Portal Wars 1: Gehenna Dawn (11 page)

The air crews weren’t lifers like Jake and
his people. That didn’t mean they weren’t real combat soldiers,
though. Their loss rate didn’t equal the infantry’s, but no one
would call their duties safe. But if they survived a tour of duty
on Erastus, they’d go back to Earth. Jake and his brothers could
only imagine a hope like that.

Taylor picked up the small mic and flipped it
on. “Thank you, Lieutenant.” He leaned back and mopped his forehead
with a small cloth. The units on Erastus didn’t have dress uniforms
or anything like that. There was just no need for them. But Jake
was wearing his full duty uniform, not just light combat fatigues.
He was getting some air from the small vents in the Mustang’s hold,
but it was still damned hot, especially wearing the uniform’s
high-collared jacket.

He’d been surprised when he arrived on
Erastus to find that virtually nothing was air-conditioned. Not the
barracks, not the transports. Nothing. Even the infirmary was only
moderately climate-controlled…better by a considerable margin than
anywhere else, but still pretty hot.

He was confused at first, but he came to
understand. Adapting to the heat of Erastus was the most important
thing a soldier could do to survive. Those who failed to do so, who
became weak and fatigued on the battlefield…they were the first to
die. The men of Erastus, especially the life-service infantrymen,
had to make the inferno into their natural habitat. And popping in
and out of comfortably air-conditioned areas was not at all
conducive to effective acclimation.

I wonder what headquarters is like, Jake
thought idly. It had been five years since he’d felt truly cool
air, and he wondered if HQ might have some to offer. He found
himself hoping so, but when he thought about it a bit more, he
decided it might be better not to be reminded of things that were
lost to him.

Jake watched the terrain passing below the
transport. Firebase Delta was situated in the deep desert, an area
so devoid of moisture, the time between rains was measured in
years. The last measured precipitation had been before Taylor even
arrived onplanet.

He’d served in the jungles of Erastus too, a
steaming hot equatorial belt, brutally humid and filled with
venomous predators. It was the only area of Erastus with a
significant number of lifeforms. The rest of planet was virtually
lifeless, like the desert, or was home to a limited range of plant
life, like the grass-covered polar plains he was now passing
over.

UN Command Headquarters was built near the
center of the northern polar region, the closest thing Erastus had
to a temperate area. The Portal from Earth was located very close
to the planet’s north pole, and HQ had been built near the transit
point. There were other advantages as well...the slightly more
moderate temperatures were easier on the specialist troops and UN
brass based at headquarters.

“We’ll be landing in just a minute,
Lieutenant Taylor.” Taylor could feel the antigrav turning slowly.
He could see the flat paved area ahead. Most of HQ was
subterranean; only the landing pads were above ground.

The Mustang flew over one of the flat areas,
and it gently descended in place as the antigrav generators slowly
cut power, gradually restoring the effects of gravity. It was a
soft landing…Taylor had to look outside to confirm they’d actually
hit ground. He unstrapped himself and slowly stood up, wincing a
bit as he did. It was time to see what the high command really
wanted from him.

Taylor walked into the room, removing his hat
as he did. He was distracted by an unfamiliar feeling as a wave of
cool air rushed over him. He fought the urge to close his eyes and
stand there savoring the blissful sensation. The crispness brought
back a flood of memories, things he’d thought long-forgotten. For
an instant, he was back in New Hampshire in autumn.

He’d expected to meet with a middling-high
level officer, a major, or even a colonel. Instead, he’d been
advised that an assistant UN under-secretary named Kazan was
waiting to see him. To almost anyone on Earth, such a creature was
unimaginably lofty, a senior Admin and a powerful and respected
member of the government. To a grunt on Erastus such a meeting was
without precedent.

“Greetings, Lieutenant Taylor. It is a great
pleasure to finally meet you.” Gregor Kazan was extremely polite,
but Taylor was immediately uncomfortable around him. His tone
sounded sincere, at least on the surface. But there was something
unsettling about him, something that made Jake suspicious.

“I feel we have known each other for quite
some time.” Kazan walked toward Jake, extending his hand.

Taylor reached out and took Kazan’s proffered
hand, a confused look on his face. “Welcome to Erastus, sir.” It
was all Taylor could think to say. Then: “Known each other? Have we
met before?”

Kazan pointed to a small table with two
chairs. “Please, Lieutenant, sit.” He turned and walked toward the
table himself. “You have had a hard time of it these last few days,
I’m afraid. Kazan stood and watched as Taylor walked over and
pulled out a chair, slowly lowering himself into it. “And to answer
your question, no, we have not met. But I have known of you for
some time.”

Kazan sat down, harder and less gracefully
than Taylor had. He noticed Jake taking a deep breath. His eyes
darted to the air vent and back. “Yes, Lieutenant, I am sure my air
conditioning is quite a change for you. I’m afraid I would be quite
unable to function without it.” He smiled. It was intended to make
Taylor comfortable, but there was something odd about Kazan’s thin
lips. The official had been nothing but flawlessly polite, but Jake
just wanted to get out of there, air conditioning or no. Something
about Kazan made him uncomfortable.

“It is a terrible shame that you and your
soldiers must exist in such hostile conditions.” He said the words,
but Jake was pretty sure the creepy little prick didn’t give a shit
what happened to the men in the field. “But it wouldn’t be a
service to you to allow you to face the Machines unprepared, would
it?”

Taylor wanted to scream out, to tell Kazan
that UN Central sent unprepared men to Erastus every day, and that
most of them still weren’t ready when they fought their first
battles. Which was why most of them died. But he held his tongue
and said only, “No, sir. It wouldn’t.”

Kazan sat quietly, looking across the table.
Taylor wanted to ask why he’d been brought to HQ, but he decided to
wait and see what Kazan had to say. It turned out he only had to
wait a few seconds more.

“I am sure you are wondering why you are
here, Lieutenant.” Kazan still had the narrow smile on his face.
The longer he kept it there, the phonier it looked.

“Yes, sir.” Taylor spoke softly,
matter-of-factly. “I am somewhat curious.” More than somewhat, he
thought…but he was determined to play it cool. His father had told
him not to trust anyone from the government. He’d ignored the old
man at the time, writing it off to one of his anti-establishment
rants. But now his father’s words were there again, playing at the
back of his mind, sounding a lot more rational than they had five
years earlier.

“Well, to deal with the simplest matter
first, you are to receive a Silver Starcluster, and I will be
presenting the award.” Kazan watched, clearly expecting more of a
reaction than Taylor gave him.

Jake sat still, staring back at his companion
with emotionless eyes. Medals, causes, speeches…they are all
worthless...they are as corrupt as the puppet masters who use them
to control men. His father’s words again, fighting their way from
memory to the forefront of his consciousness.

“Thank you, sir. That is quite an honor.”
Taylor said what was expected of him, at least minimally. He didn’t
manage to put much feeling behind it. Jake wasn’t as accomplished a
fraud as Kazan.

Kazan noticed the lack of enthusiasm. “I am
certain this is all a lot for you to absorb, coming so quickly
after fighting such a terrible battle.”

The door buzzer sounded. “Enter.” Kazan
didn’t sound surprised by the intrusion.

A steward walked swiftly into the room,
carrying a tray with a pitcher and two glasses. “Just set it down
on the table, Joff.” The neatly attired servant swiftly obeyed
Kazan’s command.

“Will there be anything else, sir?”

Kazan glanced at the pitcher full of ice
water, then at Taylor, who couldn’t keep his eyes off it. “No,
Joff. That will be all.”

“Some water, Lieutenant?”

Taylor was trying to maintain his detachment,
but it had been five years since he’d had a drink of water that
wasn’t piss warm. “Yes, sir. I would appreciate that.”

Taylor watched Kazan reach out and grab the
pitcher. It was clear, but fogged over with condensation. Kazan
poured slowly, and Jake’s eyes watched the water and the ice cubes
– Ice! – flow into the glass.

“I don’t wish to overwhelm you, Lieutenant,
but there is something else I wanted to discuss with you.” He
reached over and placed the glass in front of Taylor.

Jake eyed the water greedily, but he forced
himself to wait. “Yes, sir. What else can I do for you?” He paused
another few seconds, his hand shaking the entire time, wanting to
reach out for the icy cold water.

Kazan watched. This soldier has good control,
he thought…perhaps we chose well. “Lieutenant, UN Central Command
has developed a new program, one designed to improve survivability
for our soldiers fighting on difficult worlds.” He paused, then
added, “Like Erastus.”

Taylor was listening, trying – and mostly
failing - to look cool and uninterested as he raised the glass to
his lips and felt the icy water slide down his throat. He drank
half, forcing himself to put the glass down before he drained it.
“A new program?” Taylor found himself interested. This was an
unexpected topic.

“Yes, Lieutenant.” Kazan suppressed a
satisfied smile. He had Taylor’s attention now. “I’m afraid it is
quite complex and more than we can discuss in true detail at this
time.” He looked across the table with a broad smile that made
Taylor’s stomach flip. “But the good news is that your strikeforce
has been chosen to be the first to participate in the program. Your
people are receiving their orders now. They will be here in two
days.”

Taylor say quietly for a few seconds, before
speaking. He wasn’t sure what to think about any of this, but he
also knew he didn’t have any choices here…no more than he’d had
back on the farm when he’d given his life to UN Central. “Will
Sergeant Daniels be with them?”

Kazan had an annoyed look on his face. “I’m
afraid Sergeant Daniels is under arrest, Lieutenant. Threatening a
superior officer at gunpoint is a very serious offense.”

Taylor knew it was serious. It was a capital
offense. “I understand the gravity of the situation, but I believe
that prosecution is misplaced in this case. Sergeant Daniels was
only acting to save…”

“It is immaterial to our discussions,
Lieutenant Taylor. I’m afraid it is out of my hands.” Kazan’s tone
made it clear he considered the matter settled.

Taylor stared at the UN bigwig, his eyes
boring like lasers. “I am prepared to cooperate with your new
program, sir, but I must first insist that Sergeant Daniels be
pardoned.”

Kazan glared back at him, clearly outraged at
the audacity of someone he considered well beneath him. “You have
no authority to refuse any orders, Lieutenant. Regardless of the
sergeant’s fate.” His voice dripped with contempt. Taylor knew it
had been there all along, but his defiance had stripped away the
veneer of civility and respect.

Taylor sat rigidly upright in his chair. He
was uncomfortable facing off against a high UN official. The last
five years of his life had been all about following orders, and
before that, he’d had the usual fear of government officials. He
didn’t know exactly where Kazan fit into the UN hierarchy, but he
was sure it was pretty high up. But Hank Daniels was a good soldier
and a friend. His actions that day saved not only Jake, but six
other soldiers. He deserved better than to be shot in some dark
cellar somewhere after a perfunctory trial.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Kazan.” Taylor had faced
death a hundred times since he’d arrived on Erastus. He wasn’t
going to back down now. “I will not cooperate in any way unless I
have an assurance that Sergeant Daniels will be released and that
no charges will be filed.”

Kazan looked on the verge of an apoplectic
fit. It was obvious he enjoyed wielding his power, and equally
apparent that people rarely stood up to him. But Jake didn’t
care…he didn’t care if he was dragged out of the office and shot
right now. He wasn’t going to abandon Daniels.

Kazan was silent for a long while. He stared
at Taylor the entire time, as if trying to take the measure of the
man. Finally, he spoke softly, slowly, his barely restrained anger
obvious in his voice. “Very well, Lieutenant Taylor. I will grant
your request.” He had a sour look on his face, like a child being
compelled to finish a plate of some hated vegetable. “But you will
do everything exactly as you are told from now on without
precondition or argument. Do you understand what I am saying to
you?” His tone was deadly serious.

“Yes, sir.” Taylor was surprised his stand
had worked. This must be important, he thought…whatever it is they
want me to do. “I understand.”

“Good.” Kazan glared at Taylor, not even
trying to hide his disdain. “Because if you so much as hesitate an
instant before following another order, I promise that you will be
dragged into some hidden hole somewhere and shot without so much as
the formality of a court martial.” He paused, still glowering at
his silent guest. “And the same for Sergeant Daniels. Do you
understand me, Lieutenant?”