[centre][youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDwNXfhBpIs[/youtube][/centre]
Even from a distance, it was plain to see that the Vaimese had brought their full might to bear upon the nation of Belisio. There were no tricks, no signs of diversionary tactics or strategic manoeuvring, or any semblance of strategy at all... save for one: superiority of numbers. An endless sea of men and material crashing against the line of Belisian defenders below in an unrelenting wave of fire. Knight Commander [url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/187028-scorched-earth/char#post-5311554]Roland Leonis[/url] stood at the front of the bridge as he watched the battle unfold, grimly noting that the left flank was beginning to waver.

"Helmsman, take the southern approach," he said as a bright explosion bloomed on the battlefield and lit up the night sky, no doubt magical in nature. "And make haste."

"Aye, milord," the pilot responded as he turned the steering wheel, causing the sky carrier to yaw ever so slightly to the left.

Surprised by the change in course, the captain of the ship glanced at his console before speaking up, "Sir, is that wise? Our orders were to approach from the west and flank the enemy, this will take us directly to the front."

"Yes, I am aware," Roland replied. "For that is my intent."

"But sir, with all due respect-"

"The situation has changed, captain. By the time we move into position, our left flank will have fallen and it will be too late to provide any reinforcements at all. The time to deploy is now. Will you accommodate?"

The captain fell silent for a moment as he read the tactical feeds on his console before looking back at the Knight Commander and replying with a slight bow, "As you will, my lord."

"Very good, now call the battlegroup to assembly. It is time to join the fight."

And with those words, Roland turned and made his way across the bridge with one hand resting on the hilt of his ancestral longsword, Starlight. Ever so faintly humming with power in anticipation of the battle to come.

[hr]
Meanwhile in the shuttle bay of the carrier, [url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/187028-scorched-earth/char#post-5311554]Liffis Kai[/url] stood among the other Spectres with his eyes closed and hands clasped in silent prayer. Some others were following suit until the voice of the ship's captain announced, "All hands, prepare to deploy. I repeat, all hands prepare to deploy."

Liffis opened his eyes and looked around as men began rushing all over the place. Pilots to their shuttles, technicians to their stations, soldiers to their squads and standing amidst them all like a river around a rock were the nation's fighting elite. Knights, Battlemages and Spectres, each one an army unto themselves. Some were veterans of a hundred battles, others were newly made. Either way, all of them wielded powers far beyond that of the average human being.

Though they were all meant to form a single battlegroup, each of them only stood with their own kind. Knights with Knights, mages with mages, Spectres with Spectres. At least between the Knights and Battlemages, there was a sense of camaraderie. An exchange of boasts and insults, but around the Spectres was a conspicuous gap between them and anyone else as though surrounded by a forcefield. Even the soldiers avoided them if they could help it.

Liffis hoped that none of his fellows would take it to heart. He was no stranger to being ostracized and he did not think that there was any malice involved. It was only natural to be wary of those who could read the thoughts of others, though Liffis was not so skilled at that as he was in controlling emotions. That of his own as well as the enemy's. 

Perhaps there was also something about the program itself that was unsettling to others, but as Liffis contemplated what that something might be, a coughing fit interrupted his thoughts and he muffled it with a hand over his mouth until it subsided.

[i]Not long now,[/i] he thought as he moved his hand away and looked at the blood on his palm, a constant reminder of the time he had left in his shortened lifespan. "Hope I can make it worthwhile," he said out loud without realizing it, another quirk from the Spectre program.

His eyes glazed over as he continued to stare at the blood on his hand, becoming so lost in it that he did not notice the Knight Commander entering the shuttle bay. His presence marked by his tall stature and suit of plate armour.