(Callie)
Callie awoke hearing faint footfalls on wood beneath her as the other occupant of the safe house went about his morning. The drapes filtered the morning light, leaving her room in semidarkness. Callie yawned, stretching her arms and back. Pushing aside the sheets of her bed, before fastening the shoulder holster of her 223 underneath her left arm. She glanced at the wire across the door and smiled. Anyone entering would have had a nasty surprise.
Callie had fallen asleep clothed like she always did, only removing her gun and knife. Years of practice and tests by her instructors had drilled in the need to always keep on guard. A voice drifted through the floor in the monotone steady cadence of a weather reporter. Callie descended the stairs cautiously, her hand on her knife as she scanned her corners.
Dressed in mat grey and leaning against the wall, Villus was monitoring all the entrances. When she entered, his body tensed ever so slightly, and he rested his hand on the grip of his pistol. She smiled at the instructor, ever cognisant of attack.
" Breaking news. The city of Ascalon has fallen. All night, the troops of the empire liberated the capital city from the oppressive regime of the dreaded Sacari. For the world of Etria, we ask all the innocent people of Ascalon to report any sightings of Sacari." said the woman on the news.
Callie's stomach fell as the woman straightened her glasses, as though preparing for some bad news. The woman's words felt like a punch to Callie's gut. After all the work the Sacari had done over the years, now they were being thrown under the bus?
" Further news, we have received word that during the raid, several of the Etrian Artists were captured." Said the woman, her eyebrows raising as she read off her lines. The image flickered to an overhead view of Ascalon. It showed emergency transport vehicles flying down and landing in the city. The camera zoomed in, showing Zrixian medics digging through buildings and others putting out fires. Many people in the streets were out amongst the enemy army, helping them recover those buried in collapsed and burning buildings.
" As you can see, the empire is not here to harm us. They are here to make our world and country better. Just look at their technology, think of all the progress we can make under the leadership of the empire." said the woman.
Rage welled in Callie's chest. How could any Etrian believe this garbage? The warmongering empire had come in and attacked their world. And now they were saying it was for the good of the people?
" Calm down Callie, don't let your emotions control your judgment."sa Villus from his seat by the wall.
Callie paused at the use of her name. And with a force of will, she pushed aside her racing emotions. Emotions were meant to be examined and tossed aside, not things to control her choices.
" Do you think any of the others got out?" asked Callie.
" Maybe, but we were few. The Secari are a small, highly skilled organization. After the executions there won't be many of us left." said Villus, for once a note of sadness slipping past his stony facade.
" What executions?" asked Callie, a weight settling in her chest.
" Watch the news, it will come back up again shortly." said Villus, darkness settling behind his steely eyes..
From the bird's-eye view of the news castor ship, Callie watched as the anchor woman talked.
" With the night raid and quick reactions by the Zrixian navy, most of the opposition to the emporers' rule has been either captured or killed. We ask once again that any sightings of high-ranking officials and most of all the Secari be reported to the nearest Zrixian war ship." said the woman.
She shuffled awkwardly in her chair and reached up, touching a small earbud.
" I am honored to say that the Zrixian commander in charge of our liberation will join us in several minutes, so stay tuned." said the caster, her face paling slightly.
" Did you already see the news? How do you know there will be executions?" asked Callie.
"Because the Zrixians are ruthless to their enemies." said Villus, his voice tinging on respectful.
" And we are back! Welcome, commander Yerlan of his imperial majesty's navy." said the newscaster, her voice drifting from the large television embedded into the white wall of the safe house.
" Thank you, Tess. Can you hear me?" said Yerlan, his Zrixian accent grating to Callie's ears.
" We can hear you loud and clear commander." said Tess nervously.
" On behalf of the Zrixian navy, I'm here to offer fiver hundred thousand crowns to any who report and lead to the capture of the remaining Secari. We have seven in custody and killed fifteen others. Reports tell us that at least three escaped, maybe more. As for the survivors, in one week they will be brought before the emperor to be publicly tried and executed for their crimes against your country." said Yerlan, his Zrixian accent thick and grating.
The man spoke Etrian like a complete amateur. Callie would have much preferred he speak in Zrixian, as then his grating speech would have been fitting for the pronunciations, Callie thought. Her thought came to a crashing halt as seven faces appeared on the large screen imbedded into the wall.
Bruised and bloody, Peyton was on the left, his hair matted with blood and his lips swollen to a purple mess. In the picture, he appeared stoic and defiant, but Callie's heart fell. Two instructors of the art were there as well, shackled with heavy chains and looking nearly dead. Beaten and battered like the others. Callie searched for another familiar face. She knew all of their names, but of the four others, none of them were Warren. Maybe he had escaped? Excitement welled in her chest as she pushed down the doubt. He could have just as easily died in the assault.
Needing some time to process this new information, Callie went back up to her room. She needed time to think away from her instructor. Her emotions roiled as she lay on the shingles of the safe house roof. After watching the news, she didn't think she could hide her emotions from Villus any longer and so she climbed the side of the two story building to the roof from her second-story window.
Laying on her back, she gazed through the leaves up at the sky. Her eyes followed a burning streak as it entered the atmosphere. At first she thought it was a meteor, but the burning ship slowed and adjusted its course. Callie clenched her fist as she watched the Zrixian war ship burn its thrusters and make a B Line south towards Ascalon.
She bit her lip, anger and despair settling over her. If only her people had better technology.
They hadn't stood a chance against the planet hopping Zrixians. Callie sighed, glancing at the two falcon class ships hidden underneath netting and disguised by their stealth gear.
Mere netting wasn't enough to hide from the Zrixians. It was the warship itself. The damned things could hide themselves on someone's roof. She laughed to herself. Well, the roof might cave in, but that was beside the point. She did not know how the Sacari had stolen stealth ships from the Zrixian navy, but the several dozen stealth jets the compound had stolen hadn't been enough to fight battle ships like that dreadnaught.
Her eyes were drawn to the blue sky and the wispy white clouds filling it. She took in a deep breath, breathing in the air of her home planet.
Once again, anger welled in her chest as her eyes settled on the sky. With the light of the sun, she couldn't see Proxima. A snarl crossed her face. She couldn't wait to take this battle to the Zrixians' home planet. But what could two Sacari do without the support of their county?
A sinking feeling settled over her. Maybe they could save the others before the Zrixians threw them out an airlock?
She wrapped her arms around her knees, feeling the bite of her holster against her ribs as she pulled her legs in close to her chest.
She shook her head. Snap out of it Callie, the instructors trained you for this. You are now a full Sacari, one of the most feared artists in the system.
Those dammed hoppers wouldn't know what hit them. The new nickname making a laugh bubble from her chest.
Come to think of it, that would make a great callsign on mission. Who would expect a ship to be undercover with such ridiculousness. She could only imagine what Villus might say when she reported in as callsign hopper, Callie smirked a sad smile. She wished Warred or Peyton were with her, not her cold, heartless instructor, Villus.
Her thoughts cut off as over the trees she could see a smoking ship approaching low and fast. Sun glinted off the slick black polymer lining of the ship's wings as the falcon class stealth ship weaved and bobbed evasively.. Another ship burst through the clouds close on the falcon's tail. A line of smoke billowed from the pursuers' wings and tracers lit up the sky.
Rolling thunder washed across the valley. From the house beneath, the door slammed and Villus rushed out. Her pocket beeped, and she placed her skin toned earpiece back where it was supposed to be.
" What's going on cadet. Where are you?" Asked Villus, scanning his surroundings below.
" I'm on the roof. There are two ships in a dogfight. I think one of them is ours." Said Callie, glancing from the frantic chase in the air to Villus on the ground.
With cat like grace, Villus ran towards the building and took several steps up the wall before leaping to grab the balcony railing. Pulling himself up, Villus leaped up and grasp the gutter before pressing off the wall and vaulting up in a display of athleticism most gymnasts would die for.
Callie edged away from the instructor, keeping him well out of striking range.
She turned to the fighter ships. The lead ship's thrusters flared, and it tore up into the sky. Callie winced. That was madness. The person in falcon class ship might pass out from the harsh gravity forcing them back into their chair. Such a high g turn was not recommended because it usually ended in the pilot passing out.
The Zrixian ship followed for a moment. The enemy ship shot a burst of rounds upward before turning out of the harsh turn.
Above, through the clouds, Callie watched with bated breath. The air behind the fleeing ship shimmered and sparked as rounds impacted the ship's negative barrier.
"The falcon is ours! We should go help them, their left wing is smoking." Said Callie exitedly.
Villus held out his hand, halting her advance.
" They don't know we are down here. Let's wait and see who wins. If the Zrixian ship is the Victor, we can't afford to be spotted and reported." Said Villus coldly.
In the skies, the dark shape of the falcon turned hard and fell in behind the enemy warship with perfect speed control. The enemy ship took evasive action, barreling to the side. One of the falcon's guns blared, and the rounds tore into the Zrixians ships' rear thrusters. The ships broke apart under the heavy rounds, splitting apart with smoke and flame. Several seconds later, the horrible impact of metal striking stone and wood drifted down the valley as the enemy ship crashed into the canopy of trees below.
" Go turn on the short range broad cast. That ship doesn't look like it's going to hold together much longer." Said Villus, gesturing to the friendly falcon class stealth ship. Callie raced down the side of the building to the ground and across the small clearing to her ship. She opened the rear hatch and slid into the cockpit. After the machine scanned her palm, she activate her sensor gear and tweaked the equipment to send out a short range distress call.
She waited with bated breath until a voice came over the radio. "Hello who is this?" asked a cautious voice.
" Warren? It's me Callie."
" Where are you Callie? My proximity sensors not picking you up." said Warren hope entering his voice.
" Watch the radar. I'm gonna transmit my location for five seconds, then I'm going dark." said Callie, sticking to protocols.
" Affirmative, standing by."said Warren, his voice strained.
Callie flipped on her proximity sensors and the radar instantly showed a small red dot on the screen. She waited five seconds and then shut off the sensors.
" I have you moving in to land at your position. Stay well clear of the field, my landing may be far from gentle." said Warren.
Callie exited her ship and stare up into the sky. At first, there was nothing. And then the thrum up engines filled the air. Flying low with one wing smoking, Warren flew his sleek black falcon towards the ground. Callie swallowed. He was going too fast. The lateral thrusters on the underside of the falcon's left wing sputtered and metal screeched. With no warning, the ship slammed into the ground, plowing a furrow into the soil for nearly thirty yards.
The ship smoked and fire burned on the falcon's right wing. Callie rushed across the clearing towards the downed ship, her heart racing in her chest. She lept into the furrow of dirt and avoiding shards of metal; she made her way towards the ship's rear hatch.
The door hissed and slowly swung down, revealing Warren. He held his helmet in one hand and his 223 caliber pistol in the other. Warren saw Callie standing in the creator and raised both his hands into the air. Warren's short black hair was drenched in sweat, sticking to his head in a chaotic mess. The mans dark skin was pale but his bright eyes twinkled in excitement.
" That was awesome! Did you see me take out that Zrixian ship!" asked Warren, a wide grin splitting his face.
Callie grinned at him, unable to hide the emotion. Warren approached Callie, glancing over her shoulder as he approached. Warren's excitement faded into calm and dispassionate, like flipping a switch a second later, letting Callie know who was behind her.
Callie schooled her excitement and turned to face the rim of the crater.
Glaring down into the crater was Villus, clearly disapproving of Warren's show of emotion. Callie followed warren out of the crater into the field next to the falcon as the ship's ruined right wing caught on fire, sending a plume of black roiling smoke into the sky.
" It appears you have given away our position Warren." said Villus.
" Sorry about that instructor, I was too slow on the initial salvo." Said Warren sheepishly.
" How did you escape the compound?" asked Villus. Callie eyed her friend closely as they stood in a circle amids the field. He had bags under his eyes and his shoulders were slumping in exhaustion.
" I ran through the forest from sight to sight, looking for stealth ships to escape on. But the Zrixians already got there first. I found burning husks and even several of our comrades already dead or captured at the sites. After several hours of sneaking through the forest and searching our escape points, I finally found one the Zrixians missed. It was like the damned Posi's already knew where each of our escape points were." said Warren, anger crossing his face for a moment before his face returned to cold calculation.
" And how did you get away after you got on your ship?" asked Villus.
" Well, I shot down two Zrixian fighter jets." said Warren.
"Were any others with you?" asked Villus.
Warren's face fell, and his shoulders slumped slightly.
" Ya, Peyton was with me. They shot him down around midnight. I'm not sure if he survived. If only I had been faster to shoot down that first fighter jet." Said Warren, anger welling in the man's bright eyes.
" He is still alive, his capture is on the news."said Callie. Hope crossed Warren's face.
" Did he escape?" asked Warren hopefully.
" No. The Zrixians are going to execute on Proxima in a week." said Callie.
" Instructor, surely there is something we can do about this? We can't just let them execute our comrades." said Warren whirling on their instructor.
" Rushing into danger is a quick way to be easily caught and killed. We will refuel the ships and try to sneak past the Zrixian orbital blockade to the jump point." said Villus, gesturing to the two large silver fuel containers beside the safe house.
" Where are we going?" asked Callie.
"The capitol city Cluster drifting over Proxima, if we can infiltrate the drifting city we have a chance of intercepting the prisoners as the Zrixians deliver them to Proxima." said Villus.
" How do you know they will not just execute our friends along the way?" asked Callie.
" We will free our comrades if we can, but that is not our main objective. If I deem the risk is too high, we will continue on to our primary mission." said Villus dispassionately. Walking towards the silver containers, Villus started rolling out a long hose towards one of the two ships nearby.
" What is our mission? What are we going to do to make these Zrixians pay for attacking Etria?" asked Warren, passion filling his voice.
"We will infiltrate the enemy, learn their secrets and strike them where it hurts the most." said Villus coldly.
" You mean their leaders?" asked Warren excitedly.
"Yes, we are taking the war to the enemy. We are going to discredit their leaders, bring them low and then kill them. And finally, after all the main influential supporters are dead, we will strike down the emperor himself." said Villus maliciously. Callie felt excitement welling in her chest at those words. The plan was ambitious, suicidal even, but the empire had gone too far.
" How are we going to do that, instructor? We are only three people. We will need support. No influential Zrixian in their right mind would side with the enemy." said Callie reasonably.
" That is where you are wrong Callie, we are dealing with politicians. They will do anything if it means they gain power. As long as they dont know we are Etrian Artists, I am sure we can find a power-hungry politician with deep pockets to pay us to take out his competition." said Villus.
Callie nodded her head and once Villus latched the nozzle to the ship's fuel tank, she opened the valve.
Warren stood beside her, staring up at the darkening sky.
" Are you excited?" asked Warren.
" About what?" asked Callie, her thoughts drifting as the fuel pump hummed methodically.
" We are going into space. And even jumping between the stars. How are you not exited."said Warren gesturing emphatically at the cloudy sky.
" I am. It's just I'm worried about Peyton. The damned hoppers have him." said Callie.
" The Hoppers? You mean the Zrixians?" asked Warren, confusion written across his face.
" Yeah, now that I say the name out loud it sounds kinda shit."said Callie wincing. Warren burst out laughing.
" Thats perfect. I can just imagine soaring amongst the stars and over the comms hearing. Incoming hopper dreadnaught." said Warren, miming using his headsets radio. Callie felt a smile form. Maybe everything might turn out after all?
" Lets go, with that plume of smoke it won't be long before more fighter jets come to investigate." said Villus.
" Am I bringing my ship as well?" asked Callie, anxiety welling in her chest.
" No, not unless you learned how to star hop when I wasn't looking?" said Villus. Callie shook her head. Of course, she hadn't learned that yet.
" Place charges on the extra ship and the safe house, grab your gear, and hurry." said Villus, pressing the rear hatch to his falcon. Callie rushed to her ship and grabbed the essentials. She took the stored rations on the ship, a spare helmet, and some extra ammunition for her 223. Once done, she placed three small hand sized packs of explosives over the fuel tanks and armed each.
She rushed across the leaf strew grass and up the ramp to Villuse's ship, harnessing the equipment in netting on the walls. Four seats filled the ship, two in the cockpit and two behind with a path in between, and some space behind for storage. Over the roaring thrusters and the rumbling of the falcon, she couldn't hear the voices of the others. Callie slipped on her helmet, settling into one of the two rear chairs as she plugged the helmet into the chair port.
Callie glanced at the wall on her right. In the netting were four black suits with the imprint of a raven on the chest. Each suit covered the entire body and head while also connecting to the seat with several tubes. If the falcon was breached, the life support system could keep them alive. Callie really hoped that didn't happen, as the chances of life support being damaged on such a small ship were much too high.
All her training told her to put on the suit before entering space, but the instructor didn't seem to give a damn about her opinion at the moment.
Gravity slammed her back into her chair as villus applied gas to the rear thrusters and the falcon lifted its arch facing towards the darkening sky. Like an arrow fired from a bow, the falcon climbed at frightening speed into the sky. Callie clung tightly to her chair, glad she had used the seatbelt to hold herself in. Over the rumbling of the thrusters, she could hear warren shouting..
" I love this part!"