by James Somers
Each city had a large portion of the new army assigned to defend it in the event they came under a Baruk attack. At the least, they hoped to hold on until the other legions could arrive at whichever city became the main front.
“What’s the status of the fleet?” asked Tiet.
“Ten of our ships have been destroyed sir. The rest are trying to out-maneuver the Baruk ships, but they’re dangerously low on shield power,” said one of the techs.
“Can you patch me in to Estall on the Esyia?” he asked.
“Yes sir, one moment. Baeth Periege ground control hailing the Captain of the Esyia.”
“CAPTAIN, the ground control at Baeth Periege is hailing us,” said one of the communications officers.
“Put them through,” said Estall. “Ranul, have you got the system reconfigured yet?”
“I’m still working on it, just a few more circuits to re-route.”
The intercom on Estall’s command chair sounded with Tiet’s voice. “Estall, what is your status?”
“We’ve lost ten ships so far and it’s not looking good. Some of the Baruk are veering away from the main group. They look to be troop transports. I don’t know if we can stop them, we’re barely hanging on up here.”
“Estall, I want you to get your people out of there. Do you hear me? I want you to withdraw your remaining ships immediately,” said Tiet.
“I want to send out the weaker ships first. Ranul is working on a reconfiguration of the dispersion cannon that may just allow us to penetrate their shields.”
“Do what you think is best, but don’t take any chances,” said Tiet.
“Affirmative. If this doesn’t work we’ll withdraw the remaining ships to the surface; Esyia out.”
Estall clicked the switch on the intercom panel of his chair as he watched the stats for the fleet on a smaller window of the main screen. “Mellar, give withdraw commands to the ships below twenty-five percent shield power.”
“Yes sir,” she replied.
“Ranul what’s the status on that reconfigure?”
“I’ve got it!” said Ranul from his science station. “The cannon will now cycle through one hundred thousand shield frequencies per second and lock on the one that matches theirs.”
“Excellent. Garret, lock the cannon on their shield generator and fire.”
“Yes, Sir!”
The dispersion cannon swiveled on its base and locked on the approximate position of the shield generator on the closest Baruk vessel. The cannon fired its rapid multi-frequency blasts at the ship. The Baruk shield repelled the blast for a fraction of a second, then it got through and struck the generator’s position; vaporizing it.
“Shield’s dropping on the Baruk vessel, Captain!” cried the main science officer.
“Garret, fire at will, targeting the bridge area first! Ranul, transmit that reconfiguration sequence to the remaining ships!”
“Already on it!”
“Then let’s do some damage,” Estall said with satisfaction.
“Those carriers are already passing into the atmosphere,” said Ranul from his station.
“Well, they’re out of our reach now. Contact Tiet on the surface with the information. We’ll do what we can here while they deal with those on the surface.”
“SIR, we’re tracking a group of approximately ten carriers entering the atmosphere,” said one of the data-communication techs in the control center.
“What is their course heading?” asked Tiet.
“Descent projection is that they are heading for the Usai Valley beyond the borders of Thalidi. It’s just about the only area large enough to land that group of ships,” said the tech.
Wynn and Tiet watched the computer model with the respective tracking data coming in on the group of Baruk ships.
“I think you’re projection is right,” said Wynn.
“Get me the Troop Commander for Thalidi,” said Tiet.
“Online, Sir.”
“This is Commander Erib, Sir, what can I do for you?”
“Commander, I want you to order an immediate civilian evacuation of the suburban area beyond the defense wall and then mobilize your troops there. The Baruk are heading your way. We project an attack launched from the Usai Valley within twelve hours,” said Tiet.
“I trust we’ll be launching a cooperative attack with the city’s defensive batteries?” asked Erib.
“In part. What I hope to accomplish is more of an ambush. The Baruk will be expecting our civilian population to withdraw behind the city’s defense wall. Hopefully we can lay in wait for them to take up positions in the suburb area and then come out on them in force.”
“Yes sir. Erib out.”
“What about me?” Wynn asked.
“I want you to deploy more troops on this side of Thalidi and set up a front approximately ten miles away. Let the other troop commanders know to send you 50 percent of their forces to make up that frontline. I expect the Baruk to try and go for Baeth Periege beyond Thalidi. They’ll want the capital.”
“I wish you would allow me to lead the first strike at Thalidi while you remain here to set up the front,” said Wynn with concern. “The battle there is going to be nearly a suicide mission and we need you to survive and lead these people.”
“Trust me, Wynn, this is how to lead them; by going into the fire with them. And I don’t intend to die at Thalidi if I can help it. But if I should fall, you must assume command.”
Wynn remained silent. There was wisdom in the young man’s words and he knew it. “I’m only sorry we couldn’t enlist Grod’s Horva to help us in the fight. If we can’t defeat the Baruk, they’ll be the next target,” said Tiet.
“Well, I think your broken arm speaks all too well for Grod’s intentions,” said Wynn sarcastically.
“Maybe.” Tiet looked at his mentor. “I better get going; I hope to see you again.”
Wynn didn’t say anything. His concern showed on his face. Tiet turned with a small wave and walked out of the control room, heading for the main deployment area to arrange troops to join with him in the journey to Thalidi.
Wynn thought about the extreme danger Tiet would be facing there outside the walls of Thalidi. An ambush was very ambitious against the Baruk. He just couldn’t understand why Tiet wanted to face them that way. Even with crack commandos from among the best trained troops it was going to be hairy. He wished he could be there to at least keep an eye on him and try to protect him. Then it occurred to him that if he couldn’t do it, someone else just might.
WHEN Commander Mendle had assembled his troops, he opened the door to the private assembly hall, allowing Tiet to enter. Though no formal ceremony had taken place to crown him as such, everyone knew full well the authority that had been granted to him by the Council as the new Barudii king. And they were glad for it.
Tiet walked to a place before them where he could address the recruits.
He said to all, “I don’t know if you realize the mission we are about to undertake. We are going to reinforce the troops already stationed at the city of Thalidi, where it has now been confirmed that the Baruk have landed and are deploying their own forces. The Baruk are coming at the city from the Valley of Usai. It will be our mission to take up positions within the suburban district that lies between the Baruk and the defensive wall of the city.”
“Excuse me, Sir,” said Commander Mendle. “Did you say outside the defense wall?”
“We’re going to provide an ambush in the hopes of at least giving the city officials enough time to evacuate the civilian population. This isn’t much time to evacuate a city full of people, but we have no choice. With the number of Baruk forces that will be thrown at us in this first assault, we likely will not be able to hold them from entering the city.”
“So this is a suicide mission, Sir?” asked one of the soldiers.
“Not at all,” said Tiet. “I have no intention of wasting lives, but we need to buy some time. We have security tunnels within tha
t sector that were intended to allow the civilian population living there to evacuate to within the defensive wall perimeter if an attack came.
“We will take up positions well ahead and fight and fall back as we have to. When we can’t hold our positions anymore we’ll evacuate through the tunnels and help the rest of the civilian population in the city to get behind a defensive front. Wynn Gareth will be putting that together with the majority of our security forces from all of the twelve cities. That is where I intend to face off with the Baruk.
“Make no mistake soldiers, this will be an extremely dangerous mission and some us may fall in the battle, but I for one would rather lose my life fighting the Baruk than live under their rule,” said Tiet as the recruits began to shout a cheer of support.
“Trust in your training; it will save your life and the lives of your fellow soldiers. Now let’s go.”
The troop commander barked a few quick orders at his men and then they all made their way to the transports ready to take them to Thalidi. Tiet watched the elite trained group of five hundred file into the carriers as he made last minute checks to his own uniform and weaponry. The last item he checked was the secure latch on the hilt of his father’s blade. He was ready.
He boarded the lead carrier as the ramp began to ascend. Within moments they were all in the air en route to Thalidi and the Baruk.
KALE watched the monitor that his guards were watching, as different images and information on the coming attack was displayed. The two soldiers were talking amongst themselves about what was happening and even how they wished they could get into the action rather than remaining on guard duty.
“Look at that, the King is going to be leading the first strike at Thalidi,” said one of the soldiers.
“Yeah, but this says Thalidi’s population is going to be evacuated to Baeth Periege,” said the other. “That doesn’t sound like they expect to hold the city.”
Kale was concerned now. His brother was heading into an attack against overwhelming forces and probably would not survive it. He had to do something, even if Tiet hated him.
The two soldiers still weren’t paying any attention to him, but his eyes were fixed upon them intently. After a few moments they both collapsed onto the floor, unconscious. The hand of one of the men raised in the air away from the limp body which began to be pulled across the floor toward the security scanner to Kale’s cell. The hand glided through the air dragging the soldier underneath, and planted itself on the scanner. The computer responded by lowering the security field to the cell.
Kale quickly moved across the room to the storage locker where his weapons were and broke open the lock kinetically. He removed his own weapons and his blade, then using the hand of the other soldier nearby, he opened the chamber’s main security door.
When he stepped into the hall, he found Wynn Gareth standing propped against the wall about ten feet away. He froze, not sure of his next move.
“That was faster than I expected,” said Wynn sarcastically.
Before he could respond, Wynn held out a security code key. “You’ll need this if you’re going to get to the hangar and take my personal fighter to Thalidi.”
“How? How did you know?” asked Kale
“I’m the one that fed the information to the monitor in there. Tiet hasn’t allowed me to be there to watch out for him—but he can’t stop his brother, can he?”
“You’d better get going,” said Wynn. “And Kale? It’s not too late.”
Kale gave him a thoughtful look as though he was surprised at Wynn’s insight into the situation, as well as grateful for it. Then he turned and made his way quickly toward the hangar bay. Wynn watched him go before he looked in on the two unconscious soldiers.
He sensed they were unharmed and left them there asleep. To wake them now would set off the alarms to Kale’s escape and the battle at Thalidi would be underway all too soon. Wynn wanted the young king to have a watchful older brother on hand to help him stay alive.
XIII
THE Esyia careened around several Baruk ships, firing its dispersion cannon at the targets. With the weapon able to adjust to varying shield frequencies the damage was now mounting. Still, the flagship of the Baruk remained distant to the battle, but Ranul was watching it from his science station.
He had noticed the vessel remaining away from the main group while the others made great effort to intercept any of the Vorn cruisers trying to get near it for an attack. He was conducting multiple scans on the vessel, but one piece of information continued to puzzle to him.
A very unusual waveform was emanating steadily from within the ship somewhere. It was more biological than mechanical and it seemed to envelope not only the Baruk ships, but also the surface of the planet near the Twelve Cities.
The Esyia shuddered as blaster fire blazed across its shields again. The few remaining Vorn ships were holding their own now against the Baruk. A number of enemy vessels had already been destroyed with multiple direct hits from the dispersion cannons, but they were still outnumbered three to one.
Ranul shifted as the ship quaked, then continued on with his observations.
“What are you doing? I haven’t heard anything out of you recently,” said Estall.
“Why, did you need something?” he asked without looking away from his data screen.
“Helmsman, head for that group on another attack run,” he said as he climbed from his own chair to join Ranul at his science station.
Few things could have caught his full attention during a full on space battle with their lives at risk, and he wanted to know what it was that could be so important.
“What is it?” he asked as he braced himself against the bulkhead next to him.
“I’m not exactly sure, but I think I might be picking up some sort of coordinating signal being used by the Baruk.”
“What?”
“It’s a signal, I think biological, and it’s coming from that Baruk flagship. I can’t decode it at all and it seems focused on the movements of the Baruk only. It could be telepathic in origin.”
“Telepathic? Do you mean something on board is controlling the Baruk forces?”
“Well, I can’t be sure,” said Ranul, “but it would make sense; at least with the data I have. And if we destroy that control source we might be able to disorient the Baruk long enough to win this battle, especially on the surface.”
“Transmit what you’ve got to Control on the surface. Let them know we’re going after the flagship with everything we’ve got,” said Estall. “Helmsman, plot a new course for the flagship of the Baruk. Notify our remaining ships to concentrate all firepower on that vessel.”
“Command being transmitted to the remaining ships, sir!”
The Esyia came around, setting her course for the Baruk flagship. The dispersion cannon rotated on its base as the gunner set up the targeting information.
“Fire dispersion cannon at selected targets,” said Estall.
The first volley of cannon fire struck the shields of the flagship. The cannon compensated for the appropriate shield frequency within milliseconds and the blast penetrated to strike the ship. A large portion of the hull on the port side was vaporized with the hit. Within moments a heavy firefight issued forth upon the Esyia from other Baruk ships coming to the aid of their flagship.
“Where are those other ships?” shouted Estall.
“Sir, they’re being engaged too heavily to aid us at the moment. The Baruk ships are attempting to ram them now!”
“Estall!” shouted Ranul from his station. “The signal I’ve been monitoring, it just increased its intensity tenfold in the direction of the Baruk ships.”
“Then it is some sort of control signal.”
“Almost certainly,” said Ranul. “Whatever is aboard that ship wants to be protected even if it means using the other Baruk ships to ram into us.”
“Sir, more Baruk ships coming at us on collision course!”
“Evasive maneuvers!”
shouted Estall. “Fire the cannon at them.”
“We’ve got to destroy that signal source!” shouted Ranul.
“I know, but we can’t do it if we’re dead,” said Estall. “Helmsman, keep us adrift. Look for any way to get near the flagship again.”
“They’re forming a perimeter to protect it,” said Ranul as he watched the data screen.
“Tell the other ships to keep trying to break through. I just hope they can hold out on the surface until we can succeed out here.”
TIET watched as his forces moved throughout the suburban area of the city of Thalidi, outside of the shield wall. The shield was operational with the old thick alloy wall standing behind it. He wasn’t optimistic that even that defense could hold the city.
The soldiers moved quickly and quietly in and around buildings as they set up positions from which to ambush the Baruk. They were well-armed and well-trained despite the limited time the new army had been in operation. As he watched them deploying, Tiet wondered how many would be going home after this was all over; even wondering if he would.
He pulled his long range lens to his eye and peered out toward the valley of Usai. He could see the Baruk forces approaching already. The range was five miles. Their projected speed would put them in contact within twenty minutes. The image was obscured by an increasingly large cloud of dust being churned up from the valley floor by their army; making it difficult to get much detail on exactly what they were going to be up against.
Tiet spoke into his communication mouthpiece. “Fire the cannons at will.”
Above him, from positions on the defense wall, large pulse cannons began to rain down a firestorm out upon the approaching Baruk. He looked at them through his oculars again. Multiple blasts were erupting from their location, but it was difficult to tell if they were doing much damage or to what number.
Tiet moved with those near him to their positions as they drew their pulse rifles and prepared to wait for the Baruk.