Three massive explosions lit the night sky, then rose into a fire that burned over the water. Dorian could see the outline of Ceuta base now.
“What the hell was that?” Dorian asked.
“Probably another rail gun barrage from the wall,” the pilot said.
“Probably not, you idiot. It’s burning over the water. Who fired those shots?”
“The attacking tribesmen?” the pilot half-said, half-asked.
Dorian’s mind raced. These barbarians—on horseback. Would they attack an incoming plague barge? Unlikely. Something was wrong.
“Strike Force Delta, hold your position, repeat, halt your assault on Ceuta.”
The helicopters flew on into the night, barreling toward the burning base and the mysterious fire in the water.
He grabbed the pilot’s shoulder. “Take us down. Take us down.” The pilot complied, and the helicopter nose-dived into the trees below.
“Strike team—”
The lead helicopter exploded and the two beside it instantly burst into flames. Shrapnel sprayed Dorian’s helicopter. The rotors sputtered and it began to spin. Smoke filled the cabin and Dorian felt flames and heat from the top of the helicopter. The trees rushed up and he felt branches reaching in, and then he was flying, falling, outside the helicopter.
David fired the last round from his rifle, and drew his sidearm. They were coming too fast for him to keep up. Kamau spun around and fought side by side with him, cutting down a row of soldiers rushing out of the barracks. They were never-ending.
David’s sidearm clicked. He didn’t have another magazine. Kamau stepped in front of him and continued firing.
David activated his radio. “Ajax, Achilles. The Trojans are about to overrun our position.”
Kamau slammed back into him, throwing David to the ground. He could hear Ajax responding in his earpiece, but all the words were lost. He grabbed Kamau’s rifle and began firing from the ground, then got to one knee. How many rounds did he have left?
He glanced back at Kamau. He was writhing on the ground. David tried to turn him over, hoping to see where he had been hit.
Kate struggled to get up from the floor. The ship was shaking too much. The wail of bending steel was almost deafening. She felt for the pack at her back, making sure she still had it. She crawled over to Martin and pulled him into her lap.
Another shudder rocked the ship, and she was thrown across the room. The scientist, Chang, caught her, breaking her fall. “Are you okay?” he shouted.
The sprinkler system came on and the ship’s alarms rang out.
The door swung open, and Shaw ran in. “Come on. We need to get to the lifeboats.”
The European scientist followed close behind him. He surveyed the room in horror. “Our research!” he shouted to Chang.
“Leave it!” Chang yelled.
Chang and Shaw took Martin, and Kate followed them.
Bullets whizzed by David from behind and he spun, ready to fire, but it was Ajax and the Berber forces. They rushed past him, consuming the Immari soldiers.
David pulled Kamau to the building wall and rolled him over. There was no blood. Kamau looked up, shaking his head. “Got my vest, David. Just knocked the wind out of me.”
Ajax and the Berber commander converged on their position. “What’s our status?” David asked.
“We’ve almost got control of the citadel,” Ajax said. “They’re starting to surrender, but a few units are fighting to the last.”
“Come with me,” David said. He helped Kamau to his feet and they entered the barracks.
Outside, the gunfire was dying down. The occasional grenade explosion punctuated the din. They stopped at a large door, and David knocked gently. “It’s Achilles.”
The door opened, revealing the Berber chief. She wore a blue dress and held a pistol in her hand. She motioned them in.
Major Rukin was gagged and hogtied in the floor. A wry smile spread across David’s face. The major struggled at his bindings and screamed into the gag.
David turned to the chief. “You intend to honor your word?”
“I will, just as you have honored yours. No harm will come to those who surrender.” The chief glanced at the spot on David’s chest where she had branded him. “A true chief never betrays a promise to her people.”
David walked to the major and pulled the gag out.
“You’re a fool—”
“Shut up,” David said. “We have control of Ceuta. The only remaining question is how many Immari soldiers will die tonight. If you go up to the command center with the chief here—” David paused to enjoy the shock on the major’s face. “Yes, that’s right, she’s the chief. It was her daughter, by the way. The Berbers have a long history of female tribal leaders. History and cultural understanding come in handy sometimes. Even in war. If you go with her, and order your remaining troops to surrender, you could save lives. If you don’t, that will please her and her people very much, I assure you.”