Tattoos & Rail Guns Chapter 15: The Chipmunk Killers Prepare For War

Lieutenant Sawyer had just seen the arrival of an APC carrying four powered armor suits. Lieutenant Prowse was inspecting the one she was to pilot, making sure that all of the systems were good and that the ammunition was as promised. She ran it through some basic drills before signing off on it; she was, after all, responsible for the expensive piece of equipment. The armorer delivering got a chill from her as she signed off on it.

Lieutenant Sawyer smiled as she saw her friend sign off with a little extra flourish. The pilots would be here in the morning; they had already done all of the preliminary inspections on the Phoebus suits and would complete the rest of the pre-flight checks in the morning. Rodriguez had already packed the vehicles with as many rounds as they could carry, allowing for the rottweilers, of course. He debated leaving one of the boys behind for more ammunition, but had lost the debate; Lieutenant Prowse had mentioned something ridiculous about ”needing all hands on deck”. He tried to argue that they were Army, not Navy, but a glare from Lieutenant Sawyer cut off further debate. He took out a few ammunition boxes.

She walked off, shaking her head even as she was smiling. As she inspected the preparation, she checked off boxes from her lists, both on the paperwork in front of her and her mental checklist. She was satisfied with where things were going and then decided to send Rodriguez to gather the boys. They should be back from their missions already. It was just a matter of making sure everyone knew where they were supposed to be.

The pre-battle briefing should be all sorts of fun. They just needed to create the simulation, and that should be easy enough. All of a sudden she wished Walker was here; this was his area of expertise. She would just have to persevere without him.

* * * * *

The boys had just entered the barracks when Rodriguez walked through the door and started barking orders. In mere minutes they were ready for the morning's activities, with even Douglas reacting out of fear-powered speed. They had all of the gear acquired during the day stowed and the gear they needed for the morning ready. Their rucks were ready with the basics they would need for the mission. The boys carried their rucks to the vehicle followed by a quick march to the squad's office.

Lieutenant Sawyer directed them in while holding up Douglas. “They are required to be here. You are not. Now is your one and only chance to run.”

Douglas smiled. “I've never seen this part before. You guys usually just tell me where to meet you and where you need to go. I never get to see the planning part. This could be fun. Sir!” She wasn't sure how to take that sign of respect from the young wizard. He joined the other two, who had saved him a seat.

After sitting down. Lieutenant Sawyer ran the simulation. “Alright, Chipmunk Killers, the plan is pretty simple: The target is a bird-shaped demon.” Walker pulled out his pad and started drawing the demon as pictured. “Tomorrow morning, we're going to go out and kill it. We're going to use three teams.” She fired up the simulation. It showed a single grain silo cracked in half but still standing. Three vehicles approached it; two stopped a short ways away while the third moved a little closer.

“We're going to approach it in three vehicles. The first is carrying three Phoebus suits and a Kronus.” The boys smiled. “Lieutenant Prowse is going to be in the Kronus.” The boys gave her a thumbs up; she rolled her eyes. “Alpha Team will be Lieutenant Prowse and myself, to be joined by Kev. We will be providing cover fire for the Phoebus squad, or Bravo Team, as well as providing observation.”

“Charlie Team will include Sergeant Rodriguez, Corporal Samuels, Private Walker, and Douglas.” The boys each gave a thumbs up. She was seriously debating Douglas' inclusion. The simulation continued: The occupants of the vehicles and the Kronus shot at the target while one occupant aimed a device at the target. “While Sergeant Rodriguez paints the building for the suits, you three will be shooting the target.” The Phoebus suits attacked the target. “Then the Phoebus team will destroy the target.” The Phoebus team disengaged, remounted their vehicle, and the other two vehicles drove away as the Kronus hovered about the Alpha vehicle as it drove off. “Then we retreat to a safe distance to ensure that the target is destroyed. Understood?”

Walker looked up from his pad and they looked at each other. Walker pointed at her with his pen. “You watch the oven.” Samuels nodded: “We shake it while Sergeant Rodriguez bakes it.” Douglas looked at her: “And then it gets fried.” They gave each other a group high-five.

Lieutenant Sawyer debated the need to separate them. Lieutenant Prowse smiled. “Guess they can pay attention.”

They debated alternate routes there as well as routes away, as well as options in case the target was tougher than normal. After she was sure everyone was clear on the plan and the back-ups, she dismissed them and they went to their separate cafeterias. Lieutenant Sawyer wasn't sure about the change in the group dynamic but was pretty sure Douglas was responsible. She sort of actually liked it. For now.

* * * * *

Mel and Jule were enjoying a beer, relaxing, and debating if they should turn in early. Then they heard a keening from across the bar, one that louder as its source approached. Captain Barbara Dorab was on a warpath and it appeared to end at the two of them.

Captain Dorab stopped long enough to pound the girls' table. “I heard there was a briefing for three of my pilots. We did not receive an invitation.”

With an eyebrow raised, Lieutenant Sawyer started looking through her messages. She found what she was looking for, and showed the blonde bombshell before. “Nope, it was sent and even responded to. We were told to pass on the information to the pilots when they showed up in the morning.”

Captain Dorab looked at the message. “Weird. That's even my syntax. Fine.” She pulled out her phone and did some quick scrolling. “It was answered before I was even aware of it. That is strange.” She hit one of her speed dials. “Okay, carry on. Expect a bottle of something from me later on; I hate being in the wrong. I have some orders to issue and no one is going to be happy about them.” She walked off.

Jule toasted the departure. “That was definitely interesting.”

Mel put her phone away. “Not a good sign.” She sat down. “I may be a little paranoid, but it feels like there has been a narrowing trap the last few days.” She shrugged it off. “But let's put that away until after the mission tomorrow.”

The server dropped off a bottle of scotch to the table and disappeared. Jule looked at the label. “Not bad. Not great, but definitely not bad.” She opened the bottle. “I'm beginning to like her.”

“Definitely.”

They toasted to the captain and the mission tomorrow.

* * * * *

While everyone else was showering. Walker was looking in one of his thick tomes. He kept comparing his drawing of the demon with pictures, narrowing down what he was looking for. There were far too many demons that integrated bird parts into their anatomy, and not just the wings. Fortunately, he knew the books backward and forwards, and it was just a matter of time. He then muttered something under his breath, closed the book he was looking at, and grabbed another one. In moments he had found the demon he was looking for.

He looked over at Rodriguez and held the book open for towards. “Hey, Sergeant, I know what we're facing tomorrow.” He looked at the entry. “It's a chetan.”

Rodriguez looked up from the leg he was tightening. “A what?”

Walker started reading. “It's basically a Lakotan bird spirit. Represents the east, but also speed, vision, and dedication. The thing that bothers me is that it's usually a good spirit. It could have been corrupted, sure, but that's not normally the situation. I'm sort of worried that if the spirit is protecting something then this could be a bad mistake.”

Rodriguez' eyes rolled. “This is why I hate dealing with demons.”

Douglas put on a shirt. “Tricky things, spirits and demons are. They're representations of our inner souls, our emotions, given flesh.” He sat down on a bunk. “The problem is finding out what they symbolize for the person summoning them. Figure that out and you get a better feel for the person.”

Walker glared at Douglas. “Great. Since we have no idea who the summoner is then we'll have to pay attention at the site for the sort of magics used.” Walker fell into his bunk. “This just made a simple mission complicated.”

Douglas smiled at the parapsychologist. “Yeah, but magic is never as simple as it seems. And we're just at the beginning of it; can you imagine when we finally get good enough at it that we can do forensics?”

Rodriguez glared at both of them. “Meanwhile, gentlemen, you had best get to bed early. We have a lot to do in the morning.”

Douglas grinned as he lay down. “Good night, John Boy!”

Walker fluffed his pillow. “Good night, Ben!”

Rodriguez flipped off the switch. “Just shut up, you two!”

Rodriguez knew the giggling would stop soon. In case it didn't, he knew where his knife was.

[The last chapter is here.]