by Trey Deibel
Malcolm pulled his mind halfway back into reality. He made it up the stairs to the rafters. Plasma shots crowded him. His shields gave and were now useless. His armor began to burn to his skin. Malcolm tossed off his helmet; it was only in the way now. Dytircs surrounded him from every side. Malcolm could feel his body begin to fail; he was almost there. He dove against the metal rafters and crawled, reaching out and hugging the tractor beam.
“You didn’t protect her!” Clover’s voice whispered in his head. “You let Alexx die!”
The lights began to fade, and Malcolm could no longer feel anything! “Clover, Alexx. Daddy’s coming home now.”
He pressed the trigger.
Chapter 26: Revelations & Repercussions
November 4, 2111
James Stone
It was almost time to pay for my sins. I sat in the lounge on the Striking Star, nervous as all hell, and I couldn’t keep from rubbing my hands against each other. Ever since Erryn told me the Striking Star would be arriving at the destination of the Tempest of Titans, I couldn’t help thinking about the punishments Commander Sizar had in store for me. These thoughts were interrupted as I heard Erryn and Uslar in conversation at the table near me.
“Uslar, I can’t accept your money. You hired me to rescue Landis, and we failed… I failed. Therefore, I don’t deserve to be paid,” Erryn told Uslar.
“That may be true, but you could’ve left when Landis was killed. You chose to stay with us, and because of that, we were able to escape alive. Honestly, I think you deserve it.” Uslar paid her the jemns from his account.
Valiic walked into the room and took a seat across from me. He studied my expression. “You’re nervous. I’ve seen that look long enough to tell.”
“Hah… nervous like a dog about to get fixed,” I tried to joke it off.
“A reasonable reaction. Although, just know all of us will be facing the same thing… together.” He smiled his always day-cheering smile.
“Actually, Valiic, I won’t let you all take the hit, too. I’m going to tell them I commanded you to follow me… all of you. I want you and the others to second that story.”
“Out of the question, James. We--”
“Valiic, I don’t want to see punishments passed around to those who don’t deserve it. Hell, it was my idea to go rogue.”
Valiic raised both his hands and shrugged. “I see there’s no arguing with you. I’ll let the others know, although you’d better bet we’ll still be there for you.”
“I expect nothing less from family,” I said before Valiic left.
In solitude again, I sat, wondering what to say. The last thing I wanted was to be dishonorably discharged. Hell, my entire life revolved around the military. Truly, the only family I had were the brothers and sisters I’d made here.
Minutes later, Erryn informed me, “We’re pulling into the Tempest of Titans’ hangar bay.”
“Erryn.”
“Yes, sweetie.”
“Thank you for everything. It has been a fine honor to work besides you.”
She smiled and walked back into her ship’s control room. I felt the bump as we landed in the hangar. The Striking Star’s hatch opened, and a troupe of soldiers marched on board. When they reached the lounge, they surrounded me.
Commander Sizar weaved through his soldiers until he was in front of me. “Where is Captain Landis?”
“They killed her,” I mumbled as all the pain from her death quickly drowned away my anxiety.
“You threw away your military career for a failed mission. What a shame! You are under military arrest for desertion.” He signaled to his troops. “I want all of them in cuffs!”
Without resisting, I let them cuff me. Moments later, I heard a scuffle in the room where Narrisa was. My heart sank, and I bulldozed my way into the room. Soldiers had their guns pointed at the dytirc children, who trembled in fear behind Narrisa. She refused to back down. I drove into a few of them, knocking them down. Soon, Kalvin arrived.
“What, might I request, is commencing here?”
“Kalvin, I need a solid. Those children aren’t our enemies! They need a home. Would you care to supply them one?”
He gestured for the troops to put down their guns. “I will take care of such matters at hand, at least until your situation is resolved. After that, we can proceed to iron out every detail.”
“My situation?”
“Absolutely. During your trail, I have opted to partake as your defendant.”
This news hit me like a black curveball at night. Could this be the Kalvin I remembered?
Finally, I let out the question, “Why?”
He smirked as if to show he was waiting for that question. “Because your potential exceeds that of a typical soldier, James. I always understood that fact, and you demonstrated it with that assignment you took upon yourself to complete. Moreover, I cannot allow Sizar to remove you from our military.”
“And how do we keep that from going down?”
“I believe the situation is under control. Although, we have been giving only an hour to prepare… Sizar pushed for a near immediate hearing. You must have drastically infuriated him.”
“Lately, I feel like that’s becoming a specialty of mine,” I joked.
After everything was in order, we were escorted off the ship with enough soldiers around us to block a sunset. Only Brad walked out of that ship a free man. Both of the children walked at Narrisa’s side.
Brad handed Kalvin a document. “Malcolm wanted y’all tah have dis. I had dis shit printed out… all professional-like.”
Kalvin grabbed the document. “My appreciations. Additionally, I extend my apologies for your recent loss. My men informed me minutes beforehand.” Brad nodded, almost without acknowledging Kalvin’s words, and left us. Kalvin glanced at the document. “This will indeed aid your current situation.”
Our group was escorted out of the hangar, and we were later separated. I went with Kalvin to his office, while everyone else in my squad was taken down the hall to God-knows-where.
“Kalvin, did you see the present I left you?” I asked.
“The deceased dytirc?”
“It’s Steion.”
“Fantastic! At last, my hypostasis on those nano-bugs can be confirmed. I will instruct one of my men to collect the body.”
“I’ve also come across some foundation-shifting intel on my recent journey.”
I stepped into his office, lit entirely by candles. The ceiling lights were off, and it was decorated with some old world artwork. Inside was a center desk and two designer chairs near a few secured, closed doors. I sat down in the comfy, squishy cushion of the designer chair in front of Kalvin’s desk.
He sat in a matching chair across from me. “Proceed.”
I pulled up the details Larno gave me about the true reasons why the dytircs had joined the Wersillian Legion. Kalvin glanced at them and back at me with an increasingly slack-jawed expression. “Where did this information originate from?” he asked, baffled.
“A first-hand account… a boney from a rebel tribe.”
“Reliable?”
“I admit I wasn’t sure at first, so I had Erryn Wolph, our mercenary guide, fine-check it with some of her other contacts. The story matched.”
Kalvin rubbed his head in thought, then sighed. “The ARW had this mistaken… I cannot even fathom how we have let this information go unnoticed! If information this simplistic has remained false this entire time, then I cannot even understand or envisage what else we have mistaken!”
“What are you going to do?”
“I would imagine updating the ARW database would serve as a splendid first step. To follow up, I will probably be gathering with the chief admirals to dispense this news.”
“That’s not quite all the information that’s entered my boat recently.”
“What else?”
“When we finally saw Landis for the first time, she managed to mention artifacts before she, er… finished her fina
l ride on life’s coaster. She also wanted me to tell you something, but she never had the chance to finish her dying sentence.”
After hearing this info, Kalvin drifted deep in thought. Suddenly, his eyes widened. “How could I be such an imbecile? That is what the Wersillian Legion required her for! Landis knew the whereabouts of the artifact we recovered a while back… I completely blanked that out. Steion took one artifact, and now the Wersillian Legion are after another. I have to make some calls!”
“Wait, Kalvin. What are the artifacts for? Did you have a chance to find out?”
“They are crafted from the same material the maelkii’s shields are crafted from - forcidion… meaning, they are virtually unbreakable. Although, that’s simply the surface value. When we deciphered some of the symbols – the ones we could, anyway – we theorized it was some type of key. To what, I have no knowledge of. Nevertheless, if these warlords are after it, they might contain knowledge of what these artifacts unlock… that is a disturbing thought.”
“And my trial. Let’s not look over my possible imprisonment!”
“As I stated before, I believe I have it under control.”
“Believe. That in no way takes the stress out of my breath!”
Chapter 27: Aftermath
October 26, 2111
Dro’Zer
In a dimly lit room, a somber yet idiosyncratic melody tuned into Dro’Zer’s ears. The players involved in this meeting waited patiently for their visitor. Dro’Zer leaned in a dark, uninviting corner. At the end of the room, a man sat on his chair with a disturbingly meditative demeanor. His back faced the center of the room. Only his ice blue, power-house arm was visible to Dro’Zer. Airra, the head warlord, waited at the center table behind the man in the chair. She was tasked with dealing with the guest.
Dro’Zer studied her. She was a female dytirc with bark skin. Vines and branches grew out of her body; she was a literal walking tree. Her attire breathed power and prowess. She was the head warlord and wanted everyone to know it; designer cloth armor with a gold and gem finish, a golden forehead protector resembling a crown, and heavy plates over her waste and legs. The crown jewel was a short-sleeved, long white jacket over her attire, closed in the front by a thin, orange rope. The jacket was decorated by gold, flame-like motifs on the edges with the dytirc word for “Indomitable” written vertically down the back.
“Our guest has arrived. Shall I fetch him for you, Airra?” a dytirc honor guard asked Airra.
“Be a dear,” she answered him with a manically commanding tone.
The guard walked to the back of the room and opened the door, letting in the guest before stepping out of the room.
The guest, an omelic man, wore a bandanna and mask to cover his head and mouth. To blend in with the dark, the omelic wore a loose black bodysuit highlighted by metal plating on his shins, arms, shoulders, chest, and waist. Throughout the outfit was various pouches and threads that were growing with energy. Dro’Zer knew him by his distinctive eyes. One was yellow, and the other was purple - a condition commonly known as heterochromia. And both irises looked of shattered glass.
“Airra, it pleases me to make your acquaintance again,” the omelic said as he reached the table. His voice was muffled behind the mask, though his alpha dog tone stood toe-to-toe with Airra’s.
“Oh, Ghost, you’re adorable.” Airra snickered at her sarcasm. “You’re just here for your mission… and the reward that follows.” She gave him the cold shoulder.
Ignoring Airra, Ghost adjusted his vision to see the man in the chair. From his position, Ghost wouldn’t have been able to see much. “Who do you want me to kill this time, big man?” Ghost dug his words towards the man in the chair.
Airra lashed out, “No! You speak to me! Understand, you ruddy tool?” Her outburst stunned the omelic man. From his reaction, Dro’Zer gathered that Ghost didn’t know what to make of a dytirc woman speaking like that. In Airra’s culture, only men would typically speak in such hostility. “Good!” She pulled out a hologram image for Ghost to see. “This man’s name is James Stone. He is your next target.”
“Would you like me to kill him like I did the last person?” Ghost asked, with a twinge of disgust.
She laughed. “That’s what your cult is for, right? The Brotherhood of Relics.”
Ghost snarled from behind his mask at her mocking view of his brotherhood. Dro’Zer could see Ghost’s anger building as the omelic clinched his knuckles several times. “Our brotherhood was established to uncover the mystery behind the devisors… whatever the means. Maybe you should handle that man yourself instead of having my brotherhood do your dirty work?”
“Rarhaha! Ruddy good joke there! But if you want the locations of the devisors’ ruins, you’ll do as I say! Our warlords have their hands full with a war. We can’t waste precious time with insignificant individuals such as this man.”
“He can’t be that insignificant. This… James Stone person… took out a warlord,” Ghost retorted.
She let out a wry, disturbing laugh. “Steion was hardly a warlord. He was merely a torturer… a way for us to get information. However, his death does mean we’re down to seven warlords. Though that isn’t any of your concern! Now get out of here and do as you’re told!”
“Sure thing, you’re majesty.” Ghost gave Airra a sarcastic bow before leaving the room.
Once he was gone, Airra called out to Dro’Zer, “You may come out of the shadows now.” Dro’Zer emerged from his dark corner of the room, chainmail armor pieces jingled with each step. His white fur grazed the center table as he pressed his arms against it. Dro’Zer towered over Airra. As a korkyran individual, he was bred for war. “It’s time, Dro’Zer. We have our mission. Steion was kind enough to get us one of the Quondam Keys, along with the location of another. It’s time we take what’s ours!”
“Does this mean it’s time for the korkyra to enter the war?” Dro’Zer stroked his chin.
“Yes, dear. The Wersillian Legion held up their end. Now your species needs to hold up theirs.”
“The Wersillian Legion saved our species, and we’re indebted to you for that. As the king of my people, I will do all I can to repay that debt… as will my people.”
“Your species will prove to be the turning point for us!” Airra unleashed a cynical laugh to the tune of the same melody.
TO BE CONTINUED…..
Canon Fodder (Military Access - Summary View)
2nd Big Bang of 2036
Unexplained supernatural event that occurred in the human year of 2036. This big bang released an unknown type of energy wave across the known galaxy at speeds far faster than light.
8 Warlords of Virtue
Legendary status generals of the Wersillian Legion wielding great power. Considered the most feared enemies, these individuals are the highest rank achievable in the Wersillian Legion. Two have been confirmed to be killed. An additional two are rumored to have replaced the fallen.
Ace
Official term used to describe an individual born with exceptional gifts that exceed a species’ norm. Aces’ gifts have been discovered to stem from the 2nd Big Bang of 2036 and are believed to be solely linked to a DNA mutation. With the exception of two twins, no ace has every manifested the same abilities or properties as another ace.
Achilles Program
One of many programs a part of the integrated ARW’s military. This program is designed to create 119 independent squads consisting of six individuals. Achilles are the most elite ground-based unit at the ARW’s disposal. Due to being dropped straight into dire scenarios, achilles are diversely and extensively trained in all ground warfare. Achilles are dropped directly into combat and are equipped with the some best resources the ARW has to offer, including veridium-plated armor.
Advanced Figure Analysis Technology
Originally designed by the qwayks in 2078 for their vehicles. Later adopted by the Order of Aegis to manufacture sentry turret weaponry and attachment sights. This tech
nology uses advanced algorithms to identify species by measuring their figures.
Airjin Fuel
Technologically advanced compound fuel that propels ballistic rounds faster than ever possible. Can send ballistic projectiles at speeds of three thousand meters per second. This compound is illegal for civilian use.
Alliance of Republic Worlds (ARW)
An alliance started by the maelkii and later added humans, qwayks, and dor’o to become the four founding species of the alliance. Other species later joined. Led by the ARW senate and ARW Judicial Court.
ARW Judicial Court
Official judges are voted into the court by ARW senate. The judicial court has the power to interpret laws and enforce laws on citizens under the ARW.
ARW Senate
Members from all species under the ARW have an equal representation inside this senate. Senate has the power to vote on the creation, modification, or deletion of laws. In addition, the senate can also approve or deny treaties and manage ARW spending. However, only the four founding species can vote on military matters which includes the election of the four chief admirals.
Assault Rifle
Standard all-purpose weapon for humans. Typically a rapid-fire, magazine-fed automatic rifle designed for infantry use. Assault rifles come in many designs, making them a highly versatile class of weapons. As of 2072, the ballistic rounds’ explosive powder was replaced with Airjin fuel, significantly increasing the speeds of bullets.
Atmospheric Doors
First models hit the mainstream in 2078 as a new standard public door frame. These devices were first created by the yuerr to use for the Galactic Hotel but were later picked up by various independent companies. Atmospheric doors use energy field technology to create a barrier between the air on either side of the door frame while allowing solid mass to pass through.