Last chapter, in the first paragraph it said that Man's Conviction was carrying nine thousand troops, that is a typo, the ship is carrying five thousand troops, not including Naval personnel.
The Imperium of Taraak
Chapter Two
The day ended. The base's night cycle had began. All sides agreed to end negotiations for the day and continue tomorrow.
"Should we return to our ship or will I and my men stay on base?" Calik asked the Captain of the Pirates.
"Why of course you can stay, I am almost insulted that you think we are so low as to not offer you and your men a place to sleep." Mango replied, smiling. While no headway in anything substantial had been made, at least the men and women aren't shooting each other...yet.
"Well considering we thought you might eat us I'd say that is an improvement." Lendik bitterly remarked.
Mango frowned, the man had been glaring at BC since the start of the negotiations, his index finger twitching occasionally. Calik himself could almost feel the waves of disgust resonating off of Lendik.
The men of the first five platoons of the 203rd were assigned rooms. They were very confused with the aesthetic look of everything, clean curves instead of the blocky, overbearing frames they were used to. The softness of the beds, the abundance supply of fresh water. It was all baffling to the men. It was certain the the women share a laugh when the men first saw the Gardens, their mouths agape and their eye's bulged.
Julian Spencer was in the cargo bay, along with the rest of the 3rd platoon as the negotiations were taking place, as well as the other four platoons of the 203rd. When they had been given the signal to rest most of the men just crowded around the gunships, trying to stay away from the females as much as possible. The females acted similar and crowded around the opposite end of the hanger. Whispers, rumours, and speculation quickly spread through the two groups like the wind of a Taraak desert storm or a northern Mejere blizzard. The two sides flashed looks at each other like adolescence children still in schola. The men were told to bring extra rations of every kind due to the fact that if the females did spring a trap, the men would need plenty of provisions if they were unable to return to the ship quickly, as such, they had extra everything, including socks. The men were fully prepared for a prolonged standoff with the females.
"Hey, take a look at that." Williams, a comrade in 3rd platoon said to Spencer.
"Hm, what?" Spencer asked Williams.
"Over there." Williams pointed to the female crowd. Spencer followed Williams pointing finger, to a young, teenage male, with the female crowd. The young male had blue hair and was garbed in the clothes of a third class citizen.
"What the hell?" Spencer wondered aloud.
"What is it?" Koehler, another trooper from the 3rd platoon asked them.
"Take a look, a bronze is with the females. Bloody thirdles." Williams cursed.
"Hey!" called Galkin, also another trooper from 3rd platoon protested, "I'm a third class citizen." Galkin told Williams.
"Congratulations, now get the fuck out of my face. " Williams said insulting Galkin, pushing him away. Galkin stepped forward and punched williams in the stomach. Knocking Williams to the ground.
"Oh." Williams said, picking himself off of the ground, "So that's how this going to be?" Williams asked, smiled, and then put his fists up. Galik moved in and threw a jab at Williams sternum. Williams dodged, and threw a right hook. Galkin blocked and punched Williams in the stomach. Williams retreated a few steps, Then charged Galkin. Galkin step-sided, grabbed Williams, and threw him fifteen meters across the hanger. Williams flew, and crashed into the floor. The fight had now drawn the attention of the females. The males had already placed bets and were beginning to chant their encouragement to either one of the fighters or to the fight itself. Williams picked himself of the deck. Trying to recover from the fierce blow. Galkin flew in and aimed a fierce right hook. Williams ducked, and Galkin created a fist sized dent into a female dread beside the two combatants. Suddenly without warning two gunshots sounded. All faces turned to see a commissar approaching.
"What in the name of Emperor Grandpa is going on?" the Commissar demanded.
Immediately the entire Cadian population snapped to attention.
"Well!" the Commissar demanded.
None spoke.
"You," the Commissar pointed and Spencer, "what happened?" asked the commissar.
Spencer paled, couldn't see the Commissars face above the bridge of his nose due to the cap. Somehow that made him even more scary. But when a Commissar asks you something you don't protest.
"Sir, Private Williams spotted a male third class citizen among the females sir. Williams demonstrated discrimination against third class citizens, Private Galkin took offense because he is a third class citizen sir." Spencer reported, keeping his eye's drilled straight ahead."They then began to fight, Galkin threw the first punch sir." Spencer continued not wanting to leave any information out, as it could lead him to being shot.
"Very well." The Commissar nodded. He then turned to Williams and Galkin.
"You two are charged with instigating and starting a physical conflict, going against discipline and endangering the possibility of smooth negotiations. You will be detained and will present your cases tomorrow for your defence, if found guilty you will be executed by firing squad." the Commissar told the two fighters."Take them away!" the Commissar ordered. He selected four men to escort the two offenders to the bases brig.
When the fight had started the women did begin to take an interest. Heads turned and small bets were made. The fight had ended as quickly as it had began. When the two gunshots went off most of the women were confused, as many of them had never heard nor had experience with Taraak weapons, they thought an engine had backfired. The few who did have any experience threw themselves behind cover.
Barnette was curious, she had many antique firearms, but had never heard a shots like that. The sheer loudness of the two shots was akin to a shotgun blast. She wondered what kind of weapons the Taraak soldiers, the Cadians had.
Calik sighed.
"All right Lendik, what is it?" Calik asked Lendik, who had been fuming since the opening of the negotiations.
"You know the Pirates second in command, that dark skinned girl?" Lendik asked through gritted teeth, as he stood up and began pacing around the room.
Calik nodded.
"She, or he is Tenmei Uragasumi, a commander in Taraak Intelligence. She, he, is an Imperial citizen in the military. AND HE IS SIDING AGAINST US!" Lendik shouted, smashing his fist against the wall.
"I am well within regulations to shoot him, her!" Lendik ragged.
"Be that as it may, both of us have been ordered to give our utmost effort to get a ceasefire with the females. As such you will not shoot her, understand!" Calik ordered Lendik.
"You do not give me orders, 'Brigadier General'. I am a Lord Commissar. I do not answer to you." Lendik fumed.
"No, but you do answer to Grandpa, as do we all, and we have been ordered to ensure a ceasefire at the very least. As such, you will not shoot the Mejerion Pirates second in-command. Are we clear?" Calik asked Lendik slowly.
Lendik sighed, relaxing his stance and taking deep breaths.
"Yes. Also, Commissar Gother Morin has detained two men for fighting in the hangar during the negotiations, he has them scheduled for a firing squad execution tomorrow." Lenik reported to Calik, appearing to have calmed down. Calik scratched his chin.
"Execution, is such a thing really necessary?" Calik asked Lendik.
"Undoubtedly, allow one man to become complacent and more will follow his path." Lendik said, reciting one of the rules that had been ingrained into him by the Schola Progenium.
"That is true, but the females already see us as unfeeling barbarians. No need to enforce the idea. They are guilty of fighting correct?" Calik asked Lendik.
"Yes." Lendik answered, he could see were this was headed.
"Then have them flogged." Calik suggested.
Lendik sighed, realizing Calik was right.
"Very well, I shall adjust the punishment." Lendik told Calik. "Know if you'll excuse me, I must go and have supper." Lendik told Calik, snapping off a salute and heading towards the mess.
At 18:00 most of the men converged at the mess, while they did stick to one area and stay with their own they showed a much more social side at supper when eating. That was the state of the men when Lord Commissar Lendik entered the mess.
"Room." one of the troopers called. All of the male soldiers immediately went to attention.
"As you were." Lendik ordered. The men sat down, they did not continue their conversations.
Jura was eyeing the men with a critical eye. Trying to find out which one should giver her his seed. Unfortunately she couldn't see any with the elegance or beauty that would please her.
"Do you see any suitable men Misty?" Jura asked the none Mejerion women. Misty blushed at the question. She would be lying if she said she hadn't been looking the the large crowd of men with a little contemplation. Though it was hard to judge them with them still wearing their armour and helmets.
"I in fact do not." Misty told Jura, slightly embarrassed.
Lendik went to pick up his food-pills and sat down near the entrance to the mess hall, waiting for Commander Tenmei Uragasumi.
Fifteen minutes later BC entered the Mess Hall. Lord Commissar Lendik approached.
"I am Lord Commissar Lendik, if I may have a word in private Commander?" Lord Commissar Lendik asked BC.
"Why of course." BC Answered. They walked out of the Mess and headed for one of the briefing rooms, which was now empty. This of course did not escape the notice of one young nurse. Although Paiway had decided to stop looking into other peoples personal lives, the man with the black over coat gave her a bad feeling. She quickly decided to follow him and BC. Paiway followed the two to briefing room fourteen. When the entered Paiway hacked into the rooms video cameras and plugged in the audio.
Tenmei Uragasumi led Lord Commissar Lendik to a briefing room of sorts. The two entered the room.
"So what did you want to talk about Lendik?" Tenmei Uragasumi asked.
Lendik swiftly stepped forward and slapped Tenmei Uragasumi, or BC if you prefer to call him that.
"Lord Commissar Lendik! Do not think that just because you have earned the friendship of these pirates and females you are above me! I have heard the stories of your ineptitude and disloyalty to the Imperium of Man and the devastation it has brought. You are no longer a commander in the Taraak Military Intelligence! You have been demoted and by the order of the Lord Commander Militant of the Imperial Guard, the High Lord Admiral of the Imperial Navy, and the High Lord Grandmaster of Taraak Intelligence Ministry. You now answer directly to me, no one else, including Captain Mango!" Lord Commissar Lendik ordered Tenmei Uragasumi.
BC opened her mouth to talk. Faster than sight, Lord Commissar Lendik had his pistol drawn and pointed at BC's head.
"Choose your next words with exceptional care." Lord Commissar Lendik warned Tenmei Uragasumi.
BC swallowed hard. She was in a very bad situation. If this was anyone else she would have been fairly confident in her ability to at least talk her way out. But this was a Commissar, you don't mess with them unless you want a bullet to the back of the head.
Paiway gasped. She had to find someone, anyone to help. She immediately started running towards the first person she could think of. Duelo.
"Uh… well." BC began. "A-as you wish my Lord." BC said.
Lendik smiled.
"The proper decision commander. I have been informed on your past carrier. You are an exceptional infiltrator. Your new assignment is to report to me everything the Pirates and the Mejerions do." Lord Commissar Lendik ordered BC.
BC simply nodded her agreement.
"You will have a routine of Storm Troopers assigned to you. They shall serve as your personal guard. I will have them on base at 19:30." Lendik reported to her.
Again BC simply nodded.
"Very good, dismissed." Lendik ordered. BC saluted, turned, and left the room.
Lendik Smiled. He now had an agent within the enemy.
Paiway burst into the medical area. Duelo was the sole occupant.
"Paiway, what's wrong?" Duelo asked the girl who was clearly distraught.
"It's BC, one of the men has a gun pointed at her in briefing room fourteen!" Paiway told Duelo. "We have to help her!" Paiway shouted frantically. Duelo nodded. Putting on his coat he and Paiway raced to briefing room fourteen.
When Duelo and Paiway arrived the room was empty.
"Huh, why is no one here?" Paiway asked no one is particular. Duelo would have accused Paiway of lying to him, except she appeared just as confused, if not more so, than Duelo himself. The two simply shrugged and left.
When Lendik entered Calik's chambers he had the smuggest of smirks.
"What did you do?" Calik asked Lendik with a tired and almost bored tone.
"Why me? Well simply nothing I have simply taught Tenmei Uragasumi some much needed discipline." Lendik beamed.
"You shot him!" Calik demanded. "That is exactly what I told you not to do!" Calik protested.
"Oh no no no. Nothing so drastic, I simply reminded him of his place." Lendik told Caik cryptically.
"Fine then, keep your damn secrets." Calik said sinking back into his chair. The two men had been granted officer quarters.
Sargent Mark Collins was an Imperial Storm Trooper. His squad of thirteen was being assigned to act as the personal bodyguard for Tenmei Uragasumi. He and his men were boarding the gunship that would take them to the Pirate base on the moons surface. Reports indicated that the moon's atmosphere was much like Taraak's although much thinner and colder. If one was needed to leave the confines of the base, it was protocol to wear environmental suits and re-breathers. Collins' men were outfitted with Carapace armour, their helmets like armoured hoods. They wore thick grey fatigues and black armour, re-breathers ready in their webbing. They also had targeting sensors attached to one of their eyes. They were equipped with armour piercing weapons and were fully kitted out for battle. Collins was the leader of Tenmei Urakasumi's personal Guard before Tenmei Uragasumi's secret assignment. Now Collins and his men were being once again assigned to guard him. The shuttle soon took off, and the Stormtroopers were headed the the Mejere Pirate base.
When the ship carrying the Storm Troopers arrived the men took interest, as well as the women. The men saw the insignia and were interested as to why a Taraak Military Intelligence vassel was docking after the negotiations had ended for the day. The men were assigned quarters but still mingled around the gunships. The familiar design and high caliber guns gave them a sense of comfort. When the occupants of the new gunship walked out the attitude changed to one of indifference and disdain. Unlike the Kasrkin, who were looked up to by the Cadians, Imperial Storm Troopers were treated with cold mistrust and jealousy, and for Intelligence Storm Trooper you could add fear into those feelings as well.
The group of Storm Troopers marched briskly through the hallways of the female base. A map of the layout already on Sargent Mark Collins' H.H.D. . They had been told to head to the bases Command Center. Where Tenmei Urakasumi,or as he is known to the females, BC, was expected to be. The Squad of troops marched in line and professionally. Collins saw a few Kasrkin, their Cadian cousins. But he paid them no heed. The squad navigated their way through the base. Eventually they arrived at what was supposed to be the command centre of the base.
"Halt." Collins ordered.
As one, the squad halted in one singular and synchronized movement.
"Right turn." The squad crisply turned to its right.
"Three paces forward march." The Storm Troopers took three paces forward then halted.
"About turn." The squad turned 180 degrees to its right. Collins then shouldered his arm(meaning weapon) and went to knock on the command centers door. The door opened to reveal a young female with pale skin and blue hair. The female uneased Collins, and not just because it was a female, the pale skin and bright blue hair seemed glaringly bright. Being from a world of tanned or dark skinned and dark haired people, the bright colours seemed to hurt his eyes.
Are the stories true, are my eyes about to melt Collins thought.
"Um, hello?" The bright female asked Collins. He realized he hadn't said anything, he had been shocked into silence.
"I am to report to Intelligence Officer Tenmei Uragasumi, Buzam Calessa as she is known to you females." Collins reported, he had to struggle to keep the disgust from his voice.
Unholy beings these females Collins thought to himself.
"I'll tell her you're here." the female told Collins. Collins simply nodded, he wished he could enter the command centre to perhaps gain information on the females, but it seemed as though the females weren't entirely incompetent. So Collins simply nodded and waited by the door.
Misty could tell the man at the entryway to the command centre didn't like her in the least. It wasn't entirely his fault, it was the way he had been taught to think. But it didn't make Misty any less irritated. Mist found BC looking over a terminal operators shoulder at the scanners.
"BC?" Misty asked the second in command. It appeared that the women hadn't heard her. "BC?" Misty asked again, this time grabbing BC's shoulder. The next thing she knew she had her arm wrenched behind her back and was being held at the throat. Misty started to panic.
BC was lost in thought. She was now a secret agent for Lord Commissar Lendik, a political officer. If that was not enough she was now demoted to Intelligence Officer, a fairly low rank in the hierarchy of the Taraak Intelligence. But that wasn't the only thing on here mind. She was worried about the Harvest, they hadn't been seen for several months, not since the battle where Taraak, Mejere, and the other groups fought together. It created a sand snake in her stomach, writhing and wriggling with worry. She doubted that they had destroyed all of the Harvest forces, and whenever the Harvest took breaks, it was only to regroup and rearm. BC felt someone touch her shoulder. Surprised and startled, instinct and training took over. She grabbed the wrist of the hand and twisted. BC then pivoted and placed herself behind her 'attacker'. She wrenched the arm and held the opponent at the throat with her left forearm, strangling the attacker . It took a second for BC to realize who she had incapacitated. She immediately let Misty go. The blue haired girl fell to the ground, coughing and gasping.
"Sorry, you startled me and I jumped." BC apologized to Misty, helping her to her feet.
"Hell of a jump." Misty said, continuing to coughing. "There's a man here to see you, he's waiting by the door." Misty informed BC before she broke out into a coughing fit again.
"Get Duelo up here to check Misty out." BC ordered one of the terminal workers. Mist didn't protest, she simply sat down, breathing slowly. BC let her in the care of one of the other crew members. She looked over to the door, where Sergeant Mark Collins. The snake in BC's stomach began wiggling again. Collins had always hated women with a fanatical hate. She was worried about how he might react to BC in this form. BC also realized she no longer thought of the Mejerions as 'females' but as 'women' or 'Mejerions'. Pushing her doubt down she approached the Storm Trooper Sergeant.
"Sergeant." BC greeted him.
"Intelligence Officer." Collins saluted. BC winced as she heard her demoted rank.
"Report." She ordered.
"I and my twelve troops are assigned as your personal aid and bodyguard."
"Very well, I will trust you to know what to do Sergeant."
"Yes sir." Collins nodded, and signalled his men to join him. They formed up around BC, waiting for her to do something. BC decided to simply ignore them for the most part and went back to work.
Radar Operator Hammond was sitting quietly at his post. He had been sitting in the same spot for nearly two hours and was supremely bored. Then his consul pinged. Confused, Hammond looked at the radar consul.
"Captain!" he shouted.
"What is it RO?" the Captain asked.
"Multiple ships detected on long range scanners, ID tags confirm that they are Harvest. The distance it to far for an exact count, but it appears it's an attack group." Hammond reported. Captain Runch nodded.
"Get me a communications channel with Calik and the females, now!" He ordered shouted at the communications officer.
"Ma'am!" Clare called to Captain Mango.
"Yes what is it?" Mango asked.
"The men are opening a communications channel with us, priority red." Clare answered.
"Open the line." Mango ordered.
Calik's mobile consul pinged as the request for a communications channel appeared, high command level priority. Frowning, Calik opened the channel.
"What is it." Calik demanded of Runch.
"Yes, your priority level meant that this was vitally important." Captain Mango stated.
"As of a few second ago we detected an incoming Harvest fleet, preliminary scans are unclear but we believe they're objective is to assault the base." Captain Runch reported. He looked away, as if speaking with someone off screen. "From we can tell, they have ground forces as well space combat vessels."
"How many are we maybe dealing with?" Calik asked Runch.
"Space wise, I'd say a fair amount, nothing like the assault on Cadia or the amount from the last major engagement, but enough to overwhelm the base." Runch said. Mango pursed her lips.
"And how many ground forces could we be dealing with?" Calik asked. Runch scratched his chin for a moment.
"Ground force wise, I'd say two dozen," He said. Mango sighed in relief, as did the rest of the female command and bridge crew. They could handle a couple dozen hundred ground forces with the help of the men.
"thousand." Runch finished. Mango tensed, the other Mejerion crew members gasped and cried out in worry or shock.
"Plenty to go around then." Calik stated simply, speaking as if his saying his coffee was ready. "Captain Mango, permission to deploy ground forces in and around your base?" Calik asked Mango.
"Granted." Mango said, she would welcome any help they could get. "How long until the Harvest gets here?" Mango asked Runch. Runch once again turned his head off screen.
"ETA of enemy forces is five hours at their current speed, Captain Mango, if you have any ground forces, I would advise deploying them now." Runch reported.
"Understood." Mango said nodding, problem was, the crew had no ground forces. Sure they had the security crew, but they had never needed well trained infantry, generally, once they disabled an enemy ship and boarded, the enemy simply surrendered, aware of the fact that they could simply be bombarded into debris. Mango would have no choice but to deploy her security teams.
"Very well, Captain,I will be at the command centre shortly to aid in the organization of ground troops." Calik told her.
"You are experienced in ground warfare?" Mango asked him.
"I was on Cadia when it was attacked, I know what I'm doing." Calik reported, then cut the connection.
"I will prep all Imperial Naval personnel, might I suggest you do the same for your own." Runch told Captain Mango.
Mango nodded "I will." and Runch then cut his communications. Mango sighed a tired sigh. She could feel it, this battle was going to cost them, in lives most of all.
"BC." Mango said, getting her second in command's attention.
"Yes Captain?" She asked.
"I will be on the Nervana, I want you to stay here and coordinate our ground forces with the men, since you are in the Imperial Military I expect you will do well." Mango ordered, looking down at BC.
"Yes Captain but…" BC began.
"What?"
"What ground forces?" BC asked.
"Use the security teams." Mango told her. BC made a quick calculation in her head, the same kind of calculation whenever she was given or gave an order. The calculation told her that the pirate's security team members were woefully inadequate, especially compared to the skill of the Cadians in the Imperial Guard, all they could do was die. But they simply had no other option, they couldn't sit back and let the men handle it, the Mejerion diplomat would not allow it. It would put Mejere in bad light to cower in the corner while the men of Taraak and Cadia fought the battle. It would paint Mejere as weak, and when trying to discuss negotiations with a society that was highly militarized and respected only strength that was not a good idea. They couldn't retreat, this was their headquarters, picking everything up and leaving would take days, not hours.
"Understood Captain." BC said. It would do no good to voice her thoughts, it would put their moral in tatters. "Get me security squad leaders up here now, and if Mejere brought any military assets with their diplomats get their commanders in here too!" BC ordered, leaving no room to argue. The crew scrambled to complete their orders as alarms began to sound throughout the base.
"Emperor help us." BC prayed quietly.
Authors Notes: So what do you think, leave a review. The next chapter will be the preparation for the battle, the battle itself, and to display the differences between Taraaks and Mejere's military strength. I am a guy so I may be a little pro-Taraak and I ask you to tolerate any beef ups I might give to Taraak subconsciously, but keep in mind, these are Cadians. With that, thank you for reading.