Altiris Knights:The Fall

Chapter 11:Knight Fall

Raksaiar gazed into the space, as the uriak fleet traveled through lightspeed towards Laxis, a crucial world for the human allies. This was a crucial mission. If they could capture that world, or at least damage the shipyards severely enough, the humans would be hampered. Or, better yet, the technology could be adapted for the growing of uriak vessels. Laxis was a world in the center of the Alliance. If captured, it would provide a staging ground from where any Alliance world could be attacked at will.

That carried weaknesses of its own, however. Unless sufficient reinforcements arrived, the full might of the Alliance worlds in the rear, those too far to fear the main uriak force, could be leveraged against them, and quickly overrun them with sheer numbers alone. It was precisely for that reason, that Overlord Xoer had chosen the best warriors of his elite Reaper Squadron. Araklur, Uruior, Harkelia, and Ramaia accompanied him on this mission, along with the Irmalar, one of the 4 elite battalions of Xoer's military.

The fleet emerged from lightspeed, and attacked the small Alliance fleet. Even with the defensive weapons on the shipyard, the Alliance was outmatched. It would only be a matter of time.

Raksaiar, Araklur, Uruior, Harkelia and Ramaia, along with several squads of soldiers, boarded the Alliance flagship, and carved through the defending soldiers, though a number of their own were lost. Raksaiar unleashed a wave of etheron, the green liquid tearing through the humans.

Four Altiris Knights attacked them, unleashing waves of fire, light, air and lightning. Raksaiar faced the lightning Knight, and met her double bladed purple energy sword with his own blade. The Knight released a burst of lightning, which he caught with an etheron shield. The energy sword came for him again, and he narrowly evaded the weapon. He pushed his foe away with a triple kick to the chest, and unleashed another wave of etheron. The Altiris Knight met the attack with a lightning shield, and rushed forth, her energy staff repelling his sword.

The air Knight met Uruior and Harkelia's swords with his twin blue energy swords, and released an air blast, staggering both.

Maior went on the offensive, disregarding his foes' numerical superiority. He swept Uruior's feet from under him, and unleashed a flurry of heavy blows on Harkelia's defenses, clearly proving to be the superior duelist.

The fire Knight cut through Araklur's arm, leaving him at a severe disadvantage. He unleashed a fire bloom, burning through his foe's shield with the sheer intensity of the purple fire. Araklur retaliated with a barrage of etheron projectiles, all of which the fire Knight deflected with his sword and fire shields. The Knight swiftly closed the distance between them, firmly settling his foe on the defensive. Within minutes, it was all over.

Ramaia snarled, as she withdrew her swords from the Altiris Knight's torso. She walked past her dying foe, and attacked the fire Knight.

Reyna dared a brief glance in the direction of Maior and Suron, and froze, as she saw the mangled corpse of Yara. Only the sound of the Reaper charging her took her eyes off her dead comrade. The Altiris Knight attacked with increased ferocity, pummeling him with a barrage of overhead blows, finally breaking through his defenses, and sent him to his knees. As she raised her weapon for the deathblow, however, she felt a jolt.

Suron staggered back, and his sword tumbled out of his hand. Ramaia crossed her blades at his neck. As the swords sliced through, he released one final jet of fire, burning her face and neck. The damage was only minor, however, leaving only a few scars on the Reaper's skin.

Maior blasted Uruior and Harkelia into a wall, driving the wind out of them, and rushed to Reyna's aid, blocking a deathblow from Ramaia. It could not last for much longer. Already, the other two Reapers were speeding towards them. Their chances of survival seemed almost non-existent.

"Looks like we are in time. But only barely", Loeras said. He, Kirtan, and the Commandos arrived at the flagship, and rushed to their comrades' aid.

Maior and Reyna sighed in relief, as they spotted Kirtan and Loeras. The two Knights distracted Uruior and Harkelia, leaving Raksaiar and Ramaia to them. The eight warriors battled, and the reinforced Alliance fleet struck back with new vigor.

...

"Everyone load up and prepare for battle. We are going to Laxis", ordered Captain Lok. The Helkaites fleet, consisting of a dreadnought, four cruisers, and 5 frigates and corvettes, along with several hundred star fighters, jumped to lightspeed, and arrived to Laxis, just as another uriak fleet appeared. Valaeon, Rohalla, Freya and Reala boarded their ship, and, escorted by several fighter squadrons, flew towards the Alliance flagship.

The Altiris Knights were tiring. All four were gravely injured. Raksaiar, Ramaia, Uruior and Harkelia pressed their advantage. Just as they were on the brink of victory, however, sounds of blaster fire and the hum of energy blades distracted them. Raksaiar risked a brief glance. Three Altiris Knights and a Kai Tor Luso Warrior rushed at them.

"Blasted humans", the Reaper cursed under his breath, and unleashed a storm of etheron. One of the Knights ignored the attack, and released volleys of energy shots from his pistols, several bolts striking Raksaiar in the shoulders, and one even blasting his chest, just narrowly missing his heart.

Freya, Reala and Rohalla distracted Uruior, while Reyna and Maior, along with Valaeon, attacked Raksaiar.

Uruior sent Freya to her back with a blast of etheron, and cut Rohalla on the leg. Reala's yellow blade just narrowly missed his heart as he moved to the side. Freya and Rohalla attacked him from the back, and both of their weapons found their marks. Reala disarmed the Reaper and several powerful blows destroyed the natural armor on his chest. Rohalla wrapped her staff around his neck, and wrenched back with all her strength, crushing the trachea. The Reaper collapsed, never to rise again.

Raksaiar pushed Valaeon, Maior and Reyna away, and attacked Loeras. The Republic Knight landed several deep cuts with his sword, but his foe kept up the pressure, and penetrated his defenses. Loeras staggered, and collapsed. Kirtan, Maior and Reyna unleashed a barrage of elemental power on the Reaper, but Raksaiar, Harkelia and Ramaia retreated swiftly, and with the remainder of the uriak fleet, escaped to lightspeed.

Captain Lok and the survivors gathered around the dying warrior.

"Is it over?" Loeras gasped, his strength fading rapidly. "Yes. We have won. Barely. But Laxis is safe for now", Captain Lok said. "Good. You can not let them win. Too many have sacrificed themselves in this war", Loeras managed, as the last of his strength left him. Kirtan closed his eyes, and placed his energy sword in his hands, over his chest. They lifted the body, as well as those of Yara and Suron, into the medical bay, and placed them in body bags filled with ice for preservation.

Of the defending warships, 5 Alliance capital ships survived, along with the Helkaites dreadnought, two cruisers, a corvette, a frigate, and 190 combined star fighters.