by Kevin Gordon
knew what the ship was capable of.
General Hildnic, in command of all void-borne forces, met him on the nexus—the control center of the Onzic. A thick man of average height, he was one of the older soldiers in OLMAC’s militia. With a bushy, scraggily grey beard, sunken, pock-marked cheeks and eyes that shone underneath thick, overgrown eyebrows, he had a face that always brought comfort to Suld, a face he had known since he was a young child.
For a moment, despite the foreplay of war raging around them, Suld took a moment to gaze down on the nexus, to reflect on all the preparations he and his generals had made, and all he was expected to live up to.
So now the moment has come. As much as I have prepared for it, as much as I felt it was inevitable, a part of me still has fear of the future, of facing a foe like the TELREC. What we do, how we fight, will change the future of Novan irrevocably.
The crew bustled around him, and each of their faces he knew as if they were family. The nexus itself felt like a sanctuary to him, for it was on this nexus that he would meet with his generals and plan out possible strategies for war, here that he would oversee war games conducted just outside the Novan system. On the ovular, marble table that sat in the center, he fell asleep many a time, after meeting with Hildnic or Ank-Tehht, reviewing the status of clone and meta. He has sat at each of the stations surrounding the table, watching how quickly commands would be diverted from a damaged colvition relay to tactile input. Clone controllers would train regularly from this nexus, in preparation for this moment, when three of them would delegate missions to the entirety of the clone population, transferring munitions, supplies, fighters and the wounded.
We are ready, he thought to himself. We have prepared, and we are ready.
Hildnic came over, and bowed before Suld. ^It’s good you could work us into your busy schedule.^ He downloaded status reports of the fleet, and in moments Suld assimilated them.
^Don’t you ever sit down?^ Suld returned his bow, then threw a friendly arm around his shoulder, smiling a knowing smile. ^This is Ciluo, a meta representative. And I’m sure Uld’s face is familiar to you.^
Hildnic came close in front of Uld, his old, weathered face barely restraining the rage building within. ^You are one of the reasons our people have fallen from greatness. You represent all that is despicable about our culture, and if not for Suld, I’d slaughter you where you stand!^
^Idle threats from a dead man barely amuse me,^ cast Uld, not even dignifying Hildnic’s presence with direct eye contact. Hildnic grabbed him with his thick and mighty hands.
^One roa, you’ll answer for all you have done, if not at my hands, then at another’s. I only hope I am there to see it.^ Hildnic turned to Suld. ^Is Ellore?^
^Alright? Yes. I got there in time.^
Hildnic casually threw Uld against a bulkhead behind him, then gestured Suld to the chair in the center of the nexus.
^I offer you the command.^
^No. You have trained for this, not I.^ Suld gestured to the crew spread out around them. ^This is your crew, not mine. You know their strengths.^
Hildnic bowed slightly. ^Thank you.^
^Now what is our status?^ asked Suld, as Ciluo gathered Uld and dumped him in a chair next to him, Hildnic taking his place at command. Explosions rocked the ship, as fighters darted back and forth in the mental scopes.
^We will be in weapons range in four mroas,^ cast Hildnic quickly. ^Three thousand fighters met the TELREC invasion force. The fighter carrier ships Ou-lini and Ajaitain will arrive on scene in four mroas, with their fifty-thousand fighters. Meta-carriers Intrepid and Doxcha should arrive on scene in one droa. General Ank-Tehht reports defensive systems are holding around Gan-Elldon, and successful launch of the soldier clones on transport ships. Our fighters are trying to push the TELREC forces closer to the emdec batteries on Gan-Elldon, and will then mop up the rest of the TELREC, but we anticipate this is merely an overture to a long affair.^
^Agreed. Status of pilot clones on planet?^
^They are manning the remaining two thousand fighters. The Onzic has three of ten master clone-controllers.^ Hildnic motioned to a group of two women and a man seated near the rear of the nexus. ^The nine other oreships are commanded by clones. We will be ready once they attack in force. Twenty oreships are in the Pihnin cluster, twenty spread throughout the Piure nebula, in orbit around Norance, and thirty still orbit the shipyards around the third moon of Celd. As I assess the true nature of the TELREC forces, I will begin to call them in.^
^Good,^ replied Suld. He stood next to Hildnic, and glanced over the crew seated around him. Nine soumans manned various controls, all mostly redundant, as they controlled the Onzic and the fleet through colvition. The ship itself had three more soumans in the Motive Power section, with the bulk of the crew made up of ninety sentient meta. Most of the soumans Suld knew personally, as Gan-Elldon was a tight-knit community, and those who served on military vessels all required Suld’s personal approval. One caught his eyes, who wore the rank of Saeren.
^Hildnic, who is that? Who is your Saeren—I don’t recognize her.^
^That is Saeren Ilasko. I promoted her three dcas ago.^
^Ilasko . . . Ilasko . . . I remember!^ cried Suld, dredging up her name from within his mind. ^Didn’t I refuse her promotion? Wasn’t she involved in some colvition fiasco?^
^Yes, Suld. And while she may have been guilty, I still deemed her of great value. That is why she serves on the flagship, under my direct command, until she proves herself.^
^I’m not used to anyone countermanding my orders,^ cast Suld, a little irritated. ^Least of all you.^
^Then you should understand that what I do, I do for the best interests of your fleet. I take full responsibility for all my decisions, whether they be successes or failures. I am sure you won’t be disappointed by her performance.^
^Let’s hope not, my friend. For the sake of all OLMAC, let’s hope not.^
The oreships bolted out of the darkness of the moon, their engines burning up what little atmosphere there was in great plumes behind them. Dull grey service ships, they were huge, built for extended trips in dangerous places. A proud bow running the entire height of the ship cut through the void, leaving debris clouds in its wake. Oreships were huge, built with a tall central section, above which rose the nexus, with the habitation sections embracing the Motive Power sections. Gleaming new on the hull was weaponry recently installed—four massive emdec cannons under the nexus, three backup NnuG barrier power-plants behind the Motive Power section. On each side was attached a bulbous construct—formerly the processing centers for ore extracted from asteroids and planetoids. Now, a massive emdec cannon was set deep in its front, while carved in the side were launching facilities for meta and fighters. Under each processing pod was built a massive engine, in case the main ship had to be abandoned. As the main body tapered to the rear, the power plant and engines for the ship dominated the design. Built for long voyages without the need for service or power modification, they provided steady, dependable power, though they were not known for their speed.
Suld received a cast from Theia as the oreships swung around to face the TELREC forces.
^We have boarded the dromons, and are taking flight! One ship was incapacitated, but thirty-eight dromons will be on the battlegrid in mroas.^
^Good.^ Suld sat down in the rear of the nexus, taking a moment to relax. He cast to all his people on Gan-Elldon and in the ships above.
^People of OLMAC, of Gan-Elldon, this is Mechle Suld. On Gan-Elldon we have the luxury of perpetual spring, with fair weather, and calm wind. But in reality seasons change, and with the change comes tempest and storm. We have made provision for this storm, vile and rough thought it may be. We have something precious on our world, untainted by the dominion of the TELREC, or the decadence of the Leviathan. We may stand alone, but we stand strong, untied by a common purpose and ideal. I know many of you are eager to test our mettle against our hated foe, while others dread the approac
h of war. I say to all of you, we go to war not for the thrill of battle and glory of conquest, but in defense of our children, and their future.^
^I ask all non-essential, non-military personnel to board escape shuttles,^ he continued. ^Now that the oreships are in position, we can provide cover for your escape. But never lose hope my friends! We shall not let Gan-Elldon fall.^
^For all who will stand with me and fight against the TELREC, I thank you. We shall go forth as comrades, with unity in our hearts and anger in our eyes, and let loose the floodgates of our vengeance against this ignoble adversary. To victory!^
On the planet, thousands of people could be seen scurrying to escape shuttles positioned around the perimeter. Clones could still be seen filing out by the thousands to waiting troop transports, as fighters took off from the surface in a great swarm. The fighters took up positions around the oreships, creating a wide blanket in front of the moon. The dromons Theia commanded took up positions far in front of the main fleet, testing their weaponry, the Coss that commanded them trying to quickly get used to trusting their lives to meta and clones. The first wave of offensive meta took off from the far side of the moon, taking up a defensive position in orbit directly above the city. Heavily armored, they were half the size of a traditional fighter, but four