War Torrent

by Daniel P. Douglas

  “How can we? This is our home,” Taulan said. “All of the moons are our homes now, for better or worse. Maybe history will judge us and say we never had the right, but for now, we owe them our protection too. Ameo Nihav.”

  Krajenar squeezed Taulan’s hand once more then let go. She hissed out a question. “What would you have me do?”

  Taulan leaned toward her and flared his nostrils. “Act differently, by the ancestors! Use that mind of yours. Be honest with them and make this about something more than just you! If you don’t, then we are all lost.”

  He lunged away and strode toward the door. Just before opening it, he turned back. “I really do think there is brilliance in you, Kraj. I do. You have an endlessly inquisitive mind. You are curious about everything. We all need you now. The real you.” Taulan turned and exited the briefing room.

  Krajenar stood alone, staring at her reflection in the tinted windows. Always, she had looked at herself with pride. She knew who she was, what she could accomplish. Now, the vague likeness in the windows offered nothing more than an unfamiliar shape that sank into darkness.

  Chapter 5

  Contact

  After nightfall, Zy’s platoon leader, a well-regarded Kal’iveth named Captain Irikav Taleer, led Zy, Yuk, and several other soldiers toward the suspected landing zone of the Sekkalan drop ships. Based on estimates from Zy and Yuk, as well as local geo-data, the Ei’veth Forest Rangers estimated the enemy might have made use of an area scarred by wildfire several years earlier.

  Sealed up in their camouflaged exoskeleton armor and helmets, the team approached the suspected landing area from an adjacent, heavily-wooded slope. On-board thermal controls kept their armor at immediate outside temperatures in order to mask any heat signatures, while millions of receptors displayed surrounding scenery across the surface of their armor, making them vanish into the terrain. With maximum stealth, the group moved out in four teams of three soldiers each along this adjacent ground. They took up positions in an area about one hundred and fifty meters across.

  Zy was Captain Taleer’s training disciple and Yuk held immediate responsibility for his military development. As such, Zy, the Captain, and Yuk comprised one of the teams.

  Captain Taleer spoke a text message into the intercom and sent it to the HUDs of the other soldiers. “Anyone have eyes on the clearing?” A series of negative responses scrolled inside his HUD. He responded, “Deploy grimps.”

  After receiving the Captain’s message, each team dispatched a small recon drone in the direction of the landing zone. Masquerading as small, furry, four-legged woodland creatures known as grimps, the drones scooted toward the enemy and transmitted surveillance data to their respective teams.

  As time passed, the temperature dropped and the chilly, moist air grew foggy. Soon, dark gray curtains stood between the tall pine trees, further concealing friends and foes. The fog would also be a problem for the drones. Although equipped with a full range of electro-optic sensors, their lens covers were prone to condensation if exposed to humid environments for long.

  Captain Taleer sent another message. “Halt grimps in place,” He turned to Corporal Galavak and activated his one-to-one intercom. “Yuk, what’s your gut say?”

  “The devils are here.”

  “Mine says that too. Scuttlebutt says our missile batteries and DEW platforms just tore their landing ships to pieces when they were moon bound. They took heavy losses. My guess is they decided to tuck them away here instead of risking more losses returning to the mother ships in space.”

  “Despite the low vis, we should make an effort and confirm…”

  While Yuk and the Captain discussed options, Zy gazed into the gloominess thickening between the trees. Something stirred and moved among the layers of gray and black. Was it a figure? An enemy soldier? Fear lifted his arms and pointed his pulse rifle. A dark, swirling void between the trees looked ready to surge straight at him and consume his soul.

  “Easy, Zy,” Taleer said. He gently rested one hand on the pulse rifle and the other on the young man’s shoulder. “Easy, easy.” His calm, reassuring voice made the darkness disappear, as if a light had suddenly scattered it into obscurity. “You know how the fog can fool with you.”

  Zy lowered the rifle and sighed. “Yes, sir.”

  “Now, to yourself Zy, recite Kesyk’s prayer for courage and reflect on its origins. Have no doubt that Yuk and I will cover you.”

  “Yes, sir.” Zy bowed his head in silent prayer, but kept an eye on his HUD’s text display to see his platoon leader’s next orders.

  “Attention all teams. In five minutes, clear current conditions, recover friendlies, wipe their eyes, and resume their protocols. Squad-wide radio silence unless hostiles attack. If no contact, continue through area and rendezvous at romeo-papa-zero-two.”

  Zy shook his head. In a matter of minutes, the teams would pick up and recon deeper into the suspected landing area on foot. No wonder the Captain told me to pray for courage. He tightened his eyes, prayed again and again for courage, and hoped he could recall something of the ancient soldier, Kesyk…

  After a few moments, Zy felt a gentle nudge and heard a soft voice. “And so, what say you, brother?” Still deep in reflective thought, Zy heard more words. “Hey, you awake?”

  Zy recognized the voice and opened his eyes. “Yes, Captain, just deep in prayer and reflection.”

  “Good, then what can you tell me of Kesyk?”

  Without hesitation, Zy said, “In the earliest days of the dark times, Nihav chose Kesyk to lead a small band of soldiers to defeat a much greater enemy. Doubt tormented Kesyk, and he deeply questioned why Nihav had chosen him. But through prayer and faith, Kesyk summoned the courage that he needed to lead the soldiers to victory.”

  “Well put, young Zy.”

  Even Yuk seemed impressed. “Now if you could just shoot as straight as you talk.”

  Captain Taleer allowed Zy and Yuk their moment of amusement, and then said, “Zy, we’re going to recon the area. I want you to lead us.”

  Several seconds of silence ended when Yuk said, “With permission, sir, but I can go ahead and—”

  “Request denied, Corporal. But thanks. Zy, your chosen time has come. The heavens fall. Nihav has chosen Kesyk anew from among us. He will guide and protect you as you lead us to victory.”

  Visions.

  Dreams.

  An ethereal voice atop the highlands. ”When the heavens fall, you will carry the sword and shield in my name, and lead the fight against evil in the stars.”

  But endless doubt remained.

  And just so much fear.

  Private First Class Zyvolz K’olt stood up on shaky legs, willing to follow his superior officer’s immediate orders about leading the recon team. But no measure of faith yet convinced him that he held some supernatural mantle of leadership.

  “Sir, shall we head out?”

  And with that, Captain Taleer nodded and gave the order for all of the teams to initiate their recon movements. Standing, he said, “I’m honored to serve with you, Zy.”

  “Thank you, sir, I’m honored to serve with you as well.”

  “Anyone honored to serve with me?” Yuk said.

  “Sorry Yuk, can’t answer at the moment, switching to radio silence.” Zy said, grinning, but just for a moment. Traversing deeper into the thick, dark mist dampened any remaining humor that may have entertained his youthful mind. As far as Zy was now concerned, he plodded toward his probable demise at the hands of ferocious Sekkalan monsters.

  <> <>

  In a dark chamber deep within the Sekkalan cruiser, War Claw, Urhmikor Tekla knelt before the larger-than-life-sized image of the Ruuksauro emissary, Vomen Norgka. Although only transmitted via microscopic nerve implants within Tekla’s mind, the image triggered muscle movements that made him drop—worshipful—to his knees. Inside Tekla’s head, Norkga appeared as usual. Like all members of his ancient race, the Ruuksauro emissary existed more as a murky ethereal
form than as flesh, muscle, and bone.

  “We take prisoners on all of the moons and facilitate their conversions to the righteous path,” Tekla said. “Although resistance is heavy in places, as some Angorgals prefer to terminate instead of convert, our forces continue to make steady advances.”

  Norgka’s deep, breathy voice said, “The heresy of deviants always ends in the spilling of blood. They are unholy fools and are driven to act dangerously in the commencement of their weak faith and false delusions. It is always this way, but while their suffering amuses, their conversion delights us. Bring resolution to these matters as we discussed.”

  “Yes, my Lord. We shall.”

  “Indeed. Please, carry on.”

  “Our exploratory vessels have discovered biological entities beyond Sceytera that appear to achieve parameters suitable for adaptation and evolutionary growth.”

  Norgka peered down at the nearly prostrate Angorgal and said, “Your people were once beaten, lost, on the verge of consumption by the savages of your species. But with our gifts of conversion, deliverance, purpose, and certainty, you rose from the desperate vestiges of defeat, better, stronger. As we knew you would someday demonstrate, you’re now beginning to show yourselves as capable disciples and missionaries of absolute truth and order.”

  “Thank you, my Lord, but it is through your blessedness that we succeed. Without our Ruuksauro saviors, unrestrained Mokisiaan ignorance and erroneous practices would have subsumed the Sekkalans.”

  “Then, rise and flourish. You have permission to allocate fleet and personnel resources to spread further salvation when parameters suitable for adaptation and evolutionary growth come to your attention. I will arrange to supplement your stock of our ancient genetic material to achieve that objective. Go forth and convert the biological entities into future generations of unrestrained, radical purity.”

  <> <>

  Grim mist shrouded Zy and the others. Although he could not see them, he knew Captain Taleer and Yuk followed not far behind him. Occasional transponder pulses identified their locations on Zy’s HUD, acting as intermittent prompts to keep him moving forward. The grimp’s position also displayed as well. It stood motionless, approximately twenty meters ahead.

  Amplified hearing sensors in his helmet gave Zy superior audio sensory ability. But the next sound that he heard didn’t originate in the forest. A familiar voice whispered to him inside his head.

  ”Let your creature-helper move onward.”

  Zy stopped and hunkered down, head on a swivel. Nothing revealed itself.

  Dismissing the voice as an unexpected radio broadcast, he waited several seconds, but no subsequent transmissions occurred. “Must be imagining things,” Zy said under his breath.

  ”Your creature-helper will find the enemy. Send it.”

  Zy sighed and hissed, then said, “My creature-help—my drone cannot see through the fog! Get out of my head!”

  ”I will guide it, and then will you believe?”

  All of the stress, anxiety, and fear that had eaten away at him in recent months finally spat him out as a crushed heap of hopelessness. Zy, overwhelmed with uncertainty, lowered his head in defeat.

  ”Evil ones fear those who oppose them. They fear a Mokisiaan warrior who is as swift as a comet.”

  Zy opened his tearful eyes. He blinked several times, trying to clear the saltiness from them. Gazing upward, the tears receded, and he thought, they also fear?

  The notion the monsters also feared was something Zy had never considered. It didn’t seem possible, even with divine influence. A small measure of hope trickled its way into the crevasses of his petrified spirit, bolstering his hearts and muscles.

  At the same instant, he saw that his HUD showed movement from the recon drone. Contrary to its latest commands, the grimp sprinted ahead, zigzagging with deliberate haste around shrouded pines and boulders.

  Absent forethought, Zy stood and started running after it. The high sensitivity of his helmet’s audio sensors blasted the sounds of footsteps into his ears. Halted by the abrupt, painful alert, Zy steadied himself and slinked onward in the direction of the drone. He checked its visual data but found only blurry images. His eyes are wet, again.

  After a few minutes more, the drone’s movement ceased. Based on the limited visual data, Zy thought it might be perched on a burnt out tree stump. Its main view showed mostly darkness, so Zy adjusted its wavelength sensors. Most of the imagery remained dark. The enemy was no doubt employing stealth methods to avoid detection. He panned the drone’s eyes then gasped at the new image.

  Out of the darkness appeared four red glowing dots. The very faint silhouettes around them seemed familiar. Zy squinted at the display in his HUD. Out of instinct, he recoiled at what he saw: the silhouettes were those of Sekkalan heads mere meters ahead of the drone. The devils took off their helmets! The red dots floated and swayed, their movement connected as pairs.

  Two sets of Sekkalan eyes. Monster eyes.

  Zy crouched behind the cover of a wide pine tree. He concentrated on the inputs from his helmet’s audio sensors, but merely discerned distant muttering. Switching to the drone’s audio feed, he heard only static.

  Zy grimaced and swallowed hard. He had to close the distance between him and the monsters, but his churning stomach kept him tucked behind the tree. Must summon the courage, Zy thought. He recalled his earlier recitations of Kesyk’s prayer and repeated it while taking slow, deep breaths…

  Almighty Nihav, your light shines upon all of creation,

  and now beckons to me.

  To me, one who lives in darkness.

  Your voice may be heard by all. If only I would listen.

  Your will brings unity and peace, but only when we choose to follow.

  Your love and forgiveness are ceaseless breaths,

  giving new life eternal, washing away the stains upon our souls.

  Almighty, Nihav, how can I fear your call?

  Evade your cause I will not.

  I will serve. I will lead. I will accept, and be with you now, then, and evermore.

  Ameo Nihav.

  A few deep breaths later, Zy pushed himself upward. An air of readiness elevated his frame to its full two-meter height. “I will serve,” he whispered. He slung the pulse rifle on his back along with the round shield already there. “I will lead.” Hands free, he drew his pointed double-edged short sword alloyed with blessed kojan tyk. “I will accept.”

  Although imbued with spiritual bravery at the moment, Zy took slow, careful steps toward the enemy, hoping their muttering voices would soon grow more discernible.

  Drawing nearer, his HUD’s text messenger showed an incoming transmission: “Contact.”

  The simple communication from a soldier in one of the other recon teams indicated they had spotted more enemy in the murkiness. Zy pressed on. He needed to see and hear them for himself. All the while, Captain Taleer’s earlier words to him echoed in his ears. “He will guide and protect you.”

  Zy sheathed his sword and made a final low crawl up to the burnt out stump where the recon drone was perched. The trunk gave Zy the last bit of cover and concealment he needed. He peered around its base at the two pairs of red glowing spheres shifting and swaying just a handful of meters beyond. Zy’s muscles tightened. His hands trembled as he listened to the enemy.

  “Units don’t dream. It is not practical. You should report a malfunction.”

  “Several units, in addition to this one, have discussed the dream. We lack understanding. As you indicated, we don’t dream. Protocols have eliminated the need. And yet, an increasing number of us have found during regeneration periods that we see this Mokisiaan soldier terminate us. Many of us. In space even.”

  “Sounds like faulty processes. Definitely report a malfunction.”

  “The soldier runs so fast, so fast. Swift, others say. There is no escape. He appears indestructible too. Our rifles are useless against him. Your final observation before termination is of his e
yes. They are blue. They are inches away. Regeneration processes are interrupted at this point.”

  “So close you observe his eyes?”

  “Yes, he is close because he attacks with a double-edged bladed weapon. A sword.”

  “A sword? Mokisiaan folly. Seek out support for your glitches at the next available opportunity.”

  “Many of us undergo these glitches. We do not recognize the interruption to our processes. Our behavior is impeded by them. No protocol is in place to address unfounded inhibitors.”

  “No more exchange of information required. Course of action identified. Obtain servicing at the next opportunity.”

  As the Sekkalans fell silent, pure astonishment overwhelmed Zy. An adrenalin spike prompted him to reach up and recover the grimp. He tucked it away in a side satchel. In the process, he glimpsed a row of a drop ships a few meters beyond the Sekkalans.

  Looking around the stump, he stared at the metal-hulled ships—spaceships—through the dark mist shrouding the hilltop, then rubbed his hand along the side of his alloyed sword.

  ”Kal’iveth, when the heavens fall, you will carry the sword and shield in my name, and lead the fight against evil in the stars.”

  For the first time in Zy’s recent life, he felt as if fear’s foothold on him had lost some traction. His fist tightened around the sword. By the word of Nihav, he thought, as he shaped a bold idea into a nascent plan. After a brief wide grin exposed his white rows of sharp teeth, he crept several meters away from the Sekkalans and looked up at the cloud-covered skies above Ei’veth. Zy imagined what their motherships looked like and where they were hiding.

  With any luck, he would soon find out.

  He activated his text communicator and sent a simple, single-word message: “Contact.”

  Chapter 6

  Soul Saviors

  **EXEC**LEVEL I DISSEM**ONLY**

  Sensitive Compartmentalized Intelligence

  Mineral 99

  FCME-SRDB has officially listed one of our Citrine class research vessels as missing in the most distant fringe of the Outworlds. It disappeared somewhere between the Helaen System and Oeskone. Their destination was the jungle planet Oeskone, but we lost contact with them a few days out from Helaen III. They were following up on a thin lead that a key Mineral 99 hub of some type existed on Oeskone.