Forgiving the Forgotten - 62 - The Last Hope
CHAPTER 62: THE LAST HOPE:
AMON'S POV:
The screen in front of my eyes was showing signs of breaking under the stress of the enemies force. The cracks were slowly deepening, and with each inch covered, the cracks in my hopes deepened.
My wife, Taeen, seemed to be the force that was keeping me together. She was ordering the other vessels on the ground, being in charge of defense made her vary. I stood my ground and dragged myself away from my support to hasten the procedure for offenses. My own weapon dangled at my side, I knew that the black of my eyes was intimidating to my subordinates but they would get used to it. As the others had, cold dead eyes.
"Your highness, we have evacuated the entire base, we await your orders!" that was Shane, his forehead shone with sweat and eyes with achievement, the third phase of infiltration was accomplished.
"Shane, I want us to breach the ground surface and pierce the border at which our forces face theirs. Check the area if it's clear for breach."
Shane barked away my words to those monitoring the transmissions from air. Trace and Ru were doing an excellent job of cornering the enemy into the west end of Dior. The supplementary forces blocked their escape further west.
Now all we had to do was face Weiss head on the moment we reached the surface. In spite of being in the position I was in, I feared defeat somewhere. I feared losing all that was close to me, only this time, the things dear to me were not materialistic; these were people who would stay to enjoy the victory if we won. Who would accept me as I was.
I did not have time for this. I was further reminded of this by my frantically pacing wife.
"Taeen, what seems to trouble you?"
She passed a sarcastic smile, the tension never leaving her eyes and literally threw her words around, "I think we are at war and we have absolutely no idea what the hell is going out up in the broad daylight! Its pleasing!"
I wanted to hug her that moment and tell her that I would always love her and that I would love her beyond my last breath which could be today of all days.
I parted my lips but Shane had to interrupt... ok, that was important, as of the moment at least.
"Your highness's, the coordinates as sent from Trace indicate clear ground. We must breach as soon as possible, there will be no other chance to take them by surprise. If we are to appear at this time, it will tip the now balanced scale to our side. Sir?"
Taeen was standing behind me. We were so protected. In our shell of metal and glass. And yet, the vulnerability of our ship seemed too much to be enough to protect my people.
"Begin the end phase."
Taeen crept up behind me and clung to my sleeve. She had repeated the habit when she used to get nervous.
I pulled her hand into mine and held her clammy palm in mine as the ship began burrowing to the ground. We braced ourselves against the pulling force of gravity.
An image flashed before my eyes.
Sea eyes, "Jerome is a pretty common surname you know... you could use it too... you know...."
That was prince Washita, chuckling at me... suggesting I take up the Jerome surname.... little had I known things would turn out this way.
For him, and the sister he had entrusted to me, I would save this country tonight. I knew what I was supposed to do if I had to use my last option. I may not see the second moon rise tonight. I may never see my beloved again. It was easy to think of sacrificing my all to give her a peaceful and safe world to live in. For the love of my life, I would abandon myself tonight. For the one person I will always love, even beyond death.
The day light shone, gentle even on this fateful day. Taeen secured her gear and came towards me.
"Amon..."
"Taeen... it will be alright."
She nodded. Our crew was also gearing up as the devil of a ship that we were in came to a slow halt. In front of us, Trace and Ru's offenses stood boldly. Taeen's defense stood protectively by the fleet. Mia's medical troop had set up camps far away, the ambulances were standing at some distance.
"Ready to disengage!"
Shane yelled as the hatch to the ship hissed and opened.
I lifted Taeen's beautiful face, my finger brushing her chin.
Her eyes held hesitance. I questioned her in her mind.
She replied aloud, her voice shook but her hand was firm on mine, "I'm afraid you'll use your last option even when you have other options left."
I replied quietly, "I will use it when I don't have any better options left."
Perhaps for the last time I kissed my bride. It was a longing intense kiss that was meant to convey the good-bye. It didn't. It couldn't.
The barren land of Vestavia and Dior had borne fruit to a war. Mortal Jerome was small in number but we were outnumbered because of the massive hulk of a weapon that stood like a trophy on their side. Driven by two smaller trucks and extra supports, 'the ruin' possessed massive laser apparatus and cannons. Huge cylinders that were empty. Save one, which was filled to the brim.
I stalked towards Shane and whispered, "Don't let anybody advance till I give the order. I will try to analyze the situation. I don't want Weiss setting off the ruin, we'll all die without being given a chance."
He nodded. Everybody knew that they could only move when I said it was safe, that the ruin could not destroy it.
The enemy was very close. I wondered why Weiss had allowed this proximity.
Standing at the fore front of my army, I conveyed mentally, it was for all to hear. Mortal Jerome as well as those with Jerome.
"I, Amon Jerome, would like to meet the leader of Mortal Jerome. I believe a negotiation with him will lead to milder damage."
A few seconds later I received my reply, Weiss, dressed like a king stepped gloriously out of his tent.
Oh! So he had a tent... what was this? Alexander the Great's battle? Unbelievable!
"I, will not consider you the king of Jerome. You are an alien to us and should be eliminated."
I retorted calmly, the people kept quiet, following our exchange as well as possible.
"I never introduced myself as the king, I simply ask negotiations with you as a fellow Yuver. Not a Jeromian or Islander or Earthling. Simply as another living being. If you can negotiate, well enough, let's hear your complaints. If not, I will protect the people who have put their trust in me."
There was applause from behind me, I chose to ignore it. I had to handle each word carefully lest I piss him off and he set off the ruin.
He was walking towards me, such a shame, I had thought this man was capable of great deeds. His great deed was this. I wondered if his men knew he was planning to kill them along with the rest of Jerome.
Weiss yelled loudly, "Negotiations? With someone who holds nothing in comparison to me? I, the owner of the ruin, will take over this planet and will become the ruler of Aria, the richest mining planet ever!"
Some people began whispering, words being transmitted through the minds of the people, "... the Winair boy, yes the nephew of the Vestavian Prime, hadn't he said the same thing about Aria! Something is not right!"
I acknowledged that cracks were appearing in the confidence of his men.
Weiss frantically turned around and shouted, "Don't you think on those lines! I am your master... you will do as I say!"
Hmmm.... Weiss was losing his cool rather fast. Wrong sign. He could set off the ruin this way. I had to buy us time try to get my men to capture him.
Taeen was creeping behind me, she was running hand in hand with Trace, who had a very bewildered expression on his face. Taeen said to me, meant only for my mind, "Amenatsu... I'm going to try to immobilize his hands with the phoenix's pearls, without him knowing. So he won't take control of the machine. I'm taking Trace, the most experienced pilot we have, so don't worry about me!"
I almost smiled. The adrenalin in me pumped madly. There were people at their homes waiting to know what would happen in this war.
Weiss was still shouting at his people when some of his men created havoc by wreaking the machines side. It did nothing to damage the hull.
Trace and Taeen sped under a cover of clouds towards the enemy lines. I could hear missiles.
No! Taeen!
AMON'S POV:
The screen in front of my eyes was showing signs of breaking under the stress of the enemies force. The cracks were slowly deepening, and with each inch covered, the cracks in my hopes deepened.
My wife, Taeen, seemed to be the force that was keeping me together. She was ordering the other vessels on the ground, being in charge of defense made her vary. I stood my ground and dragged myself away from my support to hasten the procedure for offenses. My own weapon dangled at my side, I knew that the black of my eyes was intimidating to my subordinates but they would get used to it. As the others had, cold dead eyes.
"Your highness, we have evacuated the entire base, we await your orders!" that was Shane, his forehead shone with sweat and eyes with achievement, the third phase of infiltration was accomplished.
"Shane, I want us to breach the ground surface and pierce the border at which our forces face theirs. Check the area if it's clear for breach."
Shane barked away my words to those monitoring the transmissions from air. Trace and Ru were doing an excellent job of cornering the enemy into the west end of Dior. The supplementary forces blocked their escape further west.
Now all we had to do was face Weiss head on the moment we reached the surface. In spite of being in the position I was in, I feared defeat somewhere. I feared losing all that was close to me, only this time, the things dear to me were not materialistic; these were people who would stay to enjoy the victory if we won. Who would accept me as I was.
I did not have time for this. I was further reminded of this by my frantically pacing wife.
"Taeen, what seems to trouble you?"
She passed a sarcastic smile, the tension never leaving her eyes and literally threw her words around, "I think we are at war and we have absolutely no idea what the hell is going out up in the broad daylight! Its pleasing!"
I wanted to hug her that moment and tell her that I would always love her and that I would love her beyond my last breath which could be today of all days.
I parted my lips but Shane had to interrupt... ok, that was important, as of the moment at least.
"Your highness's, the coordinates as sent from Trace indicate clear ground. We must breach as soon as possible, there will be no other chance to take them by surprise. If we are to appear at this time, it will tip the now balanced scale to our side. Sir?"
Taeen was standing behind me. We were so protected. In our shell of metal and glass. And yet, the vulnerability of our ship seemed too much to be enough to protect my people.
"Begin the end phase."
Taeen crept up behind me and clung to my sleeve. She had repeated the habit when she used to get nervous.
I pulled her hand into mine and held her clammy palm in mine as the ship began burrowing to the ground. We braced ourselves against the pulling force of gravity.
An image flashed before my eyes.
Sea eyes, "Jerome is a pretty common surname you know... you could use it too... you know...."
That was prince Washita, chuckling at me... suggesting I take up the Jerome surname.... little had I known things would turn out this way.
For him, and the sister he had entrusted to me, I would save this country tonight. I knew what I was supposed to do if I had to use my last option. I may not see the second moon rise tonight. I may never see my beloved again. It was easy to think of sacrificing my all to give her a peaceful and safe world to live in. For the love of my life, I would abandon myself tonight. For the one person I will always love, even beyond death.
The day light shone, gentle even on this fateful day. Taeen secured her gear and came towards me.
"Amon..."
"Taeen... it will be alright."
She nodded. Our crew was also gearing up as the devil of a ship that we were in came to a slow halt. In front of us, Trace and Ru's offenses stood boldly. Taeen's defense stood protectively by the fleet. Mia's medical troop had set up camps far away, the ambulances were standing at some distance.
"Ready to disengage!"
Shane yelled as the hatch to the ship hissed and opened.
I lifted Taeen's beautiful face, my finger brushing her chin.
Her eyes held hesitance. I questioned her in her mind.
She replied aloud, her voice shook but her hand was firm on mine, "I'm afraid you'll use your last option even when you have other options left."
I replied quietly, "I will use it when I don't have any better options left."
Perhaps for the last time I kissed my bride. It was a longing intense kiss that was meant to convey the good-bye. It didn't. It couldn't.
The barren land of Vestavia and Dior had borne fruit to a war. Mortal Jerome was small in number but we were outnumbered because of the massive hulk of a weapon that stood like a trophy on their side. Driven by two smaller trucks and extra supports, 'the ruin' possessed massive laser apparatus and cannons. Huge cylinders that were empty. Save one, which was filled to the brim.
I stalked towards Shane and whispered, "Don't let anybody advance till I give the order. I will try to analyze the situation. I don't want Weiss setting off the ruin, we'll all die without being given a chance."
He nodded. Everybody knew that they could only move when I said it was safe, that the ruin could not destroy it.
The enemy was very close. I wondered why Weiss had allowed this proximity.
Standing at the fore front of my army, I conveyed mentally, it was for all to hear. Mortal Jerome as well as those with Jerome.
"I, Amon Jerome, would like to meet the leader of Mortal Jerome. I believe a negotiation with him will lead to milder damage."
A few seconds later I received my reply, Weiss, dressed like a king stepped gloriously out of his tent.
Oh! So he had a tent... what was this? Alexander the Great's battle? Unbelievable!
"I, will not consider you the king of Jerome. You are an alien to us and should be eliminated."
I retorted calmly, the people kept quiet, following our exchange as well as possible.
"I never introduced myself as the king, I simply ask negotiations with you as a fellow Yuver. Not a Jeromian or Islander or Earthling. Simply as another living being. If you can negotiate, well enough, let's hear your complaints. If not, I will protect the people who have put their trust in me."
There was applause from behind me, I chose to ignore it. I had to handle each word carefully lest I piss him off and he set off the ruin.
He was walking towards me, such a shame, I had thought this man was capable of great deeds. His great deed was this. I wondered if his men knew he was planning to kill them along with the rest of Jerome.
Weiss yelled loudly, "Negotiations? With someone who holds nothing in comparison to me? I, the owner of the ruin, will take over this planet and will become the ruler of Aria, the richest mining planet ever!"
Some people began whispering, words being transmitted through the minds of the people, "... the Winair boy, yes the nephew of the Vestavian Prime, hadn't he said the same thing about Aria! Something is not right!"
I acknowledged that cracks were appearing in the confidence of his men.
Weiss frantically turned around and shouted, "Don't you think on those lines! I am your master... you will do as I say!"
Hmmm.... Weiss was losing his cool rather fast. Wrong sign. He could set off the ruin this way. I had to buy us time try to get my men to capture him.
Taeen was creeping behind me, she was running hand in hand with Trace, who had a very bewildered expression on his face. Taeen said to me, meant only for my mind, "Amenatsu... I'm going to try to immobilize his hands with the phoenix's pearls, without him knowing. So he won't take control of the machine. I'm taking Trace, the most experienced pilot we have, so don't worry about me!"
I almost smiled. The adrenalin in me pumped madly. There were people at their homes waiting to know what would happen in this war.
Weiss was still shouting at his people when some of his men created havoc by wreaking the machines side. It did nothing to damage the hull.
Trace and Taeen sped under a cover of clouds towards the enemy lines. I could hear missiles.
No! Taeen!
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