Press The Line: Ganog Wars Book 3

by Chris Fox

  What had he just witnessed? There was no doubt, that had been Khar, the Tigris from this...Coalition. Somehow they'd found a way into the arcanotome, which was most troubling. What had they learned? Would could they learn?

  He examined the entire experience as he waited patiently for the transport disk to arrive, pondering what he'd seen and sifting through it as he sought some clue, some bit of data that might tell him where to find Khar--and thus the empress.

  There was nothing. Not a single shred of evidence that might provide their location.

  Utfa's fur drifted to red, and he paced back and forth. Finally, the transport disk arrived. He mounted it, enjoying the breeze as it carried him aloft. It brought him to the command deck, where a single techsmith stood.

  The disk deposited him on the edge of the island, and Utfa strode to the center, motioning for the techsmith to attend him. Unlike other clans, the Kthul did not trust techsmiths. They too were inducted into the seekers, and while they were not given the same standing, their minds were forced open to the Nameless Ones, ensuring their loyalty.

  What could the empress be after? There was no doubt she was on Imperalis. Was she attempting to raise an army? No, such a move would have resulted in at least a few rumors. Besides, it was unlikely to be effective. Any army she raised would be swiftly destroyed by the Void Wraith. Unless she found a way to deal with them, there was simply no way for her to retake her world.

  And there it was--the reason she'd returned to this world.

  "Techsmith," Utfa snarled, staring through the observation dome at Imperalis. "Have a full detail of warriors moved to the beacon. Also include a complement of Adepts, and enough labor-slaves to build fortifications."

  Zakanna was coming. They both knew she'd need the beacon if she wished to wrest her throne back. Utfa might not be able to find her, but he could be ready for her return.

  That matter dealt with, he turned his attention inward, closing his eyes as the whispers provided a tantalizing tidbit. He focused on the data pulses and watched the feed coming from his scout vessel.

  It had arrived at Akadia, a populous Saurian world that supplied most of the Nyar labor slaves. Normally, Utfa would have ordered his dreadnoughts to incinerate the world from orbit. Instead, they'd merely destroyed the small Saurian fleet, leaving the world intact.

  The world was no longer occupied. All nine billion Saurians were gone, as was every other biological entity. Even the trees had been devoured.

  Part of Utfa wished he had footage of the Nameless One devouring Akadia, but mostly he was glad he couldn't see it. That level of destruction was disturbing, a subtle reminder that no world was safe from his masters.

  Not even Imperalis.

  31

  BRUTH

  Nolan tapped the eject sequence, then wiped a thick sheen of sweat from his forehead. The mech's chest slid open, allowing a blast of blessedly cool air into the cockpit. He undid his harness and started down the rungs on the mech's leg. Once out, he straightened, giving the chaos in the hangar a weary once over.

  Annie and Hannan were parking their mechs in the neighboring stalls, while Kokar and Hruk stood off to one side. There was no sign of Nuchik yet, but Nolan wasn't worried. She was damned good at taking care of herself, and probably just wasn't done killing Kthul yet.

  Alpha Company's surviving mechs were streaming in, but Nolan only counted eight. Fortunately, there were a few more pilots being helped in, suggesting they'd survived the destruction of their mechs. Behind them came a thick cluster of armored Ganog, most still in great form.

  They huddled together nervously, each clutching a rifle or a melee weapon. The cluster was centered around the massive female Nolan had seen earlier. She stood head and shoulders over the others, pointing a thickly muscled arm as she barked orders to the other Nyar. They snapped to, and Nolan couldn't blame them.

  "May as well get this over with," he muttered.

  Squaring his shoulders, he strode over to the Ganog. By the time he arrived, most had noticed him, including the woman he assumed to be the leader. Many had shifted back to their lesser forms, but they were still taller than he was.

  He paused about three meters way, nodding respectfully. "I'm Captain Nolan. Welcome aboard the Demetrius. The vessel belongs to Major Burke, who is making his way over now." Nolan waved in Burke's direction.

  The copper-haired soldier's eyebrows were knit together in a mixture of irritation and anger, and he stalked up to the Ganog like he wanted to do violence. "Who's in charge of this rabble?"

  "I am in charge of this rabble," the female Ganog said. She stepped from their ranks, towering over Burke even after shifting back to her smaller form. "My name is Bruth, of the Nyar Clan. Your companion identified you as Major Burke, and claims you are the leader of this vessel."

  Burke shot Nolan an annoyed glance. "It's technically true that this is my vessel, but we've been placed at Nolan's disposal. He's the one you'll want to deal with. Before we do that, though, I'm going to need your people to pile their weapons up against the wall. I'm also going to need you to have everyone get back into whatever you call your regular-sized bodies."

  "We keep our weapons." It wasn't a request. Bruth leaned closer to Burke. "I will order my warriors to resume their lesser forms, but make no mistake, little human. If you seek to do us harm, to imprison us, or to remove our weapons...I will kill you."

  "We just saved your asses," Burke snarled. He scowled up at Bruth. "I lost over a third of my unit out there, and by God you will treat me and mine with respect. Or you'll find yourself walking."

  "What Major Burke is trying to say," Nolan interjected, hating that he had to be the diplomatic one, "is that we need to work together. If you want to keep your weapons, that's fine. Major, would it be acceptable for the Nyar to take the area around those berths over there?"

  "Why not? The mechs we were storing there have been destroyed. There's plenty of room, with a third of my pilots dead."

  Burke turned on his heel and stalked away--not that Nolan could blame him. Losing men was hard under the best of circumstances.

  "It is only because you have done us a great service that I do not separate your head from your shoulders," Bruth said, matter-of-factly. She stared disdainfully down at Nolan, her fur taking on a sickening green tint. "My people have lost much this day, and we long for vengeance. Do not test our patience, for my people seek a target for their anger."

  "I get that." Nolan turned to scan the hangar, noting two things. Hannan and Annie were still in their mechs, still ready to fight. Nuchik had just arrived too, and had left her mech idling. "Kokar, get over here."

  The Ganog was still standing by the wall, as if trying to avoid Bruth's notice. At the sound of his name he reluctantly strode over. Hruk followed him like an ever-present shadow.

  "Listen," Nolan began, once Kokar had joined them. "I don't really understand your political structure. I'm not sure who's in charge. I'll let you sort that out. When you can tell me who that is, great. I need to speak to that person about a formal alliance with the Coalition. Your people are in desperate need of allies, and I think we all know it."

  Kokar's fur went a watery yellow, but he flared his nostrils and it settled into a deep brown. "Bruth, you know you are the only one left whom most will follow. You must assume command."

  Bruth seemed more than a little surprised, eyeing Kokar warily. "I agree. It's that simple then? No challenge? No arguments for your cause?"

  "I have no real support in either the warrior or leadership caste. Our titles aren't hereditary, and everyone knows my father hated me anyway."

  Hruk started to speak, but Kokar waved him to silence.

  "There's no chance I can command," he said, "so for the good of our people I will lend whatever weight my word carries to your cause."

  Hruk snarled. "You gained respect when you defied your father, especially in light of the fact that you were right." He stepped up next to Kokar, glaring at Bruth. "Kokar may support
you, but do not forget his lineage, or his deeds this day. You owe him your life. All of you do. Kokar secured the allies that allowed you to survive the execution wrought by Grak."

  "Lingering respect allows me to ignore your tone," Bruth snarled back, "but learn to curb your tongue." She flexed powerful shoulders, making it clear that she could easily snap his neck. "I will accord Kokar the honor he has earned, and it is true that he earned much of it. I am honored by his support, and will see that he serves among the leadership caste." She turned to Nolan. "Since I now speak for the Nyar, you may deal with me, Captain. You said we needed an alliance, and you are correct. What do you propose, exactly?"

  Nolan had already considered how to approach this moment, so he made his argument simple. "We keep your leadership caste alive, and evacuate as many survivors as possible to the world of your choosing. As you're no doubt aware, the Demetrius can cloak, and we've installed a warp drive. With the warp anchor gone, we can leave whenever. If there are no additional survivors, we could depart right now. Once we're free, you send a delegation to meet with my government. The alliance can be formalized there, but the gist is this: We help you in the war against Utfa and the Kthul, and when that war is over you leave my people in peace."

  "That last part is nothing. We would never leave our space to conquer inferior species. We exist to shield our kind from the Nameless Ones, and will be here until that is accomplished. However, honor dictates that we defend this world. If we abandon Nyar, we abandon our history. Our people will lose hope, and this war will be over before it has fully begun. No, we will not be leaving. If you wish to stay and help us retake our world, then so be it. We welcome the aid."

  Nolan's mouth worked, and he fought for words. They weren't willing to leave, but what the hell could he do to help them retake this world? It was an impossible task.

  Yet what choice did he have? His orders were clear: Secure the Nyar alliance, at any cost.

  "We'll stay," he said, "as allies. Rest up. We'll need time to repair our mechs. After that, we'll see what we can do to help."

  "Very well. We will mend our wounds, and prepare ourselves for the next battle." Bruth turned without a word, heading for the area of the hangar that had been allocated for them.

  Nolan sighed. Someday, they'd give him an easy mission.

  32

  LONGSHOT

  Nolan ducked into the conference room, noting that he was the last to arrive. He hated that, but there'd simply been too many things to deal with before he got there.

  Kokar and Hruk sat on one side of the table. Burke sat on the other, in clear opposition. Both groups eyed each other like cats dumped together in a room, and Nolan knew this would be an uphill battle. He moved to Burke's side, sliding into a chair next to the major.

  "Welcome, Captain," Kokar rumbled, nodding respectfully. "We can begin, then."

  "Before we begin, I wanted to apologize for earlier," Burke said, running his fingers through his hair while avoiding eye contact. He looked up suddenly, meeting Kokar's gaze. "I lost people today. It's only the second since I took command of Alpha Company. I let it affect my professionalism, and you have my apologies."

  "Too little, too late, if you ask me," Hruk said.

  "I did not ask you," Kokar snapped. His eyes never left Burke. "I understand completely, Major. I lost people on Imperalis. Friends. Brothers. It...unhinged me for a time." His fur darkened.

  "We've all been there, in this war or another," Nolan said. "It's water under the bridge, gentlemen. We're friends here. More than that, we're allies. We want the same thing. Does anyone at this table think that we're going to get it by having Bruth in charge?"

  "She's going to get everyone killed," Burke said, shaking his head. "The Nyar can't stay on this world. That's suicide. Even if they muster enough of a force to take on the garrison, the Kthul will just call an Omega or two back here."

  "True, but what would you suggest?" Kokar growled, his nails digging into the table. His frustration was clear, though it didn't seem to be directed at any of them.

  "Hruk," Nolan said, meeting the wizened Ganog's gaze. "You're a historian of sorts, right?"

  "I am." Hruk's tone was suspicious, but his eyes were curious.

  "Nyar's tomb is an Omega. There's no mistaking it. That means that, at one time, your people used Omegas in war. How much do you know about that time?"

  "I know the legends, but we have no way of knowing how true they are." Hruk stroked the fur on his chin, considering. "The only story that mentions the first planetstrider are those of Nyar's final battle, in this very city. We know little of use, I'm afraid."

  "All right," Nolan said, more than a little frustrated at the historian's lack of...well, history. "But at the very least Nyar's Tomb is holy, right?"

  Hruk looked affronted at the question. "It is our most holy site."

  "So if the son of a former clan leader showed up piloting the tomb, that would probably give him a lot of influence in the clan right? Say...enough to be declared Clan Leader himself?"

  "I see where you are going with this," Kokar said, eyeing Nolan dubiously. "Even if we could resurrect this Omega, I do not think the clan would follow me."

  "You may be mistaken, lad." Hruk gave a seated, and very deferential, bow. "If you led them into battle using Nyar's war machine, they would follow you into the maw of a Nameless One. Nyar would flock to your cause--not just here, but everywhere."

  Kokar looked decidedly uncomfortable at the prospect, his fur rippling between runny green and washed-out blue. Finally, he looked up. "I do not think I will make an able leader, but Bruth is blind to the danger that staying here presents. I will do whatever I must to lead my people to safety."

  "Are we in agreement then?" Nolan asked, looking around the table.

  "I'd much rather have Kokar in charge than that brute," Burke said. He turned to Nolan. "Do you really think you can get that Omega operational? It's been sitting out there for millennia, right? From the little I saw when we passed by, it's got trees growing out of its joints. Who knows what parts are corroded?"

  "We won't know until we take a look. It's possible this is a fool's errand, and if the Omega can't be fixed, I'm willing to admit the mission is a failure and pull out," Nolan offered. He turned to Kokar. "Will anyone try to stop us from going to Nyar's Tomb? I know you said it was a holy site."

  "Any warrior or leader may make pilgrimage," Hruk mused. "I doubt they will attempt to bar our passage. Is it really possible that you might be able to resurrect Nyar's war machine?"

  "Possibly. I'll let the rest of the squad know we're moving out. Annie is good with repair and improvisation. We'll have her do an assessment." Nolan rose to his feet. "How does two hours sound?"

  "Works for me." Burke rose to his feet as well. "Just enough time for a shower and a meal."

  "Indeed," Kokar agreed. "I will tend to my own dinner, then stand ready to lead you to Nyar's Tomb."

  33

  WE HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY

  Nolan's mech lumbered around the corner of an overgrown building, where the stone disappeared amidst the foliage. Before him stood the Omega that Nuchik had originally spotted. Its sleek metal frame towered over most of the surrounding buildings, though one or two were taller. He guessed it stood around 6,000 meters--taller than most planetstriders.

  Dense green vines grew through its joints, overlaying the blue-and-chrome armor with a riot of green. Three concentric rings stood around the Omega, much like a scaffold would be used with an orbital launch back home. Perhaps that supplied it with power?

  "Kokar," Nolan asked over the comm, "why do the Nyar wear black armor if your founder used a blue war machine?"

  Kokar paused a few dozen meters away, staring up at the Omega. "An excellent question, and one I have never considered. Hruk?"

  "I do not know. It is said we wear armor to hide us in the void, but I do not know when the tradition began, or why."

  Nolan guided his mech closer, noting on his mini-map th
at the squad was moving a little way behind. "Hannan, you and Nuchik stay out here and keep an eye on things. I'm going to go inside with Kokar. Annie, we'll bring you to assess the Omega's technical situation."

  Kokar started trotting toward the Omega, moving to the structure behind it instead of the mech itself. He paused next to a shadowed doorway leading inside. Nolan ran his mech over, then triggered the eject sequence.

  He dropped from the cockpit, trotting over to Kokar. The Ganog had already returned to his lesser form and was moving into the building. Nolan followed, his hand resting on his sidearm. The interior was dimly lit, and a series of wide stairs led upward.

  "Is there an elevator of some sort?" Nolan asked, remembering how tall the building was.

  "I'm afraid not. We run." Kokar began trotting up the stairs, and Hruk hobbled after him.

  Nolan waited for Annie to finish disembarking from her mech. She trotted over, spitting a gob of black into a cluster of plants. "Hope you're okay with a bit of a climb."

  "They don't have any beer on this world. Now you want me to exercise? I should've stayed with Bock." Annie laughed, then started up the stairs. "I ain't as fast as you, so you feel free to run on ahead with Kokar. I'll be along eventually."

  Nolan patted her shoulder as he passed, then trotted up the stairs after Kokar. This was going to take a while. He was in good shape, but there were a lot of stairs. Within a few flights, he'd broken into a thin sheen of sweat; by the time he'd passed the first twenty, his breathing was ragged. By thirty there was a stitch in his side, and by fifty he knew he wasn't in as good shape as he thought he was.

  Nearly an hour passed before he finally reached the top--nearly a thousand stories, if his count was accurate. Nolan grabbed the top of the stairwell, leaning hard against it as he sucked in deep breaths. Sweat poured off him, splattering the metal floor.