The Phoenix Gambit: The New Glasgow War, #5

By CN Stoesen

"Captain, they know where we are. We need to move," she shouted at her officer while rushing to her gear.

In five minutes, the team was heading into the sewers again. Before they shut the hatchway to the sewer, explosions sounded through the ground floor of the building as something attacked their former sanctuary.

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Everything in war is very simple. But the simplest thing is difficult. - Carl von Clausewitz

It should be so easy. They had the advantage. The enemy was outnumbered and Rachel's marines had the armor and training to win. But now they were stuck behind enemy lines with no supplies and in a communication blackout. In other words, it was just a normal day on planet Gascony.

This is the fifth installment of the New Glasgow War series. On the distant planet of Gascony, the Federation forces find them selves cut off from reinforcement and supply as they battle the Verrat't, cat like creatures of the Me'eritim. Captain Duncan, FUP Marine Corps, has linked up with Major Dietler and his mechanized battalion. In a desperate battle for the capitol of the planet, Duncan learns that Dietler is more that just familiar to her.

They must free the planet from the Verrat't and hope that the Federation remembers them on this distant outpost.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Chris Stoesen
• Release date: Oct 22, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386172550

Book preview

The Phoenix Gambit:

A Story of the New Glasgow War

Book Five of the New Glasgow War Series

By CN Stoesen

October 25, 2018

Version 1.01

Copyright © 2018 CN Stoesen

All rights reserved.

Cover By Philip McClimon

Dedication

Thank you so much to my wife and son for their love and support. I couldn't hope for a better family. After all, they put up with my nonsense constantly. And thanks to the quirky little town of my friends' invention. It's a fun playground. Thanks for sharing.

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Preface

The Gascony Desert

Son of a poxy whore! These damn critters are way too heavy, cursed Billy Driscole.

He had one of the dead cats by the legs and was dragging it off the rocky hill, so he could bury the body in the sandy ground a hundred meters away. Billy had already taken their weapons and ammunition. He had also stripped them of their gear. But as he drug this one he saw its head bounce off of a rock and something popped out of its ear.

What the hell is this? he asked as he bent down to pick up the plastic item.

He stared at it and wondered what its purpose was. He then went back to the other bodies he had pulled down the hill earlier. Sure enough, each one of them had an ear piece. He shrugged to himself and removed the devices from the ears of the dead cats.

He returned to the body he was dragging and gave it a spiteful kick.

Maybe this damn gizmo will make it worth the effort in burying your lazy dead ass.

Not that the dead were lazy, it was that Billy was and didn't want to bury the cats. But if he didn't, they would stink and who knows what attention that could draw. Best place them deep and be done with it.

He set to work with efficiency and dumped the body into the hole he had dug. He laughed to himself. Of the four claims he had, this was the first digging he had done since the squatters came and took over his newest site. And he had nothing to show for it except a few ear-things from the cats.

A miner's life is never fair, so he knew better than to bemoan that fact. But he had to get the squatters gone from his land and go-back to real work. Shooting cats is fun and all but it doesn't pay the bills.

Chapter 1

Regroup

Duncan leaned her head against the interior wall. Pale light filtered in from the window on the opposite wall. She sipped water from the straw built into the helmet of her armor.

Her marines had been hiding in the building's basement now for over eight hours. This was the second building they had hid in since the initial attack. Mortar rounds targeted the previous building and they had to flee it through the sewers before the building collapsed down on their heads. They had been in the other building for two days. This was the third day since they counterattacked.

They were running low on rations and water. She had Gordo check the plumbing in the building and found that it was still running and clean. They could refill their canteen bladders within the suits. Food was another issue. The deli was across the street and they didn't have access to it through the sewers. That building was on another line. Hers contained clothing stores. Having lived in uniform for most of her adult life, Duncan was fashion challenged. So, the thought of a change of clothes wasn't as appealing as a hot meal and a bed.

The cats had pulled back further into the city and sent a mortar barrage against the foot infantry trying to link up with the marines. Her supply lines were cut. They were running low on food and ammunition. At least water wasn't an issue.

She checked her combat tablet again. There was still no connection to the FUP network. This likely meant the cats figured out how to block their communications. She needed to figure out how to reconnect.

Waving to Gordo, she had him join her to brain storm ideas.

We can't just stay here. I'm looking for some ideas. We need to link back up with friendly forces. Any thoughts? Duncan asked.

With his face shield up, Gordo rubbed at his eyes. He had removed the armored gloves, and they hung from a strap at his wrists.

Captain, I say we take back down to the sewers. When we pulled out of that last building, they cut the direct route to our lines. I think we should look for a cross line to go further east and link up with the infantry that way.

Gordo's idea had merit. But they knew the enemy was also using the sewers to move around the city. They had stationed a detail of two men to monitor movement below their building. They saw both civilians leaving the city and cats moving reinforcements forward. The civilians were as afraid of the marines as they were of the enemy. She didn't blame them. Their armor wasn't designed to look friendly and inviting.

What she had determined was that there were at least two different troop types deployed by the cats. The first was armored infantry that had similar suits to hers. The cat armor seemed to be lighter and offered less protection. Then there were those in uniform jumpsuits. The second category seemed to be most of their forces. The armored units were elite fighters and put up more resistance.

Armored cats had wounded three of her marines. All were still combat-effective, but her force was wearing down. They needed a rest.

We should do that. But I also want someone to go to the roof and see what is going on up there. We should send someone up wearing civvies to avoid unwanted attention. Get a lay of the land. Then look to head to the sewers to move.

Gordo nodded, I have just the grunt. She has been ogling the clothes in the store here. I figure she deserves to shop a little.

They grinned at each other as Gordo went back to his squad to organize them. She sipped