Light Bringer
by Pierce Brown
Contents
Chapter 28: Lysander: War Engine
Overview
Lysander’s assault surges into Sector Seven as Ajax shatters a bulwark and Kyber foils a suicide bomber. News that Victra has dropped behind their lines and that Cicero abandoned reserve to chase Virginia forces Lysander to recall overextended forces. Ajax departs with a fast Gold strike to intercept Victra while Lysander presses the attack.
Summary
Under sniper fire before the bulwark to Sector Eight, Lysander coordinates with Horatia, who is close to breaking through to Sector Two. He praises Diomedes’s deep-raid sabotage that has darkened a Bastion and vows to link up with him within an hour, emphasizing speed, initiative, and shock.
Ajax vaults the breach and clears the last defenders, letting starShells and house legions flood into Sector Seven. As the Praetorians admire Ajax’s momentum, a medicus approaches; Kyber shoots him dead and reveals a suicide trigger, saving Ajax. The column prepares to push on.
Rhone then reveals Victra’s dreadnought escaping and that she has dropped a rapid Iron Rain between Horatia and Bastion One. Compounding the threat, Cicero and his vanguard have left reserve to pursue Virginia through the latrines, encroaching on Apollonius’s promised prize. Lysander warns Apollonius and Cicero that Victra and Pegasus Legion will strike them from behind and orders them to turn back.
Recognizing overextension, Lysander orders recalls to Horatia and Diomedes. Ajax proposes to “cut the head off the snake” by hunting Victra with a swift, Gold-only force. Acknowledging the stakes, Lysander agrees.
Ajax departs down a cargo tunnel with roughly fifty Gold knights to intercept Victra. Lysander informs Apollonius and Cicero to expect Ajax, then continues pressing the assault into Sector Seven, aware that the battle’s outcome now rests on Ajax’s success.
Who Appears
- LysanderCommander pushing into Sector Seven; recalls forces after Victra’s drop; dispatches Ajax to intercept Julii.
- AjaxBreaks the bulwark; nearly assassinated by a bomber; leads a fast Gold strike to hunt Victra.
- RhoneTank commander and aide; flags Victra’s drop and Cicero’s absence; supports Lysander’s redeployment.
- CiceroLeaves Bastion One reserve to chase Virginia; warned to turn back before Victra strikes his rear.
- ApolloniusAllied warlord pursuing Virginia; orders a reversal after Lysander warns of Victra’s impending attack.
- KyberPraetorian who kills a disguised suicide bomber, saving Ajax and the command group.
- HoratiaSector commander close to breaching Sector Two; ordered to recall amid strategic overextension.
- DiomedesRim knight conducting deep-raid sabotage; isolated behind enemy lines pending linkup.
- MarkusPraetorian providing fire support; defends Lysander and praises Ajax’s closing ability.
- DemetriusPraetorian in the fire team supporting Ajax’s breach and advance.
- DrusillaPraetorian who aids Ajax at the breach and tends logistics like water.
- Victra JuliiDrops behind Lysander’s lines with Pegasus Legion, threatening to cut off Apollonius and Cicero.
- VirginiaOn the run through sanitation lines; her pursuit lures Cicero away from reserve.