Storm' Fury: The Shenkar War (2 page)

              The human methodically moved through the ship, butchering Shenkar as he moved. The closer he got to the bridge the more ferocious his attacks became. Zzasha had been reminded of a time as a boy when he witnessed a crazed Xrert that had slipped into the housing complex he had lived in. It had killed forty Shenkar before local security forces could kill it. Zzasha had thought he would never again witness such a crazed creature as he had that day. Sadly, his father had been among the dead that day. He had thought nothing could be as ferocious and unforgiving as this beast, until he had seen this human.

              As his companions watched the security footage, Zzasha watched them. All three wore horrified looks upon their faces. There was also something else there as well, not prominent on any of them but still there and it was...fear. He understood this as he had the same reaction the first time he had witnessed the footage. For, like his friends, also had been raised to believe the Shenkar were the mightiest of warriors. Never to know defeat, never to experience fear. However, here was proof that there were warriors of skill that rivaled, if not surpassed, that of the Shenkar Federation.

              They were silent for a long time after the final grisly scenes of the bridge had played. He couldn't blame them for their silence. What the human had done to the crew of the
Tryliene
had been horrifying at the least. He had seen savage creatures do less damage to a corpse than was done by this human. The first to break the silence wasn't who Zzasha had expected it would be.

              “How can we possibly stand against such warriors?” asked Delik, in an unusually quiet voice as he stared at the now black screen.

              “I don't know,” Zzasha said simply.

              “And you are sure this footage is genuine?” asked Cryta.

              “Yes, I overheard some disturbing conversations which led me to search for this security footage. After viewing the footage I began to monitor all secret meetings between Shizta and the Shelecore.”

              “You spied on the Shelecore?!?” asked Fvirik incredulously.

              “Yes, he may be our supreme leader but I have been having doubts on whether he is withholding information from the population.”

              “Never mind that, how did you find out about this information?” asked Cryta.

              “Three cycles ago I was on duty here in the palace when Overlord Shizta arrived back from the system where Earth is found. I was one of the guards stationed outside the inner chamber. After his escort retreated from the chamber, we closed the doors but we were still able to hear the conversation that took place. I thought for sure the Shelecore would kill Shizta but to my surprise he didn't. Instead I overheard of the defeat of Krailsha’s fleet and of the slaughter of the crew of the
Tryliene
by this human.

              After this I made sure I was on duty on any of the times Shizta met with the Shelecore. It wasn't until recently that I was able to locate the security footage of the
Tryliene
.”

              “Zzasha, now that you have shown us this, what do you expect us to do now? What did you think would happen now?” asked Cryta.

              Before Zzasha could answer Delik cut in.

              “We need to confront the Shelecore on this matter. He is the supreme leader, he is supposed to protect the people not hide things from them! If the Shelecore cannot rule efficiently then the council should replace him....”

              Cryta held up a hand to stall Zzasha from responding. When he spoke next his voice was soft and calm.

              “Zzasha you said you were on duty the day Shizta arrived. Who was on duty with you?”

              Zzasha had to think for a few moments before he could answer this.

              “I was on duty with Vrik, why?”

              “And did Vrik hear everything as well?” asked Cryta.

              “Yes, of course, he was standing right there with me.”

              “Do you know if Vrik spoke with anyone else about this matter?”

              Zzasha again was silent for a few moments as he thought.

              “I believe he mentioned he was going to talk with Overlord Gyliene.”

              Now it was Cryta's turn to fall into silence as he stared down at the floor, his brow furrowed. Zzasha was about to ask him what this was all about when he looked up.

              “When was the last time you saw Vrik? When was the last time any of us saw Vrik?” Cryta asked his companions.

              All four were silent as they thought of when they had last seen their fellow elite. Zzasha didn't remember when he last had seen him. The last time he remembered seeing him was when Vrik had mentioned speaking with Overlord Gyliene. Looking up he saw that his companions also seemed to have drawn the same conclusion.

              “You don't think something happened to him? Could they have eliminated him to keep his silence?” asked Zzasha.

              “It is possible they feel this information getting out would undermine the leadership caste. What would the population do if they found out there is an enemy out there possible of defeating the Shenkar Federation?” explained Cryta.             

              “Overlord Gyliene is close to the Shelecore, he is part of his war council. I fear that Vrik very well may have been eliminated.”

              “We can't allow this, we have to do something.” Delik said.

              “I know but who can we trust? We need to figure out where we go from here. This could mean the future of the Shenkar Federation,” said Zzasha.

November 19
th
, 2013 5:34pm

                                      Earth Defense Force training facility, Texas

              Liam still hadn't ignited his plasma sword as he watched his opponent slowly sidestep to his left. His opponent’s shimmering white blade shifted back and forth in front of her as she moved. Still he didn’t move as she continued to shift around him until he could only see her out of the corner of his eye. When he lost sight of his opponent, when she passed beyond his peripheral vision, he closed his eyes. With his eyes closed he focused on his surroundings. Instantly he was aware of everyone around him. The slow intake and exhaling of the groups breathing, the rhythmic beat of twenty heartbeats. One trainee shuffling from one foot to the other as another reached up to scratch their nose. He could hear the whispers of two of the trainees betting on whether Liam had finally met his match. He could even sense a fly that was flying around up by the ceiling. But for all that surrounded him, he could still focus on his opponent without distraction.

When his opponent was directly behind him he sensed her muscles tense right before she leapt to the attack. His attacker jumped the eight foot span between them, bringing her blade down in hopes to strike him across the back of his neck. In one fluid motion he spun, pivoting on the ball of his left foot. As he did this, his right foot came up and struck out, striking his leaping opponent squarely in the midsection. His opponent seemed to fold across his foot as the rest of her continued forward. As quickly as his foot had struck out he withdrew it again. His foot came to rest back upon the floor as his opponent crashed to the floor in a resounding thump, gasping for breath. Liam dropped to a half crouch as he watched his fallen opponent. As he suspected his opponent wasn't as injured as she was making herself out to be. Seeing that she wouldn't be able to lure Liam into a false sense of victory she planted her feet and launched herself at him in a fraction of a second. This time Liam didn't wait but launched himself forward. His sudden attack surprised his opponent, causing her to miss him as he shot passed her. As he did this his right hand lashed out to come chopping down on her sword hand. The blow numbed her hand causing her sword to fall tumbling to the floor. Liam tucked himself into a ball as he hit the floor, did one somersault and then was on his feet again. As he came to his feet he reached back with his right hand, concentrated on the fallen sword. His opponent had recovered at this point and was now diving for her lost sword, intending to recover her sword and use her momentum to carry herself to Liam to continue the fight. Her hands however closed on thin air as Liam pulled the sword from the floor using his gift.

             
Templar
knights were gifted with superior strength and reflexes. They also possessed a healing ability beyond that of any normal human. Wounds that would otherwise kill a normal human would heal in record time on a knight. All of these enhancements were due to the alien technology that had been integrated throughout their bodies effectively making them superhuman.

              Liam however was something beyond what had been expected. While he possessed the same, although considerably better, enhancements as all the other
Templar
knights he also possessed more. His additional gift was the ability to manipulate the electrical fields that surrounded everything. He had acquired the “gift” last year when he had been captured and tortured by the Shenkar invasion fleet. In an attempt to purge him of his nanites the Shenkar had inadvertently altered them. The newly altered nanites integrated throughout his body on a scale beyond what the Meshtrell ever thought possible. The result was the awakening of parts of his brain that no human possessed. Now his ability allowed him to move objects, sense his surroundings on an incredible scale, focus electrical currents to attack and who knew what else.

              He had also discovered he could control his nanites at will, which he had used to repair the mortally wounded Leah. The woman he loved had been mortally wounded at the hands of Supreme Commander Krailsha. Krailsha had been the leader of the Dread fleet that had assaulted Earth.

              “Hey, no fair! You can't use your gift!” objected his opponent.

              Smiling, he looked at his opponent, standing before him, her arms crossed over her chest and looking thoroughly irritated. Turning he looked about the sparring mat at all of his students before him.

              “Does anyone else feel I was being unfair?”

              A few of the faces showed they felt he had been unfair but for the most part all seemed to be impartial. Turning about he continued to study the faces until he spotted one face sporting a smirk. The tanned Mediterranean face belonged to a pretty girl, short of stature with black hair and blue eyes. He had chosen her specifically because of the rivalry that had blossomed between her and his current opponent.

              “Miss Birchette, do you feel I was unfair in using my gift?”

              “No sir I don't, we have been taught to expect the unexpected. To fight as if our opponent can do the unexpected.”

              Liam nodded to Miss Birchette then turned about looking at the students.

              “To expect the unexpected is the number one thing to remember when fighting the Shenkar. They have proven, albeit slowly, the ability to adapt. They were able to use nanites to enhance some of their warriors. Those warriors were a match for our
Templar
knights. As far as we know they were all killed in the assault on Earth but that doesn't mean the technology died with them. We don't know if they still have this knowledge of how to do this or if they have been able to modify it. If they have modified it then they could very well be enhancing their own warriors. Just because you don't expect it doesn't mean it can't happen, you understand me?” Liam said, the last part directed to his opponent.

              “YES SIR!” everyone said in unison.

              “Okay that's enough for today, remember you will be tested on tactical combat situations against a Shenkar battlecruiser tomorrow so make sure you are studied up on it,” Liam stated to the group.

              Liam watched the students gather up their personal datapads and head to the door. Actually he really couldn't say he was watching all his students as he was only focused on one. His most recent opponent picked up her datapad but didn't move towards the door right away. Instead she seemed to be focused on examining something on her hand.

              “Miss Aecrin, could you please stay behind,” Liam called out.

              Leah looked to the students leaving, scowled, then turned to Liam and nodded an affirmative. When all of the students had left Liam walked up to Leah.

              “You know that bitch enjoyed every moment of that,” Leah accused Liam.

              “Who?” Liam asked, wearing his most innocent expression.

              “You know damn well who I am talking about,” Leah said hotly.

              “Oh....you mean Miss Birchette?” Liam said as he fought off a smile.

              Leah looked up at Liam, clear irritation on her face, for several moments before she smiled.