First Contact

Chapter 556: 4th & 10

Vuxten collapsed on the grass, panting, laying on his stomach in the rain. His shoulders, legs, and back ached with dull burning fire. After a long moment he looked up, blinking as rainwater ran into his eyes, at the Terran woman in front of him.

"Better," she said, nodding. She squatted down. "The rage can be tempered, can be wielded like a weapon, but you must learn to control it."

"How?" Vuxten asked. He groaned as he got up to his hands and knees, his hocks shaking as he then struggled to his feet.

"By coming to know yourself, understanding the rage, embracing it, and learning to let it flow through you instead of controlling it," the mahogany skinned lady said, standing up. She rested her sword on her bare shoulder, the rainwater making her skin glimmer. She wore an underbust corset, a fur trimmed skirt, stockings, and heavy leather boots.

At each compass point were Tukna'rn MP's in heavy armor with heavy weapons that watched the two of them.

"Follow," Lady Keena, She Who Had Birthed a Hundred, said, motioning. She led Vuxten over to the bench where the only two observers sat.

"Doing better, Vux," Peel said. She held out a bottle of narcobrew. "Ten minutes that time."

Casey just nodded, holding Peel's free hand in one of his own, staring off into the distance.

"Thanks," Vuxten said. He sat down on the other side of Casey and took a long drink as he watched Lady Keena sit down on the grass as if it wasn't wet, ignoring the rain as she ignored other discomforts.

After a moment Vuxten sighed and wiped the rain from his muzzle. "How did you become Enraged?" he asked Lady Keena.

The Terran woman shrugged. "Maybe I was born with it, maybe it was a gift of Lady Maybelle Lean."

"TDH, not Enraged," Peel said. She took a drink off of her narcobrew. "Well, not as far as I know, things might be different now that I'm back from the dead."

"Born that way," Casey said, his voice distant. "We're a martial people, though."

Lady Keena nodded. "Knight AEsir Casey is correct. A true martial people teach self-control, how to handle your emotions instead of suppressing them, how to channel your emotions, rage included, into productive things outside of warfare."

"I can make stained glass. Not with a nanoforge, with sand and fire and chemicals," Casey said. "My father made stained glass windows."

"A hobby, something that requires precision, self control, helps control the rage," Lady Keena said.

"How long have humans had this problem?" Vuxten wondered. He took a drink off of the narcobrew, enjoying the slight fruity taste underlying the crispness of the hops and wheat. "This can't be recent."

Lady Keena nodded. "No, it is not. Enragement has long been a scourge of humanity," she looked up at the cloudy sky. "Before the Undying Chromium Queen took bloody control of Bongistan, before the great forges of Seader-Krupp ignited in MechaKrautland, before the Great Glass See of Botswana, there was a great warrior, known as The Banner of the Bruce, servant of a great king."

She stood up, putting her sword across her shoulders, one hand holding the blade down by the tip, the other hand holding the hilt, the flat of the blade pressed against the back of her neck and the braids that dropped from her head to mid-back.

"A wise warrior, The Banner of the Bruce was, one who delved deep into the secrets of nature and the fey of the lands. Beyond his wisdom, his poet's spirit, he was a great warrior who stood against the trolls and creatures of darkness, protecting the lands of The Bruce," Lady Keena's voice had taken an oddly hypnotic, rythmic cadence.

"A fey lord, a King of Alfheim, gave a wife unto The Banner. Beautiful she was, of flaming hair, flashing eyes, and flawless skin. One night in a rage The Banner struck his wife, bruising her perfect face. Her father, a Lord of Tir na Nog, cursed the Banner to always be consumed by rage, to turn into a powerful monster," Lady Keena said. "The Banner of the Bruce was made immortal, no blade could kill him, later no bullet could harm him, but always dwelt within him rage that could shake mountains."

Lady Keena looked down at Vuxten. "But the Banner of the Bruce eventually learned to control that wrath, that rage, to chain the Emerald Beast, and to become one with it. Eventually, he went from a creature accursed and scorned to a hero who was a symbol of self control."

She let go of the end of the sword and shifted it so it was on one shoulder. "But that is an ancient story, speaking of how we humans have always had to deal with rage. Now, we must work to allow you to control your own rage."

She turned around, walking out into the grass. "Follow."

Vuxten took one last drink and sighed, standing up and following her out.

"Second stance," she ordered.

Vuxten shifted his feet, holding the chainsword up over his head, the point facing in front of him, the flat of the blade level with the ground. It his wrist and elbow ache almost immediately.

"Hold the stance," she said. She tapped two runes on her blade. "Do not close your eyes."

Around him appeared holograms of the ruined city, covered in vegetation, with huge bugs crawling around.

Vuxten's mouth went dry and he felt his pulse in his temples. Sparks popped from between his knuckles and the chill of the rain went away, replaced by a burning heat in his chest.

Casey watched, silent, merely holding Peel's hand and taking drinks off of his narcobrew.

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The cargo hold of the ship was busy, various beings of different sexes calling out to one another over the din. The majority of them were Lanaktallan, hardened by the crucible of war, busy doing tasks that a little over two years ago they would have left to neo-sapients but were now their responsibility.

Trucker stood and watched, hands behind his back, feet shoulder width apart, as the Lanaktallan tankers of the Atomic Hooves made sure their tanks were strapped and chained down, that the massive machines wouldn't shift in the cargo hold of the dropship that would be ferrying the heavy vehicles to the waiting transport.

The Lanaktallan of the 9th Armored Herd were not nervous that their new Great Most High, their General, was watching them. It gave them pride that he was watching them with his own eyes, seeing their skill and motivation where before had been resentment and slavish adherence to how things were done without understanding why.

Trucker's hand went to his implant. "Tra'akmo'o, tiedown chain eighteen is overtorqued, it'll snap, loosen it by an eighth of a turn," he sent.

"As you command, General," the Lanaktallan Gunner Twelfth Class answered, moving over to one of the chains. It looked fine to him, but who was he to argue with True-Sight Trucker? The chain popped and sang as he moved the tightening block an eighth of a turn. He saw the tank shift slightly, looking more evenly distributed.

Trucker just stood and watched as the work went on.

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Smokey 'No headed down the corridor of the flagship, Most High Liaison Ge'ermo'o behind him, the aides following the Lakantallan.

V Corps was loading up their gear. The troops would be last, brought up to the vast troopships and jumpships beginning five days from now.

The door automatically opened and Smokey 'No moved up to the main holotanks. He brought one to life and checked the data.

Most of the data was still being uploaded.

General No'Drak reached out and brought up the data on TLK-38732. A system a hundred light years out into the Long Dark, where 7th Army had built bases, cities. The planet had intended to be the base of operations for 7th Army, back when it was just the Precursor Autonomous War Machines that everyone was facing.

Before the Lanaktallan surprise attack.

Before the Atrekna.

He sent the orders mandating a Permanent Change of Station for all members of V Corps, tabbed up and sent a message to Talcum Powder Base and 21st Replacement that 7th Army was going to need to do personnel swaps, and ended by doublechecking his force levels.

Finally he brought up images of a new section of Talcum Powder Base and motioned Ge'ermo'o forward.

The Lanaktallan peered suspiciously at the images for a long moment, then looked at No'Drak.

"What is this?" he asked.

"Lanaktallan living quarters. On post housing, off post housing, city sections. I ordered it to be built three months ago, it's all being completed," he said. "Those of the Atomic Hooves who wish to send for their family need to fill out paperwork with their command."

"They cannot afford to move their families. The cost would be prohibitive," Ge'ermo'o said. He gave a long sigh, like a set of bagpipes deflating. "It would improve morale, but..."

General No'Drak shook his head. "Individual service members do not pay out of pocket for personal goods transfer nor transfer of family members," he said. "If they get the paperwork done before we leave in two weeks, their family members can be there before they are. It's a five week journey through the lower jumpspace bands."

Ge'ermo'o raised his eyebrows. "Is it just spouses and children?"

General No'Drak shook his head. "No. Normally, it would be. But with the flux the ex-Council areas are in, Confederate Military Dependent Services has determined that it would be best for the various troops if their entire family willing to move was moved."

Ge'ermo'o squinted suspiciously. "What if a member of the family seeks to pass information on to rebellious factions of the Unified Council?"

"And tell them what? That the PX is having a sale on GamePlay XII consoles? That the Commissary is having a sale on shellfish? That the traffic on Markston Avenue is terrible during PT times?" No'Drak said, shaking his head. "Right now, we're more worried about getting people where they need to be."

Ge'ermo'o nodded. "I will ensure that troops know to file the paperwork. I will ensure it is mandatory to be done within the next 72 hours."

No'Drak nodded. "With that taken care of, let's go to the next order of business for this interstellar movement."

Ge'ermo'o shuffled slightly closer as General No'Drak opened a window to go over the three times the armada would stop and take on mass from gas giants.

He paid close attention.

After all, he was a most attentive and perceptive commander.

It's why his men loved him.

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Ekret moved up in line, bit by bit, until he was finally at the cage window. The Saurian Compact Kobold held out a scanner. Ekret held it up and the Kobold scanned it.

BOUNCY - 1-1 HHC CO 1st RECON

appeared on the datapad.

"Check it for accuracy, sir," the Kobold said, handing the datapad to Ekret as he moved to put Bouncy's personality core in locked storage to prevent damage to the eVI during jumpspace travel.

Ekret went over it bit by bit, noting that it was all correct. He signed it and handed it back to the Kobold and then held up the second box, more heavily shielded. The Kobold scanned it.

ZHUKOV - 1st RECON

appeared.

"Check for accuracy, sir," The Kobold repeated, taking the heavier box and moving to the more heavily shielded area to lock the personality core in.

It was correct. Ekret signed off on it, accepted the two laminated smart-cards back, and moved out of line. He tucked an empty ration tube in his mouth as he dug out his wallet. He chewed on it as he slid the two cards next to his weapon card, his armor card, his ration card, his ID card, and his security badge. He tucked the wallet back in the pocket of his adaptive camouflage uniform and headed toward the big truck. When he got there, he waited in line.

Six years ago it would have been unheard of for a Most High to stand in line with the enlistedbeings to move computer cores off of a truck and to the storage.

Now his men were used to it.

One of the enlisted came by, handing out bottles of water, and Ekret took one gratefully. The day was hot and dusty, the sun beating down.

He was handed two cores, the names of the eVI's stenciled on the side with blocky white letters.

It felt good to Ekret. To make sure all of his men were cared for.

Not as good as the cool bottle of water on a hot and dusty day.

Nothing felt better than that.

--------------

FIRST TELKAN - ENROUTE TO TELKAN SYSTEM

V CORPS - ENROUTE TO TLK-38732

VII CORPS - ENROUTE TO TLK-38732

XIX CORPS - ENROUTE TO TLK-38732

XXXIII CORPS - ENROUTE TO TLK-38732

III MARINE EXPEDITIONARY FORCE - ENROUTE TO TLK-38732

IX GUARDS - ENROUTE TO TLK-38732

CCCXXIV AEROSPACE - ENROUTE TO TLK-38732

XVI FLEET - ENROUTE TO TLK-38732

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TNVARU GRIPPING HANDS

That's a lot of military stuff.

---NOTHING FOLLOWS---

TREANA'AD HIVE WORLDS

We're all over the place. We have to regroup if we're going to be able to hold off the Atrekna.

---NOTHING FOLLOWS---

AKLTAK SOARING WORLDS

Won't the Atrekna take advantage of all the troops being moved around?

---NOTHING FOLLOWS---

MANTID FREE WORLDS

And we'll take advantage of them extending themselves to take advantage.

---NOTHING FOLLOWS---

RIGELLIAN SAURIAN COMPACT

We're really good at this, kid.

---NOTHING FOLLOWS---

LANAKTALLAN FREE HERD

Might I ask a question?

---NOTHING FOLLOWS---

TREANA'AD HIVE WORLDS

Sure, go ahead.

---NOTHING FOLLOWS---

LANAKTALLAN FREE GRAZING FIELDS

Why do you welcome my people? We were enemies only a short time before.

---NOTHING FOLLOWS---

MANTID FREE WORLDS

Because our disagreement was never with your people, not even with your soldiers, but with your government and those in power.

We don't punish everyone for the actions of a few.

---NOTHING FOLLOWS---

HESSTLA CYBERBURROW

YES!

TAKE THAT, SUCKERS!

HA HA HA HA!

WE'RE FREE! FREE!

---NOTHING FOLLOWS---

MANTID FREE WORLDS

Welcome back.

---NOTHING FOLLOWS---

HESSTLA CYBERBURROW

Thank you.

The Case Omaha is lifted.

Thank the Digital Omnimessiah.

---NOTHING FOLLOWS---

TREANA'AD HIVE WORLDS

Congrats.

---NOTHING FOLLOWS---

HESSTLA CYBERBURROW

Oh, did we tell you! Did we?

---NOTHING FOLLOWS---

RIGELLIAN SAURIAN COMPACT

Tell us what?

---NOTHING FOLLOWS---

HESSTLA CYBERBURROW

The Digital Omnimessiah was here!

He came to see a couple of people.

---NOTHING FOLLOWS---

MANTID FREE WORLDS

Um, no, you didn't mention that.

---NOTHING FOLLOWS---

HESSTLA CYBERBURROW

Well, he did!

---NOTHING FOLLOWS---

...

...

...

TREANA'AD HIVE WORLDS

Are you going to tell us about it?

---NOTHING FOLLOWS---

HESSTLA CYBERBURROW

Sure!

---NOTHING FOLLOWS---

...

...

...

TREANA'AD HIVE WORLDS

Uh, anytime soon?

---NOTHING FOLLOWS---