The second rank spun around and reestablished the shield-wall. They were then able to attack the T’kri’t’ek who were now landing among them.
“Clear the interior of the Orbs!” called Aurelius. “We must buy time for the rest of the legion to get on the ground!”
Four of the massive warrior creatures landed in the middle of the formation less than six feet from where Aurelius and Cyprianus stood. Without hesitation, Aurelius brought up his Gladius and engaged the creatures before they could recover from landing. Cyprianus raised his weapon and followed him into the fray.
In a flash of steel, Aurelius decapitated the nearest creature, then stabbed the next closest one through the eye. The razor-sharp steel sliced through eye, carapace and brain, ending the creature’s life in a sudden shriek of pain. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Cyprianus take the third one down with a vicious slash across the creature’s throat. Before he could turn to face the final creature, Aurelius felt a sudden white-hot pain shoot through his right shoulder.
Roaring in pain, Aurelius looked down to see one of the scythe-like appendages protruding from the right side of the chest armor. Red warning lights began to flash that the armor’s integrity had been breached and emergency medical protocols were engaging to help stop the flow of blood. There was now a hole through his shoulder the diameter of his fist. From the amount of difficulty breathing that he was having, he knew that the lung had been damaged.
Ripping the scythe free, the creature lined up to finish off the wounded Aurelius when Cyprianus drove his blade through the exposed flank of the creature. Shrieking in pain, the being turned and drove both scythes through the top of the old warrior’s helmet, piercing his skull and ripping the helmet apart. A fountain of blood and gore erupted from the open top of the armor as the lifeless body of Cyprianus collapsed to the ground.
With a roar of rage and anguish, Aurelius swung his blade in a blinding arc and decapitated the creature, sending thick, sticky fluid spurting into the air. The armor’s medical systems sealed the hole in his shoulder with hardening foam sealant and injected him with pain killers. The effect stopped the bleeding and allowed him to use the arm with only minimal pain. Aurelius knew that if he survived this battle, he might very well lose use of the arm.
“Cyprianus is down!” roared Aurelius over the COMM lines. “The Legatus has fallen!”
The roar began deep down in his chest. When it reached a crescendo, what burst forth was more bestial than the Barritus. This was the roar of fury. It was a battle-cry like nothing the Legion had ever heard before. The Barritus of the Legion joined the roar of Aurelius, bringing him down from his rage and allowing his discipline to emerge. He would mourn the loss of the Legatus Legionis of Iron Legion when the battle was won. He would mourn the loss, as he would the loss of his father. Legatus Legionis Scipio Avilius Cyprianus was dead.
Chapter X
Bloody Vengeance
"Every action of our lives touches on
some chord that will vibrate in eternity."
- Sean O'Casey
On the bridge of the Agamemnon, all was silent. They were all listening to the COMM chatter from the battle below when they heard Aurelius give the word of the death of Cyprianus. Praetorian Octavius leaned onto the arm of his command chair and held his face in his hands. The Praetorian and the Legatus had been friends since they were both young junior officers. They had served the Iron Legion together for nearly thirty years.
“According to these readouts,” said the sensor operator, “Praefect Aurelius is badly hurt. His armor systems are damaged, and the emergency medical protocols have been engaged. Beacon count indicates we have lost nearly one thousand men, thus far.”
“That’s more than we lost in the entire battle of Haakon Prime,” muttered the COMM officer.
Cassia closed her eyes tightly and tried not to cry. She knew that the battle was going badly but had no idea that Aurelius had been hurt. With the loss of the Legatus, Aurelius was now the legion commander by default. They needed him more than ever before. If he fell, then the Iron Legion would fall with him. From the sound of the command frequency, they might fall anyway. The T’kri’t’ek were proving to be the most dangerous adversary that they had ever faced.
“Centurion Gratiana,” said Octavius, his voice thick with emotion, “if you need to excuse yourself from duty, I fully understand.”
“No, sir,” she replied, perhaps a bit more forcefully than she had intended. “My place is here. I will not dishonor them by leaving my post during a battle. I will remain here, no matter the outcome.”
“I honestly expected nothing less,” said Octavius, a note of pride in his voice.
“Thank you, sir,” said Cassia.
“Do not count out the Iron Legion, just yet,” said Octavius. “Aurelius will bring them home. Never doubt that.”
“Sir, sensors indicate that the T’kri’t’ek are amassing in numbers exceeding two hundred thousand and growing,” said the sensor operator.
“Understood,” answered Octavius. “Let us not concern ourselves with the numbers. The fate of the Legion lies with Aurelius, now.”
“The Praefect will find a way to defeat them,” added the navigator.
“Praefect is no longer the correct term,” added Octavius. “With the fall of
Cyprianus, Aurelius is now the Legatus Legionis of the Iron Legion.”
“If he survives to see the promotion,” whispered the COMM officer.
The look that Cassia gave him promised a death both painful and slow. The COMM officer swallowed hard and began studying his console intently, not returning her gaze.
“They will come home,” insisted Cassia. “The Iron Legion will not fall.”
Octavius turned in his command chair to look at the COMM officer.
“Say one more word and I will personally see to it you join them on the surface,” snapped Octavius. “It is easy for you to sit here in safety while the men of the legion are dying. One more disparaging comment and I assure you, it will be your last.”
**********
“All surviving units have made it to the ground, Praefect,” said Casca over the COMM channel.
“What are the estimated losses?” asked Aurelius, dreading the answer.
“One thousand, four hundred and twenty-five confirmed dead,” answered Casca. “Thirty are missing and we are unable to locate their beacons.”
“Are the formations secured? Have the T’kri’t’ek been cleared from the interior of the Orbs?”
“Yes, sir,” replied Casca. “All formations are now secure.”
“Excellent,” said Aurelius. “All cohorts! Ad testudinem!”
The cohorts began moving rapidly into the domed formation of the Testudo or tortoise. This would prevent the T’kri’t’ek from flying over the line and landing among the associates. It would also protect the legion from any type of bombardment that the enemy might attempt to break their lines.
“Flavianus!” roared Aurelius. “Now!”
The growl of the massive engines on the fighters filled the night as the first squadrons of the Aquilinus Wing broke through the cloud cover and came screaming in on target. Their close quarter attack run yielded devastating effect upon the T’kri’t’ek, just as it had on Haakon Prime. In response, many of the T’kri’t’ek took to the air and swarmed towards the fighters. Although no match for the speed of the fighters, the attack still forced them to veer away or risk collisions that would have resulted in the destruction of the aircraft.
The two closest fighters streaked past a group of the now flying T’kri’t’ek and were instantly swarmed. The T’kri’t’ek wasted no time and began ripping apart the aircraft, tearing chunks of fuselage and tossing them aside as they dug deeper inside. The pilots fought valiantly, trying to shake the marauding creatures loose but the damage had been done. Smoke began pouring from the engines and through the damaged sections of the aircraft. When stabilizer control was lost, both aircraft spiraled i
n and detonated against the hillside on the outskirts of the city. Neither pilot had time to eject.
“Veer off!” called Flavianus. “Abort, abort, abort. All wings, abort! Praefect, we can’t fly into that or we’ll crash on top of you.”
“Understood,” replied Aurelius. “Get clear of the area.”
“I’m sorry, brother,” said Flavianus. “You’re on your own.”
“Do not be sorry, brother,” replied Aurelius. “This battle is far from over. Keep your fighters on stand-by. We might still need you before this is finished.”
“Copy,” said Flavianus. “Aquilinus Wing climb to upper atmosphere and maintain holding pattern Theta. Let’s allow our comrades in the Legion to clear the sky for us.”
With that, the remaining fighters veered off and climbed into the clouds. They quickly outdistanced the T’kri’t’ek and vanished into the storm. The T’kri’t’ek continued to swarm above them and slowly began settling back onto the ground to resume the attack on the formations of legionnaires. The legion could only hold formation and continue to attack any of the T’kri’t’ek that came within range of their blades.
The private command channel came online, and a message came through from Casca that he did not want to go out to the other Centurions. Clearly, whatever he had to say was not for the ears of the entire legion. Aurelius had little doubt that whatever the veteran warrior was about to say was only going to echo the growing concerns in his own mind.
“Our options grow slimmer by the moment, Praefect,” said Casca.
“Agreed,” said Aurelius, checking his map and consulting the heads-up display for the most recent status updates.
“Nineteen more beacons have gone missing,” added Casca. “We have to mount recovery operations for the men who made it to the ground.”
“Seismic sensors are indicating vibrations building in the ground beneath us,” said Aurelius, reading off sensor data.
“That is undoubtedly from the movement of so many of these accursed bugs,” replied Casca.
“Or something far worse,” said Aurelius.
“What could be worse?” asked Casca, dreading the answer.
As if in answer to his question, the ground opened in the middle of the formation not ten feet from Aurelius. The worker bugs had tunneled directly into their formation. No sooner had the opening appeared, when the workers vanished, and the warriors began to flood through the opening. Several of the warriors dragged more than a dozen of the legionnaires down into the opening and they vanished from sight.
Four of the warrior bugs grabbed a struggling legionnaire and tore him into four pieces. Aurelius could hear his death scream, even without the aid of the comm. The creatures tossed the pieces of the fallen warrior into the pit and went after other targets. Their discipline was going to be in vain if he did not bring order to the chaos that was erupting inside their own lines.
“They are breaching the ground beneath our feet!” bellowed Aurelius. “Move the Orbs! Move the Orbs!”
Although it took immense coordination by the legion, it was possible to move the formation as one unit. Casca began relaying the orders for the Orbs to move and directly engage the T’kri’t’ek without dropping the Testudo. For Aurelius and the men of Cohorts I, II and IV, the formation had just become moot. The T’kri’t’ek were already inside.
“Repulsus[18]!” shouted Aurelius. “Drive them back!”
With no further need of the Testudo, they dropped the formation and moved to directly engage the T’kri’t’ek. Aurelius knew that there were simply too many of them for the legion to stand a chance of success, but they would not fall without a fight. He would draw his last breath in the defense of his men before he would admit defeat.
“Cry Havoc!” screamed Aurelius. “Unleash the Dogs of WAR!”
Without hesitation, Aurelius jumped into the open hole and went after his men. Behind him, the Centurion of Cohort I was rallying the others.
“FRATRES!” he screamed. “Your Praefect has gone after our brothers! We follow him to victory or Elysium! Oppugnare!”
He emphasized the command for charge by cleaving the head of the nearest T’kri’t’ek in half. Then he thrust forward with his Gladius and dove into the hole, following Aurelius. The Barritus of the cohorts was nearly deafening as they followed him, cutting a bloody swath through the T’kri’t’ek as they fought their way down.
No sooner had Aurelius hit the ground, then he was swarmed by more than a dozen of the warrior bugs. Stabbing the nearest one through the middle of the face, he engaged the flame thrower on his left gauntlet to force them back and buy some time. Instantly, the T’kri’t’ek shrieked and fell away from him as the ones that were too slow became immolated by the fire and collapsed into a burning heap of popping, oozing flesh.
“They are vulnerable to fire!” roared Aurelius. “Engage the flame throwers!”
As the Centurion of Cohort I landed beside him, Aurelius could see that he was already relaying the orders. In seconds, it would be throughout the legion. The T’kri’t’ek had a weakness and they were going to exploit it to the fullest.
Aurelius glanced towards the man and remembered his name. Although he kept to himself, Aurelius had always known him to be a brave and honorable warrior. His name was Sempronius Densus. Aurelius was going to have to see to it that he was given the Legion of Honor for his bravery.
As more and more of the cohorts landed around them in the tunnel, they began to engage the T’kri’t’ek with their flame throwers. The blaze units did not hold enough fuel for a lengthy fight, but they would do enough damage to rescue the soldiers who had been dragged into the pit. Already they were pulling their brothers from the clutches of the bugs.
“Praefect?” asked Densus. “Shall we recover our men and return to the surface?”
“No,” replied Aurelius after a moment’s thought. “Since we are already down here, let us find the survivors of the colony. If we can rescue them, then we can begin to use heavier ordinance against these abominations.”
“You lead, we follow, Praefect,” said Densus, nodding.
Taking a bearing on the sensors, Aurelius began leading them towards the massive chamber that the drone had found before the bugs had destroyed it. Although he was unaware of exactly what the big cavern would hold, he was certain that it would be a cave of horrors. It was already clear that these creatures were eating the people that they captured, and that thought filled Aurelius with a cold rage that could only be satisfied with blood.
Every tunnel was filled with the scurrying creatures. Aurelius set the sensors to record every detail that they encountered for further analysis, once this mission was complete. He was unsure, but he thought he had seen more than one type of these creatures that they hadn’t seen before. He also knew that these creatures worked like they were part of a hive. That could only mean that somewhere in this warren of tunnels, there was a queen. If there was a queen, then she was going to be heavily guarded.
“Cohort I maintain usage of the flame throwers,” said Aurelius as he rounded a corner in the tunnel. “Cohort II, switch to the Saggitta Missile systems. No sense leaving the bugs an easy way to flank us. Take rear guard and collapse the tunnel behind us.”
“Yes, sir,” called the Centurions of all three cohorts.
Aurelius was suddenly aware that they could no longer establish communications with the cohorts on the surface. Whatever happened down here, they were cut off and on their own. They would have to hold out until they could fight their way clear.
“Sink or swim, live or die; the die is cast,” muttered Aurelius. “We have crossed the Rubicon.”
“Worked out well for Caesar last time that quote was used,” replied Densus.
“I just want to bring my legion home,” answered Aurelius, nodding at Densus.
“Praefect,” added Densus, “if you pull this off, there is not a legionnaire alive that would not follow you into the gates of the abyss, itself. Not even Fabretti Control can c
ommand that much respect from the legion.”
“I am a soldier,” said Aurelius, smiling. “I have no desire to become Caesar.”
“Yet the Legion will rally behind your banner as if you were,” said Densus.
“We shall see,” replied Aurelius. “Let us survive this, first.”
“Agreed, Praefect,” said Densus, “but do not be surprised if it comes to pass.”
Every step they took was hard-fought. There were creatures coming out of every tunnel and alcove, fighting desperately to keep them away from the main chamber. The legionnaires fought with everything they had, but the battle was taking its toll on them. They were taking heavy casualties as they struggled for every inch of ground. The T’kri’t’ek seemed oblivious to the massive losses that they were suffering and kept attacking with reckless abandon.
Warning lights were indicating low fuel level on the flame thrower units when Aurelius found the entrance to the large cavern. Inside, he could see thousands of the creatures scuttling about. There were at least four different types of the creatures that he could easily observe. He could also see the queen. She was massively larger than even the worker bugs. She was continually laying eggs as attendants swarmed around her. Some were moving eggs while others seemed to be moving into position to breed with her.
Aurelius watched with growing horror as one of the males would breed with the queen to fertilize a batch of eggs, only to be torn apart and eaten when the deed was done. The appetite of the queen was voracious, but it was obvious she would have to take in a tremendous amount of food to continuously produce eggs at the rate she was going. Servitor creatures were constantly whisking away the eggs into a second chamber that opened off the main one, into some sort of hatchery.
“How many eggs do you think are in there?” asked Densus.
“Entirely too many,” replied Aurelius. “Hundreds of thousands. Perhaps millions.”
The sensors weren’t getting accurate numbers on the readings due to the soil content interfering with the scans. It was clear that there were more than could be easily counted. From the volume of the eggs, the larvae had to be the size of a large dog when it emerged. From there, it was impossible to tell how long it took them to reach full maturity. Aurelius suspected that they grew and matured rapidly, if provided adequate food supply. It was now obvious why they had taken the colony in the first place. They wanted the colonists as food.
Lost Legion- Blood and Honor Page 10
