The Phoenix Fallacy Book I: Janus (20 page)

Chapter 24: The Assault

The Valkyries and Longboats spent the few hours before sunrise moving into position, and now they hugged the ocean swells as the dawn broke.  A faint yellow tinged the horizon as they made their way towards the Titan outpost.

Everyone inside the Longboat was silent, the mission weighing heavily upon them.  Janus stood up and stared out over the ocean through an open hatch, following the rest of the deployment as the Longboats and Valkyries began their run towards the beach.  The Valkyries glided like wraiths over the ocean, their multi-chromatic skin changing back and forth between the lighter and darker greens of the ocean waves, making them almost imperceptible to the eye.

Janus tensed as the Titan outpost came into view,

No turning back now…

The pilot’s voice, a woman known as ‘Glory’, came over the intercom, “Two minutes. Get ready.”

The Adepts and cadets stood up as one, the cadets looking nervously at one another amidst the hard-jawed Adepts.  Celes smiled and gave thumbs up to the group, calming the cadets.

I’m glad I’ve got Celes in my squad
,
Janus thought.

The pilot came over the intercom again,
‘20 seconds out’.  Janus did a silent count in his head.

15… Janus heard the explosions of the Valkyries hitting the beach.

10…The Longboat rocked.  “Hades missiles!” Glory cried.  “No worries, they can’t lock on; we’re coming in too low and fast!”

5…  The Longboat suddenly decelerated and the doors were thrown open.

“Hit it!”  Glory screamed.

In a moment, Janus was out the door with Celes running by his side.

The sound was deafening – yet everything distinct.  The roar of the Longboats as they lifted off; their engines straining to get them airborne as fast as possible.  Explosions, rocking the
sand as the Adepts assaulted the last of the beach defenses.  The whistle of Zeus fire as it peppered the air around them.

The beach was a mixture of sand and rock – every pebble seemed to be distinct.  Rocky outcroppings dominated it, framing the mining colony in natural walls.  Bunkers and outcroppings burned and smoked – the Valkyries had done their job.

Janus’ feet pounded the earth, kicking up a spray as he ran.  His heart quickened as an S.T. emerged from behind a rocky hill, aiming at another squad down the beach.  Two quick reports sounded.  As the S.T. collapsed under Celes’ salvo, Janus turned his attention to the two S.T.s hustling up a rocky outcropping carrying a tripod. They tumbled over as Valers and Bynes eliminated them.  Janus felt everything and nothing.  The heat from his companions’ fire; the cold emptiness when an S.T. fell.  The S.T.s were like the soulless automatons on which he practiced. They received no more consideration than for the brief seconds they threatened him or his friends.  There simply wasn’t time.  While he ran, his mind felt strangely disconnected, reflecting on how instinct and training guided him effortlessly across the rocky expanse.  How for once, he did not hate the S.T.s.  They simply were – an obstacle to overcome.  One hated a nemesis, not an obstacle.

More S.T.s came flooding from a camouflaged bunker that had avoided the Valkyries fury.  Janus pulled a Variable Grenade from his armor, adjusting the power of the blast as he ran.  Janus had a brief realization that the S.T.s were confused, unsure – and then he lightly tossed the grenade into the small ditch which held the hidden bunker.

The nearest S.T., too, displayed a surprising instinct – his hand shot out to catch the twirling weapon.  He opened his hand and brought it close to his face in curiosity.

Janus
registered only a brief flash, and the feeling of a hot wind as it ushered him forward.

As he reached the outskirts of the colony, Janus looked to his left and right.  Other Adept squads were already moving along inside, and Marcus’ squad was disappearing around a corner, a swathe of motionless S.T.s
around them.

Janus took a moment to collect himself in the cover of the buildings, feeling his heart slow. 

The colony was strangely quiet, muting all contact with the outside world.  Distant explosions sounded like far off thunder, while weapons fire buzzed like insects.  Janus raised his hand, motioning the squad to slow; settling the pace down from their frantic run across the sand.  They were between two low buildings just inside the reaches of the colony.  Both buildings were of a crude, hastily constructed quality, mostly made of rusting sheet metal.  Many of the buildings were just one or two stories, but here and there, an older, taller building of brick and stone stood.  They were closely packed, together, and all had the same feeling of decay.

“Celes, tell me what’s happening,” Janus said, motioning her up top.  Celes nodded, and Janus gave her a boost up to the edge of the roof, where she hung, peeked over and quickly pulled herself up.   She disappeared for but a moment before quickly popping back over the edge and dropping down.

“I see the target, 2 kilometers, West Northwest.  Two Adept squads are already deep in the city.  Seven more are right behind them.  The cadets are all at the back of the pack.  The factory is almost due West.  Lyn’s squad is on the right.  Byron’s her spotter.  We signaled each other; we know where we are.  Marcus is further out on our left; he’s got three S.T.s advancing on him at eleven o’clock.  There is a tall building between them, so I don’t think either group knows the other is there.”

Janus turned to his squad, “Hastings, raise Marcus.  Let him know what’s coming.  Bynes, let Lyn know that we’ve got her left flank, and we want her to watch our right. Valers and Alexis, take the left.  Celes, you and I will take point.  Keep an eye out, Celes.  I’m counting on you to keep us moving towards the target.  Young cover our rear, let’s not be surprised by any smarter-than-average S.T.s.”  Grim faces nodded back at him.  He grinned, “Let’s move quickly, but don’t do anything stupid.”  The faces cracked slightly into smiles.  “Move out.”

He
set up a steady pace, sticking to the alleys and side streets to avoid the more exposed main roads; leapfrogging forward with Celes. It was remarkably easy, as the outpost seemed almost deserted for its size.  Wouris had been right; the residents had gone to ground.

Many of the buildings were for storage or for purposes directly related to the mining, but the occasional abandon
ed bar or store popped up.  The colony must have thrived at one point, but looking at the peeling paint and rusting walls, those days were long gone.
 

The only disturbance the group experienced was when one of the veteran Adept voices crackled over the group radio band in Janu
s’ ear.

“Omega Squad, Alexander’s Army, here.  Hades launchers are more heavily guarded than original intel would suggest.  First launcher at mission grid Charlie 3.  Requesting additional squad support to ensure timely destruction of launchers, over.”

“Alpha Squad, Valhalla’s Valor, here,” another Adept responded, “We’re coming up on your position now, Alexander’s.  Out.”

The radios went quiet, and silence pervaded the outpost.  Janus weaved his way silently through the buildings, slowed only by his caution, as they saw not a soul.  A strange fluttering began to take hold of his gut, and with less than a quarter of the distance left to the Communications tower, Janus called a halt, stopping in a small enclosure at the corner of four buildings, and good sight lines.  A huge, rusting excavator was visible through the narrow alley, its claw-like shovels waiting silently for the elements to claim it.

Where are the enemy reinforcements?

Celes speedily climbed an old rain gutter after a few quick pulls to see if it would fail.

Janus whispered into his headset, “Squad 1, Wouris’ Washouts, to Squad 2.  How goes it, Lyn?”

Lyn’s voice came into his ear, “I don’t know Janus, I really don’t know.  We’ve had no trouble at all so far.  I saw a couple of S.T.s heading East, but they were way off and disappeared before I could have Jones take them.  I heard the report that the Hades launchers are pretty heavily guarded.”

“Yeah, me too.”

“It’s really bugging me, though.  I mean, I’ve seen some huge mining equipment, and a lot of it, but it’s all so old.  It’s been years since it’s been used.  I can’t imagine anyone would want anything here anymore.  It isn’t supposed to be this easy, is it?”

Janus allowed his eyes to roam around to the taller buildings that poked up here and there over the low rooftops, “I know what you mean.”

“Hey, relax, both of you,” Marcus’ voice cut across the radio.

“It doesn’t seem odd to you, at all, Marcus?”  Lyn said.

“Of course it does, but I don’t let it get to me.  The Praetor isn’t in the business of making bad decisions, and he trusts us to look out for our own hides, even if something does go wrong.  Besides, Corporations aren’t known for their amazing decision-making.  If someone wants this rock, and wants to overpay for it, it’s fine by me.”

Lyn’s voice picked up, “I can always count on your confidence, Marcus.”

“Of course you can.  Why should anyone devote more men than they already have to this useless piece of dirt?  This facility is fairly old, there can’t be much left of value.  We are here just to make a statement, stir things up a bit.”

“And if we’re not?”  Janus asked simply.

“Then just think of how valuable what
ever we find here must be,” Marcus responded immediately.

Lyn chuckled, “You’re an inspiring opportunist, Marcus.”

“Thank you.”

“All right, enough
. We have a job to do,” Janus said.  “Lyn, check in again, where are you?”

“About 300 meters from the target, southeast of your position.  Byrons and Celes appear to be having a merry little conversation with hand signals.”

Janus glanced up. Celes was hidden behind a small chimney, making tiny, frantic motions with her hands towards the distant spotter.

Her
voice cut across the conversation.  “It’s a good thing that you’ve got us, too.  Behind me, second building on the left.  3
rd
floor window, 2
nd
from the left, S.T.”

“Am I clear for a look?”  Janus asked.

Celes shook her head, “Don’t.  He’s moving and may have already spotted us.”

Janus immediately pulled back and asked Celes, “Do you have a shot?”

“Only with a big risk.”

Janus shook his head and then jumped on the radio.  “Lyn, Marcus.  Did you get that?”

There were murmurs of yes. 

“You should keep moving,” Lyn said.  “That S.T. can’t do much.  And if you get a move on, he won’t even be able to relay your position to others.  T
hey already know that we’re here, it won’t compromise the mission in any way.”  Lyn said.

“We’ve both got the same feeling Lyn, you know that we have to check it out.”

“Maybe he realized what a bad idea it would be to attack,” Marcus interjected.  “If I was an S.T., I’d be scared too, knowing we’re out here.”

”We can’t ignore it,” Janus said seriously, “I’m going to find out.”  He signaled for Celes to drop down.

“No,” Marcus said, “My team will do it.  That S.T. may be watching you.”

“And if there are more S.T.s?”  Lyn asked hesitantly.