Peacemaker by Kevin Ikenberry

Author:Kevin Ikenberry [Ikenberry, Kevin]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Seventh Seal Press
Published: 2017-08-22T04:00:00+00:00

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Chapter Fourteen

The report of enemy vehicles on the horizon stopped Jessica in her tracks. She pulled a small earpiece from her thigh pocket and slipped it into her ear. A few taps on her wrist slate, and Hex’s voice came through loud and clear. “Bulldog, we’ve got enemy vehicles on the horizon. They’re moving slowly in this direction. Looks like a patrol or a show of force. Can’t say right now.”

Jessica frowned. Seeing the tunnel complex and understanding what the Altar were possibly hiding couldn’t wait. “Can you estimate a time of arrival, if they keep their current pace?”

“Negative. They’ve appeared to stop and are doing some type of rehearsal.” Hex sounded bored. “We’ll keep watching.”

“What about the river?” Jessica asked as she climbed a slight hill toward the main cavern entrance. Klatk and another Altar stood on their back legs waiting for her. The new Altar carried a large rucksack brimming with tools. Seven more Altar soldiers waited near the cavern entrance.

“Quiet. I’ve got two tank crews watching it, and Klatk left an engineer named Plec in charge here. Seems competent enough. He’s mining the Raknar’s legs again, as we speak.”

Jessica replied, “Copy all. You know the litany, right?”

“Waiting for you, Bulldog.”

Jessica laughed. Their banter was straight from old Earth tactical manuals. Leaving a set of instructions without the traditional format didn’t seem fitting. “Right. I’m going into the tunnels and taking eight Altar with me. Klatk will stay here with you. If you’re hit, engage defensively with suppressive fire, and I’ll come back as quickly as I can. If I get hit, be prepared to divert an additional Altar platoon and two CASPers to my location. Acknowledge?”

“Good copy, Bulldog. We’ll leave a light on for you.”

The connection terminated, and Jessica set the communication alarm to key her headset from a beacon set she carried in her backpack. Ultra-high frequency radio signals wouldn’t go through solid rock, but with a series of beacons, she’d be able to remain in contact with her defensive forces on the surface. Klatk motioned for her, and Jessica closed the distance quickly.

“Jessica, this is Bukk. His squad volunteered to take you into the tunnel complex.”

Jessica’s eyebrows rose a fraction. “Does that mean I can trust him and his men?” The unanswered question was whether or not she could trust Klatk and the Altar at all. Since the early attempt on her life, the colonists scurried away from her, and she’d never been alone with anyone other than Klatk, much less a squad of eight.

Bukk spoke first. “Peacemaker, you can trust this squad to protect you and fight alongside you, if required.”

Jessica studied the Altar’s impassive face. His mandibles, the tell-tale sign of anxiety or untruth, were steady. His antennae focused toward her in a measure of respect. She didn’t like the prospect of it, but there was no other way she could see the tunnels. With a deep breath, she looked up at Klatk. “I don’t like this, Klatk. I

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