Read Black Legion: 05 - Sea of Fire Online
Authors: Michael G. Thomas
Black Legion: 05 - Sea of Fire (34 page)
“The Hayastani have been sent away with two of their warships and enough supplies to get them home. The transports are laden with weapons, equipment, supplies...and coin.”
“Yes,” said Dukas Xenias, “my men inform me there are over three hundred thousand talents on just the first transport.”
Glaucon breathed out through his nose before speaking. A slight mark on his cheek was the only remainder of the battle they had just fought in. One of the Carduchians muttered to a comrade and then lowered his head slightly before speaking in a thick accent.
“It would appear you were right. Tirbazus is taking advantage of your arrival to attack our forces.”
Chirisophus looked uncomfortable as looked at his own officers and made sure they were listening. Dukas Xenias gave him the nod, and that seemed to make him even angrier.
“We will free all of your countrymen, including the civilians we took at Bijar. We will also hand back all captured heavy fighters and four of the Hayastani battlecruisers to assist in your cause.”
He looked as though he was about to explode, so Dukas Xenias continued.
“We also offer you half of the wealth captured from the Hayastani; more than enough to pay for the damage and to assist in your war effort. Will you accept this as payment for our...for our wrongs against you?”
The Carduchians were stunned into silence, something Chirisophus was thankful for. He used it as an opportunity to look to Kallinos and found it hard not to sneer upon looking at the face of the half-breed mercenary.
“As for you.”
He looked to Xenias and Xenophon, both of whom gave him a quick nod.
“We are prepared split the rest of the supplies, weapons, and coin between you and our Legion.”
Kallinos opened her mouth and gave the widest grin he’d ever seen. She then looked to Xenias, Chirisophus, and lastly to Xenophon.
“My noble lord. I accept your payment, but I have a counter offer. I have twelve corsairs, knowledge of this entire sector, and a hunger for coin. Let me join your legion with the offer of a share of anything else you...obtain, and I promise you will never make a wrong turn again.”
Xenophon looked to Lady Artemas who squeezed his arm tightly.
“Listen to the lady, my Dukas, and accept her offer, before she changes her mind.”
He looked back to her.
“What’s the rush?”
Artemas leaned in and whispered something in his ear. He looked surprised and then turned back to the mercenary. Lady Artemas found it hard to suppress a laugh as he spoke.
“Kallinos, we welcome you to the Black Legion. May your time with us be as rewarding as you hope it will be.”
Kallinos bowed and then moved back to leave the other Dukas facing each other. As usual, Xenias spoke first while the small group of Dukas listened.
“The fleet has voted, and they will no longer operate without agreement with our Strategos. From now on, the Strategos will operate under our advice, as the six Dukas.”
Chirisophus shook his head angrily.
“My Laconians will operate under my command. This is a nonsensical idea. You cannot rule by committee.”
“You cannot command by ignoring advice and charging headlong into battle,” added Xenophon, “From now we will make decisions together, and you, as the Strategos will then carry out the plan.”
Chirisophus had seen the results, and he knew that outside of his own people he had almost no support. He now commanded just a quarter of the infantry and even less of the ships, but he still retained the Titan Valediction. That was still the largest individual contingent, but combined the others outnumbered him. What annoyed him the most, though, was that the six Dukas plan was a ruse, one that he could see through quite clearly.
They will continue undermining me at every point to increase their powerbase, but they will slip up, and when they do..
Xenophon and Xenias were already leaving with their entourage along with the other four Dukas as he smiled.
Yes, when they do, I will be there, and there will be no more voting, no advice, or discussion. I will have this Legion, and I will not be sending them home. We are the Black Legion, and we are here to take what we want.
HISTORICAL NOTE
This is the fifth book in my ongoing Black Legion series and continues the story where we left it, with the Legion having extricated itself from Cunaxa and escaping a final attempt by Tissaphernes to destroy them. Most of the events told in this novel match up neatly with the original account by Xenophon, bar the obvious science fiction changes. The first of these changes is the name itself, the Black Legion.
I chose the fictional name of the Black Legion. It is a name that has been used for countless mercenary units dating back to the Renaissance. Some famous examples include the Légion Noire, an army of criminals raised specifically for the invasion of Britain in the 18th century. From the same period come the Black Brunswickers who were formed in the early 19th century to fight in the Napoleonic Wars, and more recently the Ustase militia infantry unit that fought against the Serbs in WW2.
Though transported far away and into a different setting, these events mirror those that happened so long ago near ancient Babylon. The squabbling contingents from across the Terran worlds now find themselves stuck in the middle of the most powerful empire they have ever seen, the Median Empire under the control of the God King Artaxerxes.
Historically, this is what took place following the failed negotiations during the original expedition two and a half thousand years ago. New leaders were chosen to replace those murdered following Cunaxa, and a new plan to get them away from the intrigues and dangers of the Empire. It may seem strange to us now, but these ideals of suffrage and responsibility were something the Greeks thought made them so different to their barbarian enemies. They would vote and then act upon decisions they had made, with ultimate responsibility for their men coming down to them.
In the original account, Xenophon explains that these new leaders included himself, Timasion, Xanthicles, Cleanor, and Philesius. The Spartan commander, known as Chirisophus took over the role as overall commander and on they went, ultimately to march into Carduchia and then to Western Armenia. The large force of mercenaries suffered badly in Carduchia, primarily due to their lack of local knowledge, and an inability to communicate and trade with the locals. In my novel, this territory is known as the Carduchian Wilderness, a vast and desolate region with little but outposts and raiders for great distances.
The original sequence that has Xenophon alternating between leading the vanguard and then covering the rear are all taken directly from the original text, as are the problems encountered in Armenia and Carduchia. Lastly, the name of the book takes its inspiration from the deep and powerful Centrites River that separated these two ancient territories. Historically, the Ten Thousand suffered more casualties in the five days traveling through Carduchia as they had during every day before it, including the massive battle of Cunaxa.
For all the skill and courage of the Greeks, and in my case, the Terrans, their greatest enemy was often their own ideas of personal choice, superiority, liberty, and a never-ending desire to prove they were better than their comrades. Yet when the Ten Thousand fought as one, they were an army that could never be beaten in battle.
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