The Conscripts: Fight or Die (Blood War Book 3) (33 page)

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Fenes was standing next to Striker and Minga in a huge, dark hangar with other members of the first platoon who were still straggling in, greeting friends and seeing who had made it and who was missing, when Ardan came running up and said, “You made it. Goddamn, you two made it. Where’s the rest of the platoon?”

“Some are wounded, others dead, and some I don’t know,” Fenes replied.

“We’re going to have to do our own head count when we get back on the Tarawa,” Striker said, looking around for more from their platoon.

“What’s happening to us?” Ardan asked.

“Nani said we are now Marines and Raiders and will be treated as such,” Striker said.

“Shit, what about Von Fleet and the penal battalion?”

“Nani said not to worry about that. After watching her the last few hours, I believe her,” Striker said.

“Fuck me. A Marine and a Raider. Hard to believe,” Ardan said.

Fenes knew how Ardan felt. A few short months ago he had been an out-of-work debtor. Now he was considered a Marine and a Raider by other Marines and Raiders. It was almost too much to take in, but after the last hours and what he had seen and done, anything seemed possible.

“Listen up, everyone,” Hu said. “I want first platoon to line up in three squads. We’ll treat it like it’s a drop, so line up behind your squad leaders. You newcomers fill in the empty spots. The boat is on its final.”

Three lines formed up, and it was obvious there were a lot of missing people. The lines were well short of comprising three squads. Fenes and the others fell in behind the last people in the squad lines that were short. They were still short, and Hu had to grab other Raiders so they would fill the boat. Fenes heard the roar of APCs and looked up to see four ships approach the runway in a line and land in front of the hangar. Their rear ramps dropped and Marines ran out spreading out as they did. They disappeared into the buildings, moving into the positions Fenes and the others had just occupied. He could see Nani talking to the lieutenant off the first APC, giving him an update. The APCs lifted off as soon as the Marines were off the ramp. Then four Mike boats came in, hovered for a moment, landed on the runway in front of the hangar.

“First platoon, first boat. Follow me,” Nani said.

Hu and his squad filed into the Mike boat. Fenes found his seat and sat down. The seats were formfitting and very comfortable. He sat along one of the bulkheads, facing inward toward a row of seats in the middle of the boat. He held his sniper rifle between his legs, the muzzle down, the way the other Raiders were doing. The seat’s straps came down and secured him, the ramp closed as the last Raider ran aboard.

The ship rose, tilted its nose down, then accelerated, and quickly gained altitude. Fenes was pressed into his seat by the power of their boat as it rapidly cut through the atmosphere, headed for the Tarawa. Just sitting in a seat, he could tell the Mike boat was obviously much more powerful than the Von Fleet APCs. He looked around at the other Raiders. Some had their heads on their chests, already asleep he guessed. He was exhausted, but the thought of being transported to a Confederation ship as a member of the Marine Raiders was too exciting for him to close his eyes. Besides, this was only his third time in space. He wasn’t sure what to feel.

As the ride continued, the exhaustion slowly caught up him, and he nodded off. A voice woke him.

“All Raiders, prepare to disembark. We are on our final to the Tarawa. Welcome home, boys and girls,” the pilot said over the ship’s intercom.

Fenes looked around at the others in the Mike boat. Some were squirming in their seats, trying to wake up or making sure their equipment was secured. The boat slowed, then came to a hover as it entered the Tarawa’s hangar bay. It moved across the deck to its position, then landed with a gentle bump. The engines were shut down and the ramp lowered. The seat straps automatically released him and he stood with the others.

Fenes filed out with the others but stepped aside to find Minga, Ardan, and Striker. They stood next to each other, drawing stares at their old armor from Raiders from other platoons. Striker hinged his helmet back. Fenes and the others did the same. Somehow Fenes expected everyone to look different after everything that had happened, but their faces were the same, only etched with fatigue. It was almost as if the past hours had been some sort of hallucination.

He glanced down at his boots and the sand was still falling off them. There was proof that it was not a hallucination. In fact, the four of them made a small sand pile as they stood together. A hangar vacuum robot was frantically cleaning up after the Raiders and vacuumed their boots as they stood there before it rushed off to deal with the crew compartment of the Mike boat.

Hu and Nani walked up and hinged their helmets back. They did not look like he had thought they would. Hu had a broad, tough face, scar down one side. His hair was cut in a short, blond crew cut. Nani had huge, dark eyes and a full mouth. She was downright sexy. She wore her hair in a long Mohawk with the sides of her head shaved close.

“Well, so this is what you three look like,” Nani said as she approached. “Follow me.”

Hu and Nani led them through a hatch down a passageway with red arrows that said Armory. Again, everything about the ship was more modern and well taken care of, the complete opposite of the quickly converted Von Fleet transport they had come to Chika on. Nani ducked into a hatch with Hu right behind her. They were met with armorers who immediately began to assist them with their weapons and armor.

“Nani, what did you bring us this time?” one of the armorers said as he looked Fenes and the others up and down. “I haven’t seen this armor since, well, I don’t remember when.”

“Assam, I want you to trash their armor and weapons. When we’ve had some rest and chow we’ll get them fitted with our armor and get them some weapons issued.”

“Right, will do, Nani.”

“You better call her ma’am. She's acting lieutenant,” Hu said.

The armorers stopped what they were doing and looked at Hu. His face was serious.

“That bad, Hu?”

“Taro, Elias, Juglar…fuck, I don’t know how many yet. We gotta do a head count,” Hu said quietly.

“Where did you find these lost souls? What do I do about the paperwork?”

Nani was out of her armor now, standing naked. She was quite a sight. With her muscular arms covered in tattoos, and long battle scars on her body, she looked like the warrior she was. She was intimidating.

“If anyone asks, you tell them come see me. Got it?” Nani snapped.

“Yes, ma’am,” the tech said, backing up.

Fenes had just gotten out of his armor when Nani came over and grabbed him by the arm. She pulled up his sweat-soaked T-shirt and saw the tattoo the drill instructors had given them.

“Well, I’ll be damned. You weren’t lying,” Nani said with a laugh.

Hu walked over and looked at it, then looked at Fenes and said, “Welcome.”

“They never said what the symbol was or what it stood for,” Fenes said.

“It's the symbol for an ancient unit called the French Foreign Legion. The Legion adopted many of its traditions from them, including the taking of a new name if you wanted when you joined, earning citizenship with your service, and not caring if you had a jail sentence. They were made up of nationalities from all over Earth. It did not matter—only your service and your respect for the Legion mattered. It was the same with us back in the Legion, and we try to hold to those values still. Will you?” Nani said.

Fenes noticed that all the other Raiders in hearing distance had turned and looked at them.

“Yes. Yes, I will.” Fenes said.

“And you two?” Nani said to Ardan and Minga.

“Yes.”

“Yes.”

“Good. Now get a shower. You all stink and we don’t know how long we will have before we get a new mission. When you’re finished with your showers, somebody will show you where the chow hall is. After you get something to eat, go to the armory and get fitted and checked out in our armor and get some weapons issued. Clear?”

“Yes, Lieutenant,” Fenes said.

Sol System

Earth

City State of New York

Von Fleet Building

Kat Von Fleet’s Apartment

Istas stood behind the admiral with Netis just behind her. A squad of Marines in combat gear was standing on both sides of the twin doors to the apartment and at each end of the hall. The two at the doors were waiting for the word from the admiral before they breached them. Istas watched Usiche carefully. She took a deep breath.

“Do it,” Usiche ordered.

The Marine nearest to the doors slapped a breaching charge on them. It exploded with a bang, and the twin doors flew open. Two security guards standing just inside the doors turned to respond but were taken down by Marines before they could make a move. The rest of the Marines spread out around the room, their rails at the ready, aiming at Raina. Kat, Raina, and Senator Carroll had been sitting at a table having dinner. There was wine and candlelight. It was all very nice and cozy. They were dressed in evening formal wear. Neither Kat nor Raina wore anything revealing, so it must have been a business meeting. Istas was watching Raina very closely. Istas had a rail pistol in her hand behind her back. She had decided she was not going to depend on Netis alone.

“What in the fuck are you doing, Usiche? For God’s sake!” Kat said, standing.

“Kat Von Fleet, we are here to arrest you, Raina Carroll, and Senator Carroll on suspicion of treason,” Raurk said.

“What? Have you lost your mind?” Kat’s face was a mask of confusion and even fear. Istas had never thought she would see that on the face of the woman she had met such a short time ago. Senator Carroll was the first to regain his composure and stood as he assumed his political persona. Very self-important, he stepped forward, puffed up and posturing.

“Admiral, this is too much. I will have your stars for this outrage,” he said.

Istas was watching Raina carefully. She showed no surprise. Her eyes were sizing up the room and the threat. She was in a long, black evening dress. It would get in her way, and she would have to get out of it before she could act. Their eyes met and Raina smiled, unafraid.

“Usiche, really. What could you possibly be thinking?” Kat said. “You’ve known me since we were children. How in the world could you possibly think that I was a traitor? It would be laughable if I didn’t have weapons pointed at me.”

“Bring her in,” Usiche ordered.

Two Marines escorted Netis into the room. Raina’s face didn’t change when she saw Netis. In fact, her smile only grew.

“Well, well, look who’s here, all grown up. My little plaything from so long ago. It’s so good to see you again,” Raina said, her eyes on Netis.

“Usiche, what is she talking about? Who is this person? There is some big mistake,” Kat said, looking from Raina to Netis.

“No mistake, Kat. Raina is a hybrid who has been running Senator Carroll since at least Rift. But it goes much further than that into Von Fleet. We’re here to find out how far and to put a stop to it all,” Usiche said.

Kat looked over at Carroll and said, “What are they talking about, Col? This can’t be true.”

Senator Carroll’s face went white, and he slumped down in a chair.

“Do you expect me to tell you anything?” Raina said.

“No, but we can always try. Istas and Netis do have their ways,” Admiral Raurk said.

“Please. My little plaything and your bitch? I don’t think so.”

Faster than Istas could follow, Raina tore off her dress and grabbed Kat. It was amazing to see Raina’s body change in front of her eyes. Her muscles expanded until she looked like a hybrid ready for combat. Her claws were out, and she had one hand around Kat’s throat. She could kill her in a split second should anyone move, and Istas knew it. She remained still. Netis walked into the middle of the room, ripped off her uniform, and stood facing Raina. Her body too went through the transformation. In fact she looked more muscular than Raina.

“So this is how an Alpha decides to die. Not in combat with a worthy opponent but hiding behind a hostage. Afraid of her former classmate. Afraid of her plaything,” Netis said, her eyes on Raina. “You will not leave this room alive. These Marines will kill you if I don’t. Why not add a kill to your list? A real kill, of another hybrid, not some weak human.”

Raina’s smile grew wider. Kat’s face was the terrified mask of someone discovering her whole world, with all its power and beauty, could disappear in a second.

“You have a point. It would be good to feel the life drain out of you before I died,” Raina said.

Raina threw Kat across the room into a Marine, who picked her up and put her into handcuffs.

“You know what I remember about you?” Raina said. “I remember how I could make you scream in pain. So unlike a real hybrid. More like a human. I wonder if I can make you scream before you die.”

Netis smirked, and for once Raina seemed surprised. “I am no longer that child, bitch.”

Raina screamed in a language Istas had never heard and jumped at Netis, but Netis was not there. She was behind Raina and slashed her back with her claws as she dodged Raina’s move. Netis had her back—she could have killed her, should have killed her, but she was doing something else. Do not play with this one, Istas thought. This one is too dangerous.

Istas brought the pistol around and held it at her side, ready to use it should Netis look like she was going to lose. Raina did a backflip, her foot swinging in a killing blow at Netis’s head, but again Netis was ahead of her. She caught her leg in midair and twisted it. Istas heard it break and saw the knee deform as Netis continued to twist. Raina landed on her back and with her other foot kicked Netis away. Raina then jumped up on her one good foot.

Istas was impressed. Netis was obviously the stronger and better fighter. She glanced at Raina’s face. This fact was starting to dawn on her.

“Well, well.…” Raina started to say.

This time it was Netis who was the aggressor. With a snap kick that was too fast to see, she broke Raina’s other knee. As she fell, Netis was on top of her, claws raking across her breasts once, then again. She was not trying to kill her—only hurt her. Blood splattered everywhere, covering the furniture and Netis. Istas brought her pistol to the front of her body. Netis had mounted Raina and brought a hammer fist down on her shoulder. Istas could hear the joint snap. Raina was almost helpless—she had one good arm that Netis grabbed. Netis fell to her back and pulled the arm to her chest, wrapped her legs around Raina’s neck and head, then tucked her foot under her knee and began to squeeze. She could kill her with the power in her legs.