[M] Retribution IV: Rebirth

[Trixie]

The capital of Thule had quickly become the beachhead for the Imperial invasion force. Able Company had captured and held the city until the expeditionary forces dropped out of orbit. It was a frightening thing to watch; to witness ten star destroyers unleash everything they had in the way of landing craft and air support upon the atmosphere of the target planet. The amount of aircraft blotted out the sun and soon the enemy had enabled its anti-aircraft systems and the skies were filled with green explosions of flak and the smoking hulks of those landing craft caught in the blasts. The starboard repulsor engine of the landing craft first squad was on erupted into flames as an anti-aircraft flak burst tore into the armored shell of the MAAT transport. First Sergeant Zulenka gripped the ceiling support and braced herself as the aircraft shuddered as it pierced through anti-aircraft fire. Able Company had secured the capital of Thule, but the invasion was far from over. Trixie and the rest of Able had been tasked with spearheading the assault outward once a forward operating base had been established in the city. Radio chatter was frantic this close to the front line. Squads were being met with heavy resistance on all sides. A slight grin formed on Beatrix’s face as the damaged craft touched down and opened its doors.

Green energy-fire tore through the torrential down pour and peppered itself into a new replacement assigned to first squad. Pushing his corpse out of the craft with her foot Trixie jumped down into the slick mud and trudged her way forward, the heavy automatic fire ripping into the cockpit of the landing craft killing the pilot. Raising her rifle up the red-head squeezed off several red blasts at the enemy positions a few hundred yards away. Able Company had been dropped in a heavily defended residential sector. They were tasked with clearing it out and securing the space port for supply drop; which was fine, but the space port was on the opposite end of the target about twenty miles away. They had been given orders to clear it out on foot and the landing craft were needed back at the Virgo to keep the waves of soldiers’ steady enough to further the Imperial presence on Thule.

Sergeant Henderson accompanied by the platoon radioman came up behind First Sergeant Zulenka and opened fire with her.

“Sergeant!” Trixie shouted over the immense roar of repulsor engines and enemy fire.

She took hold of the radio and dialed in with the short range system in her suit. Command wanted her to secure Caen Spaceport.

“Able Company! This is it!” She roared through the short-wave comms to her troops.

Without even blinking, Trixie sprinted into the distance forcing her second in-command to follow suit.

***

Belial had many forms. Of his numerous identities only one was his true demonic persona. The Tyrant Lord had arranged a gala in honor of his most profitable slave. It was uncommon and out of the ordinary for such a thing to occur, but Belial did what he wanted. Trixie had successfully tripled his profits from the fighting ring; her victories had been broadcast throughout the vast stretches of Tyrant Lord Belial’s territories causing demons and inhabitants to flock to the Citadel just to see her fight. The next bout between her and Jorgan had already sold out. Establishments televising the event had already booked their tables and bars full for patrons wanting to get a glimpse of the fight. Shipments of food, grog, and slave demons poured into the capital for the event. Sia was assigned as Trixie’s personal guardian and as she led the red-headed pit fighter to the doors of the throne room she took the mistress’ arm.

“One word of caution. If he doesn’t judge you fit enough to keep alive over Jorgan you will be killed immediately.” The blond whispered into Zulenka’s ear.

What else is new?

Trixie placed both hands on the giant wooden doors before her and pushed her way inside the throne room. The party was already well on its way. The giant cathedral like room was filled with demons and humanoid men and woman enjoying various colored drinks and plates of food being carried around by succubae servants. The room was dimly lit, but it gave off a faint red glow. The red-head could feel all of the eyes in the room turn to her as she entered with Sia in tow. Belial was in the back on his throne bellowing with laughter as a royal guard was ripping the arms off a slave.

Beatrix knew what she wanted. She knew what she had to do. Marching straight through the crowd of onlookers and party goers the pit fighter tossed her champagne glass to the floor. She gripped a nearby glaive that was attached to the wall and ripped it free. Plunging the blade into slave’s back it exploded outward through his sternum, spraying the floor with blood. Ripping it out the mistress twirled the blade and in one fluid motion brought the weapon to bear at the royal guard who had approached her. With a swift slice it’s head was now freely rolling on the floor. Belial’s laughing figure being showered with demon blood.

Twirling the blood soaked weapon, Trixie implanted the blade into the floor and stood it up vertically. Dropping to one knee she bowed her head and to the shock of the entire room, Tyrant Lord Belial waved off the rest of his guards and spared the pit fighters life.

“You have real promise and a certain death wish to take up arms so close to me, slave.” He spoke, his words heating the room with energy.

With a cackle the demon lord narrowed his eyes. “I was not wrong to spare your life. You are dismissed from my party to do as you please within Sia’s presence, for tomorrow you fight for your very existence. If you lose I will personally see to it that Jorgan grinds your body into pulp each and every time you regenerate.”

With a wave of his hand Sia took hold of the red head and ushered her back to their room.