The Chronicles of Heaven's War: Burning Phoenix (97 page)

(Author’s Note:
During one of my visits
upon a certain Chasileah, a person to whom I’m greatly indebted in
her assisting me with these Chronicles, we chanced upon a
discussion of these people called the ‘Tarezabarians’. She
confessed she was born into their world shortly after their
departure, and grew up far too busy chasing the handsome bucks
across fields of lilies to bother learning the stories told about
such a mysterious people. But she did add some insight into the
world of that time.

‘
Those days were filled with the
excitement of exploration and adventure. Only did our universe
exist for us then, there being no knowledge of any other Realm and,
for us, the universe was only this galaxy. Oh yes, we well knew of
so many other galaxies, but had no knowledge of how to explore
them, if it was even possible. At the time of the Tarezabarians,
little we really knew about our quadrant of space, not yet even
aware of jump portals. Oh yes, a few star systems had been mapped
and there were a few distant colonies but, for the most part, life
still revolved around EdenEsonbar.’

‘
So it came to be - at least as told me
by aged companions as we sat about the firelight on moonless nights
- a large number of restless children gathered themselves together
on the shores of a huge lake east of the Obeb Mountains, on the
plains of Oros below a great tower claimed to have been built by
the Ones Who Came Before. There they toiled for centuries, building
a huge fleet of ships to sail the skies into the unknown.’

‘
When the day of departure arrived, they
gathered themselves together along with a great crowd of
well-wishers, casting off after many long days of festive
celebration. Along with them went the seeds of life - every form of
plant and animal they could possibly pack aboard their giant ships
- though I imagine them to be quite small in comparison to ships we
have today. Naught did we ever hear from them again until the day
of the Council when Mother revealed they were returned to give us
their support.’

I would like to add this one final note:
Few of you born during this Age of Peace have heard of these
strange and wonderful people. Restless they are, ever wandering the
universe to find - or in search of…it is uncertain what they search
for, lest it be knowledge of the unknown itself. When the Fourth
Age finally arrived and their lost kindred returned to them from
the Web of the Minds, these people again departed, this time into
the Immortal Lands, to continue their searching ways. May they one
day find what their hearts so deeply long for...
)

After everyone had returned to their seats,
Lowenah pointed to the coming hour. “Little more do I have to say,
the remainder of this day belonging to others. Allow me then to
conclude with these words of counsel:
My children, my darling
children,
I fear not your lack of loyalty toward me.
No! No,
indeed!
It is just the
opposite
that I dread, for, in
this upcoming hour of distress, it may well betray you, your hearts
breaking over the destruction done to my wonderful things.
No!
You must not fight this upcoming war for me - or for what you
believe will please me.
An, evil tempestuous storm is sweeping
in upon us - a storm that will test heart, mind and spirit to the
limit! Love for me - my heart - will not see you through this
time...”

She looked into bewildered faces. “Oh yes,
Love again will save us, will give us the strength to endure every
privation and sacrifice we must endure, but it must be through a
love greater than one for me.
Love through right,
because it is
the right thing to
do
… Yes! Love for right is what will give you the power and
strength to carry out what I am requesting of you this day.
Though the rivers and seas may turn red with the blood of the
innocent and guilty, your love for righteousness will preserve your
resolve to see things through to the end.”

“So, my children, learn from the mother
eagle. To help her children grow, she must throw them from the
nest. On their own wings, by their own might, do they learn to fly,
do they learn to become the hunter of the skies. So to you… today I
cast you from my nest. Some may fall, others may falter for a
little while, but all of you will grow, must grow.
The universe
now belongs to you, its future rests in your hands - the battle to
win or lose yours to decide
...”

Lowenah bowed graciously, her children
standing in respectful honor. Sighing, satisfied, she stepped into
the shadows as announcement was made that a dinner was soon to be
served, inviting all to gather in the dining hall. The remainder of
the day belonged to the children, to strategize and make plans. Oh
yes, Lowenah had a few other items she wished to discuss, but not
to take away from the children’s hour. A nap, yes a nap was what
she desired, slipping away behind secreted doors to take a much
deserved doze.

* * *

While Cherub waiters hurried about the
crowded dining hall with trays of culinary delights and refilling
empty glasses and cups, Zadar quietly sauntered over to Gabrielle’s
table, sideling up close beside her. Bending low, he whispered, “My
lord prince, may I have a moment of your time? It’s important.”

At first, Gabrielle wanted to make
flirtatious jest of Zadar’s intrusion, but then thought better of
it hearing the serious tone in his voice. “Just a moment...” She
mumbled, gulping down her mouthful of food before getting up.

After squirreling themselves away in a quiet
corner, Zadar began in earnest, his face somber. “My Lord
Gabrielle, I am well aware of the seriousness of the day, and
rather should I stand in the field with a wild bull than to intrude
here, but I have urgent news that has been bought for us at great
cost! Even now, Darla sits alone in the Theater, unable to tolerate
the smell of food.”

Gabrielle replied, approvingly, “I have a
little time. Would you like to find a more private place to
talk?”

Zadar shook his head. “No. That will not do
at all! It is counsel of the many I seek - part for a warning and
also to offer a solution. Look, our sister nearly died delivering
up to me the secrets of our brother’s madness. I must be allowed to
inform the others.”

Gabrielle took Zadar’s hand, recommending,
“Why don’t you and I find Mother and then we can confer together.
If she thinks it is good, then we may be able to make time for it
today.”

Zadar frowned, disagreeing. “Mother should
know - does know a bit - said to speak with you. Please! This is
not something that is trivial! I will not take a great deal of
time...”

It did not set well with Gabrielle to change
the agenda of the program on such short notice, and why the
urgency? Resting her hands on Zadar’s shoulders, she sighed, tired.
“I don’t know why you do these things to me... I make no promises.
If the mood is right, I will give you your moment to speak. If not,
then you and I shall have that discussion with Mother
afterwards.”

Beaming from ear to ear with relief, Zadar
hugged Gabrielle, planting a suggestive kiss on her lips.

Gabrielle stepped back, surprised,
sputtering in mock disgust, “I have no time for your rutting, nor
wish to have my mind clouded with offers of your romance. You think
of only one thing, always have. Now be off before I change my mind
about allowing you to speak!”

Zadar looked into Gabrielle’s smoky-gray
eyes with yearning and smiled. “Such a pity… Another time...” Away
he hurried.

Gabrielle followed the man with her eyes.
She longed for his touch, such an honest lover. A day in his arms
could make one forget the evil lurking in this world. A week… a
week? For now, she could only dream of the possibilities. Maybe,
someday, again… hopefully, soon.

* * *

The meeting lasted far into the evening,
with the commanding officers detailing large portions of upcoming
battle plans and how the new military arrangement was to work.
Mihai did little more than introduce the proceedings, publicly
praising each of the leading military officers. After a brief
description of how their new king would work with Command, the
organization structure integrating supply and manufacturing with
the needs of the various military branches and her expectations for
success when war finally came to them, Mihai politely bowed and
stepped from center stage.

Gabrielle and Planetee stepped forward. By
the use of charts and three-dimensional maps, they explained the
new structure of Navy and Marine Departments and the roles they
would play in the future. On the maps, Gabrielle pointed out the
major and significant jump portals that needed protection. Among
the fifty-one known jump portals in the Children’s Empire, she
described the sixteen primary, connecting portals and their
importance to the Empire’s safety, and then went on to detail their
mission plans.

It was explained that the Marines, supported
by Navy patrols, would garrison strategic bases near these portals
as well as maintain contingent forces in distant colonies as long
as operations called for it. The Navy would set up and maintain
standing additional naval bases throughout the Empire to deal with
the Stasis Pirate menace and possible clandestine enemy
activities.

Gabrielle warned, “The Navy must maintain
its carrier Battle groups at fighting strength to the point of
sacrificing some of the colonies if necessary. This means that our
other naval forces will be spread thin, making do with whatever is
available. The naval yards are busy upgrading - resurrecting -
older battle ships and converting available merchantmen into
fighting sloops. The fact still remains that we will be dependent
on our Wildcatter allies for providing a large part of our colonial
protection.”

She then pointed toward the Tarezabarian
commanders. “Already the Crimson Fleet is preparing to move on the
Stasis Pirates, not waiting for a declaration of war. By tomorrow
at this time, the Cave Wasps will be departed for the Outer Reaches
and into the Trizentine, their captains on a clandestine search and
destroy mission in an attempt to contain the Stasis with the hope
of driving them from our Empire, or their destruction…
whichever.”

Grim-faced while waving a hand, Gabrielle
went on to discuss a troubling subject. “Our weakest point - thus
our greatest threat - is the jump portal, Eden’s Gate. Allow me a
moment to provide clarity for those of you who may not be familiar
with this standing dilemma.”

“Eden’s Gate is, as some might call it, near
the
vortex of the universe
. Its fingers reach more portal
points than any other known portal other than Teleohodos,
EdenEsonbar’s home portal. What adds even more importance to Eden’s
Gate is that it connects directly down the chute to the
Sinai-Ojibwa Jump Portal, located in the heart of League of
Brothers’ territory. Three days’ hard running down the chute from
Sinai-Ojibwa to Eden’s Gate could put the enemy right at our back
door, and we being nearly defenseless to stop his intrusions into
our territory. The war would certainly be lost if he possessed
Eden’s Gate.”

Planetee stepped up, adding, “Eden’s Gate
has exchanged hands several times during this Age of Rebellion. Our
people have purchased its freedom at the cost of thousands of
lives, we finally wresting it from our opponent’s grasp during the
Great War, but only the exit portal is currently secure. Ever there
is a contingent of enemy ships lurking in the shadows of that
portal, waiting for some lapse in our vigil to keep it secure. For
them, the Sinai-Ojibwa Portal is easily secured by well-equipped
bases in a nearby star system. For us, though, we have no supply
bases less than three weeks’ running, forcing long tours of duty
and countless provision ships in order to keep up a substantial
defense of the place.”

“Should the enemy breach our defenses at
Eden’s Gate, we should surely lose our bases in the Middle Realms
along with most of our star systems, save EdenEsonbar and its
nearby local colonies. Once the enemy was fully entrenched, it
would be impossible to drive him away, even with massed assaults
that would do little more than add dead to the Silent Tombs. The
enemy would then slowly strangle us, whittling away our outer
defenses until only this planet - Mother’s home - would remain in
our possession. Then…well...”

Gabrielle spoke up. “Do not become dismayed!
We have not revealed these things to you because there remains no
hope. Quite to the contrary, we feel confident that eventual
victory will be ours, but it will come at a heavy cost! Greater
must be the risks that are taken this time, the loss of life and
property acceptable sacrifices for the treasures secured. It is sad
to say, but success will be measured in obtained objectives
regardless of the loss of life...” She bowed her head. “That said,
allow me, please, to introduce our Centurion General SarahCnidus,
Commander over the Beowulf.”

Sarah came forward - a tall, majestic woman
with a warrior’s stature, but rather shy and somewhat timid with
public speech. After a few short comments defining the role of the
Beowulf, she requested Richard Finhardt join her, asking him to
explain the reason for the Beowulf marauder fleets.

Richard began, “The Navy will have its hands
full protecting and defending this Empire when war finally comes!
The Crimson Fleets and Wildcatters are useful, willing forces, but
it will take time to integrate them into our military machine. For
the foreseeable future, running patrols and convoy duty will be
their primary responsibilities. All in all, we should be
well-equipped to maintain a good defense of our territories. But
merely maintaining a good defense is not our objective…” He waved
his hand high, grinning. “
We intend to take this war to our
enemy!”