Relias: Uprising (19 page)

 But that didn’t bother Frenz. It made him smile, actually, because the Darks thought that they were succeeding. With the destruction they were wrecking at Styne and the apparent safety of Praemon, Alighieri must think that they’re sitting quite pretty. And whenever Frenz needed a little boost he simply sat in on the First Legionnaire’s new training regime.

 Daily workouts were being mixed in with hypno-therapy, while their lectures were drenched in anti-Dark sentiments. The movies they were given to watch, the magazines and books they were given to read, all came together in a single, well-orchestrated effort to spread a potent spirit of hatred.

 At first it started small, just as the effects of the operation were beginning to take effect. After little more than a month they were beginning to hate, to loathe. They talked about killing, they bragged about killing, and eventually all they could think about was killing. And, just before the conclusion of the new training, Frenz brought out some Dark prisoners and lined them up. Charged with multiple murders of members of both the IA and the First Legionnaire, the twelve men were line up on stage, chained and wearing only a thin pair of pants.

 The soldiers wanted them dead, wanted them executed. But Frenz wouldn’t have that. This part was the most important part of the training.

 Walking up in front of the prisoners, standing in front of a stadium full of Legionnaires (also being broadcast to the remaining troops involved with the invasion of Praemon), Frenz bounced one of his cutlasses in his hands, basking in the moment.

 The men looked weak. They shivered, they were hunched, pathetic, but every one of them displayed what they must have thought was disdain towards Frenz; Trying to be brave. Not for long.

 The Legionnaires yelled for Frenz to kill them and it was hard to not listen. But until this point all the Legionnaires had really experience with their newfound hatred for the Darks was films, lectures, and talking amongst one another. They thought about how great it would be to kill a Dark. Frenz wanted them to
feel
how good it was.

 He picked the different classes of soldiers, the strongest looking he could find, and called them to the stage. The soldiers in the audience were smart. They knew what Frenz had called them up there for. The chosen soldiers lined up, one per prisoner, and Frenz explained the process, saying that they would kill the prisoners in any way they saw fit. The crowd became deafening.

 The first execution was slower, more clumsy, as the soldier who performed it was unsure of himself.

 But that first execution was all it took to put the others into a frenzy.  

 Their screams agonized, ragged, the Dark prisoners, tethered to their posts, were slaughtered. Not one of the soldiers doing the killing performed a one hit execution. It was bloody, messy, drawn out and at the sight of the pieces of the Dark prisoners lying scattered about in pools of their own blood and the raucous applause that flooded the stadium, Frenz knew he had done his job. The joy of the slaughter had spread like a virus. Killing was no longer just a part of the job. Now it felt good, like a drug. And, like any potent drug, they were all addicted. While they sat there, cheering for the blood drenched executioners, Frenz sorted through their thoughts. Though it was clear that the Darks were merely there for their killing pleasure, in the backs of their minds there was still one man who drove them to fear. But that didn’t matter. Luke wasn’t a Dark anymore.

 They wanted blood. They wanted their drug. They needed their fix, and with the invasion of Praemon merely days away, they were about to get it.

Chapter 12

The twin planets Eygus and Altigo were faint in the sky; only their edges could be seen like a massive crescent hovering next to its younger brother. The moon was beginning to pass through the dust belt on one of the planets and glowing meteorites made fluorescent white ribbons across the sky. Beneath the pale light of the planets Praemon slept peacefully, resting on its hill overlooking the mountainous crossroads. In the surrounding forest insects chirped and beasts howled, the untouched and uninhibited wilderness casting a calm lull over the darkened night.

 In their beds the citizens of Praemon slept, curled up in silken sheets, sinking into bulging comforters and sleeping beneath the soft, cool mountain breezes that flitted in through their open windows. The night had a soothing purr to it that formed a soft blanket of tranquility that wrapped the entire city.

 Across the valley on the narrow top of the mountain ridge a Forge Tank dug into place. On both sides of it every ten meters more tanks planted themselves into the ground.  There were dozens, maybe a hundred Forge Tanks that created a thin white line that stretched along the thin mountain crest, their cannons ready and aimed down the side of the mountain at the darkened city below. Not long after they had locked into place did white armored Legionnaires flood between them. Thousands upon thousands descended down the sides of the mountains like white specks being drawn towards the city.  Their guns held tightly they marched through the forest. They wanted death. They wanted gory massacre.

 In the river running through and outside the city more Legionnaires crept, only the tops of their heads visible above the surface of the water. They were nearly invisible; the babbling waterway reflected the white planets and camouflaged the water bound Legionnaires flawlessly.

 On all sides of the city the First Legionnaire got closer and closer to Praemon; the trees concealed their presence. From above it looked like a thick, white circle that constricted around the city, threatening to strangle it.

 The area around the tanks was a flurry of activity. Soldiers, mechanics and operators made sure everything was in place and ready for the assault. Final inspections were being made on the vehicles. Tank placement was being evaluated and reevaluated to ensure they were in position to do the most damage.

 Climbing out of a Forge Tank, Vladmir Frenz couldn’t help but smile. He parted through the bustling soldiers and stopped at the edge of the cliff where the tank was perched. Watching his army converge upon the city was a potent and exhilarating feeling. How long had he waited to see a fight like this. Even more exciting was the fact that he would be joining the soldiers on the ground shortly and taking an active part in the attack himself.

 He was no longer the coolly dressed executive he typically appeared to be. Frenz was dressed in the finest and most intimidating armor the Legionnaire had with a long crimson cape signifying high leadership that draped over one side of his back. On the left side of his chest plate, the area normally reserved for medals, was a crudely drawn Razorback skull that Frenz had carved himself. He rubbed a hand along the hilt of one of the cutlasses sheathed across his back in wild anticipation. He surveyed the assault and ground his teeth with anxiety.

 “General Frenz,” Came the voice of a colonel from behind him. “Perimeter sensors have been taken offline and the last of the Darks Cruiser armada has been drawn away for the time being. Our own cruisers will have moved into place by the time they get back.”

 “The anti-air guns, Colonel Rafferty.” Said Frenz. “First priority before we move our cruisers into position is take their AA guns offline. Why do you think we haven’t just burned through them with our cruisers in the first place?”

 Rafferty nodded his concession. “Correct, Sir… My apologies.”

 “Don’t apologize, it was a simple oversight. The men have their orders so sit back and relax.”

 Rafferty nodded and returned to his post. He was anxious, ready for the assault to commence. Everything was going flawlessly. Praemon still remained oblivious to the attack. What few soldiers patrolled the rooftops paced their posts lazily under an imaginary comfort. They’d be dead within a few minutes.

 Slowly and surely the First Legionnaire built up around the outer wall, waiting for the command to attack. The Legionnaires in the river had cut through the grating into the city and were now inside, each sneaking to one of the four outer gates that allowed access into the city while others moved towards high priority targets.

 Everything was ready. Frenz’s hands shook.

 “General?” Said Rafferty. “The troops are in position and the Forge Tanks are ready to fire. Would you like us to set the tanks to discriminate against any targets?”

 Frenz laughed. “You’re kidding me, right?”

 It was the exact answer Rafferty wanted to hear. He smiled darkly and relayed his final orders through his helmet radio. The tanks made smooth, mechanical hums as they adjusted their sights and set aim on Praemon. All along the line that the tanks formed the humming rolled as one after the other corrected their aims and picked out their specific targets.

 Thousands upon thousands of Legionnaires made a thick white crowd around the city’s walls. They bunched up around the outer gates, nearly fighting each other to get in. The tank pilots were twitchy. The overgrowth-clad and refractor equipped Phantom snipers scattered all through the forest kept their eyes down their sights, knowing exactly who they were going to kill when the order was given. And if anybody made it out of the city, they’d be waiting. At the gates Berserkers shoved through, Nightwolves frothed at the mouth and gnashed their teeth, Skirmishers hopped back and forth to check their adrenaline and Demolitionists had their fingers on their bombs, ready to lob them at the first word.

 Everything was set. Frenz breathed the excitement in one last time.

 “Send them to hell.”

 The tank that Frenz stood next to was first to fire. The tank fire spread immediately outward in a devastating chain. Blue flame erupted from the ends of the Forge tank barrels as devastating particle charges soared towards the city.

 Blue and orange flame billowed from the craters where each tank round impacted. What few Dark soldiers who weren’t caught completely off guard raised their rifles in vain to repel the attack. Some exploded in bursts of blood across the rooftops while others’ heads blasted apart beneath sniper fire. The First Legionnaire set into action. They kicked in doors, jumped through windows, weapons raised in search of something to kill.

 The first blast ripped Hendrick from his sleep. He shot up in his bed in time to see a Berserker approaching his bedside. Seeing Hendrick break from sleeping the Berserker lunged at him. Without hesitation Hendrick reached under his pillow and withdrew a black combat knife. The Berserker swung an axe at Hendrick. He ducked his head beneath it, jumped up, put a hand on the back of the Berserker’s head and jammed the knife up through the bottom of his jaw. The Berserker immediately stopped, taking several lumbering steps backwards and falling to his back. Hendrick didn’t pause.

 “DITRINITY!” He yelled.

 The Ditrinity had already emerged from their rooms, hastily throwing on their battle armor and heading to the exit of the penthouse. Hendrick grabbed his shirt, snatched up his Blazers and mounted them on his wrist. He doubled back and grabbed the armored wolf skull his nightstand and went back into the hallway, coming out at the head of the Ditrinity. They followed quickly behind him, tightening their armor and making final adjustments. Morlo sang quietly to himself as he loaded a fresh chain of bullets into his chain gun while Sable, walking just in front of him, still carried her armor in one arm while she adjusted her camisole she had thrown on. Hendrick shook his head to himself and pounded the wall.

 “They knew it would happen.”

 The Ditrinity moved into the main room where the entire outside wall was glass. They had an inobscured view of the mountains on the other side of the valley. The top of the ridge seemed alight with a white glow against the night sky while flashes of blue popped up all across its length. Seeing the mountains and the entire valley outside of Praemon they’re quick, purposeful strides slowed to a stop. Hendrick hadn’t seen the outside yet and taking in that view shocked even him. They were quiet as the war raged on outside. They walked towards the window and looked out. Pontious shook his head and spoke quietly to himself.

 “Mother of god.”

 “…so many of them…” Sable whispered.

 Morlo grunted and checked his cannon for the fourth time. The others watched quietly as thousands of white figures sprinted down the hill.

 Hendrick’s mind was a blur. It seemed like there were a million things they’d have to do to survive. Praemon had over three hundred thousand citizens. What would be happening to them? Where would the escapees run to? If the Ditrinity escaped, where would
they
go? Hendrick recanted that question. Find Luke and lay some waste; that’s where they’d go. But there was one thing he had to worry about first. He had to find Tess and get her out of the city.

 Trey barreled through the door with blood staining his right side and a dripping halberd gripped in one hand.

 “Just got off the roof.” He panted. “Legionnaires are flooding the building. They called in the whole arsenal for this one. I’ve never seen so many sets of Raze armor. I haven’t seen an assault like this since Olsgrad… The city’s full of ‘em. From what I could tell there’s over twenty thousand and rising…”

 “Twenty thousand.” Vyvyr said. “The First Legionnaire sure knows how to overkill.”

 “You hurt?” Hendrick said, pointing to the blood.

 “There’s a shitload of Legionnaires downstairs.” He said raising the halberd in his right hand. “I ran into a few. They’re everywhere.”

 “We’re not doing anything waiting around.” Pontious said, the orange in his eyes seeming to burn.

  “They aren’t just killing us, Nate.” Trey went on without regarding Pontious. “They’re being brutal. They’re getting nasty.”

 Hendrick rolled one shoulder in preparation and moved towards the door.  He pulled his mask and rested it on his forehead. “Well Pontious is right. Those asses aren’t going to kick themselves.”

 “Frenz is here.” Trey said immediately.

 Hendrick stopped. His breath became short. He looked towards Trey and his voice was low. “You sure?”