The squad moved through the gate, followed by platforms carrying various equipment. The men quickly connected the necessary components to the portal, and antigravity jacks began tilting it. The drones soared upward, transmitting information to the monitors of the Immortal's command vehicle. After verifying the data, he refined the parameters and contacted someone outside the gate. Soon, a body emerged from the portal at high speed.
A minute later, a shell slammed into a pyramid located fifteen kilometers from the gate. The residence of the local ruler, a Goa'uld, was destroyed. Awakening in a fit of panic, he felt a seven-ton shell pierce the casing at the base of the structure and then explode. More than half of its mass was explosive. The explosion of four tons of TNT had fatal consequences for the structure. The pyramid literally shattered, its colossal stones scattered hundreds of meters around. The Goa'uld, just awakening from his slumber, was instantly killed by the monstrous detonation of the super-powerful shell.
Only now did Szarekh's forces utilize the super-powerful artillery platform—an improved version of the Dora. Originally created for a museum, it now demonstrated its destructive power. Szarekh realized that by controlling the gate, he could use it to fire super-powerful projectiles. Command believed such a weapon could significantly accelerate the planet's capture. Each Dora shot was capable of shattering glass thirty-five kilometers away with the force of air concussion and sound. The estimated charge was nine hundred kilograms of gunpowder.
The super-powerful artillery was equipped with a sophisticated computerized system that took into account all planetary parameters and input data. Ballistic computers adjusted the gate's tilt on both the firing and target sides to ensure accurate hits. Now the colossal cannon was mounted on an anti-gravity platform, and projectiles were delivered to it via teleportation and anti-gravity carts. A second shot followed, and then a third. These shells destroyed the airfield and the enemy commander's central command post. Afterward, the cohort fully deployed to another planet, moving in their anti-gravity infantry fighting vehicles under the cover of swarms of drones. "Threaders" flitted through the air, supporting the troops on the front lines and launching missile strikes on illuminated targets using drones. Szarekh had equipped them with special radiation emitters, undetectable by conventional means. Using their own scanners, installed on all vehicles, they launched strikes against the enemy forces they had reconnoitred.
Similar operations unfolded not only on Deneb, but on hundreds of other planets that were vassals of Apophis. Where the gates weren't properly guarded, something similar occurred. The deployment of troops was swift and decisive. Undoubtedly, only a few planets were privileged enough to encounter such super-powerful artillery, but those who experienced its might were astonished.
The legions' march crushed planets wherever Jaffa appeared, wearing skull-like helmets. Any planet without the protection of the Huttaks had to fear these legions. Even the Alkesh couldn't guarantee protection from a ground invasion: the "threaders" were skilled enough to destroy the clumsy ships in the atmosphere. The Immortals, however, had mastered the principles of maneuver warfare to perfection—their actions were swift and merciless. Any defensive point with a plasma cannon was immediately destroyed by three missiles from a drone, after which the cohort continued on its way. Scouts on antigravity bikes guided the missiles and the "threaders" with their bombs.
Antigravity bikes were equipped with cradle-mounted gunners armed with advanced plasma weapons. Thanks to their stabilization, the gunner could decimate entire squads while firing on the move. The gunner also marked targets with a radiation emitter, as German and Soviet forces later did. Scouts infiltrated enemy defenses from all sides, wreaking havoc on their battle formations and directing commanders' strike forces toward the enemy.
Among the Immortals, scouts were considered an elite unit, held in high esteem. Their missions were fraught with high risk, and Szarekh's Jaffa training took place in conditions where casualties could reach eighty-four percent with a well-directed enemy. These warriors were noted for their high level of training and adventurism, willing to break away from the main force to serve as the eyes and ears of their comrades. Drones were no panacea, and the Goa'uld had countermeasures against them. Therefore, in conditions of communication breakdown, only scouts with their radiation beacons indicated the enemy's position.
Meanwhile, through optical systems, numerous ships monitored the Huttaks guarding key Goa'uld planets, whose domains were being ravaged by the Immortals. Each cohort attacking a planet was allocated a specific time, calculated based on space fleet reconnaissance data. Reconnaissance determined the location of enemy Huttaks through visual observation (via optical scanners) or by intercepting communications. But, like predators, these ships lurked near the Lords' capital planets, which were better fortified and had their own fleets. Szarekh's signature style remained—blocking gates with an incoming hypertunnel.
An hour after the attack, the Huttaki began transitioning to hyperspace. The ether exploded with messages. Despite their encryption, some of the codes were cracked, and the return messages revealed the enemy ships' direction of travel.
All attacks were diversionary. Squad leaders were ordered to inflict maximum damage and destroy as many enemy troops as possible within the allotted time. Troops permanently stationed in garrisons, guarding the gates, encountered squads constantly training, each soldier a force of absolute and total strength, capable of destroying entire enemy units without hesitation or fear. Thousands, tens of thousands of hours of training had transformed them into Szarekh's Angels of Death. Every shot hit its mark. If enemy troops occupied a favorable position, for example, on a slope or in a ravine that could delay a squad for even a minute, even a sergeant could call in a "threader" for a powerful plasma strike or contact drone operators firing railguns or missiles. Coordination between the troops was not just excellent, it was perfect, although they were never informed of this, so as not to reduce the intensity of their training.
Meanwhile, a different scene was unfolding in Szareh's chambers.
"Come back," Isara whispered.
"I'll be back," the Imperial Lord promised, kissing his wife. Then he donned his skull helmet, turned, and headed for the transport rings. Using his omni-tool, he entered the code and appeared in the square next to the gate. The army was preparing to attack. Szarekh wielded the Staff of Light, a powerful artifact, a symbol of his power. Behind him, a cloak woven from intertwined threads of carbon and naquadah flowed, providing impenetrable protection. His movements were precise and decisive, revealing not the slightest weakness. He was marching either to death or to immortal glory.
The scout ship accelerated sharply. The pilot maintained precise control. The ship was equipped not so much for reconnaissance as for transporting gates. The planet Merkesh was rich and prosperous, with a population of two billion, whose obedience was enforced by over ten million Jaffa. The planet boasted its own Hasar Station and was exemplary in terms of defense. Elder Lord Yanin, who ruled the planet and its vast holdings, was considered one of Apophis's most loyal servants. Having distinguished himself in the recent war, he had earned numerous favors and become somewhat complacent. Szarekh had chosen Yanin as his target, intending to humiliate Apophis and, if necessary, appease Ra. Apophis himself had allowed his vassal to be killed by attacking Szarekh. As a descendant of the House of Ra, Szarekh had the right to respond, and he responded wholeheartedly.
The reconnaissance ships lacked stealth systems, but were painted black and equipped with electronic warfare systems capable of confuse Khasar Station and other scanners. Yanin, who favored attack over defense, failed to leave the Huttaks to defend the planet, for which he was immediately punished. The ships, traveling at impressive speed, bypassed all planetary defense systems designed to engage the Huttaks. The pilots were exceptionally experienced and understood the danger of the mission, as well as the high risk of death in the event of failure. Therefore, dedicated personnel were selected for the mission.
Penetrating the anti-aircraft defense systems was only half the battle. The ship, with its gate magnetized to its hull, dove at breakneck speed. Several hundred kilometers were covered in mere seconds. Although they were traveling three kilometers per second, for safety, they had to reduce their speed to twelve thousand kilometers per hour. Flying at sublight speed, approximately ten million kilometers per hour, could have had catastrophic consequences. Now, near a large river, the program pulled the ship out of its dive. Even the best pilots couldn't figure out how to recover from a dive at three kilometers per second, so control was handed over to the pilots only when they were above the water's surface. They gained the necessary speed while flying over the river.
When a rocky island in the river across which the capital of Ioannina stretched appeared on the horizon, the ship landed. The gate, deployed by retractable manipulators, was moved to a horizontal position. By specifying the coordinates, they were able to hide from scanners, so sending messages through normal channels was risky. The hyperlane transit time was only a second, but this was enough to transmit all the data received by the data compression system. These compression protocols ensured the rapid transmission of planetary information to the IIC mobile task forces, which was critical, especially with a large number of teams in the field. The possibility of an emergency evacuation could not be ruled out, so the gate remained clear.
Now the same method was used for a military attack. Ten seconds later, the "Immortals" managed to connect to the second gate. Ten "threaders" erupted from there, essentially high-speed ballistic missiles created by Szarekh. These expensive missiles were intended to strike the most important targets.
The rapidly moving projectiles shot upward. There were no pilots, only automated systems that lifted them to a significant altitude in a matter of seconds, then adjusted their trajectory for an accelerated dive. According to Goa'uld ground warfare regulations, bombs used on the planet were not allowed to exceed a kiloton yield. This was no problem for Szarekh, and his ten expensive ballistic missiles targeted key troop command posts and critical infrastructure: the gate position, the Palace of Ioannina, weapons depots, airfields, and, most importantly, the energy shield emitters over the capital. Less than a minute after the scout ship landed, the planet's capital shook with ten explosions. The manipulators returned the gate to its vertical position, and antigravity vehicles armed with railguns and anti-aircraft missiles began to emerge from the island. The anti-aircraft defenses were deployed first to secure control of the island, as it was expected that the Jaffa would soon come to their senses and send out endless swarms of gliders.
The next vehicles to emerge from the gate were the shield components. Transported on various vehicles, they were modular, but designed to be connected and powered by a common generator when placed next to one another, creating a protective dome. Under combat conditions, the Jaffa even broke the army's record for shield assembly and deployment speed. Within three minutes, the shield was deployed within a nine-kilometer radius of the island. Although inferior to the Huttak's shield, it was capable of withstanding a large number of gliders.
The deployment took place with flawless precision, as if rehearsed hundreds of times. And indeed, it was. The Goa'uld, despite their essentially aquatic nature, had considerable difficulty crossing water obstacles. Usually, in such cases, they resorted to transport ships or rings. This time, being in the center of a well-developed enemy territory, they were far better prepared than Yanin, who would have had to confiscate wooden boats from slaves to reach the island, and wood is notoriously resistant to plasma.
Troops deployed to other attack points were withdrawn; they served merely as a diversionary tactic. Yanin's spaceships were five hours from the planet. The invasion force had five hours to complete its assigned tasks. Thanks to sophisticated programming, including automated traffic management, the deployment of the thirty-thousand-strong garrison took no time.
The first Alkesh and gliders appeared over the island ten minutes after the attack began. There was no question about the amount of explosives that could be used in anti-aircraft missiles. The air defense system was a mesmerizing spectacle: missiles carrying nuclear warheads soared upward, crashing into the Alkesh shields, and dozens of gliders disappeared in a blinding flash.
Operators at the control panels pressed buttons with smiles, selecting targets. The anti-aircraft fire control system was surprisingly sophisticated for that era. Missiles soared into the sky and precisely targeted designated target groups. If the targets maneuvered, there was the option of detonating them remotely, but pilots generally preferred a speed of 700-800 kilometers per hour, allowing them to navigate and engage. This proved their mistake: technically, they could evade the missiles, but they simply couldn't keep up.
Explosions around the island lit up the sky like shock waves. Local residents living nearby fled in fear or barricaded themselves in basements, praying for an end to the disaster.
Antigravity made crossing the waters much easier, and the assault on the enemy capital began. Over a million human slaves lived there, along with a hundred-thousand-strong Jaffa garrison. The entire capital area was the concentration of a million enemy forces. By any measure, it was a suicide mission. The operation was borderline foolhardy, and whoever devised it was clearly under the influence of powerful drugs. However, a precise, concentrated strike at a vulnerable point could have had a significant devastating effect.
Szarekh switched the gate to "ballistic" launch mode. Improved V-2 rockets, equipped with new guidance systems, new fuel, and a new explosive, began to fly out of the gate. The Mercenary Lord had these missiles in abundance. Faced with material shortages and constant sabotage by concentration camp prisoners, the Third Reich produced just under six thousand missiles, despite planning for thirteen thousand over eighteen months. And, of course, they flew unpredictably. All of Szarekh's missiles were much more accurate and operated flawlessly.
Now, a missile was fired from the gate every thirty seconds. Thirty-seven minutes of gate operation meant seventy-four missiles per cycle. Since Szarekh was forced to strictly adhere to the regulations of ground warfare, the shells used to strike ground targets carried explosives weighing less than a kiloton. And, of course, they were not nuclear; he did not want to cause radiation contamination, as advanced civilizations knew many other ways to achieve greater destructive power.
However, the enemy Jaffa didn't appreciate being hit with missiles, especially when they were deployed in conjunction with reconnaissance aircraft and drones. The missiles had a range of a thousand kilometers, yet, thanks to a much more advanced propellant and guidance system, they remained the size of a V-2. Now, any enemy target within that radius was vulnerable to missile attack. And so it was: missiles rained down on airfields, warehouses, and shield emitters. However, some managed to activate and were protected. Nevertheless, the island, located just a hundred kilometers from the capital, was transformed into an impregnable fortress, shooting down anything that came within fifty kilometers.
"Move to secondary engagement targets!" ordered Sareh, seated in the command vehicle. These vehicles were further armored and reinforced to ensure the safety of the command staff even under extreme fire.
"Yes, sir." The officer relayed the orders.
Meanwhile, Hydra's combat personnel—a reconnaissance wing tasked with specialized missions that were impossible for the Jaffa due to their moral principles and beliefs—were operating on the battlefield. They trained on combat mission simulators from the Brandenburg-800, SAS, and Commandos, gaining a full understanding of their missions.
Together with the Tollans, the "gatecraft"—a research vessel capable of transporting explorers—was developed based on the "threader." Having received all the design documentation, Szarekh created a combat platform for transporting saboteurs. The "gatecraft" differed from the Ancients' design; the latter had folding engines located at the rear. The Szarekh and Tollans' modification was a two-section ship: the first section was the pilot's compartment, followed by the engine compartment, and finally the passenger compartment. Pilots and passengers were separated; each had their own entrance.
At the moment, these units' targets were bridges over major rivers, ravines, and other obstacles. They also targeted ballistic missile targeting teams, targeted the elimination of senior enemy command personnel, and a host of other unpleasantries that would give well-behaved Jaffa a toothache, but that was their method of warfare.
It's worth noting that even without stealth systems, destroying bridges was a quick task. The pilot would fly under the bridge spans. Sappers would emerge through a hatch above and mine the wooden or stone structures. Most of the officers had undergone engineering training, knew the weak points of any structure, and could quickly identify them.
There were hundreds of such groups. Szarekh gathered everything he could: elite forces, the best pilots, and deployed them through the gate. There were antigravity vehicles, "threaders," and "gatejets." All of this was directed against the target, focused. Even after the attack, anyone assessing the damage would face serious problems. Hundreds of bridges that served as transport arteries would be reduced to rubble. This was currently hindering the rapid movement of the gate, especially for the millions of enemy forces concentrated in the capital region.
Despite the missiles' power, they killed no more than a couple hundred people when they hit. Large numbers of Jaffa might have simply not suffered the losses, but the lack of bridges, supply points, weapons, and other infrastructure seriously slowed them down. Not every river could be quickly forded, as the Jaffa, being human, had certain limitations.
While the tactical pause allowed, and the enemy's antigravity vehicles hadn't yet reached the capital, and reinforcements in the form of enemy gliders hadn't begun to harass Szarekh, he decided to launch an air strike on the capital. Not a fan of close-in assaults with plasma weapons, Szarekh raised his "threaders" to a minimum altitude of ten kilometers. From there, he dropped the guided bombs. These projectiles were capable of gliding up to 110 kilometers. Thus, the "threaders" took off almost instantly, gained speed, launched their bombs, and returned to resupply. One "threader" carried six bombs, each weighing 130 kilograms.
The bulk of this strike fell on the Ioannina Palace, which continued to burn. Air traffic controllers detected over four hundred aerial targets heading their way; some gliders even attempted to intercept the bombs. However, they only reached their targets, kicking up a huge amount of dust. Under this cover, a group of four saboteurs disembarked from a helicopter.
They moved at speeds exceeding those of the antigravity platforms. The Jaffa didn't notice the landing, especially as the entire city of a million people was in panic, with people running and screaming. Thus, the four soldiers bearing the Ioannina insignia drew no attention. They headed for the logistics hub, which, as it turned out, hadn't been bombed. Their ring teleporter was connected to Hasar Station, which was just preparing to send reinforcements from its hangars directly onto the advancing forces.
The saboteurs penetrated this structure without the slightest problem. The guards apparently fled, as this wasn't a high-priority defense. Supplies were delivered to the station from this platform, personnel were rotated, and other logistical operations were carried out. No one expected an attack by saboteurs, as such tactics were considered "dishonorable."
"Hey, what are you doing here? Everyone, quickly, defend the walls from the enemies!" shouted some Jaffa without a leg, apparently responsible for logistics.
The saboteurs instantly readied their weapons and shot the disabled man. They then fired three shots into his body. Three took positions at the exits, and one logged into the platform's control computer.
"The platform is not disabled," the group's hacker reported.
"Okay. Let's move."
One of them entered the code, set a five-second delay, and everyone stood on the platform. Meanwhile, multiple explosions could be heard outside the building. High Lord Yanin's palace was being reduced to rubble. They, of course, tried to stop Szarekh with nuclear-tipped anti-aircraft missiles, which presented a new challenge for the Jaffa. Especially when such a missile struck a high-speed squadron of Alekesh, instantly reducing them to radioactive scrap metal.
Meanwhile, Szareh's radio warfare specialists were interfering with the Jaffa's communications, issuing contradictory orders, increasing chaos, and scanning the airwaves. After all, if Yanin had survived, he should have contacted one of the backup points and confirmed his codes. Szareh really wanted to congratulate him on his appearance on the airwaves—a V-2 missile. What could he do? He was always generous and spared no expense in gifts.
At this point, a sabotage squad appeared in one of the supply rooms. They took up a defensive position, searching for enemies. Finding none, they assumed Jaffa guise and began moving quickly, mimicking the panic that had gripped Khasar Station. The other squads, also running through the station, paid them no attention, with the exception of one extremely observant Jaffa commander with a silver tattoo. More accurately, it was a scar infused with silver.
"Jaffa Kree, what are you doing!"
"Tekmate!" the group commander bowed immediately, feigning loyalty. "We were ordered to the fourth hangar deck, and we are obeying."
"Fool! We must descend to the planet and help our master. The gliders can handle it without you. Quickly, to the great hall."
"It will be done, tekmate," and the squad ran briskly in the indicated direction.
They headed not for the main hall, but for the reactor room. The saboteur group fled just like everyone else, but guns were trained on them.
"This is a restricted area, turn around!"
Before the guards could even comprehend what was happening, the saboteurs dropped to the floor and opened fire with hidden plasma pistols. Fifteen shots, six dead. The reactor compartment guards didn't even have time to figure out what had killed them. Shots from the Z-type, and suddenly there were no guards left.
Plastic explosives were removed from the backpack. The Goa'uld typically installed special filters on teleporters to prevent the transport of bombs. However, these filters weren't designed for such a specific type of explosive. Having quickly mined the large reactor in vulnerable areas, the saboteurs set timers for three minutes. Then they ran to the large hall to "help the master." Seeing a huge line, the saboteurs returned to the warehouse and used the local transport rings. It was strange that the commanders hadn't used all the available transport rings—force of habit, perhaps.
The saboteurs had about a minute left. So, as soon as the group returned, the commander broadcast the code phrase: "Red-Red-Red." This meant the sabotage mission had been accomplished, and they had captured transport rings that could be reprogrammed to the frequency used by Szareh's forces.
Sixty seconds later, a new star, significantly brighter than the previous one, exploded in the sky. Khasar Station was completely destroyed. The saboteurs had done their job.
Yanin was doubly lucky. He was in the outermost wing of the palace when it was attacked, and survived, though severely stunned. A tape repeater, activated just in time, saved him. The debris only slightly crushed him, but loyal Jaffa managed to find him and bring him to safety—the basement of some tavern. The Elder Lord realized the situation was critical and attempted to evacuate somewhere far away, perhaps to Hasar Station. Just as he was two steps away from the nearest teleportation rings capable of transporting him to the station, it exploded. He took this news extremely negatively.
"What's going on?" he demanded of his warriors, attempting to contact the sensor systems via the ribbon repeater. But it was damaged in the explosion.
"Sir, I don't know much," replied the silver-tattooed Jaffa. "But the station detected the entry of a high-speed object into the atmosphere, which fell into the river at high speed. However, it's reported that enemy forces suddenly appeared on an island a hundred kilometers away. They have energy shields, and we tried to drive them off the island with everything we could. But their weapons are damaging us. Furthermore, they destroyed the Chapaai base there, and they have their own."
"Idiot," Yanin said irritably. Blood was dripping from his head, and there was no treatment. Besides, his city was constantly being bombed, and, he'd been told, it was happening throughout practically the entire thousand-kilometer zone around the island. "Where's the fleet?"
He could destroy the enemies on his planet and no one would condemn him.
"Four hours away, sir."
"I need to get out of here, call Alkesh for my evacuation."
"Sir, we require your personal codes," the Jaffa said. There was some friction between the infantry and the "elite" pilots. The pilots might think he was a coward, simply trying to escape. Everyone judged by themselves, or at least that's what the Jaffa reporting thought.
"Use them."
A minute after he did so, nearby buildings began to collapse from explosions. Quickly realizing their communications were being intercepted, Yanin abandoned his Jaffa and ran from the blast zone. He had never run so fast in his life. Due to the inaccuracy of the initial missile launches, which had been off by several meters, the Elder Lord managed to survive, running several kilometers through the cluttered city streets in just three minutes. He didn't care that Jaffa were dying; the main thing was that he realized the enemy was listening in on his communications.
Therefore, he needed to be more cunning. Yanin intercepted the nearest Jaffa unit, making them his guard. Another headquarters was located in some basement. It turned out that his great city was being stormed by enemy forces. They had flying machines, ridden by Jaffa wearing helmets adorned with skulls. Yanin tried to remember which of his "brothers" had used such a style for their elite troops. After a short while, he actually remembered—the legend of the foolish Goa'uld who sought to become a mercenary, lending his army to fight for others for a fee. An extremely foolish idea, but now he was ready to reconsider, considering that his station, worth five Huttaks, had been blown up.
Yanin had already managed to curse himself a couple of times for dispersing his fleet - this was obviously what they wanted from him.
"How many forces are fighting against us?"
"I can't say, sir. They travel in these flying machines and shoot at everything without leaving them. We saw that the small flying machines had one pilot and one gunner. There are also other small flying machines that shoot from high altitudes."
Yanin winced at the Jaffa's limited vocabulary, which equated everything with "flying machines." As an old Goa'uld, he could recognize the drones used by some of the races the Goa'uld had defeated. But the Empire preferred not to use them, as they might increase the Jaffa's intelligence and make them doubt the Goa'uld's divinity.
He now felt the full charm of the alienness and unfamiliarity of what was happening. When the Jaffa commander finally managed to convince the naval "morons" over comms to abandon their futile suicide attempts against the island's defensive fortifications, they at least agreed to land and serve as a shield for the ground forces. Yanin noted that the force of the explosions had not been excessive, indicating the enemy's adherence to the Code. The Alkesh's ground shield, according to his calculations, should have withstood any barrage, protecting it from missiles and bombs.
Relieved, as the Alkesh descended onto the plaza and deployed its protective dome, Yanin immediately activated his codes, seeking complete control. But the situation seemed to defy command: the shipyards, factories, and mines, all prohibited by the Code, remained intact, while everything else lay in ruins.
Yanin gritted his teeth as he assessed the damage from satellites. Even the bombs' yield had been calculated with the Code in mind, but for the dying Jaffa, this was scant consolation. Of the ten million Jaffa on the planet, he could only deploy a hundred thousand at the moment; the rest were too far away. An additional threat came from the relentless missiles that continued to fly from the island, striking even the Alkesh, though the shield held.
Yanin immediately called off the assault on the island, demanding an air blockade and a priority on shooting down the missiles and bombs that were already harassing him. A second serious problem was that even the Jaffa's available forces were in jeopardy: bridges were being blown up everywhere by enemy saboteurs, reducing his forces four hours before the fleet's arrival. The only consolation was the state of his air force.
Meanwhile, Szareh, using drones, pinpointed the enemy's location, prompting him to undertake a risky mission. Along with his personal security detail, he arrived at a logistics hub captured by saboteurs. It was here that they succeeded in creating mind-controlled jetpacks, though the packs themselves were quite massive.
Twenty soldiers, donning their packs, activated them. For this operation, the shelling of the city ceased, and fires caused by burning fuel and explosions created a dense curtain of smoke, allowing for a stealthy approach. After flying about five kilometers above the urban sprawl, the soldiers landed on the rooftops, immediately activated their rifles, and began targeting the Jaffa. The Alkesh, serving as the command center, shielded a distance of approximately two hundred meters; the surrounding area was devastated by the shockwaves from the high-explosive missiles. The Jaffa, as if driven by instinct, flocked to the protection of their "god," unaware of the impending threat.
The "Immortals" who arrived with Szarekh began shelling the square with smoke grenades from their grenade launchers. Within a minute, everything around was engulfed in smoke so thick that visibility was reduced to a meter. Over a hundred smoke grenades effectively accomplished their mission. The Mercenary Lord had not skimped on Yanin's elimination, considering how many missiles had been expended on him previously. This surpassed all of Szarekh's previous campaigns to eliminate enemy leaders.
Using his antigravity pack, Yanin took off and slowly descended onto the Alkesh's hull, slipping under the shield. Using the powerful laser mounted on his Staff of Light, he blasted an entrance, destroying the pilot in the process. Leaping into the cockpit, he swapped his staff for a more practical weapon—pulse pistols. Half the squad followed him through the opening. The intelligent Jaffa naturally lined up before their master, ready to withstand any blow.
Meanwhile, Yanin tried to comprehend what was happening, but his intuition, sharpened by three assassination attempts, warned him of danger. He prudently abandoned the ship. His reflexes, honed by a long existence and countless assassination attempts, from the Tok'ra to his own vassals, had never failed him, especially in such a perverse manner.
The screams of a Jaffa inside the alkesh made him quicken his pace. Grabbing a few Jaffa, Yanin made a circuitous route to the ring teleporter. As he pressed the button to open the compartment, he saw enemy fighters with unusual weapons behind him, their shockwave knocking back his guards. The Elder Lord managed to activate his shield.
He smiled smugly, his eyes sparkling. Behind his opponents, he spotted a two-meter-tall warrior in rich robes, whose symbol—a circle with six rays—indicated a high-ranking warrior or lord. Yanin made an obscene gesture as the doors began to close. Szarekh took offense and instantly raised his hand, from which the missile had erupted. Yanin's eyes widened as the missile burst through the doorway just before the doors closed.
Explosion!
Szarekh's soldiers immediately set explosives and blew up the door, eager to get inside and determine if Yanin was alive. Upon entering the room, they discovered the Elder Lord's shield was incredibly durable. It first withstood the shockwave of a powerful bomb, then protected him from debris, and finally from a missile and its shockwave. Nevertheless, the Elder Lord was thrown against the wall and struggled to rise. Surviving the kinetic and thermal wave from such a distance was a testament to the exceptional skill of the creator of this "ribbon device."
Yanin rose with a groan. The shock of disorientation and concussion had not yet worn off; three concussions in the last few hours had reached the limit even for Goa'uld regeneration. Szarekh instantly took the device from him and put a knife to his throat. Without preamble, with a single blow of his monomolecular blade, he severed the elder lord's head from his body.
- Sir, the outer perimeter is reporting a buildup of enemy Jaffa forces.
- Order them to retreat here.
Szarekh quickly reconfigured the teleporter's coils to the required frequency to ensure a safe passage for his forces and retreated with the spoils. When Yanin's servants arrived at the alkesh, the explosives detonated, destroying the ship. The entire administrative structure collapsed once again. This was a demonstration of a new era of attacks on enemy planets, capable of destroying even the High Lords.
From then on, the "Immortals" fought differently, valuing their lives and retreating immediately. When enemy gliders attempted to attack Sareh's vehicles, they soon discovered his MANPADS. Over a hundred gliders experienced this new development, after which the "Immortals" began using anti-aircraft missiles with inertial thrusters. When a threader with a nuclear warhead crashed into a formation of gliders flying at a considerable distance and high speed, the enemy was impressed and realized that Sareh's anti-aircraft capabilities were not limited to fifty kilometers.
When the Jaffa of Yanin encountered their enemies, they saw the difference between themselves and other forces. Using Rommel's tactics, the "Immortals" would appear in the most unexpected places, attacking the Jaffa on the march. A brief barrage from the cannons of ten infantry fighting vehicles and a couple of missiles, followed by a rapid retreat.
This occurred within a five-hundred-kilometer zone, within reach of Szarekh's forces. The goal was not to destroy the enemy, but to create maximum chaos in command. Any Jaffa with a gold or silver symbol on their badge became a target. Snipers fired from afar and immediately retreated, as did the missiles. Yanin's forces quickly realized that the dense disposition of their troops was an invitation to a missile barrage. The only limitation was the number of missiles—a maximum of six hundred. Therefore, they had to carefully monitor their firing positions. The ammunition supply, though seemingly endless, required wise use of time.
Four hours after the attack began, all forces began to retreat, exhausted by a battle whose meaning they couldn't comprehend. Without command, the Jaffa couldn't even comprehend what was happening. Any lost equipment was set to self-destruct. Szarekh retreated, victorious. The last to evacuate were the shield vehicles, which they did so quickly enough that enemy commanders wouldn't notice the enemy's absence.
At the same time, dozens of Hydra agents, dressed in inconspicuous clothing, mingled with the crowds of refugees seeking shelter from the constant explosions. On each attacked planet, Szarekh left agents to establish intelligence networks. They had sufficient high-tech equipment in secret hiding places to conduct reconnaissance without attracting attention. The chaos Szarekh created would inevitably create certain problems for Apophys, primarily by provoking a civil war among its vassals over the territory of Yanin.
A video was broadcast across the galaxy. It showed a tall figure in armor that mimicked a skeleton, wearing an ornate helmet resembling a human skull. Those familiar with the Mercenary Lord's deeds recognized him. He removed his helmet.
"I am Szarekh of the House of Ra," the figure said slowly and ingratiatingly. "Ruler of Urvashi, known as the Warlord, who rents out his army and skills—a Mercenary Lord. Some time ago, System Lord Apophis sent me a fleet of twenty khattaks, and I believe also placed a contract for my life with the Ashraks associated with him. I would advise increasing the price on my head, for eleven khattaks have been captured and nine destroyed. As has the commander of this fleet. I expected that if Apophis wanted me dead, he would send the best. So I have sought the best myself."
Here's an improved version of the text, focusing on artistic expression, style, and error correction:
First, Szarekh presented a head that many Goa'uld recognized unmistakably.
"Senior Lord Yanin," he said, and then the footage changed, showing a first-person perspective of Szarekh personally dispatching him. "I personally dispatched him to the next world. His station, Khasar, is now ablaze, and his holdings have been plundered. This is a clear demonstration of my capabilities, my abilities; I am capable of eliminating even a Senior Lord for my employer. The head of this warrior, as a testament to my power, will be handed over personally to my lord and father, Ra. Details of how the Lords may request my services, as well as the terms of my employment, are provided in the attached file.
My conditions are as follows: first, I do not engage in combat with the System Lords. Second, I do not fight against the House of Ra or any of its representatives. That house is sacrosanct. And yes, House Apophis has no right to hire me—their representatives have displayed unworthy behavior. Furthermore, I claim my right to conquest." My hand overthrew Ioannina; it would be foolish to appropriate his territory. I care nothing for lands or the management of slaves; I find true satisfaction only in battle. For the right price, I am willing to undertake any task, and this is only a foretaste of what I am truly capable of. I was not commissioned to take on Ioannina; I merely needed to send a clear message to Apophys.
Now the camera captured the city engulfed in flames.
"My House has made peace with the House of Apophis. His attack on me casts doubt on that word, but I have no right to question the word of my father, Ra. That is why I attacked Apophis's vassal, demonstrating to him the true nature of the battle. The head of Janin, which will be presented in Ra's capital, serves only as a testament to the talents of my House's representatives and a reminder that they should not be disturbed unless absolutely necessary."
At this point the broadcast was interrupted.