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Knossos: The Increasing Threat
Posted By: Matt Anderson<matt@mattcity.com>
Date: 19 November 2005, 1:05 am
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(A side note, this is the second segment of the Knossos series which began with Holt Forest. I forgot to add the "Knossos:" label to that piece.)
As the Covenant sweep through the Outer Colonies on their steady path towards earth they leave little but destruction in their wake. Only a handful of planets hold out from total destruction, and what little resistance the Humans can muster is fierce. They fight to protect their lives, their homes, and their species. Many of these worlds are doomed, their annihilation at the hands of the Covenant inevitable. Some, where the Covenant have underestimated resistance, continue to fight back the invaders. One of these planets is Knossos, a backwater planet in the Sigma Draconis system with little but plains, seas, and deserts. The militaristic republic of Knossos was on the brink of civil war before the covenant invaded, united uneasily to combat the alien threat. The soldiers trapped on its surface have waged a bloody war for the last four years to free themselves of the Covenant aggressors. Now, with victory over the enemy in sight, old political tensions again run high in the republic. The fate of Knossos lies in the hands of the few.
1707 hours, September 24, 2552 (Military Calendar)
Sigma Draconis system, UNSC camp at the Red Plains, planet Knossos
"Presenting an Elite of Gold rank, second in command of the Knossos invading forces, assistant to the Prophet of Omen."
Lieutenant Colonel Julian Amari sat calmly in his plush chair, hands clasped on his desk. They were in a large tent, filled with ornate and colorful decorations- this was the office of Amari during military campaigns. On the inside it looked almost like a proper house. Sitting there comfortably, Amari looked like a king. Before him stood two soldiers, carrying the exhausted body of an Elite; the alien had been stripped of its armor and clearly showed signs of having been beaten. Its head sagged in shamed defeat. Amari raised his right hand slightly, a gesture to turn on the speech translators. He waited a long moment, considering the beast, before finally speaking.
"What is your name, Warrior?" he asked quietly.
The Elite lifted his head and stared fiercely, the last flames of defiance smoldering in his eyes. "Your devil tongue could not speak it if I told you."
"Very well," Amari said, leaning back in his chair. "I will skip the pleasantries. How many covenant remain on Knossos?"
"Kill me, heathen. You will not have me betray my cause."
"Death will come to you in time, I assure you. How many covenant?"
"Enough to cleanse this planet of your stench."
"That I doubt," Amari said shortly. "It's no accident that your attacks get weaker and weaker, and it is not by luck that we still live. You were under supplied from the start."
"My brothers come for us. Soon you will be purged from this world, and the Light will be freed."
Amari paused, considering. It was not the Covenant's babble that worried him- many before him had spoken of some "Light". He considered it religious nonsense. But the information that reinforcements were coming to the enemy was unsettling. He looked over at the two soldiers. "Torture him. See what other information you can gather, but keep him alive. He may still be of use to us." The men nodded, and dragged the elite off. Another man in fatigues entered just as they were leaving. He scowled at the elite, and then broke into a large grin when he saw Amari.
"Ugly beast," the man said, shaking hands with the Lieutenant Colonel. "I hope you don't intend on keeping it as a pet."
"I thought it wiser to keep him a bit longer; you never know when such things will be useful. What's that in your hand, Madison?"
The man held out a piece of paper. Julian took it, looking it over with interest. Madison grinned again. "News from Alsafi. A new Covenant ship has just entered the system. It's a small one, naturally; you know, I think the poor bastards still think we're easily beaten."
Amari frowned, setting it down on his desk. "I expect they'll land near by, sometime within the week. Set up a watch group, will you?"
"Easily done."
The Lieutenant Colonel tapped his chin in thought. "What ever happened to that Corporal… What was his name… The drunkard who hit Marcus Anthony. Heller."
Madison scratched his head. "I had Lieutenant Anthony beat him publicly, and then he was imprisoned. Certainly made an example of him."
"Heller was popular with the men. Hopefully this won't damage moral."
"How could it, after the series of battles we've been winning? The men love you. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go see to that watch."
Amari nodded, and watched as Madison turned and walked away.
-------------------
James Heller pounded against the side of the holding cell. He stood on his toes, trying to peer through a crack to the outside- there was a lot of rushing around, and anxious voices.
"Hey!" he shouted loudly. "Hey, in here! What's happening!" He pounded again on the brick siding of the cell. "In here, you godless bastards!"
"Covenant ship just entered system," A voice said quietly. "They're preparing the defenses."
Heller turned to look at the man in the next cell, who was also peering through a crack. "No, don't say that," he said quietly.
"There's going to be another battle soon."
"And me in here?" Heller yelled angrily. Frustrated, he started pounding again on the walls. "Hey!"
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0230 hours, September 25, 2552 (Military Calendar)
Sigma Draconis system, watch group at the Red Plains, planet Knossos
The soldier peered through binoculars at the sky, searching for the telltale signs of a Covenant ship entering the atmosphere. He'd been watching in shifts all night now. It was cold; he was hungry and tired, and wanted very much to just return to camp.
Something caught his eye. It looked vaguely like a shooting star, but was moving slower. Soon he could see it was much larger- the hulking shape of a Covenant ship tearing through the atmosphere, its underbelly glowing red hot. As he watched, it seemed to be getting closer. Its belly started to cool, fading to a black outline against the stars.
Bang, Bang…
The soldier jumped nervously. Sonic booms. The Covenant ship passed fluidly through the air, and almost seemed to groan as it passed overhead, racing towards the west- towards the mountains. Soon it was gone.
The man looked towards his buddy, who was staring towards the mountains with a dropped jaw. The soldier shook the man's arm, bringing him back to reality.
"Send a message back to camp."
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