Patricians: Power Politics (2 of 9)

Chapter 31: Precision Strike

Night had fallen, and darkness provided cover for the Muse convoys rolling towards their objective--Damascus. The roar of gunfire in the distance alerted the forces that the naval battle had begun between IRME and NATO forces. IRME hoped to boost their impoverished naval forces with a Russian alliance, but, since the attack on Moscow, the alliance had severed. Russia had retreated to peace negotiations, leaving IRME's navy outnumbered and outgunned. Naval bombardment of Beirut filled the sky with missiles. Explosions erupted in the sky at random when IRME's defense systems were able to destroy the missiles.

Video footage came through the Muse neural network into Maj. Lee's mind, allowing him to see the progress of the Muse fighters. Hundreds of fighters were launching from the three Muse aircraft carries and were already designating targets. Operation Gaugamela was underway. Overhead, IRME fighters roared through the skies towards the enemy. The first wave of Muse fighters were engaging their enemies and lighting the sky up with gunfire and explosions. It was like watching the Fourth of July. Brilliant colours flickered across the dark skies. Explosions rippled like a storm in the clouds above.

Hundreds of ten-foot-tall mechs provided escort. Behemoth class mechs, forged from dense nano carbon steel, were all piloted by a single man. Each pilot mind fused with the steel frames. Each mech carried anti-aircraft missile systems on their back and were equipped with magnetic rail rifles dubbed "gauss cannons." These gauss cannons fired 18-inch shells in rapid succession. Henry had dubbed these new inventions "the modern cavalry," and had created his armoured divisions on the backbone of this new force. Each mech could move up to speeds of 180 miles per hour, and their shaped armour was reminiscent of German panzers and tiger tanks. Shells would glance off the shaped armour, and high mobility made each mech much harder to hit than tanks. The increased mobility meant the mechs could use cover with greater efficiency.

The bulk of Maj. Lee's forces were still human soldiers. One advantage of that was that each of them possessed extensive cybernetic modification. The Muse force was much smaller than any of the NATO forces deployed in this engagement. Three hundred mechs and ten thousand soldiers marched towards Damascus in unison. Each footstep fell in perfect unison, filling the air with thunderous marching. Looking at Damascus, Maj. Lee surveyed the situation. He saw through his optical imaging that IRME forces occupied positions just on the edge of the city.

Maj. Lee placed artillery behind him and gave the order to open fire. Shells traced through the air, striking into and around the enemy fortifications. Buildings exploded into dust as shells fell on the city. IRME forces opened fire on the advancing Muse forces. Missiles streaked towards the advancing army, only to be shot down by the mechs' antimissile defense systems. Each stood side by side, marching in a phalanx of steel that deflected bullets. Returning fire, the mechs' gauss cannons tore through the front line ranks.

Shot after shot rained down from the advancing legion of mechs, but IRME's defenders held their ground with resolute ferocity. Explosions rippled across the frontlines. Bodies were tossed into the air from the explosions. IRME had a counter-attack prepared and launched their entire force of drones. Taking to the sky, these remote-controlled machines flew towards their targets. The sky swarmed with the metallic drones huddled together like a swarm of bees defending their hive from attack.

Racing through the group was Maj. Lee's old friend and second in command, Cpt. Gerald Essex. Breaking through the formation, Cpt. Essex approached his commander with a report. Gerald had been tasked with the signal boosters necessary to transmit the virus. Seeing the swarm of drones closing in told Gerald that his commander would need the system online. The captain presented the triggering device.