A Karin Officer's first
duty is to the Imperial
High Council, for he is the
hand of their authority.
The High Council's first
duty to those same
soldiers to never forget
that.
R-Zero - Aivilik System - Eelim Territory
~~*~~
Four Amsus carriers sat in near perfect formation, awaiting orders as the experimental Raptor exploded from hyperspace, hurled there by its Far Step drive.
Up-rated weaponry, supplemented by Polian shielding and boasting enhanced engines, R-Zero was a formidable ship, and with Sopendra directly at the helm, it slid silently into formation with the Amsus ships that Strega had neglected to consider assets, too far away to matter.
Too far away, except for the Kree Jump Nexus.
Duncan issued orders to the Amsus warships, knowing that despite Strega's undoubted fury. She wouldn't have considered issuing update orders to the carriers. As far as they were concerned, Duncan was still their commanding officer.
He issued orders, launching a flight of Predator fighters and a pair of fully loaded Raptors to escort him on his descent to the settlement where an Imperial Dropship was registering close to an underground network of caverns.
There was a reason that the Lex Talionis had been there, and Duncan was determined to discover that reason. Knowing that whatever it was, it was important enough to merit investigation, especially since he was in the system anyway.
He'd issued orders that the carriers deactivate their FTL transmitters, feeling somewhat more secure with his own personal guard at his back. The Amsus would obey him, they had no reason not to, which was a small blessing.
Sopendra guided the R-Zero as it touched down along side the Imperial dropship, Duncan immediately noting that it bore Kardiac markings, LT-Zero-Three. One of the Lex Talionis's dropships.
The Predators pin-wheeled in the air above them, while Amsus troopers swept out of the other two Raptors, forming a protective perimeter around the abandoned Imperial camp. Sweeping it clean as they methodically searched for any sign of life.
Duncan tightened his school tie, looking at his companions, knowing that the easy part had come and gone. Now came the difficult task of figuring out what to do next. Ben sat expectantly in the engineering station looking up at the defacto Captain.
"This is your show," he said, a bright smile on his face.
"Yeah," Rick commented turning in his seat and lounging on his controls. "What now?"
"Now we figure out what was so important that Lex Talionis would come all the way out here to find," Duncan replied getting up a little awkwardly as he led his crew back into the unfinished and spartan Raptor, descending to the cargo deck and out to the ground.
The Amsus Officer marched to join Duncan at the foot of R-Zero's ramp, snapping to attention. "We are awaiting your orders High Commander."
Duncan unbuttoned his school blazer, as he peered through the dim blue twilight, "thank you commander, contact my Fleet Marshal and inform him that I am very pleased with his performance to date, but I would rather avoid Eelim incursions while we are investigating this site. See too it that we are not detected."
"Affirmative Commander," the Officer replied, touching his roll radio, signalling up to the flagship, relaying Duncan's orders while the young man walked across the landing field to the dropship.
"We've discovered a second dropship beneath cammo-netting," Vichet reported to him, a collection of Amsus troopers watching and waiting patiently, not the least bit concerned that they were being directed by children, theirs wasn't to question, merely to obey. "This one bears House VonGrippen markings."
There was a moment, where Duncan stared at the striking falcon emblazoned on the dropships hull. His young fingers reaching out to trace the black bird over its dark red sun. He'd touched that ship before, it was like a direct connection to the man he was… Across the landing field, standing beside Stacey, Ben was watching, amusement in his eyes.
"What ship?" Duncan inquired poking his head into the dropship and looking about.
"Excalibur," the primary Amsus officer reported producing a Dragoon coat that had been handed to him by one of the troopers. He handed it across to Duncan who examined the Peligian patch on the left arm, running his thumb over the CVX-11 shoulder title.
"Excalibur," Duncan mused, feeling the rush of familiarity wash over him. "When you were engaging the Lex Talionis, there was a second ship in the system, engaging the Battleship's drones."
"An Osterberg Hunter-Killer," the Officer replied. "As yet we are unable to identify its origin. But I can confirm that it wasn't the HMS Excalibur."
"Three different Imperial ships," Duncan mused. "One location, I wonder what is so important about this insignificant little rock on the edge of nowhere."
"There is a native settlement close by," Vichet suggested. "We can call down a battalion of troopers and secure prisoners for questioning."
Duncan tapped the dragoon jacket in his hands, looking thoughtful, "there might be another way. I could go and ask them, if there was an Imperial presence here, they might respond better to an Imperial asking them questions…"
"Are you sure it is wise to proceed without protection?" The Amsus Officer asked.
Duncan studied the creature beside him with his azure eyes, so different from the pupae-like troopers. Closer to humans in their mental capacity, the Amsus seemed such an amalgamation of different beings all duplicated and stuck together into a fighting unit. The Inquisitors, the Officers, and the Troopers supplemented, of course, by the deadly praetorian.
Duncan smiled, "are there praetorian aboard the Carriers?"
"There are two," the officer answered.
"Then send them down to meet me at the village. They can precede unseen, and I require bodyguards that won't attract unwanted attention." Duncan pulled on the dragoon jacket, relieving Vichet of the imperial SMG that he'd just produced from inside the dropship. He checked the dual barrelled weapon and looked up. "Which way is the village?"
The Officer pointed.
"Withdraw to orbit, and stand ready to drop that battalion on my order," Duncan set out on foot as behind him the Amsus troopers withdrew to the escort Raptors, lifting off moments later, roaring back towards the heavens.
He watched them go, setting his jaw as he looked around him at the chilly savannah, with the tall grasses swaying too and fro. Vichet standing beside him, his hand still resting on the Dropship.
"What do you want from us?" he asked nodding to Stacey and Ben who were waiting patiently.
Duncan limped without his cane, the SMG still in his hands. "We need Intel, and these dropships are probably the best shot at getting that. Plus the camp will have supplies…" he nodded to the Zero, "stock up and tear anything that may be useful out of the dropships. I'll be back soon."
Vichet nodded, "if you say so Dunk, just be careful."
"He will be fine," Ben said, already rifling through a supply crate, pulling out some Imperial fatigues, his fingers working over the VonGrippen patches on the arms. "He's been through this sort of thing before."
Duncan sighed as he slung the rifle to his shoulder and walked down a well traversed trail, with ATV tire tracks cut deep into the soft earth.
The Imperials had been there awhile, and that troubled him greatly. He couldn't waste a lot of time investigating, and he knew it. What ever had been enough to attract the attention of Darien Taine, had also lured the Lex Talionis there, and subsequently seen fit to drag Duncan there as well. The planet was one of those crossroads in the universe where they paths of the mighty all converged.
He wondered if his doppelganger, Edward, had set foot on that soil.
His gloved hands moved as he reached back for the SMG, swinging the weapon around in his hand, flexing his fingers against the black metal grip. Sweeping the horizon of grass, listening to the wind and wondering if he was being watched.
There was no time; the natives couldn't travel such a distance to investigate the ships before they had lifted off. They would investigate, but that would take them hours, he was merely being paranoid. He just continued onwards, walking determinedly, listening for the roar overhead that would be another Raptor deploying his praetorian escort.
What was he doing there? Grasping at straws, acting like he had some great and masterful plan. He was desperate, that is why he'd taken R-Zero, and why he'd run all the way to the catapult, trying to get to safety, a position of control from which he could establish an army.
That was the other man's consciousness seeping into his own. Military training he had never taken, whispering words into his ear, telling him what he had to do, forcing him to take reckless chances because he was left with no other options.
At least no options that fitted with the ghost's master plan.
Duncan pressed on; Strega was far too arrogant to presume that he would come this far away from her. She saw him as a threat, guarding her assets closely, expecting him to confront her directly. She underestimated his patience, and his goals.
That left an opportunity for him, far beyond her near sighted ambitions. A chance for him to escape and disappear… Though all it took was for her to open her mind, to consider him as more than a minor threat, though, thankfully, she was too distracted by Riley.
The grass ahead of him rustled again, as a human stood up, a Pulse Rifle in his hands, and the grim light of a veteran in his eyes. The camouflage fatigues were blackened and charred over a vicious burn that looked days old, and Duncan realized that it had to be immensely painful.
A Karin wolf lurking in the grasslands of a mysterious planet.
Duncan's eyes went wide as he stared down the barrel of a gun, looking up and past it at the soldier.
There was a drawn out moment where both stared at the other, the soldier with his weapon trained, and Duncan with no chance to raise his. Any move on his part would earn him a bullet placed squarely between his eyes.
"Prince Edward?" the soldier's rifle dipped, as he stared with a puzzled expression on his face.
Duncan decided that in order to lie, he'd have to hide behind the truth, "no, my name is Duncan… Duncan VonGrippen… Captain," his eyes moved to the twin bars on the collar of the soldier's fatigues. "I'm… here to help?"
The Captain's puzzled look faded as a roar over head sent him running forward to drag the errant schoolboy down with him into cover. The Amsus Raptor bearing the praetorian swept overhead as it charted a course that would bring it close to the village.
Duncan allowed himself to be manhandled by the Captain, finding he was holding his breath in anticipation as the soldier tracked the ships descent with his rifle scope, his hand curling around the under-slung Polian shard weapon that could do serious damage to an unprepared Raptor.
"As if there wasn't enough shit to deal with," the Captain murmured, obviously in a lot of pain from his injuries. "Now I've got a school boy popping out of nowhere, and the entire Amsus navy overhead…"
"I didn't pop out of nowhere," Duncan replied, "I do have a ship…"
Suspicion appeared in the soldier's eyes, "how did you get here, in that jacket, with a ship?"
Duncan shrugged, "I am a VonGrippen, these things just happen to us. You want to get out of here, maybe get some medical attention and worry about the details later?"
The soldier studied his young companion's face, reaching out to pluck the Amsus roll radio out of the younger man's pocket, holding it up. "You're with them?"
"Not exactly," Duncan answered with a shrug. "Technically, I lead them."
The soldier stared at him, holding the radio in his hand, blinking as he looked up at the ship that was folding its wings up as it commenced a tight VTOL landing close to the village.
"Then you can consider yourself a prisoner of war, Amsus Leader," the Captain breathed a tight breath as he sagged a little, falling to his knees a look of pain floating across his face.
"You aren't taking anyone prisoner," Duncan said, reaching out with his thin hands to push the rifle out of the way, leaning in to examine the wound as the soldier sank to the ground. He pulled the radio out of the soldier's hand and lifted it to his mouth. "Attention Vichet, I require a battlefield medic and an EVAC to the carrier…"
The soldier winced in pain as he lay back into the grass, breathing raggedly.
Duncan scooped up the pulse rifle, stripping the shard weapon off of it and tossing the rifle away into the grass. He slipped the shard weapon into his pocket as the Amsus Raptor lifted off from where it had landed, sweeping across the ground to touch down a few meters away in a blast of VTOL jets.
BC-267 - Terran System - Amsus Occupied Earth
~~*~~
The Inquisitor ran the length of the ship, his leather duster flowing behind him as his feet pounded the deck plates. He ignored the troopers, who obediently cleared a path for him as he sprinted up the companionway, approaching the large blast doors that sealed off the bridge from the rest of the ship.
He slowed, the run flowing naturally into a walk as his black on black uniform settled about him and a rigid, expressionless mask set across his pale features.
The guard on the door swiped a key card, as the doors swung open to allow him inside. Protocol was the be all and end all of their existence, everything done in a precise ritualistic fashion that stemmed from their human origins, merely compacted for time and efficiency, but there were still moments when the rigidity bespoke of humanity.
Inquisitor Thalak made his way into the bridge, looking down from the upper tier towards the command chair, a reinforced affair wedged between the primary helm and the weapons console. Looking at the young human school girl seated in it, her legs curled up under her as she perched her hands on the arms of the chair.
"You sent for me mistress," Thalak moved with the grace of an adder, sliding around the bridge as he descended to the open area where the holographic tactical field was projected.
"I did," Strega said as she watched him, her pale brown eyes studying his once human face, hovering over the black rings that shadowed his eyes. "You were the Inquisitor that first attempted to apprehend Darien Taine in San Francisco."
Thalak wet his lips with his tongue, "I am afraid that I have orders that supersede your own, I cannot discuss that matter."
"Whose orders?" Strega inquired curiously. "My authority derives directly from Sephradon, your Supreme Commander." She uncoiled from her seat, standing as she watched him. "You will obey me…"
Thalak smiled, a look so chilling and unexpected on the face of an Inquisitor that Strega's eyes widened in surprise. Surprise that deepened as Thalak levelled his rod weapon and pressed it into her forehead.
"Do not presume to countermand the Master's orders, mistress," Thalak warned calmly. "You are here at the bequest of the supreme commander, but he is our Master and none here will go against his will."
"Who?" Strega demanded, "who is this Master?"
Thalak stared into her eyes, studying her calmly. "You will cease with this interrogation at once, and I will return to my mission. Hunting the Fifth Column."
Strega's hands flew out, the first seizing the rod weapon, the second slamming into the Inquisitor's wrist with enough force to snap bone…
The Inquisitor didn't flinch, nor did he release his weapon.
Strega stared in surprise for a second time.
"You haven't spent enough time studying those that you command," Thalak responded. "You blindly issue orders with no realization of the power of what you have at your beck and call. His other hand removed hers from his wrist, reseating his rod weapon back into its holster. "We are the upper caste of the Amsus Hegemony, and as near to immortal as we can be. I have no endo-skeleton, no fear, and nothing you have at your power can harm me." His arms twisted as he slapped her, sending her spinning back into the command chair.
Around them the Amsus troopers and officers ignored the lesson the inquisitor was issuing.
"You dare to strike me?" Strega snarled as she pulled herself up into her chair, touching her bloodied lip with the back of her hand.
"We must abide the Supreme Commander's arrogance," Thalak responded. "Because that is the Master's will. However you are not a part of his plan, do not presume that because you sit in the command chair of one of our Battlecruisers, that we are your servants. I am not your hound, never summon me, or one of my kind again. You don't possess the strength to control us."
He turned on his heels, walking back towards the exit of the bridge, issuing orders through his scent glands that his shuttle be prepared for his departure. The smile that had felt so unnatural on his face fading back into the mask of composure. There was anger, deep inside the part of him that had once been a human being, the arrogance of Sephradon and the children that thought they could bind the Amsus once again as humanities puppets.
The Master was one of them, these Humans were not. And they would have to learn that they could not place their hands upon the reigns and expect total subservience. A lesson that the Amsus military was beginning to feel was growing long overdue.
R-Zero - Aivilik System - Eelim Territory
~~*~~
Duncan was reading one of the Amsus procedure manuals, sitting at the small desk in the Raptor's Captain's quarters. Scanning over the words at a rapid pace as he recognized many of the operational orders… he'd written them. Or his early incarnation had done so.
It was disconcerting to think with a duality of mind. A trace connection to another mans mind that was surfacing piece by piece with each encountered memory, just with the dispassionate objectivity that came with a genetically enhanced mind realizing that he was not the same person.
The Imperial soldier was dying on the bed; Stacey had infused a nano-pack to repair the electrical burn offering no insight as to the cause, save that it resembled a lightening strike.
That perplexed Duncan greatly.
Laser weapons were impractical, and Masers, although employed by the Imperial warships, were too large to be portable, and far too lethal to cause the wound in question. Zero-point weapons, such as the Polian shard weapon would have disintegrated a large hole in the centre of the Captain's torso. And bullets, like the Pulse Rifle 10mm ball-bearings and the DT-09's standard issue rounds were completely out of the question.
That meant a completely new style of weaponry. Maybe something to do with the elusive Eelim? Or something new, something that he hadn't encountered before.
Ben had brought him a cup of coffee, salvaged supplies from the Imperial camp. And Duncan had accepted gratefully, noting that Ben had changed into an Imperial uniform, the VonGrippen tunic several sizes too big on his naturally thin frame. But he looked so familiar, that Duncan had no choice but to concede that there had to be some truth behind the bizarre story that they had known each other in a previous lifetime.
The Captain stirred, the coarse Amsus military issue sheets rustling as the man struggled to sit up, his hands reaching to the blue medi-pack that was sitting on his chest.
"I wouldn't remove that, if I were you," Duncan said setting his book aside and leaning forward in his chair. "It's an Orion medical kit, and it currently is the only thing keeping you alive."
"W-who are you?" the Captain asked as he struggled a bit to sit upright, and looked about him at the room, recognizing the style of the furnishings.
"I told you that already, I am Duncan VonGrippen, Commander of the Amsus Expeditionary fleet you are currently in the company of."
"Is this a game?" the Captain pressed, a flash of pain spreading across his face. "Some kind of trick?"
"It probably seems that way, Captain," Duncan admitted. "I mean I am a little odd to be the Commander of an Amsus fleet, but then the Amsus are an odd sort. The questions, however, are mine to ask. You are my prisoner."
The Captain's mouth snapped shut as his training took over, silencing him.
"We can start with your name, rank and serial number," Ben offered. "Generally that is what Imperial officers are trained to deliver first." He smiled over at Duncan faintly, concern in his eyes.
"Who are you?" the Captain asked sinking back to the bed with a groan of pain, frowning. "You're words, you sound like… you don't sound like a kid."
Duncan scooped up his cane, pushing himself to his feet. "Would you like a drink of something? Tea or coffee? Anything I can do to make you more comfortable…"
"No," the Captain answered. "Just… what the hell is going on?"
"I'll confide in you," Duncan said limping over to stand beside the bed. Looking as much at Ben as he was at his captive, "I am not entirely certain what is occurring here. But I was hoping to find out." He leaned in a little, "starting, of course Captain, with your name."
"Hansen," the Captain responded. "House Von Karin's 1st Dragoons assigned to the HMS Excalibur."
"Darien Taine," Duncan responded. "The missing Warlord."
"Missing?" Hansen blinked.
"Well, the Amsus have lost him," Duncan glanced towards the view port towards the Carrier that was stationed off of their starboard quarter. "A matter that causes High Command some consternation. But a master stroke on the Warlords part, he has successfully tied up a considerable amount of Hegemony resources that is devoted to finding the errant Command Carrier Excalibur. Finding you is the first clue as to the location of our missing friend."
"Why do you work for the Amsus?" Hansen asked, his eyes fluttering closed as his strength seemed to ebb again.
"He doesn't, technically, work for them." Ben offered looking in concern at the medical readings on the Orion medi-pack. "He actually stole this little fleet and I am a little uncertain as to what he is going to do with it now. Though it is nice to watch a master at work again…"
Duncan's look hardened at his 'friend', "I have a couple of options, none of which involve handing you, captain, over to High Command for interrogation."
"You can forgive my lack of faith in that statement," Hansen answered.
"Are you sure you don't want coffee?" Duncan asked absently, gesturing with his metal camping mug. "I am get horrible cravings for it; unfortunately we don't have anything of quality here, merely the instant rubbish we salvaged…"
Hansen shook his head.
Duncan nodded walking towards the observation window, "I understand, but we are all young on this ship. I felt it was probably easier for you were you not stuffed into a holding cell on one of the Carriers… all things considered."
"You're all kids?" Hansen asked, looking towards the door again.
"Oh, you are probably thinking that you can grab me, take control of this ship and make a run for it…" Duncan smiled as he lifted his cane to tap the glass, gesturing to the fleet of ships beyond. "One, You are in no condition to fight anybody. Two, you should know that you are squarely in the midst of a hell of a lot of Predator fighters. And as fast as this ship is, missiles are still a lot faster. And if the Amsus think I am compromised, they will not hesitate to destroy this ship." He pointed his cane to the operations manual he had been reading. "They have quite specific orders on what to do in hostage situations. And as much as I would like to, I don't have the authority to rewrite their operations manual, at least not any more," he drew distant.
"What are your intentions for me?" Hansen asked.
"We really need to know what happened on Aivilik," Ben cut in helpfully, "how you got that wound, and of course where the Excalibur is…"
Duncan shrugged, "of course I don't actually expect you to just tell us. I have to earn your trust for that first. Which is why I am going to steal this fleet from the Amsus and give it to the Empire. Predators and all."
Hansen opened his mouth in surprise, "you what?"
"We're stealing a fleet of starships for the Empire, and you are going to help me, Captain Hansen." Duncan smiled.
Nevada Facility - Earth - Amsus Occupied Territory
~~*~~
Dawn had a charming lightness of touch as she transfixed the young doctor, neatly stripped him, and prepared to devour him, smelly toes first. Of course they hadn't told her that she wasn't allowed to eat the doctors: they'd just arrogantly presumed she wouldn't.