The Kalmiera: Crisis: Loss of a System

By Mark Garnett

A galactic war has gripped the Milky Way. The Human race formed an alliance with the Anubis, Horus, and Jurassic people against their common enemies, the Kalmiera, Mantis and Arachnids. Each side fights for their survival, using nuclear, chemical, and biological warfare, as well as genetically growing of troops in tank wombs to keep fighting the war.

The war spills into countless solar systems as each side works to gain foothold on moons and planets in the galaxy. This story takes place in the Cygnus Loop System where the Antman people have been fighting the Kalmiera, Mantis and Arachnids for generations.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Page Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Mar 15, 2023
• ISBN: 9781662455674

Mark Garnett

Mark Garnett is Senior Lecturer in Politics at Lancaster University. He has written widely on Brtitish politics, in particular the relationship between ideas and practice. His books on the Conservative Party include acclaimed biographies of Tory grandees, Keith Joseph and Willie Whitelaw.

Book preview

Chapter 1

I finish packing the rest of my things in my medical room when I hear a knock at the door. I turn to see who it is. I note the markings of a major on his uniform so I stand at attention and salute.

Major: At ease, Captain.

I change my stance and the major walks in the room and looks at my prosthetics, I am still in GYM shorts and tank top.

Major: My name is Major Urban. I currently have two companies under my command. I have orders. You’re my new captain for my Third Company. Like the other battalion you served under we are all bio-chem troops. Now that you’re able to command again, we have work to do and need to get you introduced to your new company.

Major Urban hands a stick pad to me. I take it and pull the screen out with my finger exposing the screen. I see my name, rank, and picture, and I read the orders. The orders confirm what the major has said.

Boris: Sir, permission to speak?

Major Urban: Of course.

Boris: I just need to get dressed and I’m ready to deploy.

Major Urban: Excellent, Captain, I’ll wait outside. Oh, here is your sidearm.

Major Urban hands me a belt with holster and Beretta .40 cal and three mags.

Boris: Thank you, sir.

The major goes out of the room, and I retract the stick pads screen and toss it on the bed. I get dressed and grab my weapons belt and put it on and grab the stick pad and my bag and head for the door. I emerge into the hall, and Major Urban is standing outside the door.

Boris: Major, sir, ready when you are, sir.

I hold out the stick pad. Urban takes it and puts it in the case on his belt.

Major Urban: Excellent, follow me. The major leads the way down the hall as I walk at his side. The uniform covers my robotic arm, all except my hand. As I walk down the hall, I notice people looking at it. We reach the elevator and the major hits the up button.

Major Urban: There is a troop transport on the pad on the top floor, we are to deploy as soon as possible.

I nod, the elevator doors open, and nurses climb off, then we climb on. Major Urban hits the top floor button and the doors close. We rise to the landing pad on the roof. The elevator doors open and we climb off. On the pad to the right the troop transport awaits with its crew of four Humans and one robotic pilots, as well as a squad. One Human pilot and the robotic pilot are in the cockpit, and the other three crewmen are on the guns, one on each side and one on top. The squad is spread out around the troop transport. We walk to the pad.

Sergeant: Major, we are ready for takeoff, sir.

Major Urban: Let’s get on our way.

Sergeant: Yes, sir. Troops, load up.

We all climb aboard and grab a seat when the doors close the pilots take off and head for the base while we are in the air Major Urban fills me in.

Major Urban: We will head to the base and pick up your company, you have full command over your company, Captain, air support and all, while you get to know your new company and air support units as we wait for the raider ship D-class to be resupplied. You know the drill, Captain. When we get to the base gear up, we should be ready to depart in twenty-four hours.

Boris: Yes, sir.

As the troop transport lands at a landing pad at the base the doors open and everyone climbs off. I look around the massive base, I can see the three-mile-long raider ship at the middle of the base at the large docking station; troops and aircraft are everywhere. Two hover transport cars pull up, and a private hops out and salutes.

Major Urban: At ease, Private.

Private: Major, orders, sir.

Major Urban pulls the stick pad out and extends the screen and pulls up the orders and hands it to the private.

Major Urban: Take Captain Romanogh to his company.

The private reads the orders and scans the bar code at the bottom, then hands the stick pad back to Major Urban and salutes him.

Private: This way, Captain Romanogh. Then he climbs back in the hover car.

I turn to Major Urban. I’ll let you know when we are ready to board, sir.

Major Urban: Sounds good, I’ll be on the raider ship getting details.

I salute the major, then climb in on the passenger side of the hover car, and the private drives off and down the base. We pull up to a large hangar and park and climb out.

Private: Follow me, Captain.

As I follow him into the large doors to the hangar, I see the entire company and air support units getting equipment and themselves ready for deployment. We walk to the hangar office and climb the stairs. I get to the second level and stop and look over the hangar. I see the two heavy transport crafts, each having a crew of nine and a robotic pilot, for vehicles or equipment or fifty troops or supplies. The six troop transports have their crew of four and a robotic pilot. The six cobra gun ships with their two pilots and robotic pilot. The ten jet bikes have their two pilots and a robotic pilot. There are seventy-four air men and twenty-four robotic pilots. I look around and see six platoons sixty troops in each, ten squads in each platoon. I see the sixty robotic troops model twenty. Ten robotic mules model three. I turn to the private, and he leads me into the hangar office.

Private: Captain on deck. He pulls to the side and salutes, and so do the other six officers that are in the room.

Boris: At ease. I walk over to the Hologram table. I am Captain Boris Romanogh. I am to take command of this company. Now, each of you, rank and name.

A man steps forward. I’m First Lieutenant Abu.

Another man does the same. First Lieutenant Bialy.

Another does the same. Second Lieutenant Brown.

A woman steps forward. Second Lieutenant Francesco.

Another woman does as well. Second Lieutenant Lawrence.

Another, final woman does so too. Air support, Master Sergeant Baldwin.

Boris: Nice to meet you all, now let’s get down to it. We are to board the raider ship at the dock within the next twelve hours, and we are deploying to a hot zone, now do these troops have live combat experience?

Lieutenant Abu. No, sir, we are all fresh out of training, sir.

Boris: Well, that will have to do.

The private brings over a forearm smart band and a smart uniform and captain’s helmet.

Boris: Excuse me while I get this on. I take off my top uniform revealing my robotic prosthetic arm and then my pants, revealing my robotic prosthetic leg. I get into the bio-chem smart uniform and slide my robotic arm into the forearm smart band and hit the activation button.

A hologram person comes off it four inches. Hello, Captain, I am Charlie. I’m your intelligent computer system. As you know, I am here to help with communication, mapping, control, and monitoring of your robotic pilots and troops. I can show you what they see and their status. I am linked up with Major Urban’s system, so we will be able to update the status, missions, and supplies with location as needed, sir. Your company is Charlie Company, Captain Boris Romanogh. I need to update your platoon leaders and numbers, sir.

Boris. All right, then. Lieutenant Abu, you’re First Platoon. Bialy, you’re Second Platoon. I will take Third Platoon. Lieutenant Brown, you’re Fourth Platoon. Lieutenant Francesco, you’re Fifth Platoon. Lieutenant Lawrence, you’re Sixth Platoon. Master Sergeant Baldwin, you’re fully in charge of air support for the company. It will be your responsibility to resupply the platoons, evac the wounded, and run air support on your own.

Everyone: Yes, sir.

Boris: Now get your platoons and equipment ready for transport to the raider ship. Air Master Sergeant, stay here. Everyone else is dismissed.

Everyone: Yes, sir.

The lieutenants leave the room together and head for the ground floor.

Boris: All right, Master Sergeant, since you haven’t been in combat yet, I’ll give you the run-down. When we are in the field, round-the-clock air support is critical. If we lose that, the ground troops will be slaughtered. Do not hesitate to carpet-bomb an area, understood?

Baldwin: Yes, sir.

Boris: Charlie will keep you updated with location of ground units, any questions?

Baldwin: No, sir.

Boris: Good, dismissed.

Air Master Sergeant Baldwin heads for the door and exits leaving Boris in the room alone. Boris walks over to the Hologram table and runs his armband over a link location, Charlie appears on the hologram table.

Charlie: Captain, what would you like me to pull up?

Boris: Are our orders updated?

Charlie: Yes, sir, would you like to see our target solar system?

Boris: Yes, give me the run down on the objective.

Within seconds, the target solar system appears projected from the table showing the sun and the planets and their moons in real-time orbits. Charlie walks across the hologram table.

Charlie: Sir, there are two intelligent races in this solar system. There are three atmosphere planets in the solar system. The two intelligent races are Ant humanoids and Mantis humanoids. The two races each have their own planet. Charlie walks over to one of the atmosphere planets. Captain, this planet here is the Mantis humanoid home planet. The Kalmiera have been supporting them in their war with the Ant humanoids. The Kalmiera have established a base of operations on the planet as well.

Charlie walks along the hologram table to another planet that is bigger and has two moons. Captain, this is the Ant humanoid home planet. We do not have any installations established in this solar system, but the Ant humanoid government has asked for our help and in exchange for our help we are granted areas for military installations on their home planet as well as a moon and the other planet where the fighting is taking place. In exchange for our help and services with supplies, they agree to pay the Iron Eagle in resources. Captain, the two races are still young in their space evolution, so they’re confined to their solar system for now.

Charlie walks over the hologram table to the third planet that orbits between the other two. Captain, this is the primary target planet. Both the Ant humanoid and the Mantis humanoids are on this planet, as well as the Kalmiera. The Mantis humanoids are trying to push the Ant humanoids off the planet, and the Kalmiera are helping with it. The Ant humanoids are being pushed back and losing ground but are trying to hold out. Captain, the Iron Eagle has moved three battle carriers into the area around the Ant humanoid planet, one from the Black Hand Branch, one from the White Tiger Branch, and another from the Red Eagle Branch. The fighting has started and all three of these Iron Eagle branches have made touch down on the target planet. We will rally with our Black Hand battle carrier and then be deployed to the target planet. So far there has not been any detonations of biological, chemical, or atomic, so we hope not to have to use them. Sir, is there anything else you would like to know about the target solar system?

Boris: Not at this time, Charlie. Are there any other updates with our orders?

Charlie: No, sir, but I’ll have them ready as soon as I receive them.

Boris: That works, we are done here.

Charlie walks along the hologram table to her start point. I swipe my armband over the same place, and Charlie is uploaded back to my armband. I walk back over to the table where my helmet is and pick it up and put it on, as it locks to the suit the power to the helmet comes on and starts going through the systems check, equipped with night vision, infrared heat thermal imaging, range finding, and zoom in ability as well as a screen for Charlie to appear on above my vision over my left eye.

When the systems check is done, I walk over to a gun cage and open it. It’s full of all the weapons of the Black Hand arsenal. I grab the standard G-M-5-1. It’s a midrange weapon with scope, thirty-round mag with a built-in pump action, and twenty-five-millimeter grenade launcher that holds three twenty-five-millimeter grenade rounds. I look around the gun cage and there’s an ammunition vest. I grab it and put it on. I see fully loaded magazines and twenty-five-millimeter shells, there are three magazine sections. One regular, one chemical, one biological. I look at the twenty-five-millimeter grenade rounds, and there are four sections—regular high explosive, chemical, biological, and napalm. Since we are not planning to use any dirty weapons, I grab regular magazines and twenty-five-millimeter ground rounds and napalm. I load my rifle and stock the ammunition vest. I grab three frag grenades and three napalm grenades. I grab a ventilation air pack and get it on and hook it to my uniform. It will pull air in, clean it, and fill the air tanks. The ventilation will clean air in chemical, biological, or radiation areas or shut off if levels are too high and rely on the air tanks. No oxygen zones. I’ll have six hours of air time.

I walk over to the door and out onto the catwalk and look over at the company that are loading the heavy transports and troop transports. Troops are moving around all over as well as robotic troops moving all the companies supplies to the crafts to be loaded. I turn my head to the right and see Air Master Sergeant Baldwin walk up the stairs to the catwalk where I am.

Boris: Master Sergeant, what’s the word, are we ready to begin the transfer to the raider ship?

Baldwin: Yes, sir, it’s going to take fifteen to twenty trips.

Boris: OK, give me a minute. Charlie, patch me to Major Urban.

Charlie: Yes, sir. A few seconds go by.

Urban: Captain Romanogh, what can I do for you?

Boris: Sir, we are ready to start moving to the raider ship.

Urban: Good to hear, Captain, you’re moving to flight bay 5, hangar 1 ECO.

Boris: Yes, sir, starting the move now. Master Sergeant, flight bay 5, hangar 1 ECO, is your destination. Let your pilots know and start the move.

Baldwin: Yes, sir, I’m on it. Baldwin turns and heads down the stairs to the ground floor.

I walk over to the one of many hangar control stations and hit the hangar door button on the hologram screen and the large doors open all the way. I turn and look over the company and watch as jet bikes and cobra gunships start leaving the hangar, followed by troop transports and the two heavy transports. I walk down to the ground floor and make my way to Third Platoon. As I get to where Third Platoon is, a sergeant comes over and salutes.

Captain, I’m First Sergeant Anderson.

Boris: At ease, Sergeant, how long until the platoon is ready?

Anderson: We are ready now, sir.

Boris: Good, then have the men load the next wave of transports. Where is the other commander of this platoon?

Anderson: Sir, other than you, I am.

Boris: Well then, let me see your wrist band. Sergeant Anderson holds his arm out. I swipe mine over his and Charlie pops up.

Charlie: First Sergeant Anderson, you are linked directly to the captain. Everything you need to know you now have access to.

Anderson: Thank you, sir.

Boris: Now let’s get outside and ready for pick up.

Anderson: Third Platoon outside now for transport pick up! Move, move, move, don’t make me wait for you.

All troops grab their gear and head for the hangar doors. Sergeant Anderson and I make our way out of the hangar as well. We get outside and wait for the troop transports to arrive. I look around at the massive base. Armored vehicles are all over the area—tanks, personal carriers, mobile SAMs, trucks, jeeps, and mobile SICBM launchers. All hover vehicles are manned and ready for transport. Within five minutes, our troop transports come into view and come in for a landing. The six troop transports touch down.

Anderson: Troops, load the transports.

All the troops make for the closest one with their squad and file aboard. Sergeant Anderson and I move to the one closest to us and climb aboard. I make my way to the pilot’s pit to watch our approach. The transport takes to the air and moves away from the hangar and over the base. As we head for the raider ship that has all the bay doors open as we approach flight bay 5 and move to enter the large bay, we enter hangar 1 and head for the ECO location. The pilots land and the troops begin to file off. I head for the door and exit the troop transport. I look around the large hangar as troops make their way for the housing section. I move with Sergeant Anderson following the Third Platoon. The troop transports take off and head back to grab more from the ground hangar.

Boris: Sergeant, get the platoon to their quarters for the flight.

Anderson: Yes, sir.

We enter the housing section at the back of the hangar, and I break off from the platoon and head for the command room. I go down the hallway and find the door and enter. I move to one of the hologram tables and swipe my armband over the sync location, and Charlie pops up on the table.

Charlie: What would you like to know, Captain?

Boris: Get me Major Urban.

Charlie: Yes, sir. Within a few seconds Major Urban appears on the other side of the hologram table as a hologram.

Urban: Captain, what do you need?

Boris: Details on the target planet, sir.

Urban: Charlie, bring up the target solar system.

The target solar system appears, projecting from the table. The Kalmiera have a strong presence around the Mantis humanoid planet with multiple bases on the planet. The Kalmiera have one five-ring layered station in orbit of the Mantis humanoid home planet. All Kalmiera are in the area—Turtlesec, Titan, and Regular. With the Kalmiera five-layered station in the area, the Kalmiera are genetically growing their own race on it as well as on the planet. As far as we know, the Kalmiera only have military bases on the primary target planet.

Charlie zooms in on the primary target planet. All three branches of the Iron Eagle are running search-and-destroy missions in the target solar system. As for my battalion, the orders are to establish a field base on this large island. Just off the coast of this island mass here. The hologram zooms in on the area of the planet. There are two cities on the island, one of each race to the solar system. Kalmiera and Mantis control the large island and the islands around it. What is left of the Ant humanoids on the island are being hunted down and killed. We are going to help retake this island and the ones around it before moving to the mainland. Captain, the enemy has dug in and fortified the island, antiair guns, you name it. Intel suggests the Kalmiera are also helping genetically grow the Mantis humanoids, but it has not been confirmed. Once we are loaded, we make for space. Once we are cleared, we will jump to the target solar system and make our way for the primary target planet. Once we enter the planet’s atmosphere this raider ship will stay in the area until it needs to resupply. Then it will link back up with the Black Hand battle carrier to resupply. Captain, we must secure an area to start a military installation so we can start landing cargo and deployment ships. You’re authorized to kill anything that stands in the way. Try to avoid the killing of the Ant humanoids, we are hoping for them to become new long-term allies of ours, any questions?

Boris: No, sir.

Urban: Good, we will be loaded soon, you should get some rest before we depart, you’re going to need it. His hologram fades away.

Charlie: Anything else, sir?

Boris: No, Charlie, send the orders to the other officers, and I’m going to get some sleep before the jump.

Charlie: "Yes, sir, I’ll wake you before we depart.

I leave Charlie synced to the hologram table and walk over to a cot and lie down.

I’m awakened by Sergeant Anderson. Sir, Doctor Herman is here to see you. I sit up on my cot and rub my eyes.

Boris: Send her in, Sergeant.

Anderson: Yes, sir. He walks to the door and opens it and Doctor Herman comes in. Anderson stands at the door.

Herman: Captain, I am Doctor Herman. I’ve been assigned to your company.

Boris: Charlie, pull it up. As Charlie walks around the hologram table, Doctor Herman’s file appears as well as her orders.

Charlie: Captain, Doctor Herman has been assigned to your company. Doctor Herman will provide medical support as well as gather intel on the Mantis humanoid as well as other data from the planet.

Boris: Well, Doctor Herman, looks like we are going to hell together then. I’ll do what I can to help you with what you need but don’t jeopardize my troops, understood?

Herman: Yes, Captain.

Charlie: The raider ship is about to leave the dock.

Boris: Good, then it starts.

A voice comes over the speakers. "This is the captain of Raider Ship 7556. We are departing for space, then we move to jump. Everyone is to report to combat stations, we leave the dock in five minutes.

Boris: All right let’s get to the rest of the company.

I swipe my armband over the same spot on the hologram table, Charlie moves from the table to my armband. The three of us exit the room to the hall and move for the hangar. As the ship is about to move away from the dock, all the air-lock doors start working. We walk through the air-lock door leading into the hangar where the company is. I look at the hangar’s large doors that are closing at the end of the hangar. As soon as the doors are closed, the hangar begins to pressurize. I feel the vibration beneath my feet as the raider ship pulls free from the dock. All the aircrafts are lined up on each side dividing the hangar. The two air squadrons are surrounded with troops and supplies. The largest craft at the back of the hangar being the heavy transports, then the troop transports, then the cobra gunships and the jet bikes. Troops work to organize and load the craft with the equipment for the first wave. As the raider ship rises for space, I can feel the front rise more as we move to exit the atmosphere.

Boris: Company, get ready to jump.

The troops brace and hold on. The ship captain comes on over the intercom. We have entered space and are cleared for the jump, we jump in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. I feel the gravitational pull on my body as the jump starts. As the ship reaches the cruising speed, the captain of the ship comes back on the intercom. We’re in the jump now, we will arrive within the hour outside of the home planet of the Ant humanoids.

Boris: You heard him, this company is to be ready for deployment when the time comes.

Company: Yes, sir.

Chapter 2

The ship pulls out of the jump within sight of the Ant humanoid planet, revealing the large battle carriers that are already there, each with their thirty small carriers for planet invasions and sixty Hiroshima battleships for combat and thirty raider ships, and smaller ships, like command ships, battle gunships, destroyer ships, deployment ships, and the combat-ready ships with cargo ships, are everywhere, descending and rising from the atmosphere of the planet.

Charlie pops up on my armband. Captain, Major Urban is trying to reach you.

Boris: Patch me through.

Urban: Captain, we are to head for the primary target planet and deploy to our target sector. Have your company ready for deployment.

Boris: Yes, Major. Charlie, update.

Charlie: Captain, the Kalmiera have started to blockade the target planet.

Boris: We should load the nearest destroyer on the rider ship before they deploy to space.

Charlie: I’ll check with Major Urban.

Boris: Master Sergeant Baldwin, get all air units ready for boarding of the destroyer in the hangar.

Baldwin: Yes, sir.

Charlie: Captain, you’re approved to load the destroyer that’s in the main section of the bay 5. The caution lights at the hangar doors are on now as the large doors begin to open.

Boris: Lieutenant Abu and Lieutenant Baily, get your platoons loaded on the troop transport. Sergeant Anderson, get Alpha, Bravo, and Charlie on Heavy Transport 1 and Delta, ECO, and Foxtrot on Heavy Transport 2, with supplies and station guns. Doctor Herman, you and your science and medical staff are to be on the heavy transports as well. Lieutenant Brown, Francesco, and Lawrence, board the destroyer. Charlie, get all the robots on the destroyer. Master Sergeant Baldwin, when the destroyer deploys to space, all our air support deploys with it. Our mission is on the planet, not in space. We are going to have to make a break for the planet when we get there.

Baldwin: Copy that, sir. I’ll be aboard Heavy Transport 1.

Boris: So will I.

Everyone in the hangar is scrambling, trying to get to their destinations. As the destroyer slowly pulls in front of the hangar, I make sure I have all my gear and make my way for the Heavy Transport 1. The raider ship is headed for the target planet at a high speed. The Captain comes on the intercom. All hands to your stations, we are entering a combat area. All units that are deploying to the planet get ready to deploy soon. People are running to get to their stations now.

I arrive at the heavy transport and am met by Sergeant Anderson. Captain, Third Platoon is loaded and ready.

Boris: Good.

I move into the heavy transport and make my way past all the gear and troops for the cockpit, the crew are all at their gun turrets, one each side of the body and a station mini gun turret near the back. At the front, below the cockpit, are two twenty-five-millimeter Gatling grenade launchers, on the top of the heavy transport is a rocket turret to help fight off aircraft. I walk up the ramp to the cockpit as the rear door closes. I get into the cockpit and grab a seat next to Master Sergeant Baldwin and Doctor Herman.

Boris: Let’s get all the crafts in formation with the destroyer and get ready for deployment.

Baldwin: Yes, sir.

All the crafts rise off the deck and start to exit the hangar and form up around the destroyer. In the main section of the bay, other air supports are doing the same. I see out the window the caution lights on the bay door start and within a minute the bay doors start to open.

The raider’s captain comes on all comms. All units deploying are clear to do so, we are being engaged by the Kalmiera.

The sound of explosions starts, and all crafts start for the bay doors as they are still opening. Our craft moves for the bay doors for space, in seconds we are in space and the pilot turns for the planet. I can see the raider ship firing missiles and its main guns while it takes fire from Kalmiera cruisers in the area. The pilots punch it for full speed, heading for the planet. Each group of aircraft of mine stays in tight formation as we speed for the atmosphere. There is a lot of comm chatter as crafts and ships are being engaged by the Kalmiera. I hear the captain of the raider ship. "We are taking heavy fire, all hands abandon ship!" Kalmiera fighters move on our air groups. The jet bikes break off to engage. Explosions are everywhere. Escape pods are deployed from the raider ship one after the other as missiles are still being launched from it. Our air groups begin to breach the planet’s atmosphere when the raider’s ship front explodes. Hundreds of escape pods and air groups as well as the three destroyers begin to enter the atmosphere of the planet. We start to slow down as we enter the atmosphere to avoid being cooked. Within minutes, we are in the atmosphere and moving above the clouds. Our two air groups form up again and keep moving.

Charlie: Captain, the raider ship is lost and escape pods are landing everywhere, as well as in our target sector, sir.

Boris: What about Major Urban?

Charlie: I can’t reach him, sir.

Boris: All right then, it’s a change of plans. We will move to our target sector, but we will not invade the main island. We move for the first decent-sized island to get a base of operations started. Master Sergeant Baldwin, pick one you see fit and get this company there.

Baldwin: Yes, sir, I’m on it.

The pilots move to descend to below the clouds as we enter our target sector. We break through the clouds, and small islands are in sight, along with smoke trails from escape pods. I stand to take a better look. There are small outposts on this small island.

Boris: That one in the middle of the first line of islands, Sergeant Baldwin. Get the word out, we are taking that island there. I point to it.

Baldwin: Yes, Captain.

Boris: The small cove is our landing sight.

I stand and move for the bay of the heavy transport. The bay doors at the back of the craft start to open and the troops get ready for deployment.

The pilot comes on the intercom. We’re coming in hot, T–15 seconds.

I hear ticks and dings from enemy fire hit the craft, then the gun turret’s open fire on the landing sight. I move for the bay doors that are open. Secure the beach, make a defensive line at the tree line. I’m looking out the back. We’re close to the water and the craft starts to turn, and sand comes into view. I get my gun at the ready and get ready to move. As the craft slows, I jump down to the beach and the troops do the same. The mini gun is in full operation cutting the tree line. I start running for a group of rocks I see to take cover when a jet bike drops napalm on the tree line, engulfing a part of it. Gunfire opens up from the troops as the enemy returns fire. Cobra gunships move in, firing cluster missiles on the enemy positions up and down the beach. I see Mantis troops running around on fire from the napalm strike, and bio-chem troops shoot them down. I take cover behind the rock and look at the landing zone. Troop transports are moving in to deploy their troops.

Lieutenant Abu and Bialy, we have to secure the landing zone, dig in. Master Sergeant Baldwin, I need air strikes on the tree line. Burn the enemy out of their fortifications. I poke my head out and open fire on a Mantis soldier, dropping it. Jet bikes come in and drop more napalm just behind the tree line. The flames engulf the trees.

Third Platoon move to the tree line, clear them out. I break cover from the rock and move on the tree line, my gun at the ready as I close on the tree line. I see a Mantis-manned gun nest. I aim and fire a twenty-five-millimeter grenade at it, hitting the main gun while they’re trying to reload. Body parts go flying. I run for their position. I grab a grenade and pull the pin and toss it at the position. It lands behind it and explodes. Mantis soldiers start to climb out the back. I open fire, dropping three before they get out of the trench. I reach the gun nest and take cover in front. I grab a napalm grenade and toss it over into the trench. It engulfs the area in flame. I look back at the beach; it is littered with dead bio-chem troops. The gunfire begins to slow as the rest of the Third Platoon finishes clearing the tree line. I get on the comm. "Sergeant Anderson, are you still with us?

Anderson: Yes, sir, I’m in the tree line.

Boris: Good, set up a perimeter in the tree line.

Anderson: Yes, sir.

Boris: Ground officers, report.

Abu reporting in. Lieutenant Bialy is dead, cut down by a gun nest.

Boris: Damn it. Well then, your now in charge of Second Platoon as well.

Abu: Copy that, sir.

Boris: Master Sergeant Baldwin, I need you to land on the beach and off-load the supplies.

Baldwin: Yes, sir, on it.

Boris: Charlie, try to reach the destroyer with the rest of our company on it and see if they made it. Send out our location.

Charlie: Yes, Captain.

I move back onto the beach as the two heavy transports come in, to land on the beach.

Boris: Lieutenant Abu, have Second Platoon unload the heavy transports.

Abu: Yes, sir.

Boris: "Master Sergeant Baldwin, start scanning the sector for locations of escape pods and survivors.

Baldwin: Yes, sir.

Charlie: Captain, I have reached the destroyer and given them our location. The ship has taken heavy damages but is on route to us.

Boris: That’s good to hear, we are going to turn this cove into our base of operations.

Charlie: Yes, sir.

Baldwin: Captain, I have locations all over the place of survivors and escape pod beacons. Some are in the water, others are on other islands.

Boris looks around at the beach and tree line, scattered dead from his company as well as Mantis humanoids. Baldwin, we are starting rescue missions on all escape pod locations. Get the first groups of them checked for priority missions! And let’s start regrouping.

Baldwin comes over the comm. Yes, sir, I’ll let you know when I have it ready.

Chapter 3: Tiberiam

Tiberiam

Tiberiam and a platoon of Anubis warriors walk down a road inside a city once thriving with civilians of Horus and Anubis people. The roads are now littered with thousands of dead, after the Kalmiera attacked this lightly defended planet. After the Kalmiera detonated chemical weapons and nerve gas all over the planet, at every city aboveground putting the death total beyond countable measure, making the planet a chemical wasteland. As Tiberiam leads his platoon through the roads of the city looking for any chance of survivors. Tiberiam looks at each dead body as he walks by, their last moments of horror they went through, frozen expressions of their bodies, and faces, mothers holding children in fear of the attack. Some of their skin is either bubbly or melted off in areas, depending on where they were from ground zero of detonation or downwind from it. There are only a few survivors around the globe aboveground. The large underground cities and bases were not affected from the attack.

The skies are full of pyramid ships and long and short-range fighters as well as Anubis drop ships deploying platoons to the area for search-and-rescue and cleanup. Tiberiam is a genetically grown Anubis warrior, similar to the Human methods, only Anubis warriors receive enhancements to increase their performance. Each Horus and Anubis soldier goes through intense training before assignment. The Anubis are the invasion force, while the Horus are air support and airmen; each receives different training.

Tiberiam leads his platoon to an access point to the underground base, under the chemically annihilated city of their people. As they make their way through the dead, that were trying to reach the same doors they are headed for. Tiberiam reaches the doors and moves for the control panel. Tiberiam pries the dead body from the panel and lets it fall to the ground stiff as a board, then types in the clearance code and the doors open. He and the platoon move inside. Tiberiam enters the hallway with the rest and the doors close behind them. A voice comes over the intercom. Decontamination process beginning. Within seconds, a foggy mist is pumped into the hallway for a few minutes then the sprinklers come on and the foggy mist stops. Once the hall is cleared of the foggy mist, the voice comes back on the intercom. Decontamination process complete.

The doors leading deeper into the facility open, and everyone moves to the next room. Tiberiam enters a large room with a gravity lift in the center of the room. Tiberiam makes his way over to the gravity lift. A hologram of a Horus flight commander appears next to the hologram controls. Commander Tiberiam, we have received your order of your fleet command and have been awaiting your arrival. Allow me to activate the gravity lift for you and your troops. You’re approved to come down to the lower base. The hologram cuts out and the gravity lift turns on.

Tiberiam turns to the others. All right, everyone on.

Each Anubis warrior moves for the gravity lift and starts jumping on and are pulled down into the hole slowly, then Tiberiam jumps into the gravity lift and descends into the hole. As they descend, they pick up speed, moving deep underground. Then they begin to slow and the floor of the hole lights up and each Anubis warrior lands softly at the base of the gravity lift. They move off into the hall, they are met by a group of Horus airmen who are awaiting their arrival. As Tiberiam reaches the bottom of the gravity lift. He looks around and moves to join the others. The group of ten Horus airmen are there, and the highest-ranking one steps forward to introduce herself.

Greetings Commander Tiberiam. My name is Lhasa. We are here to escort you and yours to the installation commanders and representatives! So if you would follow, we will take you to them.

Tiberiam nods. Lead the way.

Lhasa starts down the large hallway, and Tiberiam and the other Anubis warriors move with them down the hallway. The hallway stretches for as far as the eye can see, lit with low lighting to not strain the eye. Security locking airtight doors are on both sides of the hall, separated at random distances from each other. After going down the extensive hallway for a distance, Lhasa stops at a door on the left and starts using the access panel next to the door. Within seconds, the operator lights go from red to green, and the air-lock security doors open. Lhasa leads the way into the next hallway, this one only about twenty yards long. The rest follow her in. As soon as they are all in the hall the air-lock security doors close behind them, and the ones at the end of the hall open, revealing a massive room.

The rectangular room opens up ten levels down and a few levels up with an arch ceiling and a catwalk that goes around the interior room, with doors spaced around the catwalk leading to other parts of the installation. Down the middle are three raised control sections at the same height as the catwalk and to the outer catwalk. Each control section is connected with a catwalk and to the outer catwalk.

All evenly spaced into sections, rising from the floor of the massive room, are genetic growing tanks divided into columns and rise up halfway to the catwalks. Each side of the room is growing different embryos. On one side are Horus embryos, and on the other are Anubis embryos. Each column is in a different stage of development of the embryos for the production of a certain amount of young children to be trained for civilian or military life to continue the long-lasting war that has been going for two thousand years between the Horus and Anubis races and the Kalmiera.

Tiberiam stops before the catwalk that runs down the middle of the room and connects the control stations and looks around at the columns of genetic growing tanks. Dozens of Horus and Anubis workers are by the genetic growing tanks. Some pull mature specimens from the genetic growing tanks, and others place newly fertilized eggs in the empty genetic growing tanks, and others just monitor the progress of embryos. After a short time of observing the operation of the room, Tiberiam moves to rejoin the others on the catwalk.

As the group moves across the catwalk toward the first control station, research scientists are also moving on the catwalk. As they approach the first control station, dozens of hologram images show different embryos specimens of different stages. In the center of the round station are two elevator-style lifts that go to the ground floor. Lhasa leads the group around the control station to the other catwalk that goes to the next control station. Members of the group look around at the hologram images as they pass by them. Tiberiam is witnessing firsthand of how he was created at a similar installation.

As they all proceed on to the next control station, Tiberiam observes workers on the ground, taking the freshly produced specimens to external doors along the ground floor outer edge and to another area for examination. They reach the next control station, which is just like the first, and they move about it to the next side to the catwalk that leads to the last. They move along, reaching the last control station and moving to the other side to the next catwalk that leads to the end of the massive room. They reach the end of the catwalk and the door before them, leading into another hall the group files in. As the last one enters, the doors close, and the one at the end of the hall opens, revealing another massive room.

As Lhasa leads the way into the room, which has the same layout as the first, the only difference is the lighting and ventilation systems on the ceiling. Below the catwalks are hydroponic systems and a few small fruit-bearing trees, the control stations consist of hologram images of plants and workstations for the starting of the growing of plants. They make their way through the room just like the previous one and into the hallway on the other side, moving through the hall like the others, and into the next room with the same layout but this one with livestock-growing tanks, with the same process as the first room they entered.

They all make their way to the other side. The group moves into the hallway at the far side of the massive room and into the next massive room at the end of the hallway. This room is just like the others, only no doors at the other side. At the ground floor are two monorail systems. One on each side of the catwalk that runs down the middle, Lhasa leads the group to the first control station and moves to one of the lifts. We are boarding that monorail. She points to the one on the left side of the room. Everyone moves to the lifts and climbs aboard.

The lifts then descends down into the control tower all the way to the platform at the bottom. When the lifts reach the bottom, the doors leading onto the platform open, and the group reassembles out on the platform next to the monorail. They wait to board the multi section monorail of six. Lhasa leads the way into the fifth one from the lead section next to the tunnel.

Make yourselves comfortable. This will be a little while until we reach our next stop. Tiberiam, please join me over here.

Everyone else moves to seats around the monorail car. Lhasa and Tiberiam take a seat at a booth, and Tiberiam starts removing his smart-tech uniforms helmet, revealing his bare head.

Lhasa, what is this all about? I know I’m being deployed to a top-secret mission, but they only let me know where I was going, and now that I am here this does not look much different from any other underground facility that I have seen.

Lhasa looks at Tiberiam for a few seconds. Well, Tiberiam, new joint operations division is being formed and you are a part of it now. The commander will fill you in when we get there! I have been here for almost six months, being trained on this new ship that has been constructed just for the operation. Surviving the attack on the planet from the Kalmiera has shown me how devastating this war can be firsthand. I am the lead commander of the ship we will be on.

Tiberiam looks over at his Anubis platoon. Well, Lhasa, that platoon there, is the sixth one that I have had assigned to me since my first deployments were lost to Kalmiera or Arachnid encounters that have driven hate into my soul.

The monorail begins to move and pick up speed. Lhasa looks at her control hologram armband on her left arm. A hologram pops up.

Lhasa how long until you arrive?

We are on the monorail now, Commander, should be soon.

The hologram cuts out and Lhasa looks at Tiberiam. You will know all you want to know here soon, Tiberiam.

Tiberiam glances back over to his platoon and then back to Lhasa. Did the Kalmiera who attacked this planet manage to get away?

Lhasa takes a deep breath and looks away from Tiberiam. Unfortunately they did. The monorail starts to slow down. Lhasa turns back to Tiberiam. This is our stop here. Then she stands.

The monorail pulls into another station and stops. The group stands and looks in the direction of Lhasa to lead the way.

The doors on both sides of the monorail car opens, and Lhasa leads the way out the left side of the monorail car. Once on the platform, Lhasa heads for the doors that are across the platform and the group follows. Tiberiam looks around at the others that are also on the platform. Both military and civilian personal are moving around on the platform. Then he heads for the doors that Lhasa is heading to. As Lhasa reaches the door in mind, the doors open, and Lhasa and the others start filing into it. Once everyone is inside and heading down the large tunnel to another set of doors, at the end Lhasa turns to look for Tiberiam. She notices Tiberiam is near the back of the group and then signals him to join her. Tiberiam jogs to reach Lhasa before they arrive at the next door. Once Tiberiam reaches Lhasa, the doors at the end of the tunnel start to open.

Lhasa looks at Tiberiam. This is where you will get the answers you’re looking for, Tiberiam.

They walk through the doors into a massive system control room. Thousands of Horus and Anubis military are everywhere. At the far end of the control room is an observation area, Lhasa heads for a raised section of the control room at the edge. Looking down are two Horus and two Anubis high commanders. Lhasa leads the way up a ramp to where they are and as they reach the top Tiberiam signals his Anubis warriors to file in. An Anubis general walks over. The other three head over to the large indentation in the center of the raised platform.

I am General Parsi, Commander Tiberiam. Now that you’re here, we can bring you up to speed on the situation and your new placement. Parsi starts to head over to where the other three went. Follow me, Tiberiam. Tiberiam looks at Lhasa, and they both follow Parsi to the others. Once they join the others, Parsi introduces them.

This is Horus General Rustam, and here is Horus Representative Dar and Anubis Representative Ihbal. Tiberiam nods to each. Parsi takes a control pad. Let’s get started here. He turns on the large hologram map and the galaxy appears in the indentation. Parsi then zooms in on the section that this solar system is in.

As you already know, this planet installation is outside our safe zones. We have been using this installation to produce the next wave of our offensive in the war. The hologram is divided. The solar system on one side. Three different ships appear, each different from the other in size and shape.

This is the Gauntlet class of ships. The attack ship. The image enlarges a bit. The troop carrier. Then the next one enlarges. And the strike ship. The other two fade away, and only the strike ship is left of the ships. "The strike ship is the ship we are going to be board—Myself, Rustam, Lhasa, and you, Tiberiam. This is the joint operation class for our alliance with the Human race and the Jurassic race. All parts of the alliance will be aboard the strike ship. This mid-class ship has everything needed. Main areas consist of the engine bay, cargo bay, cryo-state bay, medical bay, four large infantry bays, armor unit bays, research labs, atomic, chemical, and biological weapons storage bays, genetic growing bay, cloning bay, hydroponic vegetation bay, living quarters and mess halls throughout the ship, ship command and flight bays, large hologram map rooms, missile silos, high-power rail guns, and armories, which are spread throughout the ship. There are long-range hawk fighters, midrange sparrow fighters, docking craft, and Anubis drop ships. We can do anything needed with this ship.

"This ship is to avoid direct combat with Kalmiera and Arachnid large attack cruisers. Now the Humans and Jurassic people will have their own equipment aboard as well. The idea for this is to start driving into Kalmiera and Arachnid territories and destroying them and to cut off their industrial arteries. Our job is to start targeting mining operations. There cloning and genetic growing sights, as well as large populated areas and their cruiser yards. Now this installation has produced all that is needed for our fleet.

The Gauntlet strike ship can hold three hundred thousand in cryo state and another hundred thousand in regular state. We will fill the ship here with all Horus and Anubis troops and move to rally with the Humans in the solar system. The hologram map zooms out far enough to see the two solar systems and all that’s between them.

The Humans are backing an Ant race here in their war with a Mantis race that are also being backed by Kalmiera. Parsi zooms in on the target solar system, revealing only all the planets and moons. Now this area is a combat hot zone. The Kalmiera are running space operations and planet operations. The Mantis race are a threat and are intense fighters. All authorization is granted for engagement. We will rally with the Humans here, at the Ant home planet, and then see the progress of the invasion of this planet here, which once had both Ant and Mantis living in peace on it until the Kalmiera arrived in the solar system. Tiberiam, we are hunting high-ranking generals and fleet admirals of Kalmiera and Arachnid at this time, we have no intel on Arachnid in the solar system, but that can change at any time.

Parsi zooms in on the Mantis home planet. The Kalmiera are helping defend this planet, while sending troops to the planet with all the fighting on it. The Mantis race is driving the Ant race back and off the target planet at this time. Parsi zooms out revealing the whole solar system again. Since the Humans arrived, no one controls the space around the target planet for long. The Humans have already made landing on the target planet and are struggling to hold their positions. Tiberiam, you are under my command as major commander, you will be running ground operations in the areas your deployed in. We are authorized to use atomic, chemical, nerve gas, and biological weapons as needed, so things will get chaotic fast. Do you have any questions, Tiberiam?

Tiberiam takes all the information in for a second and turns to Parsi. Sir, I’m ready for deployment.

Parsi looks at Tiberiam for a moment and then turns to Rustam and nods.

Rustam stands. All right now if we are ready to load the strike ships, then we had better get to it, before Kalmiera invasion forces arrive at this planet and finish the job they started, follow me. Rustam turns and heads for the other side of the platform for a set of ramps.

Tiberiam signals his Anubis warriors, and everyone starts to follow Rustam to the ramps and down them to a walkway heading for the observation room at the far end. Tiberiam walks next to Parsi.

Parsi says to Tiberiam, We will have to outsmart the Kalmiera and the Arachnids. If we want to be effective in our mission, it’s time to make history in this war, or if not, then I’m afraid the alliance will begin to wither like the sands of time. The war is still young and there is a lot to do here, but it is time things start happening again on the offensive. Don’t you agree, Tiberiam?

Tiberiam looks at Parsi. Yes, sir, it is! I believe with the Humans help we will accomplish a great deal here on our mission.

The group arrives at the observation room, and Rustam leads the way to the windows at the other side, as they approach the massive ship hangar, revealing the Gauntlet strike ship. Energy bridges are going from the sides of the ship to the edges of the massive hangar. Tiberiam looks the massive ship over, from what he can see of the fifteen-mile-long, five-mile-wide, three-mile-high Gauntlet strike ship. Thousands of troops are heading for the ship on the energy bridges to load the cryo state or the crew or infantry stations in the ship.

Rustam turns to the group. Within the next twenty-four hours we will depart from this planet.

Dar and Ihbal come over to everyone. Dar turns to Rustam and Parsi. Your ship is ready. You must depart as soon as possible. We have received word that the Kalmiera have a planet invasion force nearby. Recon intel tells us that they’re headed our way. A fleet of our own is on its way to aid us in the defense of the planet but is a few days away.

Rustam turns to the group. You heard it right. Board the ship, move for combat positions once you’re aboard. We are getting out of here before it’s too late.

Ihbal steps forward. You will rally with your Gauntlet fleet, it is waiting by the moon. Three attack ships and one troop carrier. Good luck. Dar and Ihbal turn and make for their command stations, back the way they came.

Tiberiam follows Lhasa toward a lift that descends to a floor that has an energy bridge that goes to the ship. Rustam and Parsi head for another one, as well as Tiberiam’s Anubis warriors. Once the lift reaches the floor that was selected, Tiberiam and Lhasa make their way for the energy bridge. Tiberiam looks around as they move, seeing dozens of energy bridges filled with Horus and Anubis troops. Rustam and Parsi catch up with Lhasa and Tiberiam as they move across the energy bridges.

Parsi looks at Tiberiam. We are headed to the infantry part of the ship, while Rustam and Lhasa move to the ship command flight bay, so follow me, Tiberiam.

Thousands of troops move across the energy bridges at a slow run to speed the loading process up. Most make their way for the cryo-state bay. As soon as the group is across the energy bridge, Rustam and Lhasa head one way, and Parsi and Tiberiam, with his Anubis warriors, move the other way to their combat stations. Tiberiam follows Parsi to a lift and everyone climbs on and they descend. The lift reaches the level of their chose and stops.

The doors open revealing a large hangar bay with a raised command tower in the middle. The infantry bay is divided into four sections. One section that is clear and open is the loading section. At the exiting spot is a set of blast doors and an energy door that leads into a deployment bay that is split into two sections by another energy door. Another section is the armor units and defense section. Another is the barracks for the troops assigned to this infantry station. The last section is split into columns and have docking crafts and Anubis drop ships.

Parsi leads the way to the edge of the catwalk and uses the control panel turning on the energy bridge that connects from where they are to the control tower and then leads the way across it.

Rustam and Lhasa reach the ship command flight bay. Rustam heads for a primary command area, while Lhasa moves to the ship command to take command over the ship. As the last of the Horus and Anubis troops make it across the energy bridges to the ship, as soon as each energy bridge is clear, they are turned off and fade away. As the reserve troops are being placed in cryo state, Lhasa is going over preflight with the pilots.

As soon as we are clear to depart, I want this ship in space. We are to join the Gauntlet fleet by the moon. Lhasa gets on the ship’s intercom. This is the ship commander. All personnel to their stations, we are about to depart from this installation.

Parsi and Tiberiam reach the infantry command tower, and Parsi moves to a hologram control area while Tiberiam waits for his Anubis warriors to finish crossing the energy bridge before turning it off. Parsi pops up on Tiberiam’s armband as a hologram. Tiberiam, I need you to assemble a docking party and have it at the ready on the loading section.

Tiberiam looks at the hologram. Yes, Commander, working on it now, sir. Tiberiam types in an order to the barracks and then heads for a lift that goes to the floor of the bay from the top of the command tower. Docking craft and Anubis drop ships start to move from their section and head for the loading section. Hundreds of Anubis warriors pour out of the barracks and move for the loading area and the