Operation Phoenix:  Vengeance


Part 1 of 5


 
	Samhain trudged his way through forest in the steadily 
brightening morning.  The forest was quiet, save a few birds that had 
begun their morning songs.  He had just survived a vicious attempt on his 
life by the X'hirjq, and slept through most of the night recovering from 
wounds received in that battle.  He was not happy; his allies and friends 
would need his help to fight off these invaders, and there he was lying 
down on the job for the better part of the night.

	He picked up the pace to almost doubletime through the forest.  
He had to get back to WEDJEE HQ, and to do that he first had to make it 
back to the V-1, which was parked outside the woods.  Normally, he'd just 
summon it with the remote console, but as it had been in his backpack yet 
when it went up in flames, he was without it.  Had it realized the danger 
he was in, it would have also come in a flash.  But with the X'hirjq 
squelching communications, that was impossible.  So, he was left to doing 
things the old-fashioned way--walking.

	He paused briefly upon reaching the clearing where he had only 
yesterday massacred the bulk of the force hunting him.  The corpses still 
had not been cleaned up, though the ground was mostly washed clean of 
blood by the rain the night before.  He surveyed the area again, and 
noticed his combat helmet that he'd left there.  He'd want that for 
analysis.  He bent over to pick it up, and heard the faint but 
unmistakable sound of a helicopter gunship approaching.  He walked to 
the center of the clearing, and stood, waiting for a better look.  Maybe 
he could get out of here quicker then he'd originally thought...



	The pilot brought the modified Huey in low over the trees, 
watching the terrain closely.  Those in the back, however, were watching 
for any signs of Samhain or any of the invading X'hirjq.  As it 
approached the clearing, the pilot heard one of his gunner's voices in 
his headphones.

	"Over there!  In that clearing!  What the hell is that!?!"

	He responded almost immediately by swinging the gunship around 
towards the clearing.  As he did so, the entire crew looked down and saw 
a sight they'd never forget.  A collective involuntary gasp went out from 
the crew at the sight of so many dead X'hirjq, and a single figure in the 
center of them... a single, very frightening figure.  It stood there in 
tattered clothes, blood stains running down all over his body, blueish 
stains marking the remains of the clothes, 2 swords strapped to its back, 
a helmet under one arm and the head of a giant lizard in its hands, and 
mud splattered over most of him.  It was clear that this was NOT someone 
to screw around with, but they also recognized that they wouldn't have 
to... they knew it was Samhain.

	The pilot set the huey down gently in the center of the clearing, 
and Samhain ran up to it, keeping his head low as he did so.  He hopped 
in the open side doors and greeted his shadowwarriors with his customary 
low growl.  "Took ya long enough..."

	"Sir, we came as soon as we got your Jihadlink signal on the 
auxiliary frequency.  It was garbled as hell, and it took a long time to 
pinpoint its source, but we're here."

	"Enough with the small talk.  How bad is it?  And don't sugar 
coat it.  That's the kind of crap we're fighting, I don't want it from my 
troops."

	"It's pretty bad, sir... We have a full-scale invasion on our 
hands."  The major briefed him in quickly as they flew to the edge of 
the woods and the V-1.

	"OK, I want you guys to come get back to the secret mini-bunker 
as quickly as possible.  Get everything out of there that you can 
carry... you'll need it.  Take this sword, helmet, and skull to my 
office there, and lock 'em in.  Then, I want you all to figure out 
how to do some major damage.  You're good at that--that's what you're 
trained to do.  Meanwhile, I'm taking the V-1 back to WEDJEE HQ to get it 
to full defense posture and start shipping weapons out of there.  Maybe 
I'll even change uniforms," he grinned wryly and continued.  "I'll see 
you boys back at the bunker when this is over."

	"I'll see you there if we survive this thing, Cap'n."

	"I don't wanna hear that kinda crap, major.  We'll win this 
thing, and if we don't... well, I'd say I'll see you in hell, but I won't 
get there, I'm afraid."  He grinned at his own little joke and hopped out 
as the huey came in for a landing.  "Thanks for the lift!"

	Samhain ran over to the V-1 and was greeted by a less-than 
enthusiastic Elektra.  "Oh, so there you are.  I see you've been out 
playing in the dirt and grime again.  You're not getting in me like 
THAT.  You'll get stuff all over my upholsery."

	"Oh shut up, Elektra, we have an invasion on our hands, and no 
time to argue.  Besides, you'll clean."  He hopped in before Elektra 
could make a further objection, and cranked it up to flight mode, and 
took off for WEDJEE Headquarters, listening on what radio traffic they 
could get en route...


Meanwhile, aboard the X'hirjq ship _Stalker_ [translated from 
native X'hirjq]


	Commander X'krejna was not pleased.  He'd just lost one of his 
strongest battalions of hunters and a wing of psionic forces to a single 
Jihaddi.  And that Jihaddi was still alive.  He wanted him to pay--he 
wanted Vengeance.

	"Sir," came the meek voice of an underling, "The Jihaddi has left 
the woods in his vehicle.  Shall I launch the attack craft?"

	The Commander grinned.  "YES, by all means. But make sure they 
have orders not to attack him.  He has already proven his right to 
survive, and I do not wish to lose any more of my best troops to him."

	"But sir, what are they to do..."

	"SHUT UP AND LET ME FINISH!" Snarled the commander.  They are to 
follow him back to his headquarters... he founded one of their weapons 
development groups.  I shall have my Vengeance by destroying all that he 
has worked to build, all he has fought to earn.  And I shall make sure 
that no Jihad forces get any new weapons from him.  They are to raze his 
headquarters once they know where it is.  Nothing leaves there intact.  
UNDERSTOOD?"

	"Y-y-yes SIR!" stammered the underling, and he dispatched the 
assault wing...

To be continued...


"Vengeance" and "Vengeance, part 1"
Copyright 1995
David R. Hibbs