by James Somers
ready and awaiting deployment instructions.”
“Tell them to hold positions. The King will instruct them personally,” Wynn said as he headed out the door.
☼
Mirah returned to the control panel, monitoring Tiet’s treatment. He was coming out of his sedation as the procedure finished up. Everything was precisely computer controlled. She walked into the treatment room as he became conscious.
“How are you feeling?”
“A little groggy, but I feel all right. My arm feels a lot better—just a little sore now.”
“Well, that will pass soon enough. You’ve got plenty of pain meds onboard.”
“I appreciate the fix up.”
“You don’t have to be so formal.”
“I know. There’s just been so much happening recently, Mirah.”
“Well, the arm looks fine.”
“Thank you, Mirah,” he said. Tiet flexed the arm, trying out the repair. “You do wonderful work.”
“Tiet, I uh—” She started to speak as the door to the med-lab opened, letting Wynn inside.
“I see you’re on your feet again,” he said.
Mirah and Tiet dropped their gazes to the ground then looked at Wynn.
“Tiet, I’ve got to get you to the main deployment area. The Baruk are hammering our ships, and we’ll probably be looking at a ground assault somewhere very soon.”
“I’m ready, let’s go,” he said, as he gathered the upper body portion of his uniform from the counter nearby. They both headed out the main door as he called back.
“Thanks again, Mirah. We’ll talk soon,” he said. The door closed behind them.
“I hope so,” she whispered to the empty exam room.
☼
Wynn and Tiet walked quickly to the nearest lift. “I want to apologize for the situation with Kale,” Wynn said.
“Don’t worry about it. You did what was right. It’s just that…he betrayed everything we knew, and yet he’s my brother.”
“I know.”
The lift opened, allowing them in. “Main deployment area,” Wynn said.
The computer complied with his request.
“You could have killed him and he wouldn’t have made any effort to stop you. I think he even longed for you to do it, to end his pain and guilt.”
“Why should I care about his pain? He betrayed us—all of us—including you, Wynn.”
“That’s right. And I am still asking you to consider the situation with your brother, despite that fact.”
Tiet glared at him then looked back at the city without saying anything.
“Have you considered that Kale didn’t need my help to save himself from your sword?”
“Do you think he’s that powerful?” Tiet asked.
“If I’m any judge about these things, I would say he’s very powerful.”
“I don’t want to hate him, Wynn. I just don’t know how to handle this right now…”
The lift slowed as they entered the deployment area and its control tower.
“Right now, we have a war to deal with,” Tiet said. “Everything else will have to wait.”
DEFENSE
As Wynn and Tiet entered the control center of the city’s main deployment area, the data techs busied themselves monitoring the current situation with the fleet as well as troop status and the readiness of the twelve cities and their defense systems. Each city had a large portion of the new army assigned to defend them, in the event they came under a Baruk attack. At least, they hoped to hold on until the other legions could arrive at whichever city became the main front.
“What’s the status of the fleet?” Tiet asked.
“Ten of our ships have been destroyed sir. The rest are trying to out-maneuver the Baruk ships, but they’re dangerously low on shield power,” said one of the techs.
“Can you patch me in to Estall on the Esyia?” he asked.
“Yes sir, one moment. Baeth Periege Ground Control hailing the captain of the Esyia.”
☼
“Captain, the ground control at Baeth Periege is hailing us,” said one of the communications officers.
“Put them through,” said Estall. “Ranul, have you got the system reconfigured yet?”
“I’m still working on it. Just a few more circuits to re-route.”
The intercom on Estall’s command chair sounded with Tiet’s voice. “Estall, what is your status?”
“We’ve lost ten ships so far, and it’s not looking good. Some of the Baruk are veering away from the main group. They appear to be troop transports. I don’t know if we can stop them, we’re barely hanging on up here.”
“Estall, I want you to get your people out of there. Do you hear me? I want you to withdraw your remaining ships immediately,” said Tiet.
“I want to send out the weaker ships first. Ranul is working on a reconfiguration of the dispersion cannon that may just allow us to penetrate their shields.”
“Do what you think is best, but don’t take any chances,” said Tiet.
“Affirmative. If this doesn’t work we’ll withdraw the remaining ships to the surface—Esyia out.”
Estall watched the stats for the fleet on a smaller window of the main screen. “Mellar, pass my order for ships below twenty-five percent shield power to retreat immediately.”
“Yes, sir,” she replied.
“Ranul, what’s the status on that reconfigure?”
“I’ve got it!” Ranul said from his science station. “The cannon will now cycle through one hundred thousand shield frequencies per second and lock on the one that matches their shields.”
“Excellent. Garret, lock the cannon on their shield generator and fire.”
“Yes, sir!”
The dispersion cannon swiveled on its base and locked onto the approximate position of the shield generator on the closest Baruk vessel. The cannon fired its rapid multi-frequency blasts at the ship. The Baruk shield repelled the blast for a fraction of a second then it got through and struck the generator’s position, vaporizing it.
“Shield’s dropping on the Baruk vessel, Captain!” said the main science officer.
“Garret, fire at will, targeting the bridge first! Ranul, transmit that reconfiguration sequence to the remaining ships!”
“Already on it!”
“The day isn’t over for the Esyia yet,” Estall said with satisfaction.
“Those carriers are already passing through the atmosphere,” said Ranul from his station.
“Well, they’re out of our reach now. Contact Tiet on the surface with the information. We’ll do what we can here while they deal with those on the surface.”
☼
“Sir, we’re tracking a group of approximately ten carriers entering the atmosphere,” said one of the data-communication techs in the control center.
“What is there course heading?” asked Tiet.
“They’re heading for the Usai Valley beyond the borders of Thalidi. It’s just about the only area large enough to land that group of ships,” said the tech.
Wynn and Tiet watched the computer model with the respective tracking data coming in on the group of Baruk ships. Holographic models situated themselves on the three dimensional map they were looking at.
“I think you’re projection is right,” Wynn said.
“Get me the troop commander for Thalidi,” said Tiet.
“Online, sir.”
“This is Commander Erib, sir, what can I do for you?”
“Commander, I want you to order an immediate civilian evacuation of the suburban area beyond the defense wall then mobilize your troops there. The Baruk are heading your way. We anticipate an attack, launched from the Usai Valley, within twelve hours,” Tiet said.
“I trust we’ll be launching a cooperative attack with the city’s defensive batteries?” Erib asked.
“In part. What I hope to accomplish is more of an ambush. The Baruk will expect our civilian pop
ulation to withdraw behind the city’s defensive wall. Hopefully we can lay in wait for them in the suburbs and then come upon them in force.”
“Yes, sir, Erib out.”
“What about me?” Wynn asked.
“I want you to deploy more troops on this side of Thalidi and set up a front approximately ten miles away. Let the other troop commanders know to send you fifty percent of their forces to make up that frontline. I expect the Baruk to try for Baeth Periege after Thalidi. They’ll want the capital.”
“I wish you would allow me to lead the first strike at Thalidi and you remain here to set up the front,” Wynn said. “The battle there could be a suicide mission and we need you to survive and lead these people.”
“Trust me, Wynn. This is how to lead them—by going into the fire with them. And I don’t intend to die at Thalidi, if I can help it. But if I should fall, you must assume command.”
Wynn remained silent.
“I’m only sorry we couldn’t enlist Grod’s Horva to help us in the fight. If we can’t defeat the Baruk, they’ll be the next target,” Tiet said.
“I think your broken arm speaks all too well for Grod’s intentions,” Wynn countered.
“Maybe.” Tiet said. They paused staring at one another. “I had better go. I hope to see you again.”
Wynn didn’t say anything. His concern showed on his face. Tiet turned with a small wave and walked out of the control room, heading for the main deployment area to arrange for troops who would join him in the mission to Thalidi.
Wynn thought about the extreme danger Tiet would face there outside of the walls of Thalidi. An ambush was very ambitious against the Baruk. He just couldn’t understand why Tiet wanted to face them that way. Even with crack commandos from among their best trained troops it was going to be a deadly battle. He wished he could be there
