Chapter 2; And ever we fight on

The crew compartment of the bomber shook slightly as it made its way to Khagaan's defense carrier, the Ashoka. While bombers were obviously primarily designed to attack ground targets, they could also be used to transport small groups of people between destinations. It was not a comfortable ride by any standard, but airlifting remained, as ever, the fastest method of getting from point A to point B. Sitting on a row of seats on the right hand wall of the crew compartment, Khagaan raised her hands to the sides of her head, groaning slightly. While she was usually comfortable in travelling, there was something about the way airborne vehicles moved that always caused her some nausea. The fact that she was still wearing her helmet was not helping matters in the slightest. Briefly she considered taking it off, but she decided against it. Combat pilots as a breed were talented, dedicated people, but the concept of *bumpless flight* seemed to be completely beyond their limited understanding. Surely the innate stuffiness of the helmet was preferable to a potential skull fracture. Finally the pilot announced that the carrier was within visual range and the bomber tilted as it started the final approach. The crew compartment had no windows, so Khagaan could not see the approach, but she could hear the firing of landing thrusters as the bomber slid into its docking slot inside the cavernous hold of the carrier, bathed in red light. She could feel the shudder as the bomber touched down and hear the brief burst of indistinct radio chatter as flight control confirmed the bombers docking. "My thanks for our safe arrival, pilot." She casually shouted towards the cockpit as she stood up and made her way towards the exit. "My pleasure, Lady–Protector." Came the pilots muffled response as Khagaan stopped before the airlock of the bomber. Stairs were brought to the door, and she stepped outside. For a moment she stood on top of the flight of stairs looking around. In the red light of the hold she could see various vehicles, aircraft and ground vehicles both in various part of the hold and members of the crew performing their tasks among them. Cargo lifts were moving materials and machines between the various subdecks of the hold. Off in the distance she could see the complex machinery of the ships main construction yard. The construction facilities were a true marvel of engineering, able to construct whatever technology the Gaalsien onboard required. Using phased assembler arrays, sophisticated multi–tasking computers and fully automated assembly lines, any ship in their mighty fleets could be assembled in mere minutes, from the humble sand skimmer to the mighty honor guard cruiser, so long as there were sufficient raw materials in their stores. What could not be made by the carrier itself could be built by the many production cruisers that were part of the Ashoka's fleet. The only downside was that their enemy, the Northern Coalition had access to the same technology. Even here, their respective forces were evenly matched, as they had ever been. "At home again" Khagaan thought as she looked at the sight before descending the flight of stairs.

She made her way across the hold to an elevator that would take her to the main command bridge. As she walked past them, members of her crew paused in their duties, stood at attention and saluted her. She returned their salutes, although her salute was rather sloppy in comparison. She was tired from an entire day spent travelling and she had always been of the opinion that posturing became unnecessary once the power hierarchy had been clearly established. Thus she was less demanding in matters of protocol when it came to those of her crew who had served on the Ashoka for a long time (herself naturally included), but more strict with new arrivals. The elevator brought her to the command centre, and soon she was looking at the sight she had become familiar with over many years. A soldier of the infantry on guard duty near the door announced her arrival as she entered, which she immediately waved off, and everyone on the bridge went back to work. This area was less blindingly red in its lighting, although red was still the predominant color besides the dull grey of the bulkheads, thanks to the numerous holographic displays that were present all over the command deck. The command deck consisted of two levels. The lower level was the main command section that housed the command consoles for navigation, communications, sensors and weapons. At the centre was the commander's chair where she usually sat, directing her carrier and the forces assigned to her. Above that area, perhaps five meters higher, was the main flight control and observation deck. Both areas had windows on their outer walls so that the crew could see outside, although the carrier naturally relied primarily on its sensors as its eyes. Numerous ladders allowed movement between the two levels, and a small cargo lift existed in the left hand corner of the command bridge. Her crew was all over the place in similar uniforms and helmets as she herself was wearing. Near the commanders chair was standing a man she knew to be Arraesh, the captain – Defender of the Ashoka. He was the commander of the carrier in her absence, her chief advisor and second in command, and an old, dear friend from their mutual training years. He turned to address her, his voice welcoming despite the distortions of his helmet: "Lady–Protector, good to see you again. Under her helmet, she smiled: "Likewise Captain–Defender. How are our preparations coming?" His back straightening, he cleared his throat and responded: "All members of the crew have been accounted for; fuel and water tanks have been filled up; all equipment and initial construction resources have been loaded. We're ready to begin final readiness check at your discretion.

"Excellent. Let's get to it then." Khagaan said. She turned on the communications control unit to give a ship wide broadcast: "all decks, all stations, all call signs, this is Lady–Protector Khagaan speaking. Check readiness and stand by to report status. The bridge swayed a little as the carrier's hover technology changed from passive standby mode to full readiness, and the carrier lifted several dozen meters off the ground. After a few moments Arraesh turned to speak to her again "Ma'am, I believe we are ready to begin."

Nodding, Khagaan began the readiness inspection: "Communications, status report?"

"Diagnostic is complete, all systems check out, internal and external communications are online, no anomalies detected. Communications are go, Lady–Protector." announced guardian Kennae. She was a new arrival, fresh out of training, only recently assigned to the Ashoka as a communications officer.

"Navigation?"

"Control systems are online and functioning properly. Travel waypoints have been programmed; we're ready to move out on your order. Navigation is go, Lady–Protector." said their helmswoman, guardian Jiire. She was another old friend of Khagaan's. Jiire had always had always wanted to be a fighter pilot, but had never qualified due to her poor eyesight, so she had done the next best thing and trained herself as a carrier driver. Khagaan had pulled some strings to get her assigned to the Ashoka.

"Sensors?"

"All sensors are online, no anomalies detected. Sensors are go, Lady–Protector." This came from guardian Harkath. He too was a new arrival, brought in as a replacement after their prior sensors officer had been killed in action. He was still adjusting to his position, but was already proving to be a worthy replacement.

"Weapons?"

"Weapons are loaded, manned and operational. Weapons are on standby mode until further notice. Weapons are go, Lady–Protector." stated guardian R'kath, by far the oldest member of the command crew, being between fifty or sixty years of age. He was still excellent shape considering his years. He had been a field officer in the Gaalsien infantry forces until a combat injury had seen him reassigned to command duties. He was competent enough, but it often showed that he missed fighting on the ground.

"Flight deck?"

"Flight deck systems are functioning normally. All fighter squadrons and bombers have reported in. Monitoring crews are present and at their posts. Flight and observation deck is go, Lady–Protector." reported guardian Ziel. Of him Khagaan knew very little, as they interacted less than the rest of the command crew.

Clicking on a switch on her communication unit, Khagaan addressed the next person on the list: "Engineering, status report?"

"All primary systems are in the green. Power shunting system is online, ready to process orders. Main construction yard is fully operational. Engineering is go, lady - protector" replied guardian Scotha, their chief engineer, answering in his usual thick accent. Where in the Gaalsien territories he had grown up to pick up an accent like that, she had never discovered.

"Lady–Protector, medical deck has reported in, they're go." announced Kennae after listening to her helmet speakers for a moment.

"Field unit status?" Khagaan asked of Kennae.

"Standby, reports are still coming in." answered Kennae. Several moments of silence followed. "All field units of the carrier have reported in, they're at full readiness, Lady-Protector." she said finally.

Arraesh spoke up next: "All critical sections have reported in, carrier Ashoka and all assigned field units are at full readiness, Lady–Protector."

"Very good" Khagaan nodded, pleased. "Contact the other carriers. Readiness checks are to commence, carriers are to report status when checks are complete."

"Aye, aye." replied Kennae and proceeded to comply with the orders Khagaan had given. A long silence ensued as the other carriers went through their checks. Finally Kennae began to speak: "Renza is ready…..Ashinta is ready….Arrakesh is ready….Vashti is ready. The task force is ready, lady – protector!"

"All right." replied Khagaan, "Communications, all task force units to assume convoy formation and follow us out. Navigation, plot course for waypoint one and engage main drive"

"Aye, lady – protector, course set for waypoint one, engaging main drive." replied Jiire.

"Guardian Kennae, please patch me through to the entire task force." Khagaan said next standing up as she did. "Aye." Kennae replied and after pressing several buttons on her keyboard she continued "You're on, lady – protector, go ahead."

Khagaan began to speak, her voice echoing in the loudspeakers installed across the Ashoka; transmitted to all the carriers and fleet units of the mighty task force:

"My brave, brave warriors. Today we set out on a mission to defeat the Northern coalition once and for all, and save our world from destruction. We shall descend upon their forward bases with holy fury, while the rest of our mighty navy shall shatter their precious frontier wall, and through conquest, claim their vile capital. We shall crush the heretical expedition our foes would use to conquer our lands. Through so doing, we shall claim the key for the ascension of our Kiith – Sa, so that he might reign over Kharak as the voice of Sajuuk, as is his destiny. We are the knights of the desert, the flaming spear of faith that shall pierce the hearts of the unholy! Through our wrath, their darkness of the Northern reign will be shattered forever! Through our duty, Kharak shall belong to the faithful! Through our valor, this world shall be saved from the flame! Through our actions, we will show our creator that the people of this world are still his people! Through our will, the kiith of Kharak shall never again stray from his teachings! Sajuuk willing, this shall be the last war on Kharak. By the end of this war, all who are Gaalsien shall forever more be known as heroes, as saviors, as warriors that brought peace eternal to a world at war! In that I have never been more honored to lead you, to say that I was there when it all began! So now I say, go forth and carry out the will of our creator! Bring that will to the very heart of the North! Bring peace to Kharak! SAJUUK BE WITH US!"

The bridge erupted in cheers and shouts of "Sajuuk be with us". It was likely the crews of the other carriers were responding in much the same way. Khagaan sat back in her chair, radiating authority like a triumphant empress.

After roughly half an hour of driving across the desert, a thought occurred to Khagaan. She turned to talk to Kennae once again: "Communications, do we still have the Coalition transmission frequencies on file?"

"Confirmed, we still have those frequencies available. Be advised, with the updated enemy encryption those channels are now send only."

"That's alright guardian Kennae, sending was what I had in mind. Stand by to record a message from me, visual and audio recording. Afterwards send the message on all available Coalition channels, flag it as a critical urgency message if you can. It's time to let the North know they're at war."

"Lady–Protector, I'm ready to begin recording". Kennae said after a few moments. Recording begins in…you're ready? ...in 3…2…1… go.

Taking a deep breath, Khagaan began to speak:

"Attention kiithid of the North. I am Khagaan, of the kiith Gaalsien; servant of the mighty K'had Sajuuk." The computer before her reacted to her words and flashed a recording of the Gaalsien – Sa on the screen. "For generations, you have violated the first commandment of our creator, by entering into space." The recording on the screen changed into another one depicting a satellite launch in progress. "You seek the stars. Now you invade our lands for a second time. Diplomacy has failed. We can tolerate this no longer." The recording changed once again to one showing a skull mounted on top of a stake. "The suffering of this war will be nothing compared to the wrath of Sajuuk." "Long live the People of Kharak" she added, remembering her father's words.

"Ending recording. Transmitting" Kennae said, sensing that Khagaan had said what she had to say. "Message sent, lady – protector" Kennae said after a few moments.

Placing a hand on Khagaan´s shoulder, Arraesh leaned closer to speak to her: "With a speech like that, I think half of the North just browned their trousers"

"Just half the North? Aw, how unfortunate, I had hoped for so much better results." Khagaan replied with mock disappointment in her voice.

Chuckling, Arraesh continued: "Then perhaps we should give a practical demonstration as well?"

"That we will, Captain–Defender," Khagaan replied, her attention turning to the landscape visible through the windows "that we will."