U-10

Excitement made Salah udeen Fakhoury’s sweat greasy and sticky. Every so often, he put the binoculars down and wiped his eyes and forehead to clear his vision.

Supreme Commander, Ghaffar, had given him the important mission. Attack and secure the Army Base and avenge the deaths of hundreds of his fellow Insurgents. Ghaffar’s directives were unmistakable.

“Take the Base by any means necessary. Keep as many women and children alive as possible for hostage negotiations.”

The location of the Base was well-known. The compound and adjunct airstrip were attacked at intervals to force the Americans to keep a large contingent of soldiers and equipment on-site. Any soldier dedicated to defending the strategic locale was one less in the field harassing law-abiding Insurgents. Law-abiding was the key word used by Ghaffar and his associates when dealing with the gullible media.

Fakhoury felt a thrill in his gut as he noted the attention being given to the occupants of the crippled MRAP. Only one of the big trucks had managed to avoid destruction by his canyon mortar attack. Even better, the filthy pig, Akhund, was alive. Though his hands were tied and he was treated like a prisoner, the Americans didn’t act like they were going to kill him.

“Wonderful. I don’t know how he managed to escape the airborne monster, but the Americans kept him alive long enough for me to end him. My brother’s death will still be avenged.”

“Are the fighters in position?” Fakhoury asked a ragged Insurgent lying beside him.

“Yes, those with mortars and RPG’s will target groups of soldiers per your orders.”

“Begin the bombing now and don’t stop until I say so,” Fakhoury said.

The tactic to kill or wound as many soldiers as possible had more impact on the defenders than targeting equipment. Machines needed a human operator. Without a driver, the mechanical beasts sat dormant. Wounded soldiers hampered the fighting ability of other soldiers. Americans revered their wounded and prided themselves on saving as many lives as possible. The ‘save at all costs’ mindset was a weakness Fakhoury decided to use to his advantage.

Bodies began flying through the air as the first mortar shells exploded. The screams of the wounded were soon nonstop. The communications tower and adjoining building were some of the first structures targeted. As the main antenna array and satellite dishes were destroyed, Fakhoury’s grin widened. No one would be calling for airstrikes.

Defensive positions returning fire were obliterated by relentless RPG attacks. The few tanks and armored personnel vehicles activated were disabled or destroyed.

Retaliation was expected, and Fakhoury sacrificed a few of his fighters to lure the Americans into a trap. The foreigners concentrated their firepower on the Insurgent forces outside the main gates to the compound. Per Fakhoury’s plan, his Insurgent barrage at the gate weakened to the point the US Soldiers were emboldened to leave the compound and chase the attackers. Fakhoury waited until the soldiers were separated from the gates and relative safety of the compound before he closed the trap. Fifty US fighting men died when their retreat was blocked by a wall of mortar fire. Hemmed between the gunfire of Insurgents and the wall of mortar explosions, the Americans were obliterated.

It was a lightning attack with devastating results. Unprepared for a dedicated assault, stripped of their only means of communication and with no air force to back them up, three quarters of the US fighter contingent died or were wounded. It was the most successful battle the Insurgents had ever won.

***

Cruneval had just terminated radio contact with Thann when Frost heard the first mortar shell explode.

The prefab building shuddered, and fine dust filtered through the air. Turner ducked as years of training kicked into gear.

“Now what?” Thann asked as more explosions shook the structure.

Frost, pistol drawn, darted for the door followed by Turner. Shouts for medics could be heard. There was defensive gunfire, but the mortar explosions seemed to concentrate on those positions.

“We’ve got to get out of here,” Turner said. “Communications is a prime target, and we’re right in the middle of it!”

Nodding, Frost eased the door open and looked for cover. The drifting smoke and sand from the explosions made it difficult to see. An RPG struck the middle of the nearby antenna, and it toppled in a shower of sparks.

“Stay low,” Frost gritted as she ran in a crouch for a Humvee parked across the street.

Thann and Turner followed her. Moments later the communications building exploded, and the roof caved.

Reaching the Humvee, Frost opened the driver side door, started the engine and wedged a backpack against the accelerator. Just as Thann and Turner joined her, she threw the vehicle into gear, and it lurched down the street.

“Are you insane?” Thann screamed. At that moment, the Humvee exploded and fire blossomed from every window. Anyone in it would have died in a horrible, tortured instant.

“Diversion”, Frost replied as she ran into the nearby storage shed.

After a moment of thought, Thann and Turner scurried after her. Frost inspected the floorboards near a back corner of the shed and came to a conclusion. Grabbing a crowbar off a nearby pallet, she started prying up floorboards.

“I think the Insurgents are going to overrun the camp. When they do, they’ll search every building. I don’t intend to be found.”

“You have no faith in the military?” Thann asked.

“Do you?” Turner replied as he helped Frost pry up the flooring.

“I’ll guard the door,” Thann said.

Frost removed enough boards to allow them to slip between the joists. She bent the nails in the planks. The nail heads looked undisturbed, but the boards were loose. After they crawled between the joists, she levered the floorboards back in place. No quick inspection was going to find them.

It wasn’t long before the shed door burst open, and Insurgents looking for American stragglers searched the building. Frost watched through the seams in the floorboards as sandaled feet walked above her. The crawlspace was dark and cramped, but they weren’t discovered.

***

Fakhoury sauntered as he entered the main gates of the compound. His leer widened when Akhund was dragged before him.

“Put his head on a pike and burn the body.” Fakhoury growled.

“No, wait,” Akhund cried as he was grabbed. “I have information.”

“What could you know that would stop me from ending you?” Fakhoury asked.

“What we thought was a beast was an airship,” Akhund stammered. “It is a powerful weapon under the control of American soldiers. An alien bug as tall as a man is helping them.”

“What do you mean alien bug?” Fakhoury demanded.

“Somehow the Americans captured the bug. They are flying its ship!”

Sneers and guttural snickers broke out from the Insurgents surrounding Akhund. A couple of men pushed him with their rifle butts. The only man not laughing was Fakhoury. He had seen the monster.

“Silence!” he shouted.

The laughing died away.

“Where are the ones who captured you? What do they look like?”

Akhund almost grinned. He had bought time.

“Yes, yes,” he stammered. “Two women and a man. They were using the radio in that building. The one who knows the most is a woman named Frost. Short, dark hair - parted in the middle.”

Fakhoury glanced at the ruined communications shed. No one could have survived staying in the building. If this Frost woman was as Akhund described, there was no doubt she was smart enough to know the radio’s location would be destroyed.

Things happened fast on the battlefield, and Fakhoury made a lightning decision.

“Two of you keep this dog tied and guarded. If he tries to escape, shoot him. The rest of you go in teams of three. Search every building. Find the woman named Frost and bring her to me unharmed.”

Glaring at Akhund, he said, “If her story doesn’t match yours, your head will decorate a pike.”

***

“They are going to search for us again. We’re sure to be found,” Frost whispered.

Akhund’s frantic attempt to save his miserable life was loud and clear. Muffled though they were by the walls and floorboards of the shed, Fakhoury’s order to search nearby buildings again pushed Turner into action. He started shoving floorboards aside.

“What are you doing? Be still,” Thann hissed.

“If you think I’m going to lie here in the dark waiting to be shot, you’re crazy,” Turner gritted. “Tell her, Frost.”

“He’s right,” Frost said as she helped Turner push floorboards aside. “If we stay here, they’ll find us for sure.”

Crawling out of the dark recesses between the floor joists, they replaced the boards. Shifting a nearby pallet over the boards to hide the loose ones, they examined the rear wall. A loading chute covered with a canvas flap led onto a loading dock. The opening was large enough for them to crawl through.

Just as Turner pulled his leg out of the chute opening, the shed door opened, and Insurgent fighters began rummaging through the building. Creeping off the loading dock, Frost, Thann and Turner, made their way toward the airfield.

***

A hard slap brought Ty out of blissful unconsciousness.

Disoriented for a few moments and blinking to let his eyes adjust to the light, he realized his hands were tied behind him. He couldn’t move his legs, and a chilling dread clutched his heart.

The light in his eyes blinded him, forcing him to keep them slitted. He was still wearing the blue suit.

“I think this one’s awake,” a voice said as a rough hand twisted Ty’s head from side-to-side.

“Lieutenant Ty Lavender. 10 year veteran. 10th Mountain Division. Specialist in unarmed combat. Expert marksman. Loner. Pathological impatience with authority figures. Tendency not to follow orders. Did I miss anything?”

Squinting at the person reading his military record, Ty said, “Let me out of these restraints, and I’ll show you impatience.”

Another slap stung the side of his head, but Ty was expecting it and his head didn’t move. Instead, he grinned.

“Hit me again, and you’ll be the first problem I solve.”

Ty sensed movement, but someone said, “Stop.”

Ty tried to see who had spoken, but the light was too bright. He saw movement and realized other people were strapped to chairs beside him.

“Yes, your crewmates are here. Their continued health is in your hands, Lieutenant Lavender.”

“Don’t hurt them,” Ty said.

“That’s up to you,” the voice answered. “Mr. Muriak, please demonstrate what happens to them if my questions aren’t answered in a truthful way.”

There was a struggle nearby and an audible snip followed by an anguished scream. Something was thrust near Ty’s eyes. It was the end of a finger. A single drop of blood dripped from the severed end.

Ty struggled as best he could, but the restraints were tight. He could only twitch his torso.

“Tell me what happened to the aliens on the transport.”

“They’re dead. Just like you’re going to be,” Ty growled.

“All of them?”

Ty hesitated. The question indicated Koritt hadn’t been found. The cricket might be alien, but Ty was not about to turn him over to these torturers.

“What do you think? They tried to kill me. I made sure they couldn’t.”

“These grunts are of no use to us,” a voice near Ty said followed by the distinct sound of a pistol being drawn from its holster.

“Not yet,” the commanding voice said. “I have a few more questions.”

***

Two Humans stood over the control board in the pilot’s cabin studying its layout.

Their examination was so intent they didn’t sense Koritt ease from his hiding place until his claws pinched their necks.

Pulling the bodies away from the console, Koritt activated the computer reset sequence for a system reboot. While he was waiting, he found a crew suit and slipped into it.

“Computer reboot successful,” Elvis said at last. “Where are the other crewmembers?”

“Do not power up the engines.” Koritt whispered. “Alien lifeforms have taken this ship. Institute full lockdown of all essential ship functions. Give me a damage report.”

“Lockdown complete,” Elvis confirmed. “The engine core absorbed most of the electromagnetic pulse. Other than a few annoyances with my life support subroutines, the ship suffered no permanent damage.”

“Scan the building for the crew. Advise of lifesigns,” Koritt ordered.

For some reason, Koritt felt a need to keep Lavender and his Human compatriots alive. Puzzled by the odd impulse, he decided his shared experiences surviving multiple death threats had created a tenuous bond with the Humans. His musing was interrupted.

“I have discovered crew lifesigns. Suit sensors indicate only Psycho has suffered a permanent injury; however, their freedom of movement is restricted.”

“Once I activate my invisibility screen, guide me to their location via my helmet HUD.”

A nearby cabinet popped open revealing one of the laser weapons alongside a sword.

“I suggest you arm yourself,” Elvis said.

“Where did those come from?”

“Wraith felt it wise to have an assortment of weapons close-by. She’s not the most trusting individual,” Elvis replied.

“I’d rather have the U-10,” Koritt said.

“My sensors indicate the U-10 is in the same room as Lieutenant Lavender. It has not been activated in some time.”

Tying the sword to his belt, Koritt grabbed the laser, checked its charge and closed his helmet.

Shaking his head about his decision to rescue the Humans, he activated his invisibility screen.