Patrick Walts - Exitium: A Time of Rebirth

EXITIUM

A TIME OF REBIRTH

By Patrick Walts

Copyright 2021 by Patrick Walts

Contents

Chapter 1

Proeliator Latro leaned over the railing that surrounded the balcony outside his chambers and surveyed his kingdom.

Lovely view, isnt it? he asked the woman standing by his side. Especially at night, beneath the full moons. His shimmering blue cloak fluttered in the cool midnight breeze.

To one who knows only barren, desolate plains full of dry old bones, it is paradise, she replied.

Amidst the wild, twisting spires of skyroots that dominated much of Bellums dry land were millions of tiny lights. Each light, Latro knew, represented one or several lives, and he cared deeply for each and every one of themfor he was a righteous leader who loved his people.

Under his guidance, Bellum had become the mightiest of all the colony worlds. He himself had led the invasion of Anshar, freeing hundreds of thousands of slaves and offering them, mere offworlders, an unprecedented chance to become anointed as warriors. It was a proposition most of them accepted with grateful enthusiasm, nearly doubling Bellums fighting forces overnight.

Older Bellumites still balked at the idea of fully anointing offworlders, but change had been coming for a long time, by then, and integration was achieved without much of a fuss.

Eventually, he would even succeed in freeing Bellums Kadallian slaves and possibly tripling Bellums military might. For the time being, however, polls showed that the majority of the populace perceived Kadallians as weak and docile. Latro suspected otherwise, but kept his speculations on the matter private.

Additionally, the colonies ferrum supply was no longer controlled by criminal Ansharan bossesit was now controlled by Bellum.

Many in the Tribunal and even the populace itself believed the seizure of that precious gas to be Latros primary motivation for invading Anshar. Indeed, the action had resulted in the unintended consequence of making him the most celebrated Proeliator since Telan himself.

It is paradise, he said. No matter where one comes from.

He pivoted and invaded her eyes with an intense, penetrating gaze.

We have fought hard to make it one. And to keep it one. All of this, though He trailed off and made a sweeping gesture across the twinkling, moonlit forest. This is but a small taste of what we can achieve.

She nodded. Yes, my Lord.

Stop that. Stop humoring me and listen. Really listen. Im not spouting a lot of esoteric mumbo jumbo simply to hear myself speak.

She gulped. Alright.

My ultimate goal, during my tenure, has always been colonial unification. The formation of a vast galactic empire, with Bellum at the center.

Her eyes widened. The Tribunal would never

The Tribunal is obsolete, he said, cutting her off. Day and night, they beat the drums of war, rousing our warrior spirits with hatred for the wrong enemy. Tell me, Missilia, who is our enemy?

She knew it was a trick question, but she didnt understand its point, so she answered as she thought he expected her to.

Novus. Baltu. Anyone who opposes us.

All human worlds, full of people , just like us. Did you know there used to be nine? Now there are six, thanks to TREE. I ask you again: Who is our enemy?

Yes, said Missilia, TREE is our enemy, but it hasnt been an immediate threat in over a thousand years. Its made no further attempts at expanding its territory since then.

Latro jabbed a finger at her. Wrong. It is always a threat. The only way it will ever cease being a threat is if we destroy it.

Missilia gasped. We dont have the ships. We dont have the firepower .

Let me tell you something about war, Striker. Might matters far less than strategy. A mission such as the one I am about to propose to you requires strategy. It requires stealth. It requires adaptability. It requires the ability to think on ones feet. A true warrior knows that the weapon between his ears is far deadlier than any wielded by his hands.

She nodded. I understand, sir. What are your orders?

I have followed your military career with great interest ever since I watched you slay six men with a jagged piece of metal you plucked from the wreckage of a revosled back on Anshar. As a child .

I learned to defend myself at a very young age, she said. I had to.

I know, said Latro. Youve been trained by the best teacher of all. Life.

She looked away. Yes.

That is why, he said, resting a hand on her shoulder, I am temporarily granting you the rank of Chieftain. If your mission is a success, you will retain it. If you fail, it will be revoked. You are to lead a tribe of six to Galenia.

Missilla was unable to hide her shock. And what will we do when we get there? What can six people accomplish?

Youd be surprised, said a voice from behind them. Missilla spun on her heels and instinctively reached for her weapon, but Latro stopped her.

Standing before them was a tall, extremely pale older man with long, white hair, dressed in strange clothes that Missilia suspected were of ancient Earth origin.

Especially, he added, when three of the six are worth ten humans apiece.

Missilia looked back and forth between the Proeliator and the stranger, who walked between them to the railing and whistled. Wow, man. Check out those mountains on the horizon. I could put a hell of a secret lair inside one of those bad boys. What a lovely world this is. Im into dirt biking, lately. Wish Id brought my Yamaha, cause Im seeing lots of potential here. Boy, Id sure hate to see it destroyed. He turned to Missilia. Wouldnt you?

Who is this? she demanded.

Latro sighed and lowered his voice to a near whisper. This is well, this is

Richard Kryuss, said the stranger, extending his hand.

Unsure of how to respond to this gesture, Missilia stood motionless until he lowered his arm back to his side.

Guess you dont do handshakes here, said Kryuss to Latro, who shook his head. Oh well, lost art, I guess.

Wait a minute, said Missilla. Do you mean to tell me that youre actually Richard Kryuss? That wasnt a joke?

Wouldnt be a very funny joke, said Kryuss. Whod laugh at that?

Youre an artie , she breathed, reaching out to touch the skin on his face. But you feel so real .

Thank you. Stripped is the trend these days, but I prefer to go skins. This new model is great, lemme tell you. Everythings detachable now! Check this out.

He reached up, grabbed both of his ears and twisted his head around three times before plucking it from his neck and presenting it to Missilla for inspection.

See? asked the head with a wink. Neat trick, huh? He screwed it back on and smiled. Now how bout that?

Its rather impressive, indeed, Missilla admitted, but

This is my default, Kryuss went on. I have lots of others, but I like this one best. Its the most comfortable one, for me. Least obnoxious. Oh, yes, Ive mellowed a bit in my old age, I admit it, but nevertheless

Arties are forbidden on Bellum, said Missilla. Proeliator, you can be dethroned and imprisoned just for speaking to it. As can I!

He isnt like the others, Latro argued, nor are his companions. They were human once. They have the minds of men. Why, hes no different than a soldier with a mechanical leg. Besides, this is the Prophet .

She eyed Kryuss with unimpressed skepticism. You dont even look like Kryuss. How did you get past our planetary defense grid?

He took me quite by surprise, said Latro. Showed up in my chambers two days ago, with some very useful intelligence which hell momentarily be briefing you on.