Frontiers of the Imperium (Central Imperium Book 1) by Jan Kotouč

Author:Jan Kotouč [Kotouč, Jan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Military Science Fiction
Publisher: Arbiter Press
Published: 2019-01-02T22:00:00+00:00

***

“I know you... you’re Ms. Eban.”

Hila smiled at the soldier who jumped through the hole in the ceiling, the warmest smile of the entire evening.

“Yes, that’s me. It’s Corporal Blackburn, isn’t it?”

“Yes, ma’am. We met in that bar on Madras.”

“I don’t think either of us expected to meet again like this.”

Daniel came up to him, but another soldier in a combat suit caught his arm.

“Lieutenant Hankerson?”

“Yes, I spoke to Commander Cairstairs over the comlink.”

“We can no longer connect with her. I’m Captain Niro, G Company commander.” He looked around. A squad of thirteen had arrived in the hall with him. “The shuttles are dropping my company onto the roof across the whole building, and outside we have combat mechs, but we need to coordinate things. Unfortunately most of the enemy troops are inside and the mechs can only be of limited help.” He looked around again. Around thirty people had gathered here, many of them wounded civilians. “We need to move you all to the lower floors, there is better cover there and it will be easier to access the terrace.”

It occurred to Daniel that the tactical situation could change in an instant. A few moments ago they had run to the top floors under the onslaught of the enemy troops. Now they had to go back because the mechs were clearing the terrace.

However large the palace was, there were more than three hundred enemy soldiers, as Kelvin had aptly remarked, although they were being thinned out.

“Couldn’t we get out through the hole in the roof?” asked Keto, who had also approached him.

“We could, yes, but it’s more difficult for the wounded. And definitely not before the enemy gets here.” Something like a plan of the building appeared on the small screen on the wrist of his combat suit. “The enemy units are advancing here, and here. One group has about fifteen soldiers, the other about five. The fifteen soldiers will be here first. I want to send one fire team to meet them and hold them back. Then we can take the wounded downstairs. We’ll have to pass the smaller group, but we can take care of them.”

Daniel nodded. Niro did not need his permission, of course, as they technically held the same rank; a Navy senior lieutenant was equal to an Army captain. “Fine. So you want to go on the counteroffensive?”

“Yes. F and H support companies will be here within fifteen minutes. We’re controlling orbit, we only have to hold out.” Niro raised his head. Corporal Blackburn, take your fire team and hold back that group. Don’t take unnecessary risks. We really just need to slow them down.”

“Roger, sir.” Nobody was thrilled by the task, but Blackburn just nodded tersely.

Hila spoke up now.

“I’m going too.”

“No, Ms. Eban,” said Niro, just as tersely as Blackburn accepting orders. “Most groups must keep together. Blackburn and the fire team are only slowing them down. If they can’t hold them back, it will work without them.”

“By ‘if they can’t hold them

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