The Red Leopards of Zaxon B (Galaxies Collide Book 2) (7 page)

Rees lay their coughing violently, seeing the muzzle flashes through the swirling smoke through clenched and tearful eyes, shrieks of hatred filling his ears as more Trevakian marines and Korean troops charged into the emplacement. The visor flickered, bullets zipping across the trench walls as earth and debris fell onto his prone figure, muffled crumps of self-propelled artillery fired from the rear towards any remaining Morgon and Silakian troops beyond the rock face as his chest heaved, his mind clearing as he struggled to rise. A determination to re-join the fight swept through him, his intense pain stabilising as the uniform excreted the maximum dosage through his follicles, the fighting moving further to the right as the surviving Morgons were killed one by one, their refusal to surrender chilling the volunteers as most were overwhelmed and shot at close range.

A silhouette dropped into the emplacement before him, his breath now in short gasps as the armoured figure stepped towards him through the running Trevakians. He stared upwards as the darkened visor seemed to study him, the bubbled shoulder, chest and leg armour lined in blue as the soldier dropped to a crouch, his skin dark and lined. The long assault rifle was lowered and an armoured hand stretched out towards him, a brief reassuring smile crossing the dark soldier’s face as Rees raised his uninjured limb weakly.

Rising painfully to his feet, smoke and dust swept over them as he glanced upwards, the dark armoured helmet lined with thin blue stripes as the alien soldier glanced at him, his voice heavily accented but demanding, ‘Best get your weapon…we are going to drive this Morgon scum back!’

Then the figure lunged forward, the assault rifle rising into both hands as the soldier leapt up onto the forward trench wall and disappeared into the smoke, Rees gasping for breath as he glanced round the emplacement at mutilated and still bodies.

Seeing one South Korean stir painfully, he dropped to his knees next to the figure, the soldier clawing at the earth as blood seeped from beneath his damaged helmet, his face heavily bruised. The Oriental nodded his thanks, slumping against the westerner’s frame as they both gasped for air, coughing dust and dirt from their mouths.

The explosions and shrieks in the distance slowly crept back into his ears, dust and smoke catching in his nostrils as he heard a familiar voice shouting his name, ‘Rees! Where the hell are you? Get your behind to me…’ Jozefina Kapralova’s shriek filled the emplacement as more Trevakians and reserves ran past, the shorter South Korean next to him struggling to his feet and extending his hand as the shout came again, ‘Heathrow volunteers to me! We are moving forward!’

The Oriental grinned painfully as Rees winced and rolled his eyes, his bruised body scrambling slowly upwards as the marine spoke to him in broken English, ‘Blue Dragons come!’

Rees spun round, the whirring of blades from above and behind startling him as he caught his breath. Turning back, the South Korean Blue Dragon marine had gone, lunging forward along the trenches as shouts of the advancing troops spread around him through the smoke. The young Heathrow volunteer cautiously retrieved his rifle, glimpsing the black metal weapon on the top of the emplacement wall as he searched through the smoke.

The noise of mechanical blades escalated, the sound surging across the trenches and rising behind him. Hearing Jozefina shout again, he pushed forward into the next trench section towards the sound, his heart beat rising as soldiers pushed past him, their weapons rising as they jumped from the defensive positions and ran into the smoke, heading towards the enemy.

Struggling along the trench, his hands running along the sides as smoke billowed around his figure, the swirling blades above rose in ferocity, passing over him as he progressed. Silhouettes ran from left to right, the men jumping the trench walls as gunfire broke out further east, the distant shrieks of Morgon anger chilling through him as he staggered on.

The raised voice of Jozefina filled the smoke filled air once more, this time nearer and a little concerned, ‘Rees! Where are you…?’ The Heathrow volunteer grinned painfully as he heard the female supervisor berate the Trevakian marine, ‘I thought I left you to look after him! Where is he?’

The silhouettes roamed into view, the smoke clearing slightly as distant explosions and gunfire swept across him from the right. Jozefina turned, glaring at him as he emerged from the smoky gloom, her eyes narrowing as she recognised him through his dust and dirt covered uniform, ‘Where the hell have you been? What happened to your face?’

Rees gritted his teeth painfully, indicating to the Trevakian marine, ‘Your friend here hit me to keep me quiet…’

Jozefina turned to stare at the Trevakian, the rest of the dust covered volunteers gathering round, ‘Is that true?’

The soldier nodded uncomfortably as the supervisor grinned beneath her visor, her head nodding, ‘Good work…he is alive at least…’ She turned, staring round the rest of the group, some twenty staff remaining in all as she raised a grim voice, ‘We have lost a few of our colleagues…you must forget and move on to remain safe.’ Hesitating, she stared at each individual in turn, ‘We are moving up with the Trevakians and South Korean regulars…keep alert and stay safe…’ She indicated to the escorting Trevakian marine stood next to her, ‘He is now second in command!’ Pointing into the distance, she grimaced, ‘Our soldiers and allies are cut off to the east…we will be assisting in relieving them!’

The tank tracks whined as the lumbering armoured vehicle smashed through the last remaining trees, its wheels grinding the squealing wood beneath them as the vehicle surged forward, slowing and turning on its metal tracks to block the opening through the rocks.

Several armoured figures ran to either side of the metal monster, the heavy guns firing, the blast almost deafening as the tank shuddered, the recoil on the high calibre barrels spilling smoke through the barren trees. The infantry dropped to either side of the camouflaged vehicle, firing their heavy assault rifles onto the snow covered airfield beyond.

The shrieks of Morgon infantry filled the gap, bullets slamming against the tank hull as the armoured vehicle’s lower forward laser guns crackled with static, then launched red high energy bolts towards the advancing enemy. The fire escalated, the sparks on the forward armour plate intensifying as the tank fired again, targeting the walker at the top of the slope.

The explosions swept across the track, the mechanical legs buckling and collapsing downwards as red hot shrapnel flew outwards from the blast. Several Silakians were blown to the sides or collapsed, their combat uniforms shredded from the shock wave and flying metal. The upper armoured cabin of the walker smashed against the iced snow, sliding across the surface as laser blasts swept past, the two crew members slumped dead in their bloodied seats.

The Red Leopard commander stood aloft behind his men shouting orders in a language the humans could not understand, Debra nudging Tregan for guidance. The Trevakian marine turning to smile at her beneath his visor, ‘He is ordering his men to keep sustained fire on the enemy…prevent them from advancing!’ Riaz stared at the mottled camouflaged tanks, their light colours of brick red, green and sand overlaid with a white paste seeming to add to their awesome power and presence.

They looked up at drones whining overhead, the second wave of air reconnaissance and support for the Red Leopard mobilized unit being deployed. Laser blasts swept the snow covered landscape, enemy rockets rising in response as the drone wave swept down over the airstrip.

Some of the Morgon infantry dropped back to their knees, their weapons raised as they engaged the lasers firing from above. Tracer bullets swept into the air, the drones computers reacting and initiating evasive action as laser blasts lit up the murky air.

The tank forward muzzles recoiled again, flames shooting from the barrels as the shells swept forward, exploding on the airstrip, three Morgons blown to the side with the blasts, their bodies shattered. Bullets slammed against the tank hull again as two pilotless silver objects crashed burning to the snow, the intensifying fire from beyond the ridge sparking off the small reinforced hulls as the remaining drones fired once more onto the infantry on the ground.

The black armoured infantry desperately sought refuge behind anything on the airfield as red hot laser blasts swept over the snow, cutting two more down, their bodies disintegrating as the powerful energy sliced through them. The shrieks of anger echoed across the snow, muzzle flashes lighting up the snow as the Morgons fired back, the bullets smashing against the tank hull and causing the infantry sheltering behind to duck back.

The Red Leopard commander ducked behind the rear of the tank, using a remote intercom fixed to the back of the vehicle to shout at the crew inside, then shouting further instructions to his surrounding men as the tank motor roared. The tracks spun, then surged forward through the gap, the infantry on either side parting to allow another tank to follow. Heavy camouflaged alloy screeched against the rock sides, the tank jolting forward after clearing the obstruction as it fired again, the explosions sending billowing black smoke into the air.

Three tanks swept through the rock opening, the Red Leopard infantry sheltering behind their hulks as they advanced, the lasers sweeping the airstrip ahead as return bullets slammed against the heavy armoured plate of the mechanised monsters.

Moving apart, the three angled tanks hulls shuddered as they came to an abrupt halt to fire on the defenders ahead, the three remaining drones above returning to their operators, leaving several more bloodied corpses on the snow.  The downed transport craft exploded as a shell split the back doors, shrapnel and sparks flying high into the air with the force of the explosion, the hulk burning fiercely as the Morgon infantry turned to run. Puffs of mortar smoke filling the field to aid their departure, their armoured bodies sprinting up the slope and onto the track towards Contax Base.

The motors of the tank turrets whined, their guns slowly turning to aim at the top of the slope, the Red Leopard commander raising his hand in anticipation as he counted the seconds through the smoke. His arm dropped smacking the tanks hull as two Leopards on either side repeated his actions, the roar of the high calibre guns filling the terrain as the tank hulls shuddered, flames sweeping from their muzzles.

Through the smoke, the explosions rocked the track, the last running Morgon troops shattered as limbs and torsos were thrown into the air under the intensity of the explosions, several bodies thrown, shattered and contorted against the side rocks, their high density armour cracked or bent. The extreme fire burnt and incinerated the enemy bodies as the Red Leopard commander turned, indicating for his shock troops to move into defensive positions.

Riaz turned to Tregan, his voice an excited whisper as several silhouettes ran past on the track, ‘Are these guys the Red Leopards? They seem to mean business…’

The Trevakian nodded, grinning beneath his visor as Captain Dugachard smiled, replying, ‘They are experienced, highly equipped soldiers…they will hold the Morgons.’ She frowned, ‘I am not sure we are powerful enough to drive them back…there are too many valleys and ravines for them to creep through in…cut off the advancing troops.’ She indicated up towards the darkening sky, ‘I think the decisive battle for this planet will be in space now…the side that can supply its troops on the surface will win…’ She glanced grimly at Riaz and Debra, shaking her head despondently, ‘I fear we are not winning that now…’ They glanced round as the trees nearby cracked, a bulky armoured figure approaching.

Riaz stared in awe at the armoured figure that towered above them, the bright red piping running around and through the protective black bubbled shoulder and chest armour. He jumped instinctively as the roar of fire swept across them from the right, a Red Leopard tank firing through the track opening up onto the airfield, the hulk bucking backwards as the shells swept forward. The muffled explosions beyond the rocks caused shrieks of anger, the Morgons retreating back up the slope past their smouldering walkers as laser fire swept across the terrain from the tank’s lower hull guns.

The tall Red Leopard soldier looked down through the petrified tree branches, his darkened visor hiding his eyes above a chiselled chin as he spoke grimly to Captain Dugachard, ‘You troops had better get to the rear…they must be hungry, there are food kitchens there…reorganise your soldiers and await further orders, we will hold the enemy here now.’ He indicated to Riaz, seeing the blood on his uniform, ‘This soldier needs medical attention…’

The small group felt the cold air sweeping through the frozen dead forest, Riaz’s weakened body shivering in response. The Red Leopard indicated to him, ‘Best get to the supply depot at the rear…the Zaxon B cold season is coming…your human bodies will not survive against those temperatures if you are exposed.’

The Trevakian female officer nodded obediently, rising slowly to her feet and raising a fist to her chest armour in salute, seeing the two pips on the soldier’s shoulder armour, her voice hoarse, ‘Yes commander!’ She turned to the others, indicating to them, ‘We had better move now…the Red Leopards will hold this position.’

Shino nodded, her eyes widening beneath her helmet visor as the soldier above extended a gloved hand towards her in assistance, numerous armoured figures running past behind as muffled explosions swept through the opening. She reached up, grasping the outstretched offering, a squeal of delight as she was raised quickly to her feet, the tank fire rumbling across the terrain again as she pushed gently against the armoured chest plate before her, the Red Leopard soldier glancing down fleetingly as she blushed beneath her visor.

Riaz shook his head, grinning in disbelief as he nudged Debra, his voice a whisper in the statically charged air, ‘She likes him!’

Debra’s eyes widened as she watched Shino stare upwards, grimacing in amusement as she also felt a tingle of electricity through her body, ‘Well her boyfriend is far across the galaxy…I guess she might not be too distracted by that now!’

Riaz groaned, tensing his shoulder muscles in irritation, his voice a distained hiss, ‘What has he got that I have not then?’

Debra whispered back, not taking her eyes of the Trevakian as she smiled grimly, ‘Height and colour coordination…’ She glanced at him grinning deviously, ‘You have neither!’