The Constant Star (35)

THE STORY SO FAR

Jupiter ignores Mars’ remark as they run to join one of the special forces teams. They are Mars’ soldiers so he takes charge, “New objective, priority breakthrough. Wait for bombardment of enemy then advance under cover-fire. We need to get Jupiter through the Gate then hold it until we are reinforced. Copy?”

“Yes, Sir!”

Mars signals for artillery fire as the team move forward through the small army fighting over the entrance to the Chosen One’s enclosure. Control of this gate would give the Lower Levels a massive bargaining chip, one the Council is not prepared to surrender.

Even under bombardment the fighting is fierce; the enemy know the stakes and fight ferociously. Mars’ team manages to snake through and get behind enemy lines before they are noticed. Suppressive fire threatens to pin them, but their training is too good. Flash grenades followed by cover fire and smoke grenades to cover their movement gives them passage to close the gap. Knives and pistols make short work of the lesser-trained Rebellion fighters. Jupiter himself experiences battle for the first time. Seeing a fellow human taking his last breath because of his knife shocks him to his soul. It is difficult for him not to think this is someone’s son. A father who would come looking for him, just like he is looking for Siff. Jupiter pushes the thought from his mind. These are the enemy. These are the reason everything has gone awry. He can’t have sympathy for them. Not if he wants his daughter back.

They move forward again, this time using short bursts of rifle fire to take down another enemy unit. They are very close to the Gate and Jupiter starts preparing his mind for the next phase of the mission. The next unit puts up more of a fight and two men fall beside Jupiter. One of them had clearly moved to take the shot meant for him. Jupiter watches him die, lifeless eyes staring into the distance. Jupiter grimaces and becomes stone-faced, raising his weapon and aggressively returning fire as they advance on the enemy. The last pocket of resistance begins to fall back, and Jupiter walks over bodies, each step closer to the gate. It is then bombardment begins again, this time from the enemy.

They take cover, waiting for the inevitable. Either they are going to get hit, or reinforcements are going to engage. The shells start to drop around their position; Jupiter looks over to Mars who is already weighing options, “We’re going to get her, Mars.”

“We’ll see.”

“She has intel. We need to get her.” He knows that appeals to Mars, but it isn’t enough.

“We’ll see.”

The bombardment stops and Jupiter makes his move. The team follows, watching enemy reinforcements pour forward. He knows there is no chance he will make it, but he has to try.

Gunfire blazes around them, Jupiter notices Mars stays next to him. They have to get to the Gate. Enemy troops burst through in thick number, swarming toward them behind energy shields absorbing the majority of cover fire. Mars is stunned, “Where did they get that equipment? Team, we have to abort.”

“Copy.”

“No!”

“You won’t make it!” Mars grabs Jupiter as he tries to lunge forward, “Hold him!”

Jupiter pushes against the men holding him, screaming in soulful agony, “Let me go! You have to let me go! She’ll die! I have to get her! Let me go!” He is pulled back from the front lines and cover fire starts to surround them again.

“We’re overwhelmed. Pull back. They have the Gate for now.”

The security forces begin their retreat; one of Mars’ troops gives Jupiter a shot to calm him down so they can get out of the fight. Drowsily he still reaches for his daughter as he is dragged away, “Siff…no…”

27

Smoke is rising from the city on this level. Darkness flickers as the daylight is hidden by Diana’s hack. There are protests in the streets in response to the revelation of slavery in the lower levels. Looting and violence are policed by security forces who are quickly using more and more aggression. Above it all a single craft glides unnoticed. Bellerophon guides the Pegasus through the smoke and brings her silently to rest a hundred yards from an infiltration site. He climbs out and arms himself, then pulls his visor down and makes his way silently to the target.

Standing around the floor-plate, seemingly just milling around, are four civilians. Staying unseen, Bear scans them from his cover, finding each of them to be armed with automatic rifles and knives. Not so innocent bystanders, after all. He tosses the EMP grenade and watches them scatter thinking it’s a lethal weapon. The explosion fries every circuit in a ten yard radius. Bellerophon leaps from his hiding place and engages one of the guards in close combat, quickly overpowering the civilian and tying her in restraints before ducking behind cover as the other three open fire, “Deisa. I really don’t want to kill your friends. Tell them to stop and surrender.”

“You have already killed so many, slaver. Why stop now?”

“Really? Are we gonna do this? Fine.”

Bellerophon moves with purposeful precision. He moves through cover, using his pistol to shoot the first combatant in the leg before disarming and knocking them unconscious. The second tries to get a shot off but is caught with a flying left hook that knocks him through the air. The final combatant manages to shoot, but hits their friend as Bellerophon drops to the floor and takes his shot, hitting the last man in the shoulder. He walks over to the furious face of his foe, “You might have stopped us slaver, but you deserve to die and you know it! You have it coming you piece of—“

Bear knocks him unconscious with a single blow then drags the four of them together to tie them up. He opens up comms, “Captured infiltrate group for pickup. Leaving

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