The Battle for Eden by Mark E. Burgess

Author:Mark E. Burgess
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: space opera, war, military, aliens, space war
ISBN: 9781434448187
Publisher: Wildside Press LLC
Published: 2012-08-28T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Six

In the days following, Simon’s energy was focused on implementing some new defensive preparations that he and Tyrus had been cooking up. In one of their recent strategy meetings Tyrus had presented a list of their assets that had potential military applications. One item that had seemed particularly useful was the large volume of liquid fuel stored in barrels in an underground cellar. Its primary purpose was for powering the house generators if the regional power grid went down. But Tyrus had accumulated a surplus of the flammable liquid, and given the aliens’ combustibility, it seemed too good a resource to ignore. They had already put it to use on a small scale, filling dozens of Molotov cocktail bottles. But Simon and Tyrus wanted to find another way to employ the fuel, something that could make a sizable impact on an attacking force.

After discussing the logistics, they set some of the younger family members to digging a shallow ditch along the inside of the rock wall in front of the house. A similar ditch was also dug along the rear wall bordering the back yard. Then they lined the trenches with Duraplas sheeting to prevent liquids from sinking into the soil. All that remained was to pour flammable fuel into the ditches when the time came, and light it from a distance with a kiss from a plasma gun. Anything coming over the walls would be treated to a royal barbecue.

Tyrus sought Simon out the morning after they had completed the firewall preparations. He found the spacer in the front yard helping the three brothers with yet another defensive project. He approached the group with an anxious energy, and Simon stopped what he was doing when he saw the look on the older man’s face. “What’s up?” he asked when they were within easy conversational distance.

“Not sure. Maybe nothing,” Tyrus replied, looking worried. “Maybe everything. I’m picking up a lot more local chatter from the Crabs today. It sounds like their numbers have increased in this area. I also caught translated words that sounded like, ‘Rural softshells.’ I’m concerned that an attack may be imminent.”

Without waiting for further elaboration, Simon turned and told the brothers, “Get this project done quickly. Once the charges are set on those trees, gather the equipment and get back inside fast. We may not have much time.” They nodded and scampered to complete their work. Simon turned back to Tyrus and said, “So what is your best estimate of things to come?”

“Truthfully? I don’t know, but my gut tells me to expect action within the next two days,” Tyrus said.

“Then we’ll work on that premise,” Simon declared. He had learned to trust Tyrus’s instincts; the man had an uncanny feel for ground warfare.

“You know, Major, it might be time to implement that idea you had mentioned awhile back, after your jaunt into the country with Sarah.”

“Do you think it’s worthwhile?” Simon asked him. “I wasn’t sure if it was even feasible.”

“Your plan has merit,” Tyrus replied.

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