Black Legion - The First Trilogy
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Dukas, commander of a multiple tagma (group of professional bandon or ship squadrons, usually 1,000+ warriors)
Komes, leader of a small fleet (5-10 ships) or 300 infantry (a bandon)
Kentarchos, ship’s captain or commander of infantry company of 100 warriors (kentarchiai)
Kybernetes, ship’s executive officer
Junior Ranks
Dekarchos, commander of 10 warriors, or junior command position on a ship
Pentarchos, commander of 5 warriors, or junior command position on a ship
Auletes, communications officer
Satraps
Regional governors in the Median Empire. These men were the most powerful nobles and controlled their regions of space with an iron fist. They answered directly to the Emperor himself and were responsible for raising and commanding the Imperial fleets.
Spatharios
The spatharios (plural: spatharii) was a Terran heavy infantryman, used frequently by the Arcadians and Laconians.
Stratiotes
A common Terran solder, frequently used to denote the light infantry in Terran armies or the heavy infantry of non Terrans.
Su’bartu Maelstrom
A vast cluster of star systems populated by dead planets. Situated between the fertile border worlds and the rich inner systems close to Median territory. An extremely dangerous area to pass through due to lack of fuel and supplies for dozens of jumps. Even a Titan would take two to three weeks to make the journey. The maelstrom is so dangerous only one in three ships ever makes it through. At the Median side of the maelstrom is the massive Babylon Starfort, home of the Imperial Fleet; the fleet in the known Galaxy.
Terran Alliance
Formed following the historic victories of the Terrans against the Empire. Money and ships were provided as a tithe and in turn the Alliance provided security and trade. They were the arch rivals of the Laconian League, headed by Laconia. Much richer and more diverse than the Laconians. They were famous for their use of Romanesque titles in civilian and military life.
Titan
The largest capital ship used by the Terrans. Capable of carrying tens of thousands of crew and warriors. Five Titans accompanied the Ten Thousand. Each Titan was commanded by the senior Dukas, selected based on the man with the largest contingent. Titan in the fleet included Valediction (under Clearchus), Olympia (under Xenias)
Topoteretes
Senior commanders that would normally commanded half of the military forces at any one time. Also the personal sworn bodyguards of the Strategos.
Taochi
A race of terrifying warriors that had swept through large parts of the Median Empire before being crushed by a vast Imperial Armada. The refugees from these worlds numbered in the millions. As with all conquered tribes the Taochi now served as part of the Imperial Army. The race was bipedal and of similar shapes and build like an upright bull but with a strongly muscled upper torsos and arms. They famously eschewed firearms in combat.
Virtual Observation System (VOB)
The inner surface of a deck is controlled at a molecular level to give it the characteristics of a flawless three dimensional video display. Standing on the deck was like flying through space, with the full ability to see outside of the ship, past the armour and into space itself.
APPENDIX IV: THE TEN THOUSAND
Almost 10,400 Terran mercenaries, sixty ships including Titans plus 20,000 automatons in the Median fleet. Led by Strategos Clearchus with 2 topoteretes and 10 Dukas. 400 more joined the army following Cunaxa. The ships included frigates, cruisers and destroyers as well as untold scores of transports and supply ships.
Titan Valediction
700 spatharii under Chirisophus the Laconian 1000 spatharii, 1000 stratiotes under Clearchus of Sparta, 1,000 spatharii under Sophaenetus the Stymphalian
Titan Olympia
4,000 spatharii under Xenias the Arcadian, until he left the army in Syria 300 spatharii and 300 stratiotes (Night Blades) under Pasion the Megaran, until he left the army Titan Herakles
1,500 spatharii and 500 stratiotes under Proxenus of Boeotia 500 spatharii under Kratez the Achaean (not to be confused with the philosopher) 1,000 spatharii under Sophaenetus the Arcadian
Titan Herakles
1,500 spatharii and 500 stratiotes under Proxenus of Boeotia 500 spatharii under Kratez the Achaean 1,000 spatharii under Sophaenetus the Arcadian
Titan Poseidon
300 spatharii under Sosis the Syracusan 1,000 spatharii and 500 stratiotes under Menon 400 spatharii deserters from Artaxerxes' army
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
BLACK LEGION: GATES OF CILICIA
PREFACE
PROLOGUE
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
BLACK LEGION: ASSAULT ON KHORRAM
PROLOGUE
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
EPILOGUE
BLACK LEGION: WARLORDS OF CUNAXA
PREFACE
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
APPENDIX
APPENDIX I: THE GALAXY
APPENDIX II: PEOPLE
APPENDIX III: TERMINOLOGY
APPENDIX IV: THE TEN THOUSAND