Chapter 26 – Stand Forth

Sacred Army Column, Renigh

Kalat Arm

Unknown Regions

1 BBY

Ji found the others not long after. Kamick was talking animatedly with Chloe, while Drado and Cyc walked behind. They have quickly become friends, surprising, Ji thought, considering the inauspicious beginning. Does he find her attractive? She studied the deputy's movements for a moment. Perhaps he does, she thought. Well fair enough, the noblewoman admitted. She acknowledged that there had been little exposure to members of the opposite sex for some time. Irregardless of the boundaries of superior and subordinate, Ji had no interest in Kamick in that way, a mutual feeling. They were friends, but nothing beyond that, there was no chemistry otherwise.

For the best, Ji knew. It had made matters much less complicated. That Kamick should latch onto the alluring and mysterious shade knight was hardly surprising. Ji suspected the stealthy warrior was not used to prolonged contact with anyone outside of brutal operations, and had proven open to the attention. For now the squad leader filed away the observation. It might come in handy later.

"How did it go?" Kamick asked when she returned.

"I have agreed to assist the Duke in his struggle," Ji told them. "I hope you are with me. This is not going to be easy."

The deputy shrugged. "I don't know if there's anything else to do at this point," He lacked enthusiasm, but was at least supportive. The others nodded in chorus.

"We are traveling to a place called Iron Gateway," Ji explained. "It is a defensible position, and there this army will make its stand. The trick it to find a way to turn out a victory."

"How many Imperials?" Cyc asked.

"About a thousand," Ji repeated what the duke had told her. "Army troopers and dispatched navy personnel."

"Too many," The droid shook his head, sounding hopeless. "That's just too many guns, even if you get them to walk into a trap, they could gun this whole army down in a minute."

It was precisely the point the Duke had just made, the central problem indeed. "We must come up with a way to disrupt the imperial attack so this army can close," Ji exhorted. "They don't have heavy support equipment, it's nothing but soldiers, there ought to be a way." There's the four missing super-soldiers Ji recalled, but there was no way to plan for what those monsters would do. She doubted they'd be actively deployed alongside line troops though.

"You're talking about suppressing them long enough to make a charge, right?" Kamick clarified. He did not sound confident.

Drado grunted. "Yes, it is a long ways," Ji admitted.

"Three hundred meters," Cyc announced, pulling heads around. "That's the standard engagement range with an E-11 blaster rifle. Against unarmored targets you could probably start shooting earlier, but I doubt these Imperials will waste ammo. To suppress them before engaging means either a weapon that hits from further than that, or some kind of trap we can use against them."

Ji nodded, the droid had analyzed the particulars correctly.

"Do your people have anything with that kind of range?" Kamick asked the shade knight.

"How far is three hundred meters?" Chloe questioned, not having a reference.

"About from here to that blue tent," Cyc pointed at a distant medical pavilion.

"That is further than the strongest bow can shoot," Chloe told them. "Only siege weapons could reach so far, and that is wizard business."

"Siege weapons?" Ji confessed to not understanding what these people meant by such a thing.

"Catapults, ballistae, and similar primitive devices no doubt," Cyc illuminated the subject as Chloe nodded. "Devices designed to hurl metal bolts or stones."

"Such weapons are for attacking castles, or defending them," Chloe protested. "You cannot hit a man from beyond bowshot with one, only great masses of troops or large walls."

So that idea will not serve us, Ji determined. A pity, I understand the uses of artillery, and it would serve well in this case. A fixed defense without heavy guns is weak indeed, but I suppose to strike only a few hundred imperials it would be inefficient anyway.

"Oh, I don't know about that," Cyc objected. "There might be a way to get around the accuracy issue." The droid walked over to a nearby stone wall, grabbed several small stones, and eventually settled on one roughly twice the size of his fist. "About two kilograms ought to do it." He looked back at Ji. "Why don't you get the duke to round up these wizards, tell them I want them to build a machine that can throw this rock six hundred meters distant, and never mind the accuracy."

"What good will that do?" Kamick barked, and Ji agreed with the sentiment. At such a range, on a parabolic trajectory, that rock wouldn't even kill an Imperial if it struck him straight in the helmet.

"Humor me, call it an experiment," The droid was deliberately mysterious. "I'll see the rest of you in a few hours, I've got some things to collect."

Not having a better plan, Ji did as Cyc had instructed. The wizards were duly gathered and she watched as they worked. She dispatched Drado and Kamick to wander the camp, hoping to take the measure of the knights assembled, and provide additional detail on how their talents might be used.

The wizards gradually assembled a strange device that consisted of a sling mounted on the end of a long spar. This connected to a large wooden frame and was fastened into place by a rope under considerable tension. There was a great deal of consulting of old books during this process, as if they had not built such a device in a long time.

Ji asked the wizards about this and received a simple answer. "This is an old system, present devices are designed to throw much larger projectiles. These fire faster, but cannot throw anything heavy. Why do you want such a small stone to fly so far? It will not hit anything at that range."

"My companion has a way to counter that issue, and I do not intend to spoil the surprise," Ji did not know what Cyc had planned herself. There were any number of ways to guide such a projectile, but they all required technology these people did not have. She supposed this device could also be used to fire one of Cyc's grenades, but the supply of those devices was decidedly limited.

The droid returned later in the afternoon, as much of the camp had been cleared and was on the road. The wizards were clearly eager to join their fellows, for despite their arcane name these men were actually military scientists and apparently attached slings to their staves in battle and fought just as hard as everyone else. "So what's your plan?" Ji asked as Cyc approached.

"This," The analysis droid dropped a small iron globe into the sling. "Point this thing far away from everything and fire it off." He told the wizards.

Muttering quizzically, the robed men did so.

One lined the device up, measured for range, and struck off the holding pin.

The arm shot forward, throwing the ball the full six hundred meters.

It struck the ground with a tremendous boom.

Explosives! Ji recognized immediately. "What did you do?" she rounded on Cyc. "Where did you find ordinance?"

"I didn't find it, I made it," Cyc shrugged. "Ultimately, it's just highly concentrated gunpowder, a ridiculously primitive explosive that can be synthesized from readily available chemical components. It's not powerful, but two kilograms is sufficient to propel weak iron slivers a considerable distance at high velocity, creating a powerful shrapnel discharge. Useless against stormtroopers, but the equipment of the imperial army has a lot of gaps."

The functional radius of that explosion is probably between ten and twenty meters, Ji reasoned, but if this explosive really is common, and if enough of these catapults were constructed, it might be possible to manage a real barrage. "We need to be able to deliver sustained fire over an area at least two hundred meters long by one hundred meters wide for a minute or more." Ji told Cyc. "I'll speak to the Duke, and I suspect he'll give you the authority. Make it happen."

"But, but!" The droid protested. "I can't command something like that."

"You just gave the nighten artillery," Ji retorted mercilessly. "It's your responsibility to take care of it, and you will have to succeed, this is our best chance."

He can do it, Ji knew, the droid was surprisingly ingenious, and she had been impressed by the rapid construction of the wizards. The technology was primitive, but they understood military engineering. They could build what was necessary given time and a little motive. She only hoped it was possible to produce enough of this gunpowder to conduct a barrage. She went looking for the Duke, it was time to incorporate this new element into the battle plan.

Kamick woke up in the morning with an odd sense of foreboding. He rolled out of his sleeping bag early, before Drado or Chloe. Walking about the quite camp, with only guards, grooms, and cooks stirring, his mind churned with questions.

What am I doing here?

He didn't have an answer. Oh, it was all well and good to fight with the nighten, but he knew he had nothing to contribute to this army. Ji did, she could help plan the battle, she understood strategy and imperial tactics. So could Cyc, the droid was laboring away on some master plan to build a thousand catapults and blow the Empire apart. What can I do? I'm just a guy with a blaster pistol and a bit of the Force. He supposed that might be helpful in some small way, but one blaster wasn't going to make much of a difference, and the nighten had their own Force users, even if their talents were pretty limited. Chloe's abilities were weaker than his own half-trained Zeison Sha skills. Even so, he thought. In a charge of thousands of cavalry would a few thrown rocks made a difference?

I'm in the wrong place, Kamick realized. This isn't what I should be doing, marching with the nighten to their likely doom. No, their inevitable doom, he amended. Even if they win, if all the Imperials die there's a man on that frigate in orbit and he'll order a bombardment, I know he will. That's what the Empire had always done in the Kalat Arm, if they lost, they bombarded. I bet they blew up something on Kratovas after we left, he considered. It wouldn't be a surprise at all.

That's got to be stopped. The real threat's up on that ship, not down here. The labs aren't here, they're up there. It's the real danger. We, I, need to hit that ship.

But how can we? Nomad Sentry can get there, Kamick remembered. Probably a one way trip, but she could get there. Well, one way, whatever, there's always escape pods, shuttles, plenty of ways off a ship, and if not, too bad. He could accept a suicide mission, it wasn't like this march was any different. The frigate's full of men though, Nomad Sentry can only fit a handful, that's not enough to do the job, we'd never make it to the labs.

Then, as dawn broke over the reddish canopy, staining it bloody, he recalled what Ji had said about the enemy yesterday. Imperial army and navy personnel. Everyone's down here! The ship's got a skeleton crew aboard, plus whatever scientists there are. The trained soldiers are all down on the planet. A team could hit it!

He went to see Ji after breakfast. The noblewoman was busy, juggling many things at once, pressed into the role of adviser to the Duke, a role she did not desire, but seemed to fit her well in the deputy's eyes. "Yes?" She looked over to him as he arrived.

"I'm going back to the Nomad Sentry," Kamick told her.

As he'd expected, this got Ji's attention. "Excuse me?" she sputtered.

"I'm not doing any good here, so I'm going to take a mission and hit their ship," He kept his voice stern, though Ji's skeptical gaze was hard to face.

"That's madness," She told him. "There's no way you could accomplish anything on that ship! There's far too many imperials."

"No," Kamick shook his head. "They stripped the crew off to fight down here. I asked Cyc, a Pelta-class frigate has a crew of nine hundred and three hundred soldiers. That means there's at most two hundred on board, a commando team can move in against that." He didn't stop. "Ji, it has to be done, you know it as well as I do. Otherwise, winning here just means being obliterated by turbolaser fire. The labs are on that ship, we'll never get a better chance to hit them. I'm going."

"How will you get back in time?" she asked, stalling slightly. "We are far from the Nomad Sentry, matters here would be done before you can walk back."

"The Duke can provide horses, he must have spares," Kamick refused to be dissuaded. "Even if I have to go myself, I'm going."

"You have almost no chance," Ji looked at him with deep sadness in her eyes. "I do not want to send you to certain death."

"And your odds are great here on the ground?" he retorted, pressing ahead. "One gun won't make a difference down here, but I can make a difference up there."

"Yes, you could," Ji agreed, eyes watering. "Very well. I will give you the codes for the Nomad Sentry. You should ask Drado to go with you, no doubt he would desire to take part, and his help will be invaluable. Perhaps the Duke has a few warriors useful in such an operation as well."

He had intended to ask for Drado's help, but had not expected Ji to offer it. Her sudden support was shocking, and it must have shown on his face.

"There are many possibilities in such an operation," Ji explained. "If you take the ship, or even a turbolaser battery, it may be possible to end all our troubles down here in a few moments. Beyond that, we must strike at the labs, you are right. Find the scientists behind this and put an end to it. Otherwise this world, no world, can ever be free of the Empire."

She stood up. "I will go speak to the Duke," Then suddenly she turned back. "One small thing. I will not allow Chloe to go with you."

Kamick's mouth dropped open. He had not even realized it consciously, but yes, he had intended to ask the shade knight to go. She was good close-quarters fighter, and understood modern weapons better than any of the other nighten. "Why?"

"That way you will have something to come back to," Ji said cryptically.

What did she mean by that?

At mid-morning Kamick stood beside a saddled horse, with Drado and four others, all nighten warriors. Two were shade knights, one was an archer knight, and they were led by a stern-faced duel knight woman named Nicole. They were said to be elite warriors, and based on the looks the Kyuzo was giving them, Kamick believed it.

Goodbyes had been given by all in the group, though it was unclear who was more likely to perish in the coming days. Drado had given Ji a stern hug, causing the noblewoman to blush crimson at the breach of protocol. Cyc saw them off with a quick 'give 'em hell' and was back to work.

The deputy found he was facing Chloe at the last.

He had not expected the shade knight to come and see him, she had her own duties no doubt, but he was glad she was there.

"So, you are to strike at the enemy's castle while his army marches," She told him. "I wish I could go, but Lady Jia has ordered I shall lead a column of skirmishers." It was a great honor for the young woman, and certainly not one she could refuse.

"Good luck," Kamick told her. "I'm sure it will be a great victory."

"And you also," Chloe returned.

"There is something else," The deputy said in a bit of embarrassment. He reached into his saddlebags and pulled out a modest object; Irina's discblade. He held it out to Chloe.

"What is...?" The nighten's confusion was palpable.

"It's likely to be a rough ride," Kamick said sheepishly. "We blew out a lot of stabilizers on the way down, and I think Drado's probably going to crash us into the hangar," He babbled. "Anyway, this is brittle now, and I couldn't bear to break it like that. So could you keep it in a safe place for me?" really he didn't think the Discblade was that fragile, but he didn't want the Empire to take it from his body if he fell. They didn't deserve such a piece of art.

"I can, yes, if that is your wish," Chloe reached out, brushing his gloved hands with her gauntlets. "But you must let me give you something in return." She reached back and detached one of the red scarves from the back of her armor. "Here," She wrapped it around his shield.

Kamick felt himself blushing as Chloe leaned in close.

"And this," The shade knight yanked on the scarf with on hand, pulling him toward her. With her left hand she pulled the mask down from her face, reaching in to kiss him.

Kamick impulsively wrapped an arm around her slender waist. Her lips tasted of iron and sweat, but there was a deep tenderness and sweetness to her touch, the enhanced sensation coming from constant concealment.

Chloe pulled back after a moment, taking a breath and pulling her mask into place that he was never able to get any true glimpse of her face. "I will see you when you return." She whispered, then dashed off, shadows wrapping around her till she vanished from his sight.

Stunned, the deputy looked after her for a long moment, until Drado grunted at him. "Empires wait on no man," The Kyuzo intoned in Huttese. "And battle beckons."

"Right," Kamick nodded. They had work to do.

He swung up on the horse. "Let's go!" he yelled, kicking into motion. "Time to end this."

Chapter Notes

The Nighten catapults are a onager design, a fairly refined medieval weapon.

It really isn't that difficult to acquire the components to make low-quality gunpowder in a low tech environment.