by James Somers
“What he needs is to get this treatment completed without duress, Commander.”
“Doctor, our fleet is getting burned out of the sky. The Baruk will begin a ground assault as soon as they get the chance. Please, we need him on his feet now.”
“I’ll do the best I can, Mirah out.”
The communication link terminated at that point. “I’d better make sure of it,” Wynn said. “Davers, what’s the status of our troops?”
“All division commanders report ready and awaiting deployment instructions.”
“Tell them to hold positions. The King will instruct them personally,” Wynn said as he headed out the door.
Mirah returned to the control panel, monitoring Tiet’s treatment. He was coming out of his sedation as the procedure finished up. Everything was precisely computer controlled. She walked into the treatment room as he became conscious.
“How are you feeling?”
“A little groggy, but I feel all right. My arm feels a lot better-just a little sore now.”
“Well, that will pass soon enough. You’ve got plenty of pain meds onboard.”
“I appreciate the fix up.”
“You don’t have to be so formal.”
“I know. There’s just been so much happening recently, Mirah.”
“Well, the arm looks fine.”
“Thank you, Mirah,” he said. Tiet flexed the arm, trying out the repair. “You do wonderful work.”
“Tiet, I uh-” She started to speak as the door to the med-lab opened, letting Wynn inside.
“I see you’re on your feet again,” he said.
Mirah and Tiet dropped their gazes to the ground then looked at Wynn.
“Tiet, I’ve got to get you to the main deployment area. The Baruk are hammering our ships, and we’ll probably be looking at a ground assault somewhere very soon.”
“I’m ready, let’s go,” he said, as he gathered the upper body portion of his uniform from the counter nearby. They both headed out the main door as he called back.
“Thanks again, Mirah. We’ll talk soon,” he said. The door closed behind them.
“I hope so,” she whispered to the empty exam room.
Wynn and Tiet walked quickly to the nearest lift. “I want to apologize for the situation with Kale,” Wynn said.
“Don’t worry about it. You did what was right. It’s just that…he betrayed everything we knew, and yet he’s my brother.”
“I know.”
The lift opened, allowing them in. “Main deployment area,” Wynn said.
The computer complied with his request.
“You could have killed him and he wouldn’t have made any effort to stop you. I think he even longed for you to do it, to end his pain and guilt.”
“Why should I care about his pain? He betrayed us-all of us-including you, Wynn.”
“That’s right. And I am still asking you to consider the situation with your brother, despite that fact.”
Tiet glared at him then looked back at the city without saying anything.
“Have you considered that Kale didn’t need my help to save himself from your sword?”
“Do you think he’s that powerful?” Tiet asked.
“If I’m any judge about these things, I would say he’s very powerful.”
“I don’t want to hate him, Wynn. I just don’t know how to handle this right now…”
The lift slowed as they entered the deployment area and its control tower.
“Right now, we have a war to deal with,” Tiet said. “Everything else will have to wait.”
DEFENSE
As Wynn and Tiet entered the control center of the city’s main deployment area, the data techs busied themselves monitoring the current situation with the fleet as well as troop status and the readiness of the twelve cities and their defense systems. Each city had a large portion of the new army assigned to defend them, in the event they came under a Baruk attack. At 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?” Tiet asked.
“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 appear 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 watched the stats for the fleet on a smaller window of the main screen. “Mellar, pass my order for ships below twenty-five percent shield power to retreat immediately.”
“Yes, sir,” she replied.
“Ranul, what’s the status on that reconfigure?”
“I’ve got it!” Ranul said from his science station. “The cannon will now cycle through one hundred thousand shield frequencies per second and lock on the one that matches their shields.”
“Excellent. Garret, lock the cannon on their shield generator and fire.”
“Yes, sir!”
The dispersion cannon swiveled on its base and locked onto 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!” said the main science officer.
“Garret, fire at will, targeting the bridge first! Ranul, transmit that reconfiguration sequence to the remaining ships!”
“Already on it!”
“The day isn’t over for the Esyia yet,” Estall said with satisfaction.
“Those carriers are already passing through 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 there course heading?” asked Tiet.
“They’re 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. Holographic models situated themselves on the three dimensional map they were looking at.
“I think you’re projection is right,” Wynn said.
“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 then mobilize your troops there. The Baruk are heading your way. We anticipate an attack, launched from the Usai Valley, within twelve hours,” Tiet said.
“I trust we’ll be launching a cooperative attack with the city’s defensive batteries?” Erib asked.
“In part. What I hope to accomplish is more of an ambush. The Baruk will expect our civilian population to withdraw behind the city’s defensive wall. Hopefully we can lay in wait for them in the suburbs and then come upon 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 fifty percent of their forces to make up that frontline. I expect the Baruk to try for Baeth Periege after Thalidi. They’ll want the capital.”
“I wish you would allow me to lead the first strike at Thalidi and you remain here to set up the front,” Wynn said. “The battle there could be 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.
“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,” Tiet said.
“I think your broken arm speaks all too well for Grod’s intentions,” Wynn countered.
“Maybe.” Tiet said. They paused staring at one another. “I had better go. 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 for troops who would join him in the mission to Thalidi.
Wynn thought about the extreme danger Tiet would face there outside of 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 their best trained troops it was going to be a deadly battle. He wished he could be there to at least keep an eye on their young king. Then something occurred to him-If he couldn’t be there, maybe someone else could.
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 king, everyone knew full well the authority that had been granted to Tiet by the Council. They were glad for it.
Tiet walked to a place before them where he could address the men selected for the mission. They stood erect, waiting for orders which they would follow or die trying.
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 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 which 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. There 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, is this is a suicide mission, sir?” asked one of the soldiers.
“Not at all,” Tiet said. “I have no intention of wasting lives, but we need to buy some time. We have security tunnels within that sector which were intended to allow the civilian population living in the suburbs to evacuate to within the defensive wall perimeter if an attack came.
“We will take up positions well ahead of the tunnels then 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 front Wynn Gareth will be putting 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, men, 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 to live under their rule. 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 then they all made their way to the transports ready to take them to Thalidi. Tiet watched the elite group of five hundred soldiers file into the carriers as he made last minute checks to his own uniform and weaponry. The last item he checked was the latch across the hilt of his father’s blade. He was ready. Tiet boarded the lead carrier as the ramp began to ascend. Within moments they were all in the air flying toward 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 between themselves about what was happening and even how they wished they could get into the action rather than remain on guard duty.
“Look at that, the King is going to lead 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. Kale knew the Baruk wouldn’t be coming at all if he hadn’t betrayed his people in the first place. He was responsible for all of this.
The two soldiers still weren’t paying any attention to Kale, but his eyes were fixed upon them. After a few moments they both collapsed into the floor unconscious. The hand of one of the men rose into the air. The limp body was dragged across the floor by the elevated hand toward the security scanner to Kale’s cell. The hand planted itself on the scanner. The computer responded by lowering the security field to the cell.
Kale practically leaped across the room to the locker where his weapons had been stored, breaking the lock with his mind. He removed his weapons and then, using the hand of the other soldier nearby, he opened the chamber’s main security door.
When Kale stepped into the hall, he found Wynn Gareth standing propped against the wall about ten feet away. Kale froze, unsure of his next move.
“That was faster than I expected,” Wynn said.
Before Kale 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 did you know?” Kale asked.
“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 renegade brother, can he?”
Before Kale could respond, Wynn said, “You’d better get going. And, Kale? It’s not too late.”
Kale gave him a thoughtful look and nodded. Then he turned and ran toward the hangar bay. Wynn watched him go. He looked in on the two unconscious soldiers.
They were unharmed, so he left them there asleep. To wake them now would mean setting off the alarms over Kale’s escape. Wynn wanted the young king to have his powerful older brother on hand to help him stay alive.
BREAKTHROUGH
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. Ranul watched it from his science station.
He had not
iced the vessel remaining away from the fight while the other Baruk warships made great effort to intercept any Vorn cruisers trying to get near it for an attack. Ranul conducted 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 seemed to envelope not only the Baruk ships, but also the surface of the planet near the Twelve Cities.
The Esyia shuddered as laser 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 Ranul’s attention during a full-on space battle with their lives at risk, and Estall wanted to know what it was.
“What is it?” Estall asked as he braced himself against the bulkhead next to Ranul.
“I’m not exactly sure, but I think I might be picking up some sort of coordinating waveform used by the Baruk.”
“What?”
“It’s a signal, biological I think, and it’s coming from that Baruk flagship. I can’t decode it. It seems to be focused on the movements of the Baruk only. It could be telepathic in origin.”
“Telepathic? Do you mean something onboard is controlling the Baruk forces?”
“Well, I can’t be sure,” said Ranul, “but it would make since, at least with the data I have. If we destroy that control source we might be able to disorient the Baruk long enough to win this battle.”
“Transmit what you’ve got to Control on the surface. Let them know we’re going after the flag ship with everything we’ve got,” Estall said. “Helmsman, plot a new course for the flagship of the Baruk. Notify our remaining ships to concentrate all firepower on that vessel.”