Project - Prometheus Ch. 06

"What is this....'war'?"

"Many battles, that happen again and again. The battles never end, until one side is wiped out, or surrenders," the red-skinned woman replied as she stood. Shock and horror flashed upon Lumi's beautiful face, the idea of war repulsing her in its concept. Though, she supposed that she was familiar with it, since her mother had personally waged and led many battles against the Yahk'shurt.

The more she thought about it, the more it seemed like her clan, the Ahl'kanin, was locked into a war with Yahk'shurt. She thought of all the lives that had been lost, during this war. It could have been avoided, had her people done the correct thing and executed the Exiles, long before they could form this hated clan.

"Luminia? Will they follow?" Korsa asked, snapping the four-eyed alien out of her introspections. Hearing the four-armed woman's request, she called her people's attention and relayed her commands and request. The resounding response that she got from them all was both surprising and heartening. Turning back to the fierce woman, she then spoke their response.

"They will follow, without question. You broke the chief's youngest son... like he was a tiny child. Many prisoners feared him... for his strength and..... nature. If you asked them to follow to the Darklands, they would, because you lead them."

Korsa was both floored and appreciative of the confidence that these women had in her. Though it had been some time, since she had led anyone into a battle, she remembered all of her training from her days in the Royal Guard. It was like that human expression, about riding a bicycle. Once you learned how, you never forgot.

"Glad to hear it. Now, I need to gather everyone around and go over this one more time, before we get there," the big woman said. Luminia nodded and called everyone to gather in as she doodled a quick sketch of the terrain surrounding the village.

Their initial approach would be from the northwest, which was a fortunate way to be heading. That was the highest point around the settlement, giving them a good vantage point from which to strike.

It was agreed that Pree, still a bit torched up and lacking any proper armor, would set up a sniper's perch, to take down stragglers and strong points. Korsa, despite having maybe half her armor plating, would lead the attack, from the northernmost point. It was the most open area and it would be the best area for Korsa to draw in any attackers. Her Thuun'tara blade would be put to good use there.

She would have the largest squad of women, including Luminia, to help back her up, in case she got overwhelmed. Inari was to take a small group and head to a small and narrow entry point. It was literally small canyon and she and her group had to hold it against any enemy egress. If the situation presented itself, a surprise attack by that group would help bleed off the pressure from Korsa's group. The rest of the defensible positions was a small and soft ridge that encircled all but the southernmost point of the encampment.

Knowing that there might be patrols of either Luminia's clan, or the Yahk'shurt, it was agreed that linking up with the Ahl'kanin was priority. If word could be sent to the chiefs, then they all stood a chance. Korsa was told about the communique from the Perseus and though it sounded promising, she didn't factor them into the battle plan. Mainly, it was because it seemed unlikely that the Perseus crew would arrive planetside before the battle was over and Korsa had to deal only in what was absolute.

Inari stood there and admired the role that the good doctor had taken. Though she could have overridden Korsa's orders and taken command of these women herself, she didn't. It truly wasn't her strong suit, leading people into battle on the ground. Flying in a starfighter, leading a wing of pilots, that she knew. Korsa had evidently led soldiers before, so she deferred to the Khontaran.

They didn't need a pilot to lead them into battle. They needed a soldier and Korsa was the best choice for the lot of them to come out of this alive. She had long suspected that there was more to exotic woman than she had let on, only she couldn't prove it. Info on Korsa before she had settled into Andari station was literally, non-existent. Even Taal'ani, for all her vaunted skills, couldn't find anything on her before then either.

She figured that she'd learn about it, eventually. Then, there was that armor. As beautiful and exotic as the woman who wore it, it was truly a masterwork item. Clearly, far superior to anything that humanity could craft. How Korsa had come by it, she wouldn't say, other than she had earned it.

Snapping out of her thoughts, Inari realized that everyone around had stood up. Looking about, she saw that the tactical meeting had concluded, while she was busy with her own suspicions. Standing to abruptly, she hurried over to where Korsa and Priya were standing with Lumi, the large woman relaying her final orders. As the trio of women saw Inari approach, Lumi scooted back with her soon to be battle sisters, getting them primed and pumped.

"Ready to roll out on your orders, Korsa," Inari said seriously.

Smirking, Korsa raised her head and called out, "All right everyone! You know your places and what we need to do. Let's get moving!"

Though Luminia translated, she didn't have to, as the sound and timbre of Mama K's voice conveyed all they needed to know. Steeling themselves, they marched on, following their war goddess.

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Valessa, Chieftaness of Ahl'kanin clan, paced restlessly. It was clear by her gait and her face that she wasn't pleased by the current set of events. She was alone, having sent away her advisors in order to gain some clarity and a cool head. Though she hadn't meant to, the chieftaness had nearly snapped off the heads of those closest to her in a fit of rage. Sending them out for the moment was a good call, considering her current mood.

Her home, which was constructed of both metal and ice, was decorated in a swath of skins and furs. Placed artfully and to proper effect, her modest dwelling, made of ice and steel, appeared to be a palace, with its lavish furnishings. Many of the skins were from game that she herself, had hunted and killed, a testament to her prowess.

She had done much in the time she had been chieftaness, expanding clan lands. Valessa had also overseen building more homes for the new families and refugees from the collection of battles. She had done much for her people and all those who wished to live in peace. The home she lived in, was a living reminder of all the victories she had won and lost. Though the room was spacious, it felt small, with the weight that rested upon her shoulders. So much that she had to consider, but with limited time to consider it. She continued her pacing, her reflection staring back at her whenever her eyes caught it on the ice.

Valessa was literally, a mirror image of Luminia, in her beauty and her shape. Though time and being a mother had thickened her voluptuous form somewhat, it had also widened her hips and filled out her breasts nicely. Unlike her daughter however, her set of eyes were more of a dark amber color, as opposed to the bright lemon set that Luminia possessed. Her beauty was a fact that hadn't gone unnoticed by everyone in the settlement, especially, their unwelcome guests.

Sadly, she had little choice, but to put up with them and their demands, since they came under a flag of peace and parley. Though the Yahk'shurt had been regarded as little more than a clan of thugs, they had recently organized. To where they were legitimate challengers for supremacy among the remaining clans of their people. Though it wasn't a prospect she would have ever considered, she had few options, if she wanted to see her daughter again.

Though they were brutes, they had become clever, in snatching certain people, using them as leverage to get their way. It was exactly this, that had led them all to the current talks, which were to happen when dusk fell, under the guidance of the mother goddess. Odd, considering how the Yahk'shurt was a patriarchal lot, but they could not be denied, as they were the ones that came forth with an offer of peace.

Frustrated and angry that the laws of their people were working against them, Valessa thought some more on what was to come up. She knew that much of what would be asked would tilt nearly everything in favor of the male-dominated clan. It wasn't a prospect that she tolerated, much less enjoyed, but there it was. The amber-eyed woman, would have to work hard to preserve what she could in the verbal spar to come. If she had any hope of giving them all a proper chance of autonomy.

She knew that the Yahk'shurt would try to amalgamate the smaller clans that had taken refuge in her lands. They had always done this, to bolster their numbers and replace their losses. The motherly chieftaness would do all that she could to prevent this from happening, but she knew that she'd need help.

Taking a deep breath, she schooled her face and stepped out, intending to speak to both her advisors and the current chiefs. Valessa knew that their support would be needed, if there was to be any hope of having any chance at a fair negotiation. Now that she had sufficiently cooled, she hoped that there would be a good way to resolve any problems that lay before them.

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Dahr'khash, Chief of the Yahk'shurt clan, sat in a guest home amongst the settlement of the Ahl'kanin clan. Though it wasn't as well kept or as lavish as Valessa's dwelling, he was certain that his accommodations, would change soon. He was currently gathered with his top captains, and his general, who also happened to be his son. They discussed the plan in its entirety, confident that the Ahl'kanin were playing right into their hands.

"Remember, kill any who resist, only if you must. We will not butcher the entire clan, but we must break them," Dahr'khash rumbled, his orders resonating quietly among the others. They all nodded in acquiescence, knowing the roles they all had to play. The Ahl'kanin were no good to them dead as it would show that they were little better than murdering thieves. Though a message had to be sent, about being merciless in dealing with resistance.

Though having a fearsome reputation was all well and good. But, if they slaughtered the whole clan, then it would likely galvanize every clan in existence against them. Such overwhelming odds would be too much for even his warriors to contain, trained and seasoned as they were. The best course of action was to break the spirit of resistance and the only way to effectively do that, was to break Valessa.

Dahr'khash had seen the chieftaness in battle, leading her warriors against his and he had to admit; she was a fearsome and formidable opponent. Even when his best warriors were sent against her directly, she had bested every single one of them. Watching her move in battle, was to watch the great war maiden herself come forth from the heavens. He knew that she had to be beaten and if this was the only way to conquer her and take her for himself, then so be it.

Though he himself was a great warrior in his own right, his battle prowess feared and respected. No one was a greater warrior than he, and though he could have fought Valessa himself, she was someone he didn't fancy killing just yet. It would be such a shame to waste such perfectly good flesh, Dahr'khash thought to himself darkly.

"Are our warriors in position?"

"They will be soon, Chief. They are having trouble getting past the patrols and into position, but a runner came in recently. They are nearing their places. Soon, all will be ready for our glorious conquest!" his son said, a bit too loudly.

The brutish chief made a slashing motion with his hand, gesturing for immediate silence. Once all was quiet, he listened for any sounds out of the ordinary. Satisfied that the only sounds that were heard was the general noise of the encampment, he glared at his general. The boy had the good sense to look chagrined as his big mouth could have cost them everything.

The chief of the Yahk'shurt, personally, couldn't fault the boy for his exuberance. This was a day that was centuries in the making. Long had his clan been treated as outcasts and outsiders, punished for the sins of their ancestors. This day would see a balancing of the scales where they took their vengeance on the very people who damned them in the first place.

They simply had to hold together for a few hours longer, then their trap would be sprung and they would have revenge. He then reiterated to his guards that Valessa and every female possible, needed to be taken alive and kept contained. The only way to fully cow the Ahl'kanin was to humiliate her in front of the whole clan. He felt that the only way to do so, would be to rape her, repeatedly, so all would see what one consequence of disobedience would be.

There would be many consequences, this much he already knew. Both he and his men knew that it would not be easy, but they effectively had their enemies at their mercy. Only a few hours more before they could launch their plan. Every single male that was gathered, greedily imagined what they wanted and what would soon be theirs.

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Both Kasumi and Natalya spent the whole ride to Hydroponics in silence, both women mulling over everything the other had said. The car slowed down, with the automated voice telling them they had arrived. The two of them disembarked and walked quietly along the corridors. Things in this section were different because the power in the area was sporadic at best. There was also the fact that, instead of cold metal corridors, there were vines and new green growth that covered the nearby walls. Much of what they saw was fairly new greenery that had attached itself to the walls as it had grown.

"Jaesa, what has happened here?" Kas called out into the ship. Hearing no response, Kasumi tried again, with no response. She then activated her security vambrace, thinking she'd be able to get touch with the AI that way. After a few moments, the holographic image booted up, displaying Jaesa in perfect miniature.

"Jaesa, what has happened here? The growth of the plant life in hydroponics has grown beyond what it was designed for," the security chief worried.

"I apologize Commander McKenzie. I originally had a scheduled maintenance plan that would look after the growth and stability of the plant life, utilizing the Sentries. Sadly, that damned virus slowly shut off my ability to continue that work," the AI explained.

"Are any major systems in this sector of the ship compromised? What about the hull?" Kas asked worriedly.

"The growth has spread beyond the initial section that was designed for, but thankfully, it has been mostly in an upwards pattern. The trees and plants have grown beyond their intended capacity by at least a deck or so. Thankfully, the lifespan of any one species of tree or plant has staggered it from pushing too far beyond the decks surrounding them. So don't worry Commander, the ship is still intact and safe," Jaesa finished.

Breathing a sigh of relief, Kasumi McKenzie cleared away some vines and roots that had covered the walls. Natalya wasn't far behind her and helped almost instantly, pulling away some of the heaviest roots, to allow the Security Chief with her job.

"What exactly are you looking for?" Nats enquired.

"The manual override panel. The power to this area has been cut, via the vines and roots, so, if we're getting in, it will take some elbow grease," the redheaded soldier huffed, as she finally pulled a rather troublesome root out her way. It wasn't much longer, maybe five minutes, before the panel in question was located.

Drawing a knife from her combat harness, Kasumi used it to pry open the panel which was seized with centuries of grime and mold. Exclaiming in triumph, the panel popped open, revealing the latch. Grasping the handle, Kas gave it a good tug, but it remained stuck in position. Seeing that it was seized, Natalya stood next to the soldier and helped her with pulling it down.

With an audible shriek, the latch finally gave out and angled downward, opening the sealed doors. They only opened halfway, before they ground to a halt, though the gap was wide enough for one person to walk through comfortably. Both ladies filed through, with Kas in the lead, keeping alert as they passed through the short corridor.

Most of what was there was move vines and some roots, with a good deal of leaves spread throughout the walls. As they moved along, they found another door, that barred their path, only this one was partially open. The vines and such, which had grown into the surrounding walls, had mostly come through that opening.

"Think we can open this one without the latch?" Nats asked, eyeing the door as a challenge. Kasumi cocked her eyebrow at the doors, then nodded. Kas grabbed the left door, as Natalya grabbed the right, their fingers pressing into the gap, finding their way through.

As one, they heaved with their arms, gritting their teeth, widening the gap some, as they slowly pulled the doorway open. Once it was apart enough, both ladies got in the center, standing back to back, and shoved. The combined might of both women had broken the hold that the plant life had on the doors and pressed them back fully, opening the way completely. After brushing off the dust and dirt, both women gaped in shock and awe at what they saw next.

Before them, lay a large chamber, of at least a distance of two kilometers, and at least six hundred meters from left to right. Above them, were several terraces, which formed into various walkways, stretching the length of the entire area. Light shone through several main points where it was still working. All around, stood many forms of plant life, almost all of it, was of the edible variety.

Natalya had heard of places like this, where those who were wealthy enough, could manage to afford their own hydroponics greenhouses. She had never seen anything quite on such a grand scale though, and with such variety! Everywhere she looked, there was all sorts of fruit and vegetables, that she could have ever seen or imagined! Most of it grew wildly, untouched by human or robot hands.

"You'd think this is the first time you ever saw a place like this," Kasumi whispered, any scorn in her voice tempered by her own sense of awe. Even she hadn't expected the level of growth that would have perpetrated within the last six hundred years. What once was a properly cared for and manicured orchard like area, had grown into a lush and wild forest. She looked at where trees had once stood, laden with fruit, only for what was left of them to have rotted away.

Thankfully though, the cycle of life continued, and some fallen fruit had sprung up into new trees. Insects buzzed and chittered, as the ladies walked in tentatively, watching where they stepped. Some places where littered with rotting trees, fruits and plants, though they were in small clusters. Much of what was rotting was slowly being eaten up by the surrounding plant and insect life.

"You guys have insects on the ship?" the chocolate-skinned woman wondered.

"Of course. We needed them here, in order to maintain the trees and plants for pollination. We had soldiers who were dedicated gardeners and farmers, to help us manage the area. But when we were boarded, everyone was called to arms and you all know how that went," Kasumi stated dryly.

Though she hadn't seen the recordings, Natalya could well imagine the carnage that the crew had faced when trying to repel the Xuul'khan. In many places, the forest had thickened enough to where it seemed impassible. The area around them though, was beautiful. She would have continued gawping like an idiot, had Jaesa not interrupted her staring.