"I've seen those soldiers before, the ones at the basilica with the cloaks and tall helmets. They are Nakoma's personal guard, and they killed thousands of my people."
Spartan laughed.
"That is good news, Lahok. If they are her guard, then she has to be there. One last push, my friend, and it will be over."
A screaming sound filled the air and a shell landed to the South. It sent up a plume of dust, ripping apart a pair of Jötnar and four Byotai. Two squads of the militia split apart and turned back, only to be cut down from volley fire in the suburbs.
"Look!" said Kanjana.
All eyes looked to the North where the sky lit up with the flash of engines. They were still only barely visible, but now well within weapons range.
"Olik!" Khan said, excited and relieved.
"Good," said Spartan.
He hit the open channel to all units within a kilometre of the basilica.
"All units move to your designated assault positions, and wait for the signal. When the green light shines, start the assault."
He pulled a lever on the side of his carbine to open up the choke on the weapon. It was an experimental feature, allowing the weapon to fire larger calibre projectiles in combat. Tests had shown it failed more often than it worked, so the velocity had been reduced to less than ten percent of standard, making it all but useless in combat.
"Wait for it. Olik is still thirty seconds out."
He lifted his carbine and pointed it up to the sky. Dozens of lights flickered in the air as the approaching horde of aircraft unleashed their bombardment. Hypersonic missiles screamed forward from the Jackals, with a long-range rocket attack from the dozens of captured gunships.
"Here it comes!" Khan shouted.
He looked to his comrades and found Lahok hiding at the floor.
"What will you think of yourself tomorrow, soldier? Stand up and watch the fireworks."
* * *
The lead aircraft dropped down to eighty metres from the ground. They were moving fast and kicking up dust as they hurtled in towards Tanau from the North. The Jackal shuddered as it began the pre-set firing sequence, arranged before they'd even left Melantias so many hours ago.
"Good hits, loading next batch of missiles for the landing."
Olik clenched his fists as the drop cylinders were activated. The brown smoked tube rose from the floor and reached the ceiling. He could just about see outside where the others were all doing the same. Tow lines attached to points on his armour and the green ready light flicked on.
Okay, ready.
He turned to Tyler, opened his mouth to speak, and then came the impact. The entire right side of the Jackal ripped open, taking Sergeant Tyler and half its occupants with it.
"Mayday, mayday. We've been hit!"
Olik looked to the left and then back to the great tear. The smoked cylinder still blurred his vision, but he could tell where his people were, and that at least three engines were still on fire.
The pilot shouted something, "Captain, they attacked from..."
The audio crackled, and when it returned, the pilot groaned in pain.
"Exiles...betrayed us..."
Then the Jackal rolled to the right, and his helmet filled with warning alerts, shouts, and screams. As the spacecraft plummeted towards the ground, Olik opened his mouth wide and roared with every last breath.
"Tenskwatawa!"
* * *
The first missiles screamed overhead and smashed into the Spires soldiers manning the buildings around the base of the hill. Then more arrived. Some even hitting the thick stone of the basilica itself. As each second passed, the bombardment increased into a crescendo. To the untrained eye, the aircraft were hitting anything they could find, but Spartan could see the pattern.
Good work, Olik.
The attack started with a wide area assault, but now it had split. Rocket fire continued hitting around the district, but the more accurate missiles from the Alliance Jackals struck the Spires soldiers at the base of the hill, and then moved forward.
Creeping barrage. Old school, and perfect!
Spartan pulled the trigger and yelled at the top of his voice, "Attack!"
As one, the entire formation along this side of the low hill rose up from cover, just as the next volley of missiles hit home. Spartan clambered over the wreckage and broke into a run towards the low hill. He could see the rocks, and the Spires soldiers hunkering down in cover. Missiles hit them with a devastating, pulverising sound. Each impact was like a powerful hammer blow, yet far enough away they avoided hitting their own people. Dozens of Jötnar raced forward, their powerful limbs propelling them ahead at speed.
"Look at them go!" said Kanjana.
A flash of lights announced the departure of the Black Widows as they launched from the buildings to the South. They arced up through the air, crashing down onto the balconies all over the Western side of the basilica. Spartan reached the rocks and clambered over them, pulling himself slowly up the low hill. Directly above he could see Spires soldiers in retreat, trying to avoid the onslaught of the advancing Jötnar, mercenaries, and their militia allies. One saw him and tried to fire down, only to be cut in half by strafing fire from a captured Abn'dak gunship.
"Yes!"
He looked back. Half a dozen aircraft swooped in. His smile vanished. The tracer fire flashed from one to another as a terrible dogfight broke out. Two Jackals exploded in spectacular fashion, and a third flew at high-speed into the side of a small two-storey structure.
"What the hell?"
Some of the Jötnar stopped and looked up in confusion, as the last few Jackals vanished from view. They were replaced by dozens of Abn'dak gunships and four heavy Ma'heen armoured gunships. Spartan's eyes narrowed, and then he spotted the guns. Hundreds of muzzle flashes opened up, followed by a massed rocket bombardment. The first wave struck the basilica, and for a moment it seemed the battle would continue as before, but then something terrible happened.
"Spartan!" Khan shouted.
As he turned to the right, a pair of Jötnar flew through the air; the blast from the rockets sent them flying from the wall. More missiles slammed into the district, hitting friend and foe alike. Spartan watched in utter amazement as friends and enemies were obliterated in the terrible assault. He gritted his teeth and looked back up the low, rocky hill.
"Follow me!"
With that triumphant cry, he lifted himself up the next batch of rocks. Many Jötnar did the same. Some of the militia tried to help, but even more were shot to pieces, their more modest armour offering little to no protection from the attack from the sky.
After what seemed like an age, Spartan reached the top. Six Jötnar were there, Khan, and seven Byotai. As they clambered from the rocks, a great volley tore into them from the basilica. One Jötnar flew back over the wall, and two Byotai were cut to pieces. Spartan looked back down the hill to find only a pitiful number clambering up the rocks. Kanjana and Lahok were next. Spartan shook his head surprised they’d made it this far. Another burst struck nearby, and Lahok hit the ground. Kanjana let him go and rushed to Spartan.
This is a disaster.
He lifted his carbine and opened fire, shooting at so many targets he thought he was hallucinating. Khan advanced to his side and did the same, pounding the Spires warriors with his Thumper. As they fired, the Exiles aircraft swooped overhead, shooting at any targets that showed themselves. Spartan considered dropping to his knees to avoid the gunfire, but stopped upon watching a trio of gunships scream past as they hammered the building. Her turned to Khan.
"It's our only shot. Are you with me?"
He indicated to the ground level of the basilica. There were arches all along the side with tall pillars at each side of them. The largest lay in the middle, blasted open by recent rocket fire. A handful of Spires warriors waited behind the rubble, doing their best to provide a strong defence at the one major weakness of the large building.
"Always, Spartan. Always!
"
The two broke into a run, covering the short section of open ground from the crest of the hill to the arched entrance. Gunfire struck all around them as others did their best to join in. Spartan was sure he saw another group trying to do the same from the North-western corner. Kanjana followed behind, keeping her head down as guns tore at the ground.
They clambered over the rubble and leapt inside, directly into a group of Spires soldiers. There must have been ten or more, yet the two Alliance warriors slammed into them with incredible ferocity. Spartan blasted from the hip and leapt upon one, forcing him down. With one hand he smashed the warrior’s head to the ground three times, then looked up, and blasted another as he ran at him.
"Your back!"
Khan twisted around just as a Spires soldier embedded a pike in his shoulder blade. Khan howled, ripped out the weapon, and swung it so hard the shaft broke the alien soldier’s neck. He dropped it, lifting his Thumper as another group appeared on the grand staircase.
"Hello!" he yelled.
The Thumper hammered away, blasting chunks out of the steps, stair rails, and the Spires soldiers. Spartan moved to his flank, and three more Jötnar joined them. Shouting further away announced yet more Jötnar as they poured inside looking for their hated enemy.
"What now?" Khan asked.
Spartan quickly studied the lobby area. It was an open space, but now filled with bodies and broken stonework. A large staircase ran up the middle, wide enough for ten Jötnar in a row to walk up. Spires banners hung down on each side, and a handful of warriors fired down from the top.
"We go up!"
Spartan didn't even check what his friend might say and ran up the staircase. Bullets raced down and struck his armour, blasting holes in the shoulder and thigh, yet still he ran. Khan was there, and the Jötnar right behind them. By the time they reached the top, one Jötnar was dead, and many Spires soldier lay screaming on the ground.
Spartan looked about in the darkness for any possible sign of the enemy. At first there was nothing obvious, but then he saw the tall double doors. They were nearly five metres tall. One was open, the other broken and lying on the floor. Lights flickered inside, betraying a fire or something electrical.
"There!"
Another group of soldiers rushed out from a side balcony and formed up into a loose firing line. They wore the same garb as the others, yet their cloaks and tall helmets marked them out as personal guards. They fired accurate bursts that crippled two more Jötnar, and even managed to injure Khan again, forcing him to groan in pain.
"Spartan, get down!" said a familiar voice.
Spartan felt to one knee as a dozen black shapes blasted overhead. When he looked up, the Black Widows were tearing into the Spires, using a mixture of blade and machine pistols. From the other side of the floor came another group of Jötnar led by Kornag. They hit the Spires in a ferocious assault that sent head and limbs flying.
"Hurry!" Syala shouted, as she embedded a blade onto the chest of one of the Spires.
Spartan rushed past her, narrowly avoiding a knife. Khan moved to his flank, and together they pushed inside the room. Spartan let his carbine drop to his flank and drew out his L52S Mark II Assault pistol. The room was tall, and its ceiling formed part of the massive overhead dome. Spires banners hung from the walls, most now torn or burnt from the fighting. A map of an area covered one wall, and it showed flames and explosions.
I could have done with that intelligence.
"There!" Khan said.
Spartan stopped in his tracks, stunned to find Nakoma in all her lavish clothing, kneeling before the images of the burning city, and with her long knife drawn in her hands. It was placed against her exposed belly. Kanjana advanced towards her, her rifle extended out towards the enemy.
"Stop!" Spartan yelled.
Nakoma turned her head a little as she watched the approach of Kanjana, but kept the blade there. Spartan placed the muzzle of his L52S against her temple, and his finger moved to the trigger. Khan turned from the imagery and lifted his hand.
"Wait. What's this?"
Spartan stepped back warily, and then glanced at the images.
"What do you mean? It's Tanau, burning from this fight."
Nakoma began to laugh, so Spartan struck her across the side of the face.
"Khan, what is it?"
"It's not here. It's the Capital. Montu is under assault."
Spartan looked on in amazement as he watched Anicinàbe forces clashing inside the massive fortress of Montu, the capital controlled by Nakoma. Large spacecraft were on the ground, and hundreds of bone-coloured soldiers rushed down ramps to join the battle.
"It's him," said Nakoma in almost flawless English.
She lifted a hand and pointed to a smaller part of the projection where a familiar face looked back at them all.
"Tenskwatawa!" Khan hissed, spitting on the floor.
"Spartan, Khan...always a pleasure. I see you're just in time to see the demise of the great villain of our time."
The noise of battle outside faded a little, and Syala, Kornag, and a handful of the others entered the space to see Tenskwatawa staring right back at them. Spartan leaned towards Nakoma and whispered to her, before lifting his weapon and striking her face. Blood spurted from the nose, and she rasped angrily, licking the blood with her long, cruel looking tongue.
"You have done well, but now it is over. My people are retaking Montu at this very moment, and many of my brothers in the Spires and Red Scars clans were keen to turn against you when given...appropriate incentives."
Nakoma hissed as she listened to that part.
"Yes, it would appear your brutal reign has come to an end. Now it is time for the peace of the Star Empire to begin once more."
Khan's face contorted more and more as he stepped closer. At the same time, Syala pointed her weapons at the still kneeling Nakoma.
"Spartan, why is she not dead yet?"
Spartan lifted a hand to silence her and looked into the eyes of Tenskwatawa. Without saying a word, he turned, took aim, and blasted Nakoma at point-blank range. She tipped facedown to the ground. Spartan then looked to Tenskwatawa and pointed his fist at his hated foe.
"You betrayed Olik and the others, for what purpose?"
Tenskwatawa shook his head, and Spartan looked carefully as he watched a mixture of Byotai walking behind him. They were still in the North, but there was no sign of violence or trouble there.
"Karnak belongs to my people, as it always has done. The many races of the Star Empire, and led by my great and beloved brother, Tahkeome, who at this very moment is taking control of Montu."
He pointed to Spartan.
"I must thank you, though, Spartan. You and your mercenaries have removed the threat of rebellion from the most troublesome Anicinàbe clans, and saved the Byotai from the ravages of the foul Nakoma. We are both heroes to the survivors of this world. My brother and I will bring this planet into the fold of our Great Empire, and you can return home, your contract completed."
He smiled, that perfect, immaculate smile Spartan hated so much.
"I have already sent the order for my aircraft to land South of the city. You will be given safe escort away from here, with my thanks, of course."
Spartan's nostrils flared, and he lifted his machine pistol towards the projector resting just above the imagery. His mouth quivered as he took the last few breaths. Tenskwatawa laughed as he saw the anger and rage in Spartan. He shook his head and spoke quietly.
"Again, I thank you, my..."
Spartan finally snapped.
"I'm not done, Tenskwatawa. I'm not even started!"
He held down the trigger and blasted the projector apart. As the unit broke into pieces, he continued firing about the room, shattering flags, artwork, and equipment until the gun ran dry.
"So what now?" Khan asked.
The sound of gunfire continued outside, neither forces knowing what was going on inside the building. Spartan walked over t
o the body of Nakoma and rolled her onto her back.
"Spartan?" Syala asked.
She looked to Nakoma and was stunned to see the leader of the Spires rise to a sitting position. Her nose and lips bled, and more blood ran from a wound in her shoulder.
"Well?" Spartan asked, "Do we have a deal?"
A pitiful group of Spires soldiers ran into the room, to find Kornag pointing his Thumper directly back at them. They stopped, but kept their weapons trained on Spartan and the others. Nakoma rose to her feet, shook her body, and then signalled for the soldiers to lower their weapons.
"You will help me take revenge?"
Spartan nodded slowly.
"What?" Khan’s voice dripped with anger.
Even Syala appeared stunned and moved to grab Spartan.
"Yes, and you will give the order to your to stop the attack. Immediately."
Nakoma considered his words, and then lifted her left palm to her mouth. She spoke a handful of words and smiled at Spartan. Blood covered her teeth, making her look even more hideous than before. She looked to the others. All were pointing their weapons at her chest, even as she continued to bleed.
"Can you send an interstellar message from this place?"
Nakoma nodded.
"Good."
Spartan turned to his comrades, all of whom looked at him as though he was mad. Only Kanjana appeared to have understood what was happening. Her lip rose into something vaguely resembling a grin.
"The enemy of my enemy..."
Spartan nodded, but Khan finished the sentence.
"...is my friend."
Syala walked up to Spartan, deactivated her visor, and planted a long kiss on his lips. As they separated, Khan moved alongside them. He swung his fist and struck Spartan so hard that he fell to the floor in a heap. Syala helped him back to his feet, and he swayed a little, slightly disorientated by the strike.
"That was for getting between me and my revenge. Now I have lost Wictred, and my vengeance."
Nakoma heard this and spat another globule of blood on the floor.
"Your friends are still prisoners at Montu. Help me, and I will help you."
Battle for Karnak (Star Crusades: Mercenaries, Book 4) Page 25
