Lenin always was a better
revolutionary than he was
a statesman.
However, Stalin was both.
Geldan VII - Geldan System - Republican Territory
~~*~~
Slipping through the Amsus cordon around the Jump Nexus had presented surprisingly little difficulty. The Amsus had ignored Lucius's ship as they were no doubt pre-ordered to do.
Progressing through Republican space had been similarly as easy; a simple transmission explaining that they were on a courier mission and the Republicans had escorted them the entire way to Geldan.
"This is insane," Riley murmured for the umpteenth time as the tiny vessel curled over the bow of the Amsus Battlecruiser in high orbit over Geldan.
"Getting used to it," Luther said as he piloted the vessel on its prescribed approach course. "I mean if it isn't one insane plan it's another around here. And this one's a bit better than the last few."
Riley grunted as he sat in his chair staring out the viewport at the heavily arrayed fleet around them, and the ominous proximity of the Amsus ship.
"We need to have a little faith," Alessandro remarked from his seat. Causing Riley to shoot him a dismissive look. "With due respect, son, I fail to see how God's gonna do squat to help us at the moment."
Alessandro smiled, "there is no other way, but the way that is laid out…"
James chuckled from the rear of the cockpit.
"Forgive me, if I don't really appreciate being moved around the galaxy like some chess piece for the amusement of a rather short…." Riley began.
"We're being challenged for our codes again," Rei cut in from the co-pilot's chair.
"We need to make a choice," Luther said, turning his large blue eyes to the Field Marshal. "Do we attempt a run for the planet, through the sentry satellites, or do we land on the Battlecruiser and attempt to get down from there?"
"That's Admiral Hipper's Dacha there," Rei pointed to a cluster of lights dotting the sky in orbit surrounded by a flotilla of Republican warships.
"Then we make a run for it," Riley stated. "Rei, get on the horn and scream what ever pass code you Republicans use in these situations… and Alessandro… if you wouldn't mind giving us a few prayers, we can use all the help we can get."
Alessandro smiled and inclined his head, "as you wish Generale." He said folding his hands and beginning to murmur under his breath.
The raptor suddenly broke from its approach pattern, accelerating to full speed as it blew along the dorsal surface of the Battlecruiser, arcing upwards amidst the sudden chaos caused by Amsus trying to react to the unexpected. Predator fighters roaring on launches from their tubes as they shrieked out and after the rebellious raptor.
"Come on," Riley gripped the edge of his console as the Amsus cruiser began to open fire with its flak cannons.
"This is VI-223," Rei frantically yelled into the TAC, "I repeat this is VI-223 coming home with important intelligence for Admiral Hipper… we require help…"
"That got someone's attention," Luther commented as he nodded up to the Republic cruisers that were responding to the distress call, sliding like shadows through the darkness, MiG-179's screaming down to cover the raptor.
Behind them, the furious Amsus Battlecruiser's fell silent, as they backed down from the superior Republican firepower.
Hipper Dacha - Geldan System - Republican Territory
~~*~~
The stationeers rushed past the Admiral as they stormed to take up defensive positions as the bay finally re-pressurized. Alerts from the surface indicated that the GRU was already dispatching agents to debrief the returning members of VI-223 on behalf of the politburo, Hipper's orders were to hold them until the GRU arrived. Of course he had no such intention, and he stood beside Commander Radoslav as his security braced themselves.
The Raptor's ramp descended, as Rei stepped out, her hands on her head, her flight suit soiled and worn. Behind her, an African-American man wearing an Imperial Field Marshal's uniform stepped out banging out a crushed cap and setting it atop of his head.
"Hold it there," Commander Radoslav called, as his men lifted their weapons.
"I'm Field Marshal Riley," Riley said straightening up. "I would appreciate it if your men would lower their weapons." He was looking directly at Admiral Hipper whilst speaking.
"He helped me escape the Amsus, they all did." She gestured behind her at the Imperial Lieutenant and Alessandro who stepped down next. She frowned as if expecting one more surprised that James had already vanished, and turned back to the Admiral.
"Then I owe you thanks," Hipper said, slightly awkwardly. He hadn't expected visiting diplomats.
"Good," Riley grinned a broad, flashing smile. "Then can we find a quiet place to have a pow-wow?"
"I'm not authorized to negotiate with you, Field Marshal," Hipper raised his hand. "Representatives of my government will be here shortly and I am to turn you over to them."
"I didn't come to talk to them," Riley said firmly. "I came here to talk to you, about the Amsus."
Hipper shook his head firmly, "I'm not going to do that Field Marshal. I have my orders…"
"Oh to hell with orders," Riley snapped. "You think I ran a blockade, dodged flak fire, and am now standing here under gunpoint just to talk to some idiot from your intelligence services? You're in charge here, and unless you think I'm here to shoot you, which would be difficult considering I am unarmed. I don't see the harm in you giving me ten goddamned minutes of your time."
Hipper's eyes widened, "You're not very diplomatic for a diplomat."
"I'm a damn soldier, stop being a bureaucrat and listen to me," Riley pressed. "We're short on time as it is, and the Amsus are probably baying for our blood as we speak."
"Detain them," Hipper gestured to the others. "As for you," he pointed towards Riley, "come with me."
Hipper's Office - Dacha - Geldan System - Republican Territory
~~*~~
Hipper listened with interest as Riley filled him in on what had happened back on Earth in recent history. Everything from Darien Taine, through to the insurgency on Earth, and especially concerning Sephradon and her protégé Strega.
"And this is why I hope you can help us," Riley concluded.
Hipper looked pained as he glanced towards the clock, the GRU would be arriving soon, and he needed time to digest what he'd been told.
"There's nothing I can offer," Hipper replied with a deep sigh. "The Amsus influence here is already too strong."
"But you control the military," Riley stressed. "The Amsus aren't going to wait, once they are done with us they are going to turn on the Republic. Or best chance at any kind of sustainable freedom is if the Republic were to join us in liberating Earth… or at the least, help us in fighting the Amsus."
"You're asking too much," Riley shook his head. "I can't help you short of betraying my government. And I am not willing to go that far, you must understand that we are not at war with the Amsus, we seek only to remain at peace."
"Admiral," Commander Radoslav interrupted from the doorway. "The Amsus ship has moved into low orbit over our Capital city."
"What?" Hipper shot out of his chair, crossing to the window and staring at the deadly vessel that was hovering like the Sword of Damocles over the Republican capital city.
"I warned you," Riley said moving to the window beside the Admiral. "They don't care, they can't care about your peace. It is only a matter of time…"
"Quiet," Hipper stated, raising a finger to silence the Field Marshal. "This has to be wrong, surely they wouldn't commit suicide by initiating an attack…"
"They are Amsus," Riley said firmly. "Think of the damage a single Battlecruiser could do before you were able to shoot it down, and now consider how little regard they have for their own lives… what you are seeing is Amsus resolve, their most lethal weapon."
"Our forces are deploying to counter the threat," Radoslav reported touching his TAC-link earpiece.
"This is your doing," Hipper turned ashen face towards Riley. "You're coming here…" he looked back at the capital.
"The Amsus are making demands of our government, threatening to declare war if we don't surrender the Raptor and its crew at once." Radoslav shook his head.
Hipper swore, "and?"
"We're receiving orders to comply with their demands," Radoslav murmured quietly. "Direct from the Party Chairman's office."
Hipper considered his options, looking over at Riley, "you shouldn't have come here."
"Obviously," Riley said, his eyes narrowing. "And I take it, this means you're going to comply with their demands."
"I have no choice," Hipper snarled.
"Capitulation is a slippery slope, Admiral," Riley warned. "For every step you take back from this fight, the Amsus will take and use against you when the time comes."
"Get him out of here," Hipper waved towards Radoslav, swearing in German as he stalked towards his command centre, readying in case of war.
Transport Shuttle - Geldan System - Republican Territory
~~*~~
"Told ya this was gonna suck," Luther said looking over at Alessandro.
Alessandro shrugged, "I will receive all things from the hands of God as if they were for my own personal benefit…"
"Yeah, whatever," Luther said, sinking his hands into his pockets as they stood in the hold of the Republican shuttle winging its way across the void between the Dacha station and the Amsus cruiser, already climbing back towards higher orbit.
"I know I've said this before," Riley murmured, turning from the secured gate. "But where the hell is James?"
Hipper Dacha - Geldan System - Republican Territory
~~*~~
Hipper drew up short as the short blade's razor sharp point rested against his Adam's apple. The deadly look in the eyes of the man holding it brokered no hesitation at all, they were in the middle of the command centre aboard the station when the Fida'i had struck, dropping down and killing two officers in a spiralling arc of blades that drew him up behind the Admiral, blades resting at the ready to end the man's life in a heartbeat.
"Release them," the Fida'i gruffly commanded.
"I can't," Hipper answered, calm despite the pressure of the blade against his throat, and the fact that Radoslav was training his pistol on the assassin.
"I won't ask a second time," James hissed, keeping his voice deadly cold.
"They aren't in my control," Riley stated. "If I do anything…"
"Action is your only option here," James said.
"Put your gun down Commander," Hipper ordered. And Radoslav, the only other person still alive in the command centre did as he was ordered, lowering his weapon. "Now you… lower the knife and we will talk."
"I don't want to talk," James breathed, applying a little more pressure. "You will do as I ask and you will live. Your kind have already demonstrated that you respond favourably to threats, let's see if that is true for all kinds."
"You're too late," Radoslav said, nodding up to the screen. "The shuttle just docked with the cruiser."
Transport Shuttle - Geldan System - Republican Territory
~~*~~
The shuttle neared the docking bay of the Battlecruiser, wings folding in upon themselves as it slid up and into the pressurized bay, touching down upon the raised catwalk structure that connected the bay to the ship. The great bay doors cycling closed as the bay began to pressurize.
The two guards gestured for the trio of prisoners to rise, motioning them through the rear hatch and out onto the catwalk network that linked the shuttle bays and predator launch bays together. They welcoming committee of Amsus guards were already moving down the catwalk towards the shuttle.
"This is not going to go well," Riley warned. "Sephradon's here."
"Have a little faith," Alessandro said, unzipping the front of his red jumpsuit, baring his arms and white tank top underneath. Free and unlimbered, he stretched like a cat, bouncing from toe to toe in the same fashion that James did when he readied himself for battle.
"Umm, son?" Riley raised an eyebrow. "Isn't there a thing about priests doing no harm?"
"I might have misled you," Alessandro confided. "I'm not a priest."
"Great," Luther commented dryly, "so much for our direct line to divine intervention."
One of the Republican guards reached up to touch the ear piece of his TAC, saying something in German as he looked at his comrade. Something unspoken passed between them that caused Riley to straighten up and take notice. Something was wrong…
No one expected the pair of them to start shooting at the Amsus. Their Maser carbines splatting out in the bay, cutting down the troopers in a hail of weapons fire.
"Okay," Luther said as he dropped to the catwalk, as the troopers began to return fire. "I take it back, you keep praying!"
Alessandro, kneeling behind him reached under his tank-top, producing a black rod weapon from seemingly nowhere.
"Where the hell were you hiding that?" Luther demanded in shock.
Alessandro flashed the young Lieutenant a smile as he spun the thin black rod through his hand standing and moving with surprising agility towards the Amsus troopers who had managed to gun down the last of the Republican guards and were turning their attention on the prisoners.
He sprang, catapulting himself up and off of a support beam, spinning down and up again to slam the last surviving Amsus trooper off of the catwalk, crashing to the deck far below in a sickening wet splat.
Somewhere in the starship, an alarm was blaring. And Luther hauled himself to his feet, scooping up one of the Maser carbines and looking back towards the bullet riddled shuttle behind them. The shattered Plexiglas of the cockpit told him all he needed to know about its space-worthiness.
"No, seriously," Luther pressed. "Where the hell were you hiding that?"
"We need to get moving," Alessandro stated to Riley who was already hefting a DT-09 and strapping an ammunition belt around his uniform.
"Who?" Riley demanded popping one of the Republican TAC's into his ear.
"With my compliments," Admiral Hipper stated through the radio. "The best I could do I'm afraid. You're friend here, was quite a convincing negotiator."
"Bless you James," Riley breathed as he hurried along the catwalk, following behind Luther Rei and Alessandro who were leading the way through the network searching for anything they could use to make their escape.
They rounded another set of support pillars and spied what they were looking for, a Wyvern class bomber, sitting with a self charging set of jump pods secured under it's stubby wings and tri-foil tail.
The flicker flash, caused the trio to draw up short, staring at the woman wearing a white cloak over-top of bone white Amsus trooper armour standing in the middle of the catwalk blocking their path.
"Riley!" Sephradon greeted, folding her arms triumphantly. "You will not escape me this time."
"Now see," Riley said keeping his DT-09 trained. "That's what my ex-wife used to say… and somehow I managed just fine… now if it's bondage that gets you wet, I'm more than happy to tie you up."
Sephradon gestured with her hand, drawing the air vapours together and forcing the heat in the air to drop to sub-arctic temperatures, freezing it into a wicked looking shard. It hung there a moment, before it rocketed down the catwalk towards them.
The ice shard shattered into pieces before it could come close, as Alessandro stepped forward, setting his jaw.
"Hello," he said simply. "I believe you and I were supposed to meet today, and appointments pre-destined by God himself can't be postponed for foreplay."
Sephradon shifted her attention to the youth, trying to see into his eyes, glancing him up and down as a faint recognition passed over her features. "Who the hell are you?"
"Saint Gabriel Possenti," Alessandro said. "At least, that is what Master Fëdor bid me say to you when you asked that question."
"TEMPLAR!" she screamed, backing up in abject fear.
"Go," Alessandro bid the other two. "I will be fine."
Luther nodded in confusion, the two of them sprinting past Sephradon as they clambered through the open side hatch of the Wyvern, Luther falling into the cockpit and slapping controls to bring the heavy bomber online. Charging the Polian Cloaking device that would be their key to getting home.
Riley strapped himself into the co-pilot's seat and leaned to glance out of the cockpit window. "The boy is insane…"
"He's a Templar," Luther said with a shrug as he ran his pre-flight.
Back on the connecting gangway - Geldan System - Republican Territory
~~*~~
Sephradon watched him warily, wondering wryly what she had gotten herself into. She was normally more careful than that, but in her haste and natural impatience to exact her revenge on Riley, she hadn't taken her usual precautions. Now she had to watch the Templar carefully. See what kind of a fighter he was.
He took a few steps forward and she adjusted herself accordingly, her feet ringing on the metal deck plates of the connecting bridge of the docking bay as she sidestepped and then backed up two paces. Alessandro's eyes narrowed and he took a few more steps forward, though a smile played on his features. She took a few more steps back, into a support beam.
Brilliant.
As soon as she backed into the support beam, his finger pulled back on the trigger of the black rod weapon. Maybe she had been more in range that she had thought. Maybe he had been tricking her. Herding her.
The Polian weapon spat out shards of barbed crystal connected by high tensile wire to the device in his hand. The cables were definitely losing altitude, but they would still hit her if she didn't move. So she jumped. Sephradon didn't have too much time to think, so she just moved forward, the cables passing behind her and wrapping around the support girder. She didn't expect what came next.
Alessandro had reloaded immediately, and then fired again, right as she jumped. Now that she was closer to him, the cables were going to hit her square in the chest. Luckily, she reacted quickly enough to jump directly behind him.
Now she knew he was what he claimed to be…
"Almost." Sephradon said tauntingly, as he spun around, pulling out another cartridge and reloading. She had to hand it to him. He was much faster at this than the last Templar who had hunted her.
Her direct attacks would be futile, the innate dampening field he was generating countered anything she had, and all she could do was jump to keep away from it, and him. Looking for a way to strike at him that didn't involve a direct attack.
"I try." He replied, his words icy.
She jumped again, close to him, and he instinctively fired, though he missed as Sephradon jumped away. It went on like this for a few minutes, with Sephradon jumping close and then safely away, over and over again. As a result, the Templar became more and more careful about firing off his weapon. He was using up all of his ammo, and without any kind of back up.
"Last bullet, eh? Better hope it hits. Then it's my turn…" Sephradon said, advancing a few steps with a grin. When she was a few yards away, his finger tightened on the trigger and she jumped away. She appeared a few meters to the left, looking vaguely confused.
"Getting a little jumpy there, Sephradon?" Alessandro asked all-too-sweetly, tapping his weapon suggestively. He hadn't fired off his last available ammunition.
Sephradon's eyes narrowed. "Just a bit. Getting a little more desperate?"
"Possibly." He sidestepped a few paces, and then advanced toward her. Sephradon got the impression that he was herding him somewhere again, for a specific reason that might give him the advantage. Her eyes narrowed as she took a hesitant step back. He took three more. She took one more tentative step back as he gained a few more paces on him, and then she couldn't resist any longer. She glanced backwards to make sure that she wasn't going to run into anything that could slow her down. Alessandro pulled the trigger.
In a way, it was the moment they had both been waiting for. For Sephradon, the Templar had fired his last shot, and she could now come closer and still be relatively safe. For Alessandro, she had made a fatal mistake that would give him that advantage he had been waiting for.
Sephradon had been ready for the shot to go off, and she jumped. This time, she wasn't keeping her distance, since he had no more ammo, and she jumped right behind his. He had been expecting this, and in one swift movement, he had spun around and his fist connected with her side. Gripped in his hand was a small black tube, and she wouldn't have needed what happened next to be able to tell what it was.
10,000 volts of electricity coursed out of the black stick and through her, and she fell back, tripping over her own feet and writhing in pain. It was bearable, but as she twitched backwards and tried to jump, she knew that he had the upper hand. She flickered in and out of vision as Alessandro dragged the combat knife from her scabbard and looked down at her, a smirk on his face.
"I'm not new at this you know. What did you expect?" He then lunged for her, the knife in his hands going for her throat, and she rolled to the side, staggering to her feet. She jumped away as soon as she could, only having to stumble a few feet away before she was able to. She didn't try to go any one place at all, which was why she ended up back on Earth.
Wyvern Bomber - Geldan System - Republican Territory
~~*~~
"Go," Riley commanded, tapping Luther on the shoulder as Alessandro charged up and into the back of the bomber, throwing his shoulder into the sliding side hatch of the heavy assault vessel, slamming it closed and rotating the heavy latch that pressurized them inside.
Luther guided the Wyvern into a hurried takeoff, hands darting over the controls, activating the cloaking device. Punching coordinates into the jump nav computer.
"No," Riley stated, reaching down and changing the co-ordinates. "We aren't done here yet."
Luther began to protest, but simply inclined his head as he hit the jump trigger, blasting the ship clear of the Battlecruiser in a roar.