War of the Exiles

by Michael G. Thomas

  "We’re with you," said a computerised voice.

  Spartan could see from the corner of his eye that the rest of the mercenaries had formed up in front of the defences. The mood was electric, with both sides poised for the bloodletting. As each second passed, more Byotai left. At the same time yet more Anicinàbe filled the breach. Voices came from beyond the wall, and a smattering of gunshots. One of the Anicinàbe at the top of the mound fell backwards.

  "What's going on?" asked Khan.

  Spartan gripped his carbine tightly.

  "I don't know...be ready."

  The Anicinàbe looked back and shouted, just as two Blood Pack warriors climbed into view. One appeared from the rubble to the left where the wall had fallen down. His helm was cracked open, and entire sections of his armour were missing. The second must have climbed the rubble from the Southern side of the wall. Both were battered, their armour smashed and dripping in blood.

  "Die, you Anicinàbe coward!" yelled the second.

  The first warrior hurled himself into the mass of soldiers, spreading confusion. The second crashed directly into Jax, knocking the wounded Blood Pack warrior and the Senior Centurion down so that he vanished among the melee. Gunshots flashed back and forth, but the two were like demonic monsters, ignoring the bullets and lifting up Anicinàbe soldiers and hurling them against their comrades.

  "Khan!" yelled the first of the pair.

  Spartan shook his head in disbelief.

  "Olik?"

  He then lifted his arm and shouted to the defenders.

  "Fire!"

  Rifles and carbines of all kinds opened up, and the Anicinàbe responded in kind, firing at the barricade at those in front and behind. The attackers outnumbered the defenders by a massive margin. Dozens of Byotai and Exile soldiers were cut down, even those hiding behind the barricades. More broke and fled, even as Tenskwatawa tried to rally them.

  "Come on, end this, now!" Spartan snapped.

  Spartan and his comrades in front of the barricade unleashed all they had. The mercenaries utilised everything from thermal rifles and plasma weapons, to spike throwers taken from the Red Scars. The fight was brutal, and at this range it was almost impossible to miss.

  Olik continued to fight at the top of the ridge, until finally two heavy hits struck his chest. He staggered and then swung his arms, cutting down yet more soldiers. Olik bent down, grabbed a long metal pole, and swung it hard, striking another Kolchan soldier in the face. Unknown to him it was the standard that had been flying next to Khan when the wall had collapsed. He looked down the ridge to the defenders when a massive metal spike punched through his chest. Olik dropped to his knees as the razor sharp halberd wielded from the left by Siwili embedded in his throat. He tipped over forwards and slid down the ridge face first. The Byotai standard dropped to the ground, its tip lodged in the rubble and battered material hanging limp to one side.

  "Olik!" Khan screamed.

  The Blood Pack broke formation and charge at the Anicinàbe. The massive metal warriors were outnumbered a hundred to one, and of the eighteen that charged, three were killed outright. They crashed into the front rank like a freight train and then vanished into the crowd. Right behind them came the rest of the mercenaries, Spartan and Kanjana leading, the Widows at their flanks.

  The gunfire quickly faded as the gun battle turned to a close quarter fight. The odd mixture of warriors hacked, stabbed, and slashed at those on the lower face of the mound of rubble. Spartan took three gunshots to the shoulder and was knocked to his back by one of the great beasts. Volley fire from the barricade forced it to back off, and he looked back, calling to those waiting behind the defences.

  "Help us!"

  Tenskwatawa was exhorting them to the fight, while raising his staff up in the air. Spartan spotted him draw a long, slender blade from inside the staff, but then his view was blocked by another small group of Spires soldiers. Two more Jötnar fell, and although they took a heavy toll on the Anicinàbe, the numbers continued to grow. Minute by minute they were pushed back. Spartan dragged himself to the front where the Black Widows were fighting shoulder-to-shoulder with Khan and the others. Three Jötnar dragged back the shattered bodies of Jax and Olik, and still there was no sign of victory. Spartan tried to call out to the others but then spotted the leader of the enemy a few metres away.

  "Khan, there he is!"

  Spartan grabbed the head of a Kolchan warrior and cast it aside to clear a path up the rubble. Khan was busy fighting six clan warriors, but upon seeing the shape of the Senior Centurion, he pushed them aside and moved forward. Siwili saw him at the last minute and swung his blood soaked halberd around. Spartan charged shoulder first at Siwili and moved under the blade. Armour struck armour, and the two staggered back, crashing into three Spires soldiers. Khan then arrived and smashed his fists into the warrior’s chest. Spartan yanked the halberd from Siwili and swung the weapon. Khan leaned back just as the blade bit in deeply to Siwili's collar. The weapon was incredibly sharp and hacked through metal and flesh with ease. The headless corpse dropped to its knees, and Khan kicked it over and roared with satisfaction. Blades and fists struck the two, but then Spartan saw something he'd never expected to see.

  As he was dragged down, a great crowd of Exiles and Byotai were charging up the mound, Tenskwatawa and Governor Nak Sekieki at their head. They crashed into the scattered Anicinàbe, and in seconds the enemy broke. Spartan fell to the ground, his armour torn and broken, and his energy all but gone as they stormed past. He looked up and spotted Governor Nak Sekieki waving the fallen Byotai standard, while his kin charged out into the light. The battle of Melantias was over, and the combined forces of Nakoma were fleeing in terror.

  EPILOGUE

  One great disadvantage in using robotic technology ground combat was that its use was always obvious. Who could place the blame on another faction or race, when only those with advanced technology could ever hope to create or operate such advanced machines? In the early days of the Interstellar Assault Brigade, this became clear. CD1 Grunts soon became a signifier that the IAB were involved, and they quickly turned to modifying the exterior of the units, depending on the operation and target.

  Robots in Space

  The Wall of Melantias, Stone Teeth Hills, Karnak

  Spartan looked down from the ruins of the breached wall and shook his head in amazement. As far as he could see, right out to the horizon, was a graveyard filled with the bodies of the fallen and hundreds of burning vehicles. The sky was beginning to clear, but the sound of battle had gone. Instead of the great legions hacking away at each other, there were instead long columns of Anicinàbe prisoners being taken away. Spartan looked to the right, where an equally battered looking Khan was waiting with Kanjana. She was leaning against a smashed boulder-sized piece of wall. She'd removed the upper sections of her armour and was enjoying the warm breeze coming from the East.

  "I never expected to see a fight like that again, old friend," said Spartan.

  Khan grunted.

  "Agreed."

  "How is Olik?"

  Khan sighed.

  "He's alive, but the blade cut him deep. The medics say another three millimetres, and he'd be dead already."

  He reached out and grabbed Spartan's shoulder.

  "I had a little...talk with one of the Spires officers. He says there are still prisoners at Montu, including some Jötnar."

  "Wictred." said Spartan under his breath.

  They locked their arms together and Spartan leaned in close so that his face was just inches from Khan's.

  "We'll get to Montu...and we'll found out what happened. We're not leaving a single soul behind. Understood?"

  Khan almost crushed him with his incredibly strong grip, and then released him upon spotting Arana approaching from the Southern side of the wall. She was not alone, and her entourage was busy escorting a number of Anicinàbe senior officers. She nodded to Spartan as she passed, but Syala stopped and limped a little as she moved towa
rds Spartan. Three bullets had damaged her leg armour, yet incredibly none of them had fully penetrated. Her helmet was gone, and her long hair hung down messily over her armour.

  "So, you survived," she said.

  Spartan said not a word, but grabbed her and pulled her close. There were no other sounds for a moment until the grinding of dust and rock indicated others coming up the ridge. They looked back down and found Governor Nak Sekieki and Tenskwatawa approaching. It looked odd seeing the two together, and even Khan seemed pleasantly surprised. As before, Kanjana began translating for Governor Nak Sekieki, but Tenskwatawa lifted his hand to stop her.

  "Thank you, Kanjana of the Anicinàbe. I will speak for the Governor and our people."

  She looked over to Spartan who gave her a short nod.

  "You and your people have done us a great service. You were brought here to help train our warriors, and instead have led us to victory. Our losses are great, but the Anicinàbe are now broken, and our people united in their common goal to work together. This is a new age..."

  He looked to Tenskwatawa.

  "For all of us."

  Spartan lowered his head in a polite gesture.

  "There's an old saying we have back home," said Spartan.

  Tenskwatawa looked at Spartan with a whimsical expression. He was battered and blood dripped from multiple small wounds. Yet for all the damage, he appeared little worse for wear.

  "Really, and what is that?"

  There was a sort pause as Spartan waited for the translation.

  "The tide has turned."

  He then scratched his forehead.

  "Or is it the worm has turned."

  Spartan looked back to the South.

  "News of this battle will spread, and any Byotai in hiding will be ready to join the fight. All they need is leadership and a vision. If you give it to them, they will fight."

  He then looked to both Governor Nak Sekieki and Tenskwatawa.

  "We brought you mercenaries, and we've done our part. Melantias is safe, and now your forces are ready for the fight. Nakoma still holds the capital, and her forces hold many of your kin to the South. You've seen the reports. She's already executing civilians in massive numbers."

  He looked at both of them again.

  "She holds other prisoners, including Kras, and I promise you, she'll use them when the time is right. This is not over yet, not by a long shot. We...no, you need help from the Empire. Fresh troops and ships, or the rest of the Quadrant will suffer like Karnak has."

  Spartan rubbed his cheeks with his left hand.

  "There is only one question left to answer for you two, though."

  The two aliens looked to each other and then to him. Tenskwatawa spoke in his perfectly clear, accent-less voice.

  "And what is that, Spartan?"

  Khan moved alongside Spartan, looked at his friend, and then sighed as though bored with the conversation.

  "It's pretty simple."

  He rubbed his face while trying to assess quite what the two were thinking.

  "Are you ready to take back Karnak?"

  Tenskwatawa smiled.

  "Yes, we will take back Karnak, and then the entire Quadrant, but not for our united people, for the unified Star Empire."

  Khan, Spartan, and Syala looked at each other, all equally confused. Khan said exactly what they were all thinking.

  "The Star what?"

  * * *

  Grand Cruiser ‘Raiukat’, Byotai Border

  The group of Anicinàbe warships and transports waited in front of an equally large group of Byotai rebel ships. Fighters from both sides performed routine escort patterns, but none of the capital ships had their weapons online or their gun ports open. Many of the ships carried Spires warriors, though all now wore the uniforms given to them by Tahkeome. These were the ships promised to ease the troubles in the Anicinàbe territories, but here they waited, alongside a vast group of Byotai rebels.

  Of all the ships present, the largest was the Grand Cruiser known as Raiukat. The design was an odd mixture of Anicinàbe elegance, but mixed with the brutal size and power of the Byotai. A single bright symbol glowed on its hull, lit from within so that all could see. The shape was simple, and of a two-headed reptilian creature, its heads facing in opposite directions. Every single ship in that part of space bore the new iconography of the two-headed Sekieki, the creatures that occupied worlds of both people.

  Ogimà Tahkeome, chief of all the border clans examined the report that had just arrived from Karnak, from behind the beautifully designed table. It was curved like a crescent, with a smooth black finish accented in gleaming white. For anybody else in his position, it might have seemed like a disaster. Tarak had lost the bulk of the fleet around Karnak, and now Ogimà Nakoma had failed to defeat the Byotai to the North of her positions. He looked up at the shape of his two assistants, both clad in the new uniforms and armour he had requested.

  Finally, the time has come. Nakoma has begun her reprisals, and still the Byotai will not send aid.

  He looked up at his officers and extended his arms, as though offering them a gift. Off into the distance was a great map made from a single piece of incredibly fine steel. Upon it were the quadrants and sectors that made up the territories of the Anicinàbe and Byotai. The Tenth Quadrant, source of so much woe, lay directly in the centre.

  "Send the signal. It is time for the revolution to begin."

  The officers looked ecstatic at the news. It was clearly something they had been waiting for.

  "To all of our brothers, rise up against the yoke of the oppressor. Those Byotai who have been cast aside by their betters, or exiled from their worlds for joining the fighting on Karnak will be saved."

  The officers looked to each other, their faces trembling with anticipation.

  "Our Anicinàbe brothers live like nomads, homeless and weak. Never again! Today we unite all Anicinàbe and Byotai, no matter their blood."

  He then pointed to the map.

  "Send five transports to Karnak. Contact my brother at Melantias. I want Karnak to be the first to join us. He can use our troops to crush Nakoma. The Star Empire is reborn, and all will join us in this glorious rebirth. When the volunteers on Karnak see that we have achieved, what the Byotai Patrician refused them, they will soon beg to join us."

  The tallest of the officers lowered his head before speaking.

  "What of the Byotai fleet? Many of their officers will not join us."

  Ogimà Tahkeome rose to his feet.

  "We have agents among the populares on every Byotai world. Their caste system is our ally. For too long the Byotai Patricians have kept them in slavery, and now, while their people suffer under Nakoma, they will do nothing."

  He licked his lips.

  "Tenskwatawa will show them the unity and purpose of our Empire. Send the signal to our agents. The populares will rise up, and they will take what is theirs."

  "And what of those that refuse, Ogimà Tahkeome?"

  "They will join the Empire, or they will burn."

  The officers saluted and left, leaving just one. The younger, most junior of them looked to Tahkeome with his head lowered.

  "Yes? What is it?" Tahkeome asked.

  "Ogimà. Most of the Byotai crews will join us, but what of the Alliance? They will not simply leave, and they could ally with the Patricians and stop us."

  The young officer looked nervous, especially with Tahkeome walking towards him.

  "That, my young friend, is a very good point. Send word that when the second signal is sent, all captured ships will turn their guns on foreign warships. The Empire must start anew, without the contamination of the tainted."

  The officer appeared stunned.

  "Ogimà Tahkeome. You want us to fire warning shots, to force them to leave."

  Tahkeome moved close and ran his hand down the young officer’s cheek.

  "No, I want their ships destroyed, burnt from within, and their bodies hurled into space. When the signal i
s sent, all alien ships will be hunted down and destroyed. Every last one of them."

  THE END

  FURTHER INFORMATION

  There are many more books set in the Star Crusades universe that cover some of the most momentous events such as the Great Uprising that resulted in the establishment of the Alliance as well as the Biomech War. There are multiple series including 'Uprising', 'Nexus', 'Mercenaries' and beyond. Please visit Swordworks Books to learn more, examine the historical timelines and to see maps of the territories described in the books:

  The official Star Crusades website:

  www.starcrusader.com

  The official Facebook Page:

  https://www.facebook.com/starcrusader

  Table of Contents

  CHAPTER ONE

  CHAPTER TWO

  CHAPTER THREE

  CHAPTER FOUR

  CHAPTER FIVE

  CHAPTER SIX

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  CHAPTER NINE

  CHAPTER TEN

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  EPILOGUE

  FURTHER INFORMATION