This chapter is a continuation of a previous one I wrote Here Is A Link To It, If You Want To Read It.
Harvat Gnush had as much sleep as his nightmares allowed. Through the visions of hellfire and damnation he had rained down on Jex, he would often be haunted by the face of his mother. It had been many years since he had last seen her, but, it was one face he would never forget. The dreams would end the same each time, her face would materialize and then one single teardrop would fall from her eyes. He would wake up in a cold sweat the moment it hit him.
The Brigadier had spent a few more minutes down with him on the day of the attack, the day that some of the others had dubbed. "The Great Shine." The Great Shine. I wonder if the locals would call it that. Harvat asked himself. They had left a small contingency of their fleet in orbit on Jex. While the bulk of their forces shipped out to Trisk.
Trisk, the swamp world, was known for breeding some of the toughest warriors in Free Space. They were on average only a foot taller than the average Confederation Warrior. But, their scales were tough to penetrate. The Triskens also had a jaw cap that would cover their mouths, making them almost impossible to hurt in a hand-to-hand fight. More than that though, their tactics in warfare were bizarre, like in orbit boarding parties. They had designed some suites to use while doing it, the reports spoke of hearing noises coming from the outer hull, before finally they would make it inside, impossible to detect on the ship's scopes.
They preferred close counters fighting and often used hit-and-run operations with striking results. Apparently, the fleet sent to quell their planet had not only lost multiple ships in orbit but, the reports Harvat had read through also spoke of a certain number of ships being boarded and captured by the Triskens.
The monitor in Harvat's bunkroom chimed, alerting him to an incoming announcement. "Prepare to drop from our jump lane. We have almost reached our destination of Trisk. All personnel are expected to be at their positions." Hearing the words made Harvat get to his feet, the ordinance hall wasn't far from his bunkroom, but, if there was one thing Harvat hated, it was people being late.
It didn't take him long to get settled behind his desk, slowly everyone made it to their own workstations. But, he was too busy looking out the observation shield at the mishmash of colours dancing across the glass. The colours faded slowly, before violently disappearing. Revealing the murky green planet face known as Trisk. It was a few moments before he noticed the other ships. While getting closer he stood up, to look at the collection of Confederate ships.
What was once a fleet was now little more than an assortment, badly damaged and some in the distance had clearly been evacuated. This is a disaster. He grimly thought while looking upon the wrecks. Further, in the distance, Trisken ships could be seen. Just waiting. The air had an ominous feeling, the Triskens seemed to almost threaten to come forward, while also daring the Confederation to come closer. It was a stand-off.
"What do you think the plan is?" Jichaes asked. Harvat didn't even realise that his second in command had approached him. "It's not for us to say. But, if I were to warrant a guess. Nothing, for the moment at least." Jichaes slowly nodded after Harvat finished. "We don't seem to be outnumbered and we have the firepower to win."
"No. We aren't outnumbered." Harvat agreed. "But, if we make any rash decisions we'll end up like them." He continued, ending his sentence while nodding towards the remnants of the first fleet.
"I heard some of the others talking. Apparently, Brigadier Yittias is being demoted for the losses he sustained here. Some of the others were saying that he wasn't fit for command and only got the job through nepotism." Jichaes spoke softly.
"Brigadier Yittias is none of your concern Jichaes. He is of a higher rank than you, so in the future, if you hear any rumours from "the others." You make sure that they remember that too." Harvat spoke sharply, ensuring that Jichaes knew that he wasn't interested in hearing anything that would fall under subordination.
Even though he agreed. Harvat had been in the same class as Yittias back in the academy. He had seen firsthand the kind of mistakes he was let away with because of who his father was. I wouldn't leave that fool in charge of a mop bucket, let alone an entire fleet. Not that he would let anyone else hear that.
"Brigadier Runish is most likely working through plans now, so the best thing we can do is be ready for anything. I will say though, that we can't rush into anything. These Triskens are no strangers to war and as far as I know, they aren't above using tricks or dirty tactics."
Dirty tactics. Like glassing an entire continent of Civilians just to prove a point.