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The Heat 2003 short story by Mark Newbold
and Paul Squire Thirty-seven
years after Episode IV – A New Hope Tannis
Rixx gazed out of the window of his palatial headquarters and made a mental
note never to take the view for granted.
In a crazy sector like the one he lived in, when so many billions were
fighting for their lives, that he should be here in the heart of luxury and
splendour was ludicrous. After all,
hadn’t he recently been elected leader of the Setnin Defence Force to fight
for the Setnin Sector? Against
oppression and tyranny and all the dark trappings of invasion and evil? Indeed he had, and the warrior heart of the
Janite beat a fierce rhythm as he struggled with the dichotomy. While he currently existed in comfortable
surroundings, his spirit and essence were battling his mortal enemies on
every battlefield of every planet that had fallen to the Ki-Ki. And
that was many worlds, and many battlefields.
In his previous lives, first as Janos Executioner and loyal servant of
the Emperor Priest, then as traveller and student of the galaxy, as smuggler
and operative for the Cipple sisters and now as leader of the S.D.F, he had
learned much. In fact, he’d learned
all he could possibly need to know about people, life and how to live
it. The fate of billions of Setnin
citizens had been entrusted to him, and he had been elected to lead the
resistance. Rixx was proud to have
been chosen to lead that fight, but also wary. He knew what a scapegoat was, and the
scarred face that greeted him in the mirror every morning looked
uncomfortably like one. He was
determined not to be just another victim, determined to dig out a victory and
free the sector from the grip of the Ki-Ki… He
just wasn’t sure how he was going to do it. Granted,
he was a warrior, and a skilled one at that. He felt no braggart in stating
the fact, because it was simply that - fact.
To be a Janos Executioner required a level of intensive training
unsurpassed in soldiering. Perhaps
Ferrereans possessed superior reflexes, but that was a natural
attribute. Maybe the winged Hellions
carried a savage heart that could not be quenched. And Glann Cipples famed
Shadow Warriors were honed to a level of skill that came close, but for raw
ability and doggedness the Executioners were unrivalled. Once a man had a Janos Executioner on his
tail, he was a rare breed that evaded and survived their attentions. Tannis had marked many a being for such
close scrutiny. All
but one was dead in an unmarked grave. A
strong gust of wind blew past the window, and Rixx noticed the distant birds
struggling against the wind. He smiled, an action that didn’t come easily to him. He could readily identify with his avian
neighbours, up here on the higher levels of Chancai. The Trade Centre felt as safe a haven from
the madness of war as one could ever wish to find, but Tannis knew from
experience that the safest hiding hole was usually the most treasured prize
for the enemy. He was well aware that
Zelon, the heart of the Setnin Sector, was a target and therefore under
threat, and as he watched the birds pitch and wheel in the wind he steadied
himself for the distinct possibility of the Ki-Ki/Setnin War landing on his
doorstep. No, not a possibility,
inevitability. Rixx wasn’t much for
speculation. He balanced the odds,
weighed them up and made measured conclusions. More often than not he was correct in his
estimations, a fact brought to the attention of the S.D.F when they were
struggling to find a new man to lead them.
Rixx fitted the profile, and he was proud to accept. But at times such as this, watching the
elements cause havoc with the state of nature he felt as if he should have
said no, and brandished a sword in the face of the murderous Ki-Ki, beckoning
them on to have at him… The
shrill buzzing of his comm broke him from his
thoughts and he turned to face the door.
It slid silently open, revealing his 11.00 appointment. The man strode into the room, acknowledged
Rixx with a curt nod and stood next to him by the panoramic window. Tannis eyed him closely, and turned back to
the vista. Ryath Centaur spoke. “Progress?” Rixx squinted his eye slightly in discomfort and straightened
his back as the wind eased outside. “Reports.
Documents detailing Ki-Ki movements, troop numbers, positions,
estimates. Enough flims to sink a
battleship. But progress?” He shook his head, his mouth a grim
line. “Only if progress can be
measured in backward steps.” Ryath
lowered his eyes to the floor. From
where he stood, as leader of the Iron Claw mercenary outfit, he had seen
enough devastation caused by the Ki-Ki to hammer even his own proud spirit
into the ground. Along with friends
and colleagues in different professions he knew that the situation was grim. The Ki-Ki were narrowing trade routes,
making commerce difficult. Rationing
was being enforced on certain worlds, a measure not seen in Setnin for
centuries. And morale was low. For Setnin folk, that was the worst
humiliation. That
and the realisation that there may very well not even be a Setnin within a few short weeks. “My Galactic Alliance spies tell me that
Setnin Command are keeping a close eye on Ki-Ki
activity.” Rixx
kept his head fixed straight ahead as he processed the news. “But they won’t intervene?” Ryath
gave Rixx a weary look. “You know damn well they won’t.” Ryath turned and walked to the desk. “Ever since the Ki-Ki took Euphoria
Station, we’ve been on the run. That
station was a prime tactical staging post for us. Our prime defence factions had elements
there. Now it’s been taken we’ve lost a central location to make plans and
spy on enemy movements.” Centaur
seated himself. “We’re fighting
blind.” “And the invasion proceeds.” said Rixx,
almost to himself. He lifted a batch
of flims from the desk and handed them to Centaur. “I received these this morning. A gift,
from the Raven Corporation.” He cocked
his head as he eyed Ryath. “This Raven
Corporation. Do you trust them?” Rixx
watched Centaur closely as he shuffled the flims and pondered the
question. He had respect for the
mercenary leader, for his abundance of abilities and depth of tactical
knowledge as well as his eagerness to throw his mercenary units operations
facilities fully behind the fight against the Ki-Ki. For a mercenary, a breed usually hired out
to the highest bidder, Rixx found this unusual. And his distrust of the Raven Corporations
motives made Centaurs opinion a valued one.
Rixx saw many similarities between himself and Centaur,
and in a way saw Ryath’s views as a confirmation of his own. Not that they always agreed, and with two
such strong wills vying for dominance their relationship was…fractious, to
say the least. But always of great
use. “I’ve learned not to trust anybody these
days. Especially those so eager to
ingratiate themselves.” Ryath rubbed
his chin. “I’m told that Lord Raven is
a good man, but prone to flashes of anger.
The Lady Raven I know less about, although Jan Lomona has had dealings
with her in the past. You ask if
they’re to be trusted?” He shook his head. “I’m inclined to say no. They’ve yet to choose a side.” He looked directly at Rixx. “They have spies everywhere, in the Iron
Claws, the Trac-Tran Transit Company, Benesk.” He motioned out of the window to the pale
sliver glint of the moon of Benesk above, where the Chamber of Systems
lay. Rixx followed his eyes and
nodded, walking back to the window as he did.
“Raven knows the path of this war better than anyone, maybe even the
Ki-Ki. They’re waiting for a victor to
become apparent before they pledge their allegiance.” “Politics is more trouble than I
imagined.” Ryath
agreed. “Get used to it. This is the blunt end.” “And the sharp?” Centaur
sat forward on his seat as Rixx watched from the window. “That’s when you have the people on your
back baying for blood, and you don’t know how to satisfy them.” Rixx
leaned back, his hand running over the hilt of the ceremonial Janite blade
that never left his side. “Blood I understand. Politics I don’t.” “With respect, maybe you need to forgo the
politics and stick with what you know.
You were elected to fight a war, not run for public office. If popularity contests won wars then Luke
Skywalker would have been elected Supreme Chancellor by now.” Rixx twitched, his eyes and nostrils flaring as he turned from
the view to face Centaur, his voice rising in intensity and volume. “And what would you have me do? Take this sword to Benesk and threaten the
delegates? I need consensus, not
conflict.” Ryath
smiled inwardly and stood to his feet, leaning across the desk. “What you need is to tell Benesk what you
intend to do and stop tip-toeing around.
You were chosen to lead, but all you’ve done for two months is shuffle
through flims and reports.” He came
around the desk. “People are
dying. You were picked to lead because
you’re a fighter. Well fight, dammit!” Ryath allowed himself the freedom of losing
his temper, and took another step towards the Janite. “Because if you don’t, the Ki-Ki
will.” He threw a thumb towards a holomap that was shimmering in the corner of the
office. “Look at the ground they’ve
taken already. If we don’t come up
with a plan soon they’ll be right here,”
he slapped the desk hard to underline his point. “Chancai will be taken and Setnin will
never be free again.” He waited for a
second to allow his words to sink in with Rixx. “So ask yourself. Do you fight the Ki-Ki or do you fight
Benesk?” Rixx
was breathing in short, furious stabs, his pulse racing like a speeder, his
skin damp and hot. He fixed Ryath with
a look of intent. “My two months in office may well have
been unproductive to you Centaur, but there is more going on here than you
know. I once thought as you do, until
I took up office.” He snorted in a
derisory manner and placed his palms against the glass. “Then I saw the undertow. The wheels within wheels that have placed
this sector into such grave danger.”
His voice rose in volume again.
“Do you think I want to be sitting here, reading reports of death,
invasion and destruction? I’m a Janite! I live for battle. It’s in my blood. And yet every plan, every tactic I have
conceived has been rejected. I feel
like I’ve been sidelined, but for what reason I cannot fathom.” Ryath
pushed on, his intensity not wavering one iota. “Granted, I don’t know the details of your
situation. But you are here to do a
job. I believe you can accomplish
this, and clearly so do certain elements of the S.D.F. But why do I feel like it’s you who lacks the confidence in
your abilities?” Rixx
frowned and pushed himself off the glass, facing Ryath with anger flashing
across his features. “My abilities are as much a part of me as
my eyes and my ears and my soul. I am
a Janos Executioner! I was sculpted by my instructors to be an
implement of war. I know my
skills and my limits!” He paused for
just a second, his anger threatening to boil over as he held himself back
from lashing out. “Never question my
resolve again. Ever. But you are
right, I was chosen to lead, and lead I will.
But first I need the support of the Setnin Council behind me. Then I can lead without the spectre of
doubt hanging over my head.” “You need a majority, nothing more. And it doesn’t matter how unpopular you
have to be to get it, now’s the time to fight dirty.” “I appear to be fighting both sides.” “You are.
Every war consists of battles.
This is just one of them.” Ryath
took a subtle step back. Finally Rixx
was angry enough to allow the red mist to descend and corner the Ki-Ki into a
box of hate. But before he could make
the Ki-Ki the sole object of his attentions he had to resolve the
interference of the Council in his mind.
Ryath allowed the atmosphere to cool a notch as he returned to his
seat and took a calming breath. “Ultimately
I’m here as an advisor. We can run
ideas by each other and hack the details out all day, but ultimately it’s you who has the final word.” He waited for the message to get
across. “The S.D.F elected you as
their leader. So lead them.” Rixx
didn’t turn from the window or answer the subtle challenge. He silently watched the pale sliver of
Benesk above as the noon sun rose to its zenith. He had ideas, plans and tactics in
abundance, but they were so extreme they would make the Setnin Defence Force
question the wisdom of electing him into leadership. After all, he was a Janite, an Executioner, and the more the war raged, the
more he felt that aspect of his past bubble towards the surface. Perhaps it was the only way he could muster
the strength to fight the Ki-Ki. As an
Executioner, he had fought mean and dirty, did whatever was required to gain
advantage and victory. But after
travelling the galaxy and working for the Cipple sisters, he had learned to
quell that instinctive urge to attack and never ask questions. But he
knew he needed to lose that restraint, as much for himself as for the sake of
the Setnin Sector. In any other situation he would have
took pride in it, seen it as a growth, a development in his character. For a Janite he was hyper enlightened, and
saw his brethren as culturally stunted.
But right now he envied them their savagery. He needed that cruel emotional abandon,
more than he ever thought he would.
With the fate of the sector entrusted to him, it was the only way to
win. Ryath
didn’t interrupt Rixx’s silence, his own mind awash with thoughts and
ideas. As a leader of many in an
outfit like the Iron Claws he sometimes had the necessity to send his
employees in to dangerous situations.
They knew the risks before they signed on, and were all skilled,
professional soldiers. But on
occasion, especially in recent years, when he knew that they were embarking
on probable suicide missions, he felt all the weight and responsibility of
leadership fall on his shoulders. He’d
been a military man most of his life, first as a Colonel in the Empire, then
assisting the Rebel Alliance, to varying degrees, and later as a
mercenary. But always the same
pressures weighed down on him. He
could only imagine the levels of responsibility that weighed down on Tannis
Rixx. But
Ryath knew that time was of the essence, and now was not the time for
hesitancy and pondering. Men were
elected to lead, and Tannis Rixx was nothing if not a leader. All he needed was the spark to light his
ideas. Rixx
folded his hands behind his back, running a loose hand over the hilt of his
beloved sword. He frowned as he
watched another transport leave Chancai, bound for either a profitable run or
a run for its life. “I do
have a plan. But I believe it’s too
hard-line for the Setnin Council to even contemplate.” “How do you know?” asked Centaur. “I regularly meet with department heads,
representatives from various factions and organisations. We have a loose alliance at work here. Some will not come along with us unless
they are satisfied what I am doing is viable.
I’m still learning politics.”
He paused as Ryath nodded. “But
I fear not quickly enough to persuade them to instigate my tactics and
ideas.” “What’s your plan?” Rixx
narrowed his eyes and drew a deep breath.
He needed to be composed and collected to explain his plan. It really was that audacious. “Janos has many enemies,
everyone from the Outer Rim to Coruscant knows that. But what if I were to tell you that I have
secretly begun overtures that would see an alliance spring up between Janos
and her two most reviled enemies? The
formation of an army the likes of which the Setnin Sector has never
seen?” Tannis turned to Ryath and was
greeted with a face awash with surprise and admiration. “You’ve contacted the Ferrereans and the
Hellions?” Rixx
nodded. “A month ago I sent an envoy to
Ferrerea. The initial reception was
hostile, but after cautious negotiations the Ferrereans came to see my point
of view. It was then that I myself
travelled to Ferrerea and began nailing down the plan. From there we journeyed to Hellion, through
the Ki-Ki Third line, where we held similar talks that went well.” Rixx half-smiled as he watched Ryaths
features crease from surprise to consternation. “At this very moment Ferrerean and Hellion
negotiators are making battle plans.
Detailing troop numbers and ship movements. All that remains is to persuade the Janites
to join.” Ryath
frowned openly at this. Surely the
Janite leader of the Setnin Defence Force would secure his own peoples
loyalty before daring to approach the Ferrereans? Wouldn’t he? “Do you honestly think Janos will join the
fight? More Janites remain loyal to
the Ki-Ki than to Setnin.” Rixx
shook his head and sat down heavily, a weary demeanour descending upon
him. Ryath remained standing and
watched. “You people never understood our position, did you? None of you could see that what Janos did
seven years ago was intended as a wake-up call to the rest of the sector, precisely because we could see this
occurring.” Centaur
shook his head in confusion. “What occurring?” “The invasion of Setnin by an aggressive
force. The New Republic was the worst
thing to happen to Setnin since the end of the Clone Wars. Why?
Because Setnin rescinded her independence, gave too much responsibility
to other organisations. And look at
what happened. While Janos could see
the envious eyes of neighbouring sectors, those fools on Benesk sat back and
wallowed in the protection of the Galactic Alliance. And that protection never appeared.” Rixx fixed Ryath with a steely gaze. “History will judge Janos well. We stood first to protect Setnin. Tragic that our Emperor Priest should be so
easily coerced by the Minds of the Ki-Ki.”
He raised an eyebrow as he measured his next few words. “Tragic that our Emperor Priest must die
for Janos to join the fight.” “Die?”
Centaur paused, collecting his thoughts into rational packs of
information. Of course he’d have to
die. Janite pride would brook no other
ending. Akallon the Fourth had to be
removed and a new, more enlightened leader installed. Perhaps then the world of Janos could
spring to the aide of the sector. Rixx
watched Ryath again, patiently allowing him time to thread his way through
the intricacies of Janite tradition and legal process. After all, Centaur knew the Janites as well
as anybody. “So you see, I
have much work to do. After persuading
my kinsmen to join our crusade I must then sway the politicians.” He spun the chair around. “Give me a sword and a hundred enemies any
day.” Centaur
couldn’t think of an answer to that that wouldn’t sound trite or
contradictory. He often felt the same
way when having to deal with bureaucrats.
“You’ve clearly invested a lot of time and
effort into this plan already, and it appears sound. But why seek my opinion?” Rixx
grimaced, a sarcastic-laced smirk tracing his thin lips. “Because I value it. You have a warriors mind, and that’s
useful. But despite my best efforts I
can’t help but feel pessimistic about our fate. Certain parties like this invasion too
much.” Centaur
narrowed his eyes. “What makes you say that?” “Don’t you wonder why the Galactic
Alliance never got involved?” Ryath
had spent many nights thinking that same thought over the past few years, as
the war raged through the sector. For
an organisation that had stood against the darkness of the Empire, grown from
a scrabble of rag-tag units into an army capable of defeating the
establishment and installing itself as the new leadership they were
alarmingly slow in stepping up and defending a region of space largely loyal
to the Alliance. As the Republic had
been subverted to become the Empire, so Setnin was slowly metamorphisizing
into the Ki-Ki. Of course, Ryath knew
the mentality of the Galactic Alliance, as well as he’d known the thought
processes of the Imperial machine.
Coruscant didn’t want to start a war in the Mid-Rim, and taking sides
between the Ki-Ki and Setnin sectors would have done just that. As strong and proud as she was, Setnin was
envied by many of her neighbours. Few
would shed as little as a tear at her demise. Indeed, many would assist
it. As a result, the Galactic Alliance
sat on the sidelines of the invasion as observers, refereeing the conflict
but never getting their hands dirty. Which
made Centaurs blood boil. He
knew well the corridors of power.
Seething with inept types, corruption rife and plenty. Even after all these years he still
couldn’t fathom how such swiftly corruptible characters could wend their way
into positions of power when there were men and women willing to lay their
lives down for freedom. While he was
never a supporter of the Alliance, his Imperial training and leanings still
strong, he had grown to view their fight as a valiant and well fought one,
and for that he respected them. No
more. This antipathy was no more than
cowardice in his eyes, and their reticence at helping members of their own
Alliance sickened him. If he could
think of a way to bring them into the war he would. Leadership was for the strong and the worthy, and the Galactic Alliances actions were examples
of neither of those traits. They
didn’t deserve the loyalty of Setnin, but he was sure that once the fighting
was over they would once again command it, citing charters and treaties as
good reason to do so. Ryath
turned back to Rixx. “Yes, many times.” He paused.
He knew his own thoughts on the subject but was curious to learn of
Rixx’s opinion. “What are your
thoughts?” Rixx
lowered his eyes, staring at the hard tabletop for a few moments before
answering. “My Janite heart tells me cowardice, as I
suspect yours does.” Ryath nodded
slowly. “But I believe there is much
more to it than that. I have no
proof,” he started as he once again stood from the desk. Centaur followed him with his eyes as he
walked back to the window and the magnificent vista it offered. “I believe the Galactic Alliance have a spy
in their organisation. A Ki-Ki spy.” Ryath
nodded, unsurprised by the revelation.
Every organisation had its spies, as their experiences with the Raven
Corporation bore out. But who could
possibly infiltrate the Galactic Alliance at such a level as to influence
their involvement in a sector spanning war? “Do you know who?” asked Ryath. Rixx shook his head wearily. “Believe me, if I
did we would not be merely talking about this.” Ryath
watched a phalanx of vessels rise into the atmosphere above the huge trade
centre, easing into the steady flow of traffic away from the monolithic
building and raised a steel grey eyebrow.
He was standing beside a man of action who had finally resolved to
take his brave plans to the highest levels and instigate them. Once the Setnin Council heard his ideas
they would, as all shortsighted associations did,
reject them out of hand. But with time
and backing Ryath knew Rixx’s plans would come to fruition. How
long that would take he didn’t know.
But Ryath knew one thing, and one thing
only. It had to. It
simply had to. The Heat 2003 short story by Mark Newbold
and Paul Squire Thirty-seven
years after Episode IV – A New Hope Histories – Preceding the events of
Chancai Falls and
the final massive push of the Ki-Ki, this story shows the similarities
between Ryath
Centaur and the new S.D.F leader Tannis Rixx. Rixx, a man of few words, finds the straight-forward
nature of Centaur to be a useful sounding board for his own ideas, and in a
meeting repeated many times during the next few months the two men meet to
discuss battle plans. Cast
of Characters Tannis
Rixx Ryath Centaur |