Battle Dawn

Chapter 4: The Higher Ups 

by Silver

            Author's Note: I'll start off this chapter by thanking three very kind people who left reviews for the last chapter:

            Tremor3258- One of my most faithful readers who always has a question or observation that makes me think more about the story I am writing.

            Darkleena- Another faithful reader whose eagerness for the next chapter keeps me motivated.

            Deity of Sorrow- Despite the depressed-sounding pen name, the last review made me laugh out loud. I was taken completely off-guard. It's one of those reviews that just makes me go "huh?" It was a real joy to read.

            I'm still getting over my ego when it comes to this fic. I did pretty well in the Digimon fan fic circle and had a lot of reviews at first. I keep forgetting that Zoids fans aren't necessarily Digimon fans as well, so I'm really starting from scratch. I'm grateful for any reviews, constructive criticisms, and encourage I receive from my readers. I can't thank everyone by name all the time, but each review is a big boost to my enthusiasm.

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"A terrible tragedy, sir. I know he was the enemy, but-"

            "I understand your feelings, Commander, but you need not feel blame for what has happened. Count Umbra chose to take his own life rather than see his power totally collapse. Neither you nor I could have prevented him. Do not take responsibility for someone else's mistake. There's more than enough guilt in the world to go around without taking on more."

            "Yes, Chairman Vaez. Thank you, sir."

            "Now, pull yourself together and oversee the transport of the prisoners. The ZBC courts are going to be very busy in the next few months. The sooner we get these people back to justice, the sooner we can claim victory."

            "Sir!" The commander clicked his heels and headed for the door. "Uh… Chairman?"

            "I know, Commander. I was the only person present to witness the Count's suicide. Naturally, there will have to be an investigation. Have no fear; that shall take place shortly."

            "Yessir." The door slide shut.

            Stepping over to the wall the Count had previously indicated, Vaez scanned its surface. As a final act of spite, Count Umbra had neglected to tell him where the switch to the door lay. After five minutes of fruitless searching, the purpose of this challenge became clear. Grandfather was trying to sabotage Vaez by demolishing his confidence. How could he rule Zi if he couldn't even open a door? Such tests had marked over half Vaez's life.

            He'd past those tests, every one of them. He would not be thwarted now. The switch had to be in the room, although where was anyone's guess. Count Umbra had trusted no one. He would never hide the door trigger where it could be easily found. Under the desk, behind a bookshelf; these were far too obvious a hiding place.

            Vaez took a deep breath, trying not to hear his grandfather laughing at him from the beyond. Stop laughing, Grandfather! This is your fault!

Another breath. Losing control now would only validate Grandfather's doubts. "Focus on what you know of your enemy, then use that knowledge as your weapon." How odd that the man who had given Vaez this challenge was also the one who provided the tools to overcome it.

The Count trusted no one.  Anyone with that lack of trust would keep all precious items near him… Vaez regarded the Count's body, now surrounded by tape to mark his position after falling. The morticians would arrive soon to take him for autopsy. Vaez regarded the cane he'd used to kill Linda. The eyes of carved hilt looked strangely separate distinct from the rest of the cane.

            Picking up a tissue from the table, Vaez knelt down and wrapped his finger in the cloth. He gently pressed the eye of the cane, careful not to move anything too far from where it lay lest it tip off the investigators. The eye yielded under his pressure and snapped into the hilt.

            With an almost silent click and swish, the door slid open. Vaez stood back up and the cane's eye returned to its original position.

            "Nice try." Vaez smirked at the corpse and entered the doorway just as it began to close.

            A long dark tunnel led him further underground, farther than he would have deemed possible. But such was the wealth of the Backdraft. Only someone with a vast sum of zenny could dig this far down and then build a base atop the cavern. He emerged into a dimly lit hanger, where an army waited for him. 

            They stood at perfect attention, roughly a hundred and fifty in all. A nearby computer displayed all the information and programming for these units: the Diloforce. These Zoids were the embodiment of Backdraft tactics. Small, lightweight, and therefore easy to produce and maintain. They were lightly armored to best serve as cannon fodder while relying on superiority of numbers to win the battle. A Diloforce unit was faster and stronger than a Demantis or Maccurtis, and possessed a superior artificial intelligence to those of the Zabats. It was possible for a pilot to hang off the Zoid's back, but without any form of protection. Pilots were harder to find than Zoids, thus the need for the AI.

            Worthless. What good was such a force to Vaez? Tiny units like this were not needed in the war he planned. He needed Zoids that would strike terror in the populace. The amber fan encircling their necks and their oversized claws were comical; and the tiny blasters in their mouths and the crimson blades retracted at their upper thighs were no serious danger to an enemy army. They were so thin one bite from a liger could snap them in two. Such stubby arms. Couldn't even pick up a person with those.

            What did you want me to use these for, Grandfather? Is this another of your endless tests? Do you intend to haunt me from the grave! Another damn test. Find a use for this gift or admit the Count created something Vaez couldn't use and confess that he was not the master strategist he thought himself.

            Well, Grandfather was wrong. He would find a use for these units, even if they had no plausible role in his army… He'd use them in a test of his own. A test for the woman whom he planned to claim as his queen. Yes, these units would both bring out his queen's power.

            Vaez opened a map file on the computer and keyed in coordinates for the Toros Base, home of the Blitz Team. This attack would be understandable since it was the Blitz Team that ruined the Backdraft's goals for the Royal Cup. Anyone could dismiss this as a final act of retaliation by the Backdraft, until the next attack. He could hear his grandfather's laughter subside as he keyed in the commands to all the Diloforce. Destroy the base and any Zoid units contained therein. Destroy any Zoids encountered en route. With luck, such an attack might even drive the Blitz Team into further financial debt, making Leena Toros all the more grateful when Vaez swooped in to save her from a mundane life.

            At the push of the enter button the Diloforces' eyes blazed red and they rose from their statue-like slumber. The hanger doors retracted and the units took off with surprising speed. Given the angle of the launch tunnel, they would emerge well outside the ZBC's range. He had no doubt that he'd never see these Zoids again. The Blitz Team was far too powerful to lose to such a weak force, but he could somehow reap the benefits of this attack. It would all work out in his favor. Grandfather would never laugh again.

                        *          *          *          *                      *          *          *          *

            Memories were such portable things. Even with their intensive impact, they could be transported in small items that could all fit in one briefcase. Ex-Chairman Hancock's office was filled with memories, and now he was packing them all away.

            Medals, photos, trophies; all carried significance of a time now lost to him. He did not begrudge the members of the ZBC council for stripping him of his role. Perhaps he could have done more to curtail the Backdraft's operations. Yet not matter what shortcomings he might be guilty of, he couldn't help but lament the loss of a major part of his life. He'd worked his way up from the bottom of the Helic army with the goal of becoming ZBC Commissioner and Chairman of the committee. To lose it now was a painful reminder that men of his age were being phased out by a younger crop. He had no doubt that many of his friends and colleagues would soon be packing up their own memories and leaving for an unknown future.

            Knock, knock.

            "Come in." The door slide open and Colonel Richard Paris stepped inside. "I hope I'm not disturbing you, sir."

            Hancock smiled. He'd always liked Paris. Despite different military backgrounds, they were cut from the same cloth and he'd hoped that Paris would be elected his successor. Vaez was an impressive officer for having risen the ranks even faster than Richard, but he did not possess the same qualities that Hancock saw in his protégé. In all truth, Hancock wondered if Vaez was trustworthy with all the ZBC's power. Surly a youth of twenty-five did not appreciate the reigns of power. "There's no need for formalities, Richard. I'm not with the Zoids Battle Commission anymore."

            "Sir, you'll always be my commander. I still say the tribunal should have kept you as Commissioner."

            "And I say they should have given the job for you." He produced a small bottle of scotch from a nearby cabinet. "Join me in a toast?" Richard took a poured glass and held it up with Hancock. "To a life well lived and a thoroughly enjoyable career." They drank.

            "Sir, you're talking as if your life is over."

            Hancock sighed. "In a way it is. The ZBC was my life. No time for wife or children and all that. I think that might be my biggest regret."

            "But your life isn't over. Doesn't the Helic army have a position ready for you?"

            He scoffed. "Some glorified desk job. I'll probably be stationed at the Helic military museum, next to the other relics. It's happened before. My predecessor faded away into some obscure outpost and I never heard from him again. I don't want that life, Richard. I want to spend my final days feeling like I'm still working for a future, even if I don't live to see it."

            Richard turned his glass in his hands. "And… you don't trust Sen Vaez to build a future?"

            Hancock arched an eyebrow. "We'll see. He's ambitious, I'll give him that. And he knows how to sway the tribunal. But I don't think he respects his peers. Every time I've met him it seems as though he were sizing up everyone around him, and none could compare. He's even gone off on a Backdraft raid without permission or giving a full briefing to the Committee. He'd better come back with a big victory or his success might be short lived."

            "That might not be a bad thing. I-" Richard stopped when Hancock held up a hand. He reached under his desk and pressed a small red switch. The room radiated a faint buzz that made Hancock's ears shake. In all the years he'd been ZBC Commissioner, he'd never needed to use his dampening device. That he needed it now was a sign that times were indeed changing.

            Richard looked understandably confused. "Sir, what is this?"

            "A jamming field. I had it installed my first day as Commissioner. We sweep for bugs frequently, but it never hurts to be a little paranoid, especially when so many people want your job. Let's keep this short." He turned the field off. "Yes, very interesting, Richard. I'm sure you and Vaez will get along just fine." He tried to make his tone as casual as possible. "You haven't told me what's next for you."

            "Well," Richard always was a quick study. He matched Hancock's tone. "I'll keep working on the Buster Eagle project. Although, if the Backdraft truly is finished we might not need to complete the prototype. I suppose I'll-" He stopped when the field came on again.

            "Tell me what you really think of Vaez." Hancock's voice carried the need for brevity.

            "I think he's a threat. He has half the ZBC in his pocket and can easily buy off a good many more. He's already promoted several questionable officers, and he's suggested recruiting some unwanted members of the Helic and Guylos army. He has too much free reign. I'm worried that he'll rule the ZBC like a tyrant and quickly steal power away from anyone who can oppose him."

            "Including yourself?"

            "Yes, sir."

            Hancock reached into a drawer and presented Richard a piece of paper. "That's just what I wanted to hear. You've always been a good soldier, Richard. I have no doubt that you'll do the right thing." He deactivated the field just as another knock at the door sounded. He glanced warily at Richard before calling, "Come in."

            A short man, rivaling Hancock in age, stood in the doorway, smiling broadly. His dress suggested that he was a member of the upper class, although his coat and suite were grossly out of fashion with the local elitists. His smoky gray hair was combed tight against his scalp, and his grin etched a few curves in an otherwise smooth face. Hancock had never seen this man before, and that apparently made both men wary.

            "General Hancock, a pleasure to meet you. I am Kenneth Gray."

            "Hello… I don't believe we've had the pleasure. This is my friend, Richard Paris."

            Mr. Gray nodded to Richard, but focused on Hancock. "Indeed this is the first time we've had the chance to meet. I am here to offer you an invitation to a new position; one that might interest you more than any role the Helic army could provide. However," he regarded Richard, "I would like to discuss this in private."

            Hancock nodded. Right now, a new prospect sounded like a gift from Zoid Eve herself. "Richard, would you excuse us for a moment?"

            "Of course, sir." Richard saluted and left. The note he'd received was now safely tucked in his pocket.

            As soon as the door closed, Gray stated his proposal quite bluntly. "How would you like to change the future of southern Europa?"

                        *          *          *          *                      *          *          *          *

            Richard Paris slumped against the wall, breathing heavily. He hadn't expected the General to go through all that cloak-and-dagger exercise. In all the years he'd studied under the General, he'd never seen the older man act like that. Richard was by no means a coward, but he didn't approve of acting in the shadows. That was something for the Backdraft, not an officer of the Zoids Battle Commission. And yet he had denounced the new Commissioner under the shroud of a dampening field. Not very extroverted behavior. Such an act left him winded and more than a little worried.

            After taking a moment to compose himself, he sat on a nearby bench and read the note the General had given him.

Dear Richard,

            I had hoped to give you this letter as a former Chairman to his successor. Sadly, Sen Vaez had ruined that dream. Yet I feel that what I am about to convey to you will better serve the Zoids Battle Commission, and perhaps the whole of Zi, in your hands rather than Vaez's. What I have for you is a weapon that can be used against Vaez should the need ever arise. But realize that the subject in question is far more precious to me than any mere tool.

            I should start with what is perhaps the most bizarre fact. I have a niece: Celica Lucraft. She'd my sister's daughter, and someone you want to keep as an ally.

            Even as a little girl, Celica wanted to follow in my footsteps and join the Helic army; but her mother wouldn't allow it. She said that one military family member was enough. Celica is a prodigy, smarter than anyone I know, including those several times her age. The girl's studied and learned more in her short life than I have in perhaps my entire career. My sister didn't want her to "squander" her gift on a life in the military. Celica went to college and I thought that was the end of the matter.

            Then Celica showed up in my office one day, dressed in full uniform and ready for duty. She'd done what I thought was impossible: hacked into the Helic database and enrolled herself in the military as a Lieutenant assigned to my staff. I had security do a conventional sweep and they completely missed her entry. I still don't know how she did it.

            Having no ties within the army besides myself, Celica became invaluable as a sort of spy, ferreting out any loathsome figures in the military. Whenever I suspected wrongdoing or abuse, Celica would arrange a transfer to the unit in question, discover their secrets, and provide me the means to shut them down. Then all record of her being a part of that unit ceased to exist. She was a ghost, ferreting out the sexual predators, entrepreneurs, and thugs that tarnished the army's reputation.

            When I became ZBC Chairman, she came with me and performed the same service. I feared that my fall from power would rob her of this critical role, but I was glad to realize I could entrust her services to you. Celica can be your eyes and ears. She can find out all of Vaez's secrets and thus allow you to be one step ahead of him. Should the need ever arise to block Vaez, I'm sure you will find a way to do so.

            Celica can aid you in gather information and put you in touch with the right people to aid this cause. But be cautious. This is my final precaution as ZBC Chairman. It is my fervent hope that you never need to act against Chairman Vaez and put neither your future nor my niece's in jeopardy.

She's already hacked her transfer into your Buster Eagle division and will meet you at 16:00:00 this afternoon. You can decide your future from there. I trust you, Richard. Good luck.

                                                            Your comrade and friend,

         Arthur Hancock.

            Richard stuffed the note back in his pocket and resumed his reliance on the wall. Use a hacker—the General's niece—to spy on Sen Vaez? What could he possibly do with that information? It was absurd. It was treasonous. It was not the reason he'd joined the ZBC!

            "What we do in life is rarely what we plan. A true human being accepts whatever card fate deals and faces the future with an open mind and eyes." That was one of the first lessons the General taught. It had been a guiding factor in Richard's career and had led to his placement in the Secret Development Division.

            Okay, General. I'll meet your niece and see where the future takes me. Gods of Zi know that I can't see how the future is shaping right now.

            Richard never got to see the General after the meeting. He later heard that the General had gone with the strange representative to the hanger bay, where a Storm Sworder and pilot waited. The General had boarded the aerial Zoid and taken off for parts unknown. His mysterious envoy had remained behind and was looking for passage back home.

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            He'd been running. Which was odd since he hated to run. It built up the wrong muscles. Not enough upper body strength to impress his allies and intimidate his foes. But he'd been running for a purpose. Now what was it? Something about gunfire and lots of people. They were all running and shouting, and he'd been trying to get away.

            There were people here now. They were talking, not shouting; and there was (much to his relief) no gunfire. The funny thing was that these faceless individuals were much taller than he, and they walked at an angle so that he could see their chins quite clearly. A bright set of lights above nearly blinded him and obscured everyone else's face in shadow. He was cold, and his arms and legs wouldn't move when they told him too. His chest hurt and something in the back of his mind said that wasn't a good sign.

            Slowly his understanding of the world returned. He was cold because he was naked; something he definitely didn't allow around strangers. And his arms and legs wouldn't move because they were held down by restraints. The lights turned down, but the people's faces were still hidden by masks. Surgical masks.

            Naked. Shackled. Surgeons. And a lingering pain on his chest. Definitely not good.

            "Who are you?" was what he meant to say. It came out as, "wuff ebb uuggh?" His mouth was stuffy and limp. No one seemed to notice his question save one individual.

            "Ah, Commander Alteil. Finally awake." Another figure bled from the shadows. He was tall and young; dressed in the tan uniform of a Zoids Battle Commission officer with purple strips hanging from the shoulders. The light shone off his cinnamon colored hair and added a gleam to his steel blue eyes. Judging from the confident walk and pose, this was the man responsible for his capture. It was all returning; the flight from the ZBC troops, the black-clad men who seized him from the dark and shot something into his neck. Now Alteil lay at the mercy of this man in a… Zoids Battle Commission Chairman? For someone so young, that could only mean…

            Alteil found his voice. "You're Sen Vaez!"

            "Very good. A quick study I see. You'll need that."

            "For what?"

            "To rule the Backdraft, of course. I see from that dumbfounded expression on your face that you can't grasp what I'm offering you: the chance to fulfill your ambitions."

            "W-why are you offering me leadership?"
            "I can't rule on my own; not publicly at least. I think people would find it a little odd if the ZBC Commissioner was also the leader of the Backdraft Organization."

            The situation was forming a little too quickly to be safe. Alteil huffed. "So you need a pawn. Why not use Count Umbra?"

            "He's dead."

            "WHAT?" The Count dead? No… The Count was the base of the Backdrafts power. All his contacts, his seemingly bottomless well of funding. How could Alteil possibly fill the void on his own? He'd dreamed of building his own power base to the point where he could succeed the Count, but he was nowhere near ready!

            "Don't look so panicked." said Vaez. "I wouldn't send my puppet on to the stage without all the strings ready to support him. All the Count's money shall be mine, and I shall pass it along to you."

            "Why?"

            "I told you: I cannot be seen as the Backdraft's new leader. You shall rule the Backdraft and I shall rule you."

            "And why should I let you 'rule' me?"

            That smirk was getting irritating. "You're hardly in a position to negotiate, but I'll humor you. For starters, you will run the day-to-day business of the Backdraft. I will only step in when I need something done. Secondly, you have more power than anyone other than myself. You can strike from the shadows, arrange illegal matches-"

            "Almost all the dark Judges are gone."

            "Then you'll have to adapt. And, most importantly," he produced a small cylinder from his pocket, "if you don't follow my orders, I'll do this."

With the push of a button, Alteil's heart clenched. Gasping for breath, he looked around furiously, searching for a sign of what was attacking him. His body broke out in a cold sweat as every inch of his being screamed in terror. He was dying, and he had no idea why. His breaths became shorter as the world dimmed.

And then it stopped. The vice on his heart eased and his breathing slowly returned to normal. Eyesight cleared, revealing that damned smug grin on Vaez's face. "WHAT DID YOU DO TO ME?" Alteil screamed as soon as he was able.

Vaez nodded to the gathered surgeons and the scar on Alteil's chest. "These are some of the foremost nanosurgeons in Zi's shadow world. They specialize in ensuring loyalty. In this case, they've attached a small device to your heart, just at the top of the aorta. With the push of a button, I can stop the flow of blood to your body and kill you in minutes. The device is attached to your heart at an almost cellular level, so don't bother thinking about how you'll get it off. It's even harder to take out than to attach."

"You bastard!" Alteil struggled in his braces. "I'll kill you!" He'd never known a hate as deep as now, not even against Sarah.

"Fine." Vaez motioned to the gathered assembly and several members unshackled Alteil. The links were barely released before he lunged forward, knocked the silver death stick away and clenched Vaez's neck. That smirk didn't vanish even as Alteil crushed the air out of him.

"If I die… so will you…" Vaez gasped.

"I can handle a few surgeons." Alteil grinned as the man's eyes started to roll back.

"No… die… from this…" He opened unbuttoned uniform, revealing a scar similar to Alteil's.

Reality struck cold. "You didn't…" He released his grip for fear of his life.

"I did." Vaez gasped, still mocking with a smirk. "Your device is set to cut off your blood-flow by default. It's only the continual laser signal from a device next to my own heart that keeps you alive. Thanks to some transmitters I set up in advance, you don't have to worry about being out of range. But if I die, the link will sever and you'll die shortly after my last breath. Still want revenge?"

Alteil clenched his fist, shaking with rage a foe he couldn't strike. Vaez continued, "If I suspect even the slightest betrayal from you, I'll shut off your device. That button I pressed is a signal jammer specially attuned to block my own. I'll be fine if the signal is cut, but you won't do so well."

Defeated and now assuredly broken, Alteil asked, "Why me?"

"You're the most logical choice. You're the type who'd step in and pick up the Count's lost power should the Committee of Seven fall. Everyone in the Backdraft knows you and they shall return to your side because of that familiarity."

"I wasn't always liked."

"No. But even your opponents will be desperate for a leader. You can go back to having rivals once you are assured of your security. Trust me, it'll work out."

"… fine. I agree to your terms."

"I wasn't asking for your concurrence." Meaning the bastard never really intended for Alteil to have a choice. "Now get dressed. I want you to start searching for the Backdraft members who escaped ZBC detection."
            "And just what will you be doing?"

"Me?" Vaez said innocently. "Why, I'm going to go watch a show." He melded into the shadows.

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            Author's Note: Whew. Setting all this stuff up sure is taking a while. There's a lot to do before I can really get to the meat of this story. I kept this chapter intentionally shorter so I could focus on what people are doing in the upper ranks. Next chapter features the return of some old and unfriendly faces. Until next time!