Insurgency_Spartika Read online

  Insurgency: Spartika

  —Book4 of The Sleeping Legion—

  Copyright © J. R. Handley 2017

  Editor: Lauren Moore

  Copy Editor: Thomas Weaver Spence

  Published by Human Legion Publications

  Also available in paperback, and coming to audio early in 2018.

  All Rights Reserved

  HumanLegion.com

  * * *

  This novel is lovingly dedicated to the two doctors who saved my life; Dr. Marinell Miller-Mumford and Dr. Barin Vyas. These doctors work tirelessly at the Hampton Veterans Hospital to provide the much-needed mental health care for our combat veterans. They work long hours, with overloaded cases for patients because they care. I’ve seen them cheer our triumphs, laugh with us at memories that would make most normal people cry, and mourn with us as we grapple with our lost innocence and youth. Through their tireless work, and their willingness to climb into the war-torn trenches with us, they saved lives. They saved my life. They watched my six long enough for wounds to heal and familial relationships to be saved. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you both.

  * * *

  Table of Organization and Equipment (TO&E)

  Akoni City Regional Army

  CO: Field Marshal Marchewka

  Kalino City Regional Army

  CO: Field Marshal Grigonna (deceased, to be filled)

  New Detroit City Regional Army

  CO: Field Marshal Tirunesh Nhlappo

  — Chapter 1 —

  2602AD

  Midmorning, Post-Revival Day 200

  Kalino City, Cardamine Island

  Commander, 9th SPEC OPS RGT, Akoni City Regional Army, Human Legion

  Wind whipped through the Stork shuttle as the veteran special forces Marine stood at the opened side door. Colonel Ward Belford visually inspected the island, scanning the rocky ground below for any residual heat signatures. He was looking for any indication that other troops had been there recently. His sensors simultaneously scanned for any evidence of sensor jamming devices and flipped through movement protocols, ruling out the various critters who made the island their home. Belford knew the structures on the island were underground and extremely shielded, as they’d never been noticed in orbit. Still, he searched for proof of activity that might scrap their scout mission.

  Our sensors have already reviewed this data– said his AI.

  “But you don’t have a pulse,” Belford cut in, “nor will you bleed if you’re wrong. We look until I’m satisfied.”

  Having given his final word on the subject, Belford went back to work, analyzing the data streaming in through the HUD on his helmet. Meanwhile, part of his mind contemplated how much things had changed. He was a sergeant before the war against the White Knights began, and he was still getting used to the promotion. Running the regiment wasn’t new; under their old overlords, the senior NCOs in the Human Marine Corps often performed the duties traditionally delegated to officers. But being called sir still sounded odd to him, and he suspected it always would.

  While enhancing his optics, Belford spotted something the computers had missed. Several mangled gravtanks lay rusting in the bright Tranquility morning. What the frakk? he thought. After enhancing his helmet to the extent of its capabilities, he saw that there were several human skeletons littering the area surrounding the gravtanks. Unaware of any conflict which would warrant a Marine being left to rot so unceremoniously, he started scanning his new command-level interface options.

  “Why do we have human skeletons on an uninhabited island?” Belford asked his AI.

  The data has been reviewed. There are no skeletons on the island in question.

  “Bull shite. I’m looking right at them. Focus only on the visual scans. Discard all other sensor data.”

  There are no skeletons on the island in question, his AI responded without pause.

  Pissed off and perplexed at his AI’s inability to see what was right in front of him, Belford sent the data to one of his squad leaders for review. The NCO was seasoned, and Belford trusted him explicitly. When his companion confirmed the presence of human remains, he was even more perplexed. He couldn’t figure out why his AI seemed to block out the data he could see so clearly. He knew it was there. They could see it with their eyes, despite what the sensor data said.

  As he contemplated the mystery of his AI’s behavior, Belford stared at the island underneath them. With his hands planted firmly on the doorjamb, he considered all of the skills and insights he’d acquired. He’d been reminded again that he couldn’t become overly reliant on technology to save him and his Marines. The tech was only as infallible as the person who made and maintained it. Machines fail, sometimes more than the Marines who used and abused it, which was why it bugged him not to physically verify the security of the island. Relying on data from aerial scans and a quick visual once-over seemed like a bad idea.

  Despite his misgivings, Belford had received his orders from Field Marshal Marchewka, and he’d follow them to the best of his ability. That was why he’d temporarily stepped in for the Reconnaissance Company’s commander; he couldn’t send the poor Marine into a mission that had all the hallmarks of a cluster-frakk. With his decision made, a resolute Colonel Belford turned on his local battle network, or LBNet and addressed his Marines.

  “Recon Company, we land in five mikes. NCOs, check your Marines one last time. Remember, we have zero reliable intel. Don’t assume it’s safe and secure just because the field marshals want it to be. Stay alert. Stay alive. Skull Crusher Actual, out.”

  The Stork began vibrating more as the winds buffeted the passenger cabin while both side doors and the rear ramp began to open. During the entire process, they circled the island in a shrinking corkscrew pattern. There were no new details visible to his optic scans, and his AI was still reporting nothing on the island. Knowing he had to prepare to disembark in front of his Marines, Belford walked towards the rear door of his special operations Stork shuttle. He didn’t see any movement aside from the occasional wildlife which Lance had warned him was there. Everything seemed quiet – too quiet, his gut told him – but he’d been ordered to approach and assault the target quickly.

  “The field marshals trust these AIs too much,” he muttered to himself as he moved.

  Time was of the essence, and he didn’t get to make the rules. Knowing what was coming, he ordered the three Storks carrying the Recon Company to set down just outside of Kalino City. The Recon Marines were seasoned combat veterans, a requirement to get into the Spec Ops regiments, and they needed little oversight. They’d been doing this as long as he had and didn’t need him to micromanage them. Pre-combat checks were performed, weapons were cleared and loaded, and gear was tied down and secured.

  Not wanting to trust Field Marshal Marchewka and Colonel Scipio’s overly optimistic assessment, Belford ordered them to treat the operation like they were landing in a hot LZ. He wanted his Marines to assume that Kalino was an occupied city, even though all sensors indicated that it didn’t exist, and Lance assured him that it was abandoned years ago. But expecting it to be empty just seemed too good to be true. Whenever that was the case, good Marines died.

  As expected, all the Marines were stacked by the three exits before the ramp in the rear of the Stork was done lowering. The bird hadn’t yet landed, but Belford waited by the door. Before they’d even completely touched down, he jumped out, absorbing the impact of the last two feet. The first wave of Marines followed him, and in just under two minutes, the entire company had disembarked. With their human cargo gone, the Storks returned to the skies. Belford had ordered them to fly overhead, as they were useless idling on the ground.

  Quickly, the Marines of Recon Company secured a per
imeter in the rocky soil of Cardamine Island. The distant howl of a cholba was almost lost in the wind, which continued to whip along with surprising force. Grunting, the colonel scanned the craggy rock-strewn surface that almost hid the sally port from visual detection. Taking a moment to bask in pride at his Marines, Belford saw that the years of training had them operating like a well-oiled machine. Each squad secured a flank, forming a box. Once the formation was secure and the command element cocooned in the center, he reassessed the situation.

  When he was convinced it was secure, Belford ordered his Marines to press towards the city.

  “Push in towards the main sally port indicated on the mission maps. Prepare to breach, but wait for my signal to proceed.”

  With no other indication of a threat, Belford reported in to the mission’s coordinator.

  “Colonel Scipio, we’ve verified that the island appears to be empty,” he told his commander, despite the crackling of the WBNet. “Again, I must officially protest this rushed plan. I’d prefer to take the time to secure the island properly, and not just send a recon company. Regardless, we’re at the entry points of Kalino City. We’ll maintain radio comms on the WBNet, as directed. Proceeding with the breach, on your command.”

  When Colonel Scipio gave the order to breach, Belford turned to his breaching team and nodded.

  “Skull Crusher Actual, this is Skull Crusher 2-1-Bravo. We’ve verified that the entrance is locked. Preparing to breach on your order, sir. Standing by.”

  Nodding proudly to himself inside the helmet of his combat armor, Belford inspected the rough-hewn entrance of the sally port. It blended into the surrounding terrain, just another natural divot into the rocky surface of the island of Cardamine. If he hadn’t known where to look, the Recon Marines would’ve missed it. The external blast shield was down, but the breach team had pulled open the hidden access panel. He knew they’d tried and failed with the cyber hacking approach before deciding to use their breaching explosives. Belford waited on his explosives specialists, expecting to order the explosive breach at any moment. He’d authorized his computer specialists to continue trying, then put it out of his mind.

  The breach team reported back a few tense moments later, updating the command team on their progress. The charge pattern was set, but the interference forced them to revert to an older wired detonator, slowing down the process. Belford knew having them report to him was a mere formality, as his AI received the intelligence in real time. He just preferred hearing his subordinates give him the ritualized updates, almost as much as they took comfort in giving them.

  “Skull Crusher Actual, this is Skull Crusher 2-1-Bravo. Cyber breach achieved. Access to the city has been granted. On your orders.”

  Despite his shock at the cyber team’s last-minute victory, Belford didn’t want to waste time. He quickly ordered the breach team to pack up their explosives. He then pressed in tight behind the Marines who would enter the facility first and gave the order. Like the release of a pent-up flood, the Marines swarmed into the helical ramp that led down into what they’d been told was Kalino City. According to their briefing, these rough-hewn tunnels would open into one of the White Knight’s CPU structures and would mirror Beta City. Unlike Beta City, Kalino would have large, open vehicle-processing bays before they got into the heart of the city.

  He was tense as they wound through the various chokepoints that marked the defensive sally ports in cities. Recon Company pushed onward, heedless of the risks, and finally exited the fatal funnels. They ran past the empty guard shacks, tossed their EMP grenades ahead of them to neutralize the sentry robots, then stopped to regroup deeper into the downward-sloping entrance tunnel. When everyone had reported in, the Marines continue to push towards the staging area designated as Level 1. It was the uppermost level of the city and would allow them to attempt to interface with whatever remained of the city’s AI.

  A quick scan of the area showed that the garrisons were empty, but the original barracks appeared to have been ransacked. This lack of the good order and discipline that was the hallmark of Marines everywhere was disconcerting, as were the footprints in the dust that covered everything. Someone had been here recently, though Belford knew recent was a relative term. It could have been a decade ago or only yesterday, and in the low lighting, they wouldn’t be able to tell the difference.

  “Horden’s Hairy Balls, sir, you’ve gotta see this,” exclaimed one of the Recon Marines.

  “Roger. Hold tight. I’m on my way. Skull Crusher, out.”

  Worried about what he might find, Belford picked up a steady loping jog. It didn’t take his AI long to direct him to where the Recon Marines of 1st Squad stood in shock. The barracks were littered with the skeletal remains of their Marine brethren. Nobody had bothered to bury them; they’d been left to rot until all that remained was their bones. Many of them appeared to have died in their sleep, while others were clustered around the entrances to the barracks rooms. A quick call to his other squad leaders told Belford that whatever had happened here had been systematic. Hundreds of skeletal remains, some with bullet holes in their heads, lay strewn about the barracks.

  Taking charge before his Marines became distracted by their findings, Belford began issuing orders to his squad leaders over the command-level LBNet.

  “Squad leaders, search Level 1’s ammunition storage lockers. It’ll give some indication of who left those footprints. We could be dealing with deserters or hostile forces. Assume we’re expecting hostile forces. Once we secure this city phase unit, we will jump over and clear the other four. I want 3rd Squad to scout ahead to Level 2. It should be another vehicle staging area. Secure a beachhead, then report back. We should be done with this level in fifteen mikes. Then we’ll continue exploring in force.”

  Once 3rd Squad departed, the remaining squad leaders split their Marines down by fire team to expedite the process. Belford knew that they couldn’t properly secure the city; there were too few Marines for such a large city. Despite his protestations, Colonel Scipio and Field Marshal Marchewka had been adamant that the city sat abandoned. Accordingly, they’d prioritized speed over numerical superiority and overwhelming force.

  While Recon Company searched Kalino City, they kept finding skeletal remains that were apparently left over from the city’s time as a Human Marine Corps stronghold. They continued their investigation, finding several Jotun corpses among the piles of human detritus. As they explored more of their surroundings, they discovered that the walls were pockmarked with sabot divots, indicating several running firefights had occurred. Everything they found raised more questions than they answered, leaving Belford wondering what the hell had happened here.

  Belford contemplated the tactics of securing the city with a quarter of the strength he thought he should have. Given the data available, he couldn’t help but feel disgusted by his orders. The constant static over the LBNet was Belford’s first indication that something was amiss. Their AI should be able to filter that out, and the fact that it couldn’t worried him. Even the crackling sound he was hearing was extremely unusual. That didn’t happen without interference, as each Marine served as a relay in the signal chain of interlocking AI communications. Their AIs talked to each other via line of sight, so only a sophisticated active jamming could cause this kind interference. Conventional wisdom said it was impossible, but nothing in this damned system followed the rules of the universe he’d grown up with. Belford knew he’d need comms to communicate with his Storks, circling above to provide overwatch.

  “Comms, we need the LBNet up yesterday. Make it happen,” he ordered his communications specialist before cutting their direct-communication channel.

  After a few minutes without renewed comms, Belford sent his runner to order 3rd Squad to pull back. He couldn’t advance past their communications; that was how good Marines died when following bad leaders. The Marine hadn’t acknowledged his order yet when he realized exactly why they’d lost contact. Enemy contact. Frakk. So much f
or an empty city. They were just waiting for us to waltz in and claim it, he thought.

  As soon as the sabot fire began, their comms signal returned. This can’t be good, Belford knew. The constant staccato of sabots told him his Marines were engaging with the dreaded Minis. He had communications with the wider WBNet, but 3rd Squad was still offline. Before he could investigate further, incoming comms came in from Akoni City.

  “Frakk it, Marines, use some gods-damned fire discipline,” Colonel Lance Scipio cut over the renewed network. “This is a tactical reconnaissance, not an all-out assault.”

  Before Colonel Ward Belford could respond to that, Field Marshal Marchewka cut in.

  “What is happening?” he growled over the WBNet. “My mother could be in there. I don’t want her found just to be killed by some trigger-happy chucklehead.”

  Taking a calming breath, Belford promptly responded to his superiors. “We can’t see anything yet, Field Marshal. The squad I sent ahead of the main body went dark. We’re preparing to investigate if they don’t reply soon. I want to give the Marines inside a taste of freedom as much as you do, sir, but my first duty is to the Marines under my command.”

  Their conversation was cut short as the renewed sound of carbine fire overpowered their comms. Suddenly there was only static, followed by the garbled screaming of dying Marines coming from a lone signal from the missing 3rd Squad. Belford wasted no time in formulating a fancy plan. He jumped onto the LBNet.

  “Skull Crusher Element, assemble on me. We’re going to reinforce 3rd and find out what the frakk is going on. Skull Crusher Actual, out.”

  — Chapter 2 —

  Midmorning, Post-Revival Day 200

  Kalino City, Cardamine Island

  Commander, Spartika’s Marine Corps