Straightening, his eyes glanced back and forth across the three senior officers present as he grunted, ‘What of the patrols further west…have they found a way through the mountains from Zangara Outpost?’
One intelligence officer swallowed, nervous of providing unfavourable news as he stepped forward, stiffening as his boots cracked together, ‘No Sir…the cooperating Silakians there are unable to provide much help. Most are in extreme withdrawal from the drugs the enemy had sedated them with and are under medical care…we are extracting the devices from their heads, several have died as these have an anti-tamper mechanism that creates a small explosion. The remote control devices amongst the rocks in that sector are still being disabled by one of the engineering units, most are booby trapped…we a have suffered some casualties.’ The officer shuffled, adjusting his shoulder armour nervously, ‘Zangara Outpost is secure and the upper pasture and animals protected by our troops…the deep cave is quarantined and still being investigated by the Scientific Battalion…they report back to a Professor Laran alone, we will have to await their findings.’
The General stiffened, straightening his back and drawing a wheezing breath, a historical acid attack still affecting his lungs, the deep burns across his muscular torso a continual reminder of how close life was to death, his voice strained in irritation, ‘Very well…what is the news from Morasat?’
The intelligence officer looked away in distain, ‘Communications are jammed...again sir. We are awaiting a courier…’ The Trevakian swallowed, ‘We have news of several Morgon units being withdrawn...perhaps redeployed back towards their landing areas...for extra defence perhaps.’
General Gristin raised his hands in exasperation, ‘Just like Zaxon A and Pengathon…jamming and more jamming…the same despicable dust ridden mining hovels with no greenery.’ Then he hesitated, a hand ran across the electronic table map below, the dull light sparkling in his eyes, ‘Too much hesitation from high command, and that damn foolish wasteful attack to the east. The enemy is now heavily dug in before us and will be difficult to remove…but they have withdrawn some units...interesting.’ The senior commander shook his head, ‘We will wait for this damn courier, but not for much longer...we are Red Leopards, we do not defend...we attack!’
Gristin spun round, indicating to one of the officers, his eyes narrowing as a plan gradually formed in his mind, head turning to the glowing map below, ‘Have the new prototype weapons arrived in sufficient quantity for our infantry yet?’
The subordinate officer’s eyes widened in shock, ‘Er...yes sir...we have an adequate supply of the new combat rifles delivered from Alexion One...we also have some Fahimian reserves to the rear, a specialist unit that has just moved up...I was going to meet with them shortly. Our mortar and artillery units are now also in place...they have been freed from protecting Morasat now the enemy has withdrawn.’
The general smiled fleetingly, ‘Send this return message when the despatch arrives...Morgon positions are concentrated before Contax Base. General Gristin requests freedom of action and artillery support from Alexion One. The enemy position is weakened and ground intelligence indicates a penetration possible after several salvos and a coordinated advance supported by drone fire and artillery. Once this breakthrough is achieved, the Red Leopards can swarm forward into the valley beyond.’
He turned, suppressing a grin, ‘Gentlemen...it is rare several indicators present themselves at the same time...I think we have an opportunity to grasp the initiative. Our tanks may be moving up soon...this enemy is about to taste defeat.’ His face flushed with excitement as he stared down at the map, ‘Place the first three divisions on alert...use the fourth for rear operations and mopping up. Prepare a carrier to take me to our new allies for a briefing...once we break through we will keep moving and not allow the enemy to re-establish a defensive line...’
Zaxon B Reserve Battalion Outpost, East of Morasat
Lieutenant Malikkas sat trembling uncontrollably in the corner of the small armoury, his knees pushed up under his chin, arms clasping his shins tightly as he closed his eyes in terror, the scraping against the reinforced door becoming frenzied as growls resounded around him, the ravenous snow tiger now desperate to get to the Herrakian entombed in the small dark hut.
Having pushed shelving and some reinforced shields against the steel and resin reinforced outer door, Malikkas shivered uncontrollably, his undernourished and severely weakened frame shaking in fright, his chest pained as he attempted to force breathing through a constricted and tightened throat. His eyes slowly widened in realisation at how shattered his mental resolve and bravery now was, his mental state only a shadow of the commanding warrior he had once been.
The determined scratching and muffled growling continued, his head lowered in ultimate defeat, the darkness of the room seeming to close in on his morose and exhausted mind, his breathing painful and despondent as he waited for the end, his chest shaking in dull agony with each inhalation. As he had slammed the door, he wept in relief as he felt thick deadbolts inside, slamming them into place and stumbling backwards, dropping to his knees as he felt around frantically for a weapon in the pitch darkness. But there was nothing, a few dispersed bullets and empty ammunition clips in the dust, the discarded locks from rifle racks as the defending reservists had desperately retrieved all the weapons laying across the small room floor.
Growls and whines of frustration, the cracking of resin as jaws and sharp talons tore a panel from the door, the claws now scoring the lower armoured plate, Malikkas pushing his sobbing head further into his forearms. He realised there was now a second predator at the door, the low pitched whining and growling becoming more motivated, the tigers sensing his fear.
Distant blood thirsty howls made him shiver, salivating tigers now emerging through gaps in the rocks surrounding the outpost, sharp talons clicking across the jagged stone surfaces below
