on.”
Xenophon did his best to hide his satisfaction.
“We first fought Tissaphernes at the Cilician Gates. Then we smashed their shipyards at Khorram.”
The other four stepped closer to listen to the translation from Artemas.
“After that, we landed on Cunaxa...”
“With Medes allies,” added Glaucon.
Xenophon nodded gently, immediately appreciating the useful set up.
“We fought Artaxerxes in a ground battle and smashed his troops, even breaching the walls of the Citadel. Our Median allies failed in the final attack, so we decided to leave.”
That was the part where the Carduchians appeared less impressed.
“And then?”
Xenophon took in a long breath before explaining their victory over the fleet under the command of Tissaphernes. It took nearly two more minutes, but by the time he’d finished, the Carduchians were more than impressed. Hakim beckoned toward the large blast doors back at the entry point into their facility. Xenophon nodded politely and indicated for Lady Artemas to join him. They walked with the group toward the doors. As they approached, Hakim spoke into a device on his arm. The door pulsed blue and then swung open. Bright lights inside almost blinded him, and it took him a moment for his eyes to adjust. He heard a noise and looked back. The cruiser’s thrusters were active, and dust bellowed around it.
“Xenophon?” said a voice in his earpiece.
Chirisophus, you fool, show patience.
“Strategos, we are making progress.”
The Carduchians looked to Artemas for a translation, but none was forthcoming. At the same time, the main engines from the light cruiser powered up, and it began to move well away from the platform. The doors and ramps lifted to leave the small group of Terran on their own.
“I’m coming down. This is taking too long,” said Chirisophus.
The five Carduchians went back inside their partially damaged domes. One of them lifted his weapon and took aim at the cruiser but was shouted at by Hakim. The Carduchian looked directly at Xenophon and swore. At least Xenophon assumed that was what he was doing. With a final unfamiliar gesture, he moved inside where he was enveloped by the bright interior lighting. The thin doors twisted back shut, and the energy field reappeared.
“What’s happening?” Glaucon asked.
Tamara and Roxana went to the edge of the curbed platform that jutted out like a small ledge from the entrance and out to the connecting bridge. Tamara looked down and then staggered back, as a feeling of vertigo hit her.
“Weird.”
Roxana pulled her back a step and then flinched at the sound of engines. All of them looked up at the shape of four Black Legion dromons, two baring the markings of the Laconians, and another two with Theban markings. As might have been expected, they came down in a fast circle to move in right behind the cruiser as it lifted up.
“Wait! They are here to trade,” said Xenophon.
Artemas translated, but the Carduchians were already at the opposite end of the platform. They waited near the doorway and watched as the first two dromons landed. The craft hit the ground hard, too hard. With a squeal and a burst of sparks, the first slid to a stop. The doors hissed open, and out came the large form of the fully armored Chirisophus. As usual, he wore the full Laconian panoply, including armor, weapons, cloak, and shielded left arm. As he stepped out, his cloak flowed behind, making him seem even larger. Laconian spatharii deployed around the platform, as well as an entire ten-man unit of his crimson-cloaked Epilektoi, led by Komes Artemis. Xenophon signaled to them.
“Strategos, we have this under control.”
Chirisophus ignored him and marched off the platform and along the bridge. The dromons lifted up, and more came down to deposit troops from the Boeotian contingents. Above them a group of three more dromons were looking for another landing place. Seafox fighters were amongst them, and soon the entire facility was
Xenophon did his best to hide his satisfaction.
“We first fought Tissaphernes at the Cilician Gates. Then we smashed their shipyards at Khorram.”
The other four stepped closer to listen to the translation from Artemas.
“After that, we landed on Cunaxa...”
“With Medes allies,” added Glaucon.
Xenophon nodded gently, immediately appreciating the useful set up.
“We fought Artaxerxes in a ground battle and smashed his troops, even breaching the walls of the Citadel. Our Median allies failed in the final attack, so we decided to leave.”
That was the part where the Carduchians appeared less impressed.
“And then?”
Xenophon took in a long breath before explaining their victory over the fleet under the command of Tissaphernes. It took nearly two more minutes, but by the time he’d finished, the Carduchians were more than impressed. Hakim beckoned toward the large blast doors back at the entry point into their facility. Xenophon nodded politely and indicated for Lady Artemas to join him. They walked with the group toward the doors. As they approached, Hakim spoke into a device on his arm. The door pulsed blue and then swung open. Bright lights inside almost blinded him, and it took him a moment for his eyes to adjust. He heard a noise and looked back. The cruiser’s thrusters were active, and dust bellowed around it.
“Xenophon?” said a voice in his earpiece.
Chirisophus, you fool, show patience.
“Strategos, we are making progress.”
The Carduchians looked to Artemas for a translation, but none was forthcoming. At the same time, the main engines from the light cruiser powered up, and it began to move well away from the platform. The doors and ramps lifted to leave the small group of Terran on their own.
“I’m coming down. This is taking too long,” said Chirisophus.
The five Carduchians went back inside their partially damaged domes. One of them lifted his weapon and took aim at the cruiser but was shouted at by Hakim. The Carduchian looked directly at Xenophon and swore. At least Xenophon assumed that was what he was doing. With a final unfamiliar gesture, he moved inside where he was enveloped by the bright interior lighting. The thin doors twisted back shut, and the energy field reappeared.
“What’s happening?” Glaucon asked.
Tamara and Roxana went to the edge of the curbed platform that jutted out like a small ledge from the entrance and out to the connecting bridge. Tamara looked down and then staggered back, as a feeling of vertigo hit her.
“Weird.”
Roxana pulled her back a step and then flinched at the sound of engines. All of them looked up at the shape of four Black Legion dromons, two baring the markings of the Laconians, and another two with Theban markings. As might have been expected, they came down in a fast circle to move in right behind the cruiser as it lifted up.
“Wait! They are here to trade,” said Xenophon.
Artemas translated, but the Carduchians were already at the opposite end of the platform. They waited near the doorway and watched as the first two dromons landed. The craft hit the ground hard, too hard. With a squeal and a burst of sparks, the first slid to a stop. The doors hissed open, and out came the large form of the fully armored Chirisophus. As usual, he wore the full Laconian panoply, including armor, weapons, cloak, and shielded left arm. As he stepped out, his cloak flowed behind, making him seem even larger. Laconian spatharii deployed around the platform, as well as an entire ten-man unit of his crimson-cloaked Epilektoi, led by Komes Artemis. Xenophon signaled to them.
“Strategos, we have this under control.”
Chirisophus ignored him and marched off the platform and along the bridge. The dromons lifted up, and more came down to deposit troops from the Boeotian contingents. Above them a group of three more dromons were looking for another landing place. Seafox fighters were amongst them, and soon the entire facility was
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