America's Galactic Foreign Legion - Book 4: Demilitarized Zone (18 page)

“Generalissimo Ross, that was a fine
service,” commented Captain Lopez. “You won a well-fought victory.
Congratulations.”

“Thank you,” said Ross.

“We intercepted a message that the spiders’
Supreme Commander for New Gobi is going to visit us soon,” said
Captain Lopez.

“Let him come,” replied Ross. “We are
ready.”

“You are now under the protection of the
United States Galactic Federation,” said Captain Lopez. “The Legion
will protect you.”

“Like you protected us before?” asked Ross.
“No thanks, we will protect ourselves.”

“You fought very well with the weapons I gave
you,” said Captain Lopez. “But we had an agreement. You will now
return the surface-to-air missiles and launchers.”

“I appreciate your help,” replied Ross. “But
the militia will keep the SAMs.”

“I insist,” said Captain Lopez. “We cannot
risk the SAMs falling into the hands of terrorists.”

“Too late,” said Ross, laughing bitterly.
“The militia will keep all of its weapons.”

“You are jeopardizing future arms
agreements,” said Captain Lopez. “And you may face arrest.”

“The Legion has overstayed its welcome in the
Yellow Brick Valley,” announced Ross. “You have one week to get
out.”

* * * * *

The spider Governor of the North Territory
was upset over the loss of his marines, and called the Commander of
New Gobi to express his concerns. There would be an investigation.
That idiot nephew of the Emperor took more time out of his day than
he was worth, and would be chewed out good this time.

“Explain to me how a thousand marines can be
defeated by the human pestilence National Guard!” demanded the
governor. “Your incompetence has reached a new level!”

“I gave the marine commander you assigned
full discretion on how to conduct himself in the field,” replied
the spider commander. “He was the incompetent, and it was the human
pestilence militia that destroyed him.”

“And that makes it better?” asked the
governor. “Militia are nothing but drunken rabble and terrorists!
At least a National Guard unit has organization, training, and
government support. Is there no end to your disgrace?”

“The task force got trapped in a rain storm,”
explained the spider commander. “They sank in the mud during the
battle.”

“Enough excuses!” shouted the governor. “In
the next month, about a hundred thousand of our colonists are going
to be arriving in the Yellow Brick and Redrock areas. You will
ensure their safety and get them settled in.”

“How can I do that?” asked the spider
commander. “The Legion has seized Yellow Brick. You want me to kick
the human pestilence out by force?”

“There is no border,” explained the governor.
“Just flood the town with new arrivals and plop prefabricated
houses down everywhere you can. Expand the water district and
infrastructure to our citizens only. You will take Yellow Brick
back by default. The Emperor does not want you shooting it out with
the Legion. You would probably screw that up anyway.”

“I’ll send my head of Military Intelligence
to handle it,” promised the spider commander. “Consider it
done.”

“You will get off your poopchute and handle
the details personally!” ordered the governor. “There will be no
more delegating your responsibilities. Colonel Czerinski is out
there stirring up trouble. I want you out there keeping an eye on
Czerinski. Kill him if you can, but don’t make it look like we did
it.”

“Yes, sir,” said the spider commander. “You
are right. I need to settle accounts with Czerinski.”

“Have you been supplying the insurgents with
weapons?” asked the governor.

“Yes, sir,” answered the spider commander.
“But only a limited amount. I have promised them more.”

“Good,” said the governor. “I agree. Increase
their supply. Give them whatever they want or need. We need our own
organized militia to harass the human pestilence. Let the
insurgents kill Czerinski.”

“Is that wise?” asked the spider commander.
“It is difficult to control civilian militia once they get full of
themselves. There are some here who want full independence.”

“They will stay in line if they know what is
good for them!” said the governor. “Just be firm. Take a shuttle
immediately to Yellow Brick or Redrock and make it happen!”

* * * * *

Two militia freedom fighters stood motionless
in the shade of a boulder overlooking New Gobi. They resembled
nomadic Bedouin from Old Earth, wearing flowing robes and headgear.
The sage-colored cloth protected them from the sun and made them
invisible under air surveillance. They watched an Arthropodan
shuttle taxi down an airport runway, climb, then veer violently to
the right, increasing altitude.

The freedom fighters fired a SAM at the
shuttle. The missile went straight, then turned sharply when the
shuttle veered to the right. On impact, the explosion took off a
wing, maiming the shuttle. The craft spiraled to the ground.
Emergency ejection pods saved several passengers and crew, and
their parachutes drifted slowly back toward New Gobi. One of the
passengers, the Supreme Commander for New Gobi, swore death to the
human pestilence and to Czerinski and his Legion.

* * * * *

I arrived in Yellow Brick with a convoy of
flatbed trucks carrying twenty of the Legion’s newest battle tanks.
The convoy also escorted fuel trucks to keep the fuel-thirsty
monsters moving. I could not help but notice hundreds of new
geodesic domes lining Main Street into town, and thousands of new
spider colonists. Captain Lopez met me at Legion Headquarters for a
briefing.

“I thought the spiders were driven out,” I
said. “But it looks like they are everywhere!”

“Their marine task force was wiped out by the
militia,” replied Captain Lopez. “But as you can see, we seem to
have an immigration problem. What took you so long to get
here?”

“The road still has landmines. We could only
go as fast as the engineers’ mine sweeper.”

“Generalissimo Ross says we have one more day
before he kicks us out,” sneered Captain Lopez. “I think the
militia is going to do something stupid.”

“That’s why I brought the tanks. We are not
leaving. What is Ross upset about?”

“I asked Ross to return the SAMs,” said
Captain Lopez. “He refuses.”

“You gave Ross SAMs? Are you insane?”

“I’ll admit it was not my best move. But
what’s done is done.”

“I want to talk to Ross. Maybe we can work
out an understanding.”

“That’s not likely,” said Captain Lopez.
“Ross left town as soon as you arrived. There is something I didn’t
tell you. Ross was wearing your gold-plated sunglasses and your
pistol.”

“That little shit is responsible for the
grenade in my desk? I still have problems sitting down from
shrapnel in my ass!”

“Ross has grown up a bit,” commented Captain
Lopez. “He has become a very capable leader.”

“Kill Ross at the first opportunity,” I
ordered. “Make it look like the spiders did it.”

* * * * *

John Hume Ross led a militia squad up from
the tunnels into the fenced Legion compound. Fuel trucks were lined
up neatly, row after row. The freedom fighters placed explosive
charges on each fuel truck, then retreated back into the
tunnels.

At midnight the explosions turned the night
sky into day. The entire town wakened and gathered to watch the
fire. It was almost like a Fourth of July picnic. The crowd ‘ooed’
and ‘ahhed’ with each new explosion. Food venders sold hotdogs and
popcorn. Spider and human kids raced about the adults, playing tag
and war.

The next morning I called General Kalipetsis
about getting fuel replacement. My new battle tanks were worthless
without fuel. General Kalipetsis ordered the Legion to leave Yellow
Brick. He explained that the specter of the Legion fighting a human
insurgency was not worth it. The bad press would affect upcoming
elections and inflame other planetary problem areas. He
specifically told me not to nuke anything this time.

After the Legion pulled out, a token presence
would be maintained at Legion Headquarters. The United States
Galactic Federation would try to retain sovereignty over Yellow
Brick through negotiations, but joint jurisdiction with the spiders
would be acceptable.

* * * * *

After the Legion left Yellow Brick, the
militia triumphantly entered town. They were dismayed at the
thousands of new spider colonists, but tried to put a good face on
their parade. Victorious, most militia members shed their uniforms
and weapons and returned to their ranches, farms, and
businesses.

However, Ross and his cohorts were determined
to maintain a strong and visible militia presence, so they kept
wearing their uniforms and carrying weapons. They reasoned that
something needed to be done about this latest invasion of spider
colonists. Ross parked his jeep in front of City Hall. Across the
street was a brand new building. It sported Arthropodan signs on
its façade, announcing the grand opening of a new grocery store.
Milk and goo pudding were selling at half price.

Ross crossed the street and entered the
grocery. Its air-conditioning was refreshing. The spider owner
cheerfully greeted Ross. Ross ignored pleasantries and continued
prowling about the store. Ross popped the top on a beer and chugged
it down, tossing the can in an aisle. After relieving his thirst,
Ross grabbed a six-pack and walked out.

“Hey, asshole!” yelled the store owner,
following Ross outside. “You owe me ten credits!”

“Sorry,” said Ross. “I only have dollars on
me.”

“I am calling the police on you!” threatened
the store owner, shaking his claw.

Ross ignored the store owner as he approached
his jeep. Ross grabbed an assault rifle and sprayed the new plate
glass windows of the grocery with bullets, barely missing the store
owner and several pedestrians. Then he drove off, his militia
buddies cheering. A few blocks away, a Sheriff’s Office patrol car
stopped Ross with blue lights and siren.

“It’s Barney Fife,” commented one of the
militia lieutenants. “You’re in big trouble now.”

“Who is Barney Fife?” asked Ross.

“You know, from TV,” replied the lieutenant.
“Andy of Mayberry? Don’t you watch TV? It’s been in syndication for
centuries.”

“No,” answered Ross. “TV brainwashes the
mind. No spider cop is going to arrest me for anything. We will
kill him first. Be ready.”

Two spider officers approached the jeep. A
deputy hung back by the tailgate while the sheriff talked to Ross.
“Do you know why I stopped you?” asked the sheriff.

“Gee, Mr. Fife,” said Ross. “For disturbing
the peace? Or maybe littering?” Ross crushed a beer can and dropped
it into the street.

“With utter disregard for life, you fired an
assault rifle into a grocery store on Main Street,” accused the
sheriff. “That amounts to a lot more than just disturbing the
peace. Do you care to explain yourself?”

“Exercise your right to remain silent,”
advised one of the lieutenants, laughing.

“Do you know who I am?” asked Ross. “I just
defeated an entire marine task force of you spiders. I just forced
your protectors in the Legion to leave town. Do you think I am
afraid of the town’s spider clown?”

“Think, Mr. Ross,” said the sheriff. “Why did
you fight the task force marines and tell the Legion to leave?”

“To fight oppression and to make Yellow Brick
safe for humanity,” replied Ross, proudly.

“Look around you,” ordered the sheriff. “What
do you see?”

Ross looked about. He could not believe he
was having this conversation. In a minute Ross planned to just kill
this uppity spider. He saw school kids, spiders and humans,
carrying their books to school. He saw two boys passing a football
back and forth across the street. One was a spider, and one was a
human.

“I see it’s a school day,” replied Ross.
“What’s your point?”

“My point is that Yellow Brick is already
peaceful and safe,” said the sheriff. “You are the only menace in
town.”

“You are a menace to society,” joked one of
Ross’s lieutenants.

“This invasion of illegal spider immigrants
doesn’t make Yellow Brick better or safer,” argued Ross. “It is an
abomination for you spiders to come in here and build on top of
what we started. This is not a change I will tolerate.”

“Immigrants are pouring in from both north
and south,” explained the sheriff. “Permanent change is already
here. This change is bigger than the Arthropodan marines, the
Legion, or you and me. These farmers and merchants are the
future.”

“Not if they’re spiders,” said Ross. “They
are not my future as long as I’m running things.”

“I tried, but you just do not get it,” said
the sheriff. “You are under arrest for attempted murder. Everyone
put your hands high into the air! Do it now!”

Ross smirked. He glanced about as he reached
for his pistol, only just now thinking about the other officer. He
was startled by the distinct sound of shotgun slides racking.
Twenty deputies, some spider and some human, had surrounded his
jeep. Ross was taken into custody without incident. His lieutenants
were told to get out of town before sundown.

Ross only stayed inside the city jail a short
time. The sheriff cemented a large post into the street by the
damaged grocery store. Ross was chained to the post, with about ten
feet of walk-around space. The sheriff handed Ross a white sheet
for shade, a wool blanket for the cold nights, a couple jugs of
water, and a plastic honey bucket.

“What is this?” asked Ross.

“Your new home,” replied the sheriff.

“This is inhumane,” protested Ross. “You have
no right to do this to me. When is my trial? I have constitutional
rights!”