Rebellion's Fury by Jay Allan

Author:Jay Allan
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2018-04-10T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 22

Woods Near the Old North Road

30 Kilometers North of Landfall

Just Outside Dover

Federal Colony Alpha-2, Epsilon Eridani II (Haven)

“Are the flanking forces in position yet, Colonel?” Robert Semmes was sitting inside the command vehicle, staring out at his field commander as he spoke. The large ATV had a hard time in the semidense woods, and it was restricted mostly to the road, despite its rough terrain capability. Semmes knew Granz was surprised he’d come up so close to the front. The pompous fool forgot I, too, was a soldier.

“Nearly, sir. The main force on the left has run into some unexpected resistance, which has slowed their advance.”

“That is unacceptable, Colonel Granz. Those soldiers have the advantage in equipment, training and, I suspect in that sector, at least, numbers. I will not tolerate excuses.” Semmes shifted himself, turning to more directly face Granz. I’d swear this fool is deliberately standing back there, only half in my field of view.

“Sir, this terrain is extremely difficult. If we had sufficient air support to defoliate these . . .”

“Enough, Colonel.” Semmes’s patience, what little of it had been there, was gone. He was sick of reasons for failure, of explanations for delays. “If we had more air support, if the woods weren’t there, if the other soldiers didn’t have guns . . . the litany of causes for failure could go on forever. We have no time. These arrogant rebels have fallen into a trap, and if we can close it in time, we can end this conflict here and now.” He paused, staring coldly at the colonel. Ending the rebellion so quickly would undoubtedly save thousands of lives, but Semmes’s thoughts were more focused on the impact it would have on all those who doubted him, that shit of a father at the top of the list. The victorious general who crushed the rebellion in a single battle would be a hero, with influence and power from sources other than the auspices of Senator Alistair Semmes. “If that effort fails through cowardice or lack of effort, I assure you, any officers responsible will be severely punished.”

Semmes could see the disapproval in Granz’s expression, and he imagined the things going through the officer’s head, the comments he dared not actually state. He didn’t care. Semmes knew the military types looked down on him, considered him a disgrace to the service. They thought he was a fool, just as the rebels did . . . but he would make them all see differently. The flanking maneuvers had been his plan, a masterstroke to not just win a victory, but to destroy the entire rebel army in one fell swoop. He hadn’t been at all sure Damian Ward would give him the chance, that the rebels’ decorated leader would fall into the trap he’d laid, taken in by the apparent disorganization of the federal forces in pursuit of his army. But Ward had stepped into the snare, and Semmes had no intention of allowing it to fail because the soldiers wouldn’t push themselves hard enough to make it work.

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