The Broken Peace
Meteora

Marquette lost count of how many troop ships landed at the spaceport. Each ship carried hundreds of Anatolian soldiers and their equipment. Other transports landed armored vehicles and heavy weapons along with their crews. According to Admiral Cloudsley, 300,000 troops deployed to the planet, but Marquette believed there were more than Cloudsley knew about. However many there were, they made their presence known from the moment they landed.

The MLA launched attacks to remove the Anatolian presence on the planet in every major city on Meteora. At first, the MLA achieved near total surprise, overrunning numerous positions around the planet. Anatolian defenses stiffened once the surprise wore off and the attacks reached a standstill. While constant fighting raged around the planet, the MLA's offensive ground to a halt. With the reinforcements landing around the planet the Anatolians began to gain the upper hand.

Marquette watched as another transport landed and disgorged its troop complement. He wondered how reinforcements arrived so soon after the beginning of the offensive. At first, Marquette wrote their arrival off to good timing, but the vast numbers of forces deployed suggested otherwise. He suspected that the arrival of these forces was not coincidental.

In a diplomatic communique, Marquette sent a request to the Chancellor to find out who authorized such a large deployment of forces. So far, the Chancellor had not responded to his inquest. He told himself it took time for a message to travel and receive a response. Still, something bothered him about the whole situation.

When Marquette inquired Admiral Lamacus about who authorized the fleet deployment to Meteora, the admiral responded that the information was classified. Marquette believed there was more to the deployment than good timing, but his efforts to learn the truth led nowhere. It frustrated him, but there was little time to investigate while the MLA offensive continued.

When another transport arrived, Marquette left his spot at the spaceport to return to his quarters on base. The lack of sleep over the last several days began to set in. He didn't want to rest until the Consulate was retaken, but the need for sleep was too great. He decided to rest for a couple of hours before attempting to contact the Chancellor's office again.

In the occupied areas of Meteora, a different sort of drama began to play out. In the central park of Nireos, a man dressed in the uniform of the MLA sat at a table. A gavel rested before him as the bailiff called the next case. "People of Meteora versus Peter and Celia Chaviers," called the bailiff as the terrified couple were forced into the impromptu court.

"Peter Chaviers, you are charged with aiding and abetting the enemy in a time of war, sympathizing with the enemy in a time of war, and high treason against the people of Meteora. How do you plead?"

"Please, I was only a cook. I never-"

"The court will consider that as a plea of not guilty. Celia Chaviers, you are charged with aiding a known traitor in a time of war and high treason against the Meteoran people. How do you plead."

"Please, my husband only worked on the base. He never-"

"The court will consider that a plea of not guilty. This court judges that you are both guilty as charged in the counts against you. The sentence is death, to be carried out immediately."

The bailiff unholstered his sidearm and shot both defendants in the head. A guard detail carried their bodies to a small trailer and tossed them without ceremony on top of a dozen others. "Bailiff, call the next case."

The battle for the Consulate entered day three. Cazalas began to feel the effects of the lack of sleep. Resistance in the stairwells ended an hour ago after the last of the MLA fighters perished in a hail of bullets. Exhausted, the Anatolians gained a foothold on the second floor before resting and replenishing their ammunition.

As feared, the MLA fortified the entire Consulate building so that every twist and turn became a fortress. Only two MLA fighters manned each, but in the confines of the building, it was enough to hold up the Anatolian advance. Fourteen Anatolians died in the fight to gain access to the second floor.

Cazalas believed the MLA must be nearing the end of their resources. He did not know how many were left but counted fifteen MLA corpses. Fighting in the Consulate resembled more a brawl than a fight between armies. The barricades fell after MLA fighters used the last of their ammunition before the Anatolians overran them.

An eerie quiet fell over the Consulate. Cazalas did not want to give the remaining MLA fighters time to rest and reorganize. "Load your weapons swiftly. We move forward in five minutes."

Inside the last barricade, one of the last four MLA fighters subcummed to his wounds. "He's gone," she said to the MLA fighter working on his comrade. She picked up her weapon and checked her ammunition supply, shaking her head as she counted. "How many mags do you have?" she asked the other fighter.

"Two, counting the one I have loaded." He paused momentarily, looking over at the last fighter in their group. "How many do you have?"

"Last one," the other replied.

Sitting back against their improvised barricade, he looked at the woman he'd shared his bed with before the attack. "They're not coming, are they?"

"We knew this was a possible one-way mission," she said. "I'm fine with how it turned out. What about you?"

"I'm surprised I've made it this far. I thought it would take them a lot less time to kill us. So, what do you want to do? You're a woman, so they'll probably let you live."

"Why? So they can hang me? No thanks. I made my decision when I signed up for this mission."

"No regrets?"

"None. I'd rather die than live under Anatolia."

"Good thing."

"Yeah. It won't be long now."

"It was an honor serving beside you," he said.

"Same to you." She embraced him and kissed his cheek, then smiled. "Here they come."

The final battle of the Consulate was over before it began. Anatolian soldiers assaulted the three survivors from four sides. The woman fell first in a hail of bullets. The two men lasted only a moment more. The three of lay together, staring with unseeing eyes at the ceiling of the Consulate.

"They're down," reported one of the troopers.

"Watch for explosives," another one ordered. "Sweep the remainder of the building. Make sure there are no more of them."

"Report," Cazalas said as he entered the room.

"Four fighters dead. Only three were active when we attacked, so one must have been dead already."

"That's nineteen by my count," said Cazalas. "I want every inch of the compound checked; there could be more."

Hours later, Cazalas sent a message to Admiral Cloudsley. "Admiral, the Consulate is secured. We counted nineteen dead MLA sappers, along with fourteen of our own. We found no explosives inside the building; our engineers believe it is still structurally sound."

"What is the latest report from the fighting in the remainder of the government section?" asked Cloudsley.

"Sporadic fighting continues, but our forces have pushed the enemy out for the most part. There are some stubborn pockets of resistance around the city, but most of Gelenion is back in our hands. Major fighting continues in most other major cities, but we are repelling the MLA on all fronts."

"Good. The enemy gambled everything, and it appears they have all but lost. Continue mop up operations and begin transfer of forces to other areas as soon as possible."

"Yes, Admiral."

Cloudsley sent a signal to Admiral Lamacus aboard the Pronoia. "What is it, Admiral."

"Sir, I received a report that the battle for the Consulate has ended. Most of the city of Gelenion is now ours again."

"Excellent. What of the other cities?"

"Still contested, but Cazalas says we have stopped the MLA advance and are retaking lost ground in many places. Their gamble seems to have failed."

"As I expected. An ill-advised move on the part of the MLA. We should wrap this insurgency up within a month."

"Yes, Admiral. May we begin returning the crew we deployed to their ships?"

"Not yet. We will continue to need them for security for a while longer. Once we begin clean-up operations, then your personnel may return."

"As you wish, Admiral Lamacus.

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