Apeworld: Civil War III Chapter Twenty-Five

Caesar, Cornelius, Zaius and Virgil, as well as Zeera and Urko, now found themselves in the main council chamber. It was the only part of the building that hadn't been attacked in any way since the arrival of the new invasion force. With the apes kneeling before him, Thrawn began to pace up and down in front of them, blaster raised towards them, so they wouldn't try anything.

"You should consider yourselves lucky that I don't kill you now!" said Thrawn.

"Perhaps it is you, Admiral, who considers himself lucky," said Caesar. "From what I can see, from what I understand, you are no longer in control here. Your forces are diminishing rapidly. These new invaders are even more advanced than you are."

"What are you saying?"

"That you can no longer consider us your prisoners," Caesar continued. "To use a human phrasing, we are all in the same boat. You enslaved our world; your forces themselves become enslaved."

"Are you mad?" asked Zaius. "He's the one with the weapon! He could kill us!"

"He won't," said Caesar. "Because he knows I'm right."

Thrawn looked directly into Caesar's eyes, and moments later, he lowered his blaster.

"You are wise," he said. "Get to your feet!"

Slowly, the apes began to rise.

"I suggest we leave this building," said Caesar.

As Caesar led the others away, Thrawn stopped him with the barrel of the blaster, using it to block his path.

"Just remember one thing, monkey! I'm in charge here!"

Caesar bowed his head.

"As you wish, Admiral. As you wish."

 

In the countryside, five miles away from Ape City, the last of the landing parties arrived. As soon as they did, Magus looked around, and Drathro scanned the area with his tricorder. Soon, Magus was approached by Bel Iblis.

"I've picked up several energy readings two miles from here," he said, showing Magus his tricorder readings.

"Borg energy signatures," Magus said. "As well as Imperial ones."

"I've also picked up what appears to be a makeshift structure from that area," Drathro added. "Possibly some sort of makeshift prison camp."

"Then that will be our first destination," said Magus. "On foot."

"Couldn't you just use your powers to whisk us there?" asked Bel Iblis.

"Not a good idea," Magus replied. "The Borg may be able to pick up mystical energy signatures. We'll be able to make good time on foot."

Magus strode off first, closely followed by Drathro. Seconds later, Bel Iblis signaled for his troops to follow. It was barely forty minutes later when they arrived at the camp. The smell of charred flesh filled the air, and some of the troops had never seen death and destruction on this scale before. The Imperials, and to a far lesser extent, the apes, put up as much fight as they could, but they were too much for the Borg. Those that were not assimilated were killed where they stood. As Magus stood surveying his surroundings, Bel Iblis approached him.

"We can't find one survivor," he said. "Everyone's either dead or has been taken prisoner."

"The Borg don't take prisoners, General. They assimilate," said Magus.

Not far away, Magus could see that the emotion of the situation was beginning to get to Galen. Slowly, Magus walked over to him, placing his hand on his shoulder.

"There was nothing you could have done, my friend. We are dealing with a far superior force here."

"But my people! All dead!"

"I know, and this may sound heartless at the moment, but the time for grieving is not now. We must continue with our task."

Galen knew Magus was right and walked beside him as he left the camp.

 

Thrawn brought up the rear of the group as they moved through the backstreets of Ape City. Caesar had suggested this route, hoping that the Borg would stick to the main streets. However, Thrawn now began to question the wisdom of carrying the still unconscious Urko, who was now being carried by Cornelius.

"It's survival of the fittest," Thrawn said. "Discard him! He is just holding us back!"

Caesar stopped abruptly and stared at Thrawn.

"Even though many of us have disagreed with Urko's point of view sometimes, he is still one of us, an ape. It was your people who did this to him, and while he still breathes, he remains with us!"

Thrawn knew he was losing the argument and that they would never discard Urko. The talk finished, Caesar turned around and found himself face to face with a single Borg drone.

"Get down!" Thrawn screamed.

As the apes hit the deck, Thrawn fired his blaster directly at the Borg drone, but it had no effect. The Borg had already become accustomed to the frequency setting of the Imperial blasters. Then Thrawn made the mistake of firing his blaster again, not learning from his mistake. He fired again and again as the drone slowly approached him, disregarding the apes.

Caesar watched the proceedings. Reaching into his tunic, he took out the device that had enabled him and his comrades to escape from their prison, and as the Borg got closer and closer to Thrawn, arm extended with every intention of assimilating the Grand Admiral, Caesar leapt to his feet and dived towards the drone. Activating the device, he tossed it at the Borg. The drone was covered in an energy field and reeled around for a few moments before he slumped to the ground, where he continued to convulse. As Caesar retrieved his device, Thrawn stood over the fallen drone.

"Is he dead?" he asked.

"No," Caesar replied. "Just removed from the collective for a short time. Hopefully they won't be alerted to our presence here."

Thrawn studied the device before Caesar put it back into his tunic.

"What was that you used? I didn't know your people were capable of making such a device. It appears to be superior to some Imperial technology."

"I will explain all in due time," said Caesar. "For now I suggest we leave the city as soon as possible."

Ignoring the fallen Borg, Caesar continued on his way, closely followed by Thrawn and the others.

 

One mile out, and Bel Iblis could see the smoldering outskirts of what was once Ape City. As he scanned the area, he was joined by Galen.

"My home was once there," he said.

Bel Iblis began to scan the area with his tricorder. Moments later, he was joined by Magus.

"I'm picking up countless Borg drones," Bel Iblis said. "A few ape life-signs, and hardly any Imperial readings."

Bel Iblis continued to scan the area but came to an abrupt stop.

"What is it?" Magus asked.

"It can't be!" said Bel Iblis. "I'm picking up a temporal energy signature. I know for a fact that Imperial weaponry doesn't use such energy, and I'm sure the Borg don't!"

Magus took the tricorder and studied the readings. Bel Iblis saw a slight smile appear on the wizard's face.

"What is it?" he asked.

"My help has arrived!"

"What do you mean?"

"All in good time, General! All in good time!"