“The antigravity technology reduces its weight by nearly 90 percent. When you combine the fact that it is incredibly light, with the powerful thrusters, it does not need that much lift to take off. One day, antigravity technology will develop to the point where they will be able to float a 200-ton building like an air balloon,” Snap said.
The ramp touched the ground, revealing the massive interior cargo space. Lined up along one side of the cavernous space were 20 sidewall jump seats.
“Go, go, go. Get these containers on the ship,” Snap yelled.
Davis and Johnson grabbed the first container and began running toward the ramp, when several explosions rocked the large craft. It shuttered and dropped several feet closer to the ground. Fire burst from the open hangar, and the ramp crumpled as it was jammed into the rocky surface.
“What the hell was that?” West yelled.
“Major Slade, we’re under attack. We took several hits from an energy weapon of some sort. The cockpit is filling with smoke.”
“Fuck me,” Snap said. “Bob, can you see what hit the transport?”
“No. I can’t see anything. I’m switching to thermal imaging.” Bob scanned the skies with thermal and still saw nothing. Then, three streaks of light from a cloud slammed into the transport, again.
“I see the craft. It has optical stealth, hard as hell to see in the snow,” Bob said. “I have marked it with my HUD. Hopefully, it will keep up.”
“Damn, they have Next Gen fighters. How did they get those here so fast?” West asked.
“They know we are here; this isn’t going to be easy,” Snap said.
“Three more direct hits,” the pilot said over the COM. The transport was on fire, but it was still struggling to hover in place.
“Flying City, this is General Stone Byrd, you need to retreat, now. Get out of there. Major Slade, dig in. Defend the cargo.” Byrd’s voice boomed through all their COMs.
“Yes Sir,” Snap said.
Fuck. How long can I defend against the Russian military?
“What the fuck? They are leaving us here?” Johnson asked, as the transport wobbled away, partially on fire.
“Bob, you still got that Russian craft in sights?”
“Yes Sir, it’s hard to see, but I got it marked.”
“Hit it with the EMP. Taylor, you hit it with the mini gun. Let’s see how it stands up to 2,000 rounds.” Snap ordered.
Bob and Taylor began firing at the barely visible craft, unable to tell if their rounds were connecting with their target.
CHAPTER FORTY
Commander Furier stood beside the jump shuttle atop a rocky ledge overlooking the entire crash site. Her team and the jump shuttle were all in chameleon mode, unseen by the men at the crash site. They had left Catrix and Fabris back at the crash site to try and recover an armored vehicle or anything else of use. So far, there was no indication that the squad of Americans had discovered Catrix and Fabris. They had taken the clothes and food back to the survivors hiding in the shallow cave. She and her team were over two miles from the location where the transport had just been attacked by an unseen craft. The transport had taken off and disappeared behind a mountain. It was unclear if the attacker pursued.
“What is going on?” Genu asked Furier. “Can I see?”
“Just a minute,” Furier said, as she squinted into the binoculars. “Their transport was just attacked, there were a few small explosions.”
“Who attacked them?”
“Impossible to tell. But whoever it was, they had chameleon technology and energy weapons,” Furier said, shaking her head.
“Do you think that transport was part of our exit plan?” Genu asked.
“If it was, it’s not anymore. The transport is gone. Looks to me like it was seriously outgunned.” Furier handed the binoculars to Genu and said, “I’m going to tell Forte.”
Furier sat in the jump shuttle’s cockpit and pulled up the COM. Her armor, while the inspiration for the modern FALOS suit, was technologically inferior when it came to data transmission. The humans, who had little technological development in the arena of space travel, were somewhat advanced when it came to mass data collection, management, and dissemination. Not to mention, her battle armor had been sitting in a storage locker for 30 years while the humans continued to develop theirs.
“Commander Forte, can you hear me?” Furier spoke into the shuttle’s COM system.
“Loud and clear. What’s your status, Commander?” Forte asked.
“As you know, the Americans landed a few hours ago and have been pulling out the Element 115. It looks like their transport plane came to pick it up and was attacked.”
“Say again Commander.”
“It was attacked by what appeared to be a craft with chameleon capabilities,” Furier said.
“And?”
“The transport was outgunned; it flew away. I cannot confirm whether it was destroyed by the attacker.”
“Not good. I think that was going to be our ride out of here,” Forte said.
“From the size of the plane, it looks like it could easily have carried us, all the Element 115, and half our shuttles,” Furier complained.
“I’m certain that was our extraction plan. We need to be prepared for a longer stay. I’m glad you were able to recover those supplies.”
“Supplies are going to be the least of our worries when the locals come looking for us. How long can the 70 of us hold out against an organized military?” Furier asked, almost frantic.
“Commander, calm down. We don’t have to beat their army. All we have to do is hide until the Americans devise another rescue plan.”
“I want to help the Americans on the ground at the crash site,” Furier said.
“How? It sounds like the Americans already outgun you. What can you do to help them against an AG Fighter?”
“I don’t know. But I could add 10 guns to their side.”
“Ten guns for what? To shoot at an invisible craft. I think not. Stand down. We have been ordered to protect the cargo in our possession, not defend the crash site. Let the Americans on the ground do their job; we will wait for orders from Moon Base,” Forte commanded.
Furier said nothing.
“Do you hear me, Commander? That is a direct order. Stand down, and stay put, do not make contact with the Americans until we are told to do so,” Forte said firmly.
“Understood,” Furier replied.
Furier took a deep breath and adjusted the COM to contact Catrix, who was still in one of the lower cargo holds of the Impegi. “Furier to Catrix, can you hear me?”
“This is Catrix. We can hear you. Can you see what’s going on out there? It sounded like an explosion or something.”
“It looks like the American’s transport was attacked by an unknown aggressor.”
“And, do we have a ride out of here?”
“Looks like it was shot down, total loss. How are your efforts going?”
“Surprisingly well. Fabris and I may be able to salvage some of this equipment. I’ll keep you posted. Should we contact the Americans?”
Furier sighed, “You and Fabris stay out of sight for now, but if the situation changes, and they need help, use your own judgment.”
Furier stood on the ridge, staring through her binoculars at the column of smoke reaching for the sky just beyond the skyline.