Love Your Enemy: A UEC Story (8)
Part 8: Enemies No More
Part 8: Enemies No More
“My lord, we are under attack! The Earthborn’s blockade… it’s too much! The ships… they’re everywhere! Truly, we are done for.”
Those were the panicked words of Xenophon Spektre, blaring through the speaker of his cousin Alexios. Yet the Lakamodian prince, lying in a pool of his own blood, was helpless as well. In the chaos of battle, his own helmet had been knocked off; his armor was in shambles. Dyaus the god of victory and Altina the goddess of war… they had abandoned him. Pride, honor, and strength of arms were not sufficient to save his men. But all was not lost for the Prince of Lakamodis. There was yet hope, if only he would cast aside his pride. And he did. Alexios looked to the UEC soldiers before him, his vanquishers. Reaching out an arm to them, he spoke:
“Earthborns, you know of my wounded fleet. The ships full of men escaping this death trap. They are no longer a threat to you or your UEC. I beseech you to let them go! I plead as one warrior to another.”
Green responded sternly, “You are not in a position to make demands, General.” Yet he paused, and his voice softened. “That said, I’ll call off the bombardments and have the marines capture the ships.”
“No!” cried Alexios. “They may be wounded but they will still fight to the death. Every man, woman, and lizard. It is the way of Lakamodis. They only way for them to live is...” Alexios coughed blood.
"Don’t talk, Sir Spektre,” said Icardi. He turned around. “Medic!”
“Don’t bother, Marco Icardi,” Alexios said, smiling. “I know I’m done for. Again, Jack Green. I ask of you...”
“I cannot! So long as we remain at war, it’s my duty to make sure that the Alliance poses no threat to Earth. Surely you understand.”
“Then they will all perish,” Alexios said, horrified.
In response, Green was deep in thought.
Petrovsky, having observed the conversation, spoke up, “I know you’re seriously considering his proposal, Commander. But you know damn well that HighCom isn’t going to like this.”
Rather than answering the psi-op agent, Green remained silent. That pause reigned for what seemed to be an eternity. Then, he made his decision. The legionary commander activated his communicator and spoke:
“This is Commander John F. Green of the UEC 13th Independent Military Group. All ships, cease your attacks on the Alliance ships! Let them go. I repeat, stop attacking the Alliance starships!”
Alexios smiled. “You have my gratitude, Jack Green.”
“Don’t celebrate just yet,” responded Petrovksy. “I doubt they’ll listen to a maverick legionary commander like Green.”
But another voice sounded from the communicator, “This is Colonel Scott Harrington Britannicus of the UEC 9th Independent Military Group. All ships, do as Commander Green says! We have your back, Jack.”
“Well I’ll be damned,” Petrovksy said, his words finally betraying emotions. “But the colonel’s not the last word in this.”
“Much as I hate to admit it, he’s right,” Icardi interjected; in vain he was tending to the wounds of Alexios. “There is only one person who can stop the slaughter. And it’ll be a miracle for...”
Yet another voice came from the communicator, “This is General Tyrone Murray. All ships, cease fire! Let the Lambda ships pass through the blockade. I repeat, let the Lambdas pass through.”
“A miracle indeed,” Green said.
Once more, Xenophon’s voice boomed from Alexios’ speaker: “My lord, the Earthborn had stopped firing on us. Thank the gods! I don’t know what you did, Lord Alexios, but thank you. I swear… we won’t waste this gift of life you have given us.”
Alexios said nothing, but he had a serene smile on his face. Xenophon’s words were the last thing the prince heard before he finally succumbed to his wounds.
“I can no longer detect thoughts from him,” Petrovsky said. “He’s dead, Commander.”
Icardi struggled to contain his tears. “Rest in peace, General Alexios Spektre. I wish we could have met under different circumstances.”
“Damn straight,” Jack added.
***
The Lambda War was finally over. And now the UEC had the unenviable task of picking up the pieces and putting them back together, especially Altair Prime. As for Sergeant Major Marco Icardi, he had a personal business to attend to... at Cell 3 of UEC Waterloo’s brig.
To Marco’s surprise, Arlena was no longer in her cell. Instead, she was being escorted by the prison guard. Icardi’s heart was moved by pity when he saw the girl’s disheveled face; it was clear she had been crying her eyes out.
“Arlena,” he said.
“Greetings, Marco,” she responded. “I’ve heard the news. And what happened to Alexi.”
Marco looked away. “I’m sorry.”
Silence reigned supreme. Both had a lot to say to the other, but couldn’t find the words to express them. It was up to the poor prison guard to break the silence: “If you lovebirds have nothing more to say, then it’s time for us to go.”
“Yes,” Arlena said. “Take me away.”
Plagued with indecision, Marco was about to let Arlena leave. It wouldn’t be the first time he had allowed a girl to walk out of his life. No... not again. He reached out his hand and cried, “Wait, Lena!”
She stopped, as did the guard.
“Private,” Marco said to the UEC soldier. “I would like to have a word with her. Alone.”
After a brief hesitation, the prison guard nodded. And he promptly left.
Now alone with the man she grew to love, Arlena gave him a strange look. It was one of puzzlement, but also hope. “Leo?”
Marco took a deep breath. “The Commander told me what’s going to happen, that they’ll try to get you back to Lakamodis or the wounded Alliance fleet. But what about us?”
“Us?”
“Now that the war’s over, we are enemies no more. I...”
“Say no more, Marco Icardi,” Arlena interrupted. The girl smiled, and crossed her arms over her chest; this was a sign of submission in Lakamodian society. “You wish to claim me as your war bride.”
“What!?” Icardi cried. “No! I...”
But the Sergeant Major stopped himself, having caught sight of his girl; the smile on her face disappeared, her expression now was one of fear and confusion. Icardi was certain there was a cultural misunderstanding somewhere, one that he needed to dispel immediately.
“Please... listen to me,” Marco stammered. “On Earth, we do things differently. I want you to be mine, yes. But I will not take you without your consent.”
“Con-sent?”
Marco sighed. His mind wandered for the best way to express himself. Perhaps this might work. “Two choices, Miss Spektre. You can return back to Lakamodis; back to your own people. If you wish it, I will not stop you. Or... you can go to Earth with me. But you can never go home again. The choice is yours, Lena. It always is.”
“I...” Arlena stopped. Having purged her doubts, she took his hands in hers. “I choose you, Marco Icardi. I choose to be yours. Now and for the rest of my life.”
The End
Author’s Note: Image generated at NightCafe.
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Yep, saw that coming. The psych-core officer needs to be shut up. The Colonel's and General did the right thing.
It was a satisfying ending to the story. You did great.
A tragic ending but I could see how this story might have gone into one more chapter as the lovebirds figured things out a little more. As a princess, I am surprised she gave all of that up so easily for a earthborn non-com soldier.