"Go on."
"Well, Major. The broadcasts are from the renowned Tenskwatawa, saviour of Melantias."
Spartan's eyes opened incredulously as he heard this. Many had defended the city, but this was the first time he'd heard Tenskwatawa spoken of in such a way.
"The video messages incite violent revolt through the South against the Anicinàbe. From the ruins of Hyndla in the West, to the deserted Tanau administrative zone in the East."
He paused and angled his head to the side.
"Have you not received them here?"
"No, I have not. Get me copies, and fast. How can I run this war of yours with one eye glued shut?"
The alien waited for his translator, and then looked even more confused. He attempted to speak, but Spartan sent him off with a quick wave. He then rubbed his forehead and tried to turn his mind back to planning operations for the next week.
"Like what you see."
Syala was there, looking as deadly as always in her dark, rough armour. She embraced him and held him for a moment. She then walked over to the second display unit.
"We’ve just returned from the patrol in Hyndla. No casualties, but we did get through a lot more ammunition than expected."
Spartan joined her at the device and looked at the locations she had tagged.
"Did you position the equipment?"
Syala nodded.
"Yeah, the mission went fine, and we have a reasonably reliable burst transmission system direct to Olik. Are you sure you want to cut Tenskwatawa out of the loop
"Uh...yeah? Of course, Olik's the only senior soldier in Melantias I trust right now. And with this news of the propaganda broadcasts, it will be even more important."
"We saw them when we were topside. It's all in my report."
Spartan nearly choked at hearing that.
"Report?"
Syala smiled and leaned in to kiss him.
"Or you can just hear it from my lips."
Spartan smiled.
"Lips, always lips."
Syala pouted, and then pointed to the first computer display that showed the entire South.
"He's clearly pushing the Byotai in the Depression to rise up, and all under the guise of assisting us by creating confusion."
Spartan did not look very impressed. He walked back and forth in front of the display, the muscles in his face continuing to tighten.
"It gets worse. Based on our last mission, I'm not liking what's going on up there."
"Because of these broadcasts?"
"No. I'm more concerned with Nakoma. She must have known we were coming a lot earlier. We ran into a Spires patrol five minutes after going topside. There’s no way they should have found us that fast. You know how discreet I am."
Spartan's brow tightened.
"That's not good. What about the civilians?"
Syala placed her left hand under her chin and gently ran her fingers along the soft skin.
"That's the problem. The clans have started reprisals, and the more Tenskwatawa riles them up, the worse it gets. Watch this."
With a few deft motions, Syala connected to the private data store in her suit and transferred the imagery to the command unit on the box. The imagery was poorly lit but showed two clan officers, one a Red Scar, and the other a much older Spires commander. As they spoke, the translator converted their words, also supplying approximate subtitles. Spartan watched in silence until they finished talking.
"And they are carrying out this threat?"
Syala nodded.
"Looks like it. For every clan soldier captured or killed, they will execute ten random civilians. Seems the Spires are already running things now, and they're using the Red Scars as cannon fodder."
Spartan cleared his throat as he watched the footage shift to show some very poor quality images. They were security stamped from Syala's suit and kept moving in and out of focus.
"We took one of their officers prisoner, but he died from his...wounds."
Spartan lifted a single eyebrow.
"And?"
"Looks like there was a coup, led by the Spires against them. Three weeks ago the Red Scars were relocated to the West to prepare for a coordinated assault. Their command moved to the Deep Core Mine we hit. Well..."
She shook her head.
"You know we found a lot of senior officers killed in the firefight. A good number were shot from behind. When we attacked, we decapitated the Red Scars leadership, leaving them open to Nakoma. Now she's running the whole thing, and as I said, the Red Scars are truly nothing more than cannon fodder in this fight."
"Well, great news. That's not why we hit this place. Intelligence from Tenskwatawa's agents said it was a local strongpoint, not their primary base."
Spartan sighed.
"So instead of weakening Nakoma, we've just made her stronger, and given her direct control of upwards of sixty thousand extra troops in the South. Unity is something I wanted to avoid."
The video imagery finally stabilised, and Spartan could see a dusty street with intact buildings on each aside. These were the classic Byotai structures, unadorned slab buildings with dull columns at the flanks, and low, slightly oval roofs. Four Red Scars soldiers dragged out a group of Byotai and pushed them against the outer wall of the nearest single-storey building. On command each lifted their weapons but were cut down by hidden assailants.
"We saved this group, but it's happening all over the South, not just in Hyndla."
Spartan placed one had on the wall and then looked back and forth inside his temporary command post. At first glance it had much in common with the underground facility in the North, at Melantias, but it didn't take long to see that everything here was temporary.
"We chose this place because it is one of the largest crossroads for the underground Maglev rail system. We were going to play this operation smart and slow, and now it's getting out of hand."
He watched another squad of militia pass on by. When they arrived, the place had been a dead, lifeless tunnel filled with rubble. Now at least half the lights flickered with life, and groups of Byotai civilians toiled away to bring extra sections online. Small groups of settlers patrolled the site; all padded out with an odd mix of Helion, Byotai, and now looted Red Scars armour and weapons.
"Look," said Syala.
She pointed to the second display, and a blinking light.
"What is it?"
She stepped closer.
"I don't get it. We just installed that direct line. Only one person knows the transponder details and cipher."
"Olik," said Spartan, "Get Khan and the others. They're at the junction a level up, trying to get access to the surface shaft. If it's Olik, they must all see this."
Spartan leaned forward and hit the connection button to begin the slow process of establishing the direct and heavily encoded channel to the North. When the image of his old friend appeared, he smiled.
"Olik. Good to see you."
Then another shape coalesced next to his friend, and Spartan immediately felt a cold shiver running down his spine.
"Tenskwatawa, I wasn't expecting you."
The alien leader betrayed no emotion as he listened. The reply was as flagrant and distrustful as at any other time he'd heard him speak.
"Major. Congratulations on destroying the Red Scars command structure. My reports show your militias control thirteen sub-districts in the Western districts. Very impressive."
Spartan's eye narrowed, but he elected to say little for now.
"Spartan," said Olik, "I've just received a distress signal from ANS Titan. It's serious."
That made him pay attention.
"What's happened?"
Tenskwatawa moved his hand, and the camera shifted towards him. Olik angrily leaned forward, tilted it back, and then looked to Tenskwatawa.
"Do that again, and I'll remove your hand."
A smile formed on Spartan's worried face.
"It looks like Nakoma has more reinforcement
s in the area than expected. Titan was hit by something new and carrying unknown Anicinàbe iconography. She fought them for over an hour, but was forced to withdraw when more arrived."
Olik's expression shifted.
"We don't know how yet, but they reached Aphax II in hours, instead of days."
"Okay," said Spartan, "and this changes things, how?"
Olik looked to Tenskwatawa and warned him off with no more than a stern look.
"They are coming here, Spartan. Two ships, Cruiser Class, and they have started a panic at Montu."
Spartan pulled his head back a little and looked to his right as Khan, Kanjana, and Lahok rushed in from a side access shaft. Syala was with them and panting from her exertions.
"What's happening?" Khan asked.
Spartan pointed at the display and the small group of people.
"Olik. You old fool."
"Khan. Like I was saying to Spartan, the campaign has just changed, big time. These new ships are bigger than anything we've seen so far and forced Captain Delatorre to withdraw from Aphax II."
Spartan looked to Khan and shrugged.
"Don't ask me, Khan, all news to me."
Olik raised his voice to be heard over the background.
"They are coming here, and we're talking a matter of days."
"And?" said Spartan, "We can't speed up the timetable here. It will still take you weeks to hit Montu, and now Nakoma has full control of all forces in the South. This fight will be slow, and it's going to..."
"No, Spartan, it will not," said Tenskwatawa.
The alien's voice lacked emotion, but the accent slipped in, betraying the seriousness of the situation immediately.
"Captain Delatorre confirmed direct contact from the ships and units on Karnak in the vicinity of Montu. Within hours of this contact, the entire military in and around the city mobilised. Aircraft, shuttles, and ground vehicles."
"What, to defend the city? Are they expecting an attack?"
Tenskwatawa’s lip quivered, and Spartan sensed the alien was hiding something. He'd met many Byotai, but only a handful of Anicinàbe. Yet this individual lacked the characteristics of either. Spartan's nostrils flared as he shifted his eyes to the one person there he could trust.
"Olik. What is going on? Speak to me."
His friend shook his head before answering. There was something about Olik's face. Spartan couldn't put his finger on it, but the implication was that he couldn't speak freely, or more likely didn't want to due to those around him.
"Aircraft and scout units have deployed to the hills around Montu. Nakoma is reinforcing her position in readiness for an attack. It's like she knows we intend on hitting the capital."
Syala twisted about to look at the other screens before moving closer to Spartan.
"That is not a great secret. She knows we will have to hit Montu at some point. The capital will decide the victory on this planet."
"True," said Olik, "but the South is the problem, and I suspect these precautions are to protect her back while she operates in another place."
Olik licked his lips.
"Nakoma has sent her best units to the South, including her personal guard. Reports in the last hour from our scouts show another formation of aircraft is due to land within the hour, and an entire motorized column is two days away from reaching the Eastern sector of the Depression."
Olik shook his head.
"Nakoma is not holding back, not this time, and she has a single goal."
Spartan was speechless, but not Khan. He laughed at their assessment.
"So what? She's panicking. If she wants a full-scale war, she'll get one. I'll make sure her losses will be substantial if she does that. In the long term, this could cost her Montu and the rest of Karnak. Why use up what she has just to win down here? What is here that is worth the risk? Does she want to retake the Deep Core Mine?"
Olik's eyebrows lifted as he pointed ahead. Syala placed a hand on Spartan's shoulder as he listened, and though it was already obvious to all of them, the target still had not occurred to him.
"It's you, Spartan. She knows you're in the South, and her superiors must want you dead...badly. There's no hiding it. Nakoma is sending everything she has to hit you, and she wants to cause you damage."
Syala held onto Spartan, refusing to let him go.
"Then we go deep, and hold this one out."
Tenskwatawa shrugged in the Human fashion.
"You can do that, if you wish, and that will leave the urban areas of the South at Nakoma's mercy. Either you fight her, or she will kill every Byotai she finds."
Lahok walked closer to the screen and spoke to Spartan. His voice was so fast the translator could not even keep up. Kanjana approached him and snapped back a harsh retort in Byotai. The two paused, and he pointed to Spartan. This time his words were slow enough for the electronics to do their job.
"You cannot let my people suffer. Fight, or we will be forced to surrender. I will not wait and watch the annihilation of my people, while cowards..."
He never finished his speech. Syala was already there and slammed her fist into Lahok's face. He went down, knocked out cold by the impact. Syala then moved to the display and pointed at Olik.
"Okay, so she's been given orders to attack, and to attack fast. So who is giving the orders from those ships? Who is her commander?"
Olik shrugged once more, and Tenskwatawa spoke again in his dull, monotone voice.
"We do not know, Major. All we can tell you is that over five thousand of Nakoma's personal guard are hitting our positions in the South, and Red Scars units are moving street to street in the East. This is the endgame."
"No. We send the evacuation signal and get everybody underground. We have to play for time. We are not ready for a full-scale fight in the South."
Olik’s expression changed to a smile, much to Spartan's surprise.
"That's the thing. Whoever is coming to Montu has forced Nakoma into action. Montu is still impossible to hit, for now. But, and this is the..."
Spartan leaned in closer, eager to hear.
"Nakoma has landed in the Tanau administrative zone in the East. Our drones lasted less than a minute in the area, but they confirm she has most of her forces spread out through the old buildings there. All her ammunition supplies are there, plus her vehicles and most of her troops."
"How many?" Khan asked
"A lot, and they have access to looted vehicles as well. I'd say anything up to fifty thousands clan warriors in and around Tanau, with three times that number heading in your direction. Nakoma means to crush you once and for all."
Spartan signalled for Lahok to approach. The Byotai struggled to his feet and shuffled forwards. He looked at the image of Olik and then to the mapping data. It showed the ten districts of the South, each joined by a mixture of raised highways and underground rail tunnels.
"We've stayed away from Tanau since the Anicinàbe started this conflict. It's the most exposed settlement in the South, hit by frequent storms, and easily attacked from the air. That's why the capital was moved to Montu a long time ago. It's home to the abandoned spaceport and shipping plant as well."
"Spartan," said Olik, "We think Nakoma has been given her marching orders and she needs results. We believe her forces will start any moment, and they are going to hit hard. They will keep going until they find you, and the Byotai are the bait."
"I can't win against these numbers. Not in the time I have. The Byotai will be slaughtered before I can help."
Olik didn't seem particularly concerned as Spartan spoke. By the time he finished explaining his concerns, and the weakness of his position, he couldn't take it any longer.
"Okay, what is it?"
"Look at this," said Olik.
A single image popped up on the first display, showing one part of Tanau. To the right were several landing strips, as well as large numbers of aircraft and land vehicles. A low rise at the centre marked the built-up heart of the abandoned r
egional capital, and in the middle a large rectangular structure, surrounded by similar but smaller ones. The image shifted closer and closer, stopping right at the front of the large building. A long column of soldiers waited on each side of the steps, and in the centre was a tiny group of officials.
"It's Nakoma. She's here at Tanau, to oversee your capture or death."
Spartan swallowed slowly as he looked at the footage.
"You're sure?"
Tenskwatawa nodded.
"Computer analysis shows a ninety-four percent likelihood of it being Nakoma."
He moved closer, so his shape filled the screen.
"Spartan. I have already sent a signal to rally my people in a full-scale rebellion. They can fight, but not for long."
Spartan shook his head repeatedly.
"It is madness, Tenskwatawa, madness. By tomorrow half of them will be dead."
"No, they will not. Mobilise everything you can muster. Use the tunnels and get to Tanau, today, before the sun sets. Hit the place and force them to return, to deal with you."
"To what end?" Syala asked, "Once they know where they are, they can pull in everything to destroy us."
Khan already knew and spoke with barely hidden glee.
"You want us to attack Nakoma in her fortified position, and with ten times the number we have guarding her, and the rest of her forces just hours away?"
Tenskwatawa pulled back and signalled to Olik, who then tried to look positive.
"Since you've been away, I've beaten this Brigade into shape; one thousand militia, and all ready for combat. I've got another fifteen Blood Pack fit and active for combat. Plus all the remaining Jackals."
Spartan rubbed his chin.
"Interesting. And they are ready for combat?"
Olik nodded without thinking.
"Yes. And Tenskwatawa is prepared to give us access to all of his Exiles, using the captured Red Scars aircraft."
Spartan looked to those around him. Syala and Kanjana were to one side, and Khan waited with Knaro on his left. Lahok was sitting on the ground, still nursing his face.
"Can it be done?"
Khan gave it a few seconds’ thought.
"It will not be easy. The Maglev system is still offline, but we can use the Byotai utility tugs and transports to traverse the remaining underground roads and tunnel to within about ten or fifteen kilometres of Tanau. We could be there sometime in the night, if we leave within the next three hours."
Battle for Karnak (Star Crusades: Mercenaries, Book 4) Page 22
