“My friends from Earth. Welcome.”
“Earth?” answered Jack in surprise.
“Of course. You thought we learned your language in a few of your months?”
The Helion smiled with a crooked expression. Jack and Wictred looked at each other in a mixture of surprise and confusion. The Helion’s accent was thick and betrayed lack of practice with their language. Even so, his voice was clear enough for both to understand without repetition. Wictred spoke first, pointing at the guards.
“Who are they?”
He nodded slowly.
“Yes, I thought they would interest you.’
He said no more for a moment and simply looked at them both. It wasn’t easy to tell exactly what he was thinking, due to the muscular differences in the faces of Helions and humans.
“The science of biomechanics has been outlawed on Helios since our first war with them over a thousand years ago.”
He walked toward the two of them who both watched with stony-faced expressions.
“There is a Rift here that leads directly to one of your moons that you call Titan. Before we warred with the machines, we explored thousands of Rifts together and left research machines behind to study the millions of worlds that sustain life.”
He took another step closer.
“Yours is one of many, yet you are one of the few to have also experienced the synthetic warriors of the enemy.”
He nodded at his two comrades and then looked back at Jack and Wictred.
“There are few left now. My people hunt and persecute any synthetics or their descendants, just the same as they hunt us Zathee for being impure.”
Wictred didn’t appear to be listening and was busy examining the two synthetics. They were similar but had as many differences as Jack had from the Helions. They appeared to show as much interest in him as he had in them.
“Why the hatred for the Zathee?” asked Jack.
The Helion smiled.
“That is the right question, my young friend, but first I need to see this information.”
He beckoned for Salene to approach. She reached inside her jacket and withdrew the small circular device. He looked at it curiously as if he expected it to do something of note. She squeezed it gently and it clicked. Jack felt a shiver through his body and for a second suspected treachery. A blue haze grew about it and then expanded to show a slowly rotating three-dimensional model of the most developed parts of Helios. It was remarkably detailed and included walkways, landing platforms, and structures of all shapes and sizes. As they examined it, an additional series of red and green layers appeared over the top to mark something else. The Helion man nodded.
“Yes, this is good,” he said so that Jack and the others might understand him.
He extended out his hand, and Salene placed the device into his hand. With a gentle tap, it switched off, and the colored lights disappeared, leaving it no more than an inanimate sphere. He turned and placed the unit into the wall behind him.
“With this, we can paralyze state control and execute a surgical strike to remove the leadership. Finally, we shall have equality with our kin.”
Jack scratched his cheek, “None of this makes sense.”
The Helion walked back to the rear wall and tapped it. It transformed into a detailed computer display. He moved his hands in front of it but never actually made contact. In seconds, a series of video footage appeared showing aliens worlds. The first was of a place similar to Helios but far more primitive. A battle had evidently just been won, as there was much damage all around them. There were Helion soldiers moving about, alongside Biomech machines the size of buildings.
“This was one and a half millennia ago, when we worked together with the other Powers to bring order to a thousand worlds and more than fifty races.”
The video shifted to show medals being awarded by a Helion commander.
“This is where the slavers were finally defeated and incorporated into the realm of the T’Kari. You can see Helions being awarded commendations, as well as T’Kari. Note that none of the Zathee are present.”
“How can you tell the difference?”
He nodded, realizing how difficult it was to tell.
“Zathee are not racially different to the Helions. We are simply those that interbred between the races of the Helions. They all wear the yellow or orange colors of Helios, the colors of nobility. By law, we are not permitted to do so, on pain of death.”
He looked at the footage of thousands of soldiers’ bodies being carried away on some forgotten world.
“For centuries we have supplied the soldiers for the Helions and their allies. Yet we are still slaves. The last war was won with our blood. Helions provide the officers. We provide the bodies. Every time we have demanded equality, we have been crushed.”
He extended his arms outward.
“The domain of the Zathee used to be the size and equal of the rest of this world. Now we live in squalor and decay.”
With his left hand, he pointed at the sphere.
“This information will let us breach their security systems and start our revolution.”
Jack did not look impressed.
“What does this have to do with us, and why was our ship brought down with your ambassador on board?”
“Yes, I have been wondering about this also.”
He nodded to Salene.
“We have been communicating with the Ambassador for over a year now. Together we have worked to bring this affair to a peaceful and bloodless conclusion. He was to bring me this information direct from our supporters in the Defense Department. I suspect that…”
Wictred interrupted him.
“They knew he was helping you and did this to get us to help bring you down.”
The Helion looked confused, as though it was an option he had never considered. He walked to the computer unit and extracted a small rectangular dongle. It was made of a smooth black material and pulsed gently with blue light.
“This is an automated breacher. We have been developing it for fifteen years now. Once it is placed inside the Helion security grid, the revolution will begin.”
He held it next to the sphere that Salene had brought. Both glowed and started to pulse blue in perfect synchronization. It took almost ten seconds, but finally it finished. He placed both of the items on a small semi-transparent shelf that extended out from the wall behind him. He seemed to relax; seemingly some great chore was now over.
“I am V'Caani, the last survivor from the great war with the machines. We all know the prophecy of the Black Rift, that one day it will open and a final great war will have to be fought. By helping us today, you have guaranteed our support in the war to come.”
“I don’t think so,” Salene said bitterly.
All three turned to find her holding two devices, one in each hand. In her left was an electronic device the size of a finger. It was cylindrical and decorated with raised ridges at one end. In the other hand was a pistol. It was beautifully made from a chrome-colored metal, and a blue glow ran down one side. The muzzle flashed and V'Caani stumbled backward to the wall.
“No!” screamed Jack.
He threw himself toward the falling leader. Wictred lurched forward to tackle Salene. She fired again, and this time striking Wictred in the arm. He crashed into her and cast her against the wall. She struck it with such force that her back and neck broke. Her body slid lifelessly to the ground, and the two objects rolled out of her hands. The synthetic guards had seen it all, but neither had been fast enough to help. One joined Jack while the other ran for the door to pass on the word. Jack bent down over the fallen V'Caani who was coughing up blood. He spoke incoherently until he spotted Jack’s face.
“What can we do?” asked Jack.
V'Caani spat another mouthful of dark blood to the floor and tried to lift himself up from the ground. Jack held him down, trying to calm him.
“There’s no time. They are coming. Join your friends at the
communications spire.”
He leaned to his side and nodded at the two objects now lying on the floor.
“Take the breacher. Install it inside the network computer. Help the Zathee, and they will help fight your war…”
He tried to say more, but with one last gasp he slumped back, the life draining from his body. Jack looked down at his clothing and pulled open his tunic. It revealed a hideous wound that had been seared open by the powerful firearm. Wictred was now there, along with the other synthetic. The alien bent down and placed his hand on V'Caani’s forehead. He looked at Wictred and said something unintelligible.
“What?” Wictred asked.
The creature moved for the doorway, gesturing for them to follow. Wictred looked to Jack who was still bent down over the body of V'Caani.
“I think he wants us to go.”
The sound of powerful engines and the low rumble of gunfire had reached even as far as into V'Caani’s secretive lair. The whooshing sound of powerful ducted fans announced the arrival of more Helion security forces, and by the sound of it, there was a major battle going on. The creature reappeared and glared at them both. He pointed at the object now in V'Caani’s dead fingers.
“Come!” he said in almost impossible to understand tones.
Jack grabbed the unit and chased after him.
“He’s right. We need to move fast!”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Edged weapons found their renaissance in the Great Uprising and yet continued in their importance for generations after. Marine forces on Helios made use of carbines, pistols, knives and bayonets even when engaged in combat with combat drones. The flexibility offered by the fitting of hardened steel to a firearm never lost its appeal to those that advocated close combat.
Edged weapons in the Emergency
The approach to the habitation block seemed to take forever. The wind buffeted them, and without the headsets worn by the others on board, she had no way of telling what was happening. The flight over the Zathee district was highly enlightening. For a start, it was clear this was a part of Helios few would want to show off. It was poorly developed, and many of the city blocks were derelict, damaged, or unoccupied. Even more surprising was that they had been fired upon at least three times on their journey from the ground.
What’s going on down there?
That reminded her, the General. They were now flying much higher than before, and it gave her an idea. She pulled out her secpad, all the time ensuring she didn’t drop it. It was hard to see, but she was certain the flashing symbol meant she had connected via a local area ad-hoc network. It meant there was an Alliance unit within twenty kilometers, perhaps much closer. From the side, she removed a small rubber looking nodule and pushed it into her ear canal. It fitted tightly and beeped to confirm it was slaved correctly to the secpad.
Okay, here goes nothing.
She tapped the connection button and waited, hoping beyond hope it would work. The earpiece stopped beeping immediately, and for a short time nothing else happened. Then came a crackling sound and a heavily distorted voice.
“This is Major Morato, Alliance Marine Corps. Please respond.”
She waited, but again there was nothing. Teresa repeated the message, but only a few words came through, each unintelligible. Then for a brief moment the signal cleared up, and she could understand the sound.
“…Rossen, we are moving to the top of the Helion command spire…will attempt to reach fleet in orbit…we came under…”
The signal faded out and then returned to static and noise. She looked down and watched the level indicator, moving it first to the left and then to the right. The signal degradation was minimal when she pointed it to the right. Straining her eyes, she looked past the buildings nearby and spotted a dark spire far into the distance.
That’s where they are.
The craft shuddered slightly as they jinxed to avoid ground fire, and then they were dropping down between two larger buildings. The fog and dust made visibility difficult, but the Animosh pilot exhibited impressive skill as he brought the craft down at high speed. As they slowed down, the team deactivated their harnesses and jumped down to the ground. Teresa watched them join the assault of the Animosh security forces with a degree of both amusement and apprehension. Though they appeared well equipped and trained, they lacked the speed and organization of the Alliance Marines Corps. All of their forces had landed around the massive Zathee habitation block and were advancing in combat teams of no more than four. Screaming Zathee citizens ran from them as they moved in through the massive doorway leading into the city-sized structure.
Rossen commands a marine squad, so they must be survivors from the crash.
“Major, please come with me,” said Vigilis, as he leapt from the small craft.
Teresa was forced to turn her attention from the missing group of marines for a moment and back to the Helion that she trusted less and less. They were now hovering almost a meter from the ground, and as Teresa dropped down; she felt a searing pain rip through her legs.
Damn it!
It was nothing serious, just a mixture of cramp from being stuck on the craft in a fixed position, and her body landing on the hard surface with no shock absorption of any kind. Vigilis was already running inside, flanked by nearly a dozen guards. Teresa fell in, but as she moved, she spotted movement in the shadows. She almost raised the alarm, but the first was a Zathee male who placed a hand over his mouth as if asking her to be silent. Another nodded off to the side of the structure, appearing to beckon in a particular direction. A blast forced her to find cover a few meters away behind an upturned trade stand.
What the hell are you doing here?
She looked about and could see Vigilis also in cover and directing his Animosh. A group had moved to the first wide staircase, but volleys of thermal rounds thudded about them and forced them back.
“Vigilis, I’m not here for this. Where are my people?”
The signal from the spire was important, but there was no way she was going to let on about her newfound knowledge. For all she knew, they were on the run from the Animosh, and just one word could find every single one of them dead. Even so, it seemed incredible that the Helions would even contemplate betraying a people they had only just met. That was when she saw the look on his face. Before he had shown at least a presence of being interested, but now she could see a look of cruel pleasure as he whispered to his warriors.
He’s not on our side, dammit. Why did I come out here, and on my own? You idiot!
In an instant, a trio turned back and pointed their weapons at her. Teresa’s instincts kicked in, and she rolled to the side, without even considering if they were targeting her or perhaps aiming at another person that could be threatening her. She landed at the left part of the stand before a dozen rounds crashed about her. Each round hissed as it melted metal, plastic, and stone with ease.
Bastards!
Teresa grabbed her sidearm and took aim. Her accuracy was poor in this position on the ground, but that wasn’t going to stop her. She looked down the sight and placed the tiny red reticle onto the chest of the nearest Animosh. The first round was on target, but she didn’t have the time to take careful aim at the rest. Rapid squeezes quickly emptied the first magazine in less than two seconds, sending round after round at the Animosh. She saw at least one struck in the chest and two more in the arms, and then ducked back to load in another magazine. The sound of Vigilis barking more orders came from outside, but she could no longer see his face. It was just as well. The fact he had turned on her and her people had started to turn her calm manner to one of rage, and she knew exactly what happened when she got angry.
Stay calm, get out, and find the others, she said to herself.
As she glanced about from her position of modest cover, she spotted the Zathee off in the shadows waving to her. At least she assumed they were Zathee. Unlike the Helions, they wore brown and gray clothing that looked more like homespun material. Most
had scarves or other material wrapped around their heads, but the most obvious difference was that they all looked poor and out of place next to the richness of the Helions.
What do they want?
Her second magazine slipped in easily. It was a movement she could perform without looking after years of practice and experience. She then lifted the weapon, holding it with both hands for a stable platform, and saw Vigilis and the others running across the opening from their cover back to a line of newly arrived wheeled vehicles. In the distance, a number of the small flyers were moving about, their objective far from obvious. The defenders of the habitation block were doing well, at least for now, in protecting their area.
“Okay, then, what now?” she said, as if expecting somebody to answer.
Then she remembered her secpad. She had been able to reach the spire and the marines not that long ago. Perhaps now that she was away from the Helion vehicles, she would be able to reestablish communications with them. In a single fluid movement, it was out and in front of her face. As expected, the signal was completely jammed, but it didn’t stop her activating the recording mode. It would continue running like this for over an hour, recording full area video and sound. The Zathee was still trying to get her attention, and as more thermal rounds struck the fallen trade stand, she burst from cover.
“Stop!” cried a Helion officer.
For just a second, Teresa thought it was the same Helion that had turned on her, but his face was even gaunter than Vigilis. Unlike the commander, he carried a long rifle in his arms, much like the other Animosh.
Star Crusades Nexus: Book 03 - Heroes of Helios Page 18