"Right. Gather everyone. Pick one man each from your units and leave them behind to pack up camp. We may have to move. The rest of us are going to hunt these Imperials. We can't have them setting up nearby. Gather here asap." Victor stated and looked out over the group leaders. He had around a hundred and twenty fighters now. His ranks had swollen considerably as other pockets of survivors, and even a few locals had joined his ranks. Seeing nods and people starting to head away Victor turned back to look at the tree line and the horizon beyond it. It would be a few hours yet before the sun rose. The darkness would hide them for a while yet.
Victor just waited silently as he sensed people gather around him. After a short time, he heard someone step in close and he turned slightly, seeing Anne who held out a small back pack for him. Victor took it and slipped it on, adjusting both his rifle sling and scarf. He threw the latter over his shoulder, wrapping his neck neatly. Casting his gaze out over the crowd that had gathered he sensed a sort of grim attitude among them. If only he could see their facial expressions. After a moment he let out a slow breath and straightened up, standing tall.
"We go west. Stick to the wall of the mountain. Anyone below won't be able to see us against the rocks" Victor stated and then turned on his heel, starting off first. He walked carefully and slowly, placing his feet as best he could lest he fall.
Following the curve of the ravine as the wall turned out to the right Victor saw his view of the tree line lengthen. Before long he was walking along the cliff line, his right hand on the wall of rock and his left side flanked by the open, rocky landscape. That place was a nightmare of hidden ditches and drops, cracks and boulders.
Shuffling along silently Victor's thoughts drifted somewhat. He wondered why the Imperials would be coming here with three dropships of people. Generally, an Imperial dropship could hold around thirty people, so this was no meager force for scouting. Perhaps the Imperials were hunting Victor and his troops. He had been so careful when it came to hiding his people, even going so far as to hide out in these bleak, cold mountains.
Victor scowled and shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts. Now was not the time for that sort of thinking. He cast his gaze down to the tree line, figuring the Imperials would be around a half hour in front of them. But they would also be travelling faster as the ground among the tree's was most likely far easier to traverse than this rocky expanse.
Picking up the pace, Victor focused his gaze on the tree line as he walked, squinting hard and trying to make out movement among the darkness. Quite suddenly lights flashed in the distance and Victor blinked in surprise, the sound of energy weapons reaching him.
"Fuck" he muttered to himself and sped up once more, stumbling a little in the process. He cast a quick look behind him and saw his people coming fast as well. He bit his lip and then looked out over the broken ground, thinking. In the distance where the gunfire was, the tree line ran quite close to the mountain side. There was perhaps a hundred meters separating the cliffs and the trees. And then even further in the distance the trees and rock face actually met. From memory, Victor knew there was a large stream there, that ran from an underground spring. It had been one of his choices for a base, but as it was hidden in tree's it would have been harder to protect than the ravine.
"Fan out" Victor stated and waved a hand to his left.
"Stay out of the trees. Stay low and find places to dig in for a fire fight if we have to" Victor stated as he sensed some of those behind him peel off and start to go downhill. Victor ignored them and hurried forward, stumbling occasionally. He kept his eyes locked on the distance, flashes of energy fire and sound still reaching him. Now that he was closer, shouts could be heard as well, and he cursed, hearing words shouted in his native language. Were there other Federation soldiers here?
Before long Victor and his troop arrived at the rockface parallel to the fire fight and Victor looked down, seeing the silhouettes of his people off to the left, slowly catching up to his own position. Casting his gaze down the hill, he saw quite a few boulders and rocky outcrops that could be used for protection, but he did not want to get caught in the open in a fire fight.
"What now sir?" came a voice from behind him and Victor turned, seeing two of his group leaders. Victor rolled his jaw, thinking.
"We go downhill. We have to get close to the tree line before we open fire. As close as possible" Victor stated and he saw nods from the two.
"If anyone gets seen, tell them to open fire immediately. We will just have to make do. Spread it down the line" Victor stated. The two peeled away from him and went down the line, passing on the orders. Rolling his shoulders, Victor started downhill, treading very carefully in the darkness. One false step and he could end up with a broken ankle or worse. Feeling his stomach gurgle, Victor grit his teeth. That's right. He had missed breakfast. Damn.
Funny that, he was about to go into battle, potentially lose his life and he was more concerned with breakfast. He supposed many years of fighting had shifted his priorities.
Creeping down the hill now, he saw some people on his left flank get ahead of him, their traversal far easier. Ignoring them for now, Victor locked his eyes to the front, noticing that the energy weapons had fallen silent, and that there were no longer any sounds of fighting or shouting. Quite suddenly lights began to pop up in amongst the tree's and Victor hissed quietly, feeling a slight jubilation. The Imps were turning on torch’s and lamps.
Victor approached cautiously now, crouched low. He figured there was around twenty meters between him and the tree line, and now he could hear the slight noise of running water. No doubt the stream he remembered. It ran from the west and wormed its way between the tree's before meeting a much large river to the south. Not that that mattered too much right now.
Then the voices hit him. He cringed as he recognized a particular accent. One that would be at home in the old Kratsch Empire. Why were the Kratsch here?
"Where are your compatriots. There should have been more of you. Tell me now and you will not suffer pain" came that accented voice and Victor cringed again as he crept closer still. Ten meters away now and he could clearly see faces in the lit-up trees. He could see maybe thirty people standing around, as well as a number of makeshift tents strung between trees. A few smoldering from being hit with energy beams.
"Don't know who you are talking about. It is just us" came a reply and Victor flicked his gaze to the speaker, a man kneeling on the ground, his hands bound behind his back. He was flanked by ten other similarly bound men, all heads bowed.
The Kratsch soldier just scoffed and pulled a pistol from his right hip and turned it in his hands, as if examining it.
"I won't ask again. At least not nicely" the man stated as he looked at the Federation prisoner. The prisoner just stared defiantly, refusing to answer now and the Kratsch soldier just sighed before pointing his pistol at a random prisoner and pulling the trigger. There was a flash followed by a brief scream and Victor felt a surge of rage. He lifted his rifle and aimed it at the man. He sensed his troopers around him doing just the same. But none opened fire.
"You bastard. You're an absolute fucker!" the Federation prisoner yelled out and was summarily belted over the back of the head by a soldier standing behind him. The man slumped down dazed.
"No matter. We have other ways to get the information we want from you" the Kratsch man stated, a dark chuckle escaping him. Victor's rage grew even more. He knew Imperials were bastards, and not adverse to torturing or killing unarmed prisoners. Pagua was a vivid memory for him still. But that didn't make it any easier to confront. He lined up his rifle now, sighting the Kratsch soldier and then sucked in a breath.
"Open Fire!" he yelled and pulled his trigger. A zap sounded and the Kratsch soldier went down, an energy beam planting itself directly under his right arm in the ribs. Energy fire erupted from all around Victor as his men peppered the tree line with fire. Scores of Imperials fell before they were able to return fire in the slightest. Victor
grinned as he downed another Imperial and began to fire indiscriminately into the trees. He saw all the Federation soldiers drop to the ground, trying to stay low and Victor felt a stab of sympathy for them. He stood up then and started walking forward, feeling incredibly exposed.
"Advance!" Victor yelled. He didn't have to give that order though as his men followed him the moment he stood up. He walked into the tree's, his eyes darting everywhere as he sought out Imperials. Gunfire sounded from his left, and more shouting erupted as his troopers entered the tree line further down. Then there was no more gunfire. Dropping his rifle from its held position, Victor let it swing back on its sling. Then he approached the Federation prisoners, a look of distaste going across his face as he realized the Kratsch soldier was gone. A trail of blood showed he had probably crawled off into the bushes. Victor cast his gaze down at the corpse of one of the enemies and frowned as he looked over the insignia on the man’s uniform. It was definitely Imperial. Who was the Kratsch then? A Defector?
"Well I'll be damned. You guys Federation?" came a query and Victor looked sharply at the now freed prisoners. The one speaking wore the insignia of a Sergeant and Victor guessed he was the ranking survivor. The man was looking at Victor like he was a savior. Victor stooped down and started to untie the man's bonds, a few of his troopers following suit and doing the same with the other prisoners.
"That we are son. Survivors of the Pagua invasion" Victor stated as he got the man's bonds undone.
"Well shit. We have been looking for you. Only got here a few days ago" the Sergeant stated and held out his hand for greeting.
"Names Sergeant Harvey. Twenty Second Recon unit" the man stated, and Victor frowned. Recon units were light vehicle troops. What were they doing here with no vehicles? He shook his head and grasped the man's hand briefly.
"Talk later Sergeant. For now, we have other things to do" Victor stated and stood up, looking around at his people's faces. Many of them were still wary by the looks of it.
"Five minutes lads. Scrounge what you can then we head back to base. We will be moving deeper into the ranges now. Carter. Take your group deeper into the trees. Set up a rear guard" Victor stated, looking at the nearest group leader and his ten fighters. The man nodded and took his men deeper into the tree's as the rest of the men set about scavenging weapons, energy crystals for ammo, food and other supplies.
"You'll take us with you yes? We have radio contact back to the Federation" Harvey suddenly piped up and Victor looked at him, a frown on his face.
"I thought that much was a given. You'll be under my command whilst with my troopers though. Understand" Victor stated and Harvey nodded. A slight murmur sounded from the rest of the prisoners and Victor forced a smile.
"That’s alright. The Captain said that was what was probably what was going to happen anyway if we found you people. He was just saying that last night" Harvey stated before fading off. He suddenly spoke up, his voice a lot firmer.
"So, Sir, can we bury the dead?" Harvey asked, and Victor felt a pang of sympathy.
"No lad. We don't have time. Grab their tags. That’s the best we can do. Don’t know where the Imps are in these woods. They could sting us any time" Victor stated and then looked at his watch.
"You have a few minutes to collect what you can. Make use of it" Victor added and watched as the new recruits nodded and set about collecting the few things they could. Victor let out a sigh, feeling a little down. he always did when the adrenaline left him.
"Sir. We located the Imp's. They’re south of here. They crossed the stream at a ford and have holed up. They have set up a defensive line there" came the words from a trooper rapidly approaching Victor. He was one of Carters men. That was quick.
"Right. Then let them stay there. I've no inclination to walk into a death trap. They know we are here now, and they will have called it in. We need to move. It will be daylight soon and we need to be back at the ravine by the time the sun has risen. Those dropships could be hiding just around the corner" Victor stated and rolled his shoulders. He looked down at his watch and scowled. How time flies.
"That’s five minutes lads, back to the ravine, we are going to have to go deep iinto the ranges and even cross over. So be ready for a hike" Victor yelled out and then turned to walk along the tree line. It would be quicker on foot this way. Looking around him, Victor saw troopers appear, none looking too disheveled. He surmised there had been no casualties but would have to confirm that later. They really had got the drop on the Imps this time. That was not uncommon these days, considering how arrogant Imperials usually were. Victor chuckled and just shouldered his back pack, ignoring the rumble in his stomach once more as he started walking back to the camp, his people all falling in behind him.
Chapter 24
* * *
"Did you feel it as well?" one of the shadowy figures asked and Elai shifted his attention to the speaker. He looked at them in his mind’s eye and sighed.
"Yes, I did. It was the second time in a few days. Do you think it was Natalie?" Elai asked and a third voice replied, this one deep and measured.
"It was not Natalie. She wants to stay hidden. Not get found" the voice stated, and a dozen other voices murmured their agreement. Elai looked around, shadowy figures all just at the edge of his vision, refusing to show themselves completely. Everyone here had something to hide, Elai included.
"Those representing the sects, stay, everyone else leave" came the deep measured voice and a number of grumbles sounded, barely audible to Elai.
"I said leave!" came the order and a flash of light burned through Elai's senses and pushed all but five out of the realm they all occupied. Elai looked around and focused his attention on the remaining four figures, all slightly blurry in his mind. Faces all hidden and obscured. His own would be just as similar. He did not wish to be seen, so he did not let them see him.
"These disturbances must be found. The pull has been greater than before, and it is causing fluctuations of energy throughout the spirit realm. Whoever is the source of them must be located and brought into our fold. If they cannot, then they must die" the deep voice sounded and Elai heard a female voice speak up.
"Surely death is not necessary" the soft voice of the woman sounded and Elai turned to look to its source, a shapely, tall figure taking up his vision.
"Of course you would think that Sarada, you wind sect folk are all tree huggers" snapped another man and Elai shot his gaze to the source.
"Hold your tongue Kristopher. You are only here because Natalie refuses to be" Elai snapped and he felt a surge of rage come from Kristopher, directed straight at him.
"We are not here to squabble amongst ourselves, but to address these energy fluctuations. Can we get to the point" another person stated and Elai nodded.
"Rudolph of the Lightning Sect is correct. We need to address this, not get caught up in squabbles between the Wind and Fire Sects" Elai stated and flicked his gaze to both Kristopher and Sarada.
"Sage Rulo, would you give your direction" Elai asked and looked to the man with the deep voice, a hulking figure.
"The source of the disturbances have come from the south east. From the Samite Union I believe. Elai, you are based there. I suggest you use your Water Sect to find the source. Once you do, report back to this elder council, and if there is anything you discover as well, bring it to our attention for discussion or notification" Rulo stated and looked around at the others.
"Can we agree on that?" Rulo asked and all the others stayed silent, Elai included. The silence hung for a short time and the deep voice spoke out once more.
"Very well. Elai, you have your task. I conclude this meeting over. Elai, Sarada, Kristopher, Rudolph and Rulo, five sect leaders, be at peace and always remember, you are not alone" Rulo stated, and the other four repeated after Rulo, the simple chant helping to separate their consciousness.
Elai opened his eyes and found himself sitting on his porch, the place he had entered his meditation.
/> He looked out over the meticulous gardens and he shifted slightly, his crossed legs a little numb. Dropping his right hand down to a tray next to him, he picked up a small cup of tea and took a sip, the herbal smell quite pleasant to him.
"Shu Ha, are you there" Elai asked and heard a shuffle from behind him.
"I am Sage Elai, what is your wish?" the quiet, respectful voice of the woman behind him asked.
"I have been given a task by Earth Sage Rulo. Please summon both Hanna and Manus" Elai asked of his follower and he sensed her nod before shuffling away to do just that.
Elai looked down then and cast his gaze at a small stream running below his porch, maneuvering its way through the intricate garden of his estate. He saw his reflection there, and the reflection of another figure that was practically standing next to him. But he knew he was alone.
"What do you think Ra'Lath? What do you think the cause of these disturbances are?" he asked of his familiar, and the reflection grinned back at him.
A New Beginning Page 24