled.

  “Down!” The commander shouted again. I grabbed Suzie under my arm a mere second before the air pressure in the tunnel magnified several dozen times. I couldn’t hear anything and I felt a trickle of blood on my neck.

  “Nanite!” I yelled, my voice didn’t make a sound, confirming my fears. I saw a delivery tube hit the dirt at my feet. The squad’s medic was tossing one to everyone in the tunnel. Fumbling with numb fingers I pried the device’s top off and jabbed it into’s Suzie’s neck. Her eyes dilated and suddenly she was talking and rubbing her ear. “Don’t touch them.” I said. Again I couldn’t hear my own voice. Taking a second tube I placed it on my neck and delivered the nanites. There was a lout crunching sound and I could hear again. Everything sounded like it was in an echo chamber but I could hear.

  Giles groaned and in doing so, reminded me that he was still alive. “Nasty buggers.” He said. “I hate close proximity grenades like that.” Everyone was getting up and their commander was already contacting the Constitution about the creature.

  “Any word on what that thing is?” I asked him.

  “None at all.” He said. “But I wouldn’t be surprised if its one of the ‘Tal’s little tricks. I’d heard stories that they sometimes conscript specialist soldiers from worlds they conquer but this is the first real proof I’ve heard of, let alone seen.”

  “I’m inclined to agree.”

  Giles popped out another flair and tossed it further down the tunnel, the dead corpse of the tunnel monster was giving off a hideous stench. “I don’t know about you boys, but I’d like to get through this rat hole as fast as possible.”

  “Agreed.” The commander and I said simultaneously. “Lets keep moving.”

  The flat pavement of the hub floor was only broken by a ceramic ridge down its center that kept the trams centered and powered. Even in the dark we were able to make good time. The shattered portions of the wall, however, put a silent trepidation deep in the hearts of everyone. There could onl
y be one reason for such large inwardly punched holes in the wall and it had taken the entire squad to take down just one of them.

  “Finally.” Giles sighed. “12B, everyone off the spooky train.”

  “I’m not sure the surface will be much better.” I cautioned him.

  “Better the devil you know than the devil you don’t.” He retorted.

  “Touché.” I agreed. “Keep low, the ‘Tal don’t naturally look below their waist level for threats.” It didn’t seem to matter, however, because the entire trip up the building was devoid of alien action. In fact the only life we encountered was three house plants and a vary confused dog which Suzie had demanded we bring along.

  I shook the commander’s hand when we came out onto the landing platform devoid of activity. The sky above, however, still buzzed and blistered with combat. “Kick some ‘Tal hide. The militia man said, and ducked back into the building with his men. I’d overheard that they were to join a flanking maneuver from our position, and I wished them luck.

  “You have any track turret experience?” I asked Giles.

  “Some.” He said. “I used to be a spot jack for an debris and mining ship, its pretty much the same.”

  “Good. We can bring all our guns online.” The young jack of all trades was a bit surprised to see the customized co-pilot seat built for the little girl but wasn’t about to complain. I made a note of this and was thankful the man didn’t have a pride complex.

  “Which one?” He asked, eyeing the two rear-facing seats behind the pilot and copilot’s chairs.

  “Pick your favorite. Suzie will take whichever two systems you don’t.” I flipped a series of switches and the ship roared to life. “Good boy.” I said to the computer.

  “Affirmative. I have kept the ship active but on low signature mode since initiation of hostilities, we are ready for battle captain.”

  “Hang on to your head.” I said. “This is about to get bumpy.” The thoroughtle responded with the ship’s usual kick whenever the cargo hold was empty and we were airborne before any of the circling gunships could target the new energy signature and shoot us while we were down; their mistake. Jamming the forward cannons into a full and repeating fire two of the newest arrivals to the battlefield burst into flames and spiraled into several of their comrades creating a swash of falling debris for us to avoid.