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Chapter Six: The Insurgent.
“Endless conflict…that’s all there ever is. For centuries we have fought and hated each other as Feyline and as Preyarans, for centuries we have had generations live and die never knowing anything else, for centuries they have struck us and we have struck them, yet for centuries we would time and time again approach the edge of re-opening the war only to retreat back like cowards. It’s a perpetual lock, a bind upon all our houses that we may cross swords again and again, but we may never truly fight. Nor do we ever allow ourselves the clarity of thought, that maybe we should just end this and return to peace as it was centuries ago, before the war, before the Feyline invasion… But for too long have we waited, too many lives expended on all sides, too many chances squandered. The Terrans have learned like us and the Feyline, this ‘cold war’ as they call it will last until either we or the stars themselves burn out. Even my own father knew this, and he told me his first-born son Gangee that peace would likely be impossible in our time. I do not know how we as a people can live this way. Something must be done to fix this…yet I have no answers to how.”
The Lancer Lord Gangee sat in the darkly-lit meditation chamber. He heard a female voice come in.
“Then perhaps it is time to determine your fate for yourself. The Swordmaster Khornan will not lead your people to open war with either the Terrans or Feyline, he is too weak, too caring for his son.”
Gangee looked over in the direction the voice came from. “What can I do? I am but one Lancer in an army of many and the Swordmaster is held in great reverence.”
“Simple.” The voice replied. “Perhaps it is time the Swordmaster learned the error of his ways.”
Gangee looked back down to where he was sitting. He clasped his hands together as an idea sprang into his mind.
“So, it must come to this…” he said.
“Indeed, events are in motion far beyond the background that will usher in an era of peace.”
“Then there is no choice…there is no other honorable answer. Rebellion will make things right.” Gangee said back. “Yet what of the Council?”
“The Council is meaningless and you and I both know that. They are decadent, complacent, utterly withdrawn from ensuring the future of our people. I will do my part in the coming conflict to secure our future. All that’s needed is someone like you to provide the spark.”
Gangee looked towards the doorway, a silhouette could be seen but he could not make out exactly who she was in the low light.
“But what would rebelling accomplish? I do not command the respect of the people, not in the same role as the Swordmaster.”
“It would accomplish so much towards ending this cycle. Even if you died and your rebellion was crushed, the spark you provide will bring the victory necessary for peace. The Swordmaster cannot possibly control the situation in this manner forever. Show him his error.” The voice continued.
The silhouette took a step closer as the lenses from her glasses gave a startling flash from the low light behind her. Gangee could now see who he was dealing with better. He closed his eyes to think. He then looked back with a serious look on his face and a change in tone.
“Very well…very well indeed milady. I suggest you leave now though. I have plans to make.”
“Make the best of them Gangee…Make the best of them…”
December 15, 2469: 1430 hours, Kalansai Installation, Planet Candora. Gangee walked his way to the command center of the base. The soldiers under his direct command had been informed of what had been happening. Gangee had sent out secret communiqués to everyone he had heard of who was displeased and disgruntled with the Swordmaster’s leadership and as such found a great many allies amongst the ranks of the Preyaran Lancer Corps. He had been secretly organizing troop redeployments to his sector, amassing ships and supplies and organizing the command structure. Those who opposed his plan were carted away, but amidst the months of planning and preparation he had remained beneath suspicion at what was about to happen, at least until recently. Gangee entered the command center, his allied commanders ready. “Everything for our first phase is ready Lord Gangee.” Said the first commander, a Lancer Lord named Talai. “We have detected the Swordmaster’s ships arriving in the Candora system. Their initial communications are purely in investigative nature. Most of it regarding why this system’s military channels have shut down.” “How many ships do they have?” Talai responded “We count four destroyers in the group. Pretty trivial for an investigative taskforce you think?” “Have we sent any communications back?” “No, no transmissions have been made just as we planned.” “Good, let them get closer.” The four destroyers continued to grow closer to the system and the tracking displays in the command center reflected the increasingly irritated communications from the group. Gangee knew this was the moment to commit. “Radio all ships, stand by orders to fire. Open a channel to the Swordmaster’s vessels.” He said. Another Lancer replied. “Channel open.” “This is Lancer Lord Pynas of the Tensali, the High Command demands an explanation for the sudden disconnection of communications from this sector! Is everything alright there?” A voice came through the comm. “This is Hilancer Lord Gangee, too long have the Swordmaster and the High Command committed to being cowards, too long have they have they stood in the way of true honor and ending this conflict. From today onwards, the Swordmaster shall know what it means to be truly threatened, to know that the war begins…” Gangee motioned over to the Lancer manning the comm. “Radio all ships…’Fire’”. "Wait!...There must be some mistake!" Pynas yelled back over the comm. In an instant the ships under Gangee’s influence fired upon their fellow Preyaran vessels. A veritable barrage of Minovski beams tore through the four destroyers. One by one the ships were destroyed in a quick merciful flash. The barrage finished, and the finality of what had been started came to Gangee’s mind. “So it begins…” Panic tore through the Preyaran High Command at Gangee’s new rebellion. Subspace chatter from all planets increased dramatically trying to assure that only the troops stationed at Candora were rebels. An emergency meeting of both the Antara Council and the Hilancer Lords was called to deal with the situation. It was at this time the Swordmaster Khornan himself showed up to set things right. The aged 62 year old Preyaran, arrived at the Council Chambers in Antara City with his silvery blue hair hanging out from his helmet. A cadre of other high-ranking Lancers arrived with him. The head of the council itself the 56 year old Mistress Bellah and her six compatriots entered the chambers as well. “I assume you know the business of why you have been summoned Swordmaster?” Mistress Bellah began. “If you are thinking that I am responsible for this new rebellion, then that is a fair charge. It would be my failure that Gangee now threatens the entirety of the Daemonyte. But make no mistake, for you or the rest of the Councilors to think that the rest of the Lancer Corps under my charge is disloyal or unreliable.” Khornan said in a combative tone. “Then I assume you have a solution already?” Bellah retorted. “Please milady, at this time we do not know the full extent of Gangee’s rebellion. We have confirmed the loss of the four destroyers to Gangee’s ships, but we are uncertain how much military power he currently has.” A Lancer Lord named Cyras interrupted. “Therefore our solution is two-fold.” Khornan said. “Due to our already tense relations with the Terrans and the Feyline, we cannot sacrifice our border security from Terran or Feyline incursions. Thus we cannot commit the entirety of the Lancer Corps to battle. Cyras here will elaborate.” “We do know the Candora system is now officially held by the rebels militarily. From what we have pieced together there are at least one hundred full size warships under Gangee’s command.” Cyras said. “But remember, we do not know the full extent of his ground troops, air forces or even that was every ship. However we are assembling a task force of proportionate capabilities to deal with this. Yes this means our internal security is likely to become vulnerable for the short term, but we feel it is the right solution.” “Therefore Gangee cannot be allowed to threaten the situation with the Starlight Alliance nor can he be allowed to threaten our people any further.” Khornan said. “As much as I might not like it, the time has come for war, even though it is against ourselves for the first time in centuries.” “Are you positive this solution will work Swordmaster? We cannot maintain calm with the people here forever.” Mistress Bellah asked. “It carries a risk of failure, but that is true of all military operations. Our worst case scenario entails that we will be unable to break through Gangee’s fleet, and he may in turn be able to counterattack us directly. To be honest Mistress, if the situation with the Alliance were any different we would not be here discussing this.” The other Councilors murmured wildly in varying tones, some in agreement, some in skepticism. Mistress Bellah then cut them all off. “Very well Swordmaster, execute what must be done.” The Council Chamber emptied as quickly as it had filled, leaving only Mistress Bellah and Khornan the only ones remaining. The two walked closer to each other and then to side by side. Bellah had a change in tone and feeling, almost to one of concern. “What will this mean for Anzan?” She said. “I have taken the liberty of assigning him to the Mirai element of this operation. In the back of my mind, I doubt our first efforts to quell this uprising will be fully successful; it may very well take a protracted campaign. But I am sure he will do his best. After all he comes from a fine line of Lancers in my family and he is too stubborn and honor-driven to do anything less.” Khornan replied. “So I guess you haven’t told him?” Mistress Bellah asked back. “In time…in time…now however is not the right time.” Khornan finished as the two left the chamber. Two days later, the operation was ordered to begin. Over one hundred vessels of the Preyaran fleet had assembled alongside tens of thousands of Lancers for the ground assault on Kalansai Installation. On one ship, the young Lancer Anzan inspected his newly assigned Mirai before he was challenged by a voice. “Anzan! Hey Anzan!” A voice yelled out. Anzan peered over the butterfly-like wings of the Mirai to see who it was. “Parus? Where have you been?” he replied. “It’s been over a year since you’ve been re-assigned!” “I got tasked alongside here, I got ground duty this action.” Parus said. Anzan looked back on his inspection of the airframe and then looked back down. “Well if you’re not busy yet, come up here and help me out! I’ve got a couple parts that need tinkering before the battle.” Parus immediately rushed to the ladder, climbed up and moved over to where Anzan was. The Mirai had a couple of panels open on the wing containing regulator and power lines for various portions of the craft. Parus grabbed some tools from the nearby kit and began helping Anzan out in his fixes. “So you got Mirai duty this time?” Parus said upon starting. “Yes, but fortunately it will not last the campaign. I have orders that once Gangee’s fleet has been rendered combat ineffective, I’m joining you guys planetside. So I’m not missing much. By the way that fuel regulator needs adjusting can you get that?” Anzan replied as he closed one of the panels and pointed to the open panel where Parus was. “I got it. So you really are doing just about everything here huh? Who’d you have to convince to come along for this?” “My father… He wanted to just assign me to just the Mirai actions. I had to damn near smack some sense into him. He must be getting old in his mind.” “Or perhaps he’s looking into a successor? You are noted for being one of the best swordsmen in the entire Corps Anzan. I think you’d make a fine Swordmaster with some more experience.” “Me? Swordmaster? Pfft. I have no claim to that title yet, nor do I have eyes on it. If Father really wants me to succeed him in the future he better find a good reason for that.” Anzan said as the two finished the adjustments. “Besides, I have business to attend to before that.” Meanwhile the Preyaran fleet had departed for the Candora system and had made the jump into subspace. Among the fleet, sixteen assault carriers, forty-eight cruisers, sixty destroyers and six troop carriers. Their objective was simple, find and eradicate Gangee’s rebellion to the last man if necessary. What they knew was Gangee did not amass some pathetic force, he was a serious threat. What they didn’t know was just how much he knew what they were going to do. Three days after leaving the Preyara system, the fleet arrived at its destination of Candora. Dropping back into real space, the ships were brought up to full combat readiness and prepared to engage. They had run dark while in subspace trying to minimize superluminal communication, and maximizing the stealth aspect of Minovski particles between jump locations hoping to have the element of surprise. As the fleet neared Candora’s second moon, this element of surprise was thought to be achieved. The fleet advanced across one side of the second moon, finding nothing yet. “Where are they?” The Lancer Lord Salee said on the bridge of the command ship. “We have no visible contact in line of sight sensors. My guess would be they are hiding either behind the planet, outside sensor range or are behind the moon.” The pilot said back to her. “Well if they want to hide, let them, we have a job to do! Order all troop ships to begin their descent onto the planet. Have the fleet provide esco-.” “Lord Salee! Rebel ships emerging on the moon’s horizon!” The tactical officer interrupted. “How many do you count?” “I count over forty ships already! At least twenty seven cruisers among them.” “Stand by to engage the fleet, have the troop carriers proceed on mission to Candora. Scramble all fighters.” Salee finished. The klaxons blared throughout the ship Anzan was on. His ship’s fighter wing was assigned to space even though the rest of its complement was headed to the surface. He immediately jumped to action, running along the corridors as best he could in the low gravity towards the flight deck. He arrived at the flight deck to find dozens of other pilots scrambling to get to their fighters. Anzan immediately went to where his Mirai was docked. He climbed up the ladder, entered the cockpit, fastened his flight helmet to his enviro-suit and prepped for launch. Every fighter on deck quickly moved to a launch line up as the deck cleared of personnel. The deck de-pressurized and opened its launch doors. The first Mirais blazed off like a missile two by two until Anzan’s craft flew with them. His Mirai cleared the doors and followed his fellow pilots as the ship they were on immediately set off for Candora. Meanwhile, the two opposing fleets continued their approach to one another. Salee’s fleet from Preyara remained on a heading for Candora, Gangee’s fleet moved on an intercept course from behind the second moon. Their ship total had now exceeded sixty vessels. The two continued their interceptive pursuit until a distance of fifty-six thousand kilometers above the planet. That is when all hell broke loose… A massive barrage of Minovski fire streamed into Salee’s fleet, explosions and venting erupted across several dozen vessels. A second barrage of anti-ship missiles immediately followed and the fleet immediately fired every point defense weapon they had to intercept. Many of them were deflected but some struck their targets. Three destroyers having been hit multiple times by both gun and missile fire quickly vaporized in a flash. The remains of the fleet immediately returned fire as a second exchange began. The battle for Candora had begun in earnest. Anzan saw the initial exchanges from his Mirai as his flight served escort. He quickly steeled himself at the brewing carnage, fully knowing what was happening. Over his radio, the order to attack began and he immediately swung his craft around to engage the rebel ships. It was then that the rebel Mirais struck. A massive wave of fighters appeared on the edges on his scope range, and immediately began their attack on the fleet. Anzan’s flight quickly jumped into action as hundreds of other loyalist Mirais entered the fray. Three fighters immediately turned to engage Anzan as his flight broke formation. Acting quickly he immediately clamped down on his firing controls and let loose a torrent of Minovski particle bolts. One enemy Mirai immediately exploded and a second took glancing hits but remained capable. Anzan immediately took to evasive maneuvers trying to engage the other two. The third now poised at a high z-angle above Anzan fired a volley of both guns and missiles at the young Preyaran’s craft. He immediately engaged his thrusters and defensive drones to draw the attack off. It worked, the missiles went for the bait and he managed to dodge the incoming Minovski fire. Now it was his turn and he pulled a quick maneuver that brought him head on with the third Mirai. Letting loose with all three of his guns, he quickly pelted the hapless craft into space debris. Rounding about to catch the previously damaged Mirai he quickly made missile lock and fired two missiles at the craft destroying it. For Anzan, the battle had just begun but even by now Salee’s fleet had suffered a number of ship losses, while only inflicting limited damage to the rebels. The rest of Anzan’s flight had already scattered about, some had already been shot down, some were engaged with rebel Mirais but he himself now was in the position to fight Gangee’s forces on his terms. Anzan lined up his Mirai parallel to what was left of the fleet’s formation and immediately fired his boosters. Speeding back into the battle he came across a group of five rebel Mirais in pentagonal formation approaching one of his side’s cruisers. Anzan immediately opened fire with both missiles and guns as he sped towards them. Three of them were quickly taken out by the mix. The other two quickly broke formation and turned to face him just as point defense fire from the nearby cruiser swatted them from the stars. For thirty five more minutes the battle raged across the high orbit of Candora, for thirty five more minutes the loyalists’ ships would be pounded into dust one by one. Salee’s fleet was now in trouble. With almost half of her fleet having been wiped out or severely damaged in the fighting so far the quest to put down Gangee’s rebellion now seemed doomed. Her own ship had been brutalized in the fighting so far, now stood poised at the wrong side of a losing battle. There was now only one last thing to say… “Radio all remaining ships to withdraw from the Candora system. Any ship still capable is hereby ordered to leave the system. Contact Swordmaster Khornan, tell him our initial attempt has failed. I personally will take responsibility for the defeat.“ Salee said. Just as she finished another massive barrage tore across her ship. Amidst the smoke, flames, electrical sparks and furious jostling of the ship, she could only resign herself to her fate just as the ship vanished in a spectacular explosion. Anzan saw the spectacle as it happened from the view of his Mirai. The command ship of the response fleet had now been destroyed. All across his view, loyalist ships began pulling back en masse as rebel ships pursued them. He paused for a moment wondering if Parus and the other ground teams made it. He would have no time to formulate an answer when a huge flight of rebel Mirais descended upon his location. All he could do now was make a run for it. He swung the Mirai around towards Candora and hit the boosters as best he could. On his tail, a half dozen rebel fighters continued firing rabidly at his craft. Several particle bolts impacted along the side of his Mirai bursting open fuel and air lines and leaving a trail of debris floating behind him. His number two engine now suddenly burst open as his right wingtip shear off from the barrage. Now believing he was a dead stick, the pursuing fighters pulled away as Anzan’s crippled Mirai plunged straight into Candora’s atmosphere.
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