The Laconian watched carefully and then whispered. His voice betrayed his disdain.
“They are Median mercenaries. I see a few Carduchians, and at least one Taochi warrior.”
As he spoke, a few more appeared from the side of the open space. Two carried between them some kind of weapon fitted to a tripod. Another wore a tall helm and shouted to them, though from this distance it was impossible to make out what they were saying. Glaucon seemed almost happy with what he’d seen.
“Why?” Tamara asked, shaking her head.
Glaucon grinned.
“You know what this means, don’t you?”
Tamara shook her head again, but the Laconian clearly had an idea.
“They must have a ship, otherwise how the hell did they get here?”
Tamara didn’t seem convinced.
“What if they’ve been here all this time?”
She spotted something and then nodded off to the left, well away from the mercenaries. Figures were moving out but this time just a trio of people.
“The Komes,” hissed the Laconian under his breath.
They watched in silence as the tiny group of Laconians went inside the vast hangar area. They were moving carefully, presumably looking for signs of traps or even more hidden enemy forces. Off to the right the mercenaries must have spotted something because they quickly fanned out and out of sight. Glaucon looked to the others.
“We need to get down there, and fast.”
The Laconian nodded and beckoned toward the circular shaft that was now partially exposed to the elements. It wound down on a long trail until vanishing beneath them.
“We don’t know if that tunnel is even complete. What if it...”
Glaucon cut her off.
“It doesn’t matter. Our options are limited, and we have to do something.”
“I agree,” added the Laconian.
“Well, that’s it then,” said Tamara.
She walked up to the Terran solider and pushed at him as she went past.
“Let’s go.”
Tamara moved quickly, and in just a few seconds she’d already completed a full circuit of the shaft and was making her way down. The Laconians followed, with two still carrying the weakened figure of Lady Artemas.
“Is she always like that?”
Glaucon laughed at the Laconian.
“This is nothing. You wait until she’s angry.”
They followed the others, but Glaucon could see the soldier was most amused at what he was seeing with this odd, red-haired young woman.
“I’ll be interested to see that.”
Their words were cut off by the familiar sound of pulse weapons and the crackle of shields. Tamara looked back and across the wide chasm to the other side where she could see Glaucon. He pointed down into the pit.
“Keep going. They need our help.”
Down went the group, inching their way carefully past dirt and broken metal. The shaft was a narrow tunnel, but due to the damage there were entire segments now completely open to the rest of the deep pit. At one point Glaucon had slipped, but the Laconian managed to grab him before he was too close to the edge.
“Thanks, I can do without a long drop.”
The Laconian accepted his gratitude with a silent nod. They pushed on even as the sound of the battle below continued. There was no way to see what was happening as the shaft began to divert away from the pit and deep into the rock of the facility. Finally, after what seemed like an age, the shaft stopped at a wide, sealed doorway. The Laconians pushed, pulled, shoved, and kicked, but it refused to open.
“The panel?” Glaucon suggested.
The Terrans fiddled with the controls for almost a minute before Tamara moved up to it. They blocked her way, but she pushed in among them.
“Let me have a go.”
Lady Artemas watched all of this from her position leaning against the wall. Her face was paler than usual, and it was obvious to them all that she was bleeding internally. Glaucon would have preferred to take care of her first, but if they were trapped here, they would all be just as dead. One of the Laconians pushed her back, so she kicked him hard behind the knee. He dropped down, and a second lifted his weapon to strike her.
“I wouldn’t if I were you,” said Lady Artemas, “You’re unable to open a sealed Carduchian security panel. Let her try. She’s opened worse.”
The Laconians looked to each other, but the strongest of the group, the one with the dented helm, seemed to take charge. He stepped aside to give Tamara space to move.
“Thanks,” she said sarcastically, “Maybe you could check your guns are ready or something else useful.”
Glaucon chuckled quietly to himself as she went to work on the computer system. After thirty seconds, one of the Terrans moved closer to interrupt her, but she spat back words with such anger and venom that he backed off.
“Easy now,” he said in abject horror.
“Yes, don’t interrupt the lady,” Artemas said with a forced smile.
The door opened with a whistling sound, and a great gush of cool air rushed into the shaft. Glaucon moved through the gap and indicated for the others to watch. In seconds they were inside the vast hangar complex and could see the three Laconians. The warriors were pinned down at the side of a collapsed staircase while shots struck down into their shields.
“Komes,” said the Laconian.
Their leader looked back, his face serious and showing little joy at their arrival. The clatter of gunfire from the tripod-mounted weapon off into the distance struck the shielding three times, and with each impact the level of protection dropped off. The Terrans began to move away to help their friends, but Glaucon pulled them back.
“No, we’re out of sight at the moment.”
The brasher of the group pulled away and snapped back.
“So, you want to wait while our brothers die?”
“No,” said Glaucon as he shook his head. He then pointed off along the side of the hangar and to where the abandoned light rail system sat, cold and lifeless.
“I want to save your kin. We can outflank them and hit them hard.”
Tamara moved away from them and to the side of the rail system. There was a short drop of half a meter that led down to the single rail track. Once into position, she crept along and then lifted herself up to glance over the top. It took just seconds before she signaled back by hand to the others.
“What is she saying?” Lady Artemas asked.
Glaucon continued to watch, nodded, and then looked to the rest.
“Okay. The mercs have a strong position out of our sight to our left. One of you stay with Artemas; the rest with me.”
Lady Artemas tried to move to follow them, but she quickly slumped back to the wall. Glaucon helped support her and made sure she was stable before releasing her.
“No, you stay there. If anything happens to you, I’ll have to deal with Xenophon. And you know how serious he can be.”
She looked at him and opened her mouth to speak, but instead of words, a thin trickle of blood dripped out. Glaucon looked down to her body and found two more tiny dark spots on her armor. He went to help her, but she waved him off.
“Help the others. If we don’t get out of here, I’ll be dead anyway.”
* * *
Light Cruiser ‘Antaeus’, Bijar Prime, Carduchian Wilderness
The lights came on first and then the VOB system. Xenophon felt his eyes strain at the sudden change in brightness around them. He wasn’t interested in the light, or even the shields. All he wanted was to speak with the fleet.
“I have to speak with Dukas Xenias!”
He walked along the command deck and stopped at each of the screens in turn. All of the crew was busy, but it was one of the engineers that finally managed to give him the good news.
“I’ve patched you through via the gunnery...”
Xenophon lifted his hand.
“No, don’t worry. Just let me speak with him.”
“He’s on.”
Xenophon wasn’t so sure.
“Dukas, this is Xenophon, can you hear me?”
The audio was of poor quality while the equipment altered the buffering to make up for the large levels of decay and noise. The sound faded in and out, but after a few more seconds the familiar sound of Dukas Xenias appeared.
“Xenophon, you made it. I’m afraid even your ships will not be enough to see us through this one. We are low on fuel, and the Strategos has ordered a full-scale assault to start shortly.”
Xenophon shook his head in irritation.
“No, that won’t be necessary. I have a plan, one that will smashed the Carduchians, these mercenaries, and our friends across the border.”
“Friends?”
Xenophon allowed himself a momentary smile.
“Yes. Satrap Tirbazus is waiting just across the Sea of Fire, and he’s brought his entire host with him.”
The audio crackled, but the Dukas was clearly concerned. The first few words were broken, but the last part was clear enough.
“...Your plan, will it get the fleet out of here in one piece?”
Xenophon looked to Roxana who gave him the nod.
“It will work, but only if we can count on two things.”
“Which are?”
Xenophon stared at Roxana as he answered.
“The arrogance of Laconians, and the desperation of the Medes to finish us off.”
A sigh came back over the audio system.
“I can’t promise you much Xenophon, but those two things are a certainty.”
* * *
Bijar Prime, Carduchian Wilderness
Glaucon lifted his head up from behind the light rail system and watched the mercenaries fanning out. Even from this distance he could see they were calm, assured of themselves, and well equipped. No two were the same, and they were certainly confident of their position. They didn’t bother making use of cover, and instead spread out with just two staying in the middle to shelter behind the shielded weapon platform. The Taochian mercenary growled something, and half of them pushed on ahead. Glaucon dropped back down and looked to Tamara and the three Laconians.
“The big one is in charge. What do you think?”
The spatharios sporting the dented helm didn’t even bother looking over the top. The information and ranges given by Glaucon were more than enough.
“The two of you used to be in the Night Blades, right?”
Tamara seemed surprised at the mention of their old unit.
“Yeah, why?”
The Laconian smiled.
“They have a reputation, even among us. The Night Blades are supposed to be the masters of stealth and ranged combat. If so, then our tactics have been decided for us.”
He nodded in the direction of the enemy.
“We’ll perform a shielded assault, but only when you’ve taken care of the heavy. I want you two to work further down to the left and flank them. When you have a shot, take out the gunners, and we’ll do the rest.”
Glaucon looked at Tamara, and she nodded her agreement.
“What about the Komes over there?”
She pointed off to their right where the Laconians were busy defending themselves. It was clear that neither side was particularly keen on closing the distance. The Komes was heavily outnumbered, and they’d been pinned down.
“As soon as you have the gun, I’ll give the order. The Komes will join us, and together will see these mercenaries burn.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Bijar Prime, Carduchian Wilderness
The facility continued to groan under the immense strain of its weakened structure. The explosions had stopped, but that no longer mattered to those trapped inside. At the small skirmish deep inside the vast ship loading area, it became clear that there were others hiding. Shapes moved far off into the distance, and the sound of feet and shouting punctuated the squeals of anguish from the damaged structure. The entire site was dying, and those that had hidden inside now realized they lives were about to be cut short.
Komes Artemis and his squad were pinned down, but nothing, not even the massed fire coming in from the enemy would stop them from fighting. As each projectile struck nearby, one of them quickly responded with a burst from their own carbines.
“Step!”
Komes Artemis tried to move out from cover, but a fusillade of fire crashed down near them. Two rounds struck the top of his shield, and one of the projectiles was deflected just enough to skin the top of his helm. He laughed, took aim, and then blasted at the shapes of the mercenaries in the distance.
“Stand your ground.”
He tried to hold the current position, but more of the shots hit the shielding like rain, and he was forced to give ground. Systematically, they shifted back into cover, and then the Komes ducked back, and two of his men pushed out their left arms to protect him in a layered shield.
“Sir, look.”
The junior pentarchos pointed far off to his left. There were a number of loading units, wheeled cargo haulers, and crates of abandoned spare parts. Right out behind them was a series of loading cranes and a light rail transport system. It was to this that he indicated.
“Can you see them?”
Komes Artemis strained to see them, but another volley struck nearby, and this time a hardened spike of metal slid through and struck the wall just a few centimeters from his face. He ducked down and looked to his comrade.
“What did you see?”
“More soldiers, they looked like Laconians.”
The Komes shook his head and then activated his communications system. He looked to his pentarchos and shook his head.
“We have comms for a reason.”
He spoke quietly and only for a few seconds before looking back at his men.
“It looks like we’re not alone in this. We have friends. There might be a chance for victory in all of this, after all.”
The pentarchos looked off into the distance, and his eyes locked down on the shape of one of the other soldiers nodding toward him. Something hit his head, and he looked back to find the Komes staring right back at him, the back of his fist raised where he had just struck his helm.
“Keep in the fight. This isn’t over yet.”
That was the exact moment when the heavily armored form of a Taochi warrior came out from cover and pointed directly at them. Komes Artemis took aim and blasted him with his carbine. Projectiles struck and bounced from the armor.
“Hold them back! Use everything you’ve got!”
* * *
The light rail system was something of a misnomer, as it was neither light nor a railway. In actuality, it was an automated motorized system. The single track covered just the length of the vast open space, and it seemed designed to be more of a convenient method for moving materials around the site. There were no cars and devices to drive, just the flatbed storage bins and wagons to load goods, parts, and equipment onto. The metalwork was heavily worn in places, and signs and non-functioning displays littered the place. A few days ago, this might have been a hive of commercial activity; now it was a battlefield, nothing more and nothing less.
A stray round flitted overhead, and Glaucon and Roxana dropped down low. It clattered about before vanishing off somewhere in the shadows. As Glaucon lifted himself up, he caught his pulse cannon on a set of cogs, and the weapon spun about to smack the stock against the circular metal. The loud clang seemed to echo throughout the entire facility as loud as the gun firing itself.
“Damn it!”
He dropped down again and pulled the weapon close. It appeared undamaged, but Tamara seemed more concerned with them being spotted. They waited there for a few more seconds, just in case. This time Tamara rose first and looked back at him to make sure it didn’t happen again.
“Really?” Glaucon grumbled.
She gave him the widest of grins and then she was off. Glaucon
lifted his weapon as carefully as he could. They clambered over metal barriers and thick electrical cables as they moved further from their comrades. Another pair of shots struck overhead, but by now it was clear these projectiles were nothing more than stray rounds. They reached as far as they could go along the trench and then stopped. The single tracks pushed up against them, and both felt exposed this far away from their comrades. If the enemy mercenaries assaulted, they would be cut off and knew they would have little chance on their own.
“You ready?” Glaucon asked.
Roxana looked down to her rifle and checked it for what felt like the hundredth time. Once satisfied, she looked back to him. The determination, almost zeal on her face was enough to even encourage the usually pessimistic Glaucon.
“Good, because we’ll only get a few shots, maybe one each.”
He lifted his pulse cannon onto the ledge of the trench, flicked off the safety, and then nodded to her.
“Check it.”
Tamara lifted herself the minimum distance to look over the edge. She was there for a brief moment and then dropped back down silently. Glaucon half expected a volley of gunfire to strike where she had just been, but there was nothing.
“They are still there, but if we want to hit the gun, we need to climb out of this trench and go at least fifty meters ahead. The shielding is still protecting it from here.”
Glaucon knew and trusted her assessment, and so tapped his communications earpiece built into his helmet. He’d avoided using it as much as possible, knowing only too well that communications could be tracked, targeted, and identified. The Laconian answered with a simple, gruff reply.
“Yes?”
Glaucon breathed more easily at hearing the calm, confident sound of the spatharios.
“We’re in position.”
“Good.”
Glaucon shook his head.
“No, it isn’t. We cannot get a bead on the gun from here. We need to get out into the open, but for that I will need a distraction.”
“Affirmative. I will give you ten seconds, be ready.”
Black Legion: 05 - Sea of Fire Page 17