Authors: Brandon Huckabay
Marshal Von Jesonik’s summons had arrived quite unexpectedly, forcing the colonel to relinquish command of his regiment at a critical juncture of the campaign. His beloved Dreadwolves had just penetrated the outer defenses of the capital city, Elohim Prime, with limited support from division or even the expeditionary force. Although the city lacked tactical importance, taking such a symbolic city could demoralize the enemy and quite possibly free up resources for operations on other sectors.
Two massive oak doors opened inward to reveal the inner sanctum of the marshal. He held the title of Chief Adjutant of the Assault Infantry High Command to the supreme chancellor. He was the assault infantry’s representative in the High Command, along with others who represented the other military branches, most of whom had attained the rank of marshal as well. The colonel’s cleaned and freshly repaired purple cloak trailed behind him as he passed through the doors, leaving Sergeant Matthias outside. The colonel immediately noticed a gigantic banner hanging from the vaulted ceiling, depicting an eagle grasping a sword stained with crimson blood in its talons, the colonel’s weary mind was still on high alert as his eyes scanned his surroundings. He took note of the many rare items of luxury that decorated the office of the marshal. Ornate and artful tapestries hung along the oak-paneled walls, including a stoic painting of the supreme chancellor, who had been Hellenheim’s leader for more than thirty years. The colonel stared a moment at the painting before shifting his gaze at the large panoramic window that overlooked the vast industrial and military infrastructure of Luriana, Hellenheim’s center of government and military establishment. Multicolored clouds of factory by-products belched from overworked chimneys, further defiling the decaying atmosphere. Neither a green blade of grass nor a tree could be observed for as far as the eye could see.
Standing in front of the window, introspectively admiring this colorless landscape, was the Star Marshal, Carolus Von Jesonik. An intimidating figure standing nearly seven feet tall, he towered over most men, an attribute he used to his advantage when dealing with nonmilitary bureaucrat types. His close political connection to the supreme chancellor was no coincidence. Marshal Von Jesonik had made it known that he should be considered the rightful successor to the chancellorship when the time came. He turned to welcome his guest. The colonel stopped, assumed a rigid position of attention, and brought his right arm up stiffly, giving the traditional military salute.
“Thank you, Ernst,” the marshal said to his aide in an evenly toned, authoritative voice. “That will be all.” Ernst bowed graciously, exited through the double doors, and closed them behind him.
Von Jesonik walked around his desk to the front of it, coming face to face with the colonel. He returned the colonel’s salute casually. Although the colonel held distaste for many senior officers, he held the marshal in high regard. The marshal’s service record spoke for itself, and he was a capable leader, even if he was commanding the 1st Assault Expeditionary Force from the home planet. He knew, however, that the position of marshal is as much a political appointment as military, and he did not envy the marshal’s position on Hellenheim. Politicians had no business running a war, and the supreme chancellor had tried on many occasions to influence campaigns how he saw fit.
“Please, Johann, relax,” the marshal said to the colonel. “We speak as friends today, not as officers. You have endured so much for so long; I—as well as the remaining district governors and, of course, the supreme chancellor—are forever in your debt.”
Colonel Chuikova nodded, placed his mirror-polished black helmet on the massive desk, and sat down. He quickly removed the thought from his brain and noticed a box of cigars resting invitingly on the marshal’s desk. He couldn’t remember the last time he had actually savored one. His troopers were lucky if they got a hot meal once a week—unless, of course, an attack was planned for which they would need their strength.
Von Jesonik followed Colonel Chuikova’s gaze and imagined he could read his thoughts. He smiled and gestured at the open humidor. “Go ahead, take one.” He raised his gaze to match the colonel’s, attempting to catch the slightest hint of emotion emanating from the man’s steel-gray eyes. Seeing nothing, he reached for a decanter and poured two drinks of the dark brown liquid.
“Thank you,” the colonel said. He leaned forward and selected a cigar, holding it to his nose, savoring the intoxicating tobacco aroma. He placed the cigar in a pocket inside his cloak. He accepted the drink and drained it in one gulp.
“I must ask why you have summoned me away from the front. My regiment is so close to taking Elohim.” There was disdain in his voice, almost as if his regiment had been defeated. “I hope you did not summon me here personally to discuss our lack of ammunition, replacements, and support from divisional command.”
Von Jesonik turned around and walked back behind his desk. He gazed out of the window, seemingly ignoring his guest. Chuikova reached back into the humidor and selected another cigar, this time rolling it between his thumb and forefinger. His short, spiked gray hair and the lines on his face marked evidence that the war had not aged him kindly. He appeared not to have slept in days. Von Jesonik sat down behind his desk.
“Johann, I am fully aware of your tactical situation. Your actions on Elohim Prime are legendary, to say the least. Your regiment does the work of an entire corps—perhaps an expeditionary force.” He produced a lighter and promptly lit a cigar. He offered the lighter to Chuikova, who accepted it. “The war has been hard on us all. You are correct that I have not brought you here to discuss strategy or the evolving front.”
Von Jesonik tilted his head back and blew a puff of gray smoke toward the ceiling. The rosy aroma hung in the air momentarily, before fading away. He continued, “You are here because you are being relieved of your command, effective immediately.”
Chuikova rose immediately to his feet and slammed his gloved fist down on the desk. “How can this be? This is heresy! My men will be wiped off the face of that god-forsaken planet!” he bellowed.
“Calm down, Colonel! Do not forget where you are!” Von Jesonik retorted sharply. Chuikova sat back in his chair, his face an angry red.
“With respect, my apologies,” Chuikova muttered under his breath, barely audible. He thought about lunging across the desk and grabbing the marshal by his throat. Instead he sat back into the chair, lit his cigar, and attempted to relax.
“This is not punishment, but rather a reward. The front has not been kind to you. Frankly, we are running out of experienced commanders. You are different, Johann, in that you lead from the front. Most commanders prefer to hide underground and commit what amounts to mass murder in sending their boys over the top. I cannot influence battle plans any longer. My position is more political now than ever before. The supreme chancellor plans operations and alters campaigns, and often even I cannot change his mind. He is surrounded by those who crave power, even as our empire is slowly dying. But I digress.” Von Jesonik took another long pull off of his cigar, blowing the grey smoke up towards the ceiling. “You have an immaculate record. You are cunning, daring, and reckless. You inspire your troopers, and your mere presence can swing the odds in your favor. You give them one thing they so often lose sight of.”
Chuikova looked at Von Jesonik, still unable to hide the disgust and disbelief in his eyes. “And what would that be, marshal?”
“That would be hope. Hope in victory and faith in their world.”
“Your words are flattering, but I cannot see how being relieved of my command is a reward.” He almost spat the words out. Von Jesonik’s glare reminded him that he should not push too far. Chuikova’s voice calmed. “I apologize.” He paused and poured another drink. After throwing it back, he relaxed. The two shots of liquor now worked quickly in unison, calming his nerves to a more appropriate level. Surprise at the effects of the liquor overtook him briefly, as he realized that his tolerance had diminished greatly since he had been on the front, devoid of spirits.
“You brought me up like a son when I was field commissioned as a lieutenant,” Chuikova noted. “I trust you, but I do not see how replacing me at such a critical time as this could be of any benefit. If we take Elohim Prime, we have control of that entire sector.”
“Your concern is noted.” Von Jesonik rose out of his chair and turned back again to the window overlooking the massive industry below, his gloved hands now clasped behind his back. The last rays of the setting sun somehow found a break in the polluted clouds that lasted long enough to send shards of orange light bouncing off the dozens of shiny medals hanging on his dark emerald tunic. “What is below us will be gone in a few short years if we lose this war, perhaps even sooner,” he said quietly. “We only have four allied planets left in an empire that at one time stretched for three star systems. If the 1st is destroyed on Elohim Prime, our only recourse would be to sue for peace. The Auger-Lords have foreseen this in their visions.”
“I have never believed that group of outcast wizards,” Chuikova related to Von Jesonik’s back. “They have never done anything for our people except predict what is already known,” he continued, unable to mask the contempt in his voice.
Von Jesonik ignored the response. He next spoke in a soft, fatherly tone. “The supreme chancellor himself has planned a special mission based on intelligence we have received from our state security agents, as well as guidance gifted to us from the Auger-Lords. He has entrusted me to select a competent and capable leader. The mission is bold and daring, which is why I chose you. The enemy is developing a new weapon, and we must have it or destroy it. The chancellor demands success, and you are the only one that I feel can achieve what the chancellor wants. You see now that this is much bigger than Elohim Prime. If you succeed, Johann, you will be an immortal hero in the eyes of the people. What we need in these turbulent times are heroes. This righteous conflict will soon come to an end, and we will herald a new age of peace and prosperity!” Spittle spewed from Von Jesonik’s mouth as his voice reached a crescendo.
Chuikova stared at the floor, seemingly lost in thought when Von Jesonik ended his oratory. Von Jesonik turned toward his desk and activated a keypad. A holographic image appeared, showing a large complex with many rooms and passages, formed in the side of a rocky plateau surrounded by a strange looking forest. “Our intelligence agents as well as stealth satellites obtained these plans, as well as technical information detailing the experiments within this desert planet located in the outer fringes of known space.”
“I don’t follow. The outer fringes? That is hostile territory. Pirates and mercenaries rule that sector. I am used to leading armies on fields of battle, not special operations,” Chuikova interjected as he watched the images rotate above the desk. He put his half-smoked cigar into a gold ashtray on the marshal’s desk. He knew fringe space was dangerous. Once the war between planets broke out, refugees were the first to begin the exodus out of the star system. Soon, pirates, mercenaries, deserters, and many others sought the relative safety of fringe space. Governmental presence did not reach that far out. If the enemy had an outpost in fringe space, there could be no telling what they were up to.
Von Jesonik nodded his head. “Your concern is duly noted. We lost many agents in acquiring this information. I know you are a military man, Johann, and politics never interested you much. The supreme chancellor has distrust among his ranks, as do I. These are turbulent times, and I dare say it, but our government is destroying itself from within. Many would like the supreme chancellor removed from power, yet others that say it is only his iron will that is keeping this empire together.”
Empire
. Chuikova had started his military career on Karn and was a junior commander on Celbrius. Those planets were long since destroyed, their cities shattered and enshrouded in lethal clouds of radiation. If there were any survivors, society would be reduced to medieval by now, or worse, and those survivors would be forgotten by their own brothers.
Von Jesonik continued, oblivious of Chuikova’s wandering mind. “I know I can trust you, Johann. This project is enshrouded with the utmost secrecy. Only the supreme chancellor, I, our Auger-Lord brethren, and now you know of its existence. The experiments within this complex are rumored to concern a new weapon that could turn the tide of the war in the enemy’s favor. That is why I am giving you this mission. Your assault force will comprise three platoons that are already garrisoned here. They know they were selected for a special mission, but they don’t know what it is. Captain Cruwell is assigned as your executive officer. He is a very accomplished officer who will serve you well.”
“I take it you have a way to get us into fringe space undetected? It won’t be much of a mission if we are detected by their fleet. They have spies everywhere.”
“Not to worry. Star Admiral Raus will take you to your drop point in his flagship. You will use a modified drop pod that that will enable you to return home if Raus is destroyed by hostile forces. The Auger-Lords have divulged this ancient technology. Even they fear our destruction.”
“You speak too much of the Lords! Why do they hoard the technology of their ancestors? They could have given us a technical advantage decades ago!” Chuikova continued. “I sometimes wonder if they are prolonging this conflict intentionally. Their ability to foresee certain events must show them something.”
In a hushed voice, Von Jesonik replied, “I suggest you don’t try to figure out their ancient ways. The Auger-Lords and their seers are guardians of power we cannot conceive, and they must maintain the balance of power. We have co-existed with them in harmony for thousands of years. To take sides against them would unfairly upset the natural course and have disastrous effects on the future.”
“Very well.” Chuikova knew it was futile to argue, and he was a man of his word and a man of honor. Questioning the motives of the Auger-Lords and Auger-Seers was dangerous. Their reign reached back beyond memory; they had always been the custodians of unimagined power and energy.