When War Calls(161)

The Resistance pilot narrowly dodged being hit, by both Alliance and Diadon missiles, as it pulled up to ascend Corsec’s northern cliff face. The missiles exploded into the cliff as they struck it, and then over the cliff’s defences, the Resistance craft rose, free of harm. The remaining Alliance Koda fighter was just behind it, but as it rose into vision, smoke and flames had engulfed it, and it managed only to clear the top of the cliff before it began to lose altitude, falling backward and onto the defence systems underneath. Soldiers fled from their positions to escape the falling craft, but a second before it had hit, a flash of white light came and a shield of orange energy met with it. The craft disintegrated upon contact with the shield, and all below were kept safe from the falling debris as the Daijuarn sentinel held it in place.

From the next command room beneath another mound, Ryan continued watching the display of power.

‘The Daijuar are protecting us in the north and south,’ he announced over the radio. ‘But do not rely on their charity. They cannot protect us all. All zones from nine to fourteen must now be clear. Prepare for countdown,’ he finished, and all focused on the timer at the front of the room, where three-foot-high red numbers counted backward from five minutes.

The Alliance military force in the south had moved past the outer zones and were now well inside zones nine and ten.

‘They’re almost here,’ said Aaron. ‘We need to detonate now, sir.’

‘Wait,’ said Ryan, ‘let them come.’

‘It will be too late,’ argued Aaron. ‘Sir,’ he pleaded.

Ryan smiled. ‘Two minutes to go.’

All teeth were clenched as the next minute dragged by, with reports of Alliance fire now hitting the mound that they were in. But Ryan refused to end the countdown early, as if it were a matter of pride in his estimation. In the final minute, the Resistance forces were preparing to leave once again, dust beginning to fall in the command room with the heavy fire from the approaching Alliance force. But as the last seconds ticked away, all took their seats.

Then there came a rumble so loud that it could be heard clearly even in the command room deep below. A deafening booming followed the rumble, the loudest in the battle yet, as two entire zones were engulfed in flames with enormous explosions. Black smoke and dirt were thrown high and the shockwaves from the thousands of detonating mines was felt miles away, even in the most northern reaches of the city, and the Alliance troops perished instantly as the ground beneath their feet exploded. The rumble continued as if a volcano had just sprung up in the middle of the zones, and millions of pieces of super-heated metal began to rain from the sky.

The men and women of the Resistance let cheers of triumph ring out, and Ryan turned to Aaron who had visibly relaxed.

‘How’s that for timing?’ asked Ryan, and Aaron laughed nervously, shaking his head as he continued monitoring the screen in front of him.

When most of the smoke and dust had cleared, Ryan called for an assessment of the damage. The field was no longer recognisable, with holes throughout it and debris scattered everywhere. Ryan was congratulated by all in the command room, but he waved them away saying that it wasn’t over yet.

But it almost was.

The blasts had killed over half of the Alliance force. There would now be fewer than ten thousand of their troops left in the south, a relatively easy task for Resistance troops by comparison to what they had faced before.

‘Attack now,’ said Ryan. ‘Send all units available to zones nine and ten. Chase and eradicate the Alliance threat.’

The Resistance military awoke once again, missiles being launched as tanks and other vehicles raced through the bumpy craters to get to the Alliance on the other side of the zones.

Ryan’s good mood soon faded as Aaron called for his attention.

‘There are enemy craft coming this way from the north west, sir.’

‘How many?’ asked Ryan.

Aaron made a quick count. ‘Around forty.’

‘Send all we have,’ he said. ‘I want no aircraft on the ground while they’re near.’

‘Yes, sir,’ said Aaron, relaying the orders. ‘Wait,’ he continued after a few moments. ‘They’re not coming toward the city.’

Ryan laughed. ‘They know they have lost,’ he said.

‘Maybe,’ said Aaron. ‘Or maybe not.’ He paused to listen to his headset. ‘I’m getting reports that they have struck a ridge in front of Mount Tibain.’

‘Mount Tibain?’ asked Ryan. ‘What’s there?’

‘Nothing, sir,’ said Aaron.

A woman from across the room stood up. ‘Ex Seven Fighter Unit reports sighting of a secondary Alliance force,’ she announced loudly.