Trojan War Chapter 36

 

The battles and conflicts

 

36.

Chryseis stood before the console that had transmitted her last message out. Her eyes were with tears as she looked at the destruction of the City of Apollo. The city once reveled by the other worlds as the cultural center for arts, music, and healing was dedicated to Apollo of the Olympians. It covered a huge area with the many beautiful architecture designs of the worlds including that of the Apollo Coliseum that could seat a hundred thousand spectators, and the marvelous sculpture of the God adorned every corner of the venue. The place was also the venue for the annual festival of arts with Apollo as its patron.

“Troy is not a warring state. It’s a state of myriad cultures.” Apollo had made that remark when he first officiates the festival.

“I stand to plea for your mercy, Apollo. I, Chryseis had failed to preserve your city.” The intern of Apollo had then fallen to her knees while the city was bombarded and ravaged to the ground. She had once befriended Achilles; a contrast to her own beliefs and they had argued for days on the true qualities of life. Achilles being of the warrior breed had refused to be inducted into the gaiety of arts.

“The beauty of the beautiful, comes had with age may deter. The wisdom of the mind grew with age to be wiser.” Achilles said to her.

“There is no denial to wisdom but the mind should be open to more lest it’s dead,” Chryseis replied. “Why do you not embrace new views of your mind?”

It was those words that Achilles was soon to come to terms with Chryseis. It augured him well when he was to stay with the women at Lycomedes’ palace. He was able to interact with the women and hence his admiration for Chryseis.

“I prayed that this is not the works of Achilles.” Chryseis had prayed for her friend. It was then the doors to her chamber were broken in and the Archaeon warriors stormed in. The unruly warriors had come to pillage and violate any women in their path.

“A priestess? She will be mine.” The warrior had grabbed Chryseis by the left arm. She was pulled towards him and sight of blood on the chest plate. She was revolted by it but the warrior was to keep his prize.

“Stop your action.” The voice was from Agamemnon who had arrived there. “She is not to be taken. I will have her for myself.”

It was then that Chryseis was spared the humiliation by the warrior but her ordeal was not to end. She was taken to Agamemnon’s chamber in the city. The Archaeon leader had taken over that chamber upon the conquest of the city.

“Your name is Chryseis. I am told by the others that your family is of Troy. I have received the call by them to ransom you.” Agamemnon looked at her. “Who are you that your life is so crucial? Even my leader had favored no harm to you.”

“I am an intern at Apollo. I am also the High Priestess of Apollo City. If you do me any harm, not only will you suffer the anger of the Trojans but also of Apollo.” Chryseis had cautioned Agamemnon.

“And when have feared the Trojans? As for the Olympians, I will say this is not their war.” Agamemnon replied. It was then unprepared for the leader, Chryseis rushed not towards Agamemnon but to the wall opening. She jumped and it was a long way down.

“Why have you done it?” Agamemnon had stood at the wall opening and looking down not able to see where Chryseis may have landed. He was then to see more people leaping off the high wall openings.

“What madness had overcome them?” Agamemnon looked with anger. The mass suicides of the Trojan at Troy Five were partially fed by the rumors that the captives will be ejected into space as done by the Thracians. It did not escape the attention of Apollo who approached King Menelaus on the communication link.

“I am not hurt when your forces destroyed my city at Troy Five but the driven suicides of the interns and priestess with many others appalled me.” Apollo had appeared with his armor on and standing on the famed chariot of his. “My vengeance will now be…”

“Apollo, I do advise you hold us not responsible for that atrocity. We did not give the order to do…” King Menelaus had tried to explain the situation.

“You will see my vengeance soon.” Apollo had then terminated the communication link. King Menelaus called on Agamemnon to get clarification.

“It all happened too fast. I could not stop it.” Agamemnon told the King. The news had reached Achilles then. He was involved in the battle at Troy Three.

“Achilles, we are not having any progress.” Achilles was told of the attack at Troy Three. “Our fleet is retaliated by their allies.”

The combined fleet of Argos, Babylon, and the Macedonian with nine motherships, twenty destroyers, and forty frigates with over four thousand stealth fighters were met with resistance at the attack. Achilles had lost one mothership, five destroyers, and twelve frigates before he called for the strategic retreat.

“Achilles, whatever they have there is impenetrable.” Achilles heard the report. “Their cannons are hitting us hard. The shields are weakened when the projectiles impact on it.”

“We have adjusted the modulation on the shields but it was not effective.” The Weapon Officer added on.

Achilles had seen it. He saw one Argos mothership took a hit and after the third impact, the shield was penetrated. He had then called the retreat but not before losing the destroyers. The Trojan stealth fighters came in strong and hit the destroyers when it was retreating with its stealth fighters having docked in the hangers.

“Recall the ships to the outer orbit. We will arrange the next attack.” Achilles agitated at the loss on his return to active battles. He was not one to retreat.

“Achilles, I have the Mysian on communication.” Achilles was diverted his attention.

“Yes, Telephus.” Achilles looked to the image of the Mysian leader.

“I bring sad news. Our betrayal had been made known. We are now part of the enemy.” Telephus reported to Achilles. “The Amazons will like to have me roasted over the open fumes of the hot air vent.”

“Well, get over it.” Achilles then turned to the others in the fleet. “Whatever they have there, we are to plan another way to go in.”

Meanwhile, at Troy Four, the invasion was hampered by the Trojan fleet which was there in wait.

“Odysseus, we are under attack.” The pilot of the mothership called out. “Scanners registered two Motherships, five destroyers, and ten frigates at our starboard.”

 Odysseus held a larger fleet but he had split his ships into three smaller ones. He had brought only one mothership from the Cretan, and five destroyers from the Phoenicia, and Carthaginian while the twenty frigates are from the other worlds’; Parthians, and Barbicans. It was still a formidable strength to counter the Trojans.

“Counter them now,” Odysseus called out the command. “Fire all we got.”

“Affirmative, Commander.”: The pilot relayed the command. “Recall our stealth fighters.”

A thousand stealth fighters were deployed to bombard the remnants of Troy Four. The fleet was reported the three hundred from the Trojan defenses.

“Odysseus, we have resistance.” The pilot called back. “The Parthians frigates are registering impact on their shields…. No, they are done for. We lost two frigates.”

The two Parthians frigates were on the starboard side to provide cover and were the first to be hit.

“Reinforce the starboard. We will assist.” Odysseus had then realized that he was to see for himself the might of the new Trojan weapon. He was to recall the order when he got the next report.

“Two Carthaginians destroyers are pulling out. Their shields are low.” The pilot called out.

“Where are our stealth fighters? Are they all back?” Odysseus was concerned about the stealth fighters at the surface.

“We have only a hundred back. The others are engaged by the Trojan frigates and their stealth fighters. We are to leave…. Oh, have mercy on us. The Barbicans have lost five frigates. Our missiles are unable to make any impact.”

“Sound the retreat!” Odysseus called out. “We are outgunned.”

On the Trojan Mothership, Hector stood at the bridge to view the carnage at the Trojan Four outer atmosphere. He had brought his fleet there too late but they were winning the battle.

“Hector, Archaeon are withdrawing.” The commander of the mothership reported to Hector. “We cannot save Troy Four but we have avenged their deaths.”

“Our shields work and so were our weapons.” Hector was told. He smiled but inside of him, he knew that the Trojan ships were limited in that. He had sent the destroyers forward for those ships that were prepared.

“Hold the pursuit. We need to rescue Troy Four.” Hector had planned that when he arrived to engage the enemy.