Mirror Empires: Sky Lords of Khartoum

By Michael G. Thomas

Welcome to the Mirror Empires, where reality is distorted, and war threatens to engulf the world. It is 1898, and soldiers armed with the latest weapons clash with the unstoppable power of the Sky Lords and their aerial armadas in new and uncharted realms.

Jack never expected to spend his nineteenth birthday crashing a stolen flying machine into the middle of a war. But when he saw soldiers with bolt-action rifles up against an advanced species he knew he’d found something incredible. As they storm Khartoum’s fortified city walls, Jack and the soldiers are transported to an impossible version of their own world. One where great cities rise up into the sky, and are endlessly circled by flying warships, crewed by beings never seen before.

As they set out to explore this strange land filled with violent tribes, and vicious creatures, they uncover a brutal regime that takes slaves and technology from every mirror world they can find. Known as the Sky Lords, they are protected by legions of warriors who travel the skies in their flying warships, and they will stop at nothing to destroy the newcomers, and retake the city that links the Mirror Empires together. It is a world where the rules of science and technology have been smashed to their very core.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Swordworks Books
• Release date: May 9, 2018
• ISBN: 9780463517093

Michael G. Thomas

Michael G. Thomas, is a writer, martial artist and military historian. He has written books on European martial arts and military history as well as Zombie Survival books and fiction. He is the co-founder of the prestigious Academy of Historical Fencing that teaches traditional armed and unarmed European martial arts. His specialist subject areas are teaching the use of the medieval two handed longsword and the German long knife in both the UK and other parts of Europe.He academic background is as varied as his writing with degrees in Computing, Classical Studies and Machine Learning. In recent years he has undertaken substantial research in the fields of machine learning and artificial intelligence as well as Ancient Greek and Byzantine military history.Michael is currently completing his Champions of the Apocalypse Series and Star Crusades science fiction series.

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Sky Lords of Khartoum

By Michael G. Thomas

Part of the Mirror Empires Universe

First Edition

Copyright © 2018 Michael G. Thomas

Published by Swordworks Books

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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.

PROLOGUE

The Fall of Ancient Kzuri, August 18th, 1898

Lightning crashed through the skies as Oleg Ishin led his motley collection of Star’shyna Hunters through the brightly coloured jungle. There was something odd, almost alien about this group. Each crackle of light in the skies seemed to highlight a different part of their bizarre looking body armour. They looked like a futuristic vision of tomorrow, yet their predatorial stance suggested something much more primitive and primal. Eight figures all dressed in dark red crimson, armoured, and carrying technologically advanced long rifles in their arms. Behind them came twice as many lightly armoured figures carrying short pikes tipped with gold. They stayed well back, waiting as the Star’shyna hunted their illusive prey.

Their eyes glowed as their tinted goggles filtered light around them, boosting their senses to a level far beyond any normal man. They were not of this place, and yet moved through the undergrowth with the skill and precision only a native inhabitant should have been capable of. He hesitated, and then lifted up a scanning device to penetrate the forest.

There they are. They are leaving a trail even a child could follow.

The Hunter spoke quietly, and his voice crackled slightly. He could see the moving leaves where their quarry had recently crashed through the undergrowth. He turned towards his comrades.

The prisoners think they can reach Kzuri. As though the ruins will be able to offer them any hope. The fools. There is nothing there for them but destruction and defeat.

He gave a simple hand signal, and without a sound, the rest of the group fanned out in pursuit. They moved quietly, leaving little trace behind them. They were clearly experienced Hunters, but also an arrogance about them. Used to being at the top of the food chain, not one of them gave a moment’s consideration that they might also be in danger.

Our orders are to stop them. Dead or alive is not important. But they cannot be allowed to escape. We cannot return until the mission is complete.

The Hunters held out their firearms in front of them, waiting for the chance to open fire. The ancient ruins lay deep inside the forest and many days travel from civilisation. Even the old roads and paths were so overgrown it was almost impossible for anybody but a tracker to make them out. They worked through the thick undergrowth, but after several more minutes, they had still not found them.

Keep moving, said the leader.

The lightning continued to crash back and forth, occasionally highlighting some of the contrasting colours worn by the Hunters. Their crimson clothing looked black in the low light, dark white and black stripes along the fabric sections helping them blend into the scenery. Their bizarre clothing would have looked out of place in most cities, but with a mix of colours and patterns they blended in perfectly among the bright colours of the jungle. Armoured plates protected their joints, their heads hidden below loose hoods running down to their shoulders. Dark tinted goggles glowed under the hoods, revealing something both advanced and sinister about them. Animals scattered before them, as they continued to move forward. On they went until finally reaching a clearing between the trees. The sky was now visible, and each moved to the periphery to avoid being seen.

I have them! yelled Gidar, at least five. Some appear to be wounded.

He said the last words with a snigger, lifting his weapon to his eye. With the subtle movement of one finger, he activated the gun, and it began to power up. He had the perfect view of the back of the target. But then it slowed and turned around to look right back at him.

Wait. What is that?

He’d assumed it was a prisoner, but then he saw it was a Hunter, just like him. He saw the long rifle, but it took a moment for his brain to actually see the thing. It was a moment too long, and the muzzle flashed blue. Before he could move a muscle, he was hit by the round and instantly burnt to a crisp. His charcoal like remains collapsed forwards into the foliage.

Gidar! Tarnakae, one of the youngest of the Hunters rushed to her comrade.

She looked down and gasped at the burnt remains. She then lifted her weapon, took rough aim, and opened fire. Others stopped their advance and joined in, filling the jungle with fire from their powerful weapons. Streaks of blue smashed into the tree trunks, splintering them, and sending clouds of broken vegetation into the air. The rest of the Hunters quickly joined in until seven of them were blasting away. Not one had a target, and their view became more and more obscured. Every shot resulted in a small explosion of wood and foliage.

Hold your fire! Ishin ordered as the shots crashed around the escapees, or at least where the Hunters hoped they were landing.

I said stop!

Two more shots lit up the jungle, and then they finally stopped. A mist made up of water moisture and atomised foliage now carpeted the area, making it almost impossible to look through.

They are trying to hold us back. We have to continue. Keep moving!

He advanced one step and then gasped as another Hunter took a direct hit to the torso. The injured Hunter spun around and staggered backwards, screaming in pain. Another shot struck the large tree to Ishin’s right, covering him in a shower of light. The remaining Hunters dropped to the ground and returned fire. Ishin’s jaw quivered with rage as he realised what was happening.

They have a traitor helping them. They will pay for this outrage.

CHAPTER ONE

Zunova watched the Hunters with a well-trained eye. She knew what they were capable of, and how far they were prepared to go. Unlike the others, she was no prisoner. She took aim at the Hunters, but before she could pull the trigger, they dropped out of view.

They’re getting smarter.

She waited there in silence behind a felled tree and checked again. To any that didn’t know her, she might just as easily have been one of the dreaded Hunters. She wore the same tunic as them, though lacked much of the body armour. She did wear the same head cover, helmet, and tracking goggles as her pursuers.

Zunova, come on!

She looked back and at the pitiful expression on the exhausted man as he turned to move away. His clothing was the same as the others, little more than a loose robe tied with a belt at the waist. No expense had been spent on their care, and each looked battered and ill nourished. She lifted her tinted goggles and wiped her forehead before looking back to their objective. She remained crouched as low as possible in the undergrowth and looked out at the ruins. The rest of the group was now running, and she was tempted to chase after them. Experience taught her this was just what the Hunters wanted. They might be circling her at this very moment.

Satisfied she could move safely, she rose from cover and moved slowly away from them. She moved in just the same way, with a skill and elegance that could only come from years of training and experience. The undergrowth was even thicker at this part, and it was obvious that the ruined city was rarely visited. To the untrained eye the place was almost impossible to see, but she knew it was there. Few knew of its existence out in the wilderness, but she’d been planning this escape for some time. She’d read the ancient inscriptions, and though it was in the forbidden zone, this was the site of the mythical ruins of Kzuri and its two remaining towers. In the distant past the city must have been the capital of some great society. Now the jungle sought to reclaim the land, with tangling vines and thick trees sprouting up, exploiting every weakness. Its walls were broken, and its once mighty towers lay torn open and exposed.

Something moved nearby, and Zunova emitted a gentle noise that brought each of them to a stop.

Where is it?

She looked off to the right where she quickly spotted a trio of the escapees. They were lightly dressed and carried the equipment they’d taken during their escape. She watched them move further away until they reached the rest of the group. Her gut instinct told her they should be able to make it to the city, but a lingering doubt nagged at her stomach. She knew what the Masters back in the city were capable of, and their Hunters seemed almost friendly in comparison. One prisoner turned back and waved, much to her annoyance.

We’re almost there, he said before another placed a forearm over his mouth to silence him.

Keep moving, whispered Zunova, We have to get there before the cycle ends. We cannot let distractions hold us back. The mirror remains open until the light fails. We do not have much more time.

Nothing more needed to be said, and they shifted forward, raising and lowering their feet as quietly as they could. Zunova was now at their rear, and she could have cried at the pitiful sight of the group. So many had perished just making it this far, now there were nine left. The two at the front carried a large pack on their backs, though it appeared completely empty. Two carried long metallic poles, another two rolled up material strapped into cylinders on their backs. The oldest of the group, a wizened old man called Sudos stopped and signalled towards two of the others. He was totally bald and walked with a pronounced limp.

They brought the object to him and handed over a metallic device. Sudos stopped and tried to lift the thing up in one hand. It was about the size of a man’s head, golden coloured, and quite heavy. He almost dropped it when the others moved in to help him bear the weight. He pushed the sides and rotated the rings along the sides. Blue energy flickered inside the shell and danced about as it touched the inner structure.

The priests at the temple were right. It is as they promised.

Zunova watched him as he touched the metallic sphere with great reverence. Of the group, he was the only one that had not been a slave. She’d found him in the pens, still wearing his robe from the temple. He was a man of importance, and the only one with knowledge of the device. She’d never asked what it was he was supposed to have done.

Zunova. We have to hurry. Are you sure this thing will work? If not, we need to get deeper into the jungle. They are coming, someone shouted in panic.

As he waited, the others fanned out and watched as the small device worked. Sudos spoke in a dull voice, as though doing his best to avoid being recognised for who he was.

We’re not close enough, he said in a forced voice, as if trying to persuade them of something that wasn’t really true. A ragged prisoner staggered towards him and grabbed his arm.

You told us this would take us away from the Masters. Did you lie, priest?

Another moved alongside him, and Zunova could tell he was angry. Fists were thrown, and she had to rush in and break them up.

No, he said sternly, We need to get to the walls. I am sure that is the problem.

The object dropped in brightness as he turned away, but when he brought it back in front it glowed again. He tapped the side, and tiny metal plates swung close, sealing off the light.

Let me take it! said one man.

Sudos, though old and frail proved more than a match for his aggressor. He twisted his leg and caught the man with perfect timing. He went down hard and hit the ground with a grunt. It was surprising skill and discipline, and could only have come from a long life of routine and training. He then lifted his cane and pointed it at the fallen man.

The Hunters will kill every one of us. You for escaping the pens, and me for my crimes of non-compliance.

His eyes then shifted to Zunova who looked different to every one of them.

Your fate will be the worst of all. They will not suffer traitors lightly. You can expect torture and punishments of the like you could not imagine in your worst dreams.

Zunova said nothing, but as he spoke, she was taken back to one of her last days with the Hunters. She remembered the prisoner they’d captured, who’d been caught stealing supplies from one of the barracks. Even now she could remember his screams from the torture. Sudos smiled at her.

Only through me will you have a chance to live in peace, in a world where none have heard of us, or our so-called crimes. He shrugged, Or stay here and return a slave…or worse.

He turned his back to the man and looked at Zunova.

We’re close now. I can feel it.

She lifted her rifle and checked it was ready for combat. The old man looked almost disappointed as she turned from him.

Close and then dead is not close enough.

She leaned in towards him.

I know these people. They were my comrades, even my friends. They are fast, skilful, and merciless. We have to keep moving.

You are right.

He signalled to the others.

Keep moving. I can almost taste our freedom.

They said nothing as they moved forward at a slow walk. They scanned their surroundings for signs of danger as though expecting to be attacked at any moment. They reached a waterway, but rather than use the nearby causeway, they waded through the current, even though it almost washed one of them away. A few paused and turned about, enjoying the feel of the cool water before spotting Zunova glaring at them. She pulled her tinted goggles back over her eyes.

You’ll have plenty of time to swim when you’re dead!

That was more than enough to encourage them to move on. Soon they were out of the water and clambering up the other side. Their clothing was so old, worn, and broken that much of it broke away as they left the water. Zunova gasped as parts of their bodies were exposed, showing the marks of their captivity. If she’d doubted her decision to free them, it vanished in an instant.

I was right to do this. Even if they die out here, it’ll be better than a lifetime of servitude.

The next few hundred yards were spent forcing their way through the undergrowth. Few had weapons, and even those that did had little more than long knives or improvised spears. They’d be less than useless against the Hunters, but were at least of some use in hacking away at the undergrowth. Everyone was involved in the clearing, apart from Zunova who trailed towards the rear, her gaze looking back for their pursuers. After what seemed like an age, they came upon the ruins of what must have been a great city. Its walls were black and shimmered in an almost metallic colour, yet it was scored and marked with age. Large sections were broken, and heaps of shattered masonry lay along the base. Something moved on the wall, and they dropped down out of sight. They remained still until a small primate appeared, looked past them, and then moved on.

With me.

They moved closer to the wall, though never getting so close that they might touch it. They covered a few more yards and then spread out to secure the immediate area. Zunova moved alongside Sudos, and then gasped as she spotted the increase in brightness coming from the sphere. Even more incredible was that a shimmer now rose around the ruined walls. It wasn’t much and could have been missed at first. The more she looked at it, the more she thought something magical was happening around the walls.

What now?

The sphere is of the city. When it is close enough, the two will allow the mirror process to complete.

Zunova looked as confused as before.

But how do we go to the correct place?

Well. First I need to check the settings, he said with a smile, They must be precise, and even a fraction off the mechanism can send us into the unknown.

Now she could see inside his mouth, she tried to not visibly recoil at the sight of his smashed teeth. He’d clearly been terribly treated during his captivity, and seeing that served as a reminder as to why she was helping them all. He pulled down what at first appeared to be a pair of goggles. As Zunova looked she could immediately tell that it was of the same creator as the sphere. It had a golden colour to the metal components, yet looked ancient. He held it up in front of his eyes, muttering as he tried to get it into the right position. Affixed to the front of the incredibly complex apparatus was an array of microscopically thin lenses, each coloured differently, and surrounded by a light haze as though filled by some kind of energy.

Now we’ll find out if it’s worth the price we paid, Zunova said under her breath, You’re sure it will work?

The man laughed as he fiddled with one of the turquoise lenses. It looked an incredibly delicate piece of equipment, and yet for all its complexity still appeared rather simple to her.

If it doesn’t, then we’ll have a very interesting trip.

Zunova shook her head and made another adjustment. The Hunters seemed to have gone for now, and she could only hope they’d withdrawn to bring reinforcements, or they’d followed the trails she left to lead them away. The sound of the natural world now surrounded and absorbed the ruins of the city. It was a place of relative insignificance and obscurity, with only the crackle of lightning having any chance of bringing light to this distant part of the jungle.

Few have ever used these mirror glasses before. They were crafted long before our people were even able to use bronze.

He shivered slightly as he moved the glass lenses.

Each one is closely guarded, and only the most senior Hunters are allowed to use them. One pair alone is worth more than all the wealth of a single city. With this it is possible to navigate the mirrors with safety.

Zunova nodded.

Trust me, I know.

The glass clicked into position and seemed to cast a kaleidoscope of colour across the old man’s face. His expression softened as the colours changed to the pattern he expected.

Ah…there they are.

Zunova hoped he was correct, but a nagging doubt deep in her stomach forced her to check. The old man turned and looked around, but not at her. She tried to see what he was looking at, but instead he looked off into the trees.

May I?

She reached out, and he gingerly removed the device from his eyes and passed it to her. She’d held the device once, and even then, it had been folded up and encased in a hardened leather box. It was much heavier than expected and beautifully constructed. Somehow it was able to look incredibly strong and fragile at the same time. She could have spent days examining the intricate details, but the metalwork for the lenses, and the mechanics of the system behind it, were beyond her knowledge. It was like a small metal box filled with technology and magic, and yet for all its power, the last thing she wanted was to actually see it work. She slid the goggles on.

It is true, she said in astonishment, It really is true. You can see the mirrors.

Instead of trees, she could see a different world, although familiar in its layout. There were paved roads and people walking along them in civilian clothing. Many wore hats, and there were even some children walking with them. Tall translucent buildings lifted up to the sky, and when she looked even higher, she gasped. White trails high in the stratosphere showed machines travelling through the air.

Zunova, I need the device.

She reluctantly handed the goggles back to him.

And you’re sure they will work together?

He shrugged.

Does it matter now? If we stay we will be captured, and then tortured and killed. We have no life here.

Sudos signalled for the two carrying the glowing object to bring it forward. They seemed to manage the task quiet easily, taking their time to lower it safely to the ground. One could easily have done it, but each was aware of how important the device was to them.

Into the light we travel, he said.

He bent down and pulled at the top of the golden sphere. Small plates lifted up with intricate markings and symbols on them.

The glasses will provide the path to the mirror. Using that we can make the adjustments to the sphere.

He pointed