The Phoenix Fallacy Book I: Janus (21 page)

“We’ll let you know in couple, we’re going in.”

“Be careful.”  Celes whispered.  The radio went silent.  Janus quickly moved his team forward and into a new position, under an arch. Gunfire erupted to their left, but quickly faded away, impossible to pinpoint.  Several tense minutes passed.

“Marcus?”  Lyn’s voice came across the radio.  “Do you read?”

More silence. 

“Marcus, do you copy?”  Lyn said nervously.  “What do you think, Janus?”

Janus stared at the top of the building.  “Just wait.”

“Are you sure?”  Lyn said.

“Yes,” Janus said.  Celes and the other cadets looked at him nervously.  Janus looked at Celes as he spoke into the radio, “Marcus wouldn’t have been caught off guard.  We would know.”

Another minute passed.  Lyn’s voice came over the radio again, “Janus, I think-”

“Clear.”  Marcus voice said.  Celes blew a sigh of relief.

Janus peered around a roof corner at the 3
rd
floor window.  The helmet still sat in the window.

“Rats.
”  Marcus said.

“What?”  Janus asked.

“It was just an old, empty helmet on the table.  A rat got inside and started poking around.  It ran off when we came into the room.  The building is completely empty.”

Janus shook his head and looked back at the team, whose relief was clear across their faces. 
I should feel relieved too…

“Well, that’s good news,” Lyn said.

“Hold on,” Marcus said cautiously.  Janus’ eyes shot back up to the window, the top of Marcus’ head just visible.

“What?”  Lyn asked, a hint of nervousness.

“Six S.T.s between you and the Comm. tower,” he said.

Janus felt oddl
y relieved at this proclamation, “Relative positions?”

“Where are you Janus?”

“The arch, directly northeast of your position.”  Janus replied.

“Got it.  And I’ve got Lyn, too.  Two on a rooftop, three buildings north of you, Janus.  25 meters, maybe.  One on a roof near Lyn, 20 meters or so to the Northwest.  I can just make out the other three on the ground in a recess between the three on the roof.”

“Can the S.T.s on the rooftops see each other?”

“Yes, but their view is obscured to their South.  The three on the ground can see the two on your side, Janus, but they’re blind to the one above—make it eight S.T.s.  Two more just popped up in an alley on the left –
get back!”

Marcus head disappeared from view as the window disintegrated under a hail of Zeus fire.

The wall was peppered with rounds, which took noticeable chunks with every impact, and left it looking akin Swiss cheese.

“Marcus!”  Celes said.

“I’m fine, I’m fine,” came the hasty reply, the sounds of exploding walls in the background, “but we’ve definitely been spotted.  We can’t offer much support.”

“
Don’t worry!”  Janus responded hastily.  “Get to safety, and then keep moving.  We can handle the S.T.s.  Finish your part of the mission.”

“Will do.  The two new S.T.s are to the left of the set of two on the rooftop.  Get there quickly, they weren’t moving when they started firing.  With any luck, you’ll catch them with their pants down.”

“Thanks, Marcus.”

“Good luck!”  The sound of the Zeus was fading fast in the background.

Janus quickly came up with a plan, “We need to hit the rooftop S.T.s at the same time.  Then we can seize the high ground over the rest.  Celes, climb up behind that chimney there,” he pointed to the north, “see if that gives you a shot on that single S.T.”  She immediately turned and scrambled spider-like up the wall behind her.  “And find a spot for me too, I’m coming up.  Lyn?”

“Yes Janus?”

“Can you and Byrons find a position to attack the other two on the roof? I want to set up a cross-fire.”

“We’re on it.”

“Ramirez, take Holloway; Kirsten, move in on the three in the middle.  Jones, Valers, and Hastings, you three hit the pair on the ground to my left as soon as the action starts.  That should distract them and give you a chance to surprise them from behind.  The rest, watch our backs, and be ready to move up at a moment’s notice.  Wait for my signal.”

The murmuring assent told Janus that they awaited his command.

Using a corner where the arch intersected the building with the chimney, Janus vaulted himself to the roof, catching the edge and hauling himself up.  Sliding catlike through the shadows, he came up sile
ntly behind Celes and tapped her on the shoulder, “How’re we doing?”

“What took you so long?” came Celes’ playful reply, although she remained watching the S.T. from her hiding place.  “The others are nearly in position.  There is a good spot behind that generator over there.  If you stay below the lip of the building, the S.T.s won’t be able to spot you.”

Janus moved silently, keeping low, but running fast, and peered around the defunct generator atop the building.

He studied the S.T.s; they were watching the window where Marcus had appeared, seemingly unsure how to proceed.  The pair crouched behind a low wall, while the lone S.T. was pressed against the tiny shack that provided roof access. 

Janus activated his comm. link,
“One of them has red chevrons on his shoulder.  A Sergeant, I would guess.  I’ll take that one.”

“Roger.  Everyone’s in position.”  Celes said. 

“On my mark.  3…2…1…”

Byron
s’ voice cut in over the radio, “Hold!” 

Janus paused, waiting for Byrons. 

“We’ve got four Inferni that just boosted in from out of nowhere.  You should see them…now.”

Janus heard the Inferni before he saw them, but their unmistakable red armor couldn’t be missed as they hurtled in from overhead to land among the startled S.T.s.  The S.T. Sergeant seemed tiny next to the huge Infernus as he began making rapid gestures towards the building.

Lyn’s voice cut across the radio nervously, “Maybe we should just go around.”  Janus could understand her sentiment as one of the Inferni seemed to look right at him with an evil red gaze.  But it only lasted a moment before the Infernus had continued on.

“Janus, time…” Celes worried voice came in.

“We don’t have time, Lyn.  Besides, we can’t let those Inferni just roam around.  New plan:  Ramirez, you’ve got the heavy artillery, get up here.  You’ll hit the Inferni. Holloway and Kirsten, stick to your original targets; Young, get up here on watch.  Celes, Byrons, re-sight on those Inferni.  If Ramirez can’t take them all, I need you to finish the job.”

“And what about the S.T.s with them on the roof?”  Celes asked.

“Lyn, take the one on your side.  I’ve got the two on the left.”

Janus tensed, watching Lyn slip around a corner to get into a new position.  “Ramirez?”

There was a grunt of “Ready” over the radio.

“Mark!”

Ramirez popped up from behind a wall and launched a rocket straight into the mass of Inferni.  Three of them went flying like bowling pins, but the fourth leaped out of the way, and disappeared into the alley behind the building.  The sound of Skadi fire suggested the three were not so lucky.

The two S.T.s had been knocked back from the explosion, but were unharmed.  The first stood in a daze and Janus quickly eliminated him, but the second, the Sergeant, rolled off the roof to the left, using his companion’s body as a shield.

Janus turned from his quarry just in time to see Lyn’s target topple off the roof with a burst of fire in his back.

A cry went up from below.  Janus rushed to the edge to see Valers unconscious, against a wall, and Jones wrestling the Sergeant for control of her weapon.  The Sergeant had surprised them from above and turned the skirmish in his favor, pressing Hastings to deal with the remaining two S.T.s on his own. 

Janus cursed himself for missing the Sergeant as he ran along the edge of the rooftops, desperately trying to reach his team.  He took aim as he ran and eliminated one of the two S.T.s, but not before the Sergeant had put Jones on her back with a kick to the gut and smashed Hastings into a wall, stunning him and sending his weapon flying.  Standing over Jones, the Sergeant raised a menacing foot, preparing to crush her beneath the weight of the suit.  Catching a glimpse of Jones over the back of the Sergeant, Janus could see the surprise and terror on her face.  Janus mind was racing –
if he fired a shot, he might hit Jones through the suit.  There was only one option.  Leaping from the building, Janus unsheathed the Praetor’s Ghostblade from his back.

Its ghostly blue cut a swathe right down the middle of the Sergeant.  In one moment, the armored soldier towered over Jones; in the next, he toppled in two, shorn from head to foot.  Landing lightly, Janus rolled and flipped himself over Jones, using his momentum to hurl the weapon straight into the chest of the remaining S.T.

Janus sighed with relief and was just about to turn to help Jones up when the final Infernus came crashing down in front of him.  The menacing monster raised its huge clawed fist, flames licking from its arm.

Janus struggled to get his rifle from his back, but he knew it was too late.  Keats was not in the suit this time.

As the flames began to curl forth from the devastating weapon, time seemed to slow, and a strange sight greeted Janus.  The Infernus’ visor splintered and cracked.  Janus could see every spidery line as it traced itself across the visor.  Suddenly, as if time had no consistency, the giant warrior slumped over and collapsed to the ground.

With his adrenaline still pumping, Janus slowly turned around.  He couldn’t help but smile as Celes
let out a deep, nervous breath.

Chapter 2
5: Suspicions

Janus quickly broke the cadets into three groups.  Valers had mostly recovered, but still staggered slightly, clutching his head.  Jones was nursing her arm.  With assurances that they would be fine on their own, Janus ordered them to the evac point.  He would just have to make do without them.  Lyn disappeared with Ramirez and the rest of her squad around an old, rusting drill as Janus watched Jones and Valers limp away.  They were swallowed up by a cloud of smoke and dust.  With a touch of Celes hand upon his shoulder, Janus turned away and resumed his silent march towards the Communications Tower – the others close behind.

The Communications Tower was far larger than anything else in the complex.  The MuDi had failed to do it justice.  Although it narrowed towards the top, it still would have been able to hold the entirety of two of the three-story buildings of the colony within its walls.  Three spine-like columns ran up each corner, straining to support the weight of the place, and climbing towards the flattened roof, gigantic wire dish and antenna that protruded from the top.

In fact, it struck Janus as almost too big.  It was clearly the greatest military asset in the area and practically sc
reamed “Target!”

Janus motioned his squad forward.  As the team moved around the Comm. Tower, the outpost buildings began to thin and the Janus was forced to move further away from the center to avoid being spotted by the guards patrolling the entrances.

When he reached the far side, the squad hid at the edge of the forest that surrounded the North end of the outpost.  Janus sent Celes up a tree to give him a better view.

She scanned the building with her sniper rifle.  “The East and West entrances are both well guarded.  No easy way to
get inside to plant the charges and who knows what is waiting in there.”

“Squad 1, Wouris’ Washouts, to Squads 2 and 3.  Where are you, Marcus, Lyn?

Marcus responded first, “We’re near the East entrance.  We’ve got some heavy defenses here.  Looks like another fight to get in.”

“It’s the same over at the South Entrance.  We’re looking for a way to get our charges planted.  Any ideas on how to get the job done?”  Lyn cut in.

“Do we even need to get inside?  What about the base of the pillars?”  Celes cut in to Janus ear.

Janus studied the pillars more closely.  Obscured by brush, the
bases were difficult to discern and it took him a few moments to find a good view.  Upon closer inspection, however, Janus realized his initial assessment of the strain on the buildings had been incorrect— they were practically bursting, bowing outward from the weight of the armor and steel.

He
did another once over of the facility before nodding his head and saying, “Those pillars look like they were constructed to support as building half as heavy as this one.  I think you’re right, Celes.  If we plant the charges at the base of those pillars, they will easily fail.  I doubt we would even have to place all three for the place to collapse.”

“Simple.  Easy. 
We’ll get out of here before it even starts to rain.”  Lyn said.

Janus glanced up, there was hardly a cloud in the sky.  “You sure about that, Lyn?” Janus asked, turning to Celes.  She shrugged.

“Positive.  Ramirez agrees.” 

“
Well, in any case, while those dolts are guarding the entrances, we’ll just walk up to the pillars and make the whole place come crashing down around them,”  Marcus laughed.

Janus smiled, “Good plan, Celes.  Let’s get to it.”

Planting the charges was almost too easy.  Janus wondered if the dumbest, least alert guards had been placed to protect the place.  Hastings had crawled for agonizing minutes to plant the charges, but Janus honestly wondered if he needed to bother.  Of the three S.T.s closest to them, Janus had been tempted to shoot the one in the back of the group and see if the other two would have even noticed.  While he contemplated this thought, another Adept voice came over the headset, “Omega Squad, Alexander’s Army, here.  It took some effort, but the Hades launchers have been taken out.”

“Nice work, Omega.  Air support is en route.  Evac will be available to the South and East.  Valhalla out.”

Janus smiled,
being an Adept isn’t that hard at all…

When Hastings finally crawled back to their hiding place at the edge of the forest, Janus ordered them to get a quick pace going to the evac point.  He was about to move himself when he realized that Celes’ had not shifted from her position in the tree.  She was still staring at the tower.

“Celes?”  He said expectantly.

“That’s odd.”  She said.

“What?”

“The communications dish. It’s pointing the wrong way.”

Janus stopped and turned to look back at the tower.

“What do you mean?”  Young asked.

Celes turned around to face the team, away from the tower.  “W
ell… this is a Titan outpost.  And Titan is located that way,” she made a motion with her hand to the West, out over the cadets.  “But the dish—“

“Is pointing east – low and over open ocean,” Janus said.  Celes nodded.

Marcus’ voice rang out over the radio, “Hurry up, Janus.  We can’t wait all day, and Wouris wants to blow the joint.  Wherever you are, get moving.”

Janus signaled in sign for the team to return to the evac point, glancing out over the forest to the West.  Dark clouds were gathering, creeping towards the sun, “We’re on our way.”

Wouris cut in, “Janus, where are you?  Are you clear?”

Still turning over this new piece of information in his mind, he kept glancing over his shoulder as he ran, but he quickly responded, “Squad 1 is clear, and we are moving back towards evac.  Blow it wh
en ready.”  Buildings rushed by.  He wanted to be as close to the evac point as possible when the Comm. tower went down.

“Alright, blowing it in five.  Slow count.”  Wouris said.

“Sorry, Marcus,” Janus finally responded, “Just preoccupied.”

“Five…”

“Well don’t be, that’s a good way to get you and your squad killed,” Marcus said seriously.

“Four…”

“Besides, those oafs are pretty thick.  Why would we want to go into the tower and face the guards,” Marcus said again.

“Three…” Wouris voice was like a strange mantra in the back of his mind.

“When we can just blow it up from outside?” Marcus finished.

Janus froze, “What did you say?”

“Two…”

Marcus was puzzled, “I said, why even go inside when it’s so easy to blow it up from outside?”

“One…”

Janus turned and looked at the Communications center.  Something clicked into place.  He yelled into his headset, “Wouris, WAIT!”

“What is it, Janus?”  Wouris sounded concerned and confused.

“Don’t blow the tower.  Not yet.  I need to check something.”  He performed an about face and sprinted back towards the Comm. center.  Celes was right beside him, the other cadets right on his heels.

“What is one of the most important tools in a battle?  Communication!  Do you really think no one at this outpost considered the weight on those pillars?  Why would any competent commander leave one of the most critical buildings in his outpost undefended from such a glaring weakness?”

Wouris sounded surprised.  “Janus, Corporate commanders are not known for their brilliant battle tactics.  Our intelligence showed that this was a minor outpost with a very small population of military personnel compared to the researchers and miners.”

“So why such a huge communications tower, then?”  Janus stopped at the edge of the city once more, the West entrance clearly visible across a small tract of open land leading to the plateau.  Six Inferni and two S.T.s stood by the entrance.  Janus studied them.  They appeared to be waiting for something.  The Infernus commander continually checked his left arm, almost like he was checking a watch.  After a few minutes, he shook his head at his compatriots and signaled them towards one of the burning Hades launchers within the city.  They leapt away, easily clearing the distance as they jumped from rooftop to rooftop.  Only the two S.T.s remained.  Janus took one last look and turned to his squad.

“Celes, get on that roof and take the right man.  I’ll take the left.  The rest of you, establish a position and wait here.  Wait for my mark.”

Celes grabbed his arm, giving him a hard look.  “What are you doing?  The charges are already planted.”

Janus gave her a serious look, “Just trust me.”

Celes expression softened, “OK, but you heard Wouris.  What do you expect to find?”

Janus did not answer.  Instead he silently crept to the corner of the building on his left, minimizing the distance to the communication tower.  As he did so, he spoke into the group channel so that every one of the cadets and Wouris could hear.

“Why has it been so easy to infiltrate this outpost?  We met plenty of resistance on the beach, but nothing else,” he paused to check if Celes was ready.  She sat hidden in a shadow on top of a building, but he could see her thumbs up.

“And where are the non-military personnel?  We haven’t seen anyone.  Surely we would have caught some of them by surprise in our dash here.  Not everyone could have escaped the outpost when we attacked.”

He took a deep breath and dashed around the corner, out into the open.  The two S.T.s looked up at him in surprise, but hardly had time to even raise their weapons before they met a quick end from a deadly hail of Skadi fire.  “Why, for a mining facility, is there only rusting, decrepit equipment?  Why is such a huge military asset set-up in such a way that it appears non-functional?” Janus lowered his weapon as he hurtled over a rock, easily clearing the distance to the entrance in a matter of moments. He slowed as he reached the door, searching for a way to open it, and was surprised when the door opened automatically for him.

He heard Celes exclaim, “What the…” into the headset.

Janus peered into the darkness behind the door and hesitantly stepped inside, unsure of what he would find.  As he left the morning sunlight, his eyes adjusted to the darkness and he saw the inside of the Communications Tower for the first time.

It was completely empty.  No equipment, no personnel, nothing.  A thunderclap covered his cry of shock.