Barbarians

The reckoning

You never saw coming

You never saw me coming

The reckoning

I’m the reaper outside your door

I am the reckoning

For every wrong you ever did to me

I am the reckoning

Halestorm - “The Reckoning”

The fleet was only a few hours from Dzach when Admiral Fujimoto requested Nassat’s presence on the flagship Zaaronq. It had been politely worded, but something about the note’s subtext put him on edge. So much so he’d diverted the shuttle sent to retrieve him...one perk of being a General...to swing by the hospital ship Clara Barton to pick up Raichret. Despite his stature in the fleet they had only seen each other a handful of times during the journey, and he sensed he would need her strength now, more than ever.

Arriving on the bridge, it surprised him to see he was not the only invited guest...though perhaps the term “Guest” was inaccurate. “Hostage” might be a little more on point when describing the somewhat vague status of Jiyazh when taking into account his companions. The technician Graybird was seated at a console, busying himself with some esoteric bit of electronics, while the leader Musashi stood between the Admiral and the former Khonhim commander.

Flanking him, however, were the humans Tango and Whisper. The blonde female was wearing her auto pistol in a shoulder holster, as still and silent as a spirit, whereas her companion...

... were it not for the fact he had witnessed humans react the same way in his presence, Nassat would have felt self-conscious in his urge to place himself as far from the unstable Whisper as possible. He interposed himself between the human and his wife, eyeing him as he toyed with one of his ubiquitous knives. Jiyazh was doing his level best to ignore the madman, his back ramrod straight and eyes focused ahead, but he was fooling no one. What sounded like a giggle seemed to emanate from Whisper’s mouth as he watched his charge...and Nassat didn’t doubt for an instant he was hoping his prisoner would try to escape.

The Admiral stood in front of the banks of monitors, her hands clasped behind her back and her booted feet planted on the deck. She seemed as solid as a granite statue, but Nassat was certain that was mere illusion. The death of Marshal Antuma in the defense of Earth had to have wounded her, yet she gave no outward sign. It was as if she was husbanding her pain, molding it, forging it into a weapon, and when she was ready to strike...

Hélène turned, acknowledging his appearance with a nod and noting Raichret at his side before returning her attention to the display. “We are nearing our target,” she informed them, as the image of Dzach grew larger on the screen. “What forces can we expect to face, Dhyaksh Jiyazh?” she asked, the use of his former position a calculated slight.

Jiyazh stiffened but refused to take the bait. “I have not returned to the homeworlds in many years, as you know, Admiral,” he responded. “I do not know what new defenses Dhyaksh Uydan may have placed here in my absence.”

Raichret clutched her husband’s hand as the level of tension on the bridge escalated. Admiral Fujimoto gave her prisoner a brief derisive look before glancing away once more. “Well, no matter,” she said after a moment, “I suspect we will find out soon enough for ourselves.” She tapped an icon on her console and began to speak.

“This is Zaaronq to all units...carriers are to flush all fighters and take their stations. All ships are to form Tactical formation Gamma.” Acknowledgments began coming in as the fleet began to alter their ranks.

“Sensors show approximately three dozen ships, of various classes,” one of the bridge officers reported. “We’re reading some clutter on the nearest approach, Admiral.”

“Adjust course,” she ordered, “307 degrees by Mark 115.”

“Aye aye Ma’am,” the helm responded, as the fleet began to shift. Jiyazh noted her response and nodded in understanding...something that did not go unnoticed by the Admiral.

“We’ve learned a few tricks since that first battle at Uzaunx,” she sniffed. Musashi raised his eyebrow at that, but for reasons of his own said nothing. A thin smile appeared on Hélène’s face as she spoke to her communications officer.

“I believe a little music would be appropriate, don’t you?” she said almost airily, though beneath every word lie a frozen dagger. The com officer nodded, tapping an icon on her console, as it filled the bridge with the sounds of stirring strings and blaring horns.

The humans reacted immediately, leaving those not from Earth looking to one another for an explanation.

“Ride of the Valkyries,” she smirked, though there was no warmth in her words. “A little something from our past.” There was a part of Nassat that wanted to enquire more about her choice of compositions but refrained.

“Starfires have contacted the enemy vessels,” the Tactical Officer reported. “Engaging now.” Nassat watched as the agile fighters swooped in, firing at the ships defending the planet who were moving to intercept the fleet and returning fire. Behind the fighters, the battlecruisers moved in for support, adding their own salvos of antimatter into the fray. Even though naval tactics were not his specialty, Nassat could see that the Khonhim defenders were at a disadvantage here, outnumbered and outgunned. The battle wasn’t one-sided and already several fighter craft had disappeared from the display. One battlecruiser…Scimitar, according to the digital readout...had taken several hits and was falling back, as her squadron mates moved to cover her.

The Khonhim ships were taking horrendous casualties. One by one they were shattered and broken, staggering off course as they went black and silent, or disappearing in fireballs. The flagship itself was now in range, as Zaaronq belched a continuous volley of deadly projectiles, tearing into the enemy without pity, or mercy...until the survivors decided they’d had enough. A mere handful of ships reversed course, diving away from the Tetrarchy fleet, with the Starfires in hot pursuit.

“Let them go,” Fujimoto ordered, as Nassat felt a sudden stirring of hope. The Admiral turned away from the monitors, facing Jiyazh for the first time since his arrival. She cocked her head, studying him as if he was some curious form of insect.

“I chose this planet as a test,” she informed him, “a way to bloody our pilots and gunners. And now that its defenders are in full retreat, Dzach lies naked, and exposed.” She took a step forward, her eyes boring into his. “Shall I ask their surrender, Dhyaksh? she asked. “Would they yield to me? Can they even conceive of such a thing?” A sneer appeared at her lips. “Or would they prefer death, instead?”

His entire body trembled with emotion, working his jaw as he bit back a response. The sneer became a sardonic grin. “I thought so,” she said in exultation, as she turned her back to him, striding to her console.

“Zaaronq to all ships...Attack Formation Shiva,” she snarled, as the fleet began moving once more, taking stations surrounding the planet.

Nassat could remain silent no more. “Admiral...what are your intentions?” he demanded.

Hélène spun on her heel, her eyes blazing with fury. “My intentions?” she shot back. “My intentions are to follow the orders of Prime Minister Singh, General,” she said in dangerous tones. “She ordered the Khonhim broken, as you may recall, and their worlds shattered. And for once, I am thrilled to obey.” She spun away once more and growled into her mic. “Zaaronq to all ships...you may commence firing.”

For a moment it seemed as if the fleet had hesitated, but Nassat realized the ships were coordinating their assault. In a single massive burst, the Tetrarchy armada exploded, raining fire down on the surface below. Red-orange blooms began to appear as matter and antimatter annihilated one another, leaving devastation in their wake.

“...Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds,” she whispered, as Dzach suffered her wrath.

Raichret’s grasp threatened to crush his hand, but Nassat barely noticed. The two Saurotaurs were utterly horrified at what they were witnessing, and as for Jiyazh, he seemed to have disappeared deep within himself, struggling to shut out the atrocity being visited upon his people.

But the Admiral was not willing to leave it at that.

She turned away from the burning world and approached him once more. “I wanted you to witness this for yourself, Dhyaksh,” she hissed at him. “I want you to always remember what your kind has unleashed...and every world we destroy, I’ll make sure you have a ringside seat. I want you to see it all.”

The Khonhim could only stare at her, as she bared her teeth. “You sowed the wind...now reap the whirlwind.”