A SPARTAN'S WAR

Byka moved forward into the cockpit of the DAGGER Transport and motioned with his head at the male co-pilot. The Kavalian pilot got up quickly and moved around the bulk of his commanding General as Byka settled into the seat and looked across at his daughter who was adjusting one control or another.

"Kameka?" He spoke softly unsure of what to say.

Byka'Caleo was a very traditional Kavalian except when it came to his daughter. His three sons served proudly within his Pride's Division of troops, each leading battalions of cloned and normal Kavalian troops. They were well thought of by their men because like their father, they did not needlessly throw away lives to accomplish a mission. He also knew that they each had secretly schooled their younger sister in things that she was not allowed to know because like their father, they cared for her. Byka'Caleo was among the many senior Pride Leaders who accepted the laws of their people but did not necessarily agree with them. He had been mated to the same woman for nearly seven centuries now and she had given him five strong children. His oldest son he had lost in a transport crash before Kameka had ever been born while Kameka was the image of her mother with her exotic, sultry looks and her large dark eyes, she reminded him of his oldest son in many ways.

What many people who were not Kavalian didn't know was that they were not always as callous and violent. At least not those who were over five hundred years of age and could recall their lives before Keleru had begun to implement so many changes. They remembered a time when it was better. Yes… their females were considered second class citizens, but not every male Kavalian felt this way. Many were different men behind the doors of their homes with their women and most of those same men hated having to hide it because of the ones who embraced Keleru's ideals and laws. Byka felt as Azlenr did. The core of the Kavalian people was beginning to fracture. First Athani'Puat defecting and finding a future with a Prince of the Union. Then Pian'Nruarani had truly begun it by stealing away Keleru's daughter from Pusintin and then his entire Pride disappearing into the unknown. They had cracked the center and as more time passed without change, Byka believed it would all come crumbling down.

"Did you know he would be on this operation Papa?" Kameka asked as she turned to look at him.

Byka let out a heavy sigh and nodded. He would not lie to her, not after all she had suffered and endured. "Yes. I did not think you would ever need to see him and that is why I did not tell you. What happened today was not something we were prepared for."

"I… I want to skin him papa." Kameka said softly. "I want to cut his cock from his body and make him suffer as much as he made me suffer."

Byka looked at her, seeing the fire in her eyes. "You can not!" He hissed. "He deserves whatever horrors you would inflict upon him Meka…" He spoke referring to the nickname he had given to her as a child. "But I could not protect you then! I do not wish to lose you Meka! Your mother does not wish to lose you!"

Kameka leaned forward and placed her head against the instrument panel gently. "I… I will never know what mother shares with you Papa. You show her tenderness and love that our younger generation does not understand. No man wants me because of what he did to me. They can't even stand to look at me Papa."

"Meka…" Byka spoke.

She looked at him. "All of them want to fuck me!" She snarled. "But none of them will even consider me as something more than a whore. This is the word that Marsin has put out! This is what he tells everyone who will listen! This is the curse I have!"

"Kill him… kill him Meka and he wins." Byka told her. She turned to look at him. "If you kill him… then I can not protect you. You will throw away everything that you have gained from the horrors he perpetrated upon you. His day of reckoning will come daughter… he will answer for his crimes… but it will be all the sweeter for you when that day comes if it is you who is still standing at the end."

Kameka stared at her father's face, his dark fur smooth and well groomed. He had always been handsome to her and the look in his eyes had always been able to sooth her. A small smile played across her lips. "Mother always said you were handsome Papa." She said softly.

Byka chuckled softly then. "Your mother settled for my ugly hide." He stated. "Had she held out for another…?" Byka looked at her and took her hand. "Your mother deserves more Meka. You deserve more. I will give you more daughter. And you will have your vengeance. All I ask is that you remain patient."

Kameka nodded slowly. "I have always trusted you Papa." She said. "That will not change now. Never."

Byka nodded and rose from the seat. "I have sent the orders to the men. Take us to Azlenr's command post Meka."

Kameka nodded as he moved into the back of the DAGGER and she immediately began her preflight sequence. She believe her father, believed him deep down, but she would also have her vengeance one day and she prayed every day that she would find a man who could look past her disfigurement and allow her to know love.

SOLMAR

UNION AD-HOC BASE

SOUTHERN CONTINENT

0635 HRS, EST

"…ready to pull out at a moment's notice." Andro was speaking to the others at the makeshift command post inside his STRIKER. "We have to assume they could find us before Sa'sur returns with the reinforcements and I want three backup sites marked and distributed to everyone in case we get scattered."

Sa'roh nodded her head. "I will see to that." She said. "I am almost finished mapping the entire planet using remote signals from the satellites and current maps of the colony."

Andro nodded. "The OP last night went off perfectly. Dorian and Haridl were able to get into the armory and speak with Robaran." Andro looked up as Cletus led another Durcunusaan troop forward. "Cletus?"

"Phylearch¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬ Daeo Milord." Cletus answered motioning to the tall and powerfully built Durcunusaan troop. "He was off duty when we departed and he came down with the Spartan company. I have assigned him as your personal guard until Jomann arrives. It is his first trip out since completing his Durcunusaan training."

"A wet nose." Dantio spoke with a grin.

"Not so wet Dantio." Cletus was quick to point out. "Alba Tau, Seventh Spartan Recon Brigade. Sixteen missions… three decorations for valor and two for injuries received. He may be young… but he has done his time."

Dantio looked at the young man once more and nodded his head slowly. Alba Tau had become the measure of a modern Lycavorian Spartan. The Evolli War was five years long, but the battle at Alba Tau had involved nearly a full third of the Union's ground forces during that war and the Evolli had made it hell for anyone on that foul planet. Over half the Union ground casualties from the entire war had come during that four month long battle on that cesspool, and no one had come away without scars. The Evolli had laid every trap known to exist in order to kill them; they had ambushed the Union forces at every turn, the heat and humidity making it virtually impossible to detect scents unless they were incredibly strong. Everyone knew of Andro and his father and what they had done at the beginning of that encounter and not one single Lycavorian Spartan had shrunk from battle after that day. Many had even visited the site of that one battle to draw their inspiration from it. It had been left untouched after the bodies and the survivors had been taken away, but it was as if every soldier who went there could visualize each and every charge the Evolli made. They could almost see the blood as it was spilled, feel the blows of weapons and the burning of Evolli as the dragons fought. The Evolli had thrown nearly seven thousand men at their position throughout the night, another three thousand at the position that General Simpson and his son had held only six hundred meters away. It was said that the screams of the dying could be heard for hundreds of meters across the valley floor that night.

There had been many battles over the course of the four months it took for Union forces to dig the Evolli out of their holes, but that holding action by Andro and Martin Leonidas, by General Simpson and a few others, that had set the stage for the rest of the fight. No quarter was shown or given to the Evolli, and when all was said and done, Alba Tau had broken the backs of the Evolli war effort. Very few men and women who had fought on that planet returned, even after a monument to those who fell was officially erected. No matter their reasoning behind it, no one who had fought at Alba Tau had come away the same person as they were when it had begun and the vast majority of them were Andro's age or slightly older. This had formed a bond with the millions of older Spartans across the Union who had fought the High Coven for so long. A bond of understanding and camaraderie that would never be broken. Those who had graduated from their Agoges and entered into service since that battle could not understand why no one spoke of that place.

The men and women who fought there had left too many of their friends on that planet and all of them had left a piece of themselves there as well.

"Avoi. Aladore camerra jar Fervon rie vada Saan." Dantio spoke instantly moving to the side in order for Daeo to move up beside him. (Amen. Welcome among us Brother of the Blood)

Andro looked at the young man and nodded his head slowly. Daeo appeared to be about his age, perhaps a year or two younger, but his rank also spoke of skill enough to reach it so young. No rank within the Union military was easy to get and while he held the rank of Admiral, Andro had worked hard and relentlessly to insure that he did everything he could to prove he deserved that rank. Daeo was easily as tall as his Uncle Danny's six foot four and equally as ripped as any Spartan under his new Mark V ArmorPly body armor. His exposed skin was a light caramel color, his hair nothing more than dark stubble on his head. He sported a rough growth of a beard and mustache since facial hair was allowed and sometimes even expected within the Union, but his dark eyes were bright and full of intelligence. He looked at Androcles.

"Milord Prince." He stated proudly.

Andro held up his hand and waggled his finger. "None of that sibfla." He stated firmly. "Alba Tau earned you the right to call me by my name."

Daeo looked quickly at Cletus and then Dantio. Both men nodded and Cletus moved up on his opposite side. "You will see Daeo. Operating with Andro is more than unusual in many respects. Wait until Jomann arrives. Then we will see some real action."

Dorian chuckled. "Unusual and insane." He stated. "But who's keeping track of silly things like that?"

That brought chuckles from everyone and Andro elbowed his brother in the gut before looking at Haridl. Dantio grinned. "And it is rubbing off on Dorian as well." He stated.

"Continue Haridl." Andro said shaking his head with a smile.

Haridl leaned forward. "Puma Bane troops had him before he was turned over to this Kavalian General. He was severely beaten by those nubous butchers but the Kavalians at the armory have treated his wounds as best as they were able. I slipped him a vial of my blood to speed the process. Not enough to fully heal him outwardly, but enough to repair anything inside. They will believe it is just his own healing factor. We have two names now. A General Azlenr'Macoe and General Byka'Caleo."

"Your blood?" Andro asked her though he already suspected the answer as the reason Haridl had been acting as she had.

Haridl met his eyes without any embarrassment in the least. "He has… he has taken my blood before Milord." She said.

Andro nodded as her words confirmed what he already knew. "Very well."

Sa'roh's hands moved across the chart table and the pictures of the two men came up so they all could see. "Both of these men are senior Kavalian Generals Andro. This General Azlenr is apparently in overall command if what Robaran told Haridl is accurate and this General Byka commands his front line division."

"Composition?" Andro asked.

"They are mainly a Hover Mech Division." Sa'roh replied. "Our jacket on these men is very thick. They were responsible for more victories against the High Coven on the ground than any other Kavalian officers. And they did it without suffering the same amount of casualties." She adjusted the images to include several more. "Byka'Caleo commands his lead division; the second one is commanded by a relatively new officer but one loyal to Azlenr'Macoe. The third is primarily support and is commanded by Azlenr's oldest son. A much higher mix of Kavalian clone troops and pure Kavalian officers than other mainstream Kavalian divisions too. There does not seem to be any difference in how this Azlenr and Byka treat the clones, unlike most other Kavalian units."

"So these men don't use them for cannon fodder Sa'roh?" Vari asked.

Sa'roh shook her head. "Not if our Intel is accurate." She answered. "Their two Prides have been working together for the better part of five hundred years near as we can determine. The Krypteria believes they are very close friends and have many of the same ideals." She looked at Andro. "They are two of the more moderate Kavalians in their beliefs."

Andro nodded his head. "Their actions make sense then. This close to the border they don't want to make many waves. I imagine they wanted nothing more than to get in quiet and unseen. The civilians?"

Haridl shook her head. "They had nothing to do with that." She stated quickly. "Robaran heard the Kavalian troops talking in the armory. Apparently the Puma Bane Commander is the one who ordered that. This pleasant gentlemen." She adjusted the chart table to include another photo. "Major Marsin'Jiate. A real Prince... pardon the pun. According to information given to us by General Pian on Puma Bane officers before he left… this Marsin is a violent and cold ronnus. Likes to kill and has no qualms about having civilians murdered."

Dantio grinned. "Then he's bound to be upset about finding so many of his boys dead this fine morning." He said.

Andro smiled. "I just bet he is." He said. "What about their armor?"

Sa'roh adjusted the screen once more. "Aside from the Scout Cars you saw earlier, it appears they are keeping their armor at the northern settlement. If the satellite feed is accurate I estimate two brigades of T12 CHAOS Tanks with a full battery of their R9 Plasma Artillery per brigade."

"Seems kind of short for taking a planet?" Cletus said.

"A Bontawillian colony." Daeo spoke for the first time. "They will not land their full load out for such an operation. The Bontawillians may like to call their forces an army and a fleet but they are truly no more than Border militia… albeit well trained border militia."

Andro nodded. "Daeo is right. Which means the rest of their tanks and such are still in orbit. Probably prepped for landing should they need them?"

Dantio nodded. "That's a good bet." He said.

"Sa'roh… burst Sa'sur a coded message." Andro said. "I want the Kavalian troop ships and the DIATAGAs targeted and destroyed first when they jump back in. The DIATAGAs won't get near the planet so they must be carrying the remainder of the armor."

Sa'roh nodded. "Done."

"I dispatched teams to each settlement while we were gone last night." Andro said. "They are to provide forward recon of the area and my orders were to exfil if the Kavalians got too close. They don't seem to be interested in moving out of their areas to the rest of the planet so we should be safe here for the time being."

"They won't stay like that Andro." Cletus spoke. "Not after we hit the second Puma Bane site tonight."

Andro nodded. "I know… but between the STRIKERs and KADENs sensors, we'll have plenty of warning if they get too close to us here." He held up his hand before any of them spoke. "To be safe… the three topside mounts on the STRIKERs have been converted to ground to air missiles. Sa'roh also had heavy guns set up on top of the KADENs. Unless they come at us in force we'll be fine."

"Robaran said that quite a large number of civilians managed to get out of the settlements before the Kavs got full control." Haridl told them. "Should we try and make contact with them Andro?"

"Eight three person teams have already departed with pre-plotted areas to sweep." Andro answered instantly. "Sa'roh arranged for one of the KADENs to put each of them down within ten kilometers of the settlements. Their orders are to avoid contact and search for any civilians that got out. If they find some… move to a PZ and call for pick up. Bring them here. I don't want them wandering around out there stumbling all over and possibly getting us caught with our dicks in our hands as my father says." Andro looked at Sa'roh his face turning slightly red. "Sorry."

Sa'roh and Haridl laughed. "While the image of you holding your dick in your hand is quite appealing Milord…" Sa'roh spoke with a wicked twinkle in her eye. "I don't think Sadi or the others would appreciate it."

Andro laughed. "No they would not." He answered.

"And I have seen these characters with their dicks in their hands Andro." Haridl added. "I wasn't impressed."

"That's not what Robaran said." Vari exclaimed.

Haridl looked at him with a grin. "I wasn't speaking about him you fool. He is very nicely equipped thank you."

Andro shook his head. "Alright." He said ending the banter back and forth. "Sa'roh… impress upon our people the need for them to remain below three hundred feet. They may be Shrouded… but there is no reason to give the Kavalians any hiccups on their sensors that could let them know we are coming."

"They are aware… but I will remind them." She stated.

"Any idea on where this ronnus is?" Andro asked tapping on the screen to Marsin's photo.

"The main Puma Base detachment seems to be within the western settlement near the spaceport." Sa'roh answered pointing at the map. "Here."

"He doesn't strike me as someone who would be at one of the camps." Dantio spoke.

"So he leads like most Kavalians." Daeo said. "From the rear with the gear." Andro looked at him with wide eyes and laughed. Daeo grinned now and shrugged. "I was born and raised in Sparta Milord. Your father's and General Simpson's euphuisms are well known as you know."

"Where?" Andro asked him.

"Half a kilometer from The Acropolis sire." Daeo answered.

Dantio mocked rolling his eyes. "Son vada carians… your kind is popping up all over the place!" He spat playfully.

Daeo smiled. "The pace in Sparta is much slower Dantio. Our parents have more time to make babies."

Dantio looked at him. "They need to start making them prettier." He said with a grin. "You ain't exactly Casanova boy."

Daeo looked at him confused. "Casanova? Who is this Casanova?"

This caused everyone to break out laughing and Dantio slammed his hand down on Daeo's shoulder. "Let me educate you boy." He said.

Haridl pulled back from the table. "Oh boy. Here we go." She stated. "It's like the blind leading the blind."