Have You Read the Manual by Dale Sale (miss read books txt) 📕

locals. They were supposed to be doing this by air. Flight troubles at last minute and I get roped into convoy duty.”

Gus responded, “And it is just a COINCIDENCE that you walk into an ambush?”

Nan agreed, “Sounds fishy when you say it like that. I agree.”

“Who would want your passengers badly enough to set this up?”

Major Webster interrupted, “Might be the warlord Arta Limnos. He has been moving against the Kragus government. He is old though, the ambitious one is his son, Orr.”

“Hmm, are they a bad bunch?”

Webster offered, “Probably not worse than the group the Governance is backing now.”

Gus asked, “What’s Grey’s play in all this?”

Nan answered, “Not sure, but he seems really intent on being big part of today’s festivities. Rumor has it he needs a big score to cement a promotion.”

Hazy Grey, always looking for a way to impress your father-in-law. You win, no matter what happens today. Stop the kidnapping, you’re a hero. Broker a deal with the warlord for prisoners, you’re a hero. Install a new government, you’re just in business with different partners. I got a feeling you set this whole thing up. Call me petty, but I love to throw wrenches in your schemes.

Gus said, “Annie, begin deployment sequence for Guardian Angels.”

Annie replied, “The manual does not authorize a cold start launch for Mark 2 Guardian Angels unless the vessel is at plus 6000 meters.”

“Fuck that manual and follow orders,” screamed Gus. “There are gonna be a lot of things not in the manual today.”

“Of course, SIR,” was Annie’s cold answer.

Gus didn’t like manuals. Manuals, bah, no creativity and no help when the plan goes down the shitter either. The Bosun gritted his teeth and pulled the ship into a vicious climb that caused every joint in the old bucket to moan. Just as it hit 6000, he stalled it, Gus punched the release to jettison the Angels and completed a wing over. That ain’t in yer manual! Hope nobody checks the flight data recorder though, a fella needs to keep some tricks up his sleeve. The Guardian Angels formed up on the ship as Gus dove toward the ground and accelerated.

Annie congratulated, “Nicely done.”

“I’m not totally incompetent. Guardians report!” Gus ordered.

The drones counted off as G-1, G-2, and G-3 confirmed they were fully functional. One of the drones must have failed to start. Gus ordered G-1 to sprint ahead, and he watched its video feed. The HUD overlay showed the wreckage of two APCs with the command car stuck in the ditch. Three Marines in the trench were keeping the enemy’s heads down. Gus saw they were using a lot of ammo. When they were out, it was game over. The bad guys aren’t even trying to make the grab. I think they are just stalling.

Gus said, “Delta Tango, your ride is on the way. How are you holding up down there?”

Hanlon responded, “Annie D, it’s getting really hot down here and we’re running low.”

“Rodger Delta Tango, I’m still 5 minutes out.”

A drone broke into the comm, “Guardian Angel G-1 here boss, I’ve taken ground fire and survivability is compromised. Don’t know how much longer I can stay up.”

Gus said, “Rodger G-1, land on the ridge opposite the enemy position and prepare to provide fire support.”

The drone sounded positively ecstatic, “Rodger that Bosun, time to get some payback for those fallen brothers!”

Gus knew G-1 meant payback for the APCs, not the humans. The coders had been experimenting pretty freely on CI programming lately. Some of them had been throwing in synthetic emotions to increase aggression.

Gus commed, “Delta Tango, this is Annie D, passing control of fallen Guardian Angel G-1 to you. That should give you a little breathing room.”

The 2nd Lieutenant sounded less frantic, “Thanks, Annie D, I confirm the link. Glad to have you on my shoulder G-1.”

G-1 answered, “Glad to be of service Sir.” Gus could see the Angel’s 25mm cannon begin to work the enemy positions across the valley.

A warning sounded from the console, Now what! thought Gus. Three bandits had popped up over the ridge line and were trying to target lock him. They were headed straight at him.

Gus heard a transmission come over the clear channel, “Hello my friend in the sky. You should take your Commander’s advice and leave this business. We can come to a mutually profitable arrangement, you will see, business can be very good for all.”

OH, this day just keeps getting better!

The voice continued, “I will guarantee your friends come to no harm. All will save face,”

Gus asked, “Annie D, threat assessment.”

“There are three tiltrotor gunships closing at 800 kph. Weapons: air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles, dual rotary-barrel cannons, door gunners, limited electronic warfare capability. Negligible armor. Threat assessment, maximum.”

Gus ordered, “Angels G-2 and G-3 engage enemy gunships.”

The drones spoke as one, “Rodger, payback for G-1! See you in Valhalla, brother.”

Gus watched the drones streak toward their targets as he banked hard. His hand hovered over-the-counter measures button and sweat stung his eyes. Gus could easily outrun the tiltrotors, but that would leave the Marines exposed if the Guardians didn’t stop them.

That voice again, “My friend, why do you have to be so stubborn? This arrangement could have been so easy, but you have chosen the difficult road.”

The gunships opened up with everything they had as the Angels blazed in. G-2 and G-3 corkscrewed in a double helix ballet with cannon tracers stitching the sky. The drones weren’t being subtle.

Two locks blinked out as the Angels blazed into their targets. Gus lost visual of the last bandit in the explosions.

“Warning! Missiles inbound!” Annie advised.

Gus slammed the countermeasures button. “Chaffe and flares deployed,” the ship’s voice calm. Gus twisted into a tight downward spiral and recovered to head straight at the remaining bandit as