Dark Fate, Book 24 Epilogue

Epilogue – Elsewhere

(Planet Xids Prime, Xids System, Ouran Huntworlds)

Hasluh the Shadowstalker entered the private training hall that only direct kin of the Clan Leader could enter without permission, the guard stepping in after him. This was the Clan Leader’s private sanctuary in the Clan Hall, a place where they could relax their guard, and stop worrying about fending off a rival’s blades. To be invited into this space, as one who was not direct kin, was a sign of trust and respect.

Hasluh returned that respect as he bowed his head before the Great Hunter, Kelthan the Bloodclaw. The two were not friends, but respect had been earned, and shared, through the events regarding those Humans from Ceres. Which, of course, led into why they were meeting here, away from the prying eyes of the full Clan Council.

“So, Shadowstalker, you’ve had time to observe the human ‘soldiers’ who came to train with our hunters. What do you think of them?”

Hasluh considered his words for a moment, and then said, “They are a potent force, Great Hunter. I have watched their training, and I can see the strengths and weaknesses of their model. The Marines they sent are weaker than one of our Hunters, in melee combat, but they fight in units, supporting each other, rather than looking for glorious single combat. This makes them a stronger force, overall, but they are less effective when placed on their own. Not unskilled, but less effective. Certainly better than untrained ‘civilians’, but not to the equal of our Hunters.

“Against a single prey, I would say that our Hunters are the stronger. That is the kind of fight that they know, after all. Even if we hunt in groups, the Hunters focus on taking down a single prey at a time. All share in the glory of the kill, but all tally their own achievements during the hunt.

“In a war of Clan on Clan, this method works well, because the enemy fights as we fight. However, that leaves us weak against foes like the Incux. The loss of the Bausk Clan and the Broken Worlds might have been avoided if we were able to field armies instead of hunting parties.”

Kelthan frowned. “Really? Not that I doubt your information, but would it have made that much of a difference?”

Hasluh nodded. “It took one Galactic Standard Year for the Incux to overwhelm to the united clans, forcing the Bausk Clan to make their sacrifice. From my information, the Commonwealth has been fighting the Incux for twenty-five. Slowly losing, but not being overwhelmed, like we were. And, given the newest information from Huntleader Kroshk on Ceres, it appears as though the hunt is turning.”

“This force that the Emperor of Ceres sent out into Incux territory is really so powerful?”

“They have the weapons that humbled our ships, and more of them. And if they were willing to use them on a planet’s surface, instead of in space, then they could do a great deal of damage. The Ceresans are not fighting like Hunters or Warriors, but as soldiers. They do not have the strength to conquer the Incux, and know it, so they are eliminating much of their ability to sustain themselves. As for whether it is working, the fact that the Emperor is now into Tier 3, when he was still in Tier 1 when our Hunt first tested their defenses, says that those under his command have been very successful.”

Kelthan nodded slowly. Both of them knew that there was only one way for a leader who had not been far from their seat of power to gain so many levels, so quickly. The System was not merciful, but it was fair, and could be counted on to provide reliable results. The Ceresan Royal Navy must have killed a great many creatures during their campaign in Incux territory. “So, what would you recommend?”

Hasluh took a breath, and said, “I have several recommendations, but they may not all be popular with the Clan.”

“That is something we can worry about later. What are they?”

“First, I would recommend that we begin to develop a standing army. Forces trained in the Ceresan style, who can fight as a unit, and are better suited for taking and holding ground than gaining glory in the hunt. We would need new weapons, vehicles, and tactics for such a force, and they would lack much of the training of our elite hunters.

“Second, I would institute what the humans would call ‘militia training’ for all those who are not part of the army. This would not be a permanent assignment, but practice and drills a few times a year, so that, in an emergency, any member of the Clan can aid in the defense. At the very least, even without skills from the System, having some training and familiarity would allow them to be more effective than those who had never fought in that way before.

“Finally, we need to have teams of elite hunters trained like their Special Forces units. Having teams that are able to move with stealth, and take on opponents in heavily fortified or dangerous locations, and then escape. They would not be useful against the Incux, but if a stronger clan targeted us, or we found ourselves facing one of the other powers in the region, having options may be the difference between victory and death.”

“Moving us away from being Hunters, then?”

“No, Great Hunter. Simply recognizing that there is a time and place for Hunters and Warriors, and then there is a time for Soldiers and Elites Forces. This would be things that we could add on to our traditions with, not replacing the traditions. We would still have Hunters, and Hunts, but we would also create a tradition of Defenders and Soldiers, beyond those who become Den Protectors. But just as we would not look to a Healer to lead a Hunt, or a Hunter for Healing, we separate the jobs of Hunters and Soldiers. Different, but equal.”

The Great Hunter nodded slowly. “The Clan will take time to adjust to the changes, and the other Clans even longer. But if the timestrikes in the Sol System are anything to go by, powers from closer to the Galactic Core will be turning their gaze our way. And even a new set of Broken Worlds may not be enough to keep the Huntworlds safe if that happens. The Ouran must grow, and growth requires change.”