Altiris Knights:Civil War

Book 3:Chapter 6:Side by Side

Chief Jolzac and the Tribe Council, along with many of the tribe members, organized a celebration dinner in the village center. A dozen tribe members dressed in blue, red, green and purple robes faced the Altiris Knights and the Commandos, along with the rest of the tribe, and began their dance-a series of leaps and twirls in the air, along with impressive display of their elemental mastery, creating beasts out of fire, ice sculptures, and much more. At last, it all faded away, and the dancers returned to the main group, and Chief Jolzac stepped forth.

"Greetings, my fellow tribe members, and guests from afar! It is a great honor to me to have an opportunity to meet with a member of the noble Altiris Order. It is through their efforts, as well as those of the Alliance soldiers, that our world is safe, and that we have managed to live in peace and freedom for so long. And here we are tonight, gathered to celebrate our fortune, and honor their sacrifice, the fight for our freedom, and for that of the galaxy" he said, and waved his hand, and a large round table rose from the ground, made entirely out of metal and earth, and with another wave, chairs sprang up. The tribe cooks rushed to the table, serving bowls of soup, plates of meat, bread, cheese, fruits, salads, and tankards of valos juice, wine, and many other native drinks.

The tribe members were quite curious about the course of the war, and Judeor and Akala had to answer many questions, with the Commandos adding in their comments every once in a while. At last, after what seemed like hours, the feast was over, and everyone slowly retired to their huts.

Late into the night, Judeor still could not sleep. "Can not sleep either?" asked Akala, sensing his nervousness. "I guess not. Not when everything is so uncertain" he replied. "Aye. Hopefully the others can pick us up soon. If the Legion finds us here, the tribe could be in danger" said Akala. "Let's hope it doesn't come to a battle. Many of them would die" said Judeor. "Well, it won't do us any good if we are too exhausted to move tomorrow. Good night" said Akala. "Good night."

A few  days passed, enough time for them to rest. They helped the tribe with anything they needed, and entertained the tribe children with stories from the war in their spare time. In those few days, they've known nothing but peace. However, that would soon change.

Akala shuddered, as she felt a hostile presence, and climbed a tree. She narrowed her eyes as she saw several platoons of Legion Commandos and five walkers, led by two Legion Knights. She jumped down and ran to the village. She spotted Judeor and waved to him.

"What's wrong?" he asked, sensing her distress. "They found us. There is a Legion battle group heading this way. They will be here within half an hour. We must go now" Akala replied. Judeor nodded and they hurried to the meeting hall. "Silas, Haelor, Ryala, get to the meeting hall. We have a problem" he said into his com link. "On our way" Ryala replied. Akala contacted Kirtan "The Legion found us, and sent a large battle group. You have to come as soon as you can." "We are sending a small fleet. It will be there within an hour" Kirtan replied.

They entered the building. "Excuse our interruption, but we have a problem. A Legion battle group is en route to this village. They are only here for us. We will draw them away from here" said Judeor. "And what of us? Are we to simply sit here, while you risk your lives for us? Oh no, we shall fight with you. That's the least we can do to repay for your sacrifices in this war" the chief replied.

"We shall need a defense plan, then. They outnumber us, and they have powerful weapons with them, along with two Legion Knights. Whoever can wield, will have to create and maintain a shield around the village. Anyone who has any battle experience will have to come with us. The biggest problem will be the five walkers with them, simply because of their fire power, but those can be taken down. The most important thing is to protect the village. An Alliance fleet is en route, but we will have to hold out until they arrive" said Judeor. "Alright. I will go with you. I am not too old yet" said Chief Jolzac.

The Legion battle group approached the village, while the assembled Vernaka warriors waited patiently. As soon as they got in range, they were pelted with a hail of arrows and blaster bolts, as well as earth, air, mind, water, fire and lightning attacks, reducing their numbers greatly.

They recovered quickly, however, and unleashed a barrage of red plasma bolts on the rainbow shield around the village. The shield held, however, though they kept firing. Judeor knew it wouldn't hold for long, and attacked. He collapsed one of the walkers, knocking down another along with it. Chief Jolzac and Akala brought down another, pinning its legs together with metal restraints.

The three monsters fell on the Legion Commandos, crushing even more of them. Haelor, Silas, Ryala and the other Vernaka warriors kept firing at the enemy. The Legion responded with fire of their own, pelting them with crimson plasma bolts, killing many. The remaining walkers  crushed many more under their feet.

Judeor and Akala spotted the Legion Knights, wreaking havoc through the defenders. Akala engaged Valtea, while Judeor battled the other Legion Knight.

Akala slashed, her energy whip wrapping around Valtea's. Realizing this was pointless, they discarded their weapons and attacked with their elements. Akala conjured an earth wall, protecting herself from the ice spears Valtea sent at her, and struck her foe with an earth punch, just as Valtea struck her with an ice ball.

Judeor blocked a fire wave and sent out a torrent of lightning, followed by an air wave. The Legion Knight blocked both attacks, and attacked, his saber staff meeting Judeor's. The Altiris Knight blocked the next few strikes and landed a shallow cut on his foe's shoulder. He pushed him away with an air wave, just as his opponent hit him with a fire whip, scorching his face. Judeor blocked his next strike and grasped his arm, and sent out a torrent of lightning. He kicked his foe thrice in the chest and was thrown back by a fire wave in retaliation.

He rolled back on his feet and hurled his saber staff at his foe, manipulating it with air. He conjured a lightning storm, forcing his foe to evade, and pelted him with air and saber staff attacks. He disarmed him and knocked him to the ground with a hilt slam to the chin. As he raised his weapon for the deathblow, he saw Valtea holding an ice dagger to Akala's neck. Akala glanced at him, and smiled briefly.

Judeor rushed to her side, shattering Valtea's dagger and pushed her away with a kick. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the fire wielder aiming at him. He blocked his fire wave and ducked under a sloppy strike. He evaded another attack and kneed his foe in the gut. Judeor sliced off his hand and electrocuted his foe, killing him.

Akala distracted Valtea and launched an earth attack at her. Valtea blocked, but the power pushed her back, and she slammed into an earth wall. Akala pelted her with metal disks and sent her to the ground with a series of kicks and hand strikes. She shattered her ice spear with a palm strike and wrapped her arm around Valtea's, snapping it and kicked her in the sternum. Valtea staggered, and Akala pulled her by her arm, letting her stumble forward and delivered a palm slash to her neck, and swept her off her feet.

The Legion Commandos had killed most of the Vernaka warriors, and both walkers were still operational, killing yet more. Judeor, Akala and Chief Jolzac rushed to their aid. All three had been exhausted from the battle, and it was showing. Just as it seemed they would be overwhelmed, a transmission came through to them "This is Admiral Virsol! Reinforcements have arrived!" Indeed, several Alliance capital ships and star fighter squadrons tore through the remaining Legion forces. Several dozen Alliance soldiers were deployed. The remaining Legion forces were all taken out, though Valtea managed to escape in a shuttle.

"Thank you for your help, chief" said Akala. "It was our pleasure. May luck favor you in your war, and may Lynaxa and the Legion fall" the chief replied. "Come on, we'd better get moving. Got a war to win" said Judeor, as he, Akala, Haelor, Ryala, Silas and the Alliance soldiers boarded the troop carriers and rejoined the fleet, which by then had taken out the Legion dreadnought, though several ships were lost.