found a map protected under a sheath of hard plastic onto which the strategists had drawn symbols in marker; their version of push pins, no doubt.
'So? So what was all that about?' Nina asked.
Reverend Johnny warned, 'I fear you are upsetting the status quo?'
'Nina,' Trevor waved a hand over the table. 'Translate this for me.'
The Major pointed to the map as she explained, 'It’s the area north of us. Like, you can see the defensive lines. Here…and here…these lines with the jagged check marks are the fixed emplacements. And here…those circles with the stars are the explosive charges.'
'What about the terrain out there, where the Chaktaw are coming from.'
'Oh. Okay. Well, it’s flat for about a kilometer, then there are some hills-nothing big-and then there’s a lot of, like, wasteland and a quarry. We strip mined it into a big dust bowl years ago to get at the minerals.'
'And they always come from the north?'
Forest answered, 'Yep. And they’ll retreat that way too. That is, if they don’t bust through our lines now that we don’t have reprisal fire hitting them.'
'What’s this, here, east of the wastelands and quarry?'
She peered close. 'That’s a dry river bed.'
Trevor traced the river bed. It pushed east then looped back west not far from the quarry along the enemy’s anticipated path of egress.
'They go through this quarry? Each time?'
'I think so, yeah. I mean, wherever they’re attacking us from it’s somewhere directly north, so that’s the quick way. But, hey, that base of theirs has to be a lot of kilometers away. Our recon has never spotted it. I don’t think we can hit it from-'
'Okay. Relax,' Trevor assured. 'I don’t want to hit their base. Just curious, that’s all.'
The Chaktaw’s artillery bombardment ceased without challenge from human counter-fire. The soldiers of Thebes in the defensive emplacements fidgeted nervously, certainly wondering why their guns had not answered the enemy.
Then came the shock troops and Trevor saw that, yes, the Chaktaw were the Viking invaders Trevor knew from his Earth.
They poured forward in two sledgehammer-like columns dressed in camouflage ponchos. Trevor had seen those ponchos turn black and green for battle in the forest. The Jon Brewer of Trevor’s Earth had seen them turn white to blend into the arctic landscape. Reverend Johnny had seen them both times, but never in such numbers with their ponchos changing to earth tones to hide best against the brown tundra of the land they crossed.
At least three thousand came, another two thousand waited to exploit any breakthrough.
The columns included large beasts, some carrying troops on their shoulders. The things-fat lizards the size of elephants-wobbled side to side as they walked. In addition, some of the Chaktaw rode big motorized tricycles.
As they approached, more Chaktaw artillery fell but this time delivered a smoke screen of the same color as the earth tones on the enemy ponchos.
'Here they come!' Gronard stated the obvious.
'Let’s hope this works…' Snowe stated the obvious as well.
First through the smoke charged the large lizards, spurred on by whip-wielding handlers. The things roared toward the human lines in a frenzy, knocking over debris and barreling through security wire, their thick skin oblivious to the sharp barbs.
Then the line of attacking soldiers burst through the smoke screen and pushed beyond the first ring of barricades with little trouble.
The bunker's radio broadcast, 'Command, this is artillery control. The Committee has contacted us to find out why we haven’t fired. I don’t know what to tell them.'
'Just wait for my signal,' Gronard replied.
The raging lizards and the vanguard of the Chaktaw reached the first line of explosives, charging in an enthusiastic sprint as if sensing an opportunity for final victory.
'They’re going to overrun us!' Forest shouted as she reached for her two pistols hanging in dual shoulder harnesses.
'Relax. They’re already dead,' Trevor spoke loud enough so that his confidence might infect everyone in the bunker.
The human defenders in the third line of defenses responded to the onslaught. Machine gun fire struck at Chaktaw infantry, portable missile launchers blew a part two of the lizards.
The incoming wave slowed, but did not stop. They lobbed fragmentation grenades into trenches. They sprayed lethal acid into pillboxes from backpack tubes affixed to hose-like guns.
That last line of defense became fully engaged with the spearhead of the enemy thrust. Certainly this was the moment the invaders hoped for after months of attack. Indeed, as the smoke screen blew off, the human commanders saw the Chaktaw reserves readying to join the assault; to provide that last assault to breach Thebes' defenses.
'I’ll order Third Legion forward,' Snowe announced but, again, without any panic.
'No!' Trevor shouted then repeated, 'No. We’ll need them for later.'
Gronard set his plan into motion with a radio call, 'All batteries, fire!'
The human artillery came to life, lobbing over the Chaktaw vanguard and into their mustering reserves catching the confident attackers on open ground. Poncho-wearing bodies flew into the air with each explosion, many in small pieces.
'Demolition control! Ignite primary charges!'
The explosive second ring of defenses popped off like fire crackers, tossing enemy infantry and decimating the heart of the attack wave.
The Chaktaw’s own artillery was powerless to intervene; any shots at the human defenses would also hit their own soldiers. In contrast, nothing inhibited Gronard's guns. Shells pummeled a relief force, first halting their advance then sending them into retreat.
At the forefront of the battle, the two columns of Chaktaw infantry engaging that final ring of defenses found themselves isolated and without support, a change in disposition noticed by the human defenders. The momentum of battle swung.
'Secondary charges! Detonate!'
Smoke from explosions, rifle fire, and grenades drifted across the defensive lines. From the bunker, Trevor and the others saw enemy corpses form in piles
'I will hand you over to ravaging men, artisans of destruction. You shall be fuel for the fire; your blood shall flow throughout the land.'
Johnny’s quotation was the only spoken word in the command bunker for several long minutes; long minutes of watching their soldiers cut down what remained of the enemy's charge, of watching their artillery pulverize the retreating attackers.
After another half-an-hour of carnage, Gronard halted the bombardment leaving a battlefield covered with enemy bodies.
Through binoculars, Trevor saw the remnants of the Chaktaw army-five-hundred fighters and support personnel at best-gather beyond the range of Thebes' guns. He saw a defeated enemy, walking with their poncho'd heads slumped and constantly looking over their shoulders as if waiting for another nasty surprise. He saw them hurriedly gather what supplies they could carry and turn to the north, from whence they came.
In the meantime, the human defenders stood in their battlements and cheered, rifles thrust into the air, waving fists taunted their foe.
'Amazing,' General Gronard said and then looked at Trevor. 'You did it.'
'No, General, you did it. I only convinced you to try.'
Gronard drifted into something like a trance.
'You look…you look so much like…so much like…'
'I’m not,' Trevor cut him off.
An aide interrupted, 'The Committee is on the phone. They demand an immediate explanation as to why there was a change in doctrine.'
