A SPARTAN'S WAR

PLANET TWELVE ALPHA

It was primitive given the technology they had but without proper facilities and tools, they made the best of it. And it moved quite smoothly even without proper tools. Twenty-nine of the enormous beasts had been captured by the dragons, killed with quick but savage twists of powerful jaws and snapping of the necks. Torma, Isheeni, Arzoal and the others were careful to cull only the older looking beasts from the herds that dotted the plains below. The six week old hatchlings were able to participate to an extent as well, refining their flying skills as well as their hunting skills. None of them were able to actually make a kill, but Torma and the adult dragons allowed them to track and direct the hunt in little ways.

Iama and forty others were the ones assigned to process the animals and they were efficient and quick after the first two beasts were processed. Iama wasted nothing, even keeping the huge bones of the animals for the dragons to gnaw on and keep their teeth strong and sharp. This was something that did not escape Arzoal's notice and unbeknownst to Iama, she earned many dragon friends that day. For a Kavalian, Iama seemed very comfortable around the dragons. She did not go out of her way to pet them or go near them, but the inbred fear she had of dragons had been harnessed long ago on Kranek. While Iama and the others processed the meat and bones and skins, the remaining personnel packaged them with equal efficiency and within six hours the dragons were lifting off into the air to bring the cargo down to the loading area in the valley beneath them.

As darkness began to stretch across the sky and the land, a huge table was set up and Iama and the cooks from the ARC ROYAL began to put together a generous meal of fresh meat, vegetables, orange colored potatoes and spicy green salad. Within an hour, the men and women were sitting on the ground in twos and threes or larger and enjoying a night under moonlit skies and a delicious meal. Portable lights were set up all around the camp making it easier to move around among the many transferable soft metal tents that had been set up.

Iama was proud of herself at what they had accomplished. As she drew in a deep breath of fresh air she knew she had found her niche in this life. She had found a place where she was respected and treated well and above all else liked. The skills her mother had passed to her in cooking she thought useless at the time. Now they were paying huge dividends and carving her a place among those she now referred to as friends and comrades. As she sat at the table on the far end of the row of tables, her keen feline eyes detected the large dragon first as it swooped down from the security positions above and then she saw General Simpson and the boy Prince appear from the darkness walking casually. They appeared to be talking quietly between themselves and smiling as they did. Iama was surprised at this for she assumed the boy Prince would be the first to arrive to eat his fill. As he and Daniel Simpson stepped up to the table weighed down with food she realized they had just returned from their posts. Her light green eyes were able to watch him easily even as the portable lights cast an eerie glow across them. They had actually waited until everyone had eaten before even leaving their posts above.

He was tall Iama saw, much taller than her five foot four frame, and even under the Mark IV ArmorPly he wore she could tell he was fully developed and incredibly muscular. She heard him laugh at something Daniel Simpson said and he turned to toss a large chunk of meat at his dragon, which the beast easily snatched from the air and gulped down. As Iama watched he withdrew an odd looking knife from his right leg and stabbed another piece of meat. The way he twisted the blade and twirled it in his hand before stabbing the meat told Iama he was very skilled with it in some form of combat. Most soldiers she knew did not prefer knives because they were hard to master, but this boy Prince seemed to be equally as comfortable with a knife as he was with the cut down version of the P190A3 that dangled from quick release straps. Iama had to admit to herself, he was incredibly handsome. Even more handsome than many of the Lycavorians she had seen since joining them. Her ears detected soft laughter and she turned her head to see several Lycavorian and elf females watching him as well and giggling to themselves as they watched him. Iama shook her head in disgust. How could they desire someone who would no doubt have the mind of a child? When Kavalians finished their growth cycles they had to undergo months of strenuous mental conditioning to be able to catch up to their fully grown bodies. This boy Prince was only six or seven weeks old. He would not know the difference between anything Iama knew.

Iama turned her head once more when she heard Julie call out for Daniel from the COM tent. Her eyes went back to where they stood and she saw Daniel and him leave their plates on the table as they turned and began moving towards the tent. Iama saw an opportunity then to make additional points with the King. She knew that Daniel Simpson was widely regarded as the only brother of the King. His status among the Lycavorians and others was nearly equal to the King. Though they were not brothers by blood, she had learned that they had been together since both were a year old. They had seen and done things together, bled together and fought impossible odds together. They were brothers in the truest sense Iama found out and that is how Daniel Simpson was viewed. She rose from her table and moved to where he had left his plate of food, retrieving it. As an afterthought she also grabbed the plate of the boy Prince, seeing several thick slabs of meat but hardly any greens on it, and shaking her head at his unhealthy diet.

She quickly moved after Daniel Simpson towards the COM tent.

"…looking good here Skipper." Julie spoke as they stood around the holoimage of Martin from the valley below them.

Danny stood next to Julie, Fedor sitting on the table to their right flank and scratching Dnom under his massive jaw with his head extending into the tent and his huge body outside the tent.

"We're settling in for the night." Danny told him. "Security is out and the perimeter is activated."

"Portable Gun Platforms and sensors?" Martin asked.

Danny nodded. "One Avenger PGP on every corner and two inside the perimeter facing all avenues. I do know my job you know?"

"Well… excuse me for asking." Martin quipped playfully. "You know… you're getting ornery in your old age."

Fedor chuckled from behind them and Danny snickered. "Careful oh great and ugly King Martin. You gave your son to me remember. I might just get him to spike your coffee in the morning. Give you the runs for a week."

Martin laughed in the transmission. "Ignore him Fedor." He said. "He's always been angry that I am so much better looking."

"Shiit!" Danny grunted. "That will be the day."

"Ok…" Julie announced. "Enough testosterone!"

As it had been so long ago, Julie was the one who had always ended their banter back and forth. Even though she was a vampire clone, she still had that power over them it seemed and it was the main reason both Danny and Martin had welcomed her with open arms upon realizing it was truly her regardless of what Aikiro had done to her body.

"First two birds are away." Martin told them as the tent flap opened and Iama entered carrying the plates.

She glanced quickly to the side of the huge dragon and saw Fedor sitting on the table. Her eyes rolled slightly as she saw him, though up close as she was now, she had to admit he was even more handsome than she first thought. She thrust out his plate to him with barely a pause. "You should eat more greens." She stated sternly. "It will stimulate the growth of your mind."

Fedor looked at her with wide eyes as he took the plate she had shoved at him. His nostrils flared wide as her sweet kiwi scent crashed against his senses and he watched her turn to his Uncle.

"You… you left your plate General." She spoke in a much more friendly tone.

Danny looked at her and took the plate. "Thank you Iama." He said.

"Iama… you did an outstanding job today." Martin told her from the transmission.

Iama looked at him. "It was a team effort King Leonidas." She told him honestly. "All of us deserve the praise."

"Think we can do it again tomorrow?" Martin asked.

Iama smiled. "We'll do better."

"Science team find anything interesting Marty?" Julie asked.

"Last time I checked they were giddy over some samples they found in the soil of their site." Martin answered. "Something about exponential growth or some shit like that. Gives me a frigging headache if you ask me."

"Maybe a colony planet in the future?" Julie spoke now. "We could start marking any promising ones we find you know."

Martin nodded. "Maybe." He said. "If I know you Jules… you are already doing that."

Julie grinned and held up her data pad. "By the numbers." She replied waving the pad back and forth. "Makes me wonder how you and Danny ever got by when I went on vacation for a quarter century."

Martin and Danny both laughed. Julie had begun referring to her death and reincarnation as a vampire as an extended vacation.

"We muddled through pretty good." Danny told her. "But we got you back to pick up the slack now sister!"

Julie looked at him. "Fuck you Simpson. I ain't carrying your tight asses any longer. Both of you are going to carry your weight!"

"Here! Here!" They heard Anja's distinct voice in the background of Martin's end of the transmission.

"Cute!" Martin said. "Danny… we're going to close out for the night. I got two techs on duty monitoring any calls from the ARC ROYAL. Stay at Condition Two. We still don't know enough about this world to let our hair down all the way."

Danny nodded. "Will do." He stated. "Tur anzen fervon." (Be safe brother)

Martin nodded in return. "Mornar forn." (And you)

Danny looked at Iama as Martin's image faded. "You done good Iama." He said. "Damn good."

Iama smiled sweetly at him. "Thank you General." She said. "All of us had a hand in it." She said.

"This meat is really very good." Fedor spoke from the table. "What spices did you use?"

Iama turned her head to look at him. Fedor's dark brown orbs blinked several times at the look of near distain that came across in her eyes. "You would not understand if I explained it to you." Iama spoke almost harshly though only Julie caught the true inflection in her voice. "You should pay more attention to your training and less to your stomach." Iama looked at Danny who had a surprised expression on his face. "I will see you in the morning General. We will be ready."

Danny nodded his head. "Ok. Sure." He said as Iama turned and glanced at Fedor once more before pushing past Dnom's bulk out of the tent.

Fedor got up off the table and looked at him. "Uncle… did I do something wrong?" He asked.

Danny shrugged his shoulders and looked at him. "Beats the hell out of me." He turned to Julie. "Know anything about that Jules?"

Julie shook her head as well. "Caught me by surprise too."

"Wow!" Danny said. "Be careful where you tread boy, maybe you stepped on her tail when you were smaller."

"I've never seen her before tonight." Fedor complained even as her kiwi scent still drifted to his wolf nose and aroused his other senses.

"Don't worry about it Fedor." Julie told him. "She doesn't know you."

Fedor looked at the tent flap. "Treating me with contempt is not right though." He said. "I have done nothing to her."

Danny put his hand on his shoulder. "Don't sweat it." He said. "Grab some more chow and then get some rest. Tomorrow will be just as busy."

Fedor turned to look at him and nodded his head. "I will be ready." He said.

Danny nodded. "Good."

Fedor looked at Dnom. "Let's go brother." He said. "I found a good spot for us this morning. And I want to say goodnight to my sister."

[… would she say these things Fedor?] Eirene asked softly within their sole connection. Eirene was tightly wrapped within a sleeping Miseo's powerful arms; her lithe body conformed to his and swallowed up within his embrace. She had fallen asleep like this for the last three nights and to Eirene, nothing could ever compete with the sensations this caused within her.

[I do not know sister.] Fedor answered from the processing site above them. [She spoke to me with contempt in her voice. Like I had wronged her in some way. Like I was a child!]

[Did she smell good?] Eirene asked him playfully.

Eirene heard her twin chuckle softly within their private connection. Only Kdan and Dnom could access this connection if they wanted, though Eirene knew their father and mothers were strong enough within Mindvoice to intrude if they so desired.

[She smelled very good Eirene. Like sweet sugary kiwi. Her eyes are fascinating and her skin…] Fedor spoke with more truth than humor in his voice. Something his sister detected right away.

[Enough Fedor… I get the idea!] Eirene told him with a laugh. [So you do find her attractive then?]

[That does not make up for her attitude towards me Eirene.] He said. [I did nothing to her to deserve that tone or her harsh words.] Eirene heard Fedor sigh and dismiss it. [My heart sings for your happiness sister.] He told her. [He is good to you?]

[Carians Fedor… he is even bigger than our mothers say father is.] Eirene answered with no shame. She and Fedor were tied together so closely that it made no sense to try and hide from him anything. [He was so gentle and caring. And when he kissed me I thought I would explode. I did explode!]

Eirene could feel her twin brother's smile of love even from above her on the plateau. [Finding the Father of our Hearts has brought us so much more than we would have ever had sister.] Fedor told her. [We must never let that be taken from us.]

[We won't fervon! We won't.] Eirene agreed. [As Miseo affected me because of my fever, perhaps this Iama is affecting you in some way.]

[Perhaps… I will ask father when we are alone but it doesn't matter right now. She is being an upaee!] He said. [I did nothing wrong to her and we have taken the trait from our mother that makes us dislike arrogant people.]

[Yes we have.] Eirene said.

[I will ignore her.] Fedor spoke. [She knows nothing about me and to act in such a way is far more arrogance than I want to deal with. I do not wish to become angry.]

[Then stay away from her fervon.] Eirene said. [You will find someone just like I have. It just may not… it may not happen so quickly.] Fedor heard the sadness in her voice and he shook his head where he was.

Fedor hissed softly within their connection. [Never regret what you have found because of me sister!] He scolded her. [You are right. I will find someone someday. But I will always love you first.]

Eirene smiled dreamily in Miseo's arms and nodded. [And I will love you first always.] She answered.

[Sleep well in his arms my arande. I will see you tomorrow.] Fedor spoke.

ARC ROYAL

Akemi read the last report for the day and signed off on it before getting to her feet. "How are our people?" She asked out loud.

The Tactical Officer turned from his post. "The King reported in ten minutes ago. They are tucked in tight for the night."

"Sensors are clean." Wayonn spoke as the second shift officer stood behind him waiting to relieve him.

Akemi smiled. "I like it when things go smoothly." She stated out loud. "Makes my job a lot easier."

Wayonn got to his feet and looked at her. "Considering Martin's propensity for finding trouble I have to agree Captain." He said.

Akemi moved up next to him. "Recalibrations are complete for both ARC ROYAL and DAYRIDER. We'll be able to make jump seven as soon as they are aboard. Which also makes me very happy."

Wayonn looked at her. "Worried?" He asked.

Akemi shook her head. "Not really I guess… but the King's sense of things is sometimes scary. Ben and Miranda both told me that if he feels something it is usually correct. He believes the Kavalians are following us. If he believes it, so do I. I don't like staying in one place too long knowing that."

"Then that makes you concerned?" Wayonn asked.

"We can outrun anything those Kavalian space scavengers have in their inventory and we won't have to get out and push." Akemi snarled proudly. "Even with DAYRIDER attached to us. And if they drop from LSD operation anywhere within sensor range we'll have plenty of time to react even if they do see us. Our sensor range is three times what theirs is."

"Then why feel so anxious?" Wayonn spoke.

Akemi looked at him. "I'm human Val'istar." She answered. "Being anxious is part of our nature. We react better when we are prepared for the worse. That has always been the case with us."

Wayonn tilted his head to the side. "Ah… I see." He spoke. He took her arm. "Well let's go to the Mess Lounge Captain. We can be anxious together. That is part of Pralor nature too you know."

Akemi grinned and allowed him to lead her off the bridge.

"…do you think we'll find Val'istar?" Akemi asked Wayonn as they sat at the table drinking two steaming mugs of Aricia's coffee.

Wayonn met her gaze. "To be honest I don't really know." He answered. "Muton's calculations are correct and Anja has medically confirmed he and all of his people have different Pralor genes within him. Some stronger than others like Muton and his sons. That matches with the memories he has as well as those the others possess. The DAYRIDER might not look like much, but they built it from memories passed to them from their ancestors. And then the way his memories and dreams led Muton to the map on Enurrua? There are only two species within the known universe that I know of, that can imprint their children with memories and images like that. Pralors and Lycavorians. I can only take so much coincidence before I have to start to believe."

Akemi nodded her head. "Same here."

"Those Pralors that left with Arzoal's dragons are probably dead by now." Wayonn spoke sadly. "I don't imagine we will find much of them left after so many years no matter how much I wish otherwise. It would be nice to know that Shiria and I are not the last connection to a lost species. Whether any of Muton's ancestors survive is up for grabs to be honest. The dragons… if they flourished… they would probably number in the ten thousands by now. Perhaps more. If they have survived, will they recognize Arzoal as the Elder Mother they left behind? An awful lot of questions is what I think we will find." Wayonn looked at her. "But I have known to be wrong in the past as well."

"How often did that happen?" Akemi asked him.

Wayonn chuckled. "Only twice." He said.

Akemi smiled. Her face became serious then. "Tell me of the Scourge Val'istar?" She asked.

Wayonn looked at her surprised that she knew of them. "How did you…?"

Akemi smiled once more. "I can tell you the biggest reason why the military of the Union would follow the King to hell and back Val'istar. They trust him. He doesn't keep information from those who he knows needs that information. He gave me a pad when he first came on board. Not a whole lot of information mind you, I think he was holding a lot back that he has seen in his mind, but it was enough to nearly make me wet my panties. He told me you would have more."

Wayonn nodded slowly. "They are not a kind species Akemi." He said softly. "They can not be reasoned with. They can not be communicated with. They can not be trusted. I watched to many civilian settlements burn under their weapons during our first war to believe that they even have a soul. They exist now only to conquer and kill anything or anyone with Pralor blood or those who have helped them."

"They never took prisoners?" Akemi asked.

Wayonn shook his head. "No… they took prisoners." He answered. "Only they weren't prisoners for very long. Those they did not feed on they turned into warrior vermin. Their basic soldiers. The cannon fodder as Martin calls them. They altered them genetically to become like them in many ways. It was not a pretty sight. Sumar and I were leading a small unit at one point. We stumbled upon one of their conversion chambers. I was sick for a full day at what I saw and I could not eat for two more." Wayonn leaned across the table and set his mug down. "Martin is right. It is time I began to share what knowledge I have. I will tell you all I know Akemi, what Martin and Andro already know, but promise me that you will tell no one until the time is right. When it becomes time to reveal it to everyone, then you may tell anyone who needs to know. Until then… it is better if the whole did not know."

Akemi nodded her head instantly. "Done." She said.

Wayonn took a deep breath. "It was our fault." He told her. "Xaxon's fault. In reality, the Scourge are of our own creation. Xaxon just did not know the entire scope of the species he wantonly began to slaughter one day. It began on…"