"Tenskwatawa, Governor, I am honoured to meet you both."
He looked across to Spartan and noted the insignia on the armour. It was the same as that shown on Sergeant Tyler.
"Let me introduce you to Major Spartan and Captain Khan of the Interstellar Assault Brigade. They are heroes of the Alliance military and veterans of multiple campaigns."
Something glinted in his eye as he heard the names.
"Spartan and Khan. The heroes of the Biomech War?"
Khan laughed as he heard the statement.
"Yeah, we're heroes all right."
The Byotai approached, shook both their hands, and then examined Spartan carefully, soaking in the details of his face and armour before moving back to his superiors.
"We've studied your debriefing in great detail. According to Sergeant Tyler, the ten cities are ripe for a full-scale uprising. Would you agree with that?"
Lahok considered his words. He hadn't expected to be asked such substantial and potentially critical questions. Sergeant Tyler had explained their current predicament, but he'd kept quiet about this entire proposal.
"I...well...yes, they are ready to revolt. The Red Scars have taken control of most of the region, and Nakoma sends regular air support to punish us. The hatred for the Red Scars is deep, and those in the cities will not help them, if they are able."
Tenskwatawa said something in an alien tongue, but the Byotai engineer from the South kept on speaking.
"Even so, an uprising will not work."
Tenskwatawa approached him and examined his face, as though the way he looked or spoke would in some way alter the perception of his opinions.
"In the last month, four of the cities tried to turn on the Red Scars, and each time it ended the same, defeat, surrender, and enslavement. I have seen so many killed in the fighting, and for what?"
The room fell silent as the Byotai tried desperately to retain some degree of composure.
"I see," said Tenskwatawa.
The alien commander remained calm as he walked to the larger screen that Spartan had been using. He pressed the side of the unit, and a flat map popped up. It showed three major urban areas on the planet.
"Lahok, that is your name?"
The Byotai sniffed an affirmative.
"Very well. As you know, we are here, to the North of settled areas. Here in the centre is Melantias; Nakoma's stronghold is seven hundred kilometres to the South, at Montu, in the Khagi Mountains. And here..."
His hand moved to the great ridges in the South.
"The Great Depression. The place you have just come from."
Lahok's eyes narrowed in confusion, and he turned his glance to Sergeant Tyler.
"Yes, I'm familiar with the geography of Karnak. I've lived here long enough."
Khan laughed as the Byotai's insolence, and leaned in close to whisper to Spartan.
"I like him."
"Me, too," agreed Spartan.
Tenskwatawa clearly wasn't impressed. The wizened leader cleared his throat only to be ignored by Khan until he was ready to look back at the alien.
"Go on," said Khan.
Tenskwatawa muttered to himself and then pointed at Melantias.
"As you and Spartan have so eloquently explained, the city is a fortress, now a military camp and completely impregnable while Nakoma maintains her airborne forces. She is mobile, powerful, and fast."
Spartan remained silent, but he couldn't argue with that short, simple assessment.
"Any attempt to move on the city will be dealt with in hours. I have a plan to get forces within striking distance of the city..."
He moved his hand to the South.
"...but in the Great Depression, there are over a million of our people, all under the thrall of the Red Scars and their warriors."
He looked to Lahok.
"I want Spartan and Khan to take their mercenaries to lead a revolt in the twelve cities."
Khan snorted in derision, and Spartan stared back, quickly silencing him.
"Yes, and I will take with them enough equipment and supplies to arm ten times that number in the cities. We'll show your kin how to fight and when to fight."
Tenskwatawa didn't like the sound of that, but though he opened his mouth to argue, no words issued forth. Instead, he walked closely to Lahok, lifted his hand, and ran a long, thin finger down the Byotai's face. The finger moved slowly, gently, stopping at his chin.
"Tell me, Lahok. With a man like Spartan in charge, can it be done?"
The Byotai didn't answer the immediate question.
"To what end?" he demanded, "They have warriors, weapons, and machines on their side. For every one of theirs we kill, they kill a hundred of us. You can send me in with as many soldiers as you like, they will still have more."
Tenskwatawa nodded in agreement.
"Oh, I wasn't asking if you could win. There is no chance you can win against more than a hundred thousand Red Scars. If you fight, you will lose hundreds, perhaps thousands, and you will not regain control of a single city."
Governor Nak Sekieki said what all them were thinking as they looked to Lahok.
"Are you insane, Tenskwatawa? What possible reason is there for this revolt, if only to lead them to victory and peace?"
Spartan had never liked the Governor, but appreciated the fool was at least asking the right question. Khan, on the other hand, had already grasped exactly what the leader of the Exiles was saying.
"He's right. This uprising will have a substantial blood price. And that is the entire point, isn't it?"
Tenskwatawa smiled, but it was not the expression any of them would have expected from Spartan or Khan. This was a hard smile, tinged with cruelty, and it sent a shiver down Spartan's back as he watched.
"Yes," said Tenskwatawa, "I want this revolt to bleed both sides, and I want to give Nakoma the chance she's wanted from the beginning."
"What?" Governor Nak Sekieki asked.
He grabbed Tenskwatawa's arm, but he brushed him aside with ease.
"Nakoma will not rush to the aid of her Red Scar rivals to the South if she feels they are about to lose. She will let them burn, while remaining safe in Montu."
Spartan placed his forehead in his right hand.
"You want to lose the battle in the South so that you can win the war. Right?"
"Exactly," said Tenskwatawa.
Lahok's expression contorted into a confused mix of horror and surprise, yet as he looked around the room, every one of them seemed to accept this strategy with little or no emotion. Even Sergeant Tyler, the man that saved him from the violence and horror of the failed uprising looked much the same. He took one step back and lifted his hands as if to warn them all away.
"You? What? Why would..."
Again, Tenskwatawa raised his hands for silence.
"The Spires and the Red Scars are all that remain on Karnak of the enemy. We cannot tackle both in the time we have. So one of them must be bleed, and bleed badly, but not so much that they fail. Nakoma will delight in the Red Scars suffering, but if it looks like they have a chance for victory, she will have to intervene. And only one person will draw her there."
All eyes scanned the room before locking onto the one person he was clearly talking about. Even Khan appeared surprised as he looked to his old friend.
"Spartan. It is you, and only you."
He nodded, accepting his fate with surprising grace.
"Yeah, I figured as much. Somehow, it always seems to end up being me."
Tenskwatawa closed his eyes and nodded politely. When they reopened, they were full of purpose and fire.
"I ask you, on behalf of our people. Will you lead a failed revolt in the South? Give Nakoma her chance for victory, and I will lead the columns of salvation into Montu. We will end this war, and bring peace to Karnak."
Spartan rubbed his nose for a second and then sighed.
"Very well, but if we're going to do this, we'll do it my way, understood? I'm not getting le
ft behind in the South, with nothing but a wing and a prayer to rely on."
Tenskwatawa seemed surprised that he'd accepted, and quickly, even extending a hand to Spartan. After what seemed like an age, Spartan pulled back and indicated for them to continue discussing strategy without him for a moment. In the middle of their animated conversation, the alien leader paused and looked over to Spartan.
"Thank you again, Major. Your skills will be critical in this phase of the campaign. Together, we will end this destructive conflict. I think we can do this."
Spartan's eye's narrowed as Tenskwatawa moved away. There was something odd and a little cold about the character. Khan approached and leaned in close to whisper quietly in his ear.
"What is it?"
Spartan was about to speak when he spotted Tenskwatawa lift his eyes from his own conversation once more, as though he was constantly keeping an eye on the two of them. Their eyes met for a fraction of a second, and at that very moment, Spartan knew something wasn't right. He was already a good judge of character when it came to the other alien races, and his time with Kanjana had helped him learn many of the strange characteristics of her people.
He's deceiving me, maybe even outright lying.
As their eyes moved apart, he turned his attention back to Khan. His old friend brought a relaxed smile to his face. They'd fought in so many battles and suffered equally in the terrible conflict with the Biomechs. Nothing that happened on this world could be anything as bad as the terrors they'd already faced.
"We'll lead this damned uprising, Khan."
The battle hardened warrior chuckled. He'd never had a moment’s doubt that it would have been any other way.
"Of course we will. Like anybody else could do it."
Spartan leaned in close and spoke much more quietly. He had something discreet to say, so he leaned in even closer.
"But I'll tell you one thing we won't do..."
Khan said nothing, eager to hear what Spartan had to say. His brow tightened as he listened to his friend, and his face changed subtly into a happy smile.
"Yeah?"
Spartan exhaled slowly, using the sound to help mask his words.
"Lose."
Khan laughed quietly.
"Since when has losing been our game plan?"
Spartan clearly agreed.
"I promise you that we will not let that happen."
Khan remained still, ensuring none of them could see their lips or potentially hear what they were saying.
"We're gonna show these people how to fight, Khan. We'll equip them, drill them, and lead them on a crusade these people have never seen before. You and I, together, just like old times."
Khan gripped his hand in a vice-like grip.
"We'll bleed these Red Scars, and then we'll do the same to Nakoma and whatever she throws at us."
"Exactly," said Spartan, "I'm not leaving this place until I have her head on a spike. She has crimes to answer for, and I intend on letting her do just that."
Khan seemed quite pleased with that.
"What about Kras, and the other prisoners? She will use them as leverage against us. Nakoma is no fool. She'll sacrifice them if it will give her the tactical edge."
Spartan's nostrils flared a little. This was always likely to be a problem in the circumstances. It was a classic case of where he needed to show leadership and make decisions others could not. A good officer needed to do much more than simply lead men and women into battle. He needed to be able to keep them alive, but also be prepared to sacrifice them in the name of victory. Spartan remembered something the aged, but fearsome General Rivers had told him years ago, back in the middle of the Great Uprising.
To be a good soldier, you must love the army. To be a good commander, you must be willing to order the death of the thing you love.
Spartan felt a warm glow at the thought of the old General and wished he were there once more. The man still lived, but was now retired, and probably annoying friends and family on his estate.
Who said that, an old Civil War general, Robert E Lee, I think he said it was.
Spartan made a mental note to check on it sometime, and then looked back to Khan.
"You tell me, Khan. What would Kras want us to do?"
Khan's expression changed to something much happier, and he clenched both fists so hard the flesh made a crunching sound. Tenskwatawa noticed them talking and looked over to them. Khan didn't bother whispering anymore.
"Yeah, he'd want us to fight all right."
Tenskwatawa nodded once more, and again looked away, though Khan was convinced the alien was now watching them much more closely.
"...and we'll give Nakoma a fight to remember. When this is over, she'll wish she'd never heard the name Khan."
"Hell, yeah!"
The two separated and looked at the group, especially Lahok who still seemed stunned. Spartan took a few steps until he was in front of the Byotai civilian.
"We'll lead your people, but I will need your help."
Lahok waited for the translator to finish. With the last words, he nearly staggered backwards before being blocked by the great bulk of Khan.
"We cannot do this without you."
Spartan extended his hand to the alien.
"With your help, we can minimise casualties, and guarantee your people a future of freedom and stability. Help us, and help yourself."
Lahok paused as he considered the words. He then looked over to Tenskwatawa who noted the Byotai's nervous manner. He said something that Spartan's translators couldn't pick up, and when Lahok looked back, he seemed appeared strangely calm.
"Very well, Major Spartan. I will help however I can."
He grasped Spartan’s arm and groaned at the sheer strength of the Alliance officer. He was no weakling, yet the Human had the muscles of a machine. As the two shared a glance, he saw the same fire he'd seen in the eyes of the Red Scars in the South.
Another warrior, another killer.
"Excellent," said Spartan.
They released hands, and Spartan turned to make for the door.
"I'll give you my requirements within the hour. In the meantime, I will need every piece of information you have on the Southern territories, specifically the transport systems, underground links, power generation, and more."
As usual, Spartan didn't check if they'd even heard him, and stepped past the guards and into the elevator. Khan followed him, and once inside both looked back at the group.
"Lahok, with us, please," said Spartan.
The Byotai first looked to Tenskwatawa, but Spartan cleared his voice.
"Now."
This time Lahok entered the elevator, and the door began to shut.
"You have one hour, Tenskwatawa. Get me everything, and I will fight this battle for you."
The door hissed shut, but not before Spartan heard the leader's final words.
"Very good," said Tenskwatawa, "So be it."
With the doors now fully shut, the elevator whisked them up towards the surface. Khan looked calm, but Lahok appeared even more confused than before. Khan touched Spartan on the shoulder.
"They are waiting topside to hear you speak. Who will we take?"
Spartan rubbed his chin as he considered the question.
"I'd say all, but do you think your lot are suited to this kind of work?"
Khan feigned insult.
"Of course we are. Is it subtly or combat power you want?"
Spartan winked and looked at Lahok.
"I'll need your help in this fight. Your city district will be the first we target. Is the underground transport hub still clear?"
Lahok swallowed before answering.
"The tunnels are clear, but there's no power or..."
Spartan nodded quickly.
"Good, good. That's as expected. We'll talk more soon. First things first, I need to complete the inspection of my soldiers."
The elevator whined as they travelled the last few metres.
"Do you have many mercenaries for this fight?"
The Byotai looked eager, if more than a little nervous. Khan sniggered, and Spartan gave him a visual reprimand.
"Son, I started all of this with over seven hundreds mercs, the best available in this sector. Now most of them are off assisting Byotai garrisons across this cursed rock. The rest are dead or still in the infirmary."
Khan nodded as he spoke. Spartan detached a plate from his flank and turned the unit around to show the Byotai the current order of battle for the mercenaries.
"Here, does this help?"
The flat image showed a list of units, green shapes showing the individuals in each of the different combat units. To anybody uninformed it was little more than a lot of people. Spartan could tell he was confused, but also that he needed reassuring.
"Twenty-nine Black Widows, thirty-six Helion 5 operatives, thirty-eight Dynax mercenaries, and a dozen Khreenk engineers with their combat robots. Oh, and sixty Jötnar..."
Khan shook his head.
"Seventy-three ready for combat."
"Okay, seventy-three. That gives me a total force of one hundred and eighty-eight, plus the three of us. So, one hundred and ninety-one in total."
The elevator stopped, and the doors opened, bringing them back to the surface. The three walked out and were presented by a solid line of soldiers. There were many different types of clothing and armour, and Lahok looked at the nearest with stunned silence. Directly ahead were the commanders of each of the contingents. Spartan pointed at the single figures waiting ahead of the Dynax unit.
"Uh...I thought they had no leaders?"
Khan shrugged.
"One of them must have been...volunteered."
He paused at the middle of the group and took the salute from each of the contingents' commanders. Arana and Syala were there, adorned in their black armour and looking sophisticated and elegant. He smiled at them and received coy smiles from both sisters.
"Okay then, my dogs of war. Are you ready for a real fight?"
It was an unnecessary question, and the roar of approval from the odd mixture of Humans and aliens filled the inside of the city. Civilians stopped what they were doing and glanced towards them as the cheer continued to sound. Spartan looked to Khan, who could not have looked any happier right now.
Battle for Karnak (Star Crusades: Mercenaries, Book 4) Page 10