CHRONICALS OF THE BLACK GUARD

By Adrian Nunenkamp


CHAPTER 1

  Wing Leader Cishu Eotae, known to his team as 'Ki', smiled slightly
as he surveyed his squad. Across from him, a young felenoid Troop
Leader smiled back, knowing what was going through her commander's
mind... after all, besides being a telepath, she had also been with Ki
since the beginning of this unit.

  The felenoid's name was Sengae Pheor, known as 'Sin' even though most
of the team knew she was probably the purest of all of them. While the
rest of the team would be off playing during downtime, she could always
be found in the barracks, studying or perhaps practising some new move
or psionic power she had developed over the past months. For all of
that, she was also one of the warmest members of the team, always ready
to lend a hand, or an ear. She was the heart of the team as much as Ki
as the brain.

  The only other original member of their unit was the dropshuttle's
pilot, Troop Leader Tegromo. Tegromo was also a felenoid, but of a
different species than Sin. Sin was an Alcarian.  To the human members
of the team, she resembled nothing more than a bipedal snow leopard.
Teg, on the other hand, was of the Tikal race, and looked like a black
panther with 'sabre' teeth. For all his ferocious looks, Teg was a
pilot, and nothing more. He couldn't even swat a fly... unless he was
flying in combat against it. Then, it was just another blip on the
screen, something mechanical shooting at him.

  As the dropshuttle hurtled along to meet up with their transport, Ki
took the time to reminisce, remembering the first time he had met Sin
and Teg, and how they came to be where they were....

                               #

  The year was 254 AFA; the war against the Iush had been raging for
the past fourteen years. The leonid aggressor had been stomping
colonies flat, then either recolonizing, or seeking survivors for food
and slave labour. The only reason the Iush had for what they did was
that their gods had declared them superior to all other races, and thus
they could do what they wanted, for they were the true rulers of the
universe. The Alliance disagreed, and had been fighting tooth and claw
against the Iush, and losing.

  To combat this threat, the cream of the Alliance Armed Forces was
selected to form a new combat group. This unit was composed of the best
from all aspects of the Alliance Armed forces, be they Navy or Ground
Forces, Special Forces or standard. The only requirement being that
they were the best of their professions. Out of everyone, there were
fifty persons selected. Every race in the Alliance was represented.
Among the selectees was a young T'Sharan Captain by the name of Cishu
Eotae.

  Cishu was born on a 1.4G colony world of his race. It was a quiet,
agricultural planet. He grew up learning of martial arts and sciences.
He dreamed of joining the Forces as a member of the Diplomatic Corps.
That all changed when the Iush attacked.

  It was only a small raiding force, only about twenty ships. Small as
it was, it was enough to destroy Cishu's world. As he watched, he saw
his friends, his family, his parents die in a blaze of gunfire. He saw
other members of the community die under the guns or claws of the
invaders. The rage he felt allowing him to loose his race's natural
abilities upon the Iush.

  He discovered for himself the way to use his mind to swirl up a crowd
of dust to confuse the enemy. How to create ice around vital systems,
or to light combustibles on fire. Once, he even tried freezing the
torso of one of the Iush, then shattering the frozen body with merely
his mind. The exhaustion that overtook him nearly killed him.

  It was as he did that kill that the Alliance Forces that had come to
repel the enemy discovered him. After joining the Forces, Cishu was
quickly trained in the ways of the Ground Forces, and was snapped up
for Special Forces training immediately from boot camp. In that
training he learned how to focus his abilities down to a very small
area, making him extremely dangerous.

  He quickly stepped up the chain of command, rising from enlisted to
officer within three years. He rose to Captain by the fifth anniversary
of his joining the forces. His quick rise in rank is what brought him
to Fort Rilea-Stevens on Terra, and to the new force he was to help
form.

  He arrived at the Cascade Regional Spaceport without any fanfare.
Terra had taken a path of surface technological regression in the late
2200's, Terran Calendar. All of their high technology was either
centred in a spaceport such as the one he was landing at, on one of the
five massive military complexes, or underground where it could not be
seen. As emphasis of this fact, Cishu could not see any sign of
buildings that had any materials more advanced than stone and mortar.

  Instead, what greeted his eyes was a stand of forest larger than any
he'd seen in his life. The forest stretched for tens of miles, and that
was just what he could see. The blast area for the jets was bare of any
vegetation, but only the landing surface itself was other than dirt.
Stepping out of the commercial transport, he inhaled deeply of the
unrecycled air of this beautiful planet. The air held the tang of
ozone, and the heady scent of earth after a rainstorm, a scent he
remembered from the time before the Iush.

  Quickly he stepped out of the blast radius for the transport, so that
it could lift off if needed. He then slowly looked about for where the
terminal was. Doors in a nearby hillside slid silently open, a soft
green light beckoning him inwards. Without a second thought, he trotted
forward and into the gaping opening. Inside was the terminal he
expected. Oddly, it was devoid of any other people save the staff.
After a moment's conversation with the staff, Cishu made his way to the
luggage area to retrieve his possessions, then headed to the MagLev.

  The ride to the station outside of Fort Rilea-Stevens was uneventful
and short... taking no more than one half of a Terran hour. Upon
stepping out of the MagLev and back onto the surface of the planet, it
was as if he had been transported light-years away. A set of mountains
he had seen in the distance from the spaceport were right there next to
him. From the mountains the vastness of the military complex spread out
before him, covering much of the coastal region from the Coastal Range
to the Pacific Ocean. Though night was starting to come on, and the
overcast sky made it darker than it should be, he could still make out
some of what was going on below.

  GravTanks moved in deadly formation, almost like the fighters of old.
He could see new recruits being put through their paces, being trained
to fight a most implacable foe. To the north, near a river called the
Columbia, he could see the detonation flash of practice bombs, an
AttackFighter run being taught. He was also sure that there was
probably a party going on down there somewhere... this *was* a military
base. With a soft chuckle he made his way to the front gate.

  "Halt! Who is there?" Two weapons, definitely loaded and primed, were
aimed directly at his chest.

  "Captain Cishu Eotae, Alliance Armed Forces, reporting to Fort Rilea
Stevens for unit training." Cishu slowly raised his hands, his claws
retracted as far as they could go.

  "Advance and be recognised." With that permission, Cishu stepped
forward, keeping his hands high. "Where's your ID?"

  "Left breast pocket with my orders. The pocket is unsealed." One
guard advanced from the side, pulling out Cishu's documents, then
retreated to the guardhouse. 

  After going over the papers, then making a comm call, he stepped back
out, relief on his face.

  "Thank you sir, for putting up with this. Can't be too careful with
the Iush out there." As he handed back the papers, he turned to the
other guard, "He's clear, head back to the shack.

  Cishu took the papers, putting them away again. "No problem...
sergeant? If you hadn't of challenged me, I would probably have been
more upset."  The sergeant grinned, "Exactly sir." He then pulled
himself to attention and saluted Cishu in Terran fashion. "Welcome to
Fort Rilea-Stevens sir. Will you need an escort?"

  Cishu crossed his right arm across his chest and bowed briefly,
returning the salute in his people's fashion. "No, sergeant, just
directions." Once he had got directions to the housing where he was to
stay, Cishu left the gate for his new home.

  The housing at the Fort was different from anything he was familiar
with. Instead of just a hallway with rooms off of it, the door from the
hallway led into a common lounge, with five small apartments off of the
lounge. There was even a door with his name already on it. One swipe of
his ident and saying his name to kill the voicelock, and he was in.
Most of his personal effects were already there, ready for him to
arrange as he felt comfortable.

  Tossing his duty jacket to the side, he keyed his computer, checking
to see what his schedule for the next day was. The only thing showing
was for him to attend a function that evening at 1800. The only thing
that made him flinch was the fact that it was a full mess dress
function... *gods* but he hated formal events. 

  Switching of the computer in disgust, he made his way to the bathing
facilities to wash off the travel grime he always felt accompanied him,
even if he travelled in a sterile environment.

  Once done with his after travel ablutions, he slipped into civilian
garb... which for him consisted of a loose shirt of a forest green
colour, black denim pants, and a pair of boots cut for his ditigrade
legs. After making sure he looked okay, he grabbed his ident and
stepped out of his apartment, ready to find the O-Club and relax.

  "'Ello... what do we have 'ere?" The soft voice stopped him cold.
Rapidly his mind ran down an analysis: Terran, English, female, close,
not threatening. "Well, bushy tailed one, you gonna introduce
yourself?"

  Turning around, he saw pretty much what he expected, just not
exactly. Indeed, it was a human female. She stood at about his own
height, her hair was a much deeper auburn than his fur. Dipping his
head in acknowledgement, he let his ears flick in a slight T'Sharan
grin in response to her good natured Terran smile. "I am Captain Cishu
Eotae, of the Alliance Armed Forces... but you can call me Cishu."

  "Ki, right." She winked playfully at him. "I'm Leftenant Amberle
Matheson, Amber to m'friends. I'm glad to meet ya. May I ask where
you're going at this hour?"

  "I'm headed down to the O-Club. I just got on base, and thought I'd
relax prior to some formal dinner tonight."  "You're a part of the project too, eh? Well then, I guess we'll get
to know eachother a bit better as I've got to go to the same dinner.
What say we go to the O-Club together, an' then come back and do that
dinner thing? Sound like a plan?"

  Ki considered for a moment, then nodded. "Yes, that *does* sound
good. I assume you know where the O-Club is?"

  "Of course. That was the *first* thing I found. My quarters came
afterwards." With a lopsided grin, she took Cishu's arm, and drug him
off in the direction of the club.

  Like most clubs, it was fairly crowded and noisy. The loud music
blaring in the background was circa the 1990's (Terran calendar), and
was louder than most could hear over. It positively *hurt* Cishu's
ears, and he just about turned around and headed to his quarters again.
Amber, however, drug him on inexorably into the living morass of
individuals. Stepping up to the bar, she grinned at Cishu before
turning to the bartender and ordering two Guinness... whatever that
was.

  As she ordered, Cishu looked around the room. The walls were a stark
white, dotted with momentos of various fighting forces, predominately
from the old United States of America... though there were a few from
the United Kingdom's Special Air Service and the Israeli Mossad. Some
were signed pictures, others were caps or covers, sometimes it was
insignia, other times it was a simple flag. All were tributes to those
who had gone before. 

  Amber slipped back up next to Cishu, carrying two mugs of a dark
brown liquid, each having thick foam on the top. "C'mon... I see a free
table." Keeping his eyes locked on her, he followed a winding path
through all the people on the floor until they reached a raised table
with four stools around it. Amber grinned and pushed one of the mugs to
him. "Here ya are. Welcome to Terra!" She raised her mug, and took a
hearty draft from it.

  Cishu, on the other hand, was a bit more hesitant. Sniffing at the
drink, the smell of alcohol and grain nearly knocked him over. So as
not to upset Amber, he held his breath as he took his first pull at the
Guinness. The taste surprised him. It was bitter, yes, but still quite
good... mellow in fact. "Interesting. This is one of the major
creations of this planet?"

  Amber's eyes lit with mirth, "Only to the Irish. This is a beer that
is liked by some, disliked by others, and worshipped by those from the
Emerald Isle."

  Cishu's eyebrows furrowed, "You mean some of your people worship an
alcoholic beverage? How strange...."

  Amber's ringing laugh caused him to look up. "No, no... that was a
figure of speech. They don't actually *worship* the drink, it's just
very popular... so much so that they have got into fist fights with
others to prove that it's the best."

  Cishu oh'ed softly. "I see. I don't understand how a beverage could
engender such loyalty...."

  With an enigmatic grin, Amber just shook her head. "Give it time.
You'll understand eventually."

  The hour spent in the club was a learning experience for Cishu. In
that time, he learned not only about his drinking partner, but also of
the planet he had been stationed too.

  Amber, it seems, was born in Liverpool, England to a fairly well to
do family. They had been insisting that she become a doctor or a
barrister, or some such, but Amber would have nothing of it. Instead,
she had dedicated herself to joining the military. Her focus in
University had been history with emphasis on military history. She also
joined the Terran Defence Forces Officer Training Program and graduated
top of the Cadet class. Starting off as a Sub-Leftenant (ranks were the
same as the nation of origin), she started in small actions against the
Iush at various locations that Cishu recognised.

  It was in one of these actions that the young Sub-Leftenant was found
and selected for the project to which the two of them belonged. It
seemed, from what he could tell, that Amber specialised in heavy
weaponry, compared to his speciality in close combat.

  Just as Cishu started to finish off his Guinness, Amber checked her
wrist chronometer. "Ack! C'mon Ki, we need to hurry! We've only got
about an hour to get ready for the dinner!" Cishu had only enough time
to get the mug back on the table before he was hauled bodily through
the crowd and out into the cool evening air of the Pacific Coast.

  The jog back to quarters went swiftly. Cishu was surprised to see
that Amber was in the same quad of quarters he was, but he dismissed it
just as readily. With two taps on his carrysak, he opened it up to
expose his immaculately maintained dress uniform.

  To look at it, one would not be overly impressed by it. It was a
simple black dress tunic and black breeches cut to his oddly (for a
plantigrade species) shaped leg. It was after he unfolded the overtunic
that one would be impressed. Besides his large array of medals,
qualifications, and honours, his insignia of rank was just as
impressive. Indeed, it glittered like a golden explosion on his
shoulder.

  Once he had the basics fitted, including his strangely shaped boots,
he belted on the last accoutrement he was entitled to wear as a member
of the Alliance Special Ground Forces... a long, gold hilted sabre.
Once he was assured that everything was in its proper place and
pristine, he stepped from his quarters, mumbling something about
'getting this farce over with'.

                              #

  The dining hall was *huge*, even by Cishu's standards. Even the
mixture of individuals was more than he expected. As far as the Captain
could tell, every race in the Alliance was represented. Upon entering,
he was handed a card with his name on it. He was told that the card
would be needed later.

  The dinner itself was one of those leisurely affairs. It started with
cocktails, appetisers, and dancing, then slowly segued into the dinner
itself. During the dinner, Cishu found himself between a shy Alcarian
female and a Vralm, which to Cishu resembled nothing more than a black
version of the mythical Terran beast called a 'unicorn'.

  The fare of the dinner was designed for all eating preferences...
carnivore like Cishu and the Alcarian, herbivore like the Vralm, and
omnivore like the humans that speckled the room. The quality of the
food, of course, was excellent... a definite tribute to the chefs who
worked on the meal. Throughout the small talk that always accompanied a
mess-dress dinner there was an undercurrent of rumour and dark
speculation. No one was exactly sure as to *why* they had all been
gathered.

  It was just after the dessert course had been finished by all that
the rumours stopped and the facts began. Leading one of the most
impressive delegations to be seen short of the awarding of the Star of
Peace, the highest award in the Alliance, an elderly white B'Hou
stepped up to a pedestal with a microphone. "Beings... please. May I
have your attention?" The room went silent as everyone realised that
the speaker was one of the Alliance's highest military leaders.  "Thank
you. For those of you who don't know me, I'm Admiral-General Shou
z'Rakan. And I would like to welcome you all to Terra."

  "You have all been selected on the basis of your outstanding records
of service, and your special abilities. Some of you are special in that
you have skills and knowledge that no other has. Others are special in
that they have qualities that go above and beyond what was ever asked
of any. You all come from different places, different organizations.
Some are of the Alliance Military, be it ground forces or fleet,
regular forces or Special Ops. Others are homeguard forces, or even
just from warrior clans on their world... but you are *all* special
members of our society."

  "You may, at this time, be wondering 'what were we selected for'?
Simply put, you are to be the core for a new special operations
organization. As you can see, there are fifty of you, making ten teams
of five. In a moment, I will have you all look at the cards you hold in
your hands, then come up to this podium as the number upon the card is
called. You are no longer Alliance, homeguard, clan, or individual...
you are all one family, one unit, one mind... you are now the Black
Guard, our defence against the Iush. The other commanders, and I,
salute you all." His speech winding down, the Admiral-General stepped
back, and saluted the room, as did the other flag rank officers behind
him. In instinctive response, the newly christened Black Guard stood
and returned the salute, already standing proud as a unit.

  After dropping the salute, the Admiral-General returned to the
microphone. "Will all those with a one on their card please climb to
the podium." With a single glance, Cishu knew that he was one of the
ones with that number, and immediately made his way to where the
Admiral-General stood. As he arrived, so did Amber, the Alcarian with
whom he sat during dinner, a Tikal, and a Vrikul... which was a species
of anthropomorphic skunk. Captain Cishu Eotae... you have been
designated the leader of First Squad, First Company of the Black Guard,
from this day on, you are no longer a Captain. You are now a Force
Leader, which is the equivalent rank. The members of your squad are....
Troop Leader Amberle Matheson, your second; Group Sergeant Sengae
Pheor, the Alcarian; Group Sergeant Tegromo, the Tikal; and Section
Leader Jyih Naylmul, the Vrikul. Report to the base training centre the
day after tomorrow; spend tomorrow getting to know eachother and
everyone's capabilities. You'll be relying on eachother for your
lives... remember that. Dismissed."

  The newly minted First Squad saluted the Admiral-General as one, then
left for the officer's quarters. When they arrived, their belongings
were not in their quarters. Rather, a message had been left on their
terminals stating that they were to move to a different area of the
base... and apartment setup, their new home. Indeed, there was much to
learn, and little time to learn it.