12 Miles Below

“Has it always been this busy?” I asked, watching through the glass cockpit as the clan shelter approached in the distance.

Airspeeders were looming around like black mountains on the horizon, slowly moving. Some shot off, engines roaring back to full power. Others were returning back home, waiting their turn for a hangar to be prepared and ready to accept them.

The slaver camp had been mostly uneventful after we’d eliminated the resistance. The spy team had easily followed instructions and stepped out into the safe zone outside, waiting for Teed to zip by and pick them up while the rest of us were breaking everything inside the compound.

We remained to help some of the victims restore some order and keep everything from devolving into infighting, but we also couldn’t stay there forever. For that many people all recently freed and looking to return home, it would take days to organize where all the airspeeders would be going, and who would be going where. Days we didn’t have.

Icestride handled the politics of it, selecting people he recognized as competent and giving them endorsements. From there, it was made clear they had to handle the rest on their own and we’d be gone. Othersiders generally didn’t want to go anywhere near clans, given that clan life was too strict and came with too many expectations.

And clanners we found who had been caught by slavers wanted to return to their home clan, not join a new one. We left within a few hours of ending the operation. Wrath was happily munching away at both data recovered and new food items she’d found in their kitchens. The armors the slavers had gotten their hands on was send up there by traders, specifically the new Chosen.

Not sure of those Chosen were the same ones that had been sent into our clan earlier, or another set from somewhere else. Wrath confirmed it wasn’t any of her people, they wouldn’t have traded with Othersiders. And if they’d gotten their hands on this much armor, they wouldn’t be sending it off either.

Something was off about all this, but with only one side of the story and data, we couldn’t make any conclusions. Best I could figure, was that this was To’Aacar’s original plan continuing forward on the rails he’d set up ahead of time. Even if the head is chopped off, the body still hasn’t died off yet.

Given that the raider base was a staging ground to launch attacks at the clan, the distance from here to home was crossed in under a day. Hardly had to sleep through any of it either.

“Busy time of the season, right before the ball.” Teed said, chuckling. “Lord Atius isn’t sitting around waiting for the guests to arrive. If they want to dance aggressively, he’s showing them we got the better footwork. They’re probably very curious about what we’ve been up to.”

“That or Shadowsong wants to see his daughter as fast as possible.” I said.

“That’s probably the bigger weight.” Teed nodded. “Small favors the First Blade can push for.”

Far off to the side, a smaller group of frigates were camped out, red paint streaks with black flags of carrying skull and bones. Pirates. Likely the ones I’d met personally a while ago. “Huh, they actually showed up.” I said, zooming in on them. “They’ve got guts or they’re desperate.”

Crates and evo-tents were setup around the parked airspeeders. The kind of longer term setup instead of short day-long stays. They were far off from the clan, snuggled up next to the foot of the mountainside

“They’re missing three armors, and they want those back.”

“Not allowed to step into the clan doors I take it?” I asked. “They look about as smushed off to the side as possible.”

“Of course they’d be.” Teed said. “Religious missionaries from the Underground are one thing. Pirates? Easy to tell them they can stay outside in the cold if they know what’s good for them. Only ones allowed in the clan are their officers, and only when command wants to talk to them.”

“Do we got to worry about them?”

“Naw, they’re like wild animals - far more afraid of you than you are of them. Been freezing their butts in the same place for the past week now and haven’t made a peep. Probably terrified by now watching how we’re racking win after win.”

“Isn’t that a good thing for them? War might be over before they even need to stick their necks out. If I were a random pirate mook, I’d be pretty happy with that.”

Teed chuckled again, “You’d have a point, but they’re pirates and they know they’re pirates. The day they do get work passed over to them, it’ll be to act as a bullet sponge. Or other noble jobs of the like. Missile bait, railgun skirt flapper, occult blade pincushion. You name it. They’re dreading it.”

“Why hasn’t their crew just gone ‘scrap it’, mutinied and gone back home?” I knew the Shadowsongs were currently using that fleet admiral’s private armaments. But what was keeping them in line now?

“Won’t be home to them anymore if they come back without their armor. Think about it from their boots, kid. Their job is to prey on slavers, raiders, othersider trade barons and their ilk, and occasionally exposed clans. Can’t do that job well if they don’t have relic armor. So either they grit their teeth and get this done, or they hang up their hat. Plus they’re sitting next to a clan they thought was hard pressed, and now we’re coming back each day with more looted armor than they’d seen. You’d really want to turn your back to something like that? Clan hospitality rules are keeping us from field testing out our weapon calibrations and that’s all that’s standing between us being civil. They wouldn’t want to do anything to change that up.”

The radio clicked up, pilot jargon flying around. Teed turned his attention and barked off reply confirmations, along with another string of jargon. Pilot speak for ‘nice weather, right?’

A moment later, the radio clicked off.

“Good news,” Teed said, punching the throttle up and maneuvering the airspeeder forward, slightly tilted to circle around the colony. “We get to skip the line. Next hangar that opens is ours.”

The airspeeder came to a slow sliding stop across the churned up snow under us, nose tip pointing straight at one of the massive clan gates. It rumbled open a moment later, wide hexagon teeth slowly pried apart in a deep yawn.

And behind those walls, there were colors and people everywhere. “Oh, forgot we had so many different Houses in our crew.” I said, watching the different colors of guards all trying to act more imposing than their counterparts. Light Ice blue and gray for House Icestride, purple and silver for Shadowsongs. Color was the symbol of power, and everyone wanted theirs to pop up. Stormsweepers had their gold, teal and dark blue. Winterscars in the back had their blood red and black, and a whole host of other Houses had shown up to welcome their knights back. But of all the Houses gathered here today, Shadowsong was the only one that had brought a knight with them. I could tell exactly who that was, arms crossed, glaring at the airspeeder slowly being taxied into the hangar.

Most here would be getting sorrowful news and the plate seed of their fallen knight. It was a bittersweet moment. They were always prepared to receive news like that, all knights eventually either died in combat or retired from age, which few ever did. There would be songs and burials to attend to very soon, some of which I might even be invited to.

House Arcbound, far off to the side in their green and black colors, would probably get an interesting bit of news. The armor seed of their original knight, and the walking possessed armor of that same knight. Their house leaders were going to have a bit of trouble fitting in something like that within the framework of traditions.

Teed leaned back in his seat, arms stretched behind his neck. “Home sweet home. Popular day from the looks of things too.”

Airlock doors opened up behind me, and Icestride Prime walked through. “ If I didn’t know better, I would suspect the cockpit of being your second home.” He said, helmet taken off, old wrinkles framing his eyes.

“Half right there.” I said. “I take it there’s something you need me for?”

He nodded. “You and your sister will need to present the Deathless. House Winterscar was the one who convinced these two to make their way to the surface, it’s only natural that you introduce them officially to the clan. Hop hop, time to be social.”

The welcoming party at the hangar bay were the usual suspects of Reachers running around making sure nothing was on fire or what was supposed to be on fire wasn't getting some fresh air blown in. And Logi sitting in the back, calculating cost and numbers while getting a steady stream of reports on how much was used. They actually had chairs and desks setup to work from.

On returns like these, there’d be one or two Retainer houses who’d bring guards in to welcome back more important members of the house, like knights. That didn’t happen too often, small expeditions were sent off all the time to pick clean new sites or gather up frostbloom and meltwater.

Normally, when I’d come back from expeditions, there might be a few plucky friends I’d known waiting to hear what kind of stupidity I got up to this time. But never anyone from my House would be there to greet me in person.

For the past decade since we’d moved from the old clan and settled into the new area, it had been Kidra, Father and I being the only ones bringing in funding - given that the rest of the Winterscars had lost their lives holding the line against slavers.

And of us three, only Kidra actively tried to keep the place from collapsing down into ashes. I wanted to leave, and Father wanted nothing to do with the House itself.

He refused to accept anyone new into the family name back then. He’d put his earnings into the coffer and leave Kidra to manage it, but that’s as far as he was willing to go for House Winterscar.

She managed to get a small number of servants with all our combined funds, and that was about all she could do.

So it was an interesting change of pace to have a full guard detail in Winterscar red waiting for us on the other side of the ramp.

Geared up in environmental suits, rifles at the ready. All that just to take it off once we stepped off the airspeeder and walked through the airlock doors back into temperature controlled sections.

Meant that we had to follow through with traditions too. The four Winterscar knights walked out first, escorting Kidra and I down the ramp. They took formation around, greeted the House guard with a blade tap to their chest plates, then turned as one to the two of us.

The house guard followed their own ritual and gave us a deep bow.

Off to the side, I could see Ankah standing tall before her Father, with her two minions in tow. No words said, but likely they were speaking through private comms. His helmet shifted slightly, turning my direction. Then gave a very slight nod.

“Did.... Did the Shadowsong prime just acknowledge us?” Kidra asked, sounding caught surprised for the first time in a long while. She looked behind her, to see if he’d given the signal to anyone else. When she found no-one that could fit the story, she had to conclude it was for us he’d given the nod. “That seems to be as close to a thank-you as I’ve ever seen from a Shadowsong. And from their house prime of all people. I had thought the man hated us with a passion?”

“Things changed up a bit while you were away.” I said. “Could almost consider us friends now. Schemers is more appropriate though.”

“One thing at a time.” Kidra stopped, and turned to look directly at me. “How are you friends with Ikusari Shadowsong? That man has meddled in every single step I took to restore the House up. And you - of all people - managed to patch that rift up somehow?”

“Yep.”

She paused for a moment. “How you accomplished this, I’m almost afraid to ask.”

“Well, if I start telling the story here, I’m afraid I’ll be a tad dramatic.”

“Of course you would be. You do not have any other setting than dramatic.” She waved me off, watching as the taskmaster was discussing terms with Icestride further off. “We’ll talk later, once we’re back in the compound.”

She turned and gave a hand sign to the guard. We weren’t going through the airlock yet, we had to report back to the taskmaster.

We got there just at the right time.

“Excuse me.” The man said, taking a moment to pat the sides of his head. “I may have misheard the number. How many relic armors were retrieved?”

“Forty nine armors were retrieved from the secondary mission. Original mission, we have lost the clan lord’s armor, and Windrunner’s armor. One additional armor gained and given to Arcbound.”

“... I see.” The taskmaster said, jotting it down on his papers. Then he stopped, and let his pencil rest. “Master Icestride. I’m afraid this has gone beyond my current station. For a recovery of this size, I will need to inform the Chenobi.”

“As you will, taskmaster.” Icestride said. “However, there is more to declare.”

I couldn’t see what his face looked like given he wore an evosuit with goggles, but the stiff posture gave me a few hints. “More to declare?” He asked, voice tiny.

“Aye. In addition to the spy team we’ve recovered, two additional passengers have been brought along with us from the Underground. These guests have been given guestrights and hospitality under the authority of the Winterscar prime.”

The taskmaster nodded, likely expecting royalty or delegates. This was back into his home territory, things he was used to working with and not clan-sized numbers of relic armors. He turned to Kidra, hand ready to write down the paperwork needed. “Lady Winterscar, to which does clan Altosk offer welcome?”

“Two Deathless.” She said.

The man looked up at Kidra. Then looked at me. Then looked at Icestride. As any of us were going to step in and tell him we were all having a giggle at any moment now.

We all looked back at him, dead serious.

Icestride reached a hand out and patted the man’s shoulders. “I do believe what you mentioned earlier is accurate. The Chenobi are likely more prepared to handle such events.”

He stayed frozen for a moment, then nodded, giving a short bow. “I will fetch them at once, master knights.”

“That went well.” I said. “I thought Logi were supposed to be unflappable?”

“There is a limit to everything, dear brother.” Kidra said.

“Well, you do have some part of the blame, Lady Winterscar. You could have made the statement a tad less dramatic.” Icestride said, mirth in his old voice.

“We Winterscars seem to be dramatic by nature, as I’ve learned time and time again.” Kidra said, shooting me a glance.

Icestride chuckled, “In this case, I would have done exactly the same. Not very often I’ve tossed around such heavy returns from an expedition. Daresay the taskmaster will have an entertaining story for the canteen now.”

I gave a look back at the airspeeder while Icestride and Kidra traded words. In the cockpit, I could see through the windows as Father took a step into the light and watched over us. Teed looked more like he was trying to hide from the man, sinking deep into his chair. He was sitting around in the same area as a brooding six foot something armored demi-god who’d he’d been told wouldn’t be going into the cockpit.

That was before the doors to the hangar sealed up. I’d listen to Abraxas to the letter on this. Hiding inside the clan’s walls was safe enough. Tsuya’s kill team wasn’t omnipresent, and whoever they were, they weren’t looking through walls.

Chenobi were quick to the scene, likely having already been called for by nature of this being the airspeeder the clan lord and his elites had departed on.

Taskmaster must have informed them already of our claims, since they showed no surprise when we repeated what we’d recovered. Reachers who were disembarking sealed crates were doing so with a lot more reverence now, compared to earlier when they thought they were tossing around ammunition or food supplies.

Word spreads faster than cold air in thin halls.

“I have registered your two charges, Lady Winterscar.” The Chenobi said, giving a short bow. “They are free to enter the clan.”

“A rather fast process. No oaths from me on their character needed?” Kidra asked. We’d skipped a few dozen steps so far, with the Chenobi asking their names and then skipping every other ceremonial section.

“With respect, these are Deathless. To even ask would be an insult.” He said.

Kidra nodded, then dialed up the comms channel to speak directly to Wrath and Father. With the pair declared officially, they were permitted to take a step off the airspeeder into clan territory.

This was where murmurs and discussion came to a complete stop. Wrath stepped down, and if her wings didn’t draw attention, everything else about her did. At least we could convince her to not have her halo around. Anyone who knew Feathers would recognize those.

Father walked down a few steps behind her, eternally grimacing even in Avalis’s body.

They both looked human. And neither had helmets equipped, despite the hangar having just started the heat cycle.

There was only one person known who could walk in temperatures like this with no danger. And everyone in the hangar knew it. Rumors had already been buzzing around by now, but this was proof in the flesh.

A beat passed before a few dozen men and women all took a kneeling bow before the pair. Another beat passed and the rest of the room followed suit.

Shadowsong stood back up first, walking over to greet Wrath first. Ankah followed behind.

From the cockpit I could see Teed glued to the window looking straight down at the events. He wasn’t the only one, a few other faces were crowed around the windows. Gunners, copilots and the rest of the airspeeder crew who hadn’t been able to get a good view from the ramp had scrambled over to invade the cockpit instead.

Meanwhile Wrath’s eyes were darting around the hangar, constantly bouncing around and internalizing details. When it came to the surface, her knowledge only came from information recorded by Undersiders, generally pilgrims. Everything was new to her here.

The crew had come to know Wrath and Father in more detail within the ship’s hold. We had almost a week of travel to play card games and unwind before we we hit the slave camp like a railgun shell. But watching other people meet Deathless for the first time was still a good show.

“Clan Altosk greets the Deathless.” Shadowsong said, giving a traditional salute. “I am Ikusari Shadowsong, First Blade of the clan lord and current commander of the clan’s defense forces. Lord Atius has been alerted to your arrival and will greet you in person in a moment.”

Wrath turned her attention to Shadowsong. “Shadowsong? You must be Ankah’s family then. I consider her a good friend.”

Shadowsong took a look back at Ankah, who nodded.

“I am relieved to hear that.” He said quietly. “I hope our House can extend the same friendship forward.”

“I would appreciate that.” Wrath said, smiling. Then paused. “Oh, Greetings. I am Hecate. A Deathless from the lower strata. I have come here to help with the war.”

“Clan Altosk graciously accepts the help of a Deathless.” He said, then slightly turned his attention to Father next. The man had caught up to Wrath and stood next to her now, crossed arms across his chest and a deeper scowl. “Ikusari.” Was the only thing he said.

Shadowsong went still. “Impossible.” He whispered. “You died.”

“Returning to life is something we Deathless are known for.” Father said without a pause, waving a hand.

“... Indeed, you do.” His helmet slowly turned to me, as if to ask if I had something to do with all this scrapshit.

I shot him a cheeky thumbs up.

Next chapter - Strange culture (T)