Harbinger (Rise of the Peacemakers Book 10) by Kevin Ikenberry

Author:Kevin Ikenberry [Ikenberry, Kevin]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Seventh Seal Press
Published: 2021-10-26T04:00:00+00:00

* * * * *

Chapter Twenty

Snowmass

Tara stomped Deathangel 25 out of the remains of the hangar and into the snow. Ahead of her, the remaining CASPers were fully engaged with the Crusader forces and taking losses.

She keyed the main frequency and almost froze. There was no chatter. No situational awareness. All of them were engaged. No one had time to command. Coordinate. They were overwhelmed.

“Dolan? You there?” There was silence for a moment, but she heard Bitker reply.

“Ma’am, his comms are offline, but he’s on the field. I’m moving back from the drop zone. Mako 15 waved off. Heavy weather.”

Dammit.

“How many survivors are in the wood line?”

“Thirty-two,” Bitker replied.

Ahead of her, at least five Crusaders jumped to the north toward Bitker and the survivors.

“Stay there, Bitker! Incoming at your position.” Tara yelped and tried to run forward.

The proximity warning chime blared in her ears.

<<On your six! On your six!>>

Tara whirled around and saw a Mk 8 CASPer, mid-jump, headed right toward her. Its MAC fired multiple shots, which slammed into her CASPer’s upper torso. She staggered backward and sighted her MAC to return fire. Tara brought up her left hand cannon and squeezed off a burst, but the enemy CASPer slammed into the ground in front of her and swung its combat machete. The strike cleaved the hand cannon from her grasp. Too close for her to grab, the Crusader stepped closer, grabbed at her, and slammed their cockpit sections together.

“Colonel Mason? You’ve been sentenced to death.”

Tara brought up the CASPer’s arms and pushed back against the attack. There was enough of a break in the attack for her to grab at her own machete and swing it at the Crusader.

“Fuck you!”

The Mk 8’s speed surprised her. Her swing sliced through nothing but air. Tara’s follow-through threatened to throw off her balance. The enemy had stepped to the left and swung backhanded at her. Another impact sheared the MAC cannon from Deathangel’s shoulder.

“Motherfucker!”

“The name is Crusader Prime.” She heard a laugh. “You’re outmatched, Colonel Mason.”

<<Override,>> Lucille called. The CASPer’s left leg shot out and swiped at the Crusader, with effect. The Mk 8 staggered backward. Tara felt a burst from its hand cannon ripple across the CASPer’s armor with little damage.

Tara stepped forward and swung the machete again. The strike dug into Prime’s upper right arm. She yanked the weapon out and went to strike as Crusader Prime closed the distance, his machete raised high. She raised both arms to block and heard the cockpit release engage with a whoosh. Brutally cold air tore into the cockpit and took her breath away. The enemy CASPer’s combat machete stuck out of the cockpit release. There was no way to close it again.

“Lucille?”

<<Working,>> Lucille replied. <<Overcharge warning. Surface penetration, front panel. Detecting an overcharge in—>>

The cockpit swung fully open, and she stared the white- and red-marked Crusader in the chassis.

“She can’t save you, Tara,” Crusader Prime said. “As a matter of fact, nothing can.”

Tara touched her jump jets and primed for a full jump.

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