Battle for Karnak (Star Crusades: Mercenaries, Book 4) by Thomas Michael G

Author:Thomas, Michael G.
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Swordworks & Miro Books

CHAPTER NINE

Southern Highway, City of Hyndla, Southern Depression

Commander Knaro leaned over the side of the raised highway and checked the distant position once more. Below him, ten metres from the raised roadway, a tower burned slowly. The structure was completely gone, yet something flammable continued to burn deep inside the core of the tower. As the heat in front of him warmed his face, he wondered if he'd made the right decision so many months ago to raise arms against the occupiers.

Too late now.

He looked for one particular point, but from here it was still too hazy to make it out. With no working portable radios or communications, they were all forced to make use of the more primitive methods of contact. The few remaining long-range systems were hidden in the city, where they were used in only the direst of need.

Is he ready?

The arrangements with the Human Major made him nervous, but contact with the mysterious Byotai agent, known simply as Uktakki the Black proved the strangest. Knaro had been so positive just hours ago, but now in the field, he felt that old doubt and uncertainty returning. It was easier as one of his rank and file soldiers; they could just follow orders and carry out the mission. People like Knaro, people with responsibility, got to see the big picture, and that was what really unnerved him.

Nobody had seen Uktakki and his famed commandos in over three months, and now this Human said he'd made contact with him, when even he couldn't. The Human promised much, but at such a risk to him and his comrades.

What choice do I have? But if he fails us, I will lose everything.

He looked back and lifted his eyes to the Northern horizon. The dust atmosphere reduced visibility to a short range. Large parts of the city were hidden in the dust, and those he could see looked as though they were buried in deep sand. That was primarily because most of the city was in fact underground, but also the fighting had reduced many tall buildings to dust. Only the strongest structures remained upright. Fires burned in a hundred places, many maintained by the remnants of the Byotai militia. It wasn't much, but it made the job of the Anicinàbe pilots more difficult.

If something does not change, the city is already lost, and with it, the whole of the South.

Commander Knaro turned back to check on his objective to the South. His mind told him the Alliance commander and his mercenaries could be trusted, but his gut told him something completely different. It was a never-ending struggle, and today he honestly had no idea as to the best thing to do anymore.

He signalled for his comrades to move to the very edge of the dusty road that ran beneath the raised highway. The shadows down there provided good cover to hide in and shelter from the frequent Red Scars patrols. Each was well hidden under layers of cloth and wore the looted armour, goggles, and weapons taken from fallen Red Scars warriors.

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