It has been a generation since the Treasure Fleet of the Dragon Throne first reached the red planet, and in the years since colonists have slowly been transforming Fire Star into a living world. Just as humanity began to settle into its new home among the stars, though, a shadow fell across the face of the red planet, when the forces of the Mexica Dominion arrived. The blood-worshipping Mexica had been on Fire Star shortly before the arrival of the Treasure Fleet, but their small numbers were overrun when the forces of the Dragon Throne arrived. Now, the Mexica Dominion seeks to redress the balance, and pay for their own lost blood with that of the Chinese colonists.
Three Unbroken is the story of the war between the Chinese and the Aztecs on the red planet, Fire Star. The grand sweep of the war is presented through the eyes of three members of the Dragon Throne’s armed services - Bannerman Niohuru Tie, an elite member of the special forces; Guardsman Micah Carter, an infantryman of the Green Standard Army; and Pilot Arati Amonkar, an officer of the Interplanetary Fleet Air Corps - who time and again find themselves locked in a life-and-death struggle with the Jaguar Knights and Eagle Knights of the Mexica Dominion, with the fate of a new world held in the balance.
Hexagram 1
Pure Yang
Below Heaven Above Heaven
The action of Heaven is strong and dynamic. In the same manner, the noble man never ceases to strengthen himself.
Pure Yang
Below Heaven Above Heaven
The action of Heaven is strong and dynamic. In the same manner, the noble man never ceases to strengthen himself.
“Soldiers, airmen, and sailors of the Middle Kingdom, your emperor greets you.”
The skies over Fire Star were crowded, new constellations being formed and reformed by the running lights of nearly five thousand vacuum-craft of various sizes and types. From the flagship of the Interplanetary Fleet were broadcast the words of the emperor himself, recorded months before in secret at the heart of the Forbidden City. Carried here to the red planet, the valedictory address was played back over the airwaves, broadcast in coded transmissions to the ships in orbit, and to those waiting on the red sands below.
“You are about to embark upon the great crusade, toward which we have striven these long years. The eyes of two worlds are upon you. The hopes and prayers of virtuous people everywhere march at your sides. In the days and months to come, you will bring about the destruction of the Mexic war machine, the elimination of their blood-hungry tyranny over the colonies of Fire Star, and security for ourselves here on Earth.”
In hidden airfields on the red planet’s surface, the twelve thousand atmospheric craft of the Interplanetary Fleet Air Corps were fueled and ready—heavy and light bombers, rotary-winged fighters, and troop transports.
“Your task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is well trained, well equipped, and battle hardened. He will fight savagely, for the glory of his brutal gods.”
The Bordered Yellow and Plain White Banners had already been in theater for some time, each with troop strength of nearly two hundred thousand men. They had been joined by the Plain Yellow and Bordered Blue Banners, bringing the total number of bannermen on Fire Star to three-quarters of a million. Factoring in the First and Third Armies of the Green Standard, together representing one and a half million men, there was a total of well over two million troops altogether.
“But this is the year Water-Monkey! Much has happened since those dark hours of Metal-Monkey, twelve years ago, when the Mexic Dominion unleashed their cruel fury upon our subjects on Fire Star. The militaries of the Dragon Throne have inflicted upon the Mexica great defeats, in open battle, man-to-man. Our air offensive has seriously reduced their strength in the air and their capacity to wage war on the ground. Our resources have given us an overwhelming superiority in weapons and munitions of war, and placed at our disposal great reserves of trained fighting men. The tide has turned! The noble and virtuous men of the world are marching together to victory!”
From their secure facilities deep within Zhurong, the fortified moonbase of the Middle Kingdom forces, the tacticians and strategists of the Dragon Throne consulted the plans one final time, insuring that all of the elements were in place.
“Your emperor has full confidence in your courage and devotion to duty and skill in battle. We will accept nothing less than full victory!”
As thousands upon thousands of chronometers chimed the appointed hour, the forces were given the final order to attack. “Good fortune! And may heaven smile upon this great and noble undertaking.”
Operation Great Holdings had begun.
NEXT CHAPTER: Hexagram 2 Pure Yin
Below Earth Above Earth
Here is the basic disposition of Earth. In the same manner, the noble man with his generous virtue carries everything.
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Chapter 1 of Three Unbroken by Chris Roberson. Copyright © 2007 Monkeybrain, Inc. For more action from the Celestial Empire don't miss The Dragon's Nine Sons.
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