My hands are tied

The billions shift from side to side

And the wars go on with brainwashed pride

For the love of God and our human rights

And all these things are swept aside

By bloody hands time can't deny

And are washed away by your genocide

And history hides the lies of our civil wars

Guns N' Roses - “Civil War”

Nassat shifted his weight from one foot to another, trying to ease the ache in each of his legs. The entire company...what remained of it...were in their holes, scanning the perimeter, as the sun made its first appearance of the day. Every morning before dawn they were up and ready for an attack, as Sergeant Lin had drilled into their heads it was the best time for the enemy to strike. He scanned the perimeter with his night vision sensors, looking for movement...and saw none.

Thank the Creator, his mind whispered. One of the Ronin tanks loomed nearby, and he found its presence to be an immense comfort. They had taken serious losses that first day, but they too had learned, and now no one went out past the wire unless it was in force. As the sun continued its slow climb, he deactivated the night vision and switched to the image enhancers, looking at the known enemy positions in the distance. There was no movement, and once again he murmured a short prayer of thanks as he swept his gaze from left to right, and then back again.

Nothing.

Assuming no change, they would eat soon, and then begin yet another day of routine. Weapons maintenance, patrols, a quick class or two if time allowed, and with any luck he could look in on Raichret. He had grown fond of her since their last day of training, though there was still something she kept guarded behind her eyes. Perhaps one day she would trust him enough to tell him what had marked her so, but until then it satisfied him to be her friend. In fact…

Nassat froze, and dialed up the magnification as he looked at the sites he knew the enemy was holding. One after another, they all told the same tale. There was no movement. None.

There was no movement anywhere past the wire.

His eyes went wide as he spoke into the radio. “Bravo Two-Six to Bravo Six-Actual...I require your presence ASAP.”

There was a brief pause, and then “...copy, Bravo Two-Six. On my way.” Sergeant Lin was only a short distance away, and in less than a minute he was at his side. “What’s the situation, Nassat?” he asked him, as the minted Corporal pointed towards the horizon.

“Sergeant...the enemy positions were all manned at sundown,” he said in a rush, “but look at them now.” Lin leaned forward, squinting into the sun as he polarized his helmet, checking each of the positions for himself before biting off a curse.

“They’ve pulled out,” he grimaced. “I so very much dislike this.”

“Are they giving up?” Nassat asked, as Lin snorted.

“You wish,” he answered, before switching frequencies. “Bravo Six-Actual to Sabre Six-Six...get the Navy on the horn.” Nassat looked at him in confusion, as Lin’s expression turned grim.

“...‘cause it looks like the Khonhim are prepping for a Bug Out.”

Dhyaksh Jiyazh Ghuuyaz turned to his officers. “Is everything in readiness?”

“Yes, Dhyaksh,” his senior engineer nodded. “We have prepared the ships as you instructed and await your command.”

“Well done,” he said, clasping him on the shoulder. They had worked long and hard for this moment, and if they were to be successful they had to move soon. “Timing will be key in this, and events must take place in quick succession. We will only have one chance to make this work. Should it fail…”

He left the words hanging as his officers nodded. They all understood what was at stake, and what they would require should disaster strike.

“To your stations then,” he ordered, “and may our Forebears smile on our efforts this day.”

“Admiral Fujimoto!” her tactical officer cried out. “They’re on the move!”

She watched the Khonhim formation break up, as a dozen ships began moving in her direction. So, they’ve decided, she nodded to herself. They were sending a force after her carriers, just as she’d suspected, while leaving the rest to cover the evacuation. Ever since the Warning Order had come from the planet, she’d been waiting for a move like this...though as she looked closer, she there was something about it that bothered her. Hélène couldn’t put her finger on it, but there was something odd about their tactics. For one, if it had been her, she would have sent a larger force against her, and they were moving much slower than she’d projected. If this was the Breakout she’d been waiting for, then the Khonhim were up to something, or else they were hopelessly inept, and she knew that was not the case.

But given the tactical situation, the force they were sending against her was much too small. With the number of fighters she had available they would cut them to ribbons, and her opponent had to have realized that before sending them off to their doom.

What was he up to?

“Notify Raptor Lead he is Go for launch,” Fujimoto ordered. Whatever it was he was planning, she’d find out soon enough. He would begin the evacuation the moment her fighters were engaged, so the quicker the Task Force being sent against her was defeated, the better.

“Raptor Flight is launching,” her comm officer confirmed, as she watched the agile fighters race for the Khonhim ships.

Nassat checked his weapon, swallowing his fear as he waited for the order. The Ronin tank’s engines were rumbling as Sergeant Lin radioed him on a direct link.

“Keep your eyes open, Nassat,” Lin told him. “You can guarantee the Khonhim left a few nasty surprises behind to slow our advance while they evacuate. They’ve probably spent the last few days setting booby-traps and mines, so make sure your people know they aren’t to touch anything. Just mark it and move on.”

“Understood,” he replied. “Sergeant, if the Khonhim wish to leave the planet, why not let them?”

“‘Cause you never do what the enemy wants,” Lin told him. “The more shuttles we can keep from escaping, the fewer Khonhim we face down the road.”

Corporal Nassat nodded at the brutal logic of that statement. The humans called it a “War of Attrition”, and they were the longest and bloodiest forms of combat, where both sides ground each other down until there was nothing left.

Which did very little for his peace of mind.

A single flare arced high in the sky, detonating in a burst of bright green. “All Units, Advance!” Lin shouted, as they clambered out of their holes. “At the Walk!”

The Ronin tank surged forward, keeping pace with them as they went after the retreating enemy.

Dhyaksh Jiyazh Ghuuyaz watched the enemy’s fighters speed towards his ships, readying themselves for battle. So far everything was going according to plan, but long experience had taught him to be ready in case the Human commander realized what he was attempting. He had to keep them off balance while he evacuated the planet, and he would require every warrior he could save in the weeks and months ahead.

A major reassessment was in order, regarding their strategy. They had not factored these Humans into their plans prior to the invasion, and why would they? They had never heard of their race...but now he knew them to be worthy adversaries. He would have enjoyed very much testing their mettle in the crucible that had shaped his people, but in the here and now they were an impediment to the grand design. They had to be defeated if they were to honor the pact of their Forebears.

Jiyazh watched the range spiral downward as the fighters neared their objective. Defensive fire began to reach out for the enemy, but it was sporadic. That was expected, considering the limitations they were working with, but it would suffice.

Closer…closer...

The enemy began their attack run, diving in and opening fire on his lead ships...just as he sent the final signal.

Admiral Fujimoto drummed her fingers on the console, as the uncomfortable sensation she’d been feeling grew harder to ignore. Something was very off here, and as the initial reports from the lead fighters started coming back, she was certain of it. The ships in the lead Task Force all showed signs of serious battle damage, and when they closed the range and opened fire it was a fraction of what they were capable of.

A sacrifice play, she realized. He was sending his most damaged ships against her, the ones that would slow him down when they evacuated the system, condemning their crews to certain death. It was a desperation move...and that was what was bothering her, because the situation was not desperate. Not yet, at least, though she had kept him penned in long enough he may have felt otherwise. The Khonhim had shown no signs of kamikaze behavior before, so why now? It made little sense.

And then, it did.

Her eyes widened in horror as she grabbed for the mic to recall the fighters…just as the ships exploded in searing balls of actinic fire.

Taking half her fighters with them into death.

Dhyaksh Jiyazh Ghuuyaz’s eyes glittered with vindication as the bulk of the enemy’s fighters were destroyed. He had been uncertain whether the ruse would work, given the limited time they’d had to set the ships for remote operation. The vessels would be missed...but they had served their purpose.

“Begin the evacuation,” he ordered, “and advance on the human fleet!”

Admiral Fujimoto felt sick as she watched her battle plan come apart. She had underestimated her opponent again, and he had taken full advantage of it. The ships he’d sent against her weren’t kamikazes at all, she now realized...merely bait for the trap.

And now the rest of his fleet was underway and heading straight for her carriers.

“Recall the fighters,” she said quietly, “and prepare to break orbit.” Given the losses she’d just suffered, the math was now skewed against her. Attempting to hold the system now was tantamount to suicide, and the Navy had lost too many ships and personnel already to allow that.

“Inform the ground commander we are being forced to withdraw,” she told the comm officer, “and then get me Marshal Antuma.”

Hélène straightened her tunic, as she prepared herself for the conversation to come.

“Fall Back!” Sergeant Lin shouted, as the ragged line ground to a halt. “Back to our positions!”

Nassat got him on the private link. “Why are we falling back, Sergeant?” he asked in utter confusion.

“Because the fucking Navy screwed the pooch and left our asses out to dry!” he snarled…

...as up and down the line of advance, panic began to set in.