Starfist: Firestorm by David Sherman & Dan Cragg Read Free Book Online

job of deepening the chambers and fortifying the place. Three problems: too many men in here; we’re surrounded by water that seeps in everywhere; and we’ve been stuck down here far too long.”
    “How do you handle all that water?”
    “Filtration systems recycle the stuff and we consume the product. The seepage from Pohick Bay is our major source of drinking water, actually. Sewage is also filtered and the, uh, ‘results’ are used to supplement the nuclear generator that provides electrical power to run the air-filtration and climate-control systems, such as they are.” He wrinkled his nose. “The detritus the engineers produce from their excavations is broken down into its constituent elements in special furnaces installed for that purpose. The heat that produces is used to thaw this place out. Believe me, it can get mighty cold and damp down here and you’ll come to appreciate the warmth that system generates.”
    “Vermin? I’ve heard of creatures called slimies.”
    Cazombi permitted himself a twitch of his lips that on him passed for a smile. “We’ve got them under control. Nasty buggers. What the engineers couldn’t exterminate, well, we were short of rations for a while and the troops…” He shrugged.
    Godalgonz gave Ensign Rynchus a knowing look. They both had been there, done that at Mandelbaum. “Hell,” Godalgonz said, “you’ve got a whole field army down here and in orbit. Why haven’t you broken out yet?”
    “Well, that’s up to our”—he hesitated—“commanding general.” That pause told Godalgonz volumes about the relationship between the two general officers.
    “How is Billie to serve under?”
    Cazombi hesitated again, looking evenly at Godalgonz before he spoke. “You’ll find that out, General,” was all he said. Godalgonz smiled to himself. He remembered what Aguinaldo had told him. Obviously Cazombi was a loyal subordinate who wouldn’t say a bad word about Jason Billie to a stranger, even though he despised Billie.
    From down a shaft running deep into the rock came the noise of many men working in a closed space. “What is all that, sir?” Rynchus asked.
    Cazombi glanced at the markings stenciled onto the rock. “I have to remind myself every now and then who’s where,” he apologized. “Down there are several regiments from the army’s 21st Corps. It’s one of several huge caverns we’ve managed to cram several thousand men into, with all their gear. We’re about a hundred meters below the surface here, so this area is impervious to enemy fire. The men can relax and work in relative comfort. We’ve been rotating the brigades and regiments between these rest areas and the surface fortifications. Just before the Big Push, whenever in the hell that’ll be, we’ll move the designated assault units into the fighting positions topside. Care to go down and take a look?”
    “Thanks, Alistair, but let’s wait till I get my bearings. I want to visit my Marines first chance. Um, Alistair, do you think you could drop me off at Ted Sturgeon’s HQ?”
    “They’re on the other side of Bataan from here. Don’t worry, we ain’t gonna have to walk. Just ahead is the shuttle system we use to get around fast down here. I use it to visit the corps and divisional commanders every day. All the engineers had to do was expand and improve the system that was installed when this place was a storage depot. Once you get to know how it works, it’s very efficient. When his nibs calls one of his staff conferences we’ve all got to be there ASAP, so you’ll get to know the shuttle routes very well before we get out of here.”
             
    “Kyr! Cooper!” Brigadier Ted Sturgeon leaped to his feet and stuck out his hand. The three Marines shook hands enthusiastically.
    “I found these two jarheads wandering around looking for a way out of this place,” Cazombi said. “Couldn’t think of a better place to dump them than on you, Ted. Gentlemen, excuse me