Blood War 1: Last Stand of the Legion: Rift (18 page)

She drove her other
hand into the alien’s throat, tearing another huge gash. She interlaced her fingers behind Ezhno's head holding the crystals in place. In spite of two blades deeply embedded in her neck, Ezhno tried to throw Istas off. She tore at Istas's back frantically with her claws ripping Istas’s flesh open again and again. Istas wrapped her legs around Ezhno and continued to turn and twist the crystal blades in her neck. Their eyes were only inches apart. Istas saw the fury at being denied her mission. Ezhno's eyes reminded Istas of a snake, cold and deadly, not afraid of death or what it meant. Finally the terrible wounds in Ezhno's throat began to take effect, her clawing at Istas's back slowed, then stopped as she collapsed under Istas. As she collapsed, Istas completely ripped Ezhno’s throat open assuring she would not get up.

Istas stood over Ezhno straddling her body
. Bleeding heavily from her wounds and covered in Ezhno's blood Istas reveled in her victory. She had done it! She had succeeded in her mission. She put her head back and gave a war cry that could be heard even outside the Center.

Istas turned and faced the staff of the Center and said
,

"I have killed this one
, but there may be more. I was sent to protect Admiral Raurk I am called Istas. I am an Anjin from Rift."

The whole Center suddenly erupted in shouts as people closed in on Istas. Admiral Raurk stood and looked at the chaos.

"Stop!" she said.

The entire room came to a halt,
and as one they turned to the Admiral.

"First, somebody take that thing away to infirmary and notify our Alien Biologists that I want a report on what it is. Next
, I want Security to go back over all the files we have on it, and see if there is anything that can be learned about how it was able to infiltrate the Center. Next, with all the honors they deserve, take the bodies of Admirals Golenpaul and Oxford to the morgue for proper internment. Now, bring the Anjin to me and call the medics. I need information. The rest of you - there is a battle going on. Get back to your positions."

Istas smiled
. Her mission had been a worthy one, the Admiral just proved it by her actions. Others would not have recovered as quickly. It had been worth the effort. She began to feel weak; she looked down and found a large puddle of her own blood beginning to form. She swayed and reached for a nearby console. Lieutenant Netis rushed to her side to help her continue to stand. Their eyes met.

"Do you need help?"

"I think I do, Lieutenant."

"Who are you?"

Istas staggered over to the bodies of the two security men. She leaned down and put her hand first on one, then the other’s chest.

"Thank you
, warrior brothers."

Two medics rushed up and helped Istas up to the Admiral
’s platform. When she stood in front of the Admiral she shook off the medics help and formally bowed to her.

"I am at your service
, Admiral," Istas said.

"Someone get her a chair."

When Istas was seated in a chair and the medics had begun to work on her, the Admiral looked at her.

"I have questions?"

"Yes Admiral. I am to tell everything we know."

"Are there more?"

"Yes, but I do not think they are here, but they may come for you."

"How did your Mother know about this?"

The answer came onto her contacts. The Mother of all Anjin’s had been monitoring the whole incident. As soon as her enhancements were activated her communication implants had contacted her Mother. She had watched the whole attack and fight through Istas’s eyes and was now answering the questions.

"Mother only says we have our ways."

"Why did she not warn us?"

"She was not sure if it were true or when. It would have been a wrong thing to just give warning without complete knowledge. If the attack had not happened you would not have trusted after that. There has not always been trust between us."

"Yes. Then why did she send you and I assume others to help?" Usiche Raurk said.

"They are coming to invade our home
, our hearts; the place where my birth was buried. We all are one with Rift. We will fight alongside you for as long as you will have us."

The Anjin's were a formidable force that until now worked for whoever they pleased
, for reasons that were not always clear. This threat to their home had brought them over to the Confederation's side. Raurk realized the meaning of the Mother of Anjin protecting her with one of her best Anjin's; it indicated that she felt the threat was so great that she had taken the first step toward cooperation. Something they had refused for centuries. She decided she would ask the ultimate question of the Mother of Anjin. She knew what it meant and that she would pay a political price for doing so but it was needed.

"Istas
, I am asking your Mother for Bayrz Time."

Istas was surprised at this request. It was not widely known outside of the people of Rift. This was a truly wise and knowing woman.
The word literally meant two stones being forged together but very powerful outside forces. To ask for Bayrz meant both sides recognized that any further distrust or subterfuge between the two could lead to the defeat of both and thereby helping a common enemy. The people asking for Bayrz Time would always be in the debt of the one asked. There was a long pause before her Mother sent the answer.

"It is with deep humility that Mother accepts the request for Bayrz Time between the Anjins and the Confederation. We truly have a common and very dangerous enemy. She will make all Anjins at your disposal. She does not trust anyone else but you Admiral. She will not communicate with anyone else. You have shown yourself to be someone who understands what this means and would not misuse it."

"Thank your Mother for her cooperation. I accept with humble thanks at this truly dangerous time. I have one more request."

"Mother says yes. I will grant it if I can."

"I request that you assign Istas to me as liaison between the two of us. She has shown extraordinary intelligence, courage and skill in the accomplishment of her mission and I need such counsel."

"She says I am at your disposal for as long
as you deem it necessary."

"Thank your Mother and tell her I think it time our medics take care of Istas."

Istas was pale and had to be held up in the chair.

"Mother was going to say the same thing. She is able to monitor my condition and thinks I need medical care."

Istas passed out. The medics grabbed her before she fell out of the chair.

"A lot has happened since we've been busy trying to stay alive. I want a new Battle Update Brief as soon as possible. Somebody clean up all that blood before somebody slips on it."

"Aye, ma'am," Lieutenant said.

LYTEN SYSTEM

RIFT

ARMORED EXPEDITIONARY BRIGADE

HEADQUARTERS

ARMORY

The transport tube slowly stopped at the Armored Infantry's station. Dasan ducked his head as he got out. The station was ordered chaos as armored Legionnaires moved equipment and organized themselves into teams. Dasan could see a Swift Boat lift off and head toward the Space Port with a load of Legionnaries. Aijuba was waiting for him. Standing beside her were two teams of four Legionnaries. They were armored up and had drawn their weapons. In their armor they towered over Dasan, only the fact they had hinged their helmets back made them look human.

"Attention on deck," Aijuba said.

"As you were. Sergeant, are these Rift recon teams?"

"Yes sir."

"Gather around."

The eight armored Legionnaires came closer.

"This is your home. You are fighting for your planet's life. I know the strength of your commitment to your land and I am counting on it to help us out. Use the caves, tunnels and your local knowledge so you can to get close and observe. Only strike when you can hit and run. Always, always have your escape route planned before you stick your heads up. Understood?"

The
re was a chorus of “Yes sirs.”

"Be smart
, exactly the way you have been trained. We have no idea what the capabilities or the military technology of these aliens have. They have done this before. Understand that and respect it. We need information about any and everything you can observe or discover about these aliens. We need it yesterday. So don't get caught and don't get killed. That is a fucking order, understood. You are too valuable to waste."

The eight men and women nodded.

"Have your sniper team's plant their sensors as far out as possible. Plant the rest in the usual pattern. I don't want you to engage unless you get a high value target, communications, command and control or a large number of their personnel where we can get at them. Then call in the indirect fire. Do a mine plant first followed with smart shells. Add some of your own weapons to the mix. If we hit them we need to hit them with everything we have until we know what works. And after the attack I want you to retreat to a prearranged position for the next opportunity. Any questions?"

There were none.

"Good luck Legionnaires.
Guerre à mort.
"

"
Guerre à mort.
"

"
Guerre à mort
."

Each Legion
naire repeated the phrase that formally released them from giving any quarter. Dasan did not think he needed to say it knowing the Rifts the way he did, but he wanted it to be official. This was a fight to the death. One by one they squeezed into the Tube car Dasan had just climbed out of and were whisked away to their positions.

             
"Did you ever think we would be sending out recon teams in Tube cars sir?" Aijuba asked.

"No
, I didn't. I need to get armored up."

Aijuba led Dasan away at a trot toward the armory. The armorers were waiting with his suit warmed up and ready. They plugged his suit into the plug behind his ear. It was as if he just entered a fighter. He was the suit. He did not have to think to use it
; the armor was synced and molded to his body. They connected the medical systems into the lock just under his collar bone so he could be monitored at all times and given the drugs needed if he were wounded. The armorers had just buttoned up the back of his suit when General Buchman suddenly appeared in his suits comm. His image wavered a bit then settled down as the suit became fully functional.

"General
, we are already putting troops in the field..."

"Dasan
, stop. We just had an attempt on Admiral Raurk's life by one of the aliens. I am going to send you the video. You need to see this."

The video of the attack came up in 3D hologram in front of his suit. He was stunned as he realized that they looked exactly like a human but were significantly faster and stronger.

"Shi!" Aijuba said. "What is it?"

Dasan had spent the last twenty-five years trying to understand why the aliens would have gone to so much trouble to take children
, and now he knew. It suddenly made sense. All of those years of analyzing and he had never thought of this. They must use surrogates to fight. First they studied their behaviors before combining the DNA to produce what he saw on the video. With natural behavior study and genetic engineering, they could produce the type of hybrid he had just seen. Without thinking Dasan said,

"
Their hybrids alien and human. That is why they took the kids."

"What?" Buchman said.

"Sir, they took the kids for genetic engineering. They combined their DNA and the human DNA to create that thing. I have a feeling that once the scientists get a hold of it and are able to study it, they will find it is more alien than human."

"Why would they do that? What advantage does it give them?"

"Maybe a better understanding of who we are but I am just speculating at this point. How long had that Lieutenant been assigned to Fleet Headquarters?"

"For over a year. No one suspected a thing. We
’re combing her files now to try to find something but she looks completely normal."

"Are there more embedded that we know of?"

"We don't know of any but we must assume there are. They almost took out the Fleet command with a single individual in exactly the right place. If the Rifts had not sent the Anjin they would have. How did they know where to put them and what kind of intel and planning would it take to place them there? There are too many unanswered questions for me to be comfortable. I have a feeling we are in for more surprises."

"Yes sir
, I am afraid you’re right."

"Very well Colonel
. I am needed elsewhere right now. Good luck and keep me informed."

"Yes sir."

Dasan turned and met Aijuba's dark eyes.

"What?" he asked.

"Something is there but I cannot place it. Do you feel it?"

"Yes, some bit of information that I just can't recall. We need to get moving
so let me know if you figure it out."

"I am going to order a bodyguard team for the command group
," Aijuba said.

"Good idea
. Make sure it is made up of the longest serving members."

"Sir."

Duncan switched frequencies and said,

"Six Alpha this
is Six."

"Go ahead Six."

"I am sending you a video of an attempted assassination of Admiral Raurk by an alien. Be advised they look human but as you can see on the video they are much stronger and quicker. They are some sorts of hybrid. If they tried to take out Raurk, there are probably more, so advise your command and let everybody see this video. Trust no one other than Legionnaires. I don't think one could have gotten through our screening."

There was
a long pause as Masafaro watched the video.

"Shit."

For once, Masafaro's cool was shaken by what he saw.

"Six
, this is Six Alpha. Understood. I just sent it out to all of the Legionnaires here."

"Roger that. This is Six out."

"Six Alpha out."

As Aijuba radioed the order
, they both turned back to the armorers to finish the last of their armor's adjustments and draw their weapons. Dasan's armor, as well as the other members of his command staff, was specially designed for the demands of the leadership of a Brigade. The armor had extra communications channels that allowed them to communicate not only with the Brigade but also with sensors and drones directly as well as additional video and imaging capabilities not to mention air and naval assets. With that amount of information available information overload was a real issue. So each command suit had it's own artificial intelligence to sift through the incoming data and prioritized it for the wearer.

Dasan closed his helmet. The heads up display immediately showed the disposition of the Brigade. Units were well on their way to the position
s Dasan had assigned them. If they had not been on the highest alert for the exercise the next day the Brigade would never have been able to get into the field this quickly. He could see team after team spreading out and heading for their assigned positions.

Dasan knew that the odds were slim
of many of them surviving the battle. If the Xotoli were anything they were ruthless, he had seen what they had done to civilians, so it was not hard to imagine what they would do to his command. Dasan had trained them to be the kind of warrior that could stand up to that challenge. Each was hand picked and pushed beyond what they thought were their physical and mental limits. If anyone could defeat them it would his Armored Infantry. It had taken twenty-five years of professional and personal sacrifice to build this unit and he felt the need to recognize them and what they were about to do. He doubted he would live through the coming battles and wanted to recognize the legacy the coming battle would leave for future AI.

He switched his communications to an all
-hands frequency.

"Attention. All Armored Infantry
, stop what you are doing. I want to say something to you. All of you under my command have proven yourselves worthy of the title Legionnaire and Armored Infantry. You have met every challenge that has been placed before you. You are ready for this challenge.”

             
“Understand the Xotoli will invade. When they come you will be outnumbered and outgunned. Yet I have no doubt about the outcome of this battle. You will prevail. No one has faced a battle with these consequences in human history. You are not fighting for the Confederation. You are not fighting for your planet. You are not fighting for your breed, politics or religion. You are fighting for the human race against a race that wants to destroy our civilization. You are fighting for the survival of our species."

"You have been chosen
, by fate, to be the tip of the spear at this juncture in human history. Humans everywhere will remember what happens over the next days and weeks forever. Your names will be revered throughout the known worlds. Children will learn your names when they study history for as long as there is a human race. No man or woman has ever been asked to do what you are being asked to do. You are being asked to save the human race by putting your lives between humanity and an alien race. You are ready. You have been prepared. The mates that stand at your side are ready. The AI is ready. I have one last command. No quarter. No mercy."

Dasan paused.

"Guerre à mort."

Dasan stood for a few seconds as he heard hundreds of the men and women in his command repeat the order.

"Now return to your duties. Make these
kak's
regret the day they were born." He then played the traditional song of the Legion.

              "
No! Absolutely nothing...

             
No! I regret nothing

             
Neither the good that I've done nor the bad

             
All this is much the same to me!

             
No! Absolutely nothing...

             
No! I regret nothing...

             
It is paid, swept away, forgotten

             
I don't care about the past!

             
With my souvenirs

             
I lit a fire."

This time a warrior roar filled his speakers as his command replied to his call to battle. He felt he had said what he felt were true. They were not empty words of a commander trying to exhort his troops; they were the words of someone who really believed in what he had said. He hoped the men and women of his command knew that because it is what had driven him for twenty-five years.

Dasan stepped outside of the Armory and found
two-armored hovercraft waiting for him. The Engineers had adapted a craft the Rift's had developed for transporting people and equipment over the harsh surface without leaving a trace. Dasan had the armorers up-armor them and put in more powerful engines. The hovercraft was ideal for transporting troops and equipment. You had to stand because sitting was not an easy thing to do when in full armor, so you stood behind the driver. They each could carry six armored troopers, their equipment and still reach speeds of close to ninety miles an hour. He had also had the armorers mount a Rail 50 on the back as to give the craft some firepower. A gunner stood above and behind the riders.

Aijuba came up to him and said
,