Battle Beyond Earth: Insurrection by Nick S. Thomas

infrastructures. For kilometres in every direction there was only thick jungle like foliage and craggy rock outcrops. The foliage was of a deep red and darker green. It seemed to give a tint to the world like a deep blood red sunset back on Earth. A single small fighter zipped past them, and another soon came alongside to escort them down to the surface. A roar sounded from the other side of the craft, and a large winged beast flew into view.
    A Barbarlar rode the monster with its ten-metre wingspan. Its dark yellow and brown striped scales looked like they could stave off the most robust of weapons. Its stubby and strong snout had gnarly and vicious looking teeth. Steel chains were lashed around its mouth and throat as a means of control, giving the impression it would rather eat you than have you ride it, and yet they did.
    "They are called Ejdars," stated Jafar, "According to legend, they were common across all our people at one time, thousands of years ago."
    "This really is our homeland? This is where we came from?" Gur asked.
    Jafar shrugged. "I really don't know anymore, but they believe it, and that is all that matters right now."
    "What can these primitive creatures possibly contribute to our fight?"
    Jafar was amused that Gur didn't see it.
    "This planet is occupied by millions of the toughest warriors of any species in the known galaxy. That is a resource we could use, don't you think?"
    Gur didn't seem entirely convinced, but he didn't reply. The rider of the Ejdar pointed for them to reduce altitude and follow him. They were led through a vast rocky canyon, beneath an overpass, and into a corridor that had been cut through a dense forest of trees. It looked so barbed and sharp that they would tear flesh from the bone with any contact with your skin.
    "They choose to live here?"
    Jafar was amazed to hear Gur speak so many words, but he could understand why. Many of the Krys led a harsh existence on worlds that were far from easy to live on, but they seemed nothing compared to the environment they had now entered. An Ejdar appeared through an opening in the woods as though intending to lash out at their craft, but the Ejdar rider ahead drew out a spear and launched it at the creature as if it were a typical sight. The spear hit the Ejdar in the chest and penetrated half a metre. The Ejdar staggered back a little until a tree stopped it.
    Their craft passed the beast, but Gur looked through the aft porthole. It gripped the spear in its jaws and pulled it from its body, continuing on as if nothing had occurred.
    "What do you think it takes to make one of those your own?"
    "Guess you just have to demonstrate who’s in charge and show no fear," replied Jafar, as he looked at the formidable beast flying ahead of them. "You can see the appeal, can't you?" he whispered, "Power, freedom. They have far more than you might first realise."
    "You talk like this is some sort of paradise."
    "To some, Boz, I believe it is."
    The path opened out into a vast circular area. It was surrounded by a ten metre high stonewall that had clearly been built with hard graft. It looked more like an arena than anything else. The rider signalled for them to follow him down, and Boz obliged. They were soon on the ground, and the door opened for them to acquire their first smell of Erzurum air. Jafar knew what was coming, but he was still not prepared for its acrid nature. There was an acidic taste that burnt the nostrils and scorched the eyes.
    Boz and Gur went to activate their helmets contained within their suits, as Jafar's was.
    "No," he stated firmly, "They already think we are soft and weak. Do not give them any further reason to believe so."
    He stepped out onto the ramp and down to the large arena. The ground was hard, almost like rock. He couldn't believe anything could actually grow or live there, and yet that explained the harshness of everything they had seen. He knew every living thing in that planet had evolved through such