Tales of the Amber Vipers Chapter 136

*Bork'an Sept*

A Manta bomber cruised through the orbital lanes at a leisurely pace, its path clear of civilian traffic as it ascended to its rendezvous. To the eye it was a flying wing, with swept-back ascending tips to the edges. Larger than any other support craft, it straddled the line between ordnance and escort frigate, it's bulk equal to a whole squadron of lesser vehicles. Its hull was lined with guns, cannons and missile emplacements and it boasted energy shielding over much of its frontage. The Tau Empires' answer to the super-heavy units of other races, part transport, part bomber and part air superiority interdictor, the Manta was feared by pilots and soldiers alike.

Within the cavernous hold Alohvar leaned back in his grav-chair and meditated. The vast troop bay had the capacity to house a whole Cadre, but currently held only four Crisis suits and their pilots. They were being shuttled to the test ship, where Alohvar would assume command of the Cadre. He had read the briefing notes and was far from happy, he would have preferred a Retaliation Cadre or Optimised Stealth Cadre but he would have to make do with a Seeker Cadre. He tried to tell himself this mission was long-range reconnaissance, not heavy combat but he couldn't quite believe it. He knew what was waiting among the stars and believed they would need a lot more firepower to overcome the obstacles ahead.

Meanwhile his comrades were examining a holo-projection of local space, pointing out various vessels as they came and went. Teq'ila exclaimed, "There, that Explorer has to be the one."

Bruch'ich snorted, "You are wrong, the Kor'vattra would never risk an Explorer on so dangerous a mission. They horde their venerable battleships like a Jokaero does spare parts."

"It has to be," Teq'ila protested.

Spiy'tus leaned in and suggested, "What about that Emissary-class beyond the terminus?"

"Emissary!" Teq'ila spat, "A diplomat's vessel, good enough for the Water Caste but not for Fire Warriors. We need firepower and sturdy defences, I'm telling you it has to be that Explorer!"

Yet Bruch'ich frowned as he said, "Wait… we're angling upwards, over them both. The test-ship is neither."

"Then what?!" Teq'ila spat, "Coldsteel, are you going to let us guess forever or simply tell us?!"

Alohvar decided to put them out of their misery and said, "Look upwards, see the furthest vessel out. Highest in the orbital lanes."

They stared into the Holo-projection and Spiy'tus asked, "What, behind that beat-up old Merchant-class?"

Alohvar sighed, "No… not behind it."

"You don't mean…" Teq'ila hissed, "Oh you do. That heap of junk is the test ship?!"

Alohvar explained, "The Dal'yth Ilfannor Nub'a C'erda, the only ship the Kor'Vattra was willing to part with for the experimental program. She's been fitted with Slipstream Drives and her grav-hooks replaced with Ion cannons."

Teq'ila shook his head and lamented, "They couldn't even give us a couple of Kass'l escorts, they truly do consider us expendable."

But Bruch'ich scolded, "The Merchant-class is the workhorse of the fleet. A tried and proven design. We should be grateful that we will sail in a vessel that knows the stars well. She will bring us home again."

Silence fell as the manta began its approach, matching velocities to meet the ship at a relative crawl. The Merchant grew from a speck of metal into a moving mountain in space, its spine and flanks supporting bulky modules, railguns and shields while its bow turned into a sweeping semi-circular prow. A looming launch bay swelled in the projection and Alohvar watched as it swallowed the craft whole, even a super-heavy bomber dwarfed by the epic bulk of a void-faring starship. Bursts of exhaust from plasma jets settled them on the hanger floor and then Alohvar stood up and prepared to meet his new command.

He walked towards the rear of the Manta's hold, where a ramp descended to allow egress. He stepped into the light of the hanger and stood there, surveying his new Cadre as they marched into the bay to meet him. In orderly lines came six Fire Warrior teams, each a dozen strong, bearing long pulse rifles crisply as their Shas'ui led them. At their flanks came two teams of Pathfinders, their compact Pulse rifles held close to their chests. Then Drones, with underslung weapons protruding beyond the circular rim of their hoverplates.

This was the infantry core of the Cadre but at the rear came the vehicles. A pair of Devilfish transports, fewer than Alohavar would wish. A Skyray anti-air missile platform and a pair of lumbering XV88 Broadside suits. A meagre selection of support elements but their firepower could be the tip of a spear or the sting in a trap. Alohvar would just have to make the best use of them.

Teq'ila muttered, "Look at those Broadsides, old and obsolete. Their heavy railguns are slung over the shoulders and the missile pods are on the arms. I thought that mark was discontinued after the Damocles Gulf Crusade."

Spiy'tus added, "Old stock, hardly to be mourned if lost. Like everything else on this mission."

But Bruch'ich snapped, "Cease complaining, that Skyray is the latest model. Surely nothing shall dare trouble us from the skies."

Their bickering fell away as the auxiliaries entered the bay, trooping towards the orderly Tau. The alien races who joined the Empire were expected to contribute towards the defence of the whole. They may not have the training and weaponry of the Tau themselves but they brought their own strengths and tactics. Adding numbers, if nothing else, to the elite Fire Warrior teams.

"No Kroot," Spiy'tus observed, "We will miss their skills in the sharp end of battle."

But Bruch'ich added, "I see Vespid, three strains. Their agile wings will let us outmanoeuvre any foe."

Yet Teq'ila glared spitefully as he hissed, "Gue'vesa!"

It was true, marching in neat rows came several hundred humans. They wore tan fatigues and ceramic breastplates, not so different to a Fire Warrior's yet their helms were open-faced, lacking the sophisticated scanners and targeting aids of a Tau. Nevertheless they carried Pulse rifles and in sheer numbers they could match any other force. Indeed the humans alone matched the rest of the Cadre in number.

"What are they doing here?!" Teq'ila snarled.

Alohvar sighed, "I know, I know, but my protests were overruled. The Shas'O council has ordered them to assist us and we can't deny them. The humans are coming, so watch your tongues. Remember, no one in the heart of the Empire knows what we know."

"I'll keep quiet," Teq'ila muttered, "But I'm sleeping with a knife under my pillow so long as humans are around."

"As am I," Alohvar agreed, "Now come meet our comrades."

With that Alohvar set forth. He did not march up and down making pompous speeches, as an Imperial would but met each Shas'Ui face to face, talking quietly and hearing their personal concerns. He found most of the team leaders to be measured and considerate souls, dedicated but with a few qualms as to their mission. He reassured them as best he could and promised further talks once underway, making sure each believed their opinions mattered to him, even when they did not.

He spent more time talking with the Shas'Vre operating the Broadsides and Skyray. Veteran warriors whose experience was not to be discounted. They spoke in clipped tones noting strengths and weaknesses in their force, more of one than the other, and Alohvar was left in no doubt they thought as he did as to their chances of returning alive. Still he was reassured by their confident bearing and was certain they would fight with all their aplomb in the field.

Finally he came to the Vespid, a flock of winged blue insects as tall as a Tau. Their wings were never still and their heads twitched constantly as their claws kneaded crystalline neutron blasters, the signature weapon of the Stingwings. Fast and agile and cunning, they brought much to the battlefield and the Vespid had the respect of all the Castes, something even the Kroot could not claim.

A taller alien with a burnished orange helm floated down and intoned, "Summoned, convened, assembled we came. Strain Leader Ki'kiki, am I."

There were strange rumours about the operation of the communion helms but Alohvar brushed that off as he replied, "You bring great honour to the Cadre. You are briefed on our mission?"

"Explore," Ki'kiki replied, "Search, seek, find new breeding grounds for the hive."

"And you will follow my orders in the field?"

"Submission, deference, obedience to Tau. By order of the Queen."

"Your contribution will be rewarded," Alohvar assured him, "We shall all prosper, by the Greater Good."

Alohvar moved on and found himself approaching the humans. He suppressed a shudder and found himself facing a Gue'vesa'ui, taller than he and broad of shoulder with a growth of hair across his upper lip. The shaggy brute grinned, showing off many teeth as he proclaimed, "Sergan't Hamer. Reporting as ordered Sah!"

Alohvar suppressed a wince at his atrocious accent and asked, "You pledge for the loyalty of your men?"

Hamer boasted, "Every one Sah, all born and raised in the Empire. Not a man among us ever bent the knee to the Imperial eagle. You won't regret bringing us along, we're looking forward to kicking some Terran arse, we are!"

Teq'ila broke with tradition to say, "You would fight other humans?"

Hamer snorted, "To Imperials we're born traitors. They'd shoot us on sight but I don't intend to give them the chance. I say we fire first and ask questions… actually forget the questions. Let's just shoot them."

Alohvar nodded, off-put by the relish in his voice, and moved on. He found himself facing a willowy figure, taller than a Fire Caste warrior and far less dense of muscle: Air Caste. Alohavr hadn't noticed him before but the stranger stated, "Kor'Vre, Bork'an C'erda, leader of this ship's commune."

A mere Kor'Vre not even a Kor'El, that boded ill, Alohvar thought, but still he said, "I offer thanks for your hospitality. I am ready to depart when you are."

C'erda replied abashedly, "Actually, there's one more person to meet. You have not been informed but this mission is to be accompanied by an Ethereal overseer."

An Ethereal, Alohvar jolted with surprise. Ethereals were the natural leaders and guiding minds of the Empire, the remarkable individuals who could command nations with but a word. Wise and erudite, sage and perceptive and far-sighted. They had united his race and sent them out to the stars, seeking a Greater Good for all races. Twice he had met Ethereals and felt the awesome presence of their being, the inspirational charisma and depthless wisdom of their being. Truly the Cadre was being honoured, perhaps this wasn't a one-way mission after all.

Alohvar turned to watch as a figure crossed the bay toward them, walking regally with a flowing robe and a sceptre in each hand. A flutter ran through the ranks and all stood straighter, even the non-Tau as an Ethereal approached. Teq'ila, Bruch'ich and Spiy'tus gasped in awe as he closed and their breathing became faster. Yet Alohvar was puzzled, he saw only a young Tau, barely old enough to stand among Shas'La and lacking any aura of majesty. Alohvar waited for the wave of inspiration to sweep over him, as it had before, but nothing came save an annoying tickle in his prosthetic olfactory sensor.

The Ethereal came to halt before them and proclaimed, "I am Aun'la Bork'an Jer'ema."

A mere 'La, Alohvar groaned silently, not even a 'Ui or a 'Vre. Yet C'edre bent low as he grovelled, "Mighty Ethereal, we await your wisdom."

"Wisdom comes in its own time," Jer'ema intoned. Alohvar was struck by how much that sounded like cliché, a rote saying trotted out when required, but Teq'ila gasped, "Such insight, wondrous, wondrous."

Alohavr had to physically stop himself staring at his brash comrade, stunned by the fawning note in his tone. Yet Jer'ema continued, "This mission is dangerous indeed, but the rewards may prove great. I expect every being present to be prepared to lay down his life for success."

"We shall not fail you, we shall serve however you require, let us prove ourselves," Spiy'tus gabbled, sounding like a drunkard willing to sell his shirt for a sniff of alcohol.

Jer'ema nodded as he pompously said, "See that you do. I expect results."

Alohvar was starting to feel like the only sober head in a drinking contest as everyone else swooned over this youth. Alohvar should be in awe yet all he could see was a strutting juvenile, convinced of his superior knowledge in all things. Had he been a Shas'la Alohvar would have had him crawling through mud for an hour, then shouted at him for not keeping his pulse rifle clean, to knock the arrogance out of him. Yet as an Ethereal there was no way to redress his attitude, deference to the Aun was ingrained in Tau culture.

Alohvar coughed slightly then said, "Honoured ethereal, we are eager to begin. Shall I disperse the Cadre so we may set sail?"

Jer'ema eyed him harshly as he said, "You do not wish to hear more of what I have to say?"

Alohvar sensed a rustle behind him and felt a dangerous air at his neck, like at a word from this child the entire Cadre would rip him limb from limb. Carefully he said, "I wish to serve the Greater Good, nothing is gained by idling and you did say you wanted results."

Jer'ema nodded with a knowing smile, "They warned me old Shas'El's could be brusque and to the point. Yet your council is sage, time and fate wait for no one. Yes, let us begin at once. I shall be meditating in my chambers, alert me if anything interesting happens."

With that Aun'la Jer'ema swept away, leaving the Cadre in awe. The dangerous air evaporated as whispers of amazement ran free and Bruch'ich breathed, "Such mighty presence, such keen understanding. We are blessed, we are on the path of destiny."

Alohvar had never heard such blatant religious language from any Tau and he to swallow a rebuke as he ordered, "You heard the Ethereal! Get to your chambers and prepare. Kor'vre C'edra, secure the ship and break orbit. We have new worlds to claim for the Empire!"

Hurriedly the Cadre dispersed, heading out of the bay. Alohvar sent his comrades to unload their battlesuits, the picture of calm authority, but inside he was troubled. People he had known all his life, had acted completely out of character around the Ethereal, like they were different people. Surely he couldn't be the only one feeling this, yet nobody else seemed perturbed. Maybe it was him, maybe he was more damaged than he had realised. Hesitantly Alohvar touched the prosthetics covering his head and whispered, "What's wrong with me?"