"Too, we figure you got maybe fifteen percent casualties, lots of gas-wounded what die if they doan get regenn soon. We run away, you kill a few more of us, but not much left of pretty-mon army, hey?"
"I'm listening."
"You talk sensible, we let you fly them out."
That could be crucial; the time between injury and treatment was the single most important factor in survival rates. Particularly for the ones with lungs burned by the desiccants.
"Field Prime moves a company or so out into the open, they hostages. Doan expect you to trust we. You wounded, they me hostages."
Owensford changed channels. "Get me Kicker Six. Fast." He switched back. "I don't have authority to make deals with you. I'll have to get a political leader."
"Mon you damn well better hurry doin' it."
"That's as may be," Owensford said. "But until I get political authorization, the answer to your request is no."
"How long it take?"
"Depends on my communications," Owensford said.
"I give you fifteen minutes. Then no deal. I call you back."
"Headquarters calling, Prince," Harv said. He held out the handset.
I don't have time, there are a million things happening all at once and I can't keep track of them- He took the instrument. "Kicker Six here."
"I need to speak to Prince Lysander."
"Sir?"
"Political decision time," Owensford said. "The enemy is offering a truce. The bait is about four hundred Brotherhood soldiers, plus letting us fly out the wounded. They'll release their hostages in exchange for a cease-fire. Otherwise they kill them."
"Will-will they do that?"
"They're terrorists. Of course they will."
"What do we lose if we take them up on it?" Lysander asked.
"Pursuit. I've got the SAS teams moving into place, and a new supply of Thoth. We have an overextended enemy, nearly exhausted, with their elite forces strung out in exposed places. They claim they can always get more troops, but that's exactly what they can't do. It takes time to train lunatics out of the illiterates they start with. We're the ones who can turn Citizens into soldiers in short order."
"Four hundred Brothers."
"Or Candidates. About half in half would be my guess. If they have that many. They may be lying."
"But you don't know."
"No. Our communications haven't been that good. The figure is possible." Owensford paused. "I'm more concerned about our wounded. Some were gassed. They'll survive with prompt treatment, otherwise not."
"What would you do if they were your troops?" Lysander asked.
"I don't have to say. Every mercenary hates decisions like that. Our troops are our capital."
"What is it, Prince?" Harv demanded. "What's wrong?"
Lysander shook him off. "Colonel, you don't have to decide, but you do have to advise me. What would you do?"
"I'd win the battle. Every one of their elites we let get away is a new hero, someone to train more. But there's something else. Our troops are exhausted. I can harass the enemy as he pulls out, but what we really need is to break past their rear guards and have a real pursuit. That means more hard fighting, maybe desperate fighting. More casualties, maybe a lot more casualties, and the way the troops are placed, most of that will fall on Spartans. Not just regulars, the Brotherhood militia. I can't kid you, if we refuse the truce you'll lose men. The hostages, lots of the wounded, and more."
Lysander swallowed hard. He could hear the fighting around him. The Prince Royal's Own were still moving forward, slowed now, but still moving.
"They planned it this way," Lysander said.
"Something like that," Owensford agreed. "They had their plan, this elaborate scheme to destroy us.
When that didn't work they thought to try this."
"We lose a lot if we turn them down," Lysander said. "And our men are tired too." He felt as if his head had been filled with cotton batting, then set on fire. Mostly he wanted to lie down and sleep. "Will they fight if we do? Will the Legion support us?"
"Yes."
Yes. Not maybe. No hesitation, no excuses. Yes. Lysander looked around the command post. Men dead and dying, but men doing their jobs too. And outside. Troops fought. Fought and died, but every one of them, alive or dead, was facing the enemy. He looked at Harv, who stood relaxed, but eager to move on.
Well at least one of them will follow me. And every one of those bastards we kill now is one fewer to kill our women and children, raid our ranches- And then he knew.
"Colonel Owensford, please patch me through to the Helot commander. When I have finished speaking with him, I would be pleased if you would connect me to the command link so that I can address the troops directly."
"Aye aye. The enemy commander is a woman. May I and my staff listen in on your conversation with the Helots? We can make private comments on channel B if you like."
"Please do."
"Stand by-" There were clicks in the earphones. A voice spoke in his left ear. "This is the private channel. They won't hear anything said here." Then, "Go ahead."
"Hello. With whom am I speaking?" Lysander said.
"Dis de Helot Supreme Commander. I figure who you must be if Colonel has to ask your permission to wipe his ass."
"This is Crown Prince Lysander Collins."
"Well, smell you. Dis de Revolution. You want to join it, Baby Prince?"
"I am told you wish to negotiate."
"Truce. Evacuate wounded. Exchange prisoners."
"No."
There was a long pause, then laughter. "OK, you keep my prisoners, I give you back yours. You stay in place, I pull out of here with whoever can walk. You send medics after your wounded, take care of mine."
"I will say this once. There will be no truce. I am willing to proclaim a general amnesty, provided that all of you lay down your arms immediately and surrender. The amnesty will cover all enlisted personnel including war crimes committed if acting under orders. Excepted from the amnesty will be commissioned officers accused of war crimes. They will stand trial for those crimes. You have two minutes to consider this offer."
Shit he one hard nosed bastard. Skilly looked around at the remains of her command. Down by the river the wedge was shrinking as she watched. Not much left there. On the ridge opposite a whole new Royal force, one that was supposed to have been wiped out, was forming up.
Her own forces were scattered across the Valley, exhausted and out of communications for the most part. There would be very little new fire support.
Not much time left. Not much time at all. She tried to keep the mocking tone in her voice when she answered the Prince, but deep in her throat was a tightness. This wasn't working at all well.
And back at the base is a traitor I have to kill, kill for me, and Two-knife, and all these kids. She thumbed off the microphone. "You two, get ready to move out. We going out of here fast and light. The rest of you, dig in, dig in and fight. I go get more troops, I come back for you." She cleared her throat and thumbed the microphone on again.
Mocking laughter sounded in Lysander's headset. "That no offer at all. Prince, you don' take this truce, I cut de throats. With pictures. Lots of pretty pictures for de TV stations, they be happy to show all your Cits what you make happen."
"Typical," Jesus Alana said in his left ear. "Typical terrorist. 'Look what you made me do.' Keep her talking, Highness. They like to talk."