His Right Hand
- Chapter 7 -[]
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Child Lost[]
Turbline star system, Periphery
3127
Hours passed as they waited for Debacks arrival, but what came next, happened too quickly. A pack had come over an edge near the wraiths. They stopped and sniffed the air then started to scuttle to the people out in the fields. Artechok ordered his people to move out right away and engage. Six Mauser 1200s came up and the day broke into chaos as they fired and downed four of the beasts.
People looked up, screamed, and pandemonium ensued. The night haunts were screeching at the unseen attackers and the people's warriors took up arms. Their gunners on top of the wreck tried in vain to hit the pack members only to find that the hides of these beasts was thicker. Six more CRACKS and the night haunts started to zero in on Atechoks position. He ordered his team to shift counter clockwise and reposition. The memetic cloaks acted as a blind as the two groups played cat and mouse. When the pack went past them, they would reposition themselves and wait. Then six more CRACKS sounded and the game kept going on.
The group of people watched as the day hunters circled and died. There were a lot of them and the ones they had encountered before during the day had killed ten of their flock. The numbers here though they knew would kill all of them. But yet here they died as if magic spells were being cast. Then someone spotted a child that had not made it back to the group and had gone in the wrong direction. A mother screamed and a father went running in the child's direction. Too late, too far. A few day hunters noticed the child and moved towards him and then... Then the child completely disappeared right before their eyes.
Meeting new Neighbors[]
Atechok's memetic cloak encircled the frightened child. He watched as the people panicked and pointed. The hunting night haunts looked utterly confused. Then he spoke to the child in whisper.
"Do not move. Do not talk. You say anything or move, we both die. The night hunters can't see us. I believe you know what these things can do."
The boy looked up at the glowing red eyes of a man who had come out of no where. He gulped and simply nodded. He looked out and saw the night haunts moving towards them and yet they did not see him. He whispered to his team.
"Wraiths, move and draw the ones near me away. I am staying put."
Clicks of acknowledgement came. The wraith team shunted their movement then opened fire on the stragglers. A few died and another was maimed. The break off pack moved in the direction of the other wraiths, but two did not. They continued forward, searching for their prey. Atechok watched as they neared him and then they were six feet away to either side of them. The musky smell almost made him wretch. The boy was panicked and about to move. Atechok put his hand slowly down on the childs shoulder in reassurance and to hold him in position to prevent him from bolting.
Then one of his team got cut off. He was between the break off pack and the main one. The cat and mouse game was starting to come to a close. Wraith Adept Beta Richards was going to die and Atechok knew it. He watched as his team member moved in vain. Then one of the night haunts locked in on him and grabbed hold of him with its teeth. Wraith Richards screamed in pain as it shot past his blessed pain shunt. The beast had ripped him open. With his last words on his mouth he activated his suicide charges. "For Blake! For Mankind!" His body detonated with a THUD that sent three night haunts to the grave.
The two night haunts near Atechok turned to the explosion. He whispered into the childs ear. "Count to five then run to your folks." He waited and then the child bolted. Atechok turned off the memetic cloak and raised his rifle. He shot into the legs of the night haunts near him then backed up. They screeched, turned, then fell in place. The other members of his team also dropped their cloaks in suit. Then they fired their grenade launchers into the main pack. The shrapnel did little but maim the beasts and bought themselves some time. More shots from the DropShip rang and hit their targets. This close to the wreck they were able to hit eyes and ears. The tide still might turn thought Atechek.
They fell back in fire formations of 2 and 3. Always retreating back, 2 then 3 covering each other. Then Wraith Adept Alpha Mike pointed out another pack had come over another edge. The commotion was attracting more of the damned things. They eventually made it to the warrior line. Spears, shields, and swords were drawn but never pointed at them. The warriors allowed the wraiths to pass thru. One of the leaders approached the team as they continued to fire at the packs.
"You sorcerers have some explaining to do. Where did you come from?"
Atechok fired his rifle till the power pack was empty and then started to reload.
"Orbital insertion drop. Three weeks ago."
"Orbital insertion drop? You mean? You are from the sky?"
"Yes and there are more of us coming. We have to just hold out."
"Then by my sword sorcerer I will guard you."
"I see we are cut off from the wreck."
"The wreck? You mean my home?"
"Yes that." CRACK CRACK CRACK
"We can try to make it, but there is too many of them and the others don't know how to fight in formation.
"Then we make a stand here or slowly move to.... your home. Even if we make it there these day hunters will rip into it easily."
"They what?"
"These day hunters are weaponized night hunters. If we live you will be told everything."
"Arrows prepare to fly!!!"
Atechok watched as the farmers in the back took up bows and knocked arrows. He remembered Deback telling of crossbows with night haunt tipped bolts. He never had seen them used. Today was going to change that. The archers let loose and some night haunts died. The rear archers started to knock more arrows. Then Atechok's C3i implant kicked on requesting permission to connect to a network. Interally he smiling and activated the link. His squad became one with a choir descending from the heavens. Hope and righteousness filled Atechok and he prayed alloud.
"Do not panic everyone! Judgement and salvation arrives from the heavens! Behold Blake's light to be visited unto the beasts!!!"
Deback's descent finally put him in range of the Wraiths. The signal was received and acknowledged. Tactical C3i data flooded into this brain and targets of opportunity appeared. The layout of the plateau of where things were in real time allowed him to mentally send a signal to where his choir was to land. Each member assigned a specific spot. Corden had taught him well on the theatrics of making impressions. He was going to make his own. Hearts and minds he was taught. Hearts and minds. Atechok had just primed the pump.
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Malak Light OmniMech using it's flamer
Atechok's C3i information fed into the network and man made lightning streaked from the heavens in pinpoint precision. The warriors watched dumb founded as more lightning smashed into the day hunter pack. Then gaint metal machines smashed into the ground at various points on the plateau. One landed right in front of the shield line and the ground shook as Debacks archangel came between the main threat and humanity. Six demons dropped from the metal machine and then the world exploded into an inferno of fire as SRMs launched and delivered their payloads. Atechok downed his rifle and turned to the warriors still in formation.
"Behold the power of mankind made manifest! Behold your reunion with mankind due to Blake's hand! Rejoice as the Right Hand of Corden has come back to Turbline!"
The Archangel fired its ER PPCS again and again. Then its pulse lasers fired up as Deback made to eliminate the pack as fast as possible. Atechok noted that the OmniMech was over heating and Deback was pushing it to the limit. The Se'irim squad then moved forward firing their recoilless rifles. The other mechs were of Malak dominus configuration and the flamers and light machine guns they brought just absolutely decimated what was left of the night haunts. In less than a minute there were no more threats.
First Contact[]
The leader of the warriors came up to Atechok and extended his hand. Atechok took and shook. Some human customs stood the test of time.
"I am David and welcome to my home."
"I am Wraith Tau Atechok. Forward scout for Phantom Adept Omega Deback."
"You guys have too many names. Not to mention you have scared the Jesus out of us."
"Timing required it. Our meeting was suppose to be more civil compared to this excursion."
"You said you were here three weeks ago?"
"Yes, observing and deciding how we would meet up. There is much that has happened on this planet in the last fifteen years. But I will let Deback fill you in. I am just a scout."
"Just a scout? You saved Carmell's child sorcerer. That family will want to reward you tonight."
"There is no need. I serve Blake and mankind."
"You speak like one of the priests."
"I do? I have to ask priests of what."
"Of Jesus Christ. You sound like you do not serve him?"
"I serve Blake. There is more than that too, but that is for each individual to choose which God they worship in addition to Blake. Again Deback will fill you in."
"You wear very elaborate armor. What is it?"
"It isn't armor. It is cybernetic augmentation... You looked confused. The metal is apart of me and moves with me. Also I am no sorceror or priest. You just see technology intergrated with man."
There was much to bring up to speed with these people.
The Archangel thundered back to the wreck and parked. Deback extended the chain link ladder and slid down. He brought with him a holo projector and a note computer. He had some explaining to do. His se'irim choir came up to him and remained vigilant. It was then he met up with Atechok and the warrior leader David. Again David extended his hand to these weird worshipers of Blake.
"Welcome to my home. There has been much commotion in the last few years. Sounds, booms, a mushroom cloud on the horizen. Then flying metal birds and then sorcerors. Atechok has filled me in on most of what was what while you parked your... mech? Yes 'mech."
"You are correct. I am Phantom Adept Omega Deback, Right Hand of Corden. He was the one that rediscovered this place and we finally were able to get back into the system after a decade a few years back. Us being able to find you is miraculous in itself. Everyone here is in danger and we are going to evacuate you to the main continent."
"But this is our home. We have been here for centuries." explained David
"I know, but the group of night haunts we just eliminated are just a small possible drop in the bucket of what might lie around in this area. The Word can not be here when the the larger populace is the main focus. We are atoning for our mistakes that were made and by that, we are going to move you."
"Again this is our home. We..."
One of the Se'irim came up to David and it popped its hatch. Inside was Aaron the guide.
"This is Aaron the Guide. He is from your long lost families on the other continent. He will be the liason here and he will speak of the situation more. There is much to talk about but not much time. There is a DropShip scheduled to arrive in a day. You need to make a choice and quickly. After we leave, we will NOT be coming back. I am also from Turbline, but of the Word. I could talk to you more but the augmentics I can see are distressing everyone here. So sit down and talk to your long lost family."
Deback turned and walked towards the wreck without waiting to hear any back talk. The new people here were right about this being their home, but they didn't fully understand what was at stake. The night haunts would ruin them and the Word didn't have the resources to defend these people. The plateau though would make a good foot hold on this continent when these people were either moved or slaughtered. But the task at hand required an unaugmented Turbline native's hand. The guides would again prove themselves.
Deback entered the wreck and found a hollow shell. Where decks would have been, wooden and stone structures took their place. What he found amazing was that the fusion engine still worked providing power for what ever ramshackle contraptions they had. He also learned that they had lathes and other implements to maintain some semblance of technology. They were able to fashion 20th century firearms and use the night haunt dung as gun powder. He came to learn they were a lutheran sect of christanity. They would fit into the Hall of Religions just fine, but since Blake had taken it over, it was a local matter and beyond his scope of interest.
Then he found the ladders going down below the surface. Intrigued he went down and found an undergound spring. There the children had gathered and were playing. Then a night haunt youngling came into view and Deback drew his side arm to take a shot at it. However the children got in the way.
"Why are you going to kill screech screech?"
"Screech screech? You mean to say this is a pet?"
"He is more than a pet. He is screech screech." They chorused.
Deback approached the critter and it gave a threat display. He went down to a knee and put his hand out. The youngling came to him and smelled him slowly. Deback recognized the behaviors from his days as a rider, but this one was different. More docile. Tameable. No infliction of pain or suffering was needed it appeared in order to bond with these it looked.
"What is the story of this screech screech?"
A 12 year old approached him and told him they had found it next to a dead mother on the plateau. They had taken it in as was customary whenever they found a youngling. The night hunter would become a part of their family and helped in animal husbandry like activities. They hadn't seen any in awhile and the night hunters had been disappearing to the day hunters.
"You have other screech screechs?"
"Yes, but they are hibernating down further in the caves."
A situation had been created. The Turbline Protocol might have to be countermanded for these people to move. There was also research to be made on the none aggressive night haunts. Here they had so called tame ones and the research that could be gleaned from them was ripe for the taking. Too many things went thru Debacks head. Command had its privileges and is damnation. He needed to consult with Aaron. They would need to learn how to pen this strain. They also would have to figure out if the horses on the main continent would freak out. He tested the pet night haunts claws. Sure enough, it shaved metal from his true hand. Just Blaking great!
Varmitting a Mence, no Matter the Cost[]
The ground rumbled as a DropShip came in to pick up everyone and everything. It finally touched down and opened it bay doors to accommodate the new comers to the fold of Blake and the other side of Turbline. The hard part came when it took the battle armor, farmers, and some of the warriors to herd the tamed night haunts onto the ship. They had seen the DropShip land and were apprehensive getting them on. The plan was to have the familiarity of their fellow farmers and warriors to keep the creatures calm. If that failed. Deback already had ordered any Manei Domini to gun the creatures down. Any other frails did not know the orders and Deback wasn't going to lose a DropShip to these damned things. The potential was too great and worth the risk for science.
Everyone had agreed to go. After they had packed whatever mementos, possessions, and what not. The DropShip took to the sky. Deback was strapped down in a chair in the cargo bay with a mauser 1200 sitting on his lap. He wasn't going to take any chances. He watched the behavior of the night haunts as the ship shook. So far he saw no signs of panic or fear. A little distress, but they had managed. When the DropShip got to the right height, it arced and blasted towards Baltmare.
"Interdictor, Blake's Light. We are clear of the plateau. Frag it."
<<"Your will be done, Deback.">>
In orbit, the pocket warship fired on the location of the wrecked DropShip. There was no going back now. The wreckage disappeared as the subcapital lasers melted the hulk and set fire to the fields. There would be no where to hide for any night haunts when the Word returned to this place. At least that was the plan.
The DropShip pivoted in orbit and fired retrograde thrusters. The shaking was immense and Deback saw one of the older night haunts throw its handlers down. Deback raised his mauser 1200 and sighted. CRACK! The night haunt died. The frails aboard looked aghast at what he had done. Deback looked at Aaron and both simply nodded. Nothing more needed to be said. The rest of the beasts stayed calm until Deback felt the DropShip deploy its landing legs and with a CRUNCH they landed. The bay doors opened and the people started to unbuckle and move about. That is when David was in Debacks face.
"What in Christ's name was that about? You put down one our family?"
"That thing was about to panic. I use to be part of a sect on this planet that rode those things and to no good. I know their behaviors and the subtle hints they give before they do certain things. I was NOT going to lose another DropShip to night hunters. The fact that I allowed the Turbline Protocol to be violated just once is almost a blasphemy in itself. Also from now on they are called night haunts. Time to get with the program."
"You come to us in friendship, move us, then kill one of us."
"That thing isn't human. Remember that. I can understand how you can see one of these things being a pet or even a family member, but here where we are and where I come from. They are murderous. Ask anyone in this town. Anyways, forward any complaints to Aaron the guide"
"Yes please do." Aaron said as he approached. "Deback did the right thing. You will be provided lodging as agreed. Just remember these homes were once occupied by Baltmare citizens that were KILLED by these things. Make sure you pass that on to your people. Also welcome back home."
Deback left before any response could be given and headed to the command center. These people might cause some trouble but they seemed like good folk. Time would tell. He then made it down into the caves and started going over missed reports. Jumpship and warship construction yards had come along very well in the years he had been here. Also the super HPG that was being pieced together with prefabs from the colonies was close to ending. Road construction, wall expansions, power plants, infrastructure, it was all coming together. Mankind on Turbline was rising.
Deback thought about his mentor. He wished he could have seen this planet brought from the ground up to the glorious exaltation of mankind restored. This is what the Word was about. Even Comstar in a sense if they were to reunite. He looked over and saw Adept Anne fiddling with some computers and motioned her over.
"How has your stay been here."
"It has been good. I actually feel like we are doing some good here."
"I was thinking the same thing. I look at these reports here and here. I see the progress made and in a way this is practice for when we see the sign and the next part of The Promise is enacted."
Anne frowned. "I am not a Blakist despite me adapting to you guys."
"I know and I don't expect you too. You know for a fact Blake wanted Comstar to do certain things. I can't help it that Comstar divorced us and threw away the good book. But that is for us and future generations to mend."
"I see a possibility of it. It is you though. You Manei Domini that will be the biggest problem in that mending."
"I understand to a point but completely disagree. I am not going to repeat myself with what we do. As much as the traitor Kerensky abandoned us, he did do things for the star league that almost equal what we did. Remember that. In any case to make you happy, I will be pushing forth that we should do more of this resettlement business in other systems. Away from the inner sphere in the deep periphery. There are some interstellar maps that exist of worlds that might be like Turbline or lost in the nuclear fires of war... I see a smile."
"Yes you do. Thank you for telling me this."
"Then go with Blake and complete your tasks."
- Author's Chapter Comments
- (Readers Question) What do the Night Walkers & Day Walkers creatures look like? : (Answer) I want people to formulate what they think in their own heads what they look like. If really want an approximation, I saw A Quiet Place (film) just recently and they might be sort of like the aliens in that. But then Zerglings from Star Craft might work. Or what about hormagaunts from Tyranids in 40k. Also the species is dna morphic. So one form might not look the same in a decade or two due to environmental changes. A lean towards a quiet place in my head, but as written, one form will eventually change out. More legs, less legs, ect, ect. I think the next chapter or the one after does have a scientific discussion. Maybe I will expand on it due to this response.