The Icarian Legacy Collected Edition: Brave Souls - First Strike (Volume 3) (91 page)

He knew of the respect the dacarians had for these creatures. He often wondered of the reason for that. He knew some stories that were told of ancient times, times when the empire was young. And even before that, when the demonic Farsians ruled over his people. They spoke of the humans as great opponents, powerful enemies that almost destroyed the empire.

But as he watched them he only saw weak creatures. They were no match for his race in physical combat, nor were they good hunters. They were good warriors but his people exceeded them even in that. All they were good for was food. The dacarians might not be willing to eat them but his race had no trouble doing that.

He noticed them looking back defiantly. He smiled.

“Slaughter them and prepare them for food.”

As he watched one young human looking at him he looked at one of the soldiers.

“Eat that one row and while he is alive. Let them know what they are good for. They are food nothing else.”

The soldier smiled and turned to several others. He gave the order and they went towards the prisoners.

The humans didn’t stand back and showed no fear as the soldiers entered. When they grabbed the young human he came without struggle.

When they dragged him outside six soldiers surrounded him.

Before he could understand what was happening they tore in to him with their claws and teeth and started tearing pieces of meat. The human screamed and tried to resist but he was powerless. In just moments all that he could hear was his constant screaming. And after several minutes even that stopped. He noticed the fear in the prisoners after this, and the anguish.

“Yes fear us, fear us because you’re only cattle for us.”

As that thought crossed his mind other soldiers started grabbing other humans and Illians and taking them away to be killed and prepared. This time they did try to resist but it was futile.

“Tonight we celebrate and feast. Tomorrow we go in to battle.”

The commanders of the five divisions were all inside. They stood up and saluted as he came in.

“General.”

He just nodded.

“Are the troops in position?”

“Yes general, they are all taking their final positions as we speak. I excluded one brigade of my troops to attack a forward base that is located about twenty five guraks from their line.”

He looked at the experienced commander who said that.

“Molok Sak, why is it that that has not been taken care of until now?”

“We only received information about it few hours ago. It seems that the legions bypassed it. It is located in a sector towards which they are still advancing. From what we were told they suffered serious casualties in attacks from some rebel commando unit.”

“How serious losses are we speaking?”

“Three full cohorts my lord.”

He was surprised by the number.

“Eighteen hundred legionaries is a serious loss. Are you sure that one brigade will be enough?”

“We are not sure that that unit is still there, but even if they are we are better suited for fighting in this jungle. I placed my best brigade. And have two battalions that will act as support. Between them and the five cohorts of dacarian troops that are advancing there I don’t think we have much to worry about. If they run in to us they will be destroyed just like all else that resists us in this jungle.”

Ahura nodded. He expected that kind of answer.

“Very well…It is your front so you have the best view of it.”

He stood up and pointed at the map that showed their positions.

“From what the dacarians shared with us the line is well defended and fortified. It is several miles deep, littered with trenches, bunkers and mine fields. They also have some shield equipment which means that even with the bombardment from the artillery that will commence tomorrow morning some fortifications will survive. We attack tomorrow evening. We will try a night attack to test their defenses and start the real offensive the next day.”

“What happens if the defenses prove to be too strong to be broken with frontal assault?”

“We were promised support from orbit. If the line proves too strong we will call in orbital bombardment. I don’t plan to waste the lives of my troops. The dacarians may be our masters but we are still their vassals and allies. We will use all that they give us.”

They nodded.

The discussion continued until the food was delivered. 

The feast on the prisoners started then.

It was a good start of the mission for the Argara.

Ellis indicated a stop sign as they heard the thunder of the guns. They all knew what that meant. It was lasting for hours now. It started in the morning and even now eight hours later it was still going. The noise was deafening.

He could see the fear in the faces of the civilians but there was nothing they could do.

He looked at Dickens who was next to him.

“It’s going for eight hours now. What do you think when will it stop?”

“Probably the moment their troops are in their final positions for the attack. I don’t think we have to much time John.”

They both turned to the civilians that were walking with them.

As they watched Atkins and his team returned.

“We are ten miles from the base. It still has troops inside. Not a large number but those that are there are there to stay. They are digging in.”

“Is there any sign that they are targeting them?”

“None so far, compared with what is happening all across the line its quiet here. Hate to say it boss but the shit is about to hit the fan. The sooner we ditch them the better for us.”

As Ellis made a grimace Atkins looked at him.

“John I hate it as much as you do. But we will never make it out if we drag them with us. We got them this far. We noticed some vehicles in the base. Let’s hope that they will be able to transport them to safety. This is the right move and you know it.”

Ellis nodded. No matter how much he hated it what Atkins said was true. The only way they could extract themselves from this situation was if they got rid of the civilians.

He looked at them. Some of them were warriors but most were women and children. The men would fight but he wondered how good that would bring. If they stayed in the base it would be a death sentence. But it was the only choice.

He waited as the group progressed until Kelley reached him.

From the grim face of his commander he knew that he knew the situation.

“We have to do it James.”

Kelley exhaled.

“I know, I know.”

“If it’s any consolation we took them this far. We saved them. Maybe not all of them but some will survive.”

They both looked at the group as it moved forward. The progress was slow but steady.

“Atkins says its ten miles to the camp but I doubt that they will make it tonight. He says that there is a small valley two miles ahead. I think that we should stop there and rest for couple of hours. Tomorrow we take them there and say our goodbyes.”

Ellis nodded. It was a good plan.

“I’ll tell him to go ahead and set up a camp.”

Kelley nodded and as Ellis moved forward he went to look for Arnes.

As the Illian saw him he stopped. So did his companions.

“You bring grave news.”

Kelley was taken back by his comment.

“What? What makes you think that?”

“The look on your face, and what we’ve being hearing the last few hours. We know what it means. The offensive has started.”

“Yes Arnes but the news I have are not bad. They’re just making me uneasy.”

“Why?”

“The base camp is about half a day journey from here, ten miles. And we will reach it tomorrow.”

“That is good news James. If the base is not attacked yet, then it will be a good place to rest and then carry on with your journey, without the civilians.”

Kelley nodded.

“You know as well as me Arnes that the attack will come if not tomorrow then the day after that. And you can’t be sure that they will be able to transport you all.”

Arnes looked at the human. It was strange to see that he felt guilt about what he had to do, even if it was the right thing to do.

“Lieutenant Kelley if it is our destiny to die there that is a destiny we will gladly embrace. We all know what is in store for us. You and your men are proof that maybe our children will have something better. Before these last few weeks we didn’t have hope. You gave us that. And that James is more than you can imagine. So don’t feel guilt. If we die we will die free.”

Kelley watched the Illian as he spoke. In his eyes he saw that he meant every word he said.

“You’re a good friend Arnes.”

“And so are you James.”

They stayed like that for several moments. Then they both turned and continued walking.

They reached the camp site three hours later. It was already night.

The group spread out everyone looking for a place to sit and lie down.

Rhodes and his team took first watch. They spread out taking positions around the camp that gave good covering positions and open fields of fire.

Kelley and the rest of the soldiers took the break to eat and rest.

The night went by fast. The last watch was for Atkins and his team. As Kelley and the others rose they noticed that the rest of the civilians were already up and starting to prepare to move.

Kelley looked at the perimeter. The morning mist covered most of the view, but all seemed quiet, a little to quiet.

He exchanged view with Ellis.

“Zi I want you to keep an eye out for anything that looks suspicious. Something’s wrong.”

The reply came in a single tic of the snipers radio.

“Tell everyone to move as fast as they can.”

“All teams lay low and spread out something doesn’t look right.”

At his command Gamma and his own team spread out taking flanking positions around Delta.

Kelley turned and noticed Arnes watching them. He could see that he didn’t understand.

He signaled him to stay quiet and to tell his men to move.

Ellis noticed Kelley signaling him and went to Arnes.

“Tell your people to stay low and move. The warriors need to keep the rear guard.”

Arnes nodded and signaled his own men. They started moving almost immediately.

Ellis saw that Kelley and the other teams were all moving back slowly while Rupert remained upfront covering them and keeping constant watch for any movement.

As the group started moving back he noticed Rupert raising his hand.

Ellis immediately signaled for everyone to stay low.

Rupert watched carefully as there was movement upfront.

A moment later he noticed several morakul’s pass by. They were similar animals to the deer’s back on Earth only a smaller version. They passed by him without showing any reaction but he could notice urgness in their movement.

He smiled.

“Just some morakul’s boss, sorry for scaring you.”

He was about to move when he felt laser hit in his left shoulder. He could feel that it hit him above the protection plate. The pain hit him instantly.

“Sniper two o’clock.”

As soon as he said these words all three teams spread out and stayed low. The other five snipers immediately started scanning the trees for any concealed snipers.

Ellis turned to Arnes.

“Move!!! Everyone move!!!”

That got an instant reaction.

“I have him.”

The comment came from Erikson.

As Erikson opened fire Fly saw the same creature he was looking at.

“What the fuck is that?”

He noticed Rabbit looking at him.

“A big wolf?”

Burak watched as his sniper took down the first human. The human was still alive but he was incapacitated.

The rest of the humans and the Illians spread out immediately and he was sure they would be trying to find the sniper. He smiled at the thought there was no chance for that, not in this mist.

He was surprised by the fast reaction of the humans. They wore strange clothes. And the weapons looked unfamiliar. He would have to check them once the battle is over.

He was about to give the order when he heard a strange pop in the distance. A second later the snipers head exploded. A minute later three more of his men fell down.

“How could they see us?”

He turned to his second in command and gave the signal for attack.

His troops started moving forward.

“Here they come.”

“They will hit the mine field in one minute sir.”

Kelley looked at Smith and nodded.

They were all well covered.