When War Calls(165)

There was no reply.

‘The great nation of Diada, respond to me please.’

‘Our apologies, Commander, but our terms were made clear. We agreed to defend the bridge only as long as no vessel was lost.’

‘But if we fail, they will come after you!’

‘That is a risk we are willing to take. We are stronger at home than we are here.’

‘This is madness!’ called Ryan into the radio device. ‘Do you understand what you are doing? You are dooming us all!’

‘We are allied with the nations of the east, General. Our agreement has been broken. You are on your own.’

Ryan had to stop himself from throwing the radio device back at the soldier out of anger, and instead, handed it to him carefully. He activated his own headset then and began to advise his troops of his new orders.

‘Quartun Bridge no longer secure. Attack imminent. All available personnel proceed to the northern zones. Those in the south, continue with plans, make sure the Alliance do not return. Send air strikes to zone one. The defence systems of zone one have been lost. Repeat, the defence systems of zone one have been lost.’

When all acknowledgements had been returned, Ryan raced down to where Vennoss was standing among the five fallen Daijuar, who were now sitting up and breathing to regain their strength. The large dark-skinned man soon approached them, laying Jaden’s body down before them.

‘Medic!’ called out Ryan, seeing the state of Jaden’s arms. A man carrying a case joined him soon after and began tending to Jaden’s wounds.

Vennoss approached the dark man curiously. ‘Who are you?’ he asked.

‘I am Oldenwa,’ said the large man with a broad smile. ‘What service do you require?’

‘None,’ said Vennoss. ‘Your efforts have already been more than sufficient. Where have you learned your power?’

Oldenwa shrugged. ‘One day, it came. That is all I know.’

‘You are not Daijuarn,’ observed Vennoss.

‘No,’ said Oldenwa.

Vennoss paused. ‘Well, thank you. We are in your debt.’

Oldenwa smiled. ‘I require no payment.’

Jaden was carried away on a stretcher, Ryan taking hold of one side and helping to lift him into the back of a vehicle waiting for them. Jaden was then taken to a medical unit in the east, where he would receive the care he needed.

Ryan returned to his grandfather and the big man.

‘Thank you,’ he said to Oldenwa, who bowed slightly. ‘If you are ever in need of anything, please, do not hesitate to ask.’

‘The same to you, General.’

Ryan acknowledged the offer with a nod. ‘Come, it is not safe to stand here. The Alliance forces are massing at the other side of the Quartun Bridge. In the next hours, we’re going to have about two hundred thousand of their soldiers coming up here. I have ordered my forces to join us here in the fight. Can the Daijuar help?’

‘We need rest, but we will manage,’ said Blair, joining them.

‘Good,’ said Ryan, and he turned back to Oldenwa. ‘And you?’

‘I will do what I can.’

‘You all have more experience with the Alliance than I do,’ said Ryan to the Daijuar. ‘I will leave it with you to decide where you should be.’

‘That is wise, Ryan,’ said Vennoss.

Both bowed to one another as Ryan walked to the closet command room on site. Lendon Ode met with him inside.

‘My people are coming to defend here,’ said Lendon.

‘We need all the help we can get,’ acknowledged Ryan.

‘Yes,’ said Lendon, ‘but I believe we have lost this war. Perhaps it is time to start an evacuation.’

Ryan almost shuddered. ‘I do not wish to leave this city.’

‘There might not be a choice soon,’ said Lendon grimly. ‘At least if we leave now, we will have more time to get away.’

‘I will consider your proposal,’ said Ryan, and he walked to the screens to begin issuing further orders.





* * *





As Ryan expected, the coming hours brought a force of enormous proportions across from the Quartun Bridge, with hundreds of thousands of troops occupying its full length. The defence systems taken by the Alliance at zone one were soon recaptured, enabling the Resistance to attack them as they came. But those closest to the bridge were bombarded by Alliance air strikes, causing the Resistance to retaliate with their own air offensive. The battles in the sky and on the ground continued for several hours, forcing Ryan to call for more troops from the south to help in the north. He knew this would allow the Alliance from the south to come back into the city, but an extra ten thousand Alliance troops were the least of his worries, as close to one hundred thousand were making their way up the natural dirt ramp. Many perished on the way, the Resistance defences pounding the Alliance forces from above. But the sheer number was too great, and all but a few of the Resistance defences fell within the first hour of the Alliance ascent.