Star Crusades by Michael Thomas (whitelam books txt) 📗

infirst, with Jackal fire support on the way in.”

“Yes,Sir. We’ll do it.”

They continued speaking, butValentine’s attention was back to the other members of her unit. The eight-man lance was a small unit, butshe’d seen what it could do in combat. There were three lancesinside this one dropship, twenty-four battle-hardened warriors,plus their NCOs and the Lieutenant.

“You up for this?” she asked Hawkinsand Kallias.

Both nodded.

“Lance Corporal. Eyes front andcentre.”

She looked back to Alexis, andthen to the Sergeant who was looking tothe eight Novas intently. He opened his mouth, and the first fewwords were a blur before she could focus. The dropship was shakingviolently, and she wondered if a lot of this was to take theirattention from the perilous descent.

“We’re droppingdown into a massive trench. When I say massive,it’s more than three kilometres wide and runs for almost fiftykilometres in length, between a series of tall peaks. We can’testimate how deep, but parts may continue down close to the core.It’s nothing like we’ve seen before. The planet has been rippedopen for years.”

“What about defences?”Alexis asked.

“Good question.Along the lower level are multiple structures,towers, and smaller weapon batteries. There is good ground forlanding vessels, but we can’t get close until we clear the heavierweapons.”

He cleared his voice and then taggedseveral key areas along the trench walls.

“It looks like diagonal shaftshave been cut into the walls to house weapon positions to defendmost of this area. This one area is responsible for thirty percentof the fire on our ships. Nothing can stay in orbit for long beforebeing hit, and the trench and mountains are the perfect protectionfor their emplacements.”

Hawkins gave a low whistle.

“Known courses of gunfire havebeen tagged on your tactical maps, butour sensors cannot penetrate layers of mist or fog halfway down.So, we’ll play it all by ear.”

Ohgood, thought Valentine, We’re making it all up as we go along.

“This is a high-gravity world,with an expected level of close to oneand a half Earth normal.”

That got the attention of theothers.

“This means the IAB are going tosuffer. Everything is going to feel fifty percent heavier, and it’sgoing to take a toll on their bodies and their ability to fight. Sowe will need to do doubleduty.”

“What have we got coming with us?” Tsarkov asked as the dropshipshook and then accelerated hard. Each of them knew they had justhit the upper atmosphere of the alien world.

“We’re going in with two platoonsof IAB marines and a fireteam of Vanguards,” said SergeantJablonsky.

Multiple targets lit up, with severalassigned specifically to Valentine’s unit.

“Priority targets are theweapon installations and any protectivebarriers they have. The second is to secure the ground foradditional troops. It is critical that…”

Part of the internal armour began tocrack, and Valentine gasped in horror as she spotted flamesoutside.

“Shit!” SergeantJablonsky snapped, “Everybody buckle up.This is gonna get rough.”

Alarms sounded as more ofthe armour ripped away, creating a hole a half ametre wide. Red energy bolts flashed past, and she cried out as anearby Jackal took a direct hit and was engulfed infire.

“We’re going down!”Hawkins yelled.

“Justmeans we’ll get there faster,” said Kallias with a nervouslaugh.

Valentine caught the gaze of Alexis, and she could see the terror inher friend’s eye.

“Visor!” she called outjust as the plating along Alexis’ armour movedinto position. A loose pack of ammunition vanished through the gapin the hull, followed by a high-pitched whine.

Then another blast hit the Jackal, flooding the interior withsmoke and fire, and Valentine knew they were going down.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

The Trench,Ekati Alpha, The Ski’ligTerritories

Valentine had heard thesound several times before, but after allher combat experience it was one she would never become used to.The Jackal felt as if it was spinning out of control, but then sheheard the confident sound of Lieutenant Sterling. The gung-ho pilotwas a man that exuded confidence, even in the middle of acrisis.

“I’m taking us in low and fast. Evasivemanoeuvres are rough…so hold on!”

More streaks of energy blasted past thespacecraft, but by a combination of luck and judgement theycontinued downwards.

“Howmany did we lose?” Sergeant Jablonsky called out.

“5th Lance lost their Jackalsand are in freefall into the trench.”

“Crap,” muttered the Sergeant.

“They’re going to use their insertionchutes and land on the higher levels…just in case.”

Sergeant Jablonskynodded in agreement.

“Smart.”

He looked at those around him.

“This damage changes nothing.3rd Lance, we’re going in hard, and we’re taking theinstallation.”

It was impossible to hear himinside the howling winds tearing through the innards of the Jackal.Thankfully, the noise cancelling featuresof the Nova armour let them hear his voice over the close tacticalchannel with reasonable clarity.

“The weapons are dug in deep andnot on the surface. Latest scans show caverns cut into the side ofour target shaft. That’s our firstobjective.”

The Jackal spun to the right, and for the first time in almost aminute finally settled down onto what seemed like a level approach.It was enough to make Valentine feel even more on edge.

“What’s happening?”

SergeantJablonsky shook his head while speakingwith somebody over his own comms channel. Valentine couldn’t workout what he was saying, so she looked out of the gaps in the hull.To her surprise the control unit to her side moved around and intoposition in front of her and Hawkins. Sergeant Jablonsky turned toher and gave her a nod.

“Get on the guns. We’re going inhot.”

The seat then moved as it pushed heroutwards and towards the pair of flank-mounted turrets.

“Yes,Sergeant.”

Valentine took control of theweapon station, and at once the videofeed from the turret, as well as its control data transferred toher Cortex. For the first time she could see fully outside of theJackal. She gasped at the enormity of the place.

“Wow,” said Hawkins,“You ever seen anything like this?”

Kalliasheard them over their tactical channel and tried to lean forward tosee through the cracks and small breaches in the dropship’sarmour.

“What’s it like out there?”

Lieutenant Fletcher must have heardbecause he tapped his wrist.

“Novas, welcome to Ekati Alpha.”

They were all immediately granted access to the array of exteriorcameras, allowing them to look all around the Jackal. Valentine didthe same as she looked for signs of danger, but other than theoccasional burst of ground fire, there was little to see save forthe incredible scenery.

“This