Prominence - Redemption

  #

  Del dodged between mounds of debris at breakneck speed his foot firmly planted to the floor of the armored hover car. Crammed inside with him was his squad and Alpha. Behind them the sounds of a fierce ground battle started to fade. Suddenly a plasma pulse slammed into the left side of what was left of the road and Del almost rolled the car trying to avoid it. The plasma splattered against the car and they could hear it sizzling its deep into the armor even from the inside.

  The Rear Admiral must have been having a hell of a fight up above because the bombardment had been landing everywhere, even in amongst their own lines.

  "We better dump this thing fast before we get noticed sir," said sergeant Hizez fromt he front passenger seat, a fellow Hebrann and long time friend.

  "Agreed, just need to find a good parking spot," replied Del as he suddenly slammed on the brakes and forced the car into a hard left turn directly into the front of a half collapsed building. They abandoned the vehicle and put as much distance between themselves and it as possible, all the time weaving their way through the wrecked city and keeping out of view as much as possible. Eventually Del signaled for them to stop and rest inside a bombed out department store. Across the street was a lone skyscraper that was still relatively intact while the remainder of the street was leveled or a bombed out shell.

  "Hizez I want someone up high there as lookout. I don't want anything sneaking up on us while we get organized," he ordered pointing to the skyscraper. He then turned to Alpha. "Ok, that's the easy part out of the way now I need you to tell me how we find one of your eldest ones."

  "That is impossible. The eldest ones are well hidden and well protected. They will be in the fleet above the planet."

  "There is no way any good commander can win a battle without good officers on the ground. There must be someone in charge on the surface. Who do the eldest ones give their orders to? Who speaks to the eldest ones?"

  "Only elder ones can communicate with the eldest ones."

  "Then tell me how to find an elder one."

  "Orlak are not like Vaslus. Orlak do not dig into the ground and hide. The elder ones need as much light as possible to energize their minds so they can relay all of the information from the battle to the eldest ones. They will be where there is the most light. When an elder one dedicates all of their energy to their minds they are physically vulnerable so they will be protected."

  "Ok so show me on this map where they will be to get the best light," said Del as he started to pull out his pocket holo-projector. Before he pulled it all the way out he stopped and his eyes widened. Before he had a chance to say something the squad's common channel opened on his neck communicator. It was Tinesh who had been sent across the street to the skyscraper.

  "Excuse me major, I have a situation here. Signs of Orlak in this building!"

  "Hold your position, but stay out of sight at all costs!" ordered Del. "How many would be protecting an elder one?" he asked Alpha.

  "It is not consistent. It depends on the age of the elder one," replied Alpha.

  "OK lads on me!" order Del as he finished pulling out his holo-projector and dropped to one knee. "It's time to earn your danger money."