Interfactional IC story

[Googlie]

Major Maniac was furious.

He stormed into the Command Center where Lieutenant-Colonel Googlie was studying the latest situational holovids, and rapped his command baton sharply on the table, attracting the Lieutenant-Colonel's attention.

"What is the meaning of this ..... outrage" he demanded. "Demoted, given the ceremonial title of Curator of the Military Museum? Have you gone mad?"

Googlie looked up speculatively.

"Sauce for the Gander, eh? Major"

"What the hell's that supposed to mean?" demanded the Major.

"Ah, what a short memory we have, do we not?" Googlie murmured. "Remember, dear Major, that when my Morgan initiative was shot down by the Junta you were quick to force a demotion on me - to Staff Sergeant, even, as I recall. Be thankful, after the fiasco of your so-called Manifesto which your bedmates the Gaians shot down, that you are still a Major. Now, if you don't mind, I'm somewhat busy. Don't you have some manoeuvers that you are supposed to be on?"

Major Maniac looked frostily at the Lieutenant Colonel.

"Oh, yes," he replied. "I certainly do."

He turned on his heels and left.

*************************************************

"But, sir, isn't that tantamount to mutiny?" asked Raoul, the acknowleded prototypical Spartan Kel - that group of soldiers recruited largely from the Laconian province which comprised Santiago Citadel and Gythium Harbour. They were the under Major Maniac's direct command - and known as the Kel - Killer Elite Laconians - armed with the latest in impact weaponry.

"Not at all," replied the Major. "I'm still co-chair with Googlie, and rank really means nothing. It's power that counts. He's in the Command Center at Citadel, and I'm here - with you - at Sparta Command. Let's go."

The two guardsmen lounged at ease - yet still vigilant - by the doors of the Embassy, then snapped to attention as they saw the platoon approaching.

"Bloody hell," said one - "it's Maniac. And he's got a bodyguard of those friggin Kel's, too"

The Major stepped up to them.

"Fire the locks" he commanded.

"I can't do that, Sir," one replied. "Captain Rynn's orders."

"Oh, it's Captain now, is it? The Lieutenant Colonel wasted no time, did he?"

"Major...... Sir?" asked the trooper.

"Never mind - step aside. Raoul"

The hulking Kel unslung his weapon and levelled it at the lock on the Embassy door. One round was sufficient as the 10 mm caseless kinetic energy blast blew the lock like confetti in a breeze.

Major Manic reached for the notice and ripped it from the door, and turned to the two troopers:

"This Embassy is again open for business. And it's Lieutenant-Colonel to you, trooper. Raoul - secure the building"

*************************************************

The Junta met later that evening. Lieutenant-Colonel Googlie had arrived from Citadel, and Major Kassiopeia was back from his diplomatic mission. Captain Snoddasmannen sat with Googlie, but across the table sat Caoptain Zeiter and Kapitan KrysiasKrusader, both firmly in the Maniac camp. Captain Primus Pilus was present by holovid, and it looked for a time that his vote would be crucial.

But after discussion, matters reahced a conclusion.

"Very well," Lieutenant=Colonel Googlie assented. "You have made your points. I agree with the re-opening of the Gaian Union Embassy. I agree with your re-instatement as Lieutenant-Colonel. I agree with the changes to the bases' build orders and worker reallocations. Now call off your hounds and let's get down to business".

Lieutenant-Colonel Maniac looked to the door, where Raoul stood impassively.

"You may stand your men down, Lieutenant," he said.

Lieutenant Raoul relaxed, and then barked the order:

"Spartan Kel, withdraw to barracks"

The platoon of Impact Infantrymen, who had been ringing the walls of the Junta council room, turned and filed out.

As the doors closed, Googlie was heard to murmer:

"Ah, yes. The Reichstag precedent."

[Googlie]

Our Little Secret

Rynn reached over for the flask, then tilted her head back and took a swig. Tepid tea, with just the remnants of the treated-fungus aftertaste of ginger. 'A slug of xenorum would go down well', she though, and sighed. The creed of the Spartan Kel had no place for alcohol, drugs or other stimulants. She passed the flask back to Raoul.

They were sitting on a grassy knoll at the summit of Gunrunner Peak, at the headwaters of the Creek, and the exercises were finished. Captain Rynn's fledgling division - slated to man the Rolling Thunder II units when they rolled off SNC Pegasus - had performed reasonably well against the Kel division, given that the training rovers were dilapidated and also that the Kel had been instructed to leave some defensive gaps that could be exploited by the rookies as well as to retreat if the simulations predicted that the (imaginary) impact weapons in the attackers hands would yield unacceptable casualties.

The exercises had been set up by Lt-Col Googlie, who’d no doubt thought it “cute” to have the 2 divisions pitted against each other. He’d know of the animosity when the Kels had stormed the Gaian Embassy, humiliating Captain Rynns’ forces on garrison duty there and had naturally assumed that there was no love lost between the two commanders.

"Tour troops did well," Raoul muttered - "and you're a strong commander"

Rynn flushed. She was warming to this taciturn giant of a man.

"Thanks," she replied, smiling shyly. Then she grew more serious, and, leaning forward, laid a hand on his arm. "Can I ask you a personal question?" she said.

He nodded, squirming inwardly. He suspected he knew what was coming. It always did. She'd want to know if the rumours were true. Did the Kel trainee really have to kill a fellow trainee soldier in unarmed hand to hand combat to be accepted into the Division? The answer was, 'of course not', but the rumour was worth perpetuating, as it lent an aura of mystique to the Division. He braced himself for her question.

"Let me give you some background first," she began.

Raoul relaxed. This was different. He smiled down at Rynn, as she looked so earnest, her brow furrowed in concentration as she wondered where to begin. Absent mindedly she swatted away a strand of hair that fell over her face, only to return when she removed her hand.

He reached over with the corner of his sleeve and wiped away the remnants of some camouflage from her cheek. “Take your time,” he said.

“It was a couple of years ago,” she began,” when I was still in the military hospital. I was having the psi-nightmares so was heavily medicated in the evenings to promote sleep, so I was just vaguely aware of my surroundings – of other patients in the nearby cubicles, the medical staff, and so on.. There was one soldier who got visited every night for renewal of medication and monitoring – I think it was on life support – seemed to have been there for some time, anyway.

“Well, I was trying to wean myself off the medications, so one night I hadn’t taken any and was lying awake, trying desperately not to fall asleep lest the nightmares began. Anyway, all of a sudden the seemingly brain-dead patient sat upright, and swung his legs over the cot, pulling the tubes and sensors and wires from his nose and chest. Meanwhile the alarm claxons started ringing and I could see overhead that the monitors were flashing like crazy.

“So he tries to stand up, but doesn’t have the strength to do so, so sits back down on the bed, and croaks something out – obviously hadn’t spoken for years, so the voice was raw and rasping.

“Then he repeated it, and it sent a chill through me.

“I need some help here” the voice said.

“Raoul, I tell you, it was the Colonel.”

Raoul did a double-take. “Are you sure?” he asked.

“Of course,” Rynn replied. “Listen up, there’s more.

“A medic came rushing in, followed by the Head of Scientific Research, Dr Bonaventura. I knew him because he’d been working on me to try to find out how I’d survived the massed mindworm attacks. Anyway, they went to the Colonel, and sedated her, and I heard him say “Colonel, it’s all right. You’re having a bad dream. Here, this’ll help” and then the medic held her while the Doctor injected her with something.

“Then the Doctor said to the medic ”Hook her up again, I’ll be right back” and as the medic was reconnecting the sensor pads, wires and tunes and so on, the Doctor cam back.

“From under the bedsheets I saw him reach up to the monitors, and extract a recording crystal, then replace it with another. Suddenly the frenetic activity that had been displayed on the screens stopped, and in its place was what I’d been seeing for a couple of years – an almost flatline punctuated by a periodic life-support blip.

“Raoul ……….. the Colonel’s not in a coma. She’s not on life support until better medicine is researched. She’s alive and well and under constant sedation to keep her out of the way.

“Why, Raoul, why? On who’s orders? Which of the Lieutenant-Colonels? Googlie? Or Maniac? They’re the ones to stand to gain if she’s out of the way”

The Spartan Kel put his arm around Rynn’s shoulders and drew her to him.

“Rynn, there’s a few things you don’t know about yet. I don’t know for sure, but I hear whispered conversations, see - and have often stood guard – at private meetings, and I see things.

“This is a key time for our faction. We need to build alliances, trade technologies, explore – and, yes, maybe even conquer another faction or two like you’ll be doing when Rolling Thunder II joins the University invasion force. Diplomacy isn’t the Colonel’s strong suit. She’s much more of a straight-ahead leader, and no doubt, had she been in charge, we’d be at war with the Hive and Morgan Industries by now. So the Lieutenant-Colonels have conspired to keep her out of the way for the next few years, until our victory is assured.”

“Conspired?” Rynn spluttered. “But they dislike each other intensely.”

“All a façade,” Raoul replied. “There is no Morgan or Gaian wing in the Junta. They are the best of friends and have the interests of the Federation at heart.”

Rynn gulped. “So that little show of force at the Junta meeting last month was just a charade?

“Right,” answered Raoul. “Maniac and Googlie had worked out in advance exactly what was going to happen.”

“But why?” she asked.

“You’ve got me there,” he replied. “I’m guessing it was in the knowledge that a report of the doings would eventually find its way into Gaian and Morgan hands, and might influence their thinking towards us. It’s not the sort of thing that Colonel Santiago would have thought of – or done, even if she had. That’s why the two of them have kept her out of the way.

“But that’s their little secret. And now ours too. You realize that I’ll have to kill you if you tell anyone?”

She looked up at him, and saw the smile creases at the sides of his mouth, the twinkle in his eyes. As she pushed him on his back in the grass, then stretched out beside him, she thought ‘And it’s not the only little secret we have, either’

[Maniac]

Speech in the Officer's Mess by Lt-Colonel Pedro 'Maniac' Riveira, Commanding Officer of the Spartan Kel
Mission Date 21511208, on board of the SNC Mercury before the coasts of University Base


My Brothers in Arms,

After months of military planning and preparation the day has finally arrived to begin our long expected invasion of University territory. When we complete this operation succesfully, as I am confident we will, Sparta will usher into a new era of glory.

There most likely will arise difficulties on the road though. Our successes will cause envy with the other factions, and they will try to oppose us by all means available: Call together planetary council sessions, threaten with economic sanctions, turn their propaganda machines against us to convince their population we are the bad guys. And so on. Some factions may do so simply because they want to check our rise to power. Others because they truly believe in the possibility of a peaceful and harmonic world of independent sovereign states.

Fools they are! These obviously have not learned the lessons of history, and lack insight in human nature. Due to people's - and by extension states' - differing thoughts, beliefs and desires, conflicting interests will always exist within the human race. Likewise people and states will always try to enforce their will and their version of the truth on other people. Men has fought men from the beginning of time. Why would the future be different?

So we must not kid ourselves: conflict is, alas, inevitable on Chiron. Such conflict may not necessarily take the form of an outright military conflict: economic supremacy and cutthroat competition, or cultural imperialism are also possibilities. But the result for our society are the same as what a military defeat would cause: we gradually loose control over our own destiny and identity. After all, Sparta is more than a state: it is a way of life. This is why economic and cultural imperialism are just as well a cause for war as outright military agression is: the stakes are the same, and the choice simple: dominate or be dominated! Kill, or be killed!

That is why we have chosen to go to war against the University. The Merchant Exchange has only been constructed a year ago, and already the University is flooding our markets with their cheap and decadent products. Already our Helots are being corrupted by their cultural and economic imperialism. If we don’t defend ourselves, it would only be a matter of time before we were forced to become minions of Zakharov's brutal amoral society. So as horrible as this war may become, always keep in mind it is necessary evil to maintain our freedom. We must act before it is too late, fight for our way of life, fight for our values!

Our future depends on you all, brave officers. Go forth, and make Sparta proud of you!

[Googlie]

The Invasion - Chapter 1

“Steady ………….. steady,” Captain Modo muttered as he gazed into the screen in front of him. It was showing the sonar display as the transport ship, The Mercury nudged her way closer inshore in the bay at University Base.

Captain Modo was impressed. Earlier in the journey from Vladivostok the encrypted package had come over his secure ship’s commlink and he’d downloaded and installed the new programs that emanated from the just completed Maritime Control Center. He was impressed.

“Hold it …..”,- the huge Wassermann fission engines grumbled as the engineers fought to slow momentum, then the Mercury shuddered as the forward keel made contact with the ocean floor.

“Deploy now!” Captain Modo commanded as the servos took up the refrain, lowering the forward Ro-Ro landing ramps for roll-on roll-off rapid vehicle deployment.

He brought his cuff to his mouth and activated the commlink: “All yours, Major”, looking over the rail from the Command cabin to the vehicles massed on the deck below, and signalling a thumbs-up to the Major commanding the first wave assault.

Major Kassiopiea looked up and acknowledged the signal, then turned to his men.

“Let’s roll,” he said. “you know the 1st Army Division’s motto – Follow me!”

Their engines hummed to life, the whine of their fission
powered engines building up to a crescendo as the eighteen Impact Speeders of the Shinsengumi Brigade engaged their drives and exited the Mercury onto the beaches below University Base.

They’d gone over this countless times on the journey over from Valdivostok. While their mechanics and engineers had been busy fussing with the Brigade’s upgrade kits – converting the basic Rovers to Impact Speeders, calibrating and testing the new weapons, and leaning heavily on the experiences and advice from the Sparta Kel, who had been the first Brigade entrusted with the revolutionary Impact weaponry, the staff officers had been planning the assault.

The Major recalled the invasion plan that the Colonels had presented him with a few days ago, after identifying the Shinsengumi Brigade as the lead assault group, and after analyzing the latest Crypteia information from Lt Colonel Googlie’s covert operations agents.. “Your key is their command structure that’s housed in the same complex as their Rec commons. Likely you’ll need to destroy the Commons, but try to keep collateral damage to the minimum. If possible, spare the Childrens’ Creche and the Holotheater. They have 3 units of brigade strength, one of them just commissioned and with Impact weapons, so expect heavy fighting and expect casualties”

The Brigade rolled up the road towards University Base at their maximum spped of just over 100 clicks per hour. Although early in the morning some workers were already out working the forests and the farms to the side of the highway, and waved happily at the advancing Brigade.

“Fools,” thought the Major. “They get their mindless entertainment from their network nodes, and believe that’s reality.” It put him in mind of the old pre-holovid tapes he’d seen – something called The Matrix if he recalled correctly. He wasn’t sure what was the worse of the 2 evils – the mind-numbing tedium of the University entertainment and ‘educational’ programming, or the hedonistic pursuits of the Morgan Corporation. Ah, what it was to be Spartan!!

They were approaching the go/nogo decision point. One last check. Major Kassiopeia muttered into his cuff commlink, on the secure circuit back to the Command Nexus where the Colonels were waiting anxiously:

“Last check, Sirs. Do we now break treaty?”

“Confirmed,” came the terse reply from Lieutenant-Colonel Maniac. “It’s a Go. I repeat, it’s a Go”

The Major turned to look at his men, their Impact Speeders fanning out beside him on the thoroughfare into University Base. He moved his arm forward, and gave the command:

“Follow me”

[Googlie]

The Invasion - Chapter 2

“Sir, wake up. Wake up, Sir!” the aide beseeched as he roughly shook the sleeping form.

Groggily, Prokhor stirred and opened one eye, glaring at his aide.

“What the hell?” he asked. What time is it?”

“Sir, it’s just after dawn, and we’re being attacked”

“Pesky mindworm,” Zakharov muttered as he swung his legs from the cot, feeling for his slippers with his feet. “I thought we’d almost destroyed it?”

“No, Sir ………. Not the mindworm. They’re armored vehicles, moving down the highway from the beach properties. First reports say they’re flying the Spartan Federation standard”

“Can’t be,” Zakharov muttered as he slipped on his dressing gown. “I spoke with their Lt Colonel Googlie just yesterday – we exchanged technology blueprints. It must be Yang flying the Spartan flag as a ruse. But that can’t be either – I just traded with him as well – got Optical Computers specifications from him”

Just then, a resounding blast rocked the Provost’s private chambers, suddenly bringing him to his senses.

“You’re right,” he said to Mikael, his aide. “These aren’t just exercises. Send out the battle Ogres – they’ll teach them a lesson and wipe that superiority smile from their smug faces”

“Sir ………. “ Mikael began hesitantly.

“Yes. Yes, what?” the provost asked impatiently.

"They’re on maneuvers, Sir. In the interior. A thousand kilometers away”

Zakharov cursed.

“On whose orders? And why wasn’t I informed?”

“But you were sir,” answered Mikael. “A few weeks ago. You airily waved an arm and said ‘whatever’ – the officers are muttering that you’re so besotted with your research that you’ve totally ignored our military and especially our defenses.”

Zakharov glowered at him, then cowered as another blast shook the building.

“Sir, we’d better get out of here. It looks like they’re targeting the Headquarters and the civilian government in the Rec Commons complax

“You’re right,” replied Prokhor. “Let’s get our asses over to the Holotheater and the civilian base management – at least they have bunkers there for protection from anticipated drone riots”

They went down the elevators, crammed with staff who apparently had the same idea, and were met at the Holotheater by Academician Federov, the head of Scientific research.

“Prokhor” …………. “Gregor” ….. both men greeted one another.

“It’s a sad day,” Federov said. “And, Prokhor, I think we need to vacate the HQ here. I have reports from the field that another Spartan brigade has landed, and their transportation flotilla is still crammed with troops as far as our observers can tell. I can’t see us holding the base here for very long, and your safety is paramount.”

Zakharov looked at his friend of many years. Gregor didn’t panic lightly, but was on the verge of it now.

“You’re right,” Prokhor said, then muttered into his wristband communicator. “I’m having our command vehicle readied now – bring two key staff and we’ll head for Monitoring Station.”

Federov motioned to Nataliya, his key associate whom he was grooming as his successor, and for Pavel, the brilliant researcher who was doing the pioneering work on their new goal of Intellectual Integrity.

As they entered the command vehicle, the kinetic energy releases from the particle impactor blasts rocked the base, and they watched in horror as the Headquarters Building collapsed behind them, followed shortly therafter by the Recreation Commons collapse.

“Sir,” Mikael said, as he listened to the reports coming over his commlink. “The newly commissioned Impact Squad has been totally destroyed and their second Brigade is now within the base suburbs. We shouldn’t hang around much longer.”

“Let’s go,” barked the Provost, as they set off for Monitoring Station

[Googlie]

The Invasion - Chapter 3

“Target sighted ……….acquired ………….. lock on ………….. FIRE”

The burst was only a couple of seconds, but already 40 to 50 rounds fired – at an 1100 rpm rate about 2 seconds was the shortest burst that made an impact at that range, Major Kassiopeia thought, mentally forgiving himself for the pun. But the kinetic energy dispersed without doing much damage to the defenders. The target was a sandbag-protected unit of the University Impact squad – raw recruits but still fighting vigorously for their lives and their base. They had already done significant damage to the Shinsengumi Brigade vehicles – at least 2 had been destroyed, but the Major reckoned that at 90% efficiency his men would have no trouble routing the last of the Syntharmored Impact defenders. But he’d have to move closer – at 2 ½ clicks away he was close to the maximum range for his weapons – and the spotters were having a harder time identifying specific targets.

Behind the University Impact squads he knew waited the more seasoned lightly armed but also syntharmored base garrison – and they’d have more entrenched positions. But Lt Colonel Maniac was calling up Chiron Knights for that battle.

He winced as he felt the blast from another speeder that was hit by the stout defenders. Collins, he though. A young eager beaver who perhaps remained stationary too long.

“Move in closer,” he said, tapping Stephan, his driver, on the shoulder twice – the ‘go’ signal.

As he advanced, the turret swung as the gunner sought a fresh angle on the target. The Major had his binoculars to his eyes, sweeping the buildings ahead, then grunted as he picked up the University unit again. They were scuttling around the building, lugging their equipment towards a new prepared position.

Sounding off the co-ordinates, he snorted in satisfaction as Paula, the armaments officer, went through her now familiar “Target sighted ……….acquired ………….. lock on ………….. FIRE” routine, and he saw the direct hit on the defending impact squad.

Then he cringed reflexively as a huge blast lit up the morning sky.

“What the hell was that?” Paula asked.. He swiveled around in his conning node, then saw the telltale plume of smoke rising. ‘Not quite so dramatic as on old Earth,’ he thought. ‘Not enough oxygen in the atmosphere to really fuel a good burn’

“Rec Commons gone,” he said back down into the interior of the Speeder. That took out their command structure, I bet”

That seemed to signal the end of the “active” defense of University Base. At least, the Major thought, our sensors aren’t registering any more kinetic energy blasts, so we must have mopped up the last of that resistance.

He tapped his commlink: “Phase One completed,” he muttered, trusting that back at Olympus Academy the Colonels were following live and had a sound plan of follow up.

He chuckled as he heard the familiar voice of Captain Andemagne, the CO of the Chiron Knights Armored Brigade: “Hey, move over Kassi, and let the men come in to finish what you boys couldn’t do”

“Yeah? – And up yours too, Andi,” was the Major’s laconic reply. “Pull over, men, and let the newbies through”

The Shinsengumi Brigade moved their Speeders to the side to allow the Chiron Knights vehicles to attain the front line.

[Googlie]

The Invasion - chapter 4

“They’re awfully quiet, Kassi,” Captain Andemagne muttered in his commlink. “Think they’re dug in? This could be dirty.”

“Well, Andi, they’ve had some time to prep themselves, although I’m sure we did take them by surprise. We do have a base map of their guardhouses and other fortified locations – got that from one of the Squad we captured – I’ll transmit it now.”

He passed the commlink optics scanner over the fieldmap, and then heard the Captain grunt “Got it”

Captain Andemagne relayed his orders to the Chiron Knights. “Looks like a dozen placements. I’ll assign one to twelve of you, and the rest of us will remain in reserve. Here are the grid coordinates for the placements.”

In CK104 Lieutenant Marla Hollins looked at her assignment and swore softly.

“Wazzup?” asked ‘Bones’, her driver

“Childrens Creche,” she replied. “Old Andi really knows how to put officers to the test”

Marla was the seniormost female officer in the Invasion force, and was second only to Captain Rynn, currently in the northwest territories breaking in the newly acquired Unity rover brigade that Pegasus had popped from the unity seed pods.

“Trust him to give me the crèche to take. Such a cliché. ‘Female Officer faced with stark choice. Capture or kill University children, or let the garrison inflict casualties and damage to invading forces” Well, let me tell you, Bones. Whatever it takes we’ll destroy that garrison and take the creche with as few civilian casualties as possible.”

Bones nodded. “When you’re right you’re right, Mar. I heard on the chaff that some of the Uni bastards were using civilians as human shields – let’s hope they don’t do that with the kids.”

“Well if they do, and if the kids don’t have the gumption of Spartan kids to fight and struggle to escape when they see us approaching, they’ll deserve what they’ll get..”

She looked up as Captain Andemagne gave the signal “Let’s roll ….. follow me”

With her head just poking out of the conning hatch, she consulted the basegrid map and tapped instructions to Bones on his skinny, knobbly shoulderblades that gave him his nickname. At the same time she gave instructions to Jackass, her weapons officer. She’d bestowed the nickname in training for his habit of inane laughter after every hit. She was hoping that it might be subdued in real combat.

“Half second bursts, remember. And hold until I give the command. We’ll need to get close, as they have only basic weapons, but we need to penetrate their armor as well as be very selective to minimize civilian casualties.”

They rounded the corner, and the engines whined as Bones applied full reverse thrust to the fission engine. Ahead, blocking the approach to the Creche, was a tangled mess of broken vehicles, mangled scrap and tangled wire, with some sandbags filling some of the bigger gaps. Behind Marla could already detect some of the muzzle flashes of the garrison firing at her.

She ducked inside, and activated the scope. Peering intently, she focused on the main activity, and read the co-ordinates to Jackass.

A short burst of dissipated energy heated up the vehicle as the weapon discharged, then Marla reported that the obstruction was no longer there, but that defenders were scurrying for cover.

“Random – sweep” she commanded, and Jackass fired micro second bursts as Bones rotated the turret.

“Got ‘em, “ she declared triumphantly, as the defenders were mown down.

Then her heart froze.

The crèche doors opened and a gaggle of children came filing out, their hands on their heads, followed by two guardsmen leveling their shredder rifles at the children.

“Pull back,” one yelled, “or these kids get it.”

“Cover me,” she heard Jackass say. “Keep talking and stall”

She looked at him. He was fitting a scope to a shredder rifle, and tinkering with its dispersement setting. He nodded impatiently to the advancing group, and she gulped and said “good luck”

Marla stood up in the conning hatch, and yelled at the group “What are your terms?. What do you want? Safe passage?”

Behind her, she felt the rear access hatch quietly disengage, and heard the soft thump as jackass dropped from the Speeder.

One of the Guardsmen was answering her when suddenly there was a staccato burst of fire and he dropped to the ground, his head exploding, as the children yelled and shouted in fear.

“What the he …” the other Guardsman started as he too fell to the shots fired by Jackass, crouched beside the Speeder, just out of view of the two guardsmen.

In a flash, Marla was out of the vehicle running towards the children

“It’s all right,” she yelled at them. “You’re safe now. Nobody’s going to hurt you.”

The children gathered round her. One blonde haired blue eyed waif – maybe seven or eight years old, looked up at her and asked:

“Have you come to lib … lib … liberate us? Can you stop them hurting us now?”

Marla knelt down and looked at her:

“Yes, Honey. We’re here to free you. There’ll be no more hurting”

The girl ran into her arms and said “Thank you. Oh, thank you”

Marla’s eyes filled with tears.

[Googlie]

The Invasion - Chapter 5

Captain Andemagne was commlinked to Major Kassiopiea

“Cleaned out the synthmetal garrison units – do you want me to take out the last of the resistancee – their scout patrols – or do you want to finish the job?”

“What’s your unit strength?” asked the Major.

“About 70%” came the reply. “We’ve lost about 1/3rd of the Speeders I assigned to the obkjectives – mostly to molotov attacks and all of us have taken some damage.”

“I’ll take over then for mop-up. We’re running around 80% and resistance should be just sporadic”

“OK – call us when you need us”

The Shinsengumi brigade rumbled to life as they went deeper into the Base. The scout patrols they met – and eradicated – were mostly of the citizens police variety – unarmored and lightly armed, and no match for the elite troops of the Federation.

Finally, mop up was complete, and Major Kassiopeia activated his commlink to the Command Nexus, where the Colonels were waiting.

”Mission Accomplished, Sirs. The Base is ours.”

“Good work, Major,” replied Lieutenant-Colonel Maniac. Secure the base – bring in the Chiron Knights and let them mingle with the population – and bring the Mercury into port and disembark my Kel and the Warwag Brigade.”

“Will do, Sir“, replied the Major.

“Oh, and another thing” interjected Lieutenant-Colonel Googlie. “Until we get a civilian government established there, set yourself up as Military Governor – and announce to the population that they are now an integral part of the Spartan Federation and from henceforth the Base will be known as Arcadia University.”

“I’ll do my best, Sir,” replied the Major, “Does this mean that you’ll be continuing with the diplomatic offensives we have underway>”

Hell, no,” replied Googlie. “You can multitask – now that the Invasion has started you can leave the execution to your field officers, and can focus on being Regional Governor as well as retaking your Diplomatic duties. And don’t forget your Editorial responsibilities as well. The world needs to know what monsters these unfettered, unethical researchers were, and how just our cause is in freeing their population from their experiments.”

“Roger, out” said the Major tersely, then activated the link to the Mercury.

“Kass, How’s it going” came the unmistakable cheery voice of Captain Modo.

“Cleared for entry,” Kass replied. “You can bring that hulk into port any time now. The base is secure. Oh, and by the way, it’s now to be known as Arcadia University. I’ll meet you down by the docks”

Although he had sailed from Vladivostok in her, even the major was impressed as he saw the great ship berth. It cruised into the bay, her fission turbines rumbling contentedly, and the wakes from her twin hulls disappearing out to sea. It seemed that about half the Base’s population had gathered to see the vessel berth, and the Major had to remind himself that in all probability many of them had never seen a seagoing vessel before, the only one the University had had been landlocked in the earthquake when it was offshore the Messenian Plains a decade or two before.

As the Warwag Brigade rolled off onto the quay, some of the crowd hesitantly began a cheer that grew in intensity. The Major smiled. This was what liberation was all about.

Then the cheers died down to a deathly hush as the fearsome black-clad Spartan Kel filed out, in perfect unistep, each marching behind their tracked Impact Carriers. Their Sergeant Major rapped out the cadence as they left the ship, then formed ranks on the quayside by their weapons, ready for inspection.

Lieutenant Raoul looked them over, and nodded, satisfied.

“Until we are replaced by Hoplites, we are the garrison for this Base. It’s under martial law, and Major Kassiopeia is the District Governor. Remember that. And these people are now Citizens of our Spartan Federation. Remember that too, and treat them with respect and dignity, yet firmly, as you would your mothers and families back home. Now here are your assigned tasks …………….. “

The quietened crowd looked on, aware that there was a “new sheriff in town”

[Googlie]

The Invasion - Chapter 6

Ilya burst into the Command Center – a suite of rooms, really, adjacent to the Network Node and found the Base Governor deep in thought.

“Have you heard, Marissa?” he asked.

“What? – the attack by the Spartan Federation on our northern base?” the Governor replied. “We’re holding them, aren’t we?”

Ilya shook his head emphatically.

“No – on the contrary, University Base has fallen and the Provost, together with some aides – but including Federov, with Nataliya and Pavel – has fled for Monstat. Citizens reports from the captured base say that a complete Spartan Brigade has rolled through the base and is on its way here”

Marissa suddenly looked older.

“I knew that it would come to this sooner rather than later,” she said. “I warned them that the other faction leaders wouldn’t tolerate those genetic experiments - especially against the children - and would use them as an excuse to invade us. The Provost and his cronies can run, but they can’t hide, you’ll see, Ilya.”

“Ma’am,” he replied. “You must see to the defenses. We can’t just let them waltz into the base.”

Marissa shrugged. “What do we have – a synthmetal armored garrison split about 50:50 between the two eastern approaches to the Base. What chance do they have against Spartan Impact Rovers. I hear that they are quite the killing machine – one of the early reports that I got from UniBase was that the defenders there were being systematically slaughtered by elite Spartan troops.”

“But we have to try,” said Ilya. “And at least see if we can salvage some of that production materiel going towards Recycling Tanks. Whose idea was that anyway? We’re producing no minerals thanks to the investment in the colony convoy that left a few days ago”

Marissa harrumphed. “Those were my orders” she said. “I was under instructions to follow a “Build” philosophy – as indeed we all were. But you are right, Put out a call for volunteers, and see if we can find or modify enough to scrounge up another synthmetal garrison.” Meanwhile, I think that Captain Popov has matters in hand – or at least as much as our defense can be said to be in our own hands.”

Ilya grimaced. “Popov,” he spat contemptuously. “You know what they say about him …………He marched them up and he marched them down and he marched them up again That’s his idea of defense. A show of force – against children and ****** drones”

“Well if you can do any better with your farmers and engineers, then let’s see you try,” she snapped back at him.

“I will,” he responded. “You’ll see.”

He stormed out of the room, and Marissa turned again to look at the displays from the node.

*************************************************

“Come in, Berezan, come in,” Ilya spoke into his lapel commlink.

“Berezan here. What’s up, Ciommander?”

“Trouble, that’s what,” Ilya replied. “There’s a whole Spartan brigade about to reach you en route from UniBase to KopObs. Do what you can to delay them, to buy us time here. Activate your fission overload procedure if need be – the FOP may allow me enough time to activate the peasant militia to prepare some surprises.”

“Can do, Commander. I’ll issue the sidearms as well – they may not do any damage, but they’ll draw some fire and use up some of the Spartans’ ammo. And a FOP might take out a speeder or two, you never know.”

“Very well … and good luck, Berezan”

Ilya flicked a thumb at the lapel mike, and it changed channels for him:

“Alexei – I presume you’ve heard the news?”

“Ilya – always a pleasure to hear from you – I wish the circumstances were different, though.”

“As do we all, Alexei. But then you’ll know why I’m calling. I want …………….. “

“Beaten you to it, Ilya. I used the authority you vested in me and invoked the Homedef clause. The farmers all have their weapons at the ready, and as well both access roads to the base are being mined even as we speak. That’ll stop some in their tracks, and when the crews evacuate the farmers will pick off many. We won’t win against them, but we may at least even the odds for Popov’s popoffs.”

Ilya chuckled at that.

“You’re a good man, Alexei. I hope you come through this unscathed.”

“You, too, Ilya,” came the terse reply. “Good luck”

Ilya settled back in his chair. Swiveling around, he pulled his flechette rifle from the cabinet behind him. All he could do now was wait.

[Googlie]

The Invasion - Chapter 7

Marla held the girl by the shoulders and looked into her eyes:

“Honey, no-one is going to hurt you, we’re not going to let them, are we Jack?”

The gruff weapons officer looked down.

“Hell, no,” he said. “Anyone there tries anything, they’ll get a load of this,” as he patted his flechette rifle.

Marla looked again at the girl. "We need to go into the Creche – we’ll set up our headquarters there,” she said.

“But Stazi’s there still there,” the waif said plaintively. “They’re still running tests on her. They won’t like being disturbed.”

This was information overload to Marla.

“Stazi? Who’s Stazi? What tests? And who are they?”

“Stazi? – oh – that’s Anastasia. She’s my big sister and sort of looks after me since our parents died. She’s an emfath and the scientists are trying to see what sets her off”

“Emfath?” Marla frowned in puzzled concentration. “What do you mean?

“Sometimes she knows what I’m thinking – reading she calls it - and sometimes she forces me to do things that I don’t want to do.”

“Forces – how?” asked Marla. “She hurts you?”

The waif shook her head. “No. No. Not like that”

Jackass butted in:

“Lieutenant,. I think she’s trying to tell us that her sister is an Empath. The manual talks about that. Some can mind read, and some can compel – it seems like the kid’s sis can do both.”

“Yes – that’s it,” the waif said, looking up thankfully at Jack.

Marla nodded. “Got it,” she said. “What are they testing, though?”

The girl was struggling with her explanation:

“I see them doing things. They make her wear a helmet with lotsa wires ‘n things coming out from it, then they hit the current and she jerks and screams, then sometimes she goes silent and that’s when I hear her in my head.”

“What do you mean hear her?”

It’s like a voice, except it’s not a voice – more like a thought. I hear it say “Angelina"– that’s me – "don’t be afraid. Stay away from these men, and don’t ever tell them that you understand me when I’m like this”. So then I pretend that I don’t understand. Sometimes they put the helmet on me, and pass the current through, but I don’t feel anything except the pain from it. Stazi says that’s ‘cos I’m a receptor and she’s a projector – at least that’s what I think she called it.”

Marla winced. What kind of monsters were they dealing with here? “And what about the forcing stuff you mentioned?”

Angelina looked up trustingly at Marla “You won’t tell anyone, will you? “Cos I’ll get into trouble if you do”

Marla gave her shoulder a reassuring squeeze.

“Of course not – and anyway, you’re safe with me”

“Well, once I could hear Stazi screaming from even outside the Creche, then I heard her in my head. She said “Come in – it’s all right". And before I could stop I was running to the Creche and burst right in. She was thrashing on a cot, all wired up, and two men had similar helmets on and were chattering excitedly to each other. I walked over to the control panel and somehow knew what dials to turn – Stazi relaxed and stopped thrashing and both men started screaming, pulling at the nodes in their skulls and ripping the wires out – one eventually got a small scalpel laser and turned the dial to maximum and then turned on the other man and killed him.”

“And you think that your sister did that? Made them – and you – do that?”

Angelina nodded solemnly.

“I doubt it,” said Marla, then blinked, somewhat in surprise.

She turned to Jack: “Jackass, give me your shredder.”

Her weapons officer made a face and asked “Are you sure about this, Lieutenant? Scaring the girl won’t gain her confidence.”

“Give it me,” snapped Marla.

Jackass complied, handing his rifle to Marla.

She crouched by Angelina, then handed her the rifle. The girl took it with wide eyes, and after a moment said “Stazi?” then pointed the flechette rifle at Marla.

Marla snapped to, as if a shadow had crossed Alpha Prime, and looked in disbelief at Angelina pointing Jack’s rifle at her.

And winced as she heard the voice in her head ’Do you still doubt her?’

[Googlie]

The Invasion - Chapter 8

Captain KrysiasKrusader heard them before he saw them. He was in the lead Speeder, his head out of the cupola as the Brigade rolled down what was marked as Highway 10. They’d been climbing steadily since leaving the suburbs of Arcadia University – itseld situated at just over 650 meters above sea level, and the fission engines were straining ever so slightly as they breached the 1700 meter level, with almost 1000 meters of a climb ahead of them.

A low, deep rumble came to his ears, and he cocked his head to one side.

Then with a flash of realization he yelled into the shortrange commlink:

“Warwag Brigade – scatter. Bloody avalanche coming at us.”

His vehicle slewed off the road to the right and behind him he could hear the squealing of tires as the rest of his brigade obeyed his order to disperse and scatter.

And not a moment too soon, as huge boulders – some larger even than his speeder, whomped and cartwheeled and bounced crazily down the incline of H-10 towards where they’d been only seconds before. Not all the vehicles were lucky, though, as some took direct hits from boulders that dented the flimsy skin of the rovers. A couple even toppled over, with their crews hastily scrambling to escape before being crushed by their own vehicle.

Gingerly he ordered his driver to get back on the road and reconnoiter up around one of the slow, lazy bends in H-10 that were features of its ascent.

Around one, he saw ahead the road blocked, by a jumble of engineering and roadmaking vehicles, a terraforming battalion. They had the road completely blocked, their huge dozer blades presented downhill as armor for the men crouching behind and to the side.

“Rats,” muttered the Captain. “This’ll delay things a bit.”

He activated his commlink.

“Andi. Spot of bother here. Looks like a terraforming crew are blocking one of the access roads – H-10. Are your drives still active or recharging?”

“Still active,” came the reply. “Do you want us to do a mop-up for you? Is there another way that you can take – that H-20 road over the minesite looks like it might bypass the summit.”

“Well, it does, but the trouble is ….. they can still pour junk and boulders down the connecting road to us that way as well. I really need the terraformer crew taken care of.”

“OK, KK, I hear you. The cavalry’s on its way. I’ll activate the Knights again and we’ll deal with that terraformer for you.”

Captain KrysiasKrusader flipped open the secure shortrange commlink again.

“Men,” he said. ”Llet’s pull back to the junction with H-20 and regroup. Then Knights will be here soon and they’ll engage that former crew and occupy them while we move past through the mining complex. Meanwhile, get those vehicles righted and shipsghape as best you can. Either catch us if you are able to, or just wait for the Chiron knights and assimilate yourselves with Andi until we get together again.”

Grumbling, the commanders boarded their vehicles, and with drives whining they turned and moved down the highway to find the junction for the mining complex.

They passed the Knights on the way and gave cheery salutes to their comrades.

*************************************************

Captain Andemagne was known for his straightforward approach.

“Higgins, Munster and Chang - form a wedge, 3 of you, and proceed up the highway firing two second bursts as you go. After ten repetitions, fall back and you, Carruthers, Lemieux and I will form the replacement wedge while the first troika recharges, then they’ll spell us off. That way nothing will surprise us.”

“Got it, Sir,” came the reply from Hans Munster. “Follow me”

The 3 Speeders wheeled out to the center of the highway and commenced climbing.

Almost immediately the rumble could be felt of an impending avalanche.

“Commence firing,” came the terse command from Lieutenant Munster, and the staccato bark of the Impact cannon could be heard over the loudening rumble. Then loud cracks and crashes could be heard as the released kinetic energy wreaked havoc with the boulders and rubble that was tumbling down the highway, churning it into pebbles and dust through which the vehicles sped, the rest of the Brigade hot on their exhausts.

As they turned the bend, a succinct “Switch” from the Captain and smoothly, as though rehearsed, the 3 lead speeders peeled aside and the second troika came roaring through.

The first contact with the Captain’s burst and the dozer blade saw it disintegrate as though made of paper mache and as the defending crewmen scattered the flanking speeders sweeping fire made short work of them.

In a few minutes it was over, the unarmed and unarmored crew and their vehicles being no match for the superior training and weaponry of the Elite Spartan Chiron Knights Brigade.

“It’s all yours. KK” Captain Andemagne said into his commlink. “Go, get ‘em”

*************************************************

Down by the junction the Warwag brigade roared into life. They climbed the hill to the minesite at the summit, at the 2450 meter level, and looking south over the rolling farmlands – and the fields of untamed fungus to the southwest, they could see their objective. Nestling by a bay, the couple of spires and taller rooftops of Koppernigk Observatory could be spotted sticking out of the surrounding forest.

Away in the distance, to the southeast, could be seen the giant, towering structures that had for so long puzzled the Crypteia analysts, until they came up with a name for them – Boreholes – although they also seemed to suggest that they were not of university origin, the captain doubted that.

Activating his commlink again, the Captain ordered:

“Let’s go, Men. And remember, we remove all defenders, but we don’t occupy the base just yet. We don’t want the population panicking and destroying what’s left of the base. So take it easy. Follow me!”

The Brigade rolled south from the mining complex.

The Captain had dropped back to the rear of the pack and was conferring with his 2 lieutenants, when suddenly all hell broke loose.

The lead speeder, WW109, blew up with a resounding blast, and the shock wave knocked WW113 right off the highway into a farmer’s field by the roadside. The Brigade ground to a halt.

The Captain opened his conning hatch to take a look, and immediately pulled his head back in when old fashioned bullets zinged against the side of the copula.

“By Corazon, that was close,” he muttered. “I wasn’t expecting that”

Activating his commlink he asked ”Anyone fitted with anti-mine flailers?”

‘Shoot, he should know that,’ he thought. ‘I am the CO after all.’ But he couldn’;t remember.

“No sir,” came back the chorus. Only Bogart has, and we left the Booger back at the terraformer to throw his lot in with Andi.”

KK swore softly. It would have to be done the hard way, then.

“OK – we’ll shoot our way in, then. I’ll lead. Follow me!”

Setting the impact cannon to ‘pulse’ he “walked” the fire down the road, methodically sweeping from side to side, and watching in satisfaction as the handful of landmines that the farmers had deployed went up in small explosions. On either side, a Speeder was doing exactly the same, while behind came the balance of the Brigade, relaxed yet still watchful.

KK swore softly again – confined as he was to the conning periscope, his vision was limited, but he could have sworn he’d seen movement out of the corner of his eye.

He wasn’t wrong. To his right there was a tremendous blast, and the flanking speeder rose some 20 feet in the air, suspended for a split second, then fell heavily to the ground, its ammunition cooking off in a series of rapid pop.. pop.. pops.

“What the hell ……….. “ sputtered Captain KrysiasKrusader. “What just happened?”

“Bloody suicide attack, that’s what” came the laconic reply from one of his commanders, he didn’t know which. “I saw him run from the fields behind you, but wasn’t quick enough to realize what he was doing. He just lay down in front of poor Charlie clutching a mine to his chest and went up with the Speeder.”

“Sweep the fields then, as we pass. I don’t care if we kill ten or ten thousand farmers, but we are going to reach our objective.”

The lead Speeders were entering the forest surrounding KopObs, and the pace of advance slowed. Gunfire could be heard, with the occasional deeper explosion of a mine or maybe a Molotov cocktail. The Captain could see the defenders, in clusters, thinly protected by rusty vehicles, logjams and the other detritus of a bustling community.

One by one the strongholds – for want of a better term, KK thought, were eradicated, until the fire was reduced to sporadic shots fired by the odd citizen more in hope than intent.

“Well done, men. We’ve done it. Let’s have a rollcall” said Captain KrysiasKrusader.

By vehicle, the commanders reported in, readiness, reserves, and drive status for their fission engines.

Summing up, the Captain finished the tally.

And was appalled to realize that the Warwag Brigade was reduced to only 40% operational efficiency. With a heavy heart, he commlinked the data to Major Kassiopeia back in Arcadia University.

[Googlie]

The Invasion - Chapter 9

Marla hesitated as she stepped into the Crèche. Just as during the heat of a battle she could sense the violence in the ion-charged atmosphere in the command copula of her Speeder, so she could sense the brooding presence of evil in the crèche.

Angelina tugged at her hand: “This way”, she said.

Marla looked around. At first glance it was exactly what she’d imagine a Spartan Children’s Crèche to look like. A play area with some playblocks scattered around, and some ropes and netting hanging from the ceiling – a sort of mini assault training course. A bank of monitors down one wall for video learning and gaming. Some cages down the other where small indigenous animals would be kept for studying and okaying with as pets. At one end, rows of cots for sleepy time. At the other, a more formal learning area, with chairs in a semicircle around a raised dais that held a Holovid table and projector and also a large plasma 2D screen. And in the center a glass-walled cubicle that in Sparta would be the wrestling pit, where the youngsters would learn basic unarmed combat skills.

But something was wrong. Horribly wrong.

The ropes and netting weren’t ropes and netting at all, but rather clusters of wires hanging, with a ganglia of node receptors and a tiny skullcap attached. The cots weren’t for sleeping, but formed a mini operating theater. Marla could see attached to each a swivel tray that held an assortment of scalpels and needles, with some having a test tube stand as well. The chairs were chairs, all right, but each one had wrist and ankle manacles attached. And the cages didn’t hold small, friendly, furry animals, but as she looked more closely, held some children who were gazing at her apathetically, with glazed, blank expressions on their faces, drool dripping down their chins, as they held pathetic hands through the bars hoping for food perhaps – or maybe just a loving touch..

And the glass-walled cubicle was no wrestling pit. Inside she could see a cot with a human form strapped to it, a skullcap on its head with wires snaking from it to monitors and nearby machinery.

Unbidden the thought came into her mind :yes, it’s me – Anastasia. Come and unhook me, please. They just ran off and left me here

In three strides Marla was over by the cubicle, and was about to yank the wires from the skullcap Anastasia wore.

NOOOooooo came the mental scream in her head, throwing Marla back against the door as the psi-energy was unleashed by the girl. not that way, you’ll kill me. Over by the power source – that monitor – go to it and I’ll relay the key sequences.

Marla complied, and watched with interest as the probes disengaged. Each one in turn withdrew from the girl’s head, snaking back into the rim of the cap, and finally the manacles that held her snapped open and she sat up and gingerly removed the skullcap.

She turned towards Marla, and looked into her eyes.

Marla stood transfixed, gazing into deep pools of azure blue, feeling herself spiraling …………….. spiraling…….. into depths but helpless to look away. She felt her soul being laid bare, and try as she might there was nothing she could do to hide her feelings. She was being mind probed and helpless to prevent it. Violated, like being raped, she thought.

Abruptly the feeling stopped, and she saw Anastasia looking at her now with sad eyes.

“Nothing at all like being raped,” she said, aloud for the first time. “Trust me, I know. I’ve been there”

She turned to her sister.

“You did well, Angie. She’s good people. We can trust her.”

Turning back to Marla, she said “Thanks. Let’s get the others out of here.”

“There are more like you?” Marla asked.

“No, the Moes,” said Angelina. “We’ll have to watch them though.”

“Moes?” asked Marla

“Mindless Ones – we call them Moes” replied Anastasia. “They’re in the cages over there. Early experiments in nervestapling that went horribly wrong. There’s a crèche mistress somewhere who looks after them – she’s hiding in the admin building I think. This way.”

Marla followed meekly as they went the length of the crèche, passing the cots at the far end. There was an adult lying on one of them – stiff, with a death rictus smile on his face that looked out of place.

Marla waved a hand to him and asked Anastasia: “What happened there? Another experiment gone wrong”

Anastasia turned to her and Marla recoiled at the disgust and revulsion on her face. Almost palpable, she felt the force of her hatred.

“No”, she said. “That’s why I was shackled in that prototype punishment sphere. They wanted to know how I did it.”

“Did what,” Marla asked, almost afraid to know the answer.

Anastasia looked long at Marla before answering. How old was this girl? Marla guessed no more than fifteen or sixteen, but her face held the wisdom – and sadness – of generations.

“You thought about rape a few minutes ago. That’s what was happening. The scientists wondered if the sexual experience would trigger in me any deeper levels of empathy, so they had this . this… animal foisted on me. I killed him.”

Marla looked at the man’s corpse. No signs of violence whatever. And a strapping young man he’d been, too, whereas Anastasia was thin – and young.

“How,” she found herself asking, although she felt she already knew the answer.

Anastasia looked at her stonily.

“Psionically,” she replied. “I detached my mind from what he was doing – how he was violating me, and entered his mind. I re-routed some of his mental synapses so that at his moment of sexual peaking his mind …. figuratively and literally, exploded. My only regret was that I was a nanosecond late, and couldn’t stop him from enjoying it. I’d love to wipe that smile from his face.”

She leant and spat into the dead youth’s face.

‘WOW,’ Marla thought. ‘Googlie and his CRYPTEIA will be interested in this’

Marla felt the atmosphere frost over, and a chill ran down her spine as Anastasia turned back to he.

“Who’s Googlie,” she asked, menacingly.

[Maniac]

Our secret War

It was late in the evening. In a dimly lighted room somewhere deeply buried in the Command Nexus, Lt-Colonel Maniac was waiting anxiously for a scheduled call from Lieutenant Raoul. He had been ordered to report as soon as a level 5 secure holoconnection could be set up in Arcadia University’s network node.

Finally the holovault came crackling to life. The familiar face of Raoul slowly formed in a pillar of light. He could be seen fiddling a bit with some buttons, trying to increase the holoresolution.

“Reporting in, Commander.” he announced after a while. “The connection has been set up successfully.”

“Ah great to hear that Lieutenant. And glad to see you are still in good health after these last few hard weeks. Is everything secure at your side?” Maniac asked.

“Yes I’m alone as was asked. No one will hear what we say.” Raoul replied. He was standing near a window, showing the moonlighted night of Arcadia. While Maniac had originally planned to lead the Spartan Kel themselves to battle, he changed his mind after Kassiopeia was appointed commander of Operation Arcadia. It would only sow trouble and confusion if Major-Governor Kassiopeia wouldn’t have been the highest ranking officer in the invasion force. Still, the Spartan Kel enjoyed a relative autonomy within the military structure and could receive orders directly from the highest echelon.

“I have some important and highly secretive orders for you, Kel Raoul. These should not be leaked to the Captains of the other brigades.”

“I understand, Kel Maniac.” Raoul acknowledged with a conspiring nod, returning the insider title “Kel”. It was used only between members of the elite brigade when confiding with each other.

“Good… As you know, while the rover brigades with their high mobility are well suited to destroy defences and conquer bases, as an infantry unit Kel is better equipped to keep the masses under control in these urban environments. That’s why you were officially commissioned to garrison Arcadia University. The true reason lies elsewhere…” Maniac paused for a moment.

“The public needs to hear about liberations, cheering people, heroic acts, and so on… While this is – fortunately - part of the war, it is only one side of it. The war for control over Arcadia can only be permanently won by dealing with the people who oppose our rule.”

“I see. I gather I will have to ‘deal’ with the leading people in University society?” Raoul pondered.

“Indeed. Most people don’t care much who rules over them. They just want to live their lives reasonably comfortable, left along as much as possible by the government. They can be subdued easily, as meek sheep. It’s a minority that forms a problem, the shepherds in a way. Those who take initiatives, organize people, bring them together, spread ideas to the minds of the common man. While they are a blessing to a democracy, the fabric that binds society, they are a curse to a foreign invader. When turned against us, they could stage a resistance movement. This you must avoid at all costs.

“Is this why you asked to transfer the whole AU citizen registry a few days ago?”

“Yes quite right. Our Nexus supercomputers have run through the registry and selected a hit list of people. Those who led the most influential movements, and were known to sympathize with the University regime. I’ll transfer it to you in a few seconds. In a couple of weeks a few Crypteia specialized in this kind of work will be sent over to assist you in tracking down your targets. Also try to achieve the cooperation of local collaborators. They might know the whereabouts of certain targets.”

“Roger that. One question: How far can I go in fulfilling my objectives? How publicly can our targets be killed?”

“If necessary you are allowed to eliminate them in public. However always try to make it look an accident. That way our information ministry can make it look like collateral damage, nothing to worry about.”

“Understood.”

“Okay then. I will see you again in a few days, same time. Good luck with your mission, and oh… take care of our boys, Raoul.”

“I will Maniac I will. Raoul over and out.”


Oh man, what a mission have I got.”, Raoul muttered, after the holovault had closed.