Something moved off to his right and then came the rest of the Carduchian prisoners. They were escorted by a small group of Boeotian soldiers. Xenophon pointed to them and looked back at Golnaz. He led the man toward the starmap that showed their current position, as well as the route through the Sea of Fire.
“I was as good as my word that none of your people would be harmed. The fighting between our people was a misunderstanding, one started by one of our commanders who mistakenly believed your people were looking to ambush us.”
It was stretching the truth, but to say that the Strategos was a hotheaded Laconian with little ideas outside of war would hardly help his argument.
“All I need to know is will your people be able to defeat this force?”
Golnaz looked at him and then to the map. He seemed suspicious, but a quick glance at his comrades seemed to do the trick.
“My people will attack only if provoked. If what you say is true, then this will be the first act in a war between our states and this region, and will not stand for long. It will not be first or the last battle. I do not believe this fleet of theirs intends on an invasion. But if they do, then our forces will fall back and fight a guerrilla campaign until they are driven out.”
Xenophon remained as relaxed as he could be before continuing.
“You don’t believe he would attack, even though he has been pressing for this region for decades? Then what about these ships that we sighted on the Hayastani side of the border?”
The images changed to show the video of the entire fleet, as they had found it prior to the battle. By zooming in to one portion, it was easy to see more than twenty heavy assault transports; vessels designed to carry soldiers into battle.
“These are not border patrols, or even ships to attack my own people. They are waiting, and I suspect you have been betrayed, perhaps by Ariaeus himself. He has promised you all incredible riches for our destruction. Why would Tirbazus want riches? He has more than he could ever use. I tell you now; he has orchestrated this conflict with my people, and while your people fight for coin, they weaken. Now Tirbazus is stronger, and he will take what he thinks belongs to him.”
Golnaz looked nervous. As a minor regional commander, he was effectively a low level admiral in the Carduchian military, and his squadrons of heavy fighters no match for a fully-fledged invasion. He must have already worked out the threat his people faced.
“How well do you know the Satrapies here, and here?” Xenophon asked.
He indicated the regions off to the right of the Sea of Fire. The map showed four main regions, with the largest being the Carduchian Wilderness. Next to it was the Sea of Fire, a thin ribbon that created the border to Hayastani. Attached to that region were two more, the Robotic Domains at the bottom and at the top, a much larger collection of star systems, rich with worlds.
Golnaz again looked to his people before answering.
“I have visited Hayastani on many occasions, mainly with diplomatic missions. As for the Taochian worlds, they have been controlled indirectly by the Hayastani since their defeat against Imperial troops.”
Xenophon could see Glaucon and Roxana listening carefully. The border regions were almost unknown back home, and this part of the Empire was far away from the section that was bordered with the Terran worlds. Golnaz watched them and spoke quietly, almost pleading.
“I have already given you this information. I can do little to help you. What of my people?”
“I see.”
Xenophon looked to Roxana who was clearly getting edgy. There were just a few details they needed, and time was running out.
“Help us through all the Hayastani and Taochian territory and on to open space and beyond, and we will help you stop a war that will leave Carduchia barren and destroyed. The price is your assistance through the rest of the Empire.”
Golnaz said nothing, much to Xenophon’s dismay. There was an uncomfortable delay, but then he did finally speak.
“How do I know you will not turn on us and kill my people? And how will you stop this war?”
Xenophon tilted his head a little to one side, as though amused at the suggestion.
“How do I know you will not feed me lies? Everything I have told you is true. Help us, and I promise we can help you strike a blow against the Hayastani Satrapy. Decide quickly, you have less than a minute.”
Golnaz tried to look calm but he was clearly concerned.
“How?”
Xenophon hadn’t even told the others of what he was thinking. Glaucon and Roxana would surely choose the careful route home, whereas Chirisophus would attack and burn anything in his path. Xenophon had another idea.
“In exchange for help out of the Empire, I will give you money and ships to force them to give up this invasion.”
Golnaz looked almost happy as he heard those words, though a great deal of doubt showed on his brow.
“You would do this, why?”
“Leave that to us. Will you help?”
He paused, but not for long.
“If what you say is the truth, then yes, I will help you. I have little choice, do I? But if you fail to...”
Xenophon turned away from him, ignoring his attempt to strike a hard bargain. The command deck fell silent, though few understood exactly what had just happened. Roxana approached him and spoke quietly into his ear.
“What are you playing at?”
The countdown had begun and already the light around them was shifting. Gone were the storms, and out in front was the open space of Hayastani they had visited prior to the vast space battle. One more groan from the ship, and they dropped out of light speed and to the rendezvous directly on the border. Behind them lay the vicious storms of the Sea of Fire, and out in front the great and uncharted lands of the Empire. Xenophon looked at her and then spoke loud enough for Glaucon and Kentarchos Cadmus to hear.
“What do you see ahead of us?”
Already the VOB system was busy assessing what lay ahead. The sensors detected, flagged, and then analyzed each of the potential targets. Dozens of shapes popped up; all of them in front of the fleet. At the same time the rest of the Terran ships arrived, some quite heavily scarred from the previous space battle. Kentarchos Cadmus waited for the data before relaying it to the others. Xenophon looked at the icons and hoped beyond hope that most of the ships were gone and busy fighting the Carduchians.
“Ten assault transports, ten battlecruisers, and twelve corsair warships. There are multiple fighter wings deployed on escort patterns...and something else.”
He checked the data before highlighting another group.
“There is another group of civilian ships. They are lightly armored and protected by another thirty plus fighters.”
Roxana moved alongside Xenophon.
“Why are we here? Thirty-two ships? This is another fight that will cost us time and people. We should have gone around them.”
Xenophon glanced to Golnaz and then at her.
“No, we cannot simply travel through Hayastan. We will be pursued and stopped by Tirbazus. We need him occupied...just watch, this is exactly what I expected.”
He looked to Cadmus.
“Is the ship ready?”
He nodded back at him.
“Shields are up, gun ports open, and we’re ready for battle.”
“Good. Contact the commanders of the Titans. I need them ready.”
In seconds the images of Dukas Xenias, Kratez the Achaean, and Strategos Chirisophus appeared.
“My Lords, are you ready for the final stage of this fight?”
All of them, bar Chirisophus, acknowledged their combat status. Xenophon gave a hand signal to the auletes who then sent the details of his final plan to each of the command ships.
“Xenophon. You have taken us from one battle, directly into another. I will not waste any more time with this childish nonsense.”
He took in a deep breath.
“I order a full-scale assault against their c
ruisers before they can prepare themselves.”
“No,” said Dukas Xenias, “look at the information from Xenophon.”
Again there was a short pause, and Xenophon took it as an opportunity to speak.
“Give me this one last moment to get us through unscathed. I ask for five minutes.”
Chirisophus moved his head slowly in bitter irritation.
“And if you fail?”
Xenophon sighed.
“Then you can unleash your forces, as intended.”
* * *
Light Cruiser ‘Antaeus’, Hayastani – Carduchian Border
The tension inside the ship was as great as it had been an hour before in heart of the Sea of Fire. The VOB system showed the great armada of Terran ships and in front of them the outnumbered Hayastani rearguard. Both sides had launched fighters, and they moved in tight formations around their parent ships, waiting for the inevitable battle. Xenophon looked to Golnaz.
“This is the price we will pay for your assistance, remember that.”
He then turned his attention to the auletes.
“I want a channel to the mercenary flagship. Make sure everybody can hear what I have to say.”
His order stunned the rest of the crew, especially Tamara who groaned at his request.
“What are you doing?”
Xenophon ignored her and concentrated on the line of heavily armed corsairs. They were big ships, perhaps the size of a Terran Battlecruiser, yet their hulls were decked out in angular masts and vast solar sails. The mixture of modern and ancient gave them an exotic, almost alien feel.
“I am Xenophon, and I have an offer to make for you. Turn away, leave the transport ships, and there will be no fight. Stay and you will be annihilated.”
He looked to the shapes of the three senior commanders in the Black Legion.
“Get your weapons ready. We’ll have one chance to do this.”
“My Lord, a message from the Hayastani commander. Audio only.”
Xenophon smiled, hoping for the best.
“Good, put him on a public channel to the entire fleet.”
To his surprise the commander spoke in his own tongue, something he wasn’t expecting. Xenophon looked to Golnaz who shook his head before beginning to translate.
“I am Darbabad Mkhitaryan, commander of the Hayastani Battlecruiser Hayk. Lower your shields and prepare to be boarded. Attempt to leave, and you will be fired upon by my ships.”
Xenophon recognized some of the words being used, but there was always a chance the Carduchian was lying. He waited in case there was anything else and was pleased to hear the officer repeat his announcement in the Common Tongue.
“Topoteretes, they are raising their shields, and gun ports are open. They are preparing for battle.”
Xenophon knew they could win this battle, but he had no intention of fighting it. He thought back to Kratez, to a time that seemed so long ago and remembered his teaching on war, and the greatest victories.
A wise general wins a battle before he even fights it.
He knew what had to be done.
I can win this fight with words, not weapons.
He tapped his communications node and continued speaking. Every commander in each fleet could hear his words loud and clear.
“We require passage through your Satrapy. We will pay for food and supplies, in exchange for Median coin. We do not wish to fight.”
Kentarchos Cadmus shook his head.
“The Hayastani ships are targeting our vessels.”
“I see.”
Xenophon took a deep breath and then played his final, decisive gambit.
“The Black Legion, the finest armada in history, and the undefeated fleet that has defeated one enemy after the next will make one promise. We will divide the Hayastani baggage train amongst any that fight alongside us.”
He then pointed to the shapes of the Hayastani ships.
“To Battlecruiser Hayk and the rest of the Hayastani ships, I offer you two choices. Leave with your warships at this very moment, or prepare to deal with our military might.”
There was silence aboard the ship. The imagery of the three Titan commanders was as still as the rest of the officers on the command deck. Even Tamara was completely silent. The two fleets sat out in space, with nothing of note around them other than more ships and fighters. One junior officer said something, and then the tactical officer spotted it.
“Contact!”
A line of dots lit up far into the distance as their capital ships opened fire, each putting down a powerful volley of gunfire into the Terran ships. These were large caliber plasma cannons, and the brightness made many of the shots turn white.
“Brace, brace, brace!” yelled the Kybernetes.
The battle stations alert sounded, and the ship vibrated just a little as the capacitors were boosted to give the shields a fighting chance.
“Five, four, three, two, one...”
The first few rounds moved to within range and then a number of bright flashes filled the VOB system. A computer display exploded, and chunks of shattered metal and glass scattered, striking down two officers. Xenophon hung on tightly as the crew boosted the shield. He looked back at the bodies and found Golnaz lying amongst them. Shards of sharp glass were embedded in his chest and face. A large pool of dark blood was already spreading around his head. He looked back just as the Battlecruiser Hayk vanished in a bright fireball. Few noticed, but as Xenophon clung on to a handy grab rail, he watched with a wide smile. Thud after thud echoed through the command deck as fifteen projectiles struck the shielding.
“Shields down to twenty-three percent. We can’t take another volley like that,” said the tactical officer.
The flashes amongst the Hayastani fleet continued as two more were struck by advanced energy weapons. All of the ships were intact, but two were already disabled, and a third was burning from the aft. A few shots blasted out from the Terrans, but most of the ships held their fire, just as they had been ordered to.
“What’s going on? I need information,” said Kentarchos Cadmus.
“We won the battle before it even began,” said Xenophon.
The mercenary corsairs swept in around their allies, each with their gun ports open and their weapons pointing directly at the ships. They fired a few more shots and one by one the battlecruisers deactivated their shields. The auletes said something to the Kentarchos who pointed toward Xenophon.
“Topoteretes, the mercenary commander wishes to discuss our terms. Her name is Kallinos, and she has an offer she would like to make. ”
EPILOGUE
Terran Titan ‘Valediction’, Hayastan
The massive Terran fleet waited in Hayastani space, along with the many captured ships, assault transports, and supply ships. It would take hours, perhaps days to transfer what was needed and to re-crew the new vessels, and in the meantime, the Black Legion had set up a strong defensive position. Fighter squadrons moved constantly, and every ship kept its shields powered up and active. They had been there more than three hours now, and there was still no sign of any kind of pursuit force.
Chirisophus looked at the small computer screen embedded in the great table. His guards waited alongside him, but no matter how regal the setting might look, he knew he had suffered a defeat, and he hadn’t even had the chance to raise a weapon against his enemy.
I should never have allowed them to talk me into this.
It was a thing no Laconian was used to, yet the more he considered what had happened, the less chance he had of finding any other solution. Now the Legion was in a safe position, and they had access to ships, supplies, fuel, wealth, and riches. Just the battlecruisers and the possibility of a new alliance with the corsairs gave them an excellent chance of getting back home. He knew they had done the right thing, and that was what angered him the most. The door opened to welcome his guests, and he immediately felt an irritating twitch developing at his cheek. He rubbed his face and then looked to the rig
ht where Komes Artemis waited, along with his bodyguard. Neither had spoken of it, but there was clearly an air of suspicion after the events in the Sea of Fire. Chirisophus had been prepared to sacrifice his Komes, and a good number of Laconians for his own personal benefit.
“My Lord, Topoteretes Xenophon has arrived.”
Chirisophus hissed something through his teeth, but the Komes hadn’t finished.
“I’m sorry, I meant Dukas Xenophon. He is here to meet the mercenary delegation.”
* * *
Xenophon entered the Great Hall with Roxana and Glaucon at his side. Behind them walked Tamara and Lady Artemas, who now moved unaided but slower than normal. Each wore their full dress uniforms as they continued on through the deserted open space. At the far end waited the commanders of the Legion, as well as a group of foreign mercenaries. He spotted Xenias, Timasion, Xanthicles, Cleanor, and Philesius.
“Is this what you were planning for?” Roxana asked.
Xenophon laughed but quietly so that only she might hear.
“Not really. All I wanted was to avoid yet another fight. Let’s just hope Xenias persuaded Chirisophus to do the right thing, the smart thing. He can’t be happy with the vote. At least this way, we don’t have to worry about who is Strategos anymore.”
They kept moving until finally they were in front of Chirisophus, as well as the two Dukas from the other Titans. Lady Artemas broke from her group and walked up to the mercenary leader.
“Kallinos, I have heard of you before.”
“And I you, my Lady.”
Kallinos bowed politely, but not too long to be subservient. A noise off to the side marked the approach of a small group of soldiers, along with four of the Carduchian prisoners. Now they were unchained and wearing traditional clothing and armor. They stopped and looked at the mercenary and then to Xenophon, but it was the Terran that spoke first.
Black Legion: 05 - Sea of Fire Page 24
