Annals of the Keepers: War 267 (Book 1 in the Gashnee Saga) (16 page)

Data Cell 27

The acrid smell
assailed Lintorth’s nostrils. He was becoming far too familiar with the stench of close quarters’ combat with these humans. The smoke and odors filtered through the blackened and destroyed hallway towards landing pad seven.

Lintorth Sol was looking down the corridor at the littered bodies of sixty Kryth Mahr soldiers, all torn asunder.

He stepped over and around chunks of armor and flesh.

He halted at the mangled doorframe near the landing pad.

The inner walls, ceiling, and floor had been smashed inward with great force as two small craters marked the center of the doorframe. Pieces of armor, not Kryth, also lay strewn throughout the hallway. No doubt the remains of the armored enemies they were assailing, Lintorth thought.

Two against sixty, the unwelcomed thought entered Lintorth’s mind but did not surprise him.

He had seen a similar scene onboard Dalyth Point, all at the hands of these black armored warriors. A cost he knew had to be forfeited for the sake of the Domain. He just desired more of the enemy to lay here than that of his own.

The enemy at his feet had detonated themselves after a fierce firefight with numbers not in their favor. Drawing the Kryth in close, they assured their comrades’ survival with their sacrifice.

Lintorth felt a kindred spirit with such combatants.

His thought was interrupted.

A
stumble
sound came from behind. Voskal Lat floundered over the piles of Kryth bodies as he approached Lintorth. 

“I just arrived. Did we get them?” Voskal asked.

Lintorth just stood looking over the broken scattered armor of the Reavers.

Voskal wasn’t sure if Lintorth had heard him.

“What happened here?” he questioned again.

“Let this be a reminder to you, my friend. Our enemy is to be respected, as once again the many Kryth bodies attest to.”

“But we do have them on the run and Sontar did capture one,” Voskal replied.

“Do we have them on the run? I do wish I shared your enthusiasm, Voskal Lat. Sontar may have captured one, but there is no telling how many await the call of battle against us.”

Lintorth’s eyes narrowed. “We postponed the inevitable today. This battle was sparked by the recklessness of arrogant fools within the Domain, including those fortunate enough to be standing here being counted among the living.”

Voskal knew his place. This was not the time to question the events of things yet to come.

“The spy services are always at your disposal, Lintorth. We stand by at your request,” Voskal said.

Lintorth stared past the contorted door frame out into the darkness of night.

“I will call for you in Dranneous, my friend . . . when the time is right. Now go,” Lintorth ordered.

Voskal Lat nodded and returned down the hallway, overstepping the fallen.

Lintorth stepped outside onto the landing pad.

Through the darkness came a hooded black-robed figure. The individual approached and stopped before Lintorth.

“Have you done as I asked?” Lintorth questioned.

A female voice spoke, “I have. The tracking residue was placed on the humans’ ship docking port.”

“Now, can you do as you say, Kasaya?”

“Yes, I will be able to track the humans and lead you right to them.”

Lintorth smiled. “Your services are recognized by the Domain and most appreciated by myself. Find out where they hide and your future will rest by my side.”

The hooded figure nodded and turned, vanishing into the darkness from where she had appeared.

Lintorth turned and walked back off the pad, back through the charred remnants of the hallway.

He stopped at the sight of bodies around him. He knew what type of warrior these humans were. Vengeful ones.

These armored soldiers must have looked upon every engagement with the Kryth with extreme prejudice, a xenophobic cleansing of sorts, Lintorth thought.

For the Lore Archives had shed light on a mystery he now wished was a dream, a horrible nightmare to awaken from and be done with.

Lintorth surmised that for the last 267 moons the humans must have been planning their vindictive attack. He knew this all too well.

The Kryth were outmatched in each encounter, starting in Sol. The humans had been watching, learning about their enemy and peeking around every corner in every system for all those moons, waiting for the opportune moment to unleash their Retribution. This made them dangerous, for they had all those moons of intelligence on the Kryth.

Lintorth thought of this loss of time, for the Kryth had nothing except dead soldiers, lost military holdings, and unyielding questions.

Lintorth swore to himself.

He would never again be caught off-guard by the unknown. He would take the fight to this new enemy, and it would be he who would lead the Domain to their finest victory.             

Lintorth made his last few steps out of the ravaged hallway and around the corner; his crimson red cape flowed past and out of sight.

Data Cell 28

The sash was
drenched with many types of blood, not just Ramek’s this time, Kason thought.

Kason sat in the Reaver ready room holding the red regimental cloth in hand, now darkened with different hues of red.

Lying next to him were two other sashes, belonging to Reavers Markon, and Danik. Three sashes. Three lost Reavers and no knowledge of Jens or Ramek.

Kason glanced up at the four empty helmet posts in the room. Each adorned by each man’s unique mask.

How could this have happened? Kason questioned himself.

His anger, though subdued, was searing his heart.

His thoughts drifted from his Reavers to Nevlen, each turn of reflection bringing a final solution to his resentment of the man, while Alon’s memory added the final sinews of hatred.

Kason knew he would regret any action carried out against Nevlen, but it helped calm the disgust he now felt.

The thing that broke his thought was the beep of the coms system.

“Captain Bender, you’re requested on the bridge,” the computer voice said.

Kason was hollow inside.

He stood up, leaving Ramek’s sash alongside the others on the bench.

Before he exited, Alon once again entered his mind.

What would Alon do?

These losses are not acceptable. My friends are gone. I should have been there, and not allowed the shared missions with Nevlen’s team.

Kason cursed himself for this. This will not happen again.

Kason exited the ready room and walked down the causeway of banners.

He glanced up at the flag-adorned wall. There were more empty spaces than the four banners that hung there now. These Reaver’s flags are placed to remember the fallen. He knew whose flags would be placed there next.

Kason clenched his fist.

He brought to mind the person who should have a flag draped along this wall instead of his men.

He continued out the causeway exit and towards the bridge.

Data Cell 29

The three commanders
stood around the main bridge holo-projector.

Commander Parejas was in deep thought with his hand to his chin.

Commander Bossarios was looking down, not wanting to make eye contact with anyone, as Droe Temin stood with arms behind her back.

Kason approached and stood next to Droe. He did not look at Parejas or Nevlen.

The fore deck of the bridge was hushed and darkened except for the bright white saturation of hyper-space behind them through the windows. 

The last person to join the group on the platform was the new Keeper, previously under Alon’s tutelage, Tanus Rowmar.

Commander Parejas watched the Keeper approach his side.

Parejas knew each command ship carried two Keepers for historical recordings for the Annals. Alon wanted Tanus, even though he had not yet graduated from the Keeper Adytum, to be his co-worker.

The young Tanus would now replace Alon onboard the
Orion’s Rage
as the lead Keeper, Parejas thought.

A beep sounded over coms. “Incoming transmission from Mydian. Assemblyman Tallis waiting.”

Commander Parejas looked over his officers before acknowledging the system’s announcement. “System. . . display incoming transmission.”

The holo-projector came to life and the image of Mordon Tallis appeared.

Tallis did not hesitate, bypassing formal greetings and going straight for his question. “Commander Parejas. Are the reports coming from the conference true?”

“It depends on what reports you are referring to, Assemblyman,” Parejas said.

“Do not play games with me, Commander. I asked you a question and I expect a direct answer,” Tallis seethed.

“Specifically?” Parejas asked.

“The report stating that Captain Bender killed a Kryth soldier, causing chaos at the conference, which concluded in the deaths of four under your command, to include the Keeper, Alon Renske.” 

“The events, in general, are correct, Assemblyman.”

“In general nothing! Do you know what position this puts us in? You should, since you’re in the position you are in.” Tallis continued his tirade. “What type of reckless operation are you running here, Parejas? What kinds of soldiers react without thinking? I knew the Reavers were an abomination.”

Parejas’ posture began to change, as he took the verbal beatings coming from the Assemblyman personally.

“What kind of officer holds himself above all else instead of the exact people he is there to protect?” Tallis added.

Commander Parejas ended his rant. “Enough from you, Tallis!”

Each of his officers jumped back at Parejas’ shout.

The commander continued before Tallis could utter another word.

“No political figure head will preach to me military doctrine or how I command my operations. You can save your lectures for the Assembly and boot-licking bureaucrats, Tallis. There is no time to discuss fault or pass judgments until the context of facts are in order.”

Tallis attempted to interrupt the commander but to no avail. “And you will not speak to my men under my command in any manner. Do I make myself clear, Assemblyman?”

The exacerbated expression on Tallis’ face said it all.

The Assemblyman was obviously flustered and had trouble getting his response out, “It is. . . I. . . It is time to pass judgment. The Assembly has decided.”

“Another decision or Precept without my vote, Assemblyman?” Parejas asked.

“Captain Bender will be placed under arrest for misconduct and disobeying orders regarding Precept number four-four-two. When he returns, he will be placed on trial before the Assembly and tried for the crimes mentioned,” Tallis recited.

Kason jumped into the conversation. “You don’t have all the facts. If Commander Nevlen didn’t. . .”

Parejas grabbed Kason’s arm and stopped him.

Parejas looked Kason in the eye and shook his head, as to acknowledge that this was not the time or place for disorder.

Tallis’ eyes narrowed at the disobedient Reaver, “Well, Commander. What will it be?”

“What is the Assembly’s decision?” Parejas asked.

“Being under your command, I will place Captain Bender’s arrest in a neutral party’s possession, until your return to Janus.” Tallis paused, looking over everyone present. “Commander Bossarios, take charge of Captain Bender’s arrest.”

Nevlen stood stunned at the order.

Nevlen spoke. “Assemblyman, I don’t believe his arrest is warranted at this time. I see no reason to lock him up while on the
Orion’s Rage
. He is no threat to any of us.”

Tallis couldn’t wait to interject. “You will follow the orders I have given you by the Assembly, Commander. Take the prisoner and place him in confinement. I’ll be tracking your progress. Take Captain Bender into custody now, Commander!”

Nevlen looked over at Commander Parejas.

Parejas nodded to Nevlen, granting the order.

Nevlen sighed as he approached Kason’s side, “I regret with a heavy heart, I do not want to do this, Captain.”

“Do what you must,” Kason replied.

Kason looked over to Droe before turning and walking off the bridge with Nevlen.

Droe Temin spoke up. “Father, you don’t need to do this. Can’t this wait until our return home and the justice that due process affords him before the Assembly?” she pleaded.

“The Assembly has decided.” Tallis continued his cold tone, even to his own daughter.

Droe began to get angry, but, before she could say anything, Commander Parejas stepped forward and spoke for her. “Is there anything else, Assemblyman?” Parejas asked.

“That will be all, Commander, until your return to Mydian. I am sure you will be able to explain the actions of your crew to the Assembly, Commander?” Tallis questioned.

“I look forward to it.”

“As do I, Commander. There is one last item I would like to discuss. . .”

Tallis’ voice and image ended as the holo-monitor blinked out.

Parejas cut Tallis off, not wanting to hear another word until he was face to face with the man.

Parejas knew hollow words when he heard them. The security of distance would give any man a sense of bravado. He would see how much boldness Tallis had when Parejas was in the same Assembly room with him. Not much, he thought.

Droe asked to be dismissed, she exited the bridge.

Commander Parejas was now all alone with his thoughts. Besides the Keeper, Tanus, who stood next to him.

“Keeper, why don’t you give me a few minutes? I will call you back to the bridge when I am ready to update the Annals,” Parejas said.

The Keeper nodded, turning, he walked off the platform.

Parejas moved over to the front window to stare out into space. His mind was on Kason and the two missing Reavers.

Placing his arms behind his back, as he often did, Parejas thought over the events leading up to this fiasco.

He was responsible for his men’s actions and inactions alike, but he knew that political intervention could have grave consequences in military affairs.

Parejas could handle Tallis. It was Kason he was concerned about, as this would be on his mind until their return home.