Not Until the Job Is Done

Maria Cointreau looked up at Indri, the tall creature hidden behind the wall with her. Standing on four legs, with two arms with odd joints, four compound eyes, and smooth, grey skin, she looked like a praying mantis from a fever dream. The human-made sub-machine gun she carried just reinforced the image.

“I’m out,” Maria said, lowering her assault rifle, “but if we can get to the warehouse by the river, we can re-supply.”

“We lost. It’s time to leave.”

“Bullshit!” Maria Cointreau spit on the ground, blood mixed with her spittle. “As long as we’re alive, we’ve still got a chance. We’re not giving the squishies your planet. We can take the drainage tunnels to the river, then climb the bank from there.”

Indri knelt, putting her compound eyes on the same level as Maria’s. “It has been an honor fighting alongside you and the other humans, but our world is lost. If we want to live, we need to head to the evacuation site.”

Maria grabbed Indri’s arm and leaned in close. “Until Terra command calls general retreat, we’ll fight. It’s not over, and it’s not just us, you’ll see. But….”

“But?”

“I’ll get you to the warehouse. There should be transpo to the evac site.” Maria loosened her grip. “I’m not leaving but I can’t ask you to stay; it’s only going to get more dangerous.”

Indri followed Maria from cover to cover, spending tense moments hiding in the alleys while scout drones walked the streets. Indri stopped her at one point to change the bandage on Maria’s head. The old one had soaked through, and blood was pooling and drying behind Maria’s right ear.

After an hour of careful movement, she found what she was looking for. Maria pulled the cover off a storm drain. The design was human, and as such, the ladder down was not something Indri could descend without difficulty.

Maria growled. “Ugh. This one hasn’t been fitted for timinids.”

“I could just drop down.”

“And risk breaking a leg? No.” Maria stepped onto the ladder. “Climb on my back, I’ll get you down.”

They followed the tunnels, moving always down. When daylight and the river came into view, Maria motioned for Indri to stay put. She crawled out, her head on a swivel.

She was scouting for a way up the slope when she saw a human patrol. Maria raised her hands and stood slowly. “Friendly!”

One of the soldiers broke from the patrol and trotted to her. “Sergeant Pall. Where’s your platoon? Are you alone?”

“Lieutenant Cointreau. I’ve got a local hiding in the drain. She needs evac and I need re-supply.” Maria sighed. “My platoon was wiped out when a drone rushed us and self-destructed. Rescued a new friend, though.”

“I didn’t know they could do that. Shit. I’ll pass that info up the chain. Go get your friend,” he said. “The warehouse and immediate surroundings are secure.”

“The patrol?”

“They’ll continue their rounds; I’ll rejoin later. Backup is just a whistle away.”

“Who’s in command?”

“That’d be me, ma’am, unless you want the job. Our platoon was left to secure the site, and the Lieutenant and first squad were killed in a drone attack. We’ve got half a dozen wounded in the warehouse office waiting for evac as well.”

Maria returned to Indri. “Come on, they’ve got this area secured. We’re safe here.”

As they walked up the slope toward the warehouse, Indri put a manipulator on Maria’s shoulder. “Are you sure you don’t want to evacuate? I mean, it’s not even your planet.”

“I don’t leave a job undone. Besides,” she said, “we protect our friends.”

“Friends? We didn’t know each other until this morning.”

“The timinids and humans are friends. That’s what our treaties mean, and that’s why we were building this city and military installation…to provide protection.”

Indri followed along, her hand still on Maria’s shoulder. “Friends…. All humans and all timinids?” she asked.

“In theory, at least,” Pall answered.

The warehouse was cavernous, and Maria’s booted footsteps echoed. Where three days prior she’d seen shelves groaning under the weight of supplies, most were now empty. Shipping crates, long since pried open and broken apart, lay in a heap of scrap to one side. “What the hell?”

“Corporal Jimenez will see to your needs…at least as far as we can.” Pall motioned the corporal over and left to rejoin the patrol.

“Ma’am,” Jimenez said, “I take it you need ammo. How about rations and med supplies…well, bandages at least?”

“Whe—where did everything go?”

“What wasn’t used up was lifted out last night to a more secure rear supply area. All the blankets and most of the medical supplies were sent to the evac ships for the locals.” He looked at the weapons the two carried. “I’ve got plenty standard ball for the 6.8 but I’m out of 9mil for the SMG.”

“That’s okay,” Maria said. “Indri, you should get on the next shuttle out. It’s not safe, and it’s probably going to get worse before it gets better.”

“That’s what I keep trying to tell you.” Indri unclipped the strap that held the sub-machine gun and let it drop to the floor. “This is my home—was my home, but it’s not safe. Why are you staying?”

“Because it’s the right thing to do. I won’t let my friends down, especially you.” Maria turned to the corporal who was lugging a case of ammo to them. “You said supply moved back. What about the front-line units?”

“We aren’t going anywhere, ma’am. We’re just holding tight until the cavalry gets here.” He set down the ammo box and motioned to the warehouse. “This is now the FOB until they clear out enough of the city to move HQ back here. That’s why we’re keeping the warehouse and the landing area clear.”

“Landing area?”

“We bulldozed a shuttle landing just off that side of the warehouse,” he said, pointing to his left. “The next shuttle should be here in about twenty minutes. They’re bringing more rations and I sent a comm to bring some 9mil as well. Unless you want to swap for a 10mil pistol?”

Maria waved him off. “I don’t think timinids can handle that kind of recoil, not to mention, it’d be hard to hold with their hands.”

Indri knelt again, to be on eye-level with Maria. “Please, come with me. You’re injured. You saved my life, let me save yours now.”

“I haven’t saved you yet,” Maria said. “Not until your world is free of the squishies.”

“Speaking of the squishies,” Jimenez said, “patrols haven’t seen any in several hours…just scout drones.”

“Maybe the Navy finally cut their supply lines. No methane for their breathers, no squishies running around.”

“Ma’am…uh…you don’t think they’re pulling out for orbital bombardment, do you?” Jimenez asked as he helped her load magazines.

“I doubt it,” she said. “Why does anyone risk ground combat?”

“I don’t know,” he said.

“To save the infrastructure,” Indri said.

“Exactly. The only launch port that was destroyed was the one we blew up yesterday, before they could take it for themselves.” Maria packed her magazine pockets full to bursting. “I just wish the drones were as easy to take out as the squishies.”

“I might have something for you,” the corporal said. “Do you still have your 10mil sidearm?”

“Sure, not that it does any good against them. Indri’s SMG was only good for getting their attention, and the 10’s not much more oomph.”

“I have some 10mil electro rounds. Slightly lower muzzle velocity than standard ball, but it dumps thousands of volts into them on impact.”

“Why don’t we have something like that for the 6.8?” Maria asked.

“We only have a couple dozen left, and the patrol is loaded up with them.”

A deep hum resonated through the warehouse. “It sounds like the shuttle is early,” Indri said.

“That’s not a shuttle,” Jimenez said, “that’s reinforcements.”

“Personnel carrier,” Maria said at the same time.

“Oh, should I wait for—”

“No, they’ll take you back with the wounded,” the corporal said. “Now that we’re reinforced, we can catch our breath. Lieutenant, would you be willing to help offload and get the wounded loaded on before you go? I mean, you’re in better shape than most of the other wounded.”

Maria nodded. “Of course.” She put a hand up to touch the bandage on her head. It was starting to soak through, but it felt like it had slowed down. “Besides, it’s not that bad. Heads just bleed a lot.”

Indri put a manipulator on Maria’s shoulder again. “Will you come with me? Please?” she asked.

“I’m sorry, Indri, I can’t. The Navy will see you get somewhere safe, until you can all come home again.” Maria turned back toward Jimenez. “Corporal, I hear you could use a platoon leader, and I could use those 10mil electro rounds.”