Shadows, стр. 21

wanted so badly, and he felt a rising panic he’d never felt prior to going into action before. When they engaged the enemy, how the men performed was entirely dependent on how well he’d trained them, and the burden of that responsibility weighed heavily on his mind. It might be hours yet before the assault force, under Major Bo Moorefield, secured the city firmly enough for his men to enter, and it was imperative he give the impression of calm. So, facing the day’s rising heat as the sun topped the horizon, Cutter closed his eyes and pretended to nap, although in reality he followed the battle’s progress by the sounds.

Eventually, echoes from the last explosions faded, leaving only occasional bursts of rifle and automatic weapons fire to indicate ongoing fighting at the points of penetration. Some reports came from nearby in the Outer City, but most were muffled and distant, indicating Moorefield’s men were fighting either in the tunnels that cut through the plateau, in the streets of the Inner City, or at the cache site beyond the city’s eastern fringe. Two-thirds of his own men were there, under Lieutenant Tanavuna, facing what he hoped was the safer option of clearing the tunnels and Inner City, rather than the more easily defended warren of crowded homes in the Outer City. Tanavuna had fought in plenty of battles, sure—it was part and parcel of an Ashbander’s life on R’Bak—but never as part of a larger coordinated force. So much could go wrong.

Soon, he knew, the order would come for them to move into the city and begin their search for persons unknown, against enemy opposition of undetermined strength and quality, through unfamiliar streets, and likely a hostile populace. The plan hadn’t changed for months, and Cutter had been privy to every detail, but now that the time had come to put planning into action, the realities of his mission seemed impossible. What the hell was Murphy thinking? What was I thinking, accepting such a hopeless mission?

With the echoes of fighting coming from the nearby Outer City, Cutter stood over the radioman who was attempting to raise Tanavuna. He didn’t bother lowering his voice, and he used the platoon’s tactical call signs instead of those reserved for higher headquarters. “Shadow Six to Shadow Five, do you copy?”

He’d refrained from calling every ten minutes like he’d wanted to. Experience had taught him that his men fed off his energy; if he was nervous, they’d be nervous. So, grinding his teeth, Cutter had waited out the attack in silence.

Unlike Moorefield, Cutter only had one platoon to comb an entire town. He wouldn’t have to kick down the gate, but he had to comb every nook and cranny for armed men who didn’t want to be found and likely had a lot of other armed men helping them stay that way.

Tanavuna’s voice crackled faintly out of the speaker. “Shadow Five copy.”

The radioman handed Cutter the handset. The radio protocols were from the modern US military, not the World War Two army he’d known. Cutter still hadn’t gotten the hang of them, although he’d tried. It was doubtful the J’Stull had signals-intercept equipment at Imsurmik, but radio discipline was never a bad idea.

“What’s your status, Shadow Five?”

“We’re in position and standing by. Scouts are looking for other ways into the city. Are you in contact with the enemy? Shadow Five over.”

Tanavuna’s question must have been prompted by gunshots heard over the radio, as Cutter heard them, too. He found that reassuring, since it meant the rest of his platoon really wasn’t that far away. “Negative, we are not yet in contact with the enemy.”

Cutter wanted to remind the distraught lieutenant not to get reckless in pursuit of saving his wife, but bit his lip as he weighed the risks. The J’Stull were technologically backward compared to the Lost Soldiers, but a bullet was a bullet and dead was dead, no matter how you got killed. After a few seconds in deliberation, he decided to risk it.

“I know you’re anxious, Shadow Five, but remember your training. You’re entering enemy territory, so movement and fire support are critical. Don’t get ahead of yourself and don’t try to be a hero. If you go charging in looking for the subject target, you will only wind up getting killed. The city is swarming with militia. Most probably don’t want a fight, but they won’t mind shooting you if you give them an easy target.”

“I understand, Shadow Six. I want Kes—the target—back, but dying won’t accomplish that.”

“Good man. Shadow Six out.”

* * * * *

Chapter 9

“Desperado Six Actual to Shadow Six Actual, primary objective is secured. My men are ready to pass you through our lines, over.”

“Shadow Six Actual responding. I read you, Desperado Six Actual. Do you have description of any HVTs?”

Moorefield filled him in on what he had learned.

“Roger that, we’re moving up. Shadow Six Actual out.”

“Good hunting!”

First Squad was huddled in a draw, out of line of sight from the city. As the boredom of waiting wore off, the men’s faces showed their barely contained rage from the attack on their homes. Somewhere within Imsurmik was their healer, Tanavuna’s wife, Kesteluni. Although married to the hetman’s son, who was now the hetman himself, healers had a matriarchal status in the village. She looked after all of them and taught others her skills. Aside from those they’d killed, the men who had kidnapped her had threatened the very existence of Nuthhurfipiko. They wanted her back.

Except, that wasn’t the mission.

Cutter had seen this before, when his old platoon got caught up with a patrol of Waffen-SS from the 17th SS Panzergrenadier Division Götz von Berlichingen, whom his men believed had gunned down four American prisoners. The German soldiers pleaded innocence but his men shot them down where they stood, releasing their anger by kicking