The Chronicles of Heaven's War: Hell Above the Skies
Page 36
Legion’s dreams of conquest were already crumbling. The promised relief force was never as large as Asotos claimed. Instead of the million troopers, there were two hundred thousand at best, the rest having been diverted to other theaters of combat. Although unknown to Legion, even that number was no longer available. During the very hour of his council meeting, both of Asotos’ invasion fleets were being engaged.
As the Crimson Fleet tracked Godenn while he journeyed to rendezvous with Asotos, they stumbled into one of the invasion fleets that was closely following to the rear of Asotos’ armada. In short order, Sarah’s WolfPack Marauders located the second invasion fleet. For three days, they shadowed them. Finally, fearing they were about to be discovered, thus ruining the chance of surprise, TaqaEsem ordered a general attack.
Fighting raged for several hours, eventually ending in the withdrawal of both invasion fleets. Although suffering severe losses, TaqaEsem succeeded in damaging or destroying a large number of troop transports, producing heavy casualties within the relief force’s ranks. The WolfPack Marauders continued pursuit of the retreating enemy, increasing the destruction and effectively removing them, and their remaining fighters from the coming battle.
Although Asotos’ armada was within striking range of TaqaEsem, he refused to release his carrier fighters to assist. Not realizing that his whereabouts were no longer secret, he remained fearful of being discovered. His unique fighters would be a sure giveaway to his presence. Had he done so, though, things might have gone very differently. As would be proved later, the Crimson Fleet ships were no match for Asotos’ Endikos 23’s. They would have been forced to withdraw from combat, saving at least one of Asotos’ troop convoys.
The loss of the two fleets was kept secret from Legion. He continued preparing his attack plans, intent on certain victory and oblivious to the fact there was no further ground support coming.
The evening air was cool, carrying the smell of a coming freeze, when Legion exited his underground world to step out on the castle’s upper battlement. He peered off to the east and then to the south. All was peaceful from this vantage point. Distant hills sealed off the war from here, making it more sanitized and abstract…as if the violence of war really bothered him.
Already, he had reaped a bountiful harvest. His torture prison was full to bursting - a favorite place he visited often, to wile away the hours. Special inmates were given his personal attention, and the unique tools he had invented earned him an outstanding reputation. It would be such a pleasure to give them a try on that little bitch-creature who was troubling his sleep these many months! He managed her death once. Soon he would find out if he could again! This time it would not be as swift and painless...
A few more days and this rabble would no longer contaminate his planet. He could see the survivors wishing for the peace of their dead comrades. ‘There will be no mercy as I have shown in the past. This time I will not hold back my fury! This time I will not be kind!’
Legion’s anger quickly drifted away to thoughts of his encounter with Captain Ilaniya. He had worked the woman for the better part of a night, her intense pain and crippling agony severe. Yet the new tools he had brought along left no mark on Ilaniya’s flesh, and she was still able to dance for her master at his festival. He smiled. He was prepared for that little bitch-creature, wondering, ‘Just how long will her sanity survive my skilled searching and probing?’
“Bring me my dinner!” Legion shouted to a servant hiding in the shadows.
The man bowed nervously and scurried away.
Legion then walked to the outer wall and stared into the distance. Soon he was busy singing some silly little ditty while thinking about his coming successes.