The Lost Aria (Earth Song Book 3) Read online

  "What can I do for you, boss?"

  "I'm not your boss, you know that. Can you lend me twenty or so of those old capsule transports we used to use on the personnel runs? You remember; they used to shuttle Chosen all over the place before the maglev network was finished."

  "Yeah, I remember. We've sold a few off to the civilian market, and use the others for moving cargo around the planet if it's too urgent to wait for a train. But, twenty of them? A lot of them are in questionable shape after so many years at hard labor."

  "They're Concordia tech, they should last forever," Minu complained, "if I remember some guy from Logistics once told me, most of them were already thousands of years old before we got them."

  "True, but we haven't been able to maintain them properly. Parts are all but impossible to get through the Concordia, and it just isn't worth fabricating them ourselves, even if that were possible. We've been cannibalizing the worst shape units to fix others for quite a while. It's part of the reason we developed the maglev," she explained, "it's more than ninety percent homemade tech and the rest of the parts are available in unlimited quantities. You know what's funny? We're in negotiations to build similar maglev networks for a dozen other minor species. They came here to trade and were dumbfounded that we'd built our own system instead of contracting it to a Concordia firm. Cheap, dumb, human tech. Who would have guessed?"

  "Several people I know," Minu whispered. A voice echoed in the back of her mind; 'The Concordia is in decline, maybe even dying'. Yet another little piece in the construct of a theory that years ago had seemed like a house of cards, or the ramblings of a madman. Every passing year made that house of cards look more like a dualloy and ceramic concrete bunker. "Well, regardless of the condition, what can you do?"

  Cherise consulted a computer out of Minu's view and then turned back. "How soon?"

  "Say a week from today?"

  "That long? Then twenty won't be a problem."

  "Great. Throw in a couple field logistics teams, whatever repair parts you got. Oh, and make a couple of them in such bad shape that they are barely working, will you?"

  Cherise laughed. "What the hell do you have planned?"

  "Just some fun."

  The next morning at the training briefing down in the main auditorium, several thousand soldiers were stunned to see Minu step onto the stage. They jumped to their feet, hands slapping their thighs. The Rasa were just as fast, but their salute was less pronounced, lacking the flat fleshy hands of the humans. "At ease," she said and waited while they took their seats. They shouldn’t have been too surprised; she had after all, informed the Chosen temporarily in charge of the units that she had an announcement to make.

  The soldiers were arrayed in groups based around their smallest units. Each squad was comprised of two five man fire teams, each lead by a corporal. Two squads joined with an extra command fire team to produce a platoon. Four platoons to a company, and finally, three companies made a battalion. Ranks ranged from private to sergeant major, currently the highest ranking soldier. At that point, a Chosen stood in command of each company, accounting for a lot of the active duty command Chosen four and five stars. There were additional command platoons with each battalion and support personnel bringing the total to one thousand, fifty men and women in the three battalions of Red Army. As they progressed, soldiers would assume the command officer ratings from the temporary Chosen pressed into duty. The scouts would retain their own structure.

  The Rasa were led by their own officers, their native ranks replaced with the human equivalent for organization purposes; minus the human Chosen. The six battalions of Rasa were all under Green Army. It was the only color that made sense. The aliens again proved their versatility by quickly adapting to the changes. Var'at even said it made more sense than their strictly birth ordered ranking system. As Minu took the podium she looked out on the seated multitude. More than a thousand humans and two thousand Rasa soldiers stared back at her. Nine battalions ready to defend Bellatrix. Just over a year ago they'd stood against five thousand Rasa with only a few hundred scouts. She closed her eyes for a moment and tried to imagine how the vendetta would play out today. Would Var'at's people here even have survived to surrender? She doubted it.

  "Good morning soldiers."

  "Boss!" they all roared. Minu's head jerked around to skewer Aaron where he stood. He blushed and held up his hands like he was helpless to control them. She gave him a 'we'll talk about this later' look and turned back to the assembled troops.

  "I am proud of each and every one of you. From the moment we, the Chosen, first conceived of this mighty fighting force until now, I wasn't sure we could accomplish our goals. But here you are many thousand strong, with more on the way. Do you stand ready?"

  "We are ready!" they roared back at her, their raised voices buffeting the air around her.

  Minu nodded and smiled, "very good." She turned to the three Chosen in temporary command of the human battalions; three star commanders named Daniel Tucker, Alex Dawn, and Samuel Ubuntu. The latter was from the Desert tribe, and a relative of Cherise’s. Var'at stood next to them, alert and excited. "We are on alert until further notice," she told them. Then, without another word, she turned and walked out. They did their best to remain quiet until she closed the doors behind her, but as she left there was a smile on her face and a dull roar of excited conversation behind her. By the time she reached her office, Aaron was waiting for her. "When did you learn to fly?" she wondered at seeing him beat her back to her office despite leaving before he did.

  "You gave me this job to drive your crazy training regime. I've found it necessary to develop the skills of flight."

  "Good, now teach all of the rest of them as well," she said and cocked a thumb out her door to take in the entire fort."

  "Funny, but not as funny as putting the place on alert. We've never even had them march in formation more than a few kilometers. What do you think will happen when they try to maneuver together?"

  "Mass hysteria, at the very least. Somewhat disorganized mayhem at best."

  "Sounds reasonable," Aaron said and shook his head. "If you know the results, why bother with the attempt?"

  "Because you can't succeed until you fail."

  "We haven't even begun working with these fighter hybrids we've been promised."

  "The next best thing is on the way."

  "Okay, whatever you say." A few minutes after he'd left, Var'at came skittering in. Unlike Aaron, he was agitated, his tongue flicking in and out, an obvious sign of excitement.

  "We are to fight?"

  "It is practice." Var'at seemed a little deflated, but then gave a very human shrug.

  "It is better than farming and training all day. What more do you wish of me?"

  "I want you to detach First through Third battalions of Green army as an OPFOR"

  "What is this OPFOR?"

  "It’s short for Opposition Force. I mean to have you act as an enemy unit in the field. Then, after the first round we'll reverse the players and try again."

  "We will do as you ask," he said and bowed low. "But we wait for the chance to truly sink our teeth into your enemies."

  She considered her friend for a long moment and recalled how they were once bitter enemies. “I can wait for that day, at least a while longer," Minu admitted, "but I'm sure the day will come, and sooner rather than later."

  After her announcement, the Fort was buzzing with excitement all that day, and the next. Even the section of the fort where the newest soldiers were in basic training, held excited conversations, everyone eager to see what happened. But as the time extended into the third day, there were mumbles of discontent and confusion. Was Minu just kidding? Maybe a test to see how wound up they could get the soldiers before they freaked out? She got inquiry after inquiry on her computer asking when there would be a drill. Every one she answered the same. "Soon.” Eventually, they quit asking.

  On the fourth day, in the nearly empty vehicle bays, two doz
en capsule shaped transports were quietly delivered. Minu went down as the last two arrived to meet Cherise, who'd flown the last one herself. It landed somewhat roughly, even a little smoke curling from one of the Venetian vents where the gravitic impellers were housed. "Nice landing," she told her dark skinned friend as Cherise got out. Even more smoke was inside. "Glad you made it."

  "Had to land twice and do patch jobs on the flight controls," Cherise said. She came over and gave Minu a peck on the cheek as greeting. Minu was at first, worried she was going to try and kiss her on the lips, then disappointed when she didn't. But of course with the bay full of green star Logistics Chosen and civilians working for logistics, Minu should have known nothing more would happen. Cherise pointed to the craft she'd flown and the other that had landed moments before hers. "Numbers 92-B and 61-A are the junkers you asked for. We managed to get them here, but I doubt they'll make it to Dodge City and back."

  "Are they safe?"

  "Oh sure. The emergency impellers have their own EPC that is recharged every time you replace the main, and if they don't check one hundred percent, it won't fly at all. You can override that safety if you're feeling suicidal."

  "What happens if the main fails?"

  "You drop to about fifty meters in a gut wrenching descent.”

  “Scary surprise?”

  “Better have a spare pair of undies. At that point, depending on your cargo, you'll either be encouraged repeatedly to land and only be able to go about 50 KPH, or you end up making a rather bumpy emergency landing whether you like it or not."

  "Good, thanks for the loan."

  "Am I going to get them back?"

  Minu smirked and looked innocent. “Can I get back to you on that?"

  "Right. Got some time for a swim this weekend?"

  Minu knew without a doubt what the other girl meant by that. She felt a little thrill of excitement but suppressed it just as quickly "No, we're going to be playing soldier."

  "Suit yourself," she said and headed for the main exit. An overland bus left on the hour for Dodge City where she could catch a maglev back to Steven's Pass.

  "I'll call you when I have some time," she called to the retreating girl. Cherise held up a long thin arm and gave her a backwards wave just as she went around a corner and out of sight. Minu turned to the team of specialists that were staying to help her. "Okay gentlemen, I need all of these transports to look identical."

  "They won't work identical, Chosen," one man told her. He looked to be in his fifties and possessed well callused hands. He was leaning against a transport with a familiarity that bespoke of many years working on the machines. He was a civilian and given his age was probably hired back when the first of the venerable transports came on line.

  "It's not necessary that they do, but I want to make sure you can't tell by just looking. Let’s get rid of the smoke, clean off the carbon scoring, give the seats a good cleaning, and empty the ash trays." The men all laughed in good humor. "Also, on this tablet you'll find some specifications. Please modify the paint job accordingly and add the number schemes."

  "Which one with what number?" the same older man asked. Even though he was a civilian, it was obvious he was in charge.

  "The list indicates an asterisk next to two of them; those are to be the trashed transports."

  The man nodded and took the tablet, scrolling over the instructions. "Shouldn't take more than twelve hours."

  "Very good. What is your name, sir?"

  "He's just a civilian mechanic," interjected a Chosen showing four green stars. The man who was supposed to be in charge had finally spoken up.

  "I know that, but I'd still like his name."

  "You can call me Max, ma'am."

  "Max it is, then. Max would you consider working for Fort Jovich here, with my people?"

  "Chosen Alma," the four star barked, "we have a hard time getting trained people in Steven's Pass."

  "Not as hard as we do here, I'd wager. Half the adults in the Peninsula Tribe can't use a computer. Dodge City is nothing more than bars and whorehouses."

  "And it's my choice where I work and live, with all due respect to the Chosen," Max said to the green star he'd arrived with, "it would be an honor to work under the daughter of Chriso Alma."

  "You knew my father?"

  "Who didn't? But yes, I'd worked under him before. It was at least twenty years ago when we first got these fliers. Of course I was just a snot nosed twenty five year old, and your dad younger than me."

  "My thanks." Minu shook his hand and gave the Chosen a shrug. "Now as quickly as possible, if you please?" she indicated the computer with its list of modifications and headed from the bay. The Chosen from Logistics glared at her retreating back.

  Chapter 6

  September 4th, 521 AE

  Fort Jovich, Peninsula Tribe Territory

  It was three o'clock in the morning on the fifth day after placing the fort on alert. Minu returned to her office late the night before on the excuse that there was a meeting she needed to attend via teleconference. What she'd really done was take a good long nap on her office's comfy couch. When the alarm on her chronometer went off at 3 A.M. she'd already been up and showered in the office's small fresher and was just zipping up her clean black jump suit; three golden stars shining on her cuffs and boots polished to a mirror finish. Clipping on her belt she pulled out one of the three computer tablets that rode in holsters on her hip. The command was already entered; all she did was touch the control.

  Alarm klaxons blared, almost loud enough to frighten her despite being ready for it. A supposedly reassuring female voice came over the intercom. "Attention, attention. This is an action alert. Alien forces are attacking the maglev station at Dodge City. Red Army, First Battalion is ordered to prepare for emergency deployment! This is a drill."

  Minu really wanted to leave off the last. It was only Aaron reminding her that the fort was full of partially trained kids that shook her resolve. Some accidents were unavoidable in training. Calling an alert without at least letting them know it was a drill was begging for something to go deadly wrong. As it was she knew thousands of young people would be tumbling from their bunks, bumping into each other, some smashing into walls and cots as they tried to get ready. There would be excitement, there would be fear, there would be confusion, and there would hopefully be invaluable experience gained. She went to her closet and grabbed her field kit. There was a little dust on it that really annoyed her. How many months had it been since she'd lead a mission, or even been off world? Six months? A year? They were going less than a hundred kilometers, but it was still something.

  Var'at and his OPFOR left late last night, shortly after lights out. The Rasa commander looked very excited for a chance to test the new soldiers in combat. It was with no small sense of concern that she used the Rasa as the aggressors first. To some the Vendetta was very fresh in their minds. That also helped her decide to proclaim that this was only a drill.

  Down in the ready room, she was the first to arrive except for a few Chosen who knew what was going on. The ready room was a large chamber attached to several areas of the fort via tunnels, including the vehicle bays, an outside ramp, and the Portal chamber one level below. On one side a pair of stairs entered and angled in either direction to a line of drop and jump tubes. Up the stairs Minu could hear the sound of running feet. She stood by the ramp leading to the vehicle bays, tablet in hand, waiting impatiently. Seven minutes were now elapsed since the alarm sounded.

  With a yell a pair of sergeants raced in followed closely by their platoons. She recognized these platoons and wasn't surprised. Both the sergeants were Chosen soldiers trained up with the rest. But unlike many, they had been in an existing military on Bellatrix prior to joining. Minu was on the lookout for soldiers like these from the beginning and used them extensively to fill NCO slots as much as possible. They would likely be the first full officers, and their showing today backed up her assessment.

  As squads continu
ed to arrive in ever increasingly less organized condition, Minu took copious notes on their readiness rating from one to five. Five being the best, and one the worst. Only six squads earned a five, and that disgusted her. All these months of training and it only took five months cooling their heels to cause a total lapse of readiness.

  Once she got to the last squad she rated with three or above, Minu ordered the door closed. A worker gave her the thumbs up and the doors rumbled closed. The sounds of men yelling on the other side came through as they tried to stop the doors from closing. Chosen Daniel's command squad earned him a ranking of four and he stared in surprise at her as she locked almost an entire company out. "I'm sorry, commander, the rest of your battalion is too late to be of any good in this deployment."

  He was taken aback but nodded in understanding. "We will work on this issue very hard after the drill."

  "I'm sure you will," she said and looked around at the state of readiness for the soldiers that had made it inside, many still tried to finish securing weapons or zipping uniforms, "among other things." Daniel turned red and cleared his throat.

  "Shall we move to the exterior ramp?"

  "No Colonel Tucker, down to the vehicle bay ramp."

  "As the commander orders," he said and yelled for the battalion to move out by squad up the ramp to the vehicle bay. The ready room was crowded with five hundred men and women, not as crowded as it should have been though. It took more precious minutes to get them moving in an orderly manner. All the time Minu was taking notes. She would be the one to command the soldiers, if it was the last thing she did. Minu never spent a lot of time wondering why she was so driven to be an old style military general. Maybe it was all the historical studies she'd been doing in warfare? Maybe it was the Rasa Vendetta? Maybe there was some other, deeper reason. At the moment it didn't really matter. Despite the sloppiness of the deployment, she was leading her soldiers into the field for the first time. As the day wore on, her excitement would give way to a profoundly humbling sense of frustration.