In the night, two figures moved slowly along the dark streets of Kaytor, inching along towards the better-lit area that the Word of Blake had taken for themselves. Reaching a corner of a house just beyond the lit area, the figures paused, and the smaller one in the lead held up its hand.
Alexis peered around the corner carefully, her ears canted forward to catch the slightest sound from the enemy positions. She heard plenty, of course, but none of it seemed to be anything but the normal background noise of any human habitation, and so she concentrated next on what she saw.
Ahead, down an alley between two houses, was a third one that had the unmistakable white light that fluorescent bulbs produced coming out of its windows. Alexis recognized it as the house that the Blakest leader had gone into after he had threatened her with a gun. Talks with Tangee and Acryu had confirmed it as his place of residence that he shared with two of his warriors.
"That's the place," the man behind her spoke quietly, and Alexis glanced back to see Acryu standing there, looking at the Blakests' housing area from above her.
"I would hope so," Alexis whispered back. "Otherwise we're wasting our time."
"I think we're wasting our time, anyway," he countered. "I've told you everything I can about these invaders, and so has Tangee. It's not like you can learn anything more from seeing their houses."
Alexis stifled a sigh, and she shook her head a bit. "You're not much of a soldier, are you?" She asked in a low growl. Then, before he could answer, she turned and headed back the way they had come.
Stunned, Acryu took a moment to recover his mental balance before he started off after the mysterious – to him – gatón. He followed along as she led the way back to the temple where they had started at this night. She memorized the path on her first time, and in the dark, the lupar reflected as he turned down the main road through town and headed after Alexis. This is a formidable woman indeed.
A few minutes later, they reached the temple and paused to survey the area. Acryu, knowing the town like the back of his hand, only paid the quick search part of his attention. What does she mean, I'm 'not much of a soldier?' He thought, a bit of anger creeping up his crawl. But only a bit, as he remembered just what this gatón had done to him and Tangee earlier in the day. Played us like fools and then rendered us defenseless…
Before he could continue this train of though, Acryu heard Alexis move from her hiding spot next to the temple steps, and he saw her walk up to the main doors. Taking this as his cue, Acryu got up from his spot near a shop front and walked up to join the gatón. At least she respects our temples, he thought as he pushed the doors open. She remembers that gatón can't go into our temples without being escorted.
Alexis, meanwhile, simply thought over the old superstition. The humans have a word for this: "Archaic." She rolled the word around in her head as she followed Acryu inside the town's amply sized temple. Even the word itself is supposed to be older than English itself. It certainly feels that way, at least.
Inside, the temple had the typical wide-open space where services were held, and at the far end was a simple altar. To Grakia, Alexis remembered from reading the inscriptions on it earlier in the day. How odd that we have the same gods, but we worship different ones.
She then put these thoughts aside as Acryu took the lead, and Alexis moved off after him. Reaching a door set into the back wall, Acryu opened it and the pair entered the back room to the temple.
The room was almost as large as the meeting room in front, though it was a fair bit more cluttered. Two large tables stood in the middle of the room, while two racks of shelves cluttered the walls towards the back door. Between the two was a circular stairway made out of wood that led to the second story. On the tables were various bottles of different sizes, several full of lantern oil, and several being filled now by several lupar whom Acryu had trusted with the plan. Crazy as it is, the lupar guard thought. Imagine, wasting good glass bottles like this. It's a good thing her friends promised restitution.
The plan had been thought up quickly during a secure radio chat that had been set up in the late afternoon. Alexis, using a laser communicator, had managed to link up with an armored soldier acting as a relay, and she had spoken with Captains Tanaka and Ladavic. Also included was Acryu, and though Alexis had to translate for him, he had been sufficiently impressed with the radio that he had agreed to the plan, even when it had called for action on his part.
Now, however, I begin to have doubts. Acryu walked over to one of the tables, reaching the few small water flasks being used for the upcoming attack. These were finished with already, since Alexis didn't want to leave until they were properly taken care of. She acts as if they held more than just ground powder made from various medicines. He looked up then, seeing the strange gatón walking up to instruct one of the lupar guards about how to better douse the rags they were using to stop the oil bottles. Still, this Alexis did show that the powder burns… I suppose that should buy her some benefit of the doubt.
Feeling Acryu's eyes upon her, Alexis looked up at him and gave him a small, almost smirk-like smile. Then she turned back to the man she was standing next to. "There, that's better, Grewly," she said as he stuffed the rag in so that it fanned out a bit. "Just like that, so that the fire will have a larger base when it burns."
The lupar looked up at her with an odd mix of suspicion and trust. Suspicion because they don't know me, Alexis thought as she nodded to Grewly and then walked off to join Acryu by the stairs. Trust because I bring them a plan to drive the invaders out, and that's worth more to them than even their pride.
Reaching the stairs, Alexis put her thoughts on hold and looked back over the tables where the other five lupar were working diligently. "We will be ready on time," she said quietly, almost to herself.
"That's good to hear," Acryu replied just as quietly They both knew, of course, that the others could hear them, but by pitching their voices low, they indicated a desire for privacy. I doubt they'll give us that privilege in this case, Alexis thought. But I won't hold it against them. "I'm going up to the top balcony to set my rifle up," she said to Acryu and then began up the stairs.
Acryu watched her go, frowning a bit at the mystery she was. Fierce, yet gentle. Clearly intelligent, and yet I've heard her swear like any soldier I've met. He sighed and shook his head before turning back to look over the preparations one last time.
Alexis reached the landing to the second floor, and she found herself in the common sleeping room that the three priests used. The room itself actually held six beds, and had space for more to sleep on the floor, but these were usually reserved for travelers, it being a custom of the village to offer temporary lodging in their temple for such wanderers.
One bed, however, held no traveler, but rather, the former commander of the guards. Tangee was laying face down, his arms and legs bound behind his back and his jaw tied shut for good measure. His head, at the moment, was turned towards the stairs, and as soon as Alexis popped into view, she had seen Tangee's eyes widen in a display of fear.
No wonder the Wobbies tamed him so, Alexis thought as she walked towards where Tangee lay down, one of the temple's priests sitting on the cot next to his in quiet meditation. It's one thing to be afraid, but it's another to let that fear govern you. Fear drives the Blakests, and hate gives them direction.
As soon as she walked up, the priest, eyes still closed, spoke. "I hope your plan goes well, child," he said quietly.
Alexis started slightly, but then she smiled. "It does indeed, Yetaru," she replied friendlily. He reminds me so much of the shaman Forbasa. The same quiet assuredness, the same open mind and nature.
The lupar priest opened his eyes and nodded towards Alexis. "This is good to hear. Isn't it, Eiger?" He asked then of Tangee. The latter, simply moved a bit, but whether it was to agree or disagree, Alexis couldn't tell. Probably neither, she thought. More likely that he doesn't want my attention back on him.
"You'll have to excuse Eiger," Yetaru spoke to Alexis with a small smile. "He's been so busy lately, helping the invaders, that he really needs his rest."
Alexis chuckled. Oh my, I do like this lupar. She nodded to the priest. "Well, soon enough he won't have to worry about such things," she said with just a hint of malice in her voice. It had the desired effect, as Tangee twitched a bit. Alexis had to fight back a quick laugh at his expense. I shouldn't be enjoying this, she said as she walked towards the part of the room that sat over the front of the temple, nodding to Yetaru as she passed. I should not be enjoying this, but that bastard has it coming, she thought as she headed for the next set of stairs that would lead to the small balcony atop the temple.
It took only a few moments to ascend to the top, third story platform that was the trait of most lupar temples. Alexis knew that it had something to do with seasonal rites, but she ignored the thought now, instead focusing on the equipment she had left before the quick reconnaissance. Lying half assembled was her laser rifle with its borrowed scope, and the radio she had used to contact the Republic forces.
Seeing the second item, Alexis lifted her head up and looked to the west. The forest leading down from the mountains seemed calm and peaceful, hardly a temporary refuge for war machines that would soon come crashing out to meet their foes in combat. The light from the stars and the planet's moon bathed the trees in a soft glow that was a stark contrast to the harsh illumination of the Blakests' encampment on the north side of the village.
That light will affect my sighting, Alexis thought as she sat down and began to assemble her rifle. That generator of theirs will have to be the first thing to be attacked She mulled over the details of the plan as she put the human weapon together.
She soon finished, and then Alexis turned and laid down into the sniper's classic prone position, and she sighted in on the path between the Blakest commander's house and the largest 'mech standing just beyond the town; a 70-ton, quad-legged White Flame. She didn't know it was the commander's personal ride, but she was willing to gamble on it. I kill the demi-precentor and it will sow confusion in their ranks. She didn't know whether she could, or not, but she was determined to try.
A noise came from behind her, and Alexis turned around quickly to see Acryu climbing the last few steps to the top balcony. As she recognized the lupar, Alexis put her drawn knife back in her ankle sheath and turned to look through the rifle's scope again. "I take it that everyone is ready as they can be?" She asked without looking back.
Acryu frowned at the lying gatón. She presumes much, speaking like that, he mentally grumbled, but then forced the thoughts back. "Pretty much. Everything is prepared and we've begun to gather more volunteers from the town… Quietly, of course."
"Good," Alexis commented as she sighted the rifle on the head of a Blakest infantryman just beyond the standing 'mechs. "I know you are all competent, so I won't have to repeat what I've told you already," she said matter-of-factly.
Acryu twitched his ears down. Just when I start to get an emotional consistency about her, she goes and changes tracks. He then sighed. Now's not the time, Kaeno. "No, you need not. We will be ready at the appointed time."
Alexis nodded. "Good." As I hope I will be, she thought, giving thought to the butterflies in her stomach. This is the first time I'll ever be in a real leadership position, she realized. Oh Gods, how come this never entered my head before? The sudden idea of people depending on her made Alexis feel like a ball of ice materialized in her stomach.
Calm down, she forced her mind to settle with the thought. It's too late to second-guess now, Alexis. Be like those strange ads on the holovision and "just do it." She took in a deep breath and let it out to further calm herself.
"Are you okay?" Acryu's voice made Alexis startle a bit, and she could feel the fur on her back and tail rising up with her reaction. She turned around then and grinned sheepishly at the lupar. "I'm fine," she said quietly. "I was just… Thinking over the plan." The she tilted her head a bit. "Did you have any more questions?" She asked politely.
Acryu shook his head. "No. I'll come notify you before we leave."
Alexis nodded. "Thank you," she said and turned back to her rifle.
High overhead, the members of Vickers' Vanquishers were finishing their suiting up procedures. Van Horn, especially, was helping Castellano work out the kinks in a new shoulder cuff they had to replace after the Tanzano raid.
"You're sure that's fine?" Van Horn asked again.
"I'm damn sure it's fine, doc," Castellano replied testily. "Just the same way it's worked the last ten times you asked."
"All right, all right!" Van Horn said and threw his arms up. "'Scuse me for makin' sure you won't wrench that arm again."
Castellano razzed the good doctor before turning around and reaching for one of the gun racks in the prep room. Unlike the Tanzano raid, he selected a simple yet potent assault rifle and a magnum pistol.
Van Horn, remembering his own weapons, turned around in the small space between racks and went for his own load out. He had again picked a Heavy Gyrojet Gun as his main weapon, and he carried the usual pistol as a sidearm.
Thinking about his weaponry made van Horn look up and around the room with his as-yet un-helmeted head. Good, everyone's pickin' ballistics. No lasers to start fires and whatnot. He was, naturally, worried about such things, given the proximity of the Blakests to a native town. It's bad enough that they'll be usin' Molotovs and IEDs, but we don't need to add to that chaos any more than necessary.
The room was just large enough to hold a squad of armored troops in addition to the weaponry. This was all that was needed, of course, since the M.I. platoon only had one scout squad that needed such light weaponry for their load out. Everyone else needs to use the maintenance bay to switch their big-ass weapons.
"Are you apes done yet?" The call came in from the next room, the drop room. Van Horn recognized it easily as that of Lieutenant Vickers. Impelled by this burst of language, Earl quickened the pace at which he stowed his gear.
"Almost sir!" The squad's leader, Corporal Connors, replied. "Jus' a few seconds!"
Van Horn didn't hear any reply from the Lieutenant, but he finished quickly nonetheless. Several minutes later, the remaining members of the platoon were gathered in rows between the capsules they would use this night.
Vickers, standing before the group in his Kage II-C armor, holding his helmet, gave them a nod. "Now, y'all know the plan, so I won't bore you with another rehash. Instead, I want to remind you on a few things.
"One: The Blakests are the enemy, not the natives. Make sure your target really deserves to die.
"Two: I want you to pay extra attention to collateral damage tonight. Now I know none of you would think to intentionally, or even accidentally flatten a few buildings, but in the heat of battle, things can get nasty, so I want y'all to go down there remembering to try and kill the bad guys, not the buildings.
"And finally, I don't want to see any heroic bullshit. This is a cakewalk, a simple ambush we're turnin' around on the Blakests. I don't want any of you takin' stupid risks. You get me?"
"Sir, yes, sir!" The platoon replied as a whole. Vickers smiled faintly at that and he nodded again. "Good. Everyone, mount up, and remember, the only good landing is one you walk away from, and I expect to see all of you makin' good landings."
Alexis checked the time display on her radio for the second time in a minute, and as before, she felt a twinge of fear that somehow the clock had broken.
Settle down, Alexis, she told herself as she shifted a bit in her position. Everything's fine… After all, you aren't dead yet, now are you? She tried to make the thought in jest, but all it did was reinforce the idea that she just might die this night, and a lot more people as well. Her thoughts turned then, as they had done many times in the past hour, to the lupar who she knew were even now moving to their ready positions.
They listened to me so easily, she thought, remembering the small demi-briefing she had given the natives of Kaytor. Most especially imprinted on her memory was the hope and trust she had seen in their eyes Have the Blakests been so bad? So terrible that they are willing to listen to me, to even trust me so implicitly even though I am a stranger?
Or is it something else? Alexis shifted her weight at the thought. I know those looks, I've seen them before, on the faces of my friends and family after Earl first came to us after Kuamket. And if I had a mirror, I'm sure I would have seen it on my own face. Alexis took a breath to steady her emotions. We tend to trust those who seem to know what they're doing when we ourselves have no idea on what to do. It was a desire for leadership that made us follow the lead of Forbasa, Mrs. Farkas, and Earl, and now I must be a leader of sorts for these lupar. The idea made her stomach flip-flop again. But I'm no leader! I'm just one person, who's never… Her thoughts stopped short at that, and she looked upon her recent life in a different angle.
I've never what? I've gone and fought people, taken my share of risks and learned from my mistakes. I've seen men and women like Earl, Cassandra, Lieutenant Vickers, and Captain Ladavic lead others. They've even deferred to me at times, when they needed my advice… Just as I've listened to Acryu, learned from him about Kaytor and what kind of advice he offered. I've even taken to being aggressive… She realized, then, that all of her recent experiences had brought her to this place, and given her the necessary experience. Am I… Meant to be here? Are we really guided by some higher power? Is that power watching over me now?
Just then, her thoughts were interrupted by shouts of alarm coming from the Blakest camp, and lights began to turn on. Alexis quieted her mind with one final thought. Whatever happens, whoever is watching, let it be known that I will do my best. And may God watch over me.
Demi-Precentor Wintaka lurched upright in bed as alarms blared out over the Militia's encampment. He took a moment for his consciousness to snap into focus, but as soon as it did, he reached out to the small table where he kept his few personal items, and he snatched up a radio. "This is Precentor Wintaka, report!" He snapped into the microphone/speaker as soon as the radio's light blinked on.
"Sir, we're picking up contacts in the western forest," the nighttime commtech replied hastily, his voice controlled despite the fear Wintaka could hear in it. "We count at least four enemy units, all heavy weight class."
"Blake's Blood!" Wintaka cursed without triggering the radio. Then "All right, scramble everyone, and call in Ramirez and his unit, and put a message to GHQ: 'The Fish is on the hook.'"
"Yes sir!" The commtech replied, and then the line cut out as he went about fulfilling his orders. Wintaka didn't notice, busy as he was springing out of the undersized native bed – augmented with a chair – and he quickly began to dress in his battle garb.
Moments later, he was striding out of his appropriated house, the third in line as his two housemates hadn't taken the time to radio in anywhere before rushing out to get to their machines.
Moving into the harsh illumination of the exterior camp, he cursed and bellowed. "GODDAMNIT! Someone turn off these lights before the infidels home in on them!" Several men rushed to carry out his order then, and Wintaka ran for his White Flame.
He was halfway to the 70-ton 'mech when the lights did go out. But he then paused as he heard screaming coming from the direction of the power/communications house, and he turned around to see a fire burning inside.
Then, as he watched, more fires flew through the night, and wherever they touched, a sound of broken glass and the spread of flames could be sensed.
"What the Hell?" Those are Molotov cocktails! But they're coming from the village! Those dogs can't possibly know what- His thoughts froze as a sudden realization hit him. Then they stopped forever as something far more energetic than a thought seared a hole into his skull.
Alexis blinked a bit to get the after image of the laser beam out of her vision quicker, but only after she had watched the body of the Blakest commander fall to the ground in a heap. I wish I had Private MacDonald's rifle, she again thought as she swiveled the laser rifle in her arms around to look for another MechWarrior. The 'mechs are the biggest worry. Take out their pilots, and they're only a slab of metal. With this goal in mind, she looked up and down the lines of the nearby battlemechs, but she felt a bit of despair as she saw four of them beginning to move already.
Damnit, I waited too long to take out the commander, she though angrily. Then she noticed the fifth 'mech, a 40-ton Initiate, hadn't moved. Sighting the rifle's scope over the 'mech, Alexis soon saw why, as she noticed the Blakest MechWarrior scrambling up the ladder hanging from the front of the war machine.
Almost without conscious thought, Alexis flicked the zoom on the electronic scope and sighted over the back of the Blakest's head. Then, just as he was a bout to enter the safety of his cockpit, she fired. The beam of coherent light erupted from her laser rifle and its photons bored into the enemy MechWarrior's skull, converting bone and gray matter into a semi-plasmatic mass as the energy from the quanta packets transferred the balance of their energy.
All of this happened in an eye blink, and Alexis soon saw the body fall back, its grip no longer controlled. It didn't fall all the way, however, as a leg got caught in the rope ladder the man had been climbing up, and so it hung upside down from the Initiate's head, looking like some macabre drool from the metal giant.
Alexis ignored it, and she tried to look for someone else to kill. Instead, however, she ducked as a laser bolt flew just a few inches above her head, and she heard bullets whiz past and ricochet off of the stone walls of the temple.
"Shit!" She cursed automatically, uncaring as to the propriety of the word as she scrambled back from her sniping perch. Below and from the enemy camp, she heard shouts calling for a missile launcher to bear on the temple.
Alexis grabbed her rifle and radio at that, and she quickly turned and half-crawled to the stairs leading down from the top platform. She then madly raced down the steps as more bullets smacked into the walls.
A sudden 'boom' came from the Blakest position as she reached the landing to the second floor, and Alexis threw herself down and covered her head in response. When the building didn't collapse, she looked up to see the town of Kaytor beginning to awaken, as lanterns were lit within people's houses.
What was that, if not a missile? Alexis asked herself as she stood. Then when another boom echoed out, she couldn't help but grin a bit. The IEDs, they're using them. Then her smile died as she heard lupar screams coming from the same direction.
"Fuuuuck," she used the English word, used it knowingly for the foulness she needed to express as she ran into the building. Once inside, she paused to see the old priest, Yetaru, standing over Tangee, who was still in the same position as before.
"We must leave immediately!" Alexis called to the elder lupar as she began to run for the stairway to the ground floor. "The Wobbies intend to destroy this structure!"
"Wait!" Yetaru's urgent response caused Alexis to halt halfway through the room, and she spun quickly to see the old lupar trying to unbind Tangee's legs. "We cannot leave him here. It would be unworthy."
Alexis just growled, but she darted to the priest's side, and she drew her knife, which caused the old lupar to back away a step. It was enough so that Alexis slashed the knife down, and she cut the ropes holding Tangee's legs together without touching the old man's hands or Tangee's skin.
Tangee moved a bit, and Yetaru and Alexis grabbed his shoulders and helped him to stand, though the gatón then immediately used her left hand to grab his shirt, and she pulled his head down to her level. "You do anything but what I tell you, and you're dead. Do you understand?" She snarled.
Tangee, his mouth still tied, just widened his eyes and nodded. "Good," Alexis said and she let go of the lupar before turning to Yetaru. "Help him if he needs it, but I need to stay alert for all of our sakes." She said as she re-sheathed her knife.
Yetaru nodded sagely, and he and Tangee moved off after Alexis as she again dashed for the stairs down. Taking the steps two at a time, she reached the floor far ahead of the two lupar, and the gatón raced for the rear entrance.
Alexis flung the heavy wood door open as the Yetaru and Tangee reached the floor behind her. Glancing back, she waved them forward. "Come on, move it!" She called and slipped out, her rifle raised and pointed in the general direction as the Wobbie camp, though the direct line of sight was blocked at ground level due to houses.
Yetaru and Tangee soon followed, and she waved towards the south with her left hand. "That direction, away from the enemy. I'll protect the rear."
Yetaru just nodded, and he quickly moved off, his left arm almost dragging Tangee as the latter seemed to be over stimulated by the situation. Alexis just turned back to face towards the light of burning fires, checking to make sure that no one could see them.
Then she heard the unmistakable 'crack-whoosh' of a missile launch, and she turned and ran for the two fleeing lupar. She kneeled and pounced halfway to them, her arms stretched out to knock them off their feet just as the man-portable SRM hit the temple and filled the night with fire.
Acryu groaned as he dragged the limp form of his friend, Hurg, away from where debris from an explosion had slammed into the lupar's head. He was not having a particularly good time of it, as his arm ached from where a laser beam had grazed his bicep. Fortunately, the blistering photons had also cauterized his wound, and so he didn't have to deal with blood loss.
As much good as it does for me now, Acryu thought angrily as he pulled Hurg around a corner, shielding them both from the direct sight of the Wobbies as the latter started to fire blindly into the town. Acryu had heard several of his men yell in pain as they were injured, or worse, killed. He knew, though, that he could do nothing for them at the moment. Sometimes, you just can't do anything more than take care of yourself and those next to you.
With that thought, he kneeled down and checked Hurg's head, and he was a bit relieved to find that the gash in his friend's scalp wasn't too deep. It just knocked him out. Still, that will hurt like Hell when he wakes up.
A sudden noise filled the air, and Acryu looked up to see a light racing from the Invaders' camp, angling for the top of the temple. As he watched in horror, the missile impacted the small tower and detonated, creating a fireball that blasted the upper half of the building.
Instinctually, he crouched over Hurg and covered his head with his hands. Bits of stone and mortar rained down nearby, and he could hear screams of panic coming from all around now as townspeople woke up to find themselves in a waking nightmare.
Then he heard the noise of footfalls coming from the enemy positions, and the lupar grabbed his temporarily discarded short sword and looked up to see a pair of the invaders rounding the corner. They came to a surprised halt as they spotted the two lupar at the end of the street. Then, seeing Hurg unconscious and Acryu with only his sword, they smiled and raised their weapons.
Acryu gulped and he held his sword out in front of him in a vain gesture of defense. I don't want it to end this way! His mind screamed.
Then an enormous 'crack' noise was heard, and a breeze seemed to swish through the alley as one of the invaders' heads exploded violently. The other jerked his rifle up from its targeting point on Acryu, and he fired a short burst from the automatic weapon.
Another 'crack' noise, and the other invader's chest exploded in a red flower of gore, and his body collapsed alongside that of his fellow. Acryu, suddenly very afraid, turned slowly around to see what had killed the invaders.
He received the shock of his life as he saw a tall, imposing figure stride from the alley across the street, in its arms a massive weapon that seemed all the more imposing when one realized the true bulk of the approaching person. Blinking his eyes a bit, Acryu saw the figure to be clad in armor from head to toe. Armor painted the black of death, he thought, how utterly appropriate.
The figure strode beside the two lupar, and its head looked down on them. Acryu, though, felt no sense of malice from this person, and so he just stood there in a half-crouch, staring up at the imposing figure. "Hello?" He said cautiously.
The figure nodded to Acryu. "Hello," it said haltingly in badly accented Lupari. "Friend," it said, and then moved down the alley towards the fallen invaders. As he watched, Acryu saw the figure crouch and begin to move almost slinkily; a comparison that fit into the person's voice, which he could have sworn sounded female.
Then he heard another set of feet behind him, and Acryu turned to see another armored figure, seemingly indistinguishable from the first, walk up. This one, though, carried a different, if still massive, weapon, and he kneeled down next to Acryu and Hurg. "Are you two okay? Do you need help?" This one asked in much better Lupari.
Acryu blinked and just stared into the round faceplate of the figure. "I, uh," he simply muttered for a second. Then he shook his head to clear it. "My friend, he was hit in the head by a flying stone."
The man – for that is what he sounded like to Acryu – put his weapon around and on his back, securing it in some fashion that the lupar couldn't guess at. Then he reached down and felt along Hurg's head with a gentleness that belied the fact that his hands were encased in armor.
"He'll be fine for now," the man said. "His skull wasn't cracked, and that gash isn't too large, so he'll live. Though you should have him checked over by a doctor in case he has a concussion."
Acryu blinked again. "A what?"
The man sighed audibly through his helmet. "Just get him to a safe place and we'll have our own doctor check over him later. Now get going." With that, he stood and again took up his weapon.
Acryu nodded and he began to drag Hurg a bit before the figure raised his arm to halt. "Wait a minute. A question, please."
The lupar tilted an ear down quizzically. "Yes?"
"Where is Alexis Hurano?"
Acryu stared wide-eyed at the figure for a moment before he turned and pointed towards the ruined hulk of the temple. "She was there earlier. But I do not know if she was there when it was destroyed," he added in the last part hastily, hoping to avoid any angry backlash.
The man said something sharp that Acryu didn't recognize, and he was clearly upset. But when he spoke in Lupari again his voice was still gentle. "Thank you. Take care of your friend."
Van Horn watched the lupar drag his friend away from the rising conflagration, and a part of him felt guilt in that he didn't use his enhanced strength to help the poor native. Alas, I have a job to do, he thought as he moved down the alley that Stuger had cleared a few moments ago. He felt a bit of anger, too, in that he couldn't go find out what had happened to Alexis right away. Again, I'm forced to put my friends on the back burner…
Rounding the corner, he found Stuger kneeling at the corner of another house across a narrow dirt street, and after checking both directions, van Horn sprinted across and joined the sharpshooting private. "How's it look," he asked as he turned to watch her back.
"The natives did a good job," she said quietly over the radio. "Fires are burnin' in the captured houses, and the Wobbies're runnin' around all stupefied." The sudden muted thump of a 'mech's footfall then caused her to shrug. "Of course, you can't expect miracles all the time."
"I guess not," van Horn replied dryly as he triggered his active probe. The scanning normally would have alerted the Blakests, but by now, the approaching 'mechs from Tanaka's force had their complete attention. "Only four 'mechs moving?" He asked incredulously. Alexis must've really done a damn good job.
"Seems the kitty has claws, eh?" Stuger replied with a throaty chuckle. "Remind me to buy her a beer."
"You'll have to get in line," van Horn replied as he looked around with his eyes and the electronic sensor suite. "In any case, all I see are natives runnin' away. I guess those dumbasses you iced must've just been followin' whoever ran."
"Seems to be the case," Stuger allowed. "Anyway, I can handle things here. Why don't you check out that ruined building for survivors?"
Van Horn turned his helmeted head to look at Stuger. "If you think that I can't be of help-"
"Oh shove the act, doc," Stuger replied testily. Then she went on more calmly "I heard what you asked that guy back there, and what he said." She paused to face her own helmet at van Horn. "Go make sure she's all right."
Van Horn nodded, not trusting to his voice at the moment, and he turned and ran down the dirt street, avoiding the few natives that had only just begun to flee their houses.
Alexis raised her throbbing head, and she tried to remember what she had done to make it feel so pained. Then the sounds of fire and yells entered her consciousness, and she shook her head clear. Looking around, she saw people running away from the conflagration.
Then as she stood up, a pair of lupar ran from one group and came up. "What's going on?" One of them, an adolescent male, asked hurriedly. "Why is priest Yetaru on the ground?"
At that, Alexis blushed as she remembered the two lupar still lying on the ground. She kneeled then, ignoring the two newcomers and shaking the shoulders of the old priest. "Yetaru?" she asked softly.
Much to her relief, the old man stirred and soon propped himself up. "What? What happened?"
"A missile hit the temple," Alexis said, glancing back to take a look at the ruined husk. "We're lucky to be alive. Are you hurt?"
"Only my pride," he replied as she stood up. "What about Tangee?"
Alexis turned and checked the other lupar, and she found that he was wide-awake. The only reason he hadn't stirred was the fact that he was still bound by hand and mouth. With a grunt, Alexis grabbed his bindings and began to pull him up, soon to be joined in by the two young newcomer lupar.
"Cat got his tongue, eh?" A familiar voice intruded on Alexis' consciousness, and the small huddle of natives turned to see a frightening figure dressed in black armor; frightening, that is, to everyone save Alexis. The gatón smiled and waved at him. "Earl!"
"Hello Alexis," van Horn said as he walked up and nodded to the other natives with the gatón, his movements halting when his vision swept over the bound lupar. He then spoke - in Lupari for their convenience. "I see you're up to trouble again."
Alexis shrugged. "Nothing I can't handle," she replied innocently. "I take it the plan went well from your end?"
Van Horn nodded. "Yes, perfect low-angle drop. But now's not the time," he added as he glanced towards where the unmistakable sounds of organized combat started to roll in from the fields. "Get these people to safety, and the Vanquishers and I will keep the Wobbies from followin' y'all."
"Yes sir," she said and then yanked hard on Tangee's arm. "Come on, everyone, to safety." With that, she moved off, and the locals followed in her wake. Behind her, she heard van Horn turn about and race towards the sounds of combat followed by the noise of the other lupar racing after her.
"Who was that?" One of the adolescents asked as he helped the priest along.
"A good friend," Alexis replied easily. "Now, save your breath, boys, because once we get these two out of town, I want you to help me come back and look for others who can't make it."
She heard one of the youths huff extra loud behind her. "Who are you to order us so, wench?"
"Geyver!" Yetaru snapped at the other. "You will show her respect and listen to what she has to say, or else you will dishonor yourself and your family."
Although she was focusing in on maneuvering around houses as they went, Alexis could have sworn she heard the youth behind her gulp. "Yes, Yetaru."
Van Horn ran the last few meters to the edge of what had been termed the 'hot zone,' and he kneeled to peek around the corner of a burning house. Laid out before him was the Blakest encampment, or what was left of it. Molotov cocktails and improvised munitions had shattered and burned tents and equipment crates, and two of the enemy's 'mechs stood frozen in position even as van Horn noted the other four exchanging fire with Tanaka's advancing forces to the north. He soon saw why as he noted one body hanging still from the lip of the Initiate's cockpit, and he saw at least one more lying on the ground near the White Flame.
Damn, he thought. Remind me to never piss Alexis off, he thought as he began to note the few remaining Blakests. They ran about, gathering up what they could in firearms from the few burning houses, and then they ran out to huddle behind the imposing bulk of the two immobile battlemechs, gathering to await the outcome of the battle just beginning.
Speaking of which, he turned his attention to the north again, and his HUD displayed the icons for both friend and identified foe. Eight blue icons, four triangles and four squares, advanced in a conservative line abreast, which let both lances concentrate their firepower one each of the four red triangles that denoted the Blakest 'mechs. As he watched, van Horn saw one of the red triangles – representing a Blue Flame by its identifying alphanumeric – winked out as visually, streams of energy, missiles, and gauss rifle shells slammed into the 45-ton 'mech, taking it down in a single salvo.
Another two icons appeared in his HUD, and van Horn recognized them as one belonging to a pair of troopers from Delta Squad. Their elemental suits clattered on the ground behind him and they came to a stop at a gesture from van Horn. "Doc, whaddya got for us?" Came the voice of one of the troopers over the radio.
"Two groups of Wobbies, huddlin' behind those 'mechs," he said and pointed, using his eyes to mark the 'mechs' locations and then sending the data to the troopers behind him. "Those'll be our main concern."
"Got it," the lead trooper replied. Then he signaled to his fellow, and soon the pair moved off in such a stealthy manner that it almost seemed to mock the weight of their armor. Van Horn didn't pay them much attention, save to note where they headed, so he wouldn't worry if something moved from their general direction.
"Vanquisher one to Sierra Squad," Vickers' voice came in over the squad's frequency, causing van Horn's radio to automatically switch it to the primary channel. "Everyone had a look-see?"
Van Horn was one of the confirming chorus, and Vickers grunted a satisfied noise. "Good. Now, Corporal Connors, take your squad to the northeast and establish a picket line. I'll send Foxtrot Squad out to cover you. Your mission is to watch for that other Level II that Intel said was nearby, and delay 'em if they come too soon."
"Yes sir!" Connors' voice rang out in reply. Then he started giving orders. "Stuger, van Horn, move through the village and keep an eye out for anything we missed. Everyone else, rendezvous with me east of the town."
"Yes sir," the response came in from the six people left to the squad, van Horn among them. He then backed away from his vantage point and then, using the house as cover, he moved back into the town.
Captain Tanaka felt her Guillotine IIC shake as a hail of depleted-uranium slugs impacted its left chest, chewing up nearly a quarter-ton of armor. Angered, she slammed onto her jump jet pedals, sending her 70-ton 'mech soaring over the battlefield, and out of the sights of the enemy Blackjack that had sighted on her.
Damn omni, too, she thought, identifying the 50-ton omnimech version of the original design. Dual Class-5 Ultra autocannons, medium lasers, and a shitload of armor on a package that can match me for speed. Even as she thought this, the Blakest MechWarrior proved it an accurate assessment, as he too leapt his war machine into the air on superheated jets.
Smart boy, she thought as she concentrated on landing her own battlemech. But not smart enough. This thought was spurred in that the Blakest MechWarrior had moved his 'mech a bit too close, apparently trying to bring his lasers into play. He didn't quite make it, and Tanaka eagerly apprised the enemy of his situation, laying into him as she did with her Large Pulse Lasers, which sent megajoules of light energy into the left arm of the enemy omnimech.
The effect was horrendous for the opposing 'mech, as the clan-design lasers melted all the armor off of the arm, and then began to pour their energy into the internal structure and components beneath. A fountain of gray-green fluid spurted from the 'mech as one of its double heat sinks was ruptured. More light energy ripped directly into the shoulder mount, and soon the rest of the arm joined the 'mech equivalent of blood.
Unbalanced by the loss of a limb, the Blakest MechWarrior ignored trying to fire his weapons, instead concentrating only on keeping his 'mech from falling. This proved futile, however, as a pair of Abrams from Checker lance sent Gauss Rifle slugs to slam into the 'mech's torso. Both impacted the right side and their impact, though perhaps survivable by a heavier 'mech, simply tore the whole half of the torso away. Golden fire spewed from the side of the Blackjack as its XL engine shielding was demolished, revealing the fusion heart to the outside air. With a thunderclap of rapid air-expansion caused by the heat of its engine dying, the Blackjack fell face first into the ground, and it didn't get back up.
Two down, Tanaka thought as she turned her Guillotine IIC around to face the remaining enemy forces. Two more left to go. She moved her 'mech forward at a walk to keep it cool as she watched the rest of her lance pour laser, autocannon and missile fire into the heavier of the two remaining enemy 'mechs, a new-model Griffin. The 55-ton 'mech was a redesign of an older, popular 'mech, and as it mounted the latest technology, it was the most dangerous foe at the moment.
Not for long, Tanaka thought belligerently as she spitted the reeling 'mech under her crosshairs. Taking a split second to sight in better, she added her own ER PPC and Large Pulse Lasers to the mix of fire raining on the beleaguered 'mech.
The PPC slammed its azure beam into the already-weakened right arm, and it totally consumed the remaining armor and internal structure, shearing off the limb. One Pulse Laser went off into the night, reaching out to convert some topsoil into charred ash, but the other melted armor off of the Griffin's as-yet untouched left leg, doing no major damage, but helping to unbalance the enemy.
It proved just enough, and the Blakest MechWarrior lost his battle with gravity. Even as his 'mech fell, though, he managed to unleash a barrage of missiles and medium lasers at Myers' Corvus. The Republic MechWarrior, however, simply weathered the storm, and she concentrated on targeting the last enemy standing, which was another 40-ton Initiate that had survived until now by merely being the least dangerous enemy.
IT wasn't to last, however, as Myers unleashed the awesome fury of her Ultra Autocannon and Medium Pulse Lasers. Depleted-uranium shells ripped a huge gash in the Blakest 'mech's torso armor along its middle and left side, though none of them seemed to breach the armor. The stuttering pulse lasers sent streams of molten metal running off of the 'mech's right arm, stripping it bare but leaving the internal components intact.
The Initiate pilot wrestled his 'mech back into stability from all the hits he had taken, and then had his revenge. He triggered Almost his full weapons compliment, sending his small and medium lasers and short-range missiles out at the Republic 'mech.
Tanaka felt a sick lurch in her stomach as she watched the lasers slag armor off of the Corvus' right arm and torso, the only consolation being that the hastily aimed SRMS flew wide.
Fucker's gonna die! Tanaka mentally raged as she aimed her PPC carefully, and then unleashed its power, sending a chaotic particle stream to rip a hole straight into the torso of the enemy Initiate, where Myers' shots had weakened the armor. Consuming the last of the armor, the charged particles then began to eat away at the internal structure. Then a brief gout of flame came from the ruined hole after the PPC finished, which let Tanaka know that the Initiate's engine had suffered damage to its shielding.
She didn't have time to contemplate this, though, as the new-design Griffin propped itself up and unleashed its missiles again, this time sending the flight towards Tanaka's Guillotine. Reacting with instinct and training, Tanaka hunched her 'mech down to provide a smaller targeting profile and to lower its center of gravity.
The trick both worked and failed. It failed in that, despite the lower profile, the enemy 'mech's Artemis IV fire-control system managed to keep the long-range missiles on track, and a full dozen slammed into the front and arms of Tanaka's 'mech. The maneuver worked, however, as Tanaka barely felt her war machine move under the impacts, and she began to think about a counter attack.
It was not necessary, however, as a Gauss Rifle slug from Stein's Grizzly reached out and handily decapitated the Griffin, crushing the entire head and killing the pilot inside as the projectile turned the cockpit inside out.
Tanaka watched as the now-headless Griffin slammed to the ground, and then turned to check on the Initiate. She needn't have bothered, however, as the Abrams tanks from Checker lance had combined their firepower to tear into the hapless 'mech. Switching her scanners to a higher setting, Tanaka still couldn't recognize the twisted metal hulk that was the Initiate's remains.
"Status everyone," the captain called over the ad-hoc force's common frequency.
"This is Checker One," Peterson was the first to report. "My tanks lost some armor, but we're still green."
"This is Red Dog Two," Sergeant Renard chimed in next. "You didn't leave us anything, so we're moving in to see if anyone feels like spending time in Hotel Tortuga," he spoke with an undercurrent of mirth as he used the army's nickname for a ship's brig.
"Oni Two here," Stein called in. "Down a few shots of ammo, have a few scrapes, but I'm a a-ok."
"Three here, cap'n," Myers came online next, following procedure. "I think I'm a bit worse for wear. Lost nearly half my armor all over this tin can. Other than that, I'm good to go."
"Oni Four reporting," Carmike added in. "Those hosers ignored me, and 'cept for some missile shots bein' used up, I'm ready to kick ass."
Tanaka nodded, more to keep her mind grounded in reality than to be any real reply. "Okay, boys and girls, this is how it's gonna be. Checker One, hold the west side of the river, deploy as you see fit. Red Dog Two, ignore prisoners for now; it's not like the bastards can blend into the local population. Instead, I want you on the east riverbank north of the town, watch for any Wobbie infantry that wants to play Inferno games." She paused to catch her breath, and as well to suppress a shudder. "Oni Lance, form up on me. We're goin' to watch the northern approaches for that mysterious Level II we've heard about."
The next hour passed fairly quickly. The remaining Blakest infantry and base personnel had attempted to hide in the village, only to be slammed by the Vanquishers who had closed that door. After a brief, one-sided firefight, the last of the Blakests surrendered. Foxtrot squad had been detailed to watch them and the two surviving MechWarriors from the enemy force, penning them up in a small bend in the river.
Van Horn mulled over these facts as he lay in a copse of trees east of the lupar town. A decent raid in force… So where's that other Level II so we can blast it to Hell? He had the typical nervousness of a soldier on the front lines, waiting for something to happen so that it would just be over with. Fat lot of good it'll do me, though, bein' right n the enemy's path. I might as well paint a bull's eye on my head. They knew the enemy Level II had to come from the northeast, that being the only direction in which cover would let them get to within three kilometers of Kaytor. So where are they?
Sitting, and bored as he was despite the earlier combat, van Horn's mind began to wander. He remembered the dead bodies of the Blakest MechWarriors, and he felt a sense of loss. Not for the Blakests of course, but for what they represented.
Alexis… She was such a nice person, and now we've gone and turned her into a killing machine. The thought came unbidden from his mind, and van Horn gave a disgusted mental shake. Stop that! She's still the nice, caring person she always was.
Yeah, she cares about nailing a shot between someone's eyes, another mental voice answered.
Stop it. That's unworthy of her and you know it. Van Horn continued to argue with himself mentally as he again checked his surroundings with another ten-second scan from his suit's active probe. She's not a machine, certainly.
Damn straight, a prideful voice answered then. Ain't no machine that can be that damn good with a night vision-destroying laser rifle.
Still, I can't help but feel like we've taken something from her… From all of the natives of Bowman's planet. He sighed then, partially in relief, as his probe again saw nothing unusual. We've taken away their innocence, robbed from them the feeling that they know their world.
Again, the sarcastic voice came in. Don't give me that shit. You know as well as anyone – Hell, probably better than anyone – these peoples' common history. The Gatón and Lupar are about as innocent as a group of Hitler Youth… Though a good deal more civilized with their morals. Fucking Nazis. Anyway, you know damn well that these people have had their own wars, their own lawlessness and pillaging and death and all that crap. All we've done is just shown them what happens when you go down the road without checking the map.
His mental debate was interrupted by a radio call from Connors. "Doc, we got a small change in plans. The Boss and Captain Tanaka want you to fall back."
Van Horn shook his head to erase the last vestiges of his internal dissent. "They say any reason why for, corporal?" He asked as he stood and walked out from the trees.
"Not to me, they didn't," Connors replied tiredly. "Though from their voices, I think the shit's about to hit the fan."
Van Horn turned and jetted back for the town as he replied. "When is it not about to hit the fan?"
"Point taken."
Alexis kneeled down next to Hurg, cleaning his wound as she talked to him. "You will probably not have too much to worry about," she said as she finished wiping an alcohol-soaked cotton ball over the wound. Although Hurg wanted to flinch, Alexis held his muzzle in a tight grip with her left hand while her right did all the work. Then after she removed the cotton ball, she released the lupar and he leaned back a bit. "Although I do want you to rest a bit, just to make sure."
Hurg grunted. "There is work to be done, and if I do not have this 'concussion' thing you spoke of," he had to speak the English word slowly, "then I need to help." With that, he began to get up from where he had been resting against a small barn.
Alexis sighed as she leaned back to give Hurg space to stand. "If you wish, but I would ask you to come and see me or one of my friends if you feel dizzy or faint."
Hurg nodded. "I will," he replied and then began to walk off. He paused then, and he glanced back at Alexis. "Thank you."
Alexis shrugged and gave him a small smile. "You're welcome."
The lupar nodded, and then he left. Alexis sighed then, feeling a bit of pressure eased now that the last of the wounded had been taken care of. At least, the ones I can help with, she added in mentally as she packed up the medikit she was using. Glancing about the small farm the Republic forces had temporarily appropriated – making it clear to the natives that it was temporary – for triage, Alexis saw the other medics working on the tougher cases.
Off by the house, Castellano and a trained medic/soldier from one of the Abrams tank crews were working to treat a leg broken by falling debris, while a medic/trooper from the 3rd Armored Platoon's detachment worked about halfway between Alexis and the other two humans, treating a bullet wound inflicted on one of the town's volunteers for the attack.
There were others there, as well. The two squads from the Desert Thunder were standing in silent sentry over the area, though only Sergeant Renard could be made out easily, walking around as he was in his command armor to check on his troopers' positions. Many lupar from the village were within the perimeter, as well, though not all of them were wounded. Many had simply found it comforting to be near each other, and given the fact that the Republic troopers were helping the wounded – something the Blakests didn't do when they had subjugated the town – the locals were willing to give the humans the benefit of the doubt.
That's not to say everyone is here, Alexis remembered as she stood and stretched a bit to ease a kink out of her back. All the militia members keep going back to look for anyone who might have been left behind, and some people just want to go back to their homes. She sighed as she started for the farmhouse. And as a result, everyone's all confused.
Alexis stopped to ask if the 3rd Platoon trooper needed any help, and when he declined, she shrugged and moved on, heading for the front of the house. There she had left Yetaru and Acryu, who seemed to be the only two from the village who had any authority to organize the townspeople, as well as her rifle and radio. She trusted them to keep her equipment safe, and when she reached the knot of lupar at the front, she saw that the trust wasn't misplaced; her rifle and radio were still sitting where she had left them leaning against the house's front. Between them and Alexis, however, was the aforementioned pack of lupar, who seemed to be talking and discussing things with Acryu and Yetaru.
"What I want to know is why we weren't informed?" One man dressed in only a coat and pants demanded. "This sort of thing threatens all of us, yet no one came to ask for my permission."
Acryu turned and growled at the other lupar. "You are a shopkeeper, Faner, not a soldier. If I want advice on how to gouge travelers out of their coin, I'll ask you. But when it comes to fighting, I'll trust my own training thank you."
Alexis stifled a chuckle as she saw the addressed man blush. She walked behind the group, moving slowly to not garner any attention. Another man spoke up then. "It may be well and good what you had planned, Kaeno, but I thought Eiger Tangee was the militia's commander. Who are you to usurp his place?"
Alexis glanced at Acryu and she saw his fur bristle. "Tangee is a tail-fluffing asshole who would have let this town be ravaged by the invaders for all time so long as he had his power," he said in a low, angry voice. "And if you think I usurped his command, well, it wasn't I who beat Tangee in physical combat."
Alexis froze at this, partially because of Acryu's reference to her, but also because she couldn't go forward any more without entering the vision of the other men, and she felt like listening in a bit longer. Good thing that I'm shorter than them, so Acryu and Yetaru probably don't see me.
The gathered men murmured amongst themselves for a moment. Then the second lupar spoke again. "If this is true, then how come whoever beat Tangee isn't in command? Isn't that the way of our town?"
Acryu shook his head. "That person is busy at the moment, so I'm handling the job for now."
Alexis widened her eyes at that, and she managed to hold back a surprised noise. I'm supposed to be the one in command? She felt like screaming. Good Gods, no wonder those lupar trusted me so much! Acryu made sure to mention to them in my presence my little tussle with him and Tangee… For what? So they'd listen to me? The sudden implication made Alexis want to turn and run. This is too much! I'm only supposed to be helping, not leading!
A snort came from the slightly rotund lupar Alexis was standing behind. "Where is this man? I want to go and let him know that he should be answering our questions, not letting an underling take the blame for his reckless plan."
"If it was reckless, then how come you're still alive?" Acryu asked the latest questioner. "You used to be a militiaman, Gernor, you know that the kind of action here tonight hardly took any toll on our town, save those who went out to help in the attack. And those were volunteers, every one of them."
The man known as Gernor grumped. "Still, why is this person not here? What could he have to do right now that is more pressing than answering to the council?"
"More importantly," another lupar added in. "Who is this new commander? Why weren't we informed?"
More talk ensued, most of which passed Alexis by as she stood and thought about how this custom had seemed to change things. Or does it? She asked herself. Think about it, Alexis: You know these people won't accept you in charge of anything, and you won't be staying here too long, anyway. She sighed at that, relieved as she realized that she wouldn't have to endure such a position for very long. Acryu can say all he wants to avoid taking the blame, but in the end, he or another will take their militia, and I'll go back to my job.
Alexis then noticed that the area had fallen quiet, and she lifted her head up from her contemplation to see the entire group of local lupar looking at her. I guess my sigh was a bit louder than I thought. At this, she blushed a bit.
"What is this? A gatón?" Gernor asked from his position near Alexis. "And a woman at that! What is she doing here?"
Alexis glared at him then, and her change in expression told the others that she understood them just fine. But as she opened her mouth to reply, Acryu spoke up. "This gatón is the one who beat Tangee in one-on-one combat, and she is technically the commander of the militia now."
The gathering fell silent for a moment, and then the lupar gathered around started yelling. At Acryu, at Alexis, at each other, it didn't matter. Alexis frowned and just shook her head, and she walked over to the house and grabbed her rifle and radio, ignoring the cacophony behind her. When she turned around though, the speech halted, and she saw them staring at her.
No, they're staring at my rifle, she realized as she shouldered the radio by its carrying strap. I suppose having an advanced weapon gets their attention. Alexis then decided a few words were in order. "Look, I don't care about your fancy titles, or command, or anything like that. I came to help, and I will leave soon." She began walking at that point, passing through the crowd. "If you want a real commander, pick Acryu." With that, she passed beyond the group and moved away, heading towards where the Republic forces had set up a temporary command post on the other side of the barn. She was about halfway there when she heard footsteps rushing up behind her. She tensed, but also forced herself to remain calm. You're surrounded by friends, no one is going to hurt you, she told herself as she turned around to see who had followed.
Alexis wasn't surprised when she saw Acryu slowing down from a quick dash he had made to catch up. "What do you want?" She asked as neutrally as she could, though a trace of anger seeped into her voice. Why didn't you tell me about this crap? The second question hung unspoken in the air between them.
"Listen," Acryu said as he came to a respectful distance and then stopped. "I know you're upset and all, but I didn't tell you for the same reasons you just spoke of a few moments ago."
"And what about those 'volunteers?'" Alexis countered. "Did they have the benefit of knowing that I wasn't going to punish them of they didn't follow along?"
Acryu flinched a bit at her tone. "I… May have omitted a few things," he admitted. "But I do not lie. They all volunteered, every one of them, and they knew what they were in for."
Alexis frowned, and then she shook her head. "But they still made their decision because of what I did, right? Of my particular position in respect to your township?"
Acryu blushed a bit, but he looked defiantly at Alexis. "True, what you did might have made their decision easier, but I believe that even if you had just walked in without such a claim, they would have followed." He sighed then. "I just wanted to help them be clear of all doubts before they went into battle, to ease their minds."
Alexis shook her head, and she half turned from Acryu. "Two men died…" She began quietly. "Two people who will never see another day, because they thought that I was someone special, someone who would have the perfect plan." She sighed sadly and looked down, her tail curling up around her ankle. She closed her eyes and went on in a quiet tone. "I didn't ask for that responsibility, for people to risk their lives for me, instead of for themselves or their families…" Her voice trailed off, and Alexis felt the emotions of the night begin to overwhelm her, though she fought them back before she lost control.
Acryu laid a gentle hand on her left shoulder, and Alexis opened her eyes to look at him. "Listen," he began haltingly, clearly uncomfortable with the direction of the conversation. "I've only known you for little more than a day, but I can safely say that I have a good judge of your character." He paused to remove his hand, and he took a breath before going on. "Most especially, you and your friends thought up a plan that gave my town the most benefit with the least amount of risk." He gestured back to where the lupar were still arguing amongst themselves. "Despite what those old fools would say, you all have done us a great favor, just as you promised. And I dare say that if those two men could talk, they would agree that their sacrifice was worth it."
They both fell silent, and Alexis took a few moments to collect her thoughts. "Thank you," she said to Acryu suddenly. "I… I don't mean to make it sound as if they died for nothing…" She then paused and sighed. "It's just… I've seen too many people die in the last few months, and I'm tired of it. Then I hear that they might have died simply because they felt it was their blind duty to follow my lead…" She looked up at Acryu then. "You understand, I couldn't live with myself if that were the case."
Acryu looked confused for a moment, but then he smiled a bit. "You know, whenever I think I have you figured out, you go and add something new," he said. Then he shook his head. "That alone proves you wrong; you are a special person."
Alexis blushed deeply then. "I thank you," she said with a smile. "Although I warn you, I'm spoken for."
Acryu looked incredulously at her for a moment before he saw her smile widen a bit. Then he laughed. "Well, nice to see you can jest so well."
"Despite the circumstances," Alexis said, her mood fading a bit. "In any case, I really do thank you for your kind words."
Acryu nodded. "As I thank you again for saving our town."
"That may be a premature appreciation." A voice said off to the side. Startled, both Alexis and Acryu turned to see van Horn standing about a meter away, his helmet crooked under his left arm.
"Earl," Alexis said almost breathlessly. "You scared me."
"My apologies, then, Alexis," the human said, speaking the same Lupari that the two natives had been conversing in. "But I'm afraid that time has suddenly become very short. We need to speak to whoever is in charge of the village immediately."
Alexis spared a glance at Acryu. "I suppose that would be those old windbags back there?" She asked.
Acryu nodded. "Yes, but they're not really that bad. They just had a rude awakening, that's all."
"Good," van Horn said. "Because we have some bad news that they are not going to like, and I don't think any but the most strong-willed could take it."
"Why?" Alexis asked, her voice betraying the sudden influx of fear she felt. "What's happened?"
"Our enemies are more clever than we've given them credit for," van Horn replied darkly. "The Level II you thought you heard about? The one we confirmed from radio intercepts?" He sighed roughly. "They only labeled it wrong and transmitted it on an open frequency to bait us. It's not a Level II, but a Level III.
"We have thirty-six heavy and assault 'mechs bearing down on this village, and there's only just enough time before they get here."
Acryu, frowning at the unfamiliar speech, raised his voice. "Enough time for what?"
Van Horn turned and looked at him. "Enough time to decide whether we run, or just die here."