"Colonel Santiago wishes to speak with you, Lady Deirdre!"
The almost wary shout brought her out of her reverie. For two hours, New Glasgow had suffered under the heavy Spartan bombardments, yet now it had fallen silent. The Gaian defences had been activated, and now the comforting glow of the tachyon field surrounded their base, preventing almost any damage.
However, the energy to run the field was finite. Governor Charl had informed her they had enough energy to run the tachyon field for a week. Looking through the windows at the once-beautiful city though, Deirdre knew that the damage had already been done. After she had ranted at Lal, she had felt empty of nearly all emotion, as if a vacuum had suddenly appeared. It ate away at her hope like a parasite.
"Put her on."
Deirdre straightened in the chair, and when the screen flashed, showing the Spartan leader, she felt a surge of dislike towards the woman. Waiting for Santiago to speak, Deirdre tapped her fingers lightly on the arms of her chair.
"My lady Deirdre, what a pleasant day, is it not? I see you enjoy the beauty of New Glasgow.tell me, how fare you groves?"
Deirdre whitened with a burst of potent rage. She stood, and walked closer to the screen, her dress lightly brushing across the marble floor.
"You know very well what state the groves are in, Santiago. As I know the state your army in the xenofungus is in. I thought Spartans were the ultimate warriors. Funny how a group of 'tree-huggers' and 'earthworms' managed to annihilate an entire force of your survivalist thugs."
A momentary pause overtook Santiago's face, yet it was swiftly masked behind a false countenance of amiability.
"Lady Deirdre, I wonder that you are still at New Glasgow. There are many threats on Planet, and New Glasgow is hardly the safest city, is it?"
Deirdre laughed. "Of course it is safe, Santiago. While Gaians still live and breathe within its walls, this is the stronghold of our faction. No harm shall come to me here. I wish I could say the same for you, Santiago. Standing in a field of battle is certainly not the safest of places. One of my worms could easily burrow its way inside your head." She paused for a long moment. "I doubt it, though. Even for a worm, your head is far too repulsive."
Santiago seemed to bristle; yet she shrugged, and continued. "I offer you peace, Lady Deirdre. Peace and safety for your faction."
Deirdre raised an eyebrow questioningly. "Under what terms, Corazon?"
Santiago grinned, and it seemed so feral and hate-filled that it was all Deirdre could do not to shiver. The leader of the Spartans spoke calmly, and collectively.
"New Glasgow must be ceded to me. It shall be renamed Deirdre's Shame. The Gaian faction shall swear themselves to a pact with the Spartans, promising to serve me. In addition, all research data and energy credits must be given to my faction, with no conditions."
Deirdre shook her head. "Goodbye, Santiago."
Ten minutes later, the Spartans attacked New Glasgow. Their artillery began bombarding once again, the shells ricocheting off the tachyon field, and the shrieking of the launchers sounding like the mythical harpies of Earth.
The Spartan army charged. Lasers fired, and chaotic blurs and streaks of incandescent light flew across the lines. The Gaians stood at the walls, firing back at the Spartans with an intensity driven by a need for survival and vengeance. In every defenders heart there burned a need for blood, for they too had seen the preserves go up in lucid crimson flame.
The aircraft, driven behind the city walls in need of refuelling were empty of pilots, for all fighters were needed to man the walls. Every ounce of fuel had been stripped for recreational facilities, and was added to keep the shields alive.
The Spartans were now blasting with powerful artillery, and now instead of turning back the shots easily, the tachyon field seemed to scream like some wounded, enraged animal. Occasionally a few shells would blast through the shield, bursting into a spiral of concussive flame that roared with a voracious hunger.
The Gaians returned fire.
Despite heavy casualties, the Spartans were now beneath the walls, and were planting charges. Desperate to stop this, the commanders at the walls ordered a sally through the gates. While Gaian civilians struggled to hold the enemy off, probe teams disarmed the charges. After ten minutes, the charges were successfully neutralised, and, fleeing with no order whatsoever, the civilians drew back behind the walls. The Spartans drew up for another attack, and this time when they reached the walls, it seemed certain they would break through.
However, the aircraft had been refuelled, and now they were launched into the skies. Slowly, the Spartans withdrew, faced by overwhelming fire from the sky, and supporting fire from the city walls. New Glasgow was safe for one more day.
"Provost Zakharov. You have always been a good friend and benefactor of my faction. I prevail upon you now to aid me. You have seen how I stopped the first Spartan advance. With your help, I can rid this continent of the force that now besieges my city. I am sure that all Santiago's strength is here. If we can wipe these warriors out, the way to Sparta Command will be clear. You will be free to conduct your research."
The academician smiled warily. "And what will you be free to do then, my lady? If you defeat Sparta and all her might, you will show yourself as a force to be reckoned with. Do you believe that Miriam and Morgan will not take advantage of your weakened state to strike your cities?"
Deirdre's temper flared up. "And what if I do not, Zakharov? I cannot sit here and allow Santiago to win. You of all people know what is at stake here. Not just my faction, but Planet itself."
Zakharov massaged his head for a moment, and when he spoke, his voice was full of concern, and tired. "My lady. I am a simple researcher. My cities are few, and my people are no warriors."
Deirdre rolled her eyes. "Tell that to Yang, Zakharov. He only lives now because of your leniency. If you tell me that your citizens are complete strangers to war, you are not as academic as I thought."
Zakharov smiled. "It has always been a pleasure to work with you, Deirdre, which is more than I can say for fools like Lal, or totalitarian relics like Yang. We believe in a new world, my lady, a world where information flows as free as water, and where the peace and harmony of Planet can be preserved."
Deirdre sighed with frustration. "But to realise that belief, Provost, we must fight for it. I thought once that we could rely on peaceful diplomacy, but I have been proved wrong. Please, old friend, will you aid me?"
Zakharov closed his eyes, and seemed to shudder with an inner conflict. "My lady, I am sorry. I would if I could, but there is no way my forces can mobilise quickly enough."
Deirdre leaned forward, sensing a weakness. "How long will it take to mobilise your forces, Zakharov?"
The scientist sighed. "Three weeks, my lady. No less than that."
Deirdre nodded curtly. "Then I must hold this city for three weeks. Will you aid me in three weeks time, Provost?"
Zakharov nodded. "If you can hold the city for three weeks, you have my full support. You know there is no hope, do you not, Deirdre?"
She knew, but at least this way, Santiago would not have New Glasgow. Zakharov would drive her back at least once, giving her faction time to elect a new leader, and time to mobilise the people for war.
"Where there are loyal people, Zak, there is always hope. Now, forgive me, I must go. I have a city to hold."
Zakharov exhaled. "Good luck, Deirdre."
The almost wary shout brought her out of her reverie. For two hours, New Glasgow had suffered under the heavy Spartan bombardments, yet now it had fallen silent. The Gaian defences had been activated, and now the comforting glow of the tachyon field surrounded their base, preventing almost any damage.
However, the energy to run the field was finite. Governor Charl had informed her they had enough energy to run the tachyon field for a week. Looking through the windows at the once-beautiful city though, Deirdre knew that the damage had already been done. After she had ranted at Lal, she had felt empty of nearly all emotion, as if a vacuum had suddenly appeared. It ate away at her hope like a parasite.
"Put her on."
Deirdre straightened in the chair, and when the screen flashed, showing the Spartan leader, she felt a surge of dislike towards the woman. Waiting for Santiago to speak, Deirdre tapped her fingers lightly on the arms of her chair.
"My lady Deirdre, what a pleasant day, is it not? I see you enjoy the beauty of New Glasgow.tell me, how fare you groves?"
Deirdre whitened with a burst of potent rage. She stood, and walked closer to the screen, her dress lightly brushing across the marble floor.
"You know very well what state the groves are in, Santiago. As I know the state your army in the xenofungus is in. I thought Spartans were the ultimate warriors. Funny how a group of 'tree-huggers' and 'earthworms' managed to annihilate an entire force of your survivalist thugs."
A momentary pause overtook Santiago's face, yet it was swiftly masked behind a false countenance of amiability.
"Lady Deirdre, I wonder that you are still at New Glasgow. There are many threats on Planet, and New Glasgow is hardly the safest city, is it?"
Deirdre laughed. "Of course it is safe, Santiago. While Gaians still live and breathe within its walls, this is the stronghold of our faction. No harm shall come to me here. I wish I could say the same for you, Santiago. Standing in a field of battle is certainly not the safest of places. One of my worms could easily burrow its way inside your head." She paused for a long moment. "I doubt it, though. Even for a worm, your head is far too repulsive."
Santiago seemed to bristle; yet she shrugged, and continued. "I offer you peace, Lady Deirdre. Peace and safety for your faction."
Deirdre raised an eyebrow questioningly. "Under what terms, Corazon?"
Santiago grinned, and it seemed so feral and hate-filled that it was all Deirdre could do not to shiver. The leader of the Spartans spoke calmly, and collectively.
"New Glasgow must be ceded to me. It shall be renamed Deirdre's Shame. The Gaian faction shall swear themselves to a pact with the Spartans, promising to serve me. In addition, all research data and energy credits must be given to my faction, with no conditions."
Deirdre shook her head. "Goodbye, Santiago."
Ten minutes later, the Spartans attacked New Glasgow. Their artillery began bombarding once again, the shells ricocheting off the tachyon field, and the shrieking of the launchers sounding like the mythical harpies of Earth.
The Spartan army charged. Lasers fired, and chaotic blurs and streaks of incandescent light flew across the lines. The Gaians stood at the walls, firing back at the Spartans with an intensity driven by a need for survival and vengeance. In every defenders heart there burned a need for blood, for they too had seen the preserves go up in lucid crimson flame.
The aircraft, driven behind the city walls in need of refuelling were empty of pilots, for all fighters were needed to man the walls. Every ounce of fuel had been stripped for recreational facilities, and was added to keep the shields alive.
The Spartans were now blasting with powerful artillery, and now instead of turning back the shots easily, the tachyon field seemed to scream like some wounded, enraged animal. Occasionally a few shells would blast through the shield, bursting into a spiral of concussive flame that roared with a voracious hunger.
The Gaians returned fire.
Despite heavy casualties, the Spartans were now beneath the walls, and were planting charges. Desperate to stop this, the commanders at the walls ordered a sally through the gates. While Gaian civilians struggled to hold the enemy off, probe teams disarmed the charges. After ten minutes, the charges were successfully neutralised, and, fleeing with no order whatsoever, the civilians drew back behind the walls. The Spartans drew up for another attack, and this time when they reached the walls, it seemed certain they would break through.
However, the aircraft had been refuelled, and now they were launched into the skies. Slowly, the Spartans withdrew, faced by overwhelming fire from the sky, and supporting fire from the city walls. New Glasgow was safe for one more day.
"Provost Zakharov. You have always been a good friend and benefactor of my faction. I prevail upon you now to aid me. You have seen how I stopped the first Spartan advance. With your help, I can rid this continent of the force that now besieges my city. I am sure that all Santiago's strength is here. If we can wipe these warriors out, the way to Sparta Command will be clear. You will be free to conduct your research."
The academician smiled warily. "And what will you be free to do then, my lady? If you defeat Sparta and all her might, you will show yourself as a force to be reckoned with. Do you believe that Miriam and Morgan will not take advantage of your weakened state to strike your cities?"
Deirdre's temper flared up. "And what if I do not, Zakharov? I cannot sit here and allow Santiago to win. You of all people know what is at stake here. Not just my faction, but Planet itself."
Zakharov massaged his head for a moment, and when he spoke, his voice was full of concern, and tired. "My lady. I am a simple researcher. My cities are few, and my people are no warriors."
Deirdre rolled her eyes. "Tell that to Yang, Zakharov. He only lives now because of your leniency. If you tell me that your citizens are complete strangers to war, you are not as academic as I thought."
Zakharov smiled. "It has always been a pleasure to work with you, Deirdre, which is more than I can say for fools like Lal, or totalitarian relics like Yang. We believe in a new world, my lady, a world where information flows as free as water, and where the peace and harmony of Planet can be preserved."
Deirdre sighed with frustration. "But to realise that belief, Provost, we must fight for it. I thought once that we could rely on peaceful diplomacy, but I have been proved wrong. Please, old friend, will you aid me?"
Zakharov closed his eyes, and seemed to shudder with an inner conflict. "My lady, I am sorry. I would if I could, but there is no way my forces can mobilise quickly enough."
Deirdre leaned forward, sensing a weakness. "How long will it take to mobilise your forces, Zakharov?"
The scientist sighed. "Three weeks, my lady. No less than that."
Deirdre nodded curtly. "Then I must hold this city for three weeks. Will you aid me in three weeks time, Provost?"
Zakharov nodded. "If you can hold the city for three weeks, you have my full support. You know there is no hope, do you not, Deirdre?"
She knew, but at least this way, Santiago would not have New Glasgow. Zakharov would drive her back at least once, giving her faction time to elect a new leader, and time to mobilise the people for war.
"Where there are loyal people, Zak, there is always hope. Now, forgive me, I must go. I have a city to hold."
Zakharov exhaled. "Good luck, Deirdre."
