He could see the tank in the square next to the armory. He could see the freedom fighters around it cheering. And as he started to run toward it, he could see Shahim Al Khazar climbing out of it and heading toward the armory’s entrance.

Fires burned in a wide circle around the armory, the night was ablaze.

“It is Osman Returned! The great warrior leads us! Come, my men, come!” he screamed, running across the broad open space to the armory building. His remaining soldiers joined him, flooding the square around the large squat building, as hope filled their souls.

* * *

Shahim targeted the mortar teams himself, giving brief instructions on how to fire the simple but effective weapons and how to change the target slightly each time. In short order, ten mortar teams were in place on the roof of the armory and raining down explosive shells on the missile silos half a mile north of them. More teams were moving out across the base to spread the fire, and machine gunners were setting up on the roof to defend the main position. The shells would not damage the incredibly well-armored silos, not even slightly, but the soldiers around them were suffering terribly, and the generals commanding them stirred.

The AI informed Shahim that the three other tanks that were active in the base were starting to move toward them from the embattled silos to the north, along with a large force of soldiers. He turned to Hassim and shouted over the explosions.

“My general, you have fought well tonight. Now we enter the final stages of our battle to avenge the deaths of our leaders in the mountains. You must hold this position for another twenty minutes and then leave. Send fifty men to fetch the trucks and bring them here. When the twenty minutes is up, load the trucks with what is left of your forces and leave. Do you understand these orders I have given you, Hassim?”

Hassim nodded but then stopped, confused, “And you, Great One, where will you be?”

Shahim looked angry for a moment. ‘Great one.’ There was nothing great about this barbarous massacre. Maybe, if he succeeded at this next stage, he might be something better than a murderer, but until then …