The Runaway Atomic Train

By Sid Kar

The Parachutist Colonel Harshaw Karsch vows revenge on Starfire Kingdom and takes his team of elite paratroopers to strike at the heart of the Kingdom in a daring attack that will reignite the war.

The Atomic Train was meant to be a ride of joy and luxury. But for Harshaw and his paratroopers it is an instrument of war and vengeance. They have taken over the train. The train that cannot be stopped. The clock is ticking and the train is running. Only the paratroopers know where their diabolical plot and the train is heading to.

But Colonel Sthykar Karwyk of the Mountain Division is one man who is at the right place at the wrong time. He vows to defeat the attackers. He will board the runaway train. He will fight the entire team of imperial paratroopers. And he will face down Narducat Empire's best soldier.
 

The Paratroopers vs The Mountain Troopers!

The Final Soldier vs The One Man Army!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sid Kar
• Release date: Dec 17, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201343538

Book preview

THE RUNAWAY ATOMIC TRAIN

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SID KAR

Copyright © 2021 SID KAR

This story is a work of fiction. All names, characters, places, events, persons and organizations are fictional and product of author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, places and events is purely coincidental.

All rights reserved.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: The Final Soldier

Chapter 2: The Chief Detective

Chapter 3: To Catch a Running Train

Chapter 4: All Aboard

Chapter 5: The Diplomat

Chapter 6: The Search

Chapter 7: Northstar

Chapter 8: Two against Ten

Chapter 9: Falling Bodies

Chapter 10: At King Starrvyk Station

Chapter 11: Enter the Colonel

Chapter 12: Gunfight at Gold Harbor

Chapter 13: Battle of the Colonels

EPILOGUE

Chapter 1: The Final Soldier

Big Man stood in the middle of the wrestling ring and watched his opponent enter through the open door at the far side of the ramp. The man did not look formidable. He did not stand even six feet tall while Big Man himself was exactly seven feet in height. Though he was muscular enough that his cuts were visible from a distance, he would not have weighed close to even 200 lbs. Big Man himself was over 300 lbs. and packed most of that in hefty muscles and thick bones.

The crowd nearest to the entrance stood up. And as the man walked down the ramp more and more spectators stood up. And they did not shout or hoot or cheer as they had done in all the matches Big Man had been involved in. They did not even smile. Instead they all stood in pin drop silence and saluted the man as he walked towards the ring. The crowd held its salute. Finally when the man got nearer to the ring, Big Man himself could see why. His legs almost gave up but he too threw a hasty salute, then turned to Brigadier Ankut Rannar – seated in the front row seat on the side of the ring – and walked towards him. He leaned over the ropes and the Brigadier approached him.

Am I supposed to hit...him? Big Man pointed to his opponent who had now entered the ring. The crowd was still standing and still saluting.

If you want to win, Brigadier Ankut shrugged, It’s your choice. I will be honest – I rather him win the contest. But the rules are set. I won’t hold it against you.

I ain’t hitting our national hero, Big Man shook his head then turned around to face his opponent.

You better hit me, Capitan Rolbo Bobo, the man had heard him, for I will not hesitate or hold back my punches.

Colonel Harshaw, have you recovered fully from your injuries? Big Man Rolbo asked him.

No concern of yours, Colonel Harshaw replied, Our army doctor cleared me and frankly it’s long past time I stopped giving a damn for their medical reports. I entered this contest of my own volition. It wasn’t mandated by the Army or the Ministry.

But...

No buts. I watched the Starfirian bastards defile our beautiful country...hell I didn’t even watch, I listened, I listened on a goddamned radio as Colonel Sthykar and those dastardly hordes, those damned hatchlings of the foul Steppes, ran roughshod over our armies and used our own weapons against us, Harshaw was fuming, his face was gleaming and the sweat beads were dripping down his hair, and I listened from the comfort of the hospital bed. I, who could have stopped that notoriously dangerous bastard Colonel Sthykar...that I...was on a soft bed because of a doctor’s report. Harshaw turned around and spat over the ropes at the walkway.

Colonel, I feel the same as I too was out of the country, we all feel the same, Big Man Rolbo said, That is why I am willing to let you...

Before he could finish his sentence Harshaw had taken the aid of the flexible ropes to gain momentum and hurled himself into Rolbo and threw a massive punch in his face. The crowd gasped. Big Man Rolbo stumbled backwards. He could not believe the strength and the hardness packed in that punch. He had been hit by men almost his size and even their massive fists did not connect with such force.

I want no softness on my team, Colonel Harshaw screamed at the top of his lungs so that the entire audience made up of imperial military men could hear him even in the last row.

At ease, Brigadier Ankut shouted, back in your seats. The final match of the competition is now on.

The crowd sat down. Rolbo shook the stars from his head. Harshaw was standing infront of him. Rolbo realized he could have landed three or four more punches but had chosen not to.

You get one, I punched you before the official start, Harshaw grinned.

Rolbo could not figure him out. He decided he was going to pull his punches but let the fight go on. Rolbo stepped forward and took a swing but in the last moment yanked back his shoulder a bit.

Harshaw avoided the punch by squatting to his knees but jumped right back up as Rolbo’s swinging arm passed, then lurched forward, grabbed Rolbo’s wrist in midair while slamming his own elbow in the upper arm of Rolbo, just in between shoulder and triceps. A sharp pain shot through Rolbo’s arm. He turned and the pain dimmed slightly but continued as Harshaw kept the armbar locked and the pressure steady. Rolbo had no choice now but to throw a massive swing with his left arm with all the power he could muster to break Harshaw’s hold. The punch landed on Harshaw’s face and sent him staggering back into the ropes.

Rolbo ran – if a big giant’s attempt to lumber forward can be called that! – at Harshaw who was just shaking off the effect of a massive fist planted seconds earlier on his face. Rolbo bore down on him and delivered two more massive punches on Harshaw blooding his face in the process. He looked over Harshaw’s face and at Brigadier Ankut and wished him to stop the fight but Ankut shook his head.

How do you like them big beasts, sir? Rolbo asked.

I like them bloody beasts, Harshaw said, your turn to taste them.

Suddenly Harshaw sprang forward moving both of his hands like pistons jabbing at Rolbo’s stomach. Rolbo staggered backwards as his stomach ached in pain, he turned around, doubled over and vomited right in the middle of the ring.

The crowd stood up. There were even a few hoots.

Harshaw showed no mercy. Harshaw smashed his knee into Rolbo’s face drawing blood which splattered on the ground. Harshaw straight up kicked Rolbo in the face when the big man stood up. Harshaw’s hands once again moved like pistons up and down Rolbo’s body battering him from chest to thighs.

That’s it, sir, Rolbo screamed and crowd cheered loudly.

Rolbo swung wildly. He flung his massive left hand at Harshaw like an elephant’s trunk. Harshaw dodged it by going down on the ground and then kicked Rolbo’s knee. He ran around the Big Man kicking his knee and the back of it as he ran around in circles. Rolbo swung out his right arm like a mammoth lashing out with his tail at a wolf. Harshaw was on the ground punching Rolbo upwards. Harshaw was in the air spin kicking Rolbo down. Harshaw was everywhere. Kicks and punches came at Rolbo from all directions like hornets’ attack.

The crowd lost it. Disciplined military men yelled and cooned like young boys watching a fight championship. Even the Brigadier was on his feet – grinning.

In an act of desperation, Rolbo threw himself upon Harshaw and took him down to the ground. There he pinned both of his hands above his head and headbutted him repeatedly on the face.

Give up sir! Give up, please give up, Rolbo said even as he continued smashing his gorilla sized forehead into Harshaw’s nose, mouth and jaw drawing fountains of blood droplets. 

Never, ever, and if you give up before victory in our mission, I will court martial you, you hippo, Harshaw yelled.

You called me a hippo, I am more like a rhino...

Before Big Man Rolbo could finish his words, Harshaw crossed his hands overhead with a sudden jerk drawing on willpower and smashing Big Man’s arms into each other; breaking his grip in the process. Rolbo was about to Headbutt downward when Harshaw punched him hard in the face.

Even Rolbo with his huge sized flipped over in pain and lumbered back on his feet.

Harshaw was ready for him.

A hard right to the face, an uppercut to Big Man’s jaw with his left...a right, then a left, a right, a left and a final punch that brought the big elephantine man down slamming on the mat with his hands stretched out like a scarecrow’s on both sides.

Rolbo saw the stars of hundred galaxies, Rolbo felt the illusion of time fading as nothing moved, Rolbo heard the thunder of the thousand clouds, Rolbo smelled the ashes of fifty volcanos, Rolbo tasted the gushers of blood.

Each of the five counts shouted by Brigadier Ankut rang like gongs in Rolbo’s ears. Then it was over.

A hand extended over his face.

It’s finished, Capitan Rolbo, Harshaw said, you are indeed a rhino of a fighter.

Rolbo took his hand and stumbled up to his feet. Brigadier Ankut was in the ring with a mic in his hand.

I don’t need to tell all of you that this competition and its results are Imperial Secrets, Ankut said, We have our team. It will do its job. Nobody need talk about it.

The crowd silently nodded their heads.

And the winner of the Final Soldier tournament is a man who needs no introduction: Colonel of the Paratroopers Division that landed first inside Lodam nation and won our first victory clearing our path to conquest. A man who received bullet and shrapnel injuries but kept fighting and commanding his troops till our landing forces arrived. A man on whose chest the Emperor himself pinned the Imperial Blue Circle – the highest honor of our country. And the leader of our secret mission of vengeance: Harshaw Karsch.

Harshaw and Rolbo sat side by side on a couple of bent steel chairs in an otherwise empty room with just a wooden table in front of them and a couple of chairs beyond. There was a tall pitcher of cold water with ice cubes, a few drinking glasses, a bottle of whiskey, some lemons and a shaker of salt atop the table. Towels covered both of their necks, bloody and reeking of sweat.

Do you know what this secret mission is, Colonel Harshaw? Rolbo asked wiping the sweat off his face.

No clue. I heard about the tournament while I was still in the hospital, Harshaw replied, didn’t even get a chance to ask around before the fighting rounds started.

Even I know bits and pieces more than that, Rolbo shook his head.

What have you heard, Harshaw asked as he downed a glass of water then chewed on the ice.

Have you heard; insurrections have flared up in Lodam nation, Rolbo asked.

Can’t expect otherwise, they are poor but tough and hardy seamen, Harshaw said then poured himself another glass of water, but if we were going in to take care of the rebels, we wouldn’t need secrecy. It’s not Lodam nation anymore, it’s our Lodam territory.

No, not there, Rolbo shook his head, word is out that many rebel leaders have fled to Starfire Kingdom where the Starfirians are training them in sabotage, ambush, jungle warfare and all that. Supposedly, we would be assassinating the rebel leaders. Show all Lodamers that even the Starfirians can’t protect them.

Sounds possible, Harshaw replied, but also sounds like a cheap mission for men of our caliber. We are soldiers. Why not use the assassins of the Imperial Spy Department?

You didn’t hear then, Rolbo said, we had to put a majority of our spies to work to try to identify the location of Starfirian’s secret base where they were making their first atomic and trying to catchup to us. But that exposed our spies and SPASI rounded up most of them.

So we are being loaned out to Spymaster Ceeduk; hope the Army is charging a high rate of interest, Harshaw chuckled and Rolbo guffawed.

The dented iron door opened and two men walked in. Harshaw and Rolbo stood up and saluted Brigadier Ankut who was accompanied by another man, a bald, six and a half feet tall hefty man, but with Big Man Rolbo in the room, even he didn’t standout.

I believe you know Brigadier Bowol Meol, he will be in charge of the actual execution of the mission, at least until, you Colonel Harshaw take over, Ankut said, have a seat everyone.

They all sat down with Rolbo and Harshaw facing Ankut and Bowol. Bowol carried a stack of files in his hand while Ankut had only two. He pushed the two files across the table but then put a carton of cigarettes on top of each of them.

First, I am glad that you Capitan Rolbo, thought more of our country and our empire than yourself and let Colonel Harshaw be chosen as the leader, Ankut said.

I didn’t throw the fight, Rolbo said turning to look at Harshaw, he beat me.

Then our tournament accomplished it’s purpose, Ankut said, I was worried. Brigadier Bowol here had told me that nobody could beat Capitan Rolbo in a physical fight.

He beat me thrice back in the day, the only man to ever even defeat me in a fight, Bowol said.

With great difficulty, Rolbo added but Bowol shook his head with a smile. He was having none of this false humility – he had taken Rolbo’s punches and lived, he would be satisfied with that.

Tell me Brigadier, why did you setup the final round as a no holds barred knockout fight, Harshaw asked, The earlier rounds tested various tactical combat skills and only the soldiers and the officers with battle experience were even allowed to enter in the first place.

Now that you won Col. Harshaw, I can say this, I wanted you to be the leader of the team, Ankut said, but I wasn’t sure where you stood after your injuries from the invasion of Lodam. I need men who are diehard fanatics about accomplishing their mission or perishing. Because I am sending them in the Lion’s den, I need Tigers. Men who will absolutely keep fighting no matter what and only a fight tournament can truly select for the very best amongst them. And I need a leader for them who has an indomitable spirit. You Col. Harshaw who fought off thousands and thousands of Lodam’s naval infantries and port guards with just a few hundred of your paratroopers for hours.

All my boys deserve credit for that battle, not just me, Harshaw said.

Absolutely agree, but they couldn’t have done without a leader, Ankut said, they call Colonel Sthykar, One Man Army in Starfire Kingdom. Who else can take him on, but The Final Soldier.

Rolbo and Bowol nodded their heads enthusiastically but Harshaw thought for a few seconds. He picked out a cigarette and Bowol lit it up for him.

Sounds like a pretty low job to assign your national hero to guard a bunch of foreign rebels, Harshaw said.

Ankut rapidly turned and looked wild eyed at Bowol who just shrugged his shoulders.

I told you brigadier, rumors are swirling that we are assembling a team to knock off the Lodam rebels taking refuge in the Kingdom, Bowol said.

You took my words literally, but I wouldn’t insult you like that, Brigadier Ankut laughed turning to Harshaw and Rolbo, I was analogizing to underline the grave difficulty of your task. Highly unlikely you will run across Col. Sthykar, Ankut motioned to the two files with his chin, but if you run across him. Do kill him, oh yes, do absolutely kill that bastard, show him no mercy even if he begs.

Harshaw picked up the file and so did Rolbo and they started flipping through the bound and sealed pages. After ten minutes of skimming the file, Harshaw threw it on the table and raised both of his hands in the air in exasperation.

This is insane! Harshaw said, this will restart the war. Starfirians will hit back hard and hit back with atomics.

Their airplanes will be shot down long before they reach the Imperial Mainland, Ankut grinned, but war is what our leaders want. The treaty to end the war was a deception, a fake, a chance to buy us time to reorganize our resources.

And they gave you the task of reigniting the conflict? Harshaw asked incredulously, when they sent me to attack Lodam, I was operating directly under Commander Wolvar and Commander Tac Tan. Even Secretary Nrak was present at the first planning session. I don’t see any planning or preparation for war, any mobilization.

The planning is underway as we speak, Ankut said, secret mobilization will begin as soon as you are underway. Turn to the last page, read the four signatures for the authorization.

Harshaw and Rolbo both flipped their documents to the very last page. Harshaw stared intently at the signatures. He had seen three of them before signed in front of his very eyes not a long time back. No question the signatures were authentic. He looked at the Ministry and Imperial Army seals binding the sheets of paper together. They were genuine and untampered with. Harshaw looked at Rolbo who was watching him. Rolbo had no way to judge the authenticity of the documents and in no position to challenge a Brigadier either. Harshaw nodded his head but then turned to Brigadier.

I don’t mean to question your authority, Harshaw said, but I would like to speak with Imperial Commander Wolvar or Imperial Secretary Nrak Arn before I commence the mission.

Ankut and Bowol looked at each other for a few seconds then Ankut cleared his throat.

I won’t stop you, Ankut said, you have rest of today and we are in Nar City. I am sure you can get an appointment with either of them even at their homes.

Only one day? Harshaw asked.

If it was upto me, I would give you all a week to rest, Ankut said, but turn to page ten, our orders are clear, from tomorrow onwards we are all to operate under the strictest secrecy, which means only I – not even Brigadier Bowol here – can talk with anyone outside of those involved. And we are moving out tomorrow.

What are those files? Harshaw pointed to the files under Bowol’s hand, Rest of my team?

Oh no, you will get those tomorrow, Bowol said, Per the rules of the tournament, all the soldiers who fought their way successfully to the Round of 16 would be part of your team. But the sanctioned strength is 22 and we thought best that you get six of your own choice, perhaps specialists based on your analysis of the mission requirements. He pushed the files towards the Colonel.

Appreciate that, Harshaw said flicking off his cigarette, but why 22?

That’s the maximum number we estimate we can infiltrate with only a small risk of detection, Bowol replied.

With that, we will leave you for the rest of the evening, Ankut said and got up along with Bowol, meet tomorrow at 7AM at this stadium’s entrance.

Harshaw and Rolbo walked out of the tournament stadium in the late evening sunset with darkness just starting to fall over Nar City. The stadium was located inside an Army base however one of its gates opened directly out into the city streets and these two had taken that exit. The soldiers milled about with the civilians on the roads as streetlights started to turn on.  Most of the establishments on the other side were eateries or bars with a few general goods stores sprinkled about.

Where to? Are we really going to meet Commander Wolvar? Rolbo asked.

At least I would like to talk with him or Secretary Nrak on the phone, Harshaw replied, but first let’s go eat and drink. I am still reeling from your punches, he chuckled.

Didn’t want to hit you at all...Oh Colonel I know a really good joint, the owner is a true patriot, he gives us soldiers big discounts on food and beer regularly, especially if you ask, Rolbo said.

Let’s go, Harshaw said, we need to find a payphone too.

They got one right outside, Rolbo added.

Harshaw and Rolbo walked down the street while keeping their voices hushed and avoiding coming close to any other pedestrians.

Capitan Rolbo, does this mission smell fishy to you? Harshaw whispered. 

Hey, I am a hick from the sticks but I am not thick, Rolbo replied, I seen no mobilization, no preparation for war and I have seen them three times now. Once when we moved against Lodam, then right after against Karaln and thirdly against Starfire. If anything we are exhausted. This stinks like a rotten fish.

I was in the hospital for the longest time so I couldn’t be sure, but I am glad you confirmed the absence of the signs of the coming war, Harshaw said then he asked, How much do you know of the imperial politics?

A little, but then again I am a hick, so not a lot, Big Man shrugged his big shoulders.

The Imperial Secretary who rules the Ministry of Empire and makes Imperial Decisions is selected by the ten imperial undersecretaries, Harshaw said, these ten undersecretaries are the ones who decide the broad direction of our Empire by selecting one amongst them who most closely represents the majority of them.

I get that, Rolbo nodded then added, just around here, he pointed with his thumb towards a side street. Both of them turned corner into a broad alley lined with more bars and restaurants on both sides and with chairs and tables setup outside. Soldiers, sailors and civilians alike were eating, drinking and enjoying a pleasant evening oblivious to the two passersby.

There have been three political factions in the Ministry of Empire for the longest time, Harshaw said, "the Conservationists, the Nationists and the Expansionists. The Conservationists are