[The Gunslingers, Book II, Chapter 20] [Last Stand] “I’m out,” shouted Mica “Me too,” shouted Roet “That was my last box,” shouted Doth The shout was repeated up and down the line of first year cadets along the hillside that led down from Camp 26. The cabins behind them had been destroyed yesterday by well placed artillery fire, but not before the first year cadets had saved as many of the historical artifacts from their cabins as they could before the Kitsune artillery had flattened their camp. Gunslinger Cadet Mesin’s First Deputy now wore the great Cormon Battle Horn on his hip from the old Cora cabin while Team Roet, the current occupants of the Cyness Cabin, proudly wore the five wolf hides that had, until yesterday, hung on the wall of the now destroyed cabin. Gunslinger Cadet Hank may have had the greatest honor of all; he was carrying First Deputy Fatal’s horns that he had shed for his adult horns when famous Demonian had been a Cadet at Camp 26. The Kitsune assault force was marching up the hill and would soon over-run the defending first year students defense positions. The instructors had tried to order the Cadets to retreat into the mountains, but the students had flat disobeyed and now the Senior Instructor and other teachers fought silently beside their disobedient students that would not surrender their Camp. Cadet William, the class leader jumped up from the entrenchment the students had hastily dug over night around the hill. William had impeccable timing and waited for his fellow Cadet’s attention as Kitsune rounds whizzed past him. The students were now waiting for orders; they were outnumbered, out of ammo, tired, but they were not yet defeated. “We are Camp 26,” shouted William. “This Camp was built by the original Gunslingers, our ancestors, and we will not dishonor them or the two-hundred years of Cadets that have stood among these sacred trees and hallowed hills.” William pointed up the hill at the destroyed camp. “Right there, the original Gunslingers braved the first winter alone and with no supplies in a hut that was little more than sticks stacked against each other.” The Senior Instructor listened to the boy’s passion, he could see it on all their faces, he could see the Cettise descendants the Princes had brought together. How could he tell them that he was here during that first winter, that he was one of the exiled Princes that had come here to hide and build and army intended to one day defeat the House Wolf usurper that had destroyed the Princes home? The Senior Instructor saw something else in his student’s faces and realized he was wrong-the Princes were wrong. These students were not Si’s private army, the Gunslingers had evolved into something much more, and even though the students may not realize it, they were fighting for their independence. The Senior Instructor, formerly Prince Auriga, but known to the Cadets as Deputy Marshall Arthur, nodded at William in encouragement and climbed the embankment to stand beside him. “FIX BAYONETS!” shouted William. The order to fix bayonets hadn’t been given by any army in well over two-thousand years; the bayonets the Cadets had taken from the armory were really only meant for ceremonial functions. The entire class jumped up on the embankment and fixed the long slender blades to the end of their long rifles. Cadet Mesin motioned for his First Deputy and the boy lifted the great Cormon Battle Horn to his lips and for the first time in one-hundred and seventy years since early Gunslinger Cadets had defended against bandit raiders, the Battle Horn rang deep and strong through the hills. One of the young Cadets raised a broomstick, the bristles discarded, with two hand-made banners attached to the top and waved it back and forth. The banner on top was the ancient symbol of the Cettise he had found in a history book, and the banner below was the crossed rifles of the Gunslinger Order. “CHARGE!” yelled William. *** The Kitsune assault commander ensured he was in the front ranks of the assault; he wanted to have the honor of capturing the first Gunslinger Camp. The Cadets were only children, but they were armed children and dangerous rebels. He had given the order not to take prisoners; he would teach these rebels their place. “For the Glory of the Empire!” shouted the Commander. His men echoed the charge as they moved up the hill, the firing from the filthy Gunslinger urchin was slowing down, and in a few more minutes it stopped entirely. “They are out of ammunition, Commander,” reported a lieutenant. “Pick it up, men,” shouted the Commander. “Crush them, no mercy, let their mothers and fathers weep and know the fate of their children that will not bow before the Glorious Kitsune Empire!” The Commander was half-way up the hill when the students climbed out of their entrenchment and… were they fixing bayonets? “I think they plan to charge,” said another lieutenant over the Com-link. The Commander saw the banner and zoomed his HUD display to read it. The banner was just a simple crude hand-made battle banner. He paused for a moment as the symbol on the banner came into view, and then made his first fatal mistake of the day. “The Cettise,” the Commander whispered. He hadn’t meant to say the word outloud, but the word ‘Cettise’ was broadcast over the Com-link to not only his unit, but the entire Battle Carrier net. The students began running down the hill towards the Kitsune, bayonets attached to their barrels. It was unthinkable, the Kitsune were the most technologically and physically superior army in the galaxy. The entire military might of twenty-seven worlds had fallen before the Kitsune. What did children with nothing but bayonets charging down a hill think they were going to do? “Stand your ground, choose your targets and fire,” shouted the Commander, but he could here the word Cettise being repeated in whispers over the net. “They aren’t Gunslingers, it was a ruse, it’s a Cettise army…” “The Cettise descendents, they’ve been hiding here…” “It can’t be Cettise, they were destroyed…” The Commander opened fire and his men opened fire on the charging Cadets. Cadets did go down, but each time a Cadet fell it only seemed to enrage the other Cadets to charge faster. “We are Kitsune,” shouted the Commander. “We are physically superior to every species.” The Commander tried to calm his men but he could see they were wavering in the face of an unprecedented charge, no army ever, at least since the conquest of the planet Cormon Major, had attempted such a charge. The Commander glanced down in his helmet for only a moment to check the ground radar, and when he looked up a large boy was in front of him. The Commander expected the boy to just bounce of the Battle Armor and lay stunned on the ground, but instead the Commander was thrown off his feet as the boy ran into him at full speed and slammed him to the ground hard. The Commander felt a searing pain in his side and tried to look, the pain continued over and over; the boy was driving his bayonet between the arm joints of the armor. The Commander tried to raise his hand to beg for mercy but the pain continued, the boy’s eyes were dead, cold, lifeless… they were Cettise eyes. The boy picked the Commander up off the ground and brought him down over his knee. The Commander felt an intense sharp pain somewhere in his back, and he knew it was a wound that not even a Kitsune could heal from. The Commander made his second and last fatal mistake of the day. “They are Cettise,” whispered the Commander. “Child Cettise, ancestors help us when the adult Cettise come to avenge their children.” Those words broke the Kitsune assault and spread through the Battle Carrier like wild fire. The boy disappeared from the Commanders view and he could see the battle on his HUD display, his men were trying to run, but the Cettise were giving no mercy. Then another boy was over top him and ripped the visor from his helmet. The boy thrust the bayonet down at his face, but that wasn’t what the Commander focused on… it was the boy’s eyes… those eyes… they were dead eyes… soulless… and then the Commander knew nothing else. *** Duke stood on top of White Mountain trying to see the battles raging at each of the Camps spread throughout the mountains. The forest blocked most of his view, but he could see Kitsune troop carriers landing near each of the camps. His own forces were battling the Kitsune lower on the mountain. Cora was kneeling on the ground relaying orders into the Com-unit. “William just led a bayonet charge,” said Cora. “Who’s William?” asked Duke. “A first year from our old Camp,” replied Cora. “Are any of them still alive?” asked Duke. “Twelve casualties from the First Years, but all the Kitsune were wiped out,” reported Cora. “Something’s got the Kitsune spooked,” said Duke. “I can see drop ships pulling back.” A massive explosion in the distance sent a wall of flame across the sky and Duke watched several hundred acres of trees disappear. “Oh ancestors, that was Camp 18,” said Cora looking up from the Com-unit. “They’re using Thermobaric weapons, those are illegal.” “We can’t take these losses, send the message for everyone to retreat to White Mountain, the caves here will provide some protection,” ordered Duke. Cora relayed the message and then listened to another incoming transmission. “The Third Years just arrived,” said Cora excitedly. “They are engaging the Carriers in orbit.” “There are too many Carriers up there now,” said Duke. “Tell them to get out now, we are making our last stand at White Mountain and there is no sense in them dying.” “Duke, are you giving up?” asked Cora. “No, I will fight to the end, and that is where we are right now,” said Duke. “There are eight Carriers in orbit and it’s only a matter of time before they overwhelm us with numbers.” Cora spoke into the Com-unit for a few minutes before turning back to Duke. He looked so old now and Cora could see lines under his eyes. “The Third Years are refusing to leave,” said Cora. “They are coming here and will make the last stand with us…” Cora broke off and listened to the Com-unit and looked up at Duke. “The Fourth Years just dropped out of light speed,” said Cora standing up and facing Duke. “Snap out of it, Duke, we have six-hundred more ships.” “And the Kitsune have countless thousands,” said Duke. Cora slapped Duke hard across the face. “You get it together you scaly lizard or I’ll skin your hide and use it for a new pair of boots,” said Cora. Duke heard the multiple sonic booms of ships entering the atmosphere and nodded. “Okay, we have a small reprieve,” said Duke. “Tell the Third Years to sweep the southern camps and lay down air support, and the Fourth Years take the northern camps.” “We can use this time to see what it was the Marshal wanted us to find in his office,” said Cora. *** “How many?” asked Colt. “It’s hard to see this far away, but I’d say at least four Battle Carriers, but there could be more on the other side of the planet we can’t see,” said Toran. Colt had ordered Jack to drop them out of light speed far outside the Cynessian solar system and now drifted with minimal power to ensure they weren’t detected. During their stop to fix the engines they had listened to the News Vids and saw that the planet was under attack and prudently stopped out here in the vast nothingness to observe before approaching the planet. “Any transmissions from the planet?” asked Colt. “Too far away,” said Garth. “The Battle Carriers give off a huge signature, but even those are just a guess,” said Toran. “We need to get closer.” Colt sat back in the Captain’s chair and considered his options. The planet was definitely under siege at the least, and just as likely already invaded and conquered; there weren’t very many good options at all. “Jack, pick any one of the Battle Carriers and drop us out of light speed right in front of its bridge,” ordered Colt. “Garth, I want ship to ship Vid-Com open the second we arrive.” Colt stood and adjusted his hat and duster and stood up, then thought it might be more imposing if he was sitting. Yea, don’t let them think you would even bother standing for them. “What are you going to do?” asked Ben. “Too late, Ben,” said Toran. “See that look in his eyes, he’s already decided and isn’t going to tell us until the bullets are flying.” “Do it, Jack,” said Colt. Ben grabbed the back of Colt’s chair and waited, he was starting to get used to this. The ship jumped to light speed and fifty-three seconds later crossed the solar system and dropped back out of light speed in front of one of the Battle Carriers. Jack miscalculated slightly and the ship appeared thirty feet from the Carrier Bridge. Garth opened a general frequency Com-link and Colt decided to stand up after all. “I am Lord Gunslinger Colton Cyness, sovereign ruler of this world, you have engaged in an illegal military action against my planet, your Commander is under arrest, I will accept your surrender now,” said Colt. *** Duke landed the Dart ship next to what remained of the Marshal’s Office; a fairly large crater was several dozen feet away. The near miss had destroyed one wall completely and blown most of the roof away. “Could be worse,” said Cora carefully climbing across the debris and into the cabin. “They really shelled this camp,” said West. “It’s amazing the Cadets didn’t take more casualties.” “Nothing will ever be the same again,” Wesley picked his way across the floor to the Marshall’s desk. The desk was sat completely unscathed by the bomb that had landed nearby and even a coffee mug with sat on the edge waiting for the owner to return. Duke pushed the desk aside and lifted the rug covering the floor; the trap door was right where the Marshal said it would be. West shrugged and pulled the door up and the four looked down into the dark. “Anyone think to bring a flashlight?” asked Cora. “They are over here in the closet,” said Wesley. “How do you know?” asked Duke. “The Marshal took my bone dice once and I broke in to get them back,” said Wesley. “And you never told us?” asked Cora. “Everyone hates me,” said Wesley. “You would have just told on me.” Duke stared at Wesley for a long moment nodded his head, “You are right,” said Duke. “We haven’t treated you very kindly because of your feud with Colt.” Duke took one of the flashlights and descended the stairs down under the cabin. The stairs ended in an empty room the same size as the cabin above. The others followed and everyone waved their lights around looking for something. “There’s nothing here,” said West. “Maybe someone took what we were supposed to find,” said Cora. “There’s a string hanging here from a light bulb,” said West. “Electricity isn’t working yet with the dam destroyed,” Duke pointed out. West pulled the string anyway and the single light bulb lit up and cast shadows around the room. “How?” asked Cora. “There’s a working generator somewhere, obviously,” said Wesley. “Really, you think?” asked Cora. Duke ignored the bickering and moved around the walls looking closely and running his hands across the concrete surface and knocking. “You think there’s a secret door?” asked West. “I’m a Demonian, I can smell a secret tunnel,” said Duke stopping and looking at a small hole he found. West walked over and stuck his finger in the hold and then tried using the flashlight to see inside. “Maybe it’s just a hole,” said Cora. “Maybe your head is just a hole,” said Wesley. “Wesley, that’s not helping,” said Duke. “I know what it is,” said Wesley. “Would you like to tell us?” asked Cora. “See the little notch at the top of the hole,” said Wesley. “It’s a keyhole.” “That’s very good, Wesley,” said Duke. “Okay, let’s find the key.” “We already have the key,” said Wesley. “This secret door was made so any Gunslinger could get in, but not a Deputy.” Wesley drew his revolver and pushed the barrel into the hole, the gun-sight slipped perfectly into the notch at the top of the hole. Wesley turned his revolver as if it was a key and there was a click and the wall slipped back an inch. He pulled his revolver back out and holstered it then pushed on the wall. The wall pushed back and then swung to the side and revealed another set of stairs going down further into the dark. Cora walked past Wesley, “Think you’re so smart, huh?” “Good detective work, Wesley,” said Duke. They followed the stairs down into the dark, shinning their flashlights ahead of them. The stairs descended much further than they would have thought and then opened into a massive open cavern. “We’re under the roll-call field,” whispered Cora. Duke was the only one that seemed comfortable this far underground in a strange cavern and walked ahead of the other three huddling together. “Holy horned ancestors,” said Duke, his light falling on a large ship. “What is it?” asked West. “That is an ancient Kitsune battleship,” said Duke. “How do you know?” asked Cora. “My father took me to Demonia every summer when I was a kid, these are the same Battleships that are in the photographs that first appeared in the skies over Demonia when the Kitsune invaded,” said Duke. They walked around the ship, the light from their flashlights revealing dozens of canon turrets. “Look,” said West. “There’s another one.” Duke led them down the line and they counted six of the ancient Battleships. They found piles of ammunition crates and missile racks against the far wall, just waiting to be loaded. “This is what the Marshal wanted us to find,” said Duke. “He’s evened the odds out a little for us.” “None of us know anything about flying a Battleship,” said Wesley. “No, but I know who does,” said Duke. “Cora, you and West get topside and call the Fourth Years, they have Battleship operations training. I want them all here within the hour.” Cora returned an hour later with the Fourth Year Cadets and they immediately went to work on the Battleships. Cora found Duke and Wesley sitting in a side chamber that looked like a museum warehouse, both of their Gunslinger badges was lying on the floor in front of them. “What’s going on?” asked Cora. “It’s a lie,” said Duke. “All of it. The Gunslingers are a lie.” Cora bent down and picked up the badges while West walked over to a wall with glass display cases. Each case had a small Imperial Prince uniform hanging inside and a small sword hanging next to that. “I don’t get it,” said West. “Read the names,” Duke stood nearly shouting. “Prince Alden, or should I say Gunslinger Allen, the physics instructor.” Duke walked down the row of cases pointing at the names. “Prince Auriga—or Gunslinger Arthur, Prince Morima—Gunslinger Mori, Prince Delphean—Gunslinger Delph, Prince Veneith—Gunslinger Vene, and then there is this one—Marshal.” Cora and West followed Duke and looked into the case marked Marshal. There was a simple uniform hanging in that one; it was really not even a uniform. “That is the clothing of a servant,” said Duke. “We got it wrong; it’s not The Marshal General…its General Marshal.” “I still don’t understand,” said West. “Two-hundred years during the Wolf rebellion the child Emperor Sionnach and the Imperial Princes weren’t killed,” said a voice. Cora, Duke, Wesley and West spun around, the Fourth Year Class Leader, Cadet Tures, was standing in the dim light holding a flashlight. “The exiled Emperor and Imperial Princes came here, we think they may have stopped at Carina first,” explained Tures. “They probably escaped in those Battleships you found. Not everyone knows, some of the Fourth Years, my father and grand-father knew, and we certainly didn’t know as many of the details as you have just discovered here.” “How?” asked Duke. “We are Gunslingers,” said Tures. “Simple detective work over the last fifty years.” Tures walked over and looked inside the glass cases. “I’m going to have some of my teams go through here and secure as much of this as we can,” said Tures. “This is our origins, our history, who we were, but it is not who we are now.” Tures shook his head and took the badges from Cora and held them out for Duke and Wesley. “You Second Years are so stupid,” said Tures. “We weren’t going to rebel until we had more information, but that idiot Colton Cyness started the Shadow War and then you charged off into the sunset and started the Rebellion early.” West turned red and was glad nobody could see it in the dark; the whole thing had actually been his idea. Tures pointed at the display cases, “Those Princes formed the Gunslingers to be their own private army, but after two-hundred years we changed, became something else. This is a rebellion, for our freedom from them. The adult Gunslingers aren’t here yet because they are fighting the Gunslinger Council—The Princes, our Masters.” “We are Gunslingers,” said Duke taking his badge back. “No man is my master.” Tures turned his head and spit, “You see how we changed, they told us to kneel, made us Lords, and then said ‘rise and never again kneel to any man,’ but then they secretly used us like their private servant army.” “Is the Marshal a bad guy?” whispered Cora; she desperately wanted it not to be true. “No, he’s been helping us for years get ready, but you challenged him in front of everyone and put him in a bad position,” said Tures. “My father says Gunslinger Delph is on our side too.” “What do we do now? asked Duke. “This is your army, Lord Fatal, you’re in charge, but I think we should hurry up and launch,” said Tures. “That brainless idiot Colton Cyness is in orbit right now staring down eight Battle Carriers, and the damn crazy thing is - he’ll probably win.”