Black Legion: 02 - Assault on Khorram (34 page)

“Just look at a ship and think about it. Look closer, issue orders, all with the mind.”

Clearchus looked at one of the Elamite battleships that had surrendered just an hour earlier. He looked to the aft weapon mounts, and they instantly filled the orb.

“Impressive.”

He stepped back out of the orb and looked to the four Dukas that had boarded the ship in the midst of battle. The nearest was Xenias, commander of the Arcadians, and the first to have made it inside. He stepped forward and grasped his forearm.

“Dukas Xenias, it is good, very good to see you. Your forces did excellent work here, and they are to be commended.”

The Dukas nodded in acknowledgement. Clearchus moved on to the next Dukas, continuing his visit to thank all of those involved for the turning point of the battle. As they continued their discussion, Xenophon and his friends watched the processions of senior figures but especially Clearchus and Cyrus. They had become more than just the men in charge of the campaign; they were larger than life characters, and the kind of people that would be written of in later annals of history. As they stood and waited patiently, Cyrus stopped and looked towards them. He stared for several seconds and then marched over and grabbed Artemas, pulling her to his body. He spoke excitedly but in the impossible to understand Medes dialect all the nobles seemed to use.

“What the hell?” said Glaucon, and perhaps little louder than he should.

The noise drew the attention of Clearchus who turned from the Dukas and marched over to Cyrus. He noted the Medes woman, but there were no signs of recognition from him.

“Who is this?” he asked politely.

Xenophon saluted and replied as quickly as he could.

“This is Lady Artemas, daughter of Lygdamis, one of the Median governors of the Ionian Territories. She has been assisting our operation to rejoin you. It was she that gained us access to the command centre of this ship,” he explained.

Cyrus turned to Clearchus; his expression had already turned from the disappointment of the battle to the pleasure at meeting Artemas.

“Strategos, let me introduce my niece, Artemas. I thought she had been lost when we lost contact with the territories.”

He turned back to her but continued in English.

“So you have been with the Legion from the start? I would never have guessed.”

He then looked to Xenophon and his small group.

“And who are these people, your friends?”

Artemas nodded and placed her hand on Xenophon’s shoulder.

“This is Xenophon, ex-Alliance soldier and leader of my personal bodyguard. These are his warriors.”

She moved along the line, stopping at each of them.

“Julius, commander of Dukas Xenias’ elite commandos, and if it were not for them, none of us would have survived the treachery of Tissaphernes.”

Clearchus looked surprised at the news of the Medes noble, but Cyrus seemed unperturbed by what she had to say. She then reached Glaucon who was still carrying his pulse-cannon.

“Glaucon, friend of Xenophon, a loyal soldier of the Terrans, and his right arm has protected all of us since we started our trip to rejoin the Legion.”

There were only two left, Roxana and Tamara. They were both filthy from the fighting, and Roxana had two sets of rough bandages on her wounds.

“Roxana, Alliance military, and is the wisest of them all. This one is Tamara, and she is the wolverine of the group.”

Tamara looked confused at the name, but Clearchus and Cyrus both laughed with amusement at the distinction.

“Well, my friends. It would appear we have much to discuss. We have your Titan, Tissaphernes, our current situation and the unresolved issue of your brother, Lord Cyrus.”

“Indeed, and I will join you shortly,” said the Medes noble. Clearchus returned to the Dukas, but Cyrus stayed with Artemas and her friends.

“I thank all of you for both your loyalty to the Legion and more importantly to me, for the protection of my niece. I would like to invite you all to dine with me this evening, on board the Valediction. I will arrange for my guard to make the arrangements.”

He nodded politely, then released his grip on Artemas and returned to Clearchus. Artemas turned and looked back to her comrades.

“Well, my friends, it would appear you have just made a new and powerful friend with my uncle. I suggest you get cleaned up before he calls for you.”

Glaucon moved up to Xenophon and grasped his shoulder.

“See, I told you it was a smart move to stay with the Legion. If we’d gone back home like you wanted, we’d probably still be rotting in a prison cell.”

Roxana and Tamara moved closer to Artemas, both of them with surprised looks on their faces. Tamara seemed to have brightened up, but none could tell if it was down to their survival, their new found friends or just the aftermath of blood and carnage.

“So Cyrus is your uncle?” asked Tamara.

Artemas nodded quickly.

“My family have been in hiding since the troubles on the border. Family politics is complicated. Let’s just say it is safer for us to be hidden but close to our friends and Uncle Cyrus.”

Roxana smiled and nodded in understanding, the situation was now starting to reconcile in her head.

“Hence there being a number of your family in the fleet. So are you really Imperial Agents, then, or Royal stowaways?”

Artemas simply smiled at them all.

“That is mere semantics.”

Julius, the newest member of their circle nodded towards the assembled spatharii who were waiting patiently to be allowed to continue with their work. Most were talking amongst themselves, but not one dared to move away until given the word by their superiors. Clearchus turned from the waiting Dukas and looked to the warriors. He lifted both of his hands, the small bandage still showing on his left hand.

“You have all done outstanding work. Until we have established the whereabouts of the renegade Artaxerxes, we will stay in this sector and consolidate. You have all earned yourselves a good rest. You shall have a week’s dispensation while we repair, rebuild and reconnoitre this area. I will ensure a number of the stations are made available to you for some well needed R&R!”

The assembled warriors cheered in pleasure at the news. In truth, he needed the time to repair the fleet, take on supplies and integrate the scores of newly captured ships into his fleet. Cyrus nodded at his short statement and leaned closer to speak quietly into his ear.

“A good plan, and with this defeat, we may well find the regional satraps begging to join my forces. He may fall without even another fight!”

Clearchus smiled back, but deep down he knew full well that no tyrant would give up his position so easily. Artaxerxes had been beaten this time, but he had an empire of billions and unimaginable resources with which to fight. He looked at the warriors around him, the captured battleship and then to Artemas and her group of Terran friends. He pondered the future, and it filled with dread.

He will be back, and next time I suspect the battle will be like no other in history.

Andronicus

One of the senior commanders of the ground troops in the Arcadian contingent. He played a minor part in the action at Cilicia and was involved in the debacle of the Olympia.

Ariaeus

Median general and Cyrus’ second in command. The young rival of Tissaphernes but powerful and ambitious. He commanded a fleet that was double the size of the Legion as well as over 20,000 automaton stratiotes. Famous for leading a series of revolts in the border lands against central Median control. He was a loyal friend of Cyrus but never fully trusted by the Terrans.

Artaxerxes (Emperor of the Medes)

The half brother of Lord Cyrus and leader of the most powerful empire in the known universe. Artaxerxes was a shrewd tactician and ruthless in ambition. His personal fortune and Royal Fleet were the envy of every Terran world.

Artemis (Komes)

Commander of the elite Epilektoi unit station on the Titan Valediction. Close friend of Kleandridas and famous for taking the Alliance battle standard at Aegospotami. One of the most experienced junior officers in the Legion.

Clearchus

The supreme commander or Strategos of the Black Legion. A famed Laconian commander that had been exiled shortly before the Legion was assembled. He retained many contacts in Laconia and on a dozen Terran worlds and was the man responsible for eliciting the use of four state-owned titans for the campaign.

Artemas of Caria

The beautiful daughter of Lygdamis, one of the Median governors of the independent Ionian Territories.

Cyrus

Half-brother of the Emperor. Tall for a Imperial but still lithe and quick. Lived in self-imposed exile following the death of his father, rather than risk the wrath of his power-hungry brother Artaxerxes. Secretly arranged for groups of mercenaries to mass at the Cilician Gates. Their mission was the usurpation of the Emperor himself.

Crixus

Laconian politician and former general. Leader of the Thirty Tyrants on Attica during the occupation and considered both a hero on his home world and a tyrant on Attica.

Erika Montoya

A Terran politician on the planet Attica. After decades of service for the state she became of the Thirty. One of the few official to survive the pogrom following the reinstatement of democracy. Rumoured to have business dealings with the Laconians and born into one of the richest estates in the Alliance.

Ezekiel Manus

The Kybernetes of the Black Legion cruiser Vendetta, who took over command of the ship following the death of the kentarchos.

Julius (Dekarchos)

Dekarchos of the elite 6
^th
Spatharios onboard the Arcadian Titan Olympia. Assisted in the evacuation following the disaster and commended for bravery under fire.

Glaucon

Friend of Xenophon. A playboy from a one of the richest families on Attica. Strong democrat, escapes with Xenophon after being accused of helping one of the collaborators.

Gryllus

Xenophon’s father, murdered on Attica. Member of the Thirty but fought publically for citizens of Attica. Considered a hero after being murdered by Xenophon. In reality killed by Montoya and her henchman.

Kleandridas

One of the two topoteretes of the Ten Thousand, deputy commanders of the Armada and close friends of Clearchus. He was from a poor mining family that were killed during the Mining Revolt, a famous event in Arcadian history. There were later rumours that the revolt was staged by the Medes under the command of Ariaeus.

Pasion (Komes)

Commander of the Night Blades. A strong supporter of Dukas Xenias and one of the first Terran officers to be involved in the fighting at the Cilician Gates. Quick to anger and very distrustful of the Medes he was also an expert in the use of heavy weapons and explosives.

Pleistoanax

One of the two topoteretes of the Ten Thousand, deputy commanders of the armada. He oversaw the operation at the Cilician gates while Clearchus and Kleandridas commanded the operation from the ground. An outstanding officer and the best in his class at the Arcadian Army Academy. Considered by many to be the finest tactician in the fleet. He might have even made it as commander of the Legion if it were not for his infamous womanising.