When The Gods Fail: Genesis

By R Lee Keen

The sequel to When The Gods Fail: Journey, the story continues as Bryce Tyrell and his crew find themselves now stranded on an Earth-like planet orbiting a star lightyears from home. They also quickly realize they are in the middle of a desperate conflict of cultures – cultures defying description and imagination – and encounter individuals who would welcome them into these cultures and those who would prefer the crew and their technology simply disappear.
The sequel opens with the battle raging between these cultures – and the realization by all sides that above the planet is a vessel that each believe is an agent of their enemy. All assume the vessel above them is allied with their adversary and, when the vessel is destroyed by unknown means, all make every attempt to capture whatever can be salvaged as it deorbits and lands on the planet.

Crash-landing on the planet, Bryce and those of his crew who survived the impact, unaware of the tidal wave of events fate is about to unleash on them, work to simply survive in this brave new world and figure out what the next move should be. They have little idea of where they are and no idea how to get to the location they and the rest of the Intrepid

In a pitched battle in which the survivors of the Intrepid are the prize, Bryce, his ship, and his crew are quickly captured by a culture seemingly straight from Earth’s own Roman past, then imprisoned, convicted of invasion, and sentenced to death. Through politics, fate and events completely out of their control, Bryce and his shipmates are barely spared death but not freed from the threat of it hanging over their heads. Rather, they’re told that if they want to live, they’re given a challenge to prove themselves worthy of living – a challenge that will see the team forced to deal with the unexpected, the unexplained and the unforeseen to achieve a goal that is virtually impossible to attain. And the person controlling their fate is none other than the daughter of Caesar himself – bent on destroying all she believes pose a threat to her assumption of the throne and more than willing to use every tool and method she can to achieve her goals. She sees Bryce and his shipmates as threats not only to her, but to the Empire, and creates this task they are sent on, knowing full well it’s fundamentally a suicide mission, virtually guaranteed to fail.

Overshadowing these events is a war unlike anything known before – a war by the Carillians to totally annihilate the Roman culture ruthlessly and without mercy. Into the grinder of that war, Bryce and his crew will be thrown, sent on this mission with the genuine hopes of millions riding on the chance of their success while one woman works feverishly behind the scenes as hard as she can to ensure they fail and playing every pawn in the game to ensure she isn’t discovered as the orchestrator of their deaths.

In the end, each of the crew, including Bryce, and many of those the crew encounter on this strange new world will face internal and external conflicts that test their personal values, their loyalties, their alliances, and their very ability to persevere.

Some may not be strong enough to survive.

• Language: English
• Publisher: R Lee Keen
• Release date: Mar 4, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370674763

R Lee Keen

R. Lee Keen is an American novelist best known for technically detailed, fast-paced adventure novels flavored with science fiction, hard-hitting drama, unforeseen plot twists and intense military action. A distinguished, retired military officer whose career encompassed time spent in the intelligence, nuclear weapons and space operations fields, he also retired from work in State government where he provided expert testimony on a wide variety of subjects, including critical infrastructure protection and renewable energy. Now a Senior Advisor in the U.S. government, Mr. Keen is considered an expert in the energy and critical infrastructure arenas and a respected authority on physical and cybersecurity. Well traveled and an avid history buff, one of the hallmarks of his writing is the subtle blending of historical fact into the storylines.

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

"... no battle is ever won ... they are not even fought. The field only reveals to man his own folly and despair, and Victory is an illusion of philosophers and fools."

William Faulkner

*****

20 AUGUSTUS 1133, 11.57 HOURS

CARILLIAN FORWARD OUTPOST 785

CARILLIAN EMPIRE

Quietly, both slipped through the dense jungle foliage, careful to disturb as little as possible on the soft floor of rotted foliage and undergrowth. This close to the Carillian outpost meant even the slightest out-of-place sound or disturbed branch could be a death warrant.

Rising from the thick foliage, trees towered overhead, looming over everything, silent and brooding in their leafy dominance with boughs as thick as barrels. Vibrantly colored flowers could be seen in nooks and moss hung heavy from branches. In the darkest recesses of the massive roots surrounding the base of each, the blossoms glowed – pinks, purples and deep red fluorescent blooms offering dim light where no sun could penetrate. As beautiful as both of them knew the blooms appeared, they also knew every one of the flowers were as deadly as they were pretty.

Step close enough for the plants to sense your presence and barbs equipped with an intense neuro-toxin would shoot from the blossoms – a toxin so deadly, the unfortunate creature hit by it would be unconscious within seconds and dead within a minute.

Once the plant confirmed the prey was dead, thick tendrils would slip from the root base to envelope the body, dragging it back toward the main body of the organism while shooting decomposing juices into it. Once the body was pulled as close as the tendrils could manage, the plant would begin absorbing the rapidly deteriorating flesh to sustain the plant.

Even the bones were collected by the tendrils then buried around the roots of the organism to be grasped and slowly digested over time.

Nothing was left to waste by the plant.

Step too close and you die – keep your distance and you were safe.

The sounds of the jungle surrounded them as they slipped through heavy undergrowth between wide, lush fronds and past the grey-green tree trunks covered in bark as thick as their thigh and wider than both of them standing side by side. Birds flew from branch to branch high in the canopy and the calls, screeches and howls of the inhabitants surrounded them as they moved through the foliage.

Sweat rolled off their brows, the ever-present smell of damp mustiness filled their nostrils and the humid air hung heavy. Sunlight filtered through sparse openings in the jungle canopy creating more heat and making it that much more oppressive. Periodically, they would spot huge webs shimmering with dew and hanging in clear spaces.

Enormous arachnos, some with bodies the size of a person, sat in the centers of many of the webs, most watching their passing with disinterest. Some chattered at them as they passed close by while others continued to clean and repair the webs after a night of successful hunting.

Rarely were arachnos known to attack anything much bigger than their normal prey, but it had happened in the past and the two stayed vigilant as they moved through the area.

Moving higher as they climbed the terrain, the trees thinned incrementally, the area between each now filled with tall Yolu plants, their wide, thick fronds forming their own canopy.

The sniper paused as she lifted a Yolu frond, then slipped under it and immediately held up a hand, signaling for both to drop to the ground.

They were on the edge of the precipice overlooking the Graul encamped at the outpost.

The circuitous route they used to penetrate the Carillian territory had been deliberately designed to bring them to the backside of the outpost. Off in the far distance, they could easily see their own homeland, lying past the static front lines of a war which had not flared up in almost a half a lifetime.

Yet a war it remained.

Though the actual front was fortified with sensor nets, fencing, traps and bunkers, frequent clashes still occurred and the line between the two empires constantly threatened all who stood watch along it with death on a daily basis.

Even the town both could see in the distance – Avonda – was more a fort than a town, the walls surrounding it defended with bunkers, observation posts, towers and heavy weapons facing the enemy. Though it sat back from the actual border a short distance, it was like many of the towns along the frontier – places where hearty settlers, merchants and farmers carved out a living from the harsh jungle behind the town while constantly under the threat from an enemy they knew would give no quarter.

The enemy did the same.

She looked down on what was once a remote forward outpost.

It was clear the latest intelligence briefing had been correct – what they saw below them was no longer a forward outpost. It had developed into something much more significant.

And behind them some distance back they had skirted past the beginnings of a new town. Judging from what they saw in that town, this was going to become much more than an outpost.

Beneath them and the high cliffs encircling three sides of a large area, Graul milled about a large number of combat vehicles and numerous mobile shelters. The area itself had long ago been mostly cleared then flattened. In fact, she pointed out to her observer, it looked as if the Graul had actually enlarged the area, deliberately changing the route of the river which flowed along the fourth side to create more open space.

And the enlarging continued.

As they continued to watch, a Graul engineer team moved into place to continue the process of excavating what looked to be a new river bed out of the collapsed rock wall on the opposite side of the river. Other engineering teams were lining the new bed with rock, what looked to be passive defensive measures and most likely sensor nets.

From the looks of the preparations, any type of full frontal attack coming across the river would be cut down before the attackers could ever make the opposite shore.

Other engineering teams were modifying and expanding the sides of the river as it entered and exited the area, as well as the only road coming into the area – a single, rough-cut road passing through a massive gate complex. Semi-permanent sentry positions stood at regular intervals along a newly installed perimeter fence along the river bank, while patrols could be seen moving along the edge of the new river banks intermingling with the construction crews.

By her calculations, the sniper figured the site would grow at least another twenty-five percent.

Hand-signaling her observer, both slid back, then worked their way along the edge of the cliff to the right, staying out of sight and moving carefully toward the position they had scouted more than two months previous.

Neither spoke.

Having worked together as a team for so long and trained in the blending arts, they communicated but rarely spoke, even when not on a mission.

They’ve been working, haven’t they? The spotter commented.

I’ll say. Changed a lot in two months.

Think we can still use that spot?

Hope so.

Skirting around a large tree growing along the edge of the cliff, both watched carefully for sentries, and sensors.

Any signs? The sniper asked.

Nothing.

Weird.

Yeah, I know. I don’t like it.

Neither do I. Let’s get this done and get outta here.

The intel said tomorrow, right?

The sniper nodded.

You think it’s any good?

Antonia chuckled despite trying to be quiet. Probably about as accurate as the last shit we got. A long pause. I hope it’s worth something. Otherwise, we’ve taken one hell of a long walk.

And we’ll have a longer walk back.

Sliding into the depression, the two paused for a moment before the sniper began setting up her firing position then glassed the field.

A small group of Graul were setting up a platform where the intel said the dedication would be located. She watched them for several seconds, wondering what the five posts being sunk deep into the ground were for, then glassed back to the vehicles and snapped images of a number which looked unfamiliar. She also snapped images of a small, fenced-in structure near the middle of the clearing, as well as stacks of crates, loose equipment and construction material sitting to the side of it.

A sentry post guarded the only gate into the enclosure, but security appeared to be minimal for whatever was housed in the little building.

Off to one side of the enclosure, it looked like they were building permanent living quarters. The sniper scooted forward to see why a large vehicle seemed to be driving directly into the rock wall below them, finding herself staring down at a larger, more robust building under construction and flush against the wall of the cliff almost directly below them. She snapped several images of the construction but could tell nothing of what purpose the building would eventually serve.

Scooting back and finished with her imaging, she passed the glasses to her observer.

The observer began her own careful scan of the area, capturing images of a number of vehicles, some of the Graul milling around and what looked to be a never-seen-before antenna array. She also captured images of the construction, the new riverbed and a group of three Carillian officers off to one side of the platform construction.

Livia glassed the area once more before reviewing the images she and her partner had taken. Satisfied with the quality, she stored the complete portfolio into a compressed micro file she would send to Central Operations in a snap-burst once they made contact.

The sniper re-glassed the target zone, satisfied with the equipment choices they made before the mission. Both had agreed, during the planning, they would use a solid rather than an energy shot to take out the target.

Not only would the solid shot give them the advantage of distance, it would also be less likely to give away their exact position, especially so deep in enemy territory.

It would be obvious to the enemy once they fired that they were somewhere in the cliffs above them, but even a few seconds of confusion could be enough to make a clean escape.

If the target actually showed up.

The new rifle was heavy and had proven to be a bit bulkier than the sniper had planned for during the long trek in, but Antonia had no regrets. She had personally designed it and the over-under solid versus energy shot system gave her advantages she wished she’d had on other missions. Although the prototype scope on this weapon was designed to integrate with the automated targeting systems and was bulky, it was still a welcome improvement over the old systems.

Even as she assembled the weapon and attached the scope, the sniper was working through a lighter design for both the rifle and the scope and a better way to integrate the information in her mind.

The breeze picked up suddenly and a musty, moist smell of dead vegetation and moss hanging in the air in the shaded rocky depression they lay in invaded her senses as she slid the scope in place then locked it on.

Rain would be coming very soon, the breeze a harbinger of the developing cells.

Easing the long combi-barrel through the heavy downward-hanging fronds of an Orgadro tree growing next to the rocky depression, she anchored the weapon in place to prevent it from sliding down the slight natural downward slide of rock at this spot.

That rocky slide offered her an unparalleled, clear field of fire into the outpost below and the big tree provided natural cover.

It was the reason they both selected the spot after thoroughly scouting the entire rim on their last mission into the area.

Once she ensured her weapon was in position and ready, Antonia re-checked the charge-pac then slid each of the ten solid rounds out of the ammunition clip and onto a cloth. While her spotter set up the targeting scope, using an extended hood to prevent any reflection off the optics, the sniper quietly took each round out of the clip, cleaned it to make sure the micro-optic eye was smudge-free, then inspected each of the variable flight rings. These new self-guiding rounds had been designed so that once the target was acquired in the targeting system, she could fire quickly in the direction of the target without using the sights, knowing each round would guide itself into the target even if her aim was off. Satisfied the ten rounds were functional and ready, she slid each one back into its prescribed slot in the clip, ensuring the micro data-port for each round was snug against its collar to guarantee good data transfer.

After re-assembling the first clip, she disassembled, then checked the remaining two clips, reflecting on their orders as she methodically cleaned and checked each round.

If they could successfully kill the target here, they were to make their way to a secondary target rather than back to friendly lines, then finally a third. Assuming they could successfully kill all three targets, they were to make their way back to friendly lines.

The plan relied on the Carillians looking for them to head immediately for friendly lines if they were successful here, theoretically opening an opportunity to go after the second target. Since it would be even more illogical to go after a third, especially given the second target’s location should be closer to friendly lines if the Carillians reacted to the first assassination as expected, they would, instead, head even deeper into enemy territory to kill the third target.

To increase the odds of success for this first assassination, two other teams would also infiltrate to the first target, firing at roughly the same time as Antonia did. Both would fire two additional shots after Antonia fired her last then head back to friendly lines after a successful kill using different routes and creating as much havoc as they could on their way back to provide the diversion Antonia and Livia would use to move into position for the second shot.

With luck, the rabbits would draw the hounds off the real trail.

They were some of the best in the Legion and Antonia not only knew each personally, but knew they’d do their part.

It was up to her and Livia to make these kills – they were the best team in the legion and the only team that had a remote chance to pull it off.

Besides, Antonia smiled, not only did her and Livia volunteer for the mission, they developed the entire plan. Throughout the planning and training, both never let it be known they knew the chances of survival were thin.

But success meant decapitating the entire Carillian leadership, leaving the Empire no choice but to sue for peace on Roman terms.

It would end a very long and costly war.

Even if it meant they might lose their own lives to achieve the goal.

Both had discussed it over and over, wavering back and forth. They knew the odds, but they also knew the terrain and they were fairly certain how the Carillians would react to each attack.

There was a very slight chance they could survive.

And if they did…if they could make it back to their own lines after that third kill, this would be their last mission…ever.

They would leave the Legion and find someplace quiet…alone…someplace they could live in peace and forget about a violent and terrible past that brought them together.

It was a chance they decided they had to take.

We calibrated?

Almost. Syncing the scopes and TAC.

Sweating in the humid air, the spotter worked the wireless linkage between her scope, the rifle and the targeting unit, carefully making the required adjustments and watching the sync set-up. The linkage wasn’t behaving like it should but she showed no sign of concern. This wasn’t the first time she had problems with these multi-link systems and probably wouldn’t be the last. While the sync continued, she slipped the Big Ear communication module from her pack and clipped it into the comm mount on her thigh, plugging the cables from the unit into her suit. Checking the TAC sync once more, she shifted her focus to the comm module.

Slipping a custom-fit earpiece into her ear, she slid the throat-activated microphone on. The three teams had been equipped with the newest version of the WHISPERBLOK transponder unit, designed to absorb vocal communications directly from her throat while being virtually insensitive to chaotic background noise. The comm system was theoretically capable of transmitting even barely whispered communications during covert operations with astonishing clarity.

As the intelligent mic unit automatically adjusted to her throat, sliding along the band into the best possible position, she slid the small push-to-talk transmit onto her right forefinger, testing the unit and watching the test screen on her heads-up display to ensure the unit was functioning correctly.

Checking the TAC once more and satisfied it was now proceeding normally, she activated the comm module.

Letting them know we’re here.

K.

Keying the unit, she spoke in whispered tones, Eagle 43, Shadow 21. Ack.

The voice from Central Ops came through crystal clear in her earpiece, 21, 43, Ack

She checked the module before responding, 43, 21, Tango. Prep for transmit.

Before she received any response, she sent the snap-burst of more than fifty images.

Complete.

The response was immediate, Ack. 2 and 3 DNR, 21, 43, NFT

Damn.

The spotter responded, 21 out, then flipped the mode switch to ‘monitor’ only.

The system would only activate if a specific signal was received by her module. The spotter adjusted her earpiece, making it a bit more comfortable to wear, her face clearly displaying the anger and frustration she felt.

What’s wrong?

One and two didn’t report in. A very long pause. No traffic for us.

Not in place yet? Maybe they’re having difficulty getting into position.

Livia shook her head. They knew the schedule. This isn’t good.

Antonia nodded, slipping off her balaclava as she continued to slowly change into her ECIRA suppression suit.

With both teams late and not reporting, the chances for success of the entire mission diminished significantly. The four members of the other two teams had not only been good soldiers, but good friends as well. Once they heard about the mission and their roles, all four volunteered without hesitation, making crude jokes about playing rabbits.

Rabbits with fangs and claws.

If neither had reported in by now, reasoned Antonia, then it was likely both teams were probably dead.

Team Two’s position had been in a jumble of rock on the collapsed fourth wall while Team Three should have been in place almost directly above the entry gate. The plan was designed to allow her to take the shot while they used a combination of sniper shots, micro-rocket attacks and heavy demolition pacs to divert Carillian attention, prevent reinforcements from arriving and create a general havoc in the area for just a brief period of time before making their own escapes.

She considered a number of options, then decided the loss of the two other teams didn’t change anything.

They would kill the first target, make a quick escape and hole up for a day or two, then make their way to the second location and make the kill. If they were successful the second time, they would escape and go as hard as they could to get in place for a chance at the third target.

She knew they could pull this first part off if the target actually appeared, but the second attack was less likely and the third probably had no chance of success.

The only way it might work at all was for them to anticipate then do exactly what the enemy didn’t think they would do.

The first kill was the key, she concluded as she continued with the tedious job of putting on the ECIRA in such a cramped location.

Her biggest fear right now was disturbing the surrounding vegetation, their equipment or potentially disturbing a rock that could tumble down the slide to fall off the cliff and raise an alarm.

Like her partner, it still bothered her, as she slipped on the suit, that they hadn’t found any Carillian surveillance systems along the cliff edge nor had they encountered any sentries or outposts, especially given the amount of security immediately surrounding the outpost below.

Although most of the enemy’s automated systems were primitive and could easily be spoofed, they were still effective enough if one didn’t stay sharp. Even though they’d detected none of the systems nor had they seen any indication the Carillians or Graul had deployed even basic sensor nets, that tense feeling of missing something was still in her mind, teasing her like a bad itch and tormenting her with constant doubt.

There had to be mobile platforms deployed in the area, especially this deep in enemy territory. Even if they felt the location was too deep behind the lines to be attacked, the Carillians should have still deployed some type of security layer other than the primitive fence and outposts they’d seen below their position.

Something wasn’t right.

For a brief moment, Antonia considered scrubbing the mission and moving out, but her desire to kill this bastard overrode her caution.

If they could just kill this one.

The skillful defeat of the two heat and three motion sensor nets by her spotter as they crossed the frontier still amazed Antonia. Even after working together so long, Antonia still didn’t understand how Livia not only seemed to know where the damn things were, but knew exactly which frequencies they operated on.

Perhaps the implants had something to do with it, but those implants were designed to only allow the woman to sense the electromagnetic radiation signatures much better than any sensor or mob so she could react to each. They were a primitive design and only experimental – even Livia had said she didn’t feel they helped her any more than before they were implanted.

No…whatever allowed Livia to understand those networks was more about her and not the tech in her body and head. The sniper would have preferred simply destroying the systems, but Livia made the point that destroying them was as good as sending a SunStar in the sky to tell the Carillians exactly where they were.

Instead, she toyed with the enemy systems, blocking nets and even individual sensors with just enough interference to prevent full data transmission as they slipped through.

To the operators monitoring the system, it would look like a glitch in the data stream – something that occurred regularly in these dense jungle environments. Since the data would be deemed unreliable and marked as such, the system would automatically dump it and the follow-on data points, thereby concealing their passing.

Livia always ensured the interference she created seemed to be perfectly normal to even the most astute operators – never too much or too little.

Even though it added three days of transit time during this mission, their very lives depended on it and they hadn’t been detected.

Finally, in her ECIRA suit, the sniper relaxed a moment then adjusted her helmet and activated the systems as she slipped the last hose into place until it clicked into position. The systems in the suit immediately started slowly lowering her UV and IR signatures to equal the surrounding area while providing a comfortable, weatherproof, armored suit sheltering her from the heat, humidity and the other irritants of remaining in one position for long periods at a time.

Not only was it designed to allow the operator to stay in it for very long durations, unlike the bulkier infantry suits, the ECIRA used a liquid armor that could literally, in microseconds, orient itself to provide absolute protection against almost any threat. The passive sensor arrays the suit possessed provided it the warning time it needed to orient the liquid armor in the most precise pattern to meet the threat.

She didn’t understand the tech completely, but she knew it worked.

Part of their training involved actually wearing the suit then having live weapons fired at her. The trainers explained the exercise was to instill in her confidence the suit could work.

Antonia swore it was simply sadistic pleasure on their parts as they watched her body bounce around from the force of the impacts from each round.

She adjusted her airflow then inhaled deeply, sucking in the reconditioned outside air as she relaxed. The form-fitting suit wasn’t uncomfortable once a person became used to it. The built-in systems monitored her vital signs and kept her cool while waste disposal systems took care of bodily functions, even her exhaled breath. Nourishment and water were available through tubes next to her mouth. She was told it was theoretically possible for a person to comfortably last up to ten days in this newer version of the suit.

The record in the old version was thirteen, but that had been an absolute survival situation and the soldier took months to recover from the ordeal of wearing one for so long.

Antonia had no intention of ever staying in this suit for thirteen days under any circumstances. In fact, she doubted she would ever wear one for even five days, much less ten.

Taking a sip of water from the smaller tube next to her mouth, she remembered this new version could manufacture only a limited quantity of water for the reservoir each hour from the humid outside air due to the smaller hydration module. The greater the humidity, the quicker it could process the air to generate more water, but until the reservoir was completely full, she’d have to monitor her water intake.

The screens in her helmet finally updated completely and data on her HUD told her all systems in the suit were at optimal performance. Communications were in stand-by mode and targeting data, as well as the other data streams, seemed to be consistently updating.

She turned to find her spotter starting to get into her suit.

The sniper paused, watching her for a moment.

It wouldn’t be difficult for anyone who might observe them to tell both soldiers were women in the form-fitting camouflaged infiltration suits they had worn. The ECIRA suit and helmet had taken up the bulk of their backpacks and were designed to fit over and integrate with the IS suit and systems. Because the ECIRA was slightly bulkier, once they donned it, they would have to be careful in their movements.

She smiled.

No matter how much clothing and equipment her spotter wore, she could always visualize in her mind the soft curves of Livia’s body. After so many missions together, so many narrow escapes, so many times patching each other’s wounds and so much time spent together after missions, the two of them had become more than teammates and friends.

It wasn’t like she hadn’t had lovers before, but Livia had been different from the beginning.

Strong-willed, intelligent, and beautiful, she was unimpressed with rank or title and possessed a live-for-the-moment attitude Antonia couldn’t resist.

The only other one who’d been like her had also swept Antonia off her feet and she felt life with him would never be anything but heaven. They planned to marry and she had longed to abandon her obligations, raise his children and be nothing more than simply his wife.

Then the war took Arturis from her.

In one brief explosion of fire and smoke, it took him so completely she was left with nothing. They never found a body and only small pieces of burnt, twisted wreckage from his aircraft.

There was speculation he had survived the encounter because nothing from the escape module had ever been found, but no trace of Arturis had ever been found, no intel offering the remotest possibility he had survived had ever surfaced and nothing to give her any chance of hope had ever appeared.

Even the etched white stone marking his grave rested on solid, unbroken ground, unhallowed by coffin or crypt.

There had been nothing to bury.

The war took him in an instant.

And destroyed her heart in that same instant.

She joined the army almost immediately afterward in a fit of rage, turning from the warm and loving woman Arturis had made her want to be into a cold, dispassionate and calculating killer – she may have been a leader by rank but much more important to her, she had become a sniper of unequaled skill.

She didn’t care about leading – for her, the war and the killing were personal – every kill she made using her weapon and even her bare hands was supposed to fill the hole in her heart they created by taking him from her.

Every breath she stole from the enemy and every voice she silenced should have helped her erase the screams she filled the night with following his death. Yet the screams still haunted her.

Every tear shed by a loved one of each enemy she terminated should have made up for the rivers of tears she cried for weeks following his death, yet not one made up for what she’d lost.

The hole remained in her heart and no matter how many she had killed – and the number was not insignificant – that hole never filled, the warmth never returned and the smile on her face never reappeared.

Lovers came and went – she didn’t remember half of them and couldn’t remember any pleasure she’d received from any of them. Men, women, it was all the same. They wanted her for her beauty, while she offered herself to try and find some sort of peace.

But it eluded her…stayed from her and evaded her…avoided her.

She no longer cared and had given up hope.

Then Livia came into her life.

It was rough at first and Antonia had been nothing short of impossible to be around, but Livia refused to give up on her. She started out as nothing more than Antonia’s observer – the next in a long line who would stay with the woman for a brief time until her hatred, vitriol and pure anger either chased them away or they were killed on a mission.

But Livia stayed, then slowly became a friend.

Soon, she became a confidant – someone Antonia felt she could trust her secrets to.

Then Livia became a lover.

Antonia had shared her bed with both men and women in the past, but with Livia she shared a tenderness the woman had felt with no other woman.

Only Arturis, in his own way, had made her feel the same.

Over the year they had been together, Livia somehow found and gave Antonia back her heart.

It was damaged and still hurt, but Livia gently repaired it and nurtured it.

Antonia, without any regret, gave it back to her.

Then took Livia’s in return.

They loved in a passionate way few would ever experience, giving to each other completely and without reservation. Nothing was held back. No secret remained unspoken and no thought unknown. Away from the missions, they stayed to themselves, allowing no one into the very private world they created for each other. They protected each other, nourished each other and became the rock the other depended on.

Once in the field, however, what kept them alive was a completely professional and mission-focused attitude. Their personal lives and feelings disappeared the minute the mission started and both were once again soldiers. The sniper found she could still be the cold-blooded killer she had become long ago. She still missed him and she continued to kill to fill the emptiness they put in her from his death – an emptiness that never seemed to end.

It was an emptiness Livia understood and didn’t try to fill. It was a hatred that could not be assuaged or diminished by simple words or even tender actions.

It was an anger that could never be pacified.

And it kept them alive.

In the field, they were not lovers.

In the field, they were soldiers with a mission to complete – killers without remorse, pity or even a heart.

They worked and thrived in a kill or be killed world.

And they did not intend to ever become the target.

But sometimes, Antonia had to admit, even that was hard, especially as she gazed at Livia’s supple body sliding into the suit.

Looks like the sync is complete. Check your scope.

Snapping out of her less-than-mission-oriented thoughts, the sniper slowly settled into position, slipping the eyepiece adapter onto the scope and nestling the stock of the weapon into her shoulder. She gently pressed the rubber boot on the back of the adapter against the faceplate on her suit and it responded by darkening out everything and forming a focused digitized view through the scope, instantly relaying data and a picture from the scope into her HUD.

She relaxed, sliding into her breathing rhythm.

Gently and ever so slightly, she shifted the rifle, focusing on the center-mass of a Graul soldier in the approximate location they both agreed would be the most likely spot where the stand would be placed. The workers were putting up clear panels forming a wall along the front of the platform along with small oddly-shaped, tower-like devices evenly spaced along its length.

Shielding.

Strange, she thought. There had been no mention of shielding in the intel briefings they had received.

Unfortunately, the use of the shields would limit her to using the solid shots. Adjusting the sight in her scope, she picked a point and brought it into focus then gently tapped a small recessed button on the side of the scope. Numbers appeared in bright red in the center of her scope and she passed them on to her spotter.

842.

The spotter, looking through her own scope and seeing what the sniper saw in a small window in the lower corner, compared that image to her own. She made some adjustments until her image matched that of the one in the rifle’s scope, then watched the TAC sync both systems. In short order, a small green light appeared in both scopes and on the TAC.

Sync’d.

All rounds would now be targeted to the point where the sniper designated once she actually fired that first shot. And the observer would capture the kill for verification purposes.

The spotter slipped the hoses on her suit into place and relaxed. Their weapons were in place, the systems were set up and they were ready. Barring an unexpected discovery by a sensor or patrol which happened to come in their direction, the two would have nothing but a long night ahead of them.

Everything’s set.

Still no indication of mobs or remotes? The sniper asked.

No.

Airbornes?

None.

Odd. Nothing, yet they’re using shields.

Now that you say it…

Heavy clouds rapidly moved in and the sniper shifted the weather cover over the weapon then went over the situation in her head once again. They were under cover in a slight depression next to a stand of tall and very dense vegetation forming a canopy over them. The natural cut in the rocks that served as a slide for her to shoot through would divert water from collecting in the depression when the rain came.

Virtually undetectable by heat, electronic or other sensor systems, unless someone were standing right on top of them, they shouldn’t be spotted.

Both ECIRA suits were functioning and they had more than enough food and water.

The intelligence had been accurate and the enemy was doing exactly what they were told would be done. The shields were unexpected but not out of place, given the circumstances.

Still, for some reason, Antonia kept feeling something seemed out of place.

And then the rain came – a cataclysm of water that fell on them as if some fountain of the gods had overflowed directly on top of their location.

At its most ardent, it hammered at the undergrowth with a low thunderous roar. During quieter points, the sound was closer to a hose spewing pieces of metal on metal instead of water. In between squalls, the storm created a thumping asylum of sound as if purposefully designed to unhinge even the strongest. Thunder cracked so loud it hurt the ears as heavy wind roared overhead and multiple flashes of jagged lightning split the sky in brilliant white strikes, some so close they truly frightened the two. Clouds swirled violently as they raced by overhead, the storms intent on creating havoc further down the line.

The ECIRA suits were completely waterproof and their equipment was safe under weather covers, so both sat in silence as the storm passed, sunlight following it to heat up the wet jungle and create an environment even more humid than before.

On the tiny bit of horizon they could see, another dark squall line of intense storms were headed their way.

It was going to be a long night.

Now what?

The sniper looked at her spotter, then gently scooted over until both sat next to each other, relaxed and watching the jungle around them as the drama of the approaching storms unfolded above them.

We wait.

*****

They could do nothing but watch as the five prisoners were tightly lashed to the thick poles set into the back of the stage, forced to stand tall by the cords tied around their bodies and necks.

Preceding the start of the actual execution, he appeared just as the shields were activated, glowing a pale blue while the air above the wall seemed to shimmer.

He walked along the line of condemned, slapping, insulting and manhandling them as he offered a short speech in native Carillian describing the various crimes against the Carillians each of them had supposedly committed. Each of his proclamations was met by loud cheers, grunts, growls and hoots from the audience of Graul and Carillian soldiers. Finally, after humiliating the last prisoner, he signaled to the firing squad then disappeared behind the stage.

Antonia lay, watching the entire scene playing out before her and frustrated she had no shot the entire time he was visible.

The irony of executing him in front of his own execution squad did not escape her, but the opportunity never presented itself.

The five-person squad stepped forward and took their position before the first prisoner, three kneeling and two standing and all five making a great show of the execution process by moving methodically with deliberate pomp and ceremony. As each command was issued, the squad moved as one until the command to fire was given.

The first to die was a Roman soldier, hit in the chest by the multiple bolts of bright red energy and stiffening for a brief moment before slumping against the wide bands holding him tightly to the pole, his head still held up and facing forward as it slumped down.

After the execution, the Graul officer in charge of the squad stepped forward and slapped the head harshly for all to see, shaking it and laughing. The Grauls in the assembled crowd roared their approval, thumping their huge paws against their armored chests, the roars growing louder as the Graul holding the head slapped it around several more times then deliberately shot it from the side, spraying those prisoners remaining alive with blood, brains and gore.

The next two to die were also Romans.

From the uniforms, it appeared to Antonia and Livia both men and the woman were soldiers from the Avonda Legion.

The woman looked to be a Centurion.

All three looked in bad shape, the uniforms torn and their bodies clearly showing signs of torture and abuse.

Antonia and Livia snapped images of all three to assist in the identification process and offer some peace to loved ones left behind, noting all died bravely as they stared down their executioners.

Though grievously injured and in obvious pain, the fourth prisoner – a Ronocian – stood tall as best he could, choking on the strap around his neck. He stared at his killers, spitting at them and screaming an obscenity at the Carillian Empire as the shots penetrated his bound body.

He stood for a moment, obviously still alive, then laughed as he died, slumping downward like the others.

Both Antonia and Livia captured images of him as well, though they didn’t recognize the colors or the emblem on the shoulder of the Ronocian uniform he wore.

The last individual executed was a species neither had ever seen before and the spotter took a number of images of the creature, packaging all of the images of each of the condemned in a file to send later. It strongly resembled a Cartharan and clearly walked on two legs, but it was considerably larger and the fur covering it was unlike any Cartharan she had ever seen – a mottled black, white and grey pattern as opposed to the typical Cartharan coat of black, red, and orange stripes. As the squad went through its motions, the being opened its mouth and growled at them in anger.

Even from a distance, Antonia and Livia could both hear the sound and see the fangs were considerably longer than those of a Cartharan.

Livia also realized looking at an image that the green eyes of the being were larger than the typical Cartharan yellow. The uniform it wore was torn and tattered, but definitely not Cartharan as far as she could tell.

Neither could tell whether it was a male or female.

Like the other four, it stared down its impending death with no fear, its muscular bound limbs flexing and the long claws on its paw-like hands fully extended as the bolts of energy pierced its body. Unlike the Ronocian, it died immediately.

And again, the Graul in charge stepped close to the creature, slapping the head around before shooting it through the side to ensure the creature was truly dead.

The sniper recalled rumors from explorers who had penetrated deep into the high frozen frontiers about a species similar to the Cartharan they called the Barri, which they claimed looked like the Cartharan but were much fiercer and lived at higher altitudes. No explorer had ever produced images or evidence of a Barri and there was little known of them except for the fragmented accounts from very frightened explorers.

The descriptions she remembered resembled what was in front of them.

If this were one…

The dead were left to slump against the poles as their target swept back on the dais, standing and waving his arms dramatically as he began to speak to the gathered units of soldiers. As high as they were, they could only hear fragmented bits and pieces of what he was saying.

Antonia watched the Carillian through her scope, moving ever so slightly to keep him square in her sights. It would have to be a head shot, making it that much more difficult because of the armor he wore and that damn wall. Not only would it have to be a headshot, she realized, it would have to be a shot through the forehead.

Anything else could be deflected.

Forehead it would be.

She waited patiently for him to make a mistake and step into an area unprotected by that shield wall.

Yet he seemed to make a concerted effort to remain behind the wall.

She began to think as she watched him, that his movements looked like he knew an assassination attempt was coming and making every attempt to avoid a shot from above and in front of him.

The shimmer shield would effectively eliminate any chance for an energy shot from where they sat. The solid shot would only work if she could find a gap in the shield wall.

Those gaps existed but the trick would be to get the shot through the gap and into the target.

Watching everything below her and rethinking all that had happened, Antonia began to get a sinking feeling the mission had been compromised.

It made sense.

Two teams of some of the best snipers lost and now this. Thinking back, she couldn’t remember anytime in the past they’d ever received intel even suggesting he would or had ever used such shimmer shields in the other trips he’d made to front line units.

On top of everything, he was wearing full armor.

She knew for a fact he had never done such a thing any other time.

As she watched him, waiting for a clean shot, Antonia began to realize he, himself, was giving it away. He knew they were there and she was pretty sure he knew exactly where they were.

But she was patient.

If they knew where she was , then they may be assuming she and Livia would get cold feet and back out. They could also be closing a trap on the both of them.

Either way, Antonia kept thinking, do what the enemy thinks you won’t do.

Like any target, even with all the efforts to protect him, Antonia felt sure fate would give her one opportunity and his time would come.

Finally, his speech ended, he moved to where the dead still slumped against the thick poles. Pausing to put on a pair of heavy black gloves, he walked up and down the line, slapping each of the dead bodies in the face and causing the Grauls watching him to explode in roars of approval.

He made a great show if it, slapping one, then turning to the assembled troops and raising his arm with the hand held open and outward, as if he had just made some spectacular kill, and ensuring the blood and gore coating his gloves was visible for all to see, roaring in faked anger.

The crowd roared its admiration in return.

After slapping the last prisoner, he removed the gloves and threw them down, then moved to the observation platform and took his position with the other assembled Carillians and Grauls as the massed troops began to form for a parade.

Shortly, as units passed before him, he periodically stabbed his finger to make some sort of point or leaned over to comment to one of those surrounding him. The sniper watched him through her scope, waiting for the opportunity. All she needed was a gap in this damn wall and him to make the mistake of standing in that gap for just a split second.

Even, at one point, when he moved to a point where the wall didn’t protect him, he wasn’t looking in their direction and there were too many around him to get a clean shot imaged into the system.

Patience.

She shifted along the dais leading to the platform, looking for another spot where she could get a better shot. The shield interfered with some areas while the number of individuals surrounding him created other problems. She considered trying to shoot through the energy shield above the wall but wasn’t even sure whether the rounds could penetrate even if a good image was encased in their memories.

And one bad shot would eliminate any chance of another.

She continued to scan when a being dressed in dark clothing and wearing a dark helmet came into view, standing off to the side, observing. The sniper watched the being for some time, trying to decide what exactly she was looking at. She snapped two clear pics of the being and made a note to transfer them to Livia.

Though the being wasn’t standing even lose to the shield, it appeared to shimmer as if it were there one minute but not the next.

Suddenly the being turned its head and seemed to look directly at her.

She snapped her head away from the scope.

A Marhon.

There was no way it saw her and she felt no intrusion.

She put her eye back to the scope, waiting a moment as the image from the scope darkened her face shield and came into view.

It was gone.

Have you heard of a Marhon working with the Carillians?

No, replied the spotter. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything in any reports claiming that.

I just saw one.

Are you sure. There was no mistaking the incredulity, even in her thought.

Yes.

You’re sure.

I think I know what a Marhon looks like.

Should I report it?

Not yet.

Did you get a pic?

Antonia smiled. Yep, two.

Send them.

Sliding back to the target, the sniper adjusted her scope as she sent both images to the spotter’s system. She wanted to make damn sure the shot was on target now she knew there would be no second chance. Waiting patiently for the scope to sync with the TAC and her spotter’s scope, she settled into her breathing rhythm, feeling her heartbeat physically change and mentally preparing herself to fire.

This mission was personal.

This target was personal.

Once he was dead, the war could end.

And her family would be safe.

She watched him, despising everything he was and all he stood for.

She was steady, watching the shimmer of the wall as he paced back and forth.

There!

As he moved through a gap in the defenses, looking directly toward their direction and giving her a clear forehead shot, the shimmer cleared for just the very briefest of moments.

A gap.

Did you see that?

I saw it! It’s our only shot.

I’m focusing on that gap…

I’ll call the shot. Ready…

Settling the rubber boot of the eyepiece a bit tighter into the face shield on her suit, she focused and waited patiently now for the command from her spotter. Even as he moved along the dais, she kept the red dot on the targeting mesh in her scope squarely on his forehead. One shot was all she was going to need.

Just one shot.

The sniper’s finger slid off the guard and slowly into place, barely brushing the trigger, patient and waiting for just the right moment. There…he was just about to turn and go back through the gap, staring at the gathered group below him. Sync was still green and the spot was center-mass on his forehead. She slowly eased her finger back to rest on the trigger as he took a step toward the gap.

Stop!

The sniper’s finger snapped away from the trigger as if it were on a spring.

Mobe headed this way.

Damn. From where? How?

I don’t know. I’m watching it. Could be a routine patrol.

I thought we hadn’t seen any?

We haven’t.

And now we see one.

I know…something doesn’t make sense. I’m gonna jam this one.

The spotter rolled slightly to retrieve her jamming modules, then activated them and sucked in her breath. She broke her silence, whispering to the sniper through the intercom unit. We have three coming in. It’s like they know we’re here!

What? The sniper turned to her. What do you mean?

Look!

The spotter turned the jamming module display so the sniper could see it. Clearly, three mobile sensor platforms were slowly working toward their position, each from a different direction and forming a half circle around their position. From the way they moved, it looked as if were following pre-determined patterns to ensure they could obtain an accurate fix on their position once they had any indication. The system showed they were already coordinating communications and positions. Suddenly three more markers appeared on the screen, each an equal distance behind the first line.

Like the first three, they formed a half circle and each one was clearly working a search pattern that meshed with the patterns of the first three.

PM’s

Where?

Not far.

Both came to the same conclusion.

It’s a trap.

We’ve been compromised.

How?

I don’t know, but we have, The sniper shifted herself. Damn! They knew we were here from the beginning.

I’ve got a drainer.

Damn.

They’re armed and jamming us, The spotter exclaimed. I’ve never seen this type before. Her fingers flew on the screen, adjusting the jamming frequencies in an effort to give them a bit more time. Take the shot! I think I can hold them off.

The sniper pulled the weapon in tight, putting the red dot on her target. There was no finesse now.

Her spotter was becoming unnerved.

Damn, I can’t jam them. They’re modulating the freqs too fast. You need to take the shot.

I know, the sniper responded, trying to will her target to the gap. I don’t have a shot.

Suddenly her image and targeting system went black.

What happened? The sniper spun to find her spotter holding a pulse weapon, staring at it. The charge gauge read zero.

We’ve been drained!

A second drainer! It’s almost on top of us, The spotter was unnerved now staring at her targeting unit. Sync’s dead!

The sniper looked at her own systems. Everything was drained of power. She checked her HUD.

Except the ECIRA suits. Power indicators seemed normal.

The sniper spun back around.

Settling in, she unlocked and discarded the useless targeting system, then reacquired the target using line of sight. He had his back to her, the thick armor sure to deflect or even absorb the shot.

Without an image, each round was just a dumb solid shot.

They’re on us, Her spotter warned. Their command has control now.

The sniper was entirely focused.

If she had to die, she’d take this shot.

Her finger eased in as bursts of energy shots were now being fired in their general direction from the Graul crowd below. Most were high but several impacted nearby or into the rock below them. Shots seemed to be coming in from the side as well, high but definitely from a position on the same level as they were.

Grauls! They’re on…

Something fell on top of her as she took the shot. The shot went high, skimming over the top of the wall and hit a Carillian officer seated on the back half of the platform. The slug, traveling at almost the speed of sound, hit him square in the chest, the impact literally picking him up from his chair and flinging him backwards. His arms flailing wildly as his body flew in the air, he was dead before he touched the ground.

The target was stunned to see someone on the stage hit, but immediately dropped to the floor of the platform and behind the wall, screaming at the troops immediately shielding him to fire back.

It was over.

The sniper fired four more times, trying to get a lucky shot through the mass.

Four more soldiers – two Carillian and two Graul – flew backwards as the slugs slammed into their bodies. With no exception, she knew all were dead before they touched the ground.

She had no shot at the target.

There were too many now between her and him and he was staying low behind them and the wall as they moved him to safety.

Something gripped her suit from the back and she spun around, ready to defend herself.

Instead, she found her spotter lying next to her, a burnt hole in her suit at the neck and blood coming from a deep wound. The cauterizing effect of the shot wasn’t complete and her body was draining itself of blood, aided by her adrenalin-fueled heart. Her helmet had been blown off her head by the energy of the shot and she had a dazed look in her eyes.

Antonia knew she was almost dead.

Suddenly Livia’s eyes locked onto hers, warmth briefly coming back into them. Her words were shallow and forced as she tried to smile. You promised we’d make it through this.

Ignoring the danger surrounding them as solid and energy shot now tore up the trunk of the tree and chipped the rock wall in front of their position, the sniper pulled the girl close to her, pressing against the wound and trying to reach an aid kit. She knew it was too late, but she couldn’t just watch her die without trying. Suddenly the spotter gripped her arm, warmth in her eyes.

I’m so sorry, hon, She kept saying quietly, I’m so sorry…

It’s OK. It doesn’t hurt, Livia softly whispered.

There was too much blood, too big of a wound. She kept up the pressure with one hand while alternately stroking Livia’s cheek and wiping the blood off her face with the other as energy bolts ripped through jungle growth and solid shots whizzed overhead and to both sides of their position.

The spotter gazed up at her, eyes glassy and clearly not even aware of where she was. Let’s go home.

Okay.

Livia coughed gently, bright red blood slipping from the corner of her mouth, then suddenly had a faraway look in her eyes as her last breath eased out and her head went limp, falling to one side, eyes wide open.

NO! The sniper blended with no one in her scream. Not her. Not this one too!

Another energy shot sizzled the air over her head and solid shot continued to buzz through the air around her like angry insects. She grabbed the pulse weapon and a recharge pac as more solid shot splintered the wood above where she lay.

The Carillians were shooting wildly, trying to get her to take a shot to pin down her location or hit her with a lucky shot. The mobile units and Grauls around her, on the other hand had an idea of where she was but couldn’t find her because of the ECIRA suit.

They couldn’t advance any closer because the incoming fire from below was so inaccurate and thick.

It was acting as a shield, preventing them from closing in for the kill.

The brief confusion and uncoordinated attempts to find her might give her a small chance to escape if she took advantage of it. It was a lucky shot that killed her spotter and she really didn’t care at that moment if one found her too. Quickly gathering what she would need, Antonia was ready to leave when she suddenly turned around, crawling quickly back to the spotter’s body. She eased a slip of copper-blonde hair away from Livia’s face, gazing one last time at the beautiful girl’s features.

Gently kissing her, she wiped a tear from her own eye.

We should have never come. She paused, stroking the soft features as heavier solid shot from an automated weapon now tore sizable chunks from the trunk of the tree above her head. Take care of my Arturis. We’ll see each other again. Soon. I love you.

Grabbing the spotter’s gear, she disconnected the scope from the processing unit, then tossed it aside next to the other equipment and shoved the unit into a pouch on her ECIRA. Quickly, she tugged Livia’s body over, laying her on the bulky rifle and the other equipment. With tears in her eyes, she activated a therm charge, placed it under the woman’s body then set the pressure tab.

Slipping out of the depression with solid shot ripping the foliage and splintering the trees around her, she quietly slipped past the mobs, quickly killed two Graul with a well-executed knife attack, then put distance between herself and the Carillians, relying on her own senses and skills.