Operation: Phoenix, Battle for the TRES Corps HQ, Part 8

        by CyberPyro (cybrpyro@iac.net)

        Dawn came, more a light splotch on the horizon that eventually
changed the dark gray sky to a lighter shade, than an actual sunrise.  The
snow continued to fall, piling up faster than civilians could clear off their
roads, or the TRES Corps HQ snow blowers could get rid of it.
        The valley where the Jihaddi and b'harnate forces fought was now
completely snowed in, frozen into a huge chunk of ice as -60F air rolled over
Colorado.  When the wind chill came into play, the temperature was considered
-105F.  No one across the state left their homes or moved about unless
necessity demanded it.

...

        "Yes, Captain?" asked CP as he looked up from the tactical planning
session with J-Rock.
        "Honorable CyberPyro-san," spoke Hiroshi, bowing at the waist.  "I
humbly wish to suggest an addition to your defensive plans."
        "OK, what are they?" asked CP.  Hiroshi bowed at the waist again
before speaking.
        "I would like to make the suggestion privately, if the Admiral does
not take offense."
        "Not at all," said J-Rock as he quietly stepped from the room.
        "I humbly suggest..." began Hiroshi, CP staring thoughtfully at her.

...

        A battalion of BattleArmor stomped down the main street of Clear
Springs, one of the endless patrols roaming the area, waiting for the X'hirjq
to attack.  Ensign Smith wiped the accumulated snow from his visor and
noticed a bright spot that wouldn't go away.  He looked up, not believing it,
and saw the sun stabbing though the monotonous cloud cover.
        The snow encased world, a typical dull white, exploded into cascades
of shimmering light.  Icicles flashed in brilliant radiance as the sun found
them, every other surface striving to out-shine its fellows.

...

        "Will you get in here?" demanded J-Rock of a figure wearing a tank
top and pair of gym shorts sitting on the icy balcony of the Ellipsoid.  The
figure smirked at J-Rock, wrapped up deep in the folds of his parka, as he
walked across the ice and snow encrusted landing.
        "Sure, just interrupt my afternoon reading," teased CP, flaunting his
natural immunity to temperature.
        "This is important."
        "What is it?" asked CP, deadly serious as he followed J-Rock to the
communications center of the HQ.

...

        [Our attack will commence when the last rays of your yellow star
disappear from the sky] informed X'huurrj'qx, [our meteorological data
indicates it will be an ideal night for hunting.]
        "Don't suppose you'd have the 'nads to attack us now, would you?"
asked CP, more than aware the glittering snow, which hurt human eyes, would
be blinding to the X'hirjq.
        [Why would we blind ourselves?] asked X'huurrj'qx, [prey on you when
the light is gone.]  The channel closed with a light crackling noise.

...

        During the day, the blizzard shifted to the East, leaving the sky
crystal clear, the sun burning high overhead.  The Shi Shi Ski town was a
blur of activity, TRES and Dobermench forces scrambling to put the final
barricades in place before the day died.

...

        Warrior Ashur Galand strode into the TRES Corps briefing room flanked
by Troopers Aphrodite, Charcharadon, Orpheus, Cabieri, and Riva.  The
assembled TRES officers stood and saluted crisply, their salutes returned, as
all the Jihaddi sat down to coordinate last minute defensive placements.
        "This is will be our first real combat contact with the X'hirjq,"
spoke CP as he addressed the entire room.  "J-Rock selected me to brief
everyone since I've fought them more than anyone else to date.
        "Unfortunately, I've never fought them in a setting like this.  It's
always been either one on one in hand-to-hand, armed conflict with a group of
other Jihaddi, or in space with WarShips.  However, I can tell all of you
what to expect: A battle harder than anything else you've ever experienced.
        "The X'hirjq don't give any quarter, nor do they take any.  Their
tactics are often cruel, deadly efficient, and what you least expect.
        "J-Rock?" asked CP, motioning for the Admiral to begin his
presentation of their defensive strategy.

...

        "All wings are in the air," said Lieutenant Mordrid from the cockpit
of his fighter.  "Radar hasn't detected any enemy craft yet, but, if your
suspicions are accurate, they'll be here shortly after dark."
        "Excellent, Lieutenant," said CP from his Wrath of Arioch
BattleArmor, "good hunting and good luck."
        "Mordrid out."

...

        The sun dipped below the snow encrusted peaks of the Rockies,
lighting up the horizon as the first start began to poke through the canopy
of dark blue.  A few moments later, darkness felt.  The stars, no longer
hidden by the Sun, flared into brilliant life above Clear Springs and
thousands upon thousands of BattleArmored Jihaddi.
        Trooper Pascal, monitoring the continuous sensor sweeps, shivered as
an eerie, rhythmic noise ground past his ear.  The proximity alert went off,
all of its indicators flashing. The noise grew louder, more intense as it
became audible throughout the town.
        A low rumbling noise, like a soundtrack of thunder played at double
speed, rolled across Clear Springs.  Jihaddi grabbed their weapons and yelled
orders to take up position.
        Voice joined the rhythmic noises, rising and falling as to some
pattern not produced by human thinking.  The rumbling grew more intense as
Trooper Pascal recognized what he was hearing.
        "Singing?" asked the Dobermensch in disbelief.  A snow cloud erupted
and drifted over the ridges outside of the town, the source of the thundering
revealed to be running X'hirjq feet.
        Engagement indicators blinked a bloody red all over Trooper Pascal's
console.  Before he could count them, their number had easily tripled.
        The X'hirjq had arrived.

                                                                        CP

Copyright, Pyrokinetic Productions, Inc. (1996)