The Vampire Wars - Part One

“Vampires versus Slayers. This is going to be an all out war.”1

This dire pronouncement was followed by a thick silence. The great hall seemed to be stifling all of a sudden, and I could have sworn that someone had turned up the heat a few hundred degrees. 2

I turned my head this way and that, looking at the others, watching their reactions. They all looked the same – grim acceptance. I squared my shoulders and faced the front of the hall again. 3

Chieftain O’Tar glared at us all from under his bushy eyebrows. It’s not that he was pissed at us in particular or anything, that was just his character. It was said he even slept with his face creased in a permanent snarl. 4

“The time for squabbling and fighting amongst ourselves is over.” O’Tar paced the stage, cutting an impressive figure in his sable fur-lined cloak. (Did he get fleas in there often? I wondered in my usual random manner.) “The Clan Wars have cost us greatly – in lives and in allies. The Slayers could not have chosen a better time to declare war on us.” 5

There were murmurs of agreement. People were nodding heads, showing their support. 6

O’Tar continued in his deep bass. “I want to see Clan Leaders in my rooms soon. The rest of you, prepare - for war!”7

A roar of applause filled the hall, reaching up to its stone roof, reverberating all around. 8

At least O’Tar didn’t need to worry about the morale of the troops. For now.9

------10

“Crius!” A voice called out behind me. “Crius, wait, will you?” 11

I sighed to myself and stopped. But I didn’t look behind.  12

My pursuer caught up to me, and grabbed hold of my sleeve. “Why didn’t you answer my calls?” 13

“Because,” I said, turning around to face her, “I knew this was how you would react.”14

“So it’s true?” Palmandar asked. Her tanned skin seemed to glow in the dim lights of the corridor where she had ambushed me. Her muted green eyes looked up to mine beseechingly. “It’s war?”15

“Uh-huh.”16

“And … and Leader Baccus has asked you to lead the clan’s warriors?”17

“Uh-huh.”18

What else could I have said? 19

“Why must you go?” 20

“Stop whining, Palmandar.” That got her to shut it and scowl at me. She was a good friend, but an incredible worrier. “I already have a mother, and she’s whiny enough. I have to go – there is no choice in the matter – Baccus needs every last able-bodied man he can get. It’s the same all over.”21

“But –”22

I didn’t give her a chance to continue. Pulling her close, I hugged her, trying to put all the reassurance I could muster into it. “Don’t worry, alright? Everything will be fine. I’ll see you at the Muster.”23

She hugged me back and as we broke apart, I sensed there was something she wanted to say, but I merely smiled and turned on my heel, soon disappearing around the next corner.24

------25

“Form ranks, you buncha lowts! Hurry!” 26

The one-eyed drillmaster’s loud voice seemed to shake the night sky. “Oi! You there, second on the right! Pull your thumb outta your ass and get in line!” He spun, hearing another warrior’s snicker. “Think that’s funny, Jerold?! Think that’s funny?! Want to get busted down to shit sweeping duty? Huh?!”27

“No,” replied Jerold, smile vanished. 28

“No WHAT?!”29

“No … sir.” 30

“That’s better, warrior. Now get your butt in line or so help me …”31

I was standing off to one side, strapping on a gauntlet. My second, Marcsion, stood beside me, already fully kitted out and leaning on his weapon, an old, but trustworthy, M4 carbine. 32

“Weather sucks,” he commented in his dry manner. 33

I nodded, keeping an eye on the troops – my troops, I had to remind myself. It still hadn’t sunk in that Leader Baccus had made, me, Crius Darth, leader of his warrior group. 34

Marcsion sensed my feelings. “Don’t worry, Crius. You’ve been in worse situations. You’ve earned this.”35

I clasped his hand and strode off to the front of the assembled warriors. Time for a little pep talk thing. 36

Not one of my better talents … Marcsion could do a better job, and that fellow hardly ever spoke much at all.37

“Warriors, stand ready! Pre-sent arms!” 38

The drillmaster was one tough stickler for form. He did a good job though – everyone listened to him, otherwise he could banish you to the saltmines for a year. Or worse. Even Baccus listened to his warplans – the grizzled old master was an old battle hardened veteran of our wars.39

“Afternoon, troops.” I stood in front them. “At ease, fellas.” The relaxed, but still stood erect. The drillmaster watched them all out of a beady eye. 40

“War. ‘Tis something we all know – have all taken part in. It’s been a way of our life, for so long. But this – this is different. Now we battle, not ourselves, not some rival Clan, but a different enemy altogether. The humans. The Slayers. A race apart, deadly, ruthless. They do not understand us, and so seek to exterminate us. War begins. A new age will be born of our actions on the battlefield, and whether we emerge victorious or defeated – that is up to you.”41

The warriors nodded proudly.42

“That will be all. Squad leaders in my rooms at five. I want to go over tactics. And then, tomorrow, we will receive our first mission.”43

I dismissed them with a nod of my head and strolled over to the drillmaster.44

“Keep em busy, but don’t overwork them, alright?”45

He grunted noncommittally. “Sure, Commander.”46

“Good. Make sure you get your kit together. We’re going to need you out there.”47

He nodded again, and went off after the warriors. 48

Marcsion came over to join me.49

“How long do you think before the humans attack?” he asked, his eyes fixed on the horizon. The blood red sun was slowly starting to set.50

“I don’t know. Perhaps tomorrow. Perhaps in a week. It doesn’t pay to guess. We just get ready, for the time, when it comes.”51

Marcsion clasped my hand, and he made off for the firing range to calibrate his weapons. 52

I watched him go, and then made for Baccus’ rooms.53

------54

“Crius. Come in.”55

Baccus still scared the living shit out of me sometimes. I mean, he was one scary vampire – straight out of Dracula. (That’s an old wives’ tale, by the way. The real Von Draco was a famous vampire in his time, and very much undead. I think my great granddad had his autograph tucked away somewhere in his attic …)56

“My Lord Baccus.” I did the customary heartslash gesture, in respect to his higher status. He bowed his head.57

Baccus stood tall, half a head higher than me, his lean white face framed by a narrow, close cut beard that culminated in a sharp tip that masked his chin. His eyes were the usual dark red – almost maroon – of a Clan Leader. As he smoked his cigar, I noticed his talons were as long as ever.58

“Crius – I have great faith in you as the leader of my army.” 59

Oh he must have had faith in me. His army was only the second biggest among the Clans.60

“I have a mission for your men, Crius.”61

“Yes, sire.”62

He strolled over to a map hanging on his walls. He had a computer on his desk, but like most of the old vampires, shunned the new technology, seeing them as human inventions and thus dirty. Baccus jabbed a finger at a spot on the map.63

“That’s – that’s New York, sir.”64

"Yes.”65

I gulped silently. This could not be good.66

“I want you to take five squads, and retrieve something for me. A bounty, if you will.”67

“Yes, sire?”68

“A Slayer.”69

I was wrong. This was very, very bad.70

------71

“A Slayer?! Is the old man serious?” asked Marcsion, the first to react after I told my chosen five Squad Leaders of the assignment. 72

I nodded. “Very much so.”73

Gar Vane, another Leader, looked at the map. “Half of New York is a wasteland – that’s a million places for human scum to hide and ambush us.”74

“That’s why we’re getting transport.”75

He subsided. The Leader next to him, Juki Lupe, asked, “So how does Baccus want this Slayer? Alive, dead, or somewhere in between? And how exactly are we going to transport this human back here?”76

“He wants the Slayer, alive, preferably. He doesn’t mind a missing limb here and there, but the human must be able to answer questions and the like.”77

The vampires nodded. 78

“As for exfil, we just use the technicals.”79

“Those pieces of junk won’t stand up to an RGP, let alone a HEAT missile.”80

"Juki. What are you, scared?” mocked Taris, to my left.81

I grasped their hands in turn. “Let’s get ready, then, guys.”82

------83

“Palmandar?”84

“I’m in here!”85

I eased open the door and stepped into Pal’s little apartment. Little, but so well organized it wasn’t even funny.86

She came in, drying her hair and dressed in a slip.87

I immediately turned away and scrutinized a wall painting.88

“Hmm … Turner? Those are classics –”89

She snorted. “Sit, Crius. I have your mother’s baby photos of you, so we’re even."90

“What?! You’re not serious?” I demanded, face flushing.91

Palmandar ignored me and went on to the kitchen and emerged later with a cup of coffee. “So, you’re off, I presume.”92

Taken aback by her abruptness, I shrugged my shoulders. “Yes. New York.”93

“What is it?”94

“Can’t say. OPSEC.”95

She snorted again. 96

“Oh, alright then. It’s a bounty hunt.”97

The coffee was good. It always was. We sat there for five minutes, each mulling things over, and alternating mulling with sipping.98

“I’m leaving tomorrow.”99

“You should get ready, then.” She stood, as I did.100

I looked at her. “You don’t approve of this, do you?”101

Pal said nothing, but walked me to the door, and hugged me warmly.102

“Good luck, Crius.”103

I grinned at her. “I don’t need luck.”104

I made to walk out, but she took my arm. “Make sure you get back in one piece, Crius. I would hate to have to organize your funeral.”105

“Funny, Pal.” Squeezing her shoulder, I walked away, whistling.106

------107

A technical is basically a ute or something similar looking, painted in camouflage colours and mounted with a 50-millimetre gun on the back of it. It carries five personnel – two in the cab, two sitting in the cargo space, and one gunner.108

And we had five of these old warmachines. 109

Taris, Juki, Gar, me, and Marcsion each commanded a technical. I was to take lead position, and Gar behind me, and the others would follow as the terrain allowed, with Marcsion taking up the rearguard.110

The technicals stood in the main courtyard, shuddering and grunting as their engines belched out smoke. A strong smell of diesel assaulted anyone who walked within a hundred metres of the things.111

They had stealth capability, but I wouldn’t stake my life on that.112

Baccus came to see us off – accompanied by what looked like half the population of the Retreat. 113

“Good luck, boys.” He smiled and then stalked away.114

Juki looked at me. “Was that supposed to help us?”115

I grinned and leaped into the driver’s seat of my vehicle. I touched my comset, which was affixed to my right ear. 116

“Green light, people. Let’s do this!”117

Various Hoo-yahs and Yeahs emanated over the airwaves and I put my foot down.118

The technicals peeled away, shooting through the gate, and were soon dwindling specks on the horizon.119

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