The Backdrafts (Book 4)

[Akirapryde]

Night of Fire and Death (Part Two)
Opening Battles of the Jedi Civil War
Embattled City of Forshering
Sumoo III, Boarder of the Mid and Outer Rims

The Battle of Sumoo III had lasted days longer then General Raal had expected. Even with his superior, he could not have guessed the ability for the Marine division or their support fleet to hold on this long. Now as day seven of the battle was reaching its hight, General Raal was faced with even more troubling news. Rebel Intelligence indicated that the Azgard Fleets were on the move in his sector. Faced with a planet still far from under control, the system still a battle ground between his fleet and the Marine Support Fleet, and now the looming threat of a counter attack from the Azgards. He was forced to call in his reserve forces. He been planning on using them to leap frog the Sumoo system and hit key targets deeper within the Mid Rim and take the fight right to the Republic itself. Already he was badly behind schedule and forced to land his reserve forces on Sumoo III. This meant that he couldn't push his advantage beyond Sumoo III.

He knew that pushing deeper was risky to his forces but there was still allot that he could do to minimize that risk. With time turning against him, and now the Azgard Fleets were on the move. His campaign in to the Mid Rim was effectively over once he gave the order for the reserve units to land. As he watched them landing within Forshering city limits, he was quoted saying, “Eight days ago, I commanded one of the largest task forces within the Rebel ranks and possibly history. Today, I am hoping for enough luck so I can hang on to just one world. Why such a turn of luck? Because moral refuses to surrender the battlefield to me.”

What General Raal nor the Defenders could have known was that the tragedy of this battle ran deeper than anyone else had imagined. Because Sumoo III was a Grand Army base, all communications ran through the Army and was filtered over to the Navy. Due to a error somewhere within the Army Communication Center, no one within the Army nor within the Navy had any idea that Sumoo III was under attack till two days after the battle had begun. General Raal's intelligence was right, the Azgard Fleets were on the move. However, at Unified Command, a decision was made that would forsake the defenders. Sumoo III was going to be abandoned to the Rebel advances. Near by worlds were placed on alert and heavily defended. The Azgard Fleets would move directly on worlds that belonged to the CSA and key world in the Outer Rim. The plan was to cut Sumoo III off from support and supplies. Then later they could turn and take the world with less losses. No one in the Sumoo system knew that the Republic had decided to turn its back on its defenders.

Moral had indeed started to leave the battlefield as the night time battle raged on in the capital city. It had been only moments since Ariq had informed command that they would hold their ground against the coming death. Senni looked around and knew that unless moral increased they would fall short of their goal. She walked over to the communication cadet and knelled next time her. “I need this broadcast over open channels. Link our VOX's to the network. Its time that we wake my Father, Thor” she said then winked at the young Azgardian Cadet. “Wait for my signal.” Senni added and watched as the Communication Cadet nodded her understanding. The invaders had pulled back and given them a lull in the battle while the invaders regrouped for their next attack. Senni meant to use this time wisely, she walked over to Ariq as she removed her helmet and allowed her long blond hair to flow freely. Her deep blue eyes caught Ariq's attention as she walked up and dropped her helmet. “Its time to wake Thor my love, lets unleash the Berserker Rage” she said softly. She knew she wouldn't need her helmet or armor after this moment.

Ariq tilted his head to the side as he thought of what she suggested. The Berserker Rage was surely a surrender of hope and acceptance of their doomed fate. He closed his eyes with a heavy sigh as he lowered his head. She was right, they needed it tonight. “Corpman! Unleash the Berserker Rage! Communications, notify command that I have given the Order Berserker Rage.” Everyone turned on that order and looked at Ariq who righted his head and opened his eyes. He reached up and stripped off his helmet and tossed it down. One by one each of the Cadets started to strip off their armor as small auto-injectors filled a bluish-green liquid were passed out. Ariq was the first to take his followed by Senni. They tossed the auto-injectors down, within moments a small bit of acid ensured that the liquid would not be examined. He felt the affects fast and knew that they would last for many hours. 'More then enough time to lay waste to the enemy' he thought with a smile.

She smiled as well as the drug filled her vines while the rest were getting theirs. She motioned to the ComTech and music started to fill the channels. What the cadets didn't know was that their signal was being carried far beyond their stronghold. Within seconds, every Marine warrior was listening to what was about to happen. With all of her armor except her breast plate removed, Senni ran her hands through her hair one last time as she cleared her voice and let out with an almost angelic voice, “Here through the blaze I wander” She sang as she moved through the charred building walking through the shadows as she motioned for her fellow cadets to join her, “Through this black night I ponder” She said coming up to a group of Cadets with a smile on her face as she sang. She motioned to them to join their voices to hers.

One of them slowly stood up and drew out his sword, “The edge of our mighty swords did clash!”

She nodded as a second one joined his voice to theirs, “Fallen by our axes, HELMETS SMASHED!” he half yelled and half sung while swinging his large ax in to the brick wall. Its loud thud carried over the channel setting the tone.

She spun to face the rest of the cadets as they all were ready to join their voices and started to sing along, “Glory and fame” she waved her hands as she pulled out her rifle and everyone joined their voices to a timeless Azgardian battle hymn, “Blood is our name! Souls full of thunder, Hearts of steel. Killers of Men, A Warriors friend. Sworn to avenge our fallen brothers to the end.” Their voices carried loud and far as it echoed through the badly burned out house.

As their moral soared, they all turned to Senni to sing her next line. “One day too I may fall. I will enter Odin's Hall. I will die with sword in hand. My name and deeds will scorch this land!” She sang out loudly as the sounds of boots echoed as the invaders were started their next attack. This time they were ready in body, heart and soul. Ariq waved his cadets in to action as they continued to sing. They would not be denied their battle hymn nor the deaths that they demanded. This would be their finest hour!

Even as they opened fired on the invaders pushing up the stairwells, they sang on, “Glory and Fame! Blood is our name.” None of the cadets could have known that their battle was inspiring the defenders of the entire city. As their own voices joined in with the cadets. The Division Commander ordered that the song be broadcast up to the embattled forces of their support fleet. Their song continued on, “Souls full of thunder, hearts of steel. Killers of men, A warriors friend. Sworn to Avenge our fallen brothers. Children of the Gods, today we shall die! Open Valhalla Door! Let the battle begin, with swords in the wind. Hail Gods of War!”

Ariq squeezed his trigger killing two droids and four invaders. He smiled as he turned his head to see Senni sing and rallying the troops. She motioned for him to sing a few lines. He nodded as he didn't miss a beat of the song even though he was deeply involved in combat at the same time. “Children of Odin, we are. Forged by the Hammer of Thor. Ride down from the sky! Another is born, another shall fall” Their song continued as he killed two more invaders trying to get a foot hold on the second floor landing. “This day men will die!”

From the onlooker, the sight of the Prime Minister's house was a sight to be held. The sounds of intense combat filled the air as flashes of light illuminated the windows near rooms and hallways. Over the airwaves, the unified voices of hundreds lead by those few cadets, “Glory and fame. Blood is our name. Souls full of thunder, hearts of steel. Killers of men, a Warrior's friend. Sworn to avenge our fallen brothers. Children of the Gods, today we shall die! Open Valhalla's Door. Let the battle begin, with swords in the wind. Hail Gods of War!” The song echoed through the house as the cadets were forced back from their positions while more and more invaders surged their way in to the house. Now accompanied by Jedi, the cadets were not only out numbered, they were out matched. But they never surrendered nor gave up the fight. They made Jedi and allies pay dearly for each foot deeper in to the house. All the while they continued to sing their battle hymn, “Children of the gods! TODAY WE SHALL DIE! Open Valhalla's door. Let the battle begin, with swords in the wind. Hail Gods of War!”

As the light of the dawn filled the sky over the besieged city, its light became shaded in red through the thick smoke from the countless fires that rages out of control. Up on the roof of the Prime Minister's house, the few remaining cadets were washed in the red glow of the light of the day. There atop of the House, they found on. Wenton held the bright red and black flag of House Heartman's most elite school, The Academy of the Broken Sword. Through the smoke, onlookers from the Division Headquarters could see their struggle. The cadets drew in to a every shrinking circle as they found nearly back to back. Their voices still loud as thunder as they continued to fight on and continued to sing “Children of the Gods! TODAY WE SHALL DIE! Open Valhalla's door. Let the battle begin, with swords in the wind. Hail Gods of War!” Other Marine units attempted to relieve the besieged cadets but were unable to reach the house. The heart of the battle had shifted to the Prime Minister's House. The local Rebel commanders had decided against orders, to wipe out the cadets and drive a message to the rest of the defenders. General Raal attempted to regain control of the battle and shift it to the goals needed to win control of the city. However, this one battle had erupted in such a blaze that it took on a life of its own. General Raal could do nothing from his headquarters to change what was happening.

As the battle's final actions raged around him, Ariq heard the tell tail sound of a grenade hitting the floor around them. He turned to see it rolling between Senni and Wenton. Without a second thought, he leaped up in to the air and towards the explosive device. He landed soundly on it and felt it break a rib on the impact. The device exploded lunching Ariq up through the air and penetrated what was left of his armor easily. He landed hard on the deck knocking the wide from him. His vision was blurred as he felt his life slipping. Unable to move he watched Senni fighting with her twin blades. They were Azgardian specialty blades designed specifically to fight in a pair as one weapon. Among Azgardian duelist like Senni, they were known affectionately as 'Sister Blades'.

Covered in blood that belonged to many enemies as well as her own she fought against two Jedi at the same time. The smoke of near by fires swirled around her as she spun keeping up her attacks on the Jedi and forcing them to change their actions with each new attack she unleashed. Her blond hair whipping around as she spun and moved. Her blades cut through the air with deadly precision. she looked magnificent as she fought on against two Jedi of better experience than her. As good as she was, her actions were only a delaying move. And it was only a matter of time till one of the Jedi was able to get the upper hand on the momentum of the melee combat. And that moment was at hand as one of the Jedi spun up beside her and ran her through the side with his lightsaber. She let out a groan as her knees buckled under the attack. She took a step to the side as she twisted and lunged one of her blades through his neck. She made him pay for his mortal wound he landed on her. He fell backwards holding her blade as he fell. Her grip failed her as he hit the floor dead. She could feel her life slipping as well but she was in rage, the black cloak of death would have to wait.

The second Jedi took the opportunity to strike her from behind. He moved in and thrust his blade through her back and out her chest. Ariq tried to cry out but his voice failed him. He watched her her knees buckle and fail her this time. She fell to her knees as her vision was locked beyond the roof to the raising sun in the heavens. She felt the lightsaber drawn from her body and heard it swinging behind her head. Her eyes focused on something in the distance while her head tilted to the side as a smile crossed her face. She went limp to the left side as she rolled her body and fell backwards. The Jedi standing behind her, with his saber high in mid action to remove her head, was caught completely by surprise as she landed on her back between he legs. With a mighty thrust of her last strength she drove her blade through his gut and out his shoulder blades. The Jedi's lightsaber slipped from his grip and landed as it deactivated behind him. His eyes were fixed on hers as he tried to move but her grip refused to let go. She looked up in to his eyes with a smile frozen on her face. The blood from his mouth told the story of the mortal wound she had delivered to him. A near by soldier opened fire on her with his repeater cutting deep in to her body. It was too late, she died with her eyes fixed on the eyes of the Jedi she had just killed.

Ariq watched helplessly as Senni was cut down by the soldier. He didn't feel hatred for the soldier or of her death. He felt pride for the woman he loved. She had died with her sword in her hands. He could see the blood covered blade laying next to her. A Jedi Healer attempted to save the Jedi she had killed but it was simply too late. Ariq smiled as he closed his eyes and felt death coming to him. 'Welcome me father to Odin's table. Your son returns home' was his last thought as his mind failed. Ariq never saw the last two cadets battling. Wenton and another cadet fought on with swords in hand. From the distance, it was witnessed as Wenton was near death, he ran the base of the unit's flag through a Jedi and used the body as a base. Wenton died, with his hand holding the flag up so that all the Azgardian and other defenders could see it. Their song and courage would live on, long after this battle was over. It was something that General Raal knew and attempted to avoid.

The battle for the city would continue for another three days. And each day, echoing through the airwaves the invaders heard, “Let the Battle begin, with swords in the wind. Hail Gods of War!” The cadets had fulfilled their mission beyond their wildest dreams. Not only were they were able to keep the Landing Zone open so that all civilians could be evacuated. Their actions spurred the moral of all Azgardian and non-Azgardian defenders alike. Even as the last organized defense of the City fell, the remaining defenders drifted in to the thick jungles and continued the fight. Sumoo III would become a liability to General Raal and the Rebels by the end of the war. And because of their actions, the Warrior Priests within the Temple On High would commission a prayer in their honor.

“Onward into the heart of the battle fought the Children of Odin. Outnumbered many times, still they fought on. Blood poured forth from their wounds deep into the earth, vultures waiting for the broken shells that once were bodies. But Odin alone would choose the day they would enter Valhalla, and in their hour of need he sent forth unto them the Berserker Rage! Now, Gods and men, they rose up from the ground screaming like wild animals. Such is the gift of absolute power! No blade or weapon could harm them. They killed men and creatures alike, and all who stood before them died that day! Hail Gods of War!”

“Sir! Master Murl's fighter has been spotted. Our fighters are engaging him.”

Ariq opened his eyes as he set up. He looked around the Assault shuttle as his eyes adjusted. He saw cadet Mirax standing next to him. He ran his hand over his face trying to wipe the sleep away from his eyes. The echoes of his dreams reminds him of that night each time he closed his eyes. “Thank you Mirax.” he said softly waking up.

Ariq pulled himself up from the speeder and noticed the tattoo on his right forearm. The bright red rose told all that saw it, that he had survived a battle which his unit had lost. The thorny vine that wrapped around the stem of the rose was the symbol of a former prisoner of war. Thanks to the events over Coruscant, the ranks of the Order of the Rose swelled. However, to be an Azgard POW was a special kind of dishonor for Azgardian Warriors. Almost never do Azgardian POW's regain their First Class Warrior status when they return home. He looked to Mirax and smiled at her, “Thank you, inform our pilots that we need him down here alive. Now, leave me. I need to clean up before we welcome our guest to the hunt”.

She nodded and saluted then turned and walked away. He knew that she didn't respect him, he couldn't blame her either. He knew that none of the other cadets respected him. He couldn't count on his reputation to win over their loyalty. He had to earn their respect through honorable action. After the war, he was freed and allowed to return home. He was one of very few Azgardian POWs that had been taken during the entire war. That night, he lead his cadets in to a hopeless battle. There was no doubt in anyone's mind what would happen. It was a good death, it was an honorable death. They had earned honor beyond their dreams through their bravery of that battle. However it was the actions of a lone Jedi that prevented him from entering Valhalla. That Jedi had robbed him of the honor he had earned through blood. He remembered those first thoughts waking up in the POW camp. He was the only Azgardian in the entire camp. For nearly two years, he set there rotting away bit by bit. Three times he attempted to commit suicide. The last time, they gave him a special watch and ensured that he would not be able to make future attempts. On that roof, he had seen Valhalla's door and the Valkyries coming for them all. There in that POW camp, he had lived in hell. No it was not due to ill treatment, in fact he was treated well considering the situation. It was simply being a POW. Now, he was forced to live once more. 'Damn Jedi!' he cursed them all. He hated the way they betrayed the natural order of things. 'What they did to me IS a crime' he thought then added, 'and they shouldn't be allowed to do it.'

He slid off the speeder and started to put his protective armor on. When he returned home, his House Elders showed mercy on him and allowed him to complete his training. Their words echoed in his mind, 'You shall complete your training. Your First Class Warrior status will be up to you, Cadet. Finish with Honor and its yours.' He locked his breastplate in place and reached in the back seat and drew out a bundle of red cloth. He carefully unraveled it and looked at the twin blades locked together. He completely removed the protective cloth carefully and held the twin swords. It had taken him months to find these particular blades. These blades here hand crafted by his beloved Senni. They were in her hands during that fateful battle and held during her death. So many times, others had attempted to fool him. However he knew these blades personally. He unlocked them and slowly separated them. Carefully he spun slowly and moved them through the air. He closed his eyes as he increased his speed moving the blades through the air.

Returning to the Academy was something that he knew he had to do. But was would serve to be just one more challenge for him. If honor was to be his once more, he would stand up to this challenge and be measured. When he returned to his Academy there were no cheers or stories to be told in his honor. He was Utstott, Outcast. Down the Duelist Hall stood a statue of his beloved Senni in mid-combat. The stories of her heroic finally battle had reached the Academy. Below the statue was a plaque with names listed on it. There in gold, it recited the story of their battle and the heroics of that fateful night. There she stood frozen in mid swing as a silent guardian of the Hall. His name had been listed on the plaque just above hers. However the day after his return to the Academy it was removed. Being Utstott was nearly unbearable for him, till he found himself before that very statue. There he found his new purpose in his life. He would finish what she started. Instead of completing pilots training, he switched to duelist training and specialized in Sister Blades. Even for Azgardian standards, he trained hard and limited his other activities. His personal training mirrored a Broken Sword Hero, Fiolla Heartman. Twice he was counseled on pushing his limits. Twice he ignored the Academy's leadership and continued to push himself and his limits. He would become a Twin Sisters' Master or it would kill him. It was that simple for him.

After the nightmare over Coruscant, Senni and he had talked long about it. He had lost his father and she had lost an older sister. In a sense to maintain strong family links, the Geneticists found close matches to the DNA used to create each new warrior. The family links are ingrained deeply and allowed to flourish. It was rumored that Azgardians know nothing of family ties and that this was some kind of weakness. The rumors had lead many in to ruin for fallowing it. Young Warriors have Bothers, Sisters, Mothers and Fathers, and all have an bloodline adopted Grandparent. His was Warlord Brea Heartman. The family is there to help pass on learning lessons, and help younger Warrior better understand their place in the Warrior Caste. The Grandparent is a more important role. They are there to guide and teach the young warriors. He remembered the first time he met his Grandmother. She was a fearful woman, but she set him down and explained what it meant to be Heartman. He was sure that his second chance at life was because of her.

Senni and her older sister, who was also a duelist, were very close. It was because of her older sister why Senni was a duelist. With her sister's loss, Senni wanted Daz's head mounted on a pike on the Temple On High. She hated Daz more than anything else. Ariq had become an Azgardian Duelist Master simply for one goal. Fulfill her dream of placing Daz's head on that pike. He would carry it proudly up the long steps towards the summit of the temple. There he would plant the pike at the Temple On High. Ariq smiled as he brought the blades before him and slowly opened his eyes. Then as Daz's immortal eyes watched on, before the great statue of Thor, he would offer the blood of the niece of General Raal. He brought the blades together as he moved them over his back and slide them in to their sheath. With a locking sound that echoed through the Assault Shuttle, “Now, Everything is in place” he said coldly and locked his helmet to his body armor.

Killing of Daz would allow his beloved Senni to rest in peace and give thousands of Azgardians Warriors in Valhalla the glory of feasting on Daz's soul. Bleeding the niece of General Raal would allow his fallen cadet to have the revenge they deserve. They would be able to drink General Raal's blood, while the feast of Daz's soul continues for eternity. And these two deeds if done right would wipe away his dishonor of being captured and give him the chance of earning his own honor once more. He would no longer be Utstott and measured for the Warrior he really is. He turned and grabbed his rifle and headed towards the rear of the Assault shuttle. “Salek, make sure that General Raal's niece is finished her meal. She must be taken care of.” For the past six months, he had turned his focus towards this mission. He studied all that there was to know about Daz Murl and General Raal's family. The General had died during a space battle and his body was never recovered. It was a blow to the Azgards, as they were denied his blood. The General had very few family members, however a stroke of luck allowed him to discover a sister that had remained hidden from history. That sister married and had a daughter, for years they remained out of reach on Dorin. However as that child grew, she went to work for the very Kel Dor that betrayed the Republic. Killing and bleeding him was an unforeseen bonus for Azgard as a whole. Now they had the niece, next will be Daz, and then later a heroes welcome back on Azgard. “This time Daz, there shall be no escape for you!” he said as he walked through the make shift airlock.


*Editor's Note, Senni and the other cadets sang a modified version of a song originally performed by Manowar, the song is called The Sons of Odin.*