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  AMERICA’S GALACTIC FOREIGN LEGION

  Book 3: Silent Invasion

  by

  Walter Knight

  The sweeping, satirical military space saga continues...

  Decorated war hero Captain Joey R. Czerinski of the United States Galactic Foreign Legion faces even more challenges as the Arthropodan Empire ramps up its plans to take control of the prized planet, New Colorado. Double-crossing friends and adversaries on both sides, out to make a buck, put the Legion at the mercy of spider forces whose careful planning and military strategies seem to ensure Arthropoda will gain control over more territory in a campaign of silent invasion.

  As the situation deteriorates for the human occupation, Czerinski realizes he can’t trust anyone, not even his past business partner and constant cohort in mischief, Lieutenant Manny Lopez. The wolves are literally at the door, and Czerinski finds himself backed into a corner, wondering what he can possibly do to save the day and restore the Legion’s control of planet New Colorado. With the odds against him, maybe the only thing Czerinski can do is take a dive and throw the fight – literally.

  Nothing’s a sure thing, especially in war – except that through all the ups and downs and continual serendipitous surprises, this ongoing satirical, politically incorrect, sweeping military space opera is sure to entertain.

  AMERICA’S GALACTIC FOREIGN LEGION

  Book 3: Silent Invasion

  Table of Contents

  Copyright Information

  Author Dedication

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  About the Author

  AMERICA’S GALACTIC FOREIGN LEGION

  Book 3: Silent Invasion

  Licensed and Produced through

  Penumbra Publishing

  www.PenumbraPublishing.com

  SMASHWORDS EDITION

  EBOOK ISBN/EAN-13: 978-1-935563-25-9

  Copyright 2009 Walter Knight

  All rights reserved

  Editing Coordination: Patricia Morrison

  Production / Cover Art Coordination: Judith Pilsner

  Also available in PRINT ISBN/EAN-13: 978-1-935563-26-6

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, planets, asteroids, alien species, evil empires, galaxies far, far way, or future events and incidents, are the product of the author’s imagination, or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons or aliens, living or dead, events or locales including those on Mars and New Colorado, is entirely coincidental.

  Licensing Note: This ebook is licensed and sold for your personal enjoyment. Under copyright law, you may not resell, give away, or share copies of this book. You may purchase additional copies of this book for other individuals or direct them to purchase their own copies. If you are reading this book but did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, out of respect for the author’s effort and right to earn income from the work, please contact the publisher or retailer to purchase a legal copy.

  ~AUTHOR’S ACKNOWLEDGEMENT~

  I dedicate America’s Galactic Foreign Legion – Book 3: Silent Invasion to the heroes of the Battle of Ramree Island. A special thanks to editor Patricia Morrison and my loving wife Barb for their support.

  ~Walter Knight

  AMERICA’S GALACTIC FOREIGN LEGION

  Book 3: Silent Invasion

  by

  Walter Knight

  CHAPTER 1

  My name is Captain Joey R. Czerinski, hero of the United States Galactic Foreign Legion, currently assigned to the City of Finisterra, Planet New Colorado, where I am fighting a growing alien insurgency. A recent second battle between human and Arthropodan factions has resulted in the United States Galactic Foreign Legion holding the planet New Colorado as human territory, despite the growing civilian population of spider-like Arthropodans on the planet. As we try to maintain order and control on New Colorado, I fear our position is deteriorating.

  * * * * *

  The Emperor of the Arthropodan Empire wanted the riches of New Colorado. Gold, oil, and uranium were discovered by the human pestilence after the last war. It grated on the Emperor that humanity’s windfall was at the expense of Arthropodan effort. A large spider population still lived in the Northern Hemisphere of New Colorado. Immigration was adding to that population. Did not the spider species need the protection of the Arthropodan Empire against continued abuse from the human pestilence? Of course it did.

  An Arthropodan fleet of starships bullied its way into orbit around New Colorado. By order of the Emperor, the Fleet secretly provided arms and advisors to a growing insurgency fighting for independence against the United States Galactic Foreign Legion. The Emperor did not necessarily want war with the United States Galactic Federation. At least not yet. The last two wars had gone badly. The Emperor wanted merely to use intimidation and the local insurgency as bargaining chips to negotiate a new treaty annexing the northern part of New Colorado back into the Arthropodan Empire, giving Arthropoda its rightful share of the planet’s wealth. The Emperor’s general staff and advisors encouraged even stronger action, but that was why they were not the Emperor! All comes to those who wait patiently.

  “We have the larger space fleet,” advised the Imperial Fleet Commander. “Most of the Legion’s starships are guarding the Coleopteran Frontier on the other side of human space. Our main problem is that the human pestilence may have developed stealth technology that completely hides their starships. Already we have suffered isolated losses that cannot be explained.”

  “On the ground they are weak, too,” advised Marine Special Forces Commander #1. “The human pestilence are trying to defend New Colorado with local forces and their Foreign Legion. Again, this is because their main military assets are on the Coleopteran Frontier. We should just take the planet while we have the human pestilence at a disadvantage.”

  “The humans have a huge military industrial complex,” said the Emperor. “We are lucky their military might is not pointed in our direction. We need to keep it that way, while seizing our fair share of New Colorado.”

  “The human pestilence have an applicable axiom of law: possession is nine-tenths of the law,” commented Special Forces Commander #1. “We will land troops, hold our ground, and negotiate for peace and reasonably stable borders. We will not even need to use nukes.”

  “Invasion might provoke a nuclear response,” warned the Fleet Commander. “Humans love to use nukes. They have done so many times.”

  “So have we,” said the Emperor. “But if we use restraint, so will they. The human pestilence have to be more cautious about the risk of nuclear war because of the growing population.”

  “You can not be sure of that,” said the Fleet Commander.

  “New Colorado is a prize,” said the Emperor. “It will not be destroyed with nukes. Not by us.”

  “I will land Marine Special Forces troops at strategic points in the North,” said the Special Forces Commander. “Not armies or divisions at first, but small mobile units. They will link up with and arm the insurgency. The human pestilence can’t use nukes against small mobile units. We will explain that our fleet remains in orbit to deter more genocide and the well-documented abus
e by the Legion. The Fleet will also deter the Legion from using strategic weapons.”

  * * * * *

  After a brief but heated skirmish, the Legion lost the eastern half of Finisterra across the river. I shook my head in dismay.

  “Captain Czerinski, initial reports from East Finisterra indicate that heavily armed insurgents have attacked and captured Pizza Hut,” advised Lieutenant Manny Lopez. “Our troops are falling back to the bridge.”

  I could see smoke rising from East Finisterra. We still held the downtown area near the bridge, but all outlying areas had been abandoned. “How did they get so strong so fast?” I asked.

  “I am receiving a radio message from the insurgent commander,” said Lieutenant Lopez. “He says he wants to negotiate a truce and establish a permanent border at the river. Do you want to talk to him?”

  I snatched the radio. “This is Captain Czerinski of the United States Galactic Federation Foreign Legion,” I said. “We do not negotiate with terrorists.”

  “I am not a terrorist,” replied the insurgent leader. “I am the voice of the new government in East Finisterra. Be reasonable. All we want is peace and our own side of the river ... and Pizza Hut.”

  “Forget it,” I shouted. “There will be no peace with terrorists. Today you want Pizza Hut, tomorrow you will want Taco Bell!”

  “I took Taco Bell five minutes ago!” boasted the insurgent commander triumphantly. “And I am about to seize KFC.”

  “Can we verify that?” I asked, turning to Lieutenant Lopez.

  “After we capture your three major food distribution centers, you will have no choice but to surrender East Finisterra or starve,” said the insurgent commander.

  “You know nothing,” I countered. “We still hold McDonald’s here on the west side of the river. Your plan is flawed.”

  “Tell him we hold a Subway Sandwich Shop, too,” said Corporal Williams. “We will never surrender!”

  “Shut up!” I ordered. “I’m being overrun by idiots and junk food bandits.”

  “Come on, Czerinski,” urged the insurgent commander. “How long do you think you can survive on just Big Macs and Quarter Pounders? The grease alone will kill you.”

  “He’s got a point there,” cautioned Lieutenant Lopez.

  “Legionnaires are resourceful and resilient,” I replied defiantly. “Plus we have a Subway Sandwich Shop.” I nodded at Williams.

  “Take that, you punk!” shouted Corporal Williams, letting out his famous rebel yell.

  “Bologna won’t stop the inevitable,” warned the insurgent commander. “Father Winter will be here soon.”

  I turned to Lieutenant Lopez. “Take a column of tanks across the bridge and blast that fool,” I ordered. “Where is our air support?”

  “New ground-to-air missiles are keeping our Air Wing at bay,” said Corporal Kool. “And the Space Weapons Platform T. Roosevelt is in a standoff with the Arthropodan Fleet.”

  * * * * *

  I watched Lieutenant Lopez lead three tanks across the Finisterra Bridge. Immediately the lead tank was hit by an anti tank missile. The tank caught fire. Corporal Williams dragged badly burned Lieutenant Lopez out the rear door. After firing several volleys into East Finisterra, the other two tanks retreated off the bridge.

  “Radio Sergeant Green to pull out of East Finisterra,” I ordered, hoping to save my remaining legionnaires. “We will hold at the river.”

  “We’re giving up KFC?” asked Corporal Williams. “Those bastards.”

  “What we need is a nuke to show the insurgents who the top dog is around here,” I commented. “Do we have any nukes left?”

  “General Kalipetsis took all our nukes when the war ended,” answered Corporal Kool. “We don’t have permission to use nukes anyway. Not unless a real war breaks out.”

  “This is a real war!” I complained, slamming my fist into the wall as I paced.

  “Corporal Tonelli has a nuke,” said Corporal Williams. “I saw it.”

  “What?” I asked. “How would Tonelli get his grubby hands on a nuke?”

  “It’s an old Arthropodan Air Wing nuke he found when we were fighting in the tunnels of New Disneyland. He kept it, hoping to make some money on the black market.”

  “I’ll shoot him,” I mused out loud. “After I get his nuke.”

  * * * * *

  Sergeant Green got the order to pull back from KFC. He was about to retreat anyway. The insurgents seemed to be everywhere, and they were better armed than usual. Mortars were now falling on his position. Sergeant Green ordered the KFC ovens booby-trapped. His platoon loaded into the armored car and raced for the Finisterra Bridge. Sergeant Green used the cannon and machine gun to cover their retreat. At the top of the bridge, they rammed a burning tank and knocked it out of the way. He watched with fascination as it fell off the bridge, splashing into the water. On the far side of the bridge, they picked up Lieutenant Lopez. Molten metal from the blast splattered Lopez’s face and shoulders, and he was moaning in pain. Corporal Tonelli pulled him up into the armored car.

  Medic Ceausescu immediately started an IV, trying to ease the pain and prevent shock. Corporal Tonelli’s trained attack monitor dragon Spot tugged at his leash as Lieutenant Lopez was set down beside him. Smelling blood, the dragon whipped his tongue out and took a tentative nibble of Lieutenant Lopez’s shoulder.

  “Get your lizard off me!” yelled Lopez as he drew his pistol and shot at the dragon. “That monster bit me!”

  “Bad Spot! No biscuit!” said Corporal Tonelli, jerking the dragon back. Spot still tugged at Lopez’s shoulder. Medic Ceausescu grabbed the pistol from Lieutenant Lopez as another bullet ricocheted off a bulkhead. The round struck Corporal Washington in the arm. Finally Private Tonelli struck his dragon on the snout, breaking its grip.

  “No harm done,” announced Guido as he pried Spot loose. “Spot just thought you smelled like a tasty grilled steak burrito.”

  “Burrito this, you spaghetti for brains New York trash!” yelled Lieutenant Lopez, struggling to get his pistol back.

  “He shot me in the arm!” complained Corporal Washington, regaining control of his driving. The big spider legionnaire was usually even tempered, but he was hot now. “I will get you back for that!”

  “Just drive,” ordered Sergeant Green. “Get us out of here before they fire another missile. Your arm will grow back.”

  * * * * *

  At the command center, Corporal Tonelli and Medic Corporal Ceausescu unloaded Lieutenant Lopez. A medical helicopter was called to transport Lieutenant Lopez to the hospital at New Memphis.

  “Guido my friend,” I greeted warmly as they entered. “I heard you have a nuke hidden somewhere that you were going to sell on the black market. I want it.”

  “Who have you been talking to?” asked Guido. “Just because I’m Italian, you automatically think I’m selling stuff on the black market? I’m tired of being picked on!”

  “Not just stuff. You have a nuke,” I said. “I want it to fight off the insurgents.”

  “General Kalipetsis won’t go for that,” replied Guido. “You won’t get permission to set off nukes in town or anywhere else.”

  “General Kalipetsis isn’t here.” I smiled. “It’s not a big nuke is it?”

  “It takes two people to lift,” advised Guido, admitting his guilt. “It’s pretty big.”

  “It doesn’t matter. We have to show the spiders who is the big dog on the block. It’s us!”

  “If you blow up East Finisterra, you will blow up the Singh Mining Corporation’s gold mine and wreck the whole economy,” warned Guido.

  “The insurgents wrecked it all anyway. I can’t think that far ahead. I just want to survive the day. Where is your nuke?”

  “It’s in a crate in storage at the brothel. How much are you going to pay me for the nuke? I need a return on my investment. I have partners to keep happy.”

  “I was going to have you shot for treason, but I will delay that if the nuke still wo
rks,” I promised. “Take the armored car and bring the nuke here. Corporal Williams will assist you.”

  * * * * *

  Guido stared at Williams as they left. “I’ll bet you’re the cheese-eating rat snitch who told Captain Czerinski about my nuke,” accused Guido. “Do you know how much money you cost me?”

  “What do you care? You’re rich,” said Corporal Williams dismissively. “That nuke may save all our lives.”

  “That beat up rusted old spider nuke will probably blow up and kill us when we try to move it,” complained Guido.

  “Quit being a cry-baby,” Corporal Williams said. “We need the nuke to win this war.”

  “We are not officially at war. Anyway, it’s a matter principle. I trusted you, and you snitched on me. That’s just not done and cannot be forgiven.”

  “Sorry,” said Corporal Williams sheepishly. “How can I make it up to you?”

  “Just make sure you ignore all the other stuff I have in storage,” said Guido. “Pretend you didn’t see any of it, and don’t snitch on me again.”

  * * * * *

  When the medical helicopter landed, Medic Ceausescu loaded Lieutenant Lopez. Corporal Washington went along to assist with the stretcher and to have his damaged arm attended to. The arm was about to fall off, and I was concerned he needed medical treatment. Spiders usually do grow back missing parts, but I wasn’t sure. There is only so much the medics can do with duct tape.