- 7/8/2025
#scifistories1977 #hfy #scifi
We're thrilled to introduce "The Barbarian War" by author u/Hewholooksskyward to our channel, the prequal to 'Barbarians'. We've collaborated to adapt his captivating stories for our channel, and we eagerly anticipate sharing them with you.
…HFY Stories_ The Barbarian War - Book 2 - Chapters 7, 8 _ 9 _ Peace Failed. War Answers
We're thrilled to introduce "The Barbarian War" by author u/Hewholooksskyward to our channel, the prequal to 'Barbarians'. We've collaborated to adapt his captivating stories for our channel, and we eagerly anticipate sharing them with you.
…HFY Stories_ The Barbarian War - Book 2 - Chapters 7, 8 _ 9 _ Peace Failed. War Answers
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FunTranscript
00:00The Barbarian War, Chapters 7, 8, and 9, Embers of the Coming Storm
00:05Chapter 7
00:08And we have no idea who sent the message?
00:11Laswarth asked the other two beings sitting across from her.
00:15None, Sigma-121-Sub-Delta replied.
00:19The message came by courier on an encrypted data chip.
00:22I queried the corporation who employed the messenger thoroughly,
00:25and what little information they did have was obviously falsified.
00:30Is it possible this is some sort of trap laid by the Prime Minister
00:33in an attempt to further curtail our influence, perhaps even betray us?
00:39Komzoisha suggested, voicing the thought in the forefront of all three former ministers' minds.
00:45The years following the First Konhim War had been bitter ones
00:49for the erstwhile representatives of the Triumvirate.
00:52Prime Minister Singh had never forgiven them for their role in the millennia-long deception
00:56that had drug the humans into the war,
00:59nor had she forgotten the years of humiliation mankind had suffered
01:03at the hands of the three individuals seated around the table.
01:06When the Konhim attacked, in their desperation they had acceded to her demands,
01:11only to discover they had invited a wolf to their table.
01:14Somehow, and to this day they were still not entirely sure how it had happened,
01:19they found themselves pushed aside as the warlike and primitive humans
01:23leveraged themselves into the leadership roles of their society.
01:27The Triumvirate had given way to the Tetrarchy,
01:30and once the ceasefire was in place,
01:32Leandra Singh informed them that their services would no longer be required.
01:36A bitter pill to swallow, indeed.
01:39So it was with a certain degree of schadenfreude
01:42that the three former ministers watched as the human worlds came under attack.
01:46Their reaction was predictable, of course.
01:49After all, not so long ago they had been in the same position.
01:51But as the fleet charged off to do battle once more,
01:55a curious state of affairs began to arise in the old Triumvirate worlds.
01:59Were these attacks retribution for humanity's involvement in the last war?
02:03Was it possible the Konhim had found a new enemy,
02:06one both willing and able to fight back?
02:08And what did this mean for them?
02:11But it was the arrival of the encrypted chip that had galvanized them into action,
02:16a request for a meeting by parties unknown.
02:18The details were scanty,
02:20but the mere fact that a request for an audience
02:22was specifically directed to the defrocked and disgraced ministers spoke volumes.
02:27The location was a nondescript warehouse on the outskirts of the capital,
02:31and the discovery of the imaging unit upon their arrival
02:34suggested they would not be meeting their anonymous associate today.
02:37I do not believe the Prime Minister.
02:41And even now it was still difficult to keep the acid from her tongue,
02:45as Leswarth named her.
02:47Would feel the need to involve herself in such an obvious attempt of entrapment,
02:52if for no other reason than there is no reason for her to do so.
02:56Should she choose, she could simply have us arrested.
02:59Such an order would require a majority of the Minister's approval,
03:03Komzoisha pointed out.
03:04And do you doubt the sycophants Singh appointed in our stead would refuse such a request?
03:10Sigma-121-Sub-Delta said bitterly.
03:13Despite being an artificial life form,
03:15the Ronin were just as capable of expressing emotion as the Sartor and Ophiptera were.
03:21No, Leswarth snorted.
03:23Not for a moment.
03:25Komzoisha considered that response and slowly nodded.
03:28Then we must assume this contact is legitimate,
03:30at least until we are given further evidence to weigh.
03:34Before either of his associates could respond, the imager came to life.
03:39But where normally a projection of the individual transmitting would be seen,
03:43instead, there was only darkness.
03:46The three former Ministers looked at each other in confusion,
03:49as a heavily filtered voice began emanating from the device.
03:53Greetings, Ministers, the voice said respectfully.
03:56I must apologize for keeping my appearance hidden, but these are dangerous times we live in.
04:01I crave your indulgence and hope you understand the need for circumspection.
04:06You have us at something of a disadvantage, Sigma-121-Sub-Delta replied.
04:11After all, you know who we are.
04:14I regret the necessity, and in time I hope that it will be safe for me to reveal my identity,
04:19the voice continued.
04:20Until then, I must insist on preserving my anonymity.
04:24Each of the three wrestled with that requirement, until finally Komzoisha spoke.
04:31For now, he said grudgingly.
04:33Since it was you who contacted us, perhaps you could explain why.
04:38I represent a consortium of individuals who have grown increasingly uncomfortable
04:42with the direction the Triumvirate has taken in recent years, the voice explained.
04:47For ten thousand years our society was a stable one, the greatest commonwealth ever known,
04:53at least until the humans arrived.
04:55The Ministers regarded one another before Lassorth responded for them all.
05:00And so you contacted us?
05:02Understandable, given your view, but I fail to see what you have to gain by this meeting.
05:07It is not just I that seeks to profit from our meeting, but hopefully you as well,
05:11the voice said smoothly.
05:12Imagine for a moment returning to those halcyon days, and how much improved the average citizen's
05:18life would be if the humans were no longer around to infect the Triumvirate with their
05:22primitive and warlike ways.
05:26Unfortunately, the humans are not going anywhere, Sigma-121's sub-Delta said in disgust.
05:32They have infiltrated every aspect of our lives, and control not only the government at its
05:37highest level, but the military as well.
05:39Perhaps once we could have sent them packing, but that day is far, far behind us.
05:44And perhaps not, the voice shot back.
05:47The humans have suddenly found themselves on the defensive, as their worlds are destroyed
05:52one by one.
05:53Perhaps very soon they will have none left.
05:56You will forgive me if I refuse to accept that until it actually happens, Komzoisha retorted.
06:02If we have learned nothing in the last ten years, it is that humans are not only incredibly
06:07tenacious, but difficult to kill.
06:11Besides, without the humans there would be no Triumvirate, Lassawarth admitted reluctantly.
06:17No one finds them more distasteful than I do, but even I cannot deny it was only through
06:22their efforts that we survived the last war.
06:25At what cost, Minister?
06:28The voice countered.
06:29The humans may have saved you, but they have also enslaved you.
06:33Even now you dance to their tune.
06:35How much longer will you tolerate this abhorrent state of affairs before you finally cry enough?
06:41Have you forgotten that we are at war once again?
06:44Sigma-121's sub-Delta asked the hidden figure.
06:48Even if what you suggest were possible, why would we do so now, when the Konim threat is
06:53once again at our door?
06:55Has a single Triumvirate world been attacked?
06:58The voice demanded.
06:59It is obvious they have decided that the humans are the actual threat, and not the other races.
07:05But even if the Konim do have plans for you once the humans have been dealt with, consider
07:09this.
07:10Both they and the humans are almost equally matched.
07:13Once each has destroyed the other's homeworlds, who will be left?
07:17Who will be in perfect position to reassert their control when they are gone?
07:20Komzoiha gave his companions an appraising look, before regarding the figure thoughtfully.
07:27Just what is it you propose?
07:29For now?
07:30Merely the exchange of ideas, the voice replied.
07:33But as this war progresses, as each side grows increasingly desperate, it is quite possible
07:39we will find ourselves in the position of doing something about this situation.
07:43You have contact with many individuals and organizations that share your feelings, whereas
07:49the organization I represent has access to materials that may prove useful when the time
07:53comes.
07:55The silence that followed was pregnant with swirling and conflicting emotions, as each of
08:00them struggled with how to respond.
08:02We will consider your proposal, Lasorth said at last.
08:06That is all I ask, the voice answered.
08:09Until we meet again.
08:10And with that, the connection was severed.
08:15Diaksh Chugaz.
08:16Uidan chortled with delight as ministers faded from view.
08:20They would take the bait, of that he was certain, and when they slid their blade into the back
08:25of the Tetrarchy in the hopes of reclaiming what they had lost, they would seal their own
08:30fates.
08:33Chapter 8
08:33Musashi pressed a glass into the former Konhim leader's hands before pouring one for himself.
08:41I don't know if your species uses alcohol recreationally, but you look like you could use a stiff drink
08:46right about now, he said gently.
08:49Jiage accepted the tumbler of amber-colored liquid, giving it a cautious sniff.
08:54After a moment he raised it to his lips, letting the fiery liquor play across his tongue.
08:58My people make something similar, he said after a moment, as he took a second sip.
09:06You're welcome, Musashi smiled, easing into one of the available chairs.
09:11He looked over at Nasat, indicating his glass.
09:13The Sartor waved him off.
09:15My species lacks your tolerance to ethanol, he explained.
09:19Suit yourself, he shrugged, as he took another drink.
09:22He glanced at Tango, who had made herself comfortable at the table and was now disassembling and
09:28cleaning a rather impressive array of weaponry.
09:31Her own glass sat untouched at her elbow, as her full attention was currently on the sniper
09:36rifle she was lovingly administering to.
09:39Greybird is working on some new modifications to his equipment as per your suggestions,
09:43Jiage, Musashi explained.
09:45We'll touch bases with him in the morning and check his progress.
09:49And the other one?
09:50Jiage asked carefully.
09:51I told Whisper to go amuse himself somewhere, which means we'll probably be hearing from
09:57the MPs shortly, he sighed.
09:59But he won't be bothering you any time soon if that's what you're asking.
10:03At least until we start prepping for our first mission.
10:07Jiage took another long drink before setting down his glass.
10:11If I told you I was looking forward to it, would you believe me?
10:14Not hardly, Musashi chuckled.
10:17The former Diaksh nodded before turning to Nasat.
10:20When I said I owed you a debt, this is not what I had in mind.
10:24I know, the Sartor said sadly.
10:27This was not of my doing, unfortunately, I am under orders.
10:31But as much as it pains me to admit it, Admiral Fujimoto makes an excellent point.
10:36Your knowledge and skills could prove valuable.
10:39I have no doubt, Jiage said dryly before turning his attentions back to the human.
10:44Just where did you find your... associate? he asked.
10:49Whisper was assigned to us, much the way you were, Musashi replied.
10:53As for his background, I've learned not to ask.
10:56Why? Jiage inquired.
10:59Because he'll tell you, Musashi said uncomfortably.
11:02In detail, Tango chimed in, not bothering to look up.
11:07Jiage shook his head.
11:09And they call my people barbaric.
11:11I guess you could say Whisper is something of a throwback, Musashi said after a moment.
11:17Or perhaps...
11:18You could call him a reminder.
11:20A living memorial to what we once were.
11:23Tango snorted as she ran a brush down the barrel.
11:26Once?
11:27Humans are complicated, Nassad explained.
11:31I have witnessed them perform great acts of compassion and sacrifice,
11:35and then turn around and commit acts of pure savagery.
11:38No one is more aware of this dichotomy than they themselves.
11:42And yet, there are times when they do not truly grasp how they appear to others.
11:47Even now, after all these years, I still find myself occasionally uncomfortable in their presence.
11:52And me? he asked, regarding the Sartor.
11:55Do I make you uncomfortable as well?
11:58Not you personally, Nassad said after a moment.
12:02But if you are asking about your species, then uncomfortable is not the word I would choose.
12:07Something more visceral, perhaps.
12:10Jiage gazed thoughtfully at him.
12:12You have always been something of an enigma to me, Nassad, he informed him.
12:16The pacifistic herbivore who became a warrior, a rather skilled one, in fact.
12:22I was given little choice, he said quietly.
12:25That is true enough, I suppose, the conheem admitted.
12:29And yet I have never forgotten how you stayed your hand when you could have just as easily struck me down,
12:34especially after you learned my identity, and that I had just attempted to kill you.
12:39Tango looked up at that, cocking her head as she regarded Nassad before going back to her cleaning.
12:44As I explained then, I will always choose life over death, he answered, growing increasingly self-conscious at his words.
12:52And yet despite all that, Jiage pressed, you showed no hesitation in turning me over to them.
12:59The venom in that last word was unmistakable.
13:02Perhaps the time you have spent among humans has made you more like them than you realize.
13:08Nassad opened his mouth to respond, only to be interrupted by a loud metallic clack.
13:12Heads swiveled towards Tango, who had finished reassembling a sleek-looking autopistol, slapping in a fresh magazine with a smirk, and a gleam in her eye that was more than a bit unsettling.
13:25Musashi just sighed, shaking his head as he took another sip of his drink.
13:29If you are suggesting I am not the same person I once was, then the answer is yes, Nassad finally replied.
13:36How could I be, given my experiences?
13:38But if you are accusing me of something more nefarious, that by following orders I am complicit in a criminal act.
13:45He paused for a moment, and then bowed his head.
13:48I can only offer in my defense the advice I was given by the human who once trained me, and now serves as my aide to camp.
13:54And that advice is?
13:58Ji-Aj asked pointedly.
14:00There was a faraway cast to his eyes, as Nassad lifted his head.
14:04Do what you have to do, he whispered.
14:07Ji-Aj appeared to be unmollified as Musashi cleared his throat.
14:11General Nassad speaks the truth, he said quietly.
14:14I won't apologize for our questioning you.
14:17I won't even apologize for Whisper's unique approach.
14:19I realize that you are not responsible for the current attacks, but in a very real sense you do bear a certain amount of culpability.
14:27If you had not attacked in the last war, we would not be here today.
14:31And if General Nassad's ancestors had not tried to wipe my people from existence, we would not be here either.
14:37Ji-Aj shot back.
14:39If you are looking to place blame, I can assure you there is plenty to go around.
14:43Isn't there always, Musashi said unhappily.
14:48But this time, your people have crossed a line.
14:51Had they attacked using more conventional means, we would still be outraged.
14:55But this.
14:56He shook his head slowly.
14:58Ji-Aj, the very nature of these attacks have aroused something inhumanity, something dark and ugly.
15:04You thought Whisper was bad?
15:06Try picturing a billion whispers, all coming for you.
15:09Despite himself, Nassad shuddered.
15:11Musashi nodded in understanding.
15:14I was there on you zonks, you know, he continued.
15:17We were dropped in, the four of us, before your forces landed.
15:20We watched and recorded every atrocity for weeks, until Nassad and his team pulled us out.
15:26The tone of his voice had become decidedly unfriendly.
15:29Whatever you may have suffered at our hands pales in comparison to that.
15:33The temperature in the room suddenly seemed much cooler as the gloves came off.
15:38Nassad rose to his feet, ready to intercede and stop things from getting any more heated.
15:42When they were interrupted by a chime from the console, a press of a button, and Admiral Fujimoto's face appeared.
15:49We just received word from Marshal Antuma, she said grimly.
15:54There's been another attack.
15:56Nassad closed his eyes.
15:57Where?
15:58Where?
15:58He asked softly.
16:01Her gaze lingered over Giyaj before turning back to Nassad.
16:04Zion, she said quietly.
16:06We're projecting casualties of over five hundred million.
16:09Her jaw worked angrily as she stared daggers at the Konhim.
16:13Your people just signed their death warrant, she snarled, before the display went blank.
16:21Chapter 9
16:22The news from Zion hit Marshal Antuma like a thunderbolt.
16:28He'd grappled with the choice of where to send the second protecting force.
16:32And in the end, it had come down to two choices.
16:34The two colonies outside of Saul that were the most important to humanity.
16:38Endymion and Zion.
16:40And he'd chosen wrong.
16:43Perhaps the Konhim had spotted the task force at Endymion and shifted targets.
16:48Or maybe it was simply bad luck.
16:49There were a thousand factors that may have played a part.
16:52Not that it mattered now.
16:54He was halfway tempted to shift the task force to one of the other colonies.
16:58Kavira, or possibly Anzen.
17:00But in the end, he forced himself to ignore that urge.
17:03It would be based on the overwhelming guilt he felt, and not any sound tactical reasoning.
17:07So he kept the ships at Endymion.
17:10And prayed.
17:11Besides, he had a hunch the next target the Konhim chose would be a little closer to home.
17:17In fact, he was surprised they hadn't struck Earth already.
17:20Destroying mankind's birthplace would cripple their ability to retaliate.
17:25And the blow to morale scarcely bore thinking about.
17:28Given the chance humanity could recover in time, but they would never be the same.
17:32Man without an Earth to call home.
17:35That kind of shock to the system would bring out the very worst in Homo sapiens.
17:39It didn't take a stretch of the imagination to predict their response.
17:43Becoming a species that viewed everyone as a potential threat.
17:46One that would have absolutely no compunctions adopting the philosophy.
17:51Do unto others before they can do unto you.
17:53In less than a generation, the other races of the Tetrarchy would become little more than slaves,
17:59serving the newly formed Terran Empire.
18:02And of course, who knows what other species might be lurking out there, plotting God knows what.
18:06They'd send out ships to scour the cosmos.
18:09And every new race they discovered would be given the stark choice of serving their new human masters.
18:15Or suffer their wrath.
18:17In many ways, that terrifying possible future frightened him most of all.
18:23So it was up to him to guard the solar system, to prevent that from happening.
18:27Fortunately, there was one bit of good news in his favor.
18:30By sheer coincidence, Mars and Earth were rapidly approaching opposition,
18:35which put them in roughly the same section of space.
18:38Roughly, being the operative word, since even at their closest approach,
18:42the two planets were separated by almost 60 million kilometers.
18:46If they'd been on opposite sides of the sun, he would have been faced with a grim choice.
18:52Condemning millions of Martians to their fate, in order to protect Mother Earth.
18:57At least he was spared that much, for all the good it did him.
19:01His task force was currently spread across the system, acting as his eyes and ears,
19:06while he and a handful of newly upgraded F-100-3D Starfire fighters flying escort held station above the two worlds.
19:13Below them, every ship available had been pressed into service to evacuate as many as they could,
19:18but it was a mere drop in the bucket.
19:20There simply weren't enough vessels in the Tetrarchy to save everyone,
19:24and the imagery from Earth gut-wrenching.
19:26Frantic families desperately trying to escape,
19:29children torn away from their parents,
19:31security personnel forced to take increasingly drastic measures,
19:35while freighters and passenger liners packed to the gills,
19:38raced away from the system like the plague ships of old,
19:42seeking any safe harbor.
19:44But in the end, was anywhere truly safe?
19:47There had been so many times in the last decade he'd wanted to scream,
19:51I'm just a gamer!
19:53His years in the guilds had been fun,
19:55and he'd discovered he had a talent for tactics and strategy.
19:58He'd worked his way through the ranks to the very pinnacle of success,
20:02with a record that was still unrivaled,
20:05until the day he was informed he would now be doing it for real.
20:09Nobody dies in a computer simulation.
20:12You don't have to see their bodies or witness the devastation.
20:15You don't have to write letters to the loved ones of fallen electrons,
20:18saying they died with honor.
20:20And even though Helene had always been the maverick of the pair,
20:23the gambler who would willingly take insane risks based on a hunch,
20:26on more than one occasion,
20:28he'd made choices that condemned entire worlds of electronic avatars to death.
20:33Because that's what the numbers said.
20:35Kill a billion, save two billion.
20:37Simple.
20:38Obvious.
20:39Cold.
20:40Doing the same thing when real lives hung in the balance had almost destroyed him.
20:44He'd all but begged Minister Singh to relieve him for cause after the disaster at Uzongs,
20:49only to be refused.
20:50Every argument he made was immediately shot down,
20:53and all for the same reason, that there was no one else.
20:56No one who had more experience.
20:58No one who had a better grasp of military theory.
21:01No one.
21:03Kwasi shook his head, forcing his mind away from that well-trodden path.
21:07Now was not the time for self-recrimination.
21:09Fate had thrust him into the role of Earth's guardian and protector,
21:13and like Heimdall on the Bifrost Bridge, he would not waver in his duty.
21:18Though he wasn't so vainglorious to believe he actually possessed godlike powers.
21:23Be nice if he did.
21:24But as a mere mortal, he'd have to make do with the tools at hand.
21:28In fact?
21:29An urgent signal pulled him out of his reverie as he punched the accept icon.
21:34A face appeared on the screen.
21:35Sir, we've got something, the captain of the carrier, Kestrel, reported.
21:40It's heavily stealthed and picking up speed.
21:42Initial tracking data has it on a direct trajectory to Earth.
21:45Where? he demanded, as he hurriedly signaled the other ships in the system.
21:51It managed to slip through the outer perimeter, the captain grimaced.
21:56It seems to be using some sort of masking technology we haven't seen before.
22:00Current location is approximately 3.8 AU from Earth, just inside Jupiter's orbit.
22:05ETA to Earth intercept, .34 minutes.
22:08Thirty-four minutes?
22:09How did they get so close?
22:11Flush your birds, captain, Kwasi ordered as he tied into the command circuit.
22:15Marshal Antuma to all ships, we have a possible location of the RKKV.
22:20You are hereby ordered to converge on those coordinates at maximum military power.
22:24He paused for a moment as the acknowledgment started coming in.
22:28You are to stop that craft by any means necessary, he informed the commanders as he made the call.
22:34There are ten billion people on Earth counting on us to save them.
22:37Nothing else matters.
22:39The flagship Jatutas thrummed with power as it changed course,
22:43charging forward as it raced to intercept the planet killer.
22:46Kwasi could almost feel the massive dreadnought's eagerness for battle as he brought up the display,
22:52his blood turning to ice in his veins as the cold equations told the tale.
22:57Kestrel was close, and its fighters might have a chance of engaging the enemy,
23:02but the numbers weren't encouraging.
23:03They'd be firing from extreme range, and the hit probability for something moving at near light speed
23:09and stealthed were a poor bet by even Helene's standards.
23:13There was exactly one ship that had even a prayer of intercepting the RKKV,
23:17and that was Jatutas itself.
23:19At least we'll be bringing plenty of firepower, he thought somberly.
23:23The starfires on his flanks were far more deadly than the hastily constructed comets of the previous war,
23:29and Jatutas herself was no slouch either.
23:32Heavily armored, sporting multiple batteries of antimatter cannons,
23:36she could easily tear through the massive Konhim ships they had faced before.
23:41But would it be enough now?
23:43Antima watched the display as they closed the distance between them.
23:47The two vessels would intercept just outside Mars' orbit,
23:50though thankfully the planet itself was well out of range.
23:54The clock seemed to tick down at an almost leisurely pace,
23:57until the instruments declared they were nearing the target.
24:00They'd get only one shot at this.
24:03If they somehow missed, Earth would be a cinder well before they could be in range to try again.
24:09This is Antuma, he said evenly.
24:11Prepare to fire on my mark.
24:13Five, four, three, two.
24:15Jatutas was suddenly rocked by a massive hit,
24:18as klaxons began to scream all around him.
24:21What the hell's happening?
24:22he howled when the dreadnought shuddered yet again.
24:25We're taking fire!
24:27his flag captain shouted back,
24:29and as he watched in dismay,
24:30the star fires began disappearing from his display, one by one.
24:35Return fire!
24:36Kwasi ordered, as the damaged behemoth struggled to respond.
24:40The turrets were firing blindly.
24:42With the RKKV traveling at near light speed,
24:44they were forced to rely on the sensor data of the other ships.
24:48But the data transfer was lagging farther and farther behind.
24:52The massive gun batteries had nothing to lock onto.
24:55They needed pinpoint accuracy in order to hit their target,
24:58and that was nowhere to be found.
25:00Navigation, however, was another matter entirely.
25:04Kwasi inputted the command himself,
25:06as the damaged ship altered its course.
25:08There was simply no time to pass the order to the captain or the helm,
25:11and in the last few seconds he prayed it would be enough.
25:15The resulting explosion was seen from both Mars and Earth,
25:19as Jitutas and the RKKV impacted,
25:22rendering them down to their component atoms.
25:2406dC3RDH boss DICT4RDH
25:25workaround,
25:27as the
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