Read Online Black Legion: 02 - Assault on Khorram by Michael G. Thomas - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Michael G. Thomas
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the heart of the ship and its many corridors and passages. The first thing Xenophon noticed was the wounded. He spotted dozens of burn victims and a number with hideous injuries to their faces and arms. The group kept moving until they reached the command deck.
Dukas Xenias was already speaking with the Acting Kentarchos, a young, haggard-looking man. He had a bandage across his right shoulder and several smudges of blood on his chest.
“Komes Pasion is on board as well as some of his men. There are two more dromons left to dock, and then we are clear.”
“Two?” snapped back Xenias, unable to believe it was such a small number.
“Yes, Dukas, we have managed to save a little over four hundred of the crew and seven hundred and twelve troops from the Olympia.”
Xenias was stunned and said nothing for a few seconds. Dekarchos Julius approached the commander of the cruiser with a similar look of disbelief on his face.
“Only eleven hundred out of a complement of nearly five thousand warriors and a thousand crew?”
Xenias lifted his hand and rubbed his chin as he considered their situation. He had suffered a major blow, and the loss of so many friends and countrymen must have rankled.
“More ships are coming through!” called out an unseen tactical officer.
The ship was old and lacked the advance command and control systems used in modern vessels. It featured just one main view screen that filled most of one side of the deck. Hundreds of years ago, this was the way all capital ships had been modelled. All it showed now was the age and obsolescence of the Vendetta. The cruiser shook as they took more impacts from the heavy weapons of the Median ship.
“Two minutes till we can jump!” called out the Acting Kentarchos.
On the display, the shape of the Median light cruiser looked menacing and fearsome. Unlike the Terrans, the Medes were more interested in aesthetics and numbers than military prowess. Many worlds had yielded to their might simply because a thousand ships had arrived in orbit and demanded thus. In recent history, only the combined might of all the Terrans had been able to hold back the deluge that was a combined Median fleet. In theory, the older Terran cruiser should be able to match the more modern ship in a one on one duel. But the problem was one of time. Every minute they stayed there was another minute that could let the rest of the enemy fleet know where they were.
“Look!” cried Roxana in surprise as the shapes of newly arrived ships materialised around the two cruisers. It was four hydra class destroyers, the ship class that Xenophon and Roxana had served on before the fall of the Alliance. Xenias smiled at the sight of the friendly ships.
“Good,” he said with a stoic nod, “perhaps all is not lost.”
They took up position between Vendetta and her attacker, and then turned their guns on the enemy ship. It was a devastating volley of firepower, and in less than a minute, the burnt and damaged shape of the Media cruiser began its limping retreat from the battle. Hot on its heels were two of the destroyers. The small ships kept up a light but withering fire of heavy energy weapons. The other two took up station around Vendetta to provide security while the last few survivors transferred to the cruiser. Two of Xenias’ security guards approached and spoke quietly before moving away to a discreet distance.
“I am moving my flag here for the time being. Finish the loading of the survivors, and pass the rendezvous co-ordinates to the rest of the...well, to the rest of the fleet.”
The Kentarchos nodded and looked back to the rest of his crew. Xenias stood alongside, Xenophon and a small group of those that had travelled back with them to the cruiser. Two more dekarchos arrived from other units on the ship and waited for their orders. The Dukas signalled for the auletes to give him access to the ship’s communications system. It took just a few seconds to patch him through to the
Dukas Xenias was already speaking with the Acting Kentarchos, a young, haggard-looking man. He had a bandage across his right shoulder and several smudges of blood on his chest.
“Komes Pasion is on board as well as some of his men. There are two more dromons left to dock, and then we are clear.”
“Two?” snapped back Xenias, unable to believe it was such a small number.
“Yes, Dukas, we have managed to save a little over four hundred of the crew and seven hundred and twelve troops from the Olympia.”
Xenias was stunned and said nothing for a few seconds. Dekarchos Julius approached the commander of the cruiser with a similar look of disbelief on his face.
“Only eleven hundred out of a complement of nearly five thousand warriors and a thousand crew?”
Xenias lifted his hand and rubbed his chin as he considered their situation. He had suffered a major blow, and the loss of so many friends and countrymen must have rankled.
“More ships are coming through!” called out an unseen tactical officer.
The ship was old and lacked the advance command and control systems used in modern vessels. It featured just one main view screen that filled most of one side of the deck. Hundreds of years ago, this was the way all capital ships had been modelled. All it showed now was the age and obsolescence of the Vendetta. The cruiser shook as they took more impacts from the heavy weapons of the Median ship.
“Two minutes till we can jump!” called out the Acting Kentarchos.
On the display, the shape of the Median light cruiser looked menacing and fearsome. Unlike the Terrans, the Medes were more interested in aesthetics and numbers than military prowess. Many worlds had yielded to their might simply because a thousand ships had arrived in orbit and demanded thus. In recent history, only the combined might of all the Terrans had been able to hold back the deluge that was a combined Median fleet. In theory, the older Terran cruiser should be able to match the more modern ship in a one on one duel. But the problem was one of time. Every minute they stayed there was another minute that could let the rest of the enemy fleet know where they were.
“Look!” cried Roxana in surprise as the shapes of newly arrived ships materialised around the two cruisers. It was four hydra class destroyers, the ship class that Xenophon and Roxana had served on before the fall of the Alliance. Xenias smiled at the sight of the friendly ships.
“Good,” he said with a stoic nod, “perhaps all is not lost.”
They took up position between Vendetta and her attacker, and then turned their guns on the enemy ship. It was a devastating volley of firepower, and in less than a minute, the burnt and damaged shape of the Media cruiser began its limping retreat from the battle. Hot on its heels were two of the destroyers. The small ships kept up a light but withering fire of heavy energy weapons. The other two took up station around Vendetta to provide security while the last few survivors transferred to the cruiser. Two of Xenias’ security guards approached and spoke quietly before moving away to a discreet distance.
“I am moving my flag here for the time being. Finish the loading of the survivors, and pass the rendezvous co-ordinates to the rest of the...well, to the rest of the fleet.”
The Kentarchos nodded and looked back to the rest of his crew. Xenias stood alongside, Xenophon and a small group of those that had travelled back with them to the cruiser. Two more dekarchos arrived from other units on the ship and waited for their orders. The Dukas signalled for the auletes to give him access to the ship’s communications system. It took just a few seconds to patch him through to the
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