“Marak you should pay a close attention to the humans.”
The young Dacarian turned and looked at his father.
“Why should I father? Soon their home world will be in our hands and they will no longer be a threat. As for the ones here, they are fighting a lost cause.”
The legate looked with a look that silenced his son.
“Marak, I, our clan taught you to value and respect your opponents.”
“Yes father, but they are weak, fragile creatures. I know our history, but unlike Ristarion I don’t believe they are such a threat. They are just like the humans down there in the Arena. He has his armor from their past and yes he won one battle but he couldn’t win the war. He knows he will lose and die.”
As he said the last words a strong punch caught him in the face and before he could recover another one followed. In the enclosed space of their private stand only the two legionaries standing in the back witnessed the rage and the embarrassment of the young commander. But they also witnessed why Kobark was so respected in the legions.
“I know you’re nothing like Ristarion, I could only wish that you were like him but you are all I have. Arios was lucky in that regard. I constantly hope that you will learn but you never do.”
The young legionary wiped the blood from his face and sat back.
”Look at me boy!”
The shout made him turn and look in to the face of his father.
“Don’t you know your history, our history Marak? Do you forget that even on their death bed they destroyed three quarters of our fleet and set us back for a hundred cycles maybe more?
Look at that human down there Marak. Yes, he knows that he will die, but there is no shame, no fear in him. If there is any regret it is that he won’t kill more of us. Let me tell you a story son.
Thousands of cycles ago, when the Zerg Commonwealth sold human slaves, the same slaves whose descendants we have here now, they sold a group of roman legionaries to a young arrogant Legate like yourself.
They told him that just like our legions the roman legions were unstoppable and that the legionaries were great warriors equal to our own.
In his arrogance he chose to test the theory. He arrayed the captured Romans, gave them back their armor, standard and weapons, and then armed our own legion and arrayed it against them.
He believed that the legion would crush them. Instead of that the legion suffered a crushing defeat and most of the legionaries were massacred. And when he went to congratulate the humans on their victory those that survived used that moment to kill him and his guard and then escape and entice a rebellion. That rebellion is now known as the first Slave insurrection and primitive soldiers, humans, his forefathers started it. It took the empire twenty cycles to destroy it and three more rebellions to finally squelch the unrest down. Every other race that has been in our hands for as long as the humans have has lost its desire for fighting, its dreams for freedom. All, all races, except them. The humans still dream, they still fight, just like last night. They are willing to endure anything, to do all they can to survive and they use the first chance they have to try and free themselves. Last night hundreds of them died but we lost more than sixty legionaries when they attacked and overwhelmed the guards without use of any weapons. Sixty legionaries Marak, they used their bare hands to kill sixty legionaries.”
The younger Dacarian watched his father and slowly lowered his head in submission. That was a sure sign that he realized his mistake at least to the people that didn’t know him as well as Kobark did. But the older legate didn’t raise his voice instead he turned and signaled the two legionaries standing guard to exit.
“Marak you have to stop underestimating your enemies. The humans are a dangerous opponent and so is everyone else if you look at them without respect. Last night son was a perfect example for that. We, me included underestimated the Illian population that still lives relatively free in the jungles of this world. The attack on Giak last night was just one of the six attacks on slave camps. They planned them well and executed them almost to perfection…”
As Marak watched his father he slowly understood him. He knew his father was devious and used schemes that would allow him to execute his plans without question.
“Except that you expected them too.”
The look the legate gave his son showed respect.
“Yes. I increased the attacks on their population on the outskirts of the jungle, I wanted them to try and free the ones we captured and brought here. And now I have men in place, men that will follow them to their camps and destroy the small group of soldiers that are constantly attacking our troops that go deeper in to the jungle.”
“And then we will finally destroy and capture all Illian communities that are hiding out there.”
“Yes them, them and the surviving Ksand and any other escaped slaves that are using those communities to hide.”
“You believe that there are Ksand that are hiding among them?”
Kobark looked thoughtful for a moment.
“Yes Marak, you know that this used to be the Ksand home world, those space defenses we have up there are a proof of that and the fact that the Illian’s know exactly where to hide from our sensors…to use the terrain and even some Ksand weaponry, yes they are there. Not many I think, but some for sure.”
“You are a good teacher father. I’m sorry I am not the best student.”
“You have time Marak. After all there was a time when I was just like you.”
The last comment brought a smile to the face of the young Dacarian. The smile showed the rows of sharp teeth and it would have looked scary on another race but it was a sign of pleasure common to all races. Marak was the oldest of the three sons Kobark had, he had two sisters as well, one of them from the same mother that died when they were young. The second marriage brought competition but Kobark was a father that never allowed his children to feel that they were not equal. Yes he was harsh on his sons, but he was also fair and with time their stepmother learned to be the same.
She was here on this world now in their home preparing for her new mission. Just like his father she was an officer but not in the army. She was part of the Dacarian Navy and she was supposed to take command of one of the new heavy cruisers that would arrive in this cycle and that would be headed to the Lacarian front. He knew that his father hated the fact that he would be separated from Lukhma but it was something that both Kobark and Lukhma knew could happen. They were all soldiers of the empire and they all served.
He smiled at that thought, they represented the Al Mach clan, a clan that even though now didn’t wield the power it had in the past, was still a clan that was honored and respected. He knew that his grandfather once said that the Al Mach was the backbone of the empire, the best of it.
The shout of the crowd and the shriek from the human fighting in the arena was a sign that the fighting was over.
They both looked to see the winning legionary who bowed to them and left the arena while the next round of fighters were going inside.
Kobark raised his hand and a member of their praetorian guard entered. Marak turned and noticed that it was Golan the praetorian commander.
“Are the troops in place Golan?”
The praetorian looked at his legate. In another case this would be a sign of disrespect but Golan and Kobark had long history, a history going back to the time of the Sicarian war and the signs of master and subordinate where long gone. They were equal warriors wearing the same scars and good friends. Golan was one of Marak’s teachers and also one of his body guards should there be a need of one.
“They are my lord. They are already following and encircling them and the first three cohorts from the second legion are ready to attack as soon as we know the location of their base. I’ve also ordered the penalty squadrons to go deeper in to the jungle. They have the order to exterminate them on sight just as you ordered.”
Kobark rose and looked at the praetorian prefect.
; “Our plans are starting to unfold my friend. Soon this world will be just one more peaceful colony of our empire.”
“Yes my lord.”
Kobark stood up and prepared to leave the room sand signaled the prefect to follow him.
Marak didn’t object knowing deep inside that when his father had a need of him he would be called.
He watched the next fight with more interest remembering the lesson his father had just given him.
Chapter Five
Arcadia Star System
The team moved swiftly, constantly watching for signs of any pursuit. For the first two hours it seemed that everything was going fine but then the first bad news hit them. The scouts reported noticing several teams of Dacarians moving towards them following a group of slaves that were also escaping in their direction. The problem was that they were moving from all sides. It was obvious that the Dacarians landed several teams using their shuttles upfront and as the pursuers positions were revealed it seemed that several teams were coming from the city as well. Rivers sent the snipers to the rear to shadow the followers and see if they’d picked up their trail. So far it seemed that they hadn’t but considering their movements it was obvious that they would soon.
He looked at Anderson and gestured him to come forward as his second in command saw him.
“What do you think?”
“We are screwed either way I see it. There is no way to avoid them, not all of them.”
Rivers knew Anderson was right. He thought for a second and then thought of the group of escapees the Dacarians seemed to be following. They were moving straight away from the camp and moving fast. As for the way they were escaping it didn’t seem like they knew where they were going. They were going deep in to the jungle towards the marshes and one of the large rivers that seemed to be separating civilization from the wilderness on this world. It was a river Rivers hoped to avoid considering the several predators that lived in its waters. They weren’t reptilian not like the crocodiles back on Erath, but several kinds of fish that were a mix between a shark and a crocodile very much alike to the kinds of animals that inhabited Earth’s oceans in the cretaceous period maybe even before that.
And they were also heading toward at least two hunting teams that were coming from that direction. He remembered Jenkins report about them. The first team had fourteen, the second eighteen legionaries and they were armed to the teeth. At the time he turned his team away from them moving back to base but now it seemed that their way was cut off. The Dacarians unintentionally were cornering him and he knew that if the situation didn’t change they would have to make contact. He was hoping to avoid it but looking at the way the situation was worsening with each passing moment there was no way to avoid eliminating some of the Dacarian teams. It seemed that the first two teams were the best choice considering the number of legionaries trailing the escapees from the other sides. The first two teams were the best option for a quick action.
“It seems that we will have to make contact. We have to leave this territory. I remember Doc saying several of the attackers were with the escaped slaves as well.”
Anderson looked at his commander. The strong black seal seemed to take a moment to think and then he smiled.
“Yes I think he said at least two were with them.”
As he watched his commander he couldn’t stop the smile appearing on his face. He and the major went a long way back and he instinctively knew what Rivers was planning.
As Anderson smiled Rivers smiled as well. The moment they’ve been dreading and anticipating was here.
“I think we should help our new friends a little. We use them and trap their pursuers. Tell Doc and Jenkins to move ahead I want them to shadow Alpha and Bravo while we prepare to meet them.”
None of the soldiers said anything. They all knew their jobs and one by one they all started moving. Even before Rivers mentioned the location where they would trap the two unsuspecting teams of legionaries they all knew the location and the plan. It was something they planned well ahead and prepared in the first few weeks of the mission. They had fallback positions everywhere, they examined the terrain and prepared traps and as the decision was made they all started moving as one. The Dacarian legionaries were expecting an easy kill but they were about to learn that they got more than they bargained for.
Hogar and his team moved quietly across the thick jungle terrain. The fourteen legionaries knew of the group of slaves that moved towards them and were part of the several teams that were hunting them. He smiled at the thought. It was the right word even though the group had four humans, a Sicarian and two Lacarian soldiers among them according to the report. They had weapons that they probably took from the guards as they made their escape from the camp but they were no match for him and his men. They were members of the praetorian legion, the personal legion of the governor. He wasn’t part of the Al Mach clan and neither were his men, but they all were accepted in to Kobark’s personal legion after the Sicarian campaign. It was a great honor and proof of their value as warriors. He respected his opponents but he also knew that they were not in any condition to resist him or the other groups hunting them. Ten teams in total were going after this group and two more that were going towards the Mnaghuska or as the Illians called it Arges, the great river behind him that marked the beginning of the true wilderness of this world. He and his men had already eliminated a group of several Illians that were waiting close to the river, most probably for the escapees that were even now being shadowed.
He regretted that they were not a part of the larger hunt, the one that would bring the legions to the rebellion’s base but he had his orders and he would follow them.
He turned and signaled for three of the praetorians to move forward in scouting position. The teams that were following the slaves from the opposite direction informed him that the slaves should be close. Those teams were too far away to be of any use. They were just the bait in a sense making the slaves move towards him. It was a plan that was executed in the past and it always worked.
As the three praetorians signaled that all is clear ahead he and the rest of the men started moving forward.
While those thoughts went through his mind he wasn’t aware that this time the game was changed and that he was following the real bait and that this time he and his praetorians were the prey.
Jenkins observed the praetorians that were fast closing in on the position where the SF team laid their trap. He smiled as he thought of the surprises that would be waiting for the Dacarians upfront. The trap was simple and deadly. The seals used their training to create a trap from the resources that were available to them here and considering the density of the jungle there were plenty of options to choose from. As he watched the Dacarians moving in to the killing field he smiled and wondered which one would be the first to die.
Rivers observed the first three Dacarians entering the kill zone. They were the three scouts Jenkins reported but as he watched them he noticed that they were moving casually, not really expecting any trouble. Considering that their prey was still at least three hours away he guessed it was to be expected. He noticed one of the scouts signaling back and soon the rest eleven legionaries moved forward. They were big each more than seven foot tall and they were carrying an impressive array of weapons. As he watched them and their armor he noticed that it was different from the armor of the ordinary legionaries or the guards. He remembered his briefings and he smiled inside as he knew that their opponents were Praetorians. They were the Dacarian best and they were up against the human best.
He arrayed his team around the trap zone in covering positions that would give them overlapping fields of fire. And the kill zone in itself was impressive. He and his team had had one and half hours to create it and when you give a group of seals that much time and they know you are coming…it was a bad choice. The idea came from Doc. He used to be a green barrette before joining the seals. The Dacarians were entering into a kill zone created from nature’s ow
n weapons.
One of the Dacarians noticed the place where they had lit a small fire and set their trap. He smiled as he noticed him signaling the leader and turning back and poking into the ashes looking for clues. The fun was about to start.
Hogar saw Olin picking the remains beside the fire and then poking in the ash. He started moving towards him when he noticed the small cord that was hidden in the grass moving towards the ash.
“Stop!!!”
But even as he called deep in his mind he knew it was already too late.
Olin raised his head as he heard the shout and as he moved his hand he touched the wire. He tried to rise but at the same moment a big trunk, a huge tree that had to weigh at least half a ton slammed in to two of the praetorians standing just several meters away from him. The praetorians went flying in to the air and as they did Olin knew they were dead or gravely injured. He realized that he must have touched some trip wire but as he turned he was sure that he wasn’t the only one. A large arrow one of several went flying toward him and he ducked to the ground in an effort to avoid it. But even as he did he knew that it was in vain as small wooden stakes started falling from the treetops at incredible speed. He felt at least four striking him just before the fifth went through his head.
The Icarian Legacy Collected Edition: Brave Souls - First Strike (Volume 3) Page 50
