Chapter 2: The Fist and the Glove
Darin Antall looked at the plans on his datapad and frowned. There were too many exits, too many sight-lines. He smoothed his plain grey dress uniform uniform for the tenth time as his assignment approached.
It was, in theory, a prestigious mission: escort Rosh Berana, Republic Senator and Ambassador, to the trade talks with Unity Coalition on Telarus, at some historical temple or whatnot. In practice, it was making Darin's uniform feel ill-fitted, and making him think longingly of his rack back aboard the Unbound, which was currently in orbit, but not around Telarus; as a show of good faith, the Republic dreadnaught had parked around the planet's moon, almost four hundred thousand miles away.
Darin shifted his feet, feeling each tiny shard of gravel; the gravity was too high for his taste. It was a disadvantage piled atop a heap of disadvantages that had grown so high, he could barely see a glimmer of hope should things end badly. He smoothed his uniform again as the Senator approached, surrounded by a small entourage of assistants. He pivoted on his heel and called his platoon to attention, only turning to face the Senator's party when he heard the crunch of gravel directly behind him.
The blond-haired Senator gave an easy smile and extended his hand. "Rosh Berana of Milaf City, Alderaan," he said.
Darin extended his hand stiffly, having been prepared to salute. "Sergeant Darin Antall of the 19th Marine Regiment, currently assigned to the 7th Expeditionary Unit," he said. "It's my platoon's duty to escort you while on-planet."
The Senator laughed. "If they'd wanted me dead, why not just shoot down my ship?"
Darin's eyes narrowed as he scanned the horizon. "It would give away too much too soon, sir. The Unbound would detect it, and it would reveal those anti-air emplacements as targets."
The Senator laughed again and clapped Darin on the shoulder, knocking him slightly out of his position of attention. "Well, I have faith you'll take care of me if they decide to spring their malevolent trap today, Sergeant," he said. "Is there anything I need to do?" he asked, surveying the platoon.
Darin pivoted again and addressed his Marines, their white armor gleaming in the sun, their faces stern beneath their white, open-faced helmets. "First squad, you stay with the Senator at all times. Second and Third squads, I want fireteams fifty yards ahead, to the rear, port and starboard. Fourth squad, double-time to the Convent to assess the situation. The Republic is waiting on the Senator, and the Senator will be waiting on you, understood? Make it quick. Fall out!"
The Marines hurried about their tasks, checking their weapons as they assumed their positions.
The Senator looked around the landing field, where another ship nearby was throttling up its engines to depart, and a dozen teams of mechanics and maintenance staff went about their duties. "Sergeant," the Senator said, "Your men should try to be polite. We're guests here, after all."
Darin decided to ignore the remark. "Senator, we need to get you inside," he said, signaling the platoon to move.
The Senator followed as they ushered him into the terminal, where the crowds of travelers gave the Marines a wide berth. Darin looked around carefully until he found an unused boarding area where they could wait for Fourth squad's report.
"Senator," he asked as they settled in, ignoring the wary stares of the passersby, "This was the site of the previous trade negotiations, yes? Is there anything about the Convent that I should know?"
The Senator's brow furrowed. "No," he said eventually, "Nothing you'd find particularly interesting. It was a temple where an ancient religious order lived, an all-female enclave devoted to craft and spirituality. Eventually it became a center for trade, and the religion's restriction became more and more relaxed, until eventually-"
"Understood, Senator," Darin said, cutting him short before this became a full-on history lesson, "As you said, nothing of interest."
His comlink buzzed and he tapped his earpiece to accept the incoming coded, but unencrypted message – Darin did not want to give Unity forces a chance to analyze their encryption. The message was good news, however; five long tones and one short, meaning that Fourth squad had arrived at the Convent and found nothing immediately suspicious.
"Senator, are you and your advisers ready to move?" he asked, already signaling his Marines.
The Senator nodded, but placed a hand on Darin's shoulder. "Sergeant," he said, hesitant, "I feel I need to remind you that we aren't in a combat zone. This is the economic center of the Unity Coalition, not a battlefield. Your men should be relaxing and chatting up the locals, not waving their guns around. We're trying to avoid a war, not start one."
Darin looked at the Senator's hand until the man removed it. "Senator Berana, my orders are to ensure your safety, and they come from the Imperator himself. But he has made clear that my mission also includes a responsibility to represent the Republic alongside you. If you would observe more closely, you will see that my Marines are not "waving" anything. They will keep their rifles trained safely on the ground until something such time as they are ordered to engage or are themselves engaged. The Unity Coalition will be reminded of our strength and our discipline, Senator. Now let us proceed and get these negotiations underway."
As the Senator gathered his entourage, Darin reflected on the teeming masses in the starport terminal. The Senator rejoined him. "See anything, Sergeant?" he asked.
"No military or police presence anywhere to be seen," Darin noted.
The Senator nodded. "Unity civilians are infamous for their dislike of armed guards," he said. It made Darin's skin itch, but he kept this to himself as the Senator went on.
"The Unity Coalition sees us as a monster, do you know that? They think we have our sights on their independence."
Darin scoffed. "As if we'd attack them unprovoked," he said. "The Republic has never begun a war of aggression in all its history."
Yes, well," the Senator said, "The Coalition have apparently found a few of our wars of self-defense to be less-than-justified. And when we liberated the Axol cluster from the Tion Hegemony, they still call that the 'Axol Invasion'."
Darin walked with the Senator as the entire party – Ambassador, advisers, and Marines – moved through the terminal, clearing a wide path through the civilian traffic.
"I can't believe no-one's been sent to meet us," Darin commented. "Feels like an insult. Or worse."
"It is rather odd," the Senator agreed, "But it's more likely they simply didn't want to present a military force as our first welcome."
Darin eyed the Senator. "Are you implying that my Marines send the wrong message?"
The Senator gave Darin an incredulous look. "Sergeant, I believe I've been trying to say exactly that since we landed. Your people are terrifyingly effective, I'm sure, but they're only adding to the problem. The Coalition sees us as overly military, expansionist. The people here have been raised to view us as imperialistic opportunists just waiting to drive them from their homes. And now with the Axol cluster officially joining the Republic, we share a border with the Coalition for the first time in history. That's why these talks are so important: if we can finally establish a solid economic bond between our peoples, the rest should follow."
Darin wasn't so sure. He had seen the Coalition weapons in the hands of Axol insurgents, seen their ships' weapons trained at the Unbound. "Senator, if they want war, they'll get it. Let's just pray that it doesn't start with your head."
They reached the starport exit and stepped outside, the Convent towering ahead – a conical stone structure, its walls were covered glimmering gemstones arranged in intricate spiral patterns, a vast fractal curve. Fourth squad met them as they approached, and Darin broke away to receive their report, taking a knee to confer with the squad leader.
"Sergeant," the squad leader said, his voice low, "The place is empty except for a small staff who seem to be setting up for the talks. The Unity diplomats are waiting on the other side of the building, and I'm betting they'll enter as soon as we do. They've got a few armed guards, civilian police it looks like. But Bron hacked their comms, and found out they're in contact with a larger force nearby, sounds like a military base."
Darin looked at Bron and nodded in approval. "Trooper Bron, excellent work." He turned back to the Corporal. "Josen was right, then; he thought he saw a base nearby when we were de-orbiting. I take it there was nothing to indicate a trap?"
The Corporal, Hinji, shook his head. "It was standard stuff; they're keeping an eye on the Unbound, and they've got cameras in the terminal that were watching us. They're nervous, but it's hard to say if that's because they've got something planned or if they just don't like us."
Darin tugged at his sleeve. "I wish I was wearing my armor either way. I hate this damn thing," he said, and Hinji grinned in agreement.
"Well Sergeant," Hinji joked, "At least you know Jens won't hide behind you if they start shooting."
Corporal Jens was a few feet away, still guarding the Senator, but he had heard, and made an obscene gesture at Hinji. "It's called cover jackass," he hissed, trying to whisper long-distance "I was-"
Darin straightened up. "Lock it up," he said, forcefully, and his Marines obeyed, resuming their bearing. Hinji and his squad stood as well, and Darin gave them new orders. "You're watching the exit," he said. "Split into fireteams. You stay here where we came in, second fireteam goes all the way around and secures the other side. Don't talk to anybody, don't say anything. Just take up a post at the door. If they ask you anything, ignore them. They need to know who's in control of this situation and that we're not afraid of them."
"Aye, sergeant," Hinji affirmed, and began relaying the orders to his squad. Darin returned to the Senator, who was tapping his foot impatiently.
"Sergeant, these talks are scheduled to begin now," he said.
Darin beckoned Second and Third squads to form up. "Just a moment, Senator," he said, then addressed his Marines. "Fourth squad is on lookout out here; First squad, you're coming inside with me. Third, I need you to secure this entrance to the starport in case we have to retreat. Fourth, you're heading back to the ships. Keep and eye on the Senator's shuttle, but if we need to get out of here in a hurry, we'll just take the dropship and blast the shuttle on the way out."
The Senator's eyes widened at this, and after Darin gave the command to fall out, he patted the Senator's arm. "Just a precaution," he said; reassuringly, he hoped. "We've got ears on a base nearby, so we should have some advance warning if they start to move."
The Senator gave him another look, but gathered his advisers and headed toward the Convent. A group of Unity dignitaries had finally come out to meet them, and Darin stifled a yawn as the diplomats droned pleasantries for a few minutes.
Suddenly, Darin realized the people nearby were no longer staring at his team, but instead looking up at the sky. Darin followed their gaze and almost jumped in shock.
Overhead, the Unbound was clearly visible – lower than low orbit, it was in the atmosphere. Suddenly one of the Unity diplomats tapped a comlink and listened intently, casting suspicious glances at the Senator as he did so.
Darin's own comlink buzzed – a call from the Unbound. "Status, over?"
"Status is green," Darin replied, "What's the situation up there, over?"
"Energy build-up near your location, dropping in to discourage attack. Stay cautious, Actual out."
Darin blinked in confusion, but before he could process, the Unity diplomat was yelling something and he turned to listen.
"Why has your warship left the moon's orbit?" he demanded, but the Senator could only offer him a placating non-answer.
Deciding to take a step in the direction of cooperation, Darin spoke up. "Sir, the Unbound detected an energy build-up and got closer to investigate."
The diplomat waved a hand dismissively. "The only energy build-up was our guns when we saw a Republic dreadnaught entering our atmosphere at full speed." He rounded on Senator Berana, "You will explain yourselves! You bring a contingent of your stormtroopers to our doorstep and now you bring a dreadnought down on our heads. Can your Republic do nothing without turning it into an invasion?"
Berana held his hands out again. "Please, this is obviously a misunderstanding-"
Darin's commling buzzed again. It was Hinji, on voice comms – which he had been specifically ordered to avoid using. "Sergeant," his voice said through the tiny earpiece, "My second fireteam has been engaged. The coalition tried to stop them from guarding the exit, it went hand-to-hand. They need orders!"
Darin interrupted the diplomats' argument. He grabbed the Unity delegate. "You will order your people on the other side of this building to disengage with my Marines, sir!" he shouted as the diplomat squirmed.
Suddenly it was too late; the pang of blaster fire was audible even from the other side of the towering Convent. The Senator tried to grab Darin from behind, and the Unity diplomats turned to run. Hinji was shouting something in his ear, but Darin could make nothing out through static – Unity jamming, he realized.
Faced with imminent attack, Darin gave the only order he could think of, the order he had feared he would need to give since the moment he set foot on this planet.
He keyed his comlink, signaling all squads. "Open fire!" he ordered, "And fall back to the dropship!"
The Senator, crestfallen, released Darin's arm. "This is madness," he muttered, but he turned and ran back toward the starport.
"Second and Third, stay with the Senator!" Darin barked. "First squad! You're with me. We're going back for Fourth."
The Senator glared as he ran, but Darin ignored him, grabbing Jens and taking his sidearm. Jens had his rifle aimed toward the Convent, and together, Darin, Jens, and the rest of First squad broke into a run back toward the huge structure.
Darin could see the flash of blaster fire from inside; Hinji had likely tried to cut through the building to reach his second fireteam.
First squad stacked up on the doorway and entered according to protocol, forgoing their usual grenade in light of their comrades' proximity.
The inside of the Convent was a mess. It had been set up as a large amphitheater, but the stage was empty and unlit. Instead, the only illumination came from the blasters of Hinji and the Unity police on the other side of the hall; Hinji had flipped several benches to serve as cover, flipping more as he advanced. Darin and his squad came in firing, catching the Unity troops off-guard. They felled two of them, and as the others retreated Darin's squad joined Hinji's fireteam.
Hinji coughed; the smoke in the amphitheater was thick. "Report!" Darin ordered, noting the burn on Hinji's arm.
Hinji cleared his throat and spat, loudly. "Damn Unity bastards hit us while we were on our way through the building to second fireteam. Bron and Serren and Jol and Bula are over there, we heard shots but then they stopped."
Darin dragged Hinji to his feet. "Come on," he shouted "We're going to get them, right now. Our boat is leaving Marines!"
The squads hopped the benches, rifles at the ready. Hinji kept trying to signal his second fireteam, but the jamming was at full power, and nothing but static filled the airwaves. The door to the outside had been locked, preventing the second fireteam from entering; a few seconds of blaster fire unlocked it.
Outside again, things looked even worse for Bron than they had for Hinji; Bula lay dead on the ground at the door, and Bron, Serren, and Jol were on one knee with no cover, firing at a dozen black-armored Unity troopers across the plaza. Bron's right arm was burned off at the elbow, the barrel of his rifle resting across the stump as he tried to aim with his left hand.
Darin grabbed the back of his armor and dragged him inside. "Bron, status!" he shouted, holding his fellow Marine upright.
Bron's head wavered, but he answered. "Too many of them. Lost Bula..." he said, but trailed off.
Darin braced himself, then swung the injured man over his shoulders, grunting from the strain. He pulled Hinji back inside as well while the others added to the covering fire.
He told Hinji the plan. "We're getting off of this planet! We move around the outside of this rathole and get back to the dropship. Grab Bula, and let's go."
Hinji nodded silently – the Republic did not leave its troopers to the enemy, not if they could help it.
Outside again, Jens took Bron from Darin with ease – Jens had been raised a farmer on Selaron, a world with almost twice the gravity of even this heavy, oversized Unity planet. Darin slapped his arm in thanks as they fired wildly at the Unity forces, which seemed to grow more numerous by the second.
They hugged the wall of the Convent, blaster fire searing the air around them as the Unity troops tried to pin them down. Bron was still trying to fire from across Jens's shoulders; First squad had lost Yondin and Carel, whose bodies were now carried by Solin and Anton.
Finally they rounded the building and Darin's plan paid off – they had left the shadow of the Convent, and now the sun was directly in front of them, blinding their pursuers.
They staggered across the parking lot toward the starport entrance; Darin could smell the burnt flesh of his Marines, and wondered if some of it was his own. Their armor was covered in blast marks, but their injuries were mostly at the joints; Darin's dress uniform provided no such protection. He looked down and saw a few burned patches of uniform, but nothing deepr, and breathed a sigh of relief – only to look back up and felt that relief turn to ashes.
A dozen Unity troopers descended from the hovering attack craft that had swooped overhead; his Marines dropped half of them before they landed, but the rest advanced, wearing heavy powered armor.
Darin looked around wildly – no cover, no relief. He steeled himself and aimed his handgun at the attack craft overhead, looking for a shot at the pilot. If he was going to die, he wanted to at least go out with a bang.
But before he could fire fruitlessly at the hovering black ship, a high-pitched whine grew to a deafening roar behind him. Spinning to look, he barely saw a silhouette of his dropship as it careened overhead, smashing through the small Unity craft in a fiery collision that fizzled harmlessly outside the Republic ship's superior shields.
The dropship descended to mere inches from the ground, and Darin's Marines tossed their wounded and dead aboard before boarding themselves.
Once he was sure his Marines were safe, Darin himself climbed aboard, taking the hand offered – and looked up to find the Senator pulling him up.
Without a word, the two looked out from the open doors of the dropship as the planet's surface receded. Suddenly the Convent vanished in a flash of green light, leaving only a towering pillar of smoke rising from the ground where it had stood.
The Unbound's bombardment continued as they ascended, and didn't stop until they were safely aboard.