Chapter Five
Roman Star System Caria, Planet Nova Tarentum I
3248 A.U.C. (2498 A.D.)
(L + 8 days)
The early morning rain muffled the noise of the Squad’s movement as they headed deeper into the town. Up until they had reached the city the only buildings they had passed was house after empty house. For the first time since landing they had, finally, seen signs of battle. There had been several makeshift barricades on the edge of town, which had shown signs of a fierce firefight.
The Marines had taken cover twice when grav-tanks had cruised by. They were headed to the northern edge of Ducorum where most of the noises they had heard on the way in had come from. The map they had found in a nearby house had shown a small air/starport in that area.
The Squad carefully moved towards an eight-story hotel that overlooked the starport. They picked their way through its lobby and double-timed it up the stairs. They came across a room on the top floor facing the direction they needed. Metellus, with Domitus in tow, inched their way out onto the rooms balcony where they used their binoculars to scan the area.
Metellus whispered to Domitus, “at least we know where everyone went. Looks like seven or eight thousand civvies packed into that PW camp.”
Domitus grunted in agreement. “Would be hard pulling a rescue with the whole Cohors, let alone just the five of us.”
The airfield to the east of the starport had been turned into a huge prison camp. A double-tiered razor wire topped fence surrounded the area. Several power armored figures patrolled the perimeter and every so often a pair of grav-tanks made a slow circle of the fence. There were tents everywhere, from small nylon domes to huge canvas military types.
Several temporary buildings looked to have been set up as bathing and toilet facilities. A long line of people stood outside a huge set of tents that looked like a military style mess kitchen.
The compound looked crowded, but not to an unhealthy level. They even saw several children playing a game of soccer in an open area. Metellus saw a child kick a ball hard enough where it sailed over both sets of fences to land near a pair of the bad guys. The children froze as they watched one of the troopers stop by the ball and execute a perfect kick to send the ball back to the children. The kids went back to their game, a few of the braver ones even waved at the figures.
Domitus snorted with a chuckle, “We could use him on the Cohortal team.”
Metellus looked over at him. “It’s gonna be hard to rally support to fight them if they look like nice guys. I guess we should be grateful that they aren’t killing the civvies. We gotta try a... what’s going on over there?”
They both watched a group of white-garbed figures gathering at the large gate. An armored trooper seemed to speak to one of the figures and after a moment the gates opened up. The group boarded several buses and the vehicles headed into town. They watched until the vehicle disappeared behind some tall buildings.
Both Marines backed into the room. Metellus opened up his map and pointed to a set of buildings. “What do you want to bet they are headed to the Valetudinarium? If we are gonna be able to make contact with anyone in the camp, we should talk with someone who comes and goes. We need to find out if there are any of our Manipularii or those useless Army pukes in there.”
The men looked at the map and Varus pointed at a building near the hospital. “Umm Principale... maybe we should be careful, that shows a Cohors Urbanae Armory. They might be guarding it.”
Metellus looked at him and rapped him on the helmet. “Now you’re starting to think knucklehead. I already planned to detour around it, but just keep using your head like that and we’ll make a Manipularii out of you yet Varus.” The troops headed out of the hotel and carefully moved down the street.
It took two hours of cautius travel to get to the hospital complex. They watched a few ambulances come and go from the emergency bays. However, they did not see any of the bad guys anywhere near the hospital. They made a slow circle around the main building, looking for an entry point. Eventually they came across a heavy looking door, which was screened by a few shrubs, that looked like the best place to force an entry.
Ursus splashed across the empty parking lot and stopped for a few seconds. A metallic screeching was heard for a moment and then Ursus waved the rest across one at a time. They found themselves in a stairwell to the hospitals basement. Ursus looked at Metellus, “Up or down Principale?”
Metellus pointed up the stairs. “If we go down and get found we got nowhere to go, if we stay on the second or third floor we can still dive out the windows, if we need to.”
Domitus saw understanding dawn in the other Marine’s eyes.
You do it without even thinking about it, don’t you Metellus? he thought to himself.
You turn every situation into a class on how to help them survive.
The Marines carefully made their way up to the second floor access door. Metellus slowly opened it up and peered inside. He saw a few doctors and nurses moving around what appeared to be nearby offices.
Sunlight shone through a window and Metellus saw a shadow moving around inside one of the offices. He whispered to his men, “There’s an office to the left, Macer you come with me. Domitus, you be ready to back me up if I yell for you. If someone comes down the stairs, join up with me and we will get out of here.”
Metellus checked the door again and rushed through with Macer right on his heels. He rushed into the office while Macer closed the door just enough to peer out into the hall.
A white-coated man looked up from his desk with fear and confusion in his eyes. “Who are you? What are you doing in my office? What do you want?”
Metellus looked at a diploma hanging on the wall. “Medicus Romanus, I am a Principale in the 4th Gothica Manipularii Legio. We were sent here to assist the local Cohors Urbanae in fighting back against the invaders.”
The doctor gave a shrill laugh. “Local Cohors Urbanae? Well, I am afraid that you are far too late for that Principale. The Cohors Urbanae were all killed or captured in two days. They never stood a chance against the Siliconates.” At Metellus’ look of puzzlement the doctor continued. “The invaders call themselves The Siliconate Assembly. They come from another part of the galaxy.” Before Metellus could ask he said, “No I don’t know how they got to this part, I just know what I heard.”
Metellus thought for a moment before asking, “Have they said what they want?”
The doctor looked askance at him. “That’s the question that everyone has been asking ever since they got here. I mean on one hand, they came in and slaughtered everyone bearing arms against them. But on the other hand, they were careful not to kill any civilians and have been especially protective of the young people and children. They are very strict about sanitation, cleanliness, and medicine.”
“They had the valetudinarium back on line the day after they took over here. Their... medical people have been talking about all the cures that they have for diseases and illnesses that we haven’t discovered yet. They are going to be instituting some new health programs among our people.
“They have been bringing plenty of food and supplies to the camp and they genuinely seem to care about the welfare of the people. They listen to any recommendations we make for the good of everyone’s health. I believe, as occupations in history have been, this one has been remarkably civilized. They have told us that once they catch the last of the Legionarii, we will all be allowed to go back to our homes.”
“Legionarii?” Metellus asked. “There are still troops around? Were they Urbanae or were they Legionarii? Where are they at medicus?”
The doctor had a look of distaste on his face. “Yes Principale, we have heard that most of the survivors of the local Cohors Urbanae and some other Legionarii headed west to the Scythian Montes. But they won’t last long Principale; the technology of the Assembly is decades ahead of ours. It would be better for everyone if they just surrendered and spared everyone the pain and grief.”
Metellus just smiled back at him. “The problem with that medicus is that in my thirty-four years as a Manipularii, I was never taught how to surrender. I think any instructors we had that taught that class were sent to the Army years ago. Thanks for the tip medicus; I think we have got to head out until we can link up with some friends. You take care of the civvies until we can come back.” Metellus turned for the door.
***
Macer, standing by the door heard a strange <pfftt>. He turned in time to see Metellus slump to the floor. He noticed the doctor had a strange weapon in his hand, and was moving to point it at him.
Macer dove to the floor and rolled while he drew his gladius. He heard another <pfftt> and felt something glance off of his shoulder armor. He thrust out the blade as he came to his feet next to the desk and cut the weapon in half.
In a moment Macer had the blade against the doctor’s throat. “Do not yell medicus, my blade is sharper than one of your scalpels. For killing my Principale though, I am going to make you pay.”
Doctor Romanus looked at the blade pressing against his throat and croaked out, “not dead.”
Macer leaned in on the doctor, “You shot him in the back medicus.”
Macer saw fear in the doctor’s eyes as he answered. “It was just a tranquilizer dart, don’t you see, this is best for everyone to...”
His voice trailed off as he saw the look on Macer’s face. Macer spoke clearly, his Hispanian-flavored Latin accent barely showing in his anger. “Medicus, you have five minutes to revive my Principale or I am going to do things to you that this valetudinarium will never be able to fix.”
Doctor Romanus looked into his eyes, “I have to call someone, to bring the antidote. I don’t have it here.”
Macer pointed at the comm interface, “call who you have to medicus, but you will die well before I will if you call the enemy.”
The doctor’s hands were trembling as he dialed the comm code, “Sylvius, this is medicus Romanus, I need a gurney brought to my office... yes another one... no just one... oh and please bring a dose of antidote... no I had to dart him twice and he is having a bad reaction to that much of the drug... yes make it quick.”
Macer sneered at him, “Very smart medicus. I hope for your sake that you are not being too smart.”
A few minutes later Macer heard a squeaking from the hallway. He took a grenade from his pouch, pulled the pin, and moved behind the door.
The look on the face of the Marine with the sword in one hand and a live grenade in the other made the doctor’s bowels go weak.
A burly nurse opened the door and rolled a gurney inside. “Hey medicus, man you look like Charon himself, I can see why you darted him twice, looks like a Manipularii, they are bad news. You want to hit him with this?” He asked as he held up a pressure injector.
Seeing the doctor’s head shake of ‘no’ he leaned down and injected Metellus in the buttocks. He removed the pack and lifted up the limp Marine, to place him on the gurney, when Metellus’ hand shot out and clamped onto his throat. The sound of cartilage crunching soon filled the office. The nurse’s body began thrashing, but ended in a moment when Metellus’ dagger slid into his heart.
The doctor’s attempt to reach for his comm interface ended when Macer’s gladius took his hand off at the wrist. Then a quick thrust and the doctor’s throat began to spurt his life out onto the desk to join his hand. The look in the man’s eyes was of intense hatred for his own species, and it did not take long for that light fade.
Metellus shouldered his pack as Macer replaced his grenades pin.
Macer’s voice called him to the window. “Principale, you better come and take a look at this, papilio’s heading our way.”
Metellus saw the four APC’s heading down the road towards the hospital. “Lets roll Macer. We got a lotta miles to hump to get clear of here. Good job, by the way, on your handling of the medicus. You had him pissin’ in his pants.” At the look on Macer’s face Metellus smiled. “I could hear you, I just couldn’t move, and I didn’t want to say anything to distract you, you were handling it perfectly. When we get out of here I’ll put you in for Optio.”
Metellus looked out of the door into the hallway. When he saw it was clear they ran for the stairwell. He cut short the others questions and they ran down the stairs into the rain. The Squad headed for the nearest building across the parking lot. They were not spotted near the hospital, but over the next few hours they had to take cover from aircraft and grav vehicles. It took them twelve hours of ducking and covering to reach the edge of town. Metellus checked his compass and led the Squad into the forest west of the city.
The evening rain muffled the noise of the Marine’s movement while they headed west toward the mountains, and safety.
Roman Star System Bithnyia, Planet Nova Cartago III
3248 A.U.C. (2498 A.D.)
(L + 16 days)
When Navarchus Helvius’ message arrived at Nova Cartago III several days ago the effect was akin to a kicked over anthill. Legatus Classis Labienus had ordered a full analysis of the holo crystals download to evaluate the enemy’s tactics and capabilities. The message he sent back to Classis Command, on Roma Mater was brief, but he knew the right words to say to get the ships he wanted. Every ship in the Classis reserve had been released to his command, with more promised to him as soon as they were available.
Labienus stared at the star map projection while his Intelligence Officer delivered his briefing to the assembled staff.
“If the computer estimations of enemy speeds are correct, the enemy forces will be hitting Phrygia in two days, plus or minus one day. Now, if they land on Nova Londinium IV like they did on Nova Tarentum I, and depart prior to the invasions completion, Classis Command has gamed out four possible scenarios from that point on:
“One, the enemy classis heads down the dead end Apollonian Gate line to the colony at Phrygia II, and then head back to Phrygia before heading here. If they choose to head that way, it will buy us at least a couple of months to prepare before they can attack us here at Bithnyia. We estimate only a five percent chance of this scenario happening.
“Two, The enemy classis holds position in Phrygia and fortifies their position, while forcing our classis to remove them from there, taking Phrygia II at its leisure. One of our analysts believes that the enemy is only interested in taking systems that are lightly defended, and will not attack here as long as we have a strong classis presence. But we can only place the likelihood of that at seven percent.
“Three, the enemy classis splits and sends a small task force towards Phrygia II, while the majority of their classis heads here. This scenario is most likely if the enemy’s main fleet is overwhelmingly large and has sufficient ships to guard Phrygia from a counterattack, while attacking our base here. We estimate a thirty-four percent chance of this.
“Four, and the most likely scenario, says that the enemy will leave a small Squadron behind in Phrygia to guard the landings on Nova Londinium IV. They will then push on to attack us here. If this scenario plays out we should expect them to hit us here within thirty days. This scenario plays out at a fifty-three percent probability.”
Labienus nodded. “Thank you Tesserarius, I expect your section to keep the battle scenarios updated, should we aquire any new information.”
He turned to his staff. “Navarchus Helvius should be entering the Phrygia system in nine days. If the enemy’s main classis is there, he should be able to retreat to either Caria or back here. If they only left behind a small Squadron, we can hope that he has enough power to defeat it and send us back more data. Either way, we have to prepare for the defense of Bithnyia.”
Labienus looked down at the end of the table and pointed at the lone Army officer at the briefing. “Pro-Consul, how prepared is Nova Londinium IV for an attack? We have deployed only a small Squadron there to gather information on enemy numbers, while the orbital castras are relics. Is there any chance that they will be able to hold against a ground invasion?”
Pro-Consul Sorio looked uncomfortable. “We have deployed the 1st and 2nd Consular Armies there, plus the 5th Ala Consular Army to reinforce the Cohors Urbanae. Imperial Command wants to hold the rest of the reserves to defend the Inner Systems.
“The Nova Londinium IV forces have sufficient munitions to fight for months, and they should be able to hold the line for quite a while. The enemy has only fought Urbanae so far, and on Nova Londinium IV they will be facing Legionarii for the first time.”
Labienus looked at him hard. “You are quite wrong Pro-Consul, the enemy fought Legionarii for the first time on Nova Tarentum I. We have heard nothing back from those forces, which could mean they are already dead. We have to assume that the forces on Nova Londinium IV will be defeated and start planning on holding here, at Bithnyia, at all costs.”
Roman Star System Caria, Planet Nova Tarentum I
3248 A.U.C. (2498 A.D.)
(L + 18 days)
The mountains were barely visible in the falling rain as the Squad moved forward. The Marines had bypassed Siliconate artillery and supply units that they could have destroyed on their way to the mountains. They started seeing more and more combat troops as they got into the foothills.
They slowly moved past what appeared to be the ‘front lines’ of the Siliconate forces facing the mountains. “Good sign,” Metellus had said. “Shows that there are still holdouts in the mountains.”
They were moving slowly when they came to a large stretch of open ground, which they had to cross to get back to the forest at the base of a mountain. “All right Manipularii, if we get on that mountain their grav stuff won’t be able to follow us up anything that steep. I am gonna cross first, then Ursus, Varus, Macer, and Domitus will tail-end Charlie. Stay alert, and stay frosty.”
Metellus packed his cheek, tightened his pack straps and spat. He ran in a low crouch across the open ground. He was halfway across when a motion to his right caught his eye. He cursed as he saw four grav-APC’s moving right at him.
So close, he thought in rising irritation,
We almost made it.
The missiles firing from the APC’s lit up the night.
The explosions went off on either side of Metellus, deafening him and knocking him to the ground. He slapped the power switch on his gauss rifle.
Sixty seconds to charge, gonna be like thirty seconds too late even if it could penetrate their armor.
Metellus took cover in the missile crater as a quad of rockets flew out from the APC at him. He was hammered into the ground by the overpressure. He peered out over the edge and saw the APC’s moving quickly towards him. He heard his rifle beep and shouldered it. He watched a rocket leap from the woodline and destroy a Siliconate APC.
“Thanks Macer.” he whispered. He watched as the remaining three vehicles fired a salvo of rockets that flayed the treeline where his Squad was seeking shelter.
He began firing at max penetration, to draw their fire back towards him. His gauss cracked round after round when he saw one of the Siliconate vehicles detonate. The remaining two turned and a moment later another blew up. The last one fired a rocket behind Metellus before it too exploded.
Metellus ran back to the forest to rally his men. He found Varus and Ursus tying a tourniquet around Domitus’ arm. Macer saw him and pointed across the field. Metellus turned and saw a large, and very Roman, vehicle heading for them, sending up a rooster tail of dirt behind it. “Hold fire Macer.” He said.
With a clatter of tracks a Legati class command APC rolled up to them. The heavy gauss cannon aimed their way as the troop ramp lowered in the back. A small but powerfully built figure came down the ramp and waved them aboard. “Come on Manipularii, they’ll be sending Loricas soon and I am not sticking around to get blown to Tartarus.”
Metellus motioned his men aboard the vehicle. Ursus carried Domitus in and placed him on the vehicle’s armored deck. The ramp closed and Metellus felt the vehicle start to roll across the field. He looked at his men holding on to the straps in the crew compartment. When he was sure they were all ok he moved to the Commander’s station. He moved up and sat down in the gunners seat. “Thanks for the rescue Decurio. That coulda gotten messy.”
The Decurio laughed, “That’s our job Principale.” He held out his hand. “Decurio Marcus Sempronius Longinus, 2nd Equites Cohors. Rescuers of virgins, small children, and sometimes, of Manipularii.”
There was a huge bump and he hammered his comm interface, “Principale Saturninus, if you throw a track I am going to throw you off the side of this mountain.”
Decurio Longinus looked over as Metellus started groaning, “Saved by the Army. Not just the Army, but by a track toad. I am never gonna be able to show my face in civilized company again.”
Sempronius’ basso laugh filled the crew compartment as his Legati clawed its way up the mountain.
How is your Old Norse by the way? 
