A SPARTAN'S WAR

The Sensor Watch Officer was leaning back in his chair sipping a mug of tea. It was the only comfort that Akemi allowed while on duty. She demanded perfection from her crew and for the most part she received it. As with all the ARIZONA-Class ships, most of the crews were hand picked by the Captains, and just being part of a crew of one of these ships was an honor. An honor he would preserve for the sake of his name and his family. The crew on the third watch would banter back and forth, but all of them maintained constant attention to their duty stations. This constant attention is what allowed him to see the row of small white blips on the sensor screen that was monitoring the ground team. He blinked and leaned forward, sitting up in his chair to insure he hadn't seen a glitch. On the next sweep they were still there and moving. He set his tea aside and adjusted his sensor array slightly to bring the contacts into focus more clearly. His eyes grew wider when he realized that the contacts were in open water and moving towards the position of their King and the ground crew. He didn't hesitate for a moment.

"Contacts!" He barked out causing all heads on the bridge to turn towards him. "I have unknown surface contacts! Bearing three six one and closing on the Ground Team's position!"

The Third Watch Duty Officer was beside him in five steps. "Confirm!" He snapped.

The SWO nodded his head. "Already confirmed sir." He spoke confidently. "Thirteen surface contacts. Now bearing three six two. Range fourteen klicks from the Ground Team. They are on the water."

"On the water?" The DO asked.

"Coming in from the southern islands." The SWO answered.

"Tactical! Immediate realignment of the lateral array to sensor coordinates. Lock onto the contacts and show me what we got!" He barked. "Put it up on the main monitor!"

"Shifting array!" The Tactical Officer barked. "Locked. Magnifying!"

The Nodon JCN Type 71 Tactical Sensor Array was the most powerful the ARIZONA-Class carried, the most powerful in the entire fleet to be exact and it could cut through pea soup like clouds on its worst day. Clouds was not something they had to worry about however as the night on the northern continent was clear and star filled. As the DO turned to the main screen he saw the picture of the ocean focus and zoom three times to align on the thirteen contacts. His eyes grew a little wider.

"Water ships!" He hissed.

"Confirmed." The Tactical Officer echoed. "Thirteen water ships. Estimate sixty meters in length for each ship. Target closing speed is one hundred and fifty KPH constant. Current speed and course will put them on land only two kilometers from the Processing site. On the beach to the east!"

"Give me a picture of the deck!" The DO barked. "Set Condition One and get the Captain and Wayonn up here now!"

The screen zoomed once more and they could all make out the figures standing on the deck of the ship.

"Not good!" The Tactical Officer snapped. "Not good! Looks like about thirty to forty indigenous personnel on the deck of each ship. They appear reptilian in nature as per the Op order. They are jammed pretty tight and it's hard for the sensors to distinguish! They… Commander they appear to be armed!"

"Fuck me!" The man snarled. "This isn't good! Have the spare KADENS spool their engines and prepare for immediate Evac! Do it now!"

Akemi burst onto the bridge three minutes later still pulling her uniform top on, Wayonn just behind her. "Report!" She barked.

"Thirteen surface contacts! On the water, bearing three six three! Closing on the King's position! Range twelve point two klicks! Speed one fifty-eight steady!" The ARC ROYAL'S Tactical Officer called out.

"They appear to be part of the indigenous population from the southern continent." Akemi's XO told her as she settled into the command chair. "Approximately forty per contact. They appear to be on some sort of water ship."

"Doing over a hundred KPH?" Akemi snapped. "Wayonn… I thought this was supposed to be a Pre-LSD drive society?"

Wayonn stood next to the sensor operator now and he turned to look at her and nod. "My preliminary scans indicated no Plasma or Fusion Matter power sources. They would need these for space flight!"

"Power source of the Water Ships appears to be some sort of fuel induced turbine." The XO said. "Wayonn would not have detected it without a Gamma Spectrum scan. Our gear isn't tuned to detect power sources we haven't used in over ten thousand years Captain."

"Fuck!" Akemi exclaimed loudly. "Wayonn get on the other sensor station! Reconfigure the operational parameters and give me detail! How the hell did we pick them up in the first place?"

"I was utilizing a lateral sweep of the ocean around the continent Captain." The Sensor Operator replied. "Adjusted for surface temperature variants. It detected the ships because they were an abnormal heat signature with no base variables!"

"I have the KADENS spooling for an evac." Her XO said. "We can launch in another three minutes."

"How soon before they reach land?" Akemi asked.

"At current velocity they will reach landfall in seven minutes. Five hundred meters from the processing camp and two hundred forty meters below them."

"Shit! Get me base camp! Wake the King up if you have to!" She snarled. "And tell the KADEN crews to fucking hump it!"

PLANET TWELVE ALPHA

JANUARY 31, 2575

Fedor was leaning up against Dnom's broad chest, his Bonded Brother's neck and head resting on the ground beside him, one of his large talons draped across Fedor's lower leg. His long tail was curled alongside his body. They had chosen to forgo setting up a tent because of the clear skies and fresh air. Fedor wouldn't know until later that what he and Dnom were doing was something his brother and Elynth often did, and it was a minor twist of information that Andro had passed to them.

Dnom's eyes popped open when he detected movement and he saw Danny moving towards them with a purpose. A simple nudge of his talon against Fedor's leg and Fedor came fully awake and looked up as his Uncle appeared beside them.

"Uncle?" Fedor asked.

"Up and at them Fedor." Danny spoke. "We got company. Bring your toys too. You may need them."

Fedor was moving instantly as his Uncle Daniel turned to head back to the COM tent. He adjusted his MARK IV ArmorPly and secured his combat vest. He yanked a belt from the large duffle bag next to where he and Dnom sat and then pulled it over his shoulder and chest like a bandolier before snatching up the most recent P190A4 from atop his gear. The Lycavorian A4 was very similar to its P190A3 predecessor, but it was a cut down version, and fully four inches shorter than the original. It also kept in line with his father's mentality about stealth, as it had a integral silencer built into the barrel. It was a weapon that had been specifically manufactured for the Durcunusaan and the Omega Teams his MedwanGai had told him. Light, accurate, and providing a powerful punch with it's Kavalian based 12.7mm caseless round. The war with the Evolli had brought to light the Kavalian 12.7mm kinetic round and Martin had quickly seen the excellent stopping power and accuracy it provided. He ordered it adopted for all the covert units within the Union.

Fedor didn't need to tell Dnom to follow him as he turned and bolted for the COM tent. He covered the distance in seconds, pushing aside the tent flap to see his Uncle, Julie and the Kavalian female Iama already inside. The image of his MedwanGai was once more active within the holoprojector. "… where they came from or how they got so close but we got about four minutes to get ready." Martin said.

"If Wayonn was only scanning for modern power sources Marty, it's no wonder he missed them." Julie said.

Martin nodded. "I know. The ARC ROYAL is retuning her sensors to detect non-Plasma and fusion based power sources, but that ain't our problem right now."

"Where are they going to land?" Danny asked.

"About two hundred meters west of you Dan, down on the beach no doubt." Martin told him. "I want you to pull your people in tight Danny. Take Fedor with you and eyeball them from the ridge. Use Dnom if you have to since it is still relatively dark."

"Hostile?" Danny asked.

Martin shrugged and shook his head. "I don't know… but there's a whole lot of them and they appear to be armed with older projectile weapons according to Wayonn." He replied. "That doesn't imply friendly in my book."

"Mine either." Danny said.

"We are half a click east of you in the valley. The backup KADENS are inbound for a fast Evac if necessary." Martin told him. "Looking at the terrain… they'll have to go right through your camp to get to us."

"Oh… ain't that convenient." Danny remarked sarcastically. "I'm always the one out in front protecting your fat ass!"

"You're a bigger target!" Martin exclaimed.

"I should go with you Daniel!" Iama spoke quickly.

"There's no need for that." Fedor spoke calmly.

Iama's eyes flashed angrily at him. "I was not talking to you!" She snapped. "I have been trained in close combat! I have seen combat! I am the better choice!"

Fedor met her eyes. "I wouldn't be too sure." He said. "I'm pretty good."

"You are a boy in the body of a man!" Iama barked causing even Martin to take notice of her reaction to Fedor.

Fedor's eyes darkened at the obvious insult and he glared at her moving a step closer to her. "You don't…"

"Iama you stay with Julie and help to get the others ready here." Danny ended the heated discussion before it got out of hand. "We don't have time to argue! Fedor goes with me. Jules… break out the old faithful backups and get a perimeter established."

Julie nodded. "Will do."

Danny looked at the monitor. "If their hostile fervon?" He asked.

"That's why Tony and Kenny are on their way up to you." Martin told him. "With a few surprises."

"Nice." Danny spoke.

Martin's expression didn't change. "Do not engage unless they engage us Danny. If they do… all bets are off and we beat feet, but I ain't losing people over the fact we don't know them right now. They want to make nice… fine. But we lose no one."

"Understood." Danny said. "Be ready if we come barreling down the hill brother."

Martin nodded. "We will." Martin looked at Fedor. "Keto… listen to your Uncle and stay close to Dnom. That is your strength."

Fedor nodded. "I will MedwanGai." He spoke. "Eirene?" He asked.

"She's helping your mothers establish a secondary perimeter here. Kdan is never more than ten meters from her, and neither is Miseo. She will be fine. You and those with you will be in the most danger if this goes to shit."

Fedor nodded. "We will be fine."

"Marty… we're out of here." Danny spoke once more.

Martin nodded. "Watch your six."

"Always." Danny answered taking Fedor's arm and exiting the tent quickly. Martin's image faded from view on the monitor and Iama looked at Julie.

"I should be the one going with him." She stated. "The boy Prince will be of no use to him Julie!" She stated.

"I wouldn't take bets on that." Julie said.

"He may look like a man, but his mind is like a child! He has not grown anywhere near enough!" Iama insisted.

Julie shook her head. "Not our problem now. Let's get that perimeter set up."

Dnom rolled over in the warm air and cut silently back inland. He had stayed at five hundred feet as he passed over the Water ships as they began to land on the beach below. This allowed him ample time to view the figures below easily with his dragon eyes.

I count over four hundred Fedor. Dnom spoke as he turned once more and shot over the tree below him where he knew Danny and his Bonded Brother rested. All of them armed. They are exiting the Water Ships with speed. As if they have done this before.

What else brother? Fedor asked.

They are reptilian in nature as the reports said… but there is something different about them.

What do you mean different Dnom? Danny asked as he was listening in on Dnom and Fedor's Mindvoice connection.

Their skin appears scaly like my own, but it is also similar to your skin Daniel. Dnom answered.

Similar to ours in what way? Danny asked confused.

Supple and not as rigid as normal scales would be. Darker in color as well. They have clawed hands and feet, and they move with a hunch in their gait, but it seems natural to them. Dnom explained.

Danny looked at Fedor. "Scales. Hunch in their gait. Dark color. What does that equate to you?" He asked.

Fedor met his eyes. "A species built for conflict."

Danny nodded. "My thoughts too."

Fedor looked skyward. Dnom… land a hundred meters behind us and wait. The sun is coming up brother and I don't want you caught in the sky above.

I will be waiting. Dnom answered.

Fedor lifted his A4 and sighted down the scope towards the beach. Their position did not give them a clear view of the beach, only the thin treeline surrounding it. Fedor could make out half a dozen large vessels that were stationary just off the shore and flashes of movement in the water.

"Left Fedor. Forty-five degrees from that double trunk tree." Danny's voice whispered softly and Fedor shifted his scope.

Fedor's heart began beating much faster than normal as he saw what his Uncle was looking at. "Sibfla!" His hissed softly.

"Ugly fuckers aren't they." Danny spoke. "And watch your language boy."

Fedor lifted his eyes and looked at his Uncle with a sarcastic gaze before bringing his eye back to his scope. "Sharp boney protrusions from their heads. Bone plate covering half their face. Large eyes."

"Yep. Ugly." Danny spoke. "He's the leader."

Fedor focused his scope on the alien who appeared to be doing all the shouting and giving orders. His arm was pointing in different directions and then dozens of the creatures would sprint off.

"He's sending flanking teams Uncle." Fedor spoke quickly.

Danny nodded. "He sure is." Dan answered. "And you don't send flanking teams unless you plan on attacking a target."

"That is the general disposition of forces." Fedor spoke.

Danny glanced at Fedor. "Stay calm boy. Remember your training. And keep your psychic shield with Dnom in place. Anything happens to you and your father and mothers will cook my nor if I live."

"I… I am frightened Uncle." Fedor stammered looking at him.

Danny nodded. "Good. Me too. It will keep us sharp. Just remember who you are. Let the fear flow through you but not control you Fedor. Just like your father and I taught you and your sister. You get into a bind… you send Dnom to the sky, you shift and haul ass!" Fedor took a deep breath and nodded his head.

"I won't leave you." Fedor said.

"Leave me?" Danny spoke. "Sibfla boy… I'll be right behind you!" Fedor couldn't help but grin. "Just imagine you are chasing Iama's ass. That will get your blood pumping. She's got a tight little ass."

"She is an upaee!" Fedor spat.

Danny nodded and sighted through his scope. "Yep! But she is an upaee with a fine ass! Makes you wonder what you could do with that tail of hers too."

"Bah!" Fedor spat softly. "She would probably still be calling me man child or boy prince or something like that! I don't know what I did to piss her off, but she is beginning to annoy me something fierce."

Danny looked at him. "Yep! That's how it starts!"

"How what starts?" Fedor asked.

Danny shifted on the ground. "Uh-oh… here they come." He spoke.

Fedor looked at him. "Uncle… we still don't know if they are hostile. Perhaps they think we are the enemy."

Danny looked at him. "Well shit… you want to stand up and fucking ask them?" Fedor met his eyes for a moment and then rose to his feet exposing himself. "Fuck! Fedor what…?"

Fedor drew his K12 from the holster on his right thigh and fired a single shot into the air, the echo of the discharge reverberating through the trees and hills. He made sure his weapon was pointed skyward so as to appear as less threatening as possible. The single shot had the desired effect as all of the creatures that they could see, including the leader, came to abrupt halts and dove for whatever cover they could find. Fedor stepped higher on the log.

"We are not hostile!" He bellowed down the ridge, his keen wolf eyes seeing many heads looking in his direction. "We are Spartans from the Lycavorian Union and we come in peace!"

Danny looked at him from the ground. "We come in peace? What the nubous is that?" He exclaimed.

Fedor looked down at him. "I saw it in an old Earth movie that Eirene and I watched last week. It was quite good." Fedor spoke. "The villain speaks these words just before he kills his victims."

"Christ… Marty's got to keep you away from the Vid Room." Danny gasped.

They could hear shouting coming from below and Danny peeked around the side of the log he was still hidden behind. "What are they doing?" He asked.

Fedor shook his head. "It appears my presence has confused them I think." He answered. "They…"

A single booming shot rang out and Fedor was thrown backwards.

"Fuck!" Danny nearly screamed as he scrambled to where Fedor now rolled onto his back his eyes wide. "Fedor! Fedor!"

Fedor looked at his Uncle grimacing in pain. "Oh… Uncle Daniel." He hissed. "That… that hurt!"

Danny looked at him wide eyed and then watched as he moved his hands away from the impact point in his upper chest. Danny watched as the single rifle slug fell away from the outside of the Mark IV ArmorPly leaving a medium sized dent in the armor. His heart nearly fell from relief. "No shit it hurt! You just got shot! Have you lost your nubous mind?" Danny barked. "What the fuck was that?"

Fedor began to push himself up. "I think… I think I have just confirmed their intention." He said reaching for his A4.

"No shit! What was your first clue?" Danny exclaimed.

Fedor looked up at him with a smile but that smile faded quickly when he saw one of the creatures rise above the log they had been using for cover, the strange looking weapon leveled at his Uncle's back.

Danny saw Fedor's eyes change instantly, saw his whole body tense and felt his scent spike off the charts. He didn't have time to react as Fedor grabbed his Uncle's shoulder pulling him to the side, his other hand bringing the A4 up in the same motion. Three shots rang out and Danny turned just in time to see the creature's skull explode into a mass of red and gray as all three rounds impacted his oversized head and punched right through the boney plate. Danny's would be the first of two lives Fedor Leonidas would save this day, and it would begin to build him a reputation of respect and honor that would carry him well into the future. It would also show one individual that perhaps he was not a child after all.

"Shit!" Danny barked as he rolled away and scrambled back to the log, Fedor beside him. He risked a glance over the log this time and could see the dozens of creatures dashing among the trees below. "They're on the move!" He snapped.

"Father did say not to engage them until they engage us." Fedor spoke. "I am reasonably sure we have established their intent and they did shoot me."

"Fucking smart ass!" Danny spat. "No one is going to doubt whose son you are after this! Let's stir the nest shall we?"

Both Danny and Fedor thrust their bodies around either end of the log and began to unload carefully placed shots downrange. The scopes on their weapons provided a Virtual Aim Assist and bodies began to fly. Martin's voice began to echo in their ear pieces demanding a report and Fedor tapped his jaw quickly.

"MedwanGai… we are rather busy at the moment!" He snapped as he took another of the creatures through the chest and watched as his body flew back from the force of the 12.7mm kinetic round.

"I ordered not to engage unless they fired on us boy!" Martin shouted from his location.

"They did fire on us." Fedor spoke. "I have the dent in my armor to prove it!"

"What? You're hit?" Martin screamed. "Danny?"

Danny rolled to the side behind the log. "Yeah! Yeah! We come in fucking peace!" He shouted. "Not now! We're busy!" Danny ended the conversation and looked at Fedor. "Time to go boy!"

"I agree." Fedor stated.

"Get to chasing that ass!" Danny barked. "I'm right behind you!"

Fedor didn't hesitate and in a silver/white flash of light the large dark blond wolf took his place. Almost three feet at the shoulder, Fedor was impressive in wolf form and his dark eyes watched as his Uncle shifted into an even larger black/brown colored wolf. Then the two wolves were kicking up dirt and leaves as their large paws propelled them with incredible speed back towards their encampment.