Joining the air armada now came a flight of half a dozen helicopter gunships, presumably flying out of the Tauran-held Transitway Area, or perhaps even from something at sea.
Hmmm . . . more proof of Anglians.
The helicopter gunships didn't carry anything like the airplanes' firepower. They made up for that lack, however, in the attention to detail they could apply to a mission. By the glow of the burning buildings, Carrera could make out the gunships' track as they shot down legionaries attempting to flee from them.
Holding a fist in front of his chest, Carrera spoke out loud to himself. "Now" he commanded to no one who could hear. "Now! Report that the area is clear enough to jump."
Carrera's order, or prayer, or wish, was quickly rewarded. Under the bright moonlight, he saw the outlines of the first of twenty-four medium and fourteen large cargo transports and troop carriers, approaching the Lago Sombrero airfield. Coming in low, Carrera thought maybe just over one hundred and twenty meters, these planes began disgorging their loads—over fifteen hundred Paras of the Royal Anglian Airborne Regiment. At that altitude the Paras didn't even bother with reserve chutes. If their main parachutes failed there wouldn't be time to open the reserves anyway.
I wonder what friends I have up there, jumping to their deaths.
The first of the medium transports made its pass over the airfield and surrounding cleared area in about forty seconds. Then, duty discharged, it turned to head for home. Others, in a long double trail behind it, were still dropping troops. Hundreds of these were already on the ground struggling to free themselves from their parachutes and harnesses. When Carrera was sure that enough had landed to guarantee the others would also land despite any danger he shouted down to Soult, "Jamey, radio silence off. Get on the horn to fire the caltrops. Tell Rogachev to roll."
The boys must have felt the shuddering bombs even deep down in their concrete hides. Carrera heard song, boyish voices supplemented by older ones, coming from the now opening vault doors:
"A young tribe stands up, ready to fight.
Raise the eagles higher, mis compadres.
We feel inside the time is right,
La época de los soldados jóvenes.
High, from His Heaven, the God of battles calls us.
Ahead, in ranks, march the ghosts of our slain.
And in our hearts no fear of falling.
Legion, Patria, through the steel rain!"
Carrera looked skyward, past the incoming transports, and whispered, "Enjoy the show, Marguerite."
Appendix A: Glossary
AdC
Aide de Camp, an assistant to a senior officer
Ala Pluraclass="underline" Alae.
Latin: Wing, as in wing of cavalry. Air Wing in the Legion. Similar to Tercio, qv.
Amid
Arabic: Brigadier General
Antania Pluraclass="underline" Antaniae
Septic mouthed winged reptilians, possibly genengineered by the Noahs, AKA Moonbats
BdL
Barco de la Legion, Ship of the Legion
Bellona
Moon of Terra Nova
Bolshiberry
A fruit bearing vine, believed to have been genengineered by the Noahs. The fruit is intensely poisonous to intelligent life.
Cazador
Spanish: Hunter. Similar to Chasseur, Jaeger and Ranger. Light Infantry, especially selected and trained. Also a combat leader selection course within the Legion del Cid
Chorley
A grain of Terra Nova, apparently not native to Old Earth.
Classis
Latin: Fleet or Naval Squadron
Cohort
Battalion, though in the Legion these are large battalions.
Conex
Metal shipping container, generally 8' x 8' x 20' or 40'
Consensus
When capitalized, the governing council of Old Earth, formerly the United Nations Security Council.
Corona Civilis
Latin. Civic Crown. One of approximately thirty-seven awards available in the Legion for specific and noteworthy events. The Civic Crown is given for saving the life of a soldier on the battlefield at risk of one's own.
Dustoff
Medical evacuation, typically by air
Eris
Moon of Terra Nova
Escopeta
Sp. Shotgun.
Estado Major
Sp. General Staff and, by extension, the building which houses it.
Federated States Drachma.
Unit of money equivalent in value to 4.2 grams of silver
Hecate
Moon of Terra Nova
Hieros
Shrine or temple
Huánuco
A plant of Terra Nova from which an alkaloid substance is refined
I
Roman number one. Chief Operations Officer, his office, and his staff section
Ia
Operations officer dealing mostly with fire and maneuver, his office and his section, S- or G-3
Ib
Logistics Officer, his office and his section, S- or G-4
Ic
Intelligence Officer, his office and his section, S- or G-2
Id
Adjutant, Personnel Officer, his office and his section, S- or G-1
Ikhwan
Arabic: Brotherhood
Jaguar
Volgan built tank in legionary service
Jaguar II
Improved Jaguar
Jizyah
Special tax levied against non-Moslems living in Moslem lands.
Karez
Underground aqueduct system
Keffiyah
Folded cloth Arab headdress
Klick
Kilometer. Note: Democracy ends where the metric system begins.
Kosmo
Cosmopolitan Progressive. Similar to Tranzi on Old Earth
Liwa
Arabic: Major General
Lorica
Lightweight silk and liquid metal torso armor used by the Legion
LZ
Landing Zone, a place where helicopters drop off troops and equipment
Maniple
Company
Makkah al Jedidah
Arabic: New Mecca
Mañana sera mejor
Balboan politico-military song. Tomorrow will be better.
MRL
Multiple Rocket Launcher
Mujahadin