Odyssey Earth Part 21: Unexpected Surprise

Andrew led the 1St North American, comprised of men from all walks of life to the space shuttle launch pad in Kyrgyzstan with the help of Babur and his militia. Ellie noticed the patches that they had on their uniforms, and could not help but notice the different names that were velcroed to their chest pockets. One man's last name was "Devereaux". The idea of having their own names on their uniform seemed very foreign to Ellie, to the other two Xendrans as well. They wore patches on their right shoulders, which Ellie was quick to pick up on as well. They had symbols on them, and another word was positioned below them. "Calgary", "Indianapolis", San Juan", "Chattanooga", and "Billings" were the ones that Ellie saw. She figured that they were the names of the places which the men were from. She wondered what Andrew's would say. She wondered what it would be like to have her own shoulder patch that said "Pidali" on it. Alas, being Xendran disqualified her on that account.

It took one day to organize their passage across Uzbekistan and to Kyrgyzstan. So far the operation had gone without a single hitch, it was impressive. The 1st North American brought along their own horses as they were cavalry, but the Uzbeks generously supplied Andrew and his posse with horses as well. Ellie had only rode a horse a time or two before, same with the other Xendrans, Andrew and Dudley had to instruct them on everything really briefly before they left east. After all the excitement, here they sat mounted on horseback with the view of the site before them. They sat still, Andrew scouted the place with binoculars. Finally he lowered them and spoke to the posse.

"Jodak- about a third of a click east is a hill with a couple of office buildings. Can you clear the place out and get a good sniping position from there, then have our backs?" He asked.

"Yes sir!" She replied, riding off towards the hill.

"These sons-of-bitchin' Kyrgyz don't know security if it bit them in the ass!" Andrew said. "Dudley, you and Zanzibar follow me at the charge. When the advance is sounded, we are going straight for the belly of the beast!" Andrew instructed.

Finally he looked back at Ellie and Iridius whom both awaited his command patiently.

"As for you two, Babur's scouts confirmed the presence of herculean green assassin here at the port. I believe you know what to do!" He said.

"But sir, will this regiment be enough? What if the Kyrgyzstan militia does a full retaliation?" Asked Iridius.

Andrew gave a half smile, then he shook his head. He lifted his hand up and pointed to behind them both and gave a nod.

"I have them as well." He replied.

Coming down a hill about a mile out from where they awaited was a familiar site to everyone else. An approaching military regiment on horseback, another cavalry. Something was different though, these men wore different uniforms. They were not with the North American Army.

"You- you brought the entire 9th Knoxbus Cavalry to Earth too?" Inquired Ellie.

"You didn't think that we'd get this far into the story without seeing my prized Shiqaw unit now, did ya?!?" Asked Andrew.

The men from the 9th Knoxbus stopped behind their position alongside the 1st North American. A young man at the front of the regiment halted the boys when he threw his hand up in the air- they stopped almost instantly. He approached the Colonel while still mounted and saluted him.

"Colonel Donald, your loyal Shiqaw soldiers have arrived and are eager to fight!" He excited called to him.

"Very well, Major Miles. Glad the government let y'alls come to Earth." Replied Andrew with a salute.

Iridius gave a light smack on Ellie's left arm, and signaled her to follow. Iridius and Ellie made it about twenty feet away from Andrew's posse before Iridius stopped Ellie and her horse to speak to her.

"You're still little, you are no match for Pyyrn." She grumbled, almost with a growl.

"I know."

"When they commence the assault, we go straight for the underground launch facility. Whatever you do, we have to stop the shuttle from launching." Iridius paused and then looked down at a wrist watch that she had on. "We have an hour and thirty-six minutes before preparations even begin, so we still have plenty of time- but don't blow it!" Said Iridius.

"What about Pyyrn?" Ellie asked her.

"If you see her, you better run because she'll snap your neck before you even see her if you aren't careful. Run and let me handle her. She's my Sleeper sister after all."

Iridius was cut short when Andrew began to call to his regiment their orders for the assault. They were simple and he was succinct.

"Gentleman, and this is the only time will call you that... Follow me and let's get them sons-of-bitches!!!" He shouted, beginning the assault.

"Let's go!" Iridius commanded Ellie.

Ellie followed her but she kept her eyes on the assault. She saw that the North American Army was truly professional and assaulted the space center in an organized fashion, while Andrew's Shiqaw soldiers demonstrated their pure devotion to him by having his flanks quickly picking off their enemies once a Kyrgyz militia showed up across from them on another hill.

"Gala would be proud of you, Andrew." Ellie said quietly.