The Dekmár Roads: The Factions of Natorna

Chapter 26: True Colors

On Natena, near the city Noravena, there was a resource station. It predominantly was a drop off point for the collection of logs or stone which would be roughly shaped before sending them to a finisher inside the city. For the most part, the materials were used for buildings or furniture. All they required was the shipment of fasteners from Esca.

At the resource station there were fifty people. Five of them were the outsiders. All of them were armored and prepared for a possible fight. Half of the Norpeala only had handguns. The other half were fortunate enough to have rifles. That was the end of their fortune. None of the Natenta had armor of any kind. Their blue uniforms were thin and breathable and would not stop any form of projectile. If they had access to spacesuits, it would offer some protection but not by much. The outsiders had black plating armor that was well polished. It looked like a dark mirror. The outsiders all wielded long swords that were encompassed by dark blue energy. The swords also doubled as range weapons since they were capable of launching a blast of focused electricity.

One of the outsiders told the makeshift defensive element of Natenta. "Get ready. They are almost here. You all must hold this station. We cannot lose access to more resources. We have lost enough already."

Another outsider added, "Be aware and not forget, one from my race is leading the charge. Why do not know why he defected, why he means you all harm when we came here in peace to assist you all like the rest of us. We do not even know how he convinced anyone to follow his evil plans. We must stop him. Concentrate your attack on him the best you can. If we can stop him, we may cease further casualties and save lives of your fellow Norpeala."

A Natent asked, "What are you expecting? How many are we up against?"

"The first outsider who spoke, answered, "Not many. It is only a mere ten, eleven including the one from our race. The Norpeala are of one of your soldier factions. The Liscznat, I believe. They will be well trained. They believe they could easily overpower you like they did on Katlena. They are so sure of themselves they were not even going to bother gathering more troops. Auspiciously, you have us. They do not know what they are up against."

The defenders crouched down behind the short perimeter wall that was made of rocks. The eleven were in sight. They had arrived on a land-transport. They immediately exited and lined up in front of it. They found some cover behind some rock, a depression in the ground, or simply reduced the size of their silhouettes by laying down in prone. Their rifles were finding targets. Neither side dared to move further in case it would entice the other side to start shooting. They remained as if in a stalemate for several minutes. Other than a light breeze and the sounds of small animals nearby, no sounds were heard.

At length, a Norpeal, hiding behind a rock in front of the transport said, "Give up the station and give up those with you. They are wanted for attacking our people."

A Norpeal on the other side of the wall in the station crouched up a little higher on his elbows and shouted back, "That is what you were told according to the one with you all. I am more inclined to believe the outsiders with me. There are more here, and we have a larger force. We would not have that many if we were wrong."

"Outsiders?" asked one of the alien race. "We have a name you know. We are the Stosheavor. We are just a humble race from a nearby solar system and came here to help."

"Lies!" screamed the alien on the attacker's side. "You are not friendly. I told these what your plans were, what you all were trying to accomplish with them assisting you all. You want domination of these worlds, the resources, the people. It is terrible how you manipulated them into believing in you all. I cannot allow you to continue. I have proof that you all are responsible for the explosion at Nahvenea. If we do not stop them, they will do it again? Mark my word."