The Rise of OLMAC

by Kevin Gordon

for Gan-Elldon.^

  Suld leapt to his fleet, unable to comprehend what was happening. ^They wouldn’t sacrifice an entire capital ship!^

  An image resolved in Suld’s mind.

  ^Suld, Mechle of OLMAC, this is Agilia, senior Monitor of Malhrer. I demand your unconditional surrender.^

  ^Surrender?^ cast Suld laughingly. ^You may not have met me before, but I am the Mechle of OLMAC, a man who comes from a long line of people willing and able to stand up to the TELREC. There may have been collaborators, like Mechle Illu, but I will not back down! Will you?^

  ^No.^

  He studied her face for a while, eager to familiarize himself with the face of his enemy. He had seen many TELREC, even dealt with a Monitor or two, but never before had he seen the senior monitor.

  I would call her beautiful, but instead, I might call her functional. It is as if all that was feminine and delicate has been tamed and suppressed, forced into that damned uniform. One part of me sees such life in her eyes, while the rest of me knows how lifeless she must be to go on this offensive.

  ^Then let me show you what you are really up against.^ He sat back down, as a serene calm came over his face. ^This ruse is at an end. Let you be the first to welcome back . . . the Envoys.^

  As he cast, LN-40 moved out through the line of the oreships, unfazed by their weapons fire. Small explosions could be seen along its girth, but it was in good shape, and accelerating towards the moon. Meta from nearby asteroids intercepted it, but could do little damage. They were able to partially overload its barriers, but time was not on their side.

  ^Mechle, we’ve lost the Efion, the Yuud-lisc, and the Omata. We only have four ships at optimal status. The meta are active and battling again on LN-67, and LN-29 is making quick work of Theia’s dromons. Orders?^

  Suld clenched his fists, trying to be patient, watching his empire slip away.

  Not yet. I’ll not see it perish this roa. You’ve given me a fight alright, more than I bargained for. Where did you hide those capital ships? Almost a hundred? Well, I’ve got something for you.

  ^Oh my,^ cast Ciluo, in an uncharacteristic display of emotion.

  Three massive ships suddenly arced in out of the light of the distant galaxy. Three times the size of a capital ship, they moved with a surprising quickness. One impacted LN-29, severing it in two. The others pursued LN-40. In moments they were upon it, slowing its descent with tractor beams, ripping it to shred with great cannons seemingly more powerful than any emdec ever seen. Great cheers went up throughout all the OLMAC ships. Suld relaxed, the smug smile coming back to his lips. Then, the alarm came.

  ^What?^

  ^The disabled capital ship—LN-01 . . . it’s tils from Gan-Elldon!^

  ^Where did it hide the power?^ demanded Suld, analyzing its power signature.

  Ciluo turned to face him, sorrow on his face. ^It must have disguised some reserves.^

  Suld had time to resolve his mental picture on Gan-Elldon to see all the defensive weaponry of the city unleashed on the capital ship. Its hull blazed in red and yellow fire, great pieces breaking off and exploding in the atmosphere. A rain of debris fell all over the city, starting small fires where they landed, creating giant craters that pockmarked the surface. The front of the ship was engulfed in fire, its nexus broken off, dissolving in the void. But the bulk of it impacted the city, spreading a tidal wave of devastation. Part of the city buckled like a giant ocean wave, as millions of tons of debris were ejaculated into the void. A great dust cloud bloomed, consuming most of the city. Suld saw the lights go dark, all communication die from the moon. His heart seemed to stop, the blood drained from his limbs, as he could only imagine the damage to his ancestral home. Theia cast to Suld.

  ^Suld . . . are you there?^

  He sat down where he stood, on the floor, the magnitude of the defeat sinking in. Though the meta succeeded in destroying the capital ship, and the last altered course to head back to Malhrer, Suld knew he had failed.

  ^Suld!^ she cried, ^Orders?!^

  Was I wrong? I wanted to keep the Envoys secret, so they would be the death-blow to the TELREC, a signal for a total revolution. And yet, because I kept them hidden, my world lies in ruin! The home of my ancestors, the home of the best chance for freedom of action and thought in the Novan system, is gone. I wanted it all, I wanted it all . . .

  ^We have limited communication, Suld.^

  He bolted up, linking to an erratic and weak colvition signal.

  ^This is General Ank-Tehht! We have extensive damage to a third of Gan-Elldon. Request immediate assistance. Details of damage to follow.^

  Suld scanned the reports coming in detailing the damage.

  Gan-Elldon lives!

  Great cheers went up throughout the ship, and across the battlegrid. Suld knew it would take time, but Gan-Elldon would be repaired. TELREC fighters withdrew, as the last capital ship, LN-33, headed back to Malhrer. A mental image resolved in his mind.

  ^Mechle of OLMAC, this is Xechta, Saeren of the Colineuse, flagship of the Envoys! It is good to be home.^

  Suld gathered himself, manufacturing a carefree smile.

  ^It is good to have you back. And just in time! You know your orders?^

  ^Yes. The Envoy ships shall proceed to Novan, and announce our return.^

  ^I will be there shortly.^

  Suld sat back, watching the last of the TELREC forces disappear into the void, heading back to Malhrer. A part of him was broken, though, unable to accept the massive damage to Gan-Elldon. The Nemosini pulled alongside the Onzic as Theia cast to Suld.

  ^Are you alright?^

  ^The TELREC must pay!^ he cast, slamming down his fist on a nearly-broken chair.

  ^Suld, we have won!^ she cried. ^We drove them back.^

  Suld looked down, and his hands were shaking. He looked up, hoping no one noticed. Everyone was engaged in assessing damage to the fleet. He clenched his hands into fists, and closed his eyes, commanding them to stop. After he few deep sighs to relax himself, he cast to Theia.

  ^We suffered to many losses.^

  ^We are the first to physically oppose the TELREC, and win,^ she cast, with nothing but pride in her thoughts. ^This is a great victory! You had to know you would lose much in this battle. They attacked with you unaware, without your forces properly mobilized. Why are you so disappointed in yourself?^

  ^Don’t worry about it, Theia,^ he cast dismissively. ^Assess your dromons for damage, and effect repairs. Continue training your Coss, for this war has just begun. We will make the Colineuse temporary headquarters of OLMAC, as Gan-Elldon is repaired.^

  We were lucky, this time. Gan-Elldon, lives, but only barely.

  ^Suld!^ It was General Ank-Tehht again. ^That wasn’t debris that fell—they were mines!^

  Suddenly Gan-Elldon was rocked by hundreds of terrible explosions. The flames once limited to a third of the city now eagerly consumed it in its entirety, appearing as if a star had impacted on its surface. The crew stood aghast as explosion after explosion bloomed into the void, the jewel of their lives gone in a few moments.

  ^What . . . what happened?^

  ^The ship must have been loaded with mines,^ cast Ciluo, analyzing the resultant explosions. ^This must have been their strategy all along—allow a capital ship to be disabled, so we would ignore it, and it could destroy Gan-Elldon.^

  “Damn TELREC! Damn! Damn!”

  Suld lost his mind for a moment, screaming at the top of his lungs. The crew lowered their heads, not knowing the depth of his anger and remorse. He leapt to his feet, blind rage in his eyes.

  ^All ships! Attention all ships! Enter new directional vectors. Prepare to attack Malhrer!^

  ^What?!^ cried Ciluo, bolting to his feet to directly physically confront Suld. ^What are you doing—you can’t be serious?!^

  ^They destroyed my world!^ Suld pounded on consoles, shattering the displays, then took to throwing chairs around the nexus. ^They destroyed my world! All that work of my ancestors, gone! The home
of all my people, gone! They must pay, I will not rest until they pay!^ He cast with all the strength within him, screaming in silence. Those around him grew afraid of the random chaos within him. They slowly focused on his orders, relaying commands to all ships. Ciluo, against his better judgment, deferred to Suld’s commands.

  ^Oreships coming into position. Dromons taking the lead behind the carriers. Envoy ships completing return arc, and will be in position shortly.^

  General Tullghe cast to Suld. Standing on the nexus of the Nio, debris and smoke surrounded him, as their ship also took great amounts of damage.

  ^Mechle, we cannot win this roa. We were lucky to repulse them, but now is not the time!^

  ^Coward, craven fool!^ slammed Suld bitterly. ^We have the power of the righteous on our side. The TELREC must fall!^

  ^I may not be souman,^ cast Ciluo quickly, ^but even I know a rash, foolish move when I see one! You must calm down, and nest some—^

  ^Enough!^ slammed Suld. ^Carry out my orders, or by my life, I will find someone who will!^

  In his mind, a woman’s image resolved.

  ^Suld . . .^

  ^Agilia. Begging for surrender now? You will be dead soon.^

  ^I think not. Look.^

  An image of Malhrer resolved in his mind. In front of the massive moon, ninety capital ships and untold hundreds of thousands of fighters hovered like a grey cloud.

  ^I know of your capitals,^ he cast angrily. ^How you hid them for this long is beyond me, but it matters not. For I have the Envoys, and not even all your ships could resist their strength.^

  ^While that may be,^ retorted Agilia, ^behind