Read Online Black Legion: 05 - Sea of Fire by Michael G. Thomas - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Michael G. Thomas
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lust was up.
“Kill them all!”
As one, the Laconians pointed their right arms toward the Carduchians and blasted them with their arm-mounted carbines. The volume of fire was devastating, and in seconds more than a dozen of their people lay dead or dying.
“Advance, and secure this facility.”
The Terrans rushed through the lower levels of the outpost like avenging furies. If a Carduchian approached with a weapon, he would be killed in a massed volley of gunfire, little different to a firing squad. Even those that lay prostrate were unable to avoid the deadly gunfire.
“Xenophon, look, it’s Xenias,” said Roxana.
He spotted the armored form of the Dukas rushing in through the breached doorway. He had brought only a handful of Terrans, and they all stayed close to him.
“The fool, he’s started a war with the Carduchians,” muttered the seasoned commander.
“What now?” Tamara asked.
Xenophon looked to Xenias and then to Artemas who appeared to be shaking.
“Artemas?”
“They will send out the call to their kin. Every single outpost, ship, and rock in this wilderness will know what happened here.”
Xenias shook his head.
“No, they won’t. I have the entire area on lockdown. All signals are blocked.”
Roxana approached and lifted her arm to show them a communications scanner. It showed an object a short distance away that sent a signal every few seconds.
“It’s a distress beacon, so what?” said Glaucon.
Xenophon counted the strobes to gage the timing.
“That’s Imperial. They must have an agent here.”
CHAPTER FOUR
Outpost Iraj, Carduchian Wilderness
The fight for the outpost was one of the most repugnant scenes Xenophon had seen so far. He lifted his weapons, but only when he had no choice. As the Laconians continued their butchery, he kept well away.
This will come back to haunt us, he thought grimly.
Artemas reached out to touch his arm. She looked at him and could immediately tell how angry he was. With their blood up, there was little chance of holding the Terrans back. Now that Chirisophus had joined the battle, there was nothing he could do. The Strategos had spoken, and it would take nothing short of total victory to end the fighting.
Laconian soldiers streamed past and into the dome to continue the gun battle. Another squad of Arcadians ran past with their weapons raised, and he shouted after them.
Xenophon called out to them, “Stop this insanity!”
The closest, an older looking Dekarchos, simply snorted and moved on. Glaucon stepped two paces to intercept, but Xenophon was already there. He blocked their path and swung his right fist into the man’s face. If it hadn’t been for the armored helm, the man would have been unconscious. Instead, he spun about and fell to the ground. His comrades lowered their Doru rifles at him.
“You heard me,” snapped Xenophon, “As your elected Topoteretes you will follow my orders.”
The second warrior, a younger pentarchos lowered his head.
“Yes, Topoteretes. What is your will?”
Xenophon let out a long, pained breath and looked to his friends.
“We have to find a way to end this. We cannot allow a massacre at every area we visit.”
Xenophon had fought in battles at fortresses and aboard ships, but never in his life had he been on the side that had engaged in such a bloodbath. The Carduchians were tough, and he had little doubt they were powerful fighters, but in this fight they had little to no chance. He stepped past the bodies of three warriors and on to a long tunnel that ran deep inside the facility. A narrow, light rail system ran in parallel with dozens of partially laden carts upon the tracks.
“Where now, then?” Glaucon asked, “Chirisophus is storming the place.”
Artemas looked to the writing on the walls and the partially damaged electronic information system hanging from a pair of pylons from the ceiling. Most of the unit was shattered, but a segment of imagery still remained that
“Kill them all!”
As one, the Laconians pointed their right arms toward the Carduchians and blasted them with their arm-mounted carbines. The volume of fire was devastating, and in seconds more than a dozen of their people lay dead or dying.
“Advance, and secure this facility.”
The Terrans rushed through the lower levels of the outpost like avenging furies. If a Carduchian approached with a weapon, he would be killed in a massed volley of gunfire, little different to a firing squad. Even those that lay prostrate were unable to avoid the deadly gunfire.
“Xenophon, look, it’s Xenias,” said Roxana.
He spotted the armored form of the Dukas rushing in through the breached doorway. He had brought only a handful of Terrans, and they all stayed close to him.
“The fool, he’s started a war with the Carduchians,” muttered the seasoned commander.
“What now?” Tamara asked.
Xenophon looked to Xenias and then to Artemas who appeared to be shaking.
“Artemas?”
“They will send out the call to their kin. Every single outpost, ship, and rock in this wilderness will know what happened here.”
Xenias shook his head.
“No, they won’t. I have the entire area on lockdown. All signals are blocked.”
Roxana approached and lifted her arm to show them a communications scanner. It showed an object a short distance away that sent a signal every few seconds.
“It’s a distress beacon, so what?” said Glaucon.
Xenophon counted the strobes to gage the timing.
“That’s Imperial. They must have an agent here.”
CHAPTER FOUR
Outpost Iraj, Carduchian Wilderness
The fight for the outpost was one of the most repugnant scenes Xenophon had seen so far. He lifted his weapons, but only when he had no choice. As the Laconians continued their butchery, he kept well away.
This will come back to haunt us, he thought grimly.
Artemas reached out to touch his arm. She looked at him and could immediately tell how angry he was. With their blood up, there was little chance of holding the Terrans back. Now that Chirisophus had joined the battle, there was nothing he could do. The Strategos had spoken, and it would take nothing short of total victory to end the fighting.
Laconian soldiers streamed past and into the dome to continue the gun battle. Another squad of Arcadians ran past with their weapons raised, and he shouted after them.
Xenophon called out to them, “Stop this insanity!”
The closest, an older looking Dekarchos, simply snorted and moved on. Glaucon stepped two paces to intercept, but Xenophon was already there. He blocked their path and swung his right fist into the man’s face. If it hadn’t been for the armored helm, the man would have been unconscious. Instead, he spun about and fell to the ground. His comrades lowered their Doru rifles at him.
“You heard me,” snapped Xenophon, “As your elected Topoteretes you will follow my orders.”
The second warrior, a younger pentarchos lowered his head.
“Yes, Topoteretes. What is your will?”
Xenophon let out a long, pained breath and looked to his friends.
“We have to find a way to end this. We cannot allow a massacre at every area we visit.”
Xenophon had fought in battles at fortresses and aboard ships, but never in his life had he been on the side that had engaged in such a bloodbath. The Carduchians were tough, and he had little doubt they were powerful fighters, but in this fight they had little to no chance. He stepped past the bodies of three warriors and on to a long tunnel that ran deep inside the facility. A narrow, light rail system ran in parallel with dozens of partially laden carts upon the tracks.
“Where now, then?” Glaucon asked, “Chirisophus is storming the place.”
Artemas looked to the writing on the walls and the partially damaged electronic information system hanging from a pair of pylons from the ceiling. Most of the unit was shattered, but a segment of imagery still remained that
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