Baile Corcra Series: Adolescent Peril

Prologue

Hoanspeaga de Larh Afviizit Kleyn, Larhvibet Larhliifr (Chambers of the Supreme Kleyn Council, Leader City) NWC 4 September 2014

The third son of the former Kleyn Supreme Leader Nueh, Beoghan Kleynit de Nueh, rose from his seat at the Council Chambers table. His eyes made contact slowly with each of the five council members in the formal show of respect and then he began to speak.

"Since the passing of my father, the Nyt-Leia have become more aggressive in their push for power. It hasn’t even been a year, but the leaders of the three largest Kleyn are already reporting an increase in raids and even open battle, in some places. Reports from my sister are extremely troubling, since the Water Kleyn now face threats from both the Nyt-Leia and the Lyzzarf-golliad (Hnikkit) with their Hugeh-nyd-fhymk (Unte Dirz) allies. We need to put aside petty differences and decide a course of action for dealing with this problem."

Beoghan sat down and waited for his words to sink in. He noted that Amdrot Kleynit de Antiz gave him an icy stare as the kleyni’z blue skin darkened in anger. Amdrot was ten years his senior and power-driven. He was also a behind-the-scenes supporter of the Nyt-Leia, although he openly pretended otherwise.

Larhliifr Beoghan, began Amdrot. "As you know, I have been in support of negotiating with the Nyt-Leia, in the hopes of reuniting all the Kleyn. Seventy years has been too long for this rift to continue; yet your father and now you have ignored all attempts at negotiations. Is it any wonder the Nyt-Leia have been more aggressive in their approach lately?"

Beoghan jumped to his feet and slammed his fist on to the table, drawing the full attention of the council.

"Enough, Amdrot! You would have us banish the Kleynlihaz (humans) and Kleynliha-nikkeaz (half-humans), or worse, and call that ‘negotiations’? My father before me and I were always in total agreement; we will never destroy the Kleyn to satisfy a small fraction of extremists. I would rather die than dishonor the Kleyn," stated Beoghan in a firm voice.

As you wish, Beoghan! exclaimed Amdrot. He produced a small pistol from his council robes and fired twice, hitting Beoghan in the chest. As Beoghan fell dying to the chamber floor, the doors burst open and six large Kleyn entered quickly, dispatching the remaining four council members with large battle-axes.

Within moments, the leader of the Kleyn and its ruling body ceased to exist. Amdrot walked over to where Beoghan lay bleeding out his last moments, glared down disgustedly at him and spoke. Parsenu est laz tindh de liz Nyt-Leia, hunriitz at biiare! ("Now is the time of the Nyt-Leia! Glorious shall it be!")

CHAPTER ONE

We’re done; the next attack will finish us… - Platoon Sergeant David Sentai, NWC 21 January 2015.

Fort Beasly, Baile Corcra Territory

Sergeant Courtney Hall glanced out the window of the sole blockhouse of Fort Beasly with her spyglass for the umpteenth time. The snowstorm was starting to let up finally, but visibility hadn’t improved yet. She looked over the frozen Grass River and thought she saw movement. She panned the area once more, and, sure enough, hundreds of black-dressed Kleyn were marching toward the river.

The rumors were true; the Grassland Kleyn were now under control of the Hidden Kleyn. Gathering her emotions, she turned from the window and said, Trooper Antalai, get Platoon Sergeant Sentai up here. We have a big problem.

She turned back to the window, where she could clearly see the Hidden Kleyn troops marching now, and some even had muskets. She started to make an approximate count when Platoon Sergeant David Sentai arrived.

What have you got, Courtney? asked David, after catching his breath. He had run up the steps the moment Trooper Antalai had found him.

We have Hidden Kleyn troops just south of the rise near the bridge, coming fast, and they have freaking muskets! replied Courtney.

David took the spyglass from her and glanced out the window. After a couple of seconds, he handed her the spyglass and started back down the steps. Turning to her again, he said, Get an automatic rifle up here, and the moment the Kleyn make an aggressive move, open fire. Things are going to get nasty really quickly.

David roused the remaining members of his cavalry platoon and had them man the palisade surrounding the blockhouse. Within moments, the platoon had opened fire on the advancing Kleyn. Kleyn started dropping in bunches, but their ranks filled quickly. A large formation of Kleyn rifleman moved off to the right of the bridge along the riverbank and formed two ranks facing Fort Beasley. Sergeant Daniel Beasly noticed the movement and yelled for everyone to take cover. A few cavalrymen ignored his orders; however, and then the Kleyn opened fire.

Over a hundred musket balls came crashing against the palisade, which took the brunt of the attack, but some balls found their mark - twelve cavalrymen went down (8 of whom would never get up again). Courtney immediately switched the automatic rifle fire toward the Kleyn rifleman, who paid a steep price. Daniel organized the cavalrymen near the palisade, and they again took to the walls and started adding their firepower to the defense. Minutes later, the Kleyn withdrew, taking their wounded with them, but well over one hundred Kleyn lay dead along the riverbank and near the small wooden bridge.

David yelled for squad leaders and began reorganizing the defense; the platoon had gone from thirty-seven total cavalrymen down to nineteen who were still able to fight. Courtney still had 500 rounds for the automatic rifle, and the platoon had one short-range mortar available with twenty 5-second fuse rounds. The cavalrymen each had forty rounds as standard issue, and another 1,000 were stored in the blockhouse. Most of the cavalrymen had fired their initial forty rounds, and Sergeant Michael Garza was replenishing their supply as quickly as he could.

The brief respite caused by the Kleyn withdrawal ended suddenly: A force of near fifty Kleyn with battle-axes came charging over the rise near the river and started charging across the ice toward the palisade, while another smaller group attempted to cross the bridge. Daniel and Michael joined the cavalrymen at the palisade and they opened fire on both groups of charging Kleyn. Courtney opened up on the Kleyn charging across the ice. The battle raged and many Kleyn went down but others made it to the palisade, and soon hand-to-hand combat broke out in places. David, a few cavalrymen within the blockhouse, and even Courtney had to rush to the palisade to help stave off the assault. Twenty minutes later, the Kleyn who were still able withdrew back across the ice.

The cavalry platoon was now down to nine able bodies, with both Daniel and Michael both seriously wounded and out of the fight. Realizing that the next assault would be the final one, David called Courtney to him near the blockhouse. We’re done; the next attack will finish us. We have to warn Field’s Town about the attack. I want you to take two troopers who can still ride, along with as many wounded as possible, and get out of here. Use the knockout mushrooms and tie the wounded to the horses and get going. No arguments. The rest of us will delay the Kleyn as long as possible and join you at Field’s Town. Go!

Courtney squeezed his shoulder, nodded, and set off to accomplish his orders. She figured that he would go down fighting, which caused her emotions to temporarily interfere. After she had regrouped, she had Trooper Antalai and Corporal Jonas assist her with the wounded, including Daniel and Michael, who refused to leave until she knocked them out with the mushrooms and tied them to horses. Minutes later, sixteen horses laden with wounded, Courtney and her two troopers raced out of the rear gates, just as another assault began.

CHAPTER TWO

A fine First Sergeant you have become, David! Sleeping in, while your troops are outside in the cold preparing for duty. - Platoon Sergeant Emily Druiz, NWC 21 January 2015.

Field’s Town, Baile Corcra Territory (David)

A loud knock woke me from a sound sleep and a vivid dream about being back on Earth. Upset, I sat up and started to remove myself from my warm triplehorn-skin blanket to answer the door. Before I could get out of bed the door opened, and freaking Emily (of all people!) stormed in. She turned and closed the door, and then faced me once again with her hands on her hips and said, A fine First Sergeant you have become, David! Sleeping in, while your troops are outside in the cold preparing for duty.

Cripes, Emily; what freaking time is it? I responded, irritated with both her and myself. This wasn’t the first time she had woken me up, and she enjoyed it too much.

It’s 0430 hours, time to get a move on; daylight will here before you know it. The new soldiers need as much training as possible; you know war is brewing, responded an intimidating-looking Emily. Of course, that just irritated me even more: she was my platoon sergeant, subordinate to me, but it didn’t seem that way most of the time.

Training doesn’t start till 0700 hours, and you have the nerve to bust into my quarters acting like I’m late. Who died and made you boss? I asked, resigned to the fact that I was done sleeping and now unfortunately fully awake.

Emily smiled slightly, gave me a look of amusement with her deep blue eyes and said, Really, David? She then turned her back to me and said, laughing, Get dressed. We have things to do, and time’s a-wasting.

I involuntarily groaned (which made her laugh again), got dressed and within ten minutes we were both heading out through a minor snowstorm, toward the old Monitor for a quick breakfast at the headquarters’ mess hall for our infantry battalion. She was already in platoon-sergeant mode, informing me of the personnel in my company needing attention.

Ilya Ridge, Baile Corcra Territory (Tech Sergeant Kylie Mullen)

The sunrise brought daylight into the morning, but did nothing to ease the irritation of Squadron Sergeant Annie Smith. She was on a rampage because her cavalry troops were stuck inside the fort due to a massive snowstorm that hadn’t let up for over twenty-two hours. I was trying to stay out of her way, but as the squadron medical sergeant my place of duty was at her headquarters. We had become good friends back in 2011 when we rescued her people from the Banne, but four years had done nothing for her sunny disposition. She was her same old cynical self, using me as her sounding board all the time; today was no different. Pacing by the window again, she said, Damn it, Kylie. This storm has to let up soon. I need some scouts out there now. This is the freaking weather that Sarge and Azretr said would be perfect for the Hidden Kleyn to start their campaign against us.

I know, Annie, but even you can’t control the weather. This is the fifth major storm this winter, and so far the Hidden Kleyn haven’t tried anything but running small patrols to harass us. Refugees are still coming in, so maybe the Hidden Kleyn still have their hands full controlling the Grassland Kleyn, I said for what seemed like the ninth time.

Annie thought about my response, then grabbed her coat and headed for the door. She turned and said, I am heading to the walls; got a feeling something isn’t right. Get your medical gear ready, as you’ll probably need it soon. Annie opened the door and headed out into the snowstorm. I shook my head and started inventorying my medical supplies.

About an hour later, Senior Tech Sergeant Alyssa Morgan arrived with Sarge’s second-in-command, Nancy, one of the original adults from Earth. After four years I still jumped a little when she entered the room, even though I had known her from the beginning. She was one tough leader who expected results no matter what. Alyssa was doing a rotation at Ilya Ridge to oversee our medical team, so I was expecting her, but I had no idea why Nancy would be showing up. Lately she stayed mostly at Daniel’s City, our old base camp.

Hey, Kylie! Cold enough for you? said a smiling Alyssa the moment she saw me. Alyssa was always smiling, except that one time when we made a final charge in the battle against the Banne; she was really nasty then.

Finally getting used to the winters, but it seems to really get cold here more than anywhere else, I stated, being perfectly honest.

Another month and winter will be gone. Spring is the best time of the year, so cheer up already. I plan on staying for about a week, so you get to hang out with Annie a lot more. Should make your day, replied Alyssa, smiling (of course). I started to reply to Alyssa’s little snark, when Nancy interrupted.

Kylie, where is Annie? I need to speak with her, she said in a very serious tone, which instantly set me on edge.

She was heading out to the walls near the ridge, Command Sergeant, I replied formally, as Nancy always brought that out in me.

Good, now get your coat and let’s go find her. Senior Tech Morgan can hold down the medical section in your absence, stated Nancy. I glanced at Alyssa; she nodded, so I grabbed my coat, a field medic bag, and followed Nancy out the door, wondering what was going on.

Field’s Town, Baile Corcra Territory (David)

After eating a quick breakfast with Emily and Natasha (my other platoon sergeant), I reentered the cold to inspect my company before we started training. The snowstorm had turned into just a light snowfall with very little wind, for which I was extremely thankful. Walking was still tough, since the storm had brought about two feet or more of snow on the ground, and of course Emily and Natasha harassed me at every opportunity if I even muttered a complaint under my breath about anything, so I had to be quiet if I wanted any peace.

Emily, Natasha and I exited the Monitor, and soon passed through the gate down toward the new palisade that was our first line of defense. After the battle with the Banne where I had almost died, Kyle reinforced the original walls with large broccoli trees locked together like old log cabin walls, making a solid wall about six feet tall and two feet thick in most areas. At the base of the original mound (where the Monitor had found its final resting place), he had placed a palisade of ten-foot-tall broccoli trees around the entire fort. My company was located near the palisade.

Even with the two feet of snow on the ground, it only took a few minutes to travel the fifty or so yards to the palisade. As we approached my company of sixty infantry soldiers, I noticed that daylight was starting to fill the sky. Another hour and we would be on patrol, doing the one thing I hated most - walking. My feet started hurting instantly at the thought of it. Emily and Natasha moved out ahead and prepared their platoons for inspection. Everything was now back to business, which made me happy. Being a soldier was something that I had turned out to very good at, through experience and constant mentoring from Sarge and Kyle. I was lucky that I had the best two platoon sergeants in the army in my company, too. Emily and Natasha were from Earth, like me, so they had survived that nasty first year and were now thriving as soldiers (when they weren’t harassing me, of course).

Within moments I began walking among the platoons, checking rifles and equipment and speaking with each of the new soldiers. Our army was originally just a busload of middle-school students from Earth and seven humans born on Baile Corcra. Now with the problems among the Kleyn, the native aliens on Baile Corcra (refugees from the Grassland Kleyn) had been steadily streaming in since last September. A group of Kleyn called the Hidden Kleyn had overthrown the Kleyn government, and began pushing humans and half-humans out of their territory immediately. The Hidden Kleyn believed that humans were inferior to the Kleyn, and that the two species should never live together or mix races.

With the addition of the refugees, Sarge had expanded the army, and now we had almost 700 troops in uniform. Unfortunately, over two-thirds of them were new and never seen battle, thus the reason I was taking the company on patrol. Training continued, even in bad weather. Baile Corcra was full of nasty aliens and other humans who would love to wipe us out completely.

I completed my inspection quickly, due to the cold; no need to make the troops go through extra crap, as being in the infantry was rough enough. Emily and Natasha reminded me of that fact all the time. Right on schedule, the company passed through the outer gate at 0700 hours with Emily’s platoon leading the way, and Natasha’s following a few yards behind me. I enjoyed this part of training since Emily and Natasha stayed with their platoons and left me to myself. We headed north on a snow-covered road created by traffic over the last four years toward Fort Beasly, a small outpost with a cavalry platoon guarding our border with the Grassland Kleyn around nine miles away. My plan was to patrol to Fort Beasly, rest a little and return to Field’s Town in time for dinner. Things never go according to plan, though, and this time was no exception.

We hadn’t moved more than a mile, when up ahead Emily’s voice pierced the quiet. She had her platoon moving off the snow-covered road to either side and getting into prone fighting positions. I cursed silently to myself, glanced back to see that Natasha was putting her platoon into fighting position also, and began to awkwardly jog toward Emily.