“Get me the troop commander for Thalidi,” said Tiet.
“Online, sir.”
“This is Commander Erib, sir, what can I do for you?”
“Commander, I want you to order an immediate civilian evacuation of the suburban area beyond the defense wall then mobilize your troops there. The Baruk are heading your way. We anticipate an attack, launched from the Usai Valley, within twelve hours,” Tiet said.
“I trust we’ll be launching a cooperative attack with the city’s defensive batteries?” Erib asked.
“In part. What I hope to accomplish is more of an ambush. The Baruk will expect our civilian population to withdraw behind the city’s defensive wall. Hopefully we can lay in wait for them in the suburbs and then come upon them in force.”
“Yes, sir, Erib out.”
“What about me?” Wynn asked.
“I want you to deploy more troops on this side of Thalidi and set up a front approximately ten miles away. Let the other troop commanders know to send you fifty percent of their forces to make up that frontline. I expect the Baruk to try for Baeth Periege after Thalidi. They’ll want the capital.”
“I wish you would allow me to lead the first strike at Thalidi and you remain here to set up the front,” Wynn said. “The battle there could be a suicide mission and we need you to survive and lead these people.”
“Trust me, Wynn. This is how to lead them-by going into the fire with them. And I don’t intend to die at Thalidi, if I can help it. But if I should fall, you must assume command.”
Wynn remained silent.
“I’m only sorry we couldn’t enlist Grod’s Horva to help us in the fight. If we can’t defeat the Baruk, they’ll be the next target,” Tiet said.
“I think your broken arm speaks all too well for Grod’s intentions,” Wynn countered.
“Maybe.” Tiet said. They paused staring at one another. “I had better go. I hope to see you again.”
Wynn didn’t say anything. His concern showed on his face. Tiet turned with a small wave and walked out of the control room, heading for the main deployment area to arrange for troops who would join him in the mission to Thalidi.
Wynn thought about the extreme danger Tiet would face there outside of the walls of Thalidi. An ambush was very ambitious against the Baruk. He just couldn’t understand why Tiet wanted to face them that way. Even with crack commandos from among their best trained troops it was going to be a deadly battle. He wished he could be there to at least keep an eye on their young king. Then something occurred to him-If he couldn’t be there, maybe someone else could.
When Commander Mendle had assembled his troops, he opened the door to the private assembly hall allowing Tiet to enter. Though no formal ceremony had taken place to crown him as king, everyone knew full well the authority that had been granted to Tiet by the Council. They were glad for it.
Tiet walked to a place before them where he could address the men selected for the mission. They stood erect, waiting for orders which they would follow or die trying.
He said to all, “I don’t know if you realize the mission we are about to undertake. We are going to reinforce the troops already stationed at the city of Thalidi where it has now been confirmed that the Baruk have landed and are deploying their forces. The Baruk are coming at the city from the Valley of Usai. It will be our mission to take up positions within the suburban district which lies between the Baruk and the defensive wall of the city.”
“Excuse me, sir,” said Commander Mendle. “Did you say outside the defense wall?”
“We’re going to provide an ambush in the hopes of at least giving the city officials enough time to evacuate the civilian population. There isn’t much time to evacuate a city full of people, but we have no choice. With the number of Baruk forces that will be thrown at us in this first assault, we likely will not be able to hold them from entering the city.”
“So, is this is a suicide mission, sir?” asked one of the soldiers.
“Not at all,” Tiet said. “I have no intention of wasting lives, but we need to buy some time. We have security tunnels within that sector which were intended to allow the civilian population living in the suburbs to evacuate to within the defensive wall perimeter if an attack came.
“We will take up positions well ahead of the tunnels then fight and fall back as we have to. When we can’t hold our positions anymore, we’ll evacuate through the tunnels and help the rest of the civilian population in the city to get behind a front Wynn Gareth will be putting together with the majority of our security forces from all of the twelve cities. That is where I intend to face off with the Baruk.”
“Make no mistake, men, this will be an extremely dangerous mission and some us may fall in the battle, but I for one would rather lose my life fighting the Baruk than to live under their rule. Trust in your training. It will save your life and the lives of your fellow soldiers. Now let’s go!”
The troop commander barked a few quick orders at his men then they all made their way to the transports ready to take them to Thalidi. Tiet watched the elite group of five hundred soldiers file into the carriers as he made last minute checks to his own uniform and weaponry. The last item he checked was the latch across the hilt of his father’s blade. He was ready. Tiet boarded the lead carrier as the ramp began to ascend. Within moments they were all in the air flying toward Thalidi and the Baruk.
Kale watched the monitor that his guards were watching, as different images and information on the coming attack was displayed. The two soldiers were talking between themselves about what was happening and even how they wished they could get into the action rather than remain on guard duty.
“Look at that, the King is going to lead the first strike at Thalidi,” said one of the soldiers.
“Yeah, but this says Thalidi’s population is going to be evacuated to Baeth Periege,” said the other. “That doesn’t sound like they expect to hold the city.”
Kale was concerned now. His brother was heading into an attack against overwhelming forces and probably would not survive it. He had to do something, even if Tiet hated him. Kale knew the Baruk wouldn’t be coming at all if he hadn’t betrayed his people in the first place. He was responsible for all of this.
The two soldiers still weren’t paying any attention to Kale, but his eyes were fixed upon them. After a few moments they both collapsed into the floor unconscious. The hand of one of the men rose into the air. The limp body was dragged across the floor by the elevated hand toward the security scanner to Kale’s cell. The hand planted itself on the scanner. The computer responded by lowering the security field to the cell.
Kale practically leaped across the room to the locker where his weapons had been stored, breaking the lock with his mind. He removed his weapons and then, using the hand of the other soldier nearby, he opened the chamber’s main security door.
When Kale stepped into the hall, he found Wynn Gareth standing propped against the wall about ten feet away. Kale froze, unsure of his next move.
“That was faster than I expected,” Wynn said.
Before Kale could respond, Wynn held out a security code key. “You’ll need this if you’re going to get to the hangar and take my personal fighter to Thalidi.”
“How did you know?” Kale asked.
“I’m the one that fed the information to the monitor in there. Tiet hasn’t allowed me to be there to watch out for him-but he can’t stop his renegade brother, can he?”
Before Kale could respond, Wynn said, “You’d better get going. And, Kale? It’s not too late.”
Kale gave him a thoughtful look and nodded. Then he turned and ran toward the hangar bay. Wynn watched him go. He looked in on the two unconscious soldiers.
They were unharmed, so he left them there asleep. To wake them now would mean setting off the alarms over Kale’s escape. Wynn wanted the young king to have his powerful older brother on hand to help him stay alive.