War Zone (Star Crusades: Mercenaries Book 5)

by Thomas, Michael G.

  "It is the morning of seventeenth day. It is time."

  She stared intently at Nakoma.

  "Prepare your warriors. We attack in a matter of minutes."

  The wild-eyed chief shared her look for nearly five seconds before breaking contact. Wind gusted through the canyon, spreading dust over the waiting columns and their flags of surrender.

  "You want to attack them, prepared and ready? It will be a slaughter."

  Nakoma licked her lips with relish as she asked the question. Syala closed her visor and checked the feeds on her machine pistols.

  "Just be ready. It will happen quickly."

  Ogimà Nakoma laughed loudly.

  "Battle it is!"

  * * *

  Montu City, Khagi Mountains, Capital of Karnak

  Spartan opened his eyes and groaned. It was still dark, but he could see the subtle glimmer of orange as the sun rose from its hiding place in the East. This early in the morning it was quite cool, yet with each minute the temperature increased, drying out his parched skin. A single, bright light hovered in the centre of the circle of prisoners, so bright it made seeing past the ring impossible. They might easily have been in a hall or large room than outside in the heart of Montu, capital of Karnak.

  "Water."

  The voice was alien and barely recognisable. He blinked again and then found an ivory-armoured soldier in front of him. The figure was covered in plate from feet to shoulders, but his head was bare. Spartan blinked again. It was a Byotai female, but in the garb of this new and terrible foe. He nodded, and she moved closer, holding the container so that he could drink from it. He expected warm fluid, but it was actually cool and quite refreshing. As she moved on to the next prisoner, Spartan called out to her.

  "Why bother? Aren't we dying tomorrow?"

  She looked back and lifted her hands, the universal gesture of confusion.

  Yeah, figures, thought Spartan.

  His body ached, but not from physical exertion or lack of fluids. In the night, they'd been covered with aluminium sheeting to keep them warm, and they'd been well fed since their capture. Spartan could only think it was just so they could be kept alive and well for the final big show in front of their leadership. A crackle of energy made him look up. Six heavily armoured Ma'heen gunships swept in from high. They bore bright colours and the two-headed serpent. Right then Spartan knew who it was, and Khan said what he was thinking.

  "That pretty boy, Tenskwatawa. He's coming back."

  Spartan nodded slowly. He could see his friend bound to the vertical slab just like him. Thick chains held them in place so that it was almost impossible to even breathe. Spartan looked down to his wounds and shook his head. In the distance, a great roar rang out as if tens of thousands of people were cheering. He'd heard the noise before, but on a much smaller scale back on Taxxu during the area training scenarios. Sometimes they let other squads watch, and the sound they made was not dissimilar to this.

  "They spend all this time and money to patch us up, for what?"

  He shook his head and took in many long breaths before noticing the light had gone. He blinked once, twice, and then focused his eyes on the distant mountains. He was so busy looking at them he didn't notice both Olik and Khan calling to him. When he turned his attention to them, he realised they were rising up from the ground on a large rocky pedestal. It was big, perhaps a hundred metres in diameter, and stopped upon reaching a height of at least twenty metres above the ground. He looked left and right and then sighed at seeing such vast crowds. He knew exactly where he was. After all, he'd been here before.

  "Hey, Khan. Remember this place?"

  His old friend grunted.

  "Yeah, the landing ground for the spaceport. They converted part of it for this."

  Spartan almost felt honoured as he looked out into the city. Much was exactly as he remembered it; the dull Byotai buildings, their slab-shaped walls and tall, yet plain columns. The streets were clear, and almost as many new structures now rose up. What really caught his eyes was the number of military vehicles parked everywhere. These were not the remnants of Nakoma's forces, but new and alien-looking machines. There were armoured fighting vehicles, as well as line upon line of gunships.

  Far off in the distance, he could see the shimmering blue tint to the shields walls. He'd heard rumours about this, and it seemed they were true. There would never be time to actually fabricate massive walls around the city, and even if there was, why bother? Instead, there were scores of raised watch platforms, resting upon articulated and motorised platforms, much like large cherry pickers. Between these the blue energy pulse that he suspected created the shield wall.

  "What is this?"

  Khan started to laugh, and soon enough the others were doing the same. Directly opposite was Wictred, perhaps the equal of Khan on a good day, and his son. Even he burst into laughter at the insanity of their position. Above them was a raised platform upon which a number of the Star Empire officials waited. Spartan instantly recognised the old Byotai governor from Melantias.

  None caught his eye more than Tenskwatawa, dressed exactly as during their brief affair as allies. His head was bare, and in his hand the usual staff. His face bore the marks of recent struggles, and Spartan allowed himself a small smile at that. He moved in front of the others and pointed to the prisoners. The entire speech was impossible to follow, but then he stopped, smiled again, and waited as a platform extended out towards the disc the prisoners were on. Once in position, he stepped off, and approached them one by one. As he moved throughout the group, four of the golden-armoured soldiers placed a selection of different weapons on the ground.

  Yeah, I know where this is going, Spartan thought.

  The next words were in almost flawless English, recorded by a hovering rotor drone.

  "War criminal, Spartan. You and your cutthroat mercenaries and Biomech allies have plunged this world into a state of anarchy."

  "Whatever you say," said Spartan.

  Tenskwatawa snarled at the interruption. This was clearly a stage-managed operation, perhaps broadcast to the entire planet, maybe even further afield. He nodded to the drone that then came closer to his face.

  "We have offered peaceful amnesty to those that continue to fight, yet many still refuse to lay down their arms. I have moved the timetable up to today. If one warrior remains active on Karnak, I will be forced to enact bloody vengeance on them all."

  He waited, as though there might be some show of defiance for the camera. Instead, Spartan licked his lips and looked to Khan.

  "Are you hearing this joker?"

  A crack of something breaking the sound barrier overhead caught their attention. The prisoners looked up as fighters and gunships rose up high into the sky, leaving long contrails behind them.

  "Yeah," said Khan, "Something tells me somebody has moved the schedule up for them."

  That put a smile on Spartan's face.

  Tenskwatawa didn't understand what was happening between them, so pointed off to the West.

  "Four thousand soldiers, clan warriors and militia, wait to yield their arms outside the Western walls."

  He pointed to the layered defences to the West. One of the walls pulsed with energy, but it was possible to make out a long black line, presumably the waiting warriors.

  Is Syala with them? What about the others?

  Spartan swallowed, knowing he could do little right now, only play his part for as long as he could.

  I have something Tenskwatawa can never have, friends, real friends. And right now I have to rely on them.

  A formation of six gunships buzzed over the Western wall, hovering a few hundred metres over the people.

  "One order, and my gunships will annihilate every one of these insurgents and rebels."

  He held his arm there, as though he might do it. A hush filled the open space, and then he lowered it and turned back to Spartan.

  "But I am a generous soul, and so is the Star Empire. We will grant these tr
aitors amnesty, but..."

  He pointed a finger to Spartan, implying it was him, and him alone truly responsible for what had happened. Even as he watched the alien give his speech, Spartan knew that in some ways the treacherous turncoat was correct. If he'd never arrived, this world would already belong to him.

  "But to do so, you and your conspirators must accept punishment for your crimes. In exchange for accepting their sins, I will end this struggle that you began."

  More gunships rose up into the sky, and Tenskwatawa looked a little nervous, as though he was running out of time. Spartan grinned.

  "No problem, happy to."

  Tenskwatawa was stunned.

  "You will accept the penalty, without knowing the details."

  Spartan nodded several times.

  "Of course. Let me guess, execution?"

  Tenskwatawa smiled, copying the gesture he'd seen used so many times by the Humans.

  "Something like that."

  Tenskwatawa moved to the middle of the circle and began a short, loud speech to his people. The crowd roared with excitement until finally their leader moved away and waited at the end of the ramp leading to his high platform. A pair of the red and golden-armoured soldiers opened the containers and removed more weapons, placing them on the ground. Spartan watched carefully, but he could see he was looking at short swords, clubs, and axes; weapons far from the equipment used by either side in the conflict.

  Tenskwatawa waited while the soldiers moved from the platform to join him, pausing as the extending ramp pulled back into its retracted position. Now the prisoners were isolated on top of the disc, chained to the slabs with just the weapons to keep their interest. Tenskwatawa exhaled with calm satisfaction and pointed to the prisoners.

  "You will pay for your crimes the way our ancient enemies were forced to. One of you will be allowed to leave alive, in remembrance of those sacrificed for your barbarity. Or all of you will die where you stand."

  He pointed directly at Spartan.

  "You will die, as you lived."

  "And if we refuse?"

  Tenskwatawa seemed happy to hear that question and lifted his arms to point off to the West. At the same time, the formation of gunships changed course and moved in towards the columns of warriors waiting outside the outer wall.

  "Acceptance will bring peace to us all, and amnesty even for the one of you that remains. Refusal to accept your punishment will result in continuation of this terrible violence, and the removal of this offer."

  The chains and clamps detached and fell to the ground, leaving the mixture of prisoners now free to move. Spartan staggered ahead and rubbed his limbs. They'd been well fed and watered for the last few days, but his limbs were tired and his body aching. The others did the same, though a couple eyed the weapons nervously. Each of them, male or female, was stripped to the waist, bare feet, and looked like a small group of savages. Khan moved towards Spartan and grunted.

  "It's a show to make us look like barbarians."

  Tenskwatawa called out one last time.

  "Fight now, or suffer the consequences."

  Three of the Byotai militia commanders picked up blades, but no one else moved. Instead, all of them looked to Spartan, waiting to see what he would do or say. Some may have expected a shout of defiance, or a refusal, but others audibly gasped as he moved to the stack and pulled out a pair of short, curved blades. They were gold in colour, like pieces taken from some ancient museum. Khan and Olik picked up their own weapons, shortly joined by Wictred who seemed to favour something resembling a two-handed club. Spartan looked to Khan and then up to the raised platform from which Tenskwatawa watched with amusement.

  "We'll fight, like we always do."

  Tenskwatawa seemed almost disappointed, though he made sure he stayed well back and out of range of the weapons. He was no fool, and a thrown sword could have a chance at hurting, perhaps even killing him, if he presented too easy a target.

  "Good, then it is time! Fight."

  Tenskwatawa moved back and from view, leaving Spartan to turn around to face the circle of half-naked warriors. The Humans and Byotai represented the majority, but Khan and his kin looked like giants in comparison. It was never going to be a fair fight, yet none of them bar the Byotai seemed to be particularly concerned.

  "My brothers and sisters. Today is the last battle on Karnak."

  Khan and the other Jötnar started to snarl and snap, at the same time pacing about the ring. Some of the Byotai split apart, suspecting their end was soon to come. The video drone came in lower, its short lens watching them like a cruel overseer. Wictred moved alongside his father and swung his mace back and forth.

  "Well, what now?" he asked.

  Spartan smiled at seeing the two reunited. As far as he was concerned, there could have been no better reunion for them. He began to speak, but at that very moment, the sky darkened. All eyes looked upwards as the sun vanished, its warmth and light hidden behind a long, dark shaped wreathed in flame. Every second it increased in size and violence, and as it drew nearer, the shouts and screams from the audience increased. Spartan looked below him and spotted hundreds, perhaps thousands of ivory-clad soldiers rushing to their positions. Some headed for towers, but most moved to the fortified buildings and walls.

  Gun, my old friend, you've arrived!

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  Montu City, Khagi Mountains, Capital of Karnak

  ANS Titan had fought in many battles during her short life, but her last would be her most famous and certainly most violent. Damage in previous battles had weakened her bow and superstructure, and as she descended through Karnak's atmosphere, she began to break up. At first, it was the outer armour plating, antenna, and any exposed sections. Next came the huge engine nacelle rings that tore away in bright orange and red flashes. For all the damage sustained, the burning hulk continued to fall, and on the precise course projected for her well before the fleet's arrival.

  So terrifying was the fall of Titan, few even noticed the other ships in ultra low orbit entering the thin upper atmosphere at just seventy kilometres above the surface. At this distance, all of the vessels left massive flaming trails behind them as though a great cloud of falling stars was descending towards the planet.

  "Hold onto something."

  Spartan dropped to one knee, like the ancient sculpture of Atlas, and placed one hand on the ground. Some of the others did the same while the screaming increased in volume. The impact was colossal and unlike anything Spartan had ever experienced. He rose from the platform a full metre before crashing down belly first. As he looked up, he spotted chunks of debris raining down all around their position. He looked up to Tenskwatawa who looked right back, saying nothing. Spartan pointed both swords at his foe.

  "I'm coming for you!"

  The debris slammed into the disc, shattering the unit and sending it falling fifteen metres to the ground level. More chunks hit the raised platform where Tenskwatawa and his comrades waited, sending the entire contraption to the ground in a cloud of dust, metal, and broken masonry.

  * * *

  Western Canyon, 1km West of Montu City, Khagi Mountains

  Syala looked on in astonishment as the ship crashed into the Western zone of the city, and hundreds, perhaps thousands of Star Empire legionaries rushing into their defensive positions. Some clambered up ramps to the rocky walls, others used elevators to the tallest points on the watchtowers. As many moved behind the low secondary walls and trenches. Not one was ready when ANS Titan arrived, taking huge swathes of the three defensive walls with it. On went the ship until finally the smoking ruin came to a halt inside the city. Hundreds of small explosions ripped through her hull, followed by a final cataclysm blast as her core overloaded and destroyed everything within half a kilometre.

  "Get down!"

  The shockwave hit them like a freight train, sending those at the front flying through the air. Syala crashed into her sister and spun off into he distance. By the time she hit the gro
und, hundreds more had experienced the same.

  "Get up!"

  Syala looked up and found Uktakki the Black, and his heavily armoured entourage. There were also a dozen or so Black Widows, every one of them covered in dust. He reached out and helped her to her feet.

  "It is time."

  Syala seemed happy to hear that.

  "You're telling me it is. Send the signal!"

  They both turned to the smoking wreck and spotted Nakoma already rushing forward, hundreds of her clan warriors at her side. They brandished hook bills, swords, and axes, but the majority bore the long rifles they'd used to such great effect before.

  "Break their lines!" Arana shouted.

  One of the Jötnar activated his external speakers and sent a chilling howl through their ranks. It was reminiscent of an ancient war horn. Syala slammed her machine pistols against her flanks to load in new clips and then nodded towards the enemy's defensive lines.

  "We smash through and all the way to Spartan!"

  "And then?" said Arana.

  Syala grimaced as she answered.

  "Then we kill them all!"

  Arana needed no encouragement. A series of explosions obliterated their view, and served only to encourage them to move on. The sisters burst out of the dust cloud and joined in with the great rush. Thousands of them streamed towards the wreckage, and the path it had cut through the defences. Within a few moments they were through what remained of the outer wall and face-to-face with almost two thousand crack legionaries.

  Prior to the crash this would have been a slaughter, but now the Star Empire soldiers were broken and confused. Some opened fire, but others fell back, blocking the path of their comrades and creating a scene of confusion. Syala paused briefly to assess the situation. Off in the distance the final defensive wall was partially intact, and beyond it the spaceport, old city, and the bulk of the buildings.