Sunlord (7 page)

Ashian turned the heavy rifle over in his hands. His
mind was racing as he looked at its totally alien shape. He must
work it so he could show Capac he was worth something. Fate was
balanced on a knife edge as the Currach tried in vain to operate
the metal contraption.

The forest was silent. The fire collapsed as a
burning log gave way in a shower of sparks and renewed
crackling.

Ashian was bemused. No matter how he prodded at the
rifle nothing seemed to happen.

Capac opened his mouth to criticise but his words did
not escape his mouth. Yellow angry fire erupted from the weapon in
Ashian's lap. The three natives fell over backwards as the harsh
loud chatter echoed through the trees, the leaves above them
honeycombed with holes as the uncontrolled muzzle leapt wildly in
Ashian's hands. The dirt of the clearing spouted dust as he strove
to bring the weapon under control.

Suddenly it stopped.

Ears rang with newfound silence as battered leaves
spun to the ground like soft rain. To Ashian's surprise Capac broke
out in laughter.

"It looks like we have some talking to do,
crusader."

Chapter Three

Rumblings.

But when the blast of war blows in our ears,

Then imitate the action of the tiger;

Stiffen the sinews, summon up the blood,

Disguise fair nature with hard-favoured rage.

William Shakespeare: Henry VI.

The young Sunlord radar controller aboard the Urisa
scanned the world below anxiously. The distress message had come
from a survey team deep in one of the forests and since then hadn't
responded to any calls. The controller tried yet again.

"Urisa to Coney Blue. Awaiting transmission and
status report."

Dread certainty rose within the Sunlord as nothing
but static greeting his call. He flicked a switch to interface with
Avatar.

UI:> Request update on android 39-LX and survey
team CB-221.

The computer responded instantly.

Android code 39-LX off line; last status report
97.540.32.209

Blood rushed to the controllers face. His six
fingered hands flew over the specially shaped keyboard.

UI:> Display last transmission
of 39-LX.

The computer responded with something he had never
seen before.

Access denied; mainframe
investigating survey team CB-221.

Avatar had refused him access. The controller got the
attention of the midshipman, who came stalking over, his large bulk
moving easily under the low artificial gravity of the ship. He
glanced at the radar controller's monitor.

"I picked up a distress call, sir, but Avatar has cut
me off."

The midshipman grunted. "She has taken over, she
knows to do better than you or I."

"What will it do? Shouldn't we inform the
Admiral?"

The midshipman gave him a piecing gaze. "How long
have you been in this position?"

"I normally work on the flight deck, but I am
relieving con-"

"Then perhaps you should go back there! I will not
have some ignorant frug questioning my authority. You should know
that Avatar takes priority. If she thinks the Admiral should know
she will tell him."

"But what will Avatar do?"

"Probably send out a A-squad to investigate. You
cannot underestimate the power of the computer, she is the true
commander of this vessel. Now get back to your work before I report
you for lounging."

Far on the other side of the massive battlecruiser
machinery whirred with life.

Gurhuin Sicil glanced up at this companion as an
alarm rang on the ceiling of the mess room. He put down his
nutripaste tube.

"Looks like Avatar wants us," he grumbled. "Always
when I am having lunch."

Jhakl laughed. "Last time I was caught in the
Erotocouch. It was a rude awakening."

The two Sunlords stood, large muscles bunching
beneath tight helicasuits. The helicasuit was a specially designed
suit constructed of microscopic interwoven fibres that gave the
suit toughness and durability, able to withstand a vacuum and also
high pressures. The lightweight helicasuit also shielded the wearer
from the sub-zero cold of space and could resist the blistering
heat of an explosion.

Jhakl pressed a wall panel and a door hissed open.
"Haven't seen much action for a while," he commented as he stepped
through the door.

"Should see some soon; Avatar is taking an unusual
interest in this planet."

Gurhuin was a bull-like burly creature, his jaw low
and protruding and his scalp hairless. Both Sunlords moved lightly
on their feet like panthers, their chests broad and shoulders
wide.

They belonged to a crack troop force known as the
A-squad used in war time to infiltrate enemy lines and secure
planetside bases. Equipped with the best hardware of the time they
were a formidable opponent even for the best of defences, their
specialised 'Auras' laser rifles meaning certain death to anyone
caught between the cross-hairs.

They were the elite warriors aboard the Urisa and
demanded special respect anywhere within the Forces, and looked
upon by others with a mixture of admiration and suspicious awe. The
A-squad warrior was created carefully from birth, their genes
cultivated in laboratories for maximum strength, fitness and
intellectual brilliance.

In a battle they were often the fatal stroke that
destroyed the enemies defences. Their job was to infiltrate through
the trenches and defence walls after the heavy troopers and tanks
had taken the brunt of the firepower. From there they relied upon
speed and manoeuvrability to locate and destroy the enemy's
critical installations, freeing the way for the troopers. The
A-squad was a feared name among the lines of the adversary, for
they knew once they got through the outer defences, their base was
as good as gone.

Gurhuin had seen many battles and had fought
alongside fellow warriors for most of his long life. He paced
lightly down the steel corridor, his weight carried easily upon
muscled legs. He stepped into the armoury cube.

"See you planetside," he called to Jhakl as his
companion walked a little further down the corridor to his
cube.

"Let's wipe some thorts!"

Gurhuin laughed and fitted himself into the cube and
sealed the door. Moments later he was in darkness.

Machinery hummed as heavy armour was fitted about his
form by a thousand small robotic arms. Webbing containing
dehydrated food, ammunition, a medical kit and a self contained gas
mask strapped to the armour. The heavy duty Auras rifle slotted
into place in the holster just below the right shoulder blade that
could be retrieved by the Sunlord by simply reaching over in an
easy motion. A smaller pistol fitted snugly into its recessed clip
on the left thigh and a belt of grenades snapped onto the waist of
the armour.

Just as the final latches hummed and locked into
place, the floor beneath Gurhuin's feet dropped away. His face
remained impassive as he dropped and carried through a world of
blackness and groaning hydraulics. There was a hissing, and the
door before opened before him. Taking a split-second to reorientate
himself, he stepped out and double-timed it through the restricted
area to the docking bay.

He piled into the seats of the craft that awaited,
noticing that five other troops had already taken position. The
drop craft had a small interior and was empty of lining. All
available space was utilised in the most efficient manner possible.
The android supervised as the equipment was stowed and strapped,
but its presence was superfluous as the troops moved into their
positions like pieces falling into a jigsaw puzzle. Barely had the
last two troops locked into position did the door shut and docking
catches release.

In a complex array multiple machines swung into
action to carry the small craft through the opening dock doors. The
hiss of propelling steam immediately froze as it entered the
absolute cold of space, retro rockets flaring to carry the ship
away from the bulk of the Urisa. The primary thruster blazed once
clear of the docking bay and in seconds the craft was in free fall.
The whole craft shook and jolted as they entered the atmosphere and
gravity 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 abrupt gesture. Capac
let out his pent up breath as silence fell and all eyes turned to
the Elder.

"I have heard your point, Lopare. Our race has fought
its own battles for centuries and our tribe has stood as a proud
race. But now it is different, the Sunlords make it different. They
threaten to destroy us all."

Capac's multi-faceted eyes gleamed in thought. The
more he thought about it the more he wanted to embark upon this
spearhead mission against the invaders. Ashian would be invaluable
in getting them aboard the Fiery Craft in the Sky. Experience as a
hunter told him that this was his chance.

"We are fortunate Ashian has come to us," put in
Capac firmly.

The Elder paused. "I agree that something decisive
must be done. Individual hunting raids are destined to meet with
failure if we continue fighting the old way."

"And you propose to fight the new way?" muttered
Oiop, one of the wives of the Elder. As a wife she was responsible
for nursing the ill and wounded and her opinion weighed heavily in
the council. Her views were often ones of common sense and
rationalism. "We cannot change so rapidly," she continued. "With
those fire breathing toys are people will be massacred."

"But Ashian can work the weapons, and he can teach
us," countered Capac.

C'hio came back into the argument. "The Currach
cannot kill."