tugged gently at them. Ten seconds later all that could be
seen of them was a small fiery speck, falling earthwards with flame
in its wake.
The troops of A-squad were briefed on their mission
as they fell. A small monitor embedded into a side panel of every
acceleration couch slid forward, green lettering issuing commands
Avatar had assigned. The troop's mind easily retained the list of
co-ordinates and time rendezvous in their photographic memories.
The technical briefing was followed by a synopsis:
Target: settlement of 23 inhabitants. Deepsat records
location 104.304 ^ 28.09.
Dropsite: as shown on schematic above.
Objectives: all life forms must be dispatched.
Caution must be taken at all times. Weapons are to be set to
maximum firepower.
The troops' discipline bred minds absorbed this
information - to them the enemy was a digitised image of a squat
narrow-faced alien on the data files, sometimes showing themselves
between the thick gnarled trees on the planet below. It never
occurred to them that these creatures were intelligent or could
form some sort of resistance.
Not even the Avatar master program expected
retaliation.
* * *
Numerous huddled forms sat cross legged about a low
fire, cloaks drawn about their forms in the growing darkness,
flickering shadows cast by the fire dancing over their faces. The
Elder sat at a prominent position, eyeing all others of the
tribe.
"I have called this council to settle the matter of
the Currach." The Elder drew on his Jawkra pipe and puffed smoke
from his nostrils, at the same time gesturing to his left with a
twitch of his head. All turned their gaze and saw Ashian sitting on
a hide of a nearby hut, drinking steaming stew examining the
Sunlord's fire weapon. He sat apart from the council, patiently
awaiting its outcome.
The Elder continued. "The Currach asks of our
assistance in fighting the Sunlords."
"Why does he need us?" cursed C'hio, a tribe hunter.
"Why, after hundreds of years, do the Currach come to us? From the
moment the hunting party brought him in I knew that this creature
only wanted us for one reason - cannon fodder!"
A wave of murmuring went up, both in confusion and
some in agreement.
Capac spoke. "As chief hunter, I think that something
must be done to help the Currach. He has worked the fire weapons of
the Sunlords' and claims to have been aboard their ship. Yes, at
first I too was sceptical, but the more I talk to him I realise he
has bold plans."
"Plans that'll get you killed," grumbled C'hio.
"Has our method of attack been successful lately?
Huso and I are the only ones who have drawn Sunlord blood, the rest
are too afraid or too inept."
C'hio rose to the challenge. There had never been any
love lost between the two hunters and tensions were once again
brought to the surface. "You dare call me inept? Why, I wouldn't be
surprised if you had stirred the Sunlords up so much they were
setting fire to the entire forest at this very minute."
The Elder stepped in the quell the impending
conflict.
"Calm yourself, C'hio. Capac has defended our tribe
as his efforts should be respected. Now lets hear his views."
A general wave of agreement came from the villagers.
Capac spoke.
"Since we lost our village we have been in hiding,
without large shelters and bonfires." Capac remembered their former
village, a huge encampment of wicker huts generations old. "That is
gone, and we have to rebuild. But before we can do that we have to
drive away our enemies in with one powerful blow."
The Elder mused over this. "C'hio, do you have
anything to say?"
"I must say that we must not listen to the mad
Currach. Yes, our village has been hit hard, but we need to keep
our best hunters here where they are needed."
Lopare, the aging tutor, spoke up.
"It is suicide to do as the Currach asks. He knows no
forest craft and would be a burden to any hunting party."
Capac opened his mouth to rebuke but the Elder
intercepted. He halted conversation with an
seen of them was a small fiery speck, falling earthwards with flame
in its wake.
The troops of A-squad were briefed on their mission
as they fell. A small monitor embedded into a side panel of every
acceleration couch slid forward, green lettering issuing commands
Avatar had assigned. The troop's mind easily retained the list of
co-ordinates and time rendezvous in their photographic memories.
The technical briefing was followed by a synopsis:
Target: settlement of 23 inhabitants. Deepsat records
location 104.304 ^ 28.09.
Dropsite: as shown on schematic above.
Objectives: all life forms must be dispatched.
Caution must be taken at all times. Weapons are to be set to
maximum firepower.
The troops' discipline bred minds absorbed this
information - to them the enemy was a digitised image of a squat
narrow-faced alien on the data files, sometimes showing themselves
between the thick gnarled trees on the planet below. It never
occurred to them that these creatures were intelligent or could
form some sort of resistance.
Not even the Avatar master program expected
retaliation.
* * *
Numerous huddled forms sat cross legged about a low
fire, cloaks drawn about their forms in the growing darkness,
flickering shadows cast by the fire dancing over their faces. The
Elder sat at a prominent position, eyeing all others of the
tribe.
"I have called this council to settle the matter of
the Currach." The Elder drew on his Jawkra pipe and puffed smoke
from his nostrils, at the same time gesturing to his left with a
twitch of his head. All turned their gaze and saw Ashian sitting on
a hide of a nearby hut, drinking steaming stew examining the
Sunlord's fire weapon. He sat apart from the council, patiently
awaiting its outcome.
The Elder continued. "The Currach asks of our
assistance in fighting the Sunlords."
"Why does he need us?" cursed C'hio, a tribe hunter.
"Why, after hundreds of years, do the Currach come to us? From the
moment the hunting party brought him in I knew that this creature
only wanted us for one reason - cannon fodder!"
A wave of murmuring went up, both in confusion and
some in agreement.
Capac spoke. "As chief hunter, I think that something
must be done to help the Currach. He has worked the fire weapons of
the Sunlords' and claims to have been aboard their ship. Yes, at
first I too was sceptical, but the more I talk to him I realise he
has bold plans."
"Plans that'll get you killed," grumbled C'hio.
"Has our method of attack been successful lately?
Huso and I are the only ones who have drawn Sunlord blood, the rest
are too afraid or too inept."
C'hio rose to the challenge. There had never been any
love lost between the two hunters and tensions were once again
brought to the surface. "You dare call me inept? Why, I wouldn't be
surprised if you had stirred the Sunlords up so much they were
setting fire to the entire forest at this very minute."
The Elder stepped in the quell the impending
conflict.
"Calm yourself, C'hio. Capac has defended our tribe
as his efforts should be respected. Now lets hear his views."
A general wave of agreement came from the villagers.
Capac spoke.
"Since we lost our village we have been in hiding,
without large shelters and bonfires." Capac remembered their former
village, a huge encampment of wicker huts generations old. "That is
gone, and we have to rebuild. But before we can do that we have to
drive away our enemies in with one powerful blow."
The Elder mused over this. "C'hio, do you have
anything to say?"
"I must say that we must not listen to the mad
Currach. Yes, our village has been hit hard, but we need to keep
our best hunters here where they are needed."
Lopare, the aging tutor, spoke up.
"It is suicide to do as the Currach asks. He knows no
forest craft and would be a burden to any hunting party."
Capac opened his mouth to rebuke but the Elder
intercepted. He halted conversation with an
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