BtH24

==Chapter 24 - By the Horns==
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Evacuation Tunnel Alpha
Hilton Head Island, North America
Terra
October 28th, 3025
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Myndo cursed as her guards pressed her back against the wall; the Acolyte who led them into the passageway staggered as his body absorbed the hail-storm of bullets emerging from the side corridor that connected to the evacuation tunnel.
“DAMN HIM,” she snarled. Who would have thought that Nicholas Cassnew would have dared such an action? That he would have the audacity to attempt to overthrow the First Circuit itself! “When are our reinforcements arriving?” she asked her security chief.
The Adept shook his head. “Precentor Dieron,” he said slowly, “the ComGuard and Militia has declared itself neutral in this conflict—they refuse to support either side; we have no reinforcements coming.”
“Options?” she asked. Of all of the members of the First Circuit—the ones that mattered, the ones with a vote and a power base—she was the sole survivor. If—IF—she could get out of this trap which Nicholas had transformed Hilton Head into, then she was certain that ComStar would rally to her cause. But it all depended on getting free of Hilton Head Island and the massive facility built beneath the surface of the land and sea.
“ROM is coming for us, Precentor—we have no way out,” the security man paused. “It is time to consider a negotiated end to this be-. . .,”
“NEGOTIATE? Nicholas is the one that has spilt blood here on Holy Ground, Adept! HE is the one who has abandoned all that Blake commanded of us—there can be no negotiation! Do we still have communications with the outside world?”
“No, Precentor.” Comms had been among the first thing that Nicholas had severed with powerful jamming devices blocking almost all signals. Only the land-lines and optical cables had not been affected—but now, even those had been cut.
“Toyama foretold that this day would come,” Myndo snarled. “When those who deny the Word of Blake attempt to seize the power of Terra and plunge humanity back into chaos and confusion—only through Blake can we know Peace.” She sighed. “Can we get to the Device of Last Resort?”
Her security chief winced as his men exchanged fire with the ROM agents loyal to Nicholas—and then he nodded. “Perhaps, Precentor. If he has not anticipated us attempting to trigger the device.”
“Blake will grant us a way, Adept—lead us there; leave half of your men here to cover our passage. Their deaths will give us time to initiate the self-destruct of this compound.”
“You would kill every member of the Order here on this island, Precentor?” asked the shocked voice of Myndo’s aide-de-camp. “Destroy this facility completely and leave ComStar leaderless and adrift?”
“Precentor ROM has already done that!” Myndo barked. “If they follow Nicholas Cassnew and fail to abide by the Word of Blake, then those who fight us are heretics—apostates! A new First Circuit will arise from the ashes, one which will lead us into a Golden Age.” Myndo smiled. “Besides, Sharilar,” she said. “There is an evacuation pod accessed in the device’s chamber—we shall make our escape and rebuild the First Circuit—as Toyama and Blake intended.”
Myndo paused. “And then we will deal with the Taurians once and for all time.” She smiled. “They were the cause of the downfall of the League and they seek to do the same to ComStar—we will implement a final solution to the Taurian problem. Never again will they threaten humanity!”
Sharilar Mori just shook her head in disbelief at first, and then as the gunfire in the corridor increased, she drew a pistol from the folds of her robes. “As the Primus orders,” she whispered.
Myndo Waterly smiled broadly. “Yes. You see the Truth, Sharilar. I am the true Primus of Com . . . PUT DOWN THAT PIS- . . . !” she began to yell, her eyes growing wide as her aide raised the barrel aligned with the chest of Precentor Dieron—the guards moved fast, but not fast enough. None had expected such a betrayal here, among the inner circle of Myndo’s chosen—and that gave Sharilar time enough to steady the weapon and squeeze the trigger.
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