Blood War 1: Last Stand of the Legion: Rift (7 page)

Through five years of
trial and error, Dasan and his cadre of young officers and senior enlisted men and women, had developed the weapons, equipment and tactics for the new battalion. The first full-scale live fire exercise to include a planet insertion and extraction was to be held tomorrow. Admiral Raurk had been as supportive as possible over the last years, but it was now time to show the Legion and the political powers that the billions spent in the development of the Armored Infantry were justified. His career and the fledgling AI's future depended on it. The Admiral had placed Dasan under the command of her most trusted Legion commander, Major General Dincin Grove Buchman, whose other responsibility was the Commander of the Legion contingent of the Pleiades Fleet. Buchman was a Groombridger like Dasan, thus guaranteeing no inter-breed friction. He could not have asked for a more positive environment for this great experiment.

Dasan stood up from his desk and stretched. He turned to the window behind his desk. The bleak red beauty of Rift stretched before him. A large red rock outcropping pitted by eons of sand storms stood outside his window to his left. The holes and gouges formed by
a harsh environment created a beautiful natural sculpture. Beyond the rocks a field of dunes stretched to the mountains on the horizon with nothing to break their red ocean of sand except the shadows thrown by the sun. The craggy  mountains on the horizon looked closer than normal today, it had been an unusually clear day.

It was hard to believe that this bleak landscape would be covered by some of the most beautiful wild flowers he had ever seen during the spring and summer.
Both spring and summer were only two months long and the planet seemed to try and make up for the shortness of the growing season with its flowers and birds appearing quickly and then disappearing just as quickly to remain dormant for another year. It was a harsh planet and the first settlers had chosen it for its harshness. Rabid environmentalists, they had chosen a planet the opposite of earth in an almost religious effort to learn to live within the boundaries of a planets’ ecosystem. They were determined not to make the mistakes made on earth: to live with nature not against it. They had been successful even though thousands had died in the effort.

He had grown to love this bleak yet beautiful place. He had chosen Rift specifically for its challenges. It was a cold and forbidding desert planet that did not allow any mistakes. It was the perfect place to train Legionnaires to become the warriors the Confederation would need. He had spent the last five years doing just that, most of that time out in the most forbidding locations on the planet. Rift's harshness reve
aled the true character of someone. Rift had become as much a part of him as his home Taini in the Groombridge system. It also had become the birthplace of the Armored Infantry.

"Excuse me Colonel."

Dasan turned to see Command Sergeant Major Axec Aijuba standing in front of his desk. She must have been standing there for some time because she had a smirk on her face.

"Colonel what have I told you about sleeping on your feet. You should only use that trick in battle
," Aijuba said.

"Sergeant Major
, have I threatened to have you demoted this week?"

"No sir, but it
is still early."

They laughed together. They had become close over the years
, Aijuba fighting for the A.I. on the enlisted side of the fence while he had fought with the officer corps. She had reached the mandatory retirement age of eighty, seven years ago but she had wanted to stay on to help Dasan finish the formation of the AI. Dasan had to go to the Commandant of the Legion to get permission for Aijuba to be allowed to re-enlist. It took all of his contacts plus some outside help but Commandant made an exception and allowed her to re-enlist.

The only way the Commandant would allow it was for her to go through a rejuvenation, something that was considered almost sacrilegious by the Wolf breed. She did it anyway so she could stay
but she had insisted on one concession - she did not want her face to change, she wanted the age lines that came close to showing her real age, older Wolfs were respected by the others of their breed. So doctors compromised and left her face alone as best they could. She had chosen to look around a youthful forty, as it was the best the doctors could do.

Even with a few
crows' feet and laugh lines around her mouth she was a striking woman. With her white hair cut in the Wolf traditional Mohawk and newly colored iris a striking black replacing her clear ones during rejuvenation. She had a sexual appeal that had made her off duty exploits as famous as her on duty adventures. At close to six feet with the hard muscular body of a thirty year old and a lifetime as a warrior she was a formidable physical presence. Dasan was still getting used to those striking dark eyes of hers they were mesmerizing.

"Well remind me to demote you later today."

"Yes, sir."

Dasan sat down and motioned for Axec to do the same.

"Are we ready old friend?" Dasan said. Using such an informal greeting signaled this was conversation between old comrades and not official.

"Yes, Dasan I believe we are. I am still worried about the new cooling systems on the rails and mini's but that is part of what the exercise is about
- to test equipment. The contractors will have technicians on hand in case there are any serious problems."

"How are we on the suits?"

"I just checked with the armorers and they had finished down-checking them all. We had about twenty-five lost to down-check failure but we have plenty of spares. They are warming them up now," Aijuba said.

"Make sure all of the suits
’ medical systems are combat ready. We are going to have a few casualties no matter how careful we are and I want to be prepared for them. In addition, it will give us an indication of how well the medical systems work."

"Ahead of you on that one. When the armorers down
-checked the suits they loaded the medical systems. So we should be ready."

"Personnel?"

"All present and accounted for. Canceling all leave and liberty made sure of that, but I don't think any of them want to miss this anyway. So everyone is on the post and accounted for. The Lieutenants and Sergeants are going over the briefing again today. They are covering tactics. The troopers are chomping at the bit," Aijuba said.

"I just got a briefing from the Engineers
- they are already constructing the strong points at the space port and Fleet Headquarters. They said they should be right on time for the start of the exercise. All the Swift Boats are a go. I have been pleasantly surprised by how adaptable those old boats are. When you take out the torpedo tubes and the side crew compartments we can get close to twelve fully armored Legionnaires in them. They are a godsend."

"Those old TS 111's sure came in handy. I think they will turn out to be our insertion platforms of choice once all is said and done. What about the O
pposition Force?"

"They have broken their units into Killer Teams based on their fire teams. Each one will have two normal
ly equipment troopers, a sniper and a mini rail. So we should be able to test the swarm defense strategy," Dasan said.

"Yeah, it
’s old, but it's old because it still works."

"Well my old mate it looks like we are ready."

When Dasan said mate Axec looked up and gave him a slow smile.

"Yes my old mate I think we are."

In the Legion it was difficult to sustain any relationships outside of its demands. It was your life to a large extent. Dasan had tried a number of times but it always ended up the same way with the woman leaving because of his absences. So he, like so many lifers, had established a relationship within the Legion. Officially they were frowned on but nothing was ever done as long as they did not interfere with the duties of the Legionnaires. He and Aijuba had been close since Gaxola. It had affected her as much as it had him. They had shared that battle and many others over the years. Their relationship had taken its natural course on one long lonely patrol years ago and remained a constant on and off ever since.

"You know
, I was thinking that we have not had time together for a very long time," Aijuba said.

"I'm not the one with a boy and girl harem that follows me around like a bunch of puppies. Are you sure you will have time?"

"You know us Wolfen have very strong drives. Good warriors and good bedmates. I have quite a bit of leave coming. Old mate, would you be interested in a nice long leave together?" Aijuba said.

"The last time we went on leave together I needed a leave to recover."

Aijuba just smiled then said, "I didn't hear any complaints."

Dasan shook his head and smiled.

"No old mate. No complaints. Why don't you do just that and start the paper work. That sounds very good."

Their eyes met for a few moments before Aijuba said
,

"I will get right on that Colonel."

"Now get out of here Sergeant Major we both have work to do."

"Sir."

Aijuba strode out the door and Dasan returned to his paper work.

LYTEN SYSTEM

RIFT

PLEIADES FLEET COMMAND CENTER

FLEET HEADQUARTERS

INTELLIGENCE SECTION

Legion Captain Yasuji Kitmura was nervous. He was facing the greatest challenge of his career; he had to convince a disbelieving Fleet Staff that his analysis of the aliens' intentions was correct. He was certain the fate of the Confederation hung in the balance. He strode purposely down the corridor of the Intelligence Section ignoring the admiring glances of the men and women he passed. He was a tall broad-shouldered man of rugged good looks with jet-black hair and an oriental cast to his eyes like most Cetis'. His service tattoo cascade covered the left side of his face, and it contained blue as well as the coveted red tear of combat. He was so absorbed in his thoughts that he almost ran into someone coming out of an office.

"I'm sorry."

It was Captain Knott, a Sol to his core who never let anyone doubt his heritage or his disdain of the other human breeds from the colonies. He was tall and blonde with the classic good looks that Sols all seemed to want; in order to make sure everyone knew their breed without asking. He also exuded the superiority so many of them did.

"Well Captain
Kitmura, it looks as if we will again meet in battle."

"Yes, Captain Knott it does appear as if we will. I don't suppose I
could convince you to change your stand on the data and present a united opinion for the staff?"

"No, no, my dear boy
, the data is just not consistent with your interpretation," Knott said.

Beside
s, Knott thought to himself, if we were in agreement then there could be no winners and no losers, without which there could be no reward. Kitmura had won the last time they had met. It had cost Knott the transfer he desired so badly. It had been the chance to leave this uncivilized outpost and return to the Sol's Naval Headquarters and civilization where he belonged. He longed to return to the world he knew and understood. The breeds you found among the colonist types were beyond Knott's understanding, much too patriotic, much too serious about the job, not to mention their unattractive physical appearances. But that made his task just that much easier, this time he would triumph, this time he would win the promotion and the transfer he desired. Kitmura had stuck his neck out too far this time, he couldn't be right, he just couldn't.

"I wish we could come to some sort of agreement. If not
, let me make the presentation and let it stand on its own merits without your arguments." Kitmura said.

"No, I am sorry
, but you are just too far out on that limb," Knott said. “And I don't intend to let this opportunity slip by.”

Kitmura
stared at him coldly then strode off with saying another word. Kitmura knew Knott was right, he was out on a limb; if he was wrong it could very well cost him his career. But there was no consolation in being right either. Even if the staff moved immediately, thousands of lives would still be lost before this thing was settled. He had to convince the staff to act and act fast; if they did not the Confederation could be lost.

Captain Knott was returning to his office when he received a call on his private line. He glanced at the name in his glasses and saw it was Colbert Carroll, the senior Von Fleet Corporation representative on Rift. Normally he only called when he knew Knott was off duty. This must be important. Knott touched the earpiece of his glasses.

"Mr. Carroll it is very good to hear from you as usual. What can I do for you?"

"Captain I would not risk such a valuable resource if it were not important."

"Sir, let me step somewhere
where I can speak privately."

Knott stepped into a small empty conference room off the hallway. Colbert Carroll was his ticket off this planet and back to Sol if his Naval career did not work out. In a number of ways it was a better future as a corporate intelligence officer than in the Navy, you were actually paid in line with what you were worth. Knott had been feeding him intelligence that helped Carroll to get a leg up on a number of different contracts that had proved very profitable to Von Fleet. He had been handsomely rewarded and now was close to the ultimate prize of being offered a job. Knott felt between his head to head confrontation with Kitmura and his Von Fleet contact he was in a win/win situation.

"I can speak freely now Mr. Carroll."

"Good. I understand you are about to brief the Admiral on a matter of utmost importance. That is all I know. Can you fill me in?"

Knott was flustered. How did he know about the briefing? And why was it important to him? If Knott had known he would certainly passed on the information.

"Uh. Yes sir but how did you know?"

"Captain you are not my only source. Now please tell me about the briefing."

"Well sir, there has been a dramatic change in the power usage and communications among the
aliens. Their power usage seems to be dramatically down while their communications have increased and seemed to be encrypted. My own analysis is that it means nothing, but a colleague believes it indicates a dramatic change in the aliens' intentions towards us. He feels they have somehow lost or depleted most of the natural resource planets. In fact he is going to say he feels they are about to attack us here in Fleet anchorage in an effort to destroy the Pleiades Fleet. Once they have destroyed the Fleet, he feels they intend to harvest the natural resources from the systems in the Pleiades Fleets’ area of operation. I of course, do not agree with him. I think he is mistaken in his interpretation of the facts. I believe the aliens have just turned their attention to another sector of their galaxy and are using their power in another part of their empire that we cannot monitor."

Carroll looked annoyed. It was the first time Knott could ever remember him not being pleasant with him.

"Why wasn't I told of this, Captain?"

"I did not see your interest in what was essentially a misinterpretation of intelligence."

"Anytime you brief the Admiral I want to know what and why. I've told you this before, Knott."

Just then Knott could see a red light appear on the console next to Carroll. He turned and read the screen. Then half standing he turned back to Knott and
said, "I have to go."

The feed went black. Knott was suddenly very worried. What had he missed? What had he done wrong? This was not a matter that would interest Von Fleet. Knott moved quickly back out into the corridor toward his offices.
He had visions of a transfer to Sol were growing dimmer as he realized just how upset Carroll was at the news.