Altiris Knights:Civil War

Book 2:Chapter 2:The Alarm

Kirtan and Judeor sparred, while Itreal, Lurana, Lorya and Akala watched. Kirtan slashed, his silver energy blade deflected by a block from Judeor's saber staff. Judeor attacked, swinging for Kirtan's leg. Kirtan blocked the blow and conjured a few earth cubes, sending them at Judeor. The Altiris Knight held out his forearm, blocking the projectiles with the energy shield. He kicked Kirtan in the chest thrice and unleashed a torrent of lightning. Kirtan conjured an earth wall, and pelted Judeor with earth attacks.

Judeor stopped the projectiles with an air shield, and sent out an air wave. Kirtan evaded and conjured an earth wall behind Judeor, pulling it to him, and stunning him. At the same time, he conjured an earth fist, and drove it into Judeor's gut, pinning him. Judeor cut through the next few earth attacks with his saber staff, and shattered the restraints, sending them at Kirtan. The magnitude of the attack would have overwhelmed most, but Kirtan was able to defend, and retaliated with his energy sword.

They attacked, countered and parried, and evaded, going toe to toe with each other, neither able to find an opening in the other's defenses. Then, Judeor sent out a torrent of lightning, catching Kirtan off guard. Kirtan focused through the pain and pushed Judeor away with a barrage of punches to his chest, and slashed, his blade barely missing Judeor. Judeor backed away. The attack unsettled him. He knew that Kirtan missed deliberately. Judeor narrowed his eyes, and launched air wave at his opponent.

Somehow, Kirtan did not succumb to his barrage. He sent out a barrage of his own, pummeling Judeor with earth attacks, though Judeor remained on his feet, even after a series of metal disk attacks. They paused to catch their breath. Finally, after a few minutes, they attacked, using only their weapons, for they both knew that further elemental combat would only result in a stalemate. Judeor bashed Kirtan on the temple with the flat of his saber staff, and Kirtan returned the favor, slamming his weapon's pommel into Judeor's jaw, and delivered an elbow strike to his temple, just as Judeor punched him in the gut.

Kirtan spotted an opening and locked the hilt of Judeor's saber staff between his own hilt and his forearm. He pulled, and simultaneously pushed Judeor back, tearing the weapon out of his grasp. Unfazed, Judeor pulled on his arm and elbowed him in the sternum. He twisted Kirtan's wrist, forcing him to drop his energy sword and pushed him away, just as Kirtan's foot found his gut. Kirtan flipped back on his feet and attacked, sending a volley of punches to Judeor's sternum. Judeor spread his arms out, leaving Kirtan's torso open, and pushed out with his palms, pushing him away.

They both kicked at the same time, each one's foot landing on the other's temple. Both recovered and attacked again. Judeor leapt in the air and kicked Kirtan in the head. The Altiris Knight shielded himself behind his forearms, and moved to the side, as he struck Judeor's neck with the edge of his palm, and pulled on his arm, punching him in the gut, just as Judeor got his foot behind his and knocked him toe the ground.

Kirtan pulled Judeor down with him, and landed on his palm, flipping back up, just as Judeor rolled to his feet, and attacked again. Kirtan locked his hook between his forearms and adjusted his posture, locking Judeor's feet and placed his elbow to Judeor's temple, just as Judeor's palm touched his neck. They pulled away, and retrieved their weapons, as the others applauded.

Kirtan's comm beeped. "You are to report to the council chamber immediately." "Looks like we are needed" said Kirtan, and they rushed to the council chamber.

Admiral Zalor, Admiral Virsol, Captain Kollves and Grand Admiral Gaerval, along with a few council members and other officers were already there. The grand admiral spoke. "One of our patrol groups was destroyed over Vinreal. Not one of them survived. Both Altiris Knights were slain. It is possible that the Legion is behind this." "Impossible. They don't have nearly enough ships to mount such an attack!" one of the junior officers exclaimed. "I thought so, until one of our scout ships saw a large Legion fleet. She was able to transmit some data before she was spotted and shot down" the grand admiral replied.

"If it is indeed them, then we must launch a fleet to Vinreal, and overwhelm them before they launch another attack" said Captain Kollves. "No. We have to strengthen our fleet at Jorna Octagon. We can not risk them capturing it again. And perhaps our fleets here, at Ykamas, Kyrama, Lok Etreon and Alveor, as well as Akalos, Ilmaer ad Laxis" said Kirtan. "I agree" said Admiral Zalor. "If there are no objections, I suggest we start moving now" said Grand Admiral Gaerval. None followed.