Escape From Redeem, Rise of an Emperor
Chapter 8

Solar System

Lord Sebastian Ignatius held the war axe firmly pointed at master Kam. He was Lord Commander at arms, of Earths heavy assault force called Regiment 1. They were elite warriors of Earth that were called upon for special missions, suited to their particular talents. They had no finesse when it came to combat. Their main role was to shock and awe of any nation or colony that decided to rise up. Or anyone else that needed to be brought to justice would be crushed by this very man and his regiment.

Kam always counted him a friend, and had fought with him and his Regiment a few years ago, fighting religious fanatics in North Africa. They had the financial backing of the local and wealthy warlords and posed a serious threat to Earths peace. They had not cared for their own lives when attacking the President’s force; believing in an old faith that they would meet their god in paradise. This had eventually been their undoing, as wave after wave had assaulted their isolated petrol.

The fanatics were mowed down like wheat at harvest, as Lord Ignatius and his small detachment of heavily armoured men, opened up with relentless chain gun fire. Most of the Regiment on the petrol had the heavy assault weapon that they carried on the hip, like reapers of death.

When the sulphuric gun smoke had cleared, they could see that they had wiped out thousands of the religious zealots who had come on to the guns welcoming death, as long as they got the chance to kill one of the enemies that they charged. They had hoped to overwhelm the small detachment with large numbers, but did not realise that they were up against Regiment 1.The shock troopers only stopped firing when the last of the munitions were spent. Their shooting was rewarded with victory, and devastation that shocked the fanatics with its lethal brutality.

They took no joy carrying out the slaughter. But were given comfort in the thought that they were preserving Earths freedoms. They did their work, with a silent efficiency that had been bred into them by Lord Ignatius; they had returned as heroes.

Kam had respected the power this man had wielded on that battle field; and had seen him use that axe with great efficiency to many a foe. But their friendship had been forged on countless engagements on Earth and her colonies. He had lost count on how many times they had saved each other’s lives. Kam was not sure how his mighty friend would take the situation presented before him. For all Kam knew, he may have also been involved in all of this.

‘Did Defoe send you my friend?’ Kam probed the question at the giant firmly.

‘That pompous ingrate likes to think he gives me orders and I like to let him think it. You young lad were lucky you were wearing Guardsmen’s armour. Otherwise, you would have been cut down on the spot for taking one of the Regiments ships. I still might, unless you give me a good reason not to.’

It seemed that the Commander was acting independently. Kam had been in too many scraps with this brute to not trust him with the information that they had. Better tell him quick thought Kam; even though they were friends, he did not know Tristan and their friendship would not stop Lord Ignatius from attacking. His temper was legendary.

He told him everything, from their discovery at the Bruce household to the betrayal by Kruger and Defoe. He listened without interrupting or asking any questions. He just grunted every now and then gruffly. Kam was not surprised, Sebastian Ignatius was a man of few words and would always tell his men that there was a reason they had two ears and one mouth. But when he did speak people would listen. His booming voice could always be heard over the loudest of battlefields.

Kam finished the tale and explained his mission to replace the one person who could speak against Defoe and Kruger.

Then they waited for the big man to digest the news, watching him lower his head.

‘Dorn was my friend Kam. Jessica and the boy too.’

‘I know Sebastian, I know. When I found out, I could not believe someone was capable of killing him.’

Lord Ignatius seemed to colour a dark crimson that Kam recognised well. The massive Commander punched the bulkhead next to him, with a gauntleted fist. The dent that was left in the steel was testimony to his fierce power and he appeared to mentally restrain himself, lest he destroy the whole ship in his grief.

Ignatius looked out at the majestic view that was Earth through the viewport.

‘He was my friend.’

He repeated gently, like a volcano about to erupt into violence. Suddenly he turned to Tristan.

‘Take this ship back boy. I want to be on the lawn of the Palace outer gates in twenty minutes… They will die for this. I will be the hand that ends their treachery.’

Kam raised a hand to calm his enraged friend and hoped he could calm the commander down before they were all destroyed in a foolish attempt at revenge.

‘Sebastian I want nothing more than to crush them, but we would be stopped before we even entered the front door. There is another way, and if there is a chance, even a small chance to save Caleb, then we should try. Bringing the son of our friend back to tell his story will end this without causing a civil war.’

The still raging Ignatius did not looked convinced; the blood of his friend must be avenged. He and his Regiment would take on anyone who stood in their way.

Tristan stood and put a hand on the cold steel shoulder plate of the commander’s armour. Kam was not surprised by Tristan’s courage to approach, in the mood he was in.

Uncharacteristically, Ignatius let him speak, also mildly impressed by the young lads courage.

‘I know you loved the Bruce’s, who didn’t. I felt the same as you when I found out. I was never gifted with Master Kam wisdom.’

‘Nor I’ Ignatius added.

‘Caleb is my friend, like Captain Bruce was yours. If we attack this betrayal head on we will fail. If we don’t replace Caleb then they might kill him, as soon as we show our hand. Now is the time for strategy not combat. But rest assured that we will return, and when we do we will bring hells wrath with us.’

The Commander looked at Kam and smiled; his battle rage finally broken. Kam returned the gesture.

‘You say you do not possess your Masters gift for wisdom boy. But you are more like him than you think.’ Tristen nodded his thanks to the calming Lord Commander.

‘Very well Kam we do this your way, for now. But whether Dorn’s son is dead or alive, we will still return to take some heads; I swear it on this axe.’

Kam winked at Tristen. His pupil was now a man and showed he did not fear the rage and reputation of anyone. He was proud of him. Kam knew he would be a great warrior if they lived through this.

‘So you will join us then in this mission Sebastian. You will be outlawed if you do. I could drop you off at the barracks, although it might ruin our escape.’

The big man laid down his axe against the wall and sat down at one of the few seats in the flight control room.

‘If I go back, could you imagine me playing nice until you returned?’

Kam shook his head.

‘No, I will come with you. It’s been quiet of late anyway. No uprisings or cartels to oppose. I’m sick of polishing my armour and waiting for a bit of excitement. We will go to get Caleb, and then we go mad. Agreed?’

‘Agreed; make yourself comfortable.’

He did as requested and relaxed in the chair. Tristan sat back at the controls, and manoeuvred the ET11 out of the solar system beginning the first of the many Warp jumps. The tear in space opened and the black vessel slipped through it, and entered warp space.

‘Oh by the way I forgot to ask, where is Caleb anyway?’ The now docile Lord Commander asked.

‘On a planet called Redeem we think.’ Tristen quickly replied.

‘Oh. And how long will that take us to reach.’

He asked whilst stretching, looking like he might drift off to sleep.

The two Guardsmen looked at each other with mirth and it was Kam who told him frankly.

‘About a year my friend.’

Ignatius’s eyes snapped open shocked.

‘What!’

But it was too late to turn back now and Kam and Tristan braced themselves for the inevitable booming outcry.