Roxanne and the Netherworld

By Dean Marquis

The War on two Worlds continue. On Earth the Soviet 8th Guard Army launches an Air Mobile Assault in order take Budweiss, in order to relieve the pressure at the Fulda Gap. The Battle heats up and NATO sends in reinforcements for a counterattack. On the Netherworld the Becks Commonwealth launches an Attack on Budweiss in and take it for good. On the Netherworld the Emperor issues an Orange Light Call and all the Landsknecht Legions respond but two. As the War heats up on both Worlds, the Machines of Destruction arrives and brings the book to its dramatic conclusion.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Oct 15, 2019
• ISBN: 9781796063998

Dean Marquis

Dean Marquis was born on September 6, 1961. This makes a Virgo. The sign of Virgo is the Virgin. He grew up in Hamilton, Ontario Canada and went to University at Lakehead in Thunder Bay where he got his Diploma in Business Administration. He served in the Primary Reserves during University and still believes that the Reserves are a great job for University Students. He has been taking the Martial arts since 1987 and will be taking it for the rest of his life. He is a Contract Security Guard and thinks that Unions are the only way to go with Contract Security. He has a Black Cat named Yojimbo which is his friend for life. This is first work of Science Fiction. Is first work is The Art of Strategy Dean Marquis and is available in Hard Cover and on E book. The sequel to Roxanne of Dark Energy is currently underway. The Assault continues...

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Copyright © 2019 by Dean Marquis.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

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Rev. date: 10/14/2019

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CONTENTS

Introduction

Prelude To Destruction

Chapter 1 Sword Duty

Chapter 2 The Hands of Time

Chapter 3 The Debriefing-Echo

Chapter 4 Harold’s Requiem

Chapter 5 The High Constable

Chapter 6 Brain Storming

Chapter 7 The Pinnacle of Enlightenment

Chapter 8 The Blue Shield Wall

Chapter 9 The Super Market

Chapter 10 The Imperial Library

Chapter 11 The Forward Observer

Chapter 12 Deconstruction

Chapter 13 Von Ballicks Legion, Re Org

Chapter 14 Marking Time

Chapter 15 A Very Russian Novel

Chapter 16 The Shrine of Time

Chapter 17 The Casino

Chapter 18 The Budwiess Gate

Chapter 19 Panzer Grenadiers

Chapter 20 Holy Ground

Chapter 21 The Russian Counterattack

Chapter 22 The Becks Advance

Chapter 23 The Transformation

Chapter 24 Reiters Reiter

Chapter 25 Reinforcements

Chapter 26 The Church

Chapter 27 The Crescent Moon

Chapter 28 Tchaikovsky

Chapter 29 Texas Hold em

Chapter 30 The Bridgehead

Chapter 31 The Sultanate

Chapter 32 Nine

Chapter 33 Master’s World

Chapter 34 The Landgravine

Chapter 35 The Bible

Chapter 36 The Red God of War

Chapter 37 Von Mackenson’s CP

Chapter 38 Twilight

Chapter 39 A House of Cards

Chapter 40 The Blue Devils

Chapter 41 The Green Devils

Chapter 42 Apocaylpse

Chapter 43 Epilogue

THIS BOOK IS

DEDICATED

To my Dungeons and Dragons Crew.

The Pinnicle of the Tower is within reach.

"When You shoot,

Shoot for the stars,"

Zen Proverb

INTRODUCTION

I’VE DECIDED THAT THERE were more then a few Restrictions on the Science Fiction Genre. One of the biggest constraints mandated on Science Fiction, is of course that placed on Space Travel itself. Star Trek and all it’s the Spin off Series, itself is evidence of this. Warp speed, Transporters and Replicators are three examples of this. Mentioning any of principles, is dooming your work to certain other assumptions and not mentioning them, is condemning it to the farthest reachest of space itself. Other examples of this are evident; however, they are too numerous to mention here. I compared the Star Trek Series, to all of the other Science Fiction series that I enjoyed. Star Trek covered Space Travel using certain assumptions. I was always led to believe, that Faster then Light Travel was not possible because Einstiens limit on speed was controlled by the speed of light itself.

Einstein was and is a Genius and his Theory’s still apply today; however, traveling anywhere in Life requires a large Ego. To go from point A to some place new, requires a map. The traveller has to want to go to some place where he wants to go and assuming this is true then a larger ego fuels a longer trip; however, the Nature of Reality, demands that you understand certain concepts. In order that the Theorist goes anyplace he wants to go, he has to understand that he has to co exist with his surroundings. Physicists ‘duel it out’, just like two swordsmen. In the Martial Arts, who has the best technique is often settled by sparing. This is a false assumption and not what the Martial Arts is about, in the first place. A large Ego demands that smaller worlds, orbit it and not the other way around. This is not a true way just proof that winner is following a poor strategy. To construct truly successful Thoery’s, it must be based on his surrondings.

Scientific Research changes everything all the time based on the Theory’s that fuel them. This has been and always will be the nature of any research, Scientific or otherwise. The String Theory works because it simplifies Quantum Gravity. In the String Theory it basically says that anything is plausible provided you gave enough facts to support it. One of the strengths of the String Thory recognizes a lot of other Theoty’s. The Hindu version of the Multi-verse and The Standard Model of Particle Physics are just two. It includes Time Travel and Quantum Theory. String Theory is an excellent Medium to write in because I can go anywhere I want go, provided that I support the principles that lead me to this destination and it is actually someplace I want to go.

The Strategy here is similar. The Swordsman who defeats everyone, finds living in a cave and living alone because he can’t afford to trust anyone. The Physicist has to find someplace that he too, wants to go before he as well finds himself, living in his own world and divorced from reality. The Writer as well, finds himself living in a cave surrounded by no one except a bottle of whiskey and a cat because he too can trust no one. A Cat owner once told me that, ‘you belong to your cat and your cat belongs to you’. Before I got my Cat, I was a Dog lover; however, the rodents around me demanded a Cats attention and Yojimbo my cat, gave them the respect that they demanded.

In Star Trek, Transporters were also used for Space Travel. This made it more convienant to Travel from Point A to Point B. In Babylon Five the Series, had Hyperspace that was manifested through Jump Gates that were constructed with a special metal. Stargate SG1 had Jump Gates, that provded Hyperspace Travel from Point A to Point B. Star Wars also had Hyperspace Travel. In Star Wars, the Destination was in fed into the Computer and the Computer Program figured everything out. That must have been a really nice computer. My first experience with a computer in high school consisted of a flow chart and a lot of computer cards. Now I read on the internet how NASA plans to make a Ship capable of Warp Drive. I guess that’s the beauty of Science Fiction, nothing in it, is written in stone.

Once the Writer start delving into Transporters, he or she also has to deal with Zen Buddhism and the Formation of Matter. In Zen Buddhism, everything in the universe is derived from Five elements and the interplay of Yin and Yang. Yin and Yang is a process of Duality and it is inherent in the Taoism. These Five elements are Earth, Air, Water, Fire, Enlightenment. Duality is something that I also believe in. This too, is also inherent in the String Theory In that everything is not all hard and everything is not all soft. Lastly I just found out about a Proven Theory called Quantum Entanglement. This where similar things happen in different dimensions. This should prove a lot of fun in my world. It’s been made evident to a certain degree with World War Three and the attack of the War Machines.

Quantum Mechanics is definitely a positive with me because as a Martial Artist, bioelectric responses and Electo-magnetic Energy is something that I already believe in. Yin and a Yang is a process of duality. Everything in the the universe is hard and soft, positive and negative. As a Martial Artist I have learned, that when someone punches you, you block the punch or get out of the way. The Student doesn’t stand there and anlysize the movement because he will suffer a great deal of pain because of it. In the Art of the Sword, if the student concetrates on the Sword, he will in fact be cut by it.

I am reading, String Theory for Dummies and found that Hyperspace Travel is the way to go. The only problem with Hyperspace, is that the writer still needs, a Means of Power to support this Medium. The Writer still needs Reference Points to travel from Point A, to Point B. The Science Fiction Writer still needs to travel through Tome and Space. Making a Journey without having Reference Points is impossible. It is like following a Compass Bearing on a Map, without a True North and without Reference Points. A Compass Bearing is made even more difficult when the traveller has to include Magnetic Declination. Magnetic Declination is an adjustment made to the compass bearing to get a successful reading. This adjustment is made because the furthest from Greenwich, England, the traveller has to go the larger the adjustment in Time and Space is made. The further away from Greenwich the Student goes, the larger the adjustment. This adjustment is made to assist the Student in Travel through Time and Space.

This is important because Space and Time are limitless. Traveling a long a Compas bearing also applies to Philosophical Lines. The Concept that The Thousand Mile Journey, begins with the First Step, is a commen one, especially in Zen Buddhism. Faster than Light Travel still requires a direction and the reader still have has to decelerate to arrive at the destination. I remember in One Star Wars Novel I read, the Pilot of the X Wing Fighter fed a destination Point into a Computer and this Computer got the Pilot at the destination point without hitting any Stars.

Hyperspace Travel on the contrary is instantaneous. The String Theory says, that anything is possible, given relativity. That suits me perfectly because The Principle of Relative Superiority and The Law of Causality is what the Art of War is about. Different strikes produce different results. In the Art of War, Striking the adversary in different places, produces different results. This is perfect given my background in the Martial Arts. This is also true, given that the Art of War also works in a much larger context. It works with Zen Buddhism, Sun Tzu and Clausewitz. Clausewitz, himself compared War to Two Fencers conducting a Duel to in a Battle of Will. This comparison also works with Two Mighty Empires fighting a War of Survival, to a duel between which Physicists comparing there Theory’s.

Clausewitz work on Time and Space, provided an excellent framework as well. I already covered that in the Introduction, to my previous Work, Roxanne of Dark Energy.

The other constraint placed on Science Fiction, is of course on Alien Races. If there is Life on some Far off Galaxy then, it would be vastly superior or vastly inferior to our own. Would this Life Form be humanoid or otherwise. Both have their advantages and both have their disadvantages. I came up with some definable Alien Races in Roxanne of Dark Energy. The Concept of War Machines, I got from The Berserker Series by Fred Saberhagen. I enjoyed reading the Berserker Series in University. The Berserker Series is what some readers regard as pulp; however, Raymond Chandler’s Phillip Marlowe also came from Pulp. War Machines can also be compared to Orcs in The Lord of The Rings Triology by J.R.R. Tolkien. In Tolkien’s Series Orcs were made, they were never conceived. This makes Multiplaction of Forces easier. War Machines are also, made, They are only conceived on the Drawing Boards of the Armament Industry. Orcs were also Elves that were captured and tortured and mutilated beyonf all recognition, even to the point were they were made and never conceived.

Landsknechts and Havildars were made up from my own imaginations. Landsknechts were troops that came from the 15th ands 16th Century. These fought for the Austrian Hapsburg Empire. Landsknechts were copied from the Swiss. Swiss made such an impact on the era that everyone had to have one. When not fighting Wars for the Austrian Hapsburg Empire, they were hired out to other nations to fight, so that there cost of employment would be passed on to there new employer. All the Landsknecht Regiments, had to return when called. This happened all the time, the one exception was a Landsknecht Regiment in French Service. They refused to return home and were banished by the Emperor for their troubles. They universally known as ‘The Black Band’ and wore a black armband to distinguish them. The Black Band was destroyed at the Battle of Pavia in 1525. It was this unit that gave me the idea for the Black Legion. On more than One Occasion the Landsknecht Regimental Commander would get the Call from the Emperor to return home the night before the Battle. Instead of leaving their employer in the lurch, they would wait a day and then return. On at least one occasion that same Landsknecht Regimental Commander died as a result of that decision. The Concept of an Imperial Army, that is sent all over the Galaxy is a common one in the Science Fiction. The Space Marines are an example of this. This is were the Concept of Imperial Landsknechts fit my world so well. I got the idea from the Tercio’s of Secunderbad from the Tercios of the 16th Century. These fought in Spainish Service and at the time of the Austrian Hapsburg were on the same side as are Landsknechts. Havildars was or is, a Rank in The Indian Army. The Hindu’s have a Theory of the Multiverse which was also included in String Theory for Dummies by Andrew Zimmerman and Daniel Robbins. If comparing Fish to the Indian Army is derogatory than it was not intentioned.

My First Book in my series is on the Market, I have to make up some more Alien Species. I’ll Look to my Muse, Roxanne and get the answers. I am in the process of changing Publishers for a multitude of reasons. I thought about doing another Time loop book; however, how many Time Loop Books can a writer do. This book has to involve Quantum Entanglement and it does. Roxanne of the Netherworld had to be a stand alone book and / or part of the series and in this, I feel I did a good job. I don’t know when this series is going to end. One influence that I have in my writing is Stephen R. Donaldson and the other is Joe Abercrombie. Each writer answered the problem of a Fantasy World in different ways. The White Gold Wielder Series lasted Three, Six or Nine Books. Joe Abercrombie is still going strong.

As a Part Time Writer. I have many things on my plate. I have to pay the Rent and Work a Full Time Job. I have to take Karate full Time and juggle it with my many hobbies, which include Flames Of War. if I could Quit my Stupid Day Job, Hint, Hint, then I could stay home in my Bathrobe, drink Expensive Scotch and adopt all the habits of a writer. I could even develop a taste for Supermodels if this would make you happy. In this regards, my willingness to meet my readers expectations, knows no bounds. My experience in the Security Industry, is that you have to respect the opinion of these people and sometimes that’s impossible to do. There is a difference beteewn Management and Leadership, sometimes these are at odds and sometimes they are not.

Writing is a hard enough industry to break into but royalties is still one of the best ways to make money. I have received my first check for both the books I’ve written. This is the first ever check I’ve ever received for anything I’ve ever written. I was so happy, that I framed it. It was for 52 dollars, so the loss won’t be unduly missed. I’ve changed Publishers because Iuniverse stated that they can get my into Chapters/Indigo. Roxanne of Dark Energy deserves to be on the shelf. I want to go in to a Chapters / Indigo and pick up a copy and walk up to the cash register and buy it and see if the girl behind the cash register recognizes me.

The problem with this whole Scenario is that that I universe is giving me another line and my book doesn’t get carried by them. The problem with being a wanna be writer, is that it’s like buying swamp land in Florida. The more Swamp Land you Get Stuck with. The more Swamp Land You want to buy. I started reading seriously when I was living in Hamilton and working as a Store Detective in Toronto. I’d take the hour long bus trip in and read a book. I had a friend back then who worked in a bookstore, so buying books wasn’t a problem. Then I read all the Raymond Chandler, I could fine. Raymond Chandler wasn’t a very prolific writer but he helped mainstream Mystery Pulp Fiction into the Genre it is today. In the introduction to Trouble is my Business Raymond Chandler stated that in Pulp Fiction, ‘if a writer was at a loss what to do, a bad guy kicked the door in and started spraying the room with machine gun fire’. In my humble opinion Science Fiction is still in this stage. We have giants like Asimov and Heinlein but we also have novels like Total Recall and All you Have is Kill. Both were short novels that were turned into Movies. All you have is Kill was bought up by Tom Cruise and made into Live Die Repeat. Total Recall has been changed into a movie not just once but twice; Furthermore, I liked the second one better than the First because I’m a big fan of Kate Beckinsdale, sorry Total Recall purists. Recently there’s another Movie called Jupiter Ascending taken from a Book that is 228 pages. So if I regress and have doors kicked in by Russian Bears throwing WP Grenades, you know that you are the Honeypot.

Recent changes in the industry, namely on the internet and self-publishing have made huge advances in the industry. But money isn’t the reason why someone wrights. I remember what one writer said, ‘I don’t care what you think, about my book only that you get to the end of it’. My writing is still taking a back seat my work. Lucky for me, Canada has a Union for Security Professionals. In the Security Industry, Twenty Two Years in the Union goes a long way job security; moreover, since I do have twenty one years in, I am writing because I love to write, not because I need the income. I will continue writing, regardless of the financial rewards because the financial rewards are not the reason why I write. That is the true advantage of self-publishing. Fifteen years ago Self-Publishing was also called Vanity Press. And speaking of vain, to all of you who have struggled through, The Art of Strategy Dean Marquis, I say WOW. Maybe we can get together some day over a beer and you can tell me, the part you hated the most.

Strategists hate ‘Yes Men’. If the Strategic Model won’t hold water then, it can’t be used to manipulate the fleet in battle because the fleet will in fact be sinking. An example of this Dichotomy in Leadership Styles; exist ironically or not so ironically, in the Warsaw Pact / Nato Confrontation in the 60’s to 80’s. The Warsaw Pact had a Centralised Command Structure Centralised Command Structure is best suited for Attack because the message is clear and not misunderstood. NATO had a Decentralized Command Structure. A Decentralised Command Structure is easier for an Elastic Defense which is how NATO Operated. The Warsaw Pact always had Three Most Likely Routes of Expected Attack. The North German Plain. The Fulda Gap and up through Czeckoslovakia.

No Strategy survives Contact with the enemy. It’s only through superior Leadership that carries the day

Von Motke

The above quote can also apply to writers blocks well.

To all of you who have read Book One, Roxanne of Dark Energy and liked it, I say great. Speaking from experience, Roxanne is a likable person. Here is Book 2, Roxanne of the Netherworld. New Allies and New Enemies Await.

The Assault on the Tower Continues…………………

PRELUDE TO DESTRUCTION

THE TERCIO’S OF SECUNDERBAD changed targets from the Fleet and picked a ground target. A Target glowed Green on the ground.

This is a battle we cannot win, Moondragon thought. The Royal Army of Secunderbad was betrayed. The Gate had been opened. The Black Legion had been betrayed. Who would betray us. What would betray us to the machines. The Earthlings, they didn’t know who. I’m just a Silverfin, all I have are my charges. The Mystery will have to be answered by, The Ruling Counsel of Secunderbad, Moondragon thought.

The Black Legion has destroyed a Communication Ship at the loss of a Brane. The Sword of Dark Matter could be seen glowing green from Orbit. Even with the destruction of the Communication Ship there was just too many of them. The Sword of Dark Matter glowed green under Ultraviolet Light. The image of the Black Sword was ingrained on his brain. Moondragon knew that Budo wasn’t there because of the infant Havildar that he gave him. No one on Secunderbad was left that mattered. Moondragon didn’t know whether the wielder of that sword was alive or dead and right now it didn’t matter. The Sword couldn’t fall into enemy hands. Moondragon remembered what Elvis said when Captain Sigismond was inspecting them. It seemed like a million years ago now. Oh Ya, Elvis told Captain Sigismond that, ‘he wanted to be a Star,’

We have to destroy that sword. We can’t let it fall into the hands of the machines," Moondragon thought. Everyone in his Tercio knew what he was thinking. Who knows the damage that they could do. Moondragon notified the Two Other Silverfins. He sent the message on a Data Link, an Ultra High Frequency Microwave Transmission. The Black Legion was sent the same message on all bands, on all frequencies. Moondragon could hear the Hammer. The Branes of the Black Legion got smaller. They were moving into sub atomic particles. Moondragon heard the Co-ordinates of the RV Point. The Direct Energy Weapons of the combined Armada locked on the Once Proud Planet. Moondragon could see The Sword of Dark Matter glow from Space. The Concentrated Energy Weapons locked on the target. The Massed Battery of the Three Tercio’s lasted only, for an instant. Elvis’s Sword of Dark Matter exploded. The stored vacuum energy that was in it exploded with a mighty roar. In that instant Elvis got his wish, in one big blast, he became a Star.

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CHAPTER

ONE

SWORD DUTY

I SAW THE CANNONS from the second SU 19’s hit the ground. Wherever, the 20mm cannons hit the concrete, a huge hole appeared in the concrete. A 20 mm Cannon Round, hit a blue Volkswagen Beetle and it exploded. The path fire left a trail of exploding concrete led to the lead vehicle. These shells hit the First Marder and nothing happened… The lead Su 19 was hit by the Gepard and part of his right wing broke off. The pilot tried to climb but instead, the plane dropped like a ton of brick. It headed straight for the Mercedes dealership at the corner. There was a slight pause and then the Mercedes dealership exploded. The Four AA-2 Atoll missiles and the extra fuel tanks added to the effect.

I ducked behind the corner of the building; it was purely a reflexive action. The rest of the Su 19’s flew straight like it was an exercise in Siberia. The Second Su 19 shot his load. All four of his AA-2 Atoll missiles fired at once. I guess they wanted to get that Gepard but good. The Gepard locked onto one missile and blow it out of the sky. The second missile hit the pavement next to the Panzer Commander and exploded. The third missile the second Marder and it turned into a fireball. The fourth missile hit the pavement, beside the third Marder. There was deafening roar. It was at that time that the AA Machine Gun from the third Marder kicked in. The Second Su 19 started to climb to the sky and it faltered. The 30 mm Cannon Shells were the same kind of slug as they fired. The Second Su 19 dropped to the earth like a ton of bricks and hit a Beer Hall on the corner. The Beer Hall and I both shuddered, what a waste of Becks, I thought.

The Third Su- 19 came in and shot his load as well. I guess he thought rightly, if the Gepard got them, there would be no second pass. All four of his missiles fired off at the same time. It seemed like they didn’t want to waste any more time. The Gepard had locked on to its target. The missiles from the third Su-19 hit the ground. One hit the pavement next to the third Marder. The second missile hit the Marder on the side of the turret and exploded. The explosion expanded into a Red Porsche 944 Cabriolet with the top down. The Porsche exploded into a red fireball just as the third missile hit the pavement next to the fourth Marder. The fourth missile hit the third Fourth Marder. The Missile detonated and the Marder stopped. I held my breath and waited to see if the Marder was totaled but I didn’t have time.

The Last Su-19 came in and it fired all of its missiles as well. I guess he figured they’d all be dead if they didn’t get that Gepard. The smoke cleared on the fourth Marder, the APC had a black mark on it but it didn’t move. The first missile from the last Su 19 hit the pavement beside the fourth Marder. The Gepard fired away at the third Su 19 as it was flying away. The Second missile hit the pavement, next to the Fifth Marder. The Third Missile hit the ground next to the Gepard. The Gepard got a bead on the Third Su-19 and was pumping 35 mm Cannon Rounds into it. The Last missile from the Last Su-19 was true. It hit the Gepard on the turret. The turret was blown clear of the tank for thirty feet but not before the third Su-19 was pumping smoke out of the fuselage. The Turret from the Gepard hit a Schnitzel House across the street. I saw the Third Su-19 go down behind the building trailing smoke.

The last Su-19 Pilot began to circle to start a second path with his 20 mm cannons. Now that the Gepard was finished the Su 19 could pick apart the rest of the Company with his 20mm cannons I guess the Company commander was doing the Panzer grenadier Version of the Ammo and Casualty Count. Three Su-19’s, for half a Company of Marder ‘and one Gepard. I guess it was a good trade off for the Russians. I’d like to think what those Marder’s were going to do to the Russians when they get to the front. The Marder carries an ATGW Missile and a rear AA mg. The Company of Marders would have been defenseless without the Gepard. That was War; it was a game of rock paper and scissors.

A couple of streets over, I heard some really loud Jet Engines. The only engines that came even close was that Harrier Jump Jet. I looked over at the source of the noise and held my breath. I saw a plane with green, brown camouflage on it. It rose vertically to above the heights of the building. This plane was going straight up. It was loaded for bear. It was a Harrier Jump Jet. I hoped it was the same pilot that helped us across the street. I thought the Panzer Grenadiers could have used some air support but one against four was not good odds. The Harrier was sure to get shot down. This low to the ground there was no way his chute was going to open even if he survived the damage. I assumed he wasn’t a coward so why……? Yes, it was that Gepard. The Gepard had a Radar Gun sight but I guessed Aircraft Recognition Computer Program was beyond the West Germans right now. Getting shot down by the enemy was in a Pilots Job Description; however, getting shot down by a friendly AA gun was not. No one in war says that you’re supposed to be shot down by your own side. The Harrier fired off its engines and went after last Su 19. I could see RAF on the side of the fuselage. How did he know that the Panzers had a Gepard? They must have had a forward observer.

The Su 19 must have seen the Harrier because it started to climb. I guess he was looking for elbow room. The Su 19 had no missiles and wanted to get into a scrap. The fully loaded Harrier was looking for his first kill. He followed him up into the Wild Blue Yonder, they were going to Duel in the Sky.

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CHAPTER

TWO

THE HANDS OF TIME

WE ALL LOOKED AT the guy, who said he was the Emperor of the Netherworld. I had a million questions for him; however, we didn’t have the Time, for even one.

Secunderbad has fallen. The Machines of Tannenhauser Gate have mastered Hyperspace, I elucidated.

Who are you, The man with the crown on his head beseeched?

We are from earth, I meekly rhymed.

Where are we, I probed. I looked around and saw Rows and Rows of desks with people behind each one. The Floor was made in Tile with some unknown picture in it. On the walls hung Tapestries, commemorating Battles in Far off Space. There were ten columns made of marble going from the floor to the ceiling, five on each side. The ceiling was domed in glass and this allowed the sun to beam through. The back wall behind the Emperor had a Painting of a Clock. This clock must have twenty feet in diameter. I guess this represented Time. Budo remembered that Vikor of the Black Legion had said, they believed the five elements were Earth, Water, Fire, Wind and Time.

I held my Sword of Dark Matter firmly. I remembered what happened to Elvis and I didn’t want to follow suit. Death was death, I thought. Dying at the hands of some Giant Fish on some Fish Homeworld, was no different than dying in any different world, in Time and Space. I knew that he died because he was lazy. He was too lazy to carry his sword of Dark Matter. He was to lazy to be responsible for it.

You must call him your Majesty. Just because you come from a different place, it’s no excuse for bad manners, The Man behind the Emperor reckoned. He had a red suit on with a tall cap.

What is your fifth element, The man with the Crown mused.

My Fifth Element is Enlightenment, your Majesty, I issued. The feel of the Sword of Dark Matter, felt reassuring. I looked at Spartacus and nodded.

Ours is Time, Young Man, The Man behind the Emperor enunciated. I looked at him and nodded.

Mine is Aether, your Majesty, Spartacus elucidated. He looked up at the Emperor.

Aether, what is Aether, The man behind the Throne protested?

Aethor is Space, Spartacus rebutted.

The man behind the throne stood up. He was a taller man then the Emperor. He was older with fair skin. He had short grey hair with a neatly trimmed goatee. He appeared slightly bent. He had on a Red cloak that was bordered in white. The Nine Rings of the Army of Circles were clearly emblazoned on his right chest. A Silver Chain hung on his neck.

You came from the same planet that Gustavus Adolphus came from, The old man echoed?

Yes, I reported. I felt relieved that someone has heard of him.

He does not amuse us, The old man argued.

Who are you, your Majesty, I solicited?

Crowbone, get him to stop, The Emperor exclaimed.

I am the Cardinal of Time and don’t call my ‘your Majesty, Crowbone rejoined.

Vikor and Narnia never said a word about Crowbone.

You are the Emperor’s Advisor, I ventured?

Yes, I’m the Official advisor to the Emperor, Crowbone enacted.

Vikor and Narnia, never said anything about the Cardinal of Time, I defied.

Who are they, Crowbone challenged?

They are or were Two Landsknecht Medics, that we met on Secunderbad, I edified. I still hoped that they were alive and that we’d see them again, I thought.

A Combat Couple, Crowbone mused. He scratched his goatee with his right hand and frowned.

Yes, I repeated.

I really don’t care what Two Landsknechts, from the Black Legion think, The Cardinal of Time rebutted. Crowbone looked around the room for support, several people nodded.

Vikor healed me, when I was hit with Soman, I protested.

What is Soman, young man, a voice argued. A man in a bright green uniform stood up. He had a bunch of medals on his right chest. He had a swarthy complexion and was stocky. He wore a small goutee, that was black.

It’s a very effective Chemical and Biological Weapon, I lectured.

You have Chemical and Biological Weapons on your world, The Man in Green repeated.

Unfortunately yes, I adumbrated.

The Man in Green looked around the room, shook his head and sat down. The Cardinal of Time set down.

What did they say about me, The Emperor behest?

They said that the Emperor was elected, I rejoined. It was the truth or I hoped it was.

Hmmm, The Emperor languished. He propped up his elbow on the side of his throne and looked down on us. He had on his head, a crown that was gilt in gold. His coat was made out of fur and a golden chain hung on his neck. He was holding a small Chalice in one hand and took a sip from it. He looked fifty, had short black hair and brown eyes.

Yes, you’re Majesty, I lamented. As a Corporal in the Army, I was used to calling everyone by their Job Description. Sergeant, Lieutenant and Captain were common for me and Major on the odd occasion. If I was really bad, I’d meet the Colonel. It was ironic because most of the Times I met the Colonel, it was because of his daughter Jolene. When Jolene wanted to get back at her Father, she would have sex with me, an enlisted man. The shit would hit the Fan and at the Fulda Gap, Fan was pretty high up on the Command Structure.

Is your Majesty any different, I thought. As long as he didn’t tell me ‘to adopt the position’ and order me to do push ups, I wouldn’t care who he was.

I didn’t like Gustavus Adolphus. All he wanted to do was give me orders, The Emperor of the Netherworld took another swig from his Chalice.

I have no idea why they, disobeyed there Orange Light call, The Emperor wondered?

There was a Border Incursion from the Sultanate of Rum and they were needed, The Cardinal of Time transmitted.

Yes, you are correct, The Emperor behest.

Thank you, your Majesty, Crowbone solicited. The Cardinal of Time looked at his fingernails like it was part of his job description.

The Black Legion are loyal troops, Your Majesty, I petitioned.

No one can command them but me, Crowbone decreed. The Cardinal of Time pouted. And me, The Emperor comanded.

Yes, of course, Sire, Crowbone replied.

The Cardinal of Time looked around the room to see if anyone disagreed with him. No one did.

Were they all destroyed, Crowbone implored?

I do not know, I answered.

They are good troops, I challenged.

They always were. I have no idea why the fell under the Spell of that Charleton, The Emperor debunked. He took another swig from his chalice.

All of the Army of the Circles, are well trained, Crowbone confirmed. He looked up at the light coming through the ceiling.

If I see them again, I’ll have to transfom them into Sub Atomic Particles, destroy there Standards and send them into a Black Hole, The Emperor administered.

There memories will be stored in the Imperial Library for all time, The Cardinal of Time reckoned.

The room went silent. Everyone was paying there respects or disrespects silently.

Isn’t your Majesty, worried that the machines will arrive here, I solicited? These people are being pretty calm considering the fate that awaits them, I thought.

These Machines as you say, still need a Reference Point young man, Crowbone illuminated. He looked from the Emperor to me.

Hyperspace Travel between Gates was only possible because of the Gates. If the machines have mastered Hyperspace like you say; then they can’t magically Appear and Disappear. They will still need Reference Points, Directions and a Purpose, The Cardinal of Time reiterated.

That is very wise, I confirmed. It still must be like taking a triangulation on a map. First you need to have Two Reference Points and still know True North.

I know I am wise, Crowbone stayed.

Guards take their weapons, Crowbone directed. He waved his hands and his Guards appeared from the Cracks and Crevices of the Deit.

Vikor said that people went missing here. That wouldn’t be to hard to believe, I thought. No way man. I’m not giving up my Gpig again Bronxy preached. Bronxy held his weapon on his hip. like he wanted to drop the Hammer. Bronxy had the Fulda Gap as his Reference Point, he had his direction and Purpose. A belt was in his Gpig, it was locked and loaded. The rest of the squad clutches onto their weapons. We were still clustered in a group. The Cardinal’s Guard was dressed in Red with matching Field Caps. They had a badge with the Nine Rings of The Army of the Circles on their left shoulder. On their Right shoulder they had a badge with clock on it. They pointed their weapons at us. Their weapons were short and stubby and made of silver. We had no mistake of there direction or purpose. We had our weapons at the shoulder and aimed at the Cardinals Guards.

I looked up at Yojimbo and he glowed green. If Yojimbo glowed green, then we were all green. I looked at Clayman to see what he was doing and he glowed green, like the rest of us. He just stood there with both hands clutching his Sword of Dark Matter. I looked at Roxanne and she shook her head. She’s been right so farm why tempt fate, I thought.

Stand down, I ordered.

Stand down, I repeated. Some lowered their weapons, some pulled up on they’re weapons. One at a time, first it was Master, then it was Spartacus and lastly it was Bronxy. He lowered the Squad Heavy Weapon like his muscles were tiring under the Strain.

That’s what we like to see, The Cardinal of Time solicited. Crowbone grinned and nodded.

Give them your service weapons, I directed. I held out my M 16 with two hands, like it was an offering. A Cardinal’s Guard in a Red Uniform took it from me. The rest of the squad looked at me and offered up there M 16 the same way. Last but not least, Bronxy gave up his lovechild.

I better get my 60 back or I swear, that I’m going to kill someone, Bronxy chimed. He was flexing his fists and unflexing them, like he was ready to take a swing ay anything within reach.

Crowbone looked around the Great Hall, apparently he was pleased himself. He was the kind of guy who