Template and Energia by Rodford Edmiston

Author:Rodford Edmiston [Edmiston, Rodford]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: X05
Publisher: DopplerPress
Published: 2017-11-19T05:00:00+00:00

Part Seven: A Corruption of Arms

The attack on the school began right on schedule. The only change being that the long-range bombardment was not directed solely to the Pine installations and super bases on the island; about ten percent pulverized an innocent section of jungle north of the bunker. This to draw the attention of those on guard there.

Before the missiles started flying, assault teams in submersible assault craft moved into a holding position. At the first explosion they headed for their assigned targets. The timing, like all the plan, had been worked out in exquisite detail, and was executed like clockwork. Unexpectedly, though, over half the missiles were shot down by small rockets, hypervelocity projectiles and a few energy beams. Those with the farthest to travel - intended for the patch of jungle near the bunker - had the highest attrition rate. The attackers weren't sure that any of them reached their intended target. Since that part of the attack had been a last minute addition there was no margin to try again.

"Where are those interceptors coming from?" the task force commander demanded, watching as most of the missiles were destroyed seconds after leaving the water.

"Multiple sites, sir! Most from locations not previously marked as hostile. Our information is that their defense system is largely offline for upgrading!"

"If this is largely offline..." the commander muttered. "Advance the schedule on the bombardment. Launch every anti-material missile we have, as quickly as possible! Try to saturate those defenses. Focus on the primary objectives; the bunker team will have to make do with what they already got."

More missiles got through this time, but still fewer than expected; by now the automated defenses were being augmented by supers. The Commander swore softly; the response time of those inhuman creatures was far shorter than the plan had anticipated, and they were far better coordinated.

"Switch the missiles to half anti-super munitions, half the standard mix."

"Yes, sir. So far, none of the assault teams are reporting trouble, in spite of the less than anticipated effect from the bombardment."

"Tell your people to keep track of as many supers as they can," said the Commander. "We have to keep them off our people's backs."

One landing team entered the lagoon and went to the old welcome center. They found it flooded and sealed off from the rest of the base. After determining that breaking through the doors would cause only a small section to flood and take far longer than the time allocated for their mission, the members of that team went with their contingency plan and swam to shore. There they split into two groups and hurried towards the dormitories. There they secured positions and waited for the heavy landing craft and their crews to arrive.

Another team - specialists all, and including some personnel augmented by Dr. Hartford - attacked Pioneer Reserve Facility Delta, the only active super base on the island. The Pioneers had long been a thorn in the side of several members of the Zurich

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