“Colonel? Did we do something wrong?”
“Not at all. You were unavailable and a decision was made before you came out here. You have the ability to contact us, but we can't contact you.”
“What's happened?”
“I sent in a second team. We had the vehicles and personnel available. I wanted feedback. When they arrived, contact was made. After evaluating the situation, our snipers changed plans. Instead of targeting machine drivers, they took aim at the machines themselves. Their reasoning was that people could be quickly replaced. The machines require a run to New Earth for parts.”
“Sounds like a better plan.”
“It is. And it's being applied to all targets. Vehicles, mechanicals, basically anything that can be destroyed with a plasma round from a rifle is now on the priority list. They report it's a target-rich environment. Scans by the Earthers have yet to reveal their location. When the second team arrived, because of that feedback I gave the command for them to deploy. They had an accident though and are returning. We have two additional teams heading out tomorrow.”
Harris said, “I'd like Tawn and me to be one of those teams.”
“What are we supposed to do in the meantime?” asked Trish.
Harris shrugged. “Hang out at the bunker. See if you can advance.”
“We could park there as a backup. You get spotted, we swoop in for a rescue.”
Tawn shook her head. “We get spotted and there won't be a rescue. We have the gear to keep us from sight. It will be on us to use it correctly.”
Gandy said, “That's means you'll be leaving Farker with us.”
The stump looked down at his mechanical pet. “I guess it does. Hadn't considered that. But he'll be in good hands.”
Harris turned back to face the colonel. “We'll be back here tomorrow at this time. Think you can hold the freighter until we get here?”
“If you're dead-set on doing this, it can be held.”
Harris glanced at Tawn and received a nod. “We'll be here.”
A return flight was made to Midelon. Seven hours after reentering the bunker complex, Harris emerged. The others were seated in the supply hut.
Tawn said, “Was wondering if you were gonna come out.”
“That's some fascinating stuff. Looks like our people were warring with each other long before we came out here. So much for enlightenment.”
“How far have you come on the timeline?”
“Through the Egyptian pharaohs. Just starting the Zhou Dynasty. Interesting. Who here is the farthest along?
Sharvie raised her hand. “I guess that would be me. I'm hitting the timeline at about 400 A.D. The Roman Empire is getting weak in the west and the Jin Dynasty was coming to an end in the east. I find it strange how history continues to repeat itself. It's almost like each new generation forgets the mistakes of the old.”
Harris nodded. “I think that's what we're seeing here. We were winning the Great War, but the people were tired of fighting. Instead of pushing ahead and bringing it to an end, we pulled back, which puts us right where we are now.”
Tawn chuckled. “Just shows that you have to finish the job if you want it to actually be done. And speaking of finishing... now that you're here we can eat.”
“You waited for me? I kind of feel special now.”
Tawn pointed. “Good. Get your special self over there and hand us some meals. After this, you and I need some serious rest before heading out to Eden. I plan on sleeping and lazying about all the way up until you're ready to leave.”
Trish cleared her throat as she raised a hand. “Excuse me, but don't you think you need to give us some instructions as to what we should be doing when you're gone?”
Harris replied, “I thought we went over this. Just keep yourselves busy with going through Earth's history. Maybe you'll find something in there we can make use of.”
“And if you don't come back?”
“Then head back and check with the colonel. If he's got nothing for you, then I suggest you go and try to live your lives as best you can. You have the credits to do so.”
The following morning, Tawn and Harris were ready for the trip to Eden.
Harris said, “Farker is staying here with you. If you travel away, don't leave him anywhere or let anyone else take him. Are we clear on that?”
Trish nodded. “We won't let him out of our sight.”
“Good. So here's the plan: twice a day you open a comm to the colonel to check in. Every three days you'll make a jump to Eden space. You'll come in just close enough to open a comm to our planet base. If we're available, we'll respond back through the ground relay system we have in place. If not, just leave a recording of any pertinent information. We'll do the same.”
“No supplies?” said Trish. “No bringing anything down to you?”
Harris shook his head. “No contact except by comm. We have supplies for a couple months. Just keep yourselves safe and unseen.”
The Bangor jumped to the Retreat before following the freighter to Eden. Again a trip was made to the planet's surface. A flight just above the ground had two new APCs and teams delivered to the forward base.
The freighter quickly departed after unloading its cargo. The Bangor settled into a ravine a half kilometer away. The active skin was switched to resemble the surroundings. After securing all systems, Tawn and Harris made their way to the APCs.
The other sniper team, also a slug and a spotter-stump, were waiting by their assigned vehicle.
Harris said, “We'll try to stay about two kilometers behind you on the way in. When we reach point Delta we'll be branching off. None of us knows where the others are posted. Just follow the instructions as given by the colonel and begin your mission.”
“I worked with you once before, Mr. Gruberg. I believe it was on Landau II. You don't have to worry about us. We'll keep tight with the rules.”
Harris looked intently at the slug. “Gennis?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Glad to be back in the same outfit with you. Take care out there, and good hunting.”
Tawn sat in the driver's seat of the APC. “Never did get behind the wheel of ours at Fireburg. It's been about six years since I drove one of these.”
Harris smirked. “Eighteen hundred kilometers. You're gonna be sick of driving by the time we get there.”
“Don't think so. You might be sick of my driving, but not me.”
Harris shook his head. “Doubt it. I'll be back there strapped in and sleeping. Once I'm down I'm dead to the world. You could roll us over and I would probably never know.”
Tawn put the vehicle in reverse and stomped on the gas. The tires spun, kicking up sand and dust. Seconds later, she threw the lever into “Drive.” Again the big tires flipped sand in the air as the armored APC lurched forward. “I'll do my best to keep you from getting down, then.”
The active suspension of the Morgan-made carrier translated an otherwise rough surface into a fairly smooth ride. An “honest” distance was maintained from the vehicle ahead. A bar dragging chains behind the vehicles left a track that would be difficult to detect from the air. Sensors told of empty skies above.
An hour into the journey, Tawn broke the silence. “You have any other good stories from the corps?”
Harris took in a deep breath. “Something that you haven't heard? Give me a minute to think. If you have something in mind, spit it out.”
Tawn scratched her forehead with a free hand. “Gennis back there mentioned Landau II. I was there about twelve years ago. Bloody mess that one was. We dropped in fifty Bios along with close to two thousand regulars. We were told to stop the twenty-eight hundred Earthers from crossing the Whichiachi River.”
“The what?”
“Wichiachi. There was a two kilometer stretch that could be forded or easily used to construct a pontoon bridge. Ten clicks back from our side of the river was a supply depot with an artesian well. The Earthers wanted it. We weren't giving it up.
“The Earthers had the superior side of the river. We were better dug in.”
Harris chuckled. “Foxholes?”
Tawn nodded. “With ion shields sitting up front. On most of them anyway. I was in a double with a stump. Ricker. He was hilarious, by the way. Made for a decent deployment on the days we weren't getting shot at. He could throw a fist-sized rock like nobody's business. Twice I saw him take out some unfortunate sap on the other side. The guy had a cannon for an arm.”
“Narrow river?”
“About seventy-five meters directly in front of us. Anyway, we had several assaults where the Earthers made it to within meters of us. We repelled them all, but they kept trying. By the time they left we had cut their numbers by over half. We were down 40 percent ourselves.”
“They just gave up?”
Tawn nodded. “Their CO called ours and asked if we'd allow transports to come get them. We did and they left.”
Harris winced. “There were a lot of battles like that during that war. Our Earth history back there at the bunker points to some of the same.”
Tawn was quiet.
“That was it?”
“Yep. You got anything?”
Harris rubbed the back of his neck. “Was on patrol once and was almost stampeded by a herd of boglers. My squad was cutting across this field with a small herd occupying a hill to our left. We didn't see the lone cow down to our right. When we cut between, the rest of them charged. Sandoval, he was our chief at the time, got caught out in the open.
“This seven hundred kilo bull charged right for him. I was just about to turn that bull into steaks when the chief swung his rifle out at it. The bull swerved, going just around him.”
Tawn said, “You know, they say those boglers are on almost every inhabited planet now?”
Harris nodded. “All they do is eat and breed. They came from New Earth. At least that's what I was told. The Earthers killed off all their natural predators before shipping them off to other colonies. That massive herd on Farmingdale was from Earthers.”
Tawn said, “I know where this is gonna lead, but have you ever had Earth beef? They have cattle farms on Domicile that specialize in raising them. Much more docile than boglers. Taste better too.”
Harris shook his head. “Haven't had the pleasure. You thinking the beef or fish pack for lunch?” He stood and walked to the back of the cabin.
“Get me a fish. I've had about enough of the beef from the pacies food deliveries. Just doesn't taste right.”
Harris chuckled. “Nobody told you?”
“What?”
“That's not beef. It's some veggie cram seasoned up to taste something like beef.”
“Huh. That explains why I never feel full after eating one of their packs. Tell me we have standard issue MREs in here.”
“We do. Bannis had his people pack them before the colonel picked them up.”
“Finally, something I can sink my teeth into.”
Harris checked the meals. “We have bogler steak, bogler ribs, bogler burgers, even a couple bogler brains.”
“I never understood why you stumps liked that so much.”
Harris shook his head. “Not me. Too spongy. We have sea biscuits, king buttel, cambrello, and squamish…”
“Cambrello. Those others leave you with fish-breath for most of the day.”
“One cambrello meal and one bogler ribs, coming up.”
A hundred kilometers turned into five hundred, and then to a thousand. Harris slept strapped to his bunk as Tawn entertained herself with Earth music she had loaded into her data store from the bunker archives. After jamming on the brakes the APC slid to a stop.
Tawn walked back, shaking Harris awake. “We got a problem.”
Harris rubbed his eyes. “My turn already?”
“Nope. I think we lost Gennis and her spotter.”
Harris unfastened four straps that had held him in place. “How?”
The truck was leaning hard forward. “Are we in a ditch?”
Tawn nodded. “About three meters in front of us is a crevasse. Runs out as far as the sensors can detect to either side and drops about five hundred meters straight down in front. Maybe thirty meters across.”
“And you think Gennis and Jeld went into it?”
Tawn half scowled. “Should have sent out their blip about fifteen minutes ago. We got nothing.”
Harris sat up. “How'd team one get across?”
Tawn shrugged. “They went well north of here. It must end at some point in that direction.”
“So just turn us around and take us north.”
“Might not be that easy.”
“What's the issue?”
“We're on a 38 degree slope, three meters from the edge. We start backing up and we might just slide forward.”
“Nothing to hook onto with the winch?”
Tawn shook her head. “We're on a sloped rock that's partially covered with dust and sand. I put on the brakes forty meters back as soon as I topped that crest. Skidded all the way to here. The winch has about thirty meters of cable on it.”
Harris hopped down to the floor as he pulled on his helmet. The APC slid forward half a meter.
“Might want to keep any movement slow and deliberate.”
Harris gently walked toward the back.
“Where you going?”
Harris nodded toward the rear hatch. “Out that door. If you wanna stay in here while we try to figure this out, you're more than welcome to. I'll be standing out there.” Harris reached for the door.
Tawn said, “Before you hop out, you'll want to keep an eye on your footing. A slip could send you sliding down over that edge.”
The hatch was opened. Harris carefully stepped out onto the sand-covered rock. “Not bad, but kind of eerie.”
Tawn gently followed him out onto the steeply inclined ground. “Let's get back up top and have a look at the situation.”
With Harris' first step he slipped and caught his balance. “OK … gotta move slow.”
The forty-meter trek up the hill took five minutes of careful climbing.
“How'd you even manage to get us stopped?” Harris asked.
“Luck. I hit the brakes just as we topped this rise. I guess the tires caught just enough. So how do we get her back up here?”
Harris surveyed the situation. “We need a spike. Set a spike in that rock and attach the winch to it.”
Tawn waved her hand toward the APC. “You do know that beast weighs about six tons.”
“And?”
“We have forty meters to pull it. This rock is not hard. Gonna need a long spike.”
“We don't have to pull six tons. The truck will be doing that while the winch is running.”
Tawn glanced down at the precariously positioned vehicle with an uneasy look. “That means one of us has to be driving it.”
Harris nodded. “And who's the best driver here?”
“That would be me, but I'm not all too eager to get behind the wheel this time.”
“You were supposed to say it was me. Give me that one little credit before I volunteer.”
“Ah. OK. You’re the best.”
“Thank you. Now let's find us a spike.”
Tawn placed her hands on her hips. “Gonna take two moves to get us back up here. That cable isn't gonna reach all the way.”
Harris began the walk back down. “See that flat-ish spot about ten meters up? I say we put our first spike just above that and pull the APC up to there. After that we bring the spike up here.”
Tawn nodded. “Sounds like a plan.”
A steel support beam inside the APC was unbolted and carried to the first position. Harris held the beam at its base as Tawn pulled her Fox-40.
“Hold that steady down there. This may be rough until we get it started.”
Harris glanced up. “Just don't miss. I'd rather not have my hand smashed.”
Tawn half smiled. “Better you than me.”
Tawn aimed the Fox down at the top of the beam and pulled trigger. A loud zap saw the metal beam dig a centimeter into the rock.
Harris nodded. “Good sign. Keep them coming.”
With repeated low power plasma pulses, the steel spike was driven a full meter into the soft rock.
Harris stood. “That's gonna have to do it. We don't have anything longer without tearing that truck apart.”
Tawn pointed. “Hop in while I hook us up.”
Harris chuckled. “How about you hook us up and then I'll hop in.”
“Guess that works too.”
“Works much better for me. Let me know when you're ready.”
Harris slipped twice as he carefully moved to the driver's side door, both times barely regaining his footing before continuing on.
Tawn called from around back. “Hooked up and tight.”
Harris climbed in the cab, powering up the drive and putting the big machine in reverse.
Tawn said, “Take it slow and easy.”
Harris looked over his shoulder. “Who's the best driver?”
Tawn nodded. “You are. At least from here to the top of the hill.”
The first ten meters of climb passed without incident. A move of the spike to the top of the hill saw a repeat of the first section put into play.
Tawn worked the winch as she said, “These last dozen meters are the steepest. Just keep doing what you're doing and we should be golden.”
With five meters to go, the tires of the APC spun when a thin piece of rock came loose from the hillside. The APC jerked and began to slide.
Tawn yelled, “Spike is coming out!”
“Well, get it back in!”
The APC began to slide down the hill, this time picking up speed, the tail end beginning to slide to the side. Harris turned the wheel, stomping on the accelerator. All four tires spun violently, spraying out sand and small bits of soft stone. The downward trajectory of the APC stopped. Slowly momentum reversed. Forty seconds later the armored truck sat on top of the hill.
Harris stepped out, taking in a deep breath. “Whoa. Can't say that was fun.”
Tawn chuckled as she disconnected the loose beam and retracted the winch. “You are the best driver. And I'll let you be the best driver whenever you want.”
Harris walked to the back to assist with the beam. “Let's just get this together and get back on the trail. This is gonna put us back half a day. And it's boiling out here.”
Tawn nodded.