Chapter One Hundred: Retaliation

Chapter One Hundred: Retaliation

May 26th, 3020 Proserpina Jump point

"Coordinator, we are receiving a signal from an ISF unit on the planet below." A communications officer informed Takashi. "The Eridani Light Horse and the Robinson Rangers are at below fifty percent strength is what they are reporting."

"And they have not been reinforced yet?" Takeshi asked. "They must be overconfident, pass along a message to sabotage them so that we may have a secure landing zone."

"Yes Coordinator," The Comms officer responded. "It will be done."

"Now, broadcast to the enemy forces on Proserpina, I wish for them to know just how outmatched they are." Takashi commanded. "You have pushed too far this time Davions, we shall eradicate you like the pests you are, and push on through to Robinson after we are done here."

Proserpina, May 27th, 3020

"Colonel," Duke Aaron Sandoval greeted Colonel William Erik Peterson of the 71st Light Horse regiment. "We've got a bit of a situation on our hands, and I know that you're aware of who and what just jumped into the system, but we've currently got bigger problems."

"What might that be Field Marshal?" Colonel Peterson asked. "We already know that until they land we're cut off from our Jumpships."

"A DEST team managed to sabotage the Rangers dropship fuel lines." Sandoval informed him. "We're stranded for a week until we can get them fixed."

"Well, that presents some issues." Peterson said in response. "Do we have any sort of ETA on our own reinforcements?"

"Even if Hull left Galedon the very second that he heard about pulling back, they would still take a week or so to be here."

"Then load up your wounded into our Dropships." The ELH CO told Sandoval. "We'll leave behind a company to help fill out your forces while we take our dead and wounded home."

"You want to run?" Sandoval asked a little incredulously.

"No," The ELH Colonel met Sandoval's eyes. "But we understand how important getting the wounded out is, I'll personally be staying behind, with my XO taking the rest of the group to get reinforcements."

"Alright." Sandoval sighed, his older age starting to weigh on him. "My son is amongst the wounded, make sure that he ends up on one of those dropships."

"I'll put him on one myself." The Colonel promised. "We're going to have to send up all of our remaining Aerospace assets to cover them though."

"I'll send mine up to cover, better some of us make it out at least." Sandoval replied."

May 29th, 3020

"We've got the 1st SoL engaged." Aaron Sandoval spoke into his comms systems. "Get the dropships out of here."

"Roger that sir." Colonel Peterson replied. "We just finished loading them up now."

"Launch those Aerospace fighters." Sandoval ordered, "We need those Dropships to make it out of here. "

"Field Marshal," his comms lit up. "We're being pressed on all sides."

"Fall back, and have all of our Dropships take off, we're going to ground." He commanded, reversing his Victor into a side street. "Our only hope right now is that reinforcements arrive."

New Avalon, March 3rd, 3020

"Yvonne," Ian told the Prince's Champion. "I'm taking the Heavy Guards and moving to reinforce Proserpina, I have a feeling I need to be there."

"Do I need to get Hull to be your bodyguard again?" Yvonne asked exasperatedly. "Because he'll do it."

"No, but I think this is something I need to do." Ian was strangely serious. "I do have a last will and testament though."

"Are you sure this is that important?" Yvonne asked. "Because if you die over something stupid then I'll bring you back from the grave to finish your paperwork."

"I'm sure." Ian said confidently." In fact, this might be the most important thing I've ever done aside from making Hull a noble."

May 30th, 3020

"Takashi Kurita," Came in over the Battlemaster's comms on an open channel. "This is First Prince Ian Davion, I come with the Davion Heavy Guards, and while I know that both of our forces are skilled and ready to fight to the death, I would rather avoid the pointless waste of men and machines."

"What are you proposing?" The Coordinator asked bluntly.

"A duel, between the two of us, and regardless of who wins, we have a cease fire for ten years." Ian said. "If you win, I turn over Dieron and Proserpina back over to you. But if I win, I retain control of these worlds. And regardless of who wins, our nations get to recuperate for at least ten years."

Takashi let silence fill the air for a long time as he considered this. While it was a fair offer, he had to think of any potential repercussions.

"If I win, you turn the 2nd Sword of Lights colors back over as well." Takeshi said after thinking about it. "And you return Deshler to us as well. "

"I accept." Ian agreed. "Set aside a place for my dropship to land, and when my second arrives, we will conduct this duel."

Author's note: Probably the shortest chapter I've written for the main story in a long time. But, it felt fitting to end it here.