by Jack Hunt
Wakara listened intently as he shoveled a rodent into his mouth like a piece of fried chicken. Droplets of luminescent blood trickled down his chin putting Reid off his meal. He hadn’t touched his. The food on Drozleon consisted of rice and various unusual animals, most of which tasted like shit. They sat around a large fire on the ground discussing what could be done.
“It’s too short of notice, not everyone will listen.”
“We don’t need everyone. You just need to let them know what is about to take place. Let them know that Kenji is being forced into this at the threat of his life being taken. They might not agree with Kenji but they must abide by the law.”
Reid sat quietly on a log observing. Skinner was the only one of them that was eating the food. He licked his fingers and appeared to be having a whale of a time.
“And if we can convince them, what then?”
Reid stood up. “We need to get in, ensure the safety of the ambassador. Show me the layout of the monument and the surrounding area.”
Reid thought he would be shown some advanced technology that would reveal the blueprint of the area, instead Wakara took a branch and stuck one end in the dusty ground. He began outlining the area and how the place was guarded. He moved into place stones to represent key guard towers.
“Around the monument in Trillium is dense grass extending out either side, this is called Monument Square. It is ten acres in size. Around the square, the tree branches have been woven together to create an inner sanctuary. This is the first line of defense and was created for the protection of the chancellor. There is only one way in and one way out unless you go over the sides but those are heavily guarded. Every time a speech is given, those that attend must leave their weapons outside the grounds. They can collect them when they leave. Some won’t part with their weapons so they must listen from outside the sanctuary.”
“How many will be there?” Sophie asked.
“Inside? Thousands. Outside, even more. It’s quite a sight,” Ayla said.
“We somehow need to get weapons inside.” He glanced over to her. “Ayla, any idea on what they might do with the ambassador?”
“Based on what I have seen chancellors do with traitors, she’s to be hoisted up and torn apart in front of everyone. And knowing Draskan, he’ll make Kenji kill her before he hands over authority. It will be done as a means of undermining all the work Kenji has put into building an alliance with Earth.”
Reid nodded and crouched down and placed his finger near the gate. “So we need Phantom here to take out the vines. Viper, you’re going to need to be over here in the event that Draskan goes for Kenji. Bulldog, you can go here to provide cover. Priest, you are going to have to get Powers once she’s down.” He pointed to another location. “Skinner, Sophie and I will try to get to the chancellor.”
“Oh well, now you put it that way, that sounds like a walk in the park,” Bulldog said before getting up and shaking his head. “This is fucked up. I should have continued playing dead.”
“And miss all the action?” Skinner replied. “Come on, you limey bastard. What was that you used to say? The greater the risk, the greater the reward?”
Bulldog blew out his cheeks and walked away. Viper strolled off after him. It was clear they were having second thoughts about coming along. He noticed Phantom didn’t have anything to say about it, he was sitting quietly by himself for most of the evening observing.
“Alone, it’s impossible but with your help—”
“We won’t kill our own,” Wakara said.
“No one is asking you to,” Reid said, “but you must know that the militia will defend him. You might have to.”
“Maybe. Maybe not,” Wakara said. “Much of this actually depends on the chancellor. Right now, he knows that some of our people perceive him as weak for wanting to unite with Earth, but…” he trailed off and looked lost in thought.
“What is it, Wakara?”
“If he was to kill Draskan, it would instill in the people hope.”
“Hope of what?”
“That our leader will lead.”
Reid nodded, remembering what the ambassador had told him about the Echobi people being like a pack of wolves. If they perceived the ambassador as the Omega instead of the Alpha, they would be more inclined to allow Draskan to lead even if he wasn’t from the lineage. They might have paid homage and lip service to their ancient laws but survival was at the heart of who they were. And if that meant having someone stronger lead, then perhaps they would side with him.
“And if he doesn’t?”
“Draskan will kill Kenji.”
They were silent; only the sound of wood popping and cracking in the fire. Its orange glow illuminated their faces as Ayla spoke with Wakara.
“So? Will you send the word out?”
Wakara nodded, and then leaned over to one of his men who went off to spread word to the surrounding towns and villages. Wakara had commanded the Echobi people to not attack Reid and his team. While Ayla spoke with the rest of them, Reid got up after noticing that Phantom was no longer there. He’d seen him stroll off into the darkness. He caught up with him.
“Leaving for good this time?” Reid asked as he watched Phantom about to leave the village.
Phantom turned back and grimaced. “It doesn’t matter. Tomorrow all of us are going to end up dead.”
Reid leaned against a tree and breathed in deeply staring off at lights in the distance.
“There’s a time set aside for all of us to die. Maybe it’s not today, or tomorrow or a week after that. But eventually we all die. At least you can choose how to be remembered.”
“Well I don’t choose this. You might be able to convince Skinner or Priest, hell, you might even be able to hold on to the others but not me. You see, I know now why you are here and it’s not to finish an op.”
“No, no it’s not. But if you walk out now, you aren’t just walking out on an op, or even giving the UEDF the finger. You are letting down the Echobi that have risked their lives for unity, you are letting down Earth and everything that makes us who we are. But more importantly, you’re letting down yourself.”
Phantom got closer and stared at Reid.
He narrowed his gaze. “You think you know me?”
Reid cocked his head. “I know you didn’t go AWOL because your father died.”
“Yes I did.”
“Don’t bullshit me, I looked up your file. Your father is still alive. You left your team on that planet because you were scared.”
Phantom shifted from one foot to the next. He scratched the side of his face as if Reid had hit a sore point.
“I wasn’t scared.”
“No? Then why did you leave?”
Phantom looked off into the distance.
“You know how many people I have seen die through the scope of my gun? Do you know how many men, women, even children I’ve dropped because if I didn’t, our troops would have died?”
Reid didn’t reply but he knew how many confirmed kills he’d had as a sniper.
“I can’t keep doing it.” He stared off looking like he was in a trance. “I just can’t.”
Reid nodded a few times contemplating what to say. He wasn’t there to convince them to stay. If they wanted to leave he would let them go but the fact that Phantom had come back in the Garantu Mountains told him a lot about who he really was. It was for this reason Reid turned to Phantom and pulled out a chain from around his neck.
“My father died when I was twelve fighting as an SOSR. Before he left for his last op he gave me this.” Reid stared at it. “Inscribed in the metal it says, ‘And if your days are spent treading water with no ship or shore in sight, then may the waves taste your fury, may the ocean remember your fight.’”
“Huh.” His eyebrows shot up. “It says all that on that little piece of metal?”
Reid cleared his throat. “You need glasses to read it but, yeah, that’s what it says.”
They both laughed a little.
“Look, Phantom, I won’t stop you from leaving, but um…” he trailed off. “I need you. They need you. Earth needs you.”
A smile spread on his face and he ran a hand around the back of his neck.
“Hell, Lt. You really should consider getting that trademarked and using it as the corps’ recruiting slogan.”
He pursed his lips. “I might do that.”
Phantom went from smiles to a serious expression as the weight of all that had been on his mind returned. “Those men died because of me. I left them behind not because I was scared of dying, but because I was scared of failing them.” He paused. “I figured if I wasn’t there I couldn’t be held responsible for what happened.”
“And yet you were.”
He nodded. “Screwed if you do, screwed if you don’t. Right?”
“Now that… they should have in the enlistment disclaimer,” Reid added.
“Actually I think they do,” Phantom replied with a weak smile.
Reid looked back towards the village camp. Viper and Bulldog were back around the fire along with Skinner and Priest. Phantom took a few steps back. “Listen, I need time to think.”
“Sure.”
He wandered off into the darkness and Reid exhaled hard before returning to the group.
As the night wore on, Phantom didn’t return. Understanding the gravity of the situation and the chance that all of them would be killed, he spoke with the rest of them and made sure they had the same opportunity as Phantom.
They were sitting around the fire drinking Malaco, an alcoholic drink that had been handed out to them by Wakara.
“Wow, this is powerful stuff,” Skinner said. “What’s in it again?”
“Malaco root.”
Skinner frowned and Bulldog nudged him with the side of his elbow. “Drink up, it might be the last time you get intoxicated.”
“It has a funny taste. It’s not bad but, strange,” Priest said.
Ayla leaned in and spoke. “It comes from the Malaco root. Our people chew it and spit the masticated root into jars for fermentation.”
Priest spat a mouthful into the fire and the Echobis roared with laughter.
“Are you serious?” Priest said staring at them. “God, sanctify my stomach.”
Reid couldn’t help find the whole thing amusing. As the crowd began to disperse, leaving just Ayla, and the team sitting around the fire, Reid thought it was best to speak to them all.
“Listen up. I know a few of you have had reservations about being here.” He glanced at Bulldog and Viper. “I understand. War is not easy. But we all have our reasons for signing up. So I’m going to lay it out for you. Phantom has made his decision; at least I think he has. If any of you want to leave as well, then I’m not going to stop you. And as far as the UEDF is concerned, if I survive tomorrow, I’ll tell them you all died doing your job.”
“And you?” Viper asked.
“I’m going through with it, because if I don’t, Earth will fall.”
Bulldog tossed a stick into the fire and gazed at the flames without even looking at Reid. “What makes you think it won’t even if you do go through with it?” He glanced up.
“I don’t concern myself with what is outside of my control. This is before me now. I have a job to do and I’m going to do it.”
“And if you die?”
“Then I die but at least I will know that I tried.”
His eyes drifted over them as they contemplated their involvement.
“Well I’ve come this far. Might as well continue,” Skinner said tapping the side of his cup.
Reid nodded and looked at Priest.
“Do I even need to answer?” Priest said.
“Viper?” Reid asked. She glanced over at Bulldog, who was still looking into the fire. Reid had his doubts about him. He wondered what his impact was on Viper.
Her lip curled up ever so slightly and she snorted. “If Bulldog is in, so am I.”
“Bulldog?”
He met Reid’s gaze and bit the bottom of his own lip. “I’m not doing this for you, the UEDF or them,” he pointed at the Echobi wandering in the village. “I do this for myself. For my survival. That’s it.”
“Good enough.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
When the sun rose the next morning, casting its bands of warm light over the village, each of the team had readied themselves in their own way. Initially Reid wanted to take the Lawanda craft all the way in but Ayla informed him that the Echobi sensors could detect craft coming within miles of Monument Square — even the Lawanda craft, which was undetectable to Earth’s technology. If it was detected, the military would shoot it out of the sky before it even got within spitting distance.
So, it was decided they would land as close as they could and travel on by foot. As they boarded the craft to begin the short journey, Reid looked out upon the village to see if Phantom had changed his mind but he was nowhere in sight.
“Lt. We need to leave.”
“Just a few more minutes.”
Reid stood on a forty-five-degree platform scanning the trees.
“Come on,” he muttered. “Where are you?”
Dust filled the air as the matte black V-shape craft prepared to rise.
“Lt!” Another yell from inside. “It’s time.”
He sighed. “Damn you, Phantom.”
As they were boarding the craft, the platform locked into place. “You okay, Dad?” Sophie asked.
“Yeah, let’s go.”
Commands were given to Wakara’s men to take the bird up. Just as it began to rise, Priest called out. “Wait. Wait. Lt. Look.”
Reid hurried over to a viewport. In the dust that swirled and spun like a mini tornado a figure emerged covering his eyes and rushing forward. Reid broke into a smile.
“Bring it down.”
“What?”
“Down!”
The craft landed again, and the bay door opened to allow him entry. A few seconds more and Phantom emerged looking windswept but overall well. He panted hard as if he had been running.
“Where the hell did you go?” Skinner asked.
He thumbed over his shoulder as if the location was nearby. “There is a cozy little bar, just north of here. Seriously, what a place. Now I can see why Earth wants to colonize. Damn, the things those Echobi women can do.”
Skinner and the others started laughing. Viper slapped his gut. “Where’s your manners?”
They settled in for the short flight. In that time Wakara shared a few of his war stories with them. It was learned that Wakara was close to fifty-nine in Earth age, he had seen many wars in his lifetime and yet it was only when he lost a grandson to the war, and had seen many of his friends die, that he had come around to thinking that Kenji was right. Of course there were still others that had trust issues. That was normal. Every planet had experienced war at some level, whether it was among themselves or with a species seeking to steal their resources.
He went on to explain that even though their entire race would fight to defend the planet, their military was not made up of everyone on the planet, only those that could prove themselves in battle. Wakara had spent the longest part of his career in service to the previous chancellor, the father of Kenji. He had trained many in the Echobi military and was recognized, honored and respected for his service. In many ways, he had become a spokesman for the Echobi when confusion arose over the new laws.
“I too was against the idea of Earth’s outpost but I made a promise to Kenji’s father to watch over his son and to honor his wishes no matter how he chose to lead the Echobi.”
“So you stand behind his decrees?”
“I will uphold them but that doesn’t mean I agree.”
Reid nodded. He knew that earning the trust of all the Echobi people would take time, as it had only been four years since Kenji came into power and madet the decision to become an ally of Earth. If Draskan made it into power, the new decrees would be nullified and all the work tha
t had been put in to establish a relationship with the Echobi people would fall by the wayside.
They would return to war, beginning with Earth.
Before they had left that morning, Ayla had received word that Wakara’s message had reached many who would be in attendance. They came to understand that there were many among the Echobi people who believed in what Kenji was trying to do for their people but were nervous to step out and side with him out of fear of retribution from Draskan’s growing militia. In many ways the species was already divided. Some couldn’t bring themselves to let go of the ancient laws, while others were willing if they could see that it worked.
The only one who could prove that was Kenji and though he had demonstrated it by allowing Earth to have an outpost on their planet, he had also fled with a large group of refugees when challenged by Draskan. Ayla said that was perceived as a sign of weakness and that’s why the Echobi people were unsure of who to follow. That’s why it was critical that Reid didn’t kill Draskan, even though everything inside of him said that he was to blame for the death of his team. But it wasn’t him; it was Kane. Draskan was merely a tool that Kane had used to accomplish what he wanted.
Kane didn’t just want safety; his eyes had always been set on position and power.
“Whoa, what is that?” Skinner pressed up against a viewpoint and in the distance they could see between the trees nothing but red. It was like a river flowing.
“That is the Echobi people,” Wakara said.
Ayla appeared through one of the hatches. “We’re getting close. You’ll need to wear these to blend in.” Folded over both arms were red cloaks, on the back of them was a dark red symbol that represented their planet.
Once the craft was down, they exited and within a matter of minutes had joined a long parade of Echobi heading towards the city of Trillium. Reid and his team kept their heads low to avoid being singled out.
While Kenji continued to hold the title of chancellor, it was his people not the militia that guarded the gates to Monument Square. For this reason, and because of Wakara’s status among the Echobi, his men would see to it that their weapons would make it into the square.