Chapter 1: The Long Night

Excerpt from Kai�s journal: Date- 31st of Desert�s Wish, 5A34W1



    After a full year in Flingeis already, we are no closer to putting down the rebellion than when we got here. Most of my troops are dead or missing, and i cannot radio out to get more. I cannot stand that, but there is no helping it.
    If only I hadn�t rushed into this planet we might have won instantly. Only now, after I lost my first major battle do i fully understand why the Coalition sent their only full-fledged sorcerer out to battle this threat.
For some reason science will not work on Flingeis now. We assume that it is because of the God�s Finger, but have no way of proving it. But the terrible part is that Central Command will not even know that we are losing the war.
    So we are here on Flingeis, trapped, and without any hope of rescue. maybe I can make the best of a bad situation and attempt to win this war anyways.

    I had my fortune read today. I think the cards were of a rare stock. Actual Earthian Tarot Cards, The most sought after of all the actual fortune telling devices left in the universe.
Anyways, my reading was a reversed fool, the moon, and a reversed tower. the dealer looked pretty shocked when those three cards showed up in the same reading, but I didn�t put much faith in the abilities of the cards. My translated fortune was:

         Past: Folly, Making decisions without thinking. As in my damned landing on this planet to begin with.
         Present: Deceptions. According to the old woman, �All is not as it seems, and much is not understood. If you refuse to look at the problems that do not involve you directly, you will be led into a web of deceit.
         Future: False Accusations, imprisonment. The old lady was so puzzled by the meaning, she drew three more clarifying cards for the reversed tower: The Magician, the reversed lovers, and the reversed wheel of fortune. These put together, she said, equal betrayal from someone that i have come to love, and Many downfalls and losses. She pulled from a hat(Out of nowhere) that I would kill my best advisors and friends as a sacrifice for the God�s Finger. I told her she was full of bullshit.

    Oh well, I have to go. Someone knocks.


    Kai put down the pen and opened up the door. A disheveled and dirty second-in-command waited for her outside of the room. �Well, what do you want?� Kai had little patience for her officers.
    �Well ma�am, I need to report of a loss for our side. Again.�
    Kai let out a long sigh. She had been the losing general for about a year now. Science on this world did not work, so her forces could not be healed easily. As a result, three fourths of her entire army was now dead.
    �How many died this time?�
    �Only ten. The rest fled in fear.�
    �Great. I suppose that they didn�t come back afterwards.�
    �Actually, half of them came back.� Kai�s second in command sighed. �Our numbers are now reduced to only half of a troop. A measly 750 people.�
    �How are we going to win the war now? With the rebels and the accursed artifact, we are beaten at every turn. If only we could get that damned artifact- Wait a minute. We can get that artifact. Send an assassin into their temple-�
    �That won�t work.�
    �Why?�
    �Because all of our potential assassins were already killed.�
    �Fuck! There has to be a way.�
    �There just might be, if you can smooth out some political relationships.�
    �What if we got the rebels to form an alliance with some more people from our side?�
    �If Home Base decides to send in reinforcements.�
    �Until then we wait. Dismissed.� The second in command left the room, and Kai shut the door.
    She walked back to her bed and lied down. The soft cushion she had put in her bed cushioned her fall. She wished she could converse with her ship�s consciousness, and maybe even play a game of Calamet.
    Her mind got caught up in the rules of Calamet and she even began to play a game in her mind, moving the game pieces over the six boards. So caught up in her daydreams that she didn�t even notice when the door crept open, then shut again. She went to sleep not even knowing what happened.


_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_

    Elsewhere on Flingeis, the rebels were holding a private meeting. In this meeting was Marc Honit, a leatherworker turned ace general. Also present were his two best friends Ranhi and Ghanol, who were now set firmly against him in all of the political matters.
    �We should fight to gain our freedom!� Marc shouted at his friends. �If we don�t then why did the gods send us the God�s Finger? Do you not remember the prophecies?�
    �The prophecies have already been fulfilled Marc. If you wish to continue the fight, then you fight only to enslave the people who gave us freedom. Why do you fight!?�
    �I fight because we are not yet truly freed. We cannot be freed until we are the masters, and they are the servants. While they still have a government, they are a threat. It doesn�t matter what you or anyone else thinks!� Marc stormed out of the room and slammed the door behind him.
    �Without him, I fear we are doomed.�
    �Yes, but maybe if we ally with the invaders��
    �It is possible. I will send out a messenger immediately.�
    �Then our plan of action is decided.�
    �Yes.�
    �Then this meeting is adjourned. The gods may favor you.�
    �And you.�