Rogue Legion

by Andreas Christensen

  "Decurion Snow, your squad suffered the worst losses, so I´m reinforcing you with three legionnaires from second squad. Decurion Hamill, I´m giving you Optio Chambers and two more legionnaires from the staff to reinforce the close protection team. I´ll stay with the artillery observers."

  "How long until our reinforcements arrive?" Sharon asked.

  "They are on the way. Once they arrive, first and third squad will reinforce their flank. Second squad stays behind to provide intel and direct the artillery." The squad leaders went to organize their troops, while Ethan went back to observing the valley.

  Less than ten minutes later he saw a large column of behemoth tanks coming toward them from the Legion. Alongside it were several exoskeleton-wearing heavy infantry and a number of armored fighting vehicles.

  "That´s a sizable force," one of the artillery observers said. “The regulars may outnumber us, but we sure won´t make it easy for them.” Instead of replying, Ethan contacted his squad leaders.

  "Link up with the infantry when they pass us," he said. Then he continued by giving coordinates to the artillery. Seconds later the bombardment began pounding on the incoming enemy forces.

  30.

  A dropship picked up the surviving members of Ethan´s task force. They had suffered heavy losses among the infantry, and only about half remained. Decurion Hamill had died early on and Ethan had given Ariel command of his squad. Ethan would miss the skilled artillery observer, but luckily none of his other friends had died. He didn´t know what he would have done if Ariel had died. She was his oldest and best friend from back home.

  The enemy had halted their advance, but everyone knew it was only a matter of time before they resumed their attack. While flying back to the base, Ethan managed to get a few minutes of sleep, as did several others, until the ship landed in the midst of the wreckage.

  The legion base was unrecognizable, with every single structure above ground turned to ruins. As they stepped out of the dropship, Ethan realized the magnitude of the attack. While he had been mostly concerned with the ground attack, the orbital bombardment had been more devastating than he could have imagined. In between the rubble there were dead bodies everywhere, wrecked transports and dropships, and even several behemoth tanks had been destroyed where they stood parked. Centurion Lyons came to meet him. He looked haggard.

  "Adjunct," he said. "Your task force did splendidly. Now we must take what we have and get out of here."

  "How many did we lose?" Ethan asked. The centurion shook his head.

  "I don´t know yet. We managed to evacuate most of the Ghost Legion, and disperse the troops enough not to make us a target. The cavalry took heavy losses, but you know that. The Iron legion fared worse though. Most of the artillery is gone, and somebody says their legion HQ suffered a direct hit. Not much left of their cavalry either."

  Ethan´s wristpad buzzed, and he noticed that others received messages of their own simultaneously. He flicked across the screen and an image of Legate Camus appeared. Beside him stood Tribune Selznick of the Iron Legion.

  "Legionnaires. As of right now, the Iron Legion has seized to exist," he began. "The orbital bombardment took out their leadership, and two thirds of their forces are dead. On behalf of the surviving legionnaires, Tribune Selznick has handed over command of the remaining parts of the Iron Legion to me. If anyone wishes to refrain from becoming part of the Ghost Legion, there will be opportunity to do so, but for now, I expect everyone to remain loyal to their commanders. Anyone gathered at either the main base or one of the field bases is to immediately board the transports standing ready to launch. The remaining forces currently engaged in combat have orders to break contact in ten minutes, and then withdraw to the nearest rally point. Hopefully, most of them will be able to board the transports waiting for them. We shall rendezvous with the starships once we reach orbit, and escape the Solar system. That´s all for now. Listen to your commanders, follow your orders, and remember your training. You have all served well today. Hopefully most of us will live on to fight another day. Thank you."

  31.

  Ethan led his heavily reduced task force to the waiting transport, and they boarded it along with the rest of the century and remains from several other outfits. They were all tired and some were wounded, although the worst cases were gathered in the hospital bay. The transport lifted as soon as the hatches shut behind the last stragglers. It was a bumpy ride, and Ethan knew they were loaded beyond the maximum capacity. There was a few nerve racking moments while the transport shuddered, but then they lifted above Titan´s atmosphere, and artificial gravity replaced the rocking and shaking, Ethan let out a deep breath of relief. This was the third time he left Titan, and he had a feeling this one might be for good.

  He hadn´t known what to expect once they reached orbit, but he never expected it to be so peaceful. He looked out through one of the transport´s many portholes, and saw no trace of the battle that had taken place here earlier. Somebody said that the enemy ships were mostly located on the far side of Titan, while others said that the enemy ships had left already. Ethan didn´t know what to believe. Right now he didn´t care to find out either. He was just too damn tired. All he wanted to do was sleep, preferably for days.

  He didn´t have a chance to sleep though, as a familiar face wound her way through tangled legs and stashed weapons, toward him.

  "Ethan Wang," a woman said, cracking a smile that he hadn´t seen for a long time. It took him a moment before he fully recognized her.

  "Joan Teller," he exclaimed. Joan Teller was a political dissident, once a leader among the opposition back on Earth. The last time Ethan had seen her, she had been a prisoner on Mars. Ethan and his legionnaires had saved her life and that of other political prisoners, in spite of orders to let the Lumins destroy their prison facility. When Ethan and the others had delivered the prisoners back to the regular forces he himself had been imprisoned, only to be broken out by his friends, led by Tribune Tanner, with the backing of Legate Camus. Joan Teller´s alleged crimes were still somewhat murky to him, and her being her was absolutely incomprehensible.

  "Ma´am, what are you doing here?" he blurted. She just laughed softly.

  "I´ve been a guest of Legate Camus for some time. He offered refuge, but alas, there´s no refuge to be had on Titan anymore."

  "Yes, this was the last stronghold in the Solar system," Ethan said.

  "But how did you manage to get all the way out here? Last I saw, you were taken away by the regulars."

  She chuckled.

  "Well, that´s one story I´m not ready to share quite yet. You may ask Tribune Tanner though. Maybe he will tell you." She gave him a sly wink. Of course, Jeremy Tanner had to have a role in something like this. Ethan smiled.

  "Well, I´m glad to have you here, ma´am. So, I don´t expect any of us to return to Earth any time soon. Do you know anything about the legate´s plans?"

  "Not much. I´m sure he will share whatever he wishes to share when he´s ready.

  Ethan nodded. Joan Teller smiled again, and said,

  "I will talk to you again, Ethan Wang." With that, she turned, without waiting for a reply, and walked away.

  Soon they reached the Excelsior, one of the largest of the starships; only the Hellfire was bigger. Once everyone from the transport were on board Ethan walked over to the closest lounge. A few of the legionnaires were already gathering, some cradling beers, others engaged in conversation. One of the first people Ethan saw was Centurion Bothwin.

  "So, you made it out in one piece," she said and stepped just a little too close. When he didn´t reply, she touched his forearm.

  "I´m glad you did. I think we will be seeing a lot of each other now. Looking forward to it." Then she smiled and turned away. Ethan noticed as she walked over to another group of officers, her that her hips were swaying just a little too much to be entirely natural.

  "Enjoying the view?" Ariel said, interrupting him. She chuckled and he felt his cheeks flushing.

/>   "Really Ethan, you´re a dog."

  "Forget it," he said.

  "Oh, I just overheard a couple of crew members; we´re leaving orbit as we speak," Ariel said. "I´m going to hit the shower first. Be right back."

  "Good idea," Ethan replied. "I think I´ll do the same." He walked back to his quarters and locked himself in. Then he took a long shower, enjoying the hot water, washing away the last few days of dirt, sweat and blood. He sat down on the bed after he had dried off. Just a quick rest and he´d be ready, he thought. He lay back and closed his eyes.

  Within seconds he was sound asleep.

  32.

  Ethan had underestimated how tired he was after Titan, and spent the first few days on board the Excelsior in a daze. There was plenty of work to do though, from tending to their weapons and equipment and caring for their wounded, to meetings with the officers. After a few days he was beginning to feel better, and he began to plan for a training schedule for his legionnaires, to mold them into a cohesive fighting unit again, after replacing their losses. Centurion Lyons had reassigned Ethan to platoon leader, now that the task force had done its job, and Ariel retained her designation as squad leader. In fact, she received a summons to the centurion´s chambers, and Ethan gave her a smug grin as she entered. A few minutes later she came out, flashing a brand new D on her shoulders.

  "You knew, didn´t you?" she said. Ethan chuckled.

  "Sure. In fact, I recommended it," he replied. "I´ve got a new guy on weapons, so who else could I possibly put in charge of second squad? Especially now that the platoon has been redesigned as heavy infantry." Ariel grinned back at him.

  "Thank you, sir!" she said, and walked off to meet with her squad.

  Ethan shook his head at his old friend. Then he ordered SD Sharon to have a look at the plan he´d been working on and give him feedback in a couple of hours, before he went to yet another officer meeting.

  Later that evening, after dinner and a shower, Ethan entered one of the lounges, where Ariel, Julian, Malika and a few others were sitting around a large table. He hadn´t seen Julian for a while, so it was nice to catch up. Also, Ethan noticed, there was no awkwardness between them anymore. Even though seeing Malika stung a little, none of that transferred to Julian. The two of them were still friends. Well into his third beer, Helena showed up, and Ethan grinned, as she looked him up and down. She laughed softly, and walked over to the bar to meet with someone else.

  Ethan took the opportunity to get up, and walked over to the bar. He found a place next to Helena, and ordered another beer.

  "Cancel that order, please," someone said from behind him. He turned and saw Centurion Bothwin standing there. "Make that two of the strongest you´ve got," she said, and winked. "I think we both need something stronger tonight."

  "Ma´am, I´m not sure..." Ethan began, but she put a finger to his lips. Ethan could smell alcohol on her breath, and her voice was slightly slurred. Normally, Ethan would have been put off by it, but there was something else about her. She grinned.

  "Please, Ethan, stop calling me that. I want you to call me Claire, okay?" She leaned closer. Ethan noticed that Helena had walked away from the bar.

  "Hey, Ethan, forget about her. I´m here, and believe it or not, I have something I need you to do." Ethan turned back toward her. The bartender put two drinks in front of them.

  "First, we drink," Claire Bothwin said, emptying hers in one gulp. Ethan hesitated, but followed suit.

  "Good, now, let´s get down to business. I need you in meeting room sixteen in five minutes," she said.

  "But ma... Claire, I thought I was off duty tonight. I´ve been drinking..." Claire chuckled.

  "Well, Ethan, so have I. But orders are orders." She checked her wristpad. "Four minutes. You´d better hurry." She turned around and walked out. Ethan shook his head, before he stepped over to his friends.

  "I´ve got to go, guys. Officer meeting of some kind. Sorry." Then he stepped out of the lounge and hurried through the corridors to meeting room sixteen. He got there a few minutes later.

  He opened the door. The room was dark.

  "Lights," he said, and a soft light came on. His jaw fell open.

  In the middle of the room stood Centurion Claire Bothwin waiting for him, buck-naked.

  "About time Adjunct. You´re two minutes late. Now, come over here, that´s an order."

  Part 3

  33.

  Ethan woke to the sound of a wristpad buzzing. It took him a moment to realize it was his own, and that it lay on the floor, next to his clothes. In fact, he was lying on the floor as well, covered only by a military issue blanket with a navy logo on it. He sat up.

  "Do you have to get up already?" a voice beside him purred. He turned and saw Centurion Bothwin´s sleepy eyes looking up at him. The memories began to return, and he felt his cheeks flushing. She had definitely seduced him, and he had enjoyed it, although he suspected someone might call it an abuse of power. He kept the blanket wrapped around his waist and checked his wristpad. There was a summons from Centurion Lyons. He was going to be late.

  "Claire," he said, "I hope you don´t think... I mean, last night was amazing, but…"

  "It was just sex," she interrupted him. "I get it. Tell you what, Ethan; I think we could have a good arrangement here. Now get dressed and get out of here." She smiled, and for once Ethan thought it was a genuine smile, an honest smile. In fact, that smile made her look beautiful. He smiled back.

  "See you later," he said. He didn´t know what else to say.

  Then he got dressed, and stepped outside. Once outside the meeting room he let out a deep breath. Then he walked toward Centurion Lyons´ quarters, grabbing a bottle of water on the way. He knocked on the door once he got there.

  "Enter," a gruff voice said.

  He opened the door and stepped inside.

  "You´re late," the centurion said, before he motioned for Ethan to sit down.

  "My apologies Sir," Ethan said. Then he sat down. A moment of silence told Ethan the centurion was waiting for him to speak, and when he didn´t Centurion Lyons spoke instead.

  "Ethan, you did well on Titan. Again."

  "Thank you Sir."

  "We lost a lot of our cavalry back there, but we´re already in the process of rebuilding. Our century has been assigned to support the cavalry. In fact, we´ll rendezvous with the other starships in a few days, and our century will board the Hellfire, along with the cavalry."

  "The Hellfire is a lot bigger than this ship, isn´t it?" Ethan asked.

  "Sure is. It could easily hold the entire legion. First, second and third cohort is already there, along with fourth, which is cavalry. With our seventh, that makes half the legion. And we still have room to train on board. Optio Cervaille and his techs are supposed to be there to, along with Legion HQ."

  "Sir, have you heard anything about where we´re going? I mean, the legate must have some destination in mind."

  "Nothing official," the centurion replied. "But I´ve been told the first ones to be put in cryo sleep is supposed to do so in just a week or so. Looks like we have a long journey ahead of us. At least a year, possibly more."

  Ethan whistled.

  "Wow, we really are talking lightyears here." Centurion Lyons nodded.

  "Several."

  34.

  Ethan entered the cryo chamber along with the rest of his platoon. Since boarding the Hellfire they had been briefed on their new task, and practiced their new role as support infantry for the cavalry. When joining up with the cavalry, Ethan was pleased to see his old friends from basic training; Antonio Avila and Tom Lowry were both alive and well, along with Decurion Morales. They gave him a bit of hassle, in a friendly way, about his rank, and then they spent some time catching up. Ethan had only seen Decurion Morales briefly, when they last fought the Lumins on Titan, and the last time he´d seen Avila and Lowry was after the battle on Ceres, when Tom Lowry had been in pretty rough shape. This time they had fared well, and all were uninjured.
While the Iron Legion had lost most of their cavalry, the Ghost Legion had preserved enough of the legionnaires and materiel to still be a formidable fighting force.

  After a month of training, catching up, briefings and planning, they were all about to be put to sleep. Ethan was nervous, as he didn´t have any experience with cryo sleep. He had heard getting put down was uncomfortable, and waking up again was supposed to be even worse, but had never received any real explanation as to how things worked and what to expect. The medics walked around them, drawing blood samples and telling them all to undress and fill out forms. They were given shots containing antibiotics, vaccines and supposedly a relaxant to make them drowsy. Ethan looked around at the others, but although everyone were naked, most were primarily concerned with themselves.

  One by one the medics called up their names, and directed them to their couches. Coffins, somebody said, and Ethan cringed at the thought of the couches being stacked away in a hold for months and years at a time. When Ethan´s name was called he followed a medic to his couch and stepped inside. He lay down, and the medic smiled reassuringly to him. She had long blonde hair, braided, and Ethan had to admit she was strikingly beautiful. He could loose himself in those blue eyes.

  "Do you have any questions, Adjunct Wang?" she said, her voice like velvet. Ethan blinked. It must be the relaxants working.

  "How long is it for?" he asked. The medic, her nametag said Selena, looked at a form before she answered.

  "It says thirteen months and seven days. Of course, sometimes that changes."

  "Have you ever lost anyone? I mean, does it happen that people die? In cryo sleep?"

  "It happens, but it is rare these days. Perhaps one in two hundred to one in five hundred. Usually because of some kind of unknown preexisting condition. I wouldn´t worry about it."

  Ethan felt the drugs working for sure, and closed his eyes for a moment. He looked back up at Selena.

  "I bet you hear it all the time, but you really are beautiful," he said. He heard his voice was slurred, and it probably sounded stupid, but he just felt compelled to tell her. He didn´t know why. But he had to tell her before he went under.