The Icarian Legacy Collected Edition: Brave Souls - First Strike (Volume 3)

by Kocho Trajchevski

  “He died an honorable dead by his own request from the human that found him and saved him from the dacarians that were holding him prisoner. His last act before dying my friend was to give the human a warning and to read him the coordinates of the point in our solar system in which the dacarian fleet would emerge from a captured datapad…

  That allowed us to trap the bastards and utterly destroy them even though we paid a heavy toil for that victory.”

  “What was his name?”

  “I think it was Agnail. There was something else but I can’t remember.”

  The name touched a core in Dunir. He knew a general that was called Agnail, the son of the last surviving Dean of his race.

  But that was a name he hadn’t heard in a long time. And it was possible that it was not the general. He was sure that the dacarians would keep such a prisoner close not send him on a scout ship in enemy territory especially an enemy as dangerous as the humans.

  He wanted to ask more but as he watched Ellis he realized that the human told him all he knew.

  “It is good to know that he died free. I thank you for that.”

  “If you survive the next few months you can thank the man that freed him in person. He will be able to tell you his full name.”

  Dunir looked at the human with obvious surprise in his eyes. What he just said that meant that this was not just a simple scouting mission. It was a reconnaissance mission launched before the invasion forces arrived. He remembered the first moment, the first briefing his commanding officer received about the hope they all searched for, the long gone Alterans, about their descendants the humans. He remembered the shock, the disappointment about how that race has regressed. That hope almost died that day. But as he watched the human now he felt it rising again. He remembered the stories. The recordings he watched form the now forgotten wars of the past. If you took of the armor those ancient humans wore it was hard to notice any difference. And as he saw his eyes he knew that that ancient fire still burns inside them. The galaxy trembled in that ancient past as these two races unleashed the full fury of their war. Now eons later that conflict was starting again. He didn’t know how the humans managed to make that leap from a planet bound race to a space faring civilization once again in such a short time but… He thanked every god he knew of it.

  “If what you say is true then we pose a threat to your mission. Why not leave us and just keep your teams and presence here hidden?”

  Ellis exhaled.

  “You’re right we probably should have stayed hidden. And we could. But…when we first came to this world we didn’t know what we would find here. We came to this world to find and destroy the evidence of our existence. And then we saw the camps. Where we thought we would find only dacarians we found you. We found humans serving as slaves.”

  He stopped for a second and lowered his head.

  “There was slavery on my world. It is something we once swore we would never allow again. And our history with the bastards is to long and bloody to be just forgotten. If you can’t stop this attack by the dacarians, if there is no hope for you than I’m sorry but we will abandon you. But you have my promise that we will do all we can so that at least few of you survive and go into hiding.“

  Dunir understood what was left unsaid. The humans managed to make a huge leap forward. But they were still not ready for a full scale war. They needed time, time to spread, to grow, and as he watched the human he knew that they will do that with one purpose in mind, to be ready for that faithful day when they will meet their enemies on equal footing. With a sorrow in his heart he realized that these humans, the others that were coming, he and everyone else here even the Alliance that was right now on its deathbed they were all buying that time.

  “Even if I die, even if all the creatures on this world die we would still say thank you and go to the afterlife with a smile on our face and for that I thank you human. You gave us back our hope. No one can ask for anything more than that. Thank you.”

  Ellis nodded.

  The Sicarian turned to leave but before he went he turned and extended his hand to Ellis.

  “I’m called Dunir.”

  “Ellis.”

  They shook hands and then each returned to what they were doing.

  As Dunir left Ellis sat down and thought about his words. He thought about the races he mentioned and the long wars that destroyed them all. It seemed that nothing could stop the dacarians in their slow advance across the galaxy. He looked at the small patch of sky and thought about the Excelsior and about the fleet that was at this time already on route towards this system. Humanity needed time to grow and that meant that this mission was essential. He looked at the Illians that were even now sleeping and at the Sicarian and his friends. They were all living on borrowed time. If there was no way for them to be removed from this world when the fleet strikes they would all die. There was to be no survivors no one who knew of Earth’s existence could be left alive.

  He looked at Kelley and knew that his commander will make the same decision when the time comes.

  He put his weapon down and lay down on the ground. He was asleep moments later.

  Four hours later the Kelley watched at the map together with Atkins and Rhodes and Arnes. He told Atkins and Rhodes about the conversation between Ellis and Dunir and they all agreed that for now they would stay with the rebels.

  “We have a long way ahead of us before we reach your central command Arnes. It would take us at least two weeks to reach your second line of defense.”

  Arnes looked at the human with look that showed surprise and disappointment. The surprise came from the fact that the humans knew about their defense grid and the disappointment from the knowledge that they would bypass the first line. He was responsible now for the civilians with them and he had doubts that they would be able to survive a trip that long.

  “Why bypass our first line? If we go strait to our bases we will be able to leave the civilians there and get escort and transportation to our center. And they might not survive the trip.”

  “I know Arnes, we all do but with the way the dacarians move their troops your first line of defense will be crushed soon and it is a big question how long your second line will hold. We hope that it will by the time we reach it but don’t bet on it.”

  Arnes turned and looked at the small group of Illians and tears came to his eyes as he saw the children. He knew that this march will be dangerous for them. But as he considered all that the human said he knew he was right. It was the right call.

  He was used to making hard decisions as a representative of the council. And now was the time for it.

  He turned toward the human.

  “You’re right. We will follow you and we will show you the way.”

  Kelley nodded and then just looked at his XO. He got a nod for confirmation and the group started moving ten minutes later. They had a plan and they all knew they will follow it to the end.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  Rivers watched with amazement as they bypassed the first line of defense of what the Illians called the Ksamona line. It was impressive and it was obvious that it was built at a time when their civilization was at its peak. He could notice the later installments on it and they were good but they failed to compare with the older ones. Heavily protected bunkers were placed everywhere and huge killing zones were left open. He could notice the shield placements and the heavy armor, the mine fields and the thousands of troops that were placed in the entrenchments. There were humans, Illians, Icarians and members of the several dozen races that he had no idea of. Their group got a few curios looks as they passed but that was all. There was more important job to be done. As he watched them he could feel their determination. And he could also feel their thoughts. He could see it in their eyes. And so could the other seals.

  “They look like defeated men. Determined but defeated.”

  Rivers turned to Anderson.

  “Wouldn’t you, wouldn’t we? We both know what is
coming, and so do they. And they know that they can’t stop them. Not with what they have.”

  Anderson looked at a small band of humans that were working on what looked like an artillery piece. One of them looked back and raised a hand. He returned the gesture.

  “You’re right. But that doesn’t make it any easier.”

  “No it doesn’t.”

  They passed the first line of defense and slowly headed to what looked like a small city inserted in the bedrock of the mountain.

  Strange looking towers rose high and a strong wall surrounded it. As Rivers watched it he noticed that it was a city built for creatures that were used to flying. He turned to the other seals and noticed comprehension on their faces as well.

  “So this is what a Ksand city looks like.”

  Ngoan turned as he heard the human speak. He didn’t understand the language but as he noticed the humans looking at Quarat the ancient Ksand fortress he understood.

  The human that was the leader looked at him.

  “This is a Ksand city isn’t it.”

  Ngoan smiled as he heard the word city. He knew what a real Ksand city looks like. He knew of the majestic beauty of Ksamona even if it was a military city even in ancient times. The Ksand were a race that loved flying. They built their cities in that regard. He remembered the images his race had of the flying cities that they found when they arrived on this world. Ksamona was not like that. It was a city built in the deep jungle, built in ancient times before the Ksand went to space. It was a city built for one thing and one thing only. War. And yet it incorporated all the beautiful things they loved so much. It had the high towers, the sky rims, the majestic ringed buildings and castles, huge libraries, and the council chambers. It was a city built inside the mountains, with a small part of it visible outside expanded in the valley hidden from sight by the thickest jungle on this world. The vegetation and the huge number of animals made it impossible for any scans to reveal the presence of the living beings living in it. And not even the strongest sensors the dacarians had could reveal the presence of the fortified city. What the dacarians had was the rudimentary knowledge that the rebel center was placed here but they had no idea what was waiting for them. The Ksand had one more city like this before the planet fell. It held out for two cycles even after all planetary resistance failed. And it was a fortress city placed in the open. The shield would prevent any bombardment from space so the dacarian legions will have to do the work the hard way. He knew that in the end they would prevail. But they would pay dearly for every stretch of land they will take here. Small bands of refugees were already leaving the city mostly civilians moving in to regions even more inhospitable to establish new bases that would carry on the fight. As he watched the humans he wondered will they maybe be the lucky ones that would finally see the dacarian chains broken and finally feel the freedom to rule this world like they once did. He knew that he won’t be one of those lucky ones but he hoped that his sister will be. He smiled as he thought of her. Alea was fourteen now.

  Tears appeared in his eyes as he remembered the rest of his family. They were long dead but they still lived in his memory.

  “It was built by the Ksand, but not as a city. It is a fortress Major Rivers. We use it as a city but it was built for war at a time when we were all still leaving in caves and discovering fire.”

  Rivers nodded.

  “We need to move, our ride is here.”

  Rivers noticed several strange looking boxy vehicles approaching. They were heavily armored with what looked like plasma guns on top. They looked like a mix between a humvee and a tank.

  The armor was a mix between green and blue the color of the jungle. It also absorbed the light which he knew would help a great deal with the camouflage.

  The vehicles stopped several meters from them. Several Illians stepped out from the back doors. One of them pointed to Kelley and Flint to put the wounded Gordon in the first vehicle. Luis went with them.

  Rivers looked at the vehicle and then at the Illian.

  “It will take your wounded to our medical facilities in Ksamona. You are welcomed to send some of your men with them.”

  Rivers looked at Anderson. Flint returned after he made sure that Gordon was strapped in safely and Luis was in the vehicle.

  “Sir I would like you to join us as well. You had a nasty hit and a concussion that I want to check on. And Jenkins should come as well.”

  Anderson nodded.

  “He is right boss. Go with them. Between you, Jenkins and Flint I doubt they will be able to do any harm. The three of us - he pointed to Kelly and Doc - will watch the fort while you’re gone.”

  Rivers thought for a second but agreed. He knew that he still felt shaky from the hit and that he needed a thorough checkout and rest.

  He turned to Anderson before he entered the vehicle.

  “Try to avoid speaking with their council till I join u. If you can’t then try to learn all you can. And be careful what you tell them.”

  “Yes Sir.”

  Moments later Rivers was inside and the vehicle started moving forward. Anderson, Doc and Kelley entered the second vehicle together with Ngoan and two other Illians. The rest went to the third vehicle.

  Moments later they started moving.

  He guessed the speed to be around sixty miles per hour which considering the terrain and the armor the vehicles carried it was impressive.

  There were no windows so he couldn’t see outside.

  He turned to Ngoan.

  “How far is your base?”

  Ngoan thought for a second. He didn’t know the human measurement for time at least the modern. But he knew the ancient humans divided the time in to twelve hours of light and twelve of night. Twenty four hours in total.

  “I don’t know your current time measurement but it will take us ten hours of what the romani measured the time.”

  Anderson felt confused for a second but he remembered the roman time measurement and smiled. It was twenty four hours so it was the same although it was divided to twelve hours of light and twelve of night.

  He nodded.

  “Do you understand Anderson?”

  “Yes Ngoan. I guess we have some time to rest.”

  He looked at Kelley and Doc. They were both already sleeping. Although he could tell by the way they were holding their weapons that they were ready to react instantly. He smiled and closed his eyes. He guessed he could take a nap as well.”

  Rivers looked at the impressive hall as he exited the vehicle. He knew that they were ahead of the other two vehicles that were at least an hour behind them and heading to another part of this ancient city. He could see outside from the hall and he gasped as he noticed the buildings. He now understood what the Illian meant when he said that the first city was a fortress. But he also knew that this was a fortress as well. The city was imbedded and built inside the mountain in to its bedrock protected both from orbital bombardment and from outside land attack. It was at the end of the closed valley leaving only one avenue of attack. About fifty square miles of the city were out in the open. And they were marvelous with towers rising several hundred meters high. They were connected with sky bridges and he could notice people moving about. He inhaled as he watched the buildings. He could notice the trees towering above them and considering their height he guessed that they were old, really old. He knew of trees back on Earth that were hundreds, some even thousands years old and he wondered if they were just children compared with the behemoths he was seeing now. They were used as arks for the bridges that connected the towers around them. It was a marvelous sight. He noticed the weapon placements and the bunkers that were built in them. He wondered how tough the materials that were used for constructing them were. He felt a presence near him and he noticed Flint and Jenkins. They both looked amazed and he could see the admiration in their faces.

  “It’s amazing isn’t it?”

  “It sure is sir, have to give it to them the Ksand really knew how to bui
ld.”

  “To bad that it will soon be just a pile of rubble.”

  Rivers and Flint looked at Jenkins.

  He just raised his shoulders.

  “What?”

  They just shook their heads.

  “Leave it to Jenkins to state the obvious at the worst time.”

  “Oh come on F I’m just telling the truth.”

  Flint looked at his friend.

  “The cap has a concussion but maybe I should smack u on the head as well.”

  Jenkins made a sour face and then embraced Flint.

  “Nah you’re too good at heart F to do that.”

  At that moment Rivers slapped him on the back of the head.

  “He is but I’m not.”

  “Cap now why did you have to do that? Now I will have to pay it back someday”

  Rivers and Flint smiled at the last comment. Jenkins was notorious about his jokes.

  “Guess I will have to live to see it. And ask Doc to plan my revenge.”

  “Now that sir is just unfair.”

  “You just said it Jen…Sir”

  “Shit… i guess I’ll have to rethink my strategy.”

  They all smiled.

  Their joking was cut short as one of the Illians approached.

  He pointed towards a door on the other side of the hall and they noticed that both Gordon and Luis were taken there. They were lying on stretchers that were placed on a small boxy vehicle that drove them there. Several Illians and two Sicarians walked with them. They were checking them with scanners and talking between them.

  “Come with me.”

  Rivers nodded and they all slowly headed after the Illian.

  As they reached the door they noticed the others waiting for them.

  As they entered the door closed behind them and they could feel that they started moving. It was obvious that they were in an elevator.

  A minute later the door opened in to a hallway that lead in to what was obvious the medical department of the base. They noticed beds with wounded on both sides through the transparent glass and they could see the medical staff tending them. Most of the doctors were Illians but there were also Sicarians and several other creatures.