“Clear,” Darryl called, and a moment later Ashur chuffed.
There were now eighteen dead on the bar’s floor. The old human, her eyes returning to normal, addressed the barkeeper. “If Baba Yaga comes back, she burns your establishment to the ground. Understand?”
The barkeeper nodded.
“For the record,” she spoke to the room as she started for the door, Darryl covering those left alive behind her and Ashur jogging ahead, “there is no safe distance from the Empress.”
The door shut quietly behind the three of them.
Thus began the stories of Baba Yaga, the Etheric’s Witch of the Night.
21
QBBS Meredith Reynolds, Military Meeting Room, One Year After Baba Yaga’s Introduction
Bethany Anne tapped the table. “So, to sum up the last four weeks of effort on the planet Merrek: the Leath hit this world two months ago, we didn’t respond because we didn’t know, we have teams on the planet now but the Leath are already dug in, and it has become a massive clusterfuck.”
Admiral Thomas looked at Lance, Kael-ven, and Kiel before nodding. “Yes, that about sums it up. We knew they had left their system, but our hidden spy couldn’t go with them. It wasn’t until we searched the general area of space we suspected they had gated to that we found the planet and their ships in the system. It was based on the extrapolation of the location and angle of their gate. Unfortunately, it has taken this long to safely acquire enough video.”
Bethany Anne looked at the ceiling in thought for a moment before returning her gaze to those at the table. “Frankly, the Leath are probably as surprised as we are. They are surprised we found them this quickly, before they really got dug in, and we are surprised they outsmarted us.”
“The Leath are bitching about us in the press again,” Cheryl Lynn added. “Suggesting we are attacking their world and killing their harmless civilians.”
“And the videos from our Guardians and Guardian Marines?” Bethany Anne asked.
“Prove it’s a complete fabrication; lots of very impressive video,” she replied. “When Dan is working with the teams on the ground, he tries to pull as much video as he can.”
Bethany Anne shrugged, “Can’t be helped. Just keep pumping out the truth and showing that the Leath are also killing the locals. And let’s make it a priority to get the translation working properly.” She looked around. “Where are Peter and Todd?”
Kiel spoke up. “I asked them to help train with the Second Yollin Battalion so we can get them on-planet as soon as possible. The Guardians are in a stalemate right now. We need to get more bodies on planet.” He looked at his notes. “I have integrated three companies of Yollin marines with the human groups on Merrek, and they are getting bloodied and having to learn on the job.”
“Navy has stopped new ground support,” Thomas admitted. “Just like us, the Leath can get small ships on- and off-planet, so the forces on the ground are not increasing by much on either side. They have some big bastards guarding their gate in space, and we haven’t been able to push them out yet. Every time we get new firepower, they add another. We subtract, and they do too. I’m pretty sure both of us are rearranging our ships in case someone tries a sneak attack in another location.”
Lance said, “Neither group has been able to achieve a decided tactical advantage, so we both do what we can. They have more troops, but we have better equipment, mostly.”
Bethany Anne nodded. “Ok, let’s talk again in seventy-two hours, unless something changes.”
Planet Merrek, Minor Continent, Outside Zone 02-3433, Forty-Eight Hours Later
The female wolf ripped into the Leath’s neck and twisted her teeth, and the nasty taste of Leath blood invaded her mouth.
Again.
Looking around, the wolf saw that the Marines on her team had decisively rebuffed the Leath effort to overwhelm their position.
Brooklyn changed back to human form and struggled over the muddy ground on this godforsaken alien planet to her team. “Join the Marines, see the universe, kill nasty Leath, and taste their blood,” she grumbled as another wolf, legs caked with mud, trudged over to her. “It seemed so sexy in theory.” A moment later her sister Addison was in front of her, weaving on her feet before unceremoniously dropping down on her ass in the mud.
“You look like shit,” Brooklyn told her.
“Bite me,” Addison replied. “It’s a bad hair day.”
Carter walked past the two of them, giving them a half-hearted smile. “Don’t worry, this whole planet is a bad hair day.”
“Yeah,” Caden called over his shoulder from behind Brooklyn. “And for you fuzzy-wuzzies, it’s a whole-body bad hair day!”
“If I didn’t like him,” Addison whispered under her breath, “I’d save the Leath the effort and kill him myself.”
Brooklyn’s eyes lit up. “I’ll do it!” When Addison’s eyes flickered yellow, Brooklyn just shook her head. “You still got it bad.”
“Like a dog in heat,” Addison grumped. She shrugged at Brooklyn’s astonishment. “Well, the metaphor was appropriate.”
“Fuck!” Chris yelled. The four humans and eight Yollins on their expanded team turned to look at him and Chris pulled off his goggles, “Fucking Leath destroyed our last eye-in-the-sky.” He peeked over the small berm they had constructed and ducked back down to look at Brooklyn. “We won’t have extra eagles for at least three hours, according to Command.”
Brooklyn’s mouth twisted in annoyance and she called, “Look sharp, everyone! We need to be a little more vigilant now, that’s all.” She looked at Addison, “You ok going back to wolf?” She touched her nose. “I need the sensory support.”
Addison raised a hand for Brooklyn to pull her up. When she was standing, she asked, “Anyplace in particular?”
Brooklyn turned to look in Caden’s direction and spoke softly, “Out in front of Caden, if you can deal with it.”
Addison flipped her sister off and turned toward the Marine in question. “It’s not like I’m going to sniff his ass or anything.”
Brooklyn snickered as her sister slogged through the mud, looking not very sexy at all. Maybe that will help all the damn pheromones she’s polluting the air with, Brooklyn thought.
When the attack came, it came quickly. Battles are fluid: sometimes your side wins, sometimes it loses.
And you lose good people. People who had a life ahead of them. Perhaps even love ahead of them.
A future, kids, grandkids…
But no.
This time this battle went to the Leath. A small pocket of Etheric Guardians and Guardian Marines were overrun during the last hour they lacked overhead coverage, the Leath having destroyed their drones.
Just like the Etheric Empire took out Leath equipment any chance they could.
It was a fight to the end, Yollins protecting humans, humans protecting Yollins, as real teams do, no matter the species.
At the end of the battle, with dead friends’ bodies spread throughout their defensive position, two Were sisters and one human male were still fighting. The male went down, his leg exploding, and the dark-haired sister took three shots to the chest, the barrage of rounds finally overcoming her armor.
Of the hundred and thirty-two Leath who overran the Etheric Empire’s Guardians, barely forty were alive when the last female changed in front of their eyes. She stood like a human, but her features were animal.
That human took out twelve more Leath before she succumbed to the firepower ravaging her body from all directions. The Leath squeezed their triggers with abandon, their small hind-brains screaming in fear of the monstrosity in their midst.
She crawled back, bleeding, and changed back to human, then took the hands of her sister and the man who had been with them at the end. Her blond hair was coated with mud as the Leath surrounded her and her team, taking liberties with the bodies…
And filming it.
Planet Leath, Tienemehn, Defense Planning Headquarters
/> Prime Quarter Leader Conclek didn’t bother taking off his armor as he trudged through the hallways of the lower levels. He had been pulled home from the front lines to answer to some back-line operational weenie’s questions while his people were getting ripped up on Merrek.
All because of some jackasses who got lucky and decided to have a little fun.
Carrying his armor’s helmet under his arm, he nodded to the two guards who checked his credentials. Once approved, he knocked on the door of the meeting room to which he had been ordered to report. He was told to come in, so he pushed the door open and entered.
It took him a half-second to realize these weren’t back-line operational weenies at all, and he clicked his heels together and saluted smartly. Well, as smartly as his armor would allow.
The First Line Prime Commander was sitting at the table with two intelligence officers and an Ixtali.
“Sir! Prime Quarter Leader Conclek reporting as ordered.”
First Line Prime Commander Tehrle nodded, allowing Conclek to drop his salute.
“I’ll make this quick, Conclek,” the First Line Prime Commander growled. “These are Prime Intelligence One and Two,” he pointed to the other two Leath at the table, “and our deep cover agent Ze’mek from the Ixtali undercover effort,” indicating the Ixtali. The First Line Prime Commander nodded toward the second Leath at the table. “Two will be asking you questions.”
“Prime Quarter Leader,” Intelligence Two began, congenially enough. “I understand a group of your soldiers overran and killed an Etheric Empire Quarter some three days ago. Correct?”
“Correct.” Conclek wasn’t sure how much he should admit. What wasn’t admitted might not be known.
Unfortunately, the First Line Prime Commander knew the rest. “And,” he interrupted, “they were disrespectful to the bodies, took video of it, and sent it to galactic news groups?”
“Well, yes.” It wasn’t the best situation, but it had helped the morale of his fighters to send that out to the universe. Those Etheric fighters were damned hard to kill, but apparently enough rounds would do the job.
It was a great training video, if nothing else.
Prime Intelligence Two continued his questioning. “Do you know much about the Etheric Empress, Prime Quarter Leader?”
Being smart, Conclek left out his opinion of politicians and kept to what he knew. “She has a reputation for being unable to keep her anger in check.”
“That is all?” he asked, his voice smooth.
“That is enough,” Conclek replied. “I’m sorry, but leaders who can’t control their emotions will eventually do something very stupid. We will be there to make her regret it.”
“That’s all,” the Ixtali slowly stood up from the table, “I needed to hear.” He nodded to the three sitting. “Contact me, should you need me again.” Turning, he started toward the door, pausing briefly to stare at Conclek. “You should get your affairs in order.” He opened the door and stepped out.
The door closed behind him with a gentle click.
Conclek looked back at the Leath still at the table, confused. “Am I being punished?”
“Not by us,” First Line Prime Commander told him. “But you will be dead, nonetheless. I’m sending you back to Merrek to reap what your people have sown. We can’t get any more troops to Merrek in time to make much of a difference, and our Intelligence knows the Empress has sent someone to the planet.”
“Someone?” Conclek asked. “How can one person make much of a difference?”
Prime Intelligence One clarified, “It is a small group, maybe five to ten total. But it includes the one they call…”
The Ixtali Ze’mek started walking away from the door, not needing to hear more of the conversation. He was well aware of who was heading toward Merrek, and he wanted to be on the other end of the galaxy for a while.
QBBS Meredith Reynolds, Empress’ Quarters
Bethany Anne caressed the wooden box, running her hand across its smooth sides before sliding it to the two clasps on the front.
Each opened with a snap.
Lifting the top back on its hinges, she enjoyed the caress of the low light on the silver blade inside for a moment. Then, gently, she pulled out the katana, turning it to the left and then to the right as she examined the cutting edge. Satisfied, she reached for the sheath and slid the blade home.
ADAM, is this suit fully charged, and do we have full connectivity for the sensor circuits?
>>Yes, Bethany Anne.<<
Backup armor?
>>Yes, Bethany Anne.<<
Plenty of ammo?
>>Yes, Bethany Anne.<<
Reaching forward, she grabbed her holsters and slid first her right arm, then her left through the holsters’ loops and locked the rig in place. Reaching to the right, she grabbed first one, then the second of her two Jean Dukes Specials with their armor-piercing rounds.
After she’d locked them both in place, she touched a button on her right leg. The ridge along her leg opened and slid apart. A small hilt slid upward for Bethany Anne to grasp and remove. Lifting it, she sank her emotions into the Etheric and pulled.
The blade sprang into being, the red glow along its three-foot edge humming as if in anger. When she cut off the energy the blade disappeared, leaving her with only the hilt. She slapped it back on the clip and it slid back into the armor on her right leg, the ridge sealing again.
She looked over her shoulder. “John?”
“Yes, boss?” his somber voice replied.
“Do you have extra slots for grenades?”
John chuckled. “BA, I always have slots for my little friends.”
“Good to know.” She turned back to the armaments in front of her. Given the sheer weight the five of them could carry, it was effectively a toy store for grown boys and girls—and Bethany Anne was fully grown.
And mad as hell.
ADAM cut in.
>> General Reynolds is asking what the target for this operation is?<<
Tell him the planet Merrek.
>>He says he knows that much. Where specifically?<< ADAM asked after a moment.
Bethany Anne grabbed a gear bag and started filling it. That task completed, she stepped out of her weapons room.
Tell him the whole Gott Verdammt planet.
>>Oh.<<
22
QBBS Meredith Reynolds
There were black bands wrapped around the Guardians’ and Guardian Marines’ arms. Each had seen the video shared by the Leath with the multi-system news agencies, and anger burned in every human and Yollin in the units.
Practice time had doubled, and the fighting units’ desire to get to Merrek was thick enough that Kiel could cut it with a dull knife.
The rumor was the Empress was sending her Avatar, Baba Yaga, to the planet, and all remaining Guardians would accompany her.
Kiel had told them to practice hard so they could get a bit of their own back, and they had.
Shipyard staff started signing up for double-shifts. Those on the planet sent gifts, wrote songs, and performed plays in cities all over the world. Those on the space stations wore black armbands in support and memory of those who had been disrespected on a foreign planet.
And all watched and waited for the Empress’ response.
It was Yollins and humans… No, it was Etherians who had been disrespected, and the entire Empire was ready to provide the response.
With interest.
Bethany Anne looked in her mirror. Do it, TOM.
This is going to hurt like a sonofabitch.
DO. IT.
Not on the way to Merrek? We would have more time.
Which part of “DO IT” don’t you understand?
The screaming part, he replied.
The pain hit. Torture rampaged throughout her body as TOM forced the modifications through her nanocytes, pulling raw power from the Etheric to make the changes she’d requested.
John checked on her when he heard the whimp
ers she couldn’t hold in and watched in fascination as she changed. Her jet-black hair turned white—pure white. Her skin morphed to black leather, and her eyes were now white orbs with red irises.
She had told her people to suit up in black armor, not red.
Her hands grasped the countertop, squeezing hard to deflect her attention from the sheer hell moving through her body.
Then it was over.
Her body convulsed, bucking back and forth for a moment as she and TOM fought to keep her body upright.
“I got...” she croaked, her voice a rough whisper, “this.”
She slowly straightened up. John stayed in place, but even he had to stop himself from taking an involuntary step back when she looked at him.
“I see the Queen Bitch has upgraded her look,” he commented. “Or is this someone else?”
Her voice was deep, raspy; neither that of the Empress nor the Queen Bitch.
“The Queen Bitch is an angry Bethany Anne.” She headed out of the room toward the bedroom of her suite. “This is my alter ego Baba Yaga, the Witch of the Night.”
She picked up her bag of weapons and the two people disappeared from her suite, her last comment drifting in the silence.
“Also known as Death.”
QBBS Meredith Reynolds, the Open Court
The anger roiling through the multiple stories was palpable. The Meredith Reynolds was almost over-full. There was a path that led from the hallway beside All Guns Blazing to the exit to the space docks.
First the news had been whispered, then the Guardians and Guardian Marines, black bands around their arms, had flooded into the bottom level, the Food Court, and made a lane.
Then others rarely seen in the outer docks strode into the Open Court. Yollins from the space stations, Yollins from the planet.
Kurtherian Gambit Boxed Set Three: Books 15-21, Never Submit, Never Surrender, Forever Defend, Might Makes Right, Ahead Full, Capture Death, Life Goes On (Kurtherian Gambit Boxed Sets Book 3) Page 91