Lightstream to war

Blinding light

Gyeth sat in front of over a hundred of his warriors; he had twelve of the new earpieces sitting on a mat beside him. He looked around and said, "We have the magic from the sky to help us now and can remove the sky people from our land. We don't understand their power fully yet - a voice cut in. Gyeth, we are too few, Drak, said Gyeth; you know our boxes can kill, and some can even put people to sleep. You've even seen the sky people killing each other, Virat said; we know they're hostile to us, giving us a reason to fight them. Gyeth raised his arms. A voice from the back of the hut said, Our decision to free the prisoners won't happen now. We're gaining valuable things from them. Chief Awala walked to the front; you've seen the power they use, the warrior Drak said; we are too small in numbers, Drak said Gyeth. Danna and Virat have discovered talking pads. That's what the sky people call them. He pointed to a pile of pads, they can help us talk to the people in the sky and told us about the ear voices. As you see here on the mat, we are learning fast how to use the sky people's things; a group of warriors came forward, looking down at them. Danna knows the most about them; he will explain later. Drak yelled, "We must get ready for war!" Yes, called Virat, the sky people fight each other, making it easy for us to chase them from our world. Chief Awala has sent runners to bring men back from other tribes, said Gyeth, and to spread the word. Virat stood then with his arms out wide. We are warriors and know how to fight. The sky people have weapons unknown to us, so stealth used in one full attack is the only way. The warriors cheered as they left and headed to the war-fire dance. Sargent, said Lieutenant Lin standing with a group of soldiers outside the command tent, the camp is adequate for our purpose and now the comms work every meeting should be on security or our food management, Lieutenant, comms are only partially up and if you read your messages you'd know our security is fully operational but most of all you'd know I'd "asked" if you or Lieutenant Doyle wanted to lead the friendship team, oh said Doyle, but they still have our people prisoner, Sargent how do you think they will act to a white flag, Lin said, it'll mean nothing to them we have nothing they won't, Lin ah, Lieutenant Lin, We must befriend them if where to survive here, Sir, said Dr Blaine standing beside them, we need their help in lots of ways if we're to stay alive until rescue, someone behind the group called, that's if they even know we still live, settle down said Samuels, I won't volunteers to go with the officer, Lin and Doyle walked back a bit and argued amongst themselves Samuels saw them prodding at each other in a heated debate until Lin came back, Sargent, I'll lead the team, can you set it up, yes Sir, thank you. A drone sat above a Village, clicking back to thermal as it passed over the huts; it was looking for heat signatures and transmitting everything back in real-time to the camp. Sargent called Carter, we've found a group of huts close to here; he turned to crewman Reaves, a trainee sitting beside him, saying, with the comms up now, our drones are working a lot further out, how many people do you count; called Samuel's, from behind them, hundreds Sir, then Carter, let's use that village as our meeting place for tomorrow's meeting, but sir, the other drones found villages as well, reports have been sent to your pad, okay I've only two people willing to go with Lin so message him 0600 with Haze and Porter, oh and Carter, tell him it's about five miles northwest of this camp, Sir will he check his messages this time, they laughed, let's see, called Samuels. Danna sat with Gail arguing about everything now that she knew comms were up and that they'd been listening to the camps comms, the situation had changed for her now and reluctantly she'd agreed to call the camp hopping to set a meeting her mind racing Gail placed the pad on a mat, Hello this is crewmen, Gail Stanley who's in charge there now, a long pores had the group with Gail shrugging and watching her then, Stanley - this is Sargent Samuels I'm running the camp, Sir I'm here with the leadership of the local natives a pad here came to life so they let me call you they won't war unless you lay down your weapons and leave, great Stanley turn the translator on so we can try to make friends again hopefully it's not as bad as before, Sir translation is at 98% now I've been talking with a lad here named Danna and that has improved it's vocabulary, okay let's try then, but Stanley, can you cough every time you think they lie, Danna looked at her smiling she had unwittingly told him how to use the translation key on the earpiece and now everyone had one, hello I'm Sargent Samuels I wish only peace we had a bad first contact with you and wish to fix that, S Muels my name is Danna I know of your power and of your hate because I was one of the first to be hurt by you we can't believe anything you say you locked me up I decided then to fight you, Samuels realized who Danna was and gulped, Danna the man who stunned you was scared he thought you were hurting the lady, what's stunned? Oh hurt Danna, Gail said, the blue light, he nodded, but she was dead already, yes Danna he has been punished we only won't not to upset you or your leaders he was scared Danna, I'm here now with my Chief and our Chief priest Gyeth they won't be fooled by you, friends Danna I only wish us to be friends, you need to know our heart is full of love and friendship, a voice cut in, a big try but it's only words our hearts are strong we are meny and we won't you to go said Gyeth, Chief our ship, oh Sir! said Gail, they don't know the word ship say star house its the only way Danna understood it and the person you talk to now is Gyeth the spiritual Leader, thanks Gail, our star house was damaged badly Gyeth by an evil star houses they are fighting us, yes we saw them said Chief Awala, we wish them not to come here eather, can we go to a face to face Gail I can't tell who I'm talking with, no Chief Awala doesn't like the idea of it, I'm Gyeth Sam-ules we only wish to have no part in your war that is what is happening isn't it you've brought War here, not by our making Gyeth, Danna said, just go we don't need you and will defend ourselves, please I have leaders here who would won't to talk more and may help you understand our problems can we all talk again after midday when they are in the room say at one or two Gail, the noise of mixed voices then Gail's voice said, yes tomorrow morning at eight am, oh, yes that's fine we will call back then, Damm said Samuels, he put the pad on the table we need to change our frequency and fast, Sir said a crewman, they can't use our equipment I'm sure Gail has it in hand, who are you crewman, Reaves sir said Trainee Reaves, ah Samuels looked around, who's that technology bloke, I am sir, oh Samuels turned his chair and saw a crew-man in the tent entrance a glance at his name tag and he said, Carter! Can you do it? Not for a while. The rig I'm using now is dodgy and fixed with bits from bits, but I'm trying to extend the range now; I'll leave it with you then, Carter; message Lin again and tell him there's no trip where meeting locals here at 0800 tomorrow. Gyeth had to work hard to stop an attack by his people immediately after the talk, but Danna got control of their anger by saying that the warriors from other villages hadn't arrived yet. Virat called Danna and sent more men to watch where the humans hid. We will hear their words tomorrow, but we'll let them feel safe for now. Carter, you should see this: a drone just sent in a thermal of hundreds of natives coming this way. I don't know how they see themselves running like that at night; I'm sending it to Lin. He's in charge and wants the feed.
Chief Awala said, warriors are arriving at the gathering place now our thoughts are that thousands will come, Gyeth said, we need to feed them I've sent for extra food but this must be a short war our winter is coming, Danna said, I can't get any more out of the prisoner Gail she has sensed our intention, so what do we do with them, "kill them", said Awala, later, said Gyeth, we must plan, sunrise by the village a native boy sat in a tree watching its approaches when he saw a strange bird it was stuck in one place with the morning sun highlighting its side making it easy to see, Danna stood in front of Gail Stanley Gyeth frowned down at her, Gail he said, throwing a pile of uniforms in front of her, your clothing returned, why she said, no reason but the things above our villages what are they, she nodded, nothing you need to fear its an eye in the sky for our security, so your people spy on us in secret, how can this be friendly, Danna we do things differently to you no harm is meant, if that is true today you won't tell your people that we know of it, yes if that's what you want I agree, Gyeth sat by his fire praying for his people when Danna came in and sat by him, how can I help you, Danna, Gyeth I'm scared I saw in the pad thing that they can see at night with their magic and into huts through walls I'm learning more and more about how to use the pad thing but it scares me Gail won't talk anymore and I don't think we know anything really of what they can do I'm scared for our people, as am I but the Chief is set Danna his brother Chiefs are here I will tell them of the night eyes but tomorrow night we fight for our people and for our way of life Danna these things are bad we must stop them changing us. Hello, I'm Lieutenant Lin, Sir, said Gail; we have a problem. To whom do I speak, Sir, crewman Gail Stanley, Stanley, what problem? The natives have asked for an extra day to have more Chiefs here. That's not good enough. Stanley is a Chief there now; I'm Danna, speaking for my people. Well, Danna, this is not the way to negotiate. I want us to talk now. Danna smiled at Gail and turned off the pad; why? Danna, I don't like him, Jobil will take you back to the cave, Gail grabbed Danna by the arm, what are you up to, that night Virat said, bring up the Yule, a warrior came to his side with a giant bat-like creature on his glove, the prey is up there somewhere watching the Village we must kill it before the attack, yes Virat he said, we have killed two of the things already tonight, the warrior scratched the beast's belly with a smile then turned to Virat, he is getting good at finding the things now I understand what you need, Virat looked around at the Chief who nodded the Yule flew straight up and vanished into the darkness Chief Awala put a hand on Virat's shoulder as a screech sounded above the Village then silence lingered until the Yule landed on a rock beside them blood on its lips but in its fangs was a large twisted thing with a slowly spinning blade on one side others spun fast but the warrior took it and pushed it into the woven bag, Virat said, its not hurt is it, looking at the cuts on the Yule, no he likes to please me. Sargent, oh sorry, lieutenant, I forgot you were on tonight. A drone is offline, but look at its last seconds of feed; he gave Lieutenant Doyle the pad still set to night vision; it showed the Village until a black shape engulfed it, fuzzy images, until they saw a hand, then nothing, what was that said Doyle, I don't know Sir maybe it got too low, fool it malfunctioned and fell a native must have found it, will I send a message to Lin, just put it in the log and send a replacement, the gully chosen to put the camp was great if you suspected your enemies couldn't climb but this gully was all cliff on three sides Commander Lin had ordered it protected with a sensor covered entrance. Danna looked at his warriors. Each had a yellow strip across their chest and back; thinking about Virat's men's red circle, he smiled; the thousands of natives waited for the Chief's call. The camp was quiet. Most crew members stayed together in their tents and slept together in groups. The security tent had two crew members on watch full-time, watching pads with drone vision. One man started tapping on his pad wildly: Kennedy, I've just lost two feeds. That's four drones down now. You had better call Samuels, don't worry. It's the equipment after that crash; most won't work properly; you're probably right. I hope we get picked up from here soon said Kennedy as a blade cut his throat. Chief Abata stood and called his war cry to the night, Hell, then hit the camp. The first flashes seen were blue, but the red moved into the centre of the camp quickly; Samuels stunned two natives but saw hundreds running everywhere; he saw Lennard and Carter running by him both were shooting back as they left the camp, Fuck! Said Samuels and ran after them. Silence hit the area fast. Danna looked around himself and noticed the bodies of the sky people. His lungs were burning, but most of his warriors stood looking at him. Then the Chief stood on the cliff's edge again, this time with his Chief brothers beside him. Everyone was looking down upon the scene. "Traley!" he screamed, holding his spear above his head. A Raw of Traley from the Warriors broke out. Lennard had found a shallow cave where the men hid and watched for any pursuit; they were all dead. Said Samuel's; they cut their bloody throats or stabbed them with those spears, quiet said Samuels; they used our weapons as well; we need to think, Carter said; Shit on that, where dead, nothing to eat, and no way home Fuck we have to go fast to the shuttle get whatever we can then hide. Gyeth walked into the camp smiling the women and children following the warriors had gathered for the spoils of war each man with a bag the children were given a food bar each as a reward while the Chief's all inspected the site of their greatest victory, later Danna sat at the cave talking by pad to a defeated Gail Stanley, we have decided you will be freed to live with us or find your own way in life, ha very nice of you after killing our friends my four crew mates and I are experts at surviving on hostile lands so we may live a week thanks Danna, Gail I know you are hurt but we did what we had to you can be safe with us or go to another village, she stared at him with disgust in her eyes the other four captives told her to tell him what they thought but he had his earpiece in and heard it all, think on it he said as he left, Lennard smiled pointing down at Danna, that's the one we locked up at the start of this, yes I recognise him he must be that Danna one said Samuels, more important is the arm that came out of that framework it was wearing a state uniform, Samuels looked back down at the cave, your right we must get that person out we aren't the only survivors, Carter said, there could be others in there, okay then it's tonight said Samuels, I've seen only the one guard but do you think we can get away, Leonard once they know we're out here they will hunt us, I'm not leaving our people locked up said Lennard, but where do we go after, the Forrest area we saw from space said Samuels, I'm sure the shuttle still sits by the camp, what if they stripped it, Lennard you and Carter can go tonight Check it I don't think they could open it I'll get the prisoner out and we'll meet you at our new hideout then we'll load up and fly out? Or just run, said Leonard. Samuels crept in and stunned the guard; then he walked to the timber gate; who was in there? Stanley looked out; shit, Sir, your alive, Gail? Who's that with you, sir? Crewmen's Hammond Yay, Pike and Suzuki, okay then. Gail, Lennard, and Carter are getting the shuttle if it works; if not, we will run to the forested area and plan our next move. The run to the river hideout was hard, but to Samuels's surprise, the shuttle came down beside them; crewman Hammond then said, Sir, look at this. Samuels was shocked to see the supplies were still in the back; the natives couldn't open it, I think, so they must have left it alone to make room for all eight of us quickly; yay watched Hammond while Pike relieved himself. Virat ran along the trail of the six people he followed; we kill them all, he said. A noise above his head told him to hide; his men followed and hit the ground; what was it? A warrior said a sky house, a little one said another; it flew ahead of them and out of sight, but it was low. The shuttle rose later to leave the area, but thuds started hitting its side; what's that, the bloody natives? Sir, shit said Carter; we only just made it back here then. The shuttle raced away over the trees. Virat and his men chased after it again until a decision was made to stop. Danna sat in the Chief's hut with Gyeth beside him as a warrior ran in. The man was out of breath, and his finger-pointing up told Danna all he needed, so he ran out looking up. There, he saw the lights of a large sky house as it was coming down, and it had a lot of little houses beside it. Gyeth moaned as Chief Awala stepped out beside them; an enormous Boom sounded; ah, more enemies, said Awala; they won't be able to hurt us. we'll kill them all to show them we won't be cowed. The first of the cruisers landed beside the crashed human carrier. Its destruction was greater now after the last attack; black-clad soldiers ran out of the cruisers and started lining up as the red-armoured commanders walked out.