Star Crusades Nexus: Book 03 - Heroes of Helios (11 page)

“General,” They both replied in unison, much to the amusement of the others there.

The entry point for the Helion Academy was far from salubrious. Teresa looked about the place and noted how dampness seemed to pervade every part of it. She noticed stains on the walls and cracks near the frames of the large metal doors.

“Uh, this is it?” asked Gun, without thinking for a moment of sparing the Helion’s feelings.

General Rivers smiled awkwardly.

“Quite.”

With both hands, he beckoned for them to move closer so that he might speak more discreetly to them.

“This is just one of the escape shafts, or so they say. The main site is much deeper underground. Now, they have requested a demonstration of our techniques in combat. So far the Helions have been positive, but the others are treating us with, well, disdain is probably the correct word.”

“They think we’re primitives?” asked Gun angrily.

Rivers shook his head and started to walk back inside but making sure they followed him. The modest entrance opened out into a large L shaped room with ultra smooth walls. Four Helion officers stood in a line blocking their path.

“The politicians are doing their bit, but trust me, they need us a lot more than we need them. Rumors are spreading about these Biomechs, and it seems they are expecting something bad, and soon.”

Gun moved closer to the four soldiers and reached out to touch one. The warrior to the immediate right tried to block his hand with his feeble right arm. Gun barely noticed the interruption before he was making contact with the man’s shoulder. Gun looked back while keeping his hand on the Helion.

“These are the soldiers that beat the machines in battle?” he laughed with such violence that he caught the attention of every soul in the room.

“Apparently. Perhaps we’ll learn more inside?”

General Rivers moved off quickly, possibly embarrassed by the comments of Gun, or more likely that he wanted to see quite what these disparate aliens had to offer. As they moved through the end door, the room opened up in a vast underground complex. He’d expected tunnels and rooms, but the interior was almost like the surface of Helios. Great towers rose from the ground, and buildings could be seen as far as his eyes would let him.

“Very impressive,” said Teresa, reaching his side.

Praetor Darius, who until now had been silent, stepped behind them and pointed at the darkest building of them all. It was round and erupted out of the ground like half a cannonball. All around the structure were shattered buildings, ruins, and rubble.

“This is where we train for the Dark Days.”

Neither General Rivers nor the other Alliance representatives quite understood what she meant by this.

“The Dark Days, Praetor?

He turned and looked intently at Teresa.

“Yes, the Dark Days. It is a name we have for the eventual return of the Great Enemy. Though we are glad to meet your people, you have also announced the start of this period in our history. It will end with the Dark Days and billions will die.”

Teresa said nothing, now unsure as to what she could possibly add.

“If you come with me, I will introduce you to the contingents from each of the great Powers.”

He made to move and then looked back.

“I am a little confused. I know most of your officials are in discussion with our leadership. We did request that our group would send a military contingent for a demonstration and contest of arms. Where is yours?”

Teresa looked to Gun and Rivers, also looking for the answer.

General Rivers gave them all an amused smile.

“They are here, the two commanders of the 17
^th
Battalion.”

Praetor Darius did not look impressed.

“Two warriors?”

Gun started to laugh and quickly stopped himself when he saw the expression on Teresa’s face. He moved up to the Praetor and placed his great paw on his shoulder. It was easily the size of his head, and the look of fear was obvious on his face.

“Two is all we need.”

Praetor Darius turned and walked away, muttering something under his breath. Gun followed, but Teresa approached the General before joining the others.

“General, are you serious?”

He nodded but this time far more solemnly.

“Look, Teresa, we need to get involved with these people and fast. It’s clear they are weak and vulnerable. Unless we can influence them militarily, the Enemy could have the Black Rift and be on us in just a few years, maybe earlier. We have to fast track this to weeks or months, not decades.”

Teresa sighed.

“So we do this by sending in two old warriors to face the best they have to offer?”

Rivers nodded, and Teresa shook her head. She hurried her pace to catch up with Gun. Once there, he threw her a sideways glance.

“If Spartan were here, he’d do this all on his own!”

“I know,” she replied quietly, her thoughts now returning to her missing husband.

Many resisted the use of autonomous fighters in the Alliance Navy. With the introduction of the Hammerhead fighter, the Alliance found itself with three manned spacecraft able to operate in space and most atmospheres. Each model was strong, reliable, and capable of an array of missions. The Lightning MK II was the fastest and most agile fighter ever used whereas the Thunderbolt MK I was a first generation space superiority bomber. The Hammerhead finally added heavier weapons and a marine transport capability to give the Alliance navy a fighter suitable for all scenarios. It took the development of the X57 Avenger to finally prove that an unmanned fighter could match and finally surpass the achievements of the Lighting and Thunderbolt.

Robots in Space

Teresa was confused. The training arena was nothing like she had expected on Helios. Her initial impression had been the same as the rest of the Alliance delegation, one mixed with excitement and awe at the size, grandeur, and complexity of the urban sprawl that was Helion. From the great chamber where they had met, through to the land train stations and city spires, the entire world seemed to be an urban paradise. Teresa had seen no graffiti, crime, or problems of any kind. Just a fully functioning and efficient city of the like never seen on a human world. The descent to the lower levels that had been so badly scarred in the fighting with the machines had shown a very different part of the planet; one showing the suffering and destruction wrought in the last violent struggle.

It had taken almost twenty minutes to walk from the land train to the debris and rubble that surrounded the Helion barracks. There were a number of narrow maglev rail systems running through that part of the underground city, but the Helions seemed to want to take them on the scenic route that would show them a different part to their society. Teresa wasn’t quite sure if the impression they wanted to give was working though. All she saw was a place that looked as if it hadn’t changed in generations, perhaps much longer. This might have been out of respect for the past, but she suspected it was more likely to be a complete ambivalence to the needs of the military.

“They call this place the Helion Military Academy?” grumbled Gun.

Teresa agreed but was well aware the Helions were able to understand her, and that offending them was probably not the ideal move for her. She and Gun already had something of a reputation amongst the Alliance representatives there. In fact, she’d heard rumors of complaints they’d even been sent there. Without General Rivers, there would be little chance they would have even been allowed to stay in the star system itself.

I wonder why that might be,
she thought with a hidden smile.

Their arrival at the training arena was worse, much worse. Gun actually laughed at seeing what waited for them. Instead of large groups of fighters, there were actually just a dozen warriors from each of the other Powers. Further away in the distance were several groups of about fifty warriors, each clad in dull orange, and so dark it almost became scarlet in color. Behind them hung black cloaks that were attached at the shoulders. Their robes fitted closely, and their heads were completely covered, save for their eyes. On top of their heads were helmets that covered the entire head except the face below the eyes. All of these warriors were armed with either what looked like shields and maces or short rifles, and were practicing firing drill. What surprised Teresa the most was that one group was practicing unit based volley drills while the others engaged in vicious melee combat. It wasn’t so much the drill; it was the complete lack of noise. She looked over to Gun who seemed equally confused.

“Strange, I thought the Helions were not a military people."

“If they aren’t military, then who are these?”

They pushed on the last short distance to where the groups of warriors stood. They were already waiting, each upright and silent as they watched the small Alliance delegation approach. Teresa counted the five separate contingents and noticed the T’Kari were absent. The Helion Praetor nodded in a minimal fashion before speaking. The sounds made Teresa uncomfortable. She didn’t like it that an alien race had such an advantage over them in such a short time.

“These warriors have been selected by lot from our Narau Army.”

“Narau?” asked Teresa.

The Praetor nodded again.

“Yes, they are known as the Narau which means ‘five’ in the old tongue. This is the name also used for our fleet, the Narau Armada. We have no individual forces. We work together at the Narau for the common good,” he explained.

 
There was more than a hint of arrogance to his voice. He turned to face the groups, but Gun had questions. Instead of waiting, he walked to the side of the assembled warriors and pointed at the dull orange shapes in the distance.

“What about them? In your perfect Narau, why do you train your own army?”

None of the others could understand the great giant, but Teresa heard him well enough and cringed at his question. Praetor Darius seemed aghast, as though he had just inflicted a great insult upon them.

“They are the Animosh. They are for maintaining order through Helios and our colonies. They are not soldiers.”

The Praetor then turned back to the assembled soldiers and pointed at each of the groups, allowing just a short pause between them as he explained who each of them was. Gun was unimpressed, and as he spoke, he continued to glance at the strange Animosh warriors who continued to practice. Teresa noticed what he was doing and stepped alongside him to maintain the interest of the Preator. She whispered to him angrily.

“Gun, listen to him. We don’t want trouble…not yet.”

He listened, but Teresa was sure he was still keeping one eye on the Animosh. Teresa looked at the new soldiers and for the first time was able to gaze upon this mixture of alien races without feeling she was being rude. All wore armor, but the size, thickness, and quality varied considerably. The Khreenk were the ones that stuck out the most to her, with their mixture of armor. Some wore just helmets while one was armored from head to toe. The Byotai wore nothing but a small breastplate that fitted closely to their reptilian skin. Teresa could only assume their hides would help protect them in times of struggle. The Helions group stood in identical orange uniforms, and the shape of their armor could just be glimpsed underneath long flowing robes. Each wore a golden helm that looked almost plastic and which had nose and cheek guards to protect it. They finally stopped, and the Preator turned to speak to the Alliance delegation.

“As you can see, the Narau Army is varied, flexible, and reliable. In an emergency, we can draw upon the warriors of a hundred worlds to help us in any struggle. With the Black Rift so close, it is the duty of the Narau to be ever ready to rise up and defend this sector. If Helios were ever to fall, then every system, including yours, would be turned to ash.”

Gun looked at each of them and smiled crookedly.

“Why not place all of your forces at the Rift?”

The Praetor seemed to like that question.

“You do not know much of this enemy do you?”

Gun burst into laughter. Praetor Darius looked to General Rivers in confusion while Gun walked away and moved up to inspect the lines of warriors. He gazed over them while they looked at him. The humans were certainly strong and sturdy in comparison, and he found it amusing to look at their faces as he walked about. It made him feel superior.